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HUDA to allot 4,000 plots in Panchkula
Panchkula, July 29
Its raining plots in Panchkula. Over the next six months almost, 4000 residential plots in various sectors will be offered for allotment. Officials in the Department of Town and Country Planning say the price for 4,469 residential plots in eight sectors here is being fixed. The plots proposed are of varying sizes between six marla to 1 kanal .

CTU first to go disabled-friendly
Chandigarh, July 29
With the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) going passenger-friendly, travelling on city roads will not be a sore experience anymore.

The special low-floor bus, which was added to the CTU fleet on Tuesday, will ply on the Manimajra-PGI route.

VIPs’ speeding vehicles threat to common man
Chandigarh, July 29
The collision between the car of a senior Punjab police officer and an Army vehicle on the road dividing Sectors 27 and 28 has raised the question if speeding vehicles carrying VIPs is not a threat to the common man.

New rules make honours degree tougher 
Chandigarh, July 29
Aimed at enhancing the academic importance of the degree of honours at the undergraduate level, Panjab University has decided that a candidate should have scored at least 50 per cent in the aggregate of all three years to qualify for the degree.

Army loses lakhs in rent recovery
Chandigarh, July 29
Headquarters Western Command has incurred a loss aggregating to about Rs 30 lakh on account of its failure to recover rent for land and premises leased to private parties for undertaking commercial activities in two military stations.

She uses art for social uplift Chandigarh, July 29 Only a few disciples begin their introduction with that of their gurus. Sharon Lowen is one among them. The elegant USA born, who stayed back in India to discover the purpose of life in the Indian classical dance traditions, credits her success to the celebrated tutelage, especially that of the doyen of Odissi classical dance Pt Kelucharan Mahapatra, who made her see the richness of the north eastern dance tradition.

Sharon Lowen instructs GCG-11 girls in Odissi and Chhau in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photo

Chandigarh IT Club is born
Chandigarh, July 29
What is billed as the first Information Technology Club for professionals in this part of the country, has become operational in Chandigarh. Set up under the aegis of the Society for the Promotion of IT in Chandigarh (SPIC), a subsidiary of the Department of Information Technology, UT Administration, the Chandigarh IT Club is patterned on bodies like “Coffee Drinkers Association of IT Professionals” operating in cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai.

Does UT police know Bhullar’s whereabouts?
Chandigarh, July 29
The UT Police appears to be ignorant about the whereabouts of Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who was awarded the death penalty by a Delhi court and has since been in the news extensively. While it is now public knowledge that he is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, the Chandigarh police continues to provide his old address in Punjab to the court for issue of summons in a bomb blast case that took place in 1991.

COMMUNITY

Fill quota seats from other states, UT urges Centre
Chandigarh, July 29
Trying to find a way around a legal matter which is preventing the Chandigarh Administration from filling vacancies under the reserved quota, the Administration has sought permission from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to fill vacant posts with a rider that the “appointment is subject to a final decision of the Supreme Court”.

Contractor fails to check stray animal menace
SAS Nagar, July 29
The problem of stray animals here persists even after the work to free the town from the menace had been given on contract by the Municipal Council about three months ago.

Rs 25,000 reward for clue to Simran’s killer
Chandigarh, July 29
After having failed to solve the Simran murder case, the Chandigarh police has now offered a Rs 25,000 reward to any one giving information that leads to the arrest of the accused. The Inspector General of Police, Mr Rajesh Kumar, approved the reward in orders issued here today.

Rallis moving assets, say retrenched workers

Dera Bassi, July 29 The retrenched employees of the agrochemical division of Rallis India Limited, a Mumbai-based company, today organised a ‘Rosh Rally’ and submitted a memorandum to the Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM) to explain their demands. Retrenched workers of Rallis India Limited stage a dharna on the factory premises before submitting a memorandum to the Subdivisional Magistrate in Dera Bassi on Tuesday.

Paonta Sahib cops come looking for MC staff
Chandigarh, July 29
A Himachal Pradesh police team today swooped down on the office on the Municipal Corporation to look for officials suspected of having caused the death of 24 cows in the Kalesar forest of Paonta Sahib district on July 25.

Cong councillors at sea over cow row
Chandigarh, July 29
Death of cows in Paonta Sahib had become cause of worry for the Congress councillors ahead of the municipal corporation meeting scheduled for July 31. The councillors had asked the Mayor, at a meeting called by the party president, Mr B.B. Bahl, how they would face the matter at the House meeting.

Residents seek more seats in Paschim Express
Chandigarh, July 29
Railway passengers from the city and its peripheral areas have sought an increase in the reservation quota of seats in the Paschim Express, running between Kalka and Mumbai. The increase in quota has been sought from Chandigarh and Kalka.

Sewerage cess deferred to next year
Chandigarh, July 29
The Water and Sewerage Disposal Committee of the municipal corporation today deferred the hike in sewerage cess to the next financial year after keeping it in limbo for almost a year. The meeting passed estimates of Rs 20,55,750 of road gullies and pipe lines to improve drainage and water supply in the city.

Rangoli contest for slum girls 
Panchkula, July 29
The local branch of the Family Planning Association of India, in collaboration with the Inner Wheel Club, Chandigarh Mid-Town, organised rangoli and mehndi competitions to mark the foundation day of the association here today.

Portable kit to test potable water
Chandigarh, July 29
The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology has developed a portable water testing kit named Jalkit. The kit comprises the equipment and reagents needed for field and laboratory testing to assess the quality of drinking water.

Cops denied food, smash rehri
Panchkula, July 29
Two cops posted at the Sector 6 police post here tried to embroil a rehriwalah into a case of liquor smuggling here last night. The cops were allegedly in an inebriated condition.

PU hosteller dead
Chandigarh, July 29
A Panjab University boarder, Kulwant Singh (22), who was rushed to the PGI after he complained of breathlessness, died at around 6 am. He was a student of LLB (first semester), and had joined the department only a week ago.

Traders’ bandh on August 8
Chandigarh, July 29
The Commercial Tenants Association, which has been protesting against the amendment to the rent Act, at a meeting today announced that city traders would observe a bandh on August 8 when former Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani visits the city.

CRIME

Sarpanch among 5 booked for assault
Dera Bassi, July 29
Five residents, including the sarpanch of Bhagwasi village, were booked by the police for assaulting and causing severe injuries to a resident of the village here today. Sarpanch Sukhdev Singh, Kaka Singh, Sewak Singh, Sher Singh and Darshan Singh were booked for assaulting Dilbagh Singh two days ago. 

BUSINESS

Apparel industry bound to boom, says NIIFT chief
SAS Nagar, July 29
The apparel industry is bound to grow and there are tremendous opportunities despite the challenges thrown open by the world of competition. These were the views expressed by Ms Vijay Sharma, Director, Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT), while welcoming students of the new batches of FD, GMT and KDT at the institute here today.

EDUCATION

Trust to encourage legal guardianship of challenged kids
Chandigarh, July 29
With the objective of providing better rehabilitation and protection to the disabled, the National Trust will encourage the concept of legal guardianship and integrated education for mentally challenged children.

Students take part in science workshop
Chandigarh, July 29
On the second day of the six-day workshop on “Science Education: Through Exploration, Experiments and Entertainment” organised by Agro Mass, a voluntary organisation, at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, students took part in an interactive session under the guidance of Mr Jagdish Singh Rawat, project coordinator here today.

HIGH COURT
Notice issued
CHANDIGARH: Taking up a petition filed by Colonel B.S. Guraya seeking promotion to higher ranks, the high court today issued notice of motion for September 2 to the Ministry of Defence, besides the Chief of the Army Staff.

CULTURE

Gargi’s ‘Kesro’ still relevant

Chandigarh, July 29 Kesro, the character who dares to defy the social system, conceived in 1943 by Balwant Gargi it is still relevant. Hence, when the play “Kesro” was staged on the second day of the Balwant Gargi drama festival organised by the Pracheen Kala Kendra and the Chandigarh School of Drama at Tagore Theatre, the theme did not look out of context. A scene from ‘Kesro’ being staged during the Balwant Gargi drama festival at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — Photo Manoj Mahajan

Colours of terrorism

Chandigarh, July 29 The local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today dabbled in things other than politics. Choosing the Students Centre as the venue, the unit hosted a special exhibition featuring heart-rending pictures of the affects of global terrorism. Visitors at a photo exhibition on global terrorism at the Student Centre, Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — Photo Parvesh Chauhan

YOUTH LIFE&STYLE
Reigning fashion: youth boarding the style bandwagon

Well-groomed, polished and suave are some of the terms with which college students in the city would love to be associated with. Concerned about their looks, they want to be 'hip n happening' and can cover any length to be an attractive runner on the fashion treadmill. Their wish list ranges from latest cellphones, new ring tones, branded shoes, latest colours of lipsticks, denim skirts, jazzy-coloured sunglasses and trendy belts. Campuses have come alive after the summer break. — Photo Pankaj Sharma

NEW TRENDS
Look good, feel good is the new mantra
The new international look VLCC Centre, incorporating a therapeutic diet clinic and aroma studio and spa, has been unveiled in Chandigarh's Sector 9. Owing to the overwhelming response that VLCC has received from the people of the City Beautiful in recent years, it has moved out from the earlier location to a larger and more convenient premises. 

SPORTS

Game period in name only
Most government schools sans sports facilities

Chandigarh, July 29 Rusty goal posts, Congress grass and long-drawn faces of idle students sitting on the ground during the games period doing nothing, just chatting — that’s the reality for all to see in government schools situated in slums, colonies and rural areas of the city. No ground for sport. — A Tribune photograph

Making a mark  in skating
Chandigarh, July 29
Rahul Mittal, a Class V student of Ryan International School, has made a mark in skating. In May, he participated in the National Championship in rink race 1 and road race in Kolkata. He won a gold medal in the road race 2 organised by the Chandigarh Police Department in June. In the recently held Roller Bonn Skating Championship, he emerged winner in both race 1 and rink race 2.

Shivalik Academy spikers honoured
Chandigarh, July 29
Players from the Shivalik Volleyball Academy who won the state tournament at Nandpur in Shimla recently were honoured at Shivalik Public School Sector 41, today.

Kochher, Darvesh share golf trophy

Chandigarh, July 29 Dr G.S. Kochher and Dr Darvesh shared the trophy when they tied for the first place having 40 points each in the first leg of the Monsoon Golf Tournament at Forest Hill Golf and Country Club, near Chandigarh. The day began in hot and humid conditions. But after slogging it out in such conditions, they received the trophy amid welcome showers.  G.S. Kochher and Darvesh with the trophy they shared in the Forest Hill Monsoon Golf Tournament.

Gym at school to open today
Chandigarh, July 29
A multi-gymnasium centre equipped with all modern machines would be opened for sportspersons on the premises of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, tomorrow.

ADMINISTRATION

Solar power system for traffic lights
Chandigarh, July 29
The increasing number of accidents in the city seems to have impelled the UT Administration to take some steps to streamline the flow of traffic. One of them is having a back-up solar power system for the traffic lights in the city. Also the traffic lights will be set up at the Piccadilly roundabout within a month or so, though there are no immediate plans to remove the roundabout.