Veggie, grocery shops inspected

Kangra: A team of the District Food and Civil Supply Department on Friday inspected vegetable, fruit and grocery shops at the 53 Mile Kasba area and seized 9.75 quintals of goods. District Food and Civil Supply Controller Narendra Dhiman said during the inspection, it was found that rate lists had not been displayed at some places and some shopkeepers were found overcharging. The team seized 3.40 quintals of pulses, 2.30 quintals of sugar and 4.05 quintals of vegetables and fruits. He said action would be taken against the shopkeepers found guilty of overcharging. He asked all shopkeepers to exhibit rate lists of items being sold at a visible place. OC

5,000 food boxes given for frontline workers

Palampur: The CSIR-IHBT today handed over 5,000 boxes of canned food to SDM, Palampur, Dharmesh Ramotra for distribution to frontline workers such as doctors, paramedical staff, health workers and policemen who have been working round the clock. Director, CSIR-IHBT, Sanjay Kumar said the food had been specially prepared and packed in tin containers. The shelf life of the food was 12 months. Kumar said the IHBT also started testing for Covid yesterday. The samples of suspected patients had been received from Mandi and Hamirpur districts. OC

Schools assn donates Rs5 lakh to fight Covid

Nurpur: The Himachal Pradesh Independent Private Schools (CBSE affiliated) Association on Friday contributed Rs 5 lakh to the Chief Minister Covid-19 Relief Fund. Association president Gulshan Kumar and general secretary Basu Soni gave a demand draft through MLA, Gagret, Rajesh Thakur at Rehan. They assured the government that the association members would adhere to all guidelines during the curfew. It assured parents and their wards that the teachers of private schools would make all efforts to hold online classes during the lockdown. OC

Power staff union flays ministry

Nurpur: The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd (HPSEBL) Employees’ Union has flayed the Union Power Ministry for preparing a draft of the Electricity Amendment Act-2020 and seeking suggestions from state governments within 21 days amid the lockdown. Kuleep Kharwara, state president of the union, said the electricity employees had been for long opposing the proposed amendments meant to split the HPSEBL into work and distribution wings to be managed by private companies. He urged Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur not to accept the amendments. OC

Blood bank service at Mandi hospital

Mandi: Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College and Hospital at Ner Chowk here has got approval to start blood bank service on its premises in the coming days. Dr Rajneesh Pathania, principal of the medical college, said the bank had a capacity to store 400 units. He said it would be a great help as blood units would be used in emergency cases. TNS

12 vendors challaned

Shimla: Additional District Magistrate, Protocol, Sandeep Negi on Friday inspected over 30 shops in Kusumpati, Panthaghati and Vikasnagar area and challaned 12 vendors for charging more than the listed price of the fruit and vegetable decided by the District Magistrate. In a surprise check, the ADM raided the shops and found that 12 shopkeepers were charging more than the listed prices. They were fined on the spot. TNS