NEIGHBOURHOOD

Plantation drive at thermal plant
Tribune News Service

Ropar, August 3
Vanmahotsava was celebrated at Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant (GGSSTP) here.Powercom director generation GS Chhabra inaugurated the sapling plantation campaign organised on the occasion. A sapling was planted near the 220 kv switchyard in the plant area.

Chhabra said at least 7,000 saplings of various varieties like mango, kikar, lemon, and sukhchain would be planted at the thermal plant by August 15. He urged officials of the plant to encourage sapling plantation in the surrounding areas also to make the environment clean and green. Already 1.4 lakh trees had been planted.

Kharar, August 3
A three-day faculty development programme has been organised at the Centre for Management Training and Research (CMTR) here for the orientation of the faculty of management colleges affiliated to Punjab Technical University (PTU).

Dr Omprakash K Gupta, professor at the University of Houston, is conducting the workshop. Dr Rajneesh Arora, Vice-Chancellor of the PTU, inaugurated the workshop. As many as 40 management teachers from various PTU-affiliated colleges are attending the programme.

Ambala, August 3
The civil hospital, Ambala City, will be the first government hospital in the Ambala division to provide diet free of cost to all indoor patients.The Red Cross Society, Ambala, will launch the scheme from August 15 to mark the Independence Day.

The scheme will benefit the poor, especially those patients who cannot afford the expenses for food. Deputy Commissioner-cum-Red Cross Society chairman Samir Pal Saro said on the pattern of the PGI, food distribution trolleys had been arranged. A kitchen had also been set up on the hospital premises.

Patients admitted to the hospital would be served breakfast, lunch and dinner free of cost. He added that a dietician had also been engaged and would advise specific diet for different patients.

The Deputy Commissioner said a water purifying system would be installed in each ward of the hospital to provide hygienic water to patients.

Patiala, August 3
Six inmates of the Central Jail sustained burn injuries after a fire broke out following a leakage in the gas pipe here this afternoon.The incident took place during lunchtime. Six inmates — Rahul, Sonu, Rashpal, Amarjit, Sukhdev Singh and Ram Giri — sustained burn injuries in the incident.

They were taken to the Rajindra Hospital.

Dr Rajinder Singla at the hospital said three victims sustained 50 per cent burns, while the other three were out of danger.

In another incident, a fire broke out in a tyre shop at Nabha Gate. Fire brigade was requisitioned to control the fire.

Bassi Pathana, August 3
With monsoon unleashing its fury, the normal life of local residents has been thrown out of gear as rainwater has been entering their houses due to the absence of a drainage system.

Even a short spell of rain causes flooding on roads. To top it all, sewer mixes with rainwater, causing stink all around.

With little help coming through from the government, the municipal council has failed to bring relief to town residents. Residents allege there is no one to redress their grievances.

While the town lacks basic civic amenity, the cash-strapped municipal council is also facing acute shortage of staff.

The council that earlier had 20 clerical employees and 90 sweepers now just has four clerks and 22 sweepers. This, in spite of the town area having increased manifold.

Ironically, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal organised a “sangat darshan” at nearby Sanghol village recently and distributed funds worth Rs 3.5 crore among 81 village panchyats of Bassi Pathana Assembly constituency but did not grant even a single penny to the town.

With the town already facing acute water shortage, unscheduled power cuts have aggravated the problems of residents.

Council president Kulbhushan Malhotra says councillors have tried to apprise the government of the state of affairs but nothing concrete has come out so far.

District Bar Association former president Amardeep Singh Dharni, Arhtiya Association secretary Rajesh Singla, and lawyer BB Verma have demanded the government to step in and sanction a special grant for the town.

Chandigarh, August 3
Preity Zinta got relief from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Issuing notice of motion for September 22 on the actress-cum-entrepreneur’s petition against summoning orders issued by the Registrar of Companies, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur today stayed further proceedings in the “Kings’ XI” finances matter.

In her petition placed before Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, Zinta asserted: “Despite the fact that the accounts were duly filed with the Registrar of Companies, along with penal fee etc, and the matter stood concluded between the parties, the respondent Registrar in apparent gross abuse of the process of court filed a complaint against the company and its directors”.

Elaborating, her counsel DS Patwalia said the complaint was filed alleging “non-compliance at the hands of the company, and the petitioner, in submitting the balance sheet and the audited reports”.

Going into the background of the controversy, Zinta said she along with another made a bid for Kings-XI team “with an intent to enter the sport of cricket and entertainment in general”. Her consortium was successful in securing the bid. Zinta added she along with her consortium incorporated a company KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited.

Due to reasons beyond the control of KPH and its directors, the accounts could not be filed with the respondent - Registrar of Companies - by October 30, 2009. But the annual return was filed on April 22, along with the penal fee as prescribed. Yet, they received a notice dated April 26 for additional information and clarification.

Not wanting to take chances, they resubmitted the balance sheet, along with the profit and loss account, on May 15. But later came to know of the complaint. In the petition, Zinta sought directions for quashing the complaint dated April 21 pending before Chandigarh Chief Judicial Magistrate under the provisions of the Companies Act. Directions were also sought for quashing the summoning order issued subsequently.

Chandigarh, August 3
Raising questions over the conduct of the Superintendent, Central Jail, Arthor Road, Mumbai, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Lalit Batra has asked the IG, Prisons, to initiate action against the official.

The court has been issuing production warrants against the former Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Saji Mohan, but he has not appeared even once as the jail authorities have not brought him here.

Coming down heavily on the IG, Prisons, the court said, “In view of the matter, let the conduct of Superintendent, Central Jail, Arthor Road, Mumbai, be brought to notice of IG, Prisons, for initiation of action against the jail superintendent.” Taking cognisance of the delay in trial, the court issued fresh production warrants for September 9.

Former NCB Director Saji Mohan was booked by the UT police for embezzlement of funds and a charge sheet was filed in June, 2009. He was booked by the Mumbai police in a case wherein contraband was seized from the former NCB Director.

In a letter to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Chandigarh, it was revealed that “though production warrants were received by the jail authorities concerned, till date, the accused has not been produced.”

The court further observed, “The production warrants have been received by the jail authorities concerned, and that too, from the office of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Mumbai.”

Chandigarh, August 3
Driving home a message against drunk driving, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today verbally suggested that vehicles could be impounded for six months to check this menace.

After a petition filed in public interest came up for hearing this afternoon before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ajay Tewari, the Bench stated that the non-release of vehicles involved in drunk driving would pinch the erring driver hard. These observations were made orally by the Bench and cannot be taken as an expression of final opinion in the matter or directions to the UT Administration.

The Bench made it clear to the UT senior standing counsel, Sanjay Kaushal, that it wanted the Chandigarh Administration to initiate serious steps for decelerating the menace. The Bench complimented the petitioner, social activist HC Arora, for bringing to the fore the vital issue.

Justice Ajay Tewari said: “Go to Sectors 8 or 9 in the evening and see for yourself how many people are drinking in their cars. The problem is becoming serious day by day.” He said as long as Chandigarh was a small city, the menace of drunk driving had not attained alarming proportions, but with it growing, the practice was becoming dangerous.

Kaushal told the Bench that he would like to file a detailed affidavit with statistics to show how much effort the traffic police was making for checking drunk driving.

In his petition, Arora had earlier claimed that the UT traffic police was giving least priority to challaning motorists for drunk driving and over-speeding, two major reasons for fatal accidents in the city. The petitioner prayed that the UT Administration should be directed to make continuous efforts to challan people for these violations.

Even when special drives are launched, the police more often than not install barriers at the same points. Drivers know which roads to avoid. Also, at late evening hours, PCR vehicles are seen stationed at rotaries, instead of patrolling.

Chandigarh, August 3
The police arrested two persons on charges of kidnapping a guesthouse agent near Hotel Sunbeam, Sector 22, this evening.The police said the victim, identified as 27-year-old Ashok Kumar, of Smalkha, Haryana, alleged that a group of six persons travelling in a Toyota Qualis kidnapped him and bundled him into the vehicle around 8.45 pm.

He, however, managed to escape from the custody of his abductors near Sector 24.

Acting on the complaint, the police arrested Vinod and Shammi and recovered the vehicle used in the crime from them.

A case of kidnapping under Section 365, IPC, has been registered at the police station-17. The police said preliminary investigations revealed that Ashok Kumar had a dispute with some guesthouse owner.

Till the filing of the report, the police was investigating the matter.

Chandigarh, August 3
Vipan Kumar, Abhishek, Jatin and Rahul moved to the next round of the 32-kg weight category at the Chandigarh Inter-School Boxing (under-14) for Boys at PML SD School, Sector 32, here today.

While Vipan Kumar of Government Model High School, Sector 23, beat Nitin of GMSSS-32, Abhishek of GHS-35 got the better of Kushal Thakur, a student of GNKS-30.

Jatin (SNS-22) beat Jatin (GMSSS-Karsan) and Rahul of SD School-32 stunned Amit Singh of GHS, Sector 11.

The results: 30 kg: 1 Karambir (GMS-43) b Gitansh (GMSSS-23); 2 Danbir (GMHS-36) b Deepak (GHS-11).

32 kg: 1 Vipan Kumar (GMHS-23) b Nitin (GMSSS-32); 2 Abhishek (GHS-35) b Kushal Thakur (GNKS-30); 3 Jatin (SNS-22) b Jatin (GMSSS-Karsan); 4 Rahul (SD School-32) b Amit Singh (GHS-11).

36 kg: 1 Rahul (GHS-40) b Abhishek (GSSS-15); 2 Joshan (SD School-32) b Parshant (GNK-30).

40 kg: 1 Himanshu (SD School-32) b Harshit (GMSSS-32).

42 kg: 1 Karan Uppal (SNS-22) b Rajat (GSSS-15); 2 Rohit (SD School-32) b Shivraj (GMSS-32).

Wrestling

In the inter-School wrestling competitions, Parveen claimed the top spot in the 77-kg category.

The results: 52 kg: 1 Sadam (GSSS-46), 2 Vickey (GMHS-43), 3 Gourav (SGHMS-38).

56 kg: 1 Anuj (GMHS-46), 2 Varinder (GMHS-42), 3 Arjit (GMHS-43).

62 kg: 1 Gourav (SGHMS-38), 2 Pardeep (GMHS-46), 3 Vabhav (DAVSSS-8).

69 kg: 1 Rahul (GMHS-46), 2 Hardeep (GMSSS-46), 3 Krish (DAVSSS-8).

79 kg: 1 Karan (BV-27), 2 Hunny (GMHS-46), 3 Vikram (GMSSS-46).

77 kg: 1 Parveen (GMSSS-46), 2 Amit (GMHS-46), 3 Sukhdeep (GMSSS-22). 

Panchkula, August 3
Host Manav Mangal emerged overall district champions in table tennis as they bagging all four titles for the fourth consecutive year in the Panchkula District Table Tennis Championship, that concluded on the school premises in Sector 11, here today.

In under-14 girls’ category, Manav Mangal school beat The Gurukul, Sector 20, 3-0, whereas in the boys’ category, the host team drubbed Bhavan Vidyalya 3-1 in the finals to bag top honours.

On the basis of their performance, Manu Sharma (boys under-17), Shashwat Somani and Harshdeep (under-14), Komal, Himani and Priya (girls under-17), Radhika, Kanchi and Akshita, all students of the school, have been selected for the Haryana School State Games.

The results: Girls’ team championship (u-14): semifinal: Manav Mangal b Haryana Model 3-0; The Gurukul-20 b Bhavan Vidyalaya 3-0; final: Manav Mangal b The Gurukul-20 3-0 (Radhika beat Muskan 11-8, 11-9, 11-16; Kanchi b Samridhi 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8; Akshita b Joydeep 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6).

Girls’ team championship (u-17): final: Manav Mangal b Bhavan Vidyalaya 3-0 (Himani b Poonam 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9; Komal b Phalguni 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6; Priya b Ankita 11-7, 11-6, 11-5).

Boys’ team championship (u-14): semifinal: Manav Mangal b Haryana Model 3-0; Bhavan Vidyalaya b The Gurukul-20 3-0; final: Manav Mangal b Bhavan Vidyalaya 3-1 (Parath lost to Divyankar Somani 10-12, 7-11, 3-11; Shashwat Somani b Rohan 8-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5; Harshdeep b Sidharth 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5; Shashwat Somani b Divyankar Somani 11-8, 8-11 ,11-7, 11-6).

Boys’ team championship (u-17): semifinal: Manav Mangal b DPS Pinjore 3-0; Bhavan Vidyalaya b The Gurukul-20 3-0; final: Manav Mangal b Bhavan Vidyalaya 3-2 (Sajal lost to Rishab 10-12, 9-11, 5-11; Manu beat Anmol 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8; Anmol Monga lost to Nikhil 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 6-11; Manu b Rishab 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8; Sajal b Anmol 12-10, 13-11, 9-11, 11-7).

Mohali, August 3
Work on town’s first golf academy has begun on nine acres of land in Phase XI here. Being developed by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), the academy will boost the recreational activity in the region.

Officials in GMADA said the academy comprising a golf range and a club would offer a new facility for budding golfers.

The work has been allotted to a Gurgoan-based firm, Tulip Build Infra Pvt ltd.

The firm has been given 18 months to develop the academy on nine acres located adjacent to the Commando Complex in Phase XI here.

Cashing in on its strategic location near the upcoming international airport, the authorities feel the academy will offer an opportunity to budding golfers to hone their skills.

The project is expected to cost GMADA around Rs 8.5 crore. The club building will include a swimming pool, library, spa, gym, two tennis courts, party hall, restaurant and bar. The main building will have administrative offices, video-aided classrooms, conference rooms and driving bays.

The outdoor facilities will include practise putting and chipping greens and tennis courts. The length from the hitting bay to end point will be 270 yards.

A seasonal rivulet running through the proposed golf range will be turned into a picturesque water body.

The authority may replicate the management pattern being followed at golf ranges and courses in Delhi, Gurgaon and Panchkula where a committee with members only in their ex officio capacity hold the reins of the range.

Mohali, August 3
The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has cautioned its players against their participation in unauthorised cricket tournaments.

The association has sent a communiqué to all its district associations, stipulating that players registered with the PCA and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cannot participate in cricket tournaments not recognised by the state cricket association or by the BCCI.

MP Pandove, a BCCI office-bearer and PCA’s honorary secretary, said many private players were coming forward to organise cricket leagues with prize money lately.

“As far as our records are concerned, the BCCI or the state associations have not given permission to any organisation to hold prize money tournaments neither for the current year nor for the next year. Playing in such tournaments by our players tantamounts to indiscipline and breach of player’s contract,” said Pandove.

He told players who were registered with the association not to venture out to play or get associated with such outfits.

“Any indulgence by registered players in such ventures will make them ineligible for playing in any inter-district matches or getting selected to play for the state in any age groups of the BCCI-sponsored national tournaments,” asserted Pandove.

Panchkula, August 3
Defending champion Sameer Bhalla will face third seed Ankur Nanda in the final of the senior snooker category in the 24th Haryana State Junior and Senior Billiards and Snooker Championship.

In the quarterfinal, Sameer Bhalla outclassed Karan Dheer 3-0. Though Karan Dheer showed some resistance in the first frame by hitting a break of 31 and taking a 19-point lead, Sameer did not give him any chance and cleared the table to win the frame.

Bhalla, who was in his elements, defeated Aneesh Saini the semifinal with a narrow difference.

Sameer won the first frame on the black ball but Aneesh bounced back and won the next two frames, hitting breaks of 41, 37 and 31.

After the scoreboard read 2-1, both players started playing cautiously. Aneesh was leading by 41 points when Bhalla hit a break of 49 to win the frame.

In the decider, Bhalla pushed the tempo to win the frame and the match.

In the second semifinal, Ankur Nanda defeated Vishal Mor 3-1. Ankur, who won the first frame with a big margin, lost the next frame to his rival.

In the third frame, Vishal played some good shots but were not good enough as Ankur emerged winner. Riding high on a 2-1 lead, Ankur beat Vishal in the next frame with ease.

In the senior billiards event, Himanshu Aggarwal upset defending champion Anil Sharma 2-0.

The results: Senior snooker: Vishal Mor b Prateek (3-0); Sameer Bhalla b Karan Dheer (3-0); Sameer Bhalla b Aneesh Saini (3-2); Ankur Nanda b Vishal Mor (3-1).

Senior billiards: Sameer Bhalla b Aman Goyal (2-0); Himanshu b Anil Sharma (2-0).