UT admn to implement polythene ban from Oct 2 : Rodrigues

Chandigarh, Aug 15 (UNI) The Union Territory Administration will implement the ban of polythene or plastic carry bags from October 2 so as improve the enviornment in the city beautiful.

This announcement was made by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Gen (retd) S F Rodrigues on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the country's Indepedence after hoisting the National Flag at the Parade Ground here today.

He also took the salute to an impressive marchpast by contingents of the Chandigarh Police, NCC and scouts and school children. A colourful cultural programme was presented on the occasion.

Gen Rodrigues said that the Administration was in the process to implement the Metro Project to cater to the needs of the city and the surrounding areas. The Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) and Detailed Project Report (DPR) was being commissioned through a transparent bidding process, he said while pointing out that the UT Administration will underwrite 50 per cent of the cost of CMP and DPR,while the proportion for Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh would be 20, 20 and 10 per centrespectively.

He pointed out that the Education Department had provided Broadband Connectivity in 80 Government Schools, which will also help in maintaining school records, through a Management Information System. The Administration, in a novel scheme, has provided summer and winter uniforms to the children enrolled in all 370 Anganwadi centers, in the age group of 3-6 years, he said while claiming that Chandigarh was the only Union Territory, which had come out with this kind of people-friendly scheme.

He said that the administration had also launched a Telemedicine Project, with state-of-art facilities at Government Medical College and Hospita, aiming to help needy patients to avail the expert advice of the doctors in specialised fields in PGI and ensuring them high-quality medical services. The Administration has further decided to connect the Community Center, Manimajra, and the Community Health Center, Sector 22 with Government Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, through the telemedicine project.

The Administration has doubled financial assistance for the Scheduled Caste women, under the "Post Natal Financial Assistance to Scheduled Castes women for Nutrition" Scheme, from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, he added.

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