13072025-ATR-01.qxd 7/12/2025 10:10 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY CONG GEARS UP FOR TARN TARAN BYPOLL, SLAMS STATE GOVT CENTRE THAT PRODUCED INT’L JUDOKAS AWAITS NEW MAT EIGHT MOST UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR Yodhbir Singh Sarli, constituency coordinator, asked party workers to work tirelessly for byelection win. P2 Shaheed Bhagat Singh Centre has been pushed into an existential crisis because the mat there has outlived its utility. P3 We’re only halfway through the year, but Hindi cinema has already thrown some knockout performances.P4 » » » MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET SUNDAY 7.37 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5:34 AM SUNDAY | 13 JULY 2025 | AMRITSAR Despite norms, segregation of waste a distant dream in city Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 12 Despite clear directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the existing rules, waste segregation remains a significant challenge in the city as management efforts in this regard continue to falter, with most households and marketplaces failing to segregate waste into wet and dry categories. Waste segregation is essential for effective waste management. Wet waste, which includes food leftovers, fruit and vegetable peels and kitchen waste, decomposes quickly, while dry waste such as plastic, paper and glass does not decompose. Segregation makes waste processing easy, convenient and economical. As per rules, MISSING INFRASTRUCTURE Uncovered trailers on city roads further highlight the lack of proper segregation, with food waste, plastic waste and branches of trees often thrown in together. Market places, where shopkeepers, restaurants and eateries dump their waste, also lack the necessary infrastructure for segregation. every household should ideally have two dustbins to segregate waste, and waste collection firms should also handle these separately. However, the reality on the ground is different. Many households are yet to follow the procedure, and even those which do it are often undermined by waste collection employees, who mix both types of waste in the same container. Uncovered trailers on city roads further highlight the lack of proper segregation, with food waste, plastic waste and branches of trees often thrown in together. Market places, where shopkeepers, restaurants and eateries dump their waste, also lack the necessary infrastructure for segregation. The absence of separate dustbins for wet and dry waste means that waste generated by eateries gets mixed with plastic thrown by other shopkeepers. Municipal corporation officials have taken up the issue with the private firm entrusted with waste collection. They said that the private company had assured to increase the number of waste collection vehicles with partitions in their containers to ensure proper segregation. A local resident, Jagwinder Singh, said, “People deserve a clean and healthy environment, and it is the responsibility of the municipal corporation and waste collection firms to ensure that waste was managed properly.” He said that the MC should also come up with a mechanism to ensure that residents do their part by segregating waste before handing the bags to waste collection vehicles. Over 30,000 banned tablets seized, one arrested Two youths die after their bike rams tractor Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 12 The Amritsar police have confiscated a huge quantity of banned pregabalin, being used by drug addicts for consumption, here late on Friday. The accused, identified as Karan Khanna (20), used to work at a garment shop and was lured into the illegal trade for easy money. Though the police have registered a case, he was released on bail after he joined the probe. “As pregabalin does not come under the purview of NDPS Act, the Division B police have registered a case under Section 223 of the Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita (disobedience to orders duly promulgated by public servants) against him,” said Amritsar, July 12 Two youths lost their lives in Bhindi Saida area near Ajnala when their bike collided with a tractor here last night. Both victims have been identified as Manpreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh of Sheikh Bhatti village. They were returning home from their work when the accident took place. According to information, the bike collided head on with the tractor leading to their on the spot death. The Bhindi Saida police reached the place and took the bodies of the victim in their custody and later sent these for a post mortem examination. The bodies were handed over to their family members after the autopsy today. The banned tablets seized by the police in Amritsar. Baljinder Singh Aulakh, Division B police station SHO. The police confiscated a total of 30,070 capsules of pregablin of 300mg potency. The accused could not produce the sale or purchase records of the drugs. He was arrested following a tip-off. The district administra- tion has banned pregabalin beyond 75mg. Baljinder Singh said that the tablets were found in the accused’s rented accommodation. During his interrogation, the police stumbled upon several names and further investigations were on. Epidemic fear looms large as heaps of garbage pile up in Gurdaspur Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, July 12 In absence of a proper garbage disposal site, the local municipal committee (MC) has been littering the town with piles of garbage for the last couple of weeks even as hapless residents fear that the ongoing spells of rains could trigger off an epidemic. The MC chief says his “political opponents are responsible for the deteriorating circumstances”. Dalwinderjit Singh, DC, has taken a serious view of the situation. He today asked the ADC (General) Harjinder Singh Bedi to visit the areas. “I have also convened a meeting of senior officers on Monday to find a solution to the vexed problem,” he said. “With the monsoon lashing the city, there is always a fear of rise in various kinds of diseases. The MC officials, whose responsibility it is to keep the city clean, should understand that even a light rain carries the potential to cause an epidemic. These officials are indulging in mere rhetoric,” said a morning walker, who is also a leading doctor. Garbage piles up along a road in Gurdaspur. Health officials say a combination of rains and improper garbage disposal significantly increases the risk of a disease outbreak. Stagnant water and garbage prove to be a perfect breeding ground for disease-carrying insects. This, in turn, leads to vectorborne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya. It has become impossible for residents to take the thoroughfare leading from the PAU regional station and BSF Chowk to the Pathankot Road. People are unable to walk due to the foul smell emanating from it. Several important institutes like the Army area, Institute of Hotel Management, Beant College of Engineering, ITI, a nursing institute and several hotels and eateries are located on this stretch of the road. People visiting Dinanagar and Pathankot, too, take this route. MC trucks, laden with tonnes of garbage, take to the roads in the dead of the night and throw trash in this area. Earlier, the garbage was disposed of at Maan Chopra village on the city’s outskirts, but this was got stopped by environmentalist Baba Seechewal. MC president Baljit Singh Pahra said he met the DC today to discuss the situation. He added that the MC had identified a piece of land on the city’s periphery. “We had even paid Rs 8 lakh as per the agreement reached with the owner of the land. However, AAP leaders played spoilsport and did not let things reach their logical conclusion,” he said. AAP leaders, however, denied the MC chief’s assertions, saying that “he was indulging in cheap gimmicks”. “The Swachh Bharat campaign has gone for a six. What will happen to the city and its residents if an epidemic breaks out?” questioned Romesh Mahajan, whose hotel is located nearby. c m y b Councillor’s kin threaten stir over XEN’s ‘misconduct’ The announcement has renewed hopes of residents. FILE PHOTO Bhagtanwala dump waste remediation work to restart Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 12 The long-pending bio-remediation work at the Bhagtanwala dump site is all set to restart, renewing hopes and doubts among residents living near the garbage-laden zone. The municipal corporation has once again moved ahead with efforts to clear the legacy waste that has been piling up at Bhagtanwala for decades. Despite repeated claims and inaugurations by previous governments, all previous attempts to begin bioremediation failed to deliver the results. This had left local residents, especially those living near the dump site, disillusioned and doubtful about the latest promise. Municipal Commissioner Gulpreet Singh stated that a fresh tender had been issued for the disposal of 11 lakh metric tonnes of waste at Bhagtanwala through bio-remediation. The ten- BKI terrorist, operatives booked for firing, extortion Amritsar, July 12 The Amritsar police have booked a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Sarvan Singh, alias Jeevan Fauji, and his unknown operatives in connection with firing outside a hospital at Sudhar village under Ramdas police station here late on Friday. Fauji originally hailed from Shehzada Kalan village in Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district. He had demanded an extortion of Rs 50 lakh from the victim, a commission agent and owner of the hospital on May 25, following which a case was registered on June 1. The police have now registered a new FIR against Fauji on charges of firing and attempt to murder. Kulwinder Singh in his complaint alleged that yesterday two bike-borne persons with faces covered came outside his hospital and fired three gun shots at the hospital. He said he had a narrow escape in the incident. The suspects later fled towards Makowal village side. Immediately after the firing, he got a call from Fauji, who threatened him. — TNS der, with an estimated cost of Rs 46.34 crore, received bids from four companies — BVG, Ecostan Infra, Green Tech Environ and Akansha Enterprises. The technical bids were opened on July 4 and the financial bids yesterday. Ecostan Infra emerged as the lowest bidder, quoting Rs 36.54 crore, approximately 21% below the projected cost. The tender will now be sent for approval to the Chief Engineer’s Committee of the Local Government Department. Upon approval, an agreement will be signed between the MC and the selected company. As per the tender conditions, the company is required to complete the bio-remediation of all 11 lakh tonnes of waste within 15 months. Once completed, the Bhagtanwala dump, a long-standing source of pollution and health concerns, will be fully cleared. Commissioner Gulpreet Singh added that separate tenders had also been floated for waste collection, its transportation, processing and disposal in ward Nos. 41 and 44. These tenders are expected to be opened soon and action will follow promptly. While the past governments, particularly the previous Congress regime, frequently promised action through election manifestos and political statements, very little was actually achieved on the ground. Locals also expressed disappointment with the Aam Aadmi Party’s lack of attention to the issue. However, Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, MLA from Amritsar South, claimed that the issuance of this tender was a result of his efforts and commitment to resolving the problem. Meanwhile, residents remained cautiously hopeful, waiting to see whether this latest attempt would finally bring them relief from the mountain of garbage in their neighbourhood. Amritsar, July 12 A dispute between ward No. 65 councillor Neeraj Chaudhary’s family and Municipal Corporation’s Executive Engineer (XEN) Swaraj Inderpal Singh has intensified, with calls for the engineer’s suspension gaining momentum. Councillor’s husband Pawan Chaudhary and his father former councillor Surinder Chaudhary met the Municipal Commissioner Gulpreet Singh on Thursday and demanded immediate action. The confrontation began on July 3 during an argument between Pawan and the XEN at the MC office. The following day, the councillor, her husband and their supporters symbolically protested by placing garlands and lighting incense sticks at the XEN’s chair as he was not present in the office. A video of this protest was circulating widely on social media. Pawan and his father told the municipal commissioner their version of the incident. They alleged that Swaraj Inderpal Singh was trying to get attention by making false accusations against them. He claimed that ward No. 65 had not received any grant in the last three years and that no Mohalla Sudhar Committee employee had been deployed. He accused the XEN of misleading the administration and officials’ association with fabricated stories. Former XEN SP Singh also reportedly confirmed that no staff attendance had ever been submitted from ward No. 65. Pawan and Surinder Chaudhary warned that if the XEN was not suspended, they would stage a protest next Wednesday. In a separate incident, Sanjeev Tangri, husband of ward No. 64 councillor Neetu Tangri, met Mayor and alleged that a streetlight patroller used inappropriate language against his wife at the office of Neeraj Chaudhary. Tangri has threatened to protest if action is not taken by next week. — TNS Hotels near Inter-State Bus Terminus under scrutiny for ‘flesh trade’ Multiple arrests made after RTI activist’s viral video Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 12 Hotels near the Interstate Bus Terminus (ISBT) in the Mahan Singh Gate area have come under scrutiny after a video uploaded by RTI and social activist Varun Sareen allegedly exposed a flourishing prostitution racket. The video, which has gone viral on social media, prompted swift action from the local police. The police arrested three individuals, including the manager of a hotel near the bus stand. Sareen alleged that several hotels in the area have a “setting” with local police, who don’t raid their premises. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr Sheetal Singh said the video showed a woman appearing to encourage illegal and anti-social activities. As a result, the hotel manager has been booked under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and a detailed investigation is currently underway. Dr Singh said the police have zero-tolerance against such activities. In a separate incident on Friday, Division B police arrested Jagjit Singh from Kaonke village in Gharinda, along with a woman, for involvement in immoral trafficking. The woman had reportedly rented a hotel room in the Mahan Singh Chowk area and Jagjit Singh was serving as the hotel’s manager. In another crackdown, the police arrested Satwinder Singh of Devidaspura village, his son Gurkaran Singh, and Harinder Singh of Pakhoke village in Tarn Taran under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The trio was allegedly running a prostitution racket from a hotel near Mahan Singh Gate. “Following a tip-off, the police recovered three young women from the premises during a raid. The women were allegedly lured into the racket,” the ACP said. Similarly, hotels and spa centres around the bus stand have been implicated in such cases. In July last year, two Thai women jumped from the fifth floor of an illegal spa in an attempt to evade arrest during a police raid. They sustained multiple fractures. Meanwhile, three other Thai women were arrested from the same location during the raid. According to the police, the hotel owners and the spa centre manager were allegedly running a prostitution racket in the garb of a spa centre. In September last year, a similar racket was busted at a hotel and spa centre located near the Jora Phatak, just a few metres from the bus stand. The ACP issued a stern warning to hotel and spa owners, stating that anyone found involved in illegal activities will face strict legal consequences, including possible sealing of their properties.