16012024-CT-01.qxd 1/16/2024 12:26 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune RAM TEMPLE: FESTIVITIES BEGIN WITH KALASH YATRA GREEN CARRY BAGS GIVEN TO VENDORS NEAR TEMPLES CGC: ONCE TEAMMATES, GILL, GREWAL VIE FOR TOP POST Ahead of the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya, devotees launch week-long celebrations in city. P3 To check use of banned plastic and promote sustainability, the MC distributes compostable bags. P3 Two old "friends" will be up against each other to attain the top post in CGC poll scheduled for Jan 28 . P3 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 245 PANCHKULA 99 MOHALI 238 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF MOBILE SNATCHED AT SECTOR 37 Chandigarh: Three motorcycle-borne persons have snatched a mobile phone at Sector 37. Dr Krishan Kumar reported that three persons snatched his phone and sped away on their motorcycle bearing a Punjab number. The police have registered a case at the Sector 39 police station. TNS RESIDENT STABBED, ADMITTED TO GMCH Chandigarh: Unidentified persons attacked a man and stabbed him at Sector 32. Ramneek, a resident of Sector 49, reported that around six persons beat him up and also stabbed him near the market. He was admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. The police have registered a case at the Sector 34 police station and started investigation. TNS WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH “Ram Katha” by poet Kumar Vishwas at Sector 34 ground: 3 pm APNI MANDI: Sector 56 MOHALI APNI MANDI: Sector 71 PANCHKULA APNI MANDI: Sector 15 Panel takes note of news report Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 15 Punjab State Human Rights Commission has taken cognisance of Chandigarh Tribune report, “Hospitals run out of vaccine, dog bite victims left in lurch”. The report highlighted with anti-rabies vaccine going out of stock in Civil Hospitals of the city, dog bite victims are left with no choice but to buy the vaccine from chemists that costs about Rs 350-400 per dose. “Let the matter be put up before the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, and the Director, Health Services, Chandigarh, to submit their report on or before February 29,” it said. Chandigarh, January 15 Two youths have been arrested by the District Crime Cell (DCC) of the UT police with 26.46 grams of heroin. The police set up a checkpoint at Ram Darbar. A car with two occupants was stopped for checking. Aalitya Prabhakar (28) and Rajat Kumar (25), both residents of Zirakpur, were found in possession of heroin. While SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:19 AM FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE MC Secy issues instructions Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 15 The MC Secretary has once again issued instructions to all councillors to not to carry mobile phones or electronic gadgets while voting on January 18. A notice issued to councillors and ex-officio member, i.e. MP here today read, “...the , process of election of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor is to be held by secret ballot without showing the front of ballat paper to any person as per Regulation (6) of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (Procedure and Conduct of Business) Regulation, 1996. “Therefore, no mobile phones, camera, weapons and any electronic gadget are allowed in the voting compartment in Assembly Hall of Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, during the election process of three posts to be held on January 18 at 11 am.” However, it has been witnessed that no checking of councillors is done when they go to cast vote. Many councillors keep two mobile phones to hoodwink polling staff. Chandigarh, January 15 A 23-year-old youth, Rajesh, from the city, who met an untimely demise on January 12, has given a new lease of life to seven patients. Rajesh succumbed to severe head injuries sustained in a fall at home. His grieving family, despite their heartwrenching loss, displayed extraordinary courage by consenting to donate his organs. Rajesh’s mother, Mandodri Devi, expressed the profound pain of losing her son, the family’s sole breadwinner after the father’s demise. She selflessly agreed to donate her dead son’s organs. Doctors at the PGI procured organs and conducted compatibility tests for intended recipients. Despite no matching recipients having been found at the PGI, cooperation with other transplant hospitals facilitated the allocation of organs. The heart and lungs found matching recipients in New Delhi and Gurugram, respectively. Green corridors were created for their timely transportation. Commendable efforts from security depart- MAYORAL POLL BJP with 15 votes pins hopes on cross-voting by Opposition councillors Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 15 Finally, the city AAP and the Congress today officially joined hands for the January 18 mayoral polls with the latter withdrawing the nomination of its candidate for the post of Mayor in lieu of the other two posts. Now, AAP councillor Kuldeep Dhalor is the alliance’s candidate for the post of Mayor. Congress councillor Jasbir Singh Bunty today withdrew his nomination for the post, which is reserved for an SC candidate this time. Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi will be candidate for the post of Senior Deputy Mayor and Nirmala Devi for Deputy Mayor under the alliance. AAP’s Neha Musavat and Poonam Sandeep Kumar withdrew their nominations for these two posts. “Today, we are going to make a new start from Chandigarh in this country’s politics,” said HS Lucky, president, city Congress, while standing alongside city AAP co-in charge SS Ahluwalia and councillors of both parties after withdrawing nominations. However, so far there is no final word on who will contest the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat under the Indian National Developmental MAX 17°C | MIN 4°C YESTERDAY MAX 15.3°C | MIN 3.6°C In death, city youth gives new lease of life to 7 patients AAP to fight Mayor’s post, Cong other 2 AAP and Congress councillors withdraw nominations at MC office on Monday. A TRIBUNE PHOTO ‘A NEW START FROM UT’ Today, we are going to make a new start from Chandigarh in this country’s politics. ❝ ❞ — HS Lucky, PRESIDENT, CITY CONGRESS ‘DISCONTENTMENT AMONG OPPN’ There is discontentment among councillors who have been made to withdraw their nominations. They will certainly vote for us during secret ballot polling. — A BJP leader ❝ Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). A Congress leader said it was the first alliance of the Congress and AAP under INDIA that is jointly going to contest these elections. By winning the mayoral poll, they want to send a positive message of INDIA unity ❞ ADVANTAGE ALLIANCE The alliance has a total of 20 votes —13 of AAP and seven of the Congress councillors, whereas the ruling BJP has 15 votes (14 councillors and ex-officio member, i.e. MP). The SAD, which has one vote, has not yet decided who it would vote for or if it would boycott the poll like the previous two occasions. NO DECISION ON LS SEAT YET So far there is no final word on who will contest the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat under the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). ahead of the Lok Sabha poll in the country, he added. The alliance has a total of 20 votes —13 of AAP and seven of the Congress councillors, whereas the ruling BJP has 15 votes (14 councillors and ex-officio member, i.e. MP). The SAD, which has one vote, has not yet decided who it would vote for or it would boycott the poll like the previous two occasions. The BJP can only pin hopes on cross-voting by Opposition councillors. “There is discontentment among councillors continued on page 2 DONOR RAJESH ments, police, CISF and airport staff ensured the safe passage of organs. In New Delhi, a man received the heart, while a 55year-old man in Gurugram got the lungs. A 60-year-old man at the PGI received the liver, gaining a second lease of life. Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant benefited a 26-year-old youth. A 32-yearold man received the second kidney. Both surgeries were done at the PGI. Corneas restored the sight of two corneal blind patients at the PGI. Meanwhile, a family member of the liver recipient expressed gratitude, acknowledging the transformative impact of the donor family’s decision. Despite the tragedy, their kindness resonates through the recipients given the “gift of life”. At meeting with Central Govt, UT suggests underground Metro in city Puts forth sub-committee’s concerns about the heritage status Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 15 At a meeting with officials from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in Delhi today, the UT Administration has recommended that the proposed Metro project for the city should be predominantly underground to preserve the city’s aesthetic structure. The Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee’s sub-committee, considering the city’s heritage status, has favoured the underground approach for the entire Metro project. The UT Administration has communicated this decision to the Ministry, and a detailed report on the underground project has been requested for a final decision. The ministry is expected to have representatives in the upcoming meeting of the Unified Metro Transportation Authority (UMTA). The sub-committee had suggested that no stretch of the Metro in the city should be elevated. This is also in Two youths arrested with 26.46 gm heroin Tribune News Service TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET TUESDAY 5:45 PM » TUESDAY | 16 JANUARY 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST 16.74 grams of heroin was recovered from Rajat, 9.72 grams was found on Aalitya. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered at the Sector 31 police station. Rajat, who is employed at a jewellery store, said he had been peddling drugs for the past six months. “He used to procure drugs from Delhi and further sell it in the tricity,” said a police official. The police have impounded the car started further investigation. UNESCO GUIDELINES ON CITY LANDMARKS ■ UT has recommended that the Metro within the sectoral grid should be underground despite the substantially higher cost ■ According to UNESCO norms, the Metro section connecting Capitol Complex and Sukhna Lake needs heritage impact assessment ■ Section of alignment in sectoral grid needs approval of the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee ■ As per the SC judgment on apartmentalisation, Sectors 1 to 30 are heritage sectors and have to be protected and preserved agreement with recommendations of the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031. In a bid to preserve the heritage status of the city, the Administration has recommended that the Metro within the sectoral grid should be underground despite the substantially higher cost. According to UNESCO guidelines, the Metro section connecting Capitol Complex and Sukhna Lake needs her- itage impact assessment and section of alignment in sectoral grid needs approval of the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC). Also, as per the Supreme Court judgment on apartmentalisation, Sectors 1 to 30 are heritage sectors and have to be protected and preserved. Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), in its Alternative Analysis Report (AAR) for Phase I, has outlined three corridors spanning Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. While the Madhya Marg corridor in Chandigarh’s heritage sectors (1 to 30) is proposed to be entirely elevated, the other two corridors will be predominantly elevated with some underground sections. Opting for underground corridors is estimated to raise the project cost by approximately Rs 8,000 crore, bringing the total project outlay to around Rs 19,000 crore. The overall tentative cost of the Metro project, according to the RITES report, is approximately Rs 11,000 crore, with Haryana and Punjab contributing 20%, the Centre 20% and the lending agency financing the remaining 60%. During the UMTA meeting on December 18, 2023, a decision was made to request the Central Government to determine whether the Metro project should have an elevated or underground network. RITES also submitted a report on traffic and system relations to the continued on page 2 Residents walk amid dense fog in Chandigarh on Monday morning. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Fog to continue, no respite from cold Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 15 There was no respite from severe cold conditions in the city today. According to the Weather Department, the city’s minimum temperature slightly rose to 3.6°C from 3.2°C yesterday, which is three degrees below normal. The city yesterday recorded the coldest night since 2017 when the minimum temperature plummeted to 2.4°C. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature also rose to 15.3°C from 13.3°C yesterday. It is still three degrees below normal. For the next two days, it is expected to be a clear sky with moderate to dense fog. Temperatures are further likely to increase, as per the forecast. 3 flights cancelled at SBSI for today Mohali, January 15 Six flights were cancelled and 32 delayed due to low visibility and other reasons at the SBSI Airport here today. The Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune flights were cancelled. Many departures and arrivals were late by two or three hours. Three flights to Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad have been cancelled for tomorrow (January 16). — TNS PGI mulls new departments of cardiac, neuro anaesthesia Naina Mishra Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 15 Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) is contemplating creating new departments of cardiac anaesthesia and neuro anaesthesia. By establishing these two dedicated departments, the PGI aims at pooling specialised expertise in neuro anaesthesia and cardiac anaesthesia. This will ensure that patients receive care from professionals well- HOW IT WILL BENEFIT PATIENTS ■ By establishing two dedicated departments of neuro anaesthesia and cardiac anaesthesia, the PGI aims at pooling specialised expertise in both fields ■ This will ensure that patients receive care from professionals well-versed in the intricacies of these specific areas ■ It will help in providing more precise and tailored treatments ■ There will be reduced waiting time and quicker interventions for patients requiring neuro or cardiac anaesthesia versed in the intricacies of these specific areas, leading to more precise and tailored treatments. Patients requiring neuro or cardiac anaesthesia may experience reduced waiting times and c m y b quicker interventions. This focused attention can lead to improved pre-operative, intra-operative and postoperative care, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. The PGI Director, Dr Vivek Lal, said these dedicated departments were likely to be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and techniques specific to neuro and cardiac anaesthesia. That could contribute to safer procedures, reduced risks and advancements in medical practices. The objective is to alleviate stress, handle increased workloads and provide fast care to patients. Dr Lal highlighted the benefits for both patients and medical professionals in terms of streamlined processes and faster service delivery. “With separate departments, collaboration among specialists becomes more streamlined, facilitating comprehensive care for patients with intricate medical conditions,” added Dr Lal. Dr Lal also revealed recent decisions to expand cardiology services. Efforts are underway to increase the number of intensive care beds in the cardiology unit to address the waiting list for cardiac children. The PGI aims at bolstering its cardiology services, currently housing 10 beds for cardiac children and an additional 10 beds in the High Dependency Unit (HDU). The premier health institute continued on page 2
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