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Land at Mullanpur dearer than in UT
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8
Land in Punjab Government’s upcoming flagship township Mullanpur, adjoining the PGI in Chandigarh, is costlier than in Le Corbusier’s architectural marvel. Seems strange, but it is true.

With investors and realtors making a beeline to buy agricultural land at and around Mullanpur, on the north-west periphery of Chandigarh, Punjab’s revenue authorities have increased the collector rates at many villages by an astronomical 700 per cent. This means that those buying land there will have to pay more stamp duty. Officials have noticed the phenomenal rise in prices of land, which are almost Rs 3 crore per acre.

The collector rate of agriculture land at UT villages, last revised in August 2011, is Rs 70 lakh per acre. The collector rate at Naya Gaon and Mullanpur has been raised to Rs 90 lakh per acre.

Massive urbanisation at villages in Punjab, with control not as strict as at UT villages, is said to be one of the main reasons for the increase in land prices.

The rate has been increased at villages at and around Mullanpur, where a number of housing projects are coming up. The state government is trying for the early opening of the Medicity. “After going through land transactions registered with the sub-registrar at Majri, the collector rate has been increased phenomenally,” a senior official with the revenue department has said.

“In the parlance of land along the Mullanpur-Siswan road, the collector rate has been fixed at Rs 1 crore per acre,” he has added.

In the last three years, receipts from stamp duty and land registration in the Mohali district has been the highest in Punjab.

It is Rs 237.86 crore for 2008-09, Rs 215.95 crore for 2009-10 and Rs 438.37 crore for 2010-11. Villages at Majri and Dera Bassi blocks have generated the maximum revenue.

Officials have revealed that the maximum hike has been affected at Mastgarh, Togan, Dhanaura, Teor, Boothgarh, Bharongian, Hoshiarpur, Majra, Ferozepore Bangar and Nada villages.

The collector rate has been revised at Perch, Seonk, Nagal and Siswan villages as there is an increasing craze among investors to purchase land for farmhouses in the forest area.

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Dialogue only way out, says Pak ex-minister
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8
Zaheer-ud-din Babar Awan, a former Federal Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Pakistan, and Vice-President of the Pakistan People’s Party, said today that dialogue between Indian and Pakistan was the only way out to solve sensitive issues.

On a visit to the city on an invite of the Bar Council of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, the senator in the Pakistan’s upper house of parliament, while referring to the Pakistan President’s visit to India, said the perception of the common man on both sides of the border was peaceful co-existence and it was the testing time for the leadership of both the countries.

Talking about immediate measures, he said the prisoners on both sides who had completed their sentence should be freed immediately. There was also a need to sign a pact regarding issuing of visas for travelling between the two neighbours.

On the issue of Sarabjit, who is facing death sentence in a bomb blast case in Pakistan, he said the executive could not interfere in the judicial process.

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MDC residents move court against opening of liquor vends
Sanjay Bumbroo
Tribune News Service

A liquor vend at Mansa Devi Complex in Panchkula
A liquor vend at Mansa Devi Complex in Panchkula. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Panchkula, April 8
The residents of the Mansa Devi Complex (MDC) have moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the opening of liquor vends in the area.

Devinder Mahajan, president, MDC Residents Welfare Association, in his petition said they were not against the opening of the liquor vends, but wanted these to be shifted to some other place.

He urged the court to direct the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to cancel the sites of liquor vends.

Mahajan also urged the state government to declare the MDC area as a sacred place like Kurukshetra, Pehowa and Thanesar where the sale of liquor had been banned by state government. He said similar restriction should also be imposed in the area as lakhs of people from across the country visit Mata Mansa Devi Temple during Navratra Fair held twice a year.

He said small liquor vends had been opened on all roads leading to the shrine. He said one of the shops was 20 m away from the Singh Dwar constructed by the Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board at an estimated cost of around Rs 10 crore. He said on the one hand, the state government wanted to beautify the area to attract the attention of the devotees in the country while on the other it had allowed the opening of liquor vends in the area thus hurting the religious sentiments of people.

Echoing similar sentiments, patron of the RWA Maj Gen (Retd) GS Hundal said the opening of liquor vends in the MDC area was undesirable. He said the government should take immediate steps to maintain the sanctity in the 3-km radius of the shrine. He said they were not against the opening of liquor vends as it generated income for the state government. He said keeping in view the faith and feelings of the general public, the government should immediately shift these to some other place.

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Yuvraj lands in Delhi today, fans excited
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8
As soon as the news of Yuvraj Singh’s return spread here today, fans commenced preparations for welcoming him. He had been under treatment for germ-cell cancer in his lungs.

The cricketer was expecting his visit the city soon after landing in New Delhi around 9:45 am tomorrow following the completion of his chemotherapy sessions in London.

His local manager RS Kapoor said Yuvraj would come to the city immediately after landing at the airport. He added that he did not have the plans of the cricketer at the moment.

“Finally the day has come! I am going home tomorrow! Can’t wait, excited to see my friends and family. See you India. Mera Bharat mahan,” Yuvraj wrote on his Twitter account last afternoon.

“We are looking ahead to see him back in action. We have got the information on Twitter. We are eagerly awaiting his visit to the city. We plan to welcome him by organising a function and want him to share his experiences,” said the member of an NGO.

Yuvraj’s father Yograj Singh said, “Yuvi is expected to arrive in India tomorrow. I am happy that he is coming back. I am busy shooting for a movie till April 30 and hopefully, will meet him soon.”

Yuvraj had underwent three chemotherapy sessions after being diagnosed with the disease. He had been out of action for this edition of the Indian Premier League.

He was expected to stay away from the game till proper recovery. Sources close to him said he would visit the city on April 12 for the first match of the Kings XI Punjab on their home ground.

Kapoor maintained that there was about half-a-chances of Yuvraj’s visit to the city. “He is returning to India tomorrow, but will stay at Gurgaon for at least a week to recover,” he added.

“He is excited to come here and hopefully, will come here soon to thank his well-wishers. I am not sure about his visit for the first match,” he added.

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24-yr-old student commits suicide
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8
The fear of failure in examinations drove a 24-year-old engineering student to suicide at his house in Sector 34 here today.

Ranchit Goyal, a BTech student of Shaheed Udham Singh College of Engineering and Technology at Tangori, hanged himself from a ceiling fan here this morning.

His mother, Sheela Devi, found him hanging and called the family. They rushed him to the Government Medical College and Hospital at Sector 32, where he was declared brought dead.

The family told the police that Ranchit’s examinations to clear his compartments were to begin tomorrow and he was under stress due to the examinations.

He had failed to clear compartments in two subjects during the final semester in 2011 and this was his last opportunity to clear those, they added.

Ranchit was survived by his parents and three elder sisters. His father was a businessman. His sisters were married. He was the only son of his parents.

Police personnel visited the spot and ruled out foul play. The police initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC at the Sector-34 police station.

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Student attacked by two pet dogs, falls, injured
Tribune News Service

Gurmail Singh shows his wounds at his house in Sector 35 of Chandigarh on Sunday
Gurmail Singh shows his wounds at his house in Sector 35 of Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Chandigarh, April 8
A 24-year-old MBA student had a horrifying experience as he was attacked by two pet dogs of a woman advocate near his Sector-35 residence here last night.

Gurmail Singh, studying at a private institute in Mohali, was driving his motorcycle when he lost balance and fell on the road after the dogs surrounded him, barking ferociously.

While the dogs did not bite him, he was seriously wounded when he fell down. The incident occurred around 11:30 pm, when he was nearing his house. He was given five stitches on his arm.

He called up the police, which booked the owner of the dogs, Kulwant Kaur, under Section 289 of the IPC for negligent conduct with respect to animal. She was later released on bail.

“I passed by the florist shops when the dogs suddenly surrounded me. I tried to accelerate, but lost balance and fell down,” Gurmail said.

“The dogs were let loose by the owner of the house. I called up the police. My father and sister, coming on a scooter behind me, were witness to the incident,” he added.

“As I confronted the owner of the dogs, she threatened me. I refused to arrive at a compromise and gave a complaint to the police for the registration of a case,” he said.

Owners of nine dogs booked in one year

While incidents involving stray dogs are common in the city, owners of at least nine pet dogs in the city have been booked by the Chandigarh Police in the last one year. Four of them have been decided in court, with owners agreeing to pay compensation to the victims. An offence under Section 289 of the IPC invites imprisonment for six months or fine or both

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Horses, an expensive proposition
With 32 already, UT police plans to have 50; utility under question
Aneesha Sareen
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8
The strength of horses with the police, without any real utility for action on the ground, has raised a question mark over their necessity. The UT police had 15 horses till last year, with 17 more being added this year.

The police was keen on taking the count to 50, but there was little scope for the use of horses in Chandigarh, a city of concrete. The expenditure would run into crores now.

An application filed by The Tribune under the RTI revealed that the expenditure on 15 horses in the last three years was over Rs 43 lakh.

Slamming the decision of the police to introduce more horses, advocate HC Arora said it was a waste of public money and was not required.

“The expenditure on horses will now run into crores. Cash will be spent on horses, which can be used on resources like vehicle purchase or modernisation schemes,” he said.

Meant for patrol, law-and-order arrangements and ceremonial parade, the horses, purchased for lakhs, meant an additional expenditure of around Rs 20 lakh per year on fodder and maintenance.

The police purchased eight horses during the last two years at a cost of Rs 8.2 lakh. Besides patrol duty, the horses were widely used for riding and recreation by senior officers. From April 2009 to March 2010, the UT police incurred an expenditure of Rs 18,34,783 for the upkeep of horses.

From April 2010 to March 2011, Rs 18,17,883 was spent. From April 2011 to December 2011, Rs 5,68,299 was spent.

Sources in the mounted staff said a large amount was spent on fodder and medicine, adding that a paricular type of fodder, costing Rs 2.5 lakh per quintal, was being purchased from a contractor from outside the UT.

DSP (Training) Suman Kumar said horses were of use in case of serious incidents of crime and for maintaining law and order.

“One mounted policeman substitutes around 100 personnel while controlling crowds during rallies. Horses act as a deterrent and are extensively being used for patrol in forest areas,” he added.

Teams at work

The police has dispatched teams to Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan to inspect horses, which will then be brought here. The teams are receiving special training for the upkeep of horses.

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Major projects of city in the doldrums
Aarti Kapur
Tribune News Service

A majority of the visually challenged find it difficult to enter the park through the revolving gate in Sector 26
A majority of the visually challenged find it difficult to enter the park through the revolving gate in Sector 26.
The non-functional electric crematorium in Sector 25 in Chandigarh
The non-functional electric crematorium in Sector 25 in Chandigarh.
The fish market at Sector 41
The fish market at Sector 41. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Chandigarh, April 8
It is strange that despite a number of major projects of the Municipal Corporation lingering on for a long time, lakhs of rupees is allocated every year in the budget for these projects work on which has not commenced so far. According to the budget report of the last four years, the cost of these projects, which have been approved by the General House, has almost doubled but no initiative is being taken by the authorities to chalk out plans for starting work on them.

In the recent General House meeting, a majority of councillors raised a hue and cry as to why there had been the inordinate delay in starting these projects which had even been accorded approval in the budgets of the last four years.

Modern dhobi ghats

After the success of the pilot project of modern dhobhi ghat in Sector 15, a proposal was mooted in the budget of 2008-09 to convert the rest of the dhobhi ghats situated in Sector 7, 15, 19, 20, 22, 27 and 32 into automatic laundry units for which Rs 5.32 lakh was proposed. This year the authorities have again approved an estimated budget of Rs 150 lakh for these projects.

The proposal to convert them into modern dhobhi ghats was recommended so as to do away with the traditional method of washing which is a major cause of water pollution, unhygienic conditions, waste of water and diseases. Till date these projects have been in the pipeline.

Status: During a visit to the dhobhi ghats of Sector 7 and 20, it was found that the infrastructure at these ghats was a shambles. In fact, there is no facility of electricity and toilets at these ghats for the employees working there. A number of representations have been made by the Dhobhi Ghat Association to the authorities concerned, with the demand that till the work on modernisation of these ghats commences they should renovate the existing ghats. In fact, the employees alleged assurances had been given to them by the officials for the past four years that work on modernising the ghats would commence soon, but nothing has been done till date.

Bird slaughterhouse

In 2009, after a detailed market survey, a mechanised bird slaughter house was proposed by the Medical Health Office for which an estimate of Rs 920 lakh was approved in the budget. The proposed cost of this project in the budget of 2012-13 is Rs 15 crore.

The survey report states that there is an approximate consumption of 25,000 birds per day in the city which is expected to go up to 40,000 birds per day. Despite the fact, there is no mechanised bird slaughter house in the city. In the last three budgets, this proposal has been approved by the House but till date work on the project has not commenced.

Status: The project was mooted by the authorities after a surprise visit by officials found that the shopkeepers were not slaughtering birds in a mechanised way. In fact, the butchers at the small shops were not following proper procedure for slaughtering birds. The proposal was mooted by the department concerned with the aim of providing hygienic chicken to the residents.

Carcasses centre

To dispose of dead animals, the Municipal Corporation had proposed the commissioning of an incinerator at a cost of Rs 10 lakh in the budget of 2009. The project cost has increased to Rs 16 lakh in the budget of 2012-13. The authorities have got the land for this project from the administration but the project is yet to commence. This project was mooted by the authorities as they had to spend a huge amount of money for disposing of dead animals by hiring services of private contractors.

Status: Even though the MC claimed that it has been spending a large amount of money on removing dead animals from the roads, the management of the Garbage Processing Plant Company has been complaining frequently that many times they receive dead animals in the garbage collected from the city. The residents also complain that they don’t know where to lodge a complaint in the MC if they come across dead animals lying on the roadside.

Dog pound

The MC has mooted a proposal for the construction of a dog pound for the past four years. Though the UT Administration has earmarked space for the same, work has not commenced on the project yet. During the last financial year, the MC had allocated Rs 10 lakh for this project which has been increased to Rs 1 crore in the budget of 2012-13.

Status: The authorities have accepted at the General House that the stray dog menace is getting acute in the city and for sterilisation of dogs they have to depend on the two city-based NGOs, as the administration has no arrangement to deal with stray dogs. The dog pound was proposed by the authorities to have a place where stray dogs could be sterilised.

Park for visually challenged

The country’s first sensory park for the visually challenged in Sector 26 has not come up as it was visualised by its architect. The Municipal Corporation, after spending Rs 50 lakh on half acre land, has come up with nothing more than a routine green belt developed in any other sector of the city. The idea behind visualising this park was to develop an amusement park in a classic style and decorate it with various exciting playing machines and fun places, besides fantasy land, a dream garden and adventure land. The proposal to set up an artificial birds’ corner was also approved, where visually challenged children can be acquainted with the different shapes of birds, their sounds and species. An additional amount of Rs 50 lakh was approved by the municipal corporation in 2009 to redevelop the park on the lines of the Bangkok Park. But till date nothing has been done by the authorities.

Status: During a visit to the park it was found that no sensors had been installed by the authorities to guide the visually challenged about the path in the park. At the entrance of the park, a revolving gate has been installed. A majority of the visually challenged persons find it difficult to gain entry in the park through it.

Cremation grounds, LPG cremation furnace

The authorities have been saying for the last four years that the cremation furnace installed at Sector 25 in 1975 is in a non-serviceable condition and estimates have been proposed in the budgets for making it functional. Similarly, the project to set up an LPG-based cremation furnace at the Sector 25 cremation ground is yet to see the light of day. The authorities have been proposing funds for the same in the last two budgets.

Interestingly, the estimates were approved in the General House twice for undertaking this project but the work has yet to start. In 2009-10 the budget estimates of these two projects was Rs 50 lakh, but due to increasing cost of construction and raw material the cost of this project has be doubled in the proposed budget to Rs one crore. In the budget for 2012-13 a proposal of Rs one crore has been mooted for these projects.

Status: Last year a resident of Sector 45 died in an accident whose last wish was to be cremated in the electric crematorium but the family failed to fulfil his wish as it was not working. When the family reached the cremation ground they were told by the attendant that the crematorium was not working as there was no electricity. The attendant told the family that the electricity generator had not been functioning for the past over five years due to some technical fault. Even though the authorities have been promoting the use of electrical crematorium in order to save precious wood, they have failed to provide this facility to the people

Fish market

In 2007, the UT Administration proposed to construct an air-conditioned fish market, as a majority of fish vendors in the city were running their business from temporary outlets in unhygienic conditions. There is no provision for proper cutting, loading and unloading of fish. Keeping this in view, the UT Administration constructed a fish market in Sector 41 comprising 12 booths and handed it over to the MC for auctioning. The auction by the MC flopped as nobody turned up at the venue after which the MC made a suggestion to the UT Administration that it should lease out these booths. But till date the administration has not given its approval to the proposal.

Status: Owing to the delay in taking a decision on leasing out the fish market by the administration, the infrastructure worth lakhs of rupees is lying unused. Even the authorities have failed to control unhygienic cutting of fish on the roadside in colonies as no proper place has been allocated to these shopkeepers.

OPEN HOUSE QUESTION

The city is losing crores of rupees because of the enhanced costs of public utility projects which have been approved by Municipal Corporation in the past, but have not been implemented till date. Write your opinion on the need to fix responsibility for timely execution of public utility projects, in particular and pubic loss as a result of the delay to the openhouse@tribunemail.com

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Road or parking lot?
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Vehicles parked on the road separating Fortis Hospital and Vikas Bhavan at Mohali
Vehicles parked on the road separating Fortis Hospital and Vikas Bhavan at Mohali. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Mohali, April 8
With the authorities failing to solve the parking problem, residents of the town continue to bear the brunt.

The vital sites, which witness the nuisance, include the local District and Sessions Court in Phase III B1, the road between the Fortis Hospital and GMADA office, markets of Phases I, VII and III B2.

It is like winning a war situation to get parking space at these spots. The situation is worst in front of the local District and Sessions Court, which is located just opposite a gurdwara.

Hundreds of residents visit the court and gurdwara. In the absence of any parking lot, all of them park vehicles on the road between the two sites.

“On any working day, it becomes difficult for one to drive a four-wheeler on the road as vehicles remain parked haphazardly on both sides of the road. A few park cars in front of houses, located nearby, which results in altercations,” said Surinder Singh, a resident.

He lamented that the authorities did not do anything to tide over the problem. “We have given written complaints a number of times, but nothing has been done. We wanted the authorities to depute policemen at various sites so that they can stop people from parking vehicles on the road, but that also did not happen,” he said.

The situation is no better in Phase VIII in front of Fortis Hospital. The area, having the hospital and GMADA office, happens to be one of the most crowded places of the town as hundreds of people visit these places everyday.

“Vehicles remain parked on both sides of the road that separates the two buildings. Though it is not allowed to park vehicles on the road, but in the absence of any check, no one pays heed to the rules,” said Sanjay Punni, a local resident.

As the internal roads have been widened, there is no parking space left in front of markets. Though the authorities have converted the open area at the rear of some markets into a parking lot, only a few use the facility.

“Everybody wants to park vehicles in front of shops,” said Rameen Nanda, who runs a chemist shop in Phase VII.

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Bharat Muni Award conferred on Julfiqar Khan
SD Sharma

Chandigarh, April 8
The third Bharat Muni Award-2012 instituted by Samwaad Theatre Group and Punjabi Kala Kendra, Mumbai, was conferred on city’s young thespian

Julfiqar Khan. The award was presented by chief guest Shakti Rani Sharma, chairperson, ICSW, Chandigarh, at a special function held at Tagore Theatre here today. Julfiqar Khan is a gold medallist alumnus of the department of Indian Theatre of Punjab University. He had revolutionised the theatre among slum children and shoe shiners, besides arranging for their education.

The highlight of the programme was the staging of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s popular story “Tota Kahani” in Hindi by artistes of the Theatre Age

Group. The Hindi adaptation, production designing and dramatisation of the popular story by SNA awardee Dr Mahendra flourished under the able direction of Julfiqar Khan. It was a powerful and meaningful satire on the system of education in India. The story authored by Tagore in 1931 holds relevance even today. The play bared the predicament of the modern day educational system through the metaphor of parrot, made to learn big epics to the designed motifs of a few affluent ministers of a foolish king. Over 50 enthusiastic child prodigies aged between 5 and 16, in elegant costumes, mesmerised the audience.

Two short plays staged

Two short Punjabi plays were staged during the ongoing Gursharan Singh Naat Utsav at the Punjab Kala Kendra here today. In the opening play “Leeran” presented by Adakar Manch, playwright director Gursharan had brought into focus the role and modus operandi of all political parties during Assembly or Parliamentary elections. The second play “Fauzan” depicted the sordid story of a soldier’s widow whose proposed re-marriage was stalled by orthodox and feudal forces in one way or the other reiterating the customs of Sati. A play “Sukhi Basse Maskinya (contentment is a bliss)”

depicting the perpetual changing ethical, moral and social values in three generations of a family was staged yesterday. An enthusiastic young man applied all right and wrong means to get his business flourished sacrificing the ethics practised and maintained by his parents and in the process his son representing the third generation turned a spoilt child. The conflict between the generations intensified and in the end everybody realised that grandparents were right.

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Complaint against Fortis Hospital
Tribune Reporters

Mohali, April 8
A local resident, Kanwarjit Singh, has lodged a complaint against Fortis Hospital with the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In his complaint, Kanwarjit Singh, a resident of Sector 48, Chandigarh, said a hospital nurse was about to administer an injection, which had been expired around a year ago, to his mother, Balbir Kaur (66) last evening.

The hospital authorities maintained that they were investigating the veracity of claim of Kanwarjit Singh for due action.

Kanwarjit alleged that his mother, who was running temperature, was admitted to the hospital on March 26.

“Yesterday, a staff nurse was going to administer an injection. When I saw the expiry date of the injection, I was shocked to learn that it had expired in April, last year,” alleged Kanwarjit Singh.

“I had also approached the police to file a complaint, but the police did not listen to me. I was told that the complaint would only be lodged after getting a report from the drug inspector of the area,” claimed Kanwarjit Singh. He added that the drug inspector refused to meet him.

Man duped of Rs 20,000

Panchkula: Om Parkash, a resident of Sector 21, has complained to the police that a Delhi-based firm had duped him of Rs 20,000 for providing a maid.

The complainant said he had paid Rs 20,000 to the firm for hiring a maid, however, the maid fled without informing the family after two days.

As per information, Om Parkash had contacted the firm after reading an advertisement.

The complainant first though that she might have gone to the market but when she did not return, he contacted the company officials. However, he did not receive any satisfactory reply form the company officials. He then lodged a complaint with the police which traced the telephone number of the company to Gurgaon.

SHO of the Sector 5 police station Ajay Rana said they had contacted the Gurgaon police and nabbed the manager of the firm. He said a police team would soon be sent to Gurgaon to bring the accused on production warrant. He said till now they had got no information about the maidservant. He said they had registered a case of fraud against the company. 

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Where traffic jam is a routine affair
Tribune News Service

Vehicles stuck in a traffic jam in Zirakpur on Sunday
Vehicles stuck in a traffic jam in Zirakpur on Sunday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Zirakpur, April 8
Traffic jams continue to haunt residents of the town.

Encroachments in the main bazaar, haphazardly parked vehicles outside the main markets and heavy rush, especially on weekends, lead to traffic jams on the Zirakpur-Ambala highway and other parts of the town.

Traffic jams have become a routine affair under the flyover where one can see long queues of vehicles.

The traffic police finds it difficult to manage traffic in this part of the town.

“Everybody seems to be in a hurry and violates rules. Traffic chaos has become a routine affair here,” said a policeman.

Parking of rickshaws, three-wheelers and ‘rehris’ along the highway aggravate the problem.

Shopkeepers and residents of the area lamented that the authorities concerned had failed to solve the menace.

“Despite making tall claims, the authorities have done nothing to tide over the problem,” said Narinder Kumar, a shopkeeper in the main market.

Kabir, a resident of Dhakoli, who has come from Australia after three years, said, “I have seen major developments in the town, but as far as the traffic management is concerned, the authorities need to chalk out a concrete plan. He added: “Lack of coordination between the local administration and highway authorities could be one of the reasons behind the mismanagement.”

Mohali DSP (Traffic) Surinderjit Kaur claimed that traffic policemen were deployed at all intersections.

“The traffic in charge of the area has been directed to take strict action against traffic violators. We have also written to the higher authorities to provide parking space to rickshaw-pullers and auto drivers,” added the DSP.

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TRICITY SCAN

300 examined at medical camp
Slum children perfrom during the founder’s day of the World Peace Mission at Sector 49 in Chandigarh on Sunday
Slum children perfrom during the founder’s day of the World Peace Mission at Sector 49 in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

The Chandigarh Senior Citizens' Association in collaboration with the UT Administration and municipal corporation organised a socio-medical camp at Government Model High School, Vikas Nagar (Mauli Jagran), Chandigarh, here on Sunday. The Adviser to the UT Administrator, KK Sharma, visited the fourth in a series of five such camps celebrating the 16th anniversary of the association. Over 300 patients were examined by specialists from Ivy Hospital, Grewal Eye Institute (three sent for cataract operation straightaway) and the dental unit of Mata Tripta Charitable Trust.

Founder’s day

The World Peace Mission celebrated founder’s day with slum children at Sector 49-C opposite Gurdwara Charan Kamal Sahib here on Sunday. The mission is at present running seven literacy centres in Chandigarh and adjoining villages, which function for two hours everyday. At these centres, around 250 poor children are imparted elementary education. The mission was started by Avtar Singh in 1991 to give education to children of migratory labourers.

Folk songs mark Baisakhi function

The J&K Dogra Sabha on Sunday organised a function to celebrate Baisakhi. RS Chib, Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education, Youth Services and Sport, Jammu & Kashmir government, was the chief guest while Adviser to the UT Administrator KK Sharma presided over the function. RS Chib assured the community that he would look into the problems and take up various issues, including the one pertaining to the construction of a sarai/bhawan for patients and their attendants, who come to Chandigarh for treatment, with the J&K government. Dogri folk songs and dances marked the day.

Office-bearers elected

The following have been elected office-bearers of the Chamber of Chandigarh Industry. President: Sandeep Sahni; general secretary: Rakesh K Aggarwal; vice-president: Subhash Dang; joint secretary: Rajwant Singh and finance secretary: Harvinder Singh Khanna.

PK Sharma new Rafi society chief

PK Sharma was unanimously elected president of the 27-year-old Yadgar-e-Rafi Society, an organisation committed to providing platform to the upcoming singers, in a meeting held at the UT Guest House here on Sunday. The following were elected office-bearers. Senior vice-presidents: Puneet Bedi; vice-presidents: Pradeep Bedi, GS Ghuman and Pradeep Sharma; general secretary: BD Sharma; organising secretary: Vijay Sharma; joint secretaries: Hari Parkash and Naresh Sharma; finance secretary: IS Kang; and executive members: Kuldeep Sharma, Saneev Parmar, Dinesh Sharma, Sanjay Khanna and VM Sharma.


Orientation day

Vivek Atray, Additional Transport Commissioner, Haryana, and an author, on Sunday interacted with parents during the orientation day of The Millennium School, Mohali, to apprise them of new age learning methodologies and techniques being adopted nowadays. While addressing the key concern of parents to provide individual attention to their wards, Atray underlined the need for a multi-pronged approach and predictive strategy to address the issues confronting the -system in an integrated manner.

World Heart Day

Shemrock Senior Secondary School, Sector 69, Mohali, celebrated World Health Day. Students were told to eat healthy food for leading a healthy life.

63 papers presented

Gian Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology (GJ-IMT), Mohali, in association with the Chandigarh Management Association (CMA) organised its 6th international conference on “India in an Era of Global Uncertainties: Issues, Opportunities & Challenges”. More than 113 full length papers were contributed from 
countries such as Canada, Hungary, Sri Lanka and Pakistan and more than 63 papers were presented in four technical sessions. — Tribune Reporters

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open house response
Care for elderly, just a concept, but action nil

There is hardly any care for the elderly here. Recent examples of 94-year-old Dayawanti at Sector 18 in Chandigarh and the 75-year-old mother of a Punjab University teacher being found dead are illustrate this. The number of those in the age group of over 60 years is over 1 lakh in a population of 11 lakh. The number is more if those in the age group of between 70 and 80 years is added to the figure. This should not come as a surprise as medical facilities in the tricity have improved.

The sad part of the story is that they live alone as their sons and daughters have gone abroad for greener pastures. They have left their parent back home to look after themselves. While affluent sections of society have means for survival, their dependence on maids and other servants makes them vulnerable, often causing them mental torture to them.

Even old-age homes have frightening stories. Government schemes are hopelessly inadequate. Old-age pension amounts make a mockery of the concept. The amount of Rs 500 per month is a cruel joke. The social environment has undergone sea change, with families going nuclear. Parents are working, children are studying and grandparents are often left to fend themselves. This disintegrates families.

Small bonds of love exist if property is registered in the names of the elderly. They are forced to sell it for better future prospects of the sons and grandsons. The irony is that the maltreatment of the elderly goes unreported as they do not possess the power and guts to speak against their kin in public. If they do, so their plight gets worse and they become the laughing stock in family circles and the neighbourhood. The elderly are devoid of any kind of social interaction and television becomes their sole companion most of the time.

Our social system has failed to evolve a mechanism for the care for the elderly. Old-age homes, which are run on charity, often fail to provide the kind and choice of care to the elderly. Those deputed on payment fail to perform their duties. The social welfare department is incapacitated as it is mired in red tape and corruption.

— Satish Chandra Sharma, Chandigarh

Not a problem

Old age has never been a problem in India, where a value-based joint family system is supposed to prevail. The Indian culture is automatically respectful and supportive of the elderly. With that background, the abuse of the elderly has never been considered a problem in India and has always been considered a problem in the West. The coping capacities of the youth and the elderly are now being challenged. More often than not, there is uncalled-for behaviour by the youth, which is considered abnormal by the elderly. There is need to ponder over this.

— Jasbir Kaur, Mohali

Health clubs

I have gone through the detailed article on the sorry state of affairs of the elderly, I think that there is a place for the government or the private sector to start health clubs. Special transport facility can be provided, not just for picking and dropping them, but also delivering certain basi necessities which they can order over telephone. The clubs should provide healthcare and physiotherapy. A 24-hour emergency number will add value to the service.

Rubinder Kaur, Sirhind

Just on paper

Many of the elderly, some of them having been well-off, have been rendered homeless after being thrown out by their families, including children. India does not have an aged-friendly environment. There is neither infrastructure, nor any support system to ensure their well-being. There is neither social security, nor community support. Everything is just on paper. Old-age homes are finding it difficult to sustain themselves owing to paucity of funds. The number of grandparents and parents being sent away is increasing by the day.

Negligence and deliberate cruelty are some of the major problems that the elderly have to face. Migrating to other cities is becoming common, with cases of domestic violence against the elderly on the rise. Some of them are left alone at the apartments and are subjected to maltreatment by their domestic helps. There are numerous cases of persons being robbed and murdered by their domestic helps. These crimes stem from the isolation that the elderly are left to face.

Rabinder Singh, Mohali

Give slowly

In the sunset of their lives, a sizeable majority of senior citizens are a harried lot. While there are exceptions, I know a couple of cases of persons sitting tightly over their worldly possessions and refusing to loosen their grip. This attitude gives rise to unhealthy relationships with the younger generation. An attitudinal change is the need of the hour. People will do well if they realise that the day is not far when possessions will change hands. Start giving gradually and gracefully.

If you tend to start a ‘quit slowly’ attitude, you will find all-round cheer in the family. I am a senior citizen and know that it is better said than done. One has to be worldly wise to go in for the inevitable transition to see a remarkable improvement in family relationships.

— SC Luthra, Chandigarh

Admn, move

The Chandigarh Tribune deserves praise for initiating the discussion. It is a complex and sensitive issue. Given the present age of materialism, where personal greed is ruling the roost, the elderly, who are not strong physically, are forced to be dependent on their families. They are generally neglected in our fast-growing nuclear families. The elderly are repositories of knowledge and wisdom, which must be utilised for the good of all. They have contributed a lot to the development of the nation and deserve a dignified life, with respect and recognition in their families and society.

The legislative measure devoted to the maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens is inadequate and weak. Its implementation is poor and just on paper. It needs to be amended in a comprehensive manner at the earliest to make it a strong and effective legislative tool. It needs to be urgently ensured that the working of all institutions, both in government and private sectors, is transparent. The Chandigarh Administration will do well if it ensures that audio-visual information about the working of such institutions is uploaded.

The best place for the elderly is home, with family. The Administration can plan an additional home to that at Sector 43. A few daycare centres for the elderly can ensure the enjoyment of basic human rights to them. The Administration should provide medicare services at their doorsteps.

— Manjit Singh, Chandigarh

Schools, help

Schools need to seriously consider incorporating social work in their curricula. If children are exposed to the suffering of the elderly, they may become more considerate towards the aged, at least at home. There is potential to make them more tolerant and better human beings.

— Shanti Bhanot

Live-in option

The enhancement of life span due to quality lifestyle, the low mortality rate owing to the latest medical support system, excessive family planning, the growing concept of nuclear families, financial self-sufficiency, a plethora of television channels, globalisation and lack of adhesiveness in society are some of the factors contributing to the problems of the elderly. Many problems are self-created by them because of their old incorrigible habits, not coping with the changing world, failing to understand the busy schedule of their families, not planning for old age and having no hobby or social work, which have added fuel to the fire.

When the elderly do not write their wills and divide property in time, the issue sometimes gets out of hand. Certain social, cultural, religious, traditional and family taboos have restricted the elderly from speaking out their minds after losing their partners at a stage where they can neither remarry, nor afford to live alone. Last year, Natubhai Patel at Ahmedabad organised a live-in relationship fair for senior citizens. The programme was organised by the NGO ‘Vina Mulye Amulya Seva’.

If you think that the live-in relationship is only for the youth, this concept will change your perception. Senior citizens who have faded like autumn leaves have a second chance. To escape the loneliness in their lives, senior citizens have started live-in relationships. The organisation had received applications from 2,500 men and 350 women for match-making, of which 500 men and 25 women responded positively to the option.

In case of wedding at this stage, the issue of property again takes its toll. Cases remain pending in court. The concept of live-in relationships is the best. Society has to be realistic as there is no space at ‘ashrams’, asylums and old-age homes. There has been a jump in the percentage of such persons above the age of 80.

Madan Gupta Spatu, Chandigarh

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King of fruits hits market
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8
While kinnows have disappeared from most fruit shops, the king of fruits, mango, continues to be out of reach of the common man.

Even as it is available in every city market, only a few come forward to buy the fruit due to its high price. A kg of totapari mango, which comes from Chennai and its adjoining areas, is available for Rs 60 per kg. The safeda from Sicundrabad in Andhra Preadesh costs Rs 100 per kg and the perri between Rs 120 and Rs 150 per kg.

The price is expected to come down in the coming days when arrivals from other parts of the country starts reaching the local market.

The other most sought-after fruit of summer, musk melon, has started hitting the market. Musk melons from Rajasthan is selling at a price as high as Rs 80 a kg in the fruit and vegetable market of Sector 26.

On the other hand, kinnow has started fading out as its season is over. However, with sluggish supply it is being sold at a price Rs 40 and above per kg.

On the vegetable front, the prices of potato and tomato registered an increase. The prices of potato ranged between Rs 10 and Rs 12 per kg while tomato has spurted up to Rs 40.

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Over 10,000 take IIT-JEE exam
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8
Over 10,000 aspirants today appeared for the IIT-Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) in 15 centres across the city. For the first time, candidates were allowed to take home a duplicate copy of their answer scripts after the exam.

The Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination (popularly known as IIT-JEE or just JEE) is an annual college entrance examination in India. It is used as sole admission criterion by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) as well as other institutes.

JEE is held in two parts with three papers each - chemistry, mathematics and physics. Part I was held in the morning shift, while Part II was conducted in the afternoon shit of three hours each. The test was held on an optical reader sheet.

Rohan, one of the applicants, said the exam was numerical based, but it was highly logical and did not involve much calculation.

“Compared to previous years, IIT JEE this year was relatively easy and came with little or no surprises. Students, who had done the course as per the school curriculum, found the exam easy,” said Dr TK Bansal, who runs a coaching institute.

This year, more than 5.6 lakh applicants appeared in the exam as compared to 4.6 lakh who took the exam last time for nearly 9,600 undergraduate seats in IITs. The result is scheduled to be declared on May 18.

Aspirants’ number up

This year, more than 5.6 lakh applicants appeared in the exam as compared to 4.6 lakh who took the exam last time for nearly 9,600 undergraduate seats in IITs. The result will be declared on May 18.

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PU Fellow writes to UGC
Says college teachers should be allowed to attend seminars on duty leave
Amit Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8
Although the Panjab University Senate recently rejected its proposal after facing strong opposition from the house to allow colleges teachers to attend only two seminars in a year on duty leave, a PU Fellow has written to the University Grant Commission (UGC) for allowing college teachers to attend seminars as per academic provision that prevails for university teachers, so that no such proposal affects their academic growth.

Dr Dalip Kumar, a Fellow and faculty at Post Graduate Government College for Girls-42, has written to the UGC demanding inclusion of college teachers for matters relating to duty leave under UGC-2010 regulations, Section 8.1.

“These regulations specifically pertain to minimum qualifications for appointments of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges and measures for maintenance of standards in higher education. Regulation 8.0 of these regulations deals with duty leave, study leave and sabbatical leave. Sub-section i to vi of Section 8.1 make a mention of different purposes for proceeding on duty leave. But there is no mention of colleges along with universities. In the official parlance it appears that these sub-sections of Section 8.1 do not relate to college teachers whereas the whole spectrum of UGC regulations pertains to university and college teachers both,” Kumar stated.

Presently, duty leave is denied to college teachers by the college administration as there is no mention of the same in the UGC regulations.

The issue that had appeared in the recent Senate meeting had witnessed opposition from the house following which the proposal was withdrawn.

Kumar stated that a college teacher, like a university teacher, had to upgrade her or his academic profile and professional growth which in turn would benefit students.

Another fellow RPS Josh, who is also a college teacher, said they should be treated at par with the university teachers. “We are asked to promote research and even guide Phd students, which is not possible if we don’t get academic freedom,” Josh added.

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Parents oppose school fee hike
Our Correspondent

Ambala, April 8
The Ambala School Parents’ Association today held a meeting and decided to protest against the fee hike.

Sushil Verma, president of the association, said the administration should intervene in the matter and the school managements should be asked to revoke the decision.

Rajnish Kapoor, secretary of the association, said parents were disappointed over the apathetic attitude of school authorities. He added that some of the managements were not even bothered to discuss the issue with parents.

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