News / Author / Harsimran Singh Batra

Harsimran Singh Batra

Articles by Harsimran Singh Batra

Jewellers see no bright future in Ludhiana post lockdown

Besides expecting very few customers with not much cash with residents, they also fear that non-availability of skilled labour will also affect their ability to fulfill orders for marriages

Closed jewellery shops at Ghumar Mandi area in Ludhiana.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on May 17, 2020 03:43 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Liquor vends open, get tepid response on Day 1 in Ludhiana

A few contractors rued they were forced to open the vends by the government and the district administration even when the government has failed to provide any relief to the sector

A wine shop open at Aarti Chowk, Ferozepur Road, in Ludhiana on Friday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on May 16, 2020 04:02 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Liquor vends to open in Ludhiana from May 15; no home delivery

Contractors to meet ministers regarding their grievances about losses incurred due to the lockdown

A wine shop opened at Ferozepur Road in Ludhiana on Thursday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on May 15, 2020 04:01 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Comply with pollution control norms or face music, Punjab dairy units told

Punjab Pollution Control Board’s public notice said failure to get clearance under Air and Water Acts will invite strict action under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and environmental compensation would also be levied

There are around 1,100 dairy units in Haibowal and Tajpur Road complexes and surrounding areas in Ludhiana, which dump waste into the Buddha Nullah, a seasonal stream running through the Malwa region of Punjab.(HT FILE)

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Updated on May 15, 2020 03:32 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

₹20-lakh cr central package evokes mixed response from Punjab industry

Stating that the government has failed to provide required funds for technology upgrade, the industry also stood divided on the announcement of change in the definition of MSME industry

Under the new definition, units with an investment of less than Rs 1 crore will be under the micro category; previously, this ceiling was Rs 25 lakh.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on May 14, 2020 01:49 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Rs 20-lakh cr package evokes mixed response from Punjab industry

All Industries and Trade Forum (AITF) claimed that now the majority of the benefits would be availed by bigger players and micro units wouldn’t benefit

cities

Published on May 14, 2020 12:03 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Taking cue from UP, Ludhiana industry seeks exemption from labour laws for workers

A delegation of CICU members met Punjab cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and demanded that an ordinance be approved by the state government exempting the industry from certain labour laws for at least three years

Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings president Upkar Singh Ahuja (in turban) and general secretary Pankaj Sharma (left) with Punjab cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu in Ludhiana on Monday.(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on May 12, 2020 04:19 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Mamta Ashu urges Captain Amarinder Singh not to allow home delivery of liquor

Says the fight against drugs was an election promise and the home delivery of liquor (which is also a drug) may lead to increase in cases of domestic violence amid lockdown

cities

Updated on May 09, 2020 11:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Home delivery service by restaurants, sweet shops in Ludhiana gets off to a slow start

On the first day, owners of many restaurants faced problems in arranging supplies such as dairy items, while others only aimed at cleaning their shops to get it ready for business

A restaurant open for home delivery of food at Aarti Chowk in Ludhiana, on Saturday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on May 10, 2020 04:03 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Restaurants in Ludhiana allowed home delivery from 7am to 7pm

No curfew pass required to operate businesses; mandatory to abide by all precautionary guidelines, says deputy commissioner

Delivery boys have to ensure they were face masks and gloves while delivering food.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on May 09, 2020 01:55 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana industrialists seek extension of deadline to file taxes

Say the government should extend the last dates for filing taxes in proportion to the number of days for which the lockdown has been extended or the industry might face permanent closure

cities

Published on May 08, 2020 08:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Demanding compensation for losses, contractors keep liquor vends shut in Ludhiana

The state government is expected to take a final decision on the matter during a cabinet meeting scheduled on May 8

Around 750 liquor vends in 150 groups, including those at Khanna, Samrala, Jagraon among others, remained shut in Ludhiana on Thursday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on May 08, 2020 04:13 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Desilting of Buddha Nullah delayed in Ludhiana

Exercise delayed as the civic body has yet to pay ₹80 lakh demanded by the drainage department to do the job

In absence of desilting, dirty water overflows and enters houses in the nullah’s periphery.(HT File Photo)

cities

Published on May 07, 2020 11:00 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Cycle industry pedalling out of lockdown, big manufacturers to begin production in Ludhiana

The industry is still working on stocktaking, reprogramming and lubrication of the machinery, put to a halt on March 22, and production is expected to start in a day or two

With the lockdown entering into the third phase, the industry also sees no other option than to open the factories even when the supply chain has not been restored.(ht file photo)

cities

Published on May 04, 2020 11:20 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Confusion over timings prevails on Day 1 of relaxation in Ludhiana

As the decision on timings (7am to 11am) was taken late in the evening on Wednesday, most shopkeepers remained clueless about it and brought their shutters down before 11am for fear of action by authorities

cities

Published on Apr 30, 2020 11:59 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Confusion over timings prevails on Day 1 of relaxation in Ludhiana

Shopkeepers say they closed shops before 11am as they did not have clarity on timings, at some places, residents were seen coming in their vehicles, defying the curfew norms

No rush being witnessed in Jawahar Nagar Camp market in Ludhiana on Thursday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Published on Apr 30, 2020 10:32 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana administration cancels licences of 7 arhtiyas for flouting orders

Were caught selling vegetables and fruits during night hours at the sabzi mandi near Jalandhar bypass on days declared closed by the administration.

For reducing rush at the market due to Covid-19 fear, it had been decided that arhtiyas could sell vegetables and fruits only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the market and sell the same to ward-wise vendors from 4am to 10pm every day at the designated sites as no street vendor is allowed to enter the market.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Apr 29, 2020 03:40 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Illegal entry of street vendors continues to crowd Ludhiana’s vegetable market

On April 25, police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the swelling crowd

Unmindful of social distancing, people gathered at the vegetable market near Jalandhar Bypass in Ludhiana on Saturday.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Apr 27, 2020 02:21 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC, NHAI resume work on stalled projects

The permission was granted on the grounds that the contractor would ensure labour quarantine, social distancing among other precautions at the sites

MC undertaking road repair work in Dugri area in Ludhiana on Thursday.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Apr 23, 2020 08:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Labourers at grain markets give a miss to masks, social distancing

While some labourers have no masks and gloves at all, many others are not wearing them properly

Labourers give a miss to masks, gloves and social distancing at grain market near Jalandhar bypass in Ludhiana on Wednesday.

cities

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 11:00 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Irregularity in issuance of passes delaying wheat procurement in Ludhiana

The arhtiyas rue that the passes are issued to them with a gap of a day due to which the procurement process is getting delayed.

Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) Harinder Singh Lakhowal said that the farmers are facing problems in transportation of their produce due to shortage of passes.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Apr 21, 2020 11:40 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Door-to-door garbage collection: Ludhiana MC to collect and dump masks, gloves separately

Bags of gloves, masks will be dumped at the secondary points from where they will be transported and buried at the main dump site of MC on Tajpur Road

The collectors have been given gloves and masks and have been directed to spread awareness among the residents for keeping the masks and gloves separately.(HT)

cities

Updated on Apr 21, 2020 10:15 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ahrtiyas choose profit over life, operate mandi illegally, four booked

While the arhtiyas and their staff managed to flee the spot, police booked four persons who were buying vegetables from the mandi and impounded their vehicles

cities

Updated on Apr 18, 2020 07:13 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Tardy wheat procurement leaves Ludhiana farmers jittery

Complain shortage of labourers is holding up procurement process, forcing them to spend the night at the grain markets to guard their produce

A farmer waiting for his turn for procurement after unloading his wheat yield at the grain market near Jalandhar Bypass in Ludhiana on Friday.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Apr 17, 2020 10:59 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Coronavirus in Ludhiana: Over 100 firemen screened, 2 home quarantined

The two had worked in areas from where Covid-19 cases were reported

A team of doctors screening the firefighters at the fire brigade office near the railway station road in Ludhiana on Wednesday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Apr 15, 2020 09:33 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Wheat procurement in Ludhiana off to a shaky start

Farmers facing difficulties in procuring coupons that allow them take the produce to grain markets amid curfew

With issuance of coupons, permitting farmers to transport 50 quintals wheat, still picking up pace, most farmers did not get the permits in Ludhiana, leaving the local grain market deserted.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Published on Apr 15, 2020 08:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Admn disallows use of sanitisation tunnels in city

States the chemical being used can be harmful for the body and tunnels also create a false sense of security

cities

Published on Apr 14, 2020 10:25 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana industry unable to pay labourers’ salaries, seeks govt help

It says the government should use unutilised funds lying under different departments for payment of wages and salaries to the staff.

cities

Updated on Apr 12, 2020 11:21 PM IST

Hindustan Times/Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana divided over delivery of cooked food by restaurants via mobile apps

Restaurant owners, who have started supplying food, said all precautions were being taken while preparing and delivering food

A delivery boy on his way to deliver food items during curfew at Harnam Nagar in Model town area in Ludhiana on Sunday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Apr 12, 2020 11:10 PM IST

Hindustan Times/Ludhiana | ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Residents restrict entry to Gill village

Villagers stand guard at entry points in 24x7 shifts, maintain record of those visiting for emergency work in the village

Temporary barricades put up outside Gill village in Ludhiana on Saturday.(Gurpreet Singh/HT)

cities

Updated on Apr 12, 2020 01:06 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra

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Harsimran Singh Batra

Besides expecting very few customers with not much cash with residents, they also fear that non-availability of skilled labour will also affect their ability to fulfill orders for marriages

A few contractors rued they were forced to open the vends by the government and the district administration even when the government has failed to provide any relief to the sector

Contractors to meet ministers regarding their grievances about losses incurred due to the lockdown

Punjab Pollution Control Board’s public notice said failure to get clearance under Air and Water Acts will invite strict action under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and environmental compensation would also be levied

Stating that the government has failed to provide required funds for technology upgrade, the industry also stood divided on the announcement of change in the definition of MSME industry

All Industries and Trade Forum (AITF) claimed that now the majority of the benefits would be availed by bigger players and micro units wouldn’t benefit

A delegation of CICU members met Punjab cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and demanded that an ordinance be approved by the state government exempting the industry from certain labour laws for at least three years

Says the fight against drugs was an election promise and the home delivery of liquor (which is also a drug) may lead to increase in cases of domestic violence amid lockdown

On the first day, owners of many restaurants faced problems in arranging supplies such as dairy items, while others only aimed at cleaning their shops to get it ready for business

No curfew pass required to operate businesses; mandatory to abide by all precautionary guidelines, says deputy commissioner

Say the government should extend the last dates for filing taxes in proportion to the number of days for which the lockdown has been extended or the industry might face permanent closure

The state government is expected to take a final decision on the matter during a cabinet meeting scheduled on May 8

Exercise delayed as the civic body has yet to pay ₹80 lakh demanded by the drainage department to do the job

The industry is still working on stocktaking, reprogramming and lubrication of the machinery, put to a halt on March 22, and production is expected to start in a day or two

As the decision on timings (7am to 11am) was taken late in the evening on Wednesday, most shopkeepers remained clueless about it and brought their shutters down before 11am for fear of action by authorities

Shopkeepers say they closed shops before 11am as they did not have clarity on timings, at some places, residents were seen coming in their vehicles, defying the curfew norms

Were caught selling vegetables and fruits during night hours at the sabzi mandi near Jalandhar bypass on days declared closed by the administration.

On April 25, police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the swelling crowd

The permission was granted on the grounds that the contractor would ensure labour quarantine, social distancing among other precautions at the sites

While some labourers have no masks and gloves at all, many others are not wearing them properly

The arhtiyas rue that the passes are issued to them with a gap of a day due to which the procurement process is getting delayed.

Bags of gloves, masks will be dumped at the secondary points from where they will be transported and buried at the main dump site of MC on Tajpur Road

While the arhtiyas and their staff managed to flee the spot, police booked four persons who were buying vegetables from the mandi and impounded their vehicles

Complain shortage of labourers is holding up procurement process, forcing them to spend the night at the grain markets to guard their produce

The two had worked in areas from where Covid-19 cases were reported

Farmers facing difficulties in procuring coupons that allow them take the produce to grain markets amid curfew

States the chemical being used can be harmful for the body and tunnels also create a false sense of security

It says the government should use unutilised funds lying under different departments for payment of wages and salaries to the staff.

Restaurant owners, who have started supplying food, said all precautions were being taken while preparing and delivering food

Villagers stand guard at entry points in 24x7 shifts, maintain record of those visiting for emergency work in the village

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