L U D H I A N A

Top stories | Community | Crime | Agriculture

Education  | Culture | Health | Sports

TOP STORIES

Steel Policy by March 2004

Ludhiana, August 29 The Government of India will finalise the National Steel Policy by March 2004, which is aimed at addressing various issues concerning the production and use of steel in the country.

Union Steel Secretary V.K. Duggal addresses a meeting of the CICU in Ludhiana on Thursday evening. — A Tribune photo

Industrialists lose cool at minister’s meeting
Ludhiana, August 29
Uproarious scenes were witnessed during the 17th meeting of the National Steel Consumers’ Council held here today under the chairmanship of the Union Steel Minister, Mr B.K. Tripathy. At one stage the minister had to intervene and he even threatened to call off the meeting in case the industrialists continued to behave in an “unruly” manners. As expected, the industrialists who had come to attend the meeting raised the issue of rising steel prices in the country.

Brar-Gupta group sweeps PAUTA poll
Ludhiana, August 29
For the sixth time in a row, the Brar-Gupta group made a clean sweep in the annual elections of the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA), the results of which were announced late last evening. All candidates of this group defeated their rivals by a comfortable margin.

Cong leaders flay Mann
Ludhiana, August 29
Senior Congress leaders, including the MLA from Dakha, Mr Milkiat Singh Dakha, the Mayor, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, senior vice-president of the Pradesh Youth Congress, Mr Amarjit Singh Tikka and the general secretary of the PYC, Mr Gurkirat Singh have condemned the statement of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Mr Simranjit Singh Mann in which he had said his party would organise a demonstration on August 31, against the organising of the state function on the death anniversary of Late Mr Beant Singh a former Chief Minister of Punjab, who was killed in a suicide bomb blast.

Baazigar family kills Boriya robber
Raikot, August 29
A robber was killed and three persons of a family were injured in a scuffle between a seven member gang of robbers and the family at their house in Baazigar Colony in the outskirts of this town at about midnight last.

Residents resent illegal slaughter house
Ludhiana, August 29
Even as the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PHRC) has directed the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana (MCL) to check the slaughter of animals and birds in the open, some city residents have also joined the issue with the MC urging upon the authorities to ban the illegal slaughtering.

Diagnostic centre accused of duping supplier
Ludhiana, August 29
The dispute between a firm supplying medical equipment and a local diagnostic centre took an ugly turn today when a Chandigarh-based distributor of medical equipment lodged a first information report (FIR) with the local police, claiming that the diagnostic centre had fraudulently taken supplies worth Rs 21 lakh and was now refusing to make the payment.

Life term for killing wife
Ludhiana, August 29
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Inderjit Kaushik, has sentenced Lakhwinder Singh of Pakhowal village to undergo rigorous life imprisonment for killing his wife. A fine of Rs 5000 was also imposed upon the convict.

COMMUNITY

D.S. Gill to represent Opposition on SYL issue
Ludhiana, August 29
It is good news for Punjab on the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal front as the Supreme Court has clubbed the cases filed by the state with Haryana, while the latter and the Centre have sought three weeks to submit their replies on various points raised by Punjab.

No groups in Congress: Goel
Mandi Gobindgarh, August 29
There is no friction in the Congress party. Whenever the Congress had come into power in the state, it had completed its term of five years, said Mr Brij Lal Goel state vice-president of the Congress party and in charge Fatehgarh district. Mr Goel said this at a meeting with the local Press Club members on Thursday.

Digital traffic lights to ease congestion on roads
Ludhiana, August 29
According to sources a plan was in the pipeline to replace the existing traffic lights at many busy crossings in the city with ultra modern digital traffic signals in order to ease out congestion and to provide safe passage to the pedestrians, motorists and other road users.

The story so far
For the residents of the city, traffic movement has almost become synonymous with chaos and misery that they have to live with each day. The prevailing situation, gloomy as it is, cannot be solely attributed to a huge number of vehicles on the roads and rampant encroachments. Poor traffic planning and slack enforcement also have share blame.

Conjunctivitis — a blessing for some Ludhiana, August 29 Conjunctivitis is turning into a blessing in disguise for many. Mr Amit Seth(not the real name), a manager in the factory said that that for the past five days, he was on leave.

President to be in city on Sept 4
Ludhiana, August 29
Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is the third President to visit Ludhiana. He will be here on September 4 to inaugurate a Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University. Earlier Dr Rajindera Prasad, the first President, visited Ludhiana on April 8, 1956 to lay the foundation stone of Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College.

LMA awaits visit
Ludhiana, August 29
“The coming month of September is going to be a month of pride and honour for the residents of Ludhiana in general and the Ludhiana Management Association (LMA) in particular when all these people along with several other important people of Punjab will get a chance to interact with Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the President of India, at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan”. This was stated by Mr Manjit Singh, president, LMA.

Punjab flayed on exim form
Ludhiana, August 29
The Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal has castigated the Punjab Government for its adamant attitude on introducing exim form from September 1, which was bound to adversely affect the trade and commerce in the state.

Blindfolded rider on the road
Ludhiana, August 29
In a city where it is difficult to drive safely with open eyes, blindfolded Jadugar Samrat Shankar riding a motor cycle negotiated curves and bends in the congested CMC area. The daring feat stunned the residents. He started from Shingaar Palace at 11 am Dr S.C. Verma, an eye surgeon here covered the magician’s eyes with 10 layers of cloth and two swabs of cotton. Mr Pritam Singh, IPS, SP-II, Ludhiana flagged off the event. The magician has performed this show more than 17,000 times in India and abroad.


Magician Shankar rides on the congested streets of Ludhiana on Friday. — Photo Pradeep Tewari

Sales tax advisory panel meeting
Ludhiana, August 29
The District Sales Tax Advisory Committee meeting was held here yesterday under the presidentship of the Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr M.S. Brar. Mr Brar appealed to the members of the committee to extend their sincere cooperation for enhancing government revenues in the shape of sales tax, which, at present, was only Rs 1100 crore from the state out of the total revenue of Rs 3100 crore. 

Pilgrim dies  of brain  haemorrhage
Ludhiana, August 29
Mr Goddu Mal, a pilgrim, who had come from Kheragaon (Maharashtra) to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Nanaksar on the 60th anniversary of Baba Nand Singh ji, died of brain haemorrhage.

Rally for green
Ludhiana, August 29
Activists of the People for Common Cause (PFCC) took out a rally from the park adjoining General Bus Stand here today. The activists wearing green bands and carrying placards, with messages for greening the city marched up to Chattar Singh Park.

CRIME

Rs 12,000 looted 
Phillaur, August 29
Some armed unidentified robbers struck at Co-operative Agricultural Multipurpose Society Goraya office, and looted Rs 12,000 from the office late last night. The miscreants attacked and seriously injured society chowkidar Paramjit before leaving the society office. Goraya police has registered case and investigating the matter.

Fraud case registered
Doraha, August 29
The Payal police has registered a case under Sections 420 and 468 of the IPC against Baldev Singh of Bivani village for taking Rs 5 lakh from Bhagwan Singh of Bathinda in 1998 promising that he would send the latter to the USA.

AGRICULTURE

PAU wheat variety best for region
Ludhiana, August 29
The wheat variety, PBW 502, developed by Punjab Agricultural University was the only variety identified for the north western plains at the 42nd All-India Wheat Research Workers Meeting organised by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research held at G B Pant University, Pantnagar.

EDUCATION

Primary teachers hold rally

Ludhiana, August 29 Protesting against the decision of the Punjab Government to hand over the administrative functioning of government schools in rural areas to panchayats from October 2, the Save Primary Education Front representing eight unions of government primary teachers, held a rally in front of the Mini Secretariat here today. A section of the Primary Elementary Save Education Front, Punjab, rally in Ludhiana on Friday. — A Tribune photo

State-level science seminar
Ludhiana, August 29
Students from 16 of the 17 districts of Punjab participated in a state-level science seminar held at R.S. Model Senior Secondary School here today. While all the districts were represented by one student each, there was no participant from Kapurthala. The topic of the seminar was ‘Powered flight- a century of innovations and future of aviations’.

Inter-class declamation contest
Ludhiana, August 29
The Asian Club International, Ludhiana branch, organised an inter-class declamation contest today at Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School. Fifteen children took part.

‘Parliament’ session at PAU Ludhiana, August 29 As many as 60 students of Punjab Agricultural University participated in the sixth national youth parliament session organised by the University Speakers’ Forum in association with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India, here today. ‘Parliament’ in session at the Pal Auditorium of Punjab Agricultural University on Friday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma

Teachers not paid salary: union
Ludhiana, August 29
The Government Teachers Union (Gadhri ), Ludhiana District, has alleged that the government had not released the salaries for the teachers posted in upgraded schools against plan posts.

Toppers honoured

CULTURE

Poets remember America and Canada

Ludhiana, August 29 Two delegates from here who attended the language conference held in the summer at Vancouver, included Mr Satish Gulati, a publisher and a poet, and Gurbhajan Singh Gill, senior vice president, Punjabi Sahitya Akademy, and Editor, Changi Kheti, Punjab Agriculture University (PAU). Mr Ujjal Dosanj, former Prime Minister, British Columbia, (third from right) released posters of Bhagat Singh, Shah Hussain and Waris Shah at the language conference held at Surrey, Canada, in June.

HEALTH

Doctors to get NPA
Ludhiana, August 29
The PCMS doctors will continue to get their pay with NPA till a high power committee prepares the modalities for doctors who opt for private practice. As per the recommendation of the committee, the letter of Department of Finance (No. 275/98-4FPI/6224-25 dated July 22, 2003) on the abolition of NPA has been ordered to be held in abeyance, by the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh.’

Blood donation camp
Ludhiana, August 29
The NSS unit and the Youth Club of the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gurjarkan Campus, Ludhiana, organised a blood donation camp under the supervision of the local unit of the Red Cross Society. Dr Jasbir Singh was the in charge of the team of the Red Cross society comprising six members.

SPORTS

Hockey match ends in draw

Ludhiana, August 29 An exhibition hockey match played here today at the astroturf ground of Punjab Agricultural University between the Speed Fund Academy, Ludhiana, and the Olympian Surjit Academy, Jalandhar, ended in a draw. The score was 2-2. The match was organised by the Punjab Sports Department to commemorate the birth anniversary of the hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. A hockey match between the Speed Fund Academy, Ludhiana, and the Surjit Academy, Jalandhar, in progress in Ludhiana on Friday. — IV

Basketball trials

Ludhiana, August 29 A good number of boys and girls turned up for the trials conducted by the Ludhiana District Basketball Association (LDBA) at the Guru Nanak Stadium here today. These trials were held to select the team to represent Ludhiana in the Fourth Punjab State Youth Basketball Championship scheduled to be held at Jalalabad (Ferozepore) from September 2 to 6. Aspirants during the trials conducted for the Fourth Punjab Youth Basketball Meet at Ludhiana on Friday. — Photo Pradeep Tewari