Top Headlines of the Day

1. Cases up 44% this week in Chandigarh

In August, the city had reported between 100 and 150 cases of Covid every day. The number steadily rose to over 300 cases per day in September. For most of October, the daily average of the number of cases fell to 50. In the last week, however, the cases have again gained momentum with at least 100 cases being reported each day.

2. 106 fresh cases in Chandigarh, 66 in Panchkula

Chandigarh’s COVID-19 tally rose to 15,134 on Sunday as 109 fresh cases were reported, while the death toll reached 234 with two more fatalities, according to a medical bulletin. A total of 1,15,589 samples have been taken for testing so far. Of these, 99,769 samples have tested negative, while reports of 106 are awaited, it said.

The district today reported 66 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 7,509. While 7,032 patients have defeated the virus so far, 360 cases are still active. The recovery rate of the district stands at 93.64 percent.

3. After a ‘complete ban’ Haryana govt allows bursting of crackers for two hours on Diwali

Two days after announcing a “complete ban” on the sale of firecrackers, the Haryana government on Sunday allowed bursting them for two hours on Diwali. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday in Fatehabad said people will be permitted to burst firecrackers for only two hours on Diwali.

4. Chandigarh admin refuses to budge, firecracker ban to stay

Notwithstanding appeals by traders, the UT administration is unlikely to give a three-hour relaxation for sale and bursting of firecrackers on Diwali.

“I am not in favor of the three-hour relaxation being demanded. The lives and health of senior citizens and patients are far more important than revelry of children,” said UT adviser Manoj Parida.

The administration on November 6 had enforced an immediate ban on the sale and use of firecrackers under the Disaster Management Act until further notice. This had prompted traders’ associations to seek a three-hour relaxation on Diwali. They have also planned to approach the Punjab and Haryana high court.

The Chandigarh Beopar Mandal on Sunday wrote a letter in this regard to UT administrator VP Singh Badnore.

5. Panchkula Govt. to begin online booking for Diwali stalls today

The Panchkula Municipal Corporation will begin online booking for Diwali stalls in the market areas from 11 am tomorrow amid a lack of clarity among shopkeepers. For this, the MC has issued terms and conditions on a dedicated portal – stallbooking.online.

A shopkeeper said: “In the past few days, the MC has altered terms and conditions for at least three times. Still, there is no clarity. I want to ask the MC authorities if any shopkeeper decides not to book a space in front of his shop, they will allot that particular space to anyone else (other than shopkeeper) or not.”

6. Chandigarh Bicycle-sharing project likely to start this month

People will be able to use bicycles and e-bikes from docking stations on an hourly rental basis after November 15. Under the bicycle sharing project, Chandigarh Cycles4Change Challenge is being organized. It is a trial before lunching all 5,000 bicycle/e-bikes at 617 docking stations. Initially, 100 bikes will be made available at 10 stations. Later, it will be doubled in another 10 days.

7. MC moves to set up night shelters for the homeless

With the winter setting in, the local Municipal Corporation has started the process of setting up temporary waterproof night shelters for the homeless in different parts of the city.

The shelters will be set up in several areas, including near the GMCH, Sector 32, the GMSH, Sector 16, the PGI, the ISBT, Sector 17, the ISBT, Sector 43, Sector 20, 22, 29, and 9, and some markets. These will have quilts, mattresses, pillows, drinking water, and lights. The temporary night shelters are put up every winter to provide relief to the homeless, who sleep in public places.

The homeless can be seen sleeping in market corridors and other open spaces even during the harsh winter.

8. Chandigarh Smart City Limited’s 24X7 water supply project in Manimajra delayed again

In the absence of bidders, the ambitious 24X7 water supply project in Manimajra has been delayed yet again.

The scope of the project entails retrofitting of the existing network, laying of the new network, including civil, electromechanical, instrumentation, smart water metering, SCADA, and operation and maintenance for 15 years.

A total of 13,700 water connections have been planned to be covered in Manimajra. One of the main focus areas will be to reduce water leakage from the existing 50% to 15%

Source: Tribune, HT times