Chandigarh, June 27 – Haryana’s Cooperative Minister Dr. Arvind Sharma said with the aim of making youth and women self-reliant, a special action plan is being run by the Dairy Federation in the state to establish Vita booths in 10 departments. Under this, 158 Vita booth locations have been marked in 7 districts falling under the scope of Rohtak Vita Plant. He instructed the officials to complete the process regarding these locations soon, so that Vita products can be delivered to every home.

Dr. Arvind Sharma today conducted a surprise inspection of the Vita Milk Plant located in Rohtak. During the inspection, the Cabinet Minister directed plant CEO Jaiveer Yadav to work towards the target of collecting 2 lakh liters of milk from the districts under the purview of the Vita Milk Plant, so that quality Vita products can be prepared. Along with reviewing the functioning of the plant, he also directed to increase the monitoring of 155 Vita booths operating in Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Bhiwani, Rewari, Mahendragarh and Charkhi Dadri. The Cabinet Minister said special attention should be paid to cleanliness at the Vita booths and product sales should be ensured as per the rules of the Dairy Federation. Not only this, he directed to take strict action against Vita booth operators who sell milk products of other companies in addition to the milk products of the Vita plant.

Dr. Arvind Sharma appreciated the doubling of lassi and curd sales from the Rohtak Vita plant. He instructed the officers and employees to fulfill their responsibilities with full honesty, so that Vita products get continuous promotion through the Dairy Federation. He said the jalebi and samosas made of desi ghee are selling well in the Vita Milk Plant, Rohtak. He also instructed to make ghevar during the monsoon season.

Chandigarh, June 27, 2025 :

 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing drive against corruption, has arrested Sub Inspector (SI) Ravipal, posted at police station Amir Khas, district Fazilka for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 8,000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the arrest has been made following a complaint lodged by a resident of Guruhar Sahai in Ferozepur district.

He further added that the complaint has approached the VB alleging that the accused SI had demanded a bribe Rs. 10,000 for drafting and submitting reply of a writ petition in high court and submitting chargesheet in the district court pertaining to a police case registered against the complainant.

The spokesperson further informed that after verification of this complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused police official was apprehended while he was receiving a bribe of Rs 8000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the aforementioned accused at the VB Police Station, Ferozpur Range. The accused would be produced before the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he said.

Chandigarh, June 27:

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed grief over the demise of Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal, M.L.A from Tarn Taran constituency. He was a very hard working, dedicated and helpful person. He produced yeoman services for Aam Aadmi Party and his constituency.

 Speaker Sandhwan said that I am deeply saddened to hear the news of his passing away and I pray to God to grant  a place of abode at His feet to the departed soul. Almighty may give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of distress.

Chandigarh:

To ensure public health and safety ahead of the monsoon season, the Municipal Corporation has launched an intensified fogging campaign to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases such as Dengue and Malaria.

Following the directions of Municipal Commissioner Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, fogging teams were mobilized across various areas of the city today.

The campaign, aimed at eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, covered a wide range of locations including residential colonies, urban neighborhoods, and peripheral villages. The teams used specialized fogging equipment and insecticides to target areas prone to stagnant water accumulation—a known breeding site for mosquitoes.

Commissioner Sh. Amit Kumar emphasized the importance of proactive measures and urged citizens to cooperate with the teams by keeping their surroundings clean and avoiding water stagnation. “Public health is our top priority. We are committed to taking all necessary actions to prevent any potential outbreak during the monsoon,” he stated.

The Municipal Corporation appeals to residents to remain vigilant, use mosquito repellents, and ensure proper waste disposal. The fogging drive will continue in the coming days to comprehensively cover all city zones.

Chandigarh/Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, June 27

Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian today inspected the project to widen Airport Road from Sector 65/66 Junction to Sector 66B in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar.

During inspection, Mr. Mundian found that the work was progressing slowly and was not up to the mark. He immediately took strong notice of this and reprimanded the concerned officials on the spot. He instructed the Principal Secretary of the department to investigate the matter and ensure accountability.

The Minister stated, contrary to the progress shown on paper, much less work had been done on the ground. Furthermore, the quality of the work was not up to required standard, which is unacceptable. He warned that strict action would be taken against anyone responsible, whether a department official or a contractor.

Mr. Mundian emphasised that while the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is committed to the overall development of the state and the planned development of cities forms an important part in this developmental journey. Hence, laxity or negligence in any government work will not be tolerated.

The Minister further added that Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar has recently become the most developed city in the state, with an increase in residential population and corporate offices alongside the International airport. He stated that GMADA is leaving no stone unturned in the development of this area, and he himself will continue to inspect the ongoing works from time to time.

Chandigarh, June 26:

However, since past sometime, the arbitrary decisions undertaken by the Union Government with regard to the Panjab University have attempted to grossly undermine the immensely rich reputation of this great hub of academics, said the Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer in a communication to the Chancellor and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar.

Citing the recent example, Meet Hayer said that the recently promulgated order demanding a written affidavit from the students about not staging protests and demonstrations in the Panjab University not just constitutes robbing them of their fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution but is also in complete contravention of the spirit of democracy and free speech.

This decision of the dictatorial nature would in no case be accepted as in our constitution, the right to protest stands enshrined as elemental right which has come under attack by this capricious order. The recent decisions taken in the Panjab University which were completely inimical to the student community were only rolled back after protests by the students, said the MP adding that now, the students have been robbed of this basic right of theirs.

While on one hand the election of the Panjab University Council serves as the first lesson in democratic values to the students, the present decision is in total contradiction of this rich tradition. The Panjab University has given top notch names in the political sphere to the country but alas, the present decision would severely dent this glorious convention.

“Your goodself is the Chancellor of this august institution. Hence, it is my sincere appeal to you to kindly take personal interest in the matter in order to get this whimsical decision rolled back”, added Meet Hayer.

Chandigarh, June 26:

Punjab government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday commemorated the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by taking a historic step to intensify the fight against drugs with signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up the Data Intelligence and Technical Support Unit.

The MoU was signed between the Government of Punjab and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Medical Sciences, Mohali, and Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health, Amritsar, in collaboration with the Ananya Birla Foundation.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that this initiative is part of the ongoing war against drugs being led by the Punjab Government adding that this unique initiative by the Punjab Government to establish the Data Intelligence and Technical Support Unit marks a significant step in combating the drug menace in the state. He said that this MoU is part of the broader efforts by the Punjab Government for drug prevention and rehabilitation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Yudh Nasheyan Virudh has snapped the supply line of drugs adding that once this is disrupted, rehabilitating the affected individuals becomes extremely crucial.

The Chief Minister said that to support individuals in overcoming addiction and help them live a life of dignity, the government is not only establishing rehabilitation centres equipped with various facilities, but also providing medical care, education, and employment opportunities, to prevent relapse into drug use. He said that in the second phase of the anti-drug campaign, a comprehensive model of psychosocial care is being implemented through the Data Intelligence and Technical Support Unit. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this Unit will technically assist the anti-drug campaign by enhancing the capacity of medical officers, psychologists, police personnel, and frontline health workers.

The Chief Minister said that the unit will also focus on developing effective strategies to tackle rehabilitation challenges, ensure the smooth functioning of OOAT (Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment) clinics, and strengthen outreach efforts to the community. He envisioned that this Unit will play a crucial role in making Punjab a drug-free state adding that the Centralized Intelligence Unit will provide concrete data on de-addiction, rehabilitation, and OOAT patients, helping in designing and implementing informed policies. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that experts from institutions like AIIMS’ National Drug Treatment Centre, IIT Ropar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and PGI Chandigarh will provide timely support to this Unit.

The Chief Minister said that this Unit will work collaboratively with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, Punjab Police, Health Department, Employment Generation, Skill Development, and Training Departments, as well as organizations and academic institutions related to mental health, rehabilitation, and data science. He said that it is heartening to learn that the Ananya Birla Foundation (ABF) will provide support for the technical capabilities and resources of this Unit. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this program will operate on a Hub and Spoke Model, based on a Centralized Technical Unit, where five medical colleges in Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Faridkot, and Mohali will act as Cluster Resource Centres.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has embarked a war against the menace of drugs and corruption adding that this drive can be successful only with the proactive support and cooperation of the people. He said that this is the fight for coming generations and cannot be won without the support of the common man. Bhagwant Singh Mann exhorted the people to extend wholehearted support for this noble cause so that Punjab can be made a progressive and frontrunner state in the country.

The Chief Minister said that war against drugs has transformed into a mass movement for which people should work hard. He said that it is pivotal to make Punjab a drug free state adding that it is the fight for the coming generations and it is the moral duty of everyone to support it. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this fight will continue till the curse of drugs is not wiped out.

The Chief Minister said that the bulldozer drive to demolish the properties of the drug smugglers will be continued till logical conclusion. He said that the action is being taken as per the law of land and it is aimed at ensuring that drug trade is dealt a fatal blow. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this action will be further intensified so as to ensure that the drug is completely wiped out from the state.

Soliciting fulsome support and cooperation of people in the war against drugs, the Chief Minister said that the scourge of drugs was a blot on the face of state and it took more than two years for the state government to chalk out a strategy for wiping out this curse. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that subsequently the supply line of drugs was snapped, big fishes involved in these heinous crimes were put behind the bars, rehabilitation of the drug victims was ensured and even the property of the drug smugglers was confiscated and destroyed. He said that now the state government has launched a war against drugs in the form of Yudh Nasheyan Virudh the aim of which is to clean the state.

The Chief Minister also thanked the founder of the Ananya Birla Foundation Ananya Birla for this noble gesture to join hands with the state government.

Chandigarh, June 26:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday presented a strong case of the state before the team of NITI and solicited their support to ensure comprehensive development of the state on one hand and safeguard its interest on the other.

During deliberations with the team led by Member Niti Aayog Prof. Ramesh Chand and Program Director NITI Aayog Sanjeet Singh, the Chief Minister said that it is the high time that the Aayog should generously help the state in preserving its rich legacy in terms of water and Agriculture. He said that the state shares 553 kilometers of the International Border with Pakistan and six border districts Amritsar, Tarn-Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur and Fazilka. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann bemoaned that Special incentives  to Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and J&K  by the Central Government had adversely impacted the economy of border districts in Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that border districts of Punjab need to  be supported on the lines of HP, Uttarakhand and J&K to revitalize the state’s trade and industrial sector. Seeking a special incentive package for border districts, he batted for establishment of Agro food processing zone in each border district of Punjab with a special focus on the Basmati rice Industry and Horticultural Produce like Litchi and others.  Bhagwant Singh Mann also advocated upgradation of existing Focal Points in border districts and establishing an Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre at Amritsar.

The Chief Minister also sought PLI scheme for Agro Sector, tax benefits for Textile sector, freight Subsidy for industry and subsidized interest rate on term loans and working capital in border districts. He also underscored the need for upward revision of compensation to farmers having land between International Border and border fence asserting that more than 17,000 acres of land fall in between them. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that present compensation is given to farmers at a rate of Rs.10,000 per acre per year which should be enhanced Rs 30,000 per acre annually adding that instead of sharing between center and state, this should be totally paid by center as these brave hearts are working for making country self reliant in food production.

In order to strengthen the second line of defence in border regions, the Chief Minister also laid thrust on fortifying the Border Wing Home Guards Scheme to cover all 2107 Border Villages.  He also sought enhancement of Duty Allowance from present Rs. 45 per day per jawan (fixed in 1999) to at least Rs. 655 per day per jawan adding that it is imperative for better coordination between Border Villages and BSF. Bhagwant Singh Mann also sought Rs.2829 Crore for upgradation of infrastructure and equipment, including jammers to check the smuggling of weapons and drugs through drone.

The Chief Minister said that it is important as more than 4/5th of the entire Border is without jamming systems thereby posing a major threat to unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann also batted for revision of Vibrant Village Program launched by the Union government to benefit more border villages of the state. He said that Punjab’s Border districts are heavily populated as compared to other States, with 1500 villages within 10 Km of the Border due to which only 101 villages out of total are selected under the scheme. 

The Chief Minister said that Punjab needs to be incentivized so as to cater to other felt needs of the local populace in Border Villages and Towns. He further said that recent skirmishes with Pakistan have highlighted the need for making Border Districts War Resilient due to which bunkers and Air Shelters should be constructed for city population, alternate connecting routes to Border villages, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) should be set up along with state of the art response command and Control Centre in each District, sensors for Street Lights, trauma centers in border cities should be equipped with secondary and tertiary care. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that communication equipment and secure lines for seamless communication with Air Force, Army and BSF establishments should be ensured, cyber security measures should be strengthened, resource mapping through GatiShakti and capacity building of District Civil Defence and disaster response workforce should be ensured. 

Raising the issues of the industrial sector, the Chief Minister highlighted the key initiatives taken by the state government in terms of Fast Track Punjab Portal, Time Bound Service Delivery, Right to Business Act, Integration of Green Stamp Paper and others to attract investment. He said that the current share of Manufacturing sector in the state’s economy was 14.4% but state government intends to escalate it to 20% by year 2030 and 25% by 2047.  For this Bhagwant Singh Mann sought Freight Subsidy for Punjab being a landlocked State and introduction of a scheme on lines of Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG)  scheme for small manufacturers, so that they can send their goods within the country.

The Chief Minister also sought extension of PLI to bicycles, E-bikes and their components, R&D Facilities for innovative product design and materials for bicycles  and expansion of existing High – Tech Valley Industrial Park at Ludhiana in SPV mode and developing the cluster as Bicycles Export Zone. He also advocated development of Sports Goods Export Zones in Jalandhar, support for State’s Mega Sports Initiative to boost demand by developing playgrounds and indoor gyms in every village of Punjab and demanded a Special Economic Zone for promotion of sports industry. Bhagwant Singh Mann also demanded R&D Facilities for innovative product design and materials of automobiles, skill development programs tailored to cater the need of auto and EV technologies and development of dedicated Auto & Auto components Export Zones in Mohali.

The Chief Minister also demanded a special economic package for the state comprising Rs 2,000 Crore for Special Economic Zone, development of Industrial Corridors (Global Manufacturing Hub)  along the Bharat Mala Project, extension of Semi Conductor Lab (SCL) in Mohali, expansion of Software Technology Parks (STPI) in Mohali and development of dedicated Sector-Specific Export Zones in Punjab- including Amritsar for Food Processing, Ludhiana for Textiles and Mohali for Automobile Parks.  Talking about the agriculture sector, he recalled the stellar role of hard working and resilient farmers of the state in making country self reliant in food production. Bhagwant Singh Mann reminded that Punjab produces about 12% of country’s  and two percent of world’s Rice adding that Punjab government has been making consistent efforts to promote crop diversification in the state.

The Chief Minister solicited the support of the Union government to promote crop diversification, by encouraging alternative crops to paddy which consume less water. He said that during Kharif 2025 Government of Punjab launched a pilot project in six districts to promote the Kharif Maize in the State by providing a cash incentive of Rs. 17500/- per ha. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Government of India should support this initiative by providing funds for payment of cash incentive @Rs. 17500/- per hectare, to all maize growers across the State under the existing CSS “Crop Diversification Programme”.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said that Cotton is an important kharif crop in south-western districts of the state and is mainly cultivated in the districts Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib adding that to encourage cotton cultivation and shift area from paddy new seed technology, resistant to pink bollworm (PBW), should be developed and commercialized on priority basis as pink bollworm is one of the major threat to cotton and cost on insecticides has increased to manage the insect-pest.  He said that until new seed (resistant to pink bollworm) is commercialized, assistance shall be provided to cotton growers for Mating Disruption Technology (MDT) for the management of PBW. Bhagwant Singh Mann also said 20 more AI based PBW pheromone trap, which are real-time early warning system, to alert for the infestation of pink bollworm in cotton should be installed in the state as done earlier by Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur, GoI.

The Chief Minister said that Labour cost is one of the prominent costs incurred to farmers in cotton cultivation as it costs about 14 percent of total value of the produce. Therefore, he said that scope of mechanization in cotton farming should be evaluated in the northern zone/Punjab adding that the Government of India should also extend support by providing cotton seed to farmers at subsidized rates.  Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the major reason behind shifting of area from cotton to paddy is less profitability in cotton whereas Cotton is a water saving crop and can replace area from paddy to save the depleting groundwater.

Therefore, the Chief Minister said that farmers should be incentivized for cotton cultivation on acreage basis. Raising another important issue, he  reiterated that Punjab has no surplus water for any state. Asserting that in wake of grim situation of water in the state Yamuna-Sutlej-Link (YSL) canal should be considered for construction instead of the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers are already in deficit and water should be diverted from surplus to deficit basins.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab has repeatedly requested to be included in negotiations for the allocation of Yamuna waters as a pact for Yamuna-Sutlej-Link Project was signed between the erstwhile Punjab and Uttar Pradesh on March 12, 1954 which entitled the erstwhile Punjab to two-thirds of the Yamuna waters. He said that this agreement did not specify any particular area to be irrigated by Yamuna waters adding that before the re-organization, the Yamuna River, like the Ravi and Beas flowed through the erstwhile State of Punjab. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann bemoaned that while apportioning the river waters between Punjab and Haryana, the Yamuna waters were not considered, whereas the waters of Ravi and Beas were duly taken into account.

Citing a 1972 report by the Irrigation Commission, constituted by the Government of India, the Chief Minister said that it states that Punjab (post-1966, after its reorganization) falls within the Yamuna River Basin. Therefore, he said that if Haryana has a claim over the waters of Ravi and Beas rivers, Punjab should also have an equal claim on the Yamuna waters adding that these requests have been ignored adding that due to non-construction of storage structure on Yamuna River, water is going to waste. Thus, Bhagwant Singh Mann pleaded that Punjab’s claim should be considered during the revision of this agreement, and Punjab should be given its due rights to Yamuna waters.

Raising the issue of bias approach of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the Chief Minister said that the Board was constituted under the provisions of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, with the mandate to regulate the supply of water and power from the Bhakra, Nangal and Beas projects to the partner States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh. He said that in the past Punjab has been very liberal in sharing water with the partner States to meet their drinking water and other genuine requirements as Punjab was relying upon its groundwater reserves to meet its demand of water, particularly for the paddy crop. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as a result, the groundwater level has depleted to a huge extent, so much so that 115 blocks out of 153 blocks of the State of Punjab (76.10%) are over-exploited adding that this percentage is the highest amongst all the States in the country.

The Chief Minister bemoaned that BBMB has been repeatedly playing a partisan role which is against the spirit and provisions of the law. He further said that of late, BBMB has been indulging in taking administrative actions which appear to be biased and against the interest of Punjab adding that the officers of Punjab in BBMB are being marginalised and ignored. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that traditionally, Member (Power) and Member (Irrigation) in BBMB were appointed from Punjab and Haryana due to their familiarity with local conditions but in 2022, a notification was issued to allow all-India appointments, stating that appointing members from specific states is in violation of the law, which is not advisable.

Speaking on the issue of desilting of Harike Head works, the Chief Minister said that it is located at the confluence point of Rivers Sutlej and Beas and is the main control point for supply of water to South west Punjab, Rajasthan and also controlling flow into Pakistan. He said that over the years the sedimentation of suspended silt/sand particles in the reservoir has drastically reduced the capacity of the reservoir and the backwater effect of the water required for optimal operation of canals is now being felt upto Kapurthala district adding that large swaths of agricultural land along the River Sutlej and Beas are becoming susceptible to flooding.Bhagawant Singh Mann said that there is an urgent need for carrying out De-silting of the reservoir at a cost Rs 600 crores approximately adding that as reservoir area has been declared a Ramsar Convention site and is of national importance, the Central Government and Rajasthan must share the cost of project.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that now the water of the Indus river is to be given to the states within the country, so Punjab has basic rights over it. He said that Punjab has been catering to the food needs of the country since long so it is imperative that it should be given water for its irrigational needs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the interests of the state should be safeguarded by all means and no stone should be left unturned on it.

Chandigarh, June 26:

In a landmark initiative, the Punjab School Education department has partnered with Canara Bank to introduce a comprehensive insurance scheme to provide accidental insurance cover of Rs. 16 lakh and other benefits for the security of as many as 44,301 Mid-Day Meal Cook-cum-Helpers working in state government schools across the state, announced S. Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of School Education, Punjab.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Directorate of Elementary Education (Mid-Day Meal),  and Canara Bank Chandigarh, in the presence of the School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains and School Education Secretary Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, on Thursday. This collaboration aims to provide vital financial protection and security to Cook-cum-Helpers.

Highlighting the key features of the insurance scheme, S. Harjot Singh Bains informed that it offers comprehensive benefits, including Term Insurance with Rs. 1 lakh coverage for death with natural causes, Rs. 16 lakhs for death due to accident, Air Accident Cover with Rs. 18 lakhs coverage. Furthermore, the scheme provides hassle-free banking with no minimum balance requirement, an Instant Overdraft Facility of up to Rs. 10,000 or 50% of the previous month’s net salary credited into their bank accounts to ensure ease and convenience for account holders.

“This scheme will greatly enhance the well-being of these essential workers to enable them to focus on their critical role in supporting our education system”, said S. Harjot Singh Bains while adding that this initiative will go a long way to promote financial inclusion and security for Cook-cum-Helpers in the state government schools.