The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, January 29, 2002, 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
EX-SERVICEMEN: The BSF Exservicemen’s Welfare Association has taken exception to the decision of the BSF authorities to suspend their pensions citing an apex court order. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice and the Home Minister, the association president, Mr Kulwant Singh Sandhu, said the authorities had taken the decision to stop their pensions without taking into account the true perspective of the Supreme Court order.

TELECOM UNITS: Four units of the 480-line new-technology exchange system have been made operational for improving the telephone services here. Besides, a 2,000-line telephone exchange at Rajasansi, of 5000-line exchange for Jandiala, a 1000-line wireless telephone system for Amritsar and the adjoining areas have also been made operational. Mr S.C. Chaudhary, CGMT, Punjab Telecom Circle, visited the sites here on Sunday, according to a press note.

HOUSE BURGLED: Unidentified persons burgled the house of Ajay Sharma here while he was away to Delhi along with his family. In his complaint lodged at the Civil Lines police station, he said the miscreants fled away with Rs 35,000, a .12-bore pistol, a gold “shivlingam” weighing five tolas and a VCR.

JALANDHAR
EYE CAMP: An eye check-up-cum-environmental awareness camp was organised at Maili village in Hoshiarpur on Sunday by Akal Eye Hospital. Dr Balbir Singh Bhaura, Chief Eye Surgeon of the hospital, said about 200 patients were examined and were provided medicines free of cost.

MEDICAL CAMP: The BBC Heart Care Centre organised a free medical camp on Sunday during which 400 patients were examined. Dr C.S. Paruthi, Managing Director of the centre, said the centre had decided to extend free examination and lab facilities to the 400 patients for a period of three months.

KAPURTHALA
ARRESTED: The police has arrested Rajwinder Singh, a resident of Phagwara, on the charge of possessing an intoxicating powder. According to Mrs Gurpreet Deo, SSP, 15 kg of intoxicating powder was seized from him. A case has been registered.

KHANNA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following members have been elected office-bearers of the Ludhiana District Gymnastics Association: President — Mr Boota Singh, senior vice-president — Prof Prem Walia, vice-presidents — Mr Gurpreet Singh and Mr Varinder Kumar, general secretary — Mr Rattan Kumar Passi, treasurer — Mr Bhupinder Singh, joint secretary — Ms Surinder Kaur and press secretary — Dr Somesh Batta.

LUDHIANA
PRE-BOARD TESTS: Pre-board tests for students from different schools affiliated with the Punjab School Education Board was conducted at Master Tara Singh Memorial Public School here on Sunday. Over 250 students of Classes VIII and X from eight schools participated in the tests in mathematics and English. Teachers said the test was conducted to prepare the students for the forthcoming board examinations.

INTER-CLASS QUIZ: Tata Infotech will organise an inter-class quiz at SCD Government College here on Tuesday. Over 4000 students from Classes XI, XII, BA, BSc, BCom, MCom and MSc had participated in preliminary rounds held in the college from January 22. Eight teams have been formed from the top 40 students from the college for the final quiz. Each team will comprise three students and the rest of them will be the audience and will act as the ninth team.

TARN TARAN
TRUCK RECOVERED: The police has recovered a stolen truck during a naka. According to sources, the driver of the truck, Nishan Singh, managed to run away in the cover of darkness. Meanwhile, cloth worth Rs 3 lakh was stolen from a shop at Sarhali on Saturday. The police has registered a case.

CHANDIGARH

BEAUTY CARNIVAL: Vandana Luthra’s Curl and Curves (VLCC) will organise a beauty carnival in Sector 8 on Tuesday. On the occasion, Ms Rita Juneja, a renowned cosmetologist, will be holding free workshop on hair care and skin problems. Besides giving demonstrations on make up and selection of right wardrobe, Ms Juneja will also demonstrate the art of make-up. Ms Juneja is here to launch the premium international face treatment range of bio-marine and oxygen facials. Participants will also be given on-the-spot prizes for beautiful hands, beautiful feet, beautiful hair and beautiful skin and perfect body.

SAS NAGAR
DENTAL CAMP: The SAS Nagar branch of the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) organised a dental check-up camp at Guru Nanak Dev Public School, Balongi, near here on Monday. The camp was organised in collaboration with the BRS Dental College and Hospital, Kotbilla village. As many as 112 patients were examined at the camp.

HARYANA

AMBALA
MEDICAL CAMP: The Rotary Club, Ambala Central, organised a free medical camp at Nayagaon village, Ambala City, on Monday. Mr K.S. Walia, president of the club, said about 276 persons were examined at the camp. Dr Vipin Jain, Dr Rishi Pal, Dr Sangeeta Jain and Dr Bareeta Aggarwal examined the patients. Medicines were provided free of cost to the patients, he said.

PHILATELY EXHIBITION: A district-level philately exhibition “Ambpex-2002” will be held in Ambala GPO on Wednesday. The Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Ambala Division, Mr N.K. Sharma, said the exhibition was going to be held in order to generate awareness about philately and encouraging the youth to take up philately as hobby. He said a workshop on philately would also be organised in which schoolchildren would be told about this hobby, a press note said.

DECISION CRITICISED: Mr Hira Lal Yadav, leader of the Congress in Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar, on Monday criticised the decision of not approving the house-building plans in 47 colonies located in Mahesh Nagar area. Mr Yadav said the government was charging house tax from the residents of those colonies and various civic amenities had been provided to them. He said there was no reason for the authorities to refuse approval of house-building plans in these colonies.

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE WEEK: A vocational guidance week will be organised by the Divisional Employment Exchange, Ambala Cantonment, from February 4 in various senior secondary schools in the district. According to the Divisional Employment Officer, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, will inaugurate the career week.

HOUSE TAX: The Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, Mr D.D. Gautam, has directed the Executive Officer, Ambala City Municipal Council, to forward him the copy of the resolution regarding the rejection of new house tax policy passed by the two-third members of the municipal council in a meeting held on Saturday. In the meeting, BJP and Congress Councillors had rejected the revised house tax policy adopted by the state government recently. Earlier, BJP and Congress councillors had submitted their resignations from the committees formed to hear objections on house tax bills. Mr Gautam said after studying the resolution a suitable action would be taken in this regard.