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PSIEC placed in a tight spot
Fails to recover land compensation sum
SAS Nagar, December 26
The Punjab State Industrial and Export Corporation (PSIEC) is in a tight spot. Unable to recover the enhanced land compensation, including the interest liability, from the industrial plot owners here, a liability of over Rs 20 crore, expected to rise to around Rs 70 crore, has set alarm bells ringing in the minds of the employees of the corporation.

Jor Mela: Punjabi spirit all along
Chandigarh, December 26
Thick envelope of fog, overcast sky and chilly weather are not enough to dampen the indomitable Punjabi spirit of community service as langars dot the state highways and inter-district highways leading from various parts of the state to Fatehgarh Sahib, the venue of the three-day annual Shaheedi Jor Mela.

The devout queue up outside Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib to pay obeisance on the occasion of Shaheedi Jor Mela on Wednesday. — Tribune photo Pankaj Sharma

Children want peace in the New Year
Panchkula, December 26
The sands of time brought a lot of changes during the year 2001. Where as on the one hand the scientists were able to map the entire DNA code sequence, pushing the humanity to further progress, there was the aircraft attack on the World Trade Tower in the USA by terrorists rebels that brought all development to a halt and shifted the focus to the war.

Councillors administered oath
Chandigarh, December 26
Twentyeight Municipal Councillors were administered the oath as members of the Municipal Corporation for a period of five years at a brief ceremony here today. The lone absentee was the highly decorated Brig Sant Singh, who was nominated to the MC.

An All-Women issue: cutting across party lines (from left) Mrs Pushpa Sharma (Congress), Mrs Harpreet Kaur Babla (CVM), Mrs K. Atma Ram ( nominated), Ms Kamlesh (Congress), Mrs Harjinder Kaur (SAD) and Mrs Shayama Negi (Congress) at the oath taking ceremony of Municipal Councillors in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Votes of nominated councillors crucial
Chandigarh, December 26
Despite the Congress having a clear majority in the Municipal Corporation, there will be a contest for the Mayor’s post. Various combinations and permutations are being worked out by the Opposition parties.

Phone lines in VIP sectors remain dead
Chandigarh, December 26
Telephone lines in the Civil Secretariat building, housing the governments of Punjab and Haryana and VIP sectors in the north of the city, remained dead for most part of the day today, thanks to a major glitch in the telephone exchange serving the area.

COMMUNITY

Provide information on tenants: Admn
Chandigarh, December 26
Within a fortnight of the attack on Parliament House, the Chandigarh Administration today made it compulsory under law for landlords to provide information about tenants. Any violation will invite action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

YEARLY ROUND-UP: PANCHKULA
On road to progress, despite teething problems
Panchkula, December 26
The year 2001 saw major changes in the township with the creation of the Panchkula Municipal Council. Over the year, staff and powers were slowly transferred to it from the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA).

HOW RICH AND FAMOUS OF CITY PLAN NEW YEAR EVE
‘I will be in Capital for celebrations’
Chandigarh, December 26
Dreams do come true, if you have money and the inclination to turn these into reality. So while the “have nots” of society still day dream on ways of heralding the New Year, the rich and famous of Chandigarh have their plans chalked out.

‘End to discrimination’, his motto
Chandigarh, December 26
“End to discrimination”, is the message of Mr Rajinder Kumar Saini, chairman of the Arya Prathindhi Sabha, the supreme council of Arya Samajis living in East Africa.

YOUNG VOICE
Shaping young minds
Pragati Gandhi, Assistant Director with Besten Foundation, is in her mid-20s and she is already into planning, executing and organising cultural exchange programmes for students at different levels.

Expenditure item cleared amid protest
SAS Nagar, December 26
Municipal councillors today protested against the Department of Local Government imposing an expenditure of Rs 3.51 lakh on the civic body in connection with the foundation stone laying function held on December 6.

Looking forward to oodles of fun
Chandigarh, December 26
Driving uphill with friends in cars decked up with balloons, swaying to thumping beats of bhangra music booming from speakers after parking vehicles in the middle of the road, enjoying drinks and gahzals at a dimly lit evening — with New Year Eve just round the corner, the air is full of anticipation and excitement.

Press Club bonanza
Chandigarh, December 26
The Chandigarh Press Club has planned a bonanza for its members, their families and guests on New Year Eve.

Special cruise offer for senior citizens
Chandigarh, December 26
A special package for senior citizens above the age of 50 years valid on SuperStar Virgo (which sail from Singapore to Malaysia and Thailand) and on SuperStar Leo (which sails from Hong Kong to China and Vietnam), has been announced by Star Cruises, the first global cruise line.

Sabzi Mandi stone laid
SAS Nagar, December 26
The foundation stone of the town’s vegetable and fruit market was laid near Sector 65 today by the president of the Punjab Mandi Board, Mr Mal Singh Ghumaan.

Govt employee jumps to death

CRIME

Two of Bawriya gang held
Dera Bassi, December 26
The police claimed to have made a headway in two major robbery incidents which occurred in Swarswati Vihar Colony in Dera Bassi and subsequently in Zirakpur and its surrounding villages after the arrest of two members of Bawriya gang, that had been active in this part of the state for the past couple of years, here today.

Kalu, alias Pachpachi, and his accomplice Kanhaiya, the main accused in a chain of robbery incidents in Dera Bassi, Zirakpur and surrounding areas, being produced before media during their police remand at the Dera Bassi police station on Wednesday. — Tribune photo Karam Singh.

Child crushed to death by truck
Chandigarh, December 26
Two road accidents in different parts of the city today claimed one life during the past 24 hours. A child was crushed to death by a speeding Tata 407 truck near the dividing road of Sectors 48 and 49 this evening, while one person in a van was injured after being hit by a Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) bus in Sector 22, allegedly being plied on the wrong side of the road.

Two booked for pilfering power
Panchkula, December 26
The police has booked two persons for allegedly pilfering electricity from the main electricity cable causing a loss of Rs 27,278 to the state government.

Hind Motors owner booked

BIZ CLIP

EDUCATION

PU ROUND-UP 2001
Valiant bid to reconstruct academic edifice
Chandigarh, December 26
In a brave effort to reconstruct the crumbling academic edifice, Panjab University this year made a valiant effort at several fronts.

Saying it through dance
Chandigarh, December 26
Graceful movements with the underlying message of educating the NSS cadets on environment problems assuming acute proportions was what Jyoti Srivastava’s dance performance at MCM DAV College, Sector 36, this evening was all about.

Jyoti Srivastava (centre) performs Odissi dance with her troupe at MCM DAV College, Sector-36, in Chandigarh on Wednesday.
— A Tribune photograph

Women remain victims of dowry: NCC officer
Chandigarh, December 26
The NSS cadets of Home Science College, Sector 10, in collaboration with the NSS Department of Panjab University, observed an “awareness Day’’ at Khuda Alisher here today. As many as 200 students from the college and social workers, members of panchayats and gram sevaks participated.

Rhythm, zest mark Bal Niketan function
Chandigarh, December 26
Students of Bal Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 37, presented a cultural programme at the annual day celebrations at the school premises, here today.

Tiny tots of Bal Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 37, Chandigarh, dressed up as bears at the annual day celebrations of the school on Wednesday. — Tribune photo Pradeep Tewari

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Grant increment to teachers
Chandigarh, December 26
After three teachers furnished proof of their presence in the office during a strike in 1978, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state of Punjab, the District Education Officer and another respondent to grant one advance increment to the petitioners.

• Plea against recovery allowed

CONSUMER COURTS
N Rly directed to pay compensation
Chandigarh, December 26
The UT Consumer Court while coming down heavily on the deficiency in the services of the Northern Railways, in a significant order in favour of passengers today directed the Chief Commercial Manager, Northern Railway, New Delhi, to refund the cost of the railway ticket and pay a compensation of Rs 1,000 to a city resident for issuing ticket when the train had already been cancelled.

CULTURE

Santa dances to Punjabi tunes
SAS Nagar, December 26
A scintillating performance by the Cancerian dance group set the ball rolling at a cultural evening organised by the Punjab Cricket Club in association with Daava events to celebrate Christmas at the PCA stadium here last evening.

Vanity is no longer the domain of women
Chandigarh, December 26
Do you think that women are more conscious of their looks than men? Think again. Men spend more time preening themselves before the mirror than women. And if you don’t believe it, ask Shashank Devsare, a celebrated designer of men’s wear who is making a pile selling men’s exclusive apparel in different parts of the country.


Shashank Devsare poses with his creations draped over mannequins in Chandigarh on Wednesday.

Beauty pageant begins today
Chandigarh, December 26
The city will witness a three-day mega-beauty pageant commencing December 27. This was announced at a press conference here today. Mr Sanjay Bansal, event organiser, said the contest would be organised by Model Creators in association with a pharmaceutical company. A Russian dance troupe would perform at the venue on the final day.

Models pose for a photograph at a press conference for the ‘Face of the Year Award-2001’ to be held in Chandigarh. — Tribune photo Pravesh Chauhan

23 finalists display skills
Chandigarh, December 26
Nearly 23 finalists displayed their skills at the dancer of the year award organised by the Lions Club Chandigarh Plaza, Classic and Nightingale, an associate of the Lions International at Tagore Theatre, here today.

HEALTH

Breakthrough in salt iodisation
Chandigarh, December 26
Iodine deficiency has become one of the serious health issues facing the country. According to a data provided by the Indian Coalition for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, (ICCIDD), “278 million Indians are at risk of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).

SPORTS

SPORTS ROUND-UP-I
A year that witnessed women power
Chandigarh, December 26
The year 2001 saw a strong women sports power emerging from this region. And what a coincidence! The five sportswomen from the region who have upsurged as a force to reckon with in their respective disciplines are Punjabis and they all are teenagers.