27022025-CT-01.qxd 2/27/2025 12:33 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune COURT DISMISSES PLEA FOR WITNESS RE-EXAMINATION PUNJAB FC FACE GOA TEST IN FINAL HOME TURF CLASH WEDDING BELLS FOR INFLUENCER PRAJAKTA KOLI Says witness in the 2018 firing case had not reported any duress at time of recording statement. P3 With only three games remaining in the league season, Punjab FC are currently 11th in the table. P3 Koli tied the knot with her long-time boyfriend Vrishank Khanal in an intimate ceremony in New Delhi. P4 » » WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH Uramado: An augmented reality exhibition by Julie Stephen Chheng, Alliance Francaise, Sector 36, on till February 28 Just-a-Scapes: An exhibition of digital photomontages by Shankar S, Art Gallery, Alliance Francaise, Sector 36, from February 26 to March 10, 9 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 7 pm APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29, 56 and Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sector 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Snatchers land in police net Chandigarh, February 26 Two UT police have arrested two snatchers and recovered three stolen mobile phones, two scooters and a rickshaw. Ashok Kumar of Sector 38 had reported that his scooter was stolen from near his house on February 24. The police registered a case at the Sector 39 police station. During the investigation, a team of the District Crime Cell (DCC) nabbed Ganesh, alias Kalu (19); and Dharmender, alias Mota (20), both residents of the Dhanas EWS Colony. — TNS FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Good response to survey rekindles hopes for housing scheme revival SEC 53 PROJECT Board receives nearly 500 applications in four days FILE Tribune News Service Photo Exhibition: ‘Sector17 Beyond The Façade’, by Sanjay Kaushal and Shubh Mohan Singh, CLKA underpass connecting Sector-17 with Rose Garden, on till February 27, from 10 am to 8 pm MAX 26°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 28.9°C | MIN 17.5°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.49 AM /THETRIBUNECHD Dushyant Singh Pundir Exhibition “Rooted Reflections”: By Pardeep Singh, Government Museum And Art Gallery, Sector 10, from February 28 to March 2 GENERALLY CLOUDY SUNSET THURSDAY 6.20 PM » THURSDAY | 27 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Chandigarh, February 26 Rekindling the hopes of revival, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has received an overwhelming response to its demand survey for the proposed selffinancing housing scheme in Sector 53 here, which was put on hold by the Administration in 2023. According to officials, nearly 500 applications have been received so far. The survey, which started on February 22, will conclude on March 3. The CHB will launch the scheme only after receiving adequate response from interested eligible persons as well as obtaining requisite approvals. To take part in the demand survey, an applicant has to deposit an amount of Rs 10,000 each for HIG and MIG units and Rs 5,000 for EWS unit as confirmation of their interest in the scheme. The amount will be adjusted in the earnest money deposit (EMD) after the launch of the scheme. In case the applicant decides not to participate further, the entire amount will PLAN WAS PUT ON HOLD IN 2023 In August 2023, then UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit had put on hold the Sector 53 General Housing Scheme, deeming it unnecessary. This led to the cancellation of Rs 200 crore tenders issued for the construction of 372 flats on nine acres. WAS SCRAPPED IN 2018 The scheme was scrapped in 2018 following poor response due to exorbitant prices of flats. The board revived the scheme in 2023 with revised prices — Rs1.65 crore for three-bedroom unit, Rs 1.40 crore for two-bedroom flat and Rs 55 lakh for two-bedroom (EWS) unit each. The 2018 rates were Rs 1.8 crore, Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 95 lakh for the three categories, respectively. be forfeited. If launched, the scheme will have 192 HIG units, 100 MIG houses and 80 units for economically weaker sections (EWS). At a meeting held recently, officials made a presentation for the revival of the scheme before UT Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma, who is also CHB chairman. Verma had asked the officials to conduct a fresh demand survey for the scheme. The board had conducted a similar survey in 2018 also. 2 befriend girl, snatch her mobile, cash Three youths, juvenile held for theft snatched her valuables and dumped her on the road. The woman had come to Patiala for a court hearing and was staying in a hotel in Nayagaon. In the evening, she visited the Elante Mall where the suspects befriended her. On a complaint filed by the woman, the Dera Bassi police registered a case against unidentified persons. During the investigation, both accused were identified, and later arrested. They suffered injuries while trying to escape from police custody, said the cops. The police produced both snatchers before the local court. The judge sent them to two-day police remand. After the demand survey, a final presentation will be made before Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. After more than seven years, the CHB is considering resuming the stalled scheme. In August 2023, then UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit had put on hold the General Housing Scheme, deeming it unnecessary. This led to the cancellation of Rs 200 crore tenders issued on August 2, 2023, for the construction of 372 flats on nine acres. The board had revived the scheme, which was scrapped in 2018. The prices in the revived scheme were fixed at Rs1.65 crore for three-bedroom unit, Rs 1.40 crore for two-bedroom and Rs 55 lakh for two-bedroom (EWS) flat each. When the scheme was first introduced in 2018, the prices were considerably higher at Rs 1.8 crore, Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 95 lakh for the three categories, respectively. Only 178 applications were received for 492 flats available, after which the scheme was cancelled. The last CHB scheme was floated in 2016 for 200 twobedroom flats in Sector 51. Meeting to take up key issues today Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 26 After nearly 20 months, the Board of Directors of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) will take up key issues in its meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow. The major pending issues include the regularisation of need-based changes, a onetime relief for the owners who failed to pay rent, and the revival of the Sector 53 housing scheme, which was scrapped by former Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit. Earlier, the meeting was scheduled for January 31, then February 12, but was postponed. It will be chaired by UT Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma, who is also the board chairman. In October last year, UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria reconstituted the board for a period of three years. The official board members Continued on page 3 Rescue operations underway at Sohana village. FILE Building collapse probe nails owners, contractor DC lets off officials with warning Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service Mohali, February 26 More than two months after two persons died in a building collapse at Sohana, the inquiry report has held the building owners and the contractor responsible for the tragedy. The Mohali SDM-led probe panel has held that digging work was carried out in the plot adjacent to the building and heavy machinery was deployed to carry out digging work. The digging was done below the foundation level, which destabilised the building. Further, seepage in the area was also one of the factors that led to the collapse of the building. The contractor followed the owner’s instructions and started digging without taking any preventive measures, noted the 16-page report. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner let off officials of the MC and the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) with the warning that legal action will be taken if any such instance takes place in the future. Directions have been issued to implement building bylaws strictly in the under-construction structures and to take stringent action over violations. A three-story building collapsed in Sohana village on the evening of December 21. The police arrested the building owners, Parvinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh of Chaumajra village on the charge of culpable homicide. They were granted bail later. On call of faith Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Dera Bassi, February 26 The police have arrested two youths for allegedly befriending a woman from the North-East near the Elante mall and snatching her mobile phone, Rs 7,000 near Dera Bassi on February 21. After snatching the valuables, they pushed her off the vehicle and fled the spot. The accused, Nikhil, alias Nav; and Gaurav Kumar, alias Ravi, both residents of Dadpura here, befriended the girl, who is aged 25, and offered her a lift in their Jeep till a hotel in Nayagaon. They took her to Dera Bassi, Dera Bassi, February 26 The police have arrested three youths and detained a juvenile at Balongi. They were involved in the theft of five two-wheelers and snatching of a mobile phone. The police also recovered a knife from them. Those arrested have been identified as Nabha resident Yogesh Kohli (29), Sukhwinder Singh of Fatehgarh Sahib and Sangrur resident Dhanvir. They were residing in Balongi. Meanwhile, the police sent the juvenile to a juvenile home. Long queues of devotees at the Shiva temple in Saketri, Panchkula, on the occasion of Mahashivratri on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY Top shooters hit bull’s-eye in academics Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 26 “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”, a saying by American author Benjamin Franklin assumes significance considering the decision of top Indian shooters to continue their studies while gaining fame at the national and international levels. Four Olympian and international shooters — Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh, Vijayveer Sidhu and his brother Udayveer Sidhu — have completed their postgraduation with good marks. The 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medallist shooters Manu and Sarabjot, along with another Olympian shooter Vijayveer and his international shooter brother Udayveer, completed their degree in MA Public Administration with flying colours from Panjab University. They continued their studies at DAV College, Sector 10. Paris Olympics medallists Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh have completed their postgraduation with good marks. FILE Manu, who is the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal (bronze) in the women’s 10m air pistol event and to reach an Olympic final in an individual event in 20 years, raced ahead by scoring 1,484 marks, out of a total of 2000 (74.2 per cent). Sarabjot, who scripted history by winning the bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event along with Manu at the Paris Olympics, passed with 1,370 marks (68.5 per cent). Vijayveer, who represented India in the same Olympics in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event, secured 1,470 marks (73.5 per cent) and Udayveer, who has won a medal in the ISSF World Shooting Championship, scored c m y b 1,417 marks (70.8 per cent). The exam for the final semester was held last year in August, soon after the Paris Olympics. Though the final scores of these shooters varied, all of them credited shooting for this feat. “There’s one thing in common, both shooting and academics need a good focus. The sport has made me realise the importance of concentration for completing any project in my life. Be it any competition, training or studies, concentrating on the aim is a must. I am happy passing my examination with first division and 80 credit points to my kitty,” said Manu, who is yet to plan on pursuing academics further. Vijayveer also stressed the importance of education in the life of a sportsperson. “We all have been into shooting for over a decade now. Given our busy schedule of tournaments, we usually have less time to prepare for examina- tions. However, shooting has developed our mind in such a manner that we can adapt to any situation or shift our focus quickly,” said Vijayveer, who also credited his teachers Dr Amanendra Mann and Chetna for his success. “Education is really important, especially for a sportsperson. Without having a required degree, no one will offer any job — no matter how big the achievement. It also develops personality. Without education, the achievements in any sport are just temporary,” he added. “The life of a sportsperson passes through a lot of hardship, and these shooters have proved that one could strike a balance between education and sports, if planned accordingly. Shooters have an edge over other sportspersons in terms of having a better mental training and focus on their aim despite being under immense pressure. ,” said Mann, Associate Professor, Physical Education, DAV College. Now, visitor’s pass must for cops at headquarters Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 26 Police personnel will now be required to get a visitor’s pass before entering the UT Police Headquarters. The directive has been issued by DSP (Headquarters) P Abinandhan to strengthen security measures. The order states: “To strengthen security at the Police Headquarters, all Chandigarh Police employees (except those posted in the Headquarters) must obtain a visitor’s slip from the pass window every time they visit the Sector-9 Police Headquarters for official work or any other reason. The slip must be submitted at the window upon completion of their visit.” Additionally, all readers and in charge of units will not entertain any police personnel or civilian visitor without a valid visitor’s slip. The head- quarters staff will be held accountable if they are found interacting with any visitor or officer who enters the premises without the pass. Previously, the police staff could enter the headquarters without any such slip. This new rule has sparked mixed reactions among officers. A police official called the move “shocking”, questioning why officers of the department need a pass to enter the headquarters. Another officer pointed out that while visitors were always required to get a pass, this new mandate is specifically for police personnel. The police headquarters accommodates the offices of the DGP IGP SSP (UT), , , SSP (Traffic and Security), SP (City), SP (Headquarters), besides other officers. It also includes various administrative wings, a conference hall and a control room.