Hillary Victor is a Special Correspondent at Chandigarh.He covers Chandigarh administration, municipal corporation and all political parties.Articles by Hillary Victor [46% Chandigarh employee transfers reversed in past two years](/cities/chandigarh-news/46-chandigarh-employee-transfers-reversed-in-past-two-years-101731872735531.html) A senior official from the Chandigarh administration explained that as per the transfer policy, employees who are due to retire within a year can be reposted to their original positions [Haven’t allotted land to Haryana for new assembly complex: UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria](/cities/chandigarh-news/havent-allotted-land-to-haryana-for-new-assembly-complex-ut-administrator-gulab-chand-kataria-101731872015325.html) Punjab and Haryana currently share the Vidhan Sabha complex in Sector 1, Chandigarh.In 2022, the then Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had pushed for the state’s rights in the existing Vidhan Sabha, in light of a potential increase in assembly seats after the 2026 delimitation exercise.
[‘Unsuitable’: Chandigarh on land offered by Haryana](/cities/chandigarh-news/unsuitable-chandigarh-on-land-offered-by-haryana-101731697497119.html) At present, Punjab and Haryana share the Vidhan Sabha complex.
In July 2023, the UT administration agreed to allot 10 acres to Haryana for the new assembly building and subsequently the latter wrote to the Centre for environmental clearance for the 12-acre land.[Mohali: 11 years on, GMADA to launch Ecocity-2 scheme in January 2025](/cities/chandigarh-news/mohali-11-years-on-gmada-to-launch-ecocity-2-scheme-in-january-2025-101731697317324.html) The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Punjab’s housing and urban development secretary Rahul Tiwari on November 11 [Chandigarh: Green ministry demarcates area around Sukhna on Haryana side](/cities/chandigarh-news/green-ministry-demarcates-area-around-sukhna-on-haryana-side-101731441216548.html) The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary spread over 25.98 square km (about 6420 acres), is under the administrative control of the union territory of Chandigarh [Chandigarh’s excise department misses revenue target by ₹36-cr: CAG audit](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarhs-excise-department-misses-revenue-target-by-36-cr-cag-audit-101731436892334.html) The CAG report also stated that the department has consistently failed to meet its targets since 2019-20 financial year [Govt’s low ridership concerns may delay Chandigarh Metro project](/cities/chandigarh-news/govts-low-ridership-concerns-may-delay-chandigarh-metro-project-101731094087929.html) Speaking to the media on Friday, Union minister of power and housing and urban affairs Manohar Lal Khattar emphasised that the success of Metro systems largely depended on ridership numbers.[Rooftop solar plants installation: Nov 6 deadline over, Chandigarh admn’s action to follow](/cities/chandigarh-news/rooftop-solar-plants-installation-nov-6-deadline-over-chandigarh-admn-s-action-to-follow-101731050794152.html) A city-based lawyer has already challenged Chandigarh administration’s notice before the high court, claiming that the notices are illegal, without any legal sanction and authority [After six-year gap, Chandigarh admn to start dog census today](/cities/chandigarh-news/after-six-year-gap-chandigarh-admn-to-start-dog-census-today-101730924491415.html) Being held after a six-year gap, the census, covering both stray and pet/domesticated animals, is expected to be completed by February next year [Chandigarh: As private hotel players check in, CITCO plans ‘comeback’](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarhas-private-hotel-players-check-in-citco-plans-comeback-101730834939925.html) Board members noted that the significant revenue dip at Hotel Mountview in Sector 10 was largely due to competition from recently opened private hotels, including both managed and independently operated properties [2008 Employees’ Housing Scheme: Chandigarh admn’s delay in approaching SC leaves employees in limbo](/cities/chandigarh-news/2008-employees-housing-scheme-chandigarh-admn-s-delay-in-approaching-sc-leaves-employees-in-limbo-101730834639984.html) The Chandigarh administration had planned to challenge high court’s May 30 directive to construct the flats within a year and provide them at the 2008 rates, claiming it will lead to a ₹2,000-crore loss [Chandigarh suffers ₹240 crore revenue loss in first half of fiscal year](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-suffers-240-crore-revenue-loss-in-first-half-of-fiscal-year-101730750656535.html) While the Chandigarh administration has set an ambitious revenue target of ₹6,112 crore this fiscal, it has managed to collect only ₹2,815.94 crore (46.07% of the target) in the first six months (April 1 to September 30, 2024).
This represents a 1.48% decrease from the same period in 2023, when ₹2,815.04 crore was collected against a target of ₹5,918.93 crore.[Ahead of polls, members allege Chandigarh Club teeming with corruption](/cities/chandigarh-news/ahead-of-polls-members-allege-chandigarh-club-teeming-with-corruption-101730663822623.html) In a letter addressed to the Chandigarh adviser, club members called for transparency in the elections, being held for the first time in eight years.[Chandigarh: Metro to be delayed as new feasibility panel takes shape](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarhmetro-to-be-delayed-as-new-feasibility-panel-takes-shape-101730663460096.html) Two months after ordering analysis of project’s viability in similarly sized cities, Chandigarh administrator now forms committee to undertake the task [Mohali local bus service project back on track](/cities/chandigarh-news/mohali-local-bus-service-project-back-on-track-101730576804130.html) Working on a feasibility study, the consultant, after also mapping out routes, is expected to submit a report by the end of this month [Chandigarh admn-IAF deadlock keeping heritage centre’s Phase 2 from taking off](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-admn-iaf-deadlock-keeping-heritage-centre-s-phase-2-from-taking-off-101730491649209.html) Christened “Indian Air Force Aerospace and Technical Centre”, Phase 2 will incorporate advanced technology-driven features and experiences, aimed at inspiring young individuals to join the air force [Chandigarh: Motors roar, gold loses lustre on Dhanteras](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-motors-roar-gold-loses-lustre-on-dhanteras-101730266907029.html) Auto sales reflected strong customer enthusiasm, with vehicles from brands like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), Toyota, Honda, Kia and Hero MotoCorp seeing the most demand [Chandigarh: Nov 6 deadline looms, yet rooftop solar plant compliance remains low](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-nov-6-deadline-looms-yet-rooftop-solar-plant-compliance-remains-low-101730144993170.html) A senior officer from the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) stated that the UT Estate Office will take action against defaulters after November 6 [Chandigarh to earmark 12 auto pick-up & drop-off points on Madhya Marg](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-to-earmark-12-auto-pick-up-drop-off-points-on-madhya-marg-101730056045883.html) The work is expected to be completed within two months, with an estimated expenditure of ₹13.15 lakh; this project will be implemented on a pilot basis [Punjab, Haryana ministers fail to pay ₹4.42 cr dues for UT houses: Audit](/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-haryana-ministers-fail-to-pay-4-42-cr-dues-for-ut-houses-audit-101729891357276.html) An audit conducted for years 2021 to 2023 revealed that a licence fee amount of ₹4.42 crore was pending in respect of houses occupied by the ministers or deputy ministers of Punjab and Haryana.[GMADA move adds 80 acres in Sec 76-80 boundary, results in ₹5 crore burden on residents](/cities/chandigarh-news/gmada-move-adds-80-acres-in-sec-76-80-boundary-results-in-5-crore-burden-on-residents-101729890217336.html) GMADA’s inclusion of 80 acres in Sectors 76-80 adds ₹5 crore in charges for residents, sparking backlash amid ongoing enhancement fee disputes.[Licence fee of govt houses not revised, Chandigarh loses ₹12 cr: Audit](/cities/chandigarh-news/licence-fee-of-govt-houses-not-revised-chandigarh-loses-12-cr-audit-101729713958429.html) House allotment committee in Sector 18, Chandigarh, houses to the government employees under the rules of Government Residences (Chandigarh Administration General Pool) Allotment Rules, 1996 [Mohali: GMADA ‘inaction’ to cost residents of Sectors 76-80 ₹288 crore more](/cities/chandigarh-news/mohali-gmada-inaction-to-cost-residents-of-sectors-76-80-288-crore-more-101729624595604.html) Residents have questioned why the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority waited so long to collect the fee that was mentioned in their documents [Chandigarh: Four-lane ring road from Mullanpur to Baddi on the anvil](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-four-lane-ring-road-from-mullanpur-to-baddi-on-the-anvil-101729530612886.html) An official said the project was awaiting forest clearance from the Punjab government; also, a detailed project report is being prepared [UT yet to take action against last year’s food adulterators](/cities/chandigarh-news/ut-yet-to-take-action-against-last-year-s-food-adulterators-101729528511601.html) Although the health department has filed cases against shop owners before the adjudicating officer, who is the deputy commissioner (DC), for the samples that failed last year; hearings are still ongoing and not a single case has been resolved [‘Untreated sewage from Zirakpur entering Ghaggar’: Panel sounds alarm](/cities/chandigarh-news/untreated-sewage-from-zirakpur-entering-ghaggar-panel-sounds-alarm-101729195512123.html) After survey on NGT’s directions, panel calls for improvement in waste management, regulatory enforcement to halt degradation of the river [In a first, Chandigarh home secretary won’t be CITCO chairman](/cities/chandigarh-news/in-a-first-chandigarh-home-secretary-won-t-be-citcochairman-101729021639215.html) Since the formation of CITCO in 1974, the Chandigarh home secretary, traditionally a Haryana cadre IAS officer, has held the chairman’s position [Chandigarh administration issues another show-cause notice to CGA for licence violations](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-administration-issues-another-show-cause-notice-to-cga-for-licence-violations-101728933830198.html) The violations include Chandigarh Golf Association’s failure to deposit government dues amounting to ₹1.17 crore in GST and ₹3.9 lakh in service tax, as per Clause 4 of the licence deed [Chandigarh 24×7 water supply project’s deadline pushed back 2 years](/cities/chandigarh-news/chandigarh-24×7-water-supply-project-s-deadline-pushed-back-2-years-101728842371136.html) Officials aware of the developments officials attribute the delay in water supply project to inclusion of all 13 villages in the project [RTI Act marks 19 years: Chandigarh logs 1.18 lakh applications, police get most requests](/cities/chandigarh-news/rti-act-marks-19-years-chandigarh-logs-1-18-lakh-applications-police-get-most-requests-101728672893334.html) In Chandigarh, only around 9% of RTI applications led to a second appeal, indicating that over 90% of applicants were satisfied with the government’s responses—a significant achievement, according to transparency law activists SHARE Copy.
