04082022-CT-01.qxd 8/4/2022 1:09 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh TRIBUNE THURSDAY | 4 AUGUST 2022 | CHANDIGARH PANCHKULA POLICE NAB FOUR OF VEHICLE LIFTERS’ GANG PAGE 2 Police bust a gang of vehicle lifters, arrest its four members and recover three Scorpios, an Innova and a bike. FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY TRICITY COVID REPORT CHD P’KULA MOHALI POSITIVE 96,870 47,019 99,243 RECOVERED 94,781 46,212 97,412 NEW CASES 99 82 102 ACTIVE 918 389 670 CHANGE 18 26 64 DEATHS 1,171 418 1,161 NEW 1 0 0 AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 82 PANCHKULA 112 MOHALI 75 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF DRIVER FLEES WITH EMPLOYER’S CAR Chandigarh: The UT police have booked a driver for criminal breach of trust after he fled away with his employer’s car. The complainant, Sushil Kumar, a resident of Sector 27, stated that he, along with his wife, had gone to Mani Majra for some work on August 1 in their car driven by Gurinder Singh. After completing the work, the couple returned and found the driver and the car missing. The complainant tried calling the suspect but the latter’s mobile phone was switched off. A case has been registered at the Mani Majra police station. TNS EX-SERVICEMAN DUPED IN JOB FRAUD Chandigarh: A woman has been booked for duping an exArmyman of Rs 4.25 lakh on the pretext of providing a job. The complainant, Harjinder Singh, a resident of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar in Punjab, came to know about a job in a security firm through an advertisement. The complainant visited firm office in Sector 17, where he was told that he would be a branch manager at the company’s office in Jalandhar. The complainant was made to pay Rs 4.25 lakh, out of which Rs 4 lakh was taken as security amount. However, the complainant was neither provided a job nor his money was returned. A case of cheating has been registered at the Sector 17 police station. TNS VALUABLES STOLEN FROM SEC 8 HOUSE Chandigarh: Cash and jewellery were stolen from a house in Sector 8. The complainant, Tarun Mathur, reported that unknown person stole Rs 30,000, jewellery and a laptop from his house on the intervening night of August 1 and 2. A case has been registered at the Sector 3 police station. TNS Chandigarh, August 3 The UT Education Department has proposed seven new government school buildings to strengthen the village or periphery urban area falling outside the sectorial grid of Chandigarh. As per the proposal, seven new government school buildings may come up at Hallo Majra, Mauli Jagran, Mani Majra, Dhanas, Karsan, Maloya and Khuda Ali Sher. There are 114 government schools in the city, of which 43 UTCA WANTS SECTOR 16 STADIUM TO BE NAMED AFTER KAPIL DEV Govt Model High School, Sector 36, pump in four goals against St John’s, Sector 26, in boys’ U-14 final clash. MAX 32°C | MIN 26°C | YESTERDAY MAX 33.3°C | MIN 27.1°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7:14 PM PAGE 3 UTCA submits memorandum to Purohit for naming stadium after India’s first 1983 World Cup winning captain. SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:44 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Pitfall ahead! Drive at own peril on Airport Road Potholes, craters, concrete slabs on arterial stretch pose grave safety risk to lives of motorists Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service Mohali, August 3 Strewn with potholes and craters, the Airport Road in Mohali has become a death trap for commuters this monsoon season. To make matters worse, small concrete slabs are being used as barriers for under-construction shoulders at certain sections of the road, posing a serious risk to motorists. Two giant caved-in sites at the airport roundabout, near World Trade Centre, are enough to gobble up a small vehicle. Things are particularly challenging for twowheeler riders and cyclists, who have to brave the poor state of the road while avoiding speeding vehicles under slippery conditions. Namita Kalia, a private schoolteacher who commutes daily from Zirakpur to Sector 79, Mohali, says: “If this is the state of affairs of an arterial road leading to the international airport, one can well imagine the priority given by the authorities to other roads in the city.” Residents have questioned the purpose of the authorities holding monthly road safety meetings if no action is visi- 21 KM SPEED LIMIT SELDOM FOLLOWED BY MOTORISTS 60 km/hr Four-wheelers 50 km/hr Heavy vehicles 45 km/hr Two-wheelers LENGTH < Sunny Enclave (Kharar) to McDonald’s (Zirakpur) 26 PRONE TO ACCIDENTS 9 WORKING ON PERMANENT FIX 10 ❝We are repairing damaged sections. Lots 59% of pipes, sewer lines criss-cross road, leading to frequent wear and tear. We are making a comprehensive plan for a permanent fix. ❞ 80% A crater formed after part of the road caved in at the international airport roundabout; and (right) concrete slabs placed as barriers along under-construction shoulder in Mohali. PHOTOS: VICKY ❝ If this is the state of affairs of an arterial road leading to the international airport, one can well imagine the priority given by the authorities to other roads in the city. ❞ Namita Kalia, SCHOOLTEACHER ble on the ground. The road widening project of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority’s intersections — all black spots — witness frequent accidents MAJOR & MINOR JUNCTIONS ON ROAD 6 KM black spots, as per Mohali road safety centre study POOR STATE OF AFFAIRS Balwinder Singh, GMADA CHIEF ENGINEER (GMADA) from Chatt village to the Sector 82 railway bridge on the Airport Road, a stretch of around 6 km, is moving at a snail’s pace amid ongoing rains. Concrete slabs lined up along the road as makeshift berm have narrowed down fatal road accidents from 2017 to 2020 STRETCH WITH ENGINEERING FAULT of the accident victims are two-wheeler riders, cyclists or pedestrians the already congested stretch and pose a risk to motorists. “There is high-speed traffic on the road, especially at night. Potholes, construction work, debris make it a virtual death trap for drivers who are unfamiliar with the stretch,” says another commuter. GMADA Chief Engineer Balwinder Singh says: “There are some patches that need repair. We are working on it. Lots of pipes, sewer lines criss-cross the road, leading to frequent wear and tear. We are making a comprehensive plan to get these in order permanently.” Engineering defects, substandard construction material and plying of heavy vehicles are the prime reasons for the perennial problem. Residents accuse GMADA, National Highways Authority of India and MC officials of indifferent approach towards upkeep of the stretch. One of the major causes of wear and tear is poor drainage system, leading to the creation of rainwater puddles at intersections. The stretch is significant as those heading towards Chandigarh and Mohali from Delhi, Patiala and Bathinda take this road to reach their destination, making it a highvolume traffic zone. At night, tricity motorists criss-cross through this road at breakneck speed, leading to frequent accidents on intersections, sometimes fatal ones, often involving two-wheelers and four wheelers. No takers, CHB slashes reserve 7 mths on, Mayor yet to form 3 key panels price of business units by 15% Statutory committees must be constituted soon after assuming office Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 After getting a lukewarm response to its leasehold properties, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has decided to further reduce the reserve price of commercial units by 15%. To attract buyers, the Board of Directors of the CHB recently decided to reduce the reserve price of nearly 100 unsold commercial units that were constructed on the land allotted to the board on a leasehold basis. Yashpal Garg, Chief Executive Officer, CHB, said 98 commercial units would be put up for e-auction after reducing the reserve prices by 15% in comparison to the previous eauctions and it was likely to get a better response in the new e-tendering process. On the reason for sale on a leasehold basis, Garg said: “Since the land on which these were constructed was allotted on a leasehold basis, we cannot sell these on a freehold basis unless permitted by the Chandigarh Administration.” At the same time, 23 residential properties on a freehold basis, which remained RESIDENTIAL UNITS UP FOR GRABS TOO ■ 98 unsold commercial properties on leasehold basis will go under the hammer ■ 23 unsold residential properties on a freehold basis too will be re-auctioned ■ Of these, reserve prices of 17 located in Indira Colony will be reduced by 15% ■ 30 residential units on a freehold basis will be auctioned off for first time POOR RESPONSE TO PAST AUCTIONS AUCTION June May April Feb Dec ’21 RESIDENTIAL On offer Sold 27 4 29 2 6 1 34 2 27 3 unsold in previous e-auctions, will also be put up for re-auction. Of these, the reserve prices of 17 properties located in Indira Colony will also be reduced by 15 per cent, said Garg. Around 30 residential units on a freehold basis will also be included in the e-auction for the first time. These are two BHK and EWS units located in Sectors 63, 51, 38 (West) and 49, he added. “The e-tender may start from August 16 at 10 am and REPORT ON LAND AVAILABILITY SOON ■ Seven areas delineated by the Department of School Education ■ Planning Dept to submit report on land availability in Chandigarh are senior secondary, 54 high, 12 middle schools and five primary schools. The Town Planning Depart- CRUCIAL TO RUNNING MC AFFAIRS Tribune News Service Dushyant Singh Pundir COMMERCIAL On offer Sold 4 2 6 2 10 4 109 3 113 5 the last date may be September 6 at 10 am. Bids may be opened at 10.15 am on September 6,” said the CEO. In September last year also, the CHB had reduced the reserve price of leasehold commercial units by 20% and residential units by 10%. The CHB had further reduced the reserve price of corner shops, having verandah on two sides, by nearly 50% because of a change in methodology for computation. The CHB Continued on page 2 7 new govt schools on anvil at UT periphery Tribune News Service PAGE 3 GMHS-36 EMERGE FOOTBALL CHAMPS AT INTER-SCHOOL MEET 114 IN CITY 43 Sr Sec 54 High 12 Middle 5 Primary PROPOSED SITES Hallo Majra, Karsan, Mauli Jagran, Maloya, Mani Majra, Dhanas, Khuda Ali Sher ment of Chandigarh will submit its report on the land availability in Chandigarh for setting up the new schools, as per need assessment, in the seven areas delineated by the Department of School Education. A meeting under the chairmanship of Education Secretary Purva Garg was held at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, (nursery wing) in the presence of Harsuhinder Singh Brar, Director, School Education, to discuss the ongoing developments to upgrade the school infrastructure. During the meeting, the officials took up the matter of internal building and safety Continued on page 2 c m y b Chandigarh, August 3 Even as seven months have passed since the new Municipal Corporation House was formed, Mayor Sarbjit Kaur is yet to form the three statutory committees on road, house tax assessment and water supply and sewage disposal. The three committees are to be constituted by the Mayor soon after taking the charge. It is perhaps for the first time that the panels have not been formed for such a long period. A councillor said, “Since the number of councillors of the combined Opposition, AAP and the Congress, is more than that of the ruling BJP , Move to release undertrials jailed for minor crimes Mohali, August 3 Harpal Singh, District & Sessions Judge-cum Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar, today initiated the process of releasing undertrials languishing in jails for minor offences, in accordance with the recommendations of the National Legal Services Authority. He held a meeting with members of the Bar Association, SAS Nagar, wherein he urged the advocates to file bail applications in all such cases. He said 16 categories had been selected by the NALSA and recommendations were made by a review committee headed by him for release of undertrials in all courts. The details had been forwarded to all courts and Bar associations. Snehpreet Singh, president, Bar Association, SAS Nagar, said they would ensure bail applications of undertrials recommended by the review committee were filed within a short period. — TNS Committees Three statutory committees Nine sub-committees Finance & Contract Committee MC General House Status Not formed Not formed Formed – NO NOMINATED COUNCILLOR WARY OF POWERS TO OPPN ❝ Financial power ~25 lakh each ~15 lakh each ~50 lakh Unlimited ❝ Since names of nominated councillors havem’t been decided by UT Admn, we are unable to form committees as they too will be part of the Sarbjit Kaur, MAYOR panels. It is only an excuse. They do not want the panels to be formed as they know that the Opposition will be in a dominating position. the latter has ignored the mandatory formation of the panels. This way, they can control matters.” While 14 councillors are from the BJP AAP too has 14 mem, bers in the MC House. Six councillors are from the Congress and one from the SAD. These three committees ❞ ❞ Yogesh Dhingra, LEADER OF OPPOSITION 4 Hry mandi board staffers held for graft Tribune News Service Panchkula, August 3 The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau, Hisar, has arrested four persons, including an architect of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, for demanding Rs 2 lakh in bribe for clearing the file for building shed. Those arrested have been identified as architect Nisha Gupta, and mandi board employees Sanjay, Deepak and Anil. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) Jeet Singh said they had received information that Nisha and others had demanded Rs 2 lakh from a Hansi resident for building a shed in front of the vegetable market in Hansi. He said they put mobile phones of the suspects on surveillance. They later learnt the Hansi resident was coming to pay Rs 1.5 lakh in bribe to the suspects at the Mandi Board Architect caught taking ~1.5L from Hansi man have a power of clearing agendas up to Rs 25 lakh. These committees have to hold a meeting once a month. Besides, nine special subcommittees, including sanitation, electricity, environment, city beautification, women empowerment and enforcement, have also not been formed. The UT Administration has to approve the formation of the sub-committees. However, the civic body has not sent the names yet. Leader of Opposition and AAP councillor Yogesh Dhingra said, “Not forming committees meant burdening the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC). Agenda of works should have been Continued on page 2 UT logs one death, 99 Covid cases CHANDIGARH: The city on Wednesday saw 99 new cases and one death due to Covid. A 57-year-old Covid positive man, a resident of Sector 56, with Type-2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic kidney disease died at the PGI. — TNS 102 taken ill in Mohali MOHALI: CLEARANCE FOR SHED ■ The staff had demanded ~2L for clearing a file to build a shed at Hansi vegetable market ■ The Vigilance Bureau learnt Hansi man would pay ~1.5L to suspects at Mandi Board office in Sector 6 ■ The suspects were later caught red-handed accepting the money As many as 102 persons tested positive for Covid in the district during the past 24 hours, while 166 patients were cured of the disease. There was no fresh fatality. The number of active cases stands at 670 in the district. — TNS 82 more infected in Panchkula PANCHKULA: office in Sector 6 here. A Vigilance team followed the person from Hansi and when he arrived at Panchkula late this evening to hand over the money to architect Nisha, it caught them red-handed. The district saw 82 fresh cases of Covid during the past 24 hours, while 108 patients got the better of the disease. However, no death was reported from the district till Wednesday evening. There are 389 active cases in the district. — TNS