‘Yoga must for carrom players’
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, June 3
Yoga is a must for every carrom player to succeed, said Arun Kedar, an international carrom player who reached here last evening. Kedar had represented India in various international meets held in Germany in 1995 and in the US open carrom meet in 1996. He came from Mumbai at the invitation of the Chandigarh Carrom Association to train city players.

Kedar said for a carrom player, it was essential to devote more than four hours a day to improve the game. He suggested various asanas such as ‘shavasana’ or ‘dhanushasana’ before any match to increase the concentration.

On the recent controversy on usage of powder on the board, Kedar said European lobby wanted to introduce potato starch powder in the world carrom meet held last at Delhi but the All-India Carrom Federation and Asian lobby wanted to have Boric acid. So Indians objected to the former’s stance.

Kedar informed that at present more than 20 countries of the world play carrom and the countries like Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the USA were taking this sport very seriously. In India during every national meet almast all states participate, he added.

He told how in his 22 years of carrom career, he could witness changes in material of the carrom board. Earlier, it used to be made of pure teakwood, but now only outer linings is of teakwood.

Kedar said electronic media could not cover this game because of technical problems as the size of the carrom board and total playing area were quite small but print media has always given good support to this sport.

Three titles for Naserudeen
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 3
Naserudeen claimed three titles in below 56 kg section on the opening day of the Air Force Weightlifting Championship organised here today at Lecma Auditorium, 3 BRD, AF. Naserudeen won in snatch category by lifting 97.50 kg, while Sajesh was second and Sgt Sreekumar at third place.

In clean and jerk event also Naserudeen won by lifting122.50 kg. In total weight category, Naserudeen lifted a weight of 220 kg to wrap the title.

Cricket meet

Nawan Shahr outplayed Fatehgarh Sahib by 14 runs in the Punjab Cricket Association Minor Districts Cricket Tournament played here today at SAS Nagar. Nawan Shahr batted first and scored 228 runs for nine while Fatehgarh Sahib scored 214 runs and were all out in 48.5 overs.

Ranking tennis tourney

The Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association will hold the AITA North Zone Ranking Tennis Tournament at Chandigarh from June 10 to 14.

The meet is open to both boys and girls below 14 and 16 years of age and all events will be played in singles section. The winner will get 15 points, runner-up 12, semi-finalist 8, quarter-finalist 5 and pre quarter-finalists 3.

There will be 20 direct entries, 8 from qualifying rounds to be played on June 8 and 9 and four wild cards also to be given. Entries close with CLTA, Tennis Stadium, Sector 10 on June 5.

Land for govt bodies to cost more
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3
The Chandigarh Administration has hiked the price of land it will allot in future to government bodies, public sector undertakings and other development bodies wanting space. The highest premium will be for commercial public sector undertakings wanting land anywhere along the Madhya Marg, Sector 17, or the Sector 34 sub city centre.

A notice by the Administration defined the categories, government included state governments and Central Government.

Non-commercial Institutions, including government regulatory or developmental agencies (whether called institutes, boards, authorities etc.), local bodies, foreign governments, private religious or charitable institutions, private non-profit institutions of social relevance and benefit to UT, Chandigarh.

Commercial public sector undertakings, including boards, corporations, authorities, co-operatives, federations etc. that are run for profit of managed on commercial principles. This could for example include oil companies, telecom companies.

The following are the new rates :

Institution	Location	Per sq yd
Government	Madhya Marg, Sector 17, and Sector 34, Sub-city Centre Other V-2, V-3 roads, V-4 roads and inside sectors	Rs 7,200
Non-commercial	Madhya Marg, Sector 17,and Sector 34 sub-city Centre	Rs 7,200
Non-commercial	V-2, V-3 roads	Rs 5,800
Non-commercial	V-4 roads and inside sectors	Rs 5,800
Commercial PSUs	Madhya Marg, Sector 17, and Sector 34 sub-city Centre	Rs 25,800
Commercial PSUs	V-4 roads and inside sectors	Rs 12,900

Shrines on encroached land razed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3
A mazar and a temple erected on encroached land were removed in an anti-encroachment drive here today.

Along with the Panchpir Mazar on the national highway, juggis in Sectors 25 to 30, 56 were also removed. The encroachment by Kajheri temple in Sector 52 was also removed without any resistance from the people.

The drive to remove a temple and a mazar in a single operation was aimed at checking the allegations that the drive was against a particular community. While the mazar was extending on to the national highway, the temple was on the V-3 road in the sector.

Led by the SDM, Mr Gyanesh Bharati, the encroachment removal team was assisted by police force of 150 officials. About 100 labourers took part in the operation. Two JCBs, a bulldozer and 12 vehicles from the Enforcement Wing of the Municipal Corporation and the Estate Office were put on the job.

The police force was led by DSP Subhash Sagar.

About 10 enforcement inspectors were present during the operations.

Power distribution to be computerised
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3
The power distribution system in the city will be computerised to keep a check on line losses and to improve grid performance. This will enable a real time online check on theft and overloading.

In view of this, the Power Grid Corporation of India made a presentation before senior officials of the Chandigarh Administration laying down its experience. Though no agreement has been signed between the corporation and the Administration, the power grid laid down how it can tell about the scope of work.

The corporation will lay down what the computer software provider will have to incorporate in the package which will enable the Administration to do online monitoring of its power supply system.

Last date for filing tenders extended
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3
The Chandigarh Administration today extended the last date for inviting tenders for participation in the construction of upcoming Information Technology (IT) park in Kishangarh by four weeks. The tenders submitted by various companies were to be opened today after a week’s extension from the original date of May 24.

The bidders were to participate in the construction of an area spread across 6.2 acres. This will be sold off to small investors. The IT park has separate sites earmarked for big investors.

MC procures two tippers, 1 JCB
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3
The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has procured two tippers and a JCB. The new machines were received last week after the initial lot was rejected by the corporation due to technical faults earlier. The corporation will purchase one more JCB. The new machines worth Rs 40 lakh have been purchased with the money from the MP fund.

However, the Sanitation Committee had requested to give them to the Medical Officer, Health Department for three months to remove debris from the city.

The Road Committee Chairman, Mr Pradeep Chhabra, who is also a member of the Sanitation Committee, has reportedly accepted the request. The MOH Department plans that once the debris is removed, heavy penalties will be imposed to check the unauthorised dumping of the debris.