10012025-JTR-01.qxd 09-01-2025 22:37 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune TIME CAPSULE: TATA NANO LAUNCHED ON JAN 10, 2008 100 COUPLES CELEBRATE LOHRI WITH THEIR NEWBORNS PRIYANKA JOINS ANUJA AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Ratan Tata, the then chairman of Tata Group, envisioned an affordable vehicle for burgeoning middle class. P2 The couples share their inspiring journey and joy of parenthood with the guests present on the occasion. P2 Priyanka is happy that she has come on board as an executive producer for the Oscar-shortlisted film. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 14°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 15°C | MIN 5°C SUNSET FRIDAY 5.42 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7:27 AM FRIDAY | 10 JANUARY 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF MAN DIES DUE TO EXCESSIVE DRINKING Phagwara: A resident of Mehatpur died following the excessive drinking and cold. The deceased has been identified as Sajan, a resident of Mohalla Chopra. Balkar, alias Toti, the father of the deceased, told the police that her son died due to excessive drinking and sleeping outside in cold. The police handed over the body to the family after post-mortem. OC FIVE BOOKED FOR MURDER BID Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have booked five persons on the charges of attempt to murder and firing. Gurdeep Singh of Bangiwal village complained to the police that the accused opened fire to kill him and his family members on January 3 late at night. He said old enmity was the reason behind this attack. OC WOMAN DRUG 'PEDDLER' HELD Phagwara: The Mehatpur police have arrested a woman 'drug peddler' on the charge of selling poppy husks. Investigating officer Gurnam Singh said 5-kg poppy husk was seized from the accused's possession. The accused has been identified as Gurnam Kaur of Kaimwala village. OC 14 BOOKED FOR ASSAULT Phagwara: The police have booked 14 persons, including three women, on the charge of assaulting a woman. The accused have been identified as Baljit Kaur of Kania Kalan village, Bunti, another woman of the same village, and their 11 accomplices. Gurbakash Kaur of the same village complained to the police that the accused waylaid her, assaulted and threatened her with dire consequences. OC NO-WORK DAY BY LAWYERS Nakodar: On a call given by the Bar Association, Samrala and Khanna, members of the Bar Association, Phagwara, "No Work Day" on Thursday. The association condemned the heinous attack on Hasan Singh, member of the Bar Association, Samrala and Khanna. Lawyer Lalit Chopra and Munish Sarin denounced the police's failure for not lodging an FIR till date. oc BULLETS FIRED ON CAR, CASE FILED Hoshiarpur: The Tanda police have registered a case against unidentified accused for firing on a car with the intention of murder. Navdeep Singh, a resident of Dhirowal district, Batala, told the police that he was going from Pul Pukhta to the village in a car along with his friends. Some of his friends were with him in another car. He told the police that an unidentified person fired five bullets on his car with the intention of murder. The police have registered a case. oc MAN ARRESTED WITH HEROIN Hoshiarpur: The police raided a house located in Mohalla Dashmesh Nagar and seized 265 gram of heroin and arrested an accused. He has been identified as Vijay Kumar, a resident of Dashmesh Nagar.oc Hospital staff ‘dump’ man outside Raen Basera, readmitted by shopkeepers Association members write to NHRC, DC |Seek probe |Second case in Jalandhar in 2 months Aparna Banerji NO ‘ADMISSION’ SANS ICARD IN RAEN BASERAS Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 9 After the recent uproar over two men being abandoned outside the Raen Basera (night shelter) under the Domoriah Bridge in Jalandhar on November 23, the Civil Hospital staff have again come under attack by residents over the similar plight of another patient in January this year. Members of the Sant Cinema Shopkeepers Association have written to the National Human Rights Commission as well as the DC, Jalandhar, demanding an inquiry and action against the erring staff of the hospital regarding a patient, who was allegedly abandoned outside the night shelter (under Domoriah bridge) on the night of January 6. The association members got the patient admitted again the same night. Shop owners have questioned the repeated abandoning of patients outside the night shelter in the extreme cold winter. As per the complaint by the shopkeepers’ association, a patient, Raja Babu, had been under treatment at the hospital but was dropped outside the Raen Basera under the Members of the Sant Cinema Shopkeepers Association say that another problem was that the night shelter under Domoriah Bridge is accepting people only if they have an Aadhaar card. Due to this, many infirm and ailing are forced to spend chilly nights in the open. “At least 20 to 25 elderly babas or ascetics sleep in the nights on pavements as the night shelter does not provide shelter to them,” said a member of the association. Patient Raja Babu; and (right) he was reportedly being abandoned outside a night shelter under Domoriah Bridge in Jalandhar on January 6. Domoriah Bridge in Jalandhar by the hospital staff on the night of January 6. The complaint states that the ailing man was unable to walk and was appealing to be taken back to the hospital again. According to the patient, he had been admitted to the hospital for two months. The complaint argues that contrary to the claims that he left the Civil Hospital himself, the man was unable to walk. Similarly, two men Anmol And Vijay had also been dropped outside the Raen Basera in November. The complaint says, “The act of the hospital is inhumane. We demand that the matter be inquired into and the erring hospital staff be acted against.” While Raja Babu was taken to the Civil Hospital by members of the shopkeepers association on the night of January 6 itself (where he is currently under treatment), the mem- bers also submitted a memorandum to the DC on the issue on January 7. Previously, too, in the November 2024 case, the shopkeepers’ association had taken the two men to the hospital, where one of them had subsequently died. A video of Raja Babu was shared on social media where the scantily clad elderly man sits wrapped in a blanket by the roadside and says he can’t eat or get up. Shopkeeper Lalit Mehta said, “These kind of cases last happened in 2020 and are happening again since November 2024. This man was left at 7 pm, he was sick and miserable. Unable to walk, he would have died if left unattended in the night. We called the 108 ambulance on the night of January 6 itself and took him back to the hospital, where I accompanied him in a car. I got his file made only after which I returned. Till 1 am, the police also kept calling me for details. The biggest question is who dropped an infirm, under-treatment patient in the open on a December night, and why?” Civil Surgeon Gurmeet Lal said, “As per staff, the patient went from the Civil Hospital himself without informing the staff. Also, repeatedly in such cases, these patients are found to be on their own, with no attendants or family members. At times, they are abandoned by someone who later vanishes. We are aware of such cases and through links with the District Social Security Officer, we are working to find a more concrete solution to such cases.” Committee demands Sikh Mayor for city Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 9 The Sikh Talmel Committee held a press conference today and demanded that AAP must elect a Sikh Mayor this time. The announcement of the Mayor will be made on January 11. Members of the Sikh Talmel Committee said until now, no Sikh had ever become a Mayor. “Neither the Congress, now BJP made a Sikh face as Mayor. Now, we request AAP to fulfil the demand. We have also met the party in this regard,” Paramjeet Singh Bhatia from the committee said. The Sikh Talmel Committee members said until now, no announcement had been made which was why they were asking the party to agree to their demand. “We have been told that the party will definitely consider the suggestion. We are hopeful that a decision will be made soon and if they elect a Sikh face, we will feel that everyone is treated equally,” the members of the Sikh Talmel Committee said. The meeting will be held on January 11 in Red Cross Bhawan where the name of the newly elected Mayor will be announced. As per information, Vineet Dhir’s name has been finalised, however, no official statement has been made yet in this regard. Chuggiti Road nightmare for commuters Potholed roads, sewage stench plague Focal Point Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 9 The poor condition of Chuggiti Road near Guru Nanak Pura Park has become a nightmare for commuters and residents alike. This stretch, which serves as a crucial link for those travelling to Amritsar, was dug up about one-and-a-half months ago during the pre-election frenzy when the Municipal Corporation (MC) was scrambling to repair the city’s deteriorating roads. However, since the elections concluded, the repair work seems to have been abandoned, leaving the stretch in a dangerous state. The road was already in a poor condition before being dug-up. Commuters, lured by the shorter route from Jalandhar to Amritsar and Hoshiarpur, have no option but to brave the hazardous stretch as they avoid the extra 2-km detour via the PAP flyover. With heavy traffic flowing through the area daily, the dug-up stretch has now become a headache. Commuters say their frustrations have reached a boiling Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Overflowing sewage on Chugitti Road a nuisance in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH point. “The road was unmotorable even before it was dug up,” said a commuter. “We thought the repairs would finally address the years of neglect, but nothing has changed. There’s no sign of work restarting, and the road is almost closed for commuters.” Criticism over the quality of work is widespread. “This is not just about Chuggiti Road,” a commuter said, adding that the majority of roads suffer from shoddy patchwork and a lack of proper supervision. Repairs are temporary, at best, and conditions deteriorate within weeks. Kamal Sharma points out that the condition extends beyond the stretch near Guru Nanak Pura Park. “The road from the railway crossing is riddled with potholes, slowing traffic and endangering lives. Despite paying taxes, we are forced to endure such roads. Well-maintained roads should be the MC’s priority,” Sharma said. Another resident expressed anger over political leaders, who promised better infrastructure, urging them to address the situation urgently. “The abandoned repair work is now a grim reminder of promises made before the election, promises that seem to have been forgotten”, he said. Jalandhar, January 9 Focal Point and Focal Point Extension, key industrial hubs, are reeling under severe civic neglect, with overflowing sewage, non-functional streetlights and mounting garbage turning the area into a nightmare for industrialists. Despite being home to over 300 major industrial units and hosting clients from across the country and abroad, the area’s infrastructure has seen little attention from the authorities concerned. Business owners, who contribute significant revenue through water and sewage levies and property taxes, are increasingly frustrated. They claim the deteriorating infrastructure is not only affecting operations, but also tarnishing the area’s reputation. The situation worsens during rain, with overflowing sewers damaging already crumbling roads and creating hazardous conditions. Rajan Sharda, an industrialist actively voicing these issues, lamented the embarrassment of welcoming clients through such dismal surroundings. “It’s humiliating to escort visitors through potholed roads filled with garbage with stray animals roaming around. We’ve invested crores in our units and yet the government expects us to fix basic infrastructure,” Sharda said. Industrialists have pointed out that daily hundreds of vehicles traverse the area, making its poor state even more concerning. They accused the authorities of ignoring their plight, with promises made during the elections remaining unfulfilled. “Not a single official has visited to address our grievances,” they added. The lack of functional streetlights has further exacerbated the safety concerns. With half the lights non-oper- ational, factory workers leaving late at night have become frequent targets for snatchers, taking advantage of darkness. Additionally, small vehicles used for loading goods often stuck into sewage-filled potholes, leading to delays. The stench from stagnant sewage near factories is another major complaint, with industrialists citing severe health hazards for workers. “It’s impossible to work in such unbearable conditions. The government has a responsibility to provide basic infrastructure, but the indifference is appalling,” said one business owner. They said the area, the cornerstone of the local economy, continues to bear the brunt of civic apathy, with industrialists urging immediate action from the Municipal Corporation and district administration to restore the infrastructure and ensure a dignified working environment. Tough task ahead for new city Mayor Sewerage, garbage issues remain a challenge Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 9 During the last General House meeting that was held in January 2023, the maximum number of councillors had raised the sewerage and garbagerelated issues and gheraoed former Mayor Jagdish Raja for failing to do anything to address civic issues. Now that the city will get its Mayor on January 11, and then the first General House meeting will be soon happening, the issues remain the same. Jagdish Raja was offered a cap by a councillor during his last House meeting and the councillor had sarcastically said while she was giving the topi ‘Tusi sabnu hamesha topi pehenaai hai’ (you have always fooled everyone and didn’t do any work in these five years?. Strangely, the former Mayor used to get sharp criticism from his own party councillors. The new Mayor will have to deal with several issues and the tenure is not going to remain easy as the issues that were prevalent earlier are still very much there, instead the problems have increased in the last two years. Also, with the formation of new MC House, there is a possibility that ad hoc committees will also be formed at the earliest. According to the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, the corporation has to constitute committees of water supply and sewerage c m y b disposal, building and roads, house tax assessment and other such committees. The Act also reads that each committee would elect one of its members as the chairman and another member as the vice-chairman. The committees play a major role in various works of the corporation. Councillors are the members of the committees and they can raise problems of residents with the respective branch. Besides, even works of various branches get distributed and decentralised. Sewage overflows on the roadside; and (right) a broken streetlight pole at Focal Point. PHOTOS: SARABJIT SINGH