R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
BOOKS DISTRIBUTED: Mr Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, MLA, Amloh, distributed slates and exercise books to the students of primary and anganwari children at a function organised by the Social Worker and Sher-e-Punjab Club at Majri Kishaney Wali, one km from here, on Friday. Mr Satish Kumar, Child Development and Project Officer, Amloh and Mr Zora Singh head teacher of the school, also addressed the function.

BATHINDA
SEWING CENTRE: The Eknoor Welfare Society, an NGO, opened a tailor training centre in the city on Friday which was inaugurated by Dr Bant Singh Khipal. He said the centre would benefit girls who could earn after getting training from the centre.

FIREARMS BANNED: Mr Anurag Verma, District Magistrate, has imposed a ban on carrying of firearms, explosives and inflammable substances in the revenue boundary of Maiserkhana village between October 9 and October 13 in view of an annual mela to be organised in the village on October 11. The orders have been passed under Section 144.

URGED: Field employees of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board have urged the authorities concerned to regularise the services of daily wage earners, employees working on contract system and implement pension scheme for them. Mr Kishore Chand, president of the district unit, said here on Thursday that they would launch an agitation if their demands were not accepted.

CE TAKES CHARGE: Mr G.C. Goyal has taken over as Chief Engineer/DS, West Zone, PSEB. Mr Goyal joined the PSEB in 1967.

ANNIVERSARY: The 5262nd birth anniversary of the forefather of the Aggarwal Community, Maharaja Aggarsen, will be celebrated in the city on October 7. This was stated in a press note by founder patron of the Aggarwal Sabha, Mr Sadhu Ram Kusla.

PROCUREMENT: Agencies have procured 52,319 tonnes of paddy from different mandis in the district so far. Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, said on Thursday that there were 101 purchasing centres in the district. He said the ADC, SDMs, DDPO, Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars, BDPOs and panchayat officers had been asked to supervise the procurement process so that the farmers did not face any difficulty.

SEWERAGE BOARD: Field employees of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board have urged the authorities to regularise the services of daily wage employees and those on contract, and implement the pension scheme for them. Mr Kishore Chand, president of the district unit of the boards said on Thursday that they would launch an agitation if their demands were not accepted.

DHURI
COMPETITION: The Leo Club here organised a quiz contest and group dance competition at New Singla Palace here on Wednesday. Dr S. Bhaskaran, Vice-President, Bhagwanpura Sugar Mills, Dhuri, inaugurated the competition. More than 300 students from 10 schools participated in the programme. Springdales Senior Secondary Public School, Sangrur, Robin Model High School, Dhuri and Sarvhitkari Vidya Mandir, Dhura, won the first, second and third positions, respectively, in the quiz contest, while Sprindales Senior Secondary School, Sangrur, bagged the first prize and Vasant Valley Public School, Ladda and Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Dhuri bagged the second position in the group dance competition.

FEROZEPORE
NSS CAMP: DAV College for Women organised a 10-day NSS camp in which about 100 volunteers were imparted training and given lectures on moral education. VACCINATION CAMP: The Lions Club, Ferozepore Greater, organised a hepatitis-B vaccination camp in which a number of people were vaccinated against the disease. According to Lion R. S. Bakshi, project in charge, the club had decided to hold the camp on every Sunday under the supervision of Lion Dr Lakhbir Singh. 

HOSHIARPUR
ARRESTED: The police arrested Dajinder Vema, Romesh and Bhrang, residents of Alwar, under Sections 15,61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and sezied 50 kg of poppy husk from them on Thursday night. The police also seized 6,750 ml of whisky from Rajesh Kumar of Nehra village.

JHUGGIES GUTTED: Nearly 50 jhuggis of labourers were reduced to ashes in a fire which broke out at Phalahi village, about 15 km from here, on Thursday. No loss of life has been reported. Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, Deputy Commissioner, said tarpaulins for jhuggies were being given to the labourers by the District Red Cross Society. Besides, blankets and utencils would also be given.

PROCLAIMED OFFENDER: The CIA staff, Hoshiarpur, arrested a proclaimed offender, Manjit Singh, of Bilaspur on Thursday. He was wanted in a case registered by the Sadar police under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC on November 10 last year.

KHARAR
APPEAL: Shamsher Singh Dullo, MP, has appealed to the Punjab Government to release funds for the development of historical and religious tank of Kharar, popularly known as Maharaja Ajj Sarovar. He has appealed to the district administration to pay more attention towards the historic heritage. The tank is linked with Maharaja Ajj, the grandfather of lord Rama. Mr Om Parkash Sharma, former president, Municipal Committee, Kharar, Mr Natrajan Kaushal and Mr Kuldeep Singh, both municipal councillors, accompanied Mr Dullo to this sarovar.

LUDHIANA
EXTENSION COUNTER: The Indian Bank has opened a special evening counter for issuance of bank drafts at its Clock Tower branch here. Mr D.N. Thukral, Chief Manager, Chandigarh Circle Office, inaugurated the special counter in the presence of a large number of customers, officials and employees of the bank. According to a press release of the bank, the special counter, set up in response to the demand by trading and business community, would be functional up to 6 pm from Monday to Friday and till 2 pm on Saturdays.

VALMIKI ‘PRAGAT UTSAV’: Bhagwan Valmiki ‘pragat utsav’ would be observed with great enthusiasm on October 21. Addressing a meeting of the Bhagwan Valmiki Youth Sabha in Shahi Mohalla here, Mr Narinder Nahar, newly elected president of the sabha, said the festivities would begin on October 20 with a deepmala and on October 21, a satsang and langar would be organised. Mr Basant Lal Nahar, who presided over the meeting, announced the election of the following office-bearers: Mr Sachedev Nahar — chairman; Mr Narinder Nahar — president; Mr Ramesh Kumar Bunty — vice president; Mr Ajay Kali — general secretary; Mr Amit Kumar — secretary; Mr Naresh Kumar — joint secretary, Mr Varinder Nahar — press secretary, Mr Lovely Kewal — cashier; Mr Sanjeev Nahar — organising secretary; and Mr Subhash Sondhi — chief sewadar.

ENTRY TAX: The district unit of Bharatiya Janata Party has flayed the government for imposition of ‘entry tax’, which was yet another tool to cause harassment to the trade and industry. It threatened to launch a mass agitation against the anti- trade and industry move, if the government failed to immediately review the ill conceived decision and withdraw the entry tax. In a statement here on Friday, the district chief of the party, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, observed that hosiery industry was already faced with a serious crisis due to recessionary trends and the new tax would push the crisis ridden units towards closure.

EYES DONATED: Eyes of Parminder Singh (22), a resident of Landa Buani village, were donated to Puranjot, an eye bank of Punjab, after his death due to long illness. Dr Ramesh, director of the institute, in a press statement on Friday said the family members of the deceased were motivated by a relative of the family, Mr Kewal Singh. Both the corneas were successfully transplanted to two needy patients, Mr Balwinder Singh, an employee with the Punjab police, and Ms Gurmej Kaur of Shahpur village. 

FREE MEDICAL CAMP: A free medical check-up camp will be organised by Rajindra Hospital at Gurdwara Sri Hargobind Sahib, Himmatpura, Link Road, on Sunday. According to a press release, the camp will be inaugurated by Mr Harnam Dass Johar. The organisers of the camp, Mr Gurmeet Singh and Mr Tejveer Johar, said free medicines will be provided to the poor and needy patients and sugar tests will also be conducted free of cost on the occasion.

TALENT HUNT: A talent search hunt was held at the GNG Khalsa College of Education, Gursar Sadhar, under the guidance of its principal, Dr J.S. Brar. The convener, Dr Rakesh, spoke on the need of such functions. It was a colourful programme and began with a shabad by Prabhjot and party. “Chakkar Anarkali Da” and “Coolie No. 1” evoked a lot of laughter. Students sang ghazals and songs and programme ended with thrilling “giddha” and “bhangra”.

WELCOME FUNCTION: A welcome function was organised by the second year students of diploma in pharmacy of the Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College of Pharmacy to welcome the juniors. The function was inaugurated by the Director-Principal, Mr Kuldip Singh, who welcomed the freshers and advised them to work hard and become competent professionals so that they can face the challenges of life. The head of the department, Ms Ravinder Dang, speaking on the occasion said she hoped this function would usher in a relationship of cooperation and friendship between the seniors and juniors. The cultural function was marked by a fashion show, bhangra, group songs and group dances. Mr Vinod Kumar was adjudged Mr Pharmacy while Mr Saurabh Singla and Mr Raj Kumar were declared Ist runner-up and second runner-up, respectively.

FASHION DESIGNER: Nilibar, a name in fashion industry, has brought costumes designed by Neeta Lulla, who shot into limelight for the lovely costumes worm by Paro and Chandermukhi in ‘Devdas’, the movie that got talked about its ethnic and wonderfully designed costumes. Neta Lulla’s collection is of sarees and lehngas which have made Aishwarya and Madhuri Dixit look stunningly gorgeous.

CONCESSION BONANZA: Punjab National Bank is offering specific concession under PNB Festival Season Bonanza in upfront fee, documentation fee and rate of interest to all customers, who avail loan during the period from September 10 to December 31 under bank’s various retail loan schemes. Stating this here on Friday, the General Manager, Punjab zone, Mr U.S. Bhargava, said the upfront fee has been waived under bank’s four loan schemes which include housing, car, scheme for financing medical practitioners and personal loans. Under floating option, the PNB’s housing loan has lowest equal monthly installment of Rs 990 per lakh for 20 years and Rs 970 per lakh for 25 years. 

ANNIVERSARY: The Swami Vivekananda Study Circle here is organising 109th anniversary of Chicago address at the Government College for Boys here on Sunday. Prof Samdong Rinpoche, exiled Prime Minister of Tibet Government, will be the chief guest on the occasion. Swami Brahmishanand, secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, will preside over the function and deliver the keynote address.

PATIALA
TRIBUTES PAID: Members of the National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS) paid tributes to master of Punjabi drama and pioneer of modern Punjabi theatre movement, Prof I.C. Nanda, on his 110th birth anniversary at NTAS Mandir here. The NTAS Director, Mr Prem Sabharwa, and its president, Mr G.S. Kakkar, urged the Punjab government, the NZCC and Mr Svaran Singh Boparai, Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, to introduce short-term theatre training courses for he benefit of the serving persons and amateur theatre artistes.

CHANDIGARH

POLIO CAMP: Hundreds of polio patients from all over the region on Friday participated in a free polio check- up and operation camp being organised by the Bharat Vikas Parishad. A large number of patients were examined. 

HARYANA

GROUP SONG CONTEST: With a view to sustaining the traditional of singing patriotic songs, the Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) a social organisation, will organise a national group song competition on Saturday at the auditorium of Shivalik Public School in Sector-41. This was stated by the convener of the organisation, Mr Y.P. Tewari, here on Friday.

HISAR
TWO KILLED: Two persons, including a journalist, were killed and another was injured in a road accident near Barwala on Thursday night. According to the police, Karmbir Singh, a reporter in a Hindi daily, along with his two friends was going to Badhawar village on a scooter when a truck, coming from opposite direction, hit their vehicle. Karmbir Singh (26) and Amritbhan (35) died on the spot while their friend Rajbir was injured seriously. He was admitted to a private hospital at Barwala. A case has been registered.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SHIMLA
DEMANDED: The Kotgarh Civil Hospital has only one doctor. It caters to the needs of residents of Kotgarh, mehlan, Shanthla, kanihar, Bhutti, kanda, Thanedhar and Shamatla panchayats. The villagers lament the lack of laboratory and X-ray facilities. They have urged the Health Department to appoint one more doctor and paramedical staff.

DATE EXTENDED: Himachal Pradesh University has extended the last date of fitting examination forms for MA up to October 11, Controller of Examinations, said here on Thursday.

STIR THREAT: The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has threatened to launch an agitation if the BJP-HVC coalition government in the state does not reverse its decision to scrap the state Human Rights Commission. Mr Tikender Panwar, Secretary, DYFI, said the government should check its wasteful expenditure and instead close corporations and boards which were a drain on the state exchequer.