The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Road dug up in the middle to sink submersible pump
Ludhiana, April 27
Hundreds of residents of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, developed by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), have been made to suffer for the last several days as the main road in Block E has been dug up right in the middle for installing a submersible pump right. To make the matters worse, a water supply pipe burst a little distance away during the installation of an electricity pole by the staff of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited.

The site at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar where a submersible pump is being sunk in the middle of the road. a Tribune photograph

Young voters wait for D-day
Ludhiana, April 27
The countdown for the Lok Sabha elections in the state is about to end and first-time voters are quite enthusiastic to participate in the biggest exercise of democracy. The state will go to the polls on April 30. The Ludhiana constituency has 65,227 young voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years, who will exercise their right to franchise for the first time.

Youngsters take part in a marathon in Ludhiana on Sunday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma.

Slow lifting worries farmers, arhtiyas
Jagraon, April 27
After much delay in the arrival of wheat at grain markets due to late harvesting amid bad weather conditions, the arrival of wheat has peaked in the past few days. However, the lifting of wheat does not match procurement.

Poll duty: Banking to be hit
Ludhiana, April 27
With about 80 per cent staff of all nationalised banks in the district have been put on election duties, banking is bound to suffer on April 29 and May 1. The District Manager (Lead Bank), Punjab and Sind Bank, MS Jaggi, said today that the banks would be run with a few employees, just one or two persons at some branches, as a majority of the bank employees had been put on election duties.

Farm varsity takes steps to save Dr Randhawa’s legacy
Ludhiana, April 27
To save Dr MS Randhawa's legacy, the library at Punjab Agricultural University would get his handwritten letters and other papers laminated. The library is a mecca for those appearing for varsity as well as competitive examinations. It has a vast collection of books and journals. There is a separate section dedicated to Dr Randhawa's collection of letters, personal diaries, books and other such material.

4 diarrhoea cases reported
Ludhiana, April 27
Following the instruction of Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal, a team, comprising the District Health Officer and the District Epidemiologist from the Civil Surgeon’s Office and other staff, visited Street No. 2 and 3 in Fatehgarh Mohalla where a few cases of diarrhoea were reported.

COMMUNITY

Ludhiana scan
Medical camp
Maa Bhagwati Club organised a free eye and dental check-up camp at Ranjit Modern Senior Secondary School. Eye surgeon Dr Ramesh and dental surgeon Dr Survesh Arora examined around 600 patients.

Students of International Institute of Fashion Technology showcase their creativity during an exhibition in Ludhiana. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan

REPORTERS’ DIARY
Politicos get a taste of own medicine
Politicians are not in the habit of waiting. They, instead, make others wait. During Narendra Modi’s rally in the city recently, political leaders had a tough time when the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate got late to reach the venue. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was seen taking repeated glances at his watch, while sitting on the stage (see picture). An onlooker said, "Now, at least, they will also know what it means to wait.”

Knitwear Club
Infighting delays elections
Ludhiana, April 27
The elections of Knitwear Club were to be held in April, but the rift between members seems to have overshadowed the event. The elections are held every two years. Since the last elections nothing has been normal in the club.

Should artistes campaign for political parties?
Ludhiana, April 27
In this election season, many singers and artistes have been participating in political campaigns. We spoke with some people associated with cultural fields to know what they felt about artistes expressing their political opinions openly.

Parties mum on green cover
Ludhiana, April 27
Candidates are not bothered about the decreasing forest cover and rising pollution levels. Only a few days are left for the Lok Sabha elections, but none of them have raised the issues. Ludhiana has the unenviable distinction of being the pollution capital of Punjab.

Candidates strain their vocal cords
Ludhiana, April 27
With barely three days left for the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, candidates are busy giving last-minute touches to their poll campaigns. Supporters and workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) formed a human chain on Ferozepur Road from Jagraon Bridge to Bhaiwala Chowk this evening. The AAP supporters appealed to the passersby to vote for AAP nominee HS Phoolka. They also raised slogans in favour of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and against 'corrupt' leaders. Wearing T-shirts with a picture of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, AAP volunteers were seen interacting with commuters at traffic intersections.

Workers of the Aam Aadmi Party form a human chain; and (right) activists of the Congress and AAP cross their paths in Ludhiana. Tribune photos: Himanshu Mahajan

Harping on same issues
Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 27
Candidates are contesting the Lok Sabha elections on development plank. While Amargarh legislator Iqbal Singh Jhoondan, who is campaigning for SAD-BJP candidate Kulwant Singh, stakes claim to voters in the name of development grants worth over Rs 30 crore, those campaigning for Congress nominee Sadhu Singh Dharamsot maintains that the lion's share of grants came from the Union Government.

Non-payment of salaries
Teachers' ordeal far from over
Ludhiana, April 27
Teachers of government-aided schools are a harried lot. While teachers of secondary schools have not received their salaries for the past four months, those employed with primary schools have been without pay for the past 10 months. They said they were not able to pay the school fee of their wards.

Campaigning picks up steam
Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 27
With the polling day nearing, candidates and their supporters have intensified campaigning. Although door-to-door canvassing is yet to pick up, the candidates and segment in-charges of various parties have started interacting with residents during meetings.

Farm varsity unit an apology for a printing press
Ludhiana, April 27
The printing press on the PAU campus is in a state of neglect. For the past many years, it has not been upgraded. Now, the authorities have decided to outsource printing work to a private printing press in the city. The press has been a shambles since 1960.

The printing press at Punjab Agricultural University has been a shambles since 1960. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Gul to hold rally in Khamano
Khamano, April 27
AAP candidate for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat Gul Panag will organise a roadshow in the town tomorrow. She will garner support for party candidate from the Fatehgarh Sahib constituency Harinder Singh Khalsa. AAP leader Gurpreet Singh Ria said the rally would start from Khamano at 9 am. He said hundreds of youths would take part in the rally.

Printing press owner booked
Jagraon, April 27
The police have registered a case against the owner of Sai Printing Press for printing election material without informing the administration. The case was registered following the instructions of Assistant Returning Officer-cum-Sub Judicial Magistrate (SDM), Jagraon, Apneet Rayat. As per information, election-related material was recovered from the printing press during a raid conducted by the flying squad and static surveillance teams of the Election Commission.

Aam aadmi’s anger spills on to road
Ludhiana, April 27
A man identified as Amritpal Singh blocked traffic opposite the office of the Aam Aadmi Party today. He said the AAP leaders were trying to implicate him in a false case of selling AAP caps. It was learnt that Amritpal entered into a heated argument with an AAP worker following which he laid down in the middle of the road.

200 pets get anti-rabies shots
Ludhiana, April 27
Free anti-rabies and de-worming camp for pets was organised at the veterinary hospital of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU). The camp held to commemorate World Veterinary Day was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Dr VK Taneja.

Vice-Chancellor VK Taneja (right) inaugurates a free anti-rabies camp for pets at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Ludhiana. A Tribune Photograph

Bal Bharati School to reduce fee
Ludhiana, April 27
Giving heed to protests by parents, Bal Bharati Public School reportedly has decided to reduce the fee by Rs 1,000. School principal Punam Dogra said some parents had asked the authorities to reduce the fee and in turn cut on various activities and facilities being provided to the students. The school, however, had decided to reduce the fee without affecting the facilities being provided after another delegation of parents opposed it, said the principal.

CPI(M) candidate has dual vote
Ludhiana, April 27
CPI(M) candidate Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon has dual vote. His name figures on the voter list of Pamali village in the Dakha Assembly constituency. His voter card number is LCL1314269. In the Ludhiana (West) constituency, his voter card number is GKC1759737. The address on the card is 1180 Harnam Nagar. Sekhon said: "I will lodge a complaint with the police. Somebody is trying to dent my image. It is a conspiracy.” Election Tehsildar Sukhdev Singh Bhangu said, "We will look into the matter.”

SPORTS