HEALTH

Cannabis surrounds de-addiction centre
By Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 24 — Contrasts exist side by side in every walk of life. The PGI is no exception, with a drug de-addiction centre functioning in the midst of a profuse growth of cannabis which has overrun most of the unkempt open spaces.

The Medical Superintendent, Dr Anil Gupta, says, “It is the duty of the Horticulture Department to wipe out the plant from the campus or at least from near the centre. They do not need to wait for everything to come in writing. Nobody will object to any action initiated in this regard. If they can see it, they must act on their own.”

When contacted, the in charge of the horticulture wing, Mr Hemraj, said he had received no information in this regard from the PGI authorities. He was waiting for written orders.

However, the Head of the Psychiatry Department, Dr P Kulhara, says, “We are not responsible for the growth of the plant. It is a tough plant and grows in the most hostile condition. We have written to the MS about the problem and it is for them to take action.”

Doctors working at the de-addiction centre contend that the cannabis growing in the vicinity of the centre is likely to have an adverse effect on the patients under treatment. The thick growth along the driveway leading to the centre, around the hostels nearby and in the open-spaces are temptation enough for the patients. “Further, there is a chance that the patients undergoing treatment for a particular addiction may simultaneously fall prey to cannabis, achieving very little in the end,” a doctor informs.

Another doctor adds, “The complete curing of a patient is a long drawn process. In the meantime, if they happen to fall into the trap of another addiction, it complicates the treatment and further lengthens the process. In these cases, there is greater chance of the patients dropping out altogether, leaving the treatment incomplete.”

In the area where the growth of cannabis is thick, addicts can be seen rubbing the leaves to extract juice. Mostly students and people from the colonies snoop around the area looking for a chance to sneak unnoticed into the overgrowth. While most indulge in it for the kick it gives them, there are students who contend that it increases their concentration.

Personnel at the police post inform that the number of such persons on the campus has gone down considerably owing to the strict vigil being kept by them. Moreover, they add, special patrolling is undertaken and anybody caught is dealt with severely.

55 treated at camp
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 24 — A four-day free acupressure and acupuncture camp was inaugurated by Dr N.K. Grover at Lions Bhavan here today. The camp was organised jointly by Lions Club, Chandigarh, Host and Nightingale and was sponsored by Elegance Herbal Beauty Parlour.

On the first day, 55 patients were given free treatment. The camp will continue till July 27. The treatment, called SU-JOK, is meant for joint and cervical pains, skin-related problems, constipation, pimples, asthma and many other diseases.

The system of treatment has been developed by Prof Park Jae Koo, a Korean citizen. The Delhi Sujok Acupuncture Association has initiated it in Chandigarh.

SPORT

Football academy boys to report on August 7
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The boys selected for the Chandigarh Football Academy, the first of its kind in this part of the country, have been asked to report on August 7. This was disclosed by Mr J.P.S. Sidhu, Joint Director Sports, UT Administration. He told that 24 boys in nine to ten years age group were selected after trials, early this month. They will have to bring their parents along to sign a seven-year contract.

Mr Sidhu said that a waiting list of another 11 boys has been made and in case of any one dropping out, the next one in the order of merit will be called. He said these candidates would be admitted to the Government Middle Model School which was just opposite to Sector 42 hockey stadium, where the academy was located. Regarding the performance pattern to be followed, he said they will be assessed after two years and no tournaments will be organised in between since they will be too young for any national-level tournament, but they will be given the best available facilities.

Meanwhile, the UT Sports Department will be shifted this week to the Sector 42 Sports Complex where the Football Academy and centres for some other sport disciplines are situated. The Sports Authority of India is also operating from Sector 42. A few rooms also have been given to the organising committee for the national games to be held in Punjab.

Pawan wins: Pawan Kapoor, sports officer with CITCO, outplayed Temat Rangga of Indonesia 7-5, 6-2 in the first round of the Indonesian future tennis championship as per reports reaching here. Pawan, a seasoned tennis player of the city, after trailing 4-5 in first set broke the service of Temat twice to bag the first set 7-5. In the second set he was quite easy and prevailed upon his opponent. Mustafa Ghose of India, ranked ATP 854 and seeded second, defeated Ajana Be 6-3, 6-3 while Vinod Sridhar, ATP 873 and seeded fifth, overpowered Adam Jina 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.

Tennis tourney: The Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association will hold an open tennis tournament at CLTA Complex, Sector 10, from July 28 to 30, according to a press release of the association. The events to be conducted included under-10, under-12, under-14 and under-16, in boys and girls sections. The winners and runner-up in each event will be awarded. Entries close with General Manager, CLTA, by 6 pm on July 27.

Tribune sport meet: A prize distribution ceremony of the annual sports meet of The Tribune was held here yesterday. The awards were given by Mr Rajeshwar Chopra, deputy circulation manager (sports secretary).

Competitions were held for table tennis, carrom, chess and cricket. The results are as follows:

Carrom: Singles:- Tilak Raj-1; V.P. Gupta 2; Sunil Sharma 3.

Regular Doubles:- Vinod Jaidka and Bhupinder 1; Surinder Puri and Anup Puri 2; Vasu and V.P. Gupta 3.

Lucky doubles:- Vinod Jaidka and Sunil Sharma 1; Gopal Chand and Surinder Rawal 2; Vasu and Hari 3.

Table Tennis: Singles:- Rajiv Bajaj 1; Rajesh Malik 2.

Regular doubles: Rajiv Bajaj and A.P. Sodhi 1; B.D. Sharma and Manjit Singh 2; Raj Kumar and Lovkesh 3.

Lucky Double: Lama and Arvind 1; Rajiv Bajaj and Rajesh Malik 2; Surinder Rawal and Manjit Singh 3.

Chess: Narinder Gousain 1; Haresh Handa 2; V.P. Gupta 3; Pardeep Sundriyal 4.

Cricket: Winner:- Match Fixers Club, Runners Up-Bartana Kids.

Ajay of Match Fixers Club awarded with Best Batsman of Tournament and Sanjeev Banjawal of Super Sixer Club awarded with man of the series. 

ADMINISTRATION

Sushil Sharma is secretary to VC
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The PU Vice-Chancellor’s first working day in office was a busy one with various teaching and non-teaching staff associations and students’ associations paying visit to the VC in his office at Panjab University. Also visiting the VC today was an official of the CBI but the outcome of his meeting with the VC has not been specified.

The VC has decided to appoint Deputy Registrar, Sushil Kumar Sharma as the secretary to the VC for the interim period pending the appointment of the SVC. The outgoing SVC Iqbal Nath Choudhry was co-terminus with the outgoing VC Mr M.M. Puri and retired on July 22.

Sources at the VC office said that Mr S.L. Verma might be appointed Special Assistant to the VC, the post being vacated by Mr Devinder Marwaha, the erstwhile SAVC, and that Mr Sanjiv Tewari’s joining as the Director Public Relations was also being considered. 

Road clearing, repair to be expedited
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The Roads Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC), at its meeting here today, decided to expedite the clearing of the road berms and kerbs, besides getting repaired the road cuts damaged due to the recent heavy rains. The meeting also recommended the purchase of hand carts to collect the cleared waste materials from the road kerbs and road berms.

Taking a serious note of the caving-in of several roads following incessant rains a few days back, the committee urged the officers concerned to expeditiously get the damaged roads filled and consolidated so that the subsiding of roads during inclement weather could be checked in future.

Following the caving-in of the roads in the recent rains, the committee asked the officers concerned to take precautionary measures to prevent any untoward happening and desired that in the future, the responsibility and the accountability of the officers concerned should be fixed.

While reviewing the ongoing works pertaining to the roads, the members were informed that during the current financial year, 100 km of roads were recarpeted by the civic body at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore.

Taking into account the growth of shrubs and grass, especially during the rainy season, the members unanimously decided to get all parking areas of markets cleared of the unwanted shrubs and grass. Consolidation of the subsided roads cuts would be given utmost priority, the committee desired, adding that proper supervision would be further intensified.

The members were of the view that once the rainy season ended, the ongoing works would be expedited and completed in the stipulated time.