 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Work on monorail system resumes after eight years
Chandigarh, February 3 In these eight years the Chandigarh Administration toyed with the idea of having electric trolley buses but the system would have meant plying those buses on the existing roads, which would not have helped reducing congestion. The Administration has also consulted the Planning Commission, which suggested that the monorail system was the best for Chandigarh as mass rapid transport system. The Administration has also invited Punjab and Haryana to join and develop an integrated system involving Mohali and Panchkula. If the states do not cooperate, Chandigarh would go alone, confirmed officials. Monorail is the most silent, environmentally compatible, pleasing, safe and economically viable system and would be best suited for the population in these three cities. The system can be either on elevated platform in which the rail car is on a special mounted track, or it can be at the height of four feet like a normal rail track. The later is installed in Malaysia and has been suggested by the Planning Commission. Craphts had originally carried out its study in 1997 and made a report on the comprehensive transportation plan for the Chandigarh capital complex and development of mass transportation-related options. The train system will have about 40 stations across the three cities and have interchange points at convenient places. On the basis of the earlier reports given by the consultancy firm, a number of modifications have already been made in the existing road network and traffic management. This includes the opening of a second entry to the Railway station from Panchkula, widening of roads like Himalaya Marg, Dakshin Marg and Madhya Marg and the building of a second bus stand in Sector 43. The same expert group had also suggested about cycle tracks, diversion of slow traffic to slip roads and also the concept of paid parking.
|
|
No ‘monkey’ business please, langoors are here
Chandigarh, February 3 Taking a cue from the PGI, the university too has decided not to let the monkeys attack the students, especially hostel inmates. While the PGI had long ago employed two langoors on its campus to combat the monkey menace, the PU has recently got the two langoors, who take the rounds of the campus to drive away the monkeys. The logic, which the university is working on, is simple: naughtier monkeys do not like to share the limelight with the langoors. Moreover, in presence of langoors monkeys prefer to stay away. The Dean, Students Welfare (DSW), has given the contract to Rafig Shah and Dildar, both residents of Kumhar
The owner of the langoors get Rs 10,000 for its services. The investment seems to have been working for the PU, where the students agree that the number of monkeys roaming on the campus have drastically reduced. “Though so far no monkey has attacked the students, but they were all over the campus and were definitely a menace for the hostellers,’’ said a campus student.
|
|
Man kills pregnant wife
Chandigarh, February 3 According to the police, Anurag (23) hit his wife in the head with a stone near the Motor Market in Manimajra. His wife Sandhya (21) fell on the ground. An enraged and tipsy Anurag then again attacked his wife kicking her in the stomach. Sandhya was pregnant for four months and the couple was expecting their first child. The
couple, from a gypsy caste, was living in a tent near Nau Gaza Pir in Panchkula. According to the police, Anurag was seen by a constable hitting and kicking his wife but as soon as he saw the policeman, he ran away from the spot leaving behind his injured wife. The police took the woman to the PGI where she succumbed to the injuries early this morning. Anurag used to clean ears and the family had recently pitched its tent along the road. According to the police, the couple picked up a fight when an inebriated Anurag started abusing his wife for what he perceived as her infidelity. The woman had been retorting his accusations. The police had yesterday registered a case of 323 (simple injury) and 308 (head injury) of the IPC. But after Sandhya's death, Anurag has been booked under Section 304 of the IPC.
|
|
Work on rail link with Ludhiana gathers speed
Chandigarh, February 3 Railway engineers are working on a war footing to meet the March deadline. the process of laying the rail line has started .Operating trains on the system would mean more engines and manpower. Also, at least 20 minutes would be consumed in changing engines from electric to diesel and vice versa. This would mean optimum utilisation of the track will not be possible even after the Railways has spent nearly Rs 190 crore for laying the 42-km track between Morinda and Chandigarh, say well-placed sources in the Railways. There is no proposal to electrify the track which will be required in the long run for smoother operation of trains. Electrification could have been possible at just 10 per cent of the cost of the project. It takes Rs 40 lakh per km for
electrification. and for the 42 km stretch , it would cost about Rs 18 crore. Without electrification , the running time of trains from Chandigarh to Ludhiana and vice versa or on the Chandigarh-Morinda-Ropar to Una route in Himachal Pradesh would increase as rail engines would have to be changed from electric to diesel here or at Morinda. Also , it will need an enormous effort to allow long distance trains passing on the Ambala-Ludhiana route to be diverted through Chandigarh as major trains are pulled by electric locomotives in north India. Even the cost- effective local trains which run in Delhi and Mumbai cannot be run as they have electric power. Interestingly, all rail routes- Chandigarh-Ambala, Delhi and Kalka on the one side and to Morinda from Nangal, Una, Sirhind and Ludhiana -are electrified, railway sources said. Several long distance trains connecting cities like Amritsar and Jammu with the rest of the country were expected to be re-routed through
Chandigarh, but without electrification of the track it needs to be seen how this is done . The Chandigarh- Ludhiana route had been planned in 1997 as a high-speed corridor as there was no direct link between the two stations and various parts of Punjab, including Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ferozepore and Pathankot, with the state capital here.
|
|
Her mission is to document Sikh art
But that is not her first love. Ms Jasleen Kandhari, a specialist of “Asian Collections” at the British Library in London, has undertaken a study that will lead to documentation of Sikh art and culture with the objective of preserving it for posterity. In India, Ms Kandhari has spent two weeks studying Sikh art forms in Mumbai, Delhi and Pune museums. She will spend the next two weeks at Amritsar, Kartarpur, Patiala and other places in Punjab to study Sikh art forms that she calls “fascinating, aesthetically appealing, yet under-represented form of Indian art”. In an interview with The Tribune she said “I propose to look at private and public collections,” she says. “Not much work is known to have been done in the area of Sikh art. Hundreds of manuscripts, paintings, drawings and photographs are in private hands. These will be lost unless their existence is recorded. There is a lot of interest on the subject in the West, but not much is known here as yet. “I will go back and deliver talks on my findings before putting it all in a book”, says Ms Kandhari, who has written on Sikh art for Asian Art published from London. Being of Sikh origin, Ms Kandhari is in India with a three-fold objective. “Having researched and curated an exhibition of Sikh manuscripts at the prestigious British Library in London last year and a Sikh myself, I am keen to continue to pursue academic research in the filed of Sikh manuscripts, paintings and the arts of Punjab with the intention of producing a book.” Elaborating further, she says: “I actively and passionately promote Indian and Sikh art by writing articles on Indian art collections and exhibitions in the museums worldwide. I am keen to learn and write about the art collections of Punjab and will be studying collections in Chandigarh, Patiala, Amritsar and Kartarpur during this visit”. She regularly delivers lectures and gallery talks on Indian and Sikh art at London’s British Museum, the British Library and Victoria and Albert Museum. In here message to the Asian youth she says: “Do explore your roots; do explore your own cultural heritage and artistic forms which enriches one’s cultural experiences”.
|
How do you feel over your celebrity status?
It definitely feels goods when somebody starts recognising your work. After being selected as a finalist in the Zee Cinestar, my work has started to get appreciation. I have some big banner projects coming my way which I feel will definitely have a big impact on people. It feels great when people come running to me for autograph.
What kind of people you want to work with in the film industry? I have a dream to work with Yash Chopra, Karan Johar and Sanjay Leela Bansali. I would also love to work with Shah Rukh Khan as my co-star. I appreciate ‘Manjis’ (Manmohan Singh, Director of Jee Aayan Nu) and will definitely like to work with him in future too. Youngsters would go to any length to secure a role on the silver screen. Your comments... I won’t do it at any cost. I want to concentrate only on the good roles. I believe morality is one’s own virtue which should be appreciated and not sacrificed at any cost. In my view
youngsters should not go beyond their limits to secure a role on the silver screen. They should rather wait because patience pays handsomely. What brings you to Chandigarh? I am here for shooting of the movie, ‘Yaaran Naal Baharan; directed by Manmohan Singh. I am playing the role of Juhi Babbar’s friend. — A Correspondent
|
|
Where peons work as clerks
Mohali, February 3 Octroi has been the main source of income of the civic body wing but it is not fully equipped. Even though the octroi collection target is increased every year, no permanent staff has been provided for the octroi collection work. The target of income from octroi last year (January 2004 to December 2004) was fixed at Rs 16.99 crore but even with limited infrastructure the civic body was able to collect about Rs 3 crore more than the target. Official of the civic body attribute the increase in the octroi income to increased business activity in the town. But they do agree that performance of the staff could improve with better infrastructure. There is only one Gypsy which is mostly used to collect cash from various posts. There are 14 octroi posts in the town. It becomes difficult to track down octroi evaders in the absence of a second vehicle. There is no method to keep a proper coordination between the staff at various posts and the superintendent, octroi inspectors or higher authorities. The staff has to depend on their mobile phones for office work for which no reimbursement is given. A proposal had been cleared by the General House at a meeting last year to purchase two mobile phones for the octroi wing. One was to be provided to the superintendent and the other to octroi inspectors. The inspector on duty was to get the mobile phone. But the proposal of the council was stayed by the Director, Local Government, Punjab. Hit by staff shortage, the council was compelled to take the services of peons who started working as clerks at octroi posts. It is learnt that there are 17 peons who are doing the work of clerks. As the council was short of staff, it was given permission by the higher authorities to take 27 persons from PESCO on a contract basis. However, the civic body could only avail the services of 16 persons as peons working as clerks in the octroi wing went to court against the decision of higher authorities, fearing that they would again have to work as peons in case the octroi wing got adequate staff. The court gave an order to maintain status quo in the matter. At present the wing has 72 staff members, including peons and those taken on contract. Mr Kulwant Singh, president of the council, admitted that the octroi wing was short of the staff and there was lack of proper communication. He said the octroi income could be increased if proper equipment was provided, apart from providing staff in accordance with the government norms. Even with limited resources the council was able to earn income much more than the set target, he added.
|
|
PUDA destroys wheat crop on ‘encroached’ land
Mohali, February 3 While these farmers cried foul that PUDA had destroyed their crop worth lakhs, the PUDA officials insisted that farmer act was a form of
encroachment and could not be accepted. The PUDA officials related that some parts of the newly developed Sectors viz 76 to 80 were under litigation and acquisition of these pockets of land had been stayed by the court. As a result of this long-standing litigation, these sectors have not been developed and the vast tracts of land that had been acquired by PUDA were lying unused. Taking advantage of the situation, some of the farmers from whom the land had been acquired by PUDA and who had even taken compensation in lieu of the land continued to cultivate their land. “Sowing crops on PUDA land amounted to encroachment and it has been
removed," said the Additional Chief Administrator PUDA, Mr Yashvir Mahajan, adding that development of these two sectors was also about to begin. “Some development had been done in Sectors 79 and 80 but most parts of Sectors 77 and 78 were lying undeveloped. We have invited tenders for starting development work in these sectors and road-laying work would begin here shortly,” he said. The farmers on the other hand alleged that spoiling their crop was a result of high-handedness on part of the authority. “Why should PUDA have a problem if we are using land that has been lying vacant for years? Suddenly PUDA has woken up saying that this is an encroachment. We have managed to procure a stay on PUDA’s actions for two days and will try to save as much of our crop as is possible in these two days,” said a farmer.
|
|
Kharar MLA decries Mohali MC chief’s statement
Mohali, February 3 Terming the MC chief’s reaction uncalled for, Mr Bir Devinder said it spoke loads about the attitude of the persons who were responsible for the sagging public delivery system. “I fail to understand the over-reaction of the president when the general public is concerned about the broken roads and central verges, cattle menace, heaps of garbage in the parks and other public inconveniences. As a local MLA, I owe an obligation towards the public to ensure the best possible civic amenities and excellent service delivery system at all public windows in various offices. Therefore, I feel obliged even to earn unpleasantness of the shirkers,” the MLA says. “I want to make it clear that the government cannot become a mute spectator toward any attempt by any person, including Mr Kulwant Singh, to thwart any step towards improving the working in the public offices and encouraging the maladies like absenteeism and apathy towards the public concerns. The government has enough tools and options to deal effectively with such situations.” “I wish to clarify the purpose of my visit to the Municipal Council was not to conduct raid. Being representative of the people and sensitive to their daily needs, I have to interact with the officials of various departments having direct link with the people at personal level as a last resort when other options to contact over phone or through written communication fails. It was in this context that Mr M.L. Sharma, SDM, accompanied me. In case the officials in such large numbers are found absent, the public at large is justified by their grouse against the falling standards and failure of the total administrative machinery. Moreover, the executive officer, Mr Harbhagwan Garg, was present when the SDM scrutinised the attendance register in my presence,” he said. The MLA pointed out that the provincial cadre officials working in the local bodies were governed by civil service rules and were accountable to the executive who in turn was answerable to the legislature. “I am member of the legislature representing the Kharar constituency and Mohali is one of its constituents. As such, as a member of the legislature also, I have to ensure that the writ of the government runs and the image of the government and its effectiveness is not sullied by the casual approach of the officials who prefer to operate from their residences when the working hours and offices have been designated and notified for the public,” he said.
|
|
Environmentalist Shiva terms Seed Bill anti-farmer
Chandigarh, February 3 Delivering a lecture on “The future of Indian farming,” at Panjab University today, Dr Shiva debates that the freedom to grow what you want in your background will be scuttled if the law becomes reality. For, if the law is implemented, one will then be required to procure a licence to have any kind of seeds. “In fact we will be moving once again towards the licence raj if the law is passed in Parliament,” she cautions. She in fact has decided to launch a sovereignty movement for food — Annaswaraj. The motto is to strive for the freedom to grow what you want, eat what you want and preserve the bio diversity of multiple crop cultivation for healthy living. “I have chosen February 13, Basant Panchami day, to launch Campaign Annaswaraj,” says Dr Shiva. Being critical of the “ill-effects” of the globalisation and the increasing stranglehold of the multinationals over the food production business, Dr Shiva says that use of pesticides and chemicals, sold by the big pharmaceutical companies had led to an escalating cost of the crop production. The returns, however, have not been proportionally high. “Over the years the cost of production has seen a 10-fold rise but the prices of the crops have fallen under WTO rules and effects of globalisation. As a result we are witnessing a large number of suicides by farmers, including in the prosperous states like Punjab,” says Dr Shiva. She says that the data with the Crime Bureau in India shows that more than 16,000 farmers have committed suicides in the country since 1997. In fact she says that in the coming times, agriculture is moving towards domination of five pharmaceutical companies which will control seed procurement, agriculture, pharmaceutical sector, research and ownership of knowledge. “The big pharmaceutical giants will be able to control the patterns, deploy tools of own exclusive rights and will be able to buy smaller units,” she says. However, to evade the situation, Dr Shiva advocates India should maintain its own bio-diversity and multiple crop patterns to ensure that the culture of healthy eating continues in the country. “In the western countries, only four major crops, including soya bean, canola, cotton and corn are being cultivated and the trend is fast catching up with developing countries like Brazil,” says Dr Shiva.
|
|
Plan to improve road transport
Chandigarh, February 3 The General was responding to the point raised by the delegation for improving the public transport system. General Rodrigues made it clear that he wanted the senior officers of the Administration to respond to the changing needs of society and to quicken the process of development by implementing schemes in a time-bound framework. He said his endeavour was to boost the ‘work culture’ in government departments. He said he had taken up the case for the upgradation of international airport in the city with the Government of India which would further give a fillip to the industrial and agriculture economy of the region.
|
|
Accounts, audit officers launch agitation
Chandigarh, February 3
As a result, the gap between the pay scales of AO and AAO has been reduced to around Rs 50, whereas it takes around 20 years for an AAO to be promoted to AO.
Talking to the Tribune, the members of the association said they had taken up the issue with
the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG). The office of the CAG had recommended the revision of the pay scales but it was never implemented. The issue was raised at a recent meeting of the association held in West Bengal. For AO the revised pay scales which have been demanded are Rs 8000-13,500 and for SAO the pay scale demanded are Rs 10,000-15,200. The association has also demanded abolition of the discriminatory age ceiling of 53 years for induction into the Indian Audit
and Accounts Services. On the issue of filling vacancies in the department, the association has sought the attention of the CAG, revision of work norms in field offices and creation of adequate number of posts in all cadres for the Panchayati Raj audit.
|
|
City gets Golden Icon Award for e-Sampark project
Chandigarh, February 3 Mr Dilip Kumar, Joint Secretary, Finance, and Mr Vivek Verma of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) received the award on behalf of Chandigarh Administration. The department of IT, has been awarded for the e-Sampark Project in the new entrants category for Professional Excellence in Process Re-engineering. The Secretary, IT, Mr S.K. Sandhu, Director, IT, Mr Vivek Atray, Additional Director, IT, Prof S.C. Dhawan and NIC officials, Mr Ajay Rampal and Mr Vivek Verma, are directly involved with the e-Sampark project. The various departments of the Administration, which have also contributed to the project are the Finance Department, Home Department, Engineering Department, Police Department, Health Department, Municipal Corporation, Excise and Taxation Department, Social Welfare Department, Chandigarh Transport Undertaking and Births and Deaths Registration Department, a spokesperson said today. The e-Sampark project, an e-governance initiative has been launched by the Department of Information Technology, Chandigarh Administration, in pursuance of the IT policy wherein Single Window Services are to be provided to the residents of Chandigarh.
|
|
Kidney patient needs help
Chandigarh, February 3 Hailing from Solan in Himachal Pradesh, Chaman Lal, father of a four-year-old-girl has lost whatever little he had earned earlier. He is now dependent upon his relatives to live. “Every week I have to go for dialysis, which costs more than Rs 1,500. It has been three years now since I have been struggling with the disease,’’ says ailing Lal. While his mother Nikku Devi has come forward to donate her kidney to save her son, her decision is not helping the family much. As the sum of Rs 3 lakhs required for the transplant surgery and further medication is a mammoth task for the poor family. “The kidney cross matching is already done and the doctors are telling us that we can go in for the transplant,’’ says a close relative. The family looks for generous donors to help them in this crisis. The donations can be given in favour of the Director, PGI, and can be routed through the Public Relations Officer, PGI.
|
|
Andhra handicrafts exhibition is here
Chandigarh, February 3 While silks and cottons in the most unusual combinations rule the exhibition, the Pochampally, Patola, Narayanpet, Dharmavaram, Gadwal and Mangalgiri saris have stolen the show on the first day. It was inaugurated by the Mayor, Ms Anu Chatrath. Mangalgiri dress material, dupattas and bedsheets in Kalamkari with vegetable dyes are also available at the exhibition, which is on till Stalls of khadi bedsheets in bright combinations as also Ikkat bedcovers and dress material have also been put up at the exhibition. Besides, short tops, suits and kurtas are available in Lukhnavi embroidery. In the handicrafts section too, the range varies from colourful wooden toys and dancing dolls to coloured pearls and stone jewellry. Cotton durries, wood carvings, stone carvings as also crochet items and leather puppets are on Palm-leaf paintings are also on sale.
|
|
Police ignoring NHRC directions, say lawyers
Chandigarh, February 3 Addressing a press conference here, office-bearers of the LHRI alleged that senior police officials treated the inquiries regarding the protection of human rights sent by the NHRC in an “irresponsible manner”. A representation to the NHRC by the rights body alleged that last year the inquiry against certain officials of the Sector 36 police station by a woman complainant was marked to the IGP and the SSP. However, on the pretext of investigation, the complainant was called to the police station and allegedly beaten up. In another case, an inquiry ordered by the NHRC was conducted by the lower -level officials of the Sector 39 police station. The representation sought strict action against senior police officials, who had not been complying with the directions of the NHRC.
|
|
|
Short service officers’ plea to Army chief
Chandigarh, February 3 In a letter to the defence minister and the Army chief, members of the All-India Released Defence Officers Welfare Association have stated that though they are entitled to medical facilities at military hospitals, they were not considered for membership of the ECHS. The association comprises officers who were commissioned during the emergency or for short service and were released after completing the stipulated five or 10-year period of engagement. Seeking amendment to the ECHS , the members stated that they were prepared to pay the requisite fees and charges. Though they do not draw pension from the defence establishment, short Service Commission officers are entitled to several other facilities after service.
|
|
Plan to provide round-the-clock security to Mohali residents
Mohali, February 3 The police wants to start the scheme as a pilot project in four sectors to begin with, which would be extended to other areas if proved to be successful. Two meetings have already been held by the SP, Mr Rakesh Agarwal, with the Resident Welfare Associations in this regard. Mr Agarwal, who met the representatives of various welfare associations here today, said the scheme to provide security to the residents was being studied. However the associations would have to play a major role in it, he added. He said under the scheme private security agencies would have to be hired by the association for providing round-the-clock security. The staff, put on duty could patrol the area under their jurisdiction and even set up nakas by questioning people moving under suspicious circumstances. All this could be done under the supervision of the police.
|
|
Sambar carcass found
Panchkula, February 3 When a Chandigarh Tribune team reached the spot, it saw some stray dogs feeding on it. The team informed the police, requesting that a message be flashed to the Wildlife Department in this regard. However, wildlife officials were not available as they were busy in elections. Meanwhile, a police team reached the scene and threw the carcass into nearby bushes.
|
|
Painting contest to be held on Cancer day
Chandigarh, February 3 Of all the patients suffering from cancer, around 4 per cent are children. Blood cancer or leukaemia is the commonest hematological cancers among the children. Among tumours, the children commonly have brain and the kidney tumours. In most cases the treatment lies in the chemotherapy, but in the case of tumours the children are administered a pre-operative therapy before operating upon them for the removal of the tumour. “With advanced treatment and the early detection of the cancer, more than 90 per cent of the cancerous tumours can be fully cured, while more than 50 per cent of the patients with leukaemia have the ray of hope for survival,’’ says Dr Marwah. Meanwhile, the Sahatya Cancer
Sahyog, a charitable organisation working for cancer patients, is organising a painting competition for children on Friday.
|
|
|
Pattar relates agony and poetry
Chandigarh, February 3 “Poetry is the expression of the inner feelings. I have known two things in poetry that are separation and ecstacy. I feel that there is some kind of ecstacy while expressing the great pain of the heart.”
|
|
APRO dead
Chandigarh, February 3 He is survived by his wife Rajinder Kaur, a Deputy Director in the same department, two daughters and a son.
|
|
Bijli sabha on Feb 6
Panchkula, February 3
|
||
Jewellery worth Rs 90,000 stolen
Chandigarh, February 3 When his son came back at 12 pm, he saw the two locks of the main door of the house broken. The child then rang up his parents.
The burglars targeted jewellery and cash only. Luckily, the family had left behind only Rs 1500 at house. Mr Lakhbir Singh said the thieves seemed expert in breaking locks. The neighbours of Lakhbir Singh told the police that they had seen a person driving a black-coloured Indica roaming about and constantly talking on a mobile phone for an hour. They suspected that the man was instructing those who were inside the house. The two thieves then came back carrying a bag used for vegetables and handing it over to the car-borne man. The man in the car sped from the spot while the two who had emerged from the house ran on foot towards the Sector 55 Colony. The police brought a forensic team and a sniffer dog to detect clues, including finger prints from the spot.
|
|
Theft in two houses
Mohali, February 3
When the daughter came back from the college, she noticed that a theft had taken place. The thieves had entered from the back
courtyard and after breaking a lock or the grill entered the building. Apart from taking away gold, silver coins and cash, household items had also been stolen. The exact loss had not been so far assessed by the family. In another theft, thieves decamped with cash, jewellery and other items from a house in Phase IX here. The theft came to the notice of the house owners when they returned from Mumbai on Tuesday night. The thieves took away about 2 tolas of gold, cash in the tune of Rs 5,000, cameras, a VCP and watches.
|
|
|
Immolation bid by youth
Chandigarh, February 3 According to
the police, Vipin’s mother, who is a clerk in the General Hospital,
Sector 16, refused to give him money, suspecting he might use it for
procuring drugs. Enraged over this, Vipin Kumar locked himself in a
room, poured kerosene and set himself on fire. The police has
registered a case of attempt to suicide.
|
|
Police swoops down on gamblers
Zirakpur, February 3 The police has arrested Ram Vilas, a resident of Bartana village, for gambling and recovered a sum of Rs 15,900 from him. ASI Kishore Chand Katoch said the raid was conducted on a tip off about illegal satta operator in Zirakpur. The police has registered a case under the provisions of the Gambling Act against the accused.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, February 3
