11032025-CT-01.qxd 11-03-2025 00:39 Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune PUNJAB TAKE 231-RUN LEAD AGAINST REST OF INDIA TEAM PEACOCKS WIN LADIES GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP PERFECT 10 FOR LAAPATAA LADIES AT IIFA AWARDS A five-wicket haul by Garv Kumar, supported by Krish and Ayush, puts Rest of India in a tight spot. P3 The 8th Neelu Chopra Inter-Club Ladies Golf Championship concludes at the Chandigarh Golf Club. P3 Leading the pack of winners was Laapataa Ladies, which captivated audiences and critics alike. P4 » » /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE CHANDIGARH Rang Prayog: By Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi, play “Suhaane Afsane” to be staged on March 11, main auditorium, Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, 6:30 pm APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, & Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sector 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF WOMAN, AIDE HELD FOR SNATCHING Chandigarh: The UT police have arrested a woman and her accomplice for snatching a purse in Sector 34. Arwinder Singh, a resident of Sector 34, had reported that a biker snatched her purse containing cash, documents and a mobile phone. The woman suspect was riding pillion on the bike. During the investigation, two suspects, identified as Chamandeep Singh Aulakh (34), a resident of Mohali; and Anchal (32) of Zirakpur, were arrested. TNS 6 vehicles seized for illegal mining Tribune News Service Panchkula, March 10 The Mining Department has impounded six vehicles involved in illegal mining in the district and recovered ?4,28,000 fine from one of the owners. Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta said one case related to illegal mining and seven of illegal transportation had been registered this month. In February, the authorities impounded 24 vehicles and continued on page 2 Ex-distillery price unchanged ILiquor rates to remain same in city IContractors unhappy Dushyant Singh Pundir KEY TAKEAWAYS Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 10 There will be no change in the liquor prices in the city with the Excise and Taxation Department not increasing the ex-distillery price in the Excise Policy 2025-26, which was rolled out today. For the 2025-26 fiscal, a total of 97 licensing units will be auctioned by the Excise Department and each of these will permit only one retail vend of liquor only. The total reserve price of all 97 retail vends has been fixed at Rs 443.56 crore, which is Rs 8.78 crore less compared to the current fiscal. The policy will be applicable from April 1 and remain in force till March 31, 2026. There liquor rates will remain the same as the administration has not made any change to the ExDistillery Price (EDP). The bidding process for the auction of liquor vends will start on March 13. The reserve price of the liquor vend at Palsora village neighbouring Mohali has been fixed at Rs 10.22 crore and that of Dhanas at Rs 8.71 crore. The Khuda Lahora vend has the reserve price of Rs 7.56 crore. Way off the target of nearly ■ To check inter-state smuggling A liquor shop at Dhanas in Chandigarh. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI NO RELIEF IN VAT, EXCISE DUTY There is as ❝the liquorno major relief in VAT and Excise Dutythecompared to Punjab. It will be difficult for contractors to attract customers, as administration has not considered any suggestions made by them. ❞ — Sachit Jaiswal, ADVOCATE, EXCISE AND TAXATION. Rs 1,000 crore in the current financial year, the department is able to generate nearly Rs 743 crore. As many as 12 vends remained unsold. Sources said the department had set a revenue target of Rs 800 crore for the next financial year. The quota of the Indian- made foreign liquor (IMFL) has been kept the same as last year and that of country liquor and imported foreign liquor (BIO) marginally increased due to high demand. The quota of the country liquor and the imported foreign liquor has been rationalises keeping in view the consumption as per area. Inter vend transfer of stock has been allowed between two vends registering under a single person/entity/company/firm against a reasonable stock transfer fee. Taking a tough stance, the department has decided to of liquor, a track-and-trace system has been made mandatory to prevent illegal liquor sales and ensure proper tracking of inventory. ■ The department has also allowed bar licensees to procure their supplies of all types of liquor from the retail sale vends of UT after payment of requisite excise levies. ■ Every vehicle used for export/import of liquor consignment must be equipped with the GPS system. ■ It will be mandatory for all retail sale liquor vends to issue computerised bills. ■ To promote digital payments, the arrangement of online deposit of excise revenue has been started and the payment of all amounts will be made through electronic payment platform. ■ The cow cess will be levied at Rs 0.50 per bottle of 750 ml of country liquor, Rs 0.50 per bottle impose penalty for nonmaintenance of minimum rates with closure of retail vend for three days for each violation. In case of multiple violations adjudicated against a licensee, the licence would not be renewed. “There is a steep hike in annual licence fee of hotels of MAX 30°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 29.9°C | MIN 17.4°C SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.37 AM Excise Policy: Old wine in a new bottle WHAT’S ON PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET TUESDAY 6.27 PM » TUESDAY | 11 MARCH 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Man assaulted at birthday party, dies hours later Tribune News Service of 650ml of beer and Re 1 per bottle of 750 ml/ 700ml of whisky. ■ It will be mandatory for all retail sale liquor vends to install CCTV cameras at their vends with 30-day backup. ■ If any licensee is found selling expired liquor, he shall attract a penalty of Rs 75,000 for first violation, Rs 1 lakh for second and Rs 1.25 lakh for each subsequent violation. ■ The registration of banquet halls/marriage palaces except MC Community Centres for serving of liquor will be mandatory. The licence fee has been fixed at Rs 1 lakh. ■ The bar timings will be 11 am to 1 am except on dry days and the last order for liquor will not be booked after midnight. However, these timings can be further extended by 2 hours past midnight with last order not being booked beyond 2 am on payment of additional annual fee of Rs 8 lakh. about 20% and a marginal hike in duties. There is no reduction in Excise Duty or Assessment fee especially on wine and beer which was requested to encourage ‘mild’ drinking,” said Ankit Gupta, president of Chandigarh Hospitality Association continued on page 2 Chandigarh, March 10 A 37-year-old man died after being assaulted at a birthday party in Mauli Jagran here last night. The victim, Devta, and his son were attending the birthday party of a friend’s daughter. According to sources, the party was organised in a park at Mauli Complex. Somebody from a group of youths slapped the victim from behind. He told his 17year-old son Shubham about the incident. Soon, Shubham confronted the youths and an altercation ensued. Both he and his father were brutally assaulted by the group. A relative of Devta stated that the victim was taken to the Civil Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula, and later shifted to the Civil Hospital, Mani Majra. The doctors at the Mani Majra hospital referred him to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, where he succumbed to injuries. The police were informed about the incident. The victim’s autopsy will be held tomorrow. Officials said there were no injury marks on the continued on page 2 Traffic curbs for Murmu visit spell chaos Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 10 Traffic restrictions imposed by the police during President Droupadi Murmu’s arrival to the city led to massive jams on main roads this evening. The president is on her three-day visit to Chandigarh and Punjab. The traffic was regulated on the Dakshin Marg from the Airport Light Point to the New Labour Chowk (Sector 20/21-33/34) and on the Sarovar Path from the New Labour Chowk towards Hira Singh Chowk (Sector 5/6-7/8) up to the Punjab Raj Bhawan between 5.15 pm and 6.30 pm. Serpentine queues were witnessed on the Dakshin Marg as traffic came to a standstill during the road closure. As motorists explored alternative routes, internal roads were also choked with traffic. The police had issued continued on page 2 A traffic jam on the Purv Marg near the Tribune Chowk on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR TRAFFIC ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini and Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla welcome President Droupadi Murmu at the Chandigarh Technical Airport on Monday. The President is on her three-day visit to UT, Punjab and Haryana. ■ On Tuesday, traffic will be regulated on the Sarovar Path — from Hira Singh Chowk (Sector 5/6-7/8) to New Labour Chowk (Sector 20/2133/34) — and on the Dakshin Marg — from New Labour Chowk (Sector 20/21-33/34) to the Airport Light Point — between 8.45 am and 10 am, and from 4.30 pm to 5.45 pm. ■ Traffic will also be regulated on the Sarovar Path (from Hira Singh Chowk to New Labour Chowk), the Dakshin Marg (from New Labour Chowk to Tribune Chowk), and on the Purv Marg, from Tribune Chowk to Faidan barrier, from 5.45 pm to 8 pm. People are advised to take alternative routes to avoid any inconvenience. Porsche hits scooters UT monuments not of national, state importance: Centre in Sector 4, man dead Union Culture and Tourism Minister responds to question posed by Chandigarh MP Tewari in Lok Sabha Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 10 A speeding Porsche collided with two scooters near a petrol pump in Sector 4 this evening, resulting in the death of a man. Two women, who were riding the other two-wheeler, were injured in the accident. According to the police, the luxury car collided head-on with the two-wheelers. The man died on the spot, while the two women suffered severe injuries. The car was being driven at a high speed and one of the scooters was dragged to some distance before the vehicle crashed into an electricity pole, said the police. A case has been registered at the Sector 3 police station. The police have impounded the car and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash. Youth killed in accident A 19-year-old youth died after his motorcycle was hit by a car in Sector 52. Mohammad Rashi reported that the victim, Mohammad Mejimil’s bike was hit by a car driven by Jasanpreet Sharma on March 9. The victim sustained injuries and was admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, where he succumbed to injuries during treatment. The police have registered a case at the Sector 36 police station. Chandigarh, March 10 No building or structure in Chandigarh has been designated as monument of national or state importance, said Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in response to a question posed by Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari in the Lok Sabha today. Shekhawat said: “No monument in Chandigarh has been designated as monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, or of state importance under the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964.” He, however, said the Chandigarh Capital Complex was inscribed as a Transnational World Heritage Property under the title “The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement”. Such properties are located in seven countries — Argentina, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Japan and India. Tewari had asked whether any structure in Chandigarh had been designated as monuments of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, given that the city is not c m y b ‘FALSE NARRATIVE’ the Government ❝HaveUT Administration and the been peddling a false narrative of Chandigarh’s heritagism that is backed by neither law nor facts? ❞ Manish Tewari, CHANDIGARH MP. designated as a heritage city. Tewari questioned: “Have the Government and the UT Administration been peddling a false narrative of Chandigarh’s heritagism that is backed by neither law nor facts?” Earlier, to a question raised by Tewari, the minister had informed the Lok Sabha that the Union Territory of Chandigarh had not been designated as a World Heritage City. On the criteria for selecting a heritage city by UNESCO, the minister had stated that as per the UNESCO Operational Guidelines-2024, any World Heritage property, including a World Heritage City, must fulfil one or more of the six criteria outlined by it. These include the city concerned should represent a masterpiece of human creative genius, exhibit an important interchange of human values over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. Also, it should bear a unique or, at least, exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation, which is living or which has disappeared. The city should be an outstanding example of a type of building, architec- tural or technological ensemble or landscape, which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. Moreover, the city aiming for a heritage status should be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or seause, which is representative of a culture (or cultures) or human interaction with the environment, especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change, said the minister. Lastly, it should be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance, he added.