HEALTH

Challaning for food adulteration begins
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 5
Following the expiration of deadline issued to hoteliers, dhaba owners, bakers, cart-pullers and others involved in the manufacture and sale of food articles, the Health Department of the Chandigarh Administration has launched a drive to challan the defaulters.

The move is significant as over 3,500 residents, directly involved in the food industry, would be affected by the drive. As per the officials, 13 challans had been issued by the officials since the expiration of the deadline on April 30. The drive would be intensified in the coming days, Health Department officials confirmed.

The officials said as many as 1,200 applications had so far been received for the issuance of licences. They further added that over Rs 12 lakh had been received by the department as fee for the issuance of licences.

Officials claimed that the defaulters, in order to escape penalty proceedings, could still get the licences issued after the payment of requisite late fee. Sources confirmed that 10 per cent of the original amount would be charged as late fee during the first six months, and 20 per cent thereafter.

They asserted that fresh licences were necessary for manufacturers and sellers in case they did not possess one. Otherwise, they had to get the old licences renewed.

Giving details of the procedure, sources revealed that the Health Department officials, soon after receiving the forms, would go from shop to shop for carrying out physical verification regarding the compliance of the terms and conditions mentioned in the form.

They added that fresh licences would go a long way in checking food adulteration and spread of other diseases in the city as the conditions, required to be complied with, were quite “stringent”.

Businessmen in the city have been complaining about the conditions. “They are too technical with a lot of emphasis on minor details,” they assert. “Complying with them is not going to be easy.”

As per the conditions, the vendors in charge of the carts should be immaculately dressed up, besides being “free from any infectious diseases.” Also, the food articles will have to be kept in “glass cases and clean vessels”. Each utensil or container, used for manufacturing or storing of articles, should not be “imperfectly enameled.”

Senior official said the conditions mentioned in the form were strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

They said: “They are included in the form so that the manufacturers and sellers know exactly what is required and how to go about the process of fulfilling the necessary formalities.”

Workers litter GMCH with garbage
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 5
Workers of the cleanliness and maintenance wing of the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital today threw garbage all over the place before going on strike following the termination of the services of 48 safai karamcharis by their contractor — Kapurthala-based Management of Prehari Security and Detective Services Private Limited.

According to sources, the organisation was awarded the contract for cleanliness and maintenance. Sanction was granted for engaging 198 safai karamcharis on the monthly basic wage. However, the earlier contractor, just before handing over the charge, recruited 70 more persons raising the total to 244. Since 48 safai karamcharis were in surplus, they were relieved of their duties.

The agitating workers today threw garbage outside the hospital emergency and even tried to harass the patients. “Despite all odds, cleanliness was being maintained,” hospital sources asserted.

The karamcharis, on the other hand, described the action as totally unjustified. They demanded that the relieved employees should be absorbed in some capacity or the other.

The GMCH Medical Superintendent, Dr Raj Bhadur, said the hospital had nothing to do with the agitating workers as the safai karamcharis were relieved by the contractor as, according to him, they were not properly functioning.

Dr Bhadur said the smooth functioning of the hospital was their main concern. “As of now the agitating workers were creating noise pollution,” he asserted. “In case of disturbance, we would ask them to shift further”. 

SPORTS

GNPS-36 emerge winners
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, May 5
Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, clinched the under-12 (Atoms) Shivalik Trophy, which concluded this morning at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41. They outplayed Shishu Niketan Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, by four goals to nil. The four-day meet was organised at the initiative of Mr D.S. Bedi, Director Principal of Shivalik Public School, Sector 41.

Mr Bedi later announced the holding of the first under-10 football championship for budding youngsters called Shivalik Trophy for ‘Electrons’. He said the tournament would have the participation of all football loving schools of the area, including SAS Nagar and Panchkula. The date of the tournament would however be announced later, but was expected to be organised in October.

In the final played between GNPS-36 and SNSS-22, Mandeep Singh scored the first goal in the 14th minute. Guru Nanak boys mounted more pressure and began making repeated attacks. As a result, Jatinder Singh of the GNPS scored another goal in the 16th minute on a pass given by right striker Mandeep Singh.

Shishu Niketan boys then changed their tactics and played an offensive game. The half-time score read 2-0 in favour of the GNPS. After the break, GNPS boys played even better and Jasdeep Saini with his solo effort scored the third goal. Another goal was scored in the 38th minute when Jasdeep Saini struck with a solo effort. Mr Bhupinder Singh, the Sports Authority of India football coach, gave away the prizes.

Snooker, billiards meet

Defending champion Anandit Joshi outplayed V.K. Sachdeva 2-0 to move into the next round of the fourth Saurabh Khattar Memorial Snooker and Billiards Championship being played at Chandigarh Club, Sector 2. Anandit beat V.K. Sachdeva 65-35, 80-30.

In other matches of the day, Vineet Khosla defeated Sanjay Kaushal 62-12, 57-31, Suresh Chaudhary defeated Naresh Chaudhary 62-27, 54-42, G.S. Batra beat Abhay Sood 65-19, 15-55, 79-40, Sandeep Duggal beat Gopal Gupta 58-16, 70-36, and Pankaj Gulati defeated Jaideep Singh 76-07, 64-30.

In billiards, Pranav Jain beat Deepinder Singh 151-115.

Kho-kho meet

The two-day UT Sub-Junior Kho-Kho Championship began here today at Government Model High School, Sector 28. In the girls section, Coaching Centre -23 defeated St Soldier’s -28 by 18 points, while Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, beat GMHS-28 by one point. Earlier, St Soldier’s School, Sector 28, got the better of Government Model High School, Sector 28, by one point, while GMHS-28 defeated Unified Club by12 points.

In the boys section, Government Model High School, Sector 43, will take on Shishu Niketan Club-22 in the final. In the semi-finals played today, GMHS-43 defeated Unified Club by one turn and six points, while SN Club-22 beat Guru Nanak Khalsa-30 by an innings and 17 points.