NEIGHBOURHOOD

Niharika’s paper best

Patiala, October 13
As a part of Modi Jayanti celebrations, biological society of M M Modi College inaugurating a paper-reading contest on various scientific themes. Dr SK Bhardwaj, principal of the college, emphasised on new scientific developments, especially in bio-technology and bio-informatics.

He said the challenge of hunger, diseases and their miseries could be faced with the help of new findings in science.

Prof RP Gupta, president of biological society, said 27 students of the college participated in the contest. Dr Ashwini Sharma, Tina Pathak and Bindu Dhiman were the judges.

Niharika Gangahar (BSc (I) bio-informatics) was adjudged 1st, Deepika Mehra (BSc (III) medical) got 2nd and Prabhjot Kaur (BSc (III) medical) got 3rd position. — TNS

Patiala, October 13
The municipal corporation plans to hand over maintenance of municipal public parks to corporate houses having run into rough weather, the corporation has now decided to go in for public participation for maintenance of these parks.

Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli told The Tribune here today that the corporation had negotiated with corporate houses and chalked out an ambitious project to hand over the work of maintenance of important parks in the town to private business houses.

He said negotiations with big industrial houses had reached advance stage last year and were on the verge of materialising but for the economic meltdown.

He said with recession setting in, corporate houses were reluctant in coming forth for maintenance of parks.

He said several parks in the town had been lying in a state of neglect and needed an urgent facelift.

Now, it had been decided that the corporation would appoint gardeners at Rs 1,000 a month for maintenance of park in localities. An equal amount would be contributed by colony residents in the vicinity of each park to pay the gardener for the maintenance of the park.

Residents of the locality would oversee the maintenance of the park.

Kohli said with the new scheme taking effect soon, there was a glimmer of hope that green belts in the town, which were carved out by the corporation and the town planning Department, would be restored to their pristine glory.

Municipal parks of the town had shrunk over the years. The municipal corporation was already fighting a losing battle.

There are 85 municipal parks in the town and of these 16 had been encroached upon and legal proceedings had been initiated to have these vacated.

Senior functionaries of the corporation, on the condition of anonymity, confided that the corporation had been in a bind as many parks had been encroached upon.

They admitted that permanent structures had been built in most of these encroached parks.

The corporation was now initiating a campaign to have these parks vacated, they said, adding that chances of it were remote as some of the unauthorised structures had been in existence for up to two decades now.

The Mayor said the corporation had resolved that it would fight legal cases to ensure that the permanent encroachments were vacated from municipal parks.

He said cases in respect of certain parks were already pending in the court of law.

Kohli admitted that there was paucity of funds for the maintenance of municipal parks.

He also admitted that there was shortage of manpower in the horticulture wing of the corporation as a result of which many public parks were in a state of neglect.

He said the involvement of public in the work of maintenance and upkeep of parks was an endeavour to overcome the shortage of staff and funds in the horticulture department.

Patiala, October 13
Senior functionaries of the fire wing of the local municipal corporation today said the corporation’s fire brigade department was geared up to meet any exigency on account of Diwali.

Though the civic functionaries had already passed on the directions to the fire staff to remain extra vigilant during the festive season, considering the fact that majority of fire incidents were reported on Diwali night, special preparations had been made to face any eventuality.

Stating that the fire department had made elaborate arrangements to meet any eventuality, assistant divisional fire officer (ADFO) Gurbir Singh said: “Five fire tenders have been kept on standby at different fire stations, including Central Fire Station, Sai Market and Nabha Road Fire Station. Besides, one ambulance and a jeep have also been kept for Diwali night.”

Also, holidays and rests of the fire-fighting staff had been cancelled till Diwali and they had been assigned 12-hour duty on rotation.

“Though all fire tenders are fully functional, we have called in mechanics to check the vehicles once again,” said senior fire officials, adding that 37 staff members, including officials, would remain on duty on Diwali.

The officials also said besides fire tenders, portable pumps, high-pressure pumps and foam tender, had been kept on standby.

Fire officials said they had already checked all filling points (tubewells) in the city and those with faults had been repaired.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Tribune, some firemen said: “Though we had to work under lot of stress and don’t even get opportunity to celebrate Diwali with our families, we still make earnest efforts to perform our job diligently.” 

Patiala, October 13
Senior Punjab Civil Medical Service (PCMS) doctors have demanded that the Punjab government should make suitable amendments to the pay fixation formula in the revised pay structure to give benefit of the stagnation increments in the non-revised pay scales.

They have pointed out that the pay fixation formula suggested by the Fifth Punjab Pay Commission for the employees getting stagnation increments in the old pay scale was without application of mind, defective and against the principle of higher pay for those in the revised pay structure, than those with lower non-revised basic pay.

The Punjab Civil Medical Service (PCMS-I) Association has sent a representation to the Punjab chief secretary, principal secretary health and family welfare and principal secretary finance department in this regard and demanded a fair deal.

General secretary of association, Dr DC Sharma, today said the pay fixation fitment tables issued for the conversion of the pre-revised pay scales were grossly defective, as there was no provision for taking into account the stagnation increments earned by an employee beyond the upper limit of the corresponding pay scale.

He said the government should amend these fitment tables by expanding them further to take into account the stagnation increments as had been done by the Central government. Each table should be expanded up to Rs 23,600 of the pre-revised basic pay, the maximum admissible in the pre-revised pay structure.

As a simple formula, the employees getting stagnation increments on December 31, 2005, should be shifted to next higher fitment table up to the upper limit of Rs 23,600 with the grade pay admissible in the pre-revised pay scale.

Dr Sharma said the pay fixation formula recommended by the Punjab Pay Commission for the employees getting stagnation increments was grossly defective and inaccurate.

The commission has recommended in its report that in case of the employees getting stagnation increments on December 31, 2005, the revised basic pay should be determined by multiplying the non-revised basic pay with 1.86 rounded off to the next higher and adding the grade pay.

Patiala, October 13
Patiala teams continued with their winning ways on the second day of the 55th Inter-District School Kabaddi Tournament at Raja Bhalendra Stadium, Polo Grounds, here today.

Local boys defeated Barnala 73-27, whereas girls routed Hoshiarpur 90-6.

At least 21 teams in girls’ section and 22 in boys’ section are taking part in the meet.

Results: Boys’ section: Patiala b Barnala 73-27; Moga b Ferozepore 87-17; Ludhiana b Amritsar 44-43; Amritsar wing b Jalandhar 33-26; Mansa b Kapurthala 45-39; Tibba wing b Hoshiarpur 67-54, Ludhiana b Ferozepore 59-9; Gurdaspur b Ropar 30-7; Sangrur b Fatehgarh Sahib 74-19; Faridkot b Mohali 44-27.

Girls’ section: Patiala b Hoshiarpur 90-6; Hoshiarpur b Mohali 70-14; Moga b Mansa 53-15; Fatehgarh Sahib b Barnala 45-33; Ropar walk over against Taran Tarn; Jalandhar b Ferozepore 43-12; Faridkot b Sangrur 47-44; Gurdaspur b Ludhiana 52-29.

Bassi Pathana, October 13
Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, appreciated the efforts of the local Mehar Baba Charitable Trust (MBCT) for imparting free training to rural girls to make them self-reliant. He exhorted the trust to spread the mission all over the state and offered it help in its noble endeavour.

The Chief Minister came especially to visit the stall put forth by the MBCT at CII Fair organised at Parade Ground, Chandigarh. He praised the handicrafts, artificial jewellery, phulkari and other items being prepared by rural girls and evinced keen interest.

He opined that if the rural girls of Punjab became self-dependent, they could face all social evils boldly. He called upon the girls to contribute their might to rebuild a new Punjab as they were the persons, who could reshape the face of the state.

Thanking the Chief Minister, Prof. H.S.Mejie, founder trustee, briefed about the activities being undertaken by the MBCT at its Bassi Pathana centre. He said the trust had adopted 150 villages of Fatehgarh Sahib and more than 200 girls in a session of seven months were given free vocational training.

The trust helped them to get jobs after training and start their own venture by forming self-help groups. He said those who didn't want to do job were adjusted in production centre of the MBCT.

Besides this, the trust had waged a war against social evils like female foeticide, drug abuse and dowry with the help of rural girls. The regular medical check-up camps were also organised in rural areas.

Kharar, October 13
One person was killed during a brawl at a dhaba near Sahauran village last evening.

The incident took place at Harjinder Vaishno Dhaba around 9 pm.

In his complaint to the police, Harjinder Singh, dhaba owner, stated that Talwinder Singh, alias Lambar, from Ghataur village and Lakhvir Singh from Rakauli village were having dinner at his dhaba.

At the same time, Darbara Singh from Balheri, Rajbir Singh and Kuldip Singh from Bhajouli village were having dinner at a nearby dhaba.

Darbara Singh was having conversation with someone on his mobile phone and allegedly started abusing the person on the phone.

“Darbara repeatedly took the name of the person on the other end who was somehow related to Talwinder Singh. Talwinder tried to intervene and prevent Darbara from abusing the person and in the process they entered an argument,” Harjinder told the police.

During the argument, Talwinder and Lakhvir attacked Darbara with a sharp-edged weapon. The victim was taken to the PGI Chandigarh, where doctors declared him brought dead. The police arrested both accused today.

Banur, October 13
Three children, who were sleeping outside their hut on the Banur-Kharar road late last night were crushed under the wheels of a speeding SUV. All three boys between the ages of six and 14 years were declared brought dead at a hospital nearby.

Kallu Khan, father of the children, said they were fond of watching vehicles pass by the road under construction. Kallu was working at the site and was residing in a hut situated at a nearby farm. The children have been identified as Sahil Khan (6), Sohail Khan (8) and Indreesh Khan (14).

“I was sleeping in the hut and the children were fast asleep on a cot near the road. I got up after I heard a bang and rushed outside. I saw a vehicle speeding away after hitting my children,” he said.

The bodies were handed over to family after a postmortem. A case has been registered.

Banur, October 13
Aryans Group of Institutes organised a seminar on “Employment Opportunities for MBAs” in tourism industry.

Navin Kumar Nanchahal, principal of Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Sector - 42 Chandigarh, was the key speaker. Anshu Kataria, chairman of Aryan Group of Institutes, presided over.

Around 200 MBA students of Aryans Business School & Aryans School of Management attended the seminar.

Navin Kumar Nanchahal said there was a need of over two lakh employees for Commonwealth Games, 2010.

Besides, MBA students in marketing, finance, HR and other segments have various opportunities in tourism.

Tourism has become the fastest growing sector of India. A number of five star hotels are also coming up in India, especially in north India, he added.

Chandigarh, October 13
A local court today remanded the accused behind the industrial area robbery in judicial custody for 14 days. Mahinder Kumar, the accused, a resident of Darua, had allegedly stolen about 2.5 tonnes of nickel, Rs 1.16 lakh from Avon Ispat and Power Limited on October 9.

Mahinder, a former employee of the factory, was arrested two days after the incident. He was caught stealing about six months ago and was expelled by the factory manager.

The manager had on October 9 told the police that at least 18-armed men who were wearing masks forcible entered the factory and had tied the security guards and detained another in the room. 

Chandigarh, October 13
The District Consumer Disputes and Redressal Forum has directed Sahara India Parivar to refund Rs 10, 004 along with Rs 2, 000 as the cost of litigation to a complainant.

Complainant, Bhim Sain, had booked a three bedroom (type-C) house in the proposed Swaran/Rajat Yojna (Sahara City Home Township) in Chandigarh and deposited Rs 10,004 on December 31, 2003. The officials of the Sahara gave verbal assurance that the possession of the house would be handed over by the end of 2007. However, they failed to start the construction, therefore, the complainant visited their office and sought the refund but was sent back on one pretext or the other.

In their written reply, the Sahara denied having floated Sahara Rajat Scheme for providing the housing unit. It was stated that the complainant misinterpreted the terms and conditions and in fact the scheme provided different opportunities (i.e. for purchasing Sahara products to avail different facilities provided by Sahara and also an opportunity for conversion into Sahara City Homes Scheme) if the purchaser so desired. It was pleaded that the complainant was advised on numerous occasions to exercise his option but he did not. It was submitted that the complainant advanced the amount of Rs 10,000 under the Sahara Rajat Yojna and not under the Sahara City Homes and for the allotment of housing unit it was compulsory for the person to convert his account into the Sahara City Homes. It was pleaded that for the allotment of the plot or to avail services or purchase products there was no time limit in the scheme form and the complainant could avail either of the facilities within 10 years.

Chandigarh, October 13
Alert watchman at Sacred Heart Convent School, Sector 26, foiled a burglary attempt on the school premises last night.

Burglars, who were reportedly three in number, overpowered the watchman when he raised the alarm, but failed to lay their hands on any valuable article. They broke open the locks and ransacked the cupboards, but couldn’t find anything worth stealing.

The watchman told the police that he got suspicious hearing the dogs barking and called the police on seeing burglars. However, burglars managed to flee.

The police said a case of attempt to theft and criminal trespass under Sections 380, 447 and 511 of the IPC has been registered.

Chandigarh, October 13
A Sector 30 resident was arrested and about 90 grams of charas seized from his possession. The man identified as Monty of the same sector was arrested at about 7.30 pm last evening and the contraband seized. A case under Section 20 of the NDPS Act has been registered at the Industrial Area police station.

Theft: A resident of Mani Majra, Suraj Prakash, in a complaint lodged with the police alleged that a few unidentified persons have stolen his laptop and Rs 4,00 from his shop, last night. A case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered at Mani Majra police station.

Assault: Manoj Kumar, a resident of Dhanas, has in a complaint lodged with the police alleged that Sonu had beaten him up and even threatened him at Aman Colony, Dhanas, last night. A case under Sections 323, 506 and 34 of the IPC has been registered at Sector 11 police station and the accused arrested.

Fraud: Anmol Sandhu, a resident of Sector 8, in a complaint lodged with the police alleged that her mother-in-law Rajpal Kaur, brother-in-law Rajdeep Singh Sandhu, husband, Manpreet Singh Sandhu, all resident of Sector 7, and Karaminder Singh, KS Kahlon had duped her by forging the property will. A case under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered at Sector 26 police station.

Arrested: Pardeep Sharma, director, Indian Music Industries, has lodged an FIR against Ajay Singh of Maloya Colony, who was downloading fake CDs. Ajay was arrested from Ajay Mobile Repair Shop at Badheri village yesterday. A case under Sections 51, 52-A, 63, 65 and 68-A of the Copy Rights Act 1957 has been registered at the Sector 39 police station. 

Chandigarh, October 13
Sleuths of the CBI today caught an assistant in the UT Weight and Measures Department red handed while allegedly accepting a bribe.

LK Khurana, general secretary, Weight and Measures Repair Association, had yesterday lodged a complaint regarding harassment at the hands of the officials, with the DIG, Anti-Corruption Branch, CBI, yesterday.

He alleged that a number of certificates, which were to be issued on his request, had been lying pending with the department. Amarjit Singh, a driver-cum-assistant in the department, was demanding a bribe of Rs 25,000 for issuing these certificates.

Khurana told the CBI that after expressing his inability to pay Rs 25,000 Amarjit Singh agreed to reduce the amount to Rs 17,000. The CBI registered a case on his complaint under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Amarjit Singh and laid a trap. Amarjit Singh was caught red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 17,000 from the complainant in the department building in Phase II, Industrial Area.

The CBI team also seized incriminating documents during the search of the office premises and a similar search was also being conducted at his residence.

Mohali, October 13
Modern School, New Delhi, thrashed Yadavindra Public School, Mohali, by six wickets in the semifinal of the All-India IPSC Tournament (Under-14, Boys) at YPS grounds here today.

After winning the toss, YPS elected to bat first and were restricted to 115 all out in 30 over.

Abhimanyu Singha scored 53 runs off 65 balls and took two wickets in 5.4 over, after giving away 15 runs. Inderjit was the other contributor for the team with 21 runs.

In reply, Modern School, New Delhi, chased the target in 23.4 over.

Pragam (45 runs off 54 balls) and Suvansh (34 runs in 50 balls) were the main scorers of Modern School. Shrey Tanwar took four wickets in 6.3 overs for 15 runs.

Shrey Tanwar of Modern School was declared man of the match for his bowling figures.

In the second semifinal, YPS, Patiala, thrashed MNSS, Rai, by 71 runs.

Batting first, YPS managed to score 120 for 9 in 35 overs. Manish and Jatin of the YPS were the highest scorers with 25 and 23 runs, respectively.

While, Jatin took four wickets in 4.4 overs after giving nine runs, Ekjot scalped three wickets in seven overs.

Chasing the target, MNSS team were bundled out for 49 in 19.5 over.

Pawan of the MNSS scored 12 runs and took two wickets in six over. Sukhpal took one wicket in seven overs.

Jatin of the YPS, Patiala, was adjudged the man of the match.

Chandigarh, October 13
St John’s High School, Sector 26, and Saupin’s School, Sector 32, recorded easy victories over their opponents on the opening day of the 12th Blessed Edmund Rice Under-15 Cricket Tournament organised by St John’s High School, here today.

In the inaugural match, after being put into bat first, St John’s team scored 150 runs in the stipulated 20 over.

Shine Sharma 56 n.o. and Angad Chahal 55 were involved in a 109-run stand, which eventually took their team to healthy 150 runs.

In reply, Greenfield team could not face the pressure and capitulated for a meagre 89 runs, handing out a convincing 61-run win to the hosts.

Angad Chahal took four wickets for 10 runs and was well supported by Rehmat Brar, who claimed two wickets for three runs.

In the second match of the day, Saupin’s School handed out a 148-run crushing defeat to St Soldier School, Panchkula.

Electing to bat first, Saupin’s School amassed 176 runs in the allotted 20 overs.

Nipun and Pavleen batted well but missed their half centuries by one run each.

Jaswinder made 28 runs off 15 balls. For St Soldier team, Mohit was the only bowler to put some impression, taking two wickets.

In reply, St Soldier’s batsmen succumbed to the pressure and were bowled out for a paltry 28 runs. For Saupin’s team, Shubham and Sehaj took two wickets each.

Brief scores: First match: St. John’s: 150 for 5 in 20 overs (Shine 56 n.o; Angad 55 and Jatin 2 for 19).

Greenfield: 89 all out in 19 overs (Vikram 23; Angad 4 for 10 and Rehmat 2 for3).

Second match: Saupin’s School: 176 for 3 in 20 overs (Nipun 49, Palveen 49; Jasvinder 28 n.o and Mohit 2 for 200.

St Soldier: 28 all out in 15.3 overs (Shubham 2 for 13 and Sehaj 2 for 2).

Chandigarh, October 13
With growing popularity of squash in the city, players have been facing increasing difficulty in finding playing arenas due to the paucity of adequate infrastructure and space.

Played by over 500 players in the city, there is a real need of having more courts.

Khushwant Singh, coach at Lake Sports Complex, said: “We need more squash courts for players.” Out of the total 10 courts in the city, only five match the international standards. Paucity of coaches is another hurdle, as the city just has one coach deployed at the lake club.

An amateur coach in a local school said: “Each player needs more than one and half hours of practice daily. In the current scenario, not more than 120 players can train in a single day.”

Earlier, the game was less popular among residents, but in the past three years, their participation has increased.

However, due to fewer courts and lack of practice, city players have failed to make a mark even at the national level.

“We have seen an increase in the number of players coming to our courts seeking entry. However, we have to turn most of them away on a daily basis,” said Khushwant Singh.

A young squash player said: “There should be at least 10 more courts in the city. Players are more and courts are few. These can’t accommodate everyone and that’s the reason behind the poor performance of local players.”

Another player rued: “One can feel the difference in the standard if one goes to Delhi. Unfortunately, not many people, even officials, think that the sport has great value. They need to see the standings of Pakistan, Australia and Egypt in the international arena to gauge the ground reality.”

A senior official of the UT sports department accepted the fact and said they were planning to improve the infrastructure.

A player said: “It is a wrong perception among people that the sport is very expensive. Rather, it is a relatively cheap sport, with a full professional kit costing just Rs 3,000.”