Sector 24 woman dies of burns
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — Shiela (36), a resident of Sector 24, who had received burn injuries while cooking food in her house, died at the PGI here today.

According to the official sources, she was admitted to the PGI on Friday with 95 per cent burn injuries.

Sheila's clothes had caught fire when she was cooking food. Her daughter, Malti, who had received burn injuries while trying to save her mother, had died on the same day.

Cop assaulted: Parminder Singh, a constable, was allegedly assaulted while he was trying to pacify a group of three persons who were fighting over some issue in the Sector 28 market this evening.

According to official sources, the incident took place when Parminder Singh, posted with a Police Control Room vehicle, tried to intervene and pacify the three persons who were fighting under the influence of liquor. One member of the group allegedly thrashed him and even tore off his uniform. The three were later took to Sector 26 police station and then sent for medical examination.

No case was, however, registered against any of the accused. "It is possible that both parties may have reached a compromise," said a police official, refusing to give further details.

SAS NAGAR

Five injured: At least five persons suffered minor injuries in a collision between two buses of the Chandigarh depot of Punjab Roadways near Phase VIII here on Sunday morning. According to information available, one of the buses was coming from Chuni Kalan to Chandigarh, while the other bus was going from the local bus stand to Udampur when the accident took place.

A police official said no case had been registered as no complaint was lodged in this regard. The damaged buses had been brought to the Phase VIII police station.

The official said the accident took place when the driver of one of the buses tried to save a head of cattle crossing the road.

ZIRAKPUR

Dhaba owners booked: The police has registered a case against four dhaba owners, Mr Kashmir Lal, Mr Raj Kumar, Mr Inder Singh and Mr Malkiat Singh, for allegedly keeping their dhabas open till late at night.

They were running dhabas on the Kalka-Ambala national highway and the Zirakpur-Patiala highway.

Earlier they were directed to close their establishments latest by 11 p.m. by Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, Deputy Commissioner, Patiala.

A case under Section 188 of the IPC has been registered against them at Lohgarh police post.

HUDA told to give plot possession
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Sept 12 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered HUDA to hand over the physical possession of a residential plot at Sonepat after due development within three months, to pay Rs 10,4913 as interest/compensation, Rs 10,000 for mental agony and harassment and Rs 1,000 towards costs of proceedings to Mr Hari Chand Tandon of Patiala.

The forum observed that non-allotment of the plot to the complainant since 1991 amounted to gross deficiencies of service on the part of HUDA and that the complainant would be entitled to further compensation at the rate of Rs 100 per day on the amount deposited by him with effect from August 8, 1999, if the order was not compiled with within three months.

In his complaint, Mr Tandon had alleged that he was allotted a 10-marla plot (No 883/23, Urban Estate, Sonepat) at a tentative cost of Rs 16,0303 on August 26, 1991. Thereafter, he deposited the cost of the plot as well as Rs 25,771.30 as enhanced price but HUDA failed to offer the physical possession of the plot for want of development work in the area.

The bench comprising Mr R.C. Taneja and Mr B.S. Badhran observed that HUDA was required to complete the development work in the area and offer possession of the plot to the complainant within a reasonable period despite the fact that no time limit was prescribed for the purpose. The development work was incomplete till 1993 and had not been completed till date which tantamount to deficiency of service on the part of HUDA.

The bench added that HUDA should not float any scheme till the development work was complete and it was in a position to offer possession of the plots to the prospective allottees within a reasonable period.

Fall in fruit prices
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The prices of a number of commonly consumed fruits have come down in the local market during the past one week.

During a survey, it was found that a kg of mausambi, priced at Rs 40 a dozen in retail and for Rs 120 per pack of four dozen in wholesale market, could be purchased today for Rs 30 a dozen in retail and for Rs 80 per four dozen in the wholesale market. Traders attributed the fall in the price of the fruit to enhanced arrivals in the market from parts of Maharashtra, where crop was said to be comparatively good this year.

Similarly, there was a dip in the price of grapes.A kg of the fruit, priced at Rs 80 last week, could be purchased today for Rs 70 in different city markets. The wholesale price of the fruit has come down from Rs 180 to Rs 150 per 2.5 kg pack during this period. Guava has also become cheaper during this period. A kg of the fruit priced at Rs 15 just two three days back, could be had today for Rs 12 a kg.

Same was the case with 'cheeku'.A kg of the fruit, which could be fetched at Rs 60 a few days back, was priced at Rs 45 today.In the wholesale market,the price has come down from Rs 250 to Rs 250 per 7-8 kg pack.

The price of pomegranate has decreased from Rs 50 a kg to Rs 35-40 a kg.The wholesale price has come down from Rs 120 to Rs 80 per small pack containing about 3.5 kg of the fruit.Banana,too,has become cheaper during this period.A dozen of the fruit, priced at Rs 20 for the past one month, could be had today for Rs 15. The wholesale price of the same has come down from Rs 140 to Rs 115 per 100 pieces.Traders said the price of pomegranate and banana has dipped due to arrival of fresh crop in the market from Maharashtra and adjoining areas.

There was no change in the prices of some fruits.A kg of apple (Kinnaur), was still priced at Rs 50, while same quantity of the golden variety could be relished for Rs 30. Plum, as usual, was priced at Rs 40 a kg and papaya was priced at Rs 20 a kg.

Speculations rife in Chandigarh

THOUGH the fate of all 16 candidates in the fray for the lone Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat remains packed in 640-odd electronic voting machines, there are all types of speculations about the probable winner. Not only that, there is large-scale betting not only over the winner but also over the margin of victory.

Both the Congress and the BJP are confident of their win. Also optimistic about his triumph is the BSP candidate. While the EVMs remain locked in well-guarded rooms at five counting centres, the candidates and their supporters have been making their own calculations. Some of them are basing their predictions on polling percentage from different areas by comparing it with the figures of the previous two elections while a few others are also taking into consideration some other factors, including low polling, both in urban and rural areas, to arrive at their conclusions.

The city has recorded the lowest ever polling since 1967. This time it was just 48.51 per cent against the previous lowest of 53.61 recorded during the 1996 Lok Sabha elections.

Air Force day: It has been an eventful 1999, the last year of the millennium. The local Air Force station wants to make the last Air Force Day celebration on October 8 a memorable one. The men and officers of the station have every reason to do so as they did a commendable job in the Kargil operations. Gp Capt SP Singh of the Chandigarh base got a gallantry award. Others, too, did well. The serving men and officers and their families are now looking forward to an interaction with retired Air Force officers and their families in the last such gettogether of the millennium.

The Air Force Station authorities, however, feel handicapped as they do not have addresses and contact numbers of all retired Air Force men and officers settled in the city. The Station authorities want them to contact Tel No 641224 (office) and 653798 or 677041 to furnish details about their contact numbers and availability.

PRO house: Chandigarh has become the first Union Territory or State in the country to earmark a government house for one of its Public Relations Officers. An order to this effect was issued by the Administrator of Chandigarh in exercise of his powers conferred under Rule SR-317-AM-7 of the Government Residences (Chandigarh Administration General Pool) Allotment Rules, 1996. No house is earmarked for either the Director, Public Relations, or the other PRO working in the same department as probably they are deputationists from Haryana. In fact, many other senior officers of the Administration of the UT cadre also have no earmarked houses. The Administration has some earmarked houses for its senior functionaries, including the Adviser to the Administrator, the Home Secretary, the Finance Secretary, the Inspector-General of Police, the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police. But mostly, these officials have been staying in houses other than those earmarked for them.

Clarification: Col Pratap Singh Gill, a former Lieutenant-Governor of Goa, in a letter to Sentinel says that he took up the case of some widows of Kashmir casualties with the Adjutant-General of Army headquarters in New Delhi. It has been clarified that troops deployed in counter-insurgency in Kashmir were not entitled for Kargil Martyrs' benefits. Further, the compensation is always paid to the widow of the soldier and none else. It is, however, felt that the widow should also be considerate towards the parents of the deceased soldier.

The Adjutant-General has mentioned that it takes about two months to complete the paper work of these battle casualties after which full payment is made to the widow.

Colonel Gill said that he would be happy to help such cases where injustice had been done to a war widow. They were welcome to meet him at his farmhouse in Manimajra.

Turtle lovers: The local Society for Conservation and Awareness of Aquatic Life (SCAAL) has found a novel way to create awareness among people, particularly students, about endangered species of turtles and the need to conserve such species.

The society has got published "Turtle Awareness Labels" enlisting all details about different species of turtles, such as their habitats, their status — whether they are endangered or not — their size and under which section of the Wildlife Protection Act they have been protected.

These labels also have information about which particular species is being exploited for which purpose as in case of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, which are butchered in Kerala for their flesh and for making leather goods out of their skin.

Mr Manjinder Singh, the president of SCAAL, says the awareness labels with an appeal that school children should contribute their mite by educating people about the danger of extinction being faced by turtles, were being disbursed by the society among students free of cost.

Catch 'em young: The death of a colony resident the other day saw traffic being held up for more than two hours. It was also an occasion for the children of the colony residents being imparted the basics of organising protests. Small children, aged between 3 and 11 years, were in the forefront putting stones on the road. Some even climbed trees to break large branches for blocking the road.

Seeing all this a stranded motorist quipped.: "They (colony residents) do believe in the catching them young!"

Kangri dialect: Dr A.R. Chauhan, a city based linguist, has been invited to present a research paper on the unwanted linguistic features of Kangri dialect of mid-Himalayan region in the fifth Himalayan Languages Symposium to be held in Kathmandu from September 12 to 15.

The symposium is being organised by Tribhuvan University, Nepal, in collaboration with the Secretariat for Himalayan Languages, Leiden University, the Netherlands. Dr Chauhan teaches in the local Regional Institute of English where teachers and lecturers of English from the northern region are given inservice training in the teaching of English.

Hattrick: A city-based lensman, Subhash Sapru, has scored a hattrick in the international field of photography as his photographs have won recognition for the third consecutive year at the Oklahoma International Exhibition of Photography at Oklahoma City in the USA.

Mr Sapru has already won five awards in India Print Circuit during the past two years.

Tailpiece: On September 5 when the electorate in the region went to the polling booths, a sense of despondency was writ large on their faces, for they were apprehensive of another election next year, notwithstanding the results of poll surveys.

To eliminate botheration to the electorate to come to the polling booths too often, somebody was heard saying that in future all the candidates seeking votes in a constituency should be given a ballot box and they should go from house to house begging for votes in place of alms. Is the Election Commission listening?

Monika wins road race
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — Monika Sharma of Shishu Niketan School, Sector 22, won the 15 km road race in the city road racing being organised by the Chandigarh Amateur Cycling Association at the Sukhna Lake circuit today. Kavita Sharma of GMSSS-19 bagged the second position, while Nirmal Kaur of GCG-11 finished third. In the junior boys' 25 km road race, Ankur Kaul of St Anne's School, Sector 32, secured the first position, while Harsimran Brar of GMSSS-16 finished second and Vivek Sharma of DAV College, Sector 10, stood third.

Inter-school cricket: The UT Cricket Association will organise an Inter-school Cricket Tournament for the Shivalik Trophy at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium from September 18. The entries will be entertained only when a participating school submits a list of sixteen players who will take part in the tournament, says a press note. No entry fee will be charged and the last date for entry is September 16. Entries close with Naib Singh, at Cricket Stadium, Sector 16 or Mr S.S. Bawa, Secretary of the UTCA.

Pataudi Trophy: Trials to select the Panchkula senior cricket team for the Pataudi Trophy tournament will be held on September 13 at cricket ground, Sector 5 in Panchkula. Those interested in participating may contact Mr R.P. Chopra at the venue.

Poor voting in city disturbing

THE news report in Chandigarh Tribune titled ‘50 pc voters seal fate of candidates’ was not only disturbing but astonishing to a great extent. There is a need for introspection as to why the voting percentage was so low.

Chandigarh is one of the cities in the country which has the highest literacy rate. Some organisation should come forward to investigate as to why people could not or did not cast their vote.

In the light of above facts, there is a need to make exercise of franchise compulsory. Those who do not vote must be penalised. Ours is a greatest democracy in the world and if people of India have constitutional right to freedom of speech, freedom of property, freedom of religion, there must be a clause in the Constitution, making it compulsory for every citizen to cast his/her vote.

The trend of non-participation in the election process by masses is dangerous. People must cast their vote and that too to a rightful candidate who can redress their grievances and is easily available to them as and when needed, and does good for the area he represents. Will Election Commission do something to inculcate interest in the masses to cast their votes?

Ujagar Singh
Chandigarh

Child labour problem

Apropos of news item ‘Child labour issue lowest on agenda’ published in Chandigarh Tribune on September 1. It was shocking to read about candidates in labour abundant districts who have refused to sign a declaration to work for eradicating child labour problem if they are voted to power in the ensuing general elections.

According to statistics, children constitute one third of Indian population and over 50 per cent of them live under poverty line and are not lucky enough to go to school even up to primary level. It is unfortunate that more than six crore children under the age of 14 are working as labourers and about 14 crore children are out of school whereas as per our Constitution, free and compulsory education is must for all children up to the age of 14. To add salt to the injury, the government spends less than 1 per cent of GDP on the primary education.

Small children work in carpet weaving industry, glass work factories, bidi industry, match box and fireworks factories and other related industries under unhygienic conditions.

Moreover, continual exposure to hazardous and unhealthy working conditions results in children falling prey to various illnesses such as chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, asthma, posture-related spinal problems, skin diseases and eye defects, to name a few.

The need of the hour for the government is to be more active and sympathetic to the plight of these kids. Social organisations and NGOs associated with causes of children must create awareness amongst the parents to eliminate child labour.

The psyche of poor and illiterate parents needs to be changed by proper counselling regarding extra pair of hands earning some money.

A national and state commission on child labour should be established to work and come out with suggestions to eliminate this menace. And the government, particularly the labour ministry, should take stern action against those who employ small children for different works.

Sanjay Khurana
Chandigarh

Stable govt needed

The Election Commission (EC) issued a notice that there will be no bar on Kargil debate. Political parties could raise the Kargil issue in their poll campaign but keep the armed forces out of political controversies.

The BJP regime under the leadership of Atal Behari Vajpayee had several commendable achievements like nuclear explosion at Pokhran and flushing out Pakistani intruders from the Kargil and Dras sectors. But the Congress leaders, instead of giving support to the government, have created problems by raising irrelevant issues. It shows that they are not obeying rules and regulations of the EC.

It’s true that the Congress is fully responsible for the present Lok Sabha poll. Can people expect a stable government from the Congress? The Congress did nothing to remove poverty and unemployment during 45 years’ of its rule. As a result, more than 40 per cent population of the country is still living under the poverty line.

It becomes moral duty of the people of India to strengthen the hands of the political party which could take the country forward with stability. This is essential for the development of the country.

Sunil Kumar Dogra
Chandigarh