24072025-LT-01.qxd 7/24/2025 12:46 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune FEDERATION CHIEF ASSURES VOLLEYBALL’S DEVELOPMENT TANUSHREE DUTTA BREAKS DOWN IN VIDEO Tanushree Dutta surprised her fans after she dropped a video crying, alleging harassment at her own home. P4 Volleyball Federation of India chief Virender Kanwar has assured promotion of sport in the state. P2 » JAFAR PANAHI HONOURED AS ASIAN FILMMAKER OF YEAR The Iranian filmmaker has been named the Asian Filmmaker of the Year by the Busan International Film Festival. P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 31°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.21 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:37 AM » THURSDAY | 24 JULY 2025 | LUDHIANA NON-COMPLIANCE OF ORDERS ON RESTITUTION OF GREEN BELTS Contempt plea: Tribunal directs civic body chief to appear before Bench Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 23 In a contempt petition (execution application) filed by members of the Public Action Committee (PAC) against the non-compliance of orders on the restitution of green belts at Sarabha Nagar and Model Town Extension, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the MC Commissioner, Ludhiana, to appear before the Tribunal physically on the next date of hearing to show cause as to why the order for his prosecution under Section 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, be not passed and as to why he be not ordered to be arrested and detained in civil prison and as to why appropriate environmental compensation be not imposed on him or the Municipal Corporation for environmental damages caused due to encroachment on green belts and also failure to take prompt action for remediation of the same. Er Kapil Arora and Er Vikas Arora said they had filed a case against encroachment The next hearing in the case is scheduled for August 11 A scrapyard on the land of Leisure Valley at Sarabha Nagar in Ludhiana. over the land of Leisure Valley at Sarabha Nagar by the Municipal Corporation by construction of the Zone-D extension office as well as a scrapyard. Besides, encroachments over the green belt at the Model Town Extension were also taken up before the Bench. The Bench vide orders dated July 4, 2024, had directed the MC Commissioner for restitution of the green belts and submit a report. The case was accordingly disposed of. However, the MC Commissioner allegedly submitted an incomplete report by demolishing buildings partially. Taking cognisance of the case, the Bench reopened the case. On January 13, 2025, the Tribunal observed that the non-compliance with the order passed by the Tribunal was an offence punishable under Section 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, and the order passed by the Tribunal was executable as a civil court decree under Section 25 of the NGT Act in accordance with provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, by coercive methods, including arrest and detention of the judgment debtor in civil prison. However, despite such strict warning, the civic body chief failed to comply with the orders, resulting in major damages to the environment. “Keeping in view the same, we moved one contempt petition against such act of the Municipal Commissioner and after hearing the plea, the court directed the orders,” Arora said. “The MC Commissioner is directed to appear before the Tribunal physically on the next date of hearing to show cause as to why order for his prosecution under Section 26 of the NGT Act be not passed and as to why he be not ordered to be arrested and detained in civil prison and as to why appropriate environmental compensation be not imposed on him or the MC for environmental damages caused due to encroachment on green belts and also failure to take prompt action for remediation of the same. The MC chief is also directed to take further action for due compliance of the order passed by the Tribunal and file further action-taken report within 15 days,” the court said. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for August 11. DNA tests of 6 children, adults conducted at Civil Hospital Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 23 After a committee was formed by the district administration to ensure seamless execution of the DNA testing, the District Child Protection officer (DCPO) accompanied by health and police officials conducted the DNA testing of six children at the Civil Hospital here. On July 21, the district child protection team had to face embarassment as the Health Department had refused to conduct the DNA testing, citing lack of documentation. Following the development, on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain established a committee to ensure seamless execution of the DNA testing. The committee comprises the DCPO, representatives from the Commissioner of Police and the Civil Surgeon, tasked with overseeing the testing process under the Project Jeevanjot 2.0 to combat child trafficking and exploitation. Talking to The Tribune, DCPO Rashmi Saini said wards of six children had come to claim their kids but failed to produce any documents such as Aadhaar card and birth certificates. They were brought to the Civil Hospital for the DNA testing. An official takes kids for DNA test to Civil Hospital. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Of 18 children, parents of only one child took custody after submitting documents Samples were taken by a team of doctors. “Till the DNA report of these children is pending, they will continue to stay at Heavenly Palace, an old-age home, in Doraha and their mothers can also stay with them. Children will be allowed to leave the old-age home only when their DNA samples would confirm their biological relations. Even the other children whose parents had not come to claim them have been putting up at this place only,” the DCPO said. She said of the 18 chil- dren rescued, who were found begging on city roads, parents of only one child proved their biological relationship by showing the Aadhaar card and birth certificate. Parents of the remaining 11 children have failed to come to claim them due to which the latter are also kept at the old-age home. One of the child during a counselling session claimed that his parents stay in Muktsar and he had been staying with his maternal grandmother in Ludhiana. The district child protection unit, here, contacted the DCPO, Muktsar, to trace his parents. Sources said reports of DNA samples take over a month to arrive from the forensic science laboratory. Suspecting affair with wife, Inauguration of Halwara airport postponed man murders neighbour Mahesh Sharma Sahnewal, July 23 A 30-year-old married man was stabbed to death by his neighbour at Makkar Colony in Giaspura on Tuesday night. The accused suspected that his neighbour had extramarital relation with his wife. The suspect, along with his fanily, is reported to be missing after the crime. The Sahnewal police have launched a search operation to nab the suspect. The deceased has been identified as 30-year-old Nandlal, a resident of the colony. His neighbour Shiv Sagar suspected that Nandlal was having an illicit affair with his wife, due to which he attacked him with a sharp weapon on his neck and face in a fit of rage. Nandlal was working at a tyre factory. He was sleeping in his room when the suspect entered it and attacked him. Another neighbour entered Nandlal’s room and saw his body lying in a pool of blood. The landlord, Jaspal, of the victim informed the police about the murder. The police reached the scene and began a probe. Meanwhile, the body of the victim has been kept in the morgue of the Civil Hospital. AS per sources, before the suspect committed the crime, there was a quarrel between him and his wife. A case has been registered. — OC Raikot, July 23 The much awaited inauguration of the Halwara international airport, which was scheduled to take place on July 27, has been postponed. No reason has been cited for the postponement. Officials at the airport said the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had begun preparations for a virtual inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the same have now been put on hold. The international airport at Halwara in Ludhiana. FILE Though no reason has been provided, sources suggest that the preoccupied schedule of the Prime Minister in the Bihar election campaign could be one of the factors responsible for the postponement. Fatehgarh Sahib MP Amar Singh Boparai, who is also the chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee for Halwara and Sahnewal airports, said the Civil Aviation Ministry of the Union Government was yet to give a formal consent and approval for the inauguration of the Halwara airport. “I have discussed issues related with completion of works at the airport and its inauguration with the Civil Aviation Minister, who informed me that no decision had been taken so far to inaugurate the airport,” said Boparai, maintaining that as per the protocol, he would be taken in loop before finalising any date for the inauguration by the Prime Minister. Punjab Industries and NRI Affairs Minister Sanjeev Arora had earlier made a formal announcement regarding the virtual inauguration of the airport by the PM on July 27. When asked about any communication received from the Centre, Jain said all arrangements and preparations were made as per instructions received through the CEO at the airport. Crisis in care: A visit to Civil Hospital reveals grim situation Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 23 Visiting a hospital is synonymous with hope. Hope to meet a doctor, voice one’s ailment and begin the journey towards healing. But a visit to the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, tends to erode such optimism. Here, the ‘messiah of hope’, the doctor, is often unavailable, either burdened due to a long patient queue or administrative responsibilities. Along with the OPD, doctors here are also taking care of admitted patients, conducting post-mortem examinations, performing medical board tasks and attending VVIP duties, besides other work. For the city’s nearly 20 lakh residents, this government hospital located in the heart of the old city remains their primary resource of affordable healthcare. Once a 100-bed facility, the hospital has been upgraded to 300 beds, but the expansion has not been matched by a proportional increase in number of doctors. The OPD handles approximately 800 patients daily, yet three posts for medicine specialist remain vacant. Shortage of doctors, insanitary conditions leave patients at receiving end Dr Amanpreet Kaur, who was once managing the entire medicine OPD single-handedly, is no longer available following her promotion earlier this year. In her absence, two doctors from outstations visit on alternate days to fill the gap. For patients like Gurpreet Kaur from Shimlapuri, the void is personal. “I was taking medicine from Dr Amanpreet for the past two years. Now she’s not available,” she said. Meanwhile, a senior citizen, Harbir Kaur, was visibly disappointed on finding the ENT specialist’s chamber closed. A note affixed to the door read: “Doctor will not be available on Monday and Thursday due to operations.” Still hopeful, she opened the door only to be met with emptiness. “I will return on some other day,” she said quietly. Doctor was not available in the orthopaedic OPD, reason, on Tuesday he is busy in surgery and there is no other doctor to attend the OPD. Long Clockwise from top: Garbage lies unattended on Civil Hospital premises; drinking water area in a pathetic state; a notice displayed outside the closed ENT OPD stating ENT specialist is not available on Monday and Thursday; and OPD patients face inconvenience in the absence of the orthopedician, who was on surgery duty. INDERJEET VERMA queue slowly diminished into corridors, a visual testimony to public trust in the government healthcare system. But that trust is tested daily due to shortages. Earlier, 20-25 surgeries were performed in the hospital every month but now, the number has decreased as sur- geons are called on deputation on a monthly basis as the post of surgeon is also lying vacant. “I hurt my leg badly after falling due to a slippery area after rain and came to the hospital but the doctor is not available today and I have been asked to come again tomor- c m y b row,” said Bhushan, a patient outside the Ortho OPD. In the Skin, Dental and ENT departments too, there is only one specialist each. Whenever the doctor is on another duty or on leave, patients have to bear the brunt. In the absence of forensic expert, specialists from Surgery, Orthopaedics, ENT, Skin, Ophthalmology and Microbiology, have been forced to step in for post-mortem duties, often sacrificing their outpatient and departmental works. A hospital’s physical environment can either aid recovery or deepen distress and here, it veers towards the latter. Garbage is strewn openly across corners of the premises, with some areas reeking of urine due to open urination near entrances. With monsoon season on, one can see puddles of water everywhere on the hospital premises. The area for drink- ing water is there but it has no taps and is engulfed by filth. Though air conditioners are installed in various wards, they remain switched off. In peak humidity, the stifling air tainted with the smell of sweat and congestion makes it difficult to stand for long. Senior Medical Officer Harpreet Singh said: “We have been repeatedly writing to the higher authorities about the shortage of doctors but nothing has been done in this regard.” Between promises made and gaps unfilled, the Civil Hospital continues to operate under pressure where every patient’s visit is a test of patience and every delay a reminder of systemic neglect. What Health Minister says “We’ve made the ICU operational and are actively working to fill staffing gaps at the hospital,” said Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh. “To strengthen de-addiction services across the state, we’ve announced the inclusion of private psychiatrists in government-run centres — a move aimed at easing patient burden and improving care for those struggling with substance abuse. Efforts are going on and new recruitments will be made,” he said.