R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

REGIONAL  POTPOURRI

• Dhaliara cries for bus stand
• Paryavaran puraskar
• Public funding shows the way

PUNJAB

AMLOH
DHARNA: Two buses of SAD activists led by senior Akali leader and former Minister Dalip Singh Pandhi, enroute to Amritsar to participate in the rally, were stopped by the Amloh police near Galwadi village five kilometres from here on the Amloh-Khanna road on Wednesday. To protest against the police action, Akali workers staged a dharna on the main road. Addressing the dharna, Mr Pandhi criticised the Punjab Government which has created the conditions of emergency and does not allow the people to express their views through peaceful rallies. The Punjab Government has failed on all fronts. It has stopped the pro-people policies launched by the previous Akali government which included free power to farmers, withdrawal of shagun scheme and has imposed strict conditions on old-age pensions and a large number of beneficiaries have lost their livelihood.

DHURI
DHARNA: A dharna staged by the employees of the local Bhagwanpura Sugar Mills here on Tuesday forced the mill management to release the salaries of workers. As many as 250 workers of the mill, led by Mr Kulwinder Singh, president of the Bhagwanpura Sugar Mills Workers Federation, staged dharna on the mill premises from 8 a.m. on Tuesday to protest against the non-payment of salaries by the mill management for the month of June to more than 30 workers. The dharna was lifted after 11 a.m., when the mill management started the payment of salaries to the employees. 

GURDASPUR
APPOINTED: Ms Sonia Gandhi, President, AICC, has appointed Dr Ranjit Singh Attwal, a resident of Ghuman in Batala subdivision as secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, according to a fax message received on Tuesday. 

FOUR HELD: The police has arrested four persons for their involvement in smuggling of illicit liquor. Mr RBS Brar, SSP, in a press note issued on Tuesday identified the accused as Ashok Kumar and Surjit Kumar, both residents of Paniar and Thuru Ram and Gurmeet Kumar, both resident of Gharota. About 117 bottles of illicit liquor have been recovered from their possession. Cases under Sections 61/1/14, Excise Act, have been registered against the four.

HOSHIARPUR
CHEATING: A case of cheating was reported at the local Model Town police station on Monday. According to this Jassowal Forest and Investment Company, Hoshiarpur had allegedly cheated its investors of lakhs of rupees. On the complaint of Gurbachan Kaur, wife of Sadhu Singh, a resident of Behram Serishta village, the police had registered a case under Sections 406, 420, 120B, IPC, against Malkiat Singh, Managing Director of the Investment Company, Manoj Rani Sidhu, Tarsem Kaur, Rajinder Kaur, Binder Pal Singh and his wife Santosh. In her complaint Gurbachan Kaur had stated that she had deposited Rs 6 lakh in the said firm for a specific period. But the firm did not return her money after the maturity of the term deposit.

LUDHIANA
TRAINING CAMP: The premier institution of cooperative movement, IFFCO organised a one-day training camp for farmers under the presidentship of Mr Amar Singh Jaspal Bangar, Chairman, Ludhiana Cooperative Marketing Society. Interacting with the participants, the Deputy Field Manager, Mr Mohinder Singh Brar, advised the farmers on judicious use of balanced fertilisers to retain the productivity of land. Cautioning against excessive application of Urea, he said it not only caused financial loss to the farmers but was also proving detrimental to the crops and causing several diseases. Mr Bharpur Singh, Deputy Manager of the company, apprised the farmers with various crop insurance schemes launched by IFFCO-Tokyo Insurance Company. Focussing on diverse business activities being taken up by IFFCO, the Regional Manager, Mr K.L. Chawla, said started in 1967, the body had made big strides. Working in association with more than 37,000 cooperative societies, the company had ambitious plans to enter the fields of power, banking and petroleum in the near future, he added.

ASSURANCE: The work for massive repair of roads in Shaheed Karnail Singh Nagar on Pakhowal Road would be taken in hand soon and completed under a time bound schedule. This assurance was given by councillor of ward No 42 Satwinder Singh Jawaddi at a meeting with office-bearers of the welfare society of the colony. Major Sher Singh Aulkah, president, and Mr Bhajan Singh Gill, general secretary, of the society said in a joint statement that the councillor had also promised to ensure that pending grant of Rs 1 lakh for the ongoing project of community centre would also be released in next of couple of days so that the work could be completed.

WORKSHOP: The district health department conducted a workshop on acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) at the Training Institute of Civil Surgeon Office here on Wednesday. Senior Medical Officers, Officers'-Incharge of Primary Health Centres, Civil Hospitals and local dispensaries and representatives from the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Christian Medical College, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and Indian Medical Association attended the workshop. Dr J.G.Vohra, Surveillance Medical Officer, World Health Organisation, in his key-note address said any acute flaccid paralysis case should immediately be reported to the concerned authorities and proper treatment should be given to the patient. Amongst present on the occasion were Dr S.N. Tiwari, Dr Neelam Bassi, Dr P.S. Brar, Dr Kuldip Kaur Sahni, Dr A.S. Chawla and Ms Santosh Bhatia.

ALLEGED: Alleging that aided schools of the city were involved in bungling with the admission process and charging fee much higher than that prescribed by the state government, the Ludhiana Sewa Sangh president, Mr Suresh Gupta, held a press conference at a dharamshala on Tuesday. He urged Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab, to intervene into the problems being faced by the students and their parents studying in such schools and demanded that a CBI inquiry be ordered to investigate the matter.

UPGRADED: The Spring Dale Public School, Sherpur, has been upgraded to the senior secondary level as the CBSE in its letter to the school on Tuesday has permitted it to take admissions in Class XI in all four streams including medical, non-medical, arts and commerce. Ms Avinash Kaur Walia, Director, said it was all due to the cooperation of the staff who helped in bringing 100 per cent results year after year.

APPRECIATED: The Central Students’ Council of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle at its meeting held at Ludhiana on Tuesday at its centre and attended by 92 delegates appreciated the peace initiative and resumption of bus service between India and Pakistan. The council appealed to students of both the nations that they should come forward in creating a new environment of trust and friendship by promoting culture, academic and sports exchange at college/university level. The council appealed to students community to shun the path of drug-addiction and blindly following the western values. They urged the Punjab Government to review the fee hike effected in colleges of Punjab.

SUNAM
DEMAND: In a memorandum submitted to Ms Preneet Kaur, Congress MP from Patiala, here on Tuesday the SAD (A) has asked the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to withdraw the unprecedented hike in the fees and funds in colleges. In the memorandum, signed by Mr Jeet Singh Alloarkh, district president, of the SAD (A), also demanded that the admission of boys in the Plus one and Plus two classes in the local Government Senior Secondary Girls School should be stopped to maintain its status as a girls’ school. The SAD (A) has also demanded job and employment opportunities for the more than 20 lakh unemployed persons in the state.

HARYANA

AMBALA
FOUNDATION STONE: The Commissioner, Ambala division Mr Maha Singh, on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for a new hostel in Arya Girls College, Ambala Cantonment. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Maha Singh said equality was the basis of democracy. It was only education through which equality can be realised and educations helps in empowering a person. He urged the students to have a definite goals in life. He said that it is only through hardwork, integrity, good character and simplicity that one can reach the heights of glory. Go Green Brigade and Nature Club of the college celebrated Van Mahotsava on the occasion. Mr Maha Singh planted a sapling. A cultural programme was presented. College Principal Dr Neena Bedi emphasised the importance of discipline and hardwork.

MAGICIAN'S PLEA: Magician S. Kumar has demanded that the heavy tax on magic shows should be withdrawn. Talking to mediapersons here on Wednesday, he said tax up to 25 per cent was being charged in Haryana and Punjab. He said he had learnt magic from Jalal Pasha in Dehra Dun. The magician said he would perform a show in Ambala in which he would “cut” himself.

FIRE IN GODOWN: A major fire broke out near the Subzi Mandi area in Ambala City this morning. The fire broke out at a `kabadi’ godown. The fire was noticed at about 10 am by a passer-by. He broke open the lock of the godown. Soon, smoke began to billow out of the godown and within minutes, a strong pungent odour could be smelt. The fire brigade was informed and five fire engines were rushed to the spot. While three fire tenders were from Ambala City, two fire tenders were from Ambala Cantonment. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Fire personnel believe that some inflammable material in the disposal goods could have caught fire. The owner of the godown resides in that building. The family was not present when the fire broke out. The fire was brought under control after nearly two and a half hours.

INDEFINITE FAST: Panun Kashmir Haryana state secretary Mr JL Kaul on Wednesday sat on an indefinite fast to press for various demands of the association. Mr Kaul said that they have been pressing for the acceptance of their demands since 1990 but to no avail. “Our voice has not been heard by the authorities concerned,” he said. The demands of Panun Kashmir include registration as Kashmiri migrant, of those persons who have left Kashmir valley after 1989 and are residing in Ambala and other places in Haryana. “Police verification in respect of Kashmiri migrant living in Ambala district has already been carried out,” he said. He demanded issuing of identity card as Kashmiri migrant and grant of relief as given in Jammu, Delhi and other places. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
HEALTH CAMPS: The Department of Health and Family Welfare here has organised 480 ‘Swasthya Jagrookta Shivirs’ in the district under its health awareness campaign over the past one month. More than 12,000 persons attended these camps and received advice regarding their health problems.

CHAMBA
RESTRICTION: The Chamba Welfare Association has decided not to allow any vehicle into the Chowgan here during the week-long Minjar Fair starting July 27. The association said if directives for banning the entry of vehicles, including those of the VIPs, were not given, its members would gherao, owners of such vehicles because it didn’t want the lush green Chowgan to be mauled during the fair.

HAMIRPUR
DEMANDED: The Youth Congress on Tuesday sought Cabinet rank for Ms Anita Verma, Congress MLA from Harmirpur. The party said Hamirpur badly needed a Cabinet minister to boost development here.

KULU
DHARNA: The Parbati Pariyojna Sangharsh Samiti, formed by the Constituency Congress Committee staged a dharna at the office of the General Manager, National Hydro-electricity Power Project (NHPC) at Bhuntar on Wednesday. It also led a procession through the town to press for amending some clauses related to the power project. 

MANDI
WORKSHOP: At the conclusion of a two-day workshop by NABARD and District Literacy Committee, Mr J.P. Singh, Deputy Commissioner, said self-help groups had revolutionised the rural economy by contributing Rs 73,76,493 as savings and raising loans to the tune of Rs 40,59,550 to carry out various economic activities. The District Development Manager of NABARD, Mr Malkit Singh, said nearly 400 self-help groups were being financed by banks and the country planned to set up 10 lakh self-help groups by 2008.

SOLAN
CLAIM: The Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, said here on Wednesday that the state had a potential to produce 22,000 MW of power. He said this at a public gathering on the occasion of Maharana Pratap Jayanti organised here by the All-India Regional Mahasabha and Rajput Kalyan Sabha at Murari Market Hall. 

SUNDERNAGAR
POSTS VACANT: The Unemployed Agriculture Graduate/ Post-graduate Welfare Association, Mandi district, has urged the government to fill more than 700 posts lying vacant in the Department of Agriculture. The association has also sought introduction of agriculture as a compulsory subject at the senior secondary level so as to improve the standard of agriculture in the state.

REGIONAL  POTPOURRI

Dhaliara cries for bus stand

Dhaliara, once a sleepy village in Dehra tehsil of Kangra district, which is fast emerging as a business centre, has been yearning for a bus stand for years now. With the mushrooming of shops and other business establishments here on the Dhaliara-Kangra and Dhaliara-Talwara road, a bus stand has become a necessity. Some two and a half decades ago there were barely five or six shops and a small cluster of houses, which have swelled now.

As many as 900 light and heavy vehicles touch Dhaliara on their way to prominent pilgrim centres, including Jawalaji. Brijeshwar Devi and Chamunda, and other places of tourists interest like Dharamsala, Palampur and Baijnath. As long-distance buses and other vehicles halt here for meals at the wayside ‘dhabas’ that have sprung up along the main road, haphazard parking leaves little space for other vehicles to pass. This leads to frequent traffic jams. “There is desperate need for a bus stand here keeping in view of the burgeoning rush of vehicular traffic. But, who cares? says Suresh Kumar, a local wholesaler in cosmetic goods.

Mr Puran Chand, a former pradhan of the Dhaliara panchayat, said: “We have already moved scores of memoranda to the state government stressing the need for a bus stand here, but to no avail, notwithstanding the fact that suitable land has been earmarked for the purpose”.

Paryavaran puraskar

The Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar (individual category) has been awarded to Mr Piare Lal of Jalandhar in recognition of his contribution to environment protection.

Hailing from a farmer family of Rasulpur village in Jalandhar district, he graduated in agriculture from Government Agriculture College, Ludhiana. He played a key role in developing sound nursery techniques and improved practices for promotion of large-scale poplar plantations.

As a professional forester he has been championing the cause of restoration of degraded forest lands through technology-based plantations. The development and deployment of fast-growing, high-yielding, disease-resistant clones of eucalyptus under his guidance has revolutionalised the productivity and profitability of rain-fed plantations.

Even after his retirement, Mr Piare Lal, is contributing by promoting an agency, “Pragati Biotechnolo-gies”, at Jalandhar. He has set up green houses and modern nurseries at Semi village for supply of a genuine, genetically improved stock of poplars and eucalyptus to farmers.

Public funding shows the way

Three girls’ colleges coming up at three places in Haryana have one common aspect — These are being set up with liberal financial support from people.

The college at Murthal (Sonepat district) has already attracted public contributions totalling Rs 40 lakh. The state government would provide the matching grant for the construction of a building. The college will offer only arts subjects in the current academic session.

The college at Hisar had its building ready where the arts and commerce streams were being offered to students in the current academic session. Though the exact amount of public contributions for the college was not readily available, sources claimed that the collection drive had yielded much more than Rs 40 lakh.

The college at Bhiwani will initially start functioning from the SIEMT (State Institute of Education, Management and Technology) premises at Bhiwani. This college, too, will offer only arts subjects to begin with.

Contributed by Ramesh Dhiman, Pratibha Chauhan and Shubhadeep Choudhury