13112025-LT-01.qxd 11/12/2025 10:36 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune AITIANA FARMERS PROTEST NEAR HALWARA AIRPORT KASHMIRI WOMAN FINDS HER MESSIAH IN PUNJAB NEVER TAKE MY AUDIENCE FOR GRANTED: YAMI GAUTAM Farmers whose land has been acquired for airport have threatened to launch a stir over compensation ‘harassment’. P2 Wahida Tabassam, diagnosed with a rare bone tumour, found not just a doctor, but a saviour at the DMCH. P3 Yami Gautam Dhar’s latest release, Haq, is ‘inspired’ by the landmark Shah Bano case. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 27°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.29 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:52 AM THURSDAY | 13 NOVEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA City AQI rises to 178 with spike in stubble fires Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 12 Despite strict action being taken against farmers for burning stubble in their fields, a key reason for rising pollution, incidents of farm fires continue unabated across the state. Till November 11, a total of 176 farm fire cases were reported from Ludhiana district. As many as 16 fresh incidents were recorded yesterday, following which the air quality index (AQI) level also shot up. According to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Ludhiana’s average AQI yesterday stood at 178. Ludhiana DC Himanshu Jain told The Tribune that all reported farm fire incidents were being dealt with strictly. “First of all, we put the land where stubble burning takes place under the red-entry zone, which means its sale or purchase cannot be carried out smoothly. Secondly, challans are issued to farmers or landowners in such cases, and finally, FIRs are registered against violators. Our teams are regularly visiting villages and various areas to ensure that farmers do not burn stubble. The team includes patwaris, sarpanches, SHOs, lambardars, etc., who remain on toes throughout the peak stubble-burning season,” Jain said. Nodal officer for farm fires Amritpal Singh said that since September 15, 176 farm fire incidents had been recorded in Ludhiana district, compared to 171 in 2024 and 1,112 in 2023. Experts maintain that the AQI levels fluctuate throughout the day and night. “More farm fires take place after sunset as there are fewer chances of mobile teams visiting the villages. The authorities often detect such incidents only through satellite images. During late night and early morning, AQI levels rise,” said Gurpreet Singh, who monitors the state’s AQI from Patiala. Meanwhile, asthmatic patients and those suffering from respiratory problems said this was the worst time of the year for them as they experienced severe breathlessness for nearly a month. Dense smog clouds city sky, triggers health concerns among residents Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 12 Dense smog has descended over Ludhiana with the onset of the stubble-burning season, leaving residents grappling with poor visibility and worsening air quality. The city’s skyline has turned hazy and pollution levels have spiked, raising concerns about the environmental and health consequences of crop residue fires. Experts explain that stubble burning releases fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) along with toxic gases. These pollutants thicken the smog, reduce visibility and contribute to hazardous air conditions. The situation has disrupted daily life, with commuters facing difficulties on the roads and citizens expressing anxiety over the city’s deteriorating air quality. “I have been asthmatic for years, but this season feels worse than ever,” said Rohit Sharma, a resident of Model Town. “Even short walks outside leave me breathless, and I have to keep my inhaler handy all the time.” Another resident, Harpreet Kaur from Civil Lines, who Commuters make their way through heavy smog in Ludhiana on Wednesday due to stubble burning. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN suffers from pulmonary complications, shared her struggle: “The smog makes my chest feel heavy. I avoid stepping out in the mornings, but even indoors the air feels suffocating. It’s becoming difficult to manage daily routines.” Medical professionals warn that prolonged exposure to polluted air can cause breathing difficulties, eye and throat irritation, asthma attacks and increase the risk of chronic illnesses such as COPD and heart disease. Children, elderly and those with pre-existing conditions are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of smog. Advisory for citizens In response to the worsening conditions, the District Health Department has issued an advisory, urging residents to take precautions. Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Seechewal grills officials over sewage flow into Budha Dariya Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 12 Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, who has been leading a voluntary campaign to clean and restore the Budha Dariya, while expressing strong displeasure summoned certain officials responsible for failing to stop the flow of polluted water into the Dariya right at the spot where the dirty water was being discharged. During a meeting held on November 7, officials of the MC, Sewerage Board and Khilari organisation claimed that the Gau Ghat pumping station was functioning continuously and that the waste water was being properly Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal interacts with Sewerage Board officials at Budha Dariya near Gau Ghat in Ludhiana on Wednesday. treated at the 225 MLD plant. However, shortly after the meeting, the Rajya Sabha member paid a surprise visit to Gau Ghat, where he found that all water-pump- ing motors had been shut down and the toxic sewage was flowing directly into the Dariya. Seechewal criticised the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner and the MC Commissioner, stating that administrative negligence was tarnishing the image of Punjab Government. He demanded strict action against the officials who had misled the meeting with false claims. Seechewal pointed out that the Sewerage Board and the MC had been protecting each other to escape accountability. Bringing both departments face-to-face before the media, he questioned, “Who gave you the right to poison the people?” He vowed to expose all those involved in the conspiracy to pollute the Budha Dariya. Initially, the Sewerage Board and the MC continued to blame each other, but faced with the firm stance of Sant Seechewal, both departments ultimately admitted their fault and began working to correct it. Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials attributed the primary failure to choked sewer lines, preventing flow to the new pumping station. They stated that while the new station was operational, the blockages stopped the sewage from reaching it, thus preventing it from being routed to the Jamalpur Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Kaur emphasized that citizens should monitor the air quality index (AQI) regularly through official apps and websites. When AQI levels are ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’, outdoor physical activity should be avoided, particularly in early mornings and evenings. Precautionary measures Residents have been advised to keep doors and windows closed during smoggy hours Fire breaks out at house in New Model Town Ludhiana, November 12 A major fire broke out at a house in the affluent New Model Town area early on Wednesday due to a short circuit. The family was asleep when a child woke them up. The fire destroyed valuables, causing huge loss. As per information, the fire broke out around 4 am in a locked ground-floor room occupied by the owner’s parents, who are away on a pilgrimage. Sagar Nagpal, the owner, woke up after one of his kids was restless. Once up, he noticed the smell and stepped out to find the house filling with smoke. It took more than three hours to douse the flame.— TNS Absence of vending zones spells chaos on city roads Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 12 Ludhiana continues to grapple with the absence of designated vending zones, leaving street vendors scattered across busy roads and contributing to traffic congestion and public inconvenience. Despite the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, mandating the creation of vending zones, the city has yet to see meaningful progress. The Act clearly lays down the process: Any vending zone must first be approved by the Town Vending Committee (TVC), which includes 40 per cent vendor representatives and 60 per cent officials, with the Municipal Commissioner as chairperson. Only after the TVC approval can the government notify a vending zone. In Ludhiana, the TVCs were constituted in 2019 for each zone, but the last meeting was held in 2022. A sur- vey conducted in 2019 identified 64 vending zones, yet years later, none have been operationalised. Recently, a project to establish a vending zone near Children Park (old ward number 54, new ward number 78), situated on the backside of the Civil Hospital, has been initiated. The proposed facility, estimated to cost around ?47 lakh, but in the absence of a TVC, it seems difficult for the project to be accomplished. Another vending zone near Chand Cinema is almost complete, but has run into a controversy. The Public Action Committee (PAC) has objected to the site, claiming that it falls within a designated green belt. PAC members argue that the move violates environmental norms. “No activity can be carried out in green belt. It’s a complete violation and we have submitted a complaint to the MC,” said one activist. The group has already Despite Act mandating these, no meaningful progress made With no designated vending zone, street vendors continue to stand on a roadside, causing traffic chaos. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), citing breaches of environmental regulations and previous NGT orders pro- hibiting commercial activity in green zones. Although the NGT had formed a committee to look into the matter and c m y b later disposed of the case, PAC members allege no inquiry had been conducted and were now preparing to move the tribunal again. The Chand Cinema site is designed to accommodate 12 vendors, many of whom have been waiting for a legal space to operate following repeated anti encroachment drives. For them, the delay has meant continued uncertainty. One vendor expressed frustration and said that: “We are tired of being pushed from one corner to another. If the government had shifted us to vending zones, we would not be facing harassment every few months.” Tiger Singh, president of the Rehri Pheri Association, voiced his disappointment, “No vending zone has been made and no vendor shifted. I am regularly writing to the Mayor, but nothing has been done in this regard so far.” City residents, meanwhile, complain of worsening traffic chaos. “Encroachments on roadsides make driving and walking unsafe. The administration must act quickly to relocate vendors to proper zones,” said one commuter. and ventilate homes only at midday when pollution levels ease. Citizens are urged not to burn waste materials such as leaves or garbage, and to rely on clean fuels for cooking and heating. Washing eyes frequently, gargling with lukewarm water, eating nutritious food and staying hydrated can help reduce irritation. Patients with asthma or heart disease should remain indoors and keep medicines readily available. The advisory highlights the importance of wearing certified N95 or N99 masks as cloth or paper masks do not provide adequate protection against fine pollutants. Anyone experiencing severe coughing, chest pain or difficulty in breathing should seek immediate medical attention. Kaur added that the Civil Surgeon’s office had intensified monitoring of pollutionrelated illnesses and set up emergency support services in high-risk areas. The Health Department stressed that clean air was a shared responsibility, appealing to farmers, residents and local bodies to refrain from open burning and to participate in clean-air campaigns. MC writes to CP for FIR over garbage burning Ludhiana, November 12 Taking strict stance over dumping of garbage in the open and burning it, the municipal corporation (MC) has written to Commissioner of Police (CP), seeking an FIR over a garbage burning incident reported near Gau Ghat cremation ground on November 10. In a letter sent to Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, it has been stated that a garbage burning incident by some unidentified persons around 10 pm on Monday night was reported in a street adjoining Gau Ghat cremation ground falling under zone B of the civic body. Soon after the civic body officials came to know about the same, the fire was doused, but this incident resulted in pollution in the area. Stating that strict legal action should be taken as per solid waste management rules, the MC has asked the police to probe the matter, lodge an FIR and take strict legal action against the violators. MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal stated that the civic body would take strict legal action against anyone caught burning waste. Apart from imposing hefty challans of up to Rs 25,000, an FIR would also be lodged against the violators over burning of garbage. — TNS 2 girls promised jobs abroad duped of ~36L, 3 booked FELL INTO TRAP Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 12 Three persons allegedly committed a fraud of ~36 lakh by luring two girls with the promise of securing care worker jobs in England. Based on a complaint filed by Harjeet Singh, owner of ‘Education Overseas and Consultant,’ Malhar Road, Gurdev Nagar, the Police Division 5 yesterday registered a case against the accused, identified as Raj Kumar of Ludhiana, who now lives in England, and Ashok Kumar and Abhishek Nathaniel, both residents of Sadhu Sundar Singh Colony here. A case was registered on the charges of fraud, criminal conspiracy, tampering with documents and other sections of the IPC. Complainant Harjeet Singh stated that the three accused were his old acquaintances. Some time ago, Raj Kumar after returning from England had contacted Harjeet and claimed that many elderly people in England required medical caretakers. He assured Harjeet that if he had any clients, he could easily send them to England. He proposed charging ~18 lakh per client for securing the caretaker visa. “Two girls from Ludhiana contacted me, expressing interest in going abroad. Falling for the deception, we began preparations to send the two girls to England as caretakers. The accused took ~18 lakh each from the two girls at the behest of Raj Kumar,” added the complainant. After receiving the money, ❝ Two girls from Ludhiana contacted me, expressing interest in going abroad. Falling for the deception, we began preparations to send the two girls to England as caretakers. The accused took ~18 lakh each from the two girls at the behest of accused Raj Kumar. — Harjeet Singh, COMPLAINANT ❞ the accused provided the two girls with a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) letter. The girls began preparing for their roles as caretakers in England. Months passed after the deal was made in 2023, but the accused failed to secure the girls’ visas. When he contacted them, they kept making excuses. Becoming suspicious, he checked the COS letter on the immigration website of England, which was found to be fake, the complainant said, adding that when confronted, the accused promised him that they would return ~36 lakh soon. However, despite passage of a long time, the accused did not return the money. Harjeet mentioned that he had already repaid the money to his two clients from his own pocket but he himself could not get even a penny back from the accused. Since the accused failed to return his money, he filed a complaint with the Police Commissioner. After several months of investigation, the police registered a case against the three accused and began searching for them.