31072025-CT-01.qxd 7/31/2025 12:36 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune TRACTOR RALLY HELD AGAINST LAND POOLING POLICY TOP SEED SAHIRA IN SEMIS, CITY’S MAHIKA ADVANCES SARA DAZZLES IN AISHA RAO’S NATURE-INSPIRED COLLECTION Farmers, residents stage a tractor rally in villages to protest against AAP govt’s land pooling policy. P2 Top seed Sahira reaches semifinals while Chandigarh trainee Mahika advances in tennis tourney. P3 Sara Ali Khan turns heads as she walks the ramp for designer Aisha Rao on Day 7 of Hyundai CoutureWeek. P4 » » /THETRIBUNECHD APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 34, 56 and Ram Darbar Panchkula: Sector 5 Mohali: Sec 88 and Phase 8 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF 450-KG PLASTIC BAGS SEIZED Chandigarh: The MC seized 450 kg of banned plastic bags from two houses in Sector 56. On the directions of MC Commissioner Amit Kumar, a team of sanitary inspectors recovered the bags from house numbers 817 and 794. A challan has been issued in the name of Vijay. The recovered plastic was disposed of at the designated dry waste processing plant. TNS Sheetal FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Half-day holiday at schools today Tribune News Service PROPOSED COLLECTOR RATES FOR CITY (PER SQ M) Tribune News Service Panchkula, July 30 The Panchkula district administration has proposed a revision in collector (circle) rates, with substantial hikes across residential, industrial and commercial categories. If approved, the new rates would come into effect from August 1 this year, aligning with the prevailing market values. As per the draft, residential sectors in Panchkula city are set to see a collector rate hike of up to 50%. For instance, in Sectors like 4, 5, 6 (MDC) and 6 to 11, rates could jump from Rs 66,000 per sq m to Rs 99,000 per sq m. In Sectors 10 and 11, the rates may increase from Rs 60,000 per sq m to Rs 90,000 per sq m — a 50% rise. The collector rates in the industrial sector are also set for a significant increase. In some zones, these are proposed to rise from Rs 26,450 sq m to Rs 39,675 per sq m — again marking a 50% hike. Other areas are likely to see an increase of 10% to 20%. For commercial properties, including booths and SCOs AREA Sectors 23, 24, 25, 26 Sectors 27, 28, 31 Booths in Sec 2, 12, 14, 17, 18 Booths in Sec 3, 27, 28, MDC 2 Booths in Sec 4, 6, 10, 15, 16, MDC 4, 5, 6 Booths Sec 7, 8, 9, 11 TYPE Residential Residential Commercial Commercial Commercial OLD RATE (2024) ~43,200 ~33,600 ~2,30,000 ~1,50,000 ~3,00,000 PROPOSED RATE ~56,160 ~47,040 ~2,53,000 ~2,25,000 ~3,90,000 HIKE 30% 40% 10% 50% 30% Commercial ~3,45,000 ~4,14,000 20% VILLAGES, PERIPHERAL SECTORS (PER MARLA) AREA TYPE Saketri Commercial Residential Maheshpur (Sec 21) Commercial Residential Majri Commercial Residential Rally (Sec-12A) Commercial Residential Chandimandir Residential in the MDC and Sectors 7–9, the proposed rise is equally sharp. The increase in the collector rates would reach up to 50%, depending on the location and type of plot. The revision in collector rates extends beyond urban OLD RATE (2024) ~5,75,000 ~4,80,000 ~6,00,000 ~4,80,000 ~9,77,500 ~4,40,000 ~6,00,000 ~4,40,000 ~3,41,000 PROPOSED RATE ~6,32,500 ~6,72,000 ~6,60,000 ~6,24,000 ~10,75,250 ~4,84,000 ~7,80,000 ~5,28,000 ~4,43,300 HIKE SUBMIT OBJECTIONS BY TODAY: DC 10% 40% 10% 30% 10% 10% 30% 20% 30% Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta stated that before finalising the collector rates, the public may submit their objections to the proposed collector rates by July 31. Objections can be sent via email to the District Revenue Officer, Panchkula, at drohrypkl@gmail.com, or submitted in person at Room No. 325, Mini Secretariat, Panchkula, by 5 pm. Panchkula to outlying areas like Pinjore. For residential areas within the Municipal Committee limits, the rates are proposed to rise from Rs 4,20,000 per biswa to Rs 5,46,000 per biswa, a hike of 30%. For commercial units in the same region, the rates would go from Rs 7,20,000 per biswa to Rs 10,80,000 per biswa, marking a 50% increase. In Sector 2 of Pinjore, collector rates of residential areas are set to rise from Rs 1,331 per sq yd to Continued on page 2 MAX 32°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 33.9°C | MIN 27.2°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 5.42 AM P’kula admn proposes up to 50% hike in collector rates WHAT’S ON PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET THURSDAY 7.17 PM » THURSDAY | 31 JULY 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST The fraud suspects from Hisar in police custody. 2 held for ‘digital arrest’ fraud with 83-year-old Tribune News Service Panchkula, July 30 The police have arrested two persons, who impersonated police officers from Hyderabad, and allegedly defrauded an elderly man of Rs 57.90 lakh under the pretext of “digital arrest”. The suspects were identified as Manish and Amit, both from Dadholi village in Hisar. According to the police, the complainant, Rajendra (83) of Sector 16, who retired from HMT, had received a WhatsApp call on January 16 from a man claiming to be a Hyderabad-based police official. The caller falsely alleged that Rajendra was involved in a money-laundering case and would have to reach Hyderabad within two hours. When he said he couldn’t travel, the fraudsters linked his Aadhaar card to another suspect named “Goyal”, who was accused of fleeing abroad, and declared Rajendra “digitally arrested”. Several similar cases targeting elderly retired citizens came to light in the tricity this year wherein the name of Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal has been used by fraudsters to sound authentic as Goyal’s fraud-linked Continued on page 2 Chandigarh, July 30 The UT Education Department has announced a halfday opening of private, government and government-aided schools in the city in view of Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom day on Thursday. “All heads of government, government-aided, Central government and private recognised schools are hereby informed to observe a half-day of regular academic classes on July 31 in commemoration of the martyrdom of Shaheed Udham Singh,” read the order. The schools have been further asked to organise a onehour assembly to honour and remember the life, sacrifice and legacy of Udham Singh. “Morning session/classes shall be held up to 11 am, followed by a one-hour assembly. Thereafter, children be allowed to go home. Evening session/classes shall be held up to 3pm followed by onehour assembly, which should include student and teacher participation through speeches, skits, poems, patriotic songs and reflections based on the life of Udham Singh,” added the order. Continued on page 2 UT moots solar power Panel takes note of staff crunch at GMCH-32 FIR ordered against cop for assaulting public servant panelsovercycletracks Seeks report from hospital head, UT Health Director by August 22 THE TRIBUNE IMPACT Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 30 After installing rooftop solar power panels on 6,624 government buildings, the UT Administration has proposed the installation of such panels over cycle tracks in the city. The Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) has decided to conduct a study of 220 km of cycle tracks. The study will identify tracks where panels can be installed and the quantity thereof so that solar power generation could be further increased. The feasibility, performance and aesthetics of installing solar panels on cycle tracks will be evaluated. An official of the Environment Department said these panels could be installed after building a shed over cycle tracks. However, other models were also being discussed, added the official. Earlier, the Administration had installed rooftop solar panels on a large number of government buildings. Due to lack of space, it is now looking for new options. The authorities are also considering installation of solar power panels on vacant land of the Administration, compounded campuses and 90 buildings of the civic body. According to officials, solar panels have been installed on all government buildings of the UT Administration. These panels have come up at the Sector 39 Water Works, Tribune News Service SOLAR POWER GENERATION IN CITY OVER THE YEARS YEAR 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 ENERGY GENERATED 5.31 MW 7.62 MW 18.13 MW 26.01 MW 35.52 MW 41.36 MW 45.97 MW 55.17 MW 58.69 MW 65.52 MW 78.85 MW 78.85 MW Dhanas Lake and the parking lot at IT Park. Plants are also gradually being installed by people at private homes. Large parking lots in the city are also being identified where rooftop or shade-based solar panels could be installed. The plan is to meet Chandigarh’s power needs entirely from renewable energy sources by 2030. An official of the Environment Department said an approval had been sought to install solar panels on the 90 MC buildings and other options to increase green energy generation were also being explored. Chandigarh, July 30 The Punjab State & Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission has taken a suo motu cognisance of the nursing staff shortage at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, after The Tribune reported the glaring vacan- cy figures, hampering the healthcare services. The commission, comprising Chairperson Justice Sant Parkash and Member Justice Gurbir Singh, has sought detailed reports from the Director-Principal of the GMCH-32 and the Director of Health Services, UT. Both have been directed to submit their responses at least a week before the next hearing on August 29. The commission’s action comes in response to the news report, highlighting that 383 out of 1,161 sanctioned nursing posts at the GMCH-32 remain vacant, significantly straining service delivery and increasing pressure on the existing staff. The panel has also instructed that a copy of the report and the article be formally sent to the UT Chief Secretary for information. Orders have been communicated both via email and post to ensure compliance. While the Administration claims that recruitment for 324 positions is currently underway, the commission’s intervention adds pressure on the authorities to act swiftly and transparently to resolve what it has acknowledged as a human rights concern, affecting both patients and overburdened healthcare staff. Tribune News Service Mohali, July 30 A local court has ordered the registration of an FIR against Inspector Jashanpreet Singh for voluntarily causing hurt and use of force against public servant in the attack on chowkidar Baljeet Singh at the District Court Complex in Sector 76 here on July 6 when hearing on the bail plea of SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia took place. Complainant Pawan Kumar, reader to the court of Lead Civil Judge, Senior Division-cumAdditional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mohali, stated that at 11.30 am, victim Baljeet Singh, who was posted as chowkidar, informed him over the phone that he was on duty when Majithia was to be produced in the court. Inspector Jashanpreet Singh came to him and asked him to open Continued on page 2 Four years on, city’s lone, India’s tallest air purifier tower to go Pollution control committee gives firm three months to dismantle structure installed at Transport Chowk Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 30 Four years after its installation, India’s tallest air purification tower at the Transport Chowk, Sector 26, will soon be a thing of the past. The process to dismantle the tower has been started, as the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) has issued a three-month notice to the firm that had installed the tower to remove it. According to officials, the company could file its reply to the notice. The UT Administration had decided to terminate the pilot project of this 24-m tall tower. The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the governing body of the CPCC recently. The Administration had got a third-party assessment of the The air purification tower at the busy Transport Chowk in Chandigarh. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI purifier done. During the assessment, the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research c m y b found that the air purifier was being beneficial in a very limited area. The cost of installing it was borne by the company, but the Administration was bearing the cost of the electricity used to run it. The Administration will now make arrangements for electricity, etc, for the next three months. The facility will be closed after the notice period ends. On the basis of the pilot project, similar air purifier towers were to be installed at six major intersections in the city. Now, such towers will not be installed at other places as well. Installed in September 2021, it was claimed that the tower will clean the air in a radius of about 500 meters and will also reduce the temperature by a few degrees. By working for 18 hours every day, it will reduce pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide from the surrounding air by 50%. The tower functions by drawing in polluted air, spraying it with mist in chamber, and then releasing the puri- fied air. The tower was inaugurated on the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on September 7, 2021. Treated as a pilot project, five spots were shortlisted to install it, but the Transport Chowk was chosen due to the highest volume of traffic and thus vehicular emissions at this junction. Air pollution has increased continuously in Chandigarh since 2021. Monitoring done under the National Clean Air Programme revealed that the level of particulate matters 10 was 116-116 micrograms per cubic meter in the years 2022-23 and 2023-24, while it reached 121 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024-25. In the last two-three years, especially in winters, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has been worse.