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July 7, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Sector 34 goes without power for 18 hours Overdraw and be fined
The Electricity Department will penalise residents drawing more power than the sanctioned load. Overdrawing is disrupting the system, engineers opine. A drive to check overdrawing will begin next week, according to sources. The power distribution system is based on supply through cables of a specified capacity that can not bear extra load. Chandigarh, July 6 The transformer in the area had also developed a snag. Supply could be completely restored only about 2 pm this afternoon, about 18 hours after the breakdown had occurred. Residents said partial restoration was carried out in the morning, but the supply was erratic and the voltage low. Sources said rectifying the fault at night was next to impossible as the staff did not have the requisite equipment. The repair work could start only this morning. The Modern Housing Complex also remained without power for more than one hour last night. A Sector 42 resident, Mr R.L. Jindal, alleged that powers failures had become a daily routine. Low voltage was taking toll of electrical equipment, he said. Residents of the Chandigarh Housing Board flats in Sector 45 also complained about low voltage and erratic power supply. Ms Hem Lata, a resident of the sector, said, “At nights it is terrible and all this despite the fact that newspapers every now and then inform us that the city has adequate supply of power.” The demand for power has gone up manifold in the past few days and power breakdowns have become frequent. According to engineers, overloading is the main reason behind frequent power failures and something needs to be done urgently to overcome this problem. Sources said the cables and transformers had been stretched to the limit this summer as the demand for power had shown a sharp increase. Two planned 66 KV substations in Sector 56 and Sector 47 were still at the planning stage and no construction work had started for these. In the past, sources said, the inadequacy of power distribution system had been highlighted at various meetings, but work on various projects could not gain momentum.
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District
court advocates get a ‘cool’ relief Chandigarh, July 6 Provision for advocates’ dress has been made under Section (49)(1)(gg) of the Advocates Act, which has now been amended. The new dress code has been specified under different heads for men and women lawyers. Men can wear (a) black buttoned-up coat, chapkan, achkan, black sherwani and white bands with advocates’ gowns (b) a black open breast coat, white shirt, white collar (stiff or soft), and white bands and advocates’ gowns. In either case, long trousers, white shirt, white collar (striped or grey), or dhoti can be worn, excluding jeans. Amendments further allow a black tie instead of bands in courts other than the Supreme Court, high court, district courts, sessions court and civil courts. Women advocates have been allowed to wear black (full or half sleeves) jacket or blouse, white collar (stiff or soft), with white bands and advocates gowns, white blouse (with or without collar), with white bands and a black open breast coat, saree or long skirts (white or black or any subdued colour with any print or design
Wearing of advocates’ gowns shall be optional except when appearing in the Supreme Court and the high courts. The Chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, Mr Anmol Rattan Sidhu, said the rules committee of the BCI had recommended the amendments related to dress code for advocates in a meeting held last year. He added that except in the Apex Court and the high courts, wearing black coats during summers is not mandatory. Later the same amendments were approved by the CJI of India. |
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TRIBUNE VIGIL
Chandigarh, July 6 In trouble is the Assistant Landscaping Officer of the UT horticulture subdivision-II, who, after conducting an inquiry and getting the case registered without obtaining a clearance from the UT Administration, applied for its withdrawal soon afterwards. The Adviser to the UT Administration, Ms Neeru Nanda, had even told the UT Forest Officer, Mr Ishwar Singh, in April to find out why the FIR had been withdrawn. Though the Horticulture Department had sought withdrawal of the case and written to the Director CPBF, Dr K.A. Reddy, that only “dead and dried” branches had to be removed, an inquiry showed that some trees had been felled on the farm without the Administration’s order. Reportedly, it also established that the branches and the trunk of the chopped mango tree had been green and not dry. Dr Reddy said the Horticulture Department had not contacted him before lodging the FIR. He said, “After the case was registered, we sent it our reply, following which, the department sought the withdrawal of the case.” The Director said the branches and the trunk had indeed been cut, but not pilfered, contrary to the original complaint. “We used the wood on the farm,” he said. It is strange that a fully grown mango tree was cut to meet the farm’s wood requirement. The Director, later, said: “Overgrown branches of the tree were causing problems for children.” While it is difficult to know what happened to the wood, the department’s seeking to withdraw the case it had lodged after a proper investigation has raised doubts. The Industrial Area police received a withdrawal application when it was about to make arrests. The UT police wrote to the department yesterday, seeking explanation on why the FIR should be withdrawn. Sources say that, by withdrawing its FIR, the Horticulture Department will invite proceedings under Section 182 of the IPC for supplying a false information.Mr Raghbir Singh, a CPBF employee, had lodged the first complaint regarding the alleged felling and pilferage. Following this, the department had conducted an inquiry and got a case registered under Section 14 of the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation Act 352) and Chandigarh Trees Preservation Act of 1952. The FIR lodged on February 1 by the Assistant Landscaping Officer reads: “Trees have been cut by some employees of the Central Poultry Breeding Farm in the Industrial Area without the sanction of the Administration. Kindly, take action against the defaulters.” Two months after this, the Executive Engineer of Division II of the Horticulture Department, in a letter to the Director CPBF, had said: “The complaint is false. During a natural calamity, some damage occurs and dead and dried branches have to be removed by cutting these... to save other trees.” It is another matter that the felled tree was not dead, dry or obstructing any other tree. When contacted, the Executive Engineer said, “I am not aware of the matter.”
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Petition against CBSE counselling date Chandigarh, July 6 The CBSE which conducts the PMT examination for 15 per cent seats on an all-India basis has been holding the second counselling in July-end or the first week of August every year. This is convenient to all as by that time the process of first counselling in almost all states is over. But this year, the first counselling was held in June, which was even before the declaration of the PMT results in other states. And the schedule for the second counselling by the CBSE which falls in July will further aggravate the problem as many states would still be conducting their first counselling by that time. “The early counselling has put all meritorious students in a dilemma as students preferring to remain in their home state would have to take double admission,” said Mr P D
Sardana, a parent. “Students belonging to a state where the first counselling is yet to be conducted, are being forced to reserve seats through the CBSE until their position in their state medical colleges are confirmed, thus paying double fee,” he explained. This is not the only problem. Since the CBSE does not hold any third counselling, after the students leave CBSE-selected seats for the ones by their state counselling, the seats falling in the 15 per cent All-India quota will fall vacant. These will ultimately be filled by the states concerned after the CBSE second counselling. “If the seats are to be filled by states, then holding a separate examination for those 15 per cent seats becomes meaningless and the very purpose of giving a chance to candidates of other states through 15 per cent quota is defeated,” said Mr. S C
Dhall, another parent. Concerned parents have reportedly got together and filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the CBSE to either postpone the date of the second counselling till August or conduct a third counselling session to accommodate hapless students. The petition will be taken up by the apex court for hearing on July15.
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Man killed in highway crash Zirakpur, July 6 Panchkula-bound car occupants, Arjun Dass, his wife Lalita Devi and their son Jatin sustained severe head injuries when the car (HR-30-0006) by which they were travelling collided head on with a truck (PB-11M-1398). The truck belongs to AP Paper Mills of Industrial Area Phase II of Chandigarh. The car was on its way to Panchkula from Delhi when at about 2 p.m. it collided with the truck approaching from the opposite direction. As the truck driver applied brakes, a Maruti car (CH-03D-3532) coming from behind rammed into the truck, this car was in turn hit by another car. The three injured were rushed to the Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, where Arjun Dass breathed his last while the other two were referred to the PGI. The condition of Ms Lalita and Jatin is said to be serious there. The deceased was a resident of Sector 10 of Panchkula and was running an electronics shop there. After the accident, commuters and people of nearby areas assembled at the spot and extricated the car occupants. Mr Sunil Banda, project manager of Silver City, a housing project nearby, deployed some security guards of the company to extricate the injured. First of all Jatin was rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh and subsequently, Ms Lalita and
The accident led to a hour-long traffic jam on the highway which caused inconvenience to the motorists. Soon after the Lohgarh chowki in charge reached the spot and the vehicles involved in the accident were removed from the road. Mr Inderjit Singh Jindal, a resident of Panchkula, known to the victim family, was travelling in the car that rammed into the truck from behind. He recognised them and informed relatives of the family. He also collected the belongings, including some cash, a gold bangle and some luggage of the victims. from the spot. After impounding the vehicles involved in the accident, the Lohgarh police has registered a case. |
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Captain Vikram Batra lives on Chandigarh, July 6 A product of DAV College, Sector 10, Vikram Batra wore the pips for the first time on December 6, 1997, when he passed out of the IMA, Dehra Dun. After getting training at the Commando School, the young pass-out from Palampur got his first posting at Sopore (Jammu and Kashmir). Three months later, he was off to Kargil. He led the party which captured Tololing (peak 5140). Early morning, the victory message was conveyed with a high spirited ‘Yeh Dil Mange More’. The media loved it, the youth of the country stood up and cheered. Captain Batra, then a lieutenant, became a hero that very day with TV interviews of the bearded soldier from the war location. It did not take long for the enemy to crack his code name: Shershah. They directly threatened him not to return to the battle ground. But he did, after 10 days at the base camp. This time it was peak 4875, covering the entire Leh highway and a quite strategic point for the Indian Army. This was a peak to be retained by the Indian Army at any cost. A seven-hour bloody battle followed. This one too ended in victory, but at the price-of life of Captain Batra. He was shot at by a sniper while he was trying to rescue a junior officer. Today, peak 4875 is called ‘Captain Batra Top’. Another year has slipped by since then. But his memory has not faded. His friends from college days remember him for his eagerness to help everyone and his infectious laughter. In his hometown of Palampur there will be a homage prayer tomorrow, his twin Mr Vishal Batra said today. |
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Monsoon
arrives, brings heavy showers Chandigarh, July 6 Since most of the offices were closed today, the youth as well as others thronged the Sukhna Lake, Rose Garden, Sector 17 plaza and other happening places in the afternoon. The cinema halls also witnessed a heavy rush. According to Meteorological department, the maximum temperature today was 31.8°C about 3°C below
normal. The minimum temperature reached 22.8°C about 2°C below normal. The department has said the weather would remain cloudy tomorrow and the city may have thundery showers as well. Like in the previous years, several city roads were left water logged and power failures were also reported from many parts of the city. The morning rains acted as “spoil sports” for the rehri-phariwalas who had to run for cover. The residents of Dhanas and other villages complained that the administration had failed to take measures to save them from the fury of rains. The causeway connecting the Dhanas village on the Patiala Ki Rao ( a rivulet) got flooded after the showers. |
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READERS WRITE An important road connecting Sectors 6 and 7 of Panchkula near the Gurdwara has been blocked by some influential party for organising private functions. This has been causing a lot of inconvenience to the general public who have to go either to their houses in these sectors, or to the market to purchase things. This is particularly causing hardship to patients who have to rush to the General Hospital in Sector 6 for emergency treatment. People are unnecessarily harassed due to the road block. Also the road has been dug for erecting tents and making enclosures for organising private functions in the middle of the road, wasting tax-payer’s money. Is this the reason why the Panchkula Municipal Corporation collects taxes from us? Strict action should be taken against those involved in the road block, which should be cleared immediately. SAKSHI, Panchkula Business as usual in PGI Nimish, a three-year-old , died due to the carelessness of the PGI staff. Once again, attention has been drawn towards the callous behaviour of doctors and other staff on emergency duty. An inquiry into the incident has been ordered. A report will be submitted. Some sort of action will be taken. And after that, it will be business as usual again till some other Nimish dies. This is the unfortunate story of the functioning of the PGI, which has a place of pride among the best medical institutes in the country. We must not forget that medical institutes do not become great by imposing buildings, equipment, and manpower alone but by the right attitude and desire to serve humanity and in its medical and paramedical staff. The death of Nimish has raised many questions. First, the non-availability of doctors during the night shift. This was experienced by the parents of Nimish who took him to Government Medical College and Hospital Sector 32. They found no doctor was available to attend to the child. Later, they took the patient to the PGI where for two hours Class IV employees attended to the child before the appearance of an evidently sleepy doctor at 8 am. The doctor concerned had his sleep but in the process a young life was lost. Are the doctors on night duty not supposed to be readily available for critical patients? Should doctors on night duty sleep? Secondly, it is typical of doctors, nurses and other staff in the emergency ward to get irritated whenever they are requested to attend to patients. Politeness and patience are rare virtues to be found in the medical staff because they forget that people in pain and grave in need of medical attention only come to the emergency. Their behaviour will undergo a dramatic transformation if they can remember for a moment that attention-seeking patients could be their near and dear ones also. Thirdly, one fails to understand that why expensive lifesaving drugs cannot be stocked in the PGI, instead of sending patients’ attendants on a wild goose chase looking for mostly unavailable medicines and waste precious time. How is it that Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital, which is a newly built hospital with latest facilities, cannot handle emergencies on its own and frequently refers cases to the PGI? The time wasted in shifting patients from one hospital to another has resulted in many avoidable deaths in the absence of immediate medical help. HARINDER MOHAN SINGH, Harassment scheme The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is nothing but a scheme meant to harass patients. I am saying this from my own experience. When I had been to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 on June 10, 2002, through CGHS Dispensary, Sector 45, to get my wife treated, the prescribed medicine was not available in the CGHS Dispensary. The staff there deposited the OPD card and told me to come after two days for collecting the medicine. As my wife had planned to proceed to Delhi the same night for 10 days, she was not able to get the prescribed medicine from the hospital. I suggest that the CGHS card holders should be allowed to get treatment directly from both the PGI and the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32. For registration, there should be a separate window for the Central Government employees. Further, patients should be allowed to purchase medicines prescribed from the same hospital’s medicine shop and super bazar. This is one way of ensuring that harassment of patients is put to an end. ASHOL KUMAR New number plates Any student of science knows that it is easier to read white figures written on a black background rather than the other way round, especially during night. Thus, except for the fact that the “security features” are to be provided in the new number plates, the existing pattern of number plates is more useful. But the Chandigarh Administration is bent upon forcing the residents to change their number plates even without the security features getting incorporated. I think, the administration needs to ponder over its decision. Anu Chatrath The Good Samaritan These days we do not have time to stand and stare. But there are still some good people who are concerned about the plight of the elderly. When I was riding my moped on July 2, it suddenly stopped near Sectors 16/23 and 15/17 as the petrol got exhausted. I am old man of 73 years and am a high blood pressure patient. I thought of parking the moped on one side of the road since the petrol pump was far off and there was absolutely no possibility of going over there for petrol. Even as I was looking into the possibility of finding a solution to the problem, a Good Samaritan emerged on the scene. A college girl, having seen my plight, stopped her scooter and offered me petrol. She engaged the rubber pipe from another scooterist and transferred the required petrol to my moped. She nearly devoted 10 minutes for me and helped me. Don’t you think this is an act of gratification? The help extended by the college student has left a deep impression on me. Indeed, she has set an example for others. JASWANT SINGH
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Protest
rally by residents today Chandigarh, July 6 The residents have been demanding the conversion of the complaint lodged on June 15 against Mr C.S. Gujral, SDE Electricity Department, Sector 43, Chandigarh, into FIR. They have been seeking the immediate withdrawal of an FIR lodged by Mr C.S.Gujral against the leaders and members of LIG Residents Welfare Association, Sector 41 D. They have also been demanding the withdrawal of an FIR registered earlier against the MIG (upper) Flats Residents Welfare Association/residents, Sector 41-D. Various other welfare associations of Chandigarh, including the Federation of Sector Welfare Association, Chandigarh (FOSWAC) and CHB Residents Federation, have been invited to attend the rally. |
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Tribune
scribe bereaved Chandigarh, July 6 She leaves behind three sons and two daughters. |
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Asiatic
lioness in Chhat Bir dies Chhat Bir, July 6 Despite efforts by the zoo staff to save the injured animal, the lioness, which had refused to have food two day ago, died today. The animal was earlier segregated from other animals and was kept in a Safari house. |
Drive against rickshaw-pullers: 12 held Chandigarh, July 6 The drive, feel officials in the police department, is significant as rickshaw-pullers are involved in a substantial number of road accidents taking place daily in the city. Though the exact data is not available, a number of the accidents have been caused due to rashness and negligence of rickshaw-pullers. As part of the drive launched yesterday, at least 12 rickshaw-pullers have been booked for plying on the wrong side of the road. Cases have been registered against them under Section 283 of the IPC at the Sector 17 and 26 Police Stations. All 12 rickshaw-pullers were arrested and later bailed out. Sources in the police department said as there was shortage of staff in the traffic wing, additional force from the police stations concerned had been deputed for the drive. The officials said it had been seen that the migrant labourers, after landing in the city, take rickshaws on hire. Having little knowledge about the traffic rules and no road sense, they were often involved in road accidents. It had been widely recorded that often the rickshaw pullers cut across the road without giving any indication. Officials also claimed that a drive to educate the rickshaw-pullers was launched earlier this year. However, the pullers, on the other hand, insisted that no one had ever approached them. To check the number of stories, the Chandigarh Police had planned to declare Madhya Marg a “rickshaw-free zone”. According to the plan under consideration, the rickshaws and other such slow moving vehicles, were to be directed to take alternate routes to their destinations. Cycles will, however, be allowed to ply. Presently, the rickshaws and other slow moving vehicles have to ply on slow carriageways, running along the Madhya Marg.
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Pharma student commits suicide Chandigarh, July 6 Injured:
Assaulted:
Liquor seized:
Vehicles stolen:
According to the information, a Maruti Zen car ( CH 03 E 9435) was stolen on the night intervening July 4 and July 5. In the second case, Mr Sartaj Bahadhur, a resident of Sector 21, complained that his Maruti Zen was stolen from the parking area of Hotel Monarch in Sector 35. In another incident, A Yamaha motor cycle was stolen from Sector 28. The police has registered a case under Section 379 of the IPC in all the above cases of vehicle theft. Meanwhile, the police checking in Sector 22 has been intensified following a spurt in the number of cases of vehicle thefts in Sector 22. Special nakas were set up late on Friday evening. Held:
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8 held
for power theft Chandigarh, July 6 |
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Exhibition of Kashmiri items Chandigarh, July 6 The ‘sozni’ work, a needle embroidery in tiny floral patterns reminded of an intricate minakari work while jamawari suits in Indonesian crepe where colourful threads have woven a dream pattern, were an object of art. There were others like golden and silver zari pattern works in voile and jute cotton. The price range starts from Rs 450. The most capturing creations, however, were the woolen rugs which could be used both as a carpet or a wall hanging. Woven in silk and wool it was based on an important aspect of Kashmiri life which is hunting. Embroidered in different textured wools, the cushions and the tapestry works gave a three dimensional effect. The cushions are priced at Rs 600 each and the tapestry work starts from Rs 1,850 with most intricate ones going up to Rs 6000. To complement the creative works, Harpreet has also brought a collection of decorative items made of paper and embroidered bags in suede leather. “This the first of the series of many exhibitions on ethnic creations I have planned for the city customers,” says Harpreet. A former student of Clothing and Textile designing from Home Science College, sector 10, Harpreet has recently started her designer house by the name of “Sukriti”. |
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