The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

6-yr-old boy drowns at amusement park
Tribune News Service

ARE SUCH PARKS SAFE

The family alleges there was no one to guide the family that the pool of water was six feet deep.
There was no ambulance and no doctor.
Eye-witnesses said the child’s body was taken out by another visitor before the lifeguard could jump in the water.
No one from the government came even to console the family.
The SSP, Mr G. S. Bhullar, said owners of the amusement park have been booked under Section 304-A for causing death due to negligence.

SAS Nagar, June 28
A six-year-old child enjoying a picnic with his family was drowned this morning in the pool of Thunder Zone amusement park, located a few kilometres from here on the SAS Nagar-Sirhind Road.

Rishab Kapoor was with his mother, Pallavi, cousins and his mother’s sisters when the tragedy struck the family. His body was lying on the floor of the six-foot-deep pool when Pallavi went about looking for Rishab, son of a Phagwara-based businessman, Sanjay Kapoor. Pallavi had come to her father, Mr S.S. Chopra’s place in Sector 38, Chandigarh, during the ongoing summer vacation and was scheduled to return to Phagwara on Sunday. Rishab was a student of Class I in Saffron Public School, Phagwara.

Even as the family went about looking for Rishab, one of his cousins, Prateek, said something had hit his legs under the water. He said he had told everyone but no one listened. This alarmed the family and they asked the attendant to stop the artificial waves created in the pool. A youth in the pool dived in to take out the body of the boy. The family members while talking to The Tribune, said there was no ambulance available at the amusement park. We put the boy in a private vehicle and rushed him to Cheema Hospital in Phase IV, SAS Nagar. “On the way the child was breathing”, says Umesh Chopra, maternal uncle of the boy.

Doctors at Cheema Hospital, however, declared that the boy was dead. Not satisfied with the answer, the family rushed the child to PGI, where he was declared brought dead. A post-mortem will be conducted on the body at the General Hospital, Sector 16 tomorrow.

Late at night the SSP, Ropar, Mr G.S. Bhullar, confirmed that a case under Section 304-A, for causing death due to negligence, had been registered against the owners of the amusement park.

Pallavi had come to Chandigarh on a family re-union as her two sisters — Uma and Sunaina had also come here with their children from Delhi and Sriganganagar for the summer vacation.

Last night the family had been talking till about 2 am when it was decided that they will go on a picnic-cum-outing to Thunder Zone.

The three sisters with their children went to the park. Since no one without a swimsuit is allowed into the water games pool, Pallavi and her sisters waited outside the pool as children played inside.

It was only after some time that Pallavi found that Rishab had been missing and started looking for him.

I-cards for disabled persons
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 28
With an aim to streamline grants given to disabled persons, the Chandigarh Administration today said identity cards will be issued to persons with disabilities to avail government benefits and concessions.

Persons with disabilities can apply for issue of I-card in the prescribed form available in the office of Director, Social Welfare, Town Hall Extension Building, Sector 17, Chandigarh supported with residence proof (ration card/voter I-card/electricity bill/bank pass book etc.) and two stamp size photographs. This card shall have lifelong validity for persons in the age group of 18 years and above. For persons below 18 years the card shall be valid for a period of five years from the date of issue.

For persons having 40 per cent and above disability a disability pension/social security pension of Rs 200/- per month is given. Eligible persons should be residing in Chandigarh for the last 3 years on the date of making application and their family income should fall within mentioned criteria: Rs 1000/- pm of applicant person; if married, total income of both husband and wife should not exceed Rs 1500/- p.m; if applicant is not earning, then income of his/her parent, in case of one child should not exceed Rs 2500/- p.m. and if two or more children, then Rs 3000/- pm.

Scholarships are granted from class I to class VIII by the Education Department and from class IX onwards by the Social Welfare Department. The amount of scholarship being paid is in the range of Rs 25/- per month to Rs 500/- per month depending upon the class of study. The family income of the student from all sources should not exceed Rs 5000/- per month and he/she must have secured at least 40 per cent marks in the last examination, said a spokesperson of the Administration in the last examination passed.

For providing assistance for purchase of aids and appliances financial assistance is provided to the disabled persons who are residents of Chandigarh for the last 3 years or more. The quantum of assistance is 100 per cent if the concerned person belongs to a family having income of upto Rs 5000/- and 50 per cent grant in case the income falls between the range of Rs 5000/- to Rs 8000/-.

The Administration also offers free vocational training. Free computer training is also being imparted to the disabled persons through lifesteps computer centre and Chandigarh Child & Women Development Corporation. Also, training in beauty culture, stenography and cutting and tailoring is being imparted through the Chandigarh Child and Women Development Corporation. In this case also the applicant must be a resident of Chandigarh for the last 3 years.

Persons with disabilities using motorised vehicles are entitled to 50 per cent subsidy on actual expenditure on purchase of petrol or diesel. Besides, the 3-year limit, physically handicapped persons having an income upto Rs 2,500 from all sources are eligible for subsidy. The physically handicapped persons who are already in the receipt of the conveyance allowance either from any voluntary or State source shall not be eligible for grant of subsidy on purchase of petrol/diesel.

The Administration also gives an unemployment allowance to unemployed disabled persons residing in Chandigarh and belonging to a family whose income is not exceeding Rs 60,000 per annum. The applicants’ age should be between 18-30 years and have minimum two years registration in the special employment exchange. The amount varies between the range of Rs 150/- per month to Rs 400/- per month depending upon the qualification and kind of disability.

The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) uses the Chandigarh Child and Women Development Corporation as its channelising agency for grant of loans to persons with disabilities. It provides loans for self-employment and other ventures for the benefit/development of the persons with disabilities

More information and application forms may be obtained from the Office of Director Social Welfare, Chandigarh Administration, Town Hall Extension Building, Sector-17, Chandigarh, Phone No. 707527, 714292. Fax No. 708690. E-mail: dsw_ut@rediffmail.com, the spokesperson added.

Sporting bonanza in the offing
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 28
What to watch Football, cricket or tennis. A real sporting bonanza awaits sports lovers over the weekend.

Germany plays Brazil on Sunday in the finals of the football World Cup in Japan. On Saturday, Korea and Turkey will clash for the third place. In cricket India will play England in the tri-nation one-day series on Saturday followed by another game against Sri Lanka on Sunday. The cricket series started off yesterday in England.

And if this was not enough, the Wimbledon, a premier tennis tournament, is on as the first week of the tournament draws to a close. But certainly the sport will be last preference for those other than die hand fans. Yes, things could have been different if the finals of the tennis tournament were on.

The virtual icing on the cake will be the final of the football world cup as this promises to be a classic duel between two sides, which are meeting for the first time in the history of the World Cup. Brazil has won the cup four times, while the Germans have taken away the coveted trophy three times. Each have their own style of play, which will keep spectators on the edge of their seats. A sports promotion company has even handed out passes for watching the finals lives at Kiran theatre in Sector 22. The movie theatre has around 550 seats. Chandigarh is on the list of select cities where the final will be telecast live. The final, as per the schedule released by FIFA, starts around 4:30 pm and the timing will clash with the India-Sri Lanka cricket tie.

The preference of sport lovers on Sunday will be clearly demarcated as followers of cricket may even prefer to watch the World Cup final and switch channels in between to know the score in England. Since cricket and football are being telecast by rival channels, one does not expect the channel showing football to carry the cricket score on the screen. Thankfully, said Mr Jitesh Verma, the football match will last just around two hours.

PNDT Act to be amended
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 28
A Bill to amend the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (PNDT) Act, 1994, will be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament to give teeth to the implementing agencies engaged in checking the illegal practice of sex determination and female foeticide.

This was stated by Mr J. L. V. Prasada Rao, Secretary, Family Welfare, Government of India, at the one-day regional workshop on the implementation of the PNDT Act here today.

Inaugurated by Mr M. L. Ranga, Health Minister, Haryana, the workshop was organised by the Haryana Government in collaboration with the Union Government and the United Nations Population Fund and was attended by the Health Secretaries of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Chandigarh. In his inaugural speech Mr Ranga urged the Central Government to provide judicial powers to the civil surgeons to enable them to implement the PNDT Act in letter and spirit.

Expressing grave concern over the declining female ratio mainly in the districts of Punjab and Haryana, Mr Rao said that fresh figures showed that the sex ratio of these two states was 850 women per 1000 men with seven districts in Punjab and three in Haryana where the ratio was lower than 800.

Mr Rao also stressed on making urgent reforms on a priority basis, saying it was a matter of serious concern that as many as three lakh girls less were born in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Rajasthan and Chandigarh in the past ten years.

Earlier in his welcome address, Dr J. L. Choudhry, Director-General, Health Services, Haryana, informed that this workshop aimed at discussion of the various problems being faced by the local health authorities in the implementation of the Act and invite suggestions to improve the situation. Such workshops would also be organised in other regions of the country, he said.

In the later sessions of the day, Health Secretaries of the various states from the region gave presentations on the condition in their states highlighting their problems and projects. A group discussion and a technical discussion was also held during the workshop.

Seminar on pre-natal diagnostic tests
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 28
Fatehgarh Sahib has the lowest sex ratio in the country. The number of girl children between the age group of 0- 6 years is around 750 for every 1000 males. Similarly, Kurukshetra district has the lowest sex ratio in Haryana at 770 females per 1000 males.

These facts were stated by Dr B. S. Dahiya, Director Health Services, Reproductive and Child Health, while addressing a press conference here today. He also said sex ratio in Ambala had fallen by 104 females per 1000 males from Census-1991 to 2001. The sex ratio there was 784 per 1000 males.

He said misuse of pre-natal diagnostic techniques had resulted in the fall in female population, especially between the age group of 0- 6 years. Thus, a regional workshop on pre-natal diagnostic techniques (regulation and prevention) for the state appropriate authority, district appropriate authority, NGO’s, medical experts and law experts from at least five states is being organised by Haryana here from tomorrow.

Experts from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh will participate in the seminar. Officials from the Union Health Ministry and UNFPA will also participate in the seminar.

Dr Dahiya said Haryana had taken a lead in dealing with criminals in white coats”, who were misusing the ultrasound facility by divulging the sex of child and thus aiding and abetting female foeticide. That is why the Supreme Court had made licensing of all ultrasound machines in the country compulsory. He said during the past one year 662 machines had been registered in Haryana and cases filed against 10 clinics.

COMMUNITY

Jacob inaugurates ‘Drop In’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 28
The Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob, (retd), today underlined the need for improving the infrastructural facilities in the southern sectors in order to bring them on a par with the northern sectors to cater to the increasing population in these sectors.

Speaking after inaugurating the CITCO’s fast food joint ‘Drop In’ in Sector 34, General Jacob said the Administration was laying greater emphasis on developing the Phase-II and III sectors. He said roads were being re-carpeted in Phase-III sectors, where the society flats had already been completed. Roads in Phase-II sectors were also being re-carpeted on priority basis, he said.

General Jacob announced on this occasion that the Administration was considering a proposal to open a club house in Sector 42 Sports Stadium that would have gymnasium, physiotherapy and other facilities for the sportsmen and general public of the city. Similarly, efforts were being made to improve facilities in the Cricket Stadium in Sector 16 and also provide club house facilities there.

Earlier, the Governor inaugurated Drop In. He appreciated the CITCO for setting up the restaurant, which will provide eating facilities at very economical rates especially to the public coming from all over Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to the passport office nearby. General Jacob inspected the kitchen and other public facilities in the fast food joint.

He also went around the Sector 34 market. He asked the Chief Engineer to repair the damaged roads. Residents of the sector complained about crowded parking in the sector 34. Mr M.P. Singh, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, informed that the corporation was contemplating paid parking for the sector, which will organise the parking system there. General Jacob also asked the Commissioner, Municipal Commission, to improve Garbage Management System in the sector.

Prominent among those who were present on the occasion were the Mayor, Ms Lalit Joshi; the adviser to the Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda; Chairman, Chandigarh Housing Board-cum-CITCO, Mr G.K. Marwah; Finance Secretary, Mr Karan A. Singh, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, and Mr M.P. Singh.

Experts deliberate on media ethics
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 28
A seminar on “Media Ethics, Concerns and Accountability,” was held here today. Media experts and academicians who participated in the seminar painted a sorry picture of the working of media saying that it had not come up with concrete suggestions to cure maladies of corruption in media, biased reporting, allowing publication of communal and castist connotations leading to violence across the country.

The seminar was the first in a series to be organised in the country with a joint effort of the Press Institute of India, the Communication Management Foundation, the Public Relations Society of India, Chandigarh Chapter, in association with the German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung-India (FES).

The Director of the Press Institute of India, Mr Ajit Bhattacharjea, the Director, Communication Management Foundation, Dr J. S. Yadav, the Punjab Education Minister, Mr Khushal Behl, the FES Adviser, Mr Rajeshwar Dayal, former Chairman of the Department of Mass Communication, Panjab University, Professor B.S. Thakur and Professor H.S. Dilgir, a former Associate Editor of the Tribune, Kamleshwar Sinha, and the Punjab Advocate General, Mr Harbhagwan Singh, spoke on the occasion.

These speakers along with Ms Mohanmeet Khosla from the Panjab University deliberated on the issues of media ethics and coverage of communal incidents and corruption in two sessions.

Mr P.C. Suri, a former bureaucrat, who had been associated with the planning process of the country since 1950s, said corruption and biased and market-compulsive reporting in media could not be checked unless the divisive poll process of first-past-the-post was reformed to an integrating system of election.

Professor Thakur suggested an implementing body of ethics with representation from media and advertisement industry with powers to punish those deviating from ethics. He said he did not come across even a single case where an erring journalist was punished.

Mr Harbhagwan said the media was faced with a challenge to keep the interest of readers alive in the fight against corruption by joining hands with those fighting the battle. He decried the tendency of newspapers to jettison corruption-related issues midway.

Mr Behl focussed on the media role in promoting qualities of tolerance and brotherhood to curtail ill-effects of communal tension.

Mr Bhattacharjea said situation was hazy on the issues of so-called ethics due to contrasting pulls of ethics and market compulsions.

Dr Yadav said media ethics become all the more important in an age where the reach of the media, its speed and communication channels could independently spread “misinformation”.

K.P. Sinha urged the journalists to be fearless despite odds within organisations.

Professor Dilgir said the talk of ethics for media alone was useless till the audience itself had a good taste and other institutions also came under a scanner.

Ms Khosla said the media seemed to have become a pawn in the hands of certain forces that use it as a play field.

Bedlam marks MIA meeting
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, June 28
Perhaps for the first time in the history of the Mohali Industries Association (MIA), strong protests and manhandling of members marked its annual general meeting here this evening.

The House passed a resolution granting one-year extension to the present executive committee headed by Mr B.S. Baidwan, under Rule 52 of the MIA bylaws.

This was described as unconstitutional by a section of the members including the former president, Mr S.S. Sandhu. Slogans were raised against the present office-bearers by members prevented from entering the venue of the meeting, which was held at the MIA Bhavan in the Phase VII, Industrial Area. The situation threatened to take an ugly turn and the police had to be summoned.

The trouble began when many members were denied entry into the bhavan. The ruling group claimed that only those members who had not paid their association dues were not allowed to enter. It was alleged by opposition members that certain employees of Ajay Electrical Industries, where Mr Baidwan worked as Chief Executive, manhandled MIA members who had come to attend the meeting.

Deadline on number plates stays
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 28
The Chandigarh Administration today formally ordered that July 1 would be the last date to get registration number plates of vehicles changed. The Administration rejected a representation of a local resident challenging the direction for change of colour scheme for non-transport vehicles with effect from July 1.

The Home-cum-Transport Secretary of the Administration, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral, in a ‘speaking order’ passed here today said no cognisance of the representation of Dr B. Singh, a resident of Naya Gaon, could be taken as the order regarding change in colour scheme had been notified by the Central Government which had the competency to do so.

The order said, “The UT Administration does not have any legal authority to decide the issue raised by Dr B. Singh” who had demanded that change in colour scheme should be made effective from the date when high-security registration plates became compulsory.

Dr Singh had said changing colour scheme would entail double expenditure on vehicle owners as they would again have to spend on high-security number plates, a spokesperson of the Administration said tonight.

Hearing on number-plate issue adjourned
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 28
The UT Administration today sought more time to file reply in a case filed by the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Mr N.S Minhas, against the UT Administration, Inspector General of Police and in charge, Traffic Lines for restraining them from issuing challan till the administration provided high security registration plate before a local court. After hearing the plea the court adjourned the case for tomorrow.

Mr Minhas had filed a petition against the UT Administration, IG and Traffic Lines for restraining them from issuing challan to the city residents till the administration provide HSRP number plates to the owners of vehicles and also to withdraw the notification regarding the change of colour of the number plates.

Mr Minhas had filed the case for temporary injunction directing the UT Administration, Inspector General of Police and in charge, Traffic Lines (defendants) under order 39b Rule 1 and 2 read with Section 151 Civil Procedure Code, for temporary injunction restraining the defendants from issuing challans.

Sabha complains lifting of ‘shamlat’ soil
Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, June 28
In a representation to the Deputy Commissioner of Patiala, the Sri Guru Ravi Dass Sabha, Bartana, has complained that some influential persons of the locality have started lifting soil from the village common land, ‘‘shamlat’’ in violation of the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The issue was raised by the sabha members at a sangat darshan programe organised by the administration to hear the grievances of general public in Patiala.

The representation stated that the persons were lifting soil from the village common land on the Sukhna riverbed despite stay orders. The village has been merged with the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat and the land has been transferred to the civic body.

Members of the sabha have also said that the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat authorities were watching the violation of the court orders as a silent spectator.

Mr Jaswant Singh, president of the sabha, while talking to Chandigarh Tribune said a representation highlighting the issue was also given to the district administration on June 20 but no action was taken.

He said lifting of soil from the riverbed would cause soil erosion as the monsoon had set in.

CRIME

2 held for harbouring criminals
Tribune Reporters

SAS Nagar, June 28
The police has arrested two persons on the charge of giving shelter to some members of a notorious gang of looters.

In a press note released here today, Mr Harcharn Singh Bhullar, DSP, said the arrested persons were Gurpal Singh, alias Pala, and Raj Kumar, residents of Sarseri village in Ambala district. They were working as building contractors in Sector 68 here.

The members of the gang used to stay in a house in Sector 66, which had been taken on rent by the two accused, after committing crimes in various parts of Punjab and Haryana.

The police has registered a case against them under Sections 212 and 216-A of the IPC.

Two vehicles stolen

Chandigarh: Two vehicles, including a car, were stolen from different sectors of the city in the past 24 hours.

Mr Mohit Gilhotra, a resident of Sector 35, has complained that he found his car (HR-11-3300) missing on the intervening night of June 25 and 26. The vehicle was parked in front of his house (1170) in Sector 18.

Another complainant, Mr Darshan Singh of Sector 36, said his scooter (CH-03E-7190) parked at Fragrance Garden in Sector 36 was stolen on Thursday morning.

The police has registered separate cases.

Dowry case

In a case of harassment for dowry, Ms Meena Kumari, a resident of Sector 45, has complained against her husband, Mr Surinder Kumar and in-laws.

The complainant has alleged that her husband and in-laws were harassing her for bringing inadequate dowry. A case has been registered by the police and the Women and Child Support Unit of the police was investigating the matter.

One hurt

A resident of Sector 26 sustained injuries when a car (HR-42C-0017) hit him near the Sector 39 Water Works today.

The driver of the car sped away from the scene soon after the incident. A case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered.

3 vehicles recovered

A stolen scooter, six car stereos, two car batteries and speakers were yesterday recovered from Rajesh Kumar, who was arrested in connection with car thefts on June 24 by the Operation Cell of the police. With the recovery, the police claimed to have solved several cases of theft of vehicles and their accessories.

Acting on information provided by Rajesh Kumar, the police also recovered two cars one from Panipat and the other from Kalka. It is learnt that Rajesh was arrested by Haryana Excise official on June 17 at Kalka while he was carrying 30 cartons of liquor in the car, that he had stolen from Chandigarh. But he escaped from the custody of excise officials, said police sources. The police has brought back the car booked.

One held

The police has arrested, Mukhia, a resident of Bihar, for sodomising a minor boy in Sector 42 . Both the accused and victim are migrant labourers from Bihar. Medical examination on the victim was performed. A case has been registered.

Man stabbed

Mr Charanjit Singh, a resident of Bathinda district, was injured after he was allegedly stabbed by Manjit Singh and three other persons in Sector 41 here. Mr Charanjit Singh is being treated at the General Hospital, Sector 16. A case has been registered.

Car stolen

Mr Nirmal Singh, a resident of Mani Majra, reported that his Maruti van (PB 11 D 8144) was stolen from Sector 22 on June 26. A case has been registered.

Cyclist hurt

Panchkula
Naik Mohammad Sadiq Hussain was seriously injured after he was hit by a speeding car ( HP-15- 8585) this morning. He was riding a bicycle and was taken to the Command Hospital, where he is stated to be in a serious condition.

At least seven sheep being ferried in a truck ( HR- 47- 5564) were killed when the vehicle collided with another truck ( DL-1GA- 1067) in Old Panchkula this morning.

Opium seized

The police has seized 1.1kg of opium from Umesh Kumar from T- point, Barwala yesterday. The police on a tip-off apprehended the accused, a resident of Bihar, while selling opium. A case under Section 18 of the NDPS Act has been registered against him.

Four booked

The police has booked four persons — Naseeb Singh, Pavan Kumar, Prem Chand and Nirmal Singh — on charges of creating nuisance in front of a gurdwara at Hangola village, during the intervening night of June 26 and 27. A case under Section 295 of IPC has been registered.