29102026-LT-01.qxd 10/29/2026 12:15 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MARKETS ABUZZ WITH ACTIVITY FOR KARVA CHAUTH TODAY SUB-DIVISIONAL HOSPITALS TO GET 205 SECURITY GUARDS POSTER OF SHAH RUKH’S FILM KINGREMINDS OF DHURANDHAR Festive fervour grips city areas ahead of the Karva Chauth celebrations on Thursday. P2 Move comes in response to incidents of violence, intimidation and unruly behaviour at hospitals. P3 The poster of Shah Rukh Khan’s film King reminds his fans of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandharposter. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 16°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5:38 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:35 AM THURSDAY | 29 OCTOBER 2026 | LUDHIANA Audit questions ~130-cr interest-free advance for WB water supply project Flags risk of public money remaining with contractor for longer than necessary Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 28 The Municipal Corporation (MC), Ludhiana, came under the audit scanner for allowing a contractor to retain an interest-free mobilisation advance of Rs 130.54 crore without fixing a time-bound recovery schedule, potentially putting public funds at risk. An audit observation issued by the Accountant General (Audit-I), Punjab, has questioned the corporation’s provision for recovering the advance paid to KPIL-OHITAN JV for the 24x7 World Bank canalbased water supply project. The audit noted that the recovery was linked to the progress of work rather than a fixed time frame, contrary to the Central Vigilance Commission’s (CVC) April 2007 guidance. The observation, dated September 28, 2026, relates to the agreement signed in August 2024 for the design, construction and operation of a 580 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant, along with the trans- A Tajpur Road stretch being dug up for the water supply project. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN mission network and overhead service reservoirs in Ludhiana. The contract is worth Rs 1,305.31 crore. As per Clause 14.2 of the agreement, the MC was required to provide an advance equivalent to 10 per cent of the accepted contract amount, after deducting the provisional sum. The resulting interest-free advance worked out to Rs 130.54 crore. The contractor was required to furnish a bank guarantee in accordance with the agreement. However, the audit pointed out that the recovery mechanism did not conform to the CVC’s April 2007 guidance. The CVC had stated that though interest-free mobilisation advance was generally discouraged, it could be allowed in specific cases where necessary. In such cases, the tender conditions should clearly specify the provision and recovery should be time-bound rather than linked to the progress of work. The audit noted that the MC’s arrangement allowed a substantial amount of public money to remain with the contractor without a fixed recovery deadline. It also exposed the civic body to the risk of delayed recovery, if the project progressed slowly or the work was not executed. Records examined by the audit showed that Rs 65.27 crore was paid to the contractor as the first installment in November 2024 while the second installment of Rs 65.27 crore was paid in March 2025. Of the c m y b total advance, Rs 9.65 crore had been recovered through the 11th and 12th running account bills, according to the audit observation. The audit further pointed out that the recovery was linked to the value of work executed, with deductions beginning after certified interim payments crossed 30 per cent of the accepted contract amount. The advance was required to be fully repaid before the certified payments reached 90 per cent of the contract value. The audit said the deviation from the CVC guidance resulted in Rs 130.54 crore of public funds being placed with the contractor interest-free, foregoing potential interest earnings till the recovery. It also flagged the risk of public money remaining blocked for longer than necessary. Suprintending Engineer Parul Goyal said: “The agreement is approved by the World Bank as the project is funded by it and whatever works, payments and process are being initiated, are as per the agreement.” FIR against SAD, BJP councillors for burning effigies with CM, Mayor’s photos Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 28 The Ludhiana police on Tuesday registered a case against SAD and BJP councillors and a few others for allegedly pasting photographs of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Ludhiana Mayor Inderjit Kaur and East Ludhiana MLA Daljit Singh Grewal on the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad and setting them afire on Dasehra. As per the complaint and the police, the incident occurred around 8 pm on October 20. The complainant, Neeraj Chopra, told the police that the suspects had affixed the photographs on the effigies, hurting religious sentiments. He alleged that pasting the photographs of a woman Mayor on an effigy also insulted the dignity of a woman. On the basis of the complaint and a viral video, the police named SAD councillor Kamal Arora, BJP councillor Gauravjeet Gora, Rohit Mehta, Sukhdev Kala and two unidentified persons in the FIR. The complainant also submitted a pen drive containing the video of the incident, which the suspects had circulated on social media. The offence is punishable with imprisonment of up to one year or fine or both. Cops at the gurdwara where the firing took place on Wednesday. Two open fire at gurdwara room 2nd such attack in 2 days, cops on toes Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 28 Two masked men opened fire at Gurdwara Manji Sahib in Rajoana Kalan village, Jagraon, in Ludhiana district in the wee hours of Wednesday, targeting the room of the gurdwara head. No one was injured in the incident but the incident caused a panic in the village and raised serious concerns about the law and order situation. According to the police, the assailants came to the gurdwara complex around 3 am on a Bajaj Platina motorcycle, the number plate of which was covered. One of them entered the premises, paid obeisance and performed a parikrama of the Nishan Sahib before coming out and BJP SLAMS STATE GOVT, DEMANDS IMMEDIATE ARRESTS Chandigarh: The BJP on Wednesday expressed concern over firing incidents at two gurdwaras in Ludhiana in two days, with its state president Kewal Singh Dhillon accusing the AAP government of failing to maintain law and order in the state. Dhillon termed the incidents unfortunate and condemnable. — PTI firing at the room of Baba Baldev Singh. A bullet struck the door and wall of the room. Head sewadar Baba Baldev Singh was not present in the room at the time as he had gone for his routine bath. continued on page 2