The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, August 28, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
CONDEMNED: The killing of Mr anand Pandey, son of Professor Pandey of jawaharlal nehru University, by allegedly the police in bihar on August 18 was condemned by the teaching staff of Guru Nanak Dev University.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Amritsar chapter of the Homeopathic Medical Association of India: president — Dr Sudershan Kumar Aggarwal; vice-presidents — Dr Bhupinder Singh and Dr Ajit Singh; general secretary — Dr N.N. Mehra; and financial secretary — Dr Jaswant Singh Sethi.

BARNALA
LOK ADALAT: The District Sangrur Legal Services Authority and the Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee here organised a Lok Adalat and a seminar on the importance of free legal aid scheme and Lok Adalats at the local courts complex on Saturday. Mr R.M. Gupta, District and Sessions Judge, Sangrur, was the chief guest.

INSTALLED: Dr Sandeep Kumar, was installed president of the Lions Club (Harmony) at the joint installation ceremony of Lions Club (Harmony), Barnala, Lions Club, Jagraon, and Lions Club, Mid-town Jagraon, here at the local Gobind Bansal Charitable Trust Complex on Friday. Mr S.P.S Dhillon and Mr Anil Garg were installed presidents of the Lions Clubs of Jagraon.

FEROZEPORE
CHARGE ASSUMED: Mr Som Nath, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), here assumed the additional charge of Divisional Manager (Roadways), Ferozepore Division, on Friday. The post of divisional manager was lying vacant for quite some time following the indiction of Mr Wadhawan in a corruption case by the Vigilance bureau.

GARSHANKAR
RAIDED: On a tip-off, the Mahilpur police, in collaboration with excise officials, raided a mini-distillery in Pensaran village, which was being used for making illicit liquor. It also confiscated a ‘bhathhi’ used for making liquor and three drums of “lahan”. A case has been registered under the Excise Act. Davinder Singh and Jarnail Singh have been arrested.

COMPLAINT: About 200 taxis are plying here without legal permits and are evading taxes worth lakhs of rupees. The taxi owners having valid permits are sore over this and say that giving “monthly” bribe is much cheaper than paying permit tax.

HOSHIARPUR
BUDGET INCREASED: The Punjab Government has increased the budget of water supply schemes for urban areas by 30 per cent to overcome the shortage of drinking water in the state during the current financial year. This was stated by Mr Tikshan Sud, Minister of State for Excise and Taxation while addressing gatherings at Kotla, Gaunspur and Adamwal villages on Friday. Referring to the shortage of electricity, he said the state government would soon set up a thermal plant at Goindwal.

LOK ADALAT: A district-level Lok Adalat was held at the sessions court complex here on Saturday. Mr R.L. Roojam, District and Sessions Judge, presided.

JALANDHAR
ADVISED: Justice Ranga Nath Mishra, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission while speaking at Banarsi Dass Arya Girls College here on Saturday, said rights were part out of duties and awareness regarding duties was very important for all citizens.

MALERKOTLA
CRITICISED: The Punjab Students Union has condemned the state government for its anti-students policies. In a press note issued here on Saturday, Mr Gurmukh Singh Mann, member of the district committee of the union blamed the SAD - led government for making education costlier and criticised its indefinite policy regarding fee structure in school and colleges.

NAWANSHAHR
ORGANISED: Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Welfare Minister, while presiding over a “jan chetna samagam” organised on Saturday by the Lions Club, Behram, at Farala village, about 20 km from here, called upon social organisations to come forward to make the masses aware of the benefits of the welfare schemes launched by the government.

DIED: Balwinder Kumar, a rickshaw puller and a resident of Langroya village, and Pyar Kaur of the local Bhatti colony died on the spot when their rickshaw collided with a Punjab Roadways bus on the Chandigarh road here on Saturday.

PATIALA
CAMP ORGANISED: The Lion’s Club, Qila Mubarak, organised a free medical check-up camp of skin diseases and child healthcare at Gurdwara Nanak Darbar here on Sunday. About 350 patients were examined during the camp. Free medicines were also distributed. Dr Rameshwar Chander, Civil Surgeon, Patiala, inaugurated the camp. Mr Anand Khosla, President of the club, was also present on the occasion.

CONDEMNED: A seminar was organised by the All-India People’s Registered Forum (AIPRF) at the Com. Parwana Memorial Hall in the Baradari Gardens here on Sunday. The seminar focussed on the yet to be enacted ‘Prevention of Terrorism Bill-2000’, which the members said was draconian in nature and that the Bill was more dangerous in ramifications as compared to the TADA Act.

PROTEST: In a protest against the alleged misbehaviour of the Punjab Social Security Minister, Gobind Singh Kanjhla, and to press for the demand of his dismissal from the Cabinet, the PCMS Association has decided to intensify the agitation and extend it to the entire state. Four women doctors of Sangrur district have complained to the PCMSA against Mr Kanjhla. Dr D.C. Sharma, General Secretary of PCMS Association, Punjab, said here on Friday that a special meeting of the State Executive Committee of PCMS Association had been called at the Civil Hospital, Sangrur, on Sunday where a detailed strategy for the prolonged struggle would be finalised. The PCMSA sought co-operation from all associations of government offices and employees and the women organisations on the issue. It said a minister who does not know how to behave with government officers, especially women officers, had no right to continue as minister or hold any social responsibility post.

CHANDIGARH

CONDEMNED: The Chandigarh Beopar Mandal has condemned the attitude of the Chandigarh Administration to ignore the genuine demands of the traders regarding building bylaws in the commercial areas. The Administration was compelling the traders of Chandigarh for taking a drastic action, while urging that demands like commercial activity from the basement, use of the first floor of bay shops and free partition of shops should be looked into afresh.

CAMP ORGANISED: Government College, Sector 46, and Lions Club, Chandigarh Shivalik, organised a blood donation camp on Friday at the college campus. The camp was organised by Mr Parag Jain, SSP, UT, Chandigarh. More than 207 units of blood were collected during the camp and each donor was given a T-shirt by the Lions Club President, Mr I.J. Singh.

KARMACHARI SANGH: The members of the Chandigarh Janswasth Karamchari Sangh have decided not to join the strike on Tuesday which has been announced by other organisations. In a statement, Mr Ram Pal, General Secretary of the Sangh, said the strike will create a lot of problems for the city residents. Moreover, the strike will affect the water and electricity supply in the city.

RALLY: As many as 400 members of the Government Employees Residents Welfare Association, Sector 46-D, today organised a massive rally against the poor condition of roads, electricity, water and other problems being faced by them for a long time. Mr Gian Chand Gupta, a former mayor, assured the protesters that their problems will be solved, said Mr Ramesh Kumar Chandkotia, President of the association.

SAPLING PLANTED: As many as 50 saplings have been planted by State Bank of India, Sector 31, in the premises of GGDSD College, Sector 32. Mr C.L. Sethi, AGM, State Bank of India and Mr A.C. Vaid, Principal, along with the college staff planted the saplings. The bank officials also explained various beneficial schemes started by the bank on this occasion.

MC EMPLOYEES: The Chandigarh Nationalist Congress Party has urged the UT Administration to treat the transferred MC employees on deputation and a grant of bonus to the employees of the administration and corporation for the last three years. In a press note, Mr Gurbachan Singh, President of the party, said these demands should be fulfilled as early as possible. In case Administration fails to fulfill the demands, the party will support the MC’s strike on August 29, he said.

HONOURED: The Rotary Club of Chandigarh organised a blood donation camp in which 72 Rotarians of different clubs in the city, members of Inner wheel, Rotaractors and general public donated blood.The camp was organised to celebrate the birthday of Rtn P.P. Janak Grover, who gave 100th donation of blood at the camp. Dr B.N.S. Walia, former Director PGI, and President of Blood Bank Society, presented a scroll of honour to Janak Grover.

CULTURAL FESTIVAL: The annual intra-college cultural festival, Plexus - 2000, is being organised by the students of Government Medical College, Sector 32 from August 28 to 31, a statement issued here said. Stage events would comprise singing, ad fad, ek minute, cacophonics and quiz, while offstage events would comprise pot painting, rangoli, story writing, cartoon making and sketching. A debate on “Should doctors pursue a career in administrative services” will also be organised.

CONTEST: Pallavi Joshi and Simranjit were adjudged first and second, respectively, in a paper-reading contest on “Role of plants in protecting the environment” organised by Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46. Deepak and Vijay were adjudged third. The Nature Club of the school also organised a tree plantation camp. The camp was sponsored by the Department of Environment and Forest. A cultural programme was also presented by the students. Mr Jatinder Bhatia, President of PTA, Mr R.S. Goraya, Principal of the school and other executive members were present on the occasion.

HARYANA

AMBALA
INAUGURATED: An institute for the welfare of soldiers and their families was inaugurated here on Sunday by GOC 2 Corps, Lieut-Gen G.S. Sihota in Ambala cantonment. The Kharga Sainik Institute at Chillianwali lines has facilities for laundry, grinding of condiments, cafe, library with Internet facility, gymnasium as well as games facilities for table tennis, badminton and basketball. Brig Adm, Brig S.P.S. Narang, said General Sihota has announced that all services in the Kharga institute will be for free. “Two other similar institutes are going to be set up soon. One will be at Allenby lines and the other will be at Panipat lines,” he said. 7002 EME batallion will be running the institute here, he added.

HISAR
CASES DECIDED: As many as 448 cases were decided at a Lok Adalat held on the district court premises here on Saturday. The District and Sessions Judge, Mr nawab Singh presided.

ROHTAK
PURSE SNATCHED: Two motor cycle-borne youths snatched a purse containing Rs 10,500 from a woman at the DLF chowk here on Saturday. a case has been registered in this connection.

ROBBED: Satbir of Raipur village was reportedly robbed of Rs 50,000 by certain armed men while he was waiting for a Jeep on the Sonepat-Bahalgarh road near Dewan Farm House, about 5 km from here on Saturday. A case has been registered in this connection.

KILLED: Armed men attacked the house of Mr Om Parkash and killed his 13-year-old son and injured four other members of the family at Kilorad village, about 5 km from here, on Saturday. A case has been registered in this connection.

SONEPAT
ARRESTED: The Gohana police arrested Ram Kumar of Madina village on Sunday, who was engaged in extorting money from shopkeepers at gunpoint. A Maruti car and a pistol were recovered from him.