Ludhiana, March 16
The draft of master plan prepared by the district town planning department has invited the ire of small-scale industrialists and traders in Shimla Puri and New Janta Nagar on Gill Road. The plan shows their areas as purely residential even as 6,000 such units were working from the place. And if it is notified, they have to shut their units.

To send their voices of protest to the government over the issue, association of SSIs and traders today organised a congregation which was attended by thousands of affected traders as well as numerous SAD and Congress leaders.

The association has been claiming that in this era of unemployment, 6,000 owners and at least 1 lakh workers were earning their bread and butter from Gill Road. Still the place was shown purely residential.

They added that if the master plan was notified as it is they would be forced to close their units. This would reduce all of them to jobless.

‘‘We could not understand why this was being done. We have been running our outlets from here for the past couple of decades,’’ asked Gurwant Singh, general secretary of the association.

They protested against the move and organised a meeting for three hours. Listening to their grievances, jails minister Hira Singh Gabria assured them that he would convey their message to the Chief Minister and everything would be dealt with compassionately.

Gurwant Singh said they had started a signature campaign against the move and already 1,000 traders had signed a memorandum that would be sent to the state government for further action.

Within the next three days, all traders, who would be affected, will sign on the memorandum. He added that the government had not set up any new industrial focal point where all these people could shift. They could not purchase a new piece of land to run their businesses as the prices of land were skyrocketing.

‘‘Is it a crime that we are running such units from our houses without bothering anybody? So many people are earning their livelihood and we are not troubling anyone. Why such treatment towards us? ’’ he asked.

The meeting was addressed by former MLA Malkiat Singh Dakha and many present and former councillors, who assured them help.

Ludhiana, March 16
A perfect example of how seriously we take our national sport can be gauged from the fact that two crucial encounters were postponed till tomorrow due to scarcity of water.

The matches of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) versus Indian Airlines and Punjab Police versus Indain Air Force during the 5th All-India Guru Gobind Singh Gold Cup Hockey Tournament being played at Pirthipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) were postponed due to the scarcity of water.

Organisers told The Tribune that the matches were postponed till tomorrow morning following the day-long power cut which caused the water shortage. But some reliable sources revealed that the postponement was due to the leakage in the water supply pipe.

The sprinkling of water on astroturf before the match is essential for better control.

However, IOC and Indian Airlines teams were intimated about the rescheduling but Punjab Police and Indian Air Force team players were sent back after they reached the field.

It was a day of disappointment for the spectators who were here to watch their favourite hockey stars.

It would have been a perfect super Sunday for the city hockey fans as the veteran Indian stick magician Dhanraj Pillay's team consist of Sangeet Kumar, Sandeep Michel, Anjun Hallapa, V.S Vinay, Sameer Dad, Vimal Lakara, Adrian- De-Suza were against the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) team consisting of Prabhjot Singh, Baljit Singh, Sardara Singh, Didar Singh, Rajpal Singh and Deepk Thakur.

"The organisers have spoiled the Sunday by postponing the match. We cancelled the plan to watch a movie just to see the big event but when we reached here we come to know that match has been postponed due to scarcity of water”, said Harjapal Singh and Tarunpreet Singh.

Kulwant Singh, orgniser of the tournament, said, "If the sports department has charged money from us they should also provide adequate infrastructure."

An international player said, "Every one is quick to blame the players for the poor performance, look such kind of infrastructure is being provided to us. Even this astro turf is over 10-year-old and needs to be replaced."

Ludhiana, March 16
A number of accused in the murder case of alleged gangster Billu Badshah took the city police and mediapersons on a ride late last night by not keeping to their promise of surrendering to the police near Guru Nanak Stadium.

The accused namely Rocky, Kaali, Mohani and Ajay had called up some journalists of vernacular dailies announcing they wanted to surrender in their presence to the cops.

When the mediapersons reached, police teams were already waiting at the site. The cops, in touch with the absconding accused over mobile phones, were pressing them to surrender in the police station instead of an open place and before the mediapersons.

The accused, however, did not turn up either at the open space near Guru Nanak Stadium also. Police sources said the accused wanted to derive publicity from the act by trying to become heroes. The sources said the accused would be caught or would have to surrender sooner than later as the police has exerted immense pressure on them.

Ludhiana, March 16
It is almost two and a half years since a gangster Raman Rana, prime accused in the murder case of another gangster, Lalla, had escaped from the police custody. But there is no trace of him even though cops claim to have made a special squad to catch him.

His whereabouts have become significant now in the wake of the murder of Billu Badshah. Billu had gained much strength after the killing of Lalla and the arrest of Raman Rana in the case. He had taken over most of the work of Rana and Lalla.

Though Rana had direct links with the city’s underworld, his escape remains in the cold storage only with no special effort being made to find him out despite the renewed interest in the underworld after the murder of Billu Badshah.

Rana had escaped from the police custody near Nabha on November 28, 2005, when he was being taken to Patiala Central Jail after court appearance in Ludhiana. The accused had escaped after throwing chilli powder in the eyes of two Punjab Police constables escorting him.

Interestingly, the policemen had agreed to take him in a private vehicle brought by two friends of Raman Rana after the police vehicle broke down. The vehicle was traced the next day from near Nabha only but there was no sign of the fugitives.

Patiala SSP A.S. Rai had placed both policemen under suspension and booked them for dereliction of duty.

Rana had hit headlines after he along with three accomplices had allegedly gunned down a rival gangster, Lalla, in broad daylight in Haibowal market in 2003.

The two gangs had a history of clashes before the latter's murder. Even after the murder and Rana's arrest, the gangs often clashed outside the district court or in the Central Jail here, where members of both groups are lodged.

Things had come to such a point that Rana had to be housed in a Jalandhar jail and later in the Nabha Jail for security reasons and to avoid recurrent clashes.

Police sources said though the alleged gangster escaped in Patiala police district, the Ludhiana police tried its best to hunt him down. A special team of the city police conducted raids at several places but all in vain.

Ludhiana, March 16
Just a couple of days after two cops were booked on an attempt to rape a girl in the civil hospital, another cop has been booked for allegedly stealing a car and causing injuries to two security guards of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) by rash driving.

The accused cop, ASI Naveen Kumar, former in charge of the Lalton Kalan police post, was suspended yesterday morning only for unsatisfactory handling of an NDPS Act case.

Late last evening, the cop was again in the centre of controversy when he, allegedly in a drunken condition, rammed a car into PAU gate no 4 injuring two security guards.

Later, it was found that the car no. PB 10 H 3060 was stolen. The ASI was taken into custody from the accident site. Though he claimed he had driven away the car by mistake claiming his own car parked right next to the vehicle, the Sarabha Nagar police has not accepted the argument.

The two PAU security guards, Mohan Chand and Kuldip Singh, had to be hospitalised due to the injuries.

Ludhiana, March 16
Representatives of the Mulazam Front, Punjab, held a meeting with Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, adviser to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Wheat Auditorium of Punjab Agricultural University here today to discuss various problems faced by the front.

Employees from more than 17 departments, including teaching, Punjab State Electricity Board, Punjab Agricultural University, PWD B and R, Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC), etc, who are part of the Mulazam Front, held detailed discussions with the adviser.

Harbans Singh Mundi, president, PAU Employees Union, said the adviser gave them a patient hearing and assured all employees that he would put in a word to th CM regarding their genuine demands. "We have expressed out gratitude to the state government for helping the pensioners at the time of crisis. We have asked them to come up with a permanent solution to the pension scheme of PAU", said Mundi.

Avtar Singh, chairman, PAU Employees Union, alleged that many of their demands had already been accepted by the university Board of Management (BoM) but the workers in audit department were not ready to accept them and were unnecessarily "harassing" the employees. He asked the government to act tough with them.

The teachers were of the view that all contractual employees should be regularised. They said instead of giving government schools to Zila Parishads, state government itself should take over the primary education for the betterment of teachers as well as students.

The representatives of all departments requested the adviser to get the vacancies filled as soon as possible. "There have been no recruitment for the past many years. This has increased the number of unemployed youth in the country. If they are not given job opportunities, frustration will be the only outcome", said Rajinder Singh Virk, vice-president Employees Federation PSEB.

Budhewal (Ludhiana) March 16
A joint team of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Japan International Cooperation Agency are visiting a few cooperative sugar mills of the state to evaluate economic feasibility of proposed co-generation thermal power plants to be installed by the Punjab Energy Development Agency that will provide cheaper electricity to the mills. Cost of project is estimated to be Rs 752 crore.

Masyuki Karasawa, director, development assistance department, JBIC, and Keiji Katai, project formulation adviser of JICA, said teams of technological experts of the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Japan, had already submitted reports on scientific viability of the projects and agreement would be signed after gauzing the managerial competence, sustainability and economic feasibility of the projects for which their agencies had agreed to advance loan on nominal interest.

"As the money to be financed comes from the people of the Japan we, as their representative, have to ensure that every penny is utilised for the welfare of the public of India. Various avenues of the administration, including cultivation and procurement of sugarcane, availability of byproduct or bio-waste and congenial worker-employer atmosphere are to be considered before taking final decision about the venture," said Karsawa, talking to the Ludhiana Tribune at Bhudewal Cooperative Sugar Mill on Saturday. Karsawa and Katai interacted with the staff at the Bhudewal mill to get first-hand information about various aspects of the proposed project.

According to S S Sekhon, director, PEDA, the government had decided to set up 15 power generation plants with total capacity of 115 MW. Seven co-generation plants with capacity of 78 MW are to be constructed in eight cooperative sugar mills of the state. Four plants will be set up at Bhudewal, Morinda, Gurdaspur and Ajnala mills during the first phase of the project. Agreement for these mills will be signed in September.

On the prospects of the new venture, Sekhon said, "As power generated from the plants will be supplied to mills at lower price than that supplied by the PSEB, they (mills) will get more profit."

Dharamvir Singh Gill, vice-chairman, and Ajay Parkash Gupta, general manager, said a power generating plant of 2 MW capacity was already working at the Bhudewal mill.

Avtar Singh Mehlon and Rajinder Singh Mianee, directors, were also present on the occasion. 

Ludhiana, March 16
All 37 milk samples, brought by the consumers from several localities around Daresi Road at a camp organised by dairy development department here yesterday, failed the purity test.

The camp aimed at creating awareness among the consumers about quality of milk supplied to them by venders and dairy farmers. The samples tested at the camp were brought by residents of Daresi, Mohalla Thapran, Mohalla Sudan and Pansari Bazar areas.

A team comprising dairy expert Kuldip Singh Jassowal, inspector Harmesh Singh Rana, Malkiat Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Santokh Singh and Dilip Raj carried out more than 200 tests on these samples of milk to check various parameters of purity. Some 16 samples were found to be mixed with water while 21 others were found deficient in fat and SNF contents, said officials of the dairy development department.

While all milk samples technically failed to qualify on the purity test, none of the samples contained any synthetic substance like urea or other harmful ingredients.

Meanwhile, a team of health department had also taken nine samples of milk from different areas of the city and some of the nearby villages which were sent to government laboratory for chemical analysis. The health officials said action as per provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act would be taken against the persons, if warranted, after report of the samples was received.

When a lot of ideas crop up in the mind, it becomes difficult to provide them proper space for their release. One such idea is of the days gone by. Uncertainly, prevailed upon hopes and aspirations at the start of the career. Months rolled by like a rudderless ship before a port could be discerned. Shortly afterwards, mermaids enchanted the mind from afar with their display of colour and form. Some sirens could also be spotted, now and then, who bewitched with their songs. At long last Penelope pledged her abiding love and lasting faith. In the ambiance thus created, nothing could distract the mind from deep involvement in higher study. At times, however, the mind was befuddled like that of Mir Taqi Mir, who exclaimed centuries ago -

Dil se ya ke jaan se uthhta hai

Yeh dhuan sa kahan se uthhta hai

(From where does this smoke arise? Is it from the heart or the soul?)

The other idea that struggles for release concerns the world of literature. The desire to see the name in print found culmination in hurriedly written small pieces of prose. Later, poetic expression came to the rescue when sense and sensibility vied with each other for making greater impression on the reader. What started as a fleeting glance turned out to be an affair with far-reaching repercussions? At times, it seemed to be a long journey that compelled the wayfarer to trudge along willingly or unwillingly. The path that seemed to be smooth in the beginning turned out to be an uphill task. There were many pitfalls and the stumbling blocks littered the way. The jostling crowd, heading towards the summit, tried to dislodge the pilgrim from his course of progress. The spirit of jealousy took a heavy toll by demeaning the unsuspecting person.

Yet, another dominating idea that changed the concept of life is concerned with learning while teaching. Teaching is a two-way traffic that causes stampede only when it is disrupted. The flow is to and fro or at times in a circular motion. Missionary zeal is indeed a misnomer, as the present times do not provide so easily the wherewithal for personal comforts and family needs. Invariably, there is a clash of egos and the ingrained concepts of right and wrong create problems. Mostly, the barrier of one-upmanship stands in the way. Hackneyed concepts mar the progress of human search for knowledge. A shadow always falls between the concept and its execution. A time, however, comes when information, and not knowledge is sought after. Wisdom, or course, takes a back seat.

The disturbing idea that at present occupies the mind is connected with the future course of life. The tempting option is to relax and rest on oars. No more sailing towards the ever-receding arc of horizon. Let the wind pass by without ruffling the feathers. No more visiting the temples of learning, where it is difficult to spot old faces. The blank looks are like shooting stars lost in the outer space. Else, the cursory glance evokes customary welcome smile for ushering in the guest. Once deposited in a seat, at a safe distance from the sofa at the centre, the person is left in limbo. Likewise, literary gatherings have lost their sheen. Nothing happens except the repetition of cliches and platitudes. Garlanding the chief guest is nothing else than a ritual that generally smacks of some selfish motives.

The hiatus between the appearance and the reality is widening all the more these days. A seat provided at the dais is like recollecting a long lost idea. No one listens as hearing is considered enough to keep up the morale of the speaker. T.S. Eliot is of the view -

Time past and time future

What might have been and what has been

Point to one end, which is always present

— N.S. Tasneem

Ludhiana, March 16
Rajat, a Class X student, living near Pakhowal road was grappling with the last minute revision before the board exams that a sudden loud chanting of some religious hymns broke his concentration.

Agitated, he complained to his parents. “There is no law for such people, don’t they have any civic sense. They should realise how important these exams are for us,” he says.

It is not only Rajat who is grumbling over the noise pollution emitting from religious places and marriage palaces.

Hundreds of students are facing similar problem as loudspeakers fitted in religious places, marriage palaces and on various audio-cassettes shops in various parts of the city have been causing disturbance to the students.

As the examination days have already set in again, cinema halls, parties and television are a strict no-no. Students have confined themselves to their homes for studies.

Sensing the pulse of the students, even Bollywood producers are not releasing any new films these days. However, the students are facing disturbance from other sources.

The blatant misuse of loudspeakers on religious functions and weddings has made life miserable for those living in congested localities. The cacophony, especially during night, has become the biggest enemy for the students, who were indulged to give last glimpse to the course material.

The growing prosperity of the middle classes has also made them more religious-minded. Roads are blocked and the traffic is diverted for holding kirtans during the morning. During the day, many religious institutions test the patience of the people, besides their ears, by loudly playing religious sermons over loudspeakers.

Disturbance from loudspeakers has been continuing despite the fact that the district authorities have imposed Section 144 in the city for the next six months on their blatant use.

The music shops owners have been using loudspeakers in violation of rules and without permission in almost every part of the city.

Sidharth, a student, alleged that the temple situated near his home creates lot of noise during morning. I requested the temple authorities to suspend the use of loudspeaker for some time, but they did not pay heed to my request.

The shopkeepers do not bother about their proximity to schools and residential areas and play music from morning to evening. None of the residents is ready to register a complaint against any of the shopkeepers.

The frequent electricity cuts have also added to the woes of the students. The students have to make alternative arrangements during electricity cuts and also have to tolerate the noise pollution caused by generators. 

Ludhiana, March 16
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has dismissed the complaint filed by a complainant, seeking directions to PUDA for issuing NOC.

Pronouncing the order, J.S. Chawla, president of the forum, and its member Daljit Singh Bakshi held that there was no deficiency on the part of PUDA for not issuing the NOC, as the consumer was guilty of not paying the non-construction charges amounting to Rs 1,92,000.

The orders were given while deciding the complaint filed by Surinder Singh of Khalsa Hosiery, Hazuri Road, Ludhiana. The complainant had submitted that he was allotted plot no 397 in Dhandarin Kalan, Phase-I, for residential purpose. The possession of the plot was given to him in May 7, 1990, after his making all the payments. He sent the request for issuing NoC in November 2006. But, no NOC was issued to him.

On the other hand, a senior counsellor of PUDA termed the complaint to be not maintainable. He contended that the complainant had violated the terms and conditions of the allotment letter. He did not deserve any leniency from this forum. PUDA’s counsel justified the decision of authority for not issuing NOC to the complainant. It was submitted that the plot was allotted in the year 1972. The possession was given to the complainant in 1990.

As per terms and conditions of the allotment letter, the plot holder was to construct the plot within three years from the day of issuance of allotment letter, after getting the site plan of building sanctioned from the PUDA.

But, the complainant failed to construct the house within stipulated period. He did not even bother to submit any site plan for getting the same approved. So, he was liable to make the payment of extension fee (non-construction fee) for not constructing the house till date.

Convinced with PUDA’s reply, the forum dismissed the complaint of the consumer.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 16
The Dehlon police has booked at least six persons, including a woman, under sections 307, 326 452, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC for allegedly attempting to murder Bhagwant Singh of Jartoli village, a SAD leader, after forcibly entering into house of his friend three days ago.

Dispute over repayment of a loan was told to be reason behind the attack.

No arrest was yet made.

Five of the accused were identified as Khinder Singh, Kanta Singh, Bhira Singh, Darshan Singh and Babo Kaur.

Bhagwant Singh, in his statement before the police, alleged that the accused had attempted to murder him after he (Bhagwant Singh) insisted on repayment of an amount of Rs 25,000, Khinder Singh had borrowed from him a few months ago.

“Instead of keeping his promise to repay my amount, Khinder Singh threatened get me eliminated in case I insisted for the payment. He along with his accomplices attacked me when I was fixing pipes to anelectric pump at house of my friend Amrik Singh on Wednesday,” Bhagwant alleged before the police, adding that the suspects were armed with sharp-edged weapons.

Victims was rescued by villagers and shifted to a private hospital at Ludhiana. Doctors had declared him fit for statement yesterday after which a case was registered. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 16
Dr Harminder Kaur Chauhan, joint director, University Grants Commission, Delhi, said the union government had envisaged project to improve enrollment rate and quality of higher education during the 11th five-year plan.

She acknowledged that private educational organisations had surpassed state-run institutes in promoting higher education in their respective areas.

Dr Chauhan said this at the annual convocation of GHG Khalsa College, Narangwal, near here today. As many as one hundred graduates and postgraduates received degrees from principal Hardiljit Singh Gosal at the convocation presided over by Jasbir Singh Khangura, MLA, Kilaraipur.

She claimed that over one hundred colleges and five hundred departments were identified to have potential for excellence.

These can be considered for granting status of autonomous bodies.

Calling upon residents of the area to persuade their wards to pursue higher education, Chauhan claimed that the commission had planned to boost enrollment ratio from ten percent to twenty percent during next five-year plan. Ashwani Jain, Jasvir Kaur, Harjit Kaur, Sharanjit Kaur, Pawan Deep Kaur, Tejinder Kaur, Jatinder Kaur, Sharanjit Kaur, Saminder Jit Kaur, Kamaljit Kaur, and Jatinder Kumar were felicitated for their outstanding performance in academics. 

Ludhiana, March 16
The 5th annual function of Mother's Touch Kindergarten was held with great fervour and joy in the school premises yesterday.

The theme of the function was disco. The decor was done accordingly and one could see musical instruments like a saxophone, guitar, drums, piano etc adorning the school grounds.

Tiny tots performed a variety of dances ranging from Hip Hop, Haryanvi folk dance, shakira special and giddha. Manju Dewan, president, Gitanjali Ladies Club, Kitchlu Nagar, was the chief guest.

Mandi Gobindgarh, March 16
The annual prize distribution function of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Jalalpur, Mandi Gobindgarh, began with a prayer song presented by the school choir. The chief guest Pardeep Bains, tehsildar, lit the lamp. Chairman of the School Managing Committee Jose Kottaram welcomed the guests.

Students presented various items. The students of Class X enacted William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Bhangra and giddha was also presented.

School principal Saji Jacob highlighted the achievements of the school in academics as well as sports. The chief guest distributed prizes among the students who got distinctions in academics and sports. Managing director J.P.S. Jolly thanked the chief guest and other invitees. 

Mandi Gobindgarh, March 16
Gurgaon-based Nagarro software Private Limited visited RIMT group of institutions, Mandi Gobindgarh, to recruit BTech and MCA students from Punjab. The drive was for pre-final year students pursuing B.Tech degree in computer science, electronics, information technology and MCA students, passing out in 2009.

While welcoming the company officials, chairman of RIMT group Hukam Chand Bansal said the Nagarro software was founded in 1996. It is a CMMI level-3 certified company with headquarter in Sen Jose, California and offices in New York, Chicago, India, Sweden and Germany.

Swati Yadav, HR official, gave company presentation. Dr Pritpal Singh, principal of the institute, extended warm welcome to company officials and applauded efforts of training and placement department for working for the betterment of students by getting renowned companies to campus and offering placement opportunities.

He also mentioned that placement in RIMT is touching new heights as 43 companies had visited RIMT is the year 2007, in which top companies were lnt infotech Mumbai, Hexaware technologies, Chennai, TCE Consulting engineers, Mumbai, Nucleus software, Noida, and Sierra Atlantic Software, Hyderabad.

Er Harmit Singh Taluja, head of training and placement department, said the company had issued hall tickets to students according to the eligibility criteria. The invitation for this mega pool campus placement drive was forwarded to Punjab, which got a huge response and total of 1,129 pre-final year students from more that 30 colleges participated in the drive. 

Ludhiana, March 16
Chairman Emeritus of the managing society of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital Brijmohan Lall Munjal today inaugurated the newly constructed and renovated areas at the hospital.

The new facilities thrown open to public included another cardiac operation theatre at Hero DMC Heart Institute, expanded emergency area of the hospital, renovated histopathology and immuno-pathology laboratories, medical and surgical OPDs.

Munjal, accompanied by senior administrators and faculty members, also took a round of newly constructed surgical OT, department of MRI, CT, in-house dietary block, super deluxe rooms, hair transplant OT and eye OPD block.

While appraising the efforts of managing committee members, medical administrators, faculty and all employees of the hospital, he urged them to enhance the reputation of the institution. He stressed that optimum patient care should be the top priority for the faculty and the staff of the institution. Munjal asked every one to ensure that each patient, who left the hospital, should be fully satisfied with the services provided.

Medical superintendent of DMCH Dr Sandeep Puri said in the recent past, there had been a thrust in DMCH for installing various hi-tech equipment in different clinical areas, especially related to intensive and critical care, advanced diagnostic and specialised treatment. Due to higher influx of patients in the emergency of the hospital, this section was being extended and renovation work was in progress in the OPD areas, surgical OT complex, private rooms and other core areas of the hospital. As the healthcare industry in India was witnessing a huge transformation, it was very important to keep the institution abreast with modern equipment and medical care facilities.

Among others, Amrit Nagpal, vice-president, Prem Kumar Gupta, secretary, Satish Sanwalka, treasurer along with other members of the managing society, Dr Daljit Singh, principal, Dr G.S. Wander, chief cardiologist, Dr J. Whig, vice principal and Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina, medical superintendent were present at the occasion.

Ludhiana, March 16
Len Ayappa scored four goals, including a hat trick, as Air India, Mumbai, drubbed Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, 5-1, on the second day of the 5th All India Guru Gobind Singh Gold Cup Hockey Tournament being organised by the Ludhiana Sports Welfare Association at the Prithipal Singh AstroTurf Stadium of Punjab Agricultural University here today. The winners led 2-1 at the breather.

Air India drew the first blood in the very second minute of the encounter when Ayappa converted a penalty corner. RCF men restored the parity in the 11th minute through Gagandeep Singh who successfully converted a corner into the goal.

Ayappa again struck in the 25th minute to put his side ahead (2-1). He sounded the board in the 43rd minute to complete his hat trick. Seven minutes later, Gurvinder Singh found the target to read it 4-1 and Ayappa pumped in another goal just two minutes before the long whistle to complete the rout 5-1.

The second match was played between Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Punjab National Bank in which the former, after surviving some anxious moments, managed to prevail over 1-0. The important goal came off Gurpreet Singh’s stick (penalty stroke) in the 37th minute.

A large number of spectators who had come to witness the matches on Sunday, returned disappointed as two other matches slated for the day, between Indian Oil Corporation and Indian Airlines, Air Force, Chandigarh, and Punjab Police were called due to the scarcity of water and subsequently the leakage in the water pipe at the stadium. The matches will now be played tomorrow.

Ludhiana, March 16
Fine batting by Dev Vrat (69 n.o) and Varinder Patwari (52) guided Sarpanch Bachan Singh Academy to script nine wicket win over Grewal XI in the Friendship Cricket Cup Tournament being played at Balloke village on Hambran road near Haibowal Khurd here today.

Batting first, Grewal XI were all out for 164 runs in 24.5 overs. The main contributors were Rahul Bhatia (40), Satish Kumar (26), Surinder Negi (28) and Bharat Bhushan (17).

For Sarpanch Bachan Academy, Pritpal Singh was the pick of bowler who chipped in with four wickets for 24 runs while Nirmal Sharma grabbed three wickets for 26 runs and Vishwanath captured two wickets for 25 runs.

Sarpanch Bachan Academy achieved the target in 22.4 overs losing just one wicket. Dev Vrat (69 n.o), Varinder Patwari (52) and Pritam (24 n.o) were the architects of Sarpanch Bachan Academy’s easy victory. For the losers, lone wicket taker was Rahul Bhatia who took one for 
48 runs.

Ludhiana, March 16
Hosts Punjab proved their supremacy winning most of the gold medals which were at stake in the 17th Men and 12th Women Northern India Weightlifting Championship that concluded at the Ludhiana Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Club, Rakh Bagh, here today.

As many as 142 participants from Northern India competed in this two-day event and Punjab kept its domain intact by retaining the overall championship, they won at Noida, last year.

S.K. Sinha, IAS, president, Punjab Weightlifting Association, gave away prizes to the position holders.

Results: Women: (48 kg): 1 Kusum of Punjab- total lift 118 kg, 2 Renu of Chandigarh- total lift 112 kg, 3 Kirti Yadav of Uttar Pradesh- total lift 110 kg; (53 kg): 1 Preeti of Haryana, 2 Praveen of Punjab- total lift 143 kg, 3 Sonia of Chandigarh- total lift 133 kg; (63 kg): 1 Sunita Rani of Punjab, 2 Meenakshi of Haryana and 3 Archana of Uttar Pradesh

69 kg: 1 Sukhdeep Kaur of Punjab- total lift 186 kg, 2 Neha Dhawan of Punjab - total lift 142 kg, 3 Jasvir Kaur of Chandigarh- total lift of 133 kg; (75 kg): 1 Raveena of Punjab- total lift of 50 kg, 2 Pushpa Vohra of Uttranachal- total lift of 127 kg, 3 Pardeep Kaur of Punjab- total lift of 105 kg; (+75 kg): 1 Pardeep Kaur of Punjab- total lift of 163 kg, 2 Nivneet Kaur of Chandigarh, total lift of 141 kg, 3 Seema Rani of Jammu and Kashmir, total lift of 94 kg.

Men: (56 kg): 1 Parmod Goswami of Uttar Pradesh- total lift of 232 kg, 2 Vikram of Haryana- total lift of 226 kg, 3 Lakhbir Singh of Chandigarh- total lift of 210 kg; (62 kg): 1 Gurpreet Singh of Punjab, total lift of 242 kg, 2 Sandeep Kumar of Uttar Pradesh - total lift of 229 kg, 3 Kulvir Singh of Himachal Pradesh- total lift of 226 kg.

69 kg: 1 Prem Singh of Punjab- total lift of 287 kg, 2 Vijay Hooda of Haryana- total lift of 256 kg, 3 Kamaljit Singh of Punjab- total lift of 255 kg; (77 kg): 1 Tej Singh of Haryana- total lift of 281 kg, 2 Falbir Singh of Chandigarh- total lift of 281 kg, 3 Bharat Singh of Haryana- total lift of 276 kg; (85 kg: 1 Manjit Singh of Punjab- total lift of 312 kg, 2 Satinder Singh of Haryana- total lift of 300 kg, 3 Sandeep Kumar of Delhi- total lift of 269 kg. 

Doraha, March16
Doraha College of Education organised its third annual athletics meet in the college ground here today. Rattan Singh Brar, DSP, Payal, inaugurated the meet by unfurling the flag and releasing balloons in the air. He stressed upon the pivotal role played by teachers and educators in the betterment of the society.

The meet began with the march past by students of Gandhi, Tagore and Aurobindo House. In the daylong meet, the college students participated in a series of events as 400m, 200m, 100m, long jump, shot put etc. Besides, recreational races like chatti race, lemon and spoon race, sack race, skipping race were also held. March past and tug of war was also adjudged.

Chief guest for the prize distribution and closing ceremony was Sukhpal Singh, chairman, Doraha College of Education.

Principal of the college Dr J. Kiran Gera stressed the need for physical exercise and sports as an integral part of education.

Sukhpal Singh gave away the prizes to the winners of intra-college competitions and athletics meet. Amandeep Kaur was declared the best athlete while Aurobindo House bagged the trophy for the Best March Past. Tagore House won the trophy for the Overall Best House.

House teacher of Tagore House Amanpreet Kaur along with the students received the trophy from Sukhpal Singh. Devinder Singh, sports teacher, was also honored .The chief guest congratulated the students for their achievements. In the end, Kanwalpreet thanked the guests and parents for gracing the occasion and making the function a success.

Results: 100m: 1 Amandeep, 2 Jaswinder, 3 Lovely; shot put: 1 Richa, 2 Amandeep, 3 Bawinderjit; 400m: 1 Amandeep, 2 Jaswinder, 3 Sandeep.

Chatti race: 1 Rajwinder, 2 Roshanpal, 3 Kulwant; long jump: 1 Amandeep, 2 Jaswinder, 3 Pawandeep; 200m: 1 Amandeep, 2 Lovely, 3 Kulwant; 50m: 1 Amandeep, 2 Lovely, 3 Jaswinder. Tagore House won tug-of-war.

House teacher of Tagore House Ms. Amanpreet Kaur along with the athletes receiving the trophy from S. Sukhpal Singh Chairman, Doraha College of Education during the athletic meet organised in the college today. (Photo by Lovleen bains).

Doraha, March16
The Punjab government has appointed SDM Ferozepur as the administrator of Guru Nanak College, Ferozepur.

This decision of the govt has been hailed apart from others by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union as the PCCTU had specially asked the govt to do so at the earliest, keeping in view the non-compliance of govt norms by various managements and principals of private-aided colleges.

Dr.Kuldip Singh, state general secretary, PCCTU, in a press note, complimented the Punjab government for translating into actuality a decision taken in principle to appoint Administrators in private colleges of Punjab where either managing committees or principals of these privately managed aided colleges were throwing government norms to the wind.

The decision in this regard had, however, been taken at the meetings presided over by Dr Upinderjit Kaur, Punjab higher education minister with the state PCCTU office-bearers.

Dr Kuldip Singh urged the minister to appoint administrators in other private colleges of Punjab too which were violating government as well as university calendar norms. He wanted the minister to redress other grievances of private college teachers particularly to implement the decisions taken at the meetings with the union on August 31 and October 1 such as CAS for DPEs and librarians, full 95 per cent grant-in-aid, lifting of ban on recruitment, HRA for rural colleges, arrears of DA merger, additionality and difference of allowances etc. and other long-pending issues at the earliest.