Water testing kit developed by a university in Punjab

October 7th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday said the controversial issue of sharing of water between Haryana and Punjab should be sorted out through talks. The water sharing has been a thorny issue between both states with Haryana seeking completion of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and Punjab opposing the move.

September 14th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - People having illegal water connections in Punjab's rural areas could soon find their supply drying up. The Punjab water supply and sanitation department Monday warned people to immediately remove illegal water connections or be prepared to face legal action, as well as disconnection of supply.

August 20th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - All villages in certain districts of Punjab that are affected by salinity in water will have reverse osmosis (RO) plants within 21 months to provide clean water to villagers, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said Thursday. The districts of Ferozepur, Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa and Muktsar in south-west Punjab are known as the cancer belt of the state.

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.

July 29th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Punjab is all set for its high profile Aug 3 by-polls in three assembly constituencies, which will see ruling Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal testing his electoral fate. The by-polls will be held in Khanuwan, Jalalabad and Banur constituency.

July 17th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Many Punjab villagers are benefiting from a clean drinking water programme run by a non-governmental organization, which is establishing Reverse Osmosis (R.O) plants. So far, Naandi foundation has established 85 R.O plants, which are providing clean water to more than 450 villages.

July 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH - Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday announced a grant of Rs 500 million (Rs.50 crore) for Panjab University in Chandigarh, the alma mater of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "I announce a grant of Rs 50 crore for Panjab University," Mukherjee said in his budget speech.

July 2nd, 2009 LUDHIANA - Authorities at the Bhakra Nangal dam have assured that they would release an extra 6,000 cusecs of water for irrigation to paddy farmers in Punjab and Haryana. The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), that manages the dam located in Himachal Pradesh, said that 28,000 cusecs of water would be released from the dam.

June 30th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - More water would be released from Bhakra and Pong dams after the level in their reservoirs increased in the last few days, an official said Tuesday much to the relief of Punjab and Haryana paddy farmers. A spokesman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), that manages these dams, said the water release was being restored to 28,000 cusecs from Bhakra Dam while from Pong Dam it will be 7,000 cusecs.

June 20th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Punjab Agricultural University's microbiology department has developed a water testing kit to help people ward off numerous water borne diseases. The kit, priced at just 30 rupees, was earlier used to test water samples from various offices, hospitals and other organisations, but now people can test water in their homes.

June 4th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Noted green warrior Balbir Singh Seechewal Thursday expressed serious concern over the environmental degradation and depleting water table in Punjab and urged the people to join in efforts to improve matters. Speaking to reporters here on the eve of World Environment Day, Seechewal also criticised the people of the state for being culpable for the environmental degradation.

May 5th, 2009 AMRITSAR - Radio Pakistan in its latest programme has stated that Punjab, known for the its five rivers-Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Chenab and the Jhelum (now it Pakistan), is not getting enough water. In the latest series of Punjabi Darbar programme, Radio Pakistan has attempted to project that the Government of India has not taken enough steps to ensure that Punjab gets enough water for drinking purposes and irrigation.

February 17th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Enthused with the response of Reverse Osmosis (RO) drinking water plants that were set up in the Gidderbaha area of Punjab a year ago, the state government is planning to expand the project to other districts of the state. The state government has identified 471 more villages in the districts of Mansa, Fridkot, Muktsar and Bathinda in the Malwa belt in south-west Punjab where availability of safe drinking water is a problem.

January 27th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Academic activity was completely paralysed in colleges and universities across Punjab and Chandigarh Wednesday following a mass casual leave protest by teachers in the region. The Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (PFUCTO) served a 10-day ultimatum to the Punjab government to notify the revised pay-scales for college and university teachers.

January 21st, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Over 10,000 teachers of various government and private colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh observed a strike for two hours Thursday to press for their pay hike demand. The teachers are demanding the Punjab government to implement the new by the University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scale approved by the government Dec 31 last year.