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VIGILANCE BUREAU ARRESTS HORTICULTURE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER JS SIDHU IN GUAVA COMPENSATION SCAM CASE

IEP Chandigarh January 30

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday has arrested Horticultural Development Officer (HDO) Jaspreet Singh Sidhu, remained posted at Kharar and Dera Bassi, in SAS Nagar district who was accused in the multi crore Guava orchids compensation scam in SAS Nagar.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said initially, said accused JS Sidhu has availed interim bail from the High Court on 01.09.2023. However, the VB vehemently opposed his anticipatory bail petition and eventually filed 3 affidavits/counter affidavits as replies during lengthy and detailed arguments to seek his custodial interrogation. The VB has categorically highlighted the call detail records showing proximity of JS Sidhu with other accused beneficiaries, statements of various witnesses, tampered and forged documentary records and differences in-between the report submitted with GMADA and office copy of the same report retained in the state Horticulture Department. Besides, category of the same plants was shown to be higher in report submitted with GMADA than that mentioned in the office copy of the same report, he added.

The spokesperson informed that subsequently, the High Court has dismissed his anticipatory bail petition on 24.01.2023. Thereafter, the accused HDO was continuously on the run and the VB was trying to trace him , whereby, he was duly arrested on Tuesday from SAS Nagar.

He added that the said accused had remained posted as HDO, Kharar for past 15 years continuously from 2004 to 2019 and was involved in evaluating market value of fruit bearing trees present on lands acquired by GMADA vide various acquisitions like Aerocity, IT City, Sector 88-89 etc.

Providing more details of this case, he informed that the VB has registered a case FIR no. 16 in 2023 after unearthing huge scam pertaining to embezzlement of about Rs 137 crores released under the disguise of compensation for said Guava orchards situated on the land acquired for development of Aerotropolis city by acquiring agricultural land pertaining to some villages including village Bakarpur and others situated alongside the Airport Road in SAS Nagar city.

He further added that during the investigation it has came to light that certain beneficiaries/ landowners, who have claimed compensation for fruit bearing trees situated in the name of orchids on their land, were familiar with the concerned officials/ higher-ups of Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and were having prior information of the land acquisition as well as the concerned villages, where the land was to be acquired. Moreover, they were also aware that the compensation for trees, including fruit bearing plants, would be assessed separately from the value of the land acquired. Subsequently, these individuals or groups in a preplanned way started purchasing and accumulating the land which was going to be acquired by the Authority with intention to exploit the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 for their own wrongful gain in connivance with the concerned officials of Revenue Department, Land Acquisition Collector (LAC), GMADA, Horticulture Department etc. causing a huge loss to the state exchequer.

He further informed that  the accused persons in order to influence value assessment of Guava trees, showed the age of plants to be 4 years or more than 4 years, so that such aged trees are considered as fruit yielding. To do so, the accused persons get the Revenue/ Khasra Girdawari Register record pertaining to village Bakarpur for the year 2016-17 and tampered with the help of accused revenue Patwari Bachittar Singh and got mentioned in the record that Guava trees were planted since year 2016.

The spokesperson added that under the above said Act, determination of the age and category of fruit-bearing plants is crucial for calculating their market value and this assessment is typically done by horticulture officials.

He further added that detailed survey list pertaining to fruit bearing trees attached with the land under acquisition of village Bakarpur and other villages was prepared and further sent by LAC, GMADA to the Director Horticulture department for determination of market value of said Guava trees.

That, the land under acquisition falls in the jurisdiction of Block- Kharar of the Horticulture Department, where accused Jaspreet Singh Sidhu was posted as HDO at Dera Bassi. However, assessment work of these villages was given to him by his higher authorities without giving any reason/ justification.

That, fruit trees said to be present on about 180 acres of land were required to be evaluated by JS Sidhu, HDO, whereas, he had visited the land under acquisition only once for inspection/ evaluation and had managed to prepare assessment report pertaining to total 207 khasra numbers mentioned separately in the survey list of the LAC, GMADA.

Moreover, he was found to have obtained photocopies of khasra Girdawari record, wherein, over writing/ addition/alteration to mention guava orchard was clearly visible with the naked eye, however, he deliberately ignored these facts and proceeds to prepare tailor made assessment report evaluating 4-5 years of age of said plants.

Giving more details the spokesperson informed that the VB has so far arrested total 21 accused persons including beneficiaries and public servants namely, JS Johal, LAC, Vaishali, HDO, Bachitar Singh, Patwari etc. Eventually, some beneficiaries were given anticipatory bails in lieu of their offer to deposit 100 percent of compensation amount by the High Court and other accused have also started availing parity.

Subsequently, the VB has approached Supreme Court of India challenging the bail orders of the High Court and after considering the facts Supreme Court has issued notices to the accused respondents.

The High Court has ordered various accused beneficiaries to deposit total amount of Rs 72.36 crores out of which Rs 43.72 Crores have been deposited as on date.

BJP RIGGED COUNTING OF 36 VOTES, HOW IS IMPARTIAL POLLS EXPECTED IN COUNTRY: CM

IEP Chandigarh, January 30

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday said that January 30 will be remembered as the ‘darkest day’ in the annals of Indian polity as BJP led Union government has murdered democracy during the election for post of Mayor in Chandigarh.

Interacting with the media persons here at local Punjab Bhawan, the Chief Minister said that this moment will be remembered as a black day in the history of our democracy. He said that unfortunately it is the same month when Republic Day is celebrated in the nation and BJP chose the same month for undermining the constitution of the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is a chronic habit of the BJP as they had earlier toppled democratically elected governments in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and other states.

The Chief Minister said that if the counting of 36 votes can’t be conducted in a free and fair manner then how the polls and counting of votes for the entire country will take place impartially. He said that these leaders will loot the ballot papers from the voters for their vested interests, adding that EVM machines have already been found in their homes. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that democracy is not going in the right direction adding that it is not in the interest of the common man and the country.

The Chief Minister said that BJP had deliberately appointed the head of its minority wing as the Presiding officer in these polls. He said that the spineless presiding officer acted as per the whims and fancies of his masters to ensure victory of the BJP nominee. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the presiding officer has jeopardized the constitutional process envisaged by Dr BR Ambedkar in the Indian constitution thereby backstabbing the entire nation.

The Chief Minister said that Presiding officer must be booked under sedition for deceiving the constitution of the country. He said that the presiding officer had deliberately counted the votes in the absence of polling agents just to ensure the win of the BJP candidate. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is unprecedentedly unfortunate as democratic has once again muzzled for the sake of the saffron party.

The Chief Minister said that the worry is not that BJP had hijacked the democratic process in Chandigarh but the real problem is that they will divest the people of their democratic rights in ensuing Lok Sabha polls too. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that today democracy has been murdered in Chandigarh adding that the soul of Baba Sahib Ambedkar must be hurt by seeing all this. He said that they will go to the court and challenge this election in which all the democratic norms have been set aside.

The Chief Minister said that it is beyond doubt that there is no democracy in the country as the BJP led government has hijacked the polls. He said that this has further raised doubts that the upcoming polls across the country will not be free and fair. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is not the issue of survival of any party or alliance but that of the democracy in the country.

The Chief Minister said that the BJP nominee was well aware in advance that he would win that’s why he was sitting near the chair which he occupied the chair promptly. He said that the presiding officer came late because he was directed to act in this direction only. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the presiding officer was a spineless person who had bowed down before his masters to murder the democracy which is unwarranted and undesirable.

OLD AMRITSAR-TARN TARAN ROAD TO BE FOUR LANNED AT A COST OF RS 69.67 CRORE: HARBHAJAN SINGH

IEP Chandigarh, January 30

Punjab Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Tuesday said that the old NH-15/54 road connecting Amritsar and Tarn Taran, the two historic districts of Majha region, will be upgraded into a four lanning road at a cost of Rs 69.67 Crore, and the project will be initiated on February 1.

Revealing this in a press communiqué issued here, the PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that at present the carriageway of this section of Road is 9.75 meters, and sufficient right of way is available with the state PWD, thus, no land acquisition is required for its up-gradation. He said that the total civil cost of this project is Rs. 61.24 Crore and the cost of utility shifting (including diversion of forest land, tree cutting, electrical & others) is Rs.8.43 Crore.

Disclosing further, the PWD Minister said that these 2 important Districts were connected by the old NH-15/54 stretch, and now, this section has been bypassed by the Amritsar-Bathinda section (NH-54). He said that even after the construction of the new road, the traffic on this section has increased manifold and current traffic on this stretch is around 50,000 PCUs. He said that this whole stretch has its own importance as a number of historical Gurudwaras are situated on this section.

 “Moreover, this section falls under the master plan of Punjab Urban Planning & Development Authority. Mega units of paddy processing and several rice mills are situated on this road. It also acts as an approach road to major grain markets of Amritsar as well as Tarn Taran”, he added.

The Minister said that a new railway over bridge (ROB) has been constructed by the PWD with funding of MORT&H on level crossing A-12 recently and another ROB on this section at level crossing A-25 is soon going to be started as this project is under tendering process. He said that the four lanning of this road would not only help in easing the traffic movement but would also accelerate the development of the areas adjacent to this road.

PUNJAB POLICE ARREST TWO ‘BIG FISH’ AMONG FIVE DRUG SMUGGLERS FROM AMRITSAR; 3KG HEROIN, ₹5.25L DRUG MONEY RECOVERED

IEP Chandigarh/Amritsar, January 30

In a major success amidst the ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police have arrested two absconding brothers— considered as big fish in drug trade— along with their three accomplices after recovering 3Kg heroin and ₹5.25 lakh drug money from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

Duo arrested ‘drug big fish’ have been identified as Manjit Singh alias Manna and Lavjit Singh alias Lav alias Labh, both residents of Guru ki Wadali Chheharta in Amritsar, while, their three accomplices have been identified as Kans Kaur of Chheharta in Amritsar, Harmanjit Singh alias Harman and Manpreet Singh alias Manna, both residents of village Dhun Dhahewal in Tarn Taran. Apart from recovering heroin and drug money, Police teams have also impounded their three cars including Toyota Fortuner, Hyundai i20 and Renault Pulse and one Splendour motorcycle, besides, seizing an electronic weighing scale from their possession.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that both Lavjit alias Lav and Manjit alias Manna, who were absconding since 2015, had a dozen of cases registered against them under the NDPS act. “Both the accused brothers were most wanted by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai in 260-Kg Heroin seizure and Delhi Special Cell in 356-Kg Heroin seizure,” he said.

The DGP said that both the accused have also got prepared fake passports from Lucknow on the addresses of Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh and were planning to flee from the country. Preliminary investigations have also revealed that both the accused brothers were also deeply involved in Hawala network, which has also been destroyed, he added.

Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that following reliable inputs about Harmanjit alias Harman going to supply heroin after picking the consignment from Lavjit alias Lav and Manjit alias Manna, Police team from CIA staff led by Inspector Amolakdeep Singh had arrested accused Harman from Chherata area after recovering 2-kg heroin, Rs 1.25 lakh drug money and Hyundai i20 car, in which he was travelling.

He said that in a follow-up operation, the Police teams have also arrested both the accused brothers and their two accomplices Manpreet and Kans Kaur after recovering 1-kg heroin, Rs 4 lakh drug money, two cars and one motorcycle from their possession.

The CP said that the Police have also identified the properties— including a house in Amritsar and land/plot in Shivpuri of Madhya Pardesh, Baba Bakala in Amritsar, Raipur in Amritsar— purchased by both the accused brothers, allegedly, using the drug money. Further investigations are on to unearth the entire drug cartel and to find out more people involved in this cartel, he added.

A case FIR no. 15 dated 20-1-2024 has been registered under sections 21-C, 27-A and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Gate Hakima in Amritsar.

PUNJAB GOVT INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR RECRUITMENT OF MEMBERS OF PUNJAB STATE WOMEN COMMISSION: DR. BALJIT KAUR

IEP Chandigarh, January 30

The Punjab Government has invited applications from eligible candidates for the recruitment of non-government vacancies of members in the State Women Commission by February 5th.

Divulging in this regard, Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, stated that the state government is seeking persons, preferably women of ability integrity and standing, who have served the cause of woman or have sufficient knowledge and experience in law or legislation, administration of matters concerning the advancement of women or leadership, of any trade union or voluntary organization of women for protection, upliftment  and per motion of common interest of women, can submit their applications.

The Cabinet Minister added that the Punjab Government to be recruited one Senior Vice Chairperson, one Vice Chairperson and ten members (eight General and two SC) for the State Women Commission to effectively implement women welfare schemes.

Furthermore, the minister informed that interested candidates can submit their applications along with their Bio-data to the office of Social Security, Women and Child Development Department, Punjab, SCO No: 102-103, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh, by 5th February 2024. Applications received after the specified date will not be considered.

25,08,735 property cards have been distributed in 6250 villages of the state, says Hry Chief Secretary

IEP Chandigarh, January 30

Haryana Chief Secretary, Sh Sanjeev Kaushal directed all Deputy Commissioners in the state to establish weekly targets for completing drone mapping, ownership card uploading, and distribution in their respective districts. They are also instructed to monitor progress regularly to ensure completion by April 30.

The Chief Secretary was presiding over the review meeting of the Large-Scale Mapping Project and its implementation here today.

The Chief Secretary said that the mapping work has been completed in most of the districts. In the remaining districts, the required work should be completed by the stipulated date. He interacted directly with all the District Deputy Commissioners, took information about the problems being faced in this work and gave necessary guidelines to complete them.

To address the 7852 Gramin Savmitva issues flagged on the Grievances Redressal portal, Kaushal advocated for holding Gram Sabha meetings to facilitate community-driven solutions. He further underscored the importance of expeditiously uploading and distributing the remaining 18,49,309 Svamitva cards before April 30. He said that the data of Musavvis has been made available in the districts. He said that GIS labs have been established in the districts, and staff have been deployed. Select a master trainer and send him to train other employees so that there is no problem in any work.

The Chief Secretary said that the work of installing pillars on the inter-state boundary in the districts of Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, Yamunanagar,and other districts  should also be expedited. Congratulating the Development and Panchayat Department for registering property cards for the land owned by Panchayats, he said that this is a very good achievement of the department. Now the department should also complete the work of uploading individual lands cent  percent. So far, 25,08,735 cards out of 25,14,839  property cards have been distributed in 6250 villages of the state.

The Chief Secretary said that out of 44212 square kilometers of land in the state, drone survey work of 40372 square kilometers of land has been completed. The survey work of the remaining land will also be completed within the stipulated period. Similarly, data of 55 ULBs out of 93 urban local bodies in urban areas have also been prepared. This should also be uploaded as soon as possible.

In the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Mr. TVSN Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Anil Malik, Chief Administrator HSVP Mr. TL Satyaprakash, Director General Development and Panchayat Mr. D.K. Behera, Director Consolidation and Land Records Amna Tasmin, Ma Advisor Revenue Department General Girish were present. Deputy Commissioner, District Revenue Officer, and many other officials joined the meeting through VC.

Officers asked to encourage students to use tablets more

IEP Chandigarh, January 30

Haryana School Education Minister, Sh. Kanwar Pal, directed officers to encourage students to use tablets more and conduct live sessions with expert teachers to address any doubts. Sh. Kanwar Pal gave these directions during a meeting with officers of the School Education Department held here today.

He emphasized the importance of ranking the educational videos that students watch to understand their preferences, enabling teachers to adapt their teaching methods. Sh. Kanwar Pal suggested that all educational videos should have subtitles to cultivate both watching and reading habits among students, regardless of the language in which the teacher is instructing, be it English, Hindi, or Sanskrit. He said that such practices will enhance the reading skills of children.

Sh. Kanwar Pal stated the current use of artificial intelligence in education, emphasizing its potential in helping students clear doubts. He also stressed the need for two-way communication to ensure no hindrance in communication between teachers and students. Haryana Tourism Minister, Sh. Kanwar Pal, has informed that preparations for the 37th International Surajkund Crafts Mela, scheduled to commence on February 2 in Faridabad, are now complete. The theme state for the fair will be Gujarat, and the cultural partner will be North East (Ashta Lakshmi). The inauguration of the Surajkund Fair will be done by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.

Sh. Kanwar Pal shared this information during a review meeting with officers of the Tourism Department at Haryana Niwas in Chandigarh today. He mentioned that the fair is schedule from February 2 to February 18.

He further stated that this year confluence of arts and culture of India and abroad will be seen in the fair. Along with this, artists will be seen entertaining the audience with folk dance and singing. He said that around 800 people from 50 countries have registered to participate and their handicrafts and folk arts will be showcased.

Through the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’, the government is ensuring the benefits of its schemes reach every household: Hry CM

IEP Chandigarh, January 30

Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal addressed a gathering at a programme in Ambala today, stating that collectively, we are committed to fulfilling Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation. He emphasized the necessity of every citizen’s participation in this endeavour.

He stated that while India gained independence in 1947, no one had envisioned making the country a ‘Vishva Guru’. Under the present government and Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi’s leadership, continuous efforts have been made in this direction over the past decade. The period until 2047, the 25-year span, is referred to as the ‘Amrit kaal,’ during which India aims to be listed among the developed nations globally. He noted that there are 37 developed nations worldwide.

Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Lal informed that the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ has been organized over the past two months, with ongoing Yatra in several districts. These programmes, running until January 31, aim to connect people with government schemes by organizing events in approximately 8,000 locations across Haryana. The focus is on making people aware of government initiatives at their doorsteps.

Expressing his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for implementing the Lal Dora Mukt Yojana of Haryana state as Pradhan Mantri Svamitva Yojana in the entire country. Through this scheme, the benefits of government initiatives are reaching eligible recipients seamlessly through online means. He highlighted that the ‘Parivar Pehchan Patra’ has facilitated the automatic allocation of a monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 when an individual reaches the age of 60.

The Chief Minister acknowledged the trust that the people have in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He emphasized the need to go among the people with this trust and make them aware of the policies. He mentioned that Haryana has provided jobs to over a lakh youth based on transparency and merit in the past nine years, with 60,000 jobs in pipeline which will be offered to the youth in the next two to three months.

The programme was attended by Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Sh. Gian Chand Gupta, Minister of Home and Health, Sh. Anil Vij, Haryana’s in-charge and Former Chief Minister, Sh. Biplab Kumar Deb, Member of Parliament and BJP State President, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, and MLA, Sh. Aseem Goel, among others.

Haryana Tourism Minister, Sh. Kanwar Pal, has informed that preparations for the 37th International Surajkund Crafts Mela, scheduled to commence on February 2 in Faridabad, are now complete. The theme state for the fair will be Gujarat, and the cultural partner will be North East (Ashta Lakshmi). The inauguration of the Surajkund Fair will be done by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.

Sh. Kanwar Pal shared this information during a review meeting with officers of the Tourism Department at Haryana Niwas in Chandigarh today. He mentioned that the fair is schedule from February 2 to February 18.

He further stated that this year confluence of arts and culture of India and abroad will be seen in the fair. Along with this, artists will be seen entertaining the audience with folk dance and singing. He said that around 800 people from 50 countries have registered to participate and their handicrafts and folk arts will be showcased.

82000 lights will be installed across Hry

IEP Chandigarh, January 30

Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister, Dr. Kamal Gupta said that 82000 lights will be installed across the state to beautify roads and roundabouts. He also suggested the installation of various fountains to enhance the appeal of each roundabout and park.

Dr. Kamal Gupta reviewed the development works with the officers of Municipal Corporation Yamunanagar-Jagadhri late last evening and gave necessary guidance for the same.

He said that in Yamunanagar city, 4,000 lights will be installed to enhance the beauty of the streets and roundabouts. He emphasised to built bus queue shelters at specific locations throughout the city.

         The Urban Local Body Minister directed authorities to make Yamunanagar-Jagadhri Municipal Corporation clean and attractive. He emphasised the importance of these towns being beautiful and said to use both manpower and machinery to ensure the same.

To illuminate the city at night, Dr. Kamal Gupta directed officers to install colourful lights.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Sh. Dheeraj Kumar and other officers of the Municipal Corporation also remained present during the meeting.

Budget session of Haryana Assembly will commence on February 20

IEP Chandigarh, January 30

The budget session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha will commence on February 20, 2024.

This was disclosed by School Education Minister Sh Kanwar Pal, who also holds the portfolio of Parliamentary Affairs Minister, during a press conference shortly after the meeting of State Cabinet.

He informed that at the start of the cabinet meeting, a two-minute silence was observed in honour of the martyrs of India’s freedom struggle.

The Minister said that as per the state government’s decision, the Cabinet initiated by honoring the martyrs and sanctioned employment for 18 of their dependents who, due to various reasons, missed the application deadline for jobs. He also informed that farmers will no longer be required to pay a royalty of Rs 200 for soil extracted from their farms for personal use. Instead, they can conveniently submit the necessary information on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal, eliminating the need to visit government offices.

He said that State Cabinet also gave approval of Rs 1,500 crore loan to Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation. The corporation’s outstanding loan, previously around Rs 14,000 crores, has been substantially reduced to Rs 4,000 crores and is expected to be completely cleared in the near future, he added.

Director General of Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department Sh Mandip Singh Brar, Media Secretary Sh Praveen Attrey and other officers were also present.

Haryana Cabinet met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, has approved the transfer of Government land measuring 1094 square yards situated at NIT Faridabad to Sain Samaj Kalyan Sabha, Faridabad.

The decision comes in response to the society’s request for the allocation of 915 square meters of land for religious and community purposes such as Dharmshala and Temple, under the Policy for Allotment of Government Land for Social/ Religious/ Charitable/ Community Purposes.

The proposed transfer involves the Government land of the Revenue Department, and the decision is in alignment with para 8 of the policy dated 12-02-2019. The land, acquired under the erstwhile Land Acquisition Act 1894 by the Union Government for the rehabilitation of displaced persons from West Punjab in 1947, will now serve the purpose of establishing a place of worship and community facilities for Sain Samaj Kalyan Sabha, Faridabad.

The collector rates of the land in question are Rs. 17,000/- per square yard, and it has been decided that the transfer will be made to Sain Samaj Kalyan Sabha at a concessional rate of 50% of the collector rates, amounting to a total cost of Rs. 93,01,890/-. The Finance Department has already provided its concurrence, subject to the approval of the competent authority.

Sain Samaj Kalyan Sabha, Faridabad, a registered Society under the Haryana Registration & Regulation of Societies Act, 2012, had sought the transfer in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Policy for Allotment of Government Land, as notified by the Revenue & Disaster Management Department.

Haryana amends policy for establishing multi-model logistics parks, container depots, agro warehouses

The Haryana Cabinet, convened under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal, has accorded approval to amend the policy for setting up integrated/multi-model logistics parks, integrated inland container depots, logistics parks, warehouses-cum-retail, truckers parks, cash and carry, warehouse, cold chain facilities and gas godowns.

Under the amended policy, a minimum area of 20 acres will be necessary for the establishment of Integrated Inland Container Depots/Custom Bounded Areas replacing the existingrequirement of 50 acres.

For agro warehouses with retail facilities, a minimum area of 2 acres will be mandated, while non-agro warehouses with retail facilities will require 5 acres. In addition, developers must ensure a minimum approach of 33 feet for agro warehouses and 60 feet for non-agro warehouses.

Cold chain storage facilities will necessitate a minimum approach of 33 feet.

These amendments aim to maintain consistency in minimum eligibility conditions and approach norms across policies of both the Town and Country Planning and Industries and Commerce Departments.

The proposal was approved with the decision that the Industries and Commerce Department will appropriately amend the Haryana Logistics, Warehousing and Retail Policy, 2019 to align the policy with the current proposal of Town and Country Planning Department.

Thalassemia and Haemophilia patients in Haryana to get Rs 3000 monthly disability pension

Patients in Haryana suffering from Thalassemia and Haemophilia, with a family income of up to Rs 3 lakh per annum, will now be entitled to a monthly disability pension of Rs 3000. This decision, expected to benefit approximately 2083 patients, will result in an annual disbursement of Rs 7.49 crore at the present rate of Rs. 3000 per month.

The Haryana Cabinet, convened under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal here today, approved the inclusion of Thalassemia and Haemophilia diseases in the existing notification under “The Haryana Divyang Pension Rules, 2016”. This decision aims to extend disability pension benefits to such patients and will alleviate the significant financial burden faced by these patients.

Last year, Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal had announced to include the Thalassemia and Haemophilia patients for grant of disability pension for the families having earning up to Rs 3 lakh annually. According to the Health Department’s report (2002), there are approximately 1300 cases of Thalassemia and about 783 cases of Haemophilia in the State of Haryana.

The verification of Thalassemia and Haemophilia certificates will be conducted annually by the respective Civil Surgeon to ascertain the patient’s current status and whether they have been cured or not.

Haryana Cabinet approves Rs 250 monthly increase for 14 pension schemes

Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal here today, has approved a monthly enhancement of Rs 250 for 14 pension schemes being implemented by the Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of SCs & BCs, and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department, Haryana, effective from January 1, 2024 to be paid from February 2024. This decision will benefit approximately 31.40  lakh beneficiaries under various social security schemes.

The cabinet has also approved an increase in the rates of nine social security pension schemes operated under the SEWA Department from Rs. 2,750/- to Rs. 3,000 per month, effective January 1, 2024. These schemes include the Old Age Samman Allowance Scheme, Haryana Pension to Widows and Destitute Women Scheme, Haryana Disabled Persons Pension Scheme, Ladli Social Allowance Scheme, Haryana Allowance to Dwarf Scheme Pension, Haryana Allowance to Eunuchs Scheme, Financial Assistance to Widowers and Unmarried Persons, Financial Assistance for Stage 3 and Stage 4 Cancer Patients, and Financial Assistance to Persons Suffering from Rare Diseases.

In addition, financial assistance under the Non-School Going Disabled Children Scheme has been increased from Rs. 2,150 to Rs. 2,400, Financial Assistance to Destitute Children Scheme from Rs. 1,850 to Rs. 2,100, Financial assistance under Kashmiri Migrants scheme has been increased to Rs.1250 to Rs. 1500. Apart from this, financial aid for acid attack victims (Women & Girls) has been revised.

This enhancement in pension rates is a testament to the Haryana Government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of its residents. The increased financial support aims to improve the quality of life for beneficiaries across various segments of society, promoting inclusivity and social justice.

Government allocates land to Brahman Sabha at a concessional rate of 50 percent of the collector rate for charitable purpose

Haryana Government while once again reiterating Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal’s commitment to the academic advancement of meritorious children hailing from economically disadvantaged backgrounds has decided to transfer the Municipal Committee, Julana land measuring 510.04 square meters to Brahman Sabha at a concessional rate of 50 percent of collector rate for charitable purposes.

A decision in this regard has been taken in the meeting of the State Cabinet held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal here today.

The transfer of this land to Brahman Sabha at a concessional rate has been done as per the provisions of clause (d) of section 62A of the Haryana Municipal Act, 1973.

Haryana State Government Sanctions the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Bill, 2024 to Curb Illegal Immigration

Haryana Cabinet met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, has approved “The Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Bill, 2024 in the interests of innocent and unemployed youths from falling prey to illegal immigration rackets. In view of the disturbing trend of individuals, particularly from the States of Punjab and Haryana, being deceived by corrupt travel agents engaged in fraudulent activities related to immigration, this bold initiative has been taken.

Key highlights of this bill includes that no person can undertake the profession of a travel agent without obtaining a registration certificate under the Act, an application must be submitted to the competent authority with the required documents, fees, and within the specified time, the competent authority may issue a registration certificate after verifying the application details.

As per the bill the certificate is not issued unless the particulars are verified by the police, the validity of a registration certificate is for three years, renewable as per prescribed procedures. Apart from this, opening a new office or branch requires obtaining a fresh registration certificate.

It clearly mentioned in the bill that the competent authority can cancel a registration certificate for various reasons such as insolvency, criminal activities, violation of terms, etc.

Before cancellation, a show cause notice is issued, and the travel agent has an opportunity to explain. It is further mentioned that suspension may occur for a specified period pending cancellation consideration, A cancelled registration debars the travel agent from the profession for a prescribed period.

Act also mentioned that the court, while addressing offenses under this Act, determines the potential confiscation of illegally acquired property and can order confiscation as deemed appropriate, Individuals involved in human smuggling or forging documents may face imprisonment up to ten years and a fine ranging from Rs 2-5 lakhs, Violating the provisions of this Act or using prohibited devices may result in imprisonment up to seven years and a fine of two to five lakh rupees.

The Haryana Government is committed to protecting its citizens from falling victim to illegal immigration scams. The proposed legislation reflects a proactive approach to regulate travel agents, ensuring transparency, legality, and accountability in immigration-related services. The Government urges all stakeholders to support this initiative to create a safer and more secure environment for individuals seeking opportunities abroad.

Haryana Cabinet approves ‘The Haryana Honourable Disposal of Dead Body Bill, 2024’

In a significant move to uphold the right and dignity of the dead body, the Haryana Cabinet, convened under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal here today, has granted approval to “The Haryana Honourable Disposal of Dead Body Bill, 2024.” This landmark legislation aims to ensure the decent and timely last rites of a dead body.

In consideration of the respect and dignity owed to a dead person, nobody should be allowed to raise any demand or bait for pursuing any demands by way of any protest or agitation by not performing the timely last rites of a dead body. It is essential to prevent any individual from using a deceased body as a means of protest or demonstration in any form.

The proposed legislation also emphasizes the responsibility of public authorities in cases where family members disown a deceased body, leading to a denial of proper last rites. In such instances, the public authority is mandated to step in and ensure the dignified and timely conclusion of the last rites for the dead body.

It is pertinent to note that the entitlement to dignity and fair treatment, in accordance with Article 21 of the Constitution of India, extends beyond the living to include the body after death.

Accords approval for the amendment in the notification of appointment of members in Quality Assurance Authority

Haryana Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal here today accorded approval for the amendment in the notification of appointment of members in Quality Assurance Authority.

As per the amendment in clause 4 (III) of the said notification, now retired officers may also be considered for appointment as a member of Quality Assurance Authority. After the words “State Government from amongst” and before the words ‘Officer in the State’, the word ‘serving or retired’ shall be added.

The government had constituted the quality assurance authority on April 5, 2023 for the purpose of quality assurance in the Engineering Works implemented by the state government and organisations owned and controlled by the State Government for the matter concerned therewith or incidental thereto.

Presently, as per the notification, one member shall be appointed by the state government from amongst officers in the State Government or any organisation owned and controlled by the state government of the rank of Chief Engineer or above. However, now it has been decided that a retired officer may also be considered for appointment as a member of the quality assurance authority.

Haryana State Government Sanctions Rs. 1500 Crore for Infrastructure Development at Global City, Gurugram and IMT, Sohna besides land development at other locations of Industrial Estates, HSIIDC

Haryana Cabinet met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, has approved Sanction/Enhancement of Working Limits of Rs.1500 crore of Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (HSIIDC) for Infrastructure Development mainly at Global City at Gurugram and IMT, Sohna besides land development at other locations of Industrial Estates of HSIIDC in the State of Haryana.

The enhancement of the Working Capital Limit, totalling Rs. 1500 crore, is earmarked for infrastructure development. The interest rate is linked to T-bill rates, ensuring a competitive and market-aligned financing structure.

The Finance Department, Haryana, has provided its concurrence with certain terms and conditions, including a 2% guarantee fee on the sanctioned credit limit, timely repayment obligations, and strict adherence to the purpose of fund utilization.

The approval of the Working Capital Limit enhancement is a significant step towards realizing the vision of a developed and progressive Haryana.

Haryana Cabinet approves the draft of the Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), 2024 Bill

Haryana Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal here today, has approved the draft of the Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Bill 2024.

The State Government has decided to establish the Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), Hisar to ensure sustained and balanced growth of Hisar Metropolitan area.

The Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) would work on the similar lines of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Gurugram, Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA), Faridabad, Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA), Panchkula  and Sonipat Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA), Sonipat to develop a vision for the continued, sustained and balanced growth of Hisar metropolitan area.

The authority while working amicably with other key departments would ensure the availability of infrastructure and other key facilities to the people.

Haryana Minor Mineral Concession Stocking, Transportation of Minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules, 2012 amended 

Haryana Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal here today accorded approval for amendment in the Haryana Minor Mineral Concession Stocking, Transportation of Minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules, 2012. 

These rules may be called the Haryana Minor Mineral Concession, Stocking, Transportation of Minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining (Amendment) Rules, 2024. The amendments in the rules have been made to facilitate the land owners, in Rules 3 and 31 of the Haryana Minor Mineral Concession, Stocking, Transportation of Minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules, 2012. 

As per the amendment, in rule 3, in sub-rule (3), in the proviso, the signs and words “, on payment of Rs. 200” shall be omitted.

In the said rules, in rule 31, in sub-rule (4),-for the sign “;” existing at the end, the sign “:” shall be substituted and the proviso namely, “Provided that fifty percent of the royalty received in lieu of excavation of ordinary earth/clay shall be shared by the department with concerned Gram Panchayat village wise”, has been inserted. 

The issue relating to the permissions being granted to the landowner for their personal bonafide use as well as the small entrepreneurs who are involved in the industry has been carefully re-examined and the state government also felt that royalty being received for giving permission to landowners for commercial trading needs to be shared with the concerned Gram Panchayat to ensure better vigilance, participation and monitoring on their part. In view of these considerations, the state government has decided to simplify the said Rules as the landowner might not be acquainted with the present provision.

18 dependents of martyrs of Haryana to get jobs

Haryana Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal accorded approval to provide jobs to 18 dependents of martyrs while giving relaxation in the policy for appointment to the dependents of martyrs on compassionate grounds.

Out of 18 cases, 8 cases were related to paramilitary forces, and 10 cases were related to armed forces.

The cases were reviewed by the Office of the Chief Secretary before bringing the matter in the cabinet meeting and recommended to provide jobs to 18 dependents of the martyrs.

It is noteworthy that the reasons for the delay in applying for jobs by the dependents of martyrs have been cited as being unaware of the compassionate policy of the Haryana Government, being a minor, or citing medical reasons etc.