21072024-JTR-01.qxd 7/20/2024 10:22 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune NAWANSHAHR LOSE TO HOSHIARPUR BY 9 WICKETS PLAY BULLEH SHAH STAGED AT TAGORE THEATRE BOMAN IRANI READY WITH HIS DIRECTORIAL VENTURE In the U-19 cricket tournament, Hoshiarpur defeated Nawanshahr by 9 wickets and earned 4 points. P2 The play delves into the life of the poet and the most important chapters of Punjabi Sufi history. P4 His journey through photography, theatre and filmmaking reflects his affair with the art of narrative. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 37°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 29°C SUNSET SUNDAY 7.23 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5:36 AM » SUNDAY | 21 JULY 2024 | JALANDHAR (Clockwise from L) Stray cattle feed on a garbage dump, commuters negotiate a waterlogged road and sewage running through streets at the Focal Point area in Jalandhar. PHOTOS: SARABJIT SINGH Poor amenities infuriate Focal Point bizmen Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 20 The Focal Point, Jalandhar, is grappling with deteriorating civic amenities. The area, which is home to numerous large industrial units, is plagued by potholed roads, overflowing sewage, non-functional streetlights and unattended garbage dumps, causing significant distress among industrialists. Business owners in Focal Point have expressed their frustration, highlighting that despite paying substantial amounts in water and sewage levies as well as property taxes, they are not receiving the necessary infrastructure support. The situation worsens during the monsoon season when increased sewer discharge exacerbates the overflow, further damaging the already precarious roads. Rajan Sharda, an industrialist, who recently raised the INBRIEF FOUR ARRESTED FOR BAIL FRAUD Hoshiarpur: The police have arrested four persons for furnishing fake documents to secure bail for an inmate. The police had received a complaint from the court of CJM PS Kalke that the bail documents submitted by some sureties were found to be fake during the investigation. The court ordered to register a case against the miscreants. The suspects have been identified as Yashpal, Vipan Kumar and Amrik Singh, and Kuldeep. OC ROBBERS TARGET MEDICAL SHOP Phagwara: Unidentified scooter-borne robbers with masked faces took away Rs 15,000 from a medical shop owner near SP office in broad daylight today. Abhishek Bedi, owner of the chemist shop, told the police that he was at his shop when the accused struck, snatching the money and fleeing from the spot. The accused disappeared near Law Gate, Miherru (Phagwara). The police have registered a case and the matter is under investigation. OC MOBILE RECOVERED FROM JAIL BARRACK Hoshiarpur: The Central Jail administration has recovered a mobile phone from a barrack. Assistant Superintendent of Jail Manjit Singh told the police that a mobile phone was recovered from barrack number 4 during a search. OC issue with the Municipal Corporation (MC), lamented the embarrassment of escorting clients and business parties from other states and countries through such poorly maintained surroundings. “It’s humiliating to showcase our factories amidst potholed roads and scattered garbage, where stray animals scavenge in groups,” Sharda said. “We have invested crores in establishing our units. Does the government expect us to fund basic infrastructure improvements too,” he questioned. Business owners emphasised that Focal Point hosts over 300 industries, and hundreds of vehicles pass through the area on a daily basis, besides, they regularly welcome clients from across the country and abroad, but still, the government is paying no attention towards its upkeep. “Huge promises were made during elections but in reality, no official has ever visited to address these pressing issues. “They are simply ignoring the problem,” they added. Bhushan Luther, another industrialist, expressed concerns about the impending rainy season, predicting that the situation will deteriorate further as sewer water increasingly floods the roads. “Small pickup vehicles used for loading and unloading goods often fall into unseen potholes submerged in sewage-filled streets,” he said. He also noted the area becomes particularly unsafe in the evening due to the nonfunctionality of about half the streetlights. He said the snatchers often take advantage of the darkness, targeting the factory workers that leave late at night. The industrialists further reported that the sewage outside their factories remains choked, emitting a foul odour that makes working conditions unbearable and pose several health hazards. “Providing basic infrastructure is the government’s responsibility, yet those in charge seem indifferent,” they said. MC Commissioner Gautam Jain said the Focal Point area was developed by the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) and has not been fully handed over to the MC. He highlighted that the STP installed by PSIEC there is not operating at full capacity, resulting in sewage overflow issues. He claimed that the MC is addressing and resolving the issues within its jurisdiction. However, he emphasized that major concerns related to Focal Point, such as development and the STP require joint efforts. , Jain also stressed that industrialists must adhere to regulations, and said a meeting where both PSIEC and the industrialist association will be called in next few days for detailed discussions and to devise solutions. Toll plaza staffer killed in mishap Talwara, July 20 One person died while another was seriously injured in a road accident on TalwaraDaulatpur road today. Police station in-charge Harjinder Singh said that Vishal Chaudhary, a resident of Chhabad under Fatehpur police station, district Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, told the police in his statement that he and Raman Kumar were going home on a Bullet motorcycle after doing their duty at the toll tax barrier of village Kharia, the entry point of Himachal Pradesh. As soon as they reached near village Bhol Kalota, they collided with a tractor-trolley. Raman Kumar died on the spot due to the impact of the collision while Vishal Chaud- Colleague seriously injured as bike collides with tractor-trolley Raman Kumar hary was seriously injured. Meanwhile, the people nearby admitted Vishal to BBMB Hospital in Talwara for treatment, through Dial-108 ambulance. The police reached the spot, took the body in their custody and sent it to BBMB Hospital for postmortem. — OC 11 dengue cases reported in dist Tannery owners remind 23 diarrhoea cases also recorded |Health Dept undertakes prevention drives DC of CM’s poll promise Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 20 As many as 11 cases of dengue have been reported so far in Jalandhar this year of which four were reported in the past three months of May, June and July. Apart from this, 23 cases of diarrhoea have also been reported in the district, all of whom are now cured. With the onset of the monsoon, hectic preparations for dengue prevention have begun in the district. Special fogging drives have been started in areas which have repeatedly featured on the list of dengue hot spots in Jalandhar. While as many as 172 cases of dengue had been reported in Jalandhar last year (until December 6, 2023) the dengue cases kept coming in Water accumulated on a road in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH until January this year. Of the total cases reported this year, most surfaced in January. As many as seven cases were reported in January, two in May and one each in June and July so far. Meanwhile, four cases of malaria were also reported this year. To keep the spread of dengue at bay, various hot spots are being closely monitored by the Health Department. Ironically, the Basti areas in the Jalandhar West constituency where the bypoll was recently held are some of the most notorious hot spots for the breeding of dengue larvae. Areas which have been recognised for targeted action against dengue include ward numbers 28, 38, 49 and 58. Specifically, areas like Bhargo Camp, Abadpura, Santokhpura, Basti Bawa Khel, Mangu Basti and Jalandhar Cantt are the ones where breeding of larvae is especially being checked. To keep the spread of dengue at bay, 60 larvae breeding checker teams have also been pushed into service by the Health Department in July. Teams of the MC have also issued 12 warning notices to residents to check the breeding of larvae and dengue. Epidemiologist Dr Aditya Paul said, “Our teams are heading door-to-door to check the spread of dengue. Fogging has also been started in sensitive areas and hot spots. Sixty teams are carrying out checks every day. Residents are advised to ensure no water accumulates in utensils or scrap in and around their household.” Resolve plaints on priority: Officials told Youth ends life Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, July 20 Cabinet Minister Bram Shankar Jimpa today listened to the problems of the people and directed officials to resolve these as soon as possible. He said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was leaving no stone unturned to ensure the welfare of the people and the benefits of government schemes are being extended to every eligible beneficiary. Complaints related to police, revenue, health, education, water supply and sanitation, social security, food and supplies, drainage, mining, social justice and empowerment, agriculture, transport, cooperative, Municipal Corporation, dairy development and electricity department were resolved on the spot. Jimpa said that people were getting services in government offices without any hassles and that people’s faith in the gov- ernment had become stronger. He said that the district administration was also reaching out to the villages under the ‘Aap Di Sarkar, Aap De Dwar’ campaign and resolving the problems of the people. He said that if any citizen faces any problem in any government office, he should contact him without hesitation. DSP Amarnath, Varinder Sharma Bindu, Varinder Vaid and other dignitaries were also present with him on the occasion. c m y b Phagwara, july 20 A youth reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan at his residence in Guru Nanakpura locality of Phagwara on Saturday. The deceased, identified as Rupinder Singh (26), was alone at the time of suicide, said former councillor Baljinder Singh Thekedar. SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti said the exact cause of suicide could not be known yet, but depression was said to be the reason for the suicide. The police have registered a case. — OC Had assured to pay CETP stakeholders’ share in upgrade work Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 20 Having been promised by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that the state government would bear the additional 15 per cent share of the Rs 28.64 cr expenditure being incurred on the upgrade of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), the tannery owners have taken up the matter with the district administration. In the run-up to the Jalandhar West bypoll, the CM had held an industry meet on July 5 wherein he had also invited the tannery owners of the city. The tannery owners had demanded from the CM that since their business had got badly affected, the government should bear their burden of payment of Rs 4.3 crore share (15 pc share) in the CETP upgrade. Amandeep Sandhu, president, Punjab Leather Federation (PLF), said, “The CETP with 5 MLD capacity was to be upgraded for which the Centre was to bear the 70% cost, state 15% and stakeholders 15%. We have said that since we are not in a position to bear this 15% share, we had asked the CM that the government should bear this additional cost and make its share 30 pc (Rs 8.6 crore) to which he had agreed. So, when Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal took a tour of the DC Himanshu Aggarwal at Leather Complex in Jalandhar. Leather Complex today, we reminded him of this promise made by the CM”. Hira Lal Verma, Director, Punjab Effluent Treatment Society (PETS), said, “After getting commitment from the CM, we have already written to the secretaries of the departments of finance, industry and environment informing that we are no longer liable to pay this 15 per cent share and that it has to come from the state government.” Verma said, “When the PPCB had imposed restrictions on the wet units in the leather complex around 7-8 years back and got their drums sealed owing to improper functioning of the CETP we had started to lose , our clientele of leather products. Ever since our clients found other options as in Pakistan and Bangladesh, we have not been able to rope them back. The 60 wet units which were earlier there in the Leather Complex have come down just to 30. Even the remaining 30 units are working to just 25 pc of their actual capacity.” He explained, “We have two CETPs in Leather Complex, one with five MLD capacity and the other with 1.5 MLD capacity. But our discharge initially was 10 MLD and we were demanding a new CETP to cover it up. But now, our discharge is as low as two MLD, which itself explains the working condition here. But we are expecting that when the state pays up 30 per cent share of the CETP and the plant gets upgraded, we will be in a position to get back our clients again.”
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