R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Chandigarh
Rs 350 cr to repair rural roads: The Punjab Government has decided to spend Rs 350 crore on the repair of rural roads. Disclosing this here on Wednesday, PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said the government had resolved to upgrade the rural roads network with repair and re-carpeting of 400 km of roads. He said the Public Works Department would conduct a survey in rural areas to locate places where new roads were required. The department had also envisaged a comprehensive plan to reduce traffic on main roads in big cities by constructing the ring roads around the periphery of the cities, he added.

Clarify stand on memorial: Cong: The Punjab Congress on Wednesday asked the SAD-BJP government to clarify its stand on the Operation Bluestar Memorial. PCC general secretary Arvind Khanna alleged the alliance had kept the Centre in the dark by saying it was not a memorial but a gurdwara. He said SGPC president had already announced that the first phase of the memorial was complete. The issue was too serious and sensitive to be brushed aside, Khanna added.

Three IAS officers transferred: The Punjab Government on Wednesday posted and transferred three IAS officers and one PCS officer. Vikas Pratap has been posted as Director-cum-Secretary, Industries and Commerce; Inderjit Singh Sandhu has been posted as Special Secretary, Cooperation, Special Secretary, Coordination, and Special Secretary General Administration; and Sukhjit Singh Bains, has been posted as Joint Development Commissioner, IRD.