02112026-CT-01.qxd 11/2/2026 12:41 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune ILLEGAL GARBAGE DUMPING CONTINUES ACROSS CITY PANJAB VARSITY SCRIPT HISTORY WITH MALLAKHAMB GOLD SHAH RUKH KHAN RINGS IN 61ST BIRTHDAY Warning boards, challans fail to deter violators; civic body promises cleanliness drive. P3 The PU boys bag first ever gold medal in the All-India Inter-University Championship at Kota. P3 From chasing dreams to redefining stardom, Shah Rukh Khan’s journey continues to inspire. P4 » » /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Announcement on ownership rights, freehold property status, hike in floor area ratio in Industrial Area likely after Diwali Chandigarh, November 1 Three long-pending issues concerning Chandigarh residents, traders and industrialists are finally set to be resolved soon, bringing relief to thousands of families and property owners. Addressing a public gathering today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah indicated that decisions on several long-pending issues concerning city residents would be announced by UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria shortly. He observed that some of these matters had remained unresolved for several decades. Sources said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had approved proposals to grant ownership rights to houses in rehabilitation colonies, convert leasehold commercial and industrial properties into freehold, and increase the floor area ratio (FAR) for industrial plots. Formal announcements on these decisions are expected to be made by Kataria after Diwali. The issue of granting ownership rights in rehabilitation colonies has remained pending for more than four decades. Under the Administration’s proposal, around 34,965 houses are to be covered under the ownership scheme. However, in the first phase, only around 22,000 original allottees are expected to benefit. Ownership rights will be granted to eligible original allottees on payment of the prescribed charges. Those who purchased houses from original allottees through general power of attorney (GPA) or other arrangements will not be covered under the scheme at this stage. This means around 13,000 subsequent buyers will remain outside its ambit for now. In February 2026, the Chandigarh Administration had constituted a committee to work out the rules and WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 43 & 45 Mohali: Sectors 70, 78 & Phase 5 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com POWER SHUTDOWN CHANDIGARH 10 am to 2 pm: Parts of Sectors 22, 32, 42 11 am to 2 pm:Sectors 7, 9, Pipaliya Town, Mariwala Town, Shanti Nagar, New Darshanibag, Old Darshinibag 11 am to 3 pm: Madhya Marg SCOs, Sant Kabir and Strawberry Fields schools, Mahtma Gandhi Institute and Maloya Colony 12 noon to 3 pm: Dhanas area 2 pm to 4 pm: Sector 22 Illegal drug unit busted in Zirakpur Mohali, November 1 The police arrested a resident of Ludhiana, Varinder Sharma, for running a fake drug manufacturing unit from a house in Ramgarh Bhudda village near Zirakpur on Friday. According to the police, the accused was allegedly manufacturing medicines, narcotic pills, injections and spurious drugs on the premises and selling them. continued on page 2 ❝ Worker dies after setting himself ablaze at Kharar Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service PROJECTS We can move towards a Viksit Bharat only by freeing younger generation from the menace of drugs. — HM INAUGURATED Govt High School, Sarangpur CTU Depot at Raipur Kalan ~12CR ~68CR STONE LAID 192 Type-III houses at Armed Police Complex, Dhanas ~84 CRORE PU-PGI underpass ~12 CRORE Boys’ hostel at Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Sector 26 ~25 CRORE Gymnasium hall at Govt College, Sector 46 ~11CRORE Sec 7 Sports Complex upgrade ~20 CRORE Sec 49 police station ~21CRORE 15 check posts ~5 CRORE Union Home Minister Amit Shah and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria during an event in Chandigarh. PARDEEP TEWARI modalities for granting ownership rights. The second major issue concerns the conversion of leasehold commercial and industrial properties into freehold. Chandigarh has around 15,016 commercial and industrial properties, of which approximately 8,600 are leasehold. Their conversion into freehold will make it easier for owners to sell or transfer their properties and secure bank loans by using them as collateral. The demand for converting leasehold properties into freehold has been pending for more than two decades. The Administration had sought in-principle approval from the MHA in April 2021. In August 2022, the ministry sought detailed information, but the proposal failed to secure approval in July 2024. Subsequently, the Administration submitted a fresh proposal in May 2026. The third major issue relates to an increase in the FAR in industrial areas. Under the proposed amendments to the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031, industrial units may be allowed additional built-up area on their existing plots. The move will enable industrialists to construct additional floors and develop facilities to meet their expanding business requirements. The additional space can be used for warehouses, offices, employee facilities and other business needs. continued on page 3 ‘Chd to be country’s first drug-free city’ Aanavi Singh Arya Tribune News Service Shah attends the 60th Raising Day celebrations of the Chandigarh Police. ANI Chandigarh, November 1 Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said Chandigarh had the potential to become the country’s first drug-free city, as he presented the President’s Colour to the Chandigarh Police on its 60th Foundation Day. The honour was received by DGP Sagar Preet Hooda. Addressing the Diamond Jubilee celebrations at the Police Lines, Sector 26, Shah said now that the country had resolved to build a drug-free India, Chandigarh would be the first city to achieve the goal, despite its proximity to Punjab. “We can move towards a ment and valour, and was also an honour for the families of police personnel, he said. He flagged off 141 new vehicles, procured at a cost of Rs 5 crore. The fleet includes twowheelers such as Bullet, Pulsar and TVS Apache, besides Tata Safari, Maruti Ertiga and Mahindra Bolero vehicles. Buses and pickup trucks are also part of the new fleet. “Chandigarh is already second in police response time. I am sure that with the addition of 141 vehicles, the city will be No. 1,” he said. The police now reach an incident spot in about four minutes on average, while the continued on page 3 Shah presents President’s Colour to Chandigarh Police on 60th Foundation Day Viksit Bharat only by freeing the younger generation from the menace of drugs,” he said, urging the force, comprising more than 6,000 personnel, to continue its fight against drug trafficking, gangsters, organised crime and cybercrime. Shah, who took the salute at the parade, said the President’s Colour was awarded in recognition of more than 15 years of disciplined and dedicated service. It acknowledged six decades of commit- Mohali, November 1 A 49-year-old sanitation worker, Lakhvir Singh, died after setting himself ablaze outside Somdutt’s Landmark Apartments, a housing society in Sector 116, Kharar. He Lakhvir Singh was reportedly upset over the non-payment of seven months’ wages. The incident happened on October 22 and the victim died at the PGI on October 30, after which the police registered and FIR. The police have booked three persons — manager Gurvel Singh, Chuhad Singh and Municipal Council supervisor Gurvinder Singh — under charges of abetment to suicide and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act at the Sadar Kharar station. Was not paid wages for seven months, says son In his complaint, the deceased’s 20-year-old son, Mannat, a resident of Santemajra, alleged that his father worked as a sanitation worker at the housing society but had not been paid his wages for the past seven months. He alleged that the three accused allegedly confined him to a room, administered electric shocks, abused him and made casteist remarks. The alleged harassment and financial difficulties had left him under severe mental stress, the complainant said. Fed up with the alleged harassment, Lakhvir poured turpentine oil on himself and set himself ablaze outside the society gate. A security guard tried to douse the flames, following which he was rushed to the Sub-Divisional Hospital, Kharar. He was referred to the PGI where he died. The three accused are absconding, the police said. The deceased had four children. PANCHKULA SCHOOL HORROR Chandigarh Reads: Where strangers Six-year-old girl recovering, but bond over books in public spaces struggling with trauma, say kin Stuti Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 1 On a Sunday morning, amid the greenery of Chandigarh’s parks, a group of people gathers with books in hand. Some arrive with novels, others with non-fiction, academic texts or whatever they happen to be reading. There is no prescribed reading list, membership fee or pressure to finish a chapter. The idea is simple: to read together. This is Chandigarh Reads, a community that has grown from a modest gathering of four or five friends in 2023 to a weekly congregation of around 50 people, united by their love for reading and the company of fellow readers. Founded by Dr Karandeep, who holds a PhD in finance from Panjab University and hails from Ludhiana, the initiative draws inspiration from Cubbon Reads, a Bengaluru-based reading community. Arsh, co-founder of Cubbon Reads, helped Chandigarh Reads organise its initial sessions, laying the foundation for the city’s own chapter. In 2024, the initiative wel- Tribune News Service People read books at the Leisure Valley in Chandigarh. comed two more members — Gunveen, a designer from Christ University who manages its social media presence, and Arlita, who helps conceptualise activities for the community. Yet, Chandigarh Reads is not a conventional book club. There are no discussions to prepare for, genres to adhere to or expectations to meet. Members bring their own reading material and spend time reading in a shared space. “We are against book-sham- ing,” says Dr Karandeep, emphasising that everyone is welcome to bring any genre or reading material without fear of judgement. The choice of venue reflects the same philosophy. The group prefers natural surroundings and parks, making the most of Chandigarh’s green spaces. When extreme weather makes outdoor gatherings difficult, the sessions move to cafes across the city. The community meets every Sunday, celebrating its c m y b milestones in thoughtful ways. At its 100th reading session on August 16, 2026, the group presented customised bookmarks to readers. Its 110th session was held at Butterfly Park last Sunday. Special occasions also offer opportunities to experiment. For Independence Day, members contributed books on the theme of freedom to curate a mini-library, turning individual collections into a shared reading experience. continued on page 2 Chandigarh, November 1 The six-year-old girl assaulted by an eight-year-old student at a government school in Panchkula is recovering from her injuries but continues to suffer psychological trauma, her uncle said on Sunday. The child sustained five stitches on her head and a fracture in her nose. She was admitted to the hospital on October 29 around 12.30 pm and is now conscious, said her uncle Faizil, who has been interacting with the media on behalf of the family. “The girl is still extremely frightened. She keeps calling FILE Tribune News Service MAX 31°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 30.1°C | MIN 15.6°C SUNRISE TUESDAY 6.37 AM Resolution of UT’s key issues soon: Shah Dushyant Singh Pundir .GENERALLY CLOUDY SUNSET MONDAY 5.35 PM » MONDAY | 2 NOVEMBER 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST for her mother and telling her that she was hit. Even after regaining consciousness, she continues to recall the incident and suffers recurring trauma. Although she is conscious now, the fear of what happened remains evident,” he said. According to the uncle, the child was initially kept in a general ward for two days before being shifted to a VIP ward. He claimed that the medical attention and care being provided to her had improved after the incident received media coverage. The family is hopeful that her physical condition will continue to improve, though her emotional recovery remains a concern. The school has also deputed teachers to remain with the child during her hospitalisation. Two teachers have been assigned to the day shift and two to the night shift to ensure that she is attended to during her treatment, said Faizil. The victim’s parents refrained from interacting with the media. Shagun bag with ~5L stolen from resort Tribune News Service Mohali, November 1 Three unidentified youths stole a bag containing Rs 4-5 lakh of “shagun” money from Wedding Resorts Palace in Baltana during a marriage function on Saturday. In his complaint, Bharat Bhushan, owner of the resort and resident of Sector 49, Chandigarh, said a bag containing the shagun money went missing during the wedding function. The next morning, when the CCTV footage of the venue was examined, three unidentified youths were allegedly seen roaming around the premises around 1.15 am before fleeing with the bag. On the resort owner’s complaint, the Zirakpur police registered a theft case under Sections 305(c) and 331(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).