IEP Chandigarh February 5

Newly appointed Chairman of Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) Nand Lal Sharma paid a courtesy call on Haryana Chief Minister Sh Manohar Lal here today.

During the meeting, discussions were held on various issues such as how to enhance service delivery to electricity consumers in Haryana, explore additional measures for their welfare, and strategies to advance the promotion of green energy.

It is noteworthy that the Government of India has set a target to produce 500 GW of green energy in the country by 2030. During that time, 50 percent of India’s electricity requirement will be met from green energy i.e. non-fossil fuel. Every state has to play an important role in promoting green energy, and discussions were held on how Haryana can contribute in this direction.

IEP Chandigarh, February 5

Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Sh. Anurag Agarwal, announced that financial assistance under ex-gratia will be provided to the families of polling/security personnel in case of death or permanent disability during election duty. In the unfortunate events of violent incidents, bomb blasts, terrorist attacks, or shootings leading to the death of personnel, the family will receive Rs. 30 lakh. Similarly, for other reasons causing death during duty, Rs. 15 lakh will be provided and in case of permanent disability of the employee due to attack by anti-social elements Rs. 15 lakh will be ensured. In case of loss of eyesight or limbs, a financial assistance of Rs. 7.5 lakh will be extended to the family.

Sh. Anurag Agarwal chaired a review meeting regarding the ex-gratia policy for employees engaged in election duty for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The assistance amount will be in addition to any compassion amount provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, state government, or other employers.

Sh. Agarwal said that the responsibility of initiating the process of compassionate funds will be of the District Election Officer and Superintendent of Police and it will have to be started within 10 days from the date of the incident of death, disability etc. of the employee. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer will have to ensure disposal of the related case within 1 month.

Medical facilities along with other facilities will be ensured for the polling staff

The Chief Electoral Officer directed that all the District Election Officers should ensure facilities for health care, first-aid etc. for the polling personnel at the training centres, dispatch and receiving centres and there should also be a provision for an ambulance with doctors and para medical staff. Also, all the District Election Officers will designate a senior officer as the nodal officer for the welfare and other facilities of the employees engaged in election duty and will inform the headquarters about the same.

He informed that the election duty period will be considered from the date of the announcement of election dates to the date of the results, including both days. The Election Commission of India has issued guidelines to all Chief Electoral Officers to complete the preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The challenging task involves various departments and officials working towards ensuring independent and transparent conduct of elections. According to the Commission, there are stringent activities involved during elections, which are carried out by the designated officers and employees of various departments. These personnel risk their lives with the challenging task of ensuring free and fair conduct of elections. In view of the contribution made by them, the Commission has made a provision to provide compensation to the next of kin of the deceased personnel in the form of ex-gratia amount in case of death or to provide assistance to the personnel in case of permanent disability as a result of serious injury.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer Smt. Hema Sharma, Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Sh. Apurv, besides other officers were present at the review meeting.

IEP Chandigarh, February 5

The Haryana Chief Secretary, Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal today emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in the state’s approach to urban development. He identified several key areas requiring immediate attention, urging stakeholders to embrace innovative solutions and adapt to changing dynamics.

He was addressing the Urban Planners after inaugurating the ‘Haryana Conclave on Urban Planning’, organized by the Department of Town and Country Planning Haryana and High Level Committee on Urban Planning of Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs today.

Prioritizing Brownfield Development

Stressing the importance of utilizing existing resources efficiently, the Chief Secretary advocated for prioritizing brownfield development over greenfield projects. “. “We must focus on redeveloping underutilized land within cities, promoting transit-oriented development, and ensuring sustainable infrastructure upgrades.”

While acknowledging the challenges of traffic congestion and pollution, the Chief Secretary called for a comprehensive review of urban transportation systems. “We need to explore innovative solutions like smart traffic management, integrated public transport networks, and promoting cycling and walking,” he said. “Our focus should be on creating vibrant, pedestrian-friendly spaces that prioritize people over cars.”

Sustainable Development Models-Need of the hour

Moving beyond conventional approaches, the Chief Secretary urged the adoption of sustainable development models for new settlements. “These models should incorporate green spaces, water conservation measures, and energy-efficient designs from the very beginning,” he asserted. Flexible Land Acquisition: Recognizing the complexities of land acquisition, the Chief Secretary emphasized a flexible approach. “A one-size-fits-all policy may not be suitable for all urban areas,” he added. “We must explore alternatives like land pooling, public-private partnerships, and incentivizing landowners to participate in development projects.” Adapting to Changing Dynamics: Highlighting the rapid shift from agrarian to urban society, the Chief Secretary underscored the need for adaptable development methodologies. “Our approach needs to be dynamic and responsive to the evolving needs of our growing urban population,” he stressed. “Specialization in areas like solid waste management, water resource management, and disaster preparedness must be seamlessly integrated into urban planning processes.”

Enhancing Governance

Acknowledging concerns about the multiplicity of agencies involved in urban development, the Chief Secretary called for streamlined governance. “While different bodies play crucial roles, overlapping functionalities can sometimes create confusion and hinder progress,” he added. “We need to explore better coordination mechanisms and clearly define roles and responsibilities to ensure smooth implementation of projects.”

While emphasizing the collaborative approach of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, the Chief Secretary stressed transparent engagement with stakeholders and landowners. “This necessitates addressing concerns transparently before embarking on development projects,” he emphasized. Reframing the Haryana Model: Recognizing the limitations of the current “Haryana Model,” the Chief Secretary called for its re-evaluation. “We must move beyond a land-driven approach and focus on creating sustainable, inclusive, and liveable cities,” he asserted. “This entails embracing mixed-use development, promoting affordability, and ensuring equitable access to basic amenities.” Addressing Unauthorized Colonies: Acknowledging the challenge of sprawling unauthorized colonies, the Chief Secretary emphasized long-term strategic planning. “While regularization may be necessary in some cases, we must prioritize adequate service provision and curb further unplanned development,” he stressed. Resource Mobilization: The Chief Secretary highlighted the need for improved resource mobilization, particularly by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). “ULBs must explore innovative financing mechanisms and enhance financial management practices to fund essential infrastructure and services,” he urged.

HLC, Chairperson, Sh. Keshav Verma, Additional Chief Secretary, Town and Country Planning Department, Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, NITI Aayog’s Urban Development Specialist Anshika Gupta and Harera Chairman, Sh. Arun Kumar and many experts give their suggestions in this conclave.

IEP Chandigarh, February 5

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, has granted administrative sanction for the special repair and improvement of 9 ODR roads in Panipat District. This project will cost over Rs. 19 crore. The roads serving rural areas of production and providing them with outlet to market centres, tehsil headquarters, block development headquarters, railway stations etc. are known as Other District Roads (ODRs).

Giving more information in this regard, an official spokesperson stated that these projects include Widening & Strengthening of village Binjhol to village Bhadar road spanning 5.10 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 4.72 crore, village Jattal to Khukrana road spanning 2.1 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.57 crore, village Hartari to Dahar road spanning 1.950 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.12 crore, village Shondhapur to Binjhol road spanning .930 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 79.17 lakh, Re-construction of village Sewah to Dadola road spanning 3.4 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.05 crore,  Panipat road to LOCL Refinery via Kabri, Sithana road spanning 5.640 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 4.54 crore, Sewah (Phirni) via Nangal Kheri road spanning 1.800 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 65.60 lakh, Strengthening of Barsat road  in Panipat at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.85 crore.

He further stated that these initiatives reflect the Haryana Government’s commitment to infrastructure development and will undoubtedly bring substantial benefits to the public by improving road networks and connectivity across the state.

IEP Chandigarh, February 5

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala, said that significant improvements have been made in the state’s road infrastructure over the past four years. Highlighting the achievements, he mentioned the repair and strengthening of 15,005 kilometers of roads, along with the creation of 1,550 kilometers of new road networks. He further said that under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, the infrastructure of about 2,500 kilometers of rural roads were improved. Similarly, 1,360 km long roads were improved through NABARD funds. Overall, 20,399 kilometers of MDR, ODR, link roads and state highways have been improved in an excellent manner with the financial assistance given by the state fund and the central government.

The Deputy Chief Minister also informed that bypasses of 12 national highways including Karnal, Ambala, Pinjore and Jhajjar have been built. Besides, approval has also been given for bypass in Jind and Uchana and the work will commence soon. These significant steps taken by the state government will reduce the traffic congestion in the cities and will provide relief to the commuters.

He informed that a national highway passes through Pinjore and goes to Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. Due to the large number of vehicles, there was a problem of traffic jam in Pinjore and Kalka. In order to resolve this issue, a bypass has been constructed in Pinjore as well. He informed that 93 percent of its work has been completed and have requested Union Road Transport Minister, Sh. Nitin Gadkari to give time to inaugurate this bypass.

Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that due to excess of vehicles, the problem of jam persists on the road leading from Yamunanagar city towards Paonta Sahib. For this, it was requested to the Central Government that to reduce the traffic pressure in the city on this National Highway, a bypass should be built from outside Jagadhri and Yamunanagar city, for this approval has been received from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Haryana to be ‘Phatak Mukt’ (Free from Railway crossing Gates) soon – Deputy CM

Deputy CM highlighted the significant strides made towards realizing the vision of a “Phatak Mukt Haryana” initiated two years ago, aimed at eliminating railway crossing gates on MDR and ODR roads. A comprehensive plan, including the construction of Railway Overbridges (ROBs) and Railway Underbridges (RUBs), was meticulously prepared. Presently, 35 ROBs have been successfully completed, and the construction of an additional 52 ROBs will be built in next six months. Apart from this, formalities, including drawings, for 43 ROBs have been finalized, work will be commenced soon. Deputy CM expressed optimism that all MDR and ODR roads in the state will soon be free from railway crossing gates.

Acknowledging the support received from the Central Government, he extended gratitude for the allocation of two Greenfield Expressways. The first expressway will connect Dabwali to Panipat, while the second will run from Hisar to Rewari, via Tosham, Badhra, and Mahendragarh. The Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared, and the land acquisition process will commence soon under Phase-A of the Bharatmala initiative, further enhancing the state’s connectivity and infrastructure.

350 Black Spots Identified for Safety Measures

Addressing road safety concerns, the Deputy CM revealed that around 350 black spots, prone to accidents, were identified and are undergoing improvement. Apart from these, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has also approved to fix 300 additional black-spots, Deputy CM informed.

Geo-tagging will be done along with FIR in case of accident

In a futuristic approach, Sh. Chautala proposed a system for reporting accidents on national highways. In case of accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities, FIRs, along with geo-tagging, will be carried out jointly by the police and the Public Works Department to facilitate better accident analysis and future preventive measures, steps can be taken towards making ROB, RUB at that place or closing the cut, he added.

Elevated Roads and Railway Lines for Better Connectivity

The Deputy Chief Minister said that an elevated road will soon be built in Hisar at a cost of Rs. 750 crore. He informed that DPR for the said project has been prepared and work will commence soon. He said that the approval for the 13.9 km long elevated railway line in Bahadurgarh has almost been received. In addition to these developments, approval has been granted for the construction of 1 Railway Over Bridge (ROB) and 3 underpasses, a crucial step toward alleviating congestion caused by four railway gates in Bahadurgarh. Furthermore, the Central Government has given consent for the construction of a new railway line from Farrukhnagar in Gurugram to the Jhajjar-Rewari railway line, contributing to enhanced connectivity and streamlined transportation infrastructure in the region.

IEP Chandigarh, February 5

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Dushyant Chautala, announced that starting April 1, 2024, sunflower oil will also be made available on demand to BPL card holders of the state.

Providing updates on the initiatives in the interest of BPL cardholders, the Deputy Chief Minister said even after increasing the income limit in the state, about 57 lakh new beneficiaries have come under the ambit of BPL. As the Deputy CM overseeing the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department, he highlighted the state government’s decision to raise the income limit for BPL cardholders from Rs 1.20 lakh annually to Rs 1.80 lakh two years ago.

Responding about the concerns raised by some people about a decrease in the number of BPL beneficiaries, Sh. Chautala clarified that prior to the revision of the limit in December 2022, there were 26,94,484 BPL cards and 1,22,12,778 beneficiaries. Following the limit revision, as of January 2024, the number of BPL cards has increased to 44,86,954, with beneficiaries reaching 1,79,44,045. In total, approximately 57 lakh beneficiaries have been newly added to the BPL list.

BPL card holders will also get pending ration: Deputy CM

The Deputy Chief Minister said that BPL cardholders will also receive pending rations. He explained that due to the inclusion of 57 lakh new beneficiaries in the BPL list, some recipients were unable to access their rations. Following a letter written to the Central Government requesting rations for the new beneficiaries, permission has been granted, and the remaining rations will be distributed promptly. The state government will procure wheat from central agencies and sugar from sugarcane mills.

He further disclosed that while the price of mustard oil was being transferred to the bank accounts of BPL cardholders through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), there were demands from the public to receive oil directly from the depot instead of money. In response, the government has decided to provide only mustard oil to BPL beneficiaries. Additionally, he announced that starting from April 1, 2024, sunflower oil will also be distributed to BPL cardholders in the state. Both mustard oil and sunflower oil will be allocated to BPL beneficiaries based on the demand received from each district, he added.

IEP Chandigarh  February 5

          Punjab Tourism & Cultural Affairs Minister Anmol Gagan Mann on Monday released the poster of famous Kila Raipur Rural Olympics-2024.

          The rural Olympics will be held from February 12 to 14 in Kila Raipur village of the district. This time the Rural Olympics will be organised by the Punjab government.

          While releasing the poster, Cabinet Minister Anmol Gagan Mann said that the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government was committed to restoring the pristine glory of sports in the state and it will provide every kind of possible assistance to the organizing committee of these games so that more champions can be produced in the coming years.

          Mann said that the matches of Hockey, Kabbadi, Wrestling, cycling, race, tug of war and others would be played during three-day mega sporting events besides cultural programs by renowned singers will be presented.

          The Cabinet Minister also assured fulsome support of Tourism & Cultural Affairs department to take the popularity of these games to new heights.

          On the occasion, ADC (RD) Anmol Singh Dhaliwal and others were present.