Special to The Chief
One hundred fifty-six Pak fishermen languishing in Indian jails were repatriated through the Wagah checkpost on April 19. They inadvertently entered Indian territorial waters as there is no clear demarcation in the ocean. It was suggested by them that both the governments should take appropriate steps in future to release fishermen on the spot after preliminary investigations.
Hindus from Sindh (Pakistan) are visiting India on a pilgrimage from April 21. The pilgrims entered India by rail through Wagah and reached Attari International Railway Station. They will visit Amarvati Shadhani Darbar Temple (Raipur), Shadhani Darbar (Jalgaon), Mata Momba Devi Mandir (Mumbai), Swami Narayan Temple (Ahmedabad), Shri Krishan Temple (Nathwara) and other places. The visitors will return to Pakistan on May 19.
Dr. Raghbir Singh Bains, who is presently visiting Punjab, has been selected for the award of Order of British Columbia this year. He is the compiler of the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism and producer-creator of Multimedia Sikh Museum. The award will be presented to him on June 29 at Government House, Victoria, B.C. He belongs to Manik Dheri village in Doaba and migrated to Surrey in 1990.
Vegetable prices have shot up in the State on account of the strike by the Vegetable Market Commission Agents. They are protesting against the privatisation of collection of market fee by the Punjab Mandi Board. The major markets affected are Amritsar, Bhogpur, Jalandhar, Lohian, Mukerian, Nakodar, Pathankot and Talwara.
The State Government wants to propagate fresh water prawn culture in Punjab in order to diversify pisiculture. The total area under fish cultivation is 9,032 hectares and fish production is 6,094 kg per hectare. The State has achieved the first position in the country with regard to average fish production per unit area.
Punjab Dairy Development Board has planned to train 2,500 jobless youth in dairy farming in five training centres located at Bija, Kurali, Phagwara, Tarn Taran and Sardulgarh. They will be taught latest techniques, marketing skills, etc. The candidates will visit PAU, Milk Plants and the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana. The training centres have been upgraded and equipped with audio-visual aids.
Punjab is the first State in the country to launch VAT system for online processing of VAT accounts and returns. This will enable the senior officers to view the work on any terminal across the State.
Around 300 villages in Southern Punjab are in darkness as the PSEB staff is on strike. About six grids and 36 feeders have been shut down at a time when preparations for the next crop are in full swing. No power has compounded the problems of the farmers as the tubewells have gone dry.
Gastroenteritis has spread in Jalandhar city. Hundreds of people are feared to have come in its grip due to unsafe drinking water. The Health Department is distributing chlorine tablets and treating the people afflicted with the disease.
Clear written examinations for obtaining a driving licence! The Chandigarh Traffic Police have started a written as well as oral test for issuing a driving licence. The pass marks are 60 per cent. Illiterate persons will be provided with writers to answer the questions. The test has been launched keeping in mind the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. The examinees can prepare with the help of an online kit on the Chandigarh Police Website or the organization booklet.
