Chandigarh, January 7
Even as the administration grapples with the problem of creating additional parking in commercial areas, it has ignored the misuse of basement parking in its own buildings.

Be it the office of the MC, the Chandigarh Housing Board or the estate office, the misuse of basements is rampant. No notice has been issued to check the violation.

Putting the rules aside, the space meant for parking has been used to construct rooms. Fire safety norms which have to be adopted while constructing rooms in the basement have also been ignored.

In the Sector 17 office of the MC, rooms of officials of the engineering department have been constructed. There is no proper ventilation and the rooms are dark.

In some rooms, there is a problem of seepage. Though there is a provision to add more floors to the double-storeyed building of the MC, no effort has been made in this regard even when the civic body has enough funds.

Questioning the stand of the administration, an official said the MC had been quick in issuing notice to the Fun Republic and other private buildings. Even under the new conversion policy, it is mandatory to have twin basements, but if a government agency misused the basement, no action was taken as shortage of space was cited as reason.

In case of the additional deluxe building adjoining the office of the deputy commissioner, the basement meant for parking is being used by the election department and the building branch of the estate office to store records.

The CHB office is no exception. A basement under the main building has been converted into rooms for employees of the engineering department. Fire safety norms are also not as per the specifications.

“When vehicles of officers are parked near the rooms, the smoke suffocates the staff sitting in the rooms,” said an official on the condition of anonymity.

There is also a provision for adding more floors to the CHB building. 

n The space meant for parking has been used to construct rooms

n Fire safety norms that have to be adopted while constructing rooms in the basement have been ignored

n Also, there is no proper ventilation 

Chandigarh, January 7
“I am wearing two sweaters and a jacket and I have to walk down 2 km from my house in this chilly weather with the load of my school bag. What difference will it make if schools remain closed for a week more?” asks Kaushalya, a Class VI student of a government school located on the outskirts of the city.

With temperatures dropping and icy winds sweeping the region for the past several days, it is difficult to reach school. Sometimes students have to cycle to school in dense fog.

“My mother wakes me up and says my friend will reach the bus stop before me,” says Aryan, a Class III student.

Unlike Delhi, the Chandigarh education department has brushed aside to the demand of parents to close schools for at least a week more. The department has, however, extended the timings of all schools from 8 am to 8.30 am.

The DPI (S), S.K. Setia, said, “We have already extended the school timings by half an hour. If the schools are closed for another week, the studies of higher classes will suffer. Still, it can be considered. I will put up a note to the higher authorities to take stock of it.”

The parents, however, resent that yesterday, the education department had ordered the closure of Classes VI, VII, IX and X1 for the closing ceremony of the National School Games.

“Also, the primary classes of schools where the visiting players are putting up have been closed by the administration from January 5 to 10. Aren’t studies affected then?” they said.

The windowpanes of a majority of government schools are broken and the students have to sit on chilly floors.

Ravinder Kaur, a parent, says, “The school commences at 8.30 am. As the school is quite far from our place, the school van comes at 7.30 am. It is very difficult to get the children ready by then. I did not send them to school for two days, and I have been asked for an explanation.”

Monica Kulkarni, whose son studies in UKG, says, “Though I make him wear plenty of woollens, but he still feels very cold.”

Chandigarh, January 7
As it was expected, the final between the Chandigarh Dynamos and Bangalore Hi-Fliers was a thriller for hockey lovers, who couldn’t afford to miss the first final. The stadium was full with spectators seen on all corners of the hockey stadium in Sector 42 this evening.

As soon as the teams reached the ground, the crowd got to their feet to cheer every single move that the players made. Painted faces and colorful wigs worn by children added zing to the electrifying atmosphere, which would be remembered by the crowd for years to come.

The stadium was kept alive amid people shouting, ‘Chandigarh de sher karenge Fliers ko dher’ followed by ‘Bangolore Bangalore aahhaa aahhaa’.

The stadium started swelling with fans way before the match began at 6 pm. The stadium jam packed with spectators who turned up to see their favourite stars in action on a chilly winter evening.

Among the crowd, famous Olympians Ajit Singh, Harnaak Singh, Pargat Singh was seen but the stadium felt absence of ‘Chak De girls’ who remained out from the action of the finals.

“Though, the team I was supporting have lost but still it was a match that was worth watching”, said a local hockey lover, Lakhminder Singh, who came with his family.

Due to heavy rush at the stadium, the police too had a tough time handling the crowd and so did the people. An hour-long traffic snarl was witnessed outside the stadium.

Chandigarh, January 7
The first week of this year has already claimed six lives on account of cold wave. While five have been asphyxiated by smoke produced by coal they had left burning to fight cold, one has died after exposure to chill.

Another five, including a seven-month-old child, are fighting for their lives in city hospitals after inhaling lethal gas emanating from angithis placed in their rooms.

A beggar, whose body was found today, is also believed to have died of cold in the intervening night of January 5 and 6, when the minimum temperature was 6.6 °C.

The lowest minimum temperature of 1.4 °C was recorded on January 1.

January 5 has so far been the coldest day with day temperature recording 19.4 °C. On January 1, the day temperature touched 19.8 °C.

Temperature variation has also been huge, leading to unbearable weather conditions and infections.

In the first four days of this year, temperature variation has been high i.e. from 19.8 °C on January 1 to 22.4 °C on January 4. Thereafter, it fell and settled at 19.4 °C on January 5, making it the coldest day of the month.

Today was warmer, with mercury touching 26.6 °C during the day, a jump of 4.8 °C over yesterday, when the maximum temperature was 21.4 °C.

Night temperatures have also been fluctuating, causing dry winter.

Night temperature today recorded 8.8 °C, indicating warmer nights ahead. On January 2, the night temperature read 2 °C.

Mohali, January 7
Those waiting for buses at the local bus stand here were in for an unusual sight today. The single private bus belonging to the Orbit Transport Company, owned by the Punjab Chief Minister’s family, arrived at the bus stand with a police pilot escorting it.

The bus had come from Amritsar with five policemen on board to ensure that the bus driver and passengers encountered no trouble during the journey.

Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann), had yesterday declared that the buses owned by the Badals would be gheraoed by his supporters on the 7th of every month.

The Mohali police had arranged for a pilot vehicle to escort the bus from Kurali to the bus stand and on its way out from the district also. Other than the five guards who had come in the bus from Amritsar, another five policemen boarded the bus at Kurali. 

Chandigarh, January 7
A group of eight Rotary Club members from Coral Gables, Florida, is visiting the city and hopes to make it a place with the safest drinking water.

With plans to work on humanitarian projects, the Rotary Club Coral Cables tied up with the Rotary Club of Chandigarh here today.

While signing an agreement, Noelle A. Galperin, said the initiative would go a long way in ensuring all round implementation of humanitarian projects.

The team was here to participate in the national immunisation day to fight against polio. It said the members were planning to implement a multi-pronged water strategy.

“Not all parts of the country have access to clean water, especially slums and colonies. We will work on a filtration system that will ensure that people drink clean water,” said Noelle.

“The filtration system is based on bio-sand technology,” she added.

“More than one-fifth of all diseases are water borne. Only if water is clean, can development and good health be ensured,” she said.

Technicalities were in the planning stage and would be looked into.

“Even in government schools, the water is not safe for drinking as it is not filtered. Besides Chandigarh, we also plan to target Mumbai for the project,” she said.

The group will also focus on retinal surgery and visited the PGI and Fortis to study the facilities there.

“Technology is here in abundance. The only problem is poverty, due to which not many people avail of the facilities,” she said.

Chandigarh, January 7
The Chandigarh Management Association (CMA) organised a seminar on ‘India and Changing Global Realities’ to celebrate its 41st foundation day here today. Dr Surinder P.S. Pruthi, former visiting faculty, Harvard Business School, international senior adviser, United Nations, and consultant to World Bank, was the keynote speaker. The seminar was chaired by minister of state for finance Pawan Kumar Bansal.

Dr Surinder delved into the history of development of Indian economy and said globalisation had now become a fact of life. He said India needed to change its mindset and partake in the developments taking place elsewhere in the markets as 33 per cent of the consumable goods were being manufactured in Asia. He said India would sustain the duress of the world market and was bound to become leader in the 21st century.

CMA president Vikram Hans said the global economic condition had greater impact on domestic economy of the countries. 

Chandigarh, January 7
Fearing the misuse of cyber cafés by anti-social elements, criminals and terrorists to mislead security and investigating agencies, the Chandigarh administration today prohibited the use of cyber cafés by those who fail to furnish an ID.

Cyber cafés are being operated by private individuals and could be used to create panic in public and cause danger to VIPs and government institutions, feels the administration.

District magistrate R.K. Rao said a cyber café could only be used by those who could establish their identity to the owner of the café.

Café owners have been asked to maintain a register for identity of the user by registering visitor’s name, address, telephone number and identity proof.

The user will have to make the entry in his or her handwriting along with address, telephone number and identity proof and sign the register.

The users could produce identity card, voter card, ration card, driver’s licence, passport and photo credit card as proof of identity.

The activity server log would be preserved in the main server, which would keep record for at least six months.

Café owners have also been asked to inform police in case of suspicion. The cyber cafés would also have to maintain record of the specific computer used by a suspect.

The district magistrate has issued the order under Section 144 of the CrPC. The order will remain valid till March 8.

Mohali, January 7
Rajinder Prasad Sharma, municipal councillor from ward number 2, today requested the principal secretary, department of local government, Punjab, to take action against Baljit Kaur, municipal councillor from ward number 25, for allegedly trying to slap him when the general body meeting of the municipal council concluded on December 31.

Sharma went to the office of the principal secretary in Chandigarh along with Rajinder Singh Rana, civic body chief, and another councillor Amrik Singh Somal to personally hand over the compliant in connection with the incident. The secretary, however, was not present in his office at that time. Sharma said he would again go and personally meet the secretary though the compliant was left in his office today. He said a copy of the complaint has also been given to the director, department of local government.

The Kharar MLA, Balbir Singh Sidhu, has recommended the compliant.

In the compliant, Sharma alleged that as the meeting concluded, Baljit Kaur started using derogatory language saying that he was interfering in her ward. When councillors started getting up to leave the meeting hall, Baljit Kaur came towards him and allegedly tried to slap him on the face. But he protected himself with his forearm. Other councillors allegedly saved him.

Sharma further said in the complaint that when he came out of the meeting hall, Baljit Kaur’s husband Shamsher Singh Purkhalwi allegedly abused him and pushed him and threatened him with dire consequences. The incident had happened in the presence of the MLA, council president, councillors and media persons. Sharma alleged that the entire act was pre-planned. He said he did not react keeping the sanctity of the house in mind.

He demanded action against Baljit Kaur so that such incidents did not happen in future.

Mohali, January 7
Hundreds of residents of Hoshiarpur village here are wondering what it takes to awaken the district administration from its deep slumber bordering on complete indifference.

The residents had, through The Tribune, highlighted the sorry state of the village bus stop almost two months back. But the district administration seems to be least bothered about the inconvenience the residents are facing.

The bus stop, located on the main road, is anything but a bus stop. The walls of the bus stop are in shambles and there is no wall at the back. “It is a shame. The villagers and farmers of Punjab contribute maximum to the state’s economy. But no one is ready to give us any facility. Is asking for a decent bus stop too much?” asked Kamal Kishore, head of the Ilaka Sudhar Committee Ghar.

The bus stand structure is virtually abandoned by passengers. It needs urgent repair as there is no shade from the sun, cold and rain. Residents have complained to various authorities demanding the construction of the bus stand but nothing has been done so far.

Residents also wrote to Morinda MLA Ujagar Singh Wadali to look into the matter.

Panchkula, January 7
The district police does not want to register cases of bicycle thefts. Joginder Paul Sharma, a Sector 19 resident, alleged, “My cycle was stolen on the intervening night of December 7 and 8 from my house and I lodged a complaint with the police post at Sector 19,” said Sharma. “But neither I was given a copy of the daily diary report (DDR) nor FIR,” he said.

He futher said the officials at Sector 19 police post asked him to wait till a thief was caught, instead of registering a theft case. He was also given the option of choosing any bicycle from among those recovered from the thief, alleged Sharma.

“As I had to file a claim with the insurance company against the theft, I insisted for the copy of the DDR but the officials did not budge from their stand and asked me to wait till a thief was caught,” alleged Sharma. “I complained to the SP today,” said Sharma.

Police post in charge ASI Desh Raj, however, could not be contacted.

Chandigarh, January 7
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed Stock Holding Corporation of India, Sector 17, to pay Rs 10,000 in compensation for not releasing shares to a petitioner.

The stock corporation was also asked to release 50 shares of the petitioner, Om Prakash Chopra, along with Rs 2,100 as cost of litigation. The petitioner had taken a loan against pledging shares with the bank.

The shares included those of the GTL, Sri Adhikari and Videocon.

It was averred that the complainant refunded his loan on June, 2002 and all shares were released to him except 50 of the GTL.

Chopra was informed by the bank that the shares were to be separately pledged for which the petitioner was required to fill out a separate form.

The petitioner completed the formalities and bank officials assured him of releasing the shares and informing the Stock Holding Corporation of India, Sector 17 about it.

However, the shares were not released by the bank in spite of several visits made by the petitioner.

Chopra alleged that the action had deprived him of the opportunity to sell the shares.

In reply, the bank stated that the petitioner’s account was closed in July, 2002 and the complaint was filed in 2006, hence it was time-barred.

The bank added that the 50 shares were held by the Stock Holding Corporation of India, Sector 17, on behalf of the bank.

The forum stated: “It is proved that the Stock Holding Corporation of India, Sector 17, were deficient in releasing 50 shares of the GTL to the complainant. Thereby, causing complainant great financial loss as well as physical and mental harassment.”

Chandigarh, January 7
The Chandigarh traffic police today distributed helmets to three girls and blankets to rickshaw-pullers on the concluding day of the 19th road safety week at Traffic Police Lines, Sector 29, this evening.

The police said awards were given to the winners of various activities, including painting competition, scooter rally, workshop for bus, truck and auto-rickshaw drivers, and rickshaw-pullers.

Helmets were presented to the girls who were selected from the scooter rally.

A vote of thanks was presented by TAO president Amar Manchanda.

He thanked traffic police officers who contributed towards the road programme with special mention for DSP (traffic) J.S. Cheema, inspector B.S. Negi, inspector S.P.S. Sondhi, sub-inspector Ajay Kumar.

Senior police officials, including DIG Vivek Gogia, SSP (traffic) A.S. Ahlawat, DSP (traffic) Jasbir Singh Cheema and prominent citizens were present.

Mohali, January 7
The Generation Saviour Association urged deputy commissioner H.I.S. Garewal here today to strictly implement anti-tobacco laws and declare SAS Nagar district as smoke free on the pattern of Chandigarh.

Amteshwar Kaur, president of the association, gave a memorandum to the deputy commissioner saying that her body was ready to join hands with the administration to give SAS Nagar district the distinction of being the first district of Punjab to be declared smoke free.

She said the main provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act, 2003, encompassed within its jurisdiction, prohibition of smoking in public places, prohibition of advertisement, sponsorship and promotion of tobacco products to minor, prohibition of sale of tobacco products near educational institutions, regulation of health warning on tobacco products, packets, and regulation of tar and nicotine contents of tobacco products.

Although the department of health and family welfare had issued a notification authorising officials to take cognisance under various sections of the Act, anti-tobacco laws were not being implemented in letter and in spirit.

I purchased RO water filter from EDEN, SCO 87 (basement), Sector 44-C, Chandigarh, on June 25, 2007. They sent me some other model against the booked model, saying it was superior to the ordered one and charged Rs 500 more for the same. The water filter is leaking since I have purchased it. The company is not even attending phone calls leave aside providing service.

My first complaint was attended to after one month of lodging it. But nobody has attended to my second complaint for the past two months.

V.K. Gupta, Patiala

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Chandigarh, January 7
The police yesterday booked five persons on charges of attempt to murder with sharp-edged weapons in Sector 44.

The victim, 30-year-old Chhinder Pal Singh of Sector 68, Mohali, sustained severe head injuries and several cuts on his shoulders and other parts of the body.

Chhinder and the accused had worked together earlier and had had some financial dispute, which tuned violent, said the police.

According to the police, Chhinder in his complaint alleged that Taranjit Singh, alias Golu, and his brother Manpreet Singh, alias Manna, of Ballomajra village in Mohali district and three other persons assaulted him with sharp-edged weapons near Laxmi Narain Temple, Sector 44, on Sunday.

He was seriously injured in the attack and was admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.

Sector 34 police station SHO Sudarhsan Singh said a case of attempt to murder, wrongful restraint and rioting under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act had been registered. He said efforts were on to trace the accused.

Chandigarh, January 7
The police today arrested six youngsters on allegations of assaulting an Army man in Sector 22 on Sunday. In another case, a person was arrested after he snatched a purse in Sector 22.

According to Sector 22 police post in-charge Charanjit Singh Virk said the accused, Lalit Joshi and Jagpal Singh of Sector 48, Tarun Sharma, Amrik Singh, Satwinder Singh and Daljit Singh of Morinda were arrested for beating up Kuldeep Singh of Sector 22-B.

The police also impounded their two cars, Maruti Alto (PB 12 J 7711) and Hyundai Accent (CH 03 U 5966). Lalit and Jagpal are said to be lectures in private colleges in Punjab.

Kuldeep Singh of Sector 22-B lodged a complaint alleging that he was thrashed by a group of persons after his motor cycle collided with their cars.

He told the police that the accused had beaten him up and threatened him before snatching his mobile phone and Rs 1,660. The police as registered a case of rioting, causing injuries, theft and criminal intimidation in this regard.

In another incident, the police arrested a Dhanas resident on the charges of snatching a wallet from two students of Shishuniketan School in Sector 22, here, this afternoon.

The police said Harpreet Singh, a student of class XI, reported that he was on his way to the ISBT with his friend Nishant when two men stopped them near the Sector 22 and 23 trafficlights and asked them to show their ID. The men sped away after snatching his wallet.

They gave them a chase and nabbed one of the accused. He was handed over to the police.

The police said the accused had been identified as 32-year-old Lakhwinder Singh of Milk Colony, Dhanas.

The police has recovered the stolen property from him.

Chandigarh, January 7
Medicines worth over Rs 3 lakh were stolen from a plot in Industrial Area and another Rs 60,000 taken away from a car parked in the Sector 22 market in two incidents of theft in the past 24 hours.

According to the police, Rakesh Chadha of plot No. 28/1, Phase II, Industrial Area, reported to the police that medicines worth Rs 3.86 lakh were stolen from his premises after thieves broke open the locks last night. A case of burglary has been registered in the police station-31.

In another incident, Jawahar Thakur of Khudda Lahora reported to the police that his briefcase containing Rs 60,000 in cash, some documents and other articles were stolen from his car.