02112023-CT-01.qxd 11/2/2023 12:37 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune PANCHKULA MC RECOVERS ~11-CR PROPERTY TAX DUES MOHALI DIST SURPASSES ITS PADDY PROCUREMENT TARGET PU DENTAL INSTT STUDENTS PROTEST FOR STIPEND HIKE Panchkula civic body recovers ~11.09 crore dues from property tax defaulters this year. P2 Mohali grain markets see procurement of over 1.96 lakh MT of paddy, which is 115% of expected arrival this year. P2 Students of Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences & Hospital, demand a hike in stipend. P3 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 180 PANCHKULA 145 MOHALI 176 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF PURSE CONTAINING VALUABLES STOLEN Chandigarh: A city resident reported that some unidentified person stole her purse while she was shopping at the main market in Mani Majra here on October 28. The complainant stated that the purse contained gold ornaments, a bank debit card, an Army canteen grocery card, three Army dependent identity card and Rs 2,700. A case has been registered. TNS BIKERS FLEE WITH MOBILE PHONE Chandigarh: A Sector 52 resident reported that two unidentified motorcycle-borne miscreants sped away after snatching his mobile phone near the sports complex in Sector 50 on October 30. On Shiv Shankar’s complaint, a case has been registered at the Sector 49 police station. TNS TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 31°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 31.2°C | MIN 15.6°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5:35 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:37 AM » THURSDAY | 2 NOVEMBER 2023 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Now, encroachers take over City air quality deteriorates parking space in city markets Expert attributes it to pollution, change in weather Tribune News Service FESTIVE SEASON Shoppers’ woes compound; fire safety goes for toss Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 1 Shopkeepers as well as street vendors have not only encroached upon corridors and open spaces this festive season, but also parking lots, leaving little space for visitors and raising serious fire safety concerns. During a visit to different markets of the city, massive encroachments were seen with the city Municipal Corporation apparently looking the other way. Encroachments could be seen in major markets, including those in Sectors 15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 34, 35 and 46. Several shopkeepers have placed their goods as well as storage material in the corridors and open spaces in front of their establishments. Without any fear of the MC’s area sub-inspectors and the city police, they have even illegally occupied parking lots, like never before. This is happening at a time when the city markets are already facing shortage of parking space with visitors struggling to find place to park their vehicles. Stalls set up in a parking lot at Sector 15 in Chandigarh on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Chandigarh, November 1 The air quality in the city has deteriorated in the past few days with the Air Quality Index (AQI) slipping to 180 due to changing weather and vehicular emissions. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI shot up to 180 in the city around 5 pm today. An official of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee said the AQI was including those in Sectors 15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 34, 35 and 46. TINDERBOX SITUATION ■ Several shopkeepers have placed their goods as well as storage material in the corridors and open spaces in front of their establishments. MC FORMS TEAMS TO CHECK ILLEGAL ACT is like on a tinderbox. How will ❝Itvehiclesittingthrough encroachments are working round theseveralto checkwhich ❝We have formed clock teams, a fire pass in case there is a mishap? Additionally, there are no exit lanes in parking lots. unauthorised vendors as well as spaces being used by shopkeepers. — RK Garg, PRESIDENT, SECOND INNINGS ASSN — Anindita Mitra, MC COMMISSIONER In view of less space and rush of people, the UT Administration has temporarily designated different ❞ government schools close to markets for parking of vehicles. However, there is no check on encroachers taking c m y b ❞ over the existing parking lots. RK Garg, president of Second Innings Association, a continued on page 2 recorded at 161 on October 31, 140 on October 30, 135 on October 29, 128 on October 28 and 119 on October 27. How- 3 UT heritage items fetch ~10.41 lakh in UK auction Tribune News Service SHOPKEEPERS OCCUPY CORRIDORS ■ Encroachments can be seen in major markets, Smog reduces visibility in Chandigarh on Wednesday. PRADEEP TEWARI Chandigarh, November 1 Three heritage items from the UT went under the hammer in London yesterday and fetched Rs 10.41 lakh. Ajay Jagga, a member of the Heritage Items Protection Cell of the Chandigarh Administration, said the artefacts designed by Pierre Jeanneret, included a set of six armchairs, a teak desk chair and a teak clerk’s desk. He said the auction was held in London, United Kingdom, on October 31. Seeking protection of her- itage items, Jagga, in a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Minister of State for Culture Meenakshi Lekhi, flagged the regular auction of Indian heritage items by foreign auction houses without any resistance/concern from the Government of India. He said earlier, UT heritage items were auctioned on October 4, 24 and 26. This when the Ministry of Home Affairs had, in a written order in 2011, already banned export of Chandigarh articles to foreign auction houses, he added. ever, the average AQI in October remained “moderate”. The city’s declining AQI continued on page 2 Two arrested for smuggling heroin Panchkula, November 1 The police have arrested two persons in a drug case. The suspects were identified as Gopi and Shama, both residents of Kharak Mangoli. On April 16, a team of the anti-narcotic cell had caught a woman, Rajni of the village, for allegedly possessing 6.15gm heroin. She was re-arrested from Patiala yesterday. During interrogation, she revealed the name of Shama, her accomplice in heroin smuggling, leading to the latter's arrest. Gopi too was arrested in the case after 8.35 gm of heroin was recovered from him. — TNS