01092024-LT-01.qxd 8/31/2024 11:11 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SCHOOL HEADS ATTEND TRIBUNE TECH INTEGRATION PROG SCHOOLKIDS WADE THROUGH SEWAGE FLOWING ON TO ROAD LIFE NOT A BUILDING THAT YOU START WITH A BLUEPRINT Principals and representatives from prominent schools on Saturday attended the programme. P2 Students have to walk or cycle through sewage mixed stagnant water on roads near schools. P2 Dr Mohan Agashe the actor or the psychiatrist? It’s difficult to say which persona of his is more endearing. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.45 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6 AM SUNDAY | 1 SEPTEMBER 2024 | LUDHIANA Work on 24x7 drinking water supply project to finally pick up speed Mumbai JV firm signs contract with MC to undertake WB-funded scheme at ~1.5K-cr Tribune News Service TO PROVIDE POTABLE WATER Ludhiana, August 31 Work on the Rs 3,394.45-crore 24x7 canal-based surface drinking water supply project in the city is likely to start soon, officials concerned have confirmed. The municipal corporation (MC) has formally signed the contract with a Mumbaibased joint venture company (JVC), which has been awarded the work for Rs 1,546-crore. The development assumes significance as the ambitious project was conceived during the previous Capt Amarinder Singh regime in 2021, but could not take off due to certain reasons. Sharing details, the MC Commissioner, Sandeep Rishi, told The Tribune here on Friday that the MC had formalised the contract agreement with M/s Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPTL) Ohitan JV, which had been mandated to complete the project on design-build services (DBS) basis within 36 months from the date of award, July 10, and undertake the operation and maintenance (O&M) services for the next 10 years. He disclosed that the execution of the work on DBS had been awarded at Rs 1,305.31 It is a much-needed project for Ludhiana, where the groundwater table is depleting by 0.5-1m every year. By getting potable water round-the-clock, local residents would also get respite from the heavy metals and radioactive elements present in the groundwater. This would also improve the health conditions of the city population ❝ Work in progress to conduct a ground survey for the 24x7 surface drinking water supply project in Ludhiana on Saturday. crore, O&M services at Rs 156.44 crore and a provisional sum of Rs 84.25 lakh had been provided to the concessionaire for undertaking the project. “After accepting the bid, which was the lowest among the four received for the project, the letter of acceptance was issued to the successful bidder on July 10 and formal contract was signed on August 30,” Rishi revealed, while informing that the firm had undertaken the survey, besides channelising its human resources and machinery here. The MC chief said the scheme would be executed in two phases, with the first phase comprising raw water system, water treatment plant (WTP), treated water pumping, transmission mains from water treatment plant to overhead service reservoirs, and the second part will comprise distribution system and house service connection with metering process. “As of now, the work on the first phase will be executed with the World Bank support, while the second part work will be taken up subsequently under other schemes,” Rishi said. Under the project, as DBA boycotts courts of two Judges over ‘misbehaviour’ Legal Correspondent Ludhiana, August 31 The District Bar Association (DBA) here today boycotted the court of an Additional Principal Judge of a family court and a Judicial Magistrate, Ludhiana, alleging repeated instances of misbehaviour by them and use of unpleasant remarks towards its members. According to a notice issued by the DBA, numerous complaints had already been lodged by its members against the said Judges, citing disrespectful conduct and remarks. Despite these complaints, the judicial officers allegedly did not alter their approach, leading to heightened discontent among the legal fraternity. The DBA has taken the step after a written complaint by a former DBA secretary, Vikas Gupta. An emergency meeting of the DBA executive committee was convened under the leadership of president Chetan Verma. During this meeting, the committee, including vice-president Sandeep Arora, secretary Parminder Pal Singh, joint secretary Rajinder Singh Bhandari, finance secretary Karnish Gupta and other executive members unanimously resolved to boycott the judges’ court with immediate effect. In its complaint, the ex-DBA secretary stated that following the tragic death of a young lawyer, Karamjit Singh Sidhu, the city lawyers were observing no-work day on Thursday. Due to this reason he was unable to attend the court in a case and he sent his clerk and a junior lawyer to mark the presence. They appeared before the court and sought short adjournment as talks of compromise were going on. Then the court asked them to note the date after lunch. But when they went there after lunch, they were already proceeded ex-parte. After this, he went there at 2.30 pm and requested the court to withdraw the exparte order, but the judge did not entertain him. The behavior and tone of talking of the presiding officer was very harsh, rude and insulting, added Gupta in its complaint sent to inspecting judge of high court for Ludhiana. In the other case with regard to a Judicial Magistrate, senior Bar member Dalip Saggi said the Judge refused to change the date in a case despite a request that the former’s son’s wedding was fixed on that day. Thereafter, the DBA president went to the court of the said Judicial Magistrate, but he reportedly did not accede to his request to change the date, which led to a confrontation. The DBA has urged all its members to refrain from appearing in these two courts and to support the boycott. President Verma emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating that the boycott would continue until satisfactory measures were taken to address the grievances raised by the DBA members. ❞ — Sandeep Rishi, MC COMMISSIONER Ludhiana (Rural) SSP Navneet Singh addresses a press conference after the arrest of the three car robbers on Saturday. Gang looting cars at gunpoint busted, 3 held, arms seized Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 31 Ludhiana rural police today claimed to have busted a gang of robbers involved in looting cars on the highway. The cops arrested three accused and seized one country-made .315 bore pistol, one cartridge, one sharp-edged weapon and one screw driver from the accused. Those arrested have been identified as Karamjit Singh, resident of Kulal Majra, Barnala, Bhagwant Singh, a resident of Raikot, and Harjot Singh, a resident of Sudhar. Senior Superintendent of Police, Ludhiana rural, Navneet Singh gave details while addressing a press conference regarding the matter. SSP Singh said on August 25, Anuj Malik, a resident of Moga and a manager in some company, along with the company distributer Riju Sood were heading towards Moga from Ludhiana. On the way, they stopped at a dhaba on the highway in Jagraon. After having dinner, when they sat in their car, two unidentified persons forcibly entered the car and sat in the back seat. One of their accomplices, who was on a motorcycle, was standing in front of their car. Before the victims could understand anything, the accused pointed a weapon at them and pushed them outside the car. Later, the accused fled in the car. The SSP added that during investigation of the case, the accused were identified and arrested by SHO Jagraon City Amritpal Singh and Inspector Kikar Singh, incharge, CIA staff along with their team. He further revealed that during questioning of the accused, the latter confessed that the motorcycle used in the crime had also been looted by the accused from some person at Mehal Kalan village on August 24 and a case registered in this regard also. Amritpal said those nabbed had a criminal past. Karamjit is facing three cases of snatching and drug smuggling registered against him in the past, Bhagwant is also facing three cases, including two of drug smuggling, while Harjot is facing three cases, including a case of attempt to murder. Amritpal further said after looting the car from Jagraon, the accused reportedly had an encounter with cops near Barnala, during which the car was reportedly seized by the police. many as 137 overhead supply reservoirs and 173-kmlong transmission main lines will supply 24x7 canalbased surface drinking water supply to the residents of Ludhiana. “The objective of the project is to shift from groundwater to surface water on 24x7 supply basis,” he stated. Rishi further said 53.02 acres located adjacent to the proposed raw water source at Bilga village had already been purchased for setting up the WTP The WB . and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) had approved $105 million each for the ambitious project in March 2021. The state government will give $90-million. Major focus of the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Improvement Project (PMSIP) will be on providing efficient water supply and sanitation services in Ludhiana and Amritsar, cities. The improvement in the water supply will benefit more than 3-million people by 2027. Industrial and commercial users would also benefit from the good quality reliable water supply. 11-year-old student drowns in canal Solid waste management: NGT appoints court commissioner for inspection of site Tribune News Service Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 31 An 11-year-old student got drowned in a canal in the city. His body was recovered from Pakhowal canal today morning. Some passersby raised an alarm after seeing the body in the canal. With the help of divers it was taken out of the canal. The Model Town police station was informed immediately. The police identified the deceased as Sahil, a resident of Vishal Nagar, and informed his family. He was a student of Class VII and was the only brother of two sisters. Investigating officer ASI Jatinder Singh said according to the victim’s family, Sahil returned home from school yesterday. He left the bag at house and went to the canal to take a bath. When he did not return till late evening, the family searched for him, but could not find him. His friends were also questioned, but no one knew anything about it. Ludhiana, August 31 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a crucial step towards addressing the solid waste mismanagement problem in the city by appointing advocate Bhanwar Pal Singh as court commissioner. Tasked with conducting a comprehensive site inspection, Singh will provide an unbiased assessment of the situation, helping to resolve discrepancies in previous reports. The Punjab Pollution Control Board will cover the costs of the commissioner’s visit. This development follows applicant-cum-member of public action committee (PAC) Kapil Dev’s 2023 complaint, which exposed widespread violations of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, across 23 locations. Despite initial assurances from a joint committee, he raised concerns on falsified claims regarding land allocation and project progress. With a new report due before the next hearing on Garbage lies scattered on a large chunk of land near Gill village. December 9, the NGT has given respondents four weeks to respond. Kapil remains optimistic, having gathered video evidence on social media to supplement the commissioner’s findings and bring truth to light. Citing one of the location, Kapil said garbage was being dumped into the village pond and on both sides of the road near Gill village by the MCL, panchayat and private hote- liers/marriage palaces. On this, the joint action committee had told the NGT that and land had been identified in Gill village for dumping garbage and a grant of Rs 2.20 lakh had been received under Swachh Bharat Mission and work had been started from May 3. But applicant Kapil told the NGT that the joint committee had submitted a false report as no work had been started at the location and garbage in huge quantity was lying at the same places. The complainant had also submitted eight photographs to prove his point. The PAC visited two locations after the hearing and made videos for evidence in this regard so as to show the same to the court commissioner. Some videos made earlier by Kapil Arora and Kuldeep Singh Khaira would also be submitted. Man booked for pointing gun at youth Inmates clash in Central Car used in old man’s murder found, Jail, 1 suffers head injury main accused yet to be nabbed Ludhiana, August 31 A man has been booked for pointing a gun at a youth and threatening to kill him. The accused reportedly wanted the youth to take back a case registered by his father. Complainant Jatinderpal Singh, a resident of Dhande village in Samrala, told the police that on August 29, his son had gone to Rohle village on a scooter to collect some registers and a map. When his son reached Dhande village, a youth suddenly came out of the bushes and forcibly stopped his son. “The accused immediately pointed a pistol at my son and told him to take back a case registered by me against them. He even told my son that he was not just brandishing the weapon but would use it if necessary. He categorically issued warning to my son that if his father would not take back the case, then he would kill him definitely,” revealed the complainant. He added that he then submitted a complaint at the Samrala police station, following which a case had been registered against the unknown person. He requested the police to identify the suspect immediately and put him behind the bars. Investigating officer ASI Harjinder Singh said after registering a case, further investigation had been launched in the case. The police said once the suspect was identified and arrested, only then the fact could be ascertained that whether the weapon possessed by the suspect was original or a toy weapon. — TNS Ludhiana, August 31 Some inmates clashed in the Central Jail here last night over a minor argument. In the clash one inmate was attacked by several others. On knowing about the clash, the jail staff immediately intervened and rescued the injured inmate. The injured inmate who suffered head injuries was rushed to the Civil Hospital for treatment. The injured inmate, Gur- c m y b preet Singh, said he had been jailed about two months ago for some crime. Two days back, he had arguments with some inmates on some issue. Owing to this, the inmates attacked him with a stick while he was having tea late on Friday night. Gurpreet also levelled allegations that his attackers were possessing tobacco. According to him, this fight happened in front of the jail security personnel. — TNS Ludhiana, August 31 The police today claimed to have found a car (SkodaPB08BN0021) allegedly used by the accused in the murder of a Ludhiana-based elderly man, Ravinder Singh, whose body was found at Pandori village near Mullanpur Dakha. The police has already nabbed the co-accused in the case identified as Baljinder Singh, a resident of Bath Kalan village, near Nakodar. Ludhiana rural SSP Navneet Singh while addressing a press conference stated that the main accused, Ranjit Singh Kahlon, also a resident of Bath Kalan village, would be arrested soon as different police parties formed for the purpose had been conducting raids at his suspected whereabouts. The SSP said the accused along with his nephew Baljinder had killed the elderly man after an Australia-based NRI woman with whom he had an affair rejected the marriage proposal of the accused. The deceased was the father of the NRI woman and the accused had already threatened to kill her family after the the marriage proposal rejection. Police revealed that the accused had gone to the house of Ravinder, where they strangulated him to death and then dumped it on a road near Pandori village. — TNS