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TOP STORIES

Populated areas may be exempted
Land acquisition in Darshani Bagh area
Chandigarh, March 21
The Municipal Corporation is going to put up another hurdle in the acquisition of the populated areas of Darshani Bagh in Mani Majra. The House, which is likely to meet on March 31, has been urged to pass a resolution to exempt the populated areas of the land and form a survey committee under Section 48 of the Punjab Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

No major changes in excise policy
Chandigarh, March 21
There will be no major changes in the excise policy for the year 2003-2004 under which liquor and beer is sold in the city. The policy is almost the same as the one announced last year. The new policy comes into force on April 1.

Change in rehabilitation policy for slum dwellers
Chandigarh, March 21
At last, the controversial policy to rehabilitate slum dwellers by allotting them free built-up houses will change. The Chandigarh Administration has decided that in future no allotments to slum dwellers, will be made for free.

Running from pillar to post to get case registered
Chandigarh, March 21
A 32-year-old resident of Burail is running from pillar to post to get a case of negligence registered against two registered medical practitioner (RMPs) allegedly responsible for the death of his 26-year-old wife, Parbina. The husband of the victim, Abrar, who works in the aluminium industry, has given a written complaint at the Sector 34 police station. The police has not registered an FIR even after a month of the incident.

Jacob launches Greening Action Plan
Chandigarh, March 21
Chandigarh is all set to become the “green city” of the millennium, making it a destination for tourists looking for a place having a clean environment, with the UT Administrator, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), launching the Greening Action Plan — 2003-04 to maintain the green character of the city. 

Students observe World Forestry Day

Chandigarh, March 21 Around 300 students from different schools marched towards Nature Park in Sector 26 carrying placards for spreading the message of “creating city forests” on the occasion of World Forestry Day. The march was part of the ‘promotion of urban forestry” programme of the Environment Society of India. A mass campaign against rising pollution in the city was also launched. Save trees: Children holding placards gather for the World Forestry Day celebrations in Chandigarh on Friday. — Photo Manoj Mahajan

COMMUNITY

‘People will rise against USA’
Chandigarh, March 21
As the rest of world was tuned in to the CNN or the BBC for the latest updates on the US attack on Iraq which began in the early hours of Thursday, 38-year-old Khalid Hamdan Gathwan Al-Gherey was peering through high-powered microscopes in a laboratory at Panjab University here.

Attack on Iraq condemned Chandigarh, March 21 The American attack on Iraq has attracted an all-round criticism in the city with Muslims here asking why America has not condemned Pakistan for carrying out a mayhem in Kashmir and why it was supporting “terrorist Israel” for the past 55 years. Muslims burn an effigy of US President George W. Bush in protest against the attack on Iraq, at Housing Board Chowk, Mani Majra, Chandigarh, on Friday. — Photo Parvesh Chauhan

No dearth of petro products
Chandigarh, March 21
An agreement between the Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association and the Excise and Taxation Department, Punjab, saved the situation yesterday from going from bad to worse in the region. With the US-led attack on Iraq and the dealers’ proposed strike, people were apprehensive about the supply of petroleum products in the city and surrounding towns. However, despite heavy rush at some petrol stations, there was no shortage of supply.

Stray cattle: all 3 tenders rejected
SAS Nagar, March 21
The first attempt of the Municipal Council here to give catching of stray animals on contract has failed. The council has received only three applications to the tenders, all of which have been rejected by it.

• Supplementary phone directory
• BJP to launch jan jagran
• Review meeting

CRIME

2 students arrested in impersonation case
Chandigarh, March 21
An 18-year-old student of Guru Gobind Singh Collegiate Public School in Sector 26 here, Kawarpreet Singh, was today arrested by the police for allowing another student, Sumeet Upadhyay, to appear on his behalf in the 10+2 examination of the Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE).

‘Police behind driver’s suicide'
SAS Nagar, March 21
Even as the Mohali police continues to deny any role whatsoever in the suicide of Bhupinder Singh, a 26-year-old truck driver, who allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself on March 18 here, sources have categorically alleged that Bhupinder Singh had been taken to the police station in Phase I and beaten up, before he committed suicide.

Class XII student assaulted
Chandigarh, March 21
A Class XII student of SD School in Sector 32 was assaulted by a group of around 10 students of SD College when the victim was going home after appearing in his annual examination at the Sector 33 Government Model School here this evening. The victim, T Pater, was assaulted on the road dividing Sectors 32 and 45 here.

1 killed in road mishap
Panchkula, March 21
While a person, Om Dutt, was killed, three others were injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a Tata-407 vehicle near Saket Hospital in Chandimandir in the wee hours today.

BUSINESS

MARKET PULSE
Nirma promoters to transfer brands, trademark
Chandigarh, March 21
Nirma promoters finally responded to the long-awaited demand of transferring the brands and trademark from the promoter-held company to Nirma Limited, the listed company, along with its soap manufacturing business.

EDUCATION

Finally, nursing institute to see light of day
Chandigarh, march 21
Even though it will be a dream come true after a long wait of 10 years for the National Institute of Nursing Education at the PGI to become a reality as the Union Health Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, inaugurates it on March 28, yet staff shortage inadequate library and poor laboratory facilities still plague it.

NIFD ‘Best of Luck’ bash for World Cup 
Chandigarh, March 21
Students of National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD) Chandigarh are organising a Best of Luck Dance Bash on March 23 at Cyanide discotheque in Sector 8 just prior to the World Cup final to wish the Indian cricket team all the best for bringing home the World Cup by defeating Australia. The dance bash will follow the exclusive screening of the World Cup finals on mega screens for the spirited NIFDians.

Ambedkar institute students hold dharna
SAS Nagar, March 21
Students of the stenography course of Ambedkar Institute of Careers and Courses went on strike here today in protest against of non-payment of stipend to them. Students, who sat in dharna in front of the gate of the institute, raised slogans against the principal.

240 students get prizes
Chandigarh, March 21
As many as 240 students were given prizes at the annual day function of Government College, Sector 11, organised on the college campus here today. While 35 students were awarded the roll of honour, 26 were presented with the college colour for their meritorious performance in their respective fields.

Seminar on role of media in society
Chandigarh, March 21
The Department of Mass Communication, Panjab University, in collaboration with ICSSR, organised a seminar on “Role of media in society” on the PU campus here today. The seminar focused on the importance of the media and its values in today’s society.

600 students get degrees Chandigarh, March 21 As many as 600 graduates were awarded degrees at the annual convocation of Sanatan Dharam College, Sector 32, here today. Addressing a gathering, the Panjab University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. K.N. Pathak, spoke on information technology, human genome and values and relationships. Students of GGDSD College, Sector 32, at their convocation on Friday. — A Tribune photo

COURTS

DISTRICT COURTS
Police remand for car thief
Chandigarh, March 21
A suspect, Rajesh Kumar, arrested by the UT police in a case of car theft was today remanded in police custody by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L Mohal. The police had sought the remand on the ground that the custodial interrogation of the accused was required to know his involvement in other cases. 

CULTURE

Uma Sharma casts a spell

Chandigarh, March 21 If grace had a face, it would look like her. Adorned with finery so basic to kathak, Uma Sharma, the foremost exponent of the dance form again proved today that there is nothing as a life span for a performing artiste. The one who is born to dance will always dance, transcending barriers of age, time and space.

Uma Sharma, kathak exponent, and Suhas Vyas, son and disciple of Pandit C.R. Vyas, perform at the 33rd Bhaskar Rao Nritya and Sangeet Sammelan in Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, Chandigarh, on Friday. — Photo Parvesh Chauhan

• Music contest

• Manhunt contest today

‘Avoid heavy use of steroids’
Chandigarh, march 21
A sudden feeling of euphoria, well-being, increased appetite and instant relief from pain can make an arthritis or asthma patient feel on top of the world, but only temporarily. Such patients, who took medicines with heavy steroids given mostly by quacks, are pouring in at the PGI with serious side effects and some in a critical condition.

Pharmaceutical workshop opens
SAS Nagar, March 21
A two-day workshop on the ‘Indian pharmaceutical industry: technological challenges’ was inaugurated at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) here yesterday by Mr Vinay Kohli, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.

SPORTS

Total Tennis circuit from March 24
Chandigarh, March 21
Total Tennis Academy will conduct Total Tennis Circuit from March 24 for junior players. According to Mr Devender Kapoor, director of the academy, the circuit will begin from Mount Carmel Total Tennis Academy premises in Sector 47 and will continue till March 30. 

ADMINISTRATION

Rs 93.76 cr grant for MC
Chandigarh, March 21
The Union Home Ministry has approved Rs 93.76 crore grant-in-aid to the Municipal Corporation for 2003-2004 against a budgetary demand of Rs 100 crore. Though the grant-in-aid has seen an increase of Rs 11.72 crore over the last year, yet it has put an additional burden of Rs 6.24 crore on the Municipal Corporation, which will have to look for additional resources to make up for the additional deficit.

Now, more sectors to have token paid parking
Chandigarh, March 21
All paid parking lots of Sectors 8, 9 and 17 will allow entry through tokens from next week. The entry by tokens has been allowed after a similar experiment in Sector 17 was found to be “satisfactory” during the last fortnight.

Central excise collection up
Chandigarh, March 21
The total revenue collection by the Central Excise Commissionerate, Panchkula, has registered a growth of 5.76 per cent up to February 2003. This year, Rs 422.73 crore had been realised as against Rs 399.69 crore during the corresponding period last year, said Mr P.K. Sirohi, Commissioner, Central Excise, here today.