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TOP STORIES

Slums stay, courtesy weak-kneed LIT
Demolition drive called off midway under pressure
Ludhiana, April 26
Amid a “high drama” the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) authorities today stalled a demolition drive against slums in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar midway, buckling under the pressure of slum-dwellers even as the Chairman of the Trust “blamed the wounds” of slum-dwellers by meeting them at the demolition site.

Slum-dwellers move their belongings to safer places as a demolition drive is in progress in Ludhiana on Wednesday.  — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Protests, threats leave doctors fuming
Ludhiana, April 26
Resentment and anger is brewing among the medical fraternity in the mega city over increasing incidents of protests against doctors and medical institutions, along with threats and intimidation being handed down to them by certain political leaders on different pretexts.

Sukhbir dares Capt on mega projects

Ludhiana, April 26 The Shiromani Akali Dal-Badal general secretary and Member of Parliament, Mr Sukhbir Badal, today claimed that the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, had created a false euphoria about the “so-called mega projects” in the state. He challenged the Chief Minister to identify one single such mega project which had been set up in Punjab during the past four years of his rule. The SAD general secretary and MP, Mr Sukhbir Badal, addresses a press conference along with party leaders in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

COMMUNITY

Cong men credit CM with bonus
Ludhiana, April 26
Senior Congressmen have hailed the wheat bonus of Rs 50 per quintal and have said it was possible due to the efforts of the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh. Mayor Nahar Singh Gill, and Mr Surinder Dawar, Mr Tej Prakash Singh and Mr Malkit Dakha, MLAs, said Capt Amarinder Singh had proved to be a real savior for the Punjab farmers who had been at the receiving end during the previous SAD-BJP rule.

Traffic cops to use water barriers Ludhiana, April 26 The city has become the first in the country to introduce water-filled road barriers to be used for diversion or police barricades in order to avoid injuries when cars or vehicles crash into iron barricades. CMC staff demonstrate how to provide first aid to accident victims at a seminar in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Govt employees hold protest rally

Ludhiana, April 26 In response to a call given by the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union, government employees from all over the state held a protest rally against the indifferent attitude of the state government towards their pending demands. Government employees hold a protest rally at mini secretariat in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

At the Crossroads
Teaching her passion
The other day Dr Mita Biswas paid a hurried visit to her hometown, Ludhiana, but the event turned out to be more of an academic interest than merely a personal one. Last summer I had met her briefly in Shimla at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study where she was engaged as Fellow in her post-doctoral research project , 'The concept of changing culture in Indian English poetry.'

INTUC demands holiday on Labour Day
Ludhiana, April 26
The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) has appealed to the Union Labour Minister and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to declare national holiday on International Labour Day on May 1 under the Factories Act and Negotiable Instruments Act.

CRIME

11 booked for assault
Khanna, April 26
The Samrala police has booked Jagdip Singh, Jagtar Singh, Nayab Singh and eight others under Sections 307, 324, 323, 148 and 506 of the IPC for allegedly attacking Pritam Singh of Lepon with sharp-edged weapons.

Printing machinery exhibition from April 28

Ludhiana, April 26 An exhibition of the latest printing machinery is being organised by Thashika Expovision at Maharaja Palace from April 28 to May 1. It is for the first time that such an exhibition is being organised in The city. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Parliamentary Secretary Surinder Dawer. Ms Mira Mathew and Mr D.P. Singh give details of the printing machinery exhibition being organised in Ludhiana from April 28. — A Tribune photograph

AGRICULTURE

Soil sickness, low water table worry PAU
Ludhiana, April 26
Punjab is facing the problem of “sick” soil and receding water table due to intensive adoption of the wheat-rice cropping pattern. Since this has impaired the state's ecology and affected the fertility of the soil, PAU scientists apprehend that if this is not checked, sustainability of agricultural production and income of farmers will become difficult.

EDUCATION

Teachers’ relay fast against Maheshinder continues

Ludhiana, April 26 The strike by teachers of Nankana Public School against the reinstatement of Mr Maheshinder Singh Grewal as Additional Secretary of the Nankana Sahib Education Trust entered the fifth day today. The strike by teachers of Nankana Public School enters the fifth day on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Vet varsity to have thrust on research: VC
Ludhiana, April 26
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University will lay more emphasis on research and extension education and give second push to the Green Revolution by diversifying agriculture in the state.

PAU withdraws veterinary courses
Ludhiana, April 26
Even as the Punjab and Haryana High Court having given the green light for the setting up of a veterinary university, the PAU has decided to withdraw all veterinary admission programmes for the academic session 2006-07.

From Colleges
Sangeet vidyalaya to be set up
Ludhiana, April 26
To make society aware of the rich heritage of the Sikh classical music, the Shiromani Gurmat Dewan will establish a sangeet vidyalaya in the memory of late Bhai Narinder Singh Shant. For this, the foundation stone was laid by Punj Piaras at Mohar Singh Nagar here today.

From Schools
Anniversary of Chernobyl disaster observed
Ludhiana, April 26
To mark the 20th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear power accident that occurred in Chernobyl (now Ukraine) in 1986, Sankalp and eco-club members of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, invited Dr Arun Mitra, national general secretary of the Indian Doctors for Peace and development, general secretary of the Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha, and Dr Shakti Kumar Prabhakar, member of the executive committee of the organisations to enlighten the students and teachers about the ill- effects of nuclear radiation.

Traffic rules to be part of school curriculum
Ludhiana, April 26
Traffic rules and safety would now be taught from classes 1 to VIII in schools of the state. Announcing this at a seminar on road safety, Mr S. K. Sharma , IG-Patiala Zone, said the government had decided to introduce chapters regarding traffic rules and road safety.

COURTS

BSNL penalised for not attending to customer’s complaint
Ludhiana, April 26
Not attending to the complaint of a customer regarding inflated bills has cost the BSNL dear. Terming it to be a deficiency in service, the District Consumer Forum has ordered the BSNL to pay compensation of Rs 3,000 to the aggrieved consumer.

SPORTS

Single mothers lead stressful lives
Ludhiana, April 26
Single mothers experience high levels of physical and emotional distress and the ones having only boys are more stressed. Mothers living in joint families are less distressed and as the family income increases, the maternal stress decreases. A mother having younger children at the time of separation from her spouse has higher physical and emotional distress.

Ruralites least aware of hygiene, health
Ludhiana, April 26
''A majority of the rural population has little or no perception of health awareness, personal hygiene, nourishment or good eating habits. A large number of rural people have rendered themselves incapacitated due to such diseases that are completely curable. And to make the matters worse, most of the victims do not have access to modern medical treatment.''