Bhutan, Manipur state lottery tickets worth Rs 1 crore seized
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 16 — Lottery tickets worth over Rs 1 crore were seized by the police late last night.

According to sources, acting on a tip-off, the police confiscated tickets of the Bhutan and Manipur state lotteries which were packed in about eight gunny bags. The tickets were offloaded from a bus near The Tribune roundabout around midnight last night.

The sources said the central sales tax and the other local taxes were not paid on the tickets.

Held for gambling: Four persons, Mohan Lal, Rattan Singh, Rajinder Kumar and Jatinder Parkash, have been arrested by the police for gambling at a public place.

A case under the Gambling Act has been registered.

Liquor seized: The police has arrested Chandresh Rai, a resident of Kishangarh village, and seized 12 bottles of liquor from him.

A case under the Excise Act has been registered.

Seven held: Seven persons, Santosh Kumar, Arvind, Ganesh, Ram Naresh, Nirmal, Mehar Chand and Ram Lal, have been arrested by the police for apprehension of a breach of the peace.

Theft: Mr Ram Pal, a resident of the Deep complex, Hallomajra, complained to the police that Rs 1,850 and some gold ornaments had been stolen from his residence.

The police has registered a case.

Hurt: A cyclist and resident of Indira Colony, Mani Majra, Ravinder Singh, was injured when he was hit by a tractor-trailer driven by Dalbir Singh, a resident of Kainaur in Ropar district.

He has been admitted to General Hospital, Sector 16.

The police has registered a case.

Assaulted: Mr Rajinder Kumar, a resident of Sector 20, reported that he was assaulted by Vinod Kumar and his brother, Bittu, of the same sector over a minor issue.

A case has been registered.

PANCHKULA

Booked: Two persons have been booked under the NDPS Act in two separate cases. According to information available, the CIA wing of the local police arrested Sukhari Chaudhary for possessing 1.7 kg of charas.

In another case Devinder Gupta was arrested while carrying 900 gm of charas.

"Gift of life" project

WHAT was started as "Heart-to- Heart Foundation" by members of the Inner Wheel Club of Chandigarh, comprising wives of the Rotarians in order to help children suffering from congenital and rheumatic diseases and belonging to weaker sections of society, has turned into a "Gift of life" project of Rotary Club of Chandigarh.

The idea grew and became more focused when Ram Lakha, a poor child, was helped by Rotary and Inner Wheel Club a couple of years ago to undergo congenital surgery at the PGI.

Mr Raja Saboo, a former World President of the Rotary International and a member of the local Rotary Club, had a dream to enlarge this project in a way that children and youngsters belonging to poor families and needing expensive treatment should not face the uncertainties of the future because of lack of financial resources.

"Who are we to give a gift of life ? " Is it not presumptuous on our part to say so because it is only God that does that and yet God has given us the task and we can be instruments in his work," says Mr Saboo.

After Ram Lakha's case, there were detailed discussions with Dr B.K. Sharma and Dr R.K. Suri of the PGI and a project report was prepared. The report said that out of about 100-125 young people who came to the PGI for corrective heart surgery, at least 25 came from poorest of poor families and in most of such cases, they would be taken back by their families without any treatment. No data or record is available to ascertain what happened to them after diagnosis at the PGI.

Last year, says Mr Saboo, Rotary Club prepared the project to look after such children for next two years. It would cost the club Rs 40 lakh. The money did not deter Rotarians. Help came from Martin Gass, a Rotarian from Germany, who had earlier helped in giving a gift of the model train for the Dolls' Museum in Chandigarh, as his initiative led to financial help of $ 10,000 from Rotary Club, Ebingen. Then came the support from Japan through Rotarian Takao Fukui who gave $ 15,000. Local Rotarians collected Rs 10 lakh through their direct contribution or through donations.

Mrs Kawal Bedi, this year's President of the Club, spearheaded the fund collection movement.Then came the total support of the PGI through Dr BK Sharma and the present head of the Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Department, Dr R.S. Dhaliwal.One child, Lobseng Dolma, has already been operated upon while the second child, Uttam Rani, had been identified for surgery at the formal inauguration of the project on May 13.

To give this project internationality, says Mr Saboo, it is proposed that four or five children from needy families from the neighbouring countries may also be given the benefit of the programme.

What after two years ? Can the people of Chandigarh sustain this project beyond two years? This is a challenge to them, their generosity and philanthropy.

Question of character

At the Career and Education Fair '99 the stall on ``You have a question, We Have an Answer'' was bombarded with all sorts of queries. But the query that took the cake was that of an anxious father looking for a groom for his daughter. At a stall detailing visitors on immigration to Canada, he made frantic inquiries about how he could ascertain the character and background of a boy he had seen in Canada. On being dissatisfied with the response, he put in a letter at the ``You have a question, we have an answer'' stall for the same. The organisers had assured him they would get back to the individual after gathering sufficient information. Meanwhile, the anxious father continues his wait.

Exam ready

The teachers of the local DAV College, inspired by the principal's initiative in performing examination duty, met him to stress that they would, on their own, ensure the smooth conduct of examination and perform examination duty even if it means working in two shifts for the day. The teachers opine that they do not want the principal to burden himself with their work because he has enough work of his own.

After demolition

A strange scene has emerged in Sector 6 of Panchkula. Broken fences, uprooted hedges and debris of pulled down enclosures lie scattered on open spaces, outside the boundary walls of houses.
The broken structures are not the aftermath of an earthquake but are the result of a demolition drive launched by Haryana Urban Development Authority to clear structures illegally raised by residents in front of their houses.

As the operation to pull down 700 odd structures began last Monday, the affected residents watched helplessly as HUDA officials were armed with directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The High Court had directed HUDA to demolish all illegally raised structures in Sector 6 by May 13.

Birds galore

Those who scan the Sukhna Lake in the morning and evening hours are startled to see unusual gathering of aquatic birds floating at this time of summer on the eastern shallow waters of this wetland.

There are some 30 migratory birds that have missed their male or female partners or their flocks and have not returned home after the change of season in April last. These are spotbills and common poachards. There are also other winter visitors like the black winged stilts (shore birds). These observations were made by ESI President S.K. Sharma. He says that during the last one month, small groups of migratory birds land at this waterbody and leave this space after three-six days' stay.

Mr C.L. Sehgal, a former Chief Wildlife Warden, Haryana, says that he also had observed similar changes in some wetlands in Haryana in May about eight years ago.

HUDA told to refund money
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 16 — The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II has directed HUDA through its Chief Administrator and also the Estate Officer to pay Rs 2.27 lakh to the complainant who had surrendered his plot following delay in giving the possession.

The forum Bench comprising its President, Mr R.P. Bajaj and a member, Mr H.S. Walia, has also directed them to pay the complainant interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum and costs of Rs 1,000.

The complainant, Mr Surinder Kumar Gupta, had contended that he had applied for the allotment of a plot in Sonepat and deposited Rs 16,037 as earnest money as 10 per cent cost of the plot. It was in August, 1991, that he was allotted the plot and he made further payments. The last instalment was paid in November, 1994, and the total amount deposited came to about Rs 1.08 lakh.

He further averred that he had requested the respondents to give possession of the plot so that he could start construction of a house but the possession was not handed over to him.

Consequently, he surrendered the plot and claimed refund of the deposited amount along with interest. The respondents, however, did not make the payment.

In their reply, the respondents maintained that as per the policy those who surrendered their plots were not entitled to any interest. They further said that the possession of the plot was not given because work was still going on.

After hearing the contentions of both parties, the Bench held that non-development of the area of the plot for such a long time and non-refund of the amount deposited by the complainant certainly amounted to deficiency in service. Allowing the complaint of Mr Gupta, the Bench directed HUDA to return the deposited amount along with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum.

PANCHKULA

‘Hand over plot’

The local consumer court has directed the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to hand over the possession of an EWS plot to a consumer in Sector 19 here within two months.

The consumer has been awarded a compensation of Rs 20,000 for being harassed.

The order was passed by the District Consumers Disputes Redressal Forum on a complaint filed by Mr Ashok Kumar, a resident of Ambala city. He alleged that he was allotted an EWS plot in Sector 19 here in June, 1987.

He deposited Rs 1,000 at the time of applying for the plot and paid the remaining amount in instalments. However, the allotment was cancelled as the complainant failed to submit a domicile certificate in time. But HUDA kept receiving the monthly instalments, he alleged.

Later a civil suit filed by the complainant for mandatory injunction directing HUDA to deliver the physical possession of the plot in question was decided in his favour. Still the possession of the plot was not offered to him.

The forum observed that HUDA had failed to give possession of the plot even after receiving full payment from the complainant. The forum allowed Rs 1,000 as costs of the constructions.

The order has to be compiled within a period of two months.

Ritesh's ton goes in vain
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 16 — An unbeaten knock of 103 runs and 3 for 32 by Ritesh Manchanda of Videocon Club went in vain as Chetna Club beat Videocon Club by 31 runs in the Super League round of the third Chandigarh League-cum-Knockout Cricket Tournament today.

Videocon Club won the toss and elected to field first. Chetna Club scored 223 for six wickets in the stipulated 25 overs. Dinesh Mongia (74), Satham (43) and Dharmveer (32 n.o.) were the main scorers for the team. Ritesh Manchanda captured 3 wickets.

In reply, Videocon XI were all out for 192 runs in 24.5 overs. Ritesh Manchanda (103 n.o.) was the only batsman who could face Chetna Club bowlers.

Brief scores: Chetna CC — 223 runs for 6 wickets in 25 overs (Dinesh Mongia 74, Satham 43, Dharmveer 43 n.o., Narinder Kwatra 22).

Videocon CC — 192 runs all out in 24.5 overs.

(Ritesh Manchanda 103 n.o., Munish Chada 25, Dinesh Mongia 3 for 26, Narinder Kwatra 2 for 35).

In another match, High Court XI beat PGI CC by 27 runs.

Brief scores: High Court XI — 179 runs for 7 wickets in 25 overs (Gurdeep Rana 40, Devi Dutt 35, Jagjit 23, Anil Choudhary 2 for 31, Rajiv Dutta 2 for 37).

PGI CC — 152 all out (Amit Bhardwaj 69, Anil Choudhury 30, Jagjit 3 for 33, Gurdip Rana 2 for 23).

In another match played at the Cricket Stadium, Sector 16, Punjab Warehousing beat Prudential CC by two wickets.

Brief scores: Prudential CC — 134 runs for 4 wickets in 25 overs (Anil Joshi 36, Ajay Duggal 33).

Punjab Warehousing — 135 runs for 8 wickets in 24.5 overs (Anil Sharma 52, Umesh Kaira 35, Mukesh Pida 4 for 22).

In another match Fighter CC beat Pace XI by 76 runs.

Brief scores: Fighter CC — 182 runs for 6 wickets in 25 overs (Vikrant Gupta 47, Bhupinder Sandhu 40, Anil Kapoor 21, Vishal 3 for 27, Randhir Nain 2 for 37).

Pace XI — 106 runs all out (Yadvinder Singh 22, Vishal Sharma 20, Hitesh 3 for 4, Iqbal Singh 3 for 18).

Litchi remains out of reach
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 16 — After watermelon, it is the turn of litchi to flood the city roadsides, even as it remains out of reach of common people due to its high price.

After a survey of the market today, it was found that though watermelon was still making its presence felt in the city, it was litchi which emerged as a rival to it. One can see a large number of 'rehris' laden with the fruit, lined up along the roads in different parts of the city.

A kg of the fruit was being sold today for Rs 50 in different parts of the city, while its wholesale price was Rs 400 per 10 kg. According to traders, the fruit was being sold at a high price because it came from Dehradun these days. "The situation will improve only when the local variety of the fruit starts coming in the market after about two weeks from now. Once it arrives, the fruit price is expected to come down to between Rs 30 and Rs 35 a kg," said a fruit trader in the Sector 27 fruit market.

On the other hand, mango continued to be sold at a low price today. A kg of 'safeda' variety of the fruit was available at Rs 15 a kg. Its wholesale price shuttled between Rs 150 and Rs 180 per 15 kg pack. 'Totapari' variety was also available at the same price. The 'sandhuri' mango was priced at Rs 30 a kg in retail market and Rs 200 per 12 kg pack.

The price of grapes remained unchanged. A kg of it was available at Rs 50 in retail market and at Rs 150 per four kg pack in wholesale market.

Contrary to this the prices of peach and apricot have decreased in the past two days. A kg of peach, priced at between Rs 20 and Rs 24 just two days back, was available today at between Rs 12 and Rs 15. Its wholesale price has come down from Rs 70 to Rs 50 per five kg. A kg of apricot, priced at between Rs 30 and Rs 40 a few days back, could be purchased in the Sector 22 market for Rs 20 today. The wholesale price of the fruit has decreased from between Rs 130 and Rs 150 to between Rs 60 and Rs 70 per five kg pack. If a kg of cherry was priced at Rs 60 two days back, it was priced at Rs 40 today. Its wholesale price has come down from Rs 100 to Rs 60 per two kg pack.

The fall in the price was attributed to increased arrivals of apricot in the city markets from Solan and other parts of Himachal Pradesh.

There was no change in the prices of banana and papaya, as these were still available at Rs 20 a dozen and Rs 20 a kg, respectively. Melon and watermelon were available at the old prices of Rs 15 and Rs 8 a kg, respectively, in different markets today.

Crime in high society alarming

It is observed that crimes have become very common in high society, especially among people with political background. Heinous crimes such as the infamous Tandoori murder and those involving Romesh Sharma have not yet got erased from public memory. Another heinous crime involving Manu Sharma has taken everyone by surprise.

Surprisingly, almost all big crimes are committed in the capital of India, yet the Delhi Police, which is one of the best equipped police force in the country, was unable to apprehend the main culprit even after five days of the crime. This is something ridiculous.

Indian culture has started to crumble under the burden of western culture. This gun-totting culture is prevalent in the West and some of our politicians and businessmen, under the garb of security, carry with them weapons which they do not know when and where to use. It has become a status symbol for them to flaunt weapons and carry security personnel with them even when they visit a personal friend. They give unfettered liberty even to their school-going children to carry security guards with them and talk all sorts of nonsense with their classmates. This is a very dangerous trend.

The security guards accompanying them also consider themselves to be an elite class. The children growing up in such environments don’t know what good culture is. They consider their fathers’ money and muscle power to be their strength and commit all sorts of crimes.

It is good to have money and power but not at the cost of one’s moral and spiritual values. Spiritualism has nothing to do with religion. Spiritualism teaches a man to be more humane, tolerant and good-doer. It does not allow a man to become destructive in nature. Crimes are committed out of frustration or due to excessive power. These two things are the bane of our society. We have to get rid of these two evils. This is possible only if good home education is imparted to the children of the so-called big people.

Powerful people should learn a lesson from above cases and give good lessons to their children so that they do not have to move about with their faces covered.

T. Bhattacharya
Panchkula

Exams and ads issue

Apropos of news item in Chandigarh Tribune of May 7 titled ‘Bring ads or forego exams’.

This news does not contain facts. The correspondent, after an enquiry made by her on telephone, had already been told by the Principal that she had not stopped any student from appearing in the exams. It is totally false and fabricated that bringing ads by students for souvenir was a condition for eligibility to sit in the examination and was a compulsion.

If that was so, they could not have been given the roll numbers and not allowed to appear in the first paper. However, many students are appearing in the examination without bringing ads.

The fact is that they had not prepared themselves for the examination, and they admitted this in the presence of staff members. They did not sit in the examination despite persuasion and were adamant not to take the examination. Since that time they are absent without intimation.

Ours is a prestigious institution in the city and we train students in different subjects not only from Chandigarh but also from other states. I request you to clarify the real position.

Mrs Shashi Aggarwal,
Principal, Dev Samaj Polytechnic for Women,
Chandigarh

Public toilets

I want to draw the attention of the Chandigarh Administration Municipal Corporation to the pathetic condition of public toilets at Khudha Lahora village, 1.5 km from the PGI.

There are four public toilets for men and women, situated around the village. A sweeper has been appointed for each of these. Yet these are in pitiable condition The sweepers do not clean the toilets properly and are absent from the duty most of the time. Due to their absence, metal and sanitary fittings have been stolen. The flush system does not work. Users have to carry a separate pot of water. The taps are out of order. Water always flows outside the toilets. The doors and window frames are either broken or in a poor condition. Due to poor arrangement of lights during night, it has become difficult for women and girls to go to the toilets.

The Municipal Corporation should conduct a survey in the village to solve these problems. Class IV employees should be appointed so that public toilets could be maintained properly. A watchman for each public toilet should be appointed to check theft of sanitary fittings. The Administration can also provide allowances to the panchayats, so that they can handle the situation effectively.

Sunil Kumar Dogra
Chandigarh

Traffic problems

I wish to draw your attention to traffic problems at the time when there is a traffic light cut or the absence/ disappearance of traffic personnel, leading to traffic chaos on roads.

Recently , I was going home at around 7 p.m. At the traffic lights of sectors 9-8-17-18, I found non-functioning traffic lights and absence of traffic personnel to regulate the traffic. This is a matter of serious concern.

I immediately contacted traffic personnel at the next chowk but was informed that the duty of the personnel, was over at the previous intersection and the in charge had gone for challan at the bus stand.

I requested him for the deployment of traffic police at that place. He sent a message to the headquarters.

I am not sure what happened afterwards, but I have observed the same problem at many traffic lights.

I wish to draw the attention of the traffic authorities to give priority to traffic control and not merely challan people.

Ranjay Vardhan
Panchkula