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TOP STORIES

Fire safety a non-issue in UT schools
Chandigarh, July 17
Last year, the Chief Fire Officer, of his own initiative, approached the DPI (Schools), urging him to have fire safety norms implemented in the 100-odd city schools. The DPI, in turn, issued a circular to this effect and a handful of schools did show interest in implementing fire safety norms.

• Directive on fire safety

3 multiplexes likely in Sector 17
Chandigarh, July 17
The city centre in Sector 17 will soon have three multiplexes giving shoppers an option to “shop till you drop”. The oldest theatres - Neelam, Jagat and KC — are in varying stages of getting their buildings converted into multiplexes complete with glass façades, latest and smaller movie screening halls, commercial areas and some of the best food courts in the country.

Eight samples found cholera-infected
Chandigarh, July 17
After most of the water samples failed the purity tests earlier this week, the stool samples collected by the Department of Medical Microbiology at the PGI here have too, been found to be infected.

Venturing out of the confines of barren mountains
Chandigarh, July 17
For a group of 20 girls from Leh, it was an amazing experience to traverse the Capital on the Metro train, look up at high-rise buildings and to behold the splendor of the Taj Mahal.

Family's vain attempt to whisk away girl
Chandigarh, July 17
The family of a young girl who had come to the Punjab and Haryana High Court along with a boy whom she claimed to have married today tried to forcibly take away the girl from court premises.

COMMUNITY

Sewage treatment plant underutilised

Digian (Mohali), July 17 Under-utilisation of the 30-million-gallon per day-capacity sewage treatment plant is costing the city dear in terms of wastage of drinking water. Hit by a cash-crunch for the past 10 years, the engineering wing of the Municipal Corporation has been unable to complete the networking of pipelines for supplying treated water to the city. Chandigarh Mayor Kamlesh and councillors inspect the sewage treatment plant near Mohali on Saturday. — Photo by Pradeep Tewari

Water supply scheme inaugurated
Zirakpur, July 17
Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat president Narender Sharma today inaugurated a water supply scheme in Ward no 1 and 2 of Wadhawa Nagar. The project, which is likely to be completed within a couple of months, will help the authority to meet with the long pending demand of the residents.

Panchkula police seeks more staff
Panchkula, July 17
Alarmed by the increasing crime in the township, the police authorities have sought more force to improve policing. Troubled by the demand for frequent transfers from the district, and the shortfall in police personnel, the district police authorities have also sought the doing away of the condition of not posting policemen in their home district.

2.5 acres earmarked for Vigilance Bureau complex
Mohali, July 17
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has finally been allotted a piece of land which it can call its own in Mohali. A chunk of over 2.5 acres has been earmarked in Sector 68 for the Vigilance Bureau by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority here.

Beginning to walk again Mohali, July 17 For Vijay Kumar, a 30-year-old resident of Bathinda, Dr Salil Saha of Phase II here is no less than God. Dr Saha has managed to treat Vijay of multiple spinal fractures that had made him an invalid. Many doctors, including those at the PGI, had declared Vijay a paraplegic for life and permanently disabled, but today Vijay is beginning to walk again and looking forward to leading an almost normal life. Vijay Kumar with his family in Mohali on Saturday.

Red Cross to start ‘clothes bank’
Chandigarh, July 17
The Union Territory Red Cross will start a “clothes bank” for the poor and needy in Chandigarh. The Red Cross has invited residents and social organisations in the region to come forward and donate new as well as used clothes for the poor.

Halwarvi’s books released Chandigarh, July 17 Had noted Punjabi litterateur Harbhajan Halwarvi been alive today, he would have been overwhelmed by fond remembrances showered upon him at the Sector 34 State Library. The occasion was not routine by any standards. Mrs Pritpal Halwarvi speaking at the “Nike Wade Safar” and “Pahle Panne” book release function in Sector 34, Chandigarh, on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Problems of Dalits discussed
Mohali, July 17
One of the main reasons for the backwardness of the Dalit class is illiteracy as a result of which this section of the society had got cut off from the main social stream.

• Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to visit Pak

• Man run over by bus, hurt

• Journalist dead

CRIME

Autorickshaw driver foils robbery bid
Mohali, July 17
An autorickshaw driver today foiled a robbery bid at a house in Phase IV here. According to the police, two youths were trying to enter a house (804 Phase IV), when an autorickshaw driver who was passing by saw them and nabbed them. While one of them managed to escape, the other later identified as Manpreet of Phase XI was caught.

Travel agent kidnapped, let off
Mohali, July 17
Sandeep Singh, resident of Phase XI here, was kidnapped and then let off by his kidnappers in a day long drama that kept the police on its toes. Finally the kidnappers, whom the police has booked for the crime, said they had to kidnap Sandeep to extract the money that Sandeep owed them.

EDUCATION

Colleges reluctant to buy new programme
Chandigarh, July 17
In spite of the promising response attracted by the Chandigarh Training on Soft Skills programme, an initiative of the Department of Information Technology, Chandigarh Administration, certain private colleges have refused to be part of it.

A Sukhmani Sahib ‘path’ to celebrate the success of the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, in progress at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

PU panel seeks compensation
Chandigarh, July 17
The Panjab University Non-Teaching Employees Federation has demanded compensation for microbiology department technical officer, Sunil Khanna, who had allegedly been assaulted by department chairman, Mr Gurinder Singh on July 8.

New courses in medical architecture, hospital engg
Chandigarh, July 17
The Institute of Hospital Engineering has resolved to set up an autonomous centre of hospital engineering and architecture as its educational wing.

• Special admission camp from July 23

CULTURE

Neeta documents Raina’s tales of trauma

Chandigarh, July 17 As always, MK Raina’s sensitive handling of diverse themes in “Buhe Barian” put the message inherent in the production right across to the hearts of audiences. Juxtaposed into a brilliant mould were four tales of women’s trauma and resurgence, as documented by four finest Punjabi writers of their times. Neeta Mohindra features in M.K. Raina’s ‘Buhe Bariyan’ at Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Theatre as a safety valve for democracy Chandigarh, July 17 M.K. Raina reminds you of the legendary Habib Tanveer. Much like Tanveer, he proclaims that theatre can never be subsidiary to the state. Film Review                                                                        ‘Gayab’ good enough for children Coming from the camp of versatile Ram Gopal Verma,“Gayab” lacks his first class touch. Supposed to be a comedy thriller it seems to be its evaporated version Vishnu Prasad (Tusshar Kapoor) is a simple middle class guy who is devoid of good looks or any quality to distinguish himself. Tusshar Kapoor in “Gayab”

Punjabi fare at Plaza
Chandigarh, July 17
Music director of Punjabi songs H. Guddu was the star attraction at the cultural show at the Plaza, Sector 17, today. H. Guddu, along with other singers, Gurkirpal Surapuri, Hardeep, Gurigur, and Sukhi Sidhu, regaled the audience with Punjabi songs.

LIFESTYLE

Serial focuses on unshakable friendship

Unconditional love and unshakable friendship — this is what television serial “ Saathiya-Pyaar ka Nayaa Ehsaas” is all about. Small screen star Amar Upadhyay of “Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi” fame is acting in the serial. He, along with serial “Sanjivini” star Sanjit Bedi and Shraddha Nigam — “Choodiyan” fame — were in Chandigarh on Saturday. Amar Upadhyay, Shraddha Nigam and Sanjit Bedi in Chandigarh on Saturday to launch TV serial “Saathiya - Pyaar Ka Nayaa Ehsaas”. — Tribune photo  Parvesh Chauhan

A music academy with a difference After working with top Bollywood and Punjabi singers over the years, veteran music director Varinder Bachan is now on a unique mission: To provide a platform to budding artistes. Music director Varinder Bachan hones the skills of artistes at his music academy in Chandigarh. — A Tribune photograph

Clothing Deepa Mehta’s ‘Water’
Being part of meaningful film productions has never been such a great deal for Chandigarh-based costume designer Dolly Tiwari. Her flare for the sensitive has naturally earned her a place in celebrated teams like that of Shekhar Gupta’s in “Bandit Queen” and Deepa Mehta’s in “Earth…”

Market Pulse
Jeans’ collection
A collection of jeans was launched by the Marketing Head of Lee Cooper India, Mr Vishal Gupta, here on Friday. Now youngsters have a variety of styles and shades of jeans. Even you don’t have to wash your jeans because you can wear it on the reverse side.

HEALTH

GMCH academic session begins
Chandigarh, July 17
The academic session 2004-05 formally under way at Government Medical College and Hospital Sector 32 today with the induction of 50 students this session. The new students were given a welcome and apprised about the college at the inauguration function held at the GMCH’s Conference Hall.

Workshop for operating room staff
Chandigarh, July 17
As many as 29 delegates from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh participated in an one-day interactive workshop for operating room personnel organised by the Department of Orthopaedics at GMCH, here today.

• AIDS awareness bulletin

SPORTS

Govt Girls SS School, Coaching Centre win
Chandigarh, July 17
Girls of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 8 and Coaching Centre, Sector 19, surged ahead in the 18th Chandigarh Junior State Handball Championship which began here today at the DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8.

Anjali, Rizwan win carrom titles
Chandigarh, July 17
Anjali Yadav and Rizwan clinched the girls and boys singles titles respectively in the Seventh St Stephen’s Ranking Carrom Tournament played here today at the St Stephen’s School, Sector 45. Piyush Sood became the new sub-junior singles champion.