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| Saturday,
August 16, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Former neighbours meet at Raj Bhavan Chandigarh, August 15 The instant happiness of the two at seeing each other was evident at the Governor’s “At Home” programme with the distinguished residents of Punjab and Chandigarh this evening. The road leading to Punjab Raj Bhavan was specially decorated for the distinguished gathering. Guards of the Chandigarh Police astride horses lined up on the pathway holding the Chandigarh Police Flag to present a royal aura to the occasion. The ceremony began as the Governor along with his wife took the salute as the Punjab Police Band played the national anthem. Punjab Cabinet Ministers Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Chaudhary Santokh Singh and Chaudhary Jagjit Singh were among the first to greet the Governor. The Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr Jai Singh Gill, besides other senior civil and police officers of Punjab were present at the function. A large number of freedom fighters had come to greet the Governor. Farmers from different parts of the state had also come to attend the function. |
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Mayor unfurls
Tricolour Chandigarh, August 15 Listing the achievements of the corporation, Mr Chawla said the problem of waste management was the biggest challenge before the corporation. He said the Central Pollution Control Board was providing funds to the corporation for improving sanitation and for waste management. The Sahaj Safai Kendras were part of the Centre-sponsored waste management project. Meanwhile, members of the Chandigarh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party today celebrated Independence Day at the party office in Sector 33. Mr Satya Pal Jain, a former Member of Parliament, Mr BK Kapoor and Mr Purshotam Mahajan, both general secretaries of the local BJP unit, councillors of the party, Morcha presidents, and presidents of various party cells were present on the spot. Mr Yaspal Mahajan, president of the Chandigarh unit, unfurled the national flag on the occasion. Leaders of the party unfurled the national flag at Labour
Chowk, Sector 44, Colony No. 4, Bapu Dham, Palsora and Hallomajra. Mr Kamla Sharma, leader of the Opposition in the Municipal Corporation, unfurled the national flag at Madrasi Colony, Sector 38. |
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Rs 110
cr for development of Panchkula Panchkula, August 15 This was announced by the Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr A. N. Mathur, while speaking at a function organised to celebrate Independence Day here today. He unfurled the
Tricolour, inspected the parade and took salute from the contingents of the Haryana Police, Home Guard, NCC cadets and Scouts. He said there was a plan to construct a 200-foot-high dam on the Ghaggar covering an area of 700 hectares, near Dewanwala village. It would cost Rs 75 crore and provide water for irrigation and drinking purposes. The spot would also come up as a tourist resort in the area. There
was also a plan to develop a lake near the Ghaggar on the pattern of
Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake. He said a watershed, costing around Rs 35
crore, would also be constructed to improve irrigation facilities in
Panchkula. A link road, connecting Panchkula with Chandigarh, would be
constructed at a cost of Rs 85 lakh. It would be constructed between
Sector 16 and 17 of Panchkula and Mauli Jagran village. He said
primary health centers were also being set up in different sectors to
provide health care facilities to the people at their door-step. He said the Haryana Urban Development Authority
(HUDA) had decided to develop five more residential sectors in Panchkula. Three of these sectors would fall under the Mata Mansa Devi complex, whereas the other two would be in the Panchkula extension area. He said a herbal garden would also be developed in Panchkula to promote cultivation of medicinal plants. He said the present government had spent Rs 140 crore on the development of Panchkula during the past three and a half years. He expressed satisfaction over the power supply situation in Panchkula district. He said over Rs 26 crore had been spent under the Sarkar Aap Ke Dwar programme to undertake a number of development projects in Panchkula. While referring to the development of infrastructure for sports in Panchkula, he said a Rs 9-crore Chaudhary Devi Lal Sports Complex had already been constructed. A Rs 14-crore air-conditioned indoor stadium was also being developed. The Olympic Bhavan was also fast coming up, he added. Paying tributes to the freedom fighters, who suffered untold miseries to free the nation, he said the people of Haryana had also made a significant contribution in the freedom struggle of the country and later to safeguard its unity. He said a number of brave soldiers hailing from Panchkula had also sacrificed their lives while safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation. They included Major Sandeep
Sankla, Deputy Commandant Joy Lal, Capt Rohit Kaushal, Major Sandeep Sagar and Major Depender
Bhuchher. He honoured 12 persons for their outstanding service to
society. Those honoured included the District Commandant of Home
Guards, Mr J.P.S. Grewal, and the Company Commandant, Mr Suresh
Nagpal, who had been awarded President’s Medals in recognition of
their exceptional services in civil defence. Both of them were given
Rs 2,100 in cash. Rudra Mukherjee, a student of Class VIII, and Kirti
Gehlawat, a student of Class VII, both from Manav Mangal School, were
also awarded for their outstanding performance in yoga. Mr Surjeet
Kumar, Sub-Inspector, was awarded for saving a kidnapped child and
recovering Rs 1 crore from the kidnappers. Sub-Inspector Jai Pal and
Executive Head Constable Vijay Kumar were honoured for nabbing a
Nigerian national carrying 900 gm heroine. Constable Naresh Kumar and
Darshan Singh were also honoured. Mr.I.P. Singla, District Small
Savings and Publicity Officer, was given a cash prize of Rs 2,100 for
his outstanding performance in promoting small savings scheme. The district-level Chaudhary Devi Lal Kisan Purskar were given away by Mr Mathur to Mr Madan Lal of Naggal Jaluli village for the year 2001-02 and Mr Ravinder Singh of Bataur village for the year 2002-03. Each got Rs 25,000 in cash. Mr Mathur announced that all educational institutions, including government and private schools and colleges, would remain closed tomorrow in Panchkula district. The contingent of the Haryana Police was adjudged as the best in the march past and Mr Desh
Bandhu, Deputy Superintendent of Police, received the running trophy from the Chief
Secretary. Janender
Public School In the cultural programme presented on the occasion, the team of Janender Public School bagged the first prize by performing Rajasthani dance. An action song presented by students of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, was adjudged the second best and a group song by students of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 6, Panchkula, was adjudged the third best item. DC
Model School At DC Model Senior Secondary School, an inter-house chart-making contest was organised as part of Independence Day celebrations. A GK quiz was also held for students of Classes VI to
X. Satluj
Public School A special function was organised to celebrate Independence Day at the senior wing of Satluj Public School. The function started with the flag hoisting and singing of the National Anthem. A cultural programme was also presented on the
occasion. Bhavan
Vidyalaya Independence Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour
at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15. The national flag was hoisted by the
school Principal, Ms Shashi Banerjee. The school choir group presented
melodious songs and “Sare Jahan Se Achcha” and “Vande Matram”
echoed on the school premises. St
Soldier School The premises of St Soldier Divine Public School wore a festive look on the occasion of Independence Day. Dance and song sequences were presented as part of the celebrations and a skit on Jallianwala Bagh was enacted. Holy
Child School At Holy Child School, Sector 2, the school Principal, Ms Neena Trehan, unfurled the national flag. The programme ended with children singing patriotic songs. Army
School Army School, Chandi
Mandir, also celebrated Independence Day with great patriotic zeal. The function began with the flag hoisting by the Principal,
Lieut-Col N.R. Baherwal. It was followed by an impressive instrumental performance by the school music teachers. Group songs, dances, speeches and skit were also presented. Blue
Bird School At Blue Bird High School, the students presented patriotic songs and gave motivating speeches on the occasion of Independence Day. The Tricolour was also unfurled in the school building. Senior
citizens’ home Senior citizens celebrated Independence Day at Day Care Centre of Senior Citizens on Friday. A large number of citizens participated in the celebrations. Songs were rendered by Ms Achla
Dingley, Ms Sutinder Trikha and Ms Negi. Patriotic poems were recited by Mr
R.T. Joshi and Mr S.C. Mehta. Saket
Hospital The Rotary Club and the Inner-Wheel Club, Panchkula, and Interactors from Bhavan
Vidyalaya, celebrated Independence Day with physically challenged inmates of Saket Hospital, Chandi
Mandir. Dr B.S. Dahiya, Director-General, Health Services, Haryana, was the chief guest. He unfurled the national flag. The inmates sang the National
Anthem. DAV
School, Sector 8 DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, Panchkula, celebrated Independence Day with zeal and enthusiasm. The function started with the recitation of shlokas followed by the National Anthem. Students
sang patriotic songs and recited poems on the occasion. A fancy dress
competition was also organised. In the sub-junior category, Garima won
the contest followed by Bhupinder and Simran in the second and third
positions, respectively. In the junior category, Pulkit and Harsh
shared the first prize while Sumit and Rahul shared the second prize. |
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City cops win
overall march past trophy Chandigarh, August 15 The following are the results: March past: Overall award — Chandigarh police; march past (first among police contingents) — Chandigarh lady police; first among Home Guard, Fire Brigade and Civil Defence — Chandigarh Home Guard; first among NCC wings — NCC Boys Army Wing; first among Scouts and Guides — Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 23; first among schoolchildren — Mount Carmel, Sector 47. |
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Schools closed today Chandigarh, August 15 The Chief Secretary, Haryana, Mr A.N. Mathur, has declared a holiday in all education institutions, including government schools and colleges, in the district. The SDM, SAS Nagar, Mr M.L. Sharma has declared a holiday in all government and private schools in the township tomorrow. |
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Real-life hero awarded
on Independence-Day Chandigarh, August 15 Minutes after getting the medal from the UT Administrator, Justice O.P. Verma (retd ), Kalra said he was happy at saving the lives of people and was thankful to the administration for the honour conferred on him. Recalling the fire incidents, he said on May 12, 2000, a fire broke out in a showroom in Sector 22. The place was stocked with mattresses, plastic and rubber furniture and items like folding beds etc. Firemen saved 10 persons, including students and instructors of a computer institute located on the second floor of the showroom, by bringing them down using a ladder. After saving the lives of people, firemen joined hands with the workers of the showroom owner to save goods worth about Rs 4 lakh. Leading the party was Kalra, not just by words, but by deeds, say his peers, who watched their colleague walk up to the podium today amidst claps from the crowd. On December 5, 2001, the records of the UT Licensing and Registration Branch caught fire. These were kept on the ground floor of the Municipal Corporation building in Sector 17. The wind was blowing at a high speed and smoke and fire engulfed the entire building in no time. Employees ran out in panic. For three employees of the Municipal Corporation, the rescue operation was akin to divine intervention. The employees, who were trapped in room number 209 on an upper floor, had panicked and had been unable to come down in view of the dense smoke in the building. Firemen picked them up in arms and brought them down through stairs. Kalra was a member of the team that rescued the employees. Thirteen employees, including three women, who were trapped on the top floor, had earlier been evacuated using a ladder as the fire could not be put off despite consistent efforts for over an hour. Everybody at the award giving ceremony wished we had more Kalras as real life heroes. |
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Haryana Press worker found murdered Chandigarh, August 15 The head of Mainpal was smashed with a boulder separating his skull from his head. His body was spotted in a pit near the Sector 45-D creche in the morning by Sub-inspector Pyare Lal from the Burail Police post. He is suspected to have been killed by a boulder found at the murder site. The boulder was blood-stained. The murder cames only eight days after the CITCO murder in Sector 17. The police is clueless about the murderer and his motive. |
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90 per cent street kids in city still exposed to
Chandigarh, August 15 Freedom has not yet found its way into the many pigeonholes inhabited by street children and their parents all over the city. Condemned to a life of hard labour and meagre return, about 90 per cent poor children of the city remain deprived of the fruits of freedom. Although no official surveys have ever been conducted to determine their numbers, NGOs maintain that there are about 20,000 street children in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, each desperately in need of help. Shockingly, a recent mapping of high-risk AIDS groups conducted by the UT State AIDS Control Society revealed that 6,300 working children under 15 years of age are at risk of contracting AIDS. An interaction with health workers reveals that about 90 per cent of slum children suffer from chronic diseases like TB, leprosy, typhoid, malaria and jaundice. An all-India study by child expert N.S. Manihara revealed that venereal diseases were rampant among children above 14 years of age, and so was scabies and gangrene. A survey of major slum areas like Sector 25, Mauli Jagran, Karsan Colony and Colony No 4, confirmed that the state of children was miserable indeed. These kids belong to the 3.5 lakh migrant population which has no access to the health facilities. Ragpickers are the most vulnerable because, apart from bearing rough weather, they also have to struggle to sell the scrap. The UT Administration has not provided them with a dumping ground. A 1989 study shows that 39.3 per cent working children are paid inadequately and 34 per cent complain of being forced to overwork. Many children are lured into bonded work or “work camps” that they are unable to escape from, due to unscrupulous proprietors or middlemen. The executive director of the Voluntary Health Association, Punjab, Mr Manmohan Sharma, admits, “Ragpickers easily fall to sexually transmitted diseases. There is a rising incidence of promiscuity among these kids. It's time we establish a cooperative to market the scrap they collect. A Mumbai-based cooperative makes an annual sale of Rs 8 crore of cardboard made out of trash collected by ragpickers.” Even as the situation worsens, there are some helping hands, like the Youth Technical Training Society (YTTS) which runs 12 teaching and creche centres for street kids. These are run in areas like Sanjay Colony, West of Sector 38, Sector 25, Colony No 4, Palsora, Mauli Jagran, Mansa Devi and New Indira Colony in Mani Majra. Lieut-Col R.S. Bedi of the YTTS said, “About 500 kids enrolled with us have joined government schools. About 1,200 kids are currently on the rolls. We have started Pustak High Schools to help kids reach higher levels.” The YTTS also runs three night schools in Sector 25 Government Girls School, Palsora Colony and Mauli
Jagran.  |
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CBI ‘questions’ Varinder Kumar in Bhardwaj case Chandigarh, August 15 Gurvinder Singh Samra, a complainant in the case and himself facing several charges, at a press conference claimed that Varinder Kumar and he were today made to sit face-to-face by the CBI during questioning. This is the first time Samra had named the former Senior Superintendent of Police after having given sufficient hints of his alleged involvement in the case earlier. CBI investigating officer R. Upasak, refusing to give details, only confirmed that the former Jalandhar Senior Superintendent of Police had been called for “interrogation yesterday and today.” He also said they were made to sit together where Samra kept saying about their relationship and the former Senior Superintendent of Police of Jalandhar denying it. Mr Upasak also said Samra could not provide any proof of their acquaintance. Samra levelled unsubstantiated allegations saying Varinder Kumar was allegedly putting pressure on him to help him in the case. Repeatedly asked to give proof of his allegations, Samra said they would be given to the media soon but could not produce any proof. Samra said Mr Kumar and he were today made to sit face to face by the CBI in Chandigarh office to know whether the former Senior Superintendent of Police of Jalandhar had any relations with Samra. He said Varinder Kumar still denied any relationship with Samra. Samra claimed that within five days he would provide the CBI documents to prove that Varinder Kumar had been in touch with him. Samra said the Senior Superintendent of Police had allegedly been pressurising him through his political friends and others to help him in the case involving judicial officer Bhardwaj. Mr Varinder Kumar did not respond to several calls made to him on his mobile phone to know his version. |
Customs clearance to be made speedy, Chandigarh, August 15 After joining against the recently upgraded post of the Chief Commissioner, Mr Bedi has instructed the Joint Commissioners to weekly monitor the progress of cases pending for customs clearance. Talking to The Tribune, Mr Bedi said to provide an efficient and transparent system, every official would have to explain the reasons behind any delay in handling cases. “An effort on our part to give customs clearance on export items would encourage the industry and save the money of the investor.” The officers at the container freight station
(CFS) are being asked to assess the documents of the exporters in a fair manner. He said he would be personally monitoring the appeal cases which had been pending for over one and half year. On revenue collection, Mr Bedi said steps were being taken to improve revenue collection on the trades covered under the service tax and on the items under the central excise in the key areas. As the services covered under service tax had increased to 58 from four since 1994 and the service tax from 5 to 8 per cent, the department was launching a major exercise to encourage the service providers to get themselves registered. The names and contact numbers of the officers concerned would be put in advertisements, said the Chief Commissioner, adding that the department had collected a service tax of around Rs 113.22 crore during 2002-03 and against a revenue of Rs 33.84 crore from April to July last year, a revenue of around Rs 53.57 crore had been realised during the corresponding months this year. Enforcing service tax would be the last resort as the people would be encouraged to voluntarily register themselves, said Mr Bedi. The department had made customs collections of Rs 140 crore during 2002-03 and the target for the next financial year would be Rs 152 crore. Similarly, the collection under central excise was Rs 3374.69 crore during 2002-03 and target for 2003-04 had been fixed at Rs 3910 crore, Mr Bedi added. |
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Beware, there is a bone in the pizza Chandigarh, August 15 Thirtyfive-year-old Atul, is currently residing at the Athma Shakti Vidyalaya, Bangalore, an institute helping people suffering from schizophrenia and other mental disorders. “What has angered me is the attitude of the Pizza Hut staff who instead of owning up the lapse on their part, did not even bother to enquire about my son’s health,” said Col A.K. Mehndiratta, while talking to mediapersons at his residence in Sector 11 here. Colonel Mehndiratta, who showed copies of his son’s medical reports, said had his son not been rushed to hospital, it could have been fatal. Accusing Pizza Hut of not maintaining quality, he said a chicken pizza ordered by his son had a bone. His son had gone to the joint along with two students of Athma Shakti Vidyalaya, and a staff member on August 6. “Efforts by my friends and staff of the vidyalaya to get in touch with the Pizza Hut staff members failed as they never got in touch with them as promised at the time of the incident,” he said, adding that after his son recovered, he would like to take legal recourse. Meanwhile, Director Marketing (Indian subcontinent), Pizza Hut, Pankaj Batra said there was no question of any customer facing inconvenience at any of their restaurants, across the country. “As an extension of the kind of service we offer, all members at Pizza Hut are trained to be extremely responsive to customer need. We pride ourselves on our sensitivity to customer-related issues and take steps to make a customer’s experience at Pizza Hut a memorable one,” he said. Colonel Mehndiratta said the incident had shaken his son who was now only on liquid diet. |
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Burail
Jail inmates to get better healthcare Chandigarh, August 15 The fund was allotted to jail authorities from MP’s local development fund. The amount would be used to install X-rays machine, dental check-up machines and development of the interview room in the jail. Giving details, Mr Rana said women inmates have increased manifold but the number of rooms remained the same. At present, more than 20 women were lodged in the less spacious wards in the jail. Mr Rana added that he had already sent a letter to the Administration for the expansion of women wards. Giving details about development programmes already functional, Mr Rana said they have already started offering new courses of radio, television repairing and electrician, refrigerator and air-conditioner for male inmates and a mehndi applying course and pickles-making course for women inmates. Meanwhile, a cultural function was organised to celebrate Independence Day. As many as 200 inmates participated in the function organised on the jail premises to pay tribute to the martyrs who had sacrificed their lives to send Britishers packing. A group of inmates sang a patriotic song, other performed various items to entertain the gathering. The jail authorities also arranged special food items for the inmates on this occasion. But all VIPs lodged in the jail remained in their wards during the function. |
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Beopar Mandal holds protest;
nine traders
detained Chandigarh, August 15 In the evening, the mandal ruled out negotiations with the Administration. It may be recollected that the President of the Mandal, Mr Jagdish Arora, had said the mandal hoped that the UT Administrator would give some relaxation in the Rent Act which was amended on November 7 last. At noon today when the mandal learnt that there was no such announcement by the UT Administrator, a dharna was organised at the Sector 17 Plaza. Protesters with their mouths sealed with black tape braved the rain to participate in the Dharna against ‘‘atrocities’’ on Traders. The leaders were sore over the lack of concern shown by local parties on the issue. Mr Jagdish Arora, president of the Mandal, announced the “battle will now be fought on the road with the help of all traders of the city”. He said the general body meeting of the mandal would called shortly to decide on further course of action, including indefinite bandh, and gherao of Parliament House. Meanwhile the nine traders who were detained today were Col P.J.S. Mehta (retd), Mr Anil Bansal, Mr Anil Sukhija, Mr Jagat Ram, Mr Rajinder Wahi, Mr Aman Kansal, Mr Kaushal Sharma, Mr Surinder Prajapati and Mr Ashok Kumar. All were preparing for a protest at Matka Chowk under the banner of the Commercial Tenant Association. They were released unconditionally this evening. Meanwhile the 12 traders arrested yesterday from near Matka Chowk were released from Burail Jail following the grant of bail by the SDM, Central. |
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Over 100 cows go missing Panchkula, August 15 The two contractors employed by the municipal council for rounding up stray animals said there were 123 cattle heads in the pound yesterday but in the morning, the animals had been taken away after the gate had been broken. The watchman of the pound, Hukum Singh, and a truck driver, Bittu, along with three other labourers employed by the contractors, were sleeping on the terrace but since it started raining, they took shelter in a nearby temple. It was only in the morning that they realised that the animals were missing after the lock of the main door had been broken. They informed the MC president, Mrs Seema Chaudhary, and Executive Officer O.P. Sihag. The police was informed later. The contractors alleged that on several occasions dairy owners had forcibly got the animals released from them while they were rounding up the animals in Sectors 21 and 12-A and Mansa Devi Complex. |
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Tribune dy manager bereaved Chandigarh, August 15 The funeral procession will start from house number 3005-A, Tribune Colony, Sector 29, at 11 am tomorrow. |
Police nabs juvenile burgler Chandigarh, August 15 |
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