Harshraj Singh is a staff reporter in Ludhiana. He covers civic issues and politics.
Articles by Harshraj Singh
Garbage brazenly dumped at sweepers’ whim
While the municipal corporation (MC) and A2Z group have been carrying out cleanliness drives in various areas of the city, they have failed to check dumping of garbage near Dholewal Chowk.
Updated on Oct 28, 2014 11:06 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Oath forgotten, garbage burnt outside admn officials’ houses
It didn’t take long for senior district officials, who had participated in the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, to forget their oath of keeping their surroundings clean. A day after Diwali, waste could be seen thrown on the roadside outside their houses in Officers’ Colony near Rakh Bagh.
Updated on Oct 25, 2014 10:05 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Despite awareness, city witnesses more pollution
After seeing a dip in noise pollution on Diwali over the past three years, the city went back to square one this year.Despite several organisations and schoolchildren spreading awareness against use of firecrackers, high levels of noise pollution rocked the commercial, residential and sensitive zones of the city
Updated on Oct 25, 2014 10:14 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Doctors to remain on guard
When city residents will celebrate the festival of lights with their dear ones on Thursday, doctors will work round-the-clock to ensure safe Diwali for them. Taking a cue from several burn cases reported on Diwali every year, city hospitals have decided to tackle emergency situations on Thursday night.
Updated on Oct 21, 2014 11:28 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
On Diwali night fire brigade to get helping hand
The municipal corporation has provided extra staff for the fire department, which is already facing a severe manpower crunch, to tackle any untoward incident on Diwali night.
Updated on Oct 21, 2014 11:30 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Even after a year, MC fails to repair lifts at Zone-D office
Physically disabled and senior citizens are a harried lot, as the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) of the municipal corporation has not approved the estimate for repair of passenger lifts at the MC’s Zone-D office.
Updated on Oct 20, 2014 12:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Unauthorised juice stalls escape MC’s wrath
In yet another example of its pick and choose policy, the team of municipal corporation (MC) allegedly spared a few unauthorised stalls during an anti-encroachment drive on the premises of mini-secretariat on Thursday.
Updated on Oct 17, 2014 10:16 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Glitzy high-rises invite, but where is the parking space?
Entering or exiting the high-rise glitzy buildings in city is emerging to be a Herculean task, as neither the owners nor the planning mandarins in the civic authority thought it fit to think of the convenience of people who would either shop or work there. Yes indeed, the issue is car parking.
Updated on Oct 16, 2014 04:02 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Street furniture set to change city’s look
The city is set to get a new look with the municipal corporation (MC) floating e-tenders to invite firms for its ‘Erection of State of the Art Street Furniture Project’.
Updated on Oct 13, 2014 04:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
When civic officials themselves flagrantly flout building bylaws
Taking advantage of the municipal corporation’s neglect in checking unauthorised construction in the city, the councillor of ward number 33 has allegedly built an illegal structure in a public park near Chand Cinema.
Updated on Oct 12, 2014 02:22 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
MC's appeal to maintain parks bears no fruit
Despite inviting non-government organisations (NGOs) and firms to pitch in for improving the condition of green belts in the city, the municipal corporation (MC) is still awaiting response.
Updated on Oct 11, 2014 02:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Mishaps continue on unauthorised road as authorities turn a blind eye
With a road along the Sidhwan Canal being no one’s baby, it continues to remain neglected. As a result, safety railings, though essential for safety of commuters, are broken or missing at several spots on the narrow road, which is also continually breaking down.
Updated on Oct 10, 2014 12:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Sewerage board, LIT spar over salary to 23
Owing to a rift between the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), two employees of the PWSSB did not officially retire despite their superannuation on August 31.
Updated on Oct 09, 2014 02:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Exposed to diseases, ragpickers live alongside the city’s largest dump
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has no meaning for over 100 slum-dwellers staying in the vicinity of city’s main garbage dump spread in 45 acres near Kakka Road. Unaware of the ill-effects of chemicals that emanate from decaying garbage, these slum-dwellers continue to live at a mere distance of five metres from the garbage dump where heaps of waste are taller than their slums.
Updated on Oct 06, 2014 10:26 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Rs 55 crore on 9 roads yields potholes after 4 months
The municipal corporation’s (MC) competence in ensuring quality carpeting of roads is again under question, as potholes have appeared on the Gill Road — re-laid just four months ago.
Updated on Oct 06, 2014 08:57 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Bumpy roads break vehicles’ axles, but fail to move MC
Despite several complaints, the civic body has failed to take steps to metal the muddy Kakka Road and an adjoining link road that leads to the municipal corporation’s main dump spread in over 45 acres.
Updated on Oct 05, 2014 01:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Bus shelters waiting for MC's attention
Though the City Bus Service is on halt for the past two months, several bus shelters are lying in a pitiable condition and the municipal corporation (MC) has failed to repair them.
Updated on Oct 03, 2014 10:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Caught littering, pay Rs 500 to MC
Littering roads and public places can cost you dear as the municipal corporation (MC) will be issuing challans to violators.
Updated on Oct 02, 2014 10:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
MC to fine A2Z for not lifting garbage
If A2Z group fails to lift garbage from the dumps within six hours after receiving any complaint, the municipal corporation (MC) will impose a fine on it.
Updated on Oct 02, 2014 03:36 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Rail overbridge opens, project still incomplete
Though the southern bypass project has missed several deadlines, the railway overbridge at Dhuri Line railway crossing that is a part of the same project, was opened for the commuters here on Wednesday.
Updated on Oct 02, 2014 03:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
ACs, gensets installed behind shops give residents tough time
Large exhaust fans, air-conditioners and generator sets installed at the backside of shops in the main market of Phase 1, Urban Estate, Dugri, are creating nuisance to residents of the locality.
Updated on Oct 01, 2014 04:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
SAD mayor is biased: BJP councillors
Differences between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have come to the fore in the Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC) as the BJP councillors accused mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, who is SAD councillor, of adopting biased attitude.
Updated on Oct 01, 2014 06:29 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Civic body goes the extra mile to help slum dwellers
With the municipal corporation (MC) going the extra mile to help slum dwellers avail of loans, the latter are on cloud nine as they can now get possession of their “dream homes”.
Updated on Sep 28, 2014 12:58 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
42 hospitals get MC notices for violating bylaws
The municipal corporation (MC) has issued notices to 42 hospitals for violating building bylaws and not making arrangements for parking of vehicles. The civic body has given these hospitals three months to ensure they conform to the bylaws.
Updated on Sep 28, 2014 01:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Encroachers move district court against MC chief’s demolition order
Following the notices issued by the municipal corporation to vacate the encroached land in New Prem Nagar, more than 50 families have appealed to the state government once again, not to demolish their homes, while some of them have moved the district court.
Updated on Sep 26, 2014 04:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Civic body to install LED streetlights across city
After the successful trial of LED lights that were installed on a road from Shaheed Karnail Singh Nagar to Jawaddi, now LED street lights will be installed in all areas under the jurisdiction of municipal corporation (MC) by following energy saving method.
Updated on Sep 24, 2014 11:14 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Contractor surrenders lease pact for Ferozepur Road parking lots
Though the municipal corporation (MC) of Ludhiana has failed to stop fleecing of visitors at various parking lots on Ferozepur Road, the contractor — Bhola and Company — has itself surrendered his lease agreement.
Updated on Sep 24, 2014 04:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Sewerage board staff on chain hunger strike over salaries
Irked over not getting salaries for the past several months, the regular employees of Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) and the contractual employees of the municipal corporation (MC) have begun a chain hunger strike outside their respective offices.
Updated on Sep 23, 2014 03:54 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
MLA Shivalik faces ire of despondent residents
Unsat is factory replies by MLA Darshan Singh Shivalik invited the ire of people in Basant Avenue on Sunday evening. Announcement of Rs 10 lakh for road repair and other works by the MLA also led residents to raise voice over the ‘meagre’ amount.
Updated on Sep 23, 2014 03:20 PM IST
Hindustantimes.com | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana
Lodhi Club Road underpass may be opened next month
The most-awaited underpass on Lodhi Club Road is expected to be inaugurated next month, as the work to complete the underpass and the road connecting it, is in full swing.
Updated on Sep 22, 2014 06:13 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Harshraj Singh, Ludhiana