IEP Chandigarh/Rupnagar, October 19

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government has created a golden history by giving a platform to the sportspersons of villages and cities to showcase their talent under the Khedan Wattan Punjab Dain-2022. These views were expressed by the Sports & Youth Services Minister, Punjab, Mr. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer while visiting the state-level sports of Rowing and Kayaking Canoeing being held inSatluj River in Rupnagar.

Speaking on the occasion, the Cabinet Minister said that world class water sports hub will be developed at Satluj River in Rupnagar and boats worth about 50 lakh rupees are also to be given to Rupnagar soon. He said that Punjab government has kept a separate budget for buying sports equipment and all requirements regarding water sports will be fulfilled.

Expressing satisfaction over the steps being taken for the winning sportspersons, he said that it is for the first time that Rs. 9.5 crores have been given to the winners of the Commonwealth Games within a month.  Similarly, the National Sportsmen are to be honoured soon after their return.  The only dream of the Chief Minister is to bring Punjab to the first place in sports at National Level.

Sharing his experience about this place Sports Minister said that when he was visited the place, there were no even basic facilities related to Rowing Academy such as toilets and changing rooms for players. Taking immediate action, separate toilets and changing rooms were established and in next phase, standardised mess will be set up to provide nutritious diet to the players.      

Mr.  Gurmeet Singh said that this is also the first time that rowing competitions are being organized by the Punjab government. The games are being held on a national standard course setup at this wetland.  He assured that more facilities will be provided here so that national and international competitions can also be held here.

On this occasion, while interacting with the media, the Cabinet Minister said that with the online registration has provide the exact information that sports trend is more preferable  in which district.  Accordingly, sports will be promoted with the classifications of areas.  He said that the Punjab government will start the Balbir Singh Senior Wazifa scheme under which Rs. 8000 will be provided to players. He said that 60,000 children are participating in the state level competitions and prizes are to be given to the winners.

Speaking on the occasion, Rupnagar constituency MLA Dinesh Chadha said that it is matter of pride that the state level rowing competition is being held here. Rupnagar is a land of canals and rivers but water sports have not been developed here in the past years.

The MLA said that sports minister had promised that he would develop rowing at Rupnagar and the rowing academy which was shifted to Mohali was brought back to Rupnagar. After that Rs. 15 lakh have been issued to develop infrastructure for the academy.  Rupnagar has had a very good participation in the Khedan Wattan Punjab Dian and the government has succeeded in re-connecting the people to the sports fields.

On this occasion Deputy Commissioner Dr. Preeti Yadav, SSP Dr. Sandeep Garg, SDM Harbans Singh, District Sports Officer  Rupesh Kumar, Secretary General Kayaking & Canoeing Association Prabhjeev Singh,  , Secretary Rowing Association Jasveer Singh, Coach Gurjinder Singh Cheema of Punjab Institute of Sports, Coach jagjeevan Singh, officials of various departments including, a large number players and spectators were present.

IEP Chandigarh, October 19

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday directed all the departments to ensure timely utilisation of all the funds provided for various development projects and welfare schemes so that the overall development of the state can be accelerated. He said that the issue of lapsed funds due to slow pace of development works or delay in the delivery of the welfare schemes would be considered seriously.

          The Finance Minister gave these directions while holding department wise review meetings with Health and Family Welfare, Local Government, Transport and Water Resources Department here at Vit Te Yojna Bhawan. The Finance Minister reviewed the current status of usage of funds provided to these departments as per budgetary provisions and under various state and centre sponsored schemes.

During a series of high-level meetings attended by the senior officials of the Finance department, Harpal Singh Cheema asked the heads of the departments to ensure a regular review of all ongoing projects.  The Finance Minister reiterated that no stone would be left unturned to ensure speedy development and providing better amenities to the people of the state.

          Finance Minister Cheema said that it was brought to his notice that most of the departments have improved their working and thereby increased the pace of development works and utilisation of funds, whereas, the performance of some departments has been unsatisfactory and they have funds worth crores waiting to be utilised. He said that the Finance department would keep a vigil eye on all departments, and he would personally hold review meeting of major departments to study the improvement in their performance.

The Finance Minister also directed the departments to disclose all active bank account details and funds on eDMS portal to ensure transparency and objectivity in public finances.

IEP Chandigarh, October 19

The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme of irrigation for the Kharif Season through canals from October 19 TO 26,2022. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda Branch, Bist Doab Canal,  Abohar Branch and Patiala Feeder respectively.

          Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Irrigation department said that direct distributaries of Bhakhra Main line group ‘A’ being in the channels of first preference will run to their indent. Balance water available will be utilized in Ghaggar Branch and P.N.C. in Group ‘B’ respectively.

          The spokesman further said that Punjab channels and branches off-taking from Harike and Ferozepur head works i.e. all the direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in group ‘A’ being in the first preference will run to their indent and the balance water supplies available will be utilised in the Abohar Branch Lower off- taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/Minors in Group ‘B’.

           The spokesman also said that the channels off-taking from Upper Bari Doab Canal i.e. Lahore Branch with its distributaries being in the first preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available will be utilized in Main Branch lower,  Kasur Branch Lower,Sabhraon Branch, and with their distributaries respectively.

IEP CHANDIGARH, October 19

Punjab NRI Affairs Ministers Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Wednesday said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government will soon revive the NRI Sabhas across the state.

The Minister, who was chairing a review meeting with the senior officers of the department at his office at Punjab Civil Secretariat here, said that the Punjab Government is committed for the welfare of Non-Residents of India (NRIs) from Punjab.

Pertinently, NRI Sabhas provide support to Punjabi’s of Indian origin residing abroad and face the constraint of inability to be physically present at all times in India to follow up their personal cases and redress their grievances.

NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also ordered probe into the ongoing human trafficking by illegal IELTs/Immigration Centres under the garb of education visa.

He directed concerned officers to seek a detailed monitoring report on all the IELTs/Immigration Centres from Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to know about the total number of IELTs coaching centres and the number of Immigration Centres in their respective districts.

Meanwhile, more Police Stations for NRIs to be established in the state and extra force would be deployed for speedy resolution of their complaints.

IEP Chandigarh, October 19

Anindita Mitra, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh today visited several sites for implementation of the pilot community parking project in sector 35. She was accompanied by Manisha IPS, SSP Traffic and other senior officers of Chandigarh Administration and Municipal Corporation, Smt. Prem Lata, area councillor, office bearers of Resident Welfare Association and Market Welfare Associations.

During the visit the team checked and observed that there are some parking issues in sector 35 D for which different entry and exit for vehicles should be followed alongwith one way traffic.  

The Commissioner directed the concerned officers of Estate office to issue public notice as per  bye-laws to encourage local residents to park their vehicles inside their premises. The local residents demanded that school authorities be directed to park the buses near the open spaces of schools. SSP Traffic assured the citizens that workshops would be conducted with school authorities for better traffic management.

IEP Chandigarh, October 19

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal while interacting with the media persons after the Cabinet meeting held here today said that the party candidate contesting the Adampur elections will win with a huge margin. 

Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, S. Sandeep Singh and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Director General, Information, Languages Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal also remained present.

Responding to a question, Sh. Manohar Lal said that the people of the Adampur assembly constituency are certainly going to acknowledge the development works done by the state government by giving maximum votes to our candidate in the bye elections. 

He said that the MLAs and MPs have also been responsibly campaigning for the elections in the Adampur assembly constituency. I will also be urging the constituency people to vote responsibly and smartly choose their leader, said Sh. Manohar Lal. 

He further informed that the State MLAs and MPs will also go to  Himachal Pradesh to campaign in favour of the party candidates.

The Chief Minister also extended greetings and best wishes to the people of the state ahead of Diwali, Dhanteras, and Chhath Puja.