Briefly State

Chandigarh: Punjab government Monday said it has earmarked Rs 11.16 crore for 2013-14 to promote fish farming. Disclosing this,Fisheries Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike said at present 11,287 hectares of area is under fish culture with about 8,000 fish farmers engaged in the same.

Buttar sworn in as PPSC chairman

Chandigarh: Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil Monday administered the oath of office and secrecy to Lt Gen (Retd) M S Buttar as chairman of Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) at a brief ceremony in Raj Bhavan. Prominent among others who attended the swearing-in-ceremony included Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,Revenue and Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Cultural Affairs Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur.

Fresh guidelines on bio-medical waste

Chandigarh: Punjab Government has asked all institutions,which deals with medical wastes,not to keep untreated bio-medical wastes beyond a period of 48 hours. In guidelines issued to hospitals,laboratories and blood banks,the government has made it mandatory to dispose of untreated bio-medical wastes after 48 hours,an official said Monday.

Ramzan: Facilities for Muslim prisoners

Chandigarh: Punjab Jail Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur Monday directed the jail department to ensure adequate facilities to the Muslim prisoners during the holy month of Ramzan starting July 9. He also asked the DGP Prisons to make sure that chief minister’s directive allowing Muslim prisoners to perform prayers and other rituals during the fasting period is adhered to.

Gobindgarh Fort to be dedicated to tourists

Chandigarh: The historic Gobindgarh Fort at Amritsar,a legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh,is set to be thrown open to tourists in September after the completion of its first phase of restoration. “The first phase of conservation work has already been completed,” Tourism Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur said,adding that the fort would be opened to the public on the eve of World Tourism Day in September and would remain open three days a week.

Conference on Punjabi culture on July 30

Patiala: The rich language,literature and culture of Punjab will be discussed at the maiden South Asian Punjabi Conference to be held here from July 30. The two-day event on ‘Future of Punjabi language,literature and culture in South Asia: Challenges and Prospects’,being organised by World Punjabi Centre,will be participated by delegates from Afghanistan,Nepal,Pakistan,Dubai and Sri Lanka,WPC director Deepak Manmohan Singh said Monday.

Survey ranks LPU ahead of IIT-Delhi

JALANDHAR: The Lovely Professional University (LPU) has been ranked above IIT-Delhi in the pedagogy area in the B-School (MBA) Survey-2013 conducted by a business magazine. Ranked 21 nationally,LPU has amassed 92 scores,whereas IIT-Delhi is at 24 with 90 scores.

408 child labourers rescued in one week

Chandigarh: Labour department in Punjab has successfully rescued over 408 children engaged as child labour in the state. The children were rescued during a special drive from 17 to 23 June this year,when the state was observing child labour eradication week,Labour Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani Monday said,adding special teams conducted raids at 8,964 different centres.

Rains bring down mercury

Chandigarh: Rains in several parts of Punjab Monday led to drop in temperatures to below normal level and raised humidity in the region. Amritsar was drenched by 29.6 mm rainfall while Ludhiana received 0.2 mm rains overnight and in morning,the MeT office said here. Chandigarh received 2.1 mm of rainfall. The Met has forecast moderate to heavy rains at some places in the next 24 hours.

Govt to encourage plantation of saplings

Chandigarh: Punjab government Monday stressed on plantation of saplings on vacant land in the state’s 20,600 government educational institutions to create awareness among students on environment. Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said stress will be lain on planting saplings having medicinal value and fruit bearing plants.

Excise fraud: Bail plea of duo rejected

Patiala/Ajitgarh: A Mohali court Monday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Deepak Jain and Jyoti Jain,partners at Krishana Ispat Udyog,who had allegedly defrauded the state by making bogus entries of inter-state sale of scrap to the tune of about of Rs 23 crore. The excise and taxation department had lodged an FIR against the duo under several section of IPC and IR act. Apprehending arrest,the duo had filed anticipatory bail application.

25 nations to take part in WC kabaddi

New Delhi: Punjab will host the fourth world cup Kabaddi tournament in November this year,Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said Monday. He said all formalities have been completed for the fortnight-long tournament in which 25 nations would be participating.

Move to strengthen disaster mgmt authority

Chandigarh: Punjab government would equip its Disaster Management Authority to face future challenges and eventualities arising out of natural calamity. A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in a meeting with officials deployed in Uttarakhand for carrying out relief and rescue operations here,a government spokesman said. Badal said the department of disaster management would soon procure latest equipment such as high lifts,boats and life saving jackets to rescue victims trapped in calamities or disasters like earthquakes,floods and fire.