22032026-ATR-01.qxd 3/21/2026 10:58 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 25°C | MIN 13°C YESTERDAY MAX 20°C | MIN 14°C TRAINING ORGANISED FOR STREET FOOD VENDORS OUTSKIRTS PAY THE PRICE AS WASTE COLLECTION TARDY RANVEER’S UNDERWATER STUNT STEALS SPOTLIGHT FSSAI and the MC held a joint awareness programme to improve hygiene and food safety. P2 Outer areas of the city grapple with mounting garbage piles and poor waste management. P3 A behind-the-scenes video of Ranveer Singh from Dhurandhar 2 has drawn praise for his physical endurance. P4 » » » SUNSET SUNDAY 6.33 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6.25 AM SUNDAY | 22 MARCH 2026 | AMRITSAR HURRY!! Few Plots Left GT ROAD, AMRITSAR Happy Navratri PBRERA-ASR02-PR0239 Booking with BUILDWELL LTD. Discount Regd. Office: 118 UFF, Prakash Deep, 7 Tolstoy Marg, New Delhi-110001 E-mail: sales@ansalabl.com Site Office: Ansal City, G.T. Road, Amritsar (Punjab)-1433115 5 to 10 Lacs # 9779291487, 7428306002, 8198000668 "SITE SALES OFFICE ALSO OPEN ON SUNDAY" ! Y" Upper Bari Doab Canal stretch to be developed as leisure destination Vallah Bridge-Taranwala Pul belt to turn into modern public space Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 21 To boost urban recreation and tourism, the Punjab government has initiated a project to develop a stretch of the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) from Vallah Bridge to Taranwala Pul as a comprehensive leisure destination. The initiative aims to transform the canal belt into a modern public space equipped with multiple recreational facilities. The Irrigation Department has awarded the contract for the project to a private firm, Lake Water Spot Company, which has already begun work at the site. Officials said the development is progressing at a steady pace and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. As part of the project, residents will soon be able to enjoy boating in the canal, with the facility likely to be opened to the public next month. Special ramps are being constructed along the canal to ensure smooth boarding and deboarding for visitors. The boating stretch will span approximately two kilometres, from Taranwala Pul to Vallah Bridge, offering a scenic experience for both residents and tourists. Apart from boating, the canal front is being developed into a multi-activity zone. Plans include dedicated walking tracks, jet skiing, water scooters and a specially designed duck area to enhance the overall appeal of the site. The authorities believe that these additions will make the location a key recreational hub in the city. To address concerns related to cleanliness and environmental protection, an iron mesh fencing is being installed along both sides of the canal to pre- vent littering. Officials stated that strict measures are being taken to maintain hygiene and ensure that waste is not dumped into the water. In addition, food courts will be established at designated locations along the stretch, offering hygienic food options to visitors. The government expects that the project will not only provide a new leisure space for families but also contribute to promoting tourism in the region. A boat meant for excursion at UBDC in Amritsar on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR >> Eid Mubarak BSF constable dies in NCB custody, drug link probe on On Thursday afternoon, an NCB team was taking the accused from Jammu to Tarn Taran for recovery of the contraband. However, near Verka in Amritsar, Jaswinder's health reportedly deteriorated. He was immediately admitted to a private hospital, where he died during treatment on Friday morning. An NCB official stated that the post-mortem examination has been conducted and the body handed over to the family. The deceased's mother, Gurmeet Kaur, a resident of Jammu, said that her son was serving as a constable in the BSF and was currently posted in Tripura. His wife, Lovjeet Kaur, and their fouryear-old son reside with the family in the village. She alleged that Jaswinder had come home on leave around one-anda-half months ago. On the morning of March 3, while returning home after taking her to a hospital for treatment, he was intercepted and arrested by the NCB team. The family claimed that they were informed about his death only on Friday morning when he was already admitted to a hospital in Amritsar. A team of doctors conducted the post-mortem on Saturday under the supervision of a judicial magistrate. NCB officials maintained that investigations had revealed Jaswinder Singh's alleged links with major drug traffickers based in Pakistan. They further claimed that he had concealed narcotics in the Patti area, prompting the recovery operation during which his health condition worsened. Meanwhile, investigations have also revealed that the deceased's brother, Bhupinder Singh, is currently lodged in a Jammu jail and had been dismissed from the BSF over criminal activities. He is facing multiple cases related to drug trafficking, including three cases registered by the State Special Operations Cell in 2017, one by Jalandhar Police, and another by the Jammu unit of NCB in 2024. Mazdoor sabha seeks hike in social security pension Minister Bhullar not new to controversies Jakhar meets DM’s wife, family Our Correspondent Amritsar, March 21 Laljit Singh Bhullar is a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) who began his political journey with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He was considered close to senior Akali leader Adesh Partap Singh Kairon and remained associated with him until around 2015. During this period, Bhullar also served as president of the Patti Grain Market Arhtiya Union, strengthening his base among traders and farmers. The 2015 sacrilege incidents marked a turning point in his political career. Influenced by the speeches of Congress leader Harminder Singh Gill, he distanced himself from the Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Children from the Muslim community arrive to offer prayers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr at Masjid Khairuddin in Amritsar. REPORT ON PAGE 2 The festival was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety. PTI Tarn Taran, March 21 The district committee of the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha held a meeting at the Gandhi Municipal Park here on Saturday under the leadership of district president Jasbir Singh Vairowal. Workers from various villages participated in the meeting. State secretary Gurnam Singh Daud, district secretary Chaman Lal Darajke and state committee member Baldev Singh Bhail addressed the gathering, strongly condemning the government’s “attitude” towards rural workers. They said old age, widow, and disability pensions were not being provided in villages on time. Workers of the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha at the meeting held at Gandhi Municipal Park in Tarn Taran on Saturday. GURBAXPURI They demanded that, as per the promise made by the government, the amount of social security pension be increased to Rs 5,000 per month, and the age limit be set as 55 years for women, and 58 years for men. The leaders demanded that, besides giving women Rs 1 thousand every month, Rs 48,000 — for the last four years — should be credited into their accounts. Manmeet Singh Gill & Gurbaxpuri c m y b Amritsar, March 21 A Border Security Force (BSF) constable, Jaswinder Singh, died under suspicious circumstances while in custody of the Jammu unit of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Friday, raising serious questions over the circumstances leading to his death. According to officials, Jaswinder Singh was arrested on March 3 on allegations of having links with Pakistan-based drug smugglers. The NCB claimed that during interrogation, inputs were received about narcotics allegedly hidden in the Patti area of Tarn Taran district. Akali Dal. After a brief return to the party during 2017-18, he eventually shifted his allegiance. In 2019, Bhullar joined the AAP He quickly rose within . the party ranks, becoming a constituency in-charge and later winning the Patti seat in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. Following AAP's victory, he was inducted as a Cabinet minister in the Punjab government. Bhullar's tenure has seen both political growth and controversy. The suicide of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation official, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa has once again brought him into the centre of a major controversy, leading to his resignation. Randhawa allegedly consumed a poisonous substance, and his death has triggered political ripples across Punjab, with Opposition leaders demanding a thorough probe. The incident is being seen as one that could significantly impact the local political landscape. Bhullar, who represents the Patti constituency, has remained embroiled in controversies since the early days of his ministerial tenure. Soon after taking oath, he drew criticism for an unusual public display during a celebratory procession. Over time, his name has surfaced in various allegations, including links with controversial elements and disputes over local governance. His political career is also marked by allegations during local bodies and panchayat elections, where Opposition leaders accused him of influencing out- comes, including instances of candidates being elected unopposed in certain panchayat and Block Samiti areas. Critics had also alleged that rival candidates were prevented from filing nomination papers, claims that have remained contentious. Former Patti MLA Harminder Singh Gill, who has called for an impartial judicial inquiry into Randhawa's death, alleged that Bhullar had been putting pressure on the district manager to award mandi loading contracts to a preferred individual. According to him, Randhawa resisted this pressure, and the situation escalated. Bhullar has also faced previous allegations, including a case related to the alleged grabbing of land belonging to an NRI woman. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 21 State BJP president Sunil Jakhar today visited the family of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, District Manager (DM) of Punjab Warehousing Corporation, who allegedly died by suicide here today. He expressed condolences and assured all possible support. Later, speaking to media, Jakhar said that the BJP will fight at every level to ensure justice for the victim's family. He stated that earlier, people in Punjab were losing their lives due to their inability to pay extortion money and were facing gangster rule, but now, even government officials are being forced to take their own lives due to their inability to meet the alleged demands of ministers. Continued on page 2