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Monsoon may hit City Beautiful by Tuesday
Chandigarh, July 3
After parching the earth for over a week, weather gods plan to change track now. At least that is what officials at the local Meteorological Department feel.

A mother shelters her child from the scorching sun in Chandigarh on Saturday.— Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

‘Green wall’ around city planned
Chandigarh, July 3
Alarmed at the fast depleting green cover around Chandigarh, the Chandigarh Administration plans to acquire all open areas in villages and build a “green wall” around the city to effectively put a end on any more construction outside the “lal dora” of these villages.

General Mehta appears before court
Chandigarh, July 3
Two former General Officers Commanding-in-Chief of Western Command, who were summoned as witnesses by the General Court Martial trying Major- Gen P S K Choudhary on charges of impropriety in the Tehelka episode, have maintained that the alleged misdemeanour by the officers involved in the case came to the knowledge of authorities concerned on June 14, 2001.

FS likely to be relieved on Monday
Chandigarh, July 3
The UT Finance Secretary, Mr Karan Avtar Singh, is likely to be relieved from his duties in the Chandigarh Administration on Monday. The decision to relieve him and repatriate him to his parent cadre of Punjab was scheduled to be taken today, however, the Adviser, Mr Lalit Sharma, has asked the Finance Secretary to wait till Monday, sources said.

My Budget
Expectations have never been as high India couldn’t have chosen a more qualified Prime Minister. The Prime Minister couldn’t have selected a better Finance Minister. The Meteorological Department couldn’t have predicted better rainfall. Is India destined to shine after all? If the CMP is a precursor to the Budget, cows can look forward to greener pastures again and bulls and make hay while ‘Man’ shines.

COMMUNITY

Arrest councillor, demands BJP Chandigarh, July 3 The BJP today impressed upon the Chandigarh Administration to arrest Mr Balraj Singh, Congress councillor, and register a case against him for allegedly accepting bribe from a contractor. Addressing a press conference here, the president of the local BJP unit, Mr Yashpal Mahajan, said the case should be entrusted to the CBI and Mr Balraj Singh should be dismissed from the post of councillor. Mr Yashpal Mahajan, local BJP president, addresses a Press conference in Chandigarh on Saturday.  — A Tribune photograph

Villagers protest against land acquisition
Mohali, July 3
Over 50 land owners of villages in Sirhind have joined the villagers here in protest against the acquisition of their land by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA). Following in the footsteps of the Kisan Hit Bachao Committee, Sohana, the Sirhind landlords have formed a similar committee to represent them.

Panchkula Diary
MC House meeting likely on July 15
Panchkula, July 3
The Municipal Council General House meeting is likely to be called on July 15. The meeting will be held after a gap of four months. The president of the MC, Ms Seema Chaudhary, said they were working on the agenda and the beautification of the township would be taken up on a priority basis at the meeting.

Gul CII’s goodwill ambassador 
Chandigarh, July 3
Gul Panag, Femina Miss India Universe 1999, will be the goodwill ambassador spearheading a major project on AIDS awareness, prevention and rehabilitation being initiated by the CII, Northern Region.

Hindi translation of three works released
Chandigarh, July 3
The National Book Trust (NBT) today dedicated to its readers Hindi translation of three outstanding pieces of prose. The translated books are Kartar Singh Duggal’s “Kis Pah Kholu Gathdi” (Punjabi); Olga’s “Swechha” (Telegu); and a compilation of folk tales from South Orissa. The books were released by famous Hindi writer Ramesh Kuntal “Medh”.

CRIME

Suspect in fraud case escapes from police custody
Mohali, July 3
A Mohali resident, accused in a fraud case registered in Assam today, managed to escape from police custody while he was being presented before a Kharar court. The accused, Raj Kumar, along with his accomplice, Rajiv Bhatia, were arrested from Mohali this morning by the Assam police.

Driver, maids booked for theft
Chandigarh, July 3
The police has booked a driver and two maids for stealing their employer’s mobile phone, wrist watch and Rs 46,000 today. In a complaint to the police, Mr Satish Vardhera, resident of Sector 18, alleged that his driver Bhagmal, alias Sanjeev, of Dhanas village, and maids Ramkali and her daughter, committed the theft.

EDUCATION

A police party patrols Panjab University campus, Chandigarh, on Saturday after the murder of a former president of SOPU. — A Tribune photograph

20 pc internal assessment for PU postgraduate classes
Chandigarh, July 3
The Panjab University Syndicate has approved 20 per cent internal assessment in its postgraduate classes being run on the campus. At its meeting held this evening, the members decided that the internal assessment would be applicable from the forthcoming session i.e. 2004-05.As the Syndicate members pointed out a number of instances of bogus voters listed as genuine voters for graduate constituency in Senate elections, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof K.N. Pathak, decided to rescrutinise the lists of voters prepared so far.

Colleges release cut-off percentage for admissions
Chandigarh, July 3
This year more and more students are opting for the commerce stream in city colleges, both private and government. Though the interviews for admission to different colleges are scheduled for July 5, most of these have displayed their merit list.

Class XI admissions: highest cut-off percentage 87.8

Chandigarh, July 3 A high cut-off percentage was witnessed on the second day of counseling for admission to Class XI in the top-rated government model senior secondary schools in the city. Curious students and their parents check admission list outside the admission centre at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

July 23 last date to deposit forms at ITI
Chandigarh, July 3
The Industrial Training Institute, Sector 28, Chandigarh has announced July 23 as the last date to deposit application forms for admission to various courses conducted by it for the new academic session.

Experts dwell on Dr Ambedkar’s vision
Chandigarh, July 3
A seminar on “Dr Ambedkar’s Vision of the 21st century” was organised by the Centre for Adult, Continuing Education and Extension, at the ICSSR Complex, Panjab University, here today.

JP Sharma Head of PU’s Physical  Education Dept
Chandigarh, July 3
Mr JP Sharma assumed charge as Chairman of the Department of Physical Education, Panjab University, on July 1. Mr Sharma, who joined the department in 1973, has done MA in history from Panjab University and M.PEd from Punjabi University. He is also a qualified basketball coach from the NIS, Patiala.

Students call on H.K. Dua
Chandigarh, July 3
A two-member team of students from the St John’s High School, Sector 26, today called on Mr H.K. Dua, Editor-in-Chief The Tribune, under a holiday home week project of their school. The students, Siddharth Khandelwal and Shashank, both students of Class IX, recorded their interview with Mr Dua.

COURTS

Rs 80 lakh awarded at lok adalat
Chandigarh, July 3
As many as 33 cases were settled and Rs 80 lakh awarded at a special lok adalat organised on the premises of the State Legal Services Authority in Sector 9 here today.

Beant Singh’s assassins declared POs
Chandigarh, July 3
Almost five-and-a-half months after the three alleged assassins of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh tunnelled their way out of the high-security Burail Jail here, a local court today declared them as the proclaimed offenders (POs).

CULTURE

Film Review
‘Shikaar’ — bankruptcy  of ideas
Jas Pandher’s “Shikaar” exposes total bankruptcy of ideas in a script which smells of stale stuff of the eighties. The murder thriller has no climax but enough masala to kill the spirits.

LIFESTYLE

A gardener who doubles as  environmentalist

Gangaram Gupta may not have received much of a formal education but this 42-year-old gardener has learnt the lessons nature teaches us rather well. He does not wax eloquent on the benefits of soil conservation or the need for added green cover for cities but manages to convey his message through his work. Considering that his “audience” comprises more than a thousand students studying in YPS, Patiala, where Gangaram works, it may well be a lesson in Environmental science. Green fingers: Gangaram Gupta at work.

‘Toss ka Boss’ to draw fans
Pepsi, one of the partners in the ICC Champions Trophy, England, launched a mega consumer initiative “Toss Ka Boss” here on Friday. The Chairman, Pepsi India said,” All eyes are on the ICC Champions Trophy, England. Toss Ka Boss will provide fans an opportunity to relish excitement of an international cricketing event”. Uday Singh Phoolka

Broadening their vista in cinema
Uday Singh Phoolka has long been associated with Cinevista, one of the two premiere production houses ruling the small screen market in India. In competition to none expect Balaji Telefilms, Cinevista is now all set to back the production of the latest flick with Salman Khan in lead role, “Garv”. The last film Cinevista produced was “Shhh...”.

Swords are in vogue
Add a touch of class, and steel, to your house. Pick up an impressive sword with a glistening blade and a brass hilt, like the one possessed by “He-man”. Swords with sharp blades are the latest in vogue among city residents. Some palatial houses in northern sectors or flats in the southern Sectors have swords in soft leather sheaths hanging in living rooms.

Maruti’s weekend blast

To bridge the distance with customers, Maruti Suzuki started a  two-day weekend blast at Fun Republic, Mani Majra, on Saturday. The fun-filled event was organised to give information about  Maruti. A wide range  of Maruti Suzuki Maruti 800, Alto, Zen,  Wagon R, Balero, and Versa cars are on  display. Children participate in a dance competition at Maruti Suzuki weekend blast at Fun Republic, Mani Majra, near Chandigarh on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Market Pulse
Motor cycle model launched
TVS Motor Company on Saturday launched TVS Victor GLX 125 motor cycle. It is a power and style-oriented 125 cc motor cycle.This comes with a 4-stroke and variable timing intelligent engine.

HEALTH

Women over 40 prone to knee problems
Chandigarh, July 3
Knee problems occur in mid thirties and the risk increases with age and more commonly develops in women over 40 who are five times more likely to have this problem than men.

AIDS threatens street children, says survey
Chandigarh, July 3
They are clubbed in the high-risk behaviour population for contracting the dreaded disease HIV/ AIDS. Street and working children, below the age of 14, are scattered in various pockets of the city in every nook and corner, while carrying on with their “casual activities” in all innocence.

Blood donation camp at PGI Chandigarh, July 3 The Thalassaemic Children’s Welfare Association, Chandigarh, organised a blood donation camp at PGI lecture theatre 1, here today. It was the fifth camp in the series which was organised by the association with the objective of overcoming the shortage of blood in summer especially for the thalassaemic children who require blood transfusion almost every fortnight. Fourteen-year-old Puneet, a thalassaemia patient fills blood donors’ certificate during a blood donation camp at PGI, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

SPORTS

Cricket, volleyball  trials on July 5
Chandigarh, July 3
Trials to select players for cricket and volleyball centres in Sector 36 MCM DAV College will be held on July 5 at 3 pm at the college ground. All the college and school cricket and volleyball players of Chandigarh are eligible to appear in the trials.