HEALTH

PGI OPD’s air cooling system under fire
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1
Barely after a few months the new PGI OPD building was thrown open to the patients, the effectiveness of its air-cooling system has raised serious doubts about the planning of the building. And now that the PGI Engineering Department has decided to put over 150 fans in various parts of this ‘state-of-the-art’ building, the lack of long-term planning by its planners has come to fore.

The building, constructed with an investment of over Rs 20 crore, gets more than 2,500 outdoor patients every day. With its spaciousness, hygienic environment, the new block proved to be a welcome relief from overcrowding, as was the case in the old building, for both patients, as well as the doctors.

With 25,000 sq feet covered area fully air conditioned and 1,25,000 sq feet area air cooled while all was well till middle of June, problem started at the onset of the monsoons when with the increased humidity in the atmosphere, system of air cooling proved to be almost useless. Besides this, there had been couple of instances when the air conditioners too had gone out of order.

In absence of proper ventilation in the waiting rooms and oppressive conditions of heat and humidity, there had been instances when long wait outside the examination rooms of the doctors had resulted in flared tempers and at times also unpleasant situations in the waiting rooms.

Interestingly, even the Engineering Department officials agreed that initial planning had provisions for air cooling and possibly the planners also did not anticipate the rush while making designs of the building. ‘‘With existing system and excessive congestion, it is difficult to maintain comfortable temperature levels and as a remedial measure, 150 to 200 fans are being installed on different floors of the building.’’

Meanwhile, sources added that taking the example of the new OPD, all new buildings in the PGI would be almost completely air-conditioned. ‘‘In the our weather conditions air cooling just does not work.’’

SPORTS

Pre-Subroto Soccer Tournament
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 1
Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, will take on Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, in the final of the U-14 section of the Pre-Subroto Soccer Tournament.

In the first semi-final, GNPS-36 outplayed St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, at 5-4 in the tie breaker. They were 2-2 at the end for the time. Jagjit Singh and Gauravdeep scored one goal each while in the tie breaker Jaswinder Singh, Tribhavinder and Maninder Singh scored a goal each.

In the second semi-final, GMSSS-22 outscored Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33 at 4-0, with three goals scored by Satinder while Harminder scored one goal.

Weightlifting championship

The second day of the 45th Services Weightlifting championship being played at the LECHMA Auditorium, 3 BRD, saw weightlifters from Army Red sweeping with majority of the titles.

Results :below 62 kg — P. Radhakrishnan (AR) 1, D Wilson (IN) 2, Thirumurugan (AG) 3; clean and jerk: P. Radhakrishnan (AR) 1, Thirumurugan (AG) 2, D. Wilson (IN) 3; total weight: P. Radhakrishnan (AR) 1, D. Wilson (IN) 2, Thirumurugan (AG) 3; below 69 kg: snatch — Sudhir Kumar (IN) 1, G. Vadivalu (AR) 2, GS Murgan (IN) 3; clean and jerk — G. Vadivalu (AR) 1, Sudhir Kumar (IN) 2, G.S. Murugan (IN) 3; total weight: G. Vadivalu (AR) 1, Sudhir Kumar (IN) 2, G.S. Murugan (IN) 3; below 77 kg — snatch: Vijay Kumar (IN) 1, Vijay More (AR) 2, P. Yadav (AG) 3; clean & jerk: Vijay More (AR) 1, P. Yadav (AG) 2, Vijay Kumar (IN) 3; total weight: Vijay More (AR) 1, P. Yadav (AG) 2, Vijay Kumar (IN) 3.

Badminton meet

As part of the Independence Day celebrations, the inter-schools badminton championship for schools located in Chandigarh, Panchkula and SAS Nagar will be held at Sector 7 Community Centre, Panchkula, from August 10 to 12. This three-day meet will be organised by District Badminton Association, Panchkula, and the age groups divisions will be upto primary class (U-10), middle class (U-14) and upto class XII (U-17).

According to Mr T.R. Tuli, secretary of the association, the tournament will have team championship and in best of three games basis with two singles and one doubles in both boys and girls section. A running trophy will be awarded to the best school on the basis of overall performance of the teams in different category, in addition to the prizes to the winners and runner up teams. Entries close with the secretary, DBA, at 483, Sector 8, or Jatinder Mahajan, 1028, Sector 2, Panchkula, or at venue of the matches on August 8.

Ball badminton tourney

The Chandigarh Ball Badminton Association will hold 5th Chandigarh Junior state (U-19) ball badminton championship for both boys and girls section from August 24 to 27 at IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21. The matches will be played on knockout basis. The team for the 47th Junior National Meet will also be selected during this tournament. The players born on or after January 1, 1982, are eligible to take part. Entries close with Secretary, CBBA, or Ms Sumati Kanwar, Principal, host school on August 18.

ADMINISTRATION

MCC meeting rescheduled
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1
A meeting of the MC General House will take place on August 8 to take up the issue of dissolution of the House as demanded by councillor, Ms Satinder Dhawan, and being tacitly supported by a section of the BJP. The controversial issue of introducing paid parking in Sector 17 and other pending items of the Finance and Contract Committee ( F and CC) will also figure on the agenda. This was disclosed by the Acting Mayor, Mr Gurcharan Dass Kala here yesterday.

Earlier this meeting was scheduled to be held on August 7.

Duggal takes over as BBMB chief
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1
Mr S.K. Duggal, member, Irrigation, Bhakra-Beas Management Board, took over as BBMB chairman today following the retirement of Maj-General R.R. Oberoi.

An engineer from the Haryana Irrigation Department, Mr Duggal has served Chief Engineer BBMB and has been member, irrigation of board since June, 2000. To recognise his contribution in the field of engineering, the Institute of Engineers (India) gave him permanent fellow membership in 1994. He has contributed several technical papers to national and international seminars and conferences. Presently, he represents India on the INCOLD (the Committee on Reservoir Sedimentation).

General Oberoi held the post for more than three and half years.