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Bonanza for Bacchus lovers
Vend at every half-km distance
Chandigarh, February 15
In the city of gardens and parks, liquor will “literally” flow like water soon. With the Chandigarh Administration coming out with the new Excise Policy for 2007-2008, liquor will be easily available at every half-a-kilometre as the cap on the location and the grant of new licences has been done away with in the commercial areas of sectors, industrial areas and rehabilitation colonies only.

Ryan: CBSE says can’t grant affiliation
* High court asks CBSE to find a way out
* Plea opposed on more than one count
Chandigarh, February 15
Even as Central Board of Secondary Education struck to its earlier stand that rules did not permit it to grant affiliation to Ryan International School, Sector 49, at this stage, a way out of the crisis, which threatens to affect the future of 80-odd students of class X, emerged today.

Petrol, diesel cheapest in Panchkula
Chandigarh, February 15
For once, the change in petrol prices to be effected from midnight today ensured that petrol pumps in the city and Panchkula and Mohali wore a deserted look.

City to have night food streets; Rs 20 lakh allocated
Chandigarh, February 15
The Finance and Contract Committee of the MC, in its Budget proposal, has allocated a sum of Rs 20 lakh for the creation of Night Food Streets at two locations in northern as well as southern sectors of the city.

Debt-ridden man attempts suicide
Chandigarh, February 15
A debt-ridden 38-year-old man allegedly attempted suicide in an inebriated condition today.

COMMUNITY

Abandoned as child, girl ties knot with her Valentine Chandigarh, February 15 Life is indeed a merry-go-round. At least that’s what 19-year-old Akanksha Agnes believes in. Born an unwanted child cast away by her parents, Akanksha is a much-loved woman today. Not only does she have hundreds of well wishers at the Missionaries of Charity where she grew up, she even has a family to call her own. Only today she tied the knot with her long-time Valentine Bakshi, who pursued her against all odds. The couple’s story is all about stuff that fairytales are made of. As they walked the aisle at the Sector 19 Church today, they made a pretty picture of grace. Akanksha with her husband. — A Tribune photo

MLA, kin travel ticketless, inquiry ordered
Chandigarh, February 15
The last trip of the Volvo bus from Gurgaon to Chandigarh yesterday could not have been more jinxed for conductor Naresh Kumar — after braving the onslaught of passengers for a delayed departure from Gurgaon to facing the Traffic Manager's queries at Karnal for allowing free travel to passengers, he is now awaiting suspension orders. And, all because Salhawas (Jhajjar) MLA Anita Yadav was to board the bus.

The Sector 24, Chandigarh, Shiva temple illuminated on the eve of Shivratri on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Signals raising day
Tributes paid to martyrs
Chandigarh, February 15
The Corps of Signals, more aptly known as the "Information Warriors" of the Army, celebrated their 97th Raising Day at the Western Command, Chandimandir today.

City’s green cover ‘attracts tourists’
Chandigarh, February 15
City Beautiful's green cover is valued at about Rs 120 millions. In fact, Chandigarh's 33 per cent green cover is a major attraction for the tourists and the settlers, a study by Pradeep Chaudhary, a forest official of the Arid Forest Research Institute, Jodhpur, says.

Seminar on “building world class cities”
Chandigarh, February 15
“The essence of building a world class city does not lie in bricks and mortar. It lies in the equal opportunities it provides to the inhabitants to enjoy the benefits of its infrastructure and while building Chandigarh, this concept was taken into account"

IDSA plans awareness drive on direct selling firms
Chandigarh, February 15
The Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) plans to educate government functionaries by creating awareness about direct selling companies that are different from the money circulation companies.

Time for some sunshine, finally
Chandigarh, February 15
After a long spell of rains, it was time for some sun-shining today. The day dawned bright and had a dull look towards noon. But that was only a moment during an otherwise sunny day. It, however, continues to be extremely cold at night, with the minimum temperature dipping to 8 degrees today - the lowest in this fortnight.

Do away with paid parkings: Mayor
MC earned Rs 14 crore
Chandigarh, February 15
Mayor Harjinder Kaur has requested Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of State for Finance, to help do away with the paid parking. In a letter written to the MP, the Mayor has requested Mr Bansal to help remove the paid parking and property tax levied on commercial property by helping the MC get grants from his ministry.

It’s back to chaos at Mehfil parking lot
Chandigarh, February 15
It’s back to chaos in the Mehfil parking lot. After launching ‘’Operation Clearup” for a couple of months, the cops have again taken a back seat, and are allowing the motorists to leave behind their four-wheelers in the lot meant for parking two-wheelers.

SI Molestation Case: Inspector reinstated after compromise
Chandigarh, February 15
Much to the relief of the Chandigarh Police, the infamous molestation case involving Inspector Jagir Singh and Sub-Inspector (SI) Paramjit Kaur Sekhon, has ended in a compromise.

Objection over land demarcation
Chandigarh, February 15
Despite claims of the Chandigarh Administration having solved its dispute with Haryana over the demarcation of inter-state boundary in Kishangarh village, officials of Haryana today again objected to the UT claim over a part of land, allotted to Parsvnath Developers for developing a residential colony.

CRIME

Gold chain snatched
Chandigarh, February 15
A motorcyclist snatched a gold chain of a woman in Sector 46, this afternoon.

Celebrating family gets shock; Rs 1.5 lakh, jewellery stolen

Panchkula, February 15 In a daring theft, two youths forcibly entered a house in Sector 12 and decamped with cash, gold, jewellery, watches and mobiles last evening. However, surprisingly today they returned some of the items to the owners of the house even as the police is groping in the dark about the identity of the thieves. A forensic team examines the room from where thieves took away cash and valuables in Sector 12, Panchkula, on Thursday. — Tribune Photo by Malkiat Singh

3 theft cases reported
Mohali, February 15 Thefts have taken place at three places in the town and the police has registered cases in this regard. According to the police, thieves had decamped with BSNL telephone sets, batteries, cable, feeder and other electrical goods from a store of Nokia located in Sector 70.

BUSINESS

Nvish acquires US firm
Chandigarh, February 15
City-based business process management (BPM) company Nvish Solutions, has acquired a US- based company, Avaap Inc, for an undisclosed amount.

EDUCATION

Indian culture, ethics impress UK teachers

Chandigarh, February 14 A group of 19 teachers from Wigan and Sheffield in the UK are on a week-long visit to schools for ascertaining the role of performing and visual arts in imparting a better education. Group of government school teachers from Britain come out of Punjab Kala Bhavan after having interaction with their Indian counterparts in Chandigarh on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

From Schools
Arijit, Preeti win gold in debate
Mohali/Chandigarh, February 15
“Avantika”, a group of contemporary artistes and intellectuals, organised a debate in Shivalik Public School, Sector 41-B, Chandigarh, today.

Post V-Day bash at Student Centre

Youngsters have a blast at a post-Valentine’s Day bash organised at Student Centre on Panjab University campus on Thursday by the Panjab University Campus Students Council. President of the council Dalvir Singh Goldy said he, along with Harpreet Singh Multani, Naushad Ali, and Gurvir Brar, had promised students a pre-Valentine bash but the rain god did not permit that, but they did not let them complain. — A Tribune photograph

HEALTH

HIV, TB a growing concern in South Asia: Suzanne Crowe
Chandigarh, February 15
India has the highest cases of TB and HIV among the Southeast Asian countries. The HIV-TB co-infection has become a growing health concern in the continent, claimed Prof Suzanne Crowe, Professor of Medicine, Monash University, Australia.

Prof Suzanne Crowe, Professor of Medicine, Monash University, Australia

SPORTS

Simran bags gold in taekwon do

Mohali, February 15 Simran of Class VI, DAV Public Senior Secondary School, Phase X, brought laurels to the school by winning a gold medal in the first open Inter-School Taekwon Do Championship held at Panchkula, recently. Winners of the first open Inter-School Taekwon Do championship display their medals and certificates on the school premises in Panchkula. — A Tribune photograph

ADMINISTRATION

177 UT employees shifted to MCC
Chandigarh, February 15
The Chandigarh Administration has transferred 177 employees of the Engineering Department to the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh (MCC) as per the judgement of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). Notifications to this effect were issued today.

Speed limit fixed for vehicles in Mohali
Mohali, February 15
Keeping in view an increase in the number of accidents due to over speeding, the District Magistrate, Mr Tejveer Singh, has fixed speed limits for all types of vehicles plying in Mohali and the surrounding areas.