Bathinda
Coin vending machine: To resolve the problem of loose change, the State Bank of Patiala on Tuesday inaugurated a small coin vending machine at its Kikkar Bazar branch here. General manager (Technical and Inspection) S Sridhar said the machine would supply coins with denomination of Re one and Rs two. Chief manager IM Sofat termed the machine as first of its kind in
Malwa.
31 units of blood donated: Thirty-one persons donated blood here during a camp organised by Dr HS Sodhi on the first death anniversary of Comrade Joginder
Bhasin.
Protest over demolition: Lodging resentment over the demolition process of about 124 commercial establishments in the city, ex-minister Charanji Lal Garg along with a deputation met the DC on Tuesday. Garg alleged that the shopkeepers, who were issued notices, did not get fair chance to express their viewpoint. The DC assured Garg of constituting a committee to hear the aggrieved parties before demolishing the buildings.
CHANDIGARH
Assn hails decision: The Punjab State IAS Officers Association has welcomed the decision of the Punjab Information Commission asking all IAS officers to declare their assets. In a statement, the association said it unequivocally supported the principle of transparency, probity and accountability in public services, and therefore, had never raised any objection or caused any obstruction with regard to the disclosure of the contents of annual property returns of officers.
LUDHIANA
Couple kidnapped: A couple was kidnapped here on Tuesday by some miscreants. “The couple was walking when two cars came and stopped in front of them. A group of around 10-12 persons came out of the vehicles and started beating the girl. Later they took her in the car. The boy managed to flee,” police sources said. However, the boy was followed by the kidnappers and was later caught by them. Investigations were still on till the filing of the report. Neither the couple nor the kidnappers have been identified.MOGA
Kharif irrigation: The state Irrigation Department has announced a rotational programme of irrigation from December 18 to December 25 for the kharif season through the canal water channels. The channels of the Sirhind Canal System will run on a priority basis from Bist Doab, Sidhwan branch, Bathinda branch, Patiala feeder and Abohar branch, respectively. A spokesperson for the department said the direct distributaries of the Bhakra Main Line in group ‘A’ would run to their indent. The balance water supplies available will be utilised in the Ghaggar branch and its off-taking channels- Ghaggar branch and Patiala Minor in Group ‘B’, respectively.
Pathankot
Travel agent arrested: The police arrested Rakesh Singh, a resident of Jhakhar village, here today for duping a youth of Rs 2.6 lakh on the pretext of sending one Mukesh Singh abroad. Mukesh Singh gave Rs 2.6 lakh to Rakesh Singh in 2008. However, Rakesh Singh neither send him abroad nor returned his money.A case under
sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered.
PATIALA
Farmers back Sidhu: The Indian Farmers Association on Tuesday came out in full support of Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu for demanding a heritage status for
Amritsar. The association lauded his efforts for getting the city recognised all over the world. Association president Satnam Singh Bairu said all state MPs must support Sidhu’s cause, forgetting their party conflicts.
Elected: Members of the PSEB Resident Welfare Association, 66KV Grid Colony, at its meeting elected new office-bearers here on Tuesday.President - Sohan Singh; vice-president-Mahesh Kumar; general
secretary-Surjit Singh Dhillon;finance secretary-Ravi Dass;press
secretary-Ramesh Arora and adviser-Bhagwan Singh. Executive members:-Raj Kumar,Bhupinder Singh,Jitendar Singh,Gurbaj Singh, Bikram Singh and Daeshan Singh.
Appointed: Government Medical College professor of the orthopaedic department Dr JPS Walia was elected president unanimously. Dr Walia has performed 200 hip replacement surgeries and is also a recipient of state award for social services. He also holds the record of performing three hip replacement surgeries in a day at Government Rajindra Hospital,
Patiala.