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Ugly spots on city’s beautiful face
No water taps in 16,000 houses;
Over 84,000 families live in one-room set
Chandigarh, February 11
It may seem odd but in Chandigarh which boasts of the second highest per capita income in the country, close to 30 per cent of families are not availing banking services.

2 shopkeepers held with porn CDs
Chandigarh, February 11
The Chandigarh Police today stumbled upon a widespread porn material circulation racket in the city while investigating a two-day-old case related to a porn MMS, apparently featuring a local woman.

Rajiv Kapoor (extreme left) and Gurinder Pal Singh (second from right), who were arrested for circulating pornographic material on the MMS, in Chandigarh on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Volvo, a poor competitor for Shatabdi THE brightly-painted Volvo bus was parked at the Sector 17 bus stand when I reached there, as advised, half an hour before its departure. The Delhi Transport Corporation, which introduced this luxury bus service between Chandigarh and New Delhi last month, had not thought of the need for advance reservation. “The little neighbour”. — Photo by the writer

Mangla Express’ run being extended to Chandigarh
Chandigarh, February 11
In a move aimed to benefit people of Punjab, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh, the Railway Ministry has decided to extend the daily Mangla Express running between Kochi and New Delhi, to Chandigarh from June 1.

• AC III coach for Sadbhavana Express

Air Force pilots slog it out in hostile weather
Chandigarh, February 11
As an Air Force IL-76 aligned with the runway during an approach to the Srinagar airfield a couple of days ago, a sudden swirl of dense cloud blocked visibility and put the aircrew into a difficult situation. At the last possible moment, the “threshold”, the cloud broke and the aircraft was able to touchdown.

India will overtake China: Gurcharan Das Chandigarh, February 11 Despite horrible governance Indian economy is doing well and will overtake China over the next 20 years, says management guru and writer, Gurcharn Das. In town to deliver a lecture on “Knowledge Management”, Gurcharn Das is convinced that the middle class in India is growing at a very rapid rate.                                     Gurcharan Das

• Passing Thru

COMMUNITY

Plan to upgrade firefighting services
Chandigarh, February 11
The local municipal corporation has decided to upgrade the firefighting services in the city with special attention on developing supportive machinery and communication for engaging allied services during an emergency. The corporation has decided to spend Rs 1.48 crore on the project out of the unspent funds.

Bollworm hits India’s cotton production
Chandigarh, February 11
In India the area under Bollgard (Bt) cotton increased by estimated 400 per cent to reach 500,000 hectares in 2004. But the northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan were still awaiting approval. The three states were producing 25 to 30 per cent of the country’s cotton.

Seminar on irrigation project ends
Chandigarh, February 11
A two-day regional workshop on “ Benchmarking of irrigation projects”, organised by the Central Water Commission, concluded at Haryana Nivas here today. Engineers from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana participated in the workshop.

His guile made CTU driver part with money
Chandigarh, February 11
It was the gift of the gab and the gentle appearance of an alleged cheat, Rajinder Pal, arrested for robbing an NRI, that had enticed many people, including three employees of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking.

Faux pas by HUDA
Panchkula, February 11
In a faux pas, officials of HUDA refunded the deposit money of an applicant for a plot in Sector 6 Mansa Devi Complex, when he asked for a receipt for his deposit. The hapless victims, Mohinder Gupta and Amit Gupta of Panipat, today approached the HUDA authorities here and sought cancellation of undemanded refund so that they could still be eligible for the draw.

Jhuggis razed in Panchkula
Panchkula, February 11
The Enforcement Wing of HUDA Authority today removed encroachments from Sector 14, 15 and on the new link road between Panchkula and Chandigarh via Mauli Jagran. Anti-encroachment staff led by tehsildar, Bachchan Singh and junior engineers of the Survey Branch, demolished 30 jhuggis that had come up in the Sector 14 shopping centre.

Sikh students seek ban on ‘Shabd’
Chandigarh, February 11
The producers of Sanjay-Dutt-Aishwarya Rai-Zayed Khan starrer “Shabd” might have some trouble in the making. The jokes that lead actor of the film Sanjay Dutt cracks in his urge to make the audiences laugh have actually “scarred” the sensibilities of Sikh students across the city.

Fashion show at Goonj-2005                 Chandigarh, February 11 A fashion show ‘Raga Shingar’ was held on the second day of festival Goonj-2005 at Gymnasium Hall, Panjab University. Local models sashayed down on the ramp in western, ethnic, casual and formal outfits. Gunjan was the anchor of the show. A model sashays down the ramp during the Goonj-2005 in Chandigarh on Friday. — A Tribune photograph Man jumps from fourth floor of GMCH, safe Chandigarh, February 11 A mentally challenged patient at the GMCH, Sector 32, here had a miraculous escape today after he jumped from the fourth floor of the Block A of the hospital this evening.

• 2.33 lakh penalty for power theft
• Tribune employee bereaved
• Tribune scribe bereaved

CRIME

Vehicle stolen
Panchkula, February 11
A black Scorpio car was reportedly stolen from Sector 4 this afternoon. The car had Rs 3 lakh in cash and jewellery worth Rs 5 lakh. The car belonged to a guest of Mr Rana Gurmeet Sodhi, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Punjab.

• 3 powermen held

BUSINESS

Wipro, Admn sign MoU
Chandigarh, February 11
Wipro Spectramind, an IT company, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chandigarh Administration to help in implementing the C-TOSS (Chandigarh Training on Soft Skills) programme.

EDUCATION

Mushrooming of institutes harming education: JNU Vice-Chancellor
Chandigarh, February 11
The unchecked mushrooming of educational institutes in the country is leading to degradation of the quality of higher education. This was stated by the Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Prof G.K. Chadha, who was in the city to deliver the presidential address in the UGC-sponsored national seminar on the “Knowledge management” organised at SGGS College, Sector 26, here today.

Rs 166 lakh Central aid for ITI
Mohali, February 11
The Industrial Training Institute for women here has been chosen as a Centre of Excellence to be funded with Rs 166 lakh by the Government of India. This was announced by the Kharar MLA, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, during an interface of the local industries and senior officials of the Directorate of Technical Education and Industrial Training, Punjab, held at the institute here today.

Two-day mathematics colloquium inaugurated at PU
Chandigarh, February 11
A two-day S.K. Malik Memorial Chandigarh Mathematics Colloquium was inaugurated today in the Department of Mathematics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, by Professor J.K. Gupta, Dean University Instruction, Panjab University. Professor Emeritus R.P. Bambah, former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University presided over the function.

From Schools
Basant Panchami celebrated
Chandigarh, February 11
The pre-nursery troupe of Delhi Public School, Chandigarh, celebrated Basant Panchami with the rendition of Saraswati Vandana. Tiny tots, dressed in their yellow fineries, presented a scintillating performance. The school was resounding with the tune of “Aaya Aaya Basant”, which the school’s youngest choir group sang with joy and gaiety.

From Schools Students celebrate Basant Mohali, February 11 Students of Anees School, Sector 69, here celebrated Basant today. Students came dressed in yellow clothes to the school and also brought yellow coloured eatables. Students flew kites and performed dances. Students of DAV Public School, Mohali, celebrate Basant on Friday.

School  delegation to visit South Korea
Mohali, February 11
A 16-member delegation consisting of teachers and students headed by Mrs Kulwant Kaur, President, Paragon Senior Secondary School, Sector-71, Mohali would be leaving for South Korea on the invitation of Mokpo Jeong Myung Girls Middle and High School on a 10-day trip under the educational exchange programme.

Ludhiana homoeo college wins trophy
Chandigarh, February 11
An inter-college debate on “Multinational companies are damaging our health” was organised at the Homoeopatic Medical College and Hospital, Sector 26, here today. The trophy was won by Guru Nanak Dev Homoeopathic Medical College, Ludhiana.

Protest by nursing students
Mohali, February 11
Students of the Bengal Institute of Medical Sciences, Raikot, Ludhiana, staged a protest outside the office of the Punjab State Nursing Council here today against inadequate facilities being provided to them by the institution.

COURTS

Nigerian awarded 10-yr RI
Panchkula, February 11
A local court today sentenced a Nigerian, Moaknya Michael, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on him. Michael was arrested in February, 2003 for drug trafficking after a seizure of 900 gm of heroin from him.

PCA case: 6 Sainiks remanded in custody
Mohali, February 11
A Kharar court today remanded the six Shiv Sena activists, arrested by the Mohali police, one day’s police custody. The six would be presented before the court tomorrow at noon.

SPORTS

Chandigarh Super Six which won the National Six-a-Side Cricket Championship held at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh.

Annual sports day
Mohali, February 11
The annual sports day of the Shemrock Senior Secondary School, Sector 69, Mohali, was held today. The day marked the culmination of a week of various sports and athletic events.

Supreet, Sarita best athletes
Chandigarh, February 11
The 23rd Annual Athletic meet of the Government College, Sector 46, Chandigarh, was held today. The track and field events and some fun games were held as part of the meet.

Dalip Kumar is CEO of CHB
Chandigarh, February 11
The Chandigarh Administration today effected a minor reshuffle and posted the Joint Secretary, Finance, Mr Dalip Kumar as Chief Executive Office of the Chandigarh Housing Board. Mr Dalip Kumar will continue to work in the CHB in addition to his existing duties.

Baljeet Kapoor shifted to CCET
Chandigarh, February 11
The Chandigarh Administration today transferred the Director, Ad-interim of Punjab Engineering College, Dr Baljeet Kapoor, to the Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Sector 26.