12112026-CT-01.qxd 12-11-2026 00:33 Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune DAY 1: 4 GOLFERS SHARE TOP SPOT AT PB OPEN LADIES MEET VISHAL, VANI CLINCH U-19 TITLES AT TABLE TENNIS TOURNEY RAMAYANA FINDS ITS MUSICAL VOICE! Bhavya Mann, Amreen Sandhu, Aarushi Sharma and Ashi Jain card identical gross scores of 81. P3 Vishal of DAV, Sector 8, overcomes a close fight by Pritish Sood of SD College to win gold medal. P3 Theatre actor and director Rahul Bhuchar is all set to present RAM — The Musical Saga. P4 » » Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 11 Chandigarh has secured the second position in the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26 in the Swachh Sheher category for cities with a population of 3 lakh to 10 lakh. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi and Municipal Corporation Commissioner Amit Kumar at a felicitation ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, today. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Minister of State Tokhan Sahu were also present. The 10th edition of the annual cleanliness assessment, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), was conducted under the theme “Swachhata Ki Nayi Pehel – Badhayein Haath, Karein Safai Saath”. Chandigarh had also secured the second position in the Super Swachh League Cities category for the 3-10 lakh population bracket in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. Launched in 2016 with 73 urban local bodies (ULBs), the Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi and MC Commissioner Amit Kumar receive the Swachh Survekshan Award from President Droupadi Murmu at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on Wednesday. 2025–2026 — 2nd (for the 3–10 lakh population category) survey has expanded considerably, covering more than 4,751 cities in its latest edition. This year’s assessment introduced several enhance- UT’S PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST DECADE Year Position Year Position 2016 2nd 2021 66th (worst-ever ranking) 2017 11th 2022 12th 2018 3rd 2023 11th 2019 20th 2024–2025 2nd (for the 3–10 lakh population category) 2020 16th ments, including greater emphasis on citizen feedback, expanded coverage of urban riverfronts, coastlines and water bodies, and specif- ic indicators to prevent open defecation and urination. It also placed greater focus on cleanliness at tourist and heritage sites and behaviour- change initiatives in schools. Under the 10th edition, ULBs were assessed against 43 indicators across 10 key areas, including waste segregation, collection and transportation, solid waste management, visible cleanliness, access to sanitation, mechanised desludging, institutional strengthening, used-water management, sanitation awareness, welfare of sanitation workers, and citizen feedback and grievance redressal. Joshi appreciated citizens for their cooperation in the cleanliness movement initiated by the Prime Minister. He said the national recognition was a testament to the collective efforts of the Municipal Corporation’s sanitation workforce, officers and officials, as well as the active participation of residents and other stakeholders. However, Chandigarh’s performance in source segregation of waste has witnessed a sharp decline in recent years. The city’s score in the parameter fell to 14 per cent in 202425, compared to 100 per cent in 2023. The performance had stood at 94 per cent in 2022 continued on page 3 4 stolen heritage manhole covers recovered AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 110 PANCHKULA 76 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 34, 56 and Ram Darbar Mohali: Sec 88 and Phase 8 Please send information about events in Tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com POWER SHUTDOWN CHANDIGARH 10 am to 2 pm: Parts of Sectors 21, 24, 35, 50, Daria 10.30 am and 5.30 pm (30minute cuts in between): Sectors 20, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 51, 63, 50 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 11 The police have arrested two persons and recovered four stolen heritage manhole covers. A series of thefts had been reported from Sectors 45 and 46 over the past week. A police team, led by Inspector Naveen Kumar, incharge of the Burail police post, arrested the accused following an investigation. The accused have been identified as Raja Ram (24), a resident of Amb Sahib Colony, Sector 65A, Mohali; and Mukesh (32), a resident of Attawa village, Sector 42, Chandigarh. The police registered a case against the accused under Sections 303(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), with Section 317(2) of the BNS subsequently added, at the Sector 34 station. Inspector Naveen Kumar said all four heritage manhole covers had been recovered. The accused were produced before the court on Wednesday, which remanded them in judicial custody. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 11 A speeding car rammed into several vehicles in Sector 56, triggering panic in the area. According to preliminary information, the driver was driving rashly when the car hit multiple vehicles one after another. CCTV footage from the area shows the car ramming into several parked vehicles and the driver fleeing the spot. Residents gathered at the scene following the collisions. The police reached the spot continued on page 3 The thefts were also captured on CCTV cameras. Gurpreet Gabi, area councillor, had raised the matter with the police and the Municipal Corporation. The civic body’s Sub-Divisional Engineer had lodged six complaints with the police over the thefts in the past week. The heritage manhole covers, designed by Le Corbusier and bearing impressions of his master plan for Chandigarh, have become prized collectibles in international auctions. Their value is evident from reports of similar covers fetching between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 40 lakh at auctions abroad. Such heritage items have been smuggled out of the city in the past and continue to surface in overseas auctions. The police said the accused were allegedly planning to break the covers into pieces and sell them to scrap dealers. However, they were arrested following a tip-off before they could execute the plan. Ajay Jagga, a member of the Administrator’s Advisory Council and the Chandigarh Heritage Items Protection Cell, said more than 3,000 such covers still existed in the city and required constant monitoring to prevent thefts. FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Mandi mess While Chandigarh has retained the second position in the Swachh Survekshan this year, sanitation at the Sector 26 mandi remains a major issue. FILE PHOTO Littered green spaces expose sanitation gaps on PU campus CAMPUS UNDER WATCH Stuti Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 11 Garbage strewn in the open, overflowing dustbins and littered green spaces at several locations on the Panjab University (PU) campus have raised serious questions about sanitation and waste management. The absence of a dedicated workforce for regular garbage collection has emerged as a major concern. While university authorities have attributed the problem to a shortage of workers, the unhygienic conditions present a stark contrast to the institution’s A++ grade accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), valid till 2030. A recent visit to the campus, in the aftermath of Diwali celebrations, revealed heaps of discarded plastic, food packaging, paper cups, disposable containers and other waste lying in the open at prominent locations, including the Students’ Centre, outside the AC Joshi Library and near Boys’ Hostel No. 6. At several places, garbage was found scattered around dustbins, while litter had accumulated along pathways, beneath trees and in open green spaces. According to university officials, the Horticulture Department is responsible for overseeing waste management on the campus. “The university has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Municipal Corporation, A garbage pile near Hostel No. 6 on the Panjab University campus. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Chandigarh, for garbage disposal. Under the arrangement, the collected waste is segregated before being transported to the dumping ground at Dadumajra. However, a shortage of staff for collecting garbage within the campus is a major problem,” said an official of the Horticulture Department. PU Registrar Prof YP Verma remained unavailable for comment. The problem was particularly evident around designated waste collection points, where dustbins appeared inadequately maintained. Despite the presence of bins at various locations, irregular clearance has resulted in waste spilling into adjoining areas, affecting the cleanliness of public spaces. “The existing waste collection arrangement also appears to lack a dedicated, roster-based workforce for regularly emptying dustbins across the campus. At present, some private workers are Mani Majra sports complex to get international skating hub Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service Speeding car rams into vehicles The police with the accused and the stolen heritage manhole covers. Chandigarh, November 11 The Chandigarh Sports Department has proposed a multipurpose facility at the Mani Majra Sports Complex, featuring international-standard skating rinks. According to the proposal, the facility will come up adjacent to the existing complex and house an indoor 30m x 60m artistic roller skating and inline freestyle rink, a 25m x 50m inline hockey rink and a 20m x 40m roller derby/hockey rink. The facility will also have players’ changing rooms, washrooms and gymnasiums. In addition to the indoor facilities, the department has proposed an outdoor speed skating parabolic track, surrounded by a road track for hosting road-race events. The 30m x 60m competition skating surface will have a 1.20m-wide clear zone on all four sides, with fencing to prevent public access and keep the area free of obstructions. The 12-22mm skating surface will conform to world skating standards and comprise engineered hardwood over plywood/panel distribution layers, an RCC slab, sub-base and compacted subgrade. The inline hockey rink will also have fenced-off clear zones and 2-metre protective shields on both sides. Its surface will comprise interlocking PP hockey tiles over a rubberised foam/EPDM KEY FEATURES OF PROPOSED FACILITY ■ Artistic roller skating/inline Players in action at the skating rink in Sector 10, Chandigarh. FILE PHOTO underlay, an RCC slab, subbase and compacted subgrade. The proposed 200m speed skating track will have a banked oval design with raised, sloping turns. It will include a race track, no- c m y b skating zone, safety zone, inner area, gates, light poles and landscaping, besides fencing and a drainage system. The track will be 5.5-6m wide, with a straight length of 48.83m along the inner edge. Its MAX 30°C | MIN 13°C YESTERDAY MAX 30.8°C | MIN 11.7°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.46 AM /THETRIBUNECHD City retains second spot in 3-10 lakh population category in Swachh survey PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET THURSDAY 5.28 PM » THURSDAY | 12 NOVEMBER 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST freestyle rink: 30m x 60m indoor hall ■ Inline hockey rink: 25m x 50m with protective shields ■ Roller derby/hockey rink: 20m x 40m indoor facility ■ Speed skating track: 200m banked oval with raised, sloping turns ■ Support facilities: Players’ changing rooms and gymnasiums surface will comprise World Skate-certified materials. At present, the department has only one major skating rink at the Sector 10 Sports Complex, which has also faced questions over shortcomings in its civil infrastructure. The Mani Majra Sports Complex was inaugurated in 2018 by the then Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher. Phase I, spread over 15 acres, includes indoor facilities for badminton, table tennis and squash, besides a gymnasium and swimming pool. Under the original plan, Phases II and III were to include an athletics track, football pitch, handball courts, lawn tennis courts and a basketball arena, along with parking facilities. These phases have now reportedly been replaced by the proposed skating hub. The complex also houses a softball facility, where the Chandigarh Softball Association conducts its annual events and training sessions. engaged by eateries at the Students’ Centre, while the university has outsourced waste collection in certain areas. However, there is no dedicated team to ensure a systematic clearance of dustbins at fixed intervals across different parts of the campus,” said another official, requesting anonymity. Sources said under the existing arrangement, sanitation workers deployed in various departments collect garbage and dump it in nearby bins. Three e-rickshaws operating under the Horticulture Department then collect the waste daily. However, the condition of several spots raised questions about the effectiveness of the arrangement. Prof Parveen Goyal, president of the Panjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA), said he had also written to the university authorities seeking a designated roster for sanitation workers to ensure regular cleaning and continued on page 3 Anti-drug drive top priority, says new Mohali DC Tribune News Service Mohali, November 11 Aditya Dachalwal, a 2016-batch IAS officer, today assumed charge as the Deputy Commissioner of Mohali. He had earlier served as the Deputy Commissioner of Rupnagar. After assuming charge, Dachalwal said the all-round development of the district would be his priority. He said efforts would be made to ensure that government welfare schemes reached every eligible beneficiary and the campaign against drug abuse was further intensified. He said addressing public grievances, ensuring transparent administration and making continued on page 3