Biting cold sweeps Punjab and Haryana
Chandigarh: There was no let-up in the biting cold that has been sweeping Punjab and Haryana for the past several days, with minimum temperatures on Thursday again hovering below normal limits at many places. According to the MeT Department's weather report, Gurdaspur was the coldest place in Punjab recording a minimum temperature of 2.2 degrees Celsius. Among other places in the state, Bathinda recorded a low of 3 degree Celsius, Ludhiana 5.7 degree Celsius, Patiala 5 degree Celsius, Amritsar 5.5 degree Celsius while Mohali recorded a low of 6 degree Celsius. Meanwhile, in Haryana, biting cold prevailed in Hisar, which recorded a minimum temperature of 2.2 degree Celsius. Bhiwani recorded a low of 6.7 degree Celsius, Karnal 6 degree Celsius, Rohtak 5.4 degree Celsius, Sirsa 6.4 degree Celsius while Ambala's minimum settled at 5.5 degree Celsius. Chandigarh recorded a low of 5.1 degree Celsius. Meanwhile, a thick blanket of fog in the morning continued to envelop many parts of both the states, reducing visibility.
Hotel Taj deposits Rs 70.80 lacs against property tax arrears
Chandigarh: For the past year, Municipal Corporation has left no stone unturned to recover its due amount against arrears of property tax, whether Government or Private. The efforts have now started bearing fruits in which Government agencies have deposited 11.60 crores arrears and Hotel Taj deposited the principal amount of 70. 80 Lacs and sought time to deposit the interest.
Himachal CM unveils bust of Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday unveiled a bust of former Chief Justice of India, Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan at Khaniara in Dharamshala and called him a true patriot of the country. ''Justice Mahajan was a true patriot and his bust will remind us of his contribution for the nation and I hope that all of us will be inspired by his legacy," said Sukhu while addressing a gathering after unveiling the bust. He said that it was a matter of pride that a son of this soil rose to a high position when even the State had not come into existence.
Punjab to adopt complete transparency in empanelment process: Cheema to Bankers
Chandigarh: Seeking suggestions from the banks and small financial institutions for drafting a new empanelment policy, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday assured them that the State Government would adopt a completely transparent process during the empanelment of banks to ensure the safety of funds of the government entities besides fostering competition among banks. Cheema, chairing a meeting of representatives from almost all the scheduled commercial banks and small finance institutions doing business in the State, said that the representatives of various banks have already given representations for empanelment to his office over the last few months and the Finance Department has been assessing those. “This meeting has been called to seek suggestions from you all to finalize a criterion for empanelment,” he said, adding that bank’s performance on welfare schemes would be watched thoroughly while considering it for Government Business.