L U D H I A N A

Interest-free arrear bills can be cleared till monthend
LUDHIANA, March 1 — The Municipal Corporation will accept the payment of arrears of water, sewerage bills and house tax, without interest from today till March 31.The issue of inflated bills and penal interest on arrears, in a large number of cases pertaining to paid up bills of previous years, was raised by Ludhiana Tribune on February 22.

Farmers demand water
LUDHIANA, March 1— Several farmers from Badhowal and surrounding areas today staged a demonstration in the mini secretariat complex protesting against the denial of water for the wheat they have sown.

Farmers of Badhowal village sit on a dharna at the mini secretariat, Ludhiana, to protest against the denial of water to their fields on Thursday.

New courses at PTU soon, says VC
LUDHIANA, March 1 — The Punjab Technical University (PTU) will soon begin courses in hotel management, bio-technology and fashion technology. Discussions over the syllabi and duration of the new courses are being held with specialists in the field.

It’s our Budget, say residents
LUDHIANA, March 1— Barring few reservations, the common man seems to be happy with the Budget proposals presented by the Union Finance Minister in Parliament yesterday. At the same time some people belonging to the service class did not approve of the reduction in the interest rate on Provident Fund savings.

Old men foot the bills
LUDHIANA, March 1 — Senior citizens of the town have to face hardships when it comes to dealing with the so-called public servants in the local municipal corporation and elsewhere.

CICU donates Rs 4 lakh for quake-hit
LUDHIANA, March 1 — The Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) has contributed Rs 4.03 lakh towards the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for earthquake victims of Gujarat. The contribution was handed over to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, by Mr Inderjit Singh Pardhan, president, and Mr Avtar Singh, general secretary, of the chamber.

Census workers leave out many?
LUDHIANA, March 1 — Though census work was closed yesterday, several residents claimed that they had not been visited by the enumerators. Several residents called up at Ludhiana Tribune office today, telling that they were not visited by any enumerators. They said they informed about the same to the director of the census operations over the telephone, but still, no one visited them.

IHRO expels Balwant Singh
LUDHIANA, March 1 — The International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO) has expelled Dr Balwant Singh, a retired professor from the PAU, for misusing the name of the organisation for his personal ends. 

AT THE CROSS ROADS
Research of epic dimension
THE book, Ludhiana Bolda Hai authored by Dr Atam Hamrahi, will be published shortly. In it he has narrated the ups and downs of this city since the times of the Mahabharata. This research work, which consists of 650 pages, has been conceived on epic dimensions.

COMMUNITY

Sarpanch complains against DSP
LUDHIANA, March 1 — Mr Inderjit Singh, sarpanch of Kasabad village, near here, has alleged the involvement of the DSP (Sadar) in the village shamlat land grab case by some residents of the village.

Awareness drive for landlords from today
LUDHIANA, March 1 — Keeping in view the growing resentment in the public and the pressure build-up by political parties, the district administration has decided to launch an awareness drive in the city to register the antecedents of tenants, employees and domestic servants.

Speedy redressal of complaints stressed
LUDHIANA, March 1 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu today directed the officers to deal with the complaints, brought for redressal in the weekly ‘sangat darshan’ programme, expeditiously, making it clear that deliberate delay would be viewed seriously and the erring officers would be sternly dealt with.

INTUC, PSEB workers threaten agitation
LUDHIANA, March 1 — The Punjab INTUC and the PSEB Employees Union have threatened to launch an agitation if the state government continues with its anti-labour policies and indifferent attitude towards government and semi-government employees as well as factory workers.

CRIME

Mother, daughter’s bodies recovered
DORAHA, March 1 — The bodies of Ravinder Kaur and her 2-year-old daughter, who jumped into the Sirhind canal on February 16 were recovered by the police, at the Gurthalli bridge, 2 km from here, yesterday.

In-laws, husband booked
LUDHIANA, March 1 — Neetu Rani a resident of Kundan Puri, has alleged in her complaint that on February 22 her husband, Sunil Kumar, and in-laws harassed her and demanded dowry. A case had been registered under Sections 406 and 498-A of the IPC yesterday.

Crescendo opened
LUDHIANA, March 1 — Crescendo, a three-day inter-university cultural festival, was inaugurated at Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GGNIMT), Civil Lines, here today. The cultural festival was inaugurated by Dr H.S. Gurm, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Technical University (PTU).

COURTS

Improvement Trust fined Rs 5,000
LUDHIANA, March 1 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Improvement Trust, Ludhiana, to pay Rs 5,000 in addition to cost of litigation to Mr Jaisi Ram on account of deficiency in service.

SPORT

Sumedha, Raminder are best athletes
LUDHIANA, March 1 — Sumedha Ghai of Home Science College was adjudged as best athlete in the 35th Annual Athletics meet of the PAU, which concluded here today. Sumedha clinched four gold and two silver.