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TOP STORIES

Aerocity
With plots up for sale, ‘betting’ suspicions rise
Mohali, September 26
The worst apprehensions of bona fide applicants about GMADA encouraging “betting” on plots in its Aerocity housing project appear to have been realised. Just a day after the draw of lots was held for 226 plots in only two of the categories (500 and 400 square yards), over 40 per cent of the plots are already up for sale. Though letters of intent for the plots would be allotted only after clearance from the Punjab & Haryana High Court, negotiations are being conducted with the successful applicants to strike deals. Most of the investors who are wooing them are real estate agents based in and around Delhi.

More and more people donate bodies
Chandigarh, September 26
Shedding their inhibitions and dismissing myths, the number of city residents coming forward to donate their bodies after their deaths has been steadily increasing. PGI, which received only one cadaver in 20 years till 2004, is now seeing three or four people coming every day to pledge their bodies so that their organs could be useful for needy patients or for dissection in medical schools. Till now a total of 800 people have pledged their bodies. Interestingly most of the pledges are coming from people who are in their sixties and above. Only yesterday the general secretary of the Senior Citizen Association, Chandigarh, Surjeet Kaur, 70, and a member of the association, Kulbir Singh, 63, pledged their bodies to PGI’s anatomy department.

Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan share a light moment at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Sunday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Police cracks down on ‘antisocial elements’
Chandigarh, September 26
The police today rounded up 22 people said to be “antisocial elements” and those with a criminal background in Mauli Jagran. It also arrested a woman wanted in a case of attempted murder during a special search operation.

High-speed calculations now possible in PU
Chandigarh, September 26
A super computer for performing high-speed calculations and scientific derivations will now be available to Panjab University students within the campus. Scheduled for inauguration this week by Vice-Chancellor RC Sobti, a “high-performance computing cluster”, which is a super computer, having 48 computers integrated in a single system, has been set up by PU’s coveted-department of physics.

COMMUNITY

Shopping mall culture yet to pick up
Chandigarh, September 26
Though Chandigarh and its satellite towns of Panchkula and Mohali may be offering world-class standard of living, shopping mall culture is yet to catch the fancy of its residents. In fact, the five shopping malls-cum-multiplexes in the tricity have become entertainment destinations only, with business activity in those leaving much to be desired. Blame it on high rentals, overhead costs and dominance of traditional markets in the tricity, business centres at shopping malls are virtually avoided by shoppers.

Three more malls to spice up city life
Chandigarh, September 26
The Chandigarh entertainment scenario is set to be spiced up with the coming up of three shopping malls-cum-multiplexes. Come next year, the City Beautiful will have three shopping malls, the TDI Mall at Sector 17, the Piccadilly Shopping Mall at Sector 34 and the City Emporium at the Phase I, Industrial Area, a development that will go a long way in offering more entertainment options for residents and tourists. In fact, with the start of the TDI Mall in place of Jagat Theatre, the city centre of Sector 17 will get its first shopping mall, adding another feather to the cap of the “heart of the city”.

Some parks can be playgrounds
As a sports lover, I would like to make the following suggestions: Schools and colleges, both private and government, should promote sports. A cue should be taken from those who are performing well. City-level events involving parents and senior citizens will help generate greater excitement. Hockey and football need to be encouraged. These are low-cost high fitness games. Successful sportspersons should be invited to deliver talks and hold workshops in schools/colleges. Some of the green belts and parks should be exclusively marked for playgrounds.

Peace fest gets off to majestic start
Chandigarh, September 26
The fifth international peace fest organised by the Chandigarh Press Club in association with the Gurukul World got off to a majestic start on the club premises here today. Supported by Yuvsatta and Ghungroo Musical Club, the international multi-cultural evening was made memorable by brilliant music and dance performances by foreign artistes.

Focus on health problems among elderly
Chandigarh, September 26
The coordination committee of the Central Government Pensioners Associations and the Railways Senior Citizens Welfare Society organised a seminar on health problems, especially of the stomach, intestines, renal and rectum, faced by senior citizens here today.
Senior citizens attend a seminar on health in Chandigarh on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

CSIR foundation day observed
Chandigarh, September 26
The Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) observed the foundation day of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) here today.

Jagjit Singh spells magic
Chandigarh, September 26
Displaying a brilliant potential for professional excellence ghazal king Jagjit spelt magic of melody, diction and mesmerising vocalism in a charity concert organised by the Sher-e-Punjab Foundation at the Tagore Theatre here today.


Renowned ghazal singer Jagjeet Singh performs at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Admn claim on paintings denied
Chandigarh, September 26
Clarifying on the Chandigarh administration’s claims to have recovered 17 Le Corbusier paintings from his possession, Jaswinder Singh, son of Gianiji, closely associated with the French architect, said those were mere blueprints (ammonia prints), which were like photocopies of tracing papers.

Quota backlog decision hailed
Chandigarh, September 26
The Chandigarh Scheduled Caste and Backward Class Employees Welfare Association has hailed the order of Chandigarh administration to its officials to fill the backlog of these two categories in services under them. Sukhdev Singh, president of the association, said with this, their long-standing demand had been met.

Musical play mesmerises audience
Panchkula, September 26
A solo act musical play enacted by Shekhar Sen at the Inderdhanush auditorium brought alive the mystical significance of the holy utterances of the 14th century saint poet, Kabeer on Friday.

I-T reshuffle
Chandigarh, September 26
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has effected a minor reshuffle in the income tax (IT) department in Chandigarh. PK Chopra, IT ombudsman, Kolkata, has been posted as IT ombudsman of the North-West Region after the retirement of Pamela Bhandari, IT ombudsman here.

PGI director gets award
Chandigarh, September 26
Prof KK Talwar, PGI director, was conferred the annual Coeur d ‘Or’ (Heart of Gold) award by the Kalra Hospital SRCNC (Sri Ram Cardio-Thoracic and Neurosciences Centre) in Delhi today.

Two years on, work on underbridge yet to begin
Chandigarh, September 26
Two years have passed since the laying of the foundation stone of a railway underbridge on level crossing 125 at Vikas Nagar, but work is yet to start. The Railways have been maintaining that there are some technical delays, which have prevented the start of work. About 36 trains pass through this crossing in 24 hours.
A long queue of vehicles at the Vikas Nagar railway crossing in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: S Chandan

Vidhan Sabha session, India-Oz Test match
Police carries out search operation
Mohali, September 26
In the wake of forthcoming vidhan sabha session and Test match between India and Australia at the PCA stadium, the Mohali police today carried out search operations in paying guest (PG) accommodations in Nayagaon, Phase IX, X and XI, and Sohana. A special search operation was carried out in the area of Nayagaon and Janta Colony under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (city) Sukhwant Singh Gill.
Cops search bags of paying guests in Phase X, Mohali, on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

BJP leader condemns RTI Act
Officials concerned not providing information
Panchkula, September 26
The district administration here has mocked at the Right to Information Act, as the departments concerned are not providing any information. Addressing the mediapersons on Friday, senior BJP leader Gyan Chand Gupta, said despite three applications filed under the RTI Act, the district administration had failed to provide information about the process and eligibility criteria for allotting the BPL cards.

‘Punjab ignoring war widows’
Mohali, September 26
At least 85 per cent of the war widows in Punjab were living in a deplorable condition and the Punjab government was doing nothing to ameliorate their condition, said Sudesh JB Singh, the president of the War and Defence Widow Guild of India. While addressing a press conference here, the widow of General Gurbax Singh said she was deeply concerned over the poor condition of widows and squarely blamed the state government for being the worst state when it came to looking after the war widows and ex-servicemen.
Sudesh JB Singh

Parks or garbage dumping sites?
Chandigarh, September 26
The green belt in Sector 40, which is one of the oldest green covers in the area, presents a picture of neglect. Thanks to the apathetic attitude of the MC officials, the green belt is no longer frequented by residents, as they say the situation has only worsened with the passage of time.


Junk lying in a park. Tribune photos: S Chandan

Dearth of parking space in Mohali
Mohali, September 26
With the number of vehicle owners growing, parking is becoming a major issue not only in markets, but also residential areas in Mohali. The parking problem has reached alarming proportions and the GMADA authorities are helpless. Vehicles choking roads and footpaths have become a common sight in markets of Phases I, III B 1, V, VII and X and in residential areas.
Vehicles parked haphazardly at the Phase VII market in Mohali. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Floriculture a booming trade
Chandigarh, September 26
More and more entrepreneurs in the city are taking to floriculture. Some of them have even started seed production of flowering annuals for export purpose.

23 teachers honoured
Patiala, September 26
Manav Kalyan Manch today organised a function at Hotel Flyover, Patiala, to honour 23 teachers. Around 21 teachers were given “Shresth Aacharya Award” and two received lifetime achievement award.

EDUCATION

Appointments by VC
Syndicate gives go-ahead
Chandigarh, September 26
Panjab University Syndicate today gave a nod to three appointments made by the Vice-Chancellor using his discretionary and emergency powers. Rubbishing the claims of an RTI activist that the appointments had been made against the rules, the Syndics gave a go-ahead to the item in the agenda after a discussion on credentials of the activist.

Education road show
Chandigarh, September 26
A Canadian education road show was organised at Hotel Taj today to apprise students about education in Canada. The road show was inaugurated by Scott Slessor; Canadian Consulate General, Chandigarh. Gurbans Sobti, Canadian Consulate General, Chandigarh, was also present.

Jaspreet, Ritesh shine in paper reading
Patiala, September 26
The department of management and commerce, Khalsa College, Patiala, organised a paper reading competition at the college campus on Friday. A total of 32 students participated in the competition. College principal, Dr Dharminder Singh Ubha while addressing the students said it was significant to hold such competitions in this modern world wherein the students need to have multifaceted personalities.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Defying HC order, commercial buildings mushroom
Defence authorities write to Patiala DC
Patiala, September 26
In blatant violation of the directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the department of local government Punjab, illegal commercial establishments are mushrooming in the New Lal Bagh locality here. Without getting building plans sanctioned, paying any change of land use (CLU) charges and in defiance of building bylaws, several persons have constructed multi-storeyed commercial complexes in the Lal Bagh area.
A view of commercial establishments in the New Lal Bagh area on Upper Mall road in Patiala. Tribune photographs

Trees worth lakhs axed illegally
Kalka, September 26
In Pinjore trees of mango and ambla (gooseberry) have been axed from five bighas land of an ancient garden during the night hours, without taking the permission of the forest dept. The incident took place in Dharampur Colony of Pinjore four days ago when Gopal, who had only given advance money for the purchase of the garden, cut the trees worth lakhs of rupees.

Three women held for robbing 65-yr-old
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 26
The police has arrested three women for looting a 65-year-old woman of Ludhiana. The accused has been identified as Rajji, a resident of Chhintawala village, near Nabha, in Patiala, Kali and Chand Kaur, both residents of Sangrur.

Stone of projects laid
Ambala, September 26
Former Union Minister and local MLA Venod Sharma laid the foundation stone of two major development projects in Ambala City.

Safai karamcharis stop work due to non-payment
Ambala, September 26
About 100 class-IV employees who were deployed through Sulabh International for cleanliness work at Ambala stopped work in protest against non-payment of their salaries.

CRIME

SPORTS

Good response to cyclothon
Chandigarh, September 26
At least 5,700 enthusiasts from the tricity and surrounding areas participated in the first-ever cyclothon, that took off with much fanfare and festivity near the Mini-Secretariat here this morning.


Participants during the cyclothon in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

Piyush shines in CGA junior golf
Tavleen best among girls
Chandigarh, September 26
It was Piyush Sangwan all the way. This 12-year-old golfer from Gurgaon fired a three under par 69 card to finish with the best two-day tally of 148 in the third CGA Junior Golf Tournament, in which 86 junior golfers up to the age of 17 battled it out on the final day on the par-72 greens of the SEPTA golf course in Chandimandir today.
Winners of the CGA Junior Golf Tournament with Lt-Gen MS Buttar, Chief of Staff, Western Command, and CGA president JS Cheema in Chandigarh on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Marathon by cardiologists
Ambala, September 26
The Haryana chapter of Cardiological Society of India organised a marathon on the occasion of “World Heart Day” in Ambala City today. SDM Ambala Mukesh Ahuja flagged off the marathon that started from Panchayat Bhavan. A number of doctors took part in the marathon. President of Haryana chapter Raj Kumar Sharma said the marathon was organised to apprise people of the symptoms of cardio arrest.
Doctors during a marathon in Ambala on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

DPS beat Mayo College in tennis
Patiala, September 26
All India Indian Public School Conference (IPSC) Tennis Championship for Boys and Girls began at Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, today. The matches are being conducted for age groups U-14, U-17 and U-19 for boys and girls category. As many as 18 schools and over 220 players are participating in the championship.

100 junior golfers tee off today
Chandigarh, September 26
Hundred junior golfers of the region will tee off tomorrow in the Hero Honda Golf Championship to be played on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here tomorrow.

Netball: Pbi varsity thrash K’taka
Chandigarh, September 26
Punjabi University, Patiala, thrashed Karnataka University 31-08 on the second day of the All-India Inter-University Netball (Women) Championship being played on knockout basis on the Panjab University grounds here today.