20012024-LT-01.qxd 20-01-2024 01:12 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune JERSEYS UNVEILED FOR RJPL CRICKET LEAGUE ACTOR ZEENAT AMAN LAUDS ‘INDIAN IDOL 14’ CONTESTANT BAJPAYEE TO HOST SECRETS OF THE BUDDHA RELICS RJPL Cricket League will be organised at GRD Academy ground on Hambran road from January 20 to 28. P2 Nostalgia unfolds in Indian Idol 14’s recent episode titled ‘Celebrating Dev Anand and Zeenat Aman’. P3 The documentary will acquaint viewers with historical and cultural significance of Buddha’s relics. P3 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 18°C | MIN 6°C YESTERDAY MAX 18°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET SATURDAY 5.50 PM » SUNRISE SUNDAY 7:24 AM SATURDAY | 20 JANUARY 2024 | LUDHIANA LSCL bags ‘Best Retrofit Green Spaces Award’ Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 19 Adding another feather to its cap, Ludhiana Smart City Limited (LSCL) bagged the ‘Best Retrofit Green Spaces Award’ during the Smart Cities India Awards, organised by th Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in Delhi on Friday. Award has been given for retrofitting of Leisure Valley adjoining MC office in Sarabha Nagar The award has been given for retrofitting of Leisure Valley adjoining the Municipal Corporation’s (MC) Zone D office in Sarabha Nagar. The leisure valley is spread on 7 acres of land and the project has been taken up at a cost of Rs 2.98 crore under the Smart City Mission. On behalf of MC Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LSCL Sandeep Rishi, the award was received by Superintending Engineer Sanjay Kanwar. The MC Commissioner said establishing green spaces was the need of the hour in Ludhiana - the industrial hub of the state. With focus on sustainable development and spreading green cover, the leisure valley was a 400m long green stretch with different varieties of plants, pathway, gazebos, seating, swings, sandpits, lighting and parking space. Three rainwater harvesting system had also been installed in the valley and a total of 7,775 plants, including 475 ornamental plants and 7,300 shrubs, had been planted in the valley. As many as 110 LED lights had also been installed. City got ~98 cr, used ~56 cr on Thieves break into shop, flee with jewellery worth lakhs environment protection in 5 yrs Held area watchman hostage before committing crime Still pollution levels up by 24% from 2019-23, reveals NCAP study Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 19 In what appears to be a case of unmindful expenditure or even misappropriation, Ludhiana had got a whopping Rs 98 crore for environment protection under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) between 2019 and 2023 but the pollution levels reached an alarming situation during this period, a latest report has revealed. Of the total allocated funds, Ludhiana utilised Rs 56 crore, which accounted for almost 58 per cent of Rs 98 crore allocation but the most hazardous pollution levels in the city had gone up by almost 24 per cent during the past 5 years, the NCAP study has pointed out. The study report, which was released recently after being conducted by the Climate Trends and Respirer Living Sciences, showed that PM10 pollutants in Ludhiana rose from 106.4 in 2019 to 131.8 in 2023, which accounted for an increase of 23.9 per cent while the PM2.5 pollution level went up from 53.2 in 2019 to 60.9 in 2023, which was 14.5 per cent increase over the past five years. It had led to Ludhiana becoming the 14th most polluted city in the country. Amritsar and Mandi Gobindgarh in the state were also listed among the 20 most polluted cities in the country with maximum pollution levels, the nationallevel NCAP study has said. While Ludhiana has been the worst among three most polluted Punjab cities with respect to the PM10 pollution level, Mandi Despite spending crores of rupees in the past five years, Ludhiana continues to be under thick blanket of smog on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN NCAP FUNDS STATUS CITY Ludhiana Chandigarh Amritsar Pathankot/ Dera Baba Nanak Dera Bassi Jalandhar Khanna Mandi Gobindgarh Naya Nangal Patiala RELEASED 97.75 28.783 73.25 4.73 1.115 30.045 5.18 5.269 2.718 14.86 UTILISED 56.48 12.96 65.86 1.66 0.42 2.63 2.04 2.8 0.67 2.96 5-YEAR HIGH %AGE 57.78 45.03 89.91 35.1 37.67 8.75 39.38 53.14 24.65 19.92 YEAR 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 PM10 106.4 98.3 117.1 133.8 131.8 PM2.5 53.2 45.1 54.2 61.9 60.89 Arvinder said he, along with his cousin Ajay, was taking a school bus from Indore to Srinagar. Since it was a long journey and they had been driving the vehicle continuously, some wires seemed to be heated up and caused the fire due to the same. Before they could understand anything, smoke started emanating from the engine and fire engulfed the entire bus. Following which, they jumped off the bus. Afterwards, he informed Tribune News Service Gobindgarh has the maximum PM2.5 pollutants in the state. While Ludhiana has been the worst among three most polluted Punjab cities with respect to the PM10 pollution level, Mandi Gobindgarh has the maximum PM2.5 pollutants in the state. The NCAP study, a copy of which is with The Tribune, showed that Ludhiana got the maximum funds under the NCAP in Punjab and Chandigarh as well but little more than half of the allocated amount could be spent for environment protection between 2019 and 2023. Chandigarh had got Rs 28.783 crore, of which Rs 12.96 crore was utilised, accounting for 45.03 per cent of the total allocated funds, which had helped in bringing down the PM2.5 pollution level by 5.6 per cent while PM10 pollutants went up by 13.6 per cent from 2019 to 2023. Among other state cities, Amritsar had got Rs 73.25 crore, of which Rs 65.86 crore was spent, accounting for 89.91 per cent utilisation, despite which PM2.5 pollution level went up by 18.4 per cent and PM10 pollutants rose by 5.9 per cent, Pathankot and continued on page 2 employees at the toll barrier and the police, the driver said. Officials from the Ladhowal and Phillaur police station reached the spot. After solving the jurisdiction-related issue, the Phillaur police took investigation in their hands. Ladhowal SHO Inspector Lovedeep Singh said since the area where the bus caught fire fell in the jurisdiction of Phillaur police station, they would probe the matter. — TNS installed on vehicles Ludhiana, January 19 In view of the ongoing National Road Safety Month, a mega reflective sticker installation camp was held by the Ludhiana police. It was organised in association with the Sarbat da Bhala trust outside the office of the Commissioner of Police (CP) on the Ferozepur road here. It was inaugurated by CP Kuldeep Singh Chahal. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Varinder Singh Brar said under the camp, 20,000 reflective stickers were installed on various vehicles, especially commercial. Drivers were told to drive their vehicles responsibly in the dense fog. The DCP said the drive would continue in coming days and several road safety initiatives would be taken for the welfare of residents, adding that purpose of the drive was to aware people of driving manners to curb mishaps. — TNS Unique way to help people tackle online frauds Cyber cell launches special calender stating precautions, info about helpline numbers, portals Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 19 The cyber crime unit of the Ludhiana police on Friday initiated a novel way to make people aware about prevailing cyber frauds and for protecting themselves from such fraudsters. The cell launched a special calender-2024 which states precautions against falling prey to the cyber criminals. The calender was launched by Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal, ADCP (headquarters) Rupinder Kaur Bhatti, ACP (Cyber Crime) Raj Kumar and cyber unit inspector Jatinder Singh. “I am aware that with increasing advances in digi- Cops release the cyber awareness calender in Ludhiana on Friday. tal technology, the misuse of the same, as in cyber crimes, is also a big challenge to the police, more so in industrial cities such as Ludhiana. I would ensure that my team Ludhiana, January 19 Over 12 thieves broke into a jewellery shop on the Tajpur road on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday and decamped with ornaments worth lakhs. They also reportedly held the area watchman hostage before committing the crime. Fortunately, the shopkeeper had fitted an alarm on the shutter. When the miscreants uprooted the shutter, an alert was received on the shopkeeper’s mobile. The jeweller, who stays above the shop, woke up and raised the alarm and informed the police. They still managed to took away a box containing ornaments. The entire incident was captured in CCTV cameras installed outside and inside the shop. After getting information, the police team reached the spot and a forensic team was also called to the crime scene. The shopkeeper, Daljit in the Ludhiana Commissionerate tracks cyber criminals and take strict action against them. At the same time, I appeal to the public to be mindful of information shared through social media platforms. Also, it is important to do basic verification before making any financial transaction. I believe simple precautions can save you from huge financial/reputation losses. I hope this calendar becomes one of the constant reminders of being a cyber-responsible citizen,” said Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal. The calender carries awareness messages such as think before you clicking on any KYC or phishing links, defend your data fortress by using strong password or by enabling two-factor authentication, hear carefully as cyber criminals may make fake kidnapping calls by gangsters or any criminal elements, buy c m y b A CCTV grab of the suspects; and (below) the jewellery shop where the theft occurred on the Tajpur road in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO Singh, said he stays above the shop. When he got an alert on his mobile phone he looked from the roof and saw several persons standing outside his shop while some entered it. When he raised the alarm, the suspects fled with the valuables. The SHO, Police Division 7, Inspector Sukhdev Singh, said CCTV cameras were being checked to get any clue about the suspects. The case would be cracked soon. 2 target showroom on Malhar road (SOURCE: NCAP STUDY, AMOUNT IN RUPEES CRORE, PERIOD 2019-2023) Close shave for 2 as bus catches fire 20K reflective stickers Ludhiana, January 19 A school bus caught fire on the Sutlej bridge near the Ladhowal toll plaza on Thursday night. The driver was going to Srinagar from Indore after getting the vehicle modified. After the fire, the driver and his companion saved their lives by jumping from the vehicle. The driver went to the toll plaza and raised the alarm. By the time the fire was extinguished, the mini bus already reduced to ashes. Driver of the mini bus Tribune News Service and sell carefully online as fake sellers have been looting people by posing as genuine sellers, be careful from investment frauds as fraudsters may lure you to double your investment, keep your UPI pin safe and do not share with anyone, do not share debit or credit card number, password with strangers in any condition, don’t fall prey to courier delivery fraud as fraudsters may cheat you, use masked Aadhaar card during hotel check-ins or use water marks while sharing the same with anyone, ensure mobile SIM safety by unlinking your mobile number from bank accounts or Aadhaar before deactivating any SIM cards, don’t share continued on page 2 Ludhiana, January 19 Two thieves broke into the Brune & Bareskin showroom on the Malhar road on the intervening night of January 17 and 18 and decamped with goods worth lakhs. The duo entered the showroom by cutting the tin roof. A security siren was also sounded but the miscreants cut its wires and uprooted it. The thieves were captured in CCTV cameras installed in the showroom. As per information, the thieves entered the showroom at 2.26 am on Friday. The miscreants were present in the showroom for more than 30 minutes. They took away several leather items. Giving information about the estimated loss of over Rs 5 lakh, showroom manager Gulshan Kumar said expensive leather items such as boots, jackets and purses were stolen from the showroom. The thieves made bundles of the stolen goods and loaded the same in a Mahindra pick-up vehicle before fleeing the scene. The Police Division 5 on Thursday registered a case against the unidentified miscreants and launched an investigation probe.
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