02052023-CT-01.qxd 5/2/2023 12:36 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune 6 HELD FOR CELEBRATORY FIRING AT MOHALI HOTEL 5 PROCLAIMED OFFENDERS LAND IN UT POLICE DRAGNET HOTEL OWNER AMONG TWO ARRESTED FOR BURGLARY Incident occurred during a party organised on the rooftop of a hotel in Phase1, Mohali, on April 29. P2 Five proclaimed offenders wanted in various cases have been arrested by the Chandigarh Police. P3 Theft was reported at a house in the area falling under the jurisdiction of the Sector 49 police station. P3 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 62 PANCHKULA 57 MOHALI 54 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF PHONE SNATCHED AT MANI MAJRA Chandigarh: An unidentified scooter-borne youth snatched a mobile phone from a pedestrian. Complainant Rocky Kumar, a resident of Daria village, claimed the suspect sped away after snatching his phone near the Housing Board light point. A case has been registered at the Mani Majra police station and an investigation initiated. TNS IN-LAWS HELD FOR ABETTING SUICIDE Chandigarh: A Ram Darbar resident and his parents have been arrested for abetting suicide. Victim Pooja (22), who married Shubham four months ago, had allegedly died by suicide on April 29. The victim’s mother claimed her daughter was harassed by Shubham, her parents and parental uncle Arun Kumar. A case under Sections 306 and 34 of the IPC was registered at the Sector 31 police station and the suspects arrested. TNS TRAVEL AGENT BOOKED FOR FRAUD Chandigarh: The police have booked an immigration consultant for cheating. Complainant Bharat Kumar Sahni, Sanjay Kumar and others alleged owner of AJ Group, Sector 34, duped them of ~4.51 lakh by promising to get him a visa. A case has been registered at the Sector 34 police station and an investigation initiated. TNS TWO NABBED FOR IRON GRILL THEFT Chandigarh:Two persons have been arrested for stealing iron grills from a school. Complainant Rajender Singh had claimed an unidentified person had stolen seven grills from Government Model High School, Sector 25. A case was registered at the Sector 11 police station. Later, Manjit, alias Sujal (18), and Gourav, alias Bindu (19), both Sector 25 residents, were arrested. TNS WATER SUPPLY HIT MOHALI LOW PRESSURE Phases 1, 2, 3A, 4 and 6 for next few days. FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE From June 1, get 14 vehicle registration services online RLA not to accept offline applications| Driver’s licence via portal too Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 1 The Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA) has decided to stop accepting offline applications for 14 services related to registration of vehicles from June 1. Applications will be accepted offline for the remaining services. Besides, services related to issuance of driver’s licence have also been made online through Parivahan portal of the Government of India. In pursuance of the notification issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the RLA has already implemented shifting of 14 services of vehicle registration online for the convenience of general public, says Pradhuman Singh, RLA, Chandigarh. “One can apply online for these services by uploading necessary documents and paying the fee on Vahan portal of the Government of India. Physical interaction of the applicant is not required for submission of any sort of document/fee,” he says. The vehicle-related services made available online include renewal of registration certificate (RC); transfer of ownership of vehicles within the state; transfer of ownership of vehicle in death case; transfer of vehicle in public auction; change of address in RC; termination of hypothecation from RC; 14 SERVICES ON VAHAN PORTAL HOW TO APPLY FOR DRIVER’S LICENCE ■ Renewal of registration certificate Can apply for driver’s licence services online by uploading documents, fee on www.parivahan.gov.in or mParivahan app. Applicant’s physical presence is needed for capturing of photo, biometrics, etc. Applicant can, however, visit RLA office without prior online appointment after applying for these services online. ■ Transfer of ownership of vehicles within state ■ Transfer of ownership of vehicle in death case ■ Transfer of vehicle in public auction ■ Change of address in RC ■ Termination of hypothecation from RC ■ Addition of hypothecation in RC ■ Continuation of hypothecation in RC ■ Alteration in RC ■ Issue of no-objection certificate of vehicle ■ Cancellation of RC ■ Mobile update in RC ■ Backlog of old RC ■ Trade certificate issuance/renewal (for dealers) addition of hypothecation in RC; continuation of hypothecation in RC; alteration in RC; issue of no-objection certificate (NOC) of vehicle; cancellation of RC; mobile update in RC; backlog of old ❝In pursuance of Centre’s notification, 14 services have been made online since March 14. People are still visiting RLA office. From June 1, won’t take offline applications. ❞ Pradhuman Singh, RLA, CHANDIGARH RC; and issuance and renewal of trade certificate (for automobile dealers). “These 14 services are completely online since March 14, but people are still coming to the RLA. We are giving them a month’s time and from June 1, we will not entertain offline applications,” he says. However, services regarding vehicle registration not on the list will be entertained offline on the basis of prior online appointments only, he added. “Further, all services of driver’s licence can be applied online by uploading documents and payment of fee, etc. similar to the service of registration of vehicles,” he says. Physical presence of the applicant is required for capturing of photograph and biometrics, he says. However, applicants can directly visit the RLA office without any prior online appointment after applying for these services online on the Parivahan portal. “We are in process of discontinuing the requirements of biometric and photograph and the same will be done in due course so that these services can also be availed by general public without visiting the RLA office,” he says. Individuals wishing to avail of the 14 services related to vehicle registration and driver’s licence can apply online through the portal (Parivahan.gov.in or mParivahan application). Necessary links/manuals/ procedure and documents required have been made available on official website www.chdtransport.gov.in. For queries regarding contactless services, applicants can contact 0172-2705270 or 0172-2706270. Scattered rain witnessed in the tricity area brought the day temperature down by 12 notches in UT. VICKY At 25.7 °C, city witnesses coldest-ever day in May Sandeep Rana RAIN, HAIL AHEAD Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 1 In a welcome respite from hot conditions, the city today witnessed its coldest-ever day for May, with the maximum temperature dropping to 25.7 °C, 12 notches below normal. This is the lowest maximum temperature for the month in Chandigarh. According to the weather department’s data, the previous lowest maximum temperature of 27.2 °C was recorded on May 1, 1969, followed by 27.4 °C on May 20, 2021. Similarly, on May 13, 2013, the day temperature had dropped to 27.6 °C, while on May 18, 1973, the city had witnessed its fifth coldest day for the month at 28.9 °C. The day temperatures are further expected to fall to 25 °C ■ 30-50 kmph wind speeds are very likely during next two days ■ Hailstorm & heavy rainfall are very likely at isolated places on May 2 ■ Rain is forecast on May 3, 5 and 6 LOWEST DAY TEMP IN UT MAY 1, 2023 27.2°C May 20, 2021 27.4°C May 13, 2013 27.6°C May 18, 1973 over the next two days. Meanwhile, the city today recorded 8.3 mm scattered rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. It is expected to be rainy over the next few days. As per the forecast, rain is likely from May 2 to 6. However on May 4, the sky is expect- 25.7°C May 1, 1969 28.9°C ed to be generally cloudy. Since March 1, the city has recorded 187.6% higher rainfall than normal. Further, March and April had remained wettest in three years and were also relatively cooler as compared to the past few years. Yet again, no takers Woman’s body found for 22 liquor vends in Zirakpur hotel room Chandigarh, May 1 The UT Excise and Taxation Department has yet again failed to allot even a single liquor vend during the ninth auction held for the allotment of the remaining 22 liquor vends. Even during the eighth auction, there were no takers. The auction was held for the remaining vends after slashing the reserve price by 25%. In the seventh auction, three liquor vends were sold, while in the sixth one, there were no takers. Of the 95 vends in the UT, only 73 vends have been sold so far. A senior officer said they would hold another auction after further slashing the reserve price. A decision in this regard would be taken soon. 10th auction on cards after slashing reserve price For financial year 2023-24, the department looks to generate Rs 830 crore from licence fee after auction of liquor vends. So far, the department has managed to collect nearly Rs 400 crore. The liquor vend at Dhanas, located near Mullanpur, which fetched the highest bid in the past two years failed to find takers this time again. Last year, the vend had received the highest-ever bid of Rs 12.78 crore, against the reserve price of Rs 10.39 crore, whereas in 2021, the vend had again received the highest bid of Rs 11.55 crore. — TNS Tribune News Service Mohali, May 1 A 33-year-old woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a hotel room near Sigma City Chowk in Lohgarh area. The victim’s two children, aged 8 and 10, are missing. The deceased, identified as Babita, 33, hails from Himachal Pradesh. The police said the victim was staying in the hotel with her son and daughter, and a young man for the past one month. The youth has been missing since last night, said sources. Zirakpur SHO Simranjit Singh Shergill said: “Babita was living in the hotel for the Victim’s two kids missing; youth living with her on run past one month with her two children and a youth, Suneet. The youth had claimed he had come here after selling his house in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, and that he would look for a new house after a few days.” Sources said Suneet Sandeep Rana Asks officials to digitise manual data for transparency READY ACCESS TO INFO ■ Councillors and residents can access info online to know when a road was last recarpeted and who carried out work in their area ■ Details such as date of work, executing agency, inspecting official, nature of damage will be available on “I’m Chandigarh” app or MC website ■ This will allow transparency and ensure quality in works; responsibility can be fixed on erring agency/official and corrective measures taken “If a road is damaged after two years of recarpeting, we can draw its history to know as to when and by whom it was built. Based on this, a 1,800 KM ROAD NETWORK IN CITY 500 KM RECARPETED EVERY YEAR ~60 CRORE TO BE SPENT BY MC THIS YEAR ROADS CLOSED Chandigarh: Some roads at Junction 62 (46-47-49-48) will be closed till May 15 and at Junction 59 (43-44-51-52) till May 20. Motorists have been advised to take alternative routes. FILE PHOTO Chandigarh, May 1 Looking to maintain transparency and ensure quality in recarpeting of roads, Municipal Corporation Mayor Anup Gupta has sought digitisation of road records in the city. He has asked officials to ensure digitisation of all manual data of road works. Recarpeting figures with dates, name of agency carrying out the work and inspection details will be made available on the “I’m Chandigarh” app or website of the civic body. It is often seen even councillors do not have any idea when a road was last recarpeted in their respective area, he says. MAX 25°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 25.7°C | MIN 21.3°C SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:39 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD allegedly left the two children somewhere on Sunday morning and returned to the hotel alone in the afternoon. He left the hotel around 11 pm on Sunday. When the door was knocked to clean the room today, the occupants failed to respond. When the hotel management opened the door using the master key, the woman’s body was found inside. The police found blood inside the room. A team from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh, was called to scene. The police took possession of the body and started its investigation. The body has been kept at the mortuary of the Dera Bassi Civil Hospital. Mayor bats for posting road recarpeting record online Tribune News Service GENERALLY CLOUDY SUNSET TUESDAY 7.00 PM » TUESDAY | 2 MAY 2023 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST complaint can be filed. An option to filter roads recarpeted two, four or six years ago will also be available,” says Gupta. This will also allow residents easy access to data. The details to be posted online include nature of damage, whether caused by natural reasons, waterlogging or c m y b some other defect. If the reason is evident, requisite changes can be made in the future works. A dashboard will also furnish information of the official who inspected the road. “I have taken up the matter with the MC Commissioner and discussed details with the Chief Engineer. On the lines of the UT Estate Office, we should have our road works digitised,” he says. “Digitisation is aimed at bringing about transparency and quality in works and ensuring responsibility of those concerned is fixed,” he says. The MC has around 1,800 km of road network under its jurisdiction in the city. Of this, around 500 km is being recarpeted every year. The corporation in the current fiscal plans to spend around Rs 60 crore on recarpeting works. 2% jump in GST mop-up for April Chandigarh, May 1 The gross goods and services tax (GST) collection for April witnessed a marginal increase of 2% in the city against the gross levy collected during the corresponding period last year. According to the Ministry of Finance, the collection for April stood at Rs 255 crore, Rs 6 crore more than Rs 249 crore collected during the same month in 2022. The city had recorded a 10.09% jump in the GST collection in March. The revenue collection settled at Rs 202 crore, which was Rs 18 crore more than Rs 184 crore collected during the same month in 2022. The GST collection for February had witnessed an increase of just 5%, which stood at Rs 188 crore, Rs 10 crore higher than Rs 178 crore collected during the corresponding period in 2022. After witnessing a marginal fall in November 2022, the gross GST collection in December last year jumped to 33% against the revenue generated during the corresponding period in 2021. The revenue generation for December 2022 stood at Rs 218 crore, Rs 54 crore more than Rs 164 crore collected during the UT nets ~255 cr, ~6 cr more than last year same month in 2021. For the first time in the 202223 fiscal, the gross GST collection for November had dropped by 3% in comparison to the revenue earned during the same month in 2021. The collection stood at Rs 175 crore, which was Rs 5 crore lower than Rs 180 crore collected during the same month in 2021. In October last year, the UT had registered 28% growth in GST collection, which stood at Rs 203 crore, Rs 45 crore higher than Rs 158 crore collected during corresponding period in 2021. In September, the UT saw a 35% jump in GST collection at Rs 206 crore, Rs 54 crore more than Rs 152 crore revenue generated in the previous year. In May last year, an increase of 29% in collection was witnessed as the city generated Rs 167 crore revenue, Rs 37 crore more than Rs 130 crore mopped up during the same period in 2021. In April 2022, the collection saw a 22% jump. The UT had generated Rs 249 crore revenue against Rs 203 crore collected during the same month the previous year. — TNS