29102023-ATR-01.qxd 29-10-2023 00:44 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR INVESTITURE CEREMONY ORGANISED AT KCIPS DISHA PATANI NAILS FLYING KICKS IN LATEST VIDEO ARIJIT SINGH, RANBIR KAPOOR BACK WITH SATRANGA RE An investiture ceremony was organised at Khalsa College International Public School (KCIPS) on Saturday. P2 Disha shared a new video from her training sessions. It showcased her practising flying kicks at the gym. P3 Animal’s latest music offering, Satranga Re, is all set to showcase a whole new shade of human emotion. P4 » » » MAX 31°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5.44 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6.44 AM SUNDAY | 29 OCTOBER 2023 | AMRITSAR CPI condemns aerial attacks on Palestinians Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 28 Leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) during a meeting here on Saturday condemned the aerial attacks on Palestinians by Israeli forces stating that the violence should be immediately stopped. The rights of Punjab state should be considered The party leaders demanded that before proceeding on the Supreme Court orders regarding a survey on the SYL canal, the rights of Punjab state should be considered in the light of the international laws regarding rivers waters. The CPI leaders also condemned attacks on journalism in view of the recent crackdown on the journalists of a web channel. The meeting was addressed by Lakbir Singh Nizampura, Balwinder Singh Dudala, Mangal Singh Khazala and other leaders. GNDU chosen for 5G Use-Case Lab Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 28 A 5G use case lab equipped with state-of-the-art facilities is going to be established by the Ministry of Telecommunications in Guru Nanak Dev University, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 7th India Mobile Congress ( IMC 2023) held in New Delhi on Friday. Professor Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, welcomed the decision and thanked the Prime Minister on the occasion. Briefing about the announcement, he said that the aim of the 100 5G Labs Initiative across the country is to develop 5G applications to boost innovation in socio-economic sectors. “This is an important step towards building a 6G ecosystem in the country,” he said. In India Mobile Congress, a large number of GNDU teachers and students participated through video conferencing. Dr Ravinder Kumar, head, Department of Electronics Technology, who participated IMC 2023 New Delhi, said the goal of strengthening India’s position as a developer, manu- The aim of 5G lab initiative across the country is to develop 5G applications to boost innovation in socio-economic sectors. facturer and exporter of cutting-edge technologies is set by the Prime Minister and Guru Nanak Dev University will make its important contribution to accomplish this goal. He said that with the establishment of this lab, the constructive and efficient works of Guru Nanak Dev University have been recognised. Sharing information about the lab, he said that the Prime Minister had announced to provide 5G Use Case Labs to Potholed roads, overflowing sewers bane of residents WARD WATCH 100 excellent academic institutions across the country. “It will be developed at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, under the ‘5G Labs Initiative’ of Government of India. The ‘5G Lab Initiative’ is a successful effort to realise the opportunities associated with 5G technology by encouraging the development of 5G applications that will meet the unique needs of India as well as global demands. This unique initiative will boost Phulkari Bazar pushes for homegrown, local brands Tribune News Service PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 28 The potholed road between two railway overbridges (22 number phatak (railway crossing) and Haripura railway crossing) in Islamabad area is a glaring example of apathetic attitude of the authorities concerned. The road falls under Ward number 77 following the delimitation of wards. Despite the fact that a new railway overbridge was constructed on the railway crossing known as 22 number phatak recently, the authorities did not bother to get this stretch repaired or re-carpeted. On a rainy day, it becomes an accident-prone area. Residents of Ram Nagar Colony say that despite the fact that this is one of the busiest roads in the city as heavy traffic passes it, the authorities concerned are not paying heed A broken road neare 22 number phatak in Amritsar. SUNIL KUMAR to the problems of people, who have urged them many times to get it repaired. Overflowing manholes and sewerage systems are another major issue plaguing the residents here. Besides contaminated water supply and irregular lifting of garbage are also irksome. “Choked sewer lines have become a nuisance for the resi- dents living in the localities of Inderpuri and Kot Khalsa falling under this ward. We have raised the issue with the councillors and civic body authorities many times, but to no avail,” rue Rinku, a local resident. “The sewer lines have not been laid at a proper level which is the root cause of often chocking of sewerage continued on page 2 Amritsar, October 28 Phulkari-Women of Amritsar hosted the 3rd edition of Phulkari Bazaar at MK Gardens. Batting for local businesses, especially led by women entrepreneurs, Phulkari Bazar was inaugurated by Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh (former IPS officer), MLA, Amritsar North here on Saturday. There were more than 60 stalls with brands from across the length and breadth of the country. The exhibition featured mostly home grown indie brands in lifestyle, fashion and food, with focus on promoting small businesses that are based on principles of sustainability. Some Amritsar-based brands that were part of the exhibition included Ataara, Apaara, Home Story by Kashish, continued on page 2 innovation in various socioeconomic sectors like education, agriculture, health, power, transport and steer the country forward in the use of 5G technology. This initiative is also an important step towards building a 6-G-ready academic and start-up ecosystem in the country. It is also a step towards the development of indigenous telecommunication technology, which is also important for national security. Its establishment in Guru Nanak Dev University will benefit the entire region,” he said. India Mobile Congress (IMC) is Asia’s largest telecom, media and technology forum. The forum serves as a platform to highlight India’s progress in telecom and technology, make important announcements and provide start-ups with an opportunity to showcase their innovative products and solutions. Themed with ‘Global Digital Innovation’, the aim of IMC 2023 is to strengthen India’s position as a developer, manufacturer and exporter of advanced technologies and to promote futuristic technologies like 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence. Man shot dead, another hurt during armed robbery Police clueless about the perpetrators till now PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 28 A bhajan singer, Rajesh Kumar (39), a resident of Islamabad area, was shot dead in a robbery bid near Anand Avenue in Maqbool Road area here on Friday night. In another incident, a trader was shot at and robbed on Court Road last night. A readymade garment trader, Gaurav Kumar was out of danger. He had sustained a bullet injury near his eye. Following the incident, senior police officials, including Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Prabhjot Singh Virk and Assistant Commissioner of Police (North) Varinder Singh Khosa, along with Civil Lines police reached the spot and started investigation. The police said the possibility of involvement of same miscreants could be behind both the instances. Nevertheless, the police were still clueless Injured Gaurav Kumar at a hospital in Amritsar on saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO about the perpetrators till now. Rajesh Kumar along with his friend Avinash Kumar used to perform in jagrans. Last night, they were going to perform during a jagran at Dayanand Nagar when the incident took place. Avinash told the police that when they reached Mabqool Road area, three motorcycle-borne persons tried to loot his bag suspecting that it contained some valuables or cash, but Rajesh resisted their attempt. Ahead of Parkash Purb of Guru Ramdas, nagar kirtan taken out Amritsar, October 28 A sea of devotees took part in the nagar kirtan taken out to mark Parkash Purb of fourth Sikh master Guru Ramdas, which falls on October 30, in different areas of the city here on Saturday. The SGPC organised a grand nagar kirtan, which commenced from Akal Takht after offering the ardas. Different Sikh societies, Nihang Singh organisations, Gatka parties and others extended support to the SGPC in organising the nagar kirtan. Held under the patronage of Guru Granth Sahib, which was placed in a beautifully decorated palanquin, the nagar kirtan was led by the Panj Pyaras (five beloved). The entire route of the nagar kirtan was dotted with stalls offering langar and water to devotees. They showered flower petals on the nagar kirtan. A contingent of the Punjab Police saluted the Guru Granth Sahib at the Ghanta Ghar plaza. A youth performs Sikh martial art ‘Gatka’ at the Golden temple in Amritsar on Saturday. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR A helicopter showered rose flowers on the Golden Temple and the nagar kirtan procession. The SGPC today started Akhand path at Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, which is situated inside the Golden Temple, and its bhog will be offered on the Parkash Purab of the fourth Patshahi. Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, who participated in the nagar kirtan, asked the sangat to lead their life according to the Gurmat philosophy. — TNS The accused later shot at him which hit his chest and he died on the spot. His bag contained some books in which the victim had written bhajans. He was married and had a daughter. Similarly, in another incident, Gaurav Kumar, a readymade garment trader in the walled city, was shot at by armed miscreants. He along with his friend Nikhil was returning home from a hotel when the unscrupulous elements intercepted them. They snatched around Rs 50,000 cash from them though the police said that it was being verified. Incidentally, both the incidents occurred almost at the same time and the distance was just a couple of kilometres. Khosa said the involvement of same gang could not be ruled out at this juncture. He said the CCTV cameras were being scanned to identify the suspects. He said separate FIRs were registered in both cases and further probe was on. Former coop society secy booked for swindling Amritsar, October 28 A former secretary of Jodhe Multipurpose Cooperative Society allegedly misappropriated over Rs 49 lakh of the members of the society. After almost four years of the complaint and probe, the police have now booed the suspect, identified as Hardayal Singh of Thanewal village. A probe was conducted by DSP Baba Bakala, Harkr, ishan Singh in the case. The FIR was registered under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code after taking opinion of the District Attorney (Legal). According to Punit Singh, assistant registrar of the Baba Bakala Cooperative Societies, the accused used Rs 26 lakh of the society for his personal use. He also misappropriated fertilizers worth Rs 14.93 lakh and essential goods stock worth Rs 8.33 lakh, the complainant alleged. — TNS No tangible benefit in not ‘Steps to check stubble-burning economically not viable’ farmers want the Agri Department to provide machinery free or use chemicals to burn straw burning stubble: Farmers Gurbaxpuri TEDIOUS JOB Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 28 If the whopping number of 1003 farm fires in the district till date are any indication, crores of rupees being spent on providing costly machines to farmers on subsidy for management of crop residue seems to have gone down the drain because most farmers do not see any tangible benefit in not burning stubble. While the reasons for not burning the residue, rising pollution and depleting soil health are obvious, but for a farmer engaged in agriculture for monetary benefits, these do not mean anything. To them, even the benefits of letting the residue de-compose in the field to enrich soil health or use it for mulching to control growth of weeds or ❝ Collecting residue after harvesting and then spreading it in the entire field is too tedious a job instead of spraying weedicide takes 20 minutes for an acre. A farmer ❞ to reduce loss of moisture from soil also do not sound promising. “Collecting residue after harvesting and then spreading it in the entire field (for mulching) is too tedious a job instead of spraying weedicide which just takes 20 minutes for an acre,” said a farmer, adding that for generations they have not done mulching for wheat crop. With no demand for crop residue as could be created in cardboard making or power generation industry, even if the farmers spend money on diesel to make bales of the stubble, they have to store these on their land until these decompose. The paddy residue is not even considered best for making dry fodder for animals. “Storing bales requires a lot of space and stacks become a breeding-ground for rats and other reptiles. Both these disadvantages can be overcome, if industrial units which can use crop residue as raw material are set up,” said Kuljeet Singh, a farmer of Malawali village. He said the government expects that farmers would spend a few thousands per acre on diesel and spend a few hours on a back-breaking tractor for benefit which is not even tangible. Tarn Taran, October 28 Despite the best efforts of the administration to popularise the new methods of decomposing and mulching the paddy straw in the field while sowing wheat crop, the Agriculture Department has not achieved much success as was expected. A limited number of farmers have adopted this method and over 90% farmers are still adopting the traditional way of sowing wheat. There are a number of farmers who are decomposing and mulching the paddy straw as they claim that it is the method to increase the yield and the input too gets decreased. Tarsem Singh, a farmer of Plasaur village, said he had been sowing wheat crop with the happy seeder and with the mulching paddy straw he c m y b Paddy straw set on fire burnt in Rasulpur village. GURBAXPURI was getting much yield. Though the agriculture department has made many suggestions to check the practice of burning paddy straw, farmers in unison have called them practically unviable as it would only entail extra economic burden on them. Officials of the agricul- ture department have said that farmers must come forward to save the environment by not burning the paddy straw. They also said that there is a provision to cut the paddy straw and tie these in bundles for sale to dairy farmers or the mills as it is used for animal fodder. The department pointed out that paddy straw is also purchased by wine and sugar mills and farmers can do this to increase their income. Pargat Singh and Santokh Singh, farmers from Aladinpur village, said here on Friday that the suggestions made by the department are not viable. The farmers said that it costs Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,300 to cut the paddy straw twice as one-time cutting is not enough as it creates problems in sowing wheat crop. They were not ready adopt the method of decomposing and mulching the as they said that this way the crops is infected with deceases son as sect are infected easily to the wheat crop . The farmers said that after cutting the straw, giving it the shape of a bundle to sell it in the market costs Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per acre extra which increases the input cost. The farmers also said that there were no takers for the straw as the dairy farmers, Gujjars, purchased a meagre part of it and preferred to take it for free. Farmer Dilbag Singh, a former Sarpanch of Jati Umra village, said acting as per the instructions of the department has put extra burden of an estimated Rs 4,000 per acre on farmers. The government gives no incentive for it. The farmers said that the total input cost is about Rs 15,000 — from sowing to taking the crop to the market — and all this does not fetch much income to the farmers. Burning paddy straw is easier and saves time to which the farmers give preference which helps sow wheat crop in time, they said. The farmers said that the continued on page 2