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18 villages get new panchayats
ASI among 5 hurt in Kishangarh village clash
Chandigarh, December 23
Five persons were hurt at Kishangarh village when supporters of the newly elected sarpanch, Sitaram, were allegedly attacked with batons and pelted with stones by supporters of his rival Dharampal after the declaration of poll results of 17 panchayats.

HUDA nets Rs 20.86 cr in auction
Panchkula, December 23
The Haryana Urban Development Authority today auctioned 39 commercial sites. Though the previous auction of commercial sites on September 29 was one of the most successful auctions in Panchkula over the past two years, today’s auction fetched Rs 20. 86 crore for HUDA.

12-yr-old lies unattended at PGI emergency
Chandigarh, December 23
Writhing in pain, 12-year-old Deepak is lying unattended on a stretcher in a corner of the PGI emergency for the last three days. His agony has failed to evoke any compassion from doctors, who have not bothered to examine him even once.

FLASHBACK ‘03 CRIME
Suicides, contract killings new phenomena
Chandigarh, December 23
Data speaks volumes of the Chandigarh Police curbing heinous crime but yet unheard of contract killing, seizure of 80 kg of drugs, criminal activities of Tota and his gang and extortion being carried out from jail create apprehensions about organised crime knocking at the door in future.

Taking dyslexia seriously Chandigarh, December, 22 Over the past, India has started taking the lesser known realm of learning disabilities like dyslexia more seriously. The need to understand this realm arises from the complicated nature of the learning difficulty in question and also from the fact that 10 to 12 per cent kids attending normal schools are dyslexic, from mild to severe degree. Dyslexia is a syndrome in which a child faces hardship in conveying what he knows or feels. Shaila P. Vora

Towards heat resistant structures
Chandigarh, December 23
An American scientist of Indian origin has suggested that the impact of the 9/11 terrorist strike on the World Trade Center in New York could have been reduced had some of the technological innovations offered by nanotechnology been used during the construction of the twin towers.

Vigyan Rail showcases scientific progress Chandigarh, December 23 Platform No 3 at the Chandigarh Railway Station is seeing a lot of young visitors these days. The Vigyan Rail, which showcases the achievements of the country in different fields of science and technology, is attracting a large number of people. Students board Vigyan Rail
A view of the Vigyan Rail — Science Exhibition on Wheels, which is showing at the Chandigarh Railway Station. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

COMMUNITY

Mohali to showcase soul of Punjab
Rs 2-cr landscape project ready to preserve culture
Mohali, December 23
The Municipal Council has drawn up an ambitious landscaping project estimated to cost nearly Rs 2 crore aimed at preserving the cultural heritage of Punjab. The plan, which had been cleared by the council president and is to be presented at the next general house meeting of the civic body, envisages a colourful display of the rich heritage of the state which is threatened by the onslaught of modernisation.

Ready Built Space at technology park Chandigarh, December 23 The bhoomi pujan ceremony for Ready Built Space at Chandigarh Technology Park was held today at the park site near Kishangarh, here, by the Adviser to the UT Administrator, Mr Lalit Sharma. Ready Built Space is to be constructed by a joint-venture company, DLF Info City Developers.   Mr Lalit Sharma performs bhoomi poojan at the IT park, Chandigarh, on Tuesday.

Application of nanotechnology stressed
Chandigarh, December 23
India needs to focus on application of nanotechnology to develop new products and upgrade the existing products to improve the quality of life in the country. This was one of the recommendations of a panel at the end of the two-day Conference on Nanotechnology (ICON-2003) organised by the Indian National Academy of Engineering at the CSIO, Chandigarh.

Panchkula Diary
Safai karamcharis threaten stir
Panchkula, December 23
Safai karamcharis have again threatened to go on strike from tomorrow on the issue of payment of minimum notified daily wages. The karamcharis have alleged that they were called by contractors in Sector 29, Chandigarh, and forced to sign documents, promising to take only Rs 1,400 as monthly wages.

619 ITBP recruits join as Himveers Chandigarh, December 23 Six hundred and nineteen recruits of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, today formally joined as Himveers after an impressive oath-taking ceremony and passing-out parade. Mr K.J. Singh, Additional Director-General, CRPF, shakes hand with Cadet, General Duty, Mohammad Israel, recipient of the best drill award.

Readers Write
A dream-turned-nightmare
A few years ago, the then administrator of the HUDA, Panchkula, had cherished a dream of transforming the town into “Paris of the East”. A great dream it was and it has remained a dream till today. Panchkula, with its many parks and well-planned roads, has the basic ingredients to be a model city.

Goods destroyed in fire
Panchkula, December 23
Goods worth thousands of rupees were destroyed in a fire at a catering unit workshop in Industrial Area, Phase II, at about 1 a.m. today. It is learnt that a short circuit in the unit, a workshop of Parco Caterers which runs Wah Dilli in Sector 5, had led to the fire.

• SAD reinducts Harjinder Kaur

• Clarification

EDUCATION

Saint Soldier’s School celebrates founder’s day Chandigarh, December 23 An inter-school shabad-kirtan contest marked the founder’s day celebrations at Saint Soldier’s School, Sector 28, here today. The function began with the bhog ceremony of the three-day akhand path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Students of Blue Bird School, Sector 16, Chandigarh, celebrate Christmas on Tuesday. —Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma.

Management students visit Tribune office
Chandigarh, December 23
Students of the Jagan Institute of Management Studies, New Delhi, visited The Tribune office here today. First-year students of the two branches of the institute in Delhi and Jaipur went around the office to understand the working of the newspaper, its organisational set up and the printing process.

AET results declared
Chandigarh, December 23
The Arya Bhatta Educational Society, Sector 39, declared the result of AET-2003 preliminary examination here today. The test was conducted on November 30 for students of class V to XII of various schools in the region.

Students celebrate Christmas Mohali, December 23 Christmas was celebrated with great fun and frolic by students of Golden Bells Public School, Sohana, near here, today. Christmas trees were colourfully decorated with bunting, balloons and twinkling bells.   Students of Golden Bells Public School, Sohana, celebrate Christmas on Tuesday.

Director inspects NSS camp
Mohali, December 23
The ongoing 10 day NSS camp at Government College was inspected by the Director, Youth Services, Punjab and State Liaison Officer, NSS, Mr S.M. Kant, here today.

COURTS

Notice to Parle Biscuits
Panchkula, December 23
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum here today issued a notice to M/s Parle Biscuits Private Ltd, Mumbai, in a case relating to contamination of Parle-G biscuits. The notice has been issued for January 21, 2004, directing the company to appear and file a reply in this regard.

Appeal admitted
Chandigarh, December 23
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has admitted an appeal filed by a Delhi-based organisation, Balaji Disposals, regarding the sale of Oswal Agro Furane Limited’s assets. Taking up the appeal, a Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice N.K. Sud and Mr Justice J.S. Narang also directed the respondents — KRBL Limited not to alienate the company’s assets.

CULTURE

Shiamak’s students weave magic Chandigarh, December 23 If the indulgent dance instructors from the Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts had their way, they would spin the whole world into dancing motions. Shiamak’s ‘supernatural’ link
Participants jive away to glory at a function organised at Tagore Theatre by Shiamak Davar’s instructors and the Durga Das Foundation on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

LIFESTYLE

Win her over with cute gifts this Xmas

Love is an island of emotions surrounded by sea of expenses. If you don’t believe it, ask Sameer. After scratching his dandruff-coated poor little head for days together, he has just picked up an impressive Christmas tree with his miser fingers. Had to pull out two thousand bucks from his worn out wallet. But was worth it. His college-going baby is still with him. Santa is still the favourite gift. — Photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Indian Ocean to kick off SJOBA fest
The much awaited SJOBA (St John's Old Boys Association) winter fest is all set to roll from Wednesday, with a special presentation by acclaimed fusion band, Indian Ocean on the St John's premises

Fitness Trail For that lean and hungry look, get hold of a pro
Fitness is the latest mantra to cope up with the modern-day stress-laden life. More and more of couch and executive-chair potatoes are realising the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle and are jumping on to the fitness bandwagon. Jogging, aerobics, pumping iron, yoga you name it and they are at it. Sunny during a workout session at Hotel KC Crossroads in Panchkula. — A Tribune photograph

It’s my life
I want to help the needy
From my childhood I had the urge to help the needy. I have donated blood 13 times and even today when I get to know that someone is in need of blood, I try to make arrangements for it. At times financial help is also provided. To fulfil this urge, I joined the Rotract Club, Chandigarh, and today I am its President.

Harpreet Singh, MBA student, Gian Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology, Mohali

HEALTH

Arthritis patients suffer winter blues
Chandigarh, December 23
Come winters and the number of patients suffering from joint, spine and neck pain shoot up in hospitals. The plight of those already suffering from problems like arthritis and spondylitis is even worse, as even slight exposure to the cold leaves them with stiff muscles, almost restricting their movement.

SPORTS

City team for national tae kwon do meet Chandigarh, December 23 Chandigarh will take part in the Eighteenth National Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Championship going to be held in Mumbai from December 25. The city team has been trained by Gurpreet Singh Dhillon, Technical Director and President of the Tae Kwon Do Association of Chandigarh. Winners of The Tribune Staff Carrom Tournament, which concluded on the office premises in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Shivalik School gears up for gymnastics meet
Chandigarh, December 23
For the first time in the history of Mohali the Chandigarh Gymnastics Association will hold the Senior National Gymnastics Championship in the township. The five-day event, which is being held after a gap of more than 25 years, will be staged in a huge indoor hall at Shivalik Public School, Phase VI, from December 27.

Dropped cager rues body’s decision
Chandigarh, December 23
Politics between two warring factions of coaches in a local basketball association has taken its toll. The victim is Navneet Kaur, an upcoming state-level basketball player who has been representing the city in various basketball nationals for the past more than six years.

ADMINISTRATION

Excise dept raids garment shops
Chandigarh, December 23
A team of officials of the Excise and Taxation Department, UT, today raided the premises of six shopkeepers in Sector 17 dealing in readymade and woollen garments. Goods worth Rs 50 lakh that were not shown in the account books were unearthed.

Dhabas removed
Mohali, December 23
The municipal council removed illegal dhabas which had come up in front of the Punjab School Education Board office in Phase VIII here today.