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pu vc selection Appointment likely by next week; present Vice-Chancellor Sobti also in the race Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 28 The interviews were held on the campus of the IIT Delhi here today. Among contenders for the coveted position is the incumbent VC of PU Prof RC Sobti. Sobti was the first candidate to appear before the search and selection committee which comprised Justice Leila Seth (retd), Hyderabad-based scientist P Rama Rao and former Ambassador IS Chadha. Out of the nine candidates the search committee interviewed to know from them their vision for the PU, six are from the university itself. These included Sobti, whose term as the incumbent VC ends on July 22; Prof BS Brar, Dean, University Instructions, PU; Prof RK Kohli, Dean, Research, PU, Shelly Walia, Prof, English Department, PU, Prof BS Ghuman from the public administration department of the PU, and Dinesh Gupta from the University Business School, PU. The contenders from outside the university included, Prof Anu Singh of the University School of Management Studies, New Delhi, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University; Arun Grover of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, and Prof Bhupinder Singh Chimney from the Centre for International Legal Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The acting chairman of the UGC Prof Ved Prakash was called for the interview but did not turn up. The committee interviewed each candidate for around half an hour, but is yet to finalise the three-member panel to be submitted to the Chancellor Vice-President Hamid Ansari who would then name one among them as the PU VC. Sources in the Chancellor’s office told The Tribune today that the VC would be appointed very soon, perhaps by next week, and surely before the term of Sobti that ends on July 22. As regards apprehensions certain prospective candidates were raising with respect to the fact that the search committee did not advertise for nominations, official sources said the search committee was autonomous and reserved the freedom to decide whether it wanted to search for candidates or ask them to apply for the position through an advertisement. A search and selection committee’s field of choice cannot be confined to those who have sent across their CVs, sources said. For instance, the committee can on its own call a candidate for the interview and thus search a candidate, as it did this time around in some cases. As regards Sobti appearing before the search committee for an interview and seeking a third term as the VC of the PU, official sources said the PU Act of 1947 did not bar any incumbent VC from seeking a third term even if he had received two extensions. “He can seek a third extension. There is no bar on that, as per the law,” sources said.
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Kaimbwala sewage flows unchecked into Sukhna
Chandigarh, June 27 The committee, constituted to save the lake, had issued directions to the public health wing of the engineering department to stop the flow, but the officials did not pay heed to the committee’s decision. The careless approach of committee members towards the directions of the committee had forced the UT’s chief conservator of forests, Santosh Kumar, to step down from the post of the committee’s chairman. Last year at the meeting of the Sukhna Lake committee held on November 23, it was observed that the flow of sewage from Kaimbwala village into the diversion channel leading to Sukhna Lake was one of the major reasons for the growth of weeds in Sukhna Lake. Sources revealed that the Superintending Engineer of the Public health wing of the UT’s engineering department was asked to make arrangements to stop or divert the flow of sewage. Sources further added that at the meeting it was decided that within three months the authorities concerned would divert the flow of the polluted water. But till now, the UT Engineering department has failed to stop the flow. When this correspondent visited the site, he found that the sewage flow was continuing into the diversion channel. Besides, the villagers also used to throw empty bottles, polythene bags and other waste material into the diversion channel. On this issue, the UT's forest department had also submitted its report to the UT Administration. The forest department had sought immediate action to stop the inflow into the diversion channel before the rainy season. UT’s chief conservator of forests, Santosh Kumar, said they had identified the flow of polluted water from Kaimbwala into diversion channel as a major reason behind the weed problem in the lake. The UT Engineering department was asked to divert the flow and now the engineering department would be able to give more details on this issue. Secretary Finance-cum-Engineering VK Singh said that the department had decided to divert the flow and had also decided to treat the polluted water. He added that he would be able to tell about the present situation after checking with the officials concerned. UT Adviser KK Sharma said he was not aware about the committee’s decision and would check with the department officials concerned.
5 weed types identified
Last year, the National Botanical Research Institute
(NBRI) had submitted a report to the UT Administration identifying types of weeds. In their report, the NBRI experts had identified five types of the weeds namely Vallisneria
spiralis, Potamogeton crispus, hydrilla, ceratophyllum and typia that grow in the
Sukhna. At the meeting of the Sukhna Lake committee held on November 23 last year , it was observed that the flow of sewage from Kaimbwala village into the diversion channel leading to Sukhna Lake was one of the major reasons for the growth of weeds in Sukhna Lake.
Senior official given charge
As committee members were not taking decisions seriously and not participating actively in discussions, UT chief conservator of forests Santosh Kumar had suggested that some senior officer of Secretary rank be made chairman. He had stated that he would continue to be a member. Finance Secretary VK Singh was given the charge to convene meetings.
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UT’s Hospitality Department under scanner
Chandigarh, June 28 In the last one year, items worth Rs 82.58 lakh were purchased for consumption at UT Guest House without inviting any tender. By purchasing the items from the society at rates much higher than the market price of the items, the department suffered loss by not saving public money, said sources in the Chandigarh Administration. UT officials have recently received the detailed report on the audit objections. Director Hospitality Tilak Raj said the Cooperative Society was an approved source of the Chandigarh Administration and the same agency was supplying items to the Jail department and there was no anomaly in the purchase. “I am aware about any audit para. But still it is a government approved source,” he said. Questionins were raised against the Hospitality Department for not adhering to the General Financial Rules (GFR), 2006, that govern the procedure to invite limited tender to purchase of goods of up to Rs 25 lakh. In violation of the GFR Rules, the department made the irregular purchases of items amounting to Rs 82.58 lakh and it cannot be justified in the audit, said the audit objection. The department, to justify purchases from the society, has cited an order of the Chandigarh Administration, dated June 1995. But the AG while doing a test check of some of the items found that while buying items from the approved source, the department was paying 25 per cent to 35 per cent more that the price of the items available in the market and the society was charging service charge from the department. The manager of the society, Amarjeet singh, said
while selecting the items, a representative of the Hospitality Department also accompanied the society official in finalising the items. He said he was not aware about any such anomaly in purchasing the items at higher rates. “We are a government-approved source. The rates of the items could vary depending upon the quality of the product,” he said, adding that he would still verify the facts. The scrutiny of records revealed that the payment of Rs 82.58 lakh included avoidable payment of Rs 4.34 lakh that was paid as service charges to the society by the department. It has been pointed out that the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Limited (CITCO) allotted various tenders for the purchase of grocery, vegetables and other items and the Hospitality Department was also purchasing the vegetables from M/s Arora Vegetable Co, the company to which CITCO had allotted tenders for the purchase of vegetables. But for buying dairy and grocery items, the Hospitality Department was paying service charges
at a rate of 5 per cent to the society. UT officials said that had the department made the purchases from CITCO contractors, the department could have saved government money and purchase made directly by the department could have got competitive rates.
Unjustified purchase of plants worth Rs 1.66 lakh
The audit has pointed out that the hospitality department purchased plants worth Rs 1,66,750 from some outside source without obtaining an
NOC from the Horticulture Division. "No entry in the stock register and no record was available for the plantation of plants. It is evident that the plants were only purchased to utilise the balance grant," points out the audit report.
What are General Financial Rules
Rules state that the purchases should be made in an economical manner in accordance with definite requirement. Goods should be purchased straight away from any particular agency, whereas the rates should be compared with the rates of local markets and if their rates are lower than the rates of other firms, only then the purchases should be made from any particular agency.
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Servant arrested for attempted poisoning
Chandigarh, June 28 The police arrested Kuldeep Singh, a Talwandi Saboo resident, for adding mercury in food of his employer. He has been arrested in a case of attempt to murder under Section 307 of the IPC. The accused is a permanent government employee. While the incident occurred in October last year, the case was registered only today after the police received the CFSL report of the food samples, confirming that the chapati that was served by the servant had mercury in it. The case was registered on the complaint of Savinder’s son Amarpal, a Sector 15 resident, who alleged that Kuldeep tried to serve a poisonous substance (mercury) in food to his mother. The complainant’s mother Savinder Kaur, wife of late Justice Sidhu, had suspected foul play before having her food as she noticed something shining on the chapati. She informed the police, which collected three separate food samples. The CFSL report confirmed that the chapati had mercury in it. The police registered the case today after obtaining legal opinion, which stated that mercury is similar to poison. The police said the servant was a government employee and serving the Justice’s family for the last eight years. He used to frequently have heated arguments with Savinder Kaur and decided to poison her so that he could get rid of the present job and get a chance to work with a serving Justice of the High Court. The accused will be produced in court tomorrow. —TNS
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Meeting on house tax next week
Chandigarh, June 28 Taking a serious note of the directions, a special meeting of UT officials has been convened by UT Administrator Shivraj Patil next week to discuss this issue. Highly placed sources in the Administration revealed that a proposal to impose house tax in the city would be tabled in the meeting and a final decision taken by the Administrator. A senior official with the Administration said the Urban Development Secretary had made it clear at a recent meeting that no fresh proposal would be funded under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) until the Administration imposed house tax. When contacted, Adviser to Administrator KK Sharma said the imposition of house tax in the city was still under consideration. The sources said legal advice was recently sought by the Administration as to what action could be taken to direct the municipal corporation (MC) to impose house tax. In the reply, it was pointed out that under Section 90(4) of the Punjab Municipal Act, the Administration could issue directions to the MC to impose house tax. The official said the MC would be left with no option but to impose house tax and choose the model it wanted to impose after the directions were issued. The Centre had recently communicated the cut of Rs 10 crore in the grant-in-aid to the MC under the JNNURM. The official said the Administration would take a decision soon to avoid any such situation in the future. At a recent meeting, MC officials informed the Administration that the General House and the house and tax assessment committee had rejected the proposal to impose any new tax or revise property tax. On April 11, the UT Administration sent a final reminder to the MC to impose house tax, in which it asked the corporation to impose a minimal tax and revise property tax to avoid any problem in getting grant-in-aid from the Centre under the JNNURM.
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Councillors inspect colonies
Chandigarh, June 28 Members of the slum and village committee paid a visit to the Kumhar and Gwala colonies here today under the supervision of chairperson Rajender Kaur. It was observed that both colonies lacked basic civic amenities, including water connections to tenements, proper roads, electricity lights, storm-water drainage, sanitation and a school. The members asked officials with the public health department to provide water connection forms on the spot for the installation of water connections to tenements. They asked executive engineer Jaipal, accompanying them, to enquire about the layout plan for recarpeting roads, installing storm-water drainage and setting up parks. The members also decided to take up the plight of those residing in rehabilitation colonies with the MC Commissioner. Councillors Malkiat Singh and Saurab Joshi, and officials of the public health, building and roads, horticulture, sanitation, electricity and water departments of the MC, accompanied committee members.
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Traffic police for prepaid 3-wheelers
Chandigarh, June 28 The prepaid TSR fare service scheme is running successfully. The service is purely optional for passengers in the sense they are at liberty to either avail the TSR through pre-paid system or to hire TSR and pay the driver directly. — TNS
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Children highlight MC’s apathy
Chandigarh, June 28 Revealing the situation of the area, the children told the MC Commissioner that there were around 15,000 residents in over 3,000 'jhuggis' at the colony in Sector 26, who were living in poor conditions, devoid of basic necessities like sanitation, water and electricity. A group of children handed over a detailed survey about the basic necessities of public toilets and sanitation in the colony and demanded that urgent steps be initiated to resolve those at the earliest. Vikram, a member of the bal panchayat, said on one hand, the government was running a campaign to stop open defecation in the country and on the other, thousands of people in the city went in the open to answer nature’s call, with no regular provision for bathing. Ruchi, another member of the bal panchayat, added that people needed to shell out Rs 2 for toilet and Rs 5 for bathing at 'sulabh shauchalayas', which many families could not afford. She requests the MC Commissioner to take action before the commencement of the monsoon, lest infectious diseases spread. The MC Commissioner directed the Chief Engineer to get the area surveyed at the earliest and set up more public toilets as per requirements of residents.
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Foul smell emanates from nullah
Panchkula, June 28 The residents of Sector 7 rued that despite several representations to the HUDA authorities nothing has been done to clear the nullah. They claimed that foul smell was emanating from the nullah and there was possibility of outbreak of malaria, as the same had become breeding ground for the mosquitoes. The president of the Sector 7 Residents Welfare Association Tarsem Garg said that representations were submitted to the HUDA authorities every year but they have got only assurances. He said that they had demanded for the construction of a retaining wall on the Panchkula side on the lines to prevent the overflow of floodwaters in NAC area during heavy rains. Garg said that about 250 houses have been constructed near this side of the nullah and that it had become difficult for the residents as the foul smell was emanating from the nullah. He demanded that the nullah should be covered from the top so as to restrain the people from the throwing the garbage and other material. He claimed during heavy rains, the floodwater enters the Durga Temple and other residential areas in the sector. When contacted Estate Officer HUDA, Ashwani Sharma, he said that a proposal had already been sent for the construction of the retaining wall to the engineering wing. Meanwhile, BB Singal former vice-president of the erstwhile Municipal Council in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, Ashima Brar, urged that every year the rainwater gets accumulated on the roads and starts flowing on it, damaging the metalled roads to a great extent in Sector 10. He urged the DC to issue directions to MC/HUDA to clean the road gullies of the city in time so that the residents were saved from the inconvenience of water logging and rain water entering into their houses, damaging house hold goods worth lakhs of rupees.
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CTU to introduce e-ticketing on buses
Chandigarh, June 28 The device, equipped with the GPRS system, will update the server of each bus. Director Transport TPS Phoolka said modalities were being worked out before starting the new system. It would bring about more transparency and allow the authorities to monitor the issuing of tickets. An ETM was a hardware device capable of issuing passenger tickets and sending ticket data over serial and GPRS interfaces. It was capable of automatic fare collection using smart cards and recharging of cards. All transactions would be stored on the ETM, uploaded directly to the PC-based application or on the driver console unit over a serial interface. A control room would be set up at the CTU office to monitor occupancy and movement of buses. ETMs would cut down on ticketless travel by commuters and non-issuing of tickets. The aim was to introduce the GPS system to ensure that buses took designated routes without missing stops. CTU officials had visited cities like Mumbai and Pune to study the system. The new system would also be of help to daily commuters who had to get their passes renewed.
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DC order on slaughtering of animals
Mohali, June 28 Notably, several illegal slaughtering has been taking place at various places in and around the town. The DC has directed the MC officials to start conducting raids at such sites and meat shops as well to ensure selling of healthy and hygienic product. “At the MC-run slaughter house, all the animals are being examined by the veterinary doctors. The consumer should also check the MC stamp on the animal’s body at the time of buying it,” said JC Sabharwal, the MC Joint Commissioner, who visited the slaughterhouse today to check the conditions there.
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‘Rainwater to be logged in Mohali’
Mohali, June 28 Showing concern, an official of the local water supply and sanitation department, requesting anonymity, admitted that about two to three feet rain waters would be logged in the various sectors including 70, 71 and Industrial Area as the level of the road was higher than these sectors resulting in obstructing the natural gradient of the land here. “The water flows from these sectors to Sohana village side. Proper provisions should have made for the flow of storm water at the time of construction of the road,” said the officials while claiming that the department was not consulted before laying the road. He also maintained that even the sewerage system of the town needed to be upgrade to deal with the rainwater. With the obstruction in natural flow, now the entire pressure of water drainage has come on sewerage system. “Surely, it would take more time to clear the water,” said the official. Talking to the Chandigarh Tribune, Amarjeet Singh of Sector 70 said that they (the residents) had already been facing the problem.
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Staff nurse slaps trainee at GMSH
Chandigarh, June 28 At least 17 students complained about the incident to the senior medical officer and submitted a complaint to the staff at the police post in Sector 16. According to the complaint, staff nurse Sheela came with her daughter for check-up to room 17, which was the room for collection of samples, around 11:30 am. Trainee Mehak Kaur, pursuing a course at the Khalsa College, stopped her from entering the room. Sheela got agitated and allegedly slapped Mehak for the obstruction. Sources said CCTV footage of the room where the incident took place was viewed and it was proved that the nurse slapped the trainee. The medical superintendent, Dr Rajiv Vadera, said they received the complaint. He added that a committee comprising Dr Abha and Dr Gopal Bhardwaj was set up. Action would be taken against the guilty after the inquiry report was submitted, he stated.
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Fortis staff celebrate 11th anniversary
Mohali, June 28 A cultural show was organised today to mark the occasion. Two humorous skits were presented by nurses. Doctors enthralled the audience by presenting a musical medley. An exciting and energetic 'bhangra' by nursing students charged up the atmosphere. Best performers were given away awards. The event was presided over by Fortis Healthcare Limited chief operating officer Ashish Bhatia. Justice SS Sodhi and his wife Bonny Sodhi were guests of honour. Congratulating the staff on the achievement, Bhatia exhorted them to redouble their efforts in serving the community. Fortis Healthcare Limited zonal director Col Harinder Singh Chehal, Fortis Hospital medical director Dr Gurbir Singh and other senior doctors of the hospital were also present.
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10,887 to compete for 4,200 seats
Chandigarh, June 28 Out of total 12,144 applicants, only 10,887 students could successfully complete the admission steps. Coordinator BCom admissions, Prof SK Chadha said this year, around 6,000 applicants had applied for the admission in the colleges of Chandigarh that has around 2,100 seats. The competition for admissions in the city colleges will be tough, as the number of applications is more than the total number of seats, said Chadha. PU officials said the first merit list would be released on July 4 and the same would be displayed in all colleges on July 11 after inviting any objections from the applicants. The admissions will begin soon after the merit list is displayed in the colleges, Chadha said. The university in its recent decision decided to exclude the colleges of Hoshiarpur from the online admissions due to the low number of students opting for BCom. Meanwhile, two more colleges in the periphery of Ludhiana and PU’s evening department were included in the list of colleges where BCom admissions are held online. Chadha further said earlier it was expected that the students who don’t get admission in Delhi would rush to Chandigarh, however, this year the merit list of Delhi didn’t make any impact on the PU admissions. “One reason behind the students not rushing towards Chandigarh for admission is that they are going for career-oriented courses,” Chadha said. Although the online admissions process got completed today, the students who have completed all steps can submit hard copies of their registration forms till June 30 at PU and Ludhiana regional centre.
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Pbi varsity to have sports counselling centre
Patiala, June 28 Dr Jaspal Singh said it was important to ensure that the students of the university were not only good at education but also physically fit. Therefore, we have decided to come up with this centre to provide the best of facilities to teachers and students. Talking about the centre, Dr Paramvir Singh, head of the sports science department and programme coordinator of the national service scheme of the university, informed that the centre was temporarily working from the gymnasium hall of the university. The new building is being constructed under the Punjab infrastructural development with the financial aid of Rs 1.76 crore. Moreover, the expenses of latest machinery, which have already been installed in the university, were borne by the university. He further informed that the centre, which will be functional in six months from now, will be the first centre of Punjab, which will have all facilities, including treatment for muscle injuries, diet counselling, bio-chemical evaluation of a body, altitude training system, sauna bath and steam bath. Moreover, all sports injuries would be carefully studied and treated, as the main focus of this centre is to improve the performance of sportspersons at the national and international level, he added.
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Teachers’ orientation workshop to improve classroom skills
Panchkula, June 28 About 70 teachers from all DAV schools demonstrated and shared their innovative ideas, activities and teaching methodologies to improve the teaching skills and to make the teaching learning a fun-filled activity. Anupama Saproo, a teacher at KBDAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, Chandigarh, remarked, “The orientation workshop provided the teachers a platform to learn innovative ideas and develop teaching skills and has instilled confidence among teachers for experimentation in teaching and learning of science, mathematics and computer science.” Jaya Bhardwaj, principal Hansraj Public School, said these workshops were organised in various DAV schools around the tricity to share, update and keep the teachers abreast with the new teaching skills and methodologies. It is the yearly endeavour of DAV to keep their teachers alert to any new development in the learning system.
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Strategy to conduct peaceful student polls discussed
Chandigarh, June 28 During the meeting, it was cleared that elections in the campus would not be allowed if even a single incident of violence is reported at PU. To maintain much required peace in the campus, the ASP exhorted that all types of lethal weapons, including the licenced ones, should be strictly banned at the campus and on the premises of colleges. The ASP mentioned that outsiders should not be allowed to campaign during the elections and only bonafide students studying in Panjab University can take part in the elections. PU officials said proper checking at the main gate as well as at hostels gates would be done and entry of only bonafide students after thorough checking with their identity cards will be allowed. Further, it was stressed upon that no poster and sticker of any party shall be pasted at places other than the allowed ones on the campus. The PU officials said any poster belonging to any party or person, who was not a student of the university, if found pasting posters or stickers at the places, which amounted to defacement, an action against the concerned shall be taken under the defacement Act in all cases, even to the extent of debarring the student from contesting the elections. The PU officials said entry of vehicles with stickers of student organisations pasted on it would also be banned in the campus. The officials further added that the students must carry their identity cards for verification to evade any hardship and action. Any outsider, if found during the surprise checks residing with any resident in the hostel without warden’s permission and making entry to this effect in the hostel register, the real allottee of the room will be punished by way of expulsion from the hostel with an immediate effect, stated the officials.
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