L U D H I A N A

Excise Dept, contractors on collision course
Dealers refuse to deposit licence fee
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — The Excise Department and liquor contractors appear to be heading for a long drawn confrontation with some of the contractors allegedly adamant on not depositing the licence fee. 

Inadequate facilities at exam centres
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — Inadequate infrastructure at examination centres of the Punjab School Education Board is likely to hit the smooth conduct of examination scheduled to begin next month. Most of the centres here will face problems of accommodation as the number of students appearing for the examination is high as compared to the number of centres.

Models and revelers at a Valentine’s Day bash at a club in Ludhiana on Wednesday. — Photos by Rajesh Bhambi

Bread-making firm penalised
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the M/s Kitty Food Products, Ludhiana to stop the sale promotion scheme (Scratch kijiye inaam lijiye) of the bread produced by it under the brand name ‘Real Bake’. The forum further directed the opposite party to pay Rs 5,000 along with costs for indulging in unfair trade practices to Mr Jagpal Singh Dara.

Perform or face action: DC
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, today directed the Central Revenue officers to personally look into the complaints, brought for redressal in the weekly “sangat darshan” programme, by visiting the site and involving the complainant. 

INTUC to launch statewide stir
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 —The Indian National Trade Union Congress has decided to launch an agitation to focus on the pending demands of the workers in the first phase, demonstrations will be held at district headquarters, all over the state.

DMC staff observe strike
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — The Dayanand Medical College Employees Union went on a strike today in protest against the transfer of the union’s president, Mr Chandramohan Kalia, from the DMC to the old DMC.

CRIME

Jeweller booked on fraud charge
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — A case under Sections 420, 427 and 506, IPC, was registered yesterday at the division number 5 police station against a city jeweller, Jaidev Dhanda, on the complaint of Mr Arun Kumar of Gurdev Nagar. The complainant alleged that he gave Rs 2.5 lakh to the jeweller for the purchase of ornaments for his brother’s marriage on December 31. The accused not only refused to pay the money back but also threatened him.

• Dowry case

• One arrested

• Bid to loot bank

• Case registered

• Ornaments stolen
  

Yarn exhibition at Wool Club
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — In order to acquaint members of knitwear and shawls industry of Ludhiana and Amritsar with new yarn trends and qualities for the coming season, the Wool Club (India) in collaboration with International Wool Secretariat organised a three-day exhibition. The exhibition was inaugurated here today by Mr Sandeep Jain, Executive Director, Oswal Woollen Mills.

AGRICULTURE

‘Need to increase area under fruit cultivation’ LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — “Fruits offer a great potential for diversification and Punjab needs to increase area under the fruit cultivation by almost 15 times. At present the area is mere 0.4 per cent, whereas the Johl Committee has recommended that the area should be increased to 6 per cent.”

Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Pro-VC, PAU, observes exhibits during the state-level horticultural officers workshop in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

CULTURE

Aesthetic significance of Punjabi novel
THE genre of the novel has for long been considered a medium for conveying thoughts, feelings and experiences. Generally the events are narrated in a chronological order and the character are delineated from the outside. The endeavour has all along been first to rouse the curiosity of the reader and then to make him ask for more.

SPORT

Alok, Lilly to represent Punjab
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — Former national champion Alok Kumar and Dharminder Lilly will represent the state in the National Billiards and Snooker Championship in Chennai. Mr R. Bhambi, general secretary, Punjab Billiards and Snooker Association, said the players left for Chennai last night after attending a 15-day training camp in Ludhiana. The Satluj Club gave Rs 10,000 to Alok Kumar.

ADMINISTRATION

Team identifies flood prone areas
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — With a view to locate vulnerable points on the dhusi bandh along Sutlej river in the district where damage had been caused during the last rainy season the Flood Control Committee headed by Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, conducted a special inspection today. The Deputy Commissioner reviewed the weak sites, such as seed farm Khaira bet, Mannewal, Talwandi, Rampur, Huzra and Madhepur complexes along with the officers of the drainage and revenue departments.

Surprise checks by vigilance officials
LUDHIANA, Feb 15 — A team of vigilance officials of the Medical Department conducted surprise checks in the Civil Surgeon’s office and the Civil Hospital here yesterday.