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Admn pulls down 50 structures
Move uncalled for, say shopkeepers
Chandigarh, September 15
Acting tough on shopkeepers doing business along the Chandigarh- Zirakpur road, a demolition squad of the Chandigarh Administration today bulldozed over 50 structures in 30 acres in Raipur Khurd and Behlana villages here.

The structure of a marble shop being pulled down during a demolition drive at Raipur Khurd village on Thursday. — Tribune photo  by Manoj Mahajan

Charges force Housefed to cancel scheme
Chandigarh, September 15
In the wake of the alleged favouritism in the acceptance of application forms for the allotment of six-storeyed flats in Ludhiana, Housefed, Punjab, today cancelled its ambitious scheme and decided to allot the flats through the draw of lots.

LPG-leak blast leaves 3 hurt Chandigarh, September 15 An explosion caused by leakage in an LPG cylinder at Mani Majra left three persons injured including one seriously, this morning. The explosion at a jewellery shop in the main bazaar was so powerful that it threw the victims about 12 ft away and ripped apart the shutter, the police said. A police officer examines a jewellery shop in Mani Majra after a blast in it on Thursday.  — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Stars pitch in for film city in UT
Chandigarh, September 15
The whisper for a film city and acting institute at Chandigarh has started gathering momentum with several noted names in Bollywood coming openly in support of the proposed work here.

Passing Thru
Sandip Mukherjee, president, Coffee Day Xpress. 

COMMUNITY

Traffic cops plan ‘Monday morning surprise checks’
Chandigarh, September 15
It’s a surprise which is going to be far from pleasant, at least for the law breakers in the city. In an attempt to check traffic violations in the early hours, the Chandigarh Police plans to carry out special “Monday morning surprise checks” in different parts of the city every week.

Police announces reward for rescuer
Chandigarh, September 15
The Inspector General of Chandigarh Police today announced a commendation certificate and a cash prize of Rs 1,000 for Kirandeep Kaur for rescuing a boy from drowning in Sukhna Lake last evening.

Parties demand Vidhan Sabha for city
Chandigarh, September 15
Local political parties today demanded the revival of the post of the Chief Commissioner and the creation of the Vidhan Sabha for the city. In a representation to the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Home Ministry, the Samajwadi Party, the CPI, the CPM, the NCP, the BSP, the SAD, the RPI, the Janata Party and the JD(U) demanded the immediate revival of the post of Chief Commissioner.

PUDA to construct Mohali city centre

Mohali, September 15 After almost a year of inaction, the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) would now be undertaking the construction of the city centre in Phase VIII here. A decision regarding the agency that would take up the construction of the world class city centre had been hanging fire almost ever since the first set of designs had been finalised by the renowned architect B.V. Doshi.

The Mohali city centre designed by B.V. Doshi.

MC staff protest against councillor’s misbehaviour
Mohali, September 15
A dharna was organised by the Joint Action Committee of the local Municipal Council here today in protest against the behaviour of a municipal councillor. Condemning the behaviour of the municipal councillor, Mr Manjit Singh Sethi, the protesters raised slogans against him.

Streamline migration of labour, says expert
Chandigarh, September 15
Global demographic data indicates that India will have a much younger workforce long after working populations in other countries has declined and the present trends in migration can be linearly extrapolated into the future. In this backdrop Secretary, Ministry of Oversea Indians Affairs, Mr S. Krishna Kumar stressed upon an urgent need to develop a macro-economic perspective on migration of workers from India.

Spare a thought for senior citizens: seminar

Chandigarh, September 15 The Chandigarh Senior Citizens’ Association organised a seminar, “Towards a Caring Society,” today as part of their month-long celebrations to commemorate Senior Citizens’ Day on October 1. Dr Rajesh Gill delivers a lecture at a seminar organised by the Chandigarh Senior Citizens’ Association at Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

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Riding his way into nature’s lap
Chandigarh, September 15
Lure for adventure, coupled with love for nature has brought this man back to India time and again. And because he does not want to miss out on anything, he travels in the lap of Mother Nature at a slow pace - actually peddling his way through the Himalayas on his bicycle. Sleeping in hutments, eating ‘dhaba’ food and in the process achieving what most people would yearn for - rising in their own esteem. But that is not all, Jatinder Bedi, born in Chandigarh and now an Australian national, has achieved the distinction of peddling all the way to the world’s highest pass Khardung-la.

Homage paid to martyrs on Raising Day

Chandigarh, September 15 A solemn wreath laying ceremony to pay homage to martyrs marked the 58th Raising Day of Western Command at Chandimandir near here today. The GOC-in-C Western Command, Lieut-Gen S. Pattabhiraman, presents the  GOC-in-C’s unit citation to the Commanding Officer of 118 Engineers, Col Manoj Kumar, and Sub Maj J.K. Tiwari at Chandimandir on Thursday.

Graft in defence deals disastrous: GoC-in-C
Chandigarh, September 15
Terming the reported instances of corruption in defence deals as “disastrous” for the modernisation of the armed forces, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lieut-Gen S. Pattabhiraman said several projects were pending with the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for approval.

Sector 6 roads a motorist’s nightmare
Panchkula, September 15
The Municipal Council can actually earn revenue from motor companies by leasing out road stretches in Sector 6 for their use as “shock absorber testing tracks”! Once regarded as the VIP Sector of the town, where former and present ministers, top retired defense officials and former and serving bureaucrats had their houses, the Sector today is a scene of utter neglect when it comes to the civic amenities.

Help empower have-nots, Governor asks Infosys
Chandigarh, September 15
Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator, while interacting with a delegation of Infosys, led by its Senior Vice-President, Mr H.R. Binod, here today, called for making Chandigarh Technology Park a research laboratory for the development of innovative techniques in the fields of education, medicine and the social service sector and their subsequent application for reaching the have-nots.

Applications invited under PM Rozgar Yojana
Chandigarh, September 15
The Chandigarh Department of Industries has invited applications under the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) from unemployed youth, who are between the 18-35 age group. The minimum academic qualification is Class VIII.

Bir Devinder reviews development works
Mohali, September 15
The MLA, Kharar, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, today took a round of the township to review the various development works being carried out by various agencies. A team of government officials from PUDA and the Municipal Council accompanied the MLA while he visited the various parks and public offices in Mohali.

Meet-the-Press on Sept 17

CRIME

Love for luxury landed them in jail

Panchkula, September 15 A management graduate, a law graduate, a former Mr Punjab (body building and modelling title holder); and a car mechanic have landed in the jail. After stealing cars from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, the foursome’s fancy for “living it up” finally landed them in the police net. Special staff of the Panchkula police with the four car thieves on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

3 booked for taking loan on fake papers
Chandigarh, September 15
Acting on a complaint forwarded by the Delhi Financial Corporation, the local police has booked three persons on the allegations of obtaining a loan of Rs 10 lakh by producing fake documents.

Pak national held for illegal stay
Panchkula, September 15
Poverty in his motherland has forced a Pakistani national to risk his life and stay on in India illegally, and earn a livelihood. The Pakistani national, Shauqat Ali, has been arrested by the police from Khangesara village. He has been arrested for illegally staying in the country without valid documents.

2 power theft cases in Ind Area
Chandigarh, September 15
The Enforcement Wing of the Electricity Department of the Chandigarh Administration today detected two cases of power theft in a surprise raid carried out in the Industrial Area here today.

One held on rape charge
Mohali, September 15
The police here has arrested one person on the charge of rape. The accused Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Siau village was “caught” with a girl of the same village yesterday. The neighbours raised an alarm and the parents of the victim lodged a complaint with the police following which the boy was arrested.

Woman looted

BUSINESS

Biz Clips
Watch care centre
Chandigarh, September 15
Titan Industries Limited today opened its first service boutique — Watch Care Centre — in the city. Talking to mediapersons after inaugurating it in Sector 17 yesterday, Mr Sandeep Kulhalli, Business Head, Retail Services Group, Titan Industries Ltd, said it would help in meeting the service and repair needs of customers, all under one roof.

EDUCATION

Experts dwell on role of NGOs
Chandigarh, September 15
The Centre for Adult Continuing Education and Extension (CACEE) in association with EduCARE India organised a seminar on “Literacy and Sustainable Development” at the ICSSR Hall, Panjab University, today.

Rajiv Gandhi Chair at PU
Chandigarh, September 15
Panjab University is one of the 10 universities in the country to have been selected by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India, to set up a Rajiv Gandhi Chair in Contemporary Studies. It has been decided to set up a Centre for Contemporary Studies in the university. 

GMSSS-46 gets top position in small savings

Chandigarh, September 15 Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, won the overall best position in small savings under the special scheme of the Directorate of Small Savings for the city schools. Mr S.K. Sandhu, Finance Secretary, UT, gives away the overall best position award under the special scheme of the Directorate of Small Savings to Mr R.S. Goraya, DEO, at a function held at the Government College of Education, Chandigarh, on Thursday.

Journalist’s vision for PU
Chandigarh, September 15
Preparedness for change, restructuring of courses, provision of hi-tech classrooms, technical facilities extending to hostels, canteens and eateries, emphasis on sports and recreational activities, converting Student Centre into a multiplex functional centre, pro-active interface with industry, media houses and healthier contact with NRI alumni formed part of the vision spelt out by Resident Editor, Hindustan Times, Kanwar Sandhu, to the Panjab University fraternity here today.

Students visit post office
Mohali, September 15
Students of Shemrock Senior Secondary School here visited the post office, in Sector 62. They went there to study how the post office works and how to post invitation cards to their grandparents to invite them on the Grand parents Day, which they are going to celebrate on September 19 on the school premises.

CULTURE

New Releases ‘James’ — action-packed thriller A consummate craftsman, Ram Gopal Varma and his production company ‘Factory’ have been front-runners in launching newcomers. After ‘D’ and ‘Sarkar’, Varma is ready to take centrestage with ‘James’ launching another Haryanvi Mohit Ahlawat. Mohit teams up with sultry Delhite Nisha Kothari. This one is a small-budget entertainer and is considered a ‘safe’ bet going by its buzz with the youth. Nisha Kothari in ‘James’.

LEISURE

‘Kumara Swami’ — grand finale to National Drama Festival

The fifth National Drama Festival-2005 concluded with the immaculate staging of a Hindi play, “Kumara Swami”, at the Tagore Theatre here by the Nishtha Sanskritik Manch, Gurgaon. A scene from the play, ‘Kumara Swami’, directed by Prof Sanjay Bhasin at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh, on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Punjabi singer sues Super Cassettes

A Punjabi folk singer and lyric writer has filed a case against Super Cassettes Industries Ltd. (T-Series) for allegedly using a song written by him, as part of an album, “Husn” released by T-Series and sung by Surjit Khan, without his permission.   Gurtej Tej at a press conference in Chandigarh. — A Tribune photograph

Sahara’s film blitzkrieg soon
Sahara One Television has reiterated its mission to bring to its viewers only the biggest and the best. It has decided to dazzle viewers with world TV premieres of several Bollywood movies, including some of the biggest and most popular hit films of the year.

Entries pour in for Mrs India
The countdown to the Gladrags Mrs India Contest 2005 has begun. Entries have begun pouring in, as the closing date is just 15 days away, September 30 after which Mrs. Maureen Wadia, Managing Editor, Gladrags Magazine, will conduct the selections in Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. 

HEALTH

10 ‘delivery huts’ to be set up
Panchkula, September 15
With a view to reducing the maternal mortality rate (MMR) and the infant mortality rate (IMR) by promoting institutional deliveries, the local health authorities have decided to set up 10 “prasuti greha” (delivery huts) in the district. The first delivery hut at Ramgarh will be inaugurated next week.

SPORTS

India (u-19) cruise to 7-wkt win
Mohali, September 15
Valiant 70 not out by I.G. Pradeep enabled India (under-19) crush Punjab (under-19) by seven wickets in a practice match at PCA Stadium here today. Put to bat first by India, the Punjab team lost first wicket at seven runs after Ishan Dogra was caught by Anirudh Srikant off Mahesh.

Western Air Command clinch hockey title

Chandigarh, September 15 Western Air Command beat South West Air Command 1-0 in the final of the Air Force Hockey Championship at the hockey stadium in Sector 42 here today. Sukhwinder of the WAC being tackled by a SWAC player during the final of the Air Force Hockey Championship at Sector 42 stadium, Chandigarh, on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Easy win for MCM DAV
Chandigarh, September 15
The local MCM DAV College for Women defeated Dev Samaj College for Women Ferozepore by 27-07 in the ongoing Panjab University Inter Zonal Handball (Women) tournament at Panjab University here today.

Three-day kabaddi tourney
Mohali, September 15
The Baidwan Sports Club, Sohana, will organise a three-day kabaddi tournament at the grounds near Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan here from September 23 to 25. Over 150 teams of different clubs and villages are expected to take part in the tournament.

Boxing meet from October 1
Chandigarh, September 15
The two-day 20th Chandigarh State Sub-Junior Boxing Championship will be held at Sports Complex, Sector 42, on October 1 and 2. Boxers born between 1990 and 1994 are eligible to participate in the championship, which would be held in weight categories from 36 kg to 86 kg.

• 11-member team for boxing meet

Tennis title for city lad
Chandigarh, September 15
Top seed Shiva Sangwan of Chandigarh got the better of third seed Bibaswan Deb in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 in the boys’ Under-14 singles final to lift the Nike Junior Tour — AITA Tennis title at the BTA Complex, Kolkata, today. Earlier, Shiva Sangwan defeated Kaza Vinayak Sarma of Andhra Pradesh 6-1, 6-1.