23062024-ATR-01.qxd 6/23/2024 12:43 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY EFFORTS ON TO GET ABUL KHURANA DRAIN CLEANED DILJIT, NEERU TALK ABOUT THEIR NEW MOVIE JATT & JULIET 3 ACTOR RITEISH DESHMUKH TO BE SEEN IN WEB SERIES PILL The Abohar administration has stepped up efforts to get Abul Khurana drain cleaned before the monsoon. P3 Actors Diljit Dosanjh and Neeru Bajwa are visiting cities for promotion of their upcoming movie Jatt & Juliet 3. P4 MAX 38°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 28°C Bollywood Actor Riteish Deshmukh will soon be seen headlining a new web series titled Pill. P4 » » SUNSET SUNDAY 7.39 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5.26 AM » SUNDAY | 23 JUNE 2024 | AMRITSAR 2.5 cr saplings to be planted across state this monsoon New initiative to increase area under forests to 7.5% in state Tribune News Service The burnt green patch alongside a road near the BRTS bus stand in Amritsar. PHOTO: SUNIL KUMAR Burning weeds causing damage to trees: Locals Amritsar, June 22 The state government has set a target of planting 2.5 crore saplings throughout the state for the Forest Department and has asked it to set up nurseries. Officials of the department have been told to carry out plantation on vacant land belonging to different departments. In this regard, a meeting with the heads of all departments of the district was conducted by Finance Commissioner, Forest Department, Krishna Kumar here on Saturday. He said the area under forests in the state Punjab has reduced to 5.92 per cent over the years and to improve the environment, the state’s area under trees and forests will be increased to 7.5 per cent by 2030. “A new initiative has been started by the government to increase the percentage. Apart from forest land, saplings will be planted on a large scale in non-forest land and panchayat areas will play a major role in this work,” he said. Krishna Kumar said the Amritsar, June 22 Torching seems to be some unidentified persons’ preferred way of getting rid of weeds in green belts alongside roads as there have been numerous instances where fire has caused damage to roadside trees in the city. Usually burning of trees on roadsides is attributed to farmers presuming that fire from their fields might have spread to other areas. However, the green belt near the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) bus stand opposite DAV International School on the outskirts of the city does not have any agricultural field as it is surrounded by roads and the bus stand. But still trees and grass on this patch of land is seen burnt. Burning of waste and dry leaves is also not uncommon as fires are spotted every other day. Residents say that along with farm fires, the damage caused to green cover should also be taken seriously. “In some cases, fires, which have caused damage to roadside green covers, could be accidental, but the burning of weeds is against the law,” said Kewal Krishan, a resident. He said every year a large number of trees get burnt due to fire. Subsidy on maize seeds not encouraging, say farmers ‘Will take up missing Merchant Deen Dayal Upadhyay market cries for Navy officer’s case with Centre’ urgent repairs, proper maintenance Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 22 Even as the government has announced a subsidy on maize seeds to increase area under its cultivation, these half-hearted measures will certainly fail to achieve the desired results as farmers are still preferring paddy over maize. Considering the fact that maize is a low-yield crop as compared to paddy crop and it does not get an assured MSP farmers will choose , paddy crop sooner or later. A comparison between rice and maize yield and prices reveals that the former is a better crop from all aspects. While the average yield of maize is merely 16 quintals per acre, the average yield of paddy is around 26 quintals per acre. Further, the minimum support price for maize as announced by the Union Government is ~2,235 per quintal whereas it is ~2,300 per quintal. “Farmers cultivate maize mostly as fodder. Maize is not procured by the government, hence farmers never get an MSP on it,” said Gurnam Singh, a farmer. He said a subsidy of ~100 per kilo on maize seeds is not going to encourage farmers to increase its cultivation. Satnam Singh, another farmer, said, “Farmers will stop cultivating paddy the day they will get a viable alternative. At present, farmers are getting an assured MSP on paddy and as such no other crop can take its place.” He said if the government is serious about decreasing area under paddy, it should also announce an MSP on some other crops and stop it on paddy. Farmers say as the cultivation of maize requires eight kilo of seed, the government is practically giving an incentive of merely ~800 per acre. “If maize is to be made popular, the government must introduce highyield varieties, besides a mechanism to ensure a better market price for it,” said Sahib Singh, a local farmer. — TNS Officials of the district administration during a meeting convened to discuss plantation in Amritsar on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO 2 held with illegal pistol Tribune News Service panchayats think that with the saplings planted on the panchayat land, their land will come under the Forest Department and they will be stopped from cutting trees due to which they refrain from planting saplings on the panchayat land. He clarified that the Forest Department will not attempt to afforest the panchayat land and the plantation area under any forest law nor will there be any restriction by the Forest Department while cutting the planted trees. He also made it clear that in future, panchayats will be fully entitled to income from trees cut from the area by the panchayats. Krishna Kumar while addressing a meeting said a target of 10 lakh saplings has been set for planting in different places to make the district green. He directed the officials to plant maximum saplings in the district and in this regard, support from the BSF should also be taken. He said all the departments should mark their vacant places for planting saplings and get saplings from the Forest Department as per their requirement. Orders were given to identify every vacant place related to their departments, i.e. government buildings, hospitals, schools and panchayat land on which plantation can be done so that plants can be provided to them as per their requirement. Amritsar, June 22 The Amritsar Rural Police arrested two persons and confiscated a pistol along with two live bullets from their possession here on Friday. They were nabbed during the checking of vehicles near Fatehgarh Shukarchak village falling under the Kamboh police station here. According to the police, the accused identified as Sandeep Singh, alias Sonu, of Bhinder Patti village and Kanwaljeet Singh, alias Gopi, of Rampur village were travelling in a car (PB-08-DR-9599) when they were intercepted. During checking, the police seized a .30 bore calibre pistol and two bullets from them. They could not give a satisfactory reply to police queries and therefore they were arrested and a case under the Arms Act was registered against them. Further probe was on, the police added. Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal talks to the family members of the missing Merchant Navy officer in Amritsar on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Amritsar, June 22 Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has assured the family of missing Merchant Navy officer Harjot Singh of taking up the matter with the Union Government to trace him. The minister paid a visit to the missing officer’s house here son He stated this to the family members of Harjot during a visit at his home on Saturday. Harjot Singh, Second Officer in Merchant Navy, went missing on the night of June 16. He was aboard ship MV JAL VAIBHAV (of Tallani Shipping Company) and was due to return home next month. Dhaliwal said the issue of the officer who went missing in the line of duty would be taken up with the Union Minister of Shipping through the office of Punjab Chief Minister. He said he would bring the matter to the notice of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. While interacting with the family members of Harjot Singh, he assured them that the state government was standing with them and all efforts would be made to trace and reunite him with his family. — TNS Amritsar, June 22 The deplorable condition of Deen Dayal Upadhyay market, situated just opposite the Hall Gate, belies tall claims — of having ensured proper cleanliness and maintenance in the area — by the authorities concerned. Despite the fact that the office of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party is also situated in the commercial complex, it has never appeared on the priority list of the government or the party to get the complex repaired or at least white-washed. The complex, which also houses a parking lot, is in dire need of repair. A visit to the market reveals that a majority of the windows are broken. The glasses of many windows are missing and at some places window panes are broken. The paint coating seems to have faded a Garbage lies strewn on the stairs at Deen Dayal Upadhyay market in Amritsar on Saturday. VISHAL KUMAR long time ago and at many places the plaster has come off. Hygiene seems to be missing in the entire complex, which has several shops and offices. The stairs have not been cleaned for years and stains of beetel spits are clearly visible on them. Many steps have developed cracks and parts of some have damaged. Lack of repairs for years has led dust and other unwanted particles to gather in these gaps. The market has toilets, which are also in urgent need of repairs. Many sanitarywares are not in proper working condition. Some of them are broken. They need to be replaced. In addition, regular cleanliness is needed as the stench emanating from garbage heaps is unbearable. Book on plants mentioned in Guru Granth Farmer shot dead over land dispute Police have booked Sahib released by VC Sandhu at GNDU seven persons for the Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 22 Guru Nanak Dev University’s Center on Studies in Sri Guru Granth Sahib has released a new book on the plants mentioned in the Guru Granth Sahib. The book is titled ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib wich Paudian da Zikar’ written by Dr Pushpinder Jai Rup, a historian and archivist. The book was released by Prof Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Jai Rup Singh, former Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University. Dr Jai Rup Singh said that this book provides complete details about the plants mentioned in the Shabads of Sri Guru Granth GNDU Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu shows the book in Amritsar on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Sahib. “It explores a unique topic that has not been researched much. The book describes various plants, their nature, and 59 different species, following the order of Gurmukhi letters. It also includes important tables with valuable information,” he shared. Vice Chancellor Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu praised the book, highlighting the Centre’s mission to research various aspects of Sikh studies. “The Center focuses on inter-faith dialogue, philosophical and theological studies, Gurbani music, linguistics, social and c m y b cultural studies, and translating Sikh literature. This book will be a great reference for scholars and researchers, and it will also increase the knowledge of everyday readers.” The book is relevant, said Dr Jai Rup as it sheds light on the importance of preserving native species of plants that are significant for their botanical as well as spiritual value. Dr. Amarjit Singh, Director of the Center, said that this book on plants mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib” is set to become a valuable resource for anyone interested in the botanical references in the sacred Shabads, connecting historical scriptures with modern botanical science. Amritsar, June 22 A farmer was shot dead by several persons over a land dispute at Chhapa Ram Singh village falling under the Jandiala Guru police station here on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Harpreet Singh (36) who suffered four gunshot injuries. He died on his way to hospital while the accused fled the spot. Station House Officer (SHO) Mukhtiar Singh said a case has been registered against seven persons and raids were on to nab the absconders. Those booked were identified as Sukhwinder Singh, alias Kala, of Bhagtupura village, Bhajan Singh of Lalka murder Nagar, Shinder of Rampur, Sonu Dela of Tarsikka and two brothers of Bajwa Dairy Wale located in Chhapa Ram Singh village. Giving details, Savinder Singh, alias Chhindam, brother of the victim, said his father Gurdeep Singh had done a deal of selling a plot with Balwinder Singh who gave earnest money to his father. However, without completing the requisite formalities, he further sold the plot to Bajwa dairy owners after taking ~10 lakh as earnest money. This led to some verbal arguments. He said his father filed a case in the court which ordered a stay on its sale. He said two days ago, they had reached on understanding that Balwinder would mediate and gave ~10 lakh to his father Gurdeep Singh and that they (Bajwar dairy brothers) would take the possession of the plot. He said yesterday, he along with his brother Harpreet Singh accompanied their father and reached the spot. However, the opposite group entered into a scuffle and later Gopi and Sonu Dola took out pistols and shot his brother Harpreet Singh multiple times leading to critical injuries on his neck and chest. He died on his way to hospital.