29072025-JTR-01.qxd 7/28/2025 10:48 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune GNA VARSITY SECURES THIRD PLACE AT FANUC OLYMPIAD 2025 CITY BOY HARNESSES POWER OF FOOTSTEPS Sanchit has caught the attention of local education officers, with his science project, ‘Power beneath our feet’. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 28°C YOUNGER GENERATION’S NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT: RITU KUMAR The winning team competed against some of the brightest young minds from across the country. P2 FORECAST The veteran fashion designer says that fashion changes due to younger generation’s ever-changing needs.P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 7.25 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:42 AM » TUESDAY | 29 JULY 2025 | JALANDHAR Actor Rao surrenders in city court Jalandhar, July 28 Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao on Monday surrendered before a Jalandhar court in an eight-year-old case lodged against him for hurting the religious sentiments. He was granted bail. The actor came masked in a simple way and no one in the courts got to know of his presence. The court had issued arrest warrants against him after he did not receive summons and appear in the case. Rao submitted his reply to the court in person today. A Jalandhar resident had lodged a complaint against him for appearing in a Shiva get-up in one of the posters of Bollywood film ‘Behen Hogi Teri’ released in 2017. Rao had given a twist to Lord Shiva’s avatar seated on a bike. Film director and producer too were arrested on the grounds of hurting religious sentiments of Hindus. — TNS Muslims irked over order to vacate Idgah, meet AAP MLA Jalandhar, July 28 Advocate Naeem Khan, head of the Muslim Organisation, Punjab, met Aam Aadmi Party’s Malerkotla MLA Dr Jamilur Rehman over Idgah and mosque in Jalandhar Cantt. Khan said the Cantonment Board has pasted a notice to vacate the Idgah within 10 days. He said people are getting angry about the condition of the mosque and Idgah. It is necessary to resolve it as soon as possible. Khan said Idgah and mosque are not just places of worship, but these are an important part of our civilisation and cultural heritage and it is their responsibility to keep these safe. He said the Muslims have been offering prayers in this historic Idgah in Jalandhar Cantonment since 1909. He demanded that the notice issued by the Jalandhar Cantonment Board regarding vacating the Idgah should be withdrawn immediately. MLA Dr Jamilur Rehman took the matter seriously and assured him that he would raise this issue before the government. — TNS Bhullarai farmers stand firm against land pooling Submit memo to DC, demand scrapping of plan to acquire land Ashok Kaura Phagwara, July 28 A delegation of farmers from Bhullarai village, under the leadership of Sarpanch Rajat Bhanot Raju, met Kapurthala DC Amit Kumar Panchal today to express opposition to the proposed land acquisition for the urban estate project. The delegation submitted a memorandum demanding the plan to acquire 200 acre of farmland at Bhullarai under the project should be cancelled. Farmers expressed concerns that the project would result in the loss of nearly all agricultural land in the village, severely impacting the livelihoods of residents who are primarily dependent on farming. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sarpanch Rajat emphasised that agriculture is the ancestral occupation of Farmers of Bhullarai submit a memorandum to Kapurthala DC Amit Kumar Panchal on Monday. most villagers and that they lack experience in any other profession. “If our lands are taken, we will have no means of survival,” he said. The memorandum also highlighted the villagers’ environmental concerns, stating that the urbanisation would not only disrupt the local agrarian economy, but also have a detrimental impact on the environment. The proposed project, they warned, would lead to the felling of thousands of trees, degrading air quality and disturbing the ecological balance of the region. The Sarpanch stated that the village panchayat is firmly opposed to the project. “We are not against development,” he said, “but it should not come at the cost of our land, environment and our identity.” It was also noted that a similar memorandum had been Healing touch submitted to the SDM of Phagwara last month. Several panchayat members and villagers were present during the meeting, including Ummandeep Singh, Paramjit Singh, Harminder Singh, Gagandeep Bhanot, former Sarpanch Kulwantar Singh, Kulwinder Singh, Tarsem Singh, Jaswant Singh, Gurbaksh Singh, Jinder Singh, Hoshiar Singh, Avtar Singh, Mohan Singh, and Harpal Singh. Ex-servicemen roped in by PMIDC to flag civic issues Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 28 The Municipal Corporation has the experienced eyes of ex-servicemen to report onground civic issues across four districts. As part of a pilot initiative under the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC), ex-servicemen are now actively involved in field inspections. The initiative is being implemented through the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO), which has appointed former Captain (Indian Navy) Charanbir Singh as the Deputy General Manager (DGM) of the Local Government Body. He will oversee operations across Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts. Under his supervision, 27 retired Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) have been deployed as field supervisors. Their primary role is to identify and report civic concerns such as sanitation, sewerage issues, garbage accumulation, public toilets, and general hygiene. CAPT AND HIS TEAM ■ Captain (Indian Navy) Charanbir Singh (Retd) has been appointed as the Deputy General Manager of the Local Government Body ■ He will oversee operations across Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts ■ Under his supervision, 27 retired JCOs have been deployed ■Their primary role is to identify and report civic concerns such as sanitation, sewerage issues, garbage accumulation & public toilets ‘m-Seva’ mobile app has been developed by the PMIDC. Field supervisors use the app to capture and upload the photographs of civic issues directly from the ground. “Once the image is uploaded, the official concerned is notified and must address the issue within a stipulated time,” Captain Charanbir Singh told The Tribune. Officials monitor the app 2 girls missing in K’thala Our Correspondent Minister Mohinder Bhagat meets and talks to a patient at the trauma centre of the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Kapurthala, July 28 In two separate incidents reported from Kapurthala district, two 17-year-old girls studying in Class XII have gone missing under suspicious circumstances. The families of both girls have alleged that the teenagers were abducted by local youths on the pretext of marriage. The police have registered separate FIRs and investigation is in progress. In the first case, a resident of Prempura village in Sultan- pur Lodhi reported that his daughter, a student of Class XII student at a local school, left home on July 23 without informing anyone. After a search, the family reportedly learned that a youth from Dera Saiyyada Colony may have enticed her away on the false promise of marriage. Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case. Investigating Officer ASI Harjinder Singh confirmed that a suspect is being questioned. In the second incident, a man from Balochak village in the Bhulath sub-division reported that his 17-year-old daughter, also a Class 12 student at a school in Begowal, went missing on the evening of July 21. According to the complaint, the girl was alone at home while her parents were working in the fields. On returning, the family discovered the girl missing and the cupboard open. They also reported the disappearance of approximately Rs 20,000 and two tolas of gold jewellery. Her mobile phone was found switched off. The police have started locating the missing girls and the individuals named in the complaints. Sugar mill assures pending dues to cane growers within two weeks Our Correspondent Phagwara, July 28 A high-level meeting was convened by SDM Jashanjit Singh today to address the financial concerns of cane growers related to the ongoing crushing season. The meeting concluded with an assurance from the sugar mill management that all outstanding payments to farmers would be settled within two weeks. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including General Manager of Phagwara Sugar Mills Amrik Singh Buttar and Manager BP Verma. Bhar- tiya Kisan Union leader Satnam Sahni and Kirpal Singh from the Farmers’ Union were present. Government officials, including the Tehsildar and Naib Tehsildar Gurucharan Singh, also participated in the deliberations. During the meeting, farmer leaders raised concerns over the prolonged delay in the disbursement of dues for the current crushing season. They highlighted the financial distress faced by the farming community due to non-payment, especially during a time when input costs for agriculture are rising steeply. daily, ensuring swift redressal of reported issues. Each complaint is tracked until resolved and closed within the system. Several pictures are uploaded on the app on a daily basis and the issues are then resolved within a specific timeline. The integration of disciplined and experienced exservicemen into civic operations marks a novel approach to urban management. Rinku meets FM over cut in GST on auto parts Jalandhar, July 28 Ex-MP and BJP leader Sushil Rinku met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and requested a reduction in GST on auto components from 28 pc to 12 pc. Rinku met the FM in Delhi while also inviting her to visit Jalandhar to discuss steps for upgrading the sports goods, leather, hand tools and rubber industries. He said the Jalandhar Autoparts Manufacturers Association, representing over 100 MSME units, was operating on slim profit margins of 5-10 pc and was hence under severe stress. They face limiting their competitiveness and export viability, Rinku said. Rinku said, “A reduction to 12 per cent will encourage formulisation, expand the tax base and improve compliance.” The FM assured the leader to look into the matter.— TNS Procedural & technical delays keep people waiting at Jalandhar MC office Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 28 The Municipal Corporation is one of the most important public offices, as a large number of people visit daily for various civic services such as building plans, approvals, and other essential documentation. However, one of the most common issues faced by citizens is the long wait — regardless of the reason behind it. Whether it’s due to procedural delays, technical issues, or incomplete documentation, the waiting period often becomes a source of frustration. As the correspondent reached the MC office, an elderly woman was seen stepping out, holding a polythene bag. She seemed tired and exhausted. “Main ethe grant baare pata karan aayi si, kende kuch din lagange (I had come here to ask for grants, they said it will take some time),” she said, explaining that she had come to enquire about a grant. She has already received two instalments but was waiting for the third one. When she was asked when she had last visited, she replied, “Mahine pehla (A month back). Ohdo keya si ki mahine baad aayiyo, hun kende dobara aana (Then they asked me to come after a month, today again they told me to come after a few days).” With that, she walked away, her expression marked by quiet disappointment. Around 11.15 am, on the second floor, the correspondent came across an 80-yearold man struggling to resolve an issue related to his water and sewerage bill. “Main kinne chakkar la chukeya, masla hall nahi ho reha (I have come here several times, but the issue has not got resolved),” he said. When he was informed again that Citizens wait for their turn to get their work done at MC office, Jalandhar, on Monday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh “the official is in the meeting,” he turned around and made his way back to the first floor, hoping to find someone who could guide him. Not far from him, two resi- c m y b dents from Sudama Vihar, Ward No. 39, stood waiting outside the B&R Department office. They had a mobile phone showing a video of their area’s deteriorated roads. They said while showing the video in their phone, “There are a lot of problems — poor roads, blocked sewer. We’re scared of the coming rain, commuting becomes dangerous,” one of them explained. They were eventually called in by the official and they entered inside hoping to get a solution. On the first floor, a man sat beside his mother. They, too, were waiting to meet an official reportedly at a meeting. “We had applied for a building plan approval online a month ago, but it hasn’t been approved. So, we’ve come here in person, hoping to get it done,” he said. They, however, expressed hope that department officials will get the work done. Inside another office, a councillor from the Jalandhar West constituency was preparing to file an RTI, seeking information on road maintenance works. “Just look at the condition of the roads. I want to know how much was spent on patchwork — it’s all back to being in a pathetic state,” he said firmly. Outside the premises, a teary-eyed elderly woman caught the attention. She was anxiously enquiring about an official, still holding onto the hope that her issue would be addressed and that she won’t have to return again. When contacted, Mayor Vaneet Dhir stated that delays often occur due to improper documentation by the applicants. “In my six months of tenure, I have come across several cases where people either did not carry the necessary documents or faced issues with uploading them,” he said. He added that while instances of official negligence are rare, when they do occur, a list is compiled within four days, and appropriate action is taken accordingly.