30062024-LT-01.qxd 30-06-2024 00:29 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune FARMERS TO SHUT NHAI OFFICES TODAY DILJIT DOSANJH, NEERU BAJWA IMPRESS WITH THEIR CHEMISTRY WILD WILD PUNJAB PROMISES A TRIP OF A LIFETIME Tents were set up at the toll barrier as farmers prepare to shut the NHAI offices at the Ladhowal toll. P2 Jatt & Juliet 3 has a fresh perspective but the same charm, and Diljit and Neeru’s jodishines once again. P4 Netflix film features Varun Sharma, Manjot Singh, Sunny Singh, Ishita Raj, Patralekhaa and Jassie Gill. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 31°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 38°C | MIN 29°C SUNSET SUNDAY 7.28 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5:25 AM SUNDAY | 30 JUNE 2024 | LUDHIANA INBRIEF 2 SNATCHERS ARRESTED Jalandhar: The police Division Number 6 have arrested two snatchers and recovered a motorcycle, four mobiles and an iron rod from them. Both the accused Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, and Sukhpal Singh were drug addicts and jobless. TNS Businessmen explore options MP slams&govt for poor law order to cut dependency on labour Industry suggestions ■ Industry should start opting for 20 per cent of low-cost automation or advance automation ■ At least 20 per cent women workers should be roped in the industry ■ Industry should start hiring local labour and provide them training in the units ■ The interests of the labour should be taken care of. They should be provided food, proper working conditions. MP Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa (centre) in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN Opt for automation in production, rationalising workforce to combat shortage Shivani Bhakoo MINOR RAPED, 1 ARRESTED Ludhiana: The Shimlapuri police have arrested a migrant for raping a six-year-old girl. The accused has been identified as Pramod Kumar. The girl resides with her parents in a vehra behind Arora Palace, Gill Road. According to the mother, she noticed blood stains on the body of the girl in the morning. The accused is also a resident of the same vehra. The police have arrested the accused and further investigation was on. TNS 2 HELD WITH 60-GM HEROIN Jalandhar: Two residents of Dugri have been arrested with 60-gm heroin on Friday. The suspects have been identified as Birpal Singh, alias Biru, and Gopal Mahajan, alias Gopi. A case under Sections 21-B, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused. TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 29 The industry often reels under the shortage of labour in the months of April, May and June. Though businessmen have raised the issue many times in the past, very little is done to address it by the authorities concerned, which has a negative impact on productivity. Many industries have begun implementing workable strategies to reduce the labour intensity of their operations as they recognise that the issue of labour scarcity will only get worse in the future. For instance, several industries use advance automotion assistance. Robots are doing the needful in place of manual labour. Upkar Singh Ahuja, president, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), said we have gradually shifted to robotic manufacturing. “We had a severe welder shortage and we opted for robots to fill the Robotic welding being done at a unit in Ludhiana; and (right) a labourer works on a machine. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN/FILE void. We received a return on the investment in around five years. The cost of robotic welding ranges from Rs 15 lakh to 20 lakh, but the productivity is much higher as compared to manual labour. An average worker costs about Rs 20,000 a month,” said Ahuja, who owns an auto-component manufacturing unit. Sandeep Jain, Executive Director, Monte Carlo, said we were not much-affected Turtled TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN by the labour shortage issue. First of all, we have our own regular labour and they are provided with all kinds of incentives and given leaves turn wise. Secondly, when there is an overall shortage of labour in the industry, they plan productions accordingly. Onkar Singh Pahwa, Managing Director, Avon Cycles, said the issue of labour shortage affects the industry for a couple of months. But when the labour is back, everything is normal. Pahwa added that the production in their unit gets affected when they do not get components from MSMEs due the shortage of labour, otherwise there has been no issues with labour. “We provide them everything they ask for, be it food, incentives, advance etc. Even during labour shortage in MSMEs, we plan and stock accordingly,” said Pahwa. MC fails to set up vending zones, vendors bear brunt Manav Mander Tribune News Service A loaded truck that overturned on Pakhowal Road troubled commuters on Saturday. har bypoll, Khalsa said he will not favour anyone. Speaking on the rift between Shiromani Akali Dal, Khalsa said if workers feel that Sukhbir Singh Badal was not capable of continuing as the president, the latter should think about it. He said he will go to Delhi to meet the Speaker on important issues. Without naming Ravneet Singh Bittu, Khalsa said those who have lost the elections have become ministers while the ones who won were not allowed to take oath. He said they will make committees at the villagelevel which will work at the ground level. He said Bhagwant Mann was the wrong choice of Kejriwal. He added that farmers should be given MSP — TNS . Ludhiana, June 29 Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa took a dig at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party government. He was in city on Saturday to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib and met panthic leaders. He was honoured by the Gurdwara Prabandak Committee. Khalsa said the condition of Punjab has deteriorated in the current dispensation. Whether it was law and order or drugs or corruption, there was no respite. He said in Parliament, he will raise three major issues — release of the Bandi Singhs, demands of farmers and sacrilege. There should be life imprisonment in place of three-year jail term in sacrilege cases. On the question of Jaland- Ludhiana, June 29 The Municipal Corporation’s (MC) failure to provide designated street vending zones has put the lives of the street vendors in a fix as they can be dislocated at any time, which affects their livelihood. Recently, street vendors were removed from Janakpuri area by the MC as carts on roads lead to traffic congestions. Although the Department of Local Government, Punjab, had notified MC’s plan to set up 64 vending zones for 8,989 vendors in December 2020, but not even a single vending zone has been set up by the civic body till now. In all, 21,725 street vendors were identified during a survey Recently, street vendors were removed from Janakpuri area by the MC as carts on roads lead to traffic jams. INDERJEET VERMA seven years ago. The demand of the street vendors to allocate designated vending zones in the city remains unheard till date and the MC has failed to take any definitive action to ensure the enforcement of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, in the city in the right manner so far. Tiger Singh, president, Rehri Phari Federation, Ludhiana, said they have been demanding designated vend- ing zones since long so that it does not create any problem for anyone and they also run their business smoothly. “It is the failure of the MC to set up vending zones although 64 have been already approved. We are forced to bear the brunt and suffer,” he added. A street vendor in Zone D said he has all the required documents and a licence issued by the authorities but still his cart is often removed on the pretext of creating traffic hindrance. “We have been asking the MC to provide vending zones but it has failed to do so. When we station our carts on the road, it is removed by the authorities. Now, we fail to understand what to do,” he said. Another member of the union further added that the MC should ensure setting up of vending zones and prioritise the protection of street vendors’ rights and ensure they are not subjected to harassment. MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi said, “Although vending zones have been approved but these have not been constructed and allotted. Keeping in view the traffic issues, we are working on this project but facing the issues of funds, which is also expected to work out in the coming future,” he said. He added that GLADA approved two colonies at Vardhman and Dugri have the facility of vending zones, MC is also working on the proposal to use these. Ahead of heavy rain alert, officials told not to leave station MC collects ~13 cr property tax in SDMs, Zonal Commissioners to remain in field, 24x7 control room to avert any possible flood threat Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 29 Taking note of the forecast of heavy rainfall for the next few days, the Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney on Saturday asked all the district and Municipal Corporation (MC) officials to remain present and not to leave the station till further orders. She instructed the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and MC Zonal Commissioners to remain in the field within their respective jurisdictions to keep vigil on the situation, especially in the low-lying areas along Sutlej and Buddha Nullah, which were prone to flooding. The DC also made operational a flood protection control room at the district headquarter, which would function 24x7 during the monsoon season. She said all officials will remain present at their stations with their phones switched on round-the-clock. They were tasked with inspecting crucial points such as Walipur Kalan, DC Sakshi Sawhney inspects flood-prone areas ahead of heavy rain alert in Ludhiana on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Balloke, Tajpur, Dhokka Mohalla, Shivpuri, Madhopuri, New Kundanpuri, Gopal Nagar and other flood-prone areas. “Additionally, over 1.5 lakh bags have been procured and around 50,000 sandbags have already been prepared for potential breaches, and all patwaris must remain on the ground to address any emergencies,” she revealed. The DC emphasised on zerotolerance policy for any negligence in this work and directed the Block Development and Panchayat Officers to be vigilant in villages and keep all the machinery ready. The DC informed that to ensure that the water in Buddha Nullah flows without any obstruction, a total of 17 poclain machines have been deployed 24x7 along the waterbody by the Drainage department. These include 4 poclains in Buddha Nullah upstream, 3 in MCM drain, 2 each in downstream, Bassian drain, Chachrari drain, Lalton-pamal drain and one each at Rakh drain and Purain drain. In addition to that, 7 poclain machines, 5 JCBs and 20 tippers have also been deployed by the MC along the Buddha Nullah. The poclain machines were deployed near Radha Soami Satsang Ghar near Samrala Chowk, opposite Central Jail on Tajpur Road, near Shani Mandir, near Lifeline culvert in Haibowal, between Haibowal bridge and Balloke bridge, at Dhoka Mohalla and near Dairy Complex in Haibowal. She said Drainage Department officials have empanelled an ample number of JCB machines to deal with any eventuality. The DC informed that cross drainage works were also being carried out by the Punjab Mandi Board officials. She said that the work for laying of culverts was also being carried out in different parts of Ludhiana and in case of flooding, teams have been formed to lay the culverts on the spot as well. c m y b The PSPCL was directed to keep their staff on the field to immediately repair the wires/ poles, especially in low-lying areas. “The supply must be restored only after the situation becomes normal. There must not be any incident of electrocution otherwise strict action will be taken against the negligent,” the DC categorically said. Later, the Deputy Commissioner also visited several points along the Buddha Nullah and gave necessary directions to the officials. The 24x7 flood control room (0161-2433100) in the district administrative complex would monitor any kind of flood-like situation in Ludhiana district. She said the duty roster of staff appointed in the control room has also been prepared and in order to effectively monitor the staff of the flood control room, the senior officers of the administration have also been appointed on a rotation basis to check this control room regularly. The control room will function till September 30. 1st quarter, 9% of ~140-crore target Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 29 The Municipal Corporation (MC) has collected less than Rs 13 crore property tax during the first quarter of this fiscal 2024-25, which was almost 9 per cent of the target to earn Rs 140 crore revenue from the levy, officials have confirmed. Following the failure of the defaulters to clear their dues, the civic body has launched a special drive to recover the arrears from the defaulters, who had not cleared their dues despite repeated notices and reminders. Besides levying penalty and interest, the MC will also resort to attach the properties of the major defaulters in case they fail to pay the arrears without any further delay. Taking serious note of the slow collection progress, the MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi has ordered the recovery and enforcement officials Commissioner orders recovery of arrears, warns of strict action against defaulters to speed up the recovery of arrears. He has also warned the defaulters of strict action, which can also include attachment of properties and penal proceedings. Rishi said the civic body has received a sum of Rs 1,287.12 lakh on account of property tax through 68,764 property returns filed from April 1 to June 21. “This was 9.19 per cent of the budgetary provision of Rs 14,000 lakh property tax collection for the current financial year,” he said. He disclosed that as compared to this fiscal’s first quarter progress, the MC had collected Rs 1,513.7 lakh through 82,187 property tax returns filed between April 1 and June 21 last year. “This was Rs 226.65 lakh more collection through 13,423 more property returns filed during the corresponding period last fiscal as compared to this year,” the MC chief revealed.
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).