IEP Ekta Nagar (Gujarat)/Chandigarh, September 23

“For the maintenance and cleanliness of the environment, the Punjab government has imposed a complete ban on plastic carry bags, the rules of this ban must be strictly enforced so that such a ban is uniformly imposed across the country. Therefore, the union government should take the initiative to make such a common policy, because taking care of the environment is a common responsibility of all of us.”

It was stated by Punjab Environment Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer during his address today on the first day of the two-day national conference of State ministers of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Meet Hayer said that on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Environment and Punjab Pollution Control Board is making continuous efforts to maintain the environment. He also said that the state government has once imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, purchase, sale and use of plastic carry bags.

The Environment Minister said that there is a ban on plastic bags by the Punjab government, whether it is 75 micron or 100 micron, but as there is no ban on such bags in other states, the industries of Punjab complain that such a ban is not imposed by other states and the Centre.

Meet Hayer put a demand before the Union government that if there is to be a ban on plastic carry bags, then the complete ban should be consolidated because keeping the environment clean is the joint responsibility of all the states. Like Punjab, the task of imposing a ban in all states is under the jurisdiction of the central government. He also demanded that incentive should be given to such industries to switch from plastic manufacturing.

Meet Hayer further said that Mandi Gobindgarh will be the first city in the northern area where the conventional fuels in all of the industries are to be replaced with cleaner fuel i.e. PNG. About 240 units are likely to switch over to cleaner fuel. Presently, about 140 units have already switched over to the cleaner fuel.

The Minister further said that in terms of the management of contaminated Bio Medical Waste, Punjab is the first state to adopt Bar Code based collection to avoid any pilferage and illegal disposal.

The minister was accompanied by Punjab Pollution Control Board Chairman Prof. Adarsh Pal Vig.

IEP Chandigarh, September 23

Assailing the BJP led Centre Government for denying political clearance for the knowledge exchange tour on Green Hydrogen to Germany, Belgium and Netherlands, Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Mr. Aman Arora questioned BJP that why it is politically so insecure from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership that it resorted to cheap tactics like denying political clearance for an official tour to abroad.

This is not for the first time that the centre government denied permission to AAP leaders, said Mr. Aman Arora while adding that earlier, it had denied permission to Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister to visit Singapore to represent India at the World Cities Summit, he added.

Interestingly, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, GoI had cleared a list of 13-member delegation including Mr. Aman Arora on September 14, 2022, but the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not issued political clearance to the Punjab New & Renewable Energy Sources Minister.

The Cabinet Minister said that this tour was sponsored by Indo-German Energy Forum. Neither centre, nor the state government will have to bear any financial burden.

The Cabinet Minister further added that the success of people friendly policies of AAP has presented a strong challenge to the BJP’s model of hate and lies. He said that AAP is all set to broom the BJP’s presence from the political map of India and the Saffron leadership has read it written clearly on the wall.

“This knowledge sharing tour from 24th September to 2nd October, 2022 was of much importance for planning and developing new & renewable energy resources in the state to meet future requirements besides ensuring a green and clean environment,” said Mr Aman Arora while adding that the union government’s such unnecessary interference would be a threat to the federal structure of the nation.

Mr. Aman Arora said that the BJP has even forgotten the glorious traditions of Indian democracy. He reminded the BJP that Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was leader of opposition when the then Prime Minister Mr. PV Narasimha Rao had chosen him to lead the delegation to the UN.

IEP Chandigarh, September 23

Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Friday exhorted that the State Government will complete the process to regularize the services of Education Providers in just three months.The Cabinet Minister further informed that notification regarding the process of services regularization will be issued soon.Mr. Bains said that the employees working with education department will be made regular when the necessary conditions for regularization are fulfilled in pursuance with the decision.The Education Minister said that he eagerly wanted to regularize the services of contractual and other employees of education department so that they will get their dues timely. He informed that the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan is committed to the welfare of the employees and this has been proved with the decision to regularize the services of 8736 teachers on Teacher’s Day. However the process to resolve the matter of computer teachers is underway. He acknowledged that school education is the core area of concern of our government.Mr. Bains said that the long-pending demand of contractual employees of the education department has been fulfilled by implementing the first recommendation in letter and spirit of the sub-committee formed to make policy for regularization the services of such employees of various departments. 

IEP Chandigarh, September 23

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr. Kultar Singh Sandhwan congratulated all the people on the Aagman Purb of the great Sufi Saint Baba Farid Ji.

Mr. Sandhwan said that Baba Sheikh Farid ji gave the message of peace, brotherhood and harmony to the people in his Bani. The verses composed by him have more relevance in the present materialistic society. The Vidhan Sabha Speaker has appealed to the people to follow the path of Baba Farid ji and live with mutual love. He said that with this we can build a better society.

It is worth noting that 112 holy shlokas and 4 holy Shabad of Baba Farid ji are also included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.

IEP CHANDIGARH/JALANDHAR, September 23

As part of the ongoing drive launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make Punjab a crime-free state, Punjab Police has busted an ISI-backed terror module jointly handled by Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and Pakistan-based Gangster Harvinder Singh Rinda with the arrest of its two operatives, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.Pertinently, Canada-based Landa is considered to be the close aide of Pakistan-based wanted gangster Harvinder Singh alias Rinda, who had joined hands with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and they have close ties with the ISI.  Landa had played a key role in conspiring the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) terror attack at Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali and had also planted an IED beneath Sub-Inspector Dilbag Singh’s car in Amritsar.Those arrested have been identified as Baljit Singh Malhi (25) of village Jogewal in Ferozepur and Gurbaksh Singh alias Gora Sandhu of village Buh Gujran in Ferozepur.Divulging more details, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that in an intelligence-led operation by AIG Counter Intelligence Jalandhar Navjot Singh Mahal, the police teams have managed to arrest both the accused persons. The police have also recovered one sophisticated AK-56 assault rifle along with two magazines, 90 live cartridges and two bullet shells from a location pinpointed by Gurbaksh Singh at his village, he added.He said that the preliminary investigations revealed that Baljit was in touch with Italy-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Sanghera, and on latter’s directions Baljit had picked consignment of weapons from a pinpointed spot at Makhu-Lohian road near the sanctuary in village Sudan in July 2022. Later, they concealed the consignment at fields owned by Gurbaksh in his village after conducting test fires, he added.He said that it has also been ascertained that Baljit was in direct contact with dreaded gangsters including Canada-based Lakhbir Landa and Arsh Dalla. Further investigations are on and more recoveries of weapons are expected soon, he added.The DGP said that the war against gangsters waged by Punjab Police on directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will continue till Punjab emerges as a Gangster-free state.Meanwhile, an FIR No. 29, dated 22.09.2022 has been registered under sections 10, 13, 18 and 20 of the UA(P) Act and section 25 of the Arms Act at SSOC Amritsar.

IEP Chandigarh, September 23

The Punjab government led by Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann is continuously making efforts to provide basic facilities and clean environment to the people of the state. Working in the same direction, the state government has decided to dispose of garbage and solid waste using modern technology.

Divulging details, Local Government Minister, Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar said that State Government has decided to spend Rs. 351.17 lakh for the disposal of garbage and solid waste with modern technology in different places of Punjab. The tender process has been started in this regard.

Dr.Nijjar said that getting rid of garbage and solid waste problems at Payal, RaiKot in the state. Apart from this, garbage and solid waste at Samrala and Jagraon will also be disposed of in a scientific manner so that the environment can be made clean and pollution free. Similarly, Malout will also be beautified under this decision.

The Minister said that disposal of garbage and solid waste at dump sites with modern technology will not only clean the environment but also help prevent many dangerous diseases that spread among the people.

The Minister directed the departmental officials to ensure completion of these works in a timely manner.