24032025-LT-01.qxd 3/24/2025 12:47 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune UNIFIED APPROACH REQUIRED FOR A CLEANER CITY ACTRESS SARGUN MEHTA, A CREATIVE POWERHOUSE RASIKA DUGAL WANTS TO WORK WITH DILJIT DOSANJH Effective waste management systems should be established, residents must dispose of waste responsibly. P3 Committed to breaking stereotypes, the actor is actively shaping her career and industry around her. P4 Rasika Dugal is known for effortlessly inhabiting diverse characters across films, web series and theatre. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 33°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 13°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.35 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:21 AM » MONDAY | 24 MARCH 2025 | LUDHIANA GARBAGE MISHANDLING IN WHOLESALE VEGETABLE MARKET Act in two weeks, appear in next hearing: NGT to Mandi Board DGM Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 23 Taking cognisance of the non-compliance of recommendations of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) by the Punjab Mandi Board for handling and processing of garbage within the Wholesale Vegetable Market in reopened petition of members of the Public Action Committee(PAC), the Chairperson, Bench of the NGT, has directed the DGM of the Mandi Board to remain present during the next hearing to assist the Tribunal. Er Kapil Arora and Gagnish Khurana said keeping in view the unscientific way of handling garbage and deliberate inaction on selling of single-use plastics fearlessly on a daily basis by the Mandi Board at the wholesale market, situated on Bahadurke Road, they had filed one petition before the Tribunal in 2023 and the NGT had formed one committee, with the nodal agency as the PPCB, to file the report. “After completing the process, the committee filed one report before the NGT which justified the allegations made by us and issued recommenda- Garbage littered at the Wholesale Vegetable Market on Bahadurke Road in Ludhiana. DGM TRYING TO MISLEAD TRIBUNAL: PAC MEMBER “Incidents of garbage are frequent in the vegetable market and the DGM is trying to mislead the Tribunal. Further, single-use plastic is still being sold openly and the Mandi Board has failed to act on it,” a member of the PAC said. tions and directions to the Mandi Board to handle the garbage and process on the premises as per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016,” Arora said. Further, the PPCB ordered the Mandi Board to strictly implement ban on sale and usage of single-use plastic within the board area. However, the Mandi Board failed to comply with the directions issued by the PPCB and continued to dump garbage and burning of garbage at various places in the mandi area, which was resulting into environmental damage as well as unhygienic conditions and suffocating environment for inhabitants of nearby localities. Er Vikas Arora and Mohit Jain said after reopening of the case by the Green Tribunal, they filed evidences of repeated deliberate and blatant violations by the Mandi Board by going against recommendations of the PPCB. The DGM of the Punjab Mandi Board filed the reply mentioning that the Department had signed an MoU with the MC and one static compactor had been installed to collect and transport the garbage to the Tajpur primary dump. Further, an awareness drive is being conducted to prevent usage of single-use plastic. Arora said: “During hearing, the counsel for the Mandi Board said a composter had been installed and there was no fire incident after 2022 in the vegetable market, to which we objected that the machine installed by the MC was not a composter but a compactor and thus, the mandi board had failed to follow the SWM Rules, 2016, in which it is clearly mentioned that bulk generators of garbage had to segregate and process the garbage on their premises. “Incidents of garbage are frequent in the vegetable market and the DGM is trying to mislead the Tribunal. Further, single-use plastic is still being sold openly and the Mandi Board has failed to act on it,” Jain said. Considering objections made by them, the Bench directed the DGM to take action within two weeks on issues raised in objections filed by petitioners and file report. On directions of the Bench, the counsel of the Mandi Board submitted that the DGM would remain present before this court during the next hearing to assist the Tribunal. Civic body seals three illegal commercial buildings Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 23 Taking strict action against illegal constructions, the Municipal Corporation (MC) sealed three illegal under-construction commercial buildings near the Mali Ganj chowk and in the Gandhi Nagar area. Of these three buildings, two are situated near the Mali Ganj chowk, while the third is situated in Gandhi Nagar. Assistant Town Planner (ATP Zone-A) Gurvinderpal Singh Lucky and Building Inspector Kashish Garg said they came to know about illegal constructions during routine inspections and warnings were issued to building owners in the past too. But they continued the constructions. Working on the directions of MC Commissioner Aaditya One of the sealed illegal under-construction buildings in Ludhiana. Dachalwal, the buildings have now been sealed. Building branch officials said the drive against illegal constructions would continue in coming days too. They appealed to residents to start construction works only after getting building plans approved from the civic body, otherwise strict action would be taken against such works. One booked for firing gunshot Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 23 The Sadar police have lodged an FIR under Sections 109 and 3 (5) of the BNS and Arms Act against an unidentified person on a complaint filed by Satnam Singh, a resident of Manakwal, near here. The complainant said on March 21, he, along with his friend Gagandeep Singh, parked the car outside his paternal uncle’s house and started smoking when somebody fired a gunshot. Gagandeep said he had received a bullet injury in his right arm. The complainant said the person who fired the gunshot ran away with the weapon to his accomplice, who was waiting on a motorcycle. Afterwards, the suspects sat on a bike and fled the scene. The complainant rushed his friend to a hospital. The police are looking into the matter and no arrest has been made so far. MC official makes field visits to Massive fire breaks out at godown on Pakhowal Road expedite recovery of property tax Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 23 With an aim to scrutinise property tax returns filed by residents in the past and to expedite recovery of property tax, Assistant Commissionercum-Zonal Commissioner (Zone A&B) Neeraj Jain conducted inspections in different areas falling under the Zone A of the MC. Accompanied by Superintendents Rajeev Bhardwaj and Ashok Garg, the Assistant Commissioner conducted inspections in Daal Bazaar, Talaab Bazaar and other old city areas. Working on the directions of MC Commissioner Appeals to residents to pay tax by March 31 to avoid penalty Aaditya Dachalwal, officials stated that the property tax returns were being strutinised to catch defaulters who filed the returns wrongly to evade tax in the past. A 100 per cent penalty was imposed on such defaulters. Jain said a number of properties had been checked and owners had been directed to produce all documents in coming week so that proper assessment could be done. He appealed to residents to not to fall prey to any agents and contact him or other civic body officials in case of any confusion. Jain further appealed to residents to pay the pending property tax for the current financial year (2024-25) by March 31 to avoid penalty. He said a 20 per cent penalty and 18 per cent annual interest would be imposed, if the residents failed to pay tax by March 31. The residents could submit the tax at zonal suvidha kendras of the corporation. To avoid long queues, they could also pay tax online by visiting www.mcludhiana.gov.in. Passers-by look at the flames that engulfed the godown on Pakhowal Road in Ludhiana on Sunday. Tributes paid to national heroes Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru Ludhiana, March 23 A havan was organised on Shaheedi Diwas on Sunday at Naughara Mohalla, the birthplace of Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar. It was performed by the Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust. On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru were hanged to death by the British government in the Lahore Central Jail and the day is commemorated as Shaheedi Diwas. Mayor Inderjit Kaur who was also present during the havan said: “Shaheedi Diwas is not only a day to remember the martyrs but also a time for a reflection on values of patriotism, justice and national unity. As the country celebrates Mayor Inderjit Kaur and others at Naughara Mohalla in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN the significant day, it serves as a reminder that ideals of these brave individuals must continue to guide the nation towards progress, equality and a bright future.” She said. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora visited Jagraon Bridge and laid wreaths before statues of martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Paying tributes, he said, “We should never forget our martyrs as we enjoy freedom today due to their sacrifices.” He emphasised that the three young revolutionaries laid down their lives at an early age and it was now the duty of every citizen to work tirelessly for national unity and integration. — TNS c m y b Nine booked for serving hookah Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 23 The Sarabha Nagar police have registered a case against the owner and manager of Club Pablo on the Ferozepur road here for allegedly serving hookah. Besides, cases are registered against seven other persons. The case is registered under various sections of the IPC and the Cigarette and Tobacco Act, 2003, against Jasmit Singh, manager Waheguru Pal Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Mandeep Pal Singh, Gursaran Singh, Sumati Kumar, Rajvir Singh, Kuldip Singh and Balvir Singh. The police said a raid was conducted by the police and it was found that hookah, which was banned, was served to customers by the club. Ludhiana, March 23 A massive fire broke out at a godown, near the skating zone and railway Lines on Pakhowal Road here this evening. Thick smoke engulfed the entire area and it was witnessed till Ferozepur Road, Civil Lines, and panic gripped the area. It is learnt that the godown belongs to a private company, which was laying pipes under the Smart City project. Pipes, wires and other material kept in the godown were turned into ashes within minutes due to the huge fire. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be known. Till the filing of the report, firefighters were not able to douse the flames and fire tenders from all six stations were sent to control the situation. One of the firefighters said extra staff was called and about 12 vehicles were sent. Rahul Kumar, a resident, said he was returning to his home near Malhar Road when thick smoke was witnessed and within minutes, it covered the sky. Residents and commuters got panicky and started making videos of the flames. The spot where the fire occurred is located opposite Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar. “Panic gripped the area due to the fire incident. Commuters took other routes to reach to their destinations,” said Gaurav, a domestic helper at a house near the spot in Sarabha Nagar. — TNS Drunk man creates ruckus, beats staff at Civil Hospital Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 23 Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal had recently opened the upgraded Civil Hospital with latest facilities for the public. However, raising a question over safety in the hospital, a man, who was in an inebriated state, barged into the hospital late on Saturday night and created a ruckus. The video of the entire incident is doing rounds on the Internet and the person under the influence of liquor is seen manhandling hospital staff also. According to information, the person entered the maternity ward on Saturday night where his wife was admitted. He cre- Looking into security lapse, says SMO ated a ruckus and started beating attendants and staff in the hospital in an inebriated state. On seeing this, several attendants of patients thrashed the suspect and the hospital security was also informed about the matter. The security informed the police, who reached the place and took out him from the ward. But he ditched them and entered the ward again and started harassing patients and attendants. Sunny Kumar, an attendant of a patient, said his wife was also admitted to the ward. The drunk man entered the ward and started beating staff, he created a ruckus for over three hours. He said such a security lapse was unfortunate as he could harm patients and newborn babies. The wife of the suspect said someone must have forced him to drink. Otherwise, he never behaved like that before. Dr Deepika, SMO, Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, said she came to know about the incident. “The man reached the rooftop from where he entered the ward and created a ruckus. Security personnel had handed over the drunk person to the police, which left him after giving a warning but he again reached the ward. We are looking into the matter and will check how the lapse occurred,” the SMO said.