Chandigarh, February 14:– It is informed to General public that due to road cut for laying of tertiary treated water pipeline in dividing road sector 3/4 at Junction No. 3, High Court Chowk. Due to this work, Road Cut dividing sector 3/4 at Junction No. 3, High Court Chowk will be closed on 16.02.2025 (From 10.00 a.m. to 05.00 p.m.). General public is requested to take alternate routes and bear with Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh.
*Chandigarh, February 12*:- Due to urgent repair of 40″ I/d rising main damaged by some telecom agency, a shutdown has been allowed by the competent authority on 13.02.2025. During the shutdown, the water supply to water works Manimajra and water works Sector 26 will remain closed. Due to above shutdown there will be no pumping from Water Works Sector 32 to Manimajra area and area fed by Water Works Sector 26, Chandigarh i.e. Sector 1 to 12, 19, 20-A & B, 21-B, 26 to 30, Bapudham Colony, Industrial area Ph-1 and Sanjay Colony, Chandigarh. Accordingly, the schedule of water supply timing will be as under:
*13.02.2025*
Morning Supply: 3:30 A.M. to 09:00 A.M. Water Supply at Full pressure
Evening Supply: 06:00 P.M. to 08:00 P.M. No Water Supply
The residents are hereby requested to bear with the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh.
*FIR will be registered against employees creating hindrance to other employees for performing duty*
Acting tough against the employees goes on strike, the MC Commissioner orderd to implement ‘No work No pay’ principle against those employees who remain on strike and FIR will also be registered against those found creating hindrance to the other workers to perform their duty.
Recently, during the strike called by Door to door (D2D) Garbage Collectors on 30/31.12.2024, it had been reported that during strike they did not only came to work, but also closed the gates of MRF Centres, not allowing the garbage collection vehicles to move out and also tried to stop other workers from performing their duties.
In order to ensure that such incidents do not take place again, the following instructions have been issued for strict compliance by all the officers/ officials:-
If any worker goes on strike their pay/wages for the time they remain on strike, will be deducted on the principle of “No work No pay”.
If the striking employees create any type of disruption and hindrance for other workers, in addition to deduction of pay for the strike days, FIR will also be registered against those found responsible.
Further, during strike, if any damage to property of the Corporation is reported, one month salary will be deducted alongwith registration of FIR subject to the documentary/video evidence.
*Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla meets Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria*
*Chandigarh, February 4:-*
Chandigarh Mayor, Mrs. Harpreet Kaur Babla today met Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria and raised various key issues pertaining to the larger public interest and urged for strengthening the financial position of MC Chandigarh as well as welfare of its employees.
The Mayor briefed the Administrator that the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh (MCC) has been playing a crucial role in maintaining and developing the city’s infrastructure, ensuring sanitation, and providing essential public services on a no-profit, no-loss basis. However, despite its relentless efforts, the Corporation is facing severe financial crunch, hampering its ability to continue these vital functions.
She further stated that with the establishment of MCC, several departments of the Chandigarh Administration, including the Engineering Department, Medical Officer of Health, and Fire & Emergency Wing, were transferred to its jurisdiction. Additionally, the staff and responsibilities of the Notified Area Committee, Manimajra, also came under MCC’s ambit. The Engineering Department itself comprises Public Health, B&R, Horticulture, and the Electrical Wing.
MCC’s Responsibilities and Financial Challenges
MCC remains highly dependent on grants-in-aid from the Chandigarh Administration.
She briefed that while MCC generate some revenue through property tax and water bills, these funds are insufficient to cover the increasing costs of maintaining civic amenities in the city.
The Mayor raised some key issues with the Administrator including:
• Road Infrastructure: MCC maintains 2,000 km of roads, including major and internal roads, as well as parking lots. 270 km of roads are constructed or repaired annually to ensure smooth traffic movement, yet no direct revenue is generated from this work.
• Green Spaces & Beautification: The Corporation maintains 1,800 neighborhood parks, over 100 large parks, and green belts, along with 1.75 lakh trees and bushes. Additionally, open-air gyms have been set up in most parks to promote public health—all at MCC’s expense, without any income in return.
• Sanitation & Animal Welfare: MCC is responsible for garbage collection, segregation, processing, and sterilization of stray animals. It also manages cattle shelters and fodder supply for stray cows, incurring substantial costs.
• Street Lighting & Electricity Repairs: MCC bears the full cost of maintaining street lights on key roads (V-3, V-4, V-5, and V-6) without any financial assistance from the Chandigarh Administration.
Funding Shortfall & Cost-Cutting Measures
Despite its expanding responsibilities, MCC has received only ₹560 crore in grant-in-aid for the 2024-25 financial year, against a demand of ₹1,651.75 crore as per the 4th Delhi Finance Commission recommendations. In the past five years, grants have increased at an average rate of only 4.53%, while annual expenses have grown by 10%.
The Mayor said that in response to the financial crisis, MCC has implemented several cost-cutting measures, including:
• Reducing outsourcing staff (200 positions removed).
• Minimizing vehicle expenses for officers/officials.
• Cutting costs in events like the Chrysanthemum Show 2024.
• Reducing expenses for General House meetings by 50%.
• Voluntary surrender of 50% entertainment expenses by senior officers.
Additionally, MCC has successfully recovered ₹14.15 crore from defaulters of water tariffs, property tax, and vendor charges, even canceling 6,841 vendor sites due to non-payment. However, major property tax defaulters include government departments, with many cases stuck in litigation.
She urged for urgent additional grant of ₹170 crore to meet salary, pension, electricity bills, fuel costs, and other essential expenditures for February and March 2025. She requested the Administrator for issuing necessary directions to the Chandigarh Administration to release these funds to ensure the smooth functioning of civic services.
Furthermore, She appealed for quarterly release of grants-in-aid in the 2025-26 financial year, instead of monthly disbursements, to enable better financial planning and efficient management of resources.
She said that the Municipal Corporation remains committed to serving Chandigarh’s residents with world-class civic amenities and urged the Chandigarh Administration to provide the necessary financial support for the city’s continued growth and development.
The Mayor said that the Administrator assured full support from the Chandigarh Administration and directed the concerned officers to convene a urgent meeting shortly to discuss financial status of MC Chandigarh in detail.
Chandigarh, February 1, 2025: The 38th AIU (Association of Indian Universities) North Zone Inter-University Youth Festival kicked off today at Panjab University (PU), marking its return to the campus after a gap of seven years. The prestigious cultural event will continue until February 5, 2025, and promises to be a vibrant celebration of student talent and creativity.
The festival began with an impressive cultural procession, featuring contingents from 21 universities across the northern states of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and Chandigarh. The procession, which began at the Directorate of Sports, culminated at the Law Auditorium for the inaugural ceremony.
The Chief Guest, Sh. Rajeev Verma, Chief Secretary of Chandigarh Administration, highlighted the importance of such cultural events in shaping holistic personalities and encouraged the youth to embrace creativity for their overall development.
Adding to the excitement, renowned Sufi singer Kanwar Grewal, the Guest of Honor, captivated the audience with his mesmerising performance, leaving everyone spellbound with his soulful renditions.
In her keynote address, Prof. Renu Vig, Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, recounted the glorious history of Panjab University, emphasising its legendary contributions to education and research. She also applauded the organizing team for ensuring a successful start to the festival.
Dr. Rohit Sharma, Director of the Department of Youth Welfare, introduced the festival’s theme, emphasising its significance in fostering artistic talent and cultural unity.
Also gracing the occasion were Dr. Arun Patil, Observer from AIU, Prof. Y.P. Verma, Registrar of Panjab University, and Prof. Sanjay Kaushik, Dean of the College Development Council, who extended their best wishes to the participants and organizers.
With over 1,000 students participating in the event, the festival is set to showcase an eclectic mix of talent across 27 events, spanning various categories such as Theatre, Music, Fine Arts, Literary Arts, and Dance. The competitions are expected to offer a rich cultural experience, highlighting the creativity, passion, and dedication of students from across the region.
This year’s event, which is expected to attract large audiences, underscores the value of cultural exchange in enhancing student life and fostering a deeper understanding of diverse artistic traditions.
*Chandigarh, January 31:-* After joining the office on the very first day, the City Mayor Mrs. Harpreet Kaur Babla visited dumping ground and legacy mining site at Dadumajra to take stock of progress work of waste management and completion of the bio mining project.
In a significant step towards improving waste management in the city, the Mayor accompanied by Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, Commissioner and other concerned officers assessed the current status of the waste management and bio mining project. The visit aimed to review ongoing waste disposal processes and explore ways to enhance the capacity of the site.
During the visit, the MC Commissioner comprehensively briefed the Mayor on the present condition of the dump site. The Commissioner elaborated on the segregation process of wet and dry waste, explaining how different types of waste are handled to minimize the hazardous impact to preserve environment. Special attention was given to horticulture waste management.
The Commissioner also highlighted the ongoing efforts to ensure daily waste processing at the site. A key focus of the discussion was the initiative to produce bio-soil from organic waste, which can be utilized for agricultural and landscaping purposes.
The Mayor stressed upon to make the site cleaner and greener. She issued strong directive to the concerned officers for transformation of the dumping site and make this place clean and beautiful. She said that trees such as Neem and oxygen-rich species to may be planted near the boundary wall of the dumping site to enhance the beauty of the area.
The Mayor further encouraged all Municipal officers to work diligently towards this goal and extended best wishes to the entire team of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh. The officers apprised the Mayor that entire dumping ground will be cleaned before August this year.
मंच 1 लाख रुपये से 3 लाख रुपये तक की राशि के वित्तीय विवादों से संबंधित शिकायतों की करेगा सुनवाई
चंडीगढ़, 30 जनवरी – उत्तर हरियाणा बिजली वितरण निगम जोनल उपभोक्ता शिकायत निवारण मंच प्रत्येक मामले में 1 लाख रुपये से अधिक और 3 लाख रुपये तक की राशि के वित्तीय विवादों से संबंधित शिकायतों की सुनवाई करेगा। पंचकूला जोन के अंतर्गत आने वाले जिलों (कुरुक्षेत्र, अंबाला, पंचकूला, कैथल और यमुनानगर) के उपभोक्ताओं की शिकायतों का निवारण 03,10, 17 और 24 फ़रवरी को जोनल उपभोक्ता शिकायत निवारण मंच पंचकूला में उपभोक्ताओं की समस्याओं का समाधान किया जाएगा।
निगम के प्रवक्ता ने बताया कि पंचकूला जोन के अंतर्गत आने वाले जिलों के उपभोक्ताओं के गलत बिलों, बिजली की दरों से सम्बंधित मामलों, मीटर सिक्योरिटी से जुड़े मामलों, ख़राब हुए मीटरों से सम्बंधित मामलों, वोल्टेज से जुड़े हुए मामलों का निस्तारण किया जाएगा। इस दौरान बिजली चोरी, बिजली के दुरूप्योग और घातक गैर-घातक दुर्घटना आदि मामलों पर विचार नहीं किया जाएगा। उपभोक्ता और निगम के बीच किसी भी विवाद के निपटान के लिए फोरम में वित्तिय विवादों से संबंधित शिकायत प्रस्तुत करने से पहले पिछले छह महीनों के दौरान उपभोक्ता द्वारा भुगतान किए गए बिजली के औसत शुल्क के आधार पर गणना की गई प्रत्येक माह के लिए दावा की गई राशि या उसके द्वारा देय बिजली शुल्क के बराबर राशि, जो कम है, उपभोक्ता को जमा करवानी होगी। इस दौरान उपभोक्ता को प्रमाणित करना होगा कि यह मामला अदालत, प्राधिकरण या फोरम के समक्ष पेंडिंग (लंबित) नहीं है क्योंकि इस न्यायालय या फोरम में विचाराधीन मामलों पर बैठक के दौरान विचार नहीं किया जाएगा।
उत्तर हरियाणा बिजली वितरण निगम उपभोक्ताओं से अपील करता है कि वे अपनी बिजली से संबंधित समस्याओं के समाधान के लिए 03, 10, 17 और 24 फ़रवरी को यू.एच.बि.वि.एन के मुख्यालय, विद्युत सदन, इंडस्ट्रियल प्लाट-3 और 4, सेक्टर-14, पंचकूला में प्रातः 11:30 बजे से दोपहर 1:30 बजे तक होने वाली कार्यवाही में सम्मिलित होकर अपनी समस्याओं का समाधान करवाएं
The Mechanical Engineering Department of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), Panjab University, hosted an inspiring session titled “Know Your Army and Career Prospects in Indian Army”.
The event, organised to provide insights into the Indian Army’s functioning and career opportunities, was graced by the presence of Lt. Col. Anshula Sharma as the Guest of Honour cum Expert Speaker. Her enriching address captivated the audience as she shed light on the Army’s pivotal role in safeguarding the nation, its organisational structure, and the numerous career avenues available to young aspirants, including technical and non-technical roles.
Lt. Col. Sharma emphasized the values of discipline, leadership, and service to the nation while sharing her personal experiences in the armed forces. She also discussed various entry pathways into the Indian Army, such as the National Defence Academy (NDA), Combined Defence Services (CDS), etc, encouraging students to pursue these prestigious opportunities.
Mechanical Engineering Coordinator Prof. Shankar Sehgal expressed his gratitude to Lt. Col. Anshula Sharma for her inspiring address and applauded the enthusiasm of the students who attended in large numbers. The lecture was organized under the inspiring leadership of Prof. Sanjeev Puri, Director of UIET, whose visionary approach focuses on nurturing well-rounded students by encouraging growth beyond technical knowledge.
The seminar hall witnessed enthusiastic participation, with students engaging actively in a thought-provoking Q&A session. Lt. Col. Sharma patiently addressed their queries, providing detailed guidance on the life of an army officer and the preparation strategies required to excel in various entry examinations for the Indian Army. Dr. Parveen Goyal, NSS Coordinator, Panjab University delivered the Vote of Thanks, emphasising how engaging, informative, and captivating the expert talk was.
The Enactus SSBUICET team of Panjab University, in collaboration with Girls Hostel No. 9, Panjab University conducted an engaging workshop on Menstrual Health and Hygiene. Prof. Seema Kapoor, Faculty Advisor of Enactus, highlighted that this workshop which is 80th in Mytharche series aimed to empower participants with essential knowledge and foster open discussions about menstruation.
The workshop was graced by the presence of Prof. Simrit Kahlon, Dean Student Welfare (Women) and Prof. Naresh Kumar, Associate Dean Student Welfare. Prof. Kahlon applauded the Enactus team for their initiatives centered on women’s health and well-being. She acknowledged their steadfast dedication to social entrepreneurship and innovative community service, highlighting the significant and enduring impact of their efforts. Prof. Naresh highlighted that continued dedication of team reflects a strong commitment to bridging gaps in education, healthcare, skill development and economic empowerment for underserved communities.
Dr. Rajni Lamba, CEO of The Rural Environmental Enterprises Development Society (The REEDS), delivered a comprehensive expert talk on the importance of menstrual hygiene. Her discussion covered the biological aspects of menstruation, the significance of proper hygiene and strategies for combatting societal stigma. She highlighted the critical need for accessible menstrual hygiene products for women especially in rural areas. The workshop also included a skit, which depicted the challenges women face due to menstrual stigma and limited resources.
Dr. Nishima Wangoo and Dr. Varinder Kaur, Wardens of Hostel No. 9 & 10, residents of Girl’s Hostels and Enactus members actively participated in the workshop, highlighting the community’s strong commitment to fostering a healthy dialogue on menstrual health. The event concluded with a Q&A session where participants shared personal stories and discussed ways to promote menstrual equity. Muskan Sihag, President of Enactus, emphasized that the event celebrated womanhood and aligned with Enactus Panjab University’s mission to promote inclusivity. She also shared that eco-friendly, cloth-based sanitary napkins were distributed to the hostel staff, sponsored by Versatile Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Ludhiana.
Prof. Amit Chauhan, Dean Student Welfare conveyed that Enactus team is showcasing exemplary youth leadership and compassion. Their efforts are making a profound impact by transforming lives and encouraging others to contribute to society.
Chandigarh, January 27:- The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has organized a colorful function to commemorate the Republic Day in MCC building, Sector 17, here on 26th January. Sh. Kuldeep Kumar, Mayor of Chandigarh was the Chief Guest on the occasion.
While addressing the gathering on the occasion after unfurling the National Flag, Mayor said that Chandigarh is a beautiful city and it is our prime duty to maintain its beauty. He said that being a Smart City, Chandigarh needs to be maintained its cleanliness, all basic amenities to the citizens and latest technology and infrastructure etc.
Sh. Kuldeep Kumar, Mayor, Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, Commissioner awarded NGOs and individuals for their best services rendered towards social service and Swachhata, commendation certificates to Municipal Corporation officials.
The NGOs and individuals awarded during the republic day function were including Sh. Sandeep Gupta (Social Worker), Sh. Naresh Bansal (Advisor Chandigarh Traders Association), Ms. Usha Sista (Yoga Teacher), Sh. Ritesh Kumar Bhatia (Social Worker), Dr. B.L. Arora (Chairman, Shree Balaji Sewak Parivar), Sh. Inderpal (Social Worker), Ms. Manjula Sularia (Director Prasanchetas Foundation Chandigarh), Sh. Dharambir Duggal (Social Worker), Ms. Dilpreet Kaur(Sports Person), Ms. Tanveer Kaur (Sports Person), Sh. Nitesh Kushwaha (President Mithila Student Union, Chandigarh), Ms. Karman Preet Kaur (Social Worker), Ms. Gursimran Kaur (Social Worker), Ms. Isha Bhardwaj (Social Worker), Sh. Ravinder Singh (Chairman, Onkar Charitable Foundation NGO/Social Worker), Ms. Kanti Devi (President Shree Hari Simran Sewa Samiti, Chandigarh), Sh. Tanish Aggarwal (Student), Ms. Pooja Moudgil (Social Worker), Sh. Vijay Pal Goyal (Environmentalist), Sh. Adarsh Rai (Social Worker), Sh. Sheetal Garg (Vice President Om Mahadeve Kawad Sewa Dal), Sh. Abhishek Shrivastav (Social Worker), Sh. Rakesh Bali (Social Worker), Sh. Prempal Chauhan (Social Worker), Sh. Gurjit Singh Shah (Teacher Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sec – 32, Chd), Sh. Dev Anand (Teacher Govt. High School, Sec-41, Chd), Sh. Rakesh Kumar Sahota (Teacher, Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sec – 25, Chd.) and Sh. Rishi Raj Tomer (Teacher, Govt. High School, Sec 52, Chd) for their contribution to the society.
The MCC officials who got commendation certificates including Sh. Raj Kumar (Clerk, Contract), Sh. Satpal Singh (Sub Fire Officer), Sh. Ajit Singh (Leading Fireman), Sh. Paramjit Singh (Leading Fireman), Sh. Subhash (Leading Fireman), Sh. Vishu Mor (Fireman), Sh. Daljeet Singh (Junior Engineer), Ms. Poonam Maggo (Supdt. Grade-II), Smt. Sunita Saini (Sr. Assistant), Sh. Baljeet Singh (Mali), Sh. Ayaswamy (Beldar), Sh. Suresh Kumar (Mali), Sh. Mati Raj Sharma (Sr. Assistant), Sh. Nirmal Singh (Fitter Distribution), Sh. Lakhwinder Singh (Tube-well Operator), Sh. Abhishek Pandey (Helper), Sh. Bhim Raj Gupta (Sr. Assistant), Ms. Jaspreet Kaur (Women Coolie, Daily Wage), Sh. Kulwinder Singh (DEO Outsource), Sh. Arwind Bhumbla (Helper, Outsource), Ms Charu Bhargav (DEO, Outsource), Sh. Balbir (Safaiwala, MTS), Sh. Sanjeev (Safiwala, MTS, Outsource) Sh. Surinder (Safai Karamchari, MTS), Sh. Amrinder Singh, Sh. Sukhdev Singh (Inspector), Sh. Jaspal Singh, Sh. Naresh Kumar and Ms. Daljeet Kaur (Security Guard).
