18022025-CT-01.qxd 2/18/2025 12:50 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MP FOR BOOSTING STARTUP ECOSYSTEM IN PUNJAB PANJAB VARSITY TEACHERS MEET VICE-PRESIDENT EX-ISRO HEAD OPENS YOUTH SPACE CONFERENCE Startups based in Punjab share their plight at a conference organised at the initiative of Dr Sahney. P2 Panjab University Teachers Association raise key issues with Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar. P3 Event at CSIO marks a significant step in fostering global space education and innovation. P3 » » WHAT’S ON FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE MC nod to temporary water connections outside lal dora Move aimed at generating more revenue Dushyant Singh Pundir CHANDIGARH Tribune News Service Tribune READATHON 2024: ‘Inter-school Newspaper Reading Competition’ by The Tribune Group of Publications, at CII, Sector 31; February 18, 8.30 am onwards, event backed by Manav Rachna University and co-partnered with Krishna IAS Institutes. Silk n Wool Expo: Kisan Bhawan, Sector 35, on till February 18 Pottery workshop: By Deepakriti Institute of Creative Arts, Mindful Sips Café, DSS 18, District One Market, Sector 68, Mohali, February 22, 5 pm to 7 pm APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, & Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sector 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Two years after the work began in April 2022, the Singhpura flyover in Zirakpur has finally been thrown open to the public. The Ambala-Chandigarh side was made functional in November 2024, while work on the other side remained stalled for a long time due to a dispute between the NHAI and the owner of a resort over land acquisition. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Another traffic violator to do community service at signal Chandigarh, February 17 A local court has imposed a fine of Rs 53,800 on the owner of a vehicle, which was involved in 269 traffic violations. The court has impounded the vehicle till any person, with a valid driv- ing licence, appears before the court on his behalf and moves an application for release of the vehicle. The violator has been asked to do 15-day community service at a traffic signal. He is supposed to ensure that traf- fic rules are followed by the public at the signal. Of the total challans, 253 were issued for dangerous driving/red light jumping, 14 for overstepping road markings and two for riding a two-wheeler without helmet. — TNS c m y b Chandigarh, February 17 The Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to provide temporary water connections with no ownership rights to people living outside the lal dora in 22 villages of the city. Mayor Hapreet Kaur Babla put up the agenda in this regard at the MC House meeting. She assured the House that she would get it approved from the UT Administration. The Mayor had taken up the issue at the Administrator’s Advisory Council meeting held earlier this month under the chairmanship of UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. She said there were 2,563 households outside lal dora, which had power supply connection. Now, they will get temporary water connections with no ownership rights and the MC would get a revenue of nearly Rs 3 crore annually, she added. “These residents are dependent on water tankers, despite having been provided electricity connections. The decision will benefit more than 1 lakh people. I will take up the matter with the UT Administration and ask it to take a decision in this regard at the earliest,” said Babla. Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla addresses the MC House. RAVI KUMAR Agenda on sewerage cess hike, hefty penalties on traders put off Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 17 The MC House deferred two key revenue-generating proposals — increasing the sewerage cess and penalties on shopkeepers for encroaching on public spaces. Both proposals were postponed following opposition from councillors. The MC had proposed increasing the sewerage cess from 20% to 30%, a move that would have increased water bills of residents. However, the proposal quickly sparked a heated political debate, with councillors from AAP and the MAX 27°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 27.9°C | MIN 9.06°C SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7.01 AM /THETRIBUNECHD Singhpura flyover fully functional PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET TUESDAY 6.12 PM » TUESDAY | 18 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Congress opposing the hike. Amid the backlash, the House deferred the agenda. Last year, the sewerage cess was reduced to 20% to ease the financial burden on residents. The proposed hike was seen as a measure to boost revenue, but councillors argued that it would disproportionately affect the public. The second proposal on increasing penalties for shopkeepers illegally occupying public spaces also faced stiff resistance. Currently, violators are charged Rs 2,000 for the release of impounded Continued on page 2 House okays ~2,114 cr outlay for next fiscal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 17 The Municipal Corporation (MC) today passed Rs 2,114 crore budget for the financial year 2025-26. The civic body faces a significant financial challenge with the UT Administration allocating only Rs 625 crore to it from the Central Budget announced on February 1. MC to auction Mani Majra land, seek additional grant from Centre With the hope of getting additional funds from the Centre, as recommended by the 4th Delhi Finance Commission (DFC), the MC budget lists Rs 1,704 crore in grants expected from the Centre, Rs 9 lakh from electricity duty, and Rs 410 crore projected from the internal revenue sources such as property tax and water bills. Highlighting her efforts to address the financial crisis, BJP Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla said, “I have initiated talks to ensure that the MC gets its share under the DFC recommendations. Additional revenue plans include auctioning residential land in Mani Majra and cutting down on expenses.” She said a Continued on page 2