Monorail transport system proposed for city
By Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — A straddle beam-type monorail system has been proposed as the second mode of public transport for Chandigarh in the next millennium. The proposed system would be bi-directional and would run along the flank of the carriageway. This is the major recommendation of the third and final report on a study on "Comprehensive transportation plan for the Chandigarh Capital Complex and development of mass transportation-related options" conducted by Craphts Consultants on behalf of the Chandigarh Administration.

It may be recalled here that Craphts Consultants were given this study in early 1997 by the then Home and Transport Secretary, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, for a complete plan to manage traffic and introduce a mass rapid transport system (MRTS) in Chandigarh and its satellite towns of Panchkula and SAS Nagar so as to decongest the city and facilitate smooth and reliable movement of public. On the basis of the earlier reports given by the consultancy firm, a number of modifications have already been made in the existing road network and traffic management.

The work has been divided into two parts — pre-MRTS and MRTS. Since the MRTS is going to be an expensive project, the Administration wanted to make sure that the infrastructure required for the MRTS is created in time to facilitate early and hurdle-free introduction of any MRTS for the Chandigarh Capital Complex.

It was based on earlier reports that the Administration went in for the second Inter-State Bus Terminus in Sector 43 which is nearing completion. Similarly, work on grade separators on major roads, including Madhya Marg, is being taken up in accordance with the recommendations made in earlier reports.

Provision of slip-roads along Madhya Marg and Dakshan Marg, replacement of traffic rotaries by traffic lights and work on alternative routes to Panchkula, a proposal to construct a flyover at Transport Chowk also form part of an integrated plan to regulate and manage the growing vehicular traffic in the city.

It has been in accordance with the earlier reports that provision for cycle tracks, diversion of slow traffic to slip-roads along Madhya Marg and work on widening of important roads, including Madhya Marg, Jan Marg, Purv Marg, Himalaya Marg, has either been taken up or is proposed to be taken up.

The experts had also suggested introduction of the concept of paid parking so as to upgrade and modernise parking lots in the city.

A total route length of 47.8 km has been proposed for the second mode under five different route segments. The longest route segment happens to be in SAS Nagar (14.4 km). The routing has been done in a manner to keep the inter-change points well defined. Tentatively, there would be 34 stations over the entire 30.4 km public transit route within Chandigarh. The proposed scheme provides for ISBT buildings in Sectors 17 and 43, at Chandigarh railway station, Sector 62 in SAS Nagar and Sector 5 of Panchkula as the natural interchange points. Besides, there are transfer points from one route to another or from one mode to another. The second mode remains accessible at the maximum distance of one sector.

The report says that the system selection has been made on the basis of the estimated travel demands for the design year 2021, space requirements, technological advantages, capital and maintenance costs involved, environmental considerations and the character of the city.

No road-based or conventional rail-based system has been preferred in view of the requirements specific to Chandigarh. The estimated demand is of such magnitude as it does not warrant introduction of any heavy system.

Considering all aspects of the available technologies, straddle beam-type monorail system has been proposed as the second mode of public transport for Chandigarh. It would be a bi-directional system and would run along the flank of the carriageway. The system must be introduced as soon as possible. The capacity of the system could be progressively increased with increasing travel demand. It has been observed that monorail, being the most silent, environmentally compatible, pleasing, safe and economically viable system would be best suited for this planned city.

The system has been planned to run mainly along the flanks of the major arteries of the city. Those who conducted the survey have suggested that a broad feasibility study covering all such road corridors along which the monorail system has been proposed, revealed that there would be no difficulty in placing the guideway along the roadside.

The proposed system of monorail would not call for any traffic management schemes to support it. Requirements of multi-nodal integration would be minimum except at the inter-change points. Space reservation around Chandigarh railway station would become necessary.

VDS scheme extended till June 25
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — In view of the heavy rush and demands from various public organsiations, the UT Electricity Department has extended the simplified voluntary disclosure scheme (VDS) till June 25. The scheme was to conclude today.

The decision was also prompted by reports in the media that there was a heavy rush close to the last day and that the most persistent demand had been for an extension of the scheme. The response of the public has been termed as tremendous by senior officers of the department.

Approximately 26,000 persons have submitted their applications till date after the launching of the scheme. While only 4,000 consumers had used the scheme till May 31, a record 20,000 had put in their forms till yesterday.

However, in a statement issued today the department urged consumers to avail themselves of the benefits of the scheme as no further time would be granted thereafter.

The scheme, launched on April 16, was earlier open till May 31. But owing to persistent public demand, it had been extended till June 15.

Initial problems being faced by the public were being rectified. The scheme was notified to include cases of legal heirs, change of ownership of property and tenants, to benefit maximum consumers.

The department has also appealed to consumers to get the needful done to avoid last-minute rush. A warning that after the closureof the scheme, raids would be carried out and defaulters, besides being charged with penal rates, would also face disconnection of their power supply, has also been issued.

After the closure of the scheme, load surcharge at the rate of Rs 750 per kw for single phase connection and Rs 1,500 per kw for three phase connection will be levied besides disconnection of power supply wherever such unauthorised load extensions will be found during checking by the department staff.

Unauthorised load of air conditioners of 2.5 kw load can be regularised by paying a security of Rs 180 and Rs 200 as service connection charges. A surcharge of Rs 4,500 will be levied in case of a three phase connection, when detected, after the expiry of the scheme. Public can make any enquiry about the scheme from the Electricity Department offices.

Meanwhile, long queues were witnessed at a majority of collection centres all over the city. The lack of shade and the shortage of staff was being felt at many such centres.

Many persons standing in queues, were confident that the scheme would be extended further. It was in the interest of the department, was their reasoning.

Mr Ajmer Singh and Mr Arjun Sharma, who were awaiting their turn at the Sector 23 centre, said more staff should have been posted here so that people did not have to wait for a long time. One good thing at this centre was that all counters were located inside the building where the public was not exposed to the scorching heat. But, today the problem was caused by frequent power cuts.

Similar scenes were witnessed at the centres in Sectors 18, 43 and 35.

Confusion marks Class XI admissions
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — Confusion marked the commencement of the admissions in Class XI of various government senior secondary schools in the city here today with shortage of forms reported from most schools. Admission seekers outnumbered the forms available at most places. This is despite the last date of submitting forms being June 30.

The chaos was more pronounced in Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 23; the GMSSS, Sector 22; and the GGSSS, Sector 18, with majority of parents and students thronging these places for the forms. They were under the impression that they were required to take the forms from centres, where these were to be deposited later. As a result, the three schools, which had 800, 700 and 500 admission forms, respectively, finished these in no time. These schools had been made centres for collecting the forms for amsission in the science, commerce and humanities streams and vocational courses, respectively, under the centralised system of admissions for the convenience of the public.

Parents, who were expecting to get the forms till 1 pm started shouting and threatening the staff on duty when they did not get the forms after 11 am. While some professionals pointed out the wastage of time it had caused, others questioned how the forms could finish on the very first day with the authorities being aware of the number of applicants for these courses.

Staff of the the GMSSS, Sector 23, which witnessed rush not only from Chandigarh but also from Panchkula and SAS Nagar, sent their representative to the nearby GMSSS, Sector 22 for getting more forms. They got the forms in three instalments of 500, 200 and 100, respectively, to pacify the crowds, who however, kept coming even after 1 pm. The Sector 18 school which had 500 forms, had also sold all of these by 11 am.

The situation was no better in the GMSSS, Sector 22, which was the main collection centre for all schools to collect the forms. The staff sold 700 forms in no time and most persons had to return disappointed. The Education Department had given them 4,900 forms for distribution on the first day. This was despite the number of applicants for various streams being more than 9,000 this year.

Sources said that on account of haphazard distribution and delay on part of some schools to collect forms, some schools were without forms on the first day. The representatives of the GMSSS, Sector 20-D, and the GSSS, Sector 27, were unable to get the forms as they had finished by the time they came to collect them. Schools which did not come to collect forms include the GMSSS, Sector 21; the GSSS, Sector 45; the GMSSS, Sector 47; the GSSS, Karsan; and the GSSS, Sector 19 (evening shift). Schools like the GMSSS, Sector 37; and the GMSSS, Sector 19; were given only 100 forms.

Contrary to this, some of the most popular schools like the GMSSS, Sector 35; which had 500 forms, had sold less than half till 12.30 p.m. However, most schools, including government model senior secondary schools of Sectors 16, 40 and 46 sold all their forms. The response was lukewarm for admissions in senior secondary schools in colonies and villages. The GMSSS, Sector 38 (West); sold only 15 to 20 forms on the first day out of 50.

The DEO, Mr Brahmjit Kalia attributed the confusion and uneven distribution to the large numbers thronging only three centres for collecting forms. He said that forms had been distributed to all senior secondary schools on the basis of the response last year and hence parents and students should collect them from the nearby centres. The department, which had got 12,000 forms printed, had already left the remaining 7,000 with the collection centre in the GMSSS, Sector 22. Schools could collect the forms from there according to their requirement and should not make people return without forms, he said. He has further directed the schools to keep distributing the forms till these were available with them to avoid any further inconvenience. From schools, which did not collect their forms today, authorities may seek explanations later.

A visit to the collection centres showed that the rush was more for collecting the forms not depositing them. Only 5 forms were submitted by candidates applying for admission in the commerce stream at the GMSSS, Sector 22.

Meanwhile, on the second day, all 993 printed forms for admission to Class XI in the science stream were sold out by 10.30 am and irate parents were busy trying to get in touch with the Principal for more forms. While about 650 forms were sold yesterday, the remaining were sold out today. The authorities said that keeping in view the encouraging response to its 720 seats, they would try to make arrangements for distributing more forms by tomorrow.

‘Formulate scheme for dirty water disposal’
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, June 15 — Mrs Seema Dhillon, Civil Judge (Junior Division) Kharar, has directed the Additional Chief Administrator PUDA, SAS Nagar, Municipal Council, SAS Nagar, and President Municipal Council, SAS Nagar, to formulate a scheme for the disposal of dirty water standing near Phase II, SAS Nagar and to ensure removal of cow dung etc lying there and take measures to ensure that the said site does not become a permanent place for dumping/discharge of water. She has ordered that the progress report in this regard should be submitted within two months.

According to a copy of the order given to this reporter today, the order was passed while disposing of an application filed by Mr Joginder Singh Sidhu and other three residents of Phase II, SAS Nagar, pleading that they were permanent residents of that area and the defendants were duty bound to provide facility/amenities, including clear atmosphere to the plaintiffs and others.

They have written that at the back of their houses dirty water is stagnating and people of Madanpur village throw garbage at that site. They have pleaded that there was a tubewell from where drinking water is being supplied to the residents and due to dirty water and cow dung, the drinking water is also affected . They have pleaded that stagnant water was giving foul smell and despite many representations to the defendants, no action had been taken.

The judge has written in her order that there is no disputing the fact that cleanliness is next to Godliness and it is the duty of the defendants to provide a clean environment to the residents.

UP Governor visits wounded soldiers
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, June 15 — The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Suraj Bhan, visited soldiers wounded during the ongoing military action in the Kargil sector at Western Command Hospital in Chandimandir here today. He distributed gifts among the soldiers and prayed for their fast recovery.

He also visited the house of the Deputy Commandant of ITBP, Joy Lal, and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family of the martyr. Later, addressing a public gathering at a function in Gauri Shankar mandir in Sector 17, Mr Bhan said the time was such that we should put aside our political differences and come forward for the help of the soldiers.

History was witness to the fact that “we had to pay a heavy price for freedom and the supreme sacrifice of our jawans can never be ignored. ”

While they (soldiers) are defending the frontiers we should help their families back at home. The ex-servicemen also deserve due respect”, he said adding that countrymen should express their solidarity with the jawans so as to convey the message that the nation was with them.

He said that after taking over as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, he had issued special instructions to the officials to give due respect to the ex-servicemen.

Expressing his solidarity with the soldiers fighting in extreme climactic conditions in the Kargil sector, he said the soldiers admitted at the Command Hospital were eager to join back their brethern fighting it out at the front.

He maintained that what was happening in the Kargil sector was the result of some mistakes committed by our leaders in the past. He said: “ During a recent meeting with the Prime Minister in Lucknow, he was assured by the latter that the mistakes of the past would not be repeated”.

Later Mr Bhan inaugurated a newly constructed building of a dispensary being run by Sham Lal Lok Charitable Trust at Gauri Shankar Mandir in Sector 17 here.

PU students for refund of film fee
By A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — Students of Panjab University are an irritated lot as the university authorities, on the pretext of showing movies, have been charging Rs 20 per annum as film fee from each student for the past 15 years, hardly screening a film during the period.

A couple of months ago, a delegation of the Panjab University Students Council met the Vice - Chancellor, Dean University Instructions and Dean Students Welfare of the university, regarding their demands to purchase cine-projector and sound system or make arrangements for showing movies to the students on Saturdays and Sundays. Despite assurances from the authorities concerned, nothing has been done so far.

Recently due to high fever of the World Cup Cricket among students, the university officials paid some heed to their demand. As a result, the authorities hired a projector for three cricket matches of India. Mr Kulvinder Singh, a law student, said the students enjoyed the matches at the Law auditorium. But he demanded that PU should refund the film fees charged from the students for the past 15 years as not even a single movie was shown to them.

Mr Akhil Goyal, General Secretary of the students council demanded that every student should be refunded the money charged by the university for not providing the services. He said “this is breach of trust by the university and an act of cheating and fraud.”

Former General Secretary of the Panjab University Students Council, Mr Jagdeep Singh said, “Besides charging Rs 20 as film fee per student, the university has been charging Rs 15 as medical fee from nearly 5000 students but there is hardly any first-aid box in the hostels.

A few months ago, when a tremor occurred here, students had to suffer due to absence of first-aid boxes in hostels. He further alleged that the university had recently spent a lot of money on the renovation of the Vice-Chancellor’s office, but when it came to the welfare of students, there was always scarcity of funds. Mr Jagdeep Singh demanded that a committee should be formed to inquire into the whole matter and those found guilty should be penalised.

The DSW office, when contacted, remained tight-lipped as it neither co-operated nor gave any information. Mr Sanjiv Tiwari, Director, Public Relations of the University, accepted that the university had been charging Rs 20 as film fee and Rs 15 as medical fee from every student for the past several years but said that neither a cine-projector had been procured nor a movie shown to the students .

Mr Tewari further said, “when terrorism was at its peak the university could not show movies. “When asked about any proposal about film auditorium, he said a couple of years ago, the then Prime Minister of India, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, had laid the foundation stone of “Alumni House”, which would house a cine-auditorium, a club, a seminar hall and rest houses for the university’s alumni. Mr Tewari attributed the laxity on part of the university regarding the procurement of cine-projector and sound systems to scarcity of funds .

Summon RS to discuss Kargil: Tewari
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — The Indian Youth Congress chief, Mr Manish Tewari, wants the Union Government to summon the Rajya Sabha to apprise members of the Upper House about the ongoing military action in Kargil-Dras and other areas.

Talking to TNS here this evening, Mr Tewari said it was unfortunate that the Lok Sabha had been dissolved, but since Rajya Sabha is there, the government should not feel shy from summoning its session to dispel the impression of suspicion.

“The need of the hour is that a message, loud and clear, should go to the armed forces that the entire nation was behind them like a rock,” Mr Tewari said.

The Indian Youth Congress units throughout the country are being geared up to organise blood donation camps.

“We are raising a “Rakt Sena” comprising volunteers of all age groups and of all blood groups who would be ready to donate blood at any Army hospital on an emergency call. Recently, on May 21, nearly 1.5 units of blood were donated on the Balidan Divas of Rajiv Gandhi.

“Besides, the Youth Congress is also launching a special fund collection drive by involving women volunteers with pre-sealed boxes to collect donations for the Army Welfare Fund. These steps are to express our full solidarity with the defence forces,” he added.

Mr Tewari said it would be “very unfortunate” in case the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections were postponed. The statement made by the BJP chief, Mr K. Thakre, was contrary to what the Prime Minister was saying. Divergent views between the Prime Minister and the RSS leadership were not new. In the past, the PM had fallen in line with the RSS thinking. “If this happened again, it would be very unfortunate,” he added.

Talking about the role of the Youth Congress in coming elections, Mr Tewari said this frontal youth organisation of the Congress was planning to organise at least one big rally or public meeting in each Parliamentary constituency of the country. Besides, it has taken upon itself the onerous task of organising special training camps for its workers in electioneering and booth management.

By these exercises, the Youth Congress hoped to draw people from different streams of life and create a delivery mechanism on the ground which was never there before. By training youngsters in election management, we will have people at the grassroots level, trained and committed.

Mr Tewari says he has requested the party President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to give adequate representation to youth in the coming elections. “My request has been that representation to youth should be commensurate with their number. We initially want five to six seats in UP, and Bihar, two to three in Tamil Nadu, one -odd seat each in other states with the exception of smaller states.

With regards to Chandigarh, he says, he is prepared to fight from here and is confident of winning the seat.

Stir to repair transformer
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, June 15— As many as 50 residents of Anand Vihar, Saini Colony and Gill Colony of Bartana village staged a dharna for more than four hours in front of the local electricity subdivision office yesterday.

They were protesting against the department authorities for not repairing the transformer that supplies power to the area and was burnt four days ago. The residents alleged that despite requests, the department has not restored power to the colonies.

They also alleged that the department had disconnected the power supply to some houses.

Mr K.K. Goel, Executive Engineer, said that residents of these colonies have sub-letted up to 10 connections from single connections sanctioned to them by the department, which basically is theft of the power. This process put a heavy load on the transformer and damaged it.

He said that to prevent power theft in the area, the department has fined 109 defaulting consumers during the past one month, but they continue to break rules.

Six persons drugged
Tribune News Service

KHARAR, June 15 — Six members of a family, including four children, were drugged by two unidentified persons at Anandpur Sahib in Ropar district yesterday. However, the unidentified persons failed to rob them.

The drugged persons are Raj Pal Singh (35), his wife Beero Devi (30), their children Rozy (12), Amit (10), Rohit (6) and Mohit (3). They belong to Yandiala village in Karnal district.

Briefing mediapersons here today, Dr Rajinder Singh Saggu, Civil Surgeon, Ropar, and Dr Ashok Kumar Khullar, Deputy Medical Commissioner, said the six persons were admitted to Ropar civil hospital and kept under medical observation. They said all the six members of the family were now out of danger and their condition was stable.

They said the six persons were drugged when they were standing outside Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib Gurdwara after paying obeisance. They were offered 'prasad' by two unidentified persons The family members were probably administered 'dhatura'.

All of them, except Beero Devi, fell unconscious after eating it. She cried for help, following which the robbers fled.

They said the drugged persons were immediately rushed to the civil hospital at Anandpur Sahib in a critical condition. Later, they were shifted to the Ropar civil hospital.

Meanwhile, the Anandpur Sahib police had registered a case against two unidentified persons for allegedly drugging and trying to rob the six members of the family. However, no arrest has been made so far.

HUDA extends deadline on hedges
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, une 15 — The deadline for the residents here to remove all sorts of encroachments such as hedges, fencing, grills and tow walls from road berms in front of their houses in the urban estate has been extended till June 30.

Earlier, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) had set June 15 deadline in this regard.HUDA had then stated: “ In compliance with the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, HUDA had asked the allottee, house-owners and occupants of the Panchkula urban estate to remove fences, hedges and other types of enclosures in front of their houses by June 15”.

After members of different residents welfare associations pressed upon HUDA to show the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the contents of the public notice have been withdrawn. Mr B.L.Tandon of the House Owners Welfare Association, who along with representatives of other residents welfare associations met the Administrator yesterday, said they had been assured by the officer that the drive would not be launched till a copy of the orders of the high court was received by them.

Cars with tinted panes face challans
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — For the second time in a year, car owners, who have put tinted films on the windowpanes of their vehicles, will have to remove the films as the Chandigarh traffic police is set to launch a special challaning drive on June 18.

The police will, however, not challan those who will use approved tinted glasses or curtains on the windowpanes, the police authorities clarified.

In July last year, car owners were asked to remove films following an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Chandigarh Administration preferred a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court that stayed the operation of the order.

In December last year the apex court clarified that the ban on the use of films on the panes was not stayed but only buses and cars were permitted to have light-coloured tinted glasses and not films, a spokesperson of the police said.

On the other hand, a large number of city residents put tinted films on the windowpanes of their vehicles.

5 agro-forestry co. officials booked
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, June 15 — The local police has registered a case against five persons, including three directors, of a Mani Majra-based agro-forestry company, Surbhi Forest India Ltd, for being involved in an alleged breach of the trust by not returning the money invested with it by a Rohtak-based investor.

The investor, Jagtar Parkash, had complained to the police that he invested Rs 5.06 lakh with the five persons — Usha Chaturvedi, Ashwani Kumar Kaushik, Prem Parkash Chaturvedi, Jyoti Parbha and Vijay Napar, all members of the company. The money was paid in instalments in 1997.

He alleged that the money invested multiplied to Rs 7.62 lakh after the maturity period, but it was not returned to him.

The police has registered a case under Sections 406 and 120-B of the IPC.

Teachers boycott evaluation work
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — In response to a call given by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, teachers of Punjab and Chandigarh boycotted the evaluation work being done at all the evaluation centres of universities.

The call was given to protest against the hurdles being created by the Punjab Government and the UT Administration in implementing the notification and the “indifferent” attitude of the DPI ( Colleges), Punjab, towards their demands.

In a statement issued here today, Dr Jagwant Singh and Dr Labh Singh Kheeva, President and Secretary of the Chandigarh District Council of the PCCTU have stated that teachers of government colleges and university also co-operated with them to show their solidarity with them.

Meanwhile, Prof Shinderpal Singh, Secretary, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, has claimed that the Principal Secretary to Punjab Government, Mr GPS Sahi, has assured a deputation of college teachers that they will look into all pertinent issues including implementation of pay scale notifications.

SNIPPETS

Scooter dealer issued notice
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has issued a show-cause notice to the Managing Director and Manager of Partap Auto for June 18 following non-compliance of the forum's orders.

The forum bench comprising Mr H.S. Walia and Mrs Kamlesh Gupta had directed the dealer to release the scooter to the complainant since he had already deposited the amount, which they had ordered on May 25.

The notice was issued after the complainant, Mr Dinesh Kumar filed an application under Section 27 of the Consumer Protection Act for non-compliance of forum's order dated May 25 and June 8.

Dinesh had through an application filed earlier sought the release of the scooter. The forum has observed that since the scooter is lying unused with the dealer and is causing inconvenience to the complainant, the same be returned.

The forum had ordered Dinesh to pay Rs 5,000 to the company against the total claim of Rs 7,275 on June 8. Following this, the forum directed the company to release the scooter which has not been complied with yet.

Octroi auction held
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, June 15 — The work of octroi collection was given to a private contractor for another year starting from July 1 in the auction held here today by the local municipal council.

The highest bid which was accepted was of Rs 1.27 crore against the reserve price of Rs 1.05 crore. According to Mr Gian Chand Gupta, Executive Officer of the local municipal committee, good response was shown by private contractors in the auction and as many as 19 parties participated in it. He said the contract amount for the current year up to June 30 was Rs 79 lakh. He said with increase in the octroi income, the committee would be able to do many more development works in Kharar.

Jain compliments Vajpayee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — Former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, yesterday complimented the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, for showing tremendous courage in visiting Indian soldiers in the Kargil-Dras area. Mr Jain said that Mr Vajpayee undertook this visit on a personal risk to his life.

Addressing a public meeting at Badheri, Mr Jain said that Pakistan by throwing a bomb at the venue of the meeting being addressed by the Prime Minister, had challenged the self-respect and national pride of India. He expressed the hope that Indian soldiers would give a befitting reply to Pakistan to ensure that no such action took place in future.

Mr Jain further said that the BJP Government at the Centre was fully determined to fight Pakistan in any manner as had been made clear to the Pakistan Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Sartaj Aziz, during his recent visit to Delhi.

Mr Jain said that Mr Sartaj Aziz got the treatment he deserved and it was Pakistan which had turned hostile after a hand of friendship was extended to it. The BJP government was fully committed to defend the honour, unity and integrity of the country, he added.

Reward for cop
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — A head constable, who found Rs 20,000 while doing naka duty and deposited the sum with the police station, has been issued a class-I commendation certificate and a reward of Rs 1,000.Head constable Om Prakash (1346/CP) was performing naka duty near the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), Sector 17, when he found the money. No one has come to claim the same so far and he deposited the money with the Sector 17 police station.

MCC’s warning to Kajheri residents
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — Adopting a tough posture, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) today cautioned the persons selling or sub-renting their plots in the rehabilitation colonies of Kajheri and Mauli Jagran.

A press note said the allottees could not sell or sub-rent their rented plots. It is contrary to the terms and conditions of the rent-lease and any purchase would automatically become illegal, it added.

Warning the persons involved in the sale, purchase or sub-renting of the plots, the press note said their rent-lease would be cancelled and plots resumed if during inspections it was noticed that they had violated the terms and conditions.

Cyclist protection camp begins
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — The Chandigarh police in collaboration with a mobile telephone company started a cyclist protection camp this morning to fit reflectors on bicycles free of cost.

This will help the drivers of bigger vehicles to spot the cyclists at night, thus avoiding accidents.

During the camp, cyclists were also educated about various traffic rules. Besides, reflectors were also fitted on rickshaws. The telephone company has spent about Rs 50,000 to get the reflectors.

The camp was attended by senior police officials.

Jauhar not in race for deanship
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — Prof D.N. Jauhar of the Department of Laws has clarified that he has never been an aspirant for any deanship of Panjab University. His name had been mentioned in the story on '' Decision on Deans selection on June 17'' along with a few other names which are being considered for the post of deans.

Professor Jauhar has lamented that the university deanship is being auctioned through the media. He says any person who may have lobbied with the Fellows of the university or the Vice-Chancellor has brought disgrace to the office of the deanship.

Concern over insanitation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 15 — The Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) today expressed concern over the insanitary conditions in Colony No 5.

The Vice-President of the CTCC, Ms Manjit Kaur, alleged that only a portion of the colony had "pucca" streets, while the paths and streets in the rest of the colony were muddy, causing a lot of inconvenience to the residents.

In the absence of inadequate toilet facilities, residents defecated in the open which made it difficult for road users to pass by the area. The water samples from the taps of the colony should be tested.

She wanted the authorities to launch special awareness campaigns on the maintenance of cleanliness, adoption of small-family norms and distribution of medicines to prevent any epidemic in the colony.