Chandigarh, August 30: Chandigarh MP and former Union Minister Manish Tewari inaugurated CCTV cameras installed in Sector-29 and Kaimbwala, funded through his MP Local Area Development Scheme. These cameras will help strengthen law and order in the respective areas.

Speaking on the occasion, MP Tewari said that residents of Sector-29 (Ward No. 10) and Kaimbwala (Ward No. 1) had been demanding CCTV cameras due to the rising incidents of crime in these areas. Considering their concerns, he allocated funds from his parliamentary quota to facilitate the installation.

Addressing the media, Tewari emphasized his belief in the politics of development. He stated that he has been allocating funds for various development works across different localities. 

Taking a dig at the Municipal Corporation, he remarked that it is unfortunate that the financial condition has reached a nadir  over the past decade — an institution that once managed its expenses from the interest earned on fixed deposits is now reduced to distributing sweets over receiving a handout of ₹125 crore. 

Mr Tewari demanded a white paper on the finances of the Municipal Corporation from 2014 -2025 . He also stated that he would write to the C&AG to conduct a Performance Audit with regard to the 24X7 Mani Majra Water Supply Pilot project that has been an abysmal failure. 

Given that the project was funded through the Smart City Misson and 75 crores has been squandered on the project which is a  criminal waste of public money , Mr Tewari said that accountability of officers concerned must be fixed and heads must roll given that the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has now decided to abandon the Foreign funded 24X7 project that would have saddled a bankrupt corporation with a life time of insurmountable liabilities 

However, he clarified that he prioritizes collective responsibility for the city’s overall development.

On the occasion, Chandigarh Congress Committee President H.S. Lucky said that all significant development in Chandigarh has taken place under Congress regime. He added that the Congress Party believes in delivering results rather than making empty claims.

Among others Ward No. 1 Councillor Jaswinder Kaur, Former Youth Congress President Chandramukhi Sharma, ex Mayor Ravinder Pal Singh Pali, ex Mayor Surinder Singh, Block Congress President Goldy, Kuldeep Singh Kaimbwala, Dr. Jagpal Singh Jagga, Rajdeep Sidhu, Rupinder Singh Rupi.

CHANDIGARH, August 30:

 In a major breakthrough against organized crime amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has arrested a main shooter involved in Jeweller attack case, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

 The arrested accused has been identified as Jagroshan Singh, a resident of Naushera Pannuan in TarnTaran. The accused has no criminal background.

 As per the information, some unidentified persons opened fire at an owner of a jewellery shop in Zira, district Ferozepur, on August 14, 2025, at around 6 PM. The latter had sustained serious injuries in the attack.

 DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the shooters acted on the directions of foreign-based gangster Lakhbir Singh alias Landa. Further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case to unearth the entire network, he said.

 Sharing operation details, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) AGTF Promod Ban said that acting on reliable inputs, police teams from AGTF led by DSP AGTF Rajan Parminder arrested the accused Jagroashan from the Canal Bridge on Jhatra Road in Village Mansur Dewa in Zira.

 The ADGP said that Jagroshan is the third accused, who was the main shooter, arrested in this jeweller attack case. Earlier, two other accused persons, identified as Harjeet alias Jeeta and Sanmukh alias Sunny, had already been apprehended by the teams of the AGTF, he added.

 In this regard, a case FIR No. 87 dated 15.08.2025 under sections 109 and 309 (6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act had already been registered at Police Station Zira.

Chandigarh, August 30

The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh celebrated National Sports Day with great enthusiasm to mark the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand. The celebrations were organized across multiple locations by different departments of MCC including Horticulture, Fire, Engineering, and MOH Departments, along with active participation from Self Help Groups and local citizens.

At Fire Station, Sector 32, the Fire Department organized sports activities for staff, while the Horticulture Sub-Division No. 6 hosted events in Leisure Valley, Sector 10. In the Green Belt at Sector 30, a spirited Tug of War was held between two groups with 16 participants, followed by a 50-Metre Race in which 12 malis took part. Citizens and SHG members also joined in fun races, recreational activities, and friendly matches, making the occasion vibrant and inclusive.

While speaking about the pprogramme, MC Commissioner Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS said that the celebration turned into a community festival, where Corporation staff and residents came together to promote the values of teamwork, fitness, and unity. The participation of Self Help Groups added further energy and diversity to the event, encouraging women and local communities to take part in sports and cultural activities.

He said that National Sports Day is not only a tribute to Major Dhyan Chand but also a reminder to adopt an active lifestyle. The Corporation reaffirmed its commitment to public engagement by organizing such activities regularly in parks, green belts, and community spaces across Chandigarh.

Chandigarh: In the Punjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) elections, under the tagline “Give Change a Chance,” Team Batting for Change released its manifesto today at the Student Center.

Sharing details of the promises made in the manifesto during a press interaction, along with his team members, presidential candidate Dr. Praveen Goyal said that if elected, they would strive to raise the retirement age of university teachers from 60 to 65 years and extend re-employment up to 70 years as per UGC norms. He further promised to restore the Old Pension Scheme in line with recent Punjab Government notifications, revise the pay scale of Dental faculty, ensure timely implementation of promotions to Senior Professor as per UGC guidelines, enhance child-care leave, restore Ph.D. increments, provide seed grants for research to newly recruited faculty, establish transparent systems for the upkeep of residential quarters, empanel hospitals with cashless facilities, and bring infrastructural improvements across the campus.

The manifesto also pledged to hold regular GBMs and executive meetings to ensure accountability and communication, revive the PUTA newsletter, strongly advocate for UGC-FRP faculty, library staff, computer programmers, and CAS promotions, and introduce smart campus management initiatives, including smart cards, e-rickshaws, and traffic regulation within the university.

Notably, Team Batting for Change has fielded Dr. Praveen Goyal from UIET for President, Dr. Sarvnarinder Kaur from Biophysics as Vice-President, Dr. Suman Sumi from AC Joshi Library for Secretary, Prof. Vishal Sharma from Forensic Sciences for Joint Secretary, and Dr. Sonia B. Bhardwaj from the Dental Institute for Treasurer. This year, the PUTA elections are triangular, with three contestants for each post.

The team includes several teacher activists who have previously achieved significant milestones for the benefit of the teaching community. The group has pledged to restore transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness within PUTA, which, they argue, has lost its vibrancy and weakened as the collective voice of teachers. Highlighting the decline in democratic spirit, ineffective engagement, selective inaction, and lack of strategic advocacy, the team has called for a renewed focus on the rights and welfare of faculty members.

Team Batting for Change emphasized that their campaign is not about slogans but about practical solutions. They reiterated their commitment to fairness, equity, and dignity for every member of the teaching community while vowing to resist the culture of complacency and individualism.

The team members unanimously stated that PUTA belongs to all teachers, and its strength lies in their unity and participation, aiming to build an association that is transparent, vibrant, and truly representative of the community.

Dr. Praveen Goyal said he was contesting because many teachers approached him, expressing dissatisfaction that the previous PUTA team had grown complacent, failed to raise issues effectively, made decisions without engaging colleagues, adopted a selective approach, and misused the platform for personal benefit.

It is noteworthy that the PUTA elections will shape the direction of teachers’ advocacy and the academic environment in the coming year.

Chandigarh, August 30:

Relief efforts in Punjab’s flood-affected areas are being carried out on a war footing with the active involvement of the state government, voluntary organizations, and local communities. Alongside the continuous supply of relief material, special attention is being given to healthcare services to ensure the well-being of affected families.

Cabinet Minister and Punjab AAP State President Aman Arora flagged off 11 truckloads of relief material from Sunam for flood-affected districts. These trucks carried ration kits, essential food items, and cattle fodder to support families in distress.

Rural Development & Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, on the second day of his visit to Fazilka district, reviewed flood relief measures with the local administration. He informed that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the first phase of ration distribution covering 3,835 families has been completed, and the second round of distribution has already begun. Sond added that round-the-clock medical teams have been deployed at Pattan Post, Kawanwali Pattan, and Attu Wala Bridge, while drinking water sampling is being done regularly and tested at the Chandigarh laboratory. So far, 1,500 patients have been treated free of cost, and 14 veterinary teams are operational in the district.

Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian also visited flood-hit areas of Fazilka amidst heavy rains. Interacting with affected families at village Ghurka, he assured them that the Punjab Government stands firmly with them in this hour of crisis.

Meanwhile, Jail and Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar visited several villages of Tarn Taran, including Kot Budha, Bhojoke, Jhuggian Pir Bakhsh, Radalke, Ram Singh Wala, Sabhra, and Rasoolpur. He personally led the distribution of dry ration, drinking water, food supplies, and fodder for livestock. Bhullar assured that no family would be left without ration support.

Cabinet Ministers Lal Chand Kataruchakk and Dr. Balbir Singh visited flood-affected villages in the Bhoa region, including Narot Jaimal Singh, Jaidepur, Bamiyal, Bhagwal, and Kohliyan Adda. They also inspected the Ravi river situation and flagged off additional relief trucks loaded with ration from Sarna.

Dr. Balbir Singh informed that the Health Department is organizing 27 medical camps daily, benefiting 500–600 people every day with free check-ups and medicines.

The Punjab Government reiterated its commitment to stand resolutely with the flood-affected families, ensuring that no household is left without food, medical aid, or essential support.

CHANDIGARH, August 30:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 182nd day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 360 locations on Saturday leading to the arrest of 65 drug smugglers after registration of 53 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 27,663 in 182 days.

          The raids have resulted in recovery of 1.2 heroin, 650 grams opium, 150 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 600 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 120 Police teams, comprising over 1100 police personnel, under the supervision of 74 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 406 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.

          The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 53 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Chandigarh, August 29:

Punjab’s Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister, Dr. Baljit Kaur, today said during a press conference at Punjab Bhawan that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is taking immediate and appropriate steps to ensure safety and relief for the people affected by floods. She emphasized that protecting human lives and providing security to citizens is the government’s foremost priority.

Special Arrangements for Senior Citizens

Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that currently 41 Old Age Homes are operational in Punjab, with a total capacity of housing 572 senior citizens, which is being expanded to 700. She said that elderly persons affected by floods will be provided safe accommodation, food, clothing, medicines, and regular medical checkups in these homes. She added that District Social Security Officers, District Programme Officers, Child Protection Officers and Anganwadi workers have been deployed to safely relocate the elderly to secure places.She said that as a special measure, the Punjab Government has directed the concerned district authorities to utilize all Old Age Homes in the state as temporary shelter homes for the flood-affected people.

Initiatives for Children

The Minister said that Anganwadi Centres in flood-hit areas have been prepared as safe shelters for children. Through these centres, khichdi, porridge, and other ready-to-eat meals will be provided. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are also covered under this plan. For child-related emergencies, the 1098 helpline will remain functional 24×7.

Support for Women

Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that Sakhi One Stop Centres are equipped to provide special assistance to pregnant and needy women. In addition, free sanitary pads are being distributed to flood-affected women.

Helpline Services

The Minister announced that dedicated helpline numbers have been activated for immediate assistance:

For Children: 1098

For Women: 181

For Senior Citizens: 14567

Chief Minister’s Helpline: 1812240064

All these helplines will operate round the clock, and every call will receive prompt action.

Assurance to People

Dr. Baljit Kaur assured that the Punjab Government is not only committed to relocating people to safe shelters during floods but is also fully prepared to prevent the outbreak of diseases in the aftermath. She reaffirmed the government’s determination to make every possible effort to support flood-affected families.

Safer, Simpler & Affordable Solution for High-Flow AV Fistulae in Nephrology Care

In a significant breakthrough for dialysis patient care, the Department of Nephrology at PGIMER has introduced a pioneering solution to address high-flow AV fistulae complications—an issue affecting a large number of patients. This innovative banding technique, designed as a safe, simple, and affordable day-care procedure, provides an effective alternative to traditional treatments and marks a major advancement in nephrology care.

Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER, stated, “This ground-breaking approach exemplifies how tailored, cost-effective solutions can revolutionize patient management, especially in resource-limited settings like ours. We are proud to lead in this field and improve the quality of life for our dialysis patients.”

Underpinning the affordability and cost effectiveness of the technique Prof. H S Kohli, Head, Department of Nephrology, PGIMER, said, “The development of this technique has been a game-changer. It provides a safe, simple, and affordable option for managing high-flow Arterio-venous fistulae, directly addressing a major complication in dialysis care.”

High-flow fistulae are a common complication among dialysis patients. These fistulae, which are surgically created connections between an artery and a vein, are vital for effective dialysis. However, when the fistula’s flow rate becomes excessive, it can lead to increased pressure on the heart, resulting in heart failure, inadequate dialysis, and risks of fistula rupture. Until now, managing such high-flow fistulae required complex procedures involving angiography, hospitalization, and expensive equipment like catheterization labs, often costing around 50,000 rupees—posing a financial burden on patients and healthcare systems alike.

Recognizing this challenge, PGIMER team led by Prof. Manish Rathi from Department of Nephrology and ably supported by Dr Ajay Salwania from Department of General Surgery , developed a simple yet effective banding technique that can be performed without the need for advanced imaging or hospitalization.

Detailing about the technique, Prof. Manish Rathi shared, “Over the past three years, we have successfully carried out this procedure for numerous patients, gaining the world’s largest experience with this approach. The procedure involves placing a controlled constriction on the fistula to reduce its flow, thereby alleviating cardiac strain and preventing further complications. It is performed as a day-care procedure, requiring no anaesthesia in most cases, and can be completed within a short outpatient visit.”

Prof. Rathi further detailed, “This breakthrough method offers multiple benefits. The entire procedure costs approximately 5,000 rupees as compared to Rs 50,000 otherwise with traditional procedures, making it accessible to a broader patient population. It is minimally invasive, eliminating the need for angiography or catheterization labs, which reduces risk and shortens recovery time. Being a day-care procedure, patients can return home the same day, significantly enhancing convenience and reducing hospital stay. Our extensive experience and data have demonstrated high success rates, with sustained improvements in fistula function and cardiac health, providing a new lease on life for many patients suffering from high-flow fistula complications.”

“Our pioneering work has been recognized internationally. We presented our findings at a prominent national conference in Delhi, showcasing the largest body of experience with this technique worldwide. The significance and innovation of our work were further acknowledged when we received the prestigious Best Paper Award two years ago, highlighting our contribution to advancing nephrology care,” further added Prof. Rathi.

“This development marks a major leap forward in managing high-flow fistula complications, offering a safe, affordable, and effective solution. It empowers us, the healthcare providers, to improve patient outcomes while reducing treatment costs and risks associated with traditional procedures.”

“Our team remains committed to enhancing dialysis patient care through ongoing research and innovation. We plan to continue refining this technique and expanding its availability, ensuring that more patients benefit from this life-changing procedure,” concluded Prof. Rathi.

Chandigarh:

The Department of Telemedicine at PGIMER has garnered international attention, attracting delegates from various countries. Notably, representatives from different nations visited the department on 27th August 2025

The Department of Telemedicine hosted a group of health experts from ECUADOR, ETHIOPIA, GHANA, KENYA, MALAWI, MAURITIUS, NIGERIA, RWANDA, TAJIKISTAN, UGANDA, UZBEKISTAN, ZAMBIA and ZIMBABWE . This visit was conducted under a program organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with CDAC, Mohali

Dr Amit Agarwal, Project Lead and Consultant in the Department of Telemedicine, welcomed the delegation, providing insights into the ongoing activities. Emphasis was placed on the development of the Learning Management Information System (LMIS) for undergraduates, tele-education initiatives, and the significance of Clinicopathological Conferences (CPCs), a unique feature of PGIMER. The telecasts of these CPCs will be made available to the visiting countries. Dr. Agarwal also explained that the Department of Telemedicine has been designated as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Centre of Excellence for Telepathology by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, running several projects under these CoEs.

Dr Richa Gupta, Consultant in the AB-HWC project, highlighted the teleconsultation services offered through e-Sanjeevani 2.0 under the AB-HWC project, NHM Haryana. The delegation was informed about the tele-consultation process and witnessed live demonstrations of e-prescription generation. Additionally, Dr. Parminder and Dr Shagun, Consultant Pediatrics, Dr. Anil E., Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Kanya Rani, Consultant Dermatology, and Dr. Atul Arora, Consultant Ophthalmology, Dr. Supriya and Dr Manjinder, Consultants, Pediatrics engaged in interactions with the visiting delegation. Dr. Anil Chauhan, Ms Maanvi and Mr. Pankaj Pant were also present and actively participated in the engagement.

Chandigarh, August 27 – Haryana Energy, Transport & Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij today took a sharp dig at the Opposition in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, stating that “It is true that the Opposition has the right to speak, but the Opposition must also have the capacity to listen. History is witness that all rights of deserters are taken away, he added.”

Sh. Vij was speaking during a debate in the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, in reference to objections raised by the Opposition over the use of the word “Shaitaan”.

He said that the Opposition should also have the patience to listen, but instead they walked out. “When you (the Opposition) do not listen and leave the House, and repeatedly raise the same issue, then it should be considered that the Opposition itself has withdrawn the resolution. Therefore, the Opposition must accept that they have withdrawn the resolution,” he remarked.