C H A N D I G A R H

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UT to sell surplus power
Move to generate Rs 12 crore every year
Chandigarh, January 1
Coming out with a unique scheme to save on its power bill, the Chandigarh Administration has decided to sell power to needy states during off peak hours, that is between 11 pm and 6 am.

Wishing Happy New Year with flowers
Chandigarh, January 1
Flower business blossomed in the city today. As the lethargic morning sun’s not-so-energetic rays struggled to penetrate through the thick blanket of fog on the first day of 2003, pretty damsels zoomed down to the arcades in their jaunty jalopies for presenting bouquets of love and affection to their knights in shining leather jackets.

A resident selects a bouquet in the Sector 34 market, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — Photo Pankaj Sharma

Subhash Chawla is Chandigarh Mayor

Chandigarh, January 1 Congress candidate Subhash Chawla today defeated BJP candidate Rajesh Gupta in the Mayoral elections by a margin of 14 votes in the 30-member Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh. Mr Chawla got 21 votes and Mr Gupta 7, one less each than the last year. Two nominated members, Mr C. K. Sawhney and Ms Amar Kulwant, were not present at the meeting. Mr Subhash Chawla's wife offers him a ‘ladoo’ after he was elected the Mayor, in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Photo Pankaj Sharma

Mayor promises ‘open’ budget, people’s partnership
Chandigarh, January 1
Mayor Subhash Chawla today announced to make efforts towards making budget exercise “open” with the demands of work being sought from councillors in advance and introducing “people's partnership” in development works and decision making.

RH-VE BLOOD GROUPS
Factor that adds to patients’ woes
Chandigarh, January 1
“With my daughter being Rh negative and the availability of this blood being difficult, we ensure that at least two donors of her blood group are known to us personally to meet any crisis,” says Mr Raj Kumar, while explaining what difficulties the family of a patient with Rh negative blood group undergoes in case of an emergency.

Evening OPDs resume on Jan 7 
Chandigarh, January 1
Even as the PGI prepares to resume the evening OPDs from January 7, reluctant faculty members and resident doctors have begun the spadework to ensure that they are not forced to be part of the facility, started in a haste to fulfill the wishes of the Union Health Minister, Mr Shatrughan Sinha.

Four held for murdering Kumbhra boy

Chandigarh, January 1 The Chandigarh Police today claimed to have arrested four city youths who had allegedly stabbed to death a resident of Ropar district in Sector 40-C in the late hours yesterday. The deceased, Sandeep, was declared brought dead by the doctors at the General Hospital, Sector 16. Four youths who have been arrested by the police for allegedly killing a resident of Kumbhra village, in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Shortage of Judges to continue
Chandigarh, January 1
The shortage of Judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court is likely to continue as five Judges are scheduled to retire in the coming months upon attaining the age of superannuation. The number of High Court Judges had recently decreased to 30, against the sanctioned strength of 40, with the elevation of Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.

Combat training for NCC girl cadets
Chandigarh, January 1
Revamping the training syllabus for girl cadets, the Directorate-General, National Cadet Corps (NCC), has decided to introduce combat training for girls. Besides, a decision has also been taken to increase the strength of girls cadets by about 35 per cent over the next few years.

COMMUNITY

Panchkula wears khadi as MC poll nears
Panchkula, January 1
Despite the chilly and bleak winter, cool summer shades rule the fashion scenario in this satellite township, as it gets ready to elect its first ever municipal council. The winter, this year, is not so bright, at least for the 200 odd citizens, their families and the group of supporters, busy campaigning and seeking votes. The Gandhian fashion(pastel shades of Khadi) is in, both for male and female candidates.

Campaigning intensifies
Panchkula, January 1
As the date of election to the local Municipal Council is drawing nearer, the candidates of various political parties and Independents have intensified their campaign with door-to-door contacts.

Shortage of stamp papers in city
Chandigarh, January 1
Thousands of visitors and advocates in the District Courts, the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the UT Estate Office here are facing an acute shortage of stamp papers for the past over five months. Despite repeated reminders, the UT Administration has failed to solve the problem though it is losing revenue worth lakhs of rupee as well.

Auto-mechanics still operate in Sec 21
Chandigarh, January 1
A few auto mechanics are still engaged in repair work behind the SCFs and bay shops Nos 1 to 6 in Sector 21-C, violating not only the orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court and building bye-laws of the Chandigarh Administration but also causing inconvenience to the local residents.

Adulterated spices being sold in Apni Mandis
SAS Nagar, January 1
Residents of this township, beware. What is being sold as powdered spices in open gunny bags in the Apni Mandis here might be brightly coloured toxic powders or adulterated spices instead. In complete violation of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, loose spices and condiments are being sold openly in stalls in these highly popular weekly vegetable markets.

Mixed response to autorickshaw owners’ strike

Chandigarh, January 1 A large number of autorickshaws remained off the road today on a strike call given by the Chandigarh Scooter Rickshaws Union to protest against the State Transport Authority’s (STA) decision to impound the autorickshaws, which have completed 15 years on road. Autorickshaw drivers protest in support of their demands at Chandigarh Bus Stand Sector 17, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Contingency plan for city religious places
Chandigarh, January 1
In wake of the terrorist attacks on Akshardham Temple in Gujarat’s western capital city of Gandhinagar and at Raghunath temple in Jammu, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Chandigarh Police to prepare a contingency plan for religious places in the city.

EATING OUT
New experience in new-look joint

Chandigarh, January 1 Among the plethora of new and new-look eating joints mushrooming in the city and its satellite towns, Piccadily’s Blue-Ice in Sector 17 holds the promise of being a hip 'n' happening place. Friends enjoy a gourmet meal at Piccadily’s Blue-Ice, Sector 17, Chandigarh.— A Tribune photograph

Dense fog engulfs city
Chandigarh, January 1
Foggy New Year’s day — that is what the residents woke up to see today. Cold wave continued to prevail today in the city and nearby areas of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Dense fog was witnessed since last evening till late afternoon.

ITBP jawans hurt in road mishap
Lalru, January 1
Three jawans of the ITBP sustained injuries when the truck (HR-01GA-0299) in which they were travelling fell into the Jharmal rivulet after breaking the railing of the bridge on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway here late last night.

Lucky draw winner
Panchkula, January 1
Ms Premvati, a resident of Batour village, near Barwala, lodged here claim with Ms Satwanti Ahlawat, Deputy Commissioner, for winning a prize of Rs 5 lakh in the lucky draw of the Haryana Small Savings Scheme at a function here today.

CRIME

Theft in Sector 22 shop
Chandigarh, January 1
Burglars broke into a Sector 22 shop last night. A Sector 33-C resident, Mr Prem Kumar, told the police that locks of his shop in Sector 22 (SCO 816) were found broken and the burglars had taken away Rs 1,500. The police has registered a case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC.

BUSINESS

Cellular operators may slash tariff today
Chandigarh, January 1
Overwhelming response to the WLL-mobile service launched by Reliance Infocomm Ltd (RIL) on December 28, 2002, has forced the mobile operators in the country to revise their tariff plans. According to industry sources, a ‘major initiative’ in this regard will be announced tomorrow, that is likely to include substantial cut in STD call rates and even free incoming call under certain packages.

EDUCATION

PU may involve teachers in exam duties
Chandigarh, January 1
Panjab University needs to seriously implement the mandatory regulation of involving teachers in all examination-related duties. These include paper setting, invigilation and evaluating exercises. College teachers in small numbers and campus teachers in greater numbers continue to abstain from these duties year after year.

Panjab University regains financial status
Chandigarh, January 1
Panjab University has quietly worked its way out of the vortex of financial crisis and increased its income by over Rs 14 crore from Rs 22 crore in the past two years. This is no mere flash in the pan and became possible consequent to series of strong administrative strokes.

Beware of touts: schools warn parents
Chandigarh, January 1
Beware of touts — that is the warning being issued to the parents wishing to get their little ones admitted to various schools in the city. If you do not believe it, visit  some of the posh schools in the city and you will find messages pinned up on notice boards warning the parents to be careful.

Mobiles enter classrooms; discipline goes out
Chandigarh, January1
A teacher is delivering a lecture in a classroom while a student in the back row fiddles with his cell phone, sending SMS to his friends outside, thus having the best of both worlds, sharing funny moments with his friends and getting his presence marked in the college at the same time. Mobile phones are one of the common sight in the colleges now-a-days.

Veerendra is Romani Studies chief
Chandigarh, January 1
Mr Veerendra Rishi was unanimously elected director of the Indian Institute of Romani Studies here today. The post fell vacant after the death of Dr W.R. Rishi on December 2 last year.

CULTURE

Film stars to be honoured
Chandigarh, January 1
The entire cast of latest Punjabi film “Jee Aayen Nu” will be felicitated during the Mubarkan 2003, the annual cultural mela of the Punjab Lok Kala Kendra. According to Mr Surinder Singh, president of the Lok Kala Kendra, top folk stars of Punjab will participate in the mela to be held at Dasehra Ground of SAS Nagar on January 5. The programme will start at 11 a.m. and continue until late in night.

Vivah 2003 to feature Ragini’s creations
Chandigarh, January 1
Ragini Singhania, a Nagpur-based designer, whose clothes have been a part of the ITE Bridal summit at Pragati Maidan, and her work has also been showcased by FTV, will take part in Vivah 2003 to be held here from January 9 to 12. Ragini brings to Chandigarh a classic and contemporary elegance which is unmatched in its timeless appeal under her label Attiraante.

HEALTH

Command hospital now offers better facilities
Chandi Mandir, January 1
Things are changing at the Command hospital here for good. Medical facilities for the serving and retired defence officers and personnel are not only being finetuned to bring them at world class standards, the Commandant, Major-Gen B. Sadananda, is bringing about a qualitative change in the way services are provided.

300 examined at medical camp
Chandigarh, January 1
Over 300 patients were examined by a team of doctors at a free medical camp organised by the Lions Club Chandigarh Vishal here today. The free medical, blood sugar testing and awareness camp, inaugurated by Mr D.S. Kohli, was held in Sector 45-C. 

Health mela
SAS Nagar, January 1
The local branch of the Family Planning Association of India organised a health mela as part of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Japan Trust Fund for HIV/AIDS-sponsored project for truckers here yesterday.

SPORTS

PU judokas excel with two gold

Chandigarh, January 1 Judokas of Panjab University, Chandigarh, won two gold, six silver and four bronze medals in the just concluded All-India Inter University Judo championship here on the university campus. In the women section, Jyotsna won a gold medal while Najru Nisha, Deepika, Aarti Sharma and Gurpreet Kaur got silver medals. Jagjit Kaur, Priyanka Chaudhary and Aarti won bronze medals. The medal winners of the Panjab University judo team in the All-India Inter-University Judo Meet along with coaches and officials.

ADMINISTRATION

Jail authorities asked to arrange for education of women inmates
Chandigarh, January 1
With a view to provide proper education to women prisoners lodged in the Model Burail Jail, the Adviser to the UT Administration, Ms Neeru Nanda, today directed the jail authorities to make appropriate arrangement of teachers and other facilities required for them. Stressing upon the need to take care of children, who were lodged in jail along with their mothers, Ms Nanda also directed jail authorities to provide special food, toys and education to these children.

Private firm starts octroi collection
SAS Nagar, January 1
A private octroi contractor started work in the township here today. The firm, Amandeep and Ved Prakash Private Limited, deployed its men at the 11 octroi posts along with the staff of the Municipal Council.

ADC is SDM also
Chandigarh, January 1
Making a minor administrative reshuffle, the Chandigarh Administration gave the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr I.S. Sandhu, the charge of Subdivisional Magistrate (Central) to replace Mr Prithi Chand who has been repatriated to his parent cadre of Punjab. The work of SDM will be conducted by Mr Sandhu in addition to his existing duties.