Briefly Region

Engineering college proposed in Shimla

Shimla: Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal gave a go-ahead to the setting up of an engineering college at Pragati Nagar,currently the site of Gumma carton factory in Shimla district. Quoting the CM’s statement at a review meeting of the technical education department,an official spokesman said there was also a proposal to open a polytechnic college at the site. The carton manufacturing plant set up in the late eighties has been lying closed for the last few years as it was running into losses. The government now proposes to use the premises by setting up the engineering college and has roped in Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam to take up the project under its corporate social responsibility.

Tourism units fined for irregularities

Shimla: Pacing up the drive to enforce rules and regulation ensuring basic hygiene and good service in tourism units,the state tourism and civil aviation department has imposed a fine of nearly Rs 11.13 lakh after conducting 2,000 surprise checks during the current financial year. The tourism director said surprise checks were carried out on hotels,guest houses,restaurants,travel agencies and tour operators under the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development and Registration Act and none were spared for irregularities found in their working. He said the objective was to ensure hygienic conditions of the units and check fleecing and overcharging of tourists. The drive would continue,he added.

Harkrishan School bags first position at Maa Boli Mela

Amritsar: Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary School,GT Road,bagged the overall first prize by winning most number of competitions held at Spring Dale Senior School,on the occasion of the third annual Maa Boli Mela organised by Punarjyot on Wednesday. A number of contests,including Sufi music,folk singing,debate,poetry recitation,poster making,calligraphy and clay modelling,were held as part of the fair. On the occasion,15 teachers from different schools were honoured for their contributions towards the promotion of Punjabi as mother tongue. Dr Paramjit Singh Sidhu,prominent Punjabi writer and HoD,Punjabi department,Guru Nanak Dev University,presided over the event,along with Spring Dale principal Rajiv Kumar Sharma.