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Tractors a passé, farmers flaunt SUVs, swanky cars
 Ludhiana, March 18
Gone are the days when farmers used to throng Kisan Mela on tractors with smoke bellowing furiously from their vehicle.
These days they ride into the melas in swanky cars and sports utility vehicles (SUVs). This is the new face of shining farming economy.
More than 1,000 hi-end vehicles of various automobile manufacturing companies were on a display at the Punjab Agricultural University
(PAU) Kisan Mela here today.
Slain realtor’s kin demand arrest of key suspect
Ludhiana, March 18
The family members of Chandan Kumar Sharma, 21, a property dealer residing in the city’s Haibowal Khurd locality, who was allegedly murdered and poisoned by three people on March 12, held a protest outside the office of assistant police commissioner (west) Raj Kumar on Friday and sought the immediate arrest of the prime suspect, Shivraj Singh.
Authorities mum on checking water wastage
 Ludhiana, March 18
Though various social organisations have initiated drives asking the city residents to avoid wastage of water this Holi due to the depleting water table, the authorities concerned are still keeping mum on the issue.
SAVE WATER: Social organisations in Ludhiana are urging residents to save water by using dry colours
this Holi. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan
PHRC seeks report of local bodies dept
Ludhiana, March 18
Taking cognizance of a news item recently published in The Tribune on the death of a child after he fell into an open sewer manhole in the city, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission
(PSHRC) has sought a report on the incident from the state local bodies department.
PAU kisan mela goes international
 Ludhiana, March 18
After bringing a green revolution in the country, the Punjab Agricultural University
(PAU) is becoming a hit among the neighbouring countries as well as in the USA. Encouraged by the response, the PAU is working on the modalities to give the PAU kisan mela a global look.
Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Surjeet Singh, Surinder Kumar Ahuja and Gurpreet Singh, who were honoured with the Chief Minister’s award, at the kisan mela in PAU on Friday.
Tribune photos: Himanshu Mahajan
GADVASU pashu palan mela ends
Ludhiana, March 18
Pashu Palan Mela of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) concluded with a note to meet again with new researches and latest information.
Farmers take a fancy to rice transplanter
Ludhiana, March 18
As the state is grappling with shortage of labour and farmers are offering incentives like mobile phones, country made liquor, two-time tandori chicken to labourers along with their wages during the paddy season, the rice transplanter has come as a handy alternative for the farmers of the state. It caught the fancy of farmer during the PAU Kisan Mela here today.
Solar inverter a hit among farmers
Ludhiana, March 18
The stall displaying solar inverter became a crowd puller on the concluding day of the kisan mela at the PAU here today.
The fear of power cuts in summers had the farmers making a beeline at the particular stall to enquire about the functioning of the solar inverter. A few farmers even purchased it on the spot.
Punjab farmers debt to touch
Rs 40,000 cr: Economist
Ludhiana, March 18
The total indebtedness of Punjab farmers as of this yearend could be close to Rs 40,000 crore on which the interest burden alone could be well imagined.
Social activists accuses suvidha centre of being den of corruption
 Ludhiana, March 18
Alleging that the suvidha centre here had become a den of corruption and people were facing a lot of harassment ever since the work of registration of new vehicles was shifted from the District Transport Office to the so-called single window, social activists today organised a dharna under the banner of the State Transport Advisory Committee
(STAC).
Social activists led by functionaries of the State Transport Advisory Committee stage a protest against alleged corruption and irregularities at the Suvidha Centre in Ludhiana on Friday. Photo: Injderjeet Verma
Brothers fight it out over ancestral property
Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 18
The Dehlon police is feeling sandwiched between two brothers fighting a legal battle for the possession of a piece of land they inherited from their father.
MCPI for third alternative in Punjab
May side with Manpreet
Ludhiana, March 18
Realising the dire need of a third alternative-other than the SAD-BJP combine and the Congress-in Punjab, the Marxist Communist Party of India - United
(MCPI-U) is weighing its options, including the one to join hands with Manpreet
Badal, the estranged former Punjab Finance Minister and nephew of Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal.
Review Meeting
Bank employees pulled up for coming unprepared
Ludhiana, March 18
Pulling up the official representatives of the nationalised and private banks for coming unprepared for the review meeting, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Pardeep Kumar Aggarwal asked them to come with complete facts and files.
183 clear Army recruitment drive
Ludhiana, March 18
It was a proud moment for 183 candidates, as their emotional parents were watching them becoming a part of the prestigious Indian Army here yesterday.
‘Kandi region needs to be developed’
Ludhiana, March 18
During his visit to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) yesterday, Dr Manohar Singh Gill, Union Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation, interacted with Dr Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor, PAU.
From Colleges
Farewell party
 LUDHIANA: After their three-year stay in the college, the final year students of computer science and applications of Ramgharia Girls College, Miller
Ganj, Ludhiana, were given a farewell party on Thursday and wished the best for life ahead. Students of the second year presented a cultural
programme, including dances and songs.
Hogging Limelight: Girls line up for the Miss Farewell contest at Ramgharia Girls College in Ludhiana. A Tribune photograph
From Schools
Holi celebrated
LUDHIANA: Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, celebrated Holi today with pomp and show. The tiny-tots came in colourful dresses. The students also performed colourful programme of dance, skits and advertisements. Rajinder Sharma, president, Association of the PSEB affiliated Schools, Punjab, said
Holi- the festival of colours is undoubtedly the most fun-filled Hindu festival.
Cong flays assault on elementary teachers
Ludhiana, March 18
Brutal cane charge and unprovoked use of force against agitating Youth Congress workers in Chandigarh and assault by SAD workers on ETT teachers in Bathinda on March 17 has been criticised by a few functionaries of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC).
Non-issuance of Job cards
Union demands probe
Ludhiana, March 18
Alleging that officials of the Panchayat and Rural Department were not preparing job cards of applicants under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employee Guarantee Act
(MNREGA), the NREGA Workers’ Union has demanded a probe in this regard.
BJP to launch stir against ‘corrupt’ UPA govt
Ludhiana, March 18
The BJP today criticised the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for siding with “corrupts”. As if to add to the misery of people in general and the trade and industry in particular, the Centre has failed to take effective steps against rising prices while the crisis-ridden industry has been further burdened with the Central excise.
Discounts draw huge rush
Ludhiana, March 18
Catching the fancy of the urban populace, the PAU kisan mela witnessed people from various cities of the state.
PAU catching them young
Distributes MSc brochures among children
Ludhiana, March 18
Catching them young seems to be the mantra of Punjab Agricultural University
(PAU) as brochures of MSc degrees in microbiology, biochemistry and chemistry were being circulated among children, who were accompanying their parents during the PAU Kisan Mela here today.
‘Tank technology’ used in harvesting machine
Ludhiana, March 18
A straw walker designed with wheels of a “military tank technology” was an added attraction for farmers at the kisan
mela.
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