19082025-CT-01.qxd 19-08-2025 00:36 Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune CENTRE SEEKS UT ADMN’S STAND ON FOUR KEY ISSUES PUNJAB TO BEGIN BUCHI BABU CRICKET TOURNEY CAMPAIGN SWIFT REACTS TO RUMOURS ABOUT HAPPY GILMORE 2 Calls for detailed comments on share-wise sale of property, status of lal dora among other issues. P3 The squad, captained by Anmolpreet Singh, had held a practice camp at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. P3 Taylor Swift has put an end to all the rumours that she had a cameo as a bear in Happy Gilmore 2. P4 » » WHAT’S ON All field employees shifted, CCTV cameras to be fitted on vehicles Ramkrishan Upadhyay CHANDIGARH SPECIAL LECTURE: University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), in collaboration with Internal Complaints Committee, Panjab University (PU), to hold a special lecture on “Gender sensitivity in contemporary times” by Prof Rajesh Gill, former Dean Research PU; Moot Court Hall UILS, PU, 11 am APNI MANDI Chd: Sectors 29 & 56, and Dhanas Panchkula: Sec 15 Mohali: Sectors 68 and 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF CYCLIST DIES AFTER BEING HIT BY TRUCK Chandigarh: A cyclist, who was hit by a truck near the 44/45/50/51 chowk on Saturday, died at the GMCH32. The driver, Narayan Singh of Khizarpur village in Hoshiarpur, was arrested and later released on bail. TNS Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 18 A few days after an employee levelled corruption allegations in the enforcement wing, the Municipal Corporation has written to the Secretary, Local Government, recommending a vigilance inquiry into the matter. Besides, it has been decided that all field staff, including labourers, beldars and subinspectors, of the Enforcement Wing be shifted to other wings to prevent undue influence and to ensure a transparent inquiry. Seven beldar and labourers have been removed from the enforcement wing and sent to the Engineering Department. To enhance the enforcement activities and ensure a proper check over any illegal vending and encroachments, the powers of challan and seizure of articles belonging to encroach- Chandigarh, August 18 The UT Estate Office today sealed a club in Sector 26 for building bylaw violations. A team of the enforcement wing of the Estate Office today went to seal two clubs. While the officials took action against one of these, they found the other club had removed the violation during the notice period. According to the officials, Brew Estate Club in Sector 26 was sealed for building bylaw violations. The action was taken on the orders of the SDM (East), who is exercising the powers of the Estate Officer. — TNS ers have been delegated to sanitary inspectors of Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office and the JEs of the road wing. A proposal for fixing CCTV cameras on the vehicles of the enforcement wing was made during a meeting. It has been approved by the competent authority and estimates are being prepared. These decisions were taken Another month to bid for Zirakpur-Panchkula bypass after Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla held a meeting with the officers on the issue. The Mayor said those found guilty in the inquiry would be punished as per law. FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE CBI court convicts UT cop in graft case To pronounce sentence tomorrow Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 18 The CBI court here has held a head constable of the Chandigarh Police guilty in a corruption case registered eight years ago. It will pronounce the quantum of sentence on August 20. The CBI registered the FIR against Head Constable Ram Kumar on May 23, 2017, under Section 7, 13(1) (d) read with 13(2) of the PC Act, 1988, on a complaint filed by Satya Tiwari and Anita, both residents of Sarangpur village. They alleged that a dispute was going on between them and Urmila, Kalavati and Gurnarayan for a long time over the custody of a child of late Babu Singh, brother of Anita. An FIR was registered against Shivnath Singh, the husband of Anita, on February 17, 2017, in this regard, and the Sarangpur police station staff had been harassing them since then. On May 19, 2017, three policemen, including Ram Kumar, picked up. Shivnath Singh. The cops demanded Rs 30,000 bribe and threatened that they would put Anita and her sister Arti behind bars if they didn’t get the amount, said the complaint. They were also asked to appear at the Sarangpur police station on May 19, 2017. Anita, along with Satya Tiwari, lodged a complaint with the SP CBI, , ACB, Chandigarh. The CBI claimed that during verification, the demand for Rs 30,000 bribe was substantiated. Accused Ram Kumar agreed to accept Rs 10,000 as part payment from Satya Tiwari on May 23, 2017. A trap was laid by a CBI team and Ram Kumar was caught while accepting Rs 10,000 bribe from the complainant. The counsel for Ram Kumar argued that the accused was falsely implicated. However, Narender Singh, Public Prosecutor, said the prosecution had proved the case beyond a shadow of doubt. Nature’s canvass NHAI revises tender, extends last date to Sept 18 Tribune News Service Club sealed for bylaw violation Illegal vendors remove their articles at Sector 22-B parking lot. FILE PHOTO The controversy started when the first video of the employee surfaced on Tuesday night. In the video, the employee, in a drunken state, alleges corruption in the enforcement wing. In the 15minute video posted on social media, the employee claims that though he is in a drunken state, he is fully aware what he is disclosing. The employee, while alleging rampant corruption in the enforcement wing, claims he was forced to collect money from the vendors. When he refused to collect more money, he was tortured and threatened that he would be removed from the job. In the second video, the employee denies the allegations. However, in a press conference held on Sunday, he reiterated the allegations and said he had been receiving constant threats and was being forced to sign blank papers. MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 33.5°C | MIN 25.5°C SUNRISE WEDNESDY 5.53 AM /THETRIBUNECHD MC recommends vigilance inquiry over ‘corruption’ in enforcement wing PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET TUESDAY 7.00 PM » TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Chandigarh, August 18 Bidders for the ZirakpurPanchkula bypass, being built at a cost of Rs 1,878.31 crore, have got another month to submit their bids. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has revised the tender document and extended the last date for submission of online bids to September 18, said officials. In a communication issued by the NHAI General Manager (Technical)—HR,PNGawasane, a copy of which is with The Tribune,thebidduedatefortheproject has been extended from August 19 to September 18. According to the revised bidding schedule, the online bid submission close date and REVISED SCHEDULE FOR ONLINE BIDDING According to the revised bidding schedule, the online bid submission close date and time will be September 18 at 11 am while the technical bid opening will take place on September 19 at 11:30 am. time will be September 18 at 11 am while the technical bid opening will take place on September 19 at 11:30 am. Recently, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change accorded in-principle approval for the diversion of 17.57 hectares covered under the project for non-forestry purposes. The NHAI earlier floated a fresh tender to invite bids for the construction of the 19.2- km six-lane bypass. The project, which will bypass the heavy rush on the overlapping portion of the four-lane National Highway (NH-5) and NH-7, passing through the highly urbanised areas of Zirakpur and Panchkula, will be awarded by October and the construction will begin in March next, with two-year completion period. The ministry has made it clear that the proposal shall be considered for final approval under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, after receipt of the compliance report on the fulfilment of the specified conditions. “Transfer of forest land shall not be affected till final approval is granted by the government in this regard,” the ministry conveyed to the state government. A view of the Panchkula-Kalka highway amid cloudy weather on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Contribution of housemaker in performing domestic Sec 53 plan to have 5-storey flats duties can’t be counted in terms of money: Tribunal Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 18 While observing that the contribution of a woman in performing household duties and upbringing her children cannot be counted in terms of money, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Chandigarh (MACT) has awarded over Rs 21-lakh compensation to her husband and two minor children. Parmjeet had died in an accident in Himachal Pradesh five years ago. Amarjeet, husband of the deceased and native of Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradseh, had filed the claim petition. He said on September 3, 2021, Parmjeet was collecting fodder from the kutcha portion of a road in Gagal village. Around 7.10 am, a truck hit her from behind, crushing her head under its wheels. The truck driver sped away towards Hamirpur side. Parmjeet was taken to a hospital in Hamirpur where the doctors declared her dead. An FIR under Sections 279 and 304-A of IPC & Awards ~21-l relief to husband, two minor children of woman who died in accident 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act was registered at the Nadaun police station. The claimants said Parmjeet was aged 33 at the time of her death. She was a housemaker and her monthly income can be taken as Rs 10,000 per month. The driver and the insurance company denied the allegations, claiming that the claim petition was not maintainable. After hearing of the arguments, the tribunal said the deceased was taking care of her minor children and performing all domestic duties. The contribution of a housemaker in performing household duties and upbringing her children cannot be counted in terms of money. However, keeping in view the law laid down by the Punjab and Haryana High c m y b Court in various cases, the contribution of deceased Parmjeet as a housemaker is taken as Rs 11,000 per month. The tribunal said the claimants were entitled to get Rs 21,96,000 as compensation, in equal shares, i.e. Rs 7,32,000 each, along with interest. The driver, owner and insurance company are jointly and separately held liable to pay the compensation amount along with interest at the rate 9% per annum from the date of payment till its realisation. Chandigarh, August 18 After nearly nine years, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has planned to launch its general housing scheme with five-storey flats in Sector 53 soon. According to sources, before launching the scheme, a presentation will be made before Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria for final approval. The proposed scheme will have 192 HIG units, 100 MIG houses and 80 EWS flats. The five-storey flats would be con- TWO BASEMENTS FOR PARKING AT HIG BLOCK The proposed scheme will have 192 HIG units, 100 MIG houses and 80 EWS flats. The fivestorey flats would be constructed on nearly 9 acres. The HIG flats will have two basements for parking. structed on nearly 9 acres. The HIG flats will have two basements for parking. The sources said an environmental clearance had already been obtained and now, an application would be submitted with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) for approval. Kataria had recently given approval to the self-financing housing scheme, which had been hanging fire for the past several years, with revised rates. As per the tentative cost worked out by the CHB, a three-bedroom flat (HIG) will cost Rs 2.3 crore, which will be 39.39% higher than the earlier proposed price of Rs 1.65 crore. A two-bedroom flat (MIG) will cost Rs 1.97 crore, up 40.71% from the previous proposed rate of Rs 1.4 crore. Similarly, a Continued on page 3