The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

PGI inks pact with Sudan varsity
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16
The PGI signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Alzaiem Alazhari University (AAU), Sudan, for cooperation on research, patient care and short-term training of postgraduates here today.

The AAU is one of the top five universities of Sudan having 15 departments, nearly half of them in medical science.

This is the third MoU the PGI had signed with a foreign university, said Dr K.K. Talwar, director, PGI, while talking to mediapersons before signing the MoU.

Earlier, the MoUs were signed with the University of Virginia, Commonwealth University and the Medical University of Innsbruck to foster mutual cooperation in the field of postgraduate education and research as well as collaborative research in basic medical and clinical sciences and public health, said Dr Talwar.

A delegation from the AAU, comprising Prof Ali El Sayed Ali, vice-chancellor, Prof El Tayeb Abd Elrahman Ali, dean, faculty of medicine, and Dr Ashraf Izzeldin Abdalla, head, office of international relations, visited various facilities of the PGI before signing the MoU during their two-day visit here. On the need for working jointly with an Indian institute of health, Prof Ali El Sayed Ali said both countries “have many common traditions and common diseases”.

City boxers proving mettle
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16
Boxing as a sport is improving in the city. This was stated by Dr C.K. Jerath, general secretary as well as founder secretary of the Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association (CABA).

“The city has been producing several national level pugilists. A total of 18 medals won by city boxers during various national competitions in 2007 attribute to this fact. Recently, seven boxers were called to attend national boxing camps to be held at various venues across the country,” Dr Jerath said.

“Besides this, the credit of hosting one of the best national level tournaments - the A.K. Mishra Boxing Championship - for the 14th consecutive year, goes to the city,” Dr Jerath added.

Local pugilist Paramjeet Singh’s gold medal in the National Games 2007 at Guwahati made the officials proud.

Giving details of other achievements, Dr Jerath said, “Four medals were won in the sub-junior national (boys) championship at Jamshedpur, whereas in the sub-junior women’s championship at Patiala, our girls bagged seven medals. Our junior men also won two medals at West Bengal while one medal each was won in the junior women championship at Patiala, the senior men championship at Hyderabad and the senior women’s championship.”

The city also boasts of hosting the A.K. Mishra Memorial Boxing Championship for the last 14 years. The championship, which was the brainchild of Dr Jerath, has been regarded as one of the best national tournaments in the country. This is the only national tournament, which is being held annually on a regular basis. Authorities are now contemplating involving foreign teams from Nepal, Mauritius, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, to give more exposure to our boxers, added Dr Jerath. The 11-member team, which participated in the Commonwealth Games 2006 at Melbourne, was selected during the 12th edition of this tournament.

Many national and international pugilists, including Paramjit Singh, Bhagat Singh Thakur, Charanjit Singh, Ravi Kumar, Ashwini Kumar, Satinder Kaur, Jasleen Narula and Suman have made the city proud with their achievements.

To produce better results and more boxers, over four training centres are in function with the support of the association at Government Home Science College (women), Sector 10; Sikhya School, Sector 46; S.D. College, Sector 32 and Akal Shakti School, Kajheri. Besides this, a full-fledged centre, being run by the Chandigarh administration at Sports Complex, Sector 42, and private centres at schools and colleges have been catering to over 200 pugilists in the city.

“We provide free equipments and coaching facilities in our centres. There is the need for a top class centre with all the required facilities to lift up the standard of the sport here,” concluded Dr Jerath.

Arshdeep's ton scripts Mohali's victory
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16
The Chandigarh team got the better of Bathinda on the basis of their first innings lead in the Punjab State u-17 tournament for M the L. Markan Trophy 2007-08 at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, here today.

Resuming their play from 13 for 1, Bathinda's batsmen scored 138 runs in 72.4 overs, thus conceding a lead of 155 runs. Rahul Jaitly and Vikas Lamba tried hard with their knocks of 32 and 31 runs, respectively. For Chandigarh, Rahul Chara and Amrinder were wreckers-in-chief, finishing with figure of 4 for 73 and 4 for 89, respectively.

Earlier, electing to bat first after winning the toss, Chandigarh piled up 293 runs, losing all wickets in 87 overs in their first innings. In the second innings, the team was 77 in 11.4 overs when the play was called off.

Chandigarh was declared the winner on the basis of their first innings lead.

In the second match of the tournament between Ropar and Mohali at PCA Stadium, here, the hosts beat Ropar by two wickets.

In reply to a huge total of 300 runs in 95 overs by Ropar in their first innings, the Mohali batsmen held their nerves to clinch the match scoring 303 in 89.1 overs at a loss of 8 wickets.

A superb ton (118) by Mohali batsman Arshdeep Brar was the highlight of the day, which also steered the team to victory.

The other notable contributors were Parteek and Nitin, who scored 44 and 40 runs, respectively. Rahul remained unbeaten on 24 runs.

For Ropar, Krishan was the most successful bowler, who claimed five wickets for 123 runs while Nitish took 3 for 83.

Brief scores:

Chandigarh (1st innings): 293 all out in 87 overs (Shah Nawaj 67, Ankit Kaushik 91, Vishal Thind 38, Raj Kamal 4 for 73 and Amrinder 4 for 89);

Bathinda (1st Innings): 138 all out in 72.4 overs (Rahul Jaitly 32,Vikash Lamba 31, Arjun Wadhawan 26, Rahul Chara 4 for 41, Anshul Tripathi 2 for 44);

Chandigarh (2nd Innings): 77 in 11.4 overs (Jatin Kumar 3 for 47).

Ropar (1st innings): 300 all out in 95 overs (Amandeep 65, Karan 95, Krishan 62, Mohit Bedi 2 for 74, Harpreet Golu 2 for 74);

Mohali (1st Innings): 303 for 8 in 89.1 overs (Nitin 40, Harpreet Sidhu 19, Arshdeep Brar 118, Parteek 44, Rahul 24 n.o., Mohit Bedi 18 n.o., Krishan 5 for 123, Nitish 3 for 83).

8 new Gypsies in PCR fleet
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16
The Chandigarh police today inducted eight new police control room (PCR) Gypsies into its fleet. Lalit Sharma, adviser to the UT administrator, flagged off the newly inducted vehicles at the police headquarters in Sector 9.

The police said with this induction, the number of PCR vehicles of the local police had gone up to 74. These include 38 Gypsies, 35 motorcycles and one trauma ambulance.

A senior police officer said the addition of the new vehicles to the fleet would increase the effectiveness and reach of PCR and further help in reducing the response time, enabling the police to be more responsive. The PCR vehicles would be equipped with the GPRS system to ensure round-the-clock tracking of vehicles.

The new Gypsies would take over locations manned by motorcycles at traffic lights points on the road dividing Sectors 20 and 30, 16 and 23, at the Sector 43 and 44 chowk, Sectors 31, 32, 46 and 47 rotary, Sector 38 and 38 West chowk and the Mani Majra market while the Gypsies currently at various points would be shifted to outer locations at the Dhillon barrier, the Zirakpur barrier, the Sectors 45 and 46 chowk, the Mohali barrier, the new Mohali barrier, the Badheri barrier, the Mattaur barrier and the Mullanpur barrier. The police claimed it would help them seal the city by conducting intensive checking at these entry and exit points of the city.

UT home secretary Krishna Mohan, inspector-general of police S.K. Jain, deputy inspector-general of police Vivek Gogia, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Gaurav Yadav, SSP (Traffic) A.S. Ahlawat were among other officers present on the occasion.

Liquor vend demolished
Our Correspondent

Mohali, May 16
The enforcement wing of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority today demolished a liquor vend near a bus stand in Phase VIII. Though the vend is presently not in function, there was the possibility that it could have been used for other purposes. The vend had been set up three years ago.

The enforcement wing also went to Phase XI and III A, where two liquor vends were to be removed. It is learnt that the officials have told the owners of the vends to vacate by tomorrow morning, failing which, these vends will also be demolished. While the Phase XI liquor vend was functioning in an area where a civil dispensary was to be constructed, the one in Phase III A was located very close to the residential area and residents had demanded its closure.

Vigilance probe: Reshuffle on cards
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16
In the light of the vigilance probe instituted by the adviser to the UT administrator into the functioning the estate office and the alleged manhandling of a minor Nayagoan resident by the SDM (central), a reshuffle of PCS and HCS officers is on the cards.

Though no officials confirmed the move, sources said due to the two incidents, the functioning bureaucrats had come under criticism. There could be some alterations in the charge held by officers.

Another indication of the reshuffle or is that the home secretary has yet not decided on giving all powers to the land acquisition officer as was the case earlier.

Due to the delay in giving powers to hear cases of resumed sites and construction of buildings without getting plans sanctioned, over 500 cases are pending.

This is resulting in harassment of property owners.