Chandigarh, May 15:

Punjab Water Resources and Soil and Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal today said that Haryana has further complicated water-sharing negotiations by increasing its already unfeasible water demand from 9,525 cusecs to 10,300 cusecs during today’s Technical Committee meeting of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

Following the meeting of officials of state of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana, the Cabinet Minister informed that Haryana’s escalating demand clearly shows its unwillingness to reach a reasonable resolution to our shared water challenges. Haryana tactics appear designed to create an impossible situation rather than work toward practical solutions.

He said that in the Technical Committee meeting, chaired by the BBMB Chairman, Water Resources Secretary Krishan Kumar and Chief Engineer Sher Singh represented the Punjab, alongside Chief Engineers from Haryana and Rajasthan, with Central Government representatives participating virtually.

The Cabinet Minister said that “Haryana had initially demanded 8,500 cusecs, which our technical team clearly explained was impossible to provide. On humanitarian grounds, Punjab has already been supplying 4,000 cusecs since April 4 specifically for drinking water purposes,” said Barinder Kumar Goyal.

He informed that as we already explained our limitations, Haryana has demanded 10,300 cusecs of water to be delivered from May 21 onward, despite their previous written correspondence requesting 9,525 cusecs, which is significant and unexplained increase.

Barinder Kumar Goyal, while stressing the physical impossibility of meeting Haryana’s demands, said that the Bhakra Main Line (BML) has a maximum capacity of 11,700 cusecs. Punjab requires a minimum of 3,000 cusecs for our own critical needs. Now, Haryana’s demand of 10,300 cusecs would effectively leave Punjab with almost no water and exceeds what the infrastructure can safely handle, especially while repairs of BML are ongoing.

He said that Punjab officials presented documentation of Haryana’s previous written request for 9,525 cusecs during the meeting, highlighting the contradiction with their new demand. The BBMB Chairman acknowledged the discrepancy and committed to examining the matter further, he added.

“By making these technically impossible demands, Haryana is deliberately creating complications in the water-sharing arrangement,” said the Cabinet Minister, adding that Punjab has consistently adhered to all BBMB rules and regulations, while Haryana continues to shift its position.

The Minister also clarified Punjab’s position regarding the ongoing water supply, saying that the 4,000 cusecs we have been providing to Haryana since April 4 is drawn from Punjab’s allocation. We have formally stated that the total accumulated volume will need to be returned to Punjab when required.

The Cabinet Minister said that when the meeting began, the Rajasthan government expressed appreciation to Punjab for reliably supplying water when needed. In contrast, Haryana reverted to making excessive demands.

CHANDIGARH/SANGRUR, May 15:

In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Sangrur Police has uncovered a well-organised smuggling racket operating from within the Jail premises, leading to the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Security Gurpreet Singh posted at Sangrur Jail, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.

“Acting on credible intelligence, a raid inside the Sangrur Jail had led to the recovery of 12 mobile phones, 4 smartwatches, 50 grams of opium, 12 grams heroin and other contraband items. The preliminary investigation has also pointed to the involvement of a Class-IV employee identified as Parshant, whose role in facilitating the smuggling activities came to light,” said the DGP, while confirming the arrest of the Jail employee.

He said that pursuing backward and forward linkages, the investigation further led to the arrest of Amritsar-based drug smuggler identified as Manpreet Singh, who is an associate of inmate Gurvinder Singh – currently lodged in Sangrur Jail. Police teams have recovered 4 Kg Heroin, ₹5.5 lakh in drug money and one 9MM Glock pistol along with two live cartridges from accused Manpreet’s possession, he added.

The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests and disclosures are expected, said DGP Gaurav Yadav, while reaffirming that no individual, regardless of their rank or position, will be spared if found involved in illegal activities.

Sharing more details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sangrur Sartaj Singh Chahal said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused DSP Gurpreet Singh was actively involved in the smuggling of drugs and mobile phones into the jail premises.

He said that probe has also revealed that the accused DSP had received Rs 40000 cash from inmate Gurchet’s relative and Rs 26000 in his wife’s account via UPI, to facilitate 25 grams heroin and two mobile phones into the jail premises. Of the total 25 grams heroin, 12 grams heroin has been recovered from another inmate identified as Ravi, who was further selling the drugs to inmates on the directions of Gurchet.

The SSP said that a total of 19 accused persons including DSP Gurpreet Singh, employee Parshant, drug smuggler Manpreet Singh, inmate Gurchet’s mother identified as Banto alias Banso and 15 inmates identified as Gurvinder Singh, Lovejeet Singh, Sikander Singh, Pargat Singh, Sultan Singh, Aman Kumar, Ajay, Harpreet Singh of Ludhiana, Rishipal, Harpreet Singh of Dhuri, Munna, Gur Raj Singh, Raghvir Singh, Gurchet Singh and Rajiv Kaushal alias Gaggu have been arrested so far

He said that further investigations are on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case to unearth the entire network. More arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days, he added.

A case FIR no 75 dated 27/4/2025 under sections 18, 21, 29 and 27A of the NDPS Act, section 52-A of the Prisons Act and section 25 of the Arms Act had already been registered at Police Station City-1 Sangrur, while, section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been added later.

Chandigarh, May 15:

          Punjab Chief Election Commisioner Sibin C informed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu & Dr. Vivek Joshi had an interaction with the Aam Aadmi Party led by its National Convener, Arvind Kejriwal at Nirvachan Sadan today. The meeting is in continuation of the interactions being held by ECI with the Presidents of various National and State Political Parties.

He said that these interactions provide for a long-felt need of constructive discussions which enable National and State Party Presidents to share their suggestions and concerns directly with the Commission. This initiative aligns with the Commission’s broader vision of further strengthening the electoral process in accordance with the existing legal framework with all stakeholders.

          The Commission had earlier met with the delegations of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), led by the Party President Mayawati, on May 06, 2025, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by the Party President Jagat Prakash Nadda, on May 08, 2025, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), M.A. Baby on May 10, 2025 and the Party President of the National People’s Party, Conrad Sangma on May 13, 2025.

          Earlier, a total of 4,719 all-party meetings have been conducted including 40 meetings by CEOs, 800 by DEOs, and 3879 by EROs engaging over 28,000 representatives of various political parties.

CHANDIGARH, May 15:

          With the ongoing war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 75th day, Punjab Police on Thursday conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) at Bus Stands across the state.

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

          Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who was personally monitoring this state-level operation, said that all the CPs/SSPs were asked to ensure heavy deployment of police force under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officers to make this operation successful.

          He said that suspicious persons were checked during the operation conducted at around all the bus stands in the state.

          Apart from this, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs and conducted raids at 486 locations on Thursday leading to the arrest of 124 drug smugglers after registration of 83 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 11,208 within 75 days.

          The Special DGP said that the raids have resulted in recovery of 4.02 kg heroin, 2.5 kg opium and Rs 27090 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          He informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1200 police personnel, under the supervision of 87 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 481 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

          As part of the drive against drugs, in Gurdaspur, a bulldozer was used to raze the houses of two drug smugglers, identified as Baljinder and Lakhwinder, constructed illegally on the land of Water Resource Department at their village Dida Sansia. On this occasion, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurdaspur Aaditya said that both the accused, whose house were demolished, has a criminal background with accused Baljinder facing 10 FIRs under NDPS act and Excise Act, and accused Lakhwinder facing 12 FIRs under the NDPS Act and Excise Act.

          The Special DGP said that Punjab Police has devised a comprehensive strategy and such operations will be continued till the scourge of drugs eradicated from the state.

          He 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 116 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.

          Meanwhile, Punjab Police has also carried out search operation at different jails in six districts— Commissionerate Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Jalandhar Rural, Kapurthala and Rupnagar— to check any illegal activities in the jail. “Our Police teams have thoroughly searched every nook and corner including barracks, kitchen and toilets in the jail complex,” said Special DGP Arpit Shukla.