In Brief

Remove illegal hutments from Sector 25,says Deputy mayor

Deputy Mayor Sheela Devi has given a representation to the UT Home Secretary asking for the removal of illegal hutments from Sector 25 as it was hampering the development work in the area including roads,dispensary,primary school and creche. The Deputy Mayor said there were around 500 people in the area whose names figure in the biometric survey and they would be rehabilitated. However,there are twice that number who have not been part of any survey and still have built hutments in the area. “Whenever some project is to start,people in the illegal hutments protest. Even officials are wary of starting any work here. The area needs to be developed. The projects that have been proposed should be started,” she says. Sheela said she had taken up the issue with authorities a number of times but no action has been taken.

Unemployed ETT teachers block traffic,seek release of member

The activists of Unemployed ETT Teachers’ Union today blocked traffic in the city for over six hours and climbed atop an iron bridge to press for their demands. A large number of activists of the Unemployed ETT Teachers’ Union including girls from various districts of the state blocked traffic on the Ropar-Nawanshshr Road around 1 pm. They were demanding the release of seven unemployed elementary teachers,who were arrested at Lambi recently,exemption of written test for the recruitment of ETT teachers in the state. The officials tried to persuade the protestors but they refused to budge. In the evening,Ropar Deputy Commissioner A S Miglani and SSP L K Yadav also reached the spot. The Deputy Commissioner assured the protestors that their arrested colleagues would be released soon and a meeting would be arranged with the Chief Minister on Tuesday. He also assured that no action would be taken against the protestors,who had climbed atop the bridge.

Three blood donation camps organised

Three blood donation camps were organised by the Department of Transfusion Medicine,PGI,to mark the world blood donor day on Monday. The day is being observed world over with the theme New blood for the world. Three voluntary donation camps were organised at M L N College,Yamuna Nagar,Swaraj Mazda,Mohali and Blood Donation Complex,PGI. More than 500 units were collected in these camps. Among the star donors were Arun Aggarwal (184 donations),Charanjit Singh (177),Praveen Moudgil (133),K P Shashi (109),Ajay Dutt Vashist (80) and Sudhir Vaid (69). The donors were presented with token of appreciation in the form of specially designed mementos,certificates and pens on the occasion.

SGPC polls: UT sets up 27 polling stations

The UT Administration has set up 27 polling stations in various government schools of the city to facilitate the enrolment of Sikh voters for SGPC gurdwaras. The Gurdwara Election Commission has notified that the registration of voters will continue till July 15. The officials deputed to receive Form-I have been directed to accept the form from the person individually and in no case forms in bulk should be accepted from any individual. Revenue patwatris,tehsildar (Revenue) have also been authorised to receive forms. The form for enrolment can also be submitted in the office of LAO at DC office on any working day up to July 15.