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Harsimran Singh Batra

Articles by Harsimran Singh Batra

Ludhiana family killed in shanty fire was to leave for daughter’s wedding in Bihar

As their shanty is located just about 20 to 25-ft away from Ludhiana municipal corporation’s main garbage dump on Tajpur Road, it is suspected that the fire may have been sparked by a splinter of burning garbage from the dump

Seven persons including five children were charred to death after fire broke out at their shanty near main garbage dump of MC at Tajpur road during wee hours in Ludhiana on April 20, 2022. (Gurpreet Singh/ HT)

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Updated on Apr 20, 2022 11:51 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra & Mohit Khanna, Ludhiana

Anyone can call meetings, but avoid discord: Warring

Answering a question about Navjot Sidhu conducting separate meetings, Warring said Sidhu is not sharing information about meetings with him. He said anyone can conduct meetings, but avoid discord

PPCC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring stated that anyone can conduct meetings, but it should be for the betterment of the party, not for creating discord. (HT File Photo)

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Published on Apr 20, 2022 01:01 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Khanna city areas turning into dumpyard amid deadlock between villagers, municipal council

Garbage lifting in Khanna city has been hit as the impasse between residents of Rasoolra village and the municipal council over the location of the dumping site continues

At least 150 tonnes of garbage is generated in the city on a daily basis and can be seen dumped at different locations, including the site near the cremation ground, and behind the Khanna police station. (HT PHOTO)

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Published on Apr 19, 2022 03:12 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Massive fire breaks out at Tajpur dump in Ludhiana

Spread over 40 acres, around 20 lakh metric tones of garbage has accumulated on the main dump site of the municipal corporation; the fire continued to burn for 19 hours

Toxic smoke shrouded the area after a massive fire broke out at the Tajpur Road dump on Friday night, and continued to rage for 19 hours, leaving residents living in its proximity gasping for breath. (HT PHOTO )

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Published on Apr 17, 2022 02:38 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC starts preparing estimate for making road with plastic waste

The first road from plastic waste will be built in Ludhiana’s New Partap Colony, which falls under Congress councillor Gurpreet Gopi’s ward, on a trial basis

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Updated on Apr 14, 2022 03:14 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Reverse vending machines at Ludhiana civil hospital gather dust

The Ludhiana civic body had purchased 10 reverse vending machines at a cost of ₹50 lakh in the first phase, under the Smart City Mission. While two machines installed at the civil hospital are gathering dust, the civic body is yet to finalise location for eight machines.

Two plastic reverse vending machines have been installed at civil hospital in Ludhiana on Monday. (HT Photo)

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Published on Apr 13, 2022 01:57 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC, LIT turn away payments of water-sewer dues amid confusion over jurisdiction

LIT scheme areas were transferred to Ludhiana MC in January last year for maintenance of water-sewer lines; residents, however, claim that neither department is accepting water-sewer dues

Residents claim that neither the Ludhiana MC, not LIT are accepting payments for water-sewer dues. (HT File)

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Updated on Apr 09, 2022 12:14 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC to reopen its Olympic size swimming pool for public this April

Two years after being shut due to the pandemic, the swimming pool will be reopened by Ludhiana MC by the end of April, if no Covid restrictions are imposed by the government

View of MC's swimming pool near Rakh Bagh in Ludhiana. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Updated on Apr 05, 2022 12:21 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

6,472 commercial, 2,026 industrial units illegally set up in residential areas of Ludhiana: Report

As per Ludhiana additional commissioner Rishipal Singh, the report has been prepared by referring to the power connections issued by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in residential areas, clearly stating that 6,472 commercial and 2,026 industrial power connections were issued during this time by the department.

The vigilance department is conducting an inquiry to verify the findings of the report while the building branch officials in Ludhiana have been refuting the claims of illegal constructions, citing a number of discrepancies. (HT File/Representational image)

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Published on Apr 03, 2022 12:33 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

From filing under wrong category to not paying at all, tax defaulters aplenty in Ludhiana

As per officials, Ludhiana MC got a survey of properties done through Punjab Remote Sensing Centre in 2013-14. The survey findings are being used for verification.

As per officials, Ludhiana residents who failed to pay tax in the past will have to pay a 20% penalty and 18% annual interest on the pending tax. (HT File/Representational image)

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Published on Apr 02, 2022 02:00 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana still miles away from using plastic in road construction

The issue was raised by Congress councillor from ward 94, Gurpreet Singh Gopi during the General House meeting of the Ludhiana municipal corporation

Stating that the matter of plastic pollution also concerns future generations, Congress councillor from ward 94 Gurpreet Singh Gopi said he will submit a complaint with the chief minister’s office and Prime Minister’s office, if Ludhiana MC fails to act soon. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Mar 30, 2022 01:17 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana MC House passes ₹1,034 crore budget

The budget will now be sent to the state government for sanction; it was the first General House meet in Ludhiana after AAP formed the government at the state-level, and was held at Guru Nanak Bhawan on Monday

Ludhiana mayor Balkar Sandhu and (right) MC commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal during the MC General House meeting on Monday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Updated on Mar 29, 2022 02:33 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

AAP legislators in Ludhiana, MC councillors caught in credit war

At an all-party meeting, called by mayor Balkar Sandhu on Saturday, municipal corporation councillors accused AAP legislators in Ludhiana of taking credit for development works in their wards by inaugurating these

Ludhiana mayor Balkar Sandhu and MC councillors during an all-party meeting at his camp office on Saturday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Mar 27, 2022 01:27 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana | Sukhdev being ignored: Martyr’s family

The kin of martyr Sukhdev accused the AAP and state government of ‘ignoring’ Sukhdev and Rajguru, while only the references of Bhagat Singh are given at all stages; AAP MLAs paid tribute to martyrs in Ludhiana

AAP leaders along with party workers paying tribute to martyr Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru at the ancestral house of martyr Sukhdev Thapar in Naughara Mohalla in Ludhiana on March 23, 2022. (Harsimar Pal Singh/HT)

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Published on Mar 24, 2022 12:26 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Contacts of Ludhiana MC officials displayed at zonal offices

The contact numbers of all senior officials, including the Ludhiana MC zonal superintendent and zonal commissioners, will also be displayed in the offices so that the public can contact them if they face any kind of trouble or are asked for a bribe.

With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) – which swept the Punjab assembly elections with its promise to check corruption and improve working of public offices – finally in the driver’s seat, the Ludhiana MC has prominently displayed the names and contact numbers of clerks and inspectors in the civic body’s zonal offices. (HT PHOTO )

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Published on Mar 22, 2022 01:24 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana | Industrial hub not given representation in 10-member cabinet

Despite being the most populous district and the industrial hub of the state, no MLA from Ludhiana made it to the 10-member strong cabinet

While 12 of the MLAs elected from the district are greenhorns, a number of founder members of the party including two-time Jagraon MLA Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, Gill MLA Jiwan Singh Sangowal, and Ludhiana South MLA Rajinder Pal Kaur Chhina have also been elected as members of legislative assembly. (Sanjeev Sharma/HT)

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Published on Mar 20, 2022 11:59 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Swearing-in ceremony: 51 buses at AAP’s disposal, passengers a harried lot

With fewer buses at their disposal due to the chief minister’s swearing-in ceremony, passengers had to wait for a long time to board buses plying on their respective routes.

With at least 50 buses of the Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) deployed to ferry Aam Aadmi Party supporters to chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s swearing-in ceremony at Khatkar Kalan (Nawanshahr), commuters at the city bus stand were a harried lot. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Mar 17, 2022 02:04 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Know the Ludhiana MLAs and their priorities

Hindustan Times caught up with the MLAs in Ludhiana to know about their motivation behind joining politics and what changes they envision for the respective constituencies.

AAP candidate Madan Lal Bagga from Ludhiana North constituency with his supporters after result. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Published on Mar 14, 2022 02:12 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra

LIP, Bains brothers staring at political oblivion after heavy defeat in Punjab elections

The Bains brothers -- Simarjeet and Balwinder Singh Bains -- lost their deposits, as did the rest of the 35 LIP candidates contesting the 2022 Punjab elections

Simarjeet and Balwinder Singh Bains of the Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) faced defeats in the 2022 Punjab elections. (HT File)

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Published on Mar 11, 2022 11:07 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Punjab polls | ‘Arrogance’, allegations of corruption did Ashu in

Congress’ poster boy and cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu lost the Ludhiana West segment to his former colleague Gurpreet Gogi by 7,512 votes in the 2022 Punjab polls

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Published on Mar 11, 2022 01:41 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Punjab polls | Curtain falls on Bains’ 10-year run, brothers lose security deposit

AAP leaders Kulwant Singh Sidhu and Rajinder Pal Kaur Chhina clean sweep Atam Nagar and Ludhiana South constituencies

Relegated to the third and fourth positions in their respective strongholds (Atam Nagar and Ludhiana South), Simarjeet Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains, mustered merely 12,720 and 11,906 votes, respectively, thereby forfeiting their deposits. (HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Mar 11, 2022 01:37 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Ludhiana | Candidates wait for Punjab poll outcome with bated breath

Votes polled for the Punjab assembly elections will be counted on March 10; With multi-cornered contests, and brand new permutations and combinations being seen in almost all the 14 segments in the district, it is anyone’s game in Ludhiana

There is not much the candidates can do at this point, but keep faith, and therefore several candidates were seen visiting religious places, and convening meetings with their counting agents. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Updated on Mar 10, 2022 04:36 PM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra, Ludhiana

Countdown for Punjab poll results: Jumbo ‘jeet ka laddoo’ for those who taste sweet success

Party leaders and workers from different political parties in Punjab have made a beeline for the sweet shops and placed advanced orders for the traditional Indian sweet, which is distributed in large quantities among the supporters of the winning candidate

This time, a special “5kg Jeet Ka Laddoo” is prepared for the winning candidates. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

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Updated on Mar 09, 2022 01:13 AM IST

ByHarsimran Singh Batra

Ludhiana | Digital marketing whiz, a beacon for businesses