03042024-CT-01.qxd 4/3/2024 12:22 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MEDICAL WASTE, SEWAGE BEING DUMPED INTO RIVER: RESIDENTS SHARJAH-CHANDIGARH FLIGHT SERVICE SHELVED FOR NOW POLICE ARREST 2 NAYAGAON RESIDENTS FOR MURDER Empty vials, discarded medicines and used injections among things found on the riverbed. P2 The Sharjah-Chandigarh flight, which was set to resume on Tuesday, has been shelved for now. P2 The victim, Ashish Kumar, was killed while he resisted attempt to snatch his mobile on March 29. P2 » » CHANDIGARH 102 PANCHKULA 49 MOHALI 92 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF LS POLL: JUNE 1 PUBLIC HOLIDAY Chandigarh: The UT Administration has declared June 1 (Saturday) as a public holiday for LS election in the city. This declaration extends to all offices, boards, corporations and institutions under the Administration. This holiday will be observed as a paid leave in industrial shops and commercial establishments, as well as for daily wage employees. TNS WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH APNI MANDI: Sectors 15, 40, 46 and 52 MOHALI APNI MANDI: Phase11 PANCHKULA APNI MANDI: Sector 25 MC collects ~55 crore property tax, over 40K default on payment Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 2 Though the Municipal Corporation has recovered Rs 55.60 crore in property tax in the 2023-24 fiscal, more than 40,000 assessees failed to pay the levy for the period. According to the MC, there are around 1.40 lakh property tax assessees in the city in the previous financial year. Of them, 88,200 paid the levy. Of these, 69,000 are residential property taxpayers and the remaining commercial property taxpayers. “We are regularly following up with the defaulters. Many of the commercial property owners, who did not respond to our repeated notices, had their premises sealed. Many of them paid later and got their properties desealed. The others will also pay,” said an official. The property tax branch of the civic body recovered Rs 55.60 crore. Now, the MC is preparing property tax bills for the year 2024-25. These will be disbursed in a few days. Consumers, who pay their property tax for financial year 2024-25 between April 1 and May 31, will be eligible for a rebate of Of 1.40 lakh assessees in 2023-24 fiscal, 88,200 pay levy ❝ DEFAULTERS’ PREMISES SEALED ❞ PAY EARLY, GET REBATE Consumers, who pay their property tax for 2024-25 between April 1 and May 31, will be eligible for a rebate of up to 20%. Residential taxpayers will get 20% rebate, while commercial property taxpayers will get 10% concession during the period. Thereafter, a penalty of 25%, along with 12% interest on tax dues, will be levied. up to 20%. Residential taxpayers will get 20% rebate, while commercial property taxpayers will get 10% concession during the period. Thereafter, a penalty of 25%, along with 12% interest on tax dues without any rebate, will be levied. The bills will also be sent to commercial properties in vil- lages and house owners in various colonies. They were brought under the tax ambit for the first time the previous fiscal. The houses with an area of 500 sq ft or above have to pay the levy. Officials said after fresh surveys, the number of tax assessees could further increase. c m y b FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Removal of escalators spells chaos at city railway station Bansal leaves for Delhi Tribune News Service Premises of many commercial property owners, who did not respond to our repeated notices, were sealed. Many of them paid later. The others will also pay. — An official MAX 31°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 30.4°C | MIN 16°C SUNRISE THURSDAY 6.08 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FILE PHOTO AIR QUALITY INDEX PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.42 PM » WEDNESDAY | 3 APRIL 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Chandigarh, April 2 Former Union minister and one of the city Lok Sabah ticket contenders Pawan Kumar Bansal left for Delhi today. Sources said he was called by senior party leaders for discussion regarding the selection of the candidate for the city LS seat. Besides Bansal, the names of Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari and city Congress president HS Lucky were earlier shortlisted for ticket. During a meeting of the Congress Central Election Committee in Delhi, Lucky had reportedly batted for a new face for the city LS seat. This had caused unease between Bansal and him. Supporters of the two leaders had raised slogans against each other during a meeting with party in charge Rajeev Shukla. The meeting also witnessed heated arguments. However, the party claims all is well between the two leaders. Chandigarh, April 2 Chandigarh Railway Station has recently become a hotspot for chaos and inconvenience as four escalators, two each at platforms 2&3 and 4&5, were removed. This removal, attributed to ongoing development work at the station, has left passengers grappling with a lack of accessibility and added strain during their travels. With only four out of eight escalators operational at the entry side of the railway station and another set solely functioning at the exit, commuters are facing significant hurdles navigating the station’s platforms. The absence of these crucial vertical conveyances has resulted in long queues, delays, and frustrations for travellers, particularly during peak hours and when trains arrive or depart. Passengers are now forced to rely solely on stairs, the solitary means of reaching the platforms. This reliance on manual mobility has exacerbated the congestion and confusion within the station premises, with travelers jostling for space and maneuvering through crowded passageways. “Waiting in line for the stairs feels like a never-ending ordeal, especially during rush hours. It’s exhausting and Escalators at platforms 2&3 and 4&5 dismantled to facilitate development work Passengers use stairs at platform number 2-3 at Chandigarh Railway Station on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: NITIN MITTAL time-consuming,” expressed Priya Sharma, a regular commuter. Expressing their grievances, commuters have highlighted the inconvenience caused by the sudden removal of the escalators. Many have voiced their frustration over the lack of prior notice or alternative arrangements to mitigate the impact on their journeys. Some have even raised concerns regarding the safety and accessibility of the station, particularly for elderly or differently abled passengers. In response to the mounting discontent and operational challenges, authorities have assured the public that the development work at the railway station aims to enhance passenger experience and modernize infrastructure. Under the proposed plans, the station is set to witness a significant upgrade, including the installation of 10 escalators and 30 lifts, a substantial increase from the current provision of only two lifts. — TNS
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).