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TOP STORIES

Kisan Mela: a rich harvest of ideas

Ludhiana, March 21 The two-day Kisan Mela, the ‘Maha Kumbh’ of Punjab farmers, opened here at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today with a significant theme, ‘Precision farming for high profits’.

Dr K. S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Dr G.S. Nanda of the PAU, Dr S.S. Sohal, Agricultural Adviser to the Chief Minister, and Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, a rice expert from the IRRI of Philippines, at ‘Kisan Mela’ in Ludhiana on Thursday. —RB

Seed rush grows; diversification unpopular

Ludhiana, March 21 The two-day ‘Kisan Mela’ that opened on the Punjab Agricultural University grounds here today was a big draw and farmers came there from all parts of the state. Pavilions of manufacturers of tractors, pesticides and farm equipment gave the grounds a festive look.

Serpentine queues of farmers at seed vends of ‘Kisan Mela’ on the Punjab Agricultural University campus, Ludhiana, on Thursday. —Photo Paramjit Singh Happy

• The feminine side of Kisan Mela

PAU securitymen rough up sacked teachers

Ludhiana, March 21 The two terminated teachers of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) who have been protesting at different venues for the past many days; were today stopped by the security staff of the university when they were trying to enter the pandal of Kisan Mela to hand over a memorandum to the chief guest, Dr Sardara Singh Johal, Agricultural Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab. Dr Amarjit Grewal and Ms Sarabjeet Dhaliwal being stopped by security guards of the PAU from entering the pandal of the Kisan Mela. —RB

Is Siti Cable harassing TV viewers?
Ludhiana, March 21
Are the TV buffs in the city being taken for a ride by the cable operators? Well, yes! If you consider the fact that the cable operators have jacked up monthly charges while denying subscribers of their favourite tele-serials on the Star TV network for the past few days.

Labourers robbed of Rs 27,000
Doraha, March 21
Sixteen migrant labourers residing in Doraha have complained of a theft of Rs 27,000 at Ludhiana railway station when they were about to board the Jan Sewa Train yesterday.

COMMUNITY

Mayor’s ward reserved for women 
Ludhiana, March 21
The government is learnt to have finalised May 19 as the date for holding elections to the Municipal corporations of Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala. A notification in this regard is expected soon.

Minister vs Deputy Commissioner
Ludhiana, March 21
Who cares even if a minister proposes? Not at least the new Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Aggarwal. Recently, Mr Aggarwal rejected a recommendation made by a minister in the Punjab government. And the recommendation was for a public cause.

Creating home away from home
Ludhiana, March 21
They have literally created a home away from home. And at the same time they do not seem to have forgotten their roots that are deep in the land they hail from. Because it is these roots only that are binding them together as a community of “sincere and hardworking people” who have become an important part and parcel of the cosmopolitan life of Ludhiana.

City Scan
The mystery of the royals
With the ascent of Captain Amarinder Singh to the chair of the Chief Minister of Punjab, several chapters of history invite rereading. History, it is believed, repeats itself. Ironically, its new face clarifies less and confuses more, whereas, logic needs the basis of facts, if not truth.

Holi celebration by ladies’ clubs
Ludhiana, March 21
The members of AarCee Ladies Club celebrated Holi here today at Basant Resorts. The members had made a colourful rangoli to mark the festival. Dressed in their best, the ladies sang various songs.

• Tailor falls in nullah, dies

CRIME

Murder accused also a narcotics smuggler
Ludhiana, March 21
The arrest of four persons, including two women, in the Turna advocate murder case is proving to be a major success for the CIA Wing I of the local police as one accused or another is being found involved in several other crimes, some of a more heinous nature.

Youths snatch chain, flee
Ludhiana, March 21
Two motorcycle-borne youths, wearing helmets, snatched the gold chain of 65-year-old Ms. Jeet Kaur, a resident of Model gram, here yesterday while she was going on foot to the house of her son in the afternoon, and fled. The elderly victim was so stunned that she did not note even the registration number of the motorcycle.

SSI units allege service overcharges by SBI
Ludhiana, March 21
The small-scale industrial associations here have alleged that the local branches of the State Bank of India ( SBI ) are charging exorbitant amount for small services like making a draft or issuing cheque books etc. The SBI, which has most of the SSI accounts, is bringing out rules to fleece customers.

AGRICULTURE

Animal welfare camp held
Jagraon, March 21
An animal welfare camp was organised at Bhammipura village, about 15 km from here, by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Punjab, as per the directions and guidance of Dr Harprem Singh Gill, Deputy Director Animal Husbandry, Ludhiana. Dr Ravinder Khullar Assistant Director inaugurated the camp.

Course concludes
Ludhiana, March 21
A 10-day advance training course on ‘Management of Apis mellifera (Italian honey bee)’ organised by the Centre for Excellence in Apiculture, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, concluded here today.

COURTS

Forum directs New India Assurance to pay Rs 1.80 lakh
Ludhiana, March 21
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the New India Assurance Company, to pay Rs 1,80,000 on account of the loss of insured vehicle of M/s Piara Lal Prem Chand of Jagraon. 

Budgeting blood: one drop to serve many
Ludhiana, March 21
Keeping in view the welfare of patients all over the region and to emphasise the need for making blood component therapy easily available all over Punjab, the Department of Transfusion Medicine of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital organised a press conference here today and declared that it was going to work on the motto of Economy in Blood, a concept still in its infancy in India, i.e. benefitting more than one patient with one unit of blood by breaking it into components.

MC asks telecom licensees to get permission
Ludhiana, March 21
The Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr R.L. Kalsia, has directed all the licensees of the Telecommunication Department who have or are inclined to start basic telephone service in the city not to construct the masonry platforms and erect telecommunication towers unless they obtain specific permission by getting building plan approved from the MC as per the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, and the building bye-laws as per Section 2(3) of the PMC Act, 1976.