Jalandhar, June 17
With the demolition of the acquired properties beginning at the site, the project for the construction of the Chandan Nagar railway underbridge (RUB) seems to be finally coming on track.

The Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities have outsourced the demolition of a godown and a school property coming in way of the plan. The company will be paying Rs 16 lakh to the MC after selling the demolished concrete material.

The demolition began today with Mayor Sunil Jyoti visiting the site this evening.

The project is a matter of much prestige for leaders of the ruling combine. Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Jalandhar (North) legislator KD Bhandari has been pushing the project, as it had been the main issue in the election agenda for him in the last two Assembly polls.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had laid the foundation stone of the project at the site on February 10 ahead of the announcement of the recent Lok Sabha polls.

Proposed over six years ago, fund crunch in the MC had come as a major glitch in the much-needed project of construction for the Chandan Nagar Railway Underbridge project.

The project was almost going to be dumped in August last year, as the MC had failed to deposit the acquisition amount to the land owners within the requisite period after the announcing of the award. Had the acquisition not been done in the previous year, the MC would have also had to pay double the amount under the new acquisition Act implemented from January 1 this year. But the compensation was finally paid in time, with little enhancement done in the price fixation going up to Rs 5.1 lakh a marla for a total of 10 kanal and 19 marlas of land.

As per the plan, the Rs 21-crore project is to be executed by the PWD.

The project had also remained held up due to infighting in the BJP, which led to delay in taking the consent from the owners of the buildings.

Residents of the area have been pressing for urgency on this front, as they claim that their passage remained blocked throughout the day, with as many 120 trains passing on the New Delhi-Amritsar track in 24 hours.

The bridge once constructed would be of immense use to the residents on either side of the crossing, including those residing in the Sodal area, Deen Dayal Upadhaya Nagar (where Mayor’s House is located), Gopal Nagar and Chandan Nagar.

The RUB would also make commuting easy for the students of SD School, Seth Hukum Chand School and Shiv Jyoti School. 

Jalandhar, June 17
As part of the anti-drugs campaign, the city traffic police today conducted a meeting with city taxi drivers to seek their participation in tackling the problem of drug peddling.

Chaired by ACP (Traffic), Dalbir Buttar, and other traffic police representatives, the traffic officials urged the taxi drivers to keep a tab on the passengers who hired their taxis.

The police motive behind issuing an advisory to the taxi drivers is to curtail the use of private taxis for drug peddling.

The traffic police took the initiative after going through the past incidents of drug smuggling in which smugglers used hired taxis to supply drugs. “We have inquired some past drug smuggling incidents in which it has come to the fore that smugglers used hired taxis to supply drugs, while the taxi driver was unaware of the purpose of hiring the taxi by the passengers,” a traffic police official said.

The police told the taxi drivers that if they suspected that any passenger hired their taxi for supplying drugs, they should immediately inform the police. It also instructed the taxi drivers to get a copy of the ID proof of the passenger hiring a taxi.

The taxi drivers were also told to submit their complete record to the traffic police. The record includes the name of the taxi owner, copies of vehicle documents and name of the taxi stand where the vehicles were being parked.

Jalandhar, June 17
Shoppers should avoid going to the old city markets these days as most of the shopkeepers have decided to keep their shutters for three to five days to spend time with their families.

With summer at its peak, and keeping in view the low turnout of the customers, especially during the day time, shopkeepers in different markets have started observing a break for four days. The market associations have unanimously announced the shutdown to enjoy an annual get away with their families.

The Books Market at Mai Hiran Gate has been temporarily closed, as the shopkeepers are observing a summer shutdown from June 16 to 19. The Wholesale General Merchants Association has announced a closure in Peer Bodla Bazaar, Lal Bazaar, Bartan Bazaar, Bhatt Market and Panj Peer Bazaar from June 23 to 27. Tarsem Jain, chairman of the association, said, “This is the time, when we unanimously decide to at least spare some hours for our family and visit our relatives.”

Shopkeepers in other markets, too, have decided their own schedule for the summer break. The Attari Market will remain closed from June 23 to 26.

The electronics goods dealers at Phagwara Gate Market have decided to avail three offs, on June 27, 28 and 29. The shopkeepers have also put up banners and posters giving the message outside their shops.

There are some markets which have decided not to close at all. The shopkeepers of Sheikhan Bazaar have decided not to shut down despite the soaring temperature. Buta Singh Sachdeva, who owns a textile shop in Sheikhan Bazaar, said, “Our market will remain open throughout the summer with no break in between.” 

• With summer at its peak and keeping in view the low turnout of customers, shopkeepers in different markets have started observing a break for four days.
• The market associations have unanimously announced the shutdown to enjoy an annual getaway with their families.
• There are some markets which have decided not to close at all.

Jalandhar, June 17
The City Commissionerate police seems helpless in solving several snatching cases. Despite making tall claims of making the city free from the crime of snatching, the situation is exactly the opposite.

Sources said wherein last month, near 25 snatching cases were reported, a similar number of cases have also been reported this month. In almost all cases, women were the main target of the snatchers. In many such incidents, women also sustained injuries while resisting the snatchers.

Sources said the police fared poorly in solving the past snatching cases.

Last Saturday, a woman, Amritpal Kaur, running a computer centre and a resident of Ladowali Road, was looted of her gold chain by unidentified bike-borne youths.

The incident had occurred near Namdev Chowk where two bike-borne men pounced on her and snatched her 10 gm gold chain. Interestingly, the woman also followed the snatcher for half an hour, but the snatchers managed to flee.

On the same day, Harmeet Kaur of Shakti Nagar was robbed of her gold chain by some unidentified bike-borne persons. The case remains unsolved.

On June 8 this year, Sunita Nayyar, a private school teacher, had sustained serious injuries after two bike-borne snatchers pounced on her in the Garha area. The woman, while resisting the snatchers, sustained severe injuries on her arms, head and face.

The victim was a teacher at a deaf and dumb school in Mota Singh Nagar. She, along with her husband, was heading to meet Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh to fix a meeting of blind students with the cricketer when the incident occurred. However, in this case, police efforts had yielded fruit and two snatchers were nabbed. The police had registered an attempt to murder case against the snatchers. 

Jalandhar, June 17
The Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities have finally decided to clear the pending dues of over 625 applicants for the regularisation of colonies, who had paid the amount in the first phase of the implementation of the policy.

The applicants, who are residents of illegal colonies and had adhered to the policy by quickly paying the dues to the MC soon after its implementation in August last year, have been waiting to get their dues for the past over six months.

The MC has earned an amount of nearly Rs 40 crore as regularisation charges from nearly 28,000 applicants.

However, the authorities are going extremely slow on returning the refunds to the applicants.

The dues which are to be returned pertain to announcements made by the state government in October last year which include the reduction of construction charges from 12.5 per cent imposed earlier to 2.5 per cent to the owners of houses. The Local Bodies Department had also exempted the buyers of properties prior to 1995 from applying for regularisation. The entire amount levied from the residents of such colonies has to be returned.

The quick reaction now on part of the MC officials perhaps comes after the Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi had yesterday paid a surprise visit to the MC office at Ludhiana and had pulled up the staff for the delay in the reimbursement of the dues to the residents on account of excess payment received for the regularisation of the unauthorised colonies.

Commissioner MC Manpreet Singh Chattwal issued a release, saying 135 cheques had been cleared and another 265 were pending with the Accounts and Audit Department which would cleared in a week's time. He added that 225 files were pending with the building branch and efforts were being made to clear these as well by June 30. He added that all those claimants who do not get their dues reimbursed by June 30 could apply again till July 4.

The MC authorities have reportedly not been given any direction as yet to use the amount for any development work. Mayor Sunil Jyoti said there were several pending works lined up and he was awaiting any clearance for the utilisation of the amount collected. Asked if any colonies had been regularised since the implementation of the policy, he said such a move would be started soon after clearing the pending payments. "We will check as to which colonies have paid 75 per cent of the dues and accordingly make a list," he added.

Asked about the amount being returned to the applicants, the Mayor said the figures would come on June 30.

Jalandhar, June 17
A 22-year-old youth was hacked to death, while two of his friends sustained serious injuries in an alleged gang war that took place between two groups near Ali Mohalla late this night.

The deceased was identified as Arjun, while one of his friends who sustained serious injuries was identified as Rahul. His third friend was yet to be identified. All are residents of Ali Mohalla. Some old enmity is said to be the cause behind the incident. Sources said Rahul was standing along with his friends near Naaj Cinema when some bike-borne youths armed with swords and sharp-edged weapons suddenly arrived there and attacked them. Arjun, who sustained serious head injuries, died on the spot, while his two other friends were rushed to the Civil Hospital for treament. They were said to be out of danger. Police officials reached the spot. However, the assailants had managed to escape. Till the filing of this report, tension was prevailing in the area and the police were conducting raids to nab the accused. — TNS

Jalandhar, June 17
Rising temperature, scorching heat and blistering air have made the lives of residents miserable here.

Today, the heat wave claimed two lives here. One of the deceased was yet to be identified by the police.

Lakhwinder Singh, assistant sub-inspector, Maqsudan police station, said the police was informed by some residents that an unidentified person was lying unconscious in an empty plot in Nurpur village. On reaching the spot, the victim was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. It seemed that the victim, aged around 35, was lying dead in an empty plot since last night. The body was kept at the mortuary in the Civil Hospital for identification.

Another person who died due to the scorching heat was identified as Amrit Lal (45). Police sources said the victim was heading to Beas from Fetehgarh Sahib in a train. When he reached near the Suranasi railway station, his health started deteriorating and he suddenly fell. The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital by those accompanying him, but the doctors declared him brought dead.

Meanwhile, unbearable heat has claimed six lives, including that of a pregnant woman, in district in the past one week.

On June 11, two more persons lost lives reportedly due to extreme heat. The body of Kashmir Singh, a resident of Amritsar, was found near Ravidas Chowk, while the second body of Makkhan Singh was found in Malsian village. Kashmir was a factory labourer, while Makkhan was a private employee.

Last Saturday, the body of a pregnant woman was recovered from near Old Central Jail. She also reportedly died due to heat stroke.

Residents, who have been reeling under extreme heat, are also being offered shocks of unscheduled power cuts from Power Corp.

The Adampur Met Department recorded a maximum of 42.6 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was recorded as 28.2 degrees Celsius. However, the prediction of the department may bring respite to the residents. The department has predicted a cloudy to partly cloudy sky in the next 24 hours. Occasional thundery conditions with dust and haze may prevail.

On June 10, a 42-year-old man, Mani Ram, who was living in Jandusinga village near Jalandhar, had died of extreme heat while he was travelling on his bike. Ram, who hailed from Lucknow, was a government employee. Ram was returning to his place on bike when he suddenly fell off bike. Passersby took him to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead. Doctors had then confirmed that the victim had died due to sun stroke. 

Jalandhar, June 17
Even as it has been nearly two years since the foundation stone for a 3G aquarium-cum-food court was laid at the Nehru Garden Complex, the Philippines-based company, instead of implementing the project, has started its review all over again.

Mayor Sunil Jyoti said since the project had got delayed and there had been much fluctuation in the market, the company officials had told him that they might slightly alter the project. The project had remained held up since it was launched on August 23, 2012 owing to the delay in various departmental clearances.

• The project had remained held up since it was launched on August 23, 2012 owing to the delay in various departmental clearances.
• The work for the Rs 30 crore project, which is to come up on BOT basis by Manila Oceanics, was expected to start soon after the Lok Sabha poll

Jalandhar, June 17
If everything goes according to the plan, as conceived by the medical fraternity practicing in the district, the city would soon witness a surge of medical tourism that would have patients not only from various parts of the country but from different countries as well.

Many hospitals would soon be offering various medical tourism packages on their websites for this year’s NRI season that would commence in the city from October onwards.

“This is the time when most of the NRIs plan their holidays and book their tour packages in advance. We have also received queries from various hospitals in Jalandhar who have asked us to devise a tour plan for their patients. Presently, we are working on various options that would include a visit to some tourist spots in the state as well as in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir also,” informed Sahil Grover of Magna Travels at New Delhi.

Jalandhar has the maximum number of hospitals in Asia and offers affordable treatment as compared to other metro cities like Delhi and Chandigarh. However, due to no tourist attraction in nearby places, the patients coming to this part of the country for treatment restrict themselves to Chandigarh only. The Punjab Tourism Department also did nothing to promote the city as a hub for medical tourism. Now, the medical fraternity taking over the reins in their hands is expected to provide some real life support to the dying economy of the city that is well-known for accommodating the prestigious NRI belt in its fold. Most of the hospitals would soon offer a visit to the Golden Temple and to the princely district of Patiala and Kapurthala which would be included in their treatment package.

Dr Shushma Chawla, President of Indian Medical Association (Jalandhar Chapter), said, “ Presently, many NRIs hesitate to visit the city for treatment as it does not offer any tourism opportunity to their families.” 

Nawanshahr, June 17
The health authorities have geared up to curb vector-borne diseases and to tackle dengue cases in Nawanshahr district. Civil Hospitals of Nawanshahar, Banga and Balachaur have been equipped with special dengue wards for the rainy season.

“The Civil and Health officials have geared up to curb vector-borne diseases,” said Deputy Commissioner Anindita Mitra.

The Deputy Commissioner has directed all the departments concerned, including the District Task Force on Dengue and Malaria, to make the public aware about these diseases. She directed all the BDPOs and EOs, except Banga, to send their fogging schedule days in advance to the EO, Banga, as the Nagar Council there would receive the first fogging machine in the district by Friday. — TNS

The focus of the summer school was to improve hands-on-training at the undergraduate level to bring about a transformation in the classroom approach in biotechnology to make it more interactive, practical and innovative. 

Twenty students from various schools participated in the programme. Co-ordinator-cum-HOD Dr Arun Dev Sharma welcomed and introduced the resource person. Dr Dheeraj Vyas, senior scientist from IIIM, Jammu delivered a lecture on “Biology and Nature-Chemical Ecology Perspectives’.