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TOP STORIES

BBMB’s joint power venture in HP
Ropar, February 1
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) would develop 144 MW hydro electric project in a joint venture with the Himachal Government. The said project which had got the clearance from the Himachal Government and the partner states of the BBMB, would be brought up at Swara Kandu on the Pabar river near Shimla.

Police gets Sohal’s custody cancelled
Patiala, February 1
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau, which sought and secured two-day police remand of former Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Chairman G.S. Sohal yesterday, today produced Mr Sohal before a Duty Magistrate and pleaded that it did not need to question him in the electronic meters case.

MPs show concern on PSUs
Chandigarh, February 1
All MPs from Punjab view with concern the functioning of public sector undertakings (PSUs), boards and corporations a majority of which are in financial straits. They want the government to bring out a white paper on these loss-making organisations holding bureaucrats and politicians concerned accountable for the same. They even favour either disinvestment or closure of such organisations.

2 die after inhaling fumes
Bathinda, February 1
Two workers of Bathinda Chemicals Limited (BCL) here died after they inhaled fumes of a chemical while cleaning a tank on the factory premises without wearing safety masks. Another worker who fell unconscious after inhaling the fumes was saved after he was given medical aid on the spot.

Lung diseases on the rise
Chandigarh, January 31
Keeping in view the alarming increase in the number of lung cancer, tuberculosis, asthma and bronchitis cases, over 500 doctors from all over the world would be attending the International Conference on Bronchology and Respiratory diseases at Jalandhar from February 14.

Cong wins samiti poll in Sardulgarh, Jhunir
Mansa, February 1
The elections to three out of the five block samitis in the district were postponed as quorum for the respective samitis was not complete.

REGIONAL BRIEFS

YOUR TOWN

Amritsar Bathinda Chandigarh Gurdaspur Hoshiarpur Mansa Patiala Ropar

A tribal dancer performs a traditional dance on the occasion of the 648th birth anniversary of Hindu saint Baba Lal Dyal Ji in Amritsar on Saturday. — Reuters

	Govt instructions ‘violated’ February 1, 2003
	Henry seeks details of relief under OTS January 31, 2003
	Prepare for ‘rasta roko’, Badal tells cadre January 30, 2003
	‘Kidney donated voluntarily’ January 29, 2003
	Murder cases to be registered: CM January 28, 2003
	Action against Joshi too little, says Badal January 26, 2003
	Minor kidney donors vanish January 25, 2003
	VB gears up for 2nd anti-graft phase January 24, 2003
	Kidney scam: addresses of 400 donors found ‘fake’ January 23, 2003
	PSEB abolishes Chief Engineer’s post January 22, 2003

• Cong wins Ropar samiti poll

Cops play spoilsport at farewell bash
Bathinda, February 1
Students of Plus Two of a local private school were in a shock when their farewell party organised at a hotel was disturbed by some policemen, who allegedly asked girl students there about the purpose of their presence in the hotel.

Policemen try to save a cop (in plainclothes) from the wrath of agitated parents at Bathinda on Saturday. — Photo Kulbir Beera

Video

A database helps authorities in Ludhiana to prevent rampant female foeticide. (28k, 56k)

COMMUNITY

DM’s orders create panic
Pathankot, February 1
Panic has gripped residents here, after fresh orders were passed by the District Magistrate Gurdaspur, stating punitive action was proposed against violators, raising constructions within the crest of the outer parapet of 1,000 metres of the ammunition dumps in Gurdaspur district.

Thandal’s police remand extended
Kharar, February 1
Ms Preeti Sahni, Judicial Magistrate, today extended the police remand of former Punjab State Food and Supplies Minister Sohan Singh Thandal till February 4. He was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in a corruption case registered against him at SAS Nagar.

SGPC to send jatha to Pakistan
Amritsar, February 1
The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Mr S.S. Dhindsa, today gave categorical assurance that the Rs 18000-crore Bathinda refinery project would be established, as the Prime Minister had given his firm commitment to him and Mr Badal in this regard.

Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, and Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar, president SGPC, present a memento and a sward to the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Mr S.S. Dhindsa, on Saturday. — Photo Rajiv Sharma

Sudarshan’s statement ‘irresponsible’
Chandigarh, February 1
The Institute of Sikh Studies has strongly reacted to the statement made by RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan, regarding Sikhs. Mr Sudarshan was quoted as saying that” Sikhs are the Hindus”.

29-hr power failure at Dhariwal
Gurdaspur, February 1
Dhariwal’s Model Town area faced power failure since 11 a.m. yesterday. Supply could not be restored till 4 p.m. today.

Amritsar cleared as tourist destination
Amritsar, February 1
The Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr Jagmohan, has cleared the city as a tourist destination.

BJP seeks probe into ASI bashing
Amritsar, February 1
In a communication to the Chief Minister, Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, a former BJP MLA today sought a high-level probe into the alleged ‘manhandling’ of women at Thathi village (Tarn Taran) on the eve of the Republic Day.

Plea to declare Quila Mubarak endangered site
Patiala, February 1
In a move to restore the Quila Mubarak fort of the Phulkian dynasty of Patiala, the Patiala Heritage Society has approached the Washington-based World Heritage Front to get the fort declared an endangered site.

Govt flayed for exim performa

AGRICULTURE

‘No relief given to farmers’
Chandigarh, February 1
Mr Bhupinder Samber, vice-president of the Punjab Kisan Sabha, a CPI offshoot, said today that the state government had not provided any relief, as was stated by it yesterday, to farmers but only released a part of the payment which was due.

CRIME

11 held in three murder cases
Amritsar, February 1
The Majitha police today claimed to have solved three murder cases with the arrest of 11 persons.

Poppy smuggling on ‘Press’ vehicles
Maur Mandi (Bathinda), February 1
The police today unveiled a modus operandi of narcotic smugglers after impounding a vehicle carrying 12 bags of poppy husk worth more than Rs 2 lakh on which “Press” was written.

CRPF job racket unearthed
Gurdaspur, February 1
The police has unearthed a racket of cheats who used to extort money from the youth on the pretext of getting them recruited in the CRPF.

EDUCATION

Mid-day meal scheme extended
Hoshiarpur, February 1
Keeping in view the success of providing mid-day meal to students of primary schools in the Talwara block of this district, the scheme has been extended for 70 days. In terms of directions of the Supreme Court, the scheme was launched by the Social Welfare Department in the Talwara block on November 18, 2002.