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Demolition spree continues unabated
Over 300 encroachments removed
SAS Nagar, October 28
The anti-encroachment drive of PUDA following a high court verdict continued for the second day today without any noticeable resentment among residents.

Sarai that needs intensive care Chandigarh, October 28
The state of the Nehru Hospital Sarai at the PGI reflects the callousness of the authorities towards the plight of those who accompany patients to the PGI and exposes their inefficiency in maintaining a single-storey 30-room structure.	The inner verandah of the Nehru Hospital Sarai at the PGI in Chandigarh serves as a garbage collection point.  — A Tribune photograph

PU institutes award for best researcher
Chandigarh, October 28
Panjab University has instituted an award for best researcher in organic chemistry. The award also applies to related disciplines like biochemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry and dairy chemistry.

MC’s putting price on parking; do you mind?
Chandigarh, October 28
The move by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to introduce paid parking in some of the major markets of City Beautiful may have invited criticism from traders and shopkeepers who fear loss of business, but a careful scrutiny of their objections show that their apprehensions may be exaggerated.

Hospitals flout waste disposal norms
Panchkula, October 28
Hundreds of tonnes of biomedical waste generated by various hospitals and nursing homes here continues to be disposed of in an unscientific manner. This is posing a serious environmental problem.

Shops are the answer, not star nites
Chandigarh, October 28
Chandigarh today boasts of big infrastructure in terms of sports complexes. Despite the new technology and more marketing avenues, UT sports complexes still present the same environment.

Another animal dies in Chhat Bir Zoo
Chhat Bir, October 28
Yet another death, this time of a female mithun, in Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, has given another setback to wildlife preservation here. Sources disclosed that the mithun, a wild buffalo, died due to prolonged illness on late Saturday night. Health of the animal deteriorated on Friday evening.

CHANDIGARH CALLING NOT all VIP roads are in good shape. It may be surprising but true that the road leading upto the Chandigarh Golf Association’s Golf Range located just north-east of the Sukhna Lake may be as bad as roads in one of the southern sectors. New BBMB chief Travel memorabilia Alumni association Jaggery flavours Select band When humility performs Invalid votes MI Room

COMMUNITY

Govt land abuse continues Chandigarh, October 28 In the past four months, over two dozen unauthorised jhuggis have come up on vacant government land in the residential area of Sector 40-B resulting in problems for residents. Unauthorised jhuggis at a unit, which lays concrete slabs and manholes and supplies the same to a private telephone company laying underground cables, in Sector 40-B, Chandigarh. — A Tribune photograph

“Factionalism is every party’s bane”

Chandigarh, October 28 Mr O.P. Kohli, National Secretary of the BJP and in charge of Chandigarh BJP affairs, today said the Congress Party did no have any concrete issue for contesting elections. Speaking at a function organised by the local unit of the BJP to celebrate its golden jubilee, Mr Kohli said the Congress could only criticise the National Democratic Alliance.

Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, discusses a point with Mr O.P. Kohli, in charge, Chandigarh BJP affairs, on the golden jubilee celebrations of the BJP in Sector 33, Chandigarh, on Sunday. (Left) BJP workers coming to attend the sammelan.   — Photos Pradeep Tewari

Hold ward-wise meetings: Kalita
Chandigarh, October 28
Mr Bhuvneshwar Kalita, Secretary, All-India Congress Committee and in charge of the affairs of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee, today visited the city and held a meeting with office-bearers of the party and gathered information about the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and Panchayat Samiti elections.

Sukhi condemns police action
SAS Nagar, October 28
A former President of the local civic body, Mr Sukhjeet Singh Sukhi, today condemned the police action of allegedly implicating him in a false case of gambling. The name of the former councillor had been mentioned along with six other property dealers for allegedly indulging in gambling at Majestic Hotel in Phase IX here on October 26.

Rajesh Pilot remembered
Chandigarh, October 28
The Gujjar Samaj Kalyan Parishad today held a series of programmes in memory of Rajesh Pilot, former Union Minister, on the Rajesh Pilot Memorial Gujjar Bhavan Complex. Ms Rama Pilot MP and the wife of Rajesh Pilot, released a Gujjar Samaj directory and launched a website on the occasion. A blood donation camp was also organised in which 42 persons donated blood. A PGI team conducted the camp.

Kirtan darbar concludes
Chandigarh, October 28
The seventh kirtan darbar in Sector 40 in connection with the birthday celebrations of Guru Ram Dass Ji, concluded here today.Recital of Gurbani by prominent ragi jathas which started at five last evening concluded this morning. Thousands of devotees from various parts of the city and adjoining townships listened the kirtan.

Final rounds for Grasim Mr India
Chandigarh, October 28
About 124 young men will be competing for the final phase of the coveted title “Grasim Mr India” at the northern regional round of the eight “Grasim Mr India” contest at hotel Mount View here tomorrow.

Shobha yatra organised
Chandigarh, October 28
Thousands of members of the Valmiki Samaj today took out a shobha yatra in connection with the Pragat Divas of Lord Valmiki (November 1) from Dadu Majra Colony to Sector 20-C Prachin Valmiki Mandir today.

CRIME

Resident gets anthrax scare
Chandigarh, October 28
Sector 8 resident Rajiv Bali has reported that he has received an anonymous letter containing a note that the letter contains anthrax. The police has sent the letter to the PGI for laboratory analysis. A case under Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at the Sector 3 police station.

BUSINESS

Coir mattress launched
Chandigarh, October 28
JJ Foams launched coir mattresses here today. Speaking about the product, Mr J. K. Khandelwal, Managing Director, said: “The mattress is made of rubberised coir and has a firm, thick base to support the body weight without sagging.

EDUCATION

Youth festivals: high expenses, low participation
Chandigarh, October 28
Financial constraints in higher education, coupled with lack of enthusiasm among youngsters, has been taking its toll on the popularity of youth festivals. This was stated by the DPI (Colleges), Mr K. A. P. Sinha, while addressing a press conference, here yesterday.

Youth fests prove dear for colleges
Chandigarh, October 28
In place of the traditional verve and enthusiasm one would associate with a youth festival, the concern of losing out on exorbitant sums in training teams for the contest is weighing heavily on the minds of college principals this season.

Recession a temporary phase: Attray
Chandigarh, October 28
Mr Vivek Attray, Director, Public Relations, UT, today said the recession which the aviation sector was experiencing a temporary phase and would be over shortly. Mr Attray was addressing students from Shimla who had successfully completed the airlines management programme organised by the Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends. He advised the students to develop self-confidence and spirit of service.

CULTURE

Retaining folk in western beats Chandigarh, October 28 What keeps Surjit Bindrakhia’s albums on top of popularity charts is his unique style of retaining the freshness of Punjabi folk even when it is mixed with a heavy dose of western beats. After giving hit numbers like “Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da”, “Tere Ch Tera Yaar Bolda”, he has now come up with his latest album “Billiaan Akhiyaan” — a blend of Punjabi folk and pop.

Surjit Bindrakhia, Punjabi singer, performs at a discotheque in Chandigarh on Sunday.  — A Tribune photograph

‘Need to invest more in R&D’
Chandigarh, October 28
The Indian pharmaceutical industry needs to dedicate a larger share of its budget to research and development, keeping in view the tough competition it will have to face in the post-patent regime era, said Mr S.C. Chaudhry, Financial Commissioner (Indu-stries), Haryana, while addressing the technical session of a national seminar on ‘Analytical overview of Indian corporate sector’ at Panjab University here today.