Chandigarh, October 11 
The onus of anomalies in the balance sheet for 2007-08 fell on the employees of the accounts branch of the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO). 

It is pertinent to mention that irregularities to the tune of Rs 6 lakh were detected during the annual general meeting of the CITCO. This amount was reportedly shown as an expenditure on Hotel Parkview in Sector 24. 

In a significant move, CITCO chief general manager Amit Talwar today ordered transfer of as many as 21 employees in the accounts division to various CITCO-run hotels of the city. The orders, sources said, had been implemented with immediate effect. 

Sources added that as many as eight accountants have been shifted from CITCO headquarters and five from Hotel Parkview. 

It is learnt that some of these employees were holding the accounts job for as long as 17 to 20 years and this is also against the guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) which says that no individual should hold a seat of accounts or public dealing for more than three years. 

There had been many instances of superfluous billings in the past also. Though some of the accountants, who had been holding the post for the past 10 years, were involved in it, but no action was taken against them in “absence of proof”. 

If CITCO sources are to be believed, an interim amount was being extended to the account of the former managing director of CITCO Jasbir S. Bir for around 10 months before it was found that he was not entitled to get this amount. Later, this amount was stopped and was also recovered from the MD. Interestingly, no action was taken against the “erring” accountants then also. 

Meanwhile, Rajesh Kumar, a senior accountant at the CITCO headquarters has been transferred to Hotel Mountview, Sector 10. The orders say that four senior accountants have been shifted from Hotel Mountview. Anees Ahmad, M.M. Chowdhary and Darbara Singh have been transferred to the headquarters and Parveen Nanda has been posted at Hotel Shivalik View, Sector 17. 

Another senior accountant of Hotel Parkview, U.S. Thakur, has also been given his new posting at CITCO headquarters. Besides this, around nine junior accountants and four clerks, too, have been shifted among the various CITCO-run hotels.

Chandigarh, October 11
She now appears to be like any other one-and-half-month-old baby girl screaming and kicking freely in her cradle. But only a fortnight ago, the girl, who is yet to be named, was gasping for every breath. 

Weighing just 2.5 kilograms, the girl, born on August 31 at the PGI, was back to the hospital within 15 days and was detected with pulmonary atresia, a congenital heart defect that had lessened the supply of blood from her heart to the lungs. Her condition was precarious and she had turned blue. But thanks to the team of cardiologists who performed an open heart surgery on her, a first of its kind in the region, the little girl is recuperating and can lead a normal life.

Talking to mediapersons about this rare surgery, Dr Rana Sandeep Singh, a cardiac surgeon, who led the operating team, said an echocardiography conducted on the girl on September 16 detected her with congenital heart defect. “We had the option of a closed heart surgery or an open one and we opted for the latter as the child had severe jaundice and blood coagulation defects,” he said. 

Admitting that the surgery was an all-together a new experience for the entire team, Dr Rana said: “We had cautioned her parents since it was the first time that we were operating upon a baby with such low weight. “It was a challenge that our team accepted and now we can say that we have succeeded,” he said. 

''When she came, her condition was unstable. We put her on medical support system to stabilise her condition,'' said Dr Rana, adding that the actual surgery lasted for more than three hours. He said Dr Anand Mishra and Dr Sachin Mahajan of the paediatric department assisted him in surgery. 

She was subsequently kept under observation for over 48 hours and when her condition improved, the ventilator was taken off, said the doctor, adding that now the girl will lead a normal and a healthy life like any other kid. 

Chandigarh, October 11 
In a shocking incident, a Class VIII student of DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector-8, Chandigarh, was allegedly sodomised by his room-mate in the hostel. The accused, also a Class VIII student, was rusticated today.

Though the incident allegedly took place over a month ago, the school took action today after the victim’s parents arrived in the city and raised the issue with the authorities. The school principal, Vibha Ray, was not available for comments. Sources said the victim’s parents were perturbed by the attitude of the school authorities, which had failed to take action despite being aware of the incident.

According to sources, the victim Gurchet (name changed), who is a resident of Delhi, complained to his teacher about the matter around one month back. He narrated the whole incident to his class in charge. The accused Devinder (name changed), a resident of Ludhiana, is said to have blackmailed Gurchet for not disclosing the issue. 

Talking to this correspondent, the father of the accused refused to comment. “I can’t tell you anything about the matter as the accused boy has already been rusticated from school,” said his father. The matter came in the open when friends of Gurchet called his parents on Thursday. They had come today to talk to the school authorities but after finding that they were taking little interest in the incident, they informed the police.

“We were informed about the incident by the victim’s father. However, the victim’s family refused to lodge a complaint. A daily diary report has been lodged,” said Har Sahai, SHO, Sector 3 police station . 

Chandigarh, October 11
The CBI Special Court of Jagdeep Jain today sent the five accused in the cash-at-judge’s doorsetp case — Ravinder Singh, Prakash Kumar, Nirmal Singh, Sanjeev Bansal and Rajiv Gupta — to judicial custody after granting permission to Ravinder to meet the other four accused.

Earlier, Ravinder had moved an application to get his statement recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC which he later withdrew.

Chandigarh, October 11
The second national conference on ‘Hospital Administration--Recent Trends’ began today at the Bhargwa Auditorium in PGI here. Dr A. R. Kidwai, Governor of Haryana, inaugurated the conference.

The two-day conference is being organised by the department of hospital administration and is being attended by over 300 delegates from various parts of the country.

Dr Kidwai said with the advancement of medical science and fast-changing technologies in health care, the role of hospital administrators had become very vital in efficient and effective management of hospitals. He added that the hospital administrators should also keep in mind the needs of the patients during formulation of strategies.

Prof K. K. Talwar, director, PGI, said as the health-care industry was expanding, the role of hospital administrators would become more challenging and there would be more need of qualified hospital administrators in future.

Prof A. K. Gupta, medical superintendent, PGI, and chairman of the organising committee HART-2008 said the conference deliberation would help delegates in managing hospitals in more efficient way.

In the session ‘Role of Hospital Administrators in Control of HIV/ AIDS’, Shivi Negi from National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), New Delhi, talked about the concept of National AIDS Control Programme-III. She said the safety of the hospital staff was of a prime concern, which must be ensured by hospital administrators. Dr Rajeev Singhal, director, Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, Pune, discussed the role of hospital administrators in controlling HIV/AIDS.

The day concluded with session ‘Hospital Accreditation and Quality Control’. Dr Simmar Gill shared the experience of JCI accreditation of Fortis Hospital, Mohali. Dr Rekha Batura from Tata Hospital, Mumbai, Dr D. C. Joshi and Dr Santosh from IIHMR, Jaipur, presented papers on quality control in hospitals.

A poster competition was also held in which Dr Neelu Arora, Dr Shweta, Dr Mahesh R. and Dr Bindiya won prizes.

Chandigarh, October 11 
It is the “paucity of strength” and “irrational allocation of manpower” which is responsible for hampering the progress of the undergoing projects of the Chandigarh Administration.

Come 2009 and the electrical wing of the engineering department can face massive crisis for the want of manpower. Against the 47 sanctioned posts of assistant engineer (AE) or sectional officer (SO) in 11 subdivisions of the electrical wing, the administration is left with only 25 SOs and by 2009, four more SOs are going to retire. 

The long list of delayed projects is testimony to the fact that the engineering department is under strength and those on job are extra burdened. Out of the present strength of 25 SOs, four are holding additional charge as SDEs and one is having current duty charge.

The officials disclosed that out of 25 AE/SOs, five officers have been facing criminal proceedings for the past 10 years. “If court held them guilty and they too get suspended or so, the staff strength would be restricted to just 16”, observed one official.

Besides this, the maintenance of some parts of streetlights in the city, the major chunk of which is being looked after by the Municipal Corporation, is also likely to be reverted back to the electrical circle. In such circumstances, the maintenance division of the electrical circle would be completely on the verge of “total collapse”, they say.

Superintending engineer (Electricity) Surinder Pall agreed that the situation was grave and matter had been brought to the notice of the higher authorities. “Actually, it is the government’s notification to reduce the wage Bill and curtail strength. Moreover, with the advent of new technology, the things can still be managed”.

Krishanjit Singh, officiating chief engineer, said it would be his priority to monitor the strength crisis in the electrical wing.

The norms say that for one SDE each in all 11 subdivisions, seven posts have to be filled directly through the UPSC, two by promotion from diploma cadre and one each by AMIE candidate and deputation.

Chandigarh, October 11
A gang of tricksters is active in the city these days that targets drivers of four-wheelers or the persons carrying bags or some other valuable articles.

The modus operandi of the gang, which consists two or three members, is to divert the attention of victims by throwing some currency notes and then decamp with their valuables, say police sources.

Yesterday, two incidents happened in which two victims, Sunny Bansal of Modern Housing Complex and Colonel Roopak Sharma of Sector 33 were deceived. 

The cheaters took away Sunny’s bag containing Rs 1.30 lakh just opposite Sindhi Sweets in the morning while in the evening Colonel Roopak Sharma was the target near HDFC Bank near Sector 22, who also lost Rs 32,000 along with a debit card, a cheque book, registration card of the vehicle and a ticket of Jet Airways.

The police said Col Roopak was about to sit in his car when a young boy told him that the rear tyre of his vehicle was punctured. After he got down from the vehicle, the Colonel also found some currency notes with the denomination of 10 and 100, lying near the car.

Meanwhile, someone decamped with his bag which was lying in the car.

According to the police, this might be the handiwork of the same gang. Ramesh Chand, SHO, Sector 17, said, “We have deputed our personnel in markets, especially near banks to watch suspicious persons”.

This is not the first time that such incidents happened in the city. Even the crime branch has nabbed two members of such gangs but the police could not get success to bust the gangs.

“Mostly, the cheaters are migrants. After sometime, they went to their native places or change the areas”, the police said.

Mohali, October 11
The Ex-Servicemen Grievances Cell Welfare, Mohali, has lamented that despite the strength of over 20,000 ex-servicemen in the district, the administration has not provided space for the office of Zila Sainik Board.

The accommodation provided to the Zila Sainik Board has been given to an official of the district administration and deputy director, ZSB, Ropar, who had been given additional charge of the Mohali office, has no place to sit.

Due to indifferent attitude of the state government, no funds have been made available with the deputy commissioner for the welfare for exservicemen and widows. No staff has been posted at the office of the Zila Sainik Board.

Besides, the District Sainik Welfare Committee has not yet been constituted and no regular meeting are being held to discuss the routine points.

Though two Chief Ministers had laid the foundation stone of the Mohali Sainik Sadan, the construction was yet to begin. The building was proposed to house a CSD Canteen, ECHS Polyclinic, ZSB Office, Sainik guest rooms, vocational centre and conference and community hall, said Lt Col SS Sohi, president of the Ex-Servicemen Grievances Cell, Mohali.

Mohali, October 11
Members of the Plot Allotment Sangarsh Committee, Sectors 76-80, today held a protest demonstration against the failure of GMADA authorities to hold draw of lots for plots allotted to them seven years back. 

The protesters staged a dharna in the Phase VII market and blocked traffic in support of their demands. President of the committee Sucha Singh Kalour said that GMADA officials were not holding the draw of lots for plots despite directions by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Kalour threatened to intensify their agitation if the draw of lots was not held at the earliest.

Panchkula, October 11 
Ankush, the 22-year-old youth who was killed in a road accident near Mansa Devi Complex, was cremated here today. 

Ankush, who was to celebrate his birthday on Monday, was killed when an Innova coming from the opposite side collided with his car on the Chandigarh-Panchkula road near Mansa Devi Complex T point last night. 

There is hardly any moment in the day when you don’t find a person making wrong entry to go to the petrol station at Mansa Devi complex T point where car of Ankush had a fatal collision. And it happens in the presence of a policeman who remained there to control the traffic.

In fact, the people of the city remain undeterred while flouting the traffic rules in the town at will while the traffic cops have confined themselves to set up nakas at the prescribed points to merely check the documents of the vehicles. The cops never take action against persons jumping red light and making a wrong entry.

Any person coming from the side of KC theatre is free to avoid taking turn towards roundabout near Shakti Bhawan for going towards the General Hospital. People in their cars and two-wheelers use shortcut from the wrong side while the traffic cop deputed on the small roundabout near the hospital just remain a mute spectator to all violations.

Chandigarh, October 11
The Western Command Hospital at Chandimandir would have a 10-bed burns treatment centre soon. A sum of about Rs 1.1 crore has been sanctioned for the project.

A new Cardiac Catheterisation Centre has also been sanctioned for the hospital to cater for the large number of cardiac cases being examined at the cardiology center. In addition, a proposal to establish of a 45-bed oncology centre in the hospital is also under consideration. 

Director general, Medical Services (Army), Lt-Gen N.K. Parmar, who visited the hospital today, was apprised of these ventures. 

Panchkula, October 11
The firing incident at youth hostel, Sector 3, here, proved a mystery for the police as the injured youth failed to name anyone here today. The 23-year-old Gulvinder of Ambala was brought to General Hospital, Sector 6, with bullet injuries in his hand.

Attendants with the injured said he was injured when one of the guests at a marriage party fired the gun shots in the air during revelry. The doctors, however, operated upon him soon and declared him out of danger.

While the police said the victim was not cooperating in the investigation, the staff at the hostel, however, denied that any such incident occurred during the party.

In fact, the lawn of the hostel was booked by Harpreet Singh for the reception of his marriage party, said sources. Harpreet Singh, who owns a shop near Nada Sahib gurdwara, was married on Wednesday. 

The party was over before 11.30 pm and nothing unusual was noticed during this time, said staff members. Though arguments were overheard among the guests in front of the gate of the hostel while they were leaving the venue around 11.30, there were no incident of firing in the area, they claimed.

Chandigarh, October 11
The Indian classical music is sublime in character with its compositions endowed with emotional appeal. The acclaimed virtuoso, Salil Bhatt, ably displayed both these ingredients in his recital at Pracheen Kala Kendra here today. 

As a befitting tribute to legendary classical dance guru Madan Lal Koser, he discovered a new raga and named it “Koser Dhawani”. He mesmerised the audience by playing the new raga for the first time. 

Salil, the creator of satvik veena, skillfully unfolded the traditional alaap, jod and jhala, giving a colourful spectrum to the melody and weaving a wonderful pattern of swaras. While he gave a brilliant display of his deft finger work, artistry and imaginative exposition of this newly discovered raga, Akram Khan accompanied him on tabla. Both exhibited their tremendous experience and supreme command over their respective instruments making it a memorable event.

Kathak guru Shobha Koser honoured the artistes.

This is an open secret that LPG is used in cars in Chandigarh. The practice has two-fold harms: The domestic users of LPG have to wait for the gas cylinders for weeks together, and the use of gas in cars with unsafe kits endangers the lives as it can burst any time. 

There is hardly any check on the practice from the side of traffic police as influential people are in the habit of using it. The administration and the police must stop the practice.

G. K. Chopra, Chandigarh

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Chandigarh, October 11
The department of youth welfare, Panjab University, has planned 12 Zonal-level Youth Festivals for 178 colleges affiliated to the university from October 12 to 24. About 20,000 artistes will participate in music, dance, theatre, fine arts and literary items. A one-day heritage festival will also be held during these youth festivals to promote rich cultural heritage of Punjab.

Festival for Chandigarh A-Zone will be held at Government College, Sector 46, Chandigarh (October 21 to 24), Ludhiana A-Zone at Guru Nanak National College, Doraha (October 17 to 20), Ludhiana B-Zone at Guru Nanak College for Girls, Model Town, Ludhiana (October 12 to 16), Muktsar Zone at Guru Nanak College for Girls, Muktsar (October 18 to 21), Moga-Ferozepur A-Zone at Shri Ram College, Dalla, Ludhiana district (October 20 to 23), Moga-Ferozepur B-Zone at SDS College for Women, Lopon (October 12 to 15), Hoshiarpur A-Zone at MBBGG Girls College, Rattewal (October 20 to 24), Hoshiarpur B-Zone at Government College, Hoshiarpur (October 16 to 19), Educational colleges A-Zone at GMT College of Education, Jalandhar Bypass, Ludhiana (October 19 to 22), Educational colleges B-Zone at GHG Khalsa College of Education, Gurusar Sudhar (October 16 to 19), and Education colleges C-Zone at Lala Jagat Narayan Education College, Jalalabad (October 21 to 24). 

Chandigarh, October 11
Saupin's School, Sector 32, Chandigarh, organised a blood donation camp in association with the Red Cross Society of Chandigarh on the school premises today. About 160 people donated 160 units of blood. 

Exhibition: A science exhibition was conducted at Saupin's School, Chandigarh, today. Students from Classes VI to X participated in the event. The highlight of the exhibition was the projects on fire alarms, railway signals and touch sensors.

Chandigarh, October 11
As many as 388 graduates of the year 2008 received their Bachelor of Engineering degrees in nine different disciplines during the 38th annual convocation held on the PU campus today. 

ME degrees were also conferred on 153 students. Medals were awarded to the deserving students. Satish Kaura, chairman and managing director of Samtel Colour, was the chief guest while Jarnail Singh, secretary to the Government of India and an alumnus of PEC, was the guest of honour. 

The Administrator’s Gold Medal for overall outstanding performance during 2004-2008 was bagged by Kanika Aggarwal (electrical engg) while the Adviser’s Gold Medal for overall performance in sports during 2004-2008 was given to Mohit Bharti (electronics & elect comm engg). The Miglani Memorial Gold Medal went to Nutesh Garg (computer science & engg) while The Kalpana Chawla Memorial Award was given to Roopsi (aeronautical engg). Rahul Tayal (civil engg) bagged gold for social activities. Gold medals for standing first in the BE (honours) degree examination held in May, 2008, were awarded to Roopsi, Pardeep Kumar, Nutesh Jindal, Kanika Aggarwal, Girish S. Kulkarni, Sumit Sharda, Kanika Sethi, Monika, Anu Chauhan.

Silver medals for standing first in major projects were given to Roopsi, Pardeep Kumar, Suchreet Kaur Dhaliwal, Ketan Chaudhry, Girish S. Kulkarni, Pulkit Kapur, Sumit Sharda, Nikhil Dhawan, Saurab Sharma, Vaibhav Aggarwal and Shweta.

Addressing the convocation, Satish Kumar Kaura recalled the success story of the IIT. It started with the arrival of IBM 1620 on a buffalo cart to IIT Kanpur.

Earlier, Prof Manoj Datta, director, PEC, welcomed the guests and presented the annual report of the college for the year 2007-08. He proudly announced that out of the 388 students, who cleared their BE examinations in 2005, as many as 326 had secured first divisions.