C H A N D I G A R H

A smouldering tree trunk in the forest of the Western Command area at Chandi Mandir, after a fire destroyed many trees on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

IA may develop city as nodal centre CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Indian Airlines may develop Chandigarh as a Nodal Communication Centre for its operations in the entire North India. Against the present set up of all terminals in North India the airline now proposes to connect all these stations with Chandigarh. Mangal is indebted to his voice CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Ye meri kismat ki khata hogi ya waqt ki siyasat, ki apne hunar ke sadke badnam ho chuka hoon mein... That’s all about him.

Colonel being tried for assault
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — In an unusual disciplinary case, an Army Colonel is being tried by a general court martial for allegedly assaulting a superior officer and pointing a weapon at him.

Strange weather patterns bring severe summer early to Chandigarh
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Changing weather patterns have resulted in a sudden and severe onset of summer in the city and the surrounding areas in the past couple of years. The gradual transition period from spring to summer has been reduced drastically as temperatures start rising sharply from the last week of March onwards.

Has a long-term solution been finally found to the water problem of the city?
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — The ambitious water supply augmentation scheme of bringing water from Ganguwal to the city by gravity, proposed by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh to mitigate the shortage of water, is feasible, the interim report of Punjab Engineering College has said.

COMMUNITY

No amenities, only problems for residents
ZIRAKPUR, May 3 — The residents of Akali Kaur Singh Colony are leading a miserable life in the absence of roads, streets, streetlights and various other civic amenities since the formation of the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat.

Tribune employee bereaved
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Tejwanti, mother of B.K. Sharma, a composing supervisor with The Tribune, died here today. She was 86.

Stress on non-conventional energy sources
CHANDIGARH, May 3 —A range of solar equipment for popularising solar energy was displayed at an exhibition in Panjab University here today.

Holiday time at Estate Office
SAS NAGAR, May 3 — It is virtually a holiday time at the local estate office of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority. Ever since the Estate Officer, Mr G.S. Ghuman, went abroad on a two-week holiday, the dealing of files has almost come to a standstill, causing harassment to the public.

CNN’s South Asia channel from July 1
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — In a significant move, CNN, a global news network, announced the launching of its South Asia channel from July 1 this year

Hawkers to join scribes' protest
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — The Chandigarh Coordination Committee of the Newspapers and New Agencies Employees Unions' protest action tomorrow got a shot in the arm with the Samachar Patra Vikreta Union (hawkers' union) deciding to join the protest against delay in the implementation of the Manisana Wage Board.

PSEB employees block traffic
ZIRAKPUR, May 3 — A number of employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board here today blocked traffic on the Chandigarh-Ambala National highway for more than 20 minutes in protest against the suspension of their colleagues by the Chairman of the Board.

Fire destroys forest in Command area
PANCHKULA, May 3 — A major fire which lasted for over six hours, destroyed many trees in the Western Command area here today.

CRIME

Road mishap victim dies
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — A city resident was killed in a road accident in Sector 26 here this afternoon.

Woman alleges rape attempt by cop
KHARAR, May 3 — An attempt was allegedly made by a Sub Inspector of the Punjab police to rape a married woman of SAS Nagar. The victim recorded her statement in the court of Mr Sanjay Agnihotri, Judicial Magistrate of Kharar , and a case was registered under Section 164 of the Cr PC today.

Ten booked for rioting, assault
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — The police has registered a case of rioting, criminal trespass and assault against Palsora Colony President Suresh Rahi and nine others.

BUSINESS

PSIEC in the dock for non-payment
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Taking up a complaint filed here by a Ludhiana resident against the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held PSIEC deficient in services to the extent that it had not refunded the due amount to the complainant in the given time despite the complainant surrendering the plot to the corporation.

Sales tax on 5 items revised
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — The Chandigarh Administration has revised sales tax on five items. These items have been brought in the slab of 12 per cent sales tax.

EDUCATION

Club adopts 21 kids
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — The State Bank of India ( Ladies Club) adopted 21 children of Government High School, Sector 24, at a function here today .

COURTS

Bar association team takes oath
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Claiming the state was guilty of not complying with Court orders, recently elected president of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, Mr Gopal Krishan Chatrath a former Advocate-General of Punjab, yesterday stated that the pendency of cases was increasing due to its inaction.

Police remand for one
KHARAR, May 3 — Mr Sanjay Agnihotri, Judicial Magistrate of Kharar, today, remanded Rakesh of SAS Nagar to the police custody till May 5. The person had been arrested by the SAS Nagar police on the charge of forcing her wife to commit suicide.

HEALTH

300 examined at asthma workshop
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Keeping in view the rising cases of asthma in the city, doctors on the occasion of World Asthma Day today emphasised that the patients need to have a better knowledge of the disease and the process of management.

Sahayta Vatsalya Sahyog
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Sahayta Cancer Sahyog yesterday set up Sahayta Vatsalya Sahyog — a parent group of children receiving treatment for cancer in the Advanced Paediatric Centre of the PGI. Members including parents of fifteen children, Sahayta volunteers and doctors of PGI attended the first meeting held today.

SPORT

Trials for sub-junior softball team
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — The Chandigarh Amateur Softball Association will hold trials to select the Chandigarh sub-junior boys' and girls' teams at the Sector 10 DAV College on May 5 at 4.30 pm.

St Stephen's carrom from May 18
CHANDIGARH, May 3 — The third St Stephen's Carrom Ranking Tournament will be conducted by the Sector 45 school on its premises from May 18 to 20. The tournament will be organised under the aegis of the Chandigarh Carrom Association.

ADMINISTRATION

Congress announces candidates for civic poll
SAS NAGAR, May 3 — The Congress has announced to field its candidates for the forthcoming local Municipal Council elections.

MC to identify fire-prone areas
SAS NAGAR, May 3 — Following the incident of fire which gutted over 100 jhuggis in Budmajra village yesterday, the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Mr Jaipal Singh, has directed the staff of the local municipal council to identify the fire-prone areas in the town.