Union Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday announced three major Diwali gifts for Chandigarh, leaving the official disclosure to Union Territory administrator Gulab Chand Kataria.
On Chandigarh’s 60th Foundation Day, Shah described it as a planned city that had established a distinct identity through six decades of urban development. In his address, Kataria highlighted Chandigarh’s progress in education, sports, healthcare, public transport and urban infrastructure. He also referred to the city’s work in renewable energy, waste management, green cover and digital governance. In a veiled dig against the state, which is suffering from its own drug issues and serves as a transit point as drugs enter the city from Pakistan, this comment was made even with Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav also in attendance.
He was speaking at the 60th Raising Day Parade and Diamond Jubilee celebrations organised at Police Lines in Sector 26 on Sunday. Shah said that following the implementation of the new criminal laws, Chandigarh police has increased the conviction rate in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NPDS) Act cases, securing the conviction of 93% of accused persons. He said that the police had been targeting drugs and gangsters and that from August 4, 2024, till date, 8,206 FIRs have been registered in Chandigarh, of which Chandigarh Police has filed chargesheets online in 7,590 cases.
Shah said he preferred Kataria to present the initiatives as a festive gift, noting that the administrator had spent significant time studying local issues, conducting surveys, and assessing residents’ needs before presenting the proposals to the central government. He said the city had become an important part of North India’s identity and reiterated the Centre’s commitment to its development. He said the administration was working towards making Chandigarh a clean, green, safe and inclusive city, and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah for their support and guidance. Shah said if India ever gets rid of the menace of drugs, he expects Chandigarh to become the first drug-free city of the country While praising the Chandigarh Police’s recent drive against drugs. He said he expects more from Chandigarh despite the city being in proximity to Punjab.
The third expected decision relates to ownership rights for original allottees of houses in rehabilitation colonies. The proposal could provide ownership to eligible original allottees against payment of a prescribed fee.
