Chandigarh, January 4

          Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said today that in recognition of PSPCL’s significant contributions, the Government of India has awarded the Corporation a financial reward of Rs. 11.39 crores for its successful addition of 60.51 MW of Rooftop Solar energy during FY 2022-23. This added capacity is expected to generate approximately 2.4 lakh units of green energy daily, marking a substantial step towards clean and sustainable energy adoption in Punjab.

          Highlighting the significant progress made in Rooftop Solar capacity installation, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that an impressive 86 MW added in FY 2023-24. He said that this brings the total installed capacity of Rooftop Solar in Punjab to 430 MW to date, demonstrating the state’s commitment to renewable energy.

          Underscoring the multiple benefits of this achievement, the Power Minister said that the solar power generated from this capacity addition will significantly reduce electricity bills for PSPCL consumers while delivering immense environmental benefits. He appealed to domestic consumers of the state to install Rooftop Solar systems and avail of the subsidy benefit of Rs. 30,000 per KW for the first 2 KWs and Rs. 18,000 per KW from 2 KW to 3 KW, making a total subsidy of Rs. 78,000 for 3 KW.

          Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO further added that the PSPCL has launched a dedicated Nodal Office to facilitate and promote Rooftop Solar adoption. This initiative aims to provide a single-point contact for individuals and organizations interested in harnessing solar energy. The Nodal Office can be reached at 9646129246 or via email at rts.ipc@gmail.com.

          “To further promote Rooftop Solar energy and create widespread public awareness, PSPCL has launched various advertising campaigns in leading newspapers and on its official website”, said the Power Minister while adding that these initiatives aim to educate and motivate the public to adopt solar energy solutions for their energy needs.

          Reiterating the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to increasing the share of clean, green, and cost-effective renewable energy in the state’s power mix, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the PSPCL is not only empowering its consumers but also making a meaningful contribution to combating climate change by promoting Rooftop Solar energy, He said that the Punjab Government is committed to further enhancing its renewable energy capacity to ensure a sustainable future for the state

Chandigarh, January 4, 2025:

          A delegation of industrialists and residents of Phase 8B, Mohali, met Cabinet Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat on Friday to discuss various issues, including the removal of the garbage dumping ground and other civic grievances affecting both industrial and residential areas. The Minister assured the delegation of swift action to resolve the problems they are facing.

          During the meeting, the industrialists and residents presented their concerns, emphasizing the urgent need to accelerate the project for the removal of the garbage dumping ground. They stressed the importance of maintaining cleanliness and ensuring a conducive environment for industries in Phase 8B, Mohali.

          In meeting, Mohali Municipal Corporation Commissioner T. Benith and Xen Rajinder Kumar explained the progress of the project and assured the Minister to complete the work soon.

          Mr. Bhagat also instructed the officials to visit the site immediately and expedite the process of removing the dumping ground. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering industrial growth by addressing infrastructure challenges and creating a business-friendly environment.

          Prominent figures, including industrialists Tajinder Kumar Bansal, Navin Singla, Chairman of the All Residents Welfare Association Mr.Baldev Singh Naga, and other officials, were present at the meeting.

Chandigarh, January 4, 2025 – The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption, has arrested Constable Sukhpreet Singh, a gunman attached to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Bathinda for collecting monthly bribes amounting to Rs 20-25 lakhs from transporters with the help of their accomplices. The Mohali court has sent him on four days police remand to the VB for further questioning.

Disclosing this an official spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said this arrest was made based on an online complaint submitted by Dharam Singh, a transporter from village Lehra Dhurkot, near Rampura in Bathinda district, on the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line.

The spokesperson stated that the complainant had alleged that his trucks and tippers were being challaned by the Assistant Transport Officer (ATO) and Constable Sukhpreet Singh and Jaggi Singh, a private individual from Maur in Bathinda, were demanding Rs 1,800 per truck as monthly “protection money” on behalf of Ankit Kumar, Assistant Transport Officer (ATO) Bathinda, and others, to ensure that their commercial trucks and tippers were not penalized. The said ATO had challaned his stationary vehicles and under pressure he already had paid Rs 15000 through Google pay on the mobile phone number provided by Guranjit Singh, gunman of said ATO. The complainant had recorded conversations with the accused, which were submitted to the VB as an evidence.

During the enquiry of this complaint, the allegations were verified as the accused were found to be soliciting bribes in exchange for allowing the complainant’s transport vehicles to operate without interference. Based on the complainant’s statement and the audio evidence, an FIR has been registered against Constable Sukhpreet Singh and Jaggi Singh at the VB Police Station, Flying Squad-1, Punjab, in Mohali.

Upon confrontation by the VB Flying Squad team, Constable Sukhpreet Singh admitted to demanding and accepting bribes from transporters. He further revealed that approximately Rs 20-25 lakhs were being collected monthly from transporters, facilitated by private individuals and accomplices.

During interrogation, Constable Sukhpreet Singh disclosed that private individuals, including Jaggi Singh and some smaller transporters, were being used to collect the bribes. He also revealed that Constable Guranjit Singh, another gunman attached to ATO Ankit Kumar, was collecting Rs 8-10 lakhs monthly from transporters, while he himself was collecting Rs 7-8 lakhs from the remaining transporters.

The spokesperson added that the role of ATO Bathinda, his gunman Guranjit Singh and other individuals was now under investigation and have been summoned to join the probe so that they could be confronted with the evidence, including the confessions made by Sukhpreet Singh. The spokesperson further hinted that additional revelations are expected as the investigation progresses.

Chandigarh, January 4:

          Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Saturday urged Sh. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Agriculture Minister, to break the impasse and revive the dialogue between the Union Government and the agitating farmer unions at the earliest.

          Sh. Chouhan was holding the discussions on reforms in Agriculture sector with Agriculture and Horticulture Ministers of the states & UTs through video conference.

          Expressing a deep sense of urgency and concern, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian appealed the Union Cabinet Minister that S. Jagjeet Singh Dallewal’s fast-unto-death has taken a critical turn. For 40 days, the latter has been sacrificing his health and well-being, and it is imperative that the Centre should take immediate action to address the grievances and save his life.

          The Punjab Agriculture Minister reiterated that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government supports the farmers’ legitimate demands and enthusiastic for working together with the Union Government to achieve a goal of prosperous agriculture.

          Raising another issue of great concern, he sought Rs.15,000 per acre for the farmers as gap funding for providing returns over the variable cost of alternative crops to wean away them from the water-guzzling paddy crop. S. Khudian emphasised that since, the fast depleting underground water and climate change in the region are major cause of concerns and there is an emergent need to shift maximum area from paddy to another alternative crops viz. maize, cotton, kharif pulses and oilseed crops etc under crop diversification scheme so that farmers can get profit equal to paddy.

          S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian also suggested that the Centre Government should come forward to hold the arm of the state farmers by offering financial assistance of Rs. 2500 per acre (Rs. 2000/acre by GOI & Rs. 500/acre by GoP) to the farmers for managing paddy straw scientifically as incorporation of paddy straw into soil entails an additional expenditure of about Rs. 3000-4000 per acre. Although, the CRM machines have been provided to the farmers at subsidised rates, the additional cost associated with use of these machines is averting farmers to adopt such technologies. In addition to the subsidy on Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines for managing paddy straw, permission should also be granted to the state government to utilise the subsidy amount for various purposes such as CBG plant, Biofuel plant, palletisation units etc., he proposed.

          S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian also sought go ahead for the cultivation of BG 3 hybrid seeds, which are pink bollworm and whitefly resistant, in the state as over a few years, pest attacks have made havoc amongst the farmers. Apart from this, subsidy should be given under centrally sponsored schemes on improved cotton hybrid seeds to revive cotton production in the state.

          The high-level meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Mr. Anurag. Verma, Director Agriculture Mr. Jaswant Singh and other senior officials of the department.