NEIGHBOURHOOD

Pinjore MC Polls
18 women in fray
Our Correspondent

Ropar, December 29
In a meeting of the municipal councillors of Ropar, it was decided that the dairies situated inside the town should be shifted outside.

The councillors also decided that the dairy owners, who will not abide by the decision, would be penalised by disconnecting their water connections.

The newly elected MC body today cancelled the agenda passed by the previous body to include Shyampura and Haveli Khurd villages in the municipal limits. Also, an agenda to increase the municipal limits was duly passed by the previous body, which stood cancelled today by the newly elected MC.

Patiala, December 29
“Conventional ideas and thought patterns need to be reinvented and theoretical wisdom transformed into practice to make them utilitarian, lest they hang in academic vacuum. Given the crucial juncture, scholars and academicians should get down to the real task right away, even as there was no template and readymade roadmaps to achieve the higher goals,” said Gen. (Retd) S.F. Rodrigues, Punjab Governor, and Chancellor of Punjabi University, while presiding over the 32nd convocation of the university here today.

An attitude of morality and education system embedded with elements of higher value system needs to be given priority to sustain our cultural heritage, he added.

He largely appreciated the big role played by the university Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jaspal Singh, in spearheading phenomenal progress that the university has made during his tenure.

In his convocation address entitled, “Road to Human Development - Some Insights into Emerging Challenges”, the vice-chairman of the University Grants Commission, Dr Mool Chand Sharma, said universities and institutions of higher education had a special role to play in fighting against the menace of financial meltdown, which had been intensified by globalisation.

Universities, he said, were the laboratories where minds were made, where attitudes were inculcated and where cultures were shaped to evolve a mindset and a scientific kind of patriotism as well as global outlook for fighting the menace.

A closer look would reveal that after 9/11, the US administration heavily relied in evolving a response and future strategy for preventing such happenings on the research studies that were largely conducted on the campuses.

Quoting Charles Dickens, he said, “We are living in times that are both extraordinary and difficult in the sense that never before the world has been so prosperous, so many people have never lived such long and healthy lives, never before we have witnessed such mind-boggling technological advancements and never before we had reached on such level of education.

The growing number of overseas research collaborations, increasing number of research consultancies and extension programmes were a testimony to the dedication, commitment and seriousness with which the university had pursued its academic agenda and vision of excellence, Dr Sharma said.

While thanking the guests, Dr Jaspal Singh awarded degrees and medals to the M.Phil., graduate and undergraduate students.

The Governor conferred degrees to Dr Amrik Singh, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University, and Dr Kirpal Singh, a noted historian, besides awarding Ph.D. degress and chancellor’s medals to the students.

Ambala, December 29
An ENT specialist was arrested today on the charges of molestation. A case has been registered against him in the Ambala Cantt Police Station U/S 354.

According to complainant Amarjeet, Dr Pyare Lal molested his 14-year-old daughter on the pretext of her check up. He said his daughter was undergoing a treatment with the doctor for an eye infection.

Amarjeet stated he stepped out of the doctor’s cabin while his daughter was being examined. When his daughter stepped out, she complained to him of the doctor’s misconduct.

Amarjeet then raised an alarm, which attracted the attention of few shopkeepers, who then took the doctor to the police station.

Patiala, December 29
A blood donation camp was organised today at local MM Modi College as a part of a 10-day NSS camp. The camp was inaugurated by Dr Satish Kumar Bhardwaj, principal of the college. He spoke about the significance of blood donation in saving precious human lives. A team of doctors led by Dr Rajni Bassi and Sukhwinder Singh made arrangements for the collection of donated units of blood. NSS volunteers under the leadership of Prof Balvir Singh, Dr Rajeev Sharma and Prof Harmohan Sharma, the programme officers, participated enthusiastically. Eggs, milk and fruit were served to the donors.

Other teachers who participated in the camp and motivated the volunteers include Prof Poonam Malhotra, Dr Harcharan Singh, Prof Ganesh Sethi, Prof Sumeet Kumar, Sapna, Daljit Kaur, Ruchi, Prof Gurpreet Singh, Veenu Jain, Nisha Singla, Puneet, Gurpreet Chahal, Nainjoti and Ravneet.

Ambala, December 29
Heavy fog disrupted the road and rail traffic here today inconveniencing many passengers.

On an average, all-long distance trains were more than an hour late. The Chandigarh-Kalka Shatabdi was delayed by over two hours due to dense fog.

Meanwhile, the temperature today was recorded minimum at 6.3 degrees, while the maximum was 19.8 degrees.

Chandigarh, December 29
Jeev Milkha Singh, the Asian Tour circuit’s first million-dollar man who clinched the Asian title for the second time in three years, was honoured by the Chandigarh Golf Association at its Golf Range, here this evening.

Jeev, who netted US $ 14 lakh prize money and finished 36th in the world golf ranking, said with facilities available in the city now like the Golf Range, he was hopeful of more “Jeevs” making it from the city.

The CGA president, CSR Reddy, said it was a proud moment for the association to honour a national golf icon.

Jeev was mobbed by mediapersons, as he entered the golf range along with his wife Kudrat and celebrity parents Milkha Singh and Nirmal Milkha Singh.

He said he was happy that he could handle the pressure of big events and was able to take his game to a new level.

Winning twice in three years has given Jeev the confidence. He said: “It has given me the confidence to move on to bigger things. I think I have got the game to win a Major.”

The 37-year-old golf icon said: “I feel I do have the game and next year, my focus will be on the US Major.” He was hopeful of having a Major under his belt before his golfing career ends.

Jeev’s father Milkha Singh ran the race of the century at the Rome Olympics, finishing among the top four who broke the world record. His mother Nirmal Milkha Singh was the captain of the Indian volleyball team in the Test series against Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

Jeev won the Padma Shri in January 2007, 39 years after Milkha Singh was conferred the award in 1958.

Jeev was hopeful of young golfers making it to the European Tour.

He was all praises for 20-year-old Gaganjeet Bhullar from Kapurthala, who had the potential to make it to the European Tour in a couple of years.

He also named Anirban Lahiri among the future golf icons.

Jeev was all praises for the facilities available at the CGA Golf Range. “I feel the range has helped me a lot in my quest for the second Asian Tour crown,” he said.

If 2008 was better than 2006, Jeev wants to make 2009, a still greater year.

Chandigarh, December 29
Guru Nanak Public School-CCA (GNPS-CCA) defeated APJ School of Kharar by seven wickets in the first GNP-CCA Cup here today.

APJ School won the toss and elected to bat first. Their innings terminated at 134 in 30 overs. Karan top-scored with 46 runs while Mandeep contributed 23 runs.

For GNPS-CCA Shitej (two for 27), Ishan (two for 18) and Pankaj Rawat (two for 22) shared wickets.

An unbeaten knock of 76 by Pankaj Rawat helped GNPS-CCA achieve the victory target in 22 overs by scoring 135 for three. Mandeep got two wickets for AJP School.

Brief scores:

APJ School: 134 all out in 30 overs (Karan 46, Mandeep 23, Shitej two for 27, Ishan two for 18, Pankaj Rawat two for 22.)

GNPS-CCA: 135 for three in 22 overs (Pankaj Rawat 76 not out, Arpit 18, Arjit 15, Mayank Mujhal 14, Mandeep two for 31.)

Chandigarh, December 29
The UT education department would organise the 54th National School Games from January 8 to 13, 2009. The games will be organised in the discipline of table tennis under-14, u-17, u-19 (boys and girls), fencing u-19 (boys and girls), handball u-19 (boys and girls) and roller skating u-11, u-14, u-17, u-19 (boys and girls) and roller hockey u-19 for boys only.

Necessary arrangements for the accommodation of all teams will be made at Government Model High School, Sector 20 D, Government Model High School, Sector 22, Government Model Middle School, Sector 23, Government High School, Sector 24, Government Model High School, Sector 36, Government Model High School, Sector 37 D, Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 15.

Lady constables will be deployed at those schools where girls will be staying.

Chandigarh, December 29
The Indian Express and Hindustan Times will fight for the top honours of the ongoing Inter-Media Cricket Tournament, organised by the Chandigarh Press Club at DAV School, Sector 8, here tomorrow.

During the semifinal, The Indian Express defeated The Tribune and The Hindustan Times came victorious over the Dainik Bhaskar.

In the first semifinal, the Dainik Bhaskar could only muster a total of 161/9, but was not enough to save the game as the HT put a brave foot forward and scored 164/9.

For HT, Rajat was the top scorer with 73* while Gagandeep and Bharti Garg chipped in with 26 and 16, respectively.

In the second semifinal, The Indian Express defeated The Tribune in a do-or-die match. The teams were in an equal- point level after completing 20 overs. The umpires decided to give 5 chances (5 balls), each, to the teams. The Express team utilised the opportunity and defeated the Tribune. Kamleshwar Singh (54) and Raghav (34) were the leading run takers for the Indian Express, while for the Tribune, Vijay (71), Surinder (17) and Vaibhav (15) were the principal scorers.

Chandigarh, December 29
The Panjab University, Chandigarh, thrashed the Delhi University 4-3 home runs in a league match of the All-India Inter-University Baseball (Women) Championship on PU grounds, here today.

In the second league match, GNDU, Amritsar, outclassed Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, 12-2 home runs. Gurjeet with 3 home runs was the top scorer for the wining team.

THE PU, maintaining their momentum, won their second match of the day. They also trounced GNDU, Amritsar, 10-1 home runs.

With the help of Monika and Preeti of DU, who scored 3 home runs, each, beat KU, Kurukshetra, 14-1 home runs.