Chandigarh, November 19
Chandigarh that once used to take pride in its roads no longer affords you that privilege. Broken, battered and uneven, the roads, especially in southern sectors, no longer inspire those “long drives” that were so integral to every Chadigarhian’s life. With increasing traffic and deteriorating condition of roads, traffic conditions have become alarming and life-threatening.

The Chandigarh Administration has been somewhat partial while maintaining city roads. The roads in posh areas and in the vicinity of VIP residences in the northern sectors are definitely better than those in the southern sectors that have a higher population density. The other areas that do not appear to be on the priority list of those maintaining the roads are in the city’s periphery and those passing through the 22 odd villages falling within the Union Territory.

Chandigarh has seven types of roads classified from V1 to V7. V1 are major roads linking different cities, V2 are major roads in the city like the Jan Marg and Madhya Marg, V3 roads are the sector-dividing roads on the periphery of sectors. V4 roads are those in front of shopping areas, the V5 are internal loop roads, V6 the internal roads of a sector and V7 roads are cycle/ pedestrian tracks in green belts.

From time to time, city roads have become a cause of concern and city residents may recall that in August 2000, a city lawyer had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) asking the Punjab and Haryana High Court to direct the UT Administration and the MC to maintain the city roads in “proper condition” to minimise accidents. A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta had at that time taken notice and directed the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh to file a status report on the condition of roads and had asked the Superintending Engineer concerned to be personally present in the court when the matter was to be heard. The condition of the roads has since improved, but not as much as one would expect in a city that has become an icon of a planned and developed city.

It is time again that the attention of the Administration be drawn to the entire stretch of the road dividing Sectors 31/32 up to Sector 46/47, the entire stretch between Sectors 32/33 to Sectors 45/46, road from Sector 38 West to the Grain Market, dividing road between Sectors 39/40 towards Mohali from the intersection of Sectors 38/40/39 and 38 West (near the gurdwara).

The case is no different of the road dividing Sectors 44/45 till Colony No 4, dividing road of Sectors 40/41 towards Mohali, road passing through Kishangarh village etc. Many roads that are not broken have become bumpy and accident-prone. The number of roundabouts that need urgent attention in the city is countless.

Last month, the Chandigarh Administration decided to involve the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) for the recarpeting work. Now, the Administration has asked the CHB to maintain 1.5 km (on Chandi Path, The Udyan Path and the Vidya Path) of three 10-km stretches, besides taking care of some southern sectors. The rest is now the responsibility of the Administration and the Municipal Corporation.

The total length of city roads is 1489 km. But instead of distributing work, it would have been perhaps better if the Administration had created a nodal agency for maintenance and recarpeting of roads.

Though the CHB has been asked to spend Rs 12 crore on the recarpeting work, while the Chandigarh Administration would give another Rs 6 crore to the MC as a one-time grant for relaying other V-3 (sector-dividing), the residents are not really interested in the arithmetic, but want the city roads to be restored to their pristine glory.

Chandigarh, November 19
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Gen (retd) S.F. Rodrigues, his wife Ms Jean Rodrigues, today visited colonies of the city inhabited by poor people. The Administrator started his education and familiarisation tour of the slum of the city from Colony No five and his wife went to the Senior Citizens Home, Nari Niketan and Red Cross Bhavan.

Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Arun Kumar, the Governor went to Colony No five and walked through the dingy lanes of the colony, interacted with the people, motivated them to help themselves instead of expecting everything from the Administration. The colony residents remarked that he was perhaps the first Administrator to visit the colony.

The Governor got a responsive audience in the colony. He asked the slum-dwellers their problems and what they themselves were doing to better their lives. The Administrator went to various private schools run in dingy rooms and interacted with the children. He invited two children Arun and Anu of Sat Guru Public School to Raj Bhavan over a cup of tea.

The Governor asked the Deputy Commissioner to submit a macro-plan on the slums’ problem. He felt that it was a human problem and procedures should not come in the way of solutions. The Administrator said that he was trying to familiarise with problems of the city and after familiarisation he would involve society in finding answers.

Ms Jean Rodrigues, went to Senior Citizens Home and Nari Niketan to see conditions there and what needed to be done. Later, she also attended the Children’s Day function organised by the Punjab State Red Cross here.

Chandigarh, November 19
Hunderds of Lucknow-bound passengers were stranded at the Chandigarh railway station as the Chandigarh-Lucknow Sadhbhavna Express was delayed by over five hours. The harried passengers told Chandigarh Tribune that railway officials at the station kept on postponing the arrival time of the train from Kalka, where it had gone for regular inspection and cleaning.

Against the actual arrival time of 7 pm, the train was yet to arrive at 11.30 pm when this report was filed. An official at the railway station said since the train had arrived late from Lucknow by several hours, it had to be sent to the Kalka station for inspection.

Due to remodelling work going on at the Chandigarh railway station, the rakes are being sent to Kalka for maintenance and cleaning.

Dera Bassi, November 19
A tragedy was averted when some railway officials alerted the Kalka-Howarh Mail driver to stop the train minutes before it was to pass on the Mubarikpur-Dappar section of the Kalka-Ambala railway line, late last night where some miscreants had placed five fire extinguishers on the track.

Mr Faquir Chand, and Mr Paul, employees of the Railways, found some ‘rocket like objects’ on the railway line here while they were on patrolling duty. They informed the Station Master, Mr Tarsem Lal Gupta, at the Ghaggar Railway Station, in Mubarikpur village, and subsequently the railway line was closed for traffic.

The police is working on the sabotage theory as the cops are unable to find out any other reason for placing fire extinguishers on the track. The police officials also suspected that the fire extinguishers could have been left on the tracks by some thieves after they spotted the railway patrolling staff on the track. The suspension of traffic delayed several trains and left hundred of passengers stranded.

Mr Tarsem Lal Gupta said, “Mr Faquir Chand, and Mr Paul, were on night patrolling at about 1.15 am when they noticed five fire extinguishers placed in a row on the track. Suspecting that miscreants might have planted some explosive to blow off the railway line, the linemen rushed to a railway post at the Dera Bassi-level crossing and informed me”, he added.

Police personnel from Dera Bassi and Lalru police stations, along with bomb defusing squad from the Dappar Ammunition Depot and a company of railway protection force (RPF) from Patiala, reached the spot and examined the fire extinguishers with explosive detecting devices. They also conducted a thorough search to rule out the possibility of presence of any other explosive that may have been planted on the track.

The search operation was carried out for over three hours at night to nab the suspects.

The operation was carried out in the presence of, Mr Pritam Singh, DSP, Railways, Patiala, and Mr Manmohan Kumar Sharma, DSP, Dera Bassi.

During investigations, the Railway police found that the fire extinguishers were stolen from the computer and electronic laboratory of the Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dera Bassi.

Meanwhile, the management of Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology, here had filed a complaint regarding theft of six fire extinguishers from their college campus at the Dera Bassi police station.

A case of disruption in rail traffic has been registered by the Railway police.

Chandigarh, November 19
As temperatures across the country’s northern frontiers dip below sub zero levels, troops deployed in high altitude areas are reportedly without adequate stocks of winter clothing and protective gear ostensibly due to quality control approvals not coming through.

According to sources, the annual procurement of snow clothing from foreign sources has been inordinately delayed this year, affecting troops manning the Actual Ground Position Line and certain stretches of the Line of Control. Particularly being cited is the “total non-availability” of snow boots and heavy duty snow socks.

Sources reveal that though the same firms have offered these items as in the previous years, approval of the Directorate-General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) has been pending for a long time. The same items are procured every year in more or less the same quantity.

It is learnt that a Canadian company had been contracted for the woollen socks and it had offered two lots for acceptance this year. While the first lot of one lakh pairs was rejected entirely by the DGQA, only 1,400 pairs from the second lot of 1.5 lakh pairs was accepted. Similarly, snow boots offered by an Italian company are stated to be awaiting DGQA approval for a long time.

A query in this regard sent to the Ministry of Defence, under whose purview the DGQA functions, followed by reminders last week has not elicited any response so far.

The Army deploys about 20,000 troops in Siachen and the Hanif and Yaldor sectors along the LoC, for whom special snow clothing is procured. About 45 per cent of the equipment, which also includes snow goggles, thermal gloves, sleeping bags, pitons and outer clothing, is imported. After the soldiers are de-inducted, only 15-20 per cent of the equipment remains in a state to be re-issued.

An earlier review of the DGQA’s functioning revealed that it had rejected over three lakh pairs of special socks procured from Switzerland due to variance in wool and polymide content. The DGQA had then stated that in the absence of specifications laid down by the users, it could not determine the quality.

The Army had to meet troop’s requirement from reserve stocks, limiting the number of socks which could be issued per soldier. This prompted the Comptroller and Auditor General to remark that despite the item being critical, Army Headquarters and Defence Ministry had not completely firmed up its technical requirements and there was inconsistency in its quality standards.

The Army, meanwhile, has already sounded the alarm over delay in financial approval for procurement of winter clothing for the next year. The Secretary (Defence Finance), Ms Somi Tandon, who had visited Siachen in September, has already been briefed about the situation by Army Headquarters. The bill for one year’s stock of winter clothing, including reserves, is about Rs 142 crore.

Chandigarh, November 19
The BJP leader Satyapal Jain, party President Yashpal Mahajan, General Secretary Purushottam Mahajan and a large number of party workers today took an election rally in favour of its party candidate in Ward number 11, Girdhirai Lal Jindal.

Mr Jindal addressing the rallyist said as an MP Mr Satyapal Jain, had allocated funds for the construction of a park in Sector 20. He also said the party member from the Sector and the former Mayor Shanta Hitabhilashi had also spent a large number of funds in the Ward. Mr Jindal criticised the Congress for non-performance and claimed that MP Pawan Bansal had not visited the ward even once.

Mr Mahajan also said that the Congress was resorting to falsehood.

Chandigarh, November 19
Chandigarh Vikas Manch (CVM) chief and former Union Minister Harmohan Dhawan today claimed here that his party’s candidate Dr O.P. Verma was ahead of Congress rebel Rajesh Gupta in the byelection to the Municipal Corporation in ward number 11.

At a press conference here Mr Dhawan said the Congress was not in the contest even in the last election for ward number 11. BJP candidate Gian Chand Gupta could win only by 50 votes against Dr Verma. The byelection is being held after Gian Chand Gupta vacated the seat.

Former Union Minister said that Congress rebel candidate Rajesh Gupta was still a strong candidate as he had got more than 900 votes during the last election when he secured third position. Mr Dhawan said Dr Verma and Rajesh Gupta were from the ward and rest of the candidates including that of the BJP were outsiders.

Mr Dhawan hoped that the police should investigate Dr Verma’s complaint regarding fairness and book the MP allegedly for threatening the CVM candidate.

Former Union Minister also alleged that Congress candidate Lucky had been roaming freely along with two Punjab policemen to browbeat his political rivals and voters.

Chandigarh, November 19
The UT government, Deputy Commissioner's office and Municipal Corporation employees, the Congress Party and several social organisations today pledged to preserve national integrity on the occasion of 86th birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Mayor Ms Kamlesh administered an oath to the MC employees, Adviser Lalit Sharma to the UT Government employees and Deputy Commissioner Arun Kumar to the Estate Office employees at separate functions across the city today.

The Congress held a function, chaired by its local unit President B. B. Behl, in the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan in Sector 35.

Traders led by Kamaljit Panchhi from various parts of the city assembled at the Anand Complex to observe the day. Congress President B.B. Bahl said that Mrs Gandhi, who was known as an “Iron Lady,” had stood up against the mighty Americans when she decided to support the Bangladeshis in their fight for freedom.

Mr Bahl remembered her words that her every drop should be for the integration of the country and urged the people to remember her martyrdom for the nation. The Mayor said the oath will only be meaningful if Mrs Gandhi’s words and values were followed in the minds of the people. The function at the UT Secretariat was attended by Home Secretary R. S. Gujaral, Finance Secretary S. K. Sandhu, Inspector General of Police Rajesh Kumar, Chief Engineer V. K. Bharadwaj and Chief Architect Renu Saigal.

Panchkula, November 19
Violent scenes marked the demolition drive started by Municipal Council in the Housing Board colonies in Sectors 10 and 15 here today. Inspite of this, the Council staff removed encroachments by residents from over 50 houses in the two sectors.

The drive was initiated by a team of MC staff led by Secretary, Mr B.R. Dhiman, this afternoon. A posse of cops led by ASI Mohinder Singh was deputed for the drive, along with the enforcement staff of MC. Mr D.N. Malik, Naib Tehsildar was appointed as the Duty Magistrate to ensure that the drive went on peacefully. The drive was first started in Sector 10. An earth mover was specially hired for removing the encroachments.

The residents of Sector 10, led by their Councillor, Mr R.K. Kakkar, protested against the destroying of the ramps made by the residents. When the MC authorities refused to relent and carried on with the demolition of illegal boundary walls by the residents and the ramps, the residents blocked the road and refused to let the MC authorities move ahead.

It was then that the duty magistrate, Mr D.N. Malik and the MC Secretary, Mr B.R. Dhiman got into an argument. After Mr Dhiman first complained to the Deputy Commissioner against the non- cooperation by the duty magistrate, Mr Malik started taking sides with the residents, thus felling the residents tempers.

The residents raised slogans against the MC President, MC Secretary and the Haryana government. The MC officials called for more force, and the staff from the Sector 10 police post led by ASI Sunita Devi, rushed to the spot. The police and duty magistrate intervened with the residents and after much deliberations, the MC authorities decided to give one week’s time to the residents to remove the encroachments on their own.

The MC staff then moved to Sector 15, where encroachments from as many as 24 houses were removed. There were mild protests by residents, by the drive continued amidst heavy police security. The MC authorities reportedly left one row of houses after an Inspector in the police, posted here intervened, and sought one week’s time for removing encroachments by the residents on their own.

It was around 5.30 p.m. that the drive was stopped. But the MC officials warned the residents to remove the encroachments on their own, and said that the drive would be launched again next week.

Chandigarh, November 19
Chief Engineer of joint Punjab R.C. Singh breathed his last at New Delhi yesterday morning. He was actively involved in the construction of Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh. Aged about 80, Singh died of a heart attack.

He is survived by two sons and a daughter. His younger son, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sumedh Singh Saini, is posted at Chandigarh. The elder son — Dinesh Saini — is an Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer.

The cremation ceremony was held in Chandigarh. Later during the day, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh visited the Sector 16 house of the IGP to offer condolences.

Chandigarh, November 19
A fire broke out in a Sector 30 stationery shop here late this evening. Fire tenders from Sector 17 and Industrial Area Fire Stations reached to control the fire in an hour.

Owner of the shop is, Mr Vikram Narula, said cause of fire was suspected to be short-circuit. The shop is
in a booth.

Chandigarh, November 19
An electronics goods dealer and his 15 henchmen today allegedly forced their way into Udham Electronics in Sector 22 locked up two salesmen, twisted the arm of the daughter of the owner and picked up nine TV sets and two DVD players in broad daylight.

Navdeep Kaur, daughter of the owner of the shop, Manmohan Singh, alleged that Ajay Vijra of Ram Darbar, Phase II, and his henchmen entered the shop and took away electronic items at around 4.30 p.m. Manmohan Singh was not at the shop when the incident took place. Navdeep Kaur said her servants, Nachhattar and Santosh, were locked up in the music chamber and the assailants allegedly twisted her arm and snatched her mobile phone. She alleged that Vijra and his men also threatened her when they took away the electronic goods in an auto-rickshaw.

Navdeep Kaur alleged that Vijra told her to tell her father that he had taken away the electronic goods. The police has not yet been able to establish the cause of the incident but it is suspected that Vijra may have had some financial dispute with Manmohan Singh. Vijra runs Triveni Distributors in Ram Darbar.

Navdeep Kaur said some Vijra’s henchmen entered the shop and three of them stood guard outside. She said as soon as they entered the shop, they disconnected the telephone. She alleged that two 29-inch Akai TV sets, two of 21-inches, two of 25-inches and two of 14-inches of Oscar and one 21-inch set of Sansui were taken away. Two Oscar DVD players were also forcibly taken from the shop.

The police is looking for Vijra after a case had been registered under Sections 147, 149 (rioting), 452 (trespass), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 382 (snatching).

Mohali, November 19
The Mohali police has booked the president of the Khalsa College Students Union, Amandeep Singh, alias Manku, on the charge of bashing up a Mohali resident late last night. Two others accompanying Manku have also been booked.

The incident took place after midnight last night when Amandeep along with a group of at least four other students allegedly bashed up Harpreet Singh at his Phase XI residence here. Sources stated that Harpreet, a student preparing for an entrance examination, was staying with his friends in Phase XI, while his parents lived in Sector 46, Chandigarh.

The group led by Manku reached the house in a Maruti Zen and rang the bell at the house, demanding to see another student, Mavi. When Harpreet told them that Mavi was not at home, the five equipped with rods and sticks, started beating up Harpreet, injuring him seriously. The five later ran away in the car.

Harpreet was rushed to a private clinic, from where he was referred to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. He was discharged from the hospital this morning.

The SHO Phase VIII, Mr Tirlochan Singh, said the five had been booked under Sections 343 452 148 and 149 of the IPC. He added that while three of the five had been identified, Harpreet could not name the two others who beat him. The three who have been identified include Thakur and Prince Malli, other than Amandeep.

Amandeep is the president of the Students Union at Khalsa College Sector 26, Chandigarh and reportedly had a long-standing dispute with Mavi whom he allegedly wanted to settle some score.

Mohali, November 19
Following the arrest of Railway police employee Malook Singh for possessing stolen motorcycle yesterday, the police here today recovered four more vehicles from him.

Superintendent of Police Rakesh Aggarwal, said two motorcycles, one scooter and a car were recovered till now. The police expected more recoveries.

Mr Agarwal said that, Malook Singh, currently posted in Patiala was arrested by Phase-11 police. Police recovered a Hero Honda motorcycle (PB-11 W 1785) from his possession. Malook a resident of Sector-66 here was going to Chandigarh to sell the said vehicle when he was caught, said the SP.

During questioning, Malook admitted that he used to steal vehicles from parking lots using a master key and if questioned by the parking contractor, he would use his I-card. These vehicles he would later sell them off at throwaway prices.

He used to sell the vehicles in which he found registration certificates and in case of vehicles that did not have an RC, he would get the documents forged and then sell the vehicle. The vehicles recovered from him include Hero Honda Splendour motorcycle (PB-11 W 1785) stolen from Rajindra Hospital Patiala.

Chandigarh, November 19
CII has announced an awareness campaign to be conducted for farmers, as a run-up to Agro Tech 2004, India’s premier Agro-Technology fair.

The fair, sixth in the series, will be held from December 3 at Chandigarh.

The CII has involved state governments, gram panchayats, sarpanches, agricultural universities, NGOs, kisan sabhas and unions and corporates involved in the rural sector in educating farmers on how they can benefit and improve their productivity from the latest technologies that will be diplayed at the agro tech.

The exercise is being conducted in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. CII plans to reach out to 30,00,000 farmers in the region and across the country by November 30. The awareness exercise started in September, with CII officials visiting various kisan melas in the region and telling farmers about the benefits of participating in Agro Tech, 2004. The fair would also give farmers opportunities for direct interaction with experts.

Farmers can also understand through interactive demos and modules how to sell their products through the computer and Internet, take advantage of various special bank and insurance schemes, learn how to increase the productivity of their land, their livestock as well as get the benefit of the latest agri-services.

The Indian Farmers and Industry Alliance (IFAI) is spearheading the awareness programme in the rest of the country, especially in states like Bihar, West Bengal, MP and Orissa. Over the years, a Agro tech fair has been a huge success with over 250 agro-based companies participating in each one of them and over 1,00,000 visitors attending the fair.