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MC losing out on advt funds
Ludhiana, July 27 For this purpose, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation had entered into contract with a private company in 2005 and 2009, respectively. The contract signed in 2005 was for seven years and a total of 220 unipoles were to be installed, while the contract signed in 2009 was for a period of four years in which 200 unipoles were to be installed, 38 overhead signboards and four foot overbridges were to used for the advertising purposes by the company. The contract signed in 2005 had expired in December last year, after which the MC granted the company a six-month extension that ended last month. The other contract of 2009 had also expired last month. MC officials said that both the companies were paying Rs 33 lakh per month as license fee and advertising tax to the civic body. Ever since their contract expired, the advertising unipoles and other signboards were lying vacant, which meant that the MC was not generating any revenue out of it. Since the hoardings are lying vacant, politicians have been making use of them, that too, free of cost. When contacted, MC Commissioner Rakesh Kumar Verma said that that the MC with the help of a private consultant company was in the process of finalising an advertising master plan. “At present, the unipoles have been installed by the companies even on footpaths, which is not allowed. When we will have proper advertising master plan in hand, we will specify proper places where the unipoles should be installed. Till the time our master plan is prepared, we will not auction the sites, and moreover, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stopped all MCs of the state from auctioning their advertising sites,” claimed Verma.
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Jaldhara Exports owner booked for evading tax
Ludhiana July 27 Officials of Excise and Taxation Department lodged a complaint at the Division 5 Police station that the owner of Jaldhara Exports committed a fraud of Rs 1.56 crore with the government. Excise and taxation officers (ETO) ML Sharma, Pawanjeet Singh and Amit Mittal complained to the police that Raman Kumar, manger of Jaldhara Exports committed fraud with the government by forging the papers evaded the tax amount. The police said, the company exported goods to Bangladesh and the forged papers of goods which they had exported before July 23 and got the refund money. This practice has cost the government 1.56 crore. After investigating, the Excise and Taxation Department lodged a complaint with the police. The police registered a case against Jaldhara Exports, under Sections 177, 420, 465, 467, 468 and 471 of IPC. No arrest has been made so far in this regard.
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Sans uniform policy, mid-day meal scheme suffers
Ludhiana, July 27 In big district like Ludhiana, about 30,000 students in the city alone are being served mid-day meals daily. On this particular issue, complaints of "sub-standard" meals, late delivery of meals, meals not as per the menu etc keep on pouring in from several quarters. Perturbed by the regular complaints against the contractor, the state government scrapped his contract from June 1 and the schools were asked to prepare the meals for the children. But now, the school managements are finding it difficult to prepare the mid-day meals as no funds have been released to them by the government so far. One of the principal of a government school here said that the flour-miller had refused to grind the grain as his dueswere not paid. "How can we run the show in such circumstances?" asked the principal. In stark contrast, in districts including Mohali, Sangrur, Moga, Nawanshehr, Faridkot etc the mid-day meals are prepared on electronic machines and the contract has been given to different persons. In the electronic machines, flour is prepared and the dough is made. There are machines for making chapatis, pealing potatoes, vegetable cutters, huge boilers have been installed for steaming rice etc. Arvinderpal Singh, managing the Mid-day meal scheme in Mohali said that they start preparing the meals at 7 am and by 10 am, the meals are sent to schools. "The chapati maker makes 5,000 chapatis in one hour. We are given the cooking cost by the government and rice and wheat are also provided by the authorities. Raw material (vegetables), dry masala, oil etc are purchased by us", he said.Tarsem Banga, manager, mid-day meals here, however, claimed that things were being streamlined slowly. On being asked whether the schools were given the funds, Banga said, "We have been given Rs 1.5 crore as (cooking cost and cooks’ sarary) and lists of all the schools are being made. We will release the funds as per the lists and balance for May will be cleared. The funds can be delayed but not denied". MinisterSpeak
The system cannot be changed overnight. It will take some time to streamline everything. In certain districts, kitchens are being managed by the contractors while in some, school authorities are preparing the meals. The government procedures are lengthy and we realise that. There can be flaws but things can be streamlined slowly, but surely. — Sikandar Singh Maluka, Education Minister, Punjab. |
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Contractor defying HC orders: Area shopkeepers
Ludhiana, July 27 The shopkeepers alleged that the parking contractor was allowing vehicles of bigger commercial establishments, including shopping malls and hotels, to park their vehicles in the parking area, which was meant for those customers visiting small shops. MC officials, however, said that if any person visiting a hotel or a shopping mall, parked his vehicle in the parking area, the traffic police should tow the vehicle away. The traffic police said that the court orders clearly mentioned that if any person parked a vehicle for more than two hours, the contractor would inform the traffic police and only then the vehicle would be towed away. Ramesh Rattan, secretary of the Aarti Chowk Shopkeepers Association, said that they were forced to hold protest because the parking contractor was not following the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. “As per the court order, these parking spaces alongside the Ferozepur Road cannot be used by big commercial complexes such as shopping malls, hotels, big restaurants and marriage palaces, but the private contractor is defying these orders. The contractor is allowing parking of vehicles of people visiting big commercial complexes, whereas people visiting our shops don’t get space to park their vehicles. We have even submitted memorandums to the MC authorities and the traffic police, but no action was taken in this regard,” alleged Ramesh Rattan. When contacted, MC Tehbazaari superintendent Naveen Malhotra said that he had already written to the traffic police to depute their personnel to check the problem. “Moreover, I have also asked the contractor not to let any customers from the malls or restaurants and marriage palaces park their vehicles here. And if he allows, we will take action against him. I wonder why the traffic police has never towed away any vehicle from the parking area,” stated Malhotra. Dhruman Nimbale, ACP (Traffic), said that “The court orders clearly mention that if any person parks his vehicle for more than two hours, the contractor The shopkeepers said that tomorrow being a Sunday, all small shops would be closed and if any vehicle was seen parked in these parking spaces alongside the Ferozepur Road, it would mean that the parking contractor was allowing residents visiting big commercial complexes to park their vehicles here,” said Ramesh Rattan. |
Stray dog menace at rly station
Ludhiana July 27 During a visit to the railway station, a number of stray dogs were seen roaming on the platform. Some of the dogs were seen sleeping inside the offices at the railway station. Tables of officials at various offices seem the favourite place of dogs for sleeping. The dogs were also spotted under the benches installed for passengers on various platforms. Though no passenger or visitor at platforms complained against stray dogs, a vendor said a dog tried to bite a girl last Sunday at platform No 1. “With the increase in the number of dogs at the railway station, we can see them roaming everywhere. The government should control the population of dogs in the state. The railway authorities are helpless in keeping the dogs away from the station as they can enter the station through railway tracks,” said Sukhdev, a Railway employee. The stray dogs are also seen sleeping inside cloak room, goods godown and parcel office in the railway station. A worker of the railway station said: “It is too hot outside and the dogs find the surfaces of offices and platforms comfortable. However, no case of dog bite has been reported yet".
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Dirty water irks residents
Ludhiana, July 27 The residents are forced to purchase mineral water from the market as there is no water to drink. They also claimed that the water was stinking so badly that they couldn’t even take bath or wash utensils. Charanjit Kaur, another resident, said Kulwinder Kaur, resident of the area, was not feeling well for the past three days. “She has been visiting many doctors for treatment. Yesterday, she came to know that she is suffering from stomach infection,” she said. Naginderpal Singh Passi, another resident, said they had made several calls to MC officials, but none of them visited the area. “When we brought the matter to the notice of The Tribune, officials from the MC’s operations and maintenance cell visited the area and fixed the problem. I wonder why the MC officials don’t pay any heed to the problems of the common man,” he said. Ranjit Singh, SDO, (Operations and Maintenance Cell), initially claimed that no such problem existed in the area. He even tried to pass the buck by claiming that the water problem is due to a choked storm sewer line. Later, he visited the area. “There was some problem in a resident’s private sewer line due to which the sewer water got mixed with the water supply line. After coming to know about the problem, I personally visited the area and with the help of the Municipal Corporation staff and the problem has been resolved. Now, the residents will get potable water,” Ranjit Singh assured.
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Documents seized, hotels told to pay luxury tax
Ludhiana, July 27 The surveys were conducted by the ETO Rajesh Aeri and Navdeep Hadiwal today. Aeri said the documents of two hotels, New Akash Ganga and Mehmi hotel at Bhadaur House, were seized as they had not paid their luxury taxes. "We will assess how much tax has to be levied on them as per the rules and they will deposit it accordingly. For luxury tax, hotels have to get themselves registered," said the ETO.
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Over 50 exhibitors showcase wedding trousseau, jewellery at exhibition
Ludhiana, July 27 Over 50 exhibitors from various parts of the country will showcase their fashion and lifestyle products at the two-day exhibition. Wedding trousseau, attires, suits, footwear, jewellery, handbags and accessories are part of the exhibition. Although most of the designers present said Pakistani suits were out in the fashion circuit but their presence have left an indelible mark in the traditional Indian fashion wear. Pakistani designs have now been blended with the Indian designs adding new layers in the traditional wear. Yet some of the strong Pakistani design influences were still visible in the embroidered work. Delhi-based Meenakshi Sawhney, presenting the Pakistani suits collection, brought the speciality of Karachi designing. She said the unique crochet work, real stones and the intricate designing was quite in demand in the market. "The popularity of Pakistani prints has come down though," she said. A Chandigarh-based designer, Harleen, from the Zoya Fashion Studio, said: "Pakistani Kaftans are still in fashion." In addition, she brought Punjabi suits with danglers on the salwars. "These are very much like the danglers of traditional Punjabi parandi and look pretty nice," said Ritu, a resident. "These danglers add Punjabi touch to the bridal and ceremonial dresses," said another resident. "Popularity of these danglers is rising," said Harleen. A host of jewellery stalls were presenting the traditional Indian and avant-garde jewellery collections. Eena Kapoor from Bangalore had brought a unique jewellery collection made by using imported agates. "These are shiny, colourful, semi-translucent stones made by using agates stones. Like some of the semi-precious stones, these agates are known to bring happiness," says Eena. She used Russian shiny stones, known as druzes, for another collection of jewellery. "These stones are not very popular in India as yet. These stones are found like that only, with a natural glitter," she added. Indore-based designer Reena Dhaeja from the Rein Creations said, "Corset-skirt-dupatta is a popular fashion combination these days. In addition, ready-to-wear wraparound sarees are another attraction." A host of other fashion exhibitors, including fashion handbags, wedding photographers, mehandi designers added another dimension to the fashion exhibition.
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Kids wear market fastest growing among apparels
Ludhiana, July 27 Today, kids’ stores are not restricted to dresses alone. They are one-stop shops fulfilling all needs under one roof. Stores like Mom & Me and Mothercare sell products ranging from strollers, child car seats, furniture, food, skincare, footwear for babies to literature, maternity clothes and equipment for mothers, apart from kids wear. The USP of these stores is that they provide in-store play areas for kids, feeding area, reading lounge, nappy-cum-wash areas for parents with kids browsing through the stores. “My search for buying clothes and accessories for my child ends at Mothercare. The products here have class and sophistication. I do not want colourful and overdone clothes for my son. Be it clothes, shoes, utensils or toiletries for my child, everything is available here. I love coming here to shop for my son,” said Jaskirat, a mother. “Affluent households do not mind spending more on kids wear. They are looking at a complete solution. Gone are the days when people use to make their child wear clothes of their siblings. Customers today want offers in a large range,” said a store manager of a branded shop. Sunil Jain, another parent, said when everyone today was wearing branded clothes, then why should children be left behind. “My son loves to dress the way I do. So, I buy similar clothes for him," he said.
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Protest against eatery for serving beef
Ludhiana, July 27 The police reached the spot to pacify the protesters. According to police officials, the situation is under control. Harpal Singh, SHO, Sharaba Nagar police station, said: “On the complaint of the organisations, the Health Department took the samples of meat, which will be sent for a laboratory test.” — TNS
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Cycle industry delegation meets minister
Ludhiana, July 27 Kular said: “The Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) provides planned support for the modernisation of the textile industry in the form of interest reimbursement and capital subsidy. The sectors benefited under TUFS are spinning, weaving, processing, technical textiles, jute, silk, garmenting, cotton ginning, wool and power looms”. He said no facility had been provided to the cycle industry by the Centre and the state government in the Budget 2013-14. The cycle manufacturers said the scheme of factory stuffing should be restored so that the industry might not face any difficulty for the export of the products. Besides, they said MSMEs were exempted from the preview of central excise up to Rs 1.5 crore of the annual turnover. Consequent upon enormous increase in the cost of raw materials, process cost, labour, transportation, etc the limit was no more significant when compared to the present cost of production and needs to be enhanced to Rs 5 crore. “Micro and small scale units are the backbone of the industry. Banks are charging 13 per cent to 16 per cent rate of interest, which is not feasible to run the units. We have requested the minister to reduce the rate of interest to 7 per cent in order to protect them from extinction,” said Kular.
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IG conducts surprise check, finds cops vigilant
Ludhiana, July 27 Uppal visited the Aarti Chowk at 12.25 AM and inspected the policemen on the night patrolling duty. According to police sources, IG Uppal asked the officials at the Aarti Chowk to make a call to the PCR and ask all patrolling parties to reach the Aarti Chowk within no time. All police parties of the area reached the Aarti Chowk within 5 to 10 minutes. Uppal said he found everything fine during the inspection, and was satisfied with the activeness of policemen on the night patrolling duty. “There are the three types of duty during the night - establishing checkpoints, shifting of checkpoints and patrolling. I have checked the policemen on all duties and found that they were working in coordination,” he said. “I interacted with the policemen as well as commuters to know about the performance of the police. Residents gave positive feedback,” said Uppal.
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BSP to go it alone in Punjab
Ludhiana, July 27 Giving details about the poll preparations, Kashyap said a panel comprising the candidates for the Lok Sabha elections has been constituted. On August 9, the candidate from Ludhiana will be declared. On the poor performance of the BSP in the Panchayat and Zila Parishad elections, he alleged that both the Congress and the BJP were using money power to lure voters. The Congress is mired in corruption, while the BJP is playing the communal card. Claiming that there is an anti-incumbency wave at the Centre, he said UPA leaders were issuing outrageous statements like 'you can have a full meal for Rs 12, Rs 5 and even Re 1'. “This shows that the UPA leaders are out of sync with the ground reality,” he said. Among those present on the occasion included Punjab BSP in charge Parkash Bharti and Punjab BSP president Parkash Singh Jandiali.
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616 trainees pass out from Punjab Police Academy
SK Sharma, Additional Director-General of Police (HRD and CP)-cum-Director, PPA, took the salute. He congratulated the passing-out trainees on the successful completion of their training. He also wished them success in all walks of life. Additional Director, Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, Gurpreet Deo, IPS, IGP, presented the report of the academy. A total number of 616 trainees passed out, which include 18 Prob DSPs (Pb), 6 Prob Deputy Bn. Commanders, Punjab Home Guards and 592 lady recruits. Prob DSP Akashdeep Singh Aulakh commanded the parade. A colourful cultural programme was also held after the passing-out parade. PPA magazine “The Perspective” was also released on the occasion by SK Sharma, IPS ADGP (HRD and CP)-cum-Director, PPA.
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Akali Dal honours sarpanches, panches
Machhiwara, July 27 Jagjivan Singh Khirnia, former MLA from Samrala, claimed that about 158 panchayats out of 178 panchayats of Samrala sub-division were Akali Dal supporters. Sharanjit Singh, Cabinet Minister, said all pending projects of overbridges, flyovers and roads in the state will be completed by December 2013. He said, “All link roads will be repaired as the tenders for the purpose have been floated for Rs 1,700 crore and the work will start soon.”
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Colleges await nod for renovation work
Ludhiana, July 27 The grant of Rs 51 lakh to SCD Government College and Rs 37 lakh to GCG was released about 15 days ago. Principal of SCD Government College Dr Rajinder Singh said the college had received a grant of Rs 51 lakh out of a total of Rs 1.27 crore sanctioned for the renovation of toilets and hostels. "Toilets and hostels need to be renovated. We will also spend some amount on rewiring. The budgets have already been have sent for approval. Once we get the green signal, we will start the renovation work," said Dr Rajinder Singh. Different agencies have been deputed by the state government for the government colleges, under whose guidance the institutes will be renovated. The Chief Engineer of the Punjab School Education Board has been entrusted with the responsibility of the maintenance work of SCD Government College. Similarly, the authorities at the GCG said they had written to the department about spending the funds and the clearance was awaited. One of the senior teachers said Rs 37 lakh had been received by the college and these would be spent on the renovation of bathrooms, hostels and "We had a detailed meeting with the PWD officials, who will be doing the entire work. We have sent a letter to the department to allow us to start the renovation. It depends on them as tohow much time they will take to give the clearance," said the teacher.
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Over 100 patients participate in interactive education forum
Ludhiana, July 27 The Department of Gastroenterology at SPS Apollo Hospitals organised a series of awareness initiatives and a week-long free screening camp for Hepatitis B and C. Over 1,500 free screenings were done. Over 100 patients participated in an interactive patient education forum with Dr Nirmaljeet Malhi, senior consultant and coordinator, department of gastroenterology, and Dr Harmeet Saljua, senior consultant, department of gastroenterology. Dr Malhi said the forum laid special emphasis on early detection, timely treatment and need for vaccination against Hepatitis B as an important preventive measure. The hospital also distributed free information booklets and education material to the patients. On the occasion, a series of awareness initiatives were organised. A quiz competition and a poster-making competition on the theme ‘Fight against hepatitis’ was also organised. In another interaction, Dr Ajit Sood, head, department of gastroenrology, Dayanand Medical College, organised a discussion-cum-awareness session. Dr Sood said, “Hepatitis is a silent killer as it rarely shows any symptoms. Studies reported from various parts of India estimate that about 20 million Indians are Hepatitis B carriers and about 12 million may have silent Hepatitis C virus infection.” Dr Aneesh Chopra, consultant of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Christian Medical College and Hospital, said: “Types B and C lead to chronic diseases in hundreds of millions of people and together are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer. ”
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New session Ludhiana: New session was kicked off at the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujarkhan Campus, Model Town. On the occasion, “shabad kirtan” was organised on the college premises. The staff and students of the Department of Music started the event with the recital of Sri Chaupai Sahib path followed by kirtan. Bhai Sahib Bhai Davinder Singh Hazoori, Ragi, Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, recited kirtan on the occasion. Principal Manjit Kaur Ghuman congratulated all the position holders of the previous session and encouraged other students to improve their results. Government College
for Girls
College assembly at the Government College for Girls was held and presided over by Principal Gurminder Kaur. On the occasion, she congratulated the students for attending the first day of the college. The principal said selected members of the student council should put in their best efforts to enhance the growth and development of the college. Garima Syal was selected as the head girl; Riya Bansal and Arpit were elected as the deputy head girls. Pankhuri, Jimmy, Sakshi Mahajan and Megha Dhir were elected to the other positions . —TNS GADVASU notes Ludhiana: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, is organising a one-day workshop for animal husbandry officers of the state on July 29. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Cabinet Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, will inaugurate the workshop. Des Raj Dhugga, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, will also grace the occasion. G Vajralingam, Finance Commissioner, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development Department and Fisheries Department, will be the Guest of honour. Dr VK Taneja, Vice-, said: "Livestock sector is playing an important role in food security, employment generation, asset creation, financial security and as coping mechanism against crop failure." —TNS
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Proclaimed offender held
Ludhiana July 27 The proclaimed offender has been identified as Vimal Kumar, a resident of Farid Nagar, Salem Tabri area. According to the police, Vimal Kumar was declared a proclaimed offender in the murder case of Gautam Sethi, a resident of Sartaj Nagar, Basti Jodhewal area, in June 2012. Kapil Kumar, in charge, Sunder Nagar police post, said: “Vijay Kumar and his seven associates had thrashed Gautam Sethi on May 30, 2010 in an incident of road rage. Gautam Sethi had sucummed to his injuries. The police had arrested three of the accused, including the main accused, Balwinder Singh. During an inquiry, the police found that three persons were not involved in the murder. Two persons, including Vimal Kumar, were absconding. Later, they were declared proclaimed offenders.
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Cops look into complaint by college girl
Ludhiana, July 27 SHO, Model Town, Devinder Chaudhry, said: “After the investigations, it came to light that Jaspreet Kaur from Barnala had filed a complaint that it had been mentioned by the college authorities that in the hostel, a room will be shared by two girls but in reality, six girls were made to share one room.” Chaudhry said, “The student had come to the college on July 25 and left with her mother on July 26 after filing an anonymous complaint. The parents of the student have been called on July 29 for a meeting after that only we will reach to a conclusion. Other than this, there is no problem on the college campus,” the SHO said. —TNS
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Man booked for abducting minor girl
Ludhiana, July 27 Three held, liquor seized
The police has arrested three persons and seized a huge quantity of illegal liquor from their procession in three cases. The Meharban police recovered 15 boxes of country-made liquor at T-point of Jageerpur village from Raj Kumar and Raju, both residents of Tibba Colony. However, the accused managed to flee the spot. Meanwhile, 19 bottles of illegal liquor were seized from the possession of Santokh Singh, a resident of Ladhowal, at Gaunspur village. In another such incident, the Shimlapuri police recovered 24 boxes of illegal liquor from the procession of Jasveer Singh, a resident of Daba Colony, and Santokh Singh, a resident of Lohara village. The accused are in police custody.
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Michael Nobbs to visit Jarkhar today
Ludhiana, July 27 Michael Nobbs, who is currently touring the country to interact with the budding players, will submit his report to the apex body - Hockey India, suggesting procedures to select talented young players and hone their skills to prepare them for representing the country in the international tournaments. Nobbs will be interacting with the trainees of Jarkhar Hockey Academy and will share his experience and knowledge about the game with the budding players. “Nobbs will remain in the village for over three hours and we hope the young players will be benefitted from his visit to the academy,” said Jagroop Singh Jarkhar, a spokesperson for the academy. Michael Nobbs, who represented Australia in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, continued to hog the limelight. Michael's association as a coach with Team India turned out to be a mixed one. Under his coaching, Indian men made it to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy in China in 2011, qualified for the London Olympics a year ago where they finished at the bottom, besides going down to Pakistan in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy in 2012. Michael Nobbs, who took over the reins of the Indian hockey contingent as coach two years ago, put in his papers a month ago citing personal reasons for not continuing his stint. Originally, Michael's contract with Hockey India was to expire after the Brazil Olympics in the year 2016.
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Phillaur, July 27