C H A N D I G A R H

Open drains, silt on roads may prove to be virtual death-traps CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Silty roads, choked or uncovered storm water gullies and unkempt kerb channels-turned-open drains are all in plenty as the south-west monsoon is set to break over the city any moment now.

Open drains threaten to become death-traps after heavy showers on any day during monsoon. — A Tribune photo

Thousands of phones lying dead... courtesy Essar
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Thousands of telephones in the city are lying dead for the past several days due to careless digging allegedly carried out by Essar Communications Limited (ECL). This has led to cutting and damaging of underground cables of the department at several places.

Citizens’ Forum
Should Chandigarh have an international airport ?
The Punjab Government has been successful in getting Raja Sansi airport at Amritsar declared an international airport. Only recently, the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Sharad Yadav, wrote to me, conveying the decision of the Government to release Rs 79.26 crore to the Airports Authority of India for the upgradation of the Amritsar airport as per international standards.

City lashed by showers
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The city and its surrounding areas were lashed by monsoon showers this morning, thus bringing down humidity levels that were making residents sweat.

Houses, industrial units flooded in Mubarikpur
DERA BASSI, June 29 — Heavy downpour of the setting monsoons flooded a number of houses, shops and industrial units in Mubarikpur village, about 2 km from here, this morning.

COMMUNITY

Seminar on polymer additive
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The Engineering Department of the Chandigarh Administration has decided to introduce a new technology of using bitumen with a polymer additive.

A sector dotted with heaps of garbage
CHANDIGARH, June 29 —As you enter Sector 44-B, you are welcomed by heaps of garbage. Almost the entire sector is dotted with garbage heaps at different spots. The residents feel uncomfortable to stay under such unhealthy conditions.

57 new sites to detect HIV cases
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Government of India, has established 57 new sentinel sites in various parts of the country to ascertain the load of HIV positive cases, particularly among the rural population, both in high and low risk groups. With this addition, the sentinel surveillance round will be conducted in 232 sites from August to October this year.

Aero-modeling hobby clubs mooted
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — To inculcate greater awareness on aviation matters among students and to give a boost to aviation-related matters, the Chandigarh chapter of the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) is planning to establish aero-modeling hobby clubs in city schools.

“I was initially reluctant to come to city”
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — “ I was initially reluctant to come to Chandigarh for my assignment, but the past year has proved to be a blessing in disguise and has swayed my decision to settle down permanently in Delhi,” recalls UT IGP Mr S. K. Singh, who retires 30 years of uniformed life tomorrow.

For her Rotary is a way of life
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — For Mrs Kawal Bedi, the Rotary Club is not just a club that she is a member of, it is a way of life. “ I sleep, eat and live Rotary. Whether I am at my office or home, I am all time thinking about the club. In fact, I can safely say that even when I sleep, I dream Rotary.”

Poor response to sites’ auction
SAS NAGAR, June 29 — The response to the auction of freehold commercial sites here by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) today was poor.

CRIME

Notorious thief arrested
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The police has arrested a notorious thief who had stolen 1300 American dollars, the passport and a small bag of a foreign tourist here today. According to police sources, Sung Kyu Cho, a Korean national, was travelling from Manali to Chandigarh when he was befriended by Shiv Kumar, a resident of Bahadurgarh, Haryana, who was his co-traveller. Both of them checked into a motel in Sector 22, where the accused stole the money after the complainant went to sleep.

EDUCATION

PU panel to study fee structure
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Panjab University proposal for fee hike from the forthcoming session received a major set-back today and gave a clear indication that hike, if any, will not be on the pattern of Guru Nanak Dev University.

Computer workshop concludes
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — A 25-day long “Kidz 2000 computer workshop”, organised at Kailash Bahal DAV Centenary Public School, Sector 7, concluded here today with the valedictory address by Principal B.S. Bahl, a renowned educationist and vice-president of the DAV College Managing Committee.

Extend last date for form submission, urges board
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The Secretary of the Punjab School Education Board has requested the Education Department, UT Administration, to extend the last date of submission of completed application forms for admission to Class XI in various government schools till July 5 as the board is expected to declare its matriculation result tomorrow evening.

COURTS

TV dealer told to pay Rs 21,000 to consumer
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The Chandigarh Consumers Redressal Forum has ordered Baron International to pay Ms Ranjit Kaur of Sector 38, Rs 21,000 as compensation for selling a defective colour television to her in January, 1999, and giving another defective set in replacement.

CULTURE

Traditional Indian wear is the saving grace
ZIRAKPUR, June 29 — Designer wear comprising pick of the Indian traditional wear was the saving grace of a fashion show of the Bonsai group here today.

Muktesh, Meenu are best singers
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Nineteen singers participated in the final round of Coca Cola Singer number 1 contest, held yesterday at Tagore Theatre.

Daler set to thrill fans again
The “Pasha of pop” the dancing Sikh, with an infectious smile and twinkle toes, is back after the success of Bolo Ta Ra Ra, Dardi Rab Rab Kardi, Ho Jayegi Balle Balle and Tunak Tunak. Tips released Daler Mehndi’s new album Ek dana all over India yesterday. Ek dana is a collaboration between Tips and Daler Mehndi and music director Ravi Pawar with the compositions shared between the two.

SPORT

‘Ludhiana track by Oct-end’
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — “The concept of laying the synthetic surfaces in India is now taking off, which augurs well for the sport as a whole’’, quipped Rainer M Gintzel, Technical Managing Director of Polytan, a German organisation which has so far laid more than 2000 synthetic surfaces in the world.

ADMINISTRATION

Residents to be given garbage disposal bags
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — With a view to improve sanitation in the city, the environment and city beautification committee of the local Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided that the residents should be provided bags for the disposal of the garbage.

Rally by UT employees
CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Hundreds of UT employees today held a massive rally in support of their long-pending demands and against the anti-employee policies of the UT Administration.