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TOP STORIES

PSEB staff strike work for 2nd day
Jalandhar, April 20
Most of the employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board remained on strike for the second day today in protest against the proposed move of unbundling of the board.

PSEB unbundling inevitable: CM
Editorial: Strike unwarranted

Road repair starts amid protest
Barnala, April 20
Amid slogans being raised by rebel groups of the Congress, PWD Minister Partap Singh Bajwa inaugurated the repair work on the Barnala-Raikot (Ludhiana) road today. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 28.15 crore.

SGPC to withdraw dossier on Darbar Sahib today
Amritsar, April 20
The dossier to declare Darbar Sahib as world heritage site is likely to be withdrawn by the SGPC executive meeting, scheduled to be held here tomorrow.

Budget session
Govt puts up half-hearted defence on vital issues
Chandigarh, April 20
The Punjab Government, which drew flak on major issues like health, education and the quality of roads from the Opposition as well as the Treasury Benches, defended itself half-heartedly in the state Assembly during the Budget session that concluded yesterday.

Pakistan conceals death of Sikh militant
Amritsar, April 20
The Government of Pakistan has concealed the death of militant leader Balbir Singh Sandhu (80), a former general secretary of self-styled Council of Khalistan, for more than a month . He died in Lahore hospital on March 8 last month.

Sikh jatha back from Pak
Attari, April 20
‘Panj Piaras’ will lead the jatha to Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev’s birth in November this year . This was stated by Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, SGPC member and leader of the Sikh jatha to Pakistan that returned here today after 10-day pilgrimage on the occasion of Baisakhi.

FC reverses decision of Secretary on land allotment
Mohali, April 20
In a landmark order, the Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Punjab, has shred to pieces a decision taken by the Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Punjab, regarding the grant of a coloniser’s licence to the President of the Mohali Municipal Council.

Sutlej turns into muck of industrial waste as admn sleeps
Fish, rare birds, ground water badly hit
Ropar, April 20
With the District Administration and the Pollution Control Department turning a blind eye to the threat posed by industrial pollution, the discharge of toxic effluents from the industrial units into the Sutlej river, passing through the district, continues unabated.

POLITICS

Revolt in SAD’s Amritsar unit
Amritsar, April 20
In a severe setback to the SAD, senior Akali leaders led by Mr Pardeep Singh Walia, a former district president SAD (Urban), today revolted against the newly nominated president of the party, Mr Bawa Singh Gumanpura. Mr Walia is a confidant of Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, SGPC member.

Ex-leaders of AISSF join AISAD
Chandigarh, April 20
A number of former leaders of the All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) today joined the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD) headed by Mr Jaswant Singh Mann.

COMMUNITY

Sewerage experts advocate Madhopur model
Nawanshahr, April 20
The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology organised a seminar on “Bio-management of sullage ponds” and solid waste management through vermiculture biotechnology” here at Dilbagh Hall. Mr Harjit Inder Singh Grewal, Deputy Commissioner, presided over the seminar.

Illegal vehicles ply with impunity
Pathankot, April 20
A large number of maxi cabs, three-wheelers, and tempos are plying illegally causing huge losses to the state exchequer in the shape of taxes. This has also caused an alarming increase in traffic chaos and accidents in the town.

Lone rickshaw-puller wages gutsy battle
Pathankot, April 20
Where politicians fight shy a rickshaw puller has decided to make his voice heard for the benefit of the people. Chaman Lal, a local rickshaw puller, is on a fast until death till the Punjab Government decides to take concrete step to complete the bus stand here. His fast today entered the third day.

Thousands pay homage to Singla
Patiala, April 20
Thousands of people thronged the local Polo Ground here today to pay homage to former Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Sant Ram Singla.

Army aid sought for running thermal plant
Bathinda, April 20
The state government has sought the help of the Army to keep the local thermal power plant operational, as 93 per cent of the power employees have gone on strike.

NRI from Moga buys land on Moon
Langeana Nava (Moga), April 20
His flight of imagination took him to Moon and fascinated with the idea of having a home there one day he bought 10 acres on it. Jasvir Brar of Langeana Nava village, near here, has joined the elite club of landholders on the moon.

CM inaugurates railway overbridge
Patiala, April 20
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, has dedicated two projects to the city residents here.

Due respect to Punjabi sought
Chandigarh, April 20
Punjabi is not getting its rightful importance in Chandigarh and other states in the country. This was highlighted by the local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) at a protest dharna in Sector 17 here today.

ADMINISTRATION

Inside Babudom
No move to slash number of ADGPs in Punjab
Chandigarh, April 20
The Punjab Police is going in for a new look.

Nine PWD engineers suspended
Ferozepore, April 20
The state government has placed nine engineers of the PWD (B&R) Department under suspension with immediate effect for alleged bungling in the construction of road from Ferozepore city toWaka and Waka to Makhu.

Online VAT system
Chandigarh, April 20
Punjab has become the first and only state in the country to implement a working online value added tax (VAT) system. This will facilitate the online processing of VAT accounts and returns.

New assignments for 2 bureaucrats
Chandigarh, April 20
The Punjab Government today ordered the posting of IAS officer A. Pande as Principal Resident Commissioner, Punjab Bhavan, Delhi. He replaces another IAS officer J.S. Maini.

MC cancels approval to new bus stand
Bathinda, April 20
The private bus stand controversy at Goniana Mandi yesterday took a new turn with the Municipal Council cancelling approval to it.

CRIME

2 ex-officials convicted for fraud
Jalandhar, April 20
In an interesting case, Additional District and Sessions Judge S.K. Aggrawal has sentenced two former senior Punjab Home Guard officials to rigorous imprisonment for one and a half years for allegedly hatching a conspiracy, preparing false records and withdrawing salary in the name of 12 Home Guard jawans.

Bank defrauded of Rs 90 lakh by submitting fake documents
Chandigarh, April 20
The CBI has filed charges against two bank employees of Ludhiana, a Charted Accountant (CA) and a loanee, for allegedly procuring a loan by mortgaging forged property documents of around Rs 90 lakh.

Pak intruder shot
Ferozepore, April 20
Alert personnel of the 14th Battalion of the Border Security Force gunned down a Pakistani intruder in the DT Mal Enclave area under Mamdot sector here today.

One arrested with smack worth Rs 10 lakh
Mansa, April 20
The CIA staff has arrested a Danewala resident and seized 1 kg of smack worth Rs 10 lakh from his possession.

15-year-old girl raped, 1 arrested
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 20
The police has arrested Manpreet Singh of Behrampur village for allegedly raping Manpreet Kaur, 15-year-old girl of the village. His accomplice Happy, resident of the village, is still at large and the police has started raids to nab him.

EDUCATION

No response from industry on school-adoption scheme
Chandigarh, April 20
The Punjabi spirit of magnanimity seems to be withering or so it seems-given the poor response of the state’s industrialists to Punjab Government’s appeal to adopt government schools.

Govt school students take to streets
Bathinda, April 20
The Punjab Government’s proposed move to give government schools in private hands has now forced children to take to the streets.

India Trust to run Dashmesh Academy
Ropar, April 20
Members of the Delhi-based India Trust have agreed to run Shri Dashmesh Academy, Anandpur Sahib, on contract basis at a meeting held with the members of the academy trust. The meeting was held in Chandigarh on April 18, which was attended by the chairman of the academy trust and the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and other trust members.

Computer labs opened in 71 govt schools
Ropar, April 20
Seventyone senior secondary schools in the district were provided with computers yesterday under the Information Communication Technology (ICT) project started by the Punjab Government here.

BUSINESS

Washing soap manufacturers meet minister
Sangrur, April 20
A deputation of the All-Punjab Soap Manufacturers Association met the Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla yesterday seeking the inclusion of washing soap in the list of commodities attracting 4 per cent value added tax (VAT) and solution to their VAT-related problems.

Retailers return 1500 SIM cards to distributor
Sangrur, April 20
More than 50 members of the local Mobile Traders Association today returned about 1,500 SIM cards to the local distributor of AirTel in protest against the alleged “anti-retailer” policies of the company.

Bank panel celebrates foundation day
Patiala, April 20
The 60th foundation day of the All-India Bank Employees Association was celebrated by the bank employees here under the banner of Punjab Bank Employees Federation.