03012025-LT-01.qxd 1/3/2025 12:43 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune YELLOW ALERT ISSUED AS FOG DISRUPTS LIFE IN ABOHAR SINGER ARMAAN MALIK WEDS GIRLFRIEND AASHNA SHROFF After dating for years, singer Armaan Malik and his girlfriend Aashna Shroff have tied the knot. P4 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 15°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 13°C | MIN 9°C SARA ALI KHAN SPENDS FIRST DINNER OF 2025 WITH MOM A yellow alert has been issued by the administration as dense fog continues to grip Abohar town. P3 FORECAST Actor Sara Ali Khan recently revealed that she spent the first dinner of 2025 with her mother Amrita Singh. P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 5.33 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7:18 AM » FRIDAY | 3 JANUARY 2025 | LUDHIANA Protests by farmers hit industry hard, exports down, say bizmen Ask them blocking roads, rail tracks not solution, growers should hold talks Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 2 If farmers are protesting and their issues are not resolved by the government, what is the fault of the Industry, why are they adamant on ruining the industry by blocking roads and railway tracks every fourth day? Industry has asked them not to sow anything in the fields for a year, will it be agreeable to the growers? These are few questions raised by the disappointed industry from the farmers, who are sitting on a protest for long. Talking to The Tribune, former president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO), SC Ralhan, said never in his lifetime, he had seen such protests and strikes as being done by farmers. “This is simply blackmailing by the farmers. We also have issues with governments. We meet the authorities and apprise them of the problems and get the same resolved. If they are having issues, why cannot their delegation talks to the government? They want to go in As per bizmen, there are transportation losses to the tune of ~300 cr per week in state due to ongoing protests at the Shambhu border. FILE hundreds to show their strength. It is the industry, which is suffering. Customers have stopped coming to Ludhiana when they get to know that it will take 8-10 hours by road as they have to pass through diverted routes during protests. We go to buyers but then we cannot take stocks with us. By blocking rail and road traffic in protest, the farmers are creating trouble for the industry,” Ralhan said. He said without support from the AAP-led state government, such protests were not possible. “I feel things would be improved when the present government will be changed in the state,” he said. Ajit Lakra, vice-president, Apex Chamber of Commerce, and head, Textile Division, Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisation (FICO), said exports of textiles had come down to 30 per cent in the past three years. Thanks to ongoing strikes and protests by the farmers, as industrialists have failed to place orders timely. “Nobody is interested in doing business with us due A student walks along the full-grown mustard crop at the PAU in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 2 A speeding motorcycle claimed the life of a man, Sudhir Mehto, here. Monu, the son of the deceased, registered a complaint at Sahnewal that he was standing with his father on the Mansarovar road when a rashly driven motorcycle (PB 10 JK 3908) hit his father from the rear. Mehto fell and got injuries and was taken to the Civil Hospital. He was referred to the PGI by doctors due to his critical condition. On reaching the PGI, the victim succumbed to his injuries. A case under Sections 281 and 106 of the BNS has been registered against an unidentified person by the Sahnewal police. the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers’ Association (UCPMA), here. Ayush Aggarwal, state secretary, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, on the basis of feedback from traders and industrialists, claimed that due to the ongoing protests at the Shambhu border, there are transportation losses to the tune of Rs 300 crore per week in the state. “We are paying Rs 300 crore more on transport as everything goes through diverted routes,” he said, adding that during the previous protests by the farmers, the industry had incurred total losses of Rs 5 lakh crore in Punjab. He said many industrialists had already established new units outside the state due to the protests. “If situation in state was not improved and borders not cleared, more industry will move out from the state,” he said. The farmers sitting on protest at the PunjabHaryana Border want implementation of about 14 demands, including a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP). Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 2 Activists of the ‘Kale Pani Da Morcha’ campaign have submitted a written complaint to Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan regarding the concealment of important documents and facts from the House committee by officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to illegally benefit the dyeing industry. The activists requested the Vidhan Sabha Speaker to take strict action against officials responsible. They said the Vidhan Sabha committee regarding the Buddha Dariya and the Ghaggar river was constituted by the Speaker on July 25, 2022. It’s chairman was Daljit Singh Grewal Bhola. A total of 12 MLAs were its members. The committee presented its interim report in the House on March 11, 2024. After carefully reading the report, it was found that the main objective of this Vidhan Sabha committee was to “scrutinise the issue of dirty water falling into the Buddha Dariya and Ghaggar”. The committee held a total of 30 meetings till the preparation of this report and officials from many departments of the state government also STRICT ACTION AGAINST OFFICIALS SOUGHT The activists requested the Vidhan Sabha Speaker to take strict action against PPCB officials. They said the Vidhan Sabha committee regarding pollution in the Buddha Dariya was constituted by the Speaker on July 25, 2022. It’s chairman was Daljit Singh Grewal Bhola. A total of 12 MLAs were its members. participated in these. They added that on August 13, 2024, an important and surprising revelation was made by the Central Pollution Control Board in NGT case number 546/2024, that the three treatment plants being run by the dyeing industry of Ludhiana have been built illegally and are being run in complete disregard of the law. They produced the environmental clearances of 2013 and 2014 obtained from the Union Environment Ministry, according to which these treatment plants were never allowed to discharge even their treated water into the Budha Dariya. On the contrary, they had a very clear condition, that the industries could not discharge their treated water into the dariya at all. They could treat this water and use it themselves or use it for irrigation if they had space. It was a surprising revelation because such an “illegal work” was being carried out under the nose of the Punjab Pollution Control Board for a decade and the people of Punjab were seeing these papers for the first time. Even more surprising was the re-reading of the report of the Vidhan Sabha Committee, which revealed that this most important fact was not even mentioned in this 81-page report, rather the entire thrust of the Vidhan Sabha committee was focused on other trivial matters. Recently, a video was released on Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal’s Facebook site in which dyeing workers themselves made clear that they have been polluting the Budha Dariya on a large scale for a long time, yet the PPCB is seen shying away from taking action. This is a betrayal of the people of Punjab, claimed the activists of Kale Pani Da Morcha, demanding that it should be immediately investigated at the highest level and the Chairman, Member Secretary and other officials of the PPCB should face action for negligence. Minister, MP Seechewal inspect works to set up temporary pumping station near gaushala In nature’s lap Hit by speeding motorcycle, man dies to the strikes. The morale of the industry has also come down and there is no growth. Traders and industrialists are bearing losses. Transportation cost has increased as it is taking long time to reach destinations. There is wastage of time. All these factors add to frustration of businessmen in the state. Besides, none wants to start or expand business in such a negative situation,” he said. The industrialists maintained that initially, when the farmers began their protest, the entire industry was with them. But now, what can the industry do when it is also facing downfall trends due to their agitations? “Our business has been affected badly in the past three years, there has been no growth. Through video calls, we ask customers to place orders but this is neither satisfying to the buyers nor the industrialists. The bicycle industry ’ s growth has also declined due to the long protests of farmers,” said Charanjit Vishkarma, Chairman of Morcha activists accuse PPCB of concealing facts, write to Speaker Ludhiana, January 2 Local Bodies Minister Ravjot Singh, along with Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, inspected ongoing works to establish the temporary pumping station near the gaushala point of the Buddha Dariya here on Thursday. DC Jitendra Jorwal, MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, ADC Rohit Gupta, MC Additional Commissioner Paramdeep Singh and other officials of the civic body and the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) were present during the inspection. The temporary pumping station is being established Local Bodies Minister Ravjot Singh, RS MP Balbir Singh Seechewal and others near the gaushala point of the Buddha Dariya. under the ‘Kar Sewa’ initiated by Seechewal to clean the ‘Buddha Dariya’. The aim is to pump sewerage waste from the gaushala point to the Jamalpur STP till a permanent intermediate pumping station (IPS) is established at the gaushala site. The project to establish the gaushala IPS is pending due to an ongoing court case. During the visit, Minister Ravjot Singh also deliberated upon steps which could be taken to speed up the process. Further, the minister issued directions to officials of the PPCB and the civic body to take steps to ensure that cow dung and industrial waste should not dumped into the ‘Buddha Dariya’. Dr Singh also directed the officials concerned to expedite the work of establishing biogas plants in Haibowal and Tajpur road dairy complexes. Cow dung would then be used for generating biogas in these plants. Till then, the officials have been directed to ensure temporary arrangements for lifting of cow dung from dairy units and dumping the same at designated points. He lauded the steps being taken under the ‘Kar Sewa’ initiated by MP Seechewal. Dr Singh said the establishment of the temporary pumping station would help in reducing pollution in the dariya as domestic waste (sewerage) would be properly treated at the Jamalpur STP before getting into the nullah. He said all steps were being taken to reduce pollution in the dariya and directions had been issued to departments regarding the same.— TNS Pedestrians, two-wheeler riders cross road dividers, invite trouble Three nabbed with illicit liquor Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 2 The district is witnessing a disturbing trend on its roads and national highways. Pedestrians and two-wheeler riders had been crossing road dividers, posing risk to their lives. The reckless behaviour is not only a threat to themselves but also endangering the lives of other road users. The situation gets worse during foggy conditions when visibility is severely impaired. Pedestrians, often unaware of the danger, attempt to cross highways. Two-wheeler riders, equally reckless, too cross dividers with impunity. Consequences of such acts can be devastating, resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Residents staying near the Jalandhar bypass on the national highway, an accident prone area, while expressing concern over the issue said the district administration and traffic Pedestrians and a motorcyclist (right) putting their lives at risk by crossing dividers on highways in Ludhiana. PHOTOS: ASHWANI DHIMAN authorities need to take action to address the menace. Spreading awareness about dangers of crossing dividers was crucial. Public awareness campaigns could help educate pedestrians and two-wheeler riders about the importance of road safety. “Pedestrians and twowheeler riders should use foot overbridges to cross the highway. Every day, we see accidents occurring due to the negligence of people crossing dividers. Since the traffic police are short of staff, the department should enrol volunteers who should stop people from crossing the dividers c m y b and encourage them to use foot overbridges,” said residents staying near the Ludhiana-Sahnewal highway. The authorities can also install clear signage and markings on highways, giving warning about the dangers of crossing dividers. Additionally, enforcement of traffic rules and regulations must be strengthened, with strict penalties for offenders. The police can increase patrolling on highways, especially during foggy conditions, to prevent pedestrians and two-wheeler riders from crossing dividers. The onus of responsibility also lies with pedestrians and two-wheeler riders themselves, residents said, adding that “ultimately, saving precious lives requires collective efforts from the authorities, pedestrians, and two-wheeler riders in this regard. Ludhiana, January 2 The Ladhowal police have arrested two persons, Shivam and Vir Devinder Singh, and seized 20 bottles of illicit liquor from them. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered against the duo. The police said on January 1, they were patrolling on the South City road. The police stopped a motorcycle (bearing registration no. PB 10HD 4805). During checking, 20 bottles of illicit liquor was seized from the suspects. In yet another incident, the Jamalpur police have arrested Sanjay Singla, a resident of Bhamian Kalan, Jamalpur, and seized 12 bottles of Officer’s Choice whisky from him after getting a tip-off. The police conducted a raid at the suspect’s place and arrested him with the illicit liquor.