Azad: don’t convert playground into bus stand
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, July 24
Pained at the proposal to convert the playground into a bus stand at Patiala, Dronacharya awardee Desh Prem Azad has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to let it remain a play field in the interest of sports.

D.P. Azad, who played cricket in Patiala in the 1950s, at the once renowned City High School grounds, Patiala, said it was shocking to read in Chandigarh Tribune of July 22 that a bus stand would be constructed on the playground at Arya Kumar Sabha, near octroi post, Patiala. Azad said it was late Maharaja Yadavindra Singh who was instrumental in setting up the National Institute of Sports, Patiala. He said it was surprising how the present Chief Minister, himself a former shooter and great sports lover, could allow such a decision to be made practical.

Azad said it reminded him of the folly committed a few decades back when the ground at the famous City High School was sacrificed for the construction of a building to house the Languages Department, Punjab. Azad said this school ground, located in the heart of the city, Sheranwala Gate, had produced two Dronacharyas — Azad himself and Gurcharan Singh. Late Lala Amarnath, Nasir Ali, Amir Ilahi and Syed Mohammed also used to play there.

The ground had also produced many Ranji Trophy players, including Major Harcharan Singh, Capt Ranbir Chauhan, Col Desraj Patian, late Baljit Singh, Balbir Singh, Amrit Lal and Amrik Singh.

The Arya Sabha grounds had been the nursery for such cricketers like M.P. Pandove, Umesh Kumar, Megh Raj, Hem Raj and a host of others.

Azad pleaded that the proposal to have a new bus stand at the existing playground should be shelved.

Athletics trials on Aug 2
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
Trials for selecting Chandigarh junior athletics team will be held on August 2 at 11 am in Sector 46 Sports Complex by the Amateur Athletics Association of Chandigarh. The team will participate in two-day North Zone Junior Athletics Championship to be held at Delhi from August 18.

According to honorary secretary Ravinder Chaudhry, only bonafide city residents can appear for the trials. The candidates interested should come to the venue along with the original date of birth certificate and residence proof.

For the under-14 category, boys and girls born on or after January 1, 1990, will be eligible. In the under-16 category, boys and girls born on or after January 1, 1988, can apply.

For under-18, boys and girls born on or after January 1, 1986 will be eligible. In under-20 category, boys and girls born on or after January 1, 1984 can apply.

ADMINISTRATION

Expansion of Industrial Area soon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
The Estate Office has recently taken possession of 153 acres in the Mauli Jagran and Raipur Kalan areas for the expansion of the Industrial Area. Development work for providing basic infrastructural facilities like power, roads, sewerage, water would be undertaken before inviting the entrepreneurs for setting up their industries in the area. This was stated by Mr Arun Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, while interacting with members of the CII at its headquarters here today.

Responding to other issues taken up at the meeting, Mr Arun Kumar assured the members that the request for reserving a seat for the agro-industry in the Market Committee would also be considered. He informed the members that the procedure followed by the Government of India in allowing one “C” form in a year from one entrepreneur is under consideration.

42 commercial sites fetch 14 cr for HUDA 
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 24
The successful auction of more than 40 commercial sites by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in different parts of the township brought some cheer to the authorities. With its two earlier auctions of commercial sites here failing to get a positive response, things could not have been better for HUDA.

The authorities got a profit of Rs 3.78 crore with the auction fetching almost Rs 14 crore as against a reserved price of Rs 10.21 crore for 42 commercial sites.

Commercial sites for SCOs, booths, service shops, showrooms and double-storeyed shops in Sectors 3, 11, 19, 21, 25 and Sector 5 of the Mansa Devi Complex and Haripur village went under the hammer today. The response was so good that the auction lasted almost nine hours. As compared to this, the auction of commercial sites held in February had received a poor response and there were just 34 persons who had deposited earnest money.

In today's auction, it were the SCO sites in Sectors 3 and 21 that drew a lot of interest with each site fetching anything between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 30 lakh more than the reserved price. Though the sites in the most popular sector in terms of real estate business — Sector 11 — also got a good response, the surprise catch were the booth sites, double-storeyed shops and service shops in Sector 19 and Haripur.

During the auction of commercial sites in February, a mere nine sites could be auctioned, fetching Rs 6.36 crore for HUDA. Even the sites that were auctioned off did not fetch more than the reserved price. The maximum number of sites were auctioned in Sector 9 — three double-storeyed shop sites and four SCO sites. Other than this, two service shops were also auctioned in Sector 11. There were no takers for commercial sites in Sectors 6 and 8 which are otherwise considered the best sectors in terms of real estate business. Even the hotel site in Sector 10 failed to attract any buyers.

Ranbaxy fire: good Samaritans to be honoured
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, July 24
The SAS Nagar Administration has decided to honour those who helped save lives during the Ranbaxy fire here on June 11.

The SDM, Mr M.L. Sharma said that a list of such persons was being prepared and special awards would be given to them during the Independence Day celebrations on August 15.

DM’s order on domestic servants
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
The orders banning the carrying of licensed firearms in public places has been extended following an order of the District Magistrate, Mr Arun Kumar. The orders which were implemented on July 22 will remain in force till September 19, say some members of the public have been seen moving around with small weapons tucked under their waist belt for show off.

The order shall not apply to police or military personnel and other government servants if called upon to carry firearms in connection with their official duties, a spokesperson said today.

To keep a tab on activities of anti-social elements who disguise themselves as domestic servants and other domestic help, the District Magistrate, has issued orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, directing all residents, owner or tenants of commercial and residential property not to employ anyone without furnishing the particulars to the police station concerned.

These disobeying the order will invite action under Section 188 of the IPC. Those seeking employment as domestic help will have to provide their particulars along with their passport-size photographs to the local police to enable identification or verifications of criminal elements .

The order will remain effective till September 19. To keep a tab on activities of anti-social elements who may disguise themselves as petty job seekers in the city, the District Magistrate, has directed all those seeking employment in petty and non-formal trade to submit their particulars along with their passport size photographs to the local police.