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| Sunday,
November 4, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Art works under threat of damage Chandigarh, November 3 On the contrary, the rooms, which belong to Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, present a sloppy picture — dilapidated interiors, suffocating ambience on account of high level of dampness, shrivelled up walls due to withering paint and a strange stench. Lined up in the corners are works of art, which are fast fading due to moisture in the rooms and lack of sunlight. The situation is worsening further due to construction of Randhawa Auditorium and Cultural Complex. A Lalit Kala Akademi employee informed: “Due to construction activity, water keeps seeping into the walls adding to moisture.” If that was not all, Punjab Arts Council has dumped its junk furniture in the same store. Given the situation, the creative works are under constant danger of damage. Investigations reveal that about 20 drawings, exhibited in the Punjab Kala Bhawan art gallery during the all-India drawing exhibition held in March this year, have been spoilt due to the listed factors. One of the damaged works belongs to Ambala-based Sanjay Kumar, who told The Tribune; “My only mistake was that I went to collect my work after five months. I did not know the store was ill-equipped to handle works. My work has been
heavily damaged by fungus, so much so that I am now preserving it chemically. I have sent it to Delhi for restoration.” Similar was the fate of two drawings exhibited in the same show by Satbir Singh of Bhiwani. When Satbir returned to collect his drawings, he found that they had been infested with fungus. According to sources, many more works have been damaged and torn. Apart from these works, the collection in the store comprises Lalit Kala Akademi’s indigenous ensemble featuring about 70 portraits and 300 other works. Some works are products of camps conducted by the akademi. The remaining are those which artists participating in various exhibitions leave. One of the works in the store (belonging to one Nawaz Ahmad) is about four years old. The condition of sculptures stored therein is equally deplorable. Meanwhile, akademi officials express helplessness in view of meagre funds. Over the past 20 years, the akademi has been using the said room for storage of works. There has been no money to invest for upgrading facilities. Secretary of the akademi Madan Lal clarified; “Our funds are limited and we cannot have all that we want to. As per terms, artists must collect their works within a month, but it never happens so. We have limitations of space. We don’t have an alternative arrangement.” Another akademi employee informed that there was a proposal to have cabins and storage boxes, but it could not come through. He said: “The annual Rs 2 lakh grant flows erratically. This year three quarters have passed and we have just received Rs 50,000 as grant.” |
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Bar
chief to be from elected members Chandigarh, November 3 It also decided on the implementation of the provision of Bar Council of India rules which prohibit advocates from soliciting work through advertisement directly or indirectly. The council held its special meeting here today. The chairman of the Bar council, Dr Anmol Rattan Singh Sidhu said the council took the decision after getting response from hundreds of advocates from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. Mr Sidhu added that amendments in election rules pertaining to chairman and vice-chairman were taken up and it was resolved that this matter be
referred to the rules drafting committee. He added that keeping in view the difficulties of young advocates, a separate special scheme should be prepared. It was resolved to make provisions for implementation of rule 36. Advocates who had been visiting the district courts and tehsil-level courts for work should be prohibited. The general secretary of the council, Mr C.L. Munjal, said about 100 complaints of professional misconduct were disposed of against advocates. Out of these, about 30 cases were referred to disciplinary committees for action. Mr Pawan Bansal, MP, and the president of the Punjab and Haryana Bar Association, Mr G.K. Chatrath, assured the council that it would help the council in setting up of its new office. The council would soon have a new office as the UT Deputy Commissioner had directed it to vacate the present premises on the fourth floor of the District Courts Complex before November 15. It constituted a sub-committee to take decisions on, sign agreements for and raise bank loans for plots and built-up accommodation. |
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‘VIP encroacher’ gives in SAS Nagar, November 3 After partially demolishing the iron grills adjoining the house of the OSD to the Punjab Chief Minister yesterday, PUDA officials left the house, attracting protests from residents. A visit to the house revealed that labourers and welders were busy removing the iron grills. Residents of the area protested over the grace time being given to a chosen few by the demolition squad. They said either all structures should be demolished or all should be given some time to remove their unauthorised structures. Occupants of corner plots also today held a meeting at Sacha Dhan Gurdwara in Phase 3 B1 here. They were contemplating to move the high court against the demolition drive by PUDA. They said various issues relating to road berms and encroachments should be addressed before the drive was completed. |
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Jacob assures scribes of safety Chandigarh, November 3 He was addressing a delegation of the Chandigarh Journalists Association, an
affiliate of National Union of Journalists [India], which called on him today and gave him a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. The memorandum focussed attention towards the increasing degree of terror that working journalists were facing in their day-to-day work. The delegation also drew his attention to some of the obnoxious provisions of the recently-issued central government ordinance, POTO, which circumscribed journalists’ freedom. The Association put forward an instance, when one of their members in Uttar Pradesh, Moolchand Yadav of Jhansi, was done to death in the city for his courageous expose of the local land mafia. When Yadav received threats to his life after he wrote about the land-grabbers, he informed the local police but no protection was given to him. Journalists all over the country, were routinely exposed to anti-social elements who wanted to suppress news of their wrongdoing. In the absence of specific instructions from the government, the local police takes no steps to give protection to them. The State itself acts either to suppress news or deny journalists access to news. The events in Tamil Nadu when reporters covering the arrests of a former Chief Minister and his supporters were arrested en masse and were not released for days together, is a telling instance. Political cadres are regularly interfered with newsmen’s work and in cases of reporting against the state ruling party, the police refused to intervene. In West Bengal, journalists had been targeted as a matter of routine whenever news items exposing the ruling party appeared in leading dailies. In Assam, extremist elements were dictating newsmen at gunpoint. In Mumbai, a cadre-based political party and social movement decided what should appear in newspapers: Any criticism was met with mob fury, with the result that newspapers were compelled to be extremely cautious lest they should provoke physical retaliation and consequent loss of property and even lives. Working journalists, on the one hand were the direct targets of police, mobs, political cadres and militants, while on the other, their employers took no steps to compensate them when they become victims and lost their life, limb or property. There was no system of risk insurance of serious injuries. Journalists have to meet the cost of treatment. In case of death, their families received no compensation; even timely relief was denied in many cases. The Association demanded that the Central Government call a meeting of state administration and working journalists and newspaper publishers to work out detailed guidelines to the state administrations and enforce a system of adequate compensation to the individual journalists who had been the victims of attacks. |
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Losses filter through parallel octroi SAS Nagar, November 3 Documents in possession of The Tribune show that on a particular day entries of inspection of Octroi post No 2, located along the Chandigarh — Ludhiana road, had been made in two different inspection registers with different serial numbers allegedly to cover up some “irregularity”. Investigations reveal that between October 14 and 21 last, there was no collection of rahdhari ( state transit) fee at different octroi collection posts as the 02 B receipt books were not available, especially at the octroi post no. 2 — resulting in a loss of thousands of rupee daily. The transit fee was imposed on the freight passing through the limits of the civic body. Sources in the civic body said to cover up for the lapse the entry for the inspection of collection under the octroi and the state transit fee made on October 17, October 18 and October 22 was entered on pages with serial number 97 and 98. The receipt booklet number is mentioned as 24589. Again entries of inspection on October 18 and October 19 have been made on a page of another inspection book with serial number 1 — raising questions about the authenticity of the entries made in the two registers. The receipt books and the inspection books come from printing press at Sangrur. It is learnt that no action had been taken against the officials responsible for causing loss to the civic body on account of the state transit fee. The Executive Officer of the civic body was however, not available for comments. |
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Congress behind forgery: Dhawan Chandigarh, November 3 The CVM activists were allegedly booked on the basis of a complaint lodged by the Congress, claiming that the two had forged signatures of some Congress activists to issue a press note on behalf of the Congress. The Congress had complained to the police about the forged press note. Addressing a press conference, Mr Dhawan raised a relevant question. On what basis did the police arrive at the conclusion that Mr Sandeep Singh and Dr Verma were involved in issuing the said press note on behalf of the Congress?’. Further expressing anguish at the complaint, Mr Dhawan said it was a conspiracy hatched by the Congress, as the CVM was the only party which could pose a threat to the Congress in the forthcoming MC polls. The press note had been faxed to various newspaper offices The owner of the communication centre from where the press note had been faxed had told the police that the said document had been brought in by a thin-framed Sikh youth. What was the relation of the two CVM workers with the fax was yet to be established, Mr Dhawan added. At the same press conference, he also demanded that the Congress should tell the public how much it had collected in the name of Gujarat Earthquake relief and what mode was used to send the material. And also explain why the entire relief material was not sent. When Mr Dhawan was reminded that some of the collected material was in bad condition and the Gujarat Government had requested that no old clothes be sent, he said that the material could have been distributed in the city itself. |
RUN-UP
TO MC POLL Chandigarh, November 3 Congress tickets: A 10-member committee of the local unit of the Congress will meet tonight to discuss the names of candidates for next House of the Municipal Corporation. The meeting will consider about 100 applications received from people seeking tickets, the President of the local unit , Mr B.B. Bahl, said. The names will not be finalised as the Secretary in charge of Chandigarh Mr Bhawaneswhar Kalita, was not available for the meeting, said Mr Bahl. The committee includes, Mr Bahl, Mr Pawan Bansal, Mr Venod Sharma , Mr Munish Tewari, Ms Lalit Joshi and Mr H.S. Lucky, among others. CPI decision: The Communist Party of India (CPI) has decided to field candidates from four wards in the forthcoming municipal elections . A press note issued by Mr Devi Dayal, secretary of the local unit, said today. The CPI will contest in ward number 5, 7, 19 and 20. BJP meeting: The Bharatiya Janata Party is fully prepared to contest the forthcoming elections to the MC, a party press note said following a meeting of BJP workers last evening at Burail village. Speaking on the occasion, former MP Satya Pal Jain said, every citizen of the country must support the new anti-terrorism law, the POTO. party activists were informed that in the past one month, the local unit of the BJP had convened meetings at districts and Mandal level and now the party was holding meetings at the Samiti level.  |
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Doc-public ties need ‘improvement’ Chandigarh, November 3 Dr G.S. Kochhar, State President of the IMA, welcomed the participants and remarked that in California, USA, no person who had rendered emergency service in good faith was held liable under the law to the payment of civil damages. A law to this effect should be made in India without delay, he added. Prof S.K. Khanna, who worked at the PGI for a long time, dwelt at length on “doctor - patient relationship” in the present circumstances. Mr Parag Jain, SSP, discussed the law pertaining to medical negligence and assured the participants that no action would be initiated against a doctor without holding a preliminary enquiry. Mr R.S. Cheema, a Senior Adovocate, discussed the various aspects of medical negligence from the legal point of view. His comments were followed by a lively discussion in which members of the IMA took part. |
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High prices discourage Karva Chauth shoppers Chandigarh, November 3 With bangles considered
synonymous to the festival, an unprecedented rush was witnessed around bangle-sellers as women and girls waited their turn to get these slipped on to their arms. The rush of the shoppers was at its peak in Sectors 22, 19, 20 and 37. There was also a massive rush where mehndi was being applied, as also in shops where cosmetics were displayed. Sweet shops and jewellery shops also did brisk business on account of the festival. High prices, however, put a damper on the festive spirit as customers pointed out at the high rates for various products. A shopkeeper in Sector 22 said the price of sweets was likely to increase during the festive season. Ms Nisha Malhotra, a housewife, said the rates of fruits had also sky- rocketed. The rates of apples and bananas had increased by Rs 10 per kg. Meanwhile, a free mehndi application session was organised at different centres of Bharatgas Distributors of Bharat Petroleum corporation limited at Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula. Free gift hampers, consisting of churis, bindis and sindoor were distributed among ladies visiting these distributors. |
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Governor laments disparities created Chandigarh, November 3 “Vested interests are engaged in hatching conspiracies against socially, educationally and culturally backward sections. The prime duty of the central government and the state government is to provide education free of cost to the children of persons living below the poverty line, but the affected people should also rise to the occasion so that their children could attain education as enshrined in the constitution of India,’’ added Babu Parmanand . The Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, asserted, ‘’The education system in rural areas of the state has totally collapsed. The primary education system has miserably failed, thus affecting the education of the children of the deprived sections.” Punjab Rural Development Minister Sujan Singh urged the central government to recruit Scheduled Castes in the military services according to their population. The National President of the academy, Dr S.P. Sumnakshar, appealed to the people to follow the path shown by Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand; Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Charanjit Singh Atwal and Dr S.P. Sumnakshar were honoured with Anmol Rattan Award their services to the uplift of the downtrodden by the Ratna Memorial Charitable Trust. The Haryana Governor, Mr Babu Parmanand, released two books “Kahe Ravidas” written by Dr Harnek Singh Kaler and “Hoka” written by Iqbal Gharu of Faridkot. A souvenir on the life of Bhagwan Valmiki was also released. State awards were awarded to Jaswant Singh Tann, Naranjan Singh, Saroop Singh, Gurdev Singh, Amarnath Sarhadi and Sujan Singh. Five resolutions were passed on the occasion stressing that Scheduled Castes must be given adequate representation in the high courts and the Supreme Court by nomination or through competitive examination. Measures should be taken to take out the provision of reservation from the purview of the judiciary. Scheduled Caste students should be given admission to technical and professional colleges on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying examinations, said the resolutions. It was demanded that reservation must be provided for the Scheduled Castes in the Rajya Sabha and the writers and intellectuals from these castes must be nominated without any party affiliations. |
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Call to fight corruption SAS Nagar, November 3 Speaking at a Vigilance Awareness Week function organised by Semiconductors, Mr Sinha said government employees should fight the malice of corruption. If not curbed corruption would destroy the social fabric of society, he added. A 1968 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre, he said when the Vigilance
Commission had put names of certain government officials who appeared to be guilty on the website and recommended deterrent action against them, there was a sharp reaction from the bureaucracy. This action had created some fear in their minds and people now appreciated that action, he stated. He revealed that the Union Government was working on the draft of a treaty to be signed by various financial institutions, including banks, to check corruption. He said though the proposed treaty would not have legal sanction, it would be helpful in minimising corruption in society. He cited the example of Canada, where a company owner was debarred from sending any tender for five years when he tried to bribe somebody. Dr Sudha Sharma, Chief Vigilance Officer with Semiconductors, said the company had brought five books. These books contained cartoons which spoke about corruption in society, she added. She lamented that corruption had gone into our blood. She said it was painful to know that India was ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world She said their Vigilance Department had organised a poster-making competition among students of various colleges of Chandigarh and SAS Nagar. Some posters had eye-catching slogans and were appreciated by those who had come to attend the function. The posters were divided into five sections. Students whose posters, skits and mono-acting performances were adjudged best by a panel of three judges were given prizes, including cash, by the chief guest. Mr Zarabi welcomed the chief guest and those who attended the function, while Mr M.M. Sobti proposed the vote of thanks. |
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Mayor’s statement
criticised Chandigarh, November 3 Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Gupta said Ms Harjinder Kaur, who did not belong to the BJP, had no say in party matters and therefore, it did not behove her to speak about the affairs of the BJP. “The fact of the matter is that Ms Harjinder Kaur is not acceptable even to her own party (SAD). Mr Gupta alleged that Ms Harjinder Kaur was being egged on by certain party leaders like Mr Satyapal Jain, former MP, who had reportedly taken her to Delhi some time ago and introduced her to the BJP’s Central leadership as an Akali leader. He also said it was strange that the BJP leader, Mr Yash Mahajan, was maintaining a studied silence on the issue. |
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Army Aviation Corps’ Raising Day Chandigarh, November 3 The bonhomie, camaraderie and, esprit-de-corps of this was evident at a social get-together organised at the officers mess. The General Officer
Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen Surjit Singh graced the occasion. Although Army Aviation has been in existence since Independence as the erstwhile Air Observation Post, it became an independent arm on November 1, 1986 when Air observation post helicopters were transferred to the Indian Army from the Air Force. This elite arm has the unique distinction of having participated in all wars that the Indian Army has fought since Independence and boasts of the highest number of gallantry awards amongst all fighting arms of the Army, thus symbolising sacrifice and valour, the benchmarks of the men in uniform. From being the lifeline of soldiers in the icy battlefield of Siachen to fighting counter-insurgency operations in the East and North-West, from unarmed into battle in the days of Air Observation Post to attack and armed versions of helicopters in the present inventory, this arm has made rapid strides in establishing itself as the principle manoeuvre arm of the future combat zone. Army Aviation Corps is manned by selecting the very best amongst the officer cadre from Armoured, Artillery, Air Defence Artillery, Infantry and Mechanised Infantry. |
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Rashtriya Gaurav Award for Vassan Chandigarh, November 3 The award instituted by the International Institute of Success Awareness, was conferred on Mr Vassan for outstanding services, achievement and contribution in the field of engineering. Mr Vassan, was also awarded Man of Achievement Award by International Publishing House, New Delhi in
1999. |
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Traffic cops challan 360 Chandigarh, November 3 The police had set up 60 nakas in various parts of the city and in addition to the traffic cops, personnel from various police stations as well as the Police Control Room were also involved. The drive started at 10 in the morning and the cops winded up the nakas around 1 p.m.. |
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Karva Chauth function Chandigarh, November 3 |
Panchkula resident assaulted Chandigarh, November 3 BURGLARIES: Mr R.K Sehgal, a resident of Sector 22 reported that his house was burgled yesterday. In his complaint, he said that the thieves took away a pair of gold earrings, a gold ring, a music system and Rs 2,5000. A case under Sections 454 and 380 of the IPC has been registered. A booth in the Sector 31 market was also burgled on Monday night here. According to the complainant, Mr Rajiv, the thieves took away two tins of Verka ghee and Rs 13,000 after breaking the shutter. A case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered. SCOOTER STOLEN: Mr Thangraj, a resident of Sector 38, reported that his scooter (DHS- 7521) was stolen from near the swimming pool at the PGI here yesterday. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered. HELD: Ram Sagar, a resident of Indira Colony, Mani Majra, was arrested for playing ‘Satta’ at a public place last afternoon. The police claims that Rs 2,300 was recovered from his possession. CHAIN SNATCHED: A case of chain snatching was reported yesterday. A cycle-borne youth, snatched gold chain from the neck of Ms Krishana Markande of Mani Majra Housing Complex. The incident took place near the house of the victim. A case under Sections 356 and 379 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered. Meanwhile, a resident of Sector 22 has reported to the police that six persons assaulted him on October 27. A case under Sections 147, 149, 323 and 325 of the Indian Penal Code was registered against Pawan Kumar, Anuradha, Rajwinder, Renu, Tina and Shikha. |
| Labourer crushed to death SAS Nagar, November 3 |
Kiwi collaboration for dairy farm at Ropar Chandigarh, November 3 This was announced by Mr S.S. Brar, Secretary, Cooperation, Punjab, at a press conference, here today. He said the foreign firm would supply genetic material and dairy farm, technology to the farm which would then be shown by Milkfed to its milk producer members to replicate so as to produce more milk at low cost. He added that if everything went well, an MoU would be signed between the Punjab Milkfed and LIC within the next couple of months. Mr Brar said the import of germ-plasm of dairy animals from major dairy developed countries had been stopped by the Government of India in view of the outbreak of mad cow disease in these countries, which might result in the shortage of good germ-plasm for Milkfed’s field programme. Only two countries, Australia and New Zealand, had been exporting their germ-plasm to India. A delegation from Milkfed Punjab, led by Mr Brar, and consisting of Mr Suresh Kumar, Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Punjab, Mr Jagdeep Singh Nakai, Chairman, Milkfed, Punjab, Dr B.M. Mahajan, Managing Director, Milkfed, Punjab, and Mr S.C. Aggarwal, General Manager, Milkfed, Punjab, visited New Zealand from August 30 to September 1. The purpose of the visit was selection of good genetic material and dairy farm technology. Milkfed Punjab had been feeling the necessity because bulls imported from Denmark in 1994 had exhausted their semen production life. During the visit to New Zealand, the Milkfed Punjab delegation visited LIC, the largest cooperative organisation of dairy farmers in New Zealand. It was engaged in creating solutions for world’s best dairy farmers. There were 15,000 dairy farmers as members of LIC. It was the only genetic improvement corporation in New Zealand, which is taking care of 95 per cent of dairy farmers. It had a good number of progeny tested bulls and advance expertise for farm technology and was well equipped for semen handling facilities. Consequent upon the visit, a delegation consisting of Mr Mark O’Çonnor, General Manager, and Mr Ian S. Hook, Services Development Manager, LIC, visited Milkfed from October 30 to November 3. |
100 companies to take part in CII fair Chandigarh, November 3 More than 100 companies will participate in the fair which will be inaugurated on Friday by the governor of Punjab, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob, who is also Administrator of UT. The fair complex has begun to take shape at Parade Grounds. The fair will have a special focus on “ICE 2001”, namely an exposition on infotech, communication and entertainment. It will also have several pavilions featuring banking and finance, North India auto show, consumer/kitchen fair, mega brands and Decor 2001. The third vintage car show will be a special attraction of the fair which is being sponsored by some of the top names in the industry, including Connect, Spice Telecom, BSNL, Bank of Punjab, LIC and a few others. |
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Workshop held on animation software Chandigarh, November 3 According to Mr Naveen Gupta, centre head of MAAC, the workshop had been organised in the city for the first time. Many of the creative professionals and animators from the city participated in it to acquaint themselves with the finer nuances of this software, 3-D modelling, lighting and camera movements, aminating facial expressions, and character rigging. The workshop was conducted by Mr Deepak Dhawan, who had been a part of the team which produced India’s first full length animation film ‘Pandava’. He has also won several awards for his creations. Others on the faculty included Mr Harmaz Baria and Mr Jaya Kumar from Maya Entertainment Limited, Mumbai. Maya Entertainment Limited, promoted by renowned director Ketan Mehta and cine star Deepa Sahi, had set up MAAC in Chandigarh to source trained animators for their company in Mumbai. |
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