The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

AIDS awareness camp held
Our Correspondent

Mohali, April 18
An AIDS awareness camp was organised by the Mohali Industries Association (MIA) in collaboration with doctors from the ESI hospital for workers employed in local industrial units.

Dr K.K. Sharma, Director, Health Services, ESI and Ayurveda, who presided over the function, said AIDS had no cure and was almost like a death warrant for a person. He said all precautionary measures like use of safe blood, disposable needles and safe sex should be undertaken to prevent this deadly disease.

He further said there were about 3.86 crore HIV positive cases in the world and nearly 15,000 new cases added every day. He asked the participants to spread the message to others in order to contain the disease.

Dr Rana Harinder, Civil, Surgeon, Ropar, said the government was doing a lot for the prevention of AIDS and TB as the two diseases had close links.

Mr Gurmeet Singh, president, MIA, said the prevention and control of AIDS would help in strengthening individuals, families and the society at large.

Blood Bank Society’s initiatives lauded
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 18
The initiatives taken by the Blood Bank Society, Chandigarh, in promoting voluntary blood donation were hailed by 180 delegates from 57 countries attending the “ninth international colloquium on the recruitment of voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.” The conference was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Federation of International Red Cross Societies in Beijing from April 3 to 7.

A three-member team comprising Mr M.L. Sarin, Ms Vanita Sahni and Ms Niti Sarin represented the Blood Bank Society, Chandigarh.

In keeping with the voluntary ethos of the society, a large part of the expenses incurred on the participation in the conference was borne by the team members. The local team made a visual presentation about its activities.

A number of organisations worldwide have requested the Blood Bank Society team to visit their blood transfusion centres and provide guidelines to them.

Sharma to head Urology Dept at
Silver Oak
Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 18
Dr S.K. Sharma, former Director, PGI, will head the Department of Urology at Silver Oaks Hospital here. This was stated by the hospital’s Managing Director, Dr Akhil Bhargava, at a press conference here.

Stating that a Department of Urology has been specially established to accommodate Dr Sharma, Dr Bhargava pointed out that this department will compliment the working of the Department of Nephrology in the hospital.

Dr Sharma said due to the increase in longevity of life, and the incidence of trauma in the region, urological problems were also on the rise. ‘‘There is a need for centres to tackle these problems in a comprehensive manner,’’ he said adding that initially the hospital would only provide the whole range of endo-urological surgeries for the lower urinary tract. ‘‘Facilities for the upper urinary tract problems will be started after we see the response to this,’’ he said.

SPORTS

Gateball federation team visits city
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 18
A three-member team of the Gateball Federation of India which today visited Chandigarh and Mohali to see arrangements and facilities for the game in the region expressed satisfaction and hoped that Punjab would host the third Senior National Gateball Championship in the near future.

According to Mr Sher Singh Sidhu (PCS), president, Punjab Gateball Association, the team comprising Mr Praveen Manwatkar, secretary-general, Gateball Federation of India, Mr Sandeep Chauhan, general secretary of the UP unit, and Mr Babu Khan, coordinator of the federation, expressed the hope that Punjab would host the nationals in June.

After the national championship, the Indian team would be selected for an international tournament.

The three-member delegation inspected the proposed venue of the games in Mohali and gave suggestions to the senior vice-president, Mr S.S.S. Bajwa, on making further improvements.

Gateball is comparatively a new game in India which is quite popular in countries like Japan. The Chandigarh unit headed by Dr Swarn Singh Dhaliwal has also applied for affiliation.

Earlier, the Punjab team, which finished runners-up in the previous nationals, was honoured at a brief ceremony.

Gauri, Anmol win tennis titles
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, April 18
Gauri Sharma and Anmol Ladhar won the girls and boys singles title, respectively, in the Forest Hill Open Inter-School Tennis Tournament, which concluded today at the Forest Hill Resort, near here.

Gauri beat Rabya Gill in a tie-break while Anmol outplayed Akshay Chopra 8-5.

Fortyfive players from Government Senior Model School, Sector 33, Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, St John’s School, Sector 26, Mount Carmel, Sector 47, Vivek High School, Sector 38, DAV School, Sector 8, St Kabir’s, St Peter’s, YPS, Mohali, New Public School, Sec 18, Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36 and St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, took part in the competition. The prizes were distributed by Mr Gurvirinder Singh .

Bridge tournament

A bridge tournament in the event open pairs was held today at Hot Millions, Sector 17, where 26 pairs from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh participated. The results are: team — North-South: J.K. Sama and Ashok Huria 1, Col Amrik Singh and Gen C.S. Panag 2, Col Karam Singh and Col Mann 3.

Team — East-West: Rakesh Sharma and Rakesh Goyal 1; Namit Sharma and Ravi Kumar 2; and S.S. Arora and B.R. Sood 3.

Maruti car rally held
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 18
Dr Neeraj won the first prize of free car accessories worth Rs 15,000 at the Maruti Suzuki wheels of fortune rally, organised here today. While Mr Jagdeesh won a car stereo as the second prize, Mr Saurabh Walia got a car security system as the third prize. Consolation prizes were also given.

More than 175 families participated in the rally. Mr Hardeep Brar, Regional Manager, Maruti Udyog Limited, flagged off the rally from Hotel Shivalikview.

The participants were required to decipher encrypted clues on a 43-km route.

ADMINISTRATION

HUDA housing scheme may be extended
Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, April 18
The housing scheme of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in Sectors 2 and 6 of the Mansa Devi Complex (MDC) is likely to be extended again.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has reportedly declined the Haryana government plea to hear the case related to the stay on the development of the catchment area of the Sukhna Lake early. HUDA is likely to extend the last date for the receipt of application forms, source said. The case is slated for hearing on May 19.

Earlier, for the benefit of the public, the authority had extended the last date to May 5 for the allotment of about 500 prime residential plots in Sectors 2 and 6.

On a petition filed by Dr B. Singh, the court had stayed development on the catchment area of the Sukhna Lake with a view to preserve the environment. While it is not clear whether the Sectors 2 and 6 came under the catchment area, the government had pleaded before the high court to pre-pone the next date of hearing from May 19 to clear confusion among the prospective allottees.

While saying that the May 5 deadline will have to be extended, the sources said HUDA would put up a strong case before the court. A source alleged that Dr B. Singh had obtained the stay by misleading the court as Sector 2 and 6 did not come under the lake catchment area.

Sector 1 of the MDC, which could have come under the catchment area, had already been declared an entertainment sector by HUDA and recreational facilities had been planned for it. No construction disturbing the ecological balance would be allowed in Sector 1.

HUDA proposes to develop Sectors 2 and 6, considered to be an extension of Panchkula at the foothills of the Shivaliks, as a low-density urban area with plenty of openness and greenery.

5,559 MT wheat procured
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, April 18
As against 1,750 metric tonnes of wheat last year, as many as 5,559 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat has been procured in the district till Friday.

According to official sources, while 2,654 metric tonnes have been procured in Barwala, 1,730 metric tonnes in Raipur Rani and 1,175 metric tonnes in Panchkula. Similarly, Hafed has procured 1,189 metric tonnes, Confed 1,359 metric tonnes and the traders 106 metric tonnes.

All wheat in Raipur Rani has been procured by Hafed. Elaborate arrangements have been made by the district administration for the procurement of wheat, the sources added.