C H A N D I G A R H

PUDA functioning causing inconvenience to shopkeepers
SAS NAGAR, March 4 — Strange are the ways of functioning of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA). What should have been developed as a parking slot in front of showroom-cum-flats (SCFs) was being developed as a green belt.

Traditional enthusiasm marks Shivratri
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — Traditional enthusiasm and religious fervour marked the Shivratri celebrations in the the city today. Fasts, dips in holy tanks and rivers, bhajans and kirtans were all part of the rituals carried out by the devout.

Constable held for trespass
Chandigarh, March 4 — A constable of the local police has been arrested for trespass and allegedly attempting to outrage the modesty of a woman in Sector 29 late last night.

An excellent habitat for birds
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — Nearly silted Sukhna Lake has become an excellent habitat for birds as it has more than 6,000 winged creatures belonging to 30-odd species, says Dr H.S. Mehta, Deputy Director, Zoological Survey of India.

Expenditure on police continues to rise
Rise in the crime graph and rise in the expenditure on police go side by side in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

COMMUNITY

Award for Prof Harkishan
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — Recipient of over half- a-dozen national and international awards, Prof Harkishan Singh has been bestowed the coveted Eminent Pharmacist award by the Indian Pharmaceutical Association for the year 1999.

‘Probe robbery’
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — Mr Satya Pal Jain, a former BJP MP of Chandigarh, today demanded a high-level probe into the shooting and robbing of Inderjit Singla at Dera Bassi yesterday.

Devotees throng Shiva temples
PANCHKULA, March 4 — Over 3 lakh devotees today visited the ancient Shiva temple at Saketri on Shivratri. Devotees started to pour in at the temple from the wee hours of the morning.

Women’s wing flays government
SAS NAGAR, March 4 — The women’s wing of the National Handicapped Welfare Council has deplored the Punjab Government for not doing the required work for the uplift of the disabled and old women in the rural area of the state.

Sales tax hike on petrol flayed
PANCHKULA, March 4 — The Citizens Welfare Association, Panchkula, has lamented the decision of the Excise and Taxation Department, Haryana, for increasing the sales tax on petrol. The president of the association, Mr SK Nayar, said the decision was shocking for the people.

“Include Aggrasen in curriculum”
PANCHKULA, March 4 — The All-India Aggarwal Sammelan, has urged the state government to include the teachings and life history of Maharaja Aggrasen as part of the course curriculum in various schools. The demand was initiated at a national meeting of the forum held yesterday at the Aggarwal Bhawan in Sector 16.

CRIME

2 held for gambling
CHANDIGARH, March 4 —The police has arrested Anil and Sehdev from near the Sector 22 health centre on the charge of gambling. A case under 14\3\67 of the Gambling Act has been registered.

BUSINESS

‘Accept the Budget as it is’
CHANDIGARH, Mar 4 — “Let us accept the Budget as what it is,” advised Mr P.C. Jain, a chartered accountant while discussing the finer points of the Union Budget at a seminar organised by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India here this evening.

Ministry working on IT policy
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — The Ministry of Human Resource Development is working towards creating an IT policy which will provide guiding principles to state boards, private boards and schools for the effective implementation of information technology in schools.

EDUCATION

CAT restrains DPI
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — The Central Administrative Tribunal has restrained the Director, Public Instructions and other respondents from “making any selection to the posts of teacher” in place of Mrs Shalini and two other applicants “on the basis of requisition alleged to have been sent to employment exchange, if that be for appointment on adhoc or temporary basis”.

COURTS

Driver gets RI
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — A van driver, accused of injuring two scooter-borne city residents, has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for one year, besides being fined Rs 500, by UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate H.S. Madaan.

Fresh notice for defendants
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — On a civil suit for directions against the alleged defacing of district court walls during the forthcoming District Bar Association elections, the UT Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mr K.K. Goel, has ordered fresh service of notice along with the reservice of the remaining defendants, for March 7.

4 sentenced for causing injury
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — Four city residents, accused of causing grievous hurt to the complainant, have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for one year, besides being fined Rs 500 each by UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate H.S. Madaan.

HEALTH

Treating patients suffering from maxillofacial trauma
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — With the ever-increasing vehicular traffic in India and changing attitudes of people leading to violence and the existing risk of accidents at home and outside, maxillofacial trauma is emerging as one of the major thrust areas for dentists, needing comprehensive management.

Rs 135 crore for PGI in 2000-2001
THE Central Government has provided a sum of Rs 135 crore for the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, for the next year (2000-2001).

AIDS workshop concludes
PANCHKULA, March 4 — “Empowerment through training is to be percolated to the grass-roots level to equip health workers with significant inputs on preventive care and precautions against HIV/AIDS”, said Dr P.L. Jindal, Project Director of the Haryana AIDS Control Society.

Guidelines on HIV tests cause concern
PANCHKULA, March 4 —The recently concluded state-level workshop for specialist doctors, on prevention of HIV/ AIDS held at the State Institute of Family Health and Welfare, Sector 6, has ignited a debate, challenging the rationality of certain guidelines of the National AIDS Control Organisations (NACO) in regard to HIV tests.

SPORT

Lions Club crush Himachal Club
CHANDIGARH, Mar 4 — Lions Club, Ambala, beat Himachal Club by seven goals to nil today in the qualifying rounds of the National Football League (second division) being played here at the Sector 17 Football Stadium. Tomorrow, the final league match will be played between Himachal Club and Youngsters Club, Chandigarh. One team out of the three participating teams will qualify for the NFL.

Pruthi is CCA President
CHANDIGARH, March 4 — Mr P.S Pruthi, IRS and Additional Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs in Chandigarh, was unanimously elected the President of the Chandigarh Cricket Association (affiliated to the Punjab Cricket Association) in a meeting of the executive committee held yesterday. His name was proposed by the outgoing President, Mr S.K. Kakkar.

Village sport to get finances ZIRAKPUR, March 4 — The Punjab Government will give financial help to construct stadiums and purchase sport goods to boost village-level games.

Pin him down: Two players look on their teammates bring down an opponent during a match at the International Kabaddi Tournament at Zirakpur on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan