C H A N D I G A R H

Rs 20 crore sought from Centre for IT set-up
Chandigarh, Jan 7 — The Information Technology Department of Chandigarh Administration is sending a detailed demand to the Union Ministry of Information Technology (MIT) seeking a sum in the range of Rs 20 crore for setting up of IT related infrastructure in the city.

Cold wave claims fifth victim
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — Cold wave conditions continued to prevail in the city and its surrounding areas today also as residents woke up to a foggy morning. The fog lifted around noon but daytime temperatures continued to be below the normal average for this time of the year.

Pay Pak back in same coin, say ex-defence top brass CHANDIGARH, Jan 7--Under the auspices of the Servants of the People Society, Jan Shakti organised an open discussion on "Kashmir: the peace initiative" at the Lajpat Rai Bhavan in Sector 15 here today.

REGIONAL BRIEFS

A rickshaw-puller enjoys his siesta as sun peeps from clouds on Sunday in Chandigarh.— Tribune photo by Karam Singh

White-collar crime up 
SAS NAGAR, Jan 7 — The town has registered a substantial increase in the cases of white-collar crime. Police records reveal that at least 57 cases of cheating and fraud were registered in 2000 as compared to 30 cases in 1999 — a 47 per cent increase, with 17 cases involving crores of rupees being registered against officials of Punwire alone.

College lecturers’ recruitment age
Admn ignores Centre’s directive
Chandigarh, Jan 7 — More than two years after the government of India passed the notification regarding the increase in the upper age limit for recruitment, the Chandigarh Administration has failed to incorporate it into its set of recruitment rules for college lecturers, the latest edition of which, the administration notified in February 2000.

District courts lawyers' strike today
Chandigarh, Jan 7 — Lawyers of the local district courts will abstain from work tomorrow in protest against the removal of three canteens functioning inside the court complex by the UT Administration.

Chhatwal for civil service board system
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — The time has come to constitute civil service boards in all States to prevent the political leadership from using postings and transfers as tools to punish and reward inconvenient and convenient officers, as the case may be.

 

CHANDIGARH CALLING RAIN disrupted the New Year-eve celebrations last week, which had been planned for a long time, but nobody is complaining. People had been praying for the rain for such a long time that when it finally came, it was welcomed with a sigh of relief.

COMMUNITY

Water pressure low in Sector 61
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — The Residents Welfare Association of 504 MIG flats, Sector 61, has complained of low water pressure for the past several days.

Road Safety week concludes
PANCHKULA, Jan 7 — The “Road Safety Week,” being observed in the city since January 1, concluded with a challaning drive, here today. Beginning in the morning, violators were challaned for not adhering to traffic rules till 7 pm on the road dividing Sectors 7 and 8.

Bishop inaugurates church
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — The Navjeevan Church, built by the Good Shepherd Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco, was inaugurated by the Bishop of Shimla-Chandigarh, Rev Gerald J. Mathias, at Sector 24-B here yesterday.

Egan is Grand Master
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — Dr Pritam Singh Egan was installed as the Grand Master at the annual meeting of Grand Lodge of Upper India, held at the Freemasons Hall, Sector 18, here today. He was also given Order of Service to Masonry, the highest award in the organisation.

7 join Brahma Kumari mission
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — Seven women dedicated their lives to the Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya at a ceremony held at Rajyoga Bhavan, Sector 33, today.


A Cultural function was held to mark the initiation function at Rajyoga Bhawan, Sector 31, Chandigarh on Sunday. —A Tribune photograph

CRIME

Public places raided, 24 held
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — Hotels, guest houses, pubs, eating joints and other public places were raided by the local police yesterday night to check the presence of anti-social elements. Under a special drive, the police arrested at least 24 persons from the eastern sectors of the city. As many as 186 stranger rolls were also issued.

Three mishaps, five hurt
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — During the past 24 hours three cases of road accidents were reported from different parts of the city. The police has arrested one person. In all five persons were injured.

• Three arrested

• Held with whisky

• Yamaha stolen

BUSINESS

Reduce booth price hike: Bansal
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — In a letter to Lieut-Gen (retd) J.F.R. Jacob, Administrator of Chandigarh, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, the local MP, has urged the UT Administration to withdraw the “exorbitant” increase in price of booths and spare-part shops constructed in Sectors 48 and 38 to rehabilitate the persons running their business in open spaces in front of the markets of Sectors 21, 27 and 28.

CULTURE

Masti promotes new album
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — “Punjabi pop is here to stay”, feels a Delhi-based pop singer, Ashok Masti, who visited here to promote his new album Masti Hi Masti. Punjabi songs had always been a major component of the Bollywood industry even before Daler Mehndi and Hans Raj Hans arrived on the scene.

Impressive function marks Sector mela
Chandigarh, Jan 7 — The Resident's Welfare Society, Sector 46, organised a Sector Mela, 2001 and cultural programme here today.

HEALTH

ENT surgeons’ conference ends
CHANDIGARH, Jan 7 — The 53rd annual conference of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India concluded at the PGI, here today.