DEVELOPMENT MAN OF LUDHIANA, SHIV SINGH SANDHU, PASSED AWAY ON AUGUST 30

Ludhiana, September 1, 2016: The "development man" of Ludhiana, Mr Shiv Singh Sandhu (91), has passed away on evening of August 30, 2016. During his political and social lifespan of more than seven decades, he was instrumental in setting up of several residential colonies, markets, commercial hubs, etc.
Born in the year 1925 at Lyallpur (Now in Pakistan), Mr Shiv Singh Sandhu was a political nominee of Giani Zail Singh and was appointed chairman of the Improvement Trust, Ludhiana in 1972 and continued on this post till 1978. It was during his tenure that the industrial town witnessed real development of residential colonies. Six residential colonies which are now the pride of this town were developed during his tenure.
These colonies are — Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Rajguru Nagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Kitchlu Nagar, Rishi Balmik Nagar and Model Town Extension. He also set up the truck stand, Feroze Gandhi Market, Rarewala Market and a dairy complex on Tajpur Road etc. It is worth mentioning here that not an acre of land was acquired after the retirement of Mr Shiv Singh Sandhu.
A resident of Silver Oaks, Country Homes, South City, Ludhiana, Mr Shiv Singh Sandhu graduated from Forman Christian College, Lahore in the year 1947. During his student years, he also took active part in the Quit India Movement in the year 1942 and also organised the Student Congress Organisation in FC College.
In the year 1962, he became the Chairman of Market Committee, Ludhiana and it was during that time that he made efforts, which finally led to the amendment of Punjab Agricultural Marketing Act. It were his efforts which enabled the Market Committee to incur expenses for the construction of metalled link roads to several villages.
Mr Shiv Singh Sandhu also remained as the Chairman of Public Relations Committee during the Chinese and Pakistani aggressions of 1962 & 1965 respectively. During that time, he actively organised cultural programmes for the entertainment of Army Jawans and distributed gifts to them. For boosting the morale of people and to counter the false propaganda by the Chinese and Pakistani against India.
He also remained the Chairman of Bharat Sewak Samaj of Ludhiana district and organised camps in villages for voluntary earthwork on the link roads of the villages of the district.
In the year 1970, for studying agricultural and urban development, Mr Sandhu visited UK, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France. He also worked as the Chairman of the Beautification Committee of Ludhiana City and supervised the beautification of several roads, side parks on roads, roundabouts, planting of trees and flowers etc.
For the formation of Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), Mr Shiv Singh Sandhu, with the help of Late S. Bharpur Singh, Chief Town Planner, Punjab, also submitted a paper to the Punjab government and it was on the basis of this paper that the government formed the Act in November 1995.
Although Mr Sandhu retired from active politics, but he remained active in various forms of social work for the betterment of our society. Throughout his life, he worked for the upliftment of infrastructure and other basic amenities in urban as well as rural areas of the state. He also contributed in educating the masses about family planning, tree plantation, education, social evil of dowry and others.
Mr Shiv Singh Sandhu is survived by wife Charanjit Kaur, son Wg Cdr (Retd) Lali Sandhu, daughter in law Achint Kaur, Grandson Mr Uday Partap Singh Sandhu, grand daughter in law Supreet Kaur, and great grandchildren Sumer Partap Singh Sandhu and Peher Kaur Sandhu.
His Antim Ardas would be held at Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana from 12:15 pm-1 pm on September 3, 2016