MLAs question tweaked mining policy

Chandigarh: Four rebel AAP MLAs, including Kanwar Sandhu, Jagdev Singh Kamalu, Pirmal Singh Khalsa and Jagtar Singh Hissowal, have questioned the tweaked mining policy in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, alleging that the state was staring at huge losses. Sandhu said if the interim policy announced on May 12 for the next one month is any indication, the state is set to suffer a Rs150-crore loss, besides ushering in an environmental disaster. TNS

No jatha to Pakistan this year

Amritsar: In view of the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide, a Sikh jatha will not visit Pakistan this year to commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev and death anniversary Maharaja Ranjit Singh that falls on May 27 and June 28, respectively. Dr Roop Singh, SGPC chief secretary, said: “The programmes have been deferred because international borders have been sealed. We anticipate that the situation will get normal by November. We could then think of sending jathas to Pakistan to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary.” TNS

31 Kerala students leave for home

Bathinda: In all, 31 students studying in various colleges in and around Bathinda and hailing from Kozhikode in Kerala, were sent back home on Sunday after getting clearances from the Bathinda authorities and the Kozhikode administration. Harvinder Tinku Grover, secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said the students were unable to find a safe passage to reach Kozhikode after which their parents approached the Congress in Kerala. TNS

Don’t discharge +ve patients: Unions

Chandigarh: Farmers and labour organisations have alleged that the government is playing with the lives of people by sending even recently confirmed Covid positive patients home. Sharing reports of such patients from Sangrur, who tested positive three days ago, but were sent home, the BKU (Ugrahan) and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union have announced to hold protest in front of DC offices in several districts on Monday. TNS

1.95l getting hypertension treatment

Chandigarh: About 12.65 lakh persons have been screened under the Non-Communicable Diseases Screening Programme in 2019-20. Of these, 1.95 lakh were diagnosed with hypertension and were put on treatment by the Health Department. On World Hypertension Day, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said in wake of Covid-19 outbreak, all civil surgeons had been directed to ensure supply of medicines to patients as hypertension and diabetes were major co-morbid conditions contributing to a higher risk of contracting Covid. TNS