Chandigarh, June 2
A day after receiving the inquiry report that a traffic marshal leaked information about drunken driving nakas on WhatsApp, the UT traffic police has recommended dismissal of the traffic marshal.

UT SSP (Traffic and Security) Maneesh Chaudhery today wrote to UT IGP RP Upadhyaya recommending the dismissal of the traffic marshal who leaked the information pertaining to drunken driving nakas on WhatsApp.

The cyber crime cell of the UT police had submitted the findings of an inquiry into the leak of information about drunken driving nakas on WhatsApp. The inquiry report has revealed that the messages were circulated from the cellphone of a traffic marshal, Gurpreet Singh Chadha, whose dismissal has been recommended.

Incidentally, Gurpreet Singh was the complainant in the inquiry and had sought investigation into the leak of information.

The police inquiry revealed that the message from the cellphone of traffic marshal Gurpreet was sent through bluetooth on the cellphone of Gurmohan Singh on February 10.

Gurpreet Singh had refused to record his statement at two instances when he was summoned for the purpose.

Traffic marshal Gurpreet has filed a complaint claiming that information about drunken driving nakas was being leaked on WhatsApp and a probe was marked in this regard on April 1. The complaint was referred to the cyber crime cell in the Sector 17 police station. The probe was conducted under the supervision of DSP (Cyber) Rajesh Kalia.

The inquiry revealed that the traffic marshal was himself a member of a WhatsApp group, in which information was leaked, and later he quit the said group.

Serious offence: SSP
It’s a serious offence on the part of the marshal to have leaked information in advance about the places where drunken nakas were to be set up. I have recommended the dismissal of the traffic marshal to the IGP
— UT SSP (Traffic) Maneesh Chaudhery

Panchkula, June 2
Travelling on the four-lane Panchkula-Kalka stretch of the busy Ambala-Kalka National Highway No. 22 will become cheaper in the coming days. The state government has mooted a policy for giving relaxation to commuters in the toll charges.

The government today accelerated the process, with Sanjeev Kaushal, Principal Secretary, Public Works (Building and Roads), Haryana, holding a crucial meeting with the district administration, officials of the department concerned and the contractor operating the toll collection centre on the highway in Chandimandir.

The benefit will be extended to people residing in a radius of 30 km from the toll collection centre.

In political circles, this step of the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government ahead of the Assembly elections in the state is being termed as an attempt to woo voters.

Kaushal today held a meeting which was attended by the Panchkula Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Subdivisional Magistrate, officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Haryana PWD (B&R), and the contractor operating the toll collection centre at Chandimandir.

This was the first meeting of Kaushal with officers of the district administration to finalise the modalities for giving relief to people in the toll charges being taken from them at the Chandimandir toll collection barrier.

To explore the possibility of reduction in toll charges at all 10 toll barriers set up by the NHAI on highways crossing the state, Kaushal will hold similar meetings with the district administration concerned. He will hold a meeting at Panipat and Karnal on June 3 and another at Rohtak, Jhajjar, Rewari, Gurgaon and Palwal on June 4.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Kaushal said a draft of the policy would be placed before the state Cabinet within a fortnight for a final decision.

He said the state government had taken up the issue of high toll charges at toll barriers with the NHAI and had requested the Union Government to reduce these in public interest.

“The matter regarding issuance of monthly concessional passes to commuters in a radius of 30 km from the toll centre was also discussed in detail. Since the toll barriers are under the direct control of the NHAI and the contractors, the state government is planning to issued concessional monthly passes to the commuters and will bear a part of the charges itself,” said Kaushal.

Chandigarh, June 2
A major demolition drive in five colonies, scheduled for this week, has been postponed, thanks to a last-minute reality check by UT officials regarding the status of the land that has been encroached upon.

Initially, the drive was planned for June 3, but officials of the UT Administration realised at the last minute that around 10 acres of the colony in Sector 25 belonged to the municipal corporation.

Five years ago, the Administration had carried out a drive to evict encroachers in Kumhar Colony from the land allotted to Panjab University. They were rehabilitated in an adjoining area. However, some of the beneficiaries again encroached upon a public park in the same sector.

To ensure that the claims of all those evicted were again verified, the Administration has summoned the record of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) to know the credentials of the encroachers.

The colonies to be demolished in the third phase are LBS Colony, Palsora, Kumhar Colony, Janata Colony, Sector 25, Madrasi Colony, Sector 26, Kabari Colony and Sanjay Colony in the Indsutrial Area, Phase I.

A senior official said the previous record was being verified before going ahead with the drive. As a result, the drive had been postponed.

In the first phase, 107 acres were retrieved from illegal slums in Colony No. 5 in November last year. In the second phase, 37 acres were today reclaimed from the slums in Sectors 51 and 52.

Chandigarh, June 2
The token system, which was proposed to be introduced at the PGI OPDs from May this year, is set to be delayed further as the procurement process has not been completed as yet.

The proposal was mooted to save patients from standing at registration counters in long queues. Under the system, the authorities will issue token numbers. The patients, after obtaining the token number, will wait for their turn and reach the counter on the call. The process will take another three to five months, said sources.

The official spokesperson for the PGI, Manju Wadwalkar, said, “Everything has to be done in the best possible way. The equipment, including electronic notice boards, is to be procured and we are at it.”

The daily rush at the PGI’s outpatient departments, which touches the 10,000 mark, has compelled the institution to reconsider the old token system. At present, most patients end up standing in queues to meet the doctors till late afternoon outside the OPDs, without any assurance whether their turn will come for a checkup on the same day.

The system existed at the PGI, Chandigarh, but was withdrawn four years ago.

At present, the patients hand over their OPD cards to attendants outside the doctors’ room.

The sequence of cards remains unknown to the patients.

The PGI had withdrawn the system in 2010, inviting criticism from patients.

How the token system works New and follow-up patients will first register at the counters and will be issued a token number The patients will carry their token number and sit outside their respective consultants’ room The number will be displayed in the sequence of registrations done outside the doctors’ room Names of the patients will also be announced when their turn comes

Mohali, June 2
With just two students making it to the provisional merit list of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) in the Class X examinations, Mohali district, known as the education and IT hub of Punjab, has once again attracted criticism from all corners, including state Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka.

In the merit list of 384 students from across Punjab, Chandigarh and other states, there are only two students from Mohali district, both from rural areas in Dera Bassi.

Meenakshi and Khushdeep Singh, students of Dera Bassi-based Acharya Atma Ram Jai Model Senior Secondary School, were the only saving grace for the district by making it to the merit list.

Meenakshi has topped Mohali district by securing 93.69 per cent marks and figures on the 24th slot on the merit list. Khushdeep Singh is the second topper of the district with 93.38 per cent marks. His rank on the merit list is 26th.

Shockingly, Mohali town, which boasts of top class school infrastructure, does not have a single student on the merit list.

Mohali district is the second last in the district-wise list of merit holders. Ludhiana district is on top with 64 students on the merit list. Only Kapurthala placed below Mohali with just one student making it to the merit list.

Mohali district has fared poorly in terms of pass percentage. With a pass percentage of 61.56 per cent, it is placed at number 21 in the district-wise pass percentage list. Only Chandigarh and other states and Barnala come after Mohali with a pass percentage of 60.98 and 59.12 per cent, respectively.

In a sarcastic manner, Punjab Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka said, “Mohali is a VIP district, so such results are expected.”

The minister said most teachers in schools in the district belonged to families of government officers, leaders and other influential persons. “These sifarishi (recommended) VIP teachers are to be blamed for the poor,” said Maluka. The minister said action would be taken against teachers where the results were very poor.

In the Class XII results, declared last month, Mohali district could produce only three merit holders. Interestingly, not even a single student from Mohali town had made it to the board’s overall merit list of 389 students.

In 2013, Mohali town had failed to produce any topper in the Class XII and Class X examinations. In 2012, only four students from Mohali district had made it to the board’s overall merit list of 336 students in the Class X results.

Panchkula, June 2
Breaking all security barriers, nearly 50 women carrying pitchers barged into the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex and held a protest in front of his office, demanding regular water supply in their colonies.

At the time of the protest, Haryana Principal Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal was holding a meeting with officials of the district administration inside the DC’s office.

The district police remained a mute spectator to the entire 30 minute-protest, which took place right adjacent to the office of the the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Panchkula.

After crossing a newly installed barrier at the main entrance of the complex, the protesters, including women, children and men, entered the main gate of the complex and scaled the staircase to reach outside the DC’s office.

Accompanied by former councillor Harinder Singh Saini, the irate residents of the Indira and Rajiv colonies staged a dharna outside the DC’s office in support of their demand.

The police finally swung into action and assembled at the spot, but failed to disperse the protesters.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Saini, who is associated with the Aam Aadmi Party, said life had become miserable for the residents of these colonies due to the acute water shortage for the past five months.

The condition of these colonies had become worse after the formation of the municipal council, he alleged.

He submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner SS Phulia through Gurmeet Singh, Subdivisional Magistrate (Panchkula).

Chandigarh, June 2
With the financial powers of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) increased from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, the Municipal Corporation (MC) is now planning to increase the financial powers of its other committees.

Recently, the General House of the MC empowered the F&CC to approve any financial matter up to Rs 50 lakh. During the meeting, the MC Commissioner had proposed that the financial powers of all the committees should be increased and the agenda be brought back to the House again. However, the House decided to increase the financial powers of the F&CC.

Official sources stated that there was a proposal to increase the financial powers of 12 committees of the civic body. Of these, the Road Committee, Water Supply and Sewerage Disposal Committee, Sanitation Committee, Environment and City Beautification Committee, Electricity Committee, Fire and Emergency Services Committee are under consideration.

While the Road Committee and the Water Supply and Sewerage Disposal Committee have the financial powers of Rs 25 lakh, the remaining committees have the power to approve fiscal matters not more than Rs 15 lakh.

BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi said in addition to increasing the financial powers of the committees, the MC should also ensure that each committee holds a meeting every month. “The committees should meet often so that decisions could be taken without delay,” he added.

Sources said the proposal to increase the financial powers of the 12 committees was expected to be tabled in the next MC House meeting.

Chandigarh, June 2
Owing to the vacant post of Superintending Engineer, Building and Roads (B&R) in the Municipal Corporation here, the executive engineers (XENs) in the department have been asked to get the estimates for various works and tenders checked and countersigned by another XEN so as to prevent errors.

Sources said although there was a full-fledged department under the Chief Engineer (CE) to recheck the tenders and estimates, the aim behind the move was to ensure there were no errors in the estimates given by the XEN for various development and maintenance works in the city.

Sources said the order issued by Chief Engineer Mukesh Anand recently mentioned that since the post of Superintending Engineer was lying vacant, the estimates, tenders and other allied works would have to be got rechecked and countersigned by the XEN of another division. Earlier, the Superintending Engineer used to recheck the estimates and tenders.

As per the order, the estimates and tenders of the Road Division No. 1 will have to be countersigned by the XEN of the Road Division No. 2. Similarly, the estimates of divisions 2 and 3 will be countersigned by the XEN of Road Division No. 1.

Meanwhile, the estimates and tenders of the XEN (Horticulture) will have to be countersigned by the XEN, Road Division No. 3.

The post of Superintending Engineer, B&R, fell vacant after Mukesh Anand was promoted as the Chief Engineer.

Chandigarh, June 2
Elections for the posts of chairman and vice-chairman of three sub-committees of the Municipal Corporation (MC), namely Road Committee, Water Supply and Sewerage Disposal Committee and House Tax Assessment Committee, will be held on June 11.

The Secretary, MC, issued the orders for the elections that were recently notified by the Mayor.

The last date for filing of nominations is June 6.

With Congress councillors dominating the sub-committees, going will be tough for the BJP. The nine-member Road Committee, which takes decisions related to re-carpeting and construction of roads, has four members from the Congress, three nominated councillors and only two BJP councillors.

Similarly, the Water Supply and Sewerage Disposal Committee also has four Congress councillors as members while there are only two councillors from the Opposition, including a SAD councillor. Besides, the sub-committee has three nominated councillors as its members.

Chandigarh, June 2
The Chandigarh-based Global Human Rights Council today alleged that the managing director (MD) of the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Corporation (CITCO), Tanvi Garg, who is a 2009-batch UT cadre officer, was misusing an official vehicle of the corporation for her private visits to Delhi and Mussoorie.

In a press conference here today, chairman of the council Arvind Thakur claimed that Garg took an official vehicle (CH-01-G1 0019) out of the city in August, September and November last year and in January this year without taking permission from the Adviser to the UT Administrator.

In a representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the council claimed that apart from getting petrol from CITCO filling stations, the petrol was also filled from private petrol filling stations. The council claimed that it would soon move the vigilance court in this regard.

On the other hand, the MD said as per the CITCO rules, she was entitled to use the official car for outstation visits, with the maximum limit of 500 kms. “Even my predecessors had been using the facility, which was approved during a board meeting of the CITCO. A certain amount is deducted from the MD’s salary for availing of the facility,” she said.

The council chairman also alleged that the licencee in CITCO properties was being benefited by engaging CITCO staff to do maintenance work in health clubs, bars, kitchen and restaurants.

Refuting the allegation, the MD said she had passed orders to supervise the maintenance of facilities.

Chandigarh, June 2
A day after courting a controversy by allowing a liquor vend to operate from a tin shed on the outskirts of Kajheri village, the Excise and Taxation Department today sealed the vend.

The action was taken following a report submitted by an inspector of the department.

Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC) RC Bhalla said the liquor vend was sealed on the basis of the probe conducted by the department.

The vend was opened along the Vikas Marg, opposite the Sector 43 Inter State Bus Terminus, yesterday.

Chandigarh, June 2
PGI neurologist Dr Dheeraj Khurana, Additional Professor and Coordinator, PGI stroke programme, has been awarded the Practising Physician Quality Award-2014 by the American Academy of Neurology.

During the academy’s 66th annual meeting in Philadelphia, the PGI don was honoured for his research on improvement in quality of stroke treatment.

The study undertaken by him revealed that a simple measure of educating hospital residents, nurses and physicians could significantly raise the quality of stroke treatment. The mainstay of a stroke treatment is r-tPA, which has to be given within 4.5 hours of the stroke.

Dr Khurana demonstrated a significant reduction in the time of treatment as well as greater number of patients being treated by educating the hospital staff on stroke. The timely treatment translates into more lives being saved as well as causing lesser disability among patients.

Dr Khurana expressed his gratitude to the entire team, comprising neuroradiologists, neurologists, internists, stroke nurses and neurosurgeons, neurology residents and Dr Anish Hirachan and Dr Ashish Bhalla from the Internal Medicine Department.

Chandigarh, June 2
A hidden Global Positioning System (GPS) installed in an SUV, which was stolen from Sector 28 here on May 29, helped the UT police trace it.

The SUV bearing a Himachal Pradesh registration number was stolen from outside the house of its owner, Ram Lal, an industrialist residing in Sector 28, on May 29. The local police traced the stolen SUV to Saharanpur in UP on Monday.

The GPS was installed smartly beneath the steering wheel and was linked to Ram Lal’s cell phone. As soon as the thieves put on the ignition, Ram Lal started receiving the location of the SUV on his cell phone.

The police said the thieves took the SUV to Saharanpur while crossing Panchkula, Ambala and some parts of Yamunangar district. The vehicle was recovered from the godown of a scrap dealer in a remote village of Saharanpur.

Mohali, June 2
Encroachments by residents in Phase XI here are turning out to be a major hurdle in the way of maintaining the underground water supply lines in the area.

It is learnt that people living in LIG and MIG accommodations in the area had constructed small rooms in the vacant area adjoining their buildings. Some of them have constructed kitchens while others have built washrooms even though water supply lines are passing underneath the area.

Owing to such encroachments, it has become difficult for the employees of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department to plug any leakage in the pipelines.

An official of the department said demolishing the encroachments was not possible as it will lead to a lot of resentment among residents. The matter had been brought to the notice of senior officials of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) at a meeting held on May 23, but to no avail. GMADA has the legal authority to remove unauthorised constructions.

A joint inspection of the area was carried out by BD Singla, Additional Commissioner (Technical), Municipal Corporation, and the SDO concerned, Gurparkash Singh, after receiving a complaint regarding supply of muddy water. It was found that water from the supply lines was flowing into the sewer lines. Such leakages are dangerous as these can lead to the spread of diseases but cannot be plugged because of the encroachments.

Water Supply and Sanitation Department has now asked the authorities concerned to provide funds so that a new network of the water supply system could be laid in the area. On the other hand, an official said this step could also amount to legalising the brazen encroachments.

Former MC of the area Sukhminder Singh Barnala said GMADA had allotted these flats in 1982. The water supply lines in the area were getting worn out leading to leakages. He opines that it will be difficult for GMADA to remove the encroachments and the only solution was to provide another pipeline for the supply of water.

Panchkula, June 2
Recovery of an antelope-antler from the house of the accused in the Ashutosh Bhardwaj murder case, in Manav Colony, Saketri village, on Saturday, has raised a question mark about the involvement of the family in poaching of wild animals.

Taking a note of the recovery, the Haryana Chief Wildlife Warden Dr Amarinder Kaur asked her subordinates to take up the issue with the Panchkula police.

Dr Kaur has also asked her officers to get in touch with the police and investigate the case on their own too.

She said we are in continuous touch with the police on this aspect. Currently accused are behind the bars and the police is investigating the murder case. We will be proceed further in case if the accused admits poaching of wild animals to the police.

Assistant police commissioner, Panchkula, Mamta Sauda said the accused might have found the antler in the nearby forests.

The police had arrested Zorawar Hooda, his wife Saroj Hooda, their sons Tarun Hooda and Arun Hooda, all residents of Manav Colony, Ajay Hooda, their relative and his two accomplices apart from RD Swami, a priest of Hanuman temple nearby, in the Ashutosh Bhardwaj murder Case on May 27. Meanwhile, the accused were remanded to judicial custody by a Panchkula court, today.

Panchkula, June 2
Residents of Kharag Mangoli village demanded to shift a newly opened liquor vend from the vicinity of village. A delegation of the villagers, including women, raised the demand in ‘Khula Darbar’, conducted by Panchkula MLA, DK Bansal, in Sector 26, on Sunday.

The irate women folk complained that the liquor vend was opened just 50 metres from the Kalka-Ambala highway and it causes nuisance for the villagers.

Residents of Panchkula complained about the defunct street lights in almost all sectors of the city while residents of Ramgarh demanded sheds and potable water at the village cremation ground. They also demanded a foot path to the cremation ground.

MLA DK Bansal assured the Kragar Mangoli residents that appropriate action will be taken to redress their grievances. He said officials of the excise department will be asked to look into the issue of liquor vend. He also assured the residents of Ramgarh. 

Panchkula, June 2
A Panchkula-based expert in manufacturing road safety products has written to the district administration and the officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on the frequent accidents occurring at the intersection of the Kalka-Ambala and the Panchkula-Yamunanagar highways at Majri Chowk.

In a letter to Deputy Commissioner Dr SS Phulia, Deputy Commissioner of Panchkula Police Ashwin Shenvi and Project Director, NHAI, OC Mathur, Ramesh Verma, a proprietor of Green Private Limited, Chandigarh, has found engineering faults in the road one of the main cause behind the frequent accidents at the same spot.

He claimed that the road engineering faults are unique here. He found three factors — reverse banking, sharp bend and vehicles loaded with liquid and goods having more volume — the actual reasons behind the accidents.

He said: “When a vehicle carrying a huge quantity of liquid takes a turn here, the centrifugal force formed by the liquid mass in it intends to lift one side of the vehicle, following which the centre of gravity points fall outside its base resulting into the accident”.

He also suggested road levelling (horizontal) from the bend up to some metres on either sides of the highway.

“There is no inclination to any road at the crossing or at any T-intersection. Inclination exists only at the Majri Chowk,” he pointed out.

The intersection of the Ambala-Kalka and the Yamunanagar-Panchkula highways has become a death spot with a number of vehicles meeting with accidents quite often at this particular spot.

While experts are of the view that certain ‘road engineering faults at this particular place’ must be the reason behind the accidents, the NHAI attributes the case of accidents to negligent driving.

Taking a note of frequent accidents occurring at the ‘killer’ intersection, Dr Phulia has already written to the NHAI authorities, asking them to find out the reasons for frequent accidents at the Majri Chowk and take preventive measures to save precious human lives.

The reason behind accidents
In a letter to Deputy Commissioner Dr SS Phulia, Deputy Commissioner of Panchkula Police Ashwin Shenvi and Project Director, NHAI, OC Mathur, Ramesh Verma, a proprietor of Green Private Limited, Chandigarh, has found engineering faults in the road one of the main cause behind the frequent accidents at the same spot.

Chandigarh, June 2
Surinder Kaur, a 75-year-old woman, had a narrow escape after an Army Canter hit her car at the Housing Board light point today.

The woman, wife of a retired Army officer, was driving the car when the Army Canter hit her vehicle.

The impact of the accident was such that the car overturned at the light point. The woman escaped unhurt. No case has been registered in this regard. — TNS

Chandigarh, June 2
The fish seed farm of the UT Fisheries Department, near Kishangarh village, has fallen on bad days. Once a favourite destination for ornamental fish lovers, the fish breeding centre is crying for attention.

Despite the Engineering Department spending lakhs on the renovation of the fish breeding centre, the centre is in dire straits as wild grass has grown all over. Some of the ponds need repair.

Located below the regulator on the extreme end of the Sukhna Lake, the basic purpose behind setting up the farm - research and breeding of quality fish seed - has suffered because of the shortage of water and staff strength.

The staff strength of the Fisheries Department has been reduced over the years. The fish seed being produced every year at the farm are stocked in the Sukhna and a check dam of the Forest Department. Of the 27 small and big concrete ponds at the farm, most of the have fish but the water is muddy.

Officials of the department said a renovation plan for the farm was underway.

Ponds need repairs
Despite the Engineering Department spending lakhs on the renovation of the fish breeding centre, the centre is in dire straits as wild grass has grown all over. Some of the ponds need repairs.

Chandigarh, June 2
City lad Rohit Manderwal (23), has made the city proud by bagging the Best Cadet Award at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), in Ezhimala, Kerala. Though Rohit had been selected to pursue Phd from Cardiff University, he opted for a career in the defence forces.

Beaming with pride, Sub Lieutenant (SLT), Rohit, said, “I had never thought of pursuing a career in the armed forces as I wanted to be a research scholar. However, during the campus placement at my college, the authorities asked me to appear for a navy recruitment drive and I got selected.”

He further said, “I am glad that my college authorities made me appear for the recruitment drive. If I had not joined the Indian Naval Academy, I would have never discovered my patriotic side.”

Such was Rohit’s determination to excel at the academy that not only he bagged the Best Cadet Award, but also clinched a silver medal in the Spring Term and was a cross-country racing champion.

Though his father, Umesh Singh Manderwal, is a technical general manager in a private firm, he encouraged his son to opt for a career in the navy.

Despite having a B.Tech degree in Computer Science, Rohit joined the executive cadre.

Stating that his mother has been his inspiring force, he said, “Though my grandfather had served in the Indian Army, and even my brother-in-law is in the Army, I choose Navy from among the three armed forces. Navy is technically the most advanced one and gives a chance to fight for the country outside the motherland in waters.”

The youngest of three siblings, Rohit said, “The training at the INA transformed me into a disciplined soldier.”

Chandigarh, June 2
Goswami Ganesh Dutta Sanatan Dharma College (GGDSD), Sector 32, released the prospectus for various courses for the academic session 2014-15. President of the GGDSD College Society, Upkar Krishan Sharma, along with other college officials released the prospectus today.

Principal Dr Bhushan K Sharma said Panjab University had granted GGDSD a PhD Centre for Research in Biotechnology and Chemistry.

Also, UGC has granted the college two new courses — BVoc Retail Management and BVoc Food Processing and Preservation and a Diploma in Medical Lab Technology.

The prospectus will be available at the college library from June 3 onwards on the payment of Rs 600, or through registered post for Rs 650.

Meanwhile, the college prospectus comprises a DVD and information about various programmes offered by the college.

Chandigarh, June 2
Students of Ryan International School visited Jeevan Mukt Nishulk Vidyalaya, Nayagaon, as part of a project sanctioned by The Energy and Resources Institute.

The school authorities claimed the aim of the project was to raise awareness about social and environmental issues. Various activities, including cycle rally, flower show and fancy dress competition, were held. The students also performed a skit on waste management.

They also donated dustbins, blackboard, sitting mats and assured to repair the computers of the school. — TNS

Chandigarh, June 2
The teachers of aided colleges in Punjab will hold a protest dharna in front of the office of DPI (colleges), Punjab, in Mohali on June 6.

The call for protest has been given by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) against the non-payment of salaries for the past 12 months.

The first quarterly grant (March to May), was distributed in the month of November, 2013.

Following this, no grant has been received by the colleges till date despite the allocation of Rs 200 crore in the annual budget 2013-14.

The teachers have been awaiting their salaries for 12 months, said the office-bearers of PCCTU.

Meanwhile, the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union has also criticised the state government for imposing a ban on the recruitment of teachers in aided colleges since 2005.

They have also criticised the government for having amended the Act excluding teachers working against unaided posts from the purview of the Service Security Act-1974.

Chandigarh, June 2
Green Castle Public School is organising an educative summer camp for students from May 31-June 29. The school authorities informed that the participants were being taught dance, drawing, art and craft, cursive writing, besides classes for holiday homework and spoken English were also being given. The school is also holding splash pool activities for the participants in the age group of 3-6 years. Students from other schools were also participating in the summer camp. — TNS