C H A N D I G A R H

An overturned scooter-loaded truck which disrupted traffic on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway for more than 20 hours at Zirakpur on Wednesday night. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

No to Canadian visa office for city
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The interest expressed by the Canadian government in upgrading its city business office to a Counselor’s Office has been shot down by the regulations of the Ministry of External Affairs which prohibit opening of any Visa or Counselor’s office in any city other than New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta.

VC-designate tying up loose ends
Talks about affordable fee, soft loans for students
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — He might be the Vice- Chancellor in waiting, but Dr. K. N. Pathak, VC-designate is all set to take charge of the Panjab University administration. He is busy tying up loose ends and getting ready for the 23rd when he shifts into his new role. 

Ghaggar bundh to be raised to save Chhat Bir zoo
CHHAT BIR (Patiala), July 20 — To save Chhat Bir Zoo from recurring floods on account of a volatile Ghaggar, the Punjab Government will spend Rs 50 lakh on constructing a bundh along the banks and raise the level of the existing embankment by 2 feet.

662 vehicles challaned
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — A total of 662 vehicles were challaned for various offences on the first day of a special 10-day drive by the Chandigarh Police to discourage drivers from driving vehicles which do not conform to the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act.

Kalka-Shimla train loses passengers
KALKA, July 20 — With the start of rainy season in the area, there has been a sudden fall of travellers on Kalka-Shimla track. As per a source, even during the peak season of tourist in May and June this year, the number of people who travelled by Kalka-Shimla trains has been less than that in the same time during 1998-1999 and 1999-2000.

YOUTH PARLIAMENT Should driving licence age be lowered to 16 ? Rashi Trikha (16), plus one student: At the time the Motor Vehicles Act was framed, the average age for sending children to school used to be five to seven years. In the present situation, a child attains maturity by the time he is 14 or 15.

COMMUNITY

Harassed by Administration, MC, footpath workers protest
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Hundreds of roadside workers of the city gathered near the Sector 20 labour chowk today to protest against alleged harassment by the Estate Office and Municipal Corporation authorities.

Water pressure to be low
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Following incessant rains and caving-in of the Kajauli water supply line (Phase III) at a few places at Kharar, near here, the supply of drinking water will be at low pressure in the city for the next two days.

Traffic disrupted for 20 hours
ZIRAKPUR, July 20 — Vehicular traffic on the Chandigarh-Ambala national highway was disrupted for more than 20 hours due to a scooter-laden truck which overturned after hitting a road divider here last night.

CRIME

CITCO hotels unsafe
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The CITCO-run hotels — Shivalik view and the Mountview — are becoming unsafe for the guests if the number of thefts are any indication.

Sarpanch held in murder case
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The police today arrested the Sarpanch of Khuda Ali Sher village for being involved in the murder of a villager. Pal Singh, alias Pala, was arrested following information given by the other two accused in the murder who were arrested yesterday.

BUSINESS

Dimple's candles to light animals' cause
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The local chapter of the People For Animals  will hold an exhibition-cum-sale of exclusive designer candles by actress Dimple Kapadia and her company the Faraway Tree at Hotel Mountview from July 28.

EDUCATION

Students develop new technology
SAS NAGAR, July 20 — Students of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bhaddal (Ropar), which is temporarily based here, have developed a new technology using light dependent resistors.

BE, B.Arch (general) seats filled
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — At the joint admission to BE and B.Arch courses, all the 39 seats in BE chemical engineering in the general category were filled today. For Punjab Engineering College, all seats in the general pool were filled. However, some seats in the UT pool remained vacant.

Teacher denies beating principal
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Mr Harbir Singh Anand, a schoolteacher, today clarified that no violence took place during his meeting with the Principal of Government High School, Sector 11.

PU admissions
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The interview for admission to M.Sc. Botany Honours first year, Panjab University, will be held on July 31 at 10 a.m. in the Department of Botany, Panjab University.

COURTS

RI for two in burning case
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Nearly two years after a city resident was burnt to death by his in-laws, the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.C. Godara, today sentenced the two accused to rigorous imprisonment for life, besides imposing a fine of Rs 500 each.

Jain’s remand extended
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Former Home Secretary of the Chandigarh Administration N.K. Jain's judicial remand in a corruption case was today extended till July 29 by the Special Judge for CBI cases, Mr Lakhbir Singh.

Remand extended
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Mr Jatender Walia, Civil Judge (Junior Division) today extended the judicial remand of three accused in the Ranjit Bajaj case.

CULTURE

Images that exude freedom
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — When a piece of art becomes the voice itself, the work becomes eternal. A part of this saying comes true when one views the works of this post-modernist artist from the city, who has been romancing with abstract expressionism for a long time now.

HEALTH

Centre for deaf in Panchkula
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — A regional welfare centre for hearing and speech impaired will be set up at Panchkula at a cost of over Rs 90 lakh. This was disclosed by the Haryana Governor, Mr Babu Parmanand, at the annual general meeting of the Haryana Welfare Society for Hearing and Speech impaired here today.

SPORT

Good quality football ends goalless
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The newly selected 21-member Indian schools football team, including three standbys, today played a match against Sanjay School Club, Sector 44, at Sector 17 Football Stadium.

Inter-state badminton meet in Delhi
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The North Zone inter-state badminton championships will be held at Delhi in the last week of September, as per communication received by Mr D. K. Mukerjee, executive member of the Badminton Association of India.

Parminder betters record
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The 25th Chandigarh State Shooting Championship began here today at Patiali Rao Ranges, Sector 25, with Chetanpreet Kaur leading in Air Rifle in senior women’s section with a score of 345 out of 400. Priti Sharma was ahead at 252/400 in air pistol for senior women, closely followed by Tamanna at 244/400.

ADMINISTRATION

Panel to settle tax disputes quickly
CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The Centre has constituted the Customs and the Excise Settlement Commission to settle disputes relating to customs and excise duties, the commission Chairman, Mr D.S. Solanki, stated here today.