06122024-LT-01.qxd 12/5/2024 11:53 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune STATE TO LAUNCH ONLINE ATTESTATION FOR OFFICIALS PRINCE KANWALJIT SINGH CALLS HIMSELF A DIRECTOR'S ACTOR MIRZAPUR STAR SHWETA TALKS ABOUT HER JOURNEY The state has begun the process of making attestation by councillors online through eSewa. P3 Prince Kanwaljit Singh, who will be seen in Panchi 2 and Punjabi Aa Gaye Oye, calls himself a director's actor. P4 Like many others, Shweta Tripathi once dreamt of being heroine in wispy chiffons running through mustard fields. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 25°C | MIN 7°C YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 7°C SUNSET FRIDAY 5.24 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7:13 AM FRIDAY | 6 DECEMBER 2024 | LUDHIANA Bid to stop sale of drugs lands former sarpanch in hospital 3 sites shortlisted for setting up of ESIC Medical College Ludhiana, December 5 Stopping a group persons from selling drugs in the area cost dear to a former Congress sarpanch here last night as he was badly thrashed by miscreants, ultimately landing him to a hospital. The incident took place on Wednesday night at Dev Nagar on Pakhowal Road. The former Congress Sarpanch, Kaur Chand, runs a departmental shop in the area. He was selling grocery items to Manav Mander Ludhiana, December 5 The district administration has shortlisted three three sites for the setting up of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and a proposal has been sent to the ESIC. One site proposed is of BL Kapur Memorial Hospital. Constructed on 17-acre land, the hospital was closed down in 2019 after its lease was not extended by the government. The 100-bed hospital was run by the Lahore Hospital Society, which also ran a nursing school on the premises. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Amarjit Singh Bains said out of the three locations proposed, one location is Dr BL Kapur Hospital. “The site proposals have been sent and we have also listed the pros and cons. The best part about Dr BL Kapur Hospital site is that it is in city while the other two sites are on the outskirts. People have always known this site as a hospital since years. But the unfavourable factor about this site is the traffic issue that patients coming to the hospital will face since it is located in BL Kapur Memorial Hospital is one of the proposed sites for setting up of ESIC Medical College. the interiors of the city.” The second site that the administration has proposed is on Chandigarh Road, opposite Vardhman mills. This land is owned by the GLADA and will be roughly around 12 acres. The third proposed site is land owner by Ministry of Labour and Employment at Doraha. There was a proposal to set up ATI here which could not be materialised. The land is roughly around 45 acres and proposal is to use part of it for setting up of the medical college. The only disadvantage about this site is that it is far off from the city and patients will be required to travel nearly half an hour to 45 minutes to reach here,” said ADC Bains. According to a senior official in ESIC, the Kapur Hospital site seems more appropriate as it is in the city and easy approachable while the Doraha site is far off and will consume lot of time. Talks are still on for finalising the site, he said. The medical college is one of the 10 ESICs announced to open across the country in September. This will be the first public sector institution while two private medical colleges, Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) are already functioning in Ludhiana. c m y b PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA Tribune News Service the buyers when suddenly he saw three persons not letting a person leave his shop. He intervened and came to know that three persons were selling drugs. All of a sudden, they started beating Kaur Chand with baseball bats. When his son, Vikram, and another person, Ram Kirpal, tried to stop them, the miscreants thrashed them too. The hoodlums also called a few more accomplices to thrash them. The sarpanch and two others were admitted to the Civil Hospital where their medical was conducted. The sarpanch rued that in this area, drugs were being sold openly by the peddlers and there was no police patrolling in the area. Earlier, also he was attacked for the same reason, said the sarpanch. Meanwhile, the sadar police had launched an investigating. However, no case has been registered so far. — TNS 28 swine flu cases reported from dist till now Ludhiana, December 5 The district has witnessed 28 cases of swine flu till now. With minimum temperature dipping to 7.2°C, more cases can be expected in the coming days. Last year, the district saw 33 cases of swine flu. The Health Department has directed the hospitals to make designated swine flu corners and all the suspected swine flu cases will be admitted there and the patients will be shifted out of there only if the patient tests negative. — TNS FICO opposes proposal on safeguard duty on steel Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 5 Members of the Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organisation (FICO) have opposed the Steel Ministry’s proposal to impose a 25 per cent safeguard duty on steel imports. They said the move will harm the economy and negatively impact small businesses (MSMEs), making it harder for them to afford steel and stay competitive. Gurmeet Singh Kular, president, FICO, said the proposed duty is expected to increase production costs for industries that depend on steel, especially the manufacturing sector. This could make them less competitive in global markets. Additionally, limiting steel imports would reduce competition, allowing domestic steel manufacturers to raise prices unfairly, leading to higher costs and inefficiency for consumers. KK Seth, Chairman, FICO, said manufacturing output was already at an 11month low and the safeguard duty is expected to weaken GDP growth, which is currently at 5.4%. It could also lead to business closures due to lower profits, causing higher unemployment and inflation. Manjinder Singh Sachdeva, general secretary, FICO, said this imposition goes against the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, which aims to make India a global manufacturing hub. Competitive steel prices are important for attracting foreign investment and helping Indian manufacturers produce high-quality products. The members pointed out that the recent financial data shows the steel sector is highly profitable with big profit margins. Stakeholders believe that extra duties are unnecessary and could disrupt the market, harming domestic consumers and industries. The policy seems to benefit just six large steel producers while putting 63.38 million small businesses (MSMEs) at risk, said FICO members. The FICO members also suggested alternative measures such as encouraging domestic steel production, improving supply chain efficiency and reducing input costs.