Chandigarh, May 28
With the city reeling under sweltering heat, the demand for power has jumped by 54 per cent during the past one month. The demand, which was 220 MW on May 1, has now reached 340 MW.

Though the authorities are trying to meet the demand and supply gap, due to the increasing demand for power, transformers are witnessing an overloading problem.

According to studies conducted by UT officials, the demand for power is expected to reach 400 MW in the peak of summer, which was 353 MW last year. From all sources, the Administration is receiving 310 MW of power, which is still 30 MW short of the current demand. Officials are excepting that in June, they will face a shortage of 90 MW to meet the demand and supply gap.

Meanwhile, city residents continue to face power cuts. On Sunday night, a transformer developed a snag in Sector 39, due to which there was no power supply in many parts of Sectors 38, 39, 40 and 41 throughout the night as well as on Monday morning. Finally, power officials changed the transformer following which the power supply was restored to the affected areas. The UT Electricity Department has decided to impose rotational power cuts.

UT Superintending Engineer (Electricity) MP Singh said in a day or two, they would release the power cut schedule.

Chandigarh, May 28
Paramjit Kaur, who resides on the top floor in a house in Sector 52, has to wake up early in the morning to store water for her daily household needs by lifting buckets from the ground floor as there is an acute shortage of water in the city.

This is not just Parjamjit’s daily early morning routine, but residents in several parts of the city, especially in the southern sectors, have been forced to follow a similar routine. The water situation is worsening by the day as the rising temperature tightens its grip on the city.

Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Sector 52, says initially those residing on the top floor were facing the water shortage problem, but now even those residing on the ground floor are facing a similar problem.

Anu, a resident of Sector 23-C, spends around fours hours daily in the morning to fill water tanks on the upper floor. She first stores water in a tank on the ground floor and then lifts water from the ground floor to tanks on the first and second floors with the help of a motor. Since there is no water supply in the upper floors, this has become her daily routine, she says.

Mamta Dhiman, a resident of Sector 44, says it becomes very difficult to complete her daily chores in the absence of water. It seems MC officials are in a deep slumber and have done little to solve the water problem, she says.

Mayor Subhash Chawla says the MC is trying its best to meet the water demand and supply gap. Recently, he held a meeting with officials and issued directions to them to check the wastage of water in the city.

Chandigarh, May 28
Residents heaved a sigh of relief from the scorching heat following a light drizzle in the city during the past 24 hours. The weatherman has predicted some pleasant days ahead with a possibility of rain and an overcast sky during the next 24 hours.

According to the Met Department, the maximum temperature dropped to 41.6°C, which was three degrees below normal, while the minimum was 27.8°C, four notches above normal.

The city is likely to experience a thunderstorm tomorrow with a partly cloudy sky.

“Circulation in air cycles has resulted in rain in several areas of the North. The effect has also been seen in the city,” said a Met Department official.

While the maximum temperature is expected to be 42°C tomorrow, the minimum temperature is likely to hover around 27°C.

In the evening, thick clouds appeared in the sky followed by a thunderstorm and a drizzle, which forced residents to come out of their houses and enjoy the pre-monsoon shower and the pleasant weather.

For the past several days, there was no relief from the hot and humid weather conditions prevailing in the city. Power cuts and erratic water supply had made the lives of people miserable in some areas.

Chandigarh, May 28
The Chandigarh traffic police has come out with a novel way to beat the sun. It is in the process of procuring 10 garden umbrellas, which will be used at prominent traffic intersections in the city by policemen to protect themselves from the scorching sun while on duty.

With the temperature soaring by the day, garden umbrellas have been specially designed for the police with a heavy base so that they are not affected by wind. The garden umbrellas will be put up at the press light point in Sector 8, the transport light point, the Sector 16/17 light point, the Aroma light point and other traffic intersections.

“We advise the staff to give priority to their health and take steps to prevent dehydration. Umbrellas are being procured as a welfare measure and while an order for 10 umbrellas has been placed, we will procure more of these,” said SP (Traffic) Maneesh Chaudhery.

The garden umbrellas will also be used by the police during VIP duties and at the time of making "law and order arrangements" when traffic policemen are required to be stationed at key traffic junctions for prolonged hours in the sun.

Last year, young recruits, including over 40 women constables, were shifted to the Chandigarh traffic police. Most of them belonged to Haryana. The young recruits often complained of difficulties and health hazards they were exposed to when standing for prolonged hours in the sun, said a traffic police official.

In addition, water containers have also been purchased for traffic policemen.

Chandigarh, May 28
Even as the overall pass percentage has improved in government schools in Chandigarh, 284 students have failed while 860 students have got a compartment in the CBSE Class XII examinations, the results of which were declared yesterday.

Except Government Senior Secondary School, Behlana, no government school in Chandigarh has got a 100 per cent result.

Both model and non-model government school have their share of compartments and failures.

Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 40, has the highest number of failed students among 37 government senior secondary schools (both model and non-model) with 47 of the 554 students failing to clear the exams. It is followed by the GMSSS, Sector 45, in which 33 students have failed to clear the exam. In nineteen government schools, the figure of failed students is in double digits.

The Principal of a school where 22 students have failed to clear the exam, said on condition of anonymity that the Education Department failed to provide teachers in government schools. “In my school, there was no teacher for English, economics and maths due to which students could not study these subjects properly,” he said.

The number of students placed under compartment is equally worrisome. As many as 74 of the 201 students of the GMSSS (Girls), Sector 23, have got compartments in different subjects.

Among the popular government schools for girls in the city, in the GMSSS, Sector 18, 59 of the 610 students have got compartments. Besides, 18 students of different streams failed to clear the exams.

However, government schools have their share of success too. The overall pass percentage has increased by 6.2 per cent as compared to last year. There are 10 government schools where the pass percentage has crossed the 90 per cent mark. Last year, there ware only five such schools.

With no student having failed and only one student having got a compartment, the GMSSS, Mani Majra, has been ranked second among all government schools in the city. As many as 464 of the 470 students of the GMSSS, Sector 16, have cleared the exams with an excellent percentage. Only one student has failed in the school while five have got compartments.

Anujit Kaur, Principal of the school, said 79 students of the school had secured 90 per cent and above, which was a record performance. “Teachers took personal care and put in their best efforts. I personally took care of the weak students," she said.

Chandigarh, May 28
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has directed all the regional offices of the Registrar of Companies (RoCs) to check the balance sheets of 105 companies allegedly owned by former Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s kin, where some irregularities in the transactions had come to light.

It was stated by a senior BJP leader, Dr Kirit Somaiya, former MP, during a press conference here today.

Dr Kirit Somaiya and state BJP president Sanjay Tandon today submitted a 120-page report to the Registrar of Companies, Chandigarh, to investigate the bogus companies run by Pawan Kumar Bansal and his family. According to the documents submitted by the BJP leaders to the RoC, these firms had shown loans and advances taken from many firms in their balance sheets for 2012 whereas these have not been no mentioned in the balance sheets of other firms.

Somaiya said that the checking of balance sheet by the MCA would not serve the purpose. It is a very superficial investigation.

He has demanded that the CBI must complete its investigation in the railgate scam within three months. If the CBI fails to do so, the BJP will approach the President of India and the court of law, he added.

Panchkula, May 28
Giving a harsh rebuke to the officials of the Panchkula Administration, State Election Commissioner Dharam Vir found major lapses in their arrangements when he was on a visit to check the readiness of the Municipal Corporation elections in Panchkula.

Dharam Vir addressed a meeting of all the officials, including the duty magistrates, supervisors, Police Department and others.

Sources said that when he asked the duty magistrates and supervisors as to why they had not even conducted the surveys of their booths, the latter could not utter a word. He also said that how would they prepare a route map without conducting the survey.

The officials could not even answer when they were asked how much time it would take them to reach from their present place to the booth if any mishap takes place.

The Election Commissioner also pulled up OP Sihag, executive official of the MC and Sihag was unable to explain as to why he was not checking any violations by the candidates. He said that despite most of the hoardings were erected by the candidates on the MC land, still no one was checking them. It was further pointed out that most of the candidates had not mentioned the name of the printing press on their hoardings and even the officials did not check the same

The Election Commissioner also reprimanded the expenditure observer and the former questioned him as to why list and details of the expenditure, being incurred by each candidate was not there with the official. The expenditure observer was unable to explain his position.

Dharam Vir directed that a special police force should be deployed on these booths. No political party or candidate shall permit its followers to use any individual's land, building, and compound wall for erecting flag-staffs, suspending banners, pasting notices and writing slogans, without the requisite permission. He said if anyone found violating the rules, strict action would be taken against him.

Chandigarh, May 28
City Mayor Subhash Chawla today requested UT Adviser KK Sharma to appoint an observer of the Administration for every monthly House meeting of the Municipal Corporation.

During a meeting with the Adviser in the UT Secretariat, Mayor Subhash Chawla made the request in view of ruckus created by the councillors at a recent MC House meeting.

Chawla said at almost every house meeting, the Opposition councillors tried to stall the proceedings on non-serious issues. The House proceedings are meant to pass various agendas, which are related to the development of the city.

Sources said in addition to taking a legal opinion of the MC Law Officer on what rules and regulations can be imposed for a smooth functioning of the MC House meetings, the MC has sought a report from the law officer on what points councillors can be disqualified from the House.

At the recent House meeting on May 24, a ruckus was created when the Opposition demanded former Union Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's resignation in connection with the railgate scam.

Chandigarh, May 28
The workers of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), staged a protest outside MC office in Sector 17, here today, against the attitude of the UT Police for not taking any action against the Congress leaders, who had misbehaved and threw water bottle at the BSP councillor and party's Lok Sabha candidate Jannat Jahan Ul Haq.

While addressing the party workers, Jannat Jahan Ul Haq said that the Congress leaders, including former Mayor Ravinder Pali and the former Deputy Mayor, HS Lucky attacked her and Mayor Subhash Chawla supported these leaders. She added that Subhash Chawla had ruined the dignity of MC House by allowing miscreants to enter the house. It was with his active support they threw water bottles and used unparliamentary language.

The party convener, Hafiz Anwar Ul Haq demanded the resignation of Pawan Kumar Bansal from the Lok Sabha and said that police should initiate strict action against the Congress leaders, who had attacked BSP councillor on May 24 in the MC House meeting.

The police had also made security arrangements outside MC building in Sector 17. As the protesters marched towards the MC building, police stopped them. Finally the police convinced the senior BSP leaders and later they submitted memorandum to the UT Advisor, KK Sharma seeking action against the Congress leaders.

The Party President, Jagir Singh, convener Hafiz Anwar Ul Haq, BSP councillor Naresh Kumar, general secretary Sanjeev Babbar and many others participated in the protest today. 

Mohali, May 28
To check adulteration and preparation of eatables in unhygienic conditions, the district health authorities today conducted raids at a sweets factory in the local slum, Jagatpura, today.

The team, comprising Mohali SDM Lakhmir Singh and district health officer Gursharan Singh, was shocked to see that compost, using earthworms, was being prepared at a site where sweets, including “pateesa”, were being prepared.

They found swarm of flies, packets of tobacco and cigarettes at the factory, said Dr Gursharan.

The factory supplies sweets to several shops in the tricity, said Dr Gursharan Singh while collecting samples from the sweet factory.

Last year, the health teams had destroyed 22 quintals of sweets seized from the same factory and a notice was served on its owner.

“After getting the reports of the sample tests, strict action would be taken against the owner of the factory,” said SDM Lakhmir Singh. 

Chandigarh, May 28
The Municipal Corporation today disconnected the water supply to the industrial plot of MG Bakers Private Limited in Industrial Area, Phase I.

According to the MC officials, they disconnected the water supply as the firm was pumping water illegally. A team of the MC today found that the management at MG Bakers Private Limited had got a pump fixed on the main water pipeline.

Chandigarh, May 28
Taking a note of the incident reported at Guru Nanak Girls College, Ludhiana, on Monday, where a member of an inquiry committee sent by PU was allegedly attacked by the college principal with a stick, the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) has demanded that PU should take action or PUTA will appeal to teachers to boycott work related to colleges.

Professor Rajesh Gill, a fellow of the university, dean faculty of arts and a professor in the department of sociology along with professor (retired) Aruna Goel, also a fellow of the university and others, were deputed by the University to conduct an enquiry in Guru Nanak Girls College, Ludhiana, on the complaint of 21 faculty members who had alleged harassment by the college management. During the visit to the college, the college principal allegedly “hit” professor Gill with a walking stick.

PUTA president Mohammad Khalid stated that PUTA condemned this brazen attitude of the college.

“We will not allow the dignity of university teachers to be compromised at any cost. If a university teacher is sent for any duty to any affiliated college, PUTA expects the university to ensure their physical security and dignity of work”, he stated.

Khalid said that this was not an isolated case, in the past also they had received reports when the university sent some of its teachers for inspection to a college, the college authorities did not even open the gates of the college and disallowed inspection.

PUTA has demanded that the Dean College Development Council (DCDC) must send a warning to the colleges that an iota of denigration of the university teachers would not be tolerated by the University Teachers Association.

PUTA has demanded an enquiry into the entire matter or they would send an appeal to all the university teachers to boycott all work related to affiliated colleges. 

Chandigarh, May 28
With 94.2 per cent marks in humanities, Sanya Singh has stood first in all Kendriya Vidayalya (KV) schools of the Chandigarh Region. Sanya, a student of KV, Sector 47, Chandigarh, has been a meritorious student.

She was sent to Japan under Group Study Exchange Programme (JENESYS) by Ministry of Human Resource Development. She aspires to become a judge. Sanya said that she was very proud of her achievement. “Regular studies and consistency helped her score better, she said. A resident of Mohali, her father Birinder Singh is an advocate at the Punjab and Haryana High Court and mother is a housewife. As per the data released by the CBSE, Kendriya Vidayalya schools has improved from 92.24 per cent in 2012 to 93.61 percent this time. — TNS

Chandigarh, May 28
Come this July and there will be no four-wheelers in the 17 boys and girls hostels on the Panjab University (PU) campus. Notices have been put across all the PU hostels stating that June 30 will be the last day for the hostellers to keep their four-wheelers in the hostels.

Around 7, 000 students staying in the girls and boys hostels on the university campus will be barred from bringing vehicles into the hostels.

PU officials stated that the hostellers would be allowed to keep a two-wheeler and notices had been put up in the hostels and the students had been informed about it.

Yograj Angrish, Warden, Boys Hostel No VII, said that action would be taken against the student who would not follow rules. “Zero tolerance level will be adopted and no hostel resident will be allowed to get a four-wheeler into the PU campus”, he said.

The decision to ban four-wheelers from the hostels was taken recently by the Traffic Management Committee following an incident of two students of UILS Department that led to a major accident on the campus leaving one injured and five vehicle damaged.

The clause that the students will not be allowed to keep four-wheelers in the hostel will also be mentioned in the hostel booklet.

PU officials stated that soon the Shuttle Bus Service would also be introduced on the campus to ferry the students from hostels to their departments. “The Shuttle Bus Service will help in reducing traffic congestion on the campus”, officials stated.

Chandigarh, May 28
After Class XII results, the CBSE will declare the results of Class X on May 30 after 10 am. Over 1.8 lakh students of the Panchkula circle are anxiously waiting for the result.

Like the Class XII board result, students can access their results through an SMS service on all leading tele-service providers.

To avoid the scramble on the day of the result (Thursday), the Board has made the SMS facility available at MTS, BSNL, Tata Teleservice (Indicom and Docomo), Aircel, Airtel, and Vodafone. To get their results, the students will have to type “cbse10 roll no” and send to the designated number of the service provider (see box). Tele companies will charge Re 1 per SMS on that day.

The board officials said that besides SMS service, the results will be available at the Board’s website after 10 am. Special provision has been made for schools that can download their results from the Board’s website.

Like last year, students can also get their results through the interactive voice response system (IVRS), for which the rate per role no will be 30 paise per minute.

This facility is available at 1255536 for BSNL subscribers, 5432128 for MTS subscribers, 54321223 for Tata Teleservice (Indicom, Docomo) subscribers

As per the information, more than 1.80 lakh students appeared for Class X exams in Panchkula circle, which includes Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. In the circle, the ratio of Class X students who appeared in school-based board exam is, however, more than the students who directly appeared in the board-based external exam.

Chandigarh, May 28
Nearly 115 students in Chandigarh private schools achieved the rare feat of securing 95 per cent and above marks in the class XII board exams. The number of girls, securing above 95 per cent, is more than the boys in the tricity as well as the region adjoining Panchkula. In Punjab, Haryana, HP, Chandigarh and J&K, 664 girls have secured 95 per cent and above marks against 430 boys.

Bhawan Vidayalya, Sector 27, topped the chart in the city with 29 students — 23 in commerce, two in science and four in Humanities. School principal Banita Arora said that school proved its mettle again in the commerce stream.

It is followed by SD School in Sector 32 where 24 students achieved the feat. Eight are from the science stream and others belong to commerce. Manju Bhardwaj, principal of the school, said that the students had performed exceptionally well with its 1,089 students securing above 90 per cent marks.

Carmel Convent, Sector 9, stood third with 16 students getting 95 per cent and above marks. School coorindator Punita Singh said that 48 girls had scored above 90 per cent this year.

Among other schools, nine students of Vivek High School, Sector 38, and Sacred Heart, Sector 26, achieved the feat. A student of the school Ria Tiyagi, who scored marks 96.4 per cent in non-medical, said that it was not very easy to reach that level. All students deserve to be applauded, she said.

Meanwhile, four students of Moti Ram Arya students secured above 95 per cent marks. Ishani Chadha of SGGS Public School, Sector 26, has secured 95.6 per cent in non Medical, Amandeep Arora of Bal Niketan, Sector 22, scored 95.2 per cent. Priya Kataria of Satluj School, Panchkula, has 95 per cent marks. 

Chandigarh, May 28
In a major goof-up, the UT Education Department sent the wrong result to the media that too, 13 hours after the results were declared, leading to confusion about the tricity topper in the medical stream late in the evening on Monday.

Gurleen Kaur of Bal Niketan School in Sector 37 was declared the tricity topper from the medical stream with 96 per cent marks.

But the major confusion prevailed when the results sent by the UT Education Department declared Vishal Garg, student of Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Mani Majra, as their medical topper with 97 per cent marks, which made him the tricity topper.

Ironically, since the result was mailed to the newspaper offices after 11 pm, there was nobody to confirm the authenticity of Vishal Garg. After several calls, Kund Bala, principal of GMSSS, Mani Majra, was contacted at 11. 45 pm and she confirmed to The Tribune that the student in question was from non-medical stream, and not the medical stream. 

Chandigarh, May 28
The assistant professor of University Business School (UBS), who had made a complaint of sexual harassment against two UBS professors, today made the rickshaw-puller, who, the complainant claims, is the witness to the incident, appear before the Sexual Harassment Committee of PU.

His statements were recorded by the committee. However, sources said he didn't sign the statements given by him.

One of the committee members stated that his statements were contradictory.

The sources said the inquiry had been completed and the report would be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor in the next few days.

The panel formed by the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) to look into the issue also met today. The UBS chairperson, who is one of the accused in the case, also met the panel members.

President of PUTA Mohammad Khalid stated that they explored the possibility of resolving the issue at the earliest.