The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, November 17, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
FELLOWSHIP OFFERED: Dr S.S. Bir, Emeritus Professor of Punjabi University, has been offered fellowship for three years in the Botanical Science Department of Guru Nanak Dev University for the development of a Botanical garden. This was decided at a Syndicate meeting held here on Wednesday. Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor, presided over the meeting.

BATHINDA
HELD: Om Parkash, Manager, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Faridkot, has been caught red-handed by a vigilance team led by Mr Mehal Singh, DSP, while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from Mr Shiv Kumar. Mr Sat Pal Singh Sidhu, SP (Vigilance), in a press note issued here on Wednesday said the manager was demanding the amount from Mr Shiv Sharma to issue him a cheque for Rs 5 lakh as payment for the paddy purchased by the corporation.

GURDASPUR
ARRESTED: The police has arrested Baljinder Singh of Niwan Dhakala village in the district for fraudulantly taking away a mini-bus from Makhan Singh of Hamrajpur, 5 km from here. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said Baljinder Singh had got a fake power of attorney prepared in his favour from Narinder Singh from whom Makhan Singh had purchased the bus. Baljinder Singh, also threatened the complainants , who bought the bus from Makhan Singh, of dire consequences if they tried to get the bus back.

HOSHIARPUR
TAXI STAND RAIDED: District transport officials raided a taxi stand at Garhshanker on Tuesday evening. Mr N. S. Walia, District Transport Officer, said here on Wednesday that seven Sumos and Maruti vans which were being plied as taxis without licence had been impounded.

Khamano
Cooperative week organised: A district-level function related to the fourth all India Cooperation Week was organised by the Primary Agriculture Development Bank, Khamano. The chief guest at the function was Ms Sita Rani Bansal (Managing Director), State Agriculture Development Bank, Chandigarh . She urged the farmers to join the cooperative movement.

LUDHIANA
grant may lapse: Majority of the 147 aided colleges in the state are on the verge of losing Centre Government grant already received by the state government for disbursement of arrears under new pay scales to the teachers and employees of various educational institutions. According to the information available here, only six of these colleges have so far furnished details about total posts of teachers, the grades they are working in and the duration of their service, to the office of the DPI (colleges), Punjab. Even though the department had announced November 1 as last date for submission of these details, yet only few of these colleges responded. With management of the remaining colleges slow in furnishing details, the teachers of these institutions would have to suffer if the grant lapses. Mr H.S. Deol, DPI (colleges), when contacted, confirmed the reports. The DPI said that their department had duly informed the colleges and their managements about the November 1 deadline. The DPI, however, said the details required may still be considered if sent at the earliest.

APPOINTED: Mr Sharanjit Singh Gill, a native of Gill village, Ludhiana, has been appointed the Business Development Manager for the Clearbrook branch of the Bank of Montreal. He claims to be the first turbaned Sikh manager of the bank. An ex-student of New High School and Government College for Men , Ludhiana, Mr Gill migrated to Canada in 1995.

pooja celebrations: Sree Ayyappa Temple will celebrate the Mandala Pooja - Makaravilaku festival from November 16 to 26 at their temple. The festival of Sabrimalai is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year in the city by the Keralites and the celebration is known as Mandala Pooja. The Festival is celebrated on Makar Samkranthi day. It is believed that a sacred star appears high above the hills followed by a divine light - singing the graceful presence of Lord Ayyappa. The devotees flock at Sabarimalai on this particular day irrespective of caste and creed from all walks of life for witnessing the graceful presence of Lord Ayappa.

MALERKOTLA
DENTAL HEALTH: The Dental Health Fortnight organised by the Punjab Health Department at the local Civil Hospital concluded here on Thursday. According to Dr Mohammad Shabbir, CMO (Dental), 4450 patients were examined for various ailments. Fifty dentures were distributed free of cost among the poor.

TALENT SEARCH: A talent search programme was organised by the local branch of the State Bank of Patiala at Government College here on Wednesday. Mr M.S. Jaggi, Chief Manager of the bank, was the chief guest. As many as 50 students participated in the declamation, poem recitation and mono-acting competitions.

DECLAMATION CONTEST: The Ludhiana branch of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organised a declamation contest on Pulse Polio at Government Senior Secondary School in Khanpur village, 5 km from here, on Wednesday. As many as 17 students participated in the contest. Ashwinder Singh Sodhi, Nirbhey Singh and Shiwali Rani won the first, second and third positions, respectively.

MANSA
DHARNA: Workers of Budhlada Cooperative Sugar Mill have been staging a dharna at the gate of the closed mill for a week, demanding that the mill be opened. Mr Beant Singh Kainth, a worker, has threatened to immolate himself. The mill was closed five years ago.

NAWANSHAHR
MEETING HELD: A joint meeting of the district units of the Punjab Kisan Sabha and the Punjab Khet Majdoor Sabha was held here on Wednesday to mobilise the activists to participate in the march to Parliament in New Delhi on November 30 to protest against the economic liberalisation. Mr Lehmber Singh Tagger, general secretary, Punjab Kisan Sabha and Mr Ram Singh Nurpuri, vice- president, Punjab Khet Majdoor Sabha, among others addressed the meeting.

POSTMEN’S STIR: Postmen observed a strike and held a dharna in front of the post office here on Wednesday to protest against swapping Ms Kashmir Kaur, a stamp vendor, with Ms Subhash Kanta, a postwoman. They threatened to continue the stir till the cancellation of the orders.

PATHANKOT
TWO BOOKED: Deepo, alias Deepak Manchanda, and Richard of Delhi were booked for allegedly taking Rs 2.5 lakh from Mr Munish Malhotra of the local Indira Colony for sending him abroad. Mr Malhotra alleged that the two had promised to arrange a visa for him. A case under Sections 420 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against the accused.

Patiala
championships: Lakshmi of Samrala and Neetu Sharma of Patiala bagged the first and second positions, respectively, in the light welterweight category in the inaugural Punjab State Women boxing championships which concluded at Samrala recently. Another Patiala girl who shone in the three-day meet was Pooja Dutta who was placed first in the fly weight category. She was followed by Meenakshi of Hoshiarpur. The other results: 42 kg category — Madhubala (Hoshiarpur)-1, Rekha Dutta (Dhuri)-2. 45 kg category — Anuradha (Hoshiarpur) -1, Amarjit Kaur (Samrala)-2. 54 kg category — Meenakshi (Hoshiarpur)-1, Balwinder Kaur (Samrala)-2. 57 kg category — Sushma Rani (Hoshiarpur)-1, Harpreet Kaur (Hoshiarpur)-2, 60 kg category — Karamdeep Kaur (Samrala)-1, Jagmeet Kaur (Samrala)-2. 63 kg category — Lakhsmi (Samrala)-1, Neetu Sharma (Patiala)-2. 71 kg category — Tapayli Sood (Hoshiarpur)-1, Davinder Kaur (Samrala)-2. 75 kg category — Karamjit Kaur (Samrala)-1, Dhala Bhavna (Sunam)-2.

protest: The Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) workers union have registered a strong protest against the indiscriminatory attitude of the management regarding their genuine demands. In a press note, Mr Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of the union said the management was turning a blind eye towards their demands which include the transfer policy pertaining to appointments, corrupt practises being indulged in by some PRTC officials and the general indifference of the management towards other genuine demands of the workers.

New Born Week: The Department of Paediatrics is celebrating ‘New Born Week’ at the Government Rajindera Hospital from Wednesday onward. The week is being held under the aegis of the National Neonatology Forum and the Ministry of Health, Government of India. Dr Ravinder Singh, Principal, Government Medical College, inaugurated the celebrations. Dr Rameshwar Chander, Civil Surgeon, Patiala, spoke on the various facets of care for the new borne. He dwelt on the role of breast feeding, immunisation and prevention of neonatal infections to bring down the infant mortality rate.

SAHNEWAL
campaign: According to a press note issued by Dr Sarjiwan Kapila, SMO, the agenda regarding the pulse polio campaign will be released by Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, and Dr Harwinder Kaur, District Vaccination Officer, Ludhiana. The meeting regarding the agenda will be held on Friday.

Park inaugurated: The Kanaich Park built in the memory of late Narinjan Singh Talib, a former minister and MP, was inaugurated on Thursday by the SDM. Bhog ceremony and Shabad Kirtan were also held to mark the occasion. The function was attended by Mr Gurbax Singh Bhundaal, Mr Ranjit Pal Singh Bhandaal, Mr Maggar Singh Sarpanch, Mr Satwant Singh, Mr Bhinder Singh, Mr Ajitpal Singh, Mr Parshotam Singh and Mr Karamjit Singh Bhairomunna.

medical camp: A free medical camp will be held at Jassar village on November 19. The camp will be organised by the Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Teer Sahib, Gram Panchayat, Jassar, in collaboration with Kiran Hospital, Ludhiana. The camp will be inaugurated by Mr Jagdev Singh Jajpuri, former minister and Mr Jasvir Singh Khanpur, circle president, Youth Wing Akali Dal (Badal ).

SUNAM
DENTAL CAMP: The Lions Club, Moonak, organised a free dental and children examination camp at Moonak , 30 km from here, on Tuesday. Mr Vipan Garg, spokesman of the club, said here on Wednesday that 225 patients were examined and medicines worth Rs 20,000 distributed.

CHANDIGARH

Photo-exhibition extended: Taking into account the overwhelming response of the public to the photography exhibition put up by 30 photojournalists at the Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, the exhibition has been extended by two days. Where it was supposed to be closed by Friday, it will now remain on view till Sunday. The decision of extension was taken here by the vice-secretary of the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, Mr Madan Lal.

Press Day: The Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry has greeted the press on the occasion of International Press Day. In a note issued here on Thursday the senior vice-president of the chamber, Dr N.C. Jain, said in any democratic set up the press had a vital role in protecting the interests of the common man and in keeping a check on unbridled powers of the executive. He said the Indian press had by and large lived upto the expectations of the people who now had faith only in the judiciary and the fourth estate.

association: The Punjab Civil Secretariat Employees Association has urged employees in the secretariat not to cooperate with its administration in connection with the organisation of a blood donation camp on Friday. A spokesman of the association said that the administration had tried to deny them their democratic right of holding rallies and meetings, and the decision not to cooperate with it had been taken because of the indifferent attitude of the administration towards its employees.

Hunt for musical talent: Sanjivni Medical and Educational Trust, in collaboration with Rotary Club, Chandigarh Midtown, will organise a ‘Prodigy Hunt’ in classical and semi — classical folk (solo and group) dance in the age groups of 6 to 12 years on December 4 at Government Polytechnic For Women, Sector 10. The free registration forms are available at the Office of Sanjivni School, Sector 11. Children can register their names in the individual capacity also. This was stated by Dr Vanita Gupta, president of the club, here on Thursday.

Blood donation: Approximately 100 volunteers donated blood in a camp organised at the Students’ Centre of Panjab University here on Thursday. The camp was hosted by the Panjab University Campus Students Council jointly with the Yuvsatta and the Vir Deva Foundation. The session started early morning and continued till afternoon where even outsiders could be seen walking in to the camp ‘ for a noble cause’.

HARYANA

FARIDABAD
DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES: The local municipal corporation has decided to spend about Rs 1.50 crore on various development schemes in the town. The major portion of the amount would be spent on increasing water supply, constructing roads and laying new sewage lines.

FATEHABAD
CULTURAL programme: The local Mother Teresa Convent School organised a cultural function, including a fancy dress competition, on Tuesday. Mr Satya Paul Bansal, former president of the local municipal committee, was the chief guest.

HISAR
KILLED: Two youths were crushed to death when their motor cycle collided with a mini- truck in the cantonment area here on Wednesday. According to the police, they were coming from Hansi when the truck, which was on its way to Hansi from Hisar, hit their motor cycle. The victims have not been identified. The police has arrested the driver of the truck.

THEFT: The police booked 19 persons on Tuesday from different villages of the district for stealing irrigation water. The Adampur police registered a case against Bhim Singh and six other residents of Kalirawan village. A similar case was registered against Alok Ram and five others at Agroha police station.

PROTEST: Employees of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam demonstrated in front of the office of the Chief Engineer to protest against the privatisation of the nigam here on Wednesday. The All-Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union had given a call in this regard.

GLIDING COMPETITION: The first state gliding competition will be held at the local airport on December 2 and 3. It was decided at a meeting of the Haryana State Gliding Association here on Wednesday. The general-secretary of the association, Mr Rajender Dhaka, said an air show, including gliding, hot air balloon and aerobatics, would also be organised. About 100 trainee pilots from Hisar, Pinjore and Karnal airports would participate in the competition.

BANNED: The district administration has banned the entry of heavy vehicles to the town during the rush hours of morning and evening. Addressing mediapersons here on Tuesday, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Rastogi, said the heavy vehicles would not be allowed in the town from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

SENTENCED: A milkman, Om Parkash, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined Rs 1500 on Tuesday for selling adulterated milk.

KURUKSHETRA
COACHING: The University Grants Commission has provided a grant-in-aid to Mahatma Gandhi A.I.S. Coaching Institute of Kurukshetra University for giving coaching to students belonging to Scheduled Castes, scheduled tribes and economically backward classes. The coaching will be provided free of cost.

SIRSA
GOVT DECISION: The Haryana Government has decided to establish an engineering college in the Rori Vidhansabha segment of the district. This was stated by the Rori MLA, Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, at Odhan village, about 25 km from here. He was here in connection with his four-day public contact programme.

SONEPAT
STUDENTS ON RAMPAGE: A group of students on a passenger train bound for Ambala went on the rampage and looted a number of rehri and tea stalls at the railway station here on Wednesday. According to a report, a dispute between some students and the owner of a tea stall over money led to the incident. However, no action was taken against the students.

CAMPAIGN: The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam has intensified its campaign against the consumers indulging in power thefts and other irregularities in the Sonepat circle. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, told mediapersons here on Thursday that the officials of the nigam, during the past two weeks, had detected 507 cases of power theft and imposed a fine of Rs 27.66 lakh on the erring consumers.

TRAINING CAMP: The HAIC Agro Research and Development Centre, Murthal, is organising a three-day mushroom production and technology training camp commencing from November 27 on its campus, about 8 km from the city. Dr V.S. Pahil, scientist in charge, said the centre had made arrangements for selling 1 lakh kg of quality spawn of various strains of mushroom at a reasonable price.