Mohammad Ghazali

SC’s green firecrackers order leaves Ludhiana’s local vendors in Catch-22 situation

Sellers claim they are not even aware of this new variety of firecrackers; say the decision will lead to losses.

Punjab Agricultural University students turn stubble into jewellery

The stall was the centre of attraction on the last day of the mela on Saturday as students displayed sehra (for grooms), ear rings, bracelets and embroidered work — all made from wheat stubble.

Ludhiana varsity to turn paddy straw into animal feed, Qatar firm to sell it in the Gulf

The move is seen as a major step towards reducing air pollution caused by burning straw after paddy harvesting in November and subsequent months.

Unaccounted cash to the tune of over Rs 500-crore detected in Ludhiana: I-T dept

The move comes in the wake of financial scams including the PNB fraud, where the investigating agencies are trying to get hold of main accused Nirav Modi who escaped after the allegations of financial irregularities against him surfaced.

Punjab industry gives thumbs down to Arun Jaitley’s Union Budget

The industry termed it a populist budget to reap electoral gains.

After demonetisation and GST, it’s payback time for govt: Ludhiana industry, traders on budget

The traders felt that the BJP-led NDA government, in its last full budget of its five-year tenure, should announce business-friendly measures to win confidence of the community.

Dr GS Kalkat (1926-2018): Think-tank on agrarian issues and voice of farmers

The eminent agricultural scientist Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, 92, passed away at PGIMER, Chandigarh, on Saturday after a brief illness.

Ludhiana parks a safe haven for drug addicts

Sorry state: Garbage littered all over, shanties set up by labourers; industrialists complain municipal corporation has failed to tackle long-standing menaces

Wooing Dalits a political compulsion due to large vote bank, says Punjab minister

“It’s a compulsion of the Congress too,” said Dharamsot, who is the party’s MLA from Nabha that is reserved for SCs and is known as one of the few Dalit leaders of his party in Punjab.

Canal breach submerges 200 acres of Mansa wheat fields

The water supply for irrigation was stopped till last month due to cleaning of canal.

3 drug addicts jump off moving train in Punjab fearing police action, 2 dead

While the GRP claimed they jumped off the train after noticing the presence of police personnel on the train, the survivor said the cops forced them to jump off the train

Farmers in Mansa let down at rural procurement centres, forced to travel to cities to sell produce

This HT reporter travelled to two villages, Makha Chehlan and Anoopgarh, to find 500 farmers here, complaining bitterly about the state government.

Mansa MLA bats for cattle pound in waterlogged fields

However, the farmers have urged the district administration to first resolve the issue of waterlogging before investing in any cattle pound

Farmers stare at debt trap as cotton prices crash in Mansa

Farmers claim that with yield (quintals per acre) dropping due to whitefly, they in fact need higher market prices to break-even.

Transformer thefts another worry for Mansa farmers

The equipment is dismantled for oil and copper, materials that are later sold in local grey market; farmers claim cases 80% of such thefts go unreported due to legal hassles involved

Waterlogging damages cotton, paddy in Mansa; threat looms over wheat-sowing

HT has also found that pipes fitted with pumps installed by the government were damaged and farmers had to arrange polythene bags to stop leakages. In the rest of Punjab, the problem is the opposite, as water level is too low.

Malwa farmers in a fix as labourers seek higher wages for cotton-picking

Most of the labourers’ families are staying on the railway station premises and have food at the langar at a nearby temple.

Dera followers start crowd-funding for legal support to accused in Mansa

Over the past week, the district police have booked around 145 people for damaging public property and other offences.

Death of student ‘due to iron pill’: Family refuses to cremate boy, demand action against teacher

Backed by the members of CPI(ML) Liberation, the family has been protesting for the past two days at the civil hospital.

Mansa farmers stare at major crop loss due to heavy rain

The district agriculture department said nearly 7,000 acres of cotton crop has been damaged due to waterlogging that occurred due to last month’s 20 mm rainfall.

Facing pressure to bring addicts to get salary: Mansa rehab centre staff

In the absence of official phone, employees finding it tough to monitor addicts post-treatment

Booked for graft, Mansa food controller accuses DC of false implication

Cotton area up 50% in Punjab as farmers expect better returns

The last year’s dip was attributed to farmers switching to paddy after the whitefly attack that destroyed over 60% of the cotton crop.

Fight against drugs: Senior police officials ‘trash’ Mansa cops’ suggestions to STF

Responding to the STF, the police sent some suggestions highlighting the problems faced while conducting raids in other states.

Inspired by Akshay Kumar, IAS officer plans website for kin of farmer suicide victims in Punjab’s Mansa

“More than 400 cases of farmer suicide have been reported from the district (since July 2015). I want to launch a web portal wherein the details of tragedy-hit families will be uploaded and monetary donations can be extended. I am thinking of www.debtfreepunjab.com,” he said.

Farmer suicides in Mansa: Aid, counselling elude victims’ kin

Mansa farmers making stubble-burning calls from gurdwaras

Even after the district administration issued over 40 challans against farmers for stubble burning in the district, the practice continues to be followed across villages.

Not getting alerts on field fires, says Mansa DC

Inaugurated by Badal, it’s shutters down for Mansa village de-addiction centre

While the government has launched a crackdown on drug abuse, the first de-addiction centre inaugurated by former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in 2012 at Khyala Kalan village has been closed.

Ex-SAD sarpanch hurt, son killed in attack by Congress men in Mansa

There seems to be no end to violence between political rivals since the change of government in the state. In yet another case , a former SAD sarpanch Prem Singh and his son Sukhwinder Singh were allegedly attacked by Congress workers over a dispute of a tender, leading to the death of Sukhwinder Singh here on Wednesday night.