Chandigarh, February 16
Councillors of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation who fail to utilise Rs 40 lakh provided to them annually under the ward development fund will now be able to carry these funds forward and utilise these next year.

Earlier, the unutilised funds used to lapse at the end of the year.

All councillors get Rs 40 lakh each for their respective ward. However, a majority of the councillors fail to utilise the funds within a year. In 2013, of the total 26 elected councillors, 13 failed to touch the figure of Rs 30 lakh.

The councillors were demanding that the funds should be allowed to be carried forward so that these did not lapse and could be utilised in the wards for the benefit of the people. The decision to carry forward the unutilised funds was taken at a meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) held recently.

Saurabh Joshi, BJP councillor and member of the F&CC, said the decision would help the councillors utilise the funds optimally. “According to the decision, the maximum limit has been fixed at Rs 1 crore. The amount over this limit will not be carried forward”, Joshi stated.

While councillors fail to utilise their funds, residents in their wards keep waiting for basic amenities such as streetlights, play equipment in parks and widening and recarpeting of roads.

SAD councillor Malkiat Singh said the councillors would now be able to utilise the funds throughout their tenure as sometimes there were no new projects planned for the wards due to which the councillors failed to spend the funds within a year. “With this decision, the councillors will now be able to plan bigger projects in their wards and spend the funds together,” he said.

In 2013, only BJP councillor Arun Sood managed to spend the total amount on development works in his ward. Interestingly, former Mayor Raj Bala Malik and BJP councillor Rajinder Kaur spent less than Rs 10 lakh in their wards.

Arun Sood said, “As we are given an opportunity to spend the funds, I purchased play equipments for parks in my ward and got tiles installed on road berms in Sectors 37 and 38 to provide parking facility to residents,” he said.

In 2012, 10 councillors had spent less then Rs 20 lakh in their ward of the total Rs 40 lakh each provided to them.

Chandigarh, February 16
High drama was witnessed today at Mauli Jagran when a team of the municipal corporation reached there to remove plaques bearing the name of area BJP councillor, hours after the inauguration of three projects by residents of the ward.

The residents inaugurated the three projects at Mauli Jagran and Vikas Nagar. Later, MC officials went there asking area councillor Rajinder Kaur to remove the plaques bearing her name so that Mayor HC Kalyan could inaugurate the projects on Monday.

The inauguration of the three projects, planned by the Mayor for February 17 apparently without taking the BJP councillor into confidence, had led to a controversy after which the councillor got the projects inaugurated by the residents of her ward.

Rajinder Kaur said MC officials arrived in her ward to persuade her to remove the plaques.

The exercise by the MC officials to get the plaques removed continued till the evening. “Residents didn’t let the MC officials remove the plaques,” she said.

The residents had inaugurated a community centre, a shopping centre and an extension of a community centre. Local BJP president Sanjay Tandon , BJP councillors Arun Sood and Asha Kumari Jaswal, and SAD councillors Harjinder Kaur and Malkiat Singh attended the inauguration.

Arun Sood, Leader of the Opposition, said the MC officials tried to seek the assistance of the local police to remove the plaques. “There is nothing illegal in getting the projects inaugurated by residents as it is the prerogative of the area councillor,” Sood said.

Mayor HC Kalyan said he would inaugurate the three projects tomorrow. “The BJP councillors are playing cheap politics, which will not be tolerated,” Kalyan said.

Chandigarh, February 16
The recent arrest of four members of an all-juvenile gang for their involvement in a spate of snatchings in one single night last month has once again highlighted that crime by minor children in the city is on the rise. The four juveniles had forcibly taken away an auto-rickshaw from its driver and used it for the snatchings.

According to police records, over 130 children are arrested by the UT police on an average every year. A total of 910 minors have been arrested for various crimes in the past seven years (2008 to date).

With rising drug addiction and unemployment, children in the age group of 12 to 16 are increasingly taking to crime, including heinous cases.

As many as 136 children were arrested for various crimes in the city in 2013. A majority of the children (45) were arrested in theft cases while 12 were arrested in robbery cases. Four juveniles were arrested for murder last year while four were arrested for attempt to murder. Four juveniles were arrested by the police for snatchings last year.

On February 5, the crime branch of the UT police had arrested a four-member gang of minor children for their involvement in four snatching cases in a single night. Last year, the police had arrested a juvenile for possessing four live detonators.

In March last year, the police had arrested five juveniles for robbing and stabbing a vegetable vendor. The five, all of whom were between 14 and 15 years of age, had robbed a vegetable vendor of Rs 1,800 and documents after stabbing him.

In 2011, two juveniles had killed an auto-rickshaw driver after smashing his head with a brick.

DSP (Crime) Satbir Singh said crime by juveniles was on the rise owing to rising drug addiction among children, especially school dropouts. “Rising unemployment and poverty are among the other reasons behind the crime by minors. Over the years, more and more children are getting involved in heinous crimes. They get away with light punishment,” said Satbir Singh.

Mohali, February 16
A local government doctor got a shock when somebody damaged his new car by throwing acid on it last night. The paint of the i 20 car of Dr Vijay Bhagat, a resident of Phase VII and radiologist at the Civil Hospital, Phase VI, came off the roof and the sides due to the acid.

Dr Bhagat said the car was parked inside the gate and the miscreant(s) seemed to have thrown the acid after climbing the gate. The miscreants left behind two bottles in which they had carried the acid. The matter came to light when Dr Bhagat went to wash his car this morning.

Inspector Navin Pal Singh Lehal, SHO of the Mataur police station, said personal enmity seemed to be reason behind the incident as the miscreants targeted the car parked inside the gate, sparing several cars parked on the street.

A DDR has been lodged in this connection. 

Panchkula, February 16
After Chandigarh, now the Panchkula Police have demanded cycle tracks along main roads in the city.

In view of the increasing number of accidents and traffic congestion on Panchkula roads, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ashwin Shenvi has mooted a "mobility plan" for the city. Following the DCP's recommendation, Panchkula Deputy Commissioner SS Phulia has communicated to the Town and Country Planning Department to work out a plan for cycle tracks.

As part of the plan, banning cycle rickshaws in crowded sectors has also been recommended.

In his plan, Shenvi has stated, "Apart from various types of vehicles, slow-moving traffic (bicycles, cycle rickshaws and carts) is also seen plying on Panchkula roads. The roads are not safe and many accidents occur due to the slow-moving traffic. In order to make the city roads safe and accident-free, it is important to segregate the slow-moving traffic from the fast-moving traffic."

It has been proposed to construct separate tracks for bicycles along all main roads in Panchkula.

Besides cycle tracks, slip roads have also been suggested for diverting rickshaws and bicycles. "Slip roads should be constructed on all roads dividing various sectors and the slow-moving traffic should be diverted on these," the plan states.

On imposing a ban of cycle rickshaws in certain areas, the plan states, "The markets of Sectors 7, 9 and 11, the District Courts and the Mini-Secretariat are the busiest places as a large number of people visit these every day. Due to overcrowding, no place is left for parking vehicles. It is, therefore, proposed that the entry of rickshaws to these places should be banned."

Chandigarh, February 16
A man was robbed of Rs 2,000 at knifepoint in Daddu Majra late last night. Mohal Lal, a resident of Dhanas who works as a waiter, was on his way back home when he was targeted.

In his complaint to the police, the victim said four unidentified persons confronted him and told him to give them all he had at knifepoint. The victim told the police that he had taken Rs 2,000 as advance from his employer for his expenses, which he gave to them.

Chandigarh, February 16
The Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi sought a feedback on Chandigarh's political scenario in the wake of the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections-2014 during a quick meeting with state president Sanjay Tandon today at the city airport.

Modi had stopped for a while at the Chandigarh airport where he had to take a helicopter to reach Sujanpur town of Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradesh.

Vehicles in the City Beautiful have increased manifold over the years. The planners of the city might have had no idea that this situation would arise one day. There is a huge rush during the morning and evening hours. Regulating traffic has become a major challenge for the traffic police these days. There is a need to construct underpasses, install traffic lights and challan habitual traffic violators. Separate lanes for cyclists, rickshaw-pullers and pedestrians are also needed.

Ujagar Singh, Chandigarh

Prefer smaller cars while travelling alone

Traffic problem in Chandigarh, a city known for its wide roads, has assumed an alarming proportion. To tide over the situation, people should be encouraged to use smaller cars while travelling alone. To ease frequent traffic snarls on the city roads, the traffic authorities should encourage car pooling.

SC Luthra, Mani Majra

Challenging aspect of urban policing

Traffic jams have emerged as one of the most challenging aspects of urban policing. Among all urban cities, Chandigarh offers its own unique challenges. There is a proposal to set up an independent traffic management control centre by the UT Administration. It will act as a motoring station from where directions will be sent to the traffic police to avoid traffic snarls.

Open House Question Encroachments in commercial areas have become a nuisance. Endless drives carried out to remove encroachments and the UT's reprimand by the Punjab and Haryana High Court have not brought any improvement as the well-organised nexus between encroachers and MC officials seems difficult to break. The MC has also failed to allocate any special zones for day markets. What needs to be done to check the problem without harming those who eke out a living by setting up shops illegally on government lands. Write your suggestions with a passport size photograph to openhouse@tribunemail.com

Priya Darsh Growar, Mohali

Need to construct underpasses, flyovers

The UT Administration is unable to find a solution to the long-pending problem of the citizens. No directions are being issued by the MHA to upgrade infrastructure in the city. There is a need to construct underpasses and flyovers on all major heavily congested roundabouts in the city. The MHA should issue directions and approve plans to change the infrastructure as required to control the traffic congestion.

Sukhpal Singh, Chandigarh

Remove rotaries for smooth flow of traffic

Most of the CCTV cameras installed at traffic light points at various roundabouts in the city are lying defunct. Vehicles remain stuck in traffic jams for long due to rotaries, which need to be eradicated from the basic infrastructure of the city. The need of the hour is to remove useless and unwanted roundabouts in the city.

BM Dhawan, Chandigarh

Need to introduce car pooling system

Underpasses and flyovers need to be constructed on a priority. Separate lanes for cycle and rickshaws should be properly utilised. There should be a ban on erecting barricades on roads where traffic volume is high. There is a need to introduce car pooling system.

Jagdishpal Singh Kalra, Chandigarh

Self-discipline must on city roads

To meet the traffic challenge is to limit the number of vehicles one household can own. It should be a maximum of two. VIP fleets should be pruned. The UT must explore the feasibility of flyovers, underground parking and parking facility on the rooftops. The traffic police need to increase their strength. Self-discipline and observance of traffic rules is a must.

Colonel RD Singh (retd), Ambala Cantonment

No parking should be allowed on roads

The authorities should have invited professional traffic regulatory consultants for Chandigarh. All rotaries should be removed at the earliest. Two-wheeler riders, cyclists and rickshaw-pullers should be advised to avoid taking main roads. No parking should be allowed on roads.

Tarsem Bhardwaj. Chandigarh

Public transport needs to be strengthened

The UT Administration should purchase at least 500 buses to check traffic congestion. Officers need to be directed to make use of public transport daily. For official duties, vehicles should be readily available to every officer on requisition. People need to be made aware through various types of advertisements to make use of public transport at affordable rates and at frequent intervals.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

Curb begging for smooth flow of traffic

Traffic chaos is due to mismanagement, disorderly flow of traffic, poor signals, speed obstructing rotaries, uncontrolled pedestrian crossing, among others. Traffic signals need to be made visible with LED lights. Begging at busy intersections should also be curbed for the smooth flow of traffic.

Rita Raina, Chandigarh

Traffic police need to be more active

It is high time the traffic police need to wake up and take some concrete steps to deal with traffic congestion in the city. Waiting time at light points should be reduced during rush hours to avoid long queues of vehicles. More traffic police should be deployed at light points and roundabouts during the morning and evening hours. Traffic violators should be dealt with strictly.

Baljinder Kaur, Chandigarh

Deploy more police to regulate traffic

The number of police personnel deployed to regulate traffic on the city roads is not enough. Commuters are left to fend for themselves during snarl-ups. Also, those on duty can be seen busy challaning the commuters, while showing little interest in regulating the traffic. There are frequent jams at almost all light points and rotaries.

Puran Kant, Chandigarh

Remove roundabouts from major points

The UT Administration must remove roundabouts from all major points. During rush hours, traffic policemen should remain on duty at traffic lights so that people do not violate traffic rules.

Gursharan Singh Bedi, Mohali

Traffic signals must at all T-points

Traffic signals must be installed at all T-points in order to prevent chaos. Slip roads must be constructed at a considerable distance from the traffic lights. Construction of pedestrian crossings, wider sidewalks and footpaths will prove beneficial for commuters.

Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

Need to introduce lane driving

The city is in dire need of introduction of lane driving. The system was introduced by the Chandigarh Traffic Police from the Sector 16 Stadium to Sector 1, 3 roundabout. It is yet to be implemented in letter and in spirit.

Vineet Kapoor, Panchkula

Sensor system needs to be implemented

All major crossings and roundabouts need to be manned by police personnel during peak hours instead of dependence on traffic lights. Traffic marshals need to be regularly roped in to check the problem. The process of challaning during rush hours should be avoided. The sensor system on traffic lights concerning vehicular traffic volume needs to be implemented immediately.

Chandigarh, February 16
The problem of encroachments has attained an alarming proportion in the City Beautiful. The magnitude of the problem can be gauged from the fact that shopkeepers have openly flouted rules by encroaching upon pavements and footpaths outside their shops, right under the nose of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

This also belies the tall claims of the civic body to curb the menace.

Goods and grocery items have been displayed by shopkeepers outside stores, making it arduous for shoppers to pass through.

Rampant encroachments can be witnessed in the market places of Sectors 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 45, 46, Mani Majra etc.

Priyanka Thakur, a shopper at the Shastri Market in Sector 22, said, “There is hardly any space to walk through. The corridors are full to the brim with goods displayed for sale.”

The scenario worsens during the evening hours when vendors put up stalls and display goods in every nook and corner of the market area.

Manipal Singh, a local resident, said the authorities concerned should initiate stern measures and take the defaulters to task.

“There is lack of effort and action on the part of the MC authorities to check encroachments,” he added.

The Master Plan drafted by the UT Administration clearly mentions about keeping a check on encroachments in market places.

The Master Plan Committee, in its fire safety norms, has recommended that tabs should be kept on encroachments on public land to facilitate the movement of fire tenders during an emergency.

The Chandigarh Police have often written to the MC regarding encroachments in market places.

Despite this, the municipal corporation has adopted ‘softer’ measures such as surprise visits and issuing of challans, which has invariably not helped much.

A few months ago, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had suggested the UT Administration to increase the existing fine on encroachments from Rs 500 to Rs 10,000.

Walls rented out by shopkeepers

To make a fast extra buck, a few booth owners in the markets of Sectors 15, 18, 19 and 22 have rented out the facing walls and pillars for Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000.

The vendor, who takes the wall on rent, openly displays goods on the front and sidewalls of the shop, adding to the chaos.

Goods such as clothes, bags, shoes, grocery items etc can be seen adorning the walls of market places.

Food courts on pavements

Pavements of prominent city markets have been turned into food courts with makeshift stalls selling cheaper fast food, attracting visitors.

The vendors also carry gas cylinders along with them, virtually turning the market area into an open kitchen. A similar scenario can be seen at Sectors 22, 15, 27 19 etc.

In several other sectors, vendors have also encroached upon the parking area, forcing visitors to park their vehicles on the roads. With food stalls set up in every nook and corner of the market, the area is littered with leftover food and other waste materials. Likewise, vegetable and fruits cart owners have earmarked specific places.

Illegal construction

Goods and grocery items have been displayed by shopkeepers in front of their stores. The shopkeepers in Dadu Majra have gone a step ahead and made a mockery of the MC rule book by constructing walls in the middle of the corridor to extend the shop area. The encroachment has resulted in the blocking of the passage meant for visitors to the market.

Though the MC spends Rs 2.72 crore annually on the payment of salaries to the enforcement staff, encroachments in market places have doubled over the years. The civic body pays Rs 2.72 crore per annum as salary to the staff of the enforcement wing. Despite having 120 workers, the MC has failed to check encroachments in the city.

The enforcement wing has 57 regular workers, including inspectors, sub-inspectors, police personnel, labourers and drivers. They are paid over Rs 2.1 crore per annum.

The MC has also hired 55 beldars and eight drivers, who are paid over Rs 70.50 lakh per annum.

Anti-encroachment drives a damp squib

Sources said there have been instances when shopkeepers got to know about the anti-encroachment drive in advance, thereby hoodwinking the MC staff.

On seeing the enforcement team arrive in the market, shopkeepers remove encroachments from the corridors, making it difficult for the civic body staff to confiscate the goods. Only a handful of violators are caught and challaned.

The lack of manpower further compounds the problem. However, as soon as the MC team leaves the market, shopkeepers return to their usual ways.

29,000 challans issued in 2013

The enforcement wing of the MC issued nearly 29,455 challans for encroachments in 2013, generating a revenue of Rs 1.36 crore through fines and auction of the impounded goods.

Vendors misbehave with visitors

Gurgaon Municipal Commissioner Parveen Kumar entered into an altercation with a vendor in the Sector 17 market after he mistakenly stepped on the latter’s goods, displayed on the pavement.

Chandigarh, February 16
The fifth Panjab University Rose Festival concluded on the PU campus today. The day witnessed huge turnout of students, youth and people at the festival.

About 1,500 participants took part in various competitions. Competitions like dancing, poetic recitation, face painting, rose quiz, creative mehandi, rose prince/rose princess and painting were held today on the last day of the festival.

Noted Sufi singer Kanwar Grewal enthralled the students, participants and the audience during the festival at the Old Convocation Ground.

Simran Kaur and Avni Sehgal won the first and second position in singing competition in the 5 to 15-year age group, while Tanya Sharma and Komal Bhatia won the first and second position in singing competition in the above 15-year age group.

Apurva and Gursimran won the duet singing, while Saumyaa and Vasundhra Vedvyas bagged the second position. Saumyaa Verma and group won the group singing, while Ananya Kalia and group remained second.

Results

Poetic: 1 Shivanshi Sehgal; and 2 Ritvik Munjal

Consolation: Vridhi Gupta, Riya Swami, Asmita Sharma and Onir

Mehandi: (Below 15 Yrs): 1 Harpreet Singh and Raveta Rani; and 2 Anandita Talwar and Aanchal Gupta

Consolation: Tripti and Usha Kiran

(Above 15 Yrs): 1 Shivani Kaushal and Tanya Ahuja; and 2 Hema and Parwinder Kaur

Consolation: Manisha and Pranshu; Sanju Kumar and Kusum; Laxmi and Alka

Face Painting: (5-15 Yrs): 1 Hitakshi Kanwar and Gauri Madan; and 2 Anushka Gupta and Alima Nalwa

Consolation: Dhruvi Yadav and Vyom Yadav, Tripti and Usha Kiran; Devyanshi Kaura and Vanshika Kochhar

(Above 15 Yrs): 1 Parwinder Kaur and Amanpreet Kaur; 2 Vinay Chopra and Pankaj Kumar

Consolation: Sonu Sharma and Shubham; Ratul and Manoj Kumar

Dancing: (3-8 Yrs): 1 Daksh Singla; 2 Noor Kainth

Consolation: Arshi

(9-15 Yrs): 1 Deliya Kaur; and 2 Shruti Sardar

Consolation: Avani Jindal, Dia Sharma, Harmehar Dhaliwal

(Above 16 Yrs): 1 Deachan Angmo; and 2 Manprit Singh

Consolation: Sandeep Kaur

Groups: 1 Pratyuman and Group; and 2 Rashi Sehgal and Group

Consolation: Mehakpreet Kaur and Group; and Sandra Mathew and Group

Duet Dance: 1 Sukhwinder Singh and Rahul Khan; and 2 Shreya Sharma and Vatsalika

Consolation: Gurleen Kaur and Harnaindeep

Rose Prince: (0-1 Yrs): 1 Sehraj Singh Bhangu; and 2 Ayaan Gambhir

Consolation: Arnav Nair

(1-2 Yrs): 1 Maahir Singh; and 2 Bhavneet Singh

Consolation: Abhay Chopra

(2-3 Yrs): 1 Aarav Bhaskar; and 2 Akshaj Goyal

Consolation: Aaditya

Rose Princess: (0-1 Yrs): 1 Aisha; and 2 Samaira 
Sehgal

Consolation: Vamdhi Wadhawan

(1-2 Yrs): 1 Aaratrika Kapoor; and 2 Sachika

Consolation: Anhad Kaur

(2-3 Yrs): 1 Amanat Ahuja; and 2 Radihka Balodi

Consolation: Nimarpreet Kaur

Painting: (5-10 Yrs): 1 Usha Kiran; and 2 Kinjal Chandel, Prabhjot Kaur

Consolation: Rehaan Sharma, Tanishika Thakur, Samridhi Thakur, Anish Thakur Aarna Gupta, Sohini, Chahat Kaushal, Gulneeer Bhandari, Vibha, Hargunee Kaur, Iha Kaur Sandhu, Toshani, Ishita and Ashmita Choudhary

(11-15 Yrs): 1 Muskan Chug; and 2 Jatin

Consolation: Ishmehar, Khushneet Bhatia, Anuj Gupta, Sonam Palzom, Ishnpreet Singh and Shivam Kaushik

(16-30 Yrs): 1 Akanksha Sharma, Rahul; and 2 Varsha Malvia

Consolation: Shivani, Shubham and Ratul Chaudhary

Quiz: 1 Suman and Neha Jain; and 2 Aradhana Thakur and Navjot Kaur

Consolation: Sarabjeet Kaur and Anamika Dadhwal; Harish Dehiya and Madhuri Maurya

Chandigarh, February 16
The UT police was on its toes last night when it received a call that an attempt had been made to snatch a car at gunpoint outside a hotel in Sector 35. However, on reaching the spot, the police found that two parties had got into a scuffle following which one of them had called the police. The matter was later sorted out and no complaint was received by the police.

The police received a call from Varun Bansal, a resident of Moga, around 12.45am that three occupant of a white Maruti Swift car tried to take away his Verna car (PB-29M-0444) at gunpoint.

The police said the scuffle took place outside an eating food joint and when the police reached the spot, the complainant told them he had a confrontation with the occupant of the car over some issue. The complainant said that got the impression that they were trying to take away his car so he called the police.He did not lodge any complaint and no case was registered.

The police received a call from Varun Bansal, a resident of Moga, around 12.45am that three occupant of a white Maruti Swift car tried to take away his Verna car (PB-29M-0444) at gunpoint.The police said the scuffle took place outside a food joint and when the police reached the spot, the complainant told them he had a confrontation with the occupant of the car over some issue.

Panchkula, February 16
In a new revelation in the online lottery scam, the Nigerians and the two women accused told the police today that they had duped around 32 persons of Rs 32,35,812 who deposited the amount in various bank accounts across the country.

Commissioner of Police Ajay Singhal said the investigations by their teams suggested that it was a countrywide scam and the number of victims could go much higher.

The Panchkula Police made a huge breakthrough on Friday night after they cracked the online lottery scam. They arrested the foreign nationals and two women after a local resident deposited Rs 14 lakh thinking that he won a lottery of 700,000 pounds.

The second day of the remand also revealed that the account holders in whose account money from the victims was being deposited were also taking commission from the accused.

The accused are gradually revealing the names of other gang members. The name of another member, Rahul, has come up during the investigations.

John, Chopper, Tina and Jyoti Rana have already been arrested while David (mastermind) and Rahul are still absconding.

“It needs to be verified whether these account holders are genuine or a gang that is opening these accounts,” said Singhal.

The investigations on the second day also revealed that John and Chopper are real brothers. John came to India in July 2010. Since then he has been residing in Nevada, Delhi, while Chopper came to India in September 2011.

Jyoti was involved in sending people abroad. A case under the Immigration Act against her is going on.

Romeo, alias David, was putting up in Delhi for the past four years. He used his email ID to inform others about the lottery.

Chandigarh, February 16
Security guards working on a contractual basis at the PGI parking lots are being harassed by contractors.

The security guards said they were not paid well and were deprived of ESI and PF benefits. By not giving them the benefits, the contractors are violating labour laws. So far, the PGI administration does not have any mechanism in place to check the practice.

There are 65 security guards working under one contractor. They work for over 12 hours everyday and are still not paid the minimum DC rates. As per the DC rates, a security guard should be paid Rs 9,500 for an eight-hour duty. For a 12-hour duty, the security guards deputed at various parking lots are not being paid more than Rs 3,500 per month. All this is happening right under the nose of a labour officer appointed by the PGI administration to ensure that labour laws are complied with on its premises. Besides, there is also a security department looking after the security concerns of the institute.

While the PGI has no check on these exploitations, Chandigarh Tribune asked M Shayin, the Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Labour Comissioner, UT, on the matter, to which he replied, “It is a serious offence. I will look into it,” he said.

Earlier, Chandigarh Tribune had highlighted that the PGI had no check on the pay rolls of the security guards and there was no clarity on whether the labour office of the PGI maintained any records of people being hired by the service providers.

Mohali, February 16
Farmers of Punjab are ready for crop diversification provided the state government would create proper infrastructure, including markets, cold storages and fix minimum support price (MSP) for crops, except the traditional ones.

Talking to The Tribune, several farmers, who came to attend the farmers’ exhibition at Chappar Chiri village and the Kisan Sammelan at Phase 11 here today, said turning towards other crops, including vegetables, fruit and maize, was not a problem for them.

“The problem is that the government talk a lot but does nothing at the ground level,” they said.

Jarnail Singh and Mahima Singh, who came from Pamaur village in Fatehgarh Sahib, said where were the markets to sell these products and cold storages to keep the products in case the farmers would not get the price over the cost of production.

“First the government must ensure the MSP of those crops, which it intends to promote. We are not scared of crop diversification, but there is a lesser risk in producing traditional crops like paddy and wheat,” they said.

Echoing similar sentiments, another farmer Hari Singh, who came with a group of farmers from his native Ghareri Jattan village in Patiala, said rates of vegetables and fruits changes on a daily basis.

“If there is a glut of any vegetable or fruit, we are forced to throw these on the roads. In such a scenario, who would take risk,” he said.

Several farmers are of the view that free electricity provided to them by the Punjab Government was of no use as the electricity supply was being given during night hours only.

“We are getting power supply for six to eight hours, mostly during night hours. So it is of no use for us. We need electricity supply for minimum 12 hours and for that we are ready to pay,” said Sukhminder Singh, another farmer.

However, lauding the efforts of the state government for organising the farmers’ exhibition here, Jora Singh, a young and progressive farmer from Jandola village in Kaithal, Haryana, said he gained a lot of knowledge about advanced agricultural equipment, technologies, hybrid seeds and other related paraphernalia.

“Such exhibitions should be organised so that the farmers can update themselves with the latest updates in the agricultural sector. Its a learning experience,” Jora Singh added.

Panchkula, February 16
After a Bolero SUV that was stolen three days ago was found abandoned at Raipur Rani and handed over to its owner, windowpanes of the vehicle were found broken while it was parked outside his residence in Sector 11 here today.

The owner of the car, Surinder Yadav, informed the police about the incident which are investigating the matter. A relative of Yadav noticed the SUV near Raipur Rani a day after the theft. He told the police about the vehicle which recovered it later.

Today, when Surinder Yadav woke up he found the windowpanes of his car broken. — TNS

Chandigarh, February 16
Recent rain seems to have pushed up potato prices in the Chandigarh region. Since the past two days, the prices have escalated.

Currently, potato is being sold at Rs 10 per to 15 per kg, whereas a week ago, the wholesale price was Rs 3 to Rs 7 per kg.

Rajinder Kumar, Mandi Supervisor, said onions were being bought from Nasik. The farmers were not able to make money due of the high transportation cost. The current wholesale price of onions is Rs 7 to Rs 10 per kg and the retailers are selling it at Rs 12 to16 per kg. — TNS

Bank of Baroda’s Sector 71, Mohali branch, has achieved a business of Rs 23 crore in the first year of its opening.

The branch of the bank celebrated its first anniversary on Sunday. HS Kler, Deputy General Manager, Bank of Baroda, Chandigarh Region, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Chandigarh, February 16
The Chetna Manch, Chandigarh, organised a panel discussion on ‘Debating Alternative: Illusions and Realities in Contemporary Indian Politics’ at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, today.

PS Verma, former chairman, Department of Political Science, Panjab University, deliberated upon the changes that Indian politics had witnessed in the last 65 years.

“The one party system remained in power though some alternatives emerged after the fourth general elections in 1967 and in the later years too. The factors, which helped in the emergence of alternatives, included the economic sufferings of common people, creditability gap, factionalism etc,” he said.

Verma further said, “It is for the first time that a political outfit under the name of Aam Aadmi, claiming to be a new alternative, has replaced the one party rule in Delhi.”

“The two major political parties in the country —Congress and BJP — say that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is not an alternative. However, AAP has made an impact on both parties in many ways,” he added.

While speaking at the forum, Dr Ronki Ram, director, Indian Council of Social Sciences Research, North West, Chandigarh, traced the history of corporate houses where ethics and the morality of governance are lacking.

“The corporate houses under the garb of serving people are serving their own interests,” said Verma.

Kanwar Sandhu, Executive Editor of The Tribune, one of the panelists on the occasion, said, “Owing to regional aspirations of the people, more states such as Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were created.

“People, however, remained unhappy owing to several problems such as poverty, hunger, unemployment, corruption and law and order and want to seek alternatives to the current policies,” added Sandhu.

He further said regional aspirations still dominated and influenced the national politics.

Welcoming the panelists, SK Khosla, secretary, Chetna Manch, said, “In view of the pitiable condition of the masses across the country, there is a need to mobilise the masses as AAP has emerged out of the struggle initiated by social activist Anna Hazare.”

Proposing the vote of thanks, Joginder Singh, member of Chetna Manch, said, “The need of the hour is to change the neo-liberal policies of the government.”

Chandigarh, February 16
The Indian Institute of Material Management (IIMM), Chandigarh branch, celebrated it’s 29th Annual Day by organising a seminar on ‘Supply Chain Excellence — Essential for Customers Delight’ at Panjab University here today.

Speaking on the occasion, SK Sharma, former national president, IIMM, said, “IIMM is having a pan India presence with 46 branches and 300 members. It tends to educate the youth in the field of supply chain, logistics and marketing management.”

Deepak Kumar Khullar, MD, KSI Medicare was the chief guest.

Ramandeep Singh, director, Philips, was another prominent speaker. Dharam Bir Longia, chairman, Chandigarh branch, welcomed the delegates and former national presidents VK Jain and Suresh Sharma.

VS Maniam, vice-president, Chandigarh branch, spoke on supply chain management. — TNS