07072026-CT-01.qxd 7/7/2026 12:51 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune PROCESS TO ALLOT NEW SITES TO VENDORS BEGINS ‘MODERN HOCKEY DEMANDS CONSTANT LEARNING’ REAL-LIFE CHEMISTRY ON BIG SCREEN Phase VI of draw of lots for allocation of sites to non-essential vendors will be held after public feedback. P3 Coach Sardar Singh believes that the sport has now become more of a ‘subject’. P3 Ali Fazal, Richa Chadha to romance on screen in Shashie Vermaa’s untitled comedy. P4 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 78 PANCHKULA 43 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, & Dhanas Mohali: Sec 68, 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com POWER SHUTDOWN CHANDIGARH 9 am to 12 noon: Parts of Sector 20 9 am to 2 pm: Sector 25, PU campus, Sector 26, Bapu Dham Colony, Timber Market, Dhanas, Dadumajra Colony, Motor Market 11 am to 12 noon: Indira Colony, Manimajra 12.20 pm to 1.30 pm: Mauli Complex Rights panel takes suo motu notice of building collapse Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 6 The Punjab State and Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the building collapse in the Industrial Area and sought a report from the Deputy Commissioner. The report has been directed to be submitted at least one week before the next hearing scheduled for August 5. Seeks report from UT Deputy Commissioner before next hearing on August 5 The commission initiated proceedings on the basis of a news report published in The Tribune under the headline “2 die as Indl Area building collapses”, which reported that a two-storey building collapsed on Saturday evening in Industrial Area, Phase II, while renovation work was underway. The report stated that an NDRF team equipped with specialised rescue equipment was deployed for relief and rescue operations. After nearly five hours of efforts, two business partners trapped under the debris were pulled out and rushed to hospital, where they succumbed to injuries. The deceased were identified as Tarun Jain and Tarun Kaushik, both residents of Meerut. The commission comprises Chairperson Justice Sant Prakash, members Justice Gurbir Singh and Jitender Singh Shunty. The members also visited the collapse site on Sunday. PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 37°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 27.8°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.28 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:26 AM » TUESDAY | 7 JULY 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Mohali’s govt vet facilities need life support Dispensaries and hospitals established in several villages of the district have been reduced to abandoned structures Pavni Arora Staff missing , doctor ‘running private practice’ Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 6 Widespread neglect, alleged corruption and what villagers describe as “ghost veterinary services” have hollowed out government veterinary institutions across Mohali district, a Tribune investigation has found. Government veterinary dispensaries and hospitals, established to provide essential healthcare to livestock and other animals, have in several villages been reduced to abandoned structures. There are 1,367 civil veterinary hospitals and 1,489 dispensaries in the state, according to the data available on the official Punjab Animal Husbandry website. The Tribune visited four government veterinary facilities in the district — Mirzapur, Karoran, Parchh and Kasauli — and found a troubling picture of crumbling infrastructure, absent staff, empty medicine shelves and allegations of employees drawing salaries while facilities remain virtually defunct. When contacted, SAS Nagar District Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Dr Avtar Singh acknowledged that veterinary inspectors were often not stationed at dispensaries and hospitals during working hours. “Our vet inspectors are usually not at the dispensaries or hospitals; however, they visit cases on call,” he said. When asked about the deplorable condition of several dispensaries and their deteriorated infrastructure, Dr Avtar offered little explanation. “Must have MIRZAPUR DISPENSARY The civil veterinary hospital at The treatment table was Karoran (near Nayagaon) pre- unhygienic, with animal secresented an alarming picture. The tions still visible. Dirt, cobwebs veterinary inspector, ordinarily and stains were seen everyresponsible for first-line where, and a foul smell treatment, was absent came from inside. A during The Trishopkeeper, who bune’s visit. requested In critical situaanonymity, said, KARORAN tions, livestock “The whole hosVETERINARY pital gets soaked owners are HOSPITAL required to contact in water when it staff and wait for rains.” As a designatthem to arrive, potened veterinary hospital, tially delaying treatment. the facility is required to have a Shopkeepers and residents veterinary doctor available. told The Tribune that the vetThe doctor rarely visits and erinary inspector typically vis- instead runs a private veteriits the facility for only an hour nary clinic in Chandigarh, or two before leaving. the shopkeeper alleged. A facility existing only on paper (Top) A civil veterinary dispensary at Mirzapur village in Mohali district; and a bathroom at the hospital in Karoran. PHOTOS: RAVI KUMAR got spoiled,” he said, adding that he would order random inspections by senior veterinary officers. He further stated, “We have never received any complaint before. Now that this has come to our knowledge, we will get checks done.” When asked why veterinary doctors were not available at designated hospitals, Dr Avtar replied: “You can This dispensary was found abandoned. The approach road had deteriorated into a muddy, uneven track. The dispensary was completely non-functional. No staff member was present, medicines were nowhere to be found, benches lay broken, the walls were covered with algae and the structure bore visible signs of prolonged neglect. Not a single animal was receiving treatment. call and ask them yourself.” Despite repeated attempts to contact the Director of Animal Husbandry, Punjab, no response was received till the filing of this report. Shankar Das, a former panchayat member of Mirzapur village, alleged that the dispensary had remained abandoned for nearly 15 years. “This facility used to function around 15 years ago, but today it is completely deserted. Someone is certainly drawing a salary while cheating both the villagers and the government. We have never seen anyone working here,” he alleged. Animal welfare group demands audit According to the Megafauna Welfare Foundation, defunct veterinary facilities in Mohali reflect a systemic failure, not An unhygienic table at the veterinary hospital in Karoran, Nayagaon. isolated lapses, with salaries drawn against posts at centres that haven’t treated animals in years. Co-founder Udit Bhatia said abandoned dispensaries mean animals go untreated, farmers fall into debt at private clinics, and public money vanishes without accountability. The foundation has demanded a Continued on page 2 MC appoints nodal officer for water supply complaints Implement old pension Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 6 The Municipal Corporation has appointed the Executive Engineer (Public Health)-III as the nodal officer to address complaints related to water supply, contamination, leakage and sewagewater intermixing. The order, issued by the MC Chief Engineer on Monday, directs the nodal officer to scrutinise all complaints received from various sources regarding water contamination and ensure immediate field verification. Corrective measures are to be initiated without delay and compliance ensured. The order further states that the Superintending Engineer (Public Health) will closely monitor all such cases and hold a dedicated review every Friday with all Executive Engineers. The review will focus on areas from where repeated complaints are being received so that permanent remedial measures can be planned and implemented. The Executive Engineer (PH)-III has also been directed to constitute quick response teams (QRTs) in every public health division for prompt inspection and water quality testing immediately after the receipt of any complaint. The teams will ensure timely action to prevent any outbreak of water-borne diseases or epidemic-like situations in any part of the city. Daily water quality testing will be intensified. Reports from all divisions will be compiled and reviewed during the weekly meetings for assessment and monitoring. The order also mandates the preparation of a comprehensive standard operating procedure (SOP) covering water sampling, testing, complaint redressal, field inspections, inter-departmental coordination, reporting timelines, public communication and preventive measures for uniform implementation across all public health divisions. The Chief Engineer has directed that the matter be accorded top priority, warning that any lapse in monitor- ing or response will be viewed seriously. The order notes that several complaints regarding contamination of drinking water have been reported from different parts of the city, prompting higher authorities to seek immediate, proactive and sustained action to safeguard public health. The issue had also figured prominently during the recent MC General House meeting, where several councillors raised concerns over recurring water supply problems. Heavy rain lashes parts of city, yellow alert extended till Sunday Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 6 Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds lashed parts of the city on Monday afternoon. Some sectors received moderate to heavy showers while others recorded little or no rain. The maximum temperature settled at 35°C, down 2.9 degrees from Sunday, though it remained 0.6 degrees above normal. The minimum temperature rose to 27.8°C, an increase of 3 degrees over the previous night and 1.2 degrees above normal, indicating warmer nights despite the rain. Relative humidity ranged between 71 per cent and 87 per cent during the day. The city recorded 9.8 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. Seasonal rainfall since June 1 increased to 62.4 mm but remained 72.6 per cent below normal. Rainwater accumulated on the Sector 30-32 road in Chandigarh on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has extended its yellow alert till Sunday, except Friday, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph at isolated places. c m y b According to the latest forecast, rainfall activity is expected to intensify from Tuesday to Thursday, with light to moderate rain likely at many places and heavy spells at isolated places in Chandigarh. The five-day forecast suggests a gradual decline in the maximum temperature from 37°C on Tuesday to around 33°C by Saturday, while the minimum temperature is expected to drop from 27°C to 23°C, keeping conditions relatively cool under persistent cloud cover. An IMD spokesperson said the city would continue to witness intermittent monsoon activity over the next few days. “Monsoon conditions are favourable over Chandigarh. Rainfall will occur in spells, with the more active phase expected between Tuesday and Thursday. Heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely during this period, while temperatures are expected to remain close to or below normal because of cloud cover and recurring rain,” the spokesperson said. scheme for five doctors, CAT tells Administration Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 6 The Chandigarh Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has granted the UT Administration a final opportunity to implement its order extending the benefits of the old pension scheme to five doctors of the UT Health Department who were regularised after January 1, 2004. In his order, Tribunal Member (Judicial) Suresh Kumar Batra observed that the applicants’ counsel had placed on record the Supreme Court order dated May 26, 2026, dismissing the special leave petition (SLP) filed by the Chandigarh Administration against the Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment dated October 14, 2025. The tribunal noted that the UT Administration had candidly submitted before the apex court that the matter was covered by the Supreme Court’s earlier judgment in the case of State of Himachal Pradesh vs Sheela Devi. It further observed that the High Court had upheld the tribunal’s January 29, 2025, order while dismissing the UT Administration’s writ petition. Despite the dismissal of the SLP the administration , has not yet complied with the tribunal’s directions. The tribunal has now granted the respondents one last opportunity to implement the order before the matter comes up for hearing on July 8, 2026. The five doctors — Dr Shivetambari Cheema, Dr Ravinder- jit Singh, Dr Sonia Arora, Dr Monika Shangari and Dr Anjali Gupta — had approached the tribunal through advocate Rishav Sharma, seeking consequential benefits, including coverage under the old pension scheme, following their regularisation. In its January 29, 2025, judgment, the tribunal had quashed the UT Administration’s August 11, 2022, order rejecting their claim for consequential benefits from the date of regularisation and consideration under the old pension scheme. The doctors contended that they were appointed as Assistant Medical Officers against regular sanctioned posts between 1997 and 2002 on a contractual basis after fulfilling all prescribed qualifications. They argued that since their initial appointments were made through a proper selection process and later regularised pursuant to court orders, the contractual service rendered before regularisation should be counted as qualifying service for pensionary benefits and for coverage under the old pension scheme. The tribunal had earlier directed the administration to regularise their services after completion of 10 years. Relying on several judicial precedents, including the Supreme Court’s 2023 judgment in the case of State of Himachal Pradesh vs Sheela Devi, the applicants argued that contractual service is countable towards qualifying service for pensionary benefits, making them eligible for the old pension scheme.