02042024-CT-01.qxd 4/2/2024 12:22 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune GHAGGAR: RESIDENTS CARRY OUT CLEANLINESS DRIVE POLICE CONDUCT FLAG MARCH IN FATEHGARH SAHIB DIST JEEV’S SON HARJAI ALL SET TO MAKE HIS PRO DEBUT Failure of authorities to stop illegal dumping of waste has led to creation of garbage piles in Ghaggar. P2 SSP Ravjot Grewal led flag march across the district to instil sense of security among residents. P2 14-year-old Harjai will be among three amateurs to feature in Chandigarh Golf Open starting on April 3. P2 » » CHANDIGARH 95 PANCHKULA 46 MOHALI 88 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF TWO TARGETED BY SNATCHERS Chandigarh: Sahil of Sohana reported that three scooterborne persons snatched his mobile phone near the Sector31/Ram Darbar light point on Sunday. Sector 56 resident Madan Lal Sharma reported that Suraj, Navdeep Singh and others snatched a mobile phone, documents and Rs 50 from him on Sunday. Later, Suraj of Badh Majra, Sector 56 residents Navdeep Singh and Kapil were arrested. TNS WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH APNI MANDI: Sectors 29, 56 and Dhanas MOHALI APNI MANDI: Sector 71 PANCHKULA APNI MANDI: Sector 15 MAX 31°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 29.2°C | MIN 17°C SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:09 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE EVs fail to sparkbuyers’ interest, March GST collection in city increases by 18% to ~238 cr 8.8% registrations in five months Only 1,408 EVs sold compared to 15,844 non-electric vehicles in city Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 1 Lack of proper infrastructure has resulted in a dismal adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the city with only 8.8 per cent EVs having been registered in the city in the past five months. Following the removal of capping on the registration of non-electric vehicles by the UT Administration, only 1,408 electric vehicles, including two-wheelers, have been sold in the past five months, compared to 15,844 non-electric vehicles in the city. The UT Administration had initiated a five-year EV Policy in September 2022 with the goal of gradually halting the registrations of fuel-run vehicles to promote a shift towards eco-friendly transportation. The policy was also aimed at establishing Chandigarh as a “Model EV City” by achieving high penetration of zero-emission vehicles by 2027. However, on November 23 last year, under pressure from various stakeholders, UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit revoked the capping on non-electric vehicle registrations, including two- FILE PHOTO AIR QUALITY INDEX PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET TUESDAY 6.42 PM » TUESDAY | 2 APRIL 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST CAPPING REMOVED On November 23 last year, under pressure from various stakeholders, UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit revoked the capping on non-electric vehicle registrations, including two-wheelers, four-wheelers & commercial vehicles. THEFTS HIT PLANS TO MADE CHARGING STATIONS OPERATIONAL Despite directions of the UT Administrator, 53 charging stations were yet to be made operational in the city. On March 8, Purohit had directed that all 53 charging wheelers, four-wheelers and commercial vehicles. In November 2023, approximately 350 electric vehicles were registered within just 23 days. Yet, only 839 electric twowheelers and 569 electric fourwheelers had been registered against 7,886 and 7,959 nonelectric ones from November 24 to March 31 this year. stations be made operational by March-end, but it was likely to take one more month to complete the work after equipment were stolen from a few units. Despite directions of the UT Administrator, 53 charging stations were yet to be made operational in the city. On March 8, Purohit had directed that all 53 charging stations be made operational by Marchend, but it was likely to take one more month to complete the work after equipment were stolen from a few units. c m y b According to officials of the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST), three companies were allotted engaged to install 53 charging stations. Two companies have completed the installation work of nearly 40 charging stations, but one company is yet to start the work. Moreover, the companies are likely to take nearly a month to replace the equipment stolen from the charging stations. Thieves have stolen costly equipment from the unguarded EV charging stations across the city in the past few months. “Buying an electric vehicle is a costly affair, as the cost of such vehicles is far more than those running on internal combustion engine. Moreover, infrastructure is still not ready in the city,” said a resident of Sector 48. The UT Administration had notified the EV Policy on September 20, 2022. However, the city’s infrastructure is still not ready for the electric vehicles. As many as 23 charging stations were installed at nine locations across the city in November 2022. continued on page 3 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 1 Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in the city last month witnessed an increase of 18% against the gross levy collected during the corresponding period in 2023. According to the Ministry of Finance, the collection for March this year stood at Rs 238 crore, Rs 36 crore more than Rs 202 crore received during the same month in 2023. The collection for February had increased to 12% at Rs 211 crore. It was Rs 188 crore during the same month in 2023. The ministry did not share the details of the tax collected during January this year. December 2023 saw an increase to 29% at Rs 281 crore. Similarly, the collection for November was Rs 210 crore, ~202 CRORE levy received during the same month in 2023 which was 20% more than Rs 175 crore collected during the same month in 2022. The collection for October remained Rs 389 crore, Rs 38 crore more than the levy received in 2022. In September, the UT witnessed a growth of just 6% with Rs 219 crore mop-up against Rs 206 crore collected in 2022. In August, the UT saw a similar growth of 7%. The tax collection was Rs 192 crore against Rs 179 crore received in 2022. The GST collection registered an increase of 23% in July, which stood at Rs 217 crore, Rs 41 crore more than Rs 176 crore collected in 2022. The gross GST collection in June was Rs 227.06 crore. It saw a growth of 34% which was Rs 57.36 crore more than Rs 169.7 crore collected in 2022. The GST collection for May had witnessed a record increase of 55%. The collection stood at Rs 259 crore, Rs 92 crore more than Rs 167 crore collected in the same month in 2022. It was the highest-ever collection for a month by the UT since the inception of the GST. The collection for April had witnessed a marginal increase of 2% at Rs 255 crore. 3 foreigners arrested with 204.86 gm drug Chandigarh, April 1 Police today claimed to have busted an international drug syndicate with the arrest of three foreign nationals who supplied drugs. They were caught with 204.86 grams of Ice/amphetamine drug on March 30. The police said they received a secret information that three African nationals, who used to supply drugs to their clients in Chandigarh, are coming with a large quantity of drugs to be supplied to bars in Industrial Area, Phase I. The police arrested Frank Nwokeji, 42, Loua, 36, and Jack David llobi Tochukwu Devid, 42, all Nigerian nation- als at present residing in New Delhi, and recovered 204.86 grams of amphetamine from their possession near the Haryana Roadways workshop Plot No. 182, Industrial Area, Phase I. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered. The police recovered continued on page 3