Jalandhar, June 30
The incomplete work at an overbridge with no option for side-lanes on the GT road at Chugitti has not only brought the functioning of the highway authorities under a scanner but has also been putting thousands of road users to a great hardship for more than a year.

The overbridge that was built to remove traffic chaos and minimise the number of accidents on this intersection has rather increased problems of the public.

The recent rains have exposed the construction company to which the work for the widening of the highway was allocated, with loose soil, used to fill the approaches of the overbridge, accumulating on the side-lanes after erosion.

Road experts point out that as per the drawing, according to which the road is to be widened, there is no provision for the side-lanes for accessing the main road adjoining the Chuggitti overbridge.

The construction company, after temporarily filling the approaches to the overbridge, has abandoned the work, sources in the department said.

They said the company was in the process to re-align the road so that the fault could be rectified.

Shopkeepers of the area complained facing huge losses after the work of the overbridge was started. During summers, dust spoils their business, while in the rains, slush accumulates on roads and speeding vehicles throw slush at their commodities and business establishments, keeping customers away, complained Vijay Kumar, a shopkeeper of the area.

The company officials, were, however, tightlipped on the issue.

In the absence of any permanent storm-water gullies on the roadside, the highway virtually turns into a canal at this point.

Similar is the situation of the road leading from PAP Chowk till BSF Chowk. The knee-deep water not only puts the motorists to inconvenience but also damages the road every year, said Naresh Kumar, a Central Town resident.

The trenches dug up by the company along the highway from PAP Chowk to Rama Mandi Chowk have been further proving to be a nightmare for the road users. “Since the stretch of the GT road lacks streetlights, riding a two-wheeler is just to invite death. Moreover, the damaged road further adds the chances of accidents here,” complained Saruchi Sharma, a college student.

Jalandhar, June 30
With the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation (MC) miserably failing to check the practice of the illegal slaughtering of animals, unlicensed slaughterhouses are fast mushrooming in the city.

The situation has reached such alarming proportions that animals like goats and sheep are being butchered in unhygienic conditions, posing a threat to the health of people.

Information gathered by The Tribune brought to light that MC functionaries do not bother to conduct surprise checking or initiate action against the illegal slaughterhouses.

A visit to the bus stand brought to light that nearly a dozen illegal slaughterhouses were operational from kiosks. “Animals are butchered in unhygienic conditions in gross violation of the rules laid down in the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976. Foul smell keeps emanating from these slaughterhouses. Despite repeated requests, the civic authorities have not taken any action against these slaughterhouses,” alleged Jasbir Singh, a shopkeeper on the bus stand road.

The illegal slaughterhouses are also mushrooming in other city areas like Guru Nanak Pura, Maqsudan Mandi, Ladowali Road, Golden Avenue and in the vicinity of the railway station.

A majority of city residents feel that in the wake of the fact that illegal slaughtering of animals is being done without any check, there was an urgent need to take the violators to task.

"Foul smell emanating from the illegal slaughterhouses is a real problem for the residents," said Sangeeta, a resident of Guru Nanak Pura.

Jalandhar MC chief sanitary officer Sarabjit Singh said they were not able to take action against the illegal slaughterhouses on account of the fact that the slaughterhouse of the civic body was under construction. "If we take action, those running the slaughterhouses will demand that the MC should provide them the proper place for slaughtering," he said, adding that once the MC slaughterhouse was ready, no illegal slaughterhouse would be allowed to operate.

Jalandhar, June 30
Following the announcement of constructing low-cost airports in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Ferozepur by the UPA government on Friday, every leader here has started taking credit for pursuing the construction of airport in Jalandhar.

However, Congress leader Manjinder Singh Chaudhary had been in real sense trying hard for starting civil flights from the Adampur aerodrome, located in Jalandhar district on the Hoshiarpur road, for over two decades.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) frontal organisations secretary Manjinder Singh Chaudhary has sent a representation to Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ajit Singh for allowing the use of the Adampur aerodrome for domestic flights, if international flights are not possible at this stage. Chaudhary had already demanded setting up of an international airport in Jalandhar from the then Minister of State for Civil Aviation on August 26, 1987.

In response, the then director of the Civil Aviation, KK Bhatnagar, sent him a DO letter on January 20, 1988, in which he said: “As far as the Vayudoot operations (domestic flights) between Delhi and Jalandhar are concerned, Vayudoot has plans to air link Jalandhar during the current plans period subject to the availability of necessary infrastructural facilities, aircraft capacity and operational airfield.”

Chaudhary said an international airport should be constructed in Jalandhar district for making Doaba region more progressive in all fields and for providing infrastructure and strong support to the NRIs and their families.

Jalandhar, June 30
“Clusters are the most efficient means of capacity building leading to cost effectiveness and increase in productivity with which industries can compete nationally and globally,” said TV Rao, director, Eximus Centre, Export Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank).

Rao was addressing industrialists of the region at a seminar on “MSME Clusters: Development and Financing” jointly organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Export Import Bank of India, here last night.

Indicating clusters to be important aspect of strategic management, Rao said Indian clusters face impediments like technological obsolescence, relatively poor product quality, insufficient information, poor market linkages, inadequate management systems, power shortage and a lot of other problems, besides pressures from the international markets.

“Clusters are the only solution to overcome these multifarious problems,” claimed Dalip Sharma, regional director, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said: “In the Indian scenario, infrastructure and provision of finance is still largely provided and regulated through the government or its institutions. The involvement of such institutions like clusters is not only necessary but also has to be innovative to cater to the specific needs.” Speaking on the occasion, Opinder Singh, deputy director, EEPC, said: “In Punjab, especially Ludhiana and Jalandhar are the industrial hubs. The industry should come forward to join hands to form common facilities, and thereby reap the benefits arising out of joint efforts and shared vision of the future.”

Indicating that the main thrust of Export Import Bank is on creation of capacities, Akashdeep Singh, regional head, EXIM Bank, Chandigarh, stressed on the need for enhancing knowledge building.

He said EXIM Bank provided solutions for expansion, modernisation, technology upgradation and diversification.

Ruling out the impression that setting up of a cluster was not possible, Tarun Jain, president, BKTA, listed certain success stories of cluster in Ludhiana.

Pardeep Singh, director technical, JBR Technologies Pvt Ltd, Ludhiana said the much assumed notion that there had to be geographical proximity was also not an impediment in forming a cluster. He shared the success of having converted STP at Focal Point, Ludhiana, into CETP with zero liquid discharge system for treating the effluents of electroplating industries of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mohali, Amritsar and other cities of Punjab. 

Jalandhar, June 30
Hailing the decision of the Union government regarding upgrading India’s infrastructure, director of the Layalpur Khalsa College of Engineering, HS Johal, said this could directly spin jobs around railways, roads, air force and would also enhance the economic development of the country, which is facing economic slowdown.

He said: “Government's announcement of setting up airport in Jalandhar will certainly lead to the development of economy of Doaba region, which is NRI belt. It will also boost the investment from NRIs in this region, leading to infrastructural development.”

Johal said the flagship projects of Railways such as two loco manufacturing units, an elevated rail corridor and station development projects, road projects like expressways will certainly push demand for engineers, particularly the civil engineers.

“It is the right time for young aspirants to go for engineering courses because employment avenues and economic development of nation is looking for them,” 
he added.

Phagwara, June 30
Expecting the Phagwara Municipal Corporation to clear encroachments from public property may be asking for too much. The the civic body has not even able to evict encroacher's even from the properties under its direct control.

The local police, responsible for enforcing the rule of law and implementing directions of the corporation, is itself illegally occupying corporation’s guest house for the past 19 years despite being asked to move out.

The office of the DSP, presently the SP’s office, is functioning from this guest house, but given the power that the police wield, no authority in the corporation has been able to force the officials to vacate the premises.

It is learnt that former nagar council had passed resolutions and submitted a written memorandum to the Punjab DGP and principal secretary, Local Bodies, Punjab, to initiate necessary steps to vacate the council guest house more three years back.

Though Local MLA Som Parkash, working as Chief Parliamentary Secretary, is attached with Local Bodies Department, yet nothing could be done to vacate the encroachments on corporation properties. Many residents have illegally occupied the civic body land in different posh localities of the town, including Hargobind Nagar.

Phagwara Improvement Trust headed by chairman-cum- ADC Satish Kumar Singla had allotted SCOs and SCFs in the posh locality of the town.

The owners of these properties are misusing the verandah meant for pedestrians.

Many of them have constructed permanant walls and other structures in the verandahs openly right under the nose of Trust, which is keeping mum, without any known reasons.

Although New Police Complex, including offices and residences, had been constructed near Gurdwara Shri Sukhchain Sahib, yet police does not seem to be in a mood to vacate the corporation guest house.

The municipal corporation has also not been able to get a large portion of its premises vacated from the “City Club” occupation from the past 43 years. The lease of the premises expired in 1976.

The club is headed by Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, who is also permanent president of the club.

The club was paying a token monthly rent of Re 1 to the nagar council 13 years ago until the then nagar council president Kharaiti Lal Gaba hiked it to Rs 100 per month.

The present market rent in the area is more than Rs 1 lakh per month. The area encroached by club has increased over the years.