Chandigarh, December 31
Unlike last year, when the New Year celebrations were subdued due to the Delhi gang rape case, the tricity ushered in 2014 in style with gaiety and fervour. Residents of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali broke into celebrations as soon as the clock struck midnight.

There was a huge rush of revellers in front of city clubs, hotels and lounges, where parties went on at full steam till late in the night. Nightclubs in Sector 26 remain abuzz with DJ parties. Entry tickets of discos were being sold on the black market.

Restaurants and hotels in Sectors 43, 17 and 35 were all decked up for the occasion. The "gerhi route" from Sector 11 to Sector 8 was abuzz with activity. General secretary of the Chandigarh Hospitality Association Ankit Gupta said unlike last year, the entire city was in a party mood. Hotel and restaurants had exciting packages for revellers, Ankit said.

Raj Kaushik, manager of a hotel in Sector 43 said they had a long waiting list for dinner as well as parties.

Chandigarh Club had organised a Gurdas Mann nite. Despite the chill, the Rudraksh band thrilled the audience at Sector 17. The lead singer of the band, Sanjay Bhatt, opened with a Sufiana number, "Alaf Allah", before doling out popular Punjabi folk number "Jugni" and many more. There were fire-juggling celebrations at several places in the Industrial Area.

In Panchkula, parties were held in all hotels, but the centre of attraction was Choki Dhanni near Pinjore where there were live folk dance performances.

Chandigarh, December 31
With the cold wave showing no signs of letting up and the sun playing truant, the city continued to shiver as the mercury dipped further.

Residents of the city battled the severe chill and there was no relief in the day’s temperature.

With 4.6 mm rain in the city since yesterday till late evening, the maximum temperature dropped by five notches from the normal.

Officials of the Met Department said there would not be much relief for residents on the first day of the year as there was a forecast of dense fog during the morning and night hours.

As per forecast, there will be mainly clear sky and the maximum temperature will be 17°C and the minimum temperature nearly 4°C.

Officials said the minimum temperature was likely to plummet further. The city today recorded a maximum temperature of 15.5°C and the minimum temperature of 5.6°C. Even as the cold wave continued in the city with the sun coming out for a short interval, people chose to stay in their homes saving themselves from the cold conditions.

Meanwhile, two inbound flights and a train were delayed. The Howrah-Kalka Mail (12311) was delayed by four hours due to fog in the region.

Two flights cancelled at the Chandigarh domestic airport due to some technical reasons.

Jet Airways cancelled its Chandigarh-Delhi flight at 5.15 due to technical reasons while Spice jet could not operate its Chandigarh-Srinagar flight at 1.10 pm due to heavy snowfall in Srinagar.

Jet Airway’s Chandigarh-Delhi flight at 5.15 will remain cancelled for tomorrow also. All other flights operated on time, said a senior official at the airport.

Chandigarh, December 31
Councillors of the the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation have failed to utilise the ward development fund allotted to them. Each councillor gets Rs 40 lakh every year for the development of the ward he or she represents. However, according to the MC records updated till December 22, of the total 26 elected councillors, 13 have failed to touch the figure of Rs 30 lakh.

Only one councillor has spent the total amount on development works in his ward. Interestingly, former Mayor Raj Bala Malik and BJP mayoral candidate Rajinder Kaur have spent less than Rs 10 lakh in their wards. Rana Kashmiri Devi, who as the Senior Deputy Mayor had an additional grant of Rs 20 lakh for the city, failed to utilise even a single penny.

Earlier this year, the councillors had demanded that the ward development fund should be increased to Rs 1 crore from Rs 40 lakh, but the fact is that they have failed to utilise the existing funds.

BJP councillor Rajinder Kaur, who is contesting the poll for the post of Mayor, scheduled for tomorrow, has spent only Rs 6.58 lakh in her ward comprising the Mauli Complex (Railway Colony), Bhagat Singh Colony, Vikas Nagar, the Shivalik Enclave and the Mauli Complex (Housing Board). Congress mayoral candidate HC Kalyan, whose ward comprises Sectors 49, 50, 51 and 63, has spent only Rs 15.67 lakh.

Similarly, former Mayor and Congress councillor Raj Bala Malik has spent Rs 9.04 lakh in her ward consisting of Sectors 1 to 11. Mayor Subhash Chawla has utilised Rs 36.59 lakh in his ward while he spent Rs 1.75 crore of the total Rs 2 crore provided to the Mayor for the development of the city. Senior Deputy Mayor Rana Kashmiri Devi spent only Rs 17.77 lakh in her ward, while Deputy Mayor Satish Kainth has spent only Rs 12.20 lakh.

BJP councillor and Leader of the Opposition Arun Sood, who has spent the entire amount, said every councillor should utilise the available fund as it lapses at the end of each year. "I spent the money on the beautification of parks and installing benches and swings in the parks, besides various other developmental projects," he said.

Chandigarh, December 31
In a major setback and concern for thousands of poor patients who rush to the PGIMER from across the country in the hope of cheaper and quality treatment, the donations in the institution’s Poor Patient Welfare Fund (PPWF) have come down drastically in the past few years.

From Rs 96.5 lakh in 2011, the total donated amount came down to Rs 11.7 lakh this year bringing the number of beneficiaries down. The number of needy patients, however, continues to grow at the PGIMER.

In the PPWF, the money comes purely from philanthropists and no fund is received from any of the funding agencies or government organisations.

Chandigarh Tribune made an attempt to find out the reasons for the significant fall in voluntary donations over the years by contacting a few philanthropists who have been pouring money into the fund for long.

While none of the philanthropists (all city-based) appreciated to be identified, following their ideals, they pointed out certain causes for the reduction in funds.

“A majority of the philanthropists, who saw the city since its inception and were deeply in love with it, had died over the past couple of years. The new residents do not share the same amount of affection with Chandigarh’s oldest institutions like the PGIMER, hence no focus on social activities,” said one of the philanthropists who donates money every year in the PPWF.

Another philanthropist, who has been associated with the PGIMER for the last 10 years, said: “Earlier, the PGI authorities used to publish appeals for patients in the local newspapers inviting financial assistance for the poor patients. For certain reasons, that practice has been discontinued now. For the poor patients, who are often illiterate, it is difficult to reach out to people to share their agony.”

The PGIMER’s official spokesperson, Manju Wadlwalkar, meanwhile, said: “These are all voluntary donations and keep varying. Our purpose is to ensure financial assistance for the poor patients which is meted out through other funds received by the institution. These include the CM’s fund, PM’s fund, Cancer fund and the NIF. In addition, the PGIMER also provides free treatment facility for needy patients by providing free of cost diagnostics.”

The number of patients in the PGIMER OPD per day has been on the rise touching the 10,000 mark recently. The number of indoor patients has also moved up significantly, bringing the average admissions on a given day to 1,500 to the Emergency unit and different wards. At least a half of these constitute poor patients.

The poor patient fund allotment committee is headed by the Medical Superintendent, Dr AK Gupta, who holds the authority to allot a fund up to Rs 10,000 per patient. 

Mohali, December 31
Farmers of Hoshiarpur village, whose land is being acquired by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) for the Ecocity project, rejected the announcement of compensation offered in exchange of their land here today.

The land owners said they had been asked by GMADA to reach at their office at 11 am and 3 pm today. But the affected farmers, instead, held a meeting in the village and decided to stay back as the compensation being offered by GMADA was allegedly very less.

Farmers said the compensation amount was being forced on the farmers and such an attitude on the part of GMADA was totally unjustified.

Most of the land owners refused to turn up at the GMADA office.

GMADA is acquiring as many as 410 acres in the village. Out of this area, notices under Section 9 have already been issued in the case of 96 acres. The land was being acquired for extending the area of Ecocity-I and developing Ecocity-II.

A resident of Hoshiarpur, Jagtar Singh, said GMADA was offering a compensation of about Rs 1.85 crore per acre in accordance with an Act which was passed in 1894.

The announcement for compensation was a deliberate move on the part of the authorities, because the new Land Acquisition and Resettlement Act, passed recently, would become effective from tomorrow, alleged Jagtar.

He said according to the new Act, land owners were to be given a much higher compensation and the Punjab Government was reluctant to pay the same for acquiring the land.

“Ecocity-I is yet to be developed completely by GMADA. We don’t understand why the development authority is in a hurry to acquire land for Ecocity-II, without the completion of Ecocity-I. This action has exposed the ill intention of the government,” alleged a resident.

Another land owner, Sadhu Singh, said some farmers of Hoshiarpur village, along with others, have moved court against the compensation given by GMADA for acquiring land for widening the Mullanpur road. The court had told GMADA to pay a minimum compensation of Rs 2.32 crore, said Sadhu Singh.

“A lot of resentment prevails among the land owners of the village regarding the acceptance of the compensation being offered by GMADA,” said Singh.

Mohali, December 31
Residents of Phase II here have written to the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, regarding the decision of the authorities to impose property tax on residents of Mohali.

Residents, in their letter, stated that in 2013 the Central Government had decided to impose wealth tax on farmers, which was opposed by the Punjab Government. On April 26, the Punjab Cabinet said the decision was unjustified, and it was ultimately withdrawn by the Centre.

The residents drew a similarity between both the taxes and said property tax was also uncalled for.

Residents said a large number of retired persons are residing in Mohali and they had, over the years, taken loans to build their houses. That time, cost of construction was comparatively low and now most of them do not even have any intention of selling their houses. Currently, property tax is being calculated on the present prices of plots and cost of construction, which is burdening the residents.

The Phase II residents said most of the retired persons were dependant on their pensions as well as rental income from the house property and the imposition of property tax amounted to burdening them twice.

Besides they had already paid development charges to the department concerned.

Residents further said Mohali was developed as Part III of Chandigarh. As such, taxes and facilities to residents should be on the Chandigarh pattern.

The residents also alleged that the Punjab Government had called a meeting of industrialists and offered many concessions to them. On the other hand, it has burdened the Mohali residents by levying property tax, which was totally unjustified.

Residents urged the authorities concerned to roll back the decision at the earliest.

Chandigarh, December 31
Subhash Chawla, Mayor, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, today held a press conference at the MC office in Sector 17 to list his achievements of the year.

The Mayor said he was satisfied with what he had done last year as he delivered the best he could for the welfare of the public.

The Mayor stated a total of 37 tubewells had been installed across the city. A sewerage treatment plant at 3 BRD has been commissioned at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore and Rs 4.5 crore has been recovered from the defaulters who have not paid water bills during the year. The 24-hour water supply scheme for Mauli Jagran ws launched at an estimated cost of Rs 2.19 crore, which would be ready in six months.

The Mayor further stated that around 412 km of roads were recarpated during his tenure. Construction work of a multi-level parking in Sector 17 has been started at an estimated cost of Rs 46.25 crore.

The Mayor, who was at the receiving end throughout the year for failing to deal with the problem of stray cattle, said a total of 2,537 head of stray cattle had been impounded during the year and 924 shifted to various gaushalas.

"During his tenure, 19 security guards, 80 drivers, 50 helpers, 10 sanitary inspectors and 173 safai karmacharis had been added to the MC staff," Chawla said. 

Chandigarh, December 31
Senior Congress leaders held a meeting today with all party councillors to ensure that they vote for the Congress candidates only during the Mayoral elections, slated for January 1. The meeting was held at a hotel in Sector 26 owned by a Congress leader.

The strategy for the elections was discussed during the meeting.

One of the councillors stated that it had come to their notice that certain BJP councillors approached the Congress councillors and asked them to support their party. “The instructions to cast their vote correctly were also given to the Congress councilors so that no vote gets rejected as invalid,” the councillor added. 

Chandigarh, December 31
The Chandigarh Administration has placed Punjabi, the first language of Punjab of which Chandigarh is the capital, not even close to Tamil, Telugu and Kannada in the software of the test for learner's licence conducted by its Registration and Licensing Authority (RLA).

The software for the learner’s licence test comprising questions on traffic rules does not have the option of Punjabi while it offers options of English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.

Earlier, the administration has drawn flak for ignoring Punjabi on its signboards displayed at public places, important offices and tourist places. The matter has been highlighted on different fora by different organisations over the past several years.

The Chandigarh Administration had disqualified the applicants for the posts of conductor who had done matriculation in the Punjabi medium while the applicants who had done the same in the Hindi medium were allowed to take the test. Following protests from different quarters, the administration did agree to the demand of allowing these applicants to qualify for acquiring a conductor’s licence.

Recently, UT Administrator Shiv Raj Patil had announced that the UT had adopted three languages, English, Hindi and Punjabi, for use in its daily functioning. However, the ground reality was totally different. The issue gains importance in the context that the administration was not even following the formula of 60:40 ratio for representation of Punjab and Haryana, respectively, in government jobs. According to sources, the UT Administration amended the deputation norms by adding “other states” from time to time for adjusting officers from outside the states. This has led to a situation of the UT serving as the place of posting for people from different parts of the country, harming the interest of people from Punjab.

The UT RLA, Kashish Mittal, said: “We are considering incorporating the Punjabi language in the computer test for learner’s licence and a ground exercise in this regard is under way”.

Panchkula, December 31
Following the death of a 16-year-old girl in the Morni forest, near Panchkula, psychologists and experts feel a better equation among the parents and teachers could have prevented the girl from taking this extreme step.

This second such incident in a month, it has shaken the tricity.

On Sunday evening, a 16-year-old girl was found dead in the Morni forest. According to the police, the girl went missing with a boy of her school on December 27. The boy told the police that fearing embarrassment, they decided to commit suicide by taking celphos tablets. But he survived and the girl died. In a similar incident on November 24, a boy and a girl jumped before a train as they believed their parents won’t agree for their marriage.

Dr BS Chavan, Professor and head of Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, said: “Parents and teachers should educate teenagers. There is a scare among young boys and girls to share such things with their parents and I believe it is the parents only who should bridge this gap. Had the girl shared this thing with her parents or teachers without fear, this would have never happened.”

“Rather than shouting at the child when he tells about his feelings, if the parent says it’s quite normal and discusses things, then these incidents won’t take place,” he added.

Similarly, Prof Rajesh Gill of the Department of Sociology, said: “An equation needs to be developed between children and parents or teachers. It’s high time that parents should sit up and realise that they need to talk about such issues, be it infatuation or physical relationships, openly with their children.”

She said: “In government schools, specially, there is a lot of gap between teachers and students. At least the government schools should have a counselor who can identify such problems in teenagers and help them set their priorities first.”

“Rather than pushing their children into such drastic steps, children should be so open with their parents or teachers that they should themselves go and tell them about any such feeling. Till the time a child doesn’t discuss fearlessly, how can a parents explain the priorities of the children and the repercussions of getting into relationships at this age,” said Arti Jaswal, counselor of The Gurukul School, Sector 20, Panchkula.

Chandigarh, December 31
Almost three years after the city Jan Aushadhi stores continued to gather dust, the Central Government’s measures to bolster these centres nationwide have brought a new hope for their revival here.

Failing miserably to find any takers due to the erratic supply of medicines, the three Jan Aushadhi stores in the city government hospitals are on the verge of closure. However, after the Central Government recently announced that it would increase the variety of medicines available at these centres and it had plans to launch an online portal for the promotion and purchase of generic drugs via the centres, the centres are set for a revival.

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has planned to launch another 500 stores by the end of the current financial year.

The varieties of drugs available at the stores are also being increased to include all therapeutic categories. The most stringent quality assurance standards are being applied, wherein each batch will be subjected to test at reliable laboratories. A massive public awareness and publicity campaign to generate demand for generic drugs is also in the pipeline, whereby the attitude of the public towards generic drugs shall be changed and doctors and pharmacists shall be persuaded to prescribe and refer generic medicines only. A website (www.janaushadi.gov.in http://www.janaushadi.gov.in/) and a toll-free helpline (1800 180 8080) have been set up to improve customer education, service and support. A pilot project for launching an online generic drugs purchase portal is also in the pipeline, read a communication issued to the media by the ministry last week.

While the two centres, one each in the GMSH, Sector 16, and the GMCH, Sector 32, are being run by the Red Cross Society, the one at the PGIMER has been outsourced to a private company. The Chandigarh Tribune had earlier reported about the PGIMER Administration writing to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers to allow the closure of the centre here since it failed to serve its purpose. The ministry had then sent an assurance to improve these centres.

In the other two hospitals also, the situation was no different. Of the 319 compulsory medicines, not more than 40 would be available at any given time. 

Mohali, December 31
Following a complaint from NGOs, Additional Deputy Commissioner Praveen Kumar ordered action against a hookah bar (Arabic Infusion) in Sector 70 here. A team comprising Lakhmir Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), SS Bains, Superintendent of Police (SP), and other officials conducted a raid at the hookah bar, which was functioning illegally.

The State Programme Officer, Tobacco Control Cell, Punjab, Dr Rakesh K Gupta, said hookah bars pose a great health hazard to youth. “Even the so-called herbal/flavoured hookahs lead to many health problems,” said Gupta.

In an effort to put a stop on the functioning of hookah bars in city, the Deputy Commissioner had promulgated Section 144 of the CrPC, against functioning of such bars in Mohali district. — OC

Chandigarh, December 31
In the ongoing NSS special camp at KBDAV - 7, Chandigarh, a rally on women safety was taken by the NSS volunteers to draw the attention of the administration. 

Chandigarh, December 31
Panjab University syndicate members and VC were served a legal notice today for violating the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by tabling the issue of extension of appointment of Dr Neera Grover as professor, department of music, in the coming syndicate meeting. A city-based advocate RD Anand has sent the copy of legal notice to the registrar and vice-chancellor of the university.

In the legal notice it is mentioned that it is contemplated that Dr Neera Grover’s appointment would be effective from the date she joins till July 31, 2015, thus, making it co-terminus with the tenure of the vice-chancellor who completes his present term on July 22, 2015. She had already joined her parent department on December 13, 2013. This is like making a mockery of the Regulation 5(b) meant only for emergency appointments. The regulation cannot be extrapolated to ludicrous limits to provide a job to vice-chancellor’s wife.

The appointment of Dr Neera Grover by the syndicate in 2012 was challenged through a public interest litigation vide CWP 5196 of 2013 in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, wherein the university had tried to justify in the written statement that the appointment was on the basis of the increased workload and the dire need of staff.

In his notice he has stated that if any such appointment is done now, it shall be absolutely illegal and contemptuous and would attract criminal proceedings. Further, the action of the University would be at the cost of public exchequer which amounts to corruption. 

Chandigarh, December 31
Language Department, Punjab, will be starting free basic Urdu language classes from tomorrow at SD College, Sector 32, Chandigarh. The classes are open for everyone and timings of classes are from 5.15 pm to 6.15 pm. 

The duration of course is six months. Interested candidates may contact Assistant Director, (Hindi/Punjabi Cell), Secretariat-2, Sector 9, Chandigarh, on any working day or directly join the classes from tomorrow at the SD College.