HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Award for sabha: The Gram Sehkari Sabha, Talai, has been declared the best cooperative society in the state and was honoured by Forest Minister JP Nadda at a district-level National Cooperative Week function here on Wednesday evening. At district-level: Gram Seva Sehkari Sabha, Dadhole, was declared first, cooperative society at Chhatt was declared second and society at Daabla was declared third. They were awarded cash prizes of Rs 5,100, 3,100 and 2,100, respectively, along with appreciation certificates for selfless service to villagers.

CHAMBA
Two arrested: The police has arrested two persons for possessing charas at the Chhajoth link road in Churah subdivision of the district on Thursday. The Chamba SP said a police party, which was on patrol at Chhajoth link road, intercepted two persons identified as Tea Singh and Tek Chand and recovered 3.7 kg of charas from their possession. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

Hamirpur
Mechanic crushed: A negligent truck driver crushed a mechanic near the sabzi mandi at Hamirpur on Friday. Vireder Kumar (34), a resident of Muhal village under the Hamirpur police station, was trying to remove a technical snag from the bus (HP67-1467) parked on the roadside around 11 am when a truck coming from the opposite direction crushed him, killing him on the spot. The police has arrested Pammy, a resident of Chamba, who was driving the truck (HP23B-7059).

KANGRA
Procession taken out: Devotees of Satya Sai Baba of Potapati from all over the district and different parts of the country on Friday took out a procession from the main bazaars of the town as a part of the celebration of the 84th birthday of the Baba, which is scheduled to fall on November 23.

NURPUR
Workshop held: The Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited on Friday organised a workshop at Jachh, near here, to educate mango growers of the area about the new insurance scheme to insure the crop against produce loss due to unfavourable climatic conditions. Pawan Rana, administrative officer of the company, said the company had identified Nurpur, Fatehpur, Nagrota Surian and Indora blocks to launch the scheme. “The 50 per cent premium of the fruit insurance would be borne jointly by the state and central governments and the rest by the beneficiary. As many as 100 mango growers attended the workshop.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jammu
56th coop week celebrated: The Citizens’ Cooperative Bank on Thursday celebrated the 56th Cooperative week by organising a programme and discussed the challenges being faced by the cooperative banking sector at the Amar Singh Club here. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand was the chief guest and Minister of State Manohar Lal Sharma presided over the function.

40 building permission cases cleared: By clearing 40 building permission cases in a meeting of the Building Operation Controlling Authority (BOCA) held on Friday, the Municipal Corporation generated a revenue of Rs 6 lakh for the corporation. According to a statement issued here, the meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Commissioner, Jammu, Municipal Corporation. Representatives of the PDD, PHE and Town planner of the MC were present in the meeting.

Canara Bank opens branch: Canara Bank opened its first branch in Udhampur town here on Thursday. Udhampur District Development Commissioner Ajay Khajuria, who was the chief guest on the occasion, lit the traditional lamp at the new branch of the bank. Khajuria hoped that the services of the bank would go a long way in providing full support for the growth of trade and industry in the district.

Screening test postponed: The screening test of candidates for the post of lecturer (10+2) in history, Urdu and education has been postponed. The test was scheduled on November 22. According to the J&K Public Service Commission (PSC), the next date for the screening test would be announced later.

Srinagar
LPG supply reviewed: In order to review the availability of LPG in the valley, Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Naseem Lankar called a meeting of officers of the CA&PD and representatives of various gas agencies and reviewed its stock and supply position. The meeting was told that 1.51 lakh filled HP cylinders, 17,000 cylinders of IOC and 500 cylinders of BPL were available in the valley, which are sufficient for 18 days.

Cocoon production rises: The cocoon production has gone up to 800 MTs in the state during the current year, which is 72 MT more than the previous year. This was disclosed at a state-level Sericulture Coordination Committee meeting held at Shopian on Thursday under the chairmanship of M. Sathiyavathy, member secretary of the Central Silk Board. It was given out in the meeting that the government has initiated various measures to boost the sericulture industry in the state and said 8,000 families were connected with the industry.