For a price you can speed past security

With protectors like these, who needs persecutors. In a shocking expose that has come at a time when police across the country are claiming to be doing their best to thwart a repeat of Mumbai's terror attacks, traffic cops here have been caught taking money to pass on a secret code to drivers either written on their palm or on a piece of paper that would ensure them safe passage through all subsequent nakas. No questions asked.

The modus operandi is as ingenious as it is simple. Pay the corrupt traffic cop the money that he demands negotiable at all times, just like his honesty and he will inscribe something on your palm, either letters or numbers. Flash this to designated cops in the next naka or check post and he will usher you in without creating trouble. It really doesn't matter if the vehicle is loaded with RDX and you are driving straight into the heart of India's capital from the borders of Punjab.

The worms tumbled out of the police woodwork after a man clicked on his mobile phone a policeman taking money to inscribe the secret code on his palm, something that a string of cops on a particular stretch and on a particular day would recognize. This code apparently changes daily.

Though the claims and mobile clipping of Ludhiana resident Sukhwinder Singh, who made the video of traffic cop Davinder Singh at Chandigarh's ISBT-43, is yet to be verified and examined, an embarrassed police department promptly suspended the erring officer and marked a departmental inquiry into the incident.

Ironically, the incident came even as a peeved Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday sought a comprehensive affidavit regarding details of officers facing criminal, corruption or serious departmental charges. The affidavit seeks to know about officers facing charges but serving on sensitive posts like that of the DGP, ADGP, IG, SSP and SHO.

This is not the first time, though, that cops, especially those working in the traffic wing and appointed on special nakas, have been caught accepting money to let suspicious vehicles pass without a search. According to information , the department is highly sought by policemen and some of the "blue-eyed boys" have remained here with permanent postings.

Jerked into reacting, DSP (traffic) JS Cheema said Davinder Singh's suspension will be followed by a rule that will allow a cop at a traffic point to serve there for only a month. ``The cop,'' Cheema said, "will be transferred to another zone and area of the city after that.'' SP (traffic) Hardeep Singh Doon said the matter is "serious and we want a thorough investigation of the method and reach of the crime."

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For a price you can speed past security

With protectors like these, who needs persecutors. In a shocking expose that has come at a time when police across the country are claiming to be doing their best to thwart a repeat of Mumbai's terror attacks, traffic cops here have been caught taking money to pass on a secret code to drivers either written on their palm or on a piece of paper that would ensure them safe passage through all subsequent nakas. No questions asked.

The modus operandi is as ingenious as it is simple. Pay the corrupt traffic cop the money that he demands negotiable at all times, just like his honesty and he will inscribe something on your palm, either letters or numbers. Flash this to designated cops in the next naka or check post and he will usher you in without creating trouble. It really doesn't matter if the vehicle is loaded with RDX and you are driving straight into the heart of India's capital from the borders of Punjab.

The worms tumbled out of the police woodwork after a man clicked on his mobile phone a policeman taking money to inscribe the secret code on his palm, something that a string of cops on a particular stretch and on a particular day would recognize. This code apparently changes daily.

Though the claims and mobile clipping of Ludhiana resident Sukhwinder Singh, who made the video of traffic cop Davinder Singh at Chandigarh's ISBT-43, is yet to be verified and examined, an embarrassed police department promptly suspended the erring officer and marked a departmental inquiry into the incident.

Ironically, the incident came even as a peeved Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday sought a comprehensive affidavit regarding details of officers facing criminal, corruption or serious departmental charges. The affidavit seeks to know about officers facing charges but serving on sensitive posts like that of the DGP, ADGP, IG, SSP and SHO.

This is not the first time, though, that cops, especially those working in the traffic wing and appointed on special nakas, have been caught accepting money to let suspicious vehicles pass without a search. According to information , the department is highly sought by policemen and some of the "blue-eyed boys" have remained here with permanent postings.

Jerked into reacting, DSP (traffic) JS Cheema said Davinder Singh's suspension will be followed by a rule that will allow a cop at a traffic point to serve there for only a month. ``The cop,'' Cheema said, "will be transferred to another zone and area of the city after that.'' SP (traffic) Hardeep Singh Doon said the matter is "serious and we want a thorough investigation of the method and reach of the crime."

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Tagore theatre security to be beefed up by the UT administration

"In view of the security threat at public places, security at the renovated 850-capacity Tagore Theatre will soon be beefed up by the UT administration.

After their recent visit to the theatre, UT home secretary Ram Niwas and SSP SS Shrivastava has decided to install doorframe metal detectors at its entrance and six CCTV cameras at its different points. However, till these are put into place, police will scan people with the help of hand-held detectors. Besides, private security personnel will also be deployed for thwarting any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, in another related development, space has been identified for food court, which will be structured in keeping with the theatre's overall theme. Two types of bids -- technical and financial -- will be invited for the purpose. Attributing aesthetical value to it, Ram Niwas further said brand names could be roped in to establish a coffee shop or a restaurant.

Continuing with his directives, Niwas also urged the engineering department officials to install three water coolers, lighting arrangements and uninterrupted power supply and prepare their estimate within a week's time.

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Chandigarhs first night food street in Sector-14

"And nights will forever remain young.... A long-cherished dream of the city and young professionals with evening and graveyard shifts came true on Saturday with the throwing open of Chandigarhs first night food street in Sector-14, opposite PGI. With an array of choice from Indian, Chinese and Continental delicacies to titillate the foodies, residents are more than glad that they wont have to eat off unhygienic rehris.

There are eight stalls that will offer different delicacies and beverages to people during night hours. As the area is located between Panjab University and PGI, students and attendants of patients are going to benefit most, said a UT official.

Union minister of state for finance Pawan Kumar Bansal while inaugurating the facility said that there should be more such food-streets for a thriving nightlife in the city.

The food street may be small but its definitely going to be a major landmark, said the minister. Recalling his student life in PU 40 years back, Bansal said during their time then, they used to visit the same place night after night only to have piping-hot paranthas and tea off rehris.

Area Councillor Anu Chatrath said the need for a food street opposite PGI was long felt with students, who after spending long nights at the university library, had no place to go and get some grub before calling it a day. Now, even attendants of PGI patients will benefit, she said.

Elated with the project getting realized in time, mayor Pardeep Chhabra said, When the foundation stone of the food street was laid in January this year, I had committed to completing the work at the earliest. Today, I am really happy.

Eight food kiosks have been leased out, with monthly rentals varying from Rs 6,500 to Rs 31,000. A public convenience has also been built at Rs. 24.99 lakh. Municipal Commissioner Dr Roshan Sunkaria said, Witnessing the response to this, MC will introduce the concept in other sectors as well.

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Chandigarh News: UT administration for securing buildings

Clearly stunned out of its slumber after the Mumbai mayhem of last week, the UT administration has in an unprecedented security move asked the police to give video records and layouts of all important city structures and buildings.

Figuring on top of the list are the Punjab and Haryana secretariat, Punjab and UT police headquarters, defence audit department, high court and civil secretariat. There are also important hotels -- Taj, Mountview and Shivalikview -- which need to furnish this information.

"The recent attacks in Mumbai have forced us to review these buildings in view of the present security and further steps that can be taken for ramping up arrangements," sources in UT's architecture department told TOI on Thursday.

Confirming the order, ASP (central) Madhur Verma said officials concerned along with hotel staff would be trained to handle security apparatus and equipment.

A senior administrative official added that the police department would be filing its findings in the next four-five days and required steps would be taken thereafter. He said, "Though some of the buildings already have security in the form of paramilitary forces, we want to explore what more we can do regarding this."

On their part, the management committees of big hotels here have already purchased a number of security equipment and are training staff on their use. The TOI had recently reported how city's Taj hotel had made investments of around Rs 35 lakh in an attempt to intensify security, coming as it did after Ratan Tata said in Mumbai that there would be no stinginess as far as safety of guests were concerned.

This comes even as UT IG SK Jain in a recent order instructed installation of CCTVs at all vital points of Chandigarh while making a special request to the managements of PGI, GMCH-32 and GMH-16 to do the needful.

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Punjab News: New rules for wedding events

If planning to hold a wedding function in Punjab, then do not forget to maintain the bills and receipts. The state government Thursday issued comprehensive instructions for holding of wedding and other social functions to ensure that the state did not incur loss of revenue.

The new instructions will be applicable to all wedding and other social functions organised privately by people at wedding palaces and banquet halls across the state.

The state has nearly 1,000 marriage palaces and banquet halls. These are used not only by Punjab residents but also a large number of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who come here for functions.

The new rules clearly specify that liquor at such venues would be served only after obtaining the required liquor permit from excise and taxation officials.

Only liquor that has been bought from authorised liquor outlets in Punjab would be allowed to be served. Serving liquor smuggled from another state would invite action for the person holding the function and also the owner of the marriage palace, an official spokesman said here Thursday.

No liquor bought from defence canteens, which is available at much cheaper rates than the market rates, would be allowed to be served, he added.

"It has been observed that in marriage palaces and banquet halls, especially in the vicinity of Chandigarh, liquor meant for sale in Chandigarh is being consumed in marriages and other functions. This is an offence under Punjab Excise Act and the offender can face action. Owners of marriage palaces have also been directed not to allow the use of unauthorised liquor in their premises," a senior state excise and taxation official said.

Regarding eatables at such functions, people organising these will have to ensure that the caterer supplying cooked food to be served to the guests should issue a sale invoice or bill of the eatables to ensure that value added tax (VAT) due had been charged by him.

In case the eatables are cooked by a 'Halwai' (sweet-meat maker) from raw material supplied by the organisers, it would be ensured that organisers are in possession of cash bills covering the purchases of all the raw materials consumed for the preparation of eatables.

Violation of the new rules would lead to penalty, the official said.

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Chandigarh News: PGI hikes private room, test charges

Those wanting the comfort and privacy of a private room in PGI for their sick kin or friends will have to pay a bit more for it. Apparently working on the principle of making the well-off shell out more for availing medical facilities available at this referral institute, certain tests done free earlier, will have to be paid for now.

At a meeting of the institutes body on Wednesday, it has been decided to hike the room rent for the private ward and VIP rooms from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800, respectively from next week.

According to sources, the charges for a room in the private ward of advance paediatric centre have been enhanced from Rs 850 to

Rs 1,000. Now, patients who want medicine administered through the spinal chord will be charged Rs 500 something done free earlier. The medicine is pumped into the chord in cases of spasticity or patients with muscular stiffness who cannot move, said S Prabhakar, head of the neurology department, PGI.

The institute body also approved introduction of some laboratory tests proposed by the standing finance committee. The new tests will be conducted in the department of gastroentereolgy, endocrinology, neurology and hepatology.

A particular blood test in endocrinology will cost Rs 100 for the general ward and Rs 300 for those in the private ward, an official said.

There are 94 private beds and 10 VIP rooms, and many patients who can pay for a separate room. So, this move shall enhance PGIs revenue, said a faculty member.

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Faced with shortage, Canada woos skilled Indian workers

"Here's good news for engineers, technicians and other skilled workers wanting to work abroad. Canada is trying to attract young talent from countries like India by relaxing norms for visas in this category, says a Canadian immigration expert.

"There is an acute shortage of skilled workers in Canada and the situation will worsen in the next 5-10 years unless the government makes an effort to attract talent from a young country like India," said Curtis Panke, director of global operations for the Ontario-based Global Placement Services.

Pointing out that the retirement age for most occupations in Canada is 55 years, he said in the next five years, more than 20 percent of the country's engineers, doctors, professors and geologists would retire.

"This huge void cannot be filled with domestic talent alone. If we do not attract the talent from outside, there will be a talent vacuum of up to 70 percent in the next 10 to 15 years."

Keeping all this in mind, he said, the Canadian government has made vital changes in its immigration policy and relaxed certain norms for a Canadian visa in the skilled worker category.

The latest fast track processing of visa applications in the federal skilled worker category ensures a Canadian visa in a shorter period of just 6-12 months, pointed out Panke.

The Canadian government has issued a list of 38 high-demand occupational categories, including health, finance, engineers, heavy-duty mechanics, industrial technicians, food service managers and other skilled trades.

Panke is in Punjab to gauge the talent pool available and to conduct seminars all over the state in collaboration with the city-based World Wide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS), which has sent over 60,000 families and around 250,000 individuals to Canada till date.

"There are thousands of Punjabis in Canada, who are doing extremely well in their professions and contributing to the country's economy. Comparatively, we have more applicants from this region if we compare it with other states in India," stated Panke.

Asked about the impact of global recession on the Canadian economy, Panke said a majority of the organisations and companies there would be unaffected in the long run.

"There is some impact but all this is a temporary phase and will pass very soon. Moreover, there is no impact on the openings available under skilled category there and Canada is looking forward to employ skilled workers in a big way."

Talking about Canada's federal investor category for permanent residency in the country, Lt Col (retd) B.S. Sandhu, chief managing director of WWICS, said: "An investor is only needed to invest Rs.5 million in some flourishing trade in Canada and can relocate there under the Canadian Investor Program."

The applicant, under this category, only needs to have a work experience of two years and no language proficiency test like IELTS is required, he added.

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India vs England 2nd Test: Unprecedented security for PCA

With just two matches to go of the seven-ODI series between England and India, Mumbai was overpowered by fidayeens and the world watched the nation's nerve centre burn over the next 60 hours. The visiting team made a hasty retreat, with the promise of coming back for a two-test series. While English Cricket Board's (ECB) security advisor Reg Dickason has already arrived in Chennai where the two teams are slated to clash first, Punjab police has planned unprecedented safety arrangements even before receiving an official communication from Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) on the second test match scheduled in Mohali from December 19 to 23.

"Tight arrangements have been made in past also but in the wake of terror attacks in Mumbai and team England expressing security concerns, unprecedented safety measures will be taken," said Mohali SSP Jatinder Singh Aulakh. Refusing to divulge greater details, he added that sniffer dogs will accompany policemen in plainclothes who will mingle with the crowd to keep an eye on any suspicious movement.

"Besides deploying commandos with players, there will be a quick reaction team to tackle any crisis. Tight security around dressing rooms, too, will be ensured and entry allowed to those other than players only after proper verification," said Mohali SP (city) Varinder Pal Singh.

According to media reports, ECB has asked Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) for a list of safety assurances including sharing of high-level safety plan, a group of commandos to accompany the team at all times, an emergency evacuation strategy in case of a terrorist strike and security blanket over England team's dressing rooms. "Security will be provided to the English team as per their request. We have the required manpower and commandos who can thwart any untoward incident. Further strategies will be chalked out after receiving a detailed request from PCA and BCCI," added Singh.

Besides increasing vigil along roads leading up to PCA stadium and entry points coming under round-the-clock surveillance of CCTV cameras, only those vehicles sporting official passes will reportedly be allowed inside parking lots that will be manned by armed security personnel.

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Chandigarh News: Bouncers on roll after Mumbai attacks

The Mumbai mayhem is raining jobs for bouncers in hotels across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh. Anxious hoteliers, still numb from the attack on some of India's oldest and most iconic hotels in its commercial capital, are in fact also looking for hiring female bouncers so that they can tackle women guests.

Busy recruiting bouncers, Ruby Singh of RS Group here said, "To meet the requirement of Chandigarh alone I have to hire out around 150 boys. Then there is the new demand for female bouncers, particularly in discs, to check lady guests. We will recruit one lady bouncer each for local discotheques." He added that with Christmas and New Year round the corner, demand for private security has increased tenfold in the region.

Surjit Singh, who owns Chandigarh-based Solid Manpower, is upbeat too. The demand for security agents who possess licensee weapons is especially higher, he said, adding, "Hoteliers have asked up to provide two gunmen each in their clubs and bars etc. Keep this in mind many boys from my security company have applied for weapons. Such is the demand that we would, I think, be engaging around 250 bouncers."

Luckily for hotels and clubs here, there is a ready pool of bouncers who are plucked off straight from the akharas of Haryana and Punjab. While many are wrestlers, some are bodybuilders and boxers having officially represented the two states in numerous national-level competitions. Informing TOI about holding a meeting to discuss security status in the city with leading hoteliers and restaurateurs on Monday, Manmohan Singh Kohli, president, Chandigarh hotel and restaurant owners' association, added, "It was a collective decision to approach UT administration for a task force that can also train private security personnel employed by us. As it will be a while until this demand is met, smaller hotels and restaurants have already started hiring private guards."

The scenario is no different in touristy Shimla. Though not ready to reveal details, Vikas Kapoor, GM, Radisson, said security has been beefed up like never before. "We have increased the number of our security guards. The hospitality sector has become a soft target for terrorists and to avoid Taj-like incidents we have been forced to upgrade security arrangements and make guests feel safe."

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Mohali News: Houses along Mohali golf course not yet

In far US - epicentre of the global economic downturn - recession is said to have set in. India - world's second largest growing economy - has reportedly not been affected to that extent but the real estate sector is definitely in the red. One proof is Greater Mohali Area Development Authority's (GMADA) shelving of its ambitious project of expensive apartments near the upcoming golf range in Sector 65.

While the idea of luxurious apartments - pegged at a total cost of Rs 500-700 crore - around the lush green sprawl was to boost GMADA's revenue by attracting the high-income group, but now authorities fear that investors may shy away because of an overall slump. "We fear we might receive less prices for the houses in the current scenario and, therefore, that project will be revived once the market stablizes and the realty sector starts looking up," said GMADA chief administrator Vivek Partap Singh.

The apprehensive is understandable as thousands of flats coming up in Mohali and its periphery have also failed to attract buyers in the last three months. With private builders lowering prices and offering special sops to attract buyers bearing no fruit, GMADA is wary of setting out on its exclusive housing project at this juncture. It has even postponed its decision to auction prime commercial sites in the city.

The chief administrator, however, said that work on the golf range will go on as scheduled without any changes. Besides, developing the golf range-cum-academy, it also has plans of a clubhouse, restaurant, conference hall, yoga room, library, gymnasium and indoor games facility.

Initially, GMADA had set aside 2 acre for the project, but later an additional three acre was added to it after officials decided to come up with the apartments.

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Mohali News: Mohali cries for public transport

Racing fast on the path of development, Mohali dubbed as the future city of Punjab, is lagging behind in providing efficient transport system to residents. While the city is witnessing slew of developmental projects, the government is yet to give a serious thought to improve public transport system here.

Like Chandigarh, a proposal to start radio taxi service was mooted around five months back, but this too has failed to take off. While three months deadline to start already gone, the state transport department has yet to find a suitable service providing company.

District transport officerBalbir Singh Dhol, said that the contract given to a company to start the service in Mohali had been cancelled and now the another company has been asked to provide the radio taxi service. In July, the state transport department had announced to launch the scheme in Mohali on the pattern of Chandigarh.

Initially, 50 radio taxis in a phased manner were to be launched. Taxis were to be plied within a radius of 40 km. State transport officials had given green signals to two firms from Gurgaon and Delhi and even the fares to be charged by radio cabs too were decided.

Meanwhile, Punjab government has decided to include the city among those that will soon get city bus service under public-private partnership, but when this would happen no one knows.

Minister for cooperation Kanwaljeet Singh said ''I will check what led to delay in introducing radio cabs in the city,'' he said. Rajinder Singh Rana, president, Mohali MC, said ''Government is neglecting Mohal in terms of development."

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Chandigarh News: Panjab University follows CAT, to post answers online

Taking the big leap towards fairness in examinations, Panjab University has decided to follow CAT and post answers of entrance examinations on its website from the next academic session.

With PU conducting entrance tests for various departments like English, law, science and School of Communication Studies, students will be able to view correct answers after their examinations. "Our aim is to bring transparency. Moreover, students will be benefited by knowing what mistakes they committed even before results are declared," said a senior PU official.

In the past, PU has faced allegations from students claiming to have written their tests well, but evaluated incorrectly. This system will supposedly reduce that confusion. "In case students have any problem or don't agree with the answers, they can contact authorities within a stipulated time period. Answersheets will be evaluated once that time for contacting officials for doubts is over," added the official.

Part of PU's computerization project inaugurated a month ago, the move has cheered scholars. "Wow! We can think of other career options in advance if we haven't got our answers correct. Moreover, we can approach authorities in case what they have posted is wrong," said Ramandeep, a BA second year student.

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Chandigarh News: CCTVs to keep eye on every movement across city

Learning some quick lessons from the recent security breach in the country's financial capital, UT administration has finally decided to address the long-pending security concern in Chandigarh by giving a go-ahead to the ambitious project to install closed-circuit cameras (CCTVs) at strategic locations across the city.

UT finance secretary Sanjay Kumar told TOI that financial bids for the project would be invited on December 10 and the entire exercise would cost around Rs 3 crore. "Since an upgraded version of the equipment would be put up, the project is likely to cost more," he said.

A meeting in this regard was held on Monday and it was decided to implement the project with immediate effect.

Sources added that initially police were to carry out the project, but they kept sitting on it citing procedural problems in implementing it. UT engineering department has now been asked to take the initiative, with logistics support from the police.

As per the proposal, CCTVs would be installed at 20 key light point crossings in the city, besides three busiest market places in Sector 22, 17 and 35. While the control room for the cameras at light points would be at Sector 29 police traffic lines, the feedback from the markets would be monitored from Sector 17. Police headquarter in Sector 9 would also be connected to the network.

"The cameras have the capacity to cover a large area. For instance, CCTVs in markets would be able to cover both the corridors and market places. The facility of recording the visuals of at least five days would also be provided," said an official of the engineering department.

Places to be covered under the project need utmost scrutiny and these cameras would help police in keeping an eye on such places at all times. UT police are also planning to issue directions to multiplexes, shopping complexes and hotels, as visuals are always helpful in recognising the culprits behind any untoward incident.

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Agro Tech in Chandigarh attracts more city folks than farmers

Agriculture technology and business fair, 'Agro Tech 2008', underway in Chandigarh seems to have caught the fancy of the urban population and entrepreneurs more than that of farmers.

With all the leading companies active in this sector in the country showcasing their products and services at the event, the Agro Tech is drawing huge crowds, even though they are mostly of people who are not related to agriculture in anyway.

Scattered groups of farmers, who have come from far away villages in Punjab, Haryana and Tamil Nadu, with queries about certain products are outnumbered by people from the city, mostly youth, satisfying their curiosity.

"We have only come here for an outing otherwise the gigantic tractors and agricultural equipment displayed over here are of no use to us", said Darshan Singh, who came here in a group of 50 farmers from Barnala district in Punjab, about 100 km from here.

Moreover he said that the youngsters at the various stalls could not speak the Punjabi language and were thus unable to explain things to them.

"I have been farming for the last 50 years, and over these years we have observed that the size of the land holdings have decreased drastically while the size of the machines and farm equipment has increased substantially," said Jaggar Singh Khokhar, a 70-year-old farmer from Patiala district in Punjab.

"These big machines, exhibited here are meant for fields that are at least 100 acres. However, the average land holding of farmers in Punjab is less than 10 acres so such kind of exhibition is of no use for us", he added.

The 'Kisan Goshtis' (farmers' conclaves), where farmers are being taught about developments in areas like crop nutrition, organic farming, and contract farming through films, special talks and interactive question-answer sessions, also saw a lukewarm response as the special pavilion earmarked for them was mostly deserted.

However entrepreneurs and businessmen thronged the event.

"I came to Agro Tech just to gain knowledge about the prospects of horticulture in Punjab and how to go about green house farming here," said Kanav Saluja, a young entrepreneur based in Mohali district in Punjab, around 10 km from here.

He said he plans to buy land in Punjab and establish a horticulture business. "Here one cannot rely on the weather, which is why I want to grow vegetables and flowers in green houses," he added.

"I have visited this agriculture fair to explore the possibilities available in agri-sector in both India and abroad. As there are many representatives from countries like the UK, Germany and Japan, there is a healthy exchange of knowledge between us," said Raghu Sharma, a student of business management.

For Chandigarh businessman Sanjeev Mahajan, the event represented a good experience to see many things like latest agricultural technology, agricultural products, processed food, and a poultry and livestock exhibition under one roof, even when he was not connected to agriculture.

The Agro Tech is a good platform for the signing memorandum of understandings and business deals. In 2006, it saw the trade inquiries to the tune of the 585 million US dollars and a direct business of 170 million US dollars.

The eighth edition of the biennial four-day Agro Tech 2008 started Nov 28 here at Parade Ground. Spread over an area of 5960 square metres, it has 204 stalls. States like Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir as well as seven other countries are participating in the event.

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Chandigarh gets National Golf Academy

"The city from where the country's top international golfer Jeev Milkha Singh hails got a boost for its golfing tradition with the National Golf Academy of India inaugurated here Wednesday.

The new academy set up by the Indian Golf Union (IGU) at the Chandigarh Golf Range was inaugurated by Punjab Governor S.F. Rodrigues.

"This national project, aiming to promote and develop golf, will meet the long felt need and demand for teaching professionals in this sport in the country. The demand for teaching professionals was rising every year and the IGU had to find a home for the academy which was conveniently located," IGU president T.T. Jagannathan said.

Chandigarh Golf Association (CGA) president C.S.R. Reddy said that golfing facilities available at the golf course were the best in the country.

"With the setting up of this academy, many caddies will be able to get the opportunity of becoming teaching professionals," Reddy said.

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Chandigarh gets National Golf Academy

The city from where the country's top international golfer Jeev Milkha Singh hails got a boost for its golfing tradition with the National Golf Academy of India inaugurated here Wednesday.

The new academy set up by the Indian Golf Union (IGU) at the Chandigarh Golf Range was inaugurated by Punjab Governor S.F. Rodrigues.

"This national project, aiming to promote and develop golf, will meet the long felt need and demand for teaching professionals in this sport in the country. The demand for teaching professionals was rising every year and the IGU had to find a home for the academy which was conveniently located," IGU president T.T. Jagannathan said.

Chandigarh Golf Association (CGA) president C.S.R. Reddy said that golfing facilities available at the golf course were the best in the country.

"With the setting up of this academy, many caddies will be able to get the opportunity of becoming teaching professionals," Reddy said.

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Girls driven out of hostel at SD College, Chandigarh

One noted the irony of a high court observation - coming only a day earlier - insisting on a child-parent like relationship between an institution and its students when scores of SD College hostel girls found themselves displaced on Wednesday because of a personal function of principal AC Vaid.

"We were told that the principal's daughter was getting married on November 27 and his relatives would be adjusted in our rooms," said a girl who naturally didn't want to be named.

According to sources, some 55 girls staying on the hostel's ground floor - with 15 rooms and housing 230 students - were asked to leave the hostel by college authorities until Sunday. "We have been asked either to adjust with girls staying on the first and second floors or with local guardians. With exams beginning on Monday, things have become very difficult," added another girl.

High-handedness of college officials did not end there. "A three-day holiday has also been announced because of the wedding which is on Saturday," said a BA-II year student.

Asking students to be in attendance for the entertainment of guests, they have reportedly been told to prepare gidha, jago and other dance items for the sangeet to be held on November 28 within the college premises.

Parents were naturally a worried lot when they came to know of their daughter's plight. "We are worried about the security of our girls as they will now be sharing the hostel mess with unknown visitors," said an anxious parent.

However, Vaid denied holding a family function on the hostel premises. "Students have been asked to vacate their rooms as we will be provide them with a recreational centre on the ground floor. There is no plan to accommodate my relatives in the hostel."

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Panjab University to do away with 7% OBC quota

In a move which is bound to cause ripples in the student community at large, the Panjab University (PU) has decided to do away with its 7% Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota from the next academic session.

The decision has come in the wake of a recent affidavit by the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) in the Punjab and Haryana high court, stating that PU is neither a central university nor centrally-funded.

The university had set aside the OBC quota rather late in the session, October 31, 2008, being the last date for applications, following Supreme Court orders that it be introduced in central or centrally-funded universities. It planned to implement 27% reservation for OBC candidates in three phases, which would eventually have led to an overall increase of 54% seats.

"Since the ministry has not declared PU either a central or centrally-funded university, we thought it fit to do away with the OBC quota from the next session. It has already implemented in the current batches," PU vice-chancellor R C Sobti told TOI on Wednesday. The university has already received a Rs 5-crore MHA grant for implementing the quota and is required to give money utilization certificate to the ministry. "We will not be returning the money (already used) and will instead submit money utilization certificate," Sobti added.

Reactions to the PU decision came fast and furious. Ronki Ram, president, Panjab University Teachers' Union, said, "The university has already implemented the quota, thereby raising the expectations of students. I think the Union ministry should reconsider its decision and grant funds so that we can at least maintain the status quo on OBC quota."

Expressing similar views, Panjab University campus Students' Council president Sahil Nanda added, "OBC students are going to suffer because of contradictory letters sent out by MHA."

At present, the university receives 60% grant from the Chandigarh administration and 40% from the Punjab government. However, it has time and again raised the issue of financial crunch since it has not been getting its share from Punjab. In fact, it is one reason why PUTA has been demanding a central status for the institute. The state government, for obvious reasons, has been turning down the demand.

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Two- day Chandigarh carnival starting Nov 22

Chandigarh is all set to let its hair down and party, as it prepares to host its annual two- day carnival starting Nov 22. The spoiler: the route for this year's parade has been cut short to avoid traffic congestion.

Hundreds of people participate every year in the Chandigarh Carnival. Life-size floats of various designs and tableaux carried on cycle-rickshaws and tractor-trolleys move at a languid pace throughout the city as the crowd dances to the beat of drums.

This year, however, the administration has decided to shorten the parade, citing reasons of increasing traffic snarls on the city roads.

"The number of vehicles on the city roads has increased manifold. Earlier we had to divert the traffic or stop it for some time to make way for the parade. This led to chaos and traffic pile-ups on the city roads," Vinod Kalia, assistant director, Chandigarh Tourism.

"To avoid all this and keeping various parameters in mind we have made some changes in the parade's route. We have already finalised the route and the parade will pass through only those areas where we normally have little traffic and will not touch any residential quarters," Kalia said.

The two-day carnival will start Nov 22 and the parade will move from Matka roundabout to the roundabout at the Sector 16 cricket stadium, then end at the Rose Garden facing the Chandigarh Carnival site.

"This is a platform to showcase our rich heritage, art and culture to the world. Every year it attracts a large number of foreign tourists to the city," Archana Shastri, principal, Government College of Art (GCA), Chandigarh.

Every year many students of GCA participate in the carnival, clearly outnumbering students from any other college.

Apart from other activities, this year students of GCA are preparing the entrance gate based on the theme of the carnival 'Fun and Games'.

Shastri added: "This carnival also gives an opportunity to the students of our college to showcase their talent. This year over 120 students of our college are involved in preparing floats, slides for joy rides and figures of cartoon characters Noddy and Mowgli and of Hindu god Ganesha."

There will be two Bollywood musical nites, a laughter show, an amusement park for children, food courts and various cultural events going on simultaneously during the carnival.

Artistes from the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, the Sahitya Akademi and the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi will participate in the carnival.

"We are also expecting the participation of foreign artistes from Poland,Germany, France, Japan and Hungary. We have also written to the (Indian) Air Force Station, Chandigarh, to provide us their helicopter to shower flower petals at the inauguration event," Kalia said.

He added: "There will be 40 huts made of bamboo at the carnival village that will be the stalls. For corporate and business houses, there will be a separate section."

In the carnival village, a mini Rock Garden will be created by Nek Chand, creator of the Rock Garden, one of the major tourist destinations in the city.

A hanging bridge, children's traffic park, and a chaupal (community area) of Haryana Tourism where visitors can taste the cuisines from Haryana, pyramid of flowers and colourful fountains will be the attractions for visitors coming to the carnival.

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Broken teeth - Smile and dial helpline

If you happen to break your teeth, don't fret. Just put them in some milk or coconut water and scuttle off to a dentist - so advises a newly launched helpline here.

The oral health sciences department at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has started the unique 24-hour emergency helpline - 9914208717 - dedicated to saving broken or fractured teeth.

"A helpline to attend trauma cases related to teeth was the need of the hour. We have observed here in our department that cases of dentofacial trauma that affect patients' teeth and facial structure has increased manifold in the last few years," Ashima, senior faculty member, paediatric dentistry, PGIMER.

The helpline will be managed by a four-member team of senior doctors.

"Broken and fractured teeth are the most common cases. Earlier, we used to hardly get one or two such cases in a month but now we are getting two cases of broken teeth and three to four cases of fractured teeth every week," said Ashima.

Alarmingly, most of these cases involve children or teenagers who incur injury because of some scuffle, fall or accident, she pointed out.

The helpline number, 9914208717, was flashed on the PGIMER's website three weeks ago on a trial basis. After getting a remarkable response from the public, it was launched formally Monday.

The oral health sciences department at the institute is one of the most ultra modern and well-equipped departments, with over 40 physicians attending to hundreds of patients everyday.

"Damaged teeth can be successfully re-implanted if they are preserved well and are cautiously taken to the physician in a short time," said Ashima.

"We give easy and quick tips on the phone as to how to protect broken teeth. Generally, people wrap broken teeth in paper to save them, but that is entirely wrong as they should be kept in milk, coconut water or even in the mouth so that they do not lose moisture."

PGIMER, one of the leading medical institutes of northern India, was started in 1962, caters to patients from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

"Normally, people tend to ignore teeth problems, causing more trouble a few years later. Many times, patients come to us two or three days after a tooth injury and at that time, the doctors cannot do much to help them," Mishthu, a senior resident doctor and one of the attendants at the helpline.

"Although in the initial days, the response was lukewarm, now the response is overwhelming as we are getting continuous calls from patients. It is indeed very satisfying for us that we are able to help a patient in time," stated Mishthu.

People in the city and surrounding areas are also very happy with the helpline.

"This helpline was like a godsend for us when last week my 16-year-old son broke two of his front teeth after he was badly hit by a cricket ball while playing," said Radhika Jain, a government school teacher.

"His coach immediately dialled the helpline and on their instructions carried the broken teeth to a nearby dental clinic by immersing them in milk. The teeth were successfully fixed back," said Jain.

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Animal protection group goes Bollywood way to raise funds

A non-profit animal protection organisation is holding an exhibition cum sale here of Bollywood posters of films ranging from the classic "Aawara" to the recent hit "Chak De! India" to raise funds for their movement.

People for Animals (PFA) has organised the three-day exhibition cum sale of Bollywood posters named 'Divas Unveiled' here at the Government Museum and Art Gallery from Nov 1 to 3.

There is an exceptional incorporation of posters of both old and new movies, ranging from Hindi films made in 1930s to recent blockbusters.

"PFA conducts various fund raising exhibitions, auctions and competitions throughout the country but this is for the first time that we have organised such an exhibition," Payal Sodhi, founder trustee of the Chandigarh unit of PFA told IANS.

"Initially it was a difficult task for us to collect these rare posters but after a long hunt, we were able to get these posters from two production houses based in Mumbai. Now, whatever money we collect from this sale will be directly utilized for the activities of PFA," Sodhi said.

Sodhi added: "The remaining posters will be sent back to Mumbai. These posters are priced between Rs.2,000 and Rs.7,500."

There are over 120 posters of yesteryears' blockbusters like "Barsaat", "Aawara", "Boot Polish", "Azaad", "Kati Patang", "Gambler" and recent hits like "Om Shanti Om", "Devdas", "Lagaan", "Chak De! India" and "Don".

"PFA has become the voice for the speechless animals. We are in full support for this fund raiser," said Ram Niwas, home secretary, Chandigarh after visiting the exhibition.

"A visit to this exhibition is a treat for Hindi movie lovers. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and consider this exhibition an effective way to stimulate people to help in a noble cause," said Akanksha Sethi, a visitor to the exhibition.

PFA, Chandigarh was adjudged the best PFA unit for the year 2007 for its outstanding work from among 165 PFA units functioning across the country.

PFA here treats around 6,000 animals from the region every year.

"We have two ambulances to cater to Chandigarh and its adjoining areas and these are operational 24x7. Our services are totally free," Sodhi said.

"We have a well-equipped animal hospital with full time doctors and helpers where we treat animals like monkeys, cats, dogs, snakes, birds, horses, cows and others. We are also running an animal birth control centre and organise animal treatments camps at various places at regular intervals," Sodhi said.

About their animal birth control centre, Sodhi said: "We are against the killing of street dogs and at our animal birth control centre, we run a sterilization programme for them. Street dogs are caught, operated, tagged, vaccinated, and finally returned to their respective original areas."

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Multi-level parking for Mohali on cards

Mohali, cited as the future IT city, will soon have an ultra-modern multi-level parking. In the wake of increasing parking problems, the municipal council has decided to come up with a multi-level parking near Phase VII market, where work will start soon. The site has been finalized under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

MC officials confirmed that the site has been finalized under the scheme and its estimated budget would be prepared by a private company.

The proposal for the multi-level parking was earlier given to the government. In it, parkings at phases 3B1, V, VII, X, XI and Sector 70 were proposed. The officials said the company selected by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority would prepare the design for the multi-level parking.

"It will certainly provide relief to Mohali residents, as with an increase in the number of vehicles, a need for a multi-level parking was felt. Moreover, it will solve problems people face when they visit markets due to inadequate parking space," said Pargat Singh Deol, a resident of Phase 3B1.

With more than 12,000 vehicles registered in Mohali in the last seven months, more parking space was required, said an MC official. They also plan to come up with multi-level parkings at different city markets, he added.

"With multi-level parking, business will increase, as people will not bother much about parking problem before visiting markets," said Jaswinder Singh, a showroom owner in Phase VII market.

The parking will cater to the people visiting Phase VII market as well its residents.

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Chandigarh carnival to be held Nov 22-23

The city's annual event 'Chandigarh Carnival' will be held Nov 22-23, a spokesman of the city administration said here Friday.

Chandigarh's home and tourism secretary Ram Niwas said the theme of the carnival this year will be "fun and games".

The main attraction though will be the Carnival Parade that will start from the Leisure Valley and pass through various city sectors with vehicles colourfully decorated.

Students of the Chandigarh College of Arts will design the main entrance gate of the carnival at Leisure Valley as per the theme.

Musical nites, fireworks display, laughter shows and other events will be held during the carnival.

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Punjab-born man wins election in Finland

Punjab-born people have won elections in the US, Britain and Canada but in a first of its kind, a Punjabi has won a provincial election in Finland.

Ranbir Sodhi, 42, a night-club owner in Vantaa province adjoining Finland's capital Helsinki has become the first Indian to make it to the council of governors of Vantaa.

Originally hailing from Dhuri town in Punjab's Sangrur district, 200 km from here, Sodhi achieved the distinction of being the first and only member of Indian origin to make it to the council of governors during recently concluded elections, his media agency said here Thursday.

Sodhi has been elected on a Social Democratic Party (SDP) ticket. SDP is a leading party in Finland. He has been elected for a four-year term to the 67-member council of governors from 627 candidates.

Sodhi, who resides in Hiekkaharju city in Vantaa state, will represent the fourth most populated city of Finland with over 190,000 residents.

"This is yet another milestone for Indians, especially the Punjabi community which comprises nearly 200 families in Finland. Having been elected to the Finland legislature is a dream come true for me," Sodhi said.

Vantaa has the biggest international airport in Finland and caters to Helsinki city.

He said that his priority would be infrastructure development in Vantaa.

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Curtains go up on Chandigarh's renovated Tagore Theatre

The curtains have gone up in the much improved renovated Tagore Theatre, a prominent cultural focal point of the region.

The exteriors and interiors of the theatre have gone through a comprehensive makeover, though the original design has not been tampered with.

Extensive use of glass has been made in the entrance, the ceiling and the walls leading to the main auditorium.

"The inner structure of the theatre was completely dismantled to reconstruct the basement, auditorium, lobby, backstage, seating steps and projection room boxes, and 330 seats have been added by changing the direction of the stage to house nearly 900 comfortable chairs," Namita Satnam Singh, consultant architect said.

"It (the theatre) will certainly rejuvenates the theatre and art and culture of the city," Neelam Mansingh, eminent theatre director from this region, told IANS.

"It was a big challenge to renovate the Tagore Theatre and I am happy that the outcome is quite satisfactory," said Mansingh who also teaches at Indian Theatre department at Panjab University and has directed 35 plays in a career spanning over 30 years.

Tagore Theatre was constructed in the early 1960s and was in dire need of renovation. It remained closed for almost a year for renovation work.

"Glamour is an essential part of theatre and these two complement each other. Now the uptodate facilities will certainly add new life to theatre activities in the region as Tagore Theatre not only caters to Chandigarh but also to Punjab and Haryana," Umesh Kant, eminent theatre personality from Chandigarh, told IANS.

"Closure of Tagore Theatre for over one year certainly hampered our work as I had to stop my theatre workshops as we had no other good venue for our performances. However, it was necessary, as change is an essential cycle that enriches our life," said Kant, who is attached to theatre since 1976 and has directed and produced around 30 plays till date.

A modern power-saving lighting system and a fully automatic stage control system have been installed at Tagore Theatre.

Better sound reinforcement system, video projection system, fire detection and fire fighting system and a new air conditioning plant have also been added.

"I have performed at Tagore Theatre countless times and various times we had to make do with substandard light and sound systems. Facilities available in Delhi and Mumbai were far better than here. But now the new additions have made the theatre at par with any other theatre of the country," said Ranjan Sehgal, a young theatre artiste based here.

"Many of my contemporaries have moved to metro cities in search of better avenues and support system. But now with the opening of such a theatre in our own city we do not need to go anywhere. In fact it will certainly attract big production houses from other states to the city," Sehgal said.

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Accused in PFA Act cry foul

While UT administration refuses to give up its crusade against adulteration even in cases that go back many years, the accused cry foul as many litigations filed before 2003 are falling flat following a court ruling that UT's Food Health Authority (FHA) until then was not authorized to impart training to food inspectors.

With 50 persons booked under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act walking free in the last few months, sources said, "While there are more than 550 cases pending in the districts courts against hoteliers, restaurateurs, grocers and department store owners booked in 2003, the same clause that came to the rescue of those acquitted will apply to the rest."

After a trial court had observed in 2003 that FHA was not authorized to impart training to food inspectors, UT moved a criminal revision petition in the court of additional district and sessions judge, which upheld the earlier verdict in March 2008 based on a notification issued by the ministry of health and family welfare in 1982.

Not ready to let go of those already booked, Manjit Singh Bains, director, health services-cum-food authority, Chandigarh, said, "The ruling is based on a technical ground involving food inspectors' training, but samples fail on the basis of tests conducted by analysts. We will be filing appeals against the recent acquittals and have written to the law ministry to regularize inspectors' training. This will help in pursuing pending cases in the trial court." He added that inspectors were also given requisite training in 2003 from recognised centres in Punjab and Haryana.

Unhappy with UT's insistence on further entangling the accused in litigation hassles, advocate Sunil Kumar who regularly contests PFA cases said, "The court's order will impact all cases filed before 2003. However, UT's move seems to be purely aimed at harassing the accused who have been coming to courts regularly for the last so many years. Most of them in the end are either acquitted or discharged."

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Underprivileged children in Chandigarh find a home

There is good news for the underprivileged children of Chandigarh. The Union Territory administration Monday inaugurated a residential and vocational centre to rehabilitate street children.

Aimed at uplifting street children, orphans and other underprivileged children, the Street Children Home and Vocational Training Centre was inaugurated one day prior to Diwali by Gen. (retd) S.F. Rodrigues, administrator of Chandigarh.

"Any child between the age group of 5 to 18 years who works on the streets, single parent children needing special care or protection, children displaced due to natural disasters, orphans, handicapped or children having the impact of HIV/AIDS on their family would be eligible for admission in the centre," Amandeep Kaur, director, social welfare told media persons.

The centre is spread over four and a half acres and can accommodate 900 children.

The centre has been divided into administrative-cum-educational block, vocational training block, three residential blocks, library-cum-recreational hall, music room, computer training centre, medical units, gymnasium and a playground.

"Out of the three residential blocks, the two blocks are meant for males and one is for female inmates. Each residential block is equipped with the facilities of dinning hall, kitchen along with a caretaker's residence. Special arrangements at ground floor have been made for handicapped children," said the spokesperson of the administration.

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Chandigarh's Beant Singh memorial finally opens

A memorial to Beant Singh, Punjab chief minister who was assassinated here in 1985, was finally inaugurated Wednesday after an inordinate delay in its completion.

The memorial and the Chandigarh Centre for Performing and Visual Arts were inaugurated Wednesday by Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, administrator of Chandigarh who also interacted with Jaswant Kaur, wife of the late leader, on the occasion.

There is an immediate need to make the Beant Singh memorial a functional and vibrant project and to highlight the ideals and the cause for which he laid down his life, Rodrigues told mediapersons.

This project must be developed further in an integrated and harmonious manner and we need more public participation for realizing our true objectives and the concept visualized before raising this memorial, he said.

Beant Singh was assassinated on Aug 31, 1995, by a suicide bomber. The memorial project was announced a few months later.

The Chandigarh administration and the Punjab government contributed funds for the construction of the memorial but the project kept on getting delayed.

The memorial includes a library building, an open-air auditorium, a lecture hall, a conference hall, a committee room, a reading room and water fountains and houses the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.

Plans are on to beautify this place and many more features will be added in the next phase to attract more tourists here, said a spokesperson of the Chandigarh administration. (IANS)

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Rodrigues flags off mobile clinic bus

As part of the Gurta Gaddi Diwas celebrations, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator General S F Rodrigues (Retd) inaugurated a medical camp and flagged off a fully-equipped AC mobile clinic bus today. The bus was launched by the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Sewa Society at IMA Bhawan in Sector 35.

Accompanied by Jean Rodrigues, the Administrator went around different wards in the city, interacted with the members of the medical team and took stock of the facilities being provided in the hospital.

Rodrigues said they were in the process of synchronising healthcare services by pooling the existing resources and integrating the medical network available at PGIMER, General Hospital and the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, to ensure access to quality healthcare in the region. The Medicity is in an advanced stage of planning which will be equipped with super-speciality services with research facilities and 100 beds for chemotherapy and dialysis patients to help our goal of providing free treatment to the poor patients, he said.

General Rodrigues asked the Home Secretary to constitute a team of officers and management of the Guru Granth Sahib Sewa Society to coordinate endeavour to boost medical services in the region and reach out to people who cannot come to hospitals for treatment.

H S Sabbharwal, General Secretary of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Sewa Society, highlighted its goals and said that the fully-equipped AC mobile clinic bus with latest eye and dental equipment will conduct five camps in a week in rural areas within a 40-km radius of Chandigarh. He said the society has given 12 stretchers each to PGI and General Hospital, Sector 16.

There is a plan to start angiography and angioplasty facilities and the poor patients will be given free services, he added.

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Punjab, Haryana people spend more on health, less on insurance

People in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh set aside a huge part of their annual income for health expenses, but spend very little on health insurance, according to a survey released Tuesday.

The survey, jointly carried out by economic research institute National Council of Applied Economic Research and Max New York Life Insurance, found that "in Punjab, for an average household income of Rs.77,325, the annual health expenses are Rs.34,729, which is 44.9 percent of the income".

"Similarly, in Haryana and Chandigarh, the annual expenses on health care are 40.9 percent and 59.4 percent of their respective annual household incomes," Rajender Sud, director and head of agency distribution, Max New York Life Insurance, said here.

The survey covered 342 towns and 2,000 villages across 23 states.

The total health insurance penetration in India is only 1.2 percent, whereas in the US it is 84 percent of the total population, the report said.

Chandigarh ranks third among the 23 states participated in the survey.

Punjab and Haryana stood at ninth and 19th places respectively in the health insurance penetration rankings.

"With the growing incidence of diseases due to changing lifestyle, health insurance is recognised as one of the primary protection needs for all the family members. It should be an essential aspect of financial planning of every household," Sud said.

"According to the World Health organisation findings, in India, seven in every 100 will have diabetes problem and 21 in every 100 will have blood pressure problems by 2025. By 2010, 60 percent of the world's cardiac patients will be Indians. Such facts make the health insurance of utmost important for every Indian," he added.

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Chandigarh: A bird sanctuary in the heart of a busy city

In the heart of a bustling residential neighbourhood here exists a bird sanctuary - where at least 50,000 parrots dwell.

Every morning, residents of the posh Sector 21 - one of the busiest areas of the city with over 25,000 people - wake up to the chirping of these parrots and other birds that live in the City Bird Sanctuary.

"With the rising tall structures in urban areas, slowly birds are losing their habitat. However, this sanctuary within the posh locality sets a precedent in how birds and human beings can co-exist," said Rohit Ruhella, an environmentalist based in Chandigarh.

Ishwar Singh, conservator, forests, and chief warden, wildlife, told: "The posh locality boasts of a canopy of green cover, and birds, particularly parrots, have made it their habitat. The forest department officials took notice of this fact and marked 2.9 hectares as a bird sanctuary in 1998.

In Chandigarh, around 180 species of birds are found and most of these species have made this sanctuary their habitat, including owls, sparrows, mynahs and pigeons. However, parrots form the majority.

"Around 50,000 to 60,000 parrots are living in the sanctuary and its adjoining areas," said Singh.

The sanctuary is governed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Visiting times are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and no weapons, explosives and chemicals are allowed inside. Some of the area comes under the adjoining government school, but still it is regulated under the wildlife act.

"We have not done anything to bring any bird here as they have themselves chosen this as their habitat. It was quite exceptional as out of 1,900 parks in the city, the birds chose this area," said Singh.

"One more exceptional thing about this sanctuary is that you will find scores of birds sitting on eucalyptus trees - normally a very rare sight," said Singh.

The forest department has also ensured that the residents of the area enjoy nature's bounty and has made cemented tracks and sheds inside the sanctuary, which also doubles up as a park.

The noticeable thing in the sanctuary is the height of the light posts, which are not higher than three feet.

"Birds also have their own lifestyle and breeding cycle and the presence of lights can disturb them and even force them to leave the sanctuary. So we installed short light posts here," said Singh.

Some residents resisted and demanded the setting up of tall light posts in the sanctuary but due to the timely intervention of the forest department, the problem was taken care of.

"Most people living here are nature lovers. The birds act as a biological alarm clock in the morning and wake us up!" said Monica Sethi, a resident.

Deepak Kothari, another resident, said: "It is a rejuvenating and soothing experience to stroll in the sanctuary early morning."

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Website to dissuade smokers launched in Chandigarh

An anti-smoking website was launched here on Wednesday, a day ahead of smoking being banned in public places across the country, an official said here.

"The smoke free website is the first of its kind in India. It will certainly help for the better implementation and enforcement of the smoke free guidelines in the city," a spokesperson said.

The city was officially declared "smoke free" July 15 last year.

Ram Niwas, home secretary, launched the website http://chandigarh.tobaccofreeindia.com.

"Regular review meetings will be held for mobilising the smoke free initiatives in the city. Chandigarh is acting as a role model for other states in the country and we would take all the necessary steps to sustain this position," said Ram Niwas.

The website contains all the guidelines which are to be followed by tobacco shops and dealers, educational institutes, private and public offices, hotels, clubs and restaurants, said Niwas.

The Chandigarh administration has been assisted by Burning Brain society, a non government organization (NGO) based in Chandigarh, in building the website.

"Our endeavour is to make this city cent percent smoke free in the real sense. The launch of the website has rejuvenated our drive," Hemant Goswamy, chairperson of Burning Brain society.

He said the website will make people aware of their rights and any violation could be reported through this website.

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Chandigarh goes polybag-free, amidst mixed response from society

Initiating another environment friendly step, the union territory of Chandigarh has imposed a complete ban on the use and sale of polythene bags in the city with effect from Oct 2.

The notification in this regard was issued July 30 by the department of environment under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

"The orders have strictly banned the use, storage, import, selling, transportation and disposal of polythene and plastic carry bags by any person in the city. No shopkeeper, vendor, wholesaler, retailer, trader or hawker can use polythene anymore," a senior official told IANS.

People here have to switch over to other eco-friendly alternatives of polythene bags and there are stern provisions of punishment for the violators, pointed out the official.

"At this juncture of time, polythene is the biggest hazard for our environment. This ban was the need of the hour as they interfere with the fertility of land, maligns our ground water and are the biggest threat for both flora and fauna," said Rohit Ruhella, president of Environment Awareness Society among Youth (EASY), a non-government organisation.

Moreover, this ban will add new life in the dying small-scale industry of paper bags and jute bags, said Ruhella.

However, there are people in the city who have termed this ban on the use of plastic as illogical and irrational decision of the administration.

"This is just a publicity stunt of the administration and this decision cannot survive for long. Normally a plastic bag used by shopkeepers cost anywhere between Rs.1 to Rs.5, but jute or paper bag costs at least Rs.7," said a member of Chandigarh Plastic Manufacturers' Association on the assurance of anonymity.

"The administration has taken this decision hurriedly, ignoring the interests of traders and common persons. This move can also enhance inflation, as the traders would increase the commodities costs to cover up the increase cost of carry bags," said Raghuvansh Singh, owner of a Verka milk booth here.

He added: "We are facing a lot of trouble in our business as very few people bring their own bags and till now we have not found any alternative to the plastic bags".

Violators of this act can be given rigorous imprisonment extended up to five years or fine of Rs.100,000 or both depending on the extent of violations.

For the habitual violators, an additional fine of Rs.5,000 per day shall be imposed and there are provisions of imprisonment up to seven years depending upon the violation, stated the official.

Besides, packaged commodities including milk products and grocery items have been exempted from this Act.

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Punjab to be developed as hub for TV,Film shooting

The Punjab Government would chalk out a comprehensive plan for the setting up of class infrastructure facilities for entertainment industry to promote Punjab as Television Serial and Film shootings Tourism destination in the entire northern region of the country.

An announcement to this effect was made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today while inaugurating the Cinematic Tourism Conference in this district.

Speaking on the occastion, Badal said that as the glorious land of Punjab was blessed with landscape that illustrate prosperity, valour and emotional bounds of love and amity amongst all the people, it was obligatory on their part to explore new avenues in the fields of entertainment and tourism industries because both these industries were interlinked.

Badal called upon the film and TV serial makers/producers of the film Industry to promote rich Punjabi culture through their creations.

He also urged them to come in large number to make their serials and films in the region, which would also help the state in terms of tremendous employment generation. He said that the state government had waved off the entertainment tax on the films in Punjab.

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National level seminar organises in Panjab university

A national level seminar on 'Law and Technology' is being organized by University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) and University Law students association, Panjab University , in association with Asia Pacific Jurist association and dept. of technology , UT , Chandigarh.

The Chief Guest, Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Punjab and Haryana high Court inaugurated the function at University auditorium. In the Welcome address given by Prof. Grewal, he talked about 'Law and Technology'. He encouraged the students to organize such events in the future. Justice Surya Kant, in his inaugural address, said that when he passed out from law and joined the legal profession there was no such thing as computers and cyber crime. He further said that the day was not far when lawyers would argue using their laptops and judges would deliver judgments there and then with the help of information from their laptops. He added that the there has been a sea change in the natures of  crime like transmitting virus, pirated software, infringement of IPR etc. He presented his views on Intellectual Property rights.

The inaugural address was followed by the Key note address delivered by Prof. Gurjeet Singh, Vice chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala . In his key note address, the vice chancellor in his humble tone said that, He is in an advantageous position and would become wiser by listening to the distinguished speakers. Speaking on the interface of law and technology he said, cyber crimes are moving at the speed of light and with the growth of cyber space its misuse has also increased. According to him "the impact of technological advancements is such that we cannot imagine the life without them. The modern day technology has shrunk distances around the world and made the inflow and outflow of information across the border much easier than ever before." He also spoke on crimes and forensic science. According to him DNA testing is an excellent example of the marriage between science and law and of the ever increasing role the is being played by science in successful solving of crimes and the prosecution of criminals.

Satya Pal Jain, Dean, Faculty of Laws also graced the occasion by his presence and  said that coming times would be tough and competitive for those who want to join the profession of judiciary. He is amazed by the changing times as all the judgments and the Acts are available in the CDs. And out of his witty and amazing remarks he contended that the day is not far when law would be immensely banking on information technology.. So much so that the judgments would also be dispensed with the help of computers.

On this special occasion M.S. Brar, Director, department of Information Technology, Chandigarh , released the souvenir prepared by UILS. He also presented a Momento to Justice Surya Kant. Prof. R.S. Grewal, Director, UILS  presented Momentos to M.S. Brar and Prof. Gurjeet Singh. Dr. Navneet Arora, Seminar Co-coordinator and faculty member, UILS presented vote of thanks to all the dignitaries.

During the day, Parallel working sessions were held on Law and Biotechnology and Intellectual Property Rights. Various legal luminaries  – Justice Rajiv Bhalla, Judge Panjab and Haryana High Court, Justice K.S. Ahluwalia, Justice Austin George Masih, Justice Ajay Tiwari, Prof Johar, Deptt. Of Laws, PU, Rodney Ryder, Atul Lakhanpal acted as chairpersons of these sessions. The various panels also consisted of Co-chairpersons-  Preetpal Singh, Prof. Sashi Sharma, Meenu Paul, Prof. P. Bansal, Ajay Gulathi, Assistant advocate Gen. Haryana. Over 20 paper discussants and over 60 speakers made this event a success according to Dr. Chanchal Narang, Media Incharge.

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Special card to offer discounts to Chandigarh visitors

Here comes a card that will help visitors have a smooth ride in India's first planned city, be it at tourist destinations or in buses, shops and hotels.

The Chandigarh City Card, to be launched on World Tourism Day Sep 27, will enable visitors to enjoy discounts and other facilities as part of a unique initiative to promote tourism in this city designed by the famous French architect Le Corbusier.

"The city card will cost Rs.100 each and will be valid for one person for three days from the date of purchase. It will entitle the card holder to avail himself of various discounts at the city's tourist destinations and at select hotels, restaurants and shops," Vivek Atray, director of tourism, told IANS.

"The card holder can enjoy free entry into prominent tourist places like the Rock Garden and the Chandigarh Natural History Museum and can enjoy a ride in an open-air bus," Atray said.

"This card will enable tourists to get special discounts at Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) restaurants and hotels," he added.

"Certain private sector hotels and restaurants will also provide special discounts to the visitors. Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) buses will also provide free rides to the holder of the card, subject to conditions," said a senior official of the tourism department.

He added that city residents and outstation tourists can buy these prepaid tourist cards from any of the tourist information centres or from any major tourist destination in the city.

"These prepaid tourist cards are very common in various European and American nations. I believe the launch of such a card in the city would definitely boost the prospects of tourism here. These cards will also keep a check on unscrupulous people who usually overcharge tourists," said Atray.

The card is part of the tourism action plan 2008-09 aimed at enhancing the tourism potential of this union territory. Nearly one million tourists visited Chandigarh in 2007.

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