12102025-ATR-01.qxd 10/11/2025 11:10 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 18°C PULSE POLIO AWARENESS RALLY ORGANIZED IN CITY FARMER REAPS REWARDS BY MIXING CROP RESIDUE INTO SOIL BOLLYWOOD STAR AMITABH BACHCHAN TURNS 83 The Health Department organised a district-level Pulse Polio awareness rally in Amritsar on Saturday. P2 Sahari village farmer Palwinder Singh has set an inspiring example by not burning crop residue for the last eight years. P2 A look at some of the finest performances by the timeless legend who redefined Indian cinema. P4 » » SUNSET SUNDAY 6.01 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6.31 AM » SUNDAY | 12 OCTOBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Despite rains, city struggles with unhealthy air quality levels Amritsar’s AQI stands at an unhealthy 150 ahead of this year’s Diwali celebrations Neha Saini Tribune News Service Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar hands over a cellphone to its owner in Amritsar. Police return 153 recovered mobile phones to owners Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 11 The Amritsar Commissionerate Police traced 153 lost mobile phones from Punjab, UP Haryana, Rajasthan and , Delhi areas during a concerted drive and returned them to their rightful owners here on Saturday. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the mobile phones were recovered through coordinated efforts of Cyber Cell and Sub-Division teams. He urged people to immediately report lost devices to prevent their misuse. During the operation, the police also seized 117 stolen vehicles, including two luxury cars, 92 motorcycles and 23 scooters. “The commissionerate police, through its Cyber Cell and Sub-Division East, West, North, and Central teams, successfully traced these mobile phones. The phones were reported missing from various districts in Punjab as well as from other states and have now been handed back to their owners,” he said. These were traced following reports lodged by citizens at local police stations and Saan- jh centres, utilizing technical methods and a centralized portal maintained by the Ministry of Communications called the Central Equipment Identity Register, which aids in tracking lost mobile phones, the Police Commissioner said. As far as the recovery of vehicles is concerned, he said the police recovered 117 stolen vehicles, including two luxury cars, 92 motorcycles, and 23 scooters. Those whose mobile phones were recovered expressed their gratitude and praised the police for their diligent efforts. Amritsar, October 11 It’s that time of the year and ‘Sifti Da Ghar” turns into a gas chamber during the Diwali season, going by the air quality data for previous three years. Days ahead of this year’s Diwali festivities, the average AQI recorded for Amritsar today was 150, Unhealthy level with realtime air pollution PM2.5 (89μg/m³), PM10 (119μg/m³). With the air quality index (AQI) breaching 369 mark last year a day after Diwali, making us the most polluted city in Punjab, will this year be any different? We spoke to Dr Manpreet Bhatti, who specialises in environmental engineering, water and wastewater treatment, ambient air quality and is a part of Guru Nanak Dev University’s project on monitoring ambient air quality in the city. Dr Bhatti has been consistently working to monitor air quality in Amritsar, factors affecting it and its consequences. “We often have only been focused on paddy straw burning as a cause for air pollution during this season. But this year, the factors might be dif- Last year, data from the Central Pollution Control Board shows that throughout October, the AQI recorded in the city was between 200 and 300, falling into the "very poor" category. ferent. Due to increased rainfall and the latest rains that city witnessed on October 7, the paddy straw in most fields is wet and you cannot burn wet paddy. This highlights how the air quality deterioration being caused currently might not be due to stubble burning but due to isolated and unchecked burning of garbage. This is a grievous issue that goes unchecked largely as we conveniently look the other way,” said Dr Bhatti. He is not wrong. Open and unchecked burning of garbage continues in isolated pockets at Gumtala Road, GT Road near Putlighar and even in posh colonies of Ranjit Avenue. Last year, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that throughout October, the AQI in city recorded between 200 and 300, falling into the “very poor” category. The problem is worsened by temperature inversion during winter months, which traps pollutants near the ground, and a general lack of waste 3 aides of gangster Health Dept cracks down on unsafe food Satta Naushehra held amid festival season; 7 samples sent to lab Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 11 The Tarn Taran police have arrested three associates of foreign-based gangster Satta Naushehra and recovered illegal firearms and a motorcycle from their possession. They were identified as Harpreeet Singh, alias Preet, a resident of Waring Mohanpur village; Mahakpreet Singh, alias Malhotra, of Kulla village, at present residing at Jatta village; and Anmol Singh, alias Mola, of Seron village. During the operation, the police recovered two .30 bore pistols with four live cartridges, one .32 bore pistol with two live cartridges and a motorcycle without a registration number from the accused. Ravjot Kaur Grewal, SSP , Tarn Taran, said acting on technical and human intelligence, Inspector Prabhjit Singh, in-charge of CIA staff, Tarn Taran, received a tip-off that the accused were active members of the Satta Naushehra gang and were extorting money from innocent people on his behalf. Acting swiftly, the police set up a checkpoint near Seron village and arrested the accused while they were travelling on a bike. The SSP said during questioning, the accused confessed to their involvement in extortion activities and revealed links with the Naushehra gang. Preliminary investigation showed that they have been involved in several criminal cases in the past. The main accused, Harpreeet Singh, alias Preet, already faces two previous cases, including of attempt to murder and under the Arms Act, registered against him at the Sarhali police station here. The police have obtained remand of the accused for further interrogation, expecting more disclosures and recoveries in the coming days. The investigation is underway, the SSP said. A fresh case under Sections 111, IPC, and Sections 25, 25(6), 25(7), 25(8), 54 and 59, Arms Act, has been registered. Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 11 With the festive season approaching, the district health department has intensified its efforts to ensure food safety and hygiene at eateries and sweet shops across the district. Teams from the Food Wing are conducting surprise inspections to check food quality and cleanliness, particularly at establishments where snacks and sweets are prepared in large quantities for public consumption. As part of this campaign, the department has issued notices to two pakora shops near Pul Podian for poor hygiene and the repeated use of the same oil for frying. The action followed public complaints about unhygienic practices at these long-running shops. A team led by Assistant Food Commissioner Rajinderpal Singh and Food Safety Officer Rajni Rani collected two oil samples from the shops and found multiple management and environmental responsibility. Uncontrolled burning of solid waste (household trash, plastic bags, dry leaves, grass, mixed refuse) in open spaces: vacant plots, roadsides, dump yards, public bins etc., not using any waste-incineration facility. This releases smoke, particulate matter, toxic gases (especially from plastic), etc. Despite Municipal Corporation setting up “Rapid Response Teams” in Amritsar to clear garbage from Air quality mgmt panel member visits dist villages Tribune News Service Officials of the Health Department collect samples of food items at a shop in Amritsar on Saturday. violations. Pakoras were being prepared in unclean surroundings, with dirt and flies near the frying area. Workers were not wearing aprons, gloves, or caps, and the fried items were left uncovered, officials reported. “The shops have been directed to clean their premises within a week. If they fail to comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act, they will face sealing and strict legal action,” said Rajinderpal Singh. The department also conducted raids in Nwa Pind, Tarsikka, and Khalchian, where five varieties of sweets—Khoya, Khoya Barfi, Patisha, and two types of Vark Wali Barfi—were sampled. In total, seven food samples were collected and have been sent to the laboratory for testing. Singh stated that the department’s primary goal is to ensure that food sold during the festive season is safe and properly labeled. “Sweet shop owners must display manufacturing and expiry dates on all products. Selling expired or undated sweets is a serious violation and poses a public health risk,” he added. main roads and public places more quickly, the issue at hand is far from being resolved. Even with the recent rain washout, the air quality degradation is detrimental that traffic pollution, caused due to dysfunctional traffic lights at choke points and open burning of garbage are not being addressed as they should be. According to official records, approximately 9000 registered diesel auto rickshaws ply on city roads, but various studies by environment experts put the unregistered autos count to around 25,000. While there is no proving the unofficial numbers, there is no denying the fact that increasing vehicular pollution in city is a major contributor to air pollution, especially in winters. “With the high amount of rainfall, ideally and practically the air quality in city should be averaging between 50 and 80. During night, the AQI decreases, but that the time when garbage burning happens at most isolated places. So, in morning, the AQI again is recorded higher. It’s a vicious cycle,” said Dr Bhatti. Amritsar, October 11 A team of officials of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) visited different areas here on Saturday to review pollution caused by paddy stubble burning. As part of this initiative, CAQM observer Dr Yashpal Yadav and officials from the Punjab Pollution Control Board visited Raiya and Nijjar villages in Baba Bakala block. During the visit, Dr Yadav interacted with local farmers and baler operators to understand the challenges they face in managing crop residue. He also discussed better methods of stubble management to prevent stubble burning and reduce air pollution. Dr Rashpal Singh, Block Agriculture Officer, Baba Bakala Sahib, briefed the team about the various awareness activities and initiatives being undertaken by the district administration and the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department to discourage farmers from burning paddy stubble. The team was shown how balers were being used in the fields for efficient stubble collection and management. The CAQM observer expressed satisfaction over the proper functioning of agricultural machinery at Custom Hiring Centres and the effective use of subsidised machines for stubble management in the block. Agriculture officials, including AEOs Prabhjot Singh (Wadala Kalan), Satwant Kaur (Khalchian), Tanvir Singh, Tarsem Singh, Baldev Singh and Manbir Singh were present during the visit. Car dealer accused MTP Dept acts against unauthorised hotels in Central Zone of rape, blackmail Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 11 A woman jail inmate has accused a car dealer of allegedly blackmailing and sexually exploiting her and later lodging a fabricated case against her when she refused to give in to his illegitimate demands. She has shot off a letter to the Police Commissioner with copies to the Chief Minister and DGP Punjab, seeking their intervention and impartial probe into this. RK Bhardwaj, her lawyer, said that the victim would also approach the court for justice in case the police authorities failed to initiate an impartial probe by a woman IPS officer. Notably, she along with four other employees of the agency, was booked by the police for fraud, forgery and criminal conspiracy on the complaint of the car agency owner. Amritsar, October 11 In a crackdown against unauthorised constructions, the Municipal Town Planning (MTP) Department of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation sealed eight hotels that were being built without the approved building maps. The action was taken on the directions of MC Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill. The sealing drive was conducted under the supervision of Municipal Town Planner Narinder Sharma, with Assis- Officials of the MTP Department seal a hotel in Amritsar. tant Town Planners (ATPs) Parminderjit Singh and Manjeet Singh, Building Inspec- c m y b tors Navjot Kaur and Vikas Gautam, along with field staff. The operation covered areas of the Central Zone, including Ghee Mandi, Shera Wala Gate, Bakarwana Bazaar, and the vicinity of the old Improvement Trust office. MTP Narinder Sharma stated that the campaign against illegal constructions will continue without interruption. “No one will be allowed to raise buildings without approved plans. If anyone is found breaking seals and resuming construction work, a police case will be registered against them,” he said. However, social activist pointed out that this issue is not new. Hundreds of illegal hotels have mushroomed in the walled city over the past decade, allegedly with the connivance of some officials. Such structures often bypass safety norms and civic regulations, posing serious risks to public safety. The MTP Department usually conducts occasional drives, sealing a few underconstruction properties. But hotel owners often break the seals and complete their buildings, while officials issue warnings and paperwork con- tinues without concrete results. Despite repeated actions and public complaints, no exemplary punishment or demolition has taken place in the past ten years. Civic activists argue that without strict follow-up and accountability, such drives will remain eyewash. The recent action has once again brought attention to the growing menace of unregulated hotels in the city’s old quarters, raising questions about consistent enforcement and transparency within the municipal system.