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Thanks to brawls, Aroma may close down 24-hr eatery
Chandigarh, January 15 “Enough is enough. If people of the city do not know how to behave themselves, we will be forced to close the round-the-clock eatery,” said Manmohan Kohli, owner of the hotel. “With a heavy heart, we are left with no option but to think of closing the eatery at night in the wake of the incidents of violence. The management was already in a dilemma about closing the favourite hangout of the youth that has been providing 24-hour hospitality. The murder has forced us to consider closing the facility,” he said. “The special facility was not being provided to make the eatery a permanent venue for late-night brawls. There have been several incidents of violence here, particularly in the recent past, and a majority involved drunk youth. Aggression is not the answer. We can only take preventive measures,” he added. Twentyeight-year-old Harminder Singh was killed on Thursday night after he got into a violent scuffle with youths as they came for an ice cream at the Aroma coffee shop in Sector 22. The police has arrested seven persons and said the violence occurred at the spur of the moment following a brawl among drunk youths. This is not the first time the city has witnessed violence owing to ruckus by drunk youths. In September last year, 15 youths, with their faces covered and armed with swords, baseball bats and rods, had barged in Tao Lounge in Sector 26 in the wee hours and attacked the staff, guests and bouncers with utmost brazenness. In October last year, assailants struck at Voodoo Lounge and Bar in Sector 26 and fired gunshots into the air in a bid to attack a bouncer.
Weapon recovered
The police on Sunday recovered the baseball bat, which was used to bludgeon Harminder Singh to death, from a house in Sector 22. Based on the interrogation of the arrested accused, the police recovered the bat which was thrown by the accused in the backyard of a house before they fled the scene of the crime. The police said two weapons were used to beat up the youth. “The accused had no intention to kill him, but they beat him up mercilessly resulting in his death,” the police said.
Pvt security not much help
The murder of the 28-year-old youth has raised a question mark on the role of private security agency in the city. A PCR van stationed opposite the hotel failed to prevent the brawl leading to the murder and got moving only when the police control room received a call. The private security hired by the hotel also failed in taking stock of the situation. Two private guards at the parking acted as mute spectators. One of the guards, Dilshaad Ali, called the PCR, but there was little he could do to stop the violence. The hotel authorities said they would spruce up security and deploy more guards. |
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More rain in next 24 hours
Chandigarh, January 15 The city recorded 10.4 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours, taking the total to about 41.5 mm rainfall in the first 15 days of this month compared to 9 mm or less rainfall recorded
during the last five years. In Punjab, Amritsar recorded 17 mm rainfall followed by Ludhiana where it was recorded at 11mm. The weather office has predicted generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. The maximum temperature would be around 15 degrees Celsius and the minimum around 10°C. Hailstorm or thunder squall may occur at isolated places during the next 24 hours, warned the met office. Director met department Surinder Pal said the rainfall in the region was due to the western disturbances in Jammu and Kashmir and cyclonic disturbance over the Punjab area. Situation would improve after 24 hours and there would be decline in rainfall in a couple of days. The night temperatures would also decrease.
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P’kula MC has funds, but won’t spend
Panchkula, January 15 The municipal council was converted into a corporation in August last year. A majority of roads in the town are in a pitiable condition; public parks are in a bad shape; and most streetlights are not functioning. It was in March 2011 that the municipal council proposed an expenditure of a little over Rs 57crore for the development of the town. While Rs 6.50 crore were meant for parks, swings, boundary walls and repairs, Rs 23 crore was to be spent on roads. About Rs 35 lakh was allocated for streetlights. The corporation has been able to spend only Rs 3.5 crore on the proposed works during the last 10 months. The MC Commissioner, Ashima Brar, blamed the infrastructure for the projects not being carried out. A former vice-president of the erstwhile Panchkula municipal council, BB Singhal, alleged it was due to the erosion in the credibility of the corporation in making payments to contractors. “The contractors do not want to take up the work as the payments against their bills had been delayed,” he said. A former president, Ravinder Rawal, said: “Under the existing conditions, the residents should not expect any relief or any work being carried out in the coming year as well.” The problem is worse in the Scheduled Caste wards. Since they had not spent the original amount, they were not entitled for more money from the state. The DC said there was an acute shortage of officials at the higher as well as lower levels in the corporation. There is need for three Joint Commissioners, a Deputy Municipal Commissioner, a Superintending Engineer, five XENs, and at least 33 junior engineers.
Staff crunch
All posts in the engineering branch of the municipal corporation, including municipal engineer, junior engineer and work inspectors, have been lying vacant. The electricity branch has only one official.
Work shelved
The MC had to shelve its development works worth Rs 3 lakh in November when no contractor came forward to take part in the bid. The date of opening the tenders was fixed on November 29 for including repair of parks in various sectors, Mansa Devi Complex, and Industrial Area, Phase I.
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Road mishaps claim maximum lives in India In India, road accidents account for the maximum number of deaths. The World Health Organisation in the ‘Global Status Report on Road Safety’ has pointed out that speeding and drunk driving are the major contributing factors to road mishaps. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the total number of deaths due to road accidents in India every year is over 1, 35,000. The NCRB report also states drunk driving as a major factor. To check these fatal road accidents, there is a dire need to implement road safety measures properly. Though the Ambala truck-van collision apparently occurred as the visibility due to dense fog on the road was low, yet eyewitnesses claimed that both the truck and the van, which incidentally were overcrowded with 30 children against a capacity of 10, were being driven recklessly. Thus the accident must have occurred due to negligence on the part of the drivers and foggy weather conditions. Fog not only reduces visibility, but also impairs judgment. Drivers are unable to distinguish between objects which are moving and those which are motionless. The apex court has already issued 14 guidelines to exercise safety standards, especially for school buses. As per the guidelines, buses should have first-aid boxes, adequate provision for fire extinguishers, speed governors, a list of students with telephone number, fog lights, attendants and drivers should have at least five years of experience. Those, who have already been challaned twice for various violations should not be allowed to drive school buses. It is only after the accidents take place; the authorities concerned awake from a slumber and visit the area, express sympathy, condole the deaths, announce compensation to the bereaved, mark an inquiry and wait for another accident to happen. Suggestions in the enquiry reports are seldom taken care of. There is a greater need to have a will power and restore the image of the enforcement agencies which at present has a sullied and sagging image. SK Khosla, Sector 40C, Chandigarh Violators must be dealt with strictly
It is seen that auto-rickshaws, cabs and buses ferrying children are overloaded. Overloading of passenger vehicles often leads to accidents because a driver cannot keep firm control over the vehicle. The recent Ambala bus tragedy has once again raised the issue of student safety. The school authorities should stop playing with the children’s lives and pay serious attention to the issue. No vehicle should be allowed to carry children above its capacity. Anybody found violating the norms must be strictly punished. Also, the police needs to be vigilant and alert. Overloaded buses should be challaned and impounded. In case, parents see such overloaded vehicles, they must complain to the school authorities. Unqualified drivers and poor driving habits may also result in tragedies so drivers can also be giving training sessions to improve their driving skills. Improving child safety should be the top priority for the school authorities and the administration as well. Vineet Kapoor,
Sector 11, Panchkula
Training sessions for drivers must
The recent Ambala road mishap has raised a question regarding the safety of students. Overloaded vans, buses and auto-rickshaws carrying schoolchildren are a common sight. School buses continue to flout road safety norms in the absence of proper checking drives. Many school bus drivers can be seen indulging in overspeeding and rash driving. In a large number of cases, the drivers do not possess driving licences. Most of the school autos ferry at least nine to 10 children at a time with children being made to sit in a place where luggage is to be kept. These children are always at risk, for bumpy rides and sharp turns make it difficult for them to balance themselves. The transport department needs to act tough against the violators. Regular raids should be conducted in different schools; driver’s licences should be checked and overloaded buses should be challaned and autos be impounded. The school authorities must keep a check on the number of children being transported by a vehicle. School buses must follow safety norms like having a first-aid box, fire extinguishers and reliable locks. Special training sessions should be held for bus drivers sensitising them on the issue. Above all, parents should sustain a tight vigil on the transportation services for their wards. Dr Shruti K Chawla,
Sec 38 C, Chandigarh
Parents should keep a check on vehicles
The authorities should be serious in checking violations. We learn about a number of incidents everyday. The Supreme Court has repeatedly underlined the importance of road safety. However, these are not followed due to carelessness of the school authorities. Parents should also check whether their children are safe. An accident occurred on the road separating Sectors 35 and 36 where four to five schoolchildren were sitting at the rear of an auto-rickshaw. There should be a two way check on school vehicles from school as well as parents so that such incidents can be avoided. Jasjeet Singh Dhaliwal
Overloading should be avoided
In a number of cities, parents find it difficult to drop and pick their children from school. It happens mostly for primary and secondary schools which are far-off from the residential areas. Therefore, the school authorities are obliged to provide the transportation services. But due to surplus population and limited means of transportation, children are bearing the brunt of the situation as they are stuffed in the school and private vehicles. In metropolitan cities, overloaded school vans and private vans can be seen. A small van which can fit in about eight children, comfortably, can be seen carrying more than 12 children and in worst possible cases more than 16. This leaves very little space for the children to sit comfortably in the vehicle. Parents, who cannot afford to hire a cab or provide for transportation are compelled to go for these shared vans. Poor children can’t even complain or argue. It seems that the Haryana government is waiting for another incident to occur. Sachin Sharma,
President, Youth Innovative Society
Media should spread awareness
This has reference to the Ambala road accident in which 13 schoolchildren died. Everyone is blaming the school administration and law enforcement agencies for the mishap. In my opinion, parents are equally responsible. I have seen a number of times people stuffing themselves in cabs or buses which can prove fatal. The media should try and educate people about road safety. They should refuse to go for any faulty service. Ajay Aggarwal
Sector 44 C, Chandigarh
Safety of students should be top priority
It was shocking to learn that 13 schoolchildren aged between 5 and 8 were mercilessly killed in a fatal accident on the Saha-Shahbad road in Ambala district for no fault of theirs. It is shameful and shocking that 32 children were packed in the so-called school bus that had the capacity to carry only eight persons. The picture of the ill-fated "school bus" indicated that it was just a big car! The school authorities are responsible for the tragedy. There were no horizontal railing on the windows and the "bus" did not have fog lights. There was no attendant in the school bus. It was being driven rashly and there were no speed governors installed. All these lapses show that the school authorities were callous in their approach towards the safety and security of schoolchildren. No care was taken to follow the Supreme Court directions in this regard. The school authorities are more responsible for the tragedy than the driver or the foggy weather. Moreover, the highway authorities are also responsible for not constructing one way roads even after 64 years of Independence. Single road with two-way traffic flowing over it is itself an invitation to such horrific tragedies. All state highways are death traps and the governments never care for the safety of passengers. I wonder how the inspector of schools, Ambala, could be ignorant of such illegal practices of not checking the conditions of school buses being plied on the highways. Why proper checking of school buses is not carried out regularly by the authorities concerned? Had the authorities been alert and active, the accident could've been avoided. Safety of schoolchildren should be the top most priority of the government and schools. After all, children are the future of the nation. R K Kapoor
Open house question
The murder of 28-year-old Harminder Singh on Friday morning, occurred in the vicinity of the area, where a police gypsy remains parked. The violent scuffle took place near Aroma Hotel which is an epicentre of night life in the city. Policemen denied having heard about the horrific incident which occurred less than 15m away. Write your opinion about security at night food joints in the city, particularly the Aroma Hotel and Night Food Street opposite the PGI and required security mechanism for a stricter vigil to the openhouse@tribunemail.com
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Classrooms turn ‘smart’
Chandigarh, January15 Although government colleges in the city have already taken a step in this direction by turning 15 rooms in each college into smart classrooms, the UT administration plans to convert all the classes into smart classrooms. DPI (Colleges) DK Tiwari said that the government wants to implement the scheme by next year, following which the college principals have been asked to submit the report. “Many principals have submitted a detailed report of the infrastructure required in their colleges based on which the department is working toward achieving the target,” he said. As part of the plan, about 40 teachers in each government college were provided laptops last year to prepare the study material for smart classrooms. The plan aims to make studies totally automated, with projectors replacing blackboards, to take the learning experience beyond conventional textbooks. Students would be able to access their study material on computers and Internet.
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Stale info on ut Admn website
Chandigarh, January 15 Similarly, the website gives ‘stale’ information about the gender ratio, literacy rate and density of population etc. of the city. In its ‘General Information’ icon, the gender ratio here is being shown as 777 females per 1,000 males, whereas the city’s skewed gender ratio stands at 818 females per 1,000 males. Presently, the city has the second highest per sq-km density of 9,252 but the website still displays the density of 7,900 per sq km. If you click the ‘administrative structure’ icon, it will still display Ravinder Pal Singh ‘Palli’ as the city’s Mayor. Interestingly, the city had got Raj Bala as its new Mayor on January 2, but when one logs on to the municipal department’s icon, it shows the city’s new Mayor Raj Bala’s profile along with her photograph. The ‘New Initiatives’ icon still shows the details of those mega projects like Film City, Theme Park, Medi city and Integrated Milk Production Village, which have been shelved by the administration for over one year now. “An official portal or website is the face of any government or administration. Failure of the administration in updating its website is just contrary to its tall claims about effective e-governance here,” said Sat Pal Kansal, an RTI activist. The responsibility of updating the website is with the local office of National Informatics Centre (NIC), based on information provided by the UT Administration.
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Raids on to arrest main accused
Chandigarh, January 15 Sukhjit Singh is one of the main accused in the murder case. The Scorpio recovered from the spot belonged to him. Yesterday, the police had arrested seven accused. They have been identified as Harsimranjeet Singh (28), a resident of Sector 44; Chandan Singh (24), Sandeep Kumar (27), and Gautam Singh (23), all residents of Burail; Anand Singh (27) and Mahavir Singh (25), both residents of Sector 41; and Prashant Kumar Dabral (31), a resident of Sector 49. Sukhjit had returned from Canada recently. Meanwhile, in the wake of the murder incident, the police has started a special drive against drunk driving. Seven nakas have been set up across the city. As many as 48 persons were challaned for drunk driving. The PCR has also banned the sale of food at late night illegal food stalls selling ‘paranthas’ and tea stalls on streets in Sectors 10, 16, 17 and 22, and in front of the ISBT-43 and the Tribune roundabout. The police has also closed all disco bars and night clubs and eating junctions in Sectors 22, 35 and 43 at their prescribed time of 2 am. Meanwhile, the police has arrested five persons for quarrelling in the parking of Tao disco in Sector 26 last night.
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UT departments owe Rs 4 crore
Chandigarh, January 15 Records of the corporation show that the bills amounting to Rs 2 crores (approximately) has been due towards 65 government departments since 2002. Out of the list of water tariff defaulters, 20 departments are such whose pending bills are more than Rs one lakh each. Topping the list of defaulters are the horticulture department and the electricity department of the UT Administration, which has not cleared their water bills running to more than Rs one crore for the last many years. Following their footsteps are two hospitals, including the region’s premier institute, the PGI and the Government Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, that have water arrears of more than Rs 75 lakh. The erring departments of the corporation include the Cremation Ground, Horticulture and Nursery departments while those of the Administration are the social welfare and road division. MC Commissioner Prerna Puri said that the corporation was taking up the matter with the government departments concerned to recover the arrears at the earliest. She remarked that in case there was any delay in depositing the arrear money by the erring departments then she would take up the case with the heads of the departments. Sources said that there were in all 304 water tariff defaulters, which include 204 residential and commercial and rest are of various departments of the administration and the corporation. The sources said that the corporation had again sent reminders to all private defaulters to clear their pending bills. A senior official revealed that at a joint meeting held last year, officials of the administration had assured that all the water bills due would be cleared soon. He said that the officers of the administration always expressed their inability to clear the water bills, due to paucity of funds with them.
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FOSWAC seeks revamping of education, medical facilities
Chandigarh, January 15 PC Sanghi, chairman, FOSWAC, said that education and health despite being on the priority list of the Government of India were not on priority list of the UT administration. “The delay in filling posts of doctors in government hospitals, appointment of regular principals in government colleges and overstay of teachers on deputation only goes on to show the non-seriousness and insensitivity on the part of officers concerned in tackling the issues”, Sanghi said. Through the representation FOSWAC has also highlighted the health hazard the people of the area face from the garbage processing plant at Dadu Majra. “The issue was raised before the MC polls by the political parties and it topped the agenda of everyone, however, now neither the MC nor the administration is bothered to act”, Sanghi said. The representation mentions that due to Chandigarh’s splendid architecture, urban planning and excellent infrastructure, the city has been a much sought for place to live in, but with every passing day, it is losing its sheen and glamour on account of traffic congestion, lack of parking space,latest scheduled and unscheduled power cuts and the proposed 66.67 per cent hike in domestic power tariff at par with neighboring towns of Panchkula and Mohali, overburdening the common people of the city. “In all the recent meeting held with the UT officials we have been repeatedly raising the issue of increasing traffic and lack of parking space, however, the issue is also lying on the backburner, with the authorities hardly taking any step to solve the problem”, he said.
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TBRL golden jubilee celebrations conclude
Chandigarh, January 15 Highlighting the role of TBRL in processing and manufacturing explosive devices leading to self-reliance in critical technologies of national importance, the chief guest, Avinash Chander, chief controller, Missiles and Strategic Systems, DRDO headquarters, complimented the laboratory. The guest of honour, Dr S. Sundresh, chief controller, Armaments, Combat Vehicles and Engineering, lauded the efforts of TBRL for creating a state-of-the-art facility for performance evaluation. He also congratulated the TBRL officers and staff for conceptualising, planning and implementing the test ranges which are unique in the country. He appreciated the efforts of the laboratory in developing key technologies which have been used for creating systems of strategic applications. Elaborating upon the achievements of the laboratory, TBRL director Dr Manjit Singh said that over the years the laboratory has grown from being merely a test and evaluation centre to an institute with expertise and competence in technology development. DRDO director Dr Satish Kumar and Dr S.K. Vasudeva, advisor to the DRDO, were also present on the occasion. Various awards for outstanding contributions were given to the officers and staff of the laboratory. A cultural programme and a social get-together were also organised.
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Tricity Scan
Free coaching for bank exams The Bhai JaitaJee Foundation (BJF) today announced that it would provide free coaching every year to at least 200 students from the economically weaker sections of society. The scheme would be implemented in collaboration with the Corporate Training and Development Institute (CTDI), Chandigarh. Students will be taken in batches of 20-30 and would get intensive training for 3 months to help them get jobs in public sector banks. BJF chairperson Harpal Singh said, “CTDI and we are launching a long term plan to help EWS candidates by providing free coaching, boarding and lodging. CTDI’s normal module of coaching is of 45 days. However, keeping in view the possible educational handicap of rural children of Punjab, we are extending the training module up to three months to improve their chances of success.” Students given scholarship
Twelve students from the Tricity stood out in the merit list of ANTHE-2011 (Aakash National Talent Hunt Examination-2011) to become the recipient of Rs 14 Crore Education Scholarship being offered by the Aakash Institute. The scholarship winners include: Parth Jindal of St Johns High School, Sector 26, Avanshu Srivastav, Shreyam and Vimarsh Verma of Delhi Public School, Sector 40, Hardik Verma of Ryan International School, Sector 49, Rakshit Jain of St. Xavier School, Sector 44, Yashashavi Yashpal of Shivalik Public School, Sector-41 B, Ankit Jain and Harshit Gupta of Bhavan Vidhalya, Sector 15, Panchkula, Nikhil Sheoran of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 47, Vaibhav Gupta of D.C.Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, Panchkula and Mohit Shekam of Kendriya Vidyalya, 3Brd, Air Force, Chandigarh. Golden jubilee celebrations
The Home Science College Association Alumni (HSCAA), Government Home Science College, Sector, college is celebrating the golden jubilee year of the college and organising a mega meet on January 22 in the college auditorium. The alumni from the five decades are participating from various parts of India and overseas. The college students will be presenting a cultural bonanza for the guests. NSS camp
An NSS camp was organised by Guru Nanak Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Sector 30, on Sunday. Children presented a cultural event on the occasion. Prof Pandit Rao was the chief guest on the occasion. He spoke against alcoholism among youth. Art of Living camp
The Art of Living, Chandigarh Centre, is coming up for the first time in City Beautiful with “A Husband Wife Duo special Sudarshan Kriya fame Part I/Basic course” from January 26-29 at Chandigarh College of Architecture, Sector 12. The husband wife duo of Vivek Sharda and Gauri Sharda, will be taking the course. CGC Tech Fest 2012
Nearly 15000 students from premiere institutes like IIT, NITs, UBS, government and private universities, UIET, CCCET, CGC, and the leading colleges of the region will be participating in two-day state level techno-cultural bonanza CGC Tech Fest 2012, slated for January 20-21. The fest will be organised by Chandigarh Group of Colleges at its Gharuan campus. |
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Campaigning reaches a crescendo
Mohali, January 15 On the other hand, Congress candidate Balbir Singh Sidhu was weighed with ladoos at Kumbra, Kambali and Kandala villages. While addressing public rallies, Sidhu said SAD had neglected Mohali. “ It was the Congress that had brought mega projects to Punjab and enabled farmers to get market price for their land,” he said. Harbhajan Mann, the star campaigner for SAD candidate Balwant Singh Romola visited various areas in Mohali while asking voters to support the SAD. Ramoowalia said the Congress had always been anti-employees and anti-farmers. He attributed black money and corruption in the country to the Congress. He claimed that a large amount of black money in Swiss Bank was of the Congress leaders. Citing development works undertaken by the SAD in Mohali, he said work on a number of new projects had been undertaken by the government. He said he would turn Mohali into Gurgaon and bring the IT industry there. He took out rallies in Phase VI, Sector 48, Mauli and Sohana villages. Lt Col Gurprakash Singh Virk (retd), who is contesting as an Independent from Mohali, today staged a silent protest as he claimed that he had been asked to withdraw. “The ex-servicemen have declared not to vote, but I will not bow down. It is in interest of the major political parties that ex-servicemen do not vote,” he said. Meanwhile, the SAD candidate from Dera Bassi, NK Sharma, campaigned in villages around Dera Bassi. He toured over a dozen villages, including Isapur Jangi, Janetpur, Jwaharpur, Devinagar, Haripur Kura, Dandrala, Mukandpur, Bijanpur, Mianpur, Kheri Gujjaran, Mahiwala, Gulabgarh, Kurawala and Haripur Hinduan. He said the SAD-BJP combine would make a clean sweep as it had not only successfully established Bathinda refinery and started work of thermal plants, but also performed its social duty of providing cheap grain to the poor under the Atta Dal scheme, Shagun scheme, Right to Service and other social welfare measures. He claimed that Block Congress vice-president Chaudhary Surta Ram Mukandpur and over a dozen Congress leaders joined the SAD. The Independent candidate, Deepinder Singh Dhillon, also campaigned.
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Police on lookout for three youths
Zirakpur, January 15 Though the Mohali police refused to comment on the progress made in the investigations, sources confirmed that the police was looking for the three youths who had called the victim. The police was also scrutinising details of the calls made to Shikha on the day of the crime. “The victim received the last call at around 2 pm,” a police source stated. The police has questioned more than five persons, including those who visited Shikha on the day of the murder, but has not achieved any success so far. The victims, who were murdered on January 12, were the mother and younger sister of one of the four girls who had allegedly made an MMS clip of an estranged friend after stripping her in a car in October last year in Panchkula.
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Bhandara complex opened
Panchkula, January 15 The three-storeyed building has a basement and a modern kitchen. For the convenience and comfort of devotees, ACs have been installed in the building. The new complex has a capacity to serve 2,500 devotees at a time.
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Chandigarh, January 15 The police said the youth was working in a Sector 22-based mobile shop as a salesman and was on his way home on his motorcycle. A passerby saw the victim and informed the police. The youth died on the way to hospital. — TNS
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City sees little change in vegetable prices
Chandigarh, January 15
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Reserved seats lie vacant
Chandigarh, January 15 Lack of awareness program, absence of data on students eligible for the reservation, unclear reimbursement plan and inconclusive discussions with private schools are some of the reasons for the failure of the scheme. While over 2200 reserved seats lie vacant, general category students are running from pillar to post having failed to get into a good school so far. UT’s unclear policies on RTE implementation have messed up the admission prospects of over 4,000 general category students who have failed to get admissions in about half-a-dozen private schools where admission process is already over. “I had applied to all convent schools but could not get my daughter a seat in any schools as her name did not come up in the draw of lots; nor is she from a poor background. We also tried in a private school, but failed to get her admitted there because of their self-devised point system. The principal asked us to wait for conversion of RTE seats to general category. Since that day I have been visiting school to plead for one seat. Is it justified to snatch our child’s right to study and keep reserve seats vacant?” questions Aman Preet Singh, president of a local parent-teacher association. While parents’ anxiety is rising day-by-day, the government has asked schools to wait till April 1 as the authorities are still in process of issuing an advertisement asking people to apply for these seats. “If they don’t get applicants, we will get them. There is nothing to panic,” said education secretary VK Singh. However, the fact is that the UT has failed to find a single eligible student in city slums or rural areas. Meanwhile with schools like Vivek High, St Kabir and New Public School getting 5,7, 2 applications respectively, the Independent School Association (ISA) refuses to wait lying down. “UT should pay us for 25 percent seats and we will wait for full one year and keep these seats vacant. If there were no children or applicants then why were seats reserved in bulk? We will wait a week more and then will get in touch with the education department to convert these seats into general,” said ISA president HS Mamik.
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The incessant rain since last night has brought down the day temperature considerably, forcing residents to remain indoors during the day. On Sunday, the maximum temperature was 13.4 degrees Celsius compared to 19 degrees Celsius on Saturday while the minimum was 6.2 degrees Celsius against 5.4 degrees Celsius recorded yesterday. The maximum relative humidity was recorded at 90 per cent while the minimum was recorded at 60 per cent.
As per the website-chandigarh.gov.in-- the population of the city is 9,00,735, the figure of 2001 census report, whereas it has crossed a million mark-10, 54,686 - in the census report, 2011 (released in February), but the officials here are yet to update the information. 
The same icon displays Ritu Chaudhary as the Chief Executive Officer of the Chandigarh Housing Board while the Haryana Civil Service officer Chaudhary has completed her deputation. The UT Administrator had issued orders to relieve her on January 10.
