History and Geography

Chandigarh is a fully grown town of most modern architectural splendour. The city nestles in a picturesque setting in the foothills of Shivalik hills and enjoys the popular epithet the "City Beautiful". Representative of modern Architecture & Town Planning, the city is a creation of the French Architect, Le Corbusier, Chandigarh and the area surrounding it were constituted as a Union Territory on 1 November 1966. It serves as the joint capital of both Punjab and Haryana States. It is bounded on North and West by Punjab and on the East and South by Haryana.

ADMINISTRATION

Chandigarh Administration is moving on four broad fronts. First, it is our aim to provide, with the help of information technology, an accessible and transparent administration. We were among the earliest to implement the provisions of the Right to Information Act. A number of services, for which citizens earlier had to go to government offices, are now available on computer and mobile phones. All rules are being reviewed to see what simplification can be carried out to make them user-friendly. The purpose is to minimise the exercise of discretion, and minimise the leg work of the citizen in dealing with the Administration.

Secondly, the Administration is working towards a higher rate of economic growth by encouraging economic activities which provide greater value addition, such as knowledge based industries, high-end commercial activity, etc., Chandigarh already has the highest per capita income in the country.

Thirdly, the Administration is seeking to provide infrastructural services such as electricity supply, water supply, health and educational services and public transport which should compare with those in advanced countries. It will take time, but we believe that our ambitions can be achieved in the medium term.

Fourthly, the Administration is all too conscious of the fact that the benefits of development do not reach everyone equally. Hence there is a special emphasis on reaching out to those whom development has by-passed.

AGRICULTURE

The Union Territory Chandigarh has limited area under Agriculture. The agricultural land is being gradually acquired for the expansion of Chandigarh City, and cultivated area has shrunk from 5,441 hectares in 1966 to 1,400 hectares in 2002-03. The main sources of irrigation are deep-bore tube-wells installed by the Administration and shallow tube-wells installed by individual farmers. The main crop of foodgrain is wheat and it is sown nearly in 700 hectares of land. The Department is making efforts to promote techniques of harvesting by following measures:

1. Extension and Farmers Study/Training Tour

2. Development of Kitchen Garden

3. Soil and Water Conservation

INDUSTRY

There are 15 large and medium industries, and about 3,140 small-scale industrial units in the State, offering employment to about 30,000 persons and giving an annual output of approximately Rs 600 crore. These units are mainly ancillary units engaged in the manufacturing of industrial fasteners, steel and wooden furniture, machine tools, soaps and detergents, pharmaceuticals, electrical/electronic items, sanitary fittings, sports goods, plastic goods, knitting needles, etc. There are about 20 major exporting units in Chandigarh, which export goods to the tune of Rs 60 crore (approximately) annually. Although in national terms, the quantity of exports may appear to be rather small, the Administration's efforts now are to promote only hi-tech electronic and information technology, non-polluting industry besides the export oriented industry for future expansion.

POWER

Chandigarh gets power from neighbouring states and Central generation projects to meet its power requirement. It has 3.5 per cent share of total power generation of Bhakra complex. Further, the firm allocation is 82.9 mw, out of thermal, nuclear and gas based Central generation projects. The shortfall is being met through ad hoc allocation from BBMB besides Central projects. All the villages around the city stand electrified and have been extended the facility of public lighting. About 2,000 number of energy efficient lamps have been installed in various important buildings.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Chandigarh has made strides in the field of Information Technology which today is synonymous with development and progress. 25 September 2005 will be remembered as a red letter day in the history of Chandigarh. On that day the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, inaugurated the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park. This has added a fresh dimension to the economy of the city. The creation of a knowledge-based industry is an impetus to Chandigarh being seen as an investment destination for technology companies. This in turn will improve not only the quantity but also the quality of employment. The Administration is also considering the development of Chandigarh as a financial services hub. Projects like the Chandigarh Technology Park, Education City and Film City will further improve the level of economic activity. Chandigarh is becoming one of the preferred destinations for technology companies since it affords an excellent quality of life and a competent base of human resource.

In the second phase of the IT Park, Wipro has been made an anchor company and Bharti Teleservices has also been allotted land to set up its software development centre-cum-campus. The 250 acre phase-II of the CTP will comprise of 115 acres for Technology Park and 135 acres for integrated support facilities. An Entrepreneur Development Centre (EDC) is also being established at the CTP. It would be available to IT/ITES/BPO companies for incubation and for setting up of plug and play facilities. It will have a research laboratory which will provide modern facilities to companies to work in.

WATER TREATMENT AND IRRIGATION

The Chandigarh Administration has also initiated action on the various projects to meet the objectives of Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission so as to have planned development of urban areas with focus on efficiency in urban services delivery system. The Municipal Corporation has already sent a project on Tertiary Water Treatment, seeking an assistance of Rs. 35 crore to the Union Government. The Chandigarh Administration has made a provision of Rs. 94.22 crore of tax revenue for the Municipal Corporation. In addition to this, Rs. 7.03 crore were also allotted for payment of street light bills. The Administration has also been giving additional grant to the Municipal Corporation for creation of civic amenities under various projects. Recently Rs. 50 lakh were given to the Municipal Corporation for upgradation of facilities in Sector 17.

Chandigarh Administration has always endeavoured to improve the infrastructural facilities of the city. The Administration is giving top priority to the conservation of water. The Administration has been working in close coordination with the Municipal Corporation to provide various civic amenities and services. The augmentation work of water supply scheme, Phase-IV has been completed at the cost of Rs. 4722 lakh, 25 new deep tube wells have been installed at various parts of the city at the cost of Rs. 300 lakh, and 12 new irrigation tube wells have been installed at the cost of Rs. 100 lakh for supply of water for irrigation. A 5 MGD Sewerage Treatment Plant has been constructed at the cost of Rs. 505 lakh in village Raipur Kalan for treating sewage affluent of Manimajra. The sewerage and storm water drainage system of the city has further been augmented and strengthened at the cost of Rs. 235 lakh.

There is a proposal to upgrade the Sewerage Treatment Plant at Diggian to 45MGD at an estimated cost of Rs. 3200 lakh. The Tertiary Water Distribution Network will be further augmented at the cost of Rs. 2200 lakh. Construction of a 2MGD Sewerage Treatment Plan at Maloya at the cost of Rs. 300 lakh is also in pipeline. For further augmenting the water supply, 19 new tube wells will also be installed at a cost of Rs. 300 lakh.

ENVIRONMENT

For healthy living, the sustainability of environment and conducive atmosphere is important. In this regard, the Municipal Corporation has developed Green Belts in Sec 38C&D and 24A, B, C&D. Shivalik Garden in Manimajra (Pocket No.7) is being developed at a cost of Rs. 200 lakh. Around 5000 trees and shrubs have been planted during the last six months. Community Centers are being constructed at Modern Housing Complex, Manimajra, Sec.28B and Sec.30B at the cost of Rs. 50 lakh. For the convenience of commuters, the Corporation has constructed 48 state of the art bus queue shelters.

POWER

Chandigarh has one of the better power supply and electricity distribution systems in the country. We have undertaken a project to provide electricity with a reliability of 99.99 per cent within two years. Keeping in view the need for a quick and efficient public transportation system for Chandigarh, a new Grid Transport System has been introduced. Expressions of interest have been invited for a rail based mass rapid transit system.

EDUCATION AND HEALTH

It is one of the priorities to give the social sector especially education and health a definite and desired thrust. Recently, the administration has launched an ambitious Nutrition Programme which aims at maintaining the health and well being of school children. Under the programme, healthy cooked meal such as chapattis, vegetables and dal are being given to the students free of cost especially in colonies, villages, rehabilitation colonies and non-model schools whose pupils are from low income families. In the second phase, other schools will also be supplied same cooked food. Simultaneously teams of doctors would regularly visit schools for repeated monitoring to provide nutrition supplements in tablet form to nutritionally deficient children at least for six months. All anemic and worm affected children examined by the School Health Teams would be provided treatment for three months. For worm infestation, the first dose will be given on the spot while the teachers can be assigned the tasks of administering the second dose on the next due date. Children needing further medical treatment, dental treatment and eye check ups would be referred to the appropriate Hospital for further treatment.

The parents of the schools going children in the target areas including rehabilitation and labour colonies would be sensitized repeatedly about nutritional requirements, deficiencies and diseases.The Chandigarh Administration has taken the lead in providing free and compulsory education to all children of the age group 6-14 years as enshrined in our constitution. The fee upto class VIII chargeable from students has also been abolished in all government schools. Not only this, the system of collection of funds from the students in the government schools has also been abolished from December 2005 and the requirement of the government schools will be met from the budget of the Administration. It has also been decided that all students in non-model schools upto class VIII will be provided free books and all children studying in non-model schools upto class VIII will be provided free school uniforms from the forthcoming session.

In its endeavour to provide accessible, affordable and reliable health care to the citizens of Chandigarh, the Administration has taken several steps to improve, upgrade and modernise the existing health facilities and infrastructure. Several state of the art facilities have been started at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32 and the General Hospital, Sector 16 to provide better patient care. The existing system of the GMCH is being networked and the process to start Endoscopic Surgery in the Department of Gynaecology has also been started. Computerised Radiography System and Digital Radiotherapy will be installed in the Department of Radio-diagnosis of the GMCH. Seven well-equipped operation theatres along with Post Anesthesia Care Unit and Post Operative Ward will be commissioned in the GMCH. Toxicology Laboratory will be established to facilitate patient care with regard to analysis of chemical and poison at the GMCH. Foundation stone of the Regional Institute for Mentally Handicapped at Sector 31-C has been laid.

The Emergency Block of the General Hospital, Sector16 will be renovated and a 6-storeyed OPD Block has been planned in the General Hospital. Help Desk at the General Hospital, Sector 16, has been established for convenience of patients and provision for blue coloured cards for according preference to senior citizens in outdoor clinics has been made. Uniformity is being made at primary level by outsourcing laboratory investigations at the rates equivalent to that of user charges fixed by the Administration. The National Board of Examination, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have accredited the General Hospital 16 to award Post Graduate Diploma in Gynecology and Pediatrics. There is a proposal to upgrade the School of Nursing into College of Nursing. The patients below poverty line and patients under financial distress are provided free OPD/Indoor treatment. The Chandigarh Administration has set up a Drop-in-Centre for HIV patients to improve their quality of life and a new Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre has also been established at Community Health Centre, Manimajra.

COMMERCE AND TRADE

With an aim to create an entrepreneur friendly environment all the major decisions are taken in consultation with the user groups. Public opinion on the Excise Policy 2006-07 has been sought by the Chandigarh Administration to make it more user friendly before its final implementation. The draft Excise Policy has been framed in consonance with the Model Excise Policy/Taxation/Act Rules for alcoholic beverages circulated by the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries. Simultaneously, it will also check the evasion of the excise duty and other taxes and substantially enhance the revenue of the Administration.

To boost commercial activities in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the Administration has recently announced the liberalization of conversion from one trade to another. Under the policy, free conversion of trade in respect of the ground floors of commercial establishments has been allowed. Allottees of commercial sites and premises can pursue most trades without applying for conversion and without paying for it on the ground floor.

WELFARE

A society is judged by the way it treats its downtrodden, poor, destitute, senior citizens and widows. In the field of social welfare, the Administration has taken several initiatives. An inclusive Vocational Training-cum-Production Marketing Centre is coming up in Sector 46, which would be a hub of training, trades, self-employment activities, early intervention and prevention of childhood disabilities and to make the children self supported persons. The Centre will also cater to the needs of deserving persons of the neighbouring states.

A Vocational Training Programme for Persons with Disabilities is proposed to be funded under the Government of India's scheme where vocational training and sheltered workshops can be established. For the convenience of the pensioners, the Administration has started disbursing Old Age Pension, Widow Pension and Pension to Disabled Person through Sampark Centres established in Sectors 10,15,18,23,43,47, Manimajra and Industrial Area Phase-I. Chandigarh Administration has set up a Maintenance Cell at the Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology to provide maintenance services to the residents of the city in technical fields. It will also impart technical training in various fields to the people living below poverty line to make them self dependent wage earners.

The Administration has also launched a project under which local artisans will be provided a place to showcase their artifacts and a platform to exhibit and sell their products. A directory of artisans will be prepared which will be kept at the Panchayat Bhawan so that the artisans can be contacted whenever required. The artisans will also be encouraged to form cooperative societies for which all help will be extended to them by the Registrar Cooperative Societies so as to enable them to exhibit and sell their products in a profitable way. A Child Art Gallery in Govt. Museum and Art Gallery will be established.

HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Chandigarh Administration has been making sincere efforts to meet the housing demand of the residents. Housing scheme for 96 one bedroom and 96 two bedroom flats in Sector 49 has recently been launched. Similarly, another housing scheme for 160 one bed room and 112 two bed room flats in Sector 49 is likely to be launched shortly. For economically weaker sections, 288 flats in Sector 38(West) and 400 flats in Sector 49 will be launched under another housing scheme. About 1600 multi-storeyed flats will be constructed in Sector 63 for which consultants are being engaged.

Chandigarh Administration has earmarked 135 acres of land for residential facility in the CTP where about 2000 flats are expected to be constructed. About 90 acres of land has also been allotted to the CHB in Sectors 53, 54 and 55 for housing scheme. Chandigarh Administration is also in the process of earmarking 20 acres of land in Sector 52 for construction of houses of different categories for U.T. employees. Chandigarh Housing Board is being computerized to provide online data to public to check their accounts and pay dues online. Software for providing online information to the allottees has been prepared and property records are being computerised.

Chandigarh Police has strived to provide a people friendly, transparent and responsive policing to the residents of the city with focus on professionalism and basic policing. The Chandigarh Police has recently launched an SMS information facility. The SMS information facility would enable any person to know status of public complaints submitted at the public window system and the status of their passport applications. The Common Integrated Police Application is also being introduced in all the police stations of the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Chandigarh boasts of an excellent sports infrastructure in the country. Its modern sports infrastructure has further been strengthened. Flood lights with latest technology at a cost of Rs. 1.67 crore have been commissioned at Hockey Stadium, Sector 42. The swimming pool of the Lake Club is being renovated and several world class facilities are being added to the Cricket stadium, Sector 16 to bring it at par with an international cricket ground. Flood lights will also be installed. All weather swimming pool at Sports Complex, Sector 42, will be constructed.

TRANSPORT

Chandigarh Transport Undertaking has the privilege to operate public transport plied on sub-urban routes, city routes and on inter-state routes. The length of national highways is 15.275 km. Chandigarh is well connected by all, road and air as well.

TOURIST CENTRES

Important tourist centres are Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Sukhna Lake, Museum and Art Gallery, City Museum, Tower of Shadows, Geometric Hill Museum of Evolution, Kala Gram, Log Huts, Nepli Forests, Fitness Trails (in Leisure Valley), National Gallery of Portraits, Central Plaza, International Doll Museum and Smriti Upvan.

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