NEIGHBOURHOOD

7,500 teachers threaten statewide stir
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 10
A dharna-cum-protest rally was held by Technical Services Union of Patiala circle of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) in front of 66KV grid station, Rajpura road here today.

Nearly 600 members of the union took part in the rally in which they protested against the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s decision of not implementing his decision to re-instate seven dismissed employees of the Patiala circle.

The senior vice-president of the Patiala circle TSU Rameshwar Pasiana claimed that the CM had promised the members of the TSU at a sangat darshan held on April 8 at Patiala that the dismissed employees would soon be reinstated.

He claimed that several employees of the TSU of the Muktsar circle had also been suspended and they too had not been reinstated despite CM’s assurances.

Pasiana also said the CM had given an assurance at the sangat darshan that those employees who had been transferred ‘unnecessarily’ would be put back. However, he said even this promise remained unfulfilled till date.

The leaders who spoke on the occasion warned that they would waive black flags wherever and whenever the Chief Minister took part in a political rally.

The members of the TSU later took out a protest rally from Rajpura colony, bus stand, Arya Samaj, before the procession culminated in the PSEB head office.

Patiala, July 10
Teachers and students of various schools and colleges situated in Punjabi Bagh area today staged a protest against the municipal authorities demanding quick removal of a garbage dump in the area.

They demanded proper cleaning of the area as a number of schools and colleges were located there. The dump, right next to the gate of the Physical College of Education, poses a continuous threat to health of residents, particularly the students of State College of Education and Multi-purpose Government School.

Rajiv Gupta, an employee under the Sarv Shikha Abhiyan, said the matter had been brought to the notice of the municipal authorities a number of times but to no avail. “The sweepers even throw dead animals in the dump and it is impossible for us to stand in the area where we have our offices,” he added.

Harpreet, a student of the Physical College of Education, said: “The foul smell emanating from the dump is so unbearable that it becomes difficult for us to concentrate while attending classes.''

“The authorities should take the matter seriously. A primary school is situated near the dump and kids studying there are under constant threat from diseases. The authorities should remove this garbage dump at the earliest,'' urged another student.

Bassi Pathana, July 10
Harbhajan Singh Chanarthal, a senior SAD leader, has urged SAD high command to support the union government on the nuclear deal issue. He said the nuclear deal was in the interest of the country and particularly for Punjab, which does not have its own resources to generate power.

He said industry and farming sector were the worst affected due to power cuts. He said nuclear deal would enable the country to generate nuclear energy in the years to come and it was the cheapest method to generate energy. He added that the majority of Akali leaders were in favour of the nuclear deal but apprehending action from Badals avoid issuing any statement. He said even former President APJ Abdul Kalam was supporting it.

He urged Badal not to extend support in removing the first Sikh Prime Minister of the country. He said if the party faces any difficulty it should prefer to abstain from voting. He said he was expressing the sentiments of the common party workers.

Chandigarh, July 10
An office bearer of Ball Badminton Sports Promotion Association Chandigarh (BBSPAC) levelled serious allegations of misappropriation of funds against Dolly Dahiya, deputy director (sports), Panjab University.

The secretary of the association B.S. Lamba alleged that he gave Rs 16,000 to the official as donation for holding the Panjab University Campus Athletic Meet held in February this year. “Though the amount was given as donation to the sports official, she had issued no receipt to me till date. I am sure she had pocketed the whole amount, which I gave for the sports meet,” Lamba alleged.

He also alleged that Dahiya has demanded money for admitting his players in the university under sports quota.

“A written complaint in this regard has been made to the vice-chancellor of the university,” Lamba said.

Refuting the allegations, Dahiya termed Lamba a liar, maintaining that the sport meet, for which he claimed to have provided the funds, never took place.

“We have sufficient funds for organising sports meet so why should I ask for donation. In fact, Lamba wanted to recognise his association from the university, but he did not comply with the terms. This is the reason behind his rubbish allegations,” Dahiya said while maintaining that she had also received life threats by some unknown persons, who insisted her to recognise the association of Lamba or face consequences.

On the issue, vice-chancellor Dr R.C. Sobti said, “Actually I don’t remember whether such complaint has come to my office. But if it comes, an appropriateaction will definitely be taken.”

Mohali, July 10
With his superb 65-run-knock, Sahil enabled APJ Academy to lift the inaugural Sardar Amar Singh Memorial Under-12 Cricket Tournament beating Sunny Enclave team by mere four runs at the PCA Ground 3, here, today.

It was a neck and neck fight in which APJ emerged winner. On the other hand, an unbeaten half-century (51) by Raman went in vain as his team mate could get only six runs in the final over of the match whereas 10 runs were required to win.

Earlier, APJ posted 157 runs, losing three wickets in the allotted 25 overs. Apart from Sahil, Anmol chipped in 57 runs consisting seven boundaries. Prabhav and Gurpreet took wicket each for 23 and 24 runs, respectively.

In reply, Sunny team could muster only 153 for 4 in the stipulated overs. Amrinder contributed 24 runs while Shubham made 22 runs.

Raman raised hopes for the team with his unbeaten 51-run-knock.

Sanchit of APJ Academy bowled seven wides in the penultimate over which helped the batsmen to get 16 runs. Taranveer Virk of APJ Academy bagged 2 for 18. Sahil of APJ Academy was adjudged the man of the series. He was also declared man of the match in the final.

Chief guest Desh Prem Azad presented the winners and runners-up trophies.

Brief scores: APJ Academy, Kharar: 157 for 3 in 25 overs (Sahil 65, Anmol 57, Prabhav 1 for 23, Gurpreet 1 for 24).

Sunny XI: 153 for 4 in 25 overs (Amrinder 24, Shubham 22, Raman 51 n.o., Taranveer Virk 2 for 18, Jaswinder 1 for 26).

Best batsman: Raman (Sunny Enclave); best bowler: Anmol (APJ Academy); best wicketkeeper: Vishal (Sunny Enclave). Man of the Series: Sahil (APJ Academy). Final man of the match: Sahil (APJ Academy).

Mohali, July 10
In a major upset, unseeded Srijan Uppal from Chandigarh defeated the second seeded Bhavtaranpreet Singh in straight sets 4-2, 4-2 in the boys under 14 age category in the AITA Total Tennis Talent Series being played at Manav Mangal Smart School, Phase X, here, today.

On the other hand, top seed Mandeep Kumar maintained his dominance in the boys’ under-14 outclassing his opponent Manik Joshi from Chandigarh 4-0, 4-0 to set semi-final tie with the fourth seed Ishaque Eqbal from West Bengal tomorrow.

Following are the results:

Boys under 12 quarterfinals: Ishaque Eqbal (WB) beat Abhijit Singh (CHD) 5-3, 4-2; Rahul Pooria (HR) beat Dhruv Pal(UK) 4-2, 4-1; Fatehdeep Singh(PB) beat Ankit Parasrampuria(RAJ) 4-0, 4-0; Dheeranush Bhatti(CHD) beat Mayuk Rawat(UK) 5-3, 4-0.

Boys under 14 quarterfinals: Mandeep Kumar (CHD) beat Manik Joshi (CHD) 4-0, 4-0; Ishaque Eqbal (WB) beat Dheeranush Bhatti (CHD) 5-3, 4-2; Fatehdeep Singh (PB) beat Nishat Eqbal (WB) 4-1, 4-0; Srijan Uppal (CHD) beat Bhavtaranpreet Singh (4-2, 4-2).

Girls under 14 second round: Sonali Bansal (CHD) beat Nehmat Aulakh (CHD) 4-0, 4-1; Himani Mor (HR) beat Meenal Maharwal (RAJ) 4-1, 4-1; Bhavya Wadhawan (CHD) beat Harsimran Kaur (DLI) 4-0, 1-4, 5-3; Deepti Rana (HR) beat Harman Kaur Chinna(PB) 4-5(4), 4-2, 4-0.

Girls under 12 quarterfinals: Riya Bhatia (DLI) beat Meenal Maharwal RAJ) 4-1, 4-1; Vanshika Sawhney (HR) beat Nandinee Sharma (CHD) 4-5(2), 5-4(5), 4-0; Bhavya Wadhawan (CHD) beat Rubika Khurana (CHD) 4-2, 4-2; Victoria (HR) beat Karman Kaur(DLI) 4-1, 5-3.

Girls under 14 quarterfinals: Sonali Bansal (CHD) beat Himani Mor (HR) 4-1, 5-4(2); Bhavya Wadhawan (CHD) beat Karman Kaur (DLI) 04, 5-3, 4-2; Deepti Rana (HR) beat Victoria (HR) 4-2, 4-1.