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TOP STORIES

Pradeep Chhabra is city’s mayor
20 does the trick for Cong
Chandigarh, January 1
The Congress emerged clear winners in the mayoral polls today with all the three posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor landing in its lap.
Newly elected mayor Pradeep Chhabra acknowledges the greetings of his admirers after his election in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Loyalty pays, sooner or later

Governance

First day: Punjab taxes commuter convenience Mohali, January 1 Thousands of commuters travelling daily to and from Chandigarh to nearby areas in Punjab had a harrowing day today with the Chandigarh Transport Union (CTU) snapping most of its bus services to Punjab. Worst affected were school students and employees who had to reach their offices early in the morning and had passes to travel with CTU. Students, employees left high & dry Chandigarh, January 1 The first day of the year was not a good day for the bus commuters of Mohali and other peripheral towns of Punjab. The decision left hundreds of commuters high and dry at Inter State Bus Terminus, Sector 17, and various local bus queue shelters in the city.

People, who had been waiting for buses, finally get on auto rickshaws to reach Chandigarh from Mohali on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

A spectator holds a cutout on aids awareness at a PHL match at Sector 42 hockey stadium in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

18-yr-old youth, woman killed in accidents
Chandigarh, January 1
A cyclist and an old woman were killed in two separate road accidents in various parts of the city today.

Eateries post record sales on New Year eve
Chandigarh, January 1
The city was up and about till dawn today. In no mood to drop the festive mantle, revelers first partied their way into the New Year, and then converged on round-the-clock eating houses, sprucing up their sales like never before.

Veteran journalist Harish Bhanot dead
Chandigarh, January 1
Harish Bhanot, veteran journalist and philanthropist and a strong votary of probity in public life first, died here today after a brief illness. He was 86.

Punjab CM condoles Bhanot’s death

COMMUNITY

ROSE FESTIVAL: The new manager of the Sector 36 Fragrance Garden welcomes visitors to the park with roses on the first day of New Year in Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

UNESCO delegation visits city
Chandigarh, January 1
Chandigarh today boasts of all those features which are required to get a world heritage status. The next step is the submission of a dossier to the UNESCO for its nomination. Amidst hectic activities which are underway, the city recently hosted a high powered team from UNESCO.

City leads in per capita income
Rs 24,191 cr stashed away in banks
Chandigarh, January 1
Can you believe it? People in Chandigarh have stashed away about Rs 24,191 crore in banks? Yes, that whopping figure is for the money that was deposited in 255 banks of the city in 2006-07. The figure is so huge that it would beat the budget of several small states in the country.

Three ‘Es’… key to safety on roads
Chandigarh, January 1
Adviser to the UT administrator, Pradip Mehra, inaugurated the 19th Road Safety Week here today. The week will last till January 7 and the Chandigarh traffic police is aiming to adopt a three-pronged strategy - education, enforcement and engineering - to make city roads safer.


Girls return back to their school after performing at the inauguration of traffic safety week at Sector 23 in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Western Command to hold ‘Know your Army’ exhibition
Chandigarh, January 1
A series of exhibitions have been planned this month by the Western Command at Ambala, Jalandhar and Jammu for the Army Day 2008 celebrations.

Proposal for purchase of fire-fighting vehicles cleared
Mohali, January 1
Even as the municipal council cleared a proposal to go in for hi-tech facilities worth over Rs 6 crore to tackle fire in high-rise buildings, heated arguments were witnessed at the general body meeting of the civic body here yesterday over alleged unfair allocation of funds for development of wards.

Chandigarh standardises unit processing cost in hospitals
Move to streamline blood delivery services
Chandigarh, January 1
In a move to streamline blood donation and delivery services in Chandigarh, health department has decided to standardise the cost of blood unit processing in every hospital of the city.

Telecom service providers being ‘unfair’
Charge for free SMS on special occasions
Chandigarh, January 1
City residents started extending New Year wishes to their near and dear ones two or three days in advance. Reason: Service providers like Vodafone, Airtel and Spice are charging for sending SMSs on special occasions or festivals.

Clash at gas agency
Cases of theft, manhandling reported
Mohali, January 1
A case of manhandling and theft was reported on the premises of Mohali Gas Enterprises in Phase V here today.

Drunk cop checks drunken driving
Panchkula, January 1
Boozing his way into the New Year cost police inspector Zile Singh dear when ASP Maneesh Chaudhary found him performing his duty under the influence of liquor. According to sources, the ASP has recommended disciplinary action against the erring cop. Meanwhile, Zile Singh was taken for a medical examination.

30-yr-old man found dead
Panchkula, January 1
Rajesh alais Raju (30), a resident of Mansa Devi Complex, was found dead here this morning. The deceased was a native of Banda in Madhya Pradesh and used to paint number plates of vehicles.

Feel at home, even at a police station
Chandigarh, January 1
In its attempt to project a people-friendly image, the Chandigarh police has been given training to give the visitors a feeling as if they are stepping into a corporate office.

New Year babies: Girls outnumber boys
Chandigarh, January 1
Three cheers for girl child in Chandigarh. A trend that may bring cheers to the health authorities and hint at society’s changing mindset, an overwhelming majority of the New Year babies born in three major hospitals of the city comprised of girls.

A woman’s tribute to her brother
Chandigarh, January 1
Suksham Goyal, deputy director of Haryana's technical eduction department, heralded the New Year in a touching way by paying unique tribute to her brother, who died of leukemia six years ago. She organised a camp in which over 100 persons donated blood.

People donate blood at Blood Centre in Sector 37 in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by 
Vinay Malik

New Year celebrations conclude
Tourism dept, CITCO host lunch for slum kids
Chandigarh, January 1
The tourism department’s New Year festival concluded at Sukhna Lake with a special lunch for slum children of the city. The lunch was organised jointly by the tourism department, Hotel and Restaurant Association and CITCO.

Slum children enjoy at Sukhna Lake during the Chandigarh New Year festival on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

• 10 PGI employees retire
• Letters

CRIME

Laptop, cash stolen
Chandigarh, January 1
Four incidents of thefts and burglaries were reported from various parts of the city in the past 48 hours.

Girl commits suicide
Panchkula, January 1
Manjeet Kaur (21) committed suicide in Azad Colony here yesterday evening. Manjeet’s father Ram Nath is a labourer.

EDUCATION

Education dept to introduce new posts
Chandigarh, January 1
The Chandigarh education department is introducing some changes in its administrative set up soon. This change will see an additional post of District Education Officer (DEO).

Date sheet of annual middle standard exam out
Chandigarh, January 1
Chandigarh Education Department today released the date sheet for the annual Middle Standard Examinations to commence from February 4.

Govt schools to start later than usual
Chandigarh, January 1
All government schools of the city, with single shift, opening from tomorrow, will start from 8:30 am instead of 8 am, due to winters. However, the closing time would remain the same i.e. at 2 pm. Similarly, the schools catering to double shifts would open at 8 am instead of 7:15 am. Their closing hours too would be unchanged i.e. at 1 pm.

Evening studies no more popular at PU
Chandigarh, January 1
The Department of Evening Studies, which was once counted among the prestigious departments of the university, seems to be losing its sheen, courtesy the dwindling strength of students enrolled in the department.

VC demands cooperation from employees in 2008
Chandigarh, January 1
Prof R.C. Sobti, vice-chancellor, PU urged the employees to have public friendly approach to mitigate the problem being faced by visitors, to work collectively, to make the university a frontrunner in efficiency, professionalism and an ideal institution. He was addressing the gathering of university fraternity at campus today to mark the New Year. The function was organised by the executive body of Panjab University Non-Teaching Employees’ Federation. Entire top brass, including members of the senate and syndicate were present on the occasion.

Laughter session today
Chandigarh, January 1
Education Department, Chandigarh administration is organising a laughter session on January 2, 2008, at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16. The laughter session will begin at 8:30 am with the address note of Dr. Kataria, the founder of ‘School of Laughter Yoga’ on the art of laughing. All the students and teachers of the GMSSS16 will attend the session. Dr Kataria stated that laughter as they say is the best medicine.

CBSE to introduce new set of professional courses
Chandigarh, January 1
To equip the students with more job oriented courses, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), under Professional Competency Education (PCE) programme, is introducing new set of courses under general health care and fashion design and garment technology, at senior secondary level for the academic session 2008-09.

Reinstate suspended teachers, demands body
Chandigarh, January 1
Members of the Nizikaran Virodhi Adhyapak Manch, Mohali, staged a protest outside the Sector 37-A residence of Harcharan Kaur Brar, director public instructions (DPI, elementary), here this evening. The teachers were protesting against the suspension of six teachers, who protested against the seminars held during vacations, and demanded to reinstate the teachers.

Disgruntled teachers raise slogans and beat utensils outside the residence of Harcharanjit Kaur Brar, DPI (elementary), in Sector 37, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

International fellowship for PU prof
Chandigarh, January 1
Manju Jaidka, a professor in English, PU, has been selected for a prestigious international fellowship from the Simone de Beauvoir Institute of Feminist Studies at Concordia University, Montreal (Canada). This entails a visit to the institute to pursue an approved research feminist / woman-oriented project and deliver a lecture on the subject, both funded by the institute. She will be visiting Concordia University as well.

From Colleges
Students launch campaign against global warming
Mohali, January 1
Students of Swami Vivekanand Group of Institutes (SVGOI) have launched an awareness campaign ‘Secure the future, say no to global warming’ by setting up a fund to combat this worldwide evil. The management of SVGOI mobilised the student community comprising of 3,000 students to create the fund by contributing Re 1 per student every month, as their collective New Year resolution for 2008.

COURTS

Aiming at reformation of prisoners,
HC cuts short sentence of three youths
Chandigarh, January 1
In an exceptional judgement aimed at ensuring the reformation of prisoners, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has reduced the sentence of three youngsters to less than the minimum prescribed punishment.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Jammers, video conferencing in state jails soon: DGP
Patiala, January 1
Jails across the state are set to go hi-tech with the installation of jammers and video-conferencing facility on the premises within the next two years. The project would cost Rs 55 crore.

Industrialist’s son missing
Ambala, January 1
Ashok Kumar, son of an industrialist of Naraingarh, disappeared under mysterious circumstances last late evening. The IGP, Ambala range, and other senior officers have been camping at Naraingarh but no clue could be found so far. ADG, law and order V.B. Singh also reached Naraingarh.

One killed, two injured
Ambala, January 1
Two persons were killed and one seriously injured on Ambala-Naraingarh road near Panjokhra village today noon.

SPORTS

Nikita clinches victory, moves ahead
Chandigarh, January 1
Harkerat and Nikita Sharma set up title clash in the girls’ under-12 section of the Girls’ under-12 of IIIrd St Peter’s Open Tennis Tournament being held at St Peter’s School courts, Sector 37, here today. Harkerat got the better of Naemat 6-0, 6-1 while Nikita Sharma defeated Hassan Dhanova 6-3, 7-5, to be in the finals. In boys under-12 section, Jatinder moved ahead beating Varundeep Chadha 6-0, while Kundan drubbed Dhruv 6-3, in the pre-quarterfinals.

A player of Chandigarh Club Tennis Academy returns a backhand during a tennis tournament at St. Peter School, Sector-37, Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by 
Pradeep Tewari

CLTA becoming vital venue for tourneys
Chandigarh, January 1
Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) is emerging as an important venue for bringing up budding tennis players and organising a number of international events in 2008.

Skating meet from January 4
Panchkula, January 1
The Roller Skating Association of Panchkula will be organising the 13th Panchkula District Roller Skating championship at the Skating Rink of Blue Bird High School, Sector 16, here on January 4 and 5.

ADMINISTRATION

Sanjay Kumar is finance secretary
Chandigarh, January 1
Sanjay Kumar was today posted as the new finance secretary of the Chandigarh administration. The union ministry of home affairs issued orders to this effect. Sanjay Kumar is a 1988 batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre.