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Scientific temper runs high among young
Chandigarh, August 27 Future scientists and engineers used the opportunity to explain how application of science and technology could be used efficiently to check environment pollution and plan essential services, keeping in mind the population pressure. Students, mostly aged between 16 and 18, were keen to involve society in reaping the benefits of technology. The event saw the participation of over 100 schools, including some from far-flung areas, which displayed 200 exhibits. In the first round, which ended today, judges selected 45 entries of which the best 20 would be awarded at a function tomorrow. Most of the models were on a wide array of themes like producing electric energy from smoke, how to prevent trucks from toppling, working model of hovercraft, DNA fingerprinting and software to help students learn at their own pace. The subjects on which the models were based were food and health, energy, industry, transport, communication and biotechnology. Mr R.P. Sharma, Education Officer of the CBSE, said it was for the first time that a regional-level exhibition was being held for students from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. The 20 best schools would get an opportunity to participate in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Exhibition to be organised by the NCERT in November. The students with the best models at the national level would get a chance to represent the country in the Intel International Science and Engineering fair to be held in the USA, he added. He said the event provided an opportunity to students to understand the application of science and technology in daily life. The exhibition was part of the events to celebrate 2004 as the year of scientific application. The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr N.S. Kalsi, Secretary, Information Technology, Punjab. Mr P.I. Sabu, Regional Officer of the CBSE, was also present. Ms Rakesh Sachdeva, Principal of the host school and coordinator of the event, said the award ceremony would be held tomorrow. The first 20 entries would be given merit certificates while the others would be given participation certificates.
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Young minds at work
Chandigarh, August 27 A micro model of the “silent revolution”, which has been under way in a locality around the school, was at display during a two-day regional science exhibition, which began here today. Two students of the school, Akshay and Samanth, who have been instrumental in adopting the technology at the school level and in the community, explained through their model how solid waste was treated with a powdery substance and a liquid. It generated organic manure and a liquid that could be used an insecticide and germicide. The entire process requires a few hundred rupees. Another project on
Concerned over the increasing traffic congestion on city roads, Ankit, a student of Sishu Niketan, designed a model of elevated Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS)-2025. “Since there are high-rise buildings, an elevated rail track is a costeffective solution for free movement of passenger traffic”. For students of Shri Ram Ashram Public School, Amritsar, designing a planetarium was a challenging task. At a cost of Rs 15,000, a specially built dome was used by students to explain the solar system through an audiovisual display. The students also displayed the recent Venus transit.
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PEC row refuses to die down
What the norms say? As per the policy regarding reservation of seats in admission to educational/ technical/medical institutions under the Chandigarh Administration, the performance in same grade would have to given in the following descending order: record holders in any event, winners, runners up, third position holders, number of times participated and number of disciplines participated. If there was a tie within the same category, the same would have to be resolved considering the academic merit of the sportsperson. In case of a tie again, the same would have to be resolved considering the seniority in age.
Chandigarh, August 27 Threatening to take legal course, the student lamented that those who had played in senior national games had been ranked below those played in the junior national. The certificates of the school national had also not been considered by the screening committee of the college. As a result a candidate who was earlier placed at third position in the merit list, had now been pushed to fourth position and the candidate at the tenth position earlier was placed second. Another student, ranked 19 in the earlier list, was placed third. Earlier the screening committee had placed the students with participation in national events and position holders in state events below the students who had no participation in a national event and had only participated in state-level games. Sources in the college said the fresh merit list, claimed to be on the basis of the guidelines of the Sports Department, had been approved by the Chandigarh Administration. It may be pointed out that the Chandigarh Administration had asked the Sports Department to provide the guidelines on judging the merit of sports persons. The students had lamented that no one from the faculty of Sports and Physical Education had been consulted while deciding the merit list while ignoring an important clause on inter-se merit in the same grade.
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PGI Dy chief (Admin) told to go on leave
Chandigarh, August 27 Confirming the
development, the Health Secretary, Government of India, Mr V. Prasada
Rao, talking to The Tribune from New Delhi, said: “The Health Ministry
has taken a serious note of the incident. The DDA has been served with a
show-cause notice and has been asked to give a reply soon. The entire
episode is being viewed as insubordination, lack of decorum and breach
of protocol on the part of the DDA.” Commenting on the demands made
from within the institute to repatriate the DDA, who is an IAS officer
from the Maharashtra Cadre and has completed three years at the PGI, to
her parent state, the Health Secretary said: “This issue would be
considered after the DDA files her reply.” Mr Rao added that the
Director PGI, Prof K.K. Talwar, had taken up the issue during his
meeting with him in Delhi yesterday. The PGI Director today ordered
the withdrawal of the circular issued by the DDA. Speaking on behalf
of the PGI Director, Prof Amod Gupta said: “The Director had ordered
the withdrawal of the circular of August 24 issued by the DDA.
Subsequently, the DDA has proceeded on leave. During her absence, the
Financial Adviser Dr Harmeet Singh, will look after the duties of the
DDA in addition to his own duties.’’ All senior officials in the
PGI, including heads of department, Dean, Financial Adviser, Medical
Superintendent and administrative officials, have been informed about
the development through an official order today. The order, however,
only mentions the date of the beginning of the DDA’s leave period
(from August 27) but does not say when her leave duration will come to
an end. The controversy, which had gripped the PGI for the past couple
of days, was about a circular issued by the DDA to the seven
administrative wings under her, asking the staff “not to hesitate to
disagree with the PGI Director in administrative matters.’’ In the
name of improving efficiency, she went on to write in the circular that
the “Director is a medicine man. His core competence does not lie in
administrative matters and needs to be briefed about all administrative
matters.’’
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Ex-MLA Dhuri’s son held on kidnap charge
A frame-up, says Dhuri
Mr Surinder Singh Dhuri has termed the case as a frame-up, saying that the police acted on a false complaint made by Mr Dharamvir who was irked the over acquaintance of his daughter with
Ramanjot. Mr Surinder Singh said he had SMS and call records of conversations between his son and Mr Dharamvir’s daughter. He said he also had in his possession photographs of the two together. Mr Dhuri said how could there be an attempt to kidnap in the presence of the gunman of Mr Dharamvir who was in a vehicle. Mr Dhuri claimed that his wife and Mr Dharamvir’s wife had talked to each other about the friendship between their children.
Chandigarh, August 27 Mr Dharamvir said one of the youths, Ramanjot (22), opened the door of his vehicle and tried to pull out Paramjit. He held his son’s hand and pulled him back in but the other youth also came to help
Ramanjot. Meanwhile, Mr Dharanvir’s bodyguard reached the spot and the accused fled. Mr Dharamvir suspectes that there was a third person also who was standing a little afar. Considering it to be a minor incident, Mr Dharamvir did not report the matter to the police and tried to look for the youths himself. However, the next day he reported the matter to the police which arrested Ramanjot on the identification of Mr Dharamvir. The police has not made it clear from where Ramanjot was arrested and how Mr Dharamvir or the police identified him. Mr Dharamvir told the police that while the scuffle between him and the accused was going on, Ramanjot said he was the son of an MLA of Punjab and had even told his name. A day after the arrest of
Ramanjot, the Chandigarh police arrested one of his accomplices, Kamljit Singh of Amritsar. Ramanjot was remanded in police custody by a local court for a day today.
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Brave Neerja’s face will be seen on stamp
Chandigarh, August 27 She may well be the first woman from City Beautiful to be so honoured. Confirming this move, Punjab Chief Postmaster-General L. K. Puri told The Tribune that the Advisory Committee on Philately constituted by the Government of India had recommended that a commemorative stamp be released on Neerja Bhanot, who did her initial schooling from a city school. Mr Puri said a function was being organised in New Delhi on October 9, where the Vice-President, Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, would release two stamps, the other being in honour of Ashok Chakra winner Randhir Prasad Verma. Verma was the husband of BJP Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Rita Verma. Neerja became synonymous with bravery and exemplary courage when she resisted attempts by terrorists, who had stormed the aircraft on which she was a senior flight purser, to segregate and kill US citizens. She was shot while helping passengers escape from the aircraft. Apart from Neerja, 19 other persons were killed, while over 100 sustained injuries. Eyewitness accounts said that had she not shown the courage, the toll could have been much higher. Posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, highest bravery award for civilians, Neerja was then the youngest recipient of this award. She was two days short of her 23rd birthday when she was killed. On May 12 this year, a US court had sentenced the leader of the hijack team, Zaid Hassan Abd Latif Safarini, to 160 years in prison for his role in the hijack attempt and the killing of innocent civilians. However, four other terrorists involved in the incident continue to evade being similarly punished as they are in a Pakistan jail. When contacted, the family of Neerja Bhanot said that though belated, the move of the government to honour Neerja in this manner had brought back memories of their brave daughter. "It has been so many years since she died. But she continues to make us proud," said Mr Harish Bhanot, Neerja's father. The Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust, which honours brave women every year, will hold the award distribution function on September 10 in Chandigarh.
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Tapes produced as evidence against Gen Choudhary
Chandigarh, August 27 The GCM, presided over by Lieut-Gen C. S. Chima, reassembled at Ferozepore cantonment after about three weeks. The court had adjourned on August 7 to enable the prosecution to make the tapes, which were earlier produced before another GCM, available for being produced before the court. The tapes were shot secretly over three years ago by operatives of Tehelka.com posing as arms dealers. General Choudhary was serving as Additional Director-General (Weapons and Procurement) at Army Headquarters when the sting operation was carried out. The Secretary to the Justice Phukan Commission of Inquiry investigating into the scam, Mr S. K. Dasgupta, produced 19 original videotapes along with their certified copies and other documents before the GCM today. His deposition is expected to continue tomorrow. The original tapes, after being compared with the copies for authenticity, will be taken back by the Secretary and thereafter the copies would be used to lead evidence. Although the total footage shot by Tehelka amounts to over 100 hours, the tapes produced today contain about 30 hours of footage. The Phukan Commission had issued directives that only tapes containing footage pertaining to the accused officer were to be produced before the GCM concerned. A few days ago, the Secretary had produced 11 tapes containing about 13 hours of footage before a GCM trying Col Anil Sahgal at Chandi Mandir on similar charges in the same case.
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Delhi HC dissolves court martial before trial
Chandigarh, August 27 The court martial, ordered by the General Officer Commanding, 15 Infantry Division, to try Hav K. C. Tiwari for allegedly accepting illegal gratification while posted as an accommodation clerk at Station Headquarters, Amritsar, had assembled a few days ago when the objection was raised. According to defence counsel, Maj K. Ramesh (retd), the court was dissolved at the preliminary stage itself, before any evidence was produced or witnesses summoned. Generally, it is after the court martial proceedings are over that high courts are moved over procedural irregularities or technical issues. The accused had objected to Lieut-Col Paramjit Singh being a member of the court on the grounds of prejudice and malice. He maintained that during the course of his duties he had raised objections over the manner in which accommodation was allotted to the officer. Being the senior most among the members nominated to conduct the trial, Colonel Paramjit was to sit as the presiding officer. No objection was raised against any other member. The court disallowed the objection of the accused without assigning any reason, though there were three other officers nominated as waiting members. According to Army Rule 44, even in a doubtful case, an objection should always be allowed.
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Truckers’ strike fizzles out
Chandigarh, August 27 Atleast this is the situation in the local grain market where over 80 trucks carrying vegetables and fruits were unloaded. Not only that, at least 50 truckloads of apples left for their destinations to various parts of the country last night. The arrival of the fresh vegetables from Himachal in the market kept the prices stable.The supply of the apples continued to be normal in the day. The arrival of five trucks of onions from Nasik lowered its price from Rs 9 to Rs 8 today. Meanwhile, the Consumer Forum today urged the Chandigarh Administration to declare the strike “illegal”. The forum was also exploring the possibility of filing a PIL against the AIMTC for resorting to “illegal” strike,which had jeopardised the interests of the common man, a press note added. On the other hand, Mr Ajit Singh Kaler, president of the Chandigarh Transport Association, criticised the claims of the government that only booking agencies would have to pay the service tax. Mr Kaler said the essential commodities had already been exempted from the purview of the strike. He alleged that the government agencies were trying to making futile attempts to divide the transport community.
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Demolitions in graveyard: traffic blocked for 2 hours
Mohali, August 27 Members of the community blocked traffic for nearly two hours near the town’s cremation ground and raised slogans against PUDA and the Punjab Government. They demanded strict action against PUDA officials for the demolitions. The SDM, Mr M.L. Sharma, tried to pacify the protesters and assured that justice would be done to them. He asked them to give a memorandum to him in this regard on Monday which would be sent to the Ropar Deputy Commissioner. Mr Javed Aslam, vice-president of the Muslim Welfare Committee, said that a number of graves had been damaged by PUDA hurting the sentiments of the people. Mr Babu Khan, cashier of the committee, body of whose mother, Bundi Begum, was burried in the area on March 18, 1987, said that there were about 300 graves in the graveyard. He said that the land in question had been allotted to the community by the erstwhile Department of Housing and Urban Development, Punjab, in 1984. Mr Dilwar Mohammad Khan, Chairman of the Minority cell of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, alleged that someone had tried to create a mischief. He said that a “janaja masjid”, where the last prayers for the dead were offered, had also been damaged. He said according to a site plan, an area measuring 173 feet by 540 feet, had been allotted to the community for the graveyard and as such the demolitions carried out by PUDA officials were totally unjustified. The protesters demanded that police should be deployed in the graveyard area fearing that PUDA might once again carry out demolitions. Most of the male members of the community had gone to Shahimajra village for the Namaj when the demolitions were carried out. They immediately started gathering near the graveyard on getting to know about PUDA action and lot of tension prevailed in the area. However, PUDA officials said that the land in question belonged to PUDA and as such demolitions had been done as the area was to be cleared for constructing the remaining EWS houses in Sector 57.
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No plan to acquire Kansal land
Mohali, August 27 He said the proposal had been prepared neither by PUDA nor the Administrative Department. He had also confirmed from the Housing and Urban Development Minister, Mr Raghunath Sahai Puri, who had stated that no such note had been sent by him to the Chief Minister. The publication of this news item had sent tremors in the Kansal real estate market and many plot-holders and landowners had been trying to effect panic sales, thereby sending the market rates plunging. It is believed that the news might have been planted by some persons who were trying to create panic in the market and pick up land at cheap rates. Mr Sidhu, however, stated that a PUDA flying squad had been constituted to keep a close vigil in the
Kansal-Nayagaon cluster and ensure that no new illegal construction came up.
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Excise Dept wards, districts reorganised
Chandigarh, August 27 Mr S.P. Kansal, AETC is the District In charge of District 1 comprising sectors 1 to 26 and Manimajra. Under him Mr Mangesh Sethi, Mr Lal Singh and Mr Rajinder Kumar will look after Sectors 1 to 12, 26, Grain
Market, Khuda Jassu, Khuda Alisher and Kaimbwala villages. In ward number two are Mr H.K. Sabharwal, Mr L.D. Chitkara and Mr Partap Singh handling work of, R.K. Mani Majra, Mauli Jagran, Railway Road, Darua, Raipur Kalan, Raipur Khurd, Makhan Majra,Kishangarh, Behlana, Bapu Dham, Transport Nagar, Timber Market and adjoining villages. Mr S.S. Parmar, AETC will be District Incharge in his own pay scale of ETO. Under him Mr Sukhdev Sharma, Mohinder Singh and Surinder Singh Bedi will handle work in Industrial Area, Phase-I. In Ward number IV Mr Naresh Dubey Mr R.C. Bhalla and Mr Pardeep Sharma will handle work in Sectors 14 to 19, 27 and 28 Mr Sher Singh, Mr D.K. Sharma and Surinder Virdi will handle work in sectors 20 to 25, 29 and 30. Mr Shingara Singh, AETC, will be District Inchage in his own pay scale of ETO. Under him Mrs. H.K. Brar, Mr Sugam Pal and Mr Nirmal Chand will handle Industrial Area, Phase-II. Mr G.S. Saini, Mr J.S. Waraich and Mr Yogeshwar Chand will handle work in Sector 31 to 61, Burail, Attawa, Badheri, Baterela, Kajheri, Palsora, Maloya, Dadu Majra, Dhanas and Sarangpur villages. Mr Ashok Yadav, AETC, will be District Incharge in his own pay scale. Mr Rajiv Chaudhary, Mr Rajesh Aerry, Mr Nathu Ram, Mr Ashok Kumar, Clerk will handle the entire District of Union Territory, Chandigarh for Excise and Enforcement.
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Involve people to save Sukhna: Governor
Chandigarh, August 27 After inaugurating a workshop organised by the Institution of Engineers here today on “Sukhna lake - maladies & remedies”, he said: “We would have to focus on the zero siltation solution which might have to involve the Engineering Department, the Forest Department and the adjoining states of Punjab and Haryana. He said though the Save Sukhna Society had been involving people in the de-siltation of the Sukhna, it was more important to stop the inflow of silt into the Sukhna. Taking children to the catchment area of the Sukhna would involve them in the process, he said. He said the Chandigarh Administration had constructed over 180 silt retention dams in the Sukhna catchments area.
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Governor’s Onam greetings
Chandigarh, August 27 Justice Verma said it is the only festival which was celebrated with colourful rituals by Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike. The Administrator said let this harvest festival herald a new era of hope and new beginnings and motivate people to maintain age-old traditions of communal harmony and brotherhood.
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SSP assures prompt redress of grievances
Chandigarh, August 27 Former Intelligence Bureau chief H.S. Virk said that the police should deploy plainclothes men to gather intelligence. The SSP assured prompt redressal of police-related grievances. He further stated that public co-operation was necessary for maintaining law and order in the city.
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Lectures, contests mark AWWA celebrations
Chandigarh, August 27 Lectures on small savings, dental care, yoga, healthy baby competition, run for fun and a painting competition were among the activities organised during the week. A full day was also devoted to the removal of congress grass and plantation of saplings in and around residential areas in the brigade's complex. A computer laboratory which would provide facilities to children and families of soldiers to enhance computer literacy, was inaugurated by Mrs Neelu Chadha, president of the local AWWA unit. A coaching centre for children has also been set up. Patiala:
As a part of Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) week, the Black Elephant AWWA inaugurated a new AWWA Complex here on Friday. The complex was inaugurated by Mrs Mina GD Singh, president, Kharga AWWA. The president Black Elephant AWWA Sunita Khanna and wives of officers and jawan were also present
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Roof collapse: family has narrow escape
Chandigarh, August 27 The two children were buried under the debris. They were later rescued by some neighbours. They were taken to the GH Sector 16, from where they were discharged after first aid.
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Cyclist killed in accident
Panchkula, August 27 Accident:- A 24-year-old jhuggi dweller sustained 80 per cent burns after a kerosene stove burst in her jhuggi in Sector 5 today. The victim, Rukmani, was alone when the accident took place. She is now admitted in General Hospital, Sector 6. Snake bite case:- A 58-year-old slum dweller in Sector 21, Takki, was bitten by a snake when he had gone to collect firewood in the woods near the slum colony. He was rushed to the hospital, and is stated to be out of danger.
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2 women held for immoral activity
Panchkula, August 27 Other than the two women who have been arrested, three other women were also a part of the racket, but they escaped. Ajay, too, escaped. The police sent as decoy customer to the house after they had tied up with the girls on the mobile phone. A deal was struck for Rs 3000 and the decoy paid them Rs 1500. The police led by Superintendent of Police, Ms Mamta Singh raided the premises and nabbed the two women. The police found the visiting cards of a top politician at the house, and photographs of the girls with the personal assistant of the politician were also found hanging on the wall. They have been booked under various sections of the Immoral Trafficking Act, as the house from where they were operating is located near a temple in Sector 10.
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PEC employee attacked, two booked
Chandigarh, August 27 The victims Ram Niranjan has been hospitalized with serious injuries in a hospital in Phase 6 in Mohali. Despite identification of the suspects Sarvan Singh and Arjan Singh and their sons, the Chandigarh Police failed to arrest them. The incident happened at 5.30 pm at the road going to Kansal and in the village but the Mohali Police informed them about the incident at around 8.30. The Mohali Police said that the incident had taken place in the jurisdiction of Sector 11 Police Station. According to the Chandigarh Police the delay in the information led to the suspected persons slipping away. According to the police, Ram Niranjan was going on his two-wheeler to Kansal when the suspected persons came from the opposite direction in a Maruti car. They accused first bumped their car into the two-wheeler and then attacked the victim with hockey sticks. The accused allegedly dumped the victim in their car and took him to Kansal where again they beat him up. They also allegedly illegally confined Ram Niranjan in a room. According to the police the two parties had earlier been involved in a criminal case of similar nature. Gang busted, 2 held:
The police has claimed to have unearthed a mobile snatchers’ gang, which had been active in the city for the past two months. The police has arrested two persons Aditya, a resident of Sector 21, and Sajan, alias Goldy of Sector 35, and recovered seven mobile phones from their possession. According to the police, the duo was snatching mobile phones only. MOHALI Mr Darshan Singh, in charge Phase XI police post, said that the two would be taken to Ludhiana and kept in a juvenile home there. Another child aged 6 was also caught along with the two but was not arrested. Dowry cases: The police registered two cases of dowry, in different parts of the city on Thursday. Rajni, a resident of Daria village, filed a complaint against her husband Harinder Singh of Daria and his father, that they were harassing her to bring more dowry. The police has registered a case under Section 406, 438-A, 34 of IPC. No arrests have been made. Manu Sehgal, a resident of Sector 38 (West), filed a complaint to the police against her husband Prabjot Singh, father-in-law, and mother-in-law, all residents of Indra Colony, Mani Majra that they were harassing her to bring more dowry. The police has registered a case under Sections 406, 498 of IPC.
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Neighbour rapes minor
Panchkula, August 27 According to the police, the girl’s parents were out of station for a few days. On August 21, when she went out of the house in the morning, accused Manoj Kumar dragged her to nearby fields, and after threatening her with a knife, raped her. The girl’s maternal uncle, who also stays in the same village, heard her cries for help, and rushed to her rescue, but the accused fled. The girl’s parents returned on August 25. The village panchayat was called yesterday. The matter was reported to the police today and the FIR registered. No arrests have been made so far.
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Proclaimed offender surrenders
Chandigarh, August 27 He was booked on a complaint by Bhushan Industries' officials. The Economic Offence Wing registered a case against him after an inquiry.
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Illegal exchange: kingpin identified
Chandigarh, August 27
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Youth found dead
Chandigarh, August 27
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JCT factory reopens after 3 years of closure
Mohali, August 27 Mr G.S. Walia, Assistant Labour Commissioner, who also attended the puja, told The Tribune that JCT had created history by reviving the unit. He said that he had been in the Labour Department for the past 15 years and had seen for the first time that a unit was revived by the same management which had put a lockout on the factory. Mr Harish Thapar, general manager (Personnel and Industrial Relations), said that to begin with about 20 employees had been put on the job of carrying out maintenance in the factory. He said that for a couple of days they would be
observing the progress to find out how many employees were needed to carry out the maintenance work. If need be the number of employees on the job would be increased even to 150. He said that since the unit was revived after a gap of more than three years, they expected the Punjab Government to give major concessions so that the factory could be started in a proper way again. Mr A.D Nagpal, secretary, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, said that the management of the JCT had not spent funds on the upgradation of the unit, instead the money was spent on setting up a unit in Baroda. He said the demand of colour picture tubes, which were being manufactured by the local unit, was greater than the supply, and as such it would not be very difficult for JCT to soon start earning profits. He said that according to the agreement signed last evening employees would be paid a salary of Rs 1000 per month for two months which would be increased to Rs 1500 in case the maintenance work did not finish by November 1. But the union would have to go in for fresh negotiations in January if the work did not finish by that time. He said the management had promised to bring about technical upgradation while the workers had assured to maintain peace and increase productivity.
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Raksha Bandhan offer
Chandigarh, August 27 |
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