NEIGHBOURHOOD

NHAI to instal traffic lights near Dera Bassi bus stand
Rajiv Bhatia

A traffic jam at Zirakpur on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Dera Bassi, November 20
For smooth flow of traffic on the Dera Bassi-Ambala highway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to install traffic lights near the Dera Bassi bus stand. The traffic lights would be installed within in the next 15 days.

The other work related with the highway like foot overbridges, proper rainwater drainage system, two bus queue shelters with green belt, beautification below the Zirakpur flyover, widening of roads from both sides of the highway would be started early next year, an NHAI official said.

In August this year, the SDM, Dera Bassi, the DSP, the NHAI director, drainage department and MC officials had visited Zirkapur, Dera Bassi and Lalru areas.

They had discussed the problems that the residents faced while commuting on the Chandigarh-Ambala and the Zirakpur-Kalka highways.

During the visit, the local administration asked the NHAI officials to re-work on medians on the Dera Bassi-Ambala highway.

The administration had also asked the NHAI to maintain the drainage system along the highways especially near Bhankarpur village.

Officials said to solve the waterlogging problem on the highway, the department has also planned to extend the highway’s drains till Ghaggar river. Official sources said two steel foot overbridges in Dera Bassi and Bhankarpur would be constructed for pedestrians. The Zirakpur MC had also written to the NHAI officials for NOC to set up a green belt under the flyover. NHAI officials said they would meet the MC officials to discuss the matter in coming week.

The NHAI’s project director, Anil Dahia, said the minutes of the meeting were forwarded to the higher authorities for approval and traffic lights would be installed in 15 days.

He said after getting the approval, the work would be started on priority.

SDM, Dera Bassi, Punit Goyal said they will discuss the matter with NHAI officials to start the work as soon as possible.

Ropar, November 20
Baljit Singh Bhau, an accomplice of two Babbar Khalsa terrorist outfit activists, arrested a few days ago, has been brought to Ropar on production warrant from Tihar jail, New Delhi.

A resident of Kurli village under the Lalru Police Station, Mohali, Bhau is undergoing imprisonment at Tihar jail for several crime cases registered against him.

He was brought here on production warrant and was sent to police remand till November 23. The police will interrogate him about the weapons recovered from two Babbar Khalsa terrorists arrested on November 16.

In 1992, Bhau had taken contract of cycle stand at the PGI, Chandigarh. Later, he was booked under Section 420, 406, 467, 468 and 71 of the IPC at the Sector 11 Police Station, Chandigarh. He was declared a proclaimed offender and was later arrested.

At Burail jail, he came in contact with Jagtar Singh Hawara, convict in assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh. Bhau was again booked for some dacoity cases in Patiala and was put behind bars at Burail jail in 2004.

Later, he bought a car for Hawara with an aide Jasvir Singh from Faggan Majra village. In 2005, he got a house on rent for Hawara and provided him with furniture worth Rs 1 lakh.

He also allegedly got Hawara married with a Patiala-based girl fraudulently. He also conspired to kill God man Piara Singh Bhaniarewala.

Fatehgarh Sahib, November 20
Considering the rising number of swine flu and dengue cases, district health department is put on alert for the upcoming Jor Mela.

The three-day yearly Jor Mela will begin from December 24, wherein lakhs of devotees will pay obeisance at various gurudwaras of Fatehgarh Sahib, paying obeisance to the younger sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh.

The department officials have been conducting meetings to find ways to keep flu infections at bay during the mela as more than ten lakh persons are expected to visit the fair.

Officials at a civil hospital said, a large number of people got themselves admitted in various hospitals and dispensaries with various ailments but this time extra care is needed in view of rising dengue and swine flu cases.

The health department officials said beds in various hospitals of the district have been spared in view of lakhs of devotees visiting gurdwaras. As many as 31 beds in Fatehgarh Sahib, Mandi Gobindgarh, Bassi Pathana, Khamano, Chanarthal and Amloh hospitals have been spared to accommodate patients during the mela.

According to sources, six ventilation machines would be used during the mela, two machines would be installed at Fatehgarh Sahib, one at Mandi Gobindgarh and one each at Amloh and Khamano block.

However, no such machine is made available at Chanarthal and Bassi Pathana blocks.

Different rapid response teams have also been formed for general ailments and swine flu, wherein 68 doctors, including senior officials of the department would co-ordinate.

The health department officials said advertisement material would also be used to sensitise people about general ailments.

Beside a special ward at the Fatehgarh Sahib Civil Hospital, private hospitals and clinics have also been urged to accommodate patients during the mela. Doctors have also been trained to tackle general problems being faced by devotees during the mela.

Rajpura, November 20
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission, taking suo moto cognisance of news report published yesterday in these columns: “Woman ends life in SDM’s office,”-issued orders seeking detailed report of the incident from the state government.

The commission has sought report through Patiala SSP by February 17.

Arti (25), a resident of Jaggi Colony, Rajpura, reportedly ended her life in SDM’s office, Rajpura, by consuming some poisonous substance and was rushed to a civil hospital by the employees at SDM office.

She was reported dead in the evening at the GMSH-32, Chandigarh.

A letter that she was carrying in the SDM’s office stated that two persons- Des Raj and Bhinda, both residents of Rajpura, sexually exploited her for two months and no action was initiated against them despite repeated complaints.

Fatehgarh Sahib, November 20
Two unidentified armed assailants today looted Rs 2.4 lakh from two employees of a Mandi Gobindgarh-based trading company at gunpoint.

The employees, Raju and Raja, had taken the payment from Manoor Trading Company in Motia Khan market and were on their way to Taggar Steels to hand over the amount to their employers. Two unidentified motorcyclists intercepted them and demanded money.

When they refused to part with the money, the assailants fired a gunshot at Raju and took away the money.

Some passers-by rushed to the help the victims and informed police. Raju, who was injured by a gunshot, was rushed to the DMC, Ludhiana.

The police said descriptions of the accused have been noted down and efforts were on to nab them. a case has been registered.

Patiala, November 20
The All-India General Insurance Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Employees Welfare Association has assured the central leadership of the association of their support to the check off system, for which it has been sought by the General Insurance Public Sector Association Management (GIPSA).

According to a spokesman of the association, a delegation of the association leaders, including Dalip Pawar, chairman of the All-India General Insurance SC/ST Employees Welfare 
Association, accompanied by Sajan Kumar, north zone general secretary of the association, Manohar Sawant, general secretary, and KB Kamble, 
organising secretary of the association, visited Patiala on a tour in connection with the check 
off system being implemented by the
managements of the general insurance management and the four subsidiaries.

Earlier, the delegation had visited important stations across the country and during the last leg of their tour they visited the four regional offices in Chandigarh and then visited the Patiala and Rajpura offices.

During their visit to the Patiala office they were welcomed by RS Bhatt and Mangat Lal, president and general secretary of the Punjab unit of the association.

Later, a gathering of employees of all the four subsidiaries of the general insurance companies and the Life Insurance of India was held at the Rajindra Gymkhana and Mohindra Club.

The visiting leaders were felicitated by club honorary secretary Dr Balbir Singh.

Sajan Kumar heard grievances of the employees and asked Mangat Lal to forward cases to him.

Chandigarh, November 20
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expanded the definition of accidental death, and discharge of bona fide duty, in case of Army personnel. It now includes illness due to prevailing climatic conditions.

The significant ruling by Justice Permod Kohli came on a petition filed by Santosh Kumari. She was informed about the death of her husband Havildar Subhash Chander, while he was posted at the Line of Actual Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

She was told that her husband died on November 2, 2005, during the “Karma Operation” in the Gorez sector in Kashmir; and was a martyr. But her subsequent request for being treated as a martyr’s widow was rejected on April 18, 2006.

During the course of hearing, the court was informed that Subhash Chander’s post-mortem examination had revealed he had died due to heart attack. It was also admitted that he was declared a martyr due to wrong information.

Justice Kohli asserted: “He was performing a bona fide official duty and died in harness while performing such duty. It is also admitted position that he died due to severe cold in the area. Such a situation cannot be divorced from performance of bona fide duty.

“It is not necessary that he should die by bullet of the enemy or on account of any injury or other factor. Another aspect of the matter, which cannot be ignored, is that the Government of India instructions even provide for the payment of compensation where death directly occurs due to accident in the course of performance of duty.

“The accident does not mean only vehicular accident, but has a wider connotation. It can be any kind of accident. The petitioner’s husband suffered on account of severe cold, while discharging duty, and thus his case falls within the purview of the government instructions dated September 30, 1999,” the court said.

Disposing of the petition, Justice Kohli directed the Union of India and other respondents to pay the petitioner ex gratia compensation within three months.

Chandigarh, November 20
Three city residents have been booked for allegedly obtaining passports by furnishing fake documents.

Mohali, November 20
Unidentified youths broke windowpanes of three Maruti Swift cars in Sector 69 in the wee hours of today.

Chandigarh, November 20
Armed with the latest training gadgets, the Chandigarh Golf Club is all set to float its Chandigarh Golf Club academy with former national amateur champion and current Asian Tour golf professional Harmeet Kahlon as its director.

The latest version of SAM PuttLab, an advanced golf teaching system, is the latest acquisition of the club.

Club president BS Gill: “We are inviting golfers and their families to come and learn the operational benefits of such an advanced golf teaching system. With this system installed and other teaching systems planned in the near future, our aim is to have the best golf academy in the country, where members as well as non-members can come and learn golf”.

SAM PuttLab will be formally inaugurated by the club president tomorrow at 11 am. Thus the club will be the second organisation in Chandigarh to acquire the advanced training system after the CGA Golf Academy, which houses the country's only National Golf Academy of India.

Helping Harmeet Kahlon in the training process will be Ajay Gujral, who will be the joint director of the academy.

SAM PuttLab is a golf putting stroke analysis and training system based on accurate ultrasound measurements. It analyses the 28 most important parameters of a golfer’s putting stroke and displays the results in an easy to understand graphic report. The latest model of SAM PuttLab is completely wireless. No cables and belt clips are needed. The wireless sensor triplet uses the "clip on" technology for quick and easy putter changes. Changes from one putter to the next are easy, you just "snap" the triplet to shaft and you are ready to go.

Chandigarh, November 20
Simranjit Singh and Gagandeep Kaur of St Soldier’s International School, Sector 26, emerged the fastest athletes among boys and girls U-16 by winning the 100 dash on the concluding day of the Inter-School Tournament organised by the sports department here today. Chandigarh sports director ML Sharma gave away cash prizes to winners.

Gagandeep Kaur won the 100 m as well as shot put titles in the girls category. St Soldier’s athletes also emerged winners in the 4x100 m relay races for boys as well as girls.

Results:

Athletics (boys): 100 m: Simranjit Singh (St Solider’s -28) 1, Abhimanyu (DAV School-8) 2 and Sehjbir Singh (St John’s-26) 3.

Shot put: Bharat Sharma (Ryan International School-49) 1, Sidharath (St Anne’s School-32) 2 and Sachin Kumar (Baptist School-45) 3.

4x100 m relay: St Solider’s School-28 1, GMHS, Sector-26, 2 and Stepping Stones -37 3.

100 m (girls): Gagandeep Kaur (St Solider’s -28) 1, Kamini Gusain (Government School-37) 2 and Amanjot Kaur (Government School-37) 3. Shot put: Gagandeep Kaur (St Solider’s -28) 1, Jyoti (Government School -26) 2 and Sonam Malik (St Solider’s 28) 3.

4x100 m relay: St Solider’s-28 1, Government-37 2 and Jyoti (Government-26) 3.

In the archery competitions, Veer Singh of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, stole the show by winning gold medals in the 40 m, 30 m and individual events. Jasman Kaur of DAV Model-15 struck gold in the 40 m and 30 m competitons for girls.

Archery (boys) 40 m: Veer Singh (GSSS-27) 227 pts 1, Harshvardhan (Government Model School-10) 203 pts 2 and Jugraj (Saupin’s School-32) 148 pts 3.

30 m: Veer Singh (GSSS-27) 292 1, Harshvardhan (Government School-10) 231 pts 2 and Achar Pal (Government School Kaimbwala) 203 pts 3. Individual championship: Veer Singh (GSSS-27) 98 pts 1, Jugraj (Saupins’ School-32) 82 pts 2 and Vijender (GSSSS-23) 80 pts 3.

Badminton (girls): Sacred Heart School, Sector-26, beat Shivalik Public School 2-0. Stepping Stones stood third.

Basketball (girls): St Xavier’s School-44 beat Carmel Convent School, Sector-9, 23-15 in the final. Winning team’s score, Mankanwar (8), Rosy Merry (6), Deepika (5) and Ijeom (4) points. For losers Shriya Jain (6) and Tanaz Shegill (4) reduced the margin for Carmel Convent.

New Public School, Sector 18, defeated St Xavier’s School-44 48-30 in the boys final. Gurloveleen (18) , Sumit (17) and Suraj (5) scored for the winners.

Piyush (10), Vishwadeep (9) and Sanamdeep (6) were the main scorers for St Xavier’s.

NPS beat IS Dev Samaj-21 29-6 for the third and fourth positions for girls in basketball. For the winners, Neha (22) and Saniti (5) were principal scorers. For the losers, Ravi (2), Navdeep (2) and Bindu (2) served better. SGGS Collegiate-26 beat SD Public School-32 34-24. Amit scored 19 points and Harinder 14. 

Chandigarh, November 20
Sub-junior and junior girls teams of Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Kharar, have won gold medals in the Tug-of-War Championship held at the Railway Stadium in Agra recently.

Stating this in a press release here today, Nirmal Singh Mundi, coach and general secretary, Tug-of-War Federation of India, said nearly 14 teams from various parts of the country took part in the championship.

In the final match, sub-junior team of Punjab defeated Haryana and junior team defeated Delhi, while in the semifinal, Khalsa girls outplayed Manipur and Maharashtra.

Chandigarh, November 20
18-year-old Abhijeet Chadha today lifted his maiden title on the national amateur circuit when he clinched the LG Gujarat Open title by a margin of three strokes on the par 72 Kensville Golf Club in Ahmedabad. Chadha finished with a four-round tally of 298, a good three strokes better than Pune's Aditya Bhandarkar.

Manav Das of Ambala finished third at 307 with HS Kang of Chandigarh occupying the seventh slot at 310. Trailing by one stroke at the turn, Chandigarh teenager began his comeback with a long birdie putt on the par-4 10th to draw level again. The 13th proved to be a pivotal hole as a poor tee shot resulted in Bhandarkar making a double bogey. On the par-4, 15th Chadha drained a 20-foot putt for birdie, while Bhandarkar missed a short putt for par. The two-shot swing put the title out of the reach of Pune player and despite a bogey, Chadha won title by three strokes.

Chandigarh, November 20
Garima and Aishwarya claimed the junior girls and junior boys singles titles in the 22nd Chandigarh State Table Tennis Championship being played at the Sector 23 Table Tennis Hall here today.

Garima directed her shot more powerfully and accurately to beat Kalyani in a well-fought singles final. After losing the first game, Garima bounced back against plucky Kalyani to win by 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7. Aisahwarya got the better of Tarak Roy by 11-4, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 in the junior boys final match.

Seasoned campaigner Nadia Saini defeated Naina Suri for the youth girls singles crown. With better control and consistent display, Nadia won by 11-4, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 in the final.

Dev Saini emerged champion in the youth boys category. In the final, Saini lost the first game 6-11 but soon settled down to win the next three games at 11-4, 11-8 and 12-10. However, he lost the fifth game at 5-11. In the decider, both players dished out good game before Dev won by 13-11.

Garima, Nadia and Gurvinder Kaur advanced to the women’s singles semi-finals. In quarterfinals, Garima bt Sumana 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-8, 11-9 and Nadia beat Rajeshwari 11-5, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7. Gurvinder ousted Sakshi by 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6.Results: Junior girls (Semi-finals):: Kalyani bt Rajeshwri 11-6, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6, Garima bt Naina Suri 12-10, 13-11, 13-11, 12-10. Final: Garima bt Kalyani 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7.

Junior boys (semi-finals):: Aishwarya bt Mayank Kapoor 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 7-11, 14-12, Tarak Roy bt Shubankar 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 13-11, 9-11, 6-11, 11-7, Final: Aishwarya bt Tarak Roy 11-4, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10.

Youth Girls (semi-finals): Nadia bt Garima 11-7, 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, Naina Suri bt Kalyani 11-6, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9. Final: Nadia bt Naina 11-4, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9.

Youth Boys (semi-finals): Dev Saini bt Subhankar 11-7, 11-3, 4-11, 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, Sahil bt Sumit 11-4, 11-4, 11-8, 11-3. Final: Dev Saini bt Sahil Sharma 6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 12-10, 5-11, 13-11.