R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

TARN TARAN
Bank manager booked: Vinay Kumar, manager, and Vinodh Kumar, field officer, of the Patti branch of the State Bank of Patiala, have been booked for misplacing 11 files of the bank relating to loans. District police sources said on Friday that a case had been registered against both. The accused, who have already been booked in other cases, are absconding.

CHANDIGARH

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
Survey camp: Sixty-three civil engineering students of MM University, Mullana (Haryana), participated in a 20-day survey camp at Youth Hostel, Dalhousie. At the valedictory function, Dr N.P. Mehta, pro vice-chancellor, said apprised students about the importance of surveying. He said that the university had procured the latest equipment for surveying to give the students the best in the field. He said the university with 15 colleges in almost all disciplines and one international school was catering to about 8,000 students. Thirty students of Choudhary Devi Lal Memorial Engineering College, Sirsa, also took part in the camp. The group consisting of Sumit Malwal, Vicky Saurabh, Mayank P. Singh, Punish Bansal, Vipul Kumar, Tushar Yadav, Abhishek Khatri, Sumit Chopra, and Tanuj Pubreja was adjudged the best in survey work.

KANGRA
Free medical camp: A free medical camp was organised at Nagrota Bagwan here on Saturday. It was a part of the two-day birthday celebrations of G.S. Bali, former transport and tourism minister, who would turn 54 on Sunday. The camp was held under the banner of ‘Nagrota Bal Vikas Mela and Medical Camp 2008’ at the Government Senior Secondary School. More than 700 patients were given free treatment and medicines were distributed.

NAHAN
Poppy husk seized: Jakir Hussain, a resident of Bhoop Pur, Paonta, has been arrested for possessing poppy husk. The police said 7.5 kg of poppy husk was seized from the accused. A case was registered a case under the NDPS Act and the accused was produced in a local court that remanded him in police custody till July 29.

SHIMLA
Conference: The government will organise a skill upgrading conference of vice-chancellors and college principals, from both private and public sectors, so that the youth can be made to match the emerging needs of the corporate sector. This was stated by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal on Saturday. The conference would be held in association with the Institute of Technology and Future Management Trends in a month. He said the government would explore the possibilities of creating more jobs in the hydel and industrial sectors.

Protest by HPSEB staff: Employees of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) held a two-hour protest outside their office here today. They were protesting against the proposed unbundling of board. They said the government should not go ahead with the trifurcation of the board as it had been functioning satisfactorily. They said the experience of unbundling of power boards in some other states had not been very good.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

BARAMULLA
Rural health mission: To review the implementation of the Rural Health Mission in the district, a meeting headed by Atal Dullu, secretary, health and medical education department, was held in Baramulla on Saturday. It was informed that out of Rs 6.22 crore received under the programme during the past three years, Rs 5.35 crore stood expended up to June 2008. Under the programme, 7,979 home and 23,843 institutional delivers were recorded and 1350 Ashas were selected in 10 blocks of the district. It was also informed that about 2.5 lakh outdoor and 56,700 indoor patients were treated, 9,895 major and 3,426 minor operations conducted under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in the district.

BUDGAM
Cheques for farmers: Cheques worth Rs 4.12 lakh were distributed among 35 saffron growers of Budgam district for digging wells and developing composite units as an incentive under the Technology Mission at a function organised by the agriculture department on Saturday. Sonali Kumar, principal secretary, agriculture, was the chief guest, while the director, agriculture, experts from SKUAST and chief agriculture officer besides a large number of saffron growers attended the function. It was also informed that 323 hectares of land were brought under Saffron cultivation in Chirwani and other areas of the Chadoora tehsil. On the occasion, 14 power tillers, 100 spray pumps and 100 DG sets were also provided to farmers on subsidised rates.

GANDERBAL
I-Day celebrations: Arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations in Ganderbal district were finalised at a meeting headed by deputy commissioner, Abdul Majeed Khanday here on Saturday. It was decided that the main function would be held at the sports stadium. The celebrations would commence with “shahnai wadan” followed by hoisting of the Tricolour. Contingents of the JK police, JKAP, fire and emergency services, CRPF, NCC Cadets and schoolchildren will present a march past. The meeting also directed the officers concerned to ensure power, water supply, sanitation and proper security arrangements in and around the venue. It was decided that all vital installations at the district headquarter would be illuminated. Schoolchildren will also present a colourful cultural programme.

SRINAGAR
Delegations meet Azad: Scores of people, including political workers from across the state on Saturday called on senior Congress leader and former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at his residence here. Former ministers, MLAs and other office-bearers of the Pradesh Congress party from Pulwama, Shopian and Pulwama districts were also present. The deputation from Pulwama highlighted the problems of water supply, roads, healthcare and schools in the district. Those from Shopian requested Azad for better water supply, improved electricity, development of roads and operationalisation of the filtration plant. Azad assured the delegations that he would raise their problems at the appropriate fora for early redress.

Challan against ASI: The Vigilance Organisation has produced a challan against Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, assistant sub-inspector, Sadder, in the court of special judge, Anti-Corruption, Kashmir. The ASI was caught red-handed, while accepting a bribe of Rs 1000 on May 7, 2007. This was based on a complaint lodged by one Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat who alleged that ASI Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, had demanded money for the release of Ajaz Ahmad, a relative of Imtiyaz, from police custody. After accord of sanction for prosecution by the government, the challan was produced in the court of law today along with the accused ASI.

Arrangements reviewed: All arrangements have been made for the ensuing Me'raj-un-Nabi. This was informed at a high-level meeting of officers convened by Kachoo Asfandyar Khan, district development commissioner, Srinagar, on Saturday to review the arrangements. Khan informed that all arrangements were in place to facilitate the devotees visiting Hazratbal and Jenab Sahib Soura shrines. The PHE department had installed 110 more public posts at Hazratbal, while water tankers would also be pressed into service during the Urs days. Street and flash lights in and around the Hazratbal shrine had been installed. The health department has set up 12 medical camps from Pantha Chowk to Hazratbal. A control room under the supervision of the additional deputy commissioner is already functional at Hazratbal.

State Haj Committee: A draw of lots for selection of 18 Khadum-Ul-Hujaj for Haj, 2008, was conducted in the office of Masuad Samoon, DC, Kashmir, here on Saturday. In all, 270 applications were received by the State Haj Committee, out of which 47 applicants were found eligible after scrutiny. The draw of lots was performed in presence of the committee constituted for the purpose. Masuad, who heads the committee and is also the convener of the State Haj Committee, personally supervised the process.

Milk production up: As a result of strenuous efforts put in by the animal husbandry department, the annual milk production has touched 45,000 MTs in Srinagar district and is expected to rise by 10 per cent more. This was stated at a meeting of veterinary officers chaired by the chief animal husbandry officer, Srinagar, on Saturday. It was also informed that 16,000 animals had been treated against contagious and non-contagious diseases and 12,000 animals had been treated against liver fluke so far. As many as 4,640 artificial inseminations were performed and 2,276 births stood recorded.