The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Chhuttani trust sets up research centre
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 19
To fulfil the long-cherished dream of late Prof P.N. Chhuttani, a former PGI Director and a former Chairman of The Tribune Trust, the Tilok Tirath Vidyawati Chhuttani Charitable Trust has established Tropical Diseases Research Centre at the PGI, for which a donation of Rs 65 lakh has been given to recruit specialists in the field.

Observing the fifth death anniversary of Prof Chhuttani at the Chandigarh Medical Centre (CMC) today, the managing trustee, Dr Y.N. Mehra, said, the trust would donate Rs 50 lakh annually to the PGI to run the research centre.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr B.K. Sharma, a trustee, said Prof Chhuttani was his mentor and an inspiring teacher, who left a permanent mark of his multi-faceted personality on the medical fraternity. He was an excellent teacher and a clinician par excellence, he added.

Paying rich tributes to Prof Chhuttani, CMC Medical Superintendent, Dr N.S. Bamrah, said he was a karmyogi and one of the guiding factors behind the establishment of the PGI and the CMC.

Recalling his clinical excellence, Dr A.S. Sohi, a CMC consultant, said Prof Chhuttani was for excellent patient care and believed in better bedside manner.

Diarrhoea death reported
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 19
An infant girl from the Madrasi Colony, Bapu Dham, died of diarrhoea on Tuesday. The UT health authorities said the child was brought dead to the General Hospital in Sector 16 following a severe diarrhoea bout on that day.

Meanwhile, a case of cholera has also been reported from the PGI. However, according to a doctor, the case is from outside the city.

The Director, Health Services, Dr Rameshwar Chander, and his team conducted a survey of the Bapu Dham area on Wednesday. He said due to prevailing unhygienic conditions in the area, the situation is grim. “But we are in complete control. We have asked for a total clean-up of the area, sprayed DDT and oil on stagnant water. The area adjoining a choe in this area is particularly dirty and I have talked to the Medical Officer Health of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to totally clean it, “ he added. A team will conduct a survey of Kumhar Colony in Sector 25 tomorrow.

SPORTS

Rowing likely to be included in PU sports calendar
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, July 19
Rowing and ball badminton are likely to be added to the inter-college sports calender of Panjab University. A decision in this regard is likely in the next couple of days.

According to sources, rowing was earlier part of the sports calendar a few years ago but was discontinued due to poor response.

Meanwhile, at the inter-varsity level, air rifle shooting will make its debut this year and only last year air pistol shooting was introduced by the Association of India Universities. Panjab University has also been asked to host only tennis events in men’s section at the inter-zonal level.

It may be recalled that PU played host to four all-India inter-university meets last year. A decision recently went against PU by the apex body AIU, Delhi, whereby PU was held guilty of playing foul in the All-India Inter Varsity Women Hockey meet held last year.

It may be noted that this year universities of North India have been given less importance compared to last year. This year, PU, Chandigarh, was only given tennis, Punjabi University, Patiala, has been asked to host archery for both men and women at the all-India level, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, will play host to cycling. HP University, Shimla, will host basketball for women at the all-India level, Hisar Agricultural University, has been given chess, YS Parmar University, Nauni, Solan, will host kabaddi (women), GND varsity, Amritsar, will host gymnastics, powerlifting, weightlifting and kabaddi (men), North Zone football (men) will be held at Kurukshetra.

Badminton championship

The District Badminton Association, Panchkula, will hold the District Badminton championship at Community centre hall, Sector 7, from July 27 to 29. This was stated by Mr T.R. Tuli, general secretary of the association.

He said the meet would be open to the players from Panchkula district in age groups, below 10, below 13, below 16 and, below 19 in both boys and girls sections, and in men and women, veterans for both singles and doubles. In the below 10 section, only singles event would be held.

Mr Tuli said the tournament would also form the basis of participation of players in various other tournaments in the state. Entries close with Mr Ravinder Kapoor, badminton coach, at the venue on July 25 at 5 pm.

Chess trials

Kamlesh Dhadwal, R. Ramachandran and S.P. Sethi were leading in the chess trials organised by the Regional Sports and Cultural Board, Punjab circle of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, here at the Sector 17 building of the department. The Punjab circle team will be selected on the basis of the performance in these trials for the first All-India BSNL Chess Tournament to be held at Shimla from August 21 to 28. The employees from 13 secondary switching areas (SSA), Punjab circle Chandigarh (HQ), are taking part in the trials.

Boxing selections

The Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association will hold selection trials to select UT State Senior men and women team for its participation in the forthcoming National Games in boxing to be held at Patiala from September 16 to 19. The trials will be held at SD College, Sector 32, on July 24 at 5 pm. According to Mr C.K. Jerath, secretary of the CABA, only bonafide pugilists of the UT will be allowed to take part. In men section, trials will be held from light to super heavy weight while in women section, it will be in 13 weight categories from 39 kg to 81 kg. The selection committee will also take into consideration the past performance of the players in the last national championships.

Test

The Amateur Athletic Association, Chandigarh, will conduct test for state technical officials on July 25 at 3.30 pm at DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh. According to Mr Ravinder Chaudhary, Secretary of the AAAC, only bonafide residents of the city could appear in the test. He said the qualified officials would be allowed to take the examination for federation technical official, to be held on August 11 and 12 at the same venue. Those interested for the STO examinations may contact before July 23.

Karate trials

The Amateur Karate Association, Chandigarh, will hold trials on July 21 at St Joseph’s High school, Sector 44, to select the Chandigarh karate team for the National Karate Championship to be held at Shimla from July 27 to 29. The trials will be held under the Sensai and general secretary Ashwani Gupta.

ADMINISTRATION

Panel discussion on property tax
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 19
A high-powered committee on property tax, at its first meeting held here today, deliberated on three possibilities to impose property tax in the city.

The possibilities include imposition of 10 per cent of the total cost of land and building as property tax or 10 per cent of the expected rent from property, and the third possibility would be to divide the commercial area of the city into four parts on the basis of commercial value, which will further be divided into sub-zones. The rent would be assessed on a per square foot basis and 10 per cent of the annual rent value could be charged.

The formula and rates will be vary in different parts of the city. For example, a building facing the Sector 17 plaza or in the heart of the city would be rated higher than a building located near the Bays Building, which is primarily an office area.

The members also considered and assessed the properties for taxation purposes. Though the rates being charged by various civic bodies in their respective areas were available, the committee would strive to come to the most latest and systematic mode of taxation. The recommendations made by the committee will be sent to the Administration for final approval.

The chairman of the committee, Mr M.P. Singh, Commissioner, MC, maintained that an element of uniformity was being worked out while framing the guidelines. The UT Administration had on April 23 asked the MC Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to work on framing guidelines on imposing property tax on commercial and industrial properties in the city. The same is to be submitted within three months. The Administration has already issued “directions” to the MC to impose property tax in the city.

Meanwhile, the civic body had in 1997 passed a resolution to levy 10 per cent property tax on the “rateable value” of the commercial land and buildings falling in the limits of the MC. Even the government buildings will have to pay 10 per cent service tax. The issue, however, has been hanging fire due to “political compulsions”.

Sources said this was being done to generate some revenue for the cash strapped MC, which has been adamant on not implementing property tax in the past four years. However, estimates of the Administration and MC have shown that just by imposing property tax on commercial property in the city, the MC would net in Rs 20 crore.

Gujral seeks clarification on soap scandal report
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 19
The issue of allegations against the Mayor, took a new turn today with the UT Home Secretary, Mr Raminder Singh Gujral, raising certain queries on a report submitted by the Municipal Commissioner, Mr M.P. Singh.

The report submitted by the MC Commissioner did not spell out the reasons or findings and made no recommendations. The Home Secretary who is also the Secretary, Local Self Government, has asked the MC Commissioner to report if the Mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, was actually the sole distributor of the Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL).

The Commissioner has also been asked to specify if the Mayor had given any formal request to supply any items, since when was Mr Goyal supplying items to the MC and lastly if any employee of the corporation was also involved, well placed sources said.