Showers bring relief, inconvenience
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 19 — Heavy rain lashed the city this morning, leading to the flooding of roads, blockage of sewers in some places, power breakdowns in certain pockets and a drop in the day temperature, besides providing the much-needed respite from the sweltering heat.

The day temperature was recorded at 33.2°C, that is 5°C below normal and 3°C less than yesterday. Interestingly, the minimum temperature was 28°C, just 5°C less than the maximum of the day .

Winds accompanied by rain led to power breakdowns at several places in the city. In Sector 43, sparks from a cable led to fear among residents as policemen and Electricity Department officials rushed to the spot.

All major roads were rendered slippery in the morning due to silt that shifted from the road berms on to the roads. Rain started around 6 in the morning and continued till about 1 pm. Till 8 a.m., the Meteorological Department had recorded 22 millimetres of rain.

According to sources in the Meteorological Department, the heavy rain occurred due to the confluence of North Westerly winds resulting from upper air cyclonic circulation over north-west Pakistan and the strong Easterly winds resulting from a depression over central Madhya Pradesh. "It was the meeting of these two winds that caused the rain," an official explained.

The Met office has predicted rain for tomorrow also. Showers at almost regular intervals in the past month or so have maintained the ongoing streak of a not-so-hot-summer in the city and and its surrounding areas.

Today was no different. The day temperature that had soared up to 39°C in the past few days was once again down for the day.

Several minor accidents reportedly took place as unmindful of the silt on the road, two-wheelers drivers skidded or could not apply the brakes in time on the slippery roads. Several cars stopped due to water logging in the southern sectors while office-goers riding two-wheelers faced a tough time in the heavy rain.

Doctors to boycott auction
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, June 19 — The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has protested against the auction of clinics and nursing home sites by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) scheduled to be held on June 21.

HUDA has been charged by the local branch of the IMA with ignoring the local private medical practitioners who have been running their businesses from residential premises for the past many years.

In a meeting of the IMA held here today, the members of the association decided to boycott the auction as a mark of protest.

The Secretary of the local unit of the IMA, Dr Rajiv Arya, maintained that officials of HUDA had assured them that nursing home and clinic sites would be allotted on a priority basis to the doctors who have been practising in the township. But now, HUDA had decided to hold an open auction of sites at high reserved prices in Sectors 25 and 5 and Mansa Devi Complex.

Urging HUDA to cancel the auction, the IMA has claimed that as the nursing home policy had been challenged in court and the matter was sub-judice, the auction could not be held. The doctors plead that when HUDA came into existence and new sectors were carved out, no site was earmarked for nursing homes in residential and commercial areas anbd due to the demand of local residents for better medical facilities, clinics and nursing homes started from residential premises in different sectors.

Some private medical practitioners have also criticised the Haryana Government regarding its policy to grant permission for running professional consultancy services in the urban estates of HUDA.

The decision to allow only 25 per cent of the built-up area of a premises of a building for doctors, excluding nursing homes, has been contested by the medical practitioners on the ground that they require more space for running their activity.

New hospital OPD from June 22
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 19 — The new outdoor patients department (OPD) complex located in block-`B’ of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) , Sector 32, will be inaugurated on Tuesday by the Union Health Minister, Mr Dalit Ezhilmalai. The UT Administrator Lieut Gen B.K.N.Chhibber (retd) will preside over the function.

The newly constructed block will have OPDs of all departments. It will be an advanced OPD complex compared to other OPDs of various hospitals.

Among the additional facilities being provided in the new OPD block is the provision of day care surgery centre which is located within the block and most of the minor surgeries will be carried there. Patients will be discharged on the same day to make the treatment cost effective and more acceptable.

A provision of screening of patients will minimise crowding and waiting time for patients. Genuine cases will get opportunities to see senior faculty members without any wait. As per a census of all major hospitals, the OPD attendance has increased over the years and thus the new block is likely to be of great help in the next 30-40 years.

Most of the patient utility services comprising X-ray, lab, ultrasound, CT scan, minor operation theatres and canteens are located in the same complex.

Needs of the elderly, children and pregnant ladies have been specifically kept in mind and provision has been made to give them priority and provide them up-to-date facilities including play rooms for children, group therapy for elderly and comfortable waiting areas for expectant mothers. Each level has a space for providing health education material in the form of posters, pamphlets, audio and video cassettes, accordding to a press release of the GMCH.

Head of infant found
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, June 19 — The head of a newly born infant was found in Dashmesh Nagar in Kharar this afternoon.Mr Rajinder Singh Sohal, SHO, Kharar, when contacted, said the police was informed this afternoon on phone that a dog was seen carrying the head and upper portion of a child, and when it was cornered, it dropped the head there.

He said the police reached the spot immediately and the head was taken to the Civil Hospital for post-mortem, which was not carried till evening. He said it was not yet known how the head was traced by the dog. The police has started investigation after registering preliminary report.

Rs 1.10 lakh for quake victims
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 19 — The local unit of the Garhwal Sabha has decided to contribute Rs 1.10 lakh for the rehabilitation of the Garhwal earthquake victims. A draft of this amount would be soon sent to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Relief Fund, Mr D.D. Sundryal, General Secretary of the sabha, announced here on Saturday.

He said besides the sabha, the Uttarkhand Yuva Manch, the Chamoli Vikas Parishad, the Tehri Gram Sudhar Samiti and the Uttarkhand Vikas Parishad had also contributed their mite in raising this relief money. Mr K.L. Sharma, Senior Deputy Mayor, also contributed for the relief fund.

Volunteers of the Yuva manch have already left for Garhwal to distribute relief money. An emergency meeting of the sabha has been convened to decide about holding a blood donation camp and collecting money for the Prime Minister’s Defence Relief Fund in view of the ongoing military operations in the Kargil-Dras sector.

Camp for kids concludes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 19 — The summer coaching camp for children in the 5 to 15 age group, organised by the Chandigarh Press Club concluded here today. For 80-odd children, it was a demonstration of their learning skills in modern dance, key board, collage making, toy stuffing and gift markings.

The participants displayed the stuffed toys and collages they made and performed dances, including "bhangra".

Mr Ravinder Talwar, Principal of the DAV Senior Secondary School, who presided over the concluding function and gave away prizes to the participants, lauded the club management for doing what schools were unable to do — to keep students gainfully occupied during vacations.

The programme started with a "couple dance" by tiny tots, before another group of children danced to the song "Churri jo chhanki haath mein". Then a group of trainees had their keyboards out to play another popular number. Finally it was "bhangra" by the oldest group of trainees, after which all the children presented a group dance to the beat of "Janam samjha karo".

The summer classes were conducted free of cost for the children of members of the club and the services of the best available talent from local institutions were utilised to oversee these classes. The teachers who conducted the classes were also felicitated by the club management.

‘SAD-BJP will win poll’
From Our Correspondent

DERA BASSI, June 19 — The people of Punjab had played a major role in the Independence movement to get freedom for the country. It was the result of their sacrifices, which had forced the English to go back to their country, said Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, while addressing residents of Bhudda Singhpura village, near here, today.

Some selfish and cunning people would again enslave India by giving the country in the hands of a foreigner. This would never be tolerated by the Punjabis, stressed Capt Singh.

The people of the state are closely associated with Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, he claimed. The SAD-BJP alliance would sweep all seats in the state during the next parliamentary elections, he said.

The Finance Minister criticised Mr G.S. Tohra for forming the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal and said the newly formed party had no locus standi. He said Mr Tohra was supporting the Congress indirectly by forming a new party.

The minister also heard the grievances of the villagers and assured them that 20 km new roads would be laid in the Banur constituency shortly and the link roads of Dera Bassi subdivision would be repaired till June 30. He said the village would be provided with pucca ring road, streets and drains. To meet the shortage of sitting space for the students, a new building would be constructed in the local Government High School, he said.

Besides residents of various villages, Mr S.S. Sidhu, SDM, Mr H.S. Bhullar, Mr Ram Singh, Sarpanch and Mr Parvinder Singh Pal, circle president, SAD, were also present.

Demand to revive CC's post
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 19 — Mr P.D. Shenoy, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, concluded his two-day visit to the city today. He visited all major new projects of the Chandigarh Administration besides holding discussions with senior functionaries of the Administration. Various pending issues and cases were also discussed.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the local unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by its Vice-President, Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, met Mr Shenoy and submitted to him a memorandum to revive the post of Chief Commissioner. The deputation also demanded that all vacant posts should be filled.

The demand for the creation of an additional post of Additional Deputy Commissioner was also made through the memorandum. Other issue raised by the delegation was regarding possession of 1981 industrial plots and ownership rights to CITCO industrial sheds.

Another delegation of the Federation of Small-Scale Industries also met Mr Shenoy. Mr Rajiv Gupta, Secretary of the federation, talked about the possession of industrial plots allotted in 1981. No final decision has been taken so far.

The deputation also demanded rationalisation and simplification of sales tax laws. The deputation also wanted that senior functionaries of the electricity circle should be given powers on the lines of Punjab to detect pilferage of power.

The participation of small-scale industry in various programmes should be encouraged, the deputation said.

Angry investors join hands
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 19 — Having lost their hard earned money after investing in dubious companies, around 3,500 investors have formed a forum against nine such companies based in Chandigarh and Mani Majra.

The investors, who met mediapersons today, claimed that almost Rs 15 crore collected from various persons in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh, was lying with these companies. This sum belongs to only these 3,500 investors, while there may be many more like them.

Numerous complaints to the police had yielded no results, alleged the President of the Sanjha Chetna Manch, Mr Tatvinder Prabhakar. The manch will also organise a rally outside the office of Marigold Group in Mani Majra. The investors said that huge sums had been deposited in this company. In a complaint to the police, the manch has named Marigold Leasing, Panchshikha Tourist Resorts, Alpine Floritech, Marigold Motor Advances, Modern Orchid Agro Seeds, Alpine Education and Research Society, Alpine school, Modern Association of Persons and Madhur Cane Products for allegedly having collected money and not returning it to the investors.

The manch alleged that promoters of these companies, Rajesh Syal, his wife Anuradha Syal, Sukhdev Kaushal and Om Chand Parwal had absconded while thousands of post-dated cheques issued had bounced, leaving investors in lurch. The police was not even trying to check how Alpine School was still operating and who was managing it, the manch alleged.

Several investors belong to the salaried class and a fair number are retired persons.

Complaint against telephone co.
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 19—A large number of shopkeepers at the Sector 20 market here are at the receiving end owing to the non-functioning of telephones, operated by a private company, for the past more than three months.

According to traders, the telephones, the connections for which were provided by Capri Telecom, a private company, had been out of order for the past more than three months. In spite of a number of complaints, no effort was made by the company to get these operational.

Mr Jagdish, a vegetable vendor, alleged that though they had been paying the bills regularly, the phones went out of order all of a sudden, with company officials paying no attention towards their problems. “What is the use of such a service if you cannot get a service even after paying much more than the DoT connection.” he added, saying that he had paid Rs 3600 for getting the connection.

Similarly, Mr Inderjit Singh, another shopkeeper said he was tired of visiting the office of the company in the same sector. “Whenever, I go there I am told by the landlord that the company people had already left the building.” He said the phones had remained operational for about two years.

Another shopkeeper demanded that if the company was not in a position to provide them the service, it should refund the security amount without delay.

SNIPPETS

‘Body not handed over after 10 days’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 19 — The Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab and Chandigarh, has alleged that even after lapse of ten days, the body of Capt Amol Kalia, who laid down his life fighting infiltrators in the Kargil sector, has not been handed over to his parents.

Mr Angad Singh, General Secretary of the league, who was a member of a team which visited families of martyrs of Ropar district today, said the family members and relatives of Mr Kalia at Nangal were still waiting for the body of the brave soldier. There was no information when the body will be handed over to them. The league demanded that a statue should be erected in the town in memory of Capt Kaila.

The league members also visited the family members of Sepoy Jaswinder Singh at Munne village.

Lall to hold yoga camp
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 19 — The Chandigarh Yoga Sabha in collaboration with the Chandigarh Press Club will organise a seminar and workshop on ‘Yoga v/s modern heatlh problems, from June 20 to 22 at the Chandigarh Press Club, Sector 27.

Giving this information here today, Mr M.L. Vairagi, Secretary, Chandigarh Yoga Sabha, said Prof M. Lall, an exponent of yoga and Pradhan Yogacharya of the Chandigarh Yoga Sabha, would preside over the workshop.

He said a seminar would also be held for the treatment of the patients suffering from health problems caused by working on computer and stress due to arduous sittings.

Mr Vairagi said Prof Lall would also attend patients of cervical spondylitis, backache, knee pains and blood pressure at the three yoga centres working under his control i.e. Sector 30, Sector 21 and Divya Yoga Mandir, NAC Manimajra, after the seminar and workshop at the Chandigarh Press Club.

Langar in memory of martyrs
By A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, June 19 — The Nehru Shastri General Market Association, sector 34-C, organised a langar here today to pay tributes to Indian soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for the country. About 2,000 to 2,500 people attended the langar.

A banner at the place of the langar read, "Nation salutes Indian army". Mr Pradeep Bansal, president of the association, said the langar was organised with the efforts of all shopkeepers of the market. He said, "we have organised this langar to pay homage to the soldiers who have sacrificed themselves for the country. We also plan to organise a blood donation camp."

The people present at the langar blamed Pakistan for the prevailing situation. They spoke highly of the decision of the Indian Government to start the bus service to Pakistan. They said while Indian Government was trying to improve relations between the two countries with a dialogue, the Pakistan army was planning a conspiracy against India. They further said the action of the Indian army to throw out infiltrators from its territory was right.

Other shopkeepers in the market paid tributes to the martyrs. They said they were ready to go to any extent to do something for the fighting soldiers and for the families of those killed during the operations.

Mr Bansal said all communities supported the action taken by the Indian army and Pakistan was responsible for the ongoing action. He condemned the brutal killing of six Indian soldiers by the Pakistan army.

Fast enters 5th day
Tribune News Service

PINJORE, June 19 — The fast by the HMT Karmik Sangh (R and R), Pinjore, in support of its demands entered the fifth day here today.

The President of the sangh, Mr B.S. Chatha, disclosed that Mr Darshi Raj and Mr Ashok Dutta, Secretary and Joint Secretary, respectively, of the sangh today sat on fast. Mr Chatha claimed that the HMT Officers Welfare Association had supported its demands.

He said that the Officers Association had called for an immediate dialogue between the agitating workers and the management as the deadlock could affect the output of the unit. Later, the leaders of the sangh held a gate meeting demanding acceptance of its demands.

The sangh has urged the Central Government to initiate appropriate action against the officials responsible for causing loss to the unit.

Day’s salary donated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 19 — All officers and staff of the local office of the Directorate of Defence Estates, Western Command, have donated a day’s salary towards the welfare of the families of those valiant soldiers who have laid down their life while fighting the enemy in the ongoing Kargil operation.