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Harsimran Singh Batra

Articles by Harsimran Singh Batra

Turf war between SAD, Cong in Dakha for farmers’ support

On Wednesday, SAD MLA Manpreet Ayali and Captain Sandeep Sandhu, Congress in-charge of Dakha, organised separate tractor protest rallies at the constituency

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Published on Sep 24, 2020 11:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana:

As Covid-19 plays demon, Ravana to take a back seat this year

Amid fears of the infection spread, Ludhiana’s famous Daresi Ground fair has been cancelled in view of the restrictions on large gatherings.

The Ravana effigy at the Daresi Ground in Ludhiana last year, which was over 90-ft tall. The Dussehra fair here is one of the largest in the country and people from far and wide come here every year to see the demon king Ravana go up in flames.(HT FILE)

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Updated on Sep 23, 2020 12:38 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Fire incidents keep Ludhiana fire brigade’s siren blaring

During the lockdown, too, fire brigades had to be called in to douse factory blazes, gas cylinders catching fire, fire in vacant plots and garbage dumps, and electricity transformers to name a few incidents.

In March and April, 12 and 13 fire incidents were reported, respectively(HT FILE)

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Updated on Sep 21, 2020 11:49 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana hospitality sector fears shutdown amid stringent gathering curbs

Owners of banquet halls, marriage palaces said that such restrictions announced by the state government are taking a toll on their business

cities

Updated on Sep 21, 2020 10:08 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Factionalism in Ludhiana SAD-BJP as workers conduct separate meetings with mayor

While the SAD councillors conducted a meeting with the Mayor on September 14, the BJP councillors met Sandhu on Thursday

BJP councillors during a meeting with mayor Balkar Sandu in Ludhiana on Thursday.(Harsimar Pal SIngh/HT)

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Published on Sep 17, 2020 11:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Covid grounds Ludhiana’s ‘Hawai Adda’ eatery

Amid news of businesses wrapping up due to unviable conditions, Ludhiana lost its iconic restaurant — Hawai Adda — set in an Airbus A320 on Ferozepur Road

After remaining closed for nearly five months, the plane was dismantled late on Monday evening and its parts quietly removed in trucks to a godown on Tuesday morning.

india news

Updated on Sep 16, 2020 05:57 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Despite relaxations, malls in Ludhiana receive low footfall

The residents’ apprehensions and their reduced incomes has negatively impacted businesses, said the store owners

Westend Mall in Ludhiana wears a deserted look on Monday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Sep 14, 2020 10:42 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Parking contract scrapped, mystery men charging visitors at Ludhiana’s Feroze Gandhi market

A visit to the parking lot on Friday revealed that some men were charging Rs 20 for four-wheelers and Rs 10 for two-wheelers without issuing any parking slip

An unauthorised man charging parking fee from customers at Feroze Gandhi market in Ludhiana on Friday.(Gurpreet SIngh/HT)

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Published on Sep 11, 2020 11:35 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana residents not segregating waste to shell out up to ₹5,000 from September 15

Besides, MC will also stop picking the garbage from the violators’ properties.

Awareness posters displayed near the garbage dump at Model Town in Ludhiana on Sunday.(Harsimar Pal Singh /HT)

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Published on Sep 06, 2020 11:16 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

1,600 encroachments found along Ludhiana’s Buddha nullah in initial survey

As per officials, revenue records of 900 encroachments have not been found yet

The width of Buddha Nullah, the main drain of Ludhiana, has decreased over the years and it overflows almost every monsoon.(Gurpreet Singh/Ht)

cities

Updated on Sep 05, 2020 02:20 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Now, pay fine for not segregating household waste, littering

MC will be deputing nuisance detectors in the city, who will keep an eye on violators and issue challans

The local bodies department has also fixed monthly charges for door-to-door garbage collection. The charges vary from Rs 50 (for households up to 200 sqm area) to Rs 25,000 for a university. There would be at least 5% annual increment in the charges.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Sep 03, 2020 10:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana: A2Z stops fuel plant at Jamalpur dump, PPCB cites violation

The landfill generates highly combustible methane that leads to spontaneous fires, causing massive burning of garbage and highly toxic emissions

Around 1,000 metric tonnes of garbage, which is generated in the city on a daily basis, would now accumulate at the main dumpsite(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Sep 01, 2020 10:45 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Weekend lockdown, odd-even criteria curtails profits of salons in Ludhiana

The shrunken incomes of the owners are impacting the salaries of the staff

Left with just three active days in a week as Tuesdays and Thursdays also witness few customers, the salon owners are now demanding relief from the government to save the collapsing beauty sector.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Aug 30, 2020 11:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Odd-even rule: Financial uncertainty taking toll on mental health, say Ludhiana traders

The odd-even rule had also confused customers, about which shop to visit, say shopkeepers

Various market associations have sought that all shops be kept on a limited number of days, as the odd-even rule was derailing their efforts to rise over the lockdown losses.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Aug 28, 2020 11:32 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Confusion prevails as shops in Ludhiana open using odd-even formula

The market associations at Ghumar Mandi and Mall road adopted left and right hand side criteria rather than choosing the odd-even method being opted by most markets in the city

Even-numbered shops opened in Chaura Bazar, Shahpur road and adjoining area, while odd number shops opened in Model Town, Pink Plaza market and Field ganj, among others(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Aug 24, 2020 10:14 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana:

Despite rising Covid-19 cases in Ludhiana, disinfection drives missing

Sanitisation drives in internal areas of the city with backpack machines have been halted

An MC worker sanitising a residential area in Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana, on Saturday.

cities

Updated on Aug 22, 2020 11:42 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana:

Weekend lockdown, odd-even restrictions will kill businesses:Shopkeepers in Ludhiana

Say they won’t be able to earn profits to pay for fixed costs like salaries of employees, electricity

Chaura Bazaar in Ludhiana, which generally witnesses heavy footfall on weekends, had few visitors on Saturday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Aug 22, 2020 11:48 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Night curfew from 7pm leaves traders, restaurateurs in Ludhiana sleepless

Give thumbs down to govt’s decision amid already mounting losses due to the lockdown.

Cops standing guard to check curfew violations post 7pm on railway station road in Ludhiana on Friday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Published on Aug 21, 2020 11:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Swachh Survekshan 2020: Ludhiana municipal corporation to be awarded by PM Modi

Swachh Mahotsava ceremony which will be conducted online on August 20 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the awards to the winners

cities

Updated on Aug 18, 2020 08:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana: Govt’s decision of imposing lockdown on Saturdays invite criticism

Traders said that they were already receiving tepid response post lockdown and with this decision of the government, the business would be badly hit

cities

Updated on Aug 18, 2020 09:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Owners unwilling to turn hotels into Covid isolation facilities in Ludhiana

The authorities said that earlier a hotel owner had accepted the proposal, but he, too, withdrew his name citing losses and impact on other visitors.

cities

Updated on Aug 14, 2020 10:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Despite 16 infected staffers, no contact tracing at Ludhiana MC’s offices

None of the colleagues of the employees who have contracted Covid-19 have been tested, putting at risk hundreds of employees and visitors at the MC offices.

Employees’ requests to seal the affected offices for some days to break the chain of infection have gone in vain, says a staffer.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 12, 2020 11:52 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Bio-diversity park developed along Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana

Ten varieties of trees have been planted at the site including medicinal plants, flowering and fruit trees.

cities

Updated on Aug 11, 2020 11:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times/Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana civil hospital operating without fire safety certificate

As per the fire safety department officials, besides the civil hospital, the authorities have also failed to get a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the community health centres (CHCs) being run in Jawaddi and Chandigarh Road near Vardhman Mills

cities

Updated on Aug 10, 2020 11:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Gyms open to tepid response in city

Gym owners say they are getting only about 15 to 20% of their normal turnout even as they have taken all necessary precautions

A youth exercising in a gym in Ludhiana.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Aug 09, 2020 12:45 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Night curfew strikes another blow to Ludhiana’s already-struggling restaurant sector

With fear gripping the residents and not much support provided by the government, the owners said the sector will not be able to survive for long.

cities

Published on Aug 09, 2020 12:38 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana: PSOs look for alternatives as pandemic deprives them of income

With marriage palaces shut and no events being organised in the city, PSOs have been forced to change their vocation for run families. With most of them struggling to make ends meet, some have turned towards farming.

Inderjit Singh Grewal, former PSO, takes to farming to earn a livelihood amid the pandemic in Ludhiana on Friday.(HT PHOTO)

cities

Published on Aug 07, 2020 10:56 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana gyms reopen to tepid response

The owners who were allowed to reopen the gymnasiums after more than five months of lockdown said all precautions had been taken but residents were still fearful.

A man working out in a deserted gym that opened after five months in Ludhiana on Wednesday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Published on Aug 06, 2020 12:34 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Fearing shutdown, Ludhiana wedding hall owners ask govt to ease gathering curbs

The state government failed to focus on the hospitality sector while announcing relief to amid the ongoing pandemic, the owners rued.

Hotel association members addressing the media in Ludhiana on Tuesday.(Harsimar Pal Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Aug 04, 2020 08:00 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana residents turn to night vigils to check open dumping of garbage

Aware that residents from surrounding areas dump their garbage at the entry point of the street late at night and early in the morning, residents keep vigil in shifts from 8pm to 1am and 3am to 7am

Residents sitting on guard to stop dumping of garbage at Dhai Marla Colony near Daresi in Ludhiana on Friday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Aug 02, 2020 01:34 AM IST

Hindustan Times/Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

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Harsimran Singh Batra

On Wednesday, SAD MLA Manpreet Ayali and Captain Sandeep Sandhu, Congress in-charge of Dakha, organised separate tractor protest rallies at the constituency

Amid fears of the infection spread, Ludhiana’s famous Daresi Ground fair has been cancelled in view of the restrictions on large gatherings.

During the lockdown, too, fire brigades had to be called in to douse factory blazes, gas cylinders catching fire, fire in vacant plots and garbage dumps, and electricity transformers to name a few incidents.

Owners of banquet halls, marriage palaces said that such restrictions announced by the state government are taking a toll on their business

While the SAD councillors conducted a meeting with the Mayor on September 14, the BJP councillors met Sandhu on Thursday

Amid news of businesses wrapping up due to unviable conditions, Ludhiana lost its iconic restaurant — Hawai Adda — set in an Airbus A320 on Ferozepur Road

The residents’ apprehensions and their reduced incomes has negatively impacted businesses, said the store owners

A visit to the parking lot on Friday revealed that some men were charging Rs 20 for four-wheelers and Rs 10 for two-wheelers without issuing any parking slip

Besides, MC will also stop picking the garbage from the violators’ properties.

As per officials, revenue records of 900 encroachments have not been found yet

MC will be deputing nuisance detectors in the city, who will keep an eye on violators and issue challans

The landfill generates highly combustible methane that leads to spontaneous fires, causing massive burning of garbage and highly toxic emissions

The shrunken incomes of the owners are impacting the salaries of the staff

The odd-even rule had also confused customers, about which shop to visit, say shopkeepers

The market associations at Ghumar Mandi and Mall road adopted left and right hand side criteria rather than choosing the odd-even method being opted by most markets in the city

Sanitisation drives in internal areas of the city with backpack machines have been halted

Say they won’t be able to earn profits to pay for fixed costs like salaries of employees, electricity

Give thumbs down to govt’s decision amid already mounting losses due to the lockdown.

Swachh Mahotsava ceremony which will be conducted online on August 20 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the awards to the winners

Traders said that they were already receiving tepid response post lockdown and with this decision of the government, the business would be badly hit

The authorities said that earlier a hotel owner had accepted the proposal, but he, too, withdrew his name citing losses and impact on other visitors.

None of the colleagues of the employees who have contracted Covid-19 have been tested, putting at risk hundreds of employees and visitors at the MC offices.

Ten varieties of trees have been planted at the site including medicinal plants, flowering and fruit trees.

As per the fire safety department officials, besides the civil hospital, the authorities have also failed to get a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the community health centres (CHCs) being run in Jawaddi and Chandigarh Road near Vardhman Mills

Gym owners say they are getting only about 15 to 20% of their normal turnout even as they have taken all necessary precautions

With fear gripping the residents and not much support provided by the government, the owners said the sector will not be able to survive for long.

With marriage palaces shut and no events being organised in the city, PSOs have been forced to change their vocation for run families. With most of them struggling to make ends meet, some have turned towards farming.

The owners who were allowed to reopen the gymnasiums after more than five months of lockdown said all precautions had been taken but residents were still fearful.

The state government failed to focus on the hospitality sector while announcing relief to amid the ongoing pandemic, the owners rued.

Aware that residents from surrounding areas dump their garbage at the entry point of the street late at night and early in the morning, residents keep vigil in shifts from 8pm to 1am and 3am to 7am

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