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Stir over fee hike loses
steam Chandigarh, November 21 Heavy security on the gates of the colleges did not allow any protesting student to enter the campuses. Karanbir Singh Kaler, president of the students council of Government College, Sector 11, was picked up by the police on the third day in succession. Taqdeer Singh and Rajinder, also from the same college, were also picked up by the police in apprehension of breach of peace. They were booked under Sections 107 and 151 of the IPC. They were let off on personal bonds in the evening. The indefinite fast by Annpurna Singh, president of the students council of GCG, Sector 11, entered its second day today. She has been joined by Gayatri Bawa, president of the students council of the GCG, Sector 42, Madhumeet, president of the students council of the Guru Gobind College for Women, Sector 26, and Harpreet from Dev Samaj College, Sector 45. There was slight police opposition to their joining the dharna. Heavy police deployment did not allow the students gathering to enter any other college complex, preventing them from grouping. Another major reason for little involvement of students was that a sizeable number of students from colleges have already gone to their homes, particularly hostellers. Malwinder Singh Kang, president of the Panjab University Campus Students Council, said the right to protest was being taken away from the students. “The issue of fee hike is addressed to the UT Administration seeking a rollback of the hiked fee this year and also addressed to private colleges seeking streamlining and uniformity of fees structures. None of them seems interested in talking to us. Instead they are using the police to scare us”, Kang said. Karanpreet Kaur, a student of GCG, Sector 11, said the police had not even left the tents. Girls were forced to sleep in the open in biting cold. Dilip Singh Virk, president of the students council of DAV College, and Aman Dhanoa, president of the students council of the GGDSD College, said the college authorities were playing a strange “game” in the agitation. Earlier, some principals told students that they supported them on the fee-hike issue. “They even visited us at the “dharna” site. Now they are engaged in “forcing” students to deposit their examination fee”, Virk said. A senior teacher said the private colleges were in a “peculiar” situation. They were supporting the students in principal. The threat of the administration to hold back their share of supporting grants left them with no alternative but to urge the students to deposit their fee. A number of students have already deposited their fee. A number of colleges had fixed November 15 as the last date for paying the fee for the examination forms. The date had to be extended in the case of the GGDSD College, the SGGS College and DAV College. “Students in the colleges are young and are scared easily. This has led to a number of them depositing their fee. Now we will start going to homes of students and try to involve their parents in the agitation”, Kang added. Annpurna said, “the university and the administration gave us a false hope by saying that committees had been set up. Nothing has been done on the ground. Student leaders are being threatened. Kaler has been picked up for three days. This leaves us with no option but to observe a fast,” she
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Major Vats cremated, parents
a picture of courage Panchkula, November 21 As a mark of respect to their brave son, Mr Neeraj Vats and Mrs Vichitra Veena Vats did not break down, lest they demean his courage. “We are very proud that he died serving his motherland. We cannot let him down” said Mr Neeraj after he lit his elder son’s pyre. The martyr’s wife, Mrs Shivani, too, controlled her emotions but could not do so after the pyre had been lit. Major Vats, who was on deputation to 32 Rashtriya Rifles, was posted in Srinagar. He was involved in an Army operation of evacuating a building in Srinagar, where two militants had holed up since Tuesday evening. He and a militant were killed and four soldiers injured yesterday when the security forces tried to storm the building. When the sharp-shooters from the Army tried to enter the area, they came under heavy fire from the militants, in which Major Vats and four soldiers were wounded. The Major, who received six bullets on his torso, later succumbed to his injuries. The martyr’s body was flown in from Srinagar last evening and kept in the Command Hospital, Chandimandir. The body was first taken to the Sector 11 house of his father-in-law, Col R.L. Tiwari, (retd) where Mrs Shivani was staying. The body was then taken to the Vats’ house in Sector 4. The martyr’s parents kept quiet for a long time but as the body was being taken to the cremation ground, they bent to kiss his cheek and then broke down. Their younger son, who is mentally challenged, was oblivious of the grief that had befallen the family. Relatives urged him to bid farewell to his brother with folded hands and he reluctantly obliged, mumbling that “... bhaiyya Kashmir se wapas aa gaya.” All this while, Mrs Shivani and her daughter, Inayat, sat beside the body, with the former caressing his cheek. Inayat seemed confused and unaware that her father was no more. The cremation was held at the Mani Majra cremation ground, and people from all walks of life attended the funeral. A ceremonial guard from 5 Gorkha Rifles, reversed arms while the bugler sounded the last post. A three-shot volley was also fired as a mark of respect. Col Manvendra Singh laid the wreath on behalf of the GOC-in-C, Brig V.P. Kushwaha on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Western Command and Col A.S. Chandok on behalf of the Station Commander, Chandimandir. The Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Mrs Satwanti Ahlawat, DSP Headquarters, Mr Deshbandu and Prof Harbans Lal Sagar and his wife, besides the parents of martyr, Major Sandeep Sagar, also laid wreaths. Among others who attended the funeral were local MLA, Mr Chander Mohan, BJP leader, Ram Vilas Sharma, district BJP chief, B.K. Nayyar, councillors R.K. Kakkar and Vikas Chaudhary,
besides various members of the district administration, police and other political leaders. Major Vats was honest, upright and down-to-earth — this is how his family remembers him. Mr Neeraj Vats (father) — “He was a good son, husband, father and brother, besides being a valiant soldier. I am proud of his sacrifice. He never wanted to join the Army, but wanted to be a doctor. However, he would not join a medical college on capitation fee and after dabbling in hotel management for a while, he joined the NDA. He was a prolific writer and I had suggested he take up journalism as a career, but his mother, who comes from a defence background, inspired him to join the forces.” Major Alok Dutt (brother-in-law) — “Navneet was a true soldier and always led his men from the front. We adorn the uniform for this day, and he has died valiantly, fighting for the honour of his motherland. This was the best way for him to go”. Col R.L. Tiwari (father-in-law) — “He believed that the honour of the country comes first always and died for this belief. He has done us all proud”. |
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New UT Adviser joins, enquires about slums Chandigarh, November 21 In the hour-long meeting, Mr Sharma, a 1971 batch UT cadre officer, who has just finished his assignment as Chief Secretary, Arunachal Pardesh, enquired about slums as he wanted to know about the important issues and areas in the city. A senior officer who deals with the issue informed Mr Sharma about the number of slums and the people living in these and how the slum dwellers were being rehabilitated. Sources said Mr Sharma did not issue any instruction to the officers on the issue but asked him if the surrounding townships (Mohali and Panchkula) were adding to the pressure and whether these townships had such a problem. While talking to the officers, Mr Sharma said, “I believe in decisive action.” He briefed all officers about himself and his various postings and asked them about what they were handling now. He was also told about the issue of students strike over fee hike. Earlier, while speaking to mediapersons within minutes of joining here, Mr Sharma said this was the first time that he had come to Chandigarh and it was too early to even list out the priorities. When asked if any priority area he had while in Arunachal Pradesh would be carried over here, Mr Sharma said the situation was not comparable as the north-eastern state had an 80,000 Sq Km area and shared a sensitive border with China. Though his family hails from Punjab, Mr Sharma has not lived in Punjab as he was born and brought up in Delhi. A former student of St Stephens College, New Delhi, Mr Sharma went to study in Paris and then at Oxford University, London. Mr Sharma arrived in Chandigarh on board a Jet Airways flight which was delayed by about 50 minutes. At the airport, he was received by the Home Secretary, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral. From there he was driven to the UT Secretariate in Sector 9. Among the first to meet him was his personal staff followed by a formal handing over of charge of the Adviser by Mr Gujral. A meeting with officers of the Chandigarh Administration followed. |
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Improvement in every sphere is PGI chief’s mantra Steps taken by Professor Ganguly
Chandigarh, November, 21 Being the Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), he shuttles between Delhi and Chandigarh to ensure that functioning of the two premiere institute he heads does not suffer in any way. ‘‘I firmly believe appropriate fund management through efficient spending and identifying the immediate needs will enable us to allocate at least 30 to 50 per cent more funds to various heads,’’ he said. While assuring that there was no financial crunch, he was hopeful that the PGI budget would be increased as per the revised estimates which were being prepared, with thrust being on efficient spending which would keep all audit problems at bay. ‘‘With whatever funds we have at our disposal, we want to keep all important units like the operation theatres (OTs) in good functional condition and give priority to the immediate needs,’’ he said. He hinted that major work would be undertaken to keep all the OTs in good running condition, with focus on proper spacing and time management. Sensing the bickering and discontentment among the faculty, he had created a quick disputes redressal cell, so as to foster bonding and a feel-good factor. ‘‘I have no appointment roster as my doors are open to everyone and I want quick decisions so that there is no pendency,’’ he said. The cell would also look into all disputes pertaining to patients and clients. Immediately after assuming charge he had constituted a five-member advisory committee of senior doctors, involving them in decision making. While this committee met on a weekly basis, the staff council was kept informed about all decisions and the progress on the pending issues. With his passion for research, Professor Ganguly wanted to create an environment of scientific independence to enable every researcher to toil with no bars and hindrances. One of the steps he had taken was to place contingency funds at the disposal of all research laboratories. For better patient care and smooth functioning of various units, steps had been taken to ensure adequate hospital supplies. ‘‘Efforts are being made to push through the computerisation plan, which was already in the pipeline and guidelines have been prepared to ensure that there is appropriate placement of the existing computers as per requirement,’’ he informed. Once this came through, the PGI would acquire a software which would help trace the file movement for the convenience of the patients and doctors.
Chandigarh, November 21 The PGI officiating Director, Prof N.K. Ganguly, today chaired the meeting of the staff council, comprising senior functionaries and all heads of department. “While reviewing the progress of the ongoing projects, it was decided that there would be no deviation in the existing plans and efforts would be made to get these completed within the stipulated timeframe,” informed a senior doctor. It was also decided that all important PGI matters would be referred to the advisory committee, which in the absence of Professor Ganguly, was authorised to take important decisions. The advisory committee meets every week and has five senior doctors — Prof Sudha Suri, Prof Sarla Gopalan, Prof O.N. Nagi, Prof Promila Chari and Prof S.B.S. Mann — as its members. The committee was constituted by Professor Ganguly after he was made the officiating Director. The issue of providing telephone facility and computers to junior faculty members was also raised at the meeting.
Complainant in PGI Director case moves
HC Chandigarh, November 21 In his application, Mr Munjal sought directions to the respondents for allowing him to join the proceedings as it was on his complaint that action had been recommended against the Director. Taking up the application, a Division Bench of the high court today issued notice of motion. The case will come up for hearing on December 4. Dr Sharma, in his petition filed in less than two months after he proceeded on leave, had sought the quashing of a resolution passed on October 9 in this regard. Directions to the Union of India and other respondents were also sought for allowing him to join back as the Director. The petition had earlier been referred to another Bench by Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice Viney Mittal. Dr S.K. Ganguly is acting as the officiating Director. |
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CSIO to develop mapping
system Chandigarh, November 21 The project will be executed by CSIO in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Naval Hydrography Office. HAL will supply a Chetak helicopter on which the system will be integrated. This would be the first such system to be developed and used in the country. Sources in the CSIO told The Tribune that the system, referred to as the airborne laser bathymetric system (ALBS), will cost about Rs 30 crore to design and fabricate. Bathymetry deals with the science of measuring depth of water and mapping underwater surfaces. According to sources, the requirement for such a system was projected by the Navy some time ago and a similar system was being contracted from a Canadian firm, but the negotiations fell through. The imported system was costing the Navy about Rs 60 crore. “While mapping of deep waters can be done easily, shallow areas create problems because ships and boats cannot go there,” a scientist at the CSIO said. Stating that there are vast tracts of coastal areas in India which are still to be explored, he included harbours, shipping routes, dredged areas, inland waterways, approach channels and coral reefs among areas where the ALBS could be used. Other possible uses of the system include detection of mines, search for shipwrecks or underwater archaeological exploration. The ALBS includes a laser transmitter and receiver, an onboard data processing unit, a system to provide real-time navigational guidance to the pilot, a global positioning system and a monitoring system. An operator would be required in the chopper to run the system, who would also have access to a digital camera and a monitor to get a visual image of the area being surveyed. A ground station would be required to process the data and produce the final picture. Explaining the system’s working, a scientist said that two laser beams of different frequencies would be transmitted towards the target area. While one beam would be reflected back from the surface of the water, the other would penetrate the surface and be reflected from the ground beneath the water. The depth of the water would be calculated from the time difference between the reflections. “Laser bathymeters are preferred because they can generate accurate and very high resolution pictures,” the scientist said. Presently ship-based sonar systems are used to map underwater areas. |
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Education board sacks 134 clerks Mohali, November 21 Earlier, a three-member panel set up on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had recommended the quashing of the appointment of 134 clerks as it found that the selection process was biased. The affected employees declared that they would approach the Supreme Court in this regard and also stage a protest along with members of their families in front of the board office. These clerks had been employed during the tenure of Mr Tota Singh, former Education Minister. Their services had been terminated after a vigilance inquiry had pointed out that the board officials had indulged in favourtism while making the recruitments. Since then these employees had been working on an ad hoc basis. They had moved the high court against their termination orders. The high court had set up a three-member panel to decide on the issue. At the meeting of the board members, which was attended by 13 out of 24 members, a committee had been constituted to look into the matter of implementing the notification issued by the government in January 2001. The committee which will be headed by the Chairman of the board has been asked to take into consideration various aspects, including administrative and legal, before giving its report. The report is likely to be submitted within 10 days. The notification issued in 2001 had said that services of employees who had worked for three years be regularised. But the education board had not implemented this notification. In March this year, the government had again issued directions to all boards and corporations to regularise the services of employees by June 30 keeping in view the notification issued in 2001. Meanwhile, the president of the Punjab School Education Board Employees Union, Mr Gurdeep Singh Dhillon, said the decision of terminating the services of 134 employees was unfortunate as it would adversely affect the working of the board. He said the board had received more than 13 lakh examination forms from students of middle, matriculation and class XII and due to shortage of staff it would become very difficult to handle these forms. He said the union would be holding a meeting on Monday to decide the future course of action. |
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Notice to Home Secy on cattle
menace Chandigarh, November 21 The officers have been issued a notice for December 8 by the UT Judicial
Magistrate (First Class), Ms Harpreet Kaur, taking note on the civil suit filed by the Lawyers for Human Rights International, an NGO, and a city resident whose daughter was killed in an incident involving stray animals on December 14. The plaintiffs have sought directions to the UT Administration, the MC and the IGP to take steps to ensure that no animal came on streets and municipal land. The plaintiffs also sought directions to the UT Administration and the UT MC to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of those killed or injured by stray animals on city roads. Pleading that there was urgent need to take immediate steps for preventing the menace, they stated that numerous lives had been lost in the past few months due to the presence of animals on the roads, residential areas and public places in the vicinity of Chandigarh. Claiming that the Administration and the MC had not taken the problem seriously, they stated that there was no trained staff and equipment with the MC and the UT police to impound animals. They said the MC had failed to perform its statutory duty. There was no regular disposal of garbage from bins and the area near apni mandis were not regularly cleaned. Chandigarh, November 21 A tehsildar of the Administration was deputed to hand over the cheque to the family this evening. Another cheque for Rs 5,000 to meet the expenses towards the treatment of Aruna, sister of Promilla, who was injured in the accident, was handed over to the family. The Administration had decided to provide financial assistance to the families of those injured and killed in accidents involving to stray cattle.
Chandigarh, November 21 The incident took place around the Aroma light point when five Pakistani delegates, seated in a white Maruti Zen car, were proceeding towards Tagore Theatre. A stray cow, moving around the city roads, suddenly placed itself before the speeding car, forcing the driver of the vehicle to come to a screeching halt. Just as the car driver applied brakes, the vehicle following his car smashed into his car from behind, damaging the car extensively. Five Pakistani delegates sustained minor injuries in the accident. |
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ITBP men to get peace-time posting in
plains Chandigarh, November 21 ‘‘The Deputy Prime Minister has thought it proper for ITBP battalions to be stationed in plains in-between periods of deployments in the mountains,’’ ITBP’s Additional Director General (ADG), Mr J.K. Sinha, said. He was here to preside over the closing ceremony of the 23rd ITBP Inter-Sector Athletic Meet today. The ADG said that at present about 90 per cent of the force remained committed to deployments in high-altitude areas. Though battalions were moved after a certain period, but it was from one mountainous location to another. "We hope that about 50 per cent of the force is stationed in plains so that the men can recuperate," he said. ADG Sinha said that with the Group of Ministers recommending one force for manning one border, the ITBP’s jurisdiction may extend to the Sino-Indian border in the east. At present, the ITBP was guarding only the border with Tibet adjoining Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. At present, nine ITBP battalions were deployed on counter-insurgency duties in J&K, out of which two were being de-inducted, he stated. The ADG said that as a part of allocating additional responsibilities to the ITBP, the force had been nominated as the nodal agency for disaster management in North India. |
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Enforcement staff seize
three vehicles Chandigarh, November 21 This evening, when an enforcement team led by Inspectors Ajit Singh and Jaswinder Singh landed in the market to seize the vehicles in which the mechanics were busy fitting accessories, shopkeepers gathered around the enforcement staff, alleging harassment. At the end of the day, three vehicles, including a new Toyota Qualis, were seized from the Sector 28 market. Inspector Ajit Singh said the drive was to ensure compliance of the court orders and it was in the knowledge of the senior officers of the corporation. In the last 45 days, around 50 vehicles in which mechanics were fitting accessories or doing some repair work had been seized by the enforcement staff. At least two cars with red light atop them had also been seized in the past few days. The shopkeepers lamented that they were losing business due to the harassment of their customers. “The shopkeepers selling car accessories or spare parts should seek clarification from the administration whether they continue to run their trade from the old sector markets”, said an officer of the corporation. The enforcement staff was only authorised to act on the activity which is going on outside the premises of the shop — be it a front or the back. Any violation or misuse of the premises was under the purview of the estate office, said the officer. A survey of the area revealed that a number of shops were running from behind the shops in Sector 28. Sources in the corporation said there were cases in which the shopkeepers or mechanics, allotted sites in the new motor markets in Sectors 28,38,43,48 and 52, were still running their business from the old markets. The shopkeepers allotted new sites had given an affidavit that they would shift to the new sites within a certain period, said Mr Narayan Dass, general secretary of the Joint Action Committee of the five motor markets. At least 35 shopkeepers in sectors 7, 21, 27 and 28 have been issued notices by the Estate Office for misuse of their premises. At least 400 motor mechanics are still operating on the road side in the city and the persons allotted shops in the new motor markets are still running their businesses from their old premises. Members of the Joint Action Committee charged the Chandigarh Administration with not providing the basic amenities at the new motor markets. The basic amenities like storm water drainage, water connection and adequate parking space were not provided in the markets. Lack of proper planning for the motor markets was leading to chaos even as the markets were yet to be used for their designed optimum utility, lamented the shopkeepers. They criticised the double standards of the administration in allowing motor mechanics and spare parts dealers to do their business from the sector markets. “If a customer can get his vehicle repaired in Sector 21 or Sector 28, why will he go all the way to Sector 48, asked Mr Gurcharan Singh, vice-president of the Sector 48 Market Association. In a representation to the UT Administrator, the Joint Action Committee said the 1,307 shopkeepers identified in the surveys by the Estate Office had not been rehabilitated despite a number of shops lying unallotted in the motor markets. Mr Dass claimed that the Finance Secretary had promised that for one year, the shopkeepers would not have to pay their installments till the basic amenities were not complete. |
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Dr Goswami
honoured Chandigarh, November 21 The same distinction has been conferred upon 14 other eminent persons this year. They include Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Dr Amartya Sen, Mr M.N. Deshpande, Mr M.S. Nagraj Rao, Dr S.R. Rao, Mr Lokesh Chandra, Mr Girish Karnad and Mr Bhigu Parekh. Dr Goswami is the recipient of several awards and honours, including the Padma Shree, the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship and the Mellon Senior Fellowship. He has lectured in several Indian and foreign universities. A prolific writer, he has authored several books. |
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Clearance must for new
power connections Zirakpur, November 21 Enforcing the Indian Electricity Rules, the board has asked the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat not to issue no-objection-certificates (NOCs) to any coloniser, either approved by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority or covered under the Town Planning Scheme, until he or she obtains clearance from the government-approved contractor. The civic body has also been told to go through the instructions and the Indian Electricity Rules before issuing an NOC to any coloniser or individual seeking regularisation of his or her dwelling unit. Any constructor, developer or society will have to submit the wiring layout to the wiring contractor. The projects cleared by the contractor will be given power connections. To feed electricity meters in residential units, the board will instal a main transformer in the colony or society. A separate electricity meter will be set up at the main transformer, which would help in detecting power pilferage. Only one coloniser, who has been developing a housing colony at Lohgarh village along the Chandigarh-Patiala highway, has come forward so far. Officials of the PSEB at Zirakpur claim that enforcing the rules will fix responsibility on the colonisers and the developers to provide better electricity facilities to the customers. Following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the issuance of temporary power connections for domestic purposes in the area within the periphery of Chandigarh, the board authorities have started releasing electricity connections, but hardly any seeker has turned up at Zirakpur yet. |
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Yuva morcha protests against MC policies Chandigarh, November 21 Mr Davesh Moudgil, president of the local wing of the party, said the corporation had failed to perform its duties satisfactorily. He criticised the Congress-ruled corporation for the cattle menace. Meanwhile, Mr Nirmal Singh Titu, a former Congress Youth leader, today joined in BJP along with 50 workers. |
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