12032024-CT-01.qxd 3/12/2024 12:13 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune TRANSFORMER EXPLODES, MAJRI GRID DAMAGED DRIVER ELUDES POLICE IN LUXURY CAR CRASH CASE P’KULA, SOLAN POLICE JOIN HANDS TO CURB CRIME One of the two transformers caught fire, scores of nearby villages remain powerless for over five hours. P2 A tea vendor was killed as a luxury car crashed into his shop. The police say suspects will be held soon. P2 Police officials of Panchkula and Solan in HP to work together to curb crime in border areas. P2 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 185 PANCHKULA 78 MOHALI 168 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF YOUTH STABBED AT DADU MAJRA Chandigarh:An 18-year-old youth was stabbed by a few miscreants at Dadu Majra Colony. Sawan, a resident of Sector 25, alleged that Sahil, Sagar, Konda, Khajji and others picked a quarrel with him and during which he was stabbed. He was admitted to the Government Multi-specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16. The police were informed about the incident and a case was registered at the Maloya police station. TNS WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH APNI MANDI: Sectors 29, 56 and Dhanas MOHALI APNI MANDI: Sector 71 PANCHKULA APNI MANDI: Sector 15 AAP-Cong alliance submits agenda without implementation plans Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 11 Without sharing any roadmap or planning for implementation, the AAPCongress alliance got agenda pertaining to free 20,000 litre water per month per household and free parking in the market lots passed in the MC House today. In an apparent counter move, the BJP put up table agenda on providing free 40,000 litre water instead. However, Mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor did not consider the agenda. Free water and parking are expected to be big issues during the coming Lok Sabha elections. Sources said the MC would evaluate the two agenda items passed by the House financially, administratively and legally before sending these to the Secretary, Local Government (SLG), i.e. UT Home Secretary. Sources said the MC would evaluate the two agenda items financially, administratively and legally before sending these to the Secretary, Local Govern- UNLIKELY TO GET THROUGH Sources said the MC would evaluate the two agenda items financially, administratively and legally before sending these to the Secretary, Local Government, i.e. UT Home Secretary. Even if these are forwarded to the Secretary for approval, the final approval by the UT Administration is unlikely. Already, the water tariff is increased by 5 per cent annually. MARSHALS REMOVE BJP COUNCILLORS ■ Mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor suspended councillors Saurabh Joshi and Kanwarjit Singh Rana for a day after they entered into an argument with AAP councillor Jasbir Singh Laddi. ■ Laddi had sought the removal of the memorial gate on excouncillor Malkiat Singh, who F&CC ELECTED UNANIMOUSLY died during a study tour. Five members of the Finance and Contract Committee were elected ■ There was pandemonium in the unanimously after BJP’s councillor Jasmanpreet Singh withdrew his House when Laddi appealed for the nomination. Jaswinder Kaur and Ramchandra Yadav from AAP, and Taruna rejection of agenda pertaining to Mehta from the Congress were the alliance candidates. After Jasmanpreet’s laying pipelines in Burail village withdrawal, BJP councillors Maheshinder Singh Sidhu and Lakhbir Singh represented by BJP councillor Rana. Billu were left in the fray. All five were elected unanimously. ■ The BJP accused AAP of being opposed to the development of UT villages. Councillors also clashed over free water agenda. Subsequently, the Mayor ordered the removal of BJP councillors from the House. << Councillors of the BJP and the AAP-Congress alliance argue during the House meeting on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR ment (SLG), i.e. UT Home Secretary. Even if these are forwarded to the SLG for approval, the final approval by the UT Administration in unlikely. Already, the water tariff is increased by 5 per cent annually. In the previous MC term, whenever the BJP had sought a reduction in the water rates, the Administration had slight- c m y b ly relented and asked the MC to explain how it would meet the expenditure. Moreover, from 2027, the residents will have to pay additional water continued on page 2 FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE PRADEEP TEWARI UT forest cover up 9% in six years: Purohit Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 11 In an encouraging development for residents, the city’s forest cover has expanded by 9% over the past six years, bringing a greener look to UT. According to a report of the Forest Survey of India, the green cover has increased from 41% to 50.05% since 2017, an increase of approximately 9%. According to the figures, the forested expanse within the city itself grew by approximately 0.85 sq km over the three years. In the 2019 India State of Forest Report (ISFR), the forest cover measured 22.03 sq km, which expanded to 22.88 sq km in the 2021 ISFR. This growth is attributed to the combined efforts of the Department of Forest and Wildlife and other key agencies operating under the UT Administration. Of a total of 140 sq km area of the city, 26 sq km is under the Sukhna wildlife sanctu- MAX 29°C | MIN 13°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 13.9°C SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.35 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD MC House approves free 20K litre water, parking MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET TUESDAY 6.28 PM » TUESDAY | 12 MARCH 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST GREENING CHANDIGARH ACTION PLAN The Greening Chandigarh Action Plan, an annual blueprint collaboratively prepared by various wings, including the Forest Department, horticulture wing of the Engineering Department and the Municipal Corporation, has played a key role in the expansion of the green cover. Under this plan, each department sets a yearly plantation target. ary. According to the report, the forest area has grown by nearly two acres within the city. In 2017, it stood at 22.03 sq km, but by 2023, it had increased to 22.8 sq km. The forest cover in the city has increased by 9% since 2017 and it was a big achievement for the city, stated UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, during a recent press conference. An increase in the forested area, covering both urban landscapes and the Sukhna wildlife sanctuary, has been continued on page 2 Official dies by suicide at PGI Chandigarh, March 11 A supervisor radiographer reportedly died by suicide in a washroom at the PGI this morning. She allegedly severed a vein. No suicide note was found at the spot, said a police official. The victim, identified as Narinder Kaur, was in her early fifties. She worked with the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Advanced Paediatric Centre. The police have started an inquest proceeding into the matter at the Sector 11 police station. The post-mortem and forensic reports are awaited. “The institute is fully cooperating with the police. We are conducting our own investigation into the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate event,” said the PGI in a statement issued to mediapersons. — TNS Accident victim dies Panchkula: Gulshan of Raipur Rani was killed after being hit by a scooter near the Punjab National Bank office here on March 7. He died during treatment at the PGI. The police have registered a case against an unidentified scooter rider under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC. — TNS
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