R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
New sarais to be built: Three new sarais would be constructed to meet the growing needs of lodging by visiting devotees at the Golden Temple. Stating this, Mr Harbeant Singh, SGPC secretary, and Mr Ajaib Singh, Manager, Darbar Sahib, said a two-storey sarai would be built at Gurdwara Shahid Ganj Baba Deep Singh that would be named after Baba Deep Singh. Another, named Mata Bhag Kaur Ji Niwas, would be built near the GT Road while a three-storey sarai would be constructed in Ajit Nagar, which would be named Sahibzada Ajit Singh Niwas.

Relief material sent: Springdale Senior Secondary School on Sunday sent a truckload of relief material for the earthquake victims of Jammu and Kashmir. Two members of the school staff accompanied the consignment that included grocery items, woolen clothes, blankets and tents. The truck was flagged off by school's managing trustee Dr Shavinder Singh and Principal Manveen Sandhu.

SGPC to open school: The SGPC has announced the construction of new school to be named Sahibzada Fateh Singh Public School in commemoration of 300th anniversary of Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri. The foundation of the school would be laid on November 9 near gurdwara Guru Ka Bagh here.

Call for rally: Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP, gave a call for a massive rally to press the government for the early implementation of special economic zone (SEZ) as promised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In a press conference here on Sunday, Mr Sidhu assured the members of the Amritsar Trade and Industry Forum to relentlessly pursue the setting up of the SEZ that would revolutionise the development of the Holy City.

Smack seized; two held: The district police has arrested two persons and seized 500 gm of smack worth Rs 50 lakh from their possession. A case under Sections 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered at the Gharinda police station here. The accused have been identified as Gurnam Singh and Upkar Singh of Boparai village.

BARNALA
Seven held: The police has recovered a stolen truck and seized 37 bottles of illicit liquor and 30 kg of lahan during raids conducted at different places in the district. Disclosing this here on Saturday, SSP G. Nageshwara Rao said Sadhu Singh and Amarjit Singh were arrested for the theft of a truck belonging to Gurtej Singh. Savitri Devi, Sito, Balbir Singh and Harnek Singh were arrested for possessing illicit liquor while Nishan Singh was arrested for carrying lahan.

NAWANSHAHR
Opposed: Traders here have reacted sharply to the proposed imposition of gross turnover tax as an alternative to octroi by the state government. Various traders, including Mr Rajnish Jain, president, Mandi Merchants Association, Mr Pushap Raj Kalia, vice-president, District Chemists Association, Mr Prem Singh Badwal, Mr Gopal Mohan Sharda, prominent traders and office-bearers of the local Geeta Bhawan Road Shopkeepers Association, Mr Ashwani Ballagan, a cloth merchant and district BJP president, have termed the proposed tax as anti-trader and pro-inflation.

Distributed: The Bhai Ghanayia Sewa Samiti has distributed ration among as many as 26 poor and needy families here on Sunday, according Mr Birbal Takhi, secretary of the samiti.

Resented: Residents of inner localities, including Teachers Colony, New Teachers Colony, Shiv colony, Ghas Mandi, Mohalla Lallian, Mohalla Bhucheran, Bibi Behra, Gandhi Chowk, Sharda Mohalla, resented the poor supply of water for the want of the repair of a water pump situated near Baba Balak Nath mandir here. The residents have alleged indifferent attitude of the Municipal Council towards their problems.

PHAGWARA
Remand extended: A local court on Saturday extended the police remand of local Market Committee supervisor Dilawar Chand, alias DC, by two days. He was arrested last week while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from Mr Naresh Bhardwaj, vice-chairman, Market Committee.

Phillaur
BJP training cell: Punjab BJP president Avinash Rai Khanna has set up a BJP training cell and appointed senior BJP leader Birbal Pahwa as its convenor. State BJP vice-president Shakti Sharma, secretary Anil Sareen, state executive members Krishan Lal Dhall, Varinder Kaur, Ramesh Vari, Gyan Chand, Vinod Sharma and advocate Rajesh Hany have been appointed as the executive members of the training cell.

CHANDIGARH

Proceedings: The proceedings of the International Geological Correlation Programme workshop held on December 17 and 18, 2001, were released today in the printed form at Panjab University by Dr D.K. Chadha, former Chairman Central Ground Water Board, New Delhi. It was sponsored by UNESCO, New Delhi. The main emphasis of the workshop was to propagate awareness in geosciences among the people in general and youngsters in particular. 

Offices to be shifted: Next week Block D of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Sector 32, will house the Director Principal’s Office, Joint Director’s Office and the account’s office. According to Dr HM Swami, Director Principal, GMCH, various offices are being shifted to the first floor of D Block and will operate from the new building. Even the students will now be required to come to the new block. 

HARYANA

AMBALA
Contest: An on-the-spot English handwriting competition was held at SD College, Ambala Cantt, on Monday. Urvashi Rohilla of BCA I was first while second prize went to Shalini Raghav of B.Sc (IT) Ist year. Over 100 students from different streams participated in the handwriting competition. The college principal, Dr Desh Bandhu, Prof Naveen Gulati and Prof Apurva Chawla coordinated the competition.

Free medical camp: A free medical-cum diabetic camp was organised by All-India Medicine Graduates Association at Poulast clinic at Jandli, Ambala City, on Monday. Over 505 patients were registered in the camp. Medicines free of cost were distributed to the patients. Urine sugar, ECG and blood sugar tests were done. Dr Ashwani Sharma, Dr Vinod Gupta, Dr Tushar Sharma and Dr Vidushi Sharma examined the patients. 

Model villages: The Haryana Government has declared five villages of the district as the model villages. According to a report, the villages — Katwal, Moi Hooda, Sikandarpur Majra, Wazirpura and Tihar Malik — would get special grant from the government for development works.

Stolen: A motor cycle, belonging to Sunil of Khanda village, was allegedly stolen from the new vegetable market here on Sunday. A complaint has been lodged with the Kharkhauda police.

Two held: Officials of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) on Sunday arrested two youths — Ashish Kumar of Kundli village and Ram Sanuj of Harsana Kalan village — allegedly for travelling in the women's compartment of the 2HNK passenger train. A case under Section 162 of the Railways Act has been registered.

Assaulted: A youth, Sunil, was seriously injured when he was allegedly attacked by some persons in Jakhauli village, 20 km from here, on Sunday. The victim has been admitted to a hospital. A case has been registered.

Contest: An on-the-spot English handwriting competition was held at SD College, Ambala Cantt, on Monday. Urvashi Rohilla of BCA I was first while second prize went to Shalini Raghav of B.Sc (IT) Ist year. Over 100 students from different streams participated in the handwriting competition. The college principal, Dr Desh Bandhu, Prof Naveen Gulati and Prof Apurva Chawla coordinated the competition.

Free medical camp: A free medical-cum diabetic camp was organised by All-India Medicine Graduates Association at Poulast clinic at Jandli, Ambala City, on Monday. Over 505 patients were registered in the camp. Medicines free of cost were distributed to the patients. Urine sugar, ECG and blood sugar tests were done. Dr Ashwani Sharma, Dr Vinod Gupta, Dr Tushar Sharma and Dr Vidushi Sharma examined the patients.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Parwanoo
EXHIBITION: The Small Industries Service Institute will organise a state-level industrial exhibition-cum-buyer-seller meet on the Department of Industries premises here on November 9 and 10. The two-day programme will facilitate interaction among manufactures in the small-scale sector with those of big industries.