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DSP asks Mayor to produce Babla; Cong furious
Chandigarh, September 17 Soon after the Mayor received the letter, Congressmen led by the Mayor, Kamlesh, and party general secretary Shubash Chawla came in support of Babla and said the move was an attempt by the UT administrator to “demolish the democratic structure” in the city. They alleged that the administrator, SF Rodrigues, was out “on a mission” to target them and it was nothing but a conspiracy to target Congressmen and the police had become a puppet in the hands of the administrator. Showing the letter written by the DSP, Jasbir Singh Cheema, yesterday, they said they would also find out if a DSP rank officer was authorised to write such a letter to the first citizen of the city. In the letter the DSP said Babla was wanted in a cheating case for the allotment of sheds in the Sector 26 grain market and that he was absconding. They had obtained warrants for his arrest for October 16. “Since Babla is an elected councillor and is evading arrest, you are requested to make him available to the police for joining investigation,” he wrote in the letter. The Congress, which was silent on the issue earlier, came in support of Babla today. It stated that Babla was innocent and had been implicated in the case as he was playing an active role in opposing mega projects started by the administrator and had demanded a CBI probe in this regard. Chawla said apart from Babla, SDM (East) and Jhujjar Singh, a BJP leader, were on the committee that passed the agenda for the allotment of the sheds. It had been sent for further approval, but the authorities had only singled out Babla and initiated action against him. The Mayor said the police and the administration had degraded the MC and the post of Mayor by asking her to produce Babla. She said when Babla went to the police station and offered to join probe during his anticipatory bail, the police did not make him do so. She said MP Pawan Kumar Bansal had raised the issue with the union home minister.
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Controversial rights activist locked in women’s hostel
Chandigarh, September 17 High drama prevailed at the hostel when the rights activist called up the police, alleging that he was locked inside the hostel by the warden. Arvind Thakur claimed that he had gone to the hostel in connection with a notice served on the government institution after the Nari Niketan episode. He further claimed that before entering the premises of the hostel he had sought the entry register from the hostel chowkidar, but he allowed him inside without giving him the entry register. The moment Arvind Thakur entered the hostel premises to meet the warden in connection with the legal notice, besides a complaint lodged by an inmate of the hostel, Radhika, the main door of the hostel was locked from outside, he alleged. However, the warden of the hostel, Sagufta, claimed that the rights activist had trespassed into the hostel. The Station House Officer of the Sector 11 stated that he had received complaints from both sides and would investigate the matter before proceeding further in the case. However, a daily diary report (DDR) had been registered at the police station, the SHO stated.
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Metro not before a decade
Sanjeev Singh Bariana Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 17 Even if the work commences immediately, it would not meet the promise of Sukhbir Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, for a metro network before the present Punjab government finishes its tenure. “I am sure the metro will bring respite, but are we stuck with the problems of traffic for the coming decade? Is the government thinking about our immediate future?” a resident, Col RS Randhawa (retd) said. The city alone adds 130-odd vehicles each day on its roads and it has about seven lakh registered vehicles. Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh are expected to prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) that will be assimilated into one for a comprehensive plan of action. Experts feel the project could take a little longer as it envisages synchronising underground and elevated metro strictures. The UT has finalised the metro rail plan after spending years on working on details of a monorail project on an elevated structure. The project is seen as the best alternative for decongesting rush at a number of places, particularly Madhya Marg, Mohali-Sector 17 route, Sector 22 (opposite ISBT), Tribune Chowk and Housing Board Chowk. RITES had suggested five metro corridors for the tricity and the details are being finalised. Going by the volume of traffic on roads, Madhya Marg, Dakshin Marg, Jan Marg, Purv Marg and Udyog Marg would be sizeably touched at various places on the metro routes, official sources said. Train routes are being equally supplemented with complimentary bus stops near stations. At least three new bus terminals have been suggested at Sector 104 (SAS Nagar), Manimajra and Sector 31. The underpasses have been suggested near timber market on Madhya Marg and rotaries of Dakshin Marg and Jan Marg. Besides the tricity, the metro network would include Zirakpur, Kharar and Dera Bassi in Punjab, Kalka in Haryana and Baddi in HP.
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Mohali routes worked out
Mohali, September 17 Based on the projections for the next 50 years, the planners have approved two new metro and three bus rapid transit system routes in the master plan. Taking off from the final metro destinations recommended by RITES, the town and country planning department of Punjab has proposed connecting the new international terminal of the airport, arthroscopes city, transport niagara, knowledge city, commercial hubs in Sectors 62 and 87 and IT city, thus providing accessibility to all residential sectors within a reasonable distance. The second route taking off from Sector 26, Chandigarh, to Sector 38 has been extended to Mohali’s new bus terminus
in Sector 57, sub-city centre in Sector 120 and running up to Kharar and Mullanpur. Depending on the techno-feasibility study, the department has recommended metro or light rail system for the mass transit system. A multi-model transport hub has been proposed near the sub-city centre so that commuters can interchange between metro and the bus rapid transit system. Sources in the department said while chalking out the BRT corridors, the mobility needs in a safe and efficient environment had been kept in mind. The BRT route-1 had been proposed in the form of a loop to connect residential sectors, the city centre, the Mohali railway station and Sectors 84 to 90 before meeting the route coming from Sectors 40 and 41 in Chandigarh. The second BRT route connects airport, Transport Nagar and Industrial Area before meeting route no.1 at the junction of Sectors 84, 85, 99 and 100. The third BRT route is proposed along the Kharar-Banur highway.
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Job Scam: DPI submits reply
Chandigarh, September 17 Answering around 25 questions pertaining to his alleged connections with the accused, Hardev and Jolly, Samwartak submitted his answers to the SP, Madhur Verma. “We have got his reply, but are yet to go through them. Though we expect the investigation to be over soon, everything depends on what Samwartak has said in his communication,” the SP said, refusing to divulge details. According to sources, the police was not probing the role of Samwartak’s senior, as was being claimed by some individuals. “Initially rumours had come up that there was some other official also who was involved in this scam, but as of now, we are not probing any such angle. Samwartak has answered the questions and we will be able to submit a report by the weekend if no further interrogation is required,” a police official said. Meanwhile, the corridors of the UT administration are abuzz with the rumours of Samwartak being repatriated in a day or two for “embarrassing” himself and the administration by being “in touch” with one of the accused. While Home Secretary Ram Niwas insisted that a decision would be taken only after the police submitted a report, the work of the recruitment committee (earlier chaired by Samwartak) has virtually been stalled. According to some sources, all meetings involving him have also been postponed. According to some other unconfirmed reports, the administration expects the police report by the end of this week and is considering the names of three officials for the post of DPI (S).
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International airport at
Mohali Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 17 The agreement was signed between the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Punjab Government through GMADA, and the Haryana Government through the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) at the Ministry of Civil Aviation headquarters in Delhi. AAI chairman VP Agrawal, GMADA chief administrator VP Singh and HUDA chief administrator TC Gupta signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of India, Punjab and Haryana governments. The project is to be developed over an area of about 300 acres at Jheourheri village, Mohali. An MoU was signed between the Centre and the states on January 4 for the development of international airport, Mohali, with 51 per cent of equity share of the Government of India and 24.5 per cent each of Punjab and Haryana governments. A non-official resolution was also passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for naming the airport as Shaheed-é-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh International Airport, which was forwarded to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had taken up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, an official spokesman said. Meanwhile, others present on the occasion included Civil Aviation Secretary MM Nambiar, Civil Aviation Secretary, Punjab, Viswajit Khanna and Principal Secretary (Town and Country Planning), Haryana, DS Dhesi.
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MC departments hedging over implementation
Aarti Kapur Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 17 Interestingly, the horticulture and enforcement departments have not conducted any drive against such violations for the past two years, as they have been passing the buck to one another for the execution in the city. Under per the policy, the horticulture department can issue notice to violators to remove encroachment on their own, but it is silent on the issue, as there is no one to check if the order has been implemented. Also, there is no clause in the policy to clarify which department - horticulture or enforcement - will take action in case the violator does not remove encroachment on its own. However, MC’s road department has been conducting such drives whenever it has to widen roads in sectors. A senior official of the corporation says under the policy, the horticulture department can only issue licence to residents for developing hedges and fences on the land in front of their houses. Officials admit that they have issued notices to violators of hedge and fence bylaws on the basis of complaints, but they do not have any special team that can conduct survey to check violations in the city. The department informs the enforcement department about violations in various sectors regularly so that drives can be carried out to remove these. Sources say the horticulture department has recently written a letter to the enforcement department to conduct a drive against violators. Officials in the enforcement department, however, add that they have replied to the horticulture department that removal of hedges and fences does not come under the jurisdiction of their department. The enforcement department is responsible for removal of commercial encroachment in the city, not hedges and fences, which is within the ambit of the horticulture department. They, however, add that the enforcement department can only provide their staff to assist the horticulture department in such drives. Official say the reason behind such large-scale violation of hedge and fences policy is that no one has been fined or punished for its so far. Even if the horticulture department issues notices to residents, they do not bother, as they are aware that the department will not initiate action against them or remove encroachment from the MC land. MC Additional Commissioner PK Sharma says it is the responsibility of the horticulture department to remove encroachments related to hedges and fences. The enforcement department can only provide labour and staff for assistance as and when they ask for it.
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Occupancy rate: CTU No. 2 in country
Chandigarh, September 17 Currently, the occupancy rate of the CTU buses in Chandigarh is 87 per cent, while outside Chandigarh, it is 63 per cent and it keeps varying from day to day basis. The CTU buses had become the lifeline of daily commuters, who had to travel in the tricity for earning their livelihood, added Sharma. As many as 171 buses are plied under the grid system with an approximate frequency of around 20-30 minutes. In addition to it in next two-three months, 100 more buses will join the existing robust fleet of the CTU, which will include 40 mini AC buses and 60 low floor buses under Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, said Sharma. He further said the department, in conjunction to add more buses, had been further mooting proposal for setting up more bus queue shelters of innovative designs, which would impeccably gel with the ambience and character of the city, initially in the southern sectors for the ease and comfort of residents of these sectors. As per the proposal, every V-1, V-2, V-3 and V-4 road in a sector would have at least one bus queue shelter and keeping future requirement in mind, it would be planned in such a way that it is being established in front of the existing shelter and away from red lights. This concept would complement the underground sub-way system once it comes into place, said Sharma.
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Few takers for platform tickets
Chandigarh, September 17 The station has around 10 arrivals and 10 departures everyday, barring trains that arrive thrice a week. In the past six months, just 500 platform tickets have been sold for an average of 20 trains a day at the railway station. In spite of proper ticket collecting and ticket checking staff deployed at the station, regular checks at the entrance and exits are missing. Consequently, many people who come to pick or drop their near and dear ones at the station do not purchase these tickets. Also many a time, taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers randomly enter the station to use washrooms or pursue customers especially at the time of arrival of trains at the station. During a visit to the railway station, this correspondent found no checking either at the Chandigarh entrance or the one on the Panchkula side. Under the rules, people found without the platform ticket at the station are liable to pay a challan of Rs 250. The ticket collection staff at the station, however, failed to divulge the number of challans that had been issued in the past six months. DRM HK Jaggi said: “We faced similar situation at the Ambala station sometime ago. We then put up a counter at the entrance with a signboard saying ‘platform tickets available here’. Surprisingly, the sales shot up. To encourage the sale of tickets, we need to have maximum visibility. The idea behind levying these charges is not to earn money but to use it as a deterrent to unfriendly elements entering at the station.” “If regular checks are not being carried out at the Chandigarh railway station, measures will be taken at the earliest. An automated platform ticket vending machine will soon be installed at both entrances to the railway station, which is expected to boost the sale of tickets.” However, there is an urgent need for the staff to ensure the sale of tickets by stepping up checking at the gates, he added. “Even though checking cannot ensure 100 per cent results, the figures will improve,” he added. Currently, platform tickets are available at the enquiry counter and the regular booking counter.
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PGI to introduce ‘Capsule Robots’ technique
Chandigarh, September 17 Just imagine a patient requiring a surgery for curing an acute intestinal ailment getting fine by merely swallowing a capsule that does the job of a surgeon. This technique may sound strange and unbelievable just like the concept of “Capsule Camera”, which takes detailed photographs of the entire gastro system once swallowed by the patient, introduced at the hospital two years ago. Talking about the success of the techniques, Dr Kartar Singh, head of gastroenterology department, PGI, said they had successfully provided succour to 75 patients in the past two years. Though the technique, which enables doctors to get the perfect picture of the interiors of the intestines and the correct diagnosis, is quite expensive, with the capsule alone costing US $ 400 (Rs 20,000), it is available at the PGI for Rs 330 odd. Elaborating on the procedure, Dr Rakesh Kochhar of gasteroentrology department of PGI, said, it was five years old in the advanced world, but two years old in PGI. Its images are recorded by a digital device attached to the patient’s waist belt. Eight hours later, the pill is ejected from the system but the images of the infected intestine are downloaded to the surgeon’s computer via the recording device. “We can then decide whether to go in for conventional surgery, endoscopy or laser treatment for the gastro-intestinal problem,’’ said Dr Kochhar. Talking about the benefits of this technology, he said, capsule endoscopy could detect even the minute abnormality in any corner of the intestine. While the traditional endoscopic process may not be able to detect such abnormalities but it can detect tuberculosis in intestine, crohns (small intestine ulcer) and ulcer in small intestine. Besides, within a few years, doctors could treat jaundice or remove gall bladder stone with the help of this capsule, he added.
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Conference on painless delivery from today
Chandigarh, September 17 The conference will focus on recent advances in anaesthetic care of mothers undergoing Cesarean section, painless labour and critical care of high-risk pregnant women. Over 100 national and international faculty and around 500 delegates from all over the country are expected to participate in the conference. Interacting with mediapersons here, PGI anaesthesia department head Dr Jyotsana Wig said: “The procedure of painless delivery (epidural analgesia) involves insertion of a minute catheter in the body to inject drugs for pain relief. The relief provided varies between 70 and 100 per cent. Partial pain relief helps induce the ‘bearing down effect’ and reduces chance of instrumentation, which is believed to be a major concern among gynaecologists. “The procedure is safe and good for those with low tolerance to pain. It has also proved a boon to patients suffering from heart and lung ailments or those facing high-risk pregnancy,” said Dr Jyotsana. However, lack of awareness and misconceptions over possible side-effects like increased chances of instrumentation, i.e. use of forceps and vacuum apparatus during bearing down, are major deterrence,” said Dr Kajal Jain of anaesthesia department. She said around 100-120 painless deliveries were being done every year. The number was almost negligible but it was due to lack of awareness among people, she admitted. Dr Sandhya of the anaesthesia department said many people believed that women lose sensation even to push the baby down, leading to greater forcep deliveries. But the procedure was safe and had not led to an increase in emergency Caesarean section deliveries arising out of giving epidural analgesia. However, there were some other effective methods for painless delivery but epidural analgesics was safe, added Dr Sandhya. Various workshops, including those on labour analgesia, difficult airway, resuscitation and research methodology would be held on September 18, said doctors. A live demonstration of the techniques used for painless labour would also be shown at the workshop, she added. The participants would have hands-on training on using latest and advanced equipment.
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Third PGI-AIIMS endoscopy course from Sept 19
Chandigarh, September 17 A galaxy of international and national faculty will be participating in the deliberations, which include video lectures, live demonstrations and panel discussions. The aim of this course is generating awareness about therapeutic endoscopy among physicians and surgeons of North India, updating the knowledge of practising gastroenterologists and highlighting recent advances besides focusing on new technology. Addressing mediapersons here today, Dr Kartar Singh, head of gastroenterology department of PGI, said topics related to common clinical problems like portal hypertension, GI bleed, inflammatory bowel disease and pancreatic disorders would be covered in detail. The two-day course would be attended by over 250 delegates, he added. A special session will be held for the postgraduate students with demonstration of newer techniques like manometry and impedance on Monday. A video-learning centre has been organised where videos of endoscopic procedures done by experts will be shown. It specialises in endoscopic treatment of bleeding from ulcers and varices, esophageal and gastric obstruction and biliary and pancreatic endotherapy. It is one of the few centres where specialised procedures in children and infants are done. The department is equipped with argon plasma coagulation, endosonograpy, capsule endoscopy and double balloon enteroscopy.
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Cops to examine video clippings
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, September 17 The driver was produced in court, from where he was released on bail. Meanwhile, the police has started scrutinising the video clippings and pictures of students (published in newspapers) involved in arson, stone-pelting and damaging government property to identify them. The police has registered a case against 40 persons in this regard. A bus of Haryana Roadways was damaged by the students who were agitated over the death of Vikas. The police had to take a lenient view of the incident, keeping in view the charged atmosphere yesterday. A close watch would be kept on the activities of those who were leading the students. If they were found involved in such incidents again, strict action would be taken against them, sources in the police department said. The SP, Amitabh Dhillon, convened a meeting with the college authorities and asked them to reduce their tariff for buses being run by the institute for ferrying students. “We are going to recommend reduction in bus fee so that more students could avail of the facility,” he said. At present, Rs 15,000 (per person) was being charged as the annual fee by the institute to ferry students from Panchkula.
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I don’t have to appear in court: GMCH head
Chandigarh, September 17 In a press statement, he said being the head of the department it could not be possible for him to appear in such cases. “When I was the medical superintendent, the High Court had issued a letter in a case in which the court exempted all heads of department or chief medical officers from this responsibility,” he said. He further stated that he usually operated patients for fracture of spine or joint replacement, which meant that if someone had to have witness on the issue pertaining to these cases, “I would be effectively assisting the court for arrival at justice”. In this particular case, a patient, Pardhan Singh from Pakharpur village, was brought to the GMCH with a fracture shaft of the right femur and montaggia fracture dislocation. The medico legal summary was made by Dr Guarav Sahni, a senior resident of the orthopaedic department, and in the column of consultant, his (Dr Raj Bahadur) name was written. This case was operated upon by Dr Vinod and there was no involvement for directly taking care of the patient, he stated.
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Mechanics block Phase-VII road
Tribune News Service
Mohali, September 17 The problem started after the estate office came to the market and asked the shopkeepers to remove encroachments. The encroachment on public land was under the purview of the Municipal Council and the booths were allotted by GMADA. A senior official of GMADA said the Resident Welfare Association of Phase VII had gone to Punjab and Haryana High Court against the activity of the shopkeepers. They lamented that the shopkeepers had encroached upon public land and created difficulties for residents of the area. The shopkeepers said they had been doing the trade for the past 20 years and had been allotted semi-industrial booths. GMADA officials said the allotment conditions did not permit the allottees to encroach upon the government land. The MC has been asked to speed up their anti-encroachment drive at Phase VII and other markets.
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Youth exhorted to shun alcohol
Chandigarh, September 17 Aiming to educate youth about drug and alcohol abuse, the session hosted speakers, including a senior doctor from the de-addiction centre at the PGI. A youth AA representative who was addicted to substance abuse but managed to kick the habit and a girl who faced the problem of alcoholism in her family motivated youngsters to shun addiction. The medical aspect of alcoholism was highlighted by Dr Mahesh Kumar of the department of psychiatry, PGI. Alcoholics Anonymous members gave an overview of how they had become addicted to alcohol and ruined their college life, career and family and how the organisation helped them overcome their compulsive drinking. The students were also educated on means to seek help related to alcohol abuse for their near and dear ones. The AA can be contacted on 24-hr helpline 9417037358.
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MC starts clean-up drive
Chandigarh, September 17 Kamlesh, mayor of the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, has formally inaugurated the drive on the underground parking lot at Sector 17. During the drive, 103 rehri and pheri walas have been challaned and 35 scooters containing advertisements of various hotels and fast food firms have been challaned. Pruning of near about 45 trees have been done and congress grass cleaned with brush cutters and tractor shrub masters with chainsaws, road gullies have been cleaned and proper sanitation has been done during the drive. Dr Roshan Sunkaria, Municipal Commissioner, said such drives would be held in all the sectors of Chandigarh in future also. The Municipal Corporation has today auctioned the parking site at Fun Republic, Manimajra, in an open bid for Rs 28.30 lakh. The reserve price for the site was Rs 16.61 lakh. Five parties have been participated in the auction.
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Employment fest
Chandigarh, September 17 Over 10 leading corporates participated in the fest, including ITC Maratha-Mumbai, ITC Grand Central-Mumbai, Sheraton, Delhi, and
Oberoi, Delhi, and Indigo Airline. Around 120 candidates have been shortlisted by recruiters during the fest. Speaking on the occasion, Gurpreet Singh, recruitment manager, Career Weavers, said, “The response both from the candidates and corporate has been tremendous. The fair provided a unique platform for top hospitality and aviation groups to interact with talented candidates. This massive response has encouraged us to look at conducting such fairs with more regularity.”
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NRI Cell
Chandigarh, September 17 The status of the complaints will be posted on the website. Giving details of the proposed changes, Justice Dutt announced a few amendments for streamlining the functioning of the cell. The complainants will immediately be given receipts. Comments of the departments concerned will be obtained within a week and a separate room near the ADC office has been earmarked as its office. Communication regarding the cell will be posted to the NRI associations abroad. These associations will be requested to send names and addresses of the NRIs from the city. A recording machine for recording messages will also be installed on the NRI helpline. He said video conferencing with the NRIs living abroad would be organised on October 2 in the UT Secretariat.
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Another swine flu case reported
Chandigarh, September 17 A 32-year-old woman, belonging to Sector 66, Mohali, was admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital and the Punjab health authorities had informed about it, said UT nodal officer
HC Gera. Meanwhile, two more suspected patients have been reported in city hospital and their samples have been sent to the PGI laboratory for test,
added Gera. Of the two patients, one is a 39-year-old person from Punjab, while the other is a resident of Sector 15, Chandigarh.
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Engineer’s Day celebrated
Mohali, September 17 Arun Malhotra, vice-president of Sam Automation Technologies Pvt Ltd, and Amit Kumar, zonal head, CADD Centre, were the guest speakers. Malhotra spoke on the current needs of the automation industry. Educationist Surinder Bajwa encouraged students to bring laurels to their institution.
Cultural event
Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Sector 65, organised an event “Different Types Of Clothes Worn In Different Seasons” for Class I students, in which they made different clothes and displayed them on the class board.
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Commemoration ceremony
Mohali, September 17 The House Owners Welfare Society of Phase V had organised the event. Albel Singh Syan, general secretary of the association, said the sarv dharma sansthan was inaugurated in memory of Amit wadhwa, the deceased son of DP Wadhwa, who was a member of the association, and a community kitchen was organised to commemorate martyr Dela Ram.
— TNS
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Extra coach for Sadbhavna Express
Chandigarh, September 17 The rush in the train can be gauged from the fact that the newly introduced 72-seat second-class coach has been running full. “First 72 waiting were cleared today and all bookings are running full for tomorrow’s train as well,” said an official at the railway station.
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Additional charge
Chandigarh, September 17 The charge has been given with immediate effect.
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Student council introduces feedback forms
Chandigarh, September 17 Students would now be able to give feedback on the university’s faculty, infrastructure, and examination system, said a member of the council. President of the council Amit Bhatia said, “The forms will help us prioritise various issues. Before approaching the management with problems, we thought it would be much better if students themselves put forth their inconveniences and this is one of the best ways to reach out to students”
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