Chandigarh, January 18
Residents of the city should be prepared to shell out more paying power bills as the UT Electricity Department has proposed a hike of 20 per cent in the power tariff.

The proposal of the department was recently submitted to senior UT officials. The officials will put up the proposal before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) in the form of an Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) and Tariff petition for financial year 2014-15.

The proposed hike, which is for the period from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015, will be effective only after the JERC gives its approval to it. The commission has been constituted to decide on power tariffs of the Union Territories.

Sources said seeking an increase the tariff, the department had maintained the average existing tariffs for all categories of consumers in Chandigarh were lower than the average cost of supply.

A senior official of the department said the city had no power generation, as such the department bought electricity from different power generation plants. The UT Administration was suffering losses worth crores due to the difference in the prices of power purchased and supplied.

There are around 2.5 lakh consumers in the city, including 1.75 lakh consumers in the domestic slabs.

Meanwhile, UT Superintending Engineer (Electricity) MP Singh said they would put up the power tariff petition before the JERC next week.

While the neighbouring state of Haryana has slashed its power tariff, keeping in mind the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the UT Administration, which is being run by bureaucrats, has proposed a hike.

Mohali, January 18
Lightning struck at four houses in Street Number 10 and 11 of Jujhar Nagar, near Phase VI, last night. Besides, a 300 kv transformer at Phase III A and one 100 kv unit each at Ramgarh and Behlolpur village in the town were damaged by lightning, resulting in a blackout in many areas of the town.

More than 30 persons, including children, were said to be present in the four houses when lightning struck at midnight. There was no loss of life though the owners of the houses, Anjum Abbas, Raj Kumar, Jagat Ram and Mast Ram, claimed they had suffered losses on account of big cracks in the walls and roofs. Besides, wiring, electrical appliances, including refrigerators and LCD television sets, windowpanes and doors were also damaged.

Anjum Abbas said there was a loud blast and the power went off all of a sudden when lightning struck.

“We were very scared as our entire house started shaking. The main wiring caught fire. Fortunately, there was no loss of life,” said Anjum Abbas, adding they come out of their houses when lightning struck.

“After lightning, the blackout in the area added to our problems caused by continuous raining,” said the victims.

Anjum claimed he had suffered a loss worth Rs 4 lakh.

Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu said a team was sent to the spot to assess the damage. “We will announce adequate compensation for the victims after assessing the damage,” said Sidhu.

Panchkula, January 18
The premature baby girl delivered by a woman, who was clobbered allegedly by her husband and died after delivering the baby, will be adopted by the elder brother of the accused. Raj Kumar, elder brother of the victim’s husband Ram Kumar, said today that he and his wife had decided to bring up the baby.

Reena (24), who was eight months pregnant, was repeatedly hit by Ram Kumar on the head. While she was being operated at the Alchemist hospital in Sector 21 here, she delivered the baby girl and died.

“I have two sons and now I have a daughter. My family is complete now. She is our daughter and we have decided to adopt her,” said Raj Kumar.

Reena’s sister has been married to Raj Kumar, who has paid the hospital bills.

Meanwhile, the child is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the hospital. “As the mother is not there, the child is being given formula milk through a tube. The baby needs to be kept at the NICU for about two weeks,” said an official at the Alchemist hospital.

Meanwhile, the post-mortem report states Reena was hit simultaneously with the hammer and its handle. “The hits have been made simultaneously on her head. The handle of the hammer seems to have been used in the attack,” said Dr Sunil Gambhir, forensic expert and head of the post-mortem department of the General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula.

Ram Kumar was arrested yesterday.

Chandigarh, January 18
Keeping in mind the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, local Congress leaders today vented their ire on UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil and UT officials before party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.

A 10-member delegation of Congress leaders, including local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal and Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) president BB Behl, met Rahul Gandhi and submitted a list of various problems faced by the city residents.

Congress district president HS Lucky stated that the UT Administrator and officials were not doing anything for the city. Residents were demanding extension of lal dora in villages, need-based changes in the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) flats, removal of heavy penalties imposed on industrialists and traders, but to no avail.

City unit’s vice-president Ram Pal Sharma, meanwhile, took up issues of employees and the housing scheme for them.

Chandigarh, January 18
Under fire from the LPG-run auto-rickshaw operators for not regularly checking the plying of diesel-run autos in the city, the State Transport Authority (STA) has stepped up its drive against such autos entering from the neighbouring towns of Mohali, Panchkula, Zirakpur and Nayagaon.

Entry of diesel-run autos is not permitted as per the inter-state reciprocal transport agreement signed between the Punjab government and the UT Administration, five years ago.

As per the inter-state agreement, only LPG, CNG or battery-operated autos registered with the Mohali Transport Authority but plying in Chandigarh can be countersigned by the STA, Chandigarh. The UT cannot countersign diesel-run autos.

In the past, most of the autos impounded by the authorities have been found without registration documents. STA Secretary Mahavir Kaushik said help had been sought from the Chandigarh Police for challaning such autos. The drive would be intensified in the coming days, he said.

There are around 10,000 diesel-run autos plying in the city, mostly registered in Mohali and Panchkula.

On the other hand, there are only around 5,000 LPG-run auto-rickshaws registered in the city.

The LPG-run auto-rickshaw drivers’ union has been demanding action against the unauthorised entry of diesel-run auto-rickshaws from Mohali and Panchkula.

“While the UT is sticking to its stand of promoting LPG-run autos in the city, it is doing nothing to check the entry of diesel-run autos,” said Surinder Bhardwaj, founder chairman of the Tricity Auto Rickshaw Union.

The illegal operation was resulting in evasion of road tax and permit fee, said Bhardwaj.

Panchkula, January 18
The installation of an 80-feet mobile tower in a children’s park at Sector 12 here was stopped amid protests by residents, on the intervention of local MLA DK Bansal.

The residents were in for a shock when they realised that the work which was being claimed to be that of installing a high mast light in the park was actually that of setting up a mobile tower. They entered into a heated argument with the workers, following which MLA Bansal reached the spot.

Bansal said, “I made a call to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, who sent his force to control the situation.”

The work was finally stopped after the police arrived at the spot.

“The Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act mentions that any damage to public property is an offense. How can HUDA give its nod to an agreement of installing mobile towers, which are very harmful to us, in 33 parks?” asked Bansal.

The approval for the agreement was given on September 27, 2013, by the then Estate Officer, Ashwini Sharma.

Senior officers of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), however, claimed the mobile tower was being installed without their permission. “The company has to submit plans of the site where the mobile tower is to be installed, as per the policy. Thereafter, taking into consideration objections of the residents, HUDA’s engineer carries out the demarcation and gives the final approval. In this case, the procedure was not followed. Action will be taken against the party,” said Estate Officer Vandana Disodia.

MC Executive Officer OP Sihag said: “We were not aware of this work being carried out. I have spoken to our senior officers about how the company could get the permission to install a mobile tower, that too in a park.”

Bansal, however, alleged the work was being carried out in connivance with HUDA and the Municipal Corporation. The parks are being maintained by the MC.

As per HUDA’s policy in 2004, first preference for setting up a tower should be given to commercial areas or public areas. Where it is not possible to avoid setting up the tower in a residential area, options should be explored for installing them in parks or greenbelts. The approval, however, must be taken from HUDA before proceeding with the work.

Chandigarh, January 18
With nominated councillor Surinder Bahga backing out from filing his nomination papers for the elections to MC’s Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC), the five members who did file their nominations got automatically elected. Now, there will be no polling on January 23.

Earlier, Bahga had announced that he would be contesting the elections. Two BSP councillors and one Independent councillor had also announced their support for Bahga.

The new F&CC will consist of SAD councillor Malkiat Singh, BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi, Congress councillor Pardeep Chhabra and nominated councillors MP Kohli and Anoop Sunny Gill besides the Mayor.

Due to the fear of cross voting, the Congress had fielded only one candidate this year. Earlier, the party used to field two candidates.

Mohali, January 18
In yet another controversy involving the Aam Aadmi Party, a local resident has submitted a complaint in a local court accusing party’s senior leader Kumar Vishwas of hurting religious sentiments of the public.

Gurinderjit Singh, a resident of Sector 68, moved an application in the court of Mohali judicial magistrate against Kumar Vishwas alleging that the leader had hurt religious sentiments of Sikhs and Muslims in his several public addresses.

Demanding registration of a criminal case against Vishwas, Gurinderjit Singh stated that while watching some video clippings of Vishwas’s speeches on a social networking website, he found some objectionable comments on Sikh gurus and Muslims.

“Later, I found that Vishwas has also made several objectionable comments on Lord Shiva and Lord Hanumana. This is ridiculous and calls for strict action against him,” said the complainant.

Gurinderjit Singh said earlier he had sent his complaint to the Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police and the station house officer of the Phase VIII police station, but the police failed to take any action. In his complaint, he has also made the SSP and the SHO in question, party in the case.

When contacted, Mohali SSP Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti said as the clippings had been uploaded on a social networking website, he had forwarded the matter to the Punjab State Cyber Crime Cell for further inquiry.

The court has set January 23 as the next date of hearing in the case.

Mohali, January 18
Following yesterday's order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Mohali police have started checking the menace of halting of buses on the Zirakpur flyover here today.

A team of police personnel was deputed near the flyover to discourage bus drivers from stopping buses there. All buses were seen halting near Singhpura village, which is around 2 km from the flyover.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Mohali SSP Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti said orders had already been issued in this regard but there was no compliance of those.

"Today, I directed my staff to check the menace sternly. The special team will also be deputed near the flyover in the coming days till the bus drivers shed their habit of picking and alighting passengers near or on the flyover," the SSP said.

Notably, the high court had imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the SSP and the Zirakpur Municipal Council in this connection yesterday.

Meanwhile, several passengers complained of inconvenience as the buses have started plying around 2 km away from the main bazaar. The new bus stop is far away and we have to hire a three-wheeler or a rickshaw, which charge Rs 10, to reach here from the bus stop,” said a passenger.

Chandigarh, January 18
'Mat Pita Santan Diwas' was celebrated here at the Bal Bhawan in Sector 23 here. Justice SN Agarwal (retd), Punjab and Haryana High Court, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Justice Agarwal highlighted the importance of giving proper guidance to children instead of imposing parents' will on them.

He advised parents to provide quality time to their children in order to bring out the best in their lives.

Poems on father and mother were recited by students. Students of Dr Khera's Coaching Centre sang songs and recited poems. A one-act play 'Modern Shravan Kumar' was also enacted.

Dr Vinod Khera said the 'Mat Pita Santan Diwas' celebrations were aimed at settling the present day turmoil.

Mohali, January 18
A 24-year-old electrician was electrocuted to death at the MGF Mega Housing Project in Sector 108 here this morning.

The victim, identified as Rampal, a resident of Shampur village in Mohali, was working for a private contractor installing streetlights.

According to sources, the victim, carrying a long ladder, was moving towards the main gate when it came in contact with the overhead cables. The victim died on the spot.

Officials did not show up

Neither any official of the company nor any administrative official came to the spot for over two hours, alleged victim’s cousin Pawan Kumar.

“Even the electricity department did not disconnect the cables for around three hours due to which the body remained fixed there,” said Pawan Kumar.

Workers block highway

Following this, agitated workers blocked traffic on the Landran-Banur highway.

Mohali SSP Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti said the police would start legal proceedings against the contractor.

The body was sent to the Civil Hospital in Phase VI for postmortem.

Panchkula, January 18
A bus, belonging to Baddi University, got stuck in a water-filled pit left open by the HUDA workers laying a pipeline at the MDC in Sector 5. Though the students and teachers were moved out of the bus, the vehicle remained stuck for over four hours.

The other vehicles passing through the main road were then diverted towards the approach road in order to avoid traffic jams.

Surprisingly, officials in the PCR vehicle stationed near the spot made no efforts to help the victims and kept chatting.

Later in the evening, the HUDA workers levelled the pit with mud. No barricades were put on during the time of laying pipelines which lead to the water-filled pit. The incident took place due to the ignorance of the workers to fill the deep pit.

Mohali, January 18
High drama was witnessed at Phase 7 here this evening as several persons bashed up a 20-year-old student after he hit three vehicles with his speedy car.

The youngster, identified as Jevan of Phase VII, has to take shelter in a local property dealer's office to save himself from them.

Sources said Jevan was coming towards the Phase 7 light point when he first hit a Santro car.

"Then he lost control over his car and hit another Swift car and after that a motorcyclist before ramming his car into an electricity pole. Then he tried to sped away, but the driver of the Santro car pulled him out of his vehicle. People gathered on the spot started beating him," said the sources.

The youngster, who took shelter in a property consultant's office, bolted from inside and opened the door only after the police and his relatives reached the spot.

The police said proceedings had been initiated in the matter.

Mohali, January 18
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) is all set to launch a new residential scheme near Phase XI.

According to information available, 48 plots of different sizes would be put to auction. The site where these houses would come up is nearby the Golf Club.

The reserve price fixed by GMADA for the sale of plots is Rs 54,000 per sq yd. — OC

Panchkula, January 18
Following the showers on Friday night, a blackout like situation prevailed in Panchkula.

There was no power from 11.30 pm to 1.30 pm on Saturday afternoon in MDC, Sector 5, Sector 7 and parts of Sector 8, 9, 16, 17, 10 and 12 along with aome other sectors. Executive engineer of the Power Department DS Dhanda said wires in certain areas got disconnected because of heavy rain. While for the MDC area he said a technical snag developed from the power supply that comes from Ropar.

Chandigarh, January 18
Three private schools, including Bhavan Vidyalaya Junior School, Sector 33, held the draw of lots for admission to the entry-level classes here today. With this, the last leg of the admission process in all major private schools has come to an end.

The competition was extremely tough at Bhavan Vidyalaya as on an average nearly 20 students were struggling hard for a single seat. Out of over 1,600 applicants, only 47 got through the draw of lots in the general category.

The school had a total of 100 seats, of which 25 were reserved for the EWS students under the RTE Act, 10 seats for siblings, 10 for management quota, five for siblings and three for staff wards. The rest of the seats were allotted to the general category students.

The school held draw of lots for the reserved as well as the general category. Schools officials said 10 seats were allotted to the sibling category against a total of 51 applications, while five seats were allotted to the alumni category against 26 applications.

The draw of lots was not held for the EWS category students as only 21 applications were received against a total of 25 seats.

Taruna Vashisht, principal of the school, said four seats under the RTE Act were yet to be filled. The school would now extend the area of admission from the existing one km to three km to fill the vacant seats. These seats would be filled on a first come, first served basis.

The real fight was in the general category. In the end, only 47 students could get admission to Bhavan Vidyalaya.

The rain played spoilsport as the venue for the draw of lots, which was planned in the school ground, had to be shifted inside its premises.

Taruna Vashisht said though the rain disrupted the programme, the parents cooperated with the school authorities.

“Like every year, we tried to give maximum seats to the general category students. Of 75 seats, 47 were allotted to the general category students,” she said.

Meanwhile, KBDAV, Sector 7, and St Mary School, Sector 46, also held draw of lots today. The dates for the submission of fees in all schools are January 20-25.

Chandigarh, January 18
In a departure from the regulations in the Panjab University calendar, Dean University Instructions (DUI)-cum-Registrar Professor AK Bhandari yesterday held a meeting of one of the selection committees of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology.

The DUI, who is the acting Vice-Chancellor, was authorised by the VC in his absence to hold selection committee meetings of different departments. The move has attracted reactions from Syndicate members who pointed out that it was a statutory function for which the PU calendar does not permit the acting VC to hold the meetings.

The spokesperson for Panjab University said the university was following the rules and regulations in letter and in spirit. Under the Chapter III point 3 “notwithstanding anything laid down in this volume and also rules contained in volume III of the calendar, the Vice-Chancellor may, at his discretion, delegate any of his powers to the registrar for a specified period”.

Apart from yesterday’s meeting, the DUI is scheduled to hold five more such meetings on Monday. As per the PU calendar regulation under Section 31 (2) (e) (3), the Vice-Chancellor at his discretion can delegate any of his powers to the Registrar for the specified period. But the calendar does not permit the VC to delegate his statutory powers to any of the university official.

Records of the university revealed that on September 8, 2012, Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover had tabled a proposal in a Syndicate meeting that the DUI should be allowed to hold some of the selection committee meetings to interview assistant professors. Rejecting the proposal unanimously, all members said there was no provision under the UGC or the PU calendar.

Syndicate member Ashok Goyal said: “There is no such provision that empowers the VC to give charge to any official as the acting Vice-Chancellor. As per the regulation page 4 point 10 (5) in case of illness, absence, leave or any other contingency of the Vice-Chancellor, the Chancellor can only appoint a person from among the fellows of the university or make any such arrangements as he may think fit for the disposal of the business during the absence of the VC”.

Reacting to it, Syndicate member GK Chatrath said the VC had given the charge to PU DUI as the acting Vice-Chancellor till his absence on the basis of which he was holding the selection committee meetings.

Mohali, January 18
The Gian Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology, Mohali, organised its 8th international conference on the theme of “Cross-Cultural Practices and Issues in International Business Management”.

Several academicians, research scholars, industry representatives and students participated in the conference. A number of research papers were presented by delegates.

In his inaugural address, JS Bedi, chairman, Gian Jyoti Group of Institutions, said the movement of business people from one country to another had made it essential to understand the cultural differences and their effects on business.

Ashish Sharma from the Australian Trade Commission talked about various aspects related to the role of cultural aspects in determining the conduct of business across international borders.

Professor SK Chadha and Dr Manu Sharma from UBS, Panjab University, Chandigarh, were among those who shared their views and experiences with the participants.