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May 4, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Cloud of dust irritates residents Chandigarh, May 3 The local airport has no instrument-based landing system and the pilot has to rely on actual visibility. For the landing of a plane, a pilot requires visibility of 2.4 km and today this was no more than 600 meters. Flights by Jet Airways and also by Indian Airlines were cancelled after the airlines authorities waited till 3.30 p.m. for the dust to clear up. Under the present circumstances there is no possibility of flight tomorrow. The dust, interestingly reduced day temperatures as the sun was not as harsh as it was a few days ago. The day temperature was recorded at 34°6C, 2 degrees below normal. The local met office said it would take two more days for the dust to clear. The conditions have been caused due to high speed winds in Rajasthan, which have carried the dust to this parts of the country. In Rajasthan intense heat was followed by high speed winds. At present the direction of the wind is towards Chandigarh once this changes the dust will automatically change direction. For city residents the cloud of dust caused irritation in the eyes. Houses, shops and offices had a layer of dust. Shopkeepers preferred to keep their doors closed. Doctors have advised people with history of asthma to avoid moving out or cover their faces. Right since morning, dusty conditions had been a topic of discussion. People on two-wheelers, especially women, preferred to cover their faces. Car drivers rolled up their windows. It being a weekend, several city clubs sprayed water on the lawns to make some dust settle down.
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TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE Chandigarh, May 3 The HIV testing policy laid down by Government of India says that no individual should be made to undergo mandatory HIV test, as this approach could be counter-productive and it might scare away a large number of suspect cases from seeking treatment. This mandatory screening of patients at several places has come to the notice of Mr J.V.R. Prasada Rao, Additional Secretary and Project Director of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). He had issued directions that the voluntary counseling and testing centres (VCTCs) should not be used for screening patients before surgery or delivery, as it could prove to be counter-productive. The UT AIDS Control Society had also been issued directions in this regard. Though crores of rupees are being spent on AIDS awareness and prevention, the PGI has not bothered to introduce round-the-clock HIV-screening at its Emergency Ward. Even in routine cases, blood samples are collected daily, but the test reports are given to patients only twice a week. While it is done free of cost at the PGI, private laboratories charge Rs 300 for it. “My
husband met with an accident and was taken to the PGI Emergency for
surgery late in the day, but doctors told us that the HIV test was
mandatory before the operation,” said an Ambala woman. “We, too,
feel
Sources in the UT AIDS Control Society said they
had been circulating the directions of NACO among the three VCTCs at
the PGI, General Hospital and Government Medical College and Hospital.
The PGI officials said the HIV test was being done as per the NACO
guidelines and the PGI Emergency had the provision for rapid test, the
report of which was released within 3 hours. The test was free of
cost. Doctors and surgeons at the PGI, said patients were being
asked to undergo the HIV test for their own safety. “There have been
several cases where through needle pricks, doctors and paramedical
staff have contracted the HIV, so, all risk should be averted,” said
a doctor. |
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Conman running
‘consultancy’ held Chandigarh, May 3 The police has seized over 100 passports from the office. The illegal business was being run under the name of Continental Services. Managed by Harjeet Singh, a resident of Ludhiana, the other members of the company were Arvind Dhiman, Niamat Massi and Raminder Singh. The conman owed thousands of rupee to his clients whom he could not send abroad. The main person behind the racket, Harjeet, had earlier been arrested twice on the same charges by the Chandigarh Police in the past. When the police raided the office of Harjeet Singh, around 20 persons had come in for interview after reading an advertisement of an employment opportunity in Dubai. An offer for employment as driver, mason and other trades had been made in the advertisement, said a police official. A sum of Rs 60,000 were demanded from the prospective clients by the company. A case under Sections 419, 420, 511, 120 B of the IPC and Section 25 of the Immigration Act, 1983, has been registered by the police. The modus operandi of the conman was to call clients for interview, conduct their medical examination and charge Rs 2500 as the processing fee. After some time, the client would be asked to pay the amount of Rs 60,000 for being sent to Dubai or other Gulf countries. According to information, some persons had also come to the Sector 42 office of the company to ask for the refund of their money. Mr Gurmeet Singh, one of the victims, said he had come for the refund of his Rs 50,000 which he had paid to Harjeet for being sent to Dubai. According to the police, the conman did not have any permission to run the consultancy service. As per the law, a permission from the Protector of Immigration, and a permission from the Labour ministry was required to send people abroad for employment.
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Haryana
justifies land acquisition Chandigarh, May 3 In an affidavit submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Panchkula’s Deputy Commissioner-cum-member secretary of Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board Satwant Ahlawat further claimed, “The issue of providing basic facilities and amenities for devotees and pilgrims coming to pay obeisance to the deity was deliberated at the highest level in the government and it was decided in principle that the board should have additional 57 acres for dharamshala, sarai etc....” The affidavit was submitted in connection with a petition filed by an organisation challenging the notifications issued with regard to the acquisition of land. The case is significant as hundreds of devotees visit the temple everyday. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner added: “The old shrine complex has become over-crowded and congested and there is inadequate space for providing proper infrastructure. Notification under Section 6 of the Acquisition of Land Act, under challenge in the present petition, was also challenged by similarly placed persons in another writ petition. After considering all the aspects, the high court had disposed of the petition with directions to the board to rehabilitate persons having residential units of small size”. The Deputy Commissioner concluded: “After following the due procedure, Panchkula’s Land Acquisition Controller (LAC) announced the award on May 25, 2002 and Rs 7.29 crore were deposited with the LAC’s office in May 2002”. |
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IN FOCUS Kharar, May 3 While the township is losing its land to “outsiders”, the ownership of land is changing hands at prices much below the prevailing market rates. According to sources in the Revenue Department, these deals are not being registered as legitimate land deals cannot take place till the identification process is complete. The land in question is referred to as “zumla mustarkan malkan” in Punjab. Earlier, village land owners had contributed some of their land which could be used for a common purpose by the entire village. However, there were complaints that the land was being misappropriated and a large number of land owners approached the high court, seeking their land back. In 1997, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, while disposing over 80 writ petitions collectively, ruled that zumla mustarkan malkan be transferred back to individual land owners. Local government sources say that presently consolidation officers are engaged in the process of identifying the land to be transferred and are working out the share of individual owners. Local residents say that since common land is to be transferred back to individuals, “rich” and “influential” persons are using various means to “persuade” locals into selling their share. Commenting upon one such modus operandi, a local farmer said a person buys a tract of land so situated that those owing land adjoining to it find it hard to make optimum use of their land, and thus find disposing it off for a better option. Some buyers have also taken advantage of infighting between various individuals to procure land at cheap rates. Needless to say that such land is bought at prices at much lower prices. Local residents reveal that land estimated to cost about Rs 7-8 lakh has changed hands for as low as Rs 3 lakh. Recently, about 500 acre of land in a nearby village was reportedly bought by some “bigwigs” residing in Chandigarh. A local lawyer also pointed out that a couple of top Haryana politicians too have been on a land buying spree. As per estimates provided by the local residents, about 40 per cent of the Kharar's farmland has been bought by politicians or bureaucrats over the past few years. Revenue officers say that these deals are “benami”, or unregistered. Hence, there are no details or records of such land transactions available with local authorities. “What is happening is an agreement between the two parties concerned where the government does not come into the picture,” a local official said. “Until the land owners get their land back and the transfer is recorded in revenue records, registered land deals cannot take place,” they added. |
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NGO’s plea on traffic chaos Zirakpur, May 3 Samadhan, a local NGO, has alleged that in certain cases, entire families have been killed. Adding to the woes is the narrow bridge on the Panchkula-Zirakpur stretch — having long lines of vehicles, it is virtually a driver’s nightmare”. Another problem of the area is that the local buses plying from Chandigarh to Zirakpur via Panchkula are routed through the Panchkula-Zirakpur highway. With a number of residential colonies coming up in the area falling under NAC Zirakpur in the past few years, the residents have to travel a long way to the highway from their houses to catch local buses. Samadhan has urged the Governor and Chief Minister of Punjab to solve these problems being faced by the residents of Zirakpur. The NGO has suggested that the 220 feet wide abandoned old Kalka-Ambala highway, presently being used just as a link road for the villages falling on this road, should be converted into Zirakpur bypass. This would ease the traffic flow on the congested and deadly highway, besides bringing development to the area. |
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New fire station building inaugurated Chandigarh, May 3 According to an official
spokesperson for the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the total
expenditure incurred on the construction of this building in the first
phase is Rs 19 lakh. In the second phase, provision has been made to
construct residential complex for four families of officials of the
fire wing of the corporation including two dormitories. While
speaking on the occasion, the MP expressed his happiness on the timely
completion of the fire station building in an open area. Earlier the
old building of the fire station was located in a congested area in
the market. Fire vehicles faced a lot of difficulty while coming out
of the fire station during emergency due to traffic hazards. Twelve
officials of the Fire Department were also awarded with certificate of
appreciation. Those who were present during the inauguration ceremony
included Mayor Subash Chawla, MC Commissioner MP Singh, local
councillor Surinder Singh and residents of Mani Majra.
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Cannon
rally — Bhatti style Chandigarh, May 3 Set in the backdrop of the forthcoming state elections, the cannon rally — as it was called — mustered an encouraging response. In command at Sector 17 Piazza, the venue of the hour-long cannon rally, was the king of comedy Jaspal Bhatti himself. Using satire as a weapon, he came down heavily upon all the self-styled guardians of religion, who think they are enriching the faith by glorifying symbols like trishools and lathis. Bhatti took on these leaders and declared that trishools and lathis were outdated and unsophisticated. “We now need to use modern weapons like cannons so that we are able to create greater communal and political divide in society. I highly recommend firearms for everyone. I appeal to the government to make firearms available at the toy shops. There should be no need of licences. We should be free to use these arms so that we can do away with peace, faster and better,” said Bhatti. In his patent style, Bhatti went about despising two political leaders in particular — the Vishwa Hindu Parishad General Secretary Pravin Togadia who takes pride in distributing trishools to the followers of Hinduism; and Laloo Prasad Yadav, who is happy with underlining his strength by giving away lathis to his supporters. Interspersing his address with special sequences, set to music by Brijesh Ahuja and sung by Gurtej Teg, Jaspal Bhatti persisted with his point: “Every political party should have the freedom to wield lathis, swords, knives, trishools, spears, grenades, cannons in their rallies to show their strength. In near future we will also mobilize several supporters who will fund our cannons so that we can distribute them to our supporters and party workers. We will offer consultancy services to political parties on how to divide votes on communal and caste basis and on how to create an atmosphere of insecurity in the country.” Referring to the 55 years of India’s existence as a free country, Jaspal Bhatti said that after years of freedom, our leaders have been unable to touch upon basic issues concerning the nation and its people. Speaking to the Tribune after the much-hyped mushaira, in which various couplets on the use of cannons were recited, Jaspal Bhatti said: “No one talks of water, education or elimination or poverty. These politicians are holding the country to ransom, by diverting the attention of gullible people towards non issues. My rally will succeed if people at the helm of affairs get the message that underlies our effort.” Through his rally, the actor also meant to reach out to the people, who tend to get swayed when approached in the name of religion. Others who participated in the rally were Vinod Sharma, Lally Gill, Keshav Bhrata (also the lyricist), Gurtej Teg, Brijesh Ahuja, Neerja, Sanjay, Munish and
Komal. |
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British
Library to organise contests Chandigarh, May 3 According to Deputy Manager Christina N. Singh, story-reading competition for children between 6 and 8 years of age would be held on May 9. Children up to 5 years of age can participate in a painting competition to be held on the next day. A debate will be organised on May 12 for members aged between 18 and 30. Another session will be held for members above 30. A story-writing competition will be held for all members on May 13. Painting and flower-arrangement contests for all women members will be held on May 15. There are about 30 seats in each category and the registration is on first-come-first-served basis. |
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Regiment
celebrates Raising Day Chandigarh, May 3 Addressing a “sainik sammelan” on the occasion, the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, Col Y. Dimri, reminded the unit personnel of their achievements, past glory and exhorted them to scale new heights in future. He also honoured the soldiers and squadrons excelling in various activities. The squadrons of the regiment draw lineage from those disbanded after the second World War and bear the same designations. |
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Tearing
of sweepers’
list flayed Chandigarh, May 3 He said the union was against handing over of sanitation work to contractors, but if the Municipal Corporation had recruited sweepers on daily wages, there was no point in opposing it. He claimed that the Mayor, Mr Subash Chawla, had assured the union leadership to confirm the services of sweepers on daily wages, provided the local administration allows them to do so.
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Jacob thanked
for amending building bylaws Chandigarh, May 3 In a joint statement issued here today, Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, Mr Bal Krishan Kapoor and Mr Purshottam Mahajan, city BJP president, state general secretary of the party, and president of the traders’ cell, respectively, said it was at the BJP’s persuasion that the Administrator had granted this permission. Mr Y.P. Mahajan said that various issues related to Chandigarh had been taken up with the Centre. |
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SAVE SUKHNA I am echoing the feelings of ordinary citizens who go for a walk along the lake in the morning or evening and enjoy the ambience sitting on the embankment. We enjoy the sight of colourful boats rowing on the lake. Ripples of water reflect the rays of the Sun or the Moon, making it a heavenly sight. The lake should not be allowed to dry up. To save the lake, a fund should be established in which the citizens can contribute. The Chandigarh Administration should make all efforts to save the lake. Being a non-technical person, I am not able to suggest any means to remove the silt accumulated at the bottom of the lake. K.K. Gupta
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Fire in rice sheller SAS Nagar, May 3
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VLCC holds make-up show Chandigarh, May 3 During the demonstration session, methods to bring out the best in the face, besides accentuating good features and concealing the problem zones were taught. In the make-up contest participants had to do the make-up in 15 minutes. Winners were handed over gift hampers from “VL Personal Care”.
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Notorious purse snatcher held Panchkula, May 3 At least nine Police Control Room (PCR) motor cycles and four police Gypsies chased the accused all over the town before he was finally nabbed by a police party near the Manimajra cremation ground. Four cops, including two Assistant Sub-Inspectors, were injured in the operation. The accused, Sandeep Singh, had tried to
snatch a purse from a woman in Sector 4. However, a PCR motor cycle parked nearby immediately sent a wireless message to all PCR vehicles. As the accused tried to flee on his scooter, he was chased by the police motor cycles and Gypsies. As he crossed the police barricade near the Sector 11/15 roundabout, ASI Lakmi Chand tried to stop him, but was run over by the scooter. By this time, the Gypsy of SHO, Sector 5, Mr Phool Chand, had also begun to chase the accused as he sped on the road leading to the Chandigarh Housing Board chowk. It was here that PCR-9 Gypsy with ASI Baljeet Singh, Constable Devinder Singh and Constable Anil Kumar got after him and finally nabbed him near the cremation ground. After his arrest, the police learnt that he was a drug addict. |
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Youth missing Chandigarh, May 3 In a complaint to the police, the father of the boy said Varun did not know much about the city. Last evening, he went out for a stroll but did not return, he said. Efforts by the family of the boy to trace did not bear any result. A case has been
registered. |
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Fake degrees: challan filed Chandigarh, May 3 |
‘LIC shifting focus to lifetime security' Chandigarh, May 3 She says that the Chandigarh division of the LIC has sold 1.8 lakh policies worth Rs 1,622 crore during the last financial year (a growth of 7 per cent in sales) and achieved zero outstanding of claims. She said the division was focusing on strengthening its market network and customer care services. Since a large number of women in Chandigarh are working, they can take Jeevan Bharati, an insurance policy evolved especially for them. The accidental and female critical illness riders are also available if they pay additional nominal premium, she says. By calling at the toll-free number 716601 at Chandigarh, the LIC policy holders could get information regarding the status of their policy, date of depositing premium and maturing date of policy through computerised voice response system. The LIC also had Komal Jeevan, a money-back policy for children which took care of the financial needs for the education of the child. Ms Verma said the Jeevan Mitra policy offered triple security — payment of sum assured and bonus after maturity, double the amount of sum assured in case of accidental death and three times the payment of sum assured and bonus in case of natural death during the policy period. She said in spite of the cut in interest rates, the LIC was offering competitive policies, transparent working and customer-friendly environment. Though private players had entered the field, the LIC was giving them a stiff competition. |
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‘Need
for new designs
in woven products’ SAS Nagar, May 3 At a design-cum-dyeing workshop at the Northern Indian Institute of Fashion Technology
(NIIFT) here today, the Managing Director of Weavco, Ms Suman Rani Bansal, said she regretted that durries, ‘khesis‘ and other woven items were usually sold only within the state and had failed to attract a large number of buyers at the national level and in foreign countries. She said small groups of weavers, should be selected in Punjab for encouraging the creation of new designs. The need of the hour was to come up with value-added products. Ms Bansal said the Central Government had adequate funds for such purposes which could be tapped for training weavers in Punjab. The workshop, organised for students of the Punjab Government-run NIIFT, lays emphasis on the use of ecofriendly dyes. It has been organised in collaboration with the Weavers Service Centre of Panipat. Ms Seema Jain, Ropar Deputy Commissioner, who inaugurated the workshop, said there were tremendous opportunities in the garment industry at the global level. Some dress designers in India had already made a name for themselves at the international level. She advised youngsters to take advantage of the opportunities available in this industry. The Director of the NIIFT, Ms Vijay Sharma, said dyeing and printing were important in the textile industry. At the NIIFT, students were given theoretical knowledge of this field, so that, they became aware of different techniques. A workshop was organised once a year with the help of weavers for the benefit of students. Mr V.K. Aggarwal, Assistant Director of the Panipat centre, highlighted the aims and objectives of the centre. |
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New
HMT group GM Chandigarh, May 3 According to a company press note he joined the HMT as Engineer, Training in 1970 and worked in the design, project engineering, planning, production and marketing departments. As a General Manager of the Machine Tools Unit, Mr Sharma introduced different variants of computerised numerical controlled (CNC) machine centres and application of newer technologies to the automobile industry.
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Inscol
to help nurses go abroad Chandigarh, May 3 Although nurses from India, to work in the USA require to clear CGFNS exams, Inscol is able to offer placement to nurses with specialised experience of three years without having passed this exam. These nurses would be selected through an online interview and would be sent abroad within the next two to three months. |
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