Latest news with #RajeevVerma
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
Chandigarh achieves 100% wastewater treatment capacity
With the treatment capacity exceeding its wastewater generation, Chandigarh has achieved a significant milestone in environmental management. The city currently generates approximately 232 million litres per day (MLD) of wastewater, against a treatment capacity of about 255 MLD — marking over 100 per cent treatment capability. This development was highlighted during a review meeting chaired by Rajeev Verma, chief secretary, UT Chandigarh, to assess compliance with the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a matter of 2018 regarding the compliance of Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016 and other environmental issues. The meeting was attended by senior officials including Mandip Singh Brar, secretary (environment and local government), Chandigarh Administration; Diprava Lakra, Finance Secretary, Chandigarh Administration; Saurabh Kumar, director (environment), Chandigarh Administration; Amit Kumar, commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh; C B Ojha, Chief Engineer, Engineering Department, Chandigarh Administration; and Sanjay Arora, chief engineer, MC. Kumar, who also serves as member secretary of CPCC, briefed the gathering on the city's waste management performance. All Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are under close monitoring, and expert consultations are underway to ensure full compliance with prescribed norms. Weekly reviews are being held to ensure that no untreated sewage is discharged into natural drains. The laying of a tertiary treated water distribution network is progressing steadily, with connections being extended to parks, roundabouts, road berms, kanal houses, institutions, and industrial units, the official said. Regarding solid waste, the city generates about 500 tonnes per day (TPD), which is collected door-to-door by the MC using specially designed compartmentalised vehicles. This waste is entirely processed, and the bioremediation of legacy waste is currently in progress, targeted for completion by July 2025. Leachate from the landfill is being managed via two operational leachate treatment plants (LTPs). The Chief Secretary directed that all remaining works be expedited and completed within the set de Strict instructions were issued to ensure that no untreated wastewater enters the choes or drains, and no solid waste is dumped across the city. Departments were asked to implement detailed plans to prevent illegal dumping, especially at vulnerable sites, and begin phased installation of CCTV cameras for enforcement under MC's Bye-Laws 2018. He also instructed the civic body to intensify efforts in waste segregation through surprise inspections and impose fines on violators, along with maintaining strict vigilance against solid waste burning.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Preparations underway for International Yoga Day celebrations in Chandigarh
1 2 Chandigarh: A meeting was held on Tuesday, chaired by chief secretary Rajeev Verma, to review and finalise the arrangements for the upcoming International Yoga Day celebrations scheduled for June 21. This year marks the successful completion of a decade of International Yoga Day celebrations across the globe. To commemorate this significant milestone, the Chandigarh Administration will organise the state-level celebrations at two iconic venues – Tiranga Park, Sector 17, and Rock Garden, Sector 1. The Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria will be the chief guest at Tiranga Park event. The celebrations are expected to witness participation from around 1,800 citizens across all age groups and walks of life, including students, senior citizens, govt officials, yoga enthusiasts, police, MC, civil defence volunteers, and members of various organisations and institutions. The social welfare department, in coordination with the directorate of Ayush, will hold celebrations of the 11th International Yoga Day at Rock Garden, where around 1,100 Anganwadi workers, creche helpers, CCI children, and others will participate. In addition to the state-level events, yoga sessions and celebrations will be held at over 140 locations across the UT, ensuring wide participation and outreach in the City Beautiful. The chief secretary directed all departments to work in close coordination to ensure the successful and smooth conduct of the event. Present during the meeting were Diprava Lakra, secretary finance; RK Singh, DGP; Amit Kumar, commissioner MC; Ajay Chagti, secretary health; Anuradha Chagti, secretary social welfare; Hari Kallikkat, secretary IT; and other senior officials of the administration.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh chief secretary orders quick fix to power outages
Chief secretary Rajeev Verma conducted a review meeting of Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL) on Tuesday following rising public complaints about frequent unscheduled power cuts across the city. The meeting, attended by engineering secretary Prerna Puri, chief engineer CB Ojha and senior CPDL officials, focused on improving the power situation since CPDL took over distribution responsibilities on February 1 this year. During the meeting, Verma expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating power supply quality, particularly highlighting issues of unscheduled outages and delayed response times that have inconvenienced residents. CPDL officials presented a detailed status report outlining both ongoing corrective measures and future plans to stabilise the power supply. Officials informed that CPDL has initiated grid infrastructure strengthening through scheduled maintenance at all substations, especially crucial ahead of peak summer demand. To address immediate fault resolution, CPDL has outsourced specialised Fault Response Teams (FRTs) to ensure quicker complaint redressal. On the consumer service front, CPDL has launched a 24x7 call centre, a dedicated WhatsApp helpline, and now provides both electricity meters and power cables free of cost — items that consumers previously had to purchase themselves. The new system ensures meter installations within 72 hours of application. The presentation also revealed significant challenges, including aging infrastructure with frequent equipment failures identified during post-privatisation surveys and acute staff shortages currently being managed through outsourced manpower. Looking ahead, CPDL is developing a robust cybersecurity framework and an 'islanding network' to maintain uninterrupted power supply to critical services like hospitals during grid failures. The CPDL is also actively implementing the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana to promote solar energy adoption. The chief secretary was also apprised of the ongoing rollout of the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG-MBY), along with future projects aimed at expanding and modernising Chandigarh's power delivery network. The chief secretary has directed officials to ensure that power disruption is minimalised and response time be improved.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UT chief secy takes up power cuts with CPDL
Chandigarh: The performance of Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited since the transition of distribution responsibilities on Feb 1 was reviewed Tuesday by chief secretary Rajeev Verma. Verma raised concerns over the current power supply quality due to unscheduled outages and delayed responses across Chandigarh. He was subsequently briefed on CPDL's efforts, which include grid infrastructure strengthening and maintenance at all grid substations through scheduled shutdowns. The chief secretary was also informed about the customer service initiatives, featuring a newly launched 24×7 call centre and a dedicated WhatsApp helpline for consumers. In addition, CPDL enhanced its services by installing new electricity meters within 72 hours. It also supplies both the meter and the power cable — items consumers previously had to purchase themselves, Verma was told. The detailed presentation by CPDL management also highlighted several pressing challenges, including the ageing infrastructure, with frequent equipment failures due to outdated systems identified during a post-privatisation survey. It was informed that proactive summer preparedness, involving targeted maintenance at grid substations to pre-empt heat-driven demand peaks, was being done to ensure minimum inconvenience to the residents of Chandigarh. To strengthen its power distribution infrastructure, CPDL has outsourced fault response teams to ensure that consumer complaints and technical faults are addressed promptly.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
CHB back-pedals on Sector-53 housing scheme, to refund ₹7.5-crore application fee
The Chandigarh Housing Board still cannot seem to make up its mind about the long-delayed General Housing Scheme in Sector 53 — its only offering since 2016. After conducting a much-publicised demand survey, which received an enthusiastic response, the board has now decided to refund the nearly ₹7.5 crore collected from the hopeful applicants. The demand survey, which ended on March 3, saw 7,468 applicants vying for 372 flats across three categories — nearly 20 applicants per unit — reflecting a strong demand. To confirm their interest, the applicants had deposited ₹10,000 for High-Income Group (HIG) and Middle-Income Group (MIG) flats, and ₹5,000 for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats. However, a sharp hike in the city's collector rates, which took effect from April 1, pushed the flat prices up by 35% to 40%, throwing the project into uncertainty. When the demand survey was conducted, just weeks before the new collector rates were implemented, the estimated cost of the three-bedroom, two-bedroom and two-bedroom EWS flats was ₹1.65 crore, ₹1.40 crore and ₹55 lakh, respectively. But under the new collector rates, the prices have risen to a staggering ₹2.29 crore for a three-bedroom flat, ₹1.97 crore for a two-bedroom flat and ₹73 lakh for an EWS flat, leaving officials pondering whether the interested applicants will still be willing to proceed at the higher prices. Subsequently, CHB CEO Ajay Chagti had said the matter will be placed before the Board of Directors to decide whether to go ahead with the scheme or conduct a fresh demand survey. But no meeting has been held since. Instead the board has simply decided to refund the application fee — leaving thousands of housing hopefuls in Chandigarh frustrated and disappointed. To make matters worse, there's no clarity on what comes next. A CHB official confirmed that UT chief secretary-cum-CHB chairman Rajeev Verma had approved the refunds. However, no decision has been taken on whether a fresh survey will be conducted or whether the scheme will proceed at all. Ironically, the demand survey itself was ordered by the UT chief secretary to establish demand for the project. But a call to conduct a fresh demand has never been taken even two months after the hiked collector rates were enforced. Scrapped, revived, on hold again The whopping 7,468 applications are in stark contrast to only 178 applications for 492 flats when the scheme was first floated in 2018. The low response, primarily due to steep prices, had ultimately led to the scheme getting dropped. Back then, the three-bedroom flat was offered for as high as ₹1.8 crore, two-bedroom flat for ₹1.5 crore and one-bedroom flat for ₹95 lakh. Struggling to justify its existence, the board revived the scheme in February 2023 with lower prices. However, former UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit put the scheme on hold on August 3, 2023, citing there was no requirement for it. But Purohit's successor Gulab Chand Kataria, in November 2024, revived the scheme, prompting a fresh demand survey. Established in 1976, with the primary objective of providing reasonably priced and good quality housing in Chandigarh, CHB had last successfully rolled out a housing scheme in 2016, when it had offered 200 two-bedroom flats in Sector 51 for ₹69 lakh each.
