Briefly Region

Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah on Sunday said the government has set aside Rs 3 crore for this purpose. He said the state government would provide subsidies on the Vertical Conveyor Reaper,Rotavator,Zerotill Drill,Straw Reaper,Pulverising Roller,Forage Reaper,Forage Chopper cum Loader,Raised Band Planter,Happy Seeder,Multi Crop Planter,Self Propelled Reaper Binder,Maize Thrasher,Automatic Potato Planter,Potato Digger and Fodder Harvester under the ‘Micro Management Work Plan Promotion of Agriculture Mechanisation’ program. The minister added that the agriculture department would give special training to the farmers for proper usage of modern agriculture machinery and special camps in this regard would be held in every district.

NGOs to be roped in for mid-day meal scheme

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has decided to set up centralised kitchens with the help of NGOs to supply quality mid-day meals to students in primary (Classes I to V) and upper primary schools (Classes VI to VIII) within the municipal limits of eight districts — Patiala,Ludhiana,Jalandhar,Amritsar,Bathinda,SAS Nagar,Sangrur and Moga. Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan said that more than one centralised kitchen will be set up in each of these districts.

Punjab to adopt solid waste disposal

CHANDIGARH: Punjab will become the first state in the country to adopt the integrated solid waste management programme in all its towns and cities from August 31,Local Bodies and Industries Minister Tikshan Sud said on Sunday. The government was committed to make the cities free from solid waste material,and thus had divided Punjab into eight mega clusters to ensure waste is removed in a scientific manner,he added. Each cluster will cover 15 to 30 cities.

Bathinda to get cancer speciality hospital

CHANDIGARH: The first Multi-Super Speciality Cancer Hospital,built in the Public Private Partnership mode,will be set up in Bathinda at a cost of Rs 100 crore,Health Minister Satpal Gosain said on Sunday. It will have a capacity of 200 beds,besides special services like a cancer surgery centre and radiotherapy unit. It will be open to the public by August 15.

State gears up for monsoon

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has made adequate arrangements to tackle flood threats and directions have been issued to all deputy commissioners (DCs) to remain vigilant during the monsoon season,an official spokesperson said. The government has asked the DCs to ensure proper functioning of control rooms set up for flood protection at the district,sub-division,tehsil and sub-tehsil levels.

Amarinder flays CM over canal issue

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s attempts to blame the Centre for the concrete wall that Haryana has constructed along the Hansi-Bhutana canal. Amarinder said the Centre had nothing to do with the matter as it was a long pending dispute between the two states. The PCC chief said if there were floods due to the concrete wall,the onus will squarely be on Badal to take responsibility as he is the chief minister.

Majithia calls YAD meeting on July 12

AMRITSAR: The newly appointed head of Youth Akali Dal,the youth wing of ruling SAD(B),Bikram Singh Majithia,has called the body’s executive committee meeting in Chandigarh on July 12.

Army foundation day meet in Nahan

NAHAN: World War II veterans will be part of the Army’s 250th Foundation Day celebrations to be held in Nahan on October 17,said Commanding Officer of the 1st para commando,I D Saha.