05042025-LT-01.qxd 4/5/2025 12:25 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune BOLLYWOOD PRODUCER KARAN JOHAR VISITS GOLDEN TEMPLE TOM OPENS CINEMACON SPEECH WITH MOMENT OF SILENCE Punjabi actor-singer Gippy Grewal and Bollywood producer Karan Johar paid obeisance at Golden Temple.P4 Tom Cruise opened his CinemaCon appearance with a moving tribute to his Top Gun co-star, Val Kilmer. P4 » CELEBS MOURN ‘BHARAT’ KUMAR’S PASSING AWAY MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 35°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.43 PM Born on July 24, 1937, actor lived in an era when patriotism was not associated with any political party. P4 » FORECAST » SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:06 AM SATURDAY | 5 APRIL 2025 | LUDHIANA PSEB Class VIII: 26 from dist Wheat yet to be harvested, all set for procurement figureamong top 10 in state 8,29,755-MT WHEAT EXPECTED TO ARRIVE Manav Mander Tribune News Service Rishika bags fourth position in state, first in district Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 4 The Punjab School Education Board declared the results of Class VIII this evening. As many as 26 students from the district figured among top 10 positions in the state and majority of them are from private schools. Rishika of GGH School, Ramgarh, bagged the fourth position in the state and first in the district with 597 out of 600 marks. She scored 99.50 per cent marks. Ranjan Kumar from SGD Grammer School, Dhandari Kalan, got the sixth position in the state with 99.17 per cent marks. Gurleen Kaur from Baba Zorawar Singh Fateh Singh Senior Secondary School, Sumit Dikshit from SGD Grammer School, Gurjot Singh from Teja Singh Sutantar SS School, and Manvir Singh from Harsh Vidya Mandir scored 99 50 ON MERIT LIST Of 319 students from across the state, about 50 students from the district featured on the merit list. per cent marks and bagged seventh position in the state. On 8th position in the state, there were five students from the district. These included Suryansh Maurya from SGD Grammer School, Shweta from Teja Singh Sutantar School, Laksh from RS Model Senior Secondary School and Sukhraj Singh and Daljit Kaur from Teja Singh Sutantar School. All of them scored 98.83 per cent marks. Naman Dhall from Teja Singh Sutantar School, Om Sharma from RS Model Senior Secondary School, Khushpreet Kaur from GHG Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Mandi Bahadargarh, Komal from GG High School, Ramgarh, Gurnoor Kaur from Bhai Dhan Singh Senior Secondary School, Manuke, and Mankirat Kaur from Teja Singh Sutantar School scored 98.67 per cent marks and shared ninth position in the state. Other students from the district, Aryan Bagri from UVM Public School, Manakwal, Ramanvir Singh from Mata Gurnam Kaur High School, Sehora, Bhoomi from Harsh Vidya Mandir, Naman Sood from SGD Grammer Senior Secondary School, Navjot Kaur from Starex Public School, Dilpreet from Guru Nanak Dev Institute of Succhajji Fundation, Sukhmani Kaur from Bhai Dhan Singh Pubic School and Akshara and Karamvir Singh, both from Teja Singh Sutantar School, scored 98.5 per cent and secured the tenth spot in the state. Of 319 students from across the state, about 50 students from the district featured on the merit list. Ludhiana, April 4 Wheat crop in the district is yet to be harvested and factors such as weather conditions and late sowing are the main reason behind it. Meanwhile, all preparations have been done by the administration for smooth procurement of wheat in the district. Paramjeet Singh, a farmer from Samrala, said wheat was yet to be harvested in Ludhiana and it would start arriving in grain markets by Baisakhi. “This year the weather was little abrupt. The winter season was short, then summer arrived and temperature started rising but with rainfall, the morning and evening temperatures came down. Crop was sown late and it is yet to be ripened fully for harvesting and it will take a few more days,” he said. Another farmer, Kulbir Singh, from Begowal village said if temperature rises suddenly, then there were chances that the crop ripens early and it could also lead to grain shrivelling due to heat A total of 8,29,755 metric tonnes of wheat is expected to arrive in 108 grain markets in the district while 27 temporary yards have been set up. SDMs and chiefs of procurement agencies will supervise purchasing procedures. ASHWANI DHIMAN stress, leading to reduced yield and quality. “This year, the crop will mature at its own time as temperature is going normal for the crop and it is expected to be harvested in coming week,” he said. Meanwhile, the district administration was all geared up for the smooth procurement of wheat in the district and all arrangements have been made for the same. A total of 8,29,755 metric tonnes of wheat is expected to arrive in 108 grain markets in the district while 27 temporary yards have been set up. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said 8,29,755 metric tonnes of wheat was expected to arrive this year. He said there was sufficient availability of gunny bags, besides proper arrangements for lifting and payments were already made in all purchase centres where farmers would get the payment of their produce within stipulated time frame. The Deputy Commissioner said the state government would procure wheat at the increased minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,425 per quintal. DFSC West, Shefali Chopra, said: “All arrangements for the smooth and uninterrupted procurement of wheat in all grain markets have been made. Sufficient space is available for storage and all previous stocks have been cleared”. Sub-divisional magistrates and chiefs of all procurement agencies will supervise procurement procedures. Elderly woman alleges abuse by son, 171 nabbed from dist so far during daughter-in-law in Boparai Kalan campaign against drugs, says Deo Mahesh Sharma Raikot, April 4 The son and daughter-in-law of 85-year-old Gurman Kaur from Boparai Kalan, who were booked under Sections 323, 294 and 506 of the IPC for allegedly assaulting and threatening her, have managed to garner sympathy from close relatives. Contrary to the widespread belief that the couple would face punishment for their inhumane treatment of the woman, they were granted bail, with support from their sympathisers. At present recovering at Manukhta Da Ghar in Hasanpur near Mullanpur Dakha, Gurman Kaur is attempting to come to terms with the distressing ordeal. The investigation team, led by SI Gurmeet Singh, is still putiing together the sequence of events surrounding the mental and physical abuse Gurman Kaur endured. Preliminary find- ings suggest her son, Jasvir Singh and his wife, Gurpreet Kaur, had Gurman Kaur, been harrasing her the victim for an extended period. Even the grandsons were reportedly involved in the maltreatment. “Upon receiving a formal complaint from the victim, we arrested the couple and registered an FIR under various sections of the IPC,” said SI Gurmeet Singh, acknowledging the suspects had been released on bail. He also revealed Raj Gill Lalli, Chairperson of the Punjab State Commission for Women, had requested a detailed report on the action taken against the suspects. “We are in the process of gathering further details and a comprehensive report will be submitted to the higher authorities soon,” Singh confirmed. The revelation of the abuse came as a surprise to the residents of Bank Colony, who were unaware of the ongoing maltreatment within the household. Gurnam Kaur, who had been staying with her son’s family as a caretaker while her daughter, Harpreet Kaur, moved to Australia, had endured the abuse in isolation. Jasvir works as a security guard, and Gurpreet Kaur is involved with a boutique, but their violent behaviour went unnoticed by neighbours, as the abuse occurred in the most secluded room of their home. Local councillor Sukhwinder Singh said the family had moved to the locality after Harpreet Kaur, now residing in Australia, offered her brother Jasvir Singh a place to stay. It was only after Harpreet Kaur observed troubling CCTV footage from Australia, the severity of the abuse became apparent, prompting her to seek help from social activists. Surprisingly, Gurman Kaur has only accused her son of physically abusing her, despite video evidence showing all four family members involved in the maltreatment. She also refused to leave her son’s house when her daughter Harpreet Kaur offered to take her to Manukhta Da Ghar, where she is currently staying. Gurnam Kaur said she is disheartened that her son’s actions have now become known to the public. She mentioned, “Neither my father nor my husband ever raised a hand against me.” Surviving on a meagre diet, she currently receives a monthly pension of Rs 13,000. Special DGP avoids commenting on nabbed female constable from Bathinda Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 4 The Special DGP Communi, ty Affairs Division and Women Affairs, Punjab, Gurpreet Deo, avoided reply when was asked about a female constable of Bathinda, who was held with drugs by the police. Deo said she was here to speak about drug seizures in Ludhiana in the past about a month and she was in no position to comment on the issue. Talking about cracking the whip against drug smugglers, the Special DGP said the campaign against drugs, ‘ Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’, was started on March 1. She said till date, 117 cases under the NDPS Act were registered in the district. A total of 171 suspects had been arrested so far from Ludhiana. Among the list of drug Gurpreet Deo, Special DGP, Community Affairs Division and Women Affairs, Punjab, in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN peddlers and suppliers prepared by the state anti-narcotic task force, 200 smugglers were from Ludhiana. Of these 200 persons, 100 were arrested by the police so far while search for the remaining suspects was on. At the same time, the senior IPS officer said when the police act tough against the peddlers, they prefer to remain low profile and in such circumstances, it becomes difficult for the police to arrest them. “The department is trying its best to arrest identified smugglers at the earliest. Many search operations were also conducted in Ludhiana, which is crucial. Meetings and awareness seminars are conducted on the issue. Though it was not that impactful due to examinations in schools and colleges, we have roped in many departments to spread awareness,” Deo said. She said: “During search 6 MLD wastewater still flowing into Buddha Nullah, says sewerage board Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 4 At least 6 million litres daily (MLD) of wastewater was still flowing into the Buddha Nullah, one of the most polluted tributaries of the Sutlej, passing through Ludhiana before it confluences with the Sutlej and enters Rajasthan, the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) has said. Project launched in 2020, Sutlej tributary remains polluted This submission was made by PWSSB Engineer-in-Chief Mukesh Garg before the high-level joint group of experts and senior officials from both Centre and Punjab, formed by the Union Government, for carrying out a time-bound action plan to clean and preserve the Sutlej tributary recently. Effluents flow without any check into the Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana on Friday. ASHWANI DHIMAN The development assumes significance as the state government had in December 2020 launched an ambitious project to rejuvenate the Buddha Nullah at the cost of Rs 840 crore but even after spending almost the entire corpus and lapse of over four years, the Sutlej tributary still remains polluted. He said the untapped wastewater points, which were yet to be connected to CETPs, were flowing 2.25 MLD and 3.75 MLD wastewater from the dairy complex from where the untreated effluents were still being discharged into the nullah. Garg said their department was working on the issue and most of the dairies had now been connected with the conveyance system leading to ETPs. He said all dairies on Tajpur Road and Haibowal Dairy Complex would be connected to the ETPs soon. He also flagged that for proper operation of the ETPs, the disposal of cow dung into drains leading to the ETP conveyance system must be stopped by the Municipal Corporation (MC). Regarding scattered dairies, he said wastewater was still c m y b being discharged into the sewage network and there was no provision of segregation of the dairy wastewater from the MC sewage network. The committee members observed that the contribution of cow dung and wastewater from scattered dairies as well as from dairy complexes in the sewage network was affecting the working of all STPs and specifically the STP in Balloke. The panel directed the departments concerned, including the MC and the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats (DRDP), to establish CBG plants, which was a permanent solution of cow dung management, besides strictly enforcing temporary interim measures for lifting of cow dung and its scientific disposal such as composting/vermicomposting and energy resource. The DRDP was directed to play a proactive role to stop discharge of cow dung into the nullah under a comprehensive plan for the management of cow dung of dairy units located outside the MC limits and falling in the catchment area of the tributary on a priority basis. The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) was instructed to explore possibilities of small/ household biodigesters/cow dung gas plants/ composite plant or to accommodate cow dung of dairies located outside the MC limits and scattered dairies within the city to the proposed CBG plants of 300 TPD capacity being established on Tajpur Road and Haibowal Dairy Complex. The committee asked the PWSSB to make immediate and adequate arrangements for connecting wastewater being generated from all dairies located on Tajpur Road and in Haibowal Dairy Complex with the CETP conveyance system and ensure that no effluent from these dairies was discharged into the nullah. “The PWSSB should also ensure efficient functioning of the CETPs installed for dairy complexes, besides exploring the possibility of utilisation of treated effluents for dairies located in the respective dairy complexes for washing of floors and other such non-core purposes,” the panel directed. The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), Department of Water Resources (DWR), Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), MC and PWSSB were asked to take regulatory action under provisions of their acts and rules against all defaulter dairy units responsible for the discharge of cow dung and wastewater from their establishments. operations, we should not only focus on small smugglers or peddlers but also catch the big fish too. “In case they catch small smugglers, they must search for real players who run such rackets. Figures gathered by the Health Department also reveal 100 per cent utilisation of beds in drug-de addiction centres due to the crackdown against drug smugglers and addicts,” said Deo, adding that the police had taken a firm stand against drug abuse and trafficking by adopting a multi-faceted approach. She admitted that there was a scarcity of drug inspectors due to which the work suffers. The drug seizures during the campaign include 4.313 kg of heroin, 55.800 kg of opium, 1.970 kg of charas, 11.664 kg of ganja, 23 gm of cocaine and 5,330 intoxicating pills and capsules. Medical store raided, drugs worth ~1.94 lakh seized Ludhiana, April 4 On Friday, a team of Drug Control Officer Sandeep Kaushik inspected an unlicensed store, Genuine Chemist, located inside Mediciti Health Care Centre, Krishan Vihar Chowk, Tibba Road, here, and seized 18 types of allopathic drugs. The firm failed to produce purchase records, drug sale licence and RMP certificate on demand. Drugs, including 11,474 tablets, 2,200 capsules and 150 injections, worth Rs 1,94,000, were seized from the owner, Harminder Singh. — TNS