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Harsimran Singh Batra

Articles by Harsimran Singh Batra

Ludhiana health teams at a loss about source of infection in 277 cases

Health officials said this was due to several patients not disclosing their contacts, citing social stigma and other reasons, which increased the risk of the virus spreading further.

Of the 3,028 cases reported in Ludhiana as of Thursday, health teams have completed the tracing of 2,886 cases, but have been unable to establish the source of infection in 277 cases.(Representative photo)

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Published on Jul 31, 2020 11:42 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Source of infection still a mystery in Ludhiana’s 210 Covid-19 cases

The officials of the health department said that in many cases, the patients do not disclose their contacts citing social stigma among other reasons

cities

Updated on Jul 25, 2020 11:49 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Double jolt to jewellers as gold prices soar amid pandemic blues

City-based jewellers rued that while the rising prices have attracted a few investors for pure gold (24 carat), there have been no takers for designed jewellery at their stores.

Experts believe that gold prices are likely to increase further by Diwali this year.(Representational photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 24, 2020 11:35 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana’s 114-year-old Clock Tower being restored to original glory

Established in 1906, Clock Tower is the city’s most prominent and last surviving landmark from the pre-Independence era.

Clock Tower lit up at night in Ludhiana on Friday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 24, 2020 11:29 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

MC wasting public money by replacing good-condition tiles, say Ludhiana residents

The MC should conduct inspections before approving projects, said a resident.

Uprooted old tiles lying on the roadside in Singhpura area near Jagroan bridge in Ludhiana on Wednesday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Updated on Jul 22, 2020 09:49 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Vacate unsafe buildings or be liable for mishaps, Ludhiana MC chief orders dwellers

As per an MC survey conducted last year, there are 102 unsafe buildings in Ludhiana city.

An unsafe building situated in Thapran Mohalla near Daresi ground in Ludhiana on Wednesday.(Harsimar Pal Singh/HT)

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Updated on Jul 22, 2020 11:33 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Plans afoot to rope in hotels for isolating asymptomatic Covid-19 patients in Ludhiana

A health dept official said the move is being taken as patients from higher income groups are reluctant to be stationed in govt facilities

cities

Published on Jul 21, 2020 09:50 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana industrialists slam PSERC over collection of fixed charges

In April, the state government had announced that no fixed charges would be levied on large and medium units for two months starting from March 23

cities

Updated on Jul 18, 2020 10:03 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Mare owners lose their share thanks to low-key weddings

Most people are either postponing their weddings or leaving out the brass band and mares in view of restrictions on social gatherings

What’s adding to their woes is that they have to spend a huge amount on the upkeep mares even as there are no earnings.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 18, 2020 09:59 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Mattewara industrial park : Sekhowal villagers, panchayat oppose land acquisition

The sarpanch was told that ‘parks’ will be established over 200-acre land, claims had no idea that 407 acres of land will be used to setup industrial parks; villagers say will agitate unless decision is rollbacked

cities

Updated on Jul 17, 2020 06:56 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Open dumping of garbage: Two years on, wrinkle-nosed Ludhiana’s residents await static compactors

An official, requesting anonymity, said the project was mooted in 2018 but the MC is yet to install compactors at 22 sites at different parts of the city in the first phase.

cities

Updated on Jul 16, 2020 10:51 PM IST

Hindustan Times/Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Punjab: New curbs on gatherings dashes hopes of wedding industry revival

The banquet hall owners said that the industry was already getting a tepid response from people when the government had restricted gatherings in marriage function to 50 and now this decision will force them to shut premises

cities

Updated on Jul 14, 2020 09:45 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Entry of visitors goes unchecked at Ludhiana MC offices

The civic body failed to depute staff at entry points for thermal screening of visitors and hand sanitisers were missing, adding to woes of staffers

Residents at the suvidha centre of Ludhiana municipal corporation’s Zone D office on Monday.(HARSIMAR PALSINGH/HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 13, 2020 09:56 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana dyers association cancels ₹2 crore import orders from China

This is not the first time when the local industry has boycotted Chinese products. Earlier, Hero Cycles had cancelled ₹900-crore deal with China just three months before the schedule

cities

Updated on Jul 11, 2020 09:46 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Forced to change vocation, local gym owners struggle to make ends meet

The gym owners’ associations have been protesting against the central government lately, stating that every other sector such as markets, banks, government offices have been opened, but gyms are not under their purview, due to which owners and their staff are struggling to survive

Once a gym owner Jagdish Singh now works as a supervisor in a factory in Janta Nagar in Ludhiana on Friday(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 10, 2020 10:15 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana civic body scrambles to stem infections as joint chief tests +ve

Decides to restrict entry of public in municipal corporation offices

The staff has now been demanding that the MC should shut down its offices in order to thwart the spread of the virus(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 10, 2020 09:48 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana textile industry cautions against China imports ban

The industrialists said that the government can impose a ban on the import of finished products, but a ban on the import of raw material would be a bane for the industry

cities

Updated on Jul 07, 2020 11:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

No check on laying of underground cables leading to road cave-ins in Ludhiana

No steps have been taken to keep a check on the working of these companies or conduct a survey of the water-sewer lines

During monsoon, major road cave-in incidents are reported in the city(HT photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 06, 2020 11:01 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Increased fare, low footfall: Pandemic hits auto-rickshaw drivers, passengers in Ludhiana alike

Police say challans are also being issued to three-wheelers for overloading (more than three passengers), travelling without masks and non-adherence to social distancing.

Auto-rickshaw drivers waiting for passengers at Bharat Nagar chowk in Ludhiana on Saturday. Drivers say they are left with only Rs 50-Rs 100 for their families at the end of the day.(Harsimar Pal Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 05, 2020 12:37 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

With Ludhiana MC facing shortage of space, stray cattle menace is here to stay

The MC officials are claiming that a cow shed will be ready within two weeks at Burj Powat village, 53 km from the city, and that the process of shifting stray cattle will commence soon after that. But the shed can only accommodate around 150 animals, while hundreds of cattle roam around on city roads, posing a grave danger to the lives of commuters.

Stray cattle basking on the side of Humbran road in Ludhiana on Saturday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 04, 2020 07:44 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

9pm deadline, ban on serving liquor eating into sales of Ludhiana restaurants

Restaurateurs say footfall reduced to less than 20% as timings are not conducive for dinner service

Customers at Bistro Flamme Bois, Pakhowal Road, in Ludhiana on Thursday night.(Harsimar Pal Singh/HT)

cities

Published on Jul 03, 2020 11:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Social distancing norms flouted as scores attend event at Ludhiana market committee’s office

Over 100 people attend the event, many without face masks; committee secretary says vice-chairman organised the event at his level.

Swaran Singh Grewal (second from right), the new vice-chairman of the market committee, being felicitated at an event in Ludhiana on Wednesday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jul 01, 2020 11:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Despite relaxations, buses run with 50% passengers in Ludhiana

With a notification awaited from the state department, operators have not been allowed to run buses at full capacity

Buses are running at half the capacity at Ludhiana ISBT despite government easing restrictions.(Gurpreet Singh/Hindustan Times)

cities

Published on Jun 29, 2020 11:47 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Villagers, police pitch in to build shanties for labourers left homeless after fire in Ludhiana village

However, around 300 labourers, who were left homeless after the fire incident, are struggling to make both ends meet in the absence of work

The families, who lost all their belongings in the May 29 fire, are still struggling to make ends meet.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jun 28, 2020 02:14 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

City bus service remains off road in Ludhiana, residents at receiving end

The contractor was given permission to start the service a week ago, but he is seeking a hike in rates before buses are restarted.

Before the lockdown, the buses served four routes - Sahnewal to Clock Tower, Kohara to the bus stand, Dugri to Metro Supermarket and Railway Station to Meharban.(HT File Photo)

cities

Published on Jun 27, 2020 12:29 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Nod to appointment of contractor, modern abattoir in Ludhiana may start operations in a month

The contractor has offered Rs 35 lakh to the civic body per annum for a 10-year contract

The MC House has fixed Rs 150 for slaughtering a goat/sheep, Rs 10 for a poultry bird and Rs 100 for a pig.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jun 26, 2020 02:53 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Allowed to provide dine-in facility till 8pm, restaurants in Ludhiana reopen to tepid response

Owners of the establishments that have reopened after remaining shut for more than three months said the decision taken by the government had given them hope and that business would get back on track in the coming days.

An employee at a restaurant sanitising the furniture ahead of the reopening of the outlet in Ludhiana on Wednesday.(Harsimar Pal Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jun 25, 2020 01:15 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana eateries give thumbs up to resumption of dine-in facility, but seek extension in timings

Owners said customers would not be able to avail the facility as restaurants have been allowed to open only till 8pm

cities

Published on Jun 23, 2020 09:57 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

In a first for Punjab, Ludhiana MC to launch compulsory registration of pets

Only pet dogs and cats will be registered in the first phase.

Pet owners will have to visit the MC’s website and fill in the pro forma giving details and uploading photographs of the pet and the owner.(HT FILE)

cities

Updated on Jun 22, 2020 11:55 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC starts clearing drains ahead of monsoons, locals not satisfied

Residents living in areas close to Buddha nullah say drain clearing work is not carried out satisfactorily. During the rain the nullah overflows at a few points

Locals worry that blockage in Buddha Nallah will lead to waterlogging in various parts of Ludhiana.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Jun 22, 2020 11:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

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Harsimran Singh Batra

Health officials said this was due to several patients not disclosing their contacts, citing social stigma and other reasons, which increased the risk of the virus spreading further.

The officials of the health department said that in many cases, the patients do not disclose their contacts citing social stigma among other reasons

City-based jewellers rued that while the rising prices have attracted a few investors for pure gold (24 carat), there have been no takers for designed jewellery at their stores.

Established in 1906, Clock Tower is the city’s most prominent and last surviving landmark from the pre-Independence era.

The MC should conduct inspections before approving projects, said a resident.

As per an MC survey conducted last year, there are 102 unsafe buildings in Ludhiana city.

A health dept official said the move is being taken as patients from higher income groups are reluctant to be stationed in govt facilities

In April, the state government had announced that no fixed charges would be levied on large and medium units for two months starting from March 23

Most people are either postponing their weddings or leaving out the brass band and mares in view of restrictions on social gatherings

The sarpanch was told that ‘parks’ will be established over 200-acre land, claims had no idea that 407 acres of land will be used to setup industrial parks; villagers say will agitate unless decision is rollbacked

An official, requesting anonymity, said the project was mooted in 2018 but the MC is yet to install compactors at 22 sites at different parts of the city in the first phase.

The banquet hall owners said that the industry was already getting a tepid response from people when the government had restricted gatherings in marriage function to 50 and now this decision will force them to shut premises

The civic body failed to depute staff at entry points for thermal screening of visitors and hand sanitisers were missing, adding to woes of staffers

This is not the first time when the local industry has boycotted Chinese products. Earlier, Hero Cycles had cancelled ₹900-crore deal with China just three months before the schedule

The gym owners’ associations have been protesting against the central government lately, stating that every other sector such as markets, banks, government offices have been opened, but gyms are not under their purview, due to which owners and their staff are struggling to survive

Decides to restrict entry of public in municipal corporation offices

The industrialists said that the government can impose a ban on the import of finished products, but a ban on the import of raw material would be a bane for the industry

No steps have been taken to keep a check on the working of these companies or conduct a survey of the water-sewer lines

Police say challans are also being issued to three-wheelers for overloading (more than three passengers), travelling without masks and non-adherence to social distancing.

Restaurateurs say footfall reduced to less than 20% as timings are not conducive for dinner service

Over 100 people attend the event, many without face masks; committee secretary says vice-chairman organised the event at his level.

With a notification awaited from the state department, operators have not been allowed to run buses at full capacity

However, around 300 labourers, who were left homeless after the fire incident, are struggling to make both ends meet in the absence of work

The contractor was given permission to start the service a week ago, but he is seeking a hike in rates before buses are restarted.

The contractor has offered Rs 35 lakh to the civic body per annum for a 10-year contract

Owners of the establishments that have reopened after remaining shut for more than three months said the decision taken by the government had given them hope and that business would get back on track in the coming days.

Owners said customers would not be able to avail the facility as restaurants have been allowed to open only till 8pm

Only pet dogs and cats will be registered in the first phase.

Residents living in areas close to Buddha nullah say drain clearing work is not carried out satisfactorily. During the rain the nullah overflows at a few points

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