L U D H I A N A

Dr Borlaug recommends bed-type planting
Sudhar (Ludhiana), March 9
Dr Normal E. Borlaug, world renowned wheat breeder and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace, today strongly recommended adoption of the bed type wheat planting technique in Punjab which would result in higher yields and saving of water, seeds and fertilisers.

Holi goes modern this time
Ludhiana, March 9
Should we go whole hog or to keep it a low key affair? While this question continued to be debated among people in connection with Holi celebrations, children had already started stacking various types of colours and pichkaris to enjoy Holi. The debate had been generated by a statement made by the Prime Minister asking people to celebrate Holi in a moderate manner, keeping in view the recent earthquake in Gujarat.

Nihang Sikhs are heading for Anandpur Sahib to participate in the Hola Mohalla. This picture was taken by Inderjit Verma at Ludhiana railway station on Friday.

Ludhiana to be developed as model city: Tandon
Ludhiana, March 9
Ludhiana has been selected to be developed as a “Model city” in Punjab, and various innovative schemes like privatisation of street lights, garbage collection and beautification were being taken up to provide better civic amenities to the residents.

Air Force recruitment rally
Khamano, March 9
A special Air Force recruitment rally for the youths of Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala and Ropar districts will be organised at Rink hall (Baradari), Patiala, from March 21 to March 23, 2001 for non-technical trades of the Indian Air Force.

BOTTOMLINE
Game of compromise or extortion? 
Ludhiana, March 9
The game of striking a compromise between two groups or persons at war with each other, which is as old as the police itself, has become much more murkier than what possibly meets the eye.

COMMUNITY

Hike in edible oil prices flayed
Ludhiana, March 9
Mrs Malvika Singh, a bank accountant, when contacted on International Womens Day yesterday to know which was the most concerned issue for women, said: ‘‘The increase in the prices of edible oils!’’ Mr Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister, in his Budget had hiked customs duty on crude edible oil and refined oils, which has resulted in a massive hike in the prices of edible oils in the market.

Parking complex remains under-utilised Ludhiana, March 9 The multi-storey parking complex constructed by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation at a cost of about Rs 13 crore remains half utilised. Most of the shopkeepers and also the general public prefer to park their vehicles on the roadside instead of parking these in the complex.

Multi-storeyed parking complex in Ludhiana and (right) a few vehicles parked there. — RB

Satluj Club clarifies on fee
Ludhiana March 9
Reacting to reports that one of the faction of the Satluj Club has announced that the monthly membership fee would be reduced to Rs 100, besides reduction in food prices, the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner and Satluj Club President, Mr S.K. Sandhu, termed the claims as false.

ACHIEVERS
They strive for excellence 
Ludhiana March 9
Those who burn midnight oil or work with strong determination and doggedness, always reach where they want to. The three young achievers portrayed here are as different as chalk from cheese, yet they are similar in having broken barriers and having overcome obstacles to reach their respective aims.

The soldier who participated in many wars
Ludhiana, March 9
Mukhtiar Singh may be one of the few living soldiers of the country who has participated in all the wars since the liberation of Goa in 1961 and the Kargil War in 1999 and he still goes on with his usual routine although he has retired from the Army.

FLAVOUR OF THE WEEK
The spring is still at its glory and offering a great deal of delight with its myriad flowers and delightful odours. Man is not far behind and is trying to fill his life with green, yellow, red, pink and even bright purple ‘gulals’ for Holi. ‘Pitchkaris’ of different shapes, sizes and colours offer great attraction to children. Balloons are used as missiles on unsuspecting passers-by.

CRIME

Cases against 3 for fraud
Ludhiana, March 9
The Economic Offences Wing of the city police has registered three cases of fraud in the past 24 hours.

• Liquor seized

• Stereo stolen

• Knife seized

• Man duped

• One hurt
  

BUSINESS

Traders hail decision on IT
Ludhiana, March 9
The Federation of the Punjab Small Industries Associations has praised the decision of the Centre not to scrutinise income tax returns this year, too.

FTSI flays 16 pc excise duty
Ludhiana, March 9
The Federation of Tiny and Small Industries of India (FTSI) has strongly reacted against the levy of excise duty at the rate of 16 per cent on readymade garments.

AGRICULTURE

BKU to burn copies of budget paper
Ludhiana, March 9
The Bhartiya Kisan Union will burn union budget papers as a mark of protest during the kisan panchayat, scheduled to be held at Delhi on March 19. Stating this here today, BKU President Ajmer Singh Lakhowal and secretary general Manjit Singh Kadian said in a joint statement that the budget for the year 2002 was “pro-rich” and “anti-farmers”.

EDUCATION

Workshop by Nirdosh school on March 16
Ludhiana, March 9
Nirdosh School for mentally challenged children, run by members of the Inner Wheel Club will organise a workshop for parents and teachers of these children on March 16 in Rotary Bhavan of Sarabha Nagar here.

Teachers seek probe into paper leakage case
Ludhiana, March 9
Demanding immediate investigation into the leakage of a question paper of Class V students, the Government Primary Teachers Association has sought the intervention of the Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh.

HEALTH

Heart surgeries by robots soon: Trehan
Ludhiana, March 9
Hold your breath for a while. India is going to introduce heart surgeries by robot. It will be a reality within two years, says world famous cardiac surgeon, Dr Naresh Trehan . According to Dr Trehan, during the experiments the robots have shown exceptional accuracy in performing these surgeries.

DMCH doctor to attend SAARC conference
Ludhiana, March 9
Dr J.S.Sekhon, In charge of the Oncology Division of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital has been invited to attend the SAARC conference on Oncology to be held at Dhaka, Bangladesh.

‘Civil hospitals to get modern facilities’
Khanna, March 9
Private medical practitioners can now send their patients to Civil Hospital for medical check-up at subsidised rates. This was announced today by the Managing Director of the Punjab Health System Corporation, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, at the Civil Hospital.