Illegal quarrying under authorities' nose
By Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 29 — Large-scale illegal quarrying in agricultural lands on the embankments of a seasonal rivulet traversing its way through some villages of SAS Nagar sub-division, is taking place right under the nose of the authorities. A beehive of activity can be witnessed at the quarrying sites, which have come up along the rivulet adjacent to Mauli Baidwan village near here.

Trucks and tractor-trailers carrying earth and sand pass out from the quarrying sites without paying any royalty to the government. Such is the scale of activity that at one particular site behind the upcoming Sector 67 of the township, a deep and a large pit has been created.

A visit by The Tribune team revealed that an excavator was busy filling earth in trucks. The trucks then headed towards a road construction site in Sector 70. Investigations reveal that the agricultural land owned by a resident of Mauli Baidwan village, who was selling the earth and sand, had engaged an excavator and was supplying it on demand. Among the persons buying the material are some private contractors undertaking development works in the new sectors being developed by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA).

To ascertain the destination of the trucks carrying earth, The Tribune team reached a site where a new road was being constructed. Inquiries reveal that the persons owning the land — on which the quarrying was being done — were charging between Rs 50 and Rs 100 for a tractor trailer and around Rs 200 for a truck.

Investigations took the team to another site between Mauli Baidwan and Chila village on the same rivulet, which is being used by PUDA to dispose of domestic and industrial waste of the township.

Inquiries from the State Mines Department reveal that if even a person owns land adjacent to a seasonal rivulet, he has to take permission from the authorities concerned. The Mines Department also auctions quarrying sites from time to time. In both the cases cited above, no permission has been taken from the authorities.

The Sarpanch of Mauli Baidwan, Mr Baldev Singh, when contacted said he had written to PUDA officials to stop the illegal activity. The quarrying could pose a threat to the populated areas of the village, apart from eroding agricultural land.

PUDA officials said the sites at which quarrying was being done had not been acquired. But the area was proposed to acquired for the new sectors. Incidentally, a road running parallel to Sectors 66, 67, 68, 69, and 70 and then joining Sohana that is being constructed by PUDA is close to the quarrying site.

Court firing case set to be filed
By Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Nearly one and a half years after 45 minutes of indiscriminate firing outside the Sector 17 District Courts complex, the first of its kind, had sent shock waves around the city, the Chandigarh police has recommended treating the case as untraced.

The file has reportedly been forwarded to the Illaqa Magistrate for the necessary action. If the magistrate accepts the recommendation, the file will be kept in the police station for five years and then disposed of, according to sources.

It may be recalled that the firing was a result of the murder of Harjit Singh Sandhu in the market of Sector 10 by Harvinder Singh, alias Vicky, who was subsequently arrested and was remanded in judicial custody.

Trouble erupted in July, 1998, when he was produced in the court. There was tension between supporters of both parties who were present outside the court complex. When the accused was being taken back after being produced in the court, supporters of the deceased raised slogans against the Punjab police as Mr Jagjit Singh Gill, DSP, was also present with his gunmen.

Suddenly, some supporters from the accused side started firing without any provocation, besides pelting stones on the supporters of the deceased and the police party.

In the incident which lasted 45 minutes, with the lawyers and litigants ducking and running helter and skelter, ASI Ajmer Singh, Harpreet Singh, Kulwant Singh, Sadhu Singh and Avtar Singh received injuries. The police arrested the DSP, besides 18 others, and a case under Sections 147, 148, 149, 332, 353, 307 and 336 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered at the Central police station.

As per the untraced report, “no person suffered any bullet injury”. Avtar Singh, the main witness, was cleared by doctors that such injuries could have been caused by falling on an iron object. Since the shirt had a hole, it was sent to the CFSL where experts stated that no firing discharge residues could be detected. It was not possible to form a definite opinion whether the hole was caused due to firing or not. Apart from this, Avtar Singh also gave an affidavit stating that he had suffered no bullet injuries.

ASI Ajmer Singh, another injured, said that there was a fracture of his nasal bone, but no one had hit him during the incident. Ajmer said he had received the injury by falling on a road berm.

“From the statements of the above mentioned witnesses, it is clear that no offence under Sections 307, 332, and 353, IPC, is made out. It is clear that the gunmen fired in the air to protect the DSP and themselves and to bring the situation under control. It was during this time that some of the bullets hit the court complex and broke some windowpanes,” the report states.

Sources said the report further listed some observations totally absolving the accused. It said: “From further inspection of the case file, no act of omission could be established against DSP Jagjit Singh Gill and his presence in the court was merely a matter of coincidence. He had come to meet some advocates regarding some personal work and his version was supported by some independent witnesses.”

Following reverification by senior officers, it was found that there was tension between the two groups and each was in panic from the other which resulted in the firing. There was no intention on the part of either parties of injuring anybody. That was why no one was injured despite the presence of a large number of people in the court complex. Thus, offence under Section 307, IPC, was not made out.

Regarding offence under Sections 332, and 353, IPC, there was no intention of confrontation or assaulting the police and as such the offences were not made out.

Since Avtar Singh and ASI Ajmer Singh denied receiving any injuries during the reverification, it would not be possible for the prosecution to prove the charges in court.

After deleting Sections 332, 353, and 307, IPC, offences under Sections 147, 148, 149, and 336, IPC, would be hard to prove the intentional presence of the accused as the courts were within close proximity of the Sector 17 bus stand.

Hence, prosecution under Section 336, IPC, and 25, 27, 54, and 59 of the Arms Act, was left with the police and since all the witnesses have turned hostile, there would be no use in filing a challan in the case, the report states.

Sources said there are many other instances where the cases had been sent as untraced.

Induction of CISF men favoured
Tribune News Service

THE Centre has suggested to the Chandigarh Administration to examine the possibility of inducting personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for the proposed anti-sabotage and bomb disposal squad.

The Chandigarh police had proposed to raise such a squad which was agreed to in principle and the ministry of Home Affairs had requested the Finance Ministry to examine it, according to a senior ministry official here today.

Dr P.D. Shenoy, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, said that the centre would pay for the infrastructure and equipment for the squad, but the personnel would have to be drafted from the existing staff.

Dr Shenoy, who is also the Chairman of the Chandigarh Administration Plan Monitoring Administration, said the Centre suggested induction of CISF personnel who have been rendered surplus as several public sector undertakings have become sick.

He said this was also suggested since the Union Finance Ministry had issued orders to ban fresh recruitment and if the CISF surplus personnel are inducted, it would meet the need of the UT police.

If fact, several PSUs, which are guarded by the CISF like Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited and Bharat Coking Coal Limited have been unable to clear dues to para-military forces and pay salaries.

Dr Shenoy, who held a review meeting during the past two days, said today that the Chandigarh Administration also has to make good the Rs 110 crore deficit.

To speed up assessment, the Centre has also suggested the creation of 84 posts to attend to the job but in view of the ban on fresh recruitment, it has asked them to work out on the surrender of nearly 200 posts of the some 400-500 odd posts that are redundant.

The Chandigarh Administration has nearly 2,000-odd posts that have not been filled. Dr Shenoy said if 200 posts can be surrendered and matching saving created, then it would help create 84 posts which, in turn, would augment resources.

Zirakpur master plan under preparation
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The Punjab Government is finalising an extensive scheme for the planned development of Zirakpur and Dera Bassi which otherwise are known as poor cousins of the City Beautiful.

In fact, the Zirakpur and Dera Bassi belt has remained neglected for the past several decades, though at a short distance, from these towns, Chandigarh developed as one of the world’s most modern city.

But soon it will be a thing of the past in the case of both towns. The image of these towns would be changed by giving a facelift.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab Finance Minister, who represents this area in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, while talking to TNS here this evening, said that the first task of giving the status of Nagar Panchayat to Zirakpur had been accomplished. He said that without the formation of the Panchayat, the planned development of Zirakpur was not possible.

He said that the master plan of Zirakpur was being prepared in which the emphasis would be on the urban development of this town. He said that under the master plan, the organised development of Zirakpur would be assured. Though the major role in the development of the town would be played by private parties, there would be a blueprint for such development.

The residential and commercial areas would be clearly demarcated and there would be proper layout of road network. Under the master plan, all seven villages included in the Panchayat would be developed on modern lines. There would be no haphazard growth of Zirakpur, which had been its bane in the past.

He said that there was no restrictions on building houses in Zirakpur and an atmosphere of uncertainty, which prevailed before the formation of the Nagar Panchayat, had come to an end. Secondly, emphasis would be on providing facilities to the residents of Zirakpur. A large number of colonies have come up in the past years within the town. All these require all sorts of civic amenities. Emphasis was on providing these facilities on priority basis, Capt Kanwaljit Singh asserted.

There was a problem of low voltage and power connections in the Zirakpur and Dera Bassi belt. Due to heavy industry, residential areas were facing this problem. The problem had been solved by installing two 66-kv grid stations in the Zirakpur area. Another problem which had become major source of accidents on the Chandigarh-Ambala road was concentration of industry along the either side of the road. But, according to Capt Kanwaljit Singh, now two planned roads had been provided in the interior of the Dera Bassi belt.

One road begins from Lalru and terminates at Handersa and the other is from Rampur Sonia to Jarot. These roads cris-cross through the entire interior belt and have provided communication and other infrastructural facilities to the industry. With these roads new industries have started coming up in the interior of this belt, thus solving of the problem of concentration along the either side of the road.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that there was a lot of pressure of population on Chandigarh as all industrialists wanted to stay here. The efforts were being made to provide modern urban facilities at Dera Bassi so that the maximum people preferred to stay there. He said that the Punjab Urban Development Authority had been asked to prepare a blueprint for the development of Dera Bassi as a modern township.

He said that with the planned growth of Dera Bassi, as has been planned by the government, the maximum people, especially working in the industry, would like to stay there. He said that in Dera Bassi also all civic facilities would be made available soon and the authorities were working on it.

Two rural development centres had been set up at Sangoli and Jarot villages. All sorts of facilities, including grain markets, etc, had been provided at these villages. They have come up as nodel points for the rural belt of this area.

As the entire belt is a barren one and inhibited by small farmers and poor people, efforts were also being made to provide irrigation facilities to this area. He said that in the next year Budget, provision would be made for digging a canal to meet the irrigation needs of certain parts of Fatehgarh-Ropar-Dera Bassi-Zirakpur belt.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that Zirakpur was a “gateway” of Punjab and it is required to be made the attractive face of the state. Due to this reason strategic development of this belt had been planned, he added.

PGI doctor cries foul
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Dr Virendra Singh, who had been working against as Assistant Professor, Virology (SSGE) in the Department of Gastroenterology, for the past over 13 years on an ad hoc basis has been relieved following the regular appointment of Dr Arun Kumar Sharma this month.

Dr Virendra Singh, who is shocked at the sudden termination of his services, has in a letter addressed to the Union Health Minister alleged that an illegal appointment had been made against the post. He pointed out that an outsider, who did not even possess the required qualifications, had been selected against the post, even without holding any interview.

A legal notice alleging contempt of the Punjab and Haryana High Court orders passed in 1990 were served upon Dr N.K Ganguly, Acting Director, PGIMER, and Dr Kartar Singh, Professor and Head, Department of Gastroenterology, today.

Dr Singh has stated that he joined the virology section in the Department of Gastroenterology in June 1982 as a Ph.D student. He was appointed tutor againt a vacant post of Additional Professor ( Virology) in June 1986 on ad hoc basis after he submitted his Ph.D thesis in Virology SGE. Subsequently, he was appointed Assistant Professor against the same vacant post of Additional Professor in May 1991. However, later the post of Additional Professor was downgraded to Assistant Professor.

The post was advertised for regular appointment in May 1992. He alleged that his qualifications were not mentioned in the advertisement, thus making him ineligible for the post. But when the PGI authorities refused to rectify the mistake despite repeated requests, he approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In August 1992, the high court ordered that the PGI should withdraw the appointment process and in future advertise the post with proper qualifications as laid down in the PGI Act.

The post was again advertised in 1994, but he was rejected even though he possessed the required qualifications and eligibility experience. However, the post was re-advertised in 1998. He was called for interview along with three others on November 17. He alleged that no interview was held since the expert examiner did not turn up in time and the head of the Department of Gastroenterology had to go to Calcutta for an ISG conference.

Dr Singh further alleged that the post had finally been filled and another candidate who had experience in Virology (SSGE) had been selected.

Prof N.K Ganguly, Acting Director of the Institute, when contacted said that there was no question of any illegal appointment having been made to the post. The most suitable candidate was selected by the standing selection committee and the same was subsequently approved by the governing body, which is also the appointing authority. He further said Dr Singh’s ad hoc appointment had earlier been approved by the governing body in June 1993 till the post was filled on a regular basis. Professor Ganguly further clarified that the interview was conducted by the standing selection committee comprising two internal experts assisted by an external expert besides other members on the said day.

Underground parking opens
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The underground parking lot in Sector 17 here was opened to the public in the morning today. Police personnel were seen directing the public to the parking. There was no resistance from the people.

The lot, cleared of years of accumulated refuse and garbage, was spruced up, repaired and whitewashed and proper lighting arrangements were carried out by the Municipal Corporation. Parking will be possible at night, since a chowkidar of the corporation and some staff of the police will be present. As many as 300 two-wheelers can be parked at a time in the lot.

The shortage of parking in the commercial hub was reviewed by the police and the matter of opening the lots was taken up with the corporation authorities. It was felt that many of the vehicles parked in the sector belonged to employees, who needed their vehicles only while going back from work. They were occupying the open spaces, eating up valuable space for visitors.

The lots were inspected by Mr M. P. Singh and Mr Parag Jain, SSP, on Saturday, and were readied quickly. More parking lots in other parts of the city will be opened for the general public.

The parking lots will be manned for the next few weeks. The decision to auction the lots had kicked up a controversy last year.

With 2 days of leave, get off for 9 days
By Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — In the year 2000, by taking just two days of leave, employees can enjoy one weekend that will last nine days and by taking another two days of leave in another month, the weekend will last for 10 days. On two other occasions during the coming year, employees will enjoy four-day weekends as holidays are falling before or after the scheduled two-day weekend closure.

Though such "mega" weekends are nothing new, a large section of employees are known to plan their breaks in such a fashion that they avail themselves of the holidays to the fullest by extending their weekends. In some cases, the authorities refuse to give leave, but a whole lot of staff is this way crippling even routine work.

Going by the schedule of holidays, specific periods during the months of April and December are going to be the best for employees.

The first occasion for the "mega" weekend will occur in April when the 12th,13th and 14th (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) are holidays. All employees need is leave on April 10 and 11 (Monday and Tuesday) to make it a nine-day weekend. This will include April 8 and 9 ( Saturday and Sunday) and April 15 and 16, once again Saturday and Sunday.

The other extended weekend will be from December23 to 31. In this, Punjab employees will get three scheduled holidays on December 25, 26 and 28. In Haryana and Chandigarh, December 26 will not be a closed day. So, Punjab employees will have to take just two days of leave on December 27 and 29 to make it a long holiday. December 23 and 24 happen to be the weekend closed day. The same is true for December 30 and 31.

Besides these longish holidays, there will be two weekends that will extend over four days. The first, in March when the 17th and 20th are holidays while March 18 and 19 are Saturday and Sunday. Another four-day weekend will be in October when the 26th and 27th will be holidays while October 28 and 29 will be Saturday and Sunday.

‘With hijack drama on, New Year celebrations seem vulgar’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Even as more than 150 passengers are being kept hostage on board the Indian Airlines plane, people are gearing up for the millennium celebrations. TNS spoke to a cross-section of the people of the city on both these issues, and the responses ranged from total condemnation of the government in handling the situation to one of clear indignation of "even thinking" about the New Year celebrations.

"Selfish, that we are in this country, barring those who are directly concerned with this crisis, the others will certainly not be bothered. But that would be in poor taste," said Air Marshall Randhir Singh, and added, "All this would have repercussions of a great magnitude. But what needs to be understood at this juncture is that there is a difference between individual emotions and the interests of the country."

For someone who was once a "room-mate with the first air chief of the Pakistan Air Force" and also claims to understand the Pathan psyche, Air Marshall Randhir Singh asserted, "The more weakness we show, the more harassment the captives would face. And personally, I feel somebody should be hanged for the goof-up at Amritsar".

Gen G. S. Nagra (retd) added that everybody has his own selfish motive, "but this is no time to concentrate on making time for celebrations and hyping up the millennium issue. In fact, if this issue is not resolved well in time, then the whole country and the government should resolve not to celebrate the New Year's". And while hoping that the issue is resolved at the earliest, General Nagra said, "I do not believe in celebrating something like this, and today is certainly no time."

Mr I. C. Aggarwal, a retired sessions judge, maintained, "Personally, I feel that this crisis should be affecting the entire nation. I myself have cancelled my plans to go up to the hills to celebrate this New Year. Also, I feel that the show of celebrations that is happening today would be a vulgar thing in this situation."

While adding that with international condemnation and also a "co-operative" stand of the Taliban on this issue, the crisis would be resolved very soon, Mr Aggarwal said, "If the individuals themselves do not volunteer to divert their attention away from the celebrations this year, then the government should put a ban on this whole thing. In fact, various clubs should take the lead in doing so." But he added if the nation's prayers were heard and the matter were resolved before the 31st of this month, then "double celebrations should take place."

Another retired Air Force officer, Air Marshall R. S. Bedi, also agreed that this issue of hijacking would and most certainly should dampen the spirits of the New Year celebrations this year, and said, "There has been a lack of direction and even decision from the high-ups and the government never even thought of taking the help of the armed forces even once. And now we seem to be in a catch-22 situation, because today we are faced with a situation of national security and honour and the lives of our people. But something that I feel strongly about is the unfortunate way electronic media is handling the whole situation. There is no need to play up the emotions of the people on the screen, because this just puts undue pressure on the government and also tends to support the cause of the hijackers."

Air Marshall Bedi added, "We always manage to land ourselves in situations from where it becomes difficult to extricate ourselves. I see a long-drawn battle now, and feel that as a symbolic gesture, we might have to let go off at least some of the terrorists that the hijackers have demanded. But the nation cannot be silent and sit back and let the hijackers go scotfree."

While condemning the incident, Lt-Gen B S Randhawa (retd) said, "Let the government handle the issue, whatever the end result might be. In fact, putting pressure on the government from any end, whether relatives or others, could lead to a wrong decision. But then I also believe in a pro-active approach." On the issue of celebrations of this New Year, he said, "Life carries on and there is certainly no need to feel defeated. But in case the end result of this stalemate leads to some harm to our countrymen, then this whole celebrations thing should be dumped."

Lt-Gen Randhawa also added that this is a national issue which should concern all of us.

Handle hijack issue resolutely, says sansthan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The Sanskritik Gaurav Sansthan, compirisng retired defence,police officers, civil servants, technocarts and industrialists, has urged the Union Government to handle the issue of hijacking of IC 814 flight resolutely to safeguard the national security and safety of the crew and passengers held hostages by the hijackers.

A meeting of the sansthan held today and attended by Mr P.C. Dogra, a former DGP of Punjab, Mr Ram Lal Gupta, a lawyer,Air Marshal P.K. Jain (retd), Air Marshal R.S. Bedi (retd), Mr Kailash Aggarwal, industrialist, and Mr K.G. Goswami, a retired Chief Engineer, appealed to the relatives and friends of the passengers and crew not to conduct themselves in a manner which weakened the government’s resoluteness in handling the most inhuman criminals and follow the example of relatives of all those who had rendered the supreme sacrifice of their lives in fighting the enemies of the nation.

The relatives should bear the ordeal of the situation created by our enemies with steadfastness and spirit of patriotism as was being done by the near and dear ones of thousands of our military, paramilitary and police personnel engaged in fighting the terrorist and anti-national elements, a press release of the sansthan said.

It further said that the sansthan wholeheartedly understood the concern of the passengers and crew’s relatives for their safety but felt dismayed at their conduct as telecast by some cable channels.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Raksha Dal’s working committee, which met today, described the hijacking of IC 814 as deliberate and condemned it. Those who attended the meeting included Air Vice-Marshal G.S.l. Punia (retd), Lieut-Gen K.S. Gill (retd), Lieut-Gen B.S. Randhawa (retd), Brig H.S. Ghuman (retd), Brig Harwant Singh (retd) and Col A.P. Singh (retd).

“This act is a continuation of the Kargil conflict and needed to be handled in a similar war-like manner. No one can better understand the agony through which the crew and passengers of the hijacked aircraft and their relatives were undergoing better than the defence personnel. The Dal appealed to all those trapped in the aircraft and their relatives to keep the interest of the nation before any other sentiment. For too many lives had been sacrificed to uphold integrity and dignity of the nation, for it to be compromised at any cost. The Dal appealed to the relatives of the crew and passengers to bear this ordeal with patience, hopefulness and spirit of patriotism.

“The Dal feels that display of visuals on TV and publication of any news which supports the cause, aims and objectives of the hijackers should be stopped. As it is not in the longer national interest at present and is an insult to the relatives of those who have sacrificed for the nation on the borders or at the hands of the terrorists,” a press note of the Dal said. It further maintained that the President of the Dal, Col Harsharan Singh Sandhu, who was away to the USA, had endorsed the views of the working committee, telephonically.

PU plans global youth fest
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Probably for the first time in its history, Panjab University will be hosting the International Youth Cultural Festival in the new millennium.

The festival is scheduled tentatively between March 7 and 10 to be held on the campus. The university expects about 200 foreign students and over 1,000 from Indian universities to take part in the festival. Reliable sources said that visitors will be sharing accommodation with the regular campus students with emphasis on cultural interaction.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof M. M. Puri, heads a high-level committee to arrange for the mega-event. Some prominent names on the list include Dr V. K. Bansal, the Dean Student Welfare, Mr Dayal Pratap Singh Randhawa, President of the campus Students Council, Dr Deepak Manmohan, Dean College Development, Dr Surinder Kumar and Dr Mahender Kumar.

Non-violence and other themes, including 'sustainability' figure among the main topics for the event. The participating teams are expected to send their contest application forms by February 6. The Indian counterparts from various universities and institutions should be communicating with the university at the earliest.

The main categories for the event are seminar, musical items and performing arts, including folk dances, classical singing and dance, and vocal and instrumental music. Related events in the same category include on-the-spot painting, collage making, one-act plays, mimes, histrionics , debate and declamation contests.

Mr Dayal Pratap Singh Randhawa was in Europe earlier this year on a student exchange programme. There he was able to make good student contacts which would assist in the execution of the festival plan, sources said. The Dean Student Welfare will be the overall in charge. The teams can also make use of the e-mail, Internet and postal services to interact with Panjab University.

A senior student said that the event promised an exciting experience. The university, however, needs to coordinate with the foreign sources of possible guests well in time. The semester system can become one of the reasons of non-arrival of the guests in case the examinations collide.

There is also need for the committee to chalk out the stay part of the foreign students well in time. If the present occupants are not informed in time, the guests would arrive to locked rooms. The organising committee should also signal the current occupants to arrange for general facilities in their rooms for a visitor, a student representative said.

A cross -section of students talked to were confident of making good arrangements and sharing pleasant experiences from the show.

Arrests in violation of immoral traffic Act?
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The arrests carried out by the police under the Prevention of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act in the past one year have reportedly not been carried out as per the provisions of the Act.

The presence of at least one or two members of the non-official advisory body, constituted under Clause (b) of Sub-section 13 of the Act, is mandatory. The members of the body are associated with a special police officer to advise him on questions of general importance regarding the working of the Act, according to sources.

The special police officers are of the rank of subdivisional police officers (SDPOs), while the members of the committee are eminent citizens, former bureaucrats or social activists.

According to Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, a member of the body, the committee was initially constituted for a period of two years in September 1996 but met only once or twice. The members — a total of 26 for the city — gave invaluable suggestions and a couple of raids were conducted and many commercial sex workers arrested.

The members also gave inputs about the proliferation of the sex trade in the city, particularly in the southern sectors, villages and colonies. Information about organised trade was also provided, but for initial arrests, nothing was really done on a sustained scale to curb the crime and exploitation, he revealed.

During the past one year, eight cases were registered and more than 15 to 20 women held for the alleged violation of the Act.

A couple of the accused are said to be moving petitions challenging their arrests, reportedly citing a lacunae during their arrests, the sources pointed out.

As per the earlier notification, the SDPO (Central) was the special police officer for the areas of the North, Central and West police stations, the SDPO (East) was the officer for East, Mani Majra and Industrial Area police stations. The SDPO (South) was the officer for Sectors 31, 34, 36 and 39 police stations. The DSP (Crime) and DSP (Detective) could operate anywhere in the city, as per the notification.

In addition, all city SHOs and the Inspector, CID, and Inspector, CIA, would assist the officers in their tasks.

Wanton destruction of green cover
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Hundreds of trees all over the city are being pruned and denuded of their green canopy for want of sun by occupants of houses shadowed by these.

Not lagging behind in this destruction are horticulture wings of Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh and of UT Administration, on the pretext of securing low tension and high tension feeder wires.

For the past couple of weeks, workers of the horticulture wings have been on a pruning spree on almost all major roads. At places, trees have been pruned so shabbily that these have been made asymmetrical and their shape and canopy have been destroyed.

In some cases, people have removed the entire green tops of trees on their own, reducing a well-grown tree into a bare stump without a single leaf on it.

In residential areas, people have been very harsh on trees in their backyards, which stand between early morning rays of the sun and their rooms. Trees and other plants inside houses apart, there has been large-scale pruning of trees on public and government land.

This wanton destruction is also carried out by the poor and needy, who want lot of fuelwood to fight chilly conditions. They remain on the hunt for dry and sick trees and try to get as much fuelwood as they can, contributing unwittingly to shrinking green cover.

At present, the pruning is seldom supervised by any senior functionary of horticulture wings of the Municipal Corporation or the Engineering Department of the UT Administration. As such, it is done more by workers and even maalis at their own level, without bothering about the health and future growth of the plant or tree being pruned.

PUDA flayed for not removing hedges
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 29 — The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has come under criticism from the local Anti- Encroachment Committee for dilly-dallying its much-hyped drive to remove fences, hedges and iron grills raised by residents in front of their houses in the township.

The President of the committee, Mr N.S.Minhas, said in spite of notices being served to violators, no further action had been taken against them. Seeking removal of the encroachments at the earliest, the association has threatened to adopt other means to force PUDA to act.

6 held under animal Act
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Dec 29 — The local police arrested six persons after registering a case against them under the Prevention of Cruelity to Animals Act, 1960, when they were caught loading cattle illegally for other places at Khanpur village on the Kharar-Kurali road last night.

According to an FIR lodged, the police got a telephone call from Mr J.C. Sabharwal, who has been given the additional charge of SDM, Kharar, that some persons were trying to load cattle illegally there.

The police acted immediately and arrested Akbar, Kalu, Arif, Munfail, Ilias and driver of the vehicle Iqbal Singh. According to the police, as many as 40 head of cattle were being loaded.

Police remand for car thief
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Dec 29 — Mrs Neelam Arora, Judicial Magistrate, Kharar today remanded Harinderpal Singh in police custody till January 1, 2000. He was wanted by the Kharar police in connection with a theft of a Maruti car.

The accused was earlier arrested by the Sohana police on the charge of theft of one car and other gold ornaments and in this case he was remanded in judicial custody till January 11.

The Assistant Police Prosecuter informed the court that the accused had admitted that he had stolen another car.

Disabled to hold scooter rally
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 29 — To welcome the new year, the Physically Handicapped Association of Punjab will organise a scooter rally here on January 9.

Disclosing this here today, Mr Ajit Salani, Chairman of the association, said more than 100 disabled person would participate in the rally which would pass through different sectors before culminating at Nevedac Prosthetic Centre at Zirakpur.

The rally would be flagged off from Rose Garden in Phase 3B 1 here. Later tricycles, wheelchairs and crutches would be given to at least 21 needy persons at a camp to be held in the centre.

Charges against college Principal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Parents of students studying in Homoeopathic Medical College, Sector 26, levelled serious allegations against the college Principal, Mr K.K Dhiman, at a meeting with six selected members of the Managing Committee on the 11th day of the agitation today.

An inquiry committee was subsequently constituted to look into these allegations. The members of the Managing Committee also questioned the Principal in this regard. Sources reveal that the committee would hold a meeting with the students tomorrow.

Mr Surat Negi, member of the Punjab and Chandigarh unit of the ABVP, has alleged that the Secretary of the committee is unduly favouring the Principal. When they had urged him to convene an emergency meeting of all the members of the Managing Committee, why were only a few members called for the meeting today.

Mr Negi has further stated that if the Principal is not removed at the earliest, they would intensify the agitation. The students of the college are not feeling secure about their future in the hands of the Principal. Nearly 100 students attended the rally.

Part of farmhouse demolished
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The enforcement staff of the Estate Office demolished an illegal structure in a farmhouse on the Kishangarh road in Mani Majra here today.

According to sources, the structure was being used for commercial purposes like solemnising marriages and other functions. The structure was demolished after giving a proper notice, the sources claimed.

The operation, which started around noon, continued till about 4 p.m. and it remained peaceful.

Meanwhile, the owner of the farmhouse, Mr H.S. Anand, alleged that while part of his farmhouse was demolished, other farmhouses, owned by influential and senior officials, were spared. Even the illegal Shastri Colony was not touched.

He denied that the structure was being used for holding functions. It was only used for solemnising the marriage of his daughter, he added.

The poultry farm, which was constructed according to the plan of the Estate Office, was also demolished, making him suffer a loss of lakhs of rupees, he alleged.

Murder cases remain unsolved
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 29 — The police remains clueless about at least two cases of murder which took place in August and September this year. In one of the cases a body with the head severed was found lying in a government nursery opposite the Phase 1 police station here.

The head of the victim was lying a few metres away from the body. Efforts by the police to ascertain the identity of the victim, suspected to be a migrant labourer, have so far remained futile. In the other case, a Nepali couple were found dead under mysterious circumstances.

Beat system to be revamped: IGP
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The non-availability of the required personnel keeping in view the ever-increasing population and requirements of policing are some of the factors affecting the performance of the Chandigarh police, says Mr S.K. Singh, IGP.

He was interacting with mediapersons at the annual police roundup conference at the Sector 9 police headquarters here this evening. Also present were Mr Parag Jain, SSP, and other senior officers of the department.

Stressing that the performance of the force had been good, he said the department had worked out all the cases of attempt to murder, robbery, dowry death, and recovering stolen property, and concerning the Arms Act, the Gambling Act, the Punjab Cinema Act, the NDPS Act, the EC Act, the PITA, the PC Act, the Noise Control Order, the Copyright Act, the Foreigners Act and the Lottery Regulation Act.

The crime rate was 64. 46 per cent, which was way above the national average, he added.

The other achievements include the recruitment process of ASIs and constables, seizure of a large quantity of narcotics, busting of seven inter-state gangs of cheats and auto-lifters, besides other arrests carried out by the Crime Branch. Also the cops arrested two of India’s Most Wanted criminals — car thief Mohammad Niyaz Khan and Devinder Singh, accused of two murders, including one in the Tees Hazari Courts in New Delhi.

Replying to queries about the security at the airport in the wake of hijacking of the Indian aircraft to Afghanistan, he said they were geared for any eventuality and the security had been beefed up at the airport. More commandoes had been put on duty there, he added.

He also said the department would be weeding out ineffective members of the various social schemes being run by the department. Also the modernisation plans would be pursued by the department.

The IGP said the antecedents of nearly 20,000 migrants had been verified so far. The thefts in the areas where there was a large presence of migrants would also be checked with the revamping of the beat system and greater cooperation and feedback from the people.

The crime graph, however, registered an upward swing when it came to incidents of illegal possession of liquor, theft, burglary and chain snatching. A spate of chain snatchings rocked the city which saw the transfers of some SHOs. As many as 20 cases were reported of which only six were solved.

The city was also rocked by a bomb blast in a busy parking lot in Sector 34 and a self-styled ASP, Pardeep Negi, managed to live it up in the city, much to the embarrassment of the department, for a fortnight. Besides this, the missing files case continued to haunt the department and saw the suspension of five officers, including two DSPs, who were booked and suspended.

There was a lot of changes in the top brass as Mr R P Singh handed over charge to Mrs Kiran Bedi, whose short term saw a virtual standoff with the department and the Administration. Subsequently, Mrs Bedi handed over charge to Mr Asad Farooqui who was replaced by the present incumbent.

The year also saw the unprecedented five-year term of Mr C. S. R. Reedy come to a close. He was succeeded by Mr Parag Jain, the present SSP.

He said that the force was fully geared up to meet the challenges of the next millennium, but the cooperation of the people would be greatly appreciated. Help us to help you, he urged.

Scholars from UK honoured
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi, Chandigarh and Punjab, and the National Folk Arts Council, Chandigarh, organised a joint seminar at Kisan Bhavan, Sector 35, here today.

The seminar was inaugurated by Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister, Punjab. In his inaugural address, Mr Badal asserted that almost the entire literature available in the Sanskrit language was the creation and compilation of non-Aryans and the aboriginals of India, which were, however, polluted and changed by later rulers for their vested interests.

On this occasion, two scholars from the United Kingdom were honoured — Mr Jaswinder Gill with the Maharshi Valmiki International Award and Mr Amrik Singh with the Distinguished Socio-Educative International Award. Also Mr H. Paul Singh was honoured with the Dr Ambedkar National Excellency Award for his services in the techno-engineering field.

The others, who were honoured on this occasion, included Ram Arsh, Kewal Bharti, Jarnail Hoshiarpuri, Ranjodh Rana, Malkit Mohi, Jaipal Balongiwala, Bhupinder Matauria and Mohan Preet.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Darshan Singh said that the Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi was not only represented by the Dalits alone, but represented the cause of those who had been neglected and oppressed by the vested interests in society.

At the seminar, songs were also sung by the likes of Jaswinder Gill, Kewal Manakpuri, Amar Virdi and Usha Kiran.

City to host Mr India round
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The northern re gional round of the sixth Mr India 2000 will be held here on January 3. The final of the national event will be held at Hyderabad on February 26, it was officially stated here today.

It was further stated that the response to invitation for entries has been overwhelming as more than 5,000 entries had been received. A special committee has shortlisted 343 participants from the regional rounds — 148 from the North, 97 from West, 32 from East and 66 from South. In the Chandigarh round, there will be 52 participants.

Mr India contest, the note said, is a male personality pageant where a perfect blend of intelligence, good looks and attitude are the attributes looked for in the winner. The age group for participants is between 18 and 28 years. The height for participants has been lowered to 5 ft 11 inches from 6 ft earlier. The winner gets a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh while the first and second runners-ups receive Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000, respectively.

The sub-contests designed to cover all the aspects of the male persona are : Mr Physique, Best Dressed Male, Mr Photogenic, Best Smile and Mr Popular. The first Mr India contest was held in Mumbai in 1994 which was won by Mr Bikram Singh Saluja. Sachin Khurana was the next winner of Mr India title followed by Deepinder Gill, Diwakar Pundir and Abhijit Sanyal, the note added.

Recreating matter of initial universe
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — Efforts of scientists to recreate the kind of matter which existed a first few microseconds after the creation of the universe were highlighted by Prof Bikash Sinha, Director of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, while speaking at the symposium on nuclear physics being organised by the Department of Atomic Energy at the Department of Physics in Panjab University here today.

Professor Sinha is also associated with the variable energy cyclotron centre. Discussing the technical aspects of the idea, he revealed that physicists in the laboratories of the USA and Geneva plan to study the gold+gold and lead+lead head-on collisions at extremely high energies to compress and heat the matter to recreate conditions existing in the microsecond universe. He said dramatic results are expected in the next few years.

Prof Sudhir Raniwala from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, discussed about possibility of new matter and the flow of sub-matter at very high energies and alternative explanation of formation of quark-glucon plasma. He explained that explicit manifestation was different at different energies and a measurement of the flow variables yielded important dynamic information about the collision process.

Prof S.D. Paul from Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, talked on the experimental view of neutron-proton pairing. He revealed that most of nuclear structure understanding had been dominated by the like nucleon pairing — proton-proton and neutron-neutron pairing. However, the new form of pairing namely neutron-proton pairing, is expected to dominate nuclear structure properties along N-Z line.

Paper presentations and poster exhibitions on the subjects under discussion were also carried out.

Science quiz for students
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The Council for Promotion of Young Talent, Sector 19, has announced a Dr Homi J. Bhabha memorial science wizard contest-2000 on January 30, 2000, for class X students.

The council has invited all the schools to send their students for the contest. A trophy would also be awarded to the school sending the first merit holder in this examination. The centre would be in the city.

The last date for submitting the forms is January 10. The forms can be requisitioned directly or through the school principal from 191, Sector 19-A, Chandigarh. According to the council, the question paper shall contain quiz on sciences, arithmetic, mental ability, aptitude and communication skills.

SNIPPETS

FPAI's interaction with vendors
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Dec 29 — Ten community-based depots (CBD) along with local vendors selling condoms, today participated in an interaction session organised by the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), Panchkula.

The programme was held to find a solution to the grievances of the vendors. The interaction with the President of the FPAI, Panchkula, Ms Puspa Khanna, highlighted the need for a suitable place for the vendors, keeping in mind their contribution to motivating the community for adopting safe family planning measures.

The President awarded cash prizes to the vendors on the basis of their sale figures. Mr Ganga Ram came first and Mr Om Prakash Patel and Mr Hira Lal second and third, respectively.

Body found near railway track
From Our Correspondent

DERA BASSI, Dec 29 — The body of an unidentified old man was found near the railway track at Isapur village.

The man, about 70 to 75 years old, is believed to have died last night and the body bore injury marks. The body was noticed by a railway employee. The police found some empty polythene bags with him. He could have hit by a running train, police sources added

Annual function of jatha
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 29 — The Sector 21-C Sahibzada Fateh Singh Sewak Jatha will organise its 19th annual function at the Sector 21-C gurdwara on December 31 from 6.30 p.m. to 12.30 a.m.

Eminent ragi jathas will participate in the programme.

Chautala to visit Kalka today
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Dec 29 — The Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, will visit Kalka tomorrow in the course of his statewide sarkar apke dwar programme.

An official spokesperson, said here today that the Chief Minister would listen to the grievances of the people for their on-the-spot redress at PWD Rest House.