Second phase of anti-polio drive from today
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 19
The second phase of Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme will be organised in 35 assembly constituencies between May 20 and May 25. Children up to five years of age would be administered the drops of the vaccine by volunteers travelling from door to door.

Health Minister A. K. Walia today said that the number of cases of polio had decreased on account of the successful completion of several rounds of the programme. Only three cases had been reported from Okhla, Chandni Chowk and Jehangirpuri last year, he said.

The 35 assembly constituencies chosen include 16 in the trans-Yamuna area. The selection of constituencies, he said, had been made on the recommendation of World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and Epdemiological Observation on Virus Transmission.

Mr Walia said 4,100 teams (each comprising two volunteers) would move from 200 health centres in these 35 constituencies to cover all the houses in the areas allotted to them per day. These teams, he said, would be supervised by 800 individuals, 200 sector supervisors and 35 state coordinators and independent monitors from the National Polio Surveillance Project.

The constituencies chosen are: Minto Road, Kasturba Nagar, Jangpura, Okhla, Kalkaji, Malviya Nagar, Saket, Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Badarpur, Tughlakhabad, Trilokpuri, Patparganj, Mandawali, Geeta Colony, Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Vishwas Nagar, Shahdara, Seemapuri, Nand Nagri, Rohtas Nagar, Babarpur, Seelampur, Ghonda, Yamuna Vihar, Karawal Nagar, Wazirpur, Badli, Narela, Bhalswa Jehangirpuri, Adarsh Nagar, Matia Mahal, Chandni Chowk, Timarpur and Model Town.

The minister said for queries, the Pulse Polio Officer, Dr C. M. Khanijo, could be contacted on telephone numbers 392 5838 and 392 0558. 

Cholera under control: Walia

New Delhi
Health Minister A. K. Walia today said that the incidence of water-borne diseases like cholera and gastroenteritis was under control in spite of the heat wave and that there was a gradual decrease in the number of cases as compared to last year. Asking Delhiites to exercise caution, the minister said in the areas where the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) was not supplying water, people should use chlorinated water or boil it before use. The advisory issued by him mentions that the installation of online booster pumps must be discouraged and it must be ensured that pipelines were not passing through sewer lines. Diarrhoea, nausea and fever are the symptoms of cholera and gastroenteritis.

SPORTS

Sonnet clip SAIL’s wings, move into semi-final
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 19
In a battle of giants, Sonnet Club clipped the wings of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) by five wickets to sail into the semi-final of the 29th Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament at the SGTB Khalsa College ground, Maurice Nagar, in the Capital on Sunday.

In a surprisingly one-sided quarter-final clash, SAIL folded up for a meagre 176 while Sonnet Club reached the winning target of 181 in just 33.1 overs. Arun Singh and Chetan Nanda claimed three wickets each while Vikrant Yadav got two and Sohail Sharma one.

SAIL skipper Saurab Shukla won the toss and made the wrong decision of opting to bat. SAIL got off to a good start when they made 85 runs in the first 15 overs, but lost crucial wickets at regular intervals to totter at 126 for eight at the 25-over mark before being all out for 176 in 36.5 overs.

But for the dedicated knocks of Satender Yadav, Sailender Singh and Mannu Kumar, SAIL would have been in a worse plight.

Sonnet alternated their pace-spin bowling combination in a brilliant manner to keep the SAIL batsmen on tenterhooks throughout their stay at the crease.

Medium-pacer Arun Singh was the pick of the bowlers with a 3 for 25 haul. Left-arm spinner Chetan Nanda also gave a good account of himself to scalp three wickets for 33 runs in 8 overs while medium-pacer Vikrant Yadav plucked two important wickets.

For Sonnet, chasing such a meagre victory target was child’s play, though they had lost opener Dhruv Mohan with just 20 runs on the board. Though Sonnet also lost wickets at an even pace, some fine knocks by Naresh Jain and Sumit Berry ensured that they had a decent total on the board though at the 25-over mark, they were precariously placed at 110 for five wickets.

But Yashpal Singh was joined by Suhail Sharma, and the pair added 77 runs in nine overs to change the complexion of the match and take Sonnet past the SAIL total.

Yashpal Singh scored a precious unbeaten 60 runs with six fours and one six off 70 balls to capture the man of the match award.

Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Society president K C Vij gave away the man of the match award to Yashpal Singh. Sonnet Club will clash against the winners of the match between Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) and Lal Bahadur Shastri Club, in the first semi-final to be played on May 22.

Defending champions Indian Airlines Corporation will take on Collage Group in the second semi-final on May 24. The final will be played on May 26.

ONGC will take on Lal Bahadur Shastri Club in the last quarter-final match on Monday.

Scores: SAIL: 176 all out in 36.1 overs (Satyender Yadav 26, 5x4, 21b; Ajit Singh 13, 3x4, 10b; Sailender Singh 30, 2x4, 1x6, 41b; Ajit Chandela 13, 1x4, 15b; Mannu Kumar 33, 3x4, 51b; K S Rana 14, 1x4, 1x6, 14b; Satish Salwan 11, 1x4, 25b; Arun Singh 3 for 25 off 6.5 overs, Vikrant Yadav 2 for 34 off 8 overs, Chetan Nanda 3 for 33 off 8 overs and Sohail Sharma 1 for 25 off 7 overs).

Sonnet Club: 181 fr 5 in 33.1 overs (Naresh Jain 38, 8x4, 34b; Sumit Berry 23, 2x4, 40b; Yashpal Singh 60 n o, 6x4, 1x6, 70b; Suhail Sharma 29 n o, 2x4, 24b; Mihir Diwaker 1 for 20 off 4 overs; Satish Salwan 2 for 28 off 8 overs; Ajit Chandela 1 for 17 off 8 overs).

Sehwag gives a big ‘boost’ to his school
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 19
It was a great return of the “son of the soil” to his roots when dashing Indian batsman Virender Sehwag visited his alma mater, the humble Government School at Najafgarh, in the outback of West Delhi, with the express purpose of “boosting” the health of the school children. Sehwag was given a hero’s welcome by the school principal, staff and hundreds of star-struck school children.

Sehwag, who recently added one more lucrative contract to his kitty, this time with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH) to endorse their brand Boost, handed out bottles of the health drink and prizes to the thrilled youngsters who make up the cricket team of his school.

The popularity of Sehwag in this semi-rural setting was so overpowering that, a thrilled general manager for marketing of GSKCH, Sameer Goel, exulted: It is Indeed a pleasure to get a first-hand flavour of the immense popularity and idolatry that Sehwag enjoys in this country.

Undoubtedly, he is one of the most promising young cricketers to have come onto the scene in the last decade”.

Sehwag has joined his idol Sachin Tendulkar’s shoes in endorsing the boost drink. Sehwag, very happy to be “back in school”, said nostalgically that “school days occupy a place of pride in every person’s fond memories and I am delighted to be back. I am glad I am back at school because of boost”.

The school children organised a cultural programme in honour of their hero and took the opportunity to wish him well for the one-day series against the West Indies in the coming weeks.

Sehwag, who was recently awarded the Delhi Sports Journalists Association best sportsman prize, missed the Test series against the West Indies following a shoulder injury he suffered in the last Test match against Zimbabwe at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in the Capital.

But a fully fit Sehwag is now eagerly looking forward to the One-Day International series to display his explosive batting talent. Good luck to him.

Deepak shines in Modern School’s win

New Delhi, May 19
Deepak Rajput slammed a fine 52 and Ankit Lamba (3 for 34) and Karan Harit (2 for 14) produced deadly bowling performances as Modern School, Barakhamba Road, tamed Saviour Convent School by seven wickets to enter in the semi-final of the first Ravindra Malhotra Memorial Inter-School (Under—15) Cricket Tournament at the Modern School ground in the Capital.

Deepak Rajput was declared the man of the match. Modern School will meet the winners of the match between Hansraj Model School and Frank Anthony Public School in the semi-final. In an one-sided match, Saviour Convent School won the toss and elected to bat. But they had a miserable time in the middle as leg-spinner Ankit Lamba and Karan Harit bowled with venom to dismiss Saviour School for 106 all out in 33.5 overs. Modern School, in reply, raced to victory for the loss of three wickets. Deepak Rajput hit up a brisk 52 to pave the way for Modern’s quick victory. Modern School made 107 for 3 in 19.3 overs.

Scores: Saviour Convent School: 106 all out in 33.5 overs (Aman Sahni 22, Chetan Sharma 17, Ankit Lamba 3 for 34, Karan Harit 2 for 14). Modern School, Barakhamba Road: 107 for 3 in 19.3 overs (Deepak Rajput 52, Ashwat Kumar 23 n o, Virat Kohli 2 for 16). Monday’s fixture: Salwan Boys School vs Salwan Public School (Morning); Bharat Nagar ground. OSR

Robin blasts century for Madras Club
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 19
Robin Bisth blasted a marvellous unbeaten 107 to star in Madras Club’s massive 106 runs victory against Central Bank in an A-I Division match of the DDCA League at the Ramjas Sports Complex in the Capital.

Madras Club, batting first, amassed 262 for 3 in 40 overs, thanks to the brilliant knocks of Robin Bisth and Sanjeev Kumar, who slammed an unbeaten 61. Rahul Deewan scored a valuable 42.

Among the Central Bank bolwers, only Dalip TT could make some impact as he scalped two wickets for 42 runs.

Scores: Madras Club: 262 for 3 in 40 overs (Robin Bisth 107 n o, Sanjeev Kumar 61 no, Rahul Deewan 42, Dalip TT 2 for 42).

Central Bank: 156 all out in 32.5 overs (Vikas Sharma 39, Bantoo Singh 34, Vivek Srivastava 3 for 24, Ganesh Sharma 3 for 36).

Darling Club beat Delhi Colts by five wickets in an A-II Division match at the University ground.

Ravi Rawat played a fine all-round role to emerge the star player of Darling Club’s victory.

Rawat claimed four wickets for 24 runs and then knocked in a stroke-filled 55 to ensure a handsome victory for Darling Club.

Scores: Delhi Colts: 186 all out in 40 overs (Aniruddha Tripathi 57, Azhar Mohd 29, Ravi Rawat 4 for 24, Anil Choudhary 3 for 26).

Darling Club: 188 for 5 in 37.1 overs (Mahesh Rawat 55, Ankur Sharma 40, Manjeet Rajput 35 n o, Anil Choudhary 26 n o, Suraj Verma 2 for 35, Gurusharan 2 for 52).

ADMINISTRATION

Construction of Western Expressway to begin soon

New Delhi, May 19
The construction work of the Western Expressway linking National Highway 1 with National Highway 10 (Rohtak) and National Highway 8 (Jaipur) is likely to begin soon with the Centre giving its nod and the survey for land acquisition almost complete.

Heavy vehicles passing through the national Capital, causing congestion and pollution, would be a thing of past with the completion of the proposed Western Expressway on the periphery of the national Capital. The alignment was agreed upon in a meeting earlier this week, attended among others by officials of Union Urban Development and Surface Development Ministries, UP and Haryana Governments besides Delhi Chief Secretary Shailaja Chandra. The project would be executed by the National Highway Authority of India under the Prime Minister’s National Highway Development Programme. TNS