C H A N D I G A R H

Top stories | Community | Crime | Business | Education

Courts | Culture | Lifestyle | Health | Administration

TOP STORIES

Preparing for exams while guarding crops
Raipur Rani (Panchkula), March 2
Thousands of students in this part of the Lower Shivaliks are having a tough time preparing for the coming annual examinations with wild animals playing havoc with the standing crops in their villages.

TESTING TIME: Two students of Bhud village in Panchkula district prepare for their examination in the fields while guarding crops against wild animals. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Hundreds find names missing from voters list
Chandigarh, March 2
The names of hundreds of voters of Modern Housing Complex, Indira Colony, Shanti Nagar and Rajiv Vihar, in Mani Majra area, are missing from the voter list. The incident came to light yesterday when residents of these localities went to the Government School, Shanti Nagar, to get their voter cards made.

HUDA to auction 3 shopping mall sites on March 5
Panchkula, March 2
It’s raining shopping malls in Panchkula. Close on the heels of the Haryana Urban Development Authority netting a handsome amount through the auction of shopping malls sites in Panchkula, Faridabad and Kurukshetra, the authority is all set to auction three more shopping mall sites in the township on March 5.

Cong can go it alone in North India, says Anand Chandigarh, March 2 The Congress can go in for the elections in North India all alone, mainly in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The party already has an poll understanding with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir. This was stated by Mr Anand Sharma, spokesperson of the All-India Congress Committee, while addressing a press conference here today. Mr Anand Sharma, spokesperson of the All-India Congress Committee, addresses a press conference in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

COMMUNITY

Correct use of EVMs to be shown on TV
Mohali, March 2
Demonstration regarding the use of electronic voting machines would be done on the local TV channels to make the public aware about the use of such machines. Mr M.L. Sharma, SDM, said here today that the demonstration about the use of EVMs would be done when the date of the Lok Sabha elections approaches near and the process would be repeated two to three times on the local TV channels.

Mishap victim’s kin accuse police of laxity in probe
Chandigarh, March 2
The family of a war hero has accused the Chandigarh police of showing laxity in investigating the death of one of its members in a hit-and-run case. Ravinder Singh, grandson of Jagat Singh, whose name is inscribed on the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial, was killed in front of Rajasthan Bhavan in Sector 33 on the night of February 17 after he was allegedly hit by a car registered in the name of a lawyer, Mr Randeep Singh Rai.

Jail inmate alleges torture by authorities
Chandigarh, March 2
A murder and theft accused lodged in the Model Burail Jail was allegedly beaten up by the jail authorities. Ashish Arora complained about his alleged ‘brutal torture’ at the hands of jail authorities before a local court. The court ordered a medical examination of the prisoner at the Sector 16 General Hospital.

BRO to rope in private sector for projects
Chandigarh, March 2
Faced with budgetary constraints and deficiency in cadre strength, the Border Roads Organisation is considering to go in for contracts with private firms for projects to undertake road and bridge construction, some of which are facing inordinate delays.

This Holi, go for herbal colours
Chandigarh, March 2
For lending natural colours to Holi, shopkeepers of the city are offering scented herbal 'gulal' for you to apply. The colours are available in sandalwood, jasmine, lemon and rose fragrances. If you have any doubts, just drive down to Sector 26 grain market. You will be able to buy 100 grams of skin friendly colour for just Rs 10.

Tazia processions taken out Chandigarh, March 2 Tazia processions were taken out in different parts of the city to observe Moharram today. Messages of brotherhood and unity were conveyed to the masses by different organisations.   A Tazia procession to mark Muharram in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

No need for separate rights panel for UT, says Verma
Chandigarh, March 2
The Punjab Governor, Justice O.P. Verma (retd), said here today that there was no need for a separate Human Rights Commission for Chandigarh, as people could approach the National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi.

Old Ravians to visit Chandigarh
Chandigarh, March 2
An 11-member delegation from the Old Ravians Union, the alumni association of Government College, Lahore, will be arriving here tomorrow evening after crossing over from Pakistan at Wagah.

CRIME

Police gets printouts of Goldy’s phone calls
Chandigarh, March 2
The Chandigarh police today obtained voluminous printouts of the lists of phone calls made from two cellphones of Gurvinder Singh, alias Goldy, arrested in connection with providing finances to Jagtar Singh Hawara.

Trader abducted, got released
Chandigarh, March 2
Around 10 persons picked up Sanjiv Rana, a trader of Sector 44, from Uttam Corporation, the firm of his brother. Anil Kumar, a brother of Sanjiv, reported the matter to the Sector 34 police station.

• One held for stealing car

BUSINESS

200 rural units take part in Khadi expo
Chandigarh, March 2
Tribal dances, including the famous ‘Bihu’ dance, from Assam marked the second day of the North-East Zone Khadi and Village Industries Expo-2004 organised by the Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board at the Parade Ground here today.

Market Pulse
Garment ensemble unveiled
Chandigarh, March 2
Numero Uno, a fashionable denim brand in India, has unveiled is latest collection for both men and women that promises “loads of oomph, style and comfort”.

EDUCATION

PU panel to discuss compulsory retirement
Chandigarh, March 2
Employees of Panjab University are averse to the idea of rules for compulsory retirement being included in the university calendar, fearing victimisation at the hands of the authorities, even as the university is all set to discuss the essentials of the scheme.

PU proposal to grant 3 reappear chances
Chandigarh, March 2
The “golden chance” and “mercy chance”, granted by the Vice-Chancellor in special cases to students for taking reappear examinations soon be done away with completely.

Teacher creates toy train from waste material

Chandigarh, March 2 Borrowing the concept from the creator of the Rock Garden, Nek Chand, a fine arts teacher of the UT Education Department has created a toy train out of the discarded waste material, stacked in the store of Sector 34 Government Model High School. Final touches being given to a stationary toy train, created out of waste material, at Government Model High School, Sector 34, Chandigarh. — Photo by Pawan Sharma

5 city students shine at Kanpur ‘tech fest’
Chandigarh, March 2
Five students of Class IX of Vivek High School have won the second prize in Lego Robotics Mindstroms in the Tech Kriti 2004 held at Kanpur between February 26 and 29. The students were Arjun Wadwalkar, Nakul Jain, Gurumeshar Gandhoke, Sahil Bambri and Sayantan Bera.

CAT notice to DPI (Schools)
Chandigarh, March 2
The Director Public Instructions (Schools), Mr D.S.Mangat, has been issued a notice by the Central Administrative Tribunal to show cause why proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act be not initiated against him for not releasing the arrears consequent to revision of the pay scales of the Senior Laboratory Attendants.

Personality development programme launched
Chandigarh, March 2
Global Voice, a local training and development organisation, in association with Credenz Systems, USA, has launched a personality development programme designed especially for schools and colleges.

Lecturers sore over postponement of refresher course
Chandigarh, March 2
Lecturers of colleges affiliated to Panjab University and those of the department are sore over the postponement of a refresher course in history, slated to begin on March 5.

351 college students receive degrees

Panchkula, March 2 Mr M.L.Tayal, Financial Commissioner, Education and Languages, today urged the students to strive hard to achieve their goals in lives. Addressing students of the local Government College at the convocation and annual function, Mr Tayal said true education commenced when the students passed out of the educational institutions and faced the challenges of life. A student of Government College, Panchkula, holds a degree at the 15th annual convocation held on the college premises on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

DC holds meeting with school committee
Panchkula, March 2
A meeting of the management committee of Navodaya Vidyalaya, Mauli, was held under the chairmanship of the DC, Ms Satwanti Ahlawat, today. Presiding over the meeting, Ms Ahlawat directed the Civil Surgeon, Dr Satvir Chaudhary, to depute a doctor at the school every week for the check-up of the students.

COURTS

High Court
Hooda's daughter-in-law granted security
Chandigarh, March 2
Acting on a petition filed by Dr Geeta Grewal, daughter-in-law of Haryana Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the state of Haryana to provide round-the-clock security cover to her. The order will remain in force till September 30.

INTUC chief in judicial remand till March 8
Panchkula, March 2
A local court today remanded controversial president of the Himachal unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, Amarjit Singh Bawa, in judicial custody till March 8.

• Arrest warrants against former bank employee

CULTURE

A soul-stirring performance by French troupe

Chandigarh, March 2 The visiting French troupe Les Solistes Francais creates music which is meant for the soul. So it was not surprising that when this nine-member western classical music group played compositions from legendary musicians like Vivaldi, Bach and Debussy, the audience at the CSIO auditorium here got mesmerised from the beginning till the end. A French artiste matches tunes with a sitarist during a concert of western classical music by Les Solistes Fracaise at the CSIO auditorium in Sector 30, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

LIFESTYLE

Fitness Trail Sensitive children prone to exam anxiety Racing pulse, palpitations, anxiety, nausea, sweating, trembling - no! no!........Nobody is having a heart attack. These are just some of the symptoms schoolchildren suffer from before or during exams, especially if they are facing board exams. Avoiding junk food can help check anxiety

A trip down South full of cherishing tales

INDIAN countryside is a collage of myriad forms of cultural and agricultural diversities reflecting a unified picture of beauty in diverse lands and different people. This sentiment is shared by members of the team of Mr Navjeewan Khosla, an 82-year octogenarian former IAS officer, who led the trip on a specially-designed van from Chandigarh to the southern heartland in the interiors of Karnataka in the South. A view of the interior of the specially designed van which went on a trip to South India. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

Roadside ear-cleaners claim efficiency
Ear cleaning by roadside ear-cleaners may not be medically advisable but it is definitely popular. Despite ENT specialists strongly advising against the ears being cleaned by ear-cleaners, one can spot ear-cleaners in busy areas. The ear-cleaners can be distinguished from others because of a typical red-coloured headgear worn by them.

Dressing up your garden Forget bouquets of affection. Gift a pot instead. This is what Shiela Mamick and Ami Bedi have to say. The duo are holding an exhibition of plants at their house in Sector 4, Chandigarh. In fact, they invite you to a “pre-Holi blast of dish gardens, indoor and outdoor fountains, bird feeders and baths, besides urlis and much more....” Amazing terracota pots with plants and pebbles complete with birds, squirrels and frogs molded out of earth can be found.

HEALTH

PGI doctor gets patent of diagnostic tool
Chandigarh, March 2
Dr Chetana Vaishnari Associate Professor, Microbiology, Department of Gastroenterology, PGI, has obtained a patent of a process which helps in detecting “C.difficile” toxin. It is a major pathogen identified in patients with antibiotic associated diarrhoea and colitis — inflammation of the intestine.

Cleft lip problem remains neglected, says Bir Devinder
Mohali, March 2
The problem of cleft lip and palate being faced by a large number of children in Punjab has remained neglected. This can be seen from a number of cases that have been referred to the Civil Hospital here.

ADMINISTRATION

UT Admn, CSIO sign MoU on Biotechnology Policy
Chandigarh, March 2
A Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the Biotechnology Policy in Chandigarh was signed today between the Chandigarh Administration and the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation.

Admn circulates model code of conduct
Chandigarh, March 2
The Chandigarh Administration today circulated the model code of conduct of the Election Commission of India among its heads of the department and political parties. The code of conduct came into force on Sunday when the dates of elections were announced.