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Nursery form fee fixed at Rs 100
Chandigarh, December 17
In a bid to tighten the noose on the city schools charging exorbitant application fee in the ongoing nursery admissions, the UT administration has decided to limit it to Rs 100. The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Home Secretary Ram Niwas aimed at devising policies to bar various schools from using the ongoing admission season to mint money.

‘Mission admission’ tough for tiny tots
Chandigarh, December 17
With nursery registrations almost over in many schools, it appears that more than half the applicants will not be able to make it to the schools of their choice, while around 25 per cent might have to go even without admission. Given that the most “sought after” schools received applications five times more than the available seats, “mission admission” is going to be much tougher for tiny tots.

Illegal occupancy of govt houses by retired officials
Admn notifies policy
Chandigarh, December 17
There is bad news for the VIP squatters illegally retaining prime government accommodation in the city after retirement from service. The Chandigarh Administration today notified a policy aimed at checking extended "illegal stay" of senior bureaucrats and other senior functionaries, who manage plum postings even after retirement and continue to retain government bungalows.

Leasehold policy dampens commercial property sale Admn nets only Rs 72.77 cr at 2.74 lakh per sq yd Chandigarh, December 17 The city’s mushrooming shopping malls, declining rentals and - perhaps most importantly - the UT administration's lopsided policy of selling property on leasehold appears to have taken their toll on the auction of commercial sites by the estate office today with only 12 of the 103 sites being sold, netting Rs 72.77 crore.

Empty chairs behind bidders at a conference in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Another swine flu death
Chandigarh, December 17
The H1N1 influenza claimed one more life in the city today, taking the death toll to 29. The pandemic has so far claimed five lives in the city itself. Meanwhile, five more persons, including a nine-month-old baby boy, an eight-year-old student and a 24-year-old PGI doctor tested positive for H1N1.

COMMUNITY

Camaraderie: A parrot and a squirrel share lunch on a warm Thursday afternoon in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

Proper sanitation in Mohali a far cry
Mohali, December 17
Even though councillors have been making a hue and cry over the dismal state of sanitation in the town at almost every monthly meeting of the municipal council, there has been little improvement despite work being allotted to contactors on stricter terms and conditions.

Poor Cousin- IV
Construction of Mansa Devi gate hangs fire
Panchkula, December 17
It was not only the development in the residential or commercial areas of the town which was given a go-by by the state government, even the God was not spared when the projects in the town were scrapped merely because these were mooted by the previous government of the INLD.

Youth not joining police: Haryana DGP
Panchkula, December 17
Haryana Director General of Police Rajiv Dalal said the basic policing in the state was suffering as educated youth or those from the urban areas were not interested to join the police force on lower ranks, including constables and assistant sub-inspectors.

Delegates discuss Indo-Canadian cooperation Chandigarh, December 17 A two-day seminar on “ Cooperative development, peace and security: Indo-Canadian cooperation” was organised as part of activities of the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) to promote connectivity between India and other friendly countries, on the CRRID premises here today.
Delegates attend a seminar on “Cooperative development, peace and security: Indo-Canadian cooperation” at CRRID, Sector 19, Chandigarh, on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Car goes up in flames at petrol station Chandigarh, December 17 A major tragedy was averted when a car caught fire at a Sector 39 petrol station today morning while it was being refueled. There was no provision of the fire extinguishers in the patrol station. The car that caught fire at the Sector 39 petrol station on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Mohali DC warns officials
Attend meetings or face action
Mohali, December 17
Mohali Deputy Commissioner Prabhjot Singh Mand has warned the officials to attend the monthly meetings to assess the progress of the ongoing works or face action. Presiding over the meeting of the District Development Committee, the DC said the officials who had failed to submit the certificates of utilisation of funds would have to submit them within a week.

Mood swings due to chill, a myth: Docs
Chandigarh, December 17
Winter blues may be a reality in Alaska but certainly not in the City Beautiful. Contrary to the perception that chilly weather, misty mornings and overcast skies are generally a cause of heightened depression and mood swings among people across the world, studies reveal that this is merely a myth, particularly in places like this city, which occasionally and that too for brief spell, witnesses such weather.

Spine injury centre to be opened in Mohali
Chandigarh, December 17
In view of the rapid rise in the cases of spine-related ailments among software and marketing professionals, senior citizens and others, the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, has decided to start “post of spine fellowship” in the institute.

AIDS: Workshop to sensitise UT cops
Chandigarh, December 17
While continuing efforts regarding spreading of awareness for prevention of HIV/AIDS, the Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society organised a one-day sensitisation workshop for Chandigarh Police personnel yesterday.

Aviation sector needs bright scientists: Expert
Chandigarh, December 17
Stating that aviation and space were among the fastest growing sectors in India, a former top scientist of the Defence Research and Development Organisation has said that more human resources need to be chanelised into this area to meet the future requirements.

Panel holds meet on security issues
Chandigarh, December 17
A state-level security committee meeting on the security issues for the city was held at the Reserve Bank of India building here today as a useful forum for the face-to-face discussions between the Reserve Bank of India and other banks on the one hand and the Chandigarh Administration, police and other government agencies like the Telecom Department and fire services.

Foundation stone of community centre laid

Chandigarh, December 17 Cabinet minister for education, health, women and child development, Haryana, Geeta Bhukkal, laid the foundation stone of a community centre today. Besides this, she also mooted a plan for developing and beautifying a theme park near a dumping ground with irrigation system in Dadu Majra Colony. Geeta Bhukkal lays the foundation of a theme park at Dadu Majra on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Chrysanthemum exhibition begins
Chandigarh, December 17
Prof Vipin Sobti inaugurated the chrysanthemum exhibition at Prof RC Paul Rose Garden at Panjab University here today. More than fifty varieties of chrysanthemum will be displayed at the exhibition. Vice-Chancellor RC Sobti was the guest of honour at the exhibition. The exhibition will conclude on December 24.

Pensioner’s Day celebrated
Chandigarh, December 17
The Punjab Government Pensioners Welfare Association celebrated the Pensioner’s Day at Shivalik Public School here today. A seminar was organised to mark the day. Amar Chandel, Associate Editor, The Tribune, was the key speaker at the seminar. He deliberated upon the topic “Rising Prices and Pensioners.”

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Despite special drives, illegal hoardings dot Zirakpur
Zirakpur, December 17
Tall claims of the Zirakpur Municipal Council to check defacement of the public property have fallen flat. Recently, the MC had conducted a drive to remove illegal hoardings and encroachments from Zirakpur and Baltana.

PSEB to hold voluntary load disclosure camps
Kharar, December 17
The Kharar division of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) will hold five camps for consumers to disclose their load voluntarily and get it increased accordingly at a nominal cost.

Rs 1-cr grant for Rajindra Hospital emergency
Patiala, December 17
Surjit Singh Rakhra, chairman of the District Planning Board, announced a grant of Rs 1crore for the upgrading of the Emergency Department of the Government Rajindra Hospital and the paediatrics ward of the hospital.

2 youths killed in accident
Ambala, December 17
Two youths were killed in a road accident near the Haryana-Punjab border close to Shambhu village late last night. The youths, Sanjay and Pardeep, who were relatives, were going towards Shambhu from Ambala City on their motorbike.

Office-bearers elected
Patiala, December 17
The tri-annual zonal conference of BKNK Sangh, a union of Food Corporation of India (FCI), concluded at Sushil Palace, the Factory Area, Patiala, recently. The conference was inaugurated by MC Tyagi, All-India general secretary of the sangh.

Project PURE launched
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 17
Minster of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab, Heera Singh Gabria today inaugurated the project for upgradation of roadside eateries - PURE- at Chandigarh Group of Colleges.

Newly wed found hanging
Zirakpur, December 17
A 22-year-old newly married woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her house in Bishanpura village here today. The investigating official said the actual cause of the death would be confirmed after the post-mortem report.

Symposium on secularism, non-violence
Patiala, December 17
A two-day international symposium on “Secularism and Non-violence: A Mandate for the World Peace” commenced today at Punjabi University, Patiala.

COURTS

Unfair Trade: LIC Housing Finance told to pay Rs 50,000 fine
Chandigarh, December 17
The District Consumer Disputes and Redressal Forum has directed LIC Housing Finance to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation for adopting wrong procedure and using unfair trade practices.

Multi-crore PNB, Shubham Hospital Scam
CBI frames chargesheet against six
Chandigarh, December 17
CBI Special court of Darshan Singh today framed charges against six accused in the multi-crore scam involving PNB officials and partners of Shubham Hospital. The charge sheet in the case was filed in January this year, while the case had surfaced early last year.

Bribe: Former SDM’s reader convicted
Chandigarh, December 17
A local court today convicted a former reader at the SDM office of the UT administration for taking a bribe of Rs 1,000. Naresh Gupta, the former reader, was caught by the UT Vigilance Department while taking the bribe on February 28, 2006.

High Court
Swine flu spread
Chandigarh, December 17
In an affidavit placed before Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice AK Mittal, national president of the Anti-Terrorist Front Dr Viresh Shandilya said all attempts by the state to prevent the spread of swine flu were mere eyewash.

NRI Property Case
OP Mittal surrenders
Chandigarh, December 17
Following the dismissal of a bail plea in the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently, OP Mittal, an alleged accused in the NRI property fraud case, allegedly involving officials of the UT estate office and a few lawyers, surrendered before the district courts today.

CRIME

Restaurateur held for raising false alarm
Panchkula, December 17
Raising a false alarm of robbery to settle score with two army officers cost a resident of Sector 7 dear here yesterday night. The accused, Sidhrath Bhatia, has been sent to judicial custody after the local police arrested him after booking him under Sections 323, 341, 506, 182 and 211 of the IPC, the MV Act and the Excise Act on the complaint of Lieutenant Colonel Vivan Sharma.

Labourer killed in Industrial Area
Panchkula, December 17
A 22-year-old youth was found killed in Abhaypur village in Industrial Area late last night. The deceased, identified as Shree Ram, was a daily wage labourer. A passerby, who spotted the body, informed the police, which found the body lying in a pool of blood near the Truck Union.

Two arrested for gambling
Chandigarh, December 17
Mahesh Parshad and Raj Sharma, alias Kaka, were arrested from different parts of Burail village, on Wednesday evening for allegedly indulging in gambling. A sum of Rs 2,375 and Rs 2,430 were seized from their possession.

Encroachment Case
Criminal case against religious trust
Chandigarh, December 17
“A criminal case will be registered against a religious trust for constructing an unauthorised temple at Maloya village despite notices by the Estate Office,” said the Home Secretary at a meeting.

SPORTS

113 NRIs to tee off today
Record entries for Chandigarh Golfing Tour
Chandigarh, December 17
A record number of 113 NRIs from 11 countries have arrived here for the fifth invitational three-day Chandigarh Golfing Tour, which gets under way on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here tomorrow.

Suraj beats Nischay Chandigarh, December 17 In the boys U-18 singles final of the AITA Talent Series Tournament, Suraj Beniwal beat Nischay Rawal in straight sets. Suraj will face Atul Sri Patel in the final match. In the girls U-18, Gundeep Kaur and Jaspreet Kaur both from Punjab had a straight set win in the singles semifinal matches. A player in action during the AITA Talent Series Tournament in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

Dev Samaj college emerge victorious
Chandigarh, December 17
Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, today won the Panjab University Inter-College Gymnastics Championship. Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, and Government College for Women, Ludhiana, secured the second and third positions, respectively.