L U D H I A N A

A dhaba in a park along the Dasehra ground on Metro Road.  — Photo by the writer

TRIBUNE VIGIL
Encroachers having a field day in Urban Estate, Focal Point areas
Ludhiana, June 7
In direct proportion to the pace of development in the Focal Point area, encroachments along boulevards, vacant plots in commercial centers and even on public parks are on the rise. When the Focal Point area was conceived about two decades ago to the right of the Chandigarh road, there were few takers for it as the idea of living so far from the city was not very appealing.

Demolition drive: residents adamant, admn gearing up
Ludhiana, June 7
Even as the administration gears up for the second phase of the demolition operations around the field ammunition depot at Baddowal, the residents of nine adjoining villages and the colonies continued their dharna against the demolitions for the second day today.

Govt to focus on infrastructure development: Badal
Ludhiana, June 7
Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, today announced that the state was going to witness an unprecedented development during the current financial year which was being observed as development year. He said that work on the prestigious infrastructural development projects worth Rs 152 crore, including the strengthening and four-laning of main roads and construction of bridges over rivers and railway lines, had already been started.

Consumer forum quashes PUDA demand
Ludhiana, June 7
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed a demand of Punjab Urban Development and Authority of Rs 71,600 on account of non-construction charges from Ms Darshan Bhatia, a resident of Dugri Urban Estate. The authority stated that it was entitled to recover non-construction charges as per rule no. 13 of the PUDA Act 1995. The forum further directed the authority to pay Rs 500 to the consumer as cost of litigation.

City students fail to get result gazettes
Ludhiana, June 7
The results of senior secondary examinations conducted by the Punjab School Education Board were declared today, but students, as well as school and college authorities of the city, failed to get any information about the results from the board.

COMMUNITY

SAD (B) consolidating vote base
Ludhiana, June 7
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) is going all out to consolidate its urban vote base and bringing members of the trade and business community and urban intelligentsia in the party fold. The party has had a communal image. The Hindu community, particularly the urban vote base, never took the party at its face value.

Gear up for poll, YC workers told
Ludhiana, June 7
The Indian Youth Congress observer for Punjab, Mr Krishanvir Maina, interacted with various party functionaries here last evening in a bid to tone up the district units of the Youth Congress. During discussions on the party programmes and policies and the strategy on the forthcoming Assembly elections, Mr Maina exhorted the party rank and file to gear up for the elections and to formulate a result-oriented mass contact programme to mobilise the masses against the anti-people policies of the SAD-BJP government.

Gurpurab celebrated
Ludhiana, June 7
The birth anniversary of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, was celebrated with religious fervour at all gurdwaras in the city here today. Ragi jathas and dhadis from Amritsar, Hazur Sahib and Patna Sahib enthralled the sangat with kirtan.

Showers lower temperature
Ludhiana, June 7
The city had a cool cloudy day today following brisk showers, lasting about half an hour, this morning. Those who were expecting another spell of heat wave after a brief lull last week also heaved a sigh of relief.

AGRICULTURE

‘Provide farmers with latest technology’
Ludhiana, June 7
Farmers should provided with latest agro-machines and new technologies to face the challenges of the WTO and to counter the competition posed by multinational companies. This was stated by Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director, Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, who appealed to the extension scientists of the university to take the latest agricultural technology to the farmers.

EDUCATION

Warm farewell to Tambar
Ludhiana, June 7
Dr Ranjit Singh Tambar, a former Dean, College of Agriculture, Punjab Agricultural University, was given a warm farewell by students and faculty members of COA here today.

COURTS

Murder accused gets 10-year imprisonment
Ludhiana, June 7
The Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Arora today convicted Jasbir Singh of village Poonian and sentenced him to undergo 10-year imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 2000 for murdering Harmanjit Singh (22) of the same village.

ADMINISTRATION

Flood control measures
Fatehgarh Sahib, June 7
A flood control room, with telephone number 30220 has been set up at the SDM’s office, Fatehgarh Sahib. The FCR will function round-the-clock from June 15. This was stated by Mr Vikas Partap, Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib, while addressing a meeting of officers regarding flood prevention during the rainy season.