Abohar
Meeting: Brigadier A.K.S. Chauhan in a meeting of ex-servicemen from Raisinghnagar, Padampur, Karanpur and Vijaynagar sub-divisions at the Lalgarh cantonment on Saturday gave details about various schemes, including pension for war-widows, allotment of land, CSD cards, ECHS cards etc.

Amritsar
Principals’ meet: Guru Nanak Dev University will conduct a one-day workshop for the principals of affiliated colleges at the conference hall of Guru Nanak Bhawan on December 28. The issue of development grants available with the ministry of science and technology to boost infrastructure in the colleges would be discussed in detail. Dr MS Dhillon, dean, college development council said Prof S. Chandrashekhran of Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore would apprise the delegates of various development schemes.

GND varsity closed today: The teaching and non-teaching departments of Guru Nanak Dev University will remain closed on December 10 on the martyrdom day of the ninth Guru Teg Bahadur. However, the university press statement added that the examinations being conducted by university would be held as per schedule.

Chandigarh
House tax date extended: Punjab has extended the last date for the recovery of house ax, water and sewerage user-charges by December 31. Manoranjan Kalia, local government minister, Punjab said the date had been extended so that people could deposit balance of user -charges without interest and penalty. After this date the urban local bodies will take action and recover the amount with interest and penalty from defaulters.

CPI for waiving farmers’ debt: The CPI on Saturday said as Punjab farmers had been contributing 50 per cent of wheat and 30 per cent of rice to the Central foodgrains pool to ensure food security at the national level, the Union government should extend a helping hand to them by waiving their outstanding debt worth Rs 24,000 crore. Dr Joginder Dayal, a member of the national executive of the CPI, and Bhupinder Sambar, general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Sabha, said the Centre should help Punjab in continuing subsidy to the farm sector.

Jalandhar
Cycle expedition: A cycle expedition of Air Force personnel from Patiala to the Wagah border reached NCC Air squadron, Jalandhar on Saturday. The expedition team was accorded welcome by the staff and administration officer Sqn Ldr Sachin Arora of 1 Pb Air NCC. They interacted with the NCC cadets and motivated them to join the armed forces. The nine air warriors in the team said the aim was to celebrate 25 years of Air Force Station at Patiala and spread awareness about the force among the youth of Punjab.

Mansa
Demanded: Sarpanch and Panch of several villages of Budhlada demanded construction of a bypass, connecting the mini-secretariat, Mansa and Khiala Kalan.  The villagers have to cross busy roads of Mansa Bazar to reach the mini-secretariat. The villages demanding bypass are Khillan, Chakerian, Fafre Bhaike, Nangal Kalan, Nangal Khurd, Khara, Jawaharke and Narinderpura.

Cremated: Former state president of the students federation of India (SFI), Baljinder Rishi, was cremated in Khiva Kalan village today. He died yesterday in Delhi’s Ganga Ram Hospital. He had been ill for the last few days. He had participated in many student agitations for the demands of students. On the cremation many political & educational personalities were present.

Nawanshahr
Eyes donated: Local newspaper agent Kishori Lal Duggal donated the eyes of his wife Nirmala Devi who died after a brief illness. Dr Jatinder Dev Verma, president, accompanied by members of the District Eye Donation Society, lauded the gesture of the family.

PATIALA
Holiday: Punjabi University has declared a holiday tomorrow on account of Shaheedi divas of Guru Teg Bahadur for its teaching and non-teaching staff. However, according to a university spokesman, all the examinations announced earlier will be held on schedule. Meanwhile, a spokesman has confirmed that the new vice-chancellor, Dr Jaspal Singh, will join on December 11.

Dead: Inderjit Singh Chahal, assistant excise and taxation commissioner died here on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 56. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. His funeral was largely attended. Prominent among those who were present were S.K. Ahluwalia divisional commissioner, A. Venu Parsad, commissioner excise and taxation Punjab, D.S. Grewal, deputy commissioner, Shiv Dular Singh ADC, Ravinder Pal Singh, vice-chancellor Baba Farid University, Surjit Singh Kohli and other dignitaries.

Birth anniversary: The 72nd birth anniversary of Sant Ram Singla, a former member of Parliament, was celebrated on Sunday in the market committee office. On this occasion blankets were distributed to the needy and poor persons of the locality. Vijayinder Singla, president of the Punjab Youth Congress and son of late Sant Ram Singla, distributed langar to the old-age home and ashram with other family members. Yash Pal Singh, municipal committee president, Sham Lal, president of industrial association and sarpanches of nearby villages were also present.

Phagwara
Bus stand awaits VIP: The much-awaited Phagwara general bus stand, which was under construction for a long time, is finally complete, but is now in wait of a chief guest to inaugurate it. First of its kind in the state, the bus stand would be earth-quake resistant and will have ultra modern facilities, including a shopping complex. Phagwara SDM Amarjeet Paul said here that Rs 2.32 crore had been spent on its construction.

Prize distribution: Kamla Nehru Public School organised its third prize distribution function here on Sunday. Kamla Nehru Educational Institutions president I.K. Sardana gave away the prizes to the students who had secured the first, second and third positions. KNC principal Kusum Verma, general secretary Haribansh Mehta, P.K. Dhillon and school principal Sunita Kapil also addressed the function.

ROPAR
Adopting children: The state government has authorised five social organisations for legal adoption of children. In a press release issued here on Friday the deputy commissioner, Ropar, A.K. Sinha said the department of social security has authorised Yadvindra Puran Bal Niketan, Lahori Gate Patiala, Sishu Grah Trust, Nari Neketan Nakodar road, Jalandhar, Children Welfare Society Pinglagarh, Jalandhar, Nishkam Sewa Ashram Dhad Pakhowal village road, Ludhiana, Ganga Nand Bhuriwale International Foundation near Talwandi Khurd village Ludhiana, societies for giving abandoned children for adoption. The abandoned children adopted from any other source would be considered as legal adoption as per government directions.

SANGRUR
DEO staff to work on holiday: Despite a government holiday on December 10, some officials of the District Education Office (Secondary) will work to complete the promotional cases of masters/mistresses to the lecturer cadre in the office here. This was stated by district education officer (Secondary) Ashok Bhalla here on Sunday.