Chandigarh, November 27
He is no ordinary dentist. An aesthetic and implant surgeon, Dr Vivek Saggar, is the only person in the country to have passed a national-level accreditation exam. This has placed him in the select category of Indian dentists accredited by the Indian Academy of Aesthetic and Cosmetic Dentistry (IAACD). A hundred-odd dentists took the exam. Dr Saggar alone was successful in clearing the exam spread over two years. The academy has been providing formal education since the past 13 years.

A beaming Dr Saggar, talking to The Tribune, said: “Cosmetic dentistry is here to stay. People are becoming increasingly conscious about the way they look. By getting treatment that does not cost them a fortune, they are able to raise their confidence level and become more presentable .”

“But cosmetic dentistry is not just about tooth-fillings. A lot of science and technology goes behind the million-dollar smile that each one would like to flash,” he says.

Associated with the International Federation of Aesthetic Dentistry (IFED), the exam for accreditation to the IAACD includes a written exam followed by a practical, where examinees are required to perform dental procedures to perfection.

Vice-Principal of Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College, Ludhiana, Dr Saggar has been involved in promoting dental tourism in the region. “Many foreigners with no cultural, ethnic or business interests visit India only for the reason that Indian medical professionals compare with the best in the world, but cost a lot less.”

The US Embassy’s website recommends to its citizens Dr Vivek Saggar’s Dental Care and Cure Centre as “excellent” dental service provider in North India. This is no surprise as the centre was among the first to get ISO 9001:2000 certification.

Dr Saggar says the patients must insist that their dentists use the latest techniques and procedures available in the world for treatment. “When a medical professional is in the market, profit becomes an important consideration for many. But when a patient pays, he must insist that his treatment is up-to-date”. It is with this objective that he is promoting laser treatment and has introduced metal-free ceramic implants.

Dr Saggar is Fellow of International Congress of Implantologists (ICOI). The fellowship was bestowed on him by none other than Dr Carl E. Misch, considered the “Father of implant dentistry”. Here again, he is the only dentist in the region to hold this distinction.

Chandigarh, November 27
To express their resentment against the appointment of a MBBS doctor as their incharge, medical laboratory technicians of Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, today walked out of their offices and raised slogans against the hospital authorities.

The technicians have been protesting against the appointment of Dr Vinay Goel, Senior Medical Officer, as their head.

The protestors claimed that the authorities, going out of the way, have given the charge to a MBBS doctor and ignored doctors having specialisation either in microbiology or biochemistry.

The protestors later met the Medical Superintendent and gave a memorandum listing their resentment and demands. — TNS

Chandigarh, November 27
Only two sportspersons from Chandigarh will represent the country in the forthcoming Asian Games starting in Doha from December 1.

Ace forward in hockey Rajpal Singh and rower Munshuedi Khatoon will be the players from the City Beautiful for the Asiad. Rajpal will be part of the Indian hockey team, while Munshuedi, a student of the Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, will represent the country in the coxless-4 event in rowing.

If one goes by the facilities and standard infrastructure provided to sportspersons in the city, which has virtually become a sports nursery, the number seems inadequate. But Sports Director UT Administration Inderjit Singh Sandhu expressed his satisfaction over the city’s representation at the Asiad.

“No doubt, we have ample sports infrastructure in the city, but in my view it’s just a start. If this year we have two sportspersons for Asian games, the number will increase in the coming two or three years,” hoped Mr Sandhu.

“Scientific training, which we have started in our academies, will produce results in a year or two. Besides hockey and football, we are also concentrating on the development of other disciplines like tennis, swimming, shooting and rowing, and now we have a good crop of new talent which is ready to knock at the international level,” said Mr Sandhu.

Secretary general of the Chandigarh Olympic Association Ravinder Talwar said “Chandigarh is a small city having sufficient sports infrastructure. But there is still need to develop indoor stadia conforming to international standards for the promotion of games”.

“The Administration should focus on less-popular games like archery. The city also needs a football stadium of international standards”, he said.

Mr Ravinder Chaudhary, general secretary, Chandigarh Amateur Athletics Association said, “The city lacks the infrastructure for athletics, which has an immense scope here. There is not even a single proper track for athletes in the city. Moreover, the Administration has no policy to give cash incentives or job opportunities for local sportspersons, which has resulted in the shifting of good players to other states. If the Administration is really serious to produce more international players, it should come forward with hefty cash prizes and job opportunities like other states.”

Chandigarh, November 27
All eyes were on 16-year-old Rahul Bakshi. The Class X student of St. John’s School, who returned a par round yesterday, played a four-over card today to clinch the 15-17 age-group title in the Chandigarh Golf Championship at the Chandigarh Golf Club.

Winner of the best placed junior title in the Asia Pacific Championship in Singapore in May this year, Rahul executed some good hitting and driving. But his second shots were poor. And that is what resulted in his four-over card today. He finished the 144-hole competition with a four-over score of 148. Abhijit Chadha finished four strokes behind with 152,

In the open category Sandeep Sandhu clinched the men’s title with a two-round 12-over score of 156. Brig G.J. Singh finished four strokes behind with 160. The ladies open title went to Pauline J.M. Singh who returned 25-over score of 169. Second placed Ashu B. Singh and Binny Bath carded 187 and 189, respectively.

Another player to watch out was Raghav Bhandari who clinched the 13-14 age-group title with an eight-over two-round score of 152. Anish Gupta was eight strokes behind.

Talking to those present before giving away the prizes the Flying Sikh Milkha Singh told the young players that there was no short-cut to success. “Hard work and a strong will power”, he said should be the motto of the budding golfers.

The Chandigarh Golf Association (CGA) President, Mr C.S.R. Reddy, complimented Mr Milkha Singh for the fine performance by Chiranjeev Milkha Singh in the Japan Open. He said the CGA planned to form a committee to promote golf.

The results:

Men’s Open: Sandeep Sandhu 156, Brig G.J. Singh 160, Rakesh Kumar 163.

Ladies Open: Pauline J.M. Singh 169, Ashu B. Singh 187, Binny Bath 189.

Boys (15 to 17 years): Rahul Bakshi 148, Abhijit Chadha 152, Mahesh 152.

Boys (13 to 14): Raghav Bhandari 152, Anish Gupta 160,Rishi Raj Saini 170.

Boys (11 to 12): Tarundeep Chadha 81, Yogyank 101, Arman Sharma 109.

Boys (under 10): Jairaj Sandhu 86, Karandeep Kochhar 91, Rohan Kuthuria 100.

Girls (under 15): Rabiya Gill 91, Ekam J. Singh 92, Laya Reddy 105.

Longest drive: Sandeep Sandhu (235 yards)

Nearest to Pin: Brig G.J. Singh (8’.1”)

Chandigarh, November 27
Mehak Paul of KB DAV Senior Secondary Public School, Chandigarh, representing North Zone I bagged the first place in the under 16 girls’ category while Hardeep Singh Dull of Bhavan Vidyalaya -27 emerged winner in North Zone-I (under-12 boys) group in the finals of the 7th CBSE National Rollar Skating Championship organised by Kailash Bahl DAV Senior Secondary Public School, Sector 7-B, at its rink here, yesterday.

The final results:

Panchkula, November 27
Oscar Bansal of Chandigarh defeated Amey Joshi of Railways 21-18, 21-18 in the junior boys’ singles (3 rd round), while Saurav Kapoor of Haryana reached the quarterfinal of the junior boys single in the XXXI Junior National Badminton Championships being held at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Sector 3, here today. In the pre-quarter final, he beat Tarun of Andhra Pardesh in straight games.

Results:

Junior boys singles 3rd round: RMB Guru Sai Dutta b Romit Dodeja 21-10, 21-10 Ajay Jai Ram b Niket Karnatak 21-12, 21-6 Aditya Elango b Anil Kumar 21-17,25-23 Partik Patel b Viney Kumar Reddy 14-21, 21-114, 21-12 Jishnu Sanyal b Vipul Saini 21-6, 21-15. Samridh Rathod b Suranjan Bhabhora 21-11, 21-11. Adhiraj Neogi b Abhimanu Singh 21-15, 21-18. Srujan Nandluri b S Apparao 21-8, 21-18. Aditya Prakesh b Ratigan Saha 22-20, 11-6. Akshya Dewalekar b Kritish 21-15, 21-12. Kaushik Pal b Ankush Jadav 21-17, 21-16. Parshant Sethi b Saurab Verma 21-9, 21-6. Oscar Bansal b Amey Joshi 21-18, 21-18. Arun Nandluri b Mandeep Singh 10-21. 21-18, 21-10. Saurab Kapoor b BS Flagun 19-21, 21-12, 21-11. K Taurn b Shankar Gopan 21-16, 21-12.

Junior boys girls 3rd round:

Neha Pandit b Purnika 21-8, 21-8. Mudhra Dhannje b Sayali 21-14, 21-8. V Ruth Misha b Vijeta Bhargwa 21-11, 21-9.J Shruti, AP, b Akansha Nehra 21-9, 21-10. Pradnya Gadre b G M Nischita 21-14, 21-17. Aditi Mutatkarb Mansi Pandit 21-7, 21-8. Sonal More b M Shruti 21-13, 21-10. Vridehi Dave b Prashnaqui 21-19, 21-14. Juhi Agaskar b Truipti Lavania 21-17, 18-21, 21-19. Ashwani Ponnappa b Gayatri Vartak 14-21, 21-18, 21-18. P. C. Tulsi, Kerl b Minakshi 21-13, 21-10. Anita Ohlan b Kadambari Chedah 21-14, 21-12. Kanupriya Aggarwal b Vashali Baria 21-15, 21-14. Monisha Vinayak b Neha Verma 21-13, 21-15. Mohita Sahdev b Sheshadari Sanyal 21-14, 21-9. Arundhati Pantawane b Prajkta Sawant 21-15, 21-10.

Junior boys doubles 3rd round:

Shankar Gopan, Ram C Vijay b Vishal Mohoby, Amit Sahu, 21-6, 21-3. Pronav Chopra, Rajkumarb Kritish , Rohit, 21-10, 21-12. Anil Kumar Raji, Vikrant Kumar b Ashish, Nitin, 21-8, 23-21. Oscar Bansal, Vipul Saini b Navin Parshad, Manikanandan, 19-21, 21-16, 21-17. Samdhri Rathor, Ankush Jadav b Ratikansha, Kushik Pal,, 21-9, 13-21, 21-10. Arun Nandaluri, Sujan Nandaluri b Guranshu Chopra, Vinod Parkash, 21-11, 21-17. L Lokesh, IS Navin Kumar b Dinbandhu Saha, S Kumar, 21-10, 21-12. Saurabh Paralikar, Mayank Gole b B Saipraneeth, K Ajay Kumar 21-15, 17-21, 21-15. B.S. Falguan, Sushank b Banton Thoni, PH Suraj, 21-18, 21-8. Parshad Sheety, Chaitnya Naik b Appa Rao, Arvind Raj, 21-15, 21-17. Anoop Kiran , Pratik b Saurab, Varinder 21-10, 15-20, 21-11. Sujan, Devijyoti b Pratik, Puneet 21-9, 21-16. Jishim Sanyal, Akshaya Dewalkar b Sachin, Rohit, 21-6, 21-11. Amey Joshi, Abidhyan Sawant b Sunil , Zodim 21-11, 21-19. Guru Sai Dutt, Tarun b Vishal, Rajat Rathor 21-10, 21-16. Partik Patel, Aditya Parkash b Vikas, Adhiraj Neogi, 21-12, 21-13.

Dera Bassi, November 27
The woes of the commuters on Chandigarh-Ambala highway seem to be never-ending. Over three months after the Ghaggar bridge, near here, was closed to heavy vehicular traffic, the bridge is again being closed for all kinds of traffic from December 1 for repair work.

However, the bridge would only be closed for 2 or 3 hours on the day when repair work, to be executed by the GMR Expressways Private Limited at the instance of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the agency undertaking the four-laning of the Ambala-Chandigarh, is in progress.

The chief project manager of the GMR, Col Sanjiv Puri (retd), told Chandigarh Tribune today that all spans of the bridge, which had outlived its utility, needed to be lifted up with the help jacks. The repair work, which would not be a daily basis, is expected to continue for about eight months, Colonel Puri added.

However, Colonel Puri clarified that the repair would only be carried out during the day time for public convenience and duly notified 24 or 36 hours before the closure.

The closure of the bridge, coupled with the large-scale construction activity in the wake of a flyover at Zirakpur, is set to test the patience of the drivers. The Zirakpur traffic junction receives heavy traffic from four sides — Chandigarh, Panchkula, Ambala and Patiala.

The narrowing of the passage has created bottlenecks where the commuters’ precious time is wasted in traffic jams. The old and narrow Yadvindra bridge near the Sohi Banquets further aggravated the problem.

Now with a view to save commuters’ time, a need has been felt to reduce traffic at the Zirakpur junction. And to achieve the dual purpose — reduction in traffic at Zirakpur and Ghaggar bridge near Dera Bassi — the traffic passing through this area needed to be diverted.

Here it is clarified that the traffic bound for Zirakpur and the immediate surrounding areas need not be diverted. It is only the traffic bound for other places passing through Zirakpur which needs to be diverted, police sources said.

Giving details, the sources said the Chandigarh commuters heading for Ambala could take the Panchkula-Ramgarh road. From Ramgarh, they can either take the Mubarakpur-Dera Bassi road or they can take the Barwala-Chajju Majra road to Ambala.

The other option is the Mohali-Landran-Banur road. From Banur, they can take the Lehli road to Lalru or go via Tepla-Shambhu road to Ambala.

The Chandigarh traffic heading for Patiala can also avoid Zirakpur altogether by taking the Mohali-Landran-Rajpura route. There are roads near Jagatpura and Sector 66, SAS Nagar, which converge on the Banur road. However, these smaller roads are not advisable for trucks and heavy vehicles.

For the traffic coming from Ambala and heading for Panchkula or Himachal Pradesh, the diversion is suggested at Ambala. From Ambala, it can go via Chhaju Majra-Barwala-Ramgarh-Panchkula road. This route can also be adopted by the traffic coming from Ambala and heading for Chandigarh.

The Chandigarh-bound traffic can also take a diversion from Baldev Nagar camp, Ambala or Lehli level crossing and go to Banur, from where it can take the Landran road to Mohali and Chandigarh. 

Panchkula, November 27
Employees strolling to their offices had some surprise visitors in the form of a team of officials from the Administrative Improvement Cell of the Chief Secretary's office to "nab" latecomers.

While a handful of employees were present to "welcome" the team, the rest were called in by their "friends" before the team could swoop down on them.

A team of six officials led by Mr K.L. Sharma conducted checks in all offices in the district secretariat. They visited the district public relations office, excise and taxation department, office of the district development and panchayat officer, district revenue office and office of the district town planner. The team spent the maximum time at the office of the district excise and taxation officer.

The officers went around various departments, all housed inside the secretariat, inquiring the status of the employees at all desks. As soon as the employees got a wind of their presence, they informed their colleagues on telephones to hurry to the office.

Consequently, most employees managed to reach within 15 to 20 minutes of the clock striking 9 am, the start time of office hours.

The officers also checked the departmental registers during the inspection. When asked about the details of the inspection, Mr Sharma said he would submit his report top the authorities concerned. They left the secretariat at 1:15 pm, just before lunch.