Chandigarh, February 12
Putting to test the tricity’s preparedness for handling a disaster, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will conduct a mock drill at 15 different locations each in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali on Wednesday.

Presuming a disaster-like situation — an earthquake — during the drill, the officials will be communicating through wireless sets, assuming the failure of mobile and landline phones.

Addressing a press conference today, the NDMA officials said the drill had been planned keeping in mind the Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh as the epicentre of the earthquake.

“The latest population figures indicate that the calamity can claim over one million lives in the region in the absence of the preparedness to handle a disaster. It’s high time we gear up and ensure effective response to the unified command,” said NDMA member Vinod K Duggal. It is the first major initiative of the NDMA to conduct a state-level disaster management programme using scientifically developed disaster scenario in the country. Since earthquakes reoccur in an area after long intervals, the NDMA with the IIT, Mumbai, IIT, Madras, in consultation with the Geological Survey of India, the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology and the Seismology Division of India meteorological department, has developed a detailed hypothetical scenario for the consequence of a magnitude 8 earthquake occurring near Mandi, said the officials.

The mock drill will cover the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

In the run-up to this exercise, the NDMA has organised a series of capacity building training programmes that include rapid visual screening of lifeline buildings and pipelines, incident response system (IRS) and tabletop exercise. The mock drill involves activation of a unified control room at Chandigarh that will be linked to the control rooms in Mohali, Panchkula and Shimla and with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the NDMA.

“We urge people not to panic since it may lead to a stampede-like situation,” said one of the officials. 

Chandigarh, February 12
In a major embarrassment to the UT police, a person charged with eve-teasing, molesting and assaulting a police constable couple managed to get anticipatory bail from a court today.

The court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge granted bail to the accused, Amarbeer Singh. In the petition seeking anticipatory bail, Amarbeer stated that he was falsely named in the FIR.

The accused said when he and his friends were on their way to Gurdwara Nada Sahib, the complainant, who was riding a motorbike, hit their car. The incident took place in Sector 19. However, the police said the incident occured in Sector 26, he alleged.

Amarbeer said the complainant, a police constable, started hurling abuses at him and his friends and also thrashed them. He alleged that the constable changed the incident spot in the FIR from Sector 19 to Sector 26 for his benefit. The police did not oppose the arguments and the suspect was granted bail.

The incident took place on February 7 when a UT police constable alleged he was assaulted while his constable wife was teased and molested by three occupants of a Swift car. He alleged that the incident took place near the grain market roundabout in Sector 26 when the constable couple, who was in civvies, became a victim of the rowdiness of the youths.

The police said as the couple overtook the Swift car near the roundabout on Madhya Marg, the car driver passed lewd comments on the woman constable, who was riding pillion. As per the FIR, the youths also assaulted the constable.

When contacted, DSP Vijay Kumar said he was yet to go through the court order. 

Chandigarh, February 12
Panjab University's recent decision to constitute a Monitoring Committee for Dr HSJ Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital has led to resentment among the teachers of the institute. The teachers and members of Senate are also upset with the Vice-Chancellor's decision of constituting a committee and nominating the members, without even discussing the need for doing so.

A committee has been formed by the university on the suggestion of Akhtar Mahmood, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University. Mahmood, in his communication to Vice-Chancellor, had stated that a committee be constituted to monitor the performance and achievement of the institute. The issue was raised by one of the teachers of the institute at the Panjab University Teachers' Association (PUTA) meeting, who while objecting to the decision stated, what was the need of constituting a parallel body, when statutory bodies already existed in the university.

However, Akhtar Mahmood, when contacted said "It was not a committee to monitor performance and achievement of the institute. I had suggested an advisory committee that would help in growth of the department." said Mahmood. Mahmood further said, he had suggested a few members for the committee but he had no intimation about the other members While opposing the committee, Dinesh Kumar, a Senate member and Assistant Professor at the Law department, said it was wrong if a committee was formed to look into the academic and administrative works, when there were various other existing bodies for that job. Karamjeet Singh, a Professor at UBS Department and also a Senate member, also said that any such committee should outrightly be opposed.

The PUTA President, Mohammed Khalid, during the PUTA meeting said he didn't have any knowledge about the committee being constituted or the rationale behind it. 

Chandigarh, February 12
The teachers' fraternity has given clear signs of rejecting any third party teacher feedback system and expressed that it should remain only between teachers and students. Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA), over its discussion on the feedback system recently cleared by the Senate stated, they would revert any such exercise which would used as a tool to victimise the teachers. Dinesh Kumar, a Senate member and Assistant Professor at Law department stated, he was in favour of teacher feedback; provided it did not become fatal tool at the hands of the students.

PUTA President Mohammed Khalid also expressed his doubts of misuse of feedback system at later stages.

However, there were teachers who didn’t have any problem with the feedback being disclosed to the third-party.

Professor Rumina Sethi of English department during the meeting stated, teachers should not be afraid of any kind of feedback system. Giving the example of foreign universities, Sethi said there were websites on which the feedback by students was uploaded. Professor Vijay Chopra of Evening Studies stated, “The feedback system should not be just restricted to student with 75 % attendance and feedback should be open to everyone”. — TNS

Chandugarh, February 12
Police investigations into the theft of valuables worth lakhs from Hotel Park Plaza in Sector 17 yesterday has raised serious concerns about the security arrangements at the five star hotel and has put the hotel management under the scanner.

A day after an NRI doctor couple lost over Rs 18 lakh cash, dollars and jewellery, the police probe revealed that the thief had even managed to change the key leading to the room entrance within a span of minutes when the couple was having breakfast downstairs.

“The couple returned to their room at noon and the key to their room could not fit in the locker. A master key was then used to open the room. The entire lock was changed at 11.08 am when the couple was downstairs,” said one of the investigating officers.

The initial police probe established a number of loopholes on the part of hotel management as they handed over the duplicate card-key to a trainee, who is being questioned in this regard.

Moreover, the theft was well planned as a switch, connecting all the 16 CCTV cameras of the hotel was switched off at 11 am when the couple came downstairs to have breakfast and the theft took place in their room.

A police officer said it was negligence on the part of the hotel staff that led to the incident and all the employees who were on duty at that time are under scanner.

The police said they were close to cracking the case.

The complainants in the case, Dr Manish Singla and Ashima Singla, today met the UT IGP and demanded a speedy probe into the case. The IGP assured that the case would be solved soon.

A special investigating team (SIT) has been formed under the supervision of Satbir Singh, DSP (Crime), to solve the case.

The doctor couple had checked in to the hotel on February 10 and theft took place when an unidentified person had made a call in their room informing them about the complementary breakfast on February 11.

Manish Singla said all circumstances indicated that the hotel staff was involved in the theft. He said that one of the hotel official had even pleaded that a police complaint should not be lodged as the hotel management would compensate for the loss.

Chandigarh, February 12
Changing the course of its action against the illegal partitions done by the allottee of day market sites in Sectors 23, 26 and 43, the UT Estate Office is now issuing notices under Sections 10 and 14 of the Estate Rules 2007.

Earlier, the UT estate office had demolished the violations in the Sector 42 market and given two days notice to the allottee of the Sector 43 market to remove the violations on their own or fail the demolition.

A survey of the UT estate office has revealed that the glaring violations exist in other day markets in Sectors 26 and 37. Brushing the allotment rules under the carpet, the allottees have raised the walls around their sites to convert in to a booth. In some cases, two sites have been joined to make one site.

While in the Sector 42 market, the sites were allotted six months ago, the sites in Sectors 26 and 43 have been allotted few years ago to enable the “rehri” and “pheri walas” to conduct their business from the market only during the daytime.

On the other hand, the allottee of the sites in Sector 42 in a representation to the Advisor have lamented that they had been allotted booth sites and not day market sites. 

Chandigarh, February 12
The CBI today filed a chargesheet in court against a suspended UT police Sub-Inspector who was caught red handed taking bribe last year.

The CBI filed a chargesheet against SI Kulwaranjit Singh Cheema, who was then posted at the Mani Majra police station at the time the CBI laid a trap in September 2012.

The chargesheet has also been filed against Subhash Dhiman, a Congress leader, who was acting as a middleman in the deal and was also caught by the CBI team. CBI officials had laid a trap following a complaint by Manpreet Singh. As per the chargesheet, Manpreet Singh, brother of Harbans Singh, a resident of Indira Colony, Mani Majra, had complained to the CBI that Cheema was asking for Rs 50,000 to dispose of a case of attempt to murder against Harbans Singh, which was filed by the wife of his landlord Bishan Dass.

Cheema, on the request of Dass’s wife, registered a case of attempt to murder against Harbans Singh that he planned the attack over the issue of water problem at their residence.

Harbans Singh told his brother, Manpreet, about the entire incident and also informed that the SI was threatening to arrest him under a case of attempt to murder his own landlord.

The CBI laid a trap while Subhash Dhiman, as a mediator, accepted Rs 25,000 from Harbans Singh and another trap was laid to catch the SI from the police station for accepting the bribe money.

Chandigarh, February 12
The eternal and soulful rendition of master vocalist Pandit Jasraj on the eve of Basant festival, at Tagore Theatre will always be remembered.

The “bhajans” he sang this evening, touched the soul of the audience. The “jugalbandi” which he performed with other artistes on instruments like tabla, flute, harmonium, mridangam and tanpura was the highlight of the evening.

The whole performance was a perfect Indian classical “ensemble”, much like the western symphony. The audience experienced several mesmerising musical sequences with his voice interplaying with tabla and other instruments. At times, he breathlessly pitched his voice with the resonating sounds of the instruments.

Pandit Jasraj began his performance with raga “Bhimpalasi”, one of the rare ragas doled out beautifully not by many vocalists. Started on “vilambit” note, he went full throttle with his pitch as he warmed up.

The variation in the pitch of his voice was an experience that can not be forgotten easily. Even a simple note sung by pandit Jasraj cast a magical spell.

Organisers Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi augmented the mood of the concert with the perfect decoration based on the “yellow” theme, celebrating our Indian tradition.

Before the beginning of the performance, sweets were offered as part of Basant festival celebration to the audience at the entry gate. 

Chandigarh, February 12
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) today raised a new battalion with 829 recruits being inducted into service on completion of basic training at the CRPF Group Center near Pinjore.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda reviewed the passing out parade and addressed the personnel of the newly raised 220 Battalion. He felicitated the personnel on successful completion of their training and exhorted them to maintain high professional and moral standards. Besides agreeing to consider VAT exemption for the Central police canteens in the state, provision of additional land for the force and some other administrative issues, he also announced a grant of Rs 11 lakh for the welfare of jawans.

Kulbir Singh, Inspector General, North-West Sector, said that the CRPF had become the largest paramilitary force in the world, with a strength of 225 battalions and three lakh personnel. He said that the recruits were put through 44 weeks of rigorous training in indoor and outdoor subjects with thrust on counter-insurgency operations, jungle warfare, police-public relation and developing shooting skills under combat conditions. He added that keeping in mind the present internal security scenario in the naxal-infested areas, these recruits were put through intensive training to develop physical endurance to withstand the demands of their job.

Pranay Sahay, Director General, CRPF, senior CRPF and Haryana police officers as well as district administration functionaries were also present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, February 12
To conduct a mega mock drill in the city tomorrow, manpower and machinery of various departments of the Municipal Corporation, be it the road wing, public health department or the fire department, are being used by the UT Administration and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Vehicles, including truck, tipper and JCB machines will be used by the NDMA teams during the drill.

The NDMA officials today held a meeting with Mayor Subhash Chawla and councillors. They told them to spread awareness among the general public during natural calamities.

They also visited the Sector 17 ground, where machines have been kept. The fire department of the MC has formed 15 teams for the drill. The Geological Survey of India has identified the tricity and its surrounding areas as earthquake-prone and has categorised these as high-hazard zone.

Chandigarh, February 12
For 32-year-old Mallika Mukhopadhyay, it is all about serving society. But her service to others comes in a different way. As a teenager when she would find herself dropping a stranger accident victim to a hospital, little did she imagine that one day she would command the teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Being the only woman inspector in the NDRF across the country, Mallika has set an example for all other women. Serving in the NDRF for the past five years, Mallika has been taking care of the crisis in the Delhi NCR.

She also led the team that provided assistance to accidental public radiation exposure in a scrap market in Delhi in March 2010. During the incident, a gamma unit containing cobalt-60 pencils, was improperly disposed of by a research institution in violation of national regulations for radiation protection and safety of radioactive sources.

The event subsequently caused the most severe radiation accident reported in India to date, resulting in seven radiation injuries and one death.

"I would always credit my mother. I lost her a few years ago, but her words still inspire me. She always wanted me to get into this kind of a profession," said Mallika while speaking to the Chandigarh Tribune.

Mallika belongs to West Bengal, but has been a resident of Chandigarh for over 10 years. She visits the city regularly to meet her brother who stays in the city.

She loves riding a motorbike. As she was driving to Chandigarh from Delhi a few moths ago, she assisted passengers in a bus plying ahead of us which caught fire.

She joined the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 14 years ago. She joined the NDRF on deputation five years ago.

Mohali: About 1,500 government officials and volunteers, 30 ambulances, 20 fire tenders, 15 JCB machines, six recovery vans and other equipment related to the rescue operation will be pressed into service for the mega mock drill to be conducted at 15 sites in the town.

Seven teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), consisting of 30 personnel, have been formed.

Mohali Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam, who is also the in charge of Disaster Emergency Operations Centre, said all arrangements had been made.

"About 1,000 government officials and 500 volunteers will be a part of the drill that aims at creating awareness among residents," said Roojam.

Two relief camps have also been set up at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Phase VIII and Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan at Sohana village.

The district development panchayat officer and the secretary of the zila parishad will supervise the camp.

Three Incidence Command Posts will be set up. Roojam claimed that most of the equipment and machinery being used during the rescue operation tomorrow have been arranged from the district. The authorities have summoned 14 fire tenders from other districts.

The mock drill will be conducted at the Civil Hospital, Phase VI, Amartex, Hotel Franco, Badh Majra slum, Balongi Barrier, Mohali bus stand, Ivory Tower, Chawla petrol station, foot overbridge, Phase 3B2, parking lot of the Phase V market, railway station, Philips Factory, Phase IX, Forest Complex, Sector 68, and MC Bhawan.

Chandigarh, February 12
As the government today ordered a probe by the CBI into allegations of corruption in the deal for 12 VVIP helicopters for the IAF, a Chandigarh-based firm has come under scanner for its role in the acquisition process.

The firm, Aeromatrix, is based at the IT Park and describes itself as “an engineering and design support services organisation dedicated to serve the fraternity of aerospace, automotive, general engineering and heavy machinery manufacturing companies worldwide”.

While it has an Indian “chief officer” looking after its affairs here, it is reportedly owned by Guido Ralph Haschke, a 62-year-old consultant, who claims to provide "Project Advisory Services", and his partner is Carlo Gerosa. As per earlier reports, Haschke was arrested in Switzerland last year in connection with the investigations being carried out by Italian authorities into the chopper deal. The name of the chief officer, Praveen Bakshi, and its Delhi-based lawyer also figure in the Italian police probe.

Aeromatrix, according to its website, has been in existence since 2009 and is is manned with resources possessing several years of experience in mechanical, manufacturing and aerospace design and engineering domains. The aerospace domain expertise ranges from structures design and analysis, digital manufacturing to knowledge of international airworthiness requirements for certification. It also received an Excellence Award under the Best New Entrant category by the Software Technology Parks of India for 2009-10.