HEALTH

Eye transplants let soldiers see again
By Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 10 — In the first ever eye transplant surgery undertaken by Western Command Hospital, Chandi Mandir, the vision of two battle casualties has been restored to normal.

A retired jawan passed away after protracted illness in the hospital last week and his eyes were used for the transplants. The operations were performed by Lt-Col S.K. Anand.

Sepoy Joginder Singh from 34 Rashtriya Rifles had seriously injured his eye during counter insurgency operations near Gulmarg. Troops were chasing a suspicious looking character when a grenade landed near them. "Something hit me in the eye and it started bleeding. I ignored it and went after the fugitive, apprehending him," he said.

He applied a field dressing and was taken to the MI room after the operation ended. He was given medical treatment and admitted to 153 General Hospital. He was flown in from Leh and admitted to Command Hospital on February 16, where he was operated upon on April 3. Within two days of the transplant surgery, he was able to count fingers held at a distance of nine inches from his face.

In the other case, Havildar Pradhan Singh from 22 Punjab had injured his eye from splinter resulting for enemy artillery fire along the Line of Control in the Batalik Sector in 1993. He was treated at various stages and was admitted to military hospital in the northern sector.

In 1994, he proceeded on pension. His vision further deteriorated and his eye got infected, with the result that he totally stopped seeing from his left eye. He said he had no other source of income apart from his pension.

About five months back, he wrote to the Commandant of Command Hospital, Maj-Gen Virendra Singh, highlighting his plight. On directions of the Commandant, the hospital authorities got him registered here and admitted him for treatment on March 27.

He was operated upon for transplant within a week. Doctors attending upon him said now his vision met military standards for recruitment. He is able to read the top line of the eye-sight testing chart.

OPD open on April 13
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 10 — Keeping in view three consecutive holidays of April 12, 13 and 14, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, has decided to run its OPD services on April 13 for the general convenience of patients.

According to an official press note issued here today, the laboratory as well as the operation theatre services will remain closed during the holidays.

The emergency services, however, will function as usual.

SPORT

Cycling team chosen
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, April 10 — The Chandigarh Amateur Cycling Association has selected a seven-member team comprising four boys and three girls for the National Track Cycling Championship to be held in New Delhi from April 17 to 21, according to Mr Rakesh Mohindra, Secretary of the association.

The team is as follows: Boys — Ankur Kaul, Harsimran Singh Brar, Ajit Singh and Sidhharth Syal; girls — Gaganpreet Kaur, Shivika and Kirandeep Kaur.

ADMINISTRATION

Sewage treatment plant approved
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 10 — The Finance and Contract Committee of the Municipal Corporation, in its meeting held here today, gave its nod to the proposal of setting up of a 22.5 MLD capacity sewage treatment plant at Raipur Kalar at a cost of Rs 5.05 crore.

It was also decided to construct a well-furnished eight-room corporation guest house at a cost of Rs 28 lakh. It approved the draft regulations relating to the admission of members of the public to its house meeting.

For the development of more green belts in the city, Rs 18 lakh has been earmarked to develop a green belt in two parts of Sector 46. The committee gave its green signal to the proposal regarding purchase of two excavators, strengthening the enforcement wing of the corporation.

A revised estimate of Rs 29 lakh was approved for boring and installation of one deep-bore tubewell with percussion-cum-rotary rig method, which would facilitate the enhancement of the supply of water in Mani Majara and Indira Colony. The committee acknowledged the importance of V-3 roads and approved the proposal of Rs 1 crore for strengthening of V-3 roads between Sectors 31 and 32 and Sectors 46 and 47. It also approved the cough cost estimates for strengthening of V-3, V-4 and V-5 roads and recarpeting of V-6 roads.

Priority was given to development of several pockets on the Chandigarh-Kalka road in Mani Majra. It approved the revised estimate of Rs 37 lakh for providing storm water drainage scheme, sewer lines and estate water supply lines for the Pocket 1 and Rs 916.23 lakh for providing sewerage scheme and estate water supply lines in Pockets 2 and 3.

The committee gave a go ahead signal to Rs 13.50 lakh of RCE for extension of parking place in Sector 17. It approved RCE of Rs 16.43 for construction of slow carriageway on V- 3 road between Sectors 17 and 18 and earmarked Rs 5 lakh for proper illumination, street lights of the new parking and slow carriageway in Sector 25.

The committee also gave its assent to the proposal of Rs 5 lakh for fabrication of four newly purchased dumper placers and to the proposal to auction several sites for shop-cum-offices and commercial activities on lease hold basis. It approved the auctioning of three built-up shops on monthly-rental basis in the community centre at Thakurdwara in Mani Majra.

Administration stand on transfer
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 10 — The Chandigarh Administration today clarified that the transfer of Mr Ashish Kundra and Mrs Geetanjali Kundra by the Ministry of Home Affairs to Mizoram is a routine transfer linked to their promotion to the senior scale of the IAS and is not in any way connected with the CBI case against certain officials of the Administration.

Awards for teachers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 10 — After a wait of two years, school teachers of the UT will be conferred state awards for their contribution in the field of education.

The awards will be given on April 20 at Tagore Theatre. The awardees include seven teachers for 1998 and three for 1999.

Highway to be four-laned
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, April 10 — All three highways at the traffic lights point here will be four-landed to ease traffic congestion in the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat limits, said Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister of Punjab.

The minister made the statement while chairing the meeting of the 15-member advisory committee here today. He also announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh to each of the nominated members from the 13 wards of the civic body for development purposes.

He said streetlights would be installed along the link roads and on the main streets leading to colonies within the Zirakpur area. A stadium will also be constructed on the bank of Sukhna Cho in Preet Nagar.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh disclosed that a meeting of senior officials of the Local Government and Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board would be held next month to chalk out the plan for laying the connections.

Wildlife films for zoo visitors
From Our Correspondent

CHHAT BIR, April 10 — For the first time, visitors to the Chhat Bir zoo will see documentary films on wildlife before moving on to park proper.

"Zoos exist not to entertain but to educate and conscienticise the public to the vast diversity of the animal kingdom," said zoo director Dr Vinod Sharma, "These films are intended to educate visitors, especially the children who come here on school tours."

Another novel step taken by the zoo authorities is provision of three wheel-chairs to enable handicapped visitors to be taken through the zoological park. In addition to it, a new Lion Safari bus-service with more facilities has been introduced.

Zoo authorities have sought the cooperation of various social organisation such as Lion Clubs, Rotary Clubs and Bharat Vikas Parishad, to make the projects a success.