13042026-LT-01.qxd 4/13/2026 1:10 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SLOW PROGRESS OF GILL ROAD WORK ADDS TO TRAFFIC WOES NAVJOT KAUR SIDHU ‘TOEING’ BJP LINE IN PUNJAB ASHA BHOSLE’S LEGACY WILL LIVE ON THROUGH HER SONGS Situation has worsened over past six days as work has remained suspended, leading to traffic congestion. P2 Navjot Kaur Sidhu joining new party fuels speculation despite denial of any tie-up. P2 Her contribution to the world of playback singing transcends scholarly analysis. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET MONDAY 6:48 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:58 AM » MONDAY | 13 APRIL 2026 | LUDHIANA Civic body’s sanitation overhaul plan hits roadblock, no bidders for second time MC refloats both tenders, extends deadline to submit bids till April 17 Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 12 The Municipal Corporation’s ambitious sanitation overhaul plan, pegged at around Rs 1,550 crore, has hit another roadblock as no bidders came forward for the second consecutive time. Following the lack of response, the civic body has refloated both tenders for the third time and extended the submission deadline till April 17. The two major projects include the Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) project, estimated at over ?1,400 crore, and mechanised road sweeping works collectively worth around ?150 crore. Confirming the development, Superintending Engineer Sham Lal Gupta said: “Tenders have been extended for five more days as no bidder came for both tenders.” The project is aimed at bringing a comprehensive and scientific system for handling municipal waste in the city. It includes door-to-door collection, segregation at source, transportation and processing of waste through modern facilities. The project Garbage lies unattended by the roadside outside a dump yard in Dugri, Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN is expected to streamline the entire waste management chain and reduce the burden on existing dumping sites. Officials said the initiative was crucial in addressing the city’s serious garbage issue and ensuring better environmental management. The MC has been planning to implement a long-term solution to improve efficiency and meet regulatory norms related to solid waste disposal. The second component focuses on mechanised road sweeping. The project covers both internal roads, spanning nearly 2,500 km, and main roads measuring around 697 km. The plan is to deploy modern machines for regular cleaning to improve sanitation standards and reduce dust pollution across the city. At present, the civic body is partially dependent on manual sweeping and limited mechanised operations. Officials believe that full-scale implementation of mechanised sweeping will ensure better coverage and consistent cleanliness on major roads. Despite the importance of both projects, the absence of bidders for the second time has raised concerns within the civic body. The tenders were initially floated earlier this year but failed to receive any response. Even after reinviting bids, the situation remained unchanged. Sources in the MC said the projects involve largescale operations and longterm commitments, which could be factors affecting participation. However, officials are hopeful that the extension and re-floating of tenders would attract bidders this time. The delay in finalising the projects means that the city will continue to rely on its existing sanitation system, which has often drawn criticism from residents over issues such as irregular garbage collection and inadequate road cleaning. With the revised deadline now set for April 17, the MC is making another attempt to push forward its longpending sanitation plans, which are seen as key to improving the overall cleanliness and environmental conditions in the city. Minister Arora meets boat tragedy victims’ kin, seeks probe by UP Govt Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 12 Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, accompanied by MLA Kulwant Singh Sidhu, visited grief-stricken families in Ludhiana on Sunday who lost their loved ones in tragic boat capsizing incident in Vrindavan. Expressing sympathy during this hour of grief, Arora visited the residence of Rakesh Gulati and his wife Anju Gulati. He also met the family of Meenu Bansal and her daughter Dinky Bansal at their house. Sharing condolences with the family members, the minister said no words could truly lessen the pain of losing a loved one. He remarked that he had come to stand by them not just as a minister but as a fellow human being. The minister slammed the negligence that led to the tragedy and demanded stern action against those responsible. “The incident was not merely an accident but a direct result of gross negligence. Those managing the boat operations must be held accountable,” he said. He further demanded a highlevel time-bound inquiry by the UP Government, asserting that legal action must be swift and the guilty should not be spared at any cost. Arora assured the families that the Punjab Government would coordinate with the Uttar Pradesh Government to ensure speedy justice and to push for safety protocols that prevent such tragedies in the future. He promised full sup- Malerkotla, April 12 Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has stated that a formal announcement about payment of Rs 1,500 to Dalit and poor women for boosting their social and economic empowerment would be made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, falling on Tuesday. Cheema was addressing a function held by Dr BR Ambedkar Awareness Society to mark the birth anniversary of Babasaheb. Cheema called upon residents of the region in general and Dalits in particular to follow ideologies of Dr Ambedkar in case they wanted to Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema pays tributes to Dr BR Ambedkar at an event in Malerkotla. improve their lifestyle and enjoy a bright future. “Those who have followed Dr Ambedkar’s principles have certainly gained better positions in society than those who looked towards others for moving further,” he said. Recalling the life and ideology of Babasaheb, Cheema said the Constitution, which was drafted by him, continues to guide all sections of society on various aspects of personal and public life. The emphasis he placed on education, continues to be a source of inspiration for society today, he said. Cheema quoted Dr Ambedkar’s words ‘Education is like milk of a lioness, whoever drinks, roars’ and claimed that the state government was committed to bringing improvements in the fields of education, healthcare and social justice. Installation of Babasaheb’s statue in Malerkotla, the construction of a community centre and regularisation of temporary sanitation workers of the area were among demands which the minister assured to accept on the occasion. MLA Mohammad Jamil Ur Rahman, and District Planning Committee Chairman Sakib Ali Raja were among others who spoke on the occasion. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 12 A 36-year-old man from New Raju Colony in the Tibba area allegedly died by suicide by consuming a poisonous substance after being upset with his wife and in-laws. The husband and wife used to fight with each other. The incident occurred late on Saturday evening. The couple got married in 2016 and had three children. Based on the statement of the deceased’s mother, Seema Rani, the Tibba police registered a case against the victim’s wife and her brothers. The deceased was identified as Pardeep Kumar. He consumed a poisonous substance on the village road near the Ladhowal bridge. People rushed him to a hospital in an ambulance where he died. The complainant, Seema Rani, told the police that her eldest son, Pardeep Kumar, was married to Monica on August 26, 2016. The middleman who arranged the match concealed the fact that the girl was suffering from seizures and epilepsy. Monica would always go to her parents’ house after fight with her husband. She harassed her son so much that he died by suicide. As per information, a dispute began in the evening of April 8. Monica argued with her husband. The reason for the alterca- tion was not known. After the fight, she went to her parents’ home. Later his in-laws abused Pardeep and mentally tortured him. Fed up with the abuse and daily fights, the man consumed poison on Saturday. The police have registered a case against Monica, her brothers Akash and Aman, residents of Rishi Nagar, and Honey Sharma of Jamalpur. Investigating Officer SI Balbir Singh said: “Two days ago, the couple had a dispute. They were called to the police station to discuss the matter. However, Pardeep died by suicide beforehand. The police registered a case against the suspects. The culprits will be arrested soon.” Low-hanging power cables continue to pose threat to residents in city Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 12 Across Ludhiana, from bustling bazaars to quiet residential colonies, a dangerous web of low-hanging electricity wires continues to endanger residents. In congested markets, cables brush against rooftops and signboards; in residential lanes, residents duck under sagging lines that threaten accidental contact. The menace is citywide, stretching from Chaura Bazaar and Meena Bazaar to Model Town, Sarabha Nagar, Civil Lines and Bharat Nagar, turning everyday commute into risky encounters. Residents complain that the wires are not only an eye- Locals complain that dangling wires are not only an eyesore but also a daily hazard sore but also a daily hazard. Near Domoria Bridge, Gursewak Singh, a resident, said, “Every time we step out, we have to bend or push wires aside. It feels like walking through a trap. Children are at big risk and the authorities have failed to see our plight”. At Barsati Bazaar, a shopkeeper shared his ordeal. He said: “Wires hang so low that they touch our rooftops and signboards. During rains, sparks fly dangerously close to customers. It’s a threat to our livelihood.” Former president of the District Congress Committee, Ludhiana (Urban), and former chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, Pawan Dewan, has raised a red flag over the perilous condition of the wires. He described the situation as a “ticking time bomb for public safety,” He criticised the Power Minister and the MLA from Ludhiana West for failing to deliver on promises made months ago. “What began with lofty assurances has been reduced to a crawl, stalled by procedural delays and sheer official apathy,” Dewan said. “The issue is not cosmetic, it is a matter of life and death,” he said. Project launched in 2025 Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had launched a pilot project in September 2025 to remove dangling and low-hanging wires, streamline multiple joints and raise electric lines to safer heights. In January this year, the PSPCL approved Rs 99crore citywide plan covering 20 tenders across Ludhiana East and West. Yet, three months later, progress is visible only in select pockets. Officials admit delays are linked to poor bidder response, shortage of skilled manpower and disputes with telecom and internet service providers whose cables are tied to PSPCL poles. c m y b Toll rises to 13, three still missing Two days after the Vrindavan boat tragedy that snuffed out 11 lives of state residents, two more bodies of residents of the district were found from the Yamuna in Vrindavan on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Dinky Bansal from Dugri (Ludhiana) and Rishabh Sharma from Jagraon. The death toll had reached 13 while three pilgrims were still missing. Minister Sanjeev Arora with kin of boat tragedy victims at Dugri in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN CM to make announcement about financial 36-yr-old man ends life due to assistance to women on Ambedkar’s birth anniv ‘harassment’ by wife, in-laws Mahesh Sharma port from both governments and his personal office, telling the families that they could reach out to him at any time. Sidhu, who was present during the visit, echoed the minister’s sentiments and pledged to provide all necessary assistance at the local level. A web of electricity cables at a locality in Ludhiana. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN Garbage collectors protest; residents face trouble Ludhiana, April 12 Residents faced inconvenience after garbage collectors staged a protest at Pratap Chowk here on Sunday, blocking traffic for nearly half an hour while raising slogans against the state government, the Mayor and the MC Commissioner. They parked their carts at the chowk, disrupting traffic, and later moved towards the bus stand bridge, where they dumped waste near a compactor in protest. Garbage collectors, including Rajesh Kumar, Sadhu Ram, Nitin Parcha and Parminder, alleged that they had been facing harassment for the past six days. They said there were 32 compactors in 95 wards and the authorities had been claiming to increase their number but no addition had been made in the past one year. They alleged that they reach near compactors early in the morning with waste collected from households, but were often made to wait for hours on the pretext of machines being out of order. “For the past three days, the gates of compactors have remained closed, citing that drivers are on leave. We were left waiting outside with loaded carts,” they said. The protesters alleged that at times, they were told that roads to the main dump are in a poor condition or that no drivers were available, which delays waste disposal. They said questioned the role of the new company which was awarded a contract worth around Rs 1,400 crore. “Around 20,000 families are dependent on the work. If we are not allowed to dump waste, where will we go?” they asked. The protesters also alleged that they were being asked to pay Rs 200 each by certain officials at dumping points. Meanwhile, leaders of the SAD extended support to the protesters. — TNS