13072025-LT-01.qxd 7/13/2025 12:42 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune STRAY DOG MENACE: SBS NAGAR RESIDENTS SUBMIT PLAINT SYRIAN DESIGNER RAMI AL ALI’S PARIS DEBUT Rami Al Ali made history as first Syrian featured on the official calendar of Paris Haute Couture Week. P4 Residents say number of stray dogs has increased significantly in recent days, creating panic in area. P2 » EIGHT MOST UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR We’re only halfway through the year, but Hindi cinema has already thrown some knockout performances.P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 37°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET SUNDAY 7.26 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5:31 AM » SUNDAY | 13 JULY 2025 | LUDHIANA Street vending zone may hit roadblock after social activists raise objections to its location They claim proposed site falls in a green belt, submit complaint to civic body Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 12 The Municipal Corporation’s plan to establish a vending zone near Chand Cinema may hit a roadblock after social activists raised objections, claiming the proposed site falls within a designated green belt. The zone was expected to accommodate 112 street vendors, many of whom have been waiting for a legal space to operate following repeated anti-encroachment drives against them. Environmental activist Kapil Arora has objected to the move, stating: “No activity can be carried out on a green belt. It’s a complete violation and we have submitted a complaint to the MC. The activists are now preparing to approach the National Green Tribunal Work in progress at the upcoming vending zone near Chand Cinema. INDERJEET VERMA WAS EXPECTED TO ACCOMMODATE 112 VENDORS The vending zone was expected to accommodate 112 street vendors, many of whom have been waiting for a legal space to operate following repeated anti-encroachment drives against them. (NGT), citing potential breaches of the environmental norms and previous NGT orders that prohibit commercial activity in green zones.” In response, MC officials argued that the site had housed a municipal store for long and they were merely repurposing the space. The Girl under influence of drugs caught Likely to be shifted to de-addiction centre for rehab Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 12 The Khanna city police claimed to have caught a girl, who was found under the influence of drugs. A 22-yearold resident of Khanna city, she is likely to be shifted to the de-addiction centre for rehabilitation. Station House Officer, Khanna City police station, inspector Vinod Kumar said on July 11, he, along with a police team, was conducting a patrolling at GK Enclave to keep tab over anti-social elements when the police noticed a girl. She was literally tottering on the road. Suspecting something serious, the police team stopped the vehicle and asked the girl if she consumed some drugs. With the help of senior constable Binder Kaur, she was taken into police custody. A case under Sections 27, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered against her. The inspector said she was taken to the Civil Hospital where her dope test was conducted, which came postive. As per the report, the girl was suspected to have consumed morphine, benzodiazepine, marijuana and buprenorphine. Inspector Vinod said during preliminary questioning, the police found that the girl was not into drug peddling but she had been taking drugs. “Now she would be produced before the screening committee at the Civil Hospital, Khanna, which is headed by the Senior Medical Officer of the hospital. It also includes psychiatrists. The committee after meeting the girl will decide whether she needs to be admitted to the drug deaddiction centre or she needs to get treatment from the OPD of the centre. Committee’s recommendations will be brought to the notice of court and further proceedings will be initiated accordingly in the case,” he said. The SHO said as per the orders of the Chief Secretary, drug addicts had now been sent to de-addiction centres so that they could shun drugs and become a part of main- stream society. “In the past few days, the Khanna city police caught five drug addicts and they were sent to de-addiction centre. I also personally met them, who were undergoing treatment, and they expressed thanks to the police for ensuring their treatment and bringing them out of the drug menace,” he added. Immunity from prosecution to addicts volunteering < for treatment Any addict, who is charged with an offence punishable under Section 27 of the NDPS Act or with offences involving small quantity of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, who voluntarily seeks to undergo medical treatment for de-addiction from a hospital or an institution maintained or recognised by the government or a local authority and undergoes such treatment should not be liable to prosecution. The said immunity from prosecution may be withdrawn if the person does not undergo the complete treatment for de-addiction. building branch had been directed to verify land records and submit a report. However, lack of consensus had reignited concerns over city’s shrinking green spaces and the need for sustainable urban planning. “The building branch has been directed to verify the land records, and we are expecting a report soon. Once we receive it, a final decision will be taken regarding the vending zone,” said a senior MC official on condition of anonymity. Street vendors already displaced from earlier proposed sites such as Hambran Road remain in limbo. “We have been waiting for a legal space to work from. Every time a site is proposed, the process gets stuck,” said a vendor, reflecting the growing frustration among the community. With Ludhiana’s vending zone plans now entangled in environmental red tape, the wait for a permanent solution continues. The NGT has previously summoned the MC officials over similar green belt encroachments, underscoring the seriousness of such violations. Power Dept to pay ~30 lakh to kin of CHB employee Lovleen Bains Sahnewal, July 12 Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on Sunday agreed to pay Rs 30 lakh to the family of Sanjay Shah, a complaint handling bikes (CHBs) staff at the PSPCL office here, who was electrocuted to death while repairing a high-tension power line in Nichi Mangli village on Thursday. Sanjay had come in contact with a live wire which led to his death. As per Sukaran Grewal, XEN, Estate Division, the victim had two wives, one in Bihar and other in Punjab and nine children. “The corporation has assured Rs 30 lakh as assistance to aggrieved members of the family, including Rs 20 lakh as exgratia and 10 lakh insurance. A cheque for Rs 5 lakh has been given to his family members on Sunday while another cheque for a similar amount would be handed over to them on Mon- day. On Tuesday, another cheque of Rs.10 lakh would be released,” the XEN said. “His cremation will take place on Monday. An inquiry has been undertaken by the police. Further, the person who operated the generator, which had allegedly backfed the line and resulted in the death of the CHB employee, has been identified. Action would be taken against the suspect,” the XEN said. “Had the deceased abided by safety protocols, the incident would have been averted. The department provides each and every employee a safety kit, including gum boots and gloves as soon as the person joins the duty. Besides, we keep on warning them again and again to work with the safety kit, otherwise they may have to repent. But many times employees take it casually,” he said. Meanwhile, outsourced CHB employees, who had stopped work as a mark of protest, demanding compensation and action, rejoined their duty. Violations continue on roads in ‘No tolerance zones’ Shopkeepers, vendors fail to budge, wrong parking rampant Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 12 Despite the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate have declared ‘No tolerance zones’ where any traffic violation invite immediate action, shopkeepers and roadside vendors are having scant regards about the police initiative. Earlier due to the byelections, the police were busy in poll duties due to which violations on roads in these areas had increased. Now the police have increased challaning and action but shopkeepers and roadside vendors are not abiding by traffic rules. The violation usually increases during evening hours, which also results in traffic jams. Notably in the first phase, eight roads had been declared as no-tolerance zones. These are Field Ganj road from Jagraon bridge to Civil Hospital, both way, Rahon Road, Jodhewal Chowk to Jagirpur Road cut, Bhamian Road from New Onkar Vihar cut to Bhamian Colony cut, Chandigarh Road from Government PO facing 50 cases nabbed Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 12 The police claimed to have nabbed a notorious proclaimed offender (PO) who had been booked in about 50 cases at various police stations of the state and neighbouring states during past years. The accused arrested by the CIA wing at Mahorana was Tribunal directs Mandi Board DGM to file personal affidavit in 2 weeks Ludhiana, July 12 In continuation to earlier hearing held regarding an application filed by members of the Public Action Committee (PAC), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Deputy General Manager (DGM), Mandi Board, to file a personal affidavit in two weeks’ time disclosing daily waste generation on the Sabzi Mandi premises, manner of its treatment and quantity of waste, which is lying on its premises on the date of filing the affidavit. The PAC had filed the application before the Tribunal in 2023 regarding worst conditions of the wholesale vegetable market due to garbage being dumped and burnt frequently. The matter was disposed of by formation of a com- Heaps of garbage at the wholesale vegetable market in Ludhiana. mittee comprising the District Magistrate, PPCB and Municipal Corporation (MC), Ludhiana, to take remedial action after the due process. The PPCB filed one report, directing the board to ensure processing of garbage on its premises as per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and also prohibition on single-use plastic in the market. After getting the report from the PPCB, the matter was reopened and the PAC submitted facts regarding frequent burning of waste as well as increase in the legacy waste in the market. However, the DGM submitted that they had entered into an agreement with the MC to shift the garbage to the Tajpur site, which was against the Solid Waste Management Rules. The NGT had directed the DGM to file a reply on objections c m y b raised by the petitioners and appear in person on July 10. The DGM admitted in its reply that there is 10182.60 Cubic Meters of legacy waste, which corresponds to 2,050 trolleys of waste lying in the vegetable market. The petitioners, Kapil Arora and Mohit Jain, said 10182.60 Cubic Meters of legacy waste turns out to be over 8,000 MT of garbage. Further, facts were also produced regarding the burning of garbage again on April 1 and April 6 but despite the filing of the complaint, no action was taken by the PPCB or the MC. After changing the contractor, the condition of the vegetable market has worsened. After permission of court, the petitioners also showed a live video of the actual condition of the garbage lying in market. On Saturday, the DGM Park to Libra cut. Pertinently, most of the violations start on these roads during evening hours when the number of roadside vendors increases and they encroach upon space. Notably, before the launch of the initiative, Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma himself had held meetings with shopkeepers located on these roads and had passed a message to them for ensuring compliance of the orders. Sharma has already hinted that eight more roads would be declared as no tolerance zones soon and the police would dominate the stretches to ensure compliance. The CP had also said the police were going to impose strict rules on these roads to ensure 100 per cent compliance, which means, no rehri/ferri would be allowed on the stretches and none would be allowed to drive after drinking, without licence or triple riding, etc. No tolerance means, the police were going to act tough against violators as these were busy roads and the police could not allow defaulters to risk the lives of people. Vendors on Field Ganj road are encroaching upon space, obstructing traffic flow. ASHWANI DHIMAN GARBAGE MISMANAGEMENT AT WHOLESALE VEGETABLE MARKET Tribune News Service High School, Mundian cut to 33-ft road vegetable market stretch, Chimney Road, Canal bridge, Pakhowal, to indoor stadium both sides, Atam Park to Libra cut, Dugri road, both way, and Dandi Swami Chowk to DMC Hospital cut. During a survey conducted on these stretches, violations were quite visible on the Field Ganj road from the Jagraon bridge to the Civil Hospital. Earlier when the police launched the initiative, the Field Ganj road had literally turned free of encroachments. On the road, traffic always get stuck in jams as shopkeepers had extended their shops onto the road and a large number of carts had further escalated the problem. Now again, rehris have encroached upon space and some traders have also extended their shops on the road. Wrongly parked vehicles are also a routine affair on the road. Similar violations were noticed on the Pakhowal to Indoor Stadium, Dandi Swami chowk to DMCH cut, Chimney road, Jodhewal chowk to Jagirpur road cut and Atam appeared before the Chairperson Bench but she could not answered the query of the court regarding how much solid waste was lying as on Saturday on the vegetable market premises. Accordingly, the NGT gave two weeks’ time to the DGM to file the personal affidavit, disclosing daily waste generation on the mandi premises, manner of its treatment and quantity of waste, which is lying there on the date of filing the affidavit. The Bench also directed the PPCB to carry out a spot inspection to ascertain the quantity of waste, which is lying untreated on the Mandi premises and the arrangement that has been made by the Mandi Board for the treatment of daily generated waste. The next date of hearing is August 21. identified as Rupam Sharma of Surya Enclave, Jalandhar. Malerkotla SSP Gagan Ajit Singh said police officials, supervised by SP (D) Sat Pal Sharma, had nabbed a PO of the Jalandhar region, who had been booked in about 50 cases registered at various police districts and neigh- bouring states during the past. Most of the cases, including the one registered against Rupam Sharma at the Malerkotla city I police station in 2023, were filed under the Negotiable Instrument Act and he had been absconding in the majority of them. — TNS Petrol bomb thrown, gunshots fired at realtor’s house in Baddowal village Ludhiana, July 12 A property dealer’s house was attacked with a petrol bomb by two car-borne assailants in Baddowal village in the wee hours of Sunday. Suspects also fired gunshots at the house of the victim. Reason of the attack was yet to be ascertained as complainant Yadvinder Singh has not raised suspicion on anyone. No one suffered any injury in the incident. As per information, in the wee hours, some youths who came in a white car with a black roof threw a petrol bomb at the house. They also fired gunshots. Dakha DSP Varinder Singh Khosa said the assailants fired four to bullets at the main gate. Two bullets hit the main door and one hit a palm plant inside the house. But no one suffered any injury in the attack. He said Yadvinder told the police that he had no personal enmity with anyone and he had never even received any extortion or threatening call from anyone. So far, the police registered a case under various sections of the BNS and Arms Act. He said the police already started investigation in the matter. Teams were formed and to identify them, CCTV cameras were being checked. Meanwhile, sources said the police had also detained some suspects and they were being questioned. — TNS