Review pact with BJP, Akalis told
AMRITSAR, Dec 6 — Following the defeat in the Adampur byelection and resurgence of the Congress in Delhi and Rajasthan, the Dal Khalsa has urged the Akali Dal to take stock of the situation and reconsider its present arrangement with the BJP.

• SAD 'stands exposed'

Badal launches job scheme for women
MUKTSAR, Dec 6 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal launched the pulse polio campaign and a novel programme of making available work opportunities at home to the women of Punjab at Aulakh village, 15 km from here, today.

Manch’s grouse on cargo flights
AMRITSAR, Dec 6 — The Amritsar Vikas Manch has criticised the authorities got for starting cargo flights from Amritsar.

Judicial power sought for minorities' panels
CHAMKAUR SAHIB (ROPAR), Dec 6 — The Shiromani Akali Dal has asked the Central Government to grant judicial powers to the national and state minorities commissions, and make provisions in the Constitution for a permanent five-year full term for the Lok Sabha to save the country from mid-term elections at short intervals.

Victim of neglect
GURDASPUR, Dec 6 — The 30-bedded rural hospital at Dera Baba Nanak is in a state of neglect. The hospital has two doctors posted at present against a sanctioned strength of seven.

Strengthen federal character: Dhindsa
NAWANSHAHR, Dec 6 — Democracy can only be strengthened if India is made a federal state.

Wakf Board to set up computer centres
MALERKOTLA, Dec 6 — Mr A.K. Thatia, Administrator, Punjab Wakf Board, has said the board will set up computer centres in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal to give computer training to the youth.

Science exhibition begins today
AMRITSAR, Dec 6 — The five-day Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Exhibition, jointly organised by the National Council of Education Research and Training and the University Grants Commission with the cooperation of the Punjab government, begins here tomorrow.

Rail traffic remains suspended
PHILLAUR, Dec 6 — Rail traffic on the Delhi-Ambala section remained suspended for the fourth day today. As a result, thousands of passengers were stranded at different stations.

BSM against changes in Constitution
PATIALA, Dec 6 — The Bahujan Samaj Morcha, an ally of the BJP government at the Centre is against any move by the ruling party to make changes in the Constitution as stated by several BJP ministers.

Rs 5 crore for scheme to drain out water
BATHINDA, Dec 6 — The Centre has sanctioned Rs 5 crore to drain out rain water from rural and urban areas where no such facility is available, Punjab Minister of State for Irrigation Sikander Singh Malooka said at Rampura Phul yesterday.

Review pact with BJP, Akalis told
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Dec 6 — Following the defeat in the Adampur byelection and resurgence of the Congress in Delhi and Rajasthan, the Dal Khalsa has urged the Akali Dal to take stock of the situation and reconsider its present arrangement with the BJP.

In a press note issued by the organisation’s Secretary-General, Mr Kanwar Pal Singh, its spokesman Sarabjit Singh, said, "It was most unfortunate that on one hand Badal has admitted that this candidate lost Adampur seat to the Congress because of the wrong policies of the Centre. On the other hand, he did not wish to upset equations with the BJP although his government is not dependent on it for survival".

Supporting Mr Tohra for launching a crusade against the BJP’s Hindutva policy, they said the inner conflicts and contradictions of Akali politics always made matters worse.

They did not fully agree with Mr Badal that the Adampur electorate turned against his party candidate because of high prices, saying that it was more a case of all-pervading corruption and poor governance that led to the defeat of the Akali candidate.

Expressing concern over the recent assault on Guru Ram Das Academy by an extremist fringe of the BJP, they said instead of assuaging past wounds inflicted on Sikhs by India’s successive governments, the majority had intensified its attacks on the minority communities like Christians, Muslims and Sikhs.

Badal launches job scheme for women
From Tribune Reporters

MUKTSAR, Dec 6 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal launched the pulse polio campaign and a novel programme of making available work opportunities at home to the women of Punjab at Aulakh village, 15 km from here, today.

This scheme provides financial assistance to women for setting up their own sewing and knitting centres and grants to mahila mandals, and for improving the lot of rural women.

Over 30 such centres and 70 mahila kendras were started today. As many as 500 sewing machines and cheques for Rs 20,000 each were given to 60 women for starting different vocations from dairying to carpet making.

Accompanied by his wife Surinder Kaur, Mr Badal also launched the state-level pulse polio campaign by giving polio vaccine drops to children.

Addressing a gathering which was marked by huge presence of women folk, Mr Badal said 33 per cent women have already found their place in the Panchayati Raj system and the day is not so far when 30 per cent members in our assemblies and Parliament would be women.

SANGRUR: The Civil Surgeon, Dr S.K. Khullar, said the district health authorities had set up 1046 camps, including 892 in rural areas, to administer anti-polio drops to children in the district on Sunday. Twenty seven mobile vans were also used for this purpose. Dr Khullar added that over 2.30 lakh children were administered the vaccine.

FAZILKA: More than 31,000 children were administered drops in Fazilka block by 134 health teams today.

Dr P.M. Kakkar, Senior Medical Officer, Primary Health Centre at Dabwala Kalan, said 20,115 children were immunised in 94 villages. Twentyeight booths and five mobile teams were set up where 10,885 children were given the oral drops.

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Mr P.L. Goyal, Civil Surgeon, said 530 camps were organised in the district with the help of voluntary organisations to administer drops to more than 60,000 children. He said 15 mobile teams visited slum and remote rural areas and bastis for harijans.

GURDASPUR: Dr Ajaib Singh Sandhu, Civil Surgeon, inaugurated the Pulse Polio camp organised by the Rotary Club (Midtown) at Primary Health Centre, Ranjit Bagh, 3 km from here, by administering oral drops to the first child at the camp.

At another camp organised by Canara Bank at the bus stand, more than 180 children were administered drops.

According to the Civil Surgeon, 1726 camps were held in the district to immunise more than 2.5 lakh children.

FARIDKOT: Over 67,000 children were administered anti-polio drops in the district till 2 p.m. on Sunday.

As many as 349 teams were deployed for the purpose.

Dr S.P.S. Sohal, Civil Surgeon gave the first drop to a child at a district-level function held at local Bajigar Basti.

BATALA: Fiftyeight centres were set up in the town to administer the oral polio vaccine on Sunday.

ROPAR: Over one lakh doses of anti-polio drops were administered to children up to five years old in this district.

As many as 845 camps (688 in rural areas, 95 in urban areas and 62 mobile units) were organised where members of the Rotary and Lions clubs, mahila mandals, youth clubs, students, teachers and others assisted the district health authorities to make the polio eradication drive a success.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh, administered anti-polio drops in local Sadavarat Colony on the Ropar-Anandpur Sahib road.

HOSHIARPUR: Doses of oral polio vaccine were administered to 1,70,692 children in 822 centres, including 740 in rural and 82 in urban areas and 40 mobile units in the district on Sunday to ensure a polio-free Punjab.

NAWANSHAHR: The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Roshan Sunkaria, inaugurated the first phase of pulse polio campaign by administering polio drops to children and flagging off teams here at Civil Hospital. He lauded the role of the NGOs, especially the Rotary Club, for assisting the administration in the drive.

More than 60,000 children were given the drops in the district.

Special arrangements were made to administer anti-polio vaccine to the children in slums, colonies of migratory labourers and brick kiln workers, according to an official press note.

ABOHAR: Nearly 15,000 children were given polio vaccine at more than 50 camps organised by different voluntary organisations here on Sunday.

PATHANKOT: The pulse polio camp here was inaugurated by the Punjab Forests, Legal and Legislative Affairs Minister, Mr Mohan Lal at Civil Dispensary, Gandhi Chowk. The SMO of Civil Hospital, Dr A.S. Jamwal, said 47 such camps had been set up in the city and more than 20,000 children were administered the drops.

MALERKOTLA: As many as 11,235 children were administered drops at 42 booths set up by the Health Department in collaboration with social organisations here.

JALANDHAR: Anti-polio drops were administered by 323 teams in the city and 1,004 teams in the rural areas in the district.

Mr Manoranjan Kalia, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, inaugurated a pulse polio camp at Chagittee, near here on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kalia said that more than 28 lakh children had been given the vaccine in the state. He said that about 50,000 teams were working to make the programme a success. He hoped that at the end of this century, India would be a polio free country.

LUDHIANA: The pulse polio campaign was launched here on Sunday by the Civil Surgeon, Dr G.P. Chander. Dr Harwinder Singh, District Vaccination Officer said 2,421 centres had been established in the district to administer the drops.

PATIALA: A number of pulse polio camps were organised by the district administration and various social organisations.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Viswjeet Khanna, inaugurated a camp organised by the Civil Surgeon’s office at Rajpura Colony and Model Town dispensaries. In a press note, Mr Kartar Singh Johar, Civil Surgeon said under the polio eradication drive the department had organised 801 camps in the district.

JALALABAD: About 7,000 children were given the polio vaccine here at 17 camps organised by the medical authorities with the help of various social organisations.

SAD 'stands exposed'
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Dec 6 — Former Punjab Congress chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today said her party had won the Adampur Assembly byelection due to the anti-people policies of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Talking to reporters here, after attending the bhog of freedom fighter Inder Singh Inder, Mrs Bhattal said the SAD stood exposed and people wanted to teach it a lesson for not fulfilling any of its promises.

Explaining the reasons for the debacle of the Congress under her leadership in the Sham Chaurasi and Tarn Taran Assembly byelections, she said the party was going through a crisis at that stage. Besides it had to deal with the SAD which was riding a popularity wave after the assembly poll.

She maintained that the party's victory at Adampur had been possible due to the efforts made by her to keep it together after facing a rout in the assembly elections.

"No worker deserted the party during the period of crisis", she said and added that she had successfully highlighted the failure of the SAD-BJP Government to fulfil its poll promises.

The former Chief Minister also made it clear that Congress President Sonia Gandhi was not annoyed with her in any manner. She said she had been deputed to go abroad by the party president and had submitted a report on her return on November 25.

The party president had expressed her satisfaction and was, not angry with her.

She said in her report to the high command she had suggested that senior leaders should be deputed to go abroad to counter the anti-Congress propaganda launched by the SAD. She had also advocated the establishment of an NRI cell in the central and state units.

She had returned to Punjab on the eve of the Adampur poll so that her absence might not be felt.

Mrs Bhattal said she would meet workers to strengthen the party.

March ends with ‘ardas’
From Surinder Bhardwaj

FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 6 — The two-day "Khalsa march" held under the aegis of Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh with the co-operation of the SGPC and the Sant Samaj to mark the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa concluded at Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup Sahib here this evening with "ardas" by the Jathedar and others.

The town was decorated with saffron flags. Welcome gates were erected by various social, political and religious organisations. Thousands of people and heads of religious seats received the procession at Nagawan amidst slogans of "Bole so nihal". The procession was led by the "Panj Piaras".

Mr G.S. Tohra, president of the SGPC, Bhai Ranjit Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht, Sant Mann Singh Pehowawala, Nihang chief Balbir Singh, Baba Sarvjot Singh, president Sant Samaj, and Sikh leader Harbhajan Singh Yogi from the USA led the procession. American Sikhs and Nihangs were among the attractions.

Earlier, thousands of devotees thronged gurdwara Jyoti Swarup Sahib where schoolchildren played the "gatka" and the Sukhmani Sahib Sewa Society and Singh Sabha workers organised "langar". Nihangs, too, displayed their skills.

Mr P.M. Dass, DIG, Patiala range, and Mr P.S. Dhaliwal, SSP, supervised the security arrangements.

The Jathedar of Akal Takht addressed the "sangat" in Diwan Todar Mal Hall. He recounted the sacrifices made by the Tenth Guru and appealed to the Sikhs to baptise themselves.

He said he would try to spread this message to every village in the state.

Manch’s grouse on cargo flights
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Dec 6 — The Amritsar Vikas Manch has criticised the authorities got for starting cargo flights from Amritsar.

In a statement here today, Mr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, general secretary of the manch, said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had promised that cargo flights to Dubai, Iraq and Iran would be operated from Amritsar international airport by November. However, no initiative had been taken in this regard so far.

He said that Mr Badal had also promised that he would request the Prime Minister to allow foreign airlines to operate direct flights from Amritsar. However, nothing had been done in this connection.

Mr Gumtala said British Airways and Air France had already expressed their willingness to start flights from Amritsar. However, the Centre had not considered their request.

He urged Mr Badal to prevail upon the Union Government to accept the genuine demands of the Punjabis immediately. As per the Airport Authority of India’s feasibility report. Airbus 300 and 320 could land at Rajasansi airport.

The SAD-BJP government should not ignore the holy city while making plans for allround development of the state. He alleged that Amritsar was being ignored as all big projects were being set up in the Malwa and Doaba regions.

Judicial power sought for minorities' panels
From Our Correspondent

CHAMKAUR SAHIB (ROPAR), Dec 6 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has asked the Central Government to grant judicial powers to the national and state minorities commissions, and make provisions in the Constitution for a permanent five-year full term for the Lok Sabha to save the country from mid-term elections at short intervals.

Talking to newsmen in the complex of Gurdwara Katalgarh Sahib here today, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, MP, chief whip of SAD in Parliament and General Secretary of the party, said the dal wanted judicial powers to be granted to the national and state-level minorities commissions for protecting the cultural, linguistic and religious identities of the minorities.

He also demanded the setting up of minorities' commissions in Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. He also said that a discussion in Parliament on the issue of minorities would be held tomorrow in the Lok Sabha, where the SAD MPs would demand more powers for the minorities commissions.

Mr Chandumajra disclosed that the SAD along with other parties would table a legislation in 10 days in the Lok Sabha for ensuring a permanent five-year full term for the Lok Sabha. He said this legislation would propose that no government could be toppled with just a no-confidence motion. Instead an alternative government would have to be ensured first which would win the confidence motion along with the passing of no-confidence motion. Besides, provisions would also be proposed against the dissolution of the Lok Sabha before the expiry of the five-year term.

He said this move would help improve the economic condition of the country and solve the national problems in the stipulated period.

The SAD General Secretary said that his party did not support the presidential form of government as it would be proved harmful for the minorities and weaken the democratic set-up in the country.

On the Udham Singh Nagar issue, he said his party had the upper hand as the three-member committee under the presidentship of Mr George Fernandes had already been set up to prevent the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed hill state of Uttaranchal.

Scheme to develop semi-hilly areas
From Bharat Bhushan Dogra

PATHANKOT: The Punjab Government has mooted a comprehensive integrated scheme for the development of semi-hilly and Kandi areas under the national watershed scheme with central assistance. Under the scheme the government has planned to spend Rs 3.11 crore to develop Karinal, Durrang Khud and surrounding villages which fall in Dhar subdivision of Gurdaspur district.

Giving this information, the Chief Soil Conservator, Punjab, Mr Manjit Singh Bains, said the government in order to save land from soil erosion had decided to construct concrete spurs and crate bars. This would help save 10,000 hectares of land in the area. He added that the government was providing financial aid to villagers of the area to raise their standard of living. The villagers were also being imparted training in animal husbandry horticulture, agriculture and forestry. To promote horticulture activities in the Kandi areas, the government had sanctioned a sum of Rs 1.40 crore of which a sum of Rs 70 lakh would be given as subsidy to farmers engaged in horticulture.

Earlier a farmers' meeting was held at Dunera in which the farmers and entrepreneurs were provided with information and techniques about the setting up of employment units.

* * *

Farmers of Dinanagar and surrounding areas held a march to protest against shortage of DAP fertilisers. The processionists after demonstrating in front of the government fertiliser depot here went through the local bazars and shouted slogans against officials for their "failure" to keep sufficient stock of DAP to meet the requirements of the farmers.

The farmers’ leader, Mr Mohan Singh, after holding a successful demonstration against the DAP shortage told The Tribune that the farmers would block traffic on the GT road in order to press their demands.

He expressed anguish over the failure of the government to keep its promises for meeting DAP requirements of the farmers. He said the wheat yield this time would go down as farmers were unable to sow wheat in time i.e. before November 15 as advised by agriculture experts at a kisan mela organised here.

* * *

A free medical check-up camp was organised by a team of doctors of civil hospital. Dr A.S. Jamwal, Senior Medical Officer, said over 1,200 patients were examined and medicines provided free of cost. At another place a free eye camp organised by Lions Club, Pathankot Greater, as many as 55 cataract eye operations were performed. 275 patients were examined at Ram Bhavan, according to Mr V. Sagar Verma, president of the club.

* * *

The Punjab Government has decided to accept the long-pending demands of the Ranjit Sagar Dam project oustees regarding payment of compensation to the affected people.

This assurance was given by Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to a deputation of oustees that met him under the leadership of Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Local Bodies Minister, and Master Mohan Lal, the Forest Minister.

Master Mohan Lal said that the government had directed the Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, to constitute a committee comprising the local MLA, sarpanches of the affected villages to assess the loss and damage done following the acquisition of their land and other assets.

The minister said the government had also decided to give jobs to members of the affected families who were interviewed on May 5, 1997. He assured the oustees that his government would make sincere efforts to rehabilitate the oustees.

* * *

The 46 Air Defence Regiment celebrated its 50th raising day by organising a special sainik sammelan which was attended by all ranks and files of the regiment, serving and retired as well.

Lieut-Gen A.Mukerjee, PVSM, AVSM, Director-General of the Air Defence Artillery, highlighted the achievements of the regiment in various fields in the past 50 years and said that the regiment was one of the air defence artillery. He reiterated the need for excellence for professionalism in the Army to meet any challenge. He asked all ranks of the regiment to rededicate themselves to the nation and keep the flag of the regiment flying.

* * *

Local Youth Congress leaders expressed concern over the violation of the Shop Act by shopkeepers who keep their business establishments open here on Sunday which is a declared holiday for the shops under the Act. Some shopkeepers who observe the holiday alleged that "Inspector staff" accepted "gifts" from shopkeepers for allowing them to keep their shops open on Sundays and violate shop timings. Most shops on the railway road, municipal bazar, Gandhi Chowk and Dhangu Road remained open on Sunday.

The leaders demanded action against the erring officials.

Victim of neglect
From Our Correspondent

GURDASPUR, Dec 6 — The 30-bedded rural hospital at Dera Baba Nanak is in a state of neglect. The hospital has two doctors posted at present against a sanctioned strength of seven.

The number of indoor patients on an average is only one against the capacity of 30. The rooms are not cleaned. Visitors are also seen resting in the rooms at times. Residents of the area have demanded the filling of vacancies immediately so that the hospital can provide regular services.

When contacted, the Civil Surgeon said he had urged the authorities to fill the vacancies.

Meanwhile, 75 posts of medical officers are lying vacant in the district for the past several years.

Strengthen federal character: Dhindsa
From Our Correspondent

NAWANSHAHR, Dec 6 — Democracy can only be strengthened if India is made a federal state.

The Shiromani Akali Dal and other regional parties are demanding the necessary amendments in the Constitution to strengthen the federal structure, said Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, MP and General Secretary of SAD while addressing a gathering at Malla Sodhian village, about 20 km from here today.

Referring to the outcome of the Adampur Assembly byelection, Mr Dhindsa said that the party’s vote bank remained intact but due to price rise, the vote banks of some other parties were transferred to the Congress. He said SAD would enquire into the reported negative role played by some SAD leaders and disciplinary action would be taken against them.

Party workers would be adjusted in various committees and the grip on the bureaucracy would be tightened to make it more functional and responsive, he added.

Mr Dhindsa said that due to the price rise and failure of the BJP government in Delhi to live up to the expectations of the Sikhs, the Sikh voters got disillusioned and preferred to abstain from the polling.

Wakf Board to set up computer centres
From Our Correspondent

MALERKOTLA, Dec 6 — Mr A.K. Thatia, Administrator, Punjab Wakf Board, has said the board will set up computer centres in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal to give computer training to the youth.

Mr Thatia awarded certificates to 17 youths who completed computer training from the Wakf Computer Centre here.

He said a computer centre would also be set up at Chandigarh. He was accompanied by Mr Khalid Khan, Chief Executive Officer, and Mr M.R. Farooqi, Senior Regional Officer, of the board.

Talking to this correspondent at the P.W.D. Rest House here, Mr Thatia said the Wakf Board would provide medical facilities free of cost to members of weaker sections. A 100-bed hospital would be set up in the town soon. Plans for a mobile dispensary were also underway.

The Administrator of the board visited Islamia Senior Secondary School and Islamia Girls High School here. He said the girls school would be upgraded to the senior secondary level from the next academic session. Computer classes would be introduced in the school.

Science exhibition begins today
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Dec 6 — The five-day Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Exhibition, jointly organised by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) with the cooperation of the Punjab government, begins here tomorrow.

Neither the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, nor the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will be present on the occasion.

The exhibition is organised every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. This is for the first time that the exhibition is being held in Punjab. The main purpose is to expose schoolchildren to various scientific and technological improvisations.

In all 179 exhibits from 172 schools will be on display, among these models an accident-free rail crossings.

The theme of the exhibition is "Science and technology in the information age".

The Director of the NCERT, New Delhi, Prof A.K. Sharma, and Secretary, Department of School Education, Punjab, Mrs Surjit Kaur Sandhu, told newsmen that the exhibition would be inaugurated at the historic Ram Bagh here by Punjab Education Minister Tota Singh.

They said the exhibits had been grouped under four sub-themes: agriculture, industry, transport and communication and educational technology.

Among the interesting exhibits on display would be a "supreme robot from Orissa, a computerised television transmission set from Kanya Kumari, a house safety device from a local city school and a robotic wheelchair from Himachal Pradesh.

Such exhibitions were not only meant to encourage scientific temper in schoolchildren but also help in making children realise the relevance of science to society and the responsibilities of a future scientist, Prof Sharma said.

Mr Sandhu said arrangements had been made for transporting schoolchildren from various parts of the state to the city.

Rail traffic remains suspended
From Our Correspondent

PHILLAUR, Dec 6 — Rail traffic on the Delhi-Ambala section remained suspended for the fourth day today. As a result, thousands of passengers were stranded at different stations.

Railway sources told this correspondent today that the Shan-e-Punjab, the Shatabdi Express and the Delhi-Jalandhar superfast trains had been cancelled for December 6 and 7.

Eleven trains, including the Malwa Express, the Pooja Express, the Jammu Mail, the Sachkhand Express, the Jhelum Express and the Deluxe Express had been diverted via the Dhuri-Jakhal section.

A "trial engine" on the repaired track would be plied before resuming the train services, the sources added.

BSM against changes in Constitution
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Dec 6 — The Bahujan Samaj Morcha, an ally of the BJP government at the Centre is against any move by the ruling party to make changes in the Constitution as stated by several BJP ministers.

The morcha has one seat in Parliament it's leader Satnam Singh Kainth had won the Lok Sabha seat from the Phillaur constituency.

The morcha organised a function at Guru Ravi Dass Bhawan here in memory of the Dr Ambedkar on his 42nd death anniversary today. Talking to the mediapersons after the function, Ms Barjinder Kaur, General Secretary, said the morcha was not happy with the BJP's attitude towards its allies. In the numbers game, even one seat by an ally was of significance, she said.

She said the scope of the public distribution system should be expanded to include commodities like cloth and pulses.

Mr Param Singh Kainth, district convener of the morcha said the Punjab Government should increase the minimum wages given to agricultural labourers. The rate should be fixed at a minimum of Rs 65 daily. He also lent support to the students' strike against fee hike by universities in the state.

Rs 5 crore for scheme to drain out water

BATHINDA, Dec 6 (UNI) — The Centre has sanctioned Rs 5 crore to drain out rain water from rural and urban areas where no such facility is available, Punjab Minister of State for Irrigation Sikander Singh Malooka said at Rampura Phul yesterday.

He said for this purpose small channels would be constructed and connected to nearby drains.

The minister said a survey would be conducted of villages and urban areas under the scheme.