 |
|
| Monday,
July 7, 2003, Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
|
MFA courses deferred for
one year Chandigarh, July 6 Sources in the Education Department said a communique sent to the college by the UT Home-cum-Education Secretary states that the course would now be initiated from the next academic session. Non-availability of faculty and lack of adequate space on the college premises are the reasons for the course not being started. The college was to take up masters in four disciplines — painting, sculpture, graphics and applied art. A few months ago, the All-India Council of Technical Education had approved masters in fine arts courses at the arts college as well as the introduction of masters in architecture at the Chandigarh College of Architecture. Following this, Panjab University had granted affiliation to these two colleges for conducting the courses. While the MFA courses stand deferred, a senior Education Department official said that they would go ahead with starting masters in architecture courses in two disciplines from this academic session. Starting MFA courses would require the appointment of additional faculty, the sanction for which has to be obtained from the Central Government. Though a case has been initiated by the UT Administration, the processing of the case by the Centre and subsequent approval is expected to take sometime. According to sources, the creation of 12 new ports is being sought. Three teachers, including a professor, assistant professor or reader and lecturer are desired for each MFA course. The arts college is also facing a problem of space to run four additional courses. A part of its building is at present housing a couple of offices of the Punjab and Haryana governments. The UT Administration has approached the two governments to get the premises vacated. Earlier, the UT Administration had been exploring various options to enable it to start the MFA courses from this session itself. The appointment of faculty on contract was being considered, but since the contractual appointment can be made only against vacant posts, it had tried to identify vacant posts in the entire Education Department instead of just in the two colleges concerned. As far as the Architecture College is concerned, sources add that it is not facing such problems and is in a position to initiate the proposed masters courses in landscaping and urban design. |
|
Operation clean-up in vegetable
market Chandigarh, July 6
Beginning July 8, the vegetable market would present a cleaner and tidier look with nearly 20 employees of the contractual staff entrusted with the job under the new contract given at Rs 79,000. To ensure the contractor delivers the goods and is not tempted to hoodwink the authorities, a fine of Rs 1,000 per day would be levied if the work is not found up to the mark. Besides, contractual staff would be conspicuous in the crowd with the Administration deciding to have “uniformed” men for the job. This decision was taken following complaints that the staff of the contractor was almost never available to clear the market of garbage. “While employees of the previous contractor were always absent, they used to get away with the excuse that they were one with the crowd and, hence, could not be spotted. With uniforms being made mandatory, this problem would be solved,” says Mr Brij Mohan, a trader. In another significant move by the Administration, it was decided that a roaster would be maintained at the vegetable market to keep track of the staff. This roaster would be checked everyday by an official of the Deputy Commissioner’s office who would also carry out on-the-spot inspection at any time of the day, bringing to book those attempting to play truant. It has also been decided at a meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, to fix work hours of the employees in two shifts. While their duty would begin at 10.30 am in the morning shift, the evening shift would require cleaning up of the market from 9.30 pm to 12.30 am to make sure it opens to a clean look in the morning. While most of the staff has been assigned the job of cleaning up the market when it closes and before it opens, two employees would be permanently stationed at the entry points to keep animals out and check piling up of filth while buying and selling is on.  |
|
IT company members feel cheated Chandigarh, July 6 Mr G. Ramesh, a member, said the company had not paid their dues. He alleged that apart from Rs 8,000 per month, the company had assured returns on clicking the advertisements on company websites. The company had promised to pay commissions, incentives and royalties against recruitment and business development, he alleged. The company has branches in Nepal, Bhutan, Singapore and Malaysia. However, Managing Director of the company Manoj, when contacted on his mobile, denied the allegations. He said all members had been paid their dues. He said the allegation regarding bouncing of cheques issued against the company's account was baseless. He said the members, who had approached the company had been told about the changed account number of the company. The members have lodged a complaint with the Senior Superintendent of Police. The complaint has been marked to the Economic Offences Wing of the city police. |
|
THE demolition of unauthorised colonies and slums in the city is all set to change the economic profile of the city. A section of people in the city is feeling happy these days with the move. A senior official in the Economic and Statistics Wing says: “The per capita income level of the city, which is already highest in the country, would increase substantially next year as over 50,000 people are migrating from the city. Further, people with low earning capacity would hesitate while coming to city,’’ he added. Road tax issue The Chandigarh administration’s decision to ask all the vehicle owners in the city to ensure that they have the “actual” address of their residence on the registration certificates of their vehicles has created an interesting situation. While the administration wants that all those persons who have shifted their residence to SAS Nagar, Panchkula and other towns, should just get a slip mentioning the new address from the respective Registration and Licencing Authority, the respective states have declined to cooperate with the administration. They want that the vehicle owners should get new registration numbers so that they could collect road tax as well. Water blues The state of civic affairs in Colony number 5 is pathetic. Both the residents of the Colony as well as labourers who frequent the Labour Chowk of the Colony lie potentially exposed to water-borne diseases. The problem is compounded by the lack of awareness regarding the carriers of such diseases. Most people of the colony belong to lower income groups and have little knowledge about cholera which is already spreading its tentacles in the city. So bad is the state of affairs in this colony that many residents and labourers even consume water from the taps of the public toilet vans. The other day a group of five labourers was seen drinking water from these sulabh shauchalayas, which are, as such, in a deplorable condition. Faced with dearth of water which is supplied very irregularly, people of this colony say that they have no other better option than to drink water from public toilet vans or also from hand pumps, some of which have even been declared “contaminated sources of drinking water.” Ironically, there is hardly any monitoring of the public health facilities in this area by the workers of the public health division of the Municipal Corporation. Confusion over marks Many of the students who took the BA final examination of Panjab University this year faced a lot of difficulty in finding out the marks obtained by them in various subjects. Due to some reason the results were also declared later than expected. One of the students was particularly perturbed after she could not find out the total marks obtained by her in the psychology examination (honours as well as pass course). On the very first occasion when she managed to find out her marks through some sources in the PU, she learnt that she had scored 645 marks in psychology. On the following day when she got the marks confirmed from her college, she was told that she had scored 640 marks. Finally, when the detailed marks card arrived, she found out that the actual marks awarded to her in psychology were 639. Thanks to the confusion, she is still in doubt over the status of marks obtained by her! Save the frogs With the start of the much awaited monsoon the climatic conditions have improved and the frogs have come out of their habitats. Field observations carried out by the Environment Society of India (ESI) over the years have revealed that there is a sharp decline in their population as large areas of native vegetation have been cleared, ponds filled for buildings and roads. In addition, use of chemicals, pesticides, fertilisers, detergents in kitchen gardens, nurseries, farms, release of sewage water in leisure valley, storm, drain, introduction of exotic fish and disease among the frogs have contributed largely towards the reduction in frog numbers. Frogs are shy and friendly amphibious creatures. They help us keep the insect-pests density at tolerable levels. In fact, they are considered as ecological barometer indicating the wholesomeness of air, water and greenery. Surely, the frogs need help. Create a pond in the gardens, farms and plant seeds, clump of grasses and keep rocks of logs around! Members of the eco-clubs under the National Green Corps (NGC) can build small ponds in schools and observe the frog calls. Clean toilets As you push the glass door to enter, alluring paintings protected by eye-catching wooden frames, hanging on the freshly painted walls, greet you. This is not all. Decoration pots with chuckling flowers make you smile. Welcome to the “new generation” lavatory in Sector 34 near Piccadilly cinema hall. No, this is not the only toilet with “museum-like ambience”. There are three other lavatories in the city which make you feel “real nice and comfortable”. The only thing is that you have to pay for the convenience. Anyway, it is worth the money you pull out of the purse. Lake stop Hundreds of tourists who come to Chandigarh on weekends and prefer to take a round of the city on the tourist bus owned by Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) have to suffer the “insensitive” attitude of the Chandigarh Administration. The tourists who come over to visit Sukhna Lake are dropped near Rock Garden, following police barricades. They have to cover a distance of around 2 km on foot to reach the lake and then come back to the bus parked near the Rock Garden. Mr Ajay Bir Singh Sodhi, a local resident of Sector 10, told TNS: “My children had come from Mussoorie on summer vacations and preferred to visit the places of tourist attraction in the city on this tourist bus. Surprisingly, we were made to go on foot from the Rock Garden to Sukhna Lake in the scorching heat”. “They charged Rs 50 each from us and did not inform that we will be asked to go on foot from Rock Garden to the lake. This is a breach of trust with the tourists who pay full amount, for various destinations, including the lake”, he added. Interestingly, the stoppage of the bus at the lake is just between 20 to 30 minutes, which is insufficient to get a soothing relief at the lake for the tourists.
— Sentinel |
Mayor stays away from Sonia’s reception Chandigarh, July 6 The Mayor, whose pass for the welcome function of Ms Gandhi was reportedly ready, stayed away from the reception of the entire top leadership of the party prompting his opponents to term his absence as an “insult to the party chief.” When contacted to know what his comments over the Mayor’s absence were, his bete noire, Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma, said the “Mayor has insulted the party chief by remaining absent from her reception.” The Mayor, however, offered no comment when asked why he was not present for the party President’s reception at the airport. A trader leader, Mr Subhash Kataria who claimed to be a Congressman, however, said the Mayor did not come for the reception due to his presence at the tarmac. Mr Kataria, who presented a bouquet to Ms Gandhi, said had the Mayor come to receive Ms Gandhi he would have presented a dossier against him to the Congress President. Ms Gandhi was received at the airport by Chandigarh Territorial Congress President B.B. Bahl, local MP Pawan Bansal, former Union Minister Vinod Sharma, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, his ministerial colleague Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Punjab Congress President H.S. Hanspal and Haryana Pradesh Congress President Bhajan Lal, among others. Despite a Himachal Government chopper which was kept ready for Ms Gandhi to go to Shimla, it was decided to take Ms Gandhi by road fearing inclement weather on the way. Ms Gandhi, who came by a Jet Airways flight 25 minutes late due to a problem on the runway in Delhi, had lunch at the airport. Party general secretary Kamal Nath, who came by Shatabdi, however, took a chance to go to Shimla by his own chopper. Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Harsh Mahajan and secretary Harshwardhan represented the state unit of the party to receive the top party leaders. Ms Mohsina Kidwai, Mr Ahmed Patel, Ms Ambika Soni and Mr Suresh Pachauri availed the services of the private chopper of Mr Kamal Nath. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, M.L. Fodedar, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Manmohan Singh came to the city in a Madhya Pradesh Government aircraft but left by road for Shimla. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is scheduled to reach the city tomorrow by a state plane and will go from here by road to Shimla. A former Punjab Governor and CWC member, Mr Arjun Singh, stayed in the city last night and went to Shimla by road. |
|
BJP training camp for MLAs Chandigarh, July 6 The MLAs — 19 from Uttaranchal, 16 from Himachal, three from Punjab, one from Jammu and Kashmir and six from Haryana — will get training from senior functionaries of the party.The MLAs will be informed about the Mission 2004 “Powerful BJP, Powerful India”, the philosophy of integral humanism and cultural nationalism, development under Prime Minister Vajpayee’s leadership. During the session, the new Punjab BJP Bhavan will also be inaugurated by Mr Naidu on July 13. When asked whether the party would discuss its debacle in these states, Mr Dhankar said during such sessions evaluation of the position of the party would certainly come up. Mr Dhankar admitted that it was for the first time that such a training camp had been thought of at the regional level. He said the party had been holding such sessions in individual states elsewhere also. |
|
Vehicles challaned for wrong parking Chandigarh, July 6 According to information, senior police officials have been receiving complaints regarding wrong parking of vehicles on the road in front of the market. A visit to the market revealed that all the approach roads even up to a distance of 300 to 600 metres from the market were being used for parking of cars, two-wheelers and
horsecarts. TNS |
|
No complaint against media unit: cops Chandigarh, July 6 Ms Bhawna Karir, owner of Media Ad Link, was arrested by the Delhi police on June 30. The Delhi police had raided the Delhi office of the company on a complaint by Mr Anil Kumar Sahni. The company used to contact parents at random and promise to get their child into the world of modelling. After asking the parents to pay an entrance fee, the company asked for money to prepare the portfolios of the children. Though hundreds of parents had enrolled their children at the Chandigarh office, nobody has complained to the police in the past one year. |
|
Remembering Kargil hero Vikram Batra Chandigarh, July 6 The fourth death anniversary is an important landmark in Himachali culture, explains Chandigarh-based Mr Vishal Batra, Captain Batra’s twin brother. Men from the local Army base will be there. However, Mr Batra could not confirm if anyone from Capt Batra’s regiment 13 J& K Rifles will be able to make it or not. Last year the regiment had organised a blood donation camp. Away in distant Kargil one of the critical peaks he captured during the conflict at the cost of the life, is called “Captain Batra top”. 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 the life of Captain Batra. He was shot 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. |
|
Bachitter Singh installed new Rotary President Chandigarh, July 6 The club has had a highly successful year under the leadership of immediate Past President, Dr G.S. Kochhar, during whose tenure Rotary Chandigarh Shivalik received the Rotary International Presidential Citation for four avenues of service in Rotary. Rtn. Bachitter Singh appreciated the good work done by the outgoing team and outlined his team’s plans for the current year. Apart from the ongoing projects, such as ‘Health for all in Village Kajheri’, Rotary Chandigarh Shivalik will undertake new projects which will help alleviate some of the fundamental ills of society such as poverty, illiteracy and disease. To achieve these aims the club will undertake community projects such as construction of rain water harvesting infrastructure for Jainendra Gurukul; Construction of public lavatories, providing scholarships to the needy and underprivileged students, etc. The following are the new members of the Board for the year 2003-04: President Elect — H.S. Jaspal; Vice-President — S.S. Sodhi; Secretary — Sarbjit Singh; Joint Secretary — Ajit Singh; Treasurer — Col APS Dhillon (Retd). Directors: Club service — Saroj Khosla, Vocational service — Anurag Aggarwal, Community service — Dr Maleeka Sachdev, International service — Sneh Popli, Sergeant at Arms Dr Deepak Bagai. The chief guest for the evening, Punjab PWD Minister Pratap Singh Bajwa, congratulated the incoming team. He appreciated the role of NGO’s in general and Rotary in particular for taking up challenging tasks such as eradication of polio from the face of the earth. The Minister promised support for the projects outlined by Rtn Bachitter Singh. The guest of honor, District Governor Elect, Rtn Pramod Vij, assured his wholehearted support and guidance to the club. |
|
Mango mela ends with prize distribution Panchkula, July 6 Mrs Sandhu urged mango growers to explore the possibility of growing more mangoes so that maximum profit could be earned by the diversification of crop pattern. The gardens were decorated tastefully. A huge crowd witnessed the award presentation ceremony. A Punjabi cultural programme was presented by pop singers, Romi Gill and Hardeep Kohli. The two first prizes in display were given to Shams Nursery, Muzzafarnagar, and Marwa Horticulture Farms, Saharanpur. The other prize winners are as follows: Institutions/universities/government departments Dassehri — First:- Project-cum-Demonstrator Centre, Dhola Kuan, Nahan; Horticulture Development Officer, Gurgaon; Superintendent, Horticulture, Yadavindra Gardens, Pinjore, and Garg Horticulture Farm, Udhamnagar, Yamunanagar. Second:- Project-cum-Demonstrator Centre, Shyrumylla, Nahan; Horticulture Development Officer, Chachrauli; Horticulture Development Officer, Government Guest House, Patiala; and Horticulture Development Officer, Ratgal, Kurukshetra. Langra — First:-
Horticulture Development Officer, Fatehpur, Panchkula; and Horticulture Development Officer, Udhamnagar. Second:- Horticulture Development Officer,
Nabipur. Sipia Shah Pasand — First:- Horticulture Development Officer, Fatehpur, Panchkula. Second : Kutbanpur Nursery, Samana, Patiala. Malika
— First:- Swaran Singh, Horticulture Development Officer, Patiala. Second:- Horticulture Development Officer, Chachrauli. Amrapali — First:- Horticulture Development Officer, Fatehpur, Panchkula. Second:- Horticulture Development Officer, Nabipur. Category B
(open for individuals) Langra — First:- Gurmeet Singh, Yamunanagar; and Sanjeev, Naraingarh. Second:- Shammin, Chachrauli; Phool Chand Naraingarh; Rao M. Naiem Khan, Saharanpur; and Raj Kumar, Chachrauli. Chausa — First:- Jatinder Paul Kaur, Yamunanagar; and Himmat Singh, Karnal. Second:- RS Taneja, Ambala, and Kulwant Singh, Patiala. Dassehri (Individual category) — First:- Jaswinder Singh Ghera, Yamunanagar; Sushil Kumar and Anil, Panipat; and Jaideep Deep Singh, Patiala. Second:- Manjar Singh, Chachrauli; Rakam Singh, Panipat; Syed Shamsuddin, Muzzafarnagar; Rao Muqeen Khan, Uttaranchal; Rohit, Khanpur, Yamunanagar; Surjit Singh, Panchkula. Bombay Green:- Rajinder Pal Singh, Yamunanagar. Sipia Shah Pasand:-
Joginder Singh, Patiala. Malika:- Suresh Khurana, Yamunanagar. Amrapali:- First:-
Duni Chand, Surajpur, Panchkula. Second:- Raman Saluja, Chachrauli. Other Commercial varieties — First:- Syed Shamsuddin, Muzzafarnagar; and Syed Shahabuddin, Jhinjhina. Other Commercial varieties (Desi) — First:- Phool Chand, Naraingarh; and Sanjay Jain of Saharanpur. Second:- Mohammad Suleman, Karnal; and Sanjay Jain, Saharanpur. Category C (open to institutions and manufacturers) Squash — First:-
Fruit Canning Unit, Rajgarh, Sirmour. Second:- Pachranga Eatable Fruit, Panipat. Pickle — First:-
Fruit Canning Unit, Sirmour; and Pachranga Premium, Panipat. Second:- Fruit Canning Unit, Nagrota; and Pachranga Eatable Fruit, Panipat. Chutney — First:-
Fruit Canning Unit, Nagrota; and Pachranga Eatable Fruit, Panipat. Mango Leather — First:- Pachranaga Enterprises, Panipat. Second:- Fruit Canning Unit, Nagrota. Preserved Slices — First:- Fruit Canning Unit, Nagrota, Second:- Pachranga Eatable Fruit, Panipat. Juice — First:-
Fruit Preservation Laboratory, Baradari, Patiala. Second:- Fruit Canning Unit, Nagrota. Other Products — First:- Pachranga Eatable Fruit, Panipat; and Food Canning Unit, Nagrota. Second:- Food Canning Unit , Nagrota. |
|
Protest rally by traders Chandigarh, July 6 The rally started from Sector 22 and concluded at the Housing Board traffic lightpoints. The traders with their families, including children, were carrying banners and placards with slogans “Down with Rent Act notification”. A “peaceful” rally will also be held tomorrow on Jan Marg. Members of the association will be participating in a “protest car rally” to be organised by the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal on July 9. |
|
|
Demand for new apni mandis Chandigarh, July 6 The committee, while rejecting a proposal to shift the apni mandi in Sector 33, decided to send a request to the SSP for deploying police personnel to manage traffic on the day weekly markets were set up. The committee also decided to request the Mayor, Mr Subhash Chawla, to constitute a committee to decide how to go about giving a part of the market on contract to legally allow vendors. |
|
|
Platform — Save water The Earth is the only planet to have water and is called the Blue Planet. Nearly 70 per cent of the surface of the Earth comprises water, out of which only 1 per cent fresh water that is used in our daily life. Let us adopt the slogan, “Save Water — Live and Let Live”. Let us start with our homes first. In our everyday life, every drop we save matters. Some ways to save and conserve scarce resources are that taps should not be kept running but substituted with tumblers and buckets while bathing or washing. Fresh water should be supplied for drinking purpose only for a limited time. Recycled water should be provided for other purposes like irrigation and washing. We should adjust such methods of irrigation so that there is minimum wastage of water. Pulkit Zutshi, Class VII |
|
Causeway in bad shape Kharar, July 6 Ms Parveen Kumar, secretary of the Youth Welfare Club, Tira village, said the causeway was constructed about 10 years ago at a cost of about 20 lakh. Due to rains, boulders supporting the causeway had been washed away. If immediate steps were not taken, it might soon collapse. If this happened about 20 to 25 villages would be cut off from Kharar, SAS Nagar and Chandigarh, he said. The situation had airsen due to excessive removal of sand from the bed of the rivulet, he alleged. This had
resulted in the rivulet becoming more deep and the consequent weakening of the embankments. He has demanded an immediate action from the administration.
OC |
|
|
Unruly scene Panchkula, July 6 |
Booked for abducting girl SAS Nagar, July 6 According to the police, Ricky, who belongs to a village in Ludhiana, was living as a tenant in the house of Mrs Harbans Kaur for the past one year. He worked as a model and had also featured in some TV shows. Mrs Harbans Kaur, along with her two granddaughters, lived alone in the same house. The two girls are orphans as their parents had died while they were small. According to the police, the elder granddaughter, a student of BA (first year) at Government College, Sector 46, Chandigarh, and Ricky were friends and there was a strong chance that the girl could have gone with him on her own. The two had been missing from the house since the past four days. Mrs Harbans Kaur contacted the police with a birth certificate and proof of the age of her granddaughter, claiming that she was born in December 1985 and still a minor and Ricky had allegedly misled her into eloping with him. The police has conducted raids at Ricky’s village in Ludhiana and registered a case under Sections 363 and 366, IPC. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 123 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
