C H A N D I G A R H

MC to reduce tubewell installation charges
Last date for replacing faulty water meters may be extended
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh proposes to extend the last date for replacing the defective water meters to March 31. It also proposes amendments in certain clauses which provide among other things revision of supervision charges and reduction in tubewell installation charges.

Mann magic beats chill
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — In run up to Lohri, a huge crowd gathered on the university ground to let their hair down with five Manns — Gurdas, Harbhajan, Gursevak, Bhagwant and Babu Singh, here tonight. The event was organised by Alpha Punjabi and aptly titled Mann Punjab De.

Harbhajan Mann, Gurdas Mann, Gursewak Mann and Bhagwant Mann perform at Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Monday.

Undertrial dies of heart attack
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — An undertrail in a murder case, lodged at Model Jail in Burail village near here, was declared dead at the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital in the morning today.

Santro, Matiz sale sluggish
Alto helps Maruti regain lost ground 
Chandigarh, Jan 8 — The successful launching of Alto, it seems, has helped Maruti Udyog Ltd to regain its sale in the city.

Lawyers protest against removal of canteens
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — District Court lawyers observed strike today and even the entrance gates of the court were locked for sometime in protest against the removal of three canteens within the court premises by the administration.

Alpha Channel studio for Mohali
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — “It is the Punjabisation of India,” says Mr Ranjan Bakshi, vice-president, Communications, Alpha Channel, predicting a bright future for language channels in general and Punjabi in particular.

Followers of Bacchus to wind up operations by midnight
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — All restaurants, pubs, liquor shops, discos, clubs and roadside vendors in the city will have to wind up their operations by midnight. All such establishments will also have to remain closed from midnight to 4.30 a.m, on all days except Saturday and Sunday.

Protest against demolition of jhuggies
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — Residents of Palsora, Janta and Kumhar Colony today observed strike in protest against the demolition of jhuggies in Palsora Colony by the Chandigarh Administration. The Administration also removed jhuggies of Colony number 5 on January 5. The residents raised slogans in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Later the delegation had submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

9 drivers of govt vehicles challaned
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — In its special drive against the misuse of official vehicles and other traffic violations, the Chandigarh police today challaned over 240 drivers.

 

READERS WRITE UT MC mutilates city’s charm Today, men with chain saws walked the streets and started hacking mercilessly at the city’s pride and joy — the trees. Acting with the approval of the municipality, these men have mutilated trees’ branches beyond recognition, and done a lousy job of it too.

COMMUNITY

Complainant alleges police inaction in robbery case
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — It has been over a week but the police is still clueless about the dacoity in which Rs 6.81 lakh were stolen from a Sector 18 based medicine distributor’s shop. No arrests have been made so far. The complainant alleges that the police is not taking the matter seriously.

Anandgarh project a money-spinner, says counsel
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — In writ petitions challenging the construction of Anandgarh by the Punjab Government, near Chandigarh, it was argued today before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the scheme was illegal, without the jurisdiction of the Punjab Government and a money-making proposition by people having resources to make money by selling to the Punjab Government land purchased from farmers at low rates.

8,420 apply for PUDA scheme 
Demand for bigger plots less
SAS NAGAR, Jan 8 — About 8,420 applications have been received till date by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) for different sizes of plots under a housing scheme floated in the town on November 27 last. The scheme closes on January 15. The maximum response has been for the plots up to a size of 250 sq yard.

Dhawan opposes power tariff hike
Chandigarh, Jan 8 — The Former Union Minister, Mr Harmohan Dhawan, today demanded that the Mayor of Chandigarh should be elected for a five-year term instead of the present one year term. He also sought a ban on the use of party symbols in elections to Municipal Corporations and local bodies as “these institutions in Chandigarh have been converted into battle grounds to settle political rivalries both within and outside the parties”.

Goel, Kala inspect parts of city
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — The Mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goel, and the Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Gurcharan Dass Kala, today inspected various parts of the city and heard the grievances of the residents.

Prominent blood donor dead
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — A prominent blood donor of the city, Mr Vijay Kumar Malhotra, died of renal failure here today. He was 53. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Protest by ad hoc staff of PTL
SAS NAGAR, Jan 8 — A number of workers of the Punjab Tractors Limited (PTL), working on ad hoc basis in the factory, today gathered in front of the office of the Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) in Phase 3B 2 here and submitted a memorandum to him against an alleged move of the company to terminate their services on ad hoc basis. The Managing Director of the company, Mr Yash Mahajan, was not available for comments.

5 striking staff court arrest
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — Five striking employees, Pratap Singh Sangwan, Jagdish June, Ramavtar Kaushik, Balbir Singh and Dharamvir Malik, today courted arrest when they were stopped by the police at Matka Chowk here while moving in procession towards the Haryana Chief Minister’s residence.

5,700 vie for Ms Pretty Hands title
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — More than 11,000 women and children participated in different contests organised by Amex International at the consumer fair held at Hotel Shivalikview.

Club gives sweaters to students
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — The Lions Club, Chandigarh Plaza, distributed sweaters to needy students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 18. Principal of the school, Ms Rajesh Minhas thanked the president of the club.

• Challan noise polluters: DSP
  
  

CRIME

A hit and run case
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — Ms Jatinder Kaur, a resident of Sector 18, was injured when the car she was travelling in was hit by a Qualis Toyota, here yesterday. The accident happened near Makhanmajra Chowk. She was admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, where her condition was reported to be stable.

• Truck stolen

• Held with liquor

• Four arrested

• Theft case
  

BUSINESS

Medical reps start strike
Chandigarh, Jan 8 — The Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association of India and Punjab (FMRAI) and Punjab and Chandigarh Medical and Sales Representative Union (PCMSRU) went on a five-day strike from today, in pursuance of their 27-point charter of demands.

Competition Master goes online
Chandigarh, Jan 8 — Competition Master launched the online edition www.competitionmaster.com here today.

EDUCATION

PU Students get placements
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — Corporates are recruiting management students from Punjab University Business School again, as witnessed during the campus placement drive which started here today.

More than 20 students of University Business School (UBS) were selected by leading companies on the first day of the ongoing placement drive on the Panjab University campus. The highest pay package of Rs 5.5 lakh per annum was offered by Asian Paints to Aalok Mehta. While Asian Paints selected one student, five were selected by Wockhardt, four each by SpectraNet and HDFC, and two each by BILT, NewGen and Goodlass Nerolac. Bharti Enterprises selected more than four students. 

• Two entrance tests on same date

School holds ray of hope for 25 children
PANCHKULA, Jan 8—The decision of the DAV School, Sector 8,here to take responsibility of the studies of as many as 25 children from poor families has brought hope and cheer to these children who live in nearby jhuggis .

Minister inaugurates school building
SAS NAGAR, Jan 8 — The Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, inaugurated a computer training scheme at Government Senior Secondary School, Phase III B1 today. In another function he also inaugurated the building of Sant Isher Singh Public School, Sector 70, today. Under the computer training scheme pupils from classes VI to XII will undergo training.

• PCCTU meeting

Workshop on adult education
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — The Directorate of Adult Education, National Literacy Mission, in collaboration with the Regional Resource Centre for Adult and Continuing Education, Punjab University, Chandigarh, will organise a two-day workshop at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute for Public Administration from January 9.

COURTS

Arrest of Mohali-based couple stayed
Chandigarh, Jan 8 — Mr Justice K.K. Kumaran of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the arrest of a Mohali-based couple, Harjinder Pal Singh Khanda and his wife, Rashpal Kaur, directing them to approach the District and Sessions Judge on January 18 for their anticipatory bail.

Pre-arrest bail of 4 dismissed
KHARAR, Jan 8 — The District and Sessions Judge, Ropar, Mr Maghar Khan, has dismissed an anticipatory bail application of four persons — Jasmer Singh, Ashok Kumar, Gurinder Singh and Karnail Singh, all residents of Badala Nia Shehar village in Kharar tehsil. The suspects allegedly fabricated a will of Mr Rattan Singh (since deceased) to grab his property.

CULTURE

Four crests and troughs of life
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — It was a day of some deliberation on the elations and depressions so basic to life. Humans as we are, we must observe, reason, revel, fret and do all that is a part of the natural process of growing up — both in years, as also in intellect.

HEALTH

Will General Hospital have a functional phone exchange?
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — A major hospital intended to provide basic healthcare facilities with a budget allocation of about Rs 10.5 crore per annum is functioning without a telephone exchange for the past three years. 

SPORT

Udit, Himmat emerge winners
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — “Why can’t we continue;”  “We want to come again;” “It has been wonderful.” These are some of the exuberant rumblings heard on the concluding day of the CGA-sponsored two week junior golf coaching camp. It was indeed an exciting experience for the organisers of the camp to have 66 young and enthusiastic boys and girls of seven prominent schools of the city competing with each other to hit the longest ball or to hole a difficult put in one stroke. And how well they succeeded.

Sunil ranked 26th
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — Sunil Kumar, a national tennis star from Chandigarh and a trainee of the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association, achieved the distinction of reaching 26th ranking in the list of International Tennis Federation’s junior rankings. According to Mr Rajan Kashyap, Chairman, CLTA, Sunil has consistently justified the faith his association has in his potential.

Chandigarh Police to raise athletics team
CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — Claiming to be serious about sports, the Chandigarh Police today expressed its desire to form an athletic team by selecting sportspersons from different wings.

ADMINISTRATION

HUDA removes encroachments
PANCHKULA, Jan 8 — The enforcement wing of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) removed encroachments from outside retail counters of industrial units, here today.