Chandigarh, July 22
Authorities at the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, seemed unmoved by the yesterday’s tragic incident where a woman was forced to deliver her child in the OPD area.

It was business as usual at the gynaecology department today, with no stretchers at the main gate near the labour room.

The long waiting hours at the OPD, the insensitivity of staff at the labour room as well as the OPD, and the harassment of visitors on counters for getting loose change for Rs 2 against registration charges continued unabated.

In the name of action, the authorities had put two stretchers in front of the OPD, even as no stretcher or wheelchair was kept in front of the gate meant for dropping of patients by ambulances.

It was not the first time when a woman had delivered a child in the open at the GMSH, claimed a taxi driver, who ferries patients on a regular basis in his vehicle.

There had been several occasions when women had been forced to deliver their babies at the gate of the gynaecology ward, he said.

“Most a time when women in labour are brought to the hospital, their attendants struggle to find a stretcher and by the time they do fine one inside the hospital, it is too late as the patient has already delivered the child there itself,” he said.

Inquires revealed that the paperwork for women reaching the labour room after OPD hours was completed on the spot. However, those who came in directly during OPD hours were asked to complete their paperwork at the OPD before being admitted to the labour room.

Bulbul had to suffer just because she had reached the hospital around 9 am and had to complete the paperwork on her own. She had to move back and forth even as she was having labour pains.

Attendants of women admitted to the labour room had their own tales of woe. They were often not informed about the condition of their patient, alleged relatives of one such patient. “My sister was admitted on Saturday and we do not yet know the problem she is facing”, rued Naresh, a resident of Dera Bassi.

“‘We are doing our best’ is all the doctors say whenever we try to know the condition of my sister,” he lamented.

The problem of Karan, a resident of Naya Gaon, was no different. “My wife Rambha has been hospitalised since Saturday and no one is willing to tell us when she will be discharged,” he said. “Though doctors have told us to get prepared for surgery, they are not willing to divulge anything else, which has caused panic and confusion within the family,” added Karan.

Chandigarh, July 22
In a shocking revelation, the Chandigarh Industrial & Tourism Development Corp (CITCO), which boasts of revenues soaring every year, “lost” several cash vouchers believed to be worth crores of rupees two years ago. These vouchers, pertaining to the four-year period from 2005 to 2008, were related to purchases, transport and raw materials among other items.

And, what is even more appalling is that even two years after the incident no departmental inquiry has been ordered, let alone responsibility being fixed for the huge loss incurred. CITCO officials continue to sleep over the matter after having written to the police on April 30, 2008 followed by a reminder issued on May 17 the same year.

Sources confirmed neither the police nor CITCO officials had thereafter tried to get to the bottom of the case, which lies buried in the form of a DDR (daily diary report) in old police files.

In fact, the case of the missing vouchers has even baffled the corporation’s employees who wonder how the vouchers were never sought to be produced during the annual audit.

CITCO general manager (finance) Abhimanyu Thapar maintained the police was still investigating the matter and a departmental inquiry had also been ordered at that time, adding the probe had “not revealed much about the missing vouchers”. However, he claimed corporation officials had access to the vouchers’ details in the computer database from which they could be reproduced.

However, this does not answer the basic question about the specifics and worth of each of the vouchers. Indeed till date CITCO officials remain clueless about their details.

Thapar said CITCO was now taking the “utmost care” in dealing with such cash vouchers and had even developed a system wherein no vouchers were kept outside beyond a month’s time to avoid such lapses in the future.

Chandigarh, July 22
Former officials of the Chandigarh administration who worked with the administration during the four-year tenure of Major Nirvikar Singh as the ADC to General SF Rodrigues (retd), former Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator, are also set to come under the CBI scanner.

Some of these officials are already under the investigating agency scanner for their role in several mega projects, currently under investigation. With Maj Nirvikar’s role in the controversial mega projects coming under the CBI scanner, his contemporaries in the administration, besides his other high-profile acquaintances, may be quizzed by the investigating agency to “fill-in” in the gaps in the investigation into the disproportionate assets case against the Army officer, source said here today.

Since Maj Nirvikar’s tenure (2005-2009) coincided with the clearance of the mega projects, including the Film City, the Amusement Park and the mini township Prideasia in the IT Park, the role of other officials would also be probed. The CBI is already probing into the officials’ role in the mega projects for irregularities in the land allotment.

As most of the assets in the real estate in Delhi and Gurgaon had been allegedly bought by the accused between 2007 and 2009, when Nirvikar virtually operated a parallel power centre in Chandigarh, the probe into the mega projects would give an insight into the sources of the investment, the sources claimed.

The CBI had recently booked the high-profile Army officer and his mother Kiran Singh and brother Jagrut Singh on the charges of amassing wealth disproportionate to their known source of income. The accumulated assets were estimated to be worth Rs 9.32 crore, against their earnings of Rs 2.93 crore. Nirvikar’s gross earnings between 1995 and 2010 stood at Rs 40.85 lakh. For his mother, the period taken into account was from 1994 to 2010, while for his brother, it was between 2000 and 2010.

The investigating agency is also seeking sanction for Nirvikar’s prosecution from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Since the former ADC, who is currently on a deputation with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in New Delhi, is a serving Army officer, CBI request may also be routed through Nirvikar’s unit.

Chandigarh, July 22
The six-decade-old storm water sewerage system in the union territory is an antique and totally incapable to handle storm water, as evident from the flooded roads during the ongoing monsoon.

The existing storm system drain comprises a half-inch water pipe, which is capable of catering to a population of only one lakh (in 1961), which has become redundant for a city where the population has crossed 10 lakh.

Every year, waterlogging problems cause long traffic jams and damage roads, causing those to be recarpeted at a considerable cost.

The worst-hit areas due to waterlogging are the low-lying Sectors 20, 21, 22, 24 and 29, where rainwater has been entering houses due to blockage in drainage pipes.

In 2008, the municipal corporation installed a pump to drain out the accumulated rainwater from the residences of high court judges at Sector 24.

In addition, instructions were issued to the fire department to keep round-the-clock watch to drain out the water whenever there was heavy rain.

Some of the major roads that were damaged due to waterlogging or blockage of sewerage during the monsoon were V3 roads at Sectors 28 and 29 and the Industrial Area, the V5 roads at Sector 19 and Kajheri at Sector 52, the roundabouts of Sector 56, the PGI, the Panjab University campus, Sector 49, the railway station, the IT Park area and Funcity, Panchkula.

Traffic snarls had been common through much of the city, especially around major roundabouts and traffic intersections. The worst hit were commuters driving on the Madhya Marg, with traffic getting held up on all roundabouts.

Even the fire department building of the municipal corporation at Sector 11 was surrounded by knee-deep water, forcing fire station officials to use pumps to drain out water last monsoon.

This year, the roads which had only recently been recarpeted at Industrial Area’s Phase II were flooded due to blockage in road gullies.

The condition of parking lots at most sectors, including 15, 17, 20, 36 and 41, where road gullies were blocked due to water, was pathetic and visitors had to face a tough time parking their vehicles.

Chandigarh, July 22
The day-long drizzle in the city and its adjoining areas today made the weather pleasant as the mercury nosedived to a maximum of 29.5 degree Celsius. The day’s minimum temperature was 26.2 degree Celsius, as per the India Meteorological Department.

The weather sprung a surprise this morning as residents witnessed an overcast sky at dawn and soon, clouds converted into a drizzle. The intermittent drizzle, that remained a feature throughout the day, gave the residents ample feeling of a February-end weather in July.

Most importantly, normal life was not disrupted, but rather, residents relished the mood swing of the weather as the temperature hovered around 29 degree Celsius during the entire day.

The humidity was recorded at a maximum of 95 per cent and a minimum of 78 per cent. While office-goers relied on tea and ‘pakoras’ to keep themselves warm, schoolchildren had a tough time.

“I wish we had holidays. We cannot play as the grounds are wet and it is quite sluggish in the classroom. Today I got a little wet waiting for my school bus and enjoyed the drizzle,” said 12-year-old Bhavna.

“The temperature has already dropped so much. I did not feel like going to office due to the rain,” said Ajay Verma, a Sector-32 resident.

A Met official said the day-long drizzle and the dip in temperature was because of rain in almost all parts of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

The weatherman forecast a generally cloudy sky in the region during the next 24 hours, with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. The maximum temperature was expected to hover around 30 degree Celsius and the minimum around 24 degree Celsius.

Panchkula, July 22
Panchkula Municipal Corporation officials had to return without any success when their anti-encroachment drive at Budhanpur village had to face stiff resistance from the residents here today.

The corporation had recently served notices upon many of the villagers asking them to vacate the land, terming it encroachment. On the other hand residents claimed that the said land dispute was settled in their favour in 1986 by the then collector of Kalka.

Corporation employees, led by executive officer of Panchkula MC KK Jain, along with police force and JCB machines, reached the village in the morning. The residents started making announcements on loudspeakers to gather following which hundreds of villagers blocked the entrance to the village.

Meanwhile, the lawyers of the residents reached the spot and showed the documents to the MC officials stating that many of the villagers had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Panchkula district court in this regard. The court had stayed the proceedings of dispossession, they claimed.

Later, the residents met Panchkula Deputy Commissioner Ashima Garg requesting her to intervene in the matter.

Chandigarh, July 22
A Sector-16 resident reportedly fell sick after eating a footlong at a Sector 17-based restaurant here on Sunday evening.

The victim, Anita of Sector 16, lodged a complaint with the police that she began vomitting after eating the footlong, which was infested with fungus.

She mentioned in her complaint two eyewitnesses to the incident, Gurpreet Singh of Sector 23 and Jaspreet Kaur, who were also taking footlong at a table next to her.

Anita also reported the incident to consumer association officials, who took samples. A daily diary report was recorded at the Neelam police post in Sector 17. — TNS

Chandigarh, July 22
"Fill your mind with positive thoughts, emotions, attitudes and happy memories; adopt a low fat and fibre rich diet; go for a brisk morning walk at sunrise and an evening stroll just before sunset." This was the advice of Dr Satish Gupta, a senior consultant in cardiology at the JWM Global Hospital & Research Centre, run by the Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya at Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

Gupta told The Tribune breakthrough innovations in medical technologies have revolutionised advanced cardiac care. “However, expensive, high-end technology is not exactly what an impoverished nation like India, in which over 15 per cent of the adult population suffers from coronary artery diseases (CAD), requires”, he averred.

"CAD has been growing in epidemic proportions and, instead of opting for interventions like bypass angioplasty that a lot of patents cannot afford, people should be encouraged to adopt a holistic and healthy lifestyle that can actually help in the reversal of heart diseases," he says.

Gupta has been engaged in a CAD regression project since 1995. "During the past 12 years we have systematically followed up some 1,200 patients who were inducted into the project and encouraged to follow the ‘holistic and healthy lifestyle’ programme we have formulated. Repeat angiographies done on these patients have shown a highly significant regression of coronary blockages, with even some of the calcified blockages having opened up," he says.

The project, which was undertaken when former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam was director general of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), had won his appreciation.

Gupta informed cholesterol in the bloodstream starts leaking into the arteries when the innermost layer of the arterial walls - the endothelium - is injured. “Until recently it was believed endothelial injuries were related to external causes such as smoking or diet. However, most of the injuries are related to mental stress”, he says.

Endothelium produces nitric oxide that does not allow cholesterol to stick to the walls of the artery. However, stress inactivates the enzyme that produces nitric oxide, with the result that white blood cells and cholesterol floating in the bloodstream begin sticking inside the arteries, creating blockages, Gupta explained.

He said in today's competitive environment and increased work pressures 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.

"We empower our patients to heal themselves - not just the body but the mind and soul too. Peace and health comes when physical, mental and spiritual energies find harmony within our body," Gupta avers.

“Mind is the medium through which energy travels to one's body. The early morning hours are the time when spiritual energy is at its peak. We advise our patients to keep their mind occupied with happy thoughts or just in peaceful silence till 8 am”, he says.

"Today people wake up with their phones to their ears or just switch on the TV, which does more harm for your system that you realize”, he laments. “Too much stress is what prevents the liver from secreting good cholesterol. A very user-friendly programme, it doesn’t even cost a penny to set one's heart on the way to health”, he adds.

A fibre rich diet includes beans, sprouts, psyllium husk (‘sat isabagol’) and salads.

Chandigarh, July 22
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said today that the country was witnessing an era of specialisation in journalism, especially after the advent of electronic media.

Speaking after releasing a book titled “Patkarita, Media Avam Jansanchar” written by Prof Reena Gulati, the Finance minister said with the explosion of knowledge on Internet, the reader was looking for comprehensive knowledge on various subjects and the media was fulfilling that demand by bringing out specialised publications.

He said the last decade had witnessed specialised periodicals on automobiles, mobile phones, computer software, hardware, fashion, sports and games like golf, tennis and chess meeting the demand of different niche markets. He said print media had learnt to survive after the onslaught of electronic media and hoped that people would continue their love for printed word. Appreciating the endeavor of the author to attempt first book in Hindi Journalism covering almost all fields of Mass Communication, Badal said that last five years had seen tremendous growth and proliferation of vernacular newspapers in Punjab and he expected a great future for vernacular press in the country.

Chandigarh, July 22
While the CBSE’s latest “monitoring and mentoring” programme may have become a “hit” with Delhi schools, the project is yet to take off in city schools.

The ambitious project, which was launched around two months back, aimed at bringing renowned and below-average schools at par through judicious implementation of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE).

According to a communication received by the DPI (S), leading schools were to be identified and made mentor of not so good schools in their neighbourhood. The respective principals were to be assigned three to six schools, with which they were supposed to share infrastructure and practices and frequently invite them to their own schools.

“The project is meant to end the subjectivity in the implementation of grading system and reap the full benefit of CCE. “We know that many schools don’t have enough infrastructure to comply with certain directives so we want other schools to help them. These schools will monitor the progress of respective schools. The necessary guidelines have already been sent to all local education authorities,” said a CBSE official from Delhi.

City schools, meanwhile, denied having received any information on the project.

“We are yet to be informed on any such thing. The UT had around a year back started its own programme, where we had adopted some schools but it didn’t go far. We are yet to get any information on this project,” said HS Mamik, president, Independent School Association.

The DPI (S), meanwhile, could not be contacted for his comments.