Chandigarh, March 31
The Chandigarh Administration does not seem keen on running buses of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) on long routes.

After withdrawing 20 heating-ventilation and air-conditioned (HVAC) buses from long routes, the CTU is now withdrawing 60 ordinary buses from long routes, citing low occupancy.

The Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and the local MP, Pawan Kumar Bansal, said though the top priority of the CTU should be a well-organised and efficient local mass transport system, the agreement with neighbouring states on long-route buses should not be ignored.

Buses would be plied on short distances, to towns like Ambala, Baddi and Kalka, besides other short routes. The CTU had been running the HVAC buses on short routes.

UT Advisory Committee member Devi Dyal said, “Buses are being withdrawn to please influential private operators who have interest in plying buses from Chandigarh on long routes.”

He added, “The Punjab Roadways and the Haryana Roadways have started new luxury buses to their fleets and plying those on high-occupancy routes. Plying buses on long routes is in the interest of the CTU.”

Sources said low occupancy was being quoted as the reason for withdrawing buses.

“This is not just depriving residents of comfortable travel, but also resulting in losses to the CTU. There is a high demand for CTU buses, but officials are not aware of it,” said Arjinder Singh, who preferred to travel to Delhi by a CTU bus.

Chandigarh/Los Angeles, march 31
It is official. After several months of silence and speculation, the madly in love couple Brangelina has finally decided to be man and wife.

Following in the footsteps of Russell Brand and Katy Perry, the Hollywood’s most-viewed and often-clicked duo has decided to skip their traditional ‘white wedding’ and go in for a Hindu-style marriage ceremony.

But it will not be the quaint Kerala backwaters, the dainty Goa beaches or a royal Rajasthan palace when it comes to the venue for the dream wedding. The vows will be exchanged at a fort a few miles from Chandigarh on April 15.

“It is finally happening. Angelina Jolie seems to be quite eager to tie the knot. She is finally ready to be Mrs Brad Pitt and is getting excited about it,” said a confidante of the couple from the Beverly Hills over telephone.

“Angie and Brad have given in to the demand of their brood that wants a legal stamp on their relationship,” she added.

Although Angie reportedly wanted the wedding at their $60-million French chateau, Brad had Springfield, Missouri, his hometown, on mind. But after they had a word with their spiritual guru, the couple zeroed in on India, and finally Chandigarh.

The secret preparations had been going on now on for some six months and top wedding planners had been hired for the job. Brad flew in on a chartered aeroplane to personally overlook the arrangements on March 1.

Since Hollywood director Kathryn Bigelow was then shooting for her film in the city, his visit was linked to the project. The elaborate ceremony would have all paraphernalia -- elephants, horses, flower decorations, traditional Indian and Western food and Bollywood music.

Needless to say, almost the entire Hollywood glitterati would descend on Chandigarh to party. John Travolta would fly down in his private jet with his daughter Ella.

Tom Cruise and Katie Homes, Brangelina’s friends, would come in their chartered aeroplane as well. Jennifer Aniston, Brad’s ex-wife, would be the special guest.

Among Bollywood celebrities, the Bachchans, Shah Rukh Khan and the Roshans had confirmed their presence for the mega-event.

However, the eagerly awaited extravaganza had thrown the government into a tizzy. The first major concern was security of the celebrities.

The civil aviation authorities had been flooded with requests to allow permission for the landing of so many aircraft in Chandigarh. “We have been inundated with requests for private aeroplanes to land. We may have to use the makeshift Army runway,” says an official, requesting anonymity.

“Last March, when a Pakistan air force flight landed with its Prime Minister, we thought that we had had the most strenuous day of our lives. But now, with so many Hollywood celebrities flying in, we will be literally on our toes for the next fortnight,” he added.

But there were others who could not thank their stars. Chandu Lal, a sweetmeat-maker at Mani Majra, had got a big order for ‘jalebis’, to be delivered at the venue.

“Two foreigners came to my shop a few weeks ago. They tasted my stuff and returned after some days to place a massive order. I have got all the money in advance. I may get to see the wedding,” he gushed.

The biggest secret was the couple’s trousseau. While the names of Vera Wang and JJ Valaya were doing the rounds, no official announcement had been made so far.

Fairytale wedding? Definitely not on the first day of April. Brangelina will walk the aisle, but not some time soon. Happy Fools’ Day folks! Let us celebrate the spirit.

Chandigarh, March 31
Witnessing strong opposition to the Panjab University (PU) decision to introduce the semester system at the undergraduate level in all 188 affiliated colleges from 2013, the Senate today decided to put the PU order on hold till the university and colleges are ready for it.

Responding to the agenda item for the semester system, a majority in the House was of the view that the examination system would collapse if the PU decided to go ahead with its plan.

The PU had decided to act on the suggestions of the four-member committee, which recommended the introduction of the semester system in a phased manner for better implementation and its extension to postgraduate courses after examining the hitches involved.

Although the University Grants Commission (UGC) had always been in favour of the semester system at colleges, the PU decided that feedback from teachers, college authorities, the examination branch and students would be taken before implementation.

Senate members said the letter sent to colleges for the implementation of the semester system should be immediately withdrawn and further modalities should be worked out. Members suggested that the PU recommend internal evaluation at colleges to shift to the semester system. The university decided to add more members to the committee to look into the issue.

“The recommendations have been accepted. The committee will be extended with the addition of more members to discuss the issue further and design a mechanism for effective implementation of the system,” said Dr Dalip Kumar, a Fellow and committee member.

Chandigarh, March 31
A brick wall will now separate Burail from Sector 45-A.

Acting on a petition filed in public interest, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Chandigarh Housing Board “to initiate and complete the necessary steps” for the construction of wall within four months.

The directions came on a petition filed by the Residents Welfare Federation, Sector 45-A. In its PIL against the Chandigarh Administration and other

respondents, the association had sought a direction for construction of the brick wall “as per the layout plan issued by the respondent Chandigarh Housing Board vide a drawing”.

The counsel for the petitioner, Ashok Sharma Nabhewala, had contended that the wall was to constructed for dividing Burail and Sector 45-A.

As the case came up for hearing, the Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover observed: “We had requested Sanjay Kaushal, standing counsel appearing for Chandigarh Administration, to ascertain as to whether the Chandigarh Housing Board was responsible for erecting/constructing the brick wall and if so, what would be the stand of the Board.

“Kaushal, after interacting with the authority concerned, informed the court that as per the approved drawing there was a provision for a brick wall and if the same was not in existence, the Housing Board would do the needful in this regard”.

The Bench added: “Evidently, the wall is not in existence as the petitioner has laid the material before the court to show that the construction of the said wall has not been undertaken.

“If that be so, the Housing Board will be duty bound to construct the wall. We accordingly, direct the board to so act and initiate and complete the necessary steps in this regard within a period of four months from today”.

Nabhewala had earlier contended the brick wall was necessary “to protect the public/ residents at large from the daily traffic jams and further provide them security by the partition by raising the construction”.

Giving reasons for filing the PIL, he had added: The authorities kept silent and did not pay any attention to the genuine needs of the public at large”.

Tribune News Service
Staff crunch in Haryana roadways have left the residents at the receiving-end with around 20 buses remaining off-road in the absence of drivers and conductors. Interestingly, the routes witnessing huge rush have been closed following the shortage of staff leading to inconvenience to daily passengers.

According to information, the Haryana Roadways was having a fleet of 36 buses plying from various parts of the town to neighboring Chandigarh but due to the staff crunch the local authorities were forced to withdraw buses from various routes.

About eight buses (route No 90) were plying from Ramgarh village to Chandigarh’s ISBT, Sector 17, but now only four buses were plying in the route.

Similarly, two out of four buses were plying on the route No 85-Sector 20 to Sector 17. The bus services from the Sector 5 ISBT to Sector 17 ISBT-route No 83 and 84-have been stopped causing inconvenience to the city residents especially the students who study in various educational or professional institutions in Chandigarh.

Sources said that the Haryana Roadways was facing shortage of drivers and conductors in the city. Even though there a few buses were available but due to staff crunch had made these non-functional.

There was also shortage of staff at the bus terminal as out of the total 8 only three members were available as they had been promoted to the post of conductors. There was one inspector and one standby conductor at the terminal. Confirming the same ISBT, Sector 5, in-charge, Satbir Singh Dhankad, said that they have already apprised the higher authorities in this regard and were hoping to receive some of the staff by April end as the state government was going to recruit more staff on April 2. After one-month training, the newly recruited drivers and conductors would be posted at various stations, he added.

The BJP leader Sanjay Ahuja said that the authorities had been assuring the city residents by incorporating new buses and appointing staff for the past more than ten years.

He added that the government should think of initiating steps to introduce new buses seriously in the city as large number of employees and students visit the neighbouring city daily.

Mohali, March 31
Against the backdrop of elaborate security arrangements in the town, no untoward incident was reported here today. Keeping in view of prevailing tension due to Rajoana issue and today’s ‘Ram Navmi’ processions, a special security cover was provided outside the religious sites of the town.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Mohali SSP, GS Bhullar, said that a large number of policemen were deputed on the routes of procession. — TNS

Panchkula, March 31
The residents of Mansa Devi Complex (MDC) are up in arms against the opening of six liquor shops at Mata Mansa Devi shrine area thus hurting the sentiments of the people in the region.

In a memorandum to the Commissioner, excise and taxation department, Haryana, Devinder Mahajan, president Residents Welfare Association Sector 4 MDC, said that no liquor shop has to be opened in the area of 2 km of the historic shine where lakhs of devotees, not only from the region but also from across the country visit everyday during ‘navratras’ to pay their obeisance.

Mahajan added that small liquor vends have been opened on all the roads leading to the shrine. He said that one of the shops was being opened on the road leading to the IT park where hundreds of young IT professionals work, which could pose problems for the people living in Sector 4.

He urged the Commissioner to shift these vends to some other places in order to avoid any resentment among the general public.

Chandigarh, March 31
The Chandigarh Administration today refused to set up a common bio-medical waste treatment plant at Dadu Majra under the public-private partnership.

As a petition on waste disposal filed in public interest by Ominder Singh Oberoi and other residents came up for hearing this morning, UT senior standing counsel Sanjay Kaushal expressed the Administration’s unwillingness to go ahead with the project.

The assertion is significant as the bio-medical waste disposal scheme has been a prestigious project for the Chandigarh health department and was to be set up under public-private partnership for disposal of bio-medical waste of all the health institutions, government and private, in the city.

Appearing before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover, Kaushal said: “The Chandigarh Administration is now of the view that due to the huge costs of scarce land in UT, it may not be in public interest to award the project for setting up CBWTP to a private entity on a public-private partnership. Kaushal added that the Administration had reconsidered its decision.

Just about a year ago, the Chandigarh Administration had informed the High Court that the new bio-medical waste treatment facility was being set up at Dadu Majra. It is being set up by Alliance Environcare Company Limited at a cost of Rs 6, 52, 52, 930.

Kaushal had, in fact, told the Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi that the facility would be “sufficient to meet the requirement of all the hospitals in the city, including the PGI”.

Oberoi and other residents had filed a PIL in 2007 against the burning of bio-medical waste without any air pollution control device in place. Directions had also been sought for the installation of air pollution control device. The coming up of seven-storeyed out patients’ department allegedly against the zonal plan had also been challenged.

The petition had, in fact, brought to fore the alleged hazards faced by th people living in the vicinity of Sector 16 government multi-specialty hospital.

Chandigarh, March 31
An SDO posted with the UT electricity department was allegedly assaulted by a contractor on Saturday.

The police said the incident occurred in the afternoon when SDO Naresh Kumar came to inspect electricity work carried out by the contractor at Government School in Sector 26.

The SDO had an altercation with contractor Madan Goyal as he was not satisfied with the work of the contractor, which led to the scuffle.

In the complaint to the police, the SDO stated that the contractor had hit him with a wooden block. He alleged that the contractor had then injured himself in order to save his skin.

The two were then rushed to the 16 Government Multi Speciality Hospital, Sector 16. — TNS

Chandigarh, March 31
Panjab University has decided to take stern action against the colleges that are running without teachers.

PU is in the process of preparing a list of colleges who have violated the norms. Such colleges can face disaffiliation, sources said. PU Vice-Chancellor RC Sobti likely to take up the issue in the Syndicate meeting to be held in April.

The Senate meeting witnessed heated discussion over the issue with Sobti holding the house members responsible for granting affiliations to such colleges.

Addressing the house, Sobti said the panel members visit colleges to check if they fulfill all the norms defined by the University Grant Commission (UGC) and PU. “It’s you all who recommend affiliation to these colleges. If you find the colleges violating any norms then objections must be raised by the committee that has visited the colleges,” Sobti said.

The colleges are supposed to pay Rs 15,600 basic salary to the teachers on contract. However, there are colleges that pay not more than Rs 6, 000 blatantly violating the UGC norms.

Janmit Singh, a fellow, without naming the college revealed that there is a college under PU that doesn’t have sociology teacher from over 20 years and still it is operating.

On demand of the house, the VC directed Naval Kishore, Dean College Development Council (DCDC), to prepare a list of colleges flouting the laws. The list would be tabled before the Syndicate for final decision.

Chandigarh, March 31
The matter of alleged tampering of the pension file of a sitting Senator came up during the Senate meeting held at Panjab University today.

Senator Ashok Goyal alleged that one of the sitting Senators manipulated the rules and regulations of the pension scheme in order to get better pension.

Ashok Goyal said the pension file was tampered by removing papers from the file and substituting the same by other papers with different dates and signatures so as to benefit the alleged member.

Ashok Goyal said a high-level inquiry should be conducted and those found guilty should be punished.

He also said if the allegations were found to be wrong then he would be liable for panel action. “I am ready to assist the inquiry panel in establishing the fraud,” Ashok Goyal said.

Reacting to the sensitive issue raised by Goyal, who was supported by majority of house members, the vice-chancellor assured that an inquiry would be conducted to verify the truth and action would be taken accordingly.

Chandigarh, March 31
The Postgraduate Government College for Girls, Sector 11, also known as GCG 11, held its alumni meet today. It was a memorable day for the college as alumni from over five decades gathered in the college auditorium. More than 100 alumni took part in the event, including those from early batches of 1960’s.

It was a nostalgic moment for the old students who walked down the memory lane. The alumni played tambola, sang songs and had ‘aloo chat’.

Poonam Bath, vice-president of the alumni association, said it was the first-ever alumni meet. — TNS