Smiles, tragedy8230; Panchkula went through it all

The year 2008 offered Panchkula a variety of events ranging from commendable development works on one end of the spectrum to a host of infamous and embarrassing incidents on the other.

The year 2008 offered Panchkula a variety of events ranging from commendable development works on one end of the spectrum to a host of infamous and embarrassing incidents on the other. While the four laning of the Zirakpur-Parwanoo highway and two shopping malls in the city generated appreciation, events such as the gangrape of the 17-year-old student, Command hospital rape case and Sarita suicide case will be remembered as the dark phases of the year.

Assessing development
While the four laning of the Ambala-Zirakpur project was completed, the year also saw construction begin in full swing on the Zirakpur-Parwanoo four laning. The Kaushalya dam received approval for its construction near HMT on the Pinjore-Kalka road. Construction for two malls 8212; Bella Vista and Shalima Mall 8212; also neared completion while the Agro Mall in Sector 21 also got a nod in.

MC reining in canine and cattle mess
The MC went to polls in April with the Congress emerging victorious by a narrow margin over the BJP and the ruling INLD. Rawinder Rawal from the Congress took charge as MC president and B B Singal of the BJP emerged as the vice-president. To address the problem of stray dogs and cattle, the MC decided to have a common cattle pound for all the three cities 8212; Panchkula, Pinjore and Kalka 8212; while sterilising a population of nearly 3,000 stray dogs with the help of NGO 8216;People for Animal8217;. The main dividing roads in the city were handed over to the HUDA while the MC took charge of marriage registrations and issuance of birth and death certificates.

Khakee shame
While the year saw a variety of crimes being committed, the most discussed case was the suicide of a Rohtak resident, Sarita, outside the DGP office. She resorted to the extreme step after allegedly being raped by Haryana police officials. Two similar attempts to end life were reported from outside the DGP office with the women claiming that they were being denied justice.

Also in the news was the alleged gangrape of a 17-year-old girl by four persons, including a minor. The alleged rape of the wife of an Air Force official from Barwala by the Command Hospital employees of Chandimandir, Western Command, also raised questions on the safety of women in the city. The year also saw a number of fatal accidents being reported from time to time with the last major accident claiming the lives of five engineering students.

No reaction to HUDA auction
The touted auction of the Haryana Urban Development Authority HUDA began on a disappointing note with the 8-acre five star deluxe site failing to generate the interest of even a single bidder. With a number of amendments in the bylaws, the HUDA office also went online in 2008. While the process of acquiring land for the Pinjore-Kalka urban complex started, the year ended with the HUDA initiating the beautification of the city roundabouts with fancy colourful lights being installed at the Indian Express roundabout as part of its pilot project.

Satellite Education through EDUSAT
The year saw Panchkula have its own girls8217; college in Sector 14 with Jai Shri Rana taking charge as the principal. With the condition of government schools showing little improvement, the EDUSAT education satellite system of the Haryana government was also introduced in various primary schools of the district.

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Diarrhoea woes
The Health department8217;s failure to control diarrhoea in Panchkula district and the subsequent deaths was widely reported.

While the year witnessed the introduction of new technology, poor hygienic conditions in hospitals and government dispensaries remained a cause of concern for all.

The health authorities also raided and closed down all the centers of the Shubham Hospital in Sector 20. Several illegal clinics in the district were also taken to task by the authorities.

Love rules
The year ended with Deputy Chief Minister, Haryana, Chandermohan making headlines by allegedly going underground for a month and then resurfacing as Chand Mohamad after having apparently converted to Islam to marry 8216;friend8217; Anuradha Bali alias Fiza. While he was removed from the post of deputy chief minister, he was also disowned by his father Bhajan Lal, former chief minister of Haryana.