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Tribune Exclusive
UT power dept losses mount to Rs 323.63 cr
Officials debunk figures of Ernst and Young report
Chandigarh, July 11
Believe it or not, the Electricity Department of the Chandigarh Administration is suffering heavy losses — a whopping Rs 323.63 crore to be precise. And worse still, officials in the Electricity Department are unwilling to admit this. And worse still is that the loss is accumulating at the rate of about Rs 63 crore annually.

Rodrigues for taking government to people through IT
Chandigarh, July 11
Computer and the Internet will no longer remain the domain of the rich and the powerful. Come July 14 and one man that will press the most to take the IT and IT-enabled services to the realm of a common man will be the Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory of Chandigarh, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd).

Governor to address delegates at IT conclave
Chandigarh, July 11
Chandigarh is making big strides in IT. The perception of Chandigarh as a bureaucratic city is changing with its growth as a knowledge hub — at least this is what the hosting of so many events, including the IT conclave and events like Agro-tech suggests.

Two Hawara accomplices held Chandigarh, July 11 Four days after Babbar Khalsa International’s alleged chief Jagtar Singh Hawara was brought to Chandigarh for questioning, the city police today claimed a major breakthrough in busting a module controlled by him with the arrest of two persons. Joga Singh and Samir in the custody of police in operation cell, Sector 26, Chandigarh, on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

• Chandigarh Police in a fix over Hawara’s ‘memory games’
• Bitta seeks probe into Hawara’s escape

Left to corner UPA govt on job Bill, labour reforms
Chandigarh, July 11
The monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled to start later this month, will certainly be a litmus test for the Manmohan Singh government as Left leaders have serious differences with his government not only on disinvestment in BHEL but also over the Employment Guarantee Bill, the Pension Bill and the proposed labour reforms.

Kerala establishes railway link with Chandigarh

Chandigarh, July 11 History was created at the local Railway Station here tonight with Kerala, God’s own country, getting a direct railway link with the City Beautiful. With the Kochuveli-Chandigarh Kerala Sampark Kranti Express chugging into the city, the long-cherished dream of the South Indian population in the region was finally realised. Jubilant passengers get down from the Kerala Sampark Kranti Express at the Chandigarh Railway Station on Monday night. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

• Passing Thru

CHANDIGARH CALLING EATING a warm, melt-in-your-mouth gulab jamun is a truly luscious experience. And chomping on one of these delicious sins in the rains is truly divine! A kitty party of 12 chortling women decided to celebrate their monthly get-together in an unusual way. Instead of sitting in a restaurant eating chilly garlic noodles, they decided, the best way to spend the blissfully overcast drizzly day, walking in the rain.

COMMUNITY

A city couple was caught unawares in rain on Monday afternoon. A young couple looks for shelter following heavy showers in the city on Monday afternoon. — Tribune photos by Manoj Mahajan

Centre to electrify 45 hamlets in Morni belt
Panchkula, July 11
The 40 km from Panchkula, referred to as the “Paris of India”, 211 dhanis (hamlets) are still without electricity. In spite of the advancements made by the Haryana Government in the power sector, these villages are without power supply as Haryana Power Utilities does not electrify villages having less than 20 households.

Rs 2.24 crore earmarked for development works
Panchkula, July 11
Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) will spend a sum of over Rs. 2.24 crore on various development works in Panchkula Extension during the next eight months.

Fauji Beat
Ex-servicemen bodies have lost credibility
No one brings more discredit to the ex-servicemen community than their own organisations, which have mushroomed over the years. Like the political parties, they miss no opportunity to criticise each other on non-issues. Most of these bodies of self-seekers are deceiving the ex-servicemen in the name of their welfare.

Water shortage in industrial area
Mohali, July 11
Industrial Area, Phase VII, here is facing an acute shortage of water creating problems for employees working in the area. Industrial unit owners said that the supply of water to the area was negligible and water was being supplied with the help of tankers.

Jain for providing breakfast to Burail Jail inmates
Chandigarh, July 11
A member of the national executive of the BJP and former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, today demanded the provision of breakfast to the inmates of Burail Jail here. The demand was raised at a meeting of the Jail Advisory Committee here today.

Roadside vendors rush to find a shelter as sudden showers lash Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Karam Singh

Jean Rodrigues visits anganwari centres
Chandigarh, July 11
Mrs Jean Rodrigues, wife of the UT Administrator, today visited the Anganwari Centres of Sector 38 and 41 to review the arrangements. Ms Madhvi Kataria, Director, Social Welfare Department, also accompanied her on the occasion.

Rodrigues calls for women empowerment
Chandigarh, July 11
Gen S.F. Rodrigues, Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator, in a message, on the occasion of World Population Day here today called for a major effort at the national level for the empowerment of women and to work towards achieving greater gender equality.

TUC, AISECC flay Punjab move
Mohali, July 11
The local Trade Union Council and the All-India State Employees Coordination Committee in joint statement criticised the move of the Punjab Government to hand over the work of the preparation of electoral rolls bearing the photographs of voters to a private company.

Mini bus operators to launch stir
Chandigarh, July 11
Mini bus operators in Punjab have decided to launch an agitation against the state government by holding a protest rally at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh on July 20.

Foundation day celebrated
Mani Majra, July 11
The Modern Housing Complex, Mani Majra, a unit of Bharat Vikas Parishad, celebrated its foundation day with great enthusiasm, here on Sunday.

• Dalits to stage protest in Delhi
• FCI Mazdoor Federation holds rally
• Renu Poswal chairperson, welfare board
• TDS filing date extended

CRIME

Man consumes pesticide, dies
Panchkula, July 11
Three persons lost their lives in separate incidents in the city in last 24 hours. After struggling for life for over 36 hours, Mr Rajat, alias Gaurav Kumar, a resident of Sector 11, who allegedly consumed some pesticide on Saturday, breathed his last in the PGI, Chandigarh, today.

Man, parents booked in dowry case
Chandigarh, July 11
The local police has arrested one person on the charge of stealing and in a separate case a man was booked along with his parents for allegedly demanding dowry. Sources in the police said Ajay Singh of Sanjay Colony, Chandigarh, was caught while stealing spare parts from a workshop in Phase I, Industrial Area.

Company executive assaulted
Mohali, July 11
A senior executive of Godrej company was injured after he was attacked by a number of persons here today. According to information available, Mr Sachin Mittal, was attacked by 12 persons with rods when he came out of the factory.

BUSINESS

Industrialists seek review of conversion policy

Chandigarh, July 11 She Industrial Associations of Chandigarh and Plot Owners today urged the UT Administration for an immediate review of the conversion policy announced recently. More than 200 industrialists participated in a rally of the industrialists which concluded at the Matka Chowk. Members of the Industrial Associations and plot owners take out a rally against conversion rates announced by the UT Administration for plots in Industrial area in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

EDUCATION

Evening Studies Dept chairman divested of headship Chandigarh, July 11 Chairman Atulvir Arora of the Evening Studies Department was divested of the charge of headship by the Panjab University Syndicate here today. While authorising the second-in-line at the Department to head the department, the Syndicate also decided to constitute a committee to conduct an inquiry against Arora for flouting orders on admitting students to the Evening Studies department. Further, for the benefit of the students, the last date for admission has been extended by 10 days.

Teachers of Punjab University Department of Evening Studies on their way to submit memorandum of demands to the members of Syndicate on Monday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

‘Controversial’ PSEB officer gets key post
Mohali, July 11
A senior Punjab School Education Board official was given charge of a key post and at a higher grade even when a decision on a probe report against her was yet to be taken.

St. John’s team leaves for Florida
Chandigarh, July 11
It was a team raring to go. Brimming over with excitement and conviction writ large on their faces, an 11-member boys team led by leader Misha Pratap, was flagged off from St John’s High School, Sector 26, here today, for destination Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Students hold protest
Mohali, July 11
Students of a training and placement company staged a protest outside the institute in Phase VII here today. They alleged that the company had neither paid the salary as promised nor returned the money deposited at the time of admission.

Seventy delegates attend workshop
Chandigarh, July 11
A three-day workshop was organised by DAV Education Board at DAV Model School, Sector 15-A, Chandigarh. It was largely attended by about 70 delegates all from DAV institutions of India.

Backward blocks to have boarding schools for girls
Chandigarh, July 11
The Haryana Prathmik Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad will set up Kasturba Gandhi balika vidyalayas in identified educationally backward blocks of the state.

Vivek High School wins eco club award
Chandigarh, July 11
Vivek High School, Sector 38, has won the first prize for the best eco club. The Punjab Governor, Gen S.F Rodrigues, gave away the award. About 78 schools with over 300 students from in and around Chandigarh had participated in the programme.

LEISURE

Students no more pedal their way to college
Heroes of yesteryears romanced their heroines on cycles, pedalled their way to college and just about everywhere. Bollywood sure has been a trendsetter. It’s another matter that it relies on society for feedback to portray what it does on the silver screen.

Students display exquisite creations Students of Fashion Designing and Textile Designing course of National Polytechnic, Panchkula, displayed their exquisite creations during their annual exhibition organised here today.   A student of National Polytechnic displays her designs during the annual exhibition at Panchkula on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Capturing colours of nature “Nature binds truth, happiness and virtue together by an indissoluble chain..” envisions young Neha Garg in the 11 oil paintings that she displayed at her maiden solo show at the IndusInd Art Gallery today.   Kids have a close look at a painting at an exhibition at Indus Ind Art Gallery in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

“Awaaz Punjab Di” final at Jalandhar
Over 2000 aspiring singers had participated in a mega talent hunt contest from the Chandigarh region on June 6 and 7 last to vie for the coveted title of ‘Awaaz Punjab Di’ held at the Tagore Theatre under the aegis of Mh 1 TV Channel.

SPORTS

Cricket buffs worship Tendulkar: Mongia
Chandigarh, July 11
Back from his stint with the English country, Leicestershire, Dinesh Mongia sets aside the controversy about Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement by terming these all as premature and absurd.

Rajiv Rattan wins TT title Mohali, July 11 Left-handed Rajiv Rattan of Accountant General of Punjab prevailed over a spirited A K Kaushal 8-2 in a rain-marred men’s singles final of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation Open Tennis Tournament at the PHSC tennis courts, Phase VI, here today. Winners of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation Open Tennis Tournament after receiving their trophies at the PHSC tennis courts at Mohali on Monday.