Thursday, July 29, 1999
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N E W S Thursday, July 29, 1999 |
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Flesh
trade racket busted; 11 held CHANDIGARH, July 28 — The Crime Branch of the city police has busted a gang involved in immoral trafficking of women with the arrest of nine prostitutes and two men who acted as their pimps. According to police sources, the branch had been tipped off that such activities were on the rise in certain colonies and a gang involving several prostitutes was active in Colony No 4 of the Industrial Area. A police party led by Mr S.C. Abrol, DSP (Detective), today raided the premises of several women who were using their own homes as brothels. The police also nabbed two men, Sanjay Singh and Mohammad Issan, who acted as pimps, solicited prospective customers and brought them to the colony. They reportedly charged a tidy amount as their "fee and for taking care of other matters." Their interrogation revealed that they had been active for the past two years and had reportedly escaped action by resorting to "selective pay-offs to the police" The women arrested are Asma, Reshma, Anita, Baby, Neeta, Neelu, Rani, Surinder and Shakila. Two cases under Sections
4, 5, 7 and 8 of the Suppression of Immoral Trafficking
Act have been registered against them. Further
investigations are underway to know whether there were
others who were involved in the flesh trade from the
colony or elsewhere. |
Ruby for
quality serials on TV CHANDIGARH, July 28 — "A lot of nonsense is portrayed in TV programmes," agreed Ruby Bhatia. She said there is need to check shows that spur the impressionable adolescents and teenagers to take to the path of destruction. Cases of 17-year-olds rebelling and running away from home in the name of love, for example, was not a healthy portrayal of life, the popular VJ and TV star explained. The onus of making a meaningful serial lay with the producer and the director and not actors who at times had to accept some roles as it was their means of earning bread and butter. However, her advice to the youth was to spend less time on TV and watch only good quality stuff. The children should be out playing in the fields rather than becoming couch potatoes during their free time, said the bubbly VJ who has talked to hundreds of youngsters during the course of her road shows all over the country. Ruby Bhatia was in the city today to lend credence to the Centre for Excellence and Fashion Technology here by inaugurating it and agreeing to be on the centre's advisory board. She felt that there was a lot of scope for people of all ages in the television industry and centres like CEFT were needed to groom and train aspiring youngsters. Ruby promised to use her ''name and fame'' to help students of the school get a foothold in the industry. The CEFT Director, Mr Manpreet Gill, while announcing the foray of the centre into the world of entertainment, said it would offer one and two-year diploma courses in television performing arts, fashion photography, apparel fashion technology, health and beauty care and interior designing along with facilities of hostel, transport and guest house. Ruby won over the public
and press persons who were waiting for her for over an
hour by apologising with a disarming smile and flaunting
her Punjabi connection. Born in the USA and brought up in
Canada, Ruby shifted to India when she was 20. Her mother
is a Punjabi and father is from Uttar Pradesh. |
PU bans
ragging CHANDIGARH, July 28 — As a precautionary measure before the start of the new academic session, the Panjab University (PU) authorities have decided that 'ragging in any form, inside or outside the campus, is banned'. Anybody found involved in ragging would face expulsion from the university. Disclosing this here today, the official spokesman said a 15-member high-power committee had been constituted to monitor and enforce anti-ragging measures. The Dean University Instruction (DUI) would be the chairman of the committee. Chairpersons had been asked to convene administrative committee meetings and formulate anti-ragging measures in and around their respective departments. They would constitute committees, comprising three to five teachers and two to three girl students, to prevent ragging. Chairpersons had been requested to convene inaugural functions at an early date, address students, inform them not to indulge in ragging in any form inside or outside the campus and warn them of the consequences of doing so. Hostel committees, comprising wardens, senior residents and teachers, were constituted to initiate anti-ragging measures. A decision to this
effect was taken at a meeting held by the DUI, the
Registrar and senior members of the faculty. The
university would also put up posters at important places
on the campus and in hostels, giving a list of emergency
telephone numbers for reporting incidents of ragging, if
any. |
Residents
resent encroachment by temple management CHANDIGARH, July 28—The alleged encroachment on a large chunk of land in the Sector 23 Leisure Valley by the management of a temple and its non-removal by the enforcement staff of the local Municipal Corporation for about six years has caused resentment among residents of the area. The residents, particularly those living in houses from 3530 to 3541 facing the temple, have alleged that the construction of a 10 feet high wall in front of their houses by the temple management committee, in violation of norms, has left them deprived of the facility of an open space in front of their houses. “Actually, the wall was constructed by the Prachin Shiv Mandir management committee about six years back against the norms specifying that the height of a boundary wall should not exceed 2.5 feet, “ says Jatinder Pal. He says the problem is that the wall is a hindrance in free flow of air and light to these houses. “Moreover, on about 102 feet long area on which the wall has been constructed, the committte has set up a pucca structure, which is again a violation of allotment conditions of the administration, according to which no construction can be made on an area except on the 150 feet area, originally allotted to the management by the administration,” he says. Besides, what has been creating problems for the residents is the frequent holding of functions, particularly marriages, at the place. “ In addition to inconvenience caused to people by a large number of vehicles parked by visitors on the road separating the lane of houses and the temple, a problem is created by people who create a scene after getting drunk in marriage parties held at the place,” complains a resident, who alleges that the committee has encroached upon a large piece of land in the valley, with the administration turning its face the other way. Though no senior official of the UT Administration or the civic body was available for comment, enquiries revealed that the Estate Office authorities had got the site inspected and the report regarding this pointed out that besides certain building violations, the Shiv Mandir Sabha had encroached upon a prime piece of land in the Leisure Valley. In a letter to the Assistant Commissioner of the local Municipal Corporation, the SDO (Buildings) of the Estate Office, while confirming about the encroachment, requested the former to get it removed, as removal of such structure fell under the purview of the former. The lettter further said that action regarding violation of certain building laws was being contemplated by the Estate Office authorities. But after a lapse of about 20 days, no action was taken by the authorities concerned . Mr P.K. Bhandari,
another resident, says though the Estate Officer has
ordered that the encroachment be removed immediately but
nothing concrete has been done. He demands that the
‘encroachment’ be removed by the authorities
concerned without any further delay. Mr R. C. Sharma, the
President of the Temple Management Committee, was not
available for comment. |
Polio
immunisation doses doubled CHANDIGARH, July 28 — The annual pulse polio immunisation drive which is usually held in the winter months will now comprise four doses instead of two as in the past few years. These four doses will be spaced at about a month's interval from one another and will be administered to children below the age of five. The only change in the programme is the increased number of doses. Every other aspect such as mobilisation of NGOs, public support and awareness will remain as in the past three years. This change in the drive will be carried out this year as part of the countrywide schedule, yet to be announced, and which will also be implemented in Chandigarh, the Director of Health Services (DHS), Chandigarh Administration, Dr Joginder Singh, confirmed today. The doses have been increased to improve the efficacy of the vaccine and also to cover a large number of children. At the present pace of two doses each year it would have taken about seven years to control polio in the country. The enhanced dosage will enable the health authorities to finish the immunisation programme in five years. Doses have to be administered within a gap of just more than a month. Once this new schedule is announced it is likely that the programme will stretch to more than four months. In the past three years, since the immunisation drive was launched under a major countrywide project, the health authorities of various states had been holding additional immunisation drives to cover children left out for one reason or another. Awareness about such schemes is poor and this has created major problems in the states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, a health official said. Migration of labourers
being almost a regular feature, the polio virus spreads
to areas where children have already been immunised. This
year in February/March the Chandigarh health authorities
had to hold an additional immunisation drive to check
this menace. A similar situation was reported from the
adjoining states. |
Student
bodies oppose extension to ex-DSW CHANDIGARH, July 28 — Activists of three student organisations, the Panjab University Students Union (PUSU), the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Haryana Students Association (HSA), started a chain fast at Panjab University to oppose grant of extension to the former Dean Student Welfare, (DSW), Dr R.S. Grewal, here today. On the other hand, the executive of the Students Organisation of Panjab Univerity (SOPU) passed a resolution refuting allegations laid down by students’ organisations that Dr Grewal had been partial in giving a clean chit to the candidature of Mr Randhawa for the post of President. At a press conference, the three organisations threatened to intensify their agitation by going on an indefinite fast from July 30, after the meeting of the Syndicate, if Dr Grewal is given an extension and the proposed fee hike exceeds the 25 per cent limit. Members of the organisation threatened to disrupt classwork if they were pushed to the wall, adding that they did not want to delay the start of the academic session or disturb the academic atmosphere of the university. “Last year the teachers were on a strike and this year students will have to follow suit if the demands are not met,’’ Mr Bhupinder Singh of the HSA, added. Mr Chand Singh Madan, an office-bearer of the HSA, said the solution to most problems lay in the ouster of the VIce-Chancellor. Office-bearers of the three organisations have also condemned the lack of any cultural activity on the campus during the last academic session even though huge funds were allocated by the university for the purpose and demanded a white paper from the Vice-Chancellor on the reasons for the deficit in the university budget, on why the burden of the deficit was being forced onto the students and the alleged stand by the Vice-Chancellor on giving an extension to Dr R.S. Grewal in spite of many eligible candidates on the teaching faculty. Mr Vijay Dogra, State Organising Secretary of the NSUI, has on behalf of the Research Scholars Association, issued a statement that “unlawful practices’’ are being adopted by the university in recruitment to the teaching faculty for the various university departments without issuing fresh advertisements for the purpose. The three organisations have already submitted a memorandum to the Chancellor on the “partisan role” of the former DSW, the “maladministration” of the university and sought the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor. In a separate statement, Mr DPS Randhawa, President of the Students Organisation of Panjab University, said that a protest rally starting from the Vice-Chancellor’s office would be held and members of the Syndicate “gheraoed” to press for the immediate appointment of deans “on merit and without any political interference and pressure and the immediate rolling back of the proposed fee hike’’. Meanwhile, Dr R.D.
Anand, a fellow and faculty member of the university, has
said that he is disillusioned by the working of the
university. In protest, he will observe a fast from 9 am
to 5 pm before the Administrative Block on July 30. |
Notice
issued to PGI Director, Centre CHANDIGARH, July 28 — Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the Director of the PGI and the Union of India for September 8 on a contempt petition preferred by the PGI Faculty Association alleging that the PGI had not complied with the directions of the High Court on filling vacant posts during the past two years. The petitioner-association claimed that counsel for the PGI had given an undertaking to the court as far back as July, 1997, that the vacant posts would be filled “within two months”. The PGI had, however, later on preferred a fresh application before the High Court, inter alia, saying that an advertisement inviting applications, could not be released as the question of reservation of posts at the top echelon of the faculty was pending adjudication before the Supreme Court. The apex court had decided the question of reservation in April, 1998. The petition added that in May last year the PGI had given an assurance to the High Court that an advertisement would be released in one month but the advertisement was actually issued in November and that too after legal notices were slapped on the PGI. The petitioner-association brought to the notice of the court that Prof S.K. Jindal had won his case in December, 1997. In deciding his case,
the High Court had held that the 13 posts of Professors
already sanctioned by the Centre be filled. The PGI did
little to fill these posts so far. |
Martyr’s
body sent to native place CHANDIGARH, July 28 — The mortal remains of Sapper Satish Kumar of the 236 Engineer Regiment were despatched to his native place after according a guard of honour at the N. Area here this morning. He was killed in enemy shelling in the Turtuk area on July 26. Belonging to Thulat village of Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh, he was married last year and is survived by his wife. Wreaths were laid on the martyr’s body on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Force Staff, the GOC-in-C, Western Command, by Brig S.K. Sinha, Air Commodore S.K. Banerjee and Colonel Shakti Prashad, respectively. A wreath was also laid
by Brig Charanjeet Singh, Commander of an Engineer
Brigade. |
Haryana
given medicinal plant project PINJORE (Panchkula), July 28 — As part of a national strategy to popularise the use of traditional medicinal plants and increase the share of the country in the international medicinal plant-based pharmaceutical industry, Haryana has been selected by the Union Government to implement a project named “vanaspati van”. Haryana becomes the second state after Himachal Pradesh to be selected under this ambitious project. Under the 5-crore project, an area of 5000 hectares in the Shivalik Hills, falling under the Morni- Pinjore forest division, has been selected by the Union Government due to natural availability of a number of species of medical plants being used in herbal medicines. This was stated by Dr S.K. Sharma, Advisor to the Government of India, Indian System of Medicine (ISM), while talking to The Tribune after the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on “ vansparti van project” organised by the Vanspati Van Society, Haryana, at Forest Complex here today. Ms Komal Anand, Financial Commissioner of Health, Haryana, inaugurated the workshop. Stressing the need to exploit the commercial viability of medicinal plants, he said the Union Government was seriously thinking of taking the project to states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. He said today China was world leader in terms of export of medicinal plants with 7 per cent share in the world market, while India’s share was only half a per cent. At least 4 lakh hectares of land was under cultivation of various species of medicinal plants. In spite of having an ancient system of medicine, India had failed to identify and conserve the medicinal plants for research and commercial exploitation. Under the national strategy, the Union Government has planned to bring at least 1 lakh hectare under medicinal plants. At least 5000 hectares in 20 different states would be covered under the vansparti van project. Quoting statistics, Dr Sharma said while the growth of pharmaceutical industry of allopathy medicines was growing at a rate of 5 per cent, the medicinal plant-based industry was growing at the rate of 15 per cent. He said the Planning Commission was in an active stage of constituting a task force to take care of all aspects relating to medicinal plants like patenting the uses of medicinal plants, biodiversity, conservation of plants, cultivation and marketing of the produce and identification of existing species of herbal plants. The task force would be headed by a member of the Planning Commission. Earlier, in his presidential address, Dr Sharma said a proper study was required to study what arrangement had to be made to pick up the produce after 5 years, requirement of the industry — domestic and international — will have to be taken into consideration. If village-level participation in the project was being considered, the share of a farmer out of the profit will have to be calculated, he added. Dr V.N. Pandey, National Consultant to the Government of India, (ISM) Reproductive and Child Health Project, who is also participating in the workshop, said a balance between the producer, trader and manufacturer would be chalked out. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr Banarsi Das, said the project area in Morni, which was under the catchment area of the Ghaggar, was traditionally rich in medicinal herbs, shrubs, climbers and tress. Medicinal plants like Harar, Bahera, Amla, Siris, Gmelina, Amaltas, Bael and Neem were found a plenty in the area. Earlier, Mr H.C. Disodia, Commissioner, Forests, said there was a need to identify the traditional medicinal plants to revive the ancient system of medicine and to boost the medicinal plants-based pharmaceutical industry. Ms Komal Anand said implementation of the project was a challenge to Haryana. A clear strategy for the next five years had to be worked out for achieving the desired goals. She said the government would cooperate in popularising the use of medicinal plants. She said the state Ayurveda department would also be involved in the vanspati van project. Dr P.L. Jindal, Director-General of Health Services, Haryana, also spoke on the occasion. Later during the
technical session, cultivation of medicinal plants in
Shivalik Hills, endangered medicinal plant species,
establishment of gene bank of medicinal plants and
collection, processing, storage and marketing of
medicinal plants was discussed. A number of forest
officers of Haryana, scientists and conservationists are
participating in the workshop. |
Helmet
agitation to be intensified CHANDIGARH, July 28 — The ongoing agitation against the order of the Chandigarh Administration for compulsory wearing of helmets by both women drivers and pillion riders of two-wheelers has again gained momentum with various Sikh and employees' organisations deciding to double their efforts to get the order withdrawn. Members of the Punjab Raj Mulazam Dal organised a rally at the Sector 17 Plaza where the policies of the Chandigarh Administration were criticised. The leaders who addressed the rally highlighted the problems being faced by women employees in observing the order. The employee leaders said that in case the order was not withdrawn immediately, the agitation would be further intensified and a new Action Committee announced to chalk out the future line of action. They maintained that the order was not only against Sikh sentiments but was also creating lots of problems for working women. Among those who addressed the rally were Mrs Harjinder Kaur, Mr Manjit Singh Kamboj, Mr Amarjit Singh Randhawa, Mr Satwant Singh Anandpuri, Mr Gurnam Singh Sidhu, Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar,, Mr Mohinder Singh, Mrs Amarjit Kaur Bhullar, Ms Amrita Kohli and others. The local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal also continued its agitation. A large number of dal activists led by its President, Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar, assembled at the Ram Darbar Gurdwara and took out a procession on two-wheelers which after moving through various parts of the city reached the Sector 17 Plaza where the rally was held. Anti-administration and anti-police slogans were raised. Mr Riar criticised the Sikh Nari Manch for suspending the agitation yesterday. However, Mrs Harjinder Kaur, Councillor and President of the Sikh Nari Manch, Mr Rajinder Singh Khurana, President, Gurmat Parsar Seva Society, and others in a joint statement said that compelled by the circumstances created by the authorities concerned, the Sikh institutions have now decided to double their efforts in fighting the Helmet Control order. They decided that the protesters would assemble tomorrow at Matka Chowk at 3.30 p.m. and take out a procession of two-wheelers to the Sector 34 gurdwara. Meanwhile, the New
Congress Party has also demanded immediate withdrawal of
the order. The North India Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes Welfare Association has also demanded that order
on helmets should be withdrawn without any further delay. |
Computer
centre inaugurated CHANDIGARH, July 28 — A computer centre and an orientation programme on “Curriculum implementation’” was inaugurated at the Government Polytechnic for Women, Sector 10, here today. With 27 computers, the centre will cater to 500 students of the polytechnic. Computer courses have been incorporated in the syllabi of two semesters of the six courses run by the institute. Equipped with latest facilities, the centre has Local area Networking, Internet, E-mail, Multimedia and latest versions of software. The inaugural session of the three-day orientation programme being conducted in collaboration with the Technical Teachers Training Institute, Sector 26, on “Curriculum implementation’” for the faculty of the polytechnic also got underway. The idea is to make the faculty more efficient in implementing the curriculum to promote greater understanding of the course. This session was attended by Dr S Krishnamurthy, Principal of TTTI, and Prof LN Mittal, Head of the Curriculum Development Centre of TTTI. Speaking at the function, Mr N.K Jain, Home Secretary and Secretary Technical Education, said that proper reorientation of technical education was needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Pointing out the shortcomings of technical education institutes, he said infrastructural facilities available were inadequate, faculty posts remained vacant and there was hardly any research and development activity at these centres. He said there was a need to focus attention on the development of professional skills rather than imparting information and following a method of examination which is totally based on reproduction of memorised information. Director, Technical Education, Dr SK Aggarwal, presided over the session. In his address to the faculty, he highlighted the need for self-learning, continuous learning and listening ability while stressing the need of updating technical education in view of the fast expansion of information technology and E-business. Fifteen students who had
undergone a two-month training at the centre in AutoCAD
in the field of architecture and interior designing were
awarded certificates. Earlier, the Principal, Mr Balbir
Singh, welcomed the chief guest and gave a brief outline
of the workshop and the idea behind starting the computer
centre. |
Flooded
nullah is way to villages MAULI- BAIDWAN (Sohana), July 28— Residents of several villages in this area have to wade through a flooded nullah during the rainy season to reach places beyond their villages. A bridge over this nullah collapsed two years ago. The bridge that connected a dozen villages was situated about 3 km from Sohana and was submerged after heavy rain. The residents complain that the matter was reported several times to the authorities concerned but nothing had been done so far. The flow of water in this nullah is such that the villagers fear an accident can occur at any time. In the absence of an alternative route the residents have to take a longer route through SAS Nagar. Mr Kuljit Singh, a resident of Chilla who works in Kharar, said that he had to cover an additional 9 km to reach his place of work. The residents of Mauli-Baidwan village made a temporary causeway but it collapsed as the water level in the nullah rose after a heavy rain, said Mr Jagdeep Singh, a resident of this village. Some other villages of the area, including Pappri and Premgarh, also remain cut off from the rest of the area in the rainy season. Officials say work on a
new bridge had started but had to be stopped on account
of the rains. The villagers, however, accuse the
authorities of delaying the project. |
Few
subjects in rural schools MANAULI (SAS Nagar), July 28 — A number of 10+1 students from rural areas around Chandigarh are unable to take up subjects of their choice in government senior secondary schools on the city's periphery. These students say that the Government Senior Secondary Schools at Manauli and Mullanpur villages offer limited options to the students. The school at Manauli was upgraded in 1995 and it offers only the humanities group. It is not equipped for the science and commerce streams or vocational courses. They would like history to be introduced since it considered a "scoring subject". These students prefer to go to schools in SAS Nagar and Chandigarh where a greater choice of subjects is available. The Principal of the Mullanpur school was unwilling to give details of the number of students in different streams. Physical education is a popular subject and most of the students avoid mathematics and economics as these subjects are believed to tough. Most of the teachers
agreed that additional subjects be introduced in the
rural schools. |
Admission
to arts stream begins CHANDIGARH, July 28 — Student activity gathered momentum at Panjab University with the admission process to the first year courses in the arts faculty getting underway at Arts Block three and four here today. Students in large numbers came to the venue where lists of candidates, according to their form numbers, had been displayed. During the day, interviews for over 2000 students were held in separate sessions based on the form numbers. Most students came without their detailed marks cards with only the original certificates of previous examinations to show to the committee of the joint admission cell which is conducting interviews for the social science departments. The committee only verified the certificates of the students. Keeping this in mind, the cell has extended the last date of submission of a photocopy of the DMC to August 1 after which the committee will not entertain the cards. Following the submission of the DMC, the committee would be in a position to display the merit list by August 6. Candidates admitted to the various courses will be required to deposit fee and reserve their seat in the department. The Co-ordinator of admissions, Dr A.K. Kayasth, informed that if fee is not paid on the scheduled date, the seat will be considered vacant and the next candidate will be considered against the seat.``The candidate who fails to pay fees on time will have to forgo any claim on the seat,’’ he said. While normal admissions will commence from August 7, admissions from the first waiting list will be held on August 9 and the second counselling will be held on August 13. Dr Kayasth added that
the cell had received over 3000 forms for the departments
of economics, ancient Indian history, culture and
archeology, public administration, psychology,
philosophy, political science, history and geography. |
9,000
participate in quiz contest CHANDIGARH, July 28 — As many as 9,000 students from over 20 schools of the city, Panchkula and SAS Nagar participated in the annual written quiz contest held at the respective schools here today. Comprising 40 objective-type questions, the students were required to provide anwers in 40 minutes. Questions were based on general knowledge, general science, logical reasoning and observation. For the purpose students were divided in six groups depending upon their class. Students from classes I to XII participated in the contest. The results for the contest will be declared after a month. There are 30 prizes in
each of the six groups. Students can win a soft drink to
a sun shade, two time-out coupons and a participation
certificate. The project was initiated by Ms Anoop
Michra. |
Drive to
uproot parthenium CHANDIGARH, July 28 — A parthenium eradication-cum-tree plantation campaign was jointly organised by the State Bank of Patiala and the All-India Chintaagni Shaman Chetna Manch at Government Middle School in Sarangpur village, near here, today. Mr S.K. Sharma, President of the Environment Society of India, who inaugurated the campaign, said that all schools and dispensaries in and around the city would have medicinal trees. Mr Surinder Verma, managing trustee of the manch, led the campaign by making children plant 15 sapling on the school campus. He sought the cooperation of Administration and the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh in carrying out the plantation drive to make the environment clean. Mr Kamal Narang, manager
of the bank, led the teachers and students in uprooting
the congress grass. He also gave away prizes to the
winners of a quiz competition organised on this occasion. |
Tribune
staff donate blood for Kargil heroes CHANDIGARH, July 28 — Employees of The Tribune donated blood for the Kargil heroes at a camp held in the office premises here today. The camp was organised by The Tribune Employees' Union in coordination with the Western Command Hospital, Chandimandir, and was inaugurated by Mr S.D.Bhambri, General Manager, The Tribune, who lauded the efforts of the union in holding the camp. A former Director, Medical Services, Western Command, Maj-Gen Jaswant Singh (retd) addressed the donors. Earlier the President of
the Tribune Employees' Union, Mr Balbir Singh Jandu,
thanked the Command Hospital authorities for accepting
the union’s offer for blood donation and expressed
the union’s readiness to support any endeavour of
the armed forces. |
SNIPPETS No
NOC needed for industrialists DERA BASSI, July 28 — Industrial power connections in the free enterprise zone (FEZ) of this subdivision will be released by the Punjab State Electricity Board, according to a notification issued by the government. Industrial consumers can now get connections without having to submit no objection certificates (NOC) from the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) which was necessary earlier. According to the Subdivisional Officer, investors willing to set up industrial units in the FEZ of Dera Bassi subdivision will be exempt from this formality. However, an NOC is necessary for domestic connections. Staff committee holds rally CHANDIGARH, July 28 — Members of the Joint Action Committee of Punjab and UT Employees held a rally to protest against the ill-treatment meted out to former Punjab nurses at the GMCH in Sector 32 on Tuesday. The members protested in front of the Punjab Human Rights Commission and flayed the attitude of the hospital authorities for “forcibly discharging” the nurses, whose condition had deteriorated due to their indefinite fast. The leaders urged the Punjab Government to accept the demand of the agitators by issuing an ordinance for their reinstatement, as was done in the case of the teachers who had been relieved. Residents fill breach KHARAR, July 28 — Residents of Tira village, near here, plugged a breach near a river yesterday and prevented any loss of life and property. According to a press note issued here yesterday, the breach was plugged with sand by the Youth Welfare Club, the Gram Panchayat and residents. Residents of about 20 villages go to Mohali and Chandigarh daily by this route. Meanwhile, a causeway between Tira and the Jhampur road was damaged and iron rods could be seen jutting out. Many were injured because of these. People have been demanding since long that a bridge should be constructed, but the administration has not heeded to their demand. They have threatened to launch an agitation if the administration failed to take any steps. Thousands added to Army fund CHANDIGARH, July 28 — More and more donations continue to pour in for the Kargil heroes. The MES Workers Union, Ambala's Branch GE (AF) Chandigarh and all staff of GE Air Force, Chandigarh, contributed Rs 49,001 to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. The Sector 22-A Arya Samaj has donated Rs 40,000 to the Prime Minister's Raksha Kosh. The Patiala-based Piccadily Sugar and Allied Industries has contributed Rs 17,172 to the Army Central Welfare Fund. The Sector 38-D Sri Guru Harkrishan Model Senior Secondary School contributed Rs 11,000 to the Army Central Welfare Fund. The Ordnance Cable Factory Women Welfare Association has contributed Rs 10,000 towards the Army Central Welfare Fund. The N. Rly Pensioners Welfare Association of Ludhiana has sent Rs 2,000 for this fund while the NSS unit of the Government senior Secondary School, Kapure village in Moga district, has contributed Rs 1,500 for this fund. PGI website launched CHANDIGARH, July 28 — The PGI launched its website on the internet this afternoon. Inaugurating the website , the Director, PGI, Prof B.K. Sharma, said that the site would comprise information regarding the institute, hospital services, including OPD schedules, medical facilities available, including laboratory tests, training, courses, research and news items regarding conferences. The address of the website is http://pgimer.nic.in. Dispensaries to have more
facilities CHANDIGARH, July 28 — The Adviser to the UT Administrator has promised to provide better facilities in dispensaries in the villages. The Adviser, who was chairing a high-level meeting on the development of villages, said the authorities concerned would construct a boundary wall of the civil dispensary and undertake repair work in the veterinary hospital in Hallo Majra village. The Adviser said to upgrade the standard of education and provide basic amenities in the village schools the DPI had been asked to do the needful. On the issue of
constitution of zila parishads and panchayat samitis, the
Adviser said fresh election to the panchayat samitis
would be conducted after approval from the Central
Government. |
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