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MC okays formation of Sanitation Committee
Construction of de luxe public toilets approved
Chandigarh, January 28
The first business meeting of the second Municipal Corporation House here today decided to create a separate Sanitation Committee and approved the construction of de luxe public toilets on Build-Operate-Transfer basis.

MP Pawan Bansal, Congress leader Subhash Chawla and former BJP Mayors Gyan Chand Gupta and Kamla Sharma discuss a point at a Municipal Corporation meeting on Monday. — Photo Manoj Mahajan

Bikramjit Singh summoned in corruption case
Chandigarh, January 28
The Principal Secretary, Home, Punjab, Mr Bikramjit Singh, has been summoned to appear before a local court by the UT Special Central Bureau of Investigation Judge, Mr Lakhbir Singh, in a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act registered against him by the CBI.

City-Ambala highway to close for a week Repair work on Ghaggar bridge to begin on Jan 30
Dera Bassi, January 28 The Zirakpur-Dera Bassi stretch of the Chandigarh-Ambala highway would remain closed for vehicular traffic for a week from January 30 onwards because of the repair work on Ghaggar bridge. The work would be carried out by the Building and Road Wing of the Punjab Public Works Department, from January 30 morning till February 5 evening.
A makeshift bridge constructed by the Punjab Public Works Department (Building and Roads) adjacent to the railway bridge near Mubarikpur, as Ghaggar bridge would be under repair for one week from January 30 onwards. — A Tribune photograph

Jaspal Bhatti releases ‘suitcase’ manifesto
Chandigarh, January 28
With election round the corner, who else but Jaspal Bhatti would have thought about such a delightful way in making the voters realise how important it is to vote in a judicious, sensible way to save Punjab from corruption and subsequent bankruptcy. Rising to the occasion, this poker-faced “ulta pulta” comedian floated his Punjab Suitcase Party amid fanfare and admiring spectators at the Sector 17 Plaza here today.

Cross voting in F&CC elections shocks Congress
Chandigarh, January 28 The Congress received a jolt here today when one of its members cross-voted in favour of the Chandigarh Vikas Manch candidate in the elections to five seats of the Finance and Contracts Committee of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
From left: Mr P.C. Sanghi (nominated), Mr Vijay Rana (CVM), Ms Kamlesh (Congress), Mr Subhash Chawla (Congress) and Brig Sant Singh (retd) (nominated), newly elected members of the Finance and Contracts Committee of the Municipal Corporation, in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Residents fora confound common man
Stir against house tax, cable tariff
Panchkula, January 28
Even as the cable operators raise the banner of revolt against various paid channels who have been increasing their subscription fee, various “self-appointed “leaders are with each other to be portrayed as the ones fighting for the peoples’ rights.

City feels tremors
Chandigarh, January 28
The city was rocked today by tremors measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale at 4 am. The epicentre of the earthquake was approximately 350 north-west of Chandigarh.

Bomb hoax in Sec 17 building
Chandigarh, January 28
The Sector 17 Thirty Bays Building, where several offices of the Haryana Government are located, was sealed and searched here today after the police control room received a telephone call that a bomb had been planted in the building.

COMMUNITY

Mauritian President halts in city Chandigarh, January 28 Mauritian President, Mr Cassam Uteem, his daughter and daughter-in-law spent about four hours here en route Shimla on private visit. Mr Cassan, whose ancestors migrated to Mauritius from Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh) in 1834, chose to take rest in Hotel Mountview, instead of conducting any official business in these hours.
The Mauritius President, Mr Cassam Uteem, receives a bouquet from Ms Neeru Nanda, Adviser to the Chandigarh Administrator, at the Chandigarh airport on Sunday. Ms Lalit Joshi, city Mayor, is also in picture. A Tribune photograph

12 in fray after withdrawals
Five left in field in Morinda
SAS Nagar, January 28
With the deadline to withdraw nominations ending today, 12 candidates have been left in the fray in the Kharar Assembly constituency. A dissident Akali leader, Mr Amrik Singh Mohali, who had filed his nomination papers on January 23 as an Independent candidate, withdrew his nomination today.

This worker had a narrow escape when a portion of earth caved in and he was buried up to his neck about 10 feet below the ground level while electricity cables were being laid near the CII building in Sector 31, Chandigarh, on Monday. It took the police, fire brigade personnel and other workers about three hours to dig him out. The incident also created traffic chaos on the road as curious bystanders gathered at the spot. — Photo Pankaj Sharma

Poll candidates address rallies
SAS Nagar, January 28
The SAD candidate for the Kharar assembly seat, Mr Kiran Beer Singh Kang, today promised the district status for the town if the party was voted to power. Addressing a rally at Sohana village, he said the sitting MLA from Kharar did little for the area.

Sports and cultural function
Chandigarh, January 28
The Tribune Youth Club organised sports-cum-cultural function on January 26 on the Tribune Colony premises. According to the president of the club, carrom, table tennis, 100 m and 1,000 m races, cycle and musical chair race, were the main events organised on the occasion. Solo dance and group dance competitions were part of the cultural programme.

Fear of panther attack grips villagers
Panchkula, January 25
Tension prevails in Taprian village in the Barwala block, after a panther has been coming down here from the Shivaliks in the search of food. It has already killed four cattle during the past one month.

Many greet Jacob
Chandigarh, January 28
Distinguished citizens of the city from varied backgrounds like freedom fighters, politicians, social workers, officials of the Army, Air Force and bureaucracy attended an ‘‘at home’’ function hosted by the Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), at Punjab Raj Bhavan on Republic day.

YOUNG VOICE
Donate blood to save lives
“NOTHING is precious than life, save it by donating blood,” opines Rajan Khetarpal, a 28-year-old advocate practising in the District Courts and Punjab and Haryana High Court, for the last three years.

Garhwal Sabha honours Negi
Chandigarh, January 28
The Garhwal Sabha here today honoured Shyama Negi, a Congress councillor, who recently won from ward number 5 in the municipal corporation elections. Hundreds of members of the sabha including women activists, felicitated Ms Negi, who originally belongs to a remote village of Uttranchal.

• Tribune employee bereaved
• Best contingent trophy

CRIME

Filling station owner booked for fraud
Chandigarh, January 28
The owner of Sector 35 filling station and his wife have reportedly been booked under charges of conspiracy and cheating for defrauding a sector 46 resident of Rs 25 lakh.

Killed in road mishap
Dera Bassi, January 28
One person died in a head-on collision between a truck and a motor cycle on the Dera Bassi-Barwala highway, near Saidpura village, late last night.

Two POs arrested
Panchkula, January 28
The police has arrested two proclaimed offenders who were wanted for their involvement in a beating and trespassing case in Sector 11.

EDUCATION

Teachers to continue stir despite release of grant
Chandigarh, January 28
While the UT Administration notified the release of the blocked grant to Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, teachers have decided to continue their on-going stir to protest against non-payment of the December salary.

PU to take part in World Book Fair
Chandigarh, January 28
The Panjab University Publication Bureau will be participating in the 15th World Book Fair which started at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, today. The fair organised by the National Book Trust in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Publishers and other book trade bodies will have a separate counter of PU publications.

Workshop on Civil Services ends
Chandigarh, January 28
A three-day workshop on “the patterns in the Civil Services examination: emerging challenges in the era of globalisation” concluded here yesterday. The workshop was organised by the IAS Study Group.

• Lecture on terrorism on Feb 4

Earmark spaces for physically challenged, court tells MC
Chandigarh, January 28
Directing the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh to earmark separate spaces for physically challenged residents in all paid parking lots, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked it to install “clear sign-boards” indicating the same.

Cheque bounce case adjourned
Chandigarh, January 28
A local court today adjourned a case of cheque bounce filed against Mr Jasjit Singh Dhaliwal, son of Governor of Uttaranchal, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, for March 15. The counsel of Mr Dhaliwal had filed an application for personal exemption from appearance.

CULTURE

Cultural evening of Citizens’ Association
Chandigarh, January 28
The Citizen’s Association, Sector 21, Chandigarh, organised its annual sports and cultural function here yesterday. Mr Rajesh Gupta, Councillor, was the chief guest of the function, while Mr Ashok Vashistha, Assistant Commissioner, MCC, and Mr D.S. Saroya, DPI (Schools), Chandigarh, were the guests of honour.

HEALTH

Post-menopausal problems discussed 
Chandigarh, January 28
A seminar on menopausal syndrome was organised by the Government Medical College, Patiala Alumni Associations Chandigarh Chapter at the Rock garden here yesterday.

Civil Hospital nearly complete
SAS Nagar, January 28
The building of the extension block of the Civil Hospital here is nearing completion and is to be handed over to the hospital authorities by February 15. About 3,000 square metre area is to be added to the present structure and the cost of the project, which has been cleared by the World Bank, is Rs 2 crore. The foundation stone of the extension block was laid in March last year by the Ropar Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Singh Saggu.

‘Organise’ health fairs in villages
Panchkula, January 28
The Haryana Minister of State for Health, Dr M.L. Ranga, today asked the health officials to organise health fairs in a big village in their district every month to acquaint people with the various health services being provided by the Health Department.

89 operated upon at camp
Zirakpur, January 28
Eightynine eye operations were performed at a free operation camp organised by the Project Ophthalcare Society of SAS Nagar at Shri Gurdwara Nabha Sahib in Nabha village on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway, 2 km from here, on Sunday.

• Doctors donate blood

SPORTS

Gurnoor shines in cycling meet Chandigarh, January 28

Gurnoor Kang of Chandigarh stole the limelight in the second National Mountain Bike Championships, which concluded last evening near Kaimbwala village here. Mr Ram S. Verma, IAS, former Chief Secretary, Haryana, gave away the prizes to the winners. Participants have a tough time in the second National Mountain Bike Cycling Championship near Kaimbwala village, Chandigarh on Sunday. —  A Tribune photograph

Veena, Manoj emerge winners
Chandigarh, January 28
Veena Yadav of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, in the girls section and Manoj of Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, in the boys section emerged winners in under-19 section of the UT inter-school athletic meet here today.

• Kabaddi meet

• GCG-11 win

• PDYA officer-bearers

ADMINISTRATION

EVM demo on Feb 13
Kharar (Ropar), January 28
On the directions of the Election Commission, the office of the Returning Officer for the Kharar assembly segment will hold a public demonstration of the electronic voting machine (EVM) to be used for the first time for polling in the assembly segment on February 13. A total of 10 EVMs have been given for public demonstration at the earmarked polling booths.

Advanced course in investigation
Chandigarh, January 28
Two personnel of the Chandigarh police, SI Jaswinder Singh and ASI Amanjot Singh, have bagged the first and second positions, respectively, in the 71st advanced course in scientific investigation conducted by the Central Detective Training School here.

• Sandhu is new DHS