17032026-CT-01.qxd 3/17/2026 12:59 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune RURAL PHARMACY OFFICERS STAGE PROTEST IN MOHALI PGI PERFORMS TRICITY’S FIRST SMART EAR IMPLANT PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS STUNS IN DIOR GOWN Rural health pharmacy officers stage a sit-in outside Vikas Bhawan in Mohali over pending demands. P2 PGI performs Tricity's first cochlear implant surgery, a major advancement in hearing healthcare. P3 Priyanka makes a stylish return to the Academy Awards stage, presenting an award at 98th Oscars ceremony. P4 » » PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 29°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 26.4°C | MIN 12.3°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.32 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.29 AM » TUESDAY | 17 MARCH 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Admn to enact law on ease of doing business in city ‘Nati King’ at PU Act to simplify procedures, provide for time-bound approvals Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Himachali folk singer Kuldeep Sharma regales the audience during Jhankaar fest at the PU on Monday. PHOTO: VICKY P3 FELLING OF TREES IN DERA BASSI AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 56 PANCHKULA 27 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, and Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sectors 68 and 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com 16-yr-old girl found dead on Dhakoli railway track Tribune News Service Zirakpur, March 16 A 16-year-old girl was found dead on a railway track near Dhakoli on Monday morning. Her parents have alleged abetment to suicide by a 22year-old man from Zirakpur. The victim’s mother alleged that the accused had been harassing her daughter for the past one year and pressuring her to marry him. Railway police said the body was recovered from the tracks near the residential areas of Dhakoli. According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), the minor was hit by a train in the early hours of Monday. Officials stated that a case had been registered under relevant sections of the law following a complaint filed by the victim’s family. They mentioned that the accused was currently missing and teams were conducting searches to locate him. The victim’s kin said the harassment had been going on for months despite their objections. They reported that the man, identified as Rishu, had recently increased the frequency of his threats. They demanded immediate arrest of the accused and requested authorities to install safety fencing along the tracks to prevent such incidents. Now, dept suspends block officer Mohali, March 16 The Punjab Forest Department has suspended a block officer, Amar Singh, in the alleged felling of over two dozen trees in front of a commercial plot opposite a hospital along the ChandigarhAmbala national highway. A forest guard has already been suspended by DFO Amneet Singh till the conclusion of an investigation into the matter. Singh said, “A block officer has also been suspended in the matter. An investigation has been initiated in the matter.” Dera Bassi SHO Sumit Mor had earlier said, “Three minors were booked for cutting 25-30 trees after a complaint was received from employees at the nearby toll plaza.” On March 13, Chandigarh Tribune had highlighted the matter in its report titled “3 juveniles booked over tree felling in Dera Bassi”. Several Stop Chd sewage from entering N-Choe, Mohali Mayor writes to Kataria Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service Mohali, March 16 Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu has written a letter to Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and Chandigarh DC Nishant Kumar Yadav, complaining that sewage from the UT was being discharged into the N-Choe that flows into Mohali city. He urged them to give directions to stop it immediately. “The N-Choe passes through Chandigarh and then flows through several areas of Mohali city. It is learnt that the UT Administration and the MC are discharging sewage and storm water into the N-Choe. The issue was earlier raised in a semi-official letter on August 28, 2023,” he said. N-Choe was a seasonal drain meant for the drainage of rain- water, and it should not be used for sewage disposal under any circumstances, he added. Sidhu also raised concerns that the discharge of sewage was causing serious problems for the residents of Mohali. “The dirty water enters Mohali’s Nature Park, causing a strong foul smell in the area. The park is popular among people who visit the place for morning and evening walks,” Sidhu pointed out in the letter. The Mayor also appealed to the UT Administrator to immediately investigate the matter and take necessary steps to stop sewage from flowing into N-Choe and provide relief to the residents of Mohali. Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said, “I will take it up with the MC and ensure that no such waste is discharged into the N-choe.” trees were felled without due permission on the National Highway. Environmentalists raised concerns over the repeated cutting down of green trees on the roadside without permission. People said large-scale cutting of trees was going on unabated in the Dera Bassi area even though there had been an alarming rise in air pollution due to industrial units in the area. — TNS Chandigarh, March 16 In a major push to simplify government procedures and boost economic activity, the UT Administration is preparing to introduce Ease of Doing Business Act, which will reduce delays and regulatory complexities for industries, traders and startups in the city. Officials said the notification of the proposed law was likely to be issued soon, with its implementation expected next month. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a time-bound mechanism for approvals and services provided by different government departments. Under the framework, departments will be required to grant permissions or deliver services within a stipulated time limit, ensuring faster processing and greater accountability in administrative functioning. With the enactment of the Act, several processes such as starting a business, obtaining licenses, building permissions, pollution-related clearances and securing electricity and water connections are expected to become simpler and more transparent. A senior official from the UT Industries Department said the Administration was currently drafting the law. “The Act will significantly reduce procedural delays and improve the overall business environment in the UT,” the official said. One of the key features of the proposed law is the introduction of a Certificate of InPrinciple Approval for new micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The certificate will be issued on the basis of self-declaration, allowing entrepreneurs to start their businesses without waiting for multiple approvals. The certificate will remain valid for three years and six months, during which enterprises will be exempt from several regulatory approvals and routine inspections. The Administration plans to implement the law alongside a comprehensive reform programme titled “Deregulation 2.0”. Under this initiative, several rules related to land use, construction, utilities such as electricity and water, as well as sectors like education, health and digital services will be simplified. Officials said the reforms would be implemented in phases between March and September this year, with time-bound targets assigned to each department. Among the significant changes proposed under the reforms is the abolition of the requirement for Change of Land Use (CLU), which is expected to provide relief to landowners, particularly farmers, who often face lengthy procedures. The Administration is also considering adopting the “Permitted Until Prohibited” principle in the land use plan, allowing construction permissions even before the finalisation of the Master Plan. Industrial land use within designated clusters will also be streamlined, with special provisions being created to support MSMEs. Fire safety standards will be rationalised in line with global best practices, enabling property owners and builders to secure approvals more quickly. Several policy decisions are also proposed to benefit traders and entrepreneurs. The Administration plans to abolish the dual licensing regime, liberalise rules governing shops and commercial establishments, and simplify licensing procedures. MSMEs will be granted pre-establishment clearance based on self-declaration and will be protected from routine inspections during the initial period of operation. The Administration has also set a target of March 31 to expedite the process of granting electricity connections, addressing long-standing grievances of residents and businesses regarding delays in utility services. In addition, a land bank of degraded forest and non-forest land will be created and uploaded on a dedicated portal to improve transparency and facilitate approvals. “The UT is actively participating in the Deregulation and Compliance Burden Reduction initiative monitored by the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India,” said the officials, and added that the existing Single Window System (E-Services) is currently being redeveloped. Will study air traffic data for ‘Point of Call’ tag: Centre Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 16 More than a decade after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport at Mohali remains without the all-important ‘ Point of Call’ (PoC) designation — the key that would unlock foreign airlines to fly directly to and from Chandigarh — even as passengers across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh continue to endure 11 to 12-hour ordeals to catch international flights from Delhi. The long-festering issue was raised yet again in Parliament on Monday when BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Chandigarh Satnam Singh Sandhu pressed for a reply Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha. The minister’s replied that the government will examine traffic data from Chandigarh before considering PoC designation. BJP MP Sandhu raised UT airport issue in Parliament WHAT IS ‘POINT OF CALL’ ■ A government-notified designation mandatory for foreign airlines to legally operate international flights to/from an Indian airport ■ Without ‘Point of Call’ status, an airport cannot appear on India’s bilateral offer lists, meaning thereby airlines like Emirates, Lufthansa, Air Canada cannot fly to Chandigarh even if market demand exists << BJP MP Satnam Singh Sandhu raises the Chandigarh international airport issue in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Demanding the immediate introduction of more international flights from Chandigarh, MP Sandhu told the House, “Travelling from Punjab to Delhi takes seven to eight hours, followed by the requirement to arrive at the airport three hours prior to departure. Consequently, Punjabis end up catching their international flights only after a total waiting period of 11 to 12 hours.” Sandhu pointed out that the Chandigarh international airport was currently operating at a mere 60% of its capacity, a direct consequence of its exclusion from the Point of Call list. The minister noted that Chandigarh already has two international routes — to Dubai and Abu Dhabi — operated by IndiGo. He said, “The designation of a ‘Point of Call’ becomes a requirement primarily when foreign carriers intend to operate flights to our specific airports. If India’s domestic airlines wish to fly to any destination across the globe under the framework of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA), they are at liberty to operate from any airport designated as an international airport — like Chandigarh.” The minister, however, was candid about the government’s broader priority: building India’s metropolitan airports into international aviation hubs. Naidu said, “Our objective is to ensure that the primary advantage in this sector is secured by India’s own carriers.” On the specific question of Chandigarh, the minister offered a guarded assurance. “We will examine the traffic generated by the Chandigarh international airport for designating the airport as Point of Call,” he said. The airport, inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on September 11, 2015, and renamed Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in 2022, serves a combined population of nearly seven crore people across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, with additional relevance to travellers from Jammu and Kashmir. LPG shortage ‘wrapping up’ tiffin service in city; students, professionals hit Aanavi Singh Arya Chandigarh, March 16 Tiffin services and paying guest (PG) accommodations here are currently facing operational collapse in the wake of LPG shortage. Being an education hub, the city is second home to thousands of students and professionals. Sumit Kumar, owner of Gourav Tiffin Service, reported a 70% drop in his customer base. “Our customer count crashed from 100 to just 30. We are forced to serve only dal-chawal now because we had to stop the preparation of rotis and fried items as they required more gas consumption. Parents are calling their chil- dren back home in a panic, fearing they might not get food here,” Kumar stated. Other providers have been forced to close entirely. Rajesh Kumar, owner of Shiva Tiffin Service, previously operating from Sectors 21 and 22, has ceased operations due to the lack of fuel. “With no cylinders, there is no food. We had to shut the service because we cannot use wood for fuel in this urban set-up. This is leading to massive distress among our staff who face risk to their jobs,” he said. For survival, some food providers like Maa Kitchen Service in Sector 56 have switched to using wood as fuel, though the transition has forced them to increase People wait outside a gas agency in Sector 25, Chandigarh, on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY tiffin rates by Rs 10. Owners of PG accommo- c m y b dations in Sectors 22 and 21 are also struggling, as high- flame items like chapatis and fried foods are being removed from menus. To maintain basic kitchen functions, some are reportedly buying cylinders on black and purchasing diesel stoves, leading to financial losses. Meanwhile, street vendors, including those running tea stalls, face daily uncertainty. Although there are reports of LPG shortage abating, the situation today suggested otherwise. Street vendors in Shastri Market said their usual source has refused them cylinders due to lack of supply. Consequently, vendors are out on search for cylinders every day. A tea stall vendor near Aroma Hotel said, “Since steady electricity supply is unlikely in the case of street food stalls, induction cooktops won’t help us much. We still need cylinders to function. Since the cost of cylinder has risen from roughly Rs 900 earlier to Rs 1,600-1,700 now, we have increased the price of tea from Rs 15 a cup to Rs 20 to cope with losses.” Meanwhile, the Mohali administration has taken stringent steps to strictly monitor the supply and distribution system across the district. Food supply officers have been deployed to keep a watch on gas agencies and will conduct regular checks and verification. They will ensure the distribution of cylinders is as per the prescribed rules.