ROHTAK, June 23: Four more striking nurses of Pandit B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) here were booked under the Essential Services Maiantenance Act (ESMA) today.The Civil Lines Police registered the cases against PGIMS Nurses' Association president Durga Yadav, Santok Rana, Kamlesh and Kulwant Kaur under section of the ESMA thus, six PGIMS nurses have been booked under ESMA so far. Meanwhile, it is learnt that PGIMS authorities are contemplating severe punishment for the striking nurses including dismissal from service.Senior PGIMS officials held discussions till late last night about the type of action to be taken against the PGIMS nurses, who have been observing strike since May 21 last. PGIMS director principal D. S. Dubey refused to elaborate the type of punitive action being contemplated by the authorities against the striking nurses. He merely said: ``The process of taking action against the striking nurses is going on, but, I cannot tell the details now.'' Meanwhile the police have registered case of ``attempt to commit suicide'' against the three fasting nurses of the PGIMS. Although cases have been registered against Santosh Hooda, Raj Taneja and Anita Khokhar in this connection, no arrest has been made so far. PGIMS Nurses' Assocation press secretary Ishwanti Malik has alleged that due medical attention was not being given to the fasting nurses and their condition is gradually deteriorating.Sonepat: The Irrigation Department of Haryana has launched a crash programme to construct nine new stone spurs at vulnerable points on the Yamuna river near Bega village in this district with view to checking the erosion on the Haryana side and to save the cultivable land in Sonepat sub-division from seasonal floods.Deputy Commissioner P. K. Mahapatra told media persons today that the department has also undertaken 768 m edge protection works in this complex. The project would cost around Rs 78 lakh.He said that the Haryana State Flood Control Committee has sanctioned as many as 17 schemes to combat recurring floods, erosion of agricultural land by the Yamuna river and modernisation of drainage network in this district. The state government, he said, would spend Rs 3.79 crore on these schemes during the current month.The Deputy Commissioner further added that the Irrigation Department would construct eight pipe culverts in the area of Tihar Kalan Minor at a cost of Rs 3 lakh. A ring bund would be constructed around Hassengarh village so that it could be protected from the flood waters. Other schemes include the augmentation of the drain from Lath village to Dubeta village, construction of a pump house on the drain near Kasandi village, construction of a field drain near Dhanana village and the construction of pucca inlets on the diversion drain no 8 and other drains for carrying of waters during the monsoon season.Mahapatra also said that the State government would execute seven flood control schemes at a cost of Rs 88.18 lakh during the second phase. The state government, he said, would also spend Rs 1.66 crore for taking anti-flood measures during the third phase in the district.He hoped that the on-going flood protection works at Memarpur and Raskhera complexes would be completed soon.
