The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, September 11, 2003, 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
APPOINTED: Mr Gurpartap Singh Guri has been appointed Principal of the Government Interservices Training Centre here, according to a press note issued here on Tuesday.

SUSPEND TB OFFICER: The All India Youth Association threatened to launch an agitation if the government failed to suspend Dr Miterpal Devgan, district TB officer within 48 hours. Dr Devagan has been accused of tampering with government records and doing two government jobs at a time. He was arrested in the case and is on bail. The association said Dr Devagan had joined duty as district TB officer.

BATALA
SPIRITUAL CAMP: A dhayan sadhna shivr started here on Tuesday at the premises of Dainik Prarthana Sabha, Kila Mandi, Batala. Swami Permanand Ji of Akhand Param Dham, Hardwar delivered a spiritual discourse. The shivr will conclude on September 13. The function has been sponsored by Mr Dharam Pal of Rashtriya Engineering Works here.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
CAMP: The District Red Cross Society will organise a camp on Friday at Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup Sahib to provide artificial limbs, according to Mr S.K. Ahluwalia. He said the people having income less than Rs 5,000 per month would be provided artificial limbs free of cost and the people having income more than Rs 5,000 and less than Rs 8,000 would be provided a 50 per cent subsidy.

CONDOLENCE MEETING: Mediapersons, officials and staff of District Public Relations Office held a meeting here on Wednesday to condole the death of Mr Narinder Singh, DPRO, Sangrur.

ELECTORAL ROLLS: The revised lists of electoral rolls for the SGPC elections will be published on September 15 for all the three election constituencies of Fatehgarh Sahib, Bassi Pathana and Amloh, said Mr S.K. Ahluwalia, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, in a press note here on Wednesday. He said the people could file their objections and claims before the respective revising authority-cum-SDMs till October 20.

ENCROACHMENTS REMOVED: Employees of the Municipal Council, Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib, led by the SDM, Fatehgarh Sahib, removed encroachments on the municipal land in Main Bazaar, Sirhind town, here on Tuesday. Hundreds of people gathered on the spot and appreciated the anti-encroachment drive. Addressing a press conference after the drive, Mr V.K. Mehta, Executive Officer, MC, Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib, said as per directions of Mr S.K. Ahluwalia, Deputy Commissioner, the council had filed petitions in various courts to get certain stay orders vacated as regarding encroached land.

HOSHIARPUR
REPAIR ROADS: The District Grievances Redressal Committee at a meeting on Monday impressed on the District administration to speed up construction of local General Bus Stand and repair of roads held up for want of funds. It also wanted drinking water supply improved.

KHARAR
VISITS: Ms Kawal Bedi, District Governor, Rotary Club, visited the Rotary Club Kharar on Tuesday. She was received at the Civil Rest House by the club President Mr Neelam Kumar, presided over the function organised at the library hall of the Arya College for Women. Ms Bedi also visited R.V.T.C. and distributed tooth brushes and toothpastes among children adopted by the Rotary Club. She gave Rs 10,000 for the development of Kundan Ghat at Maharaja Ajj Sarovar. She also honoured five persons. A cultural programme was presented by students of APJ Public School.

MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED: A delegation of students of Government College, SAS Nagar, under the leadership of Inderjeet Singh and president of the Youth Congress, Kharar, Mr Harjeet Singh Pannu, met the Deputy Speaker of the Punjab. Vidhan Sabha and Kharar MLA, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, here on Tuesday. The member complained that despite their having bus passes, they are being maltreated by the conductors and the drivers of the government buses. In a memorandum submitted to him they have said that students going from Kharar and surrounding areas to SAS Nagar and Chandigarh are harassed by conductors. They don’t allow them to board buses and the students often get late. Mr Bir Devinder assured them that he would talk to the Transport Minister and try his best to solve their problem.

ENCROACHMENTS: Encroachments on both sides of the Arya College road here were removed by MC authorities on Tuesday. Under the supervision of senior officials of the committee, many cemented extensions constructed on the ‘nullah’ that run besides the road were demolished. Some shopkeepers and house owners have critisised the action of the committee and said that no prior notice was given to them and the committee was arbitrary in its action. Mr Charanjeet Singh, president of the Municipal Committee, Kharar, said the step had been taken as per the instructions of the district administration.

DEMAND: Farmers of Kharar, in a memorandum given to the Executive Officer of the MC, Kharar, have demanded that encroachments on the nullah-flowing alongside the grain market should be removed soon.

LUDHIANA
YOGA CAMP: A yog sadhna camp by the Vishav Yog Sansthan was organised at AVM Senior Secondary School on Sunday. Mr Bal Mukand and Mr Deepak Arora, yoga teachers, demonstrated yogic kriyas to keep healthy and improve the memory. They told the students that laughter was essential for good health and taught them different ways of laughing.

FUNCTION: The Bharat Vikas Parishad (Sukhdev branch) will organise a function on Sunday at 8 pm in the Pindi Plaza restaurant, Kidwai Nagar, to commemorate the lecture Swami Vivekanand had delivered in Chicago, at religious conference a century ago.

AWARD: The Lion Club, Jagraon, gave the best teacher award to Ms Satinderjit Kaur, Principal, Guru Hargobind Public Senior Secondary School, Sidhawan Khurd, at a function organised at Jagraon on Tuesday.

SAPLING PLANTATION: Under the aegis of the Youth Forum, a sapling plantation drive was launched at SDP College for Women on Tuesday. The president of the SDP Sabha, Mr Balraj Bhasin, and the Programme Director of the NSS, Ms Sudesh Bhalla, talked about the importance of trees. Ms Nivideta Arora organised a day-long camp for the NSS units I and II on the college premises.

VANAMAHOTSAVA: Vanamahotsava was celebrated in Arya College on Tuesday Mr Vijay Saathi, president, Arya College Managing Committee, along with the Principal of the college, Dr S.M. Sharma, and head of the Botany Department, Mr S.C. Lekhi, planted saplings in the botanical garden of the college.

MANSA
ORTHOPAEDIC CAMP: The local Rotary Club will organise an orthopaedic camp on September 14 at Gaushala Bhavan Mansa where patients of osteo-arthritis, reheumatoid gout, polio affected children and congenital deformities will be checked by doctors from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital Ludhiana. Medicines free of cost to the poor patients will also be provided, according to Mr R.C. Goyal, chairman of the club.

PATIALA
LOAN MELA: The State Bank of Patiala, Mall Road branch, in association with Hira Automobiles Limited organised an on-the-spot loan mela here on Wednesday. Five housing loans and two car loans were disbursed. The AGM of the branch, Mr A.S. Bhatia, said they were planning to organise more such camps.

VANAMAHOTSAVA: Career Academy, Bhadson Road, organised a sapling plantation function here on Wednesday. The SP (H), Patiala, Mr R.L. Monga, was the chief guest. Students of the academy presented a play.

CHANDIGARH

INVITED: The Principal of GGDSD College, Sector 32, Dr A.C. Vaid, has been chosen for a seminar on “National conference on autonomy to colleges” to be conducted by the University Grants Commission at Hyderabad. He would be accompanied by Principal Tarsen Bahiya, Principal R.K. Sharma and Principal Subhash Kumar. The three-day conference is being held as part of golden jubilee celebrations of the UGC.

WORKSHOP: A week-long painting and sketch-making workshop organised by Pidilite Industries Limited was inaugurated at the Dev Samaj Polytechnic for Women, Sector 45, here on Monday. About 100 students from the institute took part in the workshop. On the first two days the participants were told about pencil sketches and stencil cutting techniques, fabric paintings and rag paintings. According to Ms Kirti Thakur, resource person for the workshop, during the next five days the participants will be taught about glass painting, canvas and rag painting, bread craft, tile embossing and floating candle making. The final creations by the students will be exhibited for public viewing on the concluding day of the workshop.

CAMP: ‘Dwitiya Sopan Testing Camp’ of the Bharat Scouts and Guides commenced with the chief guest, Ms Santosh Mirdha, Education Officer, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Chandigarh region, unfurling the flag at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Chandi Mandir here on Tuesday. Mr Kanwar Baboo Singh, ex-Commissioner (Training), Punjab and Chandigarh Bharat Scouts and Guide, urged the participants to spread the message of brotherhood. The Principal of the host school, Ms N. Mohini, thanked the guests and speakers. The participants also took part in ‘Test Session’ activities. The camp concluded with a camp fire.

PANCHKULA
CONTEST: Fifteen trainees participated in a shabad gyan competition organised to promote “Rajbhasha Mass” in a function held by the State Bank of India, Staff Training Centre, here on Wednesday. Mr P.S. Thuse, deputy general manager (vigilance), was the chief guest. He gave away prizes to the winners, said Mr Ramesh Sethi, AGM (training). Mr S.M. Pal from Panchkula branch was declared first, while Mr Chuni Lal from Rajpura (Kathua) branch was declared second and Mr Sushil Kumar from High Ground, Chandigarh branch, stood third.

HARYANA

AMBALA
NSS CAMP: An NSS camp was held at SD College, Ambala cantonment. Dr S.P. Sharma, Dr Sunil Kumar Sharma and Prof Harrop Virk conducted the camp in which oath-taking ceremony took place. The college Principal, Dr Desh Bandhu, was the chief guest. The commander for boys is Ram Lal and the deputy commander is Vikas Gupta, while the commander for girls is Shikha Rana and the deputy commander is Pushpinder.

ACCIDENT: Mr Balwant Singh Mayna, an INLD MLA and chairman of the Marketing Board, Haryana, had a narrow escape in a road accident on the GT Road near Ambala Cantonment on Tuesday morning. His car was badly damaged in the accident. Mr Mayna sustained minor injuries on his back, while his gunmen and driver escaped unhurt. Mr Mayna was coming from Rohtak and was on his way to Chandigarh to attend the Assembly session. Near Ambala Cantonment, an Indicia moving ahead of their vehicle suddenly came to a halt as a cow had come in front of it. The driver of Mr Mayna’s car also applied brakes. A Mercedes car owned by an advocate of Delhi rammed into their car from behind. Matiz car of a bank manager of Ambala Cantonment rammed into Mercedes. Traffic remained affected for some time. A case has been registered.

KURUKSHETRA
APPEAL TO TEACHERS: Jammu and Kashmir Panthers’ Party Chief Professor Bhim Singh spoke on “Violence Terrorism and Human Rights” at the four-week 40th Orientation Course organised by the Academic Staff College (ASC) of Kurukshetra varsity here on Tuesday. He said terrorism was a kind of undefined violence. Punjabi University, Patiala, pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof R.N. Paul called on the teachers to develop a positive outlook among students and treat teaching as a mission and not a profession. Twenty-five teachers drawn from Haryana, Punjab, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Assam are participating.

SIRSA
RS 194 CR FOR WATER: Rupees 194 crore has been sanctioned by Nabard for improving water supply in Haryana said INLD MP from Bhiwani Ajay Singh Chautala on Tuesday. He claimed 294 potable schemes in 14 districts would eliminate shortage of irrigation and potable water in the state. He was speaking at Mattuwala village. He acceded to the demand for another college in Ellenabad saying its foundation stone would be laid in December.

GRANT TO FARMERS: The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) will provide 30 per cent grant to the farmers cultivating medicinal plants, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Brijinder Singh stated this scheme had been prepared for organising an exhibition of medicinal plants on the Panchayat land.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

DALHOUSIE
DEMOLITION DRIVE: A team from the Municipal Council of Dalhousie, on Tuesday launched a demolition drive to remove unauthorised constructions and encroachments here. The drive headed by the administrator of the municipal council, demolished four encroachments and took over two unwarranted structures in the town after directives by the state government.

PARWANOO
RESENTMENT: Residents of Sector 6 here are sore over the removal of dustbins that were placed on the roadsides in the sector. They said the dustbins placed by the Local Nagar Parishad were removed without any notice. They said they had no alternative but to throw garbage at open spaces near their houses but that had started stinking now due to heavy rains in this area.

SHIMLA
AMENDMENT OPPOSED: The Himachal Pradesh University Vishwavidyalaya Vichar Manch has opposed ordinance amending university Act apprehending that it would lead to interference of the state government into the functioning of the institution. Dr Sunil Gupta, convener of the manch said on Tuesday the amendments regarding the appointment of the Registrar and the finance officer would dilute the autonomy. The manch hailed inquiries by the Governor.

BJP ON DAILY WAGE: The Himachal BJP said the government had increased the minimum daily wage from Rs 60 to Rs 65 but the boards and corporations had been ignored in this report. It wanted the government to clarify whether the daily wage had been revised only for government departments and not for the public sector undertakings.