Government offices open and close early in Punjab

October 7th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Over 610,000 tonnes of paddy has been procured by public and private agencies in Punjab so far, food and supplies department officials said Wednesday. Nearly 94 percent of all paddy arrivals in the state has been procured by government agencies - five of the Punjab government as well as the central government's Food Corporation of India (FCI).

August 28th, 2009 More post offices may face cutsWASHINGTON — The number of post offices being considered for possible closure to save money seems to be growing. The Postal Service faces a potential deficit of $7 billion this fiscal year and has been looking for ways to save, including buyouts, spending cuts and closing offices.

August 12th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - This is one decision that will see millions of people in Punjab ease themselves comfortably. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Wednesday gave the go ahead to an ambitious project of constructing 300,000 toilets in over 12,000 villages across the state.

August 2nd, 2009 BATHINDA - Son of a former Akali Dal minister of Punjab was found murdered in his car in this Punjab town Sunday, police said. Sandeep Singh Dhillon, son of former Akali Dal leader Teja Singh, was found dead in his car, according to officials.

July 30th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Scores of borrowers owe over Rs. 26.16 billion (Rs.2,616 crore) to the Punjab Financial Corporation (PFC), an agency of the Punjab government.

June 28th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - After Punjab last week banned use of air-conditioners in government offices, the Haryana government too Sunday imposed a similar ban across the state to tide over the power crisis the heat wave conditions have caused in the region. "With a view to economise the use of power, the Haryana government has decided to ban the use of air conditioners in its offices and that of boards and corporations, universities and local bodies situated in the state with immediate effect," an official spokesman said here Sunday.

June 28th, 2009 MOHALI - The searing heat and the resultant acute power crisis in Punjab has hit everyday life hard - people are suffering long power cuts, office timings have changed, shopping centres are to shut early and industries have been asked to take 72 hours off every week. The mercury has been ranging between 42 and 45 degrees Celsius in most cities and towns in the last few days.

June 27th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - The heat wave and the resulting power crisis have forced Punjab to change the timings of government offices - where use of air-conditioners (ACs) is already banned - and order early closure of shops and malls. Punjab's council of ministers Saturday approved the "harsh steps" recommended by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), including a complete ban of the use of ACs in the government offices, boards and corporations, change in office timings of the government offices across Punjab and ordering shops, malls and commercial establishments to close early in the evening.

June 25th, 2009 PATIALA - Four employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) were arrested for allegedly attacking three journalists of a Hindi daily newspaper here Thursday, said the police. According to the police, the three journalists had gone to the office of the PSEB, where their grid is situated, to gather some news.

June 25th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Faced with a major power crisis in the state in the paddy sowing season, the Punjab government has issued instructions banning the use of air-conditioners in all government offices throughout the state from Thursday. An official spokesman said late Wednesday that the move had been made to ensure eight-hours uninterrupted power supply to the farm sector for transplantation of paddy crop.

April 14th, 2009 TALWANDI SABO - Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said that the benefits of several schemes launched by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government were not reaching the people of Punjab because of corruption in the state. 'The Manmohan Singh government has done a lot for the people.

April 2nd, 2009 JAMMU - The Jammu and Kashmir government will move April 24 from this winter capital to the state's summer capital Srinagar, where the offices will open May 4. The practice of shifting the Jammu and Kashmir capital, called 'darbar move', continues since the Dogra rule started it some 135 years ago.

March 22nd, 2009 CHANDIGARH - A leading automobile designing company, which is known for manufacturing poll campaign vehicles for top politicians in the country, Saturday surrendered nearly Rs.100 million (Rs.10 crore) following income tax raids on its offices and other establishments, officials said. Income Tax department officials said the amount of Rs.100 million was surrendered by the JCBL group following a two-day survey at its offices and other establishments located in Chandigarh and nearby towns of Lalru in Punjab and Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh.

February 15th, 2009 PHAGWARA - Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Monday inaugurated a railway over-bridge in this industrial town of Punjab, eight months after it was formally thrown open for use. The bridge was being used by motorists and others since June last year when it was completed after a delay of nearly five years.

January 20th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - People in Punjab got a shock of a different kind Wednesday when Sukhbir Singh Badal took oath as the state's deputy chief minister. Reeling under power cuts everyday for the last few years, people recieved an uninterrupted electric supply to their homes and offices on the day.