16112023-CT-01.qxd 11/16/2023 12:16 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune PUROHIT TAKES SALUTE AT POLICE RAISING DAY PARADE SCREEN ALL ABOVE 35 FOR DIABETES, SAYS EXPERT NEHA BEGINS PRO GOLF TOUR ON PROMISING NOTE Tableau marks 57th Raising Day parade held at the Police Lines, Sector 26 in Chandigarh. P3 Chandigarh has been placed at the fourth slot according to the Lancet study on diabetes. P3 Opens the 15th leg of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour with a round of even par 72. P3 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 168 PANCHKULA 92 MOHALI 128 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF CYCLIST DIES IN ROAD ACCIDENT Chandigarh: A 58-year-old cyclist died after being hit by a truck near the Centra mall light point. According to the police, the victim, identified as Baldev Raj, a resident of Vikas Nagar, Mauli Jagran, was hit by a truck. He was rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, where he was declared dead on arrival. The police have registered a case against the truck driver, Sanjay Kumar, at the Industrial Area police station. He was arrested and later released on bail. TNS MOBILE PHONES, PURSE SNATCHED Chandigarh: Two unidentified persons snatched two mobile phones and a purse containing ATM cards and documents. Surat Singh, a native of Jammu and Kashmir, reported that two persons snatched his belongings near the bus stop in Sector 53. The police have registered a case at the Sector 36 station. TNS MAN HELD FOR THEFT AT BOOTH Chandigarh: A resident of Sector 45 has been arrested in a theft case. Pyare Lal, a resident of EWS Colony, Dhanas, reported that unidentified persons stole two mobile phones and Rs 3,000 from the Verka booth in Sector 47. The police were informed about the incident and a case was registered at the Sector 31 police station. Later, one of the suspects, named Vishva Nath Kumar, was arrested. TNS Chandigarh, November 15 Expansion of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Heritage Centre under Phase II has been stuck up as the Air force authorities are yet to give a reply in writing to the UT Administration for its maintenance. Officially named as “Indian Air Force Aerospace and Technical Centre”, the proposal of expansion of the heritage centre under Phase II was submitted in July. The project was delayed over the maintenance of the artefacts at the heritage centre. The UT Administration wanted the IAF to take over MAX 28°C | MIN 13°C YESTERDAY MAX 28.4°C | MIN 12.6°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.49 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Encroachments in Sec 29 mango garden to be razed Shifting of meters outside Sec 8 houses to start soon MC issues 2-week public notice for removal of illegal structures Chandigarh, November 15 With the aim of enhancing safety and reliability, the work of shifting electricity meters outside the houses will begin soon in Sector 8. An official of the UT Electricity Department said the work of underground electricity supply (pilot project) in Sector 8 was likely to be completed by the end of December. The official said the relocation of 468 single-phase meters and 874 three-phase meters would start in three or four days, as the digging work was already complete. The shifting of the meters outside the houses is part of an ambitious Rs 18-crore pilot project in Sector 8 to replace the overhead electricity cables with an underground system. Despite having laid the power cables underground and installed transformers in 2021, the Administration is yet to complete this crucial aspect of shifting the meters outside the houses. Started in 2016, the project’s goal was to transform Sector 8 into the city’s first sector with underground electricity supply. This move would safeguard against damage caused to cables during storms and heavy rains. However, the project has Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 15 Illegal constructions and hutments built in the mango garden of Sector 29 are set to go with the Municipal Corporation giving two-week time to dwellers to either remove these on their own or the civic body will. In case owners fail to remove the illegal structures, the MC will dismantle these and recover expenses from the former, said the civic body. Unauthorised structures, including additional rooms, toilets, walls and gates, have been raised along the garden over the past many years. Some dwellers have extended their houses up to the garden. Illegal hutments have also been built adjoining to Shiv temple on government land. There has been no check by the authorities concerned to date. Illegal constructions continue to be raised in this garden with impunity. Finally waking up to the menace, the civic body has issued a public notice listing the encroachments. The MC action is expected to put an end to this unlawful practice and at the same time will send a stern message to viola- Illegal constructions at houses adjoining to the mango garden in Sector 29. PRADEEP TEWARI HUTMENTS RAISED TOO ■ Unauthorised structures, including additional rooms, toilets, walls and gates, have been raised along the garden over the past many years. Some dwellers have extended their houses up to the garden. ■ Illegal hutments have also been built adjoining to Shiv temple on government land. DEMOLITION EXPENSES TO BE RECOVERED FROM OWNERS In case owners fail to remove the illegal structures, the MC will dismantle these and recover expenses from the former, said the civic body. Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Project likely to be completed by year-end A box of electricity meters outside houses in Sector 8, Chandigarh. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI WORK TO BEGIN IN THREE DAYS The official said the relocation of 468 single-phase meters and 874 three-phase meters would start in three or four days, as the digging work was already complete. PART OF ~18-CRORE PILOT PROJECT The shifting of the meters outside the houses is part of an ambitious ~18-crore pilot project in Sector 8 to replace the overhead electricity cables with an underground system. Despite having laid the power cables underground and installed transformers in 2021, the Administration is yet to complete this crucial aspect of shifting the meters outside the houses. faced persistent delays. The official said the shifting of meters was likely to cost nearly Rs 2.52 crore. Apart from ensuring accurate meter readings, relocating meters outside houses offers multiple benefits. It prevents tampering with meters, facilitates easier reading and addresses concerns raised by residents about employees entering their homes for readings. The project is aimed at eliminating the risks associated with overhead high-tension lines, enhancing safety along slip roads, road berms and parking lots. The current continued on page 3 Come out with solutions, City air quality improves to contract, HC tells civic body ‘moderate’ level after Diwali Patiala man trying to save son stabbed to death tors who have raised illegal structures in other areas. “In view of exercise of power under Section 415 read with 388 (b) of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, the MC Commissioner requires encroachers to remove/demolish their unau- DADU MAJRA DUMP Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 15 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Municipal Corporation here to present before the Bench the proposed solutions and the contract awarded for clearing the Dadu Majra garbage dump. As a petition filed in public interest on the Dadu Majra dump came up for resumed hearing, the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Nidhi Gupta asked the MC counsel to demonstrate to the court how the problem could be resolved. Directions were also issued to the MC to come out with the contract and explain how it would clear the mountains of garbage. The Bench made it clear that the issue was not required to linger on when technologies were available to resolve it. The case pertains to a PIL on the garbage dump filed by advocate Amit Sharma in 2021, which was merged with the 2016 petition of Dadu Majra resident Dipti, represented by advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal. In July, Sharma had filed a perjury application against the Municipal Corporation in response to its latest in a series of action taken reports. He accused the MC of presenting false information to the court. Among other things, it was claimed there was a wall around the dump at a time when a significant portion had collapsed within a year of being built, and leachate was flowing on to the roads. The MC counsel, during the course of hearing, countered thorised structures on the aforesaid government land within two weeks from the date of issue of this notice, failing which their unauthorised structures shall be removed by the corporation without giving any further notice and the expenses the allegation by asserting that their work was progressing as planned, and they had signed a new contract. The MC claimed that one of the three dumps at Dadu Majra had been cleared, which Sharma refuted by saying that legacy waste had merely been covered by a layer of soil, but leachate continued to flow. Sharma alleged that despite claims of progress, the waste crisis had intensified, with the number of garbage dumps rising from one to three from 2021 to 2023. The processing of waste had fallen from 13 per cent in 2020 to less than 10 per cent in 2022, while hundreds of crores of taxpayers’ money was being spent on new contracts. Citing successful waste management models, Sharma referred to Indore’s rapid resolution of its garbage mountain within six months at a fraction of the cost. NITTTR in Chandigarh, he told the court, had also proposed a cost-effective solution. recovered for such removal,” read the notice. “It is, hereby, clarified this notice is without prejudice to the power of the MC to initiate action as per the provisions of Section 388 of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1994,” the notice added. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 15 Three days after Diwali, the air quality in the city has improved drastically. The average Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 168 around 8 pm today and remained in the “moderate” category. On November 12, the city’s air quality deteriorated to the “very poor” and “severe” levels on Diwali night. According to the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, the air quality got worsened after 6 pm on Diwali. Around 10 pm, it was “severe” at the Sector 53 monitoring station and “very poor” at the Sector 22, PEC (Sector 12) and IMTECH stations where the AQI reached 453, 392, 301 and 360, respectively. The highest AQI in five years was observed at three of the six monitoring stations in the city. However, after Diwali, the air quality improved in the city. The AQI was recorded at 225 at the Air Quality Monitoring Station (AQMS) in Sector 53, which is near Mohali, while the AQMS at Sector 22 recorded the AQI at 154 and it was 125 at the Sector 25 station. Last Sunday, for the first time this season, the average AQI of the city was recorded at 205 due to various reasons, including change in weather, vehicular emissions and incidents of farm fire in the neighbouring areas. On November 10, the air quality had dropped to “very poor”. The maximum AQI at the Sector 22 AQMS was recorded at 364 and the minimum at 35, while at the Sector 53 station, the maximum was 368 and the minimum 72. At Sector 25, the maximum AQI was recorded at 299 and the minimum at 137. Ravindra Khaiwal, Professor of Environment Health at the Department of Community Medicine, PGIMER, said the city’s AQI had improved as the dust particles and pollutants were settled down and sky remained clear during the day. As this time Diwali fell in November, climatic conditions and stubble burning already had an impact on the air quality, which sometimes hit the “very poor” category, causing breathing discomfort to residents, especially the aged, children and patients. 3 months on, work on Phase II of IAF Heritage Centre yet to begin Tribune News Service PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET THURSDAY 5.26 PM » THURSDAY | 16 NOVEMBER 2023 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST the upkeep of the centre, as it lacked expertise. Later, the Air Force authorities in principle agreed to take over maintenance of artefacts at the centre, but are yet to submit a communication in writing to the UT Administration. Two months after the IAF authorities submitted their proposal for the expansion of the centre at the Government Press Building, Sector 18, its maintenance responsibilities become a point of contention between the UT Administration and the IAF . At present, Phase 1 of the centre is being handled by the UT Tourism Department. However, in July this year, the MAINTENANCE ISSUE LINGERS ON The project was delayed over the maintenance of the artefacts at the heritage centre. The UT Administration wanted the IAF to take over the upkeep of the centre, as it lacked expertise. Later, the Air Force authorities in principle agreed to take over maintenance of artefacts at the centre, but are yet to submit a communication in writing to the UT Administration. IAF had submitted an expansion plan to the UT Administration. The UT Administration sent a letter to the IAF authorities, expressing their lack of expertise in artefact maintenance and suggesting that the IAF should take this responsibility. A senior UT officer stated that they had communicated to the IAF authorities that they did not possess the necessary expertise for artefact mainte- c m y b nance, and it should, therefore, be carried out by the IAF . When the proposal was submitted, IAF officers had stated that once a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was finalised, work would begin within a month and completed within six months. Under Phase II, the centre will have advanced technology-driven features aimed at inspiring youngsters to join the Air Force. The new wing will be constructed in an adjoining hall covering an area of nearly 13,000 sq ft. It will have a display of technology-based and electronic systems, simulators and aero engines. The project has been cleared by the IAF authorities. On May 8, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Phase I of the Heritage Centre, which received an encouraging response. The first phase, set up across a 15,000 sq ft hall, focuses on the history and legends of the IAF As part of . Phase 1, GNAT aircraft were displayed at the light point outside the centre. The centre at present has eight attractions, including aircraft models, weapon display and a flight simulator. Informative exhibits such as aero engines, aircraft, kiosks, air force artefacts, machines/fixtures and screens filming achievements and personalities have been set up. Additionally, there is a souvenir shop and a theme-based café for visitors to enjoy. The centre houses five vintage aircraft, complete with cockpit exposure. Tribune News Service Patiala, November 15 The Civil Lines police have registered a case against six persons after they allegedly attacked a man and his son with a knife, killing the former on the spot. His son has been severely injured and admitted to the Government Rajindra Hospital. According to the police, the incident took place on the Passey Road around midnight. Pritam Chand died on the spot while his son, Ajay, was admitted to the hospital with a stab wound. The police said that the victim and the assailants are neighbours. “Last night, the two groups entered into a scuffle, which later turned bloody. As the suspects attacked Ajay, someone informed his father, who reached the spot and tried to pacify the suspects. However, they attacked him and Ajay with a knife. The knife injury on the thigh of the victim proved fatal and he died,” said the police. The police have registered a case under Section 302 and 307 against the suspects. “We are conducting raids and the accused will be arrested soon,” said the police. 4 held for gambling Panchkula, November 15 Four persons were arrested for gambling in public place in the district yesterday. An amount of Rs 17,370 was seized from the suspects and two cases registered against them at the Pinjore. They have been identified as Pawan of Bhima Devi Colony, Pinjore; Ravi, Vicky and Dharmendra, a resident of Mauli Jangran, Chandigarh. — TNS