|
Drugs
major problem in Punjab
Chandigarh, April 8
The use of durgs has become a major
problem in Punjab. The worst affected are youth. Every third male and
every seventh female student in the state has “tasted” drugs. And
this figure is official, based on a survey conducted by the state Health
Department authorities.
Tandon:
300 crore for civic amenities
Bathinda, April 8
The Punjab Government has declared
2001 as the year of development and many ambitious projects will be
undertaken by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) at an
estimated cost of Rs 1,905 crore.
Machhiwara
bridge stone laid
Machhiwara, April 8
Thousands of people gathered on the
Machhiwara side of the Sutlej river, on the Machhiwara-Rahon road, to
watch their dream of a bridge come true.
Third
front rallies from April 17
Ludhiana, April 8
Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia
member, Rajya Sabha, and President, Lok Bhalai Party, said here today
that the People’s Front (third front) would organise rallies in all
the states to expose the corruption of the BJP-led Central Government
and against the exploitation of the religious sentiments of the people
for self-promotion.
Mofar
‘betrayed’ party
Mansa, April 8
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
president, Simranjit Singh Mann described Mr Ajitinder Singh Mofar,
his party MLA, who recently joined the Congress, “traitor” to the
panth, as he had joined a party responsible for Operation Bluestar,
anti-Sikh riots in 1984 and bringing disgrace to the Sikh women. He
has stabbed the Sikhs in the back. He called upon the Sikh community
to boycott Mr Mofar.
Tohra must reconsider decision: Dhindsa
Chandigarh, April 8
The Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, has appealed to the former SGPC chief and President of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, to reconsider his decision on joining hands with the Congress.
Heart
diseases “on rise among urbanites”
Sangrur, April 8
Delivering the key note address
at a seminar on “Management of Heart Problems”, Dr V.M. Kohli,
Chief Cardiac Surgeon, Dayanand Medical College (DMC), Ludhiana, said
heart diseases were rising alarmingly especially, among the urban
population.
Youth
conference concludes
Sangrur, April 8
The two-day all-India conference
of the All-India Federation of Democratic Youth (AIFDY) ended here
last night giving a clarion call to the youth of the country to
strongly oppose the policies of the Central Government with regard to
globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation.
Hotel
staff, family clash, 4 hurt
Amritsar, April 8
Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP MLA,
saved the situation for a family from Delhi which included a newly
married couple, who had an altercation with hotel staff in Kairon
market on Friday night.
Wadala
for amnesty to terrorists
Jalandhar, April 8
The Shiromani Akali Dal
(Democratic) has demanded that state government should bring all
terrorists in the mainstream grant general amnesty to them, who had
migrated to western countries due to alleged excesses by the state
police during the decade-long terrorism in the state.
British
police team visits orphanage
Jalandhar, April 8
A team of South Yorkshire police
from Northern England today visited “Unique Home”, a rescue home
for orphans and spent several hours with these orphans. The team of
police officers led by Mr Michal Venebulz, an inspector, handed over a
cheque of Rs 1.3 lakh meant for the welfare of these orphans to the
convener of the Unique Home, Mrs Harbhajan Kaur.
Paucity
of funds hits construction
Moga, April 8
Paucity of funds is holding up
the progress of this district and maintenance. Even a mini-secretariat
which was proposed to be build here three years back after giving Moga
the status of district headquarter has not, so far been built and
offices of various departments are situated at different places and
remote areas causing inconvenience to the residents of town.
Water
shortage worries residents
Gurdaspur, April 8
Residents of the Kandi area under
Dhar subdivision and Bamial block along the Indo-Pak border in the
district are a worried lot due to scarcity of drinking water. Whenever
a minister or a bureaucrat visits the area, the residents have raised
their demand regarding the shortage of drinking water but in vain.
Buddha’s
reference in Koran pointed out
Phillaur, April 8
Criticising the Taliban rules of
Afghanistan regarding demolition of the world-famous Buddha statues,
noted Islamic scholar, Prof Nisar Ahmad Farouqi, has said even the
holy Koran has reference about Buddha.
Reprieve
for small plot owners
Bathinda, April 8
The Punjab Local Bodies Minister,
Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, today reprieved the small plot holders of the
Green Avenue area by announcing that they would not be displaced from
their dwellings for making a ring road.
5
women hurt in clash
Chhat Bir (Patiala),
April 8
The controversy over the disputed
land here took a new turn today when a clash occurred between the
rival groups injuring five women.
11
donate blood
Bathinda, April 8
The local United Welfare Society
organised a cultural programme-cum-blood donation camp here today, at
which 11 volunteers, including three women, donated blood. The camp
was organised at Amarpura Basti. Mr Bhupinder Singh, Station House
Officer, City Kotwali, was the chief guest.
Villagers
donate 25 lakh for bridge
Phagwara, April 8
The Punjab Tourism Minister, Mr
Swarna Ram, on Friday laid the foundation stone of a bridge over Bein
rivulet at nearby Lakhpur village. The bridge, with an estimated cost
of Rs 35 lakh, is expected to be completed by June 30.
Seminar
on Gadar movement held
Jalandhar, April 8
The relevance of the principles
on which the Gadar movement was launched by freedom fighters was
stressed by the speakers at a seminar to mark the 89th foundation day
of the Gadar Party at the local Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall here today.
Raising
Day celebrated
Jalandhar, April 8
The 128 Air Defence Regiment
celebrated its 50th Raising Day in the cantonment yesterday.
Disease
hits rapeseed, wheat crops
Moga, April 8
Farmers of various villages of
this district yesterday complained that their rapeseed and wheat crop
had been damaged considerably following a disease and they would
suffer heavy losses if no measures were taken to save the crops from
disease. They said here yesterday that 10 to 15 per cent damage had
been caused to these crops and demanded compensation.
State
to curtail paddy area
Faridkot, April 8
The Punjab Government has
formulated a comprehensive plan to curtail the area under cultivation
from 26.11 lakh hectare to 16 lakh hectare during the next five years
to utilise its various resources like quality of soil, ground water
and marketing system for other crops in the state.
Breach
in minor damages crop
Mansa, April 8
Nearly 250 acres of standing crop
was damaged due to breach in Boha rajbaha in Gamiwala, Dharampura,
Mander and Saidewala villages in the district. A 90-ft long breach
occurred in the said rajbaha as a result of which water spread in
large area, causing extensive loss to standing crop. Nearly 150 acres
of crop is still under water.
Urban Development Board set
up
Patiala, April 8
The Punjab Government has set up Urban Development Board to facilitate the development of urban areas in the
state. This was stated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of the district administrative complex near the district jail here
today.
Shoot-at-sight
orders issued
Faridkot, April 8
Shoot-at-sight orders have been
issued by the Border Security Force to prevent entry of infiltrators
along the Punjab border, and a large number of raiding parties and
checkposts augmented for round-the-clock vigil, BSF sources said
today.
3
held for looting passenger
Phagwara, April 8
Seema, Aneeta and Rajiv, arrested
on the charge of drugging and looting a passenger in a train, were
yesterday remanded into police custody for two days.
Drive
to improve primary schools
Muktsar, April 8
As part of a novel attempt, the
district administration here has uplifted infrastructural facilities
in 23 primary schools under a recently introduced ‘model primary
schools’ campaign. These schools are designed to have separate
classrooms for each class, besides staff room and headmaster’s room.
Headmistress
pocketing 102 kids’ stipend
Batala, April 8
Inspite of the fact that the
Punjab Government spends a considerable portion of its resources on
education, the condition of government schools remain pitiable. Like
many other government departmental projects, a major portion of funds
allocated to the Education Department are siphoned off by those in
power.
Cancellation
of exam centres sought
Amritsar, April 8
As reports of mass copying in
examinations conducted by the Punjab School Education Board continue
to pour in from various centres in the district, examination
superintendents have called for the cancellation of some examination
centres and recommended a re-examination.
DAV
students get degrees
Amritsar, April 8
The Rajya Sabha MP, Mr Lajpat Rai
today while addressing the annual convocation of DAV College here,
said the RSS was one of most disciplined cadres in the country.
|
