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Academics on backburner at Senate meeting
Mercy chance allowed to undergraduates
Chandigarh, December 18
As usual, discussions on academic issues remained on Panjab University backburner at meeting of the Senate here today. More than 75 per cent of the agenda listed for discussion pertained to elections, appointments, promotions, advance increments, resignations, writing off certain university material, affiliation to colleges and transfer of posts, besides others.

Hoardings at petrol stations face MC axe
Chandigarh, December 18
Tightening its noose over petrol stations displaying advertisement hoardings, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has issued notices to as many as 37 stations in the city. The stations have been directed to remove the hoardings within a week, following which these would be confiscated by the MCC.

MC House to take up laundry marts’ issue tomorrow
Chandigarh, December 18
The Municipal Corporation’s ambitious proposal to convert all existing dhobighats in the city into laundry marts will be coming for final approval in the last meeting of the House for this year on Tuesday.

Empowerment of Panchayati Raj institutions demanded
Chandigarh, December 18
Elected members of the Panchayati Raj institutions in the city have complained to the Union Panchayati Raj Minister, Mr Mani Shanker Iyer, that the Chandigarh Administration was not empowering the institutions as envisaged in the Panchayati Raj Act.

Left parties hold anti-WTO rally
Chandigarh, December 18
Left parties, comprising Chandigarh and Patiala units, today held demonstrations and rallies here to register their protest against the World Trade Organisation meeting that concluded in Hong Kong.

22-year-old found dead
Mohali, December 18
A 22-year-old resident of Badh Majra village, near here, was found murdered in the village this morning. The body of the victim, Harjinder Singh, alias Raju, was recovered from among bushes on the village outskirts.

• Passing Thru
  Rajesh Kamath, chief coach, Karnataka State Cricket Association
  

COMMUNITY

Controversy over draw of plots
Panchkula, December 18
Resentment prevails among the general public as the Haryana Urban Development Authority held draw of 349 plots only against the 538 number of plots advertised in February 2004.

Lineman devises quake warning system Chandigarh, December 18 An assistant lineman with the UT Electricity Department has devised an earthquake warning system which can raise an alert on detecting slightest of seismic activity. Basically the system detects any movement below the earth’s surface. A model of an earthquake warning system devised by Jagdish Prasad, an assistant lineman with the UT Electricity Department.

Vacancies in major-gen rank increased in MI
Chandigarh, December 18
The number of vacancies in the rank of major-general in the Corps of Military Intelligence has been increased to three. This indicates that the implementation of the second phase of the A.V. Singh Committee recommendations, which deal with cadre restructuring of flag officers, is expected to come through soon.

Butterflies need conservation Little winged beauties have always attracted one’s attention. Be it a municipal park or verdant forests around the Sukhna Lake or a lovingly nurtured kitchen garden, these can be seen flitting here and there.' Like other species, their habitat is also declining. A lime butterfly sucking nectar.

• City to host Punjabi NRIs conference
• Conference on astrology
• Pensioners’ body passes resolutions
• Samples of milk tested

CRIME

Nayagaon clash: 1 booked
Mohali, December 18
The local police today booked one person for allegedly causing the group clash that took place at Nayagaon, near here, yesterday. Four persons were injured in the clash that was triggered due to an inter-religious marriage in the village.

4 computers stolen
Chandigarh, December 18
Four computers worth about Rs 50,000 have been stolen from a Sector 44 based institute, here. The owner alleged that it was the second time the thieves struck at their office in the past four months.

Two nabbed for snatching mobile phone
Chandigarh, December 18
With the help of mobile phone operators the police has claimed to have nabbed two youngsters, accused of snatching a mobile phone, late last night from Faridkot. The cops reportedly zeroed in on the accused on the basis of phone call details that the accused made from the snatched mobile phone.

18 mobile phones stolen
Chandigarh, December 18
Thieves decamped with 18 mobile phones and Rs 24,915 from a shop in Maloya Colony while a purse and a laptop were stolen from a car parked on the Panjab University campus.

BUSINESS

VAT irks traders
Chandigarh, December 18
Traders of the city are a peeved lot at the “hurried” implementation of the value added tax in the city. The consensus among different groups is that the tax should have been implemented after the existing CST was phased out.

EDUCATION

Moon landing project: 5 teams qualify for finals
Chandigarh, December 18
Teams from five different schools in the region have qualified for finals of a competition organised by the Aeronautical Society of India requiring students to explore and study the feasibility of a moon landing and prepare a theoretical project report.

Paswan inaugurates toxicology centre
Mohali, December 18
Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers and Steel, today inaugurated the National Toxicology Centre at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research here.

Celebration time at Doon International Mohali, December 18 Doon International School celebrated its annual sports day here today. The chief guest on the occasion was Kharar MLA Bir Devinder Singh. The celebrations commenced with the unfurling of the school flag by the chief guest while the school choir sang the school song. Kharar MLA Bir Devinder Singh addresses students during the annual sports day function of Doon International School in Mohali on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

‘Xpressions 2005’ celebrated at Aanchal school

Chandigarh, December 18 ‘Xpressions 2005’, the annual function of Aanchal International School, Sector 41, was today celebrated at Tagore Theatre. Amidst the backdrop of a multihued depiction of the cultural heritage of India, the students presented a dazzling display of dance and drama. Tiny tots of Aanchal International School, Sector 41, present a Punjabi marriage at their annual function at Tagore Theatre in Sector 18, Chandigarh on Sunday. —  Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Musical soiree at Strawberry            Chandigarh, December 18 Fun and frolic marked the annual sports meet of Strawberry Fields Kindergarten, Sector 24, here today. Tiny tots vying for honours during the annual function of Strawberry Fields, Sector 24, Chandigarh, on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik School organises annual function Panchkula, December 18 A cultural soiree, including classical dance performances and songs on the environment, marked the annual cultural bonanza and prize distribution function of Jainendra Public School here last evening.

From Schools
NSS camp at GMSSS-19
Chandigarh, December 18
The 10-day special NSS camp being organised by the two NSS units of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, was inaugurated recently by Mr R.S. Goraya, District Education Officer, UT Chandigarh.

Faculty of Dhanvantri Ayurvedic College, Sector 46, Chandigarh, protesting against the management of college outside the Senate meeting on Sunday. — A Tribune photo

IT Club holds seminar
Chandigarh, December 18
The Chandigarh IT Club held a seminar on Internet search marketing and how companies worldwide were benefitting from it at the Gian Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology.

Workshop on art of parenting
Chandigarh, December 18
In order to understand the constantly changing child and parent relationship, a workshop on the ‘Art of parenting’ was today organised by HDFC Standard Life.

COURTS

• 524 cases settled

CULTURE

Festival of African films
Chandigarh, December 18
Alliance Française de Chandigarh and the French Embassy in India are organising a weeklong film festival of African films, starting tomorrow. The festival will be screened at the Art Gallery, Alliance Francaise, Sector 36, at 6.30 pm.

Conclave on cinematic tourism
Chandigarh, December 18
The Chandigarh Tourism Department along with the Punjab and Haryana Tourism Department organised a conclave on “Cinematic tourism — Focus on Chandigarh and northern region” for representatives of the film industry in Mumbai today.

Next convention of Punjabi society in UK

Chandigarh, December 18 The next convention of the International Punjabi Society will be held in the first week of August in London. This was announced today at the conclusion of the 32 convention of the society. Dr S.S. Ahuja from the USA and Mr G.S. Sawhney dancing along with artistes at a cultural function organised for the members of the International Punjabi Society at PCA stadium, Mohali, on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

• Sarghi Kala Kendra website

HEALTH

Doctor gives presentation at web conference
Panchkula, December 18
Dr Pankaj Garg, senior consultant in the Department of Surgery of Fortis hospital, Mohali, gave a presentation at the international web conference on piles here yesterday. The interactive conference, organised by the Pioneer Circle Members of India, was attended by over 150 surgeons all over the world.

SPORTS

Sports meet at DC model school Panchkula, December 18 A sports day was organised DC Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, here, which celebrated its 25th annual sports day to mark the culmination of its silver jubilee year. The sports meet included games based on moral values by children from primary section much to the delight of guests.

Students of DC Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, Panchkula, take part in a relay race during the school's annual sports meet on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Two-day ‘Athlofest’ concludes         Mohali, December 18 The two-day ‘Athlofest’ of St Soldier International Convent School, Phase VII, concluded here today with the staff and students displaying great enthusiasm. A student performs at ‘Athlofest’ at St Soldiers International Convent School in Mohali on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu Sanam to be ranked fourth from Jan 1 Chandigarh, December 18 Sanam Krishan Singh is on top in the world of tennis again. The Chandigarh boy, who will turn 18 in January next, will among the top five players in the world. Yesterday, he won the ITF Futures Tennis Meet in Delhi.

CBSE TT tourney from today
Chandigarh, December 18
More than 665 paddlers will vie for honours in the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) National Table Tennis meet in under 14, under 16 and under 19 starting at the Sector 23 TT Hall from tomorrow.

Himal top scores in U-13 chess championship
Chandigarh, December 18
Himal Gusain got the first position scoring 5 points in the final round of Chandigarh under-13 Chess Championship which concluded at St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, here, today.