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PGI Strike
Holiday aggravates patients’ misery
Day 4 No arrangements at OPDs, labs remain shut
Chandigarh, April 18
The PGI authorities preferred to observe holiday today in spite of huge backlog at various laboratories owing to the ongoing strike by medical technologists here.

  Authorities’ stand

Nayagaon NAC
Delimitation of wards completed
Mohali, April 18
The delimitation of wards for the first-ever elections to Nayagaon Notified Area Committee (NAC) here have been done. Reserved Wards  Number /Category 1, 14 &15/ Scheduled Castes 5 /Backward Castes 4, 7, 10 & 13 /Women

Dereliction
DGP suspends Mullanpur Garibdass SHO
Mohali, April 18
Punjab director general of police N.P.S. Aulakh has ordered the suspension of SHO Kashmira Singh posted at Mullanpur Garibdass. The SHO has been suspended for dereliction of duty, said the DGP. Departmental action would also be taken against him for not acting on a complaint, he added.

IPL
Zinta talks ‘Punjabiyat’
Mohali, April 18
No Bollywood stars. No hi-fi Western performers. Just pure ‘Punjabiyat’ will reign the inaugural ceremony of the Kings XI Punjab match tomorrow, says Preity Zinta, co0promoter of the local team.

HOLY GATHERING: Devotees take part in a shobha yatra on the occassion of Mahaveer Jayanti at Jain Mandir, Sector 27, Chandigarh, on Friday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Admn to go tough on encroachers
Chandigarh, April 18
With elections scheduled for next year, the Chandigarh administration is taking upon itself the ‘tough’ task of checking encroachments in the city. Though conviction of the administration to act tough is yet to be seen, the junior engineers and the section officers have now been assigned the responsibility to check encroachments on government land under their respective jurisdictions. Apart from keeping a constant vigil on encroachers, the officials have been asked to seek police help for immediate removal of such structures, temporary and permanent.

COMMUNITY

8 hurt as tanker falls in ditch
Panhckula, April 18
Eight people, including a woman, had a narrow escape when the tanker they were travelling in, overturned and fell into a ditch near Nada Sahib here today. The tanker was carrying diesel. However, the police personnel present on the spot acted swiftly and took out all the occupants and shifted them to the Panchkula civil hospital.

The tanker carrying diesel that overturned and fell into a ditch near Nada Sahib; and (right) an injured being treated at the civil hospital in Panchkula on Friday. Tribune photos: Manoj Mahajan

Councillor’s kidnapping
Police raids parts of Punjab, Haryana
Panchkula, April 18
In order to trace the whereabouts of the missing India National Lok Dal councillor Gautam Prasad, police personnel from a special investigating team conducted raids on different parts of Haryana and Punjab.

Autos flouting parking norms 
Chandigarh, April 18
The traffic police here seems to be oblivious of illegally parked autos on various roads, which are becoming a major nuisance for city residents.

OUT OF WAY: Illegally parked auto-rickshaws on the Chandigarh roads. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Rising vehicle thefts cause for concern 
Chandigarh, April 18
If data related to vehicle thefts is to be believed, police here have miserably failed to check the growing menace of thefts. Compared to last year, the figures have almost doubled this year.

Book on master-disciple relation released
Chandigarh, April 18
The book release function of “One Master One Disciple” by Jyotii Subramanian at Browser today turned out to be a meditation session for the audience.

Meeta Vashisht (extreme right) during the release of book ‘One Master One Disciple’ by Jyotii Subramanian at Browser in Chandigarh on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Counselling key to settling dowry cases
Chandigarh, April 18
Dowry cases have doubled in the past seven years and change in lifestyle is said to be one of the major factors behind growing incidents of dowry disputes and domestic violence.

No cold water facility at railway station
Chandigarh, April 18
The Chandigarh railway station, which boasts of providing the best of amenities to passengers, is bereft of a basic amenity like cold drinking water.

A facility for cold drinking water is without a tap at the Chandigarh railway station. 
A Tribune photograph

Street play on female foeticide
Chandigarh, April 18
The Punjab Performers Association has taken upon itself the task of sensitising the rural folk to the issue of female foeticide. Members of the association, under the guidance of script writer and director Raman Mittal, are visiting various villages of Chandigarh and adjoining areas of Punjab these days to present street plays on the issue.

Giant laddoo marks Hanuman Jayanti
Mohali, April 18
Members of the Sri Vaisno Sewa Mandal celebrated Hanuman Jayanti with traditional fervour at Vaishno Devi Mandir in Phase 3A here today.

A 3.5-quintal laddoo prepared at Vishno Devi Temple in Phase 3A in Mohali on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Speaking Out
‘Patients at receiving end’

Letters
Traffic woes

EDUCATION

Now, deposit school fee at e-sampark centres
Chandigarh, April 18
The fee and funds for all government school students would be transacted through e-sampark centers across the city.

Self-financing courses to cost more at PU
Chandigarh, April 18
Panjab University’s current financial crunch is reflecting on the newly announced self-financing diploma courses. The fee structure of the new courses is on the higher side and is raising many eyebrows. While the ongoing degree courses are affordable, the students seeking admissions in the new courses are feeling the pinch. It seems the university is giving way to private intuitions and in the name of self-financing courses, they are out to earn big bucks, students feel.

Central Varsity Status
More teachers, students join chain fast
Chandigarh, April 18
More teachers, students, employees and general public has started rallying for the demand for Central university status to Panjab University. This is happening as the message percolates down to the public about the discriminatory attitude of the politicians in power, who are busy in head counting for the forthcoming elections, disclosed Prof Manjit Singh, coordinator, Joint Action Committee (JAC).
Teachers of evening study department of Panjab University during chain hunger strike at Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Road Show
750 students take part
Chandigarh, April 18
More than 750 students participated in The Canadian Universities and Colleges Road Show-2008 held here today. The road show brought together the institutes from Canada.

COURTS

Judicial officer seeks reason behind case transfer
Chandigarh, April 18
Transfer of cases from one court to another on request of a judicial officer is a routine affair. But rarely does declining of such a request lead the judicial officer to ask for the reason behind it.

Insurance firm asked to pay Rs 50,000 compensation
Chandigarh, April 18
The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed the New India Assurance Co Ltd to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation to a resident of Mohali, here today.

Firm asked to surrender Rs 55,155
Chandigarh, April 18
The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited, Sector 9, to pay Rs 5,000 compensation to a resident to Panchkula. The commission also asked the insurance firm to surrender a sum of Rs 55,155.

Rs 25,000 penalty slapped on bank
Chandigarh, April 18
The district consumer disputes redressal forum directed the State Bank of India to pay Rs 25,000 as compensation for deficiency in services to a petitioner, here yesterday.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Equipment factory gutted
Ambala, April 18
A science equipments manufacturing factory located at housing board, Ambala Cantonment, was gutted in fire here this afternoon.

Boxers (57 kg weight) in action during a camp at the NIS in Patiala on Friday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Capt Kanwaljit to review projects weekly
Zirakpur, April 18
Punjab cooperation minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh has decided to review the progress of various projects sanctioned by the state and Centre governments on a weekly basis so that their speedy implementation could be made possible.

Gang of cheats busted 
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 18
The district police has busted a gang of cheats involved in forging documents to get bails for accused in various cases from the judicial courts.

Mass communication dept to start job-oriented courses
Patiala, April 18
The department of journalism and mass communication of Punjabi University has decided to start job-oriented courses from the next academic session.

Gate awaits inauguration
Patiala, April 18
The historic Sheranwala Gate, overlooking the Mall Road, is waiting to be inaugurated even though the imposing structure has been ready for almost three months now.

Town Planning Scheme
Encroachments eat into govt land 
Patiala, April 18
Due to laxity on part of the local municipal corporation, people are openly encroaching upon the land earmarked under the much-hyped town planning scheme initiated by the town planner. Plots have been taken over by certain individuals and being used for purposes other than as envisaged by the town planner.

Wheat arrival picks up in Patiala
Patiala, April 18
Wheat arrivals have picked up in Patiala district with improvement in weather conditions.

Stock procured by agencies lies unattended
Officials take stock of situation
Kharar, April 18
Agencies procuring wheat from grain markets are not paying farmers in time. Not only the farmers are suffering at the hands of the agencies, even the bought stock is not being lifted from the market.

Bank loses cheques worth Rs 50,000
Kharar, April 18
The SAS Nagar Central Co-operative, Kharar, has lost two cheques of Rs 25,000 each that were in the name of the Kharar market committee. These cheques were submitted in the bank on February 28.

SPORTS

PCA stadium gears up to host IPL
Mohali, April 18
It was a day full of activities at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium where the first match of Kings XI Punjab against Chennai Super Kings is going to be played tomorrow at 5 pm.

Daggers Drawn: Performers take part in a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the IPL tie between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings at PCA stadium in Mohali on Friday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu P10

4 local riders for Shimla motor rally
Chandigarh, April 18
Team Indian Oil, consisting of four members of the Chandigarh Motor Sports Association namely Yogesh Lakhani, Narinder Singh, Honey and Sandeep Matharoo will participate in the 2nd round of the Shimla Motorcycle Challenge to be held on April 19 and 20.

Security arrangements not paid for
Mohali, April 18
The Punjab Police has once again offered its services to the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) for the “safe” conduct of the Indian Premier league matches without charging for the same. The matches are beginning here from tomorrow. Compare this situation with the one in Kolkata where the city police has charged the IPL whopping Rs 75 lakh for providing security at Eden Gardens.
Policemen being briefed by officers at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Punjab seamer to play for Mohali team
Mohali, April 18
Finally, Punjab seamer Gagandeep Singh got his due. The talented fast bowler, who had been neglected during the high-profile auction of the IPL players by the franchisees, caught the attention of Kings XI Punjab coach Tom Moody with his bowling talent during the practice matches being held at the PCA stadium for the past two days.

Gagandeep Singh

Zoravar is ZEDA’s brand ambassador
Chandigarh, April 18
ZEDA, the equestrian apparel brand of Divyam Knitwear Ltd, today made 10-year-old local budding equestrian Zoravar Singh Thiara its brand ambassador.

Zoravar Singh, who was chosen the brand ambassador of ZEDA at a function in Chandigarh on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Under-13 Gold Cup
MCA Academy thrash Apeejay School
Chandigarh, April 18
With his 36-run knock, Pranshu of Sector-16 Cricket Stadium helped his team to register a six-wicket victory over MCM Blue Caps in the 2nd CCA Under-13 Gold Cup Cricket Tournament at the Sector 16 stadium here today.

Nipun Bhardwaj of Stadium Eleven plays a shot at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

CRIME

Vegetable vendor stabbed for Rs 600
Chandigarh, April 18
An amount of Rs 600 nearly proved to be fatal for 25-year-old Vijay, when 55-year-old Suraj Nath Chaudhary stabbed him in Apni Mandi, Sector 46, here this morning. Vijay was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, where his condition is said to be critical.

Two more snatchings
Chandigarh, April 18
Nidhi, a resident of Ambala, reported to the police that some unknown occupants of a car snatched her gold chain from outside gate number 3 of the Panjab University today. A case has been registered at police station-11.

BUSINESS

Passion missing in film industry: Meeta
Chandigarh, April 18
Commercialisation in the film industry has given rise to glamour, money and vulgarity whereas the most essential ingredient, passion in an artiste, is missing these days.

Meeta Vashisht

SBI bid to boost online trading
Chandigarh, April 18
In a move to boost its services in the field of online trading, the State Bank of India launched its 3-in-1 ez-trade@sbi accounts in association with SBICAP Securities Limited, (SSL) an SBI Group broking company at State Bank of India, Chandigarh, here today.

Traders suggest ways to control rising prices 
Chandigarh, April 18
Apparently jolted by yesterday’s raids by the district administration on their establishments in the Grain Market, Sector 26, traders today suggested certain measures to control the rising prices.

53 small saving agents honoured
Chandigarh, April 18
Fifty-three small savings agents, including 29 Mahila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat Yojana agents, were honoured during the Women Savings Day function held at Central State Library, here yesterday.

CULTURE

Painting exhibition opens
Chandigarh, April 18
An exhibition of paintings and drawings titled ‘An Intimate Act’ by well-known artist, Jaskanwal, opens today under the aegis of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademy at its hall in Sector 34. The 23 art works in ball-point drawings and paintings in pastel colours emanate the thematic content of 'Intimacy' in all its myriad manifestations, claims Jaskanwal, a BFA pass out from the local Government College of Arts. Awarded a scholarship for research by Ministry of Education New Delhi, Jaskanwal, a teacher has been actively participating in-group and solo shows, including the International shows at Dacca and Delhi.