Jalandhar, May 6
Model Town, one of the oldest colonies of the city, has undergone a complete change, especially in the past few years. Established primarily as a residential area, it has of late become a purely commercial hub.

Sources in the municipal corporation revealed that as many as 50 CLU certificates had been issued in the past three to four years for allowing a residential plot or a house to be converted into a commercial complex.

Since the corporation has allowed the CLUs on four roads, including Mall Road, Rainbow Road, Post Office Road and Mithapur Market Road, all these areas have gradually become completely commercial with only a few houses left here and there.

The residents who had bought a house on the main roads in the posh colony for Rs 1 lakh per marla or so almost three decades ago have struck a fortune.

They have found an opportunity to sell off their ancestral houses for Rs 35 to 40 lakh per marla too lucrative and have readily moved to another area.

But those who have not moved are facing a lot of problems and are somehow finding it a bit difficult to cope up with the sudden change and disturbance.

Maninder Quami, who has been residing close to a mall in Model Town since 1980, says, “Almost every evening I have to man the traffic outside my own main gate, telling people not to park their cars there. There are people coming in big cars and blocking the entrance and exit of my own house almost daily. The situation even turns unsavoury at times when people refuse to understand our problem,” he said.

Some residents say almost everyday there are people knocking at their doors and asking them if they are ready to sell off their house.

“Fed up with the nuisance, we have written outside the wall of our house that our house is not for sale,” said a resident living near Guru Amar Dass Chowk.

Atam Parkash Singh, another Model Town resident, holds a different opinion. He said he was happy that the area he had been inhabiting had become a centre of attraction with top-class malls coming in and land prices soaring high but he felt that traffic problem too needs to be tackled with.

“Roads often get jammed and a better traffic regulation is the need of the hour,” he suggested.

President of the Model Town Market Association Manoj Arora said he was happy with the development but what irked him was that most of the constructions were illegal with CLUs not taken and basement parking not constructed thus creating chaos all around. “Taking cue from Model Town, other areas, including Jyoti Chowk, Defence Colony and Ladowali Road, have also started a similar practice that too without taking the mandatory CLU,” he said.

Discussing the reasons for the change, historian and principal of Lyallpur Khalsa College, Dr Satish Kapoor, said Model Town was developed in the 1960s. “When NRIs came in 1980s and set up palatial houses, the development in the area picked up.

While the old businessmen preferred to live in the old city, the Model Town area was preferred by the service class or those who wanted to stay away from the polluted area as there is no industry around it,” he pointed out, adding that with growing population a demand for better market place was sure to come.

Mayor Rakesh Rathour said he could not do much about the conversions as it had been legalised by his predecessors on some specific roads in the city. Regarding the traffic and parking problems in the area, he said it was being proposed that Model Town be made a “No parking zone” with a multi-level parking lot set up on the back of Niku Park.

Jalandhar, May 6
Even as it has been more than five years since a residential colony, Chhoti Baradari-Part 2, was developed by PUDA, the residents rue that they have still not been provided with the basic amenities.

Most of the roads have either worn out or are dotted with huge potholes. There is no drainage system, which leads to clogging after a spell of rain.

A community hall, shown in the plan by the officials, has yet not been constructed. The parks are sans any swings or rides. Stray dogs and cattle freely roam about in the colony adding to residents’ woes.

The residents of the colony said even as they had been paying heavy development charges, they felt the authorities had deprived them of essential services. B.S. Uppal, president of the Residents Welfare Society, Chhoti Baradari-Part 2, said more than 75 per cent of the total 334 residents, who had been allotted houses in the area, had either completed construction of their houses or were on the verge of completion.

The residents said even as estimates to the tune of Rs 44.82 lakh for the roads and Rs 152.54 lakh for the drainage system had been passed since long, no further progress had been made in this regard. The members said the drainage system would also include setting up of rainwater harvesting system and groundwater discharge.

The members, represented by Janki Dass Chawla and Manjit Singh, said they had presented a memorandum to the officials demanding that the drainage work should precede the road construction work or else the roads would get washed out during the rainy season.

They said they had demanded that both the works be executed at the earliest so that they do not face any hassles in the coming monsoons.

The residents lamented that the roads in the colony were already quite accident prone. The commuters would not be able to see the potholes which would result in mishaps.

Superintending engineer Tarlochan Singh, when contacted, said the office was waiting for the sanction of the grants from Mohali.

“We have sent the estimates to the higher officials. As soon as they get passed, the work will be started,” he said.

Jalandhar, May 6
City residents have a reason to cheer in the monsoons ahead as the municipal corporation has decided to set up six plants for rainwater harvesting along the roads that remain heavily clogged during the rainy season.

Addressing a press conference, mayor Rakesh Rathour said the project would ensure quick clearance of water from roads while helping to save precious rainwater which could be used for various purposes later.

He said a team from the corporation had recently visited Vadodara and seen water harvesting plants there which have an in-built de-silting provision. He said a plant would cost nearly Rs 3.25 lakh.

“The tenders would be floated very soon so that the project can be started in the coming season. Once its operations are found to be successful, we intend to set up 200 new plants in the next season”, he added.

The mayor also said a 650 crore storm water sewage project would be started soon. He said the project would be undertaken by the Punjab Water Supplies and Sewage Department with its starting point from Khurla Kingra on Nakodar Road.

He added that rain water harvesting and storm water sewage systems would be executed in a mix and match fashion for the next three to four years.

The mayor also announced that to make the tender allotment system and working of contractors totally transparent, he had decided that tender forms will be given out in his own office and opened there in front of mediapersons to ensure fair play.

He said as per the state government’s recent notice, a third party would be involved for quality assurance of the project after completion. He added that a contractor would be given payment only after his performance is approved from the third party, which could be any one from the list of private companies given by the state government.

The mayor further added that to tackle the water problem in the city, 20 new tubewells would be installed soon. While 10 of these would be replaced with old ones, the other 10 will be totally new.

He said even as the total water requirement as per norms was 170 million litres per day (MLD), the corporation was supplying 250 MLD of water.

He said a complaint office had been set up to redress the water problems of the residents who could reach out on the number 0181-2242411.

Jalandhar, May 6
Are you fond of tempting and mouthwatering Punjabi food? Perhaps your longing for a perfect eating joint would surely end up at Lucky Dhaba, a name famous for its sumptuous treats and typical Punjabi melange. The USP of the place is its vegetarian menu, 24x7 timing and irresistible Punjabi food, which make it all the more acceptable among the great Punjabi foodies.

Situated on the GT Road, Phagwara, the place is a major hit not only among the city youth and old people but also the daily commuters, truck drivers and above all the evergreen NRI class. The place has a lot to offer, a perfect combination of AC hall, dining tables set inside the central hall or the rustic touch of a roadside dhaba. And to say that the place is just a big hit among the Jalandharites would be wrong as people love coming here from far-off places.

And the clientele of Lucky Dhaba does not end here. Local MLAs, ministers or any other celebrity you name them and they all have savoured the taste of this place.

Whether it is Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, slain former Chief Minister Beant Singh, actor Dara Singh or singer Sonu Nigam, many celebrities have been to this place at least once. Started in 1969 with a few cots on the GT Road near the then Pragpur petrol pump the place has changed its locations thrice. Later on it was shifted near Dada Motors in 1979 and then finally to its present location in 1992.

Says Jaswant Singh, the owner of Lucky Dhabha, “The dhabha was started by my father and we carried the business ahead. My father died in 1975 and afterwards I along with my younger brother Jasvir started managing the work. Initially, we simply served dal and naan but later on the business expanded and today we serve variety as per the taste of the customer.”

Though Lucky Dhabha has no printed menu but the service offered by the waiters makes it an experience to remember. So the dhabha has a lot to offer right from the daily breakfast which begins at 5 am and continues till 11 am, comprising aloo ka parantha with customary dahi, lassi, achar, makhan and dal, to lunch with appetising dal makhani, shahi paneer, palak paneer, kadi, razma followed by a wholesome dinner.

A Delhi-based newly married couple, Aditi and Kapil, who specially halted at the eating joint for dinner, say “We have been coming here for the past many years. Whenever we cross the GT Road we make it a point to enjoy the delicious Punjabi food here. Moreover, the food is very well cooked and hygienic with quick service.”

Jalandhar, May 6
The Cantonment Board elections are round the corner and the candidates are busy seeking votes in the name of promissory changes and development in every sphere. Covering an estimated population of nearly 3,000 voters, Ward 4 includes candidates who have contested the elections in the previous terms as well.

Ward 4 covers Bhoor Mandi, Mohalla 4, Dada Colony, Thimmiya Park quarters, Jindan Road, Bunglows 87, 88, 98, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 up to the intersection of the Phagwara road.

Sudesh Kumar (42): Considering himself as a people’s man, Sudesh has been serving the cantonment residents for the past many years. He contested the cantonment board elections thrice and served as a councillor during 1992-97. Considering sewerage as one of the biggest problem in the area, he is seeking votes in the name of development. Says he, “In the absence of proper sewerage facilities in the Bhoor Mandi area, the residents are a harried lot. My first priority is to provide clean ambience to the people of this area. The state government has already made a proposal to join the sewerage of Bhoor Mandi with that of the municipal corporation, Jalandhar,” he said, adding that apart from this, the focus was on issues like registration of houses and upgrading the cantonment board schools.

Rajinder Kumar Sonkar (41): An old player in the field of Cantonment Board elections, Rajinder has been associated with the board office for the past 22 years. He won the 1997 Cantonment Board elections with a good margin of 480 votes. He is seeking votes in the name of employment for the unemployed, good education for children and sewerage facility in the Bhoor Mandi area. “Bhoor Mandi is one of the most neglected areas in the entire cantonment. Perhaps this is one place which requires a lot of development. Though previous MLA from cantonment Gurkanwal Kaur gave a grant of Rs 16 lakh for the proper disposal of sewerage and another Rs 43 lakh for the sewerage treatment plant, nothing has materialised so far,” he says.

Bharat Bhushan Sonkar (48): Presently working as vice-president of the District Congress (Urban), Bharat Bhushan is all set to make his foray into the Cantonment Board elections. Considering the issue of no development work being done in Ward 4 and especially in the area of Bhoor Mandi, Bharat is trying his best to win the maximum support of the other voters. “Sewerage blockage has always remained a problem in this area and if elected to power my first priority would be to provide a clean surrounding to the Bhoor Mandi residents,” he said, adding that the previous councillor of this area did nothing during his tenure as a councillor.

Kamal Kumar (28): One of the youngest candidates in the poll fray, this greenhorn is sure of his victory and says, “Ever since the campaign began we have been raking up the issue of sanitation and cleanliness in Ward 4 which also includes the Bhoor Mandi area. Moreover, the elections are being held after a period of 11 years and this will surely give a fair chance to people to get their demands fulfilled.”

Jalandhar, May 6
Fourteen-year-old Thakur Ajay Singh is on cloud nine these days. He has a reason to cheer. The budding tennis player from the city won the all-India talent series held at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. The city boy aims to make it big some day in life and like his idol Roger Federer and wants to earn a name for himself in the sport.

For the championship, which was held from April 28 to May 1 at PAU, Ludhiana, he says, “It was a tough game. Though the semi final was a completely one-sided affair, the quarter final ended up with some good moves and the final match saw a score of 6-0 and 6-1”.

And once again on a winning spree, the city chap is busy with the ongoing AITA (all-India tennis association talent) series presently being held at the Gymkhana Club here. While rest of his friends used to play cricket, Ajay developed a liking for tennis. “Tennis being an individual game always fascinated me. I was obsessed with this sport”, he says.

Considering the game as his utmost passion, he says, “I was hardly 10 when I started playing tennis. It was my friends who actually inspired me to take up this sport. Moreover, the constant support of my parents, especially my father, literally helped me in shaping up my life and career”.

On being asked about his strength and weaknesses in the game, he maintained, “My court movements are good as a result of which I am able to perform well but at the same time I tend to loose patience easily and it virtually affects my game”.

A class IX student of St. Joseph Boys School, Ajay is also a member of the AITA, Delhi. Though he owes his success to his parents, yet apart from them it is his coach Nirmal Singh who has brought him to this stage. “My coach is my true mentor and I have to go a long way,” the budding tennis player signs off.

I built a house at Shiv Nagar, near Nagra, three years ago and since then I have not seen any pucca roads and streetlights in the area. The absence of these basic facilities causes a lot of inconvenience to the residents, especially during the night hours. During the rainy season, the condition worsens. Waterlogging is another common sight. Though the area has come under the municipal limits, it seems the authorities have turned a blind eye to the development of our locality. Several representations to the officials concerned from time to time have fallen on deaf ears.