07112023-CT-01.qxd 11/7/2023 12:53 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune ROAD REPAIR WORK TARDY, DHAKOLI RESIDENTS LIVID COBALT THERAPY UNIT, MILLET CLINIC OPENED AT GMCH-32 36TH CHANDIGARH STATE TABLE TENNIS C’SHIP ENDS Residents of Dhakoli are a harassed lot as road repair work has stretched beyond two months. P2 UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit inaugurates three state-of-the-art healthcare facilities at GMCH. P3 Vishal wins twin titles on the concluding day of Chandigarh State Table Tennis Championship. P3 » » CHANDIGARH 143 PANCHKULA 114 MOHALI 128 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF THREE HELD FOR ATM FRAUD Chandigarh: Mullanpur resident Suresh Chander alleged Sonu (27), Sudhir (33) and Satish (26) of Nayagaon cheated him of ~45,000 through cash withdrawals at a PNB ATM in Dhanas village. All accused have been arrested and a case under Sections 420 and 34 of the IPC has been registered. TNS SCAM: WOMAN LOSES ~98,500 Chandigarh: A city resident reported that an unidentified person called her through Bumble mobile dating app and cheated her of ~98,500 through online transactions from her bank account. A case under Sections 419, 420 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered at Cybercrime police station. TNS BIKERS SNATCH MOBILE PHONE 10 months on, city’s rooftop solar plant project hangs fire CREST fails to pick firm post stalemate over contract period Dushyant Singh Pundir CRUX OF THE MATTER Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 6 Even after getting approval nearly 10 months ago, the Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) has failed to implement RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) Model for free installation of rooftop solar power plants in the city. The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) had, in January, granted approval to the installation of grid-connected rooftop solar plants in the city for domestic consumers by a third party under the build-operatetransfer (BOT) model. An official said CREST was in talks with a company to fix the BOT period. After finalising the period, city residents will be able to get rooftop solar power plants installed free of cost. The cost of installation will be recovered by the selected firm over that period through the sale of electricity generated by the plants. In June, CREST had identified a company for given approval to install gridconnected rooftop solar plants in city in January this year ■ It identified a company for the project in June, but there was no consensus on build-operatetransfer period ■ Firm proposed BOT period of 23 years, but CREST was in favour of 20 1,200 RESIDENTS AWAIT INSTALLATION years. Impasse delayed ■ CREST has already received more than 1,200 applications from city the residents for solar plants, which, when installed, will generate 8.5 MWp project of power even as it will still fall short of the intended target of 20 MWp the project, but there was no consensus on the BOT period. The firm had proposed a BOT period of 23 years, but CREST was in favour of 20 years. The impasse in negotiations has delayed the project. CREST, which has been designated as an executing agency for renewable energy projects of the Department of Science and Technology, UT, had filed a petition before the JERC, seeking approval for the installation of grid-connected rooftop (GCRT) power projects for domestic consumers by a Shah to visit city to unveil key projects 1 BOOKED FOR HITTING TRADER Chandigarh, November 6 Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit the city in the third week of this month, a senior officer of the UT Administration said. During his visit, Shah will inaugurate a series of significant projects aimed at enhancing the city’s infrastructure and services. Among the projects slated for inauguration are an administrative block at the Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology (CCET), Sector 26, sewage treatment plants at Raipur Kalan and Raipur Khurd and a government school at Palsora. Shah will also tour the Centre for Cyber Operations and Security at Government Press Building in Sector 18. FOETUS FOUND BURIED, FIR FILED Chandigarh: An unidentified person reportedly buried a foetus in a park at EWS Colony, Sunder Nagar, Mauli Jagran. A case under Section 318 of the IPC has been registered. TNS FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Shootout in Zirakpur, biker held with pistols Zirakpur, November 6 The police arrested Manjeet Singh, alias Guri, a resident of Khedi Gujran, Dera Bassi, after he allegedly opened fire at a police team on the VIP Road here. ■ Executing agency CREST was Chandigarh: Khuda Lahora resident Dinesh Singh (25) alleged two unidentified bikeborne persons snatched his mobile phone near the Khuda Lahora bridge. A case under Sections 379 and 34 of the IPC has been registered. TNS Chandigarh: A Sector 26 resident, Gulam Mohammad, alleged one Mithlal assaulted him at his shop. A case under Sections 323 and 452 of the IPC has been registered at Sector 26. The victim was admitted to the GMSH-16. TNS MAX 30°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 30.5°C | MIN 13.5°C SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.41 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FILE AIR QUALITY INDEX MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET TUESDAY 5.31 PM » TUESDAY | 7 NOVEMBER 2023 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST third party under the RESCO BOT model. The society has already received more than 1,200 applications from residents for solar plants, which, when installed, will generate 8.5 MWp of power even as it still falls short of the intended target of 20 MWp. Under the RESCO model, the house owners will get electricity at a consistent rate of Rs 3.23 per unit. They will have to give space on the rooftop to the firm and get electricity at the rate of Rs 3.23 per unit during the BOT period. At present, domestic consumers have to pay Rs 2.75 per unit for 0-151 units, Rs 4.25 per unit for next 151400 units and Rs 4.65 per unit for consuming over 400 units. Once the BOT period concludes, the ownership of the solar plants will get transferred to the consumers at no additional cost. Earlier, the Administration had made installation of rooftop solar plants mandatory for houses built on plot measuring 500 sq yd and above. Under the new model, the house owner will have to provide nearly 500 sq ft of space for a 5kWp solar plant. A policeman seizes hookahs from a club in Sector 5, Panchkula. 4 booked for serving hookah at P’kula club Aide manages to flee | Were out to ‘eliminate target’ Tribune News Service The police seized a .30 calibre Chinese pistol along with seven live rounds and a .32 calibre pistol along with eight rounds and a motorcycle from his possession. During patrolling, the police intercepted two suspicious bikers on the VIP Road. In an attempt to evade arrest, they opened fire at the police team. The latter retaliated and arrested one of the accused who sustained a bullet injury in the leg. His accomplice managed to flee. On interrogation, the suspect told the police that they were tasked by foreign-based gangsters Goldy Brar and Saba of the US to eliminate a target in Zirakpur. — TNS Panchkula, November 6 A case has been registered against four persons for allegedly serving hookah at a club in Sector 5 here. The accused were identified as Atul Kumar Yadav of Sector 18, Panchkula, Shikander Kumar of Bapu Dham Colony and Gaurav and Arvind Thakur of Manimajra. Sources said a special team of the Panchkula police raided the place late last night and seized three hookah pipes from the spot. A case under Sections 188, 269 and 270 of the IPC has been registered against the accused. Earlier, to enforce the ban on hookah clubs in Panchkula, Commissioner of Police Sibash Kabiraj issued a helpline ask- Punjab emerge champions Courier firm staffer, guard die in mishaps Tribune News Service Union Home Minister Amit Shah The visit follows Shah’s previous trip to Chandigarh in July last year during which he inaugurated government school buildings, initiated the construction of a multi-level parking near District Courts in Sector 43, and introduced electric buses. He had also initiated Poshak Laddu Yojana, a scheme for pregnant women. The visit was marked by a laser show at Sukhna Lake, celebrating the theme of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” and “Har Ghar Tiranga”. ing residents to inform the police and complain about the bars and restaurants serving hookah in the city. Kabiraj urged the public to inform the police on mobile number 7419000001 if they have any information regarding hookah being served or any anti-social activity in the city. The name and address of the person giving information will be kept secret. The police commissioner said separate police teams had been formed to check illegal hookahs in any club, bar, cafe, lounge, etc. and there would be special monitoring, especially on weekends. “If any club, lounge or bar is found serving hookah illegally, strict action will be taken against it,” said a statement issued by the police. Punjab players in a jubilant mood after beating Baroda to win Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at PCA stadium in Mohali. TRIBUNE PHOTO ■ Punjab win Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for first 30 years; they last won Ranji Trophy in 1993 time in 15-year history of the tournament ■ Punjab won a senior national championship after ■ The team previously finished runners-up in 2006–07, 2011–12, 2012–13 and 2014–15 ■ In 2011-12 final, the side faced 4-wicket defeat at the hands of Baroda, whom they defeated on Monday Mohali, November 6 Two persons lost their lives in separate accidents on the Dera Bassi-Zirakpur road in the past 24 hours. A two-wheeler rider, Pooran Singh Minhas (77), a resident of Mamta Enclave, was hit by a truck coming from Dera Bassi near the railway overbridge at Bhankharpur around 5 pm. Minhas was employed in a courier firm. The police arrested the truck driver. The body was handed over to the family after a postmortem. In another incident, a 35year-old woman, Rekha Rani, died after being hit by a truck at Gholumajra on the Dera Bassi-Chandigarh highway. The victim, a security guard at an industrial unit, was waiting for her husband to pick her up alongside the road. — TNS Waste processing plant set for launch, RWAs fume To decongest Airport Road, another Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 6 Even as local MP Kirron Kher is all set launch city’s first decentralised garbage processing plant at Sehaj Safai Kendra, Sector 49, on Tuesday, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) of four housing societies, which have been identified as bulk waste generators (BWGs) by the Municipal Corporation, have refused to run and maintain the plant. The trial run of the plant was earlier stopped as no electricity connection was provided. Now, with a temporary power connection, the MC is going to make it functional despite concerns raised by residents of Pushpac Enclave, Sector 49, Progressive Society, Telehose Society, Sector 50, and Kendriya Vihar Society, Sector 48. Ashwani Kumar, vice-president, RWA, Telehose Coop- Say won’t operate |Row on eve of unveiling by MP today NO GREEN NOD The plant processes little waste as compared to what four societies generate in a day. The MC has also not procured any environment clearance for it. ❝ ❞ Ashwani Kumar, RWA MEMBER The garbage processing plant at Sector 49, Chandigarh. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY erative Society, said, “The plant is being launched even as we have refused to sign an MoU to maintain it. The plant processes little waste as compared to what four societies generate in a day. Besides, the MC has not procured any environment clearance for the project.” Satish Arora, general secretary, Pushpac Society, said, “This plant will emit foul smell in the area. If the MC insists, the authorities should run it. We will continue to oppose it.” Area councillor Rajinder Sharma claimed, “The company which supplied the machine will run it through the housing societies.” However, with RWAs firm against it, the issue seems to remain unresolved. While the compost machine was bought for Rs 22 lakh, Rs 18 lakh was spent on civil works. The machine has been purchased with MPLAD funds. c m y b Mixed or segregated waste will be converted into RDF (refuse derived fuel) pellets with a good calorific value. A separate machine will make pellets and it will cost about Rs 2.5 lakh. The corporation had earlier started imposing a hefty penalty on the residents of the four housing societies in their respective water bills for not processing garbage at their society premises. According to the Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules, all gated societies and institutions with more than 5,000 sq mt of area will have to process biodegradable waste within the premises as far as possible. After this machine was installed, the civic body had waived the penalty. With regard to the penalty already levied, the MC would write to the Secretary, Local Government (UT Home Secretary). route from IT City to Kurali in works Tribune News Service Mohali, November 6 The work on a stretch from the IT City to Kurali on the National Highway 205A is in full swing, which will help decongest the Airport Road, Mohali. This was informed at a meeting held here to review the progress of various highway projects in the district. It was attended by Project Director, National Highways Authority of India, Pardeep Attri, ADC (G) Viraj S Tidke, Dera Bassi SDM Himashu Gupta, Assistant Commissioner (UT) Davy Goyal and District Revenue Officer Amandeep Chawla. Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain asked the NHAI and district officials to clear all bottlenecks in the completion of the projects. Attri informed the DC that Clear hurdles: DC | 30% groundwork complete The Airport Road in Mohali. FILE 30 per cent on-ground work of the IT City-Kurali stretch had been completed and they hoped to complete the project in a stipulated time to provide relief to commuters from traffic snarls on the Airport Road. On pending possession of a stretch of 1 km, the DC directed the DRO to complete all formalities related to possession. Discussing the progress of the Sirhind-Mohali NH- 205-AG, she said of Rs 151.86 crore acquisition amount, Rs 128.46 crore had been disbursed while awards for Bhago Majra and Raipur Kalan would be announced soon. On delay in awards for land related to the Zirakpur bypass at Sanauli, Peer Muchalla and Kakrali villages, the DC asked the SDM and Dera Bassi Tehsildar Kuldeep Singh to expedite the process.