07062023-CT-01.qxd 6/7/2023 12:41 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune IMMORAL TRAFFICKING RACKET BUSTED, 2 HELD RESIDENTS PROTEST POOR QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER INTERSTATE DRUG RACKET BUSTED, FOUR ARRESTED UT police bust an immoral trafficking racket being operated in the disguise of a spa centre in Sector 44. P2 Residents hold a protest against poor quality of drinking water supplied to Kishangarh village. P2 Fatehgarh police claim to have busted interstate gang involved in drug trade with the arrest of four persons. P3 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 115 PANCHKULA 59 MOHALI 84 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF ~3.75L, JEWELLERY STOLENFROMHOUSE Chandigarh: A theft was reported at a house in Sector 38. Complainant Amardeep Singh claimed an unidentified person broke into his house and stole Rs 3.75 lakh in cash and gold ornaments. A case has been registered. TNS TWO HELD WITH PISTOL, 3 ROUNDS Chandigarh: Two persons have been arrested with a pistol and three cartridges. Suraj (24), a resident of New Indra Colony and Ravi (29), a resident of Shastri Nagar, Mani Majra, were nabbed near Kishangarh road. A case has been registered. TNS VALUABLES STOLEN FROM CAR AT PU Chandigarh: An unidentified person stole valuables from a car parked at the PU. A girl reported two phones, airpods, credit and debits cards were stolen from her car parked in the UILS parking. A case has been registered. TNS TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 37°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 35.6°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7:22 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:21 AM » WEDNESDAY | 7 JUNE 2023 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Ruckus in House as MP, councillor trade ‘abuses’ MC MEET All AAP members suspended for day; removed by marshals |New Dadu Majra waste plant approved Kirron ‘eyeing’ 3rd term as MP Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 6 Unruly scenes were witnessed in the MC House today as BJP MP Kirron Kher and AAP councillor Jasbir Singh Laddi hurled “abuses” at one another over the setting up of a new waste processing plant in Dadu Majra. The agenda was passed but not before all AAP councillors were suspended for a day, with some being removed from the House by marshals. At the outset, tempers ran high as AAP councillors raised the issue of garbage processing plant. Raising slogans, AAP councillors sought accountability for taxpayers’ money. Visibly upset by the noisy protest, an agitated Kher said: “Yeh kya dangarpana hai?” (What sort of wild behaviour is this?).” This enraged AAP councillors, who raised “MP Kirron Kher murdabad” slogans and sought an apology from her. Alleging wastage of taxpayers’ money, Jasbir sought details of spendings on solid waste management in the city. At this, the MP went up to him and said these were “unnecessary allegations” and retorted: “What about Kejriwal who made a sheesh mahal (glass palace) with taxpayers’ money?” Jasbir alleged Kher then hurled abuses at him and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Tribune News Service JASBIR MEETS SSP, FILES PLAINT; KHER CLARIFIES MP Kirron Kher and AAP councillor Jasbir Singh Laddi (L) have a heated exchange; and (right) an AAP councillor being taken out of the MC House by marshals in Chandigarh. PHOTOS: RAVI KUMAR THE TRIGGER: QUERY ON TAXPAYERS’ MONEY AGENDAS APPROVED ■ AAP councillor Jasbir Singh Laddi seeks details of spendings on solid ■ Temporary composting plant at the waste management, alleges wastage of taxpayers’ money ■ MP walks up to him and says: “What about Kejriwal who made a sheesh mahal (glass palace) with taxpayers’ money?” ■ Kher hurls abuses at him and Delhi CM, claims Jasbir; MP alleges councillor first abused PM, which she ‘could not tolerate’ ■ Jasbir alludes to abuse allegedly used by MP, prompting Mayor to seek apology; councillor refuses and is suspended, removed by marshals ■ AAP councillors question his suspension, to which Mayor says they are condoning his action and suspends them for a day as well cleared Dadu Majra waste site ■ Creation of temporary posts for a solid waste management cell for one year ■ Setting up of new waste processing plant at the dumping site Kejriwal. The BJP leader, however, claimed the councillor had abused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which she “could not tolerate”. As the councillors tried to settle down, things soured further when Jasbir stood up and alluded to one of the abuses allegedly used against him by the MP This enraged . the Mayor, who sought an apology from him for “abusing” the MP . Jasbir insisted he had been abused by the MP and that she should apologise to him. After he failed to tender an AAP councillor Jasbir Singh met the UT SSP and submitted a complaint against MP Kirron Kher. “The MP hurled abuses and said she will drag me out of the House by my beard... she threatened to assault me... I fear she may harm me or my family members... initiate action against the MP. I want justice,” the councillor stated. Kher later told Chandigarh Tribune: “I did not abuse him. There is no record of it. He is doing so as he got suspended. I only used ‘dangar’ word, which means animal, when they created a ruckus.” AAP TARGETS MEHTA OVER SWITCHING SIDES SUSPENSION BY MAYOR ‘DELIBERATE’ MOVE Holding placards, AAP councillors protested against councillor Taruna Mehta, who switched to the Congress recently. They raised slogans of “shame”, to which Mehta said: “First get rid of three factions in the party”. Congress councillor Gurpreet Gabi took a dig at AAP councillors, saying: “Which party were you in two years ago? You all were in the Congress.” Had the AAP and Congress voted against the new garbage processing plant agenda, the ruling BJP would not have been able to get it passed. Some Opposition councillors alleged the BJP deliberately suspended all AAP councillors to have numbers in its favour, while the ruling party denied this. The BJP has 15 votes, including that of the MP, while AAP has 13, Congress 7 and SAD 1. Chandigarh, June 6 Member of Parliament Kirron Kher is looking to contest parliamentary elections from the city for a third term. During a discussion at the House meeting today, councillor Prem Lata sought to know from her: “Why couldn’t you get the waste dumping ground project at Dadu Majra cleared for the past nine years? Will you make it clear now whether or not you will fight the elections in the 10th year?” “Yes, I will fight in the 10th year,” quipped Kher. To pointed question by councillor, says ‘will fight elections’ Kher won the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat for the second time by 46,970 votes in May 2019. She had polled 2,30,967 votes, while her nearest rival and Congress nominee Pawan Kumar Bansal got 1,84,218 votes. She had won her first election from the city in 2014. Former BJP president Sanjay Tandon and current BJP chief Arun Sood are among several contenders for a BJP ticket for the Lok Sabha elections slated in 2024. apology, the Mayor suspended him from the House for a day. He, however, refused to leave and was removed from the House by marshals. AAP councillors ques- tioned his suspension from the House, to which the Mayor said: “You are not condemning his abuses against the PM and MP Instead, you . Continued on page 3 15 yrs on, HC holds Panchkula MC, others guilty of contempt Unexpected rain brings relief 28 UT heritage items go for ~4 cr in France Saurabh Malik Chandigarh, June 6 The city witnessed unexpected rain last night and today, bringing relief to residents from rising temperatures over past couple of days. The weather department had not predicted precipitation for the period. According to the department, 2.2 mm rain was recorded before 8.30 am and 2.2 mm rain between 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. Tribune News Service The two suspects with stolen spare wheels and a car in police custody. 2 land in police net for stealing Thar wheels Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 6 The Crime Branch of the UT police claim to have busted a gang involved in the theft of spare wheels of Thar vehicles in the city and its vicinity with the arrest of two suspects, including a teenager. The gang had targeted at least six vehicles in the city last week. In all, 15 wheels and a car used in the crime had been recovered, said the police. A team led by Inspector Ashok Kumar arrested 18year-old Pawan Kumar, a resident of Sector 45 and a BA first-year student, and Subham Arora (22), a Sector 47 resident and a college dropout, in connection with the thefts. One suspect BA student, other college dropout The suspects had stolen spare wheels from vehicles parked in Sectors 18, 21, 33, 37 and 38. The police said the vehicle used by the suspects in the crime also turned out to have been stolen from the city. “The suspects were looking to sell stolen wheels at the motor market in Burail and other markets dealing in sale of wheels,” said a police official. While six of the total 15 wheels were stolen from Chandigarh, the police suspect the remaining nine were stolen from Mohali and its surrounding areas. Continued on page 3 Chandigarh, June 6 Rapping Panchkula municipal authorities and other respondents for not adhering to law, besides openly and wilfully disobeying the court order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has prima facie held them guilty of contempt of court. The 15year-old matter pertains to the shifting of milk dairies. Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan also directed issuance of a notice to the respondents presently holding the charge. They have been asked to showcause why they be not punished in accordance with law. Justice Sangwan, at the same time, granted a last opportunity to the respondents to comply with the order, failing which all were directed to remain present before the Bench on the dated fixed “for taking further action in the contempt proceedings”. The matter, brought to the high court’s notice way back in July 2008 with the filing of a plea by Suresh and other petitioners against Haryana and other respondents, was Orders show-cause notice; gives last chance to comply 2008 PLEA OVER SHIFTING OF DAIRIES ■ In July 2008, plea is filed in HC against Haryana, others over shifting of dairies; it is disposed of in April 2009; contempt petition is filed in 2014 ■ HC is told Panchayat Dept director is seized of matter as case had been referred to competent authority for transfer of 39 acres to MC for the purpose ■ On Nov 4, 2014, HC disposes of contempt petition with direction to the director to consider, finalise and take a final decision within a month ■ In 2018, HC is told on director’s ‘final decision’ in Dec 2014, DC formed panel that recommended utilisation of 57 acres of ‘shamlat deh’; MC is made party WILFUL DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDER ❝ Perusal of interim orders reflects respondents are taking matter in a very casual manner and are wilfully disobeying order passed by this court. Prima facie, they are held guilty of contempt of court. — Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan, HC ❞ disposed of in April 2009. It was followed by the filing of a contempt petition in 2014. The Bench, during the course of hearing, was told the Haryana Development and Panchayat Department Director was seized of the matter as the case had been referred to the competent authority for transfer of more than 39 acres to the Panchku- la Municipal Corporation for shifting the milk dairies “at the collector rate”. The Bench on November 4, 2014, was further told the Director was likely to conclude the process within a month. Thereafter, another two months would be required for finalising the issue. The contempt petition Continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Showers on cards on June 10, 11 It brought down the maximum temperature from 37 °C yesterday to 35.6 °C, three degrees below normal. While the minimum temperature stood at 23 °C, which is three notches below normal. Over the next few days, both maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to rise. Light rain is expected on June 10 and 11. The city has received 23.6 mm rain this month, which is 30 per cent above normal. May had witnessed 119 mm rainfall, which is the highest in over 12 years. April too had seen substantial rainfall. Helipad to come up at Rajendra Park with night-landing facility Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 6 To facilitate night landing of helicopters carrying VVIPs in the city, the UT Administration will develop a separate area at Rajendra Park for use as a helipad. At the existing helipad, choppers can only land during daytime. The decision was taken after a request from the Punjab and Haryana governments. A senior officer said in a communication to the UT Administration, both neighbouring states requested provision of facility of night landing for helicopters carrying VVIPs at the Rajendra Park. The officer said it would also help in emergency landing of air ambulances. In addition to developing a ADDITIONAL LAND TO BE IDENTIFIED ■ Move comes after a request by Punjab and Haryana govts; new facility will also help in emergency landing of air ambulances ■ Temporary fencing, gate for entry, lighting, etc. will be put up following security concerns raised by the police ■ Dept of Urban Planning will identify additional land for use as helipad in another part of city, such as at Sarangpur, etc separate zone at Rajendra Park, additional land will be identified for use as helipad in another part of city, such as at Sarangpur, etc. by the Department of Urban Planning. After assessing the security concerns raised by the police, c m y b as there is no permanent security arrangements at Rajendra Park, it was decided to put up temporary fencing, gate for entry, lighting, etc, there. The officer said the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031 had proposed shifting of the helipad from Rajendra Park to an appropriate site in consultation with the airport authorities and security officials, removal of security tents and barbed fencing along the Uttar Marg, defining the edge of the park towards Nayagaon village on the Punjab side, etc. The common helipad built at Rajendra Park, near the residences of the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana, is being used by both states, besides Governors and other VVIPs coming from other states or national capital. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 6 In yet another auction of UT’s heritage items, as many as 28 artefacts from the city went under the hammer in France on June 4. The items fetched over Rs 4 crore. The artefacts, designed by architects Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier, include a coffee table, a classroom chair, easy armchairs, a rare table, senate committee chairs, an easy table, cane chairs, a bookcase, etc. Ajay Jagga, a member of the Heritage Items Protection Cell of the Chandigarh Administration, said the costliest item, a rare set composed of a sofa and two armchairs in teak with flat sloping backs and lateral legs forming a bridge, was auctioned off for Rs 42.35 lakh. Seeking protection of the heritage items, Jagga, in a letter to the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha, flagged the “illegal” auction in France (Chantilly) on June 4. Jagga stated he was submitting the communication for the protection/return of Indian heritage items, as per the mandate of the Constitution of India. This was in continuation of his earlier communication. “On June 4, an auction house in France ‘OISE Encheres’ auctioned off 28 items of Chandigarh, which are heritage articles,” he said. In fact, the heritage articles were being auctioned off regularly in foreign countries without any resistance from Government of India. The auction houses were even declaring the source place of the heritage articles e.g. in the present auction, the auction house announced the Set of sofa and two armchairs costliest item at ~42.35L chair was from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, he said. The aim was to work out an appropriate action plan so that Chandigarh heritage could not be taken beyond the boundaries of India and those that were taken abroad illegally, their auctions were stopped through diplomatic channels and further brought back, he stated. “You are also requested to work out regulations for the protection of these items,” he said, adding French officials were ready to take up the matter further, subject to opening of an investigation in this regard in India and Indian officials sending a letter to French officials in. Earlier on May 12, as many as nine heritage items from the UT were auctioned off for Rs 1.17 crore in New Jersey, US. The costliest item was a floor lamp, which was sold for Rs 22.93 lakh. Similarly, in a Chicago auction on March 30, nine heritage items went under the hammer for Rs 1.64 crore. A set of six stools remained the costliest item at Rs 18.70 lakh.