04082025-CT-01.qxd 8/4/2025 12:26 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune NURSES RESENT DELAY IN ISSUANCE OF NOC VANI, VISHAL CLAIM TABLE TENNIS TITLES PUNJABI FILM GODDAY GODDAY CHA WINS AWARD The staff resent delay in issuance of no-objection certificate, say it’s needed to appear in counselling. P3 Win Under-19 titles at the 1st Chandigarh State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament-2025. P3 To be recognised at national level is a blessing, says Sonam Bajwa as Punjabi film Godday Godday Chawins award. P4 » » /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE To reinforce child protection, education excellence, zero tolerance for negligence & abuse WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH MN Sharma Memorial Lecture: The Shifting Paradigm of Mass Space Relationship in Architecture (from pre-historic to modern times), Assembly Hall, CCA, 4 pm PU Colloquium Series: Space scientist and former ISRO chief Dr S Somanath to deliver Panjab University Colloquium Lecture, PU auditorium, Sector 14, 11 am Felicitation Ceremony: Dr S Somanath, former Chairman of ISRO, to be honoured by the Chairman, Board of Governors, PEC, Rajinder Gupta; Senate Hall, PEC; 9 am PANCHKULA Samadhan Shivir: DC Monika Gupta to hear public grievances at Samadhan Shivir, Mini Secretariat, Sector 1, 10 am to 12 noon Certificate distribution: Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini to distribute allotment letters to beneficiaries of CM Rural Housing Scheme 2.0 and interim ownership certificates to beneficiaries of CM Urban Housing Scheme; Indradhanush Auditorium, Sector 5, 11 am APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 43 & 45 Mohali: Sectors 70, 78 & Phase 5 Panchkula: MDC, Sector 5 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Chandigarh, August 3 In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Chandigarh Administration has ordered a comprehensive school safety audit to reinforce child protection and educational excellence. Acting on the directives issued by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, to safeguard the students and strengthen the institutional accountability, the Directorate of School Education today issued school safety audit guidelines. These are to be mandatorily implemented across all government, governmentaided, private recognised and Central Government schools in the Union Territory. “These guidelines mark a strategic and proactive leap in transforming Chandigarh into a nationally acclaimed hub of school education, combining high academic outcomes with a robust focus on safety, inclusivity and student well-being,” Education Secretary Prerna Puri told The Tribune. Recognising that child and teacher safety is a primary concern, she said the guidelines were structured to ensure that every educational institution in Chandigarh TO ENSURE SAFE EDUCATION: KATARIA GUIDELINES ■ As per the order issued by the ❝By introducingthese guidelines, Chd not only Director School Education, Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, all schools must conduct a comprehensive safety audit that assesses building stability, fire safety systems, electrical infrastructure, access control at gates and readiness for natural or manmade disasters. secures its edu institutions but also sets a precedent for other states . This is a major stride towards fulfilling the constitutional promise of safe and inclusive education for all, and achieving ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ objectives. ■ The audit guidelines also ❞ FILE PHOTO Tribune News Service — GULAB CHAND KATARIA, PUNJAB GOVERNOR-CUM-CHANDIGARH ADMINISTRATOR adhered to verifiable safety standards. This includes the physical safety of school infrastructure, psychosocial wellness of students, emergency preparedness and the establishment of a zero-tolerance policy towards negligence or abuse. The initiative is fully aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the NDMA School Safety Policy 2016, and performance benchmarks of the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0, solidifying Chandigarh’s place as a leader in national achievement in school education, she said As per the order issued by the Director School Education, Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, all schools must conduct a comprehensive safety audit that assesses building stability, fire safety systems, electrical infrastructure, access control at gates and readiness for natural or manmade disasters. The audit guidelines also include checks for psychosocial safety, such as the availability of counselling servic- es, mechanisms for incident reporting, peer support networks, and inclusive mental health programmes. “Schools are directed to coordinate with certified audit agencies or government-deployed engineering teams, depending on their category, and submit compliance reports by August 30,” said Brar. Hailing the initiative as a foundational reform, Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma said, “Chandigarh is fast becoming a national benchmark in school education, not just in academic performance, but in the way we care for our children. These school safety audit guidelines reflect our unwavering commitment to creating learning environments where safety, dignity and preparedness are nonnegotiable. We are building schools that meet not only Indian standards but aspire to match international best practices in safety and infrastructure. This is not just about protecting children but also empowering them.” The guidelines also advocate for international-stan- MAX 32°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34.7°C | MIN 26°C SUNRISE TUESDAY 5.44 AM A first: UT orders school safety audit Nitin Jain RAIN SUNSET MONDAY 7.14 PM » MONDAY | 4 AUGUST 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST include checks for psychosocial safety, such as the availability of counselling services, mechanisms for incident reporting, peer support networks, and inclusive mental health programmes. dard infrastructure and facilities in schools, with specific emphasis on accessibility, hygiene and security. Schools are required to provide well-lit classrooms and corridors, functional CCTV coverage at vulnerable spots, barrier-free access for children with disabilities, separate toilets for boys and girls, secure school transport, and clean drinking water. A major component is the school safety and disaster management plan, which must be prominently displayed in continued on page 2 Three held for robbing cab driver in P’kula Tribune News Service Panchkula, August 3 The Crime Branch, Sector 26 here, has arrested three accused, including the mastermind, in the 2023 robbery case. The accused, after booking a taxi ride, had robbed its driver of his vehicle and cash at gunpoint. Addressing the media, ACP (Crime) Arvind Kamboj stated that the incident occurred on the night of December 4, 2023. The victim, Shanky Kashyap, a resident of Panipat, had booked a taxi ride for five youths from Panipat railway station to Pinjore. Two more joined the group at the Chandimandir toll plaza. Around 11 pm, the group diverted the vehicle to a secluded location near Kheda Basela village. They thrashed the driver and robbed him of Rs 4,000, a phone and the vehicle at gunpoint. The stolen vehicle was recovered days later from Dadumajra in Chandigarh. Acting on a tip-off, the police arrested Dheeraj (the mastermind) and Shiva, alias Kaju, from Karnal on July 31. Following their interrogation, their accomplice Devender Rana was nabbed the next day. All three face charges under IPC Section 395 (dacoity) and the Arms Act. Downpour batters Waterlogging near Aam Aadmi Clinic skips admn eye Chandigarh, Mohali Orange alert issued for tomorrow Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 Moderate rain lashed Chandigarh and Mohali in the past 24 hours, leading to widespread waterlogging and disruption in power and water supply in major parts of both cities on Sunday. While Mohali recorded 41mm rainfall, which was second highest in the region after 44.5-mm logged at Hoshiarpur in Punjab, Chandigarh received 39.4-mm downpour, which was third highest in the region, comprising Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana. However, Panchkula witnessed scattered rain (0.5 mm) in the past 24 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain coupled with thunderstorm at isolated places in Chandigarh and Haryana on Tuesday. Besides, a yellow alert has been issued for heavy rain in Chandigarh and Haryana on Monday and at isolated places in Punjab on Tuesday. The downpour brought relief from the hot and humid weather conditions but left most of the roads and streets waterlogged in Chandigarh and Mohali. Traffic chaos and disruption in power and water supply were reported from many areas. Despite the rain, the day temperature went up While UT recorded 34.7 degree Celsius of maximum temperature, Continued on page 2 Mohali: Residents of Phase 5 and nearby areas have complained that the road to the Aam Aadmi Clinic here remains waterlogged in the rainy season and visitors find it difficult to access the facility. “It is not easy to reach here without facing the inconvenience, and if you are ailing, then it becomes all the more difficult,” said Balbir Kaur, a local resident. It has been like this ever since the clinic was inaugurated around two years ago. “If the administration can get fogging done on Fridays under Har Shukarwar, Dengue Te Vaar drive, then it should also care about fixing the drainage issue in the area,” said Inder Singh Rakhra, another resident. The Health Department has surveyed 1,88,171 places for mosquito larvae since March. However, the teams failed to notice stagnant water right in front of the Phase 5 clinic. — TNS The road near the Aam Aadmi Clinic at Phase 5 in Mohali remains waterlogged during the rainy season. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY Neglected Sector-48 amphitheatre awaits its opening act Mohali sectors reel Open air facility remains waterlogged during rain, yet to host an event since its inauguration in 2018 Ramkrishan Upadhyay RECREATIONAL CENTRE FOR SOUTHERN SECTORS Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August3 Built amid much fanfare seven years ago, the amphitheatre in Sector 48 turns into a virtual lake every time it rains. Fresh showers left the open air facility inundated, with rainwater entering the employees’ residences on the complex. Built under the Central Government’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme launched by the Prime Minister in June 2015, the amphitheatre was part of the larger urban transformation plans. Since its inauguration in 2018, not even a single event has been held here. Wild Rajan Kumar, a local resident, said the theatre was envisioned as a recreational centre for the southern sector residents. “It was planned that the artistes from the city and neighbouring areas would come and showcase their talent,” he said, blaming the lack of proper planning for turning the facility into a hub for frogs, mosquitoes and other animals. << The inundated open air theatre at Sector 48, Chandigarh, after the rain on Sunday. grass and weeds have taken over the facility. RK Verma, a resident of the area, said the government spent crores on the construction of the theatre only to forgot about its very existence. “The entire area was under water after the rain this week,” he said, adding that he and his neighbours were hopeful of the theatre hosting cultural activities and adding value to the sector when it was first inaugurated. Rajan Kumar, another resident, said the theatre was envisioned as a recreational c m y b centre for the southern sector residents. “It was planned that the artistes from the city and neighbouring areas would come and showcase their talent,” he said, blam- ing the lack of proper planning for turning the facility into a hub for frogs, mosquitoes and other animals. Area councillor Rajinder Kumar Sharma said he would look into the issue soon. “I will meet the officers of the Municipal Corporation to make the arrangements for proper drainage. I will also ensure that artistes come and perform at the venue,” he said. Meanwhile, waterlogging continues to wreak havoc in various places of the city. The fresh showers left low-lying areas of the city, including the underbridges in Sector 15 and Industrial Area inundated, and the parking lots of Sectors 32 and 43. Residents of Daria village said the roads were completely flooded in the area. under power cuts Tribune News Service Mohali, August3 Residents of Phase 9 complained of erratic power supply and low voltage for the past many days. They said the area witnessed power outage even after light rain and the supply was restored after eight to 10 hours. “At first there is no light. When power supply is restored, we have to unplug our appliances as voltage remains very low. The erratic power supply has become a perennial problem here in the rainy season,” said Amarpreet Singh, a local resident. “Yesterday, there was no power supply from 2 am to 10 am. On July 31, there was power shutdown from 11 pm to 11 am. The PSPCL officials often cite the employees strike as the reason for power failure,” said other residents. They also said the PSPCL authorities should ensure that there was someone to attend to their complaints at the Phase10 centre on the Housefed complex. “Most of the times it remains locked. Even if it is open, the complaints register is missing. The linesman and the JE never attend to phone calls on official numbers,” claims Aman Singh Bindra. The residents of Sectors 67, 68 and 69 also complained of frequent power outages in the past one month. Meanwhile, the PSPCL officials said the transformer was not working properly in the rainy season and the problem was being fixed.