C H A N D I G A R H

Plan to set up Chandigarh Botanical Garden
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The process for setting up Chandigarh Botanical Garden has been set in motion. The Chandigarh Administration will shortly issue notices to acquire land in Sarangpur, Dhanas and Khuda Lahora villages.

A thick fog forces motorists to switch on the headlights of their vehicles in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Chandigarh records coldest day CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — As a thick blanket of fog engulfed the city and its surrounding areas, the city recorded the coldest day of the ongoing winter season, forcing people indoors.

Decision on PGI Director on Wednesday
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The new Director for the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research is expected to be finalised in New Delhi on Wednesday from amongst 10 candidates whose nominations have been received.

COMMUNITY

Blind youths threaten fast
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Three blind youths, in their early twenties, have threatened to go on fast unto death before the Punjab Governor’s house from January 17. No hope of employment has forced the trio, products of Sector 26 Blind Institute, to think about this step.

Encroachers are back
SAS NAGAR, Jan 3 — Hardly a few months after a drive to implement various guidelines of the Punjab and Haryana High Court orders regarding the implementation of the traffic rules and removal of encroachments was launched, the encroachments are back.

CRIME

Breath analysers on the way
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — In an effort to check drunken driving in the city, the police will procure two portable breath alcohol analysers soon. A proposal in this context has been finalised. Each analyser costs about Rs 1 lakh.

One dies in mishap
PANCHKULA, Jan 3 — Surinder from Bihar died after a speeding truck knocked him down near a brick kiln at Raipur Rani.

Two purse snatchers held
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Two persons have been arrested for snatching purses in various parts of the city.

BUSINESS

Good response to SBI gold scheme
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The SBI Gold Deposit Scheme has evoked a good response in the city and the surrounding areas.

Biggest ceiling fan in the world?
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — What would cool almost two acres of lush green lawns in the hot summers? A gigantic ceiling fan, which has been fabricated by Kansal resident Satwant Singh Gill.

3-day strike by oil dealers
KHARAR, Jan 3 — Petroleum dealers of Ropar district observed a strike from January 1 to 3 in support of the demand to soften the terms and conditions of the tender for transport of petroleum products.

Millennium Grasim Mr India Contest
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — “Mirror-Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of all?”. This seemed to be the question that 47 young males, in the age group of 22 years to 25 years, appeared to be asking at the regional round phase of the Millennium Grasim Mr India Contest, being held for the first time in the city today at Hotel Mountview , Sector 10.

EDUCATION

Romani scholar turns 84
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The founder-director of the Indian Institute of Romani Studies at Shivalik Public School Complex, Sector 41, and the author of many books and dictionaries, Dr Weer Rajendra Rishi celebrates the 84th year of his life tomorrow.

Principals threaten dharna on Jan 12
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Association of the Principals of Non-Government Colleges has threatened to organise a dharna on January 12 on the issue of reported move to withdraw 95 per cent grant-in-aid to the private colleges.

Yoga classes in school
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — St Peters High School in Sector 37 here has introduced hamsa yoga, meditative and physical exercises for the school children.

COURTS

Court holidays announced
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — In a notification, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stated that all subordinate courts here will observe second Saturdays falling on May 13, June 10, September 9 and November 11 as holidays.

Jailed for creating nuisance
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — For creating nuisance under the influence of liquor, the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr A.K. Bishnoi, has sentenced two Colony Number 5 dwellers to simple imprisonment for a period already undergone after convicting them.

Company directors get bail
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr A.K. Bishnoi, has granted bail to two directors of Money Kunj Forests in a cheque dishonour case. The two —Suman Sobti and Madhurima Malhotra — were admitted to bail "on their furnishing bail bonds of Rs 15,000 with a surety of the like amount."

Arrest warrants against four
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Issuing arrest warrants against a Punjab police Head Constable, Nikka Ram, and three other accused in the Kulwinder Singh Kid murder case, the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate Mr Sant Parkash, today also directed the verification of reports of the death of the accused, Charan Singh, by the Station House Officer concerned.

Forum order to HUDA on plot allotment
PANCHKULA, Jan 3 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered the Haryana Urban Development Authority to hand over the plot allotted to Mrs Bhupinder Kaur, a resident of Chandigarh, after due development within three months or allot an alternative plot in a developed sector, refund Rs 35,504 charged over and above the price of the plot, pay Rs 1,00,000 as compensation and Rs 1,000 as costs of proceedings.

MCC allowed to file reply
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh was today permitted by a city court to file reply to an application seeking details regarding the utilisation of the budget received for fodder “subject to the payment of Rs 100 as costs”.

CULTURE

A strong sense of deja vu CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — It sure is an encouragement to see more and more young artists emerging on the Indian art scene who are producing not only experimental work but are also indulging, quite aggressively, to format a language of their own. Workshop on art conservation opens CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — A five-day workshop on preventive conservation of works of art was inaugurated at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, here today. No tax on film — Shaheed Udham Singh

Arresting work by Preeti Sahota on display in her exhibition titled ‘Reflections Recollected’ at the Indus Ind Bank Art Gallery, Sector 8, on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

HEALTH

New PGI OPD by month-end
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — More than 5,000 patients who visit the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research daily to attend OPDs will heave a sigh of relief when the new OPD block will become functional by the end of this month.

SPORT

PU coach for nationals camp
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Surinder Mahajan, a Sports Authority of India coach posted at Panjab University, will be one of the two coaches approved by the Badminton Association of India for national coaching camp at Jalandhar from January 3 to 24.

ADMINISTRATION

Only a handful of people at khulla darbar
PANCHKULA, Jan 3 — Transfers and cases of ex-gratia payments due to families of police personnel were put up for consideration of the Director-General of Police, Mr SPS Rathore, at the ‘khulla darbar’ organised at the Police Headquarters, Sector 6, here today.

Bhavan room tariff revised
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Chandigarh Administration has revised upwards the tariff of rooms at Panchayat Bhavan in Sector 18 here.

Subdivision authorities oppose diversion
DERA BASSI, Jan 3 — The local subdivisional authorities have represented to the National Highway authorities not to divert the traffic from Dera Bassi to Chandigarh via Mubarikpur, before starting the construction of the overbridge at Bhankharpur Railway Crossing, since the road is not fit to bear the load of heavy traffic.

Urvashi joins forum
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Chandigarh Administration has appointed Ms Urvashi Agnihotri, a member of the District Consumer Forum-II, according to an announcement here today. Her appointment is for five years or till she attains the age of 65 years or whichever is earlier.

Research Officer given send-off
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Mr K.K. Agnihotri, Research Officer of the Economic and Statistical Organisation, Punjab, who retired on December 31, was given a warm send-off today

AMC celebrates anniversary
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Army Medical Corps celebrated its 236th anniversary at Chandi Mandir near here today.

Campaign to clear corridors
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The enforcement staff of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has began a campaign to clear corridors of encroachments in the city.