|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Grand Dasehra: city sees Rs 50 lakh go up in smoke
Chandigarh, October 24 A total of 31 effigies of Ravana were set on fire across the city. The major attraction was the tallest Ravana at Sector 46 that stood 83 feet tall. The tallest Ravana in Panchkula was 70 feet and 75 feet in Mohali. Showering of petals by an aircraft and colourful fireworks were the other attractions at the Sector 46 Dasehra function. People were jostling for space to have a glimpse of the burning effigies. Some were seen standing on the roof of their houses. The revolving Ravana at the Mani Majra Dasehra ground, prepared by the National AD Ram Lila Club, was the attraction of the day. Monu Mehra, president of the club, said it was for the first time that the revolving effigies of Ravana and his kin were prepared in the city. The Dasehra celebrations in Sector 17 began with a procession with actors donning colourful attire. The procession started from the Sector 23 temple and culminated at the Sector 17 parade ground where the effigies of Ravana, Meghanada and Kumbhkarana were set on fire. Organisers at Sector 34 and Sector 29 also held grand functions on the occasion. Doctors of the PGI prepared the effigies of Ravana and organised a quiz for the children on Ramayana. It was an all-religion affair at Sector 24 Dasehra celebrations. Heads of all religions gave the message of communal harmony and set on a 60 feet effigy of Ravana on fire.
|
|
Festive spirit prevails
Chandigarh, October 24 The rain left many effigies of Ravana, Meghanad and Kumbhkarna damaged in the city, but the celebrations gained momentum as it was a sunny day today. Colourful Dasehra processions with tableaux and musical bands in Mani Mara, Sectors 46 and 17 set the festivities in motion. The Demon King Ravana was finally put to flames, reverberating the triumph of good over evil. The Dasehra committees were seen fixing damaged effigies of demons which were damaged in rain. The Sector 46 Dasehra committee took the help of a crane to reposition the head of its 83 feet tall Ravana, tallest in the city, which tilted last night following rain. Chief patron of the Sector 46 Dasehra committee, Jatinder Bhatia, said they were upset following the last night’s rain, but the whole team ensured that everything was in place today. “Our aim was to repair the damaged effigies, which we did successfully. Surinder Sharma, general secretary of the Sector 34 Ramlila committee, said every member of their team worked hard to fix the damaged effigies. “There was no major damage to crackers, but the effigies had to be repaired,” said Jyoti Swaroop, member of the Sector 29 ramlila committee.
Time to return home for Muslim artists
It was the time to return home for Muslim artists, who prepared the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghanad, that went up in flames today. Baqil Qureshi from Agra said he could not control his emotions when the effigies were consigned to flames, but they were satisfied as their creations cheered the crowd. “We will return next year,” he said.
Ravanas fail to spit fire
Several organising committees had prepared fire-spitting Ravanas which were to emit fire from eyes and nose, but it could not happen as Tuesday’s evening rain damaged the effigies.
|
|
Previous night’s shower fails to spoil festivities
Panchkula, October 24 The festival was celebrated with great fervour in the city this evening, leading to traffic jams on the Sectors 4 and 5 dividing road, Sector-11 roundabout, Sankla Chowk and other areas near the venue. “To attract the crowd, a talking Ravana was introduced this time to get an element of reality,” said Vishnu
Goel, chairman of the Mata Mansa Devi Charitable and Development Trust. As many as 16 artisans were deployed to make the effigy. Crackers worth Rs 1.5 lakh were used to fill the effigy. “This time, the lip movement of Ravana was the most attractive thing during the celebrations. The fireworks were also fabulous,” said Guneeta Sharma, a resident of Sector 12, who came with her family to celebrate the festival. Special fireworks were called for from Saharanpur this time. A special Lanka was also set up. Special seating arrangements were also made for the visitors.
|
||||
|
Stampede-like situation in Panchkula
Panchkula, October 24 The police had to intervene and the situation was brought under control. “A large number of people rushed to take the remains of the effigy of Ravana. We somehow managed to come out of the venue,” said Randhir Verma, a resident of Sector 14, Panchkula. He added: “Initially, the police force failed to control the crowd.” “People consider it a good omen to take the remains of the effigy of Ravana. This happens every year,” said one of the organisers. He said the situation was brought under control.
|
|
Minor raped by foster father
Panchkula, October 24 He had adopted the girl 11 years ago. The accused, who was arrested by the Panchkula police last night, has been identified as 55-year-old
Krishan, a resident of Kalka. He had been raping the girl for the past six months. It was after the girl's mother,
Puja, asked her why she had started keeping to herself that the shameful act came to light. The girl is a student of Class VII.
Krishan was produced in the court today, which sent him to judicial custody. The medical examination of the girl has confirmed rape. "As Krishan and Puja did not have their own child, the couple adopted the daughter of Puja's sister," said the investigating officer (IO),
Satpal. "For the past five six months, Krishan had been raping his daughter and after committing the crime, he used to threaten and torture the child," added
Satpal. Puja and her brother filed a complaint with the police. "It was not easy for Puja to register a complaint against her husband, but she fought for her daughter's justice. The victim is safe with her mother," added another police official.
|
||
|
Protector turns predator
Panchkula, October 24 "As Krishan used to threaten and torture the child saying that he would kill her mother if she uttered a word about what he did to her. Ever since the child became the victim of Krishan, she started keeping quite," said Raj Kumar (name changed), a relative of the child. He added, "One of her teachers stated that the girl had stopped talking to her friends and never answered any question despite being a bright student." "It is difficult for the child to come out of the trauma. But I hope that her mother's love will help her recover," said another relative. "She was close to Puja but Krishan had created such an element of fear in her that she had even stopped talking to her mother," the relative added. It was the silence of the child that raised suspicion on the mother's mind. After pressing a lot, the victim told everything to her mother. Krishan alleged that it was the conspiracy of his wife and brother-in-law," said the police.
|
||
Spurt in dengue spreads panic in tricity
Chandigarh, October 24 Private clinics and government hospitals are witnessing huge rush of patients. Over the past one month, an average of 15 patients undergo dengue test everyday at private labs. The number is over 50 at government hospitals, including Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, and Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16. Most of the patients are undergoing the dengue test on their own, without consulting doctors. “We have been witnessing a heavy rush of patients with high fever over the past few weeks. The condition of some of the patients is critical and they cannot even move out of their vehicles. Our technicians take blood samples in the vehicles only,”€ť said Dr RR Khanna, managing director, Chandigarh Clinical Lab, Sector 20. The situation is no different in other labs of the city. “Over the past one month, there has been increase in the number of patients coming for dengue test,”€ť said Surinder Gatoch, administrative officer Dr Lal’s Clinic, Sector 11. The number of patients testing positive for dengue at city hospitals, including the PGIMER, GMCH-32 and GMSH-16, has reached 192. A total of 92 patients have tested positive for dengue in Mohali and 12 in
Panchkula.
|
|
UT Administration’s claims fall flat
Chandigarh, October 24 The health department claims of spending Rs 3.5 lakh on fumigation, but it failed to check the spread of the disease. Only two fogging machines
The administration has only two fogging machines for a population of 12 lakhs residing in 63 sectors spread across 144 square km. While fogging is required to be conducted twice a week in each pocket, only two machines are inadequate to cover the entire city. The speed of the vehicle carrying the fogging machine should be between 8 and 10 km per hour. However, they generally move at much higher speed during the fumigation drives.
Fumigation drive gives V6 roads a miss
Following repeated requests from area councillors, fumigation drives were conducted in
Sectors 15, 16, 20, 22, 11, 12, 49 and 50 and Colony Number 5. Councillors, however, said fogging was carried out on V5 roads (in and around the sector-specific markets) and not on V6 roads (in and around the houses).
Residents speak
— Amit Munjal, a resident of Sector 37 — Harvinder Saini, a resident of Naya Gaon — Vanita Jain, a resident of Sector 47
Councillors Speak
Somebody needs to be held accountable for such an outbreak. Why does the Administration keep waiting for the epidemic to occur and then act? In our area, fumigation has been done quite regularly, but only upon repeated requests to the health
department. Saurabh Joshi, councillor, ward number 2 The officials do not act until we request them for conducting fumigation. The residents also approach us with the request for fogging in their residences. We have recently mooted a proposal for acquiring two fogging
machines. HC Kalyan,
councillor, ward number 13
|
|
Poor unable to afford treatment
Chandigarh, October 24 The cost of dengue test, which ranges between Rs 250 (government hospital) and Rs 1,000 (private institution), and the subsequent cost of the treatment running into thousands has brought troubles for the poor in the city. The cost for blood platelet transfusion goes up to Rs 8,000 in the government hospitals in the city. The same costs around 30,000 in a private hospital. There are a large number of critical dengue patients admitted to city hospitals, including Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, and Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, and PGIMER. “When the blood platelet count in a patient falls below 20,000, he/she turns critical and needs Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) infusion, which costs Rs 7,000 to 8,000. There are a large number of poor patients admitted here, who are unable to afford the treatment,” said an official at GMSH-16.
|
|
Councillor suggests MC to be self-reliant
Chandigarh, October 24 Interestingly, Kalyan, a close aide of Member of Parliament Pawan Kumar Bansal, expressed disappointment with services provided by the UT malaria wing in the light of dengue outbreak. However, knowing that fogging is with the UT malaria wing, Kalyan, who is also the chairman of the sanitation committee of the corporation, mooted a proposal to purchase two fogging machines by the corporation itself rather than depending on the UT Administration. His proposal will be tabled in the Finance and Contract Committee meeting, which is scheduled for tomorrow. Kalyan said the residents were contacting councillors to conduct fogging in their area, but the councillors’ pleas to malaria wing fell on the deaf ears. He said the UT malaria department has two fogging machines, which caters to the whole city. That is why the staff fails to entertain all complaints. “Having own machines will help us serve the people better,” said Kalyan adding that the cost of two fogging machines will be around Rs 26 lakh. The health official stated that though the malaria department is with the Administration and this additional paraphernalia will help the corporation in taking precautionary measures to avoid the spread of dengue. A senior official of the corporation revealed that the malaria wing and the office of the Medical Officer Health (MOH) were shifted to the corporation when it came into being in November 1995. However, subsequently, the then Director of Health Services (DHS), UT, sought it to be shifted back to the Administration as all national programmes, including prevention and control of malaria, fall under its purview. DHS had pointed out that they have to answer all the queries related to these programmes to the Central Government and it is possible if the department functions under the corporation. After which the Administration took a decision to shift it back to the administration. Congress councillor and Finance and Contract Committee member Pardeep Chhabra said he will raise the issue in the committee that purchasing two fogging machines will not help in solving the problem till the malaria department is shifted to the corporation. BJP councillor Rajesh Gupta said he will also raise the issue to transfer of malaria department to the corporation as according to the Government of India notification the malaria wing should be with the corporation.
|
|
Commercial charges on power to go
Chandigarh, October 24 UT Adviser KK Sharma gave the assurance to members of the Group Housing Cooperative Welfare Council during a meeting. UT Finance Secretary VK Singh was also present in the meeting along with
other officials. The council, which represents societies spread across Sectors 48, 49, 50 and 51, informed the Adviser that the transfer of maintenance of existing internal infrastructure in cooperative societies to the UT had been pending for long. Satish Chandra Sharma, chairman of the council, said the meeting was called to discuss the issues of denial of basic and estate services to the group housing societies. The Adviser asked the officials to consider the demands of the council sympathetically. The officials were told that the cooperative society members were maintaining V-6 roads and streetlights. Ironically, the corporation raised bills on electricity consumed to make the facility functional at commercial rates. "Each housing unit in the societies is given a separate water connection in the name of the member, yet the power used for purposes such as using a booster pump was charged at commercial rates. The societies have to make provision for fixing poles, their fixtures and maintenance," the members said. The officials were told that the society managements faced a piquant situation in case the main sewer lines got chocked. Hydraulic machinery, which is available with the MC, but the officials express their inability to provide the facility citing rules. The Secretary, Engineering, said the department would waive commercial charges on the electricity consumed on making streetlights and booster pumps and domestic tariff would be considered.
|
|
Deshraj's wife meets him in jail on Dasehra
Chandigarh, October 24 Sources said SP's wife visited Burail jail to wish him. After spending a few minutes with his wife, the IPS officer went back to his barrack number 10, which is usually meant for public servants and high-profile officers arrested in criminal cases, while his barrack mates celebrated the festival with other prisoners. In the past two years after he joined the Chandigarh Police, Deshraj had attended several seminars and festivals as a chief guest. As per the jail officials, though there was no specific celebration regarding the festival, all jail inmates were given sweets in their barracks and Deshraj also accepted a piece of it. He was caught by the CBI on October 18 for allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from Anokh Singh, station house officer of the Sector 26 police station. — TNS
|
|
Conference on advanced material
Chandigarh, October 24 The Principal of SVIET, Dr PK Gupta said more than 50 scholars presented their papers at the conference. The chief guest, Dr KK Raina, deputy director, Thapar University, Patiala, said the main objective of the conference was to encourage research in new materials. Recent researches have been aimed at achieving goals such as higher operating temperatures, higher toughness, reduced weight and low costs.
|
|
Retired employees in dilemma
Chandigarh, October 24 For the past four years, they have been waiting
for a house under the 2008-special housing scheme floated by the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB). A clause in the housing scheme bars the applicants from owning any property in the tricity. The employees, who have retired in the past four years, have surrendered their official accommodation and are putting up in rented accommodation. "The irony is that one cannot apply for a house anywhere and the CHB's scheme is moving at a snail's pace," said
Vinod Kumar, a retired UT official. An applicant had paid Rs 70,000 as the earnest money. Officials in CHB admitted that though
the layout plans of the scheme had been approved by the Chief Architect, the possession of the land in Sectors 52, 53 and 56 was yet to
be given to the CHB. It is learnt that the CHB is yet to get environmental clearance for
the project. Under the scheme, floated five years ago, 4,000 flats were to be constructed at Sectors 52, 53 and 56. Around 252 lots were drawn for Category A 3 BHK (bedroom, hall, kitchen); 168 for Category B 2 BHK; 3,066 for Category 1 BHK, and 444 for Category D, which is for
the economically weaker sections. The cost of the flats had been increased. The successful applicants lamented that despite a draw of lots in November, 2010, no allotment letter had been issued and the cost of construction had gone up. Many employees have taken loan. Some of the employees are about to retire and it will be difficult for them to bear the increased cost of the flat.
|
|
Corruption set ablaze in Mohali
Mohali, October 24 People cheered as the 75-feet tall effigy of Ravana was set ablaze by Lord Rama. Along with the effigies of Ravana, Meghanad and Kumbhakarna, the organisers also burnt an effigy of corruption, which they termed the biggest evil in the present times. A large number of people were seen standing all around the venue to catch a glimpse of the festivities. Though Mohali Dusehra Committee has made elaborate arrangements, several persons preferred to remain in their vehicles to witness the celebrations. Madhu Bhushan, president of the committee, said they were panicked after the last night’s rain. “The effigies, however, were not damaged and could be setup today morning,” Bhushan said. No untoward incident was reported during the festivities. “The security had been beefed up and we had deputed around 150 policemen to maintain law and order. The festival has passed on peacefully,” said Superintendent of Police Darshan Singh Mann.
|
|
Traffic chaos prevails at venues
Panchkula/Mohali, October 24 “I fail to understand as to why the authorities can’t get the traffic problem sorted out. This year the situation was all the more worse. When every year the same problem persists, the authorities should take some preemptive action,” said Garima Singh, a Sector-4 resident. The Panchkula police asked the commuters to avoid the route from Tawa Chowk to Sankla Chowk from 2.30 pm onwards. Meanwhile, in Mohali too traffic chaos prevailed on the roads around the Dasehra Ground, Phase VIII, for over one hour. As several people parked their vehicles on the roads to witness the celebrations while sitting in their vehicles, long queues of vehicles were formed on the roads in Phase VII, Phase VIII, Sector 69 and near Mohali Bus Stand. Though policemen were deployed to control the traffic, they had a tough time doing the job. “We are requesting the people not to stop on the roads but nobody is listening, and we too don’t want to spoil the festival for anyone,” said a policeman on duty.
|
from Schools Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 24 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya celebrated the festival of Dasehra with great zest and fervour on the school premises. The students of the school created effigies and also staged a skit. Principal PK Sharma congratulated the students for putting up an excellent show. Bhavan Vidyalaya Junior To celebrate the victory of good over evil, Dasehra function was organised by the Human Excellence Cell 'Sanskara' of Bhavan Vidyalaya Junior, Sector 33-D. Joy and sheer delight could be seen on the faces of children when the effigy of Ravana made by
the pre-primary teachers was burned. St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School To inculcate the feeling of oneness and awareness about festivals, St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School celebrated Dasehra on the school grounds. The whole school wore a festive look. The festive mood was further boosted by the Ramlila staged by young and energetic students of Class III. Principal Mr Mervin West appreciated the efforts of students and teachers. Shivalik Public School On the eve of Dasehra, Ramlila was presented by students of Shivalik Public School with great enthusiasm. Students depicted various scenes from Lord Rama's life including his birth, marriage, exile, and victory over Ravana. The Ramlila ended with “Bharat Milap”. AKSIPS-45 Students celebrated the festival of Dasehra with great fervour at AKSIPS, Sector 45. A special assembly was organised to highlight the significance of Dasehra. Teachers and students spread the message of victory of good over evil through speeches, poems and skits. A short Ramlila presented by students of Class V won hearts of one and all. Students pledged to lead a life of truth and righteousness. Principal Mrs Harpreet Kaur wished students to follow the
right path by shedding wrong habits. Shemrock Senior Secondary School Mohali: Shemrock Senior Secondary School, Sector 69, celebrated the festival of Dasehra with underprivileged children. Students, who are members of community service clubs EarlyAct and Interact Club, visited Perch village on the outskirts of Chandigarh on the eve of Dasehra. They apprised the children of the importance of the festival and the message of the victory of good over evil that it gives. The students also burnt an effigy of Ravana on the occasion. Importance of righteous behavior and conduct was also stressed by the students. The members of both the clubs also distributed 70 packets of crayons, 70 pencils and 30 slates, besides some eatables. Shastri Model School Students of Shastri Model School celebrated Dasehra with great enthusiasm and religious fervour. The main attraction was a 10-feet effigy of Ravana that was prepared by the school students themselves. The students were dressed as various characters of epic Ramayana. School principal R Bala asked the student to imbibe the teachings of the epic.
|
|||||
|
Chandigarh, October 24 The cadets were awarded the gold medal in health and hygiene and bronze medal in flying. The squadron was adjudged the best in cultural activities, second best in sports (volleyball and tug of war) and bagged the second position in line area (tent pitching) during the camp. The cadets trained for the camp in Patiala under the supervision of Wg Cdr JS Jeji. — TNS
|
|||||
|
|||||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
With more than 290 dengue cases reported in the trictity so far, residents are in a state of panic and seeking urgent medical advice to save themselves from the fast spreading vector-borne infection.
There are a number of people in our area who have contracted dengue this year. However, in the past three months we have not seen any fumigation drive being conducted in our
area.
We tried to contact the anti-malaria department many a times, but nobody responded. We are now going to request the area councillor to do something about it. The officials advertise a lot in the newspapers and also on the radio about the preventive measures being carried out by them. Yet, when you contact them they fail to
response. 
Why does the Administration take so long to respond to any crisis situation? Our city remains ill-prepared against such epidemics every year. The situation was similar last year as well. Fumigation is the last resort and the officials have even failed to take that
up.
