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Pressing civic issues GIVEN A GO-BY IN MC
Chandigarh, June 23
Politics, not civic problems, dominated proceedings at the monthly house meeting of the municipal Corporation held on Thursday. While major issues concerning amenities for city residents were relegated to the background, the infamous “booth scam”, which does not even come under the MC’s jurisdiction, took centre stage. Urgent matters including supply of muddy water, blocked sewage lines, garbage collection and health facilities were lost in the din.

Reinstatement of policemen raises eyebrows
Chandigarh, June 23
The decision to revoke the suspension of three policemen held guilty of gross negligence in handling the Khushpreet kidnapping case for ransom has raised many eyebrows. Their suspension has been revoked within five months even as a departmental inquiry is pending against them.
Inspector Uday Singh and Inspector Narinder Patial

Now, Admn OK with shopping on Sunday
Chandigarh, June 23
You can shop till you drop on Sunday in Chandigarh. In partial modification of the earlier stand against seven-day shopping, the UT Administration is ready to accede to traders’ demand of Sunday shopping provided one off day on any weekday is given to the shop workers.

Student groups clash again in PU, 1 hurt
Chandigarh, June 23
Within 24 hours after a clash between supporters of the Students Organization of Panjab University (SOPU) and its Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) in Sector 45 at midnight on Wednesday, members of the two rival bodies were again involved in a violent skirmish on the campus, leaving a PUSU member injured.

Annoying for some, amusing for others (left) Canadian tourist Robin expresses dismay at a boy riding a creation at the Rock Garden. and (right) Parents click photographs of their children enjoying a ride. Tribune photos: Pradeep Tewari

COMMUNITY

14 agenda items passed without discussion
Chandigarh, June 23
Passing of 14 agenda items amounting to Rs 7.32 crore by the ruling Congress, allegedly in violation of the Punjab Municipal Act, earned the ire of the 13 Opposition and nominated councillors during the House meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) here today.
Brig Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri raises a question over ex-servicemen’s appointments to the MC during a meeting of the civic body on Thursday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

MC shirking from fixing responsibility: Babla 
Chandigarh, June 23
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, it seems, will not fix the responsibility of any official in case of laying of cables in the city without permission of the authorities, alleged Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla in the House meeting today.

Minor fire on first floor of MC building 
Chandigarh, June 23
A minor fire broke out on the first floor of the Municipal Corporation (MC) building, a day after it was pointed out at the fire committee meeting that there were no fire alarms in the corporation building.



An electricity wing employee fixes lose wires in the MC building, Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Thursday. Tribune photo: Pardeep Tewari

Chemist shop at PGI indicted
Chandigarh, June 23
An inquiry committee of the PGI here has indicted a chemist for selling a used drainage cannula, a plastic pipe used in cardio-thoracic surgery.

I-T officials wary of shifting to new building
Chandigarh, June 23
An anxiety stricken Income Tax department today went on an overdrive to set things right in its newly constructed office complex, Aayakar Bhawan, Sector 17, where false ceilings collapsed in several rooms spread across the multi-storeyed building on Tuesday.

Authorities blind to wild growth in Mohali
Mohali, June 23
Congress grass and other wild growth continues to spread in various parts of the town much to the annoyance and discomfort of residents as the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and the Municipal Corporation have failed to launch a concerted campaign in this regard.

(Left) Wild growth of congress grass at the Industrial Area of Phase III; and (right) at Phase VII in Mohali. Tribune photos: Vicky Gharu

Sec 144 imposed near rivers in Panchkula district
Panchkula, June 23
The district administration has prohibited taking bath in rivers or entry for collection of coins, coconut and other materials for any purpose in the Ghaggar, Kaushalya and Tangri rivers in the district here today.

School for slum kids
Panchkula, June 23
Slum-dwellers who have been allotted Ashiana flats have another reason to cheer. The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is likely to set up a small market and a school near the apartments.

Botanical institute to make Sukhna Lake weed-free 
Chandigarh, June 23
A special team of the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, has found that the Sukhna Lake was choked with four different kinds of weeds, including potamatogeton, vallisenria and Hydrilla. During a visit to the lake today, the team accompanied by UT engineers collected water samples for a detailed study of the BOD and COD composition of the water. Sources said the weed samples have also been collected for chemical analysis. Details of the report will be revealed later.


Manual clearing of weeds in progress in the Sukhna Lake on Thursday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Zirakpur residents suffer as power supply hit
Zirakpur, June 23
Life was derailed as there was a blackout in various parts of Zirakpur today. Though powermen maintained that they were trying to rectify the fault, the problem prevailed till late at night.




A Powercom official listens to residents at Zirakpur on Thursday night. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Tricity scan
Chandigarh scan Dharna staged Members of the coordination committee of government and MC employees and workers staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum in regard to their long pending demands. Convener Rakesh Kumar said, “The list of demands included grant of central pay scale and conditions of service to UT employees; regularisation of daily wagers; filling up of vacant posts and implementation of pension scheme for Chandigarh Housing Board.

EDUCATION

PU authorities yet to take decision
Chandigarh, June 23
Clearing the status of admissions to BEd course this year in the city colleges and Panjab University (PU), Vice-Chancellor RC Sobti today said the university authorities have not taken any decision on the matter yet.

Online BCom-I admission causes confusion
Chandigarh, June 23
With the introduction of a fully online centralised admission system for BCom-I by Panjab University (PU) this year, confusion prevails among applicants, who are continually enquiring the status of application and subsequent procedure of procuring admission to the college of their choice.

Counselling for special BEd course
Chandigarh, June 23
The counselling for admission to BEd (special education with specialisation in learning disability) in the department of community education and disability studies would be held on July 11. 

Teachers stopped from entering UT, stage dharna
Mohali, June 23
Members of the Inclusive Education Volunteer Association, who marched from Ludhiana and reached here today, staged a dharna near the YPS Chowk after they were stopped from entering Chandigarh by the UT police.




A protester falls unconscious due to hot weather at road separating Sectors 51-52 in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

10 challaned under Tobacco Control Act
Patiala, June 23
In order to check the practice of smoking at public places and illegal sale of tobacco, the Patiala health department raided more than 25 shops opposite Punjabi University, Patiala, and issued challans.




Health department officials raid a tobacco shop in Patiala on Thursday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar 

Cop, another arrested for rape
Kurali, June 23
The police has arrested two persons in connection with the gang rape of a Dalit girl from Chanalon village two days ago.

PTU stance confusing
Dera Bassi, June 23
Students aspiring for admission to engineering colleges are confused because some colleges have been continuing the admission process despite the recommendations of the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for cancellation of approval, closure of programmes and reduction of courses in case of universities which provide affiliation to these colleges.

Cloth shop gutted
Dera Bassi, June 23
Cloth worth lakhs of rupees was gutted in a cloth shop situated in the main market here last night. 

60 conferred certificates
Kharar, June 23“
Youngsters should develop entrepreneur skills and create new avenues for others,” said Hira Singh Gabaria, jail and Punjab tourism minister, while talking to students of hotel management at a function on Rayat-Bahra campus.

Railway employees stage dharna 
Kalka, June 23
Under the “protest week” on all India level, on the call of All India Railway Men’s Federations, more than 350 railway employees of the Northern Railway Men’s Union (NRMU) Dhulkot-Kalka-Shimla branch today staged a dharna at Kalka railway station from 9 am to 5 pm.

SGPC demands early poll
Ambala, June 23
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (Badal) group has condemned the UPA Government in the Centre for not holding SGPC elections probably under a conspiracy.

CRIME

2 cases of cheating registered in city
Chandigarh, June 23
Two separate cases of cheating were registered today. Sagar Sabarwal, branch in charge, ICICI Bank, Sector 9, alleged that an unidentified person produced fake documents and opened a fake account in the name of Vikram Mittal on My 21. A case under sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 3 police station.

Man hangs himself to death 
Chandigarh, June 23
A 51-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his residence in Sector 32.

SPORTS

Budding archers hone skills
Chandigarh, June 23
With a motive to hit the bull’s eye, city-based budding archers are honing their skills at the Archery Coaching Centre being run by the UT sports department at the Lake Complex here.

Sharp shooters: Budding archery players during a practice session at the Archery Coaching Centre in Lake Club, Chandigarh, on Thursday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Sumit Talwar, Rishab Gupta pocket snooker titles
Chandigarh, June 23
Top seed Sumit Talwar defeated Rajat Khaneja in the final of the senior snooker category during the 27th State Saurabh Khattar Memorial Billiards and Snooker Championship here today.



Sumit Talwar and (right) Rishab strike a pose after winning the 27th State Saurabh Khattar Memorial Billiards and Snooker Championship in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Saupin’s school book berth in final
Chandigarh, June 23
Saupin’s Public School defeated NICS, Patiala, in the semifinal match of the ongoing 3rd Ashok Kumar Vij Memorial Cricket (U-14) Tournament being held at Banyan Tree School, Sector 48, today.





A batsman plays a stroke during the ongoing cricket (U-14) tournament in Chandigarh on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Chandigarh beat Kaithal
Chandigarh, June 23
Chandigarh got the better of Kaithal during the ongoing Haryana Inter-District Cricket (U-16) Tournament being held at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, here today.