02022023-CT-01.qxd 2/2/2023 1:10 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune WOMAN AMONG TWO HELD FOR SNATCHINGS IN CITY TEACHING, NON-TEACHING STAFF START INDEFINITE STIR HARYANA’S RASNUM MAKES IT TO TENNIS SEMI-FINALS Two persons, including a woman, arrested for snatching mobile phones from two pedestrians. P2 Teaching and non-teaching staff members start indefinite protest at DAV College, Sector 10. P2 Haryana’s Rasnum Kaur defeats Sharanya of Tamil Nadu to march into girls’ U-18 semi-finals. P2 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 124 PANCHKULA 98 MOHALI 115 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD ELDERLY MAN DUPED OF ~9L Chandigarh: Swindlers duped a 72-year-old man of ~9 lakh. Complainant Gurmukh Singh Musafir, a resident of Sector 49, reported that the suspect called him up and introduced himself as his relative Bittu from Australia. The suspect concocted a story about a brawl in a club that led to his arrest. The suspect claimed that he required money to secure bail. Another suspect posing as a lawyer tricked the complainant into transferring money. The complainant ended up transfering ~9 lakh, only to realise he had been duped. The police have registered a case at the Cyber Crime police station. TNS HIT BY TRAIN, MAN DIES NEAR DHAKOLI Zirakpur: An unidentified man was killed after being hit by a train near Dhakoli village on the Ambala-Kalka railway line here on Wednesday. The body has been kept in the mortuary of the Civil Hospital, Dera Bassi, for 72 hours for identification. According to information from the Railway Police, it was reported that a person, aged around 45 years, had died after being hit by a train near the Dhakoli gate. The Railway Police are investigating the matter. TNS BIZMAN JUMPS TO DEATH IN Z’PUR Zirakpur: A businessman died after reportedly jumping off the sixth floor of a housing society on the VIP Road here. The deceased has been identified as Narendra Gupta (53), a resident of Tower V, Jaipuria Sunrise Society. He was in the business of poultry and had reportedly suffered financial losses in the business. The police said he lived on the second floor. He reportedly died by suicide after jumping from the sixth floor of the society. He was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Zirakpur SHO Deepinder Singh Brar said further investigations had been initiated into the matter. TNS POWER SHUTDOWN MOHALI 10 am to 4 pm: Sectors 66, 67, 80, NABI, ISB, Mouli village, Raipur Khurd, Chilla SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:12 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Lion’s share for edu, energy, housing & urban development| Funds for power, renewable energy projects reduced TOTAL 2023-24 ALLOCATION Dushyant Singh Pundir Chandigarh, February 1 In a major boost for the UT Administration, there has been a 13% increase in the allocation for financial year 202324 in comparison to the Budget estimates of previous fiscal. The Centre has set aside a sum of Rs 6,087.10 crore for the 2023-24 fiscal in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament today. With a major boost of Rs 1,102.25 crore for the education sector, Rs 963.30 crore for energy, Rs 844.97 crore for housing and urban development, Rs 743.40 crore for police, Rs 661.79 for health and Rs 400.68 crore for transport sectors, the allocation is Rs 704.67 crore more than the Budget estimates of last year, which were Rs 5,382.79 crore, registering an increase of 13.08 per cent. However, the Centre has slightly reduced the allocation for power and renewable energy sector. Of the total Budget, the administration has got Rs 5,365.07 crore under the revenue head, which is Rs 521.61 crore more than last year. Under the capital head, the UT has been allocated Rs 722.03 crore, an increase of Rs 182.7.12 crore. Funds under the capital head are meant for development works, while finances under the revenue head are spent on salaries and other recurring expenses. The administration had sought nearly Rs 7,000 crore from the Centre for 2023-24 for various projects, including power, edu- ~6,087.10 cr 2022-23 ~5,382.79 CR Revenue ~4,843.46 Capital ~539.33 cr Revenue ~5,365.07 cr Capital ~722.03 cr SECTORAL ALLOCATION Education ~1,102.25 cr ~963.30 cr Police Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 1 The local Municipal Corporation, which had prepared an unrealistic Budget of Rs 1,350 crore for the 2023-24 fiscal, today got only Rs 555 crore grant-in-aid (GIA) under the Union Budget announced today. Of these Rs 1,350 cr, around Rs 600 cr were its own receipts, requiring Rs 750 crore GIA. With the Centre earmarking Rs 555 crore, the MC will have to increase its revenue to meet the shortfall. The GIA, however, is Rs 10 crore higher than what it received last financial year. In the Union Budget for 2022-23, the House had sought Rs Tribune News Service NOTICES SERVED ■ One-month notices have been served on institutions/ autonomous bodies that owe MC ~74.67 crore ■ These include PU, PGI, PEC, NITTTR, CCET, Railway Station, Mini Secretariat, Punjab Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Limited. Besides, the Haryana Government had paid tax against buildings of Mini Secretariat Health Housing & Urban Dev ~844.97 cr Transport Others ~743.40 cr ~661.79 cr ~400.68 cr ~1,370.71 cr ~722 CRORE ~5,365 CR FOR SALARY BILL The UT has got ~5,365.07 crore under the revenue head, which is ~521.61 crore more than last year. The funds under revenue head are spent on salaries and other recurring expenses. cation and transport. There is a substantial decrease in the allocation under the revenue and capital heads for power and renewable energy projects. The Centre has allocated Rs 839.70 crore and Rs 31.55 crore, respectively, under the two heads, against Rs 860.33 crore and Rs 85.58 crore given last year. The funds are meant for transmission and distribution of power, new and renewable sources of energy, promotion of model solar city programme and construction work of the Power Department. Similarly, the Centre has allocated Rs 94.82 crore for police housing and allied works, including development of infrastructure, building, renovation of existing residential houses, etc. Last year, BOOST FOR WOMEN, KIDS There has been an increase in funds i.e. from ~37.66 crore to ~39.13 crore for the welfare of women and children. The funds will be spent on renovation, addition/construction of government buildings, home for old and destitute, protection centre for runaway couples and creches for working mothers’ kids. the UT had received Rs 94.01 crore under the category. A sum of Rs 36.29 crore has been allocated for ecology and environment, forestry and wildlife, forest conservation and development, plantation scheme, communication and buildings, preservation of wildlife, acquisition of land for forestry and botanical garden. Further, Rs 69.52 crore have been earmarked for health services, including upgrade of 50-bed Community Health Centre to 250-bed hospital at Dhanas, setting up of effluent treatment plants in various civil hospitals, strengthening of rural and urban subsidiary health centres, construction of Regional Trauma Centre, Mental Health Institute, and Government Rehabilitation Institute for Intellectual Disabilities, etc. For modernisation and purchase of equipment, development of infrastructure for NCC, modernisation and construction of new polytechnic, government polytechnic for women and industrial training institute, Rs 112.39 crore have been allocated. The Centre has allocated Rs 75.55 crore for purchase of new buses, replacement of condemned buses and YEAR-WISE ALLOCATION Fiscal 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Grant ~375 cr ~425 cr ~502 cr ~545 cr ~555 cr 981.02-cr grant-in-aid, but had got Rs 545 crore. The MC has for past many fiscals been preparing higher budgetary proposals in the hope of getting funds as per the fourth Delhi Finance Commission’s recommendation. It had recommended increase in MC’s share in UT revenue from 17.5 per cent to 30 per cent. All mayors have been and Haryana Tax Tribunal, besides Employees State Insurance Corporation and Red Cross, Sector 16. Further one-month notices had been served on other institutions and autonomous bodies owing nearly Rs 74.67 crore. These included Punjab University; PGI; PEC; National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Sector 26; KV Primary, Sector 31; Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Sector 26; KV, Sector 29; Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sector 25; Continued on page 2 promising to get it implemented from the Centre, but to no avail. Even present Mayor, Anup Gupta, had raised this demand with Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, who promised to take it up with Home Minister Amit Shah. Earlier, then Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard, but to no avail. Now, again the MC has failed to get funds as per the demand. Meanwhile, MC officials have said they expected higher GIA in the revised budget and would raise the issue of grant share with the Governor once again. ~1,923 cr set aside for PGI, up ~73 cr Naina Mishra Tribune News Service FOR INFRASTRUCTURE In a boost for infrastructure development, Centre has earmarked ~722 crore as capital expenditure. This is significantly (34%) higher than the ~539 crore allocated last fiscal. A major chunk will go towards urban development (~221 crore), followed by education. Capital expenditure is money spent on development of machinery, equipment, building, health facilities, education, etc. Mother & Care Child Centre, Sec 48, & Hostel block, GMCH-32 Recruitment & training centre for police at Sarangpur Upgrade of road infra, new cycle tracks 144 houses for police personnel at Dhanas Govt schools at Hallo Majra, Mani Majra, Sarangpur Rejuvenation/restoration of Sector 17 Restoration/rehabilitation of Capitol Complex New police station buildings at Mauli Jagran & IT Park Treatment plants at Sec 16, 22, 45, 48 & Mani Majra hospitals Grant-in-aid up ~10 cr for MC Sandeep Rana Energy MAJOR PROJECTS LINED UP NEXT FISCAL ~85 cr ~60 cr ~50 cr ~40 cr ~26 cr ~25 cr ~20 cr ~15 cr ~15 cr CITCO clears ~4.11-cr MCdues Chandigarh, February 1 Acting tough against government institutions and autonomous bodies defaulting on payment of dues, the Municipal Corporation has recovered Rs 4.11 crore from authorities in service charges/property tax. Mayor Anup Gupta today said after concerted efforts, the MC had recovered Rs 4.11 crore on account of service charge/property tax dues from Hotel Shivalikview, Chef Lakeview and The Chef, Sector 17, under the Chandigarh MAX 24°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 22.8°C | MIN 9°C ~704 crore more, city’s pie gets 13% bigger Tribune News Service INBRIEF MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET THURSDAY 6 PM » THURSDAY | 2 FEBRUARY 2023 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST upgrade of bus stand, computerisation of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking, purchase of video coach buses for intercity transport. Similarly, Rs 221.63 crore have been allocated for land acquisition and survey, construction/infrastructure development, urban roads, storm water drainage, development of IT Park, dam across Sukhna Lake and 24x7 water supply pan city, etc. For implementation of the National Social Assistance Programme, implementation of Disability Act, subsidy on petrol/diesel to physically handicapped persons, National Programme for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (NPRPD), Unemployment Allowance to Persons with Disability, Rs 19.34 crore have been allocated. Chandigarh, February 1 The Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) has been allocated Rs 1,923.10 crore, which is Rs 73.10 higher than last year’s revised Budget estimates. The proposed estimates for 2023-24 were Rs 2,250 crore. However, the allocation is 14 per cent lower than the demand of Rs 2,250 crore raised by the institute in the Budget. The highest allocation has been made for the creation of capital assets with Rs 343.10 crore. However, for the current fiscal, the PGI had sought Rs 500 crore under the head. For the fiscal 2021-22, the total allocation stood at Rs 1,613.82 crore, which was 21.27 per cent less than what was demanded by the institute (Rs 2,050 crore). Last fiscal, Rs 270 crore was provided in the revised Budget estimates under this head, against Rs 350 allocated in the Budget estimates (2022-23). The grant-in-aid for salaries and Budget estimates under the grant-in-aid (general) remain the same as last fiscal i.e. Rs 1,300 crore and Rs 270 crore, respectively. A sum of ❝ A good Budget with focus on growth while keeping inflation in check. Increase in capital expenditure outlay will spur growth. Increase in agriculture outlay will be benefit Mohali industry. Tax rebate to people will give them more liquidity. NOTHING MUCH FOR SENIOR CITIZENS ❝ It’s a cruel joke on senior citizens. The Railways, air and bus fare concessions of 50% have not been revived. Old age pension has not been raised to ~5,000 per month. Total exemption from tax has not been given to senior citizens. Swarn Chaudhary, EXECUTIVE CHIEF, MOHALI SENIOR CITIZENS ASSN RELIEF FOR ALL SECTIONS TAX REBATE AN EYEWASH ❝ There is relief for every section. Interest levy on MSMEs is down 1% & IT exemptions have been increased to ~7 lakh. Sec 44 AD for presumptive tax return has been raised to ~3 cr for businesses and ~75 lakh for professionals. Senior citizens can deposit ~30 lakh in post office FDs. It is a development-oriented Budget. Increase in rebate from ~5L to ~7L under new tax regime is an eyewash and will have huge repercussions. There has been no change in rebate under old regime. Also, new regime is now the default regime, while the old one has been made optional, indicating government will do away with the old one. Charanjiv Singh, PRESIDENT, CHANDIGARH BEOPAR MANDAL Keshav Garg, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Rly overbridge unveiled ■ Allocation of ~343.10 crore has been made for creation of capital assets, against ~500 crore sought under the head ■ PGI is in process of constructing a mother and child care centre, a neurosciences centre and satellite centres at Una and Ferozepur INITIAL ALLOCATION initial ❝This is onlyget allocation. We required funds under supplementary grants (Nov/Dec) based on expenditure pattern and new developments. ❞ Kumar Abhay, FINANCIAL ADVISER, PGI Rs 10 crore has been allocated under the head “GIA Continued on page 2 (~ in crores) Anurag Aggarwal, MOHALI INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT ❝ ~343 CR TO CREATE CAPITAL ASSETS 2022-23 2023-24 Head Estimates Revised Proposed Estimates Salaries 1,250 1,300 1,450 1,300 General 230 270 300 270 Creation of Capital Assets 350 270 500 343.10 Swachhta Action Plan 10 10 10 Total 1,840 1,850 2,250 1,923.10 RESIDENTSPEAK IT WILL SPUR GROWTH Allocation is 14% lower than ~2,250 cr sought by institute Inclusive, says BJP; Oppn calls it ‘directionless’ Chandigarh, February 1 The city BJP has hailed the Budget as incluisive, while the Opposition has termed it “directionless”. Arun Sood, president, Chandigarh BJP hailed the , Budget as “progressive and inclusive”. “It is growth oriented on the macro-economic front. A huge 33% increase in capital investment has been made which will benefit all segments of the economy. Special attention has been paid to empowerment of women, youth, SC/ST/OBC/ underprivileged sectors by creating support infrastructure to facilitate Continued on page 2 Man runs over cousin, injures mother, uncle Tribune News Service The ~30-crore railway overbridge (ROB), connecting Sector 19 to Industrial Area, Phase 1, was thrown open to public in Panchkula on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR PAGE 2 c m y b Mohali, February 1 A man was killed and two other members of an extended family were seriously injured when deceased’s 27-year-old cousin allegedly hit them with his Range Rover in a fit of rage at their house at Manauli village here this afternoon. The police said Devendra Singh, 27, allegedly mowed down his cousin Ranjit Singh, 40, and critically injured his mother Manjit Kaur and uncle Jarnail Singh with his vehicle. Kin tried to stop suspect from leaving in SUV The victims were taken to a Phase-8 private hospital, where doctors declared Ranjit dead on arrival. Sohana SHO Gurcharan Singh said: “The family members tried to stop the youth from taking the vehicle out. Enraged, Devendra had an argument with the family members. In the melee, he tried to drive away, but ran Continued on page 2