13032026-ATR-01.qxd 3/12/2026 11:53 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 26°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 19°C GURU GOBIND SINGH KHALSA COLLEGE HOLDS ATHLETICS MEET AMRITSAR LAD QUALIFIES FOR NATIONAL WRESTLING C’SHIP FROM LEADING LADIES TO PRODUCERS An athletics meet was held at the Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Sarhali, on Thursday. P2 City lad Uday Sharma clinched the gold in the Junior State Wrestling Championship. P3 From Shehnaaz Gill to Deepika, woman actors are building production houses and backing stories that matter. P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 6.36 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6.42 AM » FRIDAY | 13 MARCH 2026 | AMRITSAR Mid-day meal programme faces threat from LPG supply disruptions Neha Saini Tribune News Service Members of the DTF during a protest over unpaid salaries in Amritsar on Thursday. DTF protests delay in payment of teachers’ salaries Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 12 The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) has alleged that the Government of Punjab has failed to release the salaries of employees in several districts for the month of February. In a statement of protest, DTF members said that nearly 12 days have passed since the due date, yet many employees have not received their salaries due to an alleged shortage of budgetary funds. Providing details on the issue, DTF Punjab’s finance secretary-cum-district president Ashwini Awasthi said that while the state government claims an increase in revenue, employees are still waiting for their salaries. He said that state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has stated during the ongoing Budget session for 2026-27 that Punjab’s income has increased significantly. However, according to the DTF, the government does not even have the funds available to release salaries on time. Awasthi further claimed that in March 2022, the total debt of the state stood at Rs 2,81,773 crore, and it is expected to rise to around Rs 4,17,000 crore by the end of March 2026. “The state government, which makes big claims about financial management, has not released the salaries of thousands of teachers in Punjab due to a shortage of budget,” he said. He added that the concerned district authorities are not releasing the required funds for salaries to the Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs). DTF member Germanjit Singh said that whenever employees approach district authorities, they receive the same response. “The district authorities always say that the required budget has not yet been received from the headquarters,” he said. The DTF leaders have demanded that the Punjab Government stop making what they called “false claims” and ensure that employees’ salaries are released on time. Farmers fear yield loss after hailstorm in Ajnala villages Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 12 Intermittent drizzling accompanied by moderate winds and sporadic hailstorms in parts of the region early Thursday morning led to a noticeable drop in temperature, providing relief from the recent spell of rising heat. The sudden change in weather was reported from several areas of the district, particularly villages around Ajnala, where farmers said hailstones damaged standing crops. Residents said the sky remained cloudy for most of the morning while cool winds continued to sweep across the region. Farmers in villages near Ajnala reported that although the hailstorm lasted only a short while, it was intense enough to damage wheat and vegetable crops in certain pockets. Strong winds also caused flattening of Amritsar, March 12 The ongoing LPG supply crisis could disrupt the mid-day meal programme in government schools across Punjab. Although each school is officially allotted two LPG cylinders, many government schools rely on just one cylinder for cooking meals under the PM Poshan (Mid-Day Meal) Scheme, raising concerns about refill delays and new bookings. “Many schools are issued only a single LPG cylinder connection for preparing midday meals. When the cylinder runs out, cooks often have to wait for a refill or arrange alternatives, which delays cooking. In rural areas, these cylinders are sometimes stolen. Now, with the current crisis, we have informed the District Education Office about the situation regarding LPG supplies for mid-day meals,” said Mamta Sharma, president of the State Mid-Day Meal Union, who is posted at a government elementary school in Rayya, Amritsar. While most government schools currently have sufficient LPG to ensure smooth FDA cancels licences of two medical stores in city zone Tribune News Service A farmer checks his damaged wheat crop flattened during a drizzle in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR wheat crops in some fields. However, agriculture officials stated that the flattening was mainly observed in fields that had been irrigated during the past few days. Many cultivators expressed concern over the possible impact on yields, especially as the crops are currently at a sensitive stage of growth. “Strong winds and hailstones lasted for several minutes. Some wheat fields have suffered damage,” said continued on page 2 Amritsar, March 12 The Food and Drugs Administration, Punjab, has cancelled the retail sale drug licences of two medical stores in the Amritsar zone following serious violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and related rules. Officials said the Zonal Licensing Authority (ZLA) ordered the immediate cancellation of licences of Heera Medical Store, located in Kalsian Kalan village in Patti tehsil of Tarn Taran district, and Guru Nanak Medical Store situated on Loharka Road in Amritsar. According to officials, on February 10, Drug Control Officer Gurdip Singh, along with a police team led by SubInspector Kulwinder Singh continued on page 2 Security concerns lead to dismantling of BRTS installations; activists seek clarity Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 12 Fearing theft and vandalism, key infrastructure and equipment have been removed from Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) stations in Amritsar, further dimming the prospects of reviving the Metro Bus Service in the city. Nearly two years after the service was suspended in July 2024, the project now appears to have been quietly shelved. According to sources, the Punjab Bus Metro Society (PBMS) has dismantled several electrical and technical installations from stations along the BRTS corridor following repeated incidents of Social activist Pawan Sharma shows the BRTS station at Novelty Chowk in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR theft reported at various Metro stations over the past year. Equipment such as ticketing sensor machines and internet- enabled ticketing systems installed at the stations have been removed. In addition, glass doors and other detach- able fixtures at several stations have also been dismantled. Sources said that much of the removed material has been shifted and stored at the BRTS bus terminal located on the Verka bypass. The development has also raised serious concerns about the security of the BRTS infrastructure. Earlier, around 350 personnel were deployed to safeguard the 35-km corridor and its stations. However, after the withdrawal of most of the staff, only about 30 security guards are now reportedly responsible for protecting the entire stretch, which includes 43 BRTS stations continued on page 2 c m y b A man carries an LPG cylinder in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR DISTRICT NO. OF SCHOOLS Amritsar 1297 preparation of mid-day meals in the coming days, concerns are growing over the continued availability of supplies NO. OF SCHOOLS USING LPG AS FUEL NO. OF LPG NEEDED PER MONTH Domestic 4158 Commercial 1297 amid the ongoing conflict situation. “The school has enough LPG for the regular prepara- Nil tion of mid-day meals for around 200-300 students. However, we have already conveyed our concerns and requirements to the Education Department,” said Jagdev Singh, mid-day meal in-charge at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Kot Khalsa. In case of a disruption in LPG supplies, many schools may have to rely on firewood or traditional clay ovens for cooking. Reports of LPG shortages for mid-day meal preparation have also emerged from districts such as Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Gurdaspur. However, most government schools currently have stocks that may last for a few days. “We have received a letter from the Education Department seeking data on LPG supplies and stocks in all government schools in the district. We have informed school heads and will send the required information to the officials concerned,” said Kanwaljeet Singh, District Education Officer (Elementary), Amritsar. Earlier, the Government of Punjab had directed authorities and gas distributors to ensure timely LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder supply to schools to avoid disruptions in cooking mid-day meals.