The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, May 8, 2001, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
SEMINAR: A two-day first international seminar on “Namdhari Movement: History, Literature and Contribution” is being organised by Guru Nanak Dev University in collaboration with Namdhari Darbar at Bhaini Sahib, 20 km from Ludhiana, on May 8 and 9.

BATHINDA
CAMP HELD: A free eye check-up camp was organised by Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Charitable Hospital, Sohana, at Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabbat, on Sunday. Mr Subhash Bansal, General Manager of the GHTP, inaugurated the camp. People were given medicines free of cost by the Punjab State Electricity Board authorities.

GURDASPUR
MEDICAL CAMP: As many as 536 patients were treated for various diseases at a free medical camp held at Alwalpur, 14 km from here, on Monday. They were given medicines free of cost by the local Shri Satya Sai Sewa Samiti as the camp was organised by the samiti to celebrate the birth anniversary of the mother of Satya Sai Baba. A team of doctors of the local Civil Hospital examined the patients.

HOSHIARPUR
SUICIDE: A house wife identified as Dalbir Kaur allegedly committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance at Tunuwal village under the Tanda police station of the district on Saturday night. In another case, the police arrested four persons on the charge of gambling at Hariana town and seized Rs 11,000 from them. They were later released on bail.

JALANDHAR
CONVENTION: A state-level convention of the Indian Federation of Trade Unions was held at the local Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall here on Sunday. Comrade D.V. K. Reddy, national general secretary of the federation, in his inaugural address criticised the process of disinvestment in public sector units and unchecked foreign investment in the country.

KHAMANO
ONE KILLED: Amandeep Kaur, a resident of Gandhuan village, was killed when her cycle was hit by a truck. She was a student of Guru Nanak Public School, Khant Manpur, and was going to school when her cycle was hit. She was rushed to the Civil Hospital, Morinda, where she succumbed to her injuries. The truck driver, Gurmel Singh, has been arrested and booked under Sections 279 and 304, IPC, at the Khamano police station.

LUDHIANA
MC OFFICIAL RETIRES: A farewell party was organised on the retirement of Mr Raj Kumar Mittal, Superintendent, Health Department, the Municipal Corporation. Mr Jasbir Singh Heer, Joint Commissioner, who presided over, lauded the services rendered by the retiring official to the civic body. Prominent among others present at the function were Mr Vijay Danav, Member Working Committee, SAD(B), Dr G.S. Grewal, Dr P.S. Brar, both Health Officers, Mr Ashwani Sahota, president, Sanitary Inspectors Association, Mr Tarlochan Singh, president, Nigam Karamchari Union, Choudhry Yash Pal, president, Municipal Karamchari Dal, Mr Laxman Dravid and Mr Kulbhushan Kumar, Superintendent, Vaccination.

OFFICE-BEARERS ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the LPG Consumers Protection Forum: Mr Sukhchain Singh Tuli — president; Mr B.L. Dhawan, Mr Mohinder Singh Kamboj — vice-presidents; Mr Mehar Singh Devgan — general secretary; Mr Daljit Singh Akalgarh, Mr Kanwaljit Singh Lovely — secretaries; Mr Dhanwant Singh — press secretary; and Mr Davinder Singh Pappy — joint secretary.

PRESIDENTS NOMINATED: Mr Sanjay Kapoor, president, Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (East Mandal), has nominated the following as ward presidents in consultation with the party district president, Mr Kamal Chatley, and the BJP district president, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi: Mr Pankaj Kumar (Ward No 52), Mr Parveen Kumar (Ward No 54), Mr Kewal Dogra (Ward No 55), Mr Rakesh Kumar ( Ward No 57), Mr Pawan Sharma (Ward No 58), Mr Vipan Sharma (Ward No 59) and Mr Ashok Solanki (Ward No 53).

LOK ADALATS: The District Legal Services Authority will organise a labour Lok Adalat here on May 11 and another Lok Adalat on courts Complex at Jagraon. The adalat for pending cases in the labour court here will be held by the Presiding Officer of the Labour Court, while the adalat at Jagraon will be presided over by Mr Harpal Singh, Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), and Mr Ajaib Singh, Civil Judge (Junior Division).

SANGH’S PLEA TO GOVT: The Ludhiana Sewa Sangh, which takes up various social issues from time to time, has expressed concern over the burning of wheat stubble by farmers in the state which is leading to pollution . In a press note issued here on Monday, Mr Deepak Gupta, secretary, said apart from increasing air pollution the burning of wheat stubble by the farmers was also creating a shortage of chaff which is mainly used as animal fodder. “The farmers were resorting to burning the fields in a hurry to prepare the same for the next crop. They should rather generate some employment in the rural areas by hiring men to cut the stubble of the combine-harvested wheat crop. Such an exercise would prove to be worth the effort because of the high chaff rates, he added. Keeping in view the above factors, the government should issue a notification banning the burning of wheat stubble in the state, he said.

“BAN COW SLAUGHTER”: The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has demanded that the government should order the closure of all slaughter houses meant for cows. In a press note, the society said that prior to killing cows were subjected to a lot of cruelty before being slaughtered. Citing figures, the SPCA said before Independence there were 300 slaughter houses in the country. Now there are were about 36,000 slaughter houses producing 15 lakh tonnes of meat for the purpose of exports.

MALERKOTLA
CAMP HELD: The local Rotary Club organised a camp on heart diseases at the Home for the Blind here on Sunday. Dr Naved Aslam (heart specialist) of DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, examined more than 350 patients. According to the camp in charge, Rotarian Chaman Lal Jain, ECG and medicines were provided free of cost to the patients by the club.

MOGA
VISITED: Mr Ajmer Singh, Divisional Magistrate, visited the local Civil Hospital and examined the treatment being given to those injured in an accident between two buses of Punjab Roadways and Vaheguru Transport Company near here on Sunday. He announced that the district administration had decided to bear the expenditure on their treatment.

NAWANSHAHR
KAVI DARBAR: The local Punjab Sahitya Sabha organised a kavi darbar here at JSFH Khalsa High School on Sunday. Ms Surinder Kaur, Assistant Commissioner (General), inaugurated the darbar. Davinder Sharma, Punjabi playwright, and Raj Jakhmi, Punjabi poet, were honoured on the occasion.

ROPAR
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha: president — Mr Vinay Aggarwal; vice-presidents — Mr Lok Bandhu Gautam, Mr Baljinder Soni and Mr Sukhchain Singh; general secretary — Mr Rajeshwar Jain; and treasurer — Mr Vinod Kumar.

SAMRALA
GHALUGHARA DAY: Sarb Hind Youth Akali Dal’s activities are being accelerated for the coming Assembly elections in Punjab and the party is making contact with all youth organisations. These views were expressed by Mr Narinder Pal Singh Bajwa, senior vice president, S H Y A D, and Mr Rupinder Singh Mundi, district president, in a joint press conference here on Monday. They said. Ghalughara day would be observed on June 6 in Ludhiana. A meeting of the party workers will be held on Saturday at Gurdwara Sri Akalgarh in Ludhiana .

TALWANDI’S VISIT: Dr Balwant Singh Chahal, president, Sikh Budhijivi Council, and Additional Secretary of Nankana Sahib Public School, Samrala, said here on Monday that a resolution was passed in the council’s meeting regarding giving welcome to Jathedar Ranjit Singh Talwandi on reaching here on Saturday.

CHANDIGARH

FIRE INCIDENTS: Minor fire incidents were reported in the city on Monday. An electric meter was completely burnt in SCO 38-39 near Jagat Cinema in Sector 17 following short-circuiting. The fire which broke out at 2.16 p.m. was controlled within few minutes by a fire tender from the head quarters in Sector 17. In another incident, loss worth Rs 200 was reported, when husk stored in Ottawa village was burnt. According to sources in the Fire Department, the cause of fire in this case was also short-circuiting and a fire tender from Sector 38 had reached the spot. While, wood piled up near the jhuggi of Mr Shiv Prasad caught fire in Sector 25 colony in the wee hours on Monday, gas leakage was also reported from H No: 2191, Sector 44. But no loss has been reported as the fire was controlled by the timely action of the staff.

PU RESEARCH FELLOWS: Six research fellows of the Department of Zoology, Panjab University, have been invited to present their work at the conference of Youth World Water Forum at Hogeschool in Netherlands in June this year. This group of Mr Yogesh K Rawal, Mr Anil K Tyor, Mr Harinder Banyal, Mr H.S. Rumana, Mr Onkar Singh and Mr Hamid R Esmaeili have been working on the Indo-US and ICAR projects in the fisheries laboratory of the department. In the conference issues like water quality, fish biodiversity, loss of fish habitat, fish conservation etc will be discussed.

ADVENTUROUS TREKKING: The boarders of Sector 15 DAV Public School went on an adventurous escapade on a route from Napeli Forest to Kansal Forest for trekking of 8 Km on Monday. The students started early in the morning at 4.30 a.m. The warden and school teachers guided the students through the jungle. Reportedly the jungle was so complex that some of them even lost the track. The trekking took around three hours. “It was very different and enjoyable outing,” says one of the student, Harman. The teachers who accompanied the students were Ms Shashi, Ms Urmil, Mr Roshan and Mr Rajneesh.

SHAM-E-GHAZAL: Sham-e-Ghazal, a musical evening featuring Kumari Riyazvi, will be organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra on the occasion of 52th monthly baithak programme on May 11 at The Bhaskar Rao Indoor Auditorium in the Kendra complex in Sector 35. Kumari Riyazvi, who learnt music under Shri Keshav Pandey, got recognition in the music circle after she won the first prize at the “sa-re-ga-ma” organised by Mrignayani Junior Chamber in Gwalior. After winning a couple of competitions like “Nai Dunia Pratibha Khoj”, Riyazvi was featured in “Sargam” a national programme in Doordhashan. Riyazvi, at the tender age of 20, is one of the youngest persons to be awarded by Sciendia School, Gwalior, for her contribution in music.

PANCHKULA
FOUNDATION STONE: The Deputy Commissioner of Panchkula, Ms Jyoti Arora, laid the foundation stone of Haryana Deaf and Dumb Centre building in Sector 16 here. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Arora said the building would come up at any area of 3650 sqm and would cost Rs 53.50 lakh. She said two stories of the building would be constructed in the first phase. The DC informed that in this modern building, the deaf and dumb children would be taught by expert teachers, voice specialists and physicians. She also said that an ear, nose and neck clinic would also be established in the building. Mr Dharambir Singh, officer-in-charge, also spoke on the occasion. The others who were present include the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Goyel, the City Magistrate, Ms Mandeep Kaur, and the District Development and Panchayat Officer, Mr Rajesh Jogpal.

AICTE NOD FOR COLLEGE: The All-India Coucil of Technical Education (AICTE) has formally recognised the Guru Harkrishan College of Management and Technology. The college will now be introducing the MCA from this session. Existing courses like BCA, BMIT and PGDCA and new courses in information technology (IT) will be introduced soon.

CONDOLENCE MEETING: The Marxist Communist Party of India (MCPI) will organise a condolence meeting on May 16 at Mandouli village in this district to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Prof Darbara Singh, a marxist and former member of the Punjabi University Syndicate. The meeting is scheduled to be addressed by Mr Jagjit Singh Lyalpuri , General Secretary of the MCPI, Prof Teja Singh Tiwana, State President of the Samajwadi Party, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary of the SHSAD and Mr Tarsem Jodhan, a former MLA.

HARYANA

AMBALA
ROADS DEMOLISHED: The district administration demolished cemented roads of three unauthorised colonies on Sunday. The unauthorised colonies, spread over 20 acres, had been set up in Khojkipur and Kardhan villages. The demolition operation was carried out from 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the help of JCB machines. The demolition team was led by District Town and Country Planner, Mr R.K. Singh, and the Duty Magistrate, Mr Ashwani Kumar, a release said.

RECOVERED: The district police has recovered stolen goods worth Rs 7.97 lakh during the month of April. The Superintendent of Police, Mr Sandeep Khirwar, said under the Excise Act, 815 liquor bottles, 228 country made liquor bottles and 35,000 pouches were recovered. Under the NDPS Act, 110 gram opium, 20 kg chura post and 460 narcotic tablets were recovered, a release said.

24 ARRESTED: The Government Railway police, Haryana, has arrested 24 bail jumpers absconding to evade trial in different cases. Mr Sudhir Mohan, SP, Railway, Haryana, said here on Monday that three bail jumpers were reportedly found to have been expired.

HONOURED: Mr Kuldeep Jain, President of S.A. Jain College Trust and Management Society, Ambala city, was awarded ‘Jain Rattan’ in a function by the Governor, Haryana, organised at Gurgaon by Jain Samaj to commemorate the 2,600 birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira.

WELFARE MOVEMENT: The National Muslim Welfare Movement has withdrawn from a rally which was going to be organised in front of the Head Office of Punjab Wakf Board on Tuesday. A press release issued by the Punjab Wakf Board stated that an emergency meeting of National Muslim Welfare Movement was held at Chandigarh in which the presidents of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab units participated. “A resolution was passed unanimously in which it was stated that the rally is against the interest of the Muslim community. The movement has decided to withdraw themselves from the dharna/rally,” it stated. Meanwhile, a deligation of the organisation met the Chief Executive Officer, Sahibzada Akhlaq Ahmed Khan here and presented their demands. The CEO has assured them for proper consideration of their demands by the board.

COUPLE'S DEATH: The police is inquiring into the death of a newly married couple in Layalpur Basti in Ambala City on Sunday. Jagdeep and Jasmeet, who were married in March, were found dead. They were cremated without the police being informed. Later, the father of the girl alleged foul play. The Superintendent of Police, Mr Sandeep Khirwar, said they are inquiring into the matter.

SIRSA
WHEAT LIFTING: Slackness in lifting of wheat has been taken seriously by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ankur Gupta, who visited the local mandi and issued instructions in this regard. He assured the farmers that their complaints would be redressed soon. Mr Ajay Chautala had also visited the mandi on Saturday.

SONEPAT
FUNCTION: A social organisation Gramin Sewa Sanstha organised a function at Rajpur village, about 10 km from here, on Sunday. Mr Ran Singh Rathi, Superintending Engineer (retd) of the Irrigation Department, presided over the function and gave away text-books and stationery free of cost to 30 students. Fee for one year was also distributed among the wards of widows. Mr Satbir Rathi, president of the organisation, highlighted the achievements of the organisation.

MEDICAL CAMP: As many as 150 patients suffering from ear, nose and other diseases were examined and treated by a team of specialists from Delhi at a one-day medical check-up camp organised at Qumashpur village, 12 km from here, on Sunday. According to Mr T.C. Alakh, patients were given medicines free of cost.

NOMINATED: Capt Shamsher Singh Malik has been appointed the president of the Haryana unit of the Lok Jan Shakti. Besides, Mr Joginder Singh Dahiya, has been nominated as the president of the Block Congress Committee, Kharkhauda.

BODY RECOVERED: The body of a missing employee of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, Madan Lal Gupta, was reportedly recovered by the Delhi police near the Inter-State Bus terminus stand, Delhi, on Saturday. The police believes it to be a case of murder.

FIRE: Gunny bags worth several thousands of rupees were reportedly burnt in a fire that broke out in a shop at the old foodgrains market here on Sunday night. A burning candle was said to be the cause behind the fire.

HURT: One person was seriously injured when he was attacked by some persons at Nahri village, about 25 km from here, on Sunday. Dispute over the possession of a plot was reportedly the cause behind the attack. The police has registered a case.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
INAUGURATED: Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated a District-level “Improved National Tuberculosis Control Project” at Ghumarwin, near here, on Sunday.

PARTY FORMED: Leaders of the Janata Dal (S), the Samajwadi Party and the Samajwadi Janata Party joined together to form the Himachal Loktantrik Morcha here at Circuit House on Sunday. State senior vice-president of the Janata Dal (S) Krishan Lal Thakur said the meeting was also attended by Ranjeet Singh Thakur, former MP and Mr I.C. Gupta, president, JD(S).

CORRUPTION ALLEGED: The district unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Naujawan Sabha here has alleged that the district administration was purchasing rotten and sand-mixed fodder (toodi) from Khanna through a contractor at exorbitant rates while better quality fodder is available in the district at Rs 80 to Rs 90 per quintal.

ULTIMATUM SERVED: The gram panchayat, Rajpura, near here, has served an ultimatum on the PWD authorities that villagers of 24 villages will be forced to launch an agitation and block vehicular traffic on the national highway if construction work of the Rajpura-Deoth link road was not started immediately. They said Rajpura, Noa, Kothipura, Sagirthin, Parohi, Chilla, Deoth, Chadan villages were facing difficulties due to the non-construction of the road.

HAMIRPUR
DEDICATED: Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, dedicated a newly constructed room for the Press to the local mediapersons on Sunday. Prof Dhumal said that the Press was not only the fourth pillar of democracy, but also a watchdog of society.

SOLAN
TREES FELLED: The Block Forest Officer, Mr Mohinder Singh, in an FIR lodged with the Ramshahar police on Sunday, alleged that some persons had felled 10 khair trees in the Baru-Ramgarh forests along the Nalagarh-Ramshahar road. No arrests have been made so far.

CHAMBA WATER TAX: A deputation of the Chamba Welfare Association led by Mr Harish Chander Sharma, senior vice-president of the association, met Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, here on Sunday and presented a memorandum demanding withdrawal of a 400 per cent hike in water tax. The Chief Minister informed the deputation that the case of hike in water tax was being reviewed.

GUTTED: A three-storeyed building was gutted in Chamesani Mohalla here on Monday. The adjoining houses were also damaged in the fire. According to Mr D.K.Rattan, Subdivisional Magistrate, the fire broke out at about 2.40 a.m. It took the fire brigade, police and Home Guards about two-and-a-half hours to extinguish the fire.