30122024-JTR-01.qxd 12/29/2024 10:37 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune ABHINAV WINS SILVER AT BADMINTON C’SHIP THE SCREEN BELONGED TO THESE DEBUTANTS SONU SOOD BACK IN ACTION WITH HIS MOVIE FATEH Shuttler Abhinav Thakur won silver medal in the Senior National Team Badminton Championship . P2 From Lisa Mishra to Lakshya Lalwani to Junaid Khan, here are actors who made impressive debuts. P4 Sonu Sood makes his debut as a director and writer with his ‘high action thriller’. P4 » » FORECAST COLD WAVE MAX 18°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 18°C | MIN 9°C SUNSET MONDAY 5.34 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 7:26 AM » MONDAY | 30 DECEMBER 2024 | JALANDHAR PUDA Complex in a shambles as civic body officials fail to address key issues Cong ready to prove majority any time Avneet Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, December 29 The PUDA Complex here, once a prestigious hub housing media houses, banks, insurance companies, food joints and other offices, now lies in a state of utter neglect. Broken roads, overflowing garbage, non-functional streetlights and parking lots encroached upon by scrap dealers have turned the complex into a nightmare for visitors and employees alike. This glaring example of official apathy thrives right under the nose of the Municipal Corporation (MC), with no signs of improvement despite numerous complaints. The parking lots meant to provide convenience to visitors and employees have become scrapyards and sales points for second-hand car dealers. These dealers occupy the space early each morning, leaving legitimate users scrambling for parking. “This illegal encroachment makes it nearly impossible to find space to park, forcing many to park their vehicles haphazardly on broken roads,” said a INBRIEF PATWAR UNION TO SUPPORT BANDH Phagwara: All patwaris belonging to The Revenue Patwar Union, Punjab, will observe complete bandh on December 30 in solidarity with striking farmers who have announced a statelevel protest on Monday. In a statement issued by Balraj Singh Aujla, state president of the union, the offices of all patwaris of the state would remain close on Monday. OC 35-YEAR-OLD MAN KILLED IN MISHAP Phagwara: A 35-year-old man was killed in a road accident. Investigating Officer Gurnam Singh said that the deceased has been identified as Jagjit Singh, a resident of Khurram Pur colony, Mehat Pur. Jogindar Singh, father of the deceased, told the police his son was killed in a road accident. The police, acting under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, handed over the body to the family after a post-mortem. OC Ashok Kaura (Clockwise from top) scrap vehicles with waste lying around, a badly damaged road; and (right) a garbage dump at the PUDA complex in front of DC office in Jalandhar. PHOTOS: SARABJIT SINGH frustrated employee of a media house. Sanitation issues further compound the problem. Overflowing garbage on vacant plots, stagnant water and unkempt surroundings make the complex a health hazard. Visitors and SCO owners complain that the unhygienic conditions are driving people away, impacting business and tarnishing the image of the complex. Adding to the misery are roads riddled with potholes, making navigation within the complex hazardous. At night, non-functional streetlights plunge the area into darkness, raising safety concerns. Owners of SCOs argue that such neglect in a space hosting important offices and media establishments reflects the civic body’s indifference to public grievances. “It’s shocking. If the authorities can’t maintain a complex that houses PUDA’s own office and witnesses heavy footfall, one can only imagine the state of other Police crack two cases of theft, drug peddling; two arrested Our Correspondent Phagwara, December 29 In a major crackdown on theft and drug peddling, the Jalandhar Rural Police have arrested two accused involved in separate cases of motorcycle theft and drug smuggling. The recoveries include three stolen motorcycles, six mobile phones, 10 gm of heroin and 105 narcotic pills, according to Senior Superintendent of Police, Jalandhar Rural, Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh, here on Sunday. Those arrested have been identified as Ashok Sandhu and Charanjit Singh, both residents of Rurka Khurd. Both have criminal histories and have been involved in multiple offenses across the district. Khakh added that in the first case a police team from Goraya police station, led by The accused in the custody of Goraya police on Sunday. Inspector Sikander Singh under the supervision of DSP Sarwan Singh Bal, apprehended Ashok near the railway gate at Dallewal. He was nabbed with two stolen motorcycles and six mobile phones. The accused confessed to being part of a theft network targeting vehicles and personal belongings. In the second case, the same police team arrested Charanjit, who was caught near Dhuleta village with 10 gm of heroin, 105 narcotic pills and a motorcycle. Charanjit, a habitual offender, has seven criminal cases registered against him, including those of theft and NDPS Act violations. After being released on bail earlier, he resumed drug trafficking. areas in the city,” said Prabhmeet Kaur, a regular visitor to the area. Officials of PUDA, when contacted, clarified that maintenance of the complex had been handed over to the MC two years ago. However, stakeholders allege that the MC has done nothing to address their concerns. “Our Girl abducted, three booked Tribune News Service Garbage heaps are a common sight in Jalandhar. what. “We don’t understand why such basic things cannot be provided by the civic body. What are we asking for? Is it too much to wish for? The city is a total mess right now and sewerage problem is only worsening the situation,” said Subeg Saini from the city. To tackle the solid waste, a project under the Smart City Mission was initiated. Bio-mining is a much touted project worth Rs 34 crore under the Smart City Mission that has suffered several obstacles. The contract given to the previous company handling the project was also terminated by the MC. Now, another company has been entrusted with the task to look after the project. In 2017, the project was planned to manage and process the waste at the Wariana dump. Instead, heaps of garbage at the Wariana dump c m y b complaints fall on deaf ears. The officials seem utterly indifferent to the complex’s state,” lamented an SCO owner. Meanwhile, MC officials claimed that the responsible officers would be instructed to take necessary action to restore the complex to its early condition. Phagwara, December 29 Even after one week of the local bodies elections the AAP-led Punjab Government has not issued a proper notification for the formation of municipal corporations. The elections were held on December 21 and results were declared the same evening. In Phagwara, as per the present scenario the Congress has the support of 29 elected councillors, including 23 of its own, three of Bahujan Samaj Party, two Independent and a local MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal. On the other hand, AAP has 14 elected councillors, but AAP will have to take support of Shiromani Akali Dal (three councillors) and BJP (four), but even then it cannot be in the position of electing its own mayor. Dhaliwal said here on Saturday evening that he was ready to present the Congress councillors on one platform. He asked the local AAP leadership to bring their councillors on one platform before public and leave dirty politics. Will SAD and BJP join hands with AAP in Phagwara to prevent the Congress from forming the MC? This question has become the talk of the town. According to reliable sources, the SAD may support AAP to form the new MC in Phagwara. SAD halka incharge Ranjit Singh Khurana told The Tribune here today that SAD could join hands with any political party to prevent the Congress from forming the MC in Phagwara, but the final decision would be taken by the SAD high command. It was learnt that AAP leaders like Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal and halka incharge Joginder Singh Maan are contacting all antiCongress parties, including Independent candidates, to bring them on one platform. Dhaliwal alleged that AAP leaders were stopping MC employees from lifting garbage from the wards won by the Congress. He showed a photo of heap of garbage in Labour Colony here from where Congress leader Sushil Maini had been elected. Fogged up Our Correspondent Phagwara, December 29 More than six miscreants abducted a girl studying at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, on Friday. Vipin Malhotra, a resident of New Harkrishan Nagar, Phagwara, and father of the girl, told the police that his daughter, who was studying in LPU, went on her scooter for some domestic work, but was reportedly abducted by seven-eight youths. The complainant told the police that he suspected the involvement of three youths — Sukhbir Ghagh and Gurpartap (both residents of NangalSaprod village) and Rajat Mittal of Gilco Colony, Phagwara. He added that the youths reportedly chased his daughter in two different cars and forcibly took her in one and fled. Phagwara DSP Bharat Bhushan said the police had registered a case against three identified youths and were searching for the girl. Will new Jalandhar mayor solve garbage mess? Jalandhar, December 29 The announcement of a new mayor may happen anytime now, but it seems that the issue of garbage piling up everywhere is not ending any time soon. Heaps of garbage lying on the roadside are a common sight almost every day. Starting from Chugitti road, then Ladowali road, Nakodar road and inner areas of congested places like Bhargo Camp, Basti Danishmanda, Gandhi Camps, etc. waste and garbage can be seen lying around. Residents said that it seemed as if they wouild have to live with the problem forever, no matter One week after poll, no govt notification on MC formation has only grown bigger with the passage of time. At present, eight lakh metric tonnes of waste is lying at the Wariana dump site. The overflowing waste spews toxins into the air. People living in areas near the Wariana dump site are surviving amidst pollution. The city generates above 450 tonnes of garbage every day. Other small dump sites are also filled to capacity. To tackle the problem, a waste bio-mining project was to be implemented. But things have only turned worse with every passing day and month. Now that a new party is set to lead the Municipal Corporation, time will tell if things will improve or not. A train makes it way through dense fog near Jalandhar during early morning on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Encroachments galore as civic body fails to act in Nurmahal Our Correspondent Phagwara, December 29 Encroachments by vendors and shopkeepers on space meant for pedestrians have become a routine in Nurmahal town as the nagar council authorities have failed to act against the violators. Berms on the road sides from the Old Bus Stand Chowk to Talwan Chowk and Nakodar Road have gradually been encroached upon. Sweet shop owners and vegetable and fruit sellers have infringed upon the space meant for pedestrians. Shopkeepers display their wares in front of their shops, leaving little space for the people to walk. Traders selling building materials have blatantly placed hardware in front of their shops. Some shopkeepers even use sides of the roads to display their goods. A vehicle stuck in a congested bazar in Nurmahal. Locals say the failure of the nagar council to initiate action for the removal of encroachments on the Talwan Chowk Road and Nakodar Road is encouraging oth- er shopkeepers to encroach upon the other roads as well. They say vendors and shopkeepers have also encroached upon the approach road to Nurmahal Sarai.