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MLA encroaches on MC land
Amritsar, April 7
BJP MLA from Amritsar West Anil Joshi has allegedly encroached upon a big portion of an MC lane in the posh Medical Enclave, much to the chagrin of residents. The encroachment, which is almost one-fourth of the lane, has been going on a war footing. A visit to the enclave showed that construction was in progress there.

Construction work under way on BJP MLA Anil Joshi’s house in Medical Enclave, Amritsar, allegedly on encroached land. — Tribune photo by Rajiv Sharma

Power Crisis
Buy stake in Rajasthan N-plants, govt advised
Patiala, April 7
To avoid a controversy over a nuclear plant in Punjab, the state can acquire equity in proposed nuclear power plants in Rajasthan.

Prohibitory orders not taken seriously
Abohar, April 7
A survey today indicated prohibitory orders issued quarterly by the district magistrate under Section 144 of the CrPC were not taken seriously.

Probe renaming of gateway project: Dang
Amritsar, April 7
Satyapal Dang, veteran CPI leader and former MLA, has urged the state government to restore the original name of the Gateway of Amritsar and probe the matter as to why its original name, “the Gateway to India”, was changed.

Badal’s wife allowed to go abroad
Ropar, April 7
A local court, hearing a corruption case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his family, today granted his wife Surinder Kaur permission to visit China, Hong Kong and Thailand from April 16 to 30 on personal bonds and sureties of Rs 5 lakh each.

COMMUNITY

Toll Tax Row
Traffic blocked for 3 hours
Hoshiarpur, April 7
Blockade of traffic daily for hours together near toll-plazas installed on the Build, road Operate and Transfer (BOT) - Balachaur-Dasuya and Hoshiarpur-Tanda, road have become a headache for users of these roads.

City Centre Scam
DIG Chauhan heads probe team
Ludhiana, April 7
With the investigation into the City Centre Project scam not making speedy progress, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau has formed quite a large Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a DIG with an SSP, three SPs, eight DSPs and eight Inspectors as members to focus on the scam.

Intoxicants seized from chemists
Rampura (Bathinda), April 7
Sale of intoxicants by chemists seems to have started acquiring alarming proportions in the district.

Airport emerging major export terminal
Amritsar, April 7
A history of sorts was created when Illusion Russian freight carrier IL-76 aircraft from Hungary carried a consignment of 1,000 bales of blankets weighing more than 45 tonnes to a destination in Europe.

PWD staff to hold protest
Patiala, April 7
The Punjab PWD, B and R Branch Joint Action Committee has condemned the action of the administration in deputing 60 per cent of the staff of the local office of Chief Engineer, Punjab PWD, B and R Branch, on the duty to conduct a survey of people living below poverty line. The committee passed a resolution to this effect at a meeting here today.

Confusion over theme of World Health Day
Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 7
The Union government having failed to communicate the theme of the year on the celebration of World Health Day to the state health department, various constituents of the health and family welfare department have been asked to adopt the subject adopted by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

AGRICULTURE

Land ceiling for relief to farmers waived
Sikhawala (Muktsar), April 7
In a significant step which could bring the much-needed relief to debt-ridden farmers in this region, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the government had removed the upper limit of 10 acres fixed for awarding compensation to farmers for loss suffered by them on account of damage to crops due to natural calamities, including rain and hailstorm.

ADMINISTRATION

Aujla to head housing corporation
Chandigarh, April 7
Punjab director-general of police G.S. Aujla was today appointed the chairman-cum-managing director of the Punjab police housing corporation. He will be based in Chandigarh.

CRIME

Another case against Nihang chief 

Beas, April 7 The Beas police today slapped yet another case against the controversial Nihang chief of the Taruna Dal, Baba Ajit Singh Poohla, and seven other Nihangs for allegedly ploughing standing crop of a farmer at Lakhuwal village near here.  A file photo of Baba Ajit Singh Poohla

Two vehicle thieves held
Amritsar, April 7
The Majitha police today claimed to have busted a gang of vehicle thieves that indulged in stealing of cars, tractors, motorcycles and scooters from Majitha and its neighbouring areas, including Amritsar. Two persons have been arrested so far.

Grandfather rapes minor 
Bathinda, April 7
A minor, from here who was married off by her mother a few months ago, was allegedly raped by her paternal grandfather for two years.

EDUCATION

Earmark Rs 180 cr for aided colleges: PCCTU
Sangrur, April 7
The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) today asked Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal to earmark Rs 180 crore in the Punjab budget for 2007-08 to ensure payment of 95 per cent grant-in-aid to about 140 government-aided colleges of the state for the payment of salaries to the staff, clearance of pending arrears and payment of other allowances.

WLC College to have admission office in city
Amritsar, April 7
WLC College, India, here has announced the setting up of its admission office in Amritsar as part of expansion plans. Malobika Sengupta, CEO of the college, said 15 per cent of the total seats would be reserved for underprivileged students.

Boparai writes to education minister
Patiala, April 7
Reacting to the reports of government moves against him,vice-chancellor of Punjabi University Swaran Singh Boparai has written to minister for higher education Upinderjit Kaur. In the letter provided to the media here today, the vice-chancellor has upheld his decision to approve the appointments in the syndicate meeting held on March 29 despite reservations expressed by government representatives.

BUSINESS

Trident begins construction on 376 acres
Barnala, April 7
Trident authorities starts civil work at much opposed acquired land of 376 acres.