NEIGHBOURHOOD

Stadium work delay doubles project cost
Hemant Kumar

Ambala, February 19
There has been a rush for site plans submitted for approval in the office of the Ambala municipal council ever since speculation that Ambala would have a municipal corporation with the merger of the civic bodies of Ambala Cantt and Ambala City.

Sources in the municipal council say that people had started submitting building plans for commercial sites, apprehending that the work would become cumbersome once the municipal corporation comes into being.

Sameer Pal Srow, DC, who visited the municipal council office here today said that about 200 pending cases of mutation would be expeditiously dealt with and a darbar would be organised in March for the disposal of these cases. The municipal council had been instructed to clear building plans so that there was no delay in work and people were not harassed.

Meanwhile, the sources said since December, over 60 commercial site building plans had been submitted for approval. Some maintained that the rush had increased since the fee for getting site plans approved was likely to go up in the coming few months.

Real estate dealers say that there has been a spurt in commercial building activity during the past few months. Recently, a large number of commercial establishments had come up from Polytechnic Chowk to Jandli.

A large number of commercial establishments had come up in the areas of Jagadhri Gate, Kacheri road, Jalbera road and Baldev Nagar.

Rajpura, February 19
The police arrested two persons for smuggling one quintal poppy husk today. The accused have been identified as Chhinderpal Singh and Prem Singh, both cousins and natives of Kotli village in Jagraon.

They were carrying poppy husk in 2 kg packets under the rear seats of a newly purchased Tata Indica and were arrested during a naka laid near Ambala toll barrier in Rajpura.

During interrogation the accused revealed that they had purchased poppy husk from Kot Putri village in Rajasthan and were smuggling it into areas of Punjab adjoining Ludhiana.

City SHO Bikramjeet Singh Brar said the accused had been continuously smuggling poppy husk for the past long time.

Father of the main accused, Chhinderpal, is also lodged in Ludhiana jail for the past many months for smuggling poppy husk. The SHO said a case in this connection had been registered against both the accused under the NDPS Act and their car was also impounded. The police is investigating.

Bassi Pathana, February 19
Continuing the income tax survey drive to detect tax evasion, the income tax department teams got two jewellers at Bassi Pathana and Sirhind to surrender Rs 1.35 crore.

An income tax officer said the department had conducted the survey at the jewellers’ shops at Bassi Pathana and Sirhind and several discrepancies were found in their accounts.

He said the assessees surrendered Rs 1 crore and Rs 35 lakh, respectively, on their own. He said the department would continue the drive and urged the people to pay their taxes honestly to avoid tension.

Ambala, February 19
Two motorcycle-borne robbers again targeted a woman at Ambala City today. During the last one week the motorbike riders have looted three women at Ambala City and Ambala Cantonment.

According to information, woman constable Deepika, employed in the Panchkula Police, was returning to her home located in Sector 7 at Ambala City this evening. When she was close to her home, two motorcycle-borne youths came there and snatched her purse and fled from there. The purse was containing an ATM card and some cash.

While snatching the purse the robbers hit her and she fell on the road. She was rushed to a private nursing home as she sustained minor injuries. The police has registered a case in this regard.

Three days back two motorcycle riders snatched Rs 78,000 from an elderly woman whose husband was a freedom fighter.

These incidents at Ambala City and Ambala Cantonment have created panic among women here. No clue in these incidents could be achieved so far.

Patiala, February 19
On the call of Punjab and Chandigarh Non-Teaching Employees Union against the non-implementation of the 5th Pay Commission Recommendations for non-teaching employees of government-aided colleges, full-day stay-in-strikes for two days were observed and dharnas in front of principal office were staged at Modi College.

The non-employees protested against Punjab government for not fulfilling their demands.

Vinod Sharma, press secretary of the Modi College Non-Teaching Employees Union, said the government was not ready to accept their demands.

Whereas, the same privilege had been granted to all other government colleges. Teachers were also enjoying enhanced grades in all the other colleges.

Sanjay Gupta, secretary of Modi College Non-Teaching Employees Union, said they were disappointed with the attitude of the Punjab government towards non-teaching employees of private colleges.

Ajay Gupta, secretary of Punjabi University and Chandigarh Non-Teaching Employees Union, said after the success of state rally at Jalandhar on February 15 in which 3,000 employees of 170 private aided colleges participated, the union had decided to boycott final practical and theory examination to be held in March and April in all the three universities- Punjabi University, GNDU, and Panjab University, Chandigarh.

The future of two lakh students studying in these colleges would be at stake because of Punjab government, he added.

Besides, three-day stay in strike would also be observed from February 24 to 26. District hunger strikes were already on and another state rally will be organised at Lambi or at Bathinda constituency of Parkash Singh Badal and Harsimarat Kaur Badal in March, the union informed.

Chandigarh, February 19
A division bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Chandigarh, today reserved its orders on the petition filed against the extension of PGI director Dr KK Talwar.

The petition was filed by Dr RK Yadav of Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Medical College, Rohtak, who had challenged Talwar’s extension order. In his petition filed on July 1, 2009, Yadav had alleged that the Centre had “illegally” granted extension to Talwar before he could attain the age of superannuation at 62 years.

While the arguments in the case were closed today after nearly hour-long arguments between counsels for Dr Talwar, Union of India and PGIMER, the orders were reserved.

During the arguments, the counsel for the applicant stated that his client (the applicant) fulfilled the criteria and was qualified enough to become the director. He further argued that even if the retirement age was 65 still the tenure of a director could only be for five years.

On the contrary, Talwar’s counsel argued that Talwar had been given the extension as he had done extensively well in his field and that was why the government had given him the extension.

Drawing a similarity between Talwar’s and Dr Venugopal’s cases, he said Dr Venugopal, former director of AIIMS, was given an extension at the age of 61 for five years and he retired at the age of 66.

Earlier, in a reprieve to Dr Talwar, the PGI Chandigarh’s Council had recently approved the two-year extension earlier granted to him as director of the prestigious tertiary care medical setup in North India.

However, it was stated that the approval of the council was subject to the outcome of a petition in the case pending in CAT.

Talwar was given a five-year term as PGI Director in 2004 and was to continue for five years or until the attainment of 62 years, whichever was earlier.

Slamming the order of appointment and extension of the PGI Director as “in complete violation of rules”, Yadav stated that Dr Talwar had been granted two years of extension without issuing any fresh advertisement for the post.

Acting on the petition, CAT had even issued notices to Talwar, the department of personnel and training, and the Union of India.

Chandigarh, February 19
Residents of Nada and Karoran village have sought the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the inclusion of areas falling within the revenue boundaries of their villages in the jurisdiction of the notified area committee (NAC), nagar panchayat of Naya Gaon.

Aimed at ensuring proper civic amenities to the residents through the NAC, a PIL has been filed by 25 persons. The petitioners have prayed for making the NAC functional in order to develop the area within its jurisdiction and also taking it out from the purview of the Punjab Land Preservation Act to make the area habitable with basic amenities.

It has been submitted that the area of Naya Gaon has a population of over one lakh and about 50,000 houses have been regularised. The Punjab government vide notification of November 15, 2001, under the Punjab Municipal Act had constituted a nagar panchayat and the DC, Mohali, recommended the inclusion of left-out areas of Nada and Karoran in the newly constituted NAC.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh have adjourned the hearing on the PIL to March 10 when a related matter is due to come up.

Mohali, February 19
The police today booked one person for kidnapping a girl from here. The accused has been identified as Bunty, alias Happy, a resident of Dabwali, Bathinda.

The complainant, Manjit Singh, a resident of Sohana, told to the police that his daughter Jagdeep Kaur was doing the course of stitching in Girls’ ITI, Phase V, Mohali. He used to take his daughter to the institute but on February 2 when he had come to pick her she did not turn up. After a long search it had come to the notice of the father that Bunty had kidnapped his daughter on the pretext of marrying her. The police said a case of kidnapping had been registered against the accused and he would be arrested soon.

Chandigarh, February 19
The police has booked four city residents on charges of duping a man of over Rs 13 lakh on the pretext of sending him abroad.

Talwinder Singh of Kharar reported to the police alleging that Kwarjit Singh Sidhu, Jasmer Kaur, Ravinder Singh and their daughter-in-law Mandip Kaur, all residents of Sector 34-C, had taken Rs 13.2 lakh from him, promising to send him abroad.

They neither sent him abroad nor returned his money.

Chandigarh, February 19
The police arrested two persons minutes after they allegedly robbed a man at knifepoint here last night.

Jasminder Singh, in charge of the Bapu Dham Colony (BDC) police post, said Shiv Kumar of the BDC, Sector 26, reported that two persons had robbed him of his mobile phone and ATM card at knifepoint near TPT traffic lights last night.

He raised the alarm at which two constables — Hanuman Singh and Inshar Pawan — gave the robbers a chase before overpowering them.

The robbed articles along with the knife were recovered from the accused.

A case of robbery and common intension under Sections 392 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered.

Meanwhile, Jasminder Singh and two constables have been rewarded with first class commendation certificates and a cash reward of Rs 1000 and 500, respectively.

Chandigarh, February 19
The Central Scientific Instruments’ Organisation (CSIO) beat NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, by 63 runs in the 41st Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Memorial Tournament being held at CSIO here today.

CSIO scored 179 runs and chasing the target, NIIST could make only 116 runs. While in another match, CSIO was defeated by NCL, Pune, by five wickets. Batting first, CSIO was all out for 103 runs, while NCL achieved the target of 104 runs by losing only five wickets.

Similarly, IMT, Chandigarh, beat CFTRI, Mysore, by seven runs. IMT had scored 99 runs and in return CFTRI failed to achieve the target and was out for 92 runs. However, in another match, IMT, Chandigarh, defeated IICT, Hyderabad, by two wickets. Batting first, IICT scored 125 runs, while IMT achieved the target and scored 126 runs for the loss of eight wickets.

Other results: NCL, Pune, tied the match with IIP, Dehradun, as both teams scored 137 runs.

CLRI, Chennai, defeated IICT, Hyderabad, by 19 runs. CLRI scored 177 runs, while IICT failed to achieve the target and was out for 158 runs.

NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, beat IIP, Dehradun, by seven wickets. IIP batting first scored 98 runs, while NIIST achieved the target and scored 101 runs for the loss of three wickets.

CLRI, Chennai, beat CFTRI, Mysore, by 26 runs. Batting first, CLRI scored 115 runs, while CFTRI failed to achieve the target and was bundled out for 89 runs.

Volleyball results: NAL, Bangalore, defeated IHBT, Palampur, by 2-1; CIMFR, Dhanbad, thrashed NGRI, Hyderabad, by 2-0; IIP, Dehradun, beat CEERI, Pilani, by 2-1; CBRI, Roorkee, defeated CFTRI, Mysore, by 2-0; NAL, Bangalore beat CIMFR, Dhanbad, by 2-0; IHBT, Palampur, beat NGRI, Hyderabad, by 2-1; IIP, Dehradun, thrashed CFTRI, Mysore, by 2-0; and CEERI, Pilani, beat CBRI, Roorkee, by 2-0.

Chandigarh, February 19
Pinki Rani, a student of BA I, who bagged six gold and one silver medal, was declared the best athlete at the 54th Annual Athletics Meet of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, held here today.

Pinki had bagged first position in the shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, sack race, 800m race, obstacle and 1,500m race, while in the 200m race, she got the silver medal.

Navneet Kaur of BA III was adjudged the all-round best player of the year, while BSc (Medical) and BCom students got the best marching contingent and runner-up trophy, respectively.

Addressing the students, chief guest Ajoy Sharma, special secretary finance-cum-director higher education, UT, gave away the prizes to the winners. Stressing that a healthy mind rests in a healthy body, he congratulated the winners and emphasised that there was a need to identify the students potential, encourage them and guide them accordingly.

Earlier principal Achla Dogra read out the college sports report highlighting glorious achievements of the college students in the field of sports. The students of the dance department presented a Punjabi folk dance, which was applauded by one and all.

Results:

400m: 1st Amandeep Kaur, 2nd Ruby and 3rd Rupa.

High jump: 1st Suman, 2nd Ravinderpreet and 3rd Harpreet, Priyanka Rana.

Long jump: 1st Suman, 2nd Ravinderpreet and 3rd Ruchi, Neha.

Shot put: 1st Pinky, 2nd Preeti and 3rd Kunzes.

Discus throw: 1st Pinky, 2nd Bhavya and 3rd Kunzes.

Javelin throw: 1st Pinky, 2nd Priyanka Rana and 3rd Prabhjot Kaur.

Slow cycling: 1st Sunita Rani, 2nd Shakuntla and 3rd Himani.

Three-legged race: 1st Rita Rani and Poonam, 2nd Garima and Hema and 3rd Sarita and Nikita.

Chatti race: 1st Manjit Kumari, 2nd Reena and 3rd Satbir.

Sack race: 1st Pinky Rani, 2nd Himani and 3rd Jaya.

Skipping race: 1st Hema, 2nd Anjali Rawat and 3rd Reena.

Wheel & barrow: 1st Jaya and Rupa Anand, 2nd Ruby and Poonam, and 3rd Rita Rani and Nishi.

800m: 1st Pinky Rani, 2nd Ruby and 3rd Rupa.

Obstacle race: 1st Pinky Rani, 2nd Anjali Rawat and 3rd Bhavya.

200m: 1st Ruchi Sharma, 2nd Pinky and 3rd Nikita.

1,500m: 1st Pinky Rani, 2nd Ruby and 3rd Rita Rani.

100m: 1st Ruchi Sharma, 2nd Jaya and 3rd Kusum.

4X100 relay: 1st Ruby, Rupa, Priyanka and Pinki, 2nd Bhavya, Shakuntala, Anjali and Himani.

Class IV Staff race: 1st Rajesh Kumar, 2nd Ramesh and 3rd Hari Om.

Chandigarh, February 19
Jaswinder Kaur of BA III was declared the best athlete in the 27th Annual Athletics Meet held at Dev Samaj College, Sector 45, here today.

Jaswinder had won a gold medal in the javelin throw, silver medal in 1,500m walk and bronze medal in the high jump.

Olympian Balbir Singh and former director, department of sports, Punjab, inaugurated the meet by unfurling the college flag followed by a marchpast by students marching to the tunes of the Chandigarh Police band.

Earlier principal, Dr Meera Modi, read out the annual sports report highlighting the achievements of the college in various sports activities.

Results:

Javelin throw: 1st Jaswinder BA III, 2nd Sarita BA III, and 3rd Nishu BA III.

Discus throw: 2nd Anita BA III, and 3rd Harmandeep BA III.

High jump: 1st Harmandeep BA III, 2nd Rajbir Kaur PGDCA, and 3rd Jaswinder BA III.

400m final: 1st Rajbir PGDCA, 2nd Anita BA III, and 3rd Sarita BA III.

Potato race: 1st Ramanpreet Kaur BCom I, 2nd Jyoti BCA II, and 3rd Anju BCA III.

Three-legged race: 1st Disha and Bharti BCA II, 2nd Ravneet and Bhavna BCom I, and 3rd Rajni and Meenu BA II.

Shot put: 1st Gagandeep BA III, 2nd Nishu BA III, and 3rd Sandeep Kaur PGDCA.

Hammer throw: 2nd Gagandeep Kaur BA III and 3rd Nishu BA III.

Long jump: 1st Harjit Kaur BA III, 2nd Sarita BA III, and 3rd Harmandeep BA III.

1,500m walk: 1st Rajwant Kaur BA III, 2nd Jaswinder Kaur BA III, and 3rd Anita BA III.

Chatti race: 1st Kiran PGDCA and 2nd Sandeep PGDCA.

Mohali, February 19
After lying in disuse for years, the prime land in the sports complex opposite the PCA Stadium would now be used to construct an international-level hockey stadium with synthetic turf.

The job to construct the stadium is likely to be entrusted to GMADA or PUDA. Apart from the stadium, an ultra-modern swimming pool and other sports facilities have also been planned in phases on the 20-acre land.

Already four-kanal land has been in the complex for an Olympic Bhavan. “To begin with, the hockey stadium would be constructed. An announcement in this regard is likely to be made in the coming days,” said sources in the housing and urban development department.

Though the land has been handed over to the sports department, the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) had appointed consultants to plan out the activity. Director sports, Punjab, Pargat Singh, said there was a move to construct the hockey stadium. “The PIDB would be able to precisely tell about the present status,” he added. Housing and urban development secretary and MD of PIDB, Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, could not be contacted for comments.

For the last over 17 years, the prime chunk of 20 acre of land has been converted in garbage dumping ground. Heaps of garbage and malba lie scattered all around the walled area, as plans to create sports infrastructure has remained on paper so far.

After the construction of boundary wall and gates in 1994, the work was stopped..

The sources in GMADA said against Rs 1.85 crore to be spent on the construction of boundary wall, PUDA had spent Rs 6.85 crore on the same. An inquiry into expenditure had proved wasteful spending of Rs 6.85 crore by PUDA.