IEP Chandigarh/Pathankot, July 3   

       With Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directed the Punjab Police to ensure smooth and safe travel for devotees going for the Amarnath Yatra, Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla on Monday presided over a high-level meeting of Police, Army, Civil Administration and other security agencies to take stock of the security arrangements in this regard.          The meeting, which was held in Pathankot, focused on strategic preparations for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, encompassing diverse aspects such as police deployment, security measures, traffic management, and disaster management.          The Special DGP also deliberated on concerns including camp security, the establishment of a resilient communication network, meticulous plan for traffic regulation along the national highway and other thoroughfares. He also asked the concerned officers to make appropriate arrangements for parking, and the use strategic deployment of forces across all four yatra routes— including from Shambhu Border to Phillaur, Phillaur to Bhogpur, Bhogpur to Pathankot, and Pathankot to Lakhanpur Barrier.          Notably, the Punjab stretch spanning from Shambhu to Madhopur has been intricately divided into four sectors— Shambu to Phillaur, Phillaur to Bhogpur, Bhogpur to Mukerian, and Mukerian to Madhopur.          Emphasising the crucial role of close coordination among officers, security agencies, and the civil administration, the Special DGP stressed on the need for meticulous planning and effective mechanisms to ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of the yatra. He exhorted officers to pay special attention to vulnerable locations and base camps, besides directing them to ensure robust security arrangements at such areas.          While underscoring the necessity of comprehensive disaster management arrangements to address any natural calamities that may arise, he stressed on the need to implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) to handle eventualities such as fire incidents or flash floods.          Later, the Special DGP Arpit Shukla also visited Facilitation Centre established by the Punjab Police at Madhopur Barrier.          Prominent officers including Commanders from different Brigades, DIG Border Range Narinder Bhargav, Deputy Commissioner Pathankot, SSP Pathankot Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh, SSP Kathua, SSP Noorpur, Shailesh Kumar from RAW and Ravinder Thakur from IB were present in the meeting. 

IEP Chandigarh, July 2

In a bid to create alternative measures to curb the stubble burning in the state as committed by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has drafted an action plan worth Rs 350 crore for providing straw management machinery at heavy subsidised rates. Wherein, co-operative societies & other groups can avail subsidy of 80 per cent, on the other side, individual farmers will get 50 per cent subsidy.Disclosing this here today, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Mr. Gurmeet Singh Khuddian informed that the department has submitted the action plan of Rs.350 crore to Centre Government to provide funds for the current year and over 20,000 machines would be made available on subsidy to individuals for crop residue management and 1000 Custom Hiring Centers would also be established.He said that the department has invited applications from farmers, cooperative societies, FPOs and Panchayats interested in availing subsidy on various Crop Residues Management (CRM) machinery during Kharif season 2023. Under the scheme, Super SMS, Super Seeder, Smart Seeder, Happy Seeder, Paddy Straw Chopper/Shredder/Mulcher, Hydraulic Reversible Mould Board Plough and Zero Till Drill for in-situ management and Baler and Rake in ex-situ machines are being made available on subsidy. The rate of subsidy on the above-mentioned machines for the individual farmers is 50% of the cost of equipment and 80% for cooperative societies, FPOs, Panchayats limited to a maximum as per the guidelines of the Scheme.Appealing the farmers to make the most of this scheme to bring down the crop residue burning cases to zero in the state, Mr. Gurmeet Singh Khuddian said that the last date for applying to avail the subsidy on the department’s portal agrimachinerypb.com is July 20, 2023.Apart from this, the department would also launch an Information Education and Communication campaign to educate and train farmers about the available technologies for management of crop residues as the Punjab Government is proactively taking steps to address the problem of stubble burning in the State.The Agriculture Minister also asked the department office to ensure transparency in the whole process and strict action will be taken against violation of rule & regulations.

IEP Khatkar Kalan (SBS Nagar)/Chandigarh, July 2    

      Punjab Chief Secretary Mr Anurag Verma on Sunday said that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, all out efforts will be made for realising the dreams of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh.          The Chief Secretary, who was here to pay floral tributes to great martyr at his native village, said that his every action will be guided by the ideals of Shaheed-e-Aazam Bhagat Singh. He said that blessed is this land which has given birth to a great leader like Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh.Mr Anurag  Verma said that he is fortunate to have got a chance to visit this sacred land for paying tributes to the iconic martyr who laid down his life at the altar of the national freedom struggle.          The Chief Secretary said that he will leave stone unturned for realising dream of Shaheed-e-Aazam Bhagat Singh by ensuring meticulous implementation of pro-people and development oriented policies of state government. He said that though most of dreams of the great martyr have been fulfilled but still a number of them are remaining which will be realised soon. Mr Anurag Verma said that the entire nation will always be indebted to this martyr who sacrificed his life at a young age of 23 years for emancipating the country from the clutches of British imperialism.          The Chief Secretary said that martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh at a young age had motivated the youth to join national freedom struggle thereby leading to independence of the country.  He said that Shaheed-e-Aazam will ever remain a source of inspiration for the millions of youth to render selfless service to the nation. Mr Verma also said that the youth of the state should follow the footsteps of Shaheed Bhagat Singh to make India a progressive and prosperous country.          The Chief Secretary categorically said that though there are numerous challenges before the state but under the leadership of Chief Minister all these will be overcome to make Punjab a front ranking state in the country. He asserted that Punjab was having a decisive government which is providing clean, transparent and responsive governance to the people. He also said that a detailed plan will also be chalked out for further giving a facelift to this memorial.          Earlier, Chief Secretary paid tributes at the samadhi of Shaheed-e-Aazam Bhagat Singh and his father Late S.Kishan Singh. 

IEP Chandigarh, July 2

 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday unequivocally said that the state government will not pay Rs 55 lakh spent on cozy stay of dreaded criminal Mukhtar Ansari in Jails of state and will recover this money from former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. In a statement issued here today, the Chief Minister said that this was a serious crime against the state and its people adding that those involved in it will have to pay for it. He said that for reasons best known to them both Captain and Randhawa extended largesse to notorious gangster for his comfortable stay in jails of Punjab. Bhagwant Mann said that why should the state waste taxpayer’s money in this way just because those in power at that time had strong bond with Ansari. The Chief Minister said that this is brazen loot of the public money which cannot be tolerated. He said that for reasons best known to the previous regimes this notorious criminal was kept in Ropar Jail with full comforts. Bhagwant Mann said that apart from ensuring comfortable stay the state government ensured that this hardcore criminal does not face any sort of difficulty within the jail and escapes the legal action against him. The Chief Minister said that surprisingly the then government spent Rs 55 lakh of tax payers money to safeguard the interests of this criminal lodged in Ropar Jail. Bhagwant Mann said that this atrocious loot of the public money is totally unwarranted and undesirable adding that this open plundering of the common man’s money cannot be tolerated at any cost. He said that Captain and Randhawa will have to pay this money from their own pocket else their pensions and other benefits will be stopped to recover this money adding that everyone involved in this heinous crime will be made accountable for their sin. 

IEP Chandigarh, July 2 

          Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday congratulated people on completion of one year for the guarantee of free power in the state, which has immensely benefitted every section of society.          In a statement, the Chief Minister said that the state government had on July1, last year launched the guarantee to provide free power to the people. He said that since then 90% of the households in the state are getting free power and have got zero power bill since last July. Bhagwant Mann said that it is matter of immense pride and satisfaction that along with domestic consumers, the food growers of the country are also getting free and uninterrupted power in the state.          The Chief Minister said that the farmers are getting more than eight hours of power supply without any cut. He said that the elated farmers are sharing the videos regarding to it and expressing gratitude to the state government. Bhagwant Mann said that apart from it the state government has paid subsidy worth Rs 20,200 crore to the PSPCL.          The Chief Minister said that this has not been made possible by taking loans, as done by previous governments, but by checking pilferages and corruption. He said that due to concerted efforts of the state government supply of coal from Pachwara coal mine that was stopped has been resumed after 2015. Bhagwant Mann said that earlier governments had stalled supply from this coal mine to mint money illegally from the private thermal plants.          The Chief Minister said that for the first time in history of state, Punjab has coal stock of 43 days whereas earlier threat of blackout loomed large in state during earlier regimes. He said that though across the country governments were selling government properties to fetch money  but Punjab government has started reverse trend by purchasing a private thermal plant. Bhagwant Mann said that industry is being provided uninterrupted power even during the ongoing paddy season.          The Chief Minister said that the state government is making concerted efforts for making Punjab a power surplus state adding that focus is now being laid to promote green, solar and hydro power in the state. He also announced that the state government is setting up a 206 MW hydro power project in Pathankot on Ravi river to check the pilferage of water. Bhagwant Mann said that this water will be used judiciously for irrigating the fields of the state besides generating power.          The Chief Minister said that due to the efforts of state government canal water has reached at the tail end in villages which has reduced burden on tube wells thereby considerably saving power and ground water. He said that the state government is committed for carving out a rangla Punjab for which every Punjabi should play a proactive role. Bhagwant Mann said that Punjab had been a harbinger of green revolution and now the state will show a new way to entire country in every sector. 

IEP Chandigarh, July 2

          In order to make Punjab a crime-free state as desired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police on Sunday conducted a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) under the name of “OPS Vigil-II“ at vulnerable places including Railway Stations, Bus Stands and Hotels/Sarais situated around them in all the 28 Police districts of the state. The operation was conducted on the directions of the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.

Apart from carrying out checking at Bus Stands and Railway Stations, over 550 well-coordinated Strong Inter-State and Inter-District Nakas, were also set up under the supervision of Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) in the state for a thorough search of suspected vehicles/persons, while ensuring minimum inconvenience to the general public.

Over 7500 Police Personnel were involved to carry out this operation, which was conducted in a synchronised manner from 7am to 3pm across the state. All the CPs/SSPs were asked to mobilise a maximum number of officers and manpower for this operation to lay strong ‘nakas’ at district/city sealing points. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Range Inspector Generals of Police (IGsP).

Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that SP-level officers were deputed to conduct a search of the Railway Stations and Bus Stands, while, DSP-level officers were deputed at all the Nakas. “We had strictly instructed all the Police Personnel to deal with every person in a friendly and polite manner while frisking them or checking their vehicle during the course of this operation,” he added.

He said that Police teams have carried out CASO at 141 Railway Stations and 219 Bus Stands, besides conducting checking at 926 hotels, 172 Sarais and 166 Dharamshalas during the operation. Police teams have also checked 9521 two-wheelers and 7122 four-wheelers, he added.

Sharing outcomes of the operation, the Special DGP said that the Police teams have registered 116 FIRs and arrested 141 persons after recovering 1.15 Kg heroin, 37Kg Poppy Husk, 243-litre Illicit Liquor, six pistols/revolvers, besides recovering Rs 7.02 lakhs of drug money from their possession. The Police have also arrested three Proclaimed Offenders (POs), he said, while adding that 1826 suspicious persons were also rounded up for questioning during the operation.

He said that such operations would continue till the menace of drugs and Gangsters wiped out from the state. These types of operations are part of the basic policing which includes keeping vigil at vulnerable spots and advance preparation to tackle any untoward situation, he added.

Meanwhile, such operations also help in showing the police presence in the field and boost confidence among common people.