22022026-JTR-01.qxd 2/21/2026 10:38 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CONTESTS MARK INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY The International Mother Language Day was celebrated on various college campuses in Jalandhar. P2 » BJP YUVA MORCHA BURNS RAHUL’S EFFIGY FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 25°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 9°C VIOLA DAVIS VENTURES INTO FANTASY BJP Yuva Morcha burnt an effigy of Rahul Gandhi outside the Congress office to protest against the party.P3 SUNSET SUNDAY 6.20 PM Oscar-winning actor to produce Afro-fantasy graphic novel The Untamed film adaptation. P4 » SUNRISE MONDAY 7.01 AM » SUNDAY | 22 FEBRUARY 2026 | JALANDHAR Green tribunal tells PPCB to inspect composting centre Action taken report sought in three months by national body Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 21 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to conduct an inspection at a composting centre at Nangal Shama and submit a report regarding the same within three months. The NGT order is in response to a complaint by a housing welfare society next to the aforesaid composting site, stating that the Municipal Corporation of Jalanhdar had set up the composting centre adjacent to their residential area on a land reserved for the purpose of a school. Residents have also alleged violations regarding the waste being managed at the site. The NGT directions come days after its directions to key state bodies — Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change; Municipal Corporation of Jalandhar; Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and Local Bodies Department — over the dumping of unsegregated legacy waste at another waste site in Jalandhar, the Wariana dump. At its hearing on the issue Garbage lying on a road in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO of the composting centre at Nangal Shama, the NGT directed the PPCB to conduct a fresh inspection at the site; to ascertain the source and volume of composting material brought to the site; to check if the volume exceeds 5 metric tonnes; to ascertain if any existing siting criteria is being violated at the site and to take remedial and punitive action if violations are found. The NGT, in its February 4 order, has also sought an action taken report by the PPCB within three months. Notably, in its original complaint to the NGT on the issue, the Resident Welfare Society, Hansmukhi King Garden, Nangal Shama Chowk, Jalandhar, had alleged the violation of Rule 11 (1)(g) of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and also violation of Clause-A, Entry (viii) of Schedule-I of the SWM Rules, 2016. What is Rule 11 of SWM rules? As per the Rule 11 (1)(g) of the SWM Rules, 2016, the Town Planning Department of the state and local bodies are to ensure that a separate space for segregation, storage, decentralised processing of solid waste is demarcated in the development plan for group housing or similar commercial complexes, exceeding 200 dwellings. Rule 15 of the SWM Treat for eyes rules mandates local bodies to promote decentralised composting and ensure segregation of waste at source. In its response to the complaint, the MC Jalandhar argued that Schedule I of the SWM Rules, 2016, applies only to sanitary landfills, not composting facilities. It was also stated that the facility’s capacity is under 5 metric tonnes per day, which does not require environmental clearance or a no objection certificate (NOC) from the PPCB. The PPCB also submitted that the composting centre had constructed about 15 honeycomb compost pits for organic waste treatment and no NOC was required. City’s waste mgmt track record The district has traditionally had a very poor performance in carrying out composting. Thousands of tonnes of unsegragated waste piles up at the largest dump site in Jalandhar — Wariana. Successive plans to segregate wastes or carry out composting have been nonstarters. Currently too, all localities of the city continue disposing wastes without any separation of compostable or biodegradable wastes. Project inaugurated to reconstruct Palahi road Three arrested in NDPS crackdown Our Correspondent Phagwara, February 21 In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the police registered separate cases under Sections 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and arrested three accused in two major operations, seizing commercial quantities of heroin, a vehicle used in transportation and a large number of intoxicant tablets. In the first operation, a police team, led by ASI Sarwan Singh (No. 142/Jalandhar) of the Shahkot police station, conducted a naka on the national highway near Thammuwal village. During checking, the police intercepted a white Swift Dzire car, bearing registration number PB33-E-3651. Upon search of the vehicle, which was occupied by Baljit Singh ,alias Baljeeta, a resident of Beetla village, near Mehatpur, and Lovepreet Singh, alias Samar, a resident of Jodha Bhaini village, near Fazilka, the police seized 102 gm of heroin from Baljit Singh and 101 gm of heroin from Lovepreet Singh. A total of 203 gm of heroin was seized from their possession. The contraband, along with the vehicle, was taken into possession and both accused were arrested on the spot. A case was registered 203 gm heroin, car, 190 intoxicating tablets seized under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, and further investigation has been initiated to trace the backward and forward linkages of the narcotics supply chain. In another operation under Sections 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act, Bhulath police arrested one accused and seized 190 whitecoloured intoxicating tablets from his possession. The police party was on patrol in connection with checking suspicious persons while proceeding from Bhogpur towards Sadda Chak. When the team reached near Sadda Chak Adda, it noticed a young man approaching from the opposite side. On spotting the police, he allegedly threw a black polythene packet on the roadside and attempted to turn back. Acting swiftly, the police apprehended the suspect with the assistance of accompanying officials. During the search of the discarded packet, 190 loose white intoxicant tablets were seized. The accused was identified as Gaurav Gill, alias Guri, a resident of Bhulath, Kapurthala district. Two held with heroin, intoxicating tablets Our Correspondent Phagwara, February 21 The Kapurthala police achieved success in two separate anti-narcotics operations conducted during routine patrols. Cops arrested two persons and seized heroin and intoxicating tablets from them. Separate cases were registered against them. In the first incident, cops were patrolling duty near Gurdwara Sant Sar T-Point near Subhanpur. During the patrol, the team noticed a young man approaching from the front. On spotting the police party, he became nervous and threw a packet from the pocket of his trousers before attempting to walk away. In another operation, cops arrested Sarabjit, alias Sabi. Apeejay Schools E DU CAT IO N JALANDHAR | CBSE Affiliated Mahavir Marg | Model Town | Rama Mandi | Tanda Road Our Correspondent A farmer cycles across golden mustard fields glistening in sunlight at a village near Jalandhar. MALKIAT SINGH Adulteration, poor sanitation assault on public health: Activist Our Correspondent Phagwara, February 21 Raising serious concerns over the growing menace of food adulteration and unhygienic conditions in Punjab, the Human Rights Council (India) district president Ashu Markanda has termed the issue not merely a public health challenge but a grave violation of fundamental human rights. Expressing alarm over the declining trend of dairy farming and increasing indifference toward the dairy sector, Markanda pointed out that while the demand for milk and milk-based products such as curd, khoa, butter and desi ghee continues to rise, there appears to be little concrete effort at the ground level to strengthen quality control or support genuine producers. He criticised what he described as “seasonal activism” by the authorities. Phagwara, February 21 Member of Parliament Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal has kicked off the project to reconstruct the Palahi road, a crucial stretch linking Phagwara with the historic village of Palahi and nearly 25 surrounding villages. Addressing residents and local leaders at the site on Friday, Chabbewal described the project as a major step toward strengthening infrastructure and easing daily commuting hardships faced by thousands of villagers. The road has been in a poor state for nearly 12 years, with commuters struggling through its potholes and damaged surface. The MP assured the gathering that upon the completion of the Palahi road project, work on the Banga road would be initiated. He stated that the executing company would be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the road for the next five years. Canal breach damages wheat crop Our Correspondent Talwara(Hoshiarpur), Feb 21 Heavy losses were reported this morning after a canal breach near Changarwan village, close to Talwara, caused extensive damage to fields. The canal water flooded agricultural land, destroying wheat crop that farmers had nurtured for months. Changarwan village sarpanch Rajinder Kaur and lambardar Deepak Kumar stated that nearly 5–6 acres of wheat crop had been completely destroyed due to the breach. Waterlogging in several nearby fields had also raised fears of The breach in the canal near Changarwan village which caused loss to several acres of wheat crop. significant additional losses. The affected farmers said the department concerned was informed immediately after the canal broke, but no official reached the spot for several hours. Farmers alleged that the canal had breached at the same spot over the past two years. Despite repeated requests to the department to strengthen and properly repair the weak portion, no lasting action was taken, resulting in the same situation once again. On the occasion, village Numberdar Deepak Kumar Singh and former zila parishad member Sumit Dadwal expressed sympathy with the affected farmers. They demanded that the administration should immediately reinforce the weak sections of the canal to prevent such incidents. They also urged the authorities to conduct a girdawari (official crop damage assessment) without delay and provide adequate compensation to the farmers for their losses. c m y b Soaring High is my Nature ADMISSIONS OPEN 2026-27 PRE-NURSERY to IX & XI KEY HIGHLIGHTS Apeejay Schools, Jalandhar  Excellent results in CBSE Exams and other reputed competitive exams like JEE/NEET/CLAT etc. Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg +91-9529795297, 0181-2458546, 2453608 www.apeejay.edu/jalandhar  Value-based education ingrained in curriculum  State-of-the-art Infrastructure  Research-based thematic learning for holistic development  Focus on experiential and competency-based learning Apeejay School, Model Town +91-8872020079, 0181-2271743 www.apeejay.edu/modeltown Apeejay Rhythms Kinderworld, Model Town +91-8872020088 www.apeejay.edu/modeltown Apeejay School, Rama Mandi +91-8872020402, 0181-2410253 www.apeejay.edu/hoshiarpur  Several attractive scholarships available Apeejay School, Tanda Road +91-8872020096, 0181-2297805 www.apeejay.edu/tandaroad  Safe and secure campus Feeder School (after Class VIII) Mahavir Marg/Model Town For more information, please contact the relevant Apeejay School Follow Us On: