09092026-JTR-01.qxd 9/8/2026 11:01 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune KAPURTHALA DC TIGHTENS NOOSE AROUND PVT SCHOOLS PLAYERS PICK UP BROOMS AS GROUND LIES IN POOR CONDITION ‘I AM AN ARTIST BRO’: DILJIT DOSANJH’S DEVIL SPARKS BUZZ The DC said all private schools must display the control room number and his email ID at visible locations. P2 Players have been seen cleaning and working to make the ground fit for sporting activities. P3 Music video Devil draws parallels with Cockroach Janta Party’s student agitation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.41 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:08 AM » WEDNESDAY | 9 SEPTEMBER 2026 | JALANDHAR City slips to last place in clean air survey Finishes 42nd among 42 cities in its population category Tribune News Service FILE Jalandhar, September 8 Jalandhar’s performance in the Centre’s Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2026 has raised serious concerns, with the city ranking last among the 42 cities assessed in its population category. The survey results have been declared under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Jalandhar was in the category of cities with 3 lakh to 10 lakh population. It scored 124.5 points against Rourkela that topped in the category with 198.5 points. The low rank has come as a huge challenge for the authorities and public in general regarding controlling vehicular, industrial and road-dust pollution. In the same population category, Patiala performed better, securing the 25th position with 165.4 points. Officials have stated that the rankings are not based solely on ambient air quality. The Patiala performs better, securing 25th spot with 165.4 points assessment takes into account measures such as road-dust control, solid-waste management, construction and demolition waste management, vehicular and industrial emissions, public awareness and particulate-matter trends. The findings are also a signal for the MC authorities and Punjab Pollution Control Board to strengthen sustained, ground-level pollu- tion-control measures rather than rely only on seasonal improvements in air quality. In 2025, Jalandhar stood on 39th rank and was on 36th rank in 2024. Under the National Clean Air Programme, Jalandhar city had received Rs 45 crore to make improvements. The grant was used to purchase road sweeping machines, road repair and use of sprin- klers to settle dust. Senior Deputy Mayor Balbir S Bittu said, “We have been doing our best to keep the city clean. We have two road sweeping machines which operate all night on the main arterial section of the city. The city e-bus service, which could help control vehicular pollution, may not start any time soon as was proposed as there are some viability issues with it”. Pen-down strike disrupts routine work at govt offices in Jalandhar 3,500 clerical staff on protest Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 8 Routine work at government offices across Jalandhar remained disrupted on Tuesday as nearly 3,500 clerical staff observed a pen-down strike in response to a statewide call by the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union, demanding the release of 18 per cent dearness allowance (DA), implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and withdrawal of the government’s letter terming their August 27 mass leave as “unauthorised”. The strike affected clerical work in around 55 departments, including the DC’s office, cooperatives, health, agriculture, excise and PWD, although essential services at government hospitals and schools continued as usual. Sukhjit Singh, president of the Joint Action Committee and CPF Employees Union Punjab, said, “Nearly 3,500 to 4,000 clerical staff of 55 departments in Jalandhar remained on strike.” The employees reiterated their demand for implemen- The clerical staff of the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, during pen-down strike. TRIBUNE PHOTO MALKIAT SINGH tation of the OPS, saying that although the state government had issued a notification in November 2022 regarding the restoration of the scheme for employees covered under the National Pension Scheme, it is yet to be implemented. The pending 18 per cent DA is another major grievance of the employees. Singh said despite a double Bench order of the Punjab and Haryana high court, directing the state government to release the pending DA, the dues had not been paid. The employees are also demanding withdrawal of show-cause notices issued to around 2,000 employees who participated in the mass leave protest on August 27. The latest protest comes within two weeks of another agitation by government employees against the state government. However, Tues- Exams on, schools told to register 50% kids for Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 8 With mid-term examinations in government schools set to begin on Wednesday, the district Education Department has asked school heads and teachers in Jalandhar to ensure registration of 50 per cent of their students for the ongoing Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan games. The directive has added to the workload of schools already facing staff shortages and other government duties. The directive issued to principals, school heads and incharges of government, aided and private middle, high and senior secondary schools, asks them to complete the registration target on the Punjab Sports Portal by Wednesday afternoon. The timing of the directive has raised concerns among teachers as schools are preparing for the examinations at a time when several teachers are also engaged in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and BoothLevel Officer (BLO) duties. Karnail Singh Phillaur, district president of the Government Teachers Union, Punjab, said, “Schools are already short of teachers and many teachers are handling addi- tional duties. The date-sheet for the mid-term examinations has also been released with exams set to begin from Wednesday. At such a time, teachers and students should be allowed to focus on academic preparations. Instead, the government is putting additional pressure on the schools to meet a sports participation target.” The instructions come as the fourth edition of the Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan is under way. In the current edition, players will compete in 38 sports disciplines, along with four para sports, including athlet- ics, powerlifting, badminton and wheelchair basketball. The games are open to participants aged between 14 and over 70. At the launch of the fourth edition earlier this month, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said nearly 10 lakh participants are expected to take part in the games across the state. The competitions are being held at different levels to encourage wider participation in sports. TRIBUNE PHOTO SARABJIT SINGH Teen turns extraordinary height He lost his legs, not his passion for sport Footballer-turned-teacher coaches young volleyball players from wheelchair into sporting advantage Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 8 “Koi nai, koi nai… chinta nai, bas ball te dhyaan.” The words came again and again from the sidelines, carrying reassurance. Sitting in his wheelchair, Harpal Singh watched every move of U-14 volleyball team of government school, Nurpur, with the intensity of a coach who refused to let his physical limitations come in the way of his passion. Even during the breaks, he could be seen calling his players close, explaining techniques and preparing them for the next phase of the game during the ongoing Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan. A maths master, Harpal has been coaching its volleyball team for the past three years. Sports has always been his first love. Harpal was a national-level footballer. Sports was the career he had imagined for himself. But in 2006, while pursuing his BSc, a road accident changed his life forever. He lost both his legs. “My father was a wrestling coach and even I was good at football. I had played CBSE Jalandhar, September 8 At 6 feet 10 inches, 17-yearold Raghav Kumar is hard to miss on a volleyball court. A student at Government Sports School, Raghav is among the participants in the Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan games, where his extraordinary height naturally draws attention. Standing at nearly seven feet, he towers over most of his teammates and opponents. But for Raghav, his height is more than just a striking physical feature, it has become an important advantage in the sport he has come to love. Hailing from Phagwara, Raghav comes from a modest family. His father works as a delivery man, and none of his parents or siblings are anywhere near his height. Both his parents are around 5 feet 8 inches tall. Around two-year ago, Raghav joined Government Sports School, where he was selected to train volleyball players. Since then, he has been practising every day, Volleyball player Raghav, who is nearly 7-ft tall, is taking part in Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH steadily developing his skills and working towards his dream of building a better future for his family. “My dream is to join the police force. People have told me that my height could help me get recruited easily,” Raghav said. His towering frame has already proved useful on the volleyball court. “My height also helps me in smash- ing and blocking in volleyball,” he said. When Raghav first arrived at the sports school, he was surprised to find that he was not the only tall player there. For Raghav, volleyball is not merely a sport. He hopes to use his sporting ability to secure a job in the police force and provide his family with a more secure future. c m y b Swine flu cases in Jalandhar rise to 11; two hospitalised Tribune News Service Players participate in 5000metre race in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Aakanksha N Bhardwaj day’s strike remained largely confined to clerical staff, keeping schools and hospital services operational. At the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar, patient footfall remained like normal working day, with doctors, nurses and other staff attending to patients. Reception and billing counters were also functioning, with no major disruption reported in routine patient services. Sitting in his wheelchair, Harpal Singh shares move to his volleyball team at Jalandhar. SARABJIT SINGH cluster games till the national level and wanted to pursue sports and make my career in the same,” he recalls. The accident forced him to rethink his future. He turned towards academics, completing his MSc in physics and later a B.Ed. He became a teacher and found a way to bring sports back into his life. At the school, there was no football ground. So Harpal chose volleyball and began preparing a team. Beyond the volleyball court, Harpal has another reason to take pride in his work. This year, 11 of his students cleared the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship examination. He admits that coaching from a wheelchair comes with challenges. “There are many challenges. The things which are to be shown, I cannot do that. But still, the students are very good and they grasp things easily. I show them videos and teach them the techniques,” he says. His wife, Navneet Kaur, a physical education teacher at the same school, says his regularity is one of his greatest strengths. “He goes one hour before the school starts to give coaching to the volleyball and kabaddi teams. His regularity is his plus point,” she says. Navneet and Harpal got married in 2014. She says she was drawn to him because of the respect he showed towards women. “I am motivated by him. I couldn’t have asked for a better life partner than him,” she says, her voice turning emotional. Jalandhar, September 8 A 79-year-old woman from Nussi village tested positive for swine flu (H1N1) on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases reported in Jalandhar district to 11, health officials said. She is undergoing treatment at Fortis Hospital. Her condition is stable and is expected to be discharged soon, the officials added. With the latest case, two patients are admitted to hospitals in the district while two others are undergoing treatment under home isolation. At the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, a 38-year-old woman is admitted. She is likely to be discharged in the next one or two days after completing her medication. The two patients under home isolation include a 19year-old woman from Dana Mandi, who was previously admitted to the PIMS (Punjab Institute of Medical Science) and a 63-year-old resident of Guru Gobind Avenue, who was earlier admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Ludhiana. Jalandhar Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Garg said, “The total number of swine flu cases reported in Jalandhar stands at 11. Of these, one patient is admitted to Fortis Hospital while another is to the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar. Recently, an 85-year-old patient Mool Raj succumbed to the infection while others with mild symptoms have recovered.” Garg said the common symptoms of swine flu include fever, sore throat and cough.