19012023-LT-01.qxd 1/19/2023 12:21 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune ~478 CRORE TO BE SPENT ON REVAMPING RAILWAY STATION ALI BABACAST RESUME SHOOT WEEKS AFTER TUNISHA’S DEATH PUSHPA 2 ACTRESS RASHMIKA OPENS UP ON TROLLS A 30-month deadline has been fixed to complete the makeover of junction into a modern railway station. P2 After Tunisha Sharma’s death and Sheezan Khan’s arrest, Ali Baba’s shoot had come to a standstill. P3 Rashmika Mandanna says she is one of the softest targets of trolls and has been at the receiving end. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 19°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 18°C | MIN 3°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.50 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:24 AM THURSDAY | 19 JANUARY 2023 | LUDHIANA units dumping Buddha Nullah bridge closed completely 27 dyeingwastecaughtsewer lines untreated in MC The fate of reconstruction remains uncertain as tenders have failed eight times PPCB officials asked to impose penalties, seal factories Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Tribune News Service The bridge was earlier closed for heavy vehicles in 2018 and for four-wheelers in January 2021. PHOTOS: INDERJEET VERMA The MC later floated tenders to get the bridge demolished at an estimated cost of around Rs 1.13 crore, but the file regarding this work had not been approved by the Finance and Contract Committee to date. Moreover, a fresh tender for the reconstruction of the bridge as per the revised design is yet to be floated. MC Executive Engineer Arvind Kumar said the bridge was now closed for two-wheelers now. It was already closed for other vehi- Recovery of bomb shell at military ground creates panic in Khanna Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 18 The recovery of a bomb shell object from the military ground in Khanna on Wednesday created a panic in Khanna. Soon after getting the information, senior officials of the Khanna police along with a bomb squad team from Jalandhar reached the spot. The entire area was cordoned off by the police. Military officials were also informed by the police. As per the information, this morning when some passersby noticed a bomb-like object they raised an alarm and the Khanna police was informed about it. Senior police officials requesting anonymity said the recovered object was like a bomb shell. It could have A bomb squad team was also called from Jalandhar to the site. been dumped here by some junk dealer. Talking to mediapersons, DSP Harpal said it was a live bomb and it would be disposed of in a safe manner. “It seems that it can be the work of some junk dealer and a probe would only clear it,” the DSP said. Meanwhile, shopkeepers of the area raised concern over the security of the residents. They alleged the police should conduct a probe to ascertain who dumped the bomb in the military ground. The recovery of the bomb ahead of the Republic Day celebrations has posed a challenge for the Khanna police. CCTV cameras of the area are being scanned by the police to get clues about the suspects. cles. “Once we have got the required permission from the F&CC, work would be started to demolish the old bridge. Tenders would be floated for the reconstruction of the bridge after getting the necessary approval,” he said. Meanwhile, the residents complained that the bridge was in a dilapidated condition and it got damaged in various portions. They demand the civic body to get the bridge reconstructed at the earliest. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 18 The Ludhiana Commissionerate on Wednesday inaugurated a 24x7 cybercrime help desk for city residents at the Sarabha Nagar police station. Now, any victim of cyber fraud can directly approach the help desk to lodge a complaint and officials will ensure timely solution of their grievances. The help desk was inaugurated by Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu, along with the Joint Commissioner of Police Saumya Mishra, ADCP Sameer Verma and ACP (Cyber Crime) Raj Kumar. CP Sidhu said staff deployed at the desk had been given advanced training regarding cyber frauds Police Commissioner Mandeep Sidhu inaugurates the help desk at the Sarabha Nagar police station. 4 COPS DEPUTED FOR ATTENDING TO COMPLAINTS: CP Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu said two cops would attend to complaints at the help desk in the morning shift and two in the evening shift. The strength would be further increased depending on the workload, the CP added. and they would be available at the desk 24x7 for the convenience of residents. Nitin Jain Tribune News Service “In addition to this help desk, we have also launched the helpline number 95011- Man found dead in village dispensary, murder suspected Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 18 A man was found murdered in the dispensary at Rayian village in Koom Kalan here on Tuesday night. The Koom Kalan police on Wednesday registered a murder case against unidentified persons and launched a further probe in the case. A maximum of 37 per cent victims of fatal road accidents in Ludhiana Police Commissionerate were two-wheeler riders in 2021. FILE STAKEHOLDERS GIVEN TRAINING the ❝Road safetyofcamps were held bybasisTraffic Police in all the districts the state on a daily in which major stakeholders were given training and road safety materials to make them aware of road safety initiatives taken by the Punjab Police for making roads safe for commuters. — AS Rai, ADGP (TRAFFIC) ❞ pedestrians comprised the total victims of the fatal road accidents, followed by 4 per cent cyclists, and the least 3 per cent passengers of the buses also lost their lives in the road mishaps. Besides, 10 per cent of other categories of non-motorised vehicles (NMT) were used by the victims of the fatal road accidents here. The government study also showed that a maximum of 39 per cent trucks and lorries were among the total impacting vehicles that caused the fatal road mishaps in the Police Commissionerate. Among other categories of impacting vehicles in the fatal road accidents, the second most dangerous category was that of 25 buses, which comprised 25 per cent of the total vehicles that caused the D of MC. Aggarwal said that the dyeing industry waste cannot be dumped in MC sewer lines as separate CETPs have been established to treat the industrial waste of dyeing industry. Dumping of industrial waste affects the machinery at the STPs and also adds to the pollution in the Buddha Nullah. Officials concerned of Municipal Corporation and PPCB have been directed to take strict action against the violators. Further the joint committee has also been asked to conduct inspections in industrial units situated in other parts of the city and take strict action if they are caught dumping waste in MC sewer lines. 24x7 help desk launched for cybercrime victims Two-wheelers most prone to fatal mishaps: Report Ludhiana, January 18 Two-wheelers are most prone to fatal road accidents in the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate, a latest government report has confirmed. Next to them are threewheelers, cars, vans and light motor vehicles (LMVs), the official statistics have revealed. The statistics were released in the report on Punjab Road Accidents and Traffic-2021, which was released by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav recently. According to the report prepared by a team led by ADGP (Traffic) AS Rai, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, a maximum of 37 per cent two-wheelers were the carriers of victims in the fatal road accidents in the limits of Ludhiana Police Commissionerate during 2021 while 16 per cent each of three-wheelers, cars, taxis, vans and LMVs were among the vehicles in which the victims of the fatal road mishaps travelled. As many as 478 road mishaps had claimed 380 lives and left 169 injured, including 135 seriously, within the limits of the Police Commissionerate in 2021. The report further highlighted that 13 per cent Ludhiana, January 18 As many as 27 dyeing units have been caught dumping untreated industrial waste in the Municipal Corporation’s (MC) sewer lines. According to MC officials, the inspections were recently conducted by joint committee of different departments formed under the project to clean Buddha Nullah and these units are situated in the areas falling under Zone A of MC. These are situated on Bahadurke road, Shivpuri, near Jalandhar bypass among other areas. The matter was discussed during the meeting held to monitor the progress under Rs 650 crore project to clean Buddha Nullah at MC Zone A on Wednesday. MC Commissioner Dr Shena Aggarwal, who chaired the meeting, recommended strict action against the dyeing units caught violating the norms. While MC officials were directed to snap the sewer connections of dyeing units, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials were directed to impose penalties and seal the respective units. The civic body officials stated that as of now inspections have been conducted in the areas falling under Zone A of MC and the joint committee will soon be conducting inspections in areas falling under Zone B, C and PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN Ludhiana, January 18 The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has closed the century-old bridge over the Buddha Nullah on the Old GT Road for two-wheelers as well. The bridge, declared unsafe in 2011, is located near Chand Cinema. Owing to its dilapidated condition, it was earlier closed for heavy vehicles in 2018 and for cars and other vehicles except for twowheelers in January 2021. Traffic was being diverted through a nearby bridge. Though the bridge is closed for the movement of all kinds of vehicles now, it is still not clear when the bridge will be reconstructed. Tenders floated to reconstruct the bridge at an estimated cost of Rs 5.84 crore have failed eight times in the past. fatal road mishaps followed by 18 per cent cars, taxis, vans and LMVs, 7 per cent threewheelers, 6 per cent twowheelers and 4 per cent other NMTs. The report mentioned that the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate had recorded an overall 34 per cent rise in the road accident deaths in 2021 as compared to 2020 when 283 persons had lost their lives and 184 others, including 139 serious and 45 minor, had sustained injuries in 418 road mishaps. While the months of February and July had been found to be most critical months with the maximum of 43 and 41 road accident fatalities, respectively, April turned out to be the safest month with c m y b KILLER STATS CATEGORY SHARE Two-wheelers 37% Three-wheelers 16% Cars, vans, LMVs 16% Pedestrians 13% Cyclists 4% Buses 3% Other NMTs 10% IMPACTING VEHICLES Trucks, lorries 39% Buses 25% Cars, vans, LMVs 18% Three-wheelers 7% Two-wheelers 6% Other NMTs 4% OVERVIEW Total accidents 478 Fatalities 380 Injured 169 Case registered against unidentified persons The deceased has been identified as Mahinder Singh. The complainant, Ranjot Singh, told the police that his father Mahinder was working as a mason and he was a habitual drunkard. On January 15, his father had gone to work, but didn’t return home. The victim’s son said he along with family members searched for his father but to no avail. On Tuesday night, some villagers noticed the body of his father in the village dispensary. Someone seemed to have killed him. Police said CCTV cameras of the village were being scanned to get clues about the killers. 01930. Any victim of cyber fraud who cannot come to the police station can lodge his complaint on the helpline number. The officials listening to his phone call will ensure complete help for cyber fraud victims. The staff will also help vic- tims in registering a further complaint on 1930, the national helpline of cybercrime, and the national helpline portal,” the CP said. He said the purpose of launching the help desk and helpline number was to ensure that people who had lost their hard-earned money to cybercriminals could get it back. Earlier, complainants had to visit different offices of police to lodge their cyber fraud complaints but with this initiative, they could get their solutions under one roof. So far, two cops will remain available for attending to complaints at the help desk in the morning shift and two in the evening shift. The strength will be further increased depending on the workload, the CP added. 50K water supply and sewerage connections illegal in city: Civic body Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 18 As it is suspected that water supply and sewerage connections of around 50,000 properties are illegal in the city, the Municipal Corporation is planning to launch a drive against violators. MC Commissioner Dr Shena Aggarwal has appealed to the public to get the illegal connections regularised or face action. According to Municipal Corporation records, there are 4.35 lakh properties in the city, out of which around 60,000 are vacant plots, parks etc. Of the remaining 3.75 properties, water supply and sewerage connections of around 3.25 properties are registered with the Municipal Corporation. An official said it is suspected that the connections of the remaining 50,000 properties are illegal. The MC chief said the civic body would soon launch a drive to catch defaulters across the city and hefty penalties would be imposed on them. The Municipal Corporation would also snap the water and sewer connections of the violators, if they failed to get them regularised, she added. Dr Aggarwal issued directions regarding the same to officials concerned of the Municipal Corporation during a meeting held at the MC’s Zone A office on Wednesday. Superintending Engineer (SE) of Operations and Maintenance (O and M) cell, Ravinder Garg, said residents could get the connections regularised by visiting MC offices or consulting the junior engineers (JE) and sub-divisional officers (SDO) concerned of their respective areas. The residents can also apply for connections online at mcludhiana.gov.in. In case of queries, residents can also contact the executive engineers concerned of their areas. The Executive Engineers include Pardeep Saluja for Zone A (97800-39407), Ranbir Singh for Zone B and C (97800-39477), and Ekjot Singh for Zone D (97800-13004).