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NEIGHBOURHOOD

225 walk away with degrees
Tribune News Service

Kharar, April 11
Rayat-Bahra College of Education held its third convocation. Chief guest Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary, DPI (C), Punjab, conferred degrees on 225 students and honoured meritorious students.

Vainy Gupta was honoured for securing 10th position in Punjabi University, Patiala. Archana Dogra and Satwinder Kaur were honoured for securing the second and third positions.

Narinder Kaur was awarded a certificate of merit and a cheque for Rs 5,000 for securing fifth position in Punjabi University, Patiala.

Nivedita and Kamalpreet Rehal were also honoured.

Gurvinder Singh Bahra, chairman, Rayat-Bahra Group of Institutes, proposed the vote of thanks.

He congratulated students on their achievement. He added that the group was mulling over opening five universities by 2015.

Principal Dr Indu Rihani read out the annual report. She highlighted the academic, cultural and co-curricular achievements of students.

Among others present on the occasion included Bindu Bahl, Dr Satpal

Grewal, principal, Shivalik Institute of Education and Research, Mohali, and Baljinder Singh, principal, Government Senior Secondary School Mohali.

Treasure hunt marks tech fest
Tribune News Service

Kharar, April 11
A tech fest was held at Guru Gobind Singh College of Modern Technology. Main highlights of the cultural event were a fashion show “Enugma” and a laser show.Around 1,500 students from 30 colleges affiliated to Punjab Technical University participated in the event.

Students showcased talent in ‘photography’, ‘minutes to win it’, ‘pictionary’, ‘treasure hunt’, ‘collage making’ and ‘devil wears’.

In “Bub Hunt” SECG, Gharuan, emerged victorious, while in C++ LLRIET, Moga, stood second. In multimedia presentation, LLRIET, Moga, secured the first position, while SPLET stood third. In extempore and group discussion, Ludhiana College of Engineering, Katani Kalan stood first.

Chhatbir zoo safari to soon roar with Asian lions
Tribune News Service

Chhat (Banur), April 11
Visitors to the Chhatbir zoological park will soon be relieved from the monotony of watching “sluggish” hybrid lions in the zoo’s lion safari as, on Baisakhi day, a pair of Asiatic lions will be put on display. The pair - Gagan (male) and Heli (female), both three years old, was brought from Gujarat and has been quarantined to familiarize themselves with the surroundings for the past one month.

Zoo officials said the quarantine period would be over on Baisakhi day when the Punjab forests minister will formally release the big cats in the lion safari. As compared to the hybrid lions the Asiatic subspecies are very wild and active.

Confirming the Asiatic lions would be released next Wednesday, the state’s chief wildlife warden, Gurbaz Singh, said besides the minister would also inaugurate some additional facilities provided by the zoo for visitors. "These include water coolers, toilets and new sitting arrangements in the zoo premises”, he added.

The zoological park’s newly appointed field director, Basanta Raj Kumar, stated the zoo hospital staff and doctors were continuously monitoring the Asiatic lions. “Their blood and stool samples have also been taken and sent for laboratory testing”, he said.

“The Asiatic lions are quite active and will surely attract visitors. The Asiatic lions and the hybrid ones will be released on alternative days in the lion safari”, he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that many visitors, especially children have protested in the past for watching “inactive” lions that almost always slept near a pond in the lion safari.

Four vehicles collided
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, April 11
During the collision of four vehicles near here last night two persons were injured and three cars were damaged.According to sources, the accident occurred when Aman Gill, a resident of Gulabgarh, was returning in his Lancer car after attending a marriage party and suddenly a heavy vehicle hit his car, injuring his friend Vicky, a resident of Gulabgarh.

When Aman’s father reached the spot after hearing about the accident in his Alto car and a friend also reached in another car, suddenly a Jeep rammed into all these cars.

During the collision, Jeep driver Ram Kumar, a resident of Ambala, got injured and three cars were damaged. The two injured were admitted to a civil hospital here

Royal city residents choked
With increasing VIP duties and shortage of staff, cops find it difficult to manage the growing traffic chaos in the city
Aman Sood/TNS

BUMPER TO BUMPER: A harried lot of commuters make their way through traffic chaos at the Fountain chowk in Patiala. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Patiala, April 11
Traffic bottlenecks, lack of planning by the traffic police and non-functional traffic lights have increased traffic menace in the city causing harassment to commuters and city residents.

While traffic chaos on one hand has increased the average time taken to reach any part of the city, on the other hand it has also added to fuel consumption.

Non-functional traffic lights in the city have left the commuters a harried lot, as it has become a routine affair here. The worst affected are the students from Punjabi University, Patiala, who have to risk their lives outside the university gates as no traffic lights are functional and there is no traffic policemen is deputed outside the gates.

Thapar University roundabout faces the same threat with majority of the students complaining that no police personnel is deputed near the university gate.

However, police officials say that due to staff crunch, they find it difficult to post police personnel outside the university. Interestingly, during a VIP visit to the city, there is no shortage of staff to escort VIPs to the desired destination.

Meanwhile, various illegal encroachments on the busy Lower Mall Fountain Chowk stretch have increased rapidly. Same is the condition from Kali Mata Mandir to Fountain Chowk, which is mostly sealed by the police.

It is worth mentioning that the entire stretch from Fountain Chowk to Nabha Gate has been illegally occupied by the shopkeepers due to lack of any check.

If this was not all then the near by dhabas have encroached upon the road outside and are openly threatening human life by keeping their cooking gas in the open.

MC officials, however, claim that they have tried to remove the encroachments several times, but with the return of the the MC squad shopkeepers continue to encroach.

A regular passerby from this stretch claimed it had difficult for schoolchildren particularly in the afternoon to make their way through such a blocked road.

"In the afternoon, dhabas are full to their capacities and even go to the extent of serving food on the road giving a harrowing time to students,” said Gagandeep Singh, an ice-cream seller.

The traffic bottleneck near the Patiala railway station and the bus stand has hampered the movement of traffic in the area, thus leaving the passengers in the lurch. The problem is getting worse with each passing day due to the haphazard parking of the fruit stall vendors and vegetable vendors, who have occupied almost half of the road.

“Yesterday a rickshaw-puller was hit by a bus and the police couldn’t do anything about it,” said a nearby hotel owner.

"It’s a routine affair here and there is nothing that we can do,” he added.

Senior police officers said they would depute more traffic staff to regulate the traffic, but managing traffic everyday was a problem due to the shortage of staff and increased VIP duties.

Devotees take out shobha yatra

Dera Bassi, April 11
A shobha yatra was organised by Sri Sanatan Dharam Sabha here on the eve of Ram Navami here today.Congress state secretary Rakesh Sharma flagged off the yatra. Sabha president Sukhdev Mittal said idols, including Lord Shiva, Parwati, Maa Durga, Hanuman Ji, Ram Lakhan, Ganga and Radha Krishan were on a display in the yatra.

Residents arranged tea stalls with eatables at various locations to welcome the shobha yatra.

A large number of devotees joined the yatra that ended at Ram temple near the level crossing after passing through grain market, main market, bus stand and highway. — OC

INLD stage dharna against house tax
Our Correspondent

Kalka, April 11
Irked over an intense hike in collector rates of land and the recent decision of the state government to impose house tax in urban area, the local and district unit of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) headed by Kalka MLA Pardeep Chaudhary today staged a dharna opposite tehsildar’s office on the Railway road.

The protest was attended by local and district INLD workers and leaders in large numbers.

MLA Pardeep Chaudhary condemned the state government on various aspects like inflation, corruption and on deteriorated law and order situation in the state.

After the dharna, Chaudhary, along with the INLD workers, submitted a memorandum to Haryana Governor through Kalka tehsildar.

Rajeshwar takes YPS home
Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 11
Riding high on a valuable knock of 82 runs by Rajeshwar Brar, hosts Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, defeated Woodstock School, Mussoorie, by 209 runs in the 10th edition of T20 Cricket Tournament being played on the YPS ground. Top schools of the country are participating in the tournament. For YPS, Rajeshwar Brar (82) and Harkirat Singh (63) were the main scorers, while Karan Kaila took six wickets.

In the second match played between YPS, Mohali, and Scindia School, Gwalior, YPS, Mohali, emerged victorious. Meanwhile, Modern School, New Delhi, defeated Vasant Valley School, New Delhi, by 166 runs.

CRIME

Cash, gold ornaments stolen from car
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 11
Miscreants decamped with gold ornaments, cash and some documents after breaking the windowpane of a parked car here today.Sushil Kumar, a resident of Sector 45, reported that someone took away his bag containing Rs 550 in cash, a mobile phone, gold earrings and two nose pins after breaking the windowpane of his car (CH 01 AD 6798) parked near the Sector 20-30 trafficlights.

A case has been registered.

Stolen scooter recovered

Chandigarh, April 11
Alertness on part of the PCR staff posted in a trauma ambulance of the Chandigarh police helped the police recover a stolen Activa Honda scooter. Pharmacist Vivek Shama, head constable Bhagwant Singh and Home Guard volunteer Kamal were on duty in the ambulance when they noticed a black Honda Activa scooter (CH03N 3640) near Kala Gram trafficlights yesterday.

They informed the control room and on verification it was found that the scooter had been stolen on April 3 from the jurisdiction of the police station-31. An FIR (No. 111) on April 4 had been registered in this regard. — TNS

SPORTS

Three-wicket win for Airtel XI
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, April 11
Airtel XI recorded a three-wicket win over Infosys XI in a league match of the IXth Bharat Kesho Gupta Memorial Cricket Tournament at the cricket stadium, Sector 3, here.Batting first, Infosys XI mustered a total of 130 for 8 in stipulated 20 overs. Nitin Bhardwaj emerged the highest run-getter with 30 runs, whereas Ankit Sharma contributed 25 runs.

For Airtel, Ajay Kumar was the most successful bowler, who scalped 3 for 31, while Devan Arora picked 2 for 17 runs.

In reply, Airtel XI got off to a poor note as they lost some quick wickets. Nitin Bhardwaj bowled well to pick up two consecutive wickets in his very first over to put the rivals in a spot of bother. Vinay Bhardwaj (52) salvaged the team with his half-century. He also built up a 50-run partnership with Anuj Sharma (40 not out) in the course.

The team required five runs off the last two deliveries. Anuj dispatched both the balls to the boundary to clinch the victory for his team.

In the second match, a fruitful partnership of 60 runs between Amarjit Kumar (42) and Vaneet Chawla (39 no) enabled Godrej CC to defeat ICICI Bank XI by seven wickets.

Batting first, the ICICI team were restricted to a total of 116 runs.

In reply, Godrej CC reached the target in just 15 overs.

Score

Infosys XI: 130 for 8 in 20 overs (Nitin Bhardwaj 30, Ankit Sharma 25, Ajay Kumar 3 for 31 and Devan Arora 2 for 17).

Airtel XI: 134 for 7 in 20 overs (Vinay Bhardwaj 52, Anuj Sharma 40 no and Nitin Bhardwaj 2 for 28).

ICICI Bank XI: 116 for 9 in 20 overs (Gourav Vaid 33, Kulwinder Romy 4 for 16 and Kulwinder Rambo 2 for 15).

Godrej CC: 119 for 3 in 15 overs (Amarjit Kumar 42, Vaneet Chawla 39 no and Baljit Kalsi 1 for 24).

In the third match between Aircel XI and DCM Engineering, the latter registered a 10-wicket victory over the former.

Match III

Aircel XI: 110 all out in 18.4 overs (Manoj 27 and Satyam 3 for 22).

DCM Engg: 111 for no loss in 14.3 overs (Jaspreet 56 no and Aneesh 30 no).

1,200 cops to shield PCA Stadium
Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 11
For the upcoming IPL match on April 13 at the PCA stadium here, around 1,200 policemen have been deputed for security in and around the stadium.Mohali SSP GPS Bhullar is deployed to check the inconvenience to the residents staying near the stadium.

According to sources, an elaborate route diversion plan has been made. As per the plan, those planning to move from Phase X to Chandigarh have been advised to take alternative road from Manav Mangal School, Phase X, to the Mohali Club chowk on the road separating Phases X and XI.

Similar detour would have to be taken by the residents moving from Chandigarh to Phase X.

Similarly, those moving from Phase X to Phase VII would have first go to the Mohali Club chowk on the road separating Phases X and XI before moving towards the NIPER road going towards Kumbhra chowk.

Those staying behind the Phase X market have been advised to take the NIPER road before joining the road separating Phase X and XI while moving towards Chandigarh.

He said those staying behind the PCA Stadium in Phase IX have been advised to take the road separating Phases VIII and IX that ultimately moves towards Burail Jail.

Similarly, motorists moving from Landhran towards Chandigarh have been advised to take a detour towards traffic lights of Phases III and V from Lakhnour junction.

On the day of the match, the road leading from traffic light of Phases VIII and IX to the PCA Stadium, from traffic lights of Phases X and XII towards the PCA Stadium and from traffic lights of sectors 49 and 50 towards the stadium would remain closed for traffic.

The sites earmarked for parking are LIC parking Phase X, Sports Complex , Phase X market, PUDA Bhavan , Majestic Hotel Phase IX, Gurdwara Amb Sahib, Cricket Academy Phase IX and Housing Board Colony, Sector 63.

The Mohali Deputy Commissioner has given permission to the organisers to conduct the IPL event this evening after getting reports from the Senior Superintendent of Police.

The excise department also gave its permission for the match on April 13 after the organisers deposited the pending entertainment tax of Rs 30 lakh. The permission by the excise department has been given for a single match.