Rs 445-crore water schemes cleared by NABARD for Punjab

Chandigarh: Five water supply schemes worth Rs 445.89 crore have been approved by NABARD for Punjab under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund. Rajiv Siwach, chief general manager, NABARD, said the schemes in Ferozepur, Fazilka, Ropar and Hoshiarpur would ensure independent water connections to households in 700 villages. — TNS

CM mourns death of SAD ex-chief’s wife

Chandigarh: CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday mourned the death of Mohinder Kaur (91), wife of former president of the SAD and late SGPC Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi. She died at PGIMER on Wednesday night after a prolonged illness. — TNS

Man held for remarks against panel chief

Amritsar: The police have arrested Nishan Gill from Gwalior under the IT Act for posting objectionable remarks against Punjab Women Commission’s chairperson Manisha Gulati. He was later released on bail. He was arrested from a gurdwara promises where he was putting up after a case was registered against him. — TNS

Submit passports by Aug 15 to visit Pak, says SGPC

Amritsar: The SGPC has demanded passports from devotees who wish to pay obeisance at gurdwaras in Pakistan on Gurpurb. The jatha will leave in November, but the committee has initiated the visa process, under which the devotees have to submit their passports till August 15. TNS

Recovered cellphones handed over to owners

Ferozepur: As many as 127 mobile phones recovered by the Ferozepur police from snatchers were on Thursday handed over to their owners at an event. SSP Bhagirath Singh Meena said acting upon 185 complaints, the police launched a drive and recovered 127 mobile phones. OC

Two peddlers arrested; heroin, drug money seized

Abohar/Sriganganagar: Davinder Arora (36), a Ferozepur resident, has been arrested in connection with an NDPS case registered at the Jawahar Nagar police station in Sriganganagar on May 28. He had been absconding. In another case, Arshad Ali was nabbed with 13 gm heroin, 140 intoxicating pills and Rs 8,500 drug money. OC