29032023-CT-01.qxd 3/29/2023 12:20 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune FREE BOOKS FOR STUDENTS OF PRIMARY CLASSES IN UT DUTY EXEMPTION: RUSH AT ZIRAKPUR SUB-TEHSIL OFFICE PANCHKULA REHRI MARKETS TO HAVE CONCRETE SHOPS UT Administration announces free textbooks for students of classes I to VIII in govt, aided schools. P2 Heavy rush at Zirakpur sub-tehsil as residents rush to avail themselves of 2.25% stamp duty exemption. P2 After fire gutted Sec 9 rehri market last year, govt to provide concrete shops in other rehri markets of P’kula. P2 » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 137 PANCHKULA 86 MOHALI 70 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF CYCLIST DIES IN ROAD ACCIDENT Chandigarh: A 54-year-old cyclist died after being hit by a car. Complainant Sharad Singh claimed cyclist Kunwar Singh, a Sector 47 resident, was hit by a car on the road separating Sector 33/45. The victim was taken to GMCH-32 with injuries but the doctors declared him dead on arrival. A case has been registered against the car driver, Abhijit Singh, a resident of Sector 42, at the Sector 34 police station. TNS FIRM BOOKED FOR DUPING CITCO Chandigarh: A firm has been booked for committing a fraud with the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Limited (CITCO). Complainant Harjit Singh Sandhu, chief general manager, CITCO, alleged Oscar Security Fire Services was awarded manpower contract in October 2018. The firm deposited Rs 35 lakh as bank guarantee in January 2019 but later got it cancelled. A case has been registered at the Sector 17 police station and an investigation initiated. TNS TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD Underpasses, flyovers fix to traffic problem: Parl panel Flags congestion caused due to influx of population in city Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 28 To decongest traffic, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has suggested construction of underpasses and flyovers at appropriate places in the city. In its report on demands for grants (2023-24) tabled in the Lok Sabha recently, the committee has recommended that the UT Administration may carry out geometric improvements, construct new underpasses and flyovers at appropriate places to address the problem of traffic congestion in Chandigarh. “Swift action in this regard needs to be taken otherwise by the time these measures of decongestion are completed, the vehicular population would have increased to offset the facilities,” observed the committee. Opposing the construction of flyovers in the city, an architect says these will destroy the topography of the city. Instead, the UT Administration should opt for underpasses in order to preserve originality of City Beautiful, he says. For smooth flow of traffic, the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) in its report on comprehensive mobility plan (CMP) for the tricity submitted to the UT Administration recently has proposed nine underpasses at different locations of the city. Based on the primary surveys and data analysis, the public sector undertaking (PSU) has proposed improve- CALLS FOR GEOMETRIC IMPROVEMENTS SWIFT ACTION REQUIRED ❝ ■ Parliamentary panel has suggested geometric improvements, new underpasses and flyovers at key places to address problem of traffic congestion in city ■ To address congestion caused by influx of population, it says UT should draw a plan creating livelihood opportunities for populace in peripheral areas ■ It recommends necessary steps for expansion/upgrade of basic amenities in city’s periphery to cater to needs of increasing ment plans at 15 major junctions, out of which nine will have underpasses along the major traffic direction to improve the traffic circulation. In the tricity, RITES has proposed geometric improvement at Matka Chowk (Madhya Marg-Jan Marg Junction), Sector 43B-35C Chowk Swift action needs to be taken else by the time these measures are completed, vehicular population would have increased to offset the facilities. Parliamentary Standing city. Instead, UT should opt for underpasses in order to preserve originality of City Beautiful. A city-based architect (Dakshin Marg-Jan Marg Junction), Kumbra Chowk (Himalayan Marg-Mohali Bypass Road Junction), Mohali Bypass and Balongi Road junction, junction No. 23 (Madhya Marg-Sukhna Path junction), and Budanpur Chowk (Maheshpur RoadAmartex Road junction). It has further proposed geometric improvement and underpasses at the ISBT-17 Chowk (Himalaya MargUdyog Path junction), Kisan Bhawan Chowk (Dakshin Marg-Jan Marg junction), Press Chowk (Himalaya Marg-Madhya Marg junction), continued on page 2 GOLD, CASH STOLEN FROM SEC 23 HOUSE Mohali officials fined over lax dog sterilisation effort Chandigarh: A theft has been reported at a house in Sector 23. Complainant Deepak Gaur alleged an unidentified person stole around 150 gm gold jewellery and Rs 70,000 in cash from his house. A case has been registered at the Sector 17 police station and an investigation initiated. TNS Gaurav Kanthwal POWER SHUTDOWN MOHALI 9 am to 5 pm: There will be no power supply in Sectors 88, 89, 94, 95, 96, 110, 77, 78, 79, 76, 97, 106 and 107 today. Tribune News Service Mohali, March 28 The Permanent Lok Adalat here has directed the Mohali Municipal Commissioner and three other officials to pay Rs 25,000 as litigation cost and Rs 25,000 as compensation to a Sector 70 resident in a seven-year-old case related to steps taken for dog sterilisation in the area. In its March 16 order, the court also directed the civic body officials to implement the animal birth control programme strictly and move dangerous dogs to pounds. It further directed them to vaccinate stray dogs to prevent rabies. “If the corporation officials are not able to control stray dogs, then the corporation IMPLEMENT PROGRAMME STRICTLY: LOK ADALAT ■ Mohali MC chief and three officials to pay ~25,000 as litigation cost and ~25,000 as compensation to a Sec 70 resident in a seven-year-old case ■ Lok Adalat asks MC officials to implement animal birth control programme strictly, move dangerous dogs to pounds, vaccinate stray dogs ■ MC to maintain month-wise record of dog-bite cases, number of stray dogs on its website, issue toll-free officials will be personally responsible for providing free treatment and compensation for mental agony caused to people by dogs,” the order read. MC Commissioner Naresh Kumar Batta, Superintendent number and email ID for plaints ■ Corporation officials further directed to maintain complete record of the expenses and funds received on the website Engineer (Civil) Dr Meet Pal Singh, Medical Officer of Health, and chief sanitary inspector Harwant Singh were the respondents in the case. Kanwalnain Singh Sodhi had filed a petition in the Lok Adalat regarding sterili- sation of stray dogs in 2016. As per the order, the MC will have to maintain a monthwise record of dog-bite cases, number of stray and feral dogs on its website for public and issue a toll-free number and an email ID where people can register complaints. During the hearing, it came to the fore that the services of private doctors were taken by the civic body for sterilisation of dogs, whereas the work could also be done by government veterinary doctors. The court directed the corporation officials to maintain a complete record of the expenses and funds received on the website. MC Commissioner Navjot Kaur said: “The civic body will contest the order.” Sec16 stadium may get facelift to host int’l matches Deepankar Sharda BUILT Chandigarh, March 28 With Mohali taking the bragging rights for hosting international matches in the region all this while, the Centre now wants the UT Administration to upgrade the Cricket Stadium, Sector 16, to host marquee events. The stadium has not hosted even a single international cricket match since 2007. A report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on demands for grants (2023-2024) has recommended a ‘revamp’ of the Sector 16 stadium. SEATING CAPACITY AREA FLOODLIGHTS INSTALLED 1960 Tribune News Service 35,000 10 ACRE 2013 TUG-OF-WAR OVER RIGHTS ■ Parliamentary Committee has recommended a ‘revamp’ of the Sector 16 stadium and wants UT to host international matches ■ Stadium has already been a bone of contention between the UT Administration and the Union Territory Cricket Association, Chandigarh ■ While the UTCA wants to take it on lease, UT has chosen not to do so on the plea that there is no clause to lease out government stadiums The report presented to the Rajya Sabha on March 17 and tabled in the Lok Sabha on March 20 by the Parliamentary Committee, recommends: “There are no stadia of international level in Chandigarh due to which all international games are being hosted in the stadium (PCA) situated in Mohali. The committee recommends that the UT should take necessary steps for renovation/upgrade of the Sector 16 stadium, so international games can be Sandeep Rana hosted there. For this, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) may dedicate the necessary funds. The MHA may also take up the matter with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for c m y b developing the facility at Sector 16 and exploring the feasibility of new buildings in City Beautiful.” While the committee has suggested new infrastructure at Sector 16, it must be recalled that the stadium continued on page 3 BJP WANTS CREDIT AHEAD OF LS POLLS Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 28 Mayor Anup Gupta’s order asking the city Municipal Corporation authorities to inform him before laying the foundation stone or inaugurating projects in different wards of the city has created a stir among Opposition councillors. “The work with regard to laying of foundation stone or inauguration in various wards of the MC in the near future, other than ward development works, may not be started without prior information to the Mayor,” reads the order, a copy of which has been forwarded to officers. Opposition councillors have objected to the order, saying it amounts to encroaching on works of councillors and projecting these as BJP’s achievements. They say they ❝ BJP wants to draw mileage ahead of LS polls. Councillors get works passed and get these executed. This is unethical. Gurpreet Singh Gabi, CONG COUNCILLOR SHOULD BE AWARE OF PROJECT STATUS ❝ It has been done to expedite works. Besides, when people seek info of works, I should be aware of these. Anup Gupta, MAYOR will raise the issue during the upcoming MC House meeting in the first week of April. AAP’s Leader of Opposition Damanpreet Singh said: “The BJP wants to draw publicity from the works carried out by councillors in respective wards. This order is continued on page 2 New Chandigarh ‘NIV lab’ project shifted to Jammu Naina Mishra OPT FOR UNDERPASSES ❝Constructing flyovers will destroy topography of the FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Mayor bars inaugurations sans nod, Oppn councillors miffed Committee on Home Affairs population of Chandigarh ■ RITES in its report on comprehensive mobility plan recently proposed improvement plans at 15 major junctions, including nine new underpasses MAX 29°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 28.5°C | MIN 14.8°C SUNRISE THURSDAY 6.15 AM » WEDNESDAY | 29 MARCH 2023 | CHANDIGARH PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.39 PM FILE PHOTO » FORECAST Tribune News Service Rain forecast for two days CHANDIGARH: Rain is expected on Friday and Saturday in the city. According to the weather department, “generally cloudy sky with likely rain” is on the cards for two days. This month has already seen 50.7 mm rainfall, which is 196 per cent more than normal for March. Day’s temperatures are likely to fall by two to three degrees. — TNS Chandigarh, March 28 In a setback to the move to set up a National Institute of Virology (NIV) Laboratory at New Chandigarh in Mohali district, a Parliamentary Committee has proposed shifting of the facility to Jammu. The “NIV Chandigarh” proj, ect was set to offer post-graduate courses, training, and research in a variety of diseases, including influenza, encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya, ebola, H1N1, and Covid. The institute would have been the second NIV lab in the country. Accepting Punjab’s request, the Centre had given in-princi- ple approval to set up an NIV centre for the north zone in the state during the Covid-19 wave. The facility would have been instrumental in providing diagnostic support, undertaking research in basic virology, building capacity in the field of virology to promote universal health coverage, developing rapid and affordable quality diagnostic assays for viral diseases, besides offering teaching courses in MSc medical virology and DM virology. However, due to a land dispute, the Jammu authority identified an area that was later deemed unsuitable by the committee. The UT of Jammu continued on page 2