R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Ludhiana
seminar: The Samvad Punjab will organise a seminar on the “Role of intellectuals in present corrupt politics” at Punjabi Bhavan on Sunday. Prof Bawa Singh, former Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, will present a paper. Principal Amarjit Singh Parag will deliver the keynote address. The seminar will be chaired by Prof H.S. Mehta from Chandigarh. 

Merger hailed: Central Government employees and pensioners have hailed the merger of DA/DR with their basic pay/pension from April 1. The merged DA/DR will be counted for various allowances and retirement benefits. The Punjab Government has been urged to issue the DA/DR merger notification on the central pattern as decided earlier by the Punjab Cabinet.

Road inaugurateD: Mr Balgar Singh, Congress councillor, on Saturday inaugurated a road in Mayur Vihar Colony. He said he had been making efforts to complete public welfare schemes lying pending for the past several years in Rishi Nagar, Chand Colony, Amar Colony and Dev Nagar. He said streetlights would be made functional soon.

Lecture at PGI: Dr P.P. Gupta, an eminent pathologist, has been invited to deliver a lecture in the national conference of the Society for Indian Human and Animal Mycologists to be held at the PGI, Chandigarh, from March 11 to 14. Dr Gupta will deliver a lecture on “Recent developments in veterinary mycology in India”.

Hailed: The district of INTUC has hailed the appointment of Mr G. Sanjiv Reddy, national chief of the organisation, as member of the AICC. At a meeting held here on Saturday, Mr Swaran Singh, unit president, also hailed the decision of the Central Government regarding the merging of 50 per cent DA with the basic pay.

Rath yatra: The BJP has condemned the statement of SAD (A) chief Simranjit Singh Mann to stop the rath yatra of Mr L.K. Advani in Punjabi at all costs. At a meeting here on Saturday, Mr Sukhminder Pal Singh Grewal, former president of the BJYM and member of the state executive of the party, said the stand was unfortunate and uncalled for since there was nothing wrong in taking out a yatra across the country. He said Mr Mann objected to Mr Advani’s rath yatra but had not said anything about stopping the road show of Ms Sonia Gandhi.

Samrala
Tehsildar takes charge: Mr Surinder Singh Chana has taken over as Tehsildar here on Saturday. Mrs Balraj Kaur Grewal has gone to Khamanon as Tehsildar. Earlier Mr Chana was posted at Khamanon.

Blood donation camp: A blood donation camp was organised by the Young Blood Welfare Club, Kotala, and the Blood Donor Welfare Club, Samrala, according to Mr Navroop Dhaliwal, vice-president of the club. About 37 persons donated blood.

Condolence meeting: Members of the Press Club, Samrala, held a condolence meeting to mourn the death of Harcharan Kaur, mother of Mr Joginder Singh Oberoi, a reporter of Punjabi Tribune at Khanna and Doraha, on Saturday.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Dharamsala
BAN ORDERS: Mr Baldev Singh Attri, SDM Dehra, has banned the carrying of arms and ammunition within Jwalamukhi Nagar Panchayat limits from March 21 to 29 for maintaining law and order in the area during Navratras commencing from March 21.

DC TO OFFICIALS: The Kangra Deputy Commissioner, Dr Shrikant Baldi, has directed all officials to be present in respective headquarters on 5th, 15th and 25th of every month to hear people’s grievances. All officials have also been directed to maintain records of complaints received and settled.

Shimla
SANGATHAN DECRIES GOVT: Mr Gopal Das Verma, Chairman of the Rashtriya Karamchari Sangathan, on Friday, said the one-year rule of the Virbhadra government was disappointment for employees as the government ordered suspensions and transfers of employee leaders and denied them their dues also.

SHANTA ON CONG: Mr Shanta Kumar, a former Union Minister, on Friday belittled the Congress government in Himachal and said 90 per cent of the development activities in the state were funded by the Centre.