Contaminated underground water
78 deaths; DC says not aware 
Mal Singh Wala (Mansa), July 7
For residents of this village bordering Haryana, life seems tough as the underground water here is unfit for farming and drinking. This has led to as many as 78 deaths due to cancer in the past few years, physical deformities, defects in the reproductive system of women and skin diseases.

Govt to sell power to states in 5 years: CM

Machhiwara , July 7 A high-level team of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) will soon visit the state to finalise sites for setting up two thermal plants in the state. Work on three thermal plants at Sri Goindwal Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Nabha is under way. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal made this announcement after inaugurating a 66-KV sub-station at Hedon Bet, about 10 km from here, today.                                                                   Parkash Singh Badal

MUNICIPAL ELECTION
Aided school staff may hit back against govt
Chandigarh, July 7
The BJP, partner of the Shiromani Akali Dal ( SAD) in the Punjab government, is likely to face the music in the Municipal Corporation elections in the second week of next month because of the failure of the government to concede the demands of employees of government recognised aided schools. 

Fruit processing unit opened
Hoshiarpur, July 7
Fissures between the SAD and the BJP came to the fore on the occasion of the 58th state-level Van Mahotsav organised by the Punjab Forest Department in the home town of the forest minister here today.

Lyricist alleges being tricked by director, singer
Moga, July 7
A Punjabi song writer has alleged that he was hoodwinked by the director of a music company in connivance with a female singer and her father by releasing the audio cassette in another name from a private music company.

KAC for unconditional apology
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 7
Convener of the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) Bhai Mohkam Singh said here today that the dera row could not be resolved till the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda tendered an unconditional apology to Akal Takht. Speaking to mediapersons at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Bhai Mohkam Singh, accompanied by SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli, said SGPC chief Avtar Singh should join the committee. — TNS

COURTS

PPSC scam
8.3 cr counted in court
Ropar, July 7
A sum of Rs 83,040,450, recovered from former chairperson of Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Ravi Sidhu, was counted in the court of Ropar special judge G.S. Saran today.

CRIME

Scent of money lands cops in jail
Rampura (Bathinda), July 7
Lust for possessing ill-gotten money has landed two Punjab police officials, assistant sub-inspector Baldev Singh and head constable Kuldeep Singh, of Chauke police post in the district, into jail.