TOP STORIES

Delhi Govt plans integrated transport authority
New Delhi, December 19
With five days left for the launch of the much-hyped Metro services in the Capital, Delhi Transport Minister Ajay Maken today indicated that the state government would set up an integrated transport policy authority.

Emergency DTC services started
New Delhi, December 19
The Government of NCT of Delhi today started emergency services by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to ferry commuters to and from airports and railway stations even as taxi drivers joined the strike called by autorickshaw operators.

WAIT IN VAIN: With the taxi operators also joining the strike by autorickshaw drivers, the ‘welcome’ sign outside the New Delhi Railway Station belies what is in store for the visitors as this family wait endlessly for some mode of transport. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Bollywood star Preity Zinta during the launch of PVR Star Club, India’s first loyalty programme for moviegoers, in the Capital on Thursday. — Tribune Photo All EARS: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit during The launch of Tata Teleservices in the Capital. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Held for bid to run over cop
New Delhi, December 19
The police today claimed to have arrested, Sachin Bidhuri, son of Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, a senior leader of the Lok Janshakti Party after a dramatic chase. Sachin had reportedly tried to run over a traffic police constable who signalled him to stop for talking on a mobile phone when driving.

MPs’ fund: Delhi netas no better than others
New Delhi, December 19
Members of Parliament representing the NCT of Delhi in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha fare no better than their counterparts elsewhere in the country in spending the money available to them under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).

Four of family killed as vehicles collide
Ghaziabad, December 19
Four members of a family, including an old couple, were killed and four injured on G T Road after the van in which they were travelling collided with an unknown vehicle near Chhoya bridge under the Babugarh police station in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Mother Courage pregnant with 23rd kid
Ghaziabad, December 19
Sonekali, an unlettered mother of 22 children in Baiharipur Faruqabad village, is in the family way—once again—and all set to give birth to her 23rd child soon.

Bhiwani traders agree to pay tax
Bhiwani, December 19
The traders have finally agreed to pay trade tax after a meeting with the Bhiwani Municipal Council of Bhiwani members held on the council premises today. The council once again appealed to the traders to pay trade tax, licence and tehbazari fees.

FARIDABAD
JE caught red-handed taking bribe
Faridabad, December 19
A junior engineer (JE) of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) was arrested today by the Vigilance Department while accepting a bribe from a resident in Sector 21-B here.

Shahtoosh shawls seized

COMMUNITY

Delhi NGOs get most of the donations 
New Delhi, December 19
* The Capital city is one of the highest receivers of aid for charity and welfare functions despite the fact that states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Orissa need more funds on account of the poverty in these states.

Felling of trees along canal banks rampant
Sonepat, December 19
The Haryana Government has been suffering a huge financial loss on account of illegal felling of trees along the embankments of canals, distributaries and minors as well as the roads in the rural areas of the district

Youth falls from train, injured
Sonepat, December 19
A youth was injured seriously when he fell from a speeding train here last evening. According to a report, the youth, Suresh, was rushed to the local civil hospital. He was later shifted to a trauma centre in Delhi for further treatment.

• HM found absent

IN PARLIAMENT
Haryana seeks 2 sainik schools
New Delhi, December 19
Defence Minister George Fernandes informed the Lok Sabha today a request had been received from the Haryana Government for opening of two sainik schools at Matenhail village in Jhajjar district and Palli Gothra village in Rewari district and a military school in Haryana in Devi Lal’s memory.

Minor fire at AIIMS
New Delhi, December 19
A minor fire broke out at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) this morning. There was no report of any damage to life or property.

• Bootlegger held
• Satta racket

EDUCATION

Special Focus on Rohtak
Hidden Treasure
A scientist out to make a difference to the field of knowledge 
Rohtak, December 19
The self-study report of Maharshi Dayanand University submitted to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) makes startling revelation of the hidden treasure in this university. One of the gems of this treasure is Prof Sarva Jit Singh of the Department of Mathematics.

Camp held to understand students’ psyche
Rohtak, December 19
A camp was organised by the ‘Psy-circle’, a students’ organisation of the Department of Psychology, Maharshi Dayanand University, for psychological assessment of students at SRS Public School here today.

• Stress management workshop

• Scientists visit Hisar

• MDU events calendar

Student’s appeal turned down
Rohtak, December 19
The Additional District Judge, Mr Shiva Sharma, has on Wednesday dismissed with costs the appeal filed by Mr Manjeet against the orders of Ms Kanchan Nariala, Additional Civil Judge (Sr Division).

CULTURE

ARTSCAPE
Exploring the journey of ‘self’
Nature envelops us. Yet, how many times have we stopped in our tracks to experience it - the glory, the unexplained and the constant evolution? Some questions that can not be asked and some answers that cannot be given. The mysticism, divinity and constant evolution is all-encompassing.

• Tradition in transition

MUSIC ZONE
New music albums from T-Series
A new Punjabi album, ‘Do Gallaan’, by Balkar Sidhu from T-Series, has hit the market with foot tapping music. One of the songs ‘Saheliyaan’ has different variations of music and is likely to be a hit with music buffs. Another song ‘Chandrama’ is an energetic and romantic number.

Jazzy B to be at Surajkund on Dec 22
Faridabad, December 19
The organisers of the first Surajkund Tradefest at Surajkund tourist complex here have released the details of the cultural programmes to be held during the mela. Well-known Punjabi pop singer Jazzy B will present his songs on December 22.

SPORTS

Sonik-Shahdara score facile victory
New Delhi, December 19
Sonik-Shahdara Football Club scored a 3-0 convincing victory against Garhwal Heroes in a crucial preliminary match of group-B to collect three points in the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) Annual Open Clubs Senior Division Football League Championship played at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here today.

HCA to complete selection trial on Dec 22
Rohtak, December 19
The Haryana Cricket Association will complete the process of selecting teams for the 2002-2003 cricket session on December 22, when the selection trials take place for Haryana’s team for Board of Control for Cricket in India’s recognised under-25 cricket tourney.

Gaurav, Vinay help Salwan to victory
New Delhi, December 19
Superb batting by Gurav Chabra (84 runs) and deadly bowling by Vinay (3 for 30) helped Salwan boys beat Hansraj Model School by 102 runs and enter the semi-finals of the HT-Pace Milo Young Cricket 2003. The match was played at Amity ground.

HUDCO rout NTPC
Rohtak, December 19
HUDCO defeated NTPC by 10 wickets in a super league match of Luminous Cup played at CSG II. Rajneesh Saxena of HUDCO was declared Man of the Match.

• HSS in final

Ekta beat Ravi Brothers
New Delhi
Ekta Cricket Club beat Ravi Brothers by six runs in DDCA A-II division. Scores: Ekta Cricket Club: 260 in 40 overs (Azam Veer Nagar 87 n o, Pradeep Deswal 4/2).

• Rajdhani beaten

Saunik stars in DAV win
New Delhi, December 19
A fine knock of 85 runs by Saunik Chatterjee and a deadly bowling of 4/38 by leg spinner Sahil Chugh helped D L DAV School, Shalimar Bagh, defeat Ravindra Public School by 18 runs and enter the final of the first Aryavrat under-15 cricket tournament.

Sar Group in semis
New Delhi
Sar Group beat Hero Honda by 89 runs to enter the semi-finals of the 6th DG Phadkar Memorial Cricket Tournament at Teri Oval today.