26112024-CT-01.qxd 11/26/2024 1:07 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune GILLCO VALLEY CUT TURNS TRAFFIC CHOKE POINT MECHANICAL DE-WEEDING BEGINS AT SUKHNA LAKE STATUESQUE: CARVING MAGIC AROUND THEME OF ZODIACS The cut near Gillco Valley entrance on Chandigarh-Kharar road has become a choke point. P2 The Engineering Department begins the process of de-weeding Sukhna Lake mechanically. P3 13 sculptors from various parts of the country make each piece of stone talk at Kalagram. P4 » » WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH Project at Bapu Dham to offer seamless city-Panchkula travel Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service TFT Winter National Theatre Festival: Play ‘Evam Indrajit’ to be staged at mini auditorium, Tagore Theatre, Sector 18; 6:30 pm; entry free Metamorphosis: Recycled art exhibition by Sanjay Dhawan; Art Gallery, Alliance Francaise; on till November 30 APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, and Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sector 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF SCRAP DEAL TO PRIVATISE POWER DEPT: CONGRESS Chandigarh: City Congress chief HS Lucky on Monday urged UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to scrap the deal with Eminent Power to privatise the Electricity Department. The development came after a delegation of the UT Powermen Union apprised Lucky of the alleged irregularities in the deal. TNS TWO BOOKED FOR HOUSE TRESPASS Chandigarh: The UT police have booked two women for trespassing and committing theft at a house. The complainant, a resident of Burail, stated that two women, along with others, entered her house and stole ~3 lakh and jewellery. TNS 2 SCOOTERISTS HURT IN MISHAP Chandigarh: Two persons were injured after the scooter they were riding was hit by a car in Sector 28 here. They were admitted to the GMCH-32. A case was registered against the car driver, Paritosh Sharma, who was arrested and later released on bail. TNS Chandigarh, November 25 The connectivity between Chandigarh and Panchkula is set to improve as Madhya Marg will be decongested following construction of a highlevel bridge on Sukhna Choe near Bapu Dham in Sector 26 here. The bridge will come up on an alternative road to Panchkula. The UT Administration has given a green signal for the construction of a high-level bridge on Sukhna Choe to mitigate the impact of heavy monsoon rains. The project promises to maintain seamless travel even during peak rainfall, ensuring that no amount of water flowing through the choe will disrupt connectivity. The Administration has planned a topographical survey, hydraulic studies and detailed designing of the highlevel bridge that will replace the existing structure between Sector 26 and Shastri Nagar in Mani Majra. A consultant will be hired to prepare a detailed project report, working drawings and manage the tender process. The consultancy service alone is estimated to cost around Rs 26 lakh. Detailed survey The survey will involve assessing water flow pat- The existing bridge on Sukhna Choe at Bapu Dham, Chandigarh, on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI terns, soil sampling, and analysing the topography to ensure the bridge’s stability and durability. The consultant will collect data on when and where water accumulation causes the most disruption, determining the most suitable design and type of pillars for the bridge. The final design will aim to prevent any future disruption in connectivity like the one experienced in 2023 when monsoon flooding damaged the bridge and left Panchkula accessible through a single route. A three-day study will be conducted to examine vehicle traffic. Special cameras will record the flow and categorise the vehicles by size, providing the administration with comprehensive data on traffic density. This information will be pivotal in shaping the bridge’s capacity and structural requirements. Alternative route in works To reduce traffic on Madhya Marg, the administration is not only focusing on the highlevel bridge but is also planning another alternative route. A new road will link the Panchkula main road from Hallo Majra light point near Makhanmajra via the Industrial Area’s rear side, passing through Daria. This alternative path will serve as a significant corridor for vehicles coming from Tribune Chowk, Sectors 27, 28, and Mohali, and heading towards Panchkula. The proposal for this additional route is currently awaiting clearance from the Forest and Wildlife Department. Once approval is in, a detailed design will be crafted, identifying the land needed for development and assessing the need for additional bridges. FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE High Court prohibits PGI staff from going on strike Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 25 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has restrained employees of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, from going on a strike during the ongoing conciliation proceedings regarding their employment dispute. “This court directs as an interim measure that the employees of petitionerPGIMER of any category — regular or contractual — are restrained by a writ of prohibition from proceeding on strike during pendency of the conciliation proceedings before the conciliation officer- Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner,” the Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal asserted. As the matter came up for resumed hearing, Additional Solicitor-General of India Restraining order comes as interim measure amid conciliation proceedings Satya Pal Jain placed before the Bench detailed minutes of a meeting attended by officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Labour and Employment and PGIMER representatives on November 5. The minutes made it clear that the meeting addressed the continuation of the exemption granted to the PGIMER from the Ministry’s 2014 notification, which abolished contract labour in certain services, including sanitation, security, and catering. The exemption was extended multiple times, with the latest extension having expired on January 12 this year. The PGIMER also submitted that the institute would raise a request for grant of further Chandigarh, November 25 The UT Administration has decided not to axe trees for the construction of green corridors in the city. It has restarted the work on the non-motorised transport (NMT) green corridor project. The work on the project was suspended nearly 14 months ago on the intervention of the then Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit. The first 8-km-long green corridor, which aims to connect the Capitol Complex in Sector 1 with Sector 56, is being developed along the NChoe, stretching from the northern to the southern parts of the city. The project, which is part of the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031, is designed to promote environ- Advocate, who had raised red flag, seeks probe PUROHIT HAD SUSPENDED PROJECT 14 MONTHS AGO ■ The 8-km-long green corridor, which aims to connect the Capitol Complex in Sector 1 with Sector 56, is being developed along the N-Choe. ■ The project initially began in June last year but was halted in September by the then UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit. ■ The suspension came after advocate Rohit Gupta lodged a complaint with the Prime Minister’s Office, alleging green trees would be axed for the project. ment-friendly modes of transport and is projected to cost around Rs 5 crore. The project initially began in June last year but was halted in September by Purohit. The suspension came after advocate Rohit Gupta lodged a complaint with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), alleging green trees would be axed for the construction of the corridor. LR Budhania, an environmentalist, claimed that over 200 trees had been felled in violation of environmental norms, prompting the PMO to order a review of the project. On revival of the project, a senior official said they had received the go-ahead last week and resumed the work on the project. “We have given an undertaking that no tree will be felled for the project. It will be completed within six months,” he added. The green corridor is described as continued on page 2 exemption from the notification dated December 12, 2014, on the grounds of emergent need of engaging staff. “It is also informed and has not been disputed by any of the rival parties that the dispute between the employees and the PGI is pending conciliation before the conciliation officer and the rival parties are participating in the proceeding,” the Bench observed. Considering the previous deliberations in the matter and recognising the significance of the petitioner-institute, which served not only the patients of UT Chandigarh, but also from the neighbouring states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, the court, as an interim measure, issued the restraining order. The Bench also directed the conciliation officer to conclude the proceedings as continued on page 2 Miscreants rob man, sister of phone, gold ring Chandigarh, November 25 Car-borne miscreants snatched a gold ring and a mobile phone from a brothersister duo returning from a wedding in Mani Majra here in the wee hours of Sunday. Complainant Brij Mohan, a resident of Nayagaon, stated that he had come to the city to attend a relative’s wedding at the community centre in Indira Colony, Mani Majra. The complainant, along with his sister, was returning from the function on a scooter when the incident took place. The complainant stated that they saw a white car parked on the road and a youth standing nearby signalled him to stop at around Green corridor project back on Delhi-based gangster module track, UT won’t axe trees now busted, 3 operatives arrested Tribune News Service MAX 26°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 26.9°C | MIN 11°C SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.58 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD Sukhna Choe bridge height to go up to tackle flooding woes MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET TUESDAY 5.23 PM » TUESDAY | 26 NOVEMBER 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST 3.45 am. In the meantime, three more suspects alighted from the car and snatched the complainant’s phone and his sister’s ring. They returned home and informed the police about the incident following which a case has been registered at the IT Park police station. — TNS 3 tricksters make off with elderly woman’s jewellery Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Mohali, November 25 The local police and the AntiGangster Task Force (AGTF) busted a criminal module operated by Delhi-based gangster Manjeet Mahal, who is lodged in Tihar Jail. The suspects have been identified as Iqbal Singh, alias Vinay, Gulshan Kumar, alias Monu, alias Lefty, both residents of New Delhi, and Satish Kumar, a resident of Mokampura, Amritsar. Two pistols with 18 live rounds were recovered from them. A black SUV have also been impounded. Iqbal Singh and Gulshan Kumar were apprehended near Dappar. Their disclosures led to the arrest of Satish Kumar in Amritsar. SSP Deepak Pareek said the operation led to the SSP Deepak Pareek briefs mediapersons on the arrest of the three operatives in Mohali on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: NITIN MITTAL arrest of three key operatives of this gang. The police team included SP (R) Manpreet Singh, Dera Bassi DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar, and the incharge of the Anti-Narcotic Cell Sub-Inspector Surjeet Singh. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the three sus- pects had entered Punjab to execute a high-profile crime in Amritsar. They have extensive criminal records, with multiple cases of heinous crimes registered against them in Haryana and Delhi. A case under the Arms Act has been registered at the Lalru police station. Chandigarh, November 25 A 72-year-old woman was conned of her jewellery by three unidentified women who visited her home in Sector 43. They convinced her that the house was under the influence of an evil eye and under this pretense managed to steal her jewellery. The victim was alone at home when the suspects arrived there and engaged her in a conversation. The suspects convinced her that her family could be in danger. Taking advantage of the victim’s concern, they tricked her into handing over her gold jewellery, including earrings and bangles, for performing a ritual to ward off the evil. They assured her that the jewellery would be returned after the ritual. continued on page 2 Over ~100 cr — Punjab Kings place their best bet this IPL Eight overseas players among 25 picked by region’s only franchise at Jeddah auction Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service The Punjab Kings management during the IPL auction in Jeddah. Chandigarh, November 25 The Punjab Kings (PBKS) will enter the new edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with some new faces, who have gained immense popularity in both domestic and international cricket. The region’s only franchise picked 23 (excluding two retained) players in the auction that concluded at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, today. To overcome the IPL title drought, the management has spent over Rs 100 crore to bag 12 capped and 11 uncapped players — a step to c m y b CAPPED PLAYERS CITY’S LONE ENTRY Shreyas Iyer (~26.75 crore), Yuzvendra Chahal (~18 crore), Arshdeep Singh (~18 crore), Marcus Stoinis (~11 crore), Marco Jansen (~7 crore), Glenn Maxwell (~4.2 crore), Josh Inglis (~2.6 crore), Azmatullah Omarzai (~2.4 crore), Lockie Ferguson (~2 crore), Aaron Hardie ~1.25 crore), Kuldeep Sen (~80 lakh), Xavier Bartlett (~80 lakh) Out of the seven players registered from Chandigarh, only one was picked to play in the IPL. Raj Angad Bawa, who was picked for ~2 crore by the PBKS in the 2022 edition, will now play for Mumbai Indians, after being picked for ~30 lakh. Besides Bawa, Manan Vohra, Nishunk Birla, Gaurav Gambhir, Abhishek Saini, Anirudh Kanwar and Bhagmender Lather were registered for the auction at a base price of ~30 lakh. UNCAPPED PLAYERS Nehal Wadhera (~4.2 crore), Priyansh Arya (~3.8 crore), Vyshak Vijaykumar (~1.8 crore), Yash Thakur (~1.6 crore), Harpreet Brar (~1.5 crore), Vishnu Vinod (~95 lakh), Harnoor Pannu (~30 lakh), Suryansh Shedge (~30 lakh), Musheer Khan (~30 lakh), Pyla Avinash (~30 lakh) and Pravin Dubey (~30 lakh). revive the majority of the team for the upcoming season. While on the opening day of the auction, the PBKS went all-out for the capped players, including potential skipper Shreyas Iyer and others, the second day saw the management picking some talented uncapped players who have been performing well in the domestic circuit. The franchise had picked 10 players on the opening day of the auction. The most surprising pick for Punjab was Delhi attacking opener Priyansh Arya, who fetched Rs 3.8 crore. There was a competitive bidding for the southpaw, as Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians also showed keen interest. Royal Challengers Bengaluru also entered the fray with Punjab Kings leading the deal. In the Delhi Premier League, Arya had shot six sixes in an over. He posted 120 runs, featuring 10 sixes and as many fours, and scored a century off 40 deliveries. The PBKS also got hold of domestic pacer Kuldeep Sen. A majority of 28 continued on page 2