R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
Sarpanch stabbed to death: Pritam Singh, sarpanch of Bedi Chhanna village, was allegedly stabbed to death by a youth of the same village over a minor dispute. The police have registered a case against Jaspal Singh and his mother Chhindo, but no arrest has been made so far. Jarnail Singh, Station House Officer, Ramdass police station, said Pritam Singh along with his wife Beero and son Jodh Singh was returning home from his fields when the accused attacked him.

Fatehgarh Sahib
Farmers block road: Farmers blocked the Sirhind-Khamanon state highway no. 12 near Talania village to protest insufficient supply of power to their tube wells for irrigation. These farmers were from Talania, Ferozepur, Bahadargarh, Baghsikandar, Jadkhela Khedi and Dera Meermeera. The dharna was lifted after the SDM, Bassi Pathana, called the Executive Engineer, Electricity Department, and directed him to solve the problems  of the farmers within the  next two days.

Phagwara
Docs threaten stir: Doctors and other staff at the Civil Hospital here have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from July 8 if the assailants who allegedly attacked them on Thursday were not arrested. The staff was attacked and the emergency ward ransacked after a relative of the assailants, Gurpreet, an undertrial, died at the hospital.

Sangrur
5 held with 200 liquor cases: Five persons were held with 200 cases of country-made liquor at a naka near Ballran village in Moonak. The accused have been identified as Dharampal Singh, Amar Singh, Sonu, Subhash and Mukesh. A case has been registered.

DEHRADUN

ALMORA
Quality seeds needed: Dr Puskar Singh Bisht, a senior scientist and MD of the Terai Seed Development Corporation, said on Saturday that the nation required quality seeds to usher in the second green revolution. The scientists need to develop seed varieties which could be sustained in the hill and dry areas so that these could be included in the second green revolution. Bisht was speaking on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of Vivekanand Anusandhanshala situated at Almora.

Nainital
Encroachments near lakes: The Nainital district administration is planning to remove encroachments from the Sukhatal area as the high court in its order last week had said constructions within the 30-metre radius of any lake would be termed illegal. “We have appealed to the district administration to relocate over 24 small businessmen and house owners whose buildings and structures have been declared illegal by the high court. We have decided to launch an agitation if people are not relocated,” said Bhupal Singh Karki, a ward member of the Nagar Palika Parishad, Nainital, from the Sukhatal area.

Ramnagar
Natural water sources dry: Over 20 villages in Salt block of Almora district are being supplied drinking water through tankers as natural sources have gone dry due to scanty rain. Eight natural water sources have gone dry in lower parts of the area adjoining Ramnagar. Some others are on verge of drying, drastically reducing water supply. “We are spending Rs 3,000 on diesel for two tankers that supply water,” said BB Kothiyal, Executive Engineer, Jal Sansthan, Ramnagar.

(Compiled by BD Kasniyal)