28032025-LT-01.qxd 3/28/2025 12:57 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MAIN SUSPECT ARRESTED IN FAKE SALE DEED CASE SALMAN KHAN OPENS UP ABOUT DEATH THREATS KHAKEE: THE BENGAL CHAPTER IS WINNING ACCOLADES VB had filed a case against ninepersons for fraudulently executingsale deed of a plot belonging to a US man. P2 “Jitni umar likhi hai, utni likhi hai,” a philosophical Salman Khan said in his comments about death threats. P4 Cast shares what it means to be part of a Neeraj Pandey series and how he got Bengal’s inimitable flavour right. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 32°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.39 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:15 AM » FRIDAY | 28 MARCH 2025 | LUDHIANA AAI team visits Halwara airport Speeding truck uproots pole on Karabara Road, power supply hit Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service The two-member AAI team will hold a meeting with the DC, other officials on Friday. FILE Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 27 A two-member team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Thursday visited the Halwara airport to get feedback at the ground level from officials of the district administration. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, who had been making efforts to expedite project works, told The Tribune that a two-member team had reached Halwara to access the situation. “We are going to hold a meeting in this regard with the Deputy Commissioner and others concerned on Friday. Before taking over the charge in a complete manner, the AAI team wants to get a few works accomplished, which will be completed soon,” he said. Once the AAI takes over the charge, the tentative operational date and the airport code, which are mandatory for operations CANAL-BASED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT WB officials review functioning of water utility firm will be announced by the authorities. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, however, said the team was satisfied with the pace of work. It had stated to construct a boundary wall of 600 m and a watch tower and concrete work should also be done, for which approvals would be taken from the department concerned. “The works will be done in the next one month or so,” he said. Ludhiana, March 27 A speeding commercial truck uprooted an electricity pole on Karabara Road here late on Wednesday night. As the road was deserted during the incident, a major tragedy was averted. However, with the falling of the main electricity pole, 10 more poles in the area got affected and power was snapped in the entire area, including Karabara Road and Salem Tabri. The PSPCL stated that around 3,000 consumers were affected in the absence of power supply. Panic gripped the area in the wee hours of Thursday when residents saw the huge pole lying on the road, near houses. Beerpal Singh, a resident, said it was shocking to see the congested road covered with entan- 3K CONSUMERS AFFECTED: OFFICIAL Executive Engineer Gurmanpreet Singh said the department had to bear losses to the tune of over Rs 3 lakh due to the incident. “Around 3,000 consumers in the area were affected and we are trying to rectify the issue as around 20 persons are doing the needful to restore the power supply. But it will not be restored before late on Thursday evening,” he said. gled electricity wires and the uprooted pole. “Had there been commuters on the road during the incident, it could be a fatal mishap,” he said. Meanwhile, around 20 persons, including linemen, JEs and senior officials of the PSPCL, reached the scene to take stock of the situation. Executive Engineer Gurmanpreet Singh said the department had to bear losses to the tune of over Rs 3 lakh due to the incident. “Around 3,000 consumers in the area were affected and we are trying to rectify the issue as around 20 per- Mayor holds surprise inspection in BRS Nagar, issues warning to absent sweepers sons are doing the needful to restore the power supply. But it will not be restored before late this evening,” the official said. Residents were having a tough time in the absence of power. “We have complained to the authorities but they cannot help much as they are on the job. Law enforcing agencies should not allow passing of heavy vehicles from such congested roads,” said an area resident. At the same time, PSPCL officials are trying to trace the speeding truck. An FIR would be lodged against the driver of the truck in the case. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Major tragedy averted, efforts by PSPCL staff on to restore supply in area The damaged pole lies on Karabara Road on Thursday. Two nabbed with 570 gm of heroin Our Correspondent Ludhiana, March 27 During a checking near the Circuit House, Ferozepur Road, the police got a tip-off that Hassan Preet Singh, a resident of the Jassi Road area, and Narinderpal Singh of Sultanpur Lodhi village were into drug smuggling. The police also came to know that the peddlers were driving a motorcycle and were going to supply heroin to their clients near Saggu Chowk here. The police team reached the place and arrested both suspects with 570 gm of heroin. The suspects said they were jobless and were into drug peddling for the past around six months. The police have taken both of them on remand for further interrogation. Ludhiana, March 27 Working on the canalbased water supply project, a delegation of World Bank (WB) officials, on Wednesday, held a meeting with the civic body authorities over the functioning of the water utility company, Ludhiana Urban Water and Wastewater Management Limited. The meeting was held at the Zone D office of the Municipal Corporation (MC) in Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana. The water utility company has been formed for improving water supply infrastructure in the city and for implementing the World Bank and AIIBfunded canal-based water supply project. Discussions were also held regarding the func- tioning of the utility company. The World Bank team was led by Senior Water Specialist Srinivas Podipireddy and consultant Ram Anindo. During the meeting, deliberations were also held to fill vacancies in the water utility company. Civic body Joint Commissioner Ankur Mahindroo, Chief Engineer Ravinder Garg, SE (projects) Parul Goyal, Executive Engineer Ekjot Singh were among others present in the meeting. Further discussions were also held to expedite various works under the canal-based water supply project wherein a world class 580 MLD water treatment plant has to be established at Bilga village, near Sahnewal, and treated water would be supplied to residents. Man hurt in blast at Salem Tabri Despite ban, burning of dry leaves goes unabated in city Tribune News Service Manav Mander Tribune News Service Mayor Inderjit Kaur interacts with officials during a surprise inspection in BRS Nagar on Thursday. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 27 Travelling in a private vehicle, Mayor Inderjit Kaur conducted a surprise inspection to check attendance of sweepers in Bhai Randhir Singh (BRS) Nagar here on Thursday morning. Moving in the field around 7 am, the Mayor conducted an inspection near Orient Cinema and also checked the attendance register of sweepers. MC Joint Commissioner Ankur Mahindroo accompanied the Mayor during the inspection. A warning of strict action was issued to sweepers who were found absent from duty during the inspection and civic body officials were directed to take action against them if they continued to remain absent from duty or report late at work. Later, Mayor Inderjit Kaur and Joint Commissioner Ankur Mahindroo also inspected a static compactor site near Orient Cinema and issued directions. The Mayor said ensuring cleanliness across the city was their priority. Initiatives such as afternoon sweeping drives were also being taken to ensure cleanliness. The civic body officials had been directed to check the attendance of staff on a regular basis and no laxity would be tolerated in terms of cleanliness. She would continue to conduct surprise inspections in coming days too, the Mayor said. COMPOSTING REDUCES NEED FOR CHEMICAL FERTILISERS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 27 A blast occurred on 30 Feet Road in Saleb Tabri here on Thursday, which created a panic in the area. In the incident, a resident, Inderjit Singh Ghuman, got injured, who was admitted to a hospital. According to information, Ghuman had purchased a house in the street a few days ago. And a construction was going on in the house. When the man took a bag from inside to keep it outside the house, the blast occurred. The police were informed and a forensic team was called to the spot to collect samples. The police have started a probe into the matter. Ludhiana, March 27 Despite the ban, burning of dry leaves and garbage goes unabated in the city. City residents giving two hoots to the norms laid down by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) continue to burn the dry waste. Many a time, sweepers of the Municipal Corporation are seen burning waste after sweeping roads. As spring is the time when trees and plants begin to grow new leaves, roads and open spaces can be seen filled with dry leaves and twigs. Though one can make compost out of these and use the same as a replacement of chemical fertiliser, people continue to burn the waste, adding to air pollution. The suspects in police custody in Ludhiana. Compost is created from plant materials such as grass, dry leaves or vegetable leftovers that can be decomposed. It can help enrich the soil, holding moisture, suppressing plant diseases and filtering harmful pests. Composting reduces the need for chemical fertilisers. Dry waste being burnt by the roadside in violation of the norms in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA Incidents of burning of trash and dry leaves from various areas such as Sarab- ha Nagar, Dugri, SBS Nagar, BRS Nagar, Rajguru Nagar, Gurdev Nagar, Atam c m y b Nagar and Model Town continue to be reported, which keep adding to air pollution, releasing harmful particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide and other pollutants, posing severe health risks. On Wednesday, dry garbage was set afire near Vardhman Mills on Chandigarh Road and a huge smoke was emitted from it. Social activist Kapil Arora has even filed a case with the NGT regarding the burning of dry waste in the city. “Dry waste and leaves are openly burnt at various parts of the city, including Dugri, SBS Nagar E Block, Leisure Valley, Model Town and even the DC office complex,” he said. “Burning of leaves and organic waste, not only contributes to air pollution but also destroys valuable nutrients that should go back to the soil,” said Neeraj, resident of Sarabha Nagar. Kartar Singh, a farmer from Daad village, said the government was strict when it comes to stubble burning by farmers but nobody raises the concern when dry waste was burnt in cities. “As the government imposes fine on stubble burning, it should be imposed on burning of waste as well,” he said. Boundary wall of colony demolished Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 27 The Municipal Corporation (MC) on Thursday demolished the boundary wall of a colony, Bhagya Homes, linking Rahon Road with Tajpur Road and Chandigarh Road in the presence of huge police force. The MC team reached the area around 8 am. Efforts were made by the civic body in this regard in January this year and November last year but area residents opposed the drive. On Thursday, MC officials reached the spot with huge police force and carried out the drive. The residents protesting against the demolition alleged that it had been done to benefit a realtor developing another nearby colony while MC officials said the action was taken to open an alternative route and ease traffic on Rahon Road, Tibba Road and Tajpur Road. Area residents claimed the wall was crucial for the safety of over 3,000 residents. Women from the colony also voiced their concerns about safety. They said they had purchased plots in the gated colony due to security. With walls gone, the colony would be unsafe. Later, the residents held a protest on Rahon Road and blocked traffic for nearly an hour. They said the case related to the matter was pending in a court but the MC was adamant on demolishing the wall. People raised slogans against the government for carrying out the drive. Brick-kiln worker found hanging Ludhiana, March 27 A caretaker at a brick-kiln near Jodhan village was found hanging from the ceiling under mysterious circumstances. The man has been identified as Jitendra, a native of Uttar Pradesh, who had come to the city about seven years ago. The police are investigating the matter. — TNS