29072026-LT-01.qxd 7/28/2026 11:59 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CLOSE SHAVE FOR FIREFIGHTERS AT FACTORY Firefighters dousing flames at an industrial unit have narrow escape as a portion of roof collapses. P2 » SANITATION WORSENS AS WORKERS’ STIR ENTERS DAY 21 SHORA SHINES ON STAGE WITH IMPACTFUL PERFORMANCE Residents of Sahnewal and Doraha fear epidemic outbreak as garbage piles raise a stink in both towns.P3 Nawazuddin’s daughter Shora Siddiqui has emerged as one of the biggest highlights of the play, Naqaab. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7:18 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:40 AM WEDNESDAY | 29 JULY 2026 | LUDHIANA NGT summons top officials over delay in clearing 27 illegal garbage sites DC, MC chief, PPCB Member Secy told to appear through virtual mode Action Committee, Kapil Dev and Kuldeep Singh Khaira. Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 28 Over three years after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the removal of garbage from 27 illegal dumping sites in Ludhiana, the city is yet to achieve full compliance. Taking serious note of the delay, the Tribunal has directed the Deputy Commissioner, Municipal Commissioner and Member Secretary of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to appear through virtual mode in the next hearing. The Tribunal observed that despite its order dated May 2, 2023, appointing the PPCB as the nodal agency to coordinate the removal and scientific processing of solid waste, the directions have not been fully implemented. It said the authorities were required to clear illegal dumping sites, transport waste to authorised processing facilities and ensure daily processing so that no fresh legacy waste was created. The NGT also noted that the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Ludhiana, had appeared before the Tribunal on Identified locations Garbage lies in the open at an illegal dumping site near the EWS flats in Ludhiana. March 28, 2025, and stated that solid waste at the identified locations would be remediated within three months. However, the latest proceedings show that the promised action had not been completed. The Tribunal further observed that the Municipal Corporation failed to provide information on the quantity of municipal waste collected and processed every day in the city. The Deputy Commissioner also did not furnish the required information while the PPCB failed to explain the method used for assessing the environmental compensation imposed in the case. The order is based on the report of the Court Commissioner, who found that while a few locations had improved, several sites continued to have open garbage dumps, nonfunctional compactors, poor waste segregation and instances of waste burning. The report also pointed out that ground conditions at several locations did not match claims made by the authorities in their compliance reports. In view of these shortcomings, the NGT has directed the DC, MC Commissioner and Member Secretary of the PPCB to remain present through virtual mode on the next date of hearing that is October 7 and explain the status of compliance with its directions. The case was filed by the members of the Public The 27 locations identified in the case include garbage dumping points in Model Town Extension (Blocks C and D), Jawahar Nagar Camp, Suffian Chowk, Buddha Nullah near gaushala, Cremation Ground, Focal Point Road opposite Vishwanath Mandir, GT Road opposite Wholesale Vegetable Market, Bajwa Nagar, 200-ft Bypass near the railway lines, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar on Pakhowal Road, Lakkar Wala Pul, Bahadur Ke Road, Churpur Road, banks of the Buddha Nullah near Bachan Singh Marg, near Gill village and other locations where garbage was allegedly dumped in the open or burnt regularly. The petition also highlighted incidents of burning of organic waste at Leisure Valley, BRS Nagar, parks near City Centre, Civil Surgeon’s Office, Model Town near Barista Chowk, near MGM School, Dugri, a park opposite Jain Mandir on the 200-ft Road and the DC Office Complex. Woman’s death: Rights panel Road repair amid asks for report from police rain: LIT chief tells Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 28 In the mysterious death of a woman in the city, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission has asked the Ludhiana police to submit a report. A case of dowry death was already registered by the Ludhiana police on the complaint of deceased’s father Mohan Lal against her husband and members of in-laws family. The victim’s father, who reached the office of the Commissioner of Police on Tuesday, alleged that they had filed a petition with the Human Rights Commission also as the police had been adopting a dilly-dallying attitude in arresting the suspects. The commission notice stated: “The present complaint, dated April 1, 2026, has been filed by Jitender Kumar of Yamunanagar district, alleging that his sister Nisha, was residing with her husband in Ludhiana. On January 4, she developed serious symptoms after suspected injection of some poisonous substance. She was initially treated at hospitals in Ludhiana and thereafter, referred to different hospitals and finally admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh. His sister expired on January 12 at the hospital. An autopsy was also conducted at the PGI.” The notice further states: “The complainant has a suspicion that the deceased was administered some poisonous substance by her husband as he had been continuously harassing the victim for dowry and had subjected her to cruelty even prior to the present incident. His sister had in the past told him and his family members that she was being mentally and physically harassed by her husband and his family members over dowry demands and despite approaching the police authorities, initially no FIR was registered. But later, a case was registered in May on the charge of dowry death against her husband and members of the in-laws’ family.” The commission mentions in the notice that it appears that there was a clear cut violation of human rights. Accordingly, let the matter be put up before the Commissioner of Police to look into the complaint and he will submit the report one week before the next date of hearing. The deceased’s father sought that the police should arrest the suspects soon. Meanwhile, providing information regarding the matter, ASI Baldev Singh said the case file reached them on July 15. The house of the victim’s inlaws was located in Haryana. He said they went to Haryana on July 18 and tried to arrest the suspects but no one was found at their house. Other officials said the next action in the case would be taken soon and the suspects would be apprehended. officials to fix faults Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 28 Acting on complaints raised by residents over the ongoing construction of roads in the G Block of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar during the rainy season, Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) Chairman Tarsem Bhinder on Tuesday visited the area to inspect the work and hear public grievances. The residents alleged that the quality of the road work was not satisfactory and expressed concern that the construction carried out during continuous rainfall could affect the durability of roads. They also pointed out that some stretches of the newly laid road appeared uneven and below standard. During the inspection, the Chairman examined the work being carried out under the Rs 6.5-crore road development project and found that the thickness of the road at certain locations was not as per the prescribed specifications. He also observed that the quality of work on a few patches was unsatisfactory. Taking serious note of the issue, Bhinder directed officials of the LIT and the contractor to rectify the deficiencies and ensure that the entire project was completed strictly as per the approved specifications. He said there would be no compromise on the quality of public works. He assured residents that the shortcomings would be addressed soon and told officials to monitor the construction work so that the project was completed with proper quality standards. The locals welcomed the Chairman’s visit and said they hope the directions would ensure durable roads and timely completion of the development work. Councillors seek details of work orders issued amid F&CC row Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 28 Amid the ongoing legal dispute over the functioning of the Municipal Corporation’s Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC), Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti and other councillors of the party have sought details of all work orders allegedly issued on an “in anticipation” basis after July 9, claiming that the matter is pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In a letter to Municipal Commissioner Ojasvi Alankar, Bhatti sought information on work orders issued after July 9 and questioned the authority under which they were approved. He stated that the High Court was hearing a petition related to Congress councillors submit a letter regarding work orders to MC chief Ojasvi Alankar in Ludhiana. the F&CC and that the civic body’s counsel had submitted before the court that no meeting of the committee would be held till further proceedings in the case. He alleged that despite the pending matter, the work orders were reportedly being issued through officials on an “in anticipation” basis. He claimed that if such approvals had been granted, they should be examined in the context of the undertaking given before the High Court. The councillors also alleged that if the work orders were being issued only for projects recommended by councillors belonging to the ruling side, while proposals submitted by opposition councillors were not being processed, the move would raise questions about fairness and equal treatment. In his letter, Bhatti sought four sets of information from the Municipal Commissioner. c m y b He asked for the list of all work orders issued on an “in anticipation” basis after July 9, the names and designations of officials who approved them and legal provisions under which such approvals were granted despite the ongoing court proceedings. He also requested the Commissioner to ensure that all future decisions relating to the F&CC were taken strictly in accordance with the law and any directions or undertakings given before the HC. Bhatti said he intended to place the MC Commissioner’s written response before the High Court during the next hearing of the case, scheduled for July 29, along with his petition challenging the functioning of the committee. Nihang stabbed to death over minor dispute at gurdwara Suspect, also a Nihang, nabbed; probe on, say police Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 28 A minor dispute during a religious congregation at a village gurdwara turned fatal on Miri Piri Diwas when a Nihang Sikh affiliated with the Dal Panth attacked another Nihang on the neck with a kirpan following a heated exchange. The critically injured youth was declared dead at a hospital. The Dehlon police on Monday registered a murder case and arrested the suspect. In his complaint, Jasvir Singh, a resident of Paddi village in Dehlon, who serves as a granthi at the village gurdwara, stated that the bhog of an Akhand Path Sahib was being performed in connection with Miri Piri Diwas. A large number of devotees from the village and outside, including Nihangs associated with the Dal Panth, were present. According to the complaint, around 9 pm a Nihang, Sonu, was allegedly hurling loud abuses while going towards the langar hall. It enraged Sohan Singh, a Dal Panthlinked Nihang from Fatehabad in Haryana, who struck Sonu on the neck with a kirpan after heated exchange of words. The attack was so severe that Sonu collapsed on the spot, drenched in blood. Those present rushed him to Sidhu Hospital in Doraha, where doctors declared him dead after examination. On receiving information, the Dehlon police reached the scene, collected evidence and launched a probe. On the basis of the complaint, a case of murder under Section 103 of the BNS was registered and Sohan was arrested. The investigation was being conducted by ASI Vijay Kumar. The police said every aspect of the incident was being probed. Statements of witnesses present at the scene were being recorded and efforts were on to ascertain the reason behind the dispute that escalated into a clash in moments. The CCTV footage is also being examined. Cong councillor’s firm duped of ~14L Ludhiana, July 28 Congress councillor Deepika Bhalla, who is also an entrepreneur and resident of the Civil Lines here, was duped of Rs 14 lakh by two men in October last year. The main suspect procured a stock of garments worth lakhs and later fled the place without making payment. The victim is the wife of Congress leader and former councillor Gagandeep Singh, alias Sunny Bhalla. Pratosh Kumar Jha is said to be the main suspect in the fraud case. Even Subhash Kumar Mishra, who was an employee of the woman’s company, was also named as a suspect in the case. Deepika Bhalla in a com- plaint given to the police in February stated that she appointed Mishra as a manager in August 2025 to oversee her company’s operations, including stocking goods, arranging salespersons and overseeing sales. He was responsible for the overall management of the company. The main suspect, Pratosh Kumar Jha, came into contact through a WhatsApp group called ‘Labour Group’, created for communication between textile traders and salespersons. Introducing himself as a well-known salesman in the group, he expressed a desire to meet manager Subhash. Pratosh, who is a native of Madhubani, Bihar, identified himself as a resident of Mandawali Fazalpur, Delhi. The complainant further stated that Pratosh came to the Ludhiana factory at Subhash’s invitation. He claimed to have been handling garment sales in Delhi for the past over seven years. To build trust, he revealed that his father-in-law, Sanjay Jha, had been staying in Dhandari Kalan, Ludhiana, for the past 35 years and worked for a prestigious export company in Dholewal. After procuring stock, the suspect failed to make the payment and fled the scene. Bhalla submitted a complaint regarding the incident to the CP A case was regis. tered on Monday. — TNS