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TOP STORIES

4-laning of NH-21 put on hold
Toll barrier within restricted area
Mohali, December 28
Work on the four-laning of the Chandigarh-Ambala national highway (NH-21) has been put on hold from today after it was found that the toll plaza being set up on the highway was in violation of norms laid down by the ministry of defence.

Col Sanjay Sethi, station commander of the Dappar ammunition depot, along with the SAS Nagar DC, H.I.S. Grewal (second from left) at the toll plaza site in Dera Bassi on Friday. — Tribune photo by Neil Bhalinder Singh

Singapore Junket
Study tour only in name
Chandigarh, December 28
A seven-day educational trip meant for 15 education officials and teachers to Singapore was nothing more than a jaunt. The group spent five days in Singapore and two in Bangladesh.

Pole Vault
CBI raids MC office to verify project work
Chandigarh, December 28
CBI sleuths today conducted a raid on the office of the Chandigarh MC to verify the quality and authenticity of the work carried out on the Dakshin Marg to erect streetlight poles.

7,000 pirated CDs seized
Chandigarh, December 28
The police today seized 7,000 pirated CDs worth over Rs 2 lakh from a house in Morigate, Mani Majra, this afternoon.

Seminar Boycott 9 school teachers suspended Mohali, December 28 Even as the protest by government school teachers against holding of seminars during vacation is on, nine teachers have been suspended for trying to obstruct government work. Teachers protest against seminars during holidays in Mohali on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

COMMUNITY

Looking Ahead
Mohali skyline set to change in New Year
Mohali, December 28
For the Punjab government, the Greater Mohali Area is the engine that is going to chug along the development of the entire state. And going by the stupendous plans that the government has for this part of the state, the skyline of Mohali as we know it, is bound to change drastically.

Third front soon: Karat
Chandigarh, December 28
The CPM is preparing a road map for the creating of a third front that will provide a political alternative to the Congress and BJP. The constitution of this front comprising secular and anti-imperialistic will be announced at the party’s general house in three months.

Chandigarh-Morinda rail line
Electrification work begins
Chandigarh, December 28
Work on electrification of the 45-km section of the rail track between Chandigarh and Morinda has begun.



Officials of the electrification wing of the northern railways erect poles to hold high power traction line along the Chandigarh-Morinda rail line on Friday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Mayoral Poll
Cong councillors warned against cross-voting
Chandigarh, December 28
With just three days to go for the MC mayoral elections, a meeting of Congress councillors along with senior delegates of the party was held at Congress Bhawan here today.

Protest over LPG shortage
Panchkula, December 28
Residents of Raipur Rani blocked the Chandigarh-Raipur Rani road for two hours here today to protest against the shortage of LPG in their town.

A colourful display of vintage cars starting from the Lake Club on a tour of the city as part of the celebrations of the Chandigarh New Year festival amuses the onlookers even as it take them to the golden era of earlier times. The cars mostly belong to the early part of the 20th century with many of them tracing back to even older times. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Condolence meeting by PGI staff
Chandigarh, December 28
Faculty and staff of the PGI held a condolence meeting to mourn the death of Prof Y.N. Mehra, former dean and head of the department of otolaryngology, here today.

New Year at Sunbeam
Chandigarh, December 28
New Year’s eve revellers can enjoy a rooftop party at Hotel Sunbeam, Sector 22, on December 31.

Letters
Restrict burning of waste material
Burning of shrubs and waste material, including worn out tiers and plastic products, by cigarette vendors, rickshaw pullers and auto drivers is a common sight in winters. It pollutes the air and causes suffocation. Its impact is more pronounced in the morning. The roundabout of Sectors 44, 45 is one such place where one can see burnt tiers and other material.

CRIME

Mani Majra man held for robbery
Chandigarh, December 28
The police today arrested a Mani Majra resident for allegedly robbing a Shastri Nagar man of Rs 4,100 on knife-point here late last night.

MC Raids
30 quintal unhygienic meat seized
Chandigarh, December 28
Around 30 quintal of unhygienic meat was seized during inspection of meat shops in various sectors, villages and colonies of the UT by the municipal corporation. The drive was carried out on December 26, 27 and 28 under joint commissioner-II H.S Khandola and assistant commissioner Parminder Pal Singh.

Four held for cheating auto-dealers
Three bikes, fake driver’s licences seized
Chandigarh, December 28
The police today arrested four persons on allegations of duping auto-dealers in Chandigarh and Panchkula by purchasing motor cycles on fake documents and cheques.

EDUCATION

PU research scholars compile botany book
Chandigarh, December 28
A team of researchers from the department of botany, Panjab University, has done the university proud by compiling a book published by a UK-based publishing house. Led by Prof R.K. Kohli, the three-member team, including Daizy Rani Batish, senior most reader, and Harminder Pal Singh, lecturer of the department, have brought together the book titled ‘Ecological Basis of Agroforestry’ published by CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group.

(From left): Harminder Pal Singh, Daizy Rani Batish and Prof R.K. Kohli with their book ‘Ecological Basis of Agroforestry’. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tiwari

PU Notes
Orientation course concludes
Chandigarh, December 28
The valedictory function of the 76th orientation course for 38 newly inducted lecturers of different colleges and universities from Maharashtra, Assam, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh was held at Panjab University today.

Degree mela at PU
Chandigarh, December 28
Panjab University organised a degree mela today on the campus wherein many old students came to collect their degrees that they couldn’t earlier. Many students, whose forms were complete in all respects, were given the degrees on the spot.

COURTS

Health ministry, AGI told to reimburse $6,900
Chandigarh, December 28
Reprimanding the ministry of health and family welfare and auditor general of India, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has directed them to reimburse $ 6,900 that the applicant had spent on medical treatment of his son.

Highway Row
No action before hearing of those with sales deed: HC
Chandigarh, December 28
Taking up a petition challenging the demolition of “authorised” properties in Kalka as part of anti-encroachment and highway widening drive, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today made it clear that residents with sales deed would be heard before the initiation of any action.

Consumer Courts
Air Deccan told to pay Rs 2,500
Chandigarh, December 28
The District Consumer Disputed Redressal Forum-I has directed Air Deccan to pay Rs 2,500 in compensation to a Sector 16 resident for deficiency in service.

CULTURE

Chandigarh New Year Fest
Fusion raga delights audience
Chandigarh, December 28
Attired in a bright blue kurta and singing raga hans dhwani, vocalist Pradeep Pandit generated a perfect aura to set the tone of the musical evening at Bhargawa Auditorium in the PGI. The event was organised by the Chandigarh administration as part of the Chandigarh New Year Festival.


Artistes perform during a musical evening organised at Bhargawa Auditorium in the PGI, Chandigarh, on Friday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Plaza reverberates with timeless melodies
Chandigarh, December 28
Memories of old soulful melodies delighted the audience of a musical evening, organised under the direction of Dr S.K. Punia, at Plaza, Sector 17, today. The bonanza of film songs titled ‘Old is Gold’, a part of the ongoing Chandigarh New Year Fest, was presented by acclaimed artistes from the city and Delhi with a strong background in playback singing.

HEALTH

Year Ahead
Govt hospitals to get better equipped
Chandigarh, December 28
With a view to providing better patient-care, three major hospitals of the city — Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH) — are going in for a major infrastructure development in 2008.

Tele-helpline on adolescent aggression
Mohali, December 28
A 24-hour tele-helpline to deal with the growing problems of childhood, adolescent aggression and violence was launched here today at Cheema Medical Complex, Phase IV. The helpline number is 9878899660.

Centre nod to rehab dept at GMCH
Chandigarh, December 28
With the ministry of health and family welfare approving the setting up of the state-of-the-art department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, is set add another feather to its cap.

Telemedicine project to be inaugurated
Mohali, December 28
The telemedicine project is soon going to be functional at the local civil hospital benefiting both, the doctors as well as the patients.

SPORTS

City lad wins all-India golf title
Chandigarh, December 28
Seventeen-year-old Chandigarh golfer Rahul Bakshi could not have asked for more. He clinched the coveted Sunfeast all-India golf title despite playing a four-over par 76 on the last day at the Army Environmental Park and Training Area golf course in Delhi today.

PHL
Sec-42 stadium swells with spectators
Chandigarh, December 28
Anticipating a thrilling clash between Chandigarh Dynamos and Sher-e-Jalandhar, a large number of spectators turned out to watch PHL match at the hockey stadium in Sector 42 this evening.

Supporters of Chandigarh Dynamos celebrate their victory over Sher-e-Jalandhar. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

Table Tennis
Meghna enters semis
Chandigarh, December 28
Local table tennis player Meghna, a student of Sacred Heart, Sector 26, reached semifinals of the sub-junior girls of the Velammal 69th Sub Junior National and Inter-State Table Tennis Championships at JN Multipurpose Indoor Stadium, in Periamet, Chennai.

ADMINISTRATION

8 police promotees get postings
Chandigarh, December 28
The Chandigarh police today gave postings to eight newly promoted inspectors, including a woman, while transferring five other inspectors of the force with immediate effect.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

DC reviews council’s performance
Ambala, December 28
Ambala deputy commissioner Mohammad Shayin summoned a special meeting of Ambala Sadar municipal council today to review the performance of the council. President of the council Neelam Sharma and as many as 22 other municipal councillors were present in the meeting. The deputy commissioner had received several complaints against the working of the council.

TB Control
Medical body seeks SGPC's help
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 28
The Rural Medical Service Association (RMSA) of Punjab welcomed the decision of the SGPC for starting a campaign against female foeticide and drug abuse.

ASI suspended for misconduct
Ambala, December 28
Ambala SP K.V. Ramanna placed ASI Suresh Kumar under suspension for misbehaving with the members of a family of Kanchghar area at Ambala City last night. Suresh was posted at the Baldevnagar police station.

Free reflectors for tractor-trailers soon
Patiala, December 28
Reflectors will be affixed on tractor-trolleys free of cost during National Road Safety Week to be observed by the Patiala police from January 1 to 7. Pollution check of vehicles will also be conducted by the police with the help of the Punjab Pollution Control Board and the All India Human Rights Organisation on January 3.

One killed, 2 hurt in accident
Ambala, December 28
One person was killed and three others seriously injured in a road accident on Ambala-Hissar road near Mathadi village this evening. Two of the injured were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.