16022025-CT-01.qxd 2/15/2025 11:57 PM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune ROGI KALYAN SAMITI DISCUSSES UPGRADE PLANS PANCHKULA SCHOOL THIRD IN ATHLETICS MEET RANBIR KAPOOR LAUNCHES HIS LIFESTYLE BRAND The meeting was presided over by Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari at Sector 16 hospital. P3 PM Shri Government Girls Senior Secondary School stood third in the athletics tourney held in Karnal. P6 Actor Ranbir Kapoor has launched his lifestyle brand named ARKS and opened its first store in Mumbai. P7 » » Chandigarh, February 15 The 38th edition of the St John’s Old Boys Association (SJOBA) Rally will be held from February 27 to March 2. The event will kick off with the ceremonial flag-off on February 27 at the Sector 34 Exhibition Ground. This year, the rally has been extended to two nights and three days. The rally will conclude at St John’s High School, Sector 26. After the scrutiny of vehicles, a ‘Super Special Stage’ will be held at the exhibition ground. The rally will witness participation of 30 four-wheelers and 60 two-wheelers in four competitive sections each day. The total prize money for the 2025 edition of the rally /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Traffic advisory for Arijit concert will be about Rs 6 lakh. In the women’s category, a total of three riders will be participating in the twowheeler category. The rally will also pass through Ropar, Garhshankar, Mansowal and Hoshiarpur. There will be ‘axle-breaking’ riverbeds, both dry and wet; fast tarmacs with winding hairpins, unmetalled surfaces and exhilarating hilly terrain in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh on the route. The first SJOBA Motorcycle Rally was held in March 1981 and it evolved into the SJOBA Open Rally in 1982. It attracts professionals and budding rallyists from the Chandigarh capital region, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi NCR, Rajasthan and other parts of India. Panchkula, February 15 The police have issued a traffic advisory ahead of singer Arijit Singh’s concert at Shalimar Ground here on Sunday. The roads from Tawa Chowk to Gopal Chowk (Shalimar Ground) and Sankala Chowk (Bella Vista) to Geeta Gopal Chowk will remain closed from 12 noon. Commuters traveling from Chandigarh to Ramgarh (Barwala) have been advised to take a right turn from Housing Board, Singh Dwara (Mansa Devi), Tank Chowk, Old Panchkula traffic lights, and then take the Majri Chowk flyover, and take a left from the Sector 3/21 traffic light towards Ramgarh and Barwala. Those heading towards Zirakpur should use the route from Housing Board via the Sector 17/18 chowk to the 16/17 chowk, and then proceed through the Sector 16/15 chowk, Sector 11/15 chowk, and the Rally Chowk in Sector 12. — TNS Participants of the SJOBA motor sport rally after a press conference at St John’s High School, Sector 26, in Chandigarh. RAVI KUMAR WHAT’S ON MC proposes 10% UT green cover up 5.66 sq km sewerage cess hike in two years, Lok Sabha told Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH Silk n Wool Expo: Kisan Bhawan, Sector 35, on till February 18 In Conversation: Prof Krishna Kumar, author of “Thank You, Gandhi”, February 16, 3:30 to 5 pm, Bahrisons Book Café, Sector 8-C APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sec 34, 37, Dadu Majra Mohali: Sector 62 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF RESIDENT DUPED OF ~4.68 LAKH Chandigarh: Raj Kumar Paruti of Sector 38-D alleged that he was cheated out of ~4,68,000 by Sumit Singh of Phase 10, Mohali. The suspect, posing as an interior designer of ‘SK Interiors’, took money as advanced payment from the complainant. A case has been registered at the Sector 39 police station. TNS MAN INJURED IN HIT-&-RUN Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 15 Residents will have to shell out more for paying their water bills with the MC proposing a hike in the sewerage cess from the current 20% to 30%. Also, people living outside the lal dora in 24 villages of the city are likely to get some reprieve, as the civic body has come up with a proposal to provide water connections to them. Both proposals will be tabled for discussion and approval in the General House meeting of scheduled for February 17. At present, the 20% sewerage cess fetches the MC approximately Rs 12-13 crore monthly. If approved, the proposed hike is expected to add Rs 6 crore more to the MC kitty monthly, easing the financial crunch. According to the agenda, the sewerage cess is being charged as per the notification issued by the Chandigarh Administration on July 24, 2023. The cess was initially reduced from 30% to 25% and then to 20% in the 2024 financial year. However, due to financial constraints, the MC is now proposing to restore the cess to 30% on all residential, commercial, institutional and hotel properties. Once approved by the General House, the proposal will Mayor brings in agenda to provide water connections outside lal dora CASH-STRAPPED MC TO GET SOME RELIEF At present, the 20% sewerage cess fetches the MC approximately Rs 1213 crore monthly. If approved, the proposed 10% hike is expected to add about Rs 6 crore more to the MC kitty monthly, easing the financial crunch. be sent to the Administration for an amendment to the Chandigarh Water Supply Bye-Laws, 2011. The sewerage cess has been a contentious issue in Chandigarh. It was first imposed at 30% in June 2019 but faced backlash from residents over “inflated” water bills. In March 2023, the General House reduced the cess to 10%, citing public concerns. Subsequently, in July 2023, then UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit revised the cess to 25% for the remaining fiscal year and further reduced it to 20% for 2024-25. In the supplementary agenda for the coming General House meeting, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla has proposed water connections to households in 24 villages. The Mayor has urged the UT Administration to take immediate action on the pressing issues faced by the residents and farmers. The Mayor requested the urgent need for providing regular water connections for residents living outside the lal dora in 24 villages. She had earlier taken up this issue in the recently held UT Advisory Council meeting held under the chairmanship of the UT Administrator. “These residents are currently dependent on expensive water tankers, despite having been provided with electricity connections,” she said, emphasising that water is a basic necessity. If needed, necessary amendments to the Water Bye-Laws be made to facilitate legal water connections, she added. She also urged the Administration to regularise the structures situated outside the lal dora limits. Keeping in view the long-standing demand of villagers, immediate action be taken in this regard, she added. She reaffirmed the MC’s commitment The Congress and their senior leaders have now become suddenly politically active on this issue after realising that this agenda will be taken up in the next General House meeting, she said. Why no such agenda of critical importance was ever introduced and endorsed by the Congress in last year when the mayor of their alliance partner AAP was heading the MC, said Babla. Chandigarh, February 15 The green cover in the city has increased by 5.66 sq km in two years — up from 40.52 sq km in 2021 to 46.18 sq km in 2023. In response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha, Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stated that the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 released by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) on December 21, 2024, indicated there was a net increase of 5.66 sq km in the forest and tree cover of Chandigarh as compared to the ISFR-2021. The total forest and tree cover in Chandigarh was 40.52 sq km in 2021, which increased to 46.18 sq km in 2023. The Forest Survey of India holds a survey of the forest and tree cover in the country biannually. As per the ISFR, the tree cover in Chandigarh The UT green cover increased to 46.18 sq km in 2023. FILE PHOTO in 2001 was 2 sq km and it increased to 21.18 sq km in 2023. Similarly, the forest cover went up from 13 sq km in 2001 to 25 sq km in 2023. According to officials, the forest cover and tree cover have gradually increased in the past years due to proactive action taken by the UT Administration and other agencies in enhancing and protecting the forests and greenery in the city. The Greening Chandigarh Action Plan (GCAP) is pre- pared every year by all agencies concerned such as the Forest Department, the horticulture wing of the Engineering Department, and the Municipal Corporation. An annual plantation target is set for all three departments. In reply to another question on progress made in improving air quality and reducing particulate matter (PM10) levels under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), the minister stated that the NCAP was launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in January 2019 with the aim of improving air quality in 130 cities (nonattainment cities and Million Plus Cities) through implementation of clean air action plans. The city-specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared by all cities to implement air quality improvement measures. According the data of the last three years tabled in the Lok Sabha, the annual average PM10 levels (μg/m3) in Chandigarh was 97 in 2021-22, and it increased to 116 in 2022-23 and thereafter, it remained steady at 116 in 2023-24. However, pollution level in Chandigarh has increased in the past five years. According to the minister, the PM10 concentrations in Chandigarh increased from 114 μg/m3 in 2027-18 to 116 μg/m3 in 2023-24. Mandi vendors to be shifted to designated zones Chandigarh, February 15 To ensure an unhindered movement of visitors in the Sector 26 mandi, the UT Administration has decided to relocate registered vendors to the designated vending zones. Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav today chaired a review meeting to assess the progress of various directives issued by Punjab Governor and UT Administra- tor Gulab Chand Kataria during his recent visit to the mandi. Several critical issues concerning the development and maintenance of the mandi were thoroughly examined. The discussion primarily focused on infrastructure improvement, including the preparation of estimates for repairing internal roads and potholes in the mandi. Additionally, plans were made for the installation of streetlights to enhance safety and visibility. Measures to remove encroachments were also deliberated upon. To strengthen security in the area, the installation of a police beat box in mandi was also discussed. The meeting underscored the need for enhanced cleanliness and sanitation efforts. It was decided that the officials concerned would conduct dai- ly evening checks to monitor sanitation levels. The removal of unauthorised settlements from government land was discussed to facilitate the creation of a parking area. The meeting was attended by Hari Kalikat, Secretary Agriculture; Pavitter Singh, Administrator, Market Committee; Rajiv Tewari, Joint Secretary, Marketing Board; and others. — TNS 4 months on, Nayagaon centre without doctor Chandigarh: Sachin Kumar of Hisar reported that a white car sped away after hitting his motorcycle at Janta Garage, Khud ali Sher, on the night of February 7. He was injured in the accident. A hit-and-run case has been registered at the Sector 11 police station. TNS Staff nurse manages facility | Blood pressure-monitoring machine non-functional Sheetal Tribune News Service MOBILE, CASH SNATCHED Chandigarh: Monu, a resident of Tribune Colony Road, Kansal village, Mohali, reported that two unidentified motorcycle riders snatched a mobile phone and ~500 from him near Royal Farm on the Nayagaon-Kansal Road at 11:42 pm on Thursday. A case has been registered at the Sector 3 police station. TNS MAX 24°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 28.7°C | MIN 12°C SUNRISE MONDAY 7:01 AM Motor rally from Feb 27 Tribune News Service PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET SUNDAY 6.12 PM » SUNDAY | 16 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Nurse Jaspal Kaur attends to a patient at the Urban Primary Healthcare centre in Nayagaon. PHOTO: SHEETAL Mohali, February 15 The Urban Primary Healthcare centre at Nayagaon has been operating without a fulltime doctor since October last year, depriving the residents of the area and surrounding villages of proper basic healthcare. A staff nurse, Jaspal Kaur, is managing the health centre on her own, attending to 35-40 patients every day. These patients, many of whom come from poor families, rely on the centre for c m y b their basic medical needs. The centre has no lab technician, while the most basic equipment, such as a blood pressure-monitoring machine, is non-functional. Pregnant women, who visit the centre for routine checkups, are only given supplements such as iron and calcium tablets. They are unable to get comprehensive care due to the absence of a doctor. Patients with viral infections, fever or sore throat are not thoroughly examined and are given medication based solely on their reported symptoms. Anita, one of the patients, shared: “Whenever I am sick, we come here. But for the past few months, there’s no doctor. So we are given medicine without a proper diagnosis. We just tell our symptoms, and accordingly, are given a dosage. At times, the fever lasts longer than it used to be.” Despite so many difficulties, Jaspal Kaur goes above and beyond to keep the centre functioning. She also manages an Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) programme at the centre. Around 15 patients turn up daily to receive treatment for drug addiction. She is often forced to work on holidays and weekends to ensure that no patient goes without their prescribed medication. “I came to know that soon, someone will take charge,” said Jaspal Kaur, expressing hope for an early solution to the problem of staff shortage. Sangeeta Jain, Civil Surgeon of Mohali, said: “We have informed the State Government about the requirement of a doctor in Nayagaon. Soon, there will be an appointment. Everything is under process.” These centres have been set up with the aim of providing a wide range of primary healthcare services, including maternal and child health services, immunisation, non-communicable disease management and basic emergency care. The staff shortage at the Nayagaon centre highlights the challenges in ensuring accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for all, especially the urban poor, who rely on these centres as their primary point of contact for healthcare.