Mohali, June 4
The Birla Farm site at Ropar will house Punjab’s Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Almost 600 acres of the farm, being used for agricultural research, have been marked for the IIT.

“The site has been finalised but it will take some time for the infrastructure to come up. During this period the IIT-Punjab boys would attend classes at the IIT-Delhi and later at an ITI near the site,” said Punjab Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh.

Earlier, the IIT-Punjab was to function from a rented site here for which two sites had been short-listed. “Plans for an IIT stopover at Mohali were dropped as it was felt that there was little time for admissions,” said Ramesh Inder Singh.

The Delhi-IIT has been declared as the mentor for the IIT-Punjab and students admitted would attend classes in Delhi for the first year, at least. As many as 120 students will be admitted through the JEE. The students will be offered three branches in BTech with 40 seats each in computer science and engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.

The IIT-Punjab will reserve 27 per cent seats for OBC students from this academic session.The academic programmes will commence in July-August and the curricula/syllabi as well as the fee structure will be the same as that in the IIT-Delhi.

Sources said after the first year at the Delhi campus, the IIT students would shift to the ITI building in Ropar. “The ITI campus is big enough to house these students. Relevant changes would be made in the ITI,” said Ramesh Inder Singh.

The union ministry of human resource and development had announced an IIT for Punjab in March this year. The ministry officials have asked for 700 acres of land in Punjab for the institute. A team from the IIT in Delhi led by the director visited the Birla farm site in Ropar last week.

Chandigarh, June 4
A special fleet of buses will be stationed at the railway station soon by the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) to facilitate the commuting of railway passengers and tourists coming to the city by various trains. According to a proposal mooted initially, 10 buses will ply from there to different sectors.

According to an official in the transport department, these buses will be stationed there at the time of the arrival of Shatabdis and Kalka Express.

These buses will not follow the grid system chart for covering various sectors in the city.

To ensure reservation of seats in the buses, a special ticket counter will also be set up at the station. Besides this, the counter will also provide information about the routes of the buses to the tourists and other passengers.

He said a special inspector would be appointed at the ticket counter to guide tourists.

The official further revealed that the department had taken this step keeping in view the problem faced by the railway passengers because most of the buses, which were catering to the passengers at the station, were on the normal route and were packed when they reached the station. These were of no use to the passengers coming from outside as seats were not available and there was nobody to guide them.

He said this decision had been taken to avoid the inconvenience for the passengers.

He said this project would be on a trial basis and if it proved profitable and people-friendly, then more such services would be introduced.

He said air-conditioned buses would also be stationed at the railway station for the facility of the executive class and tourists so as to save them from being fleeced by the cabs.

While talking to The Tribune, CTU Director Capt P S Shergill stated that the advisor to the Administrator Pradip Mehra had directed him to streamline the CTU services at the railway station so as to make the train journey attractive for the residents.

Chandigarh, June 4
The hike in fuel prices to be affected from midnight today led to a huge rush at petrol stations in the city and surrounding townships of Panchkula and Mohali. Panicky residents wanted to cushion themselves against the price hike for sometime by getting their fuel tanks filled to the top.

Petrol station owners said the daily sale was up by 40-50 per cent in anticipation of the rise in prices. Amanpreet Singh, proprietor of Sukhna Petrol Pump in Sector 28, said most customers, aware that the prices had been hiked, were getting the fuel tanks filled to capacity. “As compared to average footfalls of 7000, we are expecting to serve 15,000 customers today. Today, we are likely to double our sale from the daily average of 20,000 litres of petrol and 30,000 litres of diesel,” he said.

Residents also complained that in anticipation of a hike in LPG prices, many LPG dealers in the tricity had created an artificial scarcity and refused to deliver cylinders. Manohar Lal, a retired government employee in Panchkula, said though he had got his LPG booking done eight days back, he had not been supplied the cylinder. “The dealers are getting the supplies but are holding back stocks in order to make a quick buck by selling these at enhanced rates, after the hike is announced,” he alleged.

City residents are not amused at the price hike. Pradeep Singh, a trader, said the hike would also lead to a hike in the prices of essential commodities and food items. “At a time when the price of every commodity is going up and the inflation is at an all- time high of 8.1 per cent, the fuel and LPG price hike is uncalled for,” he said. The daily sale of petrol in Chandigarh is 2.70 lakh litres and that of diesel 1.80 lakh litres. In Punjab, the daily sale of petrol is 20 lakh litres and that of diesel 78 lakh litres.

With today’s hike in fuel prices, petrol will be costliest in and cheapest in Diesel would be costliest in and cheapest in.

Chandigarh, June 4
S.F. Rodrigues, UT administrator, today made a forceful plea for a collective and action-oriented endeavour for maintaining the ecological balance and to ensure sustainable development by adopting good living practices.

“We have to develop innovative environment-friendly strategies to make a positive contribution to the future of planet earth and to shape a healthy ambience for future generations”, Rodrigues said in a message on the eve of World Environment Day today.

Regarding the theme and slogan for 2008 given by the United Nations Environment Programme, "Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy", General Rodrigues said the issue of climate change was being debated all over the world, in different fora followed by recommendations and suggestions for preserving our environment from the ill-effects of global warming. Rodrigues said the Chandigarh Administration had undertaken various environmental beneficial measures and was promoting solar energy technologies. The administration had constructed cycle tracks in the city to promote the use of bicycles and thereby minimise pollution. Plantation of one million trees during 2008 was another important step to enhance the green cover and mitigate pollution.

He said the administration had already set up a solid waste processing unit equipped with all modern techniques to help maintain the city clean and green. He also impressed upon the industrial community to consider environment aspects at all stages of development and to create products, which will reduce waste and improve their competitive position in the market. 

Mohali, June 4
Members of the Residential Welfare Association of Industrial Area, Phases VIII A and B, have alleged that the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) has allotted nine industrial plot sites in Phase VIII A in violation of an order of the Supreme Court.

Executive member of the association Manu Sharma said the PSIEC had shown a tearing hurry in allotting nine industrial plot sites to “VIP” allottees without realising that the court had ordered a stay on the allotment of sites in the area.

The association is also questioning the way the PSIEC has allotted these nine sites here at throwaway prices. “The market rate of these sites is running in crores while the PSIEC has allotted these at a paltry rate of Rs 2,700 per sq yard,” said Sharma.

The sites, varying in sizes, have been allotted under the “off-the-shelf” scheme of the government. Out of the 24 applicants, nine were chosen and the sites were allotted a month ago. Sources added that the BJP and Akali political leaders of the state were in fact at loggerheads to include “their persons” in the list of allottees.

Sharma added that the Supreme Court had ordered a stay on the further allotment of PSIEC land in Phases VIII A and B in March 2005. “The PSIEC had, in 2004, advertised allotment of 65 sites on the basis of a draw of lots. The applicants had deposited earnest money with PSIEC but the process was stayed due to the Supreme Court orders,” said Sharma.

The association had moved a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004 for allotment of residential plots in Industrial Area. The PSIEC had advertised for the sale of 280 residential plots in industrial areas in December 2003. The draw of lots for the same was held in March 2004 and conditional allotment was made. However, same year in August, the government decided not to use any industrial land for residential purposes and the allotment was cancelled.

Chandigarh, June 4
It’s a passport to inconvenience. Nothing else can explain the long serpentine queues of applicants braving sweltering heat outside the Regional Passport Office (RPO) here from early morning to late in the afternoon.

Besides, the up-gradation of computer systems in RPO notwithstanding, people continue to complain that the information on the website is not updated regularly. Coupled with it is the failure of the various government departments to liaise properly, causing unnecessary delays, lasting months. Though RPO authorities claim that they adhere to time limits fixed for making various types of passports, delays continue to dog the passport-making process.

According to sources in the RPO, summer vacations always witness a sudden rise in applications with people preferring to go abroad in summers. On an average, the number of applications increases by 10 per cent during this part of the year.

The security staff at the RPO also finds it hard to cope with the sudden influx of applicants. On an average 1,200 applications are received during May and June.

Rajesh Behl of Patiala told The Tribune that he had applied for a passport in December last year along with the police verification report. The RPO later told him to furnish complete details in Form No. 1, which he did in March this year. Since then, he did not get any response from the RPO and his numerous mails and a registered letter remained unanswered, including a letter to the chief passport officer, New Delhi.

Similar was the grievance of Anil Kumar Gupta of Kharar, a Central Government employee with department of space, who applied for renewing his passport in November 2007. He claimed that he submitted the application along with the police verification report and a no-objection certificate from his department, but he was yet to receive his passport even after a lapse of seven months.

Vital Kumar, RPO, maintained that only those cases got delayed where the applicants furnished incomplete information or submitted documents not in keeping with the requirements. He said objections were raised on applications, but the applicants failed to furnish the requisite information. About the updating of information on the website, he said it was being updated regularly, if not on a daily basis.

About the rush, Kumar said it was normal and steps were being taken to reduce the time in dealing with the applicants. The RPO had recently upgraded its computer system, which helped in speeding up the work. 

Mohali, June 4
The Mohali municipal council has failed to remove encroachments by fruit sellers and others in different parts of the town much to the annoyance of many residents.

While the fruit sellers have tried to encroach upon the footpaths along many roads creating traffic hurdles, shopkeepers have encroached upon the verandahs in market areas which are meant to be used by the public. The problem has been brought to the notice of the authorities concerned many times but to no avail.

Shopkeepers have stacked their goods, including gas cylinders and burners in verandahs.

Fruit sellers are using the footpaths as permanent fruit markets in Phases IX, VIII and VII. One fruit seller had put up a stall along the boundary wall of the Rose Garden along the main road in Phase 3B1.

Municipal councillor Amrik Singh, a resident of Phase XI, said fruit sellers created traffic hurdles along the main roads as people stopped to purchase fruit and even parked vehicles on the road creating congestion. He said the civic body had failed to remove such encroachments as fruit sellers allegedly bribed tehbazari employees.

However, another municipal councillor Amteshwar Kaur said the civic body should remove encroachments made by big shopkeepers in market areas before taking any action against fruit sellers who belonged to economically weaker sections.

Council president Rajinder Singh Rana said employees of the civic body and vehicles were on election duty for the past quite some time and as such the work suffered. He said the staff was relieved today and employees would be asked to swing into action from tomorrow and remove encroachments.

Panchkula, June 4
Thousands of commuters were put to great hardship through the day following a major traffic jam at Pinjore near here today as the road repaired by the police and municipal committee a fortnight ago was washed away in yesterday’s heavy rains.

Sand and pieces of bricks filled in potholes at the time of repair were washed away leaving the road full of big pits leading to chaos at the national highway.

The traffic jam, which started around 9 in the morning between Surajpur and Pinjore, forced the vehicles to move at a snail’s pace. Following the blockage, traffic on the highway was disrupted and there were long queues of vehicles on either side.

The local police had a tough time in controlling the heavy traffic. While passengers travelling over long distances were the worst hit, local residents took link roads to reach their respective destinations.

A large number of tourists heading towards Shimla and other tourist places had a tough time as they were stranded in the jam for hours in the sweltering heat.

“It took me two hours to reach the Pinjore bus stand from Surajpur in a roadways bus,” said Kalka resident Hemant. The problem could not be resolved completely even till late in the evening.

Meanwhile, when contacted, ASP Maneesh Chaudhary said the police, with the help of the MC, would take up repair work on the road tomorrow.

Chandigarh, June 4
People do not lack strength but they lack the will power. Themantra is a motivation for 24-year-old Aryan Kapoor, budding filmmaker, who is suffering from Osetogenesis Imperfecta (rare incurable genetic disease). His paralyzed body did not become a hurdle in converting his dream of making a film into reality.

Being passionate about his work, he did not give in to the disease but set an example for physically challenged by directing his first movie on issue like AIDS called Khuda Ke Aansu.

“Through my work I am trying to change the sympathetic prospective the society has towards the physically challenged”, he added. He believed that it was one’s will power, which gave one courage to surmount all obstacles and convert one’s actions into realism.

Sharing his idea of directing this movie he said this was not just a script, which was produced for the silver screen. But it carried a message for the society.

“Being physically challenged, I could understand how victims of AIDS were killed by the society with their callous behaviour towards them” he added. Aryan said his was his first step towards making quality movie and two more projects were in the pipeline, which were Sutta- the Addiction, and Jihaad- in the name of God.

Talking about his inspiration in entering into the field of creativity, Aryan revealed that since his childhood movies were his only friends, which inspired and motivated him to live.

Aryan said through his casting agency in Chandigarh, he was trying to provide a platform to the talented Punjab artists. He said bollywood was fond of Punjab talent but there was lack of professionals in this field at present.

He said before dying he wanted to fulfil his dream of becoming a creative director.

Chandigarh, June 4
A state-level function will be held at Pinjore Gardens, near here, tomorrow to celebrate World Environment Day.

Stating this here today, Haryana minister of state for environment and forests, tourism, sports and youth affairs Kiran Choudhry said environment slogan stickers would be put by schoolchildren on vehicles crossing the National Highway. A drama, “Say No To Plastic Carry Bags”, would also be staged on the occasion. In the evening, an all-India kavi sammelan would be organised at Rukmani Devi Hall at Ambala Cantt.

She said rallies, poster and painting competitions and tree-plantation programmes would be organised by the student-members of eco clubs. An environmental movie would be screened for the schoolchildren all across the state. She said an “Environment Week” would be organised from June 5 to June 12 and various awareness campaigns regarding environment would be held at Faridabad, Bhiwani, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Mahanderagarh, Sonipat, Panipat, Gurgaon and Bahadurgarh.

Kiran urged various organisations, individuals, business and government agencies of the state to dedicate this day to the environment by planting trees, organising environment-related seminars, competitions and conducting other activities.

She said the theme for World Environment Day this year was climate change with focus on moving towards a low-carbon economy and lifestyle. She said the international slogan for the event was CO2-Kick the Habit towards a Low-Carbon Economy and also included the role of forest conservation and sustainable forestry in achieving domestic global climate change.

Mohali, June 4
A district-level function on World No Tobacco Day was held at the Mohali Civil Hospital.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr V.K. Harjai, assistant civil surgeon, SAS Nagar, stressed on abuses of nicotine products (tobacco) and suggested measures to prevent the use of tobacco.

Dr Harmeet Kaur, nodal officer for de-addiction, in her lecture focused on treatment of nicotine dependence, options available for patients and common skills which patients in particular and population in general can adopt to fight the menace of tobacco use, management skills to handle withdrawal and anticipate triggers or challenges and to fight them.

Dr Sarang (SMO), Dr Gurpreet Singh (DTO), doctors, paramedical staff and nursing students were present.

Panchkula, June 4
The weeklong Haryanvi Saang Festival organised by the department of public relations and cultural affairs in association with NZCCC, Allahabad, concluded here today.

The immaculate staging of popular saang ‘Nal Damyanti’ provided a grand finale to the folk theatre bonanza. K.K. Khandelwal, additional PSCM, and Bhal Singh Balhara welcomed chief guest Ramesh Kaushik, parliamentary secretary and guests of honour Chanderawati and Rajpal Singh, secretary general of the Punjab Arts Council.

Defining the rich saang tradition, Rajpal Singh enlivened the inauguration ceremony doling out raginis amidst lofty applause. Noted director, lead singer and actor Dharamvir commenced the saang ‘Nal Damyanti’ with a bhajan and introductory narrative.

The director brought alive the didactic messages of socio-cultural relevance and wisdom of folk playwright Dhanpat Singh as the sang progressed. Sans historical authenticity of some of the episodes in sang, the fictional narrative was so endearing to the audience that they remembered even the dialogues. Dharmvir portrayed the hero, prince Nal, while Sahib Singh played princess Damyanti.

Earlier on Tuesday, chief guest Dr Raghubir Singh Kadian, Haryana Vidhan Sabha speaker, proclaiming his admiration for saang, recalled watching of sang repeatedly sitting on sand dunes like most Haryanvis. It still rejuvenates us, he added.

Enraptured at the sleek presentation, he announced an open grant for the proliferation of saang form, the pulse and heart beat of Haryana’s folk life.

Endowed with powerful melodious voice and acting skills, director Sharif Ahmed took over the audience and presnted saang ‘Shahi Lakarhara’ in a majestic style. He modulated his voice to articulate the emotions of protagonist a prince of Jodhpur, destined to be a poor woodcutter who ultimately is married to a princess. K.K. Khandelawal, DPR, appreciated the efforts of the organising team and the audience who had made the saang festival a memorable event. 

Chandigarh, June 4
Close on the heels of the Arushi murder case, which rocked the national Capital last month, the sensational Anuradha murder case involving her husband as a prime suspect has sent shock waves in the city. The city is witnessing a spurt in unnatural deaths, with reports of bodies being recovered from open places becoming a routine for the local police.

As many as 41 people have reportedly died within a month since May 1 and almost 75 people have lost their lives this year.

According to the figures available, almost 16 people have been killed in different parts of the city in road accidents, 14 bodies were found lying dead, and nine people have allegedly committed suicide while two have been murdered.

The rising incidents of unnatural deaths are mainly due to rash driving on the city roads, excessive consumption of liquor, depression and social problems. Out of the 13 bodies that have recovered, liquor is the cause behind almost nine deaths.

The police in some cases has even hushed up things, evading the responsibility of investigating in cases of body recovered and suicides. In almost two cases of suicides, and four cases of body found, the role of the police is also coming under the scanner, as a number of loopholes were witnessed in police investigations.

Monday’s incident, in which two residents of Sohana were found lying dead in Kajheri village, remains a mystery for the family, as the exact cause of the deaths is still not known.

Chandigarh, June 4
The department of information technology, ministry of communication and IT, Government of India, has developed "Website Quality Certification Scheme". The scheme will be based on international/national standards for both public and private websites. It will promote e-business while supporting the national e-governance programme.

The scheme was launched on April 2 and the certification process is being initiated for public and private websites and portals. The scheme will ensure increased accessibility and usability of websites.

Once certified, a website will have to fulfil broad quality objectives such as security and data privacy, appropriate accessibility of content and a certain commitment to services and overall performance. It will thus serve the needs of the citizens and support the government in fulfilling its social responsibility.

A half-day workshop will be conducted on June 6 at Hotel Mountview, Chandigarh, for disseminating information.

Chandigarh, June 4
The annual general body meeting of Alliance Francaise was held recently at Alliance Francaise, Sector 36, Chandigarh. The office-bearers were elected for different positions. M.L. Sarin was elected president whereas Gurshinder Aulakh was the vice-president. Y.P. Kapur as treasurer and Dr Vipnesh Bhardwaj was elected secretary.

Kiran Joshi, Surinder Jhina, Walter Kissinger, Sneh Popli, Narinder Rawal and Shiv Singh were the elected counsellors.

Chandigarh, June 4
After a long wait, Government College, Sector 46, has become the first college in the city to get a regular principal in past five to six years. Dr K.S. Saluja who was serving as officiating principal in the same college has been appointed as the regular principal after the UT administration issued him the appointment letter yesterday.

Dr Saluja, former head of the department of mathematics, Government College for Girls, Sector 11, was the only candidate who was selected by the UPSC through direct recruitment more than a year ago. Due to certain complications in the recommendations by UPSC, his case was in the final stages of consideration for a very long time. Legal opinion was also sought in his case.

Interestingly, for more than six years, all principals retired only as lecturers from different government colleges of the city as they only served as officiating principals. Henceforth, they were deprived of all benefits that a regular principal gets, including regular pay scale grades, no post retirement benefits.

These officiating principals had no representation in the Panjab University senate and syndicate, as they could not contest elections from the principals’ constituency. Even the administrative work used to get severely hampered, as they didn’t have the powers of a regular principal in decision-making.

“He has been issued appointment letter only on the basis of his recommendation by the UPSC, subject to the outcome of the decision pending in certain cases in High court and Supreme Court.

There were certain complications in his case, which have now been cleared,” said Raji P. Shrivastava, director of higher education, Chandigarh.

An elated Dr K.S. Saluja said, “It was long overdue. I got selected among 140 candidates through UPSC in September 2006 and I have been officiating since April 2007. Now, I will be able to serve the students in a better way”. His tenure gets over in September 2009.

Chandigarh, June 4
While relay fast of the students and teachers of PU demanding central status for PU has entered 59th day, the Punjab Government is yet to awake to the situation.

Today three teachers from the PU regional centre, Muktsar, Vinod Kumar, Satish Sharma and Nisha Jain, sat on the fast while four students of the department of public administration, Vinod Kumar, research scholar, Anoop Singh, Deepak Sharma and Yogesh Rolta, joined them for the fast.

Taking a dig at the government, Dr Satish Sharma said the present Chief Minister, during his previous tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab, had inaugurated the Mukatsar Centre of PU in 1998 and promised a ‘moon’ for it. He declared at the time of inauguration that the status of the regional centre would be no less than that of PU itself.

After ten years, the centre does not have its own building and at present is running from a rented building, disclosed Dr Sharma. There are six departments in the centre, nearly 250 students and 16 regular teachers. Giving details of the problems faced in the centre, Dr Vinod Kumar said there was no provision of residential accommodation either for the students or for the faculty.

There is an urgent need on the part of Punjab government to extend liberal finances to PU so that its regional campuses in Punjab could be developed in the near future, said Dr Kumar.

The Joint Action Committee has received a resolution from the Panjab University Panchkula Residents’ Association (PUPRA) stating that it has resolved to extend full support to the demand of central university status for PU. 

Chandigarh, June 4
Students of PUSU (Panjab Univeristy Students’ Union) today staged a protest against the soaring prices of the prospectuses for different courses. The Tribune had recently highlighted about the price hike of admission forms and other prospectuses in these columns. Taking a cue from the Tribune report, Tejpal Singh Cheema, PUSU president, submitted a memorandum in this regard and met the vice-chancellor, Prof R C Sobti. “The vice-chancellor has assured PUSU that he will constitute a committee in this matter soon”, said Tejpal.

The students also showed concern about the extra burden put on the general category students after the cancellation of NRI/Industrial sponsored seats. In 2007, MD/MS (General) form, which used to cost Rs. 1500, now costs Rs 1800. The same forms for SC/ST candidates, which were for Rs 750 in 2007 now costs Rs 900. Similarly, CET forms for the general category students was for Rs 1300 in 2007 and is now priced at Rs 1500. For SC/ST candidates, the forms costs Rs 750 which was for Rs 650 in 2007. OCET (General) form costs Rs 1,300 as against Rs 1,100 in 2007. B.Ed (correspondence-general) costs Rs 1,100 as against Rs 700 in 2007. Even the price of handbook of information has been hiked from Rs 300 to Rs 400 this year.

Chandigarh, June 4
Nikhil Gupta, an 18-year old boy from Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, enjoys the privilege for being the first student from any government school to be shortlisted for Jenesys Programme, an Indo-Japanese international exchange programme that was organised in December last year. He is the first to represent UT Government schools at international level.

The course of action wasn’t that easy, says Nikhil, “I had to appear in a written test and an interview before I was chosen for the programme. I stood 14th in All-India ranking list.”

Talking about his experiences in Japan, Nikhil said, “ We spent most of the time in Tokyo, interacted with people, came to know about their customs and traditions. Besides it, we went to Zeinkoji temple and incineration plants.” Adding further he says, “I am thankful to the government for organising such valuable venture. I hope the government will continue to carry out such programmes in near future.” — OC