07052023-LT-01.qxd 5/7/2023 12:39 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CIVIL HOSPITAL STAFF WITHOUT SALARY FOR TWO MONTHS STARRING ADITI, RABB SE HAI DUA CROSSES 100 EPISODES Aditi Sharma, who plays the character of Dua in show, says aim is to make audience connect with the story. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 21°C SINGER LIONEL RICHIE ATTENDS KING CHARLES’ CORONATION Contractual staff working under user charges policy have not been paid salaries for March and April. P2 FORECAST Several pictures of the celebrities attending the ceremony has gone viral on social media. P4 » » SUNSET SUNDAY 7.09 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5:36 AM » SUNDAY | 7 MAY 2023 | LUDHIANA Elderly man diesof Covid, 9 test +ve Ludhiana, May 6 Today, one person lost his life due to Covid while nine more tested positive. The person who lost his life was a 73-yearold man. He was admitted to Hero DMC Heart Institute. The victim was not vaccinated and he was a chronic heart patient for the past 15 years. He was having fever for the past seven days. On Saturday, nine persons tested positive for Covid. The positivity rate was 1.05 per cent and there were 99 active cases in the district. Eight patients suffering from Covid are admitted to various hospitals and one patient is on ventilator today. Those who tested positive today include three persons who were suffering from influenza-like illness, one diagnosed during the OPD visit, one healthcare worker, one contact of a positive patient and one undertrial. Two people are still being traced by the Health Department. Civil Surgeon Hitinder Kaur said 1,14,470 persons have tested positive and a total of 3,027 patients have lost their lives to the deadly virus since March 2020 in the district. On Saturday, 855 samples were sent for testing which include 671 RT-PCR and 184 antigen samples. — TNS FIGURES Samples Positive Deaths 41,13,106 1,14,470 3,027 FOR ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO COVID Contact 0161-2444193 0161-4622276 Extended deadline nears, work at int’l airport picks up pace Terminal building reaches halfway mark, overall progress 35% Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 6 As the extended deadline is nearing, the work to construct the interim terminal building and undertake the remaining allied works at the upcoming international airport in Halwara, close to Ludhiana, has been further escalated, the government has said. While the interim terminal building has reached the halfway mark, the overall progress of the project has achieved 35 per cent completion, officials have revealed. The development assumes significance as June 30 was fixed as the fresh deadline for the completion of the Rs 47crore project after missing two deadlines of January and June 2022 in the past. A senior government functionary told The Tribune, here on Saturday, that the construction work of the project was divided into two parts — construction of internal roads, estate public health services and campus lighting in the interim airport terminal and construction of interim airport terminal building at Air Force Station in Halwara, which is one of the oldest frontline airbases of the Indian Air Force (IAF), close to Ludhiana. While the first part was allotted on November 8, 2021, the second was awarded on December 9, 2021. Both works were stopped by the agencies in April and May, 2022, due to non-payment of funds by GLADA. The work had resumed on Work in progress at the upcoming international airport at Halwara in Ludhiana on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN No check on violations at Bhadaur House parking lots Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 6 Despite claims of the Municipal Corporation authorities to ensure transparency at parking lots, violations continue at the Bhadaur House parking lots and another lot near the AC market, which fall under the Ludhiana North constituency. The parking lots were auctioned to a private contractor for Rs. 34.71 lakh in October 2022. The contractor has not fulfilled his obligation of issuing e-tickets to all visitors, as per the agreement. In some cases, no fee slip is issued and a manual slip is given, if requested. Recently, a parking employee allegedly overcharged a visitor who had parked his two-wheeler outside the AC market but no slip was issued to him. Large parking fee boards were removed from the lots E-TICKETS NOT BEING ISSUED TO ALL VISITORS The contractor has not fulfilled his obligation of issuing e-tickets to most of the visitors, as per the agreement, at the Bhadaur House parking lot and another lot near the AC market. In some cases, no fee slip is issued and a manual slip is given, if requested. Recently, a parking employee allegedly overcharged a visitor who had parked his two-wheeler outside the AC market but no slip was issued to him. shortly after the contractor took over last year. Though some smaller boards have been placed, they are often located in inappropriate areas and not easily visible or readable. Furthermore, there are no CCTV cameras installed at the lots. Residents have expressed concerns stating that though the Municipal Corporation had increased the monthly parking pass rates and introduced a bi-hourly parking system, there is no transparency at these lots. A resident, Satinderpal Singh, said: “e-tickets must be issued to all visitors who park their vehicles. Big parking fee boards should be displayed at the entrance and exit of all lots there. Moreover, the authorities are urged to conduct surprise checks to ensure accountability.” Some traders at Bhadaur House Market and AC Market had previously objected to the increased parking rates when the lots were handed over to the contractor last year. Meanwhile, MC’s Joint Commissioner Kulpreet Singh, who heads the Tehbazari branch, could not be contacted for comments. TURN OF EVENTS April 11: Work for allied works allotted Nov 17, 2022: Work resumes Nov 9, 2022: Punjab Government decides to take up the project and release ~50 crore for balance work. May 2022: Punjab Government approached AAI to bear the cost of balance work after GLADA failed to release funds March 2022: Both contractors stopped work for want of payments Dec 9, 2021: Work awarded to construct interim airport terminal at ~2,272.5-lakh Nov 8, 2021: Work of internal roads and allied infrastructure awarded at ~1,604.15-lakh Oct 26, 2021: Punjab Civil Aviation Secretary issued administrative approval for release of ~4,290.42 lakh through GLADA Oct 22, 2021: AAI accorded formal nod to construct new interim terminal building at ~4,691.12-lakh PROJECT REPORT Total area Terminal area Awarded cost 161.28 acres 2,000 sq m ~3,876.65 lakh November 17 last after the state government had made available Rs 50-crore corpus for the project. Divulging the current progress status, the func- Boundary wall, approach road ~309.33 cr Missed deadlines Fresh deadline tionary said the overall progress of the project had achieved 35 per cent mark while the interim terminal building had touched 45 per cent completion. January and June 2022 June 30 Among other components, the substation was 38 per cent complete, toilet block 55 per cent, apron 20 per cent, taxiway 15 per cent, while internal continued on page 2 Vehicles at a parking lot in the Bhadaur House market, Ludhiana. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA 4 land in police net with heroin 54 kg of poppy husk seized, Bihar native nabbed Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 6 The city police yesterday arrested four persons in separate drug smuggling cases and seized 77 gm of heroin from their possession. In the first incident, the Ladhowal police arrested Sarabjit Singh of Bhatha Dhuha village and seized 43 gm of heroin from his possession. Investigating officer ASI Gurmeet Singh said a tip-off was received that the suspect was standing on a road in Hambran to deliver heroin to his clients. The police party conducted a raid and nabbed him along with the drug. In another case, the Meharban police arrested two smugglers, Jaswinder Singh of Mangli Tanda and Shanu of the Jagirpur road area, and seized 29 gm of heroin from them. SI Jugeshwar Sharma said the police party was conducting a routine checking at Gonsgarh village where on suspicion the scooter-borne duo was signalled to stop for checking. During their frisking, 29 gm of heroin was seized from them. The police arrested Mansimranjit Singh of Shimlapuri and seized 5 gm of heroin from him. The suspect was arrested from Gobind Nagar in Shimlapuri. Separate cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were registered against the suspects. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 6 The CIA wing of the city police today arrested a man, a Bihar native, and seized 54 kg of poppy husk from his possession. The suspect has been identified as Rahish Ahmed (32), a native of Bihar, at present staying in Hallo Majra, Chandigarh. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered against the suspect. CIA in-charge Inspector Beant Juneja said acting on a tip-off, the police were patrolling near Sahnewal here where on suspicion a motorcyclist was signalled to stop for checking. During the checking of the suspect’s belongings, 35 kg of poppy husk was seized. The suspect was a autorickshaw driver. He started the illegal trade to become rich in a short span of time. Earlier, he was arrested twice in liquor smuggling cases, the police offcial said. The Inspector said during preliminary questioning, Rahish admitted that he had kept 19 kg of poppy husk at his another rented accommodation in Sahnewal, Ludhiana. The police personnel conducted a raid and recovered the same from the spot. Now, the police remand of the man would be sought to bust the entire supply line and identify big smugglers of Rajasthan with whom Rahish was in touch. The suspect in police custody in Ludhiana on Saturday. Frame comprehensive policy to curb pollution, govt urged Inmate escapes from Authorities must establish state commission for protecting environment, says environmentalist GIASPURA TRAGEDY Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 6 After the recent Giaspura gas tragedy, in which 11 persons, including three children, died allegedly due to inhaling toxic gas, environmentalists are urging the state government to frame a comprehensive policy for the protection of the environment and to establish an environment commission for the state. Environmental activist Col Jasjit Singh Gill (retd) has suggested that the state government should establish a Punjab environment commission to take timely measures for the protection of the environment. Polluted water being released into a drain on the Shingar Cinema road in Ludhiana. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA It was crucial to take exemplary action against those who were dumping untreated waste into sewers or water bodies and contaminating the environment with the harmful substances, he said. Colonel Gill emphasised the need for making a comprehensive policy by the government to address issues related to air, water, noise, and soil pollution in the state. Currently, Rs 650 crore was being spent on the rejuvenation of the Buddha Nullah, but no measures had been taken to curb the pollution caused by scattered dyeing, electroplating, steel, dairies and other units. The untreated industrial effluent was still being dumped into sewers and waterbodies without any fear of the law. Hence, there was a dire need for an environment commission to act against all such violations as the departments concerned had failed to do the needful. Role of PPCB, MC too under scanner The role of the PPCB and c m y b the civic body is also under scanner for allegedly ignoring many of the polluters for a long time. “Colourful water is commonly seen releasing into the Buddha Nullah from outlets of common effluent treatment plants, a newly constructed 225 MLD sewerage treatment plant of the Jamalpur STP and other , outlets. But the authorities concerned such as the PPCB and the MC have failed to take concrete action in this regard. The untreated waste from dyeing units is being dumped into sewers without any check. It is a serious matter as polluted water from the nullah further flows into the Sutlej. The govern- ment must create a comprehensive policy to act against the violators who are polluting the air, water, and soil,” said Kapil Arora, president of Council of Engineers. Col CM Lakhanpal (retd), a member of the Buddha Darya Action Front, raised concerns about erring industries that dispose of untreated waste in water bodies or MC sewers. He said the existing nexus of environmental crime occurring due to lust and greed must be demolished. “The dumping of dangerous chemical substances into the sewer, Buddha Darya and subsoil must be stopped. Let’s keep raising our common voices continued on page 2 jail, officials on toes Ludhiana, May 6 An inmate of the Central Jail here escaped from the jail premises last night. After the incident, the Jail Department was on its toes to trace the man. IGP (Prisons) RK Arora also visited the jail to inquire about the matter. As per information, inmate Rohan was taken to the district courts for hearing on Friday morning. Later, he along with other inmates returned to the jail. On Friday night when the officials were checking the count of inmates, Rohan was found missing. “When the officials came to know about the incident, they sounded an alert and a search operation was launched. The Police Department was also informed about the matter,” sources said. The Jail Department suspected that the inmate could have used an under-construction tower inside the jail to escape. He seemed to have climbed the tower and then scaled the outer wall to escape. CCTV cameras of the jail were also being checked by the police to know the escape route of the fugitive. Besides the IGP (Prisons), senior officials of the Ludhiana police had also visited the jail and launched a search operation to nab the man. — TNS