C H A N D I G A R H

Colourful programme marks Republic Day
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH Jan 27 —Flag hoisting, cultural programmes, distribution of sweets, illumination of government buildings at night and other festivities marked the Republic Day celebrations in the city yesterday.

The main function was held at the Sector 17 Parade Ground where the Adviser to the Administrator, Mrs Vineeta Rai, unfurled the National Flag, took salute from an impressive march past and presented state awards to 11 persons in recognition of their outstanding contribution in different areas. A colourful cultural programme was also presented by school children.

In her Republic day address, Mrs Rai talked about almost every department of the Administration and highlighted various programmes, projects and schemes introduced by the Administration, Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh Housing Board and CITCO besides various administrative departments of the Administration.

At the Sector 16 General Hospital, Panoramic X-ray has been installed in the Dental Department while a modern Emergency OPD Block and Labour Room have been completed. At the Sector 22 Poly Clinic, Post partum unit was being provided at a cost of Rs 91 lakh.

At the Sector 17 Inter-State Bus Terminus, television sets have been provided for the entertainment of bus travellers. The second ISBT has been completed at a cost of Rs 170 lakh.

The Administration has also completed new carpeting of 400 km stretch of roads while work was on to provide a third road connection between Chandigarh and Panchkula and to provide automated traffic lights at certain busy traffic points, including the Housing Board Chowk on the Chandigarh-Panchkula road.

She also talked about the rehabilitation of jhuggi jhopri dwellers and said that 16000 units were planned to be constructed besides shifting the Sector 25 Kumhar Colony to its new location.

The introduction of the new Smart card on boot system has been approved and worked entrusted to Tata Infotech.

Building byelaws were being amended as more than 3000 suggestions had been received from the general public and a committee has been set up to consider these suggestions before finally amending the existing laws by the end of this calendar year. The working of the Estate Office was also being computerised to make it more transparent.

The water supply and roads were getting special attention in villages of the Union territory where new lines have been added in nine villages.

The working of the Police Department was also being modernised with the upgradation of its fleet, communication systems and equipment, besides purchase of sophisticated equipment for its bomb disposal squad and anti-sabotage unit. A plan to introduce computerisation at police station level has also been approved.

The work on the phase IV of the Water Supply Augmentation Scheme has also started as the city will get additional 20MGD of water after completion of the fourth phase. Besides, 20 tubewells have been drilled to improve water supply in various colonies of the Union Territory. One MGD storage reservoir has been added to existing water works at Manimajra.

Mrs Rai said a new overhead 66 KV Double Circuit Tower line from Sector 39 to Sector 52 has been commissioned to cut down incidence of frequent power breakdowns in southern sectors.

Two new fire stations would be commissioned during the next financial year at Capitol Complex and Sector 26. The Administration has also proposed 400 continuing education centres under the Adult Literacy programme.

From the new academic session, computer education would be introduced in all government schools and colleges from Class VI onwards. This education would be most advanced in the country.

Nearly 50,000 saplings have been planted in the catchment area of Sukhna Lake. The work on wet dredging of Sukhna Lake has been mooted.

Mrs Rai also talked about setting up of Botanical garden in the west of Sector 14, a new Football Academy in the Union Territory and some other facilities.

Various tableaux, were also taken out. Mrs Rai also presented State awards to 11 persons in recognition of their contribution in various fields.

Special functions were also held at the PGI, where the officiating Director, Prof N.K. Ganguly, unfurled the National Flag while at Panjab University, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof M.M. Puri, hoisted the National Flag. Sweets were distributed at both PU and the PGI.

The Mayor, Mrs Shanta Abhilashi, hoisted the National Flag at a special function held at the Sector 17 Municipal Corporation office complex.

At the Chandigarh Housing Board, the Chairman, Mr Balbir Singh, unfurled the National flag where he talked about various schemes and new projects of the Board. He said that a new scheme of 1336 MIG and HIG dwelling units is likely to be floated soon. Mr Balbir Singh said that the construction of 11-storeyed office-cum-commercial complex in Sector 17 has been entrusted to the Board. This building, once completed, would be a unique physical and functional focal point in the city.

Special Republic Day functions were also held at the Punjab and Haryana High Court Complex, at the Sector 18 Lions Bhavan, at the Modern Housing Complex at Manimajra, at the Mauli Jagran complex and at the Sector 38-C Government Senior Secondary School and other places.