PUDA to slash interest rates
SAS Nagar, January 24
The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority will be slashing the interest rates being charged from its allottees. This has been recommended by a special committee formed by the authority to consider a change in interest rates after the Haryana Urban Development Authority brought down substantially its rates some months back.

City awaits air link restoration
Chandigarh, January 24
Chandigarh remained cut off by air for the twentyfirst day today with all to and fro flights being cancelled till Sunday, while Ludhiana was the coldest with the low of 2.5°C.

MC may penalise Reliance
Chandigarh, January 24
The Municipal Corporation is considering to slap a penalty on the Reliance industries for allegedly breaking a water supply line on the sectors 29, 30, 31 and 32 roundabout.

Tourism Day activities
Chandigarh, January 24
The Department of Tourism, Chandigarh Administration, along with CITCO, Food Craft Institute and Institute of Hotel Management will organise various activities to highlight the importance of tourism and its increasingly recognised human, social, economic and cultural values on the occasion of the National Tourism Foundation Day tomorrow. 

Zoos to remain closed tomorrow Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 24 The Chhat Bir zoo , the Ludhiana zoo and deer parks at Patiala, Bathinda and Neelon, respectively, will remain closed on January 26, on account of Republic Day, according to a press note of the Chief Warden, Zoos, Punjab.

President’s Medal for two excise officers
Chandigarh, January 24
Two senior officers of the Central Excise Commissionerate, Chandigarh, have been selected for President’s Award on the occasion of Republic Day. Ms Fantry M. Jaswal, Commissioner, a 1976-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, has been selected for her meritorious service and distinguished record. 

Bitta: certain Cong men conspiring to kill me
Chandigarh, January 24
All India Anti-Terrorism Front President Maninderjit Singh Bitta here today suspected “certain Congressmen” of being involved in a conspiracy allegedly to eliminate him in league with terrorists who had recently collected Rs 4 crore for the purpose.

16 more secys arrested
Chandigarh, January 24
The local police once again arrested 16 agitating Panchayat Secretaries here. They were later sent to judicial custody in Burail jail by a local court. They condemned the police action and announced that they would draw a new strategy to protest against the government in days to come.

Abducted girl rescued
Panchkula, January 24
A 17-year-old girl was allegedly abducted by a taxi driver from Chandigarh on May 10 and kept under confinement for over eight months. The victim, now an adult and seven months pregnant, was rescued by the police from the Mansa Devi Complex.

Body found
Chandigarh, January 24
The body of 55-year-old drug addict of Janta colony near Nayagoan was found near Maloya. According to the information available, the deceased has been identified as Tara.

Goods worth 1 lakh stolen
SAS Nagar, January 24
In a daring daylight burglary, thieves decamped with goods worth about Rs 1 lakh from the residence of Mr Ashutosh Khurana, in Sector 71, yesterday. According to the information provided by the police that has registered a case under Sections 380 and 454 of the IPC today, Ashutosh Khurana, a manager in a private company in the township, was out of town on duty when burglars struck at his house.

BUSINESS

Sony to sell products without any freebies
Chandigarh, January 24
As the Cricket World Cup is round the corner, most of the companies are trying to push sales of their products by offering freebies and lucky coupon schemes along with them, but Sony India Ltd, has decided not to make any such offer.

CET for BE to be held in May
Chandigarh, January 24
Panjab University has fixed May 21, 2003 as the date for conducting Common Entrance Test for admissions to first year of Bachelor of Engineering in food technology, bio-technology, chemical engineering, micro-engineering, software engineering, telecommunication and information technology, MBBS, BAMS, BHMS, B.Pharmacy and B.Sc (Honours school) for 2003-04 academic session.

COURTS

BEANT SINGH CASE
Judge reserves order on bail plea
Chandigarh, January 24
The UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr H.S. Bhalla, today reserved order on the bail plea moved by Navjot Singh, one of the accused alleged to have been involved in the Beant Singh assassination case, for tomorrow.

Wrestler refused job for ‘abnormal’ ears
Chandigarh, January 24
Ashok Kumar, a wrestler of Chandigarh, who had cleared all preliminary tests for the post of Constable in the Central Reserve Police Force, was rejected on medical grounds due to “abnormal” ears. Ashok Kumar in his letter to the Commandant, CRPF, Hallo Majra, has pleaded his case for this undue harassment at the hands of doctors.

State rowing meet
Chandigarh, January 24
The Chandigarh State Rowing Association will hold state rowing championship for seniors (men and women) at Sukhna Lake on February 1. According to Mr Kailash Nath, secretary general, CRA, the events to be conducted were single scull, double scull, coxless pairs and coxless fours.

ADMINISTRATION

MC receives 18.28 cr grant from Admn
Chandigarh, January 24
Municipal Corporation has received the Rs 18.28 crore fourth quarterly grant along with the Rs 7.9 crore additional grant as per the revised budget from the Chandigarh Administration.