Chandigarh, February 9
Five-year-old Yash had some surprise visitors at the Cardio-thoracic ward at the PGIMER, here today. Though he knew nothing about the boys from the famous “Jal” band of Pakistan, he was just happy about the fact that “a few bhaiyas were bringing some gifts for him”.

Recuperating from an open-hear surgery, sponsored by the Rotary Club, under its ‘Heartline’ project, Yash was one of the three children visited by Jal’s Goher Mumtaz, Shazi and band manager Jumshaid Ahmed.

An autorickshaw puller’s son, Yash, was treated for a blocked artery supplying blood to the lungs. Dr R.S. Dhaliwal, head and professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and his team have “fixed” the problem, enabling him to lead a normal life from now on. “He was unable to play and run, getting breathless whenever he did so. His lips and nails would turn blue. I am greatly relieved it all stands cured,” his mother, Geeta, said.

Mentally challenged and suffering from multiple problems, three-year-old Mangat Ram, yet to be operated upon, was the most excited with the visitors. He didn’t say much, only clapped his hands in excitement, as the boys handed over his present.

Sumita, (19), also treated for a hole in the heart, was also excited as the boys came to her bedside and inquired about her welfare. “The Rotary Club has given me a new lease of life. I got to know of my ailment after I was admitted to GMCH-32 for another problem. Now, I am as good as new after the surgery. The doctor says I will be able to live life like any other normal girl my age once I recover,” she said.

Moved by the work of the Rotary Club and the service they were rendering to the poor and downtrodden, the boys pledged to be back in the city for a charity concert.

“We have been paid for this concert. However, in March or April, we will be back to raise funds for this cause of the Rotary Club. We will sponsor 10 such kids who need treatment,” the band manager said, trying to make up for their late arrival at the ward.

The members of the Rotary Club, Mr Charanjeet Singh and Mr Kamal Seth, apprised the band about their activities, the fact that they had sponsored a number of Pakistani children for treatment under the same project.

Chandigarh, February 9
The PGIMER has hiked room rents and hospital charges with effect from February 1, 2006, consequent to the approval of recommendations made by the standing finance committee and the governing body.

While new charges have been introduced for tests which were previously provided free of cost, diet charges and those of other investigations have also been hiked. The charges of a private room at the PGI have been increased from Rs 900 to Rs 1200 per day while the diet charges are up from Rs 100 to Rs 150, according to recently notified rates.

Investigation charges, however, remain unchanged at Rs 150, taking the total cost of the capsule to Rs 1500 against the earlier charges of Rs 1150.

By raising the room rent to Rs 1200, the PGI has brought the rates on a par with that of the AIIMS though diet charges are higher in the case of the PGI as compared to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

While the charges of the Absolute Eosinophil Count test are Rs 50 and Rs 35 in the private and the general ward, respectively, they are higher than the charges of Rs 20 levied by the AIIMS for the same test.

The Hemoglobin electrophoresis which cost Rs 300 in the AIIMS is available for Rs 150 at the PGI while the Antithrombin III-functional assay costs Rs 600 in the private ward against Rs 700 for the test at AIIMS.

The PGI has introduced three packages as well. These include a package for diabetes which costs Rs 450 in the private ward and Rs 300 in the general ward. A package for Hirsutism costs Rs 2,250 (private ward) and Rs 1500 (general ward) and Rs 900 and Rs 600, respectively, for the private and general wards for the Thyroid disorders package.

Chandigarh, February 9
Rajesh, a student of the Physical Education Department, won top honours in the 100 m race (boys) at the 46 th Annual Athletics Meet of Panjab University at its premises here today.

In the girls category, Amanjot of the Bio-tech Department got the first prize.

The other results are:

Boys: 100m race: Rajesh (1), Bhupinder (2), Sumit Uniyal (3).

400m race: Rajesh (1), Sujit (2), Hardeep (3).

High jump: Manjeet Singh (1), Harmeet (2), Rajesh Kumar (3).

Shot put: Manjit Singh (1), Yogendra (2), Shakinderpal Singh (3).

Discuss throw: Manjeet Singh (1), Sudagar Singh (2), Tegbir Singh (3).

4x100m relay race: Sunil Uniyal, Mohan Chand, Hardep Lal, Om Bahadur 1, Rakesh Malik, Rajesh Kumar, Rann Singh, Sanjay Kumar 2, Pawan, Vishal, Amar, Sandeep 3.

Girls:

100m race: Amanjot (1), Harman (2), Mala (3).

400m race: Amanjot (1), Sarbjeet Kaur (2), Kanika (3).

High jump: Amanjot (1), Poonam (2), Ritu (3).

Short put: Jagdeep Bawa (1), Poonam (2), Ritu (3).

Discus throw: Poonam (1), Jagdeep Bawa (2), Harmandeep Kaur (3).

4x100m race: Pooja, Sandeep1, Ritu1, H. Sarda Devi 1, Meenakshi, Mrinalini, Amanjot, Jyoti 2, Kanika, Megha, Mala, Navchetan 3.

Chandigarh, February 9
The local hockey team drubbed the Andhra Pradesh team 12-0 in the Boys section in the ongoing 51st National School U-17 Hockey Tournament at Hockey Stadium, Sector 42, here today.

The other results are: Boys: Haryana b Himachal Pradesh 4-0; Karnataka b Madhya Pradesh 8-0; Chhattisgarh draw Jharkhand 1-1; Chandigarh b Rajasthan 11-0; Delhi b Kerala 10-0; Punjab b Maharashtra 11-0; Tamilnadu draw Jammu and Kashmir 2-2; Uttar Pradesh b Uttaranchal 10-0; Himachal Pradesh b Andhra Pradesh 6-1; Jharkhand b Karnataka 3-2; Chhattisgarh b IPSC 3-2.

Girls: Chandigarh b Mizoram 14-0; Rajasthan b Andhra Pradesh 2-0; Himachal Pradesh b Tamilnadu 4-0; Madhya Pradesh draw Chhattisgarh 2-2; Haryana b Karnataka 6-0; Maharashtra b IPSC 3-1; Jharkahnd b Uttar Pradesh 3-0; Punjab b Kerala 1-0; Chandigarh b Andhra Pradesh 7-0; Rajasthan b Uttaranchal 2-1; HP b Delhi 8-1; Tamilnadu b MP 3-0.

Mohali, February 9
Ramneek of class Vth was awarded as a Best Athlete at the third Annual Athletic Meet of Shemrock Senior Secondary School here today.

Students took part in various events like 100 m, 200 m, 400 m and 800 m, lemon race, “back” race, high jump, long jumps, shot put, basket ball and disc throwing. 

Chandigarh, February 9
Getting building plans approved from UT's Estate Office will now be more quick and simple.

Acting on feedback and problems being faced in sanctioning of building plans, the Chandigarh Administration has decided that from the stage of submission of building plans to the final disposal, the case will be dealt with under a single-window service.

The single-window counter has been put in place at the reception counter on the ground floor of the estate office. All the building plans will be received at this single window counter from 10 am to 2 pm on all working days. The new facility is likely to start functioning from Monday, a senior officer said.

Under the new arrangement, building plans will be processed and disposed off within two weeks after their submission.

However, as per the self- certification scheme, if nothing is heard from the estate office within 30 days of the submission of the plan, the plan shall be deemed sanctioned.

The decision was taken after the UT Finance Secretary, Mr S. K. Sandhu, chaired a meeting of the officials in the office of the DC here yesterday. A fresh notification with the modified scheme under the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952, is expected to be issued soon.

The estate office will get or issue clearances from respective departments. Even permission for storage of building material from the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh and the grant of temporary electricity connection shall also be made from the estate office.

After implementation of the scheme, the building plans need not be sent to the office of the Chief Architect, Planning Department in Sector 9 for scrutiny. In case of any inconvenience, the Sub Divisional Officer (Buildings) Estate Office, Chandigarh can be contacted at telephone number 2773323 during working hours.

Chandigarh, February 9
The Chandigarh Plastic Manufacturers and Traders Association has said that the Chandigarh Calling item titled “Does anyone care for ban on plastic” published on February 7, is misleading and incorrect.

There is no such ban on virgin carry bags which are thicker than 30 micros and have a size of more than 8 to 12 inches.

The association has said that such bags can be freely used and manufactured.