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Ponty & Co. corner city liquor vends
Chandigarh, March 29
The Chandigarh Administration has netted Rs 83.09 crore from the auction of 78 liquor vends today, recording a jump of Rs 9.32 crore. The phenomenal jump of Rs 9.32 crore in the bid money is just next to the rise of Rs 9.59 crore witnessed in 1997-98 when prohibition was imposed in Haryana.

Prices to go up
Chandigarh, March 29
Prices of liquor and beer are set to rise next week in the city as the liquor trade in the city fell in the hands of the cartel of liquor traders with Ponty Chadda, Manjinder Singh (a nephew of Amrik Singh, a Punjab MLA) and Pawan Singla being the main leaders of the group.

15 pc seats for poor in private schools
Chandigarh, March 29
In a major policy change, the Chandigarh Administration has decided to reserve 15 per cent of seats for students belonging to economically weaker sections of society in private schools, which were allotted land on concessional rates in the past.

Kathak queen who minces no words
Chandigarh, March 29
It’s hard to believe Sitara Devi has 83 long years behind her. The fire in the rebel is still intact; the pride of performance still very much there. Ask the kathak queen what has changed about her life, and trust her to tell you, “We would not be, if we changed…”

Pak tourists looted in Delhi, taxi driver let off without case
Chandigarh, March 29
Even as citizens of India and Pakistan were enjoying the fruits of new-found bonhomie between them, unscrupulous elements also tried to make the most of the situation.

Call it quits Sourav, say fans
The verdict is clear: Sourav Ganguly should quit as captain of the Indian cricket team. Of the cross section of cricket buffs that the Chandigarh Tribune interviewed, very few rallied behind Sourav. However, the anger against him for losing the third Test is palpable.

• Passing Thru

COMMUNITY

UT to have home for women in difficult circumstances
Social Welfare Dept will raise the shelter in Nari Niketan complex Chandigarh, March 29 Chandigarh has finally decided to wake up to cause of women in difficult circumstances. If the latest commitment of the Social Welfare Department, UT, is anything to go by, the city will soon have the much needed shelter for women who find themselves grappling with a life of indignity due to circumstances other than law.
Mrs Jean Rodrigues, wife of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gen SF Rodrigues (retd), interacts with heads of women’s organisation after laying the foundation stone of the second phase of Working Women’s Hostel in Sector 24 on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Govt asks MC to hike water, sewerage rates
Mohali,l March 29
The Municipal Council here has been directed to hike water and sewerage rates in the town according to a notification issued by the government. The issue is likely to be put at the council meeting to be held in the first week of April.

Paid parking imposed in more Sectors
Chandigarh, March 29
The Municipal Corporation has decided to impose paid parking in Sectors 22, 34 and 35 at its monthly meeting here today. The provision for paid parking in the city already exists in Sectors 8, 9 and 17.

Sector 17 sanitation privatisation deferred Chandigarh, March 29 The Municipal Corporation has deferred the privatisation of sanitation in Sector 17. A decision in this regard was taken today following a meeting of Mrs Santosh Chaudhary, chairperson of the National Commission of Safai Karamcharis, with Mr P.S. Aujla and Mrs Anu Chatrath, Commissioner and Mayor of the Municipal Corporation, respectively.

Mrs Santosh Chaudhary, Chairperson of the National Commission on Safai Karamcharis, at a press conference in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

MC meeting — a mismanaged affair
Chandigarh, March 29
The monthly meeting of the municipal corporation here today was a mismanaged affair. The House was scheduled to meet at 11 am. The meeting coincided with the visit of Mrs Santosh Chaudhary, chairperson of the National Commission of Safai Karamcharis.

Fading Red evokes little passion Chandigarh, March 29 The mass rally of the CPI on the eve of its 19th congress at the Parade Ground, Sector 17, here today evoked a moderate response clearly indicating that communism is fast losing its charm in the region. Comrades in high spirits: Communist workers buy their quota of liquor from a Sector 22 wine shop in Chandigarh on Tuesday after the CPI rally. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

5 habitual offenders set to lose driving licences
Chandigarh, March 29
The Chandigarh Traffic police has recommended the suspension of licences of five habitual offenders (including three, who are disqualified for the second time for traffic offences) under Section 19 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, for one to two months from April 1.

Electronic eyes to watch HUDA working
Panchkula, March 29
In an effort to control corruption in Haryana Urban Development Authority, the Administrator, Panchkula, Mrs Neelam P. Kasni, has decided to install closed circuit televisions all around the office.

Brar’s boycott a hasty step, says Cong leader
Mohali, March 29
The call for the boycott of Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, senior Congress leader, by the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and few others was a hasty step and against the constitution of the party.

Surjewala inspects bus stand
Panchkula, March 29
The Haryana Transport Minister, Mr Randeep Surjewala, today inspected the bus stand at Panchkula and also saw Volvo bus to see if this luxury bus could be introduced in the state.

DC orders relief for girl’s marriage
Chandigarh, March 29
The Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh, Mr Arun Kumar, has ordered a relief of Rs 10,000 out of the UT Red Cross funds for the marriage of the daughter of Mr Madan Lal, a resident of Ram Darbar.

150 illegal structures razed Chandigarh, March 29 The Estate Office today demolished around 150 illegal structures, including a religious and 70 commercial ones, for allegedly violating the Periphery Control Act in Dhanas Village. Illegal structures being removed at Dhanas in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Traffic disrupted after accident
Zirakpur, March 29
Traffic at the intersection of Chandigarh-Ambala and Panchkula-Patiala highways was disrupted for over half-an-hour following an accident involving the car of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Una and an Army truck.

43 postal employees honoured
Chandigarh, March 29
A facilitation function to honour postal employees of Punjab circle for their services in the promotion of International Money Transfer Service was held here today.

Panchkula resident wins Rs 1 lakh
Chandigarh, March 29
Mr Parveen Attray, a resident of Panchkula, was today announced the winner of Rs 1 lakh in the "Airtel STD Ghumao Lakh Rupay Pao" offer.

CRIME

Trader found hanging in hotel room
Wrote ‘suicide’ note to Badal
Chandigarh, March 29
Drained by a property dispute, a 42-year-old Nawanshahr trader here today ended his life leaving behind the responsibility of his 4 children and wife on Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal and others.

Burglars strike at industrial units
Mohali, March 29
Burglars took away cash and jewellery from two units in the Industrial Area here. They broke open some locks in three more units but were not successful to take away goods from there.

Two accident victims dead
Lalru, March 29
Two youths, Sanjiv Kumar and Raj Kumar, both residents of Vichpari locality in Ambala City, who were admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh, after they sustained injures in an accident on the Kalka-Ambala highway near Jharmari village, succumbed to their injuries last night.

Four vehicles stolen
Chandigarh, March 29
Two jeeps, one car and a scooter were stolen from the city during the past 48 hours while the police arrested three persons accused of stealing in three different cases, as per the information released by the local police, here, today.

4 arrested for playing satta
Zirakpur, March 29
The deputy director of Punjab State Lotteries, today conducted a raid at various lottery vends in Zirakpur and arrested four persons for playing satta in the guise of the state lottery tickets.

• 11 arrested for playing satta

Impersonator dupes attorney’s mother
Chandigarh, March 29
A man duped an old woman of Rs 100 at her Sector 19-C residence today by posing himself as a peon working at her son’s office.

BUSINESS

Traders to go on 2-day strike against VAT
Chandigarh, March 29
A two-day strike will be observed at the Grain Market beginning tomorrow to protest against the implementation of VAT in the city from April 1. Local traders will hoist black flags in markets, wear black badges and hold demonstrations in their respective markets to express their resentment.

Canara Bank’s gesture
Chandigarh, March 29
Mr Y.L. Madan, General Manager, Canara Bank, circle office, handed over 18 mattresses to the Society for the Care of the Blind, Sector 26. The bank, which is engaged in such social activities has already donated goods worth Rs 2.5 lakh and cash worth Rs 1 lakh from this circle in the current year.

EDUCATION

Intellectual vigour marks PU conference
Chandigarh, March 29
The two-day conference on ‘Landmarks on the American Scene —Then and Now’ held by the MELUS-India in collaboration with the Department of English, Panjab University, Chandigarh, concluded here today.

Lecturers move CAT against ‘unfair promotions’
Chandigarh, March 29
Lecturers in Government Colleges, who have been appointed through the Union Public Service Commission, have moved the Central Administrative Tribunal over the decision by the Chandigarh Administration to grant Class B status to the section of lecturers whose service were regularised in 1996.

Home science college students get degrees
Chandigarh, March 29
The annual convocation of Government Home Science College, Sector 10, was held on the college premises here today. The Home-cum-Education Secretary, Mr Krishan Mohan, was the chief guest.

Doon Public School’s craft exhibition
Panchkula, March 29
The two-day annual Art and craft Exhibition at Doon Public School, Sector 21, concluded here today. The creations of the students prepared throughout the year, including wall paintings in oil, crayons, posters, pencils, pastels, greeting cards, broken pots, paper machie, broken tiles, candles, have been displayed.

DPS chips in for tsunami relief
Chandigarh, March 29
The students and staff of Delhi Public School, Sector 40, in Chandigarh pooled in their resources to collect Rs 2,22,724 for those affected by the tsunami that struck the Indian coastline on December 26 last year.

Workshop on spoken English
Chandigarh, March 29
A month-long workshop on ‘Spoken English and personality development’ is being organised by the Centre for Adult, Continuing Education and Extension, Panjab University.

Protest over roll numbers
Chandigarh, March 29
Nearly 80 students who were not issued roll numbers by Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector-26, staged a protest today.

COURTS

High Court notice on MC chief’s plea
Chandigarh, March 29
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion for March 31 on a petition filed by Panchkula Municipal Council President Seema Chaudhary.

Jailbreak case: charges to be framed on April 5
Chandigarh, March 29
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Balbir Singh, today fixed April 5 for the framing of charges in the Burail jailbreak case.

LEISURE

On strings for ages Pt Mani Lal Nag, along with Sitara Devi, the illustrious kathak dancer from Banaras gharana will receive the first Madal Lal Koser and Shobha Koser award tomorrow at the Tagore Theatre. In the run up to the award ceremony which will also feature dance and music recitals, the celebrated artistes were present in person to share their notes on life in general and music in particular. Sitar player Pt Mani Lal Nag deliberates on various aspects of music during his visit to Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Fest dedicated to Kaifi Azmi begins today
The Punjab chapter of the Indian People's Theatre Association is organising a four-day festival in the city in which delegates from 40 countries will be participating. This was disclosed by Sanjivan Singh, secretary-general, IPTA, at a press conference held at the Punjab Book Centre.

Pangs of Partition brought alive “Haadson se mujhe jis shey ne bachaaya hoga, vo meri maa ki duaaon ka hi saaya hoga.” The couplet from Shams Tabrezi is a tribute to motherhood which found its illustration in the play “Ek Safar Dard Ka” at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh on Monday. A scene from “Ek Safar Dard Ka” staged at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

NRI kathak dancer enthrals audience Learning kathak from the age of five under the tutelage of Guru Ghanshyam Gangani, London-based young danseuse Richa Gupta, has performed extensively and her maiden concert at the Pracheen Kala Kendra today was nevertheless captivating. She felt elated as kathak queen Sitara Devi, the chief guest, and Sitar wizard Mani Lal Nag complimented her.   London-based kathak dancer Richa Gupta performing at Pracheen Kala Kendra in Sector 35 on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

HEALTH

Blood  donation  camp held
Mohali, March 29
A blood donation camp was organised by the Punjab School Education Board Employees Blood Donors Society here today. The camp was inaugurated by the Chairman of the board, Prof Harbans Singh Sidhu. More than 100 units of the blood was collected by the blood bank team.

SPORTS

Kabaddi  included in World Masters Games
Chandigarh, March 29
Kabaddi has been included as showcase sports in the World Masters Games to be held at Edmonton (Canada) from July 22 to 31. This has been conveyed to Mr Kartar Singh, Director, Sports Punjab, by Gene Zwozdesky, Associate Chairman, World Masters Games.

Dev Samaj College sports meet Chandigarh, March 29 The annual sports meet of Dev Samaj College of education, Sector 36, was held today. It was declared open by Ms Dolly Dhaiya, Deputy Director Sports, after she took salute from the students contingents. Girls try hard to win the tug of war at the annual sports day at Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

ADMINISTRATION

Ban orders in Panchkula
Panchkula, March 29
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Brijendra Singh, has urged candidates for panches, sarpanches, panchayat samiti and Zila Parishad elections, to follow the instruction of the Election Commission and not paste posters or election-related matetial on any private or government property.