Plantation drive

Amritsar: As pre-monsoon showers are enough for early plantation of trees, NGO Missionaries Khudai Khidmatgaran has decided to start a plantation drive to mark International Yoga Day. Deputy Commissioner KS Sangha inaugurated the drive here on Wednesday. He highlighted the value of trees and expressed his serious concern over the depleted green cover. The DC said he was very serious about plantation, especially trees of bird habitats such as hose sparrows. He stressed on the native species of all varieties. Environmentalist PS Bhatti said he had developed more than 177 native species and had been promoting them for the past many years. Bhatti said in his three nurseries, he had more than two lakh saplings for plantation. TNS

Man held with poppy husk 

The police have arrested Khajan Singh, a resident of Chowk Mehta, with 2.5 kg of poppy husk. He was travelling on his scooter when he was intercepted by a police team, headed by inspector Paramjit Singh. He was carrying a bag and during search, the police confiscated the contraband. A case has been registered against the accused. TNS