30012024-ATR-01.qxd 1/30/2024 12:42 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FARMERS HOLD PROTEST, BURN EFFIGIES OF PM, SHAH ACTION THRILLER FILM FIGHTER JOINS ~100-CR CLUB IN INDIA Craze around Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone-starrer Fighter doesn’t seem to end soon. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 19°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 9°C BB 17 WINNER MUNAWAR TALKS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee hold a protest at Shahkot and Lohian. P2 FORECAST Munawar Faruqui said he went to the show to entertain and not open up about details of his life. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 6.02 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7.24 AM » TUESDAY | 30 JANUARY 2024 | AMRITSAR Attack on farmers: Demand gets shriller forarrestofmiscreants Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 29 Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee burnt an effigy of the Central Government to protest the attack on farmers by alleged supporters of the BJP at the union’s camp during the Delhi protest three years ago. Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “Around 50 goons led by BJP supporters had attacked the camp and injured several farmers. However, none of the accused was ever booked or arrested.” Pandher said the government was also trying to amend the Land Acquisition Act wherein the consent of the farmers would not be necessary. The union also demanded that the government should withdraw the World Trade Organization agreements, which are against the interests of Indian farmers. He said the agrarian sector in the country Schools in Ajnala to get infra overhaul, says minister Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal talks to mediapersons in Ajnala on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 29 Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today said that schools in the border belt of Ajnala will be upgraded and an infrastructural overhaul costing Rs 27.85 crore will be undertaken to strengthen school education in the constituency. Addressing the media, Dhaliwal said that Ajnala, being a border area, was sidelined in terms of development post-independence. “Approval has been given to spend Rs 27.85 crore, out of which the first installment of Rs 7.18 crore has been received by schools in Ajnala. Special focus will be given to the education and health sectors,” he said. Dhaliwal said that with the first installment received by the constituency, work has started in 167 schools, which include those up to elementary, secondary and senior secondary level, according to their needs. He instructed the school committees and officials not to compromise on the quality of work so that schools in the constituency can be upgraded by making proper use of the money received. Several schools in Ajnala, which lies in the rural border belt, lack basic amenities like toilets, provision of clean drinking water, classrooms as student strength exceeds the seating capacity. There is also a shortage of teachers in several elementary schools, especially with student strength exceeding 500. was in need of support, but the Central Government was trying to give it over to the corporate sector. Pandher said farmer unions had also announced that they would start a protest (Delhi Andolan) in Delhi again from February 13 in continuation of the earlier agitation, which was called off after the Central Government had assured the farmers of accepting all their demands. He said major demands of the previous agitation had not been fulfilled. “The mastermind of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which five persons were mowed down by a vehicle still continues to be a Cabinet minister in the Central Government even though a case under Section 120-B of the IPC was registered against him,” said Pandher, adding that the farmers were upbeat over Delhi Andolan for which preparations had been started in various villages. Year on, civic body yet to start work on cow shelter Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 29 Even after a lapse of around a year, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation authorities have failed to start construction work on a cow shelter on the Jhabal road though the foundation stone for the same was laid in March last year by then Local Bodies Minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar, along with Amritsar Central MLA Dr Ajay Gupta. As per the project, besides a cow shelter, a dog shelter and a veterinary hospital were also to come up at the place. The delay has not gone down well with animal lovers who had sought its construction as early as possible with stray cattle roaming free on roads, endangering the lives of commuters. Besides, the population of canine has been increasing rapidly causing a terror among people. The land earmarked for the cow shelter in Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO Dr Rohan Mehra, physiotherapist and president of the Anti-Crime and Animal Protection Association, an NGO, said on March 26, 2023, animal lovers had heaved a sigh of relief after then Local Bodies Minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar and MLA Dr Ajay Gupta had laid the foundation stone for the construction of a cow and dog shelter and a veterinary hospital on the Jhabal road. The cow shelter would have the capacity to accommodate around 500 stray cattle while another cow shelter, which can accommodate around 300 cattle, was already functioning in Naraingarh area. A post of veterinary doctor was already sanctioned there. Dr Mehra said animal lovers had been demanding a cow shelter in each constituency. Nevertheless, the pathetic attitude of the government, the civic body authorities and the district administration is deplorable, he said. “The government has been collecting huge revenues through cow cess, but it has failed to take a single step for the welfare of stray animals. Following the protest, a cow shelter was opened in the West constituency. Another protest led to the laying of the foundation stone for another cow shelter on the Jhabal road,” he said. Giving an ultimatum, he said the organization would hold an agitation if the government and the authorities did not construct the shelter on the Jhabal road. Civic body seals 5 buildings in city One more arrested in 1-kg heroin seizure case PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 29 A day after the arrest of a commission agent for allegedly possessing 1 kilogram of heroin, the Gharinda police have arrested their main accomplice who used to supply and distribute the contraband in the border villages by dividing it into small quantities. He was identified as Jodhbir Singh alias Jodha, a resident of Rai village under Lopoke police station area. He was nominated in the case after the seizure. According to police, Jodha was wanted by the city police also. He was booked by Chhe- Drug peddler Jodhbir Singh in custody of the Amritsar police on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO harta police in connection with the seizure of 100 grams of heroin earlier. Satinder Singh, SSP (Amritsar rural), told The Tribune that his preliminary interro- Saragarhi parking in urgent need of renovation for ease of tourists Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 29 A large number of devotees and tourists visit the Golden Temple daily but the flyover from Ramtalai Chowk to Saragarhi parking, the only designated parking slot for the shrine, is in a pathetic condition. The authorities had done only some patchwork in the name of maintenance but the condition has not improved. The bad state of the road leaves a negative impression on tourists and visitors. The potholed road reflects the apathy of civic bodies towards the city’s major revenue generating section. Filled with rainwater during the monsoon, the potholes make commuting a risky affair. Moreover, pebbles on the elevated road pose danger, especially for two-wheelers. Davinder Singh Sadiq, a visitor to the Golden Temple, said, “This stretch is crucial for pilgrims and tourists driving to Saragarhi parking. But the road’s condition shows lack of concern on the part of authorities toward the visitors.” Harkrishan Singh, a local resident, said, “Around one lakh devotees and tourists, including foreigners, visit the Golden Temple daily. The arrangements for parking are inadequate. The flyover leading to Saragarhi parking near the Golden Temple is in a pathetic condition as a large number of potholes have appeared. Tourists have to face hardships daily. The road below the elevated one, leading to the temple from Ghee Mandi and Sheran Wala Gate, is encroached upon by truckers and horse carts. The authorities did some patchwork last year but the potholes have appeared again.” The flyover leading to the Saragarhi parking lot in a pathetic condition in Amritsar. c m y b gation revealed that Germanjit Singh, after retrieving contraband from the border village, handed it over to Jodha who further supplied it in Lopoke and Chogwan areas. Manmeetpal Singh, SHO, Gharinda, said the police have also identified two other drug peddlers who used to supply the contraband to Jodhbir. They were Shera and his brother Bachitar Singh, both residents of Rai village. “He used to distribute their drugs and collect drug money for them,” he said, while adding that efforts were on to nab them also. The SSP said that the links of all suspects arrested in the case are being looked into. “We will smash the entire network during further course of probe,” he added. Yesterday, Amritsar rural police had arrested a commission agent, Germanjit Singh, among two persons and seized 1 kg of heroin from their possession. Besides Germanjit alias Brahman, the police had arrested Akashdeep Singh alias Khatti, both residents of Dhanoe Khurd village falling under Gharinda police station here. Besides the narcotics, the police also confiscated their Maruti Swift car (PB-36-E2601) in which they were travelling and a mobile phone from them. New DEOs assume charge in Tarn Taran Despite rise in dog population, sterilisation moves at snail’s pace Our Correspondent Charanjit Singh Teja Officials of the MTP wing seal under-construction shops on the Jhabbal road in Amritsar on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 29 Taking action against illegal constructions, the Municipal Town Planning wing has sealed five buildings here today. The action was taken by Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Paramjeet Dutta and Building Inspector Navjot Kaur, the field staff of Central Zone of MTP wing. ATP Paramjeet Dutta stated that five shops were being constructed in Jhabbal Road area without getting the building plan approved. He stated that earlier, notices were issued to those who constructed these shops. Despite this, construction continued at the site. He said that today, the department took action and sealed all five shops. Construction work was also stopped in some areas of the Central Zone and goods confiscated. Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, January 29 Sushil Kumar took charge as the District Education Officer (Secondary) while Daljit Kaur took over as District Education Officer (Elementary) in Tarn Taran on Monday. The post of the DEO (Secondary) was lying vacant for months. Kawaljit Singh, District Education Officer (Elementary), has been transferred to Gurdaspur as per the list of transfers released on Monday. Previously, District Education Officer (Elementary) Kawaljit Singh was holding the additional charge of DEO (Secondary). It is pertinent to mention here that the posts of both DEO (Elementary) and DEO (Secondary) was lying vacant which had affected routine work. In the recent reshuffle, though the posts of District Education Officer in both elementary and secondary departments have been filled, the posts of Deputy District Education Officer are yet to be filled. Official sources said that the posts were lying vacant as departmental promotions were being delayed again and again. Amritsar, January 29 The number of stray dogs is rapidly increasing in the city, but the sterilisation project is going at a snail’s pace. The Amritsar Municipal Corporation had hired an Animal Welfare Charitable Trust to sterilize 20,000 dogs in August 2023 for the sterilization of canine. During the last five months, 4,050 dogs have been sterilized. Around 30 to 35 dogs are being sterilized daily at the Animal Birth Control Centre at Narayangarh, Chheharta and Fatehgarh Shukarchak. It is estimated that there are over 50,000 stray dogs in the city and the number is growing rapidly. The MC claims to have sterilised around 14,000 dogs in past few years and had set a target of 50 dogs to be sterilised every day. According to experts, around 50 dogs are born daily and the MC is sterilizing around the same number on a daily basis. To curb the population of canine, the MC should sterilize three times more dogs and focus on female dogs. MC Assistant Medical Officer Dr Rama claimed that the work of sterilization would be accelerated. She said the work of dog sterilization was going on continuously. Under the project, The number of stray dogs is increasing rapidly in Amritsar. OVER 50K STRAY DOGS IN CITY It is estimated that there are over 50,000 stray dogs in the city and the number is growing rapidly. The MC claims to have sterilised around 14,000 dogs in past few years and had set a target of 50 dogs to be sterilised every day. According to experts, around 50 dogs are born daily and the MC is sterilizing around the same number on a daily basis. To curb the population of canine, the MC should sterilize three times more dogs and focus on female dogs. teams are catching stray dogs and sterilizing them at two centres established in the city. She said the anti-rabies vaccine was also being injected along with sterilization. After the sterilization operation, the dogs are released in the same area from where they are caught. While the Anti-Rabies wing of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and the Civil Hospital, more than 20 cases of dog bites are being reported in the city. Apart from this, several victims visit private hospitals to get anti-rabies injection instead of government hospitals after dog bite. “The stray dog population is growing rapidly. A female canine gives birth to eight to 10 puppies after six months. The MC should speed up sterilization,” said Ravinder Kumar, a resident.
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