Teachers apprised of growth in engineering sector
Tribune News Service

Dera Bassi, July 20
Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology (SSIET), Dera Bassi, organised a faculty development programme (FDP) workshop here today. The workshop aimed at enhancing and updating the knowledge of faculty and staff about the latest advancements in engineering sector.

Based on the theme ‘Soft Computing techniques and its application’, the faculty members from the engineering college and the polytechnic college participated in the programme.

In the workshop, experts discussed various nature-inspired techniques and how they could be put to the optimum use in various fields.

Dr GN Verma, principal of SSIET, stressed on the need for teachers to update their subject contents since the students have more exposure to the latest developments in various subjects.

He also advised the participants to cultivate the habit of encouraging students to ask questions.

Earlier, Prof Avtar Singh, chairman, Sri Sukhmani Group, and Kanwaljit Kaur, director, inaugurated the workshop.

Downpour causes waterlogging
Nitin Mittal

Dera Bassi, July 20
The lackadaisical approach of the authorities came to the fore as residents faced inconvenience as water got accumulated in front of the Municipal Council office complex following heavy downpour today. The road in front of the MC office had virtually turned into a pond.

This could be attributed to the non-laying of tiles on a portion of the road connecting the MC office with the main market and other residential areas of the town.

Executive Officer, Rajesh Sharma, said, “Waterlogging in the area is due to uneven roads. The work of laying tiles was halted as the MC decided to upgrade the bus stand. Water logging could be due to the blocking of drains, which will be cleaned when the water level recedes.”

Embezzlement of funds
PSEB employee booked
Tribune News Service

Basic amenities elude Sports Complex-42
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
The Sports Complex, Sector 42, Chandigarh, has nothing to offer when it comes to providing basic facilities such as drinking water, easy approach and changing rooms for the trainees of lawn tennis, handball and kho-kho, who come regularly to the complex.

The claimed state of art Sports Complex, Sector 42, stands nowhere, if the reality check is to be believed. The sports complex under the UT Sports Department fails to offer basic facility of drinking water near the courts of the various games played here. Also, the approach paths to these blocks are in pathetic condition that makes the players to suffer more. Non-availability of changing rooms and washrooms for junior, sub-junior level female and male players puts players to inconvenience.

The area behind the sports hostel has 4 clay courts and 2 synthetic courts for tennis, 2 full length hard courts and one normal practice court for handball, one kho- kho court with adjoining a practice area serves almost 80 players of different age group on daily basis. And with no facility of drinking water, the players have to go all the way to other side of the complex, using their bi-cycles, to fill water bottles. Also, in case of emergency, the players have no nearby approach to attend nature’s call. Last year, when the UT Sports department organised an all India level handball competition for girls, the same problem was cited. Also, the approaching roads to these arenas are in pathetic conditions and could turn into a great cause of injury to these players. The

situation becomes more difficult in the monsoon season, when the approach gets filled with water. The maintenance in and around the arena is another addition in the existing problems. Notably, the lawn tennis courts and handball courts are among the top revenue making centers of the UT Sports department.

A trainee asked, “The department asks us to pay annual fee for using facilities here but where the facilities are? We are only getting proper coaching,” said Nishant, a handball player.

Role of Engineering Department

During the end of year 2012, the engineering department handed over a changing-cum-washroom to the UT Sports Department, in order to serve the area. However, later the arena was covered with fencing. The constructed infrastructure is believed to be of no use. Due to single entry for female and male players and limited numbers of changing rooms, makes the infrastructure a mere formality. Also, the infrastructure is raised at a corner of the arena further serving to only kabaddi players.

“There was lack of planning in raising the infrastructure. We were not consulted by official of the UT Engineering Department when the infrastructure was raised. Had there been a brief discussion, things would have been different,” KS Bharti, District Sports Officer.

Fourteen teams confirm participation in T-20 series

Chandigarh, July 20
The Cricket Federation of Haryana has stated that a total of 14 teams, including eight rural teams from across the country and six international teams from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Sharjah (UAE) and Afghanistan, have confirmed their participation for the first Indian Rural Premier League Twenty-20 day/night League Cricket Championship that will be held from October 26th to 31st.

The organisers informed that the tournament will be held at cricket stadiums of Panchkula and Sector 16, Chandigarh.

Amarjit Kumar, Honorary General Secretary HCF, said the matches of the championship should be telecast live on DD Sports channel. He further stated that the main motive of the league is to restrain the young generation of our rural areas from the drug addiction. —TNS