31032026-CT-01.qxd 31-03-2026 00:58 Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune EX-DGP’S WHATSAPP HACKED, EX-GUNMAN DUPED OF ~40K ARMY’S FOCUS ON DRONE WARFARE: LT GEN KATIYAR THE MEME FRONTLINE ON IRAN-US CONFLICT Bihar native hacked former Haryana DGP KN Singh’s WhatsApp account to dupe his gunman. P2 Lt Gen Katiyar speaks to the media on the eve of his retirement after about 40 years of service. P2 The Iran-US showdown moves from battlefields to feeds, where clicks are ammunition. P4 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX 52 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD THE TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE Nitin Jain Tribune News Service WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH THEATRE FESTIVAL: Concluding day of Tagore Theatre Festival to feature play “Mrityunjay”; Tagore Theatre, Sector 18; 6:30 pm APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, and Dhanas Mohali: Sec 68, 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Gujarat Titans' Captain Shubman Gill takes part in a practice session ahead of their IPL match against Punjab Kings, in Mullanpur on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR (PAGE 3) UT Admn may reintroduce kerosene for BPL families WEST ASIA CRISIS Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Cabbie held for stealing scooter, gas cylinders Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 30 The police have arrested a 29year-old cab driver involved in multiple thefts in the Manimajra area. The accused, identified as Sagar Dhanda, a resident of Bank Colony, was arrested near Gurukul Global School on Sunday. An e-FIR was registered at the Manimajra police station after a resident, Prakhar Soni, reported that his scooter was stolen from the parking lot of Dhillon Cinema on March 28. The police recovered the stolen scooter and one gas cylinder from the accused. Following further interrogation, two additional gas cylinders were recovered from him. Dhanda, who has a criminal record for similar offences reported in 2020, confessed to stealing more cylinders from the area. On Monday, he was produced before the court and the Judge sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. Two arrested for snatching Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 30 The police have arrested two men for snatching a gold chain and documents from a cab driver in Ram Darbar. They were arrested by a team from the Sector 31 police station during a special drive against anti-social elements. On the evening of March 28, the accused snatched ? 1,100, photocopies of ID cards and a chain from Anuj Kumar, a cab driver, near Shiv Mandir in Phase II, Ram Darbar. The police arrested Kartik (22), a driver from Ram Darbar, and Ravinder, alias Mukambo (20), a sanitation worker from Indira Awas Colony, and recovered the stolen chain and cash from them. Ravinder was previously Chandigarh, March 30 Amid the West Asia crisis, the UT Administration may reintroduce kerosene as a temporary relief measure for economically weaker sections. Long queues outside gas agencies continue across the city, as the authorities struggle to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply to over 3.08 lakh consumers. In view of the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Centre has lifted the cap on kerosene allocation for Chandigarh. This may end the city’s decade-long status as a “kerosene-free” city, which had been in place since April 1, 2016. Following the Centre’s notification, the administration has initiated groundwork to restart kerosene distribution as an alternative FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE ~1,932 crore for 309 acres: Punjab announces New Chandigarh award 70 PANCHKULA MAX 31°C | MIN 18°C YESTERDAY MAX 31.9°C | MIN 19.2°C SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:13 AM /THETRIBUNECHD Safe hands CHANDIGARH PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET TUESDAY 6.40 PM » TUESDAY | 31 MARCH 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST fuel. Officials are currently screening BPL families to identify beneficiaries in case the LPG shortage worsens. As per official data, Chandigarh has 83,163 BPL households that could potentially be covered under the scheme. The Centre has proposed supplying up to three litres of kerosene per BPL household as a temporary arrangement. This could provide immediate relief to vulnerable sections if supply was disrupted. The administration may reopen kerosene depots that were shut down nearly 10 years ago. At present, seven such depots may be revived to facilitate kerosene distribution. Officials maintained that there was no immediate shortage of LPG in the city. Supply is continuing as per schedule, and consumers are receiving cylinders within the stipulated time, they claimed, adding that the administration is also promoting PNG (piped natural gas) connections as a long-term alternative. Camps are being organised in collaboration with gas companies to encourage residents to shift to PNG. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in a notification issued on March 29, 2026, has relaxed safety and licensing norms to streamline kerosene storage and distribution. Under the revised rules, public sector oil companies will be allowed to store up to 5,000 litres of kerosene at designated petrol pumps. A maximum of two petrol pumps per district can be authorised for this purpose. Additionally, certain licensing requirements for dealers and transporters have been eased to expedite supply. Chandigarh, March 30 The Punjab Government on Monday announced a cash compensation award of Rs 1,932.38 crore for the compulsory acquisition of 309.30 acres in Mullanpur Garibdas (now New Chandigarh) under Kharar tehsil, to develop a new low and high density residential township in New Chandigarh, which was exclusively reported by The Tribune. The award, officially notified on March 30, by the Land Acquisition Collector, Urban Development Department, fixes the total cash compensation at Rs 6,24,75,426 per acre — calculated on a base market value of Rs1,73,20,277 per acre, multiplied by factor 1.5, plus 100 per cent solatium and 12 per cent annual interest for the period from November 15, 2022 to March 30, 2026 (1,231 days). With this third award, the state has now formally declared cash compensation for three of the seven new residential townships planned as part of one of the most ambitious urban expansion drives in Punjab’s history. The acquisition of a total 11,103 acres across Greater Mohali area and New Chandigarh for seven new townships, seven new sectors and 1,240 acres of master plan roads was exclusively reported in these columns. Four to go The fresh award follows two earlier compensation declarations — the acquisition award for 716 acres covering nine villages for the development of Eco City-3 in New Chandigarh, with a total payout of Rs 3,690.32 crore; and a partial award for Aerotropolis Blocks A, B, C and D in Low/high density township in New Chandigarh gets compensation at ~6.24 crore per acre; acquisition of remaining four townships and seven new Mohali sectors in advanced stage SNAPSHOT OF THREE AWARDS DECLARED ■ Eco City-3, New Chandigarh: Rasulpur, Salamatpur, Dhode Majra, Takipur, Rajgarh, Kartarpur, Majra, Kansala, Hoshiyarpur villages; 716 acres, ~4.27–6.46 cr/acre (varies by village), total ~3,690.32 crore ■ Aerotropolis A, B, C & D, Mohali: Matran, Siaun & Manauli villages; 206.39 acres, ~1.82-2.23 cr/acre (varies by village), total ~446.22 crore ■ Low/high density township, New Chandigarh: Mullanpur Garibdas; 309.30 acres, ~6.24 crore/acre, total ~1,932.38 crore TOTAL AREA TOTAL AWARD 1,231 ACRES ~6,068.92 CR (SOURCE: PUNJAB GOVERNMENT) Mohali, covering 206.39 acres close to Chandigarh international airport and in the vicinity of Mohali’s IT City and Aerocity. The letters of intent to successful allottees are being issued currently. Together, the three awards account for Rs6,069 crore in declared cash compensation covering over 1,231 acres of land under acquisition across New Chandigarh and Mohali. For the remaining four townships and seven new sectors, the acquisition process is in an advanced stage. For the 3,535acre Aerotropolis Blocks E, F , G, H, I and J — the single largest project in the entire plan — a declaration under Section 19 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, has already been issued. The compensation award under Section 30 is imminent. For new commercial Sector 87, which the state intends to develop on the pattern of Chandigarh’s iconic Sector 17, and the industrial Sectors 101 and 103 covering 509 acres, Section 11 notifications have been issued. Land acquisition notifications under Section 4(1) have been issued for the Industrial Park in Sector 101 (488 acres), commercial pockets of Sectors 85, 86 and 88 (76 acres), 1,240 acres for master plan roads across Mohali and New Chandigarh, and the 2,489-acre Aerotropolis Extension in Banur. The Section 4(1) notification for the 90-acre Eco City Extension in New Chandigarh will be issued shortly. With the issuance of acquisition notifications, the sale and purchase of all land parcels under the acquisition proceedings stand immediately prohibited. From land pooling to cash route The current acquisition exercise marks a decisive policy shift. Earlier in 2025, the state had launched a flagship Land Pooling Policy, under which farmers were to receive developed plots rather than cash. This model was reported exclusively by The Tribune, triggering widespread farmer protests and an interim stay from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The government withdrew the policy entirely in August 2025. The state subsequently notified a fresh Land Pooling Policy in November 2025, but this time made it entirely optional. Under the current acquisition proceedings, landowners of New Chandigarh, as with others across the acquisition belt, can either opt for the benefits under the new Land Pooling Policy or accept the statutory cash compensation now declared. Senior government officials said the policy offered substantially better returns than straight cash. Prior to acquisition notifications, average land values in the certain GMADA belt stood at around Rs 5 crore per acre, rising to approximately Rs8 crore per acre after notifications. Under the optional Land Pooling Policy, the combined market value of developed plots on offer, either 1,600 square yards of residential land or 1,000 sq yd residential and 200 sq yd commercial (SCO) per acre, is estimated at approximately Rs16 crore per acre. It is more than double the current market price and over three times the pre-notification level. Farmers from affected villages, backed by the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP continue a , “Pucca Morcha” (permanent dharna), combined Continued on page 2 Mayor Joshi proposes sky garden for city Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 30 Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi has proposed an ambitious and futuristic “sky garden” elevated pathway project aimed at transforming the city into a global Eco-Smart urban model. He made this proposal at a meeting of the Finance & Contract Committee (F&CC). The proposal seeks to blend the city’s iconic heritage with cuttingedge 21st-century innovation, positioning Chandigarh among the world’s most advanced and sustainable cities. Inspired by internationally renowned projects such as New York’s High Line and Singapore’s OCBC Skyway, the sky garden will be a hi-tech elevated pedestrian corridor allowing citizens to walk amidst treetops while enjoying panoramic views, thereby creating a unique urban experience. The project is anchored in the innovative concept of “Urban Layering”, which will effectively double the city’s green potential by shifting pedestrian pathways above ground, freeing up space below for Sayselevatedgreen pathwaystotransformUTinto globaleco-smartlandmark expanded flowerbeds, natural turf, and enhanced landscaping. Emphasising environmental conservation, the Mayor highlighted that the initiative would not only preserve but significantly enhance Chandigarh ’ s greenery. In a first-of-itskind approach for the region, the project will incorporate artificial intelligence and digital twin modelling to ensure zero damage to heritage trees, with precision engineering designed to safeguard root systems and canopies. Additionally, adaptive smart lighting will be installed to minimise light pollution and protect local bird and wildlife habitats. Further advancing the vision of “Viksit Chandigarh 2047”, the Mayor has asked the engineers concerned to identify 9 to 10 prominent parks and green belts for the pilot phase. The project will prioritise the use of sustainable materials such as weathering Continued on page 2 Visitors throng Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh amid cloudy weather on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PARDEEP TEWARI Thunderstorm alert for Tricity; mercury dips Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 30 A sharp drop in daytime temperatures on Monday and 1.7 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours signalled the arrival of an unsettled pre-monsoon spell over the Tricity. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued thunderstorm alerts for Tuesday and again for Friday through Sunday. c m y b The maximum temperature at Chandigarh on Monday settled at 27.3°C — a steep fall of 5.6°C from Sunday’s 32.9°C. It was 4.3°C below normal. The minimum held steady at 19.2°C, a degree above normal. Alert for today Tuesday carries the first of the week’s two alert windows. The IMD has forecast partly cloudy sky with thunderstorm activity for the Tricity, Warning issued for Tuesday, Friday to Sunday with a maximum temperature of 31°C and minimum of 18°C. The weather warning flags thunderstorm and lightning accompanied by gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph at isolated places. Light rainfall is expected at isolated locations. Wednesday (April 1) will also see partly cloudy sky with thunderstorm activity and isolated light rain. Thursday is likely to be largely dry with partly cloudy sky and a maximum temperature of 32°C — the warmest day of the coming week. Second spell kicks off from Friday The second active spell kicks in from Friday. April 3, 4 and 5 all carry thunderstorm and lightning warnings with gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph at isolated to scattered places. The IMD’s seven-day outlook shows scattered rainfall activity returning for both Punjab and Chandigarh. The IMD, Chandigarh, classifies the current period under the pre-monsoon season (March-May), when convective thunderstorm activity is typical across the northwest plains.