30062025-LT-01.qxd 6/30/2025 12:13 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune URBAN PLANNING REFORMS, INFRA UPGRADE NEEDED CHARLIZE THERON TALKS ABOUT NOLAN’S THE ODYSSEY LET GRIEF BREATHE IN PEACE: VARUN DHAWAN Install temporary pumps to clear waterlogging after heavy rain, say city residents. P3 Charlize Theron opened up about her shoot schedule for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. P4 Actor Varun Dhawan slams media’s intrusive coverage of Shefali Jariwala’s funeral. P4 » » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 00°C | MIN 00°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.28 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:25 AM MONDAY | 30 JUNE 2025 | LUDHIANA POLLUTION IN BUDDHA DARIYA Contempt petition against PPCB, CETPs for defying Tribunal orders Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 29 In a major escalation in the Buddha Dariya pollution case, the Ludhiana-based Public Action Committee (PAC) has filed a contempt petition in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) as well as Directors of the Bahadur Ke CETP for deliberately violating the Tribunal orders and allowing the continued discharge of toxic effluents into the Buddha Dariya. PAC members Er Jaskirat Singh and Er Kapil Arora stated that despite explicit mention of ‘Zero liquid discharge’ (ZLD) and ‘no discharge into the Buddha Dariya’ in the Environmental Clearance (EC) conditions of 2013 and 2014, dyeing industry clusters in Ludhiana have continued to pollute the water body with impunity for over a decade. When PAC exposed the concealed EC documents in early 2024, it became clear that all three CETPs — Bahadur Ke, Tajpur Road, and Focal Point — were operating in violation* of the EC conditions. What followed, as per the PAC, was a clear pattern of collusion. Instead of acting firmly, the PPCB gave undue Public Action Committee members address the media in Ludhiana on Sunday. DEMANDS OF PUBLIC ACTION COMMITTEE ■ Fix accountability of PPCB officials ■ Immediate closure of illegal CETP operations ■ Independent monitoring of pollution in the Buddha Dariya by experts appointed by courts ■ Recovery of public funds (over ~67.5 crore) misused in the name of CETP development leeway to the CETPs, and the state government deliberately delayed enforcement by repeatedly changing lawyers during ongoing proceedings, giving more time to violators. Following widespread public protests and extensive media coverage of illegal discharges, the NGT took suo motu cognisance and directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to inspect the CETPs. The CPCB confirmed violations of environ- mental clearance conditions at all three CETPs. Based on this report, in August 2024, the CPCB ordered the state pollution control authority to act under Section 18(1)(b) of the Water Act, leading to the formal withdrawal of the consent to operate from Bahadur Ke, Tajpur Road and Focal Point CETPs. However, PAC members Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Preet Dhanoa said despite the NGT’s order, dated Juicy treat November 4, 2024, the CETPs continued operations, illegally releasing untreated effluents into the dariya. The state government, instead of ensuring compliance, backed the industry, protecting polluters at the cost of public health. It prompted the PAC to file a contempt petition, citing deliberate defiance of the Tribunal orders. Dr Amandeep Singh Bains and Gurpreet Singh pointed out that the Bahadur Ke CETP later obtained a fresh EC in 2014 with a Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) condition, which was even stricter. Yet, it too failed to comply. The failure to implement the core environmental conditions had been a huge threat to the public health, especially in South Punjab and Rajasthan where the Buddha Dariya was a source of drinking water. Col JS Gill while highlighting another disturbing development stated that the PPCB had initiated criminal prosecution against CETP SPVs and their directors in Ludhiana district courts but the state government amended the Water Act to remove prison terms, weakening enforcement and effectively sabotaging cases. Those criminal cases were then not pursued seriously and had been lingering on for an entire year without making any headway. PAC argued that this legislative dilution and administrative inaction were not only negligence but also amount to criminal collusion and institutional sabotage. The contempt petition had been filed under Sections 25, 26 and 28 of the NGT Act, which allow for up to three years’ imprisonment or ?10 crore in fine against the violators. Tarun Jain Bawa, industrialist from the Bahadur Ke road area, said the matter was already sub-judice in the NGT and the Tribunal would pronounce the order on July 22. The industry had been following the norms and the NGT decision would do justice. Speeding Audi wreaks havoc on road, kills one, injures three Driver flees scene with friend leaving car behind, 2 of hurt critical Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 29 A speeding Chandigarh registration number Audi car crashed into people outside GK Estate, Bhamian road, on Sunday morning. One person died in the accident while three others got injuries. The injured were undergoing treatment at hospitals. The condition of two of the injured persons was said to be critical. After the accident, the youth driving the car (bearing registration no CH01BB2632) tried to run away but was caught by people. In the meantime, another youth in a Maruti Swift car came to the scene and took the Audi car driver with him. This entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras. The video of the incident was also circulated on social media. Eyewitnesses said the police reached the scene after an hour of getting information and took the Audi car into custody. The police were now trying to trace the youth on the basis of the vehicle registration number. As per the CCTV footage, it is seen that a young man in a white Audi car crossed a truck coming from the front and hit a street vendor. Two persons were going on a scooter near the vendor. The car driver hit them too. Another young man standing near the vendor was also hit by the vehicle. When the speeding car hit the vendor, his belongings got scattered all over the place. Even after hitting, the suspect did not stop and kept on driving the car at a high speed. However, after reaching some distance, his car stopped. People present at the spot cornered him. The injured were rushed to a hospital where the vendor, Prem Shah, was declared dead. As per eyewitnesses, the driver was either drunk or under the influence of some drugs. He fled with his companion, whom he called after the mishap. People also informed the police about the accident but the police reached after around one hour. By then, the suspect’s friend reached the scene in his Maruti Swift car and took him away in his vehicle. SHO inspector Balwinder Kaur said four persons were reportedly injured in the accident. One of them, a street vendor, died. The injured had been admitted to private hospitals. Some documents were found inside Audi, on the basis of which efforts were being made to trace the suspect. The youth would be arrested soon. The car that hit four persons on the Bhamian road in Ludhiana on Sunday morning. Bihar resident arrested with Minor girl abducted opium, ~2.5L drug money People attend Mango Utsav at Govind Godham in Ludhiana on Sunday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN P2 Ludhiana, June 29 The Ludhiana police claimed to have nabbed a man and seized 2.6 kg of opium and Rs 2.5 lakh drug money from his possession. He was identified as Jawahar Parsad, a resident of Bihar. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Harpal Singh, ADCP (Crime) Amandeep Singh Brar, ACP (Crime) Rajesh Kumar Sharma and special cell inspector Navdeep Singh issued a joint statement in this regard. They said a police team was conducting a routine patrolling in Jhammat where on suspicion, a pedestrian was stopped for checking. During the checking of his belongings, opium and drug money were seized. The suspect was arrested and a case under the NDPS Act was registered against him. In the preliminary questioning, the suspect admitted that he was waiting for his client to deliver drugs. Earlier also, he had delivered drugs to his clients in the city, the police officials said. “Now, his police remand would be sought from court so that in further questioning, the entire drug supply line could be busted and big suppliers involved in the racket can be arrested. We have already got some vital clues about the big players and with their arrest, major recovery of drugs can be made. Some local drug peddlers suspected to be involved in the racket are also on police radar,” they added. — TNS Now, six more colonisers booked Four held with illegal weapons, heroin 3 cops suspended for taking bribe Ludhiana, June 29 The Ludhiana police registered cases against six more colonisers for developing illegal colonies. The cases were registered on the complaint of the competent authoritycum-Additional Deputy Commissioner, Urban Development, Ludhiana. The first case was registered against Sanjeev Kumar of Sahnewal for developing an illegal colony namely Kasaland. A case was registered against Rajwinder Kaur and Jaswinder Singh of Sahnewal for developing Fateh Complex. The cases were also registered against Jagdeep Singh for developing a colony in the name of Jai Ganpati and Sohan Lal for building a colony, Krishna, in Sahnewal. The fifth case was registered against Amarjit Singh of Jaspal Bangar for developing an illegal colony, Bachal Enclave, in Sahnewal. — TNS Nikhil Bhardwaj Ludhiana, June 29 Two ASIs and a constable of the Jodhan police station here have been suspended and sent to the Ludhiana (rural) Police Lines. SSP Ankur Gupta has ordered ASI Harpreet Singh, ASI Harjeet Singh and constable Gurpreet Singh to report to the Police Lines with immediate effect. The action is taken in a case related to three drug addicts of Khandoor village, whom these policemen caught with narcotic capsules. Baldev Singh was arrested while two others were let off by the police officials after taking bribe. According to sources, the youth, against whom the case was registered, recorded the entire conversation, including the act of taking bribe, and sent it to the SSP The SSP has hand. ed over the investigation in the case to Dakha DSP Varinder Singh Khosa. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 29 The Ludhiana police claimed to have nabbed four criminals and recovered illegal weapons, 268 gm of heroin, and cartridges from them. A Mahindra Thar has also been seized from the woman. The suspects were identified as Gaurav Singh of Bhagat Singh Colony, Sahip Malik of Janta Nagar, Nikhil Sharma of Fateh Singh Nagar and Sanjana of Shimlapuri. One of their accomplices, Sumit Kumar of New Shimlapuri, is at large in the case and raids are on to nab him. DCP (Crime) Harpal Singh, ADCP (Crime) Amandeep Singh Brar, ACP (Crime) Harshpreet Singh and CIA in-charge inspector Kulwant Singh issued a joint statement in this regard. The police officials said a CIA team had received a tip-off that Police personnel with the suspects in Ludhiana on Sunday. three suspects were involved in drug smuggling and possessing illegal weapons and cartridges. After verifying their location, the police conducted a raid and nabbed the suspects. They also recovered 268 gm of heroin, four pistols and nine cartridges. A case was also registered. During the questioning of Gaurav, Sahip and Nikhil, they disclosed the name of Sanjana and Sumit, who were also involved in drug smuggling. Accordingly, their names were also added to the case. Later, Sanjana was also arrested. Now, raids were being conducted at the whereabouts of Sumit but he seemed to have gone underground, they said. The officials said Gaurav had a criminal background as two cases of attempt to murder was registered against him in the past and in 2024, he had come out on bail and started heroin c m y b and weapon smuggling. Inspector CIA Kulwant Singh said the suspects were not only smuggling drugs but also involved in sale and purchase of weapons. The gang keep illegal weapons with them for their safety while smuggling. They had links with some Bihar-based weapon suppliers and the police would also nab them in the further course of investigation. Ludhiana, June 29 A case of disappearance of a 15-year-old girl has come to light from the Giaspura area. The family has received calls from unknown numbers and had been told that their daughter was kidnapped. The family has informed the police about the matter. According to the girl’s family, the girl staying in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Giaspura, went missing from home on Friday. Despite searching for the victim by the family, she was not found. Meanwhile, they received calls from unknown numbers. The caller disconnected the call after saying that the girl was with him. Girl’s father Arun Kumar and mother Sunita Devi said they were natives of Kanpur. After their son’s suicide last year, daughter Riya Pal came to the city with them in April. The family has lodged a complaint with the police and they were searching for the girl. According to the parents, some time after their daughter went missing, they received calls from two unknown mobile numbers. The caller said the girl was with him. The girl’s voice was also heard. Afterwards, the call got disconnected and both numbers were switched off. The family suspects that their daughter had been kidnapped. They had lodged a complaint in this regard at a police station. ASI Deep Chand said one of the mobile numbers had been traced and the police were probing the case from every angle. — TNS Man nabbed for extorting money by posing as cop Ludhiana, June 29 The Dugri police here have arrested Suresh, a resident of Kailash Nagar for allegedly collecting money from a person by posing as a police officer. The complainant, Rakesh Kumar, said he had purchased an ERS machine from Anil Garg but could not make the payment on time. After this, Garg filed a case against him in the court. Meanwhile, Suresh contacted Rakesh by introducing himself as a police officer and extorted money from him. The police investigation revealed that sev- eral legal cases were already registered against the suspect. Blackmailing Rakesh in the name of legal proceedings, the suspect repeatedly demanded money and assured him that he could prevent his arrest. However, the fraud came to light when the complainant was arrested on July 19 on a non-bailable warrant issued by a local court. Realising that he had been cheated, Rakesh filed a formal complaint on June 28. Dugri SHO Paramveer Singh said the suspect was arrested by acting on the statement of the complainant. — TNS