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Fortis Mohali Becomes 4th Center In Country To Perform Advanced Transplant

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Right from delivering of babies to other minor and major surgeries, modern day patients have started expecting quick fix, near bloodless and painless minimal incisions. And robotic surgery is ensuring just that even in the most complex cases. Now comes advanced robotic kidney transplant, which till now is being done by a handful of centers across the country. The first successful robotic kidney transplantation was performed by doctors at Fortis Hospital Mohali recently, making it only the fourth center in India to achieve the feat.

The surgery was done on 46 years old Ghanshyam from Shimla, who is up and about and back home with a normal functioning kidney within three days of such a major operation, says Dr. Priyadarshi Ranjan, Chief of the Robotic Urology and Kidney transplant services at the hospital. Ghanshyam’s donor was his own younger brother.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

Elaborating on the benefits of the robotic procedure, Dr Ranjan told Lifeinchandigarh.com that this transplant technique requires just a 4-5 centimetres incision (as against 25 cms in traditional transplants). Hence, blood loss is minimal and pain is significantly less. Patients are usually up and about a few hours after the surgery and start taking oral diet a day after the procedure, he added.

Recipient Ghanshyam’s wife Asha is happy that the family opted for robotic kidney transplantation, instead of the traditional technique. “After the surgery, my husband appears fitter than his donor younger brother,” she said cheerfully.

“I am grateful to the patient and his family for having faith in me and gave me the consent to go ahead with this new technique of kidney transplant”, said Dr Ranjan, who led the team of doctors. He has also introduced robotic kidney cancer surgeries at Fortis. 

The well known doctor shared that the traditional technique of kidney transplant had remained largely unchanged for the past 60 years and was predominantly done by the non-urologists. But ever since urologists have taken over kidney transplantation, the advanced techniques had touched newer milestones. “The robotic kidney transplantation technique was introduced a couple of years back by American urologists at the Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, and since then  urosurgeons across the globe are increasingly adopting this technique,” he added. 

Award Winning St Johns Teams Retu As Eco Leaders & Activists

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

The youth are not only aware as never before about the dangerous consequences of global warming and climate change, but also want to be the harbingers of change for a better environment and better world. And helping and empowering them in this endeavour is the Singapore based Hemipheres Foundation. Members of a junior and senior team from the city’s own St John’s School who recently participated in a Global Youth Summit organised by the foundation in Singapore, and have returned with a winner and second runners up trophy, respectively for their project presentations, are elated over their extraordinary experience. St. John’s was the only Indian school invited to this year’s summit which had ‘Young Environmentalists Making Change’ as its theme.

The junior team, comprising Yajan, Chaitanya, Bhavin, Zoravar and Digvijaye of classes 7 to 9, won the first prize in a field of 17 teams from over a dozen countries, mostly Asian, for their project ‘Plastrics’ which entailed making bricks from soft plastic used in wrappings of candies and chips, etc. The senior team of Livkirat, Akshit, Jaskaran and Rehmat of classes 9 t to 11 won the third prize in their category for their project “No Stubble, No Trouble’. Their concept revolved around making bricks from stubble, which is burnt by farmers causing massive pollution.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

Giving a brief presentation of their award-winning projects at the summit to invited media persons, in the presence of their guiding teachers and the school principal, the team members in the age group 12-15 years said both the projects were inspired by the idea of providing inexpensive bricks for constructing houses for the economically disadvantaged population. Students from the school are deeply involved with 300 odd friends from the economically disadvantaged sections as part of their social outreach programme.

Encouraged by the recognition of their efforts at the summit, held in Singapore from January 18 to 20, the members of the two teams have expressed their firm commitment to take their concepts to their logical conclusion by working hard to convert their thoughts into technically viable and low cost solutions for housing requirements of the people from economically disadvantaged sections of society. That, however, will have to wait till their final examinations are over by March-end.

Principal Kavita Das and teacher guides and mentors Neeru Sood Abrol and Michaelangelo expressed confidence that the members of the two teams with support from other students, including the school’s eco club, and old boys of the school, will prove their worth. The two teams have been invited again by the foundation to present their final products in the next World Youth Summit in 2019.

Hemispheres Foundation

The Singapore based Hemispheres Foundation, inspired by its passion for nature and community involvement, has been organising Nature conservation and Environmental education programmes for schools, engaging students on environmental issues and climate change since 2000. The Global Youth Summit, held twice a year – in winters and summers – was first held in 2014 which witnessed participation from 13 countries.

The summit is aimed at developing environmental leadership and activism among the youth. The participants, aged 12 to 21 years old, during the summit lea about successful sustainable initiatives in Singapore city-state, as well as other solutions they can implement back in their home countries. It also focuses on enabling the budding environmentalists to develop waste reduction solutions of their own.

The foundation feels that the world is facing serious problems with our natural environment and these problems need to be addressed now. Solving air and water pollution problems, as well as managing waste requires commitment, not only from our leaders, researchers and the industries, but also from the community.

Savour The Desert Flavours At WelcomHotel Bella Vista

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

Any talk of Rajasthan is sure to conjure up thoughts of the famed Marwari culture, the flavour of the arid land and the aan, baan and shaan of the Rajputi Maharajas and Maharanis. But you will be doing injustice to India’s North Western border state if you do not include its cuisine, characterised by liberal use to ghee and rich spices and flavour.

So when an invitation came for a preview of “Rangeelo Rajasthan”, a festival of authentic cuisine from an essentially desert land, which began at WelcomHotel Bella Vista in Panchkula on Friday, we couldn’t hold ourselves back. The festival continues till February 11.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

Chef Hanuman Pratap Singh, who has been invited from WelcomHotel Jodhpur to lay out the authentic Rajasthani platter for the Bella Vista guests, gave us a live demonstration of preparing two very popular Rajasthani dishes – the Ker Sangri, a tangy vegetable dish that is a must on every Marwari wedding menu, and a mouth-watering fish curry Rai Ki Macchi. 

Spelling out the rich fare laid out for guests during the week, Duddi Reny Manohar, Executive Chef, and Vivek Khanna, General Manager, WelcomHotel Bella Vista, said the menu has been crafted by Chef Hanuman and his team taking pains to strike a balance between veg and non-veg food enthusiasts.

 

The vegetarian starters include Moong Dal Kebab, Sangri Ke Kabab and Paneer Ke Sooley among others, whereas the menu for non-vegetarian starters includes Rai Ki Macchi, Charkha Murgh and Maas Ke Sooley.

 

The main course of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian menu is a big draw. From Macchi Ramgadi, Murgh Ki Mokal to Laal Maas and Safed Maas, everything has been included in the non vegetarian menu. The vegetarian main course has attractions like Paneer Methi Dana, Chakki Ka Saag, Ker Sangri Achari, Tripolia Subzi and more.

 

The Rajasthani food experience will be incomplete without the world famous desserts – Churma, Misri Mawa, Rajbhog, Malai Ghev and Malpua.

 

The breads include Bejadki Roti and Methi Ki Roti. Some other famous dishes of Rajasthan like Bati Dal, Moong Mogar Jaipuri and Gatta Pulao complete the menu.

 

Vivek Khanna promises that this is just the beginning. “As part of our plans we want to bring authentic cuisines from across India for our guests. We recently held a Kashmiri Food Festival and after this Rajasthani Food Festival we have lined up an Exotic Sizzler Extravaganza, a Gelato Festival and a Wine Festival."

So, savour the desert flavours at ‘Rangeelo Rajasthan’, WelcomHotel Bella Vista !! On till February 11. 

Swanky, But Affordable Infosys Foundation Red Cross Sarai Has 300 Dormitory, Private Room Beds

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

For Rs 100 per person per day a patient or attendant gets a dormitory bed in the swank new 300-bedded sarai (rest house) inaugurated at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI, for short) Chandigarh by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday. All thanks to the Infosys Foundation chaired by Sudha Murthy, which took on itself the task of mitigating the suffering of the multitudes who visit the prestigious health institute from far and near and find it difficult to secure affordable accommodation to stay. The Infosys Foundation Red Cross Sarai with all modern amenities has come up in a remarkably short time of just over a year. Its foundation stone was also laid by Rajnath Singh in September 2016.

The land was made available by PGI to the Red Cross Society Chandigarh which in turn signed a MoU with Infosys Foundation to construct the multi-storeyed building. The foundation contributed Rs 22 crore for the project. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has also chipped in by providing beds, linen and other items.

Photos By : Life in Chandigarh

Sudha Murthy, who conceived the sarai, was at hand to see the fructification of the joint effort. She told media persons, “During my last visit to Chandigarh it came to my knowledge that because of PGI’s reputation as a premier health institution in the region, patients and their attendants in the hundreds and thousands from across the region visit the hospital every day to get medical treatment. I was also told that there is a terrible shortage of affordable accommodation for stay during treatment. That’s how we decided to contribute our bit to mitigate their suffering and the idea of a sarai germinated.”

She informed that “Besides other philanthropic indulgences, the Infosys Foundation has helped raise sarais in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Orissa as well.” On being asked whether the foundation will consider expanding its operations in this region, she said “we will see how this project goes, and depending on its outcome we will take a call.”

The sarai has 300 beds in 36 dormitories and 13 private rooms. A private room will cost a nominal Rs 500 per day. An entire floor has been reserved for women, considering their special needs. The building is serviced by VRV-based multi-split type air conditioning with facility of both cooling and heating.

Other features

·        Backup examination room on each floor for emergencies

·        Lifts & ramps

·        Common areas, including 75-seater cafeteria, waiting hall and reception, administrative office, stores, service areas, etc.

·        Extremely advanced and dependable electrical distribution system designed with highest safety standards

·        Fitted with modern energy saving and energy efficient equipments.

·        20KVA solar photovoltaic plant

·        24X7 hot water supply; generator backup

·        CCTVs, fire extinguishers, etc.

·        Large open area around building for patients to stretch & relax

·        Parking

·        Facilities like ATM, food outlets to be added.

Admn Block & Audi in General Hospital

 

The Union Home Minister later inaugurated an Administrative Block in Government Multi-speciality Hospital (GMSH) Sector 16 built at a cost of Rs. 12 crore and covering an area of 54,537 sq.ft. with five floors and a basement. An Auditorium built on an area of 10,510 sq.ft. at a cost of Rs. 4.50 crore was also inaugurated. The double storey Auditorium consists of an administrative office, library, foyer and green rooms.

 

In a meeting with senior officials of the UT Administration at UT Guest House, Rajnath Singh was given a presentation on the union territory’s achievements.

 

After a luncheon meeting with Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore and Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, the Union Minister spared a few minutes to be with members of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha.

One Lakh Bikes For Amit Shah Rally at Jind On Feb 15

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

In a massive show of strength, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana is mobilising 1,00,000-plus motorcycles from across the state, one of the largest ever convergence of motorcycles at any one place, for the February 15 motor cycle rally at Jind, from where party’s National president Amit Shah will kick start the party’s campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in the state.

Spelling out the plan for the February 15 rally, state party president Subhash Barala said a minimum of five motorcycles from each poll booth in all the 22 districts of the state are being mobilised for the motorcycle rally. Amit Shah, Chief Minister Manohar Lal, his cabinet colleagues, Barala himself and all other party officer bearers will also participate in the rally on motorcycles.

 

Photos By : Life in Chandigarh

“I will be riding a motorcycle to Jind from my constituency Tohana. Similarly the other party leaders, including members of the council of ministers, will ride motorcycles from their respective constituencies or a considerable distance to the venue. All riders are being asked to wear helmets, follow traffic rules and maintain ‘swachchta’ during the motorcycle rally,” Barala said.

To a question why motorcycle rally was chosen for the occasion, he said riding motorcycles would infuse fresh blood among the party cadres, especially the youth, and they will work with renewed vigour for the success of the party in the 2019 elections.

Barala said the February 15 motorcycle rally in Haryana will be a very big event in preparation for Mission 2019 of the party and massive mobilisation is underway at all levels to make it a grand success.

Dismissing the suggestion that a cabinet reshuffle in Haryana may be in the offing after the motorcycle rally, he asserted that through any change in the council of ministers was the prerogative of the Chief Minister, “as on today, this issue has not been discussed at any level either in the government or the party.”       

 Party insiders feel that the scale of the motorcycle rally is aimed at taking the wind out of the sails of the Congress rallies being separately led by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda (rath yatra) and state party chief Ashok Tanwar (bicycle rallies).     

 

 

Living Life King Size In Signature Jack Nicklaus Golf Course

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

Imagine a golf lover or enthusiast living in the midst of a world class golf course, in signature Jack Nicklaus style, right here in Punjab’s richie rich town, Ludhiana. Most would say it is unbelievable, but The Imperial Golf Estate at Mullanpur Dakha, near Ludhiana, has made it possible.

The beautifully laid out 9-hole championship golf course, conceptualised by world renowned Nicklaus Design, and spread over 70 acres, is part of the first phase of the 300-acre gated golfing township. The golf course is planned to be expanded to 18-hole under the second phase of the project. This is only the fourth signature Jack Nicklaus golf course in the country after Gurgaon, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. Jack William Nicklaus, a retired American professional golfer, is widely regarding as the greatest golfer of all times.

Photos By: Life in Chandigarh

“The 9-hole golf course in all its pristine glory is fully functional, as is the club house spread over 10 acres complete with golf carts and modern clubbing amenities.  We have already sold 70 percent of the stock of 600 residential units in the first phase of the project – 1000 sq yard and 2000 sq yards plots for constructing villas and 1600 sq ft built-up suites. Out of the 200 units offered for possession, 100 buyers have already taken charge of their units,” claimed Ravi Khanna, Director, The Imperial Golf Estate, Ludhiana, while interacting with media persons in Chandigarh, on Thursday.

“We are here to invite the famed golfing community of the tri-city to get a feel of our 9-hole golf course. We are organizing a one-day tournament on January 28 essentially for junior golfers from the region as per IGU guidelines in association with The British School Golf Academy and Indo Canadian Golf Association. Mr Manjit Singh Kochar, Golf Instructor, Chandigarh Golf Club, is helping us conduct this tournament. There is no participation fee and the top three finishers in each category will be awarded trophies. All participants will be presented certificates,” Khanna added.

Giving details of the tournament, Kochar said juniors will participate in five different age categories – below 8 years, 8-9 years, 10-12 years, 13-15 years and 15-18 years. There will also be one category for senior golfers.

John Volz, a golf professional from USA and Head, Golfing Operations, at The Imperial Golf Estate, expressed confidence that the tri-city golfers, as also from other parts of Punjab and the region will participate in large numbers in the tournament. “We promise that you will carry home wonderful memories of an unmatched golf course in the region.”

(For participation, Manjit Kochar can be reached on 98155-54788).

Col (retd) CJ Pal, Project Head, described The Imperial Golf Estate, Ludhiana as a wonderful lifestyle statement with ultra modern amenities. “An extraordinary spend of Rs 66 lakhs per acre on development alone,” which he claimed was four times more than what a well known developer would normally spend, “has ensured a world class golf course and real estate. We are planting 8 lakh trees and bushes in the property out of which 50 percent have already taken roots.”

Giving commercial details, Sumit Kumar, Marketing Head, said plots in the The Imperial Golf Estate, Ludhiana, were being sold @ 90,000 per square yard and the 1600 sq ft suites had a price tag of Rs 80 lakh each.

Mona Sethi, Chairperson, The British School Golf Academy, Chandigarh, was also present at the press meet.

For more details : http://www.imperialgolfestate.com/index.html

Ambassador Kozlowski Holds Out Olive Branch To Indian Students

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

With the countries constituting the European Union (EU) showing a steady and sustainable growth over the past four years, and the consumer confidence in these countries on a high, the stage is set for taking EU-India ties to a next level. It also opens up greater opportunities for post graduate students from India to avail of the unlimited full scholarship facilities to study in European universities.

Expressing these views while interacting with media persons at the Panjab University on Friday, EU Ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski said the parameters of a sound economy – investments, employment and exports – were showing a steady increase and the all important consumer confidence had  risen to the highest level in the last 16 years. The growth rate of the economy in EU as a whole is expected to be 2.3 percent this year, which is the fastest pace of growth in the last 10 years, he added.

Photos By: Life in Chandigarh

The EU Ambassador was in Chandigarh on the occasion of EU Day being organised by the Panjab University. He participated in an international conference on the theme “EU-India Cooperation on Foreign Policy and Security – Challenges and Opportunities – & EU Higher Education Initiatives.

Kozlowski said the political leadership in EU and India were on the same page and recent official-level and summit meetings had helped firm up the resolve from both sides to take this four decades old relationship to new heights. Though EU continues to remain India’s single largest trading partner, despite Brexit, with a combined balanced trade surpassing 100 billion Euros, both sides feel that it was well below the huge potential. Renewed efforts to close the long standing and ticklish free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and India was a clear indication of the common thought process, he shared.

The areas of EU-India cooperation now include foreign policy and security issues, trade and economics, sustainable development and modernisation, research and innovation as well as people-to-people contacts. In the field of science and technology, the two sides were in the process of taking up projects on shared funding pattern in many areas, including water, energy, health, advanced materials and nanotechnology, bio-economy, information and communication technology, green transport and polar research.

On cooperation in combating terrorism, the EU Ambassador said both sides were taking concrete measures for decisive and concerted actions against globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities, including chose known to be operating from India’s neighbouring country.

Inviting Indian Students For Full Scholarships

Citing numerous opportunities for Indian students to avail of full scholarships under various EU-funded programmes for higher education and research like Erasmus+, Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions, the Jean Monnet Programme and Horizon 2020, Kozlowski said up to 2017 as many as 5,367 Indians had already benefited from the famous Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Programme alone (600 of them from Punjab), making India the single largest beneficiary of the programme.

He said currently 50,000 Indian students were studying in various universities in the EU and the figures are rising steadily. All the universities offering the scholarships have English as a medium of teaching, he said adding that 120 Indian universities had already been involved in active exchange programmes with EU universities, and around 100 in joint master programmes or capacity-building projects.

Ever Smiling Face of Meena Bazaar Founder Is Now A Memory

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

He presided over the famous fashion house Meena Bazaar for more than four decades and was held in high esteem by the fashion fraternity in the tri-city. No wonder, a sea of friends, admirers and well wishers turned up when S.P. Jain was laid to rest at the Manimajra Cremation ground on Wednesday. He was in his early 70s.

His elder son Rajnish lit the pyre and the younger son Manish remained behind him right through the last rites. S.P. Jain leaves behind his wife Aruna, his two sons, his daughters-in-law Aarti and Pooja, his daughter Deepika and son-in-law Satyam Aggarwal. He also has five grand children Manasvi, Bhavya, Ananya, Aayush and Piyush.

Photos By: Life in Chandigarh

S.P. Jain first started his fashion business from a showroom in Sector 17 near Neelam Cinema.  It was fairly popular, but his business really took off after his sons joined the business and they opened a second outlet of Meena Bazaar in NAC Manimajra in the late 1990s. From a showcase it gradually developed into a mall of sorts. Next came the outlet in Mohali in 2010, followed by the opening of a premium women’s fashion house Aliyana. The most sought after twin fashion houses in NAC Manimajra became a landmark in the area.

For the past many years the business was being spear-headed by the two sons Rajnish and Manish, with S.P. Jain gradually relegating himself to the background. The ever smiling face of the founder, who manned the cash counter for four decades, will alas, now remain a memory on the wall behind it.

The Brew Estate Presents 3 Exquisite Floors & A Sky Bar !

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

The foodies in the tri-city and around are striving for ever more, and local, national and international food and beverage brands are rushing to cash in on the insatiable demand. The new year has started on a blistering note with two new large format cafe cum bars of different genres opening up one after the other within the first week, and the buzz is a dozen more are readying to step in. While national brand ‘Social’ opened its first two-level all day café and bar by the name ‘Sector 7 Social’ in Chandigarh on Wednesday, fast growing local brand “The Brew Estate’, which is claimed to be the largest microbrewery chain in the tri-city, threw the doors open to its fifth outlet, covering a massive area spread over four floors in Panchkula’s Sector 9 on Thursday.

Launching its first outlet in Chandigarh’s Sector 26 in January 2016, The Brew Estate, which by its very name indicates the expansive size of its outlets, is growing at an exponential rate, marking its presence in Sector 35 and Elante Mall in Chandigarh, in Patiala, and now in Panchkula within a short span of two years.

Photos By: Life in Chandigarh

Says an exuberant Arun Singla, director and promoter of the venture, “We are growing fast because of the extraordinary confidence and love shown by our patrons in our passion for providing quality food, service, unmatched ambience and tasteful music to match. We are confident of taking the brand to new heights by expanding at a fast clip in the region, the rest of the country and even internationally. We have plans to open ten new outlets in the next two years. Among the places identified for spreading our wings are Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Shimla in the region and Dubai and Vancouver abroad. We can consider giving franchisee licences maybe at a later stage, but right now we have no such plans,” he maintained.

“We have our services in the basement of the building and the décor on all the four floors open to patrons is refreshingly different and mesmerising. The Panchkula microbrewery in the only one in the tri-city to be housed on four floors of a large showroom with a sky bar on the fourth floor with lush green garden, again an exclusive to The Brew Estate. The seating capacity of 395 is by far the largest in the tri-city,” he asserted.

Virtually throwing a challenge at other microbreweries, Arun Singla says “Our master brewers have come from Germany and Belgium, and have an impressive grasp of the art of brewing that cannot be replicated anywhere in the country. Our wide range of brews is made with perfection, and thrill the patrons no end.”

Spelling out the USP of the brand, Arun Singla says “We want to give our patrons the best international experience they can get anywhere in the world. The food we serve is prepared with love by our highly trained chefs. The variety includes a wide range of nibblers, healthy din sums and soups, greens, groumand bite burgers, handmade wood fired thin currish 13-inch pizzas, wood fired grilled, and an endless range of veg and non-veg starters, rice and biryanis, noodles, Indian breads. We serve Indian cuisine, Italiano and other European cuisines.”

So come, soak in the resplendence of The Brew Estate Panchkula !

Sidhu Envisions Uddta Punjab™ Of The Pure Kind

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

The urban local bodies will run like well oiled machines, the rich culture of Punjab will be revived to its old glory and tourism will become a great source of income and inspiration for the people of the state. It’s hard to believe in a state reeling under a financial crisis and weighed down by massive corruption. But the flamboyant Punjab cabinet minister in charge of these departments Navjot Singh Sidhu exudes supreme confidence that it is possible, and he will make it happen come what may. Believing in the adage “where there’s a will, there’s a way” he appears to be banking heavily on central assistance to push through his agendas.

In a new year interaction with media persons on Wednesday, Sidhu said he had already met with some success in getting the central government to approve release of funds for the three smart city projects, for tourism circuits proposed by the state government and strengthening of fire safety mechanism in the state.

He informed that the central government had approved release of Rs 350 crore for the smart city projects in Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar and another Rs 50 crore was being contributed by the state government for the purpose. And, with Amritsar being declared a heritage city, the state government will be able to spend Rs 600 crore on these three smart cities during this year – Rs 200 crore for each city.

Photo By: Life in Chandigarh
The ministries of home affairs and housing and urban affairs are also expected to release funds to the tune of more than Rs 750 crore for strengthening the fire services, purchase of fire equipments and raising a fire services training centre in the state.

Another Rs 100 crore had been cleared by the Union Tourism Minister for religious and heritage tourism projects in Punjab, including Sri Anandpur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, Chamkaur Sahib, Jallianwala Bagh, Hussainiwala and Khatkar Kalan memorials, Saragarhi and Kalanaur.

The minister claimed that more resources would be generated through better compliance of rules and plugging of leakages in collection of various levies and expenditures in the urban local bodies. Maintaining that speedy implementation of e-governance measures was the only way to check the rampant corruption in the system, he announced that in order to streamline the functioning of urban local bodies and to assess the irregularities and shortcomings M/s Grant Thornton Ltd had been appointed as an independent review and forensic audit agency.

Grant Thornton has been mandated with carrying out the forensic audit of infrastructure work carried out by the urban local bodies in the last 10 years. In the first phase, the agency will conduct the audit in four municipal corporation towns of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala, four improvement trusts in these towns, and three municipal councils of Kharar, Zirakpur and Rajpura. The agency will look at works related to water supply, sewerage and sewerage treatment plants (STPs) carried out by the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board and works related to town planning department.

To generate substantial savings in energy consumption, conventional bulbs in all 4.90 lakh street light points in the urban local bodies will be replaced with energy efficient LED lights between March and November this year.

A massive recruitment exercise has been undertaken to fill up more than 600 vacancies of engineers, inspectors and senior assistants in various urban local bodies by the end of the current financial year.

Under an urban infrastructure improvement plan, the department has begun the process of providing 100% river water supply, sewerage, roads, street lights and storm water maintenance facilities to the urban population.

Punjab Arts Council Chairman Surjit Singh Patar, who was also present, spelled out the various initiatives of the council in touching each one of the 12,000 villages in the state with its activities aimed at changing the distorted mindsets of large sections of the rural population and restoring the glorious period of Punjab shaped by Guru Nanak and various rishis and sufi saints.

His vision for Punjab involves restoring weekly arts and culture periods in educational institutions, holding arts festivals and competitions to identify and nurture talent, creating nursery rhymes steeped in Punjabi culture, posting of periodic online magazines with best contributions in poetry, short films, paintings, etc. from the youth. He has also proposed grant of scholarships for promotion of art and culture among Punjabis during the 550th birth anniversary of first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev in 2019 when an Asian Art Festival is also planned to be held.

While claiming that a comprehensive tourism policy was ready for formal launch soon, Navjot Singh Sidhu said various tourism circuits on thematic lines had been finalised by the state government and would be taken up by one by one for development with technical and financial assistance of the central government. Among the circuits identified are Spiritual Circuit, Maharajah Circuit and Mughal Circuit.

The two occasions of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak and centenary year of Jallianwala Bagh in 2019 will be commemorated on a grand scale to attract tourists from across the world.

Policies are also being formulated to promote film tourism by establishing film cities and medical and wellness tourism in a big way. Conservation of cultural and heritage sites and early completion and promotion of Virasat-e-Khalsa to make it the most visited museum in the country are also on the top of the state government’s tourism agenda.

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