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TOP STORIES

New policy puts a stop to forcible acquisition
Chandigarh, December 12
No more displacement of original Punjabi land owners from Chandigarh on the pretext of “development” as henceforth the Chandigarh administration will follow the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement policy, 2007.

5 marla plot to go for Rs 40 lakh, at least
Auction on Dec 17
Chandigarh, December 12
Owning a residential property in Chandigarh will remain a dream for most if the reserve price of a five marla plot fixed by the UT’s finance department is anything to go by.

City lad is Georgia’s top under-40 leaders
Chandigarh, December 12
Navneet S. Narula stands out like, well, any other turbaned guy, but it’s his actions that set him apart. This 29-year-old city lad based in Atlanta, USA, has been selected as Georgia’s Top under-40 leaders, the ‘Best and the Brightest Leaders in America”, and makes him the youngest Asian- American to achieve this distinction .

Live concerts are dying: Pianist
Chandigarh, December 12
His passion for the piano began at the age of three. His ardent enthusiasm, perseverance and apt training earned him rather quick recognition in the international arena. This twentyfive-year-old pianist, will perform for the first time in city for the four-day Hungarian Film Festival that starts tomorrow.
                                                    Marouan Ben Abdallah

I weigh theatre art in the scale of utility: Tanvir
Panchkula, December 12
“I weigh the theatre art also in the scale of utility and the theatre of our dreams should be loyal to our people, their culture, social realities and problems of all stratum of the society,” maintains the living theatre legend Padmabhushan Jenab Habib Tanvir.

COMMUNITY

A family gathers wood to keep itself warm in the wake of the chill that has set in. — Tribune photo by Karam Singh

Transmission losses may soon be history
Admn studying computerised power mgmt system
Chandigarh, December 12
A fully computerised power supply management system could soon be a reality in the city. Several cities in Gujarat and Rajasthan have implemented it successfully and the administration is studying it for managing power supply.

Wall Collapse
Another body found under debris
Chandigarh, December 12
Another body was found underneath the debris of the wall that collapsed in a Sector-35 house yesterday. With this the death toll in the incident has risen to four.

Rs 10-cr excise duty evasion detected
Chandigarh, December 12 Central excise duty evasion amounting to Rs 10 crore was unearthed by the Directorate of Central Excise Intelligence today after conducting raid on two Himachal-based LPG cylinder manufacturers for allegedly misusing tax exemption announced by the Union Government.

Army commander visits paraplegic centre

Chandigarh, December 12 The GOC-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen T.K. Sapru, visited the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) in Mohali yesterday. It was his first visit to the centre after taking over the reins of the Western Command. The GOC-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen T.K. Sapru, interacts with inmates of the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre in Mohali on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Protest rally by ministerial staff
Chandigarh, December 12
Ministerial staff members of the Punjab Education Department today staged a rally outside the Sector 17 office of the director, public instructions, Punjab, in support of their demands.

Chrysanthemum Show
Participants’ zeal withers
Chandigarh, December 12
Known for its huge variety and sparkling freshness of flowers, the annual flower event - Chrysanthemum Show - has disappointed a large number of enthusiastic participants who were preparing for the competition since July this year. The delay in organising the show by the municipal corporation as well as the rain showers a couple of days back have resulted in withering of flowers.
A gardener prepares for the chrysanthemum show at Terraced Garden, Sector 33, on Friday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Overgrazing by livestock threatens chiru
Chandigarh, December 12
Overgrazing by livestock in and around the Aksai Chin and Chhang Chhenmo valleys in Ladakh worries biologists. It’s home to a large number of endangered species, including the Tibetan wild ass, the black-necked crane, the bar-headed geese and the Tibetan antelope. The declining population of the Tibetan antelope, also known as chiru, has made environmentalists to think about their conservation.

Award for PGI doc
Chandigarh, December 12
Dr Sushmita Kaushik, assistant professor, Advanced Eye Centre, PGI, has won the best scientific paper award during the Annual Conference of Glaucoma Society of India 2007 at Kolkata. — TNS

Beware, Violators
Cops to go on challaning spree
Mohali, December 12
Traffic violators beware. Red light jumpers, drunken drivers, triple riders and those driving their vehicles at high speed and parking at unauthorised places will soon face action as the traffic wing of the district police is all set to challan offenders spreading the message that traffic rules are to be followed.

Drug de-addiction seminar
Spend more time with kids, says expert
Mohali, December 12
Members of the Dalit Chetna Manch organised a one-day seminar on drug de-addiction at Sector 70 here today. The seminar was inaugurated by former Kharar MLA Bir Devinder Singh.


Dr Simmi Wariach participates in a seminar organided by Dalit Chetna Manch in Mohali on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

Burglars decamp with cash, jewellery
Panchkula, December 12
Burglars decamped with more than Rs 50,000 cash and jewellery after breaking into a house at Sector 4 here.

• Letters

CRIME

Decomposed body found hanging
Chandigarh, December 12
A highly decomposed body of a man was found hanging in the wilderness behind the Sector 42 hockey stadium here this evening.

Lucknow resident held for duping students
Mohali, December 12
The Nayagaon police has finally laid hands on Sunil Kumar, a Lucknow resident, who allegedly duped hundreds of students here of lakhs of rupees on the pretext of sending them abroad for higher studies. The accused was running a centre in Nayagaon for the past two years.

Two held for illegal sale of rly tickets
Chandigarh, December 12
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) arrested two ticket agents from Sector 17 on the charges of selling railway tickets illegally.

Ten vehicles stolen from city
Chandigarh, December 12
Ten vehicles, including six cars, were stolen from the city while a house was burgled at Raipur Khurd village.

EDUCATION

Dept headship becomes bone of contention
VC sets up panel to decide issue
Chandigarh, December 12
The battle for chairmanship of the department of mass communication, Panjab University, is giving anxious moments to the students. They fear that the ongoing tussle between the staff will adversely affect the forthcoming placement season.

Principals don’t want private intervention
Chandigarh, December 12
The seminar of principals and school heads of various government schools, which was scheduled to be held during the winter break from December 26 to 28, has been postponed till next month. The new dates will be announced later on.

Child Abuse
Trust & support your kid: Expert
Chandigarh, December 12
“Listen and believe in what your child says because children can be abused physically or emotionally when they are rejected, berated or continuously isolated,” said Dr Kulpreet Dhillon, centre coordinator, Child Helpline, while interacting with parents and teachers during a session held at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 32, here, today.

Students of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 32, take a look at a model during an exhibition in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

From Schools & Colleges
Human Rights Day at CCE
Mohali, December 12
Chandigarh College of Education, Landran, celebrated Human Rights Day today. This special day was dedicated to the great protagonist of human rights Sri Guru Teg Bahadur for his sacrifice to protect the basic rights of humanity. Chief guest Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, former president of the SGPC, said Guru Teg Bahadur taught humanity to the world. He further said Guru Teg Bahadur worked throughout his life to save the honour of the citizens of our great land.

COURTS

Consumer Court
Immigration firm gets rap, told to pay compensation
Chandigarh, December 12
The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, holding an immigration consultancy firm deficient in services, has directed it to pay Rs 15,000 as compensation to a Sector 22 resident.

CULTURE

Book on Indian classical dances released
Chandigarh, December 12
“Though there are a plenty of performers in the realm of classical music and dance in India, but very few had been endowed with the art of expressing themselves in words as they do in stage performances,” observes the Grammy Award winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. ‘Nritya Abhigyan’ authored by kathak guru Shobha Koser has given a new dimension to the Jaipur school of kathak dancing for both students and connoisseurs alike, he claims while releasing the first edition of the book here at a function.
Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt goes through the book ‘Nritya Abhigyan’ by Sobha Koser while she looks on at a hotel in Sector 35, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Hungarian cultural fest begins
Chandigarh, December 12
Chandigarh mayor Harjinder Kaur today inaugurated the Hungarian Cultural Festival which is being organised by the Chandigarh Film Society and Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre, New Delhi, in collaboration with STEPS, Chandigarh tourism and Indian Council for Cultural Relations. A piano concert by Marouan Ben Abdallah from Hungary marked the beginning of the event.

AIR to host folk music concert tomorrow
Chandigarh, December 12
To commemorate the golden jubilee year of the Vividh Bharti Service, All India Radio (AIR), Chandigarh, will organise a folk music concert at the auditorium of Law Bhawan, Sector 37, on December 14 at 6 pm. The concert will feature acclaimed folk artistes from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Prominent Sufi singer Barkat Sidhu, Kohinoor Langah, Shakuntla and party and Varsha Katoch will represent the above states at the concert to be held

Rafi nite on Dec 15
Chandigarh, December 12
The Yaadgar-e-Rafi Society, Chandigarh, will hold Rafi Memorial Nite on December 15 at Bhargava Auditorium in the PGI. Noted playback singer Suman Kalyanpur will be the chief guest. The society will also honour her with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution in the field of light music.

SPORTS

Inter-university rowing championship begins

Chandigarh, December 12 All eyes will be on renowned rowers, Swathy Sanjay, Rohit Ravindra and Manjit Singh during the Inter-University Rowing Championship, starting at Sukhna Lake, here tomorrow. Rowing team of Panjab University practice at the Sukhna Lake a day before the All-India Inter-University Rowing Competition. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

International license for rowing umpires
Chandigarh, December 12
Parmod Kumar Singla, honorary secretary, Chandigarh Rowing Association and chairman of media and PR commission of Rowing Federation of India, has been awarded international license for umpiring rowing championships by Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d' Aviron (FISA) in Thailand.

List of T20 probables
Chandigarh, December 12
The Chandigarh Twenty20 Cricket Association yesterday announced the list of probables for a preparatory camp for its upcoming Under-17 Twenty20 National Championship to be held in Chennai.

Rugby
Chandigarh, Maharashtra to clash in semis

Chandigarh, December 12 Chandigarh team will face Maharashtra team whereas, the Punjab team will take on Haryana in the semi-finals of First Rugby 7’s National Tournament being played at Panjab University grounds tomorrow. Uttar Pradesh and Punjab Academy teams vie for victory at First Seven A Side Rugby Championship at Panjab University ground on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by  Parvesh Chauhan

CCC to organise chess festival
Chandigarh, December 12
To promote the game in the region, the Chandigarh Chess Club (CCC), will be organising the 1st Chandigarh Chess Festival 2007, at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sector 25, from December 23 to 25.

Boxing trials on Dec 14
Chandigarh, December 12
Trials to select Chandigarh boxing team for participation in the 15th All-India A.K. Misra Boxing Championships will be held at SD College, Sector 32, on December 14 at 5 pm.

Bodybuilding trials
Chandigarh, December 12
Trials to select the Chandigarh bodybuilding team to represent in the Senior and Junior Handicapped and Master Mr North India Bodybuilding Championships will be held at Chandigarh Amateur Bodybuilding Association office on Dec 15 at 4 pm.

Holy Child cagers beat St Xavier’s
Panchkula, December 12
Hosts Holy Child School beat St Xavier’s High School, Panchkula, 26-24 in the Inter-School Basketball Tournament for under-14 girls and boys on the school premises here yesterday.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Removal of Encroachments
Shopowners threaten stir
Kalka, December 12
Hundreds of families in this historical town are on the verge of being homeless and jobless. That too despite the fact they have relevant documents to prove their claim on the land and buildings built by their forefathers decades ago.

No coordination between rural, district docs
Kharar, December 12
Implementation of national health programmes has become difficult in the state due to lack of coordination between rural medical officers (RMOs) posted in villages and civil hospital doctors at the district-level.

One killed as vehicle rams into bull
Kharar, December 12
Darbara Singh, a resident of Sarkapda village, Fatehgarh Sahib, was killed as the vehicle, he was driving, rammed into stray cattle this evening. The incident took place at 5:30 pm today near Balongi toll tax barrier.