L U D H I A N A

Top stories | Community | Crime | Business

Agriculture | Education | Sports

TOP STORIES

Waterless, powerless for 24 hours
Ludhiana, February 19
Squall and rain that has continued to lash the city since Monday night has totally thrown life out of gear. The city remained without electricity and water supplies in most areas for over 24 hours. The administration ordered the closure of schools today.

WORLD CUP FEVER Focus on your score, not theirs, teachers tell pupils Ludhiana, February 19 Several matches of the cricket World Cup are coinciding with the final exams of students in the city. This has compelled the principals and teachers of many schools here to frequently ask the students to pay more attention to their studies and devote less time to the live telecast of cricket matches. Bookies, fans keep fingers crossed Ludhiana, February 19 Hundreds and thousands of cricket fans across the city are keeping their fingers crossed over the possible outcome of the match between India and Zimbabwe as the match started on an exciting note.

Alone she fights official apathy Ludhiana, February 19 While the state government claims to have given specific instructions to the officers of the different departments that special attention has to be given to the complaints and needs of senior citizens, an elderly woman, who owns prime property near Bharat Nagar Chowk, has been having a tough time for the past four years in her quest for justice. For her, the change in the government has not made any difference as she alleges to have received shoddy treatment at the hands of the local police department, civil administration officials and the Municipal Corporation all this while. The house of Pritam Kaur in Bharat Nagar Chowk area has become a pee hole. — A Tribune photograph

Uncle Sam! Spare Iraq Ludhiana, February 19 To protest against the war designs of the US administration against Iraq, a rally was held at Mini Secretariat here today. A large number of schoolchildren and concerned citizens participated in the rally. The protesters were carrying banners, placards and peace flags demanding from the USA due respect to the UNO. To protest against the war designs of the Bush administration a rally was organised here on Wednesday by the IDPD. — Photo Inderjit Verma

Spurious ayurvedic drugs flood market
Ludhiana, February 19
Unauthorised and spurious ayurvedic drugs continue to flood the market in absence of a qualified licensing authority in the state. A number of popular ayurvedic brands, particularly those used for aphrodisiac purposes, are learnt to be sold without prior approval. Even the present licensing authority, according to the latest notification of the Government of India, is not qualified. 

COMMUNITY

Cong, BJP stooping low: Surjeet
Ludhiana, February 19
Dismayed at the “personalised and distasteful” tenor of canvassing by both the Congress and the BJP in the Himachal Pradesh elections, CPM general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet today said “it was unimaginable that the parties would stoop as low to indulge in character assassination. 

Dawar sheltering accused: Lohara
Ludhiana, February 19
Mr Charan Singh Lohara, general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), has accused Congress MLA Surinder Dawar of sheltering some businessmen allegedly involved in a fraud of over a crore of rupees with Mr Lohara and more than 60 other businessmen of the city.

Effigies of two ministers burnt
Ludhiana, February 19
Activists of the youth wing of the SAD today burnt effigies of the two Punjab ministers who were allegedly involved in immoral activities in Gujarat. Hundreds of protesters, including women, gathered in front of the Civil Secretariat and raised slogans against the two. 

Nagar council poll: 2 file papers
Doraha, February 19
Two nominations have been filed till date for the Payal Nagar Council election to be held on March 2. From Ward No 6, Mr Shankar Das, son of Mr Mangal Das has filed his nomination papers as an Independent candidate backed by the SAD(B).

Bumpy ride for Model Town residents

Ludhiana, February 19 The recarpeting of the road between Charkhamba and Lal Kothi was undertaken by a contractor several months ago. However, after earthwork and laying gravel the work was abandoned. As a result, the ride on the road has become bumpy. Mr Ravi Gupta, a resident, said the MC had failed to give a satisfactory reply as to why the work had been left midway. A road in Model Town, Ludhiana, work on which was abandoned several months ago.— Photo Inderjit Verma

READERS WRITE
Fernandes’ promises hollow
The demand for one rank one pension (OROP) by ex-servicemen dates back to 1982. Political leaders and almost all major political parties have been promising this to the ex-servicemen for years.

Set a precedent A picture of neglect Tribute to Kalpana

Bumpy ride Travel allowance Reckless on road

CRIME

CDs of blue films seized
Ludhiana, February 19
The police has arrested a local resident on the charge of copying and selling CDs of blue films here today. As many as 7,254 CDs were seized from the accused. According to police sources, the arrest comes in the wake of directions by Mr H.S. Sidhu, SSP, to bust the racket of blue films in the city. Accordingly, Mr Gurpreet Singh, SP, Detective, deputed the CIA in charge, Inspector Mukhwinder Singh, to carry out investigations.

BUSINESS

Industrialists resent VAT, Exim form
Ludhiana, February 19
There is considerable panic among industrialists about the provisions of high penalty and punishment in the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act. Under the Section 43 to 53 of the Punjab VAT Act, there is a provision of two years’ imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 50,000 in case of any default.

AGRICULTURE

Schedule for kisan melas
Ludhiana, February 19
Punjab Agricultural University has finalised the schedule for kisan melas to be organised during March to educate the farmers on the current agricultural problems with particular reference to the kharif crops.

257 animals examined
Doraha, February 19
Under the ‘Adarsh Gram Yojna an awareness camp on animal welfare and development in farming community was organised by Dr Harprem Singh Gill, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Ludhiana at Ikolaha village yesterday.

EDUCATION

Goodwill car rally by PCTE
Ludhiana, February 19
The PCTE organised a goodwill car rally yesterday as part of the fourth one-day inter-college literary-cum-cultural festival, “Ehsaas-2003”. It was organised to invite other colleges, industrialists and residents of the city to participate in the festival.

SPORTS

Athletic meet from February 26
Ludhiana, February 19
The 37th annual athletic meet of Punjab Agricultural University will be held on February 26-27 at the PAU Playgrounds. Dr K. S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, will inaugurate the meet. Dr J. S. Toor, Director, Students Welfare, said the best athlete would be given cash award of Rs 5,000 while those obtaining second and third positions will be given Rs 3,000 and Rs 1,000, respectively.