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Tribune Exclusive
Ministry sanctions ART centre for state
Allows link centres at Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Ambala
Chandigarh, November 29
Ahead of December 1, World AIDS Day, Union Health Ministry, has sanctioned a full-fledged antiretroviral therapy centre for Punjab, which has only two such centres in Jalandhar and Amritsar.

Bartering NRI bridegrooms for NRI brides
Ludhiana, November 29
In a changed tack, non-resident Indians (NRIs) "flooding" Punjab during marriage season, this time, are looking for brides who can guarantee a complimentary marriage of an Indian brother or cousin with an NRI bride.

NRI enacts drama of death to escape
debt in US
Ropar, November 29
The police here has traced non-resident Indian Gurbax Singh Rai who feigned death to escape debt in the United States of America. A Tata Sumo vehicle was found from Sirhind canal near Chamkaur Sahib by the police on November 21st.

Centre relaxes rice specifications
Patiala, November 29
Following a sustained struggle of Punjab rice millers, the union government has ordered relaxation in the uniform specifications of rice during the current marketing season. The ministry has raised the limit of damaged rice to 4 per cent without any value cut, giving a much-needed relief to the millers.

Citrus Estates
Pawar asks govt to give fresh plans
Chandigarh, November 29
The union agriculture ministry has turned down a request of the Punjab Government to provide financial assistance for developing citrus estates under the National Horticulture Mission, shattering Punjab’s hopes, at least for the time being, of promotion of horticulture as a step towards diversification.

Party gags Akali leaders
Chandigarh, November 29
Senior leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have been apparently told not to leak any information regarding party meetings where important issues are discussed. There appears to be a ban on them with regard to speaking to the media on sensitive matters.

2 more quit as Pbi varsity deans
Patiala, November 29
Punjabi University’s dean of academic affairs Dr Sucha Singh Gill and dean of student welfare Dr H. S. Bhatti here today resigned from offices following the resignation of vice-chancellor Swarn Singh Boparai.

COMMUNITY

PSEB unbundling not binding: Engineers
Ropar, November 29
An engineers’ association has added another dimension to the controversy involving the unbundling of the PSEB. The association has sought legal opinion of a leading Mumbai-based law firm IC Law on the issue of unbundling of the board in the light of new Electricity Act 2003.

PSEB Unbundling
Call to block traffic on Dec 5
Jalandhar, November 29
Ten organisations of farmers and labourers of Punjab have threatened to block rail and road traffic in the state for three hours from noon n protest against proposed privatisation of the Punjab State Electricity Board on December 5.

Tribune Impact
Rights panel seeks chief secy’s report
Chandigarh, November 29
Taking note of the extent of injecting drug use in Punjab and the risks of HIV it is posing, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission today sought a report from the chief secretary in the matter.

Govt move on opening budget hotels
Mohali, November 29
Punjab government is considering allowing industrial unit owners in the state to open budget hotels on industrial land. This, sources say, is being done to encourage tourism in the state which has an acute shortage of one, two and three star hotels.

80 pc rural, slum children suffer from dental diseases: IDA Sangrur, November 29 Under the national oral health programme, nearly 25,000 schoolchildren were examined recently by the Indian Dental Association (IDA), Sangrur branch, in schools of Sangrur and Barnala districts, including Sangrur, Sunam, Dhuri, Malerkotla and Barnala towns. According to a report of these schoolchildren, 80 per cent were found to be suffering from dental diseases, like dental caries, malocclusion, fluorosis and gum diseases, especially in rural and slum areas.

Protest over admn move on mini-buses
Amritsar, November 29
People coming from border areas of the district today faced harassment as the district administration stopped the mini-buses from entering the city to ease traffic congestion.

Nagkalan village to have krishi kendra
Kathunangal (Amritsar), November 29
Punjab minister for information and public relations Bikram Majithia here today said a farm science centre (Krishi Vigyan kendra) would be set up at Nagkalan village in Majitha constituency.

COURTS

High Court
Ludhiana Rape Case
CFSL asked for efficient DNA report
Chandigarh, November 29
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the Central Forensic Science Laboratory to expeditiously submit the DNA report of a Ludhiana rape-victim, after the PGI here submitted the postmortem report.

EDUCATION

Sud’s warning to pvt colleges
Hoshiarpur, November 29
Tikshan Sud, medical education and research minister, Punjab, today issued a strict warning to private ayurvedic and homoeopathic colleges in the state to upgrade the infrastructure in their respective institutions in accordance with the guidelines of their affiliating councils or be prepared to face strict disciplinary action.

ADMINISTRATION

3 IAS, 1 PCS officers shifted
Chandigarh, November 29
The Punjab Government today ordered fresh postings for three IAS and one PCS officers. B.R. Bajaj is the new principal secretary, programme implementation while D.P. Reddy becomes the director-cum-secretary, tourism, cultural affairs, archives, archaeology and museums.

CRIME

SDM ‘assaults’ wife, mother-in-law
Ludhiana, November 29
The wife of SDM (east), Ludhiana, Jugminder Grewal, today lodged a complaint with the police that her PCS husband had allegedly assaulted her and her mother. The SDM went to the police station and presented his version of the incident. The police is looking into the details of the case till the report was filed.