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Chandigarh

HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPT DECENTRALIZES POWERS TO GRANT REGULATORY APPROVALS

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IEP Chandigarh, October 8, 2022 

The Punjab Government has simplified procedures to enable speedy clearances of Change Of Land Use (CLU) certificates, completion certificates, layout and building plans. This has been done by decentralising  regulatory approvals that empower Urban Development Authorities, to grant approvals.          Terming Ease of Doing Business as the topmost priority of the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Mr. Aman Arora said that this decision will go a long way for quick disposal of cases within stipulated time frame as the H&UD department has delegated powers at the local level for granting regulatory approvals.          The move will empower urban development authorities in Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala and Bathinda as regulatory approvals will be granted at their own level, Mr. Aman Arora said, adding that these authorities are headed by Chief Administrators (CAs).          Now, Chief Administrators can grant licenses to all categories of colonies, said Principal Secretary H&UD Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sinha while adding that a committee under CA of the concerned Authority will grant approval for Layout Plans for Residential/Industrial/Commercial Colony, Mega Projects and Industrial Parks (including extensions of existing projects). The committee has also been empowered to grant Building Plans approval for all standalone projects other than industries above 15 acres, all allotted/auctioned chunk sites above one acre including industry and chunk sites within approved private projects above one acre.          A committee under Additional Chief Administrator (ACA) of concerned Authority would have power to grant Building Plan approvals for all allotted/auctioned chunk sites up to one acre including industry and all other plots up to one acre in urban estates/approved projects of H&UD, he added.          Chief Town Planner PUDA would be empowered to grant approval for compounding of Education/Medical/ Religious/Social charitable institutes, Farm House above 15 acres and Commercial including hotel and eating joints.Mr. Sinha said that Senior Town Planner of the concerned Circle would have the power to grant approvals for Zoning Plans of Residential/ Industrial/ Commercial Colony, Mega Projects and Industrial Parks (including extensions of existing projects), besides granting approval for Building Plans of all standalone Industrial MSME District Level Projects, Building Plans of all standalone projects other than Industry, up to 15 acres, Compounding of Education/Medical/Religious/Social charitable institutes, Farm House up to 15 acres and Compounding of all Industrial Buildings up to 10 acres.He further informed that Senior Town Planner, PBIP would have power to grant approvals for all standalone Industrial State Level Projects and Compounding of all Industrial Buildings above 10 acres. District Town Planner has been empowered to grant approvals for Building Plans of Rice Sheller, Brick Kiln, Petrol Pump and Stone Crusher.          The Competent Authority for grant of Completion/Partial Completion/Occupancy Certificate shall be the same Competent Authority for granting approval of Layout Plan/ Building Plan as mentioned above, he added.

Chandigarh

PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS THREE MORE MEMBERS OF DRONE-BASED ARMS/AMMUNITIONS

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IEP CHANDIGARH/ AMRITSAR, October 8:

          As part of the ongoing war against anti-social elements launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police has arrested three more members of the drone-based arms/ammunition smuggling module and recovered a fresh cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday. A total of five members of this module have been arrested so far.

Those arrested have been identified as Surinder Singh of village Barwala in Tarn Taran, Harchand Singh and Gursahib Singh, both residents of Valtoha in Amritsar. The Police have recovered Rs 1.01 crores cash, 500 grams heroin, 17 pistols along with 400 live cartridges, one MP-4 rifle along with 300 live cartridges, two weighing machines and two currency counting machines from their possession.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Police team from Counter Intelligence Amritsar had arrested two members of this module including a prisoner identified as Jaskaran Singh and his aide Rattanbir Singh, after recovering 10 foreign-made pistols from locations pinpointed by them, taking total recovery of pistols to 27.

Divulging details, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that during investigations it came out from Jaskaran Singh and Rattanbir Singh that their associate Surinder had picked up the consignment of arms/ammunition that was previously smuggled by them with the help of drones from Pakistan. Following inputs, Police managed to arrest Surinder on Friday and recovered 10 pistols along with six magazines and 100 live cartridges from his possession, he added.

He said that after investigations revealed that Surinder, on the directions of Jaskaran Singh, used to pick consignments from Rattanbir to further deliver them to two brothers Harchand and Gursahib, the Police teams have also arrested them. The Police have recovered the remaining part of consignment from their possession which includes seven Pistols, one MP-4 Rifle and 500 grams heroin, besides, Rs 1.01 crore cash, Weighing machines and currency counting machines from their possession.

The DGP said that further investigations are on to determine the other consignments from Pakistan, which may have been retrieved by this module for further delivery to unidentified persons for commission of anti-national activities, he added.

AIG Counter Intelligence Amritsar Amarjit Singh Bajwa said that during investigations, accused Jaskaran confessed that he is in contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler identified as Asif, who used to deliver consignment of narcotics and arms/ammunition from Pakistan using drone and Rattanbir used to retrieve them on his directions.

Meanwhile, a case FIR No. 30 dated 04.10.2022 had already been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.

Chandigarh, Punjab

SPORTS MINISTER MEET HAYER HAILS HARMANPREET SINGH ON BEING SELECTED AS THE BEST HOCKEY PLAYER IN THE WORLD

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IEP Chandigarh, October 8:     

      Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer has congratulated Indian Hockey team vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh for being selected as the best hockey player in the world for the year 2021-22 by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). Indian hockey team defender and ace drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh have been chosen FIH Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.          Meet Hayer personally congratulated Harmanpreet Singh and said that it is a matter of pride for Punjab that our player has been selected as the best player in the world for the second year in a row. Harmanpreet Singh got this honour last year too.          Harmanpreet Singh, a resident of Timmowal village in Amritsar district, scored 6 goals in Tokyo Olympic Games last year and 9 goals in Birmingham Commonwealth Games this year. India won the bronze medal after 41 years at the Olympics while winning the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. Harmanpreet Singh has played 155 international matches for India so far and has scored a total of 115 goals.          The Sports Minister said that it is a matter of pride for India that apart from Harmanpreet Singh, Indian men’s team goalkeeper P.  Sreejesh and women’s team goalkeeper Savita Punia have also been chosen FIH Goal Keeper of the Year in men’s and women’s categories respectively. Meet Hayer said that with this proud achievement of the Indian players, budding hockey players in the country will be inspired. 

Chandigarh

Broom will clean the mud in Gujarat to oust Lotus: says CM

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IEP Dahod (Gujarat), October 8

          Asserting that Lotus blooms in mud but broom will clean this mud in Gujarat, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said that it will pave way for wiping out Lotus from the state.

          Addressing the gathering during a public rally here today, the Chief Minister said that winds of change are blowing in Gujarat. He said that after 27 years a scenario has emerged where broom (Aam Aadmi Party) will oust Lotus (BJP) from the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the Congress is already on the ventilator in the state and the main competition is between AAP and BJP.

          The Chief Minister said that the huge attendance in rallies of the party symbolises that people are fed up from the incumbent government. He said that the people want change from this ineffective, tyrant and corrupt government. Bhagwant Mann said that they are not selling fake dreams but people are supporting for a change in system.

          The Chief Minister said that the country has been blessed with number of natural resources. However, he bemoaned that the leaders have ruined the country with their corrupt deeds. Bhagwant Mann said that the countrymen should come forward for ousting these corrupt leaders.

          Listing the several path breaking initiatives of the Aam Aadmi Government in Punjab, the Chief Minister said that from July 1 onwards the Punjab government has provided 600 units of free power to people in every bill cycle. He said that as a result of this 50 lakh households out of total 72.66 lakh have got zero power bill in the month of September. Likewise, Bhagwant Mann said that more than 17,000 government jobs have been given to the youth in last six months.

          Likewise, the Chief Minister said that these jobs have been provided purely on merit. He said that there is no system like paper leakage in the state as was prevalent in Gujarat. Bhagwant Mann said that job is totally provided through a transparent process.

          Similarly the Chief Minister said that his government is against the exploitative contractual system of jobs due to which they had started process of regularising services of more than 36,000 contractual employees in state. Bhagwant Mann said that his government has on Friday issued notification for regularising nearly 9000 teachers in the state. He said it is to ensure that permanent government employees can provide good governance to people.

          The Chief Minister further said that his government has dedicated 100 Aam Aadmi Clinics across the state to people for imparting quality health services. He said that these clinics provide free treatment to people along with providing them facility of free blood tests. Bhagwant Mann said that apart from ensuring quality health facilities to people, this has also reduced extra burden on big hospitals.

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

PRESIDENT OF INDIA IN CHANDIGARH; GRACES THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF INDIAN AIR FORCE; ATTENDS CIVIC RECEPTION AT PUNJAB RAJ BHAVAN

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IEP Chandigarh October 9, 2022

The President of India Droupadi Murmu, graced the 90th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Air Force at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh today (October 8, 2022).
Later in the evening, the President attended a civic reception, hosted in her honour, at Punjab Raj Bhavan.

Addressing the gathering the President said that from social and religious reforms to freedom struggle, from agricultural revolution to industrial development, this region of Punjab and Haryana has played a very important role. The states of which Chandigarh is the capital have made a leading contribution in the development of Indian agriculture. In the 1960s, when our country was going through a food crisis, the farmers of Punjab and Haryana made the Green Revolution a success. The Green Revolution ensured the food security of the country.

The President said that Chandigarh has special significance for both Punjab – the state of five rivers, and Haryana – the cradle of Shrimad Bhagavad-Gita. It has the distinction of being the capital of both the states. People from both the states come to Chandigarh for education, employment, medical and many other reasons. Therefore, Chandigarh occupies a very important place in the lives of people of Punjab and Haryana.
The President said that every year, during the winter season, the issue related to the Air Quality Index gets discussed all over the country, especially in this region. Everyone suffers from the ill-effects of pollution. She said that the fundamental basis of the Indian way of life has been the harmony of humans with nature. The well-being of mankind lies in the art of living with nature.
The President said that along with the UT of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana have been endowed with many unique gifts by nature. It is our duty to cherish them. We should leave all those ways, which are not in accordance with nature, and through which pollution spreads. This applies to all of us. We should also take the help of science and technology in creating harmony with nature.

Speaking about women empowerment, the President said that in Indian culture we worship divinity in the form of Durga, Laxmi, Kaali and Chandi. We pray Gramdevi before entering our villages. She said that men and women are two equal stakeholders of our country. They should be given equal opportunities to move ahead. She noted that today women are marching forward in all areas with determination and hard work. In villages also nowadays girls are being given more opportunities to study and make their careers. From serving in border areas to being fighter plane pilots the women are today present everywhere. She said that it is the responsibility of society to encourage both girls and boys to move forward in life so that our country can march ahead.

Chandigarh

single window system will be adopted in Global City, says Chief Minister

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IEP Chandigarh, October 6

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that the work related to the Global City that is being developed over approx. 1080 acres in Gurugram would be completed at the earliest.

“A single window system would be adopted to execute all the works related to this. All the companies with whom talks have been held regarding this project have demanded that the work that is to be done through the government should be completed at the earliest,” said Sh. Manohar Lal while addressing a press conference held here today.

The Chief Minister said that for this project, the industries will not have to make rounds to get electricity, water, and any other permission. All permissions will be given through this single window system.

He has assured the companies that they will not face any difficulty while working on this project. Also, the companies will have to show the progress of construction within three years, added Sh.  Manohar Lal.

Plots in Global City will be sold in mixed land use format, Manohar Lal 

Responding to a question, the Chief Minister said that the plots in Global City will be sold in mixed land use format. As per the demand of the industry, allotment of the plots will be done. Plots up to 100 acres, 50 acres, 20 acres, and 5 acres will be allotted to the industries.

“An investment of about Rs. 1 lakh crore is likely to come in the state through this city. This will create new employment opportunities. HSIIDC is a developer in this Global City project. Road, water, and other arrangements will be provided by them only. The construction on the plot is to be done only by those companies who will invest in this project,” added Sh. Manohar Lal.

Now the State youth will get employment abroad, Haryana Overseas Placement Cell to execute this work

Sh. Manohar Lal said that now the State youth will get employment abroad, Haryana Overseas Placement Cell to execute this work and the Haryana Overseas Placement Cell will work under Foreign Cooperation Department.

He said that during his Dubai visit he held detailed discussions with various placement companies. As per the need of these placement companies, the youth will be trained and sent abroad for employment. This work will be carried forward by the Haryana Overseas Placement Cell and this cell will work under the Foreign Cooperation Department, informed the Chief Minister.

Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said that it would also be ensured that the youth going for job opportunities will not be allowed to face any problem for getting a passport. Presently, passports are being made for college and university students.

Investment in Haryana led to the generation of 5.50 lakh jobs

Responding to a question, Sh. Manohar Lal said that 5.50 lakh employment opportunities have been generated in the state because of foreign and national investments. New companies are constantly buying land in Haryana for investment. Haryana has become a favourable investment destination for investors. With the advent of companies, employment opportunities will also increase, said Sh. Manohar Lal.

The land will be purchased under e-bhoomi and Land Pooling Policy

The Chief Minister said that new projects are being started continuously around Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP). The government will buy land for new projects through e-bhoomi and Land Pooling Policy. Presently thousands of acres of land have been purchased through the e-Bhoomi portal. Apart from this, now the Land Pooling Policy will also be introduced. In which the owner of the land will also get some percentage of the profit earned by the investor, added the Chief Minister.  He said more projects like Global City would be planned in the future as well.

12,763 pensions made through PPP in 4 months

Replying to another question, the Chief Minister informed that pension benefits to 12,763 new beneficiaries have been given in last 4 months through Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP). When a person attains the pension age, then the departmental official takes his consent and then his pension starts automatically.

Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. D S Dhesi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. V. Umashankar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Amit Agrawal, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, Sh. M. D. Sinha and other officers also remained present on this 

Chandigarh

DHBVN consumers can take advantage of an interest waiver scheme for payment of outstanding bills

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IEP Chandigarh, October 6

As a part of the ongoing Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam(DHBVN) has started an interest waiver scheme for payment of outstanding electricity bills. The power consumers and those who currently do not have an active connection residing in urban and rural areas can take advantage of this scheme.

Sharing more information in this regard, Nigam spokesperson said that power consumers who have not cleared their bills till December 31, 2021 will be able to avail the scheme benefit. This interest waiver scheme of DHBVN will be applicable till November 30, 2022.

The spokesperson further informed that the scheme is applicable for domestic, urban and rural agricultural consumers and government, gram Panchayat and municipal corporations. The entire surcharge/interest amount will be frozen on making lump sum payments under the scheme and apart from this a separate rebate of 5 percent will be given.

Consumers unable to deposit lump sum can deposit the outstanding amount in three installments and the interest will be waived off on payment of 6 consecutive bills, otherwise, the interest amount will be added to the bill again, informed the spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that under this scheme, interest will be charged at the rate of 11 percent per annum instead of the prevailing 1.5 percent monthly interest for all other categories. The remaining interest amount will be frozen. The frozen amount will be completely waived on the timely payment of 6 consecutive bills. In case of wrong billing, the required rectification will be done as per the directions issued by DHBVN.  Sub-judicious billing disputes will not be covered under this scheme.

Chandigarh

Global flower market will be made in Gurugram – Agriculture Minister, JP Dalal

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IEP Chandigarh, October 6

The Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Animal Husbandry and Dairying Fisheries, Sh. JP Dalal has visited European countries with a delegation to gain new technical knowledge in the field of horticulture and agriculture. He visited the Aalsmeer Flora Market in Holland and observed the online auction process of flowers being conducted there on an everyday basis. Inspired by this market, he said that a modern level global flower market will be made on the pattern of Holland’s Aalsmeer Flora Market in Gurugram, Haryana. Flowers from this market will be exported abroad. This will increase the income of flower growing farmers of NCR including Haryana. Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department, Smt. Sumita Misra is also accompanying him on Holland tour.

He said that about 44 million flowers are coming from outside in this market every day and 30 percent of the auctions are being attended by local auction participants and 70 percent of the auctions are being attended by people from other countries. In this process, the auction of all flowers is being done automatically and electronically under Dutch system.

The Agriculture Minister said that after the bidding, the successful bidder makes the payment online before taking delivery of the product. There is a large level air-conditioned hall for the care and maintenance of flowers, in which the temperature is maintained at 9 to 12 degrees. The market has two big levels which have a 10 feet width gallery.

He said that this market was established in 1962 and now it has been upgraded from time to time. The total area of the hall is 250 times bigger than the football field in size. The annual turnover of this flower trade market is about Rs. 30,000 crores and more than 5000 flower growers and suppliers are associated with it.

The Agriculture Minister said that a better platform can be provided to the people by creating such flower markets in Haryana including Delhi-NCR. For this, the team that went abroad with the Agriculture Minister interacted with the traders in the market in detail. He said that to improve the economic condition of the farmers on the lines of Holland’s flower market, a huge flower market will be built in Gurugram on the basis of this technology. Flowers will be exported abroad from this market and flower growing farmers of Haryana including NCR will get benefit.

Chandigarh

Haryana Chief Secretary reviews the progress of the ongoing education projects and aspirational district programmes in Nuh district

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IEP Chandigarh, October 6

The Model Degree Government College being built at a cost of around Rs 20 crore in Firozpur Jhirka, Nuh district will soon be constructed. Soon about 5 acres of land will be transferred to the Higher Education Department for the construction of this college.This information was shared in the meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal held with the officers of the Higher Education Department and Deputy Commissioner, Nuh here today. Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar and other officers also remained present in the meeting.During the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed the officers concerned to expeditiously complete the process related to college construction.Sh. Kaushal said that under the Aspirational District Programme, projects related to health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and heavy development and basic infrastructure in Nuh should also be completed in a time-bound manner.Sh. Kaushal further directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue Department to complete the process related to land transfer at the earliest. He said that Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of this college. Nuh is also a very important district under the Aspirational District Programme, so this project should be completed at the earliest. Apart from this, he also directed to take up work of Mewat University on a war footing.The Chief Secretary was apprised that about Rs 20 crore would be spent on the construction of this college. However, from the academic session of the year 2021-22, this college is being run in an alternate building. Presently classes are going on in 4 subjects – Hindi, English, Political Science and History.  Around 243 students are pursuing education here.Review of works being done under the Aspirational District ProgrammeSh. Kaushal said that the Mewat Model School is being run by the Mewat Development Agency, which is being operated on similar lines of Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary Schools.The Chief Secretary was apprised that before the general transfer drive, 630 Principal, headmaster and PGT teachers were working in Mewat. After the general transfer drive, the number of teachers has now increased to 929. Teachers are satisfied with the general transfer drive and they are imparting education to the students with full dedication.A unique initiative called Balika Shiksha Vahini is being run in the Nuh district for ensuring the education and empowerment of girls. This scheme has been started for the girls of Mewat who could not pursue studies due to lack of transport facilities and used to leave school. Haryana Roadways buses are ensuring the safe travel of these girl students.Work is also being done towards promoting the industry in NuhThe Chief Secretary, while reviewing the One District – One Product Scheme, directed the Deputy Commissioner to work expeditiously on the sale of products in their district.Haryana Government’s One District – One Product scheme is a big step towards self-reliant India. Under this scheme, products have been selected in all the districts on the basis of crops, agriculture etc. With this, farmers, and micro industries will get benefits and agricultural exports will also increase, said Sh. Kaushal.The Chief Secretary was apprised that tomato is sown in the Nuh district on an average area of 15,000 acres during the Rabi season and onion is sown on about 25,000 acres during the Kharif season.

Chandigarh

Target has been set to auction 250 acres of land of the proposed Global city by November 2022

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IEP Chandigarh

The Chief Minister said that the Global City, a mixed land use township being developed over approx. 1080 acres in Gurugram to redefine the concept of urban development and what cities of the future shall look like through its sustainability-focused future-oriented infrastructure planning and design.

In the first phase, a target has been set to auction 250 acres of land of the proposed Global city by November 2022. Similarly, the auction of other areas will also be done in a phased manner, informed, Sh. Manohar Lal.

Meeting was held with Aldar Group, DP World and ADIA

The Chief Minister informed that detailed discussion on the Key Investment Opportunities in the State with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds in Abu Dhabi. The discussion focused on promoting Haryana as a leading investment destination and marketing key marque projects of the State. 

The Chief Minister said that discussions were also held on the State Government’s Global City Project with the Aldar Group in Abu Dhabi. The discussion focused on marketing the Global City Project and seeking the valuable inputs of the Group so as to generate their interest in participating in the Project.

Sh. Manohar Lal said that an important meeting also held with Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World, in Dubai. The meeting was focused on marketing the Integrated Multi-Modal Logistics Hub Project at Nangal Chaudhary and seeking the valuable inputs of the Group to generate their interest in participating in the Project.

Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. D S Dhesi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. V. Umashankar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Amit Agrawal, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, Sh. M. D. Sinha and other officers also remained present on this occasion.