28082025-CT-01.qxd 8/28/2025 12:45 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune PU POLLS: NOMINATIONS FILED, FINAL LIST TODAY NOD TO POLICY ON SPONSOR BANNERS AT SPORTS EVENTS A PEEP INTO LUXURY HOMES OF BOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES Authorities warn outsiders against using ‘fake’ stickers for entering university campus. P3 Welcome development for sports associations, which heavily rely on sponsors for holding events. P3 Shah Rukh Khan's residence, Mannat, which is located in Bandra, is valued at about ~200 crore. P4 » » MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34.2°C | MIN 25.2°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 5.58 AM /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE 53 housing Centre clears ~125 crore Launch of Sectorget delayed scheme likely to for cash-strapped Chd MC Admn yet to prepare eligibility norms for EWS category WHAT’S ON Dushyant Singh Pundir Health & Wellness Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 27 In a big relief to the cashstrapped Municipal Corporation (MC), the Centre has approved the UT Administration’s proposal for diversion of Rs 125 crore from its earnings to the civic body. Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria handed over the approval letter to Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla at the Raj Bhavan today. The Mayor thanked the Administrator for taking up the issue with the Centre and getting the fund approved. Babla said she had been pursuing the matter for a long time. She even met the Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue. The amount will help the MC to overcome its financial crisis. On August 14, the UT Finance Department had written to the Ministry of Home seeking its approval for the diversion of Rs 125 crore from its own earnings and savings to the civic body. The Administration devised a new way — re-appropriation CHANDIGARH National Research Seminar: ‘Role of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Development of Society”, Aug 29, 30; 10 am, Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16-B Dance show: Kalakunj presents ‘Abhivadan’, a showcase of classical dances, curated by Pallavi Pinge; Maharashtra Bhawan, Sector 19-D, Aug 28, 9 pm onwards UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria hands over the fund approval letter to Chandigarh Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday. FUND RE-APPROPRIATION On August 14, the UT Finance Department had written to the Ministry of Home seeking its approval for the diversion of ~125 crore from its own earnings and savings to the civic body. The Administration devised a new way — re-appropriation of the amount — to help the MC after its earlier demand for the additional fund was not approved by the Centre. of the amount — to help the MC after its earlier demand for the additional fund was not approved by the Centre. The Finance Department requested the Centre to approve the proposal for fund re-appropriation under “Head of Materials and Supplies” to grants-in-aid (general). The re-appropriation of funds was processed considering the availability of savings within the same section. The Administration has no power to divert the amount. The Municipal Corporation is facing the worst financial crisis. All developmental works have come to a standstill. Roads have not been recarpeted for years. The civic body has failed to increase its revenue despite taking multiple steps. It has no money even for replacing defunct streetlights. No new project has been launched in the past two years. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 27 The launch of the proposed general housing scheme in Sector 53 is likely to get delayed in the absence of a policy for the Economic Weaker Sections (EWS). According to officials, the Chandigarh Building Rules (Urban), 2017, mandates 15% reservation for the EWS category, with a minimum area of 30 sqm, in any housing project. However, the city lacked a notified policy for the allotment of such houses. The Administration is preparing a policy to outline norms for the allotment of houses in the EWS category. The officials said in the absence of such policy, neither the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) nor the Municipal Corporation (MC) can float a housing scheme or auction land for housing projects. After nearly nine years, the CHB has planned to launch its general housing scheme in Sector 53 before Diwali. The proposed scheme will have 192 HIG units, 100 MIG houses and 80 EWS flats. The five-storey flats would be constructed on nearly 9 acres. The HIG flats will have two basements for parking. FILE PHOTO MHA approves UT’s proposal for diversion of fund to civic body Dear Reader, Every week on Thursday, starting today, The Tribune brings to you a special feature on Health & Wellness. Read what top doctors have to say and write in with your questions about all your health-related concerns. Send your email to healthandwellness@tribunemail.com and The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer them. Editor-in-Chief POLICY IN WORKS According to officials, the Chandigarh Building Rules (Urban), 2017, mandates 15% reservation for the EWS category, with a minimum area of 30 sqm, in any housing project. However, the city lacked a notified policy for the allotment of such houses. The Administration is preparing a policy to outline norms for the allotment of houses in the EWS category. As per the tentative cost worked out by the CHB, a three-bedroom flat (HIG) will cost Rs 2.3 crore, which will be 39.39% higher than the earlier proposed price of Rs 1.65 crore. A two-bedroom flat (MIG) will cost Rs 1.97 crore, up 40.71% from the previous proposed rate of Rs 1.4 crore. Similarly, a two-room flat (EWS) is priced at Rs 74 lakh, which will be costlier by 34.34% than the tentative cost of Rs 55 lakh fixed earlier. The CHB has revised the prices after the implementation of the new collector rates Accident victim’s kin Admn plans projects to boost tourism Cultural hub proposed over 25 acres at Sarangpur to host big concerts awarded ~15 lakh proposed a Museum of Knowledge – Le Corbusier Vision. It would revive the legendary architect’s unrealised concept of a “Museum of Knowledge” for Chandigarh and would be designed as a centre of innovation, research and global knowledge exchange, blending heritage with futuristic learning spaces. A Natural History Museum has also been proposed by the department to showcase India’s rich biodiversity, evolution of life, geology and environment. The department has also planned the strengthening of tourist amenities at Rock Garden and Dhanas Lake. Kataria emphasised the need to balance tourism growth with sustainability and preservation of Chandigarh’s world heritage character. Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 27 The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Chandigarh (MACT) has directed the insurance company, driver and owner of a truck to pay Rs 15.48-lakh compensation to the parents of Harsh Rana, who died in an accident three years ago. Sarita Marandi and Amrik Rana, residents of Manimajra, in their claim petition, said on July 29, 2022, their son was coming back to Maheshpur in Panchkula around 1:20 am. He was riding pillion on a motorcycle with Vipul. When they reached near the Sector 14 crossing, a truck moving ahead of them suddenly stopped after taking a turn. As the truck had stopped Poetry reading: The Wise Owl Poetry Collective, under the aegis of The Wise Owl, to host its inaugural poetry reading session, ‘Celebrating voices across languages’; Foothills Clubhouse, New Chandigarh, August 30, 5 pm onwards 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 abruptly, the bike rammed into the truck from behind. Their son suffered injuries in the accident and died later. He was 20 years of age and worked as a mechanic. He was running his own mechanic shop at Manimajra and earned Rs 25,000 per month, they said, claiming Rs 50 lakh compensation, along with interest at the rate of 12% per annum from the date of filing of the claim petition till realisation of money. The truck driver and owner claimed the petition was not maintainable as no accident had taken place with the truck. After hearing of the arguments, the tribunal held that the claimants were entitled to receive Rs 15.48-lakh compensation along with interest at the rate of 9% per annum. Chandigarh, August 27 The Tourism Department today showcased a master plan for proposed development projects and strategies to boost tourism in the city. The officials made a comprehensive presentation before Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria at Punjab Raj Bhawan. The officials listed various projects aimed at enhancing the city’s tourism, cultural and recreational infrastructure, while keeping intact the city’s unique identity as the modernist capital designed by Le Corbusier. The key projects include the development of a concert centre and a world-class cultural hub over 25 acres at Sarangpur to host large-scale concerts and The Tourism Department has also planned the upgrade of tourist amenities at the Rock Garden and the Dhanas lake. international events. The department has also proposed a Digital Museum at Le Corbusier Centre, where modern technology would be integrated to create an immersive digital experience showcasing the life, works and vision of Le Corbusier. This feature will help visitors would better understand Chandigarh’s heritage and architectural legacy with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experience. The department has also Sector 32 college hires bouncers to keep outsiders at bay STUDENT ELECTION Deepankar Sharda TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 27 While all eyes were busy revelling in the festivities around student elections on the Panjab University campus, the nomination of candidates for the September 3 students’ council elections at the local colleges stole the show. Despite police deployment and private security, the management of GGDSD College, Sector 32, availed the services of private bouncers to guard the entry gates. The bouncers were tasked with checking the credentials of those entering the college in order to not let in strangers. “The deployment has been made as an extra cover to avoid any untoward incident as the college gets a lot of attention from outsiders during the polls. They were given no charge GENERALLY CLOUDY SUNSET THURSDAY 6.50 PM » THURSDAY | 28 AUGUST 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Cops disperse supporters of the NSUI and the SOI outside DAV College on Wednesday; and (right) bouncers check students' ID cards at GGDSD College in Sector 32. (SEE ALSO P3) beyond the checking,” Dr Rajinder Singh Mann, Dean Student Welfare (DWS), said. The official’s claim of finding outsiders on the campus stands true, as youngsters from nearby Sectors and other colleges visit the campus to enjoy the ‘election’ scenes. “We are not asking anything beyond the college identification card. Outsiders are not allowed in without official consent,” one of the bouncers on the job said. The college is known for witnessing charged canvassing for the students’ council polls. “In the past, the c m y b campus has witnessed some minor scuffles, so it’s better to take as many precautionary steps as one can for the welfare of students. The students are free to enjoy democracy, but in a healthy way — not by troubling others,” a faculty member said. Uncontrolled supporters Meanwhile, the police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the students canvassing outside DAV College, Sector 10. Stakes are high with as many as 19 candidates filing to contest for the top post. Of the 19, 15 nominations were accepted. The events that followed quickly shaped into a remarkable day on the college’s calendar. Now, though the final list will be out on August 28, after the withdrawals, the numerous groups wasted no time and started canvassing. Soon, the situation turned uncontrollable when the contesting groups got locked in a face-off. The police personnel tried to disperse the crowd, failing which they had to resort to a mild lathi-charge. “The groups took to charged jeering. In order to handle the situation, the police dispersed the crowd,” Sunanda, a student, said. The nominations at other colleges went by smoothly, and the final list will be released on August 28. in the city on April 1 this year. In August 2023, then UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit had put the scheme on hold, deeming it unnecessary. To generate revenue, the MC is planning to auction nearly 7 acres of land in Pocket 6 of Manimajra for residential project. The officials said the policy would define the eligibility conditions for allotment of flats under EWS category and in the absence of such a policy, the launch of proposed housing projects was likely to get delayed. Delivery boy run over by truck Tribune News Service Zirakpur, August 27 A 28-year-old delivery boy died after being run over by a truck near Oxford Street in Zirakpur this afternoon. Parmendra Kumar, a resident of Indira Colony, Manimajra, was hit by the truck from behind. Passersby said the victim’s head was crushed under the wheels and he died on the spot. On a statement of the deceased’s elder brother, Bunty Ram, a case of death by negligence has been registered at the Zirakpur police station. The police said the truck driver fled the spot, leaving behind the vehicle. They are investigating the matter. 17 liquor vends sealed in UT over licence fee default Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 27 The UT Excise and Taxation Department sealed 17 liquor vends over the non-payment of licence fee last evening. Officials said the seals would not be removed until the entire outstanding amount was deposited by the defaulters. A similar action would also be taken against other defaulters, they said, while adding that 17 sealed liquor vends had outstanding licence fees of about Rs 5 crore. These contractors did not deposit the outstanding amount despite several notices. The liquor vends sealed by the department are located in Maloya village, Kajheri, Sectors 18, 46, 34, 22-D, 22-A, 37, Railway Colony in and Kalka road in Manimajra.