High flouride level in water samples
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, September 12
The flouride content is samples of water taken from different parts of the town was today found to be three times more than the permissible limit.

The samples, which were taken from Phase VII and III A, Balmiki Colony (near Dara Studio) and Mataur village (handpump and tap), were got tested at St Soldier International Convent School here by the Consumer Protection Forum and the Environment Protection Society.

The flouride content in Phases VII and III A and Balmiki Colony was 3 mg against the permissible limit of 1 mg in i litre of water. In Mataur village samples showed a content of 2 mg.

The hardness of water, alkalinity and the iron content in the samples were also in excess of the permissible levels.

CVC intervention sought

Chandigarh, September 12
The PGI Employees Union has sought Central Vigilance Commissioner’s intervention in the alleged parking tender scam. In a press note issued here today, the union claimed that the Commissioner had been requested to issue immediate directions to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for registering a criminal case against the officials involved in the scam. OC

Shuttlers’ meet begins today
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, September 12
H. Sarda Devi in women’s section and Deepak Sidhu in men’s section were accorded top billing in the 15th Chandigarh State Badminton Championships beginning tomorrow at the Sector 42 badminton hall. The four-day meet is being organised by the Chandigarh Badminton Association.

Mr M.C. Sethi, president of the association, said the championship would also serve as the basis of selection of the UT team in senior and junior section in both boys and girls section for the North Zone Inter State Badminton Championship to be held in Shimla from September 20. He said a 10-day preparatory camp for the probables concluded last evening at the Panjab University coaching centre.

Mr Ramesh Kapoor, chairman, organising committee of the state championship, said that this year more than 150 entries had been received for different events.

Mr B.D. Gandhi, chairman, Tournament Conduct Committee said all matches would be played on the old scoring pattern of 15 points for men and 11 point in women’s section.

The finals will be played on September 16.

The inauguration of the meet will take place tomorrow at 9.30 am where the chief guest will be Mr Ravinder Talwar, secretary general of the Chandigarh Olympic Association.

The seeding is: Men: singles-Deepak Sidhu 1, Ashish Sharma 2. doubles: Deepak and Ashish 1, Vivek and Gurjeet 2.

women: singles- H Sarda 1, Isha Sharma 2. doubles: H Sarda and Isha 1, Mala and Bhavna 2.

junior boys (under19) singles- Vikas Kundu 1, Mandeep 2. doubles: Puneet and Narinder 1, Robin and Neeraj 2.

boys under16: singles- Mandeep 1, Oscar Bansal 2. doubles: Mandeep and Oscar 1, Vikas and Munish 2.

girls under 16: singles- Harleen 1, Samridhi Mahajan 2.

doubles: Harleen and Aastha 1, Samridhi and Seema 2.

boys under 13: singles- Aman Sethi 1, Tushar 2. doubles: Aman and Tushar 1, Gurbir and Munish 2. girls under 13: singles- Aakriti 1, Tanu 2. doubles; Aakriti and Chetna 1, Tanu and Geet 2.

Patiala victorious

Patiala: Patiala showcased its batting potential as it triumphed over SAS Nagar by six wickets in a leage match of the Punjab inter-district cricket tournament for the Katoch shield here today.

In reply to the SAS Nagar score of 193 for 8 declared, the hosts’ batting line-up, led by old warhorse Pankaj Dharmani, demolished the feeble challenge put up by opposition bowlers. Opener Binwant Bhagel scored his first half century of the tournament, while Dharmani showed his class by scoring an authoritative 41 before he retired hurt. Skipper Munish Bali, who batted superbly in the previous match against Minor Districts XI in which he scored 87 was out lbw. However, Bali’s short tenure at the crease was compensated by left handed batsman Rakesh Raini, who managed to score a breezy 32.

Brief scores: SAS Nagar: 193 for 8

Patiala:195 for 4 (Binwant Bhagel 60, Pankaj Dharmani 41, Rakesh Raini 32, Anup Kumar 19 n.o, Harikrishan Mandora 13 n.o, Manpreet Singh 3 for 39, Jagdish Singh 1 for 48).

Roller skating meet

Ludhiana will host the 15th Punjab State Roller Skating Championship from November 7 to 9.

This was stated by Mr S.S Tiwana, secretary of the Punjab State Roller Skating Association. Nearly 300 skaters from different parts of the state are expected to take part in the three-day meet, which is open to both boys and girls.

Virendra’s order on shop to cause loss of 70 lakh
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 12
The outgoing Adviser to the UT Administrator, Mr Virendra Singh, allegedly issued a controversial order which will cause an estimated loss of more than Rs 70 lakh to the Chandigarh Administration.

Investigations by the Tribune reveal that the Adviser, just a couple of days before his departure, allowed Kumar Brothers, chemists, to continue operating a shop in the Government Medical College and Hospital at rentals fixed in 1997. The case of arbitration to decide the rental had been pending before the Adviser for the last few months. The chemist has been granted extension till June 21, 2005. The contract between the chemist and the GMCH expired on June 21 this year.

The GMCH authorities had invited tenders for the shop in April this year. At present, the rent of the shop measuring 652 square feet is fixed at Rs 1.38 lakh a month. Interestingly, an adjoining shop measuring 193 square feet is fetching Rs 3.33 lakh. The GMCH authorities were expecting that the shop with Kumar Brothers should fetch a rental of at least Rs 4.50 lakh as its size was so much bigger. Now the shop will fetch a revenue of only Rs 1.38 lakh a month which is about Rs 3 lakh less than what was expected and Rs 2 lakh less than the market rate. The two-year extension in contract at present rates means a cumulative loss of about Rs 70 lakh.

It was in April, this year that the GMCH authorities decided to readvertise a shop, allotted in 1997 as they felt that the rent it was fetching was very less, as compared to the market rent. “A shop, one-third of the size of this shop allotted to Kumar Brothers, had been leased out at Rs 3.33 lakh per month, we decided to readvertise it so that the institute could get more money,” explained a GMCH official.

When the tender was invited again, Kumar Brothers made an appeal before the Adviser, Mr Virendra Singh. The GMCH filed their reply, citing the reasons for readvertising the shop. Meanwhile, the Kumar Brothers, had in their appeal cited a number of cases, where government property, leased several years ago, was still fetching rent, far less than the market rate. They have also pointed out that the chemist shop in General Hospital, Sector 16, was leased out almost 10 years ago and the authorities had made no efforts to get it vacated.

When the Adviser decides the case using his powers as Arbitrator there can be no review of the matter, old timers in the Administration explained.

At least chemists had offered their tenders for taking the shop on lease, the entire process of reallotment had been stalled as the stay was granted on May 14 and the tenders which were to be opened the next day, could not be processed.

The Tribune had first carried a news item in this regard in its edition dated August 22.