15052026-CT-01.qxd 5/15/2026 12:43 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune HC VERDICT ON PLEA AGAINST TRIBUNE FLYOVER TODAY CHANDIGARH GOLF LEAGUE TO GET BIGGER THIS YEAR THE ERA OF THE CONVERSATION CLUTCH The High Court to pronounce verdict on plea challenging the proposed Tribune flyover on Friday. P3 The Chandigarh Golf League all set to see participation of 24 teams, three more than the previous edition. P3 The accessory trend for 2026 is all about bags that feel conversational, collectible and deeply personal. P4 » » PANCHKULA FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE UT forms new committee to review need-based changes 64 75 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD CHB DWELLING UNITS Board CEO to head 8-member panel, file report in 2 weeks Dushyant Singh Pundir WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 24 and 46 Mohali: Sector 68 & Phase 5 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Chandigarh, May 14 The Election Commission of India (ECI) will be conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Chandigarh under Phase III from June 15 to July 14. The last intensive revision was conducted in the UT in 2002. Being a single parliamentary constituency, Chandigarh has nearly 5.18 lakh electors currently registered across 614 polling stations. As many as 614 boothlevel officers (BLOs), assisted by 1,143 booth-level agents appointed by political parties, will conduct house-to-house visits to reach all 5.18 lakh continued on page 2 BATTLING BLAZE Firefighters in action; and (left) remove LPG cylinders as a fire breaks out at a club in Sector 26, Chandigarh. RAVI KUMAR REPORT P3 CBI takes over investigation into ~200-cr twin IDFC bank frauds Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 14 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the two biggest bank frauds in Chandigarh’s history — the Rs 117-crore Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL)-Municipal Corporation (MC) scam and the Rs 83-crore Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) fraud. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has formally directed the CBI to accept the transfer of FIR No. 02/2026 and FIR No. 03/2026 — both registered at the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Chandigarh. The two frauds were perpetrated through the Sector 32 branch of IDFC First Bank. The CBI has registered a fresh FIR in connection with the CREST fraud and made continued on page 2 Power firm director, bizman in CBI remand Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 14 The CBI court, Chandigarh, today sent two suspects in the Rs 75-crore CREST scam to the custody of the investigation agency. While Amit Dewan, Director (Finance) of Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited continued on page 2 c m y b Chandigarh, May 14 Following protests against demolition drives last month, the UT Administration has constituted a fresh eight-member committee to review and recommend need-based changes in Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) dwelling units. According to an order issued by Chief Secretary H Rajesh Prasad, the committee, headed by Chief Executive Officer, CHB, will submit its report within two weeks. The committee will assess changes carried out by allottees in their dwelling units, identify permissible changes, compliance with the Supreme Court directions issued on January 10, 2023, and recommend the changes that can be allowed subject to the condition that there is no compromise with the structural stability, fire safety, light and ventilation etc. Other members of the committee include Joint Secretary, Estate Office; Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation (Head of Fire Department); Chief Architect; FILE Tribune News Service SIR begins in UT on June 15 MAX 28°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 38.1°C | MIN 19.6°C SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.32 AM /THETRIBUNECHD AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET FRIDAY 7.06 PM » FRIDAY | 15 MAY 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST 68,000 flats CHB built over four decades 80% dwelling units have some form of structural alteration POLICY REVISED SIX TIMES The board has revised its need-based policy six times since 2010. The first need-based policy was notified on March 23, 2010, followed by policies on July 7, 2015; February 18, 2016; February 15, 2019; January 3, 2023, and February 26 this year. Senior Town Planner; Finance and Planning Officer; Law Officer; and Secretary of CHB, as member convener. On the directions of the High Court, the CHB had launched a crackdown on illegal structures in April, but was halted after protest from residents and political parties. In January this year, the UT Administration had constituted an 11-member committee to review the policy on need-based changes notified on January 3, 2023. The notification had superseded all previous orders related to need-based changes in CHB dwelling units. It was put on hold following the SC order on January 10, 2023. The apex court directed that the Chandigarh Administration shall freeze the floor area ratio (FAR) and shall not increase it any further. Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria had on February 26 approved the recommendations of the committee. The committee recommended that the policy be implemented with certain exclusions. Out of the 28 clauses in the 2023 policy, the committee dropped four. However, the house owners have been opposing the January 2023 notification, claiming it reversed previous relaxations and categorised these as violations. CHB allottees have demanded the withdrawal of the policy and the provision of a comprehensive alternative. The board has revised its need-based policy six times since 2010. The first needbased policy was notified on March 23, 2010, followed by policies on July 7, 2015; February 18, 2016; February 15, 2019; January 3, 2023, and February 26 this year. continued on page 2