04052022-JTR-01.qxd 5/3/2022 11:39 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar TRIBUNE PAGE 2 ‘MILK, CURD, LASSI, BANANA, RICE DO NOT WORSEN ASTHMA’ On the occasion of World Asthma Day, Dr HJ Singh said bronchial asthma was becoming a global health problem. FORECAST MAINLY CLOUDY SKY KIM KARDASHIAN SLIPS INTO MARILYN MONROE’S DRESS PAGE 3 Met Gala witnessed stars impersonating stars and names of historic women embroidered on designer gowns. MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C | YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7:09 PM AALISHA BELIEVES SUCCESS OF ANY SHOW IS A TEAM EFFORT PAGE 4 There are a lot of factors that contribute to the success of any project, the chemistry between actors being one. SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:39 AM WEDNESDAY | 4 MAY 2022 | JALANDHAR Stubble-burning cases see five-fold rise in dist Burning kills friendly worms in soil, making it infertile: Experts Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 3 Paddy stubble burning has always remained an issue in the state, but now wheat straw burning cases are also on the rise. In Jalandhar alone, according to the official data, as many as 166 cases of stubble burning have been reported, which were only 33 last year, which means there is a fivefold increase this year in stubble-burning cases. The situation has emerged even though paddy sowing is far away and farmers have enough time to manage stubble without burning. Rising numbers of stubble burning are alarming. Experts say stubble can be cultivated in land, but farmers are burning it because they find it easy and no cost is involved. It has become a habit now, they say. Officials said it is not advised at all, but most farmers want to resort to easy INBRIEF SEDATIVES SEIZED, 4 SMUGGLERS HELD This is a familiar scene across the state with farmers burning wheat stubble in their fields on Jalandhar-Ropar highway near Nawanshahr. are organised from time to time for farmers ❝Camps are made aware of the overall negative impact where they and effects on the soil of stubble burning. ❞ Surinder Singh, CHIEF AGRICULTURE OFFICER, JALANDHAR methods even as stubble can also be managed easily. Agriculture Department officials say that because of this, accidents were also reported in some parts of the state. “Smoke emanating from the fields blocked the view of SONALIKA GROUP DEPUTY HONOURED Hoshiarpur: Amrit Sagar Mittal, vice-chairman of Sonalika Group, the country’s famous industrialist and social worker, has been honoured with an honorary doctorate degree by GNA, the leading university of Punjab, for his remarkable contribution in social and economic activities. Gurdeep Singh Sihra, president, GNA University, said, “In the 80s, Sonalika Group had established the world’s largest tractor plant in an industrially backward area like Hoshiarpur.” University Vice-Chancellor Dr VK Rattan said it is a matter of great pride for GNA University to confer a doctorate on Mittal for his role in various social welfare works. OC BRIGHT SUMMER SEASON BLOOM IS HERE Sudden power cuts, PSPCL notices irk city industrialists Tribune News Service Hoshiarpur: The district police have arrested four smugglers by recovering a huge quantity of narcotics from them from different places during the last 24 hours. The police arrested Amandeep Singh, alias Aman, a resident of Jagatpura, and recovered 78 grams of intoxicating powder from him. Gurpreet Singh, alias Guru, a resident Basant Bihar, was arrested by the police and 22 grams of heroin was seized from him. Similarly, during a naka in the area, Mehtiana police arrested Jatinder Singh Jimmy, a resident of Mayo Patti, and Lakhwinder Singh, a resident of Ajram, and recovered a large number of sedative capsules from them. The police have also taken the vehicle of the accused into their possession. Separate cases under the NDPS Act have been registered against them. OC commuters resulting in head-on collisions between vehicles,” they said. Surinder Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Jalandhar, said camps are organised from time to time for farmers where they are made aware of the overall negative impact and effects on the soil. Experts say stubble burning by farmers kill friendly worms in the soil too and also make the soil infertile. “If we want to protect our environment, it is very important to stop burning stubble,” the experts said. Lakhwinder Singh, a farmer from Turna village in Phillaur, who sows wheat on eight acres of his land, said he cultivates stubble directly into the land. “We often ask others to follow the same and not indulge in stubble burning,” he said. A farmer from Nurmehal said it was an easy way out. “Also, I saw other farmers burning stubble, so I did the same,” he said. Asked if he was willing to manage stubble by opting for some other options advised by the Agriculture Department, he said he would see if other farmers opt for the same. Jalandhar, May 3 Unscheduled power cuts and sudden notices from Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) offices to shut units have always troubled unit owners. Industrialists are now finding themselves on tenterhooks as they don’t know what the future holds for them. Last Friday, the industrialists received a message from PSPCL asking them to avoid working on Saturday. The owners obeyed, but they say that there should be a proper scheduled plan, and prior information should be given to them with regard to running their units. The industrialists are now wary of power cuts in the future. “The grim situation is hinting towards more power cuts and such messages from PSPCL officials requesting us not to work. ❝ The grim situation is hinting towards more power cuts and messages from PSPCL officials requesting us not to work is affecting us badly. You cannot even imagine how much loss we suffer if we don't work for one day. ❞ An industrialist But this affects us badly. You cannot even imagine how much loss we suffer if we don’t work for one day,” a trader said. Balram Kapur, an industrialist, said a meeting was held with the PSPCL Chairman in Patiala. “Power cuts have just started. It seems these will continue for a while. But we really hope that this newly formed government will think about us and will not trouble us. No one has given us 100% assurance on this issue,” he said. He added that the Jalandhar industry suffers a lot even if it doesn’t work for a day. “We have to give wages to the workers on a daily basis even if the unit is not operational,” he informed. Ravinder Dhir, another unit owner, said in such situations, there must be an alternative day for the industrialists. “Industry band karna koi hal nahee hai’, but it is becoming clear that we will have to face such problems again,” he said. “Why does the industry always have to suffer. Running our units using generators is also not a feasible option anymore. The price of diesel is skyrocketing so the government must understand our problems,” he said. A PSPCL official requesting anonymity said nothing can be said for now. “Anything can happen. Everything depends on the situation,” he said. (From top): Bougainvillea bushes lined along the wall of Police Lines dotted with pink flowers; flame-like orange hues emanating from a Gulmohar tree near Press Club Chowk; and yellow flowers hanging down from a tree of Amaltas along a road in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: SARABJIT SINGH E VEN as the summer season brings along its miseries and woes for the common man, the Mother Nature pops up the brightest bloom on its trees perhaps sending across a message to everyone to look at the brighter side. As one takes a morning or an evening stroll along the roadsides and service lanes in the city, one can enjoy the most spectacular site of the trees all covered with flowers in yellow, orange, red and pink colours — the colours of flame. The site of beautifully hanging bunches of Amaltas trees can be seen along the DC office road and Guru Nanak Mission Chowk. The Gulmohar trees at Namdev Chowk, Model Town and other areas can be spotted from a distance as the entire tree has donned the orange colour. The bottle brush and hibiscus bushes with red colours can be spotted along the Old Baradari area. Many city residents have planted bougainvilleas along their boundary walls which can be spotted in pink, orange and white colours. The bushes of madhumalti in pink and white, aprajita in purple, jacaranda tree in mauve, fragrant white flowers of jasmine and gardenia too are a summer delight for the nature lovers. Jasmehar, a teenager, said: “The bright colour trees these days form a perfect background for taking selfies these days during morning jogging hours”. A passionate garden lover, Ravinder Kaur, says: “Even as winter has the best seasonal flowering plants, summers have the best perennial flowering trees and I really wait to see them all bloom and then form a carpet of flowers of the road after they are shed”. — TNS Car snatching case cracked, 1 held Drug overdose? Addict found Weapon, snatched car recovered; two accused still at large Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 3 The city police on Tuesday arrested a person who was involved in snatching the car at gunpoint in Johal Market. The crime took place in the city a few days ago. His two accomplices are still at large. A country-made weapon (desi katta) and five live rounds have also been recovered from the accused along with the snatched vehicle. A Hyundai Creta car (PB 08 ED 5400) was snatched at gunpoint on the evening of April 18 from Sanjha Chullah near Johal Market. Divulging the details, Police commissioner (CP) Gurpreet The recoverd car and weapon used in crime. Singh Toor said a team of police officers was constituted under Deputy Commissioner of Police Jaskaranjit Singh Teja, ADCP II Harpal Singh Randhawa and Assistant Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Gill. The CP said on a tip-off, the police arrested the kingpin identified as Rachpal Singh, alias Bhola, of Daulewala village in Moga district. He was arrested in his native village. As per the information, two FIRs under various Sections of c m y b the NDPS Act and snatching were already lodged against the accused at Shahkot and Kot Isse Khan police stations. Toor said brother of the accused Dayal Singh was already behind the bars as a case under the NDPS Act was registered against him. A case under the NDPS Act has also been registered against the mother of the accused Baljinder Kaur. Toor said raids were also being conducted to nab the other two accused identified as Manjinder Singh, alias Kaalu, and Lakhwinder Singh, alias Lakhu. Toor added that the accused had fled from the spot after committing the crime. dead with a syringe in his pocket Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 3 A man in his 30s died under mysterious circumstances at Jainpur village in Sultanpur Lodhi here on Tuesday. The body was found in the fields with a syringe in his pocket indicating that he had consumed an intoxicant. The police said the deceased was a drug addict and might have died due to drug overdose. However, the family members alleged that their son was murdered by two of his acquaintances. On the complaint of the victim’s family members, a case has been registered under Section 304 (Causing death by negligence) of the IPC against the two acquaintances. They informed the police that one of the accused was the deceased’s friend and another used to smuggle drugs. One accused, identified as Gurpreet Singh, has also been arrested while search for the second one is on. A polythene was found inside the deceased’s mouth which was pointing toward murder, but the police said there were several polythene papers lying near the body, so there was a possibility that one of the polythenes might have got stuck in his mouth with the wind. The deceased was unmar- ried and was into farming. His father died long ago and he was living with his mother and paternal family. The police said the victim had taken Rs 10,000 from his commission agent. “He wanted to get a gold ornament for himself. So, out of ~10,000, he had already given ~4,000 to the jeweller, and the remaining money might have been used by him to buy intoxicating substances,” DSP Rajesh Kakkar said. After conducting a post-mortem, the body was cremated today. The police added that investigation was going on and the second accused, who is at large, would be nabbed soon.