|
|
|
|
|
Arundhati speaks up for farmers
Gobindpura plant work starts amid protest by villagers
Chief Minister lays stone of Ayurveda University
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
PPCB for complete ban on plastic bags
Vegetable growers to get 50 pc subsidy
Manpreet demands CBI probe into transport scam
Anna must check credentials of SAD, BJP leaders: Capt
Ensure sale of hygienic eatables, health officials told
Suspected ISI spy in police net
Staff shortage ails Fatehgarh Sahib Civil Hospital
Scientists: Reform pharmacy education
Health Dept raids nursing home, seizes blood bags
Soon, public library in almost every village
Batala NRI’s murder case
CM, Capt condole death of ex-MLA
Indian youths refuse to pay relief to injured Pak nationals
Sikh soldiers serving in British Army to be honoured
Govt simplifies rules for disability certificate
Power firm starts work at Gobindpura project site amid protests
Armed forces turn to state cos for spares
|
Arundhati speaks up for farmers
Kussa (Moga), October 9 The Booker Prize winner, addressing a huge gathering at Kussa village, slammed the Punjab government for “forcible” acquisition of land, saying it was against the basic right to livelihood granted to people by nature. She said the land belonged to the people who should have the right to cultivate it. “The government does not have any right to forcibly evict tillers from their land which gives them their livelihood”, she said. Roy said land-holdings in Punjab were dwindling and the state government should ensure that the land stayed with the farmers. “It should be left to the farmers to decide whether or not they want to sell their land.” She said if the state government persisted in its efforts to acquire the Gobindpura land, the common masses should rise against the authorities. “I have been with the tribal people in Jharkhand where they have resisted land acquisition for a multinational company for five years. You should learn from them”, she said. She advocated equal rights for women.
|
|
Gobindpura plant work starts amid protest by villagers Bathinda, October 9 Over 20 tractors were engaged by the company for levelling the 560 acres of land since morning. The police was deployed in strength to prevent any untoward incident and also not to allow the protesters to reach the fields. Over 100 persons who have not accepted compensation cheques for their 186 acres of land were protesting at the focal point against the levelling of their land. The police did not allow them to proceed towards the acquired land to stall the work. PPDL officials were personally supervising the levelling work. One of them, speaking over the phone, said the work on the construction of the boundary wall might begin tomorrow. Mukhtiar Singh, a resident of the village, said the houses of the landless labourers would also be demolished by PPDL as the land had been acquired by the company. A subsidiary of Indiabulls, PPDL has acquired about 880 acres of land to construct the thermal plant. — TNS
|
||
|
Tributes paid to playwright Gursharan
Kussa (Moga), October 9 Arundhati said: “Gursharan Singh kept alive political freedom of the people through theatre. He took theatre to the grassroots level, influencing the common masses on current issues from time to time”. Dr Areet Kaur, her voice choked with emotion, said her father was always concerned about the fate of the common man in the modern times. She said her father did not believe in any religion but was a true devotee of Guru Nanak and served humanity. “My father inspired the people to fight for the rights of the common man through theatre at the village level. He was successful in his mission to a large extent.” Dr Atamjit Singh, Kewal Dhaliwal, Ajmer Aulakh, Dr Sahib Singh, Prof Pali Bhupinder, Attar Jeet, Amolak Singh, Pushap Lata, Pawel Kussa, Jaspal Jassi, Dr Raghbir Kaur, BKU leader Sukhdev Singh Kokri and many others were present on the occasion. The gathering observed a one-minute in silence in memory of the departed soul. A photo exhibition was put up by Suchetak Kala Manch, Mohali, depicting the life of the grand old man of the Punjabi theatre.
|
||
|
Chief Minister lays stone of Ayurveda University
Hoshiarpur, October 9 The Chief Minister appreciated the Kharkan village panchayat for donating 33 acres of land for the university and asked the VC to impart free education to students from the village. In his address, Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said the Ayurveda University would go a long way in giving a boost to alternative systems of medicine. He emphasised the need to encourage research in the Ayurveda, homeopathy and Unani systems of medicine. He said the SAD-BJP alliance had ushered in an era of unparalleled growth in every sector, especially education and health. Medical Education & Research and Forests Minister Arunesh Shakir said the university was being set up in the forest belt of Hoshiarpur which had in abundance a variety of rare herbs and shrubs with immense medicinal value. Local Government Minister Tikshan Sud also spoke. The university, the first of its kind in Punjab and fourth in the country, is to be constructed over an area of 33 acres. A sum of Rs 20 crore of a total Rs 55 crore will be spent on construction in the first phase. On the possibility of a mid-term poll, Jaitley said: “The Congress -led UPA Government may not last full term because it has lost its centre of gravity as well as equilibrium.” Senior BJP leader Lal Krishan Advani’s Jan Chetna Yatra will enter Punjab on November 13, said RK Mohindru , BJP media cell convener The yatra would enter Punjab through Bathinda on November 13 and pass through several areas of Punjab, including Barnala, Ludhiana, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Dina Nagar and Pathankot, before reaching the neighbouring state HP on November 16.
|
||
|
PPCB for complete ban on plastic bags
Patiala, October 9 The state government had enforced the Punjab Plastic Carry Bags (Manufacture, Usage and Disposal) Control Act on May 1, prohibiting the use of the plastic of thickness not less than 30-micron. While the Punjab Government has imposed a ban on plastic of thickness not less than 30-micron, the neighbouring states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh had already imposed a total ban on the manufacture, distribution, stocking, recycling, selling or using plastic carry bags. Speaking to The Tribune, Seechewal said, “In the wake of the fact that non-biodegradable plastic is bound to pollute the environment, the state government must impose a complete ban on the use of plastic carry bags”. He added that if proper steps were not taken on time, the coming generations would suffer on account of the polluted environment in the state. Notably, the environmentalists had been repeatedly stating that the fertility of soil in the state was getting affected adversely due to the indiscriminate disposal of polythene in an unscientific manner. Executive Director of Kheti Virasat Mission Umendra Dutt said the state government should chalk out a comprehensive plan for providing an alternate option to plastic carry bags and should subsequently implement a complete ban on the use of plastics and polythenes in a phased manner. “Plastic plates, glasses and other such material used for packaging food should be immediately banned. Special drives should be undertaken to ensure that plastic is not being used at food joints, eating outlets and food vendors on the streets,” he said. Meanwhile, Pannu said it was appreciable that the state government had imposed a ban on the use of the plastics of thickness not less than 30-micron. “My personal opinion is that the government should impose a complete ban on the use of plastic carry bags in order to ensure that the environment is not polluted,” he said. He added that the PPCB was conducting surprise checks in the state to ensure strict compliance of the ban on the use of plastic of thickness less than 30-micron. The Punjab Plastic Carry Bags (Manufacture, Usage and Disposal) Control Act specified that no person would throw in any drain, ventilation shaft, pipe and fitting connected with private or public drainage, public place, any non-biodegradable garbage or plastic or biodegradable garbage in a non-biodegradable bag. However, despite the enforcement of the Act, the state government has miserably failed to ensure its proper implementation, as the norms of the Act are being grossly violated in various parts of the state.
|
||
|
Vegetable growers to get 50 pc subsidy
Langah said the government had increased the subsidy from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per net house for small and medium-level farmers. in view of the increase in the cost of pipes and nets used in construction of the houses. Langah said 50 per cent subsidy would also be provided on pesticides and anti-fungus medicines in order to improve vegetable quality as well as increase the per unit income of farmers. He said the subsidy amount would be a maximum of Rs 6,000 per farmer. Though the Agriculture Minister has maintained that farmers could contact the District Horticulture Officer to avail the facility, trends show that the area under net houses is not picking up as anticipated. There are only 750 net houses in the state and their number is not increasing due to lack of technical know-how. Even established net house cultivators feel technical expertise needs to be given at the doorstep of farmers. Meherban Singh of Ludhiana said though he was able to get the right expertise, many small farmers setting out in this new field were not so lucky. Sources say it is due to lack of technical staff, including horticulture development officers, in the state. As against required 344 posts, only 167 posts have been sanctioned and out of these only 93 posts have been filled. VIPs and big farmers usually monopolise the few technical staff available in the field. Meanwhile, sources added that Punjab is producing 32 lakh tonnes of vegetables against a requirement of 28 lakh tonnes. Out of this, the major share is of potatoes (21 lakh tonnes). Farmers going in for net houses are taking to production of capsicums, cucumbers, tomatoes and brinjals. In another development under a national vegetable initiative scheme, Ludhiana has been made the centre for vegetable production with clusters in adjoining Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar and Sangrur districts. Farmers will be provided subsidy ranging from Rs 25,500 to 33,750 per hectare under this scheme. They will also be provided subsidy for setting up retail outlets, vegetable collection centres, mobile vending cards and processing units. The scheme has, however, not moved beyond initiation of the process to form farmer groups.
|
||
Manpreet demands CBI probe into transport scam
Manpreet, who was at Kangna village to lay the foundation stone of Vardaan and Vigyan Charitable Trust, said the Badals had allegedly manipulated the transport policy to suit their own needs and earn profits. The People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) chief was here on the request of Navjot Singh Dahiya, an aspirant for PPP ticket from Shahkot assembly constituency. “Fifteen years ago when I and Sukhbir forayed into transport business, we both had three buses each. And now, he owns 160 buses and I only have five, something that speaks of how he (Sukhbir) manipulated the transport policy for own gains,” he said. In the process of “extending benefits” to private players in the transport sector, the father-son duo had “ruined” the public players. “A majority of private players also became a scapegoat in the scam,” he said. “After capturing the lucrative routes of the state, the Chief Minister also grabbed the profitable time tables for their buses. The CM should himself, on moral grounds, call for a CBI inquiry into the scam,” Manpreet said. On the BSP joining the Left-PPP alliance, he said talks in this connection were yet to take place.
|
||
|
Anna must check credentials of SAD, BJP leaders: Capt
Hoshiarpur, October 9 The former CM attributed most of the existing problems in Punjab to the Punjabi Suba movement of the Akalis that had led to fragmentation of the state, shrinking its vast resources. Stressing that continuity in state policy on issues like industry and investment was important even after a change in government, he said the Akali-BJP regime had unfortunately cancelled all the 399 mega projects sanctioned during the Congress regime. Had these projects been allowed to continue, it would have led to creation of lakhs of jobs. He said the Reliance Industries had decided to launch a farm- to-fork project in all the villages of Punjab. But the Akalis cancelled the project and tried to renegotiate with Anil Ambani who refused to do so. Despite claims by Sukhbir Badal, Punjab continued to be deficit in power and the industry was facing a four-day weekly cut. As a result, no new industry was being set up in the state and all expansion schemes had been put on hold.
|
|
Ensure sale of hygienic eatables, health officials told
Chandigarh, October 9 He said the Health Department was fully geared up to ensure sale of pure, unadulterated and hygienic eatables to the people. He said special directions had been given to keep a vigil over the sale of milk products and sweets like khoa, ghee etc. All the districts health officials had been asked to step up routine sampling to check adulteration and seize or destroy unhygienic items. The Government Food Testing Laboratories, too, had been directed to provide the reports of the samples at the earliest, he said. The special drive has been launched in view of heavy demand for milk and milk products in the markets for the coming festival season. The minister said anyone found indulging in sale of adulterated food items or milk products would be dealt with sternly by the Health Department.
|
|
|
Suspected ISI spy in police net
Faridkot, October 9 The 45-year-old plumber was taken into custody following a tip-off from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the military officials. Terming the matter as highly sensitive, police authorities chose to remain tight- lipped about the custody of the plumber but unofficial sources revealed that the plumber, who was posted for over 25 years in Faridkot cantonment, was working as a spy for the ISI. He was providing important military secrets related to the Faridkot cantonment to the Pakistan agency on his mobile phone. A DSP level police officer has been deputed for the interrogation of the plumber and the details of the case would be discussed after a thorough probe and questioning of the plumber, said Sat Pal Singh Sidhu, SSP Faridkot. The prima facie investigation and the interrogation of the suspected spy revealed that he was passing on the secret information to the ISI for over 18 months, said sources in the police.
|
|
|
Staff shortage ails Fatehgarh Sahib Civil Hospital
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 9 “The hospital can’t cope with the pressure of patients,” said Bir Devinder Singh, former Deputy Speaker and MLA from Sirhind, while addressing mediapersons here after visiting the hospital. He said as per the norms of the IPHS (Indian Public Health Standards), the 100-bedded Fatehgarh Sahib hospital is ill-equipped and understaffed. He said to salvage the hospital out of the mess would be immediate requirement of at least five Medical Officers, including one surgeon and two gynaecologists, one radiographer, two lab technicians, seven staff nurses, one LHV (lady health visitor) one MPHW (male), one senior physiotherapist, one assistant physiotherapist, one ECG technician, seven ward assistants, four sweepers, one cook and watchman. He said trauma centre was the top priority of the hospital as it was located near the Sirhind GT Road and almost all the cases of road mishaps were referred to PGI, Chandigarh, or other super-speciality hospitals at Mohali because of inadequate facilities and shortage of manpower. He called upon the Minister for Health and Family Welfare to immediately visit the hospital along with Secretary, Health, MD Punjab Health Systems Corporation, and Director, Health Services, Punjab, to take stock of the situation in order to put remedial measures in place. The remedy
|
|
|
Suvidha centres to be made operational from October 17
mrala October 9 He was here to inspect a suvidha centre at the Samrala Police Station. He said all the arrangements had been made in this regard. He added that with suvidha centres, the people would save time and get their documents from a single window in a fixed time frame. The DGP said to control crime more effectively in the state, a new scheme was under progress and would come into force shortly. He said although the crime graph in the state was low as compared to some other states, the Punjab police wanted to bring the crime graph under control. He said earlier the police was facing a staff shortage, but now fresh recruitments had been done. Those who were present on the occasion included MF Faroqi, DIG, Ludhiana; Mandeep Singh Sidhu, SS, Khanna; Balwinder Singh, SPD, Khanna and Ranbir Singh Khatra, SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib.
|
|
|
Paddy procurement gains momentum
In one of the biggest mandis of the state in Rajpura, farmers said after the initial hiccups, the procurement had gained pace. “However, lifting of the procured paddy is something that still needs attention. But we are hopeful that the government will surely intervene as due to a heavy rush in the market, farmers will have to wait to dry and later dispose their harvest rapidly due to space constraint,” said Arjun Singh, who has come here to sell his harvest. Harvinder Singh Riar, secretary, Market Committee, Rajpura, said all their arrangements were complete and everything was working smoothly and they hoped that the procured paddy would be lifted soon to help farmers coming with fresh arrivals. “As the moisture content is low due to good weather conditions for the past sometime, the agencies are not wasting time,” he added. Patiala Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg confirmed that yesterday 21,895 MT of paddy was bought in a single day which showed the pace of procurement in the mandis. “Punasup led the chart with 9,313 MT of purchase while Pungrain bought 5,030 MT, Markfed bought 2,747 MT, Warehouse 2,410 MT and Punjab Agro bought 2,410 MT of paddy,” said Garg. While the administration appealed to the farmers to dry their crop before reaching the mandis, farmers said they were worried about the fact that if it rained in the coming days, their produce could be further delayed. “Till now it is sunny and the weather is helpful, but we know that every year it drizzles before the onset of winter. Therefore, the farmers are eager to sell their produce before it rains,” said Pooran Chand, an arhtiya in the Rajpura Grain Market. Meanwhile, Ashwani Bansal, superintendent of the market committee, said there was certain delay initially following a delay on the part of the Central agency, Food Corporation of India, which wanted to purchase directly from the farmers.
“However, now there is no problem for the farmers and all is working well with the state government agencies coming to their rescue,” Bansal said.
|
|
|
Scientists: Reform pharmacy education Moga, October 9 They were expressing their views on the second day of the three-day national conference on "Global Status of Pharmacy Education and Current Status in India" being organized by the Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI) at the Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy at Moga, today. The scientists, while lauding the efforts of the union government to create a separate department of pharmacy, demanded that it should be brought under the control of the Health Ministry rather than the Ministry of Chemicals, contending that pharmacy education is related to manufacturing, prescription and delivery of drugs for upholding the health of human beings.
|
|
|
Health Dept raids nursing home, seizes blood bags
Sangrur, October 9 Dr Bali said the team seized the blood bags that had been kept without a valid licence.
|
|
|
Soon, public library in almost every village
Jalandhar, October 9 A committee headed by Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan has approved the “Shabad Parkash Punjab Public Library and Information Services Bill: 2011.” At its meeting here today, the Education Minister said the government planned to set up a state central library, 22 district libraries, 141 block-level libraries, 157 town libraries and 12, 282 village libraries in a phased manner. At present, Punjab has a state library and 14 district libraries. Barnala, Ludhiana, Moga, Muktsar, Nawanshahr, Tarn Taran, Fazilka, and Pathankot districts will also have their district libraries. Sekhon said an eight-member core committee under the chairmanship of Dr DS Dillon, Chairman, Punjab School Education Board, had been constituted to prepare a public library development plan and the budget estimates. Other members of the committee are were: Satnam Singh Manak, Executive Editor, Ajit, Dr Gurbhajan Gill, president, Punjabi Sahit Academy, Ludhiana, Dr Jagtar Singh, president, Punjab Library Association, Dr Balbir Kaur, Director, Languages Department, Punjab, Kulbir Kaur, librarian, MM Central State Library, Patiala, HS Chopra, librarian, GNDU Library, Amritsar, and Sukhdev Singh, librarian, Khalsa College, Amritsar. He said Dr Dillon had been appointed the nodal officer to pursue the “Shabad Parkash Punjab Public Library and Information Services Bill: 2011” with the government.
|
|
Batala NRI’s murder case
Batala, October 9 While the police has already arrested four of the accused, two were still at large. Gurinder’s mother Parkash Kaur alleged that the police was trying to hush up the case as the two accused were being shielded by ruling party leaders. “Both Deep Raj and Yadvinder are openly roaming on the streets of Batala and the cops are conveniently looking the other way,” she said. Parkash Kaur said she would be meeting Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil in Chandigarh in the next few days to impress upon him the need for a CBI inquiry in the case. Also, she alleged that conspiracy in the case could be gauged from the fact that SSP Gurkirpal Singh had earlier deliberately appointed inspector Naurang Singh, a “close friend” of Deep Raj, as the investigating officer. “When Naurang Singh was booked in a case under the Arms Act in 2005, Deep Raj stood surety for him and also filed bail bonds…this is on record. How could the police ignore such a vital fact?” asked Parkash Kaur. She also showed copies of the bail bonds to prove her claim. Naurang Singh, however, was replaced in the case by DSP (City) Sakattar Singh later after the deceased’s family objected. Meanwhile, Sakattar Singh said that the police had procured warrants from a local court, which in due course of time will declare the two accused as proclaimed offenders.
Former Minister and Gurdaspur District Congress Committee chief Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said he had written to the Union Home Ministry seeking a CBI inquiry into the case.
|
|
|
CM, Capt condole death of ex-MLA
Chandigarh, October 9 At a condolence message, the Chief Minister said Devinder Singh was a disciplined soldier of the SAD, who had always worked relentlessly to propagate the policies and programs of the party. He shared his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family. In a separate message, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh also condoled the death of the former legislator. Expressing sympathy with the bereaved family, Capt Amarinder Singh said the death was an irreparable loss to the state.
|
|
|
Indian youths refuse to pay relief to injured Pak nationals
Chandigarh, October 9 The youths have filed a petition before a Sharjah committee demanding compensation on the lines of “diya” or blood money paid to Mishri Khan’s family. The deportation of the Indian youths has been was put on hold following the petition. The defence team that appeared on behalf of the Indian youths refused to entertain Mushtaq Ahmed and his cousin Shoaib’s compensation claim, maintaining that they had no locus standi in the case as their statements before the Appeal Court were contrary to their demand for compensation. During the hearing of the appeal, Mushtaq had maintained that he did not recognise any of the 17 Indian youths involved in the violent clash that left Mishri Khan dead and two persons injured. “Since he does not recognise any of his attackers, on what basis can he ask for compensation from them,” argued the defence team before the Civil Committee hearing the petition. It, however, maintained that Mushtaq and his cousin, who stands deported from the UAE, could ask for a portion of the blood money paid to Mishri Khan’s family. The case will now come up for hearing on October 18. Meanwhile, the defence team is awaiting hearing in the UAE Supreme Court of the UAE on an application by the Public Prosecutor for amendment in the judgement
|
|
|
Sikh soldiers serving in British Army to be honoured
London, October 9 Royal British Legion, a charity organisation that raises funds for soldiers who served or are serving in Britain's armed forces, would be honouring the Sikh soldiers this year by including the khanda in its annual Poppy Appeal. The appeal is organised annually and is held on 'Remembrance Sunday', which this year falls on November 13. In this year’s appeal in Leicestershire - which has a significant Sikh population - the Khanda will join the Christian cross, the Jewish Star of David and the Muslim Crescent, which have been introduced in recent years. The Khanda, made up of a solid circle, two interlocked swords and a double-edged sword, will be on sale alongside poppies and other wooden emblems. Jennifer Leach, the Legion's community fundraiser in Leicestershire and Rutland, told the local media: "We have had representations from the Sikh community nationally and locally and we felt it was time to produce the khanda. We are very happy to be able to mark the sacrifices which have been made by Sikh soldiers who fought and died in the British Army.” Resham Singh Sandhu, the High Sheriff of Leicestershire and the first Sikh to hold the post, said he was delighted to hear of the new Poppy Appeal emblem. He said this was “a wonderful way to celebrate the bravery of all the Sikh soldiers who have served the British Army with such distinction”. Last year's Poppy Appeal, marking the Legion's 90th birthday year, raised 525,161 pounds in Leicestershire alone. It was the first time the appeal had broken the 500,000 pounds mark. The total was 10 per cent up on the previous year's 476,150 pounds. — PTI
|
|
|
Govt simplifies rules for disability certificate
Chandigarh, October 9 The spokesman said in case of multiple disabilities a certificate could be issued by a committee of specialists. He said a multiple member board would be required only for multiple disabilities and not for single disability like paralysis and blindness. District hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, community health centers and primary health centers had been authorised to issue such a certificate.
|
|
|
Power firm starts work at Gobindpura project site amid protests
Bathinda, October 9 Over 20 tractors were engaged by the company for levelling the 560 acres of land since morning. The police was deployed in strength to prevent any untoward incident and also not to allow the protesters to reach the fields. Over 100 persons who have not accepted compensation cheques for their 186 acres of land were protesting at the focal point against the levelling of their land. The police did not allow them to proceed towards the acquired land to stall the work. PPDL officials were personally supervising the levelling work. One of them, speaking over the phone, said the work on the construction of the boundary wall might begin tomorrow. Mukhtiar Singh, a resident of the village, said the houses of the landless labourers would also be demolished by PPDL as the land had been acquired by the company. A subsidiary of Indiabulls, PPDL has acquired about 880 acres of land to construct the thermal plant. Sukhdev Singh Kokri, a Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) leader, alleged that the state government had forcibly acquired 186 acres of land for the project. Other farmers were also unhappy with the “pittance” that had been paid to them as compensation of their acquired land, he claimed. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has held two meetings to hammer out an amicable solution with leaders of the 17 farmers’ unions spearheading the agitation against the acquisition.
|
|
|
Armed forces turn to state cos
for spares Amritsar, October 9 This issue came up for discussion in a session on ‘Catalysing Punjab Industry for Defence Procurement’ on the inaugural day of the four-day Destination Punjab, a trade and industry exhibition organised by the CII here. The defence forces import spare parts worth Rs 100,000 crore annually from various foreign countries. In addition, the Army, at its eight base workshops, and the Air Force, at its 11 base repair depots, are also engaged in manufacturing spare parts for the 155 MM Bofors, Schilka anti-aircraft gun, fighter jets and other equipment. Brig Raja Puri, DDG Indigenisation, Army Headquarters, New Delhi, said that these vital defence manufacturing units would be eased of the pressure of churning out low-engineering technology. Thus, they would devote more time, energy and funds to concentrate on specialised technologies. He stated that at Destination Punjab, they were displaying various parts which could be fabricated by Punjab manufacturers and all technical and other support would be provided to them. He said that manufacturers from Punjab, both big and small, could secure a business of Rs 1,000 crore per annum. He said these steps would make the country self-reliant in defence equipment.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Hoshiarpur, October 9
In an effort to revive people’s reading habits, the Punjab Government plans to set up 12,603 public libraries in almost all villages of the state. These libraries will be established in a phased manner.
It should be left to the farmers to decide whether or not they want to sell their land... I have been with the tribal people in Jharkhand where they have resisted land acquisition for a multinational company for five years. You should learn a lesson from them — Arundhati Roy at Kussa village in Moga
He sought the cooperation of the NDA, the major Opposition party in Parliament, to mount pressure on the Congress-led UPA Government to roll back the recent hike in the prices of fertilisers, on which the state assembly had unanimously passed a resolution during the just-concluded session. Badal claimed that Punjab would soon become power surplus. The Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to provide the best medical care and diagnostic facilities to the people at affordable rates. He said the government had spent Rs 350 crore on setting up a network of hospitals and primary health
centres. 
According to the environmentalists, non-biodegradable plastic carry bags pollute the environment and must be banned. 
Chandigarh,
October 9
Shahkot, October 9
Rajpura/Patiala, October 9