The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HC order to MC on parking issue
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22
Taking a serious view of entry fee, rude parking lot attendants, overcharging and other difficulties being encountered by residents while parking their vehicles in the city, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today suo-motu directed the Commissioner of Chandigarh’s Municipal Corporation to examine and rectify the problems by giving directions to the parking lot contractor.

Issuing the directions, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Bakhshish Kaur, also directed the Registrar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to earmark places for parking vehicles on the high court premises. The Judges added that government vehicles would be allowed to come near the high court building for leaving the officers before parking these in the earmarked sites.

City blooms with fragrance of roses
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22
It was all spring and surprise for visitors to the Rose Garden in Sector 16 today. The opening day of the much-awaited Festival of Gardens was made more worthwhile by the breeze that seemed to bid a farewell to winter. There was breath of freshness in the air, with nothing but roses to see people through the undulating surfaces of the decked up garden.

Right since the morning when the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Lieut Gen J.F.R Jacob, inaugurated the grand show, entry to the venue was tremendous. Many people, however, seemed confused over where to park their vehicles. The Administrator also inaugurated the green belt in Sector 40 C and D.

The epicentre of all excitement, however, was the Rose Garden where pictures of over 100 varieties of roses greeted the visitors right at the entrance. The interior of the garden presented a more elaborate encounter with real flowers, With ‘‘Kiss of fire’’ being the most talked about among youngsters who thronged the venue.

While the entire amusement game affair (pendulum, giant wheel, my fair lady and others) remained confined to the insides of Sector 17 commercial area, the real festival spirit was centered at the Rose Garden, where major attraction was folk dance, brass pipe and band contest this morning. Parading through the garden, the bands looked delightful. Right opposite this section was the folk dance forum, where Punjabi gatka drew the maximum crowds. The agility of the SAS Nagar's gatka group took everyone by surprise. There were folk dances from other states too, besides a full-fledged folk dance contest in which teams from five schools participated.

The flower corner, displaying varieties grown by the winners of flower and pot arrangements, was also full of life, thanks to the presence of colours. The photographs capturing nature's beauty were also displayed. The first prize in this category was awarded to K.S Sethi. Apart from this, a lot of attention was also garnered by rope-walkers and camel rides.

‘Bade achhe lagte hain...’

There is something in his face which makes you trust him at once. Son of a legend that was Kishore Kumar, Amit Kumar today recreated the magic of his father's melodies. Amit Kumar, who performed at Leisure Valley today, admitted, "Unlike in the past when music was more a matter of soul, now it is more a matter of senses.

As for today's show, it was par excellence in its power to touch the hearts. The singer was his own anchor and with each song he presented he weaved a full story. The tale of Kishore Kumar and Rafi was repeated in the voice of Amit, who sang several of his father’s numbers, apart from his own. Meeting the singer was like rediscovering him afresh. The first memories of his songs rest at ‘‘Balika Badhu’’ in which he walked into millions of hearts with melodious ‘‘Bade achhe lagte hain’’...picturised on Sachin. He repeated his own success story several times with ‘‘Ye zamin ga rahi hai..’’.‘‘Soone sham savere’’, ‘‘Har ghadi dhal rahi shaam ye zindagi’’. He is currently working on an album titled ‘‘Tab Aur Ab’’, in which he will recount the musical era which has passed by and pay a tribute to the legendary singers and music directors.

Competition results
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 22
Though the rain played a spoilsport on the inaugural day of the Festival of Gardens, it could not dampen the spirit of the teams which participated in the folk dance competition held in the Rose Garden, Sector 16, here today.

The competition started with Jawahar Navodyaya Vidyalaya, Sector 16, students, who presented a colourful Rajasthani folk dance that was followed by Pandit Mohan Lal S.D. Public School, Sector 32, students, who performed bhangra to the tune of the ‘O Kuri’.

A group of girls from Government Model School, Sector 46, presented giddha which was followed by bhangra presented by students of Government Model High School, Sector 44. Students of Shishu Niketan, Sector 22, performed Haryanvi dance.

The stage was managed by well-known comedian and actor Khayali Saharan. The contest was won by the bhangra team of Government Model High School, Sector 44, and students of Shishu Niketan bagged the second prize.

Results of various competitions held during the festivals in order of merit were: Cut flowers (government and semi-government bodies, institutions and private nurseries): antirrhinum: CITCO and Regional Director, RICM; aster: Ranbaxy Limited and Continental Devices India Limited; stock: Continental Device India Private Limited and Punjab State Warehousing Corporation; carnation: Punjab State Warehousing Corporation and Omvir Singh, SO, Horticulture, CPWD; candytuft: CITCO and CHB; dahlia: Deltron India Limited and Omvir Singh, SO, Horticulture, CPWD; gladiolus: Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited and Director, PGI; gerbera: Chief Administrator, HUDA, and second position shared by Omvir Singh, SO, Horticulture, CPWD and CHB; lupin: Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (second); larkspur: CITCO and CHB; marigold: Director, PGI and IMT; pansy: CHB and Principal, AG, Punjab; rose hybrid tea; Administrator, HUDA, and Director, PGI; rose floribunda: Director, PGI and second position shared by Director, PGI and Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited; rose hybrid tea in three stages un-open bud, semi-open and open: Director, PGI, (both first and second); rose hybrid tea collection of three named varieties: Horticulture, HUDA, and Director, PGI; sweet peas: Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited and Punjab State Warehousing Corporation; and any other flower: Director, PGI, and CHB.

For all exhibitors: arrangement with roses only: Gurmeet Singh and Sadhna Sangar; arrangement with flowers other than roses: Ravneet Kaur and Sadhna Sangar; arrangement with dry flowers: Manvata Singh; arrangement with fresh foliage: Gurmeet Singh (second); arrangement of flowers on the theme of ‘Advent of Spring’: Gurmeet Singh (second); making of garlands: Minakeshi Sangar and second position shared by Vandana Singla and Ravneet Kaur; making of rangoli (with flowers): Jyoti Walia and second position shared by Babita and Bindu; making of rangoli (with powder): first position shared by Seema Mehta and Menu and second position shared by Alka Singla and Ekta Moudgil.

College students: arrangement with roses only: Divyanjali; arrangement with flowers other than roses: Radhika Bhasin and second position shared by Gauri Singla and Prainy; arrangement with dry flowers: Rupinder and Radhika; making of rangoli (with flowers): Deepti Rana and Sanjuli Bhagi; making of rangoli (with powder): Kuldeep Singh and Gauri Singla.

Schoolchildren: arrangement of flowers other than roses: Surabhi Sahgal (second).

Gardeners: flower arrangement: Ram Parshad (second); making of bouquet: Ithai Lal and Shiv Parshad Maul; making of gaj and garland: Harish Chand and second position shared by Ram Saran Mali and Ram Saran Verma.

Zirakpur-Dera Bassi stretch closed till Feb 27
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, February 22
The Zirakpur-Dera Bassi stretch of the busy Chandigarh-Ambala highway was closed to vehicular traffic for six days late last night and the traffic was diverted to other roads on account of the repair work being undertaken on the Ghaggar bridge near Bhankharpur about 3 km from here.

Vehicles headed towards Ambala from Chandigarh were diverted from the Zirakpur traffic light points to the Zirakpur-Banur-Tapla road again to rejoin the highway near Ambala. No long-route vehicles were allowed to take the Nagla-Gazipur-Mubarikpur link road which joins the Panchkula-Ramgarh-Dera Bassi highway near the PWD rest house in Mubarikpur

Similarly, traffic headed towards Chandigarh from Ambala and Delhi side was diverted from Mubarikpur chowk to take the Mubarikpur-Ramgarh-Panchkula-Chandigarh road.

Local residents were put to great hardship as they were only allowed to take the Nagla-Gazipur-Mubarikpur link road to reach Dera Bassi and surrounding areas and were restrained by the police staff to take the reverse route to reach their destination in Zirakpur and surrounding villages.

Commuters coming from Dera Bassi, Mubarikpur and other nearby villages were put to great hardship as the police personnel did not allow them to take the Mubarikpur-Gazipur-Nagla kutcha road to go back to their destinations. Only the VVIPs, VIPs and persons known to the cops on duty were being allowed to take the Mubarikpur to Gazipur link road which joins the Chandigarh-Ambala highway near Singhpura chowk.

On day one of the closure of the busy Chandigarh-Ambala highway, the diverted vehicular traffic on new routes did not pose much problems today.

The heavy volume of traffic on the bridge has made a number of bearings disappear from under the span of the bridge. The PWD has closed the road to insert 20 bearings under 10 spans, apart from replacing four damaged expansion joints of the bridge, said Mr Harashok Kumar Sharma, Executive Engineer of PWD (B and R).

The department has put hydraulic-lifts, each of 100 tonne capacity, to uplift beams of the span, the department authorities said.

More than 100 workers have been put on the job round the clock. Bearings under five spans were replaced on the first day of the repair work today. The project would be completed by February 26 evening and the road would be opened to the vehicular traffic on January 27 morning, added Mr Sharma.

Apart from Mr Ashok Kumar, Superintending Engineer, Ministry of Surface and Transport (MoST), Mr B.S. Singla, Executive Engineer of Haryana Public Work Department (National Highways), Mr Ajit Pal Singh Brar, SDE of the PWD (B and R) and other engineers of the department were also present on the site

It may be recollected that people were put to great hardship for over 15 days due to repair of the same bridge in the last week of November in 1998.

Syndicate to take up fee hike issue today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22
A proposal for a fee hike of 10 per cent in the university and affiliated colleges features prominently in the Syndicate meeting of Panjab University scheduled for tomorrow. The hike on all charges barring tuition fee will be applicable from the forthcoming academic session.

The university proposes to charge Rs 4 from every student as fee for participation in youth festivals. The existing charges are Rs 2 per student. There is also a recommendation for Rs 2500 as annual fee from students seeking to opt for mathematics as optional subject.

One of the proposals recommends 75 per cent of rent of shops on the campus going to the Estate Fund of the university. Weightage for NCC certificate holders in admission and other activities has been clarified in one of the items under consideration.

The Syndicate proposes to dwell on suggestions for an open and continuous system of examination in BSc (honours), particularly in mathematics. Regulations for admission to MSc (human genomics) also comes up for deliberation. The university is planning creation of a special placement cell.

Residents for better rail link
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22
Despite being the joint Capital of Punjab and Haryana and the most happening place north of Delhi, Chandigarh has not been given a single long distance train right since Independence. The question uppermost in city residents' mind is when will this imbalance be corrected? Demands in the past two decades made by successive local MPs to have fallen on deaf ears.

In the past 15 years the Union Railway Ministry has given two pairs of Shatabdi’s running between Chandigarh and Delhi meant primarily for the upper crust traveller and is quite unaffordable for the common man. In the past 12 months a link train connecting six bogies to the Amritsar–Mumbai Paschim Express was welcomed but that fall much short of expectations of the local people.

City residents’ biggest demand is of having south-bound trains. Mr Sandeep Moudgil, a lawyer, says train should run directly from here to metros like Chennai and Bangalore. More trains are required to cater to growing demands. Besides the Shatabdi's a fast inter-city express too is being sought between Chandigarh and Delhi, he added.

Mr Devinder Singh Babla wants the fare of the Shatabdi reduced and also wants that the time of the evening train be changed to the original time of 12.40 p.m.

Mr Joginder Singh Bhogal, former member of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee, says the Unchar Express between Allahabad and Ambala be extended upto Chandigarh. The decision to computerise reservation counters at Panchkula and SAS Nagar have not been given a practical shape. He demanded one more coach on the Pashchim Express. An AC chair car coach in the Himalyan Queen should be restored, he added.

General Secretary of the Chamber of Chandigarh Industries, Mr A.L. Aggarwal, said south-bound train is the need of the hour.

Pak national remanded in custody
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 22
A Pakistan national, Riyaz, who was arrested by the special branch of Delhi police for overstaying in Chandigarh with help of fake documents, was today produced in a local court by the police.

The accused was produced before the UT Judicial Magistrate, Mr K.K Goel, this afternoon and remanded in police custody till February 27.

The magistrate also accepted the plea moved by the police to handcuff the accused while taking him to other places. The Crime Investigating Agency has been investigating the case for more than a year.

Sources said that the accused had stayed in Sector 35 under an assumed name Vikramjit Singh in 1999. The accused had managed to get a ration card and passport on fake documents and with the help of a city resident and former student of Panjab University. The accused had reportedly informed his neighbour that he was a resident of Ferozepore.

Sources further said that the accused had also managed get a fake identity card of one of Delhi University colleges.

COMMUNITY

Dr Dewan elected INSA fellow
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22
Dr Indarjit Dewan, Emeritus professor of Anatomy and Forensic Medicine at PGI, has been elected as the fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), the highest scientific body in the country.

The past and present fellows include Sir Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, Prof Sir Ram Nath Chopra, Prof Raja Ramanna, Dr Kasturirangan and Dr V Ramalingaswami. Earlier fellows from the PGI include Dr R.N. Chakravarti, Dr R.C. Mahajan and Dr N.K. Ganguly.

Dr Dewan is the second anatomist in India to get this honour since the academy was started in 1935. He has also created history by getting elected at the age of 89 years.

PUDA leaves plot holders high and dry
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, February 22
In a perfect example of official apathy in the estate office of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA), a number of four marla plot holders in the town are running from pillar to post to get possession of their plots for a period ranging from two years to seven months.

Reason, the plots were allotted by the estate office in Sector 68, adjoining the Kumbhra village, without verifying the feasibility of the area. The land earmarked for around 40 four marla plots, costing around 2.70 lakh each, was still under the occupation of residents of Kumbhra village.

Investigations by Chandigarh Tribune reveal that some property dealers were selling the plots to unsuspecting buyers, even after knowing the physical status of the land and that too with the knowledge of the estate office. On its part, the officials concerned in the estate office had issued reallotment letters and passed architectural plans.

Seeking anonymity, some of the plot holders told Chandigarh Tribune that it came as a shock when they applied for demarcation of their plots and were politely told that the plots were not feasible. While the officials maintain that the plots would be allotted at the same site after being freed from occupation, sources in the estate office said there was no likelihood of the allottees being given the plots as the rehabilitation scheme for villagers of Kumbhra was yet to be launched.

The sources reveal that some of the plot holders have been repeatedly visiting the office of the Chief Administrator, Additional Chief Administrator and the Estate Officer. Each time, their application was marked down for necessary action, which was never taken. Marking an application from the office of the Minister for Housing and Urban Development did little help to some of the allottees.

“We have been cheated by PUDA. How can the authority sit on our hard -earned money for a long period? We should be given alternative plots”, said a plot holder.

Officials in PUDA confirmed that on more than one occasion proposals were made to allot five marla plots to the affected plot holders. But the proposal was struck down by officials at the higher level.

A visit to the site revealed that pucca structures had come up on the land earmarked for the plots. The land was also being used to stack cow dung.

Seminar on female foeticide
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22
The Lions Club Nightingale organised a seminar on female foeticide in the Sector 42 Government College for Girls here today.

At the seminar, students were made aware of the decline in sex ratio and told to promote equal rights for men and women.

According to a press note issued here today by Ms Renu Bali, Region Coordinator of the club, girls at the seminar were told to motivate people to accept girl child openly, too.

At the seminar, Ms Benipal talked about education and nutrition for boys and girls. Dr B.S. Grewal and Ms Mohini Sharma, Principal of the college, condemned pre-natal diagnostic tests and said girls were brought up in poor conditions in villages.

EATING OUT
A slice of the West
Harvinder Khetal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh
It’s all about optimal utilisation of space. If planned properly, just 650 sq feet of rectangular area is enough to be transformed into a lively eatery, complete with flowers and magazines. Like the newly married couple Anjum Mohan Singh (son of Aroma’s Man Mohan Singh) and Richa Butail have done. They have recently put together a joint, The Diner Seventeen, in Sector 17 here. Nestled between Ghazal and Mehfil, The Diner Seventeen embodies a practicality that is a hybrid of a restaurant and a hot shope.

As you sit in the compact room, biting into the melting chocolate truffle pastry warmed in the microwave, you can’t help noticing the sleek decor and the effect of a definite inspiration from the West.

The big black and white painting of a twosome overlooking a Parisian landscape by artist Paramjit Singh, adorning a major part of the wall, is eye-catching. But this is not the only thing that transports you to Western realms. The name of the restaurant, the Diner, and Biscotti, the food production centre in Mohali that sources products, both seem to be a result of holidays abroad. Then the Continental foodstuff, the pastries, rolls, croissants and breads available in abundance heighten the feeling. This is not to say that Indian fare is not served here. Food trolleys and a small kitchenette fitted smartly in windows dish out appetising utthapams, vadas and dosas with spicy sambar. From the hot shope, you can have a pick of an assortment of burgers, rolls and pizzas.

The hot and cold service counters prominently display mouth-watering cakes and pastries of various flavours and colours, puffs, buns and veg and non-veg croissants and Danish. Or check out the bread corner for loafs made of wheat, oat, multi-grain and pizza base and flavoured with garlic, ginger, cheese or masala.

The pastries are priced in the range of Rs 10 to Rs 30, puffs Rs 12 to Rs 18, buns Rs 10 to Rs 25, croissants Rs 15 to Rs 25 and breads 10 to Rs 16. The meals cost around Rs 25 to Rs 60, besides the beverages.

Kanwar Shamsher Singh dead
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22
Kanwar Shamsher Singh, one of the oldest surviving members of the Indian Police (IP), died here today. He was 88.

Kanwar Shamsher Singh, a product of St Stephen's (Delhi), belonged to the 1936 batch of the IP and was the last Inspector-General of Police of undivided Punjab. After reorganisation , he was the first Inspector-General of Police of the present Punjab. He retired in 1971 .

Originally belonging to Rohtak, Kanwar Shamsher Singh came from an illustrious family. His father was a Minister in pre-Partition Punjab in the early 20s.

Kanwar Shamsher Singh had handled and investigated the Kairon murder case.

His funeral procession will start from house number 337, Sector 9-D, at 12.30 p.m. tomorrow for the Sector 25 Cremation Ground here.

He is survived by two daughters and a son.

CRIME

Woman’s purse snatched
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22
Ms Kate Edoghoho and Victor Obra, an African couple, who were going on a rickshaw last evening, reported that two clean-shaven men on a scooter snatched her purse containing a mobile phone, one passport and some African currency. A case under Sections 356 and 379, IPC, has been registered at the Sector 17 police station.

Panchkula

Minor molested: The Panchkula police arrested a hair dresser Naushad from Abheypur village last evening for allegedly outraging the modesty of a minor girl in his shop yesterday.

According to police sources, the girl (12) had gone to Naushad’s shop for a hair cut but the latter mis-behaved with her. The parents of the victim later informed the police. Naushad was booked under Section 294 of the IPC.

Motorcyclist killed: A Sector 4 resident died on the spot when a school bus rammed into the motorcycles which he was riding near Sector 4 and 12 dividing road on Wednesday evening.

According to a press note Mr Manoj Yadav, SP, Maam Raj died as an unidentified driver of the school bus (HR-37A-1290) rammed the vehicle into his motorcycle (HR-03C-9193) and fled from the scene.

On the complaint of Mr Naresh Kumar, a resident of Sector 4, a case has been registered at Sector 5 police station under sections 279, 304A of the Indian Penal code and both the vehicles have been impounded.

One arrested: In a case of eve-teasing, the police has arrested Muhammad Naushad, a barber, hailing from Uttaranchal under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code.

The police said that the accused had been booked on the complaint of Mr Naresh Kumar of Abhaipur village. the complainant has alleged that the accused had misbehaved with a minor girl at his saloon.

Dead: A middle-aged man died here today under mysterious circumstances. The deceased, Rajinder Kumar was living with his sister in BEL colony in Sector14. His sister is working in the factory and was away for work, when he allegedly consumed some medicine.

It is learnt that the victim was under medical treatment. After consuming the medicine today, he felt unwell and went to a doctor nearby, who in turn referred him to the General Hospital, Sector 6, where he died.

BUSINESS

PCO operators told to explore cyber vistas
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, February 22
It is time for PCO operators to start looking for more sources of income as the long distance call policy was opening up in the country, said the Director General of the Centre for Electronic Design and Technology of India (CEDTI) at a two-day 'Cyberpreneurship Development Programme' for the STD and PC0 operators here today.

As many as 60 PCO operators from Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana are participating in the programme. Mr Khandpur said the government was keen that the PCO operators should also develop facilities available at a cyber cafe. During the programme, the participants were taught about business opportunities in the field of cyberpreneurship and effective use of Internet.

Mr Deepak Rana, Programme Coordinator, said the participants would be taught about the competitive environment in the Information Technology (IT) sector. A slogan ‘‘Internet is a tool, voice and need of this millennium’’ had been devised by the centre.

Mr Ramm Nath, General Manager of the CEDBI, also spoke on the occasion about the funding by financial institutions. The operators in the semi-urban and rural areas would be involved in the programme to be extended to Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar.