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Time of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Residents unhappy with Smart City Mission projects in Ludhiana West constituency.
Ludhiana: As the Ludhiana West assembly byelection approaches on June 19, residents are voicing growing frustration over the city's much-touted Smart City mission, claiming key projects have failed to deliver on promises and left persistent problems unresolved. The West constituency, a focal point for Smart City initiatives, was selected early for major upgrades after strong voter turnout in initial polling rounds. Projects such as the Malhar Road beautification, Sarabha Nagar rejuvenation, and the Pakhowal Road railway overbridge (ROB/RUB) were launched with fanfare. However, locals say traffic congestion and poor planning continue to plague the area. "The original concept for Malhar Road was to create a smart road with dedicated bicycle tracks and walkways," said Manjit Singh, a Sarabha Nagar resident. "Instead, officials allowed parking for showroom owners on the road, ignoring residents' suggestions and missing the real issues." Shivani Sharma, from Model Town, echoed the sentiment, saying residents were kept in the dark about project plans. "Had authorities shared project designs publicly, we could have contributed ideas. Faulty designs and poor execution have left us disillusioned with the smart city mission," she said. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Device Made My Power Bill Drop Overnight elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Pre-Order Undo A senior municipal corporation official, speaking on condition of anonymity, blamed political interference for derailing initial plans. He said much of the smart city funding was diverted to other projects, including Buddha Dariya rejuvenation, school construction, and new water supply lines. "If we had stuck to the original plans, the city would look very different today," he said. Meanwhile, political parties are locked in a battle for credit. The BJP highlights the central govt's role, the Shiromani Akali Dal claims credit for Ludhiana's selection, and Congress and Aam Aadmi Party leaders make claims about their roles in executing projects. But none are willing to accept responsibility for the shortcomings, leaving municipal officials to face public criticism. Residents in other parts of Ludhiana have also raised concerns, alleging that the West constituency received preferential treatment under the smart city mission, despite already being relatively well-developed. They point to disparities such as the rapid reconstruction of a bridge at Sidhwan Canal in Sarabha Nagar, completed in two months, compared to a decade-long delay for a similar project over Buddha Nullah in the North constituency. With the bypoll looming, the city's smart city mission has become a flashpoint, highlighting both the promise and pitfalls of urban renewal in one of Punjab's largest cities. MSID:: 121752881 413 |
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Time of India
CBI court convicts 3 Punjab cops in 1993 fake encounter
1 2 3 4 Mohali: The special CBI court in Mohali on Saturday convicted three officers of Punjab Police in a fake encounter case dating to 1993. It, however, acquitted two officers due to a lack of evidence. The convicted officers are Karamjit Singh, the then ASI, who was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000. He was also sentenced to a one-year term under Section 342 of the IPC. Manjit Singh, then an inspector, was sentenced to eight years in prison and fined Rs 50,000 under section 364 of the IPC. The court also sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000 under Section 120-B of the IPC, along with a one-year sentence under Section 342 of the IPC. Gurmej Singh, then a sub-inspector, was sentenced to eight years and fined Rs 50,000 under section 364 of the IPC. Gurmej was also sentenced to five years and a Rs 50,000 fine under section 120-B of the IPC. Two constables, Kashmir Singh and Harjit Singh, were acquitted by the CBI court. The case was registered on orders passed by the Punjab and Haryana high court in a criminal writ petition filed by Darshan Singh on Sep 12, 2005. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo In this petition, he said on March 27, 1993, around 8.30am, ASI Karamjit, along with unknown police officials from Rawalpindi police station in Phagwara tehsil of Kapurthala, came to his house in Rawalpindi village and picked up his son, Palwinder Singh alias Pappu, in the presence of his parents and villagers. Thereafter, the whereabouts of Palwinder were not known. The petitioner alleged that he apprehended that his son was detained in some police station or the police might have eliminated his son and disposed of his body. Accordingly, FIR No. 18 registered on April 5, 1993, at Sultanpur Lodhi police station, relating to the encounter in which Palwinder was shown to have been killed on April 5, 1993, was re-registered in CBI. Upon completion of the investigation, CBI filed a chargesheet under sections 120-B, 342, and 218 of the IPC against Karamjit Singh, Manjit Singh, Gurmej Singh, Kashmir Singh, and Harjit Singh. The CBI court framed charges under sections 120-B, 342, 364, and 302 IPC against all five officers. After hearing the case, the court convicted three officers and acquitted two constables in the case.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Fazilka SSP suspended for ‘grave misconduct, dereliction of duty'
Chandigarh: Punjab govt suspended Fazilka senior superintendent of police (SSP) Varinder Singh Brar for "grave misconduct and dereliction of duty". Police sources said the suspension order issued on Tuesday was linked to alleged inaction in a graft case where four policemen of the Fazilka cyber crime police station, including the Station House Officer, were eventually booked and arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday on the directions of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann. A senior Punjab police officer said the complainant had approached the SSP "twice" and then gone to the chief minister, following which the latter ordered action in the matter, and four policemen were booked and arrested in the graft case after being caught red-handed for allegedly accepting Rs 1 lakh as bribe to "settle a case" where they had confiscated a teenager's mobile phone while alleging that there was a cyber crime complaint on Tipline relating to "child pornography". The suspension order of SSP Brar read, "During suspension, his headquarters will be the office of Director General of Police, Punjab, in Chandigarh, and he will not leave it without the permission of the competent authority." An FIR under Section 7 (which deals with a public servant accepting bribe) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sections 61 (2), which deals with criminal conspiracy, was registered against Fazilka _ SHO (cyber crime) Inspector Manjit Singh, head munshi of the cyber crime police station and constables Rajpal Singh and Sumit Kumar on Tuesday at Punjab State Vigilance Bureau police station in Mohali. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Council or Housing Association Tenant? Check Eligibility for Compensation National Disrepair Claims Undo The FIR was lodged on the complaint of a resident of a village in Fazilka district who accused Fazilka cyber crime police station SHO and three other policemen of demanding Rs 3 lakh to what the policemen said "settle a cyber-crime complaint" against complainant's "nearly 18-year-old son". As per the complainant's statement in the FIR when he reached the police station along with his nephew, SHO Manjit Singh told that his (complainant's) son's mobile phone was taken into possession "following a complaint relating to child pornography received on Tipline". The FIR further stated that subsequently, the police men demanded Rs 3 lakh to settle the complaint, which was negotiated to Rs 2.3 lakh of which Rs 1 lakh was paid as first instalment. The complainant claimed to have recorded the conversations where police men allegedly demanded bribe and attached the same to complaints made to anti-corruption action line and the Vigilance Bureau. Referring to the arrests of the four policemen in the case, Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema Tuesday said, "No matter the level of the official, be it a minister, MLA, IAS/PCS officer, or any govt employee, anyone found indulging in corruption will face strict legal action..."
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Reconnecting with the sitar
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. Sitar player Shalu Garg Photo: Supplied Shalu Garg is a member of the growing number of Indian classical musicians who call Aotearoa home. Garg brought herself and her sitar into RNZ's Auckland studios where she chatted with Concert host Bryan Crump in between playing two excerpts in Raag Khamaj. She began with a small Alaap "to reflect the soul of the Raag", followed by a Dhun - a semi-classical piece. She explained to Crump that a Raag is a little like a musical scale. As a child growing up in New Delhi, Shalu Garg had many talents, including music. She began learning the sitar at the age of eight, but at the same time, she was also excelling in drama and sport - competing at a national level in athletics. Then her school grades began to suffer. Garg's parents persuaded her to put aside extra-curricular activities to focus on her studies. Academically, it paid off. She graduated from university with a degree in accounting. But when she and her husband settled in New Zealand and she went to a concert of Indian music, she began to feel the pull of the sitar again. However, Garg doesn't do things by halves. If she was going to relearn the sitar she was going to do it properly, which meant finding a teacher back in India. Thanks to Skype and air travel, she was able to do that. Now Garg is a regular performer at Indian classical concerts, often in tandem with leading Auckland tabla player Manjit Singh, founder of the city's Rhythm School of Indian Music , who also teaches Indian music at Auckland University. Recent performances have also seen Garg, Singh and other Indian musicians make music with some of New Zealand's top jazz artists, including sax player Nathan Haines. Crump suggested maybe the next generation of budding sitarists living in New Zealand won't have to find a teacher in India, they'll be able to learn from her instead. And to end the conversation, Garg played another composition in Raag Khamaj, a faster-paced finishing piece called a Jhala.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bypoll effect: Property tax penalty, interest waiver announced
Ludhiana: Ahead of the Ludhiana West bypoll , the local bodies department has provided relief to property tax/house taxpayers who have not paid tax for previous years. According to a notification issued on Thursday, penalty and interest amount has been waived from the principal amount. The notification was expected around the MC election but it was finally notified ahead of the west bypoll. As per the notification, the one-time settlement scheme will provide relief to people with unpaid or partially paid property tax or house tax due till March 31. If the principal amount is paid in lumpsum by July 31, penalty and interest levied on the amount will be waived during this period. If the dues are paid after July 31 but before Oct 31, then taxpayers will get 50% waiver on penalty and interest levied on the said amount, along with the principal amount. After this period, penalty and interest on the due amount will be charged as levied. Civic officials fear that this would lead to losses, especially when it comes to defaulters who have not paid their dues since 2013-14. An MC official said on condition of anonymity, "This happens every time there are elections. Our situation becomes so embarrassing because sometimes, we collect the whole amount, including interest and penalty, and the very next day, the government issues such notifications. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo People start asking why we were in such a hurry when this notification was about to be issued," he said. The official added that the civic body had to recover at least Rs 70 crore principal amount from defaulters for various years, and the amount doubled with the inclusion of interest and penalty. "In a way, it is almost one year's total recovery targets," he said. This also comes as a blow to regular taxpayers. A resident of SBS Nagar, Arvind Sharma, said, "I am in the habit of paying all my dues on April 1 every fiscal year, but this year, due to my eye surgery, I am yet to pay property tax for this fiscal year, which I will pay in the next two days. However, I feel that the government is encouraging wrong behaviour. People do not want to pay tax on time because they know they will get relief near elections. " He also said that the government should encourage taxpayers who pay tax on time. Civil Lines resident Manjit Singh said that the practice of offering freebies in exchange for votes was not good from the point of view of development. He said that if people did not pay taxes, then the govt would not be able to do anything for development of the city, state, or even country. Know the OTS scheme Full Waiver: If the principal amount is paid in lumpsum by July 31, penalty and interest will be waived. Partial Waiver: If paid after July 31 but before October 31, taxpayers will receive a 50% waiver on penalty and interest. No Waiver: After October 31, penalty and interest will be charged as usual. Concern for civic body: A civic official voiced concern about potential losses, especially from defaulters who haven't paid dues since 2013-14. The MC needs to recover at least Rs 70 crore in principal amount. Effect on regular taxpayers: Regular taxpayers feel discouraged, as they believe the government is encouraging late payments by offering relief near elections Development concerns: Some residents argue that offering such waivers in exchange for votes is detrimental to city development, as unpaid taxes hinder government projects. MSID:: 121190766 413 |
