24062026-LT-01.qxd 6/23/2026 10:26 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune WATER SUPPLY PROJECT MEN GET TRAINING IN DISASTER MGMT NO FARM FIRES IN 6 YEARS AS KHANNA FARMER LEADS THE WAY SHARVARI EXPRESSES GRATITUDE FOR MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA The NDRF conducted a training and awareness camp for workers of the surface water supply project. P2 Led by Amandeep Singh Mangat, no farm fires have been reported at Jatana village in Khanna block in six years. P3 She pours out her emotions after the overwhelming response to the film, which has struck a chord with the audience. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY, RAIN MAX 39°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.33 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:24 AM WEDNESDAY | 24 JUNE 2026 | LUDHIANA Ludhiana among 12 selected in country With MLAArora still in jail, under ‘heat resilient city’ pilot project several AAP councillors Shivani Bhakoo SALIENT FEATURES Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 23 To mitigate the growing impact of heat wave in this part of the region, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) has chosen Ludhiana among 12 cities in the country for a pilot project. For this, the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, will get Rs 5 crore for the installation of cool and green roofs in residential and public buildings, setting up more hydration points and public toilets, upgrading of weather monitoring systems in the city, etc. At the same time, reacting over such projects, environmentalists maintain that these will serve little purpose as governments first allowed the green cover to be cut ruthlessly and then these kinds of projects are introduced. The Commissioner, municipal corporation, Ojasvi Alankar told The Tribune that the NIUS project aimed to cool down the ‘heat resilient cities’, which have significantly higher temperatures for particular reasons as compared to nearby rural areas. Under this project, ■ Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, Environmentalists maintain that such projects will serve little purpose. each of the chosen cities will get Rs 5 crore by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. “This will be implemented over a 15-month period and the primary objective of the project is to enable the city to become heat-resilient, climateresponsive through proper planning,” said Ojasvi. The MC chief further gave an example that in Zone D, which is the posh area of the city, there are a good number of green areas, which provide lungs to residents to breathe while in densely populated pockets in Zone B or A or other such areas, there is less green cover and more concrete. So basic stress will be to provide relief to that section of society too — it can be EWS or any other population, which cannot afford ACs. Ojasvi said that the initiative would play an important role in making the city more capable of dealing with the effects of climate change and improve the standard of living of citizens. “Through scientific changes and with modern technology and innovation, the impact of heat wave would be reduced. The urban heat stress in industrial cities like Ludhiana will be tackled to some extent,” he added. Under the prescribed framework, the Rs 5-crore grant will fund the installation of cool and green roofs, more shaded public areas, more public toilets, etc. Before initiating the projects, the MC is required to conduct a city-level baseline assessment of heat stress, the heat hot spot areas, etc. Aadhaar card misuse: Human rights panel sends notice to Civil Surgeon Asks him to appear before it with compliance report before August 14 will get ~5 crore for the installation of cool and green roofs in residential and public buildings. ■ More hydration points and public toilets to be set up, weather monitoring systems in the city to be upgraded. ■ The project aims to cool down ‘heat resilient cities’, which have significantly higher temperatures for particular reasons as compared to nearby rural areas. ■ To be implemented over a 15month period with the primary objective to enable the city to be climate-responsive through proper planning. Meanwhile, environmentalist and agricultural scientist Devinder Sharma said that it was good that Ludhiana had got the project. “How will these schemes benefit? First, we cut the green cover mercilessly and then come up with such projects to get respite. Why can’t governments think of preserving the trees and green cover, so that there was no need for such schemes? Will the green rooftops in a few pockets will serve the entire purpose in Ludhiana?” asked Sharma. eye Ludhiana (West) seat Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 23 With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections gradually approaching, political activity has begun to intensify across the state. In the district, the Ludhiana West constituency has emerged as a focal point, particularly among many Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and councillors aspiring to get the party ticket for a particular Assembly seat. The constituency has gained more political significance following the arrest of Cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), triggering speculation on potential contenders within the party. According to wellplaced sources in AAP, while the party high command has put in place a mechanism to assess the performance of leaders through independent feedback channels, sev- eral local councillors are actively positioning themselves as potential candidates for the Ludhiana West seat. “Many leaders feel the seat could become vacant and are trying their luck. Several councillors have been organising meetings and strengthening their presence in the constituency,” said a party leader. “What is surprising is that even some firsttime councillors have started nurturing hopes of contesting the Assembly elections.” Party insiders, however, maintain that the leadership in Chandigarh and Delhi is closely monitoring the performance of party functionaries. Observers are evaluating the implementation of government schemes, public outreach programmes and the contributions made by individual leaders at the grassroots level. “The party leadership is keeping a close watch on who has effectively worked for the organisation and delivered during publiccentric campaigns. Their performance and role in implementing various initiatives are being assessed,” the leader added. One AAP councillor, who was elected twice to the municipal corporation on a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ticket before winning again on an AAP ticket, admitted that he too aspires to contest the Assembly election. Reacting to the speculation, AAP Ludhiana (Urban) president Jatinder Khangura said political aspirations were natural in any party. “Every individual is entitled to wishful thinking. While we are conducting organisational meetings and outreach programmes in the Ludhiana West constituency, all AAP workers are eagerly awaiting Arora’s return and expect him to contest the next election,” said Khangura. Natt villager booked for killing Dharaur resident Our Correspondent Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 23 The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has taken serious note of the alleged misuse of an Aadhaar card for issuing de-addiction medicines in the name of a person from Beeja village in Khanna tehsil of Ludhiana district. It has directed the Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, to appear personally before it with a compliance report before the next date of hearing on August 14. Complainant Tarsem Bhardwaj had alleged that his Aadhaar card was misused by a drug de-addiction centre, which had issued 98 tablets of certain medicines in his name without his knowledge or consent. The entries were also made on the portal concerned. Bhardwaj came to know about the fraud only when he went for a dope test for obtaining an arms licence. He was shocked to learn that 98 de-addiction pills had been shown against his name in the records, despite him never having consumed any narcotic substances in his life. Speaking to The Tribune, Bhardwaj said he immediately approached the Punjab State Human Rights Commission with a complaint. The commission had earlier issued directions on January 9 and March 12 to the Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, and the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh, seeking a detailed action-taken report. However, no satisfactory action was taken, he alleged. Following a fresh application filed by Bhardwaj on April 10, the commission has now issued a fresh notice to the Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, directing him to appear in person before the next hearing and explain the action taken on the complaint. A copy of the notice has also been sent to the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab. Bhardwaj has demanded a fair and impartial inquiry into the matter, strict legal action against those found guilty of misusing his identity and immediate deletion of his Aadhaar number from the portal. He has also sought compensation for the damage caused to his reputation. “I have never taken any drugs in my life. This is a serious case of identity theft and fraud. I only want justice and accountability,” said Bhardwaj. He further said he had also approached the DIG, Ludhiana Range, and demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the case and delivery of justice. He maintained that he had never consumed any drugs, yet his name continued to be shown as a drug addict in official records linked to his Aadhaar card. He has demanded immediate removal of his name from the de-addiction portal. “I was assured by the DIG that a report would be sought from the Khanna police in this regard,” added the complainant. Sahnewal, June 23 The Sahnewal police have booked a villager of Natt village under Section 105 of the BNS for allegedly attacking and causing the death of a resident of Dharaur village. The search is on for the suspect. The case has been registered against Baljinder Singh for attacking and killing Gurdeep Singh, brother of Balkar Singh, of Dharaur village. Balkar told the police that Baljinder in a fit of anger attacked his brother Gurdeep and killed him. After investigation, the police registered the case. Sahnewal SHO Dalvir Singh said the incident took place in the heat of the moment. “We are investigating the motive and sequence of events,” he said. Municipal corporation ‘indifferent’ as condition of Mini Leisure Valley continues to deteriorate Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 23 The Mini Leisure Valley once envisioned as green recreational space, stretching from the railway overbridge (ROB) on Pakhowal Road, alongside the Sidhwan Canal, passing through Model Town Extension and extending up to Dugri Bridge, and developed by the municipal corporation for the leisure of the city people is today in dire need of upkeep. Lakhs of rupees were spent on this project to create an attractive public recreational space with boundary walls, landscaping, lighting and beautification works. However, the condition of the Mini Leisure Valley has now become extremely deplorable. The ongoing The broken boundary wall of the Mini Leisure Valley. work under the 24×7 water supply project has caused extensive damage to the entire stretch. In addition, roadside vegetable vendors and other encroachers have broken sections of the boundary wall and are misusing the area for dumping and storing their goods. The situation has become so bad that it is difficult for people to even walk through the area. Exposed electrical wires pose a serious safety hazard, while many of the streetlights installed there are either damaged or have disappeared altogether. As a result, the public has almost completely stopped visiting this once beautiful recreational space. “It is unfortunate to see such a valuable public asset, created with taxpayers’ money at a cost of lakhs of rupees, reduced to this condition. The Municipal Corporation Ludhiana and the authorities concerned must fix responsibility and the agency undertaking 24x7 water supply project should be directed to restore and redevelop the entire Mini Leisure Valley to c m y b its original attractive condition, so that the people can once again benefit from this important civic amenity,” said activist Arvind Sharma. “We used to come here for evening walks, but now the broken paths and dangling wires make it dangerous even to step inside,” said Gurpreet Kaur, a resident of Model Town Extension. “Vendors have taken over large portions of the boundary wall. Instead of a leisure valley, it looks more of a storage yard,” remarked Garish Mehta, a shopkeeper. “The corporation must act quickly. If lakhs were spent on this project, why is no one accountable for its upkeep?” questioned college student Simranpreet Kaur, who once frequented the canal stretch with friends. Activists of the Shiv Sena, Punjab, gather outside the police commissionerate office in Ludhiana on Tuesday, a day after the pilot Gypsy of their chairman was stopped by Nihangs. ASHWANI DHIMAN Sena men gather outside CP office; face-off with Nihangs averted Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 23 A face-off between Nihangs and Shiv Sena leaders and activists was averted outside the Police Commissioner’s office in Ludhiana on Tuesday. Shiv Sena, Punjab, chairman Rajiv Tandon and other leaders led a protest march from Chaura Bazaar to the Police Commissioner’s office to protest the ‘attack’ on its leader on Ferozepur Road yesterday. The police initially refused to allow them inside the Police Commissioner’s office, but later arranged for them to meet DCP Crime, , Harpal Singh. As soon as the Shiv Sena leader left the Police Commissioner’s office after meeting the officers, some Nihangs were seen standing outside. Both sides, upon seeing each other, began raising slogans. The situation escalated and became tense when they even started abusing each other. Seeing the situation escalate, police personnel immediately intervened and separated them. Timely action of police prevented a clash-like situation. After yesterday’s attack, the police had registered an FIR against four persons. One accused, identified as Danish Kapoor, has already been arrested. The search for the main accused, Taranjot, and two others was still going on. Shiv Sena leaders alleged that the Nihangs had been threatening them openly and strict action should be taken against them. Meanwhile, the Nihangs alleged that Shiv Sena leaders’ intentions were clear as they were giving provocative statement against Sikhs and Nihangs, and for this they should also be taken to task. No black films on police vehicles: Khanna SSP Ludhiana, June 23 In a strict crackdown, Khanna SSP Darpan Ahluwalia has banned black films and tinted glass on all government and police vehicles in the district and warned of strict action against police personnel caught violating the directions. The SSP issued an internal communique on Tuesday, directing all senior officers and SHOs to not install black films or tinted panes on any government vehicle. Police personnel found using these will face disciplinary action. The order also directs the police to intensify action against the residents also by setting up checkpoints and issuing maximum challans under the Motor Vehicles Act against vehicles with black films, hooters and red beacons. Such vehicles should be impounded, the order said. From June 16 to June 22, there have been four challans issued for use of red beacons and 85 for black films on vehicles. Ahluwalia said strict warning had also been issued to residents to avoid using black films. “Special nakas will be installed and nobody will be spared. Under the garb of using black films on cars, criminals exploit the situation and manage to flee without being identified after committing crime,” asserted the SSP — TNS .