R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
TEAMS CONSTITUTED: The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr Amarjeet Singh Shahi, has constituted seven teams to check genuine beneficiaries of old age pensions in the sub-division. Mr Satish Kumar, Child Development and Project Officer (CDPO), stated here on Thursday that around 20 villages had been allotted to each team. The verification work would start from September 14 and would be completed by September 30.

AMRITSAR
PLEA FOR PROBE: The All-India Hindu Shiv Sena President, Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, in a communication to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and the Director, Vigilance, Mr A.P. Pandey, has sought a CBI inquiry into an octroi evasion of Rs 400 crore by importers in connivance with the octroi authorities during the import of sugar from Pakistan in 1998.

BATHINDA
PENSIONERS' BODY: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Punjab Government Pensioners’ Association: President — Mr Heera Lal; senior vice-president — Mr Sukhdev Singh; vice president — Mr B.K. Wadhawan; general secretary — Mr Kishan Singh; secretary — Mr Prem Bhatia; press secretary — Mr M.R, Madaan; and finance secretary — Mr P.C. Nagpal.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry: president — Mr Varinder Mohan Garg; vice-president — Mr Devinder Singh Kohli; secretary — Mr Hari Dev Bansal; and finance secretary — Mr Rakesh Gupta.

FEROZEPORE
PATWARI BOOKED: A Vigilance team headed by DSP Jangir Lal caught Mr Rajinder Mohan, a patwari at Gurharsahai, while accepting a bribe of Rs 500 from Jumma Singh, a resident of Jhanduwala village, SP Anita Punj said here on Wednesday. The money was demanded by the patwari in lieu of registration of land mutation belonging to the complainant. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the patwari.

JAGRAON
VOTERS’ LIST: As per instructions of the Election Commissioner Punjab, the Local Sub-Divisional Magistrate has notified that the voters list will be prepared afresh after due verification from September 11 to 23. According to the press note, for 43 polling booths in 19 wards, one enumerator for each with 8 supervisors have been deputed and overall checking would be effected by Executive Officer Municipal Council and local tehsildar.

KHANNA
MEETING: A meeting of the Shromani Akali Dal (Badal) Khanna Block was held at the office of Mr Iqbal Singh, general secretary of Akali Dal Badal Ludhiana District, under the leadership of Bibi Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, former MP, on Wednesday evening. The meeting was called in connection with the visit of Mr Parkash Singh Badal on September 14 at Gurdwara Kalgidhar on G.T. Road. The meeting was addressed by Mr Gurcharan Singh Raikhy, president SAD (B) Khanna circle, Mr Jatinder Singh, Advocate President Youth Wing Khanna Circle, Mr Kamal Jit Singh, Mr Gurpreet Singh, Mr Surbir Singh Sethi and Mr Harbir Singh Sonu.

LUDHIANA
EYE CAMP: A free eye check-up camp for Industrial Workers was organised by Vardhman Spinning and General Mills in Vardhman Workers Colony, Chandigarh Road, on Thursday. The camp was organised with the help of Dr Ramesh, Director Eye Bank Mansuran, and his team. Mr V.K. Goyal, Chief Executive, Vardhman Spinning and General Mills, inaugurated the camp. Doctors examined workers and their family members and gave medicines free of cost. Around 500 workers and their family members were examined at the camp.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Senior Citizen and Pensioners Welfare Society: president — Mr Chanda Singh, vice-president — Mr Sarwan Singh Foreman, general secretary — Mr Harbhajan Garcha, press secretary — Captain Amar Singh Rao and cashier — Mr Baldev Krishan.

URGED: Mr Ajit Singh Verma, vice-president, Punjab Municipal Tenants Welfare Association, in a communication to the Election Commissioner Punjab at Chandigarh has urged him to ensure enrolment of genuine voters. The enrolment began on September 10 for the Municipal Council election scheduled to be conducted in January next year. It has been alleged that some industrialists seeking elections to the council have got voters of nearby villages enrolled in their respective wards by showing false residence.

PATIALA
MEDICAL CAMP: More than 200 patients were checked for anaemia at the free check-up camp organised by Baba Deep Singh Institute at Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib on Wednesday. The institute’s Director/NSS Programme officer disclosed that more than 20 per cent of the people who attended the camp, majority of them belonging to the rural area were found to be anaemic.

BLOOD DONATION CAMP: A blood donation camp jointly organised by the Patiala Social Society, Baba Deep Singh Medical Institute and Rotary Club (mid-town) at Rajindra hospital here, Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Mr Jagwant Singh Brar, exhorted the youth to donate blood. Urging the NGO’s to come forward for organising blood donation camps in the district, he assured them that the district administration would extend all the help to the NGO’s for the same. Incharge of the Blood Bank, Ms Kulbir Kaur stressed that there was an immediate need to discourage professional donors and the administration should take steps to check them.

PLANTATION DRIVE: The Basant Ritu Youth Club, Tripuri, organised a tree plantation drive in the city and planted more than 2500 saplings at different places including gardens of different schools, offices and parks on Tuesday. The president of the club, Mr Rajesh Sharma, said the club would soon organise another afforestation drive.

DEMONSTRATION ON SEPT 26: The Unemployed Lineman Union, Punjab, will organise a ‘degree burning’ demonstration in front of Deputy Commissioner offices around the state on September 26 to protest against “anti-employees” policy of the state government. The union urged the state Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to ascertain that the vacant posts in the PSEB were immediately filled. The state president of the union, Mr Mandeep Singh Sanour, while addressing a meeting here alleged that there had not been any recruitment of linemen since 1996, whereas the PSEB has been providing courses to more than 600 students per annum, leading to more unemployment among the linemen. 

SAMRALA
LOK BHALAI PARTY: Mr Malkiat Singh Ghuman has been appointed president of the Lok Bhalai Party, Samrala subdivision, by Mr B.S. Ramoowalia, president of the party. Mr Ghuman has been authorised to appoint other office-bearers immediately.

HARYANA

AMBALA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The new office-bearers of the Haryana Valmiki Mahasabha, women’s cell, were elected on Wednesday. President — Kamlesh Sohte, senior vice-president — Bimla Devi, vice president — Nachhitar Kaur, general secretary — Promila; chief organising secretary — Soma Devi, press secretary — Shanti Devi; secretary Sunita Devi; chief adviser — chief Lakshmi Devi, and treasurer — Krishna Devi. A special meeting was also held, a release said.

CAMPAIGN: The new deputy spokesperson of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, Dr Viresh Shandilya, said on Wednesday that the effort was soon going to start to ensure that the policies of the HPCC president, Mr Bhajan Lal, reach the masses. Talking to mediapersons here, Dr Viresh Shandilya, said a public awareness campaign would be started and he would be visiting different districts to inform people policies about the “anti-people policies of the Chautala government. He said that on September 15 a welcome function for Mr Bhajan Lal will be organised at Sonepat and a rally will be held which will herald in change. “The privartan rally will lay the foundation stone for change of government” he said.

MISHAP: A policeman on duty near Jandli bridge on GT road had a miraculous escape when a truck hit the traffic police post on Wednesday morning. Apparently, the policeman tried to flag down the speeding truck, which hit the traffic police post on the roadside. The truck then turned turtle and fell into a ditch. The vehicle hit the traffic police post, badly damaging it.

SERVICE CAMP: A Piaggio-Ape service camp was held in Ambala city on Wednesday. The customer availed labour free service, five per cent discount on spare parts and 15 per cent discount on accessories besides engineers from the company attending to the vehicles, a press release issued by Mehar International Marketing (P) Ltd said.

ANTAKSHARI ORGANISED: The Junior Chamber of Ambala Industry organised an ‘antakshari’ to mark the second project of Jaycee week. A number of teams participated in the competition. Project directors were Ravindra Bagga and Naresh Sharma Chief guest was Dr Rosy, Chamber president Vinay Mehta said similar programmes would be organised to give an opportunity to the young talented persons, a release said. 

ARMY SCHOOL: Army school, Ambala Cantonment, celebrated Vana mahotsava by planting saplings on Wednesday. The Vana mahotsava was observed in the primary wing by planting 150 saplings of different varities. School principal Col (Retd) Banarsi Dass stressed the need for pure and clean environment. 

CONVENTION: The district youth cell of the INLD will hold its convention on September 15. According to Mr Suchha Singh Baknor, president of the district unit, the national president of the cell, Mr Chautala will inaugurate the convention. Around 2,000 youths will fill up the form of eye donation on this occasion.

RAIN DISRUPTS NORMAL LIFE: The continuous rainfall since morning has affected the normal life in Ambala city and Ambala cantonment here on Thursday. The water-logging is reported in several lower areas of Ambala city. According to information, around half a dozen houses collapsed in the district. One of the roofs of a house located in Ambala city collapsed on Thursday noon. The owner of the house escaped unhurt as he was sitting in another room.Most of the bazaars of Ambala city and Ambala cantonment deserted due to continuous rainfall. The water level in the Taangri and Ghaggar is raising. The Deputy Commissioner has directed the Flood Control Department to keep round-the-clock watch over the situation.

ARRESTED FOR GRAFT: The State Vigilance Bureau, Ambala, has arrested an official of the Sales Tax Department deputed on a tax collection barrier for taking Rs 100 excess from vehicle owner for depositing the road tax of his vehicle. According to information, Mr Subhash, a resident of Ambala cantonment, had filed a complaint with the vigilance that an official of sales tax had been demanding Rs 100 excess for accepting the road tax of his vehicle. On the direction of SP, Vigilance, Mr Sandeep Khirwar, a team led by SHO, Vigilance, Shyam Lal raided the barrier and recovered the amount from the possession of sales tax official. According to information, the bureau authorities have also recovered the amount of Rs 1,050 excess from the cash box of the barrier. A case has been registered.

SAPLINGS PLANTED: Allahabad Bank Shahpur branch in coordination with Government. Senior Secondary School, Shahpur organised a vanamahotsava by planting saplings. A total of 1,000 saplings would be planted under this scheme. This village has been adopted by Allahabad Bank as model village. The chief guest of this function was Deepak Narang, Assistant General Manager, R.O., Chandigarh. School children organised a cultural programme, on the occasion. Under the aegis of model village scheme of the bank, tree guards were donated. School uniforms were distributed to the school children and at the request of the Principal Black boards were also donated to the school by the bank. Sarpanch of the village promised to construct a hall for the benefit of the school. The Principal thanked Allahabad Bank for the support extended to the school. 

FATEHABAD
LAWYER DEAD: A senior lawyer of the district courts, Mr Bansi Dhar Bansal, died of heart attack on Wednesday in Delhi. The local Bar Association mourned his death and suspended its work as a mark of respect.

KAITHAL
DRDA WORKSHOP: Mr Anurag Agarwal, Deputy Commissioner, addressed beneficiaries at a one-day training workshop organised by the District Rural Development Agency at the local Panchayat Bhavan here on Wednesday. He said self-help groups created under this scheme held a new hope for the poor. He informed the participants that under the scheme loans were provided to a maximum of Rs 2.50 lakh with a subsidy of Rs 1.5 lakh. He said the overall loan limit for the groups showing good results could be raised up to Rs 5 lakh.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
AGITATION THREAT: The Resin and Turpentine Factory Workers Union at Raghunathpura, near here, has given a two-week ultimatum to the factory management under the Industrial Disputes Act, saying if its demands charter is not accepted by September 24, the union will resort to an indefinite strike.

TOMATO CROP: Led by Block Development member Om Prakash Gautam, a number of village leaders here on Wednesday urged the government to intervene and save the diseased bumper crop of tomato in at least 10 panchayat areas in the district. These leaders said though Agriculture Department officers and experts from Palampur University had visited the area to control the disease, yet no success had been achieved in the matter.

MANALI
HELP OFFERED: The Kulu-Manali Charitable Trust has offered to help the kin of the Tahuk bus mishap victims in the Parvati valley by getting them admitted to Anand Dham run by the trust at Kalath, 7 km from here. Mr Som Dev Shashni, president of the trust, told this to mediapersons here on Wednesday.

NAHAN
INAUGURATION: The Deputy Commissioner here, Mr O.C. Sharma, inaugurated two classrooms each at Dhar Tikkeri and Mangarh under Operation Blackboard and the Sarswati Bal Vidya Sankalap Yojana, respectively. Addressing students, the Deputy Commissioner said the playway method was being introduced in primary schools.

SHIMLA
ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Himachal M.Phil and P.hd Association: president — Mr Sajeev Kumar Bhardwaj; vice-president — Mr Sandeep; general secretary — Mr Joginder Saklani; and secretary — Mr Balraj Bhalooni.

FRUIT SHOW: The State Bank of India, Kotkhai, on Wednesday organised a fruit show at which more than 150 orchardists participated. The show was inaugurated by Mr K.L. Nagpal, Assistant General Manager. On the occasion, the SBI Card Scheme was launched and cards were given to small orchardists to help them avail of the insurance facility under the Kisan Credit Card Scheme and Gold Card for construction of water tanks.

HEART CHECK-UP: The Fortis Heart Institute will organise a free cardiac camp at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex here on September 14 as part of its outreach programme. Dr R.V. Karanjekar, Director of the institute, said the main objective of the camp was to spread awareness about heart diseases and the benefits of early diagnosis. Besides heart check-up and consultation, various tests like ECG and ECHO would be conducted free of charge. A team of six medical specialists would examine the patients.

JAWAN DEAD: A Home Guard jawan died following a heart attack while extinguishing a fire that gutted a building at Khawangi village, near Peo, in Kinnaur district on Thursday, the police said. The blaze was caused due to a leaking gas cylinder.