17 trees to go for traffic lights
by Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The Engineering Department of the Chandigarh Administration has modified its design to convert the Housing Board roundabout on the Chandigarh-Panchkula road into traffic lights intersection so as to minimise green cover loss.

According to the original design, 37 trees were either to be felled or transplanted to provide slip roads and traffic lights at this busy intersection. But according to the revised design, where some modifications have been made in the road alignment, the number of trees which will need either shifting or felling will be reduced to 17.

The decision to replace the existing rotary with traffic lights was taken at a meeting of senior functionaries of the Administration held in February this year.The work, according to the original schedule, is to be completed by December 31 this year.

The Transport Chowk to Housing Board roundabout segment of the Chandigarh-Panchkula road is the busiest road of the city as it is the only link between the two places. Though the Administration has taken a decision in principle to go for tree transplantation than felling them to make provision for slip roads, widening of roads, flyovers and bridges and parking areas, estimates for most of the intersections, where work has been held up because of trees, have either been approved or are in the process of being approved.

Another important decision pending before the Administration is about the loss of trees even in transplantation.the companies engaged in the tree plantation business promise between 70 and 80 per cent of survival rate. To cover up for this 20 to 30 per cent loss and to account for the disposal of trees lost in the process, the Administration is expected to take a policy decision on the subject.

All cases, numbering about six, where estimates for tree transplantation instead of felling have been approved, would be examined together now.

Sources in the Engineering Department point out that the work on the provision of slip roads at the Housing Board intersection has already been taken in hand. The work pertaining to provision of traffic lights has also been allotted.

After the completion of roads, work on dismantling of the existing rotary would begin. Since the volume of traffic on the road remains heavy, the Engineering Department may have to provide an alternative route or a detour to prevent traffic hold-ups on the road.

In fact, little progress has been made on the provision of alternative connections between Chandigarh and Panchkula. The Administration had drawn up three proposals but all are held up for one reason or the other.

The replacement of existing rotary by traffic lights and the provision of slip roads at busy intersections are among several recommendations made by a consultancy firm— CRAPHTS — on Mass Rapid Transport System for Chandigarh and its adjoining townships of SAS Nagar and Panchkula.

CRAPHTS,it may be recalled, has already submitted its comprehensive transportation plan and mass transport-related options for Chandigarh complex in May this year. The Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen BKN Chhibber retd), in his Independence Day speech, had mentioned that the report was under consideration of the Administration.

Cops help examinees cheat
From Bipin Bhardwaj
From Our Correspondent

DERA BASSI, Sept 12 — The supplementary examinations of matric and plus two classes being conducted by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) started here on Saturday with parents and wellwishers supplying helping material to examinees at at Government High School, here.

Groups of "helpers" started gathering at the centre early in the morning as the examination for matric is held in the first half of the day and in the evening for the plus two students. Interestingly, the number of "helpers" exceeded the number of candidates appearing in the examinations.

The helpers were seen entering the school premises by crossing its boundary wall. Some of them even did not care for the barbed wire and forcibly entered the school premises by pulling it apart.

Though the paper (English compulsory) of plus two was being conducted on the first floor of the school building and police personnel were deployed to restrain the helpers from creating nuisance, yet some of them climbed the first floor and helped the examinees through windows.

Not only outsiders but the police personnel deployed on the school premises also handed over "chits" to the examinees. They even provided helpbooks to them during the exam hours.

Mr Harvinder Singh, centre superintendent, conceded that the "helpers" in connivance with the policemen on duty, created nuisance during the examination. He further said that the Station House Officer, Mr Jass Singh, had been asked to put more policemen on duty outside the school premises but he ignored the proposal.

Meanwhile, Mrs Balbir Kaur, Principal, expressed her ignorance about mass copying in the examination centre.

'Umeed' faces closure
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — Children of 'Umeed', an institution for the mentally retarded run by the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA), faces uncertainty with indications of its closure in the near future.

The strength of the school has fallen from above 30 to 4. The school was started about eight years ago in Sector 31. It was later shifted to 'prayaas' in Sector 38. The current move is to shift the children to a room in the Air Force school building in Sector 47.

The school will discontinue functioning in the present building by September 17. Parents of these children want the authorities to co-operate till the end of this month while they look for an alternative solution. They have approached the authorities concerned to retain the venue, which has benefits of physical training, besides speech therapy classes.

These parents have formed Vishvas Welfare Society. They are approaching the administration to allot two rooms in the current building. A member of the society says they are seeking co-operation from the Air Force authorities. "We will struggle to manage our affairs independently if the authorities do not want to be associated with us," he says.

Parents say the current accommodation is of great help to children. Shifting the building frequently compounds the problem of 'handling these children', they complain. The authorities used to provide transport facilities to children. This has been largely withdrawn, which is one of the reasons why many parents have withdrawn their children.

Ms Reena Banerjee, president of the AFWWA, says the institution should not be mistaken for a school. It is one of the welfare activities. If a section of parents is agitated, they can start their school. The decision to run or close the school is the prerogative of the association.

Ms Banerjee says the institution has no resources to manage the affairs as there are only four students. Reduced number of children has made the payment of salaries difficult. Earlier there were only 15 holidays in an year. Now the school remains closed for at least two months.

In 1997, the parents had asked that children be allotted rooms in Prayaas building. Mr Sunil Arora, a parent, says the president of the AFWWA should hand over the funds of Umeed school to Vishvas Welfare society.

Equal representation for girls in PUSU
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) has decided to give equal representation to girl students while contesting the forthcoming university elections.

According to a press note issued here today, the decision was taken in an executive meeting of the organisation. Mr G.S. Grewal, chairman, and Mr Munish Anand, a former president of the student council, also attended the meeting. The press note said the PUSU would give priority to independent contestants in the elections.

The agenda included the demand to start the democratic process in all colleges and universities in Punjab. The issue of holding parallel elections in engineering, architecture and medical colleges was also discussed.

The agenda included the demand for voting rights of employed MBA students and law students either in evening college elections or PUCSC elections. Mr Nitin Sharma, a third year student of chemical engineering, was appointed joint secretary of the PUSU.

Sanitation to be privatised in certain sectors
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Sept 12 — Sanitation in certain sectors here will be handed over to private hands by the local municipal council in the coming days following a decision taken in this regard. Tenders for the job have already been invited by the council.

Presently cleaning of the developed sectors is being looked after by the sanitation staff of the council, which is woefully inadequate. Sources said the proposal of privatising sanitation had been pending for a long time as the safai karamcharis of the council had been opposing it.

The worst hit due by poor sanitation have been the populated sectors, especially sectors 54, 61,65, labour colonies and villages located within the municipal limits of the town. Residents complain that garbage collection bins placed at different points are not cleaned for days together.

Officials of the council say that there were around 120 employees with its sanitation wing to look after 11 sectors besides the labour colonies and villages. Under the privatisation plan, sanitation of all but three sectors would be handed over to contractors. Apart from industrial estate, Shahi Majra, Mohalli and Matour villages, sanitation of Guru Nanak colony adjoining Sector 63 would also be privatised.

The sectors would be initially handed over on a trial basis. Some sectors would be retained by the council due to fear of protests by the safai karamcharis of the council.

Sources said during 1994, the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority had given sanitation of sectors 55, 56, 61, 64 and 65 to privatise agencies but the experiment was not successful.

Need to disclose HIV status stressed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The blood donor needs to be told of his/her HIV status by the doctor. This seemed to be the consensus in a panel discussion on the second and final day of the Continuous Medical Education (CME) on Blood Transfusion at the PGI here today.

This came in view of the directive of the government of not divulging the status of the patient in case he/she turns out to be HIV positive. The CME programme, which was organised by the Department of Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology, PGI. Lectures on the problems of transfusion, transmissible infections, steps towards achieving safe blood transfusion and the alternatives to human blood and blood resources were held.

Participants asserted that blood being an extremely complex biological product, use of whole blood and single unit should be discouraged. Dr Sudharshan Kumar said the need for blood transfusion should be individualised and not generalised, and transfusion should only be given when therapeutic benefits overweighed the potential risks. Dr Neelam Marwaha said it was only blood component preparation which represented an optimum method of blood utilisation.

The two-hour panel discussion on 'Challenges in Transfusion Management' brought many relevant issues of blood banks and transfusion medicine to the fore. The panelists were Dr N.M. Gupta, Dr S. Gopalan, Colonel Lahiri, Dr A. Nanu, Dr S. Varma and Dr R.S. Dhaliwal.

A debate on the safety of doctors and other medical staff during major surgical procedures like organ transplant was carried out by the panelists. They also deliberated on the issue of knowing the status of the patient before performing any such surgery.

Prof V.K. Kak, who was the chief guest, in his valedictory speech, stressed on knowing HIV status of patients during performance of major surgery. The debate seemed to clinch the issue of HIV patients and their status.

Mangu Ram Gupta dead
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — Mr Mangu Ram Gupta (85), father of Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta, a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, died in the wee hours of this morning.

He is survived by three sons and one daughter.

His cremation held this evening was attended by a large number of lawyers, Judges of the High Court, Judicial Officers, bureaucrats of Punjab, Haryana and the Chandigarh Administration, apart from other distinguished citizens of the city.

The deceased, who had retired as Assistant Registrar (Vigilance) of the High Court, had a brilliant academic record. He had entered into the service of the PEPSU High Court at Patiala by standing first in the competition examination. PEPSU was later merged with Punjab and he had joined the Punjab High Court at Chandigarh on November 1, 1956. His performance at both the High Courts was profusely praised.

He had acquired the distilled-wisdom of life the hard way and by boldly facing all hardships and hurdles in his way.

Mr Gupta had been contributing articles on a wide variety of subjects to newspapers, including The Tribune for well over four decades. The book "The Progeny of My Passion" he authored in 1997 was a collection of some of his articles.

His works were appreciated by a large number of Judges. They included Mr Justice Harbans Singh, former Chief Justice of the High Court, Mr Justice S.D. Agarwala, former Chief Justice of the High Court, Mr Justice Mohinder Singh Joshi, former Judge of the Delhi High Court. His works also earned laurels to him from academicians and bureaucrats like Dr R.C. Paul, former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Mr K.K. Mookerjee, former Finance Secretary of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, and Mr V.K. Kapur, Inspector-General of Police, Haryana.

Anti-Dowry Manch protest today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — Members of the Anti-Dowry Joint Action Manch will organise a protest at the Sector 17 Bridge Market here tomorrow to protest against the police inaction in not arresting the remaining two main suspects in the alleged Meenakshi dowry death case.

According to Mrs Harjinder Kaur, President, Sikh Nari manch and former deputy Mayor of the city, members of various organisations, who had joined to form the front, would highlight the incidents of crime against women in general and dowry cases in particular and to impress upon the police to deal with such cases speedily.

Meanwhile, Mr Tarlochan Singh, general Secretary of the Punjab and UT Employees Joint Action Committee, has appealed to all employee organisations to join the protest tomorrow.

Gesture towards grandparents
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — In a novel gesture towards their grand and great grandparents, tiny tots of the Sector 34-C Ever Green Garden Academy not only presented an impressive cultural programme but also presented some gifts to all 22 inmates of the Sector 15 Lions Club Old-Age Home. The gesture of the tiny tots was to coincide with the International Grandparents Day today.

The tiny tots sang and danced before presenting gifts like book marks, letter holders and photo frames which they had made themselves.

Mrs Kuljit Suri, who runs the academy, has been celebrating all days in her own way by teaching children the importance of love sharing and family, besides the importance of each such day.

Nepalese royal family flayed
From Our Corespondent

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — Criticism of the Nepalese royal family was central to a three-day All-India Conference of Nepalese Leftists Youth Front, which started at Bal Bhavan, Sector 23, here today. Mr Dila Ram Acharaya, an MP in the Nepal Legislature, inaugurated the conference, which would be attended by delegates from Nepal and India.

In the morning, a march past was taken out by the participants. This was followed by day long deliberations and a cultural function in the evening.

Mr Sant Bahadur Nepali said flesh trade involving young women was a cause of concern. The conference appealed for friendship between the people of Nepal and India.

It was sad that the rulers of India and Nepal were exercising their powers to weaken the relations between the new democratic friends for their selfish needs, delegates said. They stressed upon the need for unity of all democratic powers of both countries to fight the anti-people behaviour of the administrators.

SNIPPETS

Schoolteachers honoured
Tribune News service

PANCHKULA, Sept 12 — The Lion Club and the Lioness Club (Mid-town) of Panchkula organised a function here yesterday to honour teachers of local schools. The function was organised as part of the Teachers' Day celebrations.

The Deputy Commissioner, Ms Vivek Joshi, and Mr R.S. Duggal, past District Governor of the club, were present on the occasion.

The Deputy Commissioner accompanied by his wife, Veena, Deputy Commissioner (Income Tax), honoured the following teachers: Ms Anu Bhandhari (Bhavan Vidyalaya), Ms Sudha Babbar and Mr Surinder Singh Patial (both from Jainendra Public School), Dr Parveen Vashist (DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8), Ms Savita Bhagra and Ms Manisha Pathak (both from Chaman Lal DAV Senior Secondary School), Mr Satpal Chand and Ms Kuldeep Kaur (both from Sutlej Public School), Ms Sashi Vij (Hans Raj Public School), Mr Somesh (DAV English Medium school), Ms Sashi Sharma (Government Girls Senior Secondary School), Ms Shakuntla Sen (Fir Step Montessori School), Ms Neelam Singh and Mr Raj Kumar Gupta.

Residents form committee
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Sept 12 — A central committee of the residents' welfare associations of the township has been constituted to take up the local issues with the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and the state government.

The committee was formed following a meeting of the associations held at Radha Madhav Mandir in Sector 4.

According to Mr M.L. Sharma, convener, the central committee consists of Mr B.L. Tandon, Mr T.C. Gulati, Mr Anil Goel, Mr T.V. Dhingra, Mr R.K. Gupta and Col Sham Singh.

Streetlights not functioning
By a Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The Modern Housing Complex, Mani Majra, has poor street lighting system. Less than 50 per cent of the tubelights in the streets are functional. Electricity Department officials express their inability to change the faulty tubelights, saying this does not fall in their purview as the lights were installed by the Chandigarh Housing Board. Residents say that the approach road from the petrol pump side near the main highway has few streetlights.

Memorial gate
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Sept 12 — Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, today dedicated a memory gate, constructed by the Nagar Sudhar Sabha, Mundi Kharar (Kharar), in the memory of martyr Major H.P. Singh at his native village Mundi Kharar.

Major Singh laid down his life while fighting intruders in Jammu and Kashmir on April 13 this year.

The Deputy Commissioner paid rich tributes to the martyr and urged people to come forward for constructing such memorials. He declared that a statue of Major Singh would be installed soon in Kharar. He said the demand of the villagers to construct more rooms in the government school and the dispensary would be looked into.

Mr Harjit Singh, President of the sabha, Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Ex-MC, Mr Prem Singh, President SAD, Kharar, Mr Zora Singh Bhullar, Secretary SAD, Ropar, also addressed the gathering.

Beauty contest events held
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — Fashion Revealers, organising the Mr and Miss India North '99, today introduced the 23 short-listed females.

Two sub-events — 'Beautiful Hair' and 'Beautiful Skin' — were held. Naina Rana was announced winner of 'Beautiful Hair' and Jyotsana the first runner-up. The title of 'Beautiful Skin' was won by Mani Nanda and the runner-up was Lippi.

Three more sub-events — 'Miss Talented', 'Miss Catwalk' and 'Miss Body Beautiful' — would be held on September 17.

The participants for Mr North India '99 would be introduced later.

The final event would be held on September 19.