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Weekend set to be colder still
Chandigarh, January 21 Visibility was almost nil during the morning hours and motorists had a tough time negotiating the road. The weatherman has forecast a further dip in temperature this weekend. The minimum temperature today was 5.1 °C and the maximum 11.5 °C. This was almost four notches below Wednesday’s temperature of 5.5 ° C. Icy winds continued to blow throughout the day, adding to the chill. According to Met officials, the bone-chilling weather in the city is due to the northwesterly winds blowing from J and K and Himachal Pradesh over the plains. Fog is due to the presence of excessive moisture in the atmosphere and western disturbances across the northern plains. “The situation would remain the same over the next two days,” an official stated. No flight operated from Chandigarh due to poor visibility and several trains ran late due to dense fog. “Riding a bike in such foggy conditions and defective traffic signals only makes it that much more difficult,” Megha, a marketing executive, said. As the schools reopened, parents have demanded further extension of the winter break due to the cold wave. Children were seen huddled in rickshaws and autorickshaws. A parent said while waiting for a school bus: “Opening schools when it is literally freezing is not a wise act on the part of the administration and the school managements. Asking students to attend school in such rough weather conditions is no less than a punishment.”
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Fog, rash driving snuff out life
Chandigarh, January 21 The deceased has been identified as Iven, a Class XI student of DPS, Pinjore. The injured are Anil Bishnoi of Punjab and the others are from Manipur. They were staying in Sector 7 of Panchkula. The victim was crushed when the Tata Safari rammed into a tree. He sustained severe head and other multiple injuries. The front portion of the vehicle was completely crushed in the impact. Iven, Fred and Anil were taken to the Sector 16 Government Multi Speciality Hospital, where Iven was pronounced dead on arrival.
Iven’s classmate, Jim Blessing who was in a Skoda, told the police that they had come to meet their friend Fred in Sector 16. There they met Anil, a student of DAV College, and decided to eat paranthas at the Sector 17 ISBT. Iven and Fred sat in Anil’s Safari. Iven was sitting in the front and Anil was driving. He lost control over the vehicle when he suddenly speeded it up to overtake the Skoda. The police said the vehicles were at breakneck speed at the time of the accident. “Even the needle of the Safari’s speedometer indicated 60 kmph, which was the speed when the driver applied the brake on seeing the tree,” the SHO of the Sector 17 police station stated. Iven’s mother and relatives reached the city and the police handed over his body to them after a postmortem. A police officer said the victims had been spotted earlier also while driving rashly and had been caught a few days ago. They used to drive at high speed.
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Airlines’ loss is taxi operators’
gain
Chandigarh, January 21 This does not translate into gains for taxi operators straightway, but they certainly have pocketed huge profits. On an average, a taxi has been charging between Rs 1,300 and Rs 1,400 for a trip to Delhi. With people having to reach their destinations at any cost and trains running late or to capacity, with waiting lists running into several days and even weeks, they have hardly any choice but to hire taxis. Although there are a number of buses running on the Delhi-Chandigarh route, people used to travelling by air or on the Shatabadi Express find it difficult to travel in them. There are only a few luxury buses operating on this route. Airlines have managed to operate their flights on the route only on January 16 so far. Otherwise, not a single flight has taken off or landed at the airport. Naresh Sharma, a businessman and regular passenger, said they had never ever imagined that the city airport would remain shut for that long. “Once you are used to air travel, it is difficult to travel by road or rail,” he pointed out, adding that and at times, one felt helpless. Although a few passengers alleged that the taxi operators had been charging them arbitrarily, there were not many such complaints. A representative of the taxi operators’ association refuted the charges. He said rates were fixed and it was difficult for anyone to charge extra amount. They had been doing brisk business and there wasn’t any need to charge extra money, he added. He admitted that there might be some exceptional cases, but most of the operators had been sticking to the fixed fares, which had been prevailing for a quite some time.
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Accused gets 10-yr RI
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 21 The court had held him guilty on January 19. In a 20-page judgment, the Additional District Sessions Judge observed that rape was a brutal act. A rapist not only violated the victim’s privacy and personal integrity, but also caused serious psychological as well as physical harm. The long-term effect on the life and health of the victim was irreparable. It might even affect the husband or children of the victim in the long run. Earlier while pleading for life imprisonment for the accused, the public prosecutor stated that the rape of a toddler was a sin. The court ordered that the fine amount would go to the mother of the victim. Expressing satisfaction over the quantum of the sentence, the victim’s mother said justice had been done. However, minutes before the quantum of the sentence was to be announced, the accused claimed that no medical examination was done on him and the victim’s mother had falsely implicated him. His brother said if he was guilty, he should be punished, but since he had been implicated they would appeal in the High Court against the sentence.
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Death of contractual safai
karamchari Ramanjit Singh Sidhu Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 21 The protesting employees accused the authorities of callous attitude, who did not bother to console the aggrieved family let alone giving compensation for the loss of life. They were demanding Rs 5 lakh as compensation, a job for victim’s family member on compassionate grounds and abolition of the contract system. They blocked the Chandigarh-Ambala road near Sector 20 gurdwara. Additional Deputy Commissioner PS Shergill reached the spot and placated them. Zile Singh, president, Safai Karamchari Union, told TNS that Krishan, the victim, who resides in Phase I, Ram Darbar, had gone to remove carcass of a dog. He fell down from the tractor and was subsequently run over by a trolley. Tractor driver Jarnail Singh suspecting trouble fled away from the spot leaving the injured behind. The victim was admitted to Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital. He died at around 1:30 pm. Raman Kumar, manager of the private company, to which the Municipal Corporation had outsourced the work of lifting the garbage, said as per the rules they incur expenses of cremation while the Employee State Insurance Corporation would pay 80 per cent of the wage taken by the victim to his nominee as pension. He further added that they could give Rs 5,000 as compensation to the family. At this, the victim’s colleagues shouted slogans against the authorities. Victim’s father Mehar Singh said Krishan’s marriage was fixed for Februarys 16 and he was the sole breadwinner of the family. Mehar said three of his daughters were married. There wasn’t anyone left in the family to take care of him and his ailing wife. Mehar added that though Krishan was working on the contractual basis for over five years, the present contractor had hired him about seven months ago. “The authorities are now compensating his death with just Rs 5,000. Is this the value of human life, as if a contractual employee has no responsibilities in his life” he asked? During the demonstration two sweepers, Sanjeev Kumar and Rishi, came forward to show their injured limbs. They said the contractor marked them absent from duty and deducted their salary even as they were injured on duty. “In 1987 the corporation had 2,000 regular sweepers. After a lapse of over 23 years now we have only 1,446 regular employees while the population of the city has increased manifolds. Instead of increasing the manpower, the authorities outsourced the work to private contractors, who gave anything between Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 to these contractual employee,” rued Zile Singh. MC Commissioner Dr Roshan Sunkaria said Rs 50,000 would be given from the Red Cross funds while the contractor had been told to give Rs 1 lakh to the aggrieved family.
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Sarangi concert enraptures audience
Chandigarh, January 21 The captivating concert featuring Ustad Kamal Sabri, one of the best sarangi maestros of international eminence, was organised by the Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs Department, Haryana. Ustad Kamal Sabri opened up the recital with a reposeful alaap in a free floating exposition of notes to build the raga form. The pace gathered movement, apparently progressing into jod and jhalla. Delving deep into the lower octave (khairaj) medium and higher scales, Kamal weaved a magical, but sustained melody. Accompanied by versatile tabla maestro, Sukhmay Bannerjee, the duo cast a spell in the slow (vilambat) composition in jhaptal as well as in the fast paced (drut) set to teen tal. The maestros teamed up to delineate “Tappa” in raga Mishar Khamaj, a genre rarely performed in the region. Kamal Khan brought alive the romanticism and ecstasy in a scintillating spell of a Thumri virtually making the strings to sing. On the request of the audience, the maestro presented choicest compositions, including Thumri in raga Pilu, Miyan ki malhar and raga Jaijaiwanti. Sukhmay Banerjee gave an admirable accompaniment on tabla with Faizal Yousuf (tanpura) and Prabhat on swarmandal. Earlier, BS Balhara welcomed the audience and chief guest Shiv Raman Gaud, DPR Haryana, honoured the artistes. Later in an interaction, Kamal Khan disclosed that due to the efforts of dedicated maestros, including his father Ustad Sabri Khan and Pandit Ram Narain, the sarangi, which was on the verge of extinction, has made an international presence. “About a dozen albums of my albums had a record sale in the world. I have performed with top musicians at the prestigious festivals world over, including a special sarangi recital at the Noble Prize award ceremony at Oslo (Norway) in 2008,” said Kamal with a pride. “If Pandit Shanker and Ustad Zakir Hussain had taken the sitar and tabla, respectively, to spectacular heights, I too have my share in making sarangi, a compatible musical instrument worthy of world recognition,” claimed Ustad Kamal Sabri.
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Bidders told to give names before auction
Mohali, January 21 To ensure that such sleeping partners do not use the platform of auctions, it has been decided that all bidders have to give their name before the bidding process begins. “It has been seen that the bidders used to introduce other bidders as ‘others’. Thus, the ‘others’ remained sleeping partners,” said sources in GMADA. It has also been decided that Rs 1 lakh bidding amount in case of SCOs, SCFs, residential plots and built up houses and Rs 50,000 in case of booths would be accepted only in form of bank drafts. In the auction scheduled for third week of February, a total of 53 commercial and residential sites were being put under the hammer. While the reserved price of commercial sites had been increased by at least 15 per cent on the basis of the last auction held in September last year, the reserved price of residential plots would remain at Rs 50,000 per sq yard as no sites could be sold during the last auction. In case of residential sites, GMADA would be auctioning only seven sites in Sector 71. Besides, an HIG house in Sector 48 would be put under the hammer at a reserved price of Rs 60 lakh. Officials in GMADA said in light of December last year’s auction at Chandigarh, the sites in Mohali were expected to fetch high prices.
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Realty scene hots up in
Mohali
Chandigarh, January 21 However, what distinguishes The Courtyard, five ranges of villas by the Premium Acres Infratech Private Limited, is its price tag - Rs 41.8 lakh for a duplex villa spread over an area of 192 square yards - which the promoters claim to be the most-economical in Chandigarh's periphery. “With the construction-linked payment plans, we are going to deliver the dwelling units in 18 months,” managing director Sanjay Jain said. With Chandigarh going out of the reach of the common man in the backdrop of the skyrocketing prices during the auction in December last year, the TDI City offers answer to the housing needs of the common man, the promoters said. The Copper Villa, priced at Rs 41.8 lakh, has three bedrooms, drawing-dinning, kitchen and two toilet bathrooms on the ground floor and single bedroom- cum-study with terrace and balconies on the first floor,
Amit, director of the firm, said. As compared to Chandigarh, large-sized plots in Mohali offered scope for better world-class designs and state-of-the-art amenities. Since the architecture controls were less stricter than in Chandigarh, the dwelling units were more user-friendly in Mohali. That’s perhaps the reason that the major realtors were developing residential and commercial projects in Mohali, observers added. “Despite proposed projects in several peripheral towns, including Zirakpur, Dera Bassi and
Kharar, the Mohali township still retain its charm for the realty developers on account of its strategic location and proximity to the Chandigarh," Amarjit Singh, a property consultant
added.
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HUDA gives nod to install security gates
Panchkula, January 21 In the wake of the sharp rise in crime in the township, including thefts, robberies, auto lifting and snatchings,
the RWAs had made several representations to the authority seeking it permission
to install the entry gates. An analysis conducted by the Panchkula police claimed that in the locality of Sector 6, where such gates had been installed, as well as in the housing
societies of Sector 20 such crimes were found to be negligible despite the fact that the township remained in the headlines for its spiraling crime during recent years. When contacted, HUDA estate officer Satbir Singh Saini, while confirming a policy on installing entry gates had been drawn up by the authority, said all proposals in this regard would be forwarded
to a three-member committee consisting of the local deputy commissioner, superintendent of police and the HUDA estate officer. “The panel will look into the viability of the gates based on the points suggested by the applicants”, he added.
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LIC employees observe strike
Chandigarh, January 21 Employees working in the city’s divisional office and its 21 local and mofussil branch units observed strike, on a call given by the by AIIEA to protest against the inordinate delay in settling up of the wage revision which became due on August 2007. The employees gathered before the divisional office in Sector 17-B and raised slogans against the negative attitude of the LIC management and the Central government which was proving to be a stumbling block in the settlement of the wage revision. The rally was presided over by Brij Lal, Divisional President. He apprised the employees that the LIC management had called all unions on November 3, 2009, and offered a wage revision of 17.5 per cent, which was rejected.
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Two trailers carrying sand impounded
Mohali, January 21 The SHO, Nayagaon, said the trailers had been confiscated and fine had been imposed as per the provisions of the relevant forest Act. The action was taken on a complaint filed by the Kharar range officer concerned. In connection with the quarrying, block officer Karnail Singh had been placed under suspension. It has been alleged that the official failed to check quarrying in the area. Limited staff and pressure from politically connected person was preventing the forest department from strictly enforcing the ban on the illegal operation Meanwhile, investigations in the assault case on the forest guard, Devinder Singh, by the Nayagoan police has revealed new facts in the case. Name of some other persons are expected top crop up in the coming days. The identification parade of the suspects is to be carried out by the police as the investigations in the case are being monitored by DIG, Patiala range, AS Asthana. The CCF, Hills, Jatinder Sharma, said the department was monitoring the case.
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For Rs 100, indoor patients to get medicines
Panchkula, January 21 Till now the attendants of the indoor patients have to shuttle between the
hospital and markets arranging the medicines prescribed the doctor for the patient. To avail the facility the patients belonging to general category, however, will have to shell out Rs 100 only. The facility is already available free of cost for poor patients. Informing about the facility to be introduced as indoor package, medical superintendent Dr VK Bansal said the indoor patient remained under constant observation of doctors and as per the condition doctors prescribed the medicines and sometimes the attendants had to go many times to purchase the prescribed medicines. Now onwards the attendants could avail the indoor package. The state government has already launched a free treatment for OPD patients, emergency cases, patients of eye ailments and gynaecological problems. Even emergency packages launched in July last year have been available free of cost for the BPL card holders and urban slum dwellers.
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Hearing on Rathore’s plea on Feb 8
Chandigarh, January 21 The CBI special magistrate had convicted Rathore on December 21, 2009, for molesting Ruchika Girhotra and had sentenced him to six months’ rigorous imprisonment (RI). In his application filed yesterday in the sessions court, Rathore said the application was earlier filed six years back at the Ambala Sessions Court. Rathore he had been implicated in the case. He had alleged that Madhu Parkash had fabricated an affidavit, accusing him of molesting Ruchika and harassing her family. The trail court had, however, dismissed the same stating that the application after his conviction had become null and void.
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44 get key to a bright future
Chandigarh, January 21 The Mayor congratulated the beneficiaries and advised them to be particular while repaying the loan, distributed by Punjab National Bank. Dr Sunkaria congratulated the beneficiaries for getting their loans and wished them good luck. He told the beneficiaries that they should pray to god for good earnings on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami.He advised them to pay their their instalments in time and save their earnings through a monthly deposit scheme of the
bank. TPS Phoolka, Joint Commissioner, Bhagat Ram, project coordinator, Swaran Jayanti Shastri Rozgar
Yojna, and AS Gupta, circle officer, Punjab National Bank, along with other loan beneficiaries, were present on the occasion.
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School ground turns into pool of dirty water
Zirakpur, January 21 Schoolteachers and students said the nearby residents were throwing dirty water from temporary sewerage outlets in the ground. They had approached area residents and the village sarpanch on the issue, but to no avail. A schoolteacher, Neelam
Rani, said the stagnant water emanated foul smell and was a breeding ground for water-borne diseases. Another teacher said the stagnant water turned into a pool and it was difficult to bring students out on a sunny day.
Sarpanch of Dyalpura village Baljit Singh claimed that they had cleaned the ground on numerous occasions. He said the panchayat would tell the nearby residents not to throw the dirty water on the school premises.
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BPL families to get Smart Cards from tomorrow
Chandigarh, January 21 All cardholders taking the ration from M/s Arihant Provision Store and M/s Mool Chand Jagdish Rai, both depot holders at Sector 25, are requested to be present at the venue on these days. Those taking rations from these stores would be photographed on the occasion. The administration has selected HCL as system integrator for the implementing the smart card project. The company has already started entering the data of the existing below poverty line ration cardholders in the city.
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Rodrigues exhorts ragpickers to educate children
Chandigarh, January 21 General Rodrigues enquired about their well being and exhorted them to educate their children. He even told them to avail the benefits of schemes being implemented by the Chandigarh Social Welfare Department. Earlier, Jean Rodrigues visited a senior citizens home and met all of its inmates. Later, she visited Government Girls Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, and distributed sweaters among children of AIE
centres.
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‘Forced’ Retirement at PEC Sumedha Sharma Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 21 It may be noted that RR Singh, an assistant professor at PEC, who was found to have fudging travelling bills for reimbursement was “compulsorily retired” from the college in January. He was declared guilty in an inquiry marked three years ago, following a complaint filed by the Ruchika case crusader Anand Prakash. Following his retirement, the SC/ST/OBC Welfare association of PEC approached the UGC alleging the inquiry to be biased and accusing the director of acting against norms. Reacting to their representation, the commission on January 19, upheld that the director of PEC had not followed the established procedure and violated the bylaws while charge sheeting and punishing the professor. It maintained that the arbitrary decision of director indicated his attitude to be biased. “An attempt was made by the then director Vijay Gupta in collision with Chander Mohan, director, board of governors, to change reservation policy for the SC/ST in contravention to the undertaking and subsequent conditions for grant of deemed university status. The commission has conducted a detailed inquiry with the help of independent academics. The committee report was sent for follow up to the institute. The Chandigarh administration had concurred with the findings and assured action accordingly, but nothing has been done so far. It appears that the director has exceeded his delegated authority and violated all norms as Dr Singh was appointed by the UT administration and thus, no disciplinary action can be taken against him without its approval,” read the letter.
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Earn while you learn
Chandigarh, January 21 Part of the Better Group’s endeavour for fostering better academia-industry relationship, the students will earn money along with their studies while working on live projects, Manmohan K Garg, CEO of Gurukul Vidyapeeth said this while launching the programme. He said the need of the hour was to bridge the gap between industry and academia and he hoped that the programme would work as an interface between the students and the corporate world. IK Kataria, managing director, Gurukul Vidyapeeth, while underlining the importance of research projects in academics, said industry exposure to the students from the beginning would go a long way in their professional life. Desh Raj Thakral, director of Trust, Gurukul Vidyapeeth, urged the students to put their heart and soul into the projects that would provide them training besides, meeting their financial needs. While 60 per cent revenue would be distributed among the students, the rest would be used for bearing the expenses for these projects, Garg added.
— TNS
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Seminar on women’s rights
Chandigarh, January 21 Aradhna, who is fighting to get justice for Ruchika, was one of the key speakers. An informal interactive session was conducted and chaired by Prof Malkit Kaur, from Punjabi University, Patiala. “Respect and dignity is women’s foremost right, it’s being violated at every step. We must take a
stand for our rights,” said Madhu Prakash. Prof HS Bhatti chaired the following session and Dr Anjuman Bhaskar, Prof Reicha Tanwar, Prof Suman Gupta, Dr Nilika Mehrotra and Jaswinder Kaur made interesting presentations.
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Seminar on new mgmt modules
Chandigarh, January 21 “The ISBF has been established to impart quality education with international recognition in the area of economics, management and finance. Keeping in line with its basic objectives, the ISBF offers a range of programmes across the spectrum of business and finance. The programmes are modern, innovative and flexible with the option of distance learning for selected few. These courses have been designed to meet the emerging demands of the industry and reflect innovative and exciting developments in the world of business globally,” maintained the institute representatives.
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Moti Ram School first in singing contest
Panchkula, January 21 As many as seven teams from different schools participated in the competition and Moti Ram Public School secured the first position and won the Rajdeep Pundir Memorial Trophy. Doon Public School and Blue Bird Public School were second and third, respectively. Veteran classical vocalist Amrit Mohan led the panel of judges. Sangam president Col IJ Ahluwalia (retd) welcomed the chief guest Anudeep Kumar. Vocal recitals by classical maestro Debhanjan Haldar and Vartika Bhatnagar were the highlight of the event. Brig Surendra Mohan gave away prizes while Col BM Talwar and educationist PS Serai, director of Satluj Public School, addressed the audience.
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MPhil students stage protest
Chandigarh, January 21 Protesting against the university’s decision of asking them to vacate hostels, the students asserted that the university postponed their exams last year from January to May, which led to the delay in getting their thesis completed. The students demanded that the hostel vacation orders should be stayed until the time their course got
over. PUSU president Simranjit Singh Dhillon said the authorities had been made clear about the situation and they would decide upon the same in a day or a two.
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