Chandigarh, May 31:

The Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) has taken a significant step toward enhancing land use efficiency with the approval of a comprehensive policy for the clubbing and de-clubbing of plots. Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Industries and Investment Promotion Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond announced the launch of a broad policy allowing clubbing and de-clubbing of industrial plots.

He said that the decision aims to address the long-standing demand from industrialists and property owners for a structured and transparent mechanism for clubbing and de-clubbing of plots under PSIEC. This decision addresses long-standing demands from industrial stakeholders to merge or divide contiguous plots to optimize land usage, boost operational efficiencies, and support project expansion. The policy applies to all plots under PSIEC’s jurisdiction, including those within focal points and industrial estates, excluding booths and sheds.

He said that as per notification, applications for clubbing or de-clubbing will be considered if the plots are owned by the same entity, i.e. the ownership of the proposed plots to be clubbed or de-clubbed shall be the same, and all outstanding dues are cleared at the time of application. The proposed clubbed plots should be on the same pattern i.e. freehold or leasehold and shall be have executed lease deeds/conveyance deeds (As applicable).  A fee of one percent of the current reserve price of the total area of plots, or a maximum of ₹50 lakh, whichever is lower, will be applicable.

The minister clarified that de-clubbing will only be permitted in accordance with the original layout plans, and all approvals will be subject to building by-laws, zoning regulations, and environmental compliance. Sond asserted that this policy will pave the way for greater efficiency and optimal land use in the state’s industrial zones.

Tarunpreet Singh Sond also informed about the formation of an Appellate Authority for reinstating/re-alloting cancelled plots allotted by the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC).

He stated that under various earlier schemes, numerous industrial plots were cancelled due to reasons such as failure to commence production within the stipulated period, violation of zoning norms, or default in payment of instalments. To address this issue and support industrial development, the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has constituted this Appellate Authority.

The Appellate Authority, notified on May 7, 2025, will provide a dedicated platform for affected allottees to appeal against cancellations and seek reinstatement of their plots. A comprehensive policy regarding clubbing and de-clubbing of industrial plots under PSIEC was notified on May 19, 2025.

Sond explained that approximately 700 plots were previously cancelled, and despite repeated requests from allottees, the earlier restoration policy, which was valid until March 31, 2022, had lapsed without resolution. The government has now responded to these demands by introducing a structured mechanism to offer fair hearings and transparent resolutions.

He further emphasized that the Appellate Authority will not only reduce unnecessary litigation but also ensure procedural clarity and support units facing genuine difficulties. The affected allottees now have the opportunity to file appeals for restoration of their plots by September 30, 2025. In future cases, appeals can be filed within six months of the date of cancellation.

Sond expressed confidence that these historic decisions will create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses in Punjab’s industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. He reiterated the state government’s firm commitment to promoting industrial growth and assured continuous efforts to take Punjab’s industry to greater heights.

Chandigarh, May 31:

Adding yet another feather in the cap of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI), two ex-cadets of the Institute commissioned as Officers in the Indian Navy during the Passing Out Parade (POP) at the prestigious Indian Naval Academy (INA) in Ezhimala (Kerala), on Saturday. The passing out parade was reviewed by Vice Admiral V Srinivas, AVSM, NM the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of the Southern Naval Command.

Revealing this information here today, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora said that ex-cadets of MRSAFPI Mohinder Singh Sekhon and Vinay Kaushik, who have commissioned into Indian Navy, both belong to SAS Nagar (Mohali). Following the two years training at MRSAFPI, three years of rigours training at NDA and finally one year of service specific training at INA, the two young cadets would soon join the Indian Navy.

Notably, Mohinder Singh Sekhon, who lost his parents in childhood, realised his dream through sheer determination and hard work. Vinay’s father Mr. Sanjay Kumar is Sectional Head in The Tribune newspaper and his mother Mrs. Rekha Sharma is a homemaker.

Extending his heartiest congratulations to the young officers, Mr. Aman Arora complimented them on their remarkable feat and exhorted them to continue making the Nation and Punjab proud.

Major General Ajay H. Chauhan, VSM (Retd), Director of MRSAFPI, congratulated the cadets, while noting that 172 cadets have been commissioned as officers in Indian Armed Forces, including 20 in the Indian Navy. He also highlighted the achievement of cadets Arshdeep Singh (All India Rank 3rd) and Karan Kaushik (All India Rank 71st) in the AFCAT merit list, who are awaiting call-up letters to join the Air Force Academy.

CHANDIGARH, May 31:

With the three-months long anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has delivered a major blow to the drug trafficking networks in the state, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Saturday said that the relentless enforcement drive will be continued against drugs, with fresh exhaustive lists of drug peddlers and suppliers being prepared with inputs from Districts, Intelligence and ANTF for action against drug traffickers in the next 60 days.

          “Another big focus area would be on persons released on bail, we have devised a system of monitoring their activities by taking village elders and village panchayats into confidence,” said the DGP, terming that bail cancellation of repeat offenders would remain a primary focus.

          Punjab Police is also exploring the use of GPS anklets to track and monitor activities of big drug smugglers released on bail, said the DGP, while stating, “We are examining the proposal from legal point of view to track the movement and monitor activities of bailed out big smugglers through GPS anklets with the approval of competent Court,” he said. 

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that with Punjab was the first in the country to devise a software— Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS)— in 2019, similarly, an AI-powered hierarchical database is being developed to map arrested persons under NDPS Act with backward and forward linkages to be traced upto two levels in each arrest.

          He said that after conducting trials of advanced anti-drone systems along the Indo-Pak border to combat drone-based smuggling of narcotics, arms, and explosives, the Punjab Government has placed an order to deploy this advanced system. These systems are designed to detect, identify, and neutralise drones, aiming to disrupt cross-border smuggling network effectively, he said.

          He said that Punjab Government has approved Rs 500 crores package for the upgradation and modernisation of the Jails under which every jail will have De-addiction centre so that inmates can avail de-addiction treatment.

          Addressing a press conference at Punjab Police Headquarters here, DGP Gaurav Yadav revealed that Punjab Police has registered 8344 first information reports and arrested 14,734 drug smugglers— including 13,038 drug peddlers and 1,696 listed drug suppliers/distributors since March 1, 2025. He was accompanied by ADGP Anti-Narcotics Force Nilabh Kishore and IGP Headquarters Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill.

           He said that due to strict enforcement huge recoveries of drugs have been made during this campaign including 586 kg heroin, 247 kg opium, 14 ton poppy husk, 9 kg charas, 253 kg ganja, 2.5 kg ICE, 1.6 kg cocaine, 25.70 lakh intoxicant pills/tablets and Rs 10.76 crores drug money from their possession. During the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, illegally acquired properties of 144 drug smugglers worth 74.27 Crores has been freezed, while, 104 illegally constructed properties of drug smugglers were demolished by the local authorities during this campaign, he added.

          The DGP revealed that the the Punjab Police have employed scientific investigation techniques including digital evidence, collection and financial tracking. Out of the 1205 cases decided during this period, 1085 cases resulted into conviction with a conviction rate of 90%, which is highest in the country, he said.

          He said that intelligence reports and informal survey indicates disruption in the supply chain of drugs resulting in 50% increase in street level heroin prices and 40% increase in street level prices of synthetic drugs as a result of strict enforcement. Repeated, targeted, and effective CASO operations have forced notorious drug smugglers to abandon their homes and flee, disrupting local network and diminishing their operational capacity, he said.

          He said that Hawala network has been effectively disrupted with the arrest of 48 big Hawala operators, resulting in recovery of Rs 10.76 crore. This has given a substantial setback to the economic infrastructure of drug smugglers and their network, effectively disrupting their funding channels and undermining their operational capacity, he added.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the ‘Safe Punjab’ WhatsApp Chatbot portal— 9779100200— emerged as a game-changer as it has received an overwhelming response from the public for its confidentiality feature encouraging individuals to report smugglers, addicts, and providing suggestions. Out of 7635 tips received, 1596 FIRs were registered after investigation which resulted in the arrest of 1814 accused, he said.

          Citing that Punjab Police has adopted compassionate approach and prioritised the treatment of drug addicts as patients rather than criminals, he said that 1121 individuals caught with small quantity of drugs, were sent for de-addiction and rehabilitation under section 64-A of the NDPS Act. In addition, Police teams have also taken 5786 drug users to de-addiction centres for treatment, while, 6483 drug users were convinced by the police to take treatment from OOAT centres, he added.

          Furthermore, he announced that Station House Officers (SHOs) will personally reach out to the bailed-out individuals, engage with them in a supportive manner, and obtain a self-declaration pledge that they will refrain from consuming or selling drugs. Additionally, SHOs will offer medical assistance to those in need, he said, while adding that strict action will be taken against repeat offenders.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav also announced the ‘Each One Adopt One’ program where every police officer starting from the rank of DGP to downwards will adopt one drug user and focus on his/her de-addiction and rehabilitation. “Starting from myself, every officer— under the ‘Each One Adopt One’ program— will voluntarily adopt one drug user, and monitor his de-addiction treatment and motivate him,” he said, while exhorting more people should come forward and adopt one drug user to help them to bring back into mainstream.

          Talking about future prevention strategies, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Village Panchayats are being requested to hold meetings and assess the drug situation in their village to independently find out if their village is drug-free or not. “If the village is free of drugs, the Panchayat would be requested to declare their village ‘Nasha Mukt’ and if the village is not yet free of drugs, the Panchayat is requested to assess the present status and devise strategy to make their village drug-free,” he said.       

          Meanwhile, Citizens can report drug activities anonymously via Safe Punjab Helpline (9779100200).

Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab

More than 600 complaints have been resolved in online NRI Milnees, says Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal

123 complaints received in sixth monthly online NRI Milnee held at Amritsar

Chandigarh/Amritsar, 31 May 2025:

While conducting the sixth online NRI Milnee, NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal informed that more than 600 complaints of NRI Punjabis have been resolved so far in the online NRI Milnees.  The sixth monthly online NRI Milnee held today at Amritsar to resolve the grievances of NRI Punjabis. 

Speaking about today’s Milnee, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that today we have received 123 complaints from NRI Punjabis from all over the world through various platforms.  He said that we are holding these NRI Milnees every month to resolve the grievances of NRI Punjabis.  He added that all these grievances would be resolved before the next meeting which is to be held in the month of June. 

He further informed that 658 cases have been received from different countries in these six months, out of which only 51 cases are pending due to court cases, all the remaining cases have been resolved.  He appealed to all NRI Punjabis that they can raise their complaints in the NRI Milnees held every month.  He further said that he is committed to resolve the issues of NRI Punjabis and feels great pride and happiness in resolving these complaints.

During the sixth NRI online Milnee, DIG NRI Affairs Rajpal Singh Sandhu, AIG Jagjit Singh Walia, AIG Ajinder Singh NRI Wing of Punjab Police, District Revenue Officer Navkirat Singh and other officials were present.

Chandigarh, May 31, 2025:

The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken serious cognizance of the disturbing condition of a 96-year-old man and his 86-year-old wife, allegedly abandoned and neglected by their son, Mr. Rajesh Mitra, in Flat No. J-046, Ridgewood Estate, DLF City, Phase-IV, Gurugram. Acting upon Complaint No. 470/5/2025 submitted by residents and representatives of the Ridgewood Estate Condominium Association, the Commission has issued urgent directions to the district administration and health authorities to conduct an immediate medical, psychological, and social assessment of the elderly couple.

The complaint alleges that the senior citizens have been left in a state of grave neglect, relying solely on two untrained female attendants, without proper medical supervision. The elderly man is often heard crying out in pain, causing severe emotional trauma not just to his wife but also to other senior residents in the vicinity. Despite repeated appeals to the son and local authorities, no effective action had been taken, prompting the intervention of the Commission.

Chairperson of the HHRC, Justice LalitBatra, expressed deep concern over the prolonged mental and physical suffering endured by the couple, calling it a blatant violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to live with dignity. He emphasized that such situations are not “private family matters” but public human rights concerns, especially when society and the state fail in their shared responsibility to protect vulnerable citizens.

Justice Batra highlighted provisions under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, particularly Section 20, which obligates the state to provide adequate healthcare services for senior citizens, including reserved hospital beds, separate queues, and subsidized treatment. If intentional abandonment is established, the Commission noted, criminal liability under Section 24 of the Act may be invoked against the responsible party.

In view of the gravity of the situation, the Commission has directed the Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, to constitute a multi-disciplinary Medical and Welfare Committee, comprising:

• Commissioner of Police, Gurugram
• Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Gurugram
• Civil Surgeon, Gurugram
• District Social Welfare Officer (also designated as Maintenance Officer under Section 18 of the Act)

This team is instructed to visit the residence and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the couple’s physical, emotional, and social condition. A status report and long-term action plan for their treatment care, or rehabilitation is to be submitted to the Commission before the next hearing on July 3, 2025.

Speaking on behalf of the Commission,Dr.PuneetArora, Protocol, Information and Public Relations Officer, affirmed that strict compliance is expected from all concerned authorities, and further action will be considered based on the findings of the field report.

Chandigarh, May 29:

A personal hearing for street vendors who are fee defaulters was conducted today under the chairpersonship of Smt. Harpreet Kaur Babla, Mayor and Appellate Authority, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh.

The hearing was held in compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court, in connection with the proposed cancellation of vending licenses of defaulting vendors.

The meeting was attended by the other two members namely Sh. Saurabh Joshi and Sh. Yogesh Dhingra, both MC Councillors along with Sh. Sumeet Sihag, Joint Commissioner, and officials from the Vendor Cell of the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh.

During the hearing, the vendors were given an opportunity to present their cases and explain the reasons behind the non-payment of the required fees. The Mayor emphasized the importance of complying with vending rules and maintaining regular fee payments for the continuation of vending licenses.

The Municipal Corporation reiterated its commitment to following due legal process while taking action against defaulters. Further action will be taken based on the outcome of the hearing and in accordance with the law. The Corporation urged all vendors to clear their dues promptly to avoid cancellation of licenses.

Chandigarh, May 27

City Mayor Smt. Harpreet Kaur Babla reviewed a key consultation meeting held today to discuss the development of Smart Parking solution under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The meeting focused on finalizing the framework for the upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) for the project.

The consultation meeting was attended by committee chairman Sh. Saurabh Joshi, Councillor and other Committee members were also present included Sh. Umesh Ghai, Smt. Jaswinder Kaur, and Smt. Darshana Puri (all Councillors), along with Sh. Sumeet Sihag, Joint Commissioner and other concerned MCC officials.

During the meeting, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla emphasized the importance of adopting innovative and efficient technologies to address Chandigarh’s growing parking needs. She called for a transparent and forward-looking approach to ensure a sustainable urban mobility solution for the city.

Key suggestions discussed included implementing AI-based and RFID-enabled systems, incorporating Proof of Concept (PoC), valet parking services, LED display boards for real-time availability, and use of technologies such as ANPR/OCR. Proposals also included zoning of parking areas, allowing consortiums and international firms, and choosing between POS or ticketing machines for cost-effectiveness.

Additional points raised involved ensuring manpower compliance, introducing Geo-fencing, addressing stamp duty regulations etc.

The MCC will carefully evaluate all inputs to refine the RFP and move towards deploying a state-of-the-art Smart Parking System that meets the city’s future needs.