23102023-ATR-01.qxd 10/23/2023 12:56 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune ANNUAL SPORTS MEET ENDS AT SAINIK SCHOOL RASHMIKA'S NEXT FILM TITLED THE GIRLFRIEND Actress Rashmika Mandanna is set to headline The Girlfriend, a film presented by veteran producer. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 28°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 19°C POOJA GOR VENTURES INTO SPACE OF AUDIO SERIES Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian exhorted students of Sainik School to focus on their goal. P2 FORECAST Actress Pooja Gor has entered the captivating realm of audio series in collaboration with Pocket FM. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 5.50 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6.39 AM » MONDAY | 23 OCTOBER 2023 | AMRITSAR MC elections unlikely by Nov 15 Cab driver robbed of Preparation of electoral rolls still under way car; 1 held after chase Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 22 For the ensuing Municipal Corporation elections, ticket aspirants in different parties have started lobbying and holding meetings, yet the administration appears to be in no hurry to rush up things. The Election Commission gave instructions to prepare electoral rolls for the MC polls by October 21, but the administration does not appear to have made any effort in the direction. According to the information available, the process for preparing the electoral rolls is still underway and it is unlikely that the elections would be held by the deadline of November 15 fixed by the Local Bodies Department. As per schedule issued by the EC, the district administration was supposed to prepare the electoral rolls by October 19. The draft electoral rolls were supposed to be published on October 21 but the district administration is yet to do so. After the publication of electoral rolls, the objections and claims of residents would be heard. The whole process is getting deviated from the schedule issued by Four Thailand nationals among 18 held in flesh trade racket LONG-WINDED PROCESS The Department of Local Bodies announced that the elections for MC would be held by November 15. But the process of revising the electoral rolls needs 15 to 20 days. Then the election process also needs at least two months. The government issued the final notification for the delimitation of 85 MC wards of the city only last week. How is it possible to conduct the elections within 15 days? EC which was to conduct the elections till November 15. Political experts feel that the government would postpone the date for conducting the elections as the process needs at least two months. “The Department of Local Bodies announced that the elections for MC would be held by November 15. But the process of revising the electoral rolls needs 15 to 20 days. Then the election process also needs at least two months. The government issued the final notification for the delimitation of 85 MC wards of the city only last week. How is it possible to conduct the elections within 15 days? There would be Diwali festival on November 12. The government may announce some other date in January 2024 or conduct the elections along with Lok Sabha elections,” said Kuljit Singh, a political expert. Amritsar, October 22 Four armed persons snatched a car from a cab driver from near the Amritsar railway station here on Saturday. They robbers dumped him on Airport Road. The victim called his friends and chased the accused. They found the car with occupants in it in Ajnala. They intercepted the car, but three occupants escaped while one of them was caught by the victim and his friends. He was later handed over to the police. The accused was identified as Mohit, alias Kaka, of Police Lines road, Gandhi Nagar Camp, Batala. His preliminary interrogation led to the identification of his accomplices. They were Sahil Bhandari of Chakri Bazaar in Batala and Mohit Jharu of the same locality. One of their accomplices is yet to be identified. The Civil Lines police registered a case under Sections 394, 379-B, 386, 341 and 120-B of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against the miscreants and raids were on to nab the absconders. The complainant, Jaspal Singh, a cab driver, told the police that he had gone to pay Want implementation of Swaminathan report Amritsar, October 22 Even as the Central Government has increased the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by Rs 150 per quintal, farmers are unhappy and demanded that the government should fix the price according to the Swaminathan Commission report, which recommends 50 per cent profit over the input cost. With the hike in the MSP , the price of wheat has increased from ~2,125 per quintal to ~2,275 per quintal. However, decreasing yield of the wheat crop over the past many years is a big problem for the farmers who say that in spite of a higher MSP , their actual income is decreasing as the input costs are increasing and the yield is going down. Sarbarinder Singh, a farmer, said, “The input cost alone has increased by nearly ~1,500 to ~2,000 as there is a ban on the burning of crop residue and the farmers have to burn extra diesel to prepare fields.” Singh Farmers say the government should fix the MSP on the basis of actual cost of production, which includes labour and land rent. said the farmers are also paying Rs 1,000 per acre to baler machine operators for making bales of the crop residue. Inderbir Singh, another farmer, said, “No doubt, the increase in MSP this year has been better than that given in the last few years. But considering the cost of diesel, fertilisers and chemicals, which are also increasing, the increase in MSP is not that much.” Inderbir said if farmers calculate the cost of manual labour employed by them and their families along with the rent of the land, agriculture is a lossmaking venture. The farmers say that the government should fix the MSP on the basis of actual cost of production, which includes labour and land rent. They say the government must ensure that they get MSP on all crops for which this has been announced. — TNS Farmers’ body blames govt for Sanitation, fire at garbage dump, choked inadequate relief to flood-hit sewers major issues plaguing residents Our Correspondent WARD WATCH Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 22 Acting on a tip-off, the Ranjit Avenue police busted an immoral trafficking racket being run in the garb of a spa centre in the posh locality of Ranjit Avenue here on Saturday. During the raid, the police arrested 18 persons, including four Thailand nationals among seven women, from the spot. The owner of the spa, Mandeep Singh, managed to slip away. The police registered a case under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Section 14 of the Foreigner Act. Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) Varinder Singh Khosa said the police got a specific input that Mandeep Singh, owner of First Care spa located in the D Block of Ranjit Avenue, along with his accomplices used to run a flesh trade racket in the garb of the spa centre. He had employed Indian and foreign girls for the same. They used to take huge amounts from customers. During the raid, the police found several persons in compromising position. Among those arrested were identified as Puljinder Singh of Hanuman Chowk, Gurdaspur, Jatin Dharni, Jaskarn Singh of Katra Jaimal Singh, Sanyam of Krishna Square, Sunil Masih of Navipur village in Gurdaspur, Akashdeep Singh of Kalewal village, Jatinder Singh of Chheharat, Danishdeep Singh of Green City, Partap Singh of Para village in Gurdaspur, Angrej Singh of Kakka Kandiala village and Sagardeep Singh of New Azad Nagar area. The ACP said some of those arrested were customers and some were employees of the spa. He said those arrested include four Thailand women who were working here after coming on visitor visa. obeisance at the Golden Temple yesterday morning and stopped near the railway station for urination. He said when he was to enter in his car, four unknown youths with shorn hairs came close to him. One of them pointed a pistol at him while the remaining three entered the car. He said the accused put a cloth around his neck and asked him to drive. They took him towards the airport road. He said when his car reached near Vijay Petrol pump they strangled him. They thrashed him and threw him out of the car. They also snatched his Rs 10,000 cash and his mobile phone. He said as he called the police, they (cops) also started chasing the accused. They intercepted the car in Ajnala. He said three of the occupants fled the scene, bt they caught one of the suspects identified as Mohit Kaka. ACP (North) Varinder Singh Khosa said Mohit’s interrogation revealed that they had earlier snatched a car from Gurdaspur area which met with an accident and they had to abandon it. He said both the cars were recovered and further investigation was in progress. — TNS Farmers unhappy with Centre’s increased MSP Tarn Taran, October 22 The Kirti Kisan Union (KKU), in a meeting of farmers organised in Jarmastpur village, condemned the state and the union governments for not making proper arrangements for DAP fertiliser which is necessary for the sowing of wheat crop. Nachhattar Singh, district president of KKU, presided over the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, Nachhattar Singh said that the flood affected farmers were not given due compensation for their loss. He said that a large number of farmers whose agricultural land has been ruined as it was filled with sand and silt from the river find they are unable to sow wheat crop. He alleged that the government has not pro- Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Farmers raise slogans against the Centre and the state government in Tarn Taran on Sunday. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI vided any help to the farmers to make the fields cultivable. Balwinder Singh Sakhira and Subedar Satwant Singh were among others who spoke on the occasion and demanded legal guarantee on MSP for all crops besides milk, veggies and fruits. The union also announced to take part in the proposed ‘Rail Roko’ on October 25 the call for which has been given by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha. The office-bearers of the village branch of Jarmastpur village were also elected in the meeting. Amritsar, October 22 Ward number 52 of the Municipal Corporation comprises Roop Nagar, Himmatpura, Bhagtanwala, Hakiman Wala, Peer Shah Road, Fathe Singh Colony and Anngarh localities. During the previous term of the MC House, Reena of the Congress party had represented the ward as its councillor. Most localities on the outskirts of the city were developed illegally and deprived of the basic amenities. The former councillor claimed that she had made efforts to provide water supply, sewer and street lights in every area of the ward. Now 100 per cent area in the ward is covered by water supply and sewer. The streets were recarpeted in the A road in bad shape in Himatpura Bhagtanwala area. VISHAL KUMAR previous years. The ward is now for candidates in General category and not reserved for women candidates. Paramjeet Singh Chopra, a local leader, said, “Former Deputy CM OP Soni gave huge funds for the development of wards during the Con- gress regime. It was the first time after Independence when street lights were installed in Anngarh, one of the oldest localities. We will contest the upcoming elections with development as poll plank. There are some roads which were dug up to install the main sewer lines. Recarpeting the roads is a project of the state government.” Residents of the area complained about sanitation and stray animal menace. “The continuous fire at Bhagtanwala dumping site is one of the major issues as air quality deteriorates in the area. The roads and streets have been dug up to install pipelines. The lifting of garbage is another issue as the solid waste management company is not very regular in picking up waste. The green belts and parks are filthy,” said Davinder Sharma, a resident. “The MC should focus on sanitation. Lifting of garbage is not regular in most areas. We are residing close to the dumping ground which attracts stray animals. The MC should also shift the dump away from the city.” Road repairs near Durgiana temple affect vehicular traffic FCI sanitation worker dies of heart failure MC launches anti-encroachment campaign to decongest city roads Neeraj Bagga Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, October 22 A sanitation worker of the FCI died of heart failure on Saturday when he was on duty and sweeping the office complex. The deceased has been identified as Hari Singh (53). Gurjant Singh, president, FCI Palledar Workers Union, said that Hari Singh was on duty when he suddenly felt chest pain and died soon after. Gurjant Singh demanded an early release of all due benefits and job for the deceased’s kin on compassionate grounds. The local city police have lodged a report under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the post-mortem on the body was done at the Civil Hospital in Tarn Taran on Sunday. Amritsar, October 22 With marketplaces witnessing rampant encroachments, the traffic police and MC officials jointly have started an antiencroachment drive to decongest roads and market areas. Several months ago, traffic police led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Parminder Singh Bhandal and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Amandeep Kaur had removed encroachments from major roads and markets by making painstaking efforts with consistent and continuous anti-encroachment drives. The police had even threatened to register FIRs against the offenders. However, with the police and civic body officials loosening the noose on violators due to various reasons, these encroachments are Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 22 Repair and reconstruction work on roads around the Durgiana temple coinciding with Navratri festival has been causing inconvenience to the commuters and devotees alike. The road on the stretch from Lohgarh Gate to Hathi Gate and further up to Bijli Ghar Chowk has been dug up for repair work. It not only slows down traffic but also creates obstructions for motorists on the route who take a long time to commute on the road. Notably, traffic increases manifold on the stretch during the Navratra festival as devotees visit the Durgiana temple during this period. Bhawna Galhotra, a mother whose ward was dressed up as langur (monkey) for the festival, said they commuted at different times on the road but it was fraught with risks and congestion. Debris of various sizes Traffic chaos on the road near the Durgiana temple in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR is strewn on the road resulting in risks not only for pedestrians but also for vehicles. Vikas Kumar, a shopkeeper, said the authorities concerned failed to plan the reconstruction of roads at the right time. “When all of them are aware of the fact that the Mela draws a huge crowd, they could have either preponed or postponed the Mela.” It would have avoided trouble for both the residents and authorities. Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, president of Durgiana temple, said the Langur Mela is famous throughout North India. Thousands of people from other cities also come to take part in the fair. Yet the Municipal Corporation and the district administration have failed to plan the development work. It seemed that these two government agencies were not aware of the Mela. Roads around the temple have been dug up for laying drain pipes. Ideally, civil work for the underground project should be started after Dasehra. c m y b Traffic police along with MC offcials remove goods in Amritsar. back on the roads. “People never mend their ways. During the drive, cops as well as civic body officials warned the shop owners against illegal extension of their shops. Now, as the festive season is round the corner, the situation has started turning from bad to worse,” said a traffic cop wishing not to be named. Encroachments on the already congested roads are one of the major reasons behind frequent traffic chaos on roads. Bhandal said drives had been launched to remove encroachments as people were facing problems like getting no space to walk. He continued on page 2