11062026-CT-01.qxd 6/11/2026 12:49 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune HC SUMMONS TOP OFFICIALS OVER PLEA ON GREEN BELT IIT-ROPAR SIGNS PACT TO UPSKILL ANGANWADI STAFF AS GULLAK ENTERS SEASON 5, JAMEEL REFLECTS ON ITS MAGIC Officers of the HSVP and the District Town Planner’s office told to remain present before court. P2 The two institutions will develop tech-driven upskilling systems for anganwadi workers. P2 Jameel Khan elucidates, “This is my story, your story, that of the middle class; it’s relatable for it picks up relevant issues.” P4 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 100 PANCHKULA 135 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 34, 56 and Ram Darbar Mohali: Sec 88 and Phase 8 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com POWER SHUTDOWN CHANDIGARH 6.30 am to 8 am: Parts of Industrial Area, Phase II 8 am to 11 am: 8 am to 11 am: Parts of Sectors 20 and 26, Dhanas village Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service Mohali, June 10 Hundreds of passengers were stranded at bus stops in the Tricity as drivers and conductors of PUNBUS, Punjab Roadways and the PRTC struck work across Punjab to press for their demands. The staff, under the banner of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers Union (Punjab), had announced a strike from 12 noon onwards, but passengers kept waiting for buses for hours since early morning as service remained erratic. Hundreds of passengers were seen stranded at the ISBT-43 and Mohali bus stand as employees staged a protest. Varun Mahajan, a resident of Ropar, was stranded at the ISBT-43. He said, “I finished my work at Panjab University around 3 pm and reached the bus stand at 4 pm, but there was no Punjab Roadways bus to ferry passengers. At 7 pm, I boarded a Haryana Roadways bus. It was a harrowing experience.” Although the employees called off their strike in the evening following talks Contract workers’ union calls off strike in evening with Transport Secretary Varun Roojam, there was no relief for passengers who waited for more than three hours at the ISBT-43. At Mohali and Zirakpur, passengers had a tough time waiting for long-route buses in the scorching heat. Major Arshdeep of Mohali awarded Kirti Chakra Tribune News Service Vinni Thareja of Patiala said, “The bus service to Patiala was completely off the road. Passengers were forced to hire autos till Rajpura to reach home.” The staff struck work in protest against the decision of bringing private operators into the public transport sector and Spa centre raided on VIP Road, flesh trade racket unearthed non-filling of vacant posts. They demanded regularisation of contractual workers’ services, implementation of “equal pay, equal work” norm, reinstatement of dismissed employees and withdrawal of cases registered during the previous protests. FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE MC preparing list of property tax defaulters Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 10 The Municipal Corporation has started the process of preparing a list of property tax defaulters. According to sources, once the list is complete, the MC will start issuing notices. A record ~61-crore tax collected in 2 months during rebate period People wait for buses in the scorching heat at the Zirakpur bus stand on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR MAX 39°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 42°C | MIN 28.7°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:21 AM /THETRIBUNECHD Passengers face tough time as Punjab buses go off road PARTLY CLOUDY/RAIN SUNSET THURSDAY 7:24 PM » THURSDAY | 11 JUNE 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST The civic body has collected a record Rs 61 crore in property tax in the past two months during the rebate period. This is the highest-ever tax collection made during the rebate period in the past years. For the assessment period — from April 1, 2026, to May 31 — property owners were offered 20 per cent rebate on residential property tax and 10% on commercial property tax. As the rebate period is over now, defaulters will be liable to pay 25% penalty over and above the prescribed tax amount along with interest at the rate 12% per annum, with effect from April 1 till the end of the month in which payment is made. An officer of the MC said the property tax collected by the civic body was used to strengthen civic infrastructure and enhance public services continued on page 2 All set for Dharamsala ODI Girls cover their heads with dupattas to protect themselves from the scorching sun in Panchkula on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Respite in sight: Rain likely in Tricity region from today Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 10 Residents of the Tricity are likely to get relief from the scorching heat with the UT Meteorology Centre predicting thunderstorms and rain in the region over the next four days. It has also issued an orange alert for the next two days. Heatwave conditions prevailed on Wednesday with Chandigarh recording the maximum temperature of 42°C, which was 3.4 degrees above normal. The centre has forecast that the maximum temperature is expected to drop to 39°C on Thursday and hover around 36°C over the next three days. The Tricity is likely to see partly cloudy sky, thunderstorms and rain from Thursday to Sunday. Thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY squall with a speed of 60-70 kmph, are likely on Thursday and Friday. Hailstorm, accompanied by lightning with gusty winds with a speed of 40 kmph, has been predicted on Saturday and Sunday. Power demand hits record 421 MW in Chandigarh Amid the scorching heat, the city’s peak power demand touched 421 MW on Wednesday, the highest recorded so far in the month of May and June. According to Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL), the peak power demand increased from 398 MW on Tuesday to 421 MW on Wednesday, reflecting a sharp increase in electricity consumption in the city. The second highest power demand of this summer continued on page 2 22 gm gold chain snatched from Zirakpur resident Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Mohali, June 10 Major Arshdeep Singh Gill, a brave officer of the Indian Army and resident of Sector 79 here, has been awarded Kirti Chakra, the country ’ s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, for his exceptional courage and devotion to duty. The honour was conferred on Major Gill by President Droupadi Murmu during the Defence investiture held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. Major Gill, who serves with The Armoured Corps and 1 Assam Rifles, displayed extraordinary bravery, leadership and determination during a challenging counter-insurgency operation in Manipur. During the nearly 84-hour operation, he led his team from the front and carried out action against militants, ensuring the successful completion of the mission. According to Army sources, Major Gill demon- President Droupadi Murmu presents the Kirti Chakra to Major Arshdeep Singh Gill at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. strated courage and professionalism despite adverse and highly dangerous conditions. In recognition of his gallant actions and outstanding service, he was selected for the award. Family members, friends and well-wishers have expressed happiness over the honour bestowed upon him. Officials associated with the armed forces and security agencies have described Major Gill’s accomplishment as an inspiring example for the youth of the country. Zirakpur, June 10 The police raided a spa centre on VIP Road and unearthed a fleshtrade racket. Six women were rescued from the centre and its female manager was arrested. Preliminary investigations revealed that two of the rescued women were foreign nationals, while the others were believed to be from Delhi and Uttarakhand. The police are examining their documents. The cops are trying to find who brought them at the centre and whether any organised gang was involved in the racket. The police had received a tip-off that a spa centre on VIP Road was involved in immoral activities. A police team raided the place and rescued six women, who were forced to work at the centre. Mobile phones, registers and other important documents were seized from the scene. Police officials said the case was being thoroughly investigated. Zirakpur, June 10 Two bike-borne youths snatched a 22 gram gold chain from a 68-year-old man near Divine Housing Society in Lohgarh here around 6:25 am today. The victim, DP Shukla, was returning home after a walk in the MC Park when the two bike-borne youths snatched his gold chain from the neck and fled the spot. Shukla said the snatchers were riding a red-coloured bike and both were wearing helmets. He lodged a complaint with the Zirakpur police. In his complaint, Shukla said as one of the youths snatched his gold chain, he fell down and suffered bruises. The police are investigating the matter. Indian cricket team players Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan take part in a training session at IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday, ahead of their ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamsala. AMENDMENTS TO CHANDIGARH MASTER PLAN-2031 Tribune News Service Associations seek infra review before implementation of changes Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 10 Civil society organisations and residents have urged the UT Administration to strengthen civic infrastructure and undertake comprehensive studies before implementing the proposed amendments to the Chandigarh Master Plan2031 (CMP-2031). In a representation submitted to the Urban Planning Department, the Second Innings Association (SIA), a citizens’ group comprising senior residents, has stated that the proposed changes are inconsistent with the original philosophy and planning principles of the CMP-2031. The group maintained that the master plan was prepared to preserve Chandigarh ’ s planned urban character, regulate sustainable growth and maintain the city’s distinctive low-rise, low-density development pattern. Its president, RK Garg, said the proposed amendments sought to introduce peripheral high-rise development, increased densification and fragmentation of industrial plots, fundamentally altering the city’s planning assumptions. According to the association, such transformative changes require a comprehensive review of the master plan rather than selective amendments. The association has alleged that the proposals were made without conducting urban impact assessments or public consultations. It claimed that no studies relating to traffic management, parking requirements, water availability, sewage capacity or disaster resilience were placed in the public domain to demonstrate that Chandi- garh’s existing infrastructure could sustain a vertical expansion. The proposed high-rise and multi-storey group housing complexes to be developed on the city’s periphery could disrupt the planned skyline, visual harmony and architectural continuity that form the foundation of Chandigarh’s identity, stated the association. It warned that unchecked densification could place excessive pressure on roads, parking facilities, water supply network, sewerage, drainage and waste manage- c m y b ment infrastructure. Allowing fragmentation of larger industrial plots could encourage unregulated commercialisation and gradual erosion of the city’s industrial planning discipline. Seeking greater public participation, the association urged the administration to hold transparent public hearings involving residents, urban planners, architects, environmental experts and other stakeholders before taking any final decision. Meanwhile, the Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) of the Modern Housing Com- 20% quota for Agniveers in UT Fire Department plex (MHC), Sector 13, has submitted a separate set of recommendations focusing on local infrastructure needs. Its president, Col Gursewak Singh (retd), highlighted the need for a multi-level parking facility in the area, citing high vehicle ownership and the absence of designated parking spaces. He said vehicles were often parked on roads and pedestrian pathways, leading to congestion and disputes among residents. The association has also sought dedicated playgrounds for children, noting that the area has no recreational spaces as land previously used for sports activities is now utilised for the 24x7 water supply project. Additionally, it has proposed the development of a green belt with a walking track on adjoining government land to provide safe spaces for pedestrians. The Chandigarh Administration had invited public objections and suggestions on the draft amendments before finalising changes to the city’s master plan. According to sources, nearly 60 suggestions and objections have been submitted so far. Chandigarh, June 10 The UT Administration has decided to grant 20% reservation to former Agniveers in the direct recruitment to the posts of fireman. According to a notification, former Agniveers participating in this recruitment will be granted a special age relaxation of four years from the prescribed upper age limit. The administration approved this proposal based on the instructions received from the Centre. The administration has clarified that in case of unavailability of suitable Agniveers, the respective posts may be filled from among suitable candidates of the respective category.