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PU to set up space research centre
Project report forwarded to ISRO
Chandigarh, April 24
In response to Bangalore-based Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) approaching Panjab University (PU) here to set up a Space Sciences Centre on the university campus, a detailed project report, outlining the overall scientific objectives, thrust areas, budgetary estimates, time schedules as well as equipment and manpower requirements, has been compiled to be forwarded to ISRO, it is learnt.

PU entrance forms highly priced
Chandigarh, April 24
Entrance examination forms seem to have become a big money-gathering game for Panjab University. Close on heels of Rs 1,300 charged for the examination covered by the Common Entrance Test, the university has released another form which is called OCET (Other than CET).

Protocol spoils ceremony
Inauguration of community centres
SAS Nagar, April 24
The reported failure of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) to follow an inauguration ceremony protocol, led the authorities to postpone at the last minute the inauguration of one of the two new community centres scheduled here for today.

Encroachments removed from hotel back lane

Chandigarh, April 24 The Municipal Corporation here today removed around 100 truckloads of debris of the cleared up road berms of the back lane of hotels in Sector 35 during a three-day operation launched after Mayor had come under attack for buckling under the pressure from powerful business and political lobbies. Municipal Corporation staff remove encroachments on the road berm in the back lane of Sector 35 hotels in Chandigarh on Thursday. — Photo Manoj Mahajan

SARS suspects left in the lurch at PGI
Chandigarh, April 24
Her sight left the doctors breathless. As if they, instead of her, were suffering from some disease with symptoms similar to that of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

PNB cashier hiding in Delhi?
Chandigarh, April 24
A head cashier of the Sector 22 branch of Punjab National Bank, Raj Pal Singh, who is on the run after “robbing” his own bank of Rs 20 lakh is reportedly hiding in Delhi. Investigations by the police have revealed that the theory of the head cashier being kidnapped was concocted and unrealistic.

COMMUNITY

BJP throws weight behind dairy owners

Chandigarh, April 24 The BJP here today joined the eviction-threatened dairy owners in Buraila Butrela, Manimajra and Palsora to demand the withdrawal of notices to ban illegal dairying as the Municipal Corporation tomorrow launches a campaign to rid the city of cattle. Dairy owners joined by BJP President Yashpal Mahajan (centre) protesting against the Municipal Corporation on Thursday in front of the corporation office in Sector 17, Chandigarh, to demand the withdrawal of notice. — A Tribune photograph

Want to have liquor in open? Chandigarh, April 24 Thanks to the policy of the Chandigarh Administration allowing liquor vends in tin sheds, liquor in the city is now being sold like vegetables with full display on the road side. The display gives the impression of a bar located in the open. Thanks to laxity on part of the Chandigarh Administration, liquor is now being sold in the open. — A Tribune photograph

Making most of human resource, the BBMB way
Chandigarh, April 24
Not wanting to let go off its vital human resource, retired engineers who are highly trained in the management of dams and irrigation canals, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has started utilising their service by inviting them to share their experiences with its serving engineers.

Sweepers’ recruitment being ‘stalled’
Chandigarh, April 24
The All-India Valmiki Yuvak Sangh, Chandigarh, here today accused the protesting Sweepers’ Union of playing into the hands of the BJP to stall the recruitment of 700 sweepers under a privatisation programme and ensure sanitation in the city.

Yoga guru to visit city today
Chandigarh, April 24
Founder of Hamsa Yog Sangh International Yogiraj Sat Gurunath will visit the city for four days from tomorrow. During his first visit to Chandigarh, he will interact with his disciples, besides delivering lectures.

SAVE SUKHNA
Allow free inflow of water
The only solution for checking silting at the Sukhna Lake is to allow only a free inflow of water into the lake which can be done by installing suitable filtering devices at strategic entry points of water. Raising the level of the retaining wall will multiply the magnitude of the problem.

ULTA PULTA
Jaspal Bhatti’s Friday humour
God ! Give papa enough money to buy question papers

CRIME

Car snatched from woman
Panchkula, April 24
A youth in Sector 8 here today snatched the keys of a Maruti Esteem car from its owner, Ms Indu Malik, and drove off with the car. The incident took place at around 2.30 pm near the electricity complaint office when Ms Malik, a resident of Sector 11, had come to pick up her six-year-old daughter, who is dropped by her school bus at the place.

Burglars take away 19 cellphones 
Chandigarh, April 24
Burglars broke into a booth in Sector 22 and took away 19 expensive cellphones, Rs 5,000, and some computer software. The theft was noticed when, Mr Ajay Singla, came to open his shop this morning. The glass sheet in the front door of the shop was found broken. The shop owner has put the total loss at around Rs 2 lakh.

Labourer killed in accident

BUSINESS

Enhanced service tax needs House nod
Chandigarh, April 24
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has shown its keenness to implement the proposals of the Finance Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, to charge enhanced service tax from 5 per cent to 8 per cent with effect from March 1, 2003, though Parliament has yet to clear the Finance Bill, 2003. Tax experts claim that it is only after getting clearance from Parliament, that the enhanced tax can be charged from customers with effect from April 1, 2003.

CITCO registers 86 pc increase in profit
Chandigarh, April 24
Defying worldwide recession in the hotel industry, a public sector undertaking of the Chandigarh Administration, the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO), running four star, three star and other hotels in City Beautiful, today showed a cash profit of Rs 9.50 crore in the year 2002-2003, an increase by 86 per cent over the past year.

Rice millers not to keep used gunny bags
Chandigarh, April 24
The executive body of the Punjab Rice Millers Association has decided that rice millers will not retain used gunny bags of kharif 2002-03, left after the delivery of custom-milled rice. At a meeting held here yesterday, the association claimed that it was a losing proposition for the millers, besides it was not obligatory for them to keep surplus bags for the next season.

EDUCATION

Prepare students for cyber age: Jacob

Chandigarh, April 24 The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Lt-Gen JFR Jacob (retd), today advised teachers to make technology an effective tool of teaching to prepare students to meet the challenges of cyber age. The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Lt.-Gen JFR Jacob (retd), clicks the mouse to inaugurate a conference of school principals on technology-aided learning organised at Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Compartment result declared

SCHOOL WORLD
History: The battle of Panipat
Stories from history are as convoluted as those from a Bombay masala movie. Its just that the stories from history are thought to be slightly more truthful since they are corroborated by different kinds of evidence. Take the story of the first battle of Panipat.

SCHOOL WORLD HELPLINE
Spare the rod to spare the child
Many parents consult me regarding how best to discipline their children. In my clinical practice I have often observed that a large majority of parents use corporal punishment to control and modify the behaviour of even very young children. Very few parents, however, realize the potential harmful effects of corporal punishment.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Petition dismissed
Chandigarh, April 24
The high court today dismissed a petition filed by accused in the Indian Airlines hijacking case. They were seeking quashing of an order vide which it was decided to hold the trial at the Patiala Central Jail.

DISTRICT COURTS
Beant Singh trial: witness turns hostile
Chandigarh, April 24
The CBI today suffered a major set-back as one of the main witnesses in the Beant Singh assassination case turned hostile while deposing before the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Balbir Singh, in a special court room in Model Burail Jail, here today.

2,000 lawyers to cast votes today
Chandigarh, April 24
The welfare of young advocates, better Bench and Bar relationship, early completion of chambers for lawyers and timely distribution of case list are some of the promises being made by candidates contesting for the post of president and vice-president of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association.

SPORTS

4 players for Gurgaon academy
Chandigarh, April 24
Promising tennis players of the city, including Tushar Liberhan, Chhatwinder Singh, Sanam K Singh, and Shiva Sangwan, have brought pride to Chandigarh for their inclusion in the new National Tennis Academy launched by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) at Gurgaon.

Taekwondo trials on April 27
Chandigarh, April 24
The Chandigarh Taekwondo Association will hold the selection trials for the UT taekwondo team in the sub-junior category in the boys and girls section on April 27 for the 21st National Taekwondo championship to be held at Bangalore from May 23 to 25, at Skating Rink, in Sector 10 here.

Max 8 tournament from today

Police to maintain ruffian register
Chandigarh, April 24
To keep a tab on persons whose names figure in non-cognizable offences, the Chandigarh Police will now be maintaining their record in ruffian register at police stations and other units.

SIs, ASIs reshuffled
Chandigarh, April 24
Taking note of the well-connected policemen who had been enjoyed “plum” postings in the police stations and other sought-after units of the city, the top brass of the city police today ordered reshuffling at least 50 Sub-Inspectors (SIs) and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs). This is first large-scale reshuffling among the non-gazetted officers in the city police. The officials who had completed three years of service were reshuffled, said a senior police official.

Arun Sekhri