Employees against sale of sites
PATIALA, Dec 4 — The state government has begun selling prime government land in this district under the ambitious “optimum utilisation of vacant government land scheme” to generate the much-needed revenue.

Bid to release TADA detainees decried
AMRITSAR, Dec 4 — The BJP MLA, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, has decried the attempt by the Punjab Government to seek the release of TADA detainees without weighing various considerations.

Secretariat staff to get salary
PATIALA, Dec 4 — Decks have been cleared for payment of salary for the month of November to the employees of the state civil secretariat at Chandigarh as a district court here today vacated the attachment order over the payment of salaries.

Panchayats asked to engage tutors
FEROZEPORE, Dec 4 — In an unprecedented move, the authorities have asked panchayats to engage tutors in at least 200 primary schools in various villages across the district. The move was necessitated on account of poor turnout of teachers at inaccessible rural schools, besides a bar on fresh recruitment of teachers by the state government.

Seats for winners of youth festivals
ANANDPUR SAHIB, Dec 4 — Punjabi University, Patiala, has reserved 15 seats in various courses for winners of competitions in youth festivals at the national and inter-varsity level.

Sodhi contradicts Kaura’s statement
PHILLAUR, Dec 4 — The Punjab unit of the BJP had never thought of dropping any BJP minister from the Punjab Cabinet or changing their portfolios, according to Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, state BJP unit chief.

Duty to save wheat from rats: millers
LUDHIANA, Dec 4 — The imposition of 50 per cent custom duty on imported wheat will help in the clearance of stocks of wheat lying unlifted in the Punjab godowns, which would otherwise have been eaten up by rodents, worms etc.

• Prosecution office inaugurated
• Plea to allot PAN soon
• 4 alumni of AS College honoured
• Eye check-up camp from December 6

• Chief Secretary warns officials
• Three hit by truck, killed
• Gateway planned at Hussainiwala border
• Moga residents without water

SGPC to have its own TV channel
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Dec 4 — The President of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal today cautioned the Sikh masses against internal and external forces trying to erode the base of the party.

Addressing a gathering at Manji Sahib organised to commemorate the 32nd barsi of Master Tara Singh, a great stalwart and former president of the SGPC and SAD, Mr Badal said the internal forces were more dangerous and “we must remain vigilant to meet their challenges”.

He advocated strengthening of the party base in rural and urban areas.

Paying tribute to Master Tara Singh, Mr Badal said he was a multi-faceted personality and an embodiment of traditional values of humanism, honesty and commitment to the cause.

He added that it was unfortunate that the Congress party had not recognised his role during the Independence struggle. Instead it’s government made him its first political prisoner after Independence when he asked Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru to fulfil his commitments made to the Sikhs before Independence.

He felt that suitable memorial in memory of Master Tara Singh should be built to carry forward his precious legacy for future generations.

He suggested that a committee of historians be constituted to write the glorious history of the Akali Dal with special references to the role and contribution made by its leaders from its inception.

Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC lauded the role of Master Tara Singh and said the committee had undertaken multi-farious programme to propagate the philosophy of Sikhism through the Internet.

The SGPC was proposing to start its own satellite channel for transmitting the gurus message to every corner of the world. She said a new scheme of moral ethical extension programme had commenced under which camps will be organised to impart moral and ethical values to youth. A unit of 11 volunteers in each village of the state was being set up to raise a force for serving gurdwaras.

Among present included Jathedar Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Raja Narinder Singh, Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon.

White Paper on ISI soon: K.L. Sharma
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Dec 4 — Seeking “constructive support” of the Congress to ensure smooth passage of some Bills in the ongoing winter session of Parliament, Mr Krishan Lal Sharma, BJP national vice-president, said today his party was about to come out with a White Paper on the activities of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan in India.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Sharma said the Congress role on the issue of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Bill must be appreciated. He said his party was desirous of the same kind of support on the issue of other Bills to come up in the current session of the Lok Sabha. “We want that there should be consensus at least on the issue of these Bills. Towards that end we need the active support of the Opposition and at our end we are optimistic,” said Mr Sharma. He assured that his government was open to all suggestions put forth by the opposition in national interest or public welfare.

Mr Sharma further said the BJP- led coalition government was likely to come out with a White Paper on the nefarious designs of the ISI and terrorism support from across the border. Mr Sharma, however, did not specify any time frame regarding this. He evaded queries as to why his government failed to issue a White Paper even as the Home Minister had asserted in Parliament about two years back that his government had been determined to do so. “The reason is obvious. It is a huge task and needs detailed inputs from different quarters,” he added.

He alleged that the ISI was out to destruct the democratic set-up in the country, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and in the North-East. But the BJP-led government would spare no effort to eliminate the evil of terrorism from the face of the country with full might, he asserted.

About Punjab where his party is a coalition partner of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Sharma said his party was fully satisfied with the performance of the ruling coalition government. Asked what were the reasons behind the humiliating defeat of the SAD-BJP alliance in the recent Lok Sabha poll, Mr Sharma said internal bickerings of SAD led to dipping of electoral fortunes of the alliance. He, however, ruled out the possibility of the BJP interfering into the affairs of its alliance partner. “If there are any suggestions we will give them whenever we think it appropriate,” he retorted.

On a question regarding the financial crisis in the state, Mr Sharma said the Centre would help states irrespective of the party ruling these states. Mr Sharma, in a well-guarded manner, said the expansion of the Cabinet in the state was the prerogative of the Chief Minister as “we can give suggestions in this regard.” He clarified that there was non pre-poll understanding between SAD and the BJP regarding the office of the Deputy Chief Minister going to the BJP.

Mr Sharma said there was need to review internal party matters. The BJP national executive was meeting at Chennai on December 27, 28 and 29. He said besides the possibility of amendments in some sections of the party constitution and structure as per the recommendations of a committee set up for this purpose certain resolutions would be passed about the economic and political situation of the country.

Asked why the main issues of the BJP like Ram Janmabhoomi and Article 370 had taken a back beat after it assumed power, Mr Sharma said the coalition had become a widely accepted reality and whenever it came to a matter of choice between running a democracy on the one hand and these issues on the other our preference fell on the former.”

“We had been very clear on these issues before going to the polls and had made it clear to people that in the given situation we are not going ahead with these issues,” he said.

Seer with a difference
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR: Barefoot, saffron-robed and with sandalwood paste smeared on the forehead, Swami Akhanda Nand Giri can be seen planting saplings of fruit trees in colonies of towns, cities and even villages. He seems to be more concerned about afforestation and environment than being a simple preacher.

Swamiji, as he is known, quotes immensely from Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu and English literature while convincing his followers to “plant more trees”. He says trees give us clothing, shelter and even food (kulli, julli and gulli). Elaborating the benefits of trees, Swamiji says, “One tree contributes more than Rs 18 lakh to the society in the form of oxygen, wood and fruit”.

He says trees also help in controlling noise and air pollution. Trees absorb dust and noise. “There will be total chaos if cutting of trees continues unabated,” he adds.

Swami Akhanda Nand is not an ordinary saint. He is highly educated and took “sanyas” after resigning from the post of Principal, DAV College, in Punjab. He also had a stint as a government official before the “sanyas”. He has got five master’s degrees in various subjects and enjoys full command over Punjabi, Hindi, Sanskrit and English languages.

Though the permanent “dera” of Swamiji is in Haridwar, yet he spends most of his time in preaching the Vedas, Upnishads, Bhagwad Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata in various corners of the country throughout the year. Swamiji has authored a number of books, including “Sumerin” based on the Sikh scripture “Sukhmani Sahib”.

While preaching the Bhagwad Gita, Swamiji gives a lot of reference from the works of Punjabi Sufi saints and poets Prof Mohan Singh, Surjit Pattar and Shiv Kumar Batalvi. He has also penned a number of poems in Punjabi and Hindi which have been published in various journals and books.

Swamiji emphasises on spreading education. He tells his followers that instead or organising “bhandaras” (community kitchens), one should adopt children of poor families and take care of their education. He feels that a number of “bhandaras” are organised mostly outside religious places, with the result most of the food goes waste. “Instead, people should distribute text-books and note-books and other material needed for studies,” he says, adding, “Illiteracy is the mother of hundreds of evils and vices”. He feels it is more important to eradicate the menace of illiteracy than organise religious functions.

The teachings of Swamiji are extremely simple. He says one should lead a simple life and not go after making easy money. He also warns that one should beware of religious leaders who are “duping” innocent followers in the name of religion.

Inter-dist gang of cheats busted
From Our Correspondent

GURDASPUR, Dec 4 — The police has busted an inter-district gang of cheats for their involvement in extorting money by promising people to pay back double the amount in fake currency. According to Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, the police today arrested Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, resident of Jalandhar, whereas his younger brother, Rajinder Singh, alias Raju, his accomplice, is still at large.

The SSP said the accused initially managed to pay back double the amount to the person from whom they extorted small amount in real currency against alleged fake currency. The persons who got double the amount and used that money without hindrance managed larger amounts and paid these to the accused to get back double the amount.

Mr Varinder Kumar said Sahib Singh, resident of Dhand village in Jalandhar district, complained to the police here that he had come to visit his relative, Jaswant Singh at Panjgraian village in Amritsar district. On November 30 both came to Chaya village, 3 km from here, and were taking tea near the post office crossing. The accused, who were known to him, met him there and demanded Rs 25,000 and promised to pay Rs 50,000 the next day at their residence at Jalandhar at 9 a.m. The complainant out of sheer greed arranged the amount from his relative and handed over that to the accused in the presence of his relative. The next day when he reached their residence at Jalandhar the accused instead of paying back them the promised Rs 50,000 ill-treated him. The complainant said there were other people also at their residence who were demanding back the money paid to them.

Mr Varinder Kumar said the police had registered a case under Sections 420 and 34 of the IPC against the accused and entrusted the investigation to Inspector Paramjit Singh, in-charge CIA here, who managed to arrest one of the accused. Police parties have been sent to raid the hideouts of the other accused to arrest him.

The SSP said the accused during preliminary interrogation disclosed, he came in to contact with Sushil Kumar, who was his neighbour, who in turn introduced him and his brother to those engaged in the manufacture of fake currency at Kartarpur. The gang members engaged in making fake currency, including Billa, Marshal, Tayler etc, had been arrested by the Kartarpur police.

Employees against sale of sites
From Jupinderjit Singh

PATIALA, Dec 4 — The state government has begun selling prime government land in this district under the ambitious “optimum utilisation of vacant government land scheme” to generate the much-needed revenue.

Under the scheme introduced a year ago, six sites have been selected in this district and transferred to the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) which will sell these and deposit the revenue thus generated in the infrastructure development fund of the state.

Two sites — an old dispensary in Adalat Bazar and the PWD mono rail store in Sher-e-Punjab Market — have already been taken over by PUDA. The remaining, an office, the Home Guards office at The Mall, Haveli Kaur Ji near Amar Ashram and a residential colony near the Improvement Trust office in Chotti Baradari — will be soon taken over once the departments concerned succeed in arranging alternate sites for the offices.

While the government through PUDA hopes to generate about Rs 30 crore through the scheme, certain employee organisations have objected to the move. They argue if the government begins selling its property. It will soon have no assets. They also contend that the government would not be able to find alternate sites for various departments as had been the experience in the past.

Further it is argued that the local Municipal Corporation office situated in Dharampura Bazaar, which is a prime area, was offered to buyers but no one came forward. They fear these prime sites will meet a similar plight.

According to Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir said, a high-powered committee headed by the Chief Secretary had decided to transfer prime government land to PUDA. Only those sites which are not being properly utilised and have the capacity for commercial use will be sold. All sites in this district have good scope for multi-storeyed shopping complexes, he says.

Mr A.S. Miglani, Additional Chief Administrator, says the government departments at the sites have been asked to suggest alternate sites for offices or residential purposes. He says the sites are not only vacant but prone to encroachment.

He says a deal of about Rs four crore is being finalised for two sites — the old dispensary and the PWD store. The other four sites will be sold after calculating market prices. He expects the sites will fetch Rs 25 crore or more.

Punjab State Karamchari Dal president Hari Singh Tohra says the land on The Mall Road, the Home Guards office, the PWD workshop, the Public Health Department anti-larva office and the Karamchari Dal’s office should be developed into a mini secretariat.

However, Mr Miglani disagrees. “Kaur Ji haveli is in a dilapidated condition. It has been declared unsafe and can fall any moment. Similarly, the land at The Mall on which several offices are located also presents a poor picture,” he asserts.

Bid to release TADA detainees decried
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Dec 4 — The BJP MLA, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, has decried the attempt by the Punjab Government to seek the release of TADA detainees without weighing various considerations. Mrs Chawla, in a letter to the Punjab Governor, the Chief Minister and the Union Home Minister, copies of which were released to the press here today, has said the state government has no right to take a decision on those indicted under TADA.

She has warned that such an action is fraught with danger and pointed out that a similar decision by the then Chief Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, in 1985 had only worsened the Punjab problem.

She has made a mention of the large number of police personnel languishing in jails for their role during militancy. Expressing shock and dismay, she has said these “brave police officers made many sacrifices to protect the lives and property of people, but the government has neither shed tears for them nor tried to get them released”.

Mrs Chawla has reminded the government that those detained under TADA are not innocent persons but had been involved in heinous crimes like murder and sympathy for them would send the wrong signal.

Secretariat staff to get salary
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Dec 4 — Decks have been cleared for payment of salary for the month of November to the employees of the state civil secretariat at Chandigarh as a district court here today vacated the attachment order over the payment of salaries.

Additional Session Judge, Mr S.K. Aggarwal today directed the treasury office Chandigarh and Patiala to release the amount in favour of the state. The court had attached Rs 50.50 lakh recently on a petition filed by a contractor who had not received payment against government work executed by his company, Bhullar Constructions. The case will come up for hearing on January 18.

With these orders thousands of employees of the civil secretariat may finally get their salary.

The agitated employees have been holding rallies and dharnas against the government in Chandigarh over the issue.

While other government employees received salary in the last week of November the secretariat employees could not get it due to attachment orders of a particular head, general administration, under which its salaries are covered.

No trunk calls to USA
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Dec 4 — Do you want to make a phone call abroad? If yes, go to the public call office (PCO) to get connected if you don’t have an ISD at home as you cannot book the call from home. The local telephone exchange has stopped its trunk call facility for the past many months.

Interestingly this comes at a time when the department has been offering facility like E-mail and Internet.

Mr Pushpinder Singh Kaily, District Revenue Officer, while talking to TNS said that few days ago he was surprised to learn that international calls could not be booked as the telephone exchange had stopped the facility.

He alleged that due to this the public had to go to PCOs and pay extra. Moreover, it was difficult to go to a PCO at night in winter, presuming they were open.

Mr Labh Singh, DGM, Telecom Department, when contacted said that the trunk call facility had been discontinued as number of users was declining due to the large number of PCOs.

Panchayats asked to engage tutors
From Gurpreet Singh
Tribune News Service

FEROZEPORE, Dec 4 — In an unprecedented move, the authorities have asked panchayats to engage tutors in at least 200 primary schools in various villages across the district. The move was necessitated on account of poor turnout of teachers at inaccessible rural schools, besides a bar on fresh recruitment of teachers by the state government.

The move is expected to come to the rescue of 200 rural schools — mostly in Makhu and Zira belts of the district where the academic prospects of the village students is at stake. Significantly, the District Planning Board Chairman, Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, who is also the Rural Development and Panchayat Minister, has already given his nod to the move initiated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu. This has cleared the decks for immediate implementation of the scheme in the current academic year.

Under the proposed scheme, the panchayats shall be empowered to engage sevakarmis or volunteers on their own in lieu of fixed remuneration. Eligible sevakarmis are expected to shoulder the responsibility of a teacher to save the precious current academic year of the rural students.

Though most of these schools fall under Zira and Makhu belts of the district. Guru Har Sahai is another inaccessible area.

The DC, Mr Sidhu, who earlier toured these areas, attributed the low turnout of teachers to poor service conditions besides a bar on fresh recruitments. Although he has warned the teachers, who willingly absent themselves from duty, Mr Sidhu disclosed the schools which are inaccessible in Zira and Makhu belts have only aggravated the problem for students.

The school in these belts are inaccessible through roads and one has to reach there through boats across the Sutlej river, he said, adding, "This has been keeping the teachers away from the schools for years together".

The teachers' strength in rural schools of Abohar and Fazilka belts was comparatively full on account of better service conditions, he tried to reason.

Mr Sidhu had earlier raised the matter when the Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, visited the district last month. However, the Education Department is understood to have pointed out some lacunae in the scheme. The lacunae were eventually cleared after the Deputy Commissioner raised the issue afresh on Mr Kahlon's visit for a District Planning Board meeting held here yesterday.

Seats for winners of youth festivals
Tribune News Service

ANANDPUR SAHIB, Dec 4 — Punjabi University, Patiala, has reserved 15 seats in various courses for winners of competitions in youth festivals at the national and inter-varsity level.

Stating this here yesterday, Mr Daljit Singh, Director, Youth Welfare, Punjabi University, said the seats would be available from the 2000-2001 academic session. He said it would help promote cultural activities at the college level.

Mr Daljit Singh said the university had decided to introduce three cultural items at the university level youth festival from this academic session.

Kavisari, a cultural folk tradition, and two dances-sammi and jhummar-would be introduced at the Punjabi University Youth Festival for the first time this year.

The Director said Punjabi University had set a tradition by appointing on its staff a three-time national winner of youth festivals without any interview. He said, Shameem Iqbal, a gazal singer and a grandson of renowned Qawwal Rehmat Iqbal of Malerkotla, had been appointed in the university’s Theatre Department as music composer.

He said the university’s Youth Welfare Department would honour its old students who were now renowned artistes.

He said Punjabi University was among the first four at the national level in cultural activities.

Sodhi contradicts Kaura’s statement
From Our Correspondent

PHILLAUR, Dec 4 — The Punjab unit of the BJP had never thought of dropping any BJP minister from the Punjab Cabinet or changing their portfolios, according to Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, state BJP unit chief.

Talking to this correspondent here yesterday, Mr Sodhi contradicted the recent statements of the Punjab BJP General Secretary, Mr Jagmohan Kaura, that the BJP was thinking of dropping two BJP ministers. He said Mr Kaura had been asked to explain the matter. When asked to comment upon the ministry expansion and the BJP’s claim about ministerial berths, he said Mr Badal had said he would consult him before any expansion, and added that no consultations had been made so far.He said indiscipline within party would not be tolerated at any cost and added that a series of district-level meetings would be held within the next 10 days.

Mr Sodhi further said a state-level meeting of the office-bearers of the state unit of the BJP had been summoned on December 7 in Chandigarh. Mr Narinder Modi, in charge, Punjab BJP affairs, would attend the meeting, he added.

Duty to save wheat from rats: millers
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 4 — The imposition of 50 per cent custom duty on imported wheat will help in the clearance of stocks of wheat lying unlifted in the Punjab godowns, which would otherwise have been eaten up by rodents, worms etc.

This was stated by Mr Gopal Bhushan Gupta, president of the Punjab Roller Flour Millers Association here today. He, however, called for rationalisation of issue price of wheat in the “open market sale scheme” fixed by the government for different regions of the country. He said that while the FCI spent more than Rs 100 per quintal on transportation of wheat from Punjab to other states in South India, the government expected Punjab millers to sell wheat at the same price at which they purchased it.

Mr Gupta also called for the immediate withdrawal of the one per cent cess levied on the purchase of wheat in Punjab by the government which added to the cost of milling. He said the wrong policies of the state government were responsible for the closing of 28 of the 54 roller flour mills in Punjab.

Prosecution office inaugurated
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Dec 4 — Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, today inaugurated the prosecution agency office in the district court complex here today.Addressing a function organised in the connection, Mr Ladhar said the new bar room would be ready shortly. He added four urinals for the litigants would also be constructed shortly.Mr H.S. Bhalla, District and Sessions Judge, said that the record room, parking space and roads within the court complex needed special attention.

In another function organised in connection with 37th Saint John Ambulance competitions Mr Ladhar said that the Red Cross society had sent 33 trucks of relief material to the residents of cyclone hit Orissa state and Rs 40 lakh for the War Heroes Family Welfare Fund for Kargil martyrs.

Three hit by truck, killed
Tribune News Service

ROPAR, Dec 4 — Three persons were killed and five injured when a truck hit them near the Kurali bus stand, 17 km from here, last night.

The Kurali police said today Parshotam Lal, a Home Guard posted at SAS Nagar, and Gurmeet Singh of Kanorra village near Kurali were killed on the spot. Rama Devi, wife of Parshotam Lal, succumbed to her injuries on the way to hospital.

The police said five persons, including Kirpal Singh of Khizrabad village, Kanwaljit Singh of Singh village, Rashid Khan of Fatehgarh village and Ram Parkash of Chanalo village, were injured.

The police has arrested the truck driver Paramjit Singh, and impounded the truck. A case under Sections 279, 337, 338, 427 and 304-A has been registered against the truck driver.

Chief Secretary warns officials
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 4 — The Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Mann has said that officers violating the instructions on recruitment will face disciplinary action.

In a statement issued here today, he said it had come to the notice of the Government that in contravention of the instructions issued by the Finance Department, a process for recruitment had been initiated by certain departments without seeking clearance from the redeployment cell in the Personnel Department.

He said no recruitment should be made against the existing vacant posts without seeking "no objection certificate" from the cell. These instructions will also apply in all those cases where recruitment process for filling vacant posts was over short of issuing appointment letter.

In view of public exigencies, the case for appointments should be referred to the redeployment cell, the statement added.

Plea to allot PAN soon
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 4 — Mr Ashok Kumar Juneja, President and Mr N.D. Bansal, Secretary of the District Taxation Bar Association (Direct taxes) in a joint statement issued to the Press here today said the immediate issue of permanent account number (PAN) by the Income Tax Department was the need of the hour.

It said that though there were 1.85 crore assessees, PAN had been issued only to 1.4 crore assessees till September this year.

They said the mention of PAN had been made mandatory for various transactions, including sale and purchase of immovable property and opening of bank accounts.

Mr Juneja and Mr Bansal said the timely issue of the PAN would facilitate the department in accepting Income Tax returns of assessees and other documents on computers quickly to avoid inconvenience to income tax practitioners and assessees.

4 alumni of AS College honoured
From Our Correspondent

KHANNA Dec 4 — The third annual function of A.S. College Alumni Association was held here today. Four old students of the college Mr D.S. Mangat, former D.G.P. Punjab, Mr Jasjit Singh Randhawa, former minister of Punjab, Mr Harpal Singh, Asian gold medalist (boxing), and Mr Sukhdev Madpuri, Shiromani Sahitkar, were honoured.

The chief guest of the function Mr S.S. Dullo, M.P. announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh. Mr H.S. Deol, D.P.I. Colleges, presided over the function.

Mr Boota Singh, president of the association, thanked the guests.

Principal Tarsem Bahia said a post graduate department had been started in the college and a career guidance centre for students was being set up with the help of the Alumni Association.

Gateway planned at Hussainiwala border
Tribune News Service

FEROZEPORE, Dec 4 — The district administration is planning to construct a huge gateway on this side of the Indo-Pak border at the Hussainiwala joint checkpost, near here, early next year. Deputy Commissioner Kulbir Singh Sidhu said here.

A proposal to this effect had been discussed with the state Architecture Department.

Mr Sidhu revealed that the project might cost Rs 32 lakh and shall be a part of the Wagah border in Amritsar. Adding that the forest wing of the Punjab Government had been directed to plant ornamental plants along the road leading to Hussainiwala. Mr Sidhu said March 23, 2000, the date of Bhagat Singh's hanging, had been fixed as the deadline for these works. He, however, clarified that the construction of the gateway might take more time.

Eye check-up camp from December 6
From Our Correspondent

BATALA, Dec 4 — A free eye check up camp will be organised at Maharaja Tulsidas Charitable Hospital, Durga Mata Mandir Hansli Bridge, from December 6 to 8, according to Mr Satish Chander, Chairman of the sabha, Sidh Baba Balak Nath Mandir.

Mr Satish Chander said eye check-up would be done by the Gurdaspur district eye mobile unit. However, on December 8 eye operations would be conducted by Senior Medical Officer (SMO), of an eye hospital, Gurdaspur.

Medicines will be distributed amongst the patients free of cost. Spectacles, boarding and lodging will be provided by the sabha, he added.

Moga residents without water
From Our Correspondent

MOGA, Dec 4 — Certain areas of the town remained without drinking water for the past two days due to a power breakdown, which paralysed not only the water supply system but also business activities. Similar reports were also received from certain villages in this district where villagers here yesterday urged the officials of the Punjab State Electricity Board to make immediate and proper arrangements for uninterrupted supply of drinking water to them.