HEALTH

Work allotment had nod of panel: PG
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 23
The PGI today entangled itself in knots, as it issued a statement that the allotment of works of the eye care centre, presently under the CBI scanner, had the prior approval of the project implementation committee (PIC).

The PGI forgot the guidelines of its supreme controlling authority, the governing body, which at its meeting on February 27 this year, had said that the PIC while approving tenders had exceeded its brief. For the past some time, there had been a question mark over the functioning and powers that the PIC could exercise.

The Union Health Secretary at the 45th meeting of the standing estate committee, held at Delhi on January 24 this year, had observed that the PIC was constituted to monitor the implementation of the projects and it had no financial powers. He desired that the decisions taken by the PIC under mistaken notion be taken up before the standing finance committee for ex post facto approval. He had observed that even the standing estate committee had no authority in such matters.

Even at the meeting of the governing body, held in February this year, it had been pointed out that despite recommending the dissolution of the PIC at its meeting held on July 25 last year, another meeting of the PIC was held on August 8, almost a fortnight later, which had approved several tenders and projects and shortlisted firms.

On the other hand, the PGI authorities today said that the PIC had awarded the tender to the Delhi-based company from the 17 shortlisted firms for the Advanced Eye Centre for Rs 7.84 crore.

Interestingly, the PGI had yesterday refused to reply to any queries by the media on the CBI raid, specifically about who was the competent authority to approve such projects. On the other hand, the CBI sources had said that all this had been done without the approval of the competent authority.

Regarding the JCB machine, the PGI said that it had been taken away for repairs with permission and the amount of Rs 12.5 lakh stood recovered from the agency against the advance for plant and machinery.

On the issue of supply of fire extinguishers in the Advanced Paediatric Centre and the OPD, the PGI stated that 108 of them had been supplied as per the ISI standards . It was mentioned that the contract was still open and the guarantee money was lying with the institute.

The PGI further clarified that it had not bought any plant and machinery for the execution of any work. “In fact, as per the terms and conditions of the contract agreement , agencies were entitled to have advance payment for the purchaser of machinery.” 

Slow pace of work on PGI lifts
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 23
Notwithstanding the fact that thousands of patients, coming to the PGI daily for treatment, face inconvenience, work on renovating 5 of the 10 lifts installed in Nehru Hospital for the public has been going on at a snail’s pace for the past one year.

Long queues of patients on stretchers and wheel-chairs, attendants as well as the food and linen trolleys , lined up in front of the lift, near the main entrance of Nehru Hospital, is a common sight.Tired, waiting for their turn, at times, some of the attendants can be seen pushing the stretcher up the ramp till the 4th and 5th floors, where operation theatres are located.

Interestingly, the PGI authorities after dilly-dallying in providing information to the media about the renovation and causes for the delay, hurriedly declared two of the lifts open today. Though a small handwritten notice read:” Lift Operational - under trial “ , the fact is that they have still not been thrown open for public use.

Sources at the PGI said the company responsible for renovating the lift had completed the work much earlier, but the inordinate delay had been due to the masonry and marble work outside the lift remaining incomplete.” It is surprising that the PGI, which has a full fledged engineering wing, could not get the masonry work done on priority , despite the public being put to inconvenience ,” remarked one of the doctor.

“Renovation of lifts in a place as busy as the PGI should have been undertaken on a war-footing, but even a year’s time seems to be insufficient for the authorities, which have already been put in the dock, following the CBI raid, two days back,” was the common sentiment echoed by majority of the patients and their attendants, waiting in the queue, to go up the lift.

The Nehru Hospital of the PGI is almost 40 years old and there are a total of 15 lifts here, out of which 4 are exclusively for the hospital staff. This just leaves 5 lifts for the patients, their attendants and the visitors coming to the hospital every day.

As per a rough estimate, apart from about 8000 PGI employees, 3000 patients come to the various OPDs daily, and including the attendants and visitors, the total number of people visiting PGI daily is over 20,000.

The masonry work and fixing of marble outside the lifts has not only created a lot of filth outside the lift but is also causing disturbance to the patients who keep sitting around the reception of Nehru Hospital.

SPORTS

Thumping win for St Stephen’s team
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 23
Jasdeep Kaur proved to be the star player for St Stephen’s School, Sector 45 when she scored three goals and helped her team beat Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, 7-0 in the finals of the second Chandigarh Junior Girls Football Championship, which concluded here this evening at the grounds of St Stephen’s School. Mr Ashwani Attri, Accountant General, AG, Haryana, was the chief guest. Mr Ravinder Talwar, president of the Chandigarh Football Association, was also present on the occasion.

The four-day meet was held at the initiative of Mr Harold Carver, Principal of the host school, and the Chandigarh Football Association. Jasdeep scored goals in seventh, 37th and 48 minute of the match. The other goals were scored by Haranchal- two, 25th and 34th minute, and Anushree-one (18th minute). In the dying minutes of the match, a penalty was awarded which Nidhi Sharma converted with ease.

Hockey tourney

Chandigarh Hockey Academy and Rock Rovers Club emerged winners on the second day of the first SN Vohra Memorial Hockey Tournament for under-14 boys being played at Panjab University grounds, here today. In the first match, Rock Rovers Club outplayed St Stephen’s club 5-10. The half-time score was 2-1.

The goal scorers were Manjeet, Harjinder, Devinder and Jagdev. For the losing side, Aseem was the lone scorer.

In the second match, Chandigarh Hockey Academy blanked Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, 11-0. The half-time score was 4-0.

Judo meet

IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21 with 27 points emerged winners, while Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 21 and Government Model High School, Sector 36-D were the joint runners- up in the UT Inter-School Judo Meet held here today.

The individual winners were, Sarita in below 36 kg, Pooja Jalan in below-40 kg, Ranjana in below- 44 kg, Ishail Preet in below 48-kg, Anisha in below-52 kg, Bhavna in below-56 kg, Parnish in below-61 kg and Yogesh Kumari in above-61 kg.

Basketball tourney

The third Pandit Mohan Lal Memorial Inter-School Basketball Tournament for boys and girls for under-19 years will begin here tomorrow at PML SD Public School, Sector 32. According to Ms Manju Bhardwaj, Principal of the school, the four day meet will have attractive cash prizes for winners and runners-up.

Carrom championship

The Panchkula District Carrom Association will organise the second Panchkula District Carrom Championship on August 24 and 25 at Saupin’s School, Sector 9. The two-day tournament will see 129 players, including 34 women, participating in it. According to Mr R.S. Yadav, general secretary of the association, the tournament will also serve as basis for selection of six top-ranked players under each category to represent Panchkula in the forthcoming inter district and Haryana state carrom championship.

25 cricketer selected

The Chandigarh Cricket Association has selected 25 players for the Punjab Inter-district Cricket Tournament for the Katoch Shield. The meet would be held in the first week of next month. The players must report to Mr Sukhwinder Bawa, cricket coach, on August 25 at 3 pm.

The players are: Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Harminder, Vishwash, Rahul Arora, Amandeep, Bhageshwar, Prabhjot, Nagesh, Gaurav Gupta, Amardeep, Amit Uniyal, V.R.V. Singh, Brajesh Kumar, Waqar Ahmed, Arjit Pal, Harpreet, Rakinder, Rajinder Chaudhari, Paras, Samardeep, Bipul Sharma, Sanjay Mahajan, Iqbal and Sanjay Dhull.

St Kabir trophy

Fine bowling by Aditya, who claimed four wickets for two runs, enabled Stadium XI beat St Stephen’s Cricket Club by nine wickets in the St Kabir trophy cricket match played here today at Sector 16 cricket stadium.

In another match, St John’s High School, Sector 26, edged out St Kabir School by five wickets.

Shivalik boys bag title

Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, in boys section and IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, in girls section bagged the titles in the Chandigarh Youth Basketball championship, that concluded here today. In the final, SPS-41 boys overpowered DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, with 73-57 win. The half-time score was 41-30.

In the girls final, IS Dev Samaj eves got the better of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16 by scoring a 22-14 win. For winners, Prabhjot scored eight, Sumeet four, Poonam three, Varsha, Rekha and Sumeet two points each.

The third place in boys section went to New Public School, Sector 18, while in girls it went to Sacred Heart School, Sector 26.

Dr A.C. Vaid, Principal, SD College, Sector 32, gave away the prizes.