Gurdwara Panel for Haryana
PM to take up matter with Hooda: SGPC
Amritsar, August 19
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today agreed in principle to take up the matter of the proposed separate gurdwara committee for Haryana with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with a view to keeping the national character of the SGPC intact.

SAD core panel warns Centre
Chandigarh, August 19
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today accused UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and the Union government of “direct, interference in the internal affairs of the Khalsa Panth and attempts to destroy the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee by setting up a parallel body in Haryana”.

COMMUNITY

Survey to assess damage by floods
Sailli Kulian (Pathankot), August 19
Even as huge soil erosion on the right bank of the Chakki river has endangered the lives of thousands of people near this village, a high-level team of the state Irrigation and Drainage Department today carried out a survey to assess the damage caused here by the recent flash floods.

Farmers’ plea to clear dues
Chandigarh, August 19
The Farmers Welfare Association, led by Bhupinder Singh Dhillon, today urged the Council for Citrus and Agro Juicing, Punjab, to clear the dues of farmers. Dhillon said about 100 farmers yesterday met the council officials and asked them to clear the rent of the land.

17 Pak nationals held, handed over to Pak Rangers
Amritsar, August 19
The BSF and other security agencies today sent 17 Pakistani nationals back to their country who had inadvertently entered the Indian territory while crossing the Ravi in a boat near border village Kakkar. A BSF patrol party noticed a Pakistani boat had entered the Indian side of the Ravi and ordered them to stop and come on the river bank on the Indian territory.

Strike call by airport staff
Amritsar, August 19
Air Force personnel will be deployed tomorrow to maintain essential services at Rajasansi international airport to meet all contingencies in view of the strike call given by the union of public sector undertakings including airport staff.

PUDA offers land for commercial use
Mohali, August 19
The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) under the optimum utilisation of vacant government lands (OUVGL) scheme has offered two chunks of commercial land for auction having a reserve price of Rs 350 crore at Ludhiana and Amritsar. The sites were transferred to PUDA by the government for commercial exploitation under the OUVGL scheme. The sites are located in the heart of both cities with a population of 20 lakh each.

Election of MC chief, 2 others declared void
Sangrur, August 19
Following the opinion of Punjab advocate-general relating to the election of president and two vice-presidents of the Sangrur Municipal Council (MC), the Department of Local Government, Punjab, has declared the election of Harbans Lal as president and Jaswinder Singh and Ravi Chawla as vice-presidents of Sangrur MC as void. They were elected at a meeting of the MC on July 23.

SSP withdraws ADC’s security
Tarn Taran , August 19
District police chief Harinder Singh Chahal today withdrew the security of additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Kirpal Singh without assigning any reason.

Health Dept’s drive against adulteration
Chandigarh, August 19
Health Department officials dealing with toxic material in sweets, spices and milk have revealed “dishonest elements” playing with the lives of people in the state. Though all are not unscrupulous, there are some shopkeepers and dealers selling toxic stuff to consumers.

Implement pay panel report: PCMS docs
Chandigarh, August 19
The Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association has demanded that the state government should take immediate steps for grating new pay scales to its employees, as has been done by the Union government and certain neighbouring states.

COURTS

Pay for police protection: HC
Chandigarh, August 19
Police protection doesn’t come cheap. If you are not entitled to it, are still feeling threatened and want guards-in-uniform around you, pay Rs 1 lakh per constable for six months — at least this is what a Punjab and Haryana High Court order seems to be indicating.

EDUCATION

Punjab amends admission rules after entrance test
Chandigarh, August 19
The Punjab government has amended guidelines for admission to medical colleges in the state after the entrance examination had been held. This has raised doubts among the candidates as well as the academia that the move was undertaken to benefit certain individuals.