12062024-CT-01.qxd 6/12/2024 12:49 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune OVER 2 DOZEN VEHICLES GUTTED IN ZIRAKPUR FIRE DEVELOPMENT WORKS UNDER PANCHKULA MC REVIEWED GARBAGE COLLECTION FEE ROLLBACK NOT NOTIFIED YET Over two dozen vehicles parked outside Zirakpur police station as case properties gutted. P2 P’kula Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal presides over meet to review ongoing development, repair works. P2 Dept of Local Government yet to notify P’kula MC move to roll back imposition of garbage collection charges.P2 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 130 PANCHKULA 124 MOHALI 118 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF MAN ARRESTED WITH HEROIN Chandigarh: The Crime Cell of the UT police on Tuesday arrested a resident of Dadu Majra Colony with 9.79 gm of heroin. The suspect, Ravi Kumar, 48, was nabbed near Vita Milk Booth in the colony. The police said the suspect, a matriculate operated an e-rickshaw. TNS VEHICLES VANDALISED Chandigarh: Over two dozen parked vehicles were vandalised in a clash between two groups in Sector 38-A here on Monday night. The stonepelting youths left the windshields of the vehicles broken and the body dented. Residents alleged that despite repeated calls, PCR vehicles did not arrive at the spot in time. Residents said four to five youths were injured. The police are investigating the matter. TNS WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 15, 40, 46 and 52 Mohali: Phase11 Panchkula: Sector 25 TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD SUNRISE THURSDAY 5.19 AM FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE HOUSE MEET Landscaping, high-mast lights on Sec 25 premises part of upgrade Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 11 Amid objections by the opposition BJP the city Municipal , Corporation House today cleared a proposal to upgrade the Sector 25 cremation ground into a fancy one at a whopping Rs 7.08 crore. In a presentation given in the MC House by a consulting firm, it was shared that fancy white and lilac flowers would be put up on the premises. Mounds will be built and landscaping of the area will also be done. There is a plan to put up leaf-shaped roof and ambience lighting. It has also been planned to have a donation wall where names of donors will be written. Shaloks of Hindu and Sikh faiths will be written on special walls. High-mast lights and solar panel will be part of the revamp. Besides, various other works will be carried out. Raising the issue, BJP councillor Harpreet Kaur Babla said the expenditure on horticulture work was wastage of money. “Why do we need mounds or fancy flowers at the cremation ground, which is a sombre place?” she asked. Kanwarjeet Singh Rana, another BJP councillor, said, “I recently inspected the cremation ground and found only little repair work is required. It does not need a total revamp. A committee The cremation ground in Sector 25, Chandigarh. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: NITIN MITTAL VARIED VIEWS ❝ The expenditure on horticulture work is a wastage of money. Why do we need mounds or fancy flowers at the cremation ground, which is a sombre place? ❞ — Harpreet Kaur Babla, BJP COUNCILLOR ❝The crematorium’s condition is bad. The place where family, friends bid final adieu to their near & dear ones should be pleasant. Damaged lockers at the cremation ground. should be formed to inspect the area. This agenda should be deferred.” Maheshinder Singh Sidhu, also a BJP councillor, said, “It is an already existing structure. Why does it need huge amount of Rs 7 crore? No building is to ❞ — Gurpreet Singh Gabi, CONG COUNCILLOR be built. Only renovation is to be done. Visitors only want basic facilities, not fancy things on such occasion.” Tribune News Service A Jind resident holds a protest on the top of a mobile tower in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Chandigarh, June 11 Hundreds of patients suffered as the PGIMER contractual staff today held a protest demanding regularisation of their jobs and release of dearness allowance (DA) and arrears. Though the PGI administration took help of some private NGOs to manage the patient rush, the work remained affected. “Though the Emergency and OPDs functioned normally, other services were hit due to the strike,” said a PGI official. “I have travelled all the way from Mansa, but no one is attending us here. We are pushing the stretcher on our own from one department to another,” said Sonika Kumari, an attendant with a patient. “We are waiting since morning to get the possession of a body, but the employee BJP councillor Harjeet Singh said it was amusing that while AC halls meant for prayers, which were inaugurated by MP Kirron Kher a few years ago, remained closed for want of security guard and there were plans to revamp the crematorium. However, Gurpreet Singh Gabi, Congress councillor, said, “The condition of the cremation ground is bad. It needs a complete revamp. The place where family and friends bid final adieu to their near and dear ones should be pleasant.” Other Congress and AAP councillors supported the agenda, rejecting BJP councillors’ demand for forming a committee to deliberate over the works needed to be done. The MC agenda read though the cremation ground has basic infrastructure with 25 sheds, children burial ground, sitting area, locker rooms and toilets, it is in dire need of renovation and upgradation to ease the performance of last rites by the kin of deceased. “The problems of water logging, inadequate parking, inadequate sitting space, deteriorated locker room, depressed pathways and haphazard landscaping are required to be addressed. The heritage structure of Arya Samaj pyre also needs to be rejuvenated. The cremation ground premises also need to be made differently abled friendly,” it added. Tribune News Service responsible for wrapping the cadaver has not joined the duty,” said an attendant. Earlier this year, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had approved a sum of Rs 46 crore to the Continued on page 2 Councillors stage walkout as Mayor suspends BJP’s Joshi Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 11 All BJP councillors, along with nominated councillors, staged a walkout after party councillor Saurabh Joshi was suspended by Mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor during the MC General House meeting today. Joshi was speaking on the agenda of setting up a waste segregation plant. He was interrupted by the Mayor two-three times and was asked to cut short his speech. Joshi argued that if they were in the opposition, it did not mean they could not speak on issues. On this, Dhalor told him that he was not stopping him from speaking, but he should not tell ‘stories’. “We do not have this much time to listen to your long stories. Finish it in brief,” said the Mayor. When Joshi did not stop, he Continued on page 2 HC junks ‘capable’ wife’s plea for hike in maintenance Saurabh Malik Volunteers of Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra, an NGO, help patients at the PGI during the workers’ strike on Tuesday. BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi (extreme left) makes a point during the MC House meeting on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY Chandigarh, June 11 In a significant judgment, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that there were no grounds to enhance the maintenance for a woman having adult sons, presumably capable of supporting her, and who is qualified and physically fit to work. The court reached the decision after considering various factors, including the petitioner’s educational background and physical capabilities, along with the fact that her adult sons living with her were likely providing support. Consequently, the court dismissed the petition, finding no justification to interfere with the lower court’s maintenance order. Her adult sons living with her likely providing support, says court The matter was placed before Justice Nidhi Gupta after the wife challenged an order passed in July last year by principal judge, family court, granting monthly maintenance of Rs 7,500 on her application under Section 125 of the CrPC. Appearing before Justice Gupta’s Bench, her counsel among other things submitted that the respondent-husband was earning at least Rs 90,000 a month. As such, the final maintenance of only Rs 7,500 per month was on the lower side. Referring to the case record, Continued on page 2 Drama as man climbs Z’pur to host minister Anmol Maan’s wedding on June 16 atop mobile tower Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 11 High drama continued for more than five hours behind the bus stand in Sector 17 here today when a Jind man climbed atop a mobile phone tower in protest against the delay in resolving a dispute pertaining to his land in Mansa, Punjab. Protester Vikram Dhillon climbed atop a 50-ft-high tow- MAX 44°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 43.9°C | MIN 25.4°C BJP objection ignored, MC clears ~7 crore revamp of crematorium Patients at receiving end as PGI workers go on strike Tribune News Service MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.26 PM » WEDNESDAY | 12 JUNE 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST er around 9 am and demanded to meet Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to resolve the issue. Police and fire officials reached the spot with a sky ladder to rescue the middleaged man, but he was adamant on meeting the Chief Minister. Fire officials managed to bring him down around 1.30 pm and hydrated him before whisking him away to a hospital for a medical check-up. Zirakpur, June 11 June 16 is going to be a busy day in Zirakpur with the who’s who of Punjab political circles having a gala time as Cabinet Minister and Kharar MLA Anmol Gagan Maan will solemnise her wedding with advocate Shahbaaz Singh Sohi, a resident of Baltana, at a gurdwara in Zirakpur. Sources said the Anand Karaj would be held at Nabha Sahib Gurdwara in the afternoon. The ceremony is likely to be a lowkey affair as around 70 members of the Sohi family are expected to participate in the marriage party. After the Anand Karaj, lunch from the bride’s side would be given at a sprawling resort near Zirakpur. The two families are said to have a common friend circle, from which talks of a potential match began. It was in January this year when conversation finally began to materialise, and they reportedly exchanged shagun in May. c m y b Anmol Gagan Maan The Sohis have been a traditional Congress-supporting family, as the groom’s late father Ravinder Singh Sohi was close to former Punjab CM Beant Singh and his grandfather Balbir Singh Baltana was a former Independent MLA from Banur in the 1970s. Sohi’s mother Sheelam Sohi also contested the election on a Congress ticket against Capt Kanwaljit Singh and lost by a narrow margin. The Sohi family owns Sohi Banquet and a real estate project in Baltana. The 34-year-old daughter of Shanti Maan and Jodha Singh Maan is among a number of AAP leaders who got married after storming to power in the state in 2022. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer got married after coming to power in the state. Sangrur MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj (28), Fazilka MLA Narinderpal Singh Sawna (31) and Bagha Purana MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand (33) also tied the nuptial knot in the last two years. AGENDA ITEMS OKAYED ■ Rose Garden in Sector 16 and Terraced Garden in Sector 33 will be made accessible to physically challenged persons at a cost of about Rs 2 crore. ■ The House okayed enhancing the compensation amount for workers who die while cleaning sewers, from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh, as per the Supreme Court’s order. WE ARE IN ALLIANCE, MAYOR REMINDS CONG COUNCILLOR In the first MC House meeting after the Lok Sabha elections, Mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor, who belongs to AAP, had to remind Congress councillor Jasbir Singh Bunty that they have an alliance. “We are just done with elections as an alliance partner,” replied Dhalor as Bunty said their works were not being done and it was being done deliberately. UT Sports Dept worker dies by suicide Chandigarh, June 11 An attendant at the Sector 38 Sports Complex allegedly committed suicide by hanging at his Sector 38 (West) residence here this afternoon. The victim, Mahinder Singh, was allegedly suffering from depression over not getting salary for the past two months. He was working on outsourcing basis and had been facing financial crisis. Mahinder had been absent for three consecutive days Was depressed over pending salary and was scheduled to join duty today. However, his wife reached the sports complex today to work in his place. The victim’s son Ankit said Mahinder returned home around 2.30 pm and later took the extreme step. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. “He was facing issues and was a habitual drinker,” said a source in the Sports Department. Ankit said, “He was under tremendous stress after not getting salary for the past two months. The government should not torture employees like this.” On Mahinder’s drinking habits, he added, “I don’t know if he was drunk today.” Ankit claimed that his father had written a suicide note and named some individuals before he took his life. However, none of the names on the alleged note was legible. The salary issue of outsourced staff in the UT Sports Department was highlighted in these columns recently. — 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).