L U D H I A N A

Residents pay for MC bungling in billing
Ludhiana, April 11
The Municipal Corporation administration continues to draw flak from the residents for its apathetic and indifferent attitude towards the genuine grievances of the public. Following the report on late delivery of water and sewerage bills and inclusion of old arrears in the current bills, even after these had been paid, there have been complaints from several city localities that residents had been slapped with sewerage bills, when no sewerage facility has been provided by the MC in these areas.

Traders protest against elevated road project
Ludhiana, April 11
The sangahrsh samiti of the trade associations of Chaura Bazaar and Old GT Road in the city has put up black flags and banners all over the national highway passing through the city as a mark of protest against the proposed elevated road project between Jagraon Bridge and Chand Cinema here.

Aulakh for futuristic farm technologies Ludhiana, April 11 “Research priorities of the university are aimed at evolving cost-effective and environment friendly technologies of crop production keeping in view the future requirements of producing quality produce crops at low cost”, these views were expressed by Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, while talking to mediapersons here today. Dr Aulakh said these futuristic technologies had a special significance under the World Trade Organisation regime which has already spread its wings.

Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice Chancellor, PAU, inspects the tomato crop in university net house.

Policemen flout NDPS Act 
Ludhiana, April 11
The Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act that aims at curbing drug abuse provides for stringent punishment for anyone found in possession of five grams or more of any drug. The Act does not make any differentiation between a smoker or a seller of such drugs.

Medical officer held for accepting bribe
Ludhiana, April 11
A local vigilance team led by Mr Sarup Singh Maan, DSP, Vigilance Bureau, arrested Dr Ashok Mehta, Medical Officer, Revamping Centre, Guru Amar Dass Civil Dispensary, Salem Tabri and Dr Ashwini Kumar, Medical Officer, in charge, SHC, Jassian, while accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 from a private practitioner here today.

COMMUNITY

Car at your doorstep
Ludhiana, April 11
Want to buy a car? Well you do not have to go to any company or the financier. The important banks like Standard Chartered, ICICI, ABN Amro Bank are into passenger car financing in a big way. The competition is so tough that the customer has to just call up one of the agencies employed by the banks and the agent is at your doorstep. Within 24 hours the car can be yours. The customer is really the king and the service is at your doorstep.

She worked her way up
Ludhiana, April 11
Out of sheer depression on account of her father’s death, Ms Aruna Sharma walked upto the office of Shri Mahila Udyog Lijjat Papad as her friend was working there. The friend persuaded her to join the company so as to keep busy and come to terms with her sorrow.

150 crore to be spent on pensions
Ludhiana, April 11
In the current financial year the Punjab government will spent Rs 150 crore on nearly 10 lakh pensioners against 7.41 lakh pensioners during the last year. The pensions will be given under different social welfare schemes such as old-age pensions, said Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

CRIME

Man loses eye in altercation
Ludhiana, April 11
An altercation over the alleged nuisance cost Chanan Singh, an SDO working with the state Health Department at Dharamkot in Moga subdivision, his eye here last evening. According to Chanan Singh, he was relaxing in the verandah of his home when he heard some loud noise from his neighbourhood. 

Cop commits suicide
Khanna, April 11
An SPO committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at the Police Lines here on Monday.

50 bottles of illicit liquor seized
Ludhiana, April 11
In the wake of non-auctioning of most of the liquor vends the city seems to be flooded with illicit liquor as is evident from a spate of recoveries of illicit liquor during the past 24 hours. The city police has recovered 50 bottles of illicit liquor in three different cases.

• Case registered
• Kidnap case
• Dowry case
• Opium seized
• House ransacked

Industry threatens protest against power cuts
Ludhiana, April 11
Mr Mohinder Paul Jain, chairman, and Mr Narinder Bhamra, general secretary, of Fastener Manufacturers Association of India, respectively, have warned the Punjab Government that the industrialists will be compelled to resort to agitations and launch non-co-operation movement if the power supply is not regularised within a day or two. They said the agitation would include dharnas and gheraos of officials.

Uses of cold forging discussed
Ludhiana, April 11
The process of cold forging has many advantages over hot forging, which included material saving, improvement in physical properties and elimination of subsequent machining and grinding operations. It also facilitated better surface finishing and tolerance, besides large-scale production. This was disclosed by Mr Ashwani Kumar Ahluwalia, Manager, Cold Forging, Research and Development Centre for Bicycle and Sewing Machine, here yesterday.

AGRICULTURE

Vaccinate animals, farmers told
Ludhiana, April 11
The foot-and-mouth disease, which is taking an epidemic form in the state, is preventable if proper precautions are taken, according to Punjab Agricultural University experts. Some of the farm scientists said they had been advising farmers to get their animals vaccinated. This had become more relevant in the wake of changing weather and the increased incidence of FMD during the past few days.

EDUCATION

Prize distribution
Ludhiana, April 11
Nearly 100 students of Government Polytechnic for Women, Rishi Nagar, received prizes for their achievements in academics, sports and cultural activities at the third annual function held here today.

COURTS

Forum fines HDFC Bank
Ludhiana, April 11
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed HDFC Bank to pay Rs 1,000 as compensation on account of deficiency in services along with Rs 500 as cost of litigation to Mr Nitin Goyal. In an ex-party judgement, the forum directed the bank to give credit to the consumer regarding balance amount of Rs 2,000.

HEALTH

Be careful while joining gyms
Ludhiana, April 11
‘Be a Man’ screams a banner and urges the youth to join the newly launched gym at very competitive charges of Rs 500 for three months. Ever since Sanjay Dutt, Salman Khan and the latest heartthrob Hrithik Roshan started showing off their muscular bodies, the boys have taken to body building seriously to impress girls. Girls, too, want to have slim figures for they also want to impress boys and join a number of beauty contests that are taking place. The boys and girls, men and women have started exercising on latest machines in the health clubs run by some prestigious hotels and clubs. Stylish and not-so-stylish private gyms have sprung up in all the colonies. Besides, installing some machine, they give training in weightlifting.

• Free dental camp