26092023-LT-01.qxd 9/26/2023 1:09 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CAMPAIGN AGAINST RESIDUE BURNING GETS GOOD RESPONSE FALAQ SAYS NO CHARACTER IS BIG OR SMALL FOR HER PARINEETI, RAGHAV UNITE FOR THEIR ‘HAPPILY EVER AFTER’ 51 progressive farmers honoured for following NGT guidelines on stubble burning in Mandi Ahmedgarh. P2 Falaq Naaz, who recently proved herself in Bigg Boss OTT 2, says it’s very different to work in a reality show. P3 Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha, popularly known as Raagneeti, got married in Udaipur on Sunday. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.18 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:17 AM TUESDAY | 26 SEPTEMBER 2023 | LUDHIANA Dist emerges most preferred Minister: Civic body chief to probe overcharging at parking lots in city investment destination in state Balkar Singh reviews Rejuvenation of Buddha Nullah project at Jamalpur Attracts 620 projects worth ~11K cr, offers 39K jobs in 16 months Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 25 Ludhiana, popularly known as the Manchester of India and the industrial capital of the state, has emerged as the most preferred destination for investment in the state, the government has confirmed. The state’s biggest and largest district, in terms of area and population, has attracted a maximum of 620 projects with an investment of Rs 10,667 crore, which will offer employment to 38,645 youths, during the past 16 months of the present regime, officials have said. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, who reviewed the progress of the new projects here recently, told The Tribune on Monday that as many as 3,420 projects in various sectors with a proposed investment of Rs 50,872 crore had been approved in the state between March 16, 2022, and July 31, 2023, which would offer jobs to 2,86,092 persons in different fields. He said Ludhiana remained the best preferred investment destination in the state where 620 investors had come up with as many projects worth Rs 10,667 crore with employment opportunities to 38,645 youths. “It comes out to be 18.13 per cent of the total projects, 21 per cent of the total investment and almost 14 per cent of the total employment generation in the state,” he said while mentioning that Ludhiana has topped the state in attracting the maximum number of projects. While Mohali turned out to Work in progress at Tata Steel Limited’s new upcoming plant in Ludhiana on Monday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN IN FIGURES TOP FIVE Projects Investment Jobs 3,420 DISTRICT INVESTMENT JOBS ~50,872 Ludhiana 10,667 38,645 2,86,092 Mohali 15,195 76,095 TOP SECTORS Fatehgarh Sahib 4,394 14,894 Manufacturing, alloy Patiala 3,565 12,157 steels, textiles, agri & food Ropar 1,458 3,808 processing, chemicals (SOURCE: INVEST PUNJAB, INVESTMENT FIGURES IN and petrochemicals. RUPEES CRORE) be the second most preferred investment destination with 507 projects worth Rs 15,195 crore with 76,095 jobs, Fatehgarh Sahib ranked third in the state by attracting investment of Rs 4,394 crore with 14,894 employment opportunities. Among other districts, Amritsar had attracted investment of Rs 4,720 crore with 90,245 jobs, Barnala Rs 342 crore investment and 1,506 jobs, Bathinda Rs 1,341 crore investment and 4,304 jobs, Faridkot Rs 161 crore investment and 1,019 jobs, Fazilka Rs 144 crore investment and 708 jobs, Ferozepur Rs 447 crore investment and 2,884 jobs, Gurdaspur Rs 846 crore investment and 1,854 jobs, Hoshiarpur Rs 1,185 crore investment and 3,503 jobs, Jalandhar Rs 2,150 crore investment and 16,070 jobs, Kapurthala Rs 491 crore investment and 1,032 jobs, Muktsar Rs 249 crore investment and 1,594 jobs, Mansa Rs 288 crore investment and 2,278 jobs, Moga Rs 1,026 crore investment and 4,170 jobs, Pathankot Rs 218 crore investment and 1,016 jobs, Patiala Rs 3,565 crore investment and 12,157 jobs, Ropar Rs 1,458 crore investment and 3,808 jobs, Sangrur Rs 738 crore investment and 3,735 jobs, Nawanshahr Rs 761 crore investment and 1,941 jobs, Muktsar Rs 230 crore investment and 1,250 jobs, while Tarn Taran had got projects worth Rs 255 crore investment, which would generate 1,384 jobs. Divulging the key projects that have come to state since March 16, the Invest Punjab functionaries said the biggest project of Tata Steel Limited (TSL), one of the top global steel companies, had arrived in Ludhiana to set up a new 0.75 MTPA electric arc furnace (EAF)-based steel making shop with rebar mill at an investment of Rs 2,600 crore with jobs to 2,500 persons. He said Sanathan Polycot would invest Rs 1,600 crore with 2,900 jobs in Fatehgarh Sahib, Horizon Infrastructure and Developers would invest Rs 1,128 crore and Turncoat Realty would come up with a project worth Rs 1,100 crore in Mohali, Nabha Power Limited Rs 641 crore with 500 jobs in Patiala, Max Specialty Films Limited Japan Rs 548 crore with 1,230 jobs in Nawanshahr, Freudenberg Group Germany Rs 339 crore with 1,765 Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 25 In the midst of exploitation of visitors and overcharging at some parking lots in the city, Local Bodies Minister Balkar Singh has stated that the Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner will investigate the matter and appropriate action would be taken if any violation is found. Balkar Singh made these remarks during his visit to review the Rejuvenation of Buddha Nullah project here on Monday. When asked about reports of visitors being overcharged at various parking lots under the Municipal Corporation, Balkar Singh said he would instruct the MC Commissioner to conduct a thorough examination and take action if any violations were found. According to sources in the MC, a local AAP MLA is supporting the contractor accused of overcharging visitors. But the minister has denied any such allegations. Numerous instances have come to light where visitors were forced to pay more than the prescribed parking fees at the MC’s Bhadaur House and AC Market parking lots, MC’s Multi-level parking lot near Mata Rani Chowk and Sarabha Nagar lots. For instance, at Bhadaur House and Multi-level lots, visitors were recently charged Rs 100 for car parking, whereas the prescribed fee was Rs 20 for the first two hours of parking. Earlier this month, a visitor filed a complaint with the police, alleging that he and his friends were attacked by a group of persons when he objected to overcharging at AC Market. Local Bodies Minister Balkar Singh looks at a model of the STP in Jamalpur. ASHWANI DHIMAN SEVERAL INSTANCES REPORTED AT LOTS Numerous instances have come to light where visitors were forced to pay more than the prescribed parking fees at the MC’s Bhadaur House and AC Market parking lots, MC’s Multi-level parking lot near Mata Rani Chowk and Sarabha Nagar lots. An FIR was registered against the suspects at the Division No. 1 police station. Before the previous Assembly elections, some AAP leaders from Ludhiana held a press conference, accusing a parking mafia of operating in the city. They had promised to eliminate the mafia if AAP came to power but the promise remains unfulfilled. Meanwhile, the Local Bodies Minister said they had already issued directives to MC commissioners across the state to take strict action against illegal constructions. Nonetheless, sources indicate that several illegal constructions were still on in the city. During his visit to the city, the minister also reviewed the ongoing Rs 650 crore project, aimed at cleaning the Buddha Dariya. He inspected the 225 MLD sewer treatment plant (STP) in Jamalpur, the intermediate pumping station in Sundar Nagar and the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) of the Bahadurke textile Industry. Balkar Singh held a meeting with officials and industrialists during his visit to the STP and CETP to expedite the Buddha Nullah cleaning project and address any industry-related issues. He urged the dyeing industry to cooperate with the authorities to reduce pollution levels in the nullah. The minister mentioned the formation of a committee involving industrialists and the possibility of installing more CETPs in the city, if needed. A committee meeting would be convened to dis- cuss future actions for cleaning the nullah. The minister emphasised on the state government’s commitment to clean the ‘Buddha Dariya’ and directed the authorities to expedite the project and complete it as soon as possible. Ward delimitation process still underway Even six months after the term of the previous Municipal Corporation’s General House ended, the schedule for the upcoming elections remains uncertain. The previous MC’s House term ended on March 25, 2023. Responding to the query about when the MC elections will be held, the minister said the process of ward delimitation was currently in progress. It’s worth noting that a draft notification for ward delimitation was previously issued and approximately 160 objections were lodged in response to it, as per information. Two nabbed in railway employee murder case ASI caught taking ~4K bribe He said the complainant had approached the VB, Ludhiana range, and said he was doing a private job and had a matrimonial dispute with his wife. A complaint in this regard was pending with ASI Sukhdev. The complainant alleged that the ASI had already taken Rs 7,000 in instalments from him and demanded Rs 50,000 more by threatening him to register a case against his family members. He alleged that a deal had been struck in which the policeman had agreed to take a total of Rs 14,000 more bribe, of which he would take Rs 4,000 for himself and Rs 10,000 for the in-charge of the women cell, Ludhiana. — TNS All govt hospitals to be fully automated soon, says Principal Secy Man found dead in park not admitted to hospital: Probe Ludhiana, September 25 Following the arrest of two persons, the police claimed to have solved the murder case of a 30-year-old railway employee. The victim, identified as Pardeep Kumar, a railway worker, was allegedly attacked and left in a critical condition by a fellow employee and his accomplices on September 17. He succumbed to the injuries on September 18. Following the death of Pardeep, an FIR was registered under against the suspect at the Division Number 5 police station on the basis of the statement given by victim’s wife Pooja. JCP Somya Mishra said two persons had been arrested in the case so far. The suspects had been identified as Rajat Singh of Railway Colony, here, and Neeraj, alias Lakhu, of Haibowal Kalan. Besides, another suspect, Akash Malik, of Lalheri village in Sonipat district of Haryana, was yet to be arrested. In her statement, the victim’s wife had alleged that Rajat Singh, who is also a railway employee, along with his aides had attacked his husband near the railway lines, Manjit Nagar. The critically injured victim was rushed to SPS Hospital, where he breathed his last later. After the incident, the Division Number 5 police and the GRP got embroiled in a juris- Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 25 After postponing his visit for a couple of times, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Vivek Pratap Singh today visited the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana. Chief Secretary Anurag Verma had asked him to visit the hospital in connection with the August 27 incident where a patient had lost his life after felling off the stretcher at the hospital. Three employees of the hospital were also suspended in the case. The Principal Secretary was here to analyse the complete set-up and issue clear-cut guidelines/standard operating procedures (SOPs) so that such an incident should not reoccur in future at the hospital or at any other government hospital. He said the SOPs were there but it needs to be ensured that these were implemented and followed properly. “For this, soon, the state government Principal Secretary Health Vivek Pratap Singh during his visit to the Civil Hospital. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN VISITED WARD OF PATIENT DIED ON AUG 27 After postponing his visit for a couple of times, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Vivek Pratap Singh visited Civil Hospital in connection with the August 27 incident where a patient had lost his life after felling off the stretcher at the hospital. He also visited the male ward of unidentified patients where the incident occurred. will make the management of its government hospitals fully automated. Five districts have been chosen for the pilot project and once it is successful in these districts, it will be implemented throughout the state. Ludhiana comes under the second phase,” he said. Government medical colleges follow e-hospital application while government hospitals follow e-Shushrut, Hospital Management Information System. “Everything from end-toend will be automated and it will simplify the process of consulting a doctor at the hospital. It is an integrated computerised clinical information system for improved hospital administration and patient health care. It also provides an accurate, electronically stored medical record of the patient. There will be no scope of mistake while using the system. Aam Aadmi Clinics are currently following the same line c m y b dictional dispute. The Division Number 5 police registered an FIR on September 19 and started a probe. After the registration of the case, Neeraj was reportedly arrested within 24 hours from Ludhiana while key accused Rajat was arrested from Delhi on September 22, the police said. — TNS of technique,” he said. Talking about the shortage of staff in hospitals, Vivek Pratap Singh said doctors were specialists and highly qualified people and that was the reason that their recruitment was not easy. The government is now devising other ways to overcome the issue. “In January, 500 posts of specialist were opened but only 150 were recruited. To solve the issue, we have to adopt other measures. Hence, recently house surgeons were appointed to overcome the issue of staff shortage. For the 500 posts of house surgeon in the state, 400 were recruited and at present, 300 are working,” he said. Further the Principal Secretary said in yet another endeavour to solve the issue of shortage of staff, the government was working in yet another proposal. “Under the proposal, we are planning to involve postgraduate students in the working of government hospitals. The Ludhiana, September 25 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Monday arrested ASI Sukhdev Singh, posted at the women cell, redhanded while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 4,000. A spokesperson for the VB said the ASI had been arrested on the complaint of Abhishekh Sharma of New Shimlapuri. PG students who complete their studies from government medical colleges have to sign a bond after completing their course and the plan was to post them in government hospitals during their bond period and in this way, we can achieve our goal of overcoming staff shortage,” he said. When asked if doctors in the government sector are overburdened and it is becoming the main reason behind the reluctance of the younger lot to join the government services, he said: “Treatment and prevention, both are responsibilities of the government doctors and both go side by side. Primary health and preventive part, both are important and need to be undertaken by the doctors in the government sector. We have got additional staff that are working in Aam Aadmi Clinics. The department is devising ways to undertake the work in a planned manner,” he added. He took the round of the hospital and met patients at the emergency ward and also held a meeting with doctors and nurses of the hospital. Staff of the hospital discussed about their problems and issues related to shortage of staff. They said he had asked them to send him the staff-patient ratio and after studying that, the authorities would rationalise the staff. The Principal Secretary also visited the ward of unidentified male patients where a man lost his life after felling off the stretcher on August 27. The Civil Surgeon told him that those patients who get fully cured are shifted while others were kept in the ward itself and some stay in the ward for twothree months due to which the shortage of beds occurs. The Principal Secretary asked DC Surabhi Malik that separate arrangement should be made for those patients who were on the recovery path to check the problem of shortage of beds. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 25 An unidentified person was found dead in the park at the Civil Hospital here on Tuesday. An inquiry committee was formed by the Civil Surgeon to look into the matter. The three-member Inquiry committee had found that the person used to come regularly to the hospital for having free meals and had come for the same on that day as well. He was not admitted to the hospital, it said. His body was found in the park of the Civil Hospital but he was not admitted to the hospital, stated the inquiry report. Staff had also confirmed about the man not being admitted to the hospital. The probe committee included Dr Rohit Rampal, Dr Amritraj Behal and Dr Vivek Goyal.