Latest news with #RavneetSinghBittu
Hindustan Times
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana: Basketball court delayed yet again
The indoor basketball court at Guru Nanak Stadium remains stuck in delays, missing yet another deadline despite repeated assurances. Part of the Smart City Mission, the project was expected to be completed by May 31, but that deadline too has slipped by, adding to a growing list of missed targets. Originally promised to be ready much earlier, the project has seen its completion date extended multiple times, from June and December 2024 to January and March 2025, and now past May 31, the basketball court is yet to be completed. Frustrated by the continued delays, the Ludhiana municipal corporation even slapped a ₹10 lakh fine on the contractor in March for the slow pace of construction. Earlier in January, Union minister of state for railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, had also taken the civic body to task for failing to complete the construction on schedule. The consequences of the delay are being felt most by the city's young basketball talent. With over 150 players depending on the court for training, the lack of space has forced them to practice during odd hours, as early as 4 am and sometimes as late as 11 in the night. 'The players struggled with only a single court available,' said Teja Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of the Punjab Basketball Association. 'The new facility would not only relieve pressure on the existing court but also provide a much-needed upgrade for our athletes,' Dhaliwal added. Once completed, the modern indoor stadium will feature two full-size courts, allowing simultaneous matches and better training opportunities. Currently, only one overcrowded court is available, making it difficult for the growing number of players to train properly. District sports officer Kuldeep Chugh previously said that about 80 to 85 percent of the work was already completed. 'Having three indoor courts in Ludhiana will be a game-changer for our young athletes,' he added. Superintendent engineer SL Gupta of the municipal corporation said that the court will be ready within 10 days. He blamed the delays on the maple flooring, which took longer than expected to install.
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Union Minister Ravneet Bittu hails from Ludhiana but did nothing for development: Punjab CM
Ludhiana: Slamming Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday said this 'rejected' leader spits 'venom' against him (Chief Minister) just to appease his political bosses. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that though the Union Minister hails from Ludhiana but he has done nothing substantial for the development of the city. 'Bittu wakes up in the morning and starts criticising me from that very moment just to make his party bosses happy,' he said. Mann said that these rejected leaders who had lived in huge palaces remain inaccessible to the people, due to which he was ousted by the masses. The Chief Minister said that traditional 'political parties are envious of him because they are not able to digest that the son of a common man is governing the state effectively.' He said that the people of the state have lost their faith in the traditional political parties due to their anti-people and anti-Punjab stance. CM Mann said that the wise and brave people of the state had ousted these parties during the 2022 Assembly polls and gave a thumping majority to the AAP. The Chief Minister said that the state has been witnessing spectacular development as the people of the state have elected an honest government, which is delivering the desired results to the people. He said that earlier, the choice of lesser evil was there, and the people had to elect corrupt and opportunist leaders, which were their only option. CM Mann said that the state has heralded a new era of the smooth and hassle-free delivery of citizen-centric services for the common man. He said the government has created history by launching several pro-people and development-oriented policies to put the state further on the path of a high trajectory of economic growth.
India Gazette
13-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu slams Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann over Amritsar's illicit liquor consumption
New Delhi [India], May 13 (ANI): Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Monday slammed the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the death of 14 people due to consumption of illicit liquor in Amritsar's Majitha block. Taking to social media X, Bittu in a post wrote that the state government's 'Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh' campaign was just a 'political theatre', further alleging that the CM himself had a history with alcohol. '14 dead in Majitha -- families shattered by spurious liquor, while the @BhagwantManngovernment remains in deep so-called 'Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh' is nothing but political theatre. When the Chief Minister himself has a history with alcohol, how can the fight against addiction ever be sincere?' the post read. The Union Minister further stated that the Punjab government was busy in self-indulgence even when people were dying. Bittu further wrote that Punjab needed action, and the matter was no longer about politics, but about lives of people. 'The liquor mafia rules, people are dying, and the Mann government is busy in self-indulgence. Punjab doesn't need slogans anymore -- it needs action. This is no longer about politics, it's about lives,' the post further read. Fourteen people have died while six others have been hospitalised due to the consumption of illicit liquor under the Majitha block in Amritsar, as per the Punjab Police. The main distributor or the kingpin has been arrested in the incident that took place on the night of May 12 night, police said. Majitha Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said, 'An unfortunate tragedy has happened in Majitha. We got to know last night, we received reports from five villages that those who consumed liquor yesterday are in critical condition. We rushed our medical teams. Our medical teams are still going door-to-door.' 'Whether people have some symptoms or not, we are taking them to hospital so that we can save them. 14 people have died so far. The Governement is extending all the help possible. We are ensuring that this death toll doesn't have arrested the suppliers and further investigation is underway...' the Deputy Commissioner said. The police have arrested four other people in connection with this case as they were involved in the distribution of the illicit liquor to villagers in Majitha. An FIR has been registered under sections 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and 61A of the Excise Act. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Deadline pushed back 6th time, basketball court at Guru Nanak Stadium still under construction
The indoor basketball court at Guru Nanak Stadium, being built under the Smart City Mission, continues to remain a work in progress, despite several missed deadlines. Initially set to be completed by March 31, the project has seen its timeline pushed back repeatedly. After missing the initial target, the deadline was first extended to June 2024, then December 2024, followed by January 2025, and then March 31. When April passed without completion, the deadline was pushed to May 31. This marks the sixth time the deadline has been revised. The constant delays prompted the Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC) to impose a ₹10 lakh penalty on the contractor for slow pace of work in March. In January, Union minister of state for railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, had also criticised the civic body for failing to deliver the project on time. With the delay dragging on, over 150 basketball players who regularly train at the stadium have been forced to manage during odd hours in limited space. Teja Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of the Punjab Basketball Association, expressed his concern, stating, 'Due to the lack of space, players begin practice as early as 4 in the morning and sometimes train as late as 11 in the evening. The new court, once ready, will ease pressure and give our athletes access to a world-class facility.' Designed to host two matches simultaneously, the new indoor court is expected to boost both training and competition levels by saving time and increasing participation. The single court available currently lacks enough space for the growing number of players. District sports officer Kuldeep Chugh stated, 'Almost 80-85% of the work is done. We are optimistic that the May 31 deadline will be met. Once completed, the district would have three indoor basketball courts, which will be a big plus for local talent.'
