The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Dumping ground cordoned off
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
Reacting to the demands of residents of Dadumajra village for the shifting of the dumping ground that is emanating methane, the Chandigarh Administration today considered fencing the area where the gas was found or dig a trench around it. The dumping ground, however, cannot be shifted as this was not a permanent solution to the problem.

A team of the civil defence wing of the Administration today visited the site and marked the area with lime to make the residents keep off the place. Since the fencing will take time to come up, the residents have been asked to keep away and not light fires.

Officials of the Administration said shifting was not a possibility but added things would improve once certain steps which were in the pipeline were implemented. Shifting would mean that the same problems would recur elsewhere.

The first in line is the project of growing flowers around the dumping ground. A tender has been invited by the municipal corporation in 15 acres. In the past few years, the pollution control laws have prevented the burning of garbage in the dumping ground.

About four days ago, the chance detection of methane around the dumping ground made the Administration take action. The ADC got the area cordoned off and police personnel were deputed a fire engine had also been pressed into service.

Sources in the Administration said people in the area have been asked to be cautious.

Generating power from the garbage is also on the cards. The plan has been held up as councillors could not arrive at a consensus on the plant. The Union Ministry of Environment has also agreed to give a grant in this regard.

Wary, students keep away from PU probe panel
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
There has been no response from students to the special inquiry commission set up by Panjab University to probe into the violence on the campus on July 30 that left three students seriously injured. Malwinder Singh Kang, president of the Panjab University Students Union was one of the injured.

This can be gauged from the fact that four days after the constitution of the commission, not a single student has come forward for deposition. The commissioner headed by Justice Sushil Kumar Jain, has fixed August 19 as the last date for deposition. At least three days this week are closed days for the university.

Justice Jain confirmed that no response had been received from the students. He was of the view that since the students could depose this week too, there might be some statements. He said the students might not be very forthcoming in this regard.

He said the students need not fear anyone because care would be taken to safeguard their interests. Asked whether the commission would ensure anonymity, he said since the commission was a public inquiry, anonymity could not be guaranteed.

A senior university official said the students were not forthcoming with their statements as they feared repercussions from those involved in the incident. Parents were also likely to dissuade them from making “legal” statements.

The university had issued a circular saying “all persons interested or acquainted with the facts relating to the said incident (attack on Malwinder Kang in the university market) are invited to file their affidavits duly attested by a Notary Public, Magistrate or an Oath Commissioner”.

The circular had been forwarded to all teaching departments, hostels and local colleges.

Saurabh Joshi, secretary of the ABVP, said the students would not come forward due to the fear of violence. The university should not have its office at a public place, instead the students should have been given telephone numbers where they could give the necessary information secretly. The anonymity of the students should be assured if they were asked to make official statements later, he said.

Another student leader said both parties, alleged attackers and those who were hurt, belong to “strong” groups on the campus. Security of those interested in providing information should be guaranteed by the authorities, he added.

Time for change in PUTA leadership
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
Calling for a complete change in the Panjab University Teachers’ Union (PUTA) leadership, Dr Harjinder Singh, standing for the post of President in the forthcoming PUTA elections, addressed a press conference at the Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, yesterday. He was accompanied by the candidate for the post of secretary, Dr Akshay Kumar. He said administration had failed to realise that to bring out the best in the teachers, legitimate rights and benefits ought to be given to them.

They said, if elected, the team would ensure social security for the teaching fraternity by taking up the issue of non-implementation of pension scheme, extension of retirement age to 62 years and payment of salaries on a regular basis with arrears to senior teachers.

They claimed that “freeze” in recruitment had paralysed teaching and research. They spoke for construction of more houses on the university campus.

Engineers aplenty but where are jobs
P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
The spurt in the number of private engineering colleges, polytechnics and “study centres” in Punjab in the past five years or so is likely to create a problem of placement for young engineers.

While finding a job is not easy in the private sector, the government has already shut its door on them. Some of these engineering graduates and postgraduates in business management are reportedly employed at a meagre salary of only around Rs 3,500 per month. It is estimated that nearly 25,000 such freshers, including those who have graduated from colleges in Haryana, are out looking for a job.

The Directorate of Technical Education revealed that Punjab had 34 engineering colleges, including four government ones. Out of 50 polytechnics, the government-owned were 18. The total annual intake of students in these technical institutions was approximately 20,000.

Higher education has been treated as a commodity by the private sector, which started engineering colleges, offering a wide range of courses. In each of these colleges, the estimated investment is between Rs 5 crore and 10 crore.

Thanks to the recent ruling of the Supreme Court, the fee and funds prescribed is uniform in both government and private institutions with no paid or free seats. But these colleges had minted money prior to this judgement, say sources.

In view of the job squeeze faced by the youth, the intake has been affected this year. Also, course preferences have changed. Mr Roshan Lal Sunkaria Director Technical Education, said: “Very few students have opted for, say information technology or electronics this year. The preference is again for mechanical engineering.

Mr Sunkaria said the opening of these private institutions had not only afforded an opportunity to more students to take up technical education but also checked the flight of capital from Punjab. It was estimated that each year Punjab lost nearly Rs 100 crore, as students sought admission into professional colleges.

However, Mr Charanjit Chawla, a Fellow of Panjab University, was critical of these “professional shops’’. He said “this leads to commercialisation of higher education, where mediocrity has overrun merit and where money-making, and not service, is the motive’’. That apparently, was the motivating force for those who have invested between Rs 5 crore and Rs 10 crore in these colleges, offering not only engineering degrees but also degrees in business administration, computer applications, information technology or pharmacy or even BDS.

Professor Chawla’s concern was about the fate of those students, particularly those who got admitted to 100-odd “study centres” that were reportedly virtually auctioned by Punjab Technical University (PTU). Some of them were literally operating from non-descript two rooms atop shopping complexes and offering an array of courses!

Though a bold effort was made to tackle these “study centres”, when a Punjab IAS officer was officiating as the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Technical University but political hands stymied that. Even the court had intervened, giving these centres some respite. At least some semblance of academic discipline has now been restored with the appointment of Dr Y. S. Rajan as the PTU Vice-Chancellor.

Nursing schools mushroom violating norms
Poonam Bath
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
A large number of private nursing institutes, enjoying the patronage of ruling party politicians, have mushroomed in Punjab in flagrant violation of the norms laid down by the state government and the Indian Nursing Council.

A Punjab minister and an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister are learnt to be amongst the patrons of some of these institutes, which have even gone ahead with the admission process.

While the Punjab Health and Medical Education Secretary, Mr Satish Chandra, admits that such institutes violate the norms on infrastructure and financial sustainability, the Indian Nursing Council (INC) maintains that they do possess the requisite infrastructure to run nursing courses.

A structure coming up on the Kharar-Kurali road may be mistaken for a shopping centre but it is from there that Victor Institute of Nursing and Para Medical Services will function. Similarly, a multi-storeyed 16-marla house ( H No 91) in Phase-VII, SAS Nagar, houses Charanjit Singh Memorial Institute of Nursing Education.

Three such institutes started the admission process this year without getting the final clearance from the state government. Charanjit Memorial Institute, run by a former Registrar of the Punjab Nurses Registration Council (PNRC), Ms Amrit Kaur Ahluwalia, has been doing so for the past two years. While it is already running the auxiliary nursing midwifery (ANM) course, it has started admissions for the general nursing and midwifery ( GNM) course even though it was refused permission in view of the inadequate infrastructure.

Victor Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Services, SAS Nagar, enjoys the patronage of Mr Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, OSD to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Mrs Garcha’s husband, Col. B.S. Garcha (retd), president of the management committee of the institute, which has already completed admissions for the three-year general nursing and midwifery (GNM) course, said they had the necessary approvals for starting admissions..

The Punjab Government had issued a letter of intent/preliminary NoC to the institute on February 25 this year though it “did not possess land and other resources to establish a nursing school.”

Colonel Garcha said they had already bought two acres of land for the purpose where a nursing institute would be set up within the stipulated period of two years.

No different is the story of the Mata Kulwant Kaur Educational Society, Banga, which is learnt to be the brainchild of Dr D.P.S. Sandhu, Director Health and Family Welfare. Its management is backed by his son, Dr Deepinder Singh, and his wife, Dr M.K. Sandhu. However, Dr DPS Sandhu, who happens to be the President of the PNRC, has managed to get recognition for starting the GNM course in the institute without getting a feasibility report from the INC. However, Mr Sandhu denied having any connection whatsoever with any nursing institute.

The decision to grant preliminary NoCs/ letters of intent to some of these institutes was taken on December 5, 2002, which were subsequently issued in May this year. But no approval has been granted by the state government to any of these institutes to start admissions.

Meanwhile, some of these institutes have managed to get feasibility certificates from the Indian Nursing Council.

Vishwa Mitter Sekhri Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences enjoys the patronage of Mr Ashwani Sekhri, Minister of State for Health. It has also obtained a preliminary NoC and a suitability certificate from the Indian Nursing Council.

Mr Satish Chandra admitted that even though these institutes had been given letters of intent/preliminary NoCs, these could not admit students without final permission from the government.

He clarified that the government had the powers to cancel the NoCs if a specific complaint was made about the violation of rules. In certain cases preliminary NoCs had been issued even as the then DRME had pointed out deficiencies regarding the availability of land, building and financial sustainability of these institutes.

A spokesman of the Indian Nursing Council said the above-mentioned institutes were found fit to start these courses. The PNRC has also granted recognition and affiliation to these institutions after inspection.

Operation Punaruthan progresses slowly
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
The joint operation by the Army, the Air Force and the Manali Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Operation Punaruthan, to search and recover the remains of Analov-12 (AN-12) aircraft which crashed on February 7, 1968, has started progressing well.

The aircraft belonging to 25 Squadron of the IAF and had taken off from Chandigarh on February 7, 1968, with 102 persons on board, six of whom were crew and the others being passengers, was en route Leh. Due to bad weather it crashed among the icy peaks of the Lahaul valley in Himachal Pradesh. There were no survivors.

The joint operation under Col Virendra Singh of Dogra Scouts along with 50 other ranks of the Army and the Air Force was launched on August 7 after preliminary reconnaissance. The 11-member Air Force contingent is led by Wg Cdr Amit Chaudhary. Assistance is also being provided by instructors from the Manali Institute of Mountaineering. Brig Rajinder Singh, SM, the local Commander, is supervising the entire operation, a press note of the Ministry of Defence said.

The Army and the Air Force have established an administrative camp at Batal and a base camp to the west of Kunzom La at an altitude of approximately 13,500 ft. Based on initial reconnaissance reports, the team has established its first camp at the base of the Dakka glacier. Intensive reconnaissance was carried out where mortal remains of Pioneer Beli Ram were found. Debris and wreckage of the aircraft and some personal belongings and clothing of ill-fated passengers have been spotted scattered around the glacier in an area of approximately 1 km north of Point 6264. The second camp was being established on the south Dakka glacier today at an altitude of 15,800 ft. Further camps may be established subsequently, depending on the progress of search and recovery operations. All the necessary special mountaineering equipment has been flown in to Batal. Avalanche rescue dogs will also be pressed into service.

Due to the high-altitude terrain and hostile weather conditions the search operations will be slow but deliberate and thorough, the press note said. A proper segregation, cataloguing and identification team would be positioned at Batal to process all finds.

For 35 years, the wreckage of the aircraft and its payload lay strewn over the hostile and icy slopes of the area, hidden from view. In July this year, an expedition team of the Manali Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports to the Chandra Bhaga peak in the vicinity of the crash, discovered the mortal remains of Pioneer Beli Ram, an Army soldier, who had been manifested on the ill-fated aircraft.

The news of the discovery was reported to the Army and the Air Force Headquarters. In the true traditions of the armed forces, a joint search and recovery mission was launched to recover the mortal remains of as many crash victims as possible.

The mission was also to ascertain likely causes of the crash and endeavour to recover the cockpit recorder or “black box” of the aircraft for analysis.

The crash site lay close to Batal, a small hamlet on the state highway No 30.

Rejuvenating the special bond
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 12
Laughter filled the air as sisters throughout the city tied the thread of love on the wrists of their brothers to strengthen the bond between them on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan today.

It all started early. Excited sisters, clad in their festive best, applied vermilion on the forehead of their brothers before tying the thread. As they stood there excited, some brothers could be seen bending to touch their feet of their elder sisters.

Some others went to temples to pray for the safety and long lives of their brothers. They even offered rakhis in the temples. Heavy rush was also witnessed in front of the sweet shops all over the city as the residents did last minute shopping.

Some of the sweet shops even went out of stock last evening asking residents to come next morning as early as 6 am. For the youngsters, sweets were just not the right choice as they picked up boxes of assorted chocolates and biscuits.

As so many brothers and sisters took to the streets for visiting each other on the occasion, the traffic almost came to a standstill. No wonder, major traffic jams were witnessed in different parts of the city, including the road separating Sector 23 and 24, Sector 35 and 34, even on the Panchkula-Chandigarh highway. If nothing else, the jams provided the residents an excuse for reaching the office late.

This year rakhi for so many of the youngsters was an expensive affair. Instead of just buying the traditional threads, they had purchased “fancy stuff”.

For their little brothers, the sisters had purchased Batman, Tarzan, Superman, even Popeye the sailor man and his girl friend Olive. Each rakhi was costing not less than Rs 50.

Others had purchased rakhis with the images of gods each costing not less than Rs 200. Instead of just carrying them on simple platters, they had picked up traditional trays decked up with mirrors.

The festival grew from personal bonding to a level of human bonding as tiny tots of different schools tied self-made rakhis to children of the lesser gods staying in slums and colonies.

Members of the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya went to the municipal corporation office to tie rakhis around the wrist of the officials.

Brahma Kumari Yogini and Neelam from the organisation tied rakhis around the wrists of city Mayor Subhash Chawla.

Orphans tie rakhi to Governor
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
Twentysix orphans from a special village known as Save Our Souls near Rajpura were the guests of the Punjab Governor, Justice O.P. Verma. They were accompanied by women caretakers and co-workers to Punjab Raj Bhavan to tie rakhi to him.

The girls were brimming with joy as they entered the drawing room and made themselves comfortable. The children explored each and every artefact in the Governor’s drawing room.

As the Governor arrived, there was competition among the children to share the sofa with him.

Six-month-old Manav, two-year-old Rita and three-year-old Jasmine got the privilege of sitting with the Governor. The others lined up to tie rakhi to him. The Governor gave them a box of sweets each and high tea was also served.

Swings and joy rides had also been organised for the children on the lawns of Raj Bhavan. The children enjoyed and played for about two hours before leaving for their homes.

Earlier in the day, Brahma Kumari Aanchal tied rakhi to the Governor.

Brahma Kumaris tie rakhis to cops
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, August 12
The three-day Raksha Bandhan celebrations by the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishva Vidyalaya concluded with a special function organised in the evening in Phase VII here today.

A function was earlier organised in the morning for the police and Mr Harcharan Singh Bhullar, SP, was the chief guest. Mr Bhullar honoured B.K. Prem and B.K. Rama for their good services.

Mr Birdevinder Singh, Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, was to be the chief guest but he could not attend the function. The SDM, Mr M.L. Sharma, was present on the occasion.

Earlier, Brahma Kumaris tied rakhis on the wrist of Punjab Police commandos and the inmates of Paraplegic Home.

Garbage bins blot on city’s beauty
Sanjay Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
The master plan of the city does not have specific spots where garbage could be collected. As a result, garbage bins with litter around them are marring its beauty. “The master plan does not provide for garbage collection spots across the city,” an official at the Medical Officer Health Department told Chandigarh Tribune.

Garbage bins attract cattle, dogs and rag- pickers, who litter the garbage. Despite more than 15 garbage bins in a sector at their disposal, residents mostly throw their house-hold waste outside the bins, a Sanitary Inspector said.

Around 900 garbage bins placed across the city do not gel with the architectural beauty of the city.

Inquiries at the Medical Officer Health Department of the Municipal Corporation revealed that a large part of the city did not have any places earmarked for keeping garbage bins and their letters to the Chief Architect’s office seeking identification of such places failed to bring the desired results.

However, a senior official in the Chief Architect’s office said the sites of garbage bins had been identified by the Municipal Corporation in consultation with them.

A survey of sites selected for keeping the garbage bins revealed that bins have been placed on road berms, public land and even sub-sectoral parks without any concrete platform. Due to this, garbage leaches into sub-soil water. This is in violation of norms to check pollution of groundwater.

As per the garbage management rules in the Municipal Corporation, garbage bins have to be placed atop raised concrete platforms with a slope to let the discharge flow to a sewerage line.

Yet, nowhere has corporation been able to make these provisions.

Corporation officials say there was an arrangement of collecting garbage house-to-house but due to the shortage of staff and equipment, it was discontinued.

SAS NAGAR DIARY
Amusement park trip for special children
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, August 12
A one-day excursion tour to the Thunder Zone amusement park here will be organised for physically challenged children by the National Society for Child Artistes on August 13. The chairman of the society, Mr Ajit Salani, said more than 300 such children from all over the state would take this tour.

Architects’ body: Mr Bhupinder Singh was elected president of the Practicing Architects Association here. Mr P.S. Chawla was chosen vice-president, Mr Paramjit Singh general secretary and Mr Vivek Sud secretary. Mr Ranjit Kumar will be treasurer, while Mr Manmohan Sinha, Mr Parminder Singh and Mr Parveen Bakshi will be executive members.

Ruling decried: Members of the All-India Trade Union Congress here have expressed concern over the Supreme Court decision restricting government employees from going on strike. Mr Ram Ji Das, general secretary, Trade Union Council, SAS Nagar, said this decision of the apex court would restrict a fundamental right of government employees.

Sapling plantation: A tree plantation function was held at Swami Ram Tirath Public High school. Mr Hans Raj Sharma, former Finance Minister, Punjab and president of the Swami Ram Tirath Memorial Society; Mr K.K. Sharda, manager; Ms Anjula Sharma, school Principal; and teachers planted over 100 saplings on the school premises. The Rotract Club of the Gianjyoti Institute of Management and Technology organised a tree plantation ceremony in the institute. Mr J.S. Bedi, chairman, GJIMT, planted the first sapling. As part of the campaign, saplings were also planted at Shivalik Public School, Shastri Model School, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, Chandigarh, by the club members.

Teej celebrations: Rotary SAS Nagar organised Teej at Rotary Bhavan here for women of Mattuar village. Dr Surjit Kaur, president, Family Planning Association of India, Punjab, delivered a lecture on the importance of birth control and methods of family planning. A skit on the subject was also presented by members of the Family Planning Unit. Later, a colourful giddha was presented.

Mahasabha for Janmashtmi on Aug 19
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
A Sector 37-based organisation, the Hindu Parv Mahasabha, has shot off a letter to the UT Administrator, Justice O.P. Verma (retd) saying that the holiday in city on August 20 should be on August 19 instead of August 20. A press note issued by the Mahasabha Organising Secretary, Mr S.P. Chauhan, said “Janmashtmi falls on August 19 and not August 20 thus it is requested that the Administration issue instructions for a holiday on August 19.

Official sources in the Administration said no decision has been taken in this regard so far.

Five selected for I-Day awards
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
A bank manager and a forester are among five persons who will be awarded during the Independence Day celebrations. The Chandigarh Administration announced the names today.

Dr Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Lead District Manager of Punjab National Bank, Chandigarh, will be given a commendation certificate for working on various development and welfare activities.

Mr Karan Singh, Block Forest Officer of the Nepli Forest Reserve, has been selected for rendering outstanding services in planning, designing and construction of various soil conservation works in Nepli.

An Assistant Sub-Inspector of Chandigarh Home Guard, Mr Ravi Dutt, and Constables Gurmeet Singh and Sher Singh of the Chandigarh police will be awarded for meritorious services.

Each year on Independence Day, the Administration awards commendation certificates to those who have rendered outstanding services in their respective fields.

Discovery plans I-Day special
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
To commemorate India’s Independence Day, Discovery Channel has planned a series of India-specific programmes to be aired on August 15. The Independence Day special programmes will highlight various facets of India and pay a tribute to its rich culture and heritage.

The programmes will provide a fresh perspective and insight into little known aspects about India. Nine programmes to be shown on Independence Day encapsulate India in its geographical and regional entirety along with its diverse flora and fauna.

The programmes to be telecast on August 15 from 12 noon onwards include Amazing Worlds: India, Mystic Lands: Varanasi, Sacred Flamingoes of Lake Bhamke, Tigers Next Door, Destination Rajasthan, Destination Kashmir and Himalayas: Descending India.

Commenting on this special series to be aired on Independence Day, Aditya Tripathi, Director — Marketing, Discovery Communications India, said, “The programmes have been carefully chosen to offer viewers a glimpse of India that has never been seen before.”