31102023-LT-01.qxd 31-10-2023 00:55 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MOVIE SARABHA ALL SET FOR WORLDWIDE RELEASE ON NOV 3 BOLLYWOOD ACTOR SUNNY DEOL LOVES TEDDY BEARS 15 YEARS OF COMEDY FILM GOLMAAL RETURNS The movie titled Sarabha, made to commemorate life of the martyr, is all set for worldwide release on Nov 3. P2 Sunny Deol along with brother Bobby Deol set to grace the couch on season eight of Koffee With Karan. P4 Helmed by Rohit Shetty, Golmaal Returns is a remake of the 1989 Marathi film Pheka Pheki. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.39 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:41 AM » TUESDAY | 31 OCTOBER 2023 | LUDHIANA INBRIEF MISHAP VICTIM SUCCUMBS ~756-cr elevated highway misses another deadline 12.95-km project in advanced stage, set for Diwali completion Ludhiana: An elderly pedestrian was allegedly hit by a speeding bus near the Kailash Nagar junction recently. The complainant, Balwinder Pal, said he was present at a sweets shop when the speeding bus hit the elderly man who was walking along the roadside. The severely injured victim was rushed to the Civil Hospital but he succumbed to his injuries later. An FIR has been registered against the suspect, identified as Gurbaj Singh from Patiala district, on Sunday, under Sections 279 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Jodhewal police station. TNS MAN HELD WITH 260-GM HEROIN Ludhiana: A man was arrested for his alleged involvement in drug peddling. The police have asserted that they seized 260 gm of heroin from him. The suspect has been identified as Rajeev Yadav from Bank Colony, Haibowal, here. SI Husan Lal said he was apprehended on Kakka Road and besides the drugs, they confiscated Rs 61,640 in cash (drug money), two small plastic pouches, a weighing scale and a scooter. The court has subsequently granted police remand of the suspects for three days. The police have registered a case against him under Sections 21-B, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act at the Meharban police station, here. TNS Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 30 The remaining portion of the partially-access controlled four-lane elevated highway corridor in Ludhiana has missed another deadline, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has confirmed. However, the NHAI has claimed that the much-awaited project has reached an advanced stage of completion and the under-construction stretch of the highway will be opened for traffic on Diwali. While the 5.8-km first span of the Rs 756.27-crore big ticket project had been opened last month, vehicular movement on remaining stretches of the entire 12.95km-long highway would be allowed by November 12, officials have revealed. The development assumes significance as the work on one of the busiest arteries of the maximum city has missed four deadlines of completion in April 2020, June 30, July 31 and September 30, 2023. Started in October 2017, the construction of the elevated highway between the busy Samrala Chowk and Ludhiana municipal limits on the National Highway-95 is now scheduled to complete in all respects by next month. Rajya Sabha MP from Ludhiana Sanjeev Arora, who reviewed the progress of the project here on Monday, told The Tribune, that the major part of the project had been Work in progress to complete remaining stretch of new elevated highway in Ludhiana on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN PROJECT REPORT ~756.27cr Cost 12.95 km Length Start date: October 10, 2017 Deadlines missed: April 7, 2020, June 30, July 31, September 30, 2023 First span opened: September 11 Fresh deadline for remaining stretch: November 12 completed with over 99 per cent overall completion so far while the work to finish the remaining work had been further expedited to ensure early completion. He divulged that the 5.8-km first span of the elevated highway from Bhaiwal Chowk to the MC limits was opened for traffic last month while the remaining three stretches — 1.6-km second span on its opposite side from Bhaiwal Chowk to Bharat Nagar Chowk (railway station side), third span towards the Jagraon bridge side and last span towards the ISBT side – will be thrown open by November 12. “The recent delay in completion of the remaining stretches was caused due to launching of spines and wings for the last two spans of the elevated structure near Bharat Nagar Chowk in stages as there were mobility issues for cranes, which needed to be moved out after spine erection of last span before the wings were erected for preceding span,” the NHAI project director told Arora. He said the wing erection for the last span was also in progress. Arora, who took a test drive on the completed first span of the highway, was apprised by NHAI officials that 220 men, Two arrested for snatching Nambardar takes bribe, probe on phone and fled the scene. Subsequently, following an investigation, the suspects were apprehended. SI Nirmal Singh, who is investigating the case, confirmed the arrest of the two suspects. He said one motorcycle, four mobile phones and two sharp weapons were recovered from them. He said the efforts were being made to arrest Robin. A case has been registered against the trio under Sections 379-B (2) and 34 of IPC at the Focal police station. — TNS Ludhiana, October 30 Samrala MLA Jagtar Singh Diyalpura allegedly caught a nambardar for taking Rs 2,500 as bribe in the sub-tehsil of Machhiwara on Monday. He accepted the bribe from Tejwinder Singh of Jhrodi village in connection with some property-related work. As per the MLA, a patwari had demanded bribe from the man. A video posted by the MLA on social media shows the nambardar allegedly admitting to having taken money on behalf of the patwari. The police are probing the incident. — TNS Ludhiana, October 30 Two persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in snatching incidents. The police said they had seized a motorcycle, four mobile phones and two sharp weapons from the duo, Yasdev from Kalgidhar Mohalla and Charanpreet Singh Channi from Ishar Nagar. Another suspect, Robin, alias Raja, hailing from Shimlapuri, is currently evading arrest, according to the police authorities. Third suspect on the run, motorcycle, 4 mobiles, sharp weapons seized Previously, a complaint was lodged by Bal Krishan Parkash of Ram Nagar Mundian, who said he was assaulted by three men wielding a sharp weapon while he was walking towards Focal Point, Phase VIII, on the morning of October 28. The assailants had snatched his mobile 10 cranes, two overhead gantry, a batch-mix plant, seven hydra and transit mixers had been pressed into service to further escalate the pace of the ongoing work. Constantly pushing for the completion of the ongoing NHAI projects, the Rajya Sabha MP urged the team of the officials concerned, led by the NHAI Project Director, to finish the balance work within the minimum possible time to complete the project. “The NHAI team is working hard and seriously day and night. Even the authority has made arrangements for additional machinery to carry on the construction work without any interruption, if the existing machinery gets faulty,” he expressed. Arora, who had recently called on NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav to press for the early completion of the project, said he had been informed that there would be four slip roads — one each near Verka Plant, PAU, Bhai Bala Chowk, and Hotel Park Plaza — on the elevated highway. There would also be a provision for vehicular traffic to move towards the bus stand and Shri Durga Mata Mandir, the MP was further apprised. The RS member said the NHAI officials had also made an appeal to the public to follow guidelines of the NHAI and not to exceed speed of their vehicles above the permissible limit of 80 kmph on the elevated highway. continued on page 2 A thick layer of smog engulfs the Ludhiana railway station. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN 53 fresh stubble burning cases reported, air remains ‘poor’ Manav Mander AVERAGE AQI 250 Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 30 Residents continued to grasp for fresh air and the air quality index (AQI) remained poor. The average AQI recorded on Monday was 250. As per the data of the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI started rising past midnight. The AQI at 2 am was 250, at 6 am it was 240 and at 4 pm AQI was recorded at 250. Today, 53 farm fire cases reported in the district and till now, 277 cases have been reported in Ludhiana district. Of the 277 stubble burning cases reported till now, the highest number of cases in the district — 145 have been witnessed at Jagraon followed by Sam- ■ Average AQI of Ludhiana on Monday: 250 ■ AQI 201-300 falls under the orange category ■ Impacts: Breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure rala 55. From Raikot, 31 cases have been reported so far, 18 from Ludhiana West and 15 Ludhiana East, 10 in Payal and three in Khanna. The poor air quality bracket comes with many health problems. Dr Akashdeep Singh, prof and head, pulmonary medicines, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said he had observed an increase in footfall of OPD patients. “Those who are prone to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are having difficulties. Patients who are sensitive or allergic should avoid outdoor exposure as much as they can,” he said. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department today registered an FIR against two farmers from Malla village in Jagraon block for burning stubble. Dr Narinder Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, said the district administration was acting strictly against those who were burning stubble. “Passport and arms licence of the farmers and their family members will be cancelled and challans will also be issued to them,” he said. Violations: MC seals four showrooms Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 30 Acting on directions of the court, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has sealed four showrooms which were being run in violation of the building bylaws on Mall Road, civic body officials said. The officials said the owner of the building had got the plan approved for construction of flats on Mall Road. But he had established four showrooms on the ground floor An MC official seals a showroom on Mall Road in Ludhiana. and flats were established on upper floors. They said the flat owners had moved the court against building violations in the past and the court had ordered the civic body to act on the same. Assistant Town Planner (Zone D) said working on the directions of court, the showrooms had been sealed by the civic body on Monday morning. Meanwhile, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Rishi appealed to residents to construct buildings as per the building bylaws, otherwise strict action would be taken against illegal constructions. Two arrested with 2 stolen Adopt zero liquid discharge system, govt urged scooters,four motorcycles PREVENTING POLLUTION IN BUDDHA DARIYA Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 30 After finishing the third phase of Buddha Dariya Padyatra, members of the Public Action Committee (for Mattewara Forest, Sutlej and Buddha Dariya) wrote to the government to take requisite measures to make water bodies pollution-free and prevent dumping of effluents into the nullah. While addressing mediapersons at Ramgarhia Girls College on Monday, Ludhiana, Col CM Lakhanpal (retd) of the PAC said they found the constant discharge of untreated water directly and indirectly into Pollution caused by several open drains in the Buddha Dariya is being ignored by the authorities. FILE the Buddha Dariya by all CETPs during the padyatra. He said there was no check on constant discharge of polluted industrial water into sewer lines by maximum units, including those having their own CETPs. He said: “Dairies located in the city and Tajpur and Hai- bowal are causing pollution directly and indirectly through sewer lines. Also, pollution caused by around seven open drains in the Buddha Dariya is being ignored.” Meanwhile, PAC members recommended the government to consider and implement the system of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) strictly. The treated water must be used within the industrial clusters for construction, maintenance of green belts, fire-fighting purposes, etc. The PAC members said the dariya should be made concrete with an effective flood management system and development of green belts astride as part of the beautifica- c m y b tion and construction of roads. “No polluted water should be discharged into it. All drains or pipelines must be plugged. Culprits should be liable to face strict punishment,” they said. The PAC also demanded a chemical audit of all sewerage outlets of all industries, whether situated in the MC limits, should be done at the earliest. They said polluting units must be shifted from mixed land used areas on a priority basis. “All encroachments should be removed without fear or favour. The fencing along the dariya should be completed and the already fitted fencing should be strengthened and made silt-proof,” they said. Ludhiana, October 30 Two persons have been apprehended for allegedly stealing or snatching two-wheelers in different parts of the city. As per police officials, the suspects are affiliated with a gang specialised in vehicle thefts. The police claimed to have seized four motorcycles, two scooters and one LED TV from their possession. They have been identified as Ishwar Singh and Rajat Kumar, residents of Preet Nagar, Shimlapuri, here. In response to a statement provided by SI Bachitar Singh, an FIR has been lodged against them at the Shimlapuri police station on Sunday. Cops with the suspects and seized vehicles in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO Bachitar Singh said the suspects were apprehended on Tedi Road in Shimlapuri while riding a scooter with a fake registration plate. He said they were involved in various theft and snatching cases. They used to target vehicles parked outside resi- dences and intimidate commuters, forcing to hand over their two-wheelers to them. Subsequently, they would allegedly resell the vehicles to others. The police said both of them had previously faced FIRs in separate theft cases. — TNS