L U D H I A N A

Cement prices not to be slashed
Cartel firm despite fall in demand
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — The cartel of cement manufacturers in the national market has succeeded in pushing up the prices of cement in the North Indian market. Though the demand for cement is believed to have fallen by 25 to 30 per cent in the past month, the manufacturers have decided against slashing prices.

Farooq enjoys visit to city
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah seemed to enjoy the short break from his busy schedule when he came here to attend the marriage of a leading industrialist, Mr Jangi Lal Oswal.

Puritans fail to dampen V-Day spirit LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — Barring a few sporadic incidents against the Valentine’s Day sponsored mainly to mark their presence by some organisations, it was the day of celebrations and festivities in Ludhiana.

WAY THROUGH THE HEART: Heart-shaped entrance at the Satluj Club to mark Valentine’s Day.  — Photo by Rajesh Bhambi

Police informers or victims?
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — Next time you come across a news item informing about the arrest of a person for committing a petty crime, spare a thought for the lesser known class of police informers. In all probability, the case will be a framed one as part of the age-old policy of the police to build a team of touts.

Contributions continue to pour in
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — People from all walks of life in the city are still coming forward to make more and more contributions towards relief and rehabilitation of earthquake victims of Gujarat.

Society to develop slum area
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — National Environment Protection Society, Hari Bhari, a voluntary organisation engaged in the improvement of environment, has decided to adopt a polluted and dirty colony in Ludhiana city for developing it as a model locality.

Indiatech to be held in Caracas
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — The Engineering Export Promotion Council will hold the next Indiatech exposition in Caracas, Venezuela, in July. This would provide an opportunity to the participants to popularise their products’ brand image and technology as well as to explore the emerging market potential of Latin American markets, said Mr Satish Dhanda, Vice-Chairman, EEPC, at a meeting held here on Monday.

Mystery shrouds youth’s death
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — Mystery shrouds the death of a youth who had gone to meet his beloved at the residence of his friend in Jamalpur area near here today.

LUDHIANA CALLING THE Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, is known for creating controversies in a courteous way. Whether he does it by design or default is difficult to say, but he does it regularly and frequently. Last month he dropped up a bombshell by announcing that the SGPC had decided to refer the issue of the definition of a Sikh to the Minority Commission of India, only to retract it the very next day. Crying wolf Dig...dig...dig Crime language Hotch-potch juice Off the record Encroachments Predictions come true Tailpiece

COMMUNITY

WOMAN POWER
Banker’s mission to France
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — She is soft-spoken, graceful and loves her job in the Foreign exchange Division of the Bank of Punjab.

Hurriyat’s support to Sikhs hailed
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — The International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO) has appreciated the decision taken by the Kashmiri Sikhs not to migrate from the Kashmir valley, and the support to that effect lent by the Hurriyat Conference which would definitely frustrate the evil designs of the fascist and fundamental forces working to disrupt the Muslim-Sikh brotherhood and would pave the way for peaceful resolution of the long pending political conflict of the Jammu and Kashmir state.

Gaushala lacks medical facilities
THE gaushala here, which is about 200-year-old, has about 1,000 cows and 300 bulls, but it lacks proper medical facilities for the animals. The fact came to light after Dr H.S. Gill, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry, and members of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) visited the gaushala.

CRIME

Robbery in Haibowal
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — Taking advantage of the absence of owners, robbers in Haibowal Kallan broke into a house and allegedly decamped with some cash and jewellery. According to Ms Kamlesh Devi, owner of the house, the total loss amounted to about Rs 50,000.

BUSINESS

Cut land prices at Ladhowal: CICU
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — The Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation’s decision to cut the price of industrial plots at Ladhowal from Rs 1,250 per square yard to Rs 650 has failed to enthuse the industry. They are finding excuses for not shifting to the proposed industrial complex. The engineering units, especially electroplating units, had said in clear terms that they would not shift to the area because the water table in that area was very high and it would badly affect their machines as well as the manufactured material.

Small-scale units demand separate legislation
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — A separate legislation is needed for the development and growth of small-scale industries. In view of the WTO regime and globalisation, the SSI units cannot be governed by the outdated and obsolete Acts, such as the Factory Act, the PF Act and the ESIC Act. These units have to maintain more than 165 forms and registers. The government cannot expect these units to face MNCs without amending these laws.

EDUCATION

GCTA deputation meets DPI
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — A deputation of the Government College Teachers’ Association (GCTA), Punjab, has met the DPI (Colleges), who conceded most of their demands.

Joshi elected to ISAE
LUDHIANA, Feb 14 — Dr A.S. Joshi, Professor of Economics and Sociology, Punjab Agriculture University, has been unanimously elected as the executive member of the Indian Society of Agriculture Economics, Mumbai, for a term of two years.