01032025-CT-01.qxd 3/1/2025 12:47 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune FIRE AT UNDER-CONSTRUCTION BUILDING ON PGI COMPLEX BRAJESH MITTAL RE-ELECTED CAT BAR ASSOCIATION CHIEF HC SEEKS TIMELINE FOR KALKA JUDICIAL COMPLEX No significant damage reported as blaze was put out quickly, investigaton underway. P3 Mittal defeats Kuldeep Kumar Thakur and Karnail Singh. Jagdeep Jaswal re-elected vice-president. P3 Takes note of “communication gap” between state, development body on complex location. P6 » » WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH Exhibition “Rooted Reflections”: By Pardeep Singh, Government Museum And Art Gallery, Sector 10, from February 28 to March 2 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 PlayWrite 2025:The Sports Literary Fest. CII, Sector 31, March 2, 10:30 am Mega Trade Fair: Parade Ground, Sector 17, on till March 10, 11 am to 9 pm India Travel Mart: Travel and Tourism Expo, Kisan Bhawan, Sector 35-A, on till March 2, 11 am to 5 pm APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 40, 43 & 49 Panchkula: Sector 20 Mohali: Sector 82 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com POWER SHUTDOWN MOHALI 9 am to 6 pm: New Sunny Enclave, Old Sunny Enclave colonies in Sectors 123,124 and 125; Hussainpur village, Manana, Jhampur, Jandpur, Thaska, Behlolpur, Tadauli, Raipur and Desu Majra PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 22°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 15.3°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.21 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6.47 AM » SATURDAY | 1 MARCH 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE FILE PHOTO Rock Garden demolition assault on UT’s artistic, cultural identity: Residents Sheetal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 28 A large number of residents gathered near the Rock Garden today to protest the recent demolition of a wall of the world-famous tourist spot. The protesters, wearing green as a symbol of their commitment to environmental and heritage preservation, also took out a march under the banner of “Uniting for Our Chandigarh”. Carrying banners and shouting slogans, the protesters termed the demolition as an “assault on the city’s artistic and cultural identity”. The demonstration was spearheaded by prominent citizens, environmentalists and artists, including Saving Chandigarh’s core committee members Deepika Gandhi, RK Garg, Paveela Bali, Amrita Singh, Samita Kaur, Amandeep Singh and Priyanka Saini, Rock Garden creator Nek Chand’s granddaughter. Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari tweeted: “The Rock Garden is a part of the evolution of Chandigarh — a young if not an infant city by the standards of antiquity. The balance between aesthetics and development is always a tough equilibrium for a growing, developing and emerging city. The trick is to find the Golden Mean. However, the exchange between demolishing even a wall of the Rock Garden and expanding a parking lot is a bit of a stretch even by the standards of development absolutists. We must preserve, protect, promote and proliferate the aesthetics of Roots of trees uprooted for road-widening work near Rock Garden. Compensating for green loss: Trees to be planted on forest land Tribune News Service Residents stage a protest against the demolition of a wall of the Rock Garden on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR ❝We must preserve, protect, promote and ❝True progress lies in better solutions to ❝There are much preserving nature while proliferate the aesthetics of Chandigarh like the Rock Garden. innovating solutions that align economic and environmental interests. Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari Paveela Bali, environmentalist Chandigarh like the Rock Garden.” Yesterday, Nek Chand’s son Anuj Saini accused the administration of recklessly discarding irreplaceable materials stored by his late father for future restoration. “This is not just about a wall, it is about erasing the legacy of a globally recognised artist and a piece of Chandigarh’s soul,” he said. Environmentalists highlighted the alarming loss of green cover in the name of modernisation. “Governments, businesses and individuals must recognise that true progress lies in preserving nature while innovating solutions that align economic and environmental interests. After all, what use is a commercial empire if it stands on the ruins of a destroyed envi- manage traffic situation. The Rock Garden must be protected. SS Randhawa, a resident ronment?” asked Paveela Bali, a noted environmentalist. Prominent architect and former Director, Le Corbusier Centre and Chandigarh Architecture Museum, Deepika Gandhi stressed the need for adherence to Chandigarh’s original Master plan, warning that “unchecked urbanisation will irreversibly damage the city’s unique character.” The Panel okays 2,563 temporary water More rain connections outside village lal dora likely today Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 28 The Water Supply and Sewerage Disposal Committee of the MC has approved 2,563 temporary water connections outside the lal dora in 22 villages.The first meeting of the recently formed committee was held today. Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, who presided over the meeting, entrusted committee chairperson Sarbjit Kaur with the responsibility of ensuring smooth water distribution and sewerage management across the city. The meeting discussed two MC expected to get annual revenue of ~3 cr key agenda items — an increase in sewerage cess and the provision of temporary water connections in areas outside the lal dora. Sarbjit Kaur proposed that sewerage cess be increased by 2% every year to ensure sustainable infrastructure maintenance. However, councillor Prem Lata raised objections to this proposal, expressing concerns over its impact on residents. The committee approved the proposal to allot 2,563 tem- porary water connections to residences outside the lal dora and in “phirni areas in 22 villages. This decision is expected to generate an annual revenue of Rs 3 crore to the MC. Consumer shall not have any ownership rights or claims to these temporary connections. In case of a demolition drive on ordered by the the Chandigarh Administration or any court of India, the temporary water connections will be removed and the MC will not be held responsible for any damages. The Mayor said, “Water management and sanitation Continued on page 5 Chandigarh, February 28 The Meteorological Department has predicted rain along with thunderstorm in the city for tomorrow. The city received nearly 12.5 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours. "Partly cloudy sky with likely thunderstorm or rain on March 1 and partly cloudy sky thereafter on March 2," stated the Met Department today. It predicted rain on March 3 and mainly clear sky for the next two days. In February, the city received a total of 20.1 mm rain, which is 13.1 mm deficient. The maximum temperature Continued on page 5 Narula is High Court Bar Association president Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Sartej Singh Narula, newly elected president of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, celebrates his victory at his residence in Chandigarh on Friday. A TRIBUNE PHOTO Chandigarh, February 28 Sartej Singh Narula has been elected president of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (HCBA). Securing 1,781 votes, Narula clinched the post, leaving his closest rival, Ravinder Singh Randhawa, trailing with 1,404 votes. Former president Vikas Malik polled 816 votes. The HCBA lawns transformed into a sea of celebration as advocates, colleagues and well-wishers gathered around Narula, who beamed under the weight of thick garlands. His lawyer's coat barely visible beneath the layers of c m y b bright orange and yellow blooms. "This is not just my victory; it belongs to every member who believed in a stronger, more dynamic HCBA," he declared. Sweets were distributed among members, marking the culmination of an intense election battle. Celebrating the victory, his supporters paraded through the corridors, some even breaking into impromptu bhangra moves. A lawyer with a strong administrative vision, Narula had built his campaign on promises of infrastructural upgrades, enhanced professional welfare and better coordination Continued on page 5 others, including theatre artiste Neelam Mansingh and advocate Satinder Singh Randhawa, grandson of city planner Dr MS Randhawa, called the decision to demolish the wall hasty and ill-conceived. He said why alternative parking solutions were not explored. “There are much better solutions to manage the traffic situation. The Rock Garden is a significant landmark of the city and must be protected and preserved. The cutting of the trees along the path is particularly shocking. Trees are essential for maintaining ecological balance, providing clean air and supporting local wildlife. Their Continued on page 5 Chandigarh, February 28 The UT Forest Department will carry out plantation over degraded forest land in the city to compensate for the felling of 50 trees to widen a road near the Rock Garden. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted approval to the diversion of 0.2432 hectares of forest land for the road expansion project under the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. The compensatory afforestation (CA) will be carried out by the UT Forest Department over degraded forest land such as the reserve forest, Lake Beat, Botanical Garden and a nature reserve division at the expense of the Engineering Department. The plantation is to be completed within one year from the date of approval. To maintain ecological balance, the plantation will consist of a mixture of local indigenous species, while monoculture will be strictly avoided. Conservation measures, guidelines The ministry has laid down strict conditions to ensure minimal environmental impact. After the diversion of forest land, no damage must be done to the adjoining forest areas. The boundary of the diverted land must be clearly demarcated under the project and all possible efforts must be made to protect the nearby forest and prevent ecological degradation, said the ministry. The logs of axed trees will be securely placed at the Lake Reserve Forest nursery under the supervision of the Range Forest Officer (Chandigarh Range).