07022026-LT-01.qxd 2/7/2026 12:17 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune KHAIRA BET RESIDENTS PROTEST SAND MINING Protesters have threatened to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court over the issue. P2 » A CHERISHED WINTER TRADITION REWRITING THE RULES OF STORYTELLING As winter subsides, households and city eateries are busy savouring the last batches of gajrela. P3 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 22°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 8°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.07 PM From Guneet Monga to Reema Kagti, women directors re-shaping Indian cinema for global audience.P4 » FORECAST SUNRISE SUNDAY 7:15 AM » SATURDAY | 7 FEBRUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA upbeat release Sr Dy Mayor challenges ~8.46-cr SAD leadersprerequisite foron Majithia’sassert rebels Leadership change party’s unification, Rose Garden makeover tender Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service B&R officials defend move, say following orders of then MC chief Manav Mander PAST CONTROVERSIES Tribune News Service ■ The Rose Garden beautification project faced two scandals: an audio clip in early 2025 allegedly showed superintending engineer Sanjay Kanwar demanding 10% commission, leading to his Vigilance Bureau arrest. The first tender (December 2024) was scrapped after date manipulation claims during the model code of conduct. The matter was escalated to the EC and an internal committee later recommended scrapping and reissuing of the tender. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ludhiana, February 6 Senior Deputy Mayor Rakesh Prashar plans to meet Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Dr Neeru Katyal Gupta over the Rs 8.46 crore Rose Garden beautification tender, floated last week and due to open on February 9. Despite Prashar’s December 2025 letter to former MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal objecting to missing contractor responsibilities and maintenance provisions, the tender was floated. “I support beautification but the amount is excessive—Rs 3.29 crore for horticulture alone needs stronger accountability,” Prashar said. He suggested entrusting maintenance to companies via Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), like Rakh Bagh, to save funds for ward-level works. He argued that several large companies in the city are already undertaking beautification of parks, central verges, and roundabouts under CSR. Engaging such firms would save the Corporation’s funds, allowing the Rs 8.49 crore to be redirected towards essential ward-level development works. Despite his objections, the Building and Roads (B&R) branch went ahead and issued the tender using Smart City Mission funds. This move has evoked sharp criticism from Parashar, who questioned the officials’ disregard for his written communication. “If they disregard the Senior Deputy Mayor, how will they treat the public?” he Tender already floated, to be opened on February 9. remarked. “I plan to meet newly appointed MC Commissioner Dr Neeru Katyal Gupta in this regard,” he said. However, B&R branch officials defended the decision, stating that the tender was floated only after orders from the then Municipal Commissioner, following directives from the state government. Commissioner Gupta, recently appointed, said: “Prashar hasn’t approached me yet. I’ll review the details.” Hues of nature A detailed breakup of the proposal shows that the plan includes civil works worth ~1.32 crore, lighting and electrical upgrades costing ~2.15 crore and ~3.29 crore earmarked for horticulture. Other provisions include a new water tank ( ~21.4 lakh), irrigation system (~85.62 lakh), kids’ play zone ( ~19.82 lakh), an open gym ( ~5.67 lakh), testing: ~4.21 lakh (0.5% of estimate) and a toilet block ( ~32.06 lakh). ludhiana, February 6 The Ludhiana Police claimed to have arrested two miscreants when they were going in search of some target near Canal Bridge near Daba on Wednesday evening. One pistol and 7 live cartridges were recovered from the possession of the accused identified as Jaskaran Mander of Heere Suman Nagar Lohara and Karan Sharma of Dhillon Nagar Lohara situated on the outskirts of Ludhiana City. The police are yet to ascertain antecedents of the duo and identity of their accomplices if any. — OC City to get ~3.4-cr indoor volleyball stadium Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service The facility, first in north India, is under construction at SCD Government College. FILE floor, soundproof hall, lighting, gymnasium, and conference room,” he said. Tenders for upgrades were floated in January, with timebound completion promised. Around Rs 10 crore was being spent to develop Ludhiana as the sports hub of Punjab, funding projects like revamping Shastri Badminton Hall, a throwing events ground at Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary Jagbir Singh Sokhi and other party leaders meet Bikram Singh Majithia. TRIBUNE PHOTO Goods, infra destroyed in fire at hosiery unit Our Correspondent Two arrested with pistol, 7 live cartridges Residents walk near the railway tracks as the sun sets in Ludhiana. PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ludhiana, February 6 To channelise youth energies and boost sports participation, Ludhiana district is receiving a major infrastructure push. An indoor volleyball stadium—the first in North India— is under construction at SCD Government College at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore. Gurjot Singh, a nationallevel volleyball coach and Ludhiana Volleyball Association member, volleyball has been played at SCD Government College since 1970. He added that the college has trained nearly 100 national players over the past decade despite limited facilities. Nine recently excelled at the national championship, with Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu offering them Railways jobs. Singh praised Minister Sanjeev Arora and Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain for securing funds. “Nearly 90 per cent of our players are from rural backgrounds. They are thrilled about the stadium’s wooden Ludhiana, February 6 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders are elated over Bikram Singh Majithia’s release on bail, calling him “Majhe da Jarnail” and hailing it as a blow to the AAP Government’s “bullying”. SAD general secretary (Punjab) Jagbir Singh Sokhi, said Majithia’s release has infused fresh confidence into the SAD camp. He said: “The tiger is back. The Supreme Court has upheld justice against the Mann government’s vendetta. People across Punjab will now join SAD (Badal) to free the state.” Sokhi, along with other local SAD leaders, including Master Ranjit Singh, Jatinder Singh Khalsa, Parveen Bharti, SCD College, expanding GNN Stadium’s weightlifting centre, a gym at Rakh Bagh Judo Centre, a synthetic tennis court, and the Roundglass project. Of this, Rs 4 crore goes to lighting and Rs 3.5 crore to volleyball, with the rest for initial phases. Of the total outlay, Rs 4 crore is being spent on lighting facilities, Rs 3.5 crore on the indoor volleyball project, and the remaining amount on improving other sports facilities in the initial phase. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said: “As Punjab’s largest district and an industrial hub, Ludhiana needs upgraded facilities to engage youth in sports. We aim to complete many projects within six months.” c m y b Satnam Kaile and Inderjit Singh Ruby Lotte, met Majithia. They alleged that the political tactics adopted by the AAP government had backfired. Meanwhile, the rebel Akali leaders reiterated that the party could be united, provided there was a change in leadership. Rebel SAD leader Manpreet Singh Ayali said he had read statements suggesting that the party could be united. “Yes, it can be united, but on the condition that the Panth remains supreme and the party president steps down, setting aside vested interests. Not only SAD rebels, but many other leaders would rejoin the party, as the issue is not with the Shiromani Akali Dal but with its president,” said Ayali. Smoke billows from a hosiery unit in the Daba Road area. GLADA issues 33 colony licences in 6 months to boost planned housing Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 6 To provide well-planned and secure housing facilities to the public, Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), has made significant progress in regulating planned development and ensuring compliance under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPR Act), 1995. In the last six months, from July 2025 to January 2026, GLADA issued a total of 33 licences to various residential colonies in the Greater Ludhiana Area under the Act. These licences aim to promote authorised, systematic and well-planned urban development. Further, the Licensing Branch issued 15 Promoter Registration Certificates and 2 Estate Agent Registration Certificates during this period, reinforcing transparency and accountability in real estate transactions while safeguarding the interests of homebuyers. In addition to regulatory approvals, the Licensing Branch has actively pursued recovery of outstanding government dues, successfully recovering approximately Rs. 25 crore from defaulting colonisers during this period. Ludhiana, February 6 Goods and fixtures worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed in an accidental fire that engulfed a doublestorey hosiery unit situated in the Daba Road area of Ludhiana on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. Nobody was reportedly injured in the fire incident that destroyed infrastructure and machinery worth lakhs of rupees, besides the stock of raw material. The fire was first noticed by some residents of the locality who informed Rohit Duggal of Dugri, the owner of the factory, NONE HURT ■ Nobody was reportedly injured in the fire incident that destroyed infrastructure and machinery worth lakhs of rupees, besides the stock of raw material. ■ Fire brigade staff, supervised by Jaswinder Singh, controlled the fire within one hour of receiving the information. around 2.25 am. Fire brigade staff, supervised by Jaswinder Singh, claimed to have controlled the fire within one hour of receiving the information. Details like the exact sequence of events, cause of fire and loss incurred in the incident are yet to be ascertained.