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TOP STORIES

50 pc drop in poultry products’ demand
Chandigarh, February 19
The scare of avian flu has drastically brought down the demand for poultry products in the city and satellite towns of Panchkula and Mohali. With cases of avian flu being reported in India (Maharashtra) for the first time, the demand for poultry products in the tri-city reportedly fell by almost 50 per cent.

Admn fully prepared
Bird flu scare
Chandigarh, February 19
Bird flu in the city, so far is a non-issue. There’s no scare and thus no reason to panic as yet. While the Chandigarh Administration is geared up, man and machine in place, to meet any exigencies that may arise, the Health Department, too, is on an alert in case Bird flu does come visiting.

Panic dips chicken sales
Chandigarh, February 19
There is widespread panic among chicken-eaters in the city, following reports of avian flu hitting the country. Sale of chicken have reportedly fallen at most places, even though retailers are not willing to acknowledge it.

UT Excise Dept fails to realise tax from cellular operators
Chandigarh, February 19
The UT Excise and Taxation Department has not been able to realise much tax and activation fee on the SIM cards being sold to the consumers. Barring two cellular operators, others have not deposited the tax which runs into several lakh rupees. A senior officer in the Excise Department told the Chandigarh Tribune that ever since the cellular operators went to the Supreme Court against the recovery of the tax, the operators have stopped paying the tax. “Though the judgment of the apex court has been reserved, the recovery had been stayed in an interim order,” added the officer.

Absence of top players affects team’s performance
Chandigarh, February 19
The absence of top hockey players during the training camp in the run up to the Indo-Pak series may have proved costly to the Indian team. However, the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) is least perturbed by it.

COMMUNITY

Citizens felicitate Bansal Chandigarh, February 19 Residents of the city felicitated the new Minister of State for Finance, Mr Pawan Bansal, at a “nagrik abhinandan” ceremony organised at the Sector 22-D Market here today. The Minister of State for Finance, Mr Pawan Bansal, is all smiles after being felicitated at a “nagrik abhinandan” in Sector 22 in Chandigarh on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Study shows lower spending by states on social sector

Chandigarh, February 19 There is a decline in expenditure on the social sector, especially health, in all states with only a few exceptions. The lack of resources at the state level and the declining share of the Centre in health have compelled the states to accept privatisation as a new framework for the health sector.

A workshop on the “Impact of liberalisation and international trade regimes on access to medicines and health services in India” was jointly organised by the Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), Chandigarh, and JNU, and sponsored by the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi, at IDC Mohali centre on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

Shiv Sena urges Centre to cancel import of wheat
Chandigarh, February 19
The Shiv Sena has urged the Central Government to cancel its decision to import 5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat at a cost of Rs 900 per quintal as the new wheat crop was expected to arrive in the market in the next few weeks. Also, the party has demanded that the farmer be paid a minimum support price of Rs 700 per quintal instead of paying huge sums to importing agencies.

Better services in Sampark Kranti Express sought
Chandigarh, February 19
The Malayalee Samajam, Mohali, has sought that the number of seats in the 3-tier AC coaches or the second class sleepers in the Chandigarh-Kerala Sampark Kranti Express should be increased for its optimum use. The weekly train had started in July last year.

Simi wins Maruti fun drive
Chandigarh, February 19
Simi Malhotra went home with the first prize in a fun drive “Swift road romance” organised by Maruti Udyog Limited in the city for the owners of Maruti Swift. Rajeev Daniel and Mohinder Pal bagged the second and third positions, respectively, in the event.

Saraswati Samman for Prof Paniker
Chandigarh, February 19
Prof K. Ayyappa Paniker has been selected for the prestigious ‘Saraswati Samman 2005’ award for “Ayyappa Panikerude Kritikal’’, a collection of poems in Malayalam. This was disclosed in a communication by the K.K. Birla Foundation. Prof Paniker’s poems were considered along with works of several poets in 22 Indian languages published between 1995-2004.

Bhajan sandhya enthrals devotees Chandigarh, February 19 The Telephone Residents Welfare Committee organised a “bhajan sandhya“ at the Mandi Ground, Sector 43-A, here yesterday, Famous maestro, Govind Bhargav of Kanpur was the main singer, who enthralled the devotees, said Mr Ravi Aggarwal, chairperson of the organising committee. ISKCON devotees from Australia perform during a “bhajan sandhya” at the Mandi Ground , Sector 43, Chandigarh, on Saturday night. — A Tribune photograph

Rail traffic hit on Chd-Ambala section
Chandigarh, February 19
Rail traffic on the Chandigarh-Ambala section remained suspended for over five hours when a multi-axle truck got stuck at a level crossing in Zirakpur. The level crossing falls on the busy Panchkula-Zirakpur section of the National Highway No. 22.

Physically challenged hail pension hike
Panchkula, February 19
The increase in monthly pension for the physically challenged by the Haryana government has been a blessing for the 836 physically challenged persons in the district.

Residents to hold protest
Mohali, February 19
Residents plan to hold a protest on February 25 against the hike in water and sewerage charges in the town. Mr Manjit Singh Sethi, Mr Amrik Singh and Mr Manmohan Singh Lang, all former municipal councillors, among other residents, said at a press conference here yesterday that the Director, Local Government, had ordered the local Municipal Council on December 12 to implement the revised water and sewerage rates with immediate affect.

• Traders rue shortage of CST forms
• Plea to Kalam
• Boy missing
• Bhandara panel chief dead

CRIME

Revolver, cash stolen from Sector 43 house
Chandigarh, February 19
Thieves decamped with an imported revolver, 25 live cartridges, Rs 51,000 and jewellery from a house in Sector 43. Mr Harjinder Singh of Sector 43, an agriculturist, lodged a complaint with the police, alleging that an imported .32 bore revolver (make Astera no. 800873 along with 25 live cartridges), two gold sets, Rs 51,000 and other articles were stolen from his residence on February 18.

EDUCATION

P.L. Anand passes away Chandigarh, February 19 The founder Principal of Panjab University Evening College, P. L. Anand, passed away today in New Delhi. Anand who was 93 years old remained a member of Panjab University Syndicate and Senate for nearly two decades and served at the Evening College for 16 years. He was also the founder secretary of the managing committee of GGDSD College, Sector 32. — TNS               P. L. Anand Obituary Principal P.L. Anand dead Chandigarh, February 19 Principal P.L. Anand, a philanthropist who founded the Panjab University Evening College, Chandigarh in 1961, died in New Delhi on Saturday. He was about 94. Born at Kahnuwan on August, 15, 1912, in district Gurdaspur, Principal Anand did his Master of Arts in Political Science from Former Christian College, Lahore, standing first in the university in 1934.

Medical education programme
Mohali, February 19
A medical education programme was organised by the management of Cheema Medical Complex at Fortis here today. Prof Sarla Malhotra, a former Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, PGI, discussed the management of high-risk pregnancies. She stressed the need for proper screening of high-risk patients and the early referral to a centre which was well-equipped to look after the needs of high-risk babies.

Xplozion-2006 concludes
Banur, February 19
Xplozion-2006, the technical-cum-cultural festival organised by the Swami Vivekanand Group of Institutes, concluded on a colourful note here today. The day started with the paper presentation of electronics, computer science, and IT. About 10 teams presented the paper in Electronics and other related fields. The contests like poster designing, software and hardware design, hacking, web designing and technical quiz drew participation from nearby schools and colleges.

From Schools & Colleges
Celebrating Sunday with a difference
Chandigarh, February 19
Tiny tots of Evergreen Academy, a preparatory school, today enjoyed Sunday in a different way at the Terraced Garden in Sector 33. The young ones along with their parents made beautiful models, charts, paper flowers and other items.

Children of Evergreen Academy and their parents spent the day making models at Terraced Garden in Chandigarh on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Fete and crafts exhibition at St Soldier Divine Public School in Sector 16, Panchkula, on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

Maths contest
Chandigarh, February 19
The Abacus Learning of Higher Arithmetic (ALOHA) Institute organised a city-level competition at the British School, Sector 70, Mohali here today. Over 300 children participated in the contest under different categories.

Foreign Students Day celebrated
Chandigarh, February 19
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in collaboration with the office of Dean of foreign students and Pracheen Kala Kendra today organised the `Foreign Students Day’, in which students from different countries presented a cultural programme at the Law Auditorium, Panjab University.

Fun all the way in YPS
Mohali, February 19
It was fun all the way for students of Yadavindra Public School (YPS) and visitors to the fete organised on the school premises. The two-day fete, which concluded today, attracted a large number visitors. There was a variety of entertainment ranging from fun games, the big wheel and the pendulum besides stalls serving a variety of eatables.

ICWA organises talk
Chandigarh, February 19
The Institute of Costs and Works Accountants of India, (ICWA) Chandigarh-Panchkula chapter today organised a talk on Audit under excise’ with special reference to desk review.

CULTURE

Chandigarh, February 19 The five-day Theatre fest-2006 dedicated to playwright Vijay Tendulkar was inaugurated by the litterateur Dr S Anjum at the Tagore Theatre today. The theatrical bonanza organised by the Art and Act Akademy commenced with the presentation of the play Baby — one of the classic literary creations of Vijay Tendulkar. Artistes perform in the play “Baby”, directed by Rajender Sharma, at Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Garu

HEALTH

Experts discuss spine problems
Chandigarh, February 19
The 19th Annual Conference of Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSICON) 2006 concluded here today. A number of presentations by specialists marked the end of the three -day conference hosted by the Chandigarh Spine Society.

Blood donation camp
Panchkula, February 19
The blood donation camp organised jointly by Vishvas Foundation and Shiva Market today got an overwhelming response. Over 154 persons, including a large number of women, donated blood at the camp organised in the Sector 9 market.

SPORTS

Prem, Madhuri adjudged best athletes
Mohali, February 19
Prem Pandey (CSE sixth semester) was adjudged the best athlete among boys and Madhuri (CSE second semester) was declared the best athlete among girls in the Ninth annual Athletics meet of Shaheed Udham Singh College of Engineering and technology Tangori, near here, recently.

Annual Sports Day