02012023-CT-01.qxd 1/2/2023 12:30 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune UT LOGS 33% JUMP IN GST MOP-UP FOR DECEMBER NOW, GET SWEETS MADE OF MILLETS AT NAV SRIJAN NIYATI STUNS TOP SEED AT TENNIS JUNIORS’ TOURNEY UT gross GST collection for Dec jumps 33% against revenue generated during the month in 2021. P3 Kheti Virasat Mission, Model Jail start year 2023 on a healthy note. Millet ‘mithai’ counter inaugurated. P3 Fifth seed Niyati Kukreti topples top seed Durganshi Kumar in straight sets during a qualifying round. P3 » » TRICITY COVID REPORT CHD P’KULA MOHALI POSITIVE 99,351 48,433 1,01,155 RECOVERED 98,163 48,012 99,987 NEW CASES 1 0 0 ACTIVE 7 0 1 CHANGE 0 0 1 DEATHS 1,181 421 1,168 NEW 0 0 0 snatches SUV at Mani Majra 233 MOHALI 314 LAST SPOTTED AT CHANDIMANDIR 376 PANCHKULA 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF 1 ELECTROCUTED, ANOTHER ENDS LIFE Mohali: A 30-year-old man, Ramji, was electrocuted to death at Mirpur village here. The UP native was living as a tenant on the third floor and was changing clothes when he accidentally touched wires. After recording his wife Usha Devi’s statement, the police have initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC. In another case, a 40-year-old resident of Guru Nanak Colony in Dafarpur village allegedly hanged himself to death. Victim Ravinder Verma of UP was mentally disturbed, said sources. TNS MAN STABBED, ROBBED OF CASH Chandigarh:Two bike-borne suspects stabbed a Burail resident and snatched cash and a mobile phone. Complainant Deepak Kumar claimed unidentified persons stabbed him near the road separating Sectors 33 and 34 and snatched ~1,500 in cash and a mobile phone. A case has been registered. TNS Biker killed in Mohali hit-&-run Mohali, January 1 In a hit-and-run incident, a 23-year-old biker was killed and his brother injured after a truck knocked them down near the Sector 78-79 light points on the Airport Road on Saturday night. The deceased has been identified as Kartik, a resident of Sector 110, while his brother, 24, was admitted to the Phase-6 Civil Hospital. The police said the two, employed at a private firm, were coming from the Sector 68-69 side when a truck from the Singh Shaheedan Gurdwara side hit them near the traffic light points around 11.45 pm. Continued on page 2 FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE to revive Sec 53 Gunman defies ‘tight’ vigil, CHB sethousing scheme general Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH Chandigarh, January 1 The UT police were left with egg on their face after an armed miscreant robbed a car at gunpoint from a couple at Mani Majra despite around 2,000 cops on duty to maintain law and order on the New Year’s Eve. Complainant Sammi Kumar Srivastava, a resident of Dhakoli, Zirakpur, along with his wife Rubina, had gone for shopping to the NAC, Mani Majra, on Saturday evening. The couple had parked their red Brezza SUV, bearing a Karnataka number, near Tanishq jewellers. The couple returned around 8.45 pm. “As they were about to sit in the car, the suspect carrying a pistol sneaked up from behind and asked them to step aside,” said a police source. Sensing the gravity of the situation, the couple did not resist and let the suspect drive the car away. The couple informed the police control room soon after, following which teams, comprising DSP (North East) and SHO Mani ■ Red Brezza SUV, with K’taka plate, snatched from NAC, Mani Majra ■ Suspect drives towards Panchkula, car last spotted at Chandimandir ■ Police are scouring the CCTV footage, trying to retrieve details of the car’s FASTag INCIDENTS ON THE RISE IN TRICITY Parking where carjacking took place in Chandigarh. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY As many as seven carjacking incidents have been reported in Mohali district in past 45 days. Suspects involved in the Sec 62 incident on Dec 23 were seen in the CCTV footage pushing the car in Chandigarh a day later. Majra, rushed to the scene. A wireless message was flashed to cops on duty at checkpoints, but the suspect managed to flee. The incident took place when nine outer checkpoints and 43 inner nakas were set up in the city to deter criminals. Besides, floating checkpoints were set up at different locations. The police scoured the Haryana and Himachal Pradesh were informed about the incident. A case under Sections 392 (robbery), 397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act had been registered against an identified person at the Mani Majra police station. high-resolution CCTV camera footage of the exit road towards Panchkula, in which the car was seen speeding away from the spot. SP (City) Shruti Arora said they were scrutinising the CCTV footage. “The vehicle was last spotted near Chandimandir. We are monitoring the FASTag of the car to track suspect’s movement,” the SP added. Police in neighbouring Was scrapped in March 2020 owing to poor response Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 1 After scrapping the general housing scheme nearly two years ago, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) is all set to re-launch it in Sector 53. After getting a poor response from public, the CHB had decided to scrap its costliest general housing scheme in March 2020. Even after slashing the prices twice, the CHB had failed to elicit good response to the scheme, receiving only 178 applications for 492 flats to be built under various categories. Under the scheme, it had offered a 3BHK flat for up to Rs 1.5 crore, a two BHK unit for Rs 1.28 crore, one BHK flat for Rs 86 lakh and an economically weaker section (EWS) flat for Rs 50 lakh. Two proposals on increasing the floor area ratio (FAR), which the board had sent to the Department of Architecture, were rejected. An increase in the FAR would have helped the CHB construct more flats. A senior official said the CHB Chairman had approved the agenda for re-launch of the scheme and it would now be taken up at a meeting of 340 FLATS TO BE BUILT ■ CHB plans to construct 340 flats, including two and three-bedroom flats, and units for the EWS ■ It is, however, not going to build one-bedroom flats, due to poor response in a demand survey ■ After nod, the scheme will be re-launched within two months, as environmental/other clearances have been obtained CATEGORY NO. OF FLATS LIKELY PRICE 3BHK 192 ~1.60 cr 2BHK 100 ~1.30 cr EWS 48 ~ 55 lakh FINAL APPROVAL LIKELY AT JANUARY MEET ❝ The CHB Chairman has approved the agenda for re-launch of the scheme and it will be taken up at a Board of Directors meeting, likely to take place in the second week of January, for final nod. A senior official ❞ the Board of Directors, likely to be held in second week of January, for final approval. Once approved by the Board, the scheme would be re-launched within two months, as environmental and other clearances had already been obtained, he added. The CHB plans to construct nearly 340 flats, including two and three-bedroom flats, and units for the EWS. How- Dec witnesses 66% Contractorbookedforbuildingcollapse drop in Covid cases Kharar authorities for FIR against showroom owner Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 1 The UT witnessed only 13 cases of Covid-19 in the last month of 2022. This is a significant fall (nearly 66%) from 38 cases witnessed in November. Recently, the UT Administration had mandated the RTPCR test for all patients admitted to the Emergency wards and those admitted through OPDs in government hospitals. The positivity rate in the city in the last week stood at only 0.21 per cent. A mock drill was conducted in Chandigarh’s major hospitals in the last week of December. Amid a surge in other countries and apprehension of rise in cases in the country, the Union Territory has reserved an isolation ward in both Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, and Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, with few beds. Dr Suman Singh, Director of Health Services, Chandigarh, says: “Despite an Only 13 reported, against 38 in Nov increase in testing in OPDs, the positivity rate has remained under control and the number of positive cases is not more than one or two. However, we are prepared for any eventuality if cases start to show a rapid increase. Residents are advised to take a booster dose of Covid-19 vaccination for protection from risk of infection.” Only 13.25 per cent of the city’s eligible population is currently vaccinated with a booster dose. Among children aged 15 to 18 years, 25 per cent have still not taken the second dose. — TNS Mohali, January 1 The police today booked the contractor of the under-construction building that collapsed at Chajju Majra, Kharar, on Saturday evening. The police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against contractor Dinesh Kumar at the Kharar City police station. The Kharar administration and the Municipal Council have further recommended an FIR against the showroom owner as permission was sought only for the basement and ground floor. Kharar SDM Ravinder Singh said: “It has been found the showroom owner had permission for the basement and ground floor, but no clearance was taken for the first and second floors. We have recommended an FIR against the owner.” A construction worker was killed and another injured in the incident. The deceased has been identified as Ajay NO PERMISSION FOR TWO FLOORS ❝ It has been found the showroom owner only had permission for basement and ground floor. No clearance was taken for first and second floors. ❞ Ravinder Singh, KHARAR SDM CRACKS IN LINTEL A worker claimed they saw one of the lintels developing cracks and buckling under own weight after which the building collapsed. As many as 11 persons were working in the three-storey commercial building when it collapsed on Saturday evening. <