IEP Chandigarh, December 7

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led government is considering to provide a big relief to the taxi operators of the state wherein at-par tax exemption which was given to the private bus operators during the Corona period will be considered for the taxi operators.

Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, while lending the sympathetic ear to the demands of the representatives of the Punjab Taxi Operators Union, disclosed that during the Corona period, tax exemption was given to the contract and stage carriage private bus operators keeping in mind slow down in the regular work. Now the government is considering to give tax exemption to the taxi operators for the same period.

Instructing the officials to ensure a complete ban on agents in government offices, the cabinet minister assured taxi operators that they will not face any problem in RTA offices. He said, most of the services of the department have been made online, and some approval, which are manually yet, will be made online soon.

The Transport Minister asked the officials of the department to consider the demand of the taxi operators that local Punjab permit vehicles should be given online permission to go to the neighbouring states. The department will also consider issuing a helpline number to solve the problems of taxi operators, he added.

Bhullar also urged the taxi operators to wear their uniforms as per government guidelines and ensure safety devices in their vehicles.

IEP Chandigarh, December 7

Haryana Home and Health Minister, Sh. Anil Vij stated that Ambala is a holy land and the torch of revolt was first ignited from the same place in order to liberate the nation from britishers.

Sh. Vij was addressing the people present after the staging of “Dastan-e-Ambala” at the Open-Air Theatre of Ambala Cantonment Subhash Park last evening. He applauded the actors who gave the stellar performance showcasing how the flame of revolution broke out from the Ambala Cantonment in 1857. He urged that the play should be performed all over Haryana so that people could know how the 1857 revolution started from Ambala.

        Home Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that the staging of the play “Dastan-e-Ambala” will continue till December 8. The play also has history related to Ambala military area, so on the last day the play will be staged only for military officers, jawans and their families on Thursday.

        Addressing the people, the Home Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that the play of Ambala Ki Dastan has been staged here today, in which it has been shown that the first freedom struggle movement was started from Ambala Cantt. While congratulating the artists who have showcased their talent in the play, he said that every artist has performed well. The artists have precisely described the contribution of Ambala people during the first war of independence started from Ambala Cantt.

Shaheed Smarak dedicated to the martyrs of 1857 revolution is being built at a cost of Rs. 400 crore

Home Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that dedicated to the first war of independence, Shaheed Smarak GT Road is being built at a cost of Rs. 400 crores. Shaheed Smarak being built at Ambala Cantt highlighting the supreme sacrifices and valour of those who participated in the first war of Independence will be a unique amalgamation of technology and history that will inspire the future generations.

Committee of 6 prominent historians constituted to display history in Shaheed Smarak

Home Minister Anil Vij said that a committee of 6 prominent historians of India has been constituted including 2 historians from Ambala namely Prof. U. V Singh and Sh. Tejinder Singh Walia. They will precisely display each fact in Shaheed Smarak. A 70 feet high lotus flower will be displayed on the Smarak as lotus was considered symbolic during the revolution of 1857. 85 percent construction work has been completed while tenders for art work will be floated soon. We hope that the companies making famous museums of India will extend their dedication in the work.

Way pending construction of Shaheed Smarak was approved in the present government

Sh. Anil Vij said that he has been continuously raising the way pending demand of constructing Shaheed Smarak during the past Vidhan Sabha sessions which has now been approved by the Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal in the tenure of our present government.

On this occasion, Ambala Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Priyanka Soni, SP, Sh. Jashandeep Singh Randhawa, Additional Director of Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Dr. Kuldeep Saini and other senior officers were present.

IEP Chandigarh, December 7

Paving the way to operationalize Fazilka Bus Stand at the earliest, Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Tuesday, directed the officials to make arrangements to transfer the new bus stand of Fazilka to the Transport Department.Presiding over the important meeting with the higher officials of the transport and local government departments, including district administration Fazilka at his office here at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, the cabinet minister said, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led government will not allow wastage of people’s money in this way.During the meeting to operationalize the new bus stand, which has been lying vacant for a long time, it was decided that the ownership of the new and old bus stand will be transferred by the Local Government and Transport Department to each other. The Cabinet Minister instructed the officials concerned to work-out the plan for transferring the land at the earliest and settle the matter by immediately transferring the higher price to the another department.The Transport Minister said, after shifting the buses to the new bus stand, the traffic problem in the city will be resolved and the city residents will get better travel facilities.S. Laljit Singh Bhullar informed that after transferring the bus stand to the Transport Department, a plan will also be drawn up to establish requisite facilities such as workshop and diesel pump for government buses in the next phase. 

IEP Chandigarh, December 7

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) today got prosecution sanction from the administrative department of state government against former forest minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot to prosecute him in the competent court. He was arrested by the VB in June for his involvement in the organized corruption pertaining to the issuance of permits for cutting of Khair trees, transfer of officials, purchases, and issuance of NOCs etc in the department.          Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said a corruption case under FIR No. 7 dated 06-06-2022 under section 7, 7-A 13 (A)(1) (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, and 120-B of IPC was registered at VB police station flying squad, SAS Nagar. This case was registered against the former forest ministers, contractors and officials of forest department for indulging in corrupt activities. 

IEP Chandigarh, December 6

The Punjab government will shortly resolve the legitimate demands of the Panchayat Secretaries and a special committee has been constituted in this regard.

After meeting with members of Panchayat Secretaries organizations here today, Punjab Rural Development & Panchayats Minister Mr. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the members of the organization had brought their issues to his notice including the works of other departments assigned to them. The members have also claimed that their work suffers due to the non-departmental works, said the Minister adding that all other issues including paying salaries to panchayat secretaries on the lines of Gram Sevaks and amending the service rules to create a single cadre will be considered at par with other states.

Mr. Dhaliwal said that a special committee has been formed under the Director Rural Development and Panchayats Mr. Gurpreet Singh Khaira and Deputy Secretary Mr. Harkanwaljit Singh, Deputy Director Mr. Joginderjit Singh, DDPO Mr. Harmandeep Singh, Law Officer Mr. Kanwalreet Singh, DCFA Mr. Palminder Singh Gill and Panchayat Secretary Mr. Mangal Singh, Mr. Bhupinder Singh, Mr. Kulwant Singh, Mr. Varinder Kumar and S. Gurpreet Singh etc. The Minister said that the Committee will consider the demands related to service rules of Panchayat Secretaries to get amicable solution.

Thanking Rural Development & Panchayats Minister for patiently hearing their issues, the Member of the organization had also ended their strike besides assuring to extend full support to Gram Sabhas. 

On this occasion, representatives of the organization Jagmohan Singh Kang, Jaspal Singh Bath, Nishan Singh, Jatinder Singh etc. were also present.