The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Admn scraps power deal with NTPC
Tribune News Service

Special teams have been formed by the Electricity Department to remove illegal connections (kundis) from the city under instructions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This comes close on the heels of a high-level decision to allow private contractors to supply power to slum colonies — the biggest power stealers in the city. For this scheme to be successful, removal of all kundies in the slums is essential. The drives start next week and will cover all those stealing power. The curbing of theft will increase the profits to the administration.

Chandigarh, June 1
The Chandigarh Administration has scrapped its deal with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to buy about 15 mega watt of power as the thermal power generation company quoted rates that were close to twice the rates projected in the original proposal.

The power was to be supplied from the Anta phase II and Auriya phase II projects of the NTPC. Agreements were signed for supply of power and the NTPC reportedly quoted Rs 1.20 per unit for the Anta project and Rs 1.50 per unit for the Auriya project. Later. NTPC quoted double the rates.

With power available at lesser rates from other sources, the administration preferred to scrap the project rather than buying power from the NTPC. A source said despite the agreements having been signed between UT and NTPC, the idea has been dropped. Chandigarh has no power generation of its own and buys power from other sources to meet the demands. The onus of providing power is much more since the city has been declared a model city by the Union Power Ministry.

Meanwhile, an additional supply of about 25 mega watt of power started flowing in from today under an agreement signed between the Power Trading Corporation and the UT. This power, coupled with the additional allocation made by the Union Power Ministry, has provided about 45 Mega Watts of power thus avoiding power crisis, which had hit the city about 20 days ago when it was forced to more power from the northern power grid thus attracting fines.

Chandigarh Administration is expected to hand over maintenance of its 220 KV sub-station drawing in power from Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh to power generation giant Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The BBMB is already manning one critical sub-station in the city. Besides this the Power Grid Corporation of India is likely to be given the contract for constructing the missing link of the 66 KV sub-stations.

The administration had planned to have 66 KV sub-stations all around the city. There is a link missing between the Civil Secretariate and the sub-station in Industrial Area Phase I.

Hospital drugs seized from three stores
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, June 1
A huge cache of schedule-H drugs and medicines for use in government hospitals only was seized from three drug stores in Kharar today. The police suspects that insiders are involved in disposing of medicines meant to be used in the ESI hospitals.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr H.S. Bhullar, said: “On receiving information that certain chemists were stocking unaccounted schedule-H drugs, the police and the drug authorities led by Mr Amit Duggal launched a joint operation to seize the cache.”

A truckload of unaccounted medicines were seized in the raids that were conducted on Sham Medical Agency, Kapil Medical Store and Kulwinder Medical Store. The owner of Sham Medical Agency had stocked the schedule-H drugs and the medicine stocks of the ESI hospitals in a godown in front of the shop.

Mr Bhullar said the seized medicines included Soframycin Coscopin, Domstal and Cadiphylate, valued at lakhs of rupees. A case under Sections 379, 411 and 420 of the IPC and various Sections of the NDPS Act has been registered against Mr Sham Lal of Sham Medical Agency, Ms Pinni Kumari of Kapil Medical Store and the owner of Kulwinder Medical Store.

The police said the raids were part of a drive to check the illegal sale of drugs in the district. Meanwhile, sources in the police said: “Initially, the raids were to be conducted in SAS Nagar, but, at the last moment, the target was changed to Kharar, apparently to catch the chemists unaware, who usually get prior information of any raid.”

The police is learnt to have urged the Chief Minister of Punjab to depute special drug inspectors for the job, who, at present, are in short strength.

IB brings ISI agent’s aide to city
Nishikant Dwivedi

Chandigarh, June 1
An alleged accomplice of a Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) agent and a clerk in the Central Defence Audit, Chandigarh, Vazir Singh, who was reportedly arrested by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) on May 22, was brought to the city today for further investigations.

He was arrested after the IB arrested an ISI agent, Asger Ali, in Bikaner on May 22. Sources informed that Vazir Singh was supplying classified information related to the movement of Defence forces and other classified information to his Pakistani boss for the past seven years. Police sources informed that they were told about the arrest only today. No official of the IB was available for comment.

Vazir Singh was brought to the city by IB sleuths at around 5.30 pm today. Police sources informed that he was later taken to Jaipur. A case under the Secret Services Act has been registered against him in Jaipur.

Sources in the local police department informed that Vazir Singh was brought to the city so that his house could be searched for any additional information regarding his involvement. His Sector-35 house (1413) was today searched by the IB sleuths. However, nothing could be known about the seizure of any incriminating material from the house.

Sources informed that Vazir Singh used to pass classified information regarding movement of Indian Infantry to Asger Ali. Another man, Madan Lal, who was arrested along with Vazir Singh, also used to pass on secret military information to Asger Ali.

Interestingly, Sulochana, wife of Vazir Singh, had lodged a complaint of his disappearance in Sector 36 police station. Sources informed that Sulochana was not aware of her husband’s detention by IB sleuths. She had reportedly told the police that a man had come to meet Vazir Singh at around 6 pm on May 22.

The stranger had a chat with him for some time and later the two went outside, boarded a car parked at some distance and drove away.

After inquiry, the local police came to know from the CDA office that Pappu, a “friend” and old colleague of Vazir Singh, had been arrested by the IB for supplying classified information to Asger Ali in Bikaner. Pappu was a frequent visitor of Vazir Singh’s house.

The two had at one time worked together at the CDA office in Hisar. In 1994 Pappu was transferred to Suratgarh, Rajasthan, and in 1995 Vazir Singh was transferred to Chandigarh but their friendship remained intact.

Goddess images for theme museum
Ruchika M. Khanna
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 1
Sri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board proposes to collect the various images and sculptures of mother goddess in her various manifestations for the theme museum to be constructed near the temple shortly.

Well placed sources have informed that at least nine images and scupltures of the goddess , which are lying scattered at different temples in the region as well as in State Archaeological Museum in Sector 5 here , have already been identified for procurement for this theme museum.

It may be noted that the state government has embarked upon an ambitious plan to metamorphose the glory of Mansa Devi temple here on the lines of Tirupati temple and Vaishno Devi shrine. It had earlier been agreed in principle to set up a cultural centre in the form of a theme museum on mother Goddess\shakti cult and a light and sound show here . The concept of the museum is to embody within itself all intellectual , religious and philosophical traditions and ideas relating to mother Goddess.

It is learnt that the scheduled meeting of the board on June 3 to be chaired by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala will take a decision on procuring art objects. As of now images and sculptures from the Chandimandir Mahishasur Mardini; Morni Tikkar Taal; Marranwala Mandir, Panchkula; Bhima Devi Temple; Bawri Talab, Pinjore, Kabir Choa, Pinjore, Mandhana temple and two images of Durga Mahishasur Mardini will be procured.

Besides, the board plans to move the case for getting the custody of sculptures and images of mother goddess from State Archaeological Museum by entering into a three to five year agreement. These sculptures to be taken on a loan basis and will be housed in the strong room of Sri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, till the building of the museum comes up.

A collection of 57 paintings from the Chandigarh Art Gallery will also be collected for their reproduction in a little larger than the original size, to be displayed in the museum. In the first phase, the art gallery depicting these 57 versatile images of goddess will be created.

Sources in the board informed that invitations for the designing of the museum will also be invited from all over the country, besides getting the plans prepared from Department of Architecture and Planning . The best three to five entries will be selected , but the final decision will be taken only in consultation with a committee of musiologists.

It is also proposed to have a library section in the museum , displaying religious and philosophical literature with special reference to mother goddess. The Mansa Devi Shrine Board already has a sizeable collection of ancient manuscripts of ancient Sanskrit medieval classics and books on philosophy, religion and occult and oriental studies. This collection will be augmented by procuring copies of all classical and authentic works on Mata Mansa Devi.

The project cost has been estimated at over Rs 3.5 crore. There is around 10 acres of land around the shrine that is lying unused. About two acres of this land has already been identified for developing the theme museum.

Law Ministry writes to states on HC vacancies
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 1
In an attempt to solve the problem of increasing vacancies of high court judges, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, has reportedly written a letter to the states of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh to initiate the process of appointing judges at least six months before the retirement of the sitting ones.

The decision is significant as there are just 26 Judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court as against the sanctioned strength of 40. The number was decreased from 30 with the retirement of Justice S.S. Sudhalkar and the transfer of another Judge to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Two more Judges, including Ms Justice Bakhshish Kaur, will retire within the next few months further decreasing the number to 24. Another judge is expected to be elevated as the Chief Justice of a high court.

According to highly placed sources in the high court, the decreasing number of judges has led to an increase in the pendency of cases. The problem of pendency would have been largely solved with the appointment of seven members of the Bar as judges, but till date nothing has been confirmed. Sources added that their names were recommended for appointment, but were referred back to the high court for further comments. The file, sources further added, had now been sent back to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice and the matter was likely to be delayed by another month.

The shortage is not only forcing the over-burdened judges to work till late in the afternoon, it has also resulted in an increase in the backlog. The sources claim that civil cases dating back to the mid-80s are pending in the high court, while criminal appeals against acquittals are pending since mid-90’s.

This is not all. As per a report released by the Press Information Bureau last year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had the second highest number of dowry death cases in the country. As many as 842 such cases were awaiting disposal when the report was released in June, 2001. The Rajasthan High Court with 926 cases topped the list.

In an attempt to bring down the number of old cases pending in the courts, the high court had earlier recommended the constitution of a special cell for chalking out a programme to list old cases on a priority basis. A committee of three Judges had also suggested that “two officers of Punjab and Haryana Superior Judicial Service may be appointed for the purpose”.

The committee had also suggested that the cases pending before the subordinate courts in which the high court had issued stay orders “may be listed for hearing on a priority basis before all Benches on Fridays”. Two Benches could be left out of the process for deciding urgent bail matters after hearing the arguments, the committee had further suggested.

It had also requested the Judges “not to give fresh dates for Fridays so that old cases could be taken up for hearing”. The authorities had also been directed to prepare “a consolidated list of cases in which the proceedings had been stayed by the high court, but cases were still pending before the subordinate courts”.

COMMUNITY

‘Special summer staff’ a house of disease
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 1
With the scorching heat forcing people to ignore all warnings and drink whatever they get from roadside stalls selling ‘summer special stuff’, city hospitals are getting swarmed with more and more cases of gastroenteritis and jaundice.

But for those whose bread and butter it is to sell these juices, drinks, salads and fruits on the roadside, there is clearly another logic at work despite the knowledge that what they dole out to thirsty heat struck city residents may not be the best thing to consume.

“Bas pet bharna hai, apna aur apne bachchon ka" is what they all say. Selling everything from nimbu-soda to fruit chaat, they are aware of the health hazards of their products but state that it is their livelihood and giving up this work for another is not so easy.

For the nimbu-soda walla, its easy. Stating that they are just adding the nimbu and the namak to a product already supplied to them by local industries in Dhanas and Ram Darbar, they assert that their product is safe. But it is not so. Lime slashed with dirty knives, hands washed with unclean water and bottles which are openly re used. Even the masala added is adulterated.

The much talked about cut fruit and cucumber sellers say that they do their best to maintain cleanliness. But since the leftover fruit they purchase at throwaway prices from the mandi is already half rotten, any amount of cleanliness can hardly help.

The local ice-cream makers are probably doing the maximum damage. On wheels, they move about in sectors catering to children at homes during vacations. Use of unapproved and unnatural colours, flavors, scents, emulsifiers, stablizers, these icecreams are prepared in filthy conditions and are carcinogenic in the long run. According to a study conducted by Dr Chetna Vaishnavi of the Department of Gastroenterology, using samples of ice creams, kulfi and softies last summers, most of these were infested with fecal microorganisms and large quantities of e-coli and some disease causing bacteria.

Dr Ujjal Poddar, of the same department, states: ‘‘Water wherever used in washing glasses, machines or for sprinkling to keep things fresh is full of disease. They are infested with bacteria like salmonella and shigella which cause gastroentritus. The main symptoms are vomiting, diarrhoea, fever etc as the immediate effect. In the long term it can cause Hepatitis A and E (Jaundice).’’

Stating that it is a myth that ice which is frozen is sterile, is wrong, Dr Poddar said: ‘‘Sterility in ice comes at-40° celsius but the ice and ice-creams that we consume are barely at freezing point or a little more. Virus causing jaundice survive these temperatures.’’

Stating that there is no simple solution to the problem, the Director, Health Services, UT, says that they need the help of the city police to stop these people from selling adulterated stuff. On the other hand the police says its priority is to catch thieves and maintain law and order. May be the solution lies in educating the consumer?

Product	Source of Contamination	Disease
1. Fruit Juice (Sugarcane, oranges, anaar)	Water used to wash machine, Utensils etc, flies	Gastroenteritis, Jaundice
2. Ice candies	Ice, melting grease Food poisoning Bare Handling Ice Artificial colouring	Gastroenteritis, Jaundice, Cancer
3. Aerated Soda with lime and Salt Allergies	Water Unclean bottles reused Bare handling Crude salt with dust	Gastroenteritis, Jaundice
4. Ice Cream and Softies	Prepared in dirty environment Ice and Milk Artificial colours and scents	Gastroenteritis, Jaundice, Cancer
5. Cut fruit	Rotten fruit Flies	Gastroenteritis, Jaundice, Cholera
6. Nimbu Pani	Water and bare handling	Gastroenteritis, Jaundice
7. Cucumber etc	Sprinkled water	Gastroenteritis, Jaundice
8. Jal Jeera.	Water Adulterated spices Crude salt	Gastroenteritis, Jaundice, Allergies

READERS WRITE
Reimbursement of medical bills as per rules

APROPOS of Mr Maninder Singh’s letter “Relief at last, thanks to power of the Press” (Chandigarh Tribune, May 30), I instantly join and laud the power of the Press, especially of The Tribune, but for my own reasons.

As regards Mr Singh’s core concern about the issue of reimbursement of medical claims, at the Panjab University Health Centre, we have evolved a procedure whereby the claims submitted to the office of the CMO are entered serially date wise, and processed in this very sequence. If all columns are properly filled in and there are no “objections” revealed during scrutiny, the bills are cleared within two to three weeks from the date of their submission. Is this the policy of “pick and choose”?

Now coming specifically to the “issue of harassment of a senior retired employee of the university in getting his medical reimbursement bills passed,” a critical “objection” was that the claim on account of medicines purchased for his dependent wife required to be supported by the prescription of the attending doctor. This “objection” stood on the record till the claimant returned from abroad. Subsequently, the “objection” was removed by the claimant by attaching the required prescription duly verified by the doctor. But once the objection was removed by the claimant (and not by the CMO’s office), his bill was recommended for payment. How and in what manner the “objection” was removed by the claimant is not a matter for the CMO’s office to examine and verify, for it is not an office discharging the role of investigative journalism.

Mr Maninder Singh also refers to the report published in The Tribune about the reimbursement bills of Prof K.N.Pathak “after a bypass surgery when he was not the Vice-Chancellor”. Since it is a matter of “fact” based on record, the same can be instantly verified. However, I would categorically mention that the medical bills of Professor Pathak, so far as the CMO’s office is concerned, were recommended for reimbursement, as per rules, to the Accounts Branch of the university much before he was elevated to the position of the Vice-Chancellor. Is this “pick-and-choose policy based on blatant sycophancy”?

Worthy of mention in this context is that exercise of financial powers is a grave responsibility. It requires that the rules of procedure are observed scrupulously. If in this process, the claimants are required to come to the Panjab University Health Centre in order to meet the objections, certain amount of inconvenience is unavoidable. But I am sure that the observance of the rules can never be called “the rule of the jungle”.

Dr PRAGYA KUMAR, Chief Medical Officer, Panjab University, Chandigarh

Water being wasted

A water tap was provided for the benefit of the securitymen of a VVIP occupying Bungalow No. 386 in Chandigarh’s Sector 30 A and adjacent to the Green Belt which is managed by the Chandigarh Administration. The VVIP has moved over to a different place and so did his securitymen. Now this bungalow is empty and nobody is staying there. Surprisingly, however, the water tap (provided to the securitymen on the right side of the bungalow connecting the Green Belt) has not been removed as yet. As a result, this tap, apparently with a 24-hour water supply connection, is misused by children, street urchins and others.

It defies one’s comprehension that neither the residents living in the vicinity nor those breathing fresh air in the Green Belt seem to bother about this tap which is always on, wasting precious water day in and day out. One can understand if this water tap is put to proper use by residents or others. But this is not the case. A lot of water is just going down. This is criminal waste of water. Even the pedestrians using this route to proceed towards Sector 30-B via the Green Belt seem to be least concerned. Worse, the tap is such that even if someone, out of sheer concern, tries to stop it, he cannot do it.

I appeal to the authorities concerned — either the Chandigarh Administration or the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (whoever is in charge of water supply in this area) — to make the water tap defunct immediately and save wastage of precious water in hot summer months.

JAGJIT SINGH, Chandigarh

CRIME

Mishap victim succumbs to injuries
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 1
The city roads claimed yet another life when Rajinder Kumar (25) succumbed to his injuries that he had received when the scooter he was riding was hit by an unidentified vehicle last night near Maloya. The pillion rider, Mr Sanjay Kumar (16), was also injured and is said to be in stable condition. The two were residents of Taroli village, Kharar.

Meanwhile, the police has registered a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304A of the IPC.

Case registered
After 11 days of receiving a complaint by Ms Sumita Devi, a resident of Kansal, that her two brothers-in-law tried to kill her by forcing some poisonous substance in her mouth near Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat, the police registered a case under Sections 323, 341, 506 and 328 of the IPC.

Ms Sumita had also alleged that she was beaten up by her brothers-in-law, Harmesh and Balbir. She was admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 16.

Abduction alleged
A Sector-41 resident has alleged that Gagan Deep alias Shilla, resident of Sector 39, abducted her daughter on May 22. The alleged abduction took place from the residence of the complainant. A case under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC has been registered. Meanwhile, Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Sector 21 was booked under Section 509 of the IPC as he allegedly passed vulgar comments to a girl. The accused is a tenant in the house where the girl lives.

House burgled
Mr Rajan, a resident of Sector 40, has reported that his house was burgled and jewellery worth Rs 5,000, a wrist watch and Rs 7,000 in cash were stolen on Thursday night. A case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered.

Car stolen
Mr Harminder Singh, a resident of Sector 22, reported to the police that his Maruti car (CH 01 R 0736) was stolen from Sector 22 on Thursday. A case has been registered.

Liquor seized
The police has booked Baljit, a resident of Dadu Majra Colony, under various Sections of the Excise Act and claims to have recovered 21 liquor bottles from his possession.

Tribune employee hurt
An employee of The Tribune, Mr Kapoor Chand (47), was injured after the scooter he was riding was hit by a Maruti car in Sector 32 here this evening. The car driver fled from the spot. According Mr Rakesh, son of the victim, the car was light green coloured and bore registration number CH-01-7888. Mr Kapoor received injuries on his right thigh. The police was informed but no case had been registered till the filing of this report.

Theft case solved
With the arrest of Narinder Singh, a resident of Sector 40, and Mantu Gupta of Panchkula, the CIA staff of the local police claimed to have solved a theft case. The theft had taken place in Sector 39 on May 13. The police also claimed to have recovered a scooter, two bi-cycles, a fan and a deck from their possession. Later, a local court remanded Narinder to police custody and Mantu to judicial custody.

BUSINESS

Beauty products launched
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 1
The VLCC announced the launch of its range of beauty care products here today, after having already launched the product line in Ludhiana on May 28. The Managing Director VLCC Skin Care, Dr Rana, announced the launch in Chandigarh.

The range will have a basic skin care line; skin tightening line; insta-glow line and a facial kit. The products will be supplied to salons where beauty treatments will be prescribed to clients. Dr Rana said the company expected to gradually cover up all districts of Punjab.

Produced in Gurgaon, the products have been tested in some ayurveda hospitals of Haryana. Dr Rana said five types of skin had been identified for facials.

The package is being offered at workshops conducted by the company experts. One such workshop for over 100 beauticians was organised in hotel Shivalikview here today.