Latest news with #HarjinderSingh
Daily Record
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Ayrshire restaurant to donate all proceeds to help children in Gaza
Kilmarnock's Indian tapas-style restaurant will be open on Bank Holiday Monday with 100 per cent of the sales going to charity. A Kilmarnock restaurant will donate 100 per cent of their sales on Monday to help children in Gaza. Brown Munde will be opening it's doors on Bank Holiday Monday, August 4, where 100 per cent of the sales from every meal and drink, will go towards helping the people of Gaza. Save the Children's Gaza Emergency Fund is set to benefit after the owners of the Indian-style tapas venue, Parveen Sharma and Harjinder Singh, shared that as parents of very young children themselves, they "can't sit back and do nothing while children in Gaza are starving, displaced, and living in constant fear". Save the Children's Gaza Emergency Fund provides urgent food, shelter, and care for displaced families and traumatised children. Parveen and Harjinder said: "Save the Children have reposted multiple crimes committed against children - children just like our own - who are innocent human beings. We want to do everything we can to help the young children of Gaza. "We feel as a business with a platform we should be using our voice to speak up for the children of Gaza. "We are hoping to not only raise some money for a very worthwhile charity but to raise awareness about the crimes being committed daily against children to bring attention to the ongoing crimes against children in the hope our government feels the pressure to help protect the children of Gaza." They added: "The war in Gaza must end. The killing of children must stop. "Since October 2023, tens of thousands have been killed - including children. Families have lost everything. Homes, schools, hospitals - all destroyed. "People are trapped without clean water, food, medicine, or safety. "It's heartbreaking, and it's unacceptable." Brown Munde, located at 7–9 Princes Street, will be open from 4pm until 9.30pm. To book a table, please contact the restaurant on 01563508050.
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Green leafhopper returns to Punjab after several years, farmer brace for 30% loss in yields
Green leafhopper, also known as Indian cotton jassid and locally as hara tela, has returned to cotton fields across north India in unexpectedly high numbers this season after several years, damaging the crop at several places and triggering concern among farmers. Experts attribute the sudden surge in jassid population to favourable weather conditions — above-average rainfall, persistent humidity, an increase in rainy days, and continuous cloud cover, all of which have created a perfect breeding environment for the pest and can lead to a potential yield loss up to 30 per cent. Farmer Harjinder Singh from Sahnewali village in Mansa district said that the green leafhopper has attacked his entire 4-acre cotton crop, and he expects a 20–25 per cent loss in yield this year. He added that his entire village grows only cotton, and not a single farmer's field has been spared this season. Harjinder said that no official from the agriculture department has visited the village to assess the crop damage so far. When The Indian Express reached out to Punjab Director of Agriculture Jaswant Singh about the recent impact of the pest on cotton crops, he did not provide any response to multiple phone calls or messages. Fauja Singh and Kewal Singh, also from Sahnewali, reported hara tela infestation on their 25-acre and 15-acre cotton crops respectively. Manpreet Singh, a farmer from Chormar village in Sirsa district of Haryana, is facing a similar situation. His entire 17-acre cotton crop is affected, and he too expects a 20–25 per cent loss in yield. 'Our village also grows only cotton, and this year, not a single field has remained unaffected,' he said. Bittu Singh from the same village said he initially mistook the yellowing and curling of leaves as rain damage, but soon realised it was due to hara tela. 'We delayed spraying the recommended insecticides, and now only some plants show signs of recovery,' he claimed. Jagjeet Singh of Chak Hira Singhwali village in Tehsil Sangaria, Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, said the pest has attacked his entire 45-bigha cotton crop. 'The infestation is not limited to my village — it has spread across the entire tehsil. We don't know how to save our crop,' he said. Farmers Gurmeet Singh from Singhpura village (Sirsa), Makhan Singh from Mansa, and many others have also reported similar attacks. These are not isolated cases — hara tela has been reported from numerous villages across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, which together form the cotton belt of north India. A field survey conducted under Project Bandhan by the South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), Jodhpur, has confirmed a significant rise in jassid presence in major cotton-growing districts of Haryana (Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa), Punjab (Mansa, Bathinda, Abohar, Fazilka), and Rajasthan (Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar). Infestation levels of 12–15 leafhoppers per leaf were reported — well above the Economic Threshold Level (ETL), along with visible leaf damage reaching Grade III and IV severity. 'In our survey a severe outbreak of green leafhopper was noticed in several villages of north India's cotton belt, posing a significant threat to the cotton crop across Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. This rise in the jassid population comes after several years and is largely due to this year's prolonged wet and humid weather conditions — above-average rainfall, high humidity, and overcast skies,' Dr Bhagirath Choudhary, Founder & Director of SABC's High-Tech R&D Station in Sirsa, Haryana said, adding that this pest has returned to the fields after a gap of several years. 'The leafhopper infestation has emerged at a time when the cotton crop was showing great promise compared to the past 3–4 years,' Bhagirath said. This resurgence is significant because leafhopper, unlike the other two major sucking pests of cotton — whitefly and thrips — thrives in dry conditions, while this flourishes in wet climate. Experts say that although whitefly and thrips typically dominate headlines during drought years, this year's monsoon pattern has created a conducive environment for jassid to flourish. 'This could lead to a widespread outbreak because at some places it is already quite severe and the pest has appeared in considerable numbers and needs to be managed promptly to prevent damage,' Dr Dilip Monga, former head of CICR Regional Research Station, Sirsa, said. 'Farmers must take the advisory seriously.' Field symptoms, as recorded by the survey team, include yellowing of leaf margins, downward curling, crinkling, and bronzing — are all classic signs of jassid attack. Under the ICAR-CICR grading system, most affected fields are falling under Grade III or IV, which represents severe stress on the plant, and potential yield losses of up to 30 per cent if not managed. What farmers should know: Leafhopper profile and damage The green leafhopper, a season-long sucking pest of cotton, is a 3.5-mm pale green insect identified by its two black spots and quick, diagonal movement on leaves. Both nymphs and adults suck sap from the leaf tissue and inject toxins, leading to what experts call 'hopper burn' (blackish or brownish colour of the leaf). The damage reduces photosynthesis, stunts plant growth, and in extreme conditions, dries out leaves altogether. According to ICAR-CICR, the Economic Threshold Level (ETL) is considered breached when more than 5 out of 20 sampled plants show Grade II symptoms — minor leaf colouring and yellowing — or worse. Grade III indicates crinkling across the plant and stunted growth, while Grade IV includes severe bronzing, drying, and curling of leaves. 'Most fields surveyed this year have exceeded the ETL, making timely intervention essential,' Bhagirath said. He added that the SABC team has issued science-backed advisory steps under Project Bandhan and the High-Tech Regenerative Cotton Farming programme. 'Regular field monitoring is a must. Inspect fields at least twice a week, especially the undersides of leaves where jassids tend to hide. Look for small, green, mobile insects, and symptoms such as yellowing leaf margins and curling. For severity assessment, if more than two jassids per leaf are observed or if the damage is at Grade II or above, immediate intervention is required,' Bhagirath added. For early-stage infestation, neem oil or eco-friendly bio-insecticides are advised. In case of severe infestation, farmers should use one of the following insecticides — rotating them to prevent resistance: Tolfenpyrad 15 EC (300 ml/acre), Fenpyroximate 5 EC (300 ml/acre), Flonicamid 50 WG (80 gm/acre), Dinotefuran 20 SG (60 gm/acre), or Thiamethoxam 25 WG (40 gm/acre). Experts recommend spraying either in the early morning or late evening, ensuring thorough coverage of the leaf undersides. They also advise clearing weeds within and around the fields, as these can host jassids and other pests. Field observations have revealed widespread yellowing of leaf margins and downward curling — classic signs of leafhopper attack. Based on the ICAR-CICR grading scale, most fields have recorded Grade III to IV damage, indicating severe to extreme injury. This has made the current outbreak the worst jassid infestation in over a decade in the region.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Villagers oppose proposed cement plant in Mansa village
Bathinda: Hundreds of residents of Talwandi Aklia and Karamgarh Autanwali in district Mansa opposed the setting up of a cement plant during a public hearing by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) on Monday. Members of the pro-environment organisation Public Action Committee (PAC) mobilised people to participate in the public hearing and oppose the setting up of the cement plant, terming it a red category industry. The villagers raised objections and said if the industrial unit from the red category was allowed to be set up, they might have to face environmental hazards. The representatives of the PPCB, Mansa district administration, and the JSW also participated in the public hearing and apprised villagers about the proposed plant. As per the notification, JSW Cement Limited proposes to set up a 6 million tonne per annum (MTPA) plant with two units of 3 MTPA each, and a standalone grinding unit in 19.02 hectares (48 acres) of land at Karmgarh and Talwandi Aklia villages in Mansa. As per the Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006, the project proponent needs to obtain environmental clearance from the Union ministry of environment, forest, and climate change. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dukung Orang Terkasih Menghadapi Limfoma: Mulai Di Sini Limfoma Klik Di Sini Undo For this, the industry has approached the PPCB. "Talwandi Morcha was formed to mobilise people against the proposed project, and a seminar was held at Talwandi Aklia village on July 11 to sensitise people about the environmental impact in the area and on the lives of the people with the setting up of a red category industry," said PAC members and Talwandi Aklia residents Karnail Singh and Harjinder Singh. Earlier, the PAC formed Chamkaur Sahib Morcha against the proposed paper mill at Chamkaur Sahib, and due to its efforts, hundreds of residents of nearby villages, while participating in a public hearing by the PPCB on April 30, opposed the setting up of the industry. MSID:: 122438714 413 |
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: 3 booked for tree felling, bid to encroach upon forestland
The Koom Kalan police have registered a case against three residents of Mand Chaunta village for allegedly cutting trees and trying to encroach upon protected forestland. The Koom Kalan police have registered a case against three residents of Mand Chaunta village for allegedly cutting trees and trying to encroach upon protected forestland. (HT File/ Representational image) The accused, identified as Harjinder Singh, Manjit Singh, and Mahinder Singh, reportedly damaged forest boundaries and felled trees to extend their adjoining farmland into the forest area. The case was registered following a complaint filed by Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Davinder Singh. According to the DFO's report, the accused cut down around seven trees and ploughed 5.5 kanals of forestland in an attempt to claim it as their own. The accused own land adjacent to the forest and allegedly breached the boundary wall to carry out the encroachment. An official from the forest department said that the incident came to light during a routine inspection by the department's field team. Upon discovering the unauthorised ploughing and felling of trees, the department promptly filed a complaint with the police. ASI Sanjeev Kumar, the investigating officer, confirmed that after initial inquiry, a case was registered against the three individuals under Sections 303(2) and 221 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the Indian Forest Act, including 29, 30, 32, 33, and investigation into the matter is underway.
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Man, female accomplice held with 300 gm heroin in Samrala
The Samrala police arrested a man and a woman after recovering 300 grams of heroin from their possession during a routine bus checking operation near Samrala on Saturday. Preliminary questioning revealed that they were en-route from Moga to Kharar, where the seized heroin was intended to be handed over to an unidentified person. (HT Photo) The operation was carried out by a special police team, including the narcotics wing, outside the police post under Samrala police station limits. As part of the drive, buses traveling from Ludhiana were being stopped and checked. Sub-inspector Harjinder Singh, additional SHO at Samrala police station stated that a bus coming from Ludhiana was halted for inspection, during which a man and woman attempted to flee the vehicle, triggering suspicion. Police personnel quickly intercepted them and conducted a search, leading to the recovery of heroin from their belongings. The accused have been identified as Dev Arjun, 24, resident of Sajjan Mahiro village, of Moga and Jashanpreet Kaur, 20, resident of Mehana village, Moga. Both have been booked under the NDPS Act. The sub-inspector added that the duo was presented before a local court, which granted three-day police remand for detailed interrogation. Preliminary questioning revealed that they were en-route from Moga to Kharar, and the seized heroin was intended to be handed over to an unidentified person at the destination. 'Initial probe indicates that the accused have been in touch for quite some time, and their roles as possible mules for a larger drug trafficking racket are being investigated,' said Harjinder Singh. He added that police suspect the involvement of a broader network, and further arrests are likely as the investigation deepens.
