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Diseased, leaning trees to be axed
Chandigarh, September 23 Dangerously poised trees at different locations will be removed from at least 650 different locations in the city. A report prepared in this regard by a special committee came up for detailed discussion at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Sanjay Kumar, Finance Secretary, here today. A sizeable number of trees likely to face the axe are the ones that are dead or are heavily infected with termites. Certain trees heavily leaning on roads and posing security risk to the commuters will either be pruned or may have to be axed, under extreme conditions. The report furnished has also given recommendations on the treatment of these identified perilous trees with tree specific and location specific treatment. The committee members under the chairmanship of Deputy Conservator Saurabh Kumar included Dr Satish Narula, Punjab Agricultural University, XEN(Horticulture) of Municipal Corporation, Arun Kansal, and XEN, UT Administration, Harjit Singh. The detailed report has specified the location in different parts of the city including Jan Marg, Madhya Marg and road dividing Sectors 7 and 8. A particular mention has been made of roads sporting trees on the cycle tracks, all over the city. The major recommendations of the committee include immediate removal of completely dead and dry trees in conjunction with giving instant attention to dangerous trees that are leaning on roads or buildings. The report further suggested that besides becoming threat to human lives and property, these trees have turned into breeding ground for insects and pathogen and have gone weak due to fungal and bacterial infestations. It was also highlighted that certain eucalyptus trees, due to size and age, have leaned and needed attention. The major recommendations of the committee include immediate removal of completely dead and dry trees in conjunction with giving instant attention to dangerous trees which are leaning on the roads or buildings. The report further suggested that besides becoming threat to human lives and property, these trees have turned into breeding ground for insects and pathogens and have gone weak due to fungal and bacterial infestation. Thus, proper treatment is required for protecting and conserving these trees through applying disinfectants. It was also highlighted that eucalyptus trees which are large in number in the city due to size and age factor have leaned and need attention. Conservator of Forests, Ishwar Singh said a committee was constituted a month ago with the objective of identifying perilous trees in the city along with furnishing of recommendations on dead, diseased, dying and undernourished trees. Now, as the recommendations and suggestions of the experts have been received, the process for the prevention and conservation of the trees will be initiated, ensuring no damage to life and property is done. He also appealed to the general public not to indulge in unauthorised removal of wood for any purposes, as it was causing immense damage to the trees.
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Tamiflu at chemist shops soon
Chandigarh, September 23 According to information, the UT health officials have received written communication for selling Tamiflu at retail outlets from the Health Ministry today. Until now, Tamiflu was
made available only through government channels and their retail sale was banned. “Four chemists that have Schedule X licence have been identified to retail Oseltamivir. The drug will be sold strictly on the basis of a doctor’s prescription and a strip of 10 tablets would cost around Rs 500-600,” said sources in the health department. “Under Schedule X, the patient will have to produce two prescriptions issued by the same doctor at the time of purchase. The chemist will have to maintain the record,” said sources in the health department. The doctor, too, will have to clearly provide all his contact details on the prescription. This will bring both the chemist and the doctor under
the scanner. The health officials added that under the government’s guidelines for sale, the manufacturer, the stockist and the dealer would also have to submit a monthly statement of record of sale and remaining quantity of Tamiflu.
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Four killed in road accidents
Chandigarh, September 23 According to the police, the boy, identified as Gagandeep, was killed in a hit-and-run case. He was knocked down by a rashly driven Mahindra Pick-up around 9 am. He died on the spot. A roadside barber was the eyewitness to the mishap and a case against the driver has been registered on his complaint. The vehicle was coming from the CTU traffic lights point in Phase I, Industrial Area, and was heading toward Poultry Farm Chowk. Gagandeep’s father, Vijay Partap Singh, is a labourer. Soon after the mishap, people assembled on the spot, leading to traffic jam. The police rushed the body to the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital. A case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving has been registered. In another incident, Hans Raj of Sector 16, Panchkula, was killed after a truck collided with his motorcycle near Sukhna lights point last evening. He was rushed to the GMCH where he was declared brought dead. Hans Raj was in his mid-thirties and was a junk dealer. Car driver Dheeraj Gupta of Sector 20, Panchkula, was the eyewitness to the mishap and he had given the registration number (CH-03-A-0579) of the truck to the police. A case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving has been registered. The SHO of the Industrial Area police station said a team was sent to the address mentioned in the registration office, but no one was found there. Similarly, Kharaiti Lal of Burail was killed after being knocked down by a car (PB-10-E-6501) near Housing Board lights point on yesterday. He was crossing the road when the mishap occurred. He was rushed to the PGI where he died later. He was in his sixties. A case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving has been registered. In the fourth accident that occurred in Bapu Dham Colony early this morning, a vegetable vendor Pawan Kumar, lost his life after being knocked down by a rashly driven auto-rickshaw. The auto-rickshaw rammed into his rehri, which toppled over him. He was rushed to the PGI in a critical state where he died later. The police arrested the auto-rickshaw driver Promod of Sector 56 after registering a case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving against him.
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Teacher’s suicide: Director’s removal sought
Chandigarh, September 23 The SHO of the Sector 34 police station said the victim’s husband Angrish, along with his relatives, came and took away the body. The family did not level allegations against any one. About the cause of the death, he said the doctors had reserved their opinion and taken viscera samples for chemical examination to ascertain the exact cause of the death. Meanwhile, the Computer Teachers Union, Punjab, has sought the immediate removal of DGSE Krishan Kumar, alleging that he was harassing teachers by acting in a despotic manner. They demanded a CBI probe into the entire episode, expressing disbelief in the Punjab Government. General secretary of the union Ravinder Singh Sidhu said the DGSE was spoiling the academic atmosphere by his activities and was responsible for her suicide. The union said if the Punjab Government failed to take action against the officer, they would be forced to launch an agitation against the government.
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Another Bhavan student down with H1N1
Chandigarh, September 23 According to UT nodal officer for swine flu HC Gera: “A victim is the student of Class VI and resident of Sector 32. His family members have been quarantined at their residence. The condition of the patient is stated to be stable.” With this, the number of positive cases in the city has risen to 32. However, the school authorities had already extended the holiday till September 28. The school was shut on September 15 for a week after eight positive cases of swine flu were reported from classes. Meanwhile, two more samples of suspected cases of swine flu were collected in the city today. All samples had been sent to the PGI lab, said Gera.
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Woman held for cheating
Chandigarh, September 23 Dharam Singh told the police that he paid the amount two years ago and was told to submit the documents in the embassy, where he had been sent several times to complete various formalities. After being unable to get back his money, he reported the matter to the police, which registered a case of cheating against the woman under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and under the provisions of the Emigration Act in this connection.
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Rs 8 lakh, 35-tola gold stolen
Chandigarh, September 23 They ransacked the entire house even as the house owner and his wife were sleeping in the house unaware of theirs activities. Hem
Raj, who returned from the USA several years ago, said the thieves gained entry by scaling the boundary wall and went to the terrace of their house before entering through the staircases. They took the keys of the almirahs and took away whatever valuable they found there. His wife Satya said around Rs 8 lakh, $3000, two digital cameras, 35 tolas of gold and other articles had gone missing. She said they were living alone and had married their younger daughter recently. She said their two sons lived abroad. The police examined the spot and a case has been registered.
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UT set to dismiss fake lecturer
Chandigarh, September 23 Currently waiting for the legal opinion, which will be provided by tomorrow, the department is likely to declare its action in a day or two. The controversy that was dead for quite some time now has brewed again with the Home Secretary taking serious cognizance of the fact that Amar Singh has not reported to the department for the past three months. According to rumours, he is out of country. “It was brought to the Home Secretary’s notice that the man though guilty, not only kept on getting his salary for two years, but also marked his presence in the department for the past three months, giving two hoots to all instructions,” said an official. “Though we found that Amar Singh’s degree was bogus, he was suspended that time. What created resentment among people was the fact that the lecturers who were selected on the basis of the genuine degrees, but from unrecognised institutes, were dismissed, but he, whose degree was bogus, was just suspended and was being given a major chunk of his salary,” added another official. It was in December, 2007, that the education department discovered that the degree on the basis of which Amar was promoted as a lecturer was bogus and had been arranged through unscrupulous elements from Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar. The teacher was nabbed when a special team of Education Department officials on a visit to this university reportedly found that the teacher never appeared in the exams. Following all this, he was booked for forgery on the complaint of then DPI(S) who even marked an enquiry into the matter which confirmed the degree being bogus but gave the benefit of the doubt to Amar.
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Automation process at snail’s pace
Chandigarh, September 23 Though the primary recommended processes like diary dispatch have been turned into an online practice from this week, the tempo of making the entire system computerised appears to be slow. Database related to budget, accounts, student’s database, fee information and admissions have yet not been updated online despite repeated announcements of the introduction of the automation process in the university since last year. According to information, there is only one entry in the “online fee deposit software” in the present admission season that, too, by Vice-Chancellor RC Sobti when it was launched. No subsequent entries in the software, during admission season, are available. For one, the current status computerisation in the varsity even indicates the lack of acceptability among users, besides lack of coordination in its execution due to resistance from various quarters. Though the initial response to the process was dreary and the few officials who had enthusiastically initiated the project are no longer showing interest, the university authorities were confident of making the venture successful. “The process of computerisation faced a lot of resistance and hurdles. Still there are some areas that have been automated and only about 20 per cent of it has been achieved. The salary online portal, for instance, is ready and is being used by even drivers and peons. Login username and passwords have been given to all PU employees and they can view their salaries, apply leave online ", said a senior official of the varsity. Meanwhile, the issue has also left the newly elected student council members helpless. “The authorities are to be blamed for their sluggish attitude. Today, we visited a department to ask why an LCD screen worth Rs 2 lakh is not being used and to our surprise, the chairperson said point-blank that there was a lot of resistance from the teachers, since they will now have to prepare presentation,” rued Amit Bhatia, president, PUCSC. “There is a lack of acceptability for new technology and online culture both,” he added. Meanwhile, on being contacted a member of the committee formed for the computerisation process last year RK Singla, said, “I am not in a position to comment on the issue.” Vice-Chancellor RC Sobti could not be reached for his comments.
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Platform Nos 2, 4 in dark
Chandigarh, September 23 While platform I is all alight with proper lights, LCDs and various stalls, floodlights at half of platform 2, over the left side of the connecting bridge and platform 4 are not functional as of now. While the Government Railway Police officials claim that when trains arrive at night at these platforms, chances of thefts and other petty offences increase. On the other hand, the railway officials emphasise that the floodlights will be functional as soon as the shed constructions finish and that what is required from the security officials is “increased vigilance” instead of blaming offences on “improper lights”. Railway station superintendent RK Dutta said, “The shed constructions are also for public convenience. Floodlights will soon be operational, but right now, increased vigilance is needed. Efforts are made to minimise any inconvenience for passengers.” With the festive season on, the police officials at the railway station reveal that due to increased passenger traffic, small offences increase during the night time. Also, this is the peak season for petty thefts and most of the liquor smuggling. Just night before yesterday, the GRP officials ceased as many as 100 bottles of liquor at platform number 2 from a passenger who was at the station waiting to board the Sadbhavna Express. The passenger, namely Gopal Karmakar, was found with 100 Aristocrat liquor bottles (eight cartons). The bottles were found in an iron box, the passenger was carrying along. As Panchkula’s excise and taxation department was informed, a challan of Rs 9,000 was slapped on Gopal. Sukhpal Singh, ASI with the GRP, who was among the team who caught Gopal, said, “With no floodlights in several parts of the station, chances of luggage being lifted and other thefts also increase.” GRP SHO Krishan Kumar said, “Such surprise checks will continue now. Now, with increased electronic surveillance, security can be tapped in better.”
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Horticulture, tubewells panel formed
Chandigarh, September 23 Anu Chatrath, Jatinder Bhatia and PK Mukharjee will be the members of the horticulture committee and Anu Chatrath, Jatinder Bhatia, Anil Dubey and PK Mukharjee will be the members of the tubewell committee. Both committees will monitor the requirement of proposed agendas in consultation with the local area councillor before tabling it in the F&CC for discussion. Many members were of the opinion that horticulture and issues relating to tubewells were being tabled in meetings without asking the area councillors, which was a sheer wastage of funds and manpower of the corporation. They raised an issue that though there were sub-committees of the corporation, which were dealing with the issue, they had power to only table the agenda below Rs 35 lakh. Members refused to discuss the agenda tabled by officials on the rehabilitation of the owners of animal carts and purchase of four battery-operated eight-seater autos for Sector 17, with the plea that the Motor Vehicle Act was yet to be transferred to the corporation. Taking decision on the issue relating to transportation was, therefore, not within their power. However, the committee members cleared agendas, including rough cost estimate for renovation and special repair of cremation ground in the Industrial Area, Phase-I, Chandigarh, auction of vacant paid parking areas, Sector 17, including sites opposite Hotel Taj GVS, CITCO’s Hotel ShivalikView, parking opposite SBI, parking opposite Gurdev Portraits and adjoining the district courts complex, Sector 17. Other agendas which were passed by the committee were rough cost estimate for widening of the V-5 road, Sector 48, along with paver footpath, providing and fixing 60mm thick interlocking paver blocks on footpath to proposed approach road to community centre and parks in rehabilitation colony, Dadu Majra, extension of parking on the rear side of the municipal corporation building, Sector 17 along Jan Marg and providing and fixing 40mm-thick rubber mould paver blocks footpath along V-4 road in Sector 32-C and Sector 46-C. BJP councillor Ram Lal was a special invitee, today, as the agenda of the master plan of Hallo Majra was tabled in the meeting. After a detailed discussion, members suggested some modifications in the plan and asked for tabling in its next
meeting.
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Encroachments in Manimajra, MC sleeps
Chandigarh, September 23 After a visit to Manimajra, one finds squatting on pavements along city roads, causing great problem to the pedestrians. Installing iron angles, hedges, barbed wire and concrete structures outside the houses have virtually reached the road berms, resulting in little space for the pedestrians to walk. Whereas the condition is so worse in some areas of Manimajra that the residents have not left any space for pedestrians by beautifying the land, adjoining to their houses with ornamental plants, flowers, lush green hedges and installing fences and grills. No amount of public criticism or complaints seems to move the officials controlling civic affairs or those connected with planning in the administration. As most of the owners of the corner flats have erected hedges and other concrete structures adjoining to their house, making the area accident-prone and difficult for the motorists to negotiate blind curves. Residents alleged that the officials of the corporation had often assured them that they would not allow encroachments on public land or pavements exclusively meant for pedestrians. But the corporation seems to behave like a mute spectator. While the number of vehicles has gone up manifold, the road expansion programme of Manimajra has virtually remained static. This has resulted in total chaos and confusion on the roads there. By not allowing pavements for the pedestrians, they are being forced to walk on the roads, facing the risk of being knocked down by the vehicles.
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Diseases at 30! Blame jobs
Chandigarh, September 23 Thanks to the fast-catching urban lifestyle. What’s worse, many youngsters have become prone to heart ailments due to the stressful life. According to Dr Deepak Kaura, chief consultant cardiologist at Oxford Hospital, “Today I see patients in their 20s and 30s with heart ailments mainly due to stress and high cholesterol levels.
YOU ARE AT RISK IF... Another city-based cardiologist too has seen a similar trend emerging in the past few years. ‘‘Around 15 to 20 years back, a 40-year-old having a heart attack would have invoked a curiosity factor, but these days one sees so many 30-year-old men having similar problems.’’ Dr Yash Paul Sharma, additional professor in the department of cardiology at the PGI, too sees a 10 per cent increase in the number of people suffering from heart problems. ‘‘On a given day, our OPD has 500 patients walking in for the treatment, out of this 10 per cent are around 30 years.’’ The reason for this, as all cardiologists insist, is the stress-related lifestyle. ‘‘And no, it’s not just the men, even women are fast becoming victims of heart disease. However, despite the dual stress (at home and workplace) women have to undertake, they are still protected by their hormones, at least till menopause,’’ says Dr Sharma. ‘‘But by 65, they catch up with men,’’
adds Dr Sharma. He sees a visible pattern in high pressure jobs like those at call centres and those who work with deadlines like in the media, sales jobs, etc. ‘‘Together with these are hereditary factors, lack of exercise, a sedentary lifestyle, tobacco intake, etc,’’ says Dr Kaura.
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Leaders to revolt against Cong’s decision
Arun Sharma Tribune News Service Cong has decided to field sitting MLA from Ambala Cantonment DK Bansal and Rajaund MLA Satwinder Rana from Panchkula, Kalka, respectively Panchkula, September 23 They alleged that the party had ignored the interests of the locals.
While dozens of Congress leaders held a meeting to chalk out the future course of action, district Congress general secretary Shashi Sharma announced to defect from the Haryana Janhit Congress to contest from Panchkula. Congress city president Rajinder Kakkar said in a meeting of the local Congress leaders held at Pallavi that he was authorised to form an 11-member committee in consultation with district senior vice-president KP Singh. The committee would chalk out a strategy to protest against the decision of the party, as the high command was already informed of the wishes of the local leaders, who were in favour of fielding a local party leader, he said. Among others Rajinder Kakkar, SK Nayyar, Usha Sharma, KP Singh, Suresh Sharma, Dhanender Walia, Sita Ram Kundi, SS Goraya, Subhash Sethi and Parmod Singla were present in the meeting. Though the meeting was marred with boycott also, as loyalists of local MP Kumari Selja, including Partap, Pradip Chitkara, Mukesh Malhotra, Om Parkash and Sube Singh, left the venue. Raising objection, one of the leaders alleged that the outsiders were able to mange the party tickets with the support of the local MP. Similarly, in Kalka, the Congress got another jolt when its leader Bhagat Singh addressing a gathering of his supporters announced that he would contest the elections as an independent candidate. Bhagat Singh was one of those who were in the queue for the party ticket. Earlier Vijay Bansal, a prominent Congress leader from Pinjore, defected from the Bahujan Samaj Party last week to contest the election. There were many others who, however, were satisfied with the decision of the party. “I have no grudges against the high command and would abide by the decision,” said Amitabh Singh Chandel, who also sought the ticket from Panchkula.
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Vehicles challaned at rly station
Chandigarh, September 23 Some of those who couldn’t bother less about parking at the station got a good serving from GRP officials on Tuesday. Besides issuing challans to 25 culprits, the officials impounded four vehicles, including a Hyundai car, one three-wheeler ad two motorcycles, in the day-long drive.
Train to Dibrugarh
The holiday special from Chandigarh to Dibrugarh has been extended till October 29. Earlier, the special train was to function till October 2, but due to increased passenger traffic, the train has been extended. Four rounds of the train joinery have been added. The train leaves the railway station every Sunday at 3.30 pm. Coming month, the train will leave from Chandigarh on October 8, 15, 22 and 29 and will leave from Dibrugarh on October 5, 12,19 and 26.
Discount for scribes
Changes will soon be seen in the existing railway travel scheme of discount coupons for journalists. Starting from October 15, accredited journalists, entitled for 50 per cent discount on their journey charges, will be issued identity cards, valid for two years. Once these identity cards are issued, journalists can directly go to the ticket sale counter and avail the discount directly on the cost of the ticket. Senior divisional manager
(Ambala) Karan Singh said, “We are making efforts that most of the paperwork for Chandigarh journalists is completed in the city and not in
Ambala. Initial forms will be made available to press associations and also in the administration. With these I-cards, hassles will end for 2 years for the journalists.”
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Diwali bonus for CITCO staff
Chandigarh, September 23 DK Tiwari, managing director, said CITCO would manage two more petrol stations in collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in the southern sectors of Chandigarh, Sector-38 (West) and Sector-56. It was also communicated that CITCO had received approval from the Chandigarh Administration of Rs 8.75 crore for upgradation of new facilities and amenities at Hotel Shivalikview. CITCO managing director also said CITCO would be making an investment of Rs 58 lakh in Hotel Parkview which is the largest budget hotel of Chandigarh.
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Theatre festival from today
Chandigarh, September 23 The Department of Cultural Affairs is organising the four-day festival till September 27. TV artistes, including Bharat Kapoor, Sulbha Arya, Rajan Shrivastava and Avtar Gill, are participating in the event.
Four plays based on comedy and satire will be staged on each day of the festival. The plays to be staged are: “Taj Mahal ka Tender”; “Biwi O Biwi” written and directed by Rakesh Bedi; “Shatranj Ke Mohre” on September 26 written by P.L. Pandey and directed by Ramesh Talwar; “Massage” written by Vijay Tendulkar and directed by Harbans Singh on September 27.
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