02092026-ATR-01.qxd 9/1/2026 11:37 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY TWO-DAY MILITARY LITERATURE FESTIVAL COMES TO CLOSE PRESERVING RICH LEGACY OF SIKH PREACHER BABA MAI DAS KAREENA SALUTES LEGENDARY FOOTBALLER LIONEL MESSI The two-day Military Literature Festival concludes with discussions on the 1965 India-Pakistan War. P2 At Sakhira village, gurdwara dedicated to Guru Amar Das’ preacher continues to draw devotees. P3 Kareena Kapoor Khan reacts to Lionel Messi’s retirement announcement with a string of red heart emojis. P4 » » MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.49 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:03 AM » WEDNESDAY | 2 SEPTEMBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Scientific waste management Greek to civic body, say locals Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 1 Picture this: You are stuck in a traffic jam during peak hours; and the moment you look on your left or right, you spot an overflowing garbage trolley. The sight is so common on city roads that one is left wondering what has happened to the civic body’s claim of managing waste scientifically. Not just the stench, but such waste-laden trucks can also cause some serious mishap on busy roads. A local said leave alone adhering to scientific waste management, the civic body has even failed to get the waste loaded onto these trucks covered. “What we see is a trail of garbage left behind these vehicles on roads,” said another resident. As the vehicles move through busy stretches, plastic waste, paper and dry leaves litter the roads. Earlier too, residents have complained about the nuisance, asking the civic body to at least cover the waste, but to no avail. For commuters, the problem is not merely about cleanliness. Tractor-trailers carrying protruding branches and waste occupy a considerable space on roads, putting two-wheelers and small vehicles at risk. “It is difficult to overtake these trolleys, especially during peak hours. The authorities should not allow such vehicles to ply on busy roads without proper covers,” said Rajbir Singh, a resident. “On the one hand, people are being asked to keep their surroundings clean, while on the other, garbage is Overflowing trolleys litter city roads, pose threat to two-wheelers A waste-laden tractor-trailer passes through a road in Amritsar; and (below) an overflowing garbage trolley. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR SERIOUS THREAT n Not just the stench, but such waste-laden trucks can also cause some serious mishap on busy roads. n A local said leave alone adhering to scientific waste management, the civic body has even failed to get the waste loaded onto these trucks covered. n “What we see is a trail of garbage left behind these vehicles on roads,” said another resident. n Even if the waste has to be transported through the city, it should be properly covered, a local said. being transported openly through the middle of the city. By the time, a trolley reaches its destination, part of the waste already litters the entire stretch,” said Joginder Singh, a senior citizen. The residents said foul smell emanating from these vehicles made things even worse. “Even if the waste has to be transported through the city, it should be properly covered. A simple cover can prevent the garbage from littering,” said another resident. Residents have urged the Municipal Corporation to strictly enforce transportation norms and ensure that each garbage vehicle is properly covered before being allowed to ply on city roads. Garbage crisis in villages far from over Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 1 The civic body has failed to check open dumping of waste along roads and in vacant plots in villages despite arrangements under the government’s Solid Waste Management Project for separate collection and proper disposal of wet and dry waste in place. The situation has raised questions over the implementation and monitoring of the waste management system at the village level. Although officials have repeatedly issued directions regarding segregation and scientific disposal of waste, piles of garbage can still be seen littering open areas in villages. Taking note of the need to strengthen the system, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Surinder Singh on Tuesday held a meeting with Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs), Panchayati Raj officials and other field staff to review solid waste management arrangements in all villages of the district. During the meeting, the ADC directed officials to ensure execution of the Solid Waste Management Project and intensify public awareness regarding segregation of wet and dry waste at source. He said door-todoor collection of household waste and its scientific disposal should be ensured through adequate arrangements at the village level. He stressed that residents should be encouraged to keep wet and dry waste separately from the point of generation. For this, villages should have adequate waste continued on page 2 Nonagenarian who introduced city to shuttleless looms NEWSMAKER OF THE WEEK Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 1 If we talk of the city’s transition from a trading hub of shawls to a major manufacturer, the first name that comes to our mind is that of Piara Lal Seth. In 1949, the 92-year-old’s family opened their first store in Srinagar. Seven years later (in 1956), after the power loom made its entry into the city, Seth started the yarn manufacturing here. “We used to import fabric for shawls from France and other foreign countries; and sell shawls in the Valley,” Seth said. At 13, he saw his factory reduce to ashes. “Thereafter, my father — Lala Maya Ram Seth — started imparting training to those interested in embroidery, dyeing and allied jobs. The initiative soon bore results, with most getting employed,” he said. Years after power looms spread across the industrial map of the city, the Ministry of Commerce introduced an export policy in the early 60s. It paved the way for exports from the holy city to land-locked Pakistan. Seth said his company managed to export shawls worth Rs 65 lakh in 1963 just before the withdrawal of export licences. Appreciating the business community, Seth said over the years, traders had transformed the city into a shawl manufacturing hub. Even Kashmiri traders now buy shawls made in Amritsar. A couple of years back, the city exported shawls worth No room for quacks; Another departure delay earns SpiceJet flyers’ wrath; IMA turns down those stranded get into hot exchange with ground staff 70 TO 80 IN LURCH proposal to train them Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 1 The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Punjab, has opposed the proposal to train, map and engage unqualified medical practitioners, terming it a potential compromise with patient safety, medical ethics and professional standards. In a representation to the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister, IMA Punjab president Dr RS Sethi and secretary Dr RS Bal stated that while improving healthcare access in rural and underserved areas was an important objective, it should not be achieved by lowering standards of medical qualification. The IMA said diagnosis, differential diagnosis, interpretation of investigations, clinical decision-making, emergency management, rational prescribing and timely referral required years of structured medical education and supervised clinical training. It warned that inadequately trained persons could fail to identify serious illnesses or warning signs, resulting in delayed referrals and avoidable complications. The association said the government should instead Focus on strengthening existing healthcare system, says assn focus on strengthening the existing healthcare system by increasing the availability of qualified MBBS doctors in rural areas, offering incentives for doctors serving in difficult locations and filling vacant sanctioned posts. It also called for the strengthening of Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres, improving emergency referral and ambulance services, and ensuring adequate infrastructure, medicines, diagnostic facilities and specialist referral mechanisms. The IMA further argued that officially creating a category of minimally trained practitioners could undermine the years of education and clinical training undertaken by qualified doctors. It said such a move could dilute the value of recognised medical qualifications and adversely affect the morale and professional prospects of young MBBS doctors. “The answer to a shortage of doctors should be more continued on page 2 Amritsar, September 1 SpiceJet has once again invited the ire of flyers. After the airline delayed the cityDubai flight on Tuesday, protests were witnessed at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport. The flyers approached the airline’s counter staff and a heated exchange followed. The flight, scheduled to depart at 8.40 am, reportedly took off at 11 pm, leaving The flight, scheduled to depart at 8.40 am, reportedly took off at 11 pm, leaving around 70 to 80 passengers stranded. The travellers said the airline failed to give them any prior information about the delay. around 70 to 80 passengers stranded. The travellers said the airline failed to give them any prior information about the Man dies of burns Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 1 A day after being set afire over a property dispute, Palwinder Singh succumbed to his injuries today. The deceased’s son, Harmandeep Singh, told the police that a dispute over his grandfather Sham Singh’s property had been on for 10-15 years. He accused his aunt Suman Bala and uncle Prem Singh of harassment, saying the two pressured the family to vacate the house. Harmandeep said his father had left home to offer prayers. On receiving a call that the latter had suffered Was set afire over property dispute delay. A flyer, who had come from Jalandhar, said they were made to wait in the open, with their request to let them in turned down. The situation turned tense when passengers confronted the staff and demanded that the airline’s manager be called to address their grievance. Expressing anger over the arrangements, another passenger said around 70-80 travellers were forced to sit outside in the sweltering heat. A similar disruption involving a SpiceJet AmritsarDubai flight had occurred just a day before. The flight was reportedly delayed by around 17 to 18 hours, following which the flyers took to sloganeering, venting their anger. During Sunday’s disruption, the flyers had complained of apathy and the airline’s slack approach towards making alternative arrangements for those stranded. The airport duty officer refused to comment. For the airline’s version, nobody was available at the airport. SGPC in flood-hit Nepal, seeks info on relief ops from PMO Charanjit Singh Teja burns, the family reached Ram Tirath Road, and took him to hospital. He stated that Palwinder regained consciousness on the way to hospital and held his sister Suman Bala and brother-inlaw Prem Singh responsible for his condition. Following this, the family filed a complaint with the Chheharta police station and demanded a fair investigation. Police officer Rajbir Singh said a case had been registered and that the police were waiting for the autopsy report. c m y b Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 1 An SGPC delegation in Nepal to assist those affected by floods met PMO representatives there and sought detailed information about the situation in the aftermath of the natural disaster and relief operations undertaken by the Nepal government. The meeting was facilitated by Pritam Singh, secretary of the Gurdwara Singh Sabha. The delegation comprising Rajinder Singh Mehta, Gurcharan Singh Grewal and An SGPC delegation meets representatives of the Nepal government in Kathmandu. Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, along with SGPC deputy secretary Azad Deep Singh said the information would help it plan and continued on page 2 PIARA LAL SETH EFFORTS FRUCTIFY At 13, Piara Lal Seth saw his factory reduce to ashes. “Thereafter, my father — Lala Maya Ram Seth — started imparting training to those interested in embroidery, dyeing and allied jobs. The initiative soon bore results, with most getting employed,” the owner of Apollo Shawls said. Rs 500 crore annually. Piara Lal Seth, managing director, Apollo Shawls, deals in manufacturing, export and trading of shawls, stoles, scarves. He is credited with introducing shuttleless looms with electronic jacquard, procured from Europe in the late 90s. Now, the city boasts of 600 shuttleless looms. “In the city, I took the lead to import two looms worth Rs 1.50 crore from Belgium at that time,” Seth said. The nonagenarian’s biography has been penned by Deep Jagdeep Singh, who heads the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, and has been taking up the grievances of traders with the state and Central governments. SIR camps across district on September 6 Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 1 Special camps will be held at all 2,240 polling stations across the district on September 6 as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh said on Tuesday. The camps will be held from 10 am to 4 pm, with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) assisting voters with claims, objections, corrections and other election-related queries. According to the schedule issued by the Election Commission of India, the draft photo electoral roll was published on August 13. Claims and objections regarding the draft electoral roll can be filed till September 12. The Deputy Commissioner said eligible voters could submit Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8 either online through the Election Commission’s voter portal and Voter Helpline App or offline through the concerned Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and BLO. Representatives of recognised political parties appointed as Booth Level Agents (BLAs) will also remain present at the special camps and assist BLOs in the process of receiving claims and objections. The Deputy continued on page 2