06032025-ATR-01.qxd 3/5/2025 11:30 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune MINISTER LEADS EFFORTS TO COMBAT DRUG TRADE FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR ISHWAK’S FILM ROLE REMINDS HIM OF HIS PARENTS’ LOVE STORY Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema urged officials to ensure community participation in battle against drugs. P2 » NAYANTHARA DOES NOT WANT TO BE CALLED LADY SUPERSTAR Actor Ishwak Singh is set to make his silver screen debut with film Tumko Meri Kasam. P4 In a heartfelt note to her fans, actress Nayanthara has requested that they stop referring to her as Lady Superstar. P4 » » MAX 23°C | MIN 6°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 6°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.31 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:50 AM THURSDAY | 6 MARCH 2025 | AMRITSAR After transfer of Tehsildars, Sub-registrars, SDMs instructed to register properties Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 5 Though the government today transferred Tehsildars and instructed Sub-registrars and SDMs to register properties, yet only cases of only those persons were entertained, who had some kind of emergency like they had to go out of the city. Despite being transferred, Tehsildars reached their respective offices today. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said Tehsildars were transferred and Subregistrars had been asked to continue with the property registration work. The district administration swung into action after Tehsildars went on mass leave yes- A resident (left) at the Revenue Department office in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR terday. Taking note of the problems faced by the general public due to stoppage of work in offices, Deputy Com- missioner Sakshi Sawhney issued strict orders to handover the registration work of Tehsildars to PCS-rank offi- cials and Kanungos. She used powers vested in her under Section 12 of the Registration Act, 1908, to Police stop farmers from going to Chandigarh resolve problems of the people and ensure uninterrupted registration of properties. The work of the Revenue Department, Amritsar 1, was assigned to SDM, Amritsar 1, and of Amritsar 2 was given to SDM, Amritsar 2. Similarly, work in Ajnala was assigned to SDM, Ajnala; Baba Bakala Sahib to SDM, Baba Bakala Sahib; Lopoke to SDM, Lopoke; Amritsar 3 to Assistant Commissioner (General), Amritsar; Majitha to Sanjeev Devgan, Sadar Kanungo; Ramdas to Karaj Singh, Kanungo, Ajnala; Rajasansi to Rajeev Kumar, Kanungo; Attari to Gur Iqbal Singh, Kanungo; Jandiala Guru to Rajesh Kumar, Kanungo; Tarsikka to Lakhwinder Singh, Kanungo; and Beas to Ranjit Singh, Kanungo. Protests in Tarn Taran district Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 5 Farmer unions associated with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha today staged protests at various places in the district as they were stopped by the police from participating in the “pucca morcha” scheduled to start in Chandigarh today. Farmers initiated protests at sites where they were stopped by the police. A delegation of farmers led by Lakhbir Singh Nizampura was detained at the Jandiala police station on route to Beas. Farmers, who were stopped on different routes, initiated protests near Gurdwara Morcha Sahib on the Ajnala road and at Thoba village near Gagomahal village. They raised slogans against the state government, while alleging that unfair means were used to stop farmers from reaching Chandigarh. Earlier, the police detained several farmer leaders to sabotage plans of unions to protest in Chandigarh. Dr Civic body intensifies anti-encroachment drive across city Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 5 The Estate Department of the Municipal Corporation (MC) has intensified its drive against encroachments across the city. During the drive launched on Tuesday and Wednesday, the MC removed encroachments from the key areas, including the road heading from Putlighar to Narayan Garh Chowk, Court Road, Mall Road and Lawrence Road. Estate Officer Dharminderjeet Singh said dozens of unauthorised street vendors were removed from these areas during the drive. Large marble tiles of an under-construction project kept on the footpath of the Mall road near Novelty Chowk were removed, he said, while adding that a toilet along the road was also dismantled. A generator set of Bansal Bakery was removed from the road. Besides, officials of the Municipal Corporation removed several bicycles illegally parked under the bridge in Cycle Market on the Railway road, he added. Farmers protest near Gurdwara Morcha Sahib on the Ajnala road on Wednesday. Satnam Singh Ajnala of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha said, “The state government is not even allowing farmers to go to Punjab’s capital. When we are not even free to move in our own state, then there is no point blaming Haryana and Central Governments for stopping farmers from going to Delhi.” Dr Ajnala said they initiated their indefinite dharna near Gurdwara Morcha Sahib. The protesters blocked one side of the road while the other side remained open for the traffic. Meanwhile, farmers associated Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee burnt effigies of the Chief Minister at Golden Gate and various other places. Sarwan Singh Pandher of the committee said, “The Punjab Government has misused government machinery to harass farmers who are demanding their rights.” Members of the BKU Ekta Sidhupur also held protests at the District Administrative Complex today and observed one-day hunger strike to express solidarity with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal who is on fast since last 100 days. Tarn Taran, March 5 Different organisations of farmers and mazdoors held protests in many parts of the district and expressed their resentment against the Union and the state governments, while stressing on fulfilment of their demands. Farmers associated with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha gathered at Gurdwara Baba Sidhana, Sheron village, and condemned the state government for arresting activists and leaders of farmers unions in order to stop them from participating in “pucca morcha” in Chandigarh which started from today. Farmers were leaving for Chandigarh when they were stopped by the police. Hundreds of farmers under the banner of Kisan Sangharsh Committee (Kot Budha) and BKU (Sidhupur) under the leadership of Inderjit Singh Kot Budha and Sukhwant Singh Dubli sat on day-long hunger strike today in front of the District Administrative Complex to express solidarity with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who on fast unto death. — OC 300 cops deployed in search op to tackle drug menace Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 5 A massive search operation was carried out by at least 300 police personnel in various areas of Amritsar, including Mustafabad, Ward No. 6, Pandori, Sultanwind, Guru Ki Wadali, Chheharta, Tungpai and Rasulpur Kallar in the city. The operation aimed to eradicate drug abuse from its roots and tighten the noose around drug traffickers. Shashi Prabha Dwivedi, Special DGP (Railways), personally reviewed the ongoing search operations in Amritsar. She was accompanied by Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Commissioner of Police (CP), Amritsar, along with other senior officials. Speaking on the occasion, the officers emphasised that strict action was being taken against individuals involved in drug trafficking. Additionally, awareness programmes were being conducted at public places, schools, colleges and other educational institutions to educate people about the harmful effects of drug abuse. Efforts were also being made to rehabilitate drug Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar interacts with people in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR addicts by encouraging them to seek treatment at de-addiction centres, they said. The officials said, “War against drugs” campaign, which commenced on March 1, 2025, had already yielded significant results. Between March 1 and March 4, the Amritsar Police registered 27 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, leading to the arrest of 37 drug traffickers. “The seized contraband, includes 9.788 kg of heroin, 2.29 kg of opium, 1,648 intoxicating capsules and pills, Rs 7,84,670 drug money, and five vehicles,” they said. Besides, from January 1 to February 28, 2025, a total of 59 cases were registered under the NDPS Act, resulting in the arrest of 126 drug traffickers. The seizures during this period include 26. 462 kg of heroin, 5. 3 kg of opium, 372 gm of Ice (Methamphetamine), 24,018 intoxicating capsules and pills, 1,550 injections, Rs 24,66,360 drug money and 14 c m y b vehicles, officials said. Thirteen proclaimed offenders involved in drugrelated crimes were also arrested under the NDPS Act, they said. “The Punjab Police remains committed to eradicating the drug menace and ensuring a drug-free society. With increased vigilance, awareness campaigns and stringent action against offenders, the authorities are determined to break the backbone of the drug trade in the state,” officials added. Students protest at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar on Wednesday. Varsity gates blocked in protest after ‘assault’onstudentsbysecurityguard Matter resolved after authorities issue apology, sack accused motorcycle in the parking area of the hostel. The security personnel stopped them, while calling them outsiders and denied them entry into the hostel. The matters took turn for the worse, when students alleged that the security personnel hit them after which their turbans came off. The security guard’s alleged misconduct sparked outrage, prompting students to block both the university gates and sit on a dharna. One of the students was a hosteller and was accompanied by another student of the university. As students demanded immediate action against the security personnel, Dr Preet Mohinder Singh Bedi Dean, Student Welfare, and Dr KS Kahlon, Registrar, intervened and invited protesting students for a meeting. “The university authorities have resolved the matter and dismissed the security personnel concerned with immediate effect. They also issued apology for the misconduct with the students,” said one of the students, a member of the student organisation Sath, who was part of the delegation which attended meeting with university officials. Students alleged that the security personnel’s had made it a routine matter to harass them and at times, misbehaved with them. “Two years ago, one of the security guards at the main gate had slapped a girl student of the Law Department. This have become a norm and it needs to be looked into by the university authorities,” said Jaskaran Singh Zira, vice president, Sath. Groundwater extraction in city’s urban areas exceeds 300%, say Vice Chancellor Drive to create awareness on EWS reservations in private schools able as a long-term water supply source. To address this issue, the Punjab Government has initiated the Amritsar Bulk Water Supply Project (ABWSP) which will provide a safe and sustainable water supply by treating water from the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC),” he said. “The project includes the construction of a 440 MLD (44 crore litres) water treatment plant at Vallah, laying of a 112 km-long pipeline network that is underway, and the development of 51 new water storage tanks,” he said. Addressing participants at the seminar, Dr Monika Sabharwal highlighted the issues of countering challenges like water contamination in terms of the transition from groundwater to treated surface water. She said water supplied under the ABWSP would be at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) 10500:2012 quality norms. She also shared practical water conservation tips, such as use of washing machines in full capacity, using buckets instead of showers for bath, installing overflow alarms in rooftop water tanks, repairing leaking taps promptly and cleaning vehicles with a wet cloth instead of running water. Last month, a team of World Bank had visited Amritsar and met with officials of the MC regarding the Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project (PMSIP) being run by the civic body in collaboration with the World Bank. The ABWSP project is part of the PMSIP . Amritsar, March 5 Former IAS Dr Jagmohan Singh Raju has launched an awareness campaign for private schools in the district on 25 per cent reservations for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students as per ruling of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for enforcing the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The court had directed all private unaided schools in Punjab to reserve 25 per cent of Class I seats for children from weaker sections, ensuring their fundamental right to free and quality education. While addressing a press conference here yesterday, Dr Raju, Chairman, KS Raju Legal Trust, outlined a comprehensive strategy to ensure that every eligible child from the EWS category receives admission under the RTE Act, 2009. He emphasised that if private schools in Punjab refused to admit a child to Class 1, his/her parents could contact the helpline via WhatsApp number 8872698208, 9988020242 or email at ksrajulegal@gmail.com. He assured their concerns would be forwarded and reported to the High Court on March 27, 2025. Dr Raju highlighted the importance of reaching both the rural and urban communities, with outreach programmes conducted in partnership with local NGOs and active engagement with educational institutions. He stressed on the need for continuous monitoring of private schools to ensure compliance with the Act. — TNS Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 5 High drama was witnessed today at the entrance gates of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) as students took to the main entrance gate in protest against the campus security personnel, in protest against alleged assault on two fellow students. The matter escalated within hours as students blocked both the entrance gates of the university and sat on a dharna, demanding action against the security guard. As per students present at the protest site, one of the security personnel engaged in heated altercation with two students outside the boys’ hostel No. 1, as the latter were about to enter the hostel for breakfast, after parking their Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 5 The government has initiated steps to shift reliance on ground water to bulk supply from canal. The authorities concerned are now seeking stakeholders support for starting the first phase of the Amritsar Bulk Water Supply Project. In line with the directives of Municipal Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh, Guru Nanak Dev University hosted a seminar on the objectives of the project and how it can mitigate the sustainability challenges including the biggest threat of over extraction of ground water in Punjab. Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Karamjeet Singh said the seminar was organised by the Municipal Corporation and the Department of Sociology and School of Social Sciences of the GNDU. He said the aim of the seminar was to educate students about the Amritsar Bulk Water Supply Scheme (ABWSP) and promote water conservation practices. Prof Anjali Mehra, Head, School of Social Sciences, and Raman Sharma, who is engaged with the ABWSS project highlighted the alarming decline in Punjab’s groundwater level, the VC said. Citing the Ground Water Resources of Punjab 2022 report, the VC said out of 153 blocks in the state, 117 were classified as dark zones, including all 10 blocks of Amritsar district. “The groundwater extraction in Amritsar’s urban areas has exceeded 300 per cent, making it unsustain-