Chandigarh, July 5 – More than 30 representatives of Municipalities, along with Municipal Councillors and Chairmen from across the country visited the old and new Parliament in New Delhi today.

On this occasion, they interacted with Lok Sabha Speaker Sh. Om Birla and listened to his views. Most of the representatives also requested to organize conferences like the two-day ULB conference held in Gurugram again and to provide an opportunity to see the largest Panchayat. They also thanked the Haryana Assembly Speaker for organizing such a conference for the first time in the country and shared the experiences gained in the conference. Many officials also requested to create a post on the lines of the Chairman in the Municipal Council and release a separate budget.

On this occasion, Lok Sabha Speaker Sh. Om Birla asked the representatives to return from here with a resolution to communicate directly with the people of their area and to fulfill their expectations and aspirations.

Haryana Assembly Speaker Sh. Harvinder Kalyan and Deputy Speaker Sh. Krishan Lal Middha were also present on this occasion.

The Lok Sabha Speaker expressed gratitude to all the representatives on reaching the historic House and said this House was made by the sacrifice of freedom fighters and revolutionaries. After this, this House has also witnessed the process of making the Constitution of the world’s largest democracy under the leadership of Baba Saheb BR Ambedkar. He further said that this House has not only played a key role in shaping the nation’s progress but also in upholding the rights and responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution. Alongside the vision of building a New India, he emphasized that the inspiration to shape its spiritual and cultural identity has also been drawn from the legacy of the revolutionaries.

The Lok Sabha Speaker said the conference of municipal representatives from all over the country will give more strength to local governance. He hoped that the members will take new inspiration and energy from this conference. Along with this, they will give the benefits of the experience, training, innovation, ideas and brainstorming done in the conference to the people of their region.

All the representatives also praised the Haryana Government for hosting the two-day conference.

Chandigarh, July 5 – Haryana’s Civil Aviation, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sh. Vipul Goel represented the state in the Civil Aviation Ministers’ Conference held in Dehradun.

Speaking on this occasion, he said due to the efficient leadership and foresight of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, today the state’s civil aviation department is touching new heights. Due to their clear vision and strong will, Haryana is now making its strong presence felt on the national stage in the aviation sector.

The objective of this two-day seminar was to strengthen the dialogue and coordination between the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, Airport Authority of India (AAI), DGCA and other related organizations along with the civil aviation departments of all the states. In this, important discussions were held to share the needs and proposals of the states and to take policy making to the practical level.

The Cabinet Minister expressed his gratitude to Union Civil Aviation Minister Sh. Ram Mohan Naidu and Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi for this innovative event and said, “The number of new airports built in the country under the UDAN scheme and other initiatives is historic. This is a change which is now visible on the ground.” He also thanked Uttarakhand Chief Minister Sh. Pushkar Singh Dhami for hosting the programme.

Hisar Airport: A step towards becoming the aviation hub of North India

Sh. Vipul Goel said the Hisar Airport was inaugurated in the month of April and regular flights have started from there, which is a historic achievement for the state. He said the presence of the Prime Minister added dignity to the occasion. “I request Union Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu to visit Hisar soon and support the state in airport expansion plans,” he said. He also said that Hisar is the third airport in the country which has immense possibilities of expansion. Spread over 7200 acres, this airport has a 4000 meter long runway, excellent road and rail connectivity, and modern infrastructure which can establish it as a major aviation hub of North India. He said the work of MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) facility is in progress in Hisar, for which he expected full cooperation from the Central Government. He also proposed that “wherever expressways and highways are being built in the country, it should be made mandatory to develop strips for air ambulance services along with the road. This will give new impetus to emergency services.”

The Haryana Government has also started the work of developing heliports in Gurugram and Faridabad. Also, Vipul Goel requested the Chandigarh Administration to provide land for helipad to the state so that helicopter connectivity can be provided from Chandigarh to various districts of Haryana.

Coordination of sports and training with aviation

He also informed that the Civil Aviation Department is not limited to only passenger flights, but recreational aviation and sports activities are also being promoted in the state. “International level sports complexes are being built in Bhiwani and Mahendragarh. Also, we are setting up flying training institutes so that pilots can be prepared for the country and Haryana can play a leading role in this,” he added.

At the conclusion of the programme, Vipul Goel reiterated that the Haryana Government and the Civil Aviation Department of the state under the leadership of the Chief Minister are working with full dedication to realize the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. He said, “We need the continued support of the Central Government and we are ready to give our full contribution on behalf of the state.”

Chandigarh, July 5: Member of Parliament from Chandigarh and former Union Minister Shri Manish Tewari inaugurated newly installed CCTV cameras in the Mauli Jagran area, funded through a ₹5 lakh grant from his MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund.

He was accompanied by Chandigarh Congress President H.S. Lucky and several senior leaders.

In his address, MP Tewari emphasized that these CCTV cameras will play a crucial role in curbing criminal activities in the area. He reiterated his firm commitment to ensuring public safety and stated that no effort would be spared in addressing the needs of the people of Chandigarh. He also listened to other concerns raised by local residents during the visit.

Shri Tewari extended his gratitude to the administration, especially Executive Engineer Kuldeep Singh and SDO Rajdeep Surya, for their significant contributions in executing this public welfare project.

Speaking on the occasion, H.S. Lucky also assured that every possible step would be taken to ensure the safety of residents. He lauded MP Tewari’s continued efforts to resolve the issues faced by the people of the Lok Sabha constituency and remarked that only the Congress Party truly understands and works for the needs of the public.

Among those present were, included Thakur Kartar Singh, Former Mayor Surinder Singh, Thakur Surinder Singh alias Kaka, Block President Harbhajan Singh, Mukesh Rai, Vinay Mishra, Lekhpal, Rajdeep Sidhu, Mohammad Imran, and Wasim Mir.

SAS Nagar, July 5:

Going by the instructions of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Judge, Justice Deepak Sibal, Executive Chairman, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, District Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar led by District and Sessions Judge, Sh. Atul Kasana, Chairperson, District Legal Services Authority, about 500 saplings were planted by the Judicial officers and court staff under ‘Mission One Judge One Tree’ in the premises of District Court complex, Mohali and Sub-Divisions Kharar and Dera Bassi.
On this occasion, Sh. Atul Kasana, District & Sessions Judge encouraged the Judicial officers to contribute to save the environment and maintain the saplings planted by them.
Ms. Surabhi Prashar, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar revealed that under the Tree Plantation Drive “Each One Plant One”, there is a target of planting total 5 lakh saplings by the District Legal Services Authorities throughout the State of Punjab. The main objective of the campaign is to cultivate awareness about the importance of trees and encourage community participation, she added.

In a major enforcement action, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has seized a massive quantity of banned plastic material from Peekay Plastic, a shop located in Sector 20 and confiscated 520 kgs of non-compostable plastic and immediately transported to the dry waste processing plant for weighing and shredding.

This action was part of the MCC’s intensified drive to eliminate the supply and use of banned plastic across the city. The MCC team of Sanitary Inspectors has been conducting continuous raids to identify and dismantle the nexus between illegal plastic item suppliers and local retailers.

The operation was carried out by a dedicated team comprising Sanitary Inspectors Himmat Singh, Lokesh Meena, Ashish Malik, and Sanitary Supervisor Amar Rana.

Municipal Commissioner Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, has issued a strict warning to all violators, reaffirming that any sale or distribution of prohibited plastic will attract heavy penalties and legal consequences. He reiterated MCC’s commitment to enforcing the plastic ban strictly.

Amritsar, July 5:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday gave a humble bonanza worth around Rs 350 crore to the people by dedicating and laying foundation stone of ambitious projects.

Bowing his head at  the sacred land, the Chief Minister said that projects worth ₹346.57 crore are being dedicated to the residents of Amritsar. He said that ₹56.36 crore has been spent on construction of new roads,₹287.01 crore has been spent on upgrading road infrastructure and ₹3.20 crore has been spent on construction of Six new libraries. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in Amritsar district, the Punjab Mandi Board and Public Works Department have inaugurated new surfaced roads at a cost of ₹56.36 crore, and upgraded roads at ₹287.01 crore.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab government is repairing and upgrading rural link roads across the state. He said that There are a total of 64,878 km of link roads in Punjab, and until now they have been repaired every six years. Now, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that another historic decision has been made to include ongoing maintenance for the next five years along with the repairs to these link roads.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said that Six libraries are being inaugurated across various Assembly constituencies of Amritsar. He said that these libraries have been built by the Municipal Corporation at a cost of ₹3.20 crore. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in the Amritsar West Assembly constituency, two existing libraries viz. Chehrata Library and Old DC office library have been renovated at a cost of ₹32.58 lakh and ₹31.41 lakh respectively.

The Chief Minister said that Additionally, one library each has been established in the North, Central, East, and South constituencies of Amritsar, with each costing ₹64 lakh. He said that These modern infrastructure libraries are equipped with computers, internet access, quality literature, and study materials for competitive exams. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that these libraries will instil fresh hopes in students to realize their dreams as now students can access world-class knowledge through books adding that these libraries will play a crucial role in raising the intellectual level of students and achieving their cherished goals.

CHANDIGARH, July 5:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday announced the formation of a joint committee of villagers and experts to find a permanent solution for setting up a biogas plant in Akhara village of Ludhiana district.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting held here today at the Chief Minister’s official residence.

The Chief Minister apprised a delegation led by Gurtej Singh, Representative of the Akhara Sangharsh Committee, that this committee will carefully consider each and every concern raised by the villagers. He said that after thorough examination,  the committee will submit its recommendations, upon which the government will take necessary action. Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized that the committee will submit its report within the scheduled timeframe.

The Chief Minister assured that the government will not allow any violations, and that no action will be taken without first safeguarding the interests of the villagers. He reiterated the state government’s firm commitment to pollution control in Punjab and affirmed that there will be zero tolerance for any violation of pollution norms. Bhagwant Singh Mann made it clear to the villagers that the plant will be completely pollution-free, and that no one will be permitted to violate the rules.

The Chief Minister further said  that strict action will be taken against any rule-breakers. On the occasion, Bhagwant Singh Mann also cited the case of Ghungarali village biogas plant—which was set up with the consent of villagers—as an example. During the meeting, representatives from Ghungarali village shared their experience of operating the plant.

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, July 5:

          Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar has busted a cross-border narcotics smuggling module with links to Pakistan and arrested four of its operatives after recovering 5 kg heroin from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Resham Singh, a resident of Dhanoe Kalan in Amritsar, Gurpinder Singh, a resident of Dhanoe Kalan in Amritsar, Rooppreet Singh, a resident of Sehnewali in Amritsar and Shubhkar Manjit Singh, a resident of Sehnewali in Amritsar. Apart from recovering 5 kg heroin, police teams have also impounded their Mahindra Thar vehicle (PB08-FC-7002) and Hero Splendor motorcycle (PB02-DV-6761) being used for transporting the consignments.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused were acting under the directions of Pakistan-based smuggler identified as Kaka, a resident of Dyal in Pakistan, who has been using drones to drop narcotic consignments from across the border. The arrested accused persons were further delivering the narcotics consignments to other parties in the state, he said.

          Sharing operation details, the DGP said that teams from Counter Intelligence, Amritsar received specific intelligence about retrieval of narcotics consignments by some individuals from near the Indo-Pak border area falling near village Dhanoe Kalan in Amritsar.

          Acting swiftly, police teams have intercepted above four persons from Attari to Pull Kanjari road, Amritsar, when they were going to deliver the consignment on their vehicles and recovered heroin consignment from their possession, he said, while adding that further investigations are underway to uncover the network’s backward and forward linkages in this case. More arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days, he added.

          In this regard, a case FIR No. 36 dated 05-07-2025 has been registered under sections 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS act at Police Station State Special Operation Cell in Amritsar.

CHANDIGARH, July 5:

          With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state completed 126 days, Punjab Police on Saturday arrested 139 drug smugglers and recovered 6.9 kg heroin, 6.1 kg opium and Rs 1.19 lakh drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 20,594 in just 126 days.

          The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1400 police personnel, under the supervision of 92 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 451 locations across the state leading to the registration of 91 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 460 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.

          The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 53 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

          Meanwhile, Police teams have also conducted checking at as many as 195 pharmaceutical shops in six districts including Commissionerate Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar Rural and Tarn Taran to ensure that they are not selling intoxicant tablets or any other habit-forming drugs, and are adhering to the prescribed norms and regulations regarding the sale of medicines.