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TOP STORIES

Patients told to get tests done from outside
Chandigarh, April 16
PGI doctors today asked patients to get tests done from outside following a strike by technicians that hit services in the institute for the second day today.

• Speaking Out: ‘The strike must end’
• Workshop by lab technologists

Contract staff can’t seek parity with regular employees: HC
Chandigarh, April 16
In a judgement affecting UT employees appointed on contract, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held the order of the CAT on the revision of dearness allowance granted to them from time to time is unjustified and not tenable in law.

Rain leaves farmers glum
Chandigarh, April 16
The dip in mercury by 0.4 degrees made for pleasant weather today, but has caused concern to farmers of Punjab and Haryana whose standing wheat crop was ready for harvesting.

LABOUR LOST: Wheat bags being shifted to a dry place in the Grain Market, Sector 26, after the rain in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Karam Singh

COMMUNITY

Major fire at edible oil factory Second incident in three days Chandigarh, April 16 A major fire broke out at an edible oil factory - Saraswati Oil Mill - in Industrial Area, Phase I, here this afternoon. This is the second incident of fire in the city ever since the fire and emergency services department launched Fire Safety Week on Monday. On April 14, a software company in Sector 34 was gutted following a short-circuit.

Fire-fighters try to douse the flames after a fire broke out at an edible oil factory in Industrial Area, Phase I, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Rock Garden nets Rs 6.5 cr per annum: Paper
Chandigarh, April 16
Nek Chand's masterpiece - Rock Garden - continues to be the most popular and major revenue-generating tourist spot for Chandigarh. In fact, if a research article published in a recent edition of the reputed international tourism journal “e-Review of Tourism Research” of Texas A & M University of the USA is any indication, the Rock Garden has a annual tourism value of Rs 6.5 crore.

Gym scam: CBI begins inquiry
Mohali, April 16
The CBI today began investigations into the purchase of gym equipment by the sports department and found out that each treadmill was bought for a whopping Rs 9.3 lakh, a reclined bike for Rs 3.3 lakh, a chest press for Rs 3.63 lakh, an abdominal crunch machine for Rs 3.2 lakh while a leg press cost Rs 5.09 lakh and the list goes on.

Single firm to get Metro project report
Chandigarh, April 16
The common mobility plan (CMP) and detailed project report (DPR) for the Metro project would be given to a single company selected through a transparent bidding process from amongst the list provided by the ministry of urban development.

Pipeline blockage harries Attawa residents Chandigarh, April 16 Residents of Attawa are a harried lot as they have to face frequent blockage of an underground sewerage pipeline in the locality. The blockage in the pipeline occurs when junk dealers dump waste into a manhole. A street flooded with sewage following a blockage in pipeline at Attawa village, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Ban on watering lawns, washing vehicles
Mohali, April 16
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority has imposed a complete ban on watering of lawns and washing of vehicles and courtyards in the mornings and evenings due to increase in demand of drinking water during the summer months.

College girls enjoy a splash in rain in Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Promotion to IAS
CAT notice to Punjab for ignoring candidate
Chandigarh, April 16
Not recommending the name of Arvinder Singh, director, Land Records Punjab, Jalandhar, for appointment in the Indian administrative service (IAS) by promotion has cost the state of Punjab dear.

Sunkaria takes charge as MC commissioner
Chandigarh, April 16
After a lapse of four months, the Chandigarh municipal corporation got its regular commissioner today with Roshan Sunkaria assuming the office here. His predecessor P.S. Aujla was repatriated to his parent cadre in Punjab on December 6 and UT deputy commissioner R.K. Rao was given additional charge of the MC, before Raji P. Srivastva was given charge in March.

Residents protest against liquor vend
Mohali, April 16
More than 400 residents of Zirakpur today marched to the newly established liquor vend on the Zirakpur-Panchkula border to get it closed. According to former Zirakpur MC chief N.K. Sharma, who led the protest, the liquor vend is facing residential area and cannot be allowed to be set up there.

Protest by sugar mill federation Chandigarh, April 16 Members of the Corporative Sugar Mill Federation, Punjab, held a protest in Sector 17 this afternoon. The protesters demanded release of 13 months’ pay, revival of closed mills and increment after every seven years. Members of the Corporative Sugar Mill Federation, Punjab, hold a rally in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Man dies after fall
Chandigarh, April 16
A 25-year-old man suffered a fatal fall from the second floor of a building in Sector 40, this afternoon. Ragubir, a resident of Uttaranchal, was working as a cook at a wine shop in Sector 40.

Mani Majra
Traffic restriction on heavy goods vehicles
Chandigarh, April 16
Keeping in view public safety and convenience of residents, the Chandigarh administration has restricted entry of heavy goods vehicles on certain roads of Mani Majra from 8 am to 9 pm.

• Letters

EDUCATION

Delay in Central Status for PU Staff, students organise open rally Chandigarh, April 16 In continuation with their demand for the Central status for Panjab University, technical staff, teachers and students along with members of PUTA (Panjab University Teachers’ Association) today organised an open rally to register protest against the delay in declaring PU a Central university.
Staff and students participate in an open rally at Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Blending science and religion on canvas
Chandigarh, April 16
Artist H.N Suresh could best be described as a philosopher-artist. A man who has borrowed from science, astronomy as well as our age old “jyotish vidya” to come out with a collection of paintings which fuse all these elements into a single whole.

Higher education director pulled up
Asked to interview left-out candidate again
Chandigarh, April 16
Coming down heavily on the UT director, higher education, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has asked him to interview Vanita Sharma, an applicant, for the post of yoga teacher.

From Schools & Colleges
Company hires 18 students
Mohali, April 16
Lord Swaraj Paul-owned engineering multinational company Caparo has picked up 18 students during a joint placement drive organised at Indo Global College of Engineering at Abhiput in Mohali district. The company has 60 branches across the world.

Yuvsatta organises discussion on Indo-Pak freindship
Chandigarh, April 16
To sensitise young children about values of peace, friendship and brotherhood, Peace Club of KB DAV-7 and Yuvsatta organised a discussion on ‘Indo-Pak friendship’ on school campus in Sector 7, today.

COURTS

Consumer Courts
Censure, penalty for ICICI Bank
Chandigarh, April 16
Requesting officials of ICICI Bank, Sector 9, to take note of deterioration in its working as well as efficiency, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has asked the bank to pay Rs 30,000 in compensation.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

2 kids electrocuted
Dera Bassi, April 16
Two kids aged four and five years were electrocuted with a high-tension electricity wire here today. The children were playing on the roof of a two-storey building that has been constructed right below the high-tension wires.

Wheat crop gutted at four places
Bassi Pathana, April 16
Ripe wheat crop was gutted at Shergarh Bara, Kheri Bir Singh, Ghel and Mehmadpur villages due to short-circuiting today. Deputy commissioner Ashok Singla visited the spot and ordered the SDM to send immediate report of loss. Capt (retd) S.P. Singh told The Tribune that a private contractor of the PSEB and his men were installing new connections.

Even 12 years after SC verdict, MC fails to take possession of land
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 16
Call it reluctance on the part of officials or red tape, even after 12-years of a Supreme Court verdict in its favour, the Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib municipal council has failed to take possession of a prime piece of property located on the national highway No. 1.

Closure of road passing through Baradari Gardens
Residents up in arms against bureaucrats
Patiala, April 16
Closure of the famed arterial road passing through historic Baradari Gardens for the public to “facilitate” conversion of Rajindra Kothi into a privately-run heritage hotel has snowballed into a major controversy with residents opposing the move.

Newly Wed’s Death
Police books in-laws
Rajpura, April 16
Following a protest by villagers and relatives of Taranjeet Kaur, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her in-laws’ house a few days back, the police has registered a case against Taranjeet's husband Narinder Singh, his mother Lakhwinder Kaur and his father Mulak Singh, all residents of Philkhani village.

Media studio opened at Pbi varsity
Patiala, April 16
Vice-chancellor of Punjabi University Dr Jaspal Singh inaugurated a media studio at the university’s department of journalism and mass communication here today. The studio will be fitted with state-of-the-art equipment like video cameras, FCP machines, teleprompter, chroma, audio-visual mixers, studio lights and sound peripherals.

Punjabi version of classics released
Patiala, April 16
Simplified and abridged Punjabi versions of celebrated American writer Mark Twain’s world famous novels “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn” were released here jointly by former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar and Patiala division Commissioner S.K. Ahluwalia.

SPORTS

Foreign cricketers descend for IPL encounter

Mohali, April 16 Cricket activities in the city got a boost with the arrival of top international cricketers to participate in the Indian Premier League tie between local team Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings at Punjab Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (second from left) arrives with his teammates at a hotel in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Kanpur pitch was no issue: Vessels Chandigarh, April 16 For former South African batsman Kepler Vessels, the tailor-made pitch, which helped the Indian spinners tear apart the proteas batting lineup during the Kanpur test, was certainly no issue. “Any foreign team should be prepared for such situations as the host teams try to incur benefits of every kind,” Vessels said at a local hotel here today.                                                            Kepler Vessels

Baroda lift U-13 National Twenty20 trophy
Chandigarh, April 16
Baroda got lucky today as the spin of the coin favoured the team to lift the first Under-13 National Twenty20 Cricket Championship trophy at the Sector 16 cricket stadium here today.

HEALTH

‘Save Girl Child’ campaign
Chandigarh, April 16
A ‘Save Girl Child’ campaign was organised by the health department in Sectors 48 and 49 here today. The rally was largely attended by doctors, nursing students and para-medical staff of the health department under the leadership of Manjit Singh Bains, director, health services-cum-appropriate authority, Chandigarh.

CRIME

ASI’s son held on snatching charge
Chandigarh, April 16
Days after a cop’s son was held on charges of snatching, another youth, said to be the son of an ASI posted in the Sector 31 police station, has been arrested for the crime. Another youth was held along with him. The accused have been identified as Amninder Singh and Sarabjit Singh, both residents of Police Lines, Sector 42.

Two held for robbery
Chandigarh, April 16
The Chandigarh police today claimed to have solved a case of robbery of an octogenarian with the arrest of two youths. The victim, Mayawati, was robbed after being assaulted in Sector 43 in January.

Mobile phone, chain snatched
Chandigarh, April 16
Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Sector 56, reported to the police that some unknown occupants of an auto-rickshaw snatched his mobile phone as he was making a call while waiting for an auto in Sector 22.

Girl held for immoral trafficking
Chandigarh, April 16
The Chandigarh police arrested a girl on charges of immoral trafficking this evening. According to sources, the 20-year-old girl, hailing from Ludhiana, was staying in Sector 56 and had been pretending to be working in a call centre as a customer care executive.

Body found outside PGI
Chandigarh, April 16
The body of an unidentified man, in his mid-30s, was found outside the PGI here this morning. The police said the body was found lying on a bench around 7.30 am. No visible injury marks were found on the body. The body has been sent to the mortuary.

BUSINESS

Entertainment Tax Exemption
Film industry criticises move
Chandigarh, April 16
Reacting to Punjab government's new cultural policy of exempting entertainment tax on all movies running in Punjab, majority of the artistes connected to the Punjabi film industry criticised this move.

CULTURE

City rocks with Sonu Chandigarh, April 16 The city rocked at the tunes of 'Punjabi please', Sonu Niigaam's latest album, during the concert 'Rock with Sonu' at Leisure Valley, here today. Sonu Niigaam won praises from thousands of fans that had assembled there to swing with him. He kept the audience spell bound. Sonu Niigaam performs at Leisure Valley in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph