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PUNJAB

Amritsar
Cheema apprises PM of farmers’ woes: Amardeep Singh Cheema, member of the Agriculture Working Group for the 11th Five-Year Plan and Planning Commission and director of the Punjab Agro Foodgrains Corporation, has apprised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the problems of Punjab farmers. Cheema claimed here yesterday that the Prime Minister had assured him of taking necessary steps for the export of the produce to other countries. Cheema said the Punjab farmers and the agro-processing industry needed a good infrastructure to export their produce to the various countries from the Amritsar International Airport.

Batala
‘Revise rates’: A meeting of the Brick-kiln Owners Association, Batala, was held here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Sanjeev Aggarwal to protest against the rising prices of steel grade coal.The rate revised by Coal India had doubled for steel grade coal, the main item used by the brick-kiln owners, Aggarwal said. Two months ago its rate was Rs 6,000 per metric tonne whereas at present it is Rs 12,000 per metric tonne. The members of the association urged Gurdaspur deputy commissioner Gurkiratkirpal Singh to allow them to sell the tiles and bricks at new rates.

BATHINDA
Ex-servicemen: An emergency meeting of the executive committee of the Ex-servicemen Welfare Union, Bathinda, was held on Tuesday. Union leaders expressed their concern over the attitude of the Central government towards their demands, including separate pay commission. They also demanded free ration to ex-servicemen and called for boycott of all I-Day functions.

Camp on drugs: In its drive against drug addiction, a de-addiction camp was organised at Mahima Bhagwana village here on Tuesday. On the occasion, youths were made aware of the side-effects of drugs. A film on de-addiction was also shown.

TB control: A TB awareness camp was held at the Government Elementary School, Chauser Basti. Sonu Goyal, district TB control officer, asked people to get themselves examined for TB if cough and fever persisted for over three days. He also advised to get sputum tested free of cost at the 357 DOT centres in the district.

Science meet: Following directions from the State Science Education Society, Punjab, the district education department on Tuesday held a science seminar to discuss water crisis and its solution.

Trees planted: The 27 Battalion ITBP, Bathinda and the local DAV College on Tuesday planted 1000 saplings at village Chak Bakhtu in the district.

Rally plan: The district unit of the Physically Handicapped Association, Punjab, on Tuesday held a meeting presided over by Gurmeet Singh Jeeda. It was decided to launch an anti-drugs rally on August 24 from Jeeda. The rally would pass through 20 villages.

Blood donation camp: The Vishwas Foundation, Bathinda, organised a blood donation camp with State Bank of Patiala at Gandhi Market on Sunday.

Nawanshahr
Seminar on water crisis: The State Institute of Science Education (SISE) and the district education department organised district-level students’ science seminar on “Water crisis on Earth - problems & remedies” at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Rahon, on Tuesday. Balihar Singh Bains, district science supervisor presided over the seminar. Ashima Mittal of the local Shivalik Public School won the first position and qualified for participating in the state-level competition.

PATHANKOT
200 saplings planted: As many as 200 saplings were planted at a vanmahotsava function organised by the Environment Protection Society, Gurdaspur,at Sarbjit Model High School, Taragarh, 25 km from here, on Tuesday. M.P.Singh, ADC(D), presided over the function. Som Raj, sarpanch of the village, thanked the district administration and the society for holding the function in rural areas.

Traffic sign boards: The Lions Club Greater handed over three hoardings to SP Harpreet Singh here on Tuesday to educate people about traffic rules and regulations. Singh said the hoardings would be displayed at all three entry points of the city. A.P.S.Bamrah, zone chairman of the club, said the club was at the disposal of the administration to take welfare steps for the public. S.D.Bhalla, president of the club, appealed to people to follow the traffic rules.

HARYANA

JIND
Woman, daughter receive burns: Sadhana and her daughter Arti (5) of Safidon Gate received burns in their house on Sunday night. They were taken to the Civil Hospital but later shifted to the PGIMS, Rohtak. No complaint has been lodged with the police so far. According to a report, the incident took place at 1.30 am. It is learnt the woman sprinkled kerosene on herself and her daughter before setting themselves afire. Their condition is reported to be critical.

REWARI
1 held for theft: The police has arrested Bharat Singh, an employee of Wheel India Ltd., HSIIDC, Bawal, for allegedly stealing scrap material worth Rs 6,500 from the factory, in collusion with his colleague Karam Vir on Saturday. However, Karam Vir is still absconding .A case under Sections 380, 454 of the IPC has been registered against them.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

DALHOUSIE
Trekkers leave for Manimahesh: A trekkers’ group of Gujarat comprising 19 members has left for Manimahesh pilgrimage from the local youth hostel on Tuesday. It will take a holy dip in the sacred waters of the Manimahesh lake and have a vision of Kailash Mount, the abode of Lord Shiva. Simon, the hostel warden said the trekking expedition was organised by the Bhavnagar branch of the Youth Hostels Association of India.

Yatra launched: The Hindu Jagran Manch has launched its ‘seema suraksha jagran yatra’ from the Nag temple complex at Banikhet on Monday. The 12-day long yatra will conclude at Nurpur on August 22. It aimed at foiling the conspiracy plotted by the anti-national and anti-religion forces.

KANGRA
Body found: The police recovered a body of a youth (23) from a Shugaira Sangrial Nallah near Nagrota Bagwan on Tuesday morning.The deceased, identified as Ajeet Kumar, was a student of Art and Craft at Holta and had not been keeping good relations with his father,the police said. After the post-mortem, his body was handed over to his relatives on Tuesday evening.

KULLU
Woman drowns in Beas: A French woman was washed away in the gushing waters of the Beas in Manali on Monday. She reportedly fell into the river while taking photographs at Van Vihar. She was identified as Stephanie Fraisse (32). The body was found at a distance of about 200 m from the spot. The body has been sent to the Regional Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The Embassy of France has been informed.

NURPUR
Decision hailed: The Kangra Government Teachers’ Union has hailed the decision of the state government to fill the vacant posts of lecturers, the heads of various schools and TGTs in the Education Department. Onkar Rana, the president of the union, in a statement here on Tuesday, said the government’s decision to appoint 2,200 TGTs, 2,500 JBTs and 530 lecturers was a step in the right direction to bring qualitative change in the education system.

SUNDERNAGAR
1 killed in accident: One person was killed and two were injured when a tractor loaded with stones capsized on the Churd- Sundernagar road near here on Tuesday afternoon. The police said the deceased,identified as Hans Raj (27), was owner of the tractor and was driving it at the time of the accident.