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Ropar, October 7
A regional body meeting of the PSEB Engineers’ Association was held today wherein engineers protested against the failure of the state government and Powercom management to fulfill their demands.

They said at the time of restructuring of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal had assured to fulfill certain demands, which still remain unfulfilled. Engineers have now decided to participate in the agitation launched at the state level.

The engineers lamented that before unbundling, during various meetings with the Chief Minister and state bureaucracy, the government has assured the association as well as trade unions that service conditions, GPF and pension benefits, etc., will be protected with signing mutually agreeable document (tripartite agreement).

“But nothing has been done so far in this regard. The engineers further stressed that tripartite agreement and other pay related issues are of paramount importance, as promulgation of service rules in the newly-formed corporations for the engineers as well as employees, particularly when the government has already utilised more than Rs 1,800 crore of GPF for other works, which defies purpose of the GPF and regulations thereof,” the engineers said.

It was resolved at the meeting that if the management and state government continued with this indifferent attitude and adopted dilly-dallying approach towards these demands, the engineers’ body will be left with no other option than to intensify the agitation.

Ambala, October 7
Subhash Park , a famous park in Ambala Cantt, having run into rough weather, is all set to restore its old pristine glory.

The municipal parks of Ambala have shrunk over the years. Senior functionaries of the corporation said that the corporation was now initiating a campaign to have these parks vacated, which had unauthorised structures in it.

Due to the apathy of the municipal corporation, there is no greenery in the parks, the fountains have been removed by anti-social elements and the ill maintained children parks have no equipment. We need to upgrade and expand our green infrastructure,” said a retired engineer Rakesh Kumar.

Residents of Ambala Cantt are up in arms against the local authorities for the maintenance and upkeep of Subhash Park. The park spread over 17 acre is one of the cities biggest parks and is frequented by residents.

Members of the Bharat Mata Yog Kendra, Ambala Cantt, also frequent this park everyday for yoga and other meditation activities. One of the members informed that the park was being neglected over the past few years. The benches, fans, water coolers had been stolen, while the gardens were not being maintained.

Deputy Commissioner Sameer Pal Srow said the administration was going to take action against the encroachers and added that the Union Minister for Tourism and local MP Kumari Selja had approved Rs 2.25 crore to beautify the parks in the town. She also announced that the Mahavir Park located in the Ambala City spread over nearly 25 acre of land would be renovated and developed as an important tourism centre. The proposed complex would have world-class facilities like trap drain pond, fish tank and fountains all around the complex.

Ambala, October 7
Ambala Deputy Commissioner Sameer Pal Srow today said that about 13,853 tonne of paddy had arrived in all 14-grain markets in the district. Besides, the new crop had arrived in the grain markets and the moisture content in the crop was quite high at the moment, but the farmers were still getting a good price from private shellers. He also appealed to the farmers to bring their produce in mandis dry and clean so that they would not face any difficulty in selling their produce, he added.

Meanwhile, the administration has claimed that all arrangements have been made at all procurement centres in the district.

Chandigarh, October 7
The police today booked the chief executive of a city-based immigration and visa consultancy services firm along with his wife and five company employees for allegedly defrauding an Ambala resident of Rs 1.9 lakh while promising to send him abroad on a study visa.

Sector 36 police station SHO inspector Anokh Singh said a case of cheating, misappropriation, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation was filed on the directions of a local court against Balraj Gupta, managing director of Caan Wings, Sector 35, his wife Diamond Saini, the firm’s programme director, Anu Singla, Govind Dev, Parkash Kandel, Narinder Kandel and Joshina Madan. In his complaint Ashwani Kumar had claimed he had paid Rs 10,000 in advance in May last year to the firm that promised him to the United Kingdom on a student visa.

He stated the firm’s staff later demanded another Rs 1.8 lakh, which he said he gave them. However, the firm did not send him abroad nor returned his money, he alleged.

Sources said Kumar also accused the company employees of dilly-dallying over the matter for months and, fed up with their attitude, he lodged a complaint with the police.

The police said the case was registered late in the evening and efforts were on to arrest the suspects.

Panchkula, October 7
Additional District and Session Judge Ritu Garg here today awarded 10-year imprisonment to accused Kari Lal Dass, a resident of Chandi Mandir, for raping a two-year-old girl. The court further slapped a fine of Rs 2,000 on the accused.

The case dates back to February 8 last. The victim’s parents, who worked as labourers, had gone to the nearby market and had left the accused with their daughter for taking care of her in their absence. But when they returned from the market, they heard the cries of their daughter from the house. Meanwhile, the accused had managed to flee from the spot.

The local police registered a case of rape against the accused in the Chandi Mandir police station on the complaint of the girl’s father. Later the police managed to arrest the accused.

Zirakpur, October 7
A 40-year-old woman was killed by a speeding vehicle on the Chandigarh-Ambala National Highway near Paras Downtown Square last night.

The deceased identified as Aproj, who was living in the slum colony near the mall.

The incident occurred around 10:30 pm when she was crossing the road and a rashly driven Jeep coming from Chandigarh hit her.

She was taken to the GMCH-32 in seriously injured condition where she died.

The investigating officer said the accused driver of the Jeep identified as Mohammad Aseen, a resident of Mani Majra was arrested and a case has been registered against him.

Chandigarh, October 7
The Rajeshwar Football Club defeated Rajput Football Club by 2-1 in the 5th Kanwar Harbans Lal Memorial Football Championship being organised by the Youngsters Football Club at the Sector-17 Football Stadium here today.

Deepak Hooda gave the lead to the winners in the 30th minute of the game, while Sumer Singh scored the winning goal in the 42nd minute of the game.

Harman Singh from the Rajput Football Club scored the lone goal in the 60th minute of the match.

In the other match in the under-13 category, Saupin’s School defeated Moti Ram School by 4-1. Harneet made an early lead for Moti Ram School in the eighth minute of the game. But Parminder from Saupin’s scored the equaliser in the 15th minute and also netted the ball in the 30th minute. Aryaman scored in the sixth, 28th and 32nd minute of the game.

Tomorrow’s fixtures:

U-13: St Kabir School, Sector 26, vs YPS, Mohali, at 2.30 pm.

Senior group: NPS Club-A vs Coaching Centre-A at 1 pm.

Star Club vs Coaching Centre-B at 3.30 pm.

PU team out

In another match of the day, Panjab University Campus team was scratched from the tournament when they fielded a foreign national player, Ibrahim Ahmed, in the first playing 11 list.

According to organisers, only players registered in the city were eligible for participating in the tournament and this was made clear to all participating teams.

“The campus team was given a warning in their first match also when they fielded a player registered in Delhi, however, they called the player back and same was repeated again even after the warning, which forced us to scratch the team,” said Vinay Kanwar, one of the organisers.

However, PU campus coach Bhupinder Singh alleged that the players in the opponent team were also not eligible for participating in the tournament. But he failed to give any proof or written complaint to the organisers in this regard. Meanwhile, shedding the responsibility from his shoulders, director sports CS Grewal said, “We are only responsible for the authorised tournaments under All-India University (AIU) and not bothered about the private tournaments.” “There is no use of playing non-affiliated All-India Football Federation tournaments, if the team is participating they should follow the rules, instead of defaming the name of Panjab University,” said a player. 

Mohali, October 7
Brilliant second-wicket partnership of 184 runs between Sarul Kanwar and Vishwas Bhalla has put the Chandigarh Cricket Association (CCA) in a strong position against the Rest of Punjab in the final match of the Punjab State Senior Inter-District Tournament being held at the PCA Stadium here today.

The Rest of Punjab, led by Ravi Inder Singh, won the toss and opted to field first. Chandigarh lost their first wicket on a mere total of nine runs, when medium pacer Navdeep Singh bowled out opener Amit Prashar.

But Sarul Kanwar and skipper Vishwas Bhalla steadied the innings and took the score to 193 before Kanwar was bowled by Navdeep Singh on his individual score of 121 runs.

Vishwas Bhalla, who remained unbeaten on 106 runs at the close of the day, was joined by Gurkirat Walia, but the latter did not last long as he was trapped by left arm spinner Ankur Kakkar on a total of 215 for three.

Bhalla was able to complete a century (106 off 252 balls). Navdeep Singh, the new find from Jalandhar, was the only bowler to ball with some venom, as he scalped two for 81. Medium pacer Manpreet Gony bowled 13 overs but without any success. Chandigarh were 295 for three in 90 overs at the end of day’s play.

Brief scores:

Chandigarh Cricket Association: 295 for 3 in 90 overs (Sarul Kanwar 121, Vishwas Bhalla 106 not out, Gaurav Gupta 37 not out; Navdeep 2 for 81 and Ankur Kakkar 1 for 26). 

Mohali, October 7
While the work of construction of sports complex opposite PCA Stadium would be allotted to the PWD department, funds to the tune of Rs 25 crore would be borne by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA).

The issue came up during a review meeting chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister on Tuesday. The prime land in the sports complex is to be used to construct an international-level hockey stadium with synthetic turf. Besides, volleyball, basketball and gymnasium facility and other sports facilities have also been planned on 20 acres of land. Already four kanal in the complex has been allotted for an Olympics Bhavan. A provision for parking of 800 cars was also being made.

Sports director Pargat Singh, secretary housing, Dr SS Sandhu, and GMADA chief administrator VP Singh were also present at the meeting.

Though the land has been handed over to the sports department, the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) had appointed consultants to chalk out the plan. For the past 17 years, the prime 20 acres has been converted into a dumping ground. Heaps of garbage remains scattered all around in the area, as plans remain only on papers.

Panchkula, October 7
St Xavier's, Panchkula, would face Chaman Lal DAV, Panchkula, in the opening match of the 2nd Clive Shear Memorial Six-a-Side Cricket Tournament to be held at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector 3, in Panchkula tomorrow.

According to sources, twelve schools will participate in the tournament.

Tomorrow’s fixtures

Ryan International 'A' Chandigarh vs St Xavier's 'B' Panchkula

CLDAV Panchkula vs Saupin's School

Vivek International 'A' Baddi vs Holy Child Panchkula

St Xavier's Mohali vs Delhi Public School Pinjore

St Soldier's Panchkula vs St Xavier's Chandigarh

Vivek International 'B' Baddi vs Ryan International 'B', Saupin's Panchkula vs St Xavier's 'A' Panchkula. — TNS