HEALTH

Civil Hospital building coming up
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Feb 11 — If all goes as per the schedule, the city will have a new-look Civil Hospital in less than one year. Following the release of a grant of Rs 2 crore by the World Health Organisation, the Punjab Health Systems Corporation has started the construction work of a new building of the hospital yesterday.

The building will come up in 11 months on the vacant grounds near the mortuary cell of the existing Civil Hospital. The period is listed as specific as the corporation has incorporated a special condition with a private building company to complete the construction in 11 months. It has also been decided that the company will be fined Rs 1 lakh per day after the expiry of the contract.

Interestingly, with the initiation of the construction process a five-year-old dream of the new building has been finally realised. Several promises had been made in this regard but due to the paucity of funds the work was always delayed. The financial crunch has its effect, incidentally, till now as only the central block of the new building is being constructed whereas the extension counters would be constructed after more funds are got. Initially, the project would have increased the bed-strength of the hospital to 200 but due to financial constraints, it will now be only 150-bed hospital.

With the new building the Civil Hospital will finally have a building of its own. At present the hospital has been functioning in the nurses hostel for the past eight years.

SPORT

Sherpur Bet sports meet concludes
By Ravi Inder Singh Makkar

MACHHIWARA, Feb 11 — The 16th three-day sports meet of Sherpur Bet village, held under the patronage of Baba Santokh Singh Phalahi, concluded yesterday. The tournament was organised by the Baba Phalahi Wala Sports Club and inaugurated by the former minister, Mr Ishar Singh Meharban. Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, MP, gave away prizes to teams and players. The prize distribution function was presided over by Mr Satish Malhotra, DSP, Ludhiana.

According to the chairman of the club, Mr Sohan Lal, the list of winners are: Kabaddi 42 kg: Amamgarh 1 and Hambowal 2; 47 kg: Amamgarh 1 and Tajowal 2; 52 kg: Kalsk Kalan 1 and Kot Gangu Rai Sports Club 2; 57 kg: Kalas Kalan 1 and Khattran 2; 60 kg: Khattran 1 and Nat Kalan 2. In the kabaddi club match, Otalan village defeated the Baba Phalahi Sports Club. Races 100 m: Satwinder Singh 1 and Ajay Pal Singh 2; 200 m: Satwinder Singh 1, Kulwinder Singh 2 and Jaspal Singh 3; 400 m: Kulwinder Singh 1, Nirmal Singh 2 and Jaswinder Singh 3; 500 m: Ram Singh 1, Jarnail Singh 2 and Shamsher Singh 3; Long jump: Satwinder Singh 1, Kulwinder Singh 2 and Nirmal Singh 3; Major Singh Ghungrali lifted a weight of 1.5 quintal.

Singer Baljinder Garcha presented a cultural programme. Among others who were present on the occasion were Mr Kasturi Lal Mintu, vice-president, Youth Congress, Mr Surinder Kundra, president, Block Congress, Machhiwara, Mr Nirmal Singh Nagra, president, Arhtiya Association, Machhiwara, and Mr Tejinder Singh Kooner, a former Chairman, Central Cooperate Bank, Ludhiana.