Briefly state

Diwali bonanza for junior docs

Chandigarh:Junior government doctors are in for a Diwali bonanza as the Punjab government on Friday announced a five-fold increases in their honorarium. As per the new orders, the honorarium for house surgeons has been increased from Rs 4,500 to Rs 21,000 per month whereas the scholarship for medical internship students has been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 9,000 per month. Disclosing this here, Punjab Medical and Research Education Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat said the order for house surgeons will be effective from October 8, 2012, while for the internship students, it will be effective from November 1, 2012.

'Dismiss employees 'illegally' absent'

Chandigarh:The Punjab government on Friday issued orders, directing all departments to initiate dismissal proceedings against employees, who have been illegally absent from duty. Disclosing this here, a state government spokesperson said such officers will be given a three-day notice and if they fail to join duty in the stipulated period, dismissal proceeding will begin.

Badal cancels Italy visit

Chandigarh: Due to the impending visit of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to the state on November 7, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has cancelled his official trip to Bologna in Italy. Disclosing this here on Friday, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said Badal was scheduled to lead a farmers' delegation to the "International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition-2012" in Italy on November 7. Due to Gillard's maiden visit, however, the chief minister has decided to cancel his Bologna visit.

Case against 7 units for illegal mining

Pathankot:Pathankot district administration Friday registered cases against seven stone crushing units for illegal mining.

The action was taken after receiving complaints from village panchayats which claimed illegal mining on a large-scale was being carried out in Pathankot, Mining Officer Subhash Chander said. However, no arrest have been made so far. Village panchayts have been complaining that ground water-level had decreased because of excessive digging of sand and gravel from river beds.

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