C H A N D I G A R H

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TOP STORIES

Sukhna level raise can ‘cause’ flood
Chandigarh March 29
A leading hydro expert of Punjab, Dr Gurbir Singh Dhillon, has warned that the move by the UT Administration to raise the water level in the Sukhna lake by 3 feet by raising the sill or crest level of the radial gates of the regulator could lead to a disaster.

A disaster waiting to happen? Work has begun on a project to increase the water level in the Sukhna lake by raising the sill or crest on which the radial gates rest at the regulator.

BEANT SINGH CASE
CBI yet to examine 208 witnesses
Chandigarh, March 29
Over seven years after the then Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh, was killed in a bomb explosion, the ongoing assassination trial has seen examination of at least 218 witnesses of a total of 426 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Cloudy days are here again: Just as the weather was turning warm, clouds shaded the city from the sun in Chandigarh on Saturday. — Photo Manoj Mahajan

UT staff seek change in service conditions
Chandigarh, March 29
Demanding a change in service conditions for more than 20,000 UT employees, the Federation of UT Employees has said that service conditions in Chandigarh Administration should be on the Central pattern and not on the present Punjab pattern. Under the Punjab pattern, which was implemented on January 13, 1992, the age of superannuation was brought down from 60 to 58 years.

Shortage of judges likely to continue
Chandigarh, March 29
The shortage of judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court is likely to continue. Four judges are scheduled to retire in the near future upon attaining the age of superannuation. New appointments are yet to be made. Their number came down to 30 this week against the sanctioned strength of 40, with the retirement of Justice M.L. Singhal.

6 more AIIMS-like institutes on anvil
‘Sanjeevani’ project for disaster health care: Sushma
Chandigarh, March 29
In the first major step towards strengthening of tertiary care health facilities in the country, the government will shortly upgrade one medical college in every state of the country on the lines of AIIMS and constitute a special Emergency Medical Services Task Force called “ Sanjeevani ” to take care of the exigencies during times of disaster.

COMMUNITY

Heated exchanges likely at MC meeting
Chandigarh, March 29
The monthly general meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, scheduled for coming Monday, is likely to witness heated exchanges between the ruling and the opposition members over the issue of Darshani Bagh and the status report on a hotel site in sector-35B.

MC BRIEFS

Book cops in suicide case: Rights panel
SAS Nagar, March 29
Lawyers for Human Rights International, a human rights organisation functioning in Chandigarh, has recommended the registration of cases against former SHO Rajinder Singh Sohal here and Head Constable Happy Singh of the, Phase I police station for driving a truck driver living in Phase V to suicide.

A show of old stamps opened

Chandigarh, March 29 Some of the oldest postage stamps have been exhibited at the two-day philatelic exhibition, which was inaugurated here today by Ms Manjula Prashar, Postmaster General, Punjab. She also released a special cover on the occasion, which has a postmark depicting ‘Scinde Dawk’, the first postal stamp not only of India, but of entire Asia. Ms Manjula Prashar, Postmaster General, Punjab, inaugurates a two-day philatelic exhibition at Chandigarh on Saturday.

SAS Nagar ex-servicemen demand ECHS facility
SAS Nagar, March 29
The Ex-servicemen Grievances Cell here has, in a letter to the Chief of the Army Staff, demanded the provision of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to ex-servicemen living in the township.

Auto mechanics may get breather
Chandigarh, March 29
At least 440 auto mechanics who were allotted booths in various sectors of the city as part of their rehabilitation process are likely to be given some grace in depositing their first instalment of the booths.

• Sector 45 residents meet Jacob
• Memorandum submitted
• Press Club poll today
• Journalist bereaved
• Lawyer bereaved
• A clarification

CRIME

Mutilated body found in Sector 25
Chandigarh, March 29
The mutilated body of a 37-year-old typist of Ropar, Budh Ram, was found lying under mysterious circumstances near the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Sector 25 here this morning. Injury marks were evident on the left side of the victim’s body — on the face, the arm, the lower abdomen and the hips.

Cops on trail of snatchers
Chandigarh, March 29
An increase in the incidents of snatching in the city in the past three months has set the Chandigarh Police on the trail of the elusive snatchers. In the 22 incidents of snatching reported in the past three months people have lost around Rs 55,000 cash.

BUSINESS

Pagrexco to set up food park
Chandigarh, March 29
The Punjab Agro Export Corporation Limited (Pagrexco) will set up a food park under a Central Government scheme, which would create necessary post harvest, testing and other central facilities to minimise losses to farmers.

EDUCATION

Attestation powers for private college lecturers soon
Chandigarh, March 29
Senior lecturers in private colleges affiliated with Panjab University will soon have powers to attest academic documents of students. Presently, only the principals of private colleges enjoy such powers.

PU faculty for exam duty in affiliated colleges
Chandigarh, March 29
Faculty members of Panjab University teaching departments will be members of the external examiner teams for the practical examination of science for the undergraduate classes of affiliated colleges.

Focus on role of principals
Chandigarh, March 29
A seminar on “360-Degree Feedback on Leadership Roles for School Principals” was organised by Career Launchers India Limited, here today. The seminar was conducted simultaneously in Chandigarh, Dehra Dun, Noida and Delhi, and the centres were video-linked via V-SAT.

350 students get degrees

Chandigarh, March 29 As many as 350 students of Government College, Sector 11, were awarded degrees at the college’s annual convocation held here today. The Padma Shri recipient and eminent art historian, Dr B.N. Goswamy, who was the chief guest, delivered the convocation address. Students of Government College, Sector 11, during the college’s annual convocation in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Course on chest imaging
Chandigarh, march 29
A course on Chest and Cardiovascular Imaging highlighting the role of CT scan and MRI in diagnosis was conducted jointly by AIIMS, Maulana Azad Medical Sciences Institute and PGI’s Radiodiagnosis Department, today.

Training programme on environment
Panchkula, March 29
A training programme on environmental education was organised by the Indian Council for Environmental Education in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Haryana.

Technical paper contest at PEC
Chandigarh, March 29
A technical paper contest, “Eureka” was organised by the Punjab Engineering college (PEC) chapter of the Indian Society for Technical Education here today. Papers in all technical fields were invited and 22 papers were presented.

Art and Craft Bonanza
Chandigarh, March 29
Art and Craft Bonanza — 2003 was organised by Aanchal Preparatory School, Sector 35, here today. Articles prepared by children in their art and craft classes were put on display.

Singing contest for children
Chandigarh, March 29
The Yaadgar-e-Rafi Society, Chandigarh, will hold the first round of singing contest for children on May 3 and 4 in the mini auditorium of DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh at 8.30 a.m.

DAV school Principal bereaved
Chandigarh, March 29
Mr Suresh Sachdeva, husband of the Principal of DAV Public School, Sector 15, Ms Rakesh Sachdeva, died in a road accident near Ropar in the wee hours today. He was cremated here this evening.

COURTS

DISTRICT COURTS
Blast took place, says commando
Chandigarh, March 29
The statement of NSG commando Harkesh, who was attached with former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, was today recorded in the Beant Singh assassination case in the makeshift Burail Jail here today.

223 cases settled
Panchkula, March 29
As many as 223 cases were disposed of and a sum of Rs 34.82 lakh was awarded as compensation to litigants in various cases during the 22nd Lok Adalat organised on the District Courts premises today. As many as 319 cases were taken up in the adalat.

CULTURE

FILM REVIEW
Govinda stands out
The dry run for successful screen beauties in the Bollywood arena is likely to continue unabated as even ‘Ek Aur Ek Gyarah’ (Picaddily and KC, Panchkula) is unlikely to create any box-office ripples. This one had ‘great expectations’ going by the previous track record of the Govinda-Sanjay Dutt pair.

Jacob inaugurates rural crafts fair
Chandigarh, March 29
Right in the middle of the main commercial area in Sector 17, rural technology is on display. The UT Administrator, Lieut -Gen J.F.R Jacob, (retd), inaugurated a 10-day Gram Shree Mela at the Circus Ground, Sector 17, here today.

Film songs and ship models at carnival

Chandigarh, March 29 The tradition of magic of music at the Sector 17 Piazza continued this evening, with the Plaza Carnival adding another chapter to its weekly celebration of dance and music. Today’s cultural programme centred around Hindi music and was especially titled, “Hindi musical evening”. Pradeep Datta and Meenu Palta perform during Plaza Carnival in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Rock concert at Kala Gram

Chandigarh, March 29 For the kind of crowd that frequents Kala Gram, this evening was full of surprises. Performing at the open-air stage of the complex was a rock band comprising four musicians from different parts of the country. Members of the Triangle rock band present a classical rock number at Kala Gram, near Mani Majra, in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Street play at Yavanika

Panchkula, March 29 A nukkad natak on the line of Bollywood was organised by the Ghoomer Academy of Panchkula and the HUDA Young Members Club at Yavanika open air theatre this evening. The hilarious play, depicting the magnetic pull of the arc lights for youth, their narcissism, and the disappointment in failing to make it was appreciated. A street play, ‘Screen Test’ being performed at Yavanika open air theatre in Panchkula on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

HEALTH

Diabetic? Hypertensive? Get eyes checked!
Chandigarh, March 29
Diabetics and hypertension patients need not just watch their sugar level and blood pressure alone. Over 350 persons ignorant of the adverse affects of these diseases are pouring in at the PGI’s Eye Department with serious eye problems.

Civil dispensary cries for treatment

Chandigarh, March 29 The allopathic civil dispensary at Sector 39-D has no electricity and water connection. Thanks to Super Bazar which has not cleared the pending bills of electricity and water supply. Flat No. 3096, Sector 39-D, was allotted to the Department of Health, Government of Punjab, on January 22 for running an allopathic civil dispensary. Dr Neeti Agarwal, eye specialist, allopathic dispensary, Sector 39-D, Chandigarh, examining a patient in the absence of electricity. — Photo Parvesh Chauhan

SPORTS

64 rallyists race for top positions

Chandigarh, March 29 The 16th SJOBA Sub-Himalayan Rally-2003 today evoked a good response with as many as 64 rallyists, including seven in jeep category, 17 in car category, 34 in motor cycle category and five in scooter section, taking off from St John’s High School, Sector 26, here today. The 16th SJOBA Sub-Himalayan Rally-2003 is flagged off from St John’s High School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

2 colleges clinch overall trophy
Chandigarh, March 29
MCM DAV College For Women, Sector 36, and DAV College, Sector 10, clinched the overall trophy for 2002-03 by winning 393.5 points and 555.5 points, respectively. Winners were declared today at the annual sports prize distribution function of the affiliated colleges to the university held today at the university gymnasium hall.

ADMINISTRATION

No challan books for NGOs
Chandigarh, March 29
The Chandigarh Police has decided not to issue challan books to NGOs. Now these books are being given only to the Station House Officer and the Munshi Head Constable (MHC).