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Chandigarh, December 1 As many as 163 nominations were filed today for the elections to the 26 wards of the Municipal Corporation. Today was the last day for filing nominations and it saw the final tally touching 228. BJP candidates on their way to submit their nomination papers at the PEC, Chandigarh, on Friday. — A Tribune photograph.

MC POLL-06
Rebel candidates set to rock parties' boat
Chandigarh, December 1
Rebel candidates are set to rock the boat of political parties in the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) elections scheduled to be held on December 20.

CVM to go it alone
Chandigarh, December 1
The Chandigarh Vikas Manch (CVM) today decided to go it alone in the forthcoming Municipal Corporation elections. The CVM will field 18 candidates. They filed their nominations today as ‘independent’ candidates.

‘Highway-in-my-veins’ protagonist comes calling
Chandigarh, December 1
Consider this paradox. The first-ever HIV/AIDS prevention project launched in India sought to target the truck drivers travelling on Indian highways. Called Healthy Highways Project, it was launched in 1998. Yet, for all these years, HIV vulnerability of truckers did not become a matter of cinematic interpretation.

World AIDS Day echoes with voices of concern, compassion

Chandigarh, December 1 At the Dell International Services, the World AIDS Day was a day of action aimed at increasing awareness about the challenges and the prejudices associated with AIDS. Employees at the Dell, Mohali, commemorated the day by organising a play and participating in a fund-raising campaign. Students of the GMSSS-44 with their painted faces take part in the AIDS awareness rally held in Sector 44, Chandigarh, on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Thrown out of job, HIV positive man meets Rodrigues
Chandigarh, December 1
A 50-year-old resident of Fatehgarh Sahib, who lost his job because of his HIV positive status a couple of years ago, today handed over his representation to the Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, General S.F. Rodrigues (retd), on the World AIDS Day.

Journalists take up cudgels against police brutality
Assault on photo-journalist
Chandigarh, December 1
The journalist fraternity today sought an immediate transfer of the Senior Superintendent of Police, SAS Nagar, Mr Naunihal Singh, for his alleged complicity in the registration of a false case against the Hindustan Times photographer, Samuel, by the Kharar police on November 30.

Doubly stalked at AIDS centre
Chandigarh, December 1
They hate his prying eyes. But they can’t do much to keep him away. For a month now, the women working at the AIDS Control Society’s drop-in centre in Sector 15 have been fighting a battle of a different kind — a stalker who just won’t budge.

Plea against villages’ merger dismissed
Chandigarh, December 1
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed the petitions filed by Mr Hardip Singh and others challenging the merger of five villages into the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MC).

Ghaggar Bridge closed for traffic today
Dera Bassi, December 1
The Ghaggar bridge at Bhankharpur village, near here, on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway will remain closed for all kinds of traffic from 11 am to 4 pm tomorrow. According to Lieut-Col K.P. Sharma, Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the bridge is being closed for traffic to carry out repair work.

Watch out
Professor Manju Jaidka of the Department of English, Panjab University, is on a 10-day residency at Oxford, UK, on an invitation from the university. She will make a presentation at the Fellows’ seminar.

In Town
Mr Eric F. Ch. Niehe, Ambassador of The Netherlands, will be in town on Saturday to participate in Agro Tech 2006. He will be releasing Rabobank agri sector reports at the agri fair being held at the Parade Ground, Sector 17. Mr Fergus Murphy, Regional Head, Rabobank International, will also be present on the occasion. The Netherlands is the partner country for the Agro Tech 2006. 

Passing Through

COMMUNITY

Library in upcoming Beant
Memorial to be functional soon
Chandigarh, December 1
The library in the upcoming Beant Singh Memorial in Phase I will be made functional "very shortly" much before the entire structure is complete. A decision in this regard has been taken by the Beant Singh Memorial Society which met under the chairmanship of Mr Lalit Sharma, Adviser to the UT Administrator, recently.

Hoardings on highway make mockery of law

Dera Bassi, December 1 Evading tax and flouting norms, scores of hoardings of liquor brands, telecommunication companies and housing colonies have come up in last couple of months on the toll plaza of the railway-over-bridge (RoB) on the 'killer' Kalka-Ambala highway at Bhankharpur village near here. Hoardings at the Toll Plaza of the Railway overbridge on the Kalka-Ambala highway in Bhankharpur village near Dera Bassi.  — A Tribune photograph

SAD (Longowal) to hold rally on Dec 14
Mohali, December 1
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) will organise a rally in Chandigarh on December 14 to celebrate the 86th foundation day of the Shiromani Akali Dal. This was stated by Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal), at a press conference here yesterday. He said as such the conference that had been planned for December 7 would now not be held. He said that the responsibilities of the Shiromani Akali Dal towards the Panth, Punjab and the people would be highlighted.

2 new substations to solve power crisis of 19 villages
Mohali, December 1
The foundation stones of two 66 KV grid substations were laid by the Deputy Chief Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, at Teur and Khizrabad villages today. As per instructions of the Punjab State Electricity Board, urban supply to Teur and Khizrabad villages will be provided from these substations through category-I feeders. The land for these substations was given free of cost by the panchayats of both these villages.

Vice-President’s arrival clogs city roads
Chandigarh, December 1
Chaos ruled city roads today due to the arrival of Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to inaugurate Agrotech -2006 at Parade Ground, Sector 17, here. All the roads leading to Sector 17 witnessed huge traffic jams as traffic cops stopped the flow of traffic to make undisruptive way for the VVIP.

Performance review found satisfactory
Chandigarh, December 1
The half-yearly performance review of Chandigarh was found to be satisfactory at a meeting held at the UT State Guest House here today. It was chaired by Senior Adviser, (State Plan) Planning Commission, Ms Manjulika Gautam.

Warm clothes given to poor children at Strawberry Fields
Chandigarh, December 1
Strawberry Fields World School celebrated their annual day today with the exhibition 'Magic Fingers', a display of their children's recent learning. The exhibition was inaugurated by Mrs Jean Rodrigues, who distributed warm clothing to underprivileged children being supported by the Durga Das Foundation at Strawberry Fields.

Woollens given to kusht ashram inmates
Dera Bassi, December 1
The local unit of the Chandigarh-Punjab Union of Journalists distributed woollens among the inmates of a ‘kusht ashram’ at Mubarakpur, near here yesterday.

CRIME

Man posing as Food Inspector held
Chandigarh, December 1
An man posing as a Food and Supplies Inspector was arrested by the Chandigarh police today from Hallo Majra on a complaint of Mr Sushil Kumar Gupta, Inspector, Food and Supplies, UT, Chandigarh.

Duo booked for killing pet dog
Lalru, December 1
The local police today booked two persons on a charge of killing a pet dog in Alamgir village. Acting on the complaint of Mr Jaswant Singh, a resident of Alamgir village,the police registered a case against Nirmail Singh and Jasbir Singh.

MC chief’s husband booked for abusing journalist
Panchkula, December 1
The police today registered a case under Sections 504 and 506 of the IPC against Kulwant Gill, husband of Municipal Council chief, Ms Manveer Gill, for threatening and abusing Mr Surinder Bhatia, a journalist with a vernacular daily.

BUSINESS

Shekhawat for new farm technology

Chandigarh, December 1 The Vice-President, Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, has underlined the need for bringing new technology and infrastructure, to release the inherent growth potential in the agricultural sector. Mr Ajay S. Shriram (left) greets the Vice-President, Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, as Gen S. F. Rodrigues (retd) looks on, during the inauguration of Agro-Tech 2006 at Chandigarh on Friday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

TUs plan to improve plight of workers
Chandigarh, December 1
Trade union (TU) leaders today stressed upon a collective and cohesive action plan to improve the plight of workers in the “informal sector” of the economy. Speaking on the concluding day of the National Workshop on Disseminating Replicable Organising Strategies at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development here, participants also discussed methods to improve the backward and forward linkages between the TUs in the formal sector and the TUs in the informal sector.

Oriental Bank manager given warm farewell 
Chandigarh, December 1
A warm farewell was extended to Mr G.C. Geylong, Chief Regional Manager, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Chandigarh Zone, here today. Mr J.P. Nahar has now taken over as the new Chief Regional Manager.

Low fat snacks in high demand
Chandigarh, December 1
Seeing the huge potential in low fat and cholesterol free snacks and foods, the food processing sector is now rising to the market demand by launching a plethora of roasted snacks and food products like low fat cheese, soy milk, soybean flour.

EDUCATION

Government schools in a shambles

Tribune team finds stinking toilets, broken windowpanes Chandigarh, December 1 Unkempt compound, broken window panes, stinking toilets and unhygienic sanitary conditions prevail in some of the government schools in the city. A visit to these schools by The Tribune team found them, virtually, in shambles. Wild growth in the compound of Government Model High School, Sector 30, Chandigarh. — A Tribune photograph

A philanthropist’s dream comes true
Harvansh Singh dental college to be inaugurated
Chandigarh, December 1
In yet another milestone for the city, Vice-President of India and Chancellor of the Panjab University Bhairon Singh Shekhawat will inaugurate the Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Dental Sciences & Hospital in the PU, Sector 25, campus.

Grand finale to school function
Panchkula, December 1
The curtains came down on the spectacular five-day annual function of Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, with a grand finale, here today. The students presented a variety of items while meritorious students of different classes were honoured for their academic brilliance and outstanding achievements in the co-curricular activities.

Lalit Kala Akademi gets permanent space in city
Chandigarh, December 1
Finally after a long wait, Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi got a permanent art gallery to display art works at the basement of Centre State Library, Sector 34, here today.

Kindergarten kids captivate hearts at St Anne’s
Chandigarh, December 1
The Kindergarten cultural show at St Anne's Convent School, Sector 32-D, began with a prayer dance followed by a medley of rhymes by LKG kids. The performance by UKG children "chutney-pop" was a hit among spectators. Dancing tiny tots with perfect s ynchronisation captivated the audience with Punjabi tadka and western dances.

COURTS

Four absolved of murder charge
Panchkula, December 1
A local court today acquitted four members of a family in a murder case here today. The Sessions Judge, Mr M.M. Sharma, today acquitted Takdeer Singh and Kamla, parents-in-law and Satish and Surinder Verma, brothers-in-law of Mamta who was murdered early this year.

PCA case: hearing adjourned
Mohali, December 1
The hearing in the Punjab State Sports Council case against the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) was adjourned today for December 13. Earlier, counsel for both parties argued on merits of the case.

CULTURE

Surinder Kaur remembered
Chandigarh, December 1
Rich tributes were paid to legendary singer Surinder Kaur at a seminar organised by the First Friday Forum here. During a face-to-face interactive session, her daughter Dolly Guleria, also president Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademy, gave a talk “My mother: the Nightingale”. She talked about memoirs of her mother with the audience.

Chandigarh film festival from December 15
Chandigarh, December 1
Apart from 10 Hindi films, five French, two Hungarian and one Finnish film will be screened at the first Chandigarh Film Festival beginning here on December 15. An official press release said the festival is being organised jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Chandigarh Tourism with the support of the National Film Division Corporation Ltd (NFDC) and the embassies of France, Hungary and Finland.

HEALTH

Chemists flout Centre’s order with impunity
Chandigarh, December 1
Companies have failed to pass on the price reduction of certain categories of medicines to patients in this part of the region even though the Department of the Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India, has directed 11 drug manufacturing companies to reduce prices of their products, manufactured from October 2, 2006, onwards recently.

PGI does away with tedious procurement procedure
Chandigarh, December 1
In order to make the hospital patient-friendly, the PGIMER authorities have decided not to call any quotation for procuring surgical items. Prof Raj Bahadur, Additional Medical Superintendent, PGIMER, said preparing inventory of the surgical goods (more than 400) was a mammoth task and to motivate various chemists to compete for providing the lowest rates for various surgical goods was difficult.

Saket Institute for  Handicapped kids  to be upgraded
Panchkula, December 1
Saket Institute for Orthopaedically and Handicapped children in Chandimandir and Panchkla would be upgraded with 50 more beds for 122 patients. A proposal has been sent to the Government of India, Ministry of Social Welfare, for upgradation of the Physical Medicine Departments especially for children suffering from cerebral palsy and dealing with prosthetic and orthotic workshop at Chandimandir.

SPORTS

Colourful start to National School games
Chandigarh thrash Rajasthan 11-0 in hockey

Chandigarh, December 1 The Chandigarh hockey team thrashed the Rajasthan team by a massive margin of 11 goals in the opening match of the boys’ hockey (u-17) held at St Stephen’s 45 grounds here today. The match was held as part of the 52 nd National School games inaugurated by Home and Education Secretary Krishan Mohan at the Sector 42 Stadium here. The contingent of Goa at the marchpast during the inauguration of the 52nd National Games in Chandigarh on Friday.

City athletes put up strong show at PU meet
Chandigarh, December 1
Satinder of the local DAV College bagged the first place in the men’s javelin throw event (57.09 m) while Amrita of the MCM DAV College for Women here stood first in the high jump event (1.28 m).

AG Punjab victorious in hockey
Chandigarh, December 1
Hosts AG Punjab beat AG Bihar 4-3 through tie-breaker in the All-India Inter Zonal league-cum-knockout Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD) Hockey Tournament at Hockey Stadium, Sector 42, here today.

Sumit's ton helps DAVC-10 win tourney
Chandigarh, December 1
A superb knock of 125 runs studded with 11 fours and two sixes by Sumit Dhiman enabled DAV College, Sector 10, team lift the Administrator's Cup in the Inter- College Cricket Tournament, held at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here today.

Table soccer contingent finalised

Chandigarh, December 1 The following players have been selected in the Indian contingent for table soccer which is going to participate in the pro-tour series, International Table Soccer Tournament, in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) from December 1 to 4. The Indian contingent, alongwith officials, who are participating in the pro-tour Series, International Table Soccer Tournament, in Malaysia.