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Car rams into bike; PU student dies
Chandigarh, October 20 In another mishap, a pedestrian was killed after being knocked down by a motorcycle at Manimajra last night. The police said the students were returning to their hostel after having dinner at the Night Food Street at around 10.30 pm when the accident occurred. The car was coming from the Sector 14,15, 24 and 25 rotary and reportedly jumped the light before ramming into the motorcycle. The victims were entering the university at the time of the accident. They were dragged to some distance before the car reportedly ran over Sood, who sustained severe head injuries. His friend, Hanish Kumar, who was riding pillion, suffered a fracture on his arm. Hanish told the police that it was a white luxury car, but he could not make out much since it was speeding. He said he was shocked by the mishap and could not gain his senses for a couple of minutes. Some PU students assembled at the spot and the victims were rushed to the PGI, where Sood died around 2.50 am. The police has registered a case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving on the basis of Hanish’s statement. The helmets of the victims also got crushed and the motorcycle was badly damaged. Sood, who hailed from Tapa Mandi at Barnala, is survived by his elder brother and parents. His father runs a garment showroom there. The police handed over the body to his family after a postmortem. A large number of university students and the victim’s classmates came to the mortuary at the PGI, where the postmortem was under way. Describing Sood as an exceptionally bright student, they said he was elected the department’s deputy representative last year. “He was a budding cricketer and had lofty goals,” one of his teachers said. Meanwhile, a pedestrian identified as Munna Lal of Manimajra was injured after being hit by a motorcycle near a gurdwara around 10 pm last night. He was taken to the Sector 16 Government Multi-speciality Hospital where he was declared brought dead. The police has arrested a motorcyclist, Ashok Kumar of New Indira Colony, on the charges of causing death due to rash and negligent driving.
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2-yr-old kidnapped from home
Panchkula, October 20 Eyewitnesses said the girl, identified as Jiya, was taken away by a youth in his 20s in his Honda City. The father of the girl, Amarvir Kang, runs a gymnasium in Sector 8. Though the family refused to divulge any details to the media, Sheela, a maid working on the roof of the neighbouring house, said Jiya was playing in front of the house when the car stopped in front of the gate and the driver took her away. She was playing with three other children. A large number of relatives and friends of the Kangs started visiting the house after the news spread, blocking roads in the area with cars. Senior police officials, along with the CIA staff, reached the spot and an alert was sounded in the town and the adjoining areas of Punjab and Chandigarh. The SP said it would be difficult to reach any conclusion at this juncture as the family members did not see any of the kidnappers.
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Thieves strike again at Panchkula
Panchkula, October 20 According to information, the owner of the house, Sandeep Chikara, was away to Faridabad to bring his family when the incident took place.
It is only when they returned home on Monday night, that they learnt about the theft. “We returned home last night and found that the thieves had fled with cash and jewellery worth nearly Rs 4.25 lakh. The police told us
that there was a possibility of the involvement of four to five accused in the theft,” Chikara said. He added that the thieves had entered the house from the backyard. The family members claimed that though the exact loss was yet to be ascertained, it appeared that a sum of Rs 2.25 lakh was stolen from the house. The police has registered a case in this connection and further investigations are on.
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Degrees of doctors to be verified
Ramanjit Singh Sidhu Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 20 The police has also decided to seek legal opinion on evidences gathered against Dr Tarun Narang and Dr Sanjeev Kumar for initiating legal action against them, sources said. Talking to The Tribune, the SHO of the Sector 17 police station said the clinic was registered in the name of Dr Narang and he also owned the house, from where the clinic was being run. Dr Narang stays at Hisar and the police was gathering evidences about him and the role of other doctors. A senior police officer said the connivance of Dr Narang could not be ruled out at this stage as the clinic was being run in his name and he reportedly treated patients there. “It is highly unlikely that Pardeep Khurana, who now claims to be a manager at the clinic, was treating people without Dr Narang’s knowledge.” He said they wanted to be sure about his role and wanted to be armed with evidence to proceed against him. Meanwhile, a local court has remanded Khurana, a Mohali resident, to judicial custody after he was interrogated by the police in custody for a day. The police had taken his handwriting samples, which would be sent along with the prescription receipt given by the complainant for matching to the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory. The in charge of the Sector 22 police post said they would verify the authenticity of the degrees of the doctors and would initiate action as per law against them if anything incriminating came out during the investigation. A police officer said the victim told investigators that at one stage, Khurana admitted before her that they did not have the technology they had claimed in the advertisements. The police had arrested Khurana after “dilly-dallying” for four months when police inaction was highlighted in these columns.
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HC reserves order; CHB mulls draw
Pradeep Sharma Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 20 With the Punjab and Haryana High Court reserving order on the scheme, the wait of over 2,200 UT administration employees and retirees to have a dream house is set to be over. The process for the draw of lots will begin when the court pronounces the order on the scheme, sources said. Earlier, several employee associations had moved the court, alleging discrimination regarding the eligibility criteria for the scheme. It was stated that while deputationists and employees of the court were made eligible, certain sections of the employees, including those working at the PGI and Panjab University, were ignored. Several other issues were debated in the court following which it had reserved its judgement. Senior IAS, HCS and PCS officers, judicial officers and other employees, including retirees of the administration, had applied for the scheme which virtually offered bonanza to prospective allottees in the backdrop of its reasonable prices and ample covered area, against the general housing scheme at Sector 63. While category A (three bedroom), having a covered area of 2,000 sq ft would cost only Rs 34.7 lakh for UT employees, the same flat with a covered area of 1,424 sq ft would cost Rs 39.57 lakh to a general allottee. In category B (two bedroom) a 1,400 sq-ft apartment would cost only Rs 24.3 lakh for the UT staff, however, general category allottees would have to shell out Rs 29.14 lakh for the same category of flat with a reduced area of 1,075 sq ft. For category C (one bedroom) flat, general allottees would pay Rs 17.15 lakh for a flat measuring 684 sq ft while the UT staff would have to pay only Rs 13.53 lakh for the flat measuring about 900 sq ft. Realtors said the scheme offered best bargain to the prospective allottees as the land was available at a premium. Sectors 52 and 56, adjoining Mohali, are upcoming areas where the administration has launched several projects in a bid to develop the southern part of the city.
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House to meet again over garbage plant
Chandigarh, October 20 Interestingly, it is the third time that a special house meeting is being convened to specifically discuss the report on the garbage processing plant prepared by the committee constituted by the house. Now, it is to be seen whether the house is adjourned again without any discussion or the report prepared by the committee is discussed in detail. A special house meeting was convened last month to discuss the report of the committee on the garbage processing plant, but was adjourned on the plea that until the house received the report of the central pollution control committee and details of action taken against the show-cause notice issue to the Jaypee group, no meeting would be called. Sources in the Administration confirmed that they had sent an interim report of the central pollution control committee to the corporation. They also clarified that the Administration was only concerned with the problems of pollution and smell from the plant and had no concern with the installation and functioning of machinery at the plant. The communiqué of the Administration clearly mentioned that it was the corporation which had to take action against the company if the matter was related to infrastructure or machinery. Officials in the corporation stated that they had sent details of the show-cause notice of the Jaypee group to the Mayor. When contacted, Kamlesh confirmed that she had received the interim report of central pollution board and she would call a special house this week to discuss the committee’s report on the plant. During the last special house meeting, a number of nominated councillors had stated that when the Administration had constituted a technical committee to study the proper functioning of the plant and the foul smell emanating from it, the house should scrap its committee constituted for this purpose. They alleged that the entire controversy was nothing but petty politics being played by Chander Mukhi Sharma and the mayor.
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Humsafar: A perfect blend of comedy, tragedy
Chandigarh, October 20 Written by Javed Siddiqui, the tragic comedy play flourished under the direction of thespian film designer Salim Arif to bare the deceptive crust of reality of relationships of a couple opting for a divorce after leading 15 years of married life. An unusual story of a love affair, built on the foundation of three-year-old love between the author Saleem (Kiran Karmarkar) and Sonal (Lubna Salim) ending into marriage and two children. Despite having secured a consented divorce, both the separated husband and wife are compelled by an emotional urge to often establish transient relationships for temporary and momentary happiness. Both the accomplished actors immaculately depicted the poignant, romantic and funny moments with consummate perfection. A soothing musical score and interspersed with recitations of rich Urdu nazams with relative theme were the lifeline of the production. The crisp dialogues rich in literary content had brilliance and drollery which kept the audience interest alive. Rajan Gupta and AV Shukal honoured the artistes.
Actor misbehaves with photojournalist
While the play was operating on an intellectual plane, the lead actor, Kiran Karmarkar, in a fit of anger, shouted at a photojournalists, who was clicking pictures. He even made derogatory remarks terming the photo shoot as sheer nonsense on the plea that this affects actor’s concentration. The photographers resented the unwarranted shouts and the mannerism of a well-known actor. They claimed that as advised, the flashes were not used and the actor could have conveyed his concern through authorities without admonishing them publicly. The play director, Salim Arif, and NCZCC director AV Shukal pacified the photojournalists but they did not enter the auditorium.
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Ailments are on, but don’t panic
Chandigarh, October 20 The late night and early morning drop in temperatures aggravates some common diseases like cold and flu. The beginning of winter can prove a particularly stressful period for asthma patients. Since winter is associated with a lot of festivity, including Diwali, a lot of air pollution, caused from everything from house dust to firecrackers, can trigger a lot of respiratory tract infections. In fact, doctors and experts warn that the H1N1 virus can turn active. “As temperatures drop below 28 degrees, H1N1 will survive longer and start spreading faster,” says an expert. Elderly people as well as children are particularly prone to bacterial and viral infections, which come with the change in weather. Besides, a general decrease in physical activity and overeating due to festivities add to some common health ailments like high cholesterol. In fact, in the past a few years, some diseases like dengue and chikungunya, known to be common in summer, are also being reported during winter, especially in its first two months. Dr SK Bhandari, physician and former deputy medical superintendent of the GMSH-16, says winter brings in more respiratory tract infections than other ailments. But other vector-borne diseases like malaria and leptospirosis also continue to prevail during winter. “During winter, elderly people, children as well as asthmatics need to guard against common ailments like cold, flu and allergies and avoid very early or late evening walks,” he says. Dr Reeta Kalra, a physician in Panchkula, adds skin ailments to the list of health problems associated with winter. “During winter, the sweeping action of philia of cells in the respiratory tract decreases, causing accumulation of mucous in the pathway. This increases chances of more allergic and viral infections in adults,” she says. She says those in the age group of 65 to 70 years and children are prone to diseases like cold, cough and fever. These can be treated symptomatically without antibiotics. Smokers and diabetics are more prone to winter disease like pneumonia. Dr Meenu Singh, in charge of allergy and asthma clinic at the PGI, says winter also increases allergies and viral infections and aggravates asthma. “Due to the festive season, people clean their houses, which causes exposure to dust. This affects the elderly and children, besides troubling asthmatic patients,” she says. The body takes time to adjust to the variation in temperatures. The elderly should take adequate precautions like protective clothing with the onset of winter and go out for walks only after the sun is up.
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Allotment rate may equal market price
Rajmeet Singh Tribune News Service
Mohali, October 20 After fixing the land allotment rate at Rs 12,000 per sq yard for cooperative house building societies here, GMADA proposes to fix fresh rates at which plots are being offered in the new urban estate. Though in the case of cooperative societies the land rate has been worked out at Rs 16,000 per sq yard, the new rates could on the higher side. A proposal to fix the land allotment rates at 50 per cent of the reserve price of auctioned residential plots has not been approved yet. “Had GMADA been able to auction residential plots at the reserve price of Rs 50,000 per sq yard during last month’s auction, the land allotment rates would have been revised,” a GMADA official said, adding that since GMADA was going to offer urban estate after nine years, new rates were being worked out. Last time, the authority had floated the controversial Sector 78 to 80 housing scheme, but this time the interests of landowners is being watched as evacuees are being offered Rs 1.50 crore an acre or the land pooling scheme, wherein the beneficiaries get a 930 sq yard residential plot and a 121 sq yard commercial site. “The final rates and exact number of plots to be offered in the urban estate would be calculated after the exact number of land owners opting for the land pooling scheme is known,” the official added. Though the exact land being included in the urban estate is not clear, the sources said a clear picture would emerge after landowners came out with the option of land pooling. Though around 2,000 residential and commercial sites had been carved out for mix land use, at least 50 per cent of this would be exhausted if landowners went in for land pooling. The officials said the allotment would be done by way of draw. The town planning department had proposed a 30-metre green buffer between the road and the commercial belt along the main road. The residential area would be behind the commercial belt, as is in the existing urban estate. The money collected from the applications would be used to pay land compensation.
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Bent poles sans light
Chandigarh, October 20 Most of the streetlights have no bulbs and electricity wires of some poles have been stolen, due to which those are non-functional. According to residents of Sector 55, some electricity poles on the road separating Sectors 55 and 56 have remained bent for the last three months due to improper foundations. They say the matter has been brought to the notice of the corporation authorities a number of times, but in vain. According to them, it seems that the authorities are waiting for some accident due to the falling of a pole before action is taken. Drivers and pedestrians are virtually groping in the dark as most streetlights remain out of order most of the time. After the shifting of slum-dwellers from Sector 38-West to Colony No. 5, the number of accidents have increased. After sunset, most streetlights on the main roads of the sector are non-functional on account of the apathy of the corporation. It seems that there is no system of checks in place in the civic body whether they maintain streetlights properly or not, claim residents. Though the MC pays a substantial amount to the electricity department of the Administration towards billing and service line charges, their work is far from satisfactory. Some months back, employees of the electricity department had come to carry out repairs, but many streetlights went off the very next day.
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Public information campaign begins
Majri (Mohali), October 20 Ujjagar Singh Badali, MLA, Morinda, was the guest of honour. PS Mand, Deputy Commissioner, Mohali, and Dr J Sadakaddullah, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India, Chandigarh, were also present. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Parliamentary Secretary said the state government would spend Rs 3,243 crore for the development, cleaning and repairing of irrigation canals. Addressing the gathering, he said it was a good initiative to start the campaign in a remote area of Mohali district. He said the benefit of the government schemes usually do not reach the deserving people due to inadequate information. Ujagar Singh Badali, Morinda MLA, urged the villagers, especially sarpanches and panchayats to take benefit of schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). The MLA also distributed cheques to 19 BPL families under the Indira Aawas Yojana. Besides, cheques for Rs 30 lakh were distributed to the 13 villages of Majri block under Budh ki Rao watershed project of Government of Punjab.
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Wakf Board records to be computerised
Chandigarh, October 20 Addressing a press conference, Kidwai said a legislation regarding the constitution of a madarsa board to monitor the functioning of madarsas all over the country would be tabled in the next session of Parliament. Terming vote-bank politics as "anti-development", he predicted a Congress victory in Haryana, Maharashtra and Arunchal Pradesh, where Assembly elections had been held recently. Kidwai was in the city connection with a court case filed against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments while addressing an election rally in support of Congress candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal in the run-up to the May 13 general election.
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Camp on iodine deficiency
Chandigarh, October 20 According to press note, salt samples brought by people from their homes will be tested on the spot by technicians. Banners will be given to people visiting the exhibition to increase awareness about the consumption of iodised salt.
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300 donate blood
Mohali, October 20
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Order withdrawn
Chandigarh, October 20
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Research Scholars’
Admission Neha Miglani Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 20 As per the new instructions, there will be a maximum eight students under the supervision of each guide. The selection of students will be done by the research board of the varsity. In the recent move, the university has issued a letter to the affiliated colleges, seeking bio-data of the teachers who wish to supervise research work. In the new admission procedure, 20 marks will be allotted to the interview and 80 marks for the theory exam. Besides, once the students clear the exam, even their aptitude to continue with the research would be tested. The UGC has instructed to conduct an exam of research methodology of students after one year of research work, which will give an idea of calibre of candidate to do further research. Besides, the guide will inform the department concerned about the number of seats vacant and exam for only those seats will be conducted. The measure has been introduced to avoid long waiting lists. The dean, university instructions, has already submitted a report in this regard to Vice-Chancellor, Prof RC Sobti. “The move will raise the standard of the research in the country. Research will be done from qualitative approach once these guidelines are implemented,” said Kuldeep Singh, a fellow. “Not all the students know the research methodology. Students from science or maths background may understand certain calculation part of the research but an MA student may not know anything about it at all. So, only after the students are taught the theory part in first year, they will be permitted to go ahead with their thesis,” he added. Adding that the standards of research in Punjab are better as compared to the other states, he said the move would help to streamline the quality of research work in those states as well.
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City educators doubt success of Sibal’s reforms
Chandigarh, October 20 “On the one hand they are abolishing Class X Boards and on the other making Class XII Boards the prime deciding factor for students’ career. The IIT entrance exam is more a test of aptitude rather than bookish knowledge, while its vice versa in Class XII. How will the students cope with it?” questions Sangita Khanna, director of a Sector 24-based coaching institute. “The ministry does not seem to be sure of its own policies. On one hand they want students to lay more stress on scholastic, extra-curricular activities and practical work till Class XI and suddenly subject them to immense pressure of theoretic al tests in Class XII. There are several ways to make school education more important,” adds Sucheta Singh, a senior faculty in a Sector 34-based coaching institute. The move primarily comes with an aim to maintain the importance of school education and bring the conduct of mushrooming coaching centres under control. “The move surely has a good aim. The hype that the coaching centres have created around entrance exams urging students to ignore school education is truly disturbing. Moment a child opts for the science stream in Class XI, he rarely attends schools to ensure proper attendance in tuitions. But it’s truly doubtful how will we achieve this?” said a senior faculty of a Sector 26-based school. Even, Director of PEC Manoj Dutta feels that given the absence of uniform Class XII board in country the implementation shall surely be a problem. “Its no doubt that all institutes trying to compete with the IITs will follow suit. Every board is different from other in terms of marking schemes, question papers and even the level of liberalness in evaluation in such a case to implement this yardstick will surely be tough,” he added.
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UGC-NET on December 27
Chandigarh, October 20 The office will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm on all working days. The candidates must go through the guidelines as laid down by the UGC for eligibility and filling application forms. For more details, the candidates can log on to www.ugc.ac.in. Draft should be made in favour of Secretary, UGC, New Delhi, and not in the name of any official of Panjab University. Death mourned
CHANDIGARH: The faculty and staff members of the departments of German and French, Panjab University, have mourned the demise of Prof RK Sharma, Professor of German (retd), PU. He was the former chairperson of the departments of French and German and also one of the founders of the Alliance Francaise, Chandigarh.
— TNS
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VC appoints probe panel
Chandigarh, October 20 The committee comprising of Dr IS Chadha and Prof SS Kumar has been asked to submit its report by October 25. The Tribune had highlighted the issue of tampering of results by an employee, Gurcharan
Malhi, yesterday. The employee was allegedly found increasing marks of two candidates, appearing as private candidates in political science and English papers for re-evaluation.
— TNS
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