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MC loses crores due to illegal occupation
Chandigarh, November 29
The cash-starved Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is losing crores of rupees due to unauthorised occupation on prime commercial property of the erstwhile gram panchayats in three villages — Buterla, Burail and Badheri — under the civic body.

Of fee hike, students’ strike and parents
Chandigarh, November 29
Financial control has become a bone of contention among Panjab University, the Punjab Government and the UT Administration. The current academic year has seen a tussle of money control with all three agencies announcing hikes, reconsidering it and even withdrawing it. The game of agitation and hunger strike has had a brief respite with the constitution of yet another committee.

MPs want PGI linked to hospitals in region
Ropar, November 29
Members of Parliament from the region have mooted the Union Health Ministry to link PGI Chandigarh with at least one hospital in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir through video-conferencing.

The Chandigarh Carnival was made special by the first-time participation of these special children from the Institute for Blind, Sector 26. Unconcerned by physical limitations, the kids indulged in artistic activity, on Saturday, creating forms which were visually most appealing. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Traffic cops use Carnival to stress safety
Chandigarh, November 29
Today, when all city roads led to the buzzing venue of Chandigarh Carnival, UT traffic police personnel were busy mapping the knowledge of city residents regarding safety norms. Donning a friendly mantle, they helped the youth and elders alike in understanding their prime concern — human life. The strategy that they adopted for this testing was not only interesting but also engaging.

Kalam to inaugurate Army Institute of Law
Chandigarh, November 29
The President of India, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, will inaugurate the Army Institute of Law (AIL) at Sector 68, Mohali, on December 1.

• Hectic preparations for Kalam’s visit

COMMUNITY

Commuters and road users, especially families, are facing harassment due to the high-handedness of the octroi-collection staff at every entry and exit point to the Zirakpur nagar panchayat limits since long. Driving on the wrong side of the road, octroi men stop a vehicle on the Chandigarh-Zirakpur stretch of the Chandigarh-Ambala highway at Bhabhat village on Friday evening. — A Tribune photograph.

The most auspicious day of marriage season
Chandigarh, November 29
The city is witness to an increase in splendour and style associated with the heavy marriage season this year. Today happened to be the “most auspicious day” (worked out by the astrological calculations) and the extravaganza was evident in a majority of the banquet halls of hotels and marriage palaces.

SEARCH WITHIN
It is how you play the game that is important
DR Ranjit Singh, kingpin of the scandal relating to the question paper leakage of the Common Admission Test for the Indian Institutes of Management, belongs to a middle class family like anyone of us. As one newspaper reported, he might be a villain for the CBI but for the people of his hometown he is a hero.

READERS WRITE
Pension scheme at Panjab University
I HAD an opportunity to examine the issue of pension at Panjab University now for more than a year ago, which was published by the Chandigarh Tribune, in the issue dated November 6, 2002, under the title, “PU pension scheme in prospect and retrospect.”

• Accept positive charges in religion

• Delayed dental ills

• Clarification

CRIME

3 kin of stabbing accused held
Panchkula, November 29
Unable to arrest Manjit, the main accused in the stabbing of Sector 14 housewife, Neelam Devi, the police today arrested three of his relatives on charges of sheltering an accused.

Woman crushed to death
Dera Bassi, November 29
Indro Devi (47) Bhankharpur village was crushed to death by a truck on the Dera Bassi-Mubarikpur- Ramgarh road near Mubarikpur village here today. Her relative Baljit Kaur also sustained injuries in the accident.

BUSINESS

Hotel industry seeks more incentives

Chandigarh, November 29 For the first time in years the hotel industry is on the upswing and the smaller hotels are driving the economy. Despite this the government is not giving enough incentives to the hotel industry, said Col Manbeer Choudhary (retd), newly elected president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India, here today. Col Manbeer Choudhary (retd), on the right, newly elected president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India, at a press conference in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune Photograph

Khadi exhibition a big draw
Chandigarh, November 29
The exhibition of handicrafts, khadi clothes, and other products manufactured by village artisans under the banner of Khadi and Village Industries Commission is getting a good response. Societies and entrepreneurs affiliated to the KVIC are enthused by the overwhelming response from customers in the city.

Khadi exhibition fails to draw crowds
Panchkula, November 29
The khadi exhibition at the Sector 5 grounds here has failed to attract the crowds in spite of showcasing the best of products. The exhibition, which began on November 3, and will conclude tomorrow, has failed to have as good a response as last year.

EDUCATION

Kids shown film decrying drugs
Mohali, November 29
With the aim of making the world free of tobacco, the Generation Saviour Association showed a film to students of Yadavindra Public School here today as part of a chain of events which are organised under the guidance of the World Health Organisation.

Fun, frolic at school function
Panchkula, November 29
It was fun and frolic at the annual prize distribution function of three branches of National Public School, which was held at Yavanika Open Air Theatre this morning.

Panchkula girl 13th in PCS exam
Panchkula, November 29
Ms Neeru Katyal, a resident of Panchkula, has done her family proud by securing the 13th position in the PCS 2003 (reconducted) examination. She is one of the two women candidates who have managed to make it to PCS Executive.

COURTS

Challan against suspended HC Registrar presented
Chandigarh, November 29
The police today claimed that Punjab and Haryana High Court's suspended Registrar (Additional) Tara Chand and his wife had amassed properties worth Rs 15 lakh disproportionate to his known source of income, in a 500-page challan submitted in a local court here today. The challan also contains a list of 47 witnesses.

Stay of Principal’s suspension confirmed
Panchkula, November 29
Confirming the orders staying the suspension of Mrs Rajni Thareja, Principal of Hansraj Public School, a local court today dismissed the plea seeking the stay of the transfer order “at this stage”.

DISTRICT COURTS
Extortion accused remanded
Chandigarh, November 29
Om Parkash Saini, the prime suspect in the extortion racket busted by the UT police, was further remanded in police custody for one day by a local court today. Saini was produced in the court of the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr Sanjay Sandhir, in the afternoon, who after hearing the arguments from both sides sent him to police custody till November 30.

• Makeshift chambers

• Clarification

CULTURE

Asha Parekh relives memories Chandigarh, November 29 Known Bollywood actress and former Chairperson of the Film Censor Board, Asha Parekh relived old memories with melodies of her peak time. Asha, once a leading actress of several movies, said in this era of pop and re-mix music form craze for rich old melodies was still alive. Award winners of Rafi Nite at the Tagore Theatre in Sector 18, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

From the first glance to the last, the Chandigarh Carnival appeared to be a befitting tribute to the young and vibrant spirit of the city. In fact, the best thing about today’s show was its well-thought-out theme — “young and vibrant” — which was amazingly kept throughout the vast show and its vibrant strands. Meher Chand Mastana, the naqaal made famous by his association with theatre director Neelam Mansingh, playing the dafli, the nagara and the chimta.

Frenchman doles out Hindi songs Pascal Heni was the biggest surprise of the Chandigarh Carnival show at Leisure Valley today. The first Occidental singer to have reinterpreted the popular songs of Hindi and Tamil cinema, Pascal doled out Hindi songs tonight, along with his group of trained performers.

FILM REVIEW
Present is the only moment
Awaken yourself to the realisation that there is no tomorrow. Present is the only moment. Burn the candle from both ends and never let a moment slip without love. Karan Johar’s ‘‘Kal Ho Na Ho’’ is a usual filmi love web with a cosmopolitan appeal and a lot of comedy packed in the first half.

• Janasheen fails to impress

SPORTS

Dakshi wins gold in karate meet Chandigarh, November 29 Dakshi Agnihotri of Bhavan Vidyalya won the gold medal in the 10-11 years’ category in the girls section of the first Chandigarh State Karate Championship which began at Skating Rink, Sector 10, here today. Danish (in red) and Pukhraj (in blue) in action on the opening day of the Chandigarh State Karate meet at Sector 10 Skating Rink on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph.

Ashish, Utsav to clash for badminton title
Chandigarh, November 29
Ashish Sharma of AG, Punjab will clash with Utsav Mishra of AG, Uttar Pradesh in the men singles final of the All-India Inter-Zonal Audit and Accounts Department Badminton Tournament played at the Badminton hall, Sector 42, here.

Talwinderjit Kaur and Karan Sharma of Mount Carmel School, who were declared the best athletes of the school.

Races mark sports day of Mount Carmel School                                                                     
 Chandigarh, November 29
Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, and its Mohali branch jointly organised their annual sports day on the school premises here. Students from Pre-Nursery to class X took part in various events.

Arpana sets records in powerlifting
Chandigarh, November 29
Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, won the team trophy in the third Chandigarh Women Powerlifting Championship organised today at Weightlifting Coaching Centre, Sector 42, here today.

• Kabaddi meet

Strive for greater heights, kids told
Ambala, November 29
Major-Gen MP Singh, Chief of Staff, Kharga Corps, yesterday said that students must strive for greater heights. General MP Singh was the chief guest on the final day of annual sports day of Army School, Ambala Cantt. A scintillating cultural programme was presented by the school students.

Manav Mangal students win running trophy Chandigarh, November 29

Students of Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, lifted the Hardyal Mahajan Memorial Running Trophy on the concluding day of the founder’s week celebrations of Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, here today. Students and teachers of Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, with the running trophy at the premises of Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, in Chandigarh on Saturday.

ADMINISTRATION

Railway police asked to beef up security
Chandigarh, November 29
Concerned at the increasing incidents of damaging railway property, drugging and robbery in running trains, Northern Railway has asked officers of the Government Railway Police (GRP) to spruce up security on the premises of the station and on the trains.