More flights to South Africa
Chandigarh, March 9
In another step towards the promotion of tourism, South Africa is planning to increase the number of flights between Mumbai and Johannesburg shortly. The fastest growing tourist destination in the world offers excellent investment opportunities in tourism related projects, said Mr D.K. Pillai, Deputy High Commissioner, while addressing a seminar on tourism organised by the South African High Commission here today.

Morni to have wildlife sanctuary
Panchkula, March 9
The Government of India has finally given its nod to the Forest and Wildlife Department, Haryana, for creating a wildlife sanctuary at Morni . This proposal had been gathering dust for the past more than one decade.

Women councillors form forum
Chandigarh, March 9
The formation of a forum for women councillors from Punjab was announced at the first state convention on ‘Women in urban governance’ here today. 

Relaxation in NZ immigration rules Chandigarh, March 9 The New Zealand government has relaxed its immigration rules, as a result of which more students can avail themselves of education facilities in New Zealand.

Wave pool at Funcity
Chandigarh, March 9
Funcity will soon have the region’s first wave pool which is being constructed with know-how from ACPL, Mumbai. Waves upto 1.25 metres will be generated and the effect of sea along with beach will be created for the public.

Advani, Modi ‘should resign’
Chandigarh, March 9
Veteran freedom fighter and founder president of the Bharatiya Khidmatgar Party Dr Desh Raj Bhangi has urged the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani and Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi to resign on grounds following riots in Gujarat.

Police team leaves for Mumbai
Chandigarh, March 9
The Chandigarh Police has dispatched a special team to Mumbai to take custody of a murder accused, arrested by the Mumbai Police, a few days ago. The five-member team headed by a Sub-Inspector left today after obtaining production warrants from a local magistrate. 

Man dies in truck-car collision
Panchkula, March 9
A 28-year-old man was killed in a road accident near Chandimandir late last night. He was killed, when his car was crushed by a truck (HP-07-4461), when he was going to get his car refuelled.

BUSINESS

ATM inaugurated
Chandigarh, March 9
Mr P.R. Sankaranarayanan, Executive Director of Federal Bank, today inaugurated the bank’s first ATM here. “This is in tune with the bank’s mission of massive expansion in computerisation and providing the latest of benefits to the customers”, he said. 

Courses in hospital engineering sought
Chandigarh, March 9
Heads of Panjab University, PGI, Punjab Engineering College, TTTI and the Chandigarh College of Architecture have been requested to start courses in hospital engineering for innovative applications in patient care by involving themselves in activities of the Indian Institute of Hospital Engineering.

Need to revamp education system
SAS Nagar, March 9
The education system, particularly at the primary level, has almost collapsed due to the non-serious attitude of the government. Primary education in government institutions, especially in the rural areas, is for all practical purposes non-existent while in the private sector there has been undesirable commercialisation.

Seminar focuses on role of diplomat
Chandigarh, March 9
A seminar on “The Role of a Diplomat” was organised here by the regional branch of the Indian Institute of Public Administration here yesterday. 

Refresher course for English lecturers
Chandigarh, March 9
More than 60 lecturers from different colleges of Punjab are attending a refresher course being organised by the English Department at Panjab University. The theme of the refresher course is ‘From Modernism to post-Modernism’.

BA final-year students of GCG-11, Chandigarh, line up to participate in a beauty contest at a farewell party on Saturday. — Tribune photo Pradeep Tewari

Natasha Miss GCG
Chandigarh, March 9
The final year Arts students of Sector 11 Government College for Girls were given a farewell party by their juniors. 

Free CET, PMT coaching
Chandigarh, March 9
The Sikh Missionary College (Chandigarh circle) in association with the managing committee of Gurdwara, Sector 34, will be starting coaching classes for needy students aspiring to appear in CET and PMT examination, a press note stated here today.

NSS camp
Zirakpur, March 9
During a one-day multipurpose NSS camp, the volunteers of the Regional Institute of Management and Administration today adopted 40 physically challenged persons at the Nevedac Prosthetic Centre.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
CBI told to probe land allotment
Chandigarh, March 9
Taking up a petition filed by a patwari alleging allotment of 435 acres in Hoshiarpur district on the basis of forged documents, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Central Bureau of investigation to examine the matter.

• Order to states, UT on polythene bags

Shangas dance on bhangra beat Chandigarh, March 9 It was yet another spirited performance which served a purpose more significant than plain entertainment.
Dancers from the Limpopo province of South Africa present traditional dances under the ICCR exchange programme at TTTI auditorium in Sector 26, Chandigarh, on Saturday.  — Tribune photo Parvesh Chauhan

Raza keeps audience spellbound
Chandigarh, March 9
From a small village of Tasilpatti to the national scene, it has been quite a journey for this unassuming ghazal singer. Lal Raza sure has some musical genes. 

FILM REVIEW
‘Kranti’ — many loose ends
A rather loose knitting of the fabric of presentation of ‘Kranti’ (Nirman and KC, Panchkula) takes away much of the cinematic beauty leaving many loose ends for the viewers to grapple.

Some serious theatre
Chandigarh, March 9
Around 20 days from now, Haryana Panchayat Bhavan, will be the centre of some serious theatre activity. With experts from National School of Drama, along with other reputed theatre personalities already in the city to throw light on the practical aspects of theatre, the 24 chosen aspirants will only widen their horizons with every passing day. 

HEALTH

2 ultrasound machines seized
SAS Nagar, March 9
In a bid to check female foeticide, two unregistered ultrasound machines were seized from private medical premises by a team of government doctors here today.

Need for uniform standard in clinical labs
Chandigarh, March 9
The need for accreditation and quality standards in clinical testing laboratories in order to improve the standard of health and management of illness and disease in India was emphasised during a press conference organised by Speciality Ranbaxy Limited here today.

Dialysis unit inaugurated at GH-16
Chandigarh, March 9
The Director, PGI, Dr S.K. Sharma inaugurated the dialysis unit at General Hospital, Sector 16, here today. 

Sabeeha on cloud nine
Chandigarh, March 9
Sabeeha Dhillon could not have asked for more. The reason for her momentous celebration; only last Monday, she received a letter from the National Rifle Association of India on her selection for the Indian senior women shooting team for two prestigious International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup shooting meets. 

• Cricket euphoria

Annual sports meet at GMCH-32
Chandigarh, March 9
Doctors and students of the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, today were attired in track-suits and their overall were missing. 

ADMINISTRATION

MC notice to cablemen on pending dues
Chandigarh, March 9
The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh here yesterday issued a 15-day notice to 80 small cable operators to deposit their dues pending since December 1999 with the corporation.