Make policy for regularisation of constructions outside Lal Dora: Administrator to officers

Strict Covid protocol will be followed, as per the SOPs issued by the Government of India. The Administrator appealed to the citizens to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.

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Chandigarh Administrator VP Singh Badnore (Express file photo)

In a relief for all those who have done constructions outside Lal Dora, UT Administrator V P Singh Badnore ordered formulation of a policy to regularise it.

It was decided in a meeting of all officials chaired by the UT Administrator. Also, Badnore gave directions to reopen colleges and have a provision of Rs 50 lakh compensation in case of death of any employee on COVID duty.

“Since a lot of constructions and developments have happened outside Lal Dora area, the Administration should formulate a scheme to regularise the development. A detailed discussion on this subject will be held in the Administrator’s Advisory Council meeting or its sub-committees,” said a statement issued by the administration.

The UT Administrator convened a review meeting with the senior officers in UT Secretariat on Friday. Adviser Manoj Parida, Principal Secretary Home Arun Kumar Gupta, Director General of Police Sanjay Beniwal, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, K K Yadav, Deputy Commissioner Mandip Brar, Chief Conservator of Forests, Debendra Dalai and other officers attended the meeting.

It was decided that the guidelines issued by Government of India for containment of Covid-19 will be applicable to UT Chandigarh. However, there will be no limit in the number of persons attending social events. Strict Covid protocol will be followed, as per the SOPs issued by the Government of India. The Administrator appealed to the citizens to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.

Colleges to begin from Feb 11 and Rs 50 lakh compensation

It was decided that the colleges in UT will start from February 11. Both online and offline teaching will continue. As already decided, the schools will reopen from February 1 for classes from VI to VIII.

The Administrator also directed the Administration to approach Government of India to introduce a scheme, where in the event of death of any employee engaged in Covid duty, an amount of Rs 50 lakh will be given as compensation. At present, the grant is available only for health employees. The Administrator directed that the proposal may be sent for covering other employees too.

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The Administrator took serious note of burning of files of Estate Office by some staff. He directed the Director General of Police to conduct serious investigation into the matter. A magisterial inquiry has already been ordered.

ADMINISTRATOR ADVISORY COUNCIL AGENDA FINALISED

The Administrator finalised the list of agenda items to be taken up in the next Administrator’s Advisory Council meeting scheduled for February 10. He also reviewed the progress of work in setting up of international level shooting range, Antique Car Museum in the Glass Press Building and Sardar Beant Singh India International Centre. He directed all officers to expedite the work, so that the time loss due to corona could be covered.

The Administrator directed Chandigarh Housing Board to examine the demand of residents for one time regularization of additional construction on DDA pattern.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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