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Heat wave claims 2 lives
Keshav, a student of a private school in the colony, fainted during the morning assembly yesterday. School officials promptly informed his parents who took him to General Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32, where he succumbed to hyperthermia (excessive heat) within hours of being admitted there. Meanwhile, the body of an unidentified man who appeared to be aged above 50 years was found on a road opposite the entry to the railway station today evening. A police team arrived at the scene after receiving information about a group of onlookers having assembled there. Sources close to the police said the exact reason for the man’s death would be ascertained only after the postmortem was conducted. However, preliminary investigations indicated his death had occurred due to a heat stroke, the sources added. It may be noted that given the steadily rising temperatures schools in the city were issued an advisory to minimize the adverse effects of the heat wave. While government schools have made slight changes in their morning and evening shifts, private schools are considering a move to conclude classes by 1 pm. Morning assemblies and physical education periods have been suspended and students are being restrained from going to school grounds during the recess period. “Teachers should try to keep students confined to the classrooms. We have already decided to make changes in the timings of government school and would suggest that private schools should follow suit. The teachers have also been asked to advise students on various precautions to be taken during this weather and keep a track on children who appear too uncomfortable or ill,” district education officer Chanchal Singh said.
Late-night drizzle brings relief Chandigarh, April 18 Light rain, coupled with thunder and lightening, were witnessed in several parts of the city, including Sectors 29, 30, 31 and adjoining areas. People were seen coming out of their homes to enjoy and witness the drizzle, even as it was not enough to bring down the rising temperature.
School timings changed
Chandigarh, April 18 A slight change has also been made to the school timings with the morning shift being scheduled from 7:15 am to 1pm and evening shift from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm.—
TNS
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City sizzled during day
Chandigarh, April 18 The maximum temperature went up to 42.6°C yesterday, eight degrees above normal. The minimum was 24.3°C, six degrees above normal. Met officials said it was just a matter of time before the maximum crossed the 44-degree Celsius mark. The weatherman predicted a partly cloudy sky tomorrow, with the possibility of thundery development. The maximum temperature was likely to rise to 43°C. The minimum was likely to be 27°C. A meteorological official said, “We have been witnessing clear, and resultantly, quite warm days. A western disturbance has been affecting Jammu and Kashmir and the desert in Rajasthan at present, and its immediate consequence is an increase in temperature.” Said Rachna
Jindal, a bank employee, “It is unbelievable how hot it has become. My children are thankfully over with examinations and are not going to school, but are stuck at home because it is so hot in the afternoon.” The unrelenting heat wave in the city had already claimed two lives, according to doctors at the
PGI. They said two or three cases of heat stroke were being referred to doctors daily. Wearing caps and light and porous clothes and opting for full sleeves, which could block sun rays, were recommended.
Surender Paul, regional meteorological director, said less rain and snowfall in the northern region, leading to dry and hot westerly winds, were responsible for the prevailing conditions. He added that residents should get ready for higher temperatures.
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Raw sewage makes life hell for residents
Mohali, April 18 About 48 million gallons per day of sewage from different sectors of Chandigarh flows down daily to the treatment plant, located in Sector 66, Mohali, through an underground network of pipes moving from north to south. “The moment the sewage is discharged from the Diggian treatment plant, its nuisance becomes quite obvious. At times the stinking water enters industrial plots in the area. The dark colour and smell of the sewage is enough to show it has not been treated”, pointed out Prabhjot Singh Sandhu, president of the Mohali Chamber of Industry & Commerce, based in Industrial Area in Phase 9. Though MC officials have denied that untreated sewage is being discharged from the Diggian plant, the fact is that due to the ongoing upgradation of the plant a large quantity of untreated sewage was being passed through the machinery and was being discharged near the plant’s southern boundary. The sewage then flows through an open drain through the Phase 9 Industrial Area before being used by farmers to irrigate vegetable crops in Papri and other nearby villages. A visit to the area exposes the truth. The moment sewage flows into the treatment plant through two pipes it is bifurcated into two parts - one goes to the plant and the other is straightway bypassed and discharged near the plant’s boundary. “With residential areas, schools and industrial plots coming up near the treatment plant, the pungent and stifling smell from the plant has made our lives miserable”, said Amardeep Sharma, an industrialist living near the plant. Several other industrialists in Phase 9 pointed out that a channel built by the MC to carry the sewage from the plant up to agricultural fields was full of silt and the water often seeped into industrial plots. Chandigarh MC executive engineer VK Garg said the civic body had made arrangements to bring a 66 kV power line from the Punjab State Electricity Board to the site to make the entire plant machinery operational. Karunesh Garg, an environmental engineer with the Punjab Pollution Control Board, said there were reports of the Diggian plant discharging untreated sewage. “We are soon going to collect samples of the sewage to measure the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels”, he added. Toxic sewage being sold to unsuspecting villagers The Chandigarh MC is in fact making money by selling the untreated sewage, which is highly toxic, to hundreds of unsuspecting farmers in the area. After the sewage is carried through a small canal, the civic body — through a contractor — sells the water to landowners at the rate of Rs 200 per acre for a period of six months. In the process the contractor earns around Rs 70,000 annually from the farmers. The farmers, while paying for the waste matter out of their own pockets, believe they are being sold tertiary water
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PU told to upgrade labs, libraries
Chandigarh, April 18 The team members pointed out that the university, which aims at attaining global research excellence, first needed to upgrade its existing facilities. It underlined the quality of renovation Repeated attempts to contact PU vice chancellor RC Sobti proved futile as he was reportedly out of town and, according to the respondent on his landline, would be available tomorrow morning only. Meanwhile, university registrar SS Bari refused to say anything much other than that the university had got the ‘purse money’ and was already on its way to improve things. The team members also expressed their dissatisfaction with the state of libraries in a number of departments, sources said. It was found that certain departments did not have a proper library of their own and many were not even updated regularly. In fact, a member remarked that “upgradation of the varsity’s entire infrastructure was The task force, constituted by the human resource & development ministry to look into the university’s financial requirements, will submit its report by April 20. Sources said members of the group had given enough indication they would recommend increased grants for PU. It is also learnt the task force is likely to make recommendations with regard to needed changes in the mode of managing the varsity’s financial matters in particular. Also, the role of the vice chancellor, senate and syndicate might be refined, particularly with regard to financial powers, the sources added.
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DAV College Firing Incident
Chandigarh, April 18 The police claimed to have recovered a country-made pistol “katta” from the accused. In charge of the crime branch of the Chandigarh Police inspector Charanjit Singh Virk said acting on a tip-off, a police team laid a picket near Maloya village and apprehended the accused travelling in a Maruti Zen car (CH 03 F 4878). The accused have been identified as Gagandeep Singh of Ballomajra village in Mohali and Ramandeep Singh of Sector 38-West. Gagandeep is II year student of DAV College, while his friend is class 12 th pass. They had studied together in a private school in Mohali. Virk said the police had seized a .12 bore katta from Gagandeep Singh, which the latter told the police that he had bought from Uttar Pradesh for Rs 1800. The police has also impounded the Maruti Zen car. Gagandeep told the police that he had an old enmity with Harsher Singh and his friend Ravneet Sidhu, a student of a private college in Landran. Ravneet had a fight in the college during the 2006-07 session, when Gagandeep was pursuing his BCA there. A case of attempt to murder was registered against Ravneet and his friends, in which Gagandeep was a witness. Sidhu had been pressurising him not to give evidence against him. Sidhu, along with Harsher, came to his residence in his village in Ballomajra on April 12 and fired shots, in which his father was critically injured. He said he had attacked Harsher that day to take revenge, said police. About the katta, he told the police that he had gone to attend a marriage in Uttar Pradesh, where he met a person, who helped him in getting the katta from Bilaspur on his reference. The police said the accused would be produced before a local court tomorrow.
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Zirakpur-Lalru a ‘killer stretch’
Zirakpur, April 18 The Chandigarh-Ambala national highway has become a major cause of worry for the local administration. As even after the four-laning of this highway, there has been no respite from the increasing number of accidents on this stretch. According to official records, a sum of about Rs 298 crore was spent by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on the four-laning of this 35-km long highway. At several points village link roads open to the highway, which are accident prone. It is here that fast-moving traffic collides with vehicles coming from the link roads. Till now the NHAI has not provided any slow carriageway along the highway. Police sources claim that everyday at least one or two accidents occur on the roads, especially on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway where minor accidents are routine affair. In Zirakpur, 22 accidents were reported in the last three months in which 10 persons were killed, including 8 men and 2 women. Last year, 61 accidents were reported where 26 persons died, including 20 men, five women and one child. In 2008, around 48 accidents occurred in which 27 persons were killed and 21 were injured. In 2007, the police registered 45 accident cases in which 26 persons killed and 19 were injured. In 2006, the Zirakpur police registered 89 road accidents. In Dera Bassi police station, 10 accidents were reported in the past three months, in which six persons were killed, including five men and one woman. Last year, 53 mishaps were reported in which 35 persons lost their lives. A total of 37 accident cases were reported in 2008, in which 22 persons were killed, including 21 men and one child. As per the information provided by the Lalru police station, in the past three months 23 accidents had occurred in which 11 persons were killed while 12 were injured. Last year, 50 accidents were reported in which 30 persons were killed, including 28 men and two women. Around 104 persons were injured in road accidents.
Accident-prone areas
Police post at entrance of Zirakpur, near sales tax barrier; takeoff point of the Zirakpur flyover; a farmhouse at Singhpura, link road to Chatt village; Bhankarpur bridge; takeoff point of Dera Bassi flyover; and Chhat village bus stand on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway
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A walk down heritage lane
Chandigarh,April 18 On reaching the concluding point, a cleanliness drive was held, where all the students and participants cleaned the surroundings of the Rock Garden. Later, all participants were welcomed by students of Carmel Convent School, Sector 9, who gave a thrilling live band performance at the venue. Besides, around 400 students participated in the extempore quiz conducted as a part of walk in the Phase III of the Rock Garden. To impart awareness on heritage, the students of Caramel Convent conducted a talk show on and quiz on heritage. The Chandigarh Tourism and STEPS also exhibited the art work of Le Corbusier at the Rock Garden.
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Watch out for touts cashing your foreign dreams
Both, students wishing to study overseas and their parents who are required to spend considerable amount need to beware of unscrupulous agents, spread all over the region, and assuring admission in foreign universities. The caution comes in wake of many countries tightening visa regimes for those whose real motive is only 'Permanent Residency'. A correctional mode has been introduced by Australia and the UK, in particular, recently. The USA already has in place a rigid selection criterion of allowing entry of 'genuine' students, only. From the past several decades, touts promising foreign land to youngsters, have become an accepted part of our life, particularly, in this part of the region. Their numbers multiplied several times, particularly during the past five odd years when easy entry for diploma courses, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, opened the flood gates for students. A review of student entry norms by different countries has lead to closure of a large number of admission shops. At least two of the local agents of foreign universities have closed their shops. Both have turned property dealers. The wake up call gains importance in the context that a number of touts who had emerged on scene, during the past less than a decade, are a fast diminishing community. In a last minute bid to make a little extra cash, a number of parents and students are being asked to shelve out heavy cash "urgently" with "admission ensured" abroad. Unaware about the changed scenario and stricter norms in place, a number of people continue to fall easy prey to the hawks eyeing the mouse of money. In a small example, there has been a more than 50 per cent downfall in the number of students going to Australia, from Punjab, in the last approximately six months. Close to 20 vocational colleges, there, have already shut down, after declaring bankruptcy. Easy entry for students in small inconsequential courses like cookery, auto mechanics, hospitality and community services, besides certain others, opened flood gates. These students were in the category of those wanting to go abroad only to settle down. A large section of these students were struggling it out with the touts, agents and the governments for a 'Permanent Residency' card. Caught up in the web of heavy rush and related problems in wake of the illegal rush, foreign countries are currently in a corrective mode. The newly placed checks, introduced by certain Western governments, have upset the business juggernaut of number of institutions. These colleges were growing largely in the hope of expanding future markets based on the current strength. Unable to meet the expenses in wake of the dwindling number of students, many have shut there shops. It is pertinent to mention that the changed scenario will not mean any trouble for the genuine students. Students wishing to study in mainstream and well established universities have always followed the strict procedure, even in the past. Australia
In a signal to gullible students seeking an easy entry into Australia which had emerged as a hub of going abroad, a little more than five years back, the Australian government has tightened the noose over fraudulent entries, recently. The Australian Migration and Visa Policy Division in a letter dated December 2009 pointed out that "a forensic analysis of applications conducted by Immigration officers at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi has found extremely high rates of fraud within the documentation being provided in support of student visa application, with many of these cases containing numerous fraudulent documents. " It has also been pointed out that "application quality has unfortunately fallen in India which has caused a further fall in the approval rates. In simple numbers 40 per cent of the student visa applicants were refused visa for the term 2009-2010. Only 50 per cent were granted the permission. The rejection rate last was only 6.5 per cent in 2008-2009 and even lesser in the preceeding years. The highest number of student visa applications are from, either, Gujarat or Punjab. The living cost component of the student visa has been increased from A$ 12000 dollars per annum to A$ 18000 per annum from, the current year onwards. Easy law led to hundreds finding an easy entry in Australia. A process of restructuring has commenced last year which has led to a massive decrease in the offshore students.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has taken a lead in putting a leash on the easy norms, in the name of education. The UK has banned entry for simple diploma courses. The government has divided its institutions into two broad categories of Highly Trusted sponsor license and Trusted License. The 'Trusted License' group, in turn, has two categories, out of which 'B' category institutes are not allowed admissions, from overseas, at all. Publicly funded institutions that were deemed to hold a Highly Trusted sponsor license on April 6, 2010 are now listed as 'Highly Trusted' on the Tier 4 register of sponsors, pending their application for a Highly Trusted sponsor license. If they do not apply by June 30, 2010, they will lose this status and will be unable to access the Highly Trusted sponsor benefits from July 1, 2010.
United States of America
As a personal choice, USA remains on top of student preference of going abroad for studies. Entry into professional courses, in reputed universities, remains on top of the applicant's agenda. Formation of the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC), signaled a fresh the entry of USA in the foreign student recruitment market. The non-profit organization has underlined a very strict selection criterion to its hand-picked agents.
New Zealand
The number of applications for a New Zealand visa by students has also fallen considerably. Against the figure of more than 4000, annually, during the last about five years, the number has fallen to less than half. One big reason for the fall in number of application is there are comparatively lesser job openings in New Zealand than expected. Students expecting Canada
The general notion of strict Canadian norms for entry on student visa holds true, largely. The papers including letter from college or university, financial support documents and a tight interview are important aspects, even before applying. The very high number of rejection letters for student visa, here, shows strict control. Checklist for applicants l
How old is the institution? l
How successful is the institute with the local students? l
Is it offering a range of cours es across the board or just a handful of PR related courses? l
Which university or award ing body will award the degree at the end of the course?
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Dug up 6 months ago, road awaits completion
Area residents said the department concerned was yet to float tenders for the work. They said: “If this was the condition of the Mayor’s ward, one can imagine the fate of other areas of the city.” Area resident Asim Jain, a chartered accountant, rued that the internal road of the sector was dug up in October 2009 for widening. He said the authorities were yet to float tenders for its carpeting. He added that ideally a road is immediately carpeted after laying of gravel and mud. Area residents alleged that the work on inner roads was initiated without informing them. The cars that were parked on the ramps of houses could not be moved and those standing outside could not be parked inside the houses, they said. The pits are as deep as around 1.5 feet. The department is shifting storm water pipes and the holes dug up for it have not been covered, which can cause mishap any time.
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Eight cases of burglary solved
Chandigarh, April 18 A Class VIII passout, he had taken training in assembling computers. He stole computers, computers parts or cash from offices at Phases I and II in Industrial Area. He had connections in the Sector 22 computer market to dispose of stolen articles. Hailing from Uttarakhand, Hayat had reportedly been disowned by his family. He told the police that he committed thefts alone and after a time gap to avoid being caught. The police had believed that the modus operandi suggested the involvement of more than one person. Investigating officer Charanjit Singh said Hayat disclosed during interrogation that he would look out for offices having a number of computers and tin-sheet roofs. He would scale the building and remove the roof to lower himself with a rope. He never broke a lock and avoided main entry points. DSP (South) Jaswant Singh Khaira said the police arrested the accused, who was an undertrial in a case of theft and cheating registered against him in 2007, from Ram Darbar. During interrogation, he admitted to have committed approximately 20 thefts. He remain on police remand till April 21. The police had recovered stolen articles in eight incidents so far.
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Tendulkar’s compliment floors hotel staff When Sachin Tendulkar praises a ‘sarkari’ hotel, it is natural for government ‘babus’ to go to town with it. Hotel Mountview, Sector 10, which hosted all Indian Premier League teams, had this pleasant surprise recently. “Great hospitality and delicious food,” the one-liner from Tendulkar in the hotel register, seems to have floored the hotel staff, yet to come to terms with the rare compliment. “Though Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Yusuf Pathan and Nita Ambani have given nice comments for our hospitality and service, for us, the five words of appreciation from Tendulkar is just like a treasure,” claimed an official. ‘Shraddh’ gain A police officer called up the in charge of a police post, asking him to deliver meals for 30 persons, as his wife was throwing a kitty party to her friends (wives of police officials). The subordinate did as he was told. After thanking his subordinate for the service, the officer said his wife and her friends relished the food, adding that now on, it would be his duty to deliver the food at kitty parties in the future. Not in a position to say no to his superior, the subordinate told him that he would be able to do so only if they fixed the date after consulting him. The reason, according to a colleague, was that the food was procured from the businessman who was performing the ‘shraddh’ of his father. Settling scores
If you thought that only a fraction of teachers at Panjab University are hesitant to get evaluated, you are wrong. It was during a conversation with a few students of a science department on Saturday that a correspondent discovered that students were equally scared to judge teachers. The reason was that in a class of six postgraduate students, a teacher was not just aware of the handwriting of each student, but had favourites. There were departments, particularly offering degree with honours, with internal marking and the teacher was the final authority on any marksheet, who could decide on marks to be awarded. “We dare not write anything against the teacher. Each time we make an effort to protest against a non-performing teacher, all six students in our class get the lowest possible internal score,” said a student of MSc-II.
Tapping clients
By next week, expensive cars and sports utility vehicles will have many takers in six villages in the periphery of Mohali as the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority is all set to disburse land compensation at the rate of Rs 1.50 crore an acre. Representatives of financial institutions and car dealers have already been making rounds of villages for prospective clients. Some banks have put up tents at villages to announce their investment schemes. Contributed by Akash Ghai, Ramanjit Singh Sidhu, Neha Miglani and Rajmeet Singh
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‘Live healthy, save heart’
Chandigarh, April 18 Dr Gupta said, “Coronary artery diseases have been growing in epidemic proportions and instead of opting for interventions like by-pass angioplasty, which a lot of people cannot afford, people should be encouraged to adopt a holistic and healthy lifestyle that can actually help in the reversal of coronary diseases.” “We have systematically followed up some 1,500 patients in eight years. These patients were inducted into the coronary artery diseases regression project and encouraged to follow the holistic and healthy lifestyle programme that we have formulated. Repeated angiographies done on these patients have shown a highly significant regression of coronary blockages, with even some of the calcified blockages having opened up,” Dr Gupta said. “In today’s competitive environment, most people tend to exhibit Type A behaviour - they go through bouts of anxiety, anger, depression, emotional outbursts and feeling of isolation. These psychological stressors affect one’s diet and sleep patterns and do a lot of damage to the heart,” he added.
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Post-Bangalore, security beefed up in city
Chandigarh, April 18 Special check points are being installed in various parts of the city and deployment has been increased at market places and important installations. Police officials have been instructed to carry out searches in colonies, hotels, inns, guest houses and other such places. An eye is being kept on visitors to the city and the luggage of passengers is being checked at the bus termini in Sectors 17 and 43. The police has set up 516 internal, static and mobile pickets, 234 outer and static pickets and 130 control room checkpoints since April 14. Last night, the police set up special checkpoints, in which all sub-divisional police officers, DSP (Police Lines), DSP (WACSU), DSP (Crime), DSP (PCR and Communications), DSP (Traffic), all station house officers and those in charge of police posts participated under the supervision of SSP SS Srivastva.
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Admn officials inspect N-choe
Chandigarh, April 18 The committee will explore whether a sewage treatment plant at the site (Kajheri) would serve the purpose or the administration needed to work out a separate sewage disposal structure for Kajheri and adjoining areas, reliable sources said. A special team, including Additional Commissioner, PK Sharma, Senior Standing Counsel, Sanjay Kaushal, XEN (Horticulture), and representatives of Public Health from the UT Administration and Municipal Corporation, separately, visited the entire length of the choe to make necessary recommendations and the matter for case presentation before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on April 21, reliable sources said. It may be remembered that the team was constituted following a series on the pitiable condition of the N-Choe by Chandigarh Tribune from April 6 to April 9. It has been recommended that a pump will be installed at Sector 3 to pump the standing water, if any. The bridges on V3 roads, along the choe, will be covered by iron-meshed wires to prevent public from dumping waste in the choe.
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Husband, brother-in-law held
Chandigarh, April 18 SHO of the Sector-34 Police Station Udeypal Singh said the police had earlier registered a case of dowry death under Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code on a statement recorded by the victim’s brother Anil Sharma, a resident of Jind. Anil alleged that Pawan, owner of a tyre repair shop at Burail, his mother Shanti Devi and other family members had been harassing his sister, mother of a three-year-old daughter, for dowry. They misbehaved with her several times and she informed them on phone that she was in trouble. Anil further alleged that Pawan, along with Partap and his mother, forced his sister to consume poison. However, later the investigation hinted that the charges levelled by Anil failed to support the allegations. The police subsequently invoked Sections 306 of the IPC (abetment to suicide) and 498 (dowry harassment) in the case, said the SHO. Anil was not furnishing proper details about the marriage, as he wanted to get a case of dowry death registered against the accused, for which there is a seven-year limit from the date of marriage. The police verified the record and found that the marriage was solemnised eight years ago. The police said they received information from the Sector-32 Government Medical College and Hospital yesterday that a woman was admitted to the hospital in connection with a poisoning case. The police rushed to the hospital, but the doctors declared the victim unfit to record her statement. Later, the victim died around 9:30 pm. The SHO said during the probe it was found that a neighbour had informed Pawan that his wife was not well. He reached home and took her to the hospital and informed her family in Jind about the incident. The police also found that though the couple used to fight several times, Urmila had never lodged any dowry harassment complaint. The SHO said the victim had left no suicide note, but investigations were on to prove the charges.
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Laying of Storm Water Drain
Panchkula, April 18 He said that the rainwater got accumulated on the road as the storm water drain passing through the area had been blocked. He claimed that the department had laid the cement pipes about 5 years ago at a cost of about Rs 40 lakh. The residents said that now the new drain was being laid at a cost of about Rs 45 lakh. They said that the level of the drain was about 2 feet above the road and the area was likely to be submerged in rainwater, as there was no entry point for the water to enter the channel. They said that the drain had been connected to the nearby Singh Nullah and there was possibility of floodwater in the nullah pushing back the water through the drain, which could cause considerable damage not only to household goods but also their houses, they added. They said even the surface of the drain had not been plastered so that water could pass through the drain smoothly. They alleged that the contractor was now trying to cover the drain without completing the formalities in order to get their payments. They urged the district administration for holding a probe besides fixing the responsibility of the officials concerned for the faulty design of the drain. However, the XEN Preet Mohan Singh refuting the allegations of the residents said that there was no fault with the storm water design. He said rainwater would not accumulate on the road, as it would enter the drain. Another resident SK Sukhija, whose house is also close to the drain, said that he had to shell out Rs 14,000 for the repair of his car as it got stuck in the water that had flooded the area during the previous monsoon. He said the storm water drained out only after the water level on the nearby road went down. He said that when they took up the matter with the SDO concerned supervising the construction, the latter said that there was no fault with the design and the height would automatically come to the level of the road.
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Absence of fire station
Panchkula, April 18 The district only has one fire station situated in Sector 5, which is over 30 km from these towns. Recently, a showroom of a scooter company in Pinjore, about 10 km from here, was gutted and the owner of the showroom had suffered loss worth Rs 50 lakh. Even though the only fire tender from the nearby HMT company reached the scene within no time, it had a tough time controlling the blaze. The fire was brought under control only after fire tenders from Panchkula arrived at the scene. Last year, some farmers of the Barwala block had suffered huge losses as their crops were destroyed in fire. BSP leader from Kalka VK Bansal said they had made requests to the district administration for setting up of a fire station in the area. He said the incidents of fire increased in the summer and most villages located in the forest areas were at a greater risk, as it took at least one hour for fire tenders from Panchkula to reach there. Bansal said there was a sub-station with one fire tender around five years ago, but that was later shifted. He said other towns, including Raipur Rani and Barwala, did not have fire stations either. He said the need of a local fire station was greater considering the time it took for a fire tender to reach the remote areas of Raipur Rani block. By the time fire tenders reached the scene, it was already too late. Fire station officer, Sector 5, Ram Pal Dhull said they were prepared to meet any eventuality. He said they had seven fire tenders, including two small vehicles, which could pass through thickly populated areas of towns like Kalka, Raipur Rani or Barwala. He added that five to six incident of fire were reported every day not only in the forest areas of Morni and Kalka, but also in Panchkula. Executive officer KK Jain said after the notification of Panchkula as municipal corporation, they were planning to set up fire stations in Kalka and Raipur Rani blocks of the district. He said it would take about a month or two to take a final shape and whenever the decision was taken the first fire station would come up in Kalka as they had the building and necessary infrastructure to set up the fire station there.
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Research on history of Rajputs advocated
Panchkula, April 18 She said the pen was mightier than the sword in the present modern democratic world and members could project their view if the people were well educated. She said that it was the duty of every woman in the community to educate children, especially girls, who were supposed to manage two families. Rathore said the community, members of which had laid their lives for the freedom of the country, was being projected in a wrong way in films and television serials. She said this could be checked if the community did its own research to highlight the rich cultural heritage of the community. She said she, along with prominent members of the community, had launched a campaign in the state for uniting the Rajput community. Lokinder Singh Kaalsi, a descendant of Maharana Pratap, said no one in the country would be allowed to distort the history of Rajputs.
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Preneet Kaur visits Gazipur village
Zirakpur, April 18 Preneet assured the villagers that their rights would be protected. She urged the Punjab Chief Minister to intervene in the matter. Dipinder Singh Dhillon, former chairman of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation and party in charge of the area, alleged that the Banur MLA failed to defend the rights of villagers.
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Star performer’s late arrival disappoints audience
Chandigarh, April 18 He took the centre stage at 9.30 pm only to perform before a scant audience though his musicians had came too early. After a long wait, Jasmeet, Savan and inmates from Samarath presented a dance. Another upcoming singer Sukhpal Sukhi doled out songs like “Dooba Dooba”, “Inn hawaon mein” and “Tere the marde” from his maiden album, which is yet to be released. Lehmer Hussianpuri presented his hit song “Kehde pind di tu bich pidan de pain patakhe, billian akhan bich rarku je jat bigad gya, jis gal di gaani de, do kudian da joda” and many more, including boliyan. Young organisers, including president Rishi Paratap, secretary Nitesh Singhal, Poorva and Nishant said the programme was a fund raiser and the money would be given to a hospital for the heart surgery of around 304 poor children.
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City ‘leader’ in e-readiness
Chandigarh, April 18 The report has been prepared by the National Council of Applied Economic Researsch (NCAER) for the IT department, Government of India. The report states that in terms of usage and readiness, city has topped Level-1, and is second in terms of the environment index. Chandigarh has effective mechanism for promoting e-Governance and is placed in H1 “Advanced” hierarchy in e-Governance.
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Citizens’ Voice
N-Choe
Chandigarh Tribune conducted a series of exposes on N-Choe from April 6 to 9. These can be viewed on http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100406/chd.htm
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Board results not out yet
Chandigarh, April 18 Not caring much about the Class X board scores, schools have started filling various streams, especially science streams on the basis of pre-board results. Confirming this, Independent Schools Association president HS Mamik said: “All schools have started provisional admissions and even parents seem to be in no mood to wait. As per the CBSE guidelines, no student will be asked to change his/her stream no matter whatever they score in the board exams. With this, the science streams will be full in all major schools and only five per cent of admissions will take place after the results are out. Hence, students should take admission now,” he added. It is important to mention that the move not only flouts the CBSE examination bylaws, but also fails to serve the purpose of the nine-point grading system. The CBSE had introduced the grading system to do away with concepts like “topper”, “average’ and “failure”, etc. Following introduction of the evaluation system in Class X, various schools raised doubts over the allocation of streams in Class XI, as hundreds of students are expected to get the same grades. In response, the CBSE had promised to work out an “average grade system” for admissions, but no progress seems to have been made. But with schools allowing provisional admissions, parents are feeling harassed in absence of a fixed criteria. “My child didn’t score much in his pre-board exams, so his school is not allowing to take up medical stream. If he scores well in the board exams, he will still not be able to get into his preferred stream because he will not be allowed to switch once he takes a provisional admission,” said a parent. “No school is telling us on what basis are they making the provisional admission. The CBSE and the UT administration have turned a blind eye to this and it is the parents who are being harassed,” added another parent.
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Animation course
Chandigarh, April 18
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Chandigarh, April 18
Chandigarh, April 18
