R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

No objection to person of integrity as PPSC chief: Capt
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today said he had no objection to the appointment of any senior Akali or BJP leader as the Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission provided that his integrity was above board. He asked the Chief Minister to prove even a single appointment that was made with any other consideration than merit during Congress’ term.

CHANDIGARH

Subsidy to farmers: The Punjab Govt has decided to offer 25 to 30 pc subsidy to farmers for purchasing modern agricultural equipments, said Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah on Sunday. 

Snatcher arrested:BBA pass-out from Canada and Mohali Phase VII-based snatcher Sahil Kaushal was held today. The 26-year-old is a drug addict. He snatched the purse of Anita, a Ropar resident. The purse containing Rs 16,500, a pair of tops and documents, was recovered. He would be produced in court tomorrow. 

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jammu
Miraculous escape for bus passengers: About 30 passengers, mainly children, had a miraculous escape when the steering wheel of the bus they were travelling in got jammed on the Katra-Reasi road on Monday. Bus driver Sukhdev Singh said the steering wheel was jammed and he lost control over the vehicle. “Luckily, the bus got stuck on the parapet after the right front wheel moved over it,” he added. The passengers, mostly residents of villages around Katra town, were on the way to Sulah Park, a picnic spot, near Reasi.

Srinagar
Mughal road to be closed for 15 days: The Mughal Road will be closed for 15 days for blasting of rocks and related works. It was earlier closed to traffic for two weeks last month. Accordingly, all the transporters had been asked not to travel on the road, an official spokesman said.

CRPF IG meets Governor: Ravi Prakash, IG, CRPF (Administration), Srinagar, called on Governor NN Vohra here on Monday. During the meeting, the IG briefed the Governor about the functioning of the CRPF in Srinagar district and up to the Baltal base camp. The Governor discussed with Prakash various aspects of security arrangements for the Amarnath yatra and how the access control could be improved. With regard to the maintenance of internal security, the Governor was keen to know about the revised standing operating procedure for crowd control by using the non-lethal gadgetry. 

Leh
Cleanliness drive in Leh on July 13: Residents of three wards of old Leh town, Skayosgoksum, Stalam and Stayoyokma, have decided to organise a cleanliness drive in the town on July 13. The Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Rigzin Spalbar, and three NGOs working in old Leh town will also take part in the drive, along with residents and the Municipal Committee. The drive is part of the beautification of the town.

DEHRADUN

UKD workers join Congress: A large number of workers of the UKD from Haridwar, led by Bal Singh Saini, joined the Congress at a function, which was presided over by state Congress chief Yashpal Arya. Welcoming them in the party fold, Arya exhorted them to work wholeheartedly for the Congress in the forthcoming Assembly poll.

One killed in mishap: One person was killed while one sustained serious injuries when their truck fell into a gorge in Chamoli district. The truck driver sustained injuries while the man who was travelling along with him died on the spot. The injured has been admitted to a local hospital.

Constable booked: A case of abetment to suicide has been registered against a police constable. Gita Sikander, wife of Samar Sikandar, in her complaint to the police alleged that her husband was abetted in suicide by constable Shamsuddin. The constable had allegedly beat her up and her husband on June 7. He also warned them of dire consequences, she added. Following this, Samar Sikandar committed suicide. 

Winner’s trophy: The faculty of law, ICFAI University, Dehradun, bagged the winner’s trophy at the First Paras Diwan National Energy Law Moot Court Competition here on Monday. The Director (Law), Prof B. Kumar gave credit to hardwork, honesty and dedication of the faculty members and the students of the institute.

Kumaon Briefs

CITU backs ASHA workers
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has extended its support to agitating ASHA workers in the Kumaon region. The trade union has formed a state-level body of the workers and is supporting their demand for a proper remuneration on a monthly basis. CITU leader from Almora RP Joshi has denounced the move of the state government to cut down the incentives being given to ASHA workers from the past month on delivery cases being brought by them. A statewide agitation has also been planned by the workers. ASHA workers in Nainital also staged a demonstration on Sunday in support of their demands. Under the banner of the Uttarakhand ASHA Health Worker Union, the protesters voiced their needs for the better monetary funds and compensation. The district president of the union Kamla Kunjwani also demanded a monthly compensation of Rs 6,000 for her colleagues.

Protest over stoning of snake
Inadequate security arrangements for wildlife in the Baliyanala region resulted in endangering the life of a female King Cobra found in the area. A few miscreants stoned the snake, thus injuring the creature which sought shelter in her nest to escape the blows. Various organisations and animal lovers in the region have lodged their protest against the incident and are demanding protection for the wildlife. Had the offenders not been stopped, the snake could have lost its life.

Rs 99.87 lakh for water scheme
The Zila Panchayat chief, Nainital, has sanctioned Rs 99.87 lakh for a water supply scheme in the remote villages of the Ramnagar area. A time span of two years has been set aside for the implementation of the scheme. Once implemented, the scheme envisages water supply to scarcity-hit villages thus helping in increasing agricultural produce. The implementation of new schemes in the area around Gabuwa village have been hit by constant hurdles due to the contents of the 1993 Rajeev Gandhi Drinking Water Survey which had listed several villages in the vicinity as self-sufficient. The picture on the ground is said to be contrary to the survey findings.

Recruitment drive for ex-servicemen
A drive for the recruitment of ex-servicemen in the eco-task force under the Kumaon Environment Infantry Battalion (state unit) will be held from July 15 to July 19 at Almora and Pithoragarh. According to a senior eco-task force official posted at Champawat, applicants must have served Indian armed forces for 15 years and should be a pensioner. He should not be above 45 years in age. The applicant should also be registered with the District Sainik Welfare Council.

Conservation of land
Zila Panchayat chairperson, Udham Singh Nagar, Sushila Gangwar has asked land conservation officer BK Mishra to prepare a project proposal for the conservation of land in the basins of the Baur, Dhaura and Baigul rivers. The proposal is to be prepared within the next three months. Speaking at a meeting held at Rudrapur on Monday, she also asked the officials concerned to get flood-control projects being executed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act on a priority basis in their respective areas.

(Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)