21042022-LT-01.qxd 4/21/2022 12:35 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana TRIBUNE COME HARVESTING, STUBBLE BURNING STARTS AIR POLLUTION PAGE 2 With wheat harvesting season touching its peak, incidents of farm fires have also started increasing in district. FORECAST CLOUDY SKY JULIA ROBERTS TALKS ABOUT HER LOOK IN WEB SERIES GASLIT PAGE 3 SHAH RUKH ANNOUNCES HIS NEXT WITH RAJKUMAR HIRANI The Hollywood star has shared details about her transformation as Martha Mitchell with the help of prosthetics. MAX 37°C | MIN 26°C | YESTERDAY MAX 40°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6:58 PM PAGE 4 Shah Rukh Khan is set to collaborate with director Rajkumar Hirani for the first time and the movie is titled Dunki. SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:51 AM THURSDAY | 21 APRIL 2022 | LUDHIANA 6 days on, waste still burning at GLADA official holds spot checks, MC’s main garbage dumpsite notices issued to building owners RISE IN ILLEGAL COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES IN DUGRI PAC members submit complaint; seek FIR against Mayor, MC chief Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 20 Accusing the MC authorities of allegedly ‘disobeying the law by causing damage to the environment, framing incorrect records regarding solid waste management and failing to douse the flames at its main garbage dumpsite’, members of a public action committee (PAC) on Wednesday submitted a complaint to the Sarabha Nagar police, demanding registration of an FIR against the MC Commissioner, Mayor, health officer and other officials concerned of the civic body. The complainants, Gurpal Singh Grewal, Kapil Dev Arora, Jaskirat Singh, Kuldeep Singh Khaira and others, alleged: “The MC authorities framed incorrect information in the District Environment Plan, which they submitted to the monitoring committee appointed by the NGT. In the plan, the MC authorities claimed that source segregation has been achieved to 50 per cent through the informal sector, whereas, as per facts mentioned in the report submitted by the monitoring committee it was clearly mentioned that about 5 per cent of the solid waste is being segregated.” Kapil Arora said around 20 lakh metric tonnes of garbage have been dumped at the main dumpsite so far while around 1,100 metric tonnes of waste is generated on a daily basis in the city. “Due to the gross negligence and failure in processing waste by the MC, the groundwater has been con- Smoke emanates from refuse at the MC’s main garbage dumpsite near Kakka village. ASHWANI DHIMAN ‘GARBAGE DUMPED ALONG DRAIN POLLUTING SUTLEJ’ The complainants alleged that the garbage was dumped along the Buddha Nullah and it often falls in the drain further polluting the Sutlej. Activist Gurpal Singh Grewal said the MC had failed to control fire incidents at the dumpsite, leaving the public to suffer a lot. The burning waste was causing damage to the environment, he said. taminated in the dumpsite area and is not fit for drinking. Despite directions of the NGT panel, the MC failed to provide safe drinking water to the public residing within 2 km radius of the dumpsite,” he alleged. The complainants alleged that garbage was dumped along the Buddha Nullah and it often falls in the drain further polluting the Sutlej. Activist Gurpal Singh Grewal said the MC had failed to control fire incidents at the dumpsite, leaving the public to suffer a lot. The burning waste was causing damage to the environment, he said. The complainants demand- ed from the Sarabha Nagar SHO to register an FIR against MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, Dr Vipal Malhotra and other officials concerned of the civic body. They alleged that these officials had been committing the offence knowingly and in active connivance with each other and their such acts were causing damage to the environment and injury to the public at large, including the complainants. On the other hand, the MC officials claimed they were making all possible efforts to improve the solid waste management sys- tem. MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal said the civic body was going to set up a waste-to-energy plant and a firm would conduct a survey in this regard soon. “Our teams have studied solid waste management model of various cities. We are following the process and measures are being taken to resolve the issues,” he said. Even after the passing of six days, the MC has failed to douse the fire at its main garbage dumpsite, spread over around 50 acres near Kakka village. The people generally face irritation in the eyes and it is even hard to breathe due to the poisonous smoke emanating from the burning waste. Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said officials had been deployed to ensure that fire at the dumpsite be doused soon. The MC was trying to improve the solid waste management. Kuldip Bhatia Ludhiana, April 20 Thanks to the slack enforcement of building bylaws and poor regulatory control on the part of Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) in its colonies, illegal commercial buildings are proliferating all across Dugri, especially on 200-feet wide Dugri Bypass Road. Several market complexes, hotels, hospitals and other commercial buildings were being constructed with impunity without any approved building plan, change of land use while at some places residential buildings were being converted into commercial in violation of terms and conditions of allotment. In the wake of complaints from the public and residents of affected areas, GLADA Chief Administrator (CA) Sandeep Kumar, along with officials of the engineering branch, made a spot check of several underconstruction commercial buildings on Dugri Bypass Road on Tuesday and directed officials to issue notices to building owners on the spot, if not issued earlier. At some places, where nobody was available to accept the notices, the same were pasted on the buildings concerned. “Through these notices, owners of all such underconstruction buildings have been strictly warned not to continue with any further construction work. At the same time, those Several illegal commercial buildings are being constructed in Dugri; and (below) a notice issued to a violator pasted on the wall of an illegal building in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTOS GLADA CA: VIOLATORS TO FACE STRICT ACTION GLADA CA Sandeep Kumar asserted that notices had been issued to all owners of illegal commercial buildings which were under construction in areas under the administrative control of GLADA in the city. “Violators will be sternly dealt with, all non-compoundable constructions will be demolished and action would be taken against all illegal constructions, extensions and violations of terms and conditions of allotment,” he said. behind violations of the building bylaws have been asked to produce relevant documents such as approved building plans, change of land use — if obtained and ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) from the competent authority (GLADA),” said an official of engineering branch. Sanjay Tiwari, president of Samaj Sewa Society, a residents’ body in Dugri, said several complaints had been lodged with GLADA officials against illegal construction activity and encroachments in the Dugri main market, Dugri Bypass Road and in residential areas. “Affected residents had also staged a dharna under the banner of the society a few days ago to wake up the officials concerned from their deep slumber, but to no avail,” he said. GLADA CA Sandeep Kumar asserted that notices had been issued to all owners of illegal commercial buildings which were under construction in areas under the administrative control of GLADA in the city. “Violators will be sternly dealt with, all non-compoundable constructions will be demolished and action as per prevailing rules would be taken against all illegal constructions, extensions and violations of terms and conditions of allotment,” he said. Capacity of STPs to be increased to 1,200 MLD: Gogi 2 test positive for Covid in dist Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 20 Ludhiana (West) MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi said today that the capacity of all sewerage treatment plants (STPs) would be increased to 1,200 MLD as the existing capacity of 703 MLD was insufficient to tackle present day needs. He said the capacity would be increased keeping in mind future requirements so that people did not suffer. He directed Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board Ludhiana (West) MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi interacts with MC officials during a meeting in Ludhiana. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA officials to prepare a detailed proposal in this regard, after which he would take up the issue with the state govern- ment for getting funds. The MLA stated this during a meeting held at the MC Zone D office in Sarabha Nagar, here, today. The meeting was also attended by MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal, Zonal Commissioner Jasdev Singh Sekhon, besides other senior officials. The Ludhiana (West) MLA said the current capacity of all STPs (including those under construction) was 703 MLD (million litres per day). He said as per rough estimate, a person uses around 150-165 litres of water daily and keeping in mind the population of the district, the existing capacity of 703 MLD was not even sufficient for the current population. “If we want to spend funds for the welfare of the public, it should be spent in such a manner that we keep in mind requirements of next at least 15-20 years,” he said, adding that previous governments did not pay any heed towards the issue. He also directed the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials to dissolve the current monitoring committee and formulate a new committee consisting of experts. continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 20 Two fresh cases of Covid-19 were reported here on Wednesday. Both patients belong to Ludhiana district. Civil Surgeon SP Singh said a total of 10,9,823 positive cases from Ludhiana district and 14,749 cases from other districts or states had been confirmed till date. He said a total of 2,279 patients from the district and 1,125 patients from other districts or states COVID-19 FIGURES SAMPLES POSITIVE ACTIVE DEATHS 34,69,722 1,09,823 22 1 2,279 For info Contact: 0161-2444193 & 4622276 A man gives a sample for the Covid test in Ludhiana on Wednesday. INDERJEET VERMA have died of the virus so far. Meanwhile, there were 22 active cases in the district on Wednesday. Of them, 19 patients were in home isolation while three were hospitalised. Everything shattered, I’m left to fend for myself: Lone survivor Six held under NDPS All seven members of Rajesh’s family were burnt alive in fire that broke out in their hut early on Wednesday morning Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 20 The tragic incident of fire in a shanty near MC garbage dump yard on the Tajpur road in the wee hours of this morning that killed seven members of a family, including a two-year-old boy, has shattered the lone survivor in the family, Rajesh Sahni (17), son of Suresh Sahni. The deceased, Suresh Sahni (55), his wife Runa Devi (50) and their children Rakhi Kumari (15), Manisha Kumari (10), Chanda Kumari (8), Geeta Kumari (6) and Sunny (2), are the natives of Samastipur, Bihar. They have been staying in Ludhiana for the past about two decades. Rajesh Sahni in Ludhiana. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN Their family was earning their livelihood from rag picking and by collecting trash from landfills. “My sister Rakhi’s marriage was due in the coming days. All family members had bought clothes and other valuables for her. Even my father had kept borrowed cash in the hut. The family was excited for the marriage but the incident has shattered everything. Now, I am left to fend for myself,” wailing Rajesh told The Tribune on Wednesday. Rajesh was sleeping in his friend’s hut when the incident occurred. After listening to cries, he woke up and was shocked to see that his shanty was on fire, Rajesh said, adding that he could clearly hear loud screams of his family members. But he was helpless. He, along with other residents, also tried to douse the flames but the raging fire could not be controlled. Rajesh said since cash and other valuables were kept at the hut due to the upcoming marriage, his father used to lock the shanty every night. When fire broke out, it engulfed the entire hut in a few seconds. “My family could not able to find keys to open the lock due to sudden fire. Hence, they were charred to death. A lock was also recovered from the site,” said Rajesh. c m y b Nearby shanty occupants had a miraculous escape Ranju Devi and her son Bittu was living almost near to the ill-fated shanty of the deceased and they too had a miraculous escape. “We were sleeping when the fire broke down. When the fire started catching our shanty, residents reached the spot to alert us. When we didn’t respond, residents broke the door of our shanty and saved our lives,” Ranju said. It’s a conspiracy, probe needed, say kin Kajol Devi and Ram Baabu, kin of the deceased, said it was not a accident. It seems that someone intentionally put the shanty on fire. How could the entire shanty catch fire in less than a minute, some miscreants could have sprayed some inflammables, they said. “We want the police and the government to thoroughly investigate the incident and crack the conspiracy, if any. Suresh and his family had no enmity with anyone,” said Baabu. Residents of other shanties had also raised suspicion over the incident. Around 50 illegal shanties near dumpsite Around 50 illegal shanties are located near the dumpsite. The MC has failed to remove these encroachments. All of them have got illegal electricity connections also. Most of the people living in these shanties are from Bihar, UP and other places. Act in separate cases Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 20 The Ludhiana (Rural) Police claimed to have arrested six persons under the NDPS Act, out of the seven accused booked in six cases, registered at the Hathur and Jodhan police stations near here. The accused have been identified as Lachhman Singh Patwari of Acharwal village, Babu Singh Madhi of Acharwal, Manjit Kaur of Hathur village, Opinder Singh Pinder of Manuke village, Gurmel Singh Golu of Dehrka village, Satnam Singh of Bhamipura Kalan village and Satpal Singh of Latala village. All accused, except Babu, were arrested by police parties from various places on the intervening night of Tues- day and Wednesday. Raikot DSP Rajwinder Singh Randhawa said the police personnel, led by ASI Sulakhan Singh of the Hathur police station, had nabbed Lachhman Singh of Chakar village, who along with his accomplice had been involved in illegal distillation of liquor at his house. While the police are yet to arrest Babu and identify another accomplice, if any, paraphernalia used in preparation of the illicit liquor and 40 litres of Lahan were recovered. Separate teams of police personnel had arrested the other accused and recovered substantial quantities of poppy husk and heroin from them. — OC