Latest news with #LudhianaImprovementTrust
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MC struggles to complete garbage compactor installation project
Ludhiana: The civic body officials had initially planned garbage compactors at a few selected locations to keep dry and wet waste separate and close the open garbage collection points in the city. The project moved at a snail's pace since the planning phase, and is still not completed. Even after three years since the approvals, installation of compactors is still pending at one site, while at another site, machinery was installed, but the officials could not solve the problem of overhead wiring in one year and it is still not in working condition. The project is expected to be completed by the end of Sept. Project at Dana Mandi, near Arora Palace, is still pending due to tussle between the mandi board and the municipal corporation, the allocation of land for compactors got delayed. The land is yet to be allocated and then the civic body will start construction work to install compactors. After the installation of the machinery, it will become operational. The total project cost is Rs 24.83 crore. According to the employees of MC's health branch, the work belonged to them, but it was executed by the bridges and road branch, and lack of coordination resulted in flaws in this project. The health branch officials claimed that they were not consulted when this project was planned as at around 22 locations, the civic body had plans to install the compactors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In IC Markets Learn More Undo However, the number should increase as after every three wards there was a need for one compactor site, and lesser number of machines are installed. There is shortage of containers at the sites, as when one container is lifted from a place, there is no replacement and the garbage collectors are told to wait outside the compactor site. Then they are forced to throw garbage roadside or outside the compactor site. Initially, at nine locations, the MC got compactors installed through Ludhiana Improvement Trust funds in September 2017 during the Congress regime. The idea behind compactors was to hide the garbage left in the open, as earlier the city had over 50 open garbage dumping locations from where MC used to lift the garbage. Apart from this, there are certain illegal garbage dumping locations as well, which are totally ignored by the civic body, including the vacant plots. One of the MC officials claimed that planning to install the compactors through the Smart City Mission started way back in 2019, and it took almost three years to prepare detailed project reports and get technical approvals. In 2022, the MC was given final nod by the technical teams and then tenders were floated. He added that the work order was issued on August 1, 2023, and it was expected to be completed by January 31, 2024, but due to one reason or another, it got delayed. Meanwhile, MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said, "Only one location was left and that will also get covered. We are trying to settle things where there is any problem."
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pre-bypoll push falls flat: LIT's dues settlement schemes see lukewarm response
Ludhiana: In a bid to woo voters ahead of the Ludhiana West bypoll, the administration rolled out two special policies under the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) — one for settling long-pending non-construction fees and another one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for allottees who failed to pay instalments for their allotted properties. But despite the seemingly generous offer, the public response has been underwhelming. With just 20 days left before the July 31 deadline, the response remains muted — only 155 applications have come in under the non-construction fee (NCF) policy and 100 under the OTS scheme. Officials had hoped for a better turnout but blame poor recordkeeping and lack of awareness for the disinterest. The policies were notified on April 17, but LIT officials now pin their hopes on a last-minute rush, saying beneficiaries often tend to settle dues closer to the deadline. In 2016, a one-time settlement policy had been notified for six months, during which 372 applications were received — a higher response compared to the current policy, which was open for a shorter period. Sources revealed that LIT officials lack accurate data on the number of defaulters for non-construction fees (NCF) or pending instalments. This is largely because records are not maintained plot-wise. Further, officials often don't know whether a plot is still with the original allottee or has been sold further — unless someone approaches the clerks in the sale branch directly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo Sources added that this lack of proper recordkeeping has left LIT dependent entirely on defaulters to come forward on their own. In some cases, localities developed by LIT were later transferred to the municipal corporation (MC), resulting in incomplete or lost records. Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) chairperson Tarsem Bhinder admitted that they received fewer applications for the two policies, however, he claimed that he has asked the concerned staff to start contacting the defaulters to reap the benefit of the schemes. He highlighted that the LIT had lesser staff to handle additional tasks. Under the one-time settlement policy for the Non-Construction Fee (NCF), a 50% discount is offered on the total amount due (principal + interest) to allottees of properties under LIT development schemes — whether less than or more than 15 years have passed since the allotment letter was issued. For cases older than 15 years, the NCF is fixed at 5% of the applicable reserve rate. Additionally, senior citizens, women, and legal heirs of Armed or Paramilitary Forces personnel killed in action are eligible for an extra 25% discount on the already reduced NCF amount. After getting an exemption from the govt under the One-Time Relaxation Policy on the NCF, the allottee will be bound to deposit the amount and construct his property by getting the plan approved by Dec 31. Similarly, under the one-time settlement for pending dues where allottees have made some kind of payment, this exemption is applicable only in those cases in which the allottees have deposited 1/4th part of the amount after the allotment of the concerned property. According to this, the allottees will be able to regularise their property by depositing the remaining amount at the applicable rate (at simple interest) and restoration charges at the rate of 2.5 percent at the reserve rate for the year 2025-26 as per the rules issued from time to time. Complete exemption was given on penalty/penal interest.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Commercialisation of residential areas concerns residents in Ludhiana West constituency.
Ludhiana: Once considered among the most well-planned and livable parts of this city, the West constituency is now at the centre of growing resident discontent as commercial activity intrudes into its residential streets increasingly. Despite being home to prime localities and benefitting from a substantial share of Smart City projects, residents say the area is losing its peace and character rapidly. The expansion of commercial outlets into residential zones, stray animals, parking shortages, and unchecked encroachment are driving frustration among citizens. "The very reason we chose Sarabha Nagar was for peace," said Rahul Verma, a long-time resident. "Now every street has shops or offices. Instead of stopping this, the authorities concerned are declaring residential roads as commercial zones." His concerns are echoed across other upscale neighbourhoods including BRS Nagar, Kitchlu Nagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Model Town, Model Gram and Club Road. Many of these were originally planned by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), which had demarcated residential and commercial areas clearly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Wrinkles? No. Philips Garment Steamers Book Now Undo Over time, it handed over these localities to the municipal corporation for maintenance — and residents say that is when the balance began to tilt. "There's no difference now," said Kapil Arora of BRS Nagar. "The main road is so busy with commercial activity that I take interior lanes just to reach my own house." A municipal corporation official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, admitted the shift was often initiated by the residents themselves. "People open shops or clinics in homes and then apply to have roads declared commercial," he said. "Several of these proposals are under govt review currently." The rising commercialisation is not only disturbing residents' peace of mind but also undercutting the function and viability of market areas. Locals complain that mixed-use chaos deters customers and contributes to traffic bottlenecks. Adding to the concern is the lack of updated data with the civic body. It conducted the last official survey of commercial violations in 2019, revealing 7,053 violations across 73 town planning schemes — 2,683 of those concentrated in just 60 of those schemes. Since then, it has carried out no fresh survey, leaving citizens frustrated by the absence of regulatory oversight. With more LIT-developed areas now being transferred to civic authorities, residents fear the same pattern will repeat: peaceful neighbourhoods transformed into unregulated commercial zones, with little room left for families or silence. MSID:: 121706738 413 |
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
VB summons Congress' Bharat Bhushan Ashu in ₹2,400-cr school land misuse case
Congress' Ludhiana West candidate and ex-minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu has been summoned by the Ludhiana unit of the vigilance bureau in connection with a ₹2,400 crore scam involving misuse of school land in Sarabha Nagar. The summons, issued on June 4 by deputy superintendent of police Vinod Kumar directs Ashu to appear for questioning on Friday (June 6) at 10 am. The case dates back to January 8, 2025, when an FIR was lodged at police station division no 5 under Sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 467, 468, 471 (forgery), and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case revolves around 4.7 acres of land allotted by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) decades ago to run the New Senior Secondary School in Sarabha Nagar. The land was given at a subsidised rate strictly for educational purposes. However, investigations revealed that parts of this land are being illegally used for commercial activities. Multiple private playway schools and businesses are operating on the premises, with the school management allegedly collecting hefty rents, a serious violation estimated to involve ₹2,400 crore in financial irregularities. The police on January 8 this year, had already lodged an FIR against the school following the complaint filed by chairman, Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT). Following his complaint, the case was transferred to the vigilance bureau after alleged financial irregularities surfaced during the probe. Ashu who remained minister of food, civil supplies, and consumer affairs during previous Congress government in the state was embroiled in the 2022 ₹2,000-crore foodgrain transportation tender scam. He faced allegations of awarding contracts to fraudulent contractors submitting fake vehicle registrations, inflating transport numbers, and misusing public funds. He was arrested in August 2022. In December 2024, the Punjab and Haryana high court quashed two criminal cases registered against Ashu. While one FIR was registered on August 16, 2022, in Ludhiana by the vigilance bureau, the second FIR was registered by the vigilance bureau on September 22, 2022, in Jalandhar. Reacting to summon, Ashu said, 'I am busy with my campaigning and have not received any such summons. After campaigning, I will respond accordingly.'
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Allot reserved plot in Transport Nagar to us: Truckers body to Ludhiana Improvement Trust
To discuss the allocation of a reserved plot in Transport Nagar under the 114-acre Truck Stand Scheme, delegation from the Ludhiana Goods Transport Association met with Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) Chairman Tarsem Singh Bhinder on Tuesday. The delegation, led by president Darshan Singh, general secretary Ashok Pahwa and vice-president Ajit Pal Rinku, presented their claim over a 2000 square yard plot originally reserved for the Truck Union office. Earlier this month, the association had formally written to the LIT chairman, emphasising that within the 114-acre Truck Stand Scheme, various plots were allocated for different institutions, including religious sites, petrol pumps, telephone exchanges, said the press secretary of the association Jagdish Jassewal, Currently, approximately 550 square yards of this reserved plot is being used as a public toilet, while the remaining area is fenced and locked, with the key held by the Ludhiana Goods Transport Association. However, the plot has not yet been officially allocated. Jassewal underlined the urgent need for this space, citing plans to build a proper office and rest house for truck drivers, facilities that the area is currently lacking, to improve the working conditions of truckers here. Confirming the development, LIT Chairman Tarsem Singh Bhinder stated, 'The truckers had previously requested the allocation of this land. We will conduct a thorough inspection to verify their claim, and following the proper procedures, the land will be allocated accordingly.'
