Chandigarh, October 30
The Central Vigilance Commission has forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office its findings on alleged irregularities by the Chandigarh administration in allotting the amusement-cum theme park and Film City projects. Any comment can make a huge difference.

Sources close to the CVC said the case details had recently been sent to the concerned cabinet secretary in the PMO. They said the CVC felt the loopholes in the allotment of projects, detected in the preliminary inquiry, made it a fit case for detailed investigation.

Besides communicating the preliminary case findings to the PMO, the CVC has also asked the CBI to conduct a detailed probe into the matter. Although the CBI is an independent agency any comment from the PMO could make a huge difference, an official said.

The Film City project was awarded to Parsvnath Developers Ltd in January 2006 and the amusement-cum-theme park project was allotted to Unitech Ltd in November 2006.

Citing instances of apparent lacunae, the CVC inquiry has pointed out “violations of rules in awarding the debatable projects to the concerned parties. Prima facie, the irregularities make this case worth a detailed investigation”, the official said.

CVC sources said, “We have no information whether the CBI has initiated any probe into the issue. We have also not received any communication from the PMO”.

The matter was taken up by the CVC “for detailed investigation” in December 2008 amidst allegations that the projects had been allocated by the UT administration in absolute contravention of the existing regulations. However, the administration has all along vehemently, denied any hanky-panky in the allocation of the projects.

The issue had come to the fore following reports of differences on allocation of projects mainly involving UT Administrator SF Rodrigues and Advisor to UT Pradeep Mehra.

The controller of departmental inquiry was asked to conduct an inquiry separately. This was followed by the CVC summoning SBI Capital Markets, the consultant company and the UT administration to New Delhi to justify the projects’ financial details.

A senior UT official said: “These days a lot of time during the office hours, particularly in the top UT offices, is spent in preparing replies to different projects that have drawn controversy in the recent past. These include the IT Park besides the two projects under question”.

UT officials are replying mainly on the criteria followed in evaluating different land before allocation.

Chandigarh, October 30
UT home secretary Ram Niwas today suspended the principal and four other teachers of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 45 after marking a vigilance inquiry against them for allegedly “extorting” money from the students to provide them school diaries and ID cards.

The decision comes in wake of the report of preliminary inquiry submitted yesterday. Further, the home secretary has also directed DPI (S) to conduct a mass audit in all schools.

“It’s not the first time that such an incident has happened. I have received numerous complaints about various schools that spend funds worth lakhs of rupees but have no vouchers or bills to justify the expenditure. What has further irked us is the fact that the school authorities take the plea of saving VAT by this. I have directed the DPI to conduct an audit in every school and submit a list of such defaulters to me within a month,” said Niwas.

The audit will also be later extended to government aided and private schools.

Meanwhile, the preliminary inquiry that found GMSSS-45 principal Alka Mehta guilty of flouting norms by collecting excessive money from students was marked after a recent protest by parents in the school premises. The inquiry report also found the school authorities guilty of appending the signatures of students who were allegedly brutally beaten up by one of the teachers, Narender Shastri, for the same.

The report brought to fore grave financial irregularities in the school and thus led to the suspension of two teachers, Surinder Kaur and Neelam Thakur, who were found responsible.

Chandigarh, October 30
In a major turn of events UT administrator SF Rodrigues is all set to turn down the administration’s demand for repatriating DPI (S) Samwartak Singh for being “in touch” with one of the prime accused in the UT education department’s cash for jobs scam.

Though the administrator is yet to officially decide on the administration’s recommendation, according to sources lack of any evidence proving Samwartak’s direct involvement in the scam appears to have come to his rescue.

It may be noted the official recommendation for his repatriation came after the police submitted its report on the cash-for-jobs scam, which, though ruling out any criminal involvement of the DPI, considered his being in touch with the prime accused inexplicable.

Following the report’s submission disciplinary action was demanded against the DPI for maligning the department’s image by being in contact with a person involved in such a major case.

However, the reason seems to have failed to justify the administrator as, according to a senior official, “Samwartak has not been proved guilty. The administrator believes any senior official cannot be punished this way because of a lapse in his department and, if this is the case, suspensions should also be made in the Nari Niketan rape case as it was more embarrassing for the administration.”

It has also been learnt that he has demanded an explanation from the administration for the need of disciplinary action against Samwaratak when his involvement in any way has not been proved.

Chandigarh, October 30
The 2nd Battalion of the Dogra Regiment, the regiment’s senior-most unit, is commemorating 150 years of its raising at its location in the Western Sector. Spread over three days, the celebrations include a Dogra mela release of a First Day Cover and other ceremonial events.

Raised as The Agra Levy on August 26 1858, at Agra by Lt GL Fraser, the battalion has been awarded 22 Battle Honours and one Theatre Honour. It has also represented India twice in the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

In 1890, it was reconstituted as a Dogra unit at Sialkot under the designation of The 38th (Dogra) Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry, by Lt Col LRHD Campbell, the first Commanding Officer after reorganisation.

In the pre-independence era, 38 Dogra served in North West Frontier Province and Waziristan from 1894-1897 against the Mahasuds. During World War-I it was awarded the Battle Honours of NW Frontier of India, Aden, Nablus, and Palestine. The battalion was re-designated as 2/17 Dogra Regiment in 1922, and after World War-II, finally reconstituted as 2 Dogra.

After Independence, the battalion moved to J&K and earned its first post-Independence Battle Honour “Uri” and Theatre honour ‘J&K 1947-48. Its troops, led by Maj Thakur Prithi Chand, and Maj Kushal Chand, both Maha Vir Chakra winners, crossed Zojila on foot in peak winters of 1948.

Chandigarh, October 30
Councillors of the Municipal Corporation reverted back to their month-old decision and asked for withdrawal of inquiry from the central vigilance on purchase of mechanical road sweeping machines and recommended that the committee of the house should conduct it.

During the confirmation of the minutes of the last house meeting, a number of councillors raised this issue and pointed out that there was no need of the vigilance inquiry on the purchase of machines as the house had approved the agenda. They alleged that the Mayor had announced the conducting of vigilance inquiry in last meeting, without seeking the views of the house, which is against the decorum of the house. Congress councillor Chander Mukhi Sharma alleged that the house was misinformed by officials on the functioning of the machines. According to the agenda tabled in the house, the officials had stated that there would be no need of having sweepers for the city.

Kamlesh asked the officials to prepare a detailed report about these machines and table it in the house in the next meeting.

On finding the action taken report, submitted by the officials of the corporation incomplete, the Mayor announced convening of the house again on November 20.

On the agenda of construction of the third phase of sewerage treatment plant of 15 MGD, the councillors objected to the role of the authorities in not been able to allot work, even after six years of getting approval from the house.

The house also approved amendments to the regulation for the sale of meat, fish poultry by laws 2002. The councillors suggested that heavy fine should be imposed on those meat sellers, which sell rotten meat instead of destroying it.

Meanwhile, during question hour, Akali councillor Harjinder Kaur, referring to mushrooming of religious place at Sector 43, asked the authorities why no check was being imposed on the encroachment in the city by religious bodies. MC commissioner P K Sharma clarified that they had been asked by the administration to conduct a survey on religious encroachments and get these removed. Meanwhile, the house approved the agenda of rough cost estimates (RCE) of paver blocks in Sector 33 A, B C and D along with V5 road in Sector 47, Sector 20 C and D.

Nominated councillor Dr A P Sanwaria, while referring to a story in The Tribune about encroachment in service lanes, asked why the engineering department has not been able to frame a policy to remove or check encroachments in service lanes even after two and half years.

Bansal felt sorry about the performance of the Municipal Corporation in the past five years. He expressed surprise that even the petty projects of the corporation had not seen the light of the day and was lying shelved for the past three years. He stated that in the coming years, it would be difficult for him to seek more subsidy or funds for the corporation from the Centre as it had failed to utilise even the existing one.

Chandigarh, October 30
Ironically, members of the sub-committee of the garbage-processing unit, Dadumajra, raised a question mark on their own report at the meeting of general house held here today. They queried the debating of the report of the plant when the house had no power to take any action against the company.

Even Mayor Kamlesh showed her helplessness and informed the house that she would request the MC Commissioner, Dr Roshan Sunkaria, for speedy action on the show-cause notice issued to J P company. She said they would discuss the report only after executive heads reached some conclusion on the plant.

Interestingly, after calling two special meetings earlier and tabling report of the committee at a general house today, the members of the sub-committee and the Mayor realised that it was a wastage of time to discuss the report as the officials were only empowered to take action against the company and not the house.

As the Mayor asked the house to discuss the report on the garbage plant, Chandra Mukhi Sharma, Congress councillor, objected to the feasibility of the discussion and remarked that the report was to check the malfunctioning of the infrastructure installed by the company and action to be taken if any fault was found in it.

Sharma stated that in April, Sunkaria had issued a show-cause notice to the company, which covered all aspects. He said when the officials were already on the job and were taking action, what is the need to discuss this report? Another member of the sub-committee and Congress councillor Manjit Singh suggested that the plant should closed down if it was not functional or executive heads should instruct the company for its proper functioning. Nominated councillor, M P S Chawla raised objection on the tabling of the report in the house.

Chandigarh, October 30
One more tested positive for swine flu here today. With this, the total number of the confirmed swine flu cases in the city has gone up to 57.“We collected the throat and nasal swab samples of a 26-year-old woman, who is the lecturer of Linken College of Education, Sirhind, and resident of Sector 68, Mohali, yesterday and her reports came positive today,” UT nodal officer of swine flu HC Gera told TNS.

UT health officials have “home quarantined” her, along with three family members, at her parents’ residence in Sector 19. “We have informed health officials of Punjab for quarantining their family members at her residence in Mohali,” said Gera.

Meanwhile, four-suspected cases of H1N1 influenza, including a homoeopathy doctor in Mani Majra, were reported here today.

“Throat swab samples have been sent to the PGI for lab tests. The reports will come in a day," said Gera.

Till now, nearly 360 suspected cases of swine flu have been reported in Chandigarh hospitals. Out of these at least 57 cases have tested positive for swine flu.

Two deaths, one each in Chandigarh and in its neighbouring town Mohali, have been reported in the region till now.

Chandigarh, October 30
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal condemned the reaction of the local government secretary on the issue of the misconduct by Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla with corporation officials.

Bansal, who attended the corporation general house meeting first time after winning the Lok Sabha election from Chandigarh, criticised the interference of the administration in the functioning of the house.

Last year at one of the Finance and Contract Committee meeting, Babla misbehaved with officials of the corporation. After which the officials made a formal complaint against him to the local government secretary.

In reply, a letter was received by the corporation which stated that the corporation is supposed to work in a cordial environment and healthy debate should take place on it. There should be no cause of rude behaviour and harmonious debate should take place on all subjects so that decorum of the house is maintained.

Bansal objected to these comments and remarked that it would now up to the Administrator to teach councillors about functioning of the house. He said he was well-aware about the abusive language used by officials of the administration on the phone. Bansal expressed surprise at the attitude of the officials of the corporation in approaching the administration for such petty issues. He suggested that such problems should be resolved at the corporation level. Former Mayor and Congress councillor Pardeep Chhabra also objected to the tabling of such an agenda in the house. Chhabra informed the house that during this incident, he was also present at the meeting.Babla had only asked MC Commissioner Roshan Sunkaria about the recruitment process, on which the Commissioner objected and stated that if the department was not getting employees should he take the people from the road for their work. On which Babla had only asked Sunkaria to behave.

Chandigarh, October 30
The inaugural ceremony of the International Paediatric Neurology and Epilepsy Conference was held today at the PGI. Chief guest for the ceremony was the Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Sardar Harmohinder Singh Chatha. The guest of honour was Prof BNS Walia, the founding father of the advanced paediatric centre.

Addressing the gathering, the chief guest congratulated organisers for a much-needed conference. Quoting Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Chatha said: “Time is not measured by the passing of years but by what one does, what one feels, and what one achieves”.

Reminding the galaxy of doctors assembled at the inauguration of their social responsibilities, he said: “As a representative of the people, the problems of the poor and dispossessed are always in front of my eyes. I believe that fast-track progress and development are meaningless, if we are unable to include the poor in our scheme of things.”

The chief organiser, Prof Pratibha Singhi, highlighted the scientific content of the conference. Later, Prof. Michael Johnston from the USA highlighted the importance of brain protective mechanisms to prevent permanent damage, resulting from less oxygen and blood supply to the brain during birth.

This talk was of immense importance in a country like India where a majority of neurological problems in children is due to birth related issues. The next plenary talk was by Prof Brian Neville from the UK, who discussed the issues of paediatric epilepsy and a common developmental problem in children, autism. He described the links between the two illnesses and suggested therapies for it.

This was followed by the symposium on paediatric epilepsy, which was delivered by Prof I. Scheffer, from Australia. She presented her talk on catastrophic epilepsies, which started off in infancy. This was followed by the talk on childhood epileptic syndromes by Prof H Cross, the UK. The third talk in the symposia was by Prof. Pratibha Singhi, who shared her experiences on the identification and challenges in management of this disorder.

The day ended with interactive discussion on interesting cases and videos, which were the major highlight of the day. Several cases, which are seen day to day, were presented and interactive discussions were held between the participating doctors regarding management of such cases.

More than 50 faculty and 250 delegates from 10 countries are participating in this conference. The theme of the conference is “From science to pragmatism”. 

Chandigarh, October 30
As part of the continuing endeavour to give priority to implementation of various welfare schemes for the minorities, Punjab Governor & UT Administrator SF Rodrigues today inaugurated an awareness camp organised by the Chandigarh administration at the Jama Masjid in Sector 20 today.

Various government organisations like the social welfare and health departments, Chandigarh Child & Women Development Corp, ‘scheduled castes’, ‘backward classes’ and Minorities Financial & Development Corp are participants in this community-based service oriented programme. It aims to empower these disadvantaged sections and ensure benefits of various schemes including pension for the old, disabled and women as well as the poor besides providing them financial assistance to start their small scale business establishments.

Leaders of the Muslim community, municipal councillors, office-bearers of the residents welfare associations and members of various NGOs attended the awareness camp.

The UT administrator asked health services director MS Bains to prepare sectorwise and colonywise data on TB cases and ensure treatment of patients in a systematic way.

During an interaction with senior officials including home secretary Ram Niwas, deputy commissioner Brijendra Singh and social welfare director Amandeep Kaur, he told them to establish a linkage of the loan schemes to the beneficiaries and institutionalising the training programmes in different trades to achieve better results.

Rodrigues also visited Jama Masjid and listened to the problems of the Muslim community.

Chandigarh, October 30
The Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, here, has started a patient-controlled labour epidural analgesia for painless delivery of pregnant women in the hospital.

According to doctors at GMCH-32, this is an advanced technique, which offers a patient the choice of controlling the drug dosage, depending on her endurance of pain. In the “patient-controlled pain relief” technique, a patient can control pain by pressing a button of a sophisticated pump, which delivers a fixed quantity of the pain medicine “on demand”, up to a certain limit, said a doctor of gynaecology department.

Telling the procedure of epidural analgesia, a doctor said a combination of drugs, along with a local anaesthesia, was administered to mother by inserting a fine tube in her backbone. In the process, the nerve in the spinal cord, which carries pain to the brain, is numbed with the drug.

Speaking about the advantages of this method, anaesthitist at the hospital says it is the only reliable and consistent pain relief in labour, the placenta and therefore the baby may get better blood flow during and between uterine contractions, and babies at risk of growth retardation in women with high blood pressure, diabetes or pre-eclampsia have better outcomes.

“It is a safe procedure, and it provides a high degree of comfort to the women during childbirth,” said doctor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Mohali, October 30
For the forthcoming One Day between India and Australia at PCA stadium, the Punjab Police has doubled the force for its three-tier security ring around the stadium. For the safe conduct of the match on November 2, over 1,500 police personnel from Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and Patiala have been deployed at the venue of the match.

The Punjab Police would be offering the security cover without charging for the same. The PCA already owes almost Rs 2 crore to the Punjab Police for the services it has been providing for the past five years during various international and national matches. The issue to pay for the police security generally gets lost in the hype generated by the PCA.

For the match, CCTV is being installed at all gates. A zoom camera at the main gate is also being installed for recording minute details. Giving details of the security arrangements, SSP, Mohali, GPS Bhullar, said for the first time the visitors would be able to reach any of the gates without any inconvenience. A total of 12 parking lots have been provided.

He said PCR vehicles would patrol the city. Commuters, too, should be ready for the usual traffic diversions tomorrow. Traffic on the roads leading to the stadium from Chandigarh, Phase X, Phase VIII and Sector 67 would be diverted. The traffic diversions on the roads leading to the stadium would be lifted once the match begins. However, the road opposite to the stadium would remain closed throughout the day. 

Chandigarh, October 30
The city is expected to witness a large number of Australian spectators during the fourth One-Day International match to be played between India and Australia at PCA Stadium, Mohali, on November 2 in view of easy access to e-ticketing options available in India.

Neetu Bhatia, chairman and CEO, KyaZoonga, talking to Chandigarh Tribune here today said they were expecting a large number of Australian spectators who preferred to travel with their team to watch their countrymen perform in international matches.

She said almost all high-end tickets, which included AC lounge (Rs 10,000) and corporate box ( Rs 20,000 per seat) had been sold by the entertainment ticketing company.

Bhatia said they had launched the e-ticketing facility in 1997 at Jaipur where an ODI match was played between India and Pakistan.

They had not looked back ever since and continued to provide the service to people who could also call the company’s call centre.

The CEO said her company in association with Bharat Petroleum Limited had also set up retail outlet centres in the Punjab region from where people could buy tickets either through cash or credit cards.

The five centres were: BPCL petrol pump, Sector 8, Panchkula; Dhillon Gas Station, Ambala, Moga Oil Store, Moga, BPCL Convenience Store, Bathinda, and BPCL store near BMC Chowk, Jalandhar.

She said their company was also providing tickets for north pavilion and pavilion terrace (with hospitality) for Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000, respectively.

However, lower-priced tickets like students block, chair block and VIP block, which have been priced at Rs 100, Rs 300 and Rs 1,000, respectively, were available only at the PCA stadium.

Neetu said they were excited about their partnership with the PCA as the stadium was one of the most sought-after international cricketing venues.

Chandigarh, October 30
Four Panjab University students were suspended from the boys’ hostels today for fiddling with the newly installed fire extinguishers and leaking out their components.

Strangely, similar incidents have been confirmed in hostels 1,3,4,6 and 7 during the past three days and most of them were reported during late night hours.

The wardens of the respective hostels have been making efforts to figure out the mischievous elements for the past three days. Today, however, three students from hostel number 3 and one from hostel number 7 were finally suspended.

Each of these hostels has nearly 30 fire extinguishers and the components of many of them have been leaked out by these mischievous elements.

“The first incident took palace on October 28 night and we had been trying to trace the students ever since. Today we suspended three students from our hostel as a lesson for others who are trying to tamper with hostel property,” said Karamjit Singh, warden of Boys Hostel 4.

“The new fire extinguishers had been installed for the students. Fiddling with university property is irresponsible behaviour,” he added.

According to information available, some students who were passing by pressed the clips of nearly five fire extinguishers in hostel 4 on Wednesday night.

Confirming a similar incident, MC Sidhu, warden of Boys hostel 3, said, “Our first task is to identify the students. Once that is done we will take suitable action against them.”

Despite the confirmation of these “strange” incidents in various hostels, PU officials said they failed to understand why the boys committed such mischievous acts.

The respective hostel wardens have now forwarded the matter to the PU dean of student welfare and an investigation on the matter has begun.

Chandigarh, October 30
The fourth and final day of the Panjab University Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival (Zone A) concluded today at GGDSD College, Sector 32 C.Minister of parliamentary affairs and water resources Pawan Kumar Bansal was the chief guest.

While addressing the students, Bansal said, “Youth festivals today have taken a healthy turn, from being mere youth festivals they have now become youth and heritage festivals.”

Artist Dolly Guleria and department of youth welfare director SM Kant, Panjab University, who were the guests of honour, congratulated all participants and gave away the prizes to all winners.

The results of various competitions on the concluding day are as follows:

Giddha: 1st- SGGS-26; 2nd- GC-11 and 3rd- GC-46.

Giddha (Individual): 1st- Harjot Kaur (GC-11); 2nd- Gurbani Moti (GC-46) and 3rd- Amisha Sheera (SGGS-26).

Bhangra: 1st- GC-11; 2nd- SGGS-26 and 3rd- GC of Arts-10.

Bhangra (Individual): 1st- Jatinderjot Singh (DAV-10); 2nd- Gagandeep Singh (GC-11) and 3rd- Jatinder Singh (SGGS-26).

Kavishri: 1st- GC-46; 2nd- SGGS-26 and 3rd- GGDSD-32.

Kavishri (Individual): 1st- Pooja Tussear (SGGS-26); 2nd- Sukhwinder Singh (GC-46) and 3rd- Paramveer Singh (GGDSD-32).

Vaar/Kali singing: 1st- GC-11 (Heer di kali); 2nd- DAV-10 (Uddham Singh di kali) and 3rd- GGDSD-32 (Vaar).

Vaar/Kali singing (Individual): 1st- Subeg Singh (PU campus); 2nd- Jaspinder Singh (DAV-10) and 3rd- Sarveer Ali (GC-11).

Ladies traditional songs and ritualistic songs: 1st- SGGS-26; 2nd- GC-11 and 3rd- GGDSD-32.

Ladies traditional songs and ritualistic songs (Individual): 1st- Jasamrit (GC-46); 2nd- Akashdeep (GC-46) and 3rd- Karanbeer (DAV-10).

Mohali, October 30
To help a child imbibe the values of art and explore his own interest in the filed, Yadavindra Public School, Mohali, organised a visual and performing arts exhibition of the junior school here today.

The event was a display of the creative pursuits of the Hobby Club, exclusively for their parents.

Energetic dancers performing to the beats of bhangra and a contemporary fusion dance set a festive mood. The tiny tots of classes I and II amazed audience with their skills in gymnastics.

The students handled the musical tones of a solo piano number alternating with a synchronised orchestra in Indian classical and western music adeptly.

Chandigarh, October 30
The counselling for centralised admission to MEd (regular) session, 2009-2010, will be held on November 4 in the English Auditorium at 9 am, informed official sources.

There are six vacant seats in the general category (Punjab quota: 85 per cent) in the following colleges of education:

1. SDS Colleges of Education for Women, Lopon

2. GHG Harparkash College of Education for Women, Sidhwan Khurd

3. Rayat College of Education, Rail Majra, Nawanshahr (co-education)

4. Kenway College of Education, Abohar (co-education)

5. Babe ke College of Education, Mudki (Ferozepur) (co-education).

The reporting time for all eligible candidates seeking admission is 9 am in the English Auditorium, Panjab University, Chandigarh.