L U D H I A N A

No takers for industrial plots at Ladowal
Industrialists reluctant to shift their units
Ludhiana, June 1
The Punjab government's much talked-about Ladowal industrial project is heading towards a big failure as most of the polluting dyeing units, presently in the residential area, have not agreed to the Chief Minister's proposal to shift to Ladowal.

Map of city released
Ludhiana, June 1
The much-awaited map of Ludhiana has been released. And this is no ordinary map with ordinary outlines, but a map with a difference. It covers most of the important places of the city, be it the Mini-Secretariat, a leading hotel or a restaurant, not only marked, but also highlighted. Probably that is why Mr Vikas Passi, who has developed this map, calls it Ludhiana Highlighter. Each landmark can be spotted on the map from a distance.

Kidney donor ‘robs’ buyer
Ludhiana, June 1
An interesting case was registered under Sections 328 and 379 of the IPC at the Division Number Five police station here.

Sangat darshans no help for poor
Ludhiana, June 1
The purpose of the sangat darshan programmes, to make the corruption-ridden administration responsive to people, has been belied. Instead of becoming responsive, it seems, the administration has turned a blind eye as far as cases of poor people are concerned. So much so that a common man seeking justice at these sangat darshans is further harassed and his problem compounded by the lower level officers.

• Sangat darshan programme

Ludhiana resident drugged, looted
Ludhiana, June 1
Amarjit Singh Jatwal, a resident of Mohan Singh Nagar and director of Astech Computers, was drugged and looted on his return journey from Delhi two days ago. This was disclosed by family members of Jatwal.

A nexus for a contractual loot
No one openly says or admits it. But it is an established fact that in the manner of other departments getting public work done through contractors, a part of the fund, spent by the Municipal Corporation on development work in the city goes into the pockets of all categories of officers, with the exception that a lion’s share goes to elected representatives — certain councillors.

Ordinance for amending Panchayat Act soon
Ludhiana, June 1
The Punjab government would soon promulgate an ordinance for amendment in the Panchayat Act to provide for a change in the system of election of panchayat samiti members. With the amendment in place, half of the members would be elected through direct elections, while the sarpanches would elect the other half.

ASI suspended

COMMUNITY

Factional fight goes to AICC president
Ludhiana, June 1
The factional fight within the district Congress has taken a new turn with one of the groups approaching the All- India Congress Committee President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, and seeking her intervention to rein in some leaders indulging in anti-party activities. While one group has already met her on the issue, the rival group is bracing up for the showdown.

Sena men demonstrate against depot holders
Ludhiana, June 1
The activists of Shiv Sena (Tangri) held a demonstration against rampant corruption in all government departments and total collapse of the public distribution system, with the essential commodities being sold in black market by the ration depot holders in the city.

Farmers denied water as they refuse bribe
Ludhiana, June 1
Several farmers of Nathowal village in Raikote tehsil have alleged that they were denied irrigation water as they refused to pay bribe to the officials concerned. They alleged that some officials of the Irrigation Department were demanding Rs 400 per acre for releasing water for their land.

Coping with life after retirement
Ludhiana, June 1
In a very poignant essay on superannuation, Charles Lamb, noted English essayist, brings out the true dilemma of a person after retirement. The protagonist looks forward to his life after superannuation when he would be able to indulge in all his hobbies, like fishing, reading, gardening, which he was putting on hold.

Ludhiana leads in producing political leaders, too
Ludhiana, June 1
Ludhiana has produced not only small-scale industries, but also three chief ministers of Punjab — Bhim Sen Sachar, Justice Gurnam Singh and Beant Singh.

Arihant staff denied salary for 3 months
Ludhiana, June 1
About 300 workers of the Arihant Industries here have been denied salaries for the last three months. A delegation of the employees’ union met the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr S R Kaler, here today, who referred the case to the Labour Commissioner.

Residents resent advance telephone rent
Ludhiana, June 1
City residents have strongly resented the move to seek advance rent by the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) from its subscribers. Not only the city subscribers but the villagers feel that this has caused an extra burden on them. The general feeling is that the decision of taking advance rent from public should be given a second thought keeping in view the overall recession in the market.

Govt ‘responsible’ for recession
Ludhiana, June 1
A well attended rally, jointly organised by the Lok Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, the Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujawan Sabha, Punjab, the Lal Jhanda, Punjab, the Bhatha Mazdoor Union and the Lal Jhanda FCI Workers and Palledars Union at Dehlon town in the Kila Raipur area of the district, yesterday held the state government responsible for deterioration of law and order, financial indiscipline, police repression, mounting unemployment and poverty, criminalisation of politics and steep rise in the prices of essential commodities.

Narrow bazars made narrower
Ludhiana, June 1
The narrow bazars of the old city have been further narrowed due to encroachments by none else but the shopkeepers themselves much to the discomfort of customers and passersby alike.

Snake in tap water Ludhiana, June 1 Water snakes are well known, but a snake in domestic water, and that, too, flowing out of taps of the Municipal Corporation water connections is far from common. And when this happens it cannot be called anything short of a nightmare. This is exactly what happened to Ms Rajdeep Grewal of Model Town Extension when she tried to fill a water bottle. Snake in a jar which came out of tap water supplied by the Municipal Corporation at Model Town Extension in Ludhiana.

CRIME

Four satta bookies arrested
Ludhiana, June 1
In a swoop, the police nabbed four satta bookies yesterday from different parts of the city, according to an official release here today.

EDUCATION

PCCTU demands probe into selection of principal
Ludhiana, June 1
Demanding a probe into the recent selection and subsequent appointment of principal of the Sant Darbara Singh College for Women, Lopon, the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union has send a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, the DPI (Colleges), and the Deputy Registrar of the university colleges.

Workshop for teachers begins at KVM 
Ludhiana, June 1
A four-day workshop on ‘Empowerment of teachers in personality development and quality education’ was inaugurated at Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, here today.

3 IIT-JEE toppers from city
Ludhiana, June 1
Three city students have secured entrance to the IIT, the results of which were declared here today.

COURTS

Forum penalises finance company 
Ludhiana, June 1
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the PSB Finance and Investments Limited to pay maturity amount of Rs 14,750 alongwith interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum on the principal from November 21, 1999, till the actual payment to Mr Dilpreet Singh, a resident of Jagraon. The forum further directed the company to pay Rs 1,000 as cost of litigation to the consumer.

Justice Brar visits Bar Association
Ludhiana, June 1
Justice Hardial Singh Brar, Chairman of the State Consumers Dispute Redressal Commission, visited the Bar Association here, today where he was welcomed by the acting president and secretary of the Bar, Mr Vijay Verma and Rajiv Duggal, respectively, besides the Bar working committee.

HEALTH

Paramedical staff donates blood
Ludhiana, June 1
To motivate masses to donate blood for the thalassemic children, 200 paramedical staff members of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and Hero DMC Heart Institute donated 200 units of blood during a voluntary blood donation camp organised by the Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine for the welfare of thalassemic children here today.

ADMINISTRATION

Roadways employees’ ultimatum
Ludhiana, June 1
The Punjab Roadways Conductors Union, Ludhiana, has saved a 15-day ultimatum on the management to accept its demands or be prepared for a decisive protest movement of the employees.