L U D H I A N A

200 city phones out of order

LUDHIANA, March 2 — Notwithstanding their earlier claims, officials of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) today admitted that at least 200 telephone lines were damaged because of digging for widening of roads in the Model Town area only. The BSNL officials assured that the repairs would be completed by Monday and the work had already been started.

Deathtraps continue to bedevil Ludhiana residents, thanks to digging work undertaken by the Telecom Department.  — Photo by Rajesh Bhambi

‘Human resources ignored in Budget’
LUDHIANA, March 2 — The CPI, CPI (M), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Hind Mazdoor Sangh (HMS) and ICTUC organised a rally at the Clock Tower chowk here today to protest against the ‘anti- people, anti- poor and pro- rich Union Budget’.

Action against MC chief sought
KHANNA, March 2 — A few municipal councillors of the Khanna Municipal Council have demanded action against the council’s chief, Mr Onkar Rai Mehta, who had been found guilty in an inquiry conducted by the Deputy Director, Local Bodies Department, Ludhiana.

‘Ensure purchase by FCI’
LUDHIANA, March 2 — The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) has termed the Union Budget as ‘anti-farmer’. Presiding over a meeting of the state executive here today, the BKU president, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, observed that the indication by the Union Finance Minister to the effect that central agencies like Food Corporation of India might not enter the market to purchase foodgrain would wreck the farm economy.

Cheap mobile phones a month away
LUDHIANA, March 2 — Cheap mobile phones, at a par with the BSNL rates, are just a month away. After the clearance from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, removing restrictions on providing of mobile phone service, a private company which has provided land services, has started giving mobile connections also.

PAU convocation on March 20
LUDHIANA, March 2 — The annual convocation of Punjab Agricultural University will be held on March 20. It will be presided over by Lieut-Gen. J.F.R. Jacob, Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University. Dr R.S. Paroda, Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Government of India, will be the chief guest on the occasion.

COMMUNITY

Battlelines drawn for Satluj Club elections LUDHIANA, March 2 — Hectic lobbying has begun for the support by the rival groups for the forthcoming Satluj Club elections scheduled for March 11. The two groups have already started their election campaign. Of over 2,500 members, there are 1,938 eligible voters in the club. Focal Point roads need focus LUDHIANA, March 2 — Metro Road, which is the main arterial road of Focal Point used by residents of Urban Estate and Jamalpur Colony, lies in tatters. Other roads of the area as equally bad.

Satluj Club in Ludhiana

Tete-a-tete with G. S. Thind
LUDHIANA, March 2 — “In England, there is only one way street. The parents have to look after their children and then the children have no responsibility of taking care of the old parents. But it does not pose many problems for the old people as they are drawing pensions from their jobs as well as old-age pensions,” said Mr Gurbachan Singh Thind, Mayor, Slough, near London, who is here to attend Punjabi cultural festival to commemorate the memory of Justice Gurnam Singh to be held in Narangwal on March 4.

More donations for quake victims
LUDHIANA, March 2 — Trade, Industrial, religious and social organisations continued to make contributions for the earthquake victims of Gujarat.

FLAVOUR OF THE WEEK
Spring has worn its beautiful mantle and the flowers have brought a riot of colour. Moreover, heady scents in the atmosphere are adding to the delight. The birds keeps chirping, chattering as if welcoming the spring. The temperature is just right for exercising, for taking walks and for of course spring-cleaning the house.

CRIME

One hurt in clash 
SAHNEWAL, March 2 — One person is stated to be serious having suffered a head injury as a result of the clash between the two groups, that occurred on Wednesday.

Women arrested
KHANNA, March 2 — The Khanna police claims to have arrested two members of a chain snatchers gang, who were wanted by the police in a case registered against them three years back.

EDUCATION

ISAE holds meeting
LUDHIANA, March 2 — The Punjab chapter of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE) organised its annual meeting in the Jacob Assembly Hall of the College of Agricultural Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, here today.

‘Tap non-conventional energy sources’
LUDHIANA, March 2 — Dr K.S. Aulakh, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, PAU, has said in order to meet the rising energy demands in future, India needed to tap non-conventional energy sources and briquette biomass could go a long way in solving the energy problems. This technology had added advantage of being eco-friendly as it utilised the agricultural waste, which otherwise would cause pollution, he remarked.

PAU employees hold rally
LUDHIANA, March 2 — The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) employees held a rally in front of the administrative complex here today in support of their outstanding demands and served ultimatum to the PAU administration to immediately concede to their demands otherwise the employees would resort to agitation.

Annual function of school
LUDHIANA, March 2 — Nearly 200 students of CFC Public School, Gurdev Nagar, were given prizes at an annual function held here on Friday. These included students who had secured more than 85 per cent marks in the previous session.

Mela at gurdwara
SAHNEWAL, March 2 — The annual mela on the birth anniversary of Shromani Bhagat Dhanna is being held from March 1 to 4 at Gurdwara Somasar Sahib, Tibba. A religious diwan was conducted after the bhog of Akhand Path on March 1. Sant Baba Ranjit Singh Gujjarwal and Sant Baba Dalwara Singh Malowal organised the diwans.

COURTS

Telecom dept told to pay Rs 4,000
LUDHIANA, March 2 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Telecom Department to pay Rs 4,000 along with the cost of litigation to Mr Surinder Singh on account of deficiency in service. The forum further directed the department to provide a telephone connection to the complainant at the earliest possible.

HEALTH

AIDS cases on the rise
Constant increase in the HIV positive cases in this district has set the alarm bells ringing for the health authorities and others concerned. The number of HIV positive cases reported in the district reached 62 last year.

DMCH doctor gets national fellowship
LUDHIANA, March 2 — Dr V. Mohan, Executive Chief of the Department of Community Medicine (Social and Preventive Medicine) of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, has been selected for the national fellowship of the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM). The fellowship was announced during the National Annual Conference of the IAPSM at Jammu recently.