Ludhiana, October 8
The civic administration today took another step towards the resumption of construction on the proposed flyover in place of the Lakkar Pul in the wake of the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take up the work in a fixed time frame.

Senior officials of the municipal corporation, including Zonal Commissioner (A zone) Vinod Sharda, executive engineer (projects) HS Khosa and assistant town planner Kamaljit Kaur, visited the site of the flyover to persuade shopkeepers to temporarily shift their shops as these were coming in the way of the alignment of the flyover.

Khosa said after the ramps were constructed, the 68 shopkeepers who were affected would be provided with alternative sites under the flyover. “The plan was discussed with shopkeepers and they have agreed in principle to the offer made by the MC,” he said.

The MC had served a notice for the removal of the shops to clear the site for the construction of approach roads and also to enable the northern railway authorities to commence work on the portion of the bridge above the track. “The MC officials had visited the site to meet the shopkeepers and settle the issue in an amicable manner since it entails the livelihood of a large number of shopkeepers and their families,” he said.

He said two ramps, each 25-ft wide, for up and down traffic had been proposed on the Clock Tower side. The traffic going towards the Old Sessions Court Chowk would take the ramp from railway goods shed side. The approach roads would be one-way.

MC Commissioner AK Sinha said the civic body would consider the inconvenience caused to the shopkeepers and would help rehabilitate them in the shortest possible time. “We have to remove obstructions in the way of the alignment and provide clear site for approach roads to the PWD, which is the executive agency for the Rs 60-crore project as tenders for the construction have already been floated,” he said.

Ludhiana, October 8
Shopkeepers have decided to oppose the municipal corporation’s decision to block a chowk on the Gill road for raising a flyover.

This move would block the easy approach to shops and is a cause for sleepless nights to nearly 50 shopkeepers and dhaba owners who fear their business would be hit.

Some of them expressed their apprehension that they might have to close down their business and shift elsewhere if the authorities close the road.

They threatened to go on a protest if the MC went ahead with the design of the flyover that would spell doom for them.

Employees of the company developing the flyover said the shopkeepers were employing ways to pressure the flyover authorities not to block the road.

Pardeep Arora, an auto parts dealer, rued: “We would be ruined if the road is blocked. There has to be an amicable solution as we are suffering heavy losses due to the slow pace of the project.”

Flyover officials alleged that area councillors and other local leaders were using the flyover to establish their political career.

However, councillor Parminder Soma said they were fighting against the authorities on behalf of the residents. “Why it is taking so long for the completion of the project and why are people being inconvenienced? Such projects are made to for the benefit of people and not to make them suffer,” he said, adding that it was for everyone to see what they had made of Gill Chowk, which had turned into a mess.

“We have complained numerous time about the substandard material being used in the project, but nothing has been done so far,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, the project in charge, XEN HS Khosa, denied the use of substandard material for the project. “All these allegations are false and people with vested interests are making such allegations,” he claimed.

Doraha, October 8
No efforts have been made by the authorities concerned to clear discarded material and articles stored by junk dealers under the Doraha bridge and dumping is continuing at its usual pace.

A resident rued: “Since junk is inflammable, it can prove devastating, especially if any unexploded shell gets transported with the junk, as has been in the past. The bridge can explode and could result in loss of lives.”

Bomb shells have been recovered from the canal at Doraha and Mandi Gobindgarh, besides other places. “The presence of such a shell in the junk dumped under the bridge cannot be ruled out. The authorities these days go in for a policy of wait and watch,” another resident complained.

“The possibility of a sabotage can also not be ruled out part. An explosive could be planted along the junk to blow up the bridge,” a senior citizen stated.

“It seems that the administration has learnt no lessons from the blasts that have been taking place in some part or the other of the country. Generally, the authorities wake up from slumber only after some tragedy actually takes place,” another resident lamented.

Ludhiana, October 8
In blatant violation of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, a large number of sweets shops in the city are procuring synthetic khoya to make sweets for the ongoing festival season.

Officials at the department of health and family welfare, despite their constant efforts, have failed to check it.

Dr US Sooch said halwais were getting the supply of synthetic khoya from outside Punjab, adding that they had changed their modus operandi to smuggle khoya in the city following the strict vigil of the department.

However, a team of health officials, led by Dr Sooch, was successful in seizing 13 quintals of spurious khoya from a sweets shop in Doraha this week. The team raided the premises following a secret information to catch culprits. A case under the PFA Act was registered against the sweets shop owner.

A large number of people fall sick during the festival season after consuming synthetic sweets as is evident from the past records of hospitals. Doctors also caution people to avoid eating sweets during this season.

In order to check the sale of substandard and spurious sweets, Ludhiana civil surgeon Maninderjeet Singh had convened a special meeting of the Halwai Association recently wherein he had requested sweet shop owners to ensure sale of pure and healthy sweets to the people.

He had called upon association members to come forward with the information against people manufacturing and smuggling synthetic paneer/khoya in the city. Till date, not even one person has come forward to help the authorities, added the civil suregon.

Incongruously, a delegation of the Punjab Halwai Association comprising reputed halwais of Ludhiana. Instead of extending support to the health authorities, they approached the principal secretary, health, Punjab, Satish Chandra, alleging health officials of “harassment" to the sweets shop owners with unneccessary raids during the festival season.

Ludhiana, October 8
In response to a call given by the All-India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), the loco running employees organised a dharna to press for acceptance of pending demands, especially removal of anomalies in the pay scale, here today.

Addressing the rally, speakers, including branch president Baldev Singh Gill and divisional secretary Paramjit Singh, highlighted the discrimination meted out to loco running staff in the recommendations of the 6th pay commission.

“Ignoring their educational qualifications, the pay scales of assistant loco pilot have been fixed equivalent to class IV employees. Similarly, giving the go-by to the formula laid down for running allowance, the travelling allowance has been fixed at Rs 210 in place of Rs 340, and provisions have also been made for duty hours beyond maximum of eight hours,” the trade union leaders charged.

The functionaries of the association urged the railway authorities to fill over 10,000 vacant posts of loco running staff, grant the grade pay of Rs 2,800 to assistant loco pilot, Rs 4,200 to loco pilot, Rs 4,600 to loco pilot (passenger) and Rs 5,400 to loco pilot (mail).

They further called for grant of Rs 340 as running allowance TA, scrupulous implementation of eight-hour duty, formulation of a promotion policy based on seniority and scrapping of the new pension policy and privatisation of railways.

Among other speakers at the rally were Daljit Singh, Amarjit Singh, Harsh Kumar Saxena, Rajeshwar Singh, Balbir Singh, Avtar Singh, Ghansham Singh, Ashok Kumar and Mohinder Pal.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 8
Farmers’ unions have announced organisational programme to save the peasants from the alleged exploitation at the hands of traders and officials of procurement agencies in grain markets.

Groups have been constituted to ensure that farmers get value for each grain of paddy brought by them in the mandis.

Farmers and their harassment faced by them due to inadequate facilities in grain markets and purchase centres took this decision following reports of distressed selling of the produce.

Accusing successive governments of allowing traders and officials of procurement agencies to exploit farmers, office-bearers of various 
organisations, including the Zamhoori Kissan Sabha and the Punjab Kissan Sabha have announced that they would protest against the administration in case the exploitation continues.

“We have constituted groups, each led by senior functionary. These groups will be visiting mandis during this fortnight and ensure that no farmer is being exploited,” said Mohinder Singh Seelon, district president, Zamhoori Kissan Sabha. He added that the activists would gherao the office and premises of official or traders found harassing the farmers.

Baldev Singh Latala, senior vice-president, Punjab Kissan Sabha, alleged that the lackluster attitude of officials of various procurement agencies and the market committees of the area had resulted in a situation wherein traders and owners of rice shellers were exploiting helplessness of farmers. “Having spent extra expenses on diesel due to the non-availability of power during transplantation the farmers are being forced to bear further loss by selling their produce at prices much lower than the prescribed rates,” rued Latala alleging traders and officials were hand in glove with each other.

Jagraon, October 8
Congress workers have accused Akali workers of hampering the election of the agriculture society yesterday when they saw themselves lose.

The election to the nine-member society of Bassian village, near Raikot. There were 334 members of the society, out of which only 189 had voting rights as the others had been declared defaulters due to the non-payment of their dues.

The returning officer, Hakam Singh, had reached the venue along with Inspector Kuldeep Singh and his team to conduct the election.

The election process had barely started when an altercation between Congress and Akali workers ensued and the process was halted. The situation continued to remain tense and the returning officer had to declare the election cancelled.

Congress leader Maghar Singh said they had fielded eight nominees whereas the Akalis had fielded only two and it meant clear defeat for the Akalis.

He claimed that the Akalis offered a solution that an Akali be appointed president, but it was opposed and election to the post of president was also suggested. At this, the Akalis arranged for musclemen to disrupt the election, he alleged.

However, Akali leaders Surjit Singh and Kulwant Singh Gill said they had fielded five candidates and sensing their defeat, Congress workers tried to make members, whose voting rights had been withdrawn, to cast their votes.

He alleged that the Congress workers also tried to influence the election by pressuring the returning officer.

The returning officer was not available for comments, but Inspector Kuldeep Singh said the situation became tense at the election venue and the police arrangement was also insufficient. In order to avoid any unpleasant situation, they cancelled the election.

Ludhiana, October 8
With the beginning of Navrataras, market and Diwali bazaars overflow with new items for different consumer segments. Heavy discounts, sales, free gift items, attractive and specially designed gift packs are offered to lure the customers to buy at an accelerated rate.

Dr Surinderjit Kaur and Dr Manjit Kaur of College of Home Science, PAU, say in most cases, glittering gift items are often overpriced with no durability or utility. "People prefer decorative items, furnishing materials, sweets and dry fruits as gift items but most of the items were dumped after a few days", they feel.

A large amount of readymade sweets are also exchanged, along with gifts, as people prefer to buy sweets rather than preparing these at home. Due to increased demand, manufacturers prepar sweets ignoring the hygiene requirements, says Dr Surinderjit.

Dr Manjit says some people don’t even hesitate to use adulterated food items, including khoya, ghee, prohibited textile or industrial dyes.

Every year, large amount of adulterated khoa and ghee is seized by health authorities. Sweets sold during festivals are prepared in advance to meet the increased demand, so customers usually don’t get fresh sweets.

During Diwali, mostly sweets are sold without labelling or mention of expiry date. "Such sweets are injurious to health. We should prepare these at home or buy these from reliable shops,” advise scientists. To lure consumers during festivals, manufacturers also offer various exchange offers, discounts, free gifts and installment purchase offers. People even go beyond their budget to buy things. The home scientists have asked people to be selective while purchasing extravagant gifts, sweets and crackers.

Ludhiana, October 8
A special meeting was held to discuss the much awaited New Industrial Policy announced by The Punjab Government by Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) here last evening.

Chamber welcomed the benefits granted for the development of IT and knowledge-based industry as well as giving a fillip to the growth of agro industry in the state.

The mandatory permission approved for change of land use from agriculture to industrial sector without CLU charges and licence fee will stimulate industrial growth. Another major relief to industry was the rationalisation of VAT.

There was no excitement with the policy amongst industrialists of Punjab.

The state government had not given required importance for the growth of export.

While the government was ready to doll out concessions to the anchor companies promising investments in state, it had not fixed any parameter on which the incentives would be offered.

Apart from that, new policy had nothing to offer to the border districts.

Under mega project schemes, incentives should be given on merits on case-to-case basis and should not be tailor-made, said Avtar Singh, general secretary CICU, in a press statement here today.

“There is already acute shortage of power in the state, whereas new the policy has announced to exempt IT parks from statutory power cuts, restrictions on peak load hours and weekly load shedding. We fail to understand as to how these concessions can be provided when the existing industry is reeling under severe power cuts for the past one year,” asked the general secretary.

The chamber members feel that interest subsidy, financial assistance and aid for patent registration granted to agro industries should also be provided to all deserving industrial sectors for the overall growth of the economy.

MSMEs were the main employment providers in the state and this sector was generating sizable revenue for the state, but this industrial policy had not watched its interests.

There was an urgent need to enact and implement the long-pending Punjab Common Infrastructure Maintenance Act for creation and upgrade of industrial infrastructure, said members.

Ludhiana, October 8
This is perfect time to raise the nursery of tomato, chillies, garlic and onion. Besides, there is a long list of vegetables that can be grown in winter season, technology for growing and management of which has been developed by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). This was stated by head, department of vegetable crops, Dr DS Cheema here today.

He said the nursery of tomato, chillies and onion should be sown on well-prepared raised beds after treating the seed with the recommended fungicides to protect against incidence of damping off disease.

The seeds should be sown in the last week of October, said Dr Cheema.

For brinjal, the nursery can be sown in mid-November but for this the nursery beds need to be protected against cold through erecting thatch or polythene cover.

Like brinjal, nursery of chillies also needs protection against cold as these crops are to be transplanted in February.

Dr PS Brar of the department said in view of the high temperature and rains experienced in the recent past, the early varieties of peas — Matar Ageta-6 and Arkel — should be sown. The other main season varieties of peas — Punjab-87, Punjab-88 and Punjab-89 — should not be sown early and the proper time for sowing (mid-October to mid-November) should be followed. The time is also right for sowing garlic (latest variety PG-17), he said.

Another scientist Dr Daljeet Singh said root vegetables like carrot, radish and turnip should also be sown. Dr TS Dhillon from the department said farmers interested in growing vegetables should prepare their nursery beds or fields well.

Ludhiana, October 8
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, is all set to host its first-ever youth festival from October 12-14.

Dr Kulbir Singh Sandhu, director, students’ welfare, and president of the festival committee, said: “We are organising the festival to polish and develop their talent and skills.”

He said to streamline the functioning, committees had been constituted and duties allocated.

Dr Charan Kamal Singh, organising secretary of the youth festival, said Dr VK Taneja, vice-chancellor, would inaugurate the festival on October 12 after which shabad gayan, elocution, extempore, debate, mime, skit, mono-acting and solo dance competitions would be held.

Rangoli, clay-modelling, on-the-spot painting, quiz, collage making, light vocal, patriotic song, group song and folk song competitions would be the attraction of the second day of the fest, while competitions in cartooning, sketching, giddha, bhangra and other dances would be held on the concluding day.

Ludhiana, October 8
Class monitors in government schools have been asked to maintain a daily diary of what teachers teach, in an effort to assess the performance of teachers by students.

The teachers on their part are panicky. The diary had been introduced from October 1 and monitors have been told to make the entry of every period. The contents of the lesson taught are also to be incorporated in the diary.

Earlier, the teachers would write daily diary. It is for the first time that the students have also been asked to write the diary.

A visit to Government Senior Secondary School revealed that the student’s diary was heavier with matter compared to the teacher’s diary. It contains the teacher’s name, subject taught and the homework assigned.

A monitor said a particular teacher had not taken the class even though she was present. The teacher told him to write that she distributed papers and started a new chapter. He had no option but to obey her.

He added that whatever he had been writing, had been dictated by the teacher. This step has been introduced by the Punjab education department to improve the quality of government schools.

The merit is that teachers would have to remain alert, but it has burdened monitors.

Amarjit Kaur, DEO (secondary), said the diary was meant from Classes I to XII. The department had sent diaries to the districts and these were being distributed to schools. She said they would cross-check if there were any “manipulations” in the diary by asking students questions in the class.

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 8
A two-day international seminar on “Corporate social responsibility” was organised at Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences here.

The seminar was chaired by PHDCCI secretary general Krishan Kalra. Dr LK Maheshwari, Vice-Chancellor, Bits Pilani, was the keynote speaker.

Group chairman Dr Zora Singh along with vice-chairperson Tajinder Kaur and director-general Shalini Gupta welcomed the chief guests.

David Mclackland, education director, Universal Peace Federation, UK, and HAJ Eradus, head of department (education), PUM, the Netherlands, were the guests of honour. Azaz Ahmad Azar, director Punjab TV, Pakistan, also attended the seminar.

The seminar started with the lighting of the lamp.

Dr Maheshwari talked about the changing attitudes towards development and keeping balance between nature and development.

Tejinder Kaur proposed the vote of thank to the chief guest.

An industrial conclave was conducted by Dr NVM Rao and was attended by Dr Akhil Sangal, CEO Indian Confederation Health Care Accreditation, Dr K Narsimma, GM, TVS Health Services, Chennai, Sarata Babu, Food King, Chennai, Neena Singh, former north head, HDFC Bank, and Manmohan Singh, MD Aroma Hotel.

They presented a case study on initiatives taken by the corporate world.

Dr Anil Jain, an industrialist from Ambala and guest faculty of BITS, proposed to students and faculty to complete their training at local industries of Mandi Gobindgarh and educate industrialists to install eco-friendly devices in factories to make it a smoke and pollution-free zone.

A special session was conducted by Sandeep Kumar, general secretary, UPF, and Dr Mclackland for cultural and educational exchange, and youth leadership between DBGOI and Asian countries.

Ludhiana, October 8
“Farm machinery brings timeliness and precision in agriculture. A number of efficient machines have been developed and recommended by Punjab Agricultural University.”

This was stated by director of extension education Dr MS Gill while addressing participants of a training course on “Use of Happy Seeder for Direct Sowing of Wheat in Combine Harvested Paddy Field” in the inaugural session.

Dr Gill added that to curtail production cost, cooperative agriculture was important especially with regard to the use of cost-intensive second generation machinery.

The programme wherein 60 trainees, including scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras, engineers from the agriculture department, farmers and manufacturers, participated, saw technical deliberations by experts.

Deliberations were held on economic importance and status of happy seeder technology by Dr HS Dhaliwal, development of happy seeder technology by Dr HS Sidhu, adoption status of happy seeder in the state by Dr BS Sidhu, effect of crop residues on soil properties by Dr Yadwinder Singh, demonstration of operational adjustment in happy seeder by Manpreet Singh.

Information on the rodent control measures in happy seeder plots were shared by Dr Neena Singla.

The farmers shared their experiences about the technology. Technical coordinators for the course were Dr Yadwinder Singh and Dr IS Dhaliwal while course coordinators were Dr VK Bhambota and Dr TS Riar.

Dr Dhaliwal proposed thanks to the chief guest, experts and participants in the inaugural session.

Ludhiana, October 8
A fancy dress show for students of LKG and a talent show for those of classes III to V were organised at RS Model Senior Secondary School here.

Principal ML Kalra and vice-principal Maninderjit Kaur were present.

Tiny tots came dressed in colourful attires. Students of classes III to V presented dance, acting and poem recitation skills.

At least 150 students participated in the function.

Dance contest

Bal Bharati Public School organised a solo dance competition for its pre-primary wing students.

The activity was divided into two parts. First, audition of 350 students was held and students were selected based on their performance.

The children picked their choice from forms like classical, semi-classical, folk, western and bollywood.

They were judged on selection of song, expressions, confidence and choreography.

At least five children were selected from each section for the final round. Little stars came dressed in colourful costumes and they enthralled the audience with their performances.

Principal Punam Dogra appreciated the efforts of students and their parents.

Ludhiana, October 8
The department of animal biotechnology at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University has been sanctioned a project on human resource development by the department of biotechnology of the Central government. The department has been sanctioned a funding of Rs 90 lakh for three years.

Dr Gurvinder Singh Brah, head of the department who is also the principal investigator and co-ordinator of the project, yesterday said that six students would be admitted through an all India entrance test to be conducted by the JNU at New Delhi. Each student would receive a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000, in addition to research and thesis, and contingencies of Rs 85,000 per student annually. The project would also cover the cost of an eight-week industrial training of students; funds for the visit of faculty from other institutes/universities and purchase of high-end equipment.

He said a cheque for Rs 46.7 lakh had been received for the execution of the first year of the project. The university had become a member of the elite agricultural/animal husbandry universities offering animal/veterinary biotechnology degrees by way of this project.

The department started the MVSc/MSc course last year and 11 students, including two foreign nationals, were pursuing it.

The department had started PhD programmes from the current academic session, for which a student from a developing country had been sponsored for admission by the department of biotechnology, Government of India.

The focus of research work includes animal genomics vis-a-vis a marker assisted selection and molecular diagnostics and vaccine development. The research was expected to hasten the rate of genetic improvement through marker-based early selection and conservation of indigenous germ plasm of live stock breed.

Specific molecular diagnostic essays and improved vaccines would promote animal health and productivity, he claimed.

Jagraon, October 8
The Sidhwan Bet police has booked the neighbour of Parminder Singh, alias Dhanna (22), for abetting suicide.

In her complaint, Kamaljit Kaur, mother of the victim, accused Jaswant Singh of Kakar Tihara village of killing her son by poisoning him after assaulting and branding him as thief.

She stated that on Monday afternoon, she heard some noises from the house of Jaswant Singh, her neighbour, and thought that some thief had entered the house.

She along with her another neighbour reached the house of Jaswant Singh only to find that he was trashing her son.

Kamaljit Kaur entered the house and when she tried to intervene, she was turned out of the house.

She claimed that even the sarpanch and other villagers who tried to save Parminder were turned out of the house by Jaswant Singh.

Jaswant Singh later came out of the house and claimed that Parminder had swallowed some poison.

Soon after, Parminder came out and fell unconscious. He was taken to the Sidhwan Bet police station but the constables advised them to take him to the civil hospital, located opposite the police station.

The doctors at the hospital referred him to the Jagraon civil hospital. Parminder was taken there but died later.

Jarnail Singh, father of the deceased, said the accused, fearing police action, offered them Rs 65,000 for a compromise and later raised it to Rs 1 lakh.

However, the police booked the accused under Section 306, IPC, asserting that Parminder had consumed poison in the house of Jaswant.

It claimed that Parminder took the step out of humiliation received at the hands of Jaswant. The eyewitnesses, however, termed it an attempted murder.

Sidhwan Bet SHO Balbir Singh denied the charges.

Jagraon, October 8
The Raikot police has booked four persons for assaulting a youth with sharp-edged weapons here.

Iqbal Singh, alias Happy, of Rajowana Khurd village, near Raikot, had lodged a complaint with the police that on Monday afternoon Talwinder Singh, alias Kala, Hardeep Singh and Gagandeep Singh, alias Goga, all of Rajowana Kalan, and Boota Singh Sadowalia of Sadowal village, armed with sharp-edged weapons had attacked him near the old bus stand over money.

He had gone to a shop dealing in mobile phone accessories and the accused followed him to the shop and assaulted him.

Iqbal Singh was seriously injured and was taken to the Raikot civil hospital and later shifted to the Ludhiana civil hospital in a critical state.

SHO Raikot Gurdial Singh said the two sides had clashed at Rajowana village last week but the village panchayat had pacified both sides and effected a compromise.

The police has registered a case against the accused under Sections 323, 324, 506 and 34, IPC. No arrest has been made so far.

Ludhiana, October 8
Athletes from Delhi dominated the proceedings, clinching three out of five titles at stake, on the opening day of the 43rd Life Insurance Corporation of India Zonal Athletics Meet held at Punjab Agricultural University campus ground, here today.

International star Gurmeet Kaur, representing Delhi, fetched gold in the discus throw event.

She hurled the disc to a distance of 33.89 m, while her immediate opponent Ritu Bhatia, also from Delhi, finished second with a throw of 31.80 m.

In javelin throw (men), Abay Kumar of Delhi, with a throw of 43.68 m, romped home triumphant, while Ravinder Kadyan of Rohtak (42.66 m) and Kuldip Singh of Karnal (41.34 m) finished second and third, respectively.

In 200 m, Arun Bhatia of Delhi clinched the top honours. Abay Kumar of Delhi followed him in the second spot, while Bhupinder Kumar of Shimla took finished third.

In 110m hurdles for men, Mohd Latif Khan of Jodhpur finished ahead of others.

GP Gurjar of Jaipur finish runner-up, while Harvinder Singh of Ludhiana had to content with third position. PJ Singh of Bikaner emerged victorious in the discus throw event with a throw of 33.88 m, while SS Maan, also from Bikaner, threw the disc to 32.91 m and secured second position. Kuldip Singh of Karnal with a throw of 28.91 m finished third. Earlier, Pritibha Mehta, member of LIC Sports Promotion Board, and AN Singh, regional manager (HRD), LIC of India, inaugurated the meet in which a large number of athletes are taking part.

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 8
Three-day Inter-College Basketball Tournament of Punjab Technical University began at RIMT sports complex here today. It was inaugurated by RIMT group chairman Dr Hukam Chand Bansal.

As many as 60 teams in boys’ and 36 in girls’ sections are taking part in the tournament. Sports director SS Dhaliwal said the matches would be played on knock-out basis from. Over 1,000 players are participating in 94 matches for which 50 officials have been assigned duties.

The opening match was played between ACET, Amritsar, and Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Rajpura, in which Chitkara emerged victorious, beating Amritsar college 31-22.

Other dignitaries present during the opening ceremony were Principal Dr Harsh Sadawarti, Dr Pritpal Singh and dean student welfare Prof Sahib Sartaj Singh. Results: Boys’ section: Chitkara Pharmacy College, Rajpura, b ACET Amritsar 31-22.