Termites pose threat to trees
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Sept 23 — Even as school children and youth jump on to the ''green-drive'' bandwagon and educational institutions, in addition to the administration organise numerous tree plantation programmes to contribute their bit towards a better and a cleaner environment, little effort goes into the maintenance of such trees, even the fully grown ones.

Rotting tress, dead trees and now ``termite-smitten'' trees line the road dividing Sectors 5 and 6 with most of such trees concentrated around the entrance to the Topiary Park in Sector 6. Some of the trees have been eaten hollow by termites but this fact has gone unnoticed by the Horticulture Department so far. In spite of having a green crown, most of these trees are waiting to be completely ''taken over'' by the termite army.

Officials in the Horticulture Department contend that regular checks of newly planted trees are carried out from time to time while fully grown trees are also examined for ``attacks'' which are capable of pulling them to the ground. However, they reluctantly admit that attack by termites did escape their notice and that they would efficaciously check its spread to other trees.

The department, however, contends that they had white-washed the tree trunks before the monsoon season started with the intention that the trees are not inflicted by any kind of disease when they are most vulnerable. To the disappointment of the officials, the trees did get affected and the attack is spreading slowly. ''We did spray the trees with insecticides and pesticides before the advent of the monsoons and we will do so once the rainy season is over,'' Mrs Sumita Singh, Administrator, HUDA, said.

The District Horticulture Officer, Mr Chan Prakash, said: ''There is immediate need to carry out spray on trees and mix the required quantity of pesticides and insecticides in the soil since termite spreads through their colonies in the soil. The healthy trees are, therefore, in great danger of being 'taken over' which will lead to greater tree loss.'' This would, thereby, defeat the purpose of planting new trees since the net addition would be nil.

Though there is no hope for revival of the tree trunk made hollow by the termite attack, he says that the ``healthy'' side can still be saved if the department does something soon.

Flooding problem in Sec 45-C
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 23 — Residents of a block of Sector 45-C have complained of flooding in the area.

residents of the block (2167 to 2198), comprising 93 flats of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB), alleged that since a large part of the area did not have the storm water drainage, stagnant water remained in the area throughout the year posing a serious health hazard to them.

According to them, this had been continuing for the past over 11 years when they were allotted flats by the CHB in 1988. Repeated representations to the authorities concerned have failed to improve the things, residents alleged.

A visit to the area today showed that pools of dirty water dotted the potholed roads. The problem was more acute in the low-lying areas in front of the flats nos 2167, 2175 and 2198. The situation worsened in the rainy season, when in the absence of the storm water drainage, the water accumulated on the low-lying area.

Mrs Gayatri Rana, a resident of flat no 2167, who has been living in the area for over a decade, alleged that despite repeated pleas to the authorities nothing had been done. The roads in front of their houses could not be recarpeted on account of the accumulated water.

The problem was compounded by the washing of cars by certain residents, who flouted the ban imposed by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) on the washing of cars through pipes, added another resident.

stagnant water and bad condition of roads, besides giving a shabby look to the area, had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. At least five allottees had sold off their dwelling units due to unhygienic conditions in the area, informed Mrs Rana.

Meanwhile, pitiable condition of the road on the backside of flats no 2167 to 2169 have made driving difficult during the night time, particularly in the absence of streetlights.

The residents, while demanding laying of drain pipes for the storm water drainage, wanted that the low-lying area be levelled so that a permanent solution to the flooding problem could be found.

Frenetic campaigning in city colleges
By Sourav Sanyal & Kshiti Nijhawan

Sept 23 — With students' elections round the corner, the colleges in the city have become frenetic centres of activity. The withdrawals having taken place in most colleges, the campaigning was in full swing as the candidates tried to woo students in a last bid to attract votes.

In DAV College, Sector 10, there are four parties in the fray — the DSO (DAV Students Organisation), DSA (DAV Students Association), DSU (DAV Students Union) and DWO (DAVians Welfare Organisation).

The DSO has fielded Sikendar Jeet Singh of B.A.(III) for the presidential post, Nirbhay Garg of B.A.(II) as the general secretary and Gaurav Gupta of B.A.(I) as the joint secretary. DSO members promise to bring about changes in the laboratory timings for medical students and change the stringent attendance rules for the students of Classes XI and XII within a week, if voted to power. Other issues include introduction of college buses for Mohali, Panchkula & HMT; 24-hour reading room; and tubelights instead of bulbs in hostel rooms. They also promised to install water coolers on all floors of the three hostels.

The DSA has fielded Amarpreet Singh Sidhu of B.A.(III) for the post of president. Surinder Kalia of B.A.(II), Nishu Dubey of B.Sc.(II) and Bobby James of B.A.(II) have been nominated for the posts of vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary, respectively. They propose to arrest the fee hike and look into the demands of hostelers, which include a 24-hour canteen service, round-the-clock reading room and a reduction in the laundry charges, a bus stop outside the college and better common rooms.

The DWO has fielded Deepak Dahiya of B.A.(III) as their presidential candidate, with Vinod Bishnoi of B.A.(III), Arun Sihag of B.A.(I) and Varun Sood of B.A.(II) for the posts of vice-president, joint secretary and general secretary, respectively. Their issues are similar to the other parties, the exception being their demand for an improved diet for sportsmen and better dispensary facilities, especially in the hostels.

There is a bi-polar contest between the GCSU and PUSU in the Government College for Men, Sector 11. The presidential candidate for the GCSU is Khusbaz Singh Jattana of B.A(III), with Tushar Sood of B.Com.(III), Praveen Attri of B.A.(II) being the candidates for the posts of general secretary and joint secretary, respectively. The candidature of Gavinder Singh for the post of vice-president was rejected on the the basis of his being over-age by three days. The party members alleged that the staff authorities did not allow them to field another candidate for the post of vice-president. The GCSU does not have a fixed agenda. It claims that all students' problems are their own and they would strive for the overall progress of their college.

The PUSU has nominated Nirmal Singh Brar of B.A.(III), Gurpreet of B.Com.(III) and Navin Budania of B.A.(I), for the posts of president, general secretary and joint secretary, respectively. Vijay Sood of B.A.(III) has been unanimously elected vice-president in the absence of any opponent. The PUSU promises to introduce career counselling, placement cell and guest lectures in the college. It also plans to start a gymnasium and open more telephone booths on the campus.

Campaigning in the neighbouring Government College for Girls, Sector 11, is a low-key affair. There are only two candidates for the post of the president — Simran Roop of B.A.(III) who has been fielded by SOPU, and Rasneet Kaur of B.A.(III), who is an Independent. While Simran Roop promises better mess food, more STD booths and cable TV facility for the hostelers, Rasneet says that she will try to solve each problem faced by the students.

Meanwhile, Nisha Thakur of the ABVP and Jaskirat Kaur have been unanimously elected the secretary and joint secretary, respectively.

In Sri Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, the ABVP and NSUI are the two parties in the reckoning. While the former has fielded Namrata Pandhi of B.A.(III), Istmeet Kaur of BCA(II), Simrat of BCA(II), and Parul of B.A.(II) for the posts of president, vice-president, joint secretary and general secretary, respectively, the candidates for the NSUI are Sheetal of B.Com.(III), Malvika of B.A.(II), Sunaina of B.A.(II) and Ruchi of BBA(II) in the same order.

The issues addressed by the ABVP are better mess food, more STD booths, and proper in-campus parking facility. NSUI members were not available for comment.

In SGGS College, Sector 26, the stage is set for a triangular contest.

The SWO has nominated Yadwinder Singh of MA(I) for the post of the president. Rajeev Bhardwaj of B.Sc.(II), Ashwinder Singh of B.Com.(II), and Mohit Taneja of B.Com.(II) are in the fray for the posts of vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary, respectively. They propose to improve mess menu, solve parking problem, introduce bus service for girls and abolish the separate system of canteens for girls and boys and start a combined canteen for all the students. They will also ensure that girls are allowed to leave the college campus before noon, like their male counterparts and improve the condition of the toilets in the college.

The SWA has fielded Jatinder Mann of B.Sc.(I), Mayank Sharma of B.Com.(I), Sunil Mor of BA(III), and Sandeep Chandhary, B.A.(I), for the posts of president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary, respectively. All the candidates are Independent and they propose to reduce the college and hostel fees, have better canteen and parking facilities and are in favour of more cultural meets. To improve the discipline of the college, they propose to set up a police cell.

The SGGS College Student Union has nominated Pratap Singh Bhatti of B.A.(III) for the post of President, Jaskiran Singh of B.A.(III) as the vice-president, Vineet Lakhan Pal of B.Sc II as the general secretary and Gaurav Singla of B.Com.(II) as the joint secretary. Their agenda includes cleaner toilets, reconstruction of the Gurdwara on the college premises and establishment of a Students' Complaint Centre.

Its a bi-polar contest between the ABVP and PUSU-NSUI alliance in Government College, Sector 46. The ABVP has fielded Davinder Rana of B.A.(III) for the post of President. The candidates for the post of vice-president, secretary and joint secretary are Ankur Rishi of B.Com.(III), Rajiv Batra of BA(III), and Sanjeev Goyal of BA(II). The main issues on their manifesto are extension of the cycle stand, building a bus stop, getting a water cooler installed, and solving the electricity problem. The PUSU-NSUI alliance has nominated Sumeet Chhabra of B.Com.(III), Pankaj Sohi of B.Com.(II), Rajinder Mahal of BA(III) and Abhay Chautala of BA(I) for the posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary, respectively. The party plans to take action against eve-teasing and obscene and vulgar illustrations on walls and desks. It prides itself in fielding the only girl candidate, Ms Pankaj Sohi, in the college.

In the Government College for Girls, Sector 42, four parties, namely the PSWU, IP( Independent Party), ABVP and NSUI are contesting. The PSWU has fielded Samita Chauhan, Nidhi, Jagdeep and Mandeep, all from BA(II) for the posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary, respectively. Their issues include a better canteen, cleaner toilets, more water coolers and a bus-stop outside their college. They also demand free education for girls up to the graduation level.

The IP, which is a new party formed by the students, has fielded Upneet Kaur of BA(III), Poonam Kimta of BA(III) and Vandana of BA(II) for the posts of president, vice-president and joint secretary, respectively. The party claims that it will cater to all the needs of the girls.

The ABVP has fielded Neha of B.Sc.(III), Jaspreet of BA(III), Suraj Kiran of BA(II) and Benita Sharma of B.Com.(II) for the posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary, respectively. Their agenda is similar to that of other parties.

The NSUI has nominated Navpreet Kaur Bhangu of BA(III), Vandana Goel of BA(II), Tamanna Goel of BA(III) and Kirandeep of BA (I) for the posts of president, vice-president, joint secretary and secretary, respectively.

College with a difference
By A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Sept 23 — Mehr Chand Mahajan D.A.V College, Sector 36, presents a completely different picture from the other colleges in the city on election eve. Elections have not been able to relegate academics to the periphery.

Nonetheless, in its unique way, the college is all set for Friday's poll. The Principal, Ms Sneh Mahajan, introduced the candidates in the election fray from a single platform. In a 50-minute rally presided over by the teacher-in-charge of the Students Council, Ms Beeba Bakshi, the candidates were given a chance to come forward and introduce themselves to the students, who had assembled at the college grounds, a feature not seen in any other college.

The four candidates on the run for the post of president are Akansha Jakhar of B.A.(III), Sonaina Khera of B.A.(III), Navneet Bedi and Shruti Chawtal from the commerce stream.

Among the many candidates who have filed in their nominations for the post of vice-president, Navjot Sran of B.A.(III) and Pooja Bambha of B.A.(III) appear to be the most talked about. Navjot promises to organise Freshers' Day for the day scholars, day-long outings for students and lower prices at the college canteen and tuck shop.

There are 13 contestants for the post of joint secretary and more than five students vie for the post of general secretary. The candidates who have filed nominations for the post of joint secretary are mostly freshers.

One striking feature about MCM DAV is the uniqueness of its campaign. Colourful handmade posters dot the campus. There is no animosity among the candidates, especially the students standing for the post of joint secretary. They are mainly students of B.A.(I), and claim that they are all good friends. What is more, they have a combined agenda and would like to address serious issues like child abuse, environment and extending support to organisations like the PFA. Another striking thing about the elections in this college is that all the candidates are Independent and do not have the support of any political party.