The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Fog grounds several flights, disrupts rail services
Chandigarh, December 18
Passengers leave the platform at the Chandigarh railway station after alighting from the Shatabdi, which was delayed due to fog, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal Dense fog crippled the air services from the city with only three flights taking off today, forcing several passengers to reschedule their travel plans. Of the 12 scheduled flights, only three took off from the city airport -- the Jet Airways’ Chandigarh-Mumbai flight, which left at around 4 pm instead of its scheduled time of 11.40 am, and IndiGo’s Chandigarh-Mumbai flights, which took off at 3 pm and 4 pm, respectively, instead of the scheduled time of 12.20 pm and 2.40 pm.

Passengers leave the platform at the Chandigarh railway station after alighting from the Shatabdi, which was delayed due to fog, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Short circuit triggers blast at PGI, 2 guards hurt
Chandigarh, December 18
A major tragedy was averted at the PGI here today when a blast in a 1-foot-deep underground power cable in a faculty parking left two security guards injured and the rear windshield of a car parked in the area damaged here today. Huge flames were seen the parking floor adjacent to Kairon Block (where the PGI Director's office is located) when the blast occurred at 1.35 pm today.

One of the cars that was damaged in the blast at the PGI. A Tribune photograph

'Substandard' Road Repair
AAP, RTI activists demand CBI investigation
Chandigarh, December 18
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and RTI activists today demanded a CBI probe into the road recarpeting "scam" in the city. Residents had alleged the use of substandard material in road repair in various parts of the city. An advocate of the the Punjab and Haryana High Court has also written to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) demanding an inquiry into the matter.

COMMUNITY

Aadhaar cards
Getting enrolled a tall order for residents
Chandigarh, December 18
For Chandra Kala, a domestic help, it has become a struggle to submit the Aadhaar enrolment form of her younger child at the e-sampark centre of Sector 10 for the past two days. Thrice she visited the e-Sampark Centre along with her four-year-old son Sushant Chandra to get the form deposited, but every time the staff deployed there allotted her a new time for appointment.

Chandra Kala shows the Aadhaar enrolment form of her son, Sushant, that she failed to deposit despite three visits to the e-Sampark Centre at Sector 10, Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Great Bombay circus
Artistes no substitute for animals, says crew
Chandigarh, December 18
It has been over 18 years since the use of wild animals in circus shows was banned across the country. The circus crew, however, still feels that human artistes can never be a substitute for the “talented” animal performers. “Animals such as sea lions and lions formed the backbone of any circus, and human artistes are no substitute for them.

Artistes of Great Bombay Circus perform at the Dasehra Ground in Phase VIII, Mohali. Tribune photos: Vicky Gharu

Humiliation of envoy
PU students condemn US action
Chandigarh, December 18
Under the banner of the Lok Awaaz, teachers, students and other activists of Panjab University today staged a protest against humiliation meted out to India’s Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade in the US.

Teachers and students of Panjab University hold a protest in Chandigarh on Wednesday. tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

‘US action against Indian envoy a violation of Vienna Convention’
Though late, India’s stand on the diplomatic stand-off with the US over the humiliation meted out to its Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade has been welcomed by people from different walks of life. They are of the view that India needs to send across a strong signal, not only for diplomats but also for other Indian citizens settled there.

Feedback
Expedite rail reservations at Sector 43 ISBT
The railway reservation counter at the Sector 43 ISBT serves the southern sectors. Usually, this counter is managed by a single employee, who not only takes care of enquiries, but also issues tickets. This leads to unwarranted delay and long queues of ticket seekers. There are no sitting arrangements for the public and visitors have to keep standing all the while.

Thieves make merry in Dy Mayor’s car
Panchkula, December 18
In a surprise, Panchkula Deputy Mayor Sunil Talwar’s SUV, which was stolen in the November end, was found abandoned near Dhakoli, Punjab. Though everything in the vehicle was in place, empty liquor bottles, food stuff and cigarettes found in the vehicle indicated that the thieves used it just for ‘merrymaking’. It was Talwar’s second car that was stolen from outside his residence in Sector 15, Panchkula. A few days before, thieves had decamped with his Indica car.

Sukhna cycletrack
Admn to launch park-and-ride facility
Chandigarh, December 18
The route from the Sukhna Lake to the Sector 16 Stadium is going to be the first cycle track on which the UT Administration is planning to introduce the park-and-ride facility, under which residents will be provided cycles on rent to commute between the two destinations. The facility will help ease traffic on the city roads.

Folk festival
Italian dancers cast a spell
Mohali, December 18
The fifth Chandigarh International Folk Festival was held today at Chandigarh University, Gharuan, in association with the Punjab Cultural Promotion Council. Folk dancers and musicians from Italy gave scintillating performances in front of jam-packed audience of students.

Probe indicts cops in tipsy girl case
Chandigarh, December 18 A fact finding probe into the lapses made by the police while dealing with a drunk girl has indicted a woman head constable besides a sub-inspector. The two have been indicted for not adopting set procedure while dealing with the girl. A departmental probe was recommended against SI Ramesh Kumar and HC Amarjeet Kaur.

Health notes
Ex-PGI nephrologist joins Max Hospital
Max Super Speciality Hospital (MSSH), Mohali, on Monday announced the appointment of Dr Vinay Sakhuja as Director Nephrology and Transplant Medicine at the MSSH, Mohali. Prior to his appointment, Dr Sakhuja had been working with the PGIMER, Chandigarh, since 1993 as Professor and Head, Department of Nephrology. Dr Sakhuja is a DM (Nephrology) from the PGIMER, Chandigarh, and also an FRCP (London).

Mohali MC to set up shelter for stray dogs
Mohali, December 18
The Municipal Corporation here plans to set up a shelter for stray dogs for which a meeting will be held with NGOs for inviting suggestions in this regard. Proper vaccination, sterilisation and taking care of stray dogs are on the priority list of the civic body.

Employees’ strike hits banking in city
Chandigarh, December 18
Banking transactions remained a casualty in the city as more than 2,000 officials and employees of various banks participated in a demonstration against banking reforms, suspending work here today. On a call of the United Forum of Bank Unions, the officials held a rally at the Bank Square in Sector 17. The protesting officials criticised the government’s attitude over the demand of wage revision. The protesters also opposed the banking reforms. The union will hold another meeting next week. It has threatened to intensity the stir if their demands were not addressed. — TNS

Members of the United Forum of Bank Unions protest at the Bank Square at Sector 17 in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

PUDA staff continue protest
Mohali, December 18
Employees of the PUDA Mulazam Talmel Sangharsh Committee continued their protest here today. Jarnail Singh, its convener, said every day, five employees went on a fast to press the authorities to accept their demands. The demands of the protesters include introduction of a pension scheme, allotment of plots to the remaining employees, increase in the service period by two years on the Punjab Government pattern, promotion of eligible Class IV employees to the post of supervisor and grant of technical scale to supervisors. — OC

Decision on tax flayed
Panchkula, December 18
Gian Chand Gupta, former vice-president of the Haryana BJP has condemned the decision of the Haryana Government to impose 10 times property tax on group housing society (GHS) flats in Haryana and forcing the norm of single power meter on these societies. Gupta said these middle class families living in GHS flats were mostly retired employees and were making both ends meet with their pension. — TNS

EDUCATION

From schools
Energy Conservation Day
The “Lotus” Eco-Club of GMSSS-20 celebrated National Energy Conservation Day. Principal Nirmal Singh and vice-principal Ranjana Khosla motivated students to adopt energy-saving tips in their daily life. A series of activities, including assembly talk by teachers and students, poem recitation, art out-of-waste and poster-making competitions, were organised on the school premises.

Students of the AKSIPS, Mohali, perform during the annual day celebrations at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: S Chandan

SSA teachers launch letter-posting drive
Chandigarh, December 18
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers Welfare Association (SSATWA) has launched a letter-posting campaign against HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju and five senior officials of the Ministry of Human Resource and Development here.

Members of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers Welfare Association during the launch of the letter-posting campaign at the General Post Office in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

PU notes
PU prof is member of world research group
Students play the band at Dev Samaj College in Sector 36, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Panjab University Professor Raj Pal Sharma has become a member of four-nation international research group to work on Italian-funded international project on “Molecular Magnets”. Presently, Professor Sharma is working as a re-employed teacher in the Chemistry Department of the university. The research group consists of researchers from India, Italy, Poland and Spain.

Students play the band at Dev Samaj College in Sector 36, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Students submit memorandum to PU VC
Chandigarh, December 18
The Panjab University Campus Students Union (PUCSU) today submitted a memorandum to Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover to extend the last date for filling the form for the 93 posts of assistant professors as there are certain anomalies in the information provided for filling the form for the posts.

Parents made aware of CBSE-I curricula
Panchkula, December 18
A three-day comprehensive orientation workshop concluded today at Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, Panchkula. It was held to familiarise parents with the objectives behind introducing CBSE-I, which is an internationally benchmarked curriculum, so that they can make well-informed deliberate decision about the admission of their wards. The school authorities said there was an overwhelming response from the parents of students of Classes KG, I and II. The parents clarified all apprehensions and doubts about the CBSE-I.

Hallmark students to compete in global robotics contest
Panchkula, December 18
A group of young scientists of Hallmark Public School, Panchkula, is gearing up to compete against 70 countries across the globe in the First Lego League (FLL) robotics contest, which is a part of the International Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programme based in Manchester.

PUTA seeks change in retirement process
Chandigarh, December 18
The Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) today demanded to change the retirement process in the campus. During the general body meeting today, the members demanded that the authorities should retire the teachers and professors on June 30 or December 31 rather than in the month in which it is due as per the record of the authorities. PUTA president Devinder Singh said the matter would be taken up with Vice-Chancellor AK Grover soon. The members also proposed to honour the teachers who were internationally recognised for their works. — TNS

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Rs 31 crore for Dera Bassi roads: CPS
Dera Bassi, December 18
About Rs 1,700 crore would be spent on the repair and construction of link roads in Punjab. Of the total amount, Rs 31 crore would be spent on the repair of link roads in Dera Bassi. This was stated by Chief Parliamentary Secretary NK Sharma after laying the foundation stone of a bridge on the Lehali-Chaundheri road.

COURTS

Ex-NRI Sabha chief, kin acquitted in rape case
Chandigarh, December 18
The Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shalini Nagpal today acquitted former chairman of NRI Sabha Amarjit Singh Virk and his wife and son in a case of gangrape. The court acquitted former NRI Sabha chairman, Amarjit Singh Virk, his wife Surinder Kaur and their son Gurjeet Singh Virk.

Doon MLA denied interim bail
Panchkula, December 18
The local court today rejected the interim bail plea of Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary, main accused in the Jyoti murder case. The legislator had sought bail to attend the fourth session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.

Forum penalises Club Mahindra
Chandigarh, December 18
Club Mahindra Holidays and Resorts has been penalised for keeping its client in the dark. It has been directed by Chandigarh Consumer Forum to refund Rs 2.86 lakh to a sector-37 resident who took its membership. The company has also been directed to pay Rs 25,000 for deficiency in services.

CRIME

Youth held for sodomy bid
Chandigarh, December 18
The police have arrested a 19-year-old youth for attempting to sodomise a four-year-old boy. The police arrested Mohammed Talib in a case registered under Sections 377 (unnatural sex) and 511 (making an attempt) of the IPC.

Thieves strike at housing complex
Zirakpur, December 18
Thieves decamped with jewellery and cash after breaking into four flats at Astha Apartments in Pabhat village here today. Giving the information about thefts, Bharat, a resident, said Maneesh Saneja of flat number D-203 left for work along with his wife in the morning. He got information about the theft from a neighbour in the afternoon. He said the miscreants managed to flee with gold jewellery worth lakhs of rupees.

SPORTS

Year 2013 ender
Odds apart, city players leave a mark
Chandigarh, December 18
As the year 2013 is coming to an end, we take look back on the city’s performance in the field of sports. Though maintenance of existing sports infrastructure and planning new infrastructure remain a cause of worry, local sportspersons continue to perform well.

The gym at the football stadium in Sector 17, Chandigarh, cries for attention. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

GNPS cagers too good for GMSSS-20
Chandigarh, December 18 Cagers of Guru Nanak Public School (GNPS), Sector 36, defeated Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 20, by 97-12 during a match of the inter-school basketball tournament for boys and girls (u-19) being organised by the UT Sports Department here today.

Tennis tourney
Seerat, Baani win doubles event
Chandigarh, December 18
Fourth-seed CHART trainee Digvijay Pratap upset top-seed Param Pun to move into the finals of boys (U-16) singles category of the People for Animals-Chandigarh CLTA-AITA Championship Series Tennis Tournament.

Seerat and Baani after winning the doubles match at the CLTA, Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: S Chandan

Giving their best: Players in action during the trials for the boys (U-19) team at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. The selected players will take part in the national school games to be held in Pune. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Three-day golf tour from December 20
Chandigarh, December 18
The 9th Chandigarh Golfing Tour-2013 will be organised by the Chandigarh Golf Association (CGA) from December 20-22. A total of 85 entries have been received from 12 countries. However, the maximum number of participants are from the USA and Canada with 30and 22 players, respectively. Players from France and the Netherlands will be participating here for the first time.

Cricket: Chitkara beat Ryan School by 2 runs
Chandigarh, December 18
The cricket team of Chitkara School defeated Ryan International School, Mohali, by two runs in their ongoing campaign of Edmund Rice Cricket Championship here today. Batting first, the Chitkara School scored 99 runs in 20 overs with Reetik hitting half century and Dalip scoring 20 runs. For the bowling side, Prabjeet claimed one wicket by conceding 20 runs. In reply, the Ryan side was bundled out for 97 runs with Gurushej scoring 40 runs and Puneet 16 runs. For the bowling side, Harmehroz took three wickets for 20 runs while Ishan claimed two wickets. — TNS