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Delhi firm pockets 5.39 acre plot for making flats
Decisive bid of Rs 108.01 crore
Chandigarh, November 28
It took a whopping Rs 108.01 crore for Delhi-based Uppal Housing Private Limited to pocket the coveted 5.39 acre plot in Mani Majra for construction of multi-storeyed flats here today, in the first-ever highest-bid auction of a housing society.

UT may ban dharnas at Matka Chowk
Chandigarh, November 28
The Chandigarh Administration is seriously contemplating shifting the venue of dharnas to an alternate venue than the existing one at Matka Chowk (intersection of Sectors 9-10-16-17).

Golden glory: Migratory birds have landed in the Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh, from different parts of the country. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Passing Thru

CHANDIGARH CALLING Theatre blooms in the slums: Theatre Age, voluntary group, is seeking greater public cooperation for financing its activity for welfare of slum children. The only source of its funding is the money received through sale of waste newspaper given by the contributors.

COMMUNITY

Sec-15 deaths: probe moves at snail’s pace
Chandigarh, November 28
Even though almost two weeks have lapsed since the bodies of Madhur Bala and her two sons were discovered in a Sector-15 house, the Chandigarh Police has not been able to establish a contact with her family in Meerut.

Fulbright review conference begins

Chandigarh, November 28 A heady mix of intellectuals from different backgrounds, bringing together their knowledge, cultural diversity and professional expertise set the ball rolling for the two-day Fulbright review conference entitled “Fulbrighters: Cultural Ambassadors,” for Fulbrighters in South Asia at Hotel Mountview this morning. Participants at the two-day Fulbright review conference entitled “Fulbrighters: Cultural Ambassadors,” for Fulbrighters in South Asia at Hotel Mountview in Chandigarh on Monday.

New promotion policy results in super session of officers
Chandigarh, November 28
Changes brought about in the promotion policy for Border Security Force (BSF) officers and the subsequent inability of the force to devise a cadre management system have resulted in a large number of officers being superseded.

Chandigarh leaves fine imprint on German environmentalist’s mind
Chandigarh, November 28
Nek Chand's bevy of junk-men excited him to no end, so was the shoreline of Sukhna Lake. But what Dr Heiner Kluge will take back with him from City Beautiful is the conviction with which Chandigarhians identify themselves with the character of the city and how hard they are trying to keep it preserved.

Mediapersons sensitised about female foeticide

Chandigarh, November 28 While various measures are being taken nationwide to address the problem of declining sex ratio, efforts are also being made in Punjab and Haryana where the sex ratio, according to the census report, was the lowest and various schemes have been launched, this was stated by Dr V.K Goyal, State Nodal Officer on PNDT Act and State Immunisation Officer, at the advocacy-cum-sensitising workshop for mediapersons, organised today by the Voluntary Health Association of Punjab.

Participants at an advocacy-cum-sensitising workshop on sex selection and female foeticide held at ICSSR Seminar Hall, Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

A comedy of con errors
Chandigarh, November 28
Striking a bargain with an "unscrupulous" gas delivery boy has landed a Mohali resident behind bars. It all started when the man, now in trouble, saw a delivery boy allegedly pilfering gas.

Good response to CHB scheme
Chandigarh, November 28
The flats of the Chandigarh Housing Board under a special housing scheme in Sector 49 have witnessed a good response, recording nearly 10 times the number of applicants than the flats available, on the last day here today, sources said.

Celebrating life with serenity
Chandigarh, November 28
At first glance there was no contrast as long flowing tresses, beard, tilak on forehead, flowing white robes and serenity writ large over his visage and reflected in his honey dew voice made Rishi Nityapragya look every inch a guru or a teacher that he is with the Art Of Living organisation.

Put bridles on stray cattle, cry residents

Mohali, November 28 The stray cattle menace has assumed alarming proportions in the town with people continuing to lose their lives or sustain serious injuries in road accidents involving such animals. Stray cattle moving around on the road in Mohali on Monday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

Fauji Beat
Reservation will weaken Army

Almost every year, one politician or the other comes up with the proposal that there should be reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the Army. Reservation in the Army can only be done by lowering its standards of selection. No country can fight a war with soldiers having lower standards. A labrador being trained to walk on a bar.

Auction of hotel site on December 3
Chandigarh, November 28
Mr S.K.Sandhu, Finance Secretary-cum-Secretary Information Technology, said today that the companies, which had already set up five star hotels, would be eligible for participating in the auction of hotel site at the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park (RGCTP) to be held on December 3, by Estate Officer at Hotel Mountview.

Speaking Out
City elated over monorail project
Chandigarh, November 28
The decision to revive the monorail project by the Chandigarh Administration has come as a good news for the residents who have been at the receiving end of the poor public transport system in the tricity.

Lions Club meeting held
Chandigarh, November 28
The Lions Club, Chandigarh Host, organised a meeting at Lions Bhavan, Sector 18, Chandigarh, on Saturday where Lion R.K. Rana, vice District governor of Lions Club International District 321F, paid an official visit. He appreciated the staff of Deaf Dumb Children School being run by the club for the last few decades.

Faux pas by CID
Chandigarh, November 28
The faux pas of CID came to the fore at the district courts here today yet again. While the case filed by the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, against Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was not listed for hearing today, the CID tipped security agencies about the case following which a security ring was thrown around the court complex around 8.30 am.

Auction fails to enthuse bidders
Panchkula, November 28
The auction of sites for shops in sabzi mandi and anaj mandi in Sector 20 failed to enthuse bidders and Mandi Board officials. Of the 63 sites, only one site was auctioned for Rs 81.55 lakh.

Office-bearers elected

CRIME

3 employees of SDM’s office in police custody
Panchkula, November 28
Three employees of licencing and registration branch of SDM office, Panchkula, were arrested today for involvement in the fake registeration of vehicles scam. The three employees — clerks Surat Singh and Surinder Singh and a former Personal Assistant to SDM, Shiv Shankar — were arrested by the police yesterday.

Drive against travel agents
Chandigarh, November 28
The local Crime Branch of the Chandigarh police has launched a special drive against the travel agents indulging in “kabootarbazi” (human trafficking) in the city. As a part of the drive the police today arrested a city-based travel agent on the charges of duping two brothers of Rs 2 lakh on the pretext of sending them abroad.

Judge’s driver held
Panchkula, November 28
District and Sessions Judge Mr Arvind Kumar's driver today barged into the chamber of Chief Judicial Magistrate in an inebriated state and tried to misbehave with the latter.

Scooterist snatches nurse’s purse

BUSINESS

Class II student wins Tata Safari
Chandigarh, November 28
It was a dream come true for a Sector 8 resident and a Class II student of Carmel Convent School, Sector 9, Arshya Mandhar, who won a Tata Safari in the Sector 17 shop fest draw held here last night.

EDUCATION

PU don presents paper at international conference
Chandigarh, November 28
Dr Ravi K. Mahajan, a statistician from the Department of Correspondence Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, presented a paper on “Quality assurance in distance education” at the International Conference on Open Learning and Distance Education held at New Delhi recently.

Students give spirited performance

Chandigarh, November 28 Music reigned and dance ruled on day one of the annual musical extravaganza staged by students of Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, at Tagore Theatre, here today. Students perform at the annual function of Manav Mangal School, Sector 21, at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Dazzling annual fest at school

Chandigarh, November 28 It was a colourful day at Government Girls Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, as students presented a cultural programme to mark the annual prize distribution function organised by the school with the help of parent teacher association, here today. Students at the annual function of Government Girls Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, Chandigarh, on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Annual day celebrations at BRS Dental College

Panchkula, November 28 The 14th annual day function of BRS Dental College and Hospital, Sultanpur village near Panchkula, was celebrated today. Students of the college presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion. Mr N.P.S. Aulakh, Additional Director General, BSF (west), was the chief guest and Mr Dharamveer Gupta, Chairman, SRDC and Hospital, Faridabad, was the guest of honour. Students at the annual day celebrations of BRS Dental College in Panchkula on Monday.

St Joan’s school celebrates annual day
Zirakpur, November 28 Students of St Joan’s Public School, Zirakpur, got a chance to exhibit their talent on the annual day of the school. Each student performed on the stage and was given a chance to discover confidence. 

Dashmesh school holds annual fest
Mohali, November 28
The Dashmesh Public Senior Secondary School, Phase 3B1, today organised their annual prize distribution function. Mr Jaswant Singh, chairman of the managing committee of the Gurudwara Sacha Dhan Sahib, presided over the ceremony.

UGC-NET aspirants a harassed lot
Chandigarh, November 28
Students, who have appeared in the National Eligibility Test conducted by the University Grants Commission in June, 2005, are a harassed lot due to non-declaration of the result in time.

COURTS

Parle biscuit maker fined
Panchkula, November 28
When Kanika, a nine-year-old resident of Sector 15 here, bought her favourite glucose biscuits from a local store, she did not know what she was bargaining for. The taste was not to her liking. After she complained to her mother, Mrs Ranjana Gupta, it was found that insects and ants had been roasted with the biscuits. The child started vomiting and had to be taken to the doctor, who treated her for food poisoning.

Judge faints in courtroom, hospitalised
Chandigarh, November 28
The absence of a dispensary at the district court came under focus today with a judicial officer, Ms Kiran Bala Jain, fainting in the courtroom. According to sources, Ms Jain, posted as Judicial Magistrate First Class, experienced a severe headache around 2 pm and fainted in the courtroom.Panic gripped the courtroom with lawyers and judges, including the District and Sessions Judge, Mr M.M.S. Bedi, thronging her chamber.

CULTURE

Maestro weaves ‘Dhrupad’ magic City audience was treated to a rare exposition of “Dhrupad”, the oldest form of Indian classical music, in a concert organised by the Triveni Sangeet Sabha in collaboration with the Cultural Affairs Department, Chandigarh, and the Department of Music, Panjab University, at the English auditorium today.  Ustad Fahimuddin Dagar performs at a music programme in Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

A peek into region’s diverse culture
Panchkula, November 28
The diversity of the folk culture of the region was brought alive in a composite variety programme presented by Shri Sai Arts in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh Administration, at Tagore Theatre on Sunday evening.

Draft policy on Punjabi film: Raza Murad
Chandigarh, November 28
Concerned with growing vulgarity in Punjabi culture and films, Mr Deepinder Singh Dhillon, Vice- Chairman of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC), appealed artistes to help curb this menace. He said Punjab and Punjabi culture deserved a better deal.

HEALTH

Vitalise blood donation movement: Rodrigues
Chandigarh, November 28
Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), Governor of Punjab and the UT Administrator, today called upon blood banks to vitalise the movement by mobilising more blood donors and to ensure the effective use of blood by separating it into various components, for meeting the requirements of more patients.

SPORTS

PSEB team win badminton tourney

Panchkula, November 28 Mohammad Saleem representing the PSEB kept his supremacy when he walked away with a double crown in the men singles and double section in the 32nd All-India Electricity Boards Badminton Tournament which came to a close this evening at the Sector 3 Sports Complex. The PSEB team which won the 32nd All-India Electricity Board Badminton meet in Panchkula on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Punjab golfers clinch title Chandigarh, November 28 The Punjab team clinched the Punj-aab Cup defeating their Pakistani Punjab team at the completion of the three-day competition that concluded at the Chandigarh Golf Club yesterday. Mr S.K. Sharma, President of the Punjab Golf Association (left) and Maj-Gen Zafar Abbas, President of the Punjab Golf Association, Pakistan, exchange an MoU cementing the golfing ties between the two countries in Chandigarh on Monday.

YPS student wins bronze in shooting
Chandigarh, November 28
Akanksha, a Class VIII student of Yadavindra Public school, Mohali, has done her school proud by wnning bronze in the just concluded XVth AlI-India GV Mavlankar Shooting Championship held in Kerala. Akanksha shot 330/400 in the sub-junior category in the air pistol event. Prior to that, Akanksha had won gold in the First Chandigarh Games held in October this year.

Ramesh Handa (left), who won the 100 m race in the 1st  Inter-Media Athletics sponsored by the SBI, Sector 30, in Chandigarh on Sunday. - A Tribune photograph

St Joseph’s, Mount Carmel win championship
Chandigarh, November 28
St Joseph’s School, Sector 44, and Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, (team A) won under girls and boys category, respectively, during the first Chandigarh Sub-Junior State Sepak Takraw Championship held at Shishu Niketan Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, here, today. Mutup Jagmeet of St Joseph and Parveen of Shishu Niketan school, were adjudged the best players of the championship, under boys and girls category, respectively.

Garry selected as ball boy for Grand Slam
Chandigarh, November 28
Garry Singh Amor of Chandigarh was among six ball kids selected for the Asia/Pacific Grand Slam Australian Open 2006. Trials to select the ball kids were conducted at RK Khanna Tennis Stadium, New Delhi. More than 270 children attended the open trials which concluded today.