Thursday, November 11, 1999
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N E W S Thursday, November 11, 1999 |
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weather spotlighttoday's calendar |
Cops
clueless even after 5 days ZIRAKPUR, Nov 10 — Even five days after the house of a Kashmiri migrant family in MS Enclave of Dhakauli village near here was robbed, the police is clueless about the gang of the miscreants and its hideout. The robbers had beaten up three family members and one of their guests and looted the house on November 6 midnight. Last year, a similar gang was active in this area. It used to beat the people and rob them. But the police has failed to trace even a single accused so far. As this was the second such an incident in the village in two months and close on the heels of a robbery case in Sector 6 of Panchkula on November 3, the residents of the area are feeling insecure. A neighbour in the colony alleged that an unidentified person was noticed roaming there in the evening of the incident but thinking that he may be a worker form some of the construction works going on nearby was ignored. One of the relatives of the family alleged that some empty bottles of liquor were found near the house the next day. "The miscreants might have had a drink before committing the crime. Mr Arvind Dhar, one of the victims, who got stitches on his head at five places and his jaws wired, complained that the police has hardly pressed any patrolling party in the area. Unable to talk due to the fractured jaws, Mr Badri Nath Dhar (67), while expressing his woes in writing, fears repetition of such "painful" incidents in future if timely action in protecting the residents of the area was not taken. He had lost his five front teeth as he was hit on his face with batons by the robbers. Mrs Sam Rani, the third victim, is still in PGI with severe head and jaw injuries. "After riots in valley, the family shifted to this place in distress. Here too we feel insecure of our lives," said Mr S.L Bakhshi, a relative of the family who had come from Kashmir after receiving the news. The state government should review the protection of such "uprooted" families, he said. The Deputy
Superintendent of Police stated that the investigations
were on and night patrolling in the remote areas of the
subdivision had been intensified. The industries had been
directed to submit the lists of their employees who were
absent from duty or on leave on the particular night. He
also urged the villagers to organise thikri pehras to
help the police nab the suspects. |
Police
transfers cancelled CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The transfers of police officers at various levels effected by the previous SSP from November 1 were cancelled by the IGP here today. The transfers of more than 100 personnel from constables up to Sub Inspectors ordered by Mr C. S. R. Reddy, who relinquished charge as UT SSP yesterday, have been cancelled by Mr Ajay Kashyap, SSP, HQ, following directions from Mr S. K. Singh, IGP. According to police sources, the 16 lists containing the names of the officials issued between November 1 and November 9 stand cancelled and the personnel, who have already joined, have been asked to report back at their previous place of posting. An order issued late this evening also enjoins that the personnel who are yet to be relieved should not be allowed to do so till further orders from the IGP, who is away to Delhi. Police sources said the
entire exercise stemmed from the reported "
wrangling" by an officer to get his relative posted
to a choice posting in one of the police posts. This was
resented to by a section of officers who brought the
matter to the notice of the IGP. Mr S.K. Singh is
reported to have taken a serious view following which all
the orders issued since November 1 were cancelled. |
Work on
link roads on SAS NAGAR, Nov 10 — Under the integrated planning and development of the third phase sectors of Chandigarh, which partially fall in SAS Nagar, work on the missing road linkages between the two urban conglomerates has started. On a priority basis the Engineering Wing of the Chandigarh Administration has started construction of some of the missing vertical road links. An official of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) said the decision to provide the vertical and horizontal road linkages between the two places had been taken at a meeting between officials of the Chandigarh Administration and PUDA in July this year. At least 10 vertical links had been identified of which six links were missing. Similarly three horizontal links had also been identified for smooth flow of inter-city traffic and facilitating integration of services being provided by PUDA in its sectors. To begin with the Engineering Wing of the Chandigarh Administration has initiated the process of land filling on a road link between Sectors 50 and 51, which would ultimately be linked with an incomplete section of road in front of Yadvindra Public School in Sector 62 of SAS Nagar. A bridge would also be constructed on a seasonal rivulet to complete the linkage. An official of the Chandigarh Administration said that some encroachments had to be removed to complete the road link between Sectors 50 and 51. The link between Sectors 51 and 52 had already been completed. The other missing link, for which the estimates had been approved, was between Sectors 48 and 49. The other missing links, which required to be taken up on priority basis were between Sectors 51 and 62 ( horizontal), Sectors 50 and 63 ( horizontal), Sectors 49 and 64 ( horizontal), Sectors 48 and 49 ( vertical), near Kajheri village and another vertical link east of Sector 48. Another proposal to
transfer pockets of land of Chandigarh to PUDA
authorities for integration of services and development
and vice versa has not found favour with the officials. A
total areas of 65.67 acres in Chandigarh had been
identified to be transferred and similarly 44.45 acres of
land in SAS Nagar had been identified to be transferred
to Chandigarh. PUDA officials said that transfer of land
could lead to a lot of unforeseen problems. |
Ghastly
ritual discontinued CHANDIGARH, Nov 10—The ghastly ritual involving the crushing of a piglet by animals driven crazy amid loud beats of drums and shrieks of a large crowd which had been going on for many years was discontinued this time at Milk Colony, Dhanas, with the intervention of some animal lovers and officials of an animal rights organisation. The annual event on the next day of Divali exhibited cruelty towards a tiny piglet and had been known as ‘‘Govardhan Pooja’’. All efforts and persuasion to stop this had met with minor success last year. The event took place in open place, where a large number of milch animals were let loose and driven to crush a tiny piglet under their feet with milkmen and their families beating drums and jeering at the poor animal. As the ‘tamasha’ culminated after three to four hours, the buffalo or a cow under whose feet the piglet had been killed, would get a prize, and residents would indulge in festivity by distributing sweets among themselves. The ritual was being held by milkmen with the faith that Lord Krishna’s cows were killed by demons in the garb of a piglet and hence they thought that they were in a way avenging the heinous act supposed to have been committed by a demon by killing a piglet. The stark cruelty had been raising eye-brows of animal lovers and animal rights organisations, but in the absence of any action by the police, the barbaric act had been continuing for decades, with serious attempts to stop it starting last year and animal rights organisations taking some interest in it. This time, however, the event did not take place due to the timely intervention of some animal lovers, particularly Mr J.K. Sukhija, a Field Inspector with the Society for Prevention of Cruelty against Animals (SPCA), who was able to persuade a large section of residents to shun the practice, though not without protests by some rowdy youngsters. According to Mr Radhe Shayam, a resident, the practice was discontinued after a decision was taken by elders of the village, but he was not sure whether the event will take place in future. ‘‘In a way it is a pious affair as all of us donate whole of milk of our animals to poor for two days and none of us indulge in drinking of liquor during this period,’’ he added. Mr Hazari Lala, a youngster, standing nearby, however, disagreed with elders’ decision and asserted that he will ensure that event takes place next year. ‘‘It is our will what the police and any other organisation is to do with that?’’ he questioned, while arguing with Nandini Kakar an animal lover, who was persuading some of residents not to indulge in the barbaric practice again as it involved a great deal of cruelty against the tiny animal. Mr Sukhija said some
people advised him against visiting the place, fearing
that he might be attacked by the unruly mob.
‘‘But after a great deal of persuasion, it was
elating to learn that some elders had taken a decision
against the practice. He said elders have promised not to
indulge in the practice again, but he will keep a watch
on developments. |
PU
reaching out to alumni CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The Panjab University Alumni Association, which is perhaps the only university in the country to have amongst its alumni two Nobel laureates — Dr Hargobind Khurana and Dr Abdus Salam and, a former Prime Minister, Dr Inder Kumar Gujral — has embarked upon a massive membership drive. According to the President of the Association, Prof M.M. Puri, Vice-Chancellor, and the Dean, Alumni Relations, Prof Dinesh K. Gupta, efforts are on in a big way to enlist support of the alumni both within the country and abroad. Funds are being raised to carry on activities of the Association, including construction of the proposed Alumni House on the campus at a cost of Rs 3 crore. The data-base of the members, numbering more than 2000, is being updated. The Association's annual general meeting (AGM) will be held on November 21 (Sunday) at 6 p.m in the auditorium of the Department of English. The alumni of the
university who intend to seek more information about the
Association may visit Panjab University website
www.puchd.ac.in or contact the Dean, Alumni Relations, by
e-mailing at dar@panjabuniv.chd.nic.in. |
CBSE
students in a quandary CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — Anxiety is writ large on the faces of hundreds of students who had got compartment in the results of the CBSE matriculation and plus two examinations and were unable to clear the same in their first chance in August. Tension is further building up with the last date of submitting the applications for the forthcoming examinations in March, 2000, is drawing closer. Parents have been making numerous inquiries in the wake of a decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in favour of these students who were neither allowed to appear for the board examinations nor allowed admission to various schools in the next class. Sources reveal that students of Lawrence School, Sanawar, and DAV School, Rohtak, had filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against this decision of the board. The Chief Justice had in his orders stated that students who failed to clear their compartment in the first chance should not be considered as fail. However, as per the notification of the board, such candidates are declared fail and are neither allowed to pursue studies in school nor allowed to appear for the plus one and plus two examinations. The seriousness of the issue is such that even the High Court verified some of its aspects. The board only recognises three categories — pass, fail and compartment. The students can clear their compartment examination in two chances. Parents point out that these rules were framed to ensure that these students do not lose an year. This was the decision of the academicians which was being blatantly violated today, said one of them. Interestingly, students with compartment in plus two are being given provisional admission in BA / B Sc Part I by Panjab University, provided they have 20 per cent marks in that subject. If these candidates clear their compartment examination of the plus two examination in the second chance, the university considers them as pass and declares their BA/ B Sc Part I results. On the contrary, the CBSE by violating its own rules is playing havoc with the career of all such students who clear their matriculation compartment in the second chance. Certain parents when
contacted by TNS alleged that the CBSE had still not
revised its rules even though the decision of the Punjab
and Haryana High Court on this issue was very clear. |
LPG
dealers turn encroachers CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — Certain LPG dealers in the city have turned encroachers, if four LPG godowns, running on the UT Engineering Department land in Mani Majra, is any indication. Though the Administration had cleared about 300 jhuggis and a similar gas godown in the nearby Gwala Colony, rendering hundreds of jhuggi-dwellers homeless in a recent anti- encroachment drive, these four godowns were left untouched due to reasons best known to the authorities. The only action taken by the Adminstration so far is that the place where these godowns stand is encircled by barbed wire. About 56 acre of prime land, from which these godowns are running, had been acquired by the Administration in 1993 for the Engineering Department for setting up of a large plant nursery, a floriculture centre and a progeny orchard so that good quality ornamental and fruit plants could be produced there, since the UT had no such facility. As a result, city private nurseries had a field day and were selling such plants at a high cost. Consequently, the compensation amount had been paid to land holders by the Administration. But all proposals and plans of the Administration went haywire for want of a follow-up action in this direction and for the reason that a major part of the land had been in possession of the gas agency owners since 1993. So much so that they had been using the government land free of cost as not a single penny had been deposited by them with the administration as rent or against using the place for their activities. According to sources in the Engineering Department, the godown owners had been asked to vacate the land a number of times, but appeals in this regard have failed to move anything so far, resulting in huge losses to the administration as well as the department. On the other hand, the LPG dealers while admitting that they had been running their stores on the Administration land, maintain that they had been doing so for the past 15 years since when the land was not developed and they had taken it from original owners on a lease basis. According to Mr Basant, one of the owners, the Administration had adopted dual standards on the issue as on one hand it had been compensating ousted jhuggi-jhopri dwellers with residential units, on the other no such facility was being extended to LPG dealers. He said the policy regarding offering of alternative sites was too impractical to be accepted by the dealers. " "They are offering alternative sites at an annual rental of Rs 15000, while in Delhi where land cost is manifold these are available at a nominal rate of Rs 500 per annum. Moreover, they are not
allotting the proposed sites in Industrial Area against
individual names but in the name of gas companies,"
he lamented, adding that they were ready to shift to an
alternative place if it was offered considering all
aspects and problems being faced by dealers. |
Information
on CD CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The local telecom department yesterday went a step ahead in its drive to go hi-tech as it released its first-ever compact disc (CD) that will contain all directory information of the Chandigarh Telecom District. This shall include information about Panchkula, S.A.S. Nagar, Kharar and Dera Bassi, besides outlying exchanges. The CD will be available for Rs 200 from the Commercial Officer, value added services (VAS), Mr Prithipal Singh, Principal General Manager Telecom (PGMT), said yesterday while announcing the launch of the CD. The CD can just be loaded onto a computer having a CD drive. The easy-to-operate CD has a self-explaining usage system. Locating telephone numbers is as easy as just typing in the name and a page displaying all similar names shall appear on the screen. The number can also be located by the address. It also has information about old numbers and changed numbers. STD codes and billing information is also on it. One can know the changed number by just punching in the old one. The CD also require Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT workstation. Earlier, the department
was selling a set of two floppies that were a
computerised telephone directory. |
Milkfed
powder for Orissa SAS NAGAR, Nov 10 — The Milkfed, Punjab today donated a consignment of 20 tonne of milk powder for the cyclone hit areas of Orissa. Two trucks of the consignment was flagged off by the local MLA, Ms Daljeet Kaur. The Sub-divisional Magistrate, Mr O.P. Popli and President of the local Municipal Council, Mr H.S. Billa, were also present on the occasion. Besides three other trucks containing donated clothes were also flagged off on the occasion. In a separate statement
the Sahibzada Social Welfare Society has appealed to the
residents of the town to donate liberally for the cyclone
ravaged people of Orissa. Mr Parvinder Singh Brar,
President of the society, said the donations could be
sent at its office in Phase 5 here. |
Relief
for cyclone victims CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The central coordination committee of the All-Gurdwaras and Sikh Institutions has decided to send first instalment of relief material, including rice, pulses, cereals, mustard oil, ghee, soap, tooth paste, clothes, shoes and other such items to Orissa cyclone victims on November 16, Mrs Surjit Kaur Sandhu, President of the Istri Satsang, announced here yesterday. She appealed to the
residents of the city to contribute generously for
providing aid to the suffering people of Orissa. These
items can be deposited at any Gurdwara in the city for
onward transmission to the central coordination
committee. |
Appeal
for donations for cyclone victims CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The Students Council of the Sector 45 Dev Samaj College for Women has made an appeal to all students to contribute generously for the cyclone-affected people of Orissa. Meanwhile, the Gurcharan
Singh Pallia faction of the local unit of the Shiromani
Akali Dal has constituted a five-member committee to
collect donations and other relief material for onward
transmission to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and the
Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The committee will comprise
Mr Harcharan Singh Sawhney, Mr B.S. Malhi, Mr Ravinder
Singh Khalsa, Mr Amrit Singh Chaudhary and Mr Harbans
Singh Randhawa. The unit has appealed to the citizens to
contribute generously for the cyclone victims. |
Industrial
Area in darkness PANCHKULA, Nov 10 — The seven-hour power cut, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and then again from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m, has put residents of the Industrial Area to a lot of inconvenience. The Chief Engineer, Mr R.S. Pabla, informed that the cut came into effect on October 18 and will be lifted in another week or two. He said that it had been imposed in all industrial pockets of the region during peak load hours. "During peak hours, the frequency and voltage is very low. If this is below the set level, there is danger of the grid collapse and revival takes a lot of time. Hence, the cut,'' he adds. Mr Pabla also informed that paucity of rainfall had necessitated diversion of electricity to the agriculture sector. "Frequent watering of fields is needed before the crop is sown and every fortnight after it is sown. Now, the process is half way through and the cut is likely to be lifted in just over a week's time,'' he said. Meanwhile, for the residents of the area, the evenings spell doom as they are enveloped in darkness. Also, the security factor weighs on their minds, especially in the face of rising instances of crime being reported from the city. "The threat of a break-in hangs like the sword of Damocles over our heads when the lights go off. Complete darkness engulfs us and we are forced to remain confined to the houses. There is danger outside and there is danger inside and we have nowhere to go. Our day ends with the setting sun and rises on an equally sour note,'' Mr Vinod Sahni opines. His wife adds that carrying out the daily chores becomes a hassle since all cooking is to be done during the day and socialising is completely out. Both of them are of the opinion that no appeals would hold water with the department and the cuts would continue as per plans. Mr Satish Sharma, says, "We are bearing the brunt of the shortage of electricity in the state. Since these cuts cannot be imposed in residential areas, the department has conveniently chosen us to shoulder the entire burden. It should have evenly been distributed amongst all sectors so that electricity would not be gone for such long durations. The security of the residents is threatened under such circumstances since there is ample opportunity for a break-in and the burglars can go scot-free under the cover of darkness.'' Another resident, Mr Rajesh Garg, rues, "The complete blackouts at night remind one of times when the country is at war. The study of our children has become a major concern especially since the exams are drawing closer.'' A disappointed Mr Garg has shifted his residence from the Industrial Area to a house in Sector 4 till electricity to the area is restored. The residents have got together and made a representation to the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) to find a way out of the problem being faced by over 10,000 persons residing in the area. The representation, besides highlighting the woes of the residents, adds that the "families living in the Industrial area are compelled to celebrate festivals under candlelight'' and that they have never faced such a situation since the inception of the city. The residents have
further demanded that at least a single phase be made
functional during the cut so that the "bad elements
are not able to take advantage of the situation and
repeat crimes committed in the city in recent months''. |
Pilots
remember the 'Flying Coffin' CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — Night flying for the first time across the Bay of Bengal...negotiating the treacherous peaks of the mighty Himalayas, careful not to stray into the Chinese territory...engine flame-outs...air dropping of supplies while undertaking relief operations during natural calamities...a snake in the cabin... It is an endless progression of adventure excitement, thrill and panic. These elements synonymous with flying dominated the conversations as officers of the 'Packet generation' at the Chandigarh Air Force station recalled their old days on the eve of the first reunion since the plane was phased out in March 1986. The US-built Fairchild C-119 'Packet', often referred to as the 'Flying Coffin' by the air crew, had been the workhorse of the IAF transport fleet for 32 years since February 1954. The aircraft, powered by two piston engines, had served No. 12, No. 19 and No. 48 squadrons as well as the Agra-based Paratroop Training School. The reunion, to be held in New Delhi on November 12, is expected to be attended by over 400 ex-Packet officers, including those now settled in the USA, Canada, Britain and Australia. About 25 such officers from Chandigarh, at least five of whom are still in uniform, will also be present. Others attending the function will include the Air Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command, Air Marshal K.N. Nair and Air Vice-Marshal A.K. Goel, who are among the seniormost serving officers of the 'Packet generation'. ''It was the most challenging and demanding aircraft to fly,'' said Air Commodore S.K. Banerjee. ''The top 10 pilots and navigators from each flying course were posted to Packet squadrons. If you could handle these 'Flying Coffins', you could fly anything,'' he added. The cockpit of this aircraft was not pressurised and hence its service ceiling was restricted to 12,000 feet. ''However, while carrying out air maintenance in Jammu and Kashmir, we took them to altitudes above 21,000 feet, wearing oxygen masks to offset the effect of rarified air. While carrying supplies to forward positions, we landed these at unpaved, high-altitude airstrips like Daulet Beg Oudi, Chushul, Kargil, Leh and Thoise,'' he said. Several innovations were made to meet the IAF requirements. ''These included mounting a jet engine used in the Gnat fighter above the fuselage to provide additional power,'' said Wg Cdr C.S. Grewal. ''The most striking aspect of this was that the jet engine was modified to use the same fuel as the propeller engines,'' he added. Later, The Primus-50 weather radar was also used for operations in mountains. ''Though it was a stable aircraft, it could not take on bad weather,'' a former Packet pilot said. The aircraft also experienced a number of technical failures, particularly of its propellers, which led to a large number of accidents, making the air crew name it 'Flying Coffin'. A problem called 'runaway propeller', when due to a technical fault, the propeller of an engine changed its pitch drastically, causing the engine to produce a reverse thrust, used to make the aircraft turn sharply and lose control. The problem continued till the type of propellers was changed. The IAF experienced about 20 serious accidents involving the Packet. But despite having high accident frequency, it was then one of the most advanced aircrafts of its time. It had an excellent cockpit layout, powerful high-frequency communication equipment with a range of 4,000 kilometres. It also had the most powerful piston engine ever to be designed where the exhaust gases moved turbines to generate additional power. Though it had a flight endurance of 7 hours and 30 minutes, it could be stretched to 14 hours by manually adjusting the fuel mixture. Recalling a hair-raising experience, Wg Cdr Grewal said, ''We were on a training sortie at Agra in 1972, carrying out simulated generator failure drill. In this drill, all cabin lights are switched off and in total darkness, a torch is used. Only one artificial horizon remains functional during power failure. Incidentally, the torchlight deflected and shone on the artificial horizon on my side which was not functional. The pilot followed the reading on it and acted accordingly. The aircraft reached an unusual altitude, stalled and then went into a steep dive. I somehow pulled back on the stick and when we levelled out, the aircraft was skimming tree tops. Badly shaken, upon touch down, we saw that the signaler was not in his seat. We found him later, bleading from a head injury. He had been thrown up and had hit the dome above him.'' Another harrowing experience is still fresh in the mind of Wg Cdr K.P.S. Kang. ''We had to cross Pir Panjal Range while on a sortie from Pathankot to Srinagar and further north towards the Pakistan border. We were cruising at 100 feet above ground level. Unfortunately, while trying to attain altitude to cross the range, the jet power pack, due to a fuel leak, had to be shut down and the aircraft was unable to climb. It appeared that the aircraft was going to hit the top of the mountains, when the pilot opened full power and the aircraft managed to cross the range with just a few feet to spare,'' he said. ''We could see the eyes of the mules on the mountain tops as they scattered. It was a great escape,'' he added. Recalling another experience of the 1965 war, Wg Cdr Kang said a Packet had come to Pathankot from Barailey and was about to depart when the airfield was attacked by Pakistani F-86 Sabres. The aircraft was hit and started burning. ''We ran towards it to put out the flames and fire fighters were pressed into service. After the attack was over, we stripped it of all servicable parts. The same night, there was another attack and the aircraft, or what remained of it, took a direct hit. We managed to save what was usable.'' Pilots said a Packet pilot once spotted and later reported ''SOS'' written in the snow while flying over the Zojila-Drass stretch. It turned out that about 700 military vehicles had been stranded in that area due to a heavy snowfall. A rescue operation was launched and 1,069 personnel were rescued. Another rescue mission is recalled by Wg Cdr P.S. Kainth who undertook supply-drop missions in Sikkim in 1968. "The state had been cut off besause of flood in the Pishto and the Hathi bridge had been washed away. We carried out about 70 drop sorties from Bagdorga to Nathula and Menla for over 15 days,'' he said. ''Navigation was difficult in the mountains and we had to be careful not to stray into the Chinese territory as we were close to the border,'' he added. Wg Cdr Kainth had another such experience when casualties were evacuated from Port Blair at night for the first time in 1969. ''A Major General had to be evacuated. We lifted from Dum Dum at night and were back the same day, flying for 18 hours within a day,'' he said. ''Once we discovered that a snake which had crept into someone's luggage while it was lying on the airfield had entered the cabin of the plane, forcing an emergency landing,'' Air Commodore Banerjee said. ''Once a Packet hit four buffoloes while on a take-off run, but nothing happened to the aircraft,'' said another officer. A Packet on a routine
sortie from Nagpur to Bangalore got lost between the east
and west coasts due to a communication failure. It flew
non-stop for 11 hours, trying to get its bearings and was
finally located by the Bangalore radar. As it touched
down, both engines flamed out — the aircraft had run
out of fuel. |
AFWWA
introduces welfare scheme CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The local chapter of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA) has arranged with a Sector 35 based organisation, Central Institute of Engineering and Vocational Studies, to enable airmen and their dependants to pursue professional courses in engineering and management. Stating this here today, President of AFWWA, Ms Rina Banerjee, said this had been introduced as a welfare measure, keeping in mind the rehabilitation of personnel after retirement. The courses, which were part time, would enable them to obtain an AMIE degree in engineering and complete diploma courses in financial, personnel, marketing and hotel management as well as in fashion, textile and interior decoration. Ms Banerjee said that short computer courses in collaboration with the NIIT had also been introduced from this month. Students would be able to continue these courses even in other cities on being posted out. The AFWWA President said that scholarships for girl students of economically weak civilian families had also been introduced recently. The entire expenditure on education, including fees and books, would be borne by AFWWA. So far, two scholarships had been awarded. Meanwhile, the draw of prizes for the Air Force raffle, organised by AFWWA past month was held today. The UT Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ram Sekhar was the chief guest on the occasion. The Air Officer Commanding of the 12 Wing, Air Commodore S.K. Banerjee, and senior officers and their wives from the Air Force station were also present. The ticket numbers of
the first five winners are 06989, 12067, 14278, 19731 and
17319. The prizes to be given away to these winners
include a colour TV, refrigerator, music system, sewing
machine and a cycle. Besides, there are 15 consolation
prizes. The complete list is displayed at the AFWWA
centre in Sector 31.
|
Squadron
celebrates Raising Day CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The Air Force's 2251 Squadron, called ''the Stingers'', is celebrating its 10th Raising Day here. To commemorate its decade-long service to the nation, a series of celebrations as well as welfare activities are being organised. A statement issued here said that as part of the celebrations, a grand mela will be held at the Air Force Grounds, Mullanpur, from November 12 to 14. Air Officer Commanding, Advance Headquarters, Western Air Command, Air Vice-Marshal B. M. Bali, would be the chief guest on the occasion. The mela would be inaugurated by his wife, Mrs Brinda Bali. The unit was raised at
Sheva, near Thane, in Maharashtra and has been based at
Mullanpur since 1993. It has been actively engaged in air
defence of the western sector since its inception. |
Human
rights bodies move court CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — Less than a month after Chandigarh Tribune laid bare the miserable state of toilet for patients at the Sector 16 General Hospital here, two human rights organisations today moved a City Court for directions to the UT Administration, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh and other defendants to provide basic amenities at the hospital. In a civil suit, taken up by UT Civil Judge (Junior Division) Naval Kumar, the plaintiffs — Lawyers for Social Reforms, Ahsaas, along with City resident Pritpal Singh — also asked for directions to the defendants "to adopt all measures for the prevention of any infection..." The plaintiffs added that "irreparable loss of human lives" could take place if the defendants were not directed to provide basis amenities and check the spread of infection due to stinking toilets and dingy corridors. Claiming the hospital to be in a state of utter neglect, the plaintiffs alleged "lack of cleanliness and maintenance". The condition of toilets for patients, situated at the hospital's backyard, was "so bad that foul smell emanating from it had engulfed the entire area inside the hospital premises as well as outside it, resulting in inconvenience to the employees, patients and their attendants", he stated. A photocopy of the news report, "Stinking toilet for patients in General Hospital", published in Chandigarh Tribune on October 17 was also enclosed along with the civil suit. The suit will now come up before the Civil Judge on December 3 for further hearing. Meanwhile, claiming the carrying out of "investigations" at the hospital, the plaintiffs stated that such conditions had been prevailing for the past four years, "in spite of repeated complaints by the patients and their attendants". The counsel for the plaintiffs also stated that even working water coolers were not to be found at the hospital. He further alleged that plaintiff Pritpal Singh was humiliated and insulted by a senior functionary after he handed over a written complaint for providing basic amenities and for cleaning the toilets. The plaintiff, the
counsel added, was directed to forward the complaint to
the Chandigarh Administration as, according to the
functionary, adequate funds for the coverage had not been
released. |
Order on
salary of SYL employees CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — Ordering the attachment of the "amount lying in the head, only to the extent of Rs 30,000", UT Civil Judge (Junior Division) Mr Baljinder Singh today directed that the "remaining amount beyond Rs 30,000 be released immediately from attachment, so that the salaries of the Sutlej Yamuna Link employees may be disbursed accordingly". Seeking the release of the pay of 48 officials, Rup Singh, in his application had stated that due to the attachment of the bank account "under Head 2701 Major and Medium Irrigation Non Plan, Non Commercial SYL Canal Project, the disbursement of the pay of the officials amounting to Rs 2,81,523 had been stopped by the Punjab Treasury Officer". Today, pronouncing the orders, the Civil Judge observed: "I have perused the execution application wherein amount of Rs 30,000 has been mentioned and it would be in the interest of justice to attach the amount lying in the head only to the extent of Rs 30,000 and I order accordingly. The Civil Judge further observed: "It has been submitted on behalf of the applicants that the attachment order was passed regarding the account of Head 2701 and with the result that the salaries could not be released in favour of the employees of the department". Earlier, the applicant had stated that near starvation condition had been created for them and the families. He had added that the Court, vide order dated October 14, had directed the Treasury Officer to attach the entire bank account of the SYL Superintendent Engineer under the head of account after the decree holder, Gurdev Singh, had applied for the same. Complying with the orders, the Punjab Treasury Officer had "attached the entire bank account under the head on account of the non-payment of the decreetal amount of Rs 27867", he had added. The decree holder, he
had further added, "had got a decree, dated
September 16, 1997, passed by the Court in his favour for
Rs 27867, which the judgement debtors had failed to
satisfy". |
100th
Beant case witness examined CHANDIGARH, Nov 10— Nearly three-and-a-half years after the then Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh was killed in an explosion outside the Civil Secretariat here, the prosecution today examined the 100th witness in the case. There are 425 prosecution witnesses in all. Deposing before the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr. B.S. Bedi, in the makeshift courtroom at Model Jail in Burail village near here, the witness — Punjab Deputy Superintendent of Police Dilbagh Singh — stated that some pamphlets were distributed by activists of Babbar Khalsa and Khalistan Liberation Force. Meanwhile, the accused in the assassination case clarified before the court today that they had never threatened the prosecutors of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Mr R.K. Handa and Mr Rajan Malhotra. Today, the witness also
exhibited 12 documents recovered by intelligence agencies
from different parts of Punjab before he was
assassinated. The case will now come up for hearing on
December 1. |
Bail plea
dismissed CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — Junior Auditor in the Haryana Printing and Stationary Department Saroj Prabha's application for the grant of anticipatory bail in a cheating and forgery case was today dismissed by the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi. She was apprehending arrest in a First Information Report, under sections 420, 467, 471, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, registered on the written complaint of Assistant Controller of Printing and Stationary Department. According to the prosecution, in the xerox copies of the printing orders placed by the department with Bharti Sarv Kalyan Society, "the rates were far in excess of the ones fixed by the Government Press". On comparison, the prosecution had alleged, it was found that the Society "had received Rs 9,24,700 for printing work for which, according to the rates approved by the Haryana Government Printing Press, a payment of only Rs 1,70, 35 could have been made". The prosecution had further added that the society and the department employees had conspired with each other. Seeking the grant of
anticipatory bail, the defence counsel had contended that
the Junior Auditor was being implicated in the case. The
counsel had added that her name was not mentioned in the
FIR. |
Appeal
for blood CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — Blood group B Rh negative is required urgently for seriously ill patients. In a press note issued here today, Dr S.K Agnihotri, Head of the Department of Blood Transfusion and Immuno-haematology, has asked voluntary donors to help save precious lives. The blood donor complex
functions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday and
from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on all working days. |
De-addiction
camp begins at gurdwara CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The role of society and family in preventing relapse in case of drug addicts was highlighted at the 10-day community de-addiction camp inaugurated by the local MP, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, in the gurdwara of Maloya village today. Nearly 30 patients from the village and nearby areas were admitted in the camp organised by the Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. Dr V.K. Kak, Director-Principal, GMCH, emphasised the need of organising these camps which encourage participation of community in the treatment process. He said that many patients do not go to hospitals for treatment because it is time consuming, costly and usually there is long waiting due to shortage of beds. Dr Kak also highlighted the success of the previous two camps in which 47 patients were treated and that none of them left the treatment prematurely. Mr Bansal emphasised the role of religion in preventing drug abuse. He said that Guru Gobind Singh ji was a champion of the cause of fight against drugs as he made it mandatory for each Sikh to remain away from tobacco, drugs and alcohol. He promised to donate a van for the community de-addiction service and assured financial support for strengthening such activities. The village Sarpanch, Mrs Surjit Kaur, expressed her gratitude to GMCH for organising the camp and running a weekly clinic at Palsora. She said that religion and social concern are better intoxicants than alcohol and drugs which ruin the lives of not only the patients but also their families. Highlighting the
advantages of community approach to the treatment of drug
addicts , Dr B.S Chavan, Professor and Head, Department
of Psychiatry, said that it sure is a cost-effective
method of rehabilitation of drug addicts. |
Stretchers
donated CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The local chapter of the Indian Council of Social Welfare has gifted four stretchers and three overbed tables to Command Hospital, Chandi Mandir, a statement issued here said. The items were received by the hospital commandant, Major-Gen Virendra Singh, from former Union minister Venod Sharma along with a cheque for Rs 1,100. The Chairman, National Consumers Awareness Group, Col P.J.S. Mehta, and some social workers were also present on the occasion. Fruits were also
distributed among patients.
|
Symposia
on medicare CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — Western Command Hospital, Chandi Mandir, is organising expert lectures and symposia to cover critical care in various fields of medicine on November 13 and 14 as a part of its continuing medical education (CME). The hospital Commandant, Major-Gen Virendra Singh, said that the highlights of the CME would be two symposia on battle casualties of the recent Kargil conflict and a guest lecture on liver transplantation. Management of orthopaedic, neurosurgical, eye, abdominal injuries and reconstructive surgery in battle casualties would also be discussed. He added that after handling battle casualties received from the Kargil sector, the hospital had gained valuable experience that could be beneficial in future. Besides the specialists
of the Command Hospital, eminent medical experts from
PGIMER, Sector 12, as well as the All-India Institute of
Medical Sciences, New Delhi, are expected to attend the
programme. |
X-ray
machine out of order PANCHKULA, Nov 10 — The X-ray machine at the General Hospital, Sector 6 here, which is out of order has been troubling patients coming to the hospital. Among others who have been suffering, Raju, a labourer, who was brought to the hospital on November 6 after falling from a construction site at Zirakpur, died the same night. Sources in the hospital said that the patient, after the fall, walked into the hospital and the doctor on duty, after prelimnary examination, asked him to get his X-ray done from outside since the machine at the hospital was out of order. The contractor of the labourer, in turn, decided to take him to a private clinic where the facility was available. The doctor there set the wrist fracture after examination and put the patient under observation for two hours but the condition of the patient deteriorated by evening after which he was referred back to the General Hospital, Sector 6. However, the patient was brought dead to the hospital and a post-mortem was conducted. This revealed that the death had occurred due to multiple rib fracture which had ruptured vital organs. The Senior Medical Officer, Dr Kamla Singh, stated that the machine has been out of order for over one and a half months and that the sanction of the amount required to set it right is not in the purview of the Chief Medical Officer. "Meanwhile, we are
referring cases to private hospitals while some are also
sent to the MLA hostel since we have nothing to fall back
upon. However, last week the process of correcting the
fault in the machine got started even as the paper work
involved goes on,'' she added. |
SNIPPETS Harmony week from November 19 CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH) an autonomous body under the union Home Ministry, will organise a communal harmony campaign and fund raising week from November 19 to 25 to coincide with the Quami Ekta Week, a press note of the Chandigarh Administration said today. The NFCH is undertaking activities for the promotion of communal harmony and national integration and assisting children rendered destitute in communal violence. An intensive campaign for sensisting people about the need to foster communal hamony, national integration and helping the children affected by the communal, caste, ethnic and terrorist violence would be launched during the celebrations. The programme would also include cultural events, debates, seminars, workshops, essay and painting competitions in educational institutions. Public meeting on city planning CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — To ascertain views of the general public on various issues pertaining to architectural controls and urban planning having a bearing on the future development policies and programmes for the city, Chandigarh Perspectives, a society constituted by the Chandigarh Administration, will organise the first-ever public meeting and an open session at the Sector 23 Bal Bhavan's Open Air Theatre on November 13 at 3.30 p.m. Chandigarh Perspective was constituted in connection with the holding of an international conference — "Celebrating Chandigarh, 50 years of the idea" —in January this year. Those who feel concerned for Chandigarh and its future have been invited to participate and contribute their views at the open session. These views would be considered by the Administration while framing policies for its development, a press note of the Administration said. The press note further said that a panel consisting of Mr Sarabjeet Singh Sandhu, Chief Architect and Secretary; Prof Aditya Prakash, Prof I.J.S. Bakshi, Principal of the College of Architecture, besides Ms Jaspreet Takhar and Ms Kiran Joshi will listen to the views of the participants. To undertake, organise
and facilitate conferences, seminars, lectures,
exhibitions, expositions, research etc connected with
architecture and planning of Chandigarh ; to study and
research the works of Le Corbusier and other architects;
to document and publish the works relating to planning
and architecture of Chandigarh; to issue appeals and
applications for money and funds in furtherance of the
said objects and to accept gifts, donations and
subscriptions of cash and securities and of any property
moveable or immovable; to invest and deal with funds and
monies of the society and to vary, alter or transpose
such investments from time to time; and to associate,
cooperate and affiliate with other institutions, bodies
and societies with similar objects are among the main
objectives and aims of Chandigarh Perspectives. |
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