22102024-LT-01.qxd 10/21/2024 11:22 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune DAAN UTSAV GETS GOOD RESPONSE FROM RESIDENTS GUV ADVOCATES QUALITY EDUCATION FOR WOMEN TRADITION SCORES BIG ON KARWA CHAUTH The two-day event got overwhelming response from the residents of different cities. P2 Governor Kataria emphasised the importance of quality education for women to bring out their potential. P2 As the nation celebrated Karwa Chauth with great excitement, B-town wives also joined the festivities. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 32°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 19°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.47 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:35 AM TUESDAY | 22 OCTOBER 2024 | LUDHIANA 27 farm fires reported in dist till now, violators go scot-free as authorities ‘look other way’ Even as stubble burning incidents are lowest so far, administration yet to wake up Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 21 In what appears to be a case of turning blind eye or giving a free hand to the violators, no action has been taken against those responsible for 27 farm fires reported in the district during the current kharif (paddy harvesting) season so far. Even as the stubble burning incidents are the lowest so far, the district administration is yet to act in the cases recorded till date. With no case of farm fire reported in the district during the past three days, as many as 27 stubble burning cases were recorded till Monday. This was almost one-fourth of 100 fire events spotted in the district during the corresponding period in 2022 and a bit less than the 37 farm fires recorded here till October 21 in 2023. Deputy Commissioner FARM FIRES SO FAR THE HOTSPOTS Rasulpur Malha Hathur Bassian Manuke Kaonke Kalan Dahlla Chhajjawal Lohat Baddi Jalaldiwal Nathowal Roomi Kamal Pura Jhordan Swadai Kalan Hans Kalan Rashin Dhoorkot Galib Kalan Barde Ke YEAR 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 Lakha Gobindgarh Kalsian Abbupura Chiman Akhara Chak Bhaika Johlan Talwandi Rai Sahouli LUDHIANA 27 1,801 2,682 5,817 4,330 2,532 2,481 3,239 7,697 PUNJAB 1,510 36,663 49,922 71,304 76,590 55,210 50,590 45,384 81,042 (Source: Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Ludhiana. Figures are from Sept 15 to Oct 21, previous years are from Septr 15 to Nov 30) Experts believe incidents of farm fires are less in the district as paddy harvesting is yet to pick up pace. FILE Jitendra Jorwal and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Harjinder Singh Bedi were not available for comments despite repeated attempts. According to the district-wise action taken report (ATR) compiled by the state government, a copy of which is with The Tribune, no environmental compensation was imposed, no red entry made in the revenue records and no FIR was regis- tered in any of the total 27 cases of stubble burning reported in the district till Monday. The experts, however, said the incidents of farm fires were yet to pick up in the district as the paddy harvesting has not yet picked up pace here. The Agriculture Department said that less than 20 per cent of the total 2.57 lakh hectares of paddy area had been harvested with more than 80 per cent, which accounted for over 2.05 lakh hectares, was still to be harvested in Ludhiana. Meanwhile, the district administration has identified as many as 30 hotspots of stubble burning across five blocks in Ludhiana district this season. The hotspots have been marked on the basis of farm fire incidents reported during the past year and the number of crop residue management machineries available at the identified locations in Ludhiana, the state’s biggest and largest district in terms of area and population. With 2.57 lakh hectares, which is equivalent to 6.35 lakh acres, under paddy cultivation, the maximum in the state, Ludhiana district will generate 16.53 lakh tonnes of paddy straw at the rate of 6.43 tonnes per hectare. As many as 8,223 machines of 13 different types had been made available to manage stubble in 969 villages spread across 11 blocks in the district. Stubble burning: Teachers owning land to give affidavits Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 21 To check farm fires and to improve air quality in the entire region, the Education Department has been asked to inform the school principals, teachers and members of the non-teaching staff to submit an affidavit that they will not indulge in farm fires in case they possess agricultural land. The teachers and others will give it in writing that they will not burn stubble in their fields and the document would be kept in the school record. In case someone is found guilty, the record will be registered in the annual confidential report (ACR) of the teacher. The Education Department has asked all principals to do the needful and the copy of the affidavit will also be submitted to the Education Department through e-mail. The last date of sending the certificates was today. Besides, all principals of government schools of Punjab have been instructed to create awareness among the students in the morning assemblies about the illeffects of stubble burning on health and how it increased the pollution levels at an alarming rate. Under the initiative, competitions like declamation contests, slogan writing, poster making will be conducted in schools among the students. The parents will also be made aware about it during their interaction with the school authorities. It may be mentioned that this is the crucial time in the state when maximum cases of farm fires are reported from various districts. Aftervideoofthievesgoesviral, Cong former councillor One held with 1 kg marijuana gets fraudulent call police arrest them in 48 hrs Dressed as waiters, two take away ‘shagun’ bag, jewellery Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 21 The CIA-2 has managed to identify the accused and nab them within 48 hours after a video went viral on social media about a marriage palace where two persons dressed as waiters come and get away with a bag of ‘shagun’ and jewellery from a marriage palace. Later, they were taken to police station, division number 7, and an FIR was registered against them. According to police, the thieves arrived in Ludhiana about three days back from Madhya Pradesh. The accused stole the bag of ‘shagun’ and valuables from the marriage palace in Dehlon area. The police maintained that the gang was being operated from Madhya Pradesh itself. As per their modus operandi, they were also using children in this crime. Incharge of CIA-2 Inspector Rajesh Sharma informed that a team of police was on patrol near Sanjay Gandhi Chowk, Tajpur Road. The police got to know about the gang indulging in thefts in marriage palaces. Police cracked the whip and arrested three persons in this connection. Around 34 gm of gold and same amount of silver was recovered from those arrested. The accused identified as Badal, Vishal and Kanhaiya Lal were arrested from the back side of Vardhman Colony. The police maintained that the gang was involved in theft incidents in marriage palaces and the valuables were later sold to the buyers. The particular incident, the video of which was Three arrested for thrashing 2 policemen Bikers booked for injuring traffic cop Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 21 The Sadar Police here have registered a case under Sections 281, 125 (A), 125 (B) of the BNS against driver Harpreet Singh, a resident of Housing Board Colony, BRS Nagar, and Jagdip Singh, a resident from Delhi for hitting a traffic personnel, Surjit Singh, while on duty. The complainant traffic cop said that he was on duty near D-Mart, Sangowal village, when two persons while driving a motorcycle rashly hit him and he sustained injuries. The traffic cop is under treatment at the Civil Hospital here and the accused have been arrested. In yet another incident, the police have arrested Gurvin- der Singh, Tarandeep Singh and Gurpreet Singh for hitting and thrashing two police cops on duty. The Dugri police have registered a case under Sections 132, 221 and 3(5) of the BNS on the basis of a complaint filed by cop Gaurav Chandel. Chandel said that he, along with Tarsem Singh, another cop, were on duty at Phase 2 Dugri when they found a youth sitting on a bike and talking to someone over the phone. The cops went to him and asked to show the documents. The accused then called up his two other friends, who reached the spot and started manhandling the cops. The complainant said that his uniform was torn. The police have initiated investigations in the case. going viral, took place on October 19 at Sunrise Marriage Palace. Navdeep Singh, the complainant, informed the police that his elder brother got married on October 19. The ceremony was being held at the abovesaid marriage palace when suddenly some relatives raised an alarm as the bag of ‘shagun’ went missing. Everyone was asked about the bag, but to no avail. The CCTV footage was checked by the marriage party and it was found that two persons dressed as waiters had taken the bag. The bag contained a gold necklace, two rings and Rs 60,000. The police were informed about the incident. One of the accused Jigar was absconding and police were on his lookout. A case has been registered against them under Sections 303 (2), 317 (2), 3(5) of the BNS. NRI dies under mysterious circumstances Ludhiana, October 21 A 58-year-old NRI from Canada died under mysterious circumstances at Omaxe Residency here late last night around 10.45pm. Sinder Singh fell from the 13th floor of the Omaxe Residency and panic gripped among the residents as his body was lying in a pool of blood. The residents tried to provide first-aid to the deceased, but to no avail. The police of Sadar and Lalton Chowki were immediately informed about the incident. According to information, the person belonged to Shehzada village and had come to India from Canada about three-four days back. The police are checking the CCTV footage. The brother of the deceased lives in Shehzada village and he was informed about the incident. The body has been sent for a postmortem examination.— TNS Ludhiana, October 21 Former Congress councillor Amrit Varsha Rampal recently got a fraudulent WhatsApp call from a cyber criminal with the caller’s profile picture being that of a cop. Interestingly, the call came to Rampal when she was sitting at AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi’s house. Gogi spoke to the caller without disclosing his identity. The caller maintained that one of his (Gogi’s) nephews was lodged at a police station due to his involvement in some criminal activities and the police were about to beat him up to question him. The caller asked MLA Gogi about the name of the nephew and when Gogi gave a fake name, the caller repeated that he was in the custody of police due to his alleged involvement in criminal activities. When Gogi asked the caller about the police station where his nephew had been taken, the fraudster disconnected the call. Appealing to the masses, Gogi said that there was no need to be scared of such calls. He asked residents not to share any bank details with anyone over the phone. He informed the cyber cell immediately to get the call and the caller traced. — TNS Mandi Ahmedgarh, Oct 21 The Ludhiana (Rural) Police claimed to have arrested a migrant labourer from Bihar for his involvement in distributing drugs and narcotics among addicts of this region. More then 1 kg of marijuana (ganja) was seized from the accused, identified as Ram Parvesh Chaudhary of Kabira village in Saharsa district of Bihar, who was presently staying at Sarabha village. The accused was arrested when he was going from Dhaipai Bridge to Sarabha village to deliver the consignment to some consumers, who are yet to be identified. Ludhiana SSP (Rural) Navneet Singh Bains The accused in the custody of Jodhan police. informed that a patrolling party had intercepted the suspect when he was going on foot from Dhaipai Bridge to Sarabha village yesterday. — OC ‘Residents too should help keep city clean’ twice a day and e-rickshaws have been given to ensure that garbage is lifted. The tehbazari wing has been given special instructions to make roads free of encroachments” Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 21 Around Diwali everyone makes sure to clean their houses, but what about the city? With heaps of garbage littered around in every corner of the city, who will take the responsibility to make the city clean — the administration, MC or elected representatives? The Ludhiana Tribune talked to those concerned in this regard. Aaditya Dachalwal, MC Commissioner “We have already chalked out a plan ahead of Diwali season. Sweepers were on leave, but now keeping in view the festive season, they have been asked to work on Sunday on rotation basis. Orders for night sweeping have also been given. In addition to this, residents should also understand their responsibility and keep their surroundings clean. A large-scale cleanliness drive was also launched recently. Residents should stop dumping waste in open spaces and hand over segregated dry and wet waste to the garbage collectors. The goal of a clean and green city could only be achieved with the joint efforts” c m y b Rotten vegetables and disposable glasses littered near a vegetable market in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Amarjit Singh Bains, ADC (General) “It is a collective effort and no single person can make a difference, the entire society has to work as a team to make it happen. Government agencies entrusted with the cleaning responsibility are doing their bit, but people are also accountable. I have often seen people, on account of saving a few bucks, throw garbage in open spaces. Segregation of waste is very important, otherwise three to four times more money is wasted in segregation and people should understand their moral duty to do this. Apart from that, government departments are already doing their bit, but public cooperation is imperative” environment, while the elected representatives should also keep an eye that everything is being done on time and in a planned manner” Gurpreet Gogi, MLA, Ludhiana West “Keeping the city clean is every resident’s duty, which also includes elected representatives and officials. We live in a civilised society and everyone should behave like one. People should segregate the waste before giving and MC and Health Department should ensure cleanliness and disease-free Madan Lal Bagga, MLA, Ludhiana North “The responsibility of getting the city clean is ours as we are the elected representative. I have conducted a meeting today only to instruct everyone in the municipal corporation to ensure proper cleanliness in the city, especially as Diwali is approaching. Sweepers have been instructed to sweep the roads Rajinder Pal Kaur Chhina, MLA, Ludhiana South “People have chosen us so the responsibility of keeping the city clean also lies with us. Keeping in view the festival season, a special cleanliness drive has been initiated and the process of cleaning of Sidhwan Canal has already been started. In addition to this, proper cleanliness in all wards has also been done” Ashok Prashar, MLA, Ludhiana Central “Keeping the city clean is a collective responsibility of everyone. No one alone can keep it clean, but everyone, including residents, municipal corporation and elected representatives need to work in unison for the said purpose. People should also understand and should not litter waste on roadsides. Our cleanliness drive is already underway”
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