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Yatra chokes roads
Mohali, March 3
Traffic chaos reigned on roads through the day today due to the movement of the Jagriti Yatra through inner roads of the township.

Fireworks light up the night sky in Phase VII, Mohali, as the Jagriti Yatra moves ahead. A Tribune photograph

  Amid fanfare, Yatra enters Punjab
  Politicking or devotion?

...Forces students to walk to school
Mohali, March 3
Hundreds of students of Yadvindra Public School faced a host of problems while appearing for their board examinations today.
YPS students come out of the school after appearing for their board examination. The Jagriti Yatra arrangements can be seen to the left, in Mohali on Monday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

MC pulls down 10 flats; residents block traffic
Chandigarh, March 3
Residents of Sector 47 blocked the road leading to the sector late in the evening today. They were protesting against the demolition of housing board flats by the MC today. The MC razed 10 flats, allegedly without intimating residents.

Some confusion, but overall cheer
Chandigarh, March 3
The newly introduced pattern based on “Higher Order Thinking Skill” (HOTS) caused some confusion among a section of students who appeared for the Social Science exam here today.

Residents protest against MC demolition in Sector 47, Chandigarh, on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Students clash over sunglasses, held
Chandigarh, March 3
A minor altercation over missing sunglasses took an ugly turn when a group of “inebriated” youngsters clashed with one another outside DAV College, Sector 10, here this evening.

ICL kicks off with practice match today
Chandigarh, March 3
With less than 10 days left for the beginning of the India Cricket League (ICL), the Chandigarh Lions and Ahmedabad Rockets who are in the city will play their first practice match of the third edition at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Panchkula, tomorrow.

COMMUNITY

Female foeticide: Need for introspection, say experts 
UNFPA-Laadli Media Awards on April 26
Chandigarh, March 3
The nationwide campaign against skewed sex ratio in India got a shot in the arm today with the announcement of the UNFPA-Laadli Media Awards for general sensitivity 2006-07 for the northern region.

Office-bearers of Population First, including TV personality Minu Talwar, announce the UNFPA-Laadli media awards for gender sensitivity in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

INA soldier’s pension restored after 30 years 
Chandigarh, March 3
Over 30 years after the pension of Subhas Chandra Bose’s bodyguard-cum-soldier in the Indian National Army Surjan Singh was suspended, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered its restoration with all consequential benefits. Pronouncing the orders in an open court, a Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Justice M.M. Kumar and Justice T.P.S. Mann, also directed the payment of Rs 1 lakh as special costs to Surjan Singh’s 85-year-old widow Gurcharan Kaur.
Gurcharan Kaur, widow of Indian National Army soldier Surjan Singh. A Tribune photograph

Parking chaos reigns supreme at airport
Chandigarh, March 3
Next time you drive to the Chandigarh airport and hunt for a parking slot, be prepared to park your vehicle on the narrow road leading to the terminal building. Reason: Expansion work at the airport has eaten up vital parking space.

Vehicles parked on the main road leading to the domestic terminal building of the Chandigarh airport. A Tribune photograph

Agreement on bill collection inked
Chandigarh, March 3
The administration here has signed an agreement with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) for collection of BSNL landline and WLL bills at e-sampark and e-gram sampark centres from March 8.

MC goes to poll on March 30
Panchkula, March 3
Even as the controversy over irregularities in the electoral rolls is yet to die down, the state election commission has declared March 30 as the polling day for 31 wards of Panchkula municipal committee here today.

Sewage plant testing begins
Mohali, March 3
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has started testing 10 million gallon per day (MGD) capacity sewage treatment plant constructed in the proposed Sector 83 of Mohali. This is the first sewage treatment plant developed in SAS Nagar, which will cater to the requirements of sewage treatment for the residential as well as industrial sectors up to Sector 82 of SAS Nagar.

Charity ambulance van
Chandigarh, March 3
Sree Ayyappa Samajam, will start a charity ambulance van for needy patients, as part of its 17th Pratishta Day falling on March 19.

Conference on divine life
Chandigarh, March 3
A conference on "Divine life- what, why and how" will be held on March 9 at Sivananda Ashram in Sector 29. Pawan Kumar Bansal, minister of state for finance, will inaugurate the conference. The Chandigarh branch of divine life society is organising it.

Police going slow on probe: NRI woman
Chandigarh, March 3
Accusing the Chandigarh Police of going slow on the probe in a forgery case, apparently to favour the accused, an elderly NRI woman has alleged that the police had failed to give her a copy of the FIR even after seven months.

Panel requests change in acquisition policy
Chandigarh, March 3
The Pind Bachao Committee, Chandigarh, has urged the members of parliament to frame a policy so that land compensation rates are fixed according to the actual market value, here today. The committee has also sent its suggestions to the director, Lok Sabha secretariat, regarding changes in the land acquisition (amendment) bill, 2007, and Resettlement bill, 2007.

Letters
Misuse of community centres

EDUCATION

Vacant Posts
UGC serves ultimatum on varsities
Chandigarh, March 3
Keeping in mind the acute shortage of experienced teachers in higher education and vacant posts lying in various educational institutions, the University Grants Commission, has served an ultimatum to all Central universities, state universities and colleges in the country, to fill up vacant posts lying in the institutions.

Observers deputed for annual exams
Chandigarh , March 3
The Chandigarh administration has decided to depute special observers during the annual examinations of the city schools, which will commence from March 4. The timings for the examination are from 9.00 am to 12 noon. 

Manisha first in rangoli competition
Chandigarh, March 3
The four-day youth festival “Jhankaar” organised by Panjab University Campus Students’ Council kick-started today at Panjab University. Advocate general, Punjab, H.S. Mattewal, inaugurated the festival amidst vice-chancellor, Prof R.C. Sobti, dean, student welfare, Prof Naval Kishore, dean, student welfare (women), prof Nishtha Jaswal, and other faculty members’ presence.

Students participate in an on-the-spot painting competition during Jhankaar at the PU on Monday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

Teachers hold dharna
Chandigarh, March 3
A massive dharna was organised by the Punjab Government College Teachers’ Association (PGCTA) in front of the office of DPI(C).

Gurdas Mann lights up ‘Jhankaar’
Chandigarh, March 3
Panjab University, National Youth Festival “Jhankaar-2008” started on a colourful note by legendary singer Gurdas Mann’s live performance at the Law Ground, this evening.

Singer Gurdas Mann performs at Jhankaar in the PU on Monday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

From Schools & Colleges
Sanchit, Muskan win skating competition
Mohali, March 3
Stiff competition was witnessed among tiny tots during 'Skating Competition 2008' organised for students of Small Wonders School, Mohali, here today. The event saw scores of kids vie it out amongst each other in the skating rink. While Prabhnoor, Wah Pratap, Harnoor and Vasu bagged first positions amongst boys in respective sections of nursery classes, amongst girls it was Pari, Tvisha, Palakdeep, Ananya and Arpita bagging top slots in nursery class category. Similarly, in LKG class category, Udayveer and Alamvir bagged first positions in respective sections while Simran, Khushi and Samanjit took the top honours amongst LKG girls. UKG class saw stiff competiton before Sanchit and Muskan emerged as clear winners amongst boys and girls respectively. Navraj and Ishika bagged first positions in UKG class.

PU Notes
‘Check violence, terror’
Chandigarh, March 3
A special lecture on “The problem of violence and terror: A Gandhian response” was organised by the ICSSR North-Western Regional Centre, PU today.

COURTS

Court complex project hangs fire
Chandigarh, March 3
Getting funds from the government to construct the District Court Complex, Sector 43, is becoming an unpleasant task for UT officials. As a result, the targeted date of April, 2008, to start construction of the much-awaited new complex is likely to be delayed.

Doctor asked to pay compensation
Chandigarh, March 3
Complying with the decision of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has asked Dr Sangeeta Pabbi to pay Rs 75,000 of compensation and has increased the cost charge from Rs 1,500 to Rs 10,000.

One acquitted in cheque bounce case
Chandigarh, March 3
A local court today acquitted one person in a cheque bounce case after ten years. An investment firm had filed the complaint against Vikas Kashyap in 1998. He was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Waive arhtiya loans: Capt Kanwaljit
Patiala, March 3
Punjab cooperation minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh called upon the UPA-led Central Government here today to waive off the loans borrowed by farmers from arhtiyas.

Students line up for their turn during the convocation and prize distribution of Multani Mal Modi College in Patiala on Monday. Photo: Rajesh Sachar

Rs 3.67 crore for Patiala Nursing College
Patiala, March 3
Medical education and research minister Tikshan Sood yesterday asserted that the government had released a grant of Rs 3.67 crore to upgrade facilities at Patiala Nursing College.

Suicide by social worker raises controversy
Bassi Pathana, March 3
The case registered against eight industrialists, including PSEB officials, by the Mohali police following suicide by Kali Charn, a local social worker, has  led to major controversy.

IT assessees, Taxation Bar resent shifting of office
Bassi Pathana, March 3
Thousands of income tax assesses and the Taxation Bar Association have condemned the arbitrary decision of the authorities to shift the income tax office from Sirhind, the district headquarters of Mandi Gobindgarh.

‘Observe traffic rules or lose aid’
Ambala, March 3
Ambala deputy commissioner Mohammad Shayin today stated that the authorities of private schools would lose financial aids if they did not cooperate in helping the administration in observing traffic rules.

Mall under ‘gum’ threat
Ambala, March 3
Galaxy World Mall in Ambala city, which was inaugurated on February 15 this year, is facing a new kind of a threat these days which is giving the employees of this mall sleepless nights.

Dhabas raided, domestic LPG cylinders seized
Ambala, March 3
The district administration has launched a drive against dhaba owners making use of domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes. The deputy commissioner had received complaints that a large number of dhabas, restaurants and commercial organisations had been using domestic cylinders.

SPORTS

Damien lauds Indian team’s feat 
Chandigarh, March 3
With their terrific performance, the ‘Men in Blue’ have put the Australians under pressure, feels former Australian batsman Damien Martyn, who arrived in the city today afternoon.

Rewari overall champs
Panchkula, March 3
Defending champion Rewari maintained their supremacy as they were crowned overall champions in the 10th Annual Sports Meet of Haryana Warehousing Corporation, which concluded at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex here.

Gaurav seeks slot in Ranji squad

Chandigarh, March 3 The Sector 16 Cricket Stadium always fascinated him as it was his dream to be a cricketer. To give wings to his dream, he always insisted his father to get him admitted to the cricket academy being run at the stadium. Now at the age of 20, he is ready to make it big in the arena. With his all-round performance in the recently held Vizzy Trophy tournament, city lad Gaurav Gambhir, has successfully made his presence felt. All-rounder Gambhir, who was instrumental in winning the trophy for North-Zone team with his all-round performance, smashed two tons-192 runs against East Zone in semifinal and all-important 162 runs against South Zone in final.

Gaurav Gambhir

Krishan excels in 75 kg category
Chandigarh, March 3
Krishan Kumar of DAV College, Sector 10, won top honours in the 75-kg category in the S. Harnam Singh Memorial Chandigarh Bench Press Powerlifting Championship held at Weightlifting Coaching Centre (WCC), Sector 42, here today.
The winners display their trophy after S. Harnam Singh Memorial Chandigarh Bench Press Powerlifting Championship held at Weightlifting Coaching Centre (WCC), Sector 42, Chandigarh, on Monday. A Tribune photo

Press Club lift Samuel Banerjee cup
Chandigarh, March 3
Press Club XI, Chandigarh, defeated Adviser’s XI by one run in a nail-biting finish to the 20-20 matches at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium in the Samuel Banerjee Cup here.

HEALTH

Rehab dept at GMCH to be upgraded
Chandigarh, March 3
UT home and health secretary Krishna Mohan today said the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at GMCH, Sector 32, would be upgraded and seven more operating theatres had been made functional here. He said Rs 11 lakh had been sanctioned for the upgradation of the facilities. A sum of Rs six lakh had also been sanctioned for the release of salaries and Rs five lakh as grants-in-aid for the purchase of equipment for the department, he said.

Recreation room for care centre
Chandigarh, March 3
The State Aids Control Society (SACS) has decided to establish a recreation room at the Community Care Centre at Khuda Alisher and extend the project on interactive voice response system. 

CRIME

Man’s body found
Chandigarh, March 3
The body of an unidentified man, in his mid-thirties, was found from near Sector 21 petrol station, here, this evening. Police said the incident came to light at around 7pmand no visible injury marks were found on the body.

Four vehicles stolen
Chandigarh, March 3
Four vehicles were reportedly stolen from various parts of the city, yesterday. Dixit Guleria of Sector 37 lodged a police complaint alleging that his Maruti car (CH-03-U-2909) was stolen from his residence, last night. Sushil Kumar of Sector 45 reported that his motorcycle (CH-03-P-7206) was stolen from his residence yesterday. Jaskirat Singh Nagra of Sector 36 lodged a complaint that his motorcycle (CH-03-S-3233) was stolen from his residence on Sunday.

Couple attempts suicide
Panchkula, March 3
A young couple was found lying unconscious in a car near Mansa Devi temple here today and was admitted to the local civil hospital.

CULTURE

Sonu Nigam goes Punjabi
Chandigarh, March 3
Popular playback singer Sonu Nigam is in the process of completing his most prestigious music album "Punjabi Please," disclosed the star performer during a video press conference organised by the Big 92.7 FM Radio, the partners in the venture. The title song , "Punjabi please" was aired today by all Big 92.7 FM stations.

Mohan Agashe on contemporary  cinema and more...
Chandigarh, March 3
"Over the years, precisely during the last four decades, the concept, trend and process of filmmaking in India has undergone substantial transformation, aimed at catering to the taste of cine lovers, which is conditioned by the environment and the social milieu." Observed the acclaimed actor and director Padmashri Dr Mohan Agashe. A renowned psychiatrist and former director general of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTTI), was in city on the invitation of NFTI, Chandigarh.

Dr Mohan Agashe, former director general, Film Institute of India, Pune, in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan