Hospital in temple basement gets MC nod

The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation gave its nod to the hospital in the basement of Shree Durga Mata Mandir on Wednesday on the plea that the basement was constructed over 10 years ago and changes in the usage would not matter much.

Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia, meanwhile, has called for the project file of the temple to see why permission for change in the building plan was not sought before starting construction in the old basement. At the same time, Kalia also assured that in order to solve the traffic congestion problem, the road outside the temple would be widened. B K Goyal, secretary of the trust, said: “The 45 feet wide road near the government college ground, which is opposite the temple, can be acquired and can solve the traffic problem to a great extent.”

Kalia added that he would talk to the chief minister to get a part of the college ground acquired to ease the traffic flow. “The temple funds are being used for a charitable cause where health facilities will be provided at cheaper rates, such efforts need encouragement. Regarding the building plan, I will look into the file,” the minister said.

Kalia further said that religious bodies should start spending funds on spreading education as the Cabinet had passed a Bill where religious organisations can set up universities and educational institutes.

Shoe bite

The members of Shree Bawa Lal Dyal Sewak Sangh, meanwhile, in their press release have stated that Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura went inside the temple verandah wearing shoes thereby hurting the sentiments of devotees.

General Secretary of the sangh, Vinod Kundra Dara said if Mayor did not apologise for his act within three days, various Hindu organisations will boycott him.

Sarabjit Singh Bunty, another devotee, alleged that when the Mayor was asked to remove his shoes, he preferred to stay out in the verandah. Meanwhile, the Mayor was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.

Demand for land

Apart from this, the temple management committee has also demanded that the land of the Division Number 5 police station adjacent to the temple should be given to them for expansion purposes for which the management was ready to give thrice the market price.

Kalia said that he would take up the matter with Police Commissioner Ishwar Singh. Kalia also gave Rs 3 lakh from his discretionary quota for the development of the hospital.