No transit bus stand for time-being
SAS Nagar, January 7
A project to construct a transit bus stand at the outskirts of the town, along the Chandigarh -Ludhiana national highway, has been delayed. The completion of the project would enable the transport department to sell land of the existing bus stand in Phase 8, valued at Rs 17.50 crore

PUDA may invite applications for plots
SAS Nagar, January 7
By the second week of this month, the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority is expected to invite applications for allotment of around 350 residential plots in the developed sectors here. The plots, located in Sectors (from 67 to 71), would be allotted through draw of lots.

Police devising steps to ease traffic flow: Bassi

Chandigarh, January 7 The 13th Road Safety Week, being organised by the Chandigarh Police, was inaugurated here today. Speaking on the occasion, the UT, IGP, MR B S Bassi, said that while local residents were by and large quite aware of road safety measures, the local police was also making efforts to save human lives.
Visitors at an exhibition on traffic rules during the inauguration of the Road Safety Week being organised by the local police in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

KNOW YOUR COUNCILLORS
Switching sides paid him well
Chandigarh, January 7
Vijay Singh Rana, councillor from ward No 10, switched sides during the selections which got him a berth in the Municipal Corporation. Beginning his political career with former Union Minister Harmohan Dhawan’ earlier party (Samajwadi Janata Party), he went to the Bharatiya Janata Party and after denial of BJP nomination came back to Mr Dhawan’s, Chandigarh Vikas Manch.

• MC employees defer Jan 11 strike

Herb Dhaliwal to speak at CII
Chandigarh, January 7
After a visit to the office of the Canadian High Commission in Chandigarh tomorrow, Mr Herb Dhaliwal, Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, will speak at the Confederation of Indian Industries on “Canada and India: A growing partnership” at 12.30 p.m.

• Nation page: Herb to visit Chandigarh today

Villagers refuse to accept tax notices
Panchkula, January 7
Around 1400 residents of Haripur village today declined to accept the notices for house tax issued by Municipal Council. They said that since they were opposed to pay ‘‘the arbitrarily imposed tax’’, they would not even accept notices.

Swiss on cycle with a drive
Chandigarh, January 7
The mellow January sun must only be jealous of his zeal. But Christoph von Toggenburg is not bothered if it really is. At the moment, there is nothing in the world that can divert this Swiss national from his chosen path. Talk about the path and Christoph's green eyes radiate with energy.

Saga of courage

Chandigarh, January 7 Mr Rajesh M. Thakkar, a resident of Bhuj in Gujarat, has shown to the world that physical disability cannot come into way of one’s determination. He sells tea in moving trains to earn his livelihood. In 1995, his legs were amputated below knees following a train accident. This affected his business badly. He took a vow that if he would get artificial legs, he would undertake a yatra from Mumbai to Vaishno Devi on his tricycle.

Rajesh M. Thakkar on his tricycle.

Respond to people’s needs, Kohli asks bureaucrats
Chandigarh, January 7
Mr A.R. Kohli, Governor, Mizoram, today exhorted civil servants to be more responsive to the increasing needs and aspirations of the people.

• Discourse at Book Fair

Murder case solved, 2 held
Chandigarh, January 7
The city police has reportedly been able to solve the murder of Swaran Singh, a resident of Hallo Majra, with the arrest of two Raipur Khurd residents. Revenge is being cited as a reason behind the crime.

Two held for printing counterfeit currency
Chandigarh, January 7
The Crime Branch of the local police has reportedly arrested two persons for defrauding people by claiming to print and sell counterfeit currency notes. The accused have been identified as Krishan Lal, (24) and his nephew Roshan Lal (19). They were arrested from Hallo Majra village today. Both are residents of Yamunanagar.

Tribune scribe’s house burgled
Chandigarh, January 7
In a late night incident, unidentified thieves decamped with jewellery and other household goods worth Rs 35,000 after forcing their way into the Sector 8 residence of a Tribune staffer, Ms Poonam Batth, while she was away. 

Two held for bootlegging
Chandigarh, January 7
The local police has arrested two persons in separate incidents for bootlegging. A resident of Kumhar Colony in Sector 25, Komal Singh was arrested from near a naka at Togan village with 18 bottles of whiskey from his possession.

BUSINESS

Industrialists bemoan power cuts
Chandigarh, January 7
The Chamber of Chandigarh Industries has deplored the imposition of power cuts on the industrial sector by the UT Administration. A meeting of the chamber held here today under the presidentship of Mr Vinod Mittal felt that the power cuts would lead to loss of production, widespread unemployment and decrease in the revenue of the UT.

BIZ CLIPS

PU releases list of holidays
Chandigarh, January 7
Panjab University has released its list of holidays for 2002 — a total of 26 for those in PU who have a five-day working week. Six of these holidays fall on either Saturday or Sunday.

It’s music, melody at youth fest
Chandigarh, January 7
Music, melody and grace marked the beginning of the two-day cultural extravaganza at the State Youth Festival organised by the UT Sports Department at Tagore Theatre, here today. On day one, students participated in a solo classical vocal singing contest as well as solo performances in classical dance.

PUSU warns of agitation
Chandigarh, January 7
The Panjab University Students Union today warned the Panjab University authorities of agitation if the university failed to arrange finances to meet the handball team’s participation in the Commonwealth Games to held at Malaysia later in the year.

NCC staff holds gate rally
Chandigarh, January 7
The NCC Employees Welfare Association held a gate rally in front of the NCC office, here today, to press for acceptance of their demand for the grant of bonus.

COURTS

Shelter for the displaced: court gives time to UT
Chandigarh, January 7
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted counsel for UT Administration time till tomorrow for seeking instructions regarding the issue of providing shelter to 200-odd jhuggi dwellers of Gurusagar Colony near Sukhna Lake. Sub Divisional Magistrate (South and East) Gyanesh Bharti was present in the court during the proceedings.

Bail plea dismissed
Chandigarh, January 7
A local court today dismissed a bail plea moved by Madan Lal, an accused in an NDPS case. It had been alleged that the city police had recovered 150 kg of charas from his possession at the ISBT.

• Five-day notice

Akademi to award Brijmohan
Panchkula, January 7
Ms Shakuntala Brijmohan, a well-known Hindi story writer, will be awarded Woman Empowerment Year Award instituted by the Haryana Sahitya Akademi at a special function being organised on January 8.

Gaurav, Vandana adjudged best dancers
Chandigarh, January 7
Results of “Dancer of the Year” contest organised by the Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts at Bal Bhawan, Sector 23, yesterday are as follows: Gaurav Sharma, best male dancer; Thakur Vandana Singh, best female dancer; Raman and Rahul group, best group dance.

HEALTH

Dr Bose elected chief of surgeons’ body
Chandigarh, January 7
Dr S.M. Bose, Prof and Head, Department of Surgery, PGIMER, has been elected as the President of the Association of Surgeons of India for 2002. Talking to mediapersons here today, Professor Bose said that it was after a gap of 46 years that someone from North India has had the privilege of heading this 61-year-old body of surgeons of the country.

600 examined at medical camp
Chandigarh, January 7
A free medical camp for the detection of diseases of the heart and the chest was organised by the Lions Club of Ropar in collaboration with Mukat Hospital and Heart Institute of Chandigarh in the dispensary of Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant yesterday. 

Programme to help psychiatric patients
Chandigarh, January 7
Psychiatric services under the District Mental Health Programme were started at the Civil Hospital, Mani Majra, here today. Dr B.S. Chavan, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, has been appointed the nodal officer for the programme.

5000 kids examined during dental camps
Chandigarh, January 7
As many as 5000 schoolchildren were examined during free dental checks by members of the Indian Dental Association, Chandigarh branch, as part of the oral health week celebrations in the city.

Lessons for yoga enthusiasts
Chandigarh, January 7
It was more of a learning experience for the young yoga enthusiasts who gathered last evening at the Divya Yog Mandir, Shivalik Enclave, Mani Majra. The yog darshans and yog karma were told in detail by Dr Shashi Shah. The yoga asanas were performed by yoga disciples, besides ‘havan’, ‘yog pardarshani’ and food.

ADMINISTRATION

RPO issued 1,60,922 passports in 2001
Chandigarh, January 7
The Regional Passport Office, Chandigarh, issued a record number of 1,60,922 passports during the year 2001, the highest number issued in a single year in the past 32 years. During the year, the office rendered 16,800 miscellaneous services on passports of applicants such as issue of additional booklets, change or addition of surnames, extension of validity of passports, emigration check endorsement, issuance of police clearance certificates etc. The total number of passport issued during the year 2000 was 1,11,624.

Training camp for block officials
Panchkula, January 7
The Panchayat and Development Department today organised a training camp for the Presidents and members of the Development committees of Barwala block.