ELECTED: Mr J.D. Gupta of Gupta Associates, Sector 22C, has been elected president of the Property Consultants Association — Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula. Mr Inderjit Singh Grover of M/s Inderjit Property has been elected general secretary of the association. Elections to two posts were held here on Saturday.

VISIT: The Union Minister of State for Defence, Mr Chaman Lal Gupta, visited the Western Command Headquarters in Chandi Mandir, near here, on Saturday. The minister was briefed about operational and administrative matters by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Lieut-Gen S.S. Mehta. Mr Gupta later visited the Command Hospital and went around the wards. Maj Gen B. Sadananda briefed the minister on the ex-servicemen helpline and Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). Later the minister left for Jammu.

PROJECT LAUNCHED: The Agro-Mass, an NGO working for the integrated rural and industrial development, on Saturday launched “Bio-Force” a multipurpose project,” at Kajheri and Dhanas villages here, according to a press note. Under the project, villagers were imparted practical knowledge about vermiculture. They were informed about the method of producing “vermi compost” which was a perfect substitute for inorganic manure.

YOGA WORKSHOP: A special workshop on yoga was organised for children by the Chandigarh Yoga Sabha at Shishu Niketan School in Sector 22 here on Saturday. A seminar on yoga was also held at the Yog Divya Mandir in Sector 30. Children were instructed under the guidance of Yogacharya Prof M.L. Lal.

BLOOD DONATION: As many as 96 students donated blood during a camp organised at the Dev Samaj College of Education in Sector 36 by the Malwa Cultural and Social Welfare Society in association with the State Bank of Patiala’s Sector 10 branch, Lions Club Chandigarh Supreme and Punjab Red Cross Society. According to a press note, Dev Samaj College Principal Satinder Dhillon inaugurated the camp.

MC NOTICE: The Municipal Corporation has issued a noticed asking people to dump garbage and waste building material in a khud near The Tribune Complex. In violation of this order, people have started dumping garbage on the way and in the adjoining ground, which is used by people for evening/morning walk.

WORKSHOPS: The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan College of Education of Communication and Management is organising three summer workshops in the month of May on personality development for students and managers of junior, middle and senor levels. A separate counselling cell for the students has also been opened where the students can seek guidance for the vocational courses in the afternoons. Registration is open for all three workshops at its campus in Sector 27.

ONE DEAD: A 40-year-resident of Mandi died of a heart attack in Sector 24 here on Friday morning. According to information, the deceased, Ramesh Kumar, was riding pillion on a bicycle when he complained of pain in his chest. The bicycle was being ridden by his brother, Ram Singh. The duo, who had recently arrived in the city from Mandi, were looking for a job.

EXHIBITION: Monica Singh, a budding designer from the city, on Saturday exhibited her creations — an exclusive range of semi-precious stones, tie and dyed suit materials and bed linen — at a hotel in Sector 22. Monica, an interior decorator-turned textile designer, has experimented with bold prints in vibrant colours on basic materials like pure cotton, crepe and chiffon. This is her first exhibition after completing a short-term course from the Indian Institute of Fashion Technology (IIFT), New Delhi.

DEMOLITION FLAYED: The local unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has condemned the MC for demolishing the boundary wall of Shri Satya Narayan Mandir, Sector 32. In a statement issued here on Saturday, the VHP alleged that the officials of the MC demolished the wall without prior notice or warning. The Encroachment Inspector leading the team also allegedly misbehaved with Ms Raj Rani, president of the mandir committee.

PANCHKULA
SOS CHILDREN: Mr Tek Chand Aggarwal, former Vice-Principal of Girl’s College, Rampura Phul, Punjab, delivered a motivational talk on perseverance for achieving one’s goals to inmates of SOS children’s village, Bal Niketan, on Friday. Mr Aggarwal, who has had a record of never taking a single day’s leave in his 30 years of service in the college, asked students to always give prime importance to their work. Mr Aggarwal said he had now written to the Guiness Book of Word Records for getting an entry in the book for never once availing leave in his 30-year long career from 1968 to 1998.

DHARAMSALA
TIBETAN MUSICIANS: Former kalon of the Tibetan Assembly of Deputies Shewo Lobsang Dhargyal said that singing was an important aspect of Tibetan life and there were different songs for all occasions. He was addressing Tibetan music teachers who were participating in an intensive 15-day workshop jointly organised by the Education Department of the Tibetan Government-in-exile and the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA). Thirtyfive music teachers are participating in the workshop. Ms Kalsang Youdon Dagpo, who was the guest of honour, said there was need for preservation of unique Tibetan opera tradition.

ASSURED: Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister G.S. Bali has assured the HRTC employees that transparency would be ensured in the working of the corporation. He was speaking at a function organised by a section of INTUC workers of the HRTC here on Friday evening.

KUMARHATTI
SEMINAR: The CPM has decided to hold a seminar on May 10 at Solan in memory of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the first war of Independence in 1857. This was stated by Mr Mohar Singh, secretary of state CPM, at a Solan district committee meeting at Chambaghat, near Solan, on Friday. He said that the party had also decided to hold May Day on a large scale at each district headquarters of the state. He criticised the bus fare hike.

NAHAN
ELECTED: Mr Manjinder Vikka was elected Director of Himachal Pradesh Cooperative Bank Ltd here on Friday. Mr Vikka got seven votes out of 13, while Mr Tej Pal of Paonta got six votes. The third candidate, Prem Chauhan, did not receive any vote.

BHAGWAD KATHA: A week-long Shrimad Bhagwad katha organised in the Shri Kalishthan Temple complex here attracted thousands of residents every day. The katha was conducted by Vaishnavacharya Vachaspati Shri Maruti Nandan Vagish of Vrindavan. Mr Vagish called upon the people to work for peace and harmony in society by adopting knowledge of Shrimad Bhagwat.

LOK ADALAT: The member-secretary of the State Legal Aid Authority, Mr D.D. Sharma, at a legal literacy camp organised at Shilai on Friday called upon the people to come to the Lok Adalat for the redress of their problems. He disclosed that free legal aid and advice were available to persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, weaker section and persons having an annual income below Rs 25,000.

PALAMPUR
PARKING LOTS: Three new parking lots will be set up at the town. This was stated by Revenue Minister Brij Butail here on Saturday. Talking to mediapersons, he said he had directed the Public Works Department authorities to repair all internal roads of the town.

PARWANOO
CIVIC RECEPTION: A civic reception was organised here on Saturday for Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, by residents, factory workers, senior citizens of the town under the leadership of Mr Raghu Raj, MLA, and Mr Chuni Lal Chouhan, vice-president of the local Nagar Parishad. Mr Virbhadra Singh made a stop-over here while on his way to Baddi. Ms Meenakshi Sharma, president of the Nagar Parishad, members of the local Youth Congress, senior citizens and members of the Seva Dal were present on the occasion. A delegation of local residents met the CM and handed over a memorandum regarding the problems being faced by them.

SHIMLA
YOUTH BOARD: The Himachal Government has reconstituted the state youth board. Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, will be the chairman of the board. Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Youth Services and Sports Minister, will be the vice-chairman. The Principal Secretary (Youth Services and Sports), the Secretary (Education) and the Director, (Youth Services and Sports) will be the members of the board. The Deputy Director, Youth Services and Sports, will be its member-secretary.