The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Saturday, July 20, 2002, Chandigarh, India

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

PUNJAB

AMLOH
WORKSHOP: A workshop on vocational guidance was organised in Government Senior Secondary School, Naraingarh, near here, on Wednesday. The Employment Officer, Ms Arvinder Kaur, and the District Guidance Councillor, Mr Satwinder Singh Hira, spoke on various avenues of services for the youth, particularly the recent facilities provided to the defence services. Mr Roshan Lal Sood, Principal of the school, appealed the students to adopt high principles in life and serve the country.

AMRITSAR
THEFTS: The Dehra Dun passenger train that departs from here at 9 p.m. is having a number of thefts in its sleeper coaches. Incidents of chain and purse snatching, besides street urchins taking off shoes and baggages of passengers are common. Sources reveal that this is being done in connivance with the police.

SMACK SEIZED: The district police on Thursday arrested a 30-year old woman, Amarjeet Kaur, a resident of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, for allegedly possessing 90 gm of smack. Mr Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, Superintendent of Police, revealed that the accused used to get smack from Delhi and sell the contraband in retail. A police team had been dispatched to Delhi to nab the culprits.

BATHINDA
GRANTS DEMANDED: Staff members of Guru Nanak College, Budhlada, have not been paid salaries for the past six months. Mr Surjan Singh and Mr Nazar Singh, presidents, respectively, of the teaching and non-teaching staff unions of the college, said they would approach the President of the SGPC to intervene so that grants from the Punjab Government could be released.

RESENTMENT: Resentment prevails among owners of local hotels and restaurants against a proposal of the authorities to impose restrictions on the use of airconditioners in their establishments in view of the power crisis in the state. They said they had been paying charges at commercial rates to the PSEB. They said if any restriction was imposed on the use of ACs, it would badly affect their business. Mr Som Chand Ghatia, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the district, said if the authorities wanted to save power, checks should be put on the misuse of the ACs in offices of the different departments.

ARRESTED: A drug supplier, Gopal Garg, was arrested by the police on Thursday. He used to purchase narcotic substances from Karnal in Haryana and Hanumangarh in Rajasthan and then sell these in different parts of the city and nearby areas, Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, said in a press note. A huge quantity of drugs was seized from him.

BODIES FOUND: A body was found in a field near Tarkhanwala village under the Raman police station on Friday. Volunteers of Sahara, an NGO, took the body to the Civil Hospital where a post-mortem was conducted. Another body was found in a wagon of a goods train at the Bhachu Mandi railway station, about 13 km from here. The train had come from Assam. The body was taken to the Civil Hospital where a post-mortem was conducted. Both bodies were cremated by Sahara.

HOSHIARPUR
COMPLAINT: On a complaint of Sadiq Ali of Bhungarni, the Sadar police registered a case against Yusaf on Thursday for allegedly kidnapping his minor daughter. In his complaint, Sadiq Ali stated that his 16-year-old daughter, Meena, had been missing since June 7and he suspected that Yusaf had abducted her.

‘KALE KACHHEWALE’ HELD: The district police has unearthed a gang of ‘kale kachhewale’ which had recently committed numerous dacoities in the district. The police sources said here on Thursday that the Hariana police arrested six members of the gang while they were planning a dacoity at Bassi Kaso village.

LUDHIANA
PUJA: Govardhan puja was performed at Shri Govind Gaudham in Haibowal here on Thursday to attract rain clouds over the city. Mr Rajiv Duggal, a spokesman for the Gau Seva Samiti, said keeping in view the misery of the residents due to the on-gong dry spell, prayers were offered.

DISCOURSE: A week-long Vyas Purnimotasv got under way at Shri Ved Mandir in the Daresi grounds here on Wednesday. Dandi Swami Nigambodhji, in his inaugural discourse, said that the human body was the door for attaining salvation. During the utsav, which would culminate on July 24, satsang session would be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and later from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WELCOMED: The Jain Acharya, Dr Shiv Muniji, was given a rousing welcome by a large gathering of prominent personalities of the town on his arrival in Sunder Nagar, here on Wednesday. An abhinandan samaroh was held which started with the recitation of navkar mahamantra. Among those who spoke on the occasion included Sadhvi Divya Prabha Maharaj, Gian Muniji Maharaj and Mr Ram Kumar Jain, Harsh Bala Jain and Poonam Jain recited bhajans.

MOGA
BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT: Deputy Commissioner G. Ramesh Kumar on Thursday allotted beautification work of the city various NGOs departments. Pankaj Motors, Nestle, Skylark along with some NGOs and local landscapers have joined hands for the beautification of the city.

EMPLOYEES’ STIR: Almost all employees of the Moga Excise and Taxation Department staged demonstrations by wearing black badges in front of their offices. They were demanding immediate transfers of certain high-ups of the department against whom they had earlier levelled charges. They said that they would continue the agitation, if their demand was not accepted.

PHAGWARA
WOMAN KILLED: A pregnant woman, Sangita, was killed while her sister-in-law, Dhiraj, was seriously injured when their scooter was hit by a bus on the GT Road on the outskirts of Phagwara on Thursday.

SUICIDE: A teenaged girl here committed suicide on Wednesday. The girl consumed a poisonous substance.

ROPAR
MEETING: Deputy Commissioner, Ropar , Ms Seema Jain, had a meeting on Wednesday with the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) Chairman, Mr Rakesh Nath, to discuss the development of Nangal tourism. The Board agreed to the proposal of the Deputy Commissioner that they should allow the local council to develop landscapes on the banks of the Nangal Dam Lake. However, no decision could be taken on allowing boating in the lake.

CHANDIGARH

PANCHKULA
BANDH CALL: The Shivalik Vikas Manch has given a call for bandh in Panchkula, Yamunanagar and Ambala on Wednesday against the alleged failure of Naraingarh Sugar Mill to purchase sugarcane from local growers. It is alleged that the mill is violating the provisions of the Sugarcane Act and the Haryana Sugarcane (Regulation of Purchase and Supply) Rules, 1993, by violating the provisions of an agreement between purchasers and suppliers. The manch has said that its leaders have been going around in villages of Panchkula, Yamunanagar and Ambala and meeting sugarcane growers. The farmers have alleged that the sugar mill authorities are purchasing sugarcane from farmers other than the ones with whom they have an agreement at a lower cost.

MEDICAL CAMP: The local chapter of the Family Planning Association conducted a clinical counselling camp at Nadda village on Friday. As many as 262 persons were examined, treated and advised by Dr Sangeeta D. Pandit and Dr Lalit Virmani. Paramedical staff conducted a meeting with children on various aspects of personal health, nutrition and prevention of infectious diseases. Around 118 adolescents were given counselling on physical and emotional changes during adolescence.

COUNSELLING SESSION: A career counselling session for principals, headmasters, teachers and guardians will be organised at Chaman Lal DAV School on Saturday. Mr V.P. Paul, Principal of the school, said the Regional Director of Indira Gandhi National Open University and his team would conduct this session.

CAREER GUIDANCE WEEK: The District Employment Department will observe a career guidance week from Monday. Experts will give suggestions on various occupations, trainings and self-employment schemes. The inauguration ceremony will be performed by SDM, Mr M.S. Yadav, in MRA High School, Sector 7.

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY: The Government of India and the State government have decided to promote the use of non-conventional energy like solar energy, bio-energy, wind energy etc. The government has made the use of solar water-heating systems mandatory in all government hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, motels and restaurants, according to a press note.

ASSISTANCE: The government has decided to increase financial assistance of Rs 200 to Rs 400 to ex-servicemen of 60 years and above, war widows and their dependents.

USE OF REFLECTORS: The municipal council has asked residents to ensure that their motor vehicles, rickshaws, bicycles, carts, tongas etc. have reflector tapes in the next 15 days. The order aims at avoiding accidents at night.

HARYANA

AMBALA
BOOK RELEASE FUNCTION: The Himachal Governor, Dr Suraj Bhan, on Friday released Pearls of Wisdom; a book written by the Senior Vice-President of the Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Nem Chand Jain. The 365-page book is a compilation of thoughts. Dr Suraj Bhan said book should not only be read, but the thoughts in the book should also be adopted in life. Among others, Dr Anil Jain, Mr Bhagwan Das Sehgal, Mr Kirti Prasad Jain, Pandit Shankar Dass, Mr Om Prakash Malik, Mr Vishwa Prakash Walia, Mr Adish K. Jain, Mr R.P. Gupta, Mr Ajay Jain and Dr M.K. Datta were also present on the occasion.

APPOINTED: Mr Dalip Chawla, a former Municipal Councillor has been appointed organising secretary of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee. A letter in this regard has been received by Mr Chawla from the HPCC president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Besides this, three office-bearers have been added to the already approved list of office-bearers of the Ambala City unit of the Congress. They are vice-president Bhupinder Singh Bhatia, general secretary Gulshan Rai Sethi and secretary Manmohan Bajaj.

POWER SHUTDOWN: The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam on Friday said that due to certain technical reasons, the Abdulapur-Shahbad 220 KV line would be temporarily shut down from 8 am on Saturday to 6 pm on Sunday. Several parts of Ambala would face power cuts due to it, said a press note.

CHEMISTS' ASSOCIATION: The newly elected president of the Ambala Retail Chemists Association, Mr Raj Kumar Sharma, on Friday announced the office-bearers of the association. They are: senior vice-president— Mr Girish Dua; vice-presidents— Mr Madan Lal Madhu, Mr Raj Kumar Gupta and Ms Sunita Arora; senior general secretary and cashier — Mr Ramesh Chand Sharma; general secretary — Mr Ashwini Salwan; patrons — Mr Sushil K. Gupta and Mr Vidya Bhushan Goel.

BHIWANI
SUICIDE ATTEMPT: In two incidents, two residents — Umed and Mamta — were admitted to hospital in a serious condition after they had consumed poison on Thursday.

HISAR
WORKSHOP INAUGURATED: At a three-day workshop on “watershed management technology in hot arid regions”, Mr Vinay Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Haryana Agricultural University, has called upon farm scientists to educate farmers about the judicious use of water and a shift in the existing cropping pattern. Over 50 dryland farming experts from various states are participating.

SIRSA
INAUGURATION: The District Passport Application Centre was inaugurated here on Thursday. The applicants will now be able to submit their applications here will no longer have to go to Chandigarh.

UNCLAIMED BODIES: A body stuck in the Nohar feeder in Chopta is the second unidentified body found in the past few days which has created panic among the residents. A few days ago, another body was found on the Sirsa road near Nejia village but the police has not been able to solve the case so far.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
MEMORANDUM: Led by state NSUI senior vice-president Sanjay Guleria and the Gehadwin Block Development Committee Member, Ramchand Sharma, a deputation of leaders from the panchayats of Gandhir, Malagan and Balhseena presented a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Thursday demanding action on a “war-footing” to clear thousands of rotting and decomposing fish in the Doogh khud in Fsalhseena area.

CHAMBA
SANGH: The Himachal Pradesh Pensioners’ Kalyan Sangh has castigated the BJP-led government in the state for ignoring the interests of pensioners and warned the government to be ready to face the consequences arising out of the indifferent attitude of the ruling government. After staging a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here on Thursday, Mr B.D. Sharma, state president, and Mr Vishnu Dutt Sharma, secretary-general of the sangh, in a joint press statement asked the government to amend the pending rates of the travelling and medical allowances, old-age and family pensions at the rate of 30 per cent, otherwise they would resort to a statewide agitation.

JOBS’ BACKLOG: The Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Castes Welfare Association has urged the government to fill the backlog in jobs in the state. In a memorandum submitted to the Himachal Governor, the Chamba unit demanded that a provision of reservations should also be made in jobs in the private enterprises and companies for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes candidates.

JAISINGHPUR
DEMOLISHED: Mr Rakesh Sharma, SDM, Jaisinghpur, on Wednesday got demolished an illegal structure of Mr Sukh Ram at Tamber village of the subdivision. It was alleged that Mr Sukh Ram had encroached upon government land and tried to build a shop there.

KUMARHATTI
SEMINAR: A seminar on the role of private practitioners in the revised national tuberculosis control programme (RNTCP) was organised at the Zonal Hospital, Solan, under the chairmanship of Dr T.R. Bhardwaj, ex-CMO Himachal Pradesh Health Services, on Tuesday. Private practitioners were also called upon to support and encourage effective TB control measures.

HELD: The Subathu police has nabbed two persons posing as excise officials from Kunihar on Thursday morning. Harvinder Singh from Nalagarh and Gagan from Mandi, both employed with a Solan-based wine contractor, had stopped a utility vehicle carrying goods from Parwanoo to Kulu near the Gamber bridge about 5 km from Subathu, around midnight, the police said. They managed to extort Rs 200 and some goods from the crew of the vehicle and later left towards Kunihar. The crew of the vehicle got suspicious and informed the Subathu police chowki following which the duo were caught with the goods at Kunihar. A case has been registered.

RESENTMENT: The Uttariya Railway Mazdoor Union has taken serious note of the Centre’s proposal to consider ‘Railway employees’ residential accommodation as a prerequisite for the calculation of income tax. In a press note issued on Thursday, Mr G.S. Rajput, president, said the move would be a blow especially to the employees posted in the remote areas where facilities like proper education, health, drinking water and housing were not available.

SHIMLA
BUILDING COLLAPSES: Four families were rendered homeless when a portion of a four-storeyed building of the Police Department in the Kusumpati locality collapsed on Wednesday. The building had developed cracks a few days ago and the occupants had urged the authorities to shift them to safer places.