05102026-CT-01.qxd 10/5/2026 12:34 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune PCA WOMEN WIN RAMA ATRAY TOURNEY TITLE KAJAL STARS AS GMSSS-22 WIN FOOTBALL TOURNEY JANHVI BRINGS DESI DRAMA TO BOF 500 GALA IN PARIS Defeat UT Cricket Association by 36 runs to win 7th Rama Atray Memorial Women's Cricket meet. P3 Kajal scored twice to help Government Model Sr Sec School, Sector 22, win interschool football meet. P3 Janhvi brought Indian craftsmanship to the global fashion stage as she attended the BoF 500 Gala in Paris. P4 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 89 PANCHKULA /THETRIBUNECHD SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 43 & 45 Mohali: Sectors 70, 78 & Phase 5 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com People take part in Sekhon Indian Air Force Marathon - 2026 organised in memory of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, the IAF’s sole Param Vir Chakra recipient, in Chandigarh on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY Chhatbir Zoo draws 10,000 visitors daily Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service Zirakpur, October 4 Chhatbir Zoo has been witnessing a large number of visitors for the past four days with more than 10,000 people arriving at the zoo daily, marking the highest footfall recorded this year so far. The extended weekend, excursion trips by schools and colleges, and pleasant weather have contributed to the unprecedented rush, officials said. A host of activities, including marathons, quizzes and drawing competitions, being organised as part of National Wildlife Week from October 2 to 8 have also added to the footfall. On Sunday, 10,015 people visited the zoo. Officials said the parking lots were chock- a-block, forcing visitors to park their vehicles in the fields nearby. “On an average, 700 tickets are booked online every day, while the rush at the counters keeps the staff hardpressed from morning till evening. These are the highest numbers we have accommodated this year so far. The next four months generally witness above-average footfall as per past data,” said Range Officer Harpal Singh. Sunday, the busiest day, saw visitors enjoying various attractions at the zoo. The reptile section was particularly popular with schoolchildren, who gathered around the glass enclosures, often getting startled by the sudden movements of cobras. Rat snakes and From today, Mayors to dwell on roadmap for cleaner, greener cities Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 4 Mayors from across the country will arrive here for the 118th National Executive Meeting of the All India Mayors Council to be held from October 5 and 6. They will deliberate on strengthening urban governance and building cleaner, greener and more self-reliant cities. Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi, addressing a press conference at the UT State Guest House today, said the two-day conference would be held on the theme “Sashakt Nagar, Viksit Bharat”. He was accompanied by Manoj Kumar, secretary, All India Mayors Council. The conference will provide a national platform for elected representatives of urban local bodies to exchange successful initiatives, share experiences and discuss innovative approaches to urban governance. The conference will be inaugurated by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on October 5 at 11 am. The Mayor said the deliberations would focus on planned urban development, cleanliness, green spaces, water management, digital governance Chandigarh to host 118th All India Mayors Council meeting from October 5 to 6 and citizen-centric civic services. Special emphasis would be laid on environmental sustainability, water conservation, technology-enabled governance, waste-to-resource initiatives and greater participation of women through self-help groups. Chandigarh will showcase its best practices in planned urban development, cleanliness, green spaces, water management and digital governance. The city will also learn from innovative initiatives being implemented by urban local bodies across the country. The conference will also deliberate on strengthening urban local bodies, improving coordination between elected representatives and officials, and enhancing citizen participation. Joshi said the conference was expected to facilitate a meaningful exchange of ideas and generate practical recommendations for strengthening cities and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat. NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK ■ Marathons, quizzes and drawing competitions are being organised as part of National Wildlife Week from October 2 to 8 ■ On Day 3, the zoo authorities organised a “Run for Wildlife”. Around 250 participants took part in 3 km, 5 km and 10 km runs lizards also drew considerable attention. The Nocturnal House was another attraction, with children reacting with loud shrieks to the animals in its dark, cave-like setting. Gharials and crocodiles remained largely undisturbed as they rested in shallow ponds, while the monkeys and macaques appeared less amused by the large number of visitors outside their enclosures. SUNRISE TUESDAY 6.19 AM FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Ostriches and emus fascinated visitors of all age groups, while the dinosaur safari was a major hit among children. “At Lion Safari, the king of the jungle lay in the shade and glanced at visitors once in a while. It was the first time I had seen hundreds of deer together near a water body,” said eight-year-old Arjun Shekhon, a resident of Karnal, who was visiting the zoo for the first time. On the third day of Wildlife Week, the zoo authorities organised a “Run for Wildlife”. Around 250 participants took part in 3-km, 5km and 10-km runs. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Punjab, Dharminder Sharma, gave away prizes to the winners. An experienced “mahout” also interacted with visitors and shared information about the habits and behaviour of elephants. He spoke about Maya and Hema, the two elephants, and explained their daily routines and behaviour. A discussion was also held about the zoo’s 10 tigers — Diya, Gouri, Abhay, Aryan, Arjun, Saavi, Gazal, Garima, Gunjan and Jyoti — on Saturday. Field Director Nalin Yadav said the zoo authorities were prepared to accommodate more visitors during Wildlife Week and in the coming days. “We are ensuring that all visitor amenities are maintained properly. Our staff are also remaining vigilant about animal healthcare and visitor safety,” he said. Chandigarh, October 4 Thousands of residents of Chandigarh’s rehabilitation colonies may soon get legal ownership rights to their houses. The UT Administration is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for a new policy covering properties sold through general power of attorney (GPA), wills or related agreements. The policy has been drafted after a fresh review of the Supreme Court’s November 2011 judgment in the Suraj Lamp case and has been sent to the MHA for approval. During a recently held grievance redressal programme at Ram Darbar, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria had said that he had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi and that residents would soon get “good news” on the issue. More than 34,000 houses have been constructed under various rehabilitation schemes in Chandigarh, and a large number of their present occupants had purchased the properties through GPA arrangements. Residents have been demanding legal ownership rights for years. Officials said a committee was constituted to examine the issue and recommend a framework for granting ownership rights. Based on its recommendations, the proposal was sent to the MHA. The committee also studied similar models adopted in other cities and examined legal aspects and court cases relat- UT Admn awaits MHA nod for policy on rehabilitation colonies in city HOUSES ALLOTTED UNDER SCHEMES SINCE 1979 ■ 34,965 houses constructed under rehabilitation schemes in Chandigarh ■ Over 80% occupants are not original allottees, survey finds ■ Most properties changed hands through GPA, wills or informal pacts ■ Houses were allotted under rehabilitation schemes since 1979, mostly on 99-year lease ■ Residents of Dadumajra, Indira Colony, Mauli Jagran, Dhanas, Bapu Dham, Manimajra, Sectors 52 and 56 to benefit ing to such property transfers. Allotments of houses in the rehabilitation colonies were made over the years by the Estate Office and the Chandigarh Housing Board under various rehabilitation schemes. This is not the first attempt to resolve the issue. In 2023, another committee had been constituted to examine the matter. However, the administration did not accept its recommendations, stating that their implementation could create further complications for residents. A fresh committee was subsequently formed to prepare a more practical and legally viable proposal. The administration also conducted a survey of houses in rehabilitation colonies across the city. According to the survey, more than 80 per cent of the occupants are not the original allottees. They are residing in houses purchased through GPA. In sev- Behind Pranavi’s golden moment, a city golfer’s support three birdies. On the final two holes, she made crucial par putts before finishing the 18th with another par to remain at 15-under. Yin and Shannon both finished at 14-under, leaving Pranavi at the top of the leaderboard. India’s previous individual gold came through Shiv Kapur in the men’s event at the 2002 Asian Games. “She played in a very composed manner. As I said, it was a close call, but she is very calm when it comes to handling such situations,” Kochhar said. Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 4 Amid words of appreciation pouring in from across the country, a simple “Well done” message from her partner and local golfer Karandeep Kochhar brought a muchdeserved smile to Pranavi Urs soon after she became the first Indian woman golfer to win an Asian Games gold medal. Pranavi (23) and Kochhar (27), both professional golfers, have shared a close emotional bond on the golf greens for several years. Their relationship blossomed from their shared passion for golf, bringing Pranavi from Mysuru and Chandigarh’s Kochhar closer. Last December, the two found themselves competing against each other at the AM Green Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Invitational Tour. In her first appearance in the tournament, Pranavi carded a bogey-free eightunder 60 to clinch the title at 14-under, defeating overnight leader Kochhar, who finished two shots behind. “What can I say? It’s good to watch her win the individual gold,” Kochhar said with a smile. He was in Hyderabad for his next tournament. Pranavi scripted history in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, by becoming the first Indian woman golfer to win an individual gold medal at the Asian Games. She held on to a slen- MAX 34°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 22.8°C Thousands of colony residents likely to get ownership rights soon In honour of valour 61 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 MOSTLY CLOUDY SUNSET MONDAY 6.03 PM » MONDAY | 5 OCTOBER 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST ‘Chandigarh feels like home’ Asian Games gold medallist Pranavi and Chandigarh golfer Karandeep share an emotional bond. der one-stroke lead in the final round to achieve the historic feat, which also helped India secure the team silver. “She is very confident when it comes to golf, and she played like a champion. There were some tough moments, but she sailed through them quite boldly. I think golf touring in recent years has helped young golfers a lot and possibly encouraged more youngsters to take up the game,” said Kochhar, who has been playing in the Asian Tour since 2022. A shared passion Both Pranavi and Kochhar c m y b started playing golf at a young age. Pranavi took up the sport after being inspired by her father and brother, while Kochhar followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Dr GS Kochhar, who bought him his first golf kit when he was just four. Pranavi turned professional in 2020 and won two Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour titles. She was conferred the Arjuna Award in 2023. Kochhar, who turned professional in 2017, won his maiden PGTI title at the 2022 PGTI Players Championship. In 2016, he became the first amateur to win a PGTI event. He also recently finished fourth in the Philippine Golf Championship. Earlier this year, Kochhar was seen supporting Pranavi by caddying for her during events in Europe, including when she finished third in Sweden. The golden moment Pranavi fought a tight battle against China’s Yin Ruoning and Singapore’s Shannon Tan to win the Asian Games gold. She entered the final round with a three-shot overnight lead but suffered a triple bogey on the third hole. She quickly gathered herself and bounced back with “I am a regular visitor to Chandigarh to play with my partner Karandeep, and I am thankful to the Chandigarh Golf Club and the Chandigarh Golf Association for giving me a chance to play and practise,” said Pranavi. ~1-crore reward AM Green IGPL will award Pranavi Rs 1 crore for winning the women’s individual golf gold at the Asian Games. It will also award Rs 25 lakh to the Indian women’s team of Pranavi, Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar for winning silver in the team event. The Indian team finished at 14under, behind China. Aditi saved her best round for Saturday, carding a three-under 67 with six birdies in a row on the back nine, helping India hold on to the silver medal. eral cases, officials found that houses had changed hands multiple times through informal agreements. The houses were allotted under rehabilitation schemes beginning in 1979, mostly on a 99-year lease basis. However, after the Supreme Court order on property transfers through GPA transactions in 2011, residents who had purchased houses through such arrangements were left facing legal uncertainty. Residents of various colonies, including Dadumajra, Indira Colony, Mauli Jagran, Dhanas, Bapu Dham, Manimajra and Sectors 52 and 56, have been seeking ownership rights for years. The officials said granting ownership rights would provide legal security to thousands of families and significantly enhance the value of the properties. According to official data, 34,965 houses have been constructed in Chandigarh under rehabilitation schemes. These houses were allotted to economically weaker sections either on a leasehold basis or against monthly licence fees. Under the proposed policy, GPA holders seeking registration of their properties will have to pay stamp duty based on the prevailing collector rate of the area. In addition, buyers will have to pay an “unearned increase” to the administration. The administration is expected to formulate a detailed mechanism for calculating the charges once the proposal receives final approval from the MHA. Truck hits three on Old Ambala Road; delivery worker critical Tribune News Service Zirakpur, October 4 A speeding pickup truck hit two pedestrians and a food delivery worker, who was riding a bike, on Old Ambala Road here on Saturday morning. The delivery worker was reportedly in critical condition. The impact was so severe that the motorcycle got trapped between the pickup truck and a tree. Local residents rushed the injured to a hospital. According to eyewitnesses, the pickup truck was being driven at a high speed. The driver lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road, hitting the three persons. They alleged that the pickup driver was under the influence of alcohol. However, the allegation is yet to be officially confirmed and his medical examination report is awaited. The police reached the spot after receiving information and took the driver into custody. ASI Sulkhan Singh, who is investigating the case, said the police were examining the circumstances of the accident, including the vehicle’s speed and the driver’s condition. Further legal action would be taken on the basis of the medical report and other findings.