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Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Battle in Ludhiana to bring 1965 war hero Major Bhupinder Singh back into city's heart, public light.
Ludhiana: A citizens' group has urged Punjab authorities to restore the memorial of 1965 war hero Major Bhupinder Singh to Ludhiana's busy Bharat Nagar Chowk, where it once stood as a symbol of military valour. Members of volunteer group Public Action Committee (PAC) submitted a request to additional deputy commissioner Rakesh Kumar on Tuesday, arguing the statue and captured Pakistani tank are hidden away currently near Rose Garden and deserve a more visible, historically significant location. Col Jasjit Singh Gill (retd) and Kuldeep Singh Khaira said the memorial was installed at Bharat Nagar Chowk in 1979 but moved in 1995 to a site near the Govt College for Women to make way for traffic lights. It was later shifted to its current position near Rose Garden, where they say it is not visible properly to the public. With the roundabout at Bharat Nagar Chowk now undergoing reconstruction, members of the PAC believe the time is right to return the statue and tank to their original site. Kapil Arora and Mohit Saggar noted that Major Bhupinder Singh, a Ludhiana native, was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously after dying in battle on his birthday during the 1965 war against Pakistan. They suggested the move be announced on the upcoming 79th Independence Day. ADC Rakesh Kumar said he would raise the proposal with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and expedite discussions with senior officials. Bharat Nagar Chowk, one of Ludhiana's busiest intersections, is undergoing a major beautification drive and could easily accommodate the memorial, according to members of the PAC. MSID:: 123257974 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
04-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
A Chipko-stylke protest in Punjab: Ludhiana locals join hands to save old trees
1 2 3 4 Ludhiana: In the heart of a bustling industrial city, a quiet, powerful protest bloomed on Sunday morning. With arms wrapped tightly around 35-year-old silver oaks in Shaheedi Park, the residents of Kidwai Nagar turned a patch of threatened greenery into a sanctuary of resistance — echoing the spirit of the Chipko Movement that once swept through India's forests. Women, children, and elders gathered under the leafy canopy not to shout slogans, but to embrace the trees they've lived beside for decades. The protest was triggered by plans to fell the silver oaks to build an overhead water reservoir — a part of the ₹1,660 crore Surface Water Supply Project — despite the availability of alternative barren land nearby that would spare the park's precious ecosystem. "These trees are like family," said one tearful resident. "They've stood by us for decades, filtering our air, cooling our homes. How can we let them fall without a fight?" Environmental activist Gagnish Khurana, who joined the protest, called attention to the ecological crisis unfolding in Ludhiana's older neighbourhoods like Kidwai Nagar. "Parks make up less than 1% of the land here," he said. "Yet even that sliver of green is under threat. For even the most basic housing projects, 8% open space is considered essential." Khurana also pointed to lapses in public procedure. "Based on the Punjab and Haryana high court directions, any such project requires prior public notice posted visibly in the park. No such notice was issued. There was no consultation. They are bulldozing nature and due process." Among the protesters was Vinod Kapoor, a longtime resident, who said the authorities concerned should reconsider the site and engage in transparent dialogue. "We're not against development," he said. "But it must be development with roots, not at the cost of them." The silver oaks, now fully mature, take decades to grow and cannot simply be replaced overnight. "We gave these trees 35 years to become what they are. Cutting them is cutting through our own breath," said one participant. Activist Kapil Arora of the Public Action Committee (PAC), a volunteer group of green thumbs, added that roughly 20% of the park had already been lost to encroachment by the municipal corporation, including residential quarters and an Aarogya Centre. "All these constructions violate Supreme Court rulings," he said. "We have moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT), just as we did successfully for illegal buildings at Dholewal Chowk and Zone-D. " Despite the rising tension, Sunday's demonstration was peaceful — symbolic, yet poignant. It wasn't just a protest; it was a plea. A small community, holding fast to their trees, was reminding a rapidly developing city what it means to belong to the land — not just build on it. "If these trees fall, a part of us falls with them," said an elderly woman, arms still circling the rough bark of her favourite silver oak. MSID:: 123075430 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Inspection reveals open sewage, garbage dump at Tajpur complex
Serious environmental violations and worsening pollution levels have been found along the Buddha Nullah near the Tajpur Dairy Complex. A team from the Public Action Committee (PAC), led by activist Anita Sharma, conducted an inspection near the 5 MLD effluent treatment plant (ETP) on Sunday. The visit revealed shocking scenes of open sewage, garbage dumps, illegal encroachments, and foul-smelling conditions across the area. Temporary huts have taken over nearly one kilometre of the bank. These shanties lack toilets and proper drainage, and waste is dumped directly into the nullah. The nearby government fish market is also discharging waste into the water body. Roads leading to the site are broken and filthy, making the area almost unlivable. Two outlets were found releasing untreated wastewater straight into the nullah — one from the dairy complex and the other from the ETP itself. Residents living near the Tajpur complex have long raised concerns. 'We have been breathing foul air for months. Cattle waste and garbage are left out in the open,' said Harjit Singh, a local resident. Another resident, Shalini Arora, added, 'There is no accountability. Political leaders promise action during elections but disappear later.' The PAC held a meeting with dairy owners and suggested key steps: setting up a dairy cooperative society, following zero liquid discharge (ZLD) norms, building cow dung disposal points, and ensuring proper waste transport. A proposal was made to channel all dairy waste into a central gobar gas plant for sustainable treatment. PAC also recommended installing bio-digesters at dairy units, GPS tracking of waste vehicles, and quarterly audits. A community helpline and monitoring committees were also suggested to ensure transparency. Anita Sharma condemned the inaction of local authorities. 'The Buddha Nullah is choking due to negligence. If no urgent steps are taken, this will become a health disaster,' she said. Despite repeated promises, political parties have failed to act. Even the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had earlier proposed a parking and waste management system under the elevated road nearby, but it never materialised.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PAC seeks demarcation of green buffer zones and forest areas in Ludh
Ludhiana: The Public Action Committee has submitted a formal request to various authorities, including the principal secretary of town and country planning, forest department, irrigation department, municipal corporation, and Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada), calling for proper demarcation of green buffer zones and forest areas in Ludhiana. Activists Amandeep Singh Bains and Kapil Arora highlighted that a notification issued on October 18, 2018, by the department of town and country planning specified requirements for a 15-metre green belt around the populated part of villages and between red category industry and residential areas. Additionally, it required 30-metre green zones alongside major canals and 10-metre zones near minor canals in Punjab. T by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Un Français invente un robot de trading 100% Gratuit Actualité Finance Lire la suite Undo he forest department, MC, and Glada continue to authorise projects that disregard these requirements. These infractions persist because Ludhiana's master plan lacks clear provisions regarding green buffer zones and forest areas. Kuldeep Singh Khaira noted that while Ludhiana has various small forest areas, their precise location remains unclear due to the absence of publicly available forest cover maps. This prevents the identification of potential forest land encroachments. Despite six years passing, no green buffer zones have been established near water bodies or villages, even as unauthorised developments have mushroomed in these areas. Jaskirat Singh pointed out that the forest department is inappropriately permitting tree removal along the Sidhwan Canal's project frontages, contradicting forest policy. Additionally, several minor canals have been covered in concrete after tree removal, without reinstating the required green buffer zones. Adjacent colonies are now unlawfully occupying this land. All departments should verify projects against Ludhiana's Master Plan before approval. The activists stated that they would approach the National Green Tribunal for directives if the departments failed to respond within three weeks.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: 60 villages unite to oppose private mill project near Buddha Nullah
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has submitted a report to the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, highlighting strong public opposition to the proposed Ruchira Paper Mill near the banks of Buddha Nullah in Chamkaur Sahib. The report comes after a public hearing held on April 30, 2025, under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) norms. Over 1,000 villagers from around 60 surrounding villages participated in the hearing, voicing unanimous rejection of the proposed red-category industry. Residents feared the private mill would devastate the ecologically rich area home to rivers, canals, wildlife, and dense forest cover. The locals united under the banners of the Sri Chamkaur Sahib Morcha and Public Action Committee (PAC) Mattewara to resist the project. They alleged that the project is backed by political leaders and corporate interests. Activists pointed out that the mill site lies just 10 metres from Buddha Nullah and 200 metres from the Neelon Canal violating an environmental law that prohibits red-category industries within 500 metres of a water source. The proposed plant would use and discharge crores of litres of water daily, posing a direct threat to Ludhiana's future drinking water supply and already polluted Buddha Nullah, which flows downstream into Rajasthan. PAC teams also visited Buddha Nullah near GT Road, collecting black water samples to counter government claims of improvement. 'It's like Coca-Cola running through our drains,' said PAC members Kapil Dev and Gurpreet Palaha, slamming state propaganda for misleading the public. Jaskirat Singh of the residents' body said the report reflects rare honesty despite political pressure but warned that the final decision lies with the Centre. 'We've averted a disaster for now, but the real battle is in Delhi. Every Punjabi must now raise their voice to ensure this project doesn't receive environmental clearance.' Activists sound alarm over pollution A united front of environmentalists, social activists, and citizens gathered near the 225 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) on Jail Road as part of Phase-1 of the Buddha Nullah Padyatra on Sunday, issuing a collective call to restore the dying Buddha Nullah and protect Punjab's subsoil water and the Sutlej River system from severe contamination. The gathering, led by the Public Action Committee (PAC), highlighted continued violations at three key discharge points: the 40 MLD CETP at Focal Point, the 50 MLD CETP at Tajpur Road, and the 225 MLD STP at Jail Road. All three units are allegedly discharging untreated, chemically toxic effluents into Buddha Nullah, in violation of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) norms mandated by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). PAC activists documented dark water discharges, suspicious underground diversions, and even temporary halts in red-coloured effluent flows during inspection—pointing to regulatory evasion. ₹1,154 crore project to rejuvenate Buddha Nullah In a step towards addressing Punjab's worsening groundwater crisis and rejuvenating the polluted Buddha Nullah, the soil conservation department has prepared a ₹1,050-crore proposal to reuse treated wastewater for agricultural and forestry purposes. The initiative, formulated following the recommendations of the Vidhan Sabha Committee on Buddha Nullah and Ghaggar River matters, aims to reduce pressure on depleting groundwater resources and tackle environmental pollution.
