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Technicians of PGI on strike from April 15
But patients have to suffer the whole week on account of holidays
Chandigarh, April 10
Medical facilities will be hit in the PGIMER because lab technicians will go on strike from April 15 to 17. PGI medical technologist has planned a strike in such a manner that the three-day strike will paralyse the medical facilities for the whole week because April 13 is Sunday and thereafter Ramnavami, that falls on April 14 and April 18 is Mahavir Jayanti. Patients will have to suffer for eight days.

PU lands in prospectus row
Rates of OCET form slashed from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,300 after five days.
What about those who have purchased the forms?
Chandigarh, April 10
A hasty decision by Panjab University on the price of OCET prospectus has cost thousands of students Rs 200 each. The sale of OCET prospectus began on April 2 and the prospectus cost was Rs 1500. After five days, on April 8 after 3 pm, the university slashed the price to Rs 1,300.

Cable operators fleecing residents
Chandigarh, April 10
Ignoring the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission order regarding monthly cable charges of Rs 220 per month, cable operators of Chandigarh are still overcharging the consumers in city at their own whims.

Bulldozer runs over boy
Chandigarh, April 10
A six-year-old boy was crushed to death under a bulldozer working in the dumping ground in Sector 38 here this afternoon. According to the information, the boy was collecting wooden sticks in the dumping ground, where the process of dumping of malba was going on.

COMMUNITY

20,000 vacant houses but accommodation woes persist
Chandigarh, April 10
The most-prosperous city in the country, Chandigarh, presents a study in contrast. Even as home remains a dream for thousands of people in the city, about 20,000 houses are vacant giving a lie to the assertion that there is housing shortage in the city.

Price Rise BSP announces mass agitation Chandigarh, April 10 The failure of the Congress-led UPA government to check prices of the essential commodities has spurred the local political parties into action. Close on the heels of the series of "mashal jaloos" by the BJP, the local unit of the BSP today announced a mass agitation on the issue in a bid to make a dent into the Congress vote bank ahead of the 2009 general election.

Harmohan Dhawan along with office-bearers of the local unit of the BSP in Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Conversion Pangs
Now, Estate Office to deal with conversion cases
Chandigarh, April 10
The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) is no longer the nodal agency to deal with applications received under the policy to convert industrial plots into commercial establishments.

Banning plastic bags not feasible: Expert
Chandigarh, April 10
An interactive workshop on the topic ‘Plastic waste- problem and solutions’ for assessing the real problem and the underlying solutions relating to plastic was conducted by Burning Brain Society and Citizens’ Voice at Panjab University today.

• Objections to plastic ban filed

IN UNISON: Girls perform dance at the annual day fuction of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Patiala Cantt, on Thursday

Recovery of dues from GPF
Employee’s consent must: CAT
Chandigarh, April 10
In a decision affecting several government employees, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has specified that dues cannot be recovered from the general provident fund (GPF) of the employees without informing them.

Finally, SSP Mohali gets official house
Mohali, April 10
After shuttling from place to place over the past one year, the SSP of SAS Nagar district has at last got an official accommodation in Sector 52 here. The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has allotted the house to the SSP and the rent will be finalised by the PWD soon.

Cyber cafe owner’s arrest
Social rights activists up in arms
Chandigarh, April 10
Social rights activists today protested against the manner in which the Chandigarh police arrested a cyber café owner last evening following a complaint that the café was being used to send unwanted messages to the daughter of an IAS officer.

NCB working under scanner
Prosecution witness becomes defence witness
Chandigarh, April 10
The working of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has come under the scanner after a prime witness in a drug-pedalling case deposed supporting the accused in the case. Surinder Pal Singh, 39, the prime witness in the case used to work in Forensic Expert and Investigator General Insurance Companies, Chandigarh.

Exhibition on evolution of Indian currency from tomorrow
Chandigarh, April 10
The Reserve Bank of India will organise an exhibition on the evolution of the Indian currency from the pre-historic era till date. The day-long exhibition, on April 12, will be inaugurated by the minister of state , finance, Pawan Kumar Bansal.

Security on board Shatabdi lax
Chandigarh, April 10
It appears that the Northern Railway is not taking the security check on board the Shatabdi Express seriously. Passengers travelling on board the morning Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi complained that RPF personnel on board the train did not bother to identify the luggage being carried by the passengers and put the seat identification sticker on the luggage.

38th Harinam conference begins
Chandigarh, April 10
The 38th Harinam conference of the Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math got off to religious start here this evening. In his welcome address, Srila Vishnu Maharaj said only the humans had the ability to distinguish between the correct and the incorrect.

• Nagar kirtan on Baisakhi
• Seminar on modernisation of prisons
• Letters

EDUCATION

PU to have new pattern for arts researchers
Chandigarh, April 10
With a view to streamline and strengthen the research in the field of arts, the arts faculty, which has more than 18 departments, has come out with a standardised pattern of synopsis to be followed by all researchers before they start on with a research project.

Central Varsity Status
PUTA’s demand gains momentum
Chandigarh, April 10
The demand for central university status is gaining momentum with the tremendous increase in the number of visitors at the site of chain fast. Today on the fourth day of the chain fast the batch of five teachers and students, including Prof Cecilia Antony, fellow PU from department of French studies, along with Dr Arvind Kumar and Naresh Kumar, both from UIET, were the teachers, whereas Ranjit Kaur and Mrinalini from the department of English were from amongst the students.

Candidates declared ineligible at last moment Mohali, April 10 Chaos prevailed throughout the interviews of lecturers at the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) office, here today. A HARRIED LOT: Candidates at the Punjab School Education Board’s office in Mohali on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

2000 students attend ITFT career fest Chandigarh, April 10 “Introspection is the mantra of success,” said career counsellor Usha Albuquerque at the career fest, organised by the ITFT at Hotel Mountview, here today. Exhorting the students to change their mindsets, the counsellor said there are a lot of new job opportunities in various segments of service industry of late. Usha Albuquerque

SBI to felicitate toppers
Chandigarh, April 10
State Bank of India will felicitate one lakh top-ranking students from 10,000 higher secondary schools (rural) under its SBI Talent Awards Scheme. The scheme was launched by chairman of the bank O.P. Bhatt today.

155 employees awarded
Chandigarh, April 10
Town Official Language Implementation Committee (TOLIC) organised its annual prize distribution function at the National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research here today.

COURTS

ICICI Bank told to pay Rs 2.65 lakh
Chandigarh, April 10
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed ICICI Bank to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to a resident of Panchkula, who had taken a loan from the bank, for forcibly snatching a vehicle from him.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Dera Bassi model block for dairy promotion
Dera Bassi, April 10
Milkfed has adopted Dera Bassi as a model block for promotion of dairy farming in the state. This was announced by Punjab Cooperation Minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh today. He was addressing a public meeting after inauguration of bulk milk coolers at Handesra and Samgauli, installed at a cost of Rs 22 lakhs. 

Hospital’s blood bank sans licence
Patiala, April 10
The blood bank of Government Rajindra Hospital here is running without a licence since the past 15 months, which is a serious threat to the safety of thousands of patients from the Malwa belt that visit the hospital every month. The licence, which is mandatory, is granted by the drug controller after certain checks are made.

Commissioner threatened by junk dealers, probe ordered
Patiala, April 10
The commissioner of Patiala municipal corporation M.P. Arora was allegedly humiliated in his own office by a group of about one dozen junk dealers, here today. The junk dealers, known for their proximity with certain leaders of the ruling party, were said to have been upset over allotment of tenders pertaining to discarded vehicles of the civic body to another party. 

Central grant for development of Punjabi language
Patiala, April 10
The Punjabi University’s Advanced Centre for Technical Development of Punjabi Language (ACTDPL) has received a grant of Rs 25.48 lakh for development of a ‘Grammar Checking System for Punjabi’ from the ministry of communications and information technology, government of India.

BPL families to get smart cards
Patiala, April 10
The Punjab State AIDS Control Society organised a function at Karan Farms today. The function was attended by volunteers of ASHA, ANMs and NGOs from Ludhiana, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and Patiala districts.

Ex-MC councillor roughed up
Kharar, April 10
A group of people, allegedly in an inebriated state, assaulted former municipal councillor Roshan lal, here today. The incident took place when Roshan Lal went to check water supply of the area at 7:30 pm.

Wheat crop gutted
Ambala, April 10
Around 10 acres of wheat crop was burnt in Badi village near here due to short-circuit today. According to information, a short-circuit in the transformer of HVPN, installed in the fields of Naib Singh, led to the fire.

Social worker passes away
Bassi Pathana, April 10
Kulwant Singh Gunia Majri, a leading social worker and former sarpanch and member of the market committee, Bassi Pathana, died at his native village, Gunia Majri, after prolonged illness today.

SPORTS

Chandigarh Golfing Tour tees off today
Diplomats, corporate golfers among participants
Chandigarh, April 10
More than 40 golfers from outside the tricity, including six from the Canadian High Commission and three from the Bhutan Embassy, will be seen in action in the third Chandigarh Golfing Tour which will be teed off on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here tomorrow at 11 am.

Brig Bath is captain of the course
Chandigarh, April 10
Brig H.S. Bath (retd) has been appointed captain of the course by Dhanbir Singh Bains, newly elected president of the Chandigarh Golf Club. Gurjit Singh Lehal, who was the course captain from 2003 to 2005, is the honorary secretary.

AITA: Vilas, Mohanty grab doubles title Chandigarh, April 10 The duo of Vilas Khate and Sushanta Mohanty emerged winners in the doubles of under-14 section in the AITA Super Series Tennis Tournament being played at the CLTA Tennis Stadium, Sector 10, here today. The pair beat the duo of Pankaj Kumar and S. Bonafice in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. In under-16 section, R. Ramkumar and Arjun Khade established their dominance thrashing the duo of Suraj Konwar and R. Gogoi 6-2, 6-1. R. Ramkumar of Tamilnadu hits a backhand shot during a semifinal match of under-14 at CLTA on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Delhi Horse Show Gursobha is best child rider Chandigarh, April 10 Horse riding is a sport of daredevils and the show jumping event is the real test of bravery of the riders. For any child, just participation in the event is a big deal and if he wins top honours in it, it’s an icing on the cake. Elated Gursobha displays his trophy and medals. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu Twenty20 teams announced Chandigarh, April 10 Following players will represent the Haryana in the 1st Under-13 National Twenty-20 Cricket Championship, starting from April 12 to 16. Hockey trials

CRIME

Attempt to dupe bank foiled
Panchkula, April 10
An attempt to dupe a bank of around Rs 6.50 lakh by an unidentified person today was foiled when the alert bank staff found that the cheque presented by the miscreant was a scanned copy.

BUSINESS

Biz Word
Furniture for summer season
Chandigarh, April 10
Glass Palace, a city-based outlet, has come out with their new furniture for the summer season. Interestingly, the collection has been designed with soft shades, cool colours and refreshing designs to beat the summer heat.

CULTURE

Bhatti, Mann promote ‘Comedy Ka King Kaun’ Chandigarh, April 10 Vulgarity in the laughter television shows, which were becoming very popular these days, has to be curbed, as the concept to introduce such shows was to promote family oriented programmes. This was stated by Jaspal Bhatti, a renowned TV and film star, who had come here for the promotion of ‘Comedy Ka King Kaun’ today.
Jaspal Bhatti and Bhagwant Mann promote ‘Comedy Ka King Kaun’ in Chandigarh on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan