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First 24X7 food street on cards
Chandigarh, August 16
The municipal corporation has decided to start the first round-the-clock food street in the city. It will function from the Plaza extension in Sector 17.

A file photo of a night food street.

Woman gets 44 stitches as dead tree falls on her
Chandigarh, August 16
A 45-year-old woman received serious injuries after a dead tree fell on her head yesterday. The victim, Amarjeet Kaur (45), a resident of Sector 22-D, received 16 stitches on her right hand and 28 stitches on her head.

No major project for city
Chandigarh, August 16
Once again, UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil did not announce any major project for the city in his Independence Day speech. In his 35-minute speech in Hindi, Patil mainly spoke about solar energy, the Metro project and the draft master plan of Chandigarh. He also raised the issue regarding the parking problem in the city in his 15-page speech.

Nothing much in Mayor's speech too
Chandigarh, August 16
City Mayor Subhash Chawla spoke about ongoing and pending projects in his Independence Day speech. He did not announce any major project for city residents. Chawla said to solve the problem of low water pressure, six water boosting stations with dedicated tubewells had been constructed and made operational in Sectors 29-C, 31-D, 39-B, 46-C, 47-A and 48-A, Chandigarh, at a cost of Rs 3.25 crore. Construction work on some of these stations was initiated during former Mayor Raj Bala Malik's tenure.

A close friend has gone; I owe him a lot: Kapil
Chandigarh, August 16
"One day, I was late by 20 minutes for a cricket practice session and legendary coach DP Azad did not allow me to play for the next three days. That was his dedication for cricket,” said cricket legend Kapil Dev while recalling his long association with Azad.

Family members mourn the death of legendary cricket coach DP Azad at his residence in Sector 43, Chandigarh, on Friday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

‘Azad brought revolution’
A big loss for the cricketing world, says Azad’s friend

COMMUNITY

Blood camps, functions mark I-Day celebrations at city offices
Chandigarh, August 16
Quadrant Televentures Ltd, the company behind "Connect Broadband" and "Videocon Mobile Services" in Punjab, has been organising voluntary blood donation camps since 2010 at their Head Office in Mohali to mark Independence Day yesterday.. These camps are held in collaboration with the PGI Blood Bank Society. Plant more trees: MP: Pawan Kumar Bansal, local MP, has appealed to the city residents to plant more trees for a brighter future. 

Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil meets former Governor BKN Chibber during ‘At Home’ at his residence in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Schoolchildren present an item during the Independence Day function at the Parade Ground in Sector 5, Panchkula, on Thursday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Patriotic flavour at tricity schools
Chandigarh/Panchkula/Mohali, August 16
Independence Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour in Tribune Model School. Princial Vandana Saxena hoisted the National Flag followed by the National Anthem, which was attended by the students, staff and parents of the schoolchildren. The cultural programme began with a prayer sung by the students followed by a song by the students of Class IX and X. The school choir, including students of classes VI, VII and VIII, sung patriotic songs.

Songs, dance mark college celebrations
Chandigarh, August 16
Independence Day was celebrated at Panjab University with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour. PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover unfurled the National Flag at the Parade Ground of the university. Patriotic songs and dance performances were part of the celebrations at the university. Students of the Music Department, PU, Ankur School, PU, and Guru Gobind Singh Vidya Mandir School, Ratwara Sahib, presented a cultural programme.

At Mohali, function stopped midway
Mohali, August 16
Heavy downpour played spoilsport during Independence Day function, which had to be suspended midway following the Chief guest, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal left it just within half-an-hour after reaching the venue.

Participants run for shelter as rain starts at the venue of the Independence Day function in Mohali on Thursday. Tribune photos: vicky gharu

Dog plays spoilsport at Panchkula function
Panchkula, August 16
The Panchkula Administration was in a shock for a while when an unwanted guest turned up at near the dais during the Independence Day celebrations at the Parade Ground, Sector 5, yesterday. Causing embarrassment to the officials, a stray dog appeared all of a sudden, first when the chief guest was on with his speech and then before the beginning of the parade.

Panchkula police on its toes
Panchkula, August 16
Panic gripped Panchkula when the residents claimed that they had spotted members of the "Kala Kacha" gang. The police control room is flooded with phone calls daily, keeping the police on its toes. Though the Panchkula police claims that the gang has not struck anywhere till now, it is helping in organising "theekri pehras’ in the area.

PGI to introduce lung, pancreas, intestine transplant
Chandigarh, August 16
On the occasion of Independence Day, Prof YK Chawla, Director, PGIMER, announced that the PGI had successfully conducted a heart transplant, thus achieving a milestone in the history of the Institute. "The institute is making efforts to introduce lungs, pancreas and intestine transplant under the Multi Organ Transplantation Programme," he said.

Power snag hits Elante, shoppers suffer
Chandigarh, August 16
Shoppers at the city’s largest mall, Elante, had a tough time on Friday as a power snag hit the mall leading to blackouts in some parts of it. While in absence of power supply some of the stores remained completely closed for a major part of the day , there were frequent blackouts (every 10 minutes) at other stores, leaving shoppers as well as staff harassed.

A view of Elante mall in the Industrial Area, Chandigarh, on Friday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Despite all odds, he wants to be a breadwinner for his family
Chandigarh, August 16
Even as he yearned to live, study and go ahead in the life like others of his age, he could not get a glimpse of school education till he turned 18. But, his inability to walk could not prove to be a deterrent for him. As 25-year-old Ganesh Sharma managed to reach the UT Administration and he was identified as a special case and received tutorials at home. Finding him bright enough, the teachers promoted him to Class X in 2011 and he managed to complete his Class XII this year with 71 per cent marks from the Open School Board.

Ganesh Sharma in a jubilant mood at his residence in Sector 44, Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Sub-inspector sent to Police Lines
Chandigarh, August 16
Acting on the complaint of a BJP councillor who had complained against a Sub-Inspector (SI) for illegal detention of a Sector 30 resident, the Inspector General of Police (IG) transferred the SI to the Police Lines and marked an inquiry to SSP (operations) RS Ghuman.

Narrow escape: A tree that fell on two cars in Sector 43, Chandigarh, on Friday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Candidates of the Rana group release the manifesto for the PUTA elections at Panjab University on Friday. Tribune Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Rain of misery: A government school ground turns into a pool of mud after heavy rain during the Independence Day celebrations in Dera Bassi on Thursday. Tribune Photo: Nitin Mittal

Railway staff strive for better amenities at stations
Chandigarh, August 16
Priority of Ambala Division is to provide the best amenities to train passengers, for which the authorities are taking a number steps, said Ambala Divisional Railway Manager AK Kathpal at the 67th Independence Day function held at Divisional Railway Manager Office, Ambala Cantt. He hoisted the National Flag and inspected the parade presented by the personnel of the Railway Protection Force. He highlighted the introduction of new trains and improvements made in amenities at railway stations. He motivated the railway staff to strive to provide better services to passengers. Kathpal also hoisted the National Flag at the district scout training centre, Railway Colony, Ambala. — TNS

Traders' agitation gets boost
Chandigarh, August 16
The agitation of the city industrialists is likely to gain momentum as three major associations of the city, the Chamber of Chandigarh Industries, the Chandigarh Roller Flour Mills Association and the Chandigarh Furniture Association, have extended their support to the joint action committee for the safeguard of the Chandigarh citizens on three-point agenda. Their key demands include the rollback of increase in collector rates, amendment to the building bylaws and the withdrawal of Rs 500 per sqft penalty and transfer of lease hold rights to free hold. The Joint Action Committee for the "Safeguard of Chandigarh Citizens" includes the Chandigarh Industrial Association, Chandigarh Industrial Converted Plot Owners Association, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal. — TNS

Work on Mullanpur road gathers pace
Chandigarh, August 16
As the Punjab Government has announced to develop Mullanpur as New Chandigarh, the Chandigarh Administration has expedited the work of widening 2.5 km-long-stretch of road from the PGI to the UT-Mullanpur border. Costing around Rs 10 crore, the six-lane road project involves construction of a bridge and slow carriageways. “ Improving connectivity by widening the road would help Punjab in projecting its dream city in a better way," admitted a UT official. In the inter-state coordination committee meetings, Punjab has been taking up the issue with the UT Administration for long. Though initiated in 2001, the project had been facing many hurdles. — TNS

Heritage festival kicks off at Tagore Theatre
Chandigarh, August 16
A dance show on four women of the Ramayana conceptualised by Odissi dancer Ranjana Gauhar opened the Chandigarh Art and Heritage Festival here at the Tagore Theatre. The performance was the ensemble of four fine dancers. Odissi dancer Ranjana Gauhar enacted Sita through her dance form. Kathak dancer Uma Dogra played Kaikeyi, while Gopika Verma, a Mohiniyattam dancer, played Surpanakha. The show ended with the fine performance of Kuchipudi dancer Deepika Reddy, who played Mandodari. Theatre play “Jug Jug Jio” will be staged tomorrow. Earlier in the day, two street plays “Padhai” by Chakresh Kumar and “Dhoond Ke Lao Zindgi” by P. Chandrasekhar were staged at Sukhna Lake and Sector 17, respectively. — TNS

An artiste performs during the inauguration of the Chandigarh Arts & Heritage Festival at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, Chandigarh, on Friday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

A day of introspection, says Mayor Chawla
Chandigarh, August 16
The Municipal Corporation organised a colourful function to commemorate Independence Day at Fire Station, Sector 17. City Mayor Subhash Chawla was the chief guest of the function. While addressing a massive gathering on the occasion after unfurling the National Flag, the Mayor said this was a day of introspection for all of us to see if we had fulfilled the dreams of our great freedom fighters. The MC Commissioner, Vivek Pratap Singh, Senior Deputy Mayor Rana Kashmiri Devi, Additional Commissioner Sunil Bhatia, Additional Commissioner Rajiv Gupta and other councillors were present during the event. — TNS

BJP protests against spiralling onion prices
Chandigarh, August 16
Local unit of the BJP held a demonstration at the Sector 46 Mandi Ground against the failure of the Congress led UPA Government in controlling the onion prices. Under the banner of the BJP Mahila Morcha, senior leaders of the BJP including BJP’s general secretary Aarti Mehra, Chandigarh BJP president Sanjay Tandon held a protest today. The BJP leaders slammed the Congress for the rise in onion prices, which is selling at Rs 70-80 per kg in retail market. The BJP leaders said the party would launch a large scale protest if the prices did not come down soon. — TNS

BJP workers protest against the rise in onion prices in Sector 46, Chandigarh, on Friday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

UT DIG relieved
Chandigarh, August 16
The UT DIG, Alok Kumar, a 1996-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, has been relieved of the Chandigarh police. Kumar had joined the Chandigarh police as UT SSP (Headquarters and Intelligence) in May 2010. On July 2, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) transferred Kumar to Arunachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, SP Arun Kampani has been given the charge of the SP, headquarters, and financial powers. — TNS

EDUCATION

12th Five-Year Plan
Need to improve quality of students joining higher education: Secy
Chandigarh, August 16
“The quality of youths entering into the higher education is not worth, for which focus on raising the standard of students is one of the prime concerns in the 12th Five-Year Plan,” said Ashok Thakur, Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), while addressing the faculty and students at Panjab University on the topic “Issues in Higher Education and Reform Agenda”.

Ashok Thakur, Secretary, Higher Education, MHRD, addressed students and faculty of Punjab University at the Law Auditorium on Friday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

PU notes
Counselling schedules
Panjab University has said that the University Institute of Hotel Management and Tourism (UIHMT), PU, will conduct the last and final counselling on August 19 at 10 AM in UIHMT (Near ICSSR Centre), PU, for filling vacant seats in the general categories. All eligible candidates have been informed to remain present on the counselling date and time along with the required document and fee as announced in the prospectus.

Student poll
Police tightens security on PU campus
Chandigarh, August 16
Though the final date for PU elections is yet to be announced, the Chandigarh police has set up its base on the university campus, with cops deployed at various parts of the university. The police has also erected tents for the staff at various locations.

Chandigarh police officials take a round of the Student Centre at Panjab University on Friday. Tribune Photo: Pradeep Tewari

Imposition of fine
PUSU members protest outside Vice-Chancellor’s office
Chandigarh, August 16
Members of the Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) today staged a protest outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office against the imposition of fine on students for late admission to the BDS Department due to the delay in the declaration of results. Briefing about the issue, PUSU campus president Jagdeep Singh Mann said the students who had compartment applied for compartment as well as reevaluation.

PUSU activists stage a protest outside the VC’s office on Friday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Thapar varsity initiates mentorship programme
Patiala, August 16
In a unique initiative to bridge the gap between seniors and freshers and to curb the menace of ragging, Thapar University, Patiala, has initiated a unique mentorship programme, where second-year students will act as mentors to new students to familiarise them with the new surroundings and to provide academic and other assistance to help them settle down.

Khalsa College students visit Patiala varsity
Patiala, August 16
The Department of BSc Agriculture at Khalsa College, Patiala, organised a visit of first-year students to the Indian Meteorological Department at Punjabi University, Patiala. The observatory installed at the university is catering to the needs of weather forecasting for the northern region of India. The observatory director explained the working of various instruments installed in the observatory to the students in detail like the use of rain gauge, air temperature, soil temperature thermometers, sunshine recorder, wind vane, etc.

Independence DAY
Shun social evils: Minister
Patiala, August 16
Punjab Revenue and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia exhorted the youth to make concerted efforts to banish the social evils like drug addiction, female feticide, dowry, corruption, poverty, illiteracy, and hunger from the society to take the country to the pinnacles of development thereby realising the dreams of our great freedom fighters.

Sirhind choe project to be completed on time
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 16
The remaining work for the first phase of the beautification project of the Sirhind choe worth Rs 2.10 crore will be completed on time, said Sohan Singh Thandal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Irrigation, while reviewing the progress of the work at the project site.

Residents without water, power on I-Day
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 16
Though the entire nation was celebrating and watching the Independence Day celebrations on TV, the residents of district headquarter town Sirhind were without power and water.

Tributes paid to martyrs
Ropar, August 16
Punjab Finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa unfurled the National Flag during a district level function to mark the 67th Independence Day celebrations held at the Nehru Stadium. He inspected the parade and took salute from the impressive march past by the contingents of the Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards, NCC Cadets, girl guides, and ex-servicemen.

Cash, jewellery stolen from house
Kalka, August 16
In a theft incident miscreants decamped with cash and jewellery from the house of Raghubir Singh, a resident of Manakpur Khuwala village of Pinjore block. The incident took place at around 2.45 pm, when the family members were not present in the house. The thieves barged into the house by breaking open the locks of the doors. In a complaint filed with police, it was alleged that the thieves decamped with cash Rs 35,000 and gold jewellery worth Rs 4.50 lakh. A case has been registered. A team of forensic experts also visited the spot. — OC

Tricolour unfurled
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 16
Despite heavy rain, 67th Independence Day was celebrated with great vigour at the grounds of Mata Gujri College Stadium. Sohan Singh Thandal Chief Parliamentry Secretary unfurled the National flag. In his address he recounted the sacrifices made by freedom fighters to get the independence. He handed over sewing machines to widows and tri-cycles to handicapped. — OC

COURTS

Forum directs Dynamic Motors to pay Rs 2 lakh as compensation
Chandigarh, August 16
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has penalised Dynamic Motors for selling a two-year-old model of a car to a person. The company has been directed to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the complainant for keeping the complainant in the dark.

Deshraj files plea before special CBI court
Chandigarh, August 16
Former UT Superintendent of Police (City) Deshraj Singh, who is facing corruption charges, filed an application before special CBI court judge Vimal Kumar for providing him some documents pertaining to the chargesheet filed against him. Deshraj pleaded that some of the documents provided to him earlier were not legible.

CRIME

2 held with weapon, fake ID card
Chandigarh, August 16
Ahead of the Panjab University student elections, the Chandigarh police arrested two youths on the eve of Independence Day near Sector 23 with illegal weapon and fake identity card of the university. While the police arrested Lovekesh, a resident of Sector 71, Mohali, and Harpreet Singh of Fathegarh Sahib, third accomplice, Baljeet Chaudhary, managed to escape from the spot. A car was also seized by the police.

Gang of robbers busted, 3 held
Mohali, August 16
The Mohali police claimed to have busted a gang of robbers by arresting three persons from the Sahora Bus Stand yesterday night. The accused have been identified as Gurwinder Singh (22), a resident of Burjwal village, Jagtar Singh (24) of Mianpur and Gurmeet Singh (26).

SPORTS

Eyes on the ball: Players in action during a football tournament at Sector 26 in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photo: manoj mahajan

Punjab Public Relations Minister Bikramjit Majithia honours Parul Gupta, who participated in the Summer Deaf Olympics-2013 during the Independence Day function at the YPS stadium in Patiala on Thursday. tribune photo: rajesh sachar

HPCA Millennium storm into cricket semifinal
Chandigarh, August 16
HPCA Millennium entered the semifinals of 4th Under 14 Vivek Trophy Cricket Tournament by defeating Millennium School Cricket Academy by eight wickets. The tournament was being organised by the Vivek High Asian Cricket Academy, played at Vivek High School, Sector 38, Chandigarh. Millennium School Cricket Academy won the toss and elected to batting first. The team played well and piled up 117 runs for the loss of 3 wickets.

Soccer academy comes up in city, Mohali
Chandigarh, August 16
Soccer Connections, a premier children’s football academy of Mumbai, launched its soccer-training programme in Mohali at Doon International School in Mohali, Sector 69, with a new South American coach, Tomas Osorio Lopez, of Colombia.

Ishan clinches TT title
Chandigarh, August 16
Ishan Kapoor of DAV Public School, Sector 8, defeated Vansh Mahajan of DAV, Sector 8, to clinch Under-12 cadets table tennis title in boys category during the Chandigarh Table Tennis State Ranking Tournament.