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Harsimran Singh Batra

Articles by Harsimran Singh Batra

Ludhiana: AAP leaders going all out to secure tickets ahead of civic polls

Even though the schedule for municipal elections in the state is yet to be announced, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders in Ludhiana aiming to secure tickets from various wards are already going all out to attract voters

A hoarding of aspiring AAP candidate from ward number 69, Gurkaran Tinna. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Nov 18, 2022 12:45 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Row over ‘garbage mountains’ in Delhi: Bagga slams Kejriwal over ‘mountains of trash’ in Ludhiana

In the video posted on Tuesday, Bagga said AAP supremo Kejriwal was raising concern over ‘garbage mountains’ and health issues in Delhi, but is he and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann not concerned about the health of Ludhiana residents?

Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, national secretary BJYM, at the main MC dumping site on Tajpur road in Ludhiana. In total, over 25 lakh metric tonnes of garbage have accumulated at the site over a few decades. (HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Nov 08, 2022 11:36 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana: Temporary cracker markets sitting on powder keg

Putting lives at risk and blatantly flouting safety norms, the temporary fire cracker markets established at six locations across Ludhiana are running with little or inadequate fire safety arrangements

A large quantity of firecrackers has been kept in the open by vendors and a short circuit or a spark from a cracker may lead to a major mishap. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Updated on Oct 21, 2022 02:41 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Fund crunch: Devp works can wait, Ludhiana MC should focus on meeting fixed expenses first: Minister

Local bodies minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar urged the Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC) to prioritise meeting fixed expenses such as payment of salaries, electricity bills. Earlier also the finance and contracts committee (F and CC) of MC had cut short the number of projects to be taken up in the city at present. Citing fund crunch, the committee had asked councillors to prioritise the development works

The minister was responding to a query regarding the fund crunch being faced by the MC, during an event organised to hand over appointment letters to MC contractual staff at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Oct 18, 2022 11:56 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC’s latest rider to parking lot tender norms likely to favour ‘tainted’ contractors

Ludhiana MC’s move is expected to restrict the competition and deter new firms from participating in the e-auction as only two groups of parking contractors, allegedly backed by politicians, have been largely availing contracts in the city for last around a decade

Ludhiana MC has reintroduced the condition that makes it compulsory for the bidder to have at least one year’s experience in running a government parking lot. (HT file photo)

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Published on Oct 17, 2022 04:22 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana fire department fights staff crunch to ensure safe Diwali

Ludhiana fire department is reeling under acute staff crunch with 121 of the total 147 sanctioned posts in the department lying vacant

Grappling with acute staff shortage, the fire brigade in the industrial hub of Punjab has pulled up socks to tackle the incidents of blaze that are likely to be reported on the Diwali night. (HT file photo)

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Published on Oct 16, 2022 12:37 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Festive rush: With construction project deadlines zipping by, expect traffic to crawl in Ludhiana

Vehicular movement was already affected on Ferozepur Road and Pakhowal Road due to the construction of an elevated road, railway overbridge (ROB) and underbridges (RUBs), but a road cave in near Ishmeet Singh Chowk has exacerbated matters, bringing traffic to a crawl.

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Published on Oct 13, 2022 11:56 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana | 3 weeks on, road cave-in site still under repair; traffic remains disrupted

As the railway crossing has been closed, the traffic moving towards Model Town extension or Shastri Nagar from Malhar road and Bhai Bala chowk has to now take a detour from Green Field, Model Gram and Harnam Nagar area to reach Model Town extension in Ludhiana. The other route is to move through Sarabha Nagar and Pakhowal road RUB for reaching Model Town extension and vice versa

Traffic jam on Pakhowal road due to Shastri Nagar railway crossing road closed after road cave-in repair work in progress, in Ludhiana. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Oct 12, 2022 01:00 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC to begin bioremediation of legacy waste in a week

After MC allotted the contract to dispose of 5 lakh MT of waste in first phase at a cost of ₹28 crore, machinery for bioremediation of waste has reached the dump site and the work is expected to commence in a week

After facing NGT wrath over poor solid waste management in the city, the Ludhiana MC is finally expected to begin the process of disposing of around 25 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of legacy waste accumulated at its main dump site on the Tajpur road through bioremediation process. (HT Photo)

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Published on Oct 09, 2022 02:16 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

55,000 Ludhiana properties under scanner: Now, link tax return with UID or face MC action

Looking to catch hold of the defaulters, the Ludhiana’s fund-starved municipal corporation (MC) has decided to serve notices to 55,000 property owners

Ludhiana residents can complete the linking process by visiting the suvidha kendras situated in MC Zonal offices for linking their returns/IDs with the UID number of their respective properties. (HT File)

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Updated on Oct 08, 2022 02:25 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Sidhwan canal waterfront in Ludhiana: Councillor flags termite-infested trees, seeks action

The councillor during the Ludhiana MC General House meeting also demanded to repair the damaged portion of Sidhwan canal waterfront after the forest department conducted a demolition drive in the green belt in April this year. The forest department razed the concrete structure established around trees citing the orders of National Green Tribunal.

Councillor Amrit Varsha Rampal showing hollow portion of trees infected with termites at Sidhwan canal waterfront site in Ludhiana. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Oct 05, 2022 10:50 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC’s General House meet: 3,500 sanitation workers to be regularised, ward delimitation in doldrums

During the six-and-a-half-hour General House meeting of the Ludhiana MC, city councillors and legislators from found themselves at loggerheads on varying issues — including regularisation of contractual staff

City councillors and legislators were involved in heated arguments during the Ludhiana MC’s General House meeting at Guru Nanak Bhawan. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Updated on Oct 05, 2022 03:23 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Swachh Survekshan-2022: Rank disregard for Swachh rankings, industrial hub stuck in limbo

This year, the city’s rank dropped to 40, and it figured among the six least clean cities with a population over 10 lakh in the country.

The annual Swachhata rankings have encouraged civic bodies across the country to improve waste management and put in efforts to become a garbage-free city. (HT File)

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Published on Oct 03, 2022 03:53 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC planning to sell city buses gathering dust for past 8 years

A Ludhiana MC official, requesting anonymity, said the committee has submitted a report, which suggested that it is not feasible to run buses now, as the civic body will have to spend crores to repair them as many parts have been stolen while others are rusty

City bus service buses parked at city bus depot at Tajpur road in Ludhiana. In July, MC commissioner Shena Aggarwal had formed a committee to check whether these buses can be made operational or if they have to be sold. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Sep 29, 2022 12:18 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana | 2 PAU professors choose to cycle to work; garner appreciation from colleagues, students

Spreading environmental awareness on “World Car Free Day”, two PAU, Ludhiana, professors travelled on cycles within the campus to mark the day

OP Chaudhary (left) and Rakesh Sharda also cycled within the PAU campus in Ludhiana to spread environmental awareness among their colleagues and students. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Sep 23, 2022 12:07 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana: 25 bulk waste generators put on notice by MC

After the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently imposed ₹100 crore interim compensation (penalty) on Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC) over its failure to manage solid waste in the city, the civic body is now tightening the noose on violators, starting with bulk generators

The management of Ludhiana’s main vegetable market was recently fined <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>37 lakh for ineffective waste management. (HT File)

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Published on Sep 22, 2022 12:13 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC project to bolster sewer lines leaves out areas prone to cave-ins amid fund crunch

At a time when major cave-ins have made Ludhiana roads a nightmare for commuters the MC has approved a project to strengthen the sewer lines — leakages in which have been cited as the main reason behind the incidents

Ludhiana MC project to bolster sewer lines leaves out a few areas prone to cave-ins amid fund crunch. (HT File)

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Published on Sep 21, 2022 02:47 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Atal Apartments scheme: 3 months after draw of lots, allottees still awaiting Punjab govt’s final nod

While the authorities have appealed to the allottees to remain patient, the latter group have been frequent trips to the trust office looking for an update on the Atal Apartments scheme

3 months after draw of lots of the Atal Apartments scheme, allottees still awaiting Punjab government’s final nod. (HT File (Representative File))

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Published on Sep 20, 2022 01:57 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana | Former councillors take shots at Congress over Ashu’s arrest

Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) councillor from ward number 70, Tanvir Dhaliwal, said Ashu was the leader of councillors, especially from the Ludhiana west constituency. Ward 70 is currently represented by Congress councillor Dilraj Singh

Earlier, currentl Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Gogi had said that Ashu’s defeat in the last assembly elections is a clear sign that people have united to end corruption and added that Congress will face humiliation in the upcoming civic body polls as well. (HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Sep 12, 2022 12:17 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana | Shop owners pour scorn on MC for failing to act against encroachments despite court orders

Citing the orders issued by the court of SDM (East) Gursimran Singh Dhillon on September 5, the Pink Plaza Market Association rued that installation of vends outside the market was resulting in losses to their business and despite repeated complaints, Ludhiana MC and the police had failed to act against encroachments

Street vendors encroachments on road portion outside the Pink Plaza Market at Chhaura Baazar in Ludhiana. One of the MC officials, requesting anonymity, said earlier, a few shopkeepers also used to charge rent from vendors for installing vends outside the market. Due to some tussle between both the parties over payment of rent, shopkeepers now want vends to be removed from the market, the official said (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Sep 11, 2022 01:12 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana: Management of main vegetable market slapped with ₹37L fine for failure to deal with garbage

A Ludhiana MC official stated that a penalty of ₹5,000 per day has been imposed retrospectively on the market committee from the day the solid waste management cleanliness and sanitation bylaws were notified by the Punjab government (August 11, 2020) to September 1, 2022 (total of 751 days), which comes to ₹37.55 lakh

Visitors to Ludhiana’s main vegetable market near Jalandhar Bypass are routinely greeted by utter chaos, unhygienic conditions and accumulated garbage, with the market administration failing to come up with a sustainable solution for waste disposal. (HT File)

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Updated on Sep 10, 2022 12:34 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

In a first, ₹1.18-cr smart street vending zone to come up in Ludhiana

The Ludhiana MC’s finance panel, in its latest meeting held on Wednesday, approved the work order for setting up the first smart street vending zone in the city on Hambran road.

The first-of-its-kind smart street vending zone will accommodate as many as 95 vendors from Ludhiana. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Updated on Sep 09, 2022 03:06 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Amid fund crunch, Ludhiana MC approves projects worth ₹100 cr sans clarity on finances

Ludhiana MC approved around 250 resolutions of the total 277 tabled in the finance panel’s meet despite acute shortages of funds

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu with others during the meeting of Ludhiana MC’s Finance and Contracts Committee. (Harvinder Singh/H)

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Published on Sep 08, 2022 04:22 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Devp works in Ludhiana hit amid restrictions on mining in Punjab

At a time when development works have already taken a hit due to paucity of funds available with municipal corporation (MC), restrictions imposed on mining activities in the state and hiked prices of raw material has further aggravated the problem

Contractors who have been allotted projects by Ludhiana MC rued that there is an acute shortage of raw material in the market and even if it is arranged from Anandpur Sahib or Himachal, prices have been doubled by suppliers. (HT File)

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Published on Sep 05, 2022 12:22 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC asks councillors to prioritise projects amid fund crunch

The councillors were asked to shortlist and prioritise the development work for which they have sought approval from the Ludhiana MC ahead of the finance and contracts committee meeting

Ludhiana MC asked its councillors to prioritise projects amid fund crunch. (HT File)

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Updated on Sep 04, 2022 03:27 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Punjab VB asks Ludhiana MC to gather former minister Ashu’s property details

The Vigilance Bureau asked the civic body to check and provide details of alleged encroachments done by former Punjab minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and his associates in Ludhiana

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has asked the Ludhiana municipal corporation to gather former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu’s property details. (HT File)

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Updated on Aug 31, 2022 12:48 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana | Amid protests, MC starts construction of ETP in Haibowal dairy complex

Around 50 police personnel were deputed at the ETP site after the Ludhiana MC commenced civil work on August 25. Residents of adjoining Kapil park area had also staged a protest in the area a few days back, but protesters were pacified by the police force.

MC commences construction of effluent treatment plant (ETP) in Haibowal dairy complex by deploying police force due to the protests being staged by nearby residents against the project in Ludhiana. (HT PHOTO)

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Published on Aug 29, 2022 11:31 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Now, shell out more to shuttle between Jalandhar and Panipat

Fee hiked by up to 13% at three toll plazas in Punjab, Haryana from September 1; second increase in eight months

The Jalandhar-Panipat journey will become expensive from September 1 as National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has hiked the fee at three toll plazas on National Highway-1 (NH-1) in Punjab and Haryana, including the Ladhowal toll plaza with effect from September 1.

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Published on Aug 28, 2022 01:11 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra

Contractor saying he never met Bharat Bhushan Ashu proves case is fake: Amrinder Singh Raja Warring

Amrinder Singh Raja Warring was in Ludhiana on Wednesday and met Congress leaders and workers who have been sitting outside the vigilance bureau’s office to show support for Bharat Bhushan Ashu

PPCC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, along with other Congress leaders, gathered outside vigilance department’s office in context to the arrest of former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, in Ludhiana. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Updated on Aug 24, 2022 11:07 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Bharat Bhusan Ashu’s arrest sets political playground abuzz ahead of impending Ludhiana MC polls

While Bharat Bhushan Ashu’s arrest is being seen as a major blow for Congress’ chances in the Ludhiana MC polls, party leaders vow to come back stronger

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Published on Aug 24, 2022 02:47 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

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