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Mohali councillor’s son assaulted Chandigarh, July 31 The, problem started when a Scorpio car (CH-03N-2646) of Gaganjit Singh, son of the councilor, Mr Manjit Singh Sethi, and his friend Manvir Singh, a resident of Sector 34, collided with the Ford Ikon car (HR-05-0007): Manvir Singh was driving
the car when it reportedly hit the Ford Ikon car. Some occupants of the Ford Ikon car objected it following which heated arguments were exchanged between both the parties. Situation worsened when both the parties came to blows. Gaganjit Singh called his father for help. The Ikon-borne youth managed to escape leaving their vehicle on the spot, as the councilor reached the spot. In a complaint to the police, Gaganjit Singh and Manvir Singh alleged that a occupant of the Ikon who was having a pistol threatened them. They fled from the spot when passersby assembled at the spot. The police impounded the vehicle and took Gaganjit Singh and Manvir Singh to the General Hospital, Sector 16, for medical examinations. |
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UT to conduct survey of mobile phone towers Chandigarh, July 31 The move stems from the fact that number of towers have risen in the past couple of years as the number of mobile users is rising. The Estate Office has a list of about 80 towers which were sanctioned and permission had been taken. However, in 1996 when Spice telecom had
just launched, the Administration had given permission to allow towers of mobile phone companies. Since then mobile telephony has witnessed a boom. Now Punjab Telecom Circle has four operators — Spice,
Airtel, Hutch and BSNL — offering GSM technology. Another two operators, Reliance and Connect, offer CDMA technology. All of them have hand-held mobile phone services. Now each of them have separate towers to transmit the signals. The matter was discussed at the highest level in the Chandigarh Administration and an issue was raised why companies cannot have more powerful towers to tackle this problem. A tower has a fixed capacity to simultaneously handle calls. If more users are in a particular area the capacities need to be augmented. The number of users is growing as mobile companies are offering lucrative schemes. The city has one of the highest density of mobile phone. Almost matching the metros, Chandigarh, which is part of Punjab telecom circle, has an estimated 3.60 lakh mobile users. The city has a population of 9 lakh. The numbers of connections is the total of all service providers. |
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Petrol, diesel prices hiked
While the price of petrol has been revised to Rs 37.29 from Rs 36.16 in Chandigarh, the price of diesel was fixed at Rs 23.90. Earlier, the price of diesel was Rs 22.47 in Chandigarh. The prices of petrol and diesel in Mohali were also revised moderately. While petrol will now cost Rs 40.27, the price of diesel has been fixed at Rs 23.73. In Panchkula, the price of petrol has been fixed at Rs 36.87 against the earlier price of Rs 35.76. Similarly, diesel will now cost Rs 24.01 in Panchkula. |
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Kohli sent to judicial custody
Mohali, July 31 Interestingly, Kohli who was produced before Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate Poonam Ratti, declared in the court that he was guilty of the crime for which the UK police wanted him. He said he had confessed before the Punjab police and had done so to unburden himself. He told the magistrate that he wished to get his statement recorded. The SDJM ordered that Kohli be sent to judicial custody till August 14, adding that in case Kohli wanted to give an application regarding his confession he could do so by following the proper procedure. Unlike July 28, when the magistrate frantically looked for a defence counsel for Kohli, today she said defence lawyer was not necessary today because the prosecution did not want him in police custody. Repeating his confession before mediapersons outside the court, Kohli said he would not oppose his extradition to England in connection with the Foster case and would confess his crime before the UK police, as well. Kohli told the media: ‘’I want to face all consequences and punishment for the crime I had committed in Britain’’. Asked if he would file an application before the Kharar court to record his statement under section 164 of the Cr.P.C, Kohli replied with a categorical yes but was not sure when he would do so. Asked to comment on the reported statement of his father Jagjit Singh, alleging that his son had made the confession before the Punjab police under coercion and threat, Kohli quipped ‘’No, there was no police pressure, I confessed only to unburden my soul. I am sorry and shameful for the act,’’he said. Kohli seemed to be calm and was seen chatting with the police officers accompanying him. His handcuffs had been removed but two police officers were holding each of his hands in the courtroom. Kohli was later lodged in the Patiala Central Jail. Meanwhile, the Punjab police said it had not found “anything incriminating” in the passport forgery case registered against Maninder Pal Singh Kohli in Mohali. ‘‘No fake passport has been recovered from Kohli. But chances are that the passport is with Ishtpreet Singh, his brother,’’said a police officer investigating the matter. ‘‘The Punjab police examination of Kohli is now over. It was up to the authorities concerned to seek his extradition in the rape and murder case,’’ the SSP, Patiala, Mr A. S. Rai said. Kohli had been sent in police custody till August 5 by the Kharar court on July 28 after he was brought from Kalimpong to Punjab in connection with a fake passport case. |
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City residents angry at tapestry removal Chandigarh, July 31 The tapestry was designed by Le Corbusier who planned the city. “What are they up to? Today they have removed one tapestry. Tomorrow they may decide to pull down the entire High Court. How can they take such negative steps? The heritage of our city cannot be allowed to be destroyed. If the French can offer to clean the tapestries, even though they don’t get anything from the bargain, why can’t we respect our heritage?” questions senior advocate G.K. Chatrath. City’s first Chief Architect M.N. Sharma who worked closely with Le Corbusier remarked that the heritage value of all artifacts should be conserved and, wherever need be, restored. “I was a witness to the planning and execution of the whole project. Everything that was put in place then is part of our heritage and should not be destroyed. If the tapestry has actually become unclean, experts should be involved to deal with the issue,” Mr Sharma told The Tribune. Expressing concern over the fact that a lot of tinkering was being done with the idea of Chandigarh as a city, Mr Sharma urged the citizens to be alive to the issues concerning the city. Another associate of Le Corbusier, architect S.D. Sharma wondered if the officers managing the affairs of the city were appreciative of the importance of preserving its heritage. “None of Corbusier’s buildings or structures was in isolation. Everything that was placed in the buildings adds to the aura and ambience of the building. If you remove one small artifact, the whole project is defeated. As for the tapestry, it could have easily been cleaned in the High Court itself. The longer it remains in storage, the more damage will be done to it,” Mr Sharma observed. Former Principal of College of Architecture Aditya Prakash, an expert in this field, took offence to the removal of the tapestry from the courtroom. “If the Chief Justice had any objection to dust, the dust should have been removed rather than the tapestry. Such pieces of heritage cannot be disturbed for the sake of a single person,” he added. Peeved over the “ignorance of the heritage of the city”, advocate Rajeev Godara said heritage material should not be touched, except to clean it. “However, in this case, it does not seem likely that the tapestry will be hung back. Even in the matter of the construction, however small it may be, the spirit of the High Court complex should not be affected,” he said. He also said that the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association should discuss the matter and ensure that the damage was undone. Heritage expert Madhu Sarin came down heavily on the officials responsible for the lapse. “Why are the officials so easily overawed? It is time the Administration started thinking about conserving all such pieces of the city’s heritage. The tapestry should be cleaned and hung back. If you don’t take care of such tapestries, they will rot. At the same time, keeping them folded for long periods is certain to destroy them,” she said. Senior advocate H.S. Gill also expressed concern over the removal of the piece of heritage from the courtroom of the Chief Justice. |
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City girls leave a mark at Florida Chandigarh, July 31 At home after the triumph, Aaina, who showcased the project through computer slides before a jury, shared her rich experience with media persons. Led by another team-mate, Manpreet, she with the help of a laptop explained the intricate details of the project christened ‘ Alaskol’. Members of the team comprised students from the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology and Budha Dal School. Acting as a creative director of the project, Aaina said, “We were given maps of the moon’s surface and asked to design a settlement for around 21,000 persons. We were not allowed access to the Internet. The problem of lunar soil confronted us while designing the settlement”. Manpreet said they used the natural material available on the moon surface. The proposed settlement would cost $ 73 billion and would take 15 years and 74 days to complete it. A unique aspect of the project was the return of the investment made in the project. The settlement could be used for research on other planets and bring back various elements found on the moon surface. The other members of the team were Jyotika, Aditi, Abhishek Aggarwal, Abhishek Bareeja, Sahil Arora, Aankit, Prikshit, Varun, Ayush and Maninder. The members have returned confident and are ready to work on more complex projects and are eager to join NASA. The young planners said in the earlier project christened “ Bellevistat”, they had designed a project in which the scientists sitting on the moon’s surface would check global warming. They would build a shield around the earth’s surface. The entire project was aimed at attracting imaginative ideas on designing a human settlement on the moon. The project to design the human settlement is proposed to be stationed in space. Having least knowledge on space research, the team updated itself on the latest research thorough the internet and other means. |
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Electricity poles a threat
to motorists Mohali, July 31 The Tribune had brought the problem in focus earlier too but neither the Municipal Council nor the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority showed any interest in shifting these poles to the roadside. While planners of the township are to be blamed for this situation. It is the Mohali resident who is paying for the lack of coordination between the town's developers and the electricity board. One such pole is located on the road dividing Industrial Area and village
Landran. This pole has been the cause of accidents recently. This road is being used by heavy traffic these days to bypass the Beas
Ashram-Landran stretch next to the Godrej factory where PSIEC has undertaken construction. Bus and truck drivers on this road are barely able to see the pole from a distrance from it and have to screech to a halt near it. The other such pole is on the Sector 67-68 dividing road. Anyone who turns on to the road comes face to face with it. Those who live in these sectors are now aware of the pitfalls before them but outsiders coming to these sectors have ended up dashing against this pole. |
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Sex ratio improves in Panchkula dist Panchkula, July 31 The Deputy Commissioner, Ms Neelam P Kasni, said there had been a significant improvement in the sex ratio. As per 2001 Census, the total population of Panchkula is 4,69,210 and the ratio of female per 1,000 male population of Panchkula district is 837 as against 861 of the entire state and 933 of India. The ratio of females per 1,000 males of 0 to 6
years, calculated as per the birth in the past six years in this district, is 829 as compared to 819 in Haryana. This improvement was possible due to strict implementation of the PNDT Act, the Devi Rupak scheme and education on health. The ratio for the period from July, 2001 to December 2001, was 771 per 1000 (2,415 males against 1,863 female births). In the next six months, the ratio improved to 835 per 1000 (1,518 females against 1,863 males). In the second half of 2002, it further increased to 897 per 1,000 (2,269 girls against 2,518 boys). During the first half of 2003, it rose to 884 (1,636 girls against 1,849 boys) and in the last half of 2003 showed further increase to 903 per 1,000 (2313 girls against 2,561 boys). The first half of this year reveals marginal decrease to 899 (1,971 girls against 2,192 boys), an official note said. |
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Mansa Devi museum design approved Panchkula, July 31 Officials say that the design was finalised, after the Sri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board had invited designs from architects last year. The Engineering Wing of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has now made a project cost of Rs 3.26 crore for the museum and sent it to the state government for approval. Official sources say that it is yet to be decided if the construction has to be done by HUDA or to be given to a private consultant. About two acres has been identified for developing the theme museum. It is also proposed to have a library section in the museum, displaying religious and philosophical literature with special reference to the Mother Goddess. The board has a sizeable collection of manuscripts of medieval Sanskrit classics and books on philosophy, religion and occult and oriental studies. This collection will be augmented by procuring copies of all classical and authentic works on Mata Mansa Devi. Mansa Devi is one of the old Shakti peeth , where lakhs of people come each year. Although this is a sacred religious destination, it has a secular dimension. It was thus decided that a cultural centre should be developed here in the form of a theme museum, in order to enable the visitors and pilgrims to unravel the various aspects of the Mother Goddess. The proposed museum will have two distinct sections of display — heritage section and the Mother Goddess section. Exhibits of the heritage section will include the pre-historic findings highlighting the pre-historic man in India , along with historical and archaeological findings of Panchkula region, sculptures, paintings and manuscripts. However, the Mother Goddess section will be the main attraction of the museum highlighting the evolution of the Mother Goddess, shakti cult , shakti and its various forms, worship traditions, rituals and offerings associated with shakti , arms and ammunition related with shakti et al. The Sri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board has asked the Public Works Department to find a solution to stop the seepage of water in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, which is destroying the magnificent murals on the walls and ceiling. The murals had been re-done by a team of the Archaeological Survey of India last year, but were again destroyed within a few months. An estimated Rs 1.21 lakh was spent on restoring these paintings that adorn the outer walls, arches, inner walls and ceilings of the sanctorum. These murals depict the various legends of Durga Saptshati, Mahabharat, Ramayana and the Krishan Leela. |
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Myanmar seeks HMT cooperation Chandigarh, July 31 During the visit, the minister invited the HMT team to visit the railway workshops in Myanmar and assist in modernising the facilities. He was accompanied by Mr U Kyi Thein, Ambassador of the Union of Myanmar in India, Mr U Than Yee, Managing Director, Myanmar Railways. They were taken around both machine tools and tractor facilities units by the Group General Manager, Mr S.K Sharma. HMT limited has been playing an active role in modernisation of railway workshops in India by developing and supplying number of genera purpose and special purpose machines. It has also supplied various components to the Indian Railways. It has also exported machine tolls and tractors to Myanmar in the past. |
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Gen Bhandari takes over as DG
of NCC today Chandigarh, July 31 A war veteran of the 1971 war ( Chamb Jaurian sector), General Bhandari has vast experience in operational planning with particular reference to counter- insurgency operations. He was the Commander of an Infantry Brigade in the North-East, raised and commanded a Rashtriya Rifles sector and was BGS of the prestigious 15 Corps, both in the Kashmir valley. He later commanded the Dagger division responsible for holding strategic heights on the Line of Control and the Baramulla sector in J and K. The General also holds a postgraduate diploma in strategic studies from the US Army War College, Pennyslvania, from where he passed out in the class of 97 as an international fellow. He was awarded the Ati Vashist Sewa Medal ( AVSM) by the President of India in 1997 for rendering outstanding services in bringing normalcy in Punjab and was also decorated in 2001 during Operation Vijay in Kargil. The General holds a master's degree in Defence Studies, Personal Management and Industrial Relations,Business Management, Labour Law and Human Resources Development. |
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Applications
invited for consumer awards Chandigarh, July 31 The applications have to be sent in before August 10 to the Department of Food and Supplies and Consumer Affairs, UT, housed in the annexe of the MC building in Sector 17. Details can be obtained from the office of the District Food and Supplies and Consumer Affairs Officer, a spokesperson of the administration said. The award will be Rs 50,000, Rs 40,000 and Rs 30,000 for the first three voluntary consumer organisations that have done outstanding work to promote a strong and broad-based consumer movement, particularly at the grassroots level. These organisations must be in existence for the past three years with at least 100 members. The award for youth and women will be Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 along with a certificate of merit. The age of the applicant for the youth award should be between 15 and 35 while there is no age limit for women. The performance of youth or women will be judged on the basis of their work in taking up important consumer cases with special effort for the redress of consumer grievances, bringing out new ideas for consumer protection and safety from health hazards. |
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Tribune Assistant Manager
(Circulation) retires Chandigarh, July 31 He served the trust for over 42
years. He had joined The Tribune when the newspaper was being published from Ambala. He was given a warm send-off at a party organised in the office, which was attended by his colleagues. The Additional General Manager, Mr OP Arora, lauded his sense of dedication to the institution. |
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Tribune employee retires Chandigarh, July 31 Mr Bahadur was with the institution for over 38 years. He was given a warm send-off at a party organised in the office, which was attended by a large number of office employees. The Additional General Manager, Mr O.P. Arora, made a note of his dedication to the institution. |
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DSP Abrol retires Chandigarh, July 31 Earlier, the department had also organised a farewell party at Police Headquarter, Sector 9, and in the office of DSP, Sector 26, yesterday. Recruited as an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) in Chandigarh police in 1969, Mr Abrol was also awarded the President’s Medal and many other police medals. |
Cash stolen from shop Mohali, July 31 Though the thieves tried to break the locks of three shops, running at the backside of the main market, they managed to decamp with cash and sweets from one shop. All efforts were made to break the locks of the other two shops as well but somehow they could not succeed. The affected shopkeepers lamented that the police had not registered any case in this regard. Mr Rupinder Pal Singh, the owner of the sweet shop, said the theft was noticed today morning when he came to open the shop at 6.30 a.m. He found one of the shutters half open and when he entered he found things lying scattered all around. Cash totalling more than Rs 1,100, which he had left behind last night, was found missing. He said thieves even took away three trays of "burfi". He said that the Municipal Councillor of the area asked them to go to the police station to lodge a complaint. He said from the police station they were sent back to the market by the police saying that the complaint could be lodged with the investigating official in the market itself. But the official left the market after giving suggestions instead of registering the case, he alleged. The thieves tried to break the locks of a kiryana store but failed to succeed. In the case of the diagnostic laboratory, they managed to break the locks on the shutter but failed to break the lock on the second door. The thieves had earlier struck at houses in Phase VI and decamped with cash and valuables worth lakhs of rupees. A theft had also taken place in Sector 70 from where cash and jewellery was stolen. Mr Rakesh Agrawal, SP, said he would inquire and find out why no case had been registered in connection with the theft that took place last night. He said he was told that shopkeepers were not interested in getting the case registered. The SP said 10 persons had been rounded up in connection with the incident for questioning. He said the verification drive in connection with migrant labourers would start soon. Houseowners and shopkeepers in the town would be given suggestions to ensure the safety of their premises. The police was also preparing a list of thieves and robbers who operated in the area during the past 10 years. |
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Suicide bid Chandigarh, July 31 Sources in the police said she allegedly consumed phenyl over some dispute in the family and was rushed to the PGI after her health started deteriorating. Her condition is said to be stable. Though her arrival at the hospital was recorded at the PGI police post,
no case has been registered at the Sector 19 police station in this regard. |
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27-year-old
commits suicide Panchkula, July 31 In another incident, the 20-year-old resident of Bir Ghaggar, Asha, who had sustained burn injuries after a stove burst at her house two days ago, died last night. She was admitted at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, with 60 per cent burns. In both cases, the police has initiated inquest proceedings. |
‘Fuel for Sony’ contest Chandigarh, July 31 Names of the winner were announced and were given gifts at Sony World, Sector 8, on Saturday. Sudhir Sharma was thrilled by winning mega prize of Sony home theatre. Sony Wega TV went to Sabyaschi Ghosh. The other lucky winners of Sony Walkman were: Brij Bhushan, A.S. Kohli, Paramdeep Singh, Rahul, Amit Gupta, Ranjit Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Alok Laloria, Paramdeep Singh and Satin Chauhan.
Store opened Tommy Hilfiger, an American designer label, opened its flagship store in the city on Saturday. Tommy Hilfiger, the brand was launched in India in April this year by designer, Tommy Hilfiger himself. There are also three other stores in Bangalore, Gurgaon and New Delhi. The store in the city targets at the fashion conscious and well travelled city residents.The store has total 600 designs in apparels. The store offers sports wear (for men only) and jeans wear for both men and women. There are junior jeans for women only. It also offers products including eyewear, handbags and other leather items. |
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Chandigarh, July
31
