C H A N D I G A R H

Top stories | Community | Crime | Business

Culture | Lifestyle | Health | Sports | Administration

TOP STORIES

Kamlesh elected city Mayor
Chandigarh, January 1

Putting to rest the controversy regarding her candidature, Mrs Kamlesh was unanimously elected as the Mayor of the city here today. This year the post was reserved for the Scheduled Caste category.
Ms Kamlesh Kumari in a cheerful mood after being elected city Mayor at the Municipal Corporation Office in Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Cops’ gesture moves senior citizens
Chandigarh, January 1
Roses, New Year greeting cards and show of concern for your security are not normally expected of the police. But the Police Station (North) staff did exactly that today.

Cold brings chilblains blues
Chandigarh, January 1
With a sudden dip in mercury, people suffering from chilblains, eczema and dry skin are flocking to skin specialists with problem of swollen hands and feet which in severe cases leads to ulcers.

• Cold wave continues

Mohali petrol stations hit by hike
Mohali, January 1
With petrol prices touching a new high, business for petrol station owners in the township has reached an all-time low. While petrol stations in Mohali are selling petrol at Rs 37 per litre, petrol station just a few kilometers away falling in Chandigarh are selling it for Rs 34.11 per litre. And if someone chooses to go just a little further to Panchkula, petrol is even cheaper at Rs 33.74 per litre.

New Year Indian gift to Dutch couple
Chandigarh, January 1
To the Amsterdam-based Dutch couple, Raymond Ales and Yvonne, there could not have been a better New Year gift from India. They became the parents of boy twins today, thanks to the advanced medical treatment they received from a city-based doctor, Dr G.K. Bedi, who runs an IVF and infertility clinic in Sector 33.

PM cancels tomorrow's visit to city
Chandigarh, January 1
The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has cancelled his visit to the city to inaugurate the Indian Science Congress which begins at Panjab University on January 3.

All set for Indian Science Congress

Chandigarh, January 1 The countdown for the Indian Science Congress has begun and preparations are in full swing at Panjab University. With road recarpeting complete and stalls in place, the hosts for the 91st ISC, Panjab University and IMTECH, Sector 39, rolled out the red carpet here today to welcome the delegates. Preparations in full swing for the Indian Science Congress to be held on the Panjab University campus from January 3. — Tribune photo Parvesh Chauhan

COMMUNITY

Amarinder to inaugurate Balongi bridge
Mohali, January 1
The Chief Minister, Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, will inaugurate the Rs 3.5 crore Balongi bridge on the Mohali-Kharar road on January 7. The bridge built over the Patiala Ki Rao choe will relieve a major bottleneck on the busy national highway that connects Chandigarh to Himachal and Punjab. Traffic movement on the bridge will start on the day of the inauguration and the old bridge, which is currently being used, will be closed down for repairs.

Dr Anand Agarwal with his paintings displayed at Indus Ind Art Gallery in Sector 8, Chandigarh, on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph.

Sankalp divas observed at PF Commissioner’s Office
Chandigarh, January 1
New Year was celebrated as “Behtar karya sankalp divas” in deference to a call given by Mr Laik Ram Dabas, Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioner (North Zone). A function was organised in the office of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Punjab and Chandigarh, in which Mr A.D. Nagpal, member, Central Board of Trustees, EPF, was the chief guest. The function was presided over by Mr N.N. Sharma, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I, Punjab and Chandigarh.

Woman succumbs to injuries
Panchkula, January 1
Kanta Devi, a resident of Devi Nagar village, who was injured in an accident here last night, died at the PGI in Chandigarh today.

• BJP leader bereaved

Readers Write
Wake up to gastrointestinal problems
THE water being supplied in Chandigarh and Mohali has led to a number of gastrointestinal problems among residents. Almost every other person suffers from problems like indigestion, acidity, gas and flatulence. This is primarily due to the quality of water being supplied which has excessive chlorine in it.

• Educate traffic cops on rules

• Make people-friendly rules, PUDA

CRIME

Woman held for injuring child
Chandigarh, January 1
A woman of Colony Number 4 has been arrested for allegedly hitting an eight-year-old girl of the same locality with a baton.

Cash, valuables stolen from house
Mohali, January 1
Cash and goods worth Rs 20,000 were stolen from the residence of Mr Ajaib Singh of Midde Majra village here. According to the police, the thieves entered the house by scaling the rear wall. They took away cash and utensils.

BUSINESS

Greeting cards cheer up courier firms
Chandigarh, January 1
Courier companies have succeeded in wooing a large number of corporate and individual clients to use their service to post their greeting cards and New Year gifts. Heavy discounts, ensured and early delivery in comparison to the Postal Department have encouraged a number of customers to avail their services.

Octroi contractor’s no to extension
Mohali, January 1
In a surprise move, the Municipal Council’s octroi collection contractor today refused to accept the extension in his contract by the Local Government Department, Punjab, thereby ending his contract with the Council yesterday midnight.

CULTURE

New Release
Yet another unusual love story
The year 2004 begins with an unusual love story scheduled to be released today. It is Padmalaya Telefilms Limited Presentation “Ishq Hai Tumse”, starring Dino Morea and Bipasha Basu. G.A. Seshagiri Rao is the producer while G.V. Narasimha Rao is the executive producer of the movie, which will be released today at Nirman, Chandigarh and Fun Republic, Mani Majra.

LIFESTYLE

Saying it with flowers
Eager hands enthusiastically banging the front gates woke up city residents on the New Year morning as delivery boys arrived with bouquets and baskets of blooming flowers and best wishes.

Musical bonanza for Old Age Home inmates As Punjabi pop star Babu Mann’s melodious voice booming out of impressive speakers filled the air at Old Age Home in Sector 15 this afternoon, the inmates came out in the open to sway with singer. Age no bar for celebrations: Inmates of the Old Age Home in Sector 15 sway with the music as Punjabi singer Babu Mann gives a performance on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Fashion Fundas
Jewellery goes chic and trendy
One doesn’t have to ‘electrify’ one’s brain ala Mel Gibson to know ‘What Women Want’. Offer them jewellery and 99 times out of 100 you would hit the nail on the head. But when it comes to choosing the right piece it is no child’s play. If the chunky heavy jewellery is not your cup of tea then go for the sleek and trendy designs that are available in the market. Square bangles, cylindrical or triangular pendants, earrings and rings in unconventional shapes are the current favourites among women, young and old alike.

It’s my life
I have positive approach
I have been brought into a world where the competition is tough and more tough for a girl. Yet I am a person of great determination and I always carry a positive approach towards life. I believe that the best way to deal with a challenge is to “Face it”. To me, backing out of a contest is even worse than losing it. Be is painting, dancing, modelling or acting, I have always made my family proud by bringing them laurels.

HEALTH

Polio-free India still a distant dream
Panchkula, January 1
Even as the country gears up for another nationwide pulse polio campaign on January 4 , the eradication of the highly-communicable disease in 2004 remains a distant dream with 214 polio cases reported from the country last year.