C H A N D I G A R H

Valentine's Day and now Rose Festival! Roses are becoming a much-sought after commodity, by the exhibitors and lovers alike. The festival will be held at Chandigarh from February 25 to 27. — A Tribune photo

Pankaj, Sukhwinder to sing at fest

New rules on faulty electric meters
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — More than 20 per cent of electricity consumers who have dead or defective meters and have been receiving nominal power bills over the months and years may not be able to enjoy the "privilege" any more.

Popular Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu surrounded by fans at the inauguration of a music store in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

'No competition from pop singers' CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — It was only after a long wait that the crowds thronging the Sector 17 market to have a look at singing star Kumar Sanu got to have a sneak at Sanu, who appeared in a flashy leopard-skin coat over around-neck shirt and gold medallions hanging down his chest.

Proceedings against Jerath stayed...
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed proceedings conducted by the Sessions Judge, Mr B S Bedi, against Mr K K Jerath, former Chief Engineer of Chandigarh, in connection with FIR No 2, registered by the Chandigarh Vigilance Department in September 23, 1998, under Sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 471 and 120 (B) , IPC, apart fron Section 13 (1) on the Prevention of Corruption Act.

...Plea dismissed

COMMUNITY

‘India ahead in saving trees’
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — Trees are a standing capital and India has made a better progress than countries like Brazil and Malaysia in saving the natural wealth, said Prof Jeffery Burley, Director of the Oxford Forestry Institute, while talking to The Tribune here today.

Rotary conference opens today
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 —Mr Jack Forrest, a nominee of the Rotary International President, Mr Carlo Ravizza, says more than 1 billion children have been vaccinated under Rotary’s polio plus campaign.

Demand for probe into corruption charges
PANCHKULA, Feb 18 — The convener of the People’s Voice God’s Voice group, Mr B.L. Tandon, today threatened to proceed on a fast unto death, if a state-level commission to probe into the alleged corruption in issuing completion certificates to scores of defaulters from the Estate Office of the Haryana Urban Development Authority, in Sector 6, Panchkula, is not appointed.

Seminar on human rights
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — A seminar-cum-workshop for 'Training teachers in human rights education', the first of its kind, concluded at the Dev Samaj College of Education, here today.

Delegation calls on Jacob
CHANDIGARH,Feb 18 — A delegation of Ward No 19, led by the Congress councillor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, met the Chandigarh Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), on Wednesday and apprised him of the problems of the ward.

CRIME

Cop held from ladies' room
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — Constable Kuldeep Singh, currently posted in the Sector 26 police station, was nabbed by the hospital authorities from a ladies' room in the female surgical ward on the third floor of the hospital. Sources said some patients saw him entering the ladies' room and informed the staff.

Held for selling spurious tea
ZIRAKPUR, Feb 18 — The police has arrested a local shopkeeper for cheating customers by selling spurious tea under a well-known brand name. According to the police, Ramesh Kumar Mittal, owner of a general store, was arrested last night on the complaint of Mr Ajay Buccha.

BUSINESS

Visitors at the handicrafts exhibition at Lajpat Rai Bhavan in Chandigarh on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Notice on higher HRA CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — On a civil suit challenging the grant of house rent, besides conveyance and travelling allowances, to employees of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation and other respondents at a rate higher than permissible to government employees, the UT Civil Judge (Junior Division), Ms Jatinder Walia, today issued notice for July 21. Unhygienic conditions hit business PANCHKULA, Feb 18 — A choked sewer behind the shops in the Sector 10 market is posing a problem for the business community in the area.

Exhibition of handicrafts

SBI organises doctors’ meet
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — The personal banking branch of the State Bank of India organised a doctors’ Meet here today where more than 60 doctors participated.

Training programme concludes
SAS NAGAR, Feb 18 — A five-day special training programme for the General Managers of the District Industries Centre of the Punjab Industries Department, organised by the Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship Develop-ment, Chandigarh, ended here today.

EDUCATION

Facility to benefit students
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — Completion of work on and successful running of National High Performance Scientific Computing Facility at Panjab University (PU) promises better and latest educational facilities to a number of local schools and colleges, which can access one of the nation’s premier institutions in the field.

Seminar on environment protection..
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — The National Service Scheme, Department of Panjab University organised a seminar on Environment Protection in collaboration with Government Home Science College, here today. A number of social workers, community leaders, opinion leaders, NSS volunteers and teachers participated in the seminar.

...and challenges for Hindi
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — "With the advent of the computer era in the new millennium, Hindi will have to adopt scientific vocabulary for the expression of research in industry and science," said Mr Vijay Sehgal, Editor of Dainik Tribune, at IMTECH Auditorium, Sector 39, as part of the celebrations to mark the golden jubilee year of Hindi as official language.

COURTS

Women gets bail in cheating case
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — The UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, today granted bail to a woman, accused of taking money from a city resident for getting his son a job in the Punjab School Education Board.

Theft accused granted bail
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — A Sector 45 resident, accused of being involved in the theft of a printer and scrolls, was today granted bail by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash.

HEALTH

Cadaveric donor transplantation stressed
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — Close to 1 lakh persons suffer from the problem of kidney failure per year in our country. Of these, only 5-10 per cent receive treatment. Fewer still, in the range of 4,000 to 5,000 persons, are able to get the benefit of kidney transplant.

Latest machines installed
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — To provide facilities for early diagnosis and good management of patients with cancer, jaundice, AIDS and for monitoring drug doses of epilepsy drugs, cardiac drugs and drugs of abuse and for hormone assays for disorders like thyroid disease, infertility and recurrent abortions, Medicos Centre in Sector 22 has installed two new world class equipment — Axsym for Immunoassay's and Dimension AR for Biochemistry analysis.

ADMINISTRATION

DM order on firearms, shops
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — Carrying of firearms in public, even by licence holders, has been banned following an order issued by Mr M. Ramsekhar, District Magistrate. Any breach of it can be punishable under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

Draw of lots for flats on Feb 24
SAS NAGAR, Feb 18 — A draw of lots for 696 LIG flats built by PUDA in Sector 66 here will be held on February 24.

AMO denied promotion
CHANDIGARH, Feb 18 — Dr Kuldip Singh, AMO, Government Ayurvedic Dispensary, Kumbhra (Ropar), has been denied promotion as District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer — a post lying vacant since October 1, 1993, and is to be filled from amongst the Scheduled Caste candidates.

• Survey for census