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Garbage Unit
Contractor loses Rs 1.16-cr guarantee money
Chandigarh, March 17
The municipal corporation today forfeited the bank guarantee, amounting to over Rs 1.16 crore, deposited as performance security by Jai Prakash Associates Ltd, which has set up a garbage processing unit in Dadumajra, for failing to make the plant fully operational in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Home ministry pulls up UT over conversion fee
Chandigarh, March 17
After facing allegations of bending rules in allotting land to major firms at the IT Park here, the UT administration’s controversial industrial conversion policy has come under the home affairs ministry’s scanner.

SOPU supporter fired upon Chandigarh, March 17 Rivalry among PU students once again took an ugly turn when some unknown persons attacked a supporter of a students’ union organisation here tonight. Police sources said the incident occurred near the YMCA, Sector 11, around 10 pm. Police officials examine the car, the occupant of which was fired upon, in Sector 11, Chandigarh, on Wednesday night. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

Ranjit’s bail plea rejected
Panchkula, March 17
The district and sessions judge, SP Singh, today dismissed the bail application of Ranjit Bajaj in an attempt to murder case. Ranjit had applied for bail after he was arrested on March 3 for assaulting Gurmohan Singh Bedi, son of a Punjab and Haryana High Court judge.

IT raid on steel unit
Chandigarh, March 17
Officials of the income tax department today conducted search and seizure operations on more than seven premises of Modern Steels belonging to the Goyals at several places in Chandigarh and Panchkula today.

COMMUNITY

Inadequacies during inspection
Manauli de-addiction centre served notice
Mohali, March 17
The authorities have issued notice to a de-addiction centre at Manauli village, near here, after medical and other facilities were found to be inadequate by an official inspection team.

Garbage Collection
Awry scheme bane of Sector-4 residents
Panchkula, March 17
Even as a new sanitation scheme, being looked after by respective municipal councillors in their wards, is in place, life has become a hell for residents of a colony on the Community Road in Sector 4. Reason: Garbage dumped in the area remains uncleared for days together.

Land worth Rs 10 cr cleared of encroachment Mohali, March 17 Land worth crores of rupees was cleared of encroachment after the enforcement team of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) demolished over 50 jhuggis in Phase I here today. A JCB machine tears down illegal structures during a demolition drive by GMADA in Phase I, Mohali, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Faridabad, Palwal lead in PNDT Act violations
Panchkula, March 17
The violators of pre-natal sex determination test (PNDT) Act were more in districts where the ratio of girls against boys was higher than the state average.

Formation of P’kula municipal corporation notified
Panchkula, March 17
The Haryana government today issued a notification for the formation of municipal corporation for Panchkula besides other six districts in the state.

Northern Railway
Worn-out bedsheets, blankets to go
Chandigarh, March 17
In an effort to provide better services and comfort to passengers, the Northern Railway has decided that all strained and worn-out bedsheets and blankets will soon be removed.

‘Apni Mandis’
Vendors without slips may be fined Rs 500
Chandigarh, March 17
To streamline the management of temporary ‘apni mandis’, the municipal corporation proposes to take stringent action against encroachers in different sectors of the city. It has been proposed that a fine of Rs 500 be imposed on vendors who do not purchase slips issued by the authorities.

Evidence sought on police vandalism
Chandigarh, March 17
Having been at the receiving end of the media over the damaging of vehicles of protesters during the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) rally on March 5, the city police has gone into a face-saving exercise.

5 found absent from duty at STA office
Chandigarh, March 17
The UT vigilance cell today conducted a check at the office of the State Transport Authority (STA) found five employees absent from duty. The vigilance sleuths also seized 21 files to know the reason behind the pendency.

Farmers come in hordes to protest Chandigarh, March 17 Hundreds of farmers from Punjab today started assembling at the rally ground in Sector 25 here to stage an indefinite dharna in support of their demands. Members of the BKU-Ikta (Sidhupur) protest in support of their demands at the rally ground in Sector 25, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

‘Upgrade export infrastructure’
Chandigarh, March 17
“Export infrastructure needs to be upgraded to encourage food exports from Punjab”, said Asit Tripathy, chairman, APEDA, during a seminar on Strategies for Promoting Food Exports from Punjab at the PHD House here today.

Ex-servicemen visit Rock Garden Chandigarh, March 17 Inmates of the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC), Mohali, today got a glimpse of “best out of waste” when they were taken to the Rock Garden here today. Inmates of the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre during a visit to the Rock Garden in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

10 more tubewells for Mohali
Mohali, March 17
Ten additional tubewells will be sunk in the town to tackle the shortage of water and a community centre will be constructed in Mohali village for the convenience of residents, said chairman of the district planning board NK Sharma here yesterday.

Mayor visits Sec-32 waterworks
Chandigarh, March 17
Mayor Anu Chatrath visited the Sector 32 waterworks here recently. She was accompanied by the Chief Architect and councillor Ravinder Singh. The Mayor instructed the officials concerned to submit the plan for the conversion of the existing rooms into e-sampark centres.

EDUCATION

Rs 37-cr grant for education dept
Chandigarh, March 17
The UT education department has got an impressive budget of Rs 37.30 crore under the aegis of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan for the coming year. Giving a serious thought to lack of space being a major problem in government schools, over Rs 11 crore has been earmarked for building six new schools in the city.

Inclusive Education
Not many options for differently abled
Chandigarh, March 17
Inclusive education (complete education for disabled students) is still a distant dream in city schools. Despite numerous reforms by the Central agencies, including the HRD Ministry and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the city seems insensitive to the needs of these students.

Unused Computers
CBI raid at PU
Chandigarh, March 17
Taking cognizance of a complaint regarding unused computers at Panjab University, the CBI today raided the administrative block. The raid started at around 11 am and lasted for nearly three hours.

Social science academy for city proposed
Chandigarh, March 17
The second Chandigarh Social Science Congress concluded at Panjab University here today. Prof RC Sobti proposed the setting up of a social science academy for city and also nominated 15 founder members for the proposed academy.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Land sale yields municipal council Rs 1.75 cr
Fatehgarh Sahib, March 17
The municipal council, Sirhind, today recovered Rs 1.75 crore after selling commercial and residential land occupied by tenants for the past several decades. At least 12 properties situated in different parts of Sirhind were sold, as the council was not earning much through rents being paid by the tenants.

CITU conference gets going Govt under fire for price rise, faulty policies Zirakpur, March 17 Condemning the Congress-led UPA government for its “anti-working class policies”, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) chief MK Pandhe today said they would launch a widespread protest to highlight the issue. Centre of Indian Trade Unions chief MK Pandhe addresses delegates during a conference at Zirakpur on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Same doctor, shrink on duty at 7 rehab centres
Kharar, March 17
All the seven drug deaddiction centres in Kharar and Kurali, where several addicts are said to be undergoing “treatment”, are employing the services of the same physician and psychiatrist. This startling fact came to light during a surprise check on the centers conducted by a district team following a Punjab & Haryana High Court directive.

Info campaign on rural growth from March 20
Ropar, March 17
Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, adviser to Punjab Chief Minister, will inaugurate Bharat Nirman, a five-day information campaign, from March 20 to 24, said Ashish Goyal, joint director, Press Information Bureau (NR), Chandigarh, here today.

Folk dance performances leave audience awestruck Patiala, March 17 A two-day dance festival organised by the dance department of Punjabi University, Patiala, concluded on the university campus today. It was for the first time that the department had organised such festival, which presented various folk and classical dances. Students perform a Rajasthani dance at the Kala Bhawan in Patiala on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Krishna Enclave developer booked
Kharar, March 17
The police has booked a developer for illegally raising a township, Krishna Enclave, on five acres at Khanpur village, without any licence or permission. The case has been registered on the orders of Mohali SSP under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995.

SCR trounce DMW by 229 runs
Patiala, March 17
The All-India Railway Cricket Tournament (league stage) began at the DMW Stadium, Patiala, here today. In the first match of the tournament, SCR defeated DMW by a huge margin of 229 runs. DMW won the toss and elected to field first. SCR scored 339 all out in 49 overs.

Vizzy Trophy
4 city lads in North Zone cricket squad
Patiala, March 17
Four city lads have been selected in the North Zone cricket squad, which will take part in the Vizzy Trophy Tournament to be held at APS University, Rewa, from March 20 to 27. Squad coach Harpreetinder Singh from Punjabi University, Patiala, informed that Gajinder from Punjabi University would lead the squad.

‘Have dignity for labour’ Ambala, March 17 SD College organised its annual convocation here today. Lt Gen DDS Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, was the chief guest. Dr Desh Bandhu, college principal, read out the college annual report highlighting the various achievements of the college in different fields. Students of the SD College during their convocation at Ambala Cantt on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

COURTS

Babla’s bail plea dismissed
Chandigarh, March 17
The court of the district and sessions judge, Ravi Kumar Sondhi, today dismissed the regular bail application of Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla in the case of illegal allotment of sheds.

CRIME

Flesh trade racket busted, four held Chandigarh, March 17 With the arrest of four women, the police today claimed to have busted a flesh trade racket in city. The police said the racket, involving Rajni of Sector 45, serving at a slimming centre in Sector 35, had been active in the city for the past over three years. The girls arrested on the charge of immoral trafficking at the Sector 34 police station in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: S Chandan

Rickshaw-puller found murdered
Panchkula, March 17
A rickshaw-puller was found murdered near the grain market in Sector 20 here in the wee hours today. The body was found in a pool of blood on a rickshaw. The police found injury marks caused with sharp-edged weapons on the victim’s hands.

Thieves strike in Ram Darbar
Chandigarh, March 17
Thieves decamped with household articles and jewellery after breaking into a house in Ram Darbar. Neeraj Sharma of Phase 1 told the police that someone had stolen some gold jewellery and an ATM card from his house during the intervening night of March 15 and 16 by breaking open the locks.

12 held for gambling
Chandigarh, March 17
The police yesterday arrested 12 persons for indulging in gambling. Raids were conducted at two places at a park in Sector 24-C here last evening. The police nabbed two groups of persons aged between 22 and 30 years.

Junk dealer commits suicide
Chandigarh, March 17
A junk dealer allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence in Sector 45 here this afternoon. The deceased was identified as Vinod Kumar (34). According to the police, he was alone at home when he committed suicide.

SPORTS

101 teams to participate in SJOBA thunderbolt rally
Chandigarh, March 17
The 23rd edition of annual SJOBA Thunderbolt Sub-Himalayan Rally witnessed record number of entries here. A total of 101 teams will be participating in the rally, a FMSCI sub-Himalayan rally, which carries total prize money of Rs 1.80 lakh.

Students to get discount on IPL tickets
Chandigarh, March 17
Besides heavy discount on tickets, 1,000 seats will now be reserved exclusively for students in the IPL matches at the PCA Stadium, Mohali. The announcement was made after Panjab University Students’ Council president Amit Bhatia approached Kings XI Punjab team officials in this regard.

Pikka P Singh wins golf title
Chandigarh, March 17
Lady captain Pikka P Singh could not have asked for more. She clinched the Lady Captain’s Day and Medal of medal title, in which 21 ladies of the Chandigarh Golf Club took part.

Veteran coach Azad grooms budding spinners Chandigarh, March 17 Veteran coach Desh Prem Azad, who has produced top class international medium pacers like Kapil Dev and Chetan Sharma, is now toiling hard to prepare spinners at his city-based cricket academy. Veteran coach DP Azad watches a budding spinner during a training session at St Stephen’s Cricket Academy, Sector 45, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Psychological training for sportspersons stressed
Chandigarh, March 17
For faring well in high-level competitions, there is a need for psychological preparation along with other homework in relation to sports. This was stated by experts during the ongoing refresher and orientation course for coaches by the Chandigarh Sports Council here.