Chaos all pervasive at roundabout
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Dec 15 — Under a cloud of dust, a crowd of honking vehicles comes to a near standstill everyday at the Housing Board roundabout. The absence of “men in white” adds to the confusion and traffic is in a mess ever since the work on the installation of traffic lights began.

From 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and then again from 4:30 p.m., to nearly 7:30 pm, traffic management is poor while the traffic is at its peak. “Bumper-to- bumper” driving has become the bane of commuters and crossing the roundabout takes around 30 minutes.

Slowly the rush of vehicles begins to increase and it is only a matter of time before they fall in line and form long queues. Then begins the constant blaring of horns even as scooterists and cyclists try to pave their way through the congested traffic. Thus begins the drivers’ nightmare.

“Getting stuck in the traffic crawling at a snail’s pace at the roundabout is dangerous. And there are cyclists weaving in and out of the narrow space between cars. If they are hit, it is always the fault of the other person,’’ one commuter states.

The work on the replacement of the roundabout with traffic lights has been continuing for several weeks. However, all that has largely been achieved is the digging out of mud, and a solitary pole stands tall in one corner, surrounded by mounds of mud.

Simultaneously, the work on the making of slip roads on all four sides of the roundabout is on. Though the preliminaries have been completed, these slip roads have not been opened to public. For the time being, tiles block the entry to these roads, while further work is stalled.

Though work at the roundabout is bound to create some inconvenience to commuters, help from the traffic policemen will help in reducing the chaos and easing the congestion at the place which sees a lot of traffic on account of being the only road connecting Panchkula to the city.

Exploitation rife, says model Jonita
By Mohit Goswami
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — Hard work, determination and poise are necessary to be a successful model, according to Jonita Doda, President of the Chandigarh Models Association (CMA).

Winner of the Miss Himachal, Spice Girl and Thunderbolt Top Model titles, Jonita says the desire for fame and money has attracted many youngsters to modelling. Many fake institutes have cropped up, promising a successful modelling career in a short span of time, she says. Youngsters are crazy about this profession. But it is very important that he or she makes the right choice. They need to be provided with proper guidance and right exposure.

There are a lot of corrupt practices in the management of beauty pageants, she states. The winners are decided even before the contests are held. Such biased shows cause resentment and frustration among the contestants. Too many fashion shows are being organised nowadays, she complains.

There is a lot of exploitation in the modelling world, alleges Jonita. Models are paid less and are compelled to expose. They are even subjected to mental harassment and sexual exploitation, she further alleges. Chandigarh models are considered less talented than their counterparts elsewhere. All this has made her and other models to form the CMA.

According to her, the CMA provides the right platform to freshers in the profession. Workshops are conducted to teach them how to go about modelling. The CMA also raises its voice against harassment and exploitation in the profession. Two homoeopathic doctors, who are members of the CMA, hold medical camps in colonies.

Jonita says the attitude of organisers of beauty pageants and fashion shows has changed after the formation of the CMA. She claims that three plum assignments have been given to models who have got their break through the CMA.

"Indian culture has taken a backseat in the country today. Anybody who has a liking for it is termed orthodox," Jonita states.

Apart from being a model for the past one and a half years, Jonita runs her event organising company. She finds choreography more interesting as it gives more avenues for creativity.

"I was offered a role in a movie earlier this year but I turned it down. I may do some films in the future, but it depends on the project," she says.

Jonita is acting in a number of serials on different television channels. She features in Lakeeran, which is being directed by Dayal Nihalani. She has shot for a few episodes of X-Zone. She also stars in Loona, in which she plays the title role. Besides, she has anchored the show, My Choice.

Green cover callously removed
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 15 — The trees provided shelter to the passersby. Not anymore after personnel of Punjab Police indiscriminately chopped off branches of as many as 17 grown trees in Phase IX here. They stand there like logs dug in the ground.

The tree guards around them are the only testimony of their once being healthy trees. The axe moved on the trees when the police personnel, attached with the Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP), Punjab, Mr J.S.Chahal, thought that the trees proved to be an hindrance in their view — a fact denied by Mr Chahal.

Investigations reveal that the “victims” were obstructing a clear view of the house of the police official. The trees — ‘lagrostromia Rosea’ —had come up along the road berm running parallel to the enclosure of the security personnel, located on the PUDA land in one corner of the upcoming sports complex in Phase IX, on the other side of the road.

Sources in PUDA said that the green cover of the trees, about five years old, was callously chopped off without taking the requisite permission from the authority concerned. As per the practice, in case a tree became an hindrance for overhead electricity wires, posing danger of electrocution to any one, the field staff of the state electricity board undertook selective pruning of the troublesome parts of a tree.

The ADGP said the trees were only pruned to keep them short of touching the overhead electricity wires. He maintained that there was no question chopping the trees, as he claimed that he had himself got the tree saplings planted from the horticulture wing of PUDA few years back. He further said that he had written a letter to PUDA not to cut the trees which were coming within the upcoming sports complex adjacent to his house.

When asked about the enclosure of the security personnel, which had been raised unauthorisedly on PUDA land, he said he had written to the senior Punjab Government officials to allow the enclosure to remain there till it was not required by it.

A car parking and a pavilion block of the proposed sports complex had to be built on the part of the land on which the enclosure had come up. He said when the enclosure was constructed with the permission of the government, the project of the sports complex had not been conceived.

At peace with nature
By Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — Want to transcend this weary world for some moments and relax yourself amid beautiful creatures of nature? You need not rush to some nearby hill station like Kasauli or Barog, but only to proceed to the local railway station in the evening to enjoy the sight of thousands of mainas and pigeons at the place which has become a permanent home for these birds for the past more than 10 years.

The lifeless city in general and the hustle-bustle of passengers at the station in particular may have been a quagmire for those in love with nature and in pursuit of it, but apart from a few green spots, what could be a compensating factor is the presence of quite a few thousand blue rock pigeons and beautiful mainas which are protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

What really takes one out of the world is the chirping and hovering around of these birds, nearly 10,000 in number, over the sky in the evening and their subsequent settling down in tiny holes in tin roofs of old structures, set up to protect passengers from sun and rain. ''They start coming in flocks as soon as the evening sets in. First of all they rest for a while at places around, then gradually they shift their base to a shed to settle there for the night,'' said Ram Narain, an official, adding that they leave the place before dawn.

These species, particularly pigeons, are known for their habit of roosting in old and abandoned buildings, but since the place is safe and secure from enemies, the birds might have made it their permanent home, said Mr H.S. Sohal, UT Chief Wildlife Warden. He said both the species were able to co-exist, for their habit of ''communal roosting'' is a good safeguard against the enemy.

According to Dr H.S. Mehta, Deputy Director and in charge, Geological Survey of India, the main reason of so many birds making the place their home was that the tin roofs were a good shelter for them and saved them from enemy and vagaries of nature as well. He said nesting and roosting were different. ''While they lay eggs in places of their nesting, roosting is just night stay at another place.''

Talking about the behaviour pattern of the birds with regard to their stay, he said the flocks of birds from different directions first settled at nearby place (sub-roosting) and then went in for their permanent roosting place, which in this case was platform No 1.

Another place which is known for inhabiting such a large number of birds is Ambala railway station where thousands of these species of birds have been a source of amusement for people for the past 25 years.

Custodian of Army’s horses for 220 years
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 15 — Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC), an elite and specialised force meant for breeding, training and treating horses, cattle and dogs for military service, celebrated 220 years of its existence yesterday.

To mark the occasion, a social get-together was organised for serving as well as retired officers for the corps at Chandi Mandir cantonment. Nostalgic memories were revived and shared by all as some World War-II veterans joined in the celebrations.

greeting all ranks and civilian employees of the corps and their families, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, western Command, Lieut-Gen Vijay Oberoi, in his message called upon the corps personnel to rededicate themselves to the service of the Army. The Director, RVC, Western Command, Col A.K.Sinha also extended his felicitations to all ranks on the occasion.

The proud history of the RVC dates back to 1779. An intrinsic component of the Army, the RVC has an excellent track record of having met all operational challenges under the most difficult conditions. The contribution of Army dogs and trainers in counter-insurgency operations has been significant, leading to detection and recovery of explosives and tracking anti-national elements. Almost all Rashtriya Rifles units are having trained dogs supplied by the RVC. In fact, during the Kargil operations, the RVC, at a short notice, supplied 1,059 mules to transport supplies.

The custodian of a vast equestrian infrastructure and horse population, the RVC has won 21 commendation cards this year. One of its dog units received the Silver Salver from the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir for its performance in anti-insurgency operations this year. This apart, the best rider trophy at the recently conducted National Equestrian Championship at Meerut was lifted by an RVC rider. Two bronze medals were won in ASIAD ’98.

Ghaggar bed dumping ground
From Gautam Dheer

PANCHKULA, Dec 15 — In the absence of a durable garbage disposal system, the Sanitation Department of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has been dumping the refuse from garbage bins on the bed of the Ghaggar in Sector 24.

Truckloads of garbage is dumped on the dry river bed several times a day. As a result, heaps of foul smelling waste dot the place. The extension bridge connecting Sector 21 and Sector 24, 25 and 27, presents scenes of insanitation.

Often the garbage is burnt at the site. Smoke and ash fill the air in the nearby colonies. The problem compounds after a downpour when rain water collects in undulations formed by unplanned garbage. Pools of dirty water with decaying waste material in them have become a breeding ground for insects and files which can spread various diseases. These filth-laden heaps of garbage are an invitation to the rage-pickers who hunt for plastic and other junk material.

Sources in the Health Department say this garbage disposal system has come into practice in the absence of Local Health Authority (LHA) in the town. These sources reveal that the garbage should not be burnt indiscriminately without sorting out the toxic material from the non-toxic stuff. Certain material, if burnt, could prove harmful for human survival.

The matter has been brought to the notice of the authorities concerned several times, but to no avail. The area not only projects an unhealthy sight but has also contributed to slowing down of development in the adjoining sectors. Residents of these sectors feel if the dumping continues, the garbage will soon reach at their doorsteps.