NEIGHBOURHOOD

Defying HC order, commercial buildings mushroom
Defence authorities write to Patiala DC
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Kalka, September 26
In Pinjore trees of mango and ambla (gooseberry) have been axed from five bighas land of an ancient garden during the night hours, without taking the permission of the forest dept. The incident took place in Dharampur Colony of Pinjore four days ago when Gopal, who had only given advance money for the purchase of the garden, cut the trees worth lakhs of rupees.

Resentment prevailed among residents of Dharmpur, who alleged that the forest department was immediately intimated about this in the morning hours, but the officials came to the spot after 10 hours.

Sources of the forest department revealed that they had registered a damage report in this context against the accused and the matter would be transferred to Environment Court, under which there was a provision of fine and sentence of six months.

The cutting of trees in Shivalik belt of Kalka and Pinjore has badly endangered the environment of the area as thousands of trees have been axed in the area. The department of Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is to acquire more than 12,000 acres for developing sectors in the area.

Under this project lakhs of trees are proposed to be axed. Notably, around two lakh trees have already been cut by the NHAI from Pinjore to Panchkula for four-laning the NH-22.

Fatehgarh Sahib, September 26
The police has arrested three women for looting a 65-year-old woman of Ludhiana. The accused has been identified as Rajji, a resident of Chhintawala village, near Nabha, in Patiala, Kali and Chand Kaur, both residents of Sangrur.

DSP Amarjit Singh Ghuman said the police was working on the complaint of the victim, Gurcharan Kaur (65), a resident of Ludhiana. Gurcharan complained that three unidentified women robbed her of gold and cash when she was waiting for her nephew near a gurudwara in Fatehgarh Sahib where she came to attend a marriage function.

She said the three women in a car offered her a lift up to her village and robbed her on the way.

The police said the accused women had been arrested and all robbed material had also been recovered.

A case has been registered in this regard against the three women. Further investigation was on.

Ambala, September 26
Former Union Minister and local MLA Venod Sharma laid the foundation stone of two major development projects in Ambala City.

The cost of the projects has been pegged at Rs 255 crore.

The water supply scheme, which has been earmarked for Rs 144 crore, will fulfil the demand of drinking water. After the completion of the scheme, the public health department will get a direct supply from Bhakra Canal.

Earlier, the canal water was being supplied through Bhakra distributaries, which generally remained closed for two weeks in a month.

As per the scheme, six boosting stations will be set up to make available the water supply to the upper areas.

Similarly, Rs 112 crore will be spent on laying of the sewerage in the city.

While addressing a public gathering at Baldev Nagar, Venod Sharma said Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had always laid stress on the development work in the city.

He said around 1,000 youths were given government jobs.

Besides, Deputy Commissioner Samir Pal Saro, SDM Mukesh Ahuja, senior leaders of the party Arjun Garg, Parminder Babla, Karnail Bai, Jasbir Kaur Babbal, Dharmapal Chadda, Madan Lal Aggarwal, Rinku Punia, Dharmapal Kalia, Naresh Sahgel, Sudheer Goldy, Tej Parkash Singh, Tony Suller, Mukesh Joshi and Ajay saini were present on the occasion.

Ambala, September 26
About 100 class-IV employees who were deployed through Sulabh International for cleanliness work at Ambala stopped work in protest against non-payment of their salaries.

Earlier, the Ambala municipal corporation had signed a contract with Sulabh International for two months to clean the city after the floods. According to sources, Sulabh International deputed 100 safai karamcharis with the help of the municipal corporation in Ambala City and Ambala Cantonment to maintain cleanliness in the area of about 45 km.

Sources said the cleaners deployed through the contractor were not paid salaries since the past two months. The cleanliness contract granted to Sulabh International was to undertake cleanliness in 13 wards of Ambala for two months.

A contract employee of the corporation said, “We have not been paid salaries for two months. We do not know what to tell our families at home. Majority of us are finding it difficult to run households as shopkeepers have stopped giving credit,” Sunder alleged.

About 100 safai karamcharis working with the firm have not been paid their salaries for the months of July and August. They said they were made to suffer for a conflict between the contractor and the municipal corporation. “It is difficult to run home without salary. Non-payment from the contractor forced us to stop the work as it was becoming impossible to bear the expenses,” said another cleaner.

A senior official of the corporation said the contract with Sulabh International had been cancelled as the service rendered by them was not found in order. According to the contract, the firm had committed to deploy 100 safai karamcharis each in Ambala Cantt and Ambala City, but failed to do so.

Sources said the cleanliness work in more than 110 residential colonies in the twin towns had been totally disrupted after floods. Most of the open plots in the residential areas have been turned into dumping grounds. The safai karamcharis had stopped working in the colonies of twin city of Ambala, as it had not received even a single penny from the contractor, an official of the municipal corporation added.

Agitated residents blame that heaps of garbage had become a common sight at every short distance. Shockingly, at numerous places garbage mounds keep getting bigger, but nobody comes to clean it for days together. Garbage heaps smelling rot with flies hovering on these can make anybody feel nauseated, they alleged.

Chandigarh, September 26
Two two-wheelers have been stolen from different parts of the city. Balwant Singh of Sector 38-West reported to the police that someone stole his Kinetic Honda scooter (CH01D-6478) from Sector 9 on September 21.

Chandigarh, September 26
At least 5,700 enthusiasts from the tricity and surrounding areas participated in the first-ever cyclothon, that took off with much fanfare and festivity near the Mini-Secretariat here this morning.

Cycling Federation of India president Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Pankaj Munjal of Hero Cycles flagged off the 60-km competitive national road cycling event. This was followed by kids race, the Go Air corporate ride, the Hero amateur ride and the LG green ride, flagged off by Virender Sehwag and Munjal.

The city hosted the India Cyclothon for the first time. A mass mobilisation cycling event, it promoted the practice of cycling and had already traversed New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The concept proved a big draw, with thousands of young enthusiasts, who were provided colourful kits by organisers, paddling on the roads to proclaim their support for greener and cleaner urban spaces.

People from all walks of life, including professionals, housewives and schoolchildren, participated in the event.

Vinod Kumar Pannu of Zirakpur, who rode to Leh by cycle last year, participated in the amateur category for 20 km.

Speaking on the occasion, Dhindsa said this was the fourth edition of the India Cyclothon in the past 12 months, giving a wonderful platform to cyclists in the country to participate before the Commonwealth Games.

Delighted at the response, Munjal said it was a significant step towards promoting the practice of cycling among one and all, which helped in clearing the environment of pollution.

The event also served as the first event of the World Tourism Week, hosted by the Chandigarh administration and CITCO.

Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi said, “I feel proud to be associated with the cause of protecting our environment. As responsible citizens, we should all take small steps towards saving our environment. Chandigarh is a beautiful city and it is amazing to see so many people supporting the event on a Sunday morning. This truly shows the spirit of Chandigarh.”

Ashok Masti and Jassi regaled the audience with their foot-tapping performances. Young enthusiasts gathered near the stage and danced to the tunes of their pop songs.

Chandigarh, September 26
It was Piyush Sangwan all the way. This 12-year-old golfer from Gurgaon fired a three under par 69 card to finish with the best two-day tally of 148 in the third CGA Junior Golf Tournament, in which 86 junior golfers up to the age of 17 battled it out on the final day on the par-72 greens of the SEPTA golf course in Chandimandir today.

Tavleen Batra from Ambala returned the best score among girls. Playing in the B Category, she played three strokes better than the A Category winner Gursimar Badwal.

Playing in the C Category, Piyush put senior players to shade with A Category winner Tarundeep Chadha finishing two strokes behind at 150. Harsh Gangwar clinched the title in the B Category at 154. Digraj Gill of Ludhiana got the better of Chandigarh’s Aadil Bedi, winning the D Category title at 170. The E Category title was won by Delhi’s Harshjeet Sethi.

Making most of the pleasant weather with a mild breeze blowing across the greens the Badwal sisters, Gursimar and Gurjot emerged winners in the A and C Categories with Amabala’s Tavleen Batra clinching the title in the B Category with the best score of 165 among girls. Ishani Joshi and Vasundhara Thiara were the winners in Categories D and E of the girls’ section, respectively.

Lt-Gen MS Buttar, chief of staff, Western Command, gave away prizes. CGA president JS Cheema thanked General Buttar for allowing CGA to hold the tournament on the SEPTA greens.

Result:

Girls: E Category: Vasundhara Thiara 101; Category D: Ishani Joshi (winner); Category C: Gurjot Badwal 182; Category B: Tavleen Batra 165; Category A: Gursimar Badwal 168.

Boys: Category E: Harshjeet Sethi 75, Arnav Jain 88, Shubham 93; Category D: Digraj Gill 170, Aadil Bedi 172, Karanveer Singha 182; Category C: Piyush Sangwan 148, Jaiveer Singh Sandhu and Khushmanraj Singh 167; Category B: Harsh Gangwar 154, Yuvraj Sandhu 157, Priyanshu Singh 160; Category A: Tarundeep Singh Chadha 150, K Raghav Bhandari 154 and Harman Virk 157.

Ambala, September 26
The Haryana chapter of Cardiological Society of India organised a marathon on the occasion of “World Heart Day” in Ambala City today.

SDM Ambala Mukesh Ahuja flagged off the marathon that started from Panchayat Bhavan. A number of doctors took part in the marathon.

President of Haryana chapter Raj Kumar Sharma said the marathon was organised to apprise people of the symptoms of cardio arrest.

He said most of the people had to suffer a lot as they were not aware of the symptoms of the disease.

Dr Manoj Aggarwal, a senior heart specialist, Ambala, said doctors should launch a campaign to educate people.

He said lifestyle changes were a must. IMA vice-president Dr DS Jaspal, IMA local president Dr Rajeev Aggarwal and officer-bearers of the Rotary Club were also present on the occasion. Later, a free check-up camp was also organised.

Patiala, September 26
All India Indian Public School Conference (IPSC) Tennis Championship for Boys and Girls began at Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, today. The matches are being conducted for age groups U-14, U-17 and U-19 for boys and girls category. As many as 18 schools and over 220 players are participating in the championship.

Rajan Kashyap, IAS (retd), member of Board of Governors of the school, inaugurated the championship at 10 am in the school sports stadium.

The winners and outstanding players of the championship will represent IPSC in the nationals conducted by the School Games Federation of India.

RESULTS

Team championship -- Boys U-14: DPS, Mathura road, beat Mayo College, Ajmer, 2-0; DPS, RK Puram, beat Lawrence School, Sanawar, 2-0, Scindia School, Gwalior, beat YPS, Patiala, 2-1, YPS, Mohali, beat Welham Boys 2-0, The Doon School beat MNSS Rai 2-0

U-17: DPS, RK Puram, beat YPS, Mohali, 2-0, DPS, Mathura road, beat Mayo College, Ajmer, 2-0, MNSS Rai beat Sainik School, Kapurthala, 2-0, Welham Boys beat Scindia School, 2-0, The Doon School beat HMPS 2-1

U-19: DPS, Mathura road, beat MNSS 2-0, Welham Boys beat Sainik School, Kapurtha, 2-0

Girls U-14: Welham Girls beat YPS, Mohali, 2-1, YPS, Patiala, beat MNSS Rai, 2-1, MGD, Jaipur, beat Modern School, Delhi, 2-0

U-17: YPS, Patiala, beat Welham Girls 2-1

U-19: MGD, Jaipur, beat Scindia Kanaya Vidalya 2-0, MNSS Rai beat Welham Girls 2-1.

Semi-final and final matches of the team championship will be played tomorrow, which will be followed by Individual Championship.

Chandigarh, September 26
Hundred junior golfers of the region will tee off tomorrow in the Hero Honda Golf Championship to be played on the par-72 greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here tomorrow.

According to Capt GS Ghuman, chairman, Tournament Committee, a total of 100 entries have been received, which means a total of 25 four balls. Tee-offs will be done from both tees. The A and B Category players will start from the first tee and the C and D Category players from the 10th tee at 11.30 am.

Ajay Gujral has been appointed chief referee.