Longevity in the name

Some of the landmarks always persist in talk and memory even when they are removed. Although Malhar Cinema is no longer there, people still call the road that got named after the cinema as Malhar Road years after it was brought down. People say though Aarti Cinema they loved has been pulled down and some multi-storeyed structure might come up on its place, the roundabout in front will be unofficially known as Aarti Chowk. It proves that names have longer value, memory and life.

City stands to gain

With inclusion of Ludhiana (West) legislator Bharat Bhushan Ashu in the Punjab Cabinet, the industrial capital of the state stands to gain a lot. Now, the city has its own representative, who can take up crucial issues appropriately at the highest level in the government. Going by their past experience during the long tenure of Ashu as a councillor and then as a legislator, city residents have high hopes from him. They expect that being a part of the Cabinet, he will strongly push the genuine claims of the industrial hub when it comes to allocation of funds for much needed urban infrastructure and better delivery of amenities. Hopefully, the new minister will not disappoint residents of his native city.

Summers bring worries!

With the onset of summers, the worries of residents have also started increasing. Residents have every reason to be worried about with problem of contaminated water, fear of mosquitoes and dengue, unhygienic conditions leading to deadly diseases, including cholera/typhoid looming large. One of the home-makers said in a helpless manner, “Every year diseases spread, problems are highlighted, assurances are given, issues are solved to some extent, but still there is no end to summer woes. We are used to living in such conditions now.”

When reality hits…

At a science exhibition, a student had designed a model that called for an attention for all the wrong reasons just like our smart city Ludhiana. In the project, the boy had shown piles of garbage near residential areas, smoke emitting vehicles and dirty ponds. Interestingly, when Deputy Mayor was showed the model, the grim ‘reality of the city’ dawned upon him too. If a student can point out the flaws and suggest ways to improve the city, then why can’t our leaders do the same? It was shameful on part of the administration and the political leadership that Ludhiana was portrayed as a threat to the health and environment.

Contributed by Gurvinder Singh, Kuldip Bhatia, Shivani Bhakoo and Naina Mishra