Category Archives: Chandigarh

Punjab’s mandis ready to welcome Farmers: Lal Chand Kataruchak

Chandigarh/Ludhiana, April 6

Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister, Lal Chand Kataruchak, stated on Sunday that the state government is fully ready to welcome farmers in the 1,864 grain markets across Punjab, and all the preparations for wheat procurement without any trouble have been finished. The arrangements for cold drinking water, cleanliness, gunny bags, fans, transportation, and accommodation are being completely taken care of in the grain markets of the state, and they won’t face any kind of problem while selling their golden wheat grains.

No leave will be allowed for the staff working on procurement unless there’s a very strong reason, and they have to stay present in the grain markets to facilitate the farmers.

After reviewing the preparations with officials from Ludhiana, Moga, Faridkot, Ferozepur, and Barnala districts here on Sunday, the Cabinet Minister explained that the state government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership, has made elaborate arrangements to help more than 8 lakh farmers during the current wheat procurement season. He mentioned that Punjab is expecting a bumper wheat harvest this year, and the goal is to purchase 124 lakh metric tonnes wheat. He also shared that the state has arranged a Cash Credit Limit of Rs. 28,894 crore and has also managed to get 99% of the needed gunny bags, along with plenty of storage space and containers.

Kataruchak also explained that to handle the harvest, the state has set up 600 temporary yards in addition to the regular ones and promised farmers that their payments would be sent to their accounts within 24 hours of selling their wheat, with the Minimum Support Price (MSP) set at Rs. 2,425 per quintal.

The Minister made it clear that the state government is committed to buying every single grain that farmers bring, and he won’t allow any mistakes or carelessness in the process.

At the review meeting, Kataruchak took stock of the facilities for farmers, like cleanliness, drinking water, lighting, and shaded spots in the mandis. He gave instructions to officials to stay at the markets throughout the season to make sure farmers don’t face any difficulties. He also asked them to ensure availability of the first-aid medical kits in the mandis.

Punjab To Launch ‘Sikhya Kranti’ to Mark Completion of Rs 2,000-Cr Infrastructure Projects in 12K schools

Chandigarh, April 6:

In a landmark move to revolutionize the state’s education system, the Punjab Government is all set to launch ‘Sikhya Kranti’— a 54-day education festival beginning April 7, to inaugurate newly developed infrastructure projects worth ₹2,000 crore in 12,000 government schools across the state.

Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains announced the initiative during a press conference at Punjab Bhawan on Sunday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to creating an equitable and modern learning environment that empowers students to thrive in the modern times. The massive infrastructure development program includes the construction and renovation of schools, the introduction of modern learning facilities, he added.

“This initiative is a testament to the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to providing quality education for all children,” the Education Minister said, while adding that the government schools have been provided with all the required basic amenities, including clean drinking water, high-speed WiFi connections, separate toilets for girl and boy students, desks and chairs, and boundary walls, as mandated by the CM Mann.

He said that Punjab is the first state to appoint campus managers and security guards in schools, in addition to starting bus services for students. Over 10,000 students are currently availing this facility. The Education Minister also highlighted that over Rs 200 crore is spent annually on the upkeep of government schools.

On the first day of the education festival “Sikhya Kranti”, S. Bains said, various infrastructure development projects would be inaugurated in over 350 government schools by the Cabinet Ministers and other dignitaries. Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, along with the State Incharge Sh. Manish Sisodia, will inaugurate a School of Eminence at SBS Nagar. 

Inviting the people of Punjab to witness the “Sikhya Kranti”, S. Bains said that all people should visit their nearby schools to be a part of this festival of education.

Highlighting the ambitious program, S. Harjot Singh Bains said that 6,812 schools now have new or repaired boundary walls, covering nearly 1,000 kilometres, ensuring a safer learning environment. 5,399 new classrooms have been constructed to augment classroom facilities. Additionally, 2,976 toilets have been built in 2,934 schools, while 7,166 toilets have been repaired across 4,889 schools. To support students’ learning needs, 1,16,901 dual desks, tables, and chairs have been provided, ensuring that every student has a designated place to study. Furthermore, 359 school playgrounds have been developed to promote physical activity. As many as 2,261 smart classrooms have been equipped with Smart Interactive Panels in 1,886 schools, integrating technology into education for a more engaging learning experience.

The Education Minister said that 118 existing Government Senior Secondary Schools are being converted into Schools of Eminence in the first phase, while, 14 SoE schools have already been dedicated to the public. These schools will be the centers of excellence, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to enable peer learning across institutions, and enhance the learning experiences of our children through contemporary schooling practices in the world of school education. Schools of Eminence will cater to students of classes 9th to 12th. All educational streams have been introduced in these schools. Free uniforms are being provided to students. Apart from this, Online/offline coaching for different competitive exams like Armed preparatory forces, NEET, JEE, CLAT, NIFT etc are also being provided to students, he added.

‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’ CONTINUES ON DAY 37 AS PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS 54 DRUG SMUGGLERS AFTER 337 RAIDS

CHANDIGARH, April 6:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 37th day, Punjab Police on Sunday conducted raids at 337 locations leading to the arrest of 54 drug smugglers after registration of 37 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 5169 in just 37 days.

          Police teams have also recovered 411 grams heroin, 1617 intoxicant tablets/pills and Rs 34400 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          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 150 Police teams, comprising over 900 police personnel, under the supervision of 66 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 364 suspicious persons during the day long operation

          Meanwhile, Punjab Police has devised a comprehensive strategy and such operations will be continued till the scourge of drugs eradicated from the state.

Haryana gives highest subsidy in the country to farmers adopting DSR technology- Shyam Singh Rana

Chandigarh, April 4 – Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, said that the state government is providing a subsidy of Rs. 4,000 per acre to farmers adopting Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technology, which is the highest in the country.

He said that Haryana is a leading state in promoting sustainable rice cultivation. Unlike traditional transplanting methods that require excessive water, DSR eliminates the need for transplanting seedlings, resulting in significantly lower water consumption and labor costs, said the Minister while speaking at a programme organized in Kurukshetra.

The programme was organised by the Agriculture Department in collaboration with Savannah Seeds to promote water-conservation-based farming. During this detailed discussions  were held regarding the benefits and challenges of adopting DSR. Officers of the Farmers and Agriculture Department from various districts participated in the event.

Sh. Shyam Singh Rana also shared the  details about the state government’s schemes that assist farmers in transitioning toward sustainable agriculture. He emphasized that water conservation is a key concern for Haryana’s farmers. The government is committed to promoting DSR as a viable alternative by providing financial assistance, training, and access to advanced seed technologies, said the Minister.

He further said that paddy is a major Kharif crop in Haryana, and farmers face challenges such as declining groundwater levels and rising labour costs. Traditional paddy farming requires approximately 3,000–4,000 liters of water per kilogram of rice produced, making it a highly water-intensive process. Keeping this in mind, the state government is actively promoting DSR to conserve water and enhance agricultural efficiency.

CEO and MD of Savannah Seeds and Chairman of the Federation of Seed Industry of India, Sh. Ajay Rana emphasized the role of technology in ensuring the success of DSR.

Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi Reviews Preparations for CDS and NDA Examinations

Chandigarh, April 4 – Haryana Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi reviewed the preparations for the upcoming CDS Examination-I, 2025, and NDA and NA Examination-I, 2025, scheduled to be held on April 13 in Faridabad and Gurugram districts.

The Chief Secretary stated that 12 examination centres have been set up in Faridabad and 27 in Gurugram. He directed officials to ensure adequate security arrangements at all examination centres, especially at the entrance gate, rear gate and parking. No disturbances or protests should be allowed near the examination venues. Additionally, proper security should be in place for the transportation of sensitive examination materials. At least 10 police personnel, including women personnel, should be deployed at each examination centre.

Sh. Rastogi emphasized that candidates and examination officials should not face any inconvenience in commuting. Sufficient buses should be arranged for their transportation. Adequate power supply must also be ensured at all centres for a hassle-free examination process.

He further stated that the use of mobile phones, bluetooth devices, and other IT/communication equipment is strictly prohibited at the examination centres. To strengthen security measures, jammers are being installed at all venues. Examination officials should be adequately sensitized to ensure a fair and smooth examination process, he added.

DGP Sh. Shatrujeet Kapur, Managing Director, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd, Sh. A. Sreenivas, Special Secretary, Monitoring & Coordination, Dr. Priyanka Soni, Commissioner of Police, Faridabad, Sh. SK Gupta, Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, Sh. Vikas Kumar Arora, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

Committee to address fire department employees demands to be formed by April 15, 2025- Vipul Goel

Chandigarh, April 4- Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister, Sh. Vipul Goel has directed the officers to form a committee by April 15 to address the demands of the fire department employees. He said that the committee should thoroughly examine each point and submit recommendations to the government. 

Sh. Goel was presiding over a review meeting with the officers of the Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh and the officers of the department held at Haryana Niwas on Friday. 

During the meeting, Sh. Goel assured that he aims to make the Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Department one of the best in the country. He directed to recruit new employees as required and said that physically fit employees are essential for the department. Elder employees can be assigned to the establishment branch and other branches instead of emergency duty. It is mandatory for the employees to undergo departmental training as per the requirement, he added. 

The minister assured that a Fire employee Welfare Fund would soon be established to support employees in case of death or disability while on duty. Besides this, he said that employees previously working under Outsourcing Part One and Two have been accommodated in the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam.

Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, Director General, Fire Services, Sh. Shekhar Vidyarthi, besides President, Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh, Sh. Naresh Shastri also remained present during the meeting.

Strict action to be taken against the accused and SHO for negligence in case involving intimidation and threat to the only son of  deceased family

Chandigarh, April 4 – Haryana Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Mr. Rajesh Nagar said that following the death of Keshav’s family in village Yara of Kurukshetra district, strict action has been ordered against the accused in the case involving intimidation, threats, snatching of cash and jewellery by relatives. In addition, action will be taken against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahbad police station for negligence, despite the complaint being filed. The matter will now be investigated by CIA-2, and the  SDM of Shahbad and the ASP will also conduct a special investigation.  Minister has also directed that police personnel be assigned temporarily for Keshav’s security.

Mr. Rajesh Nagar made these statements during the monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievance Redressal Committee in Kurukshetra today. During the meeting, the Minister resolved 3 out of 5 old complaints and 11 out of 12 new complaints on the spot.

Addressing Keshav’s complaint, the Minister reassured him, stating that there was no need to fear anyone. He encouraged Keshav to directly contact him on his mobile if he faced any further threats or intimidation. The Minister also provided Keshav with his personal contact number for direct communication.

Speaking to journalists, the Minister said that strict action would be taken against any officer who fails to attend a meeting without prior notice.

Prime Minister to lay foundation stone of the Third Unit of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant

Chandigarh, April 4 – On the occasion of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14, Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the third unit of the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant in Yamunanagar.

Ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, the Commissioner and Secretary, Development & Panchayats and Information, Public Relations, Languages & Culture departments, Dr. Amit Agrawal,  inspected the venue located near village Kail, located on the Panchkula–Saharanpur Highway in Yamunanagar district on Friday.

During this he issued necessary directions to the officers concerned for the programme. Following the inspection, he held a meeting with all district officers in the conference hall of the district secretariat.

Divulging further details, Dr. Amit Agrawal shared that on April 14, 2025, Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of a new 800 MW power generation unit to be established at the Yamunanagar Thermal Power Plant. He will also address a public gathering on the occasion.

Dr. Agrawal  further shared that a large number of people are expected to attend the event; therefore, designated routes for parking, helipads, and vehicles should be clearly marked to ensure smooth traffic management and facilitate easy access to the rally venue for attendees.

He directed the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department to complete the work related to the stage, pandal, and parking on time.  Besides this, the Executive Engineer of the Public Health Engineering  Department should also ensure arrangements for clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, directed Dr. Agrawal.

Dr. Agrawal further shared that the establishment of the new unit will not only boost power generation in the state but also create employment opportunities for the youth. He further informed that an exhibition will be organized at the event to inform about the government’s public welfare policies. Separate parking arrangements will be made at different locations for vehicles, said Dr. Agrawal.

On this occasion, Commissioner Ambala Division , Sh. Anshaj Singh, Managing Director, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited Sh. Ashok Meena,  Deputy Commissioner Yamunanagar,  Sh. Parth Gupta, Additional Director (Admn.), Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Smt. Varsha Khangwal, and officers from other departments, were also present.

Drug-free Haryana Cyclothon 2.0 campaign will start from Hisar

Chandigarh, April 4

To combat drug addiction in Haryana, the state-level Drug-Free Haryana Cyclothon 2.0 campaign will kick off from Hisar on April 5. The campaign will be inaugurated by Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

An official spokesperson shared details about the event, stating that the route for the cyclothon has been mapped from Gate No. 1 of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar, to Fletcher Bhawan (the HAU Administrative Block). He added that the Hisar district administration has completed all necessary preparations for the successful execution of the state-level event.

The spokesperson further said that the journey will begin in Hisar and continue through Bhiwani district. This cyclothon is more than just an event; it marks the beginning of a social movement, with participation from thousands of youth, students, police, army personnel, and members of NCC, NSS, and various community groups. This event is expected to be a historic step towards making Haryana drug-free.

The spokesperson also said that over 43,000 cyclists from Hisar district have already registered for the cyclothon, and the number is continuing to grow. This overwhelming participation is on track to set a new record. The event tomorrow will serve as a powerful source of energy and inspiration for the entire state.

The cyclothon, which starts in Hisar, will conclude on April 27 in Sirsa, passing through several districts of the state along the way. On its first day, the journey will move from Hisar towards Bhiwani and pass through Ladwa, Sultanpur, Umra, Ratera, Dhani Kirwar, Tosham, Sagban and Bapodra.

CM visits Gaushala in Pinjore, announces Rs.21 Lakh for Kamdhenu Gaushala Seva Sadan

Chandigarh, April 4- Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini has appealed to the people of the state to work towards making Haryana green, prosperous, and clean. 

The Chief Minister participated as a Chief Guest in a programme organised at Kamdhenu Gaushala Seva Sadan in Pinjore, Panchkula district, and offered his services at the Gaushala. He inaugurated the compressed biogas plant made from cow dung and laid the foundation for a cow cremation center and a new shed. He also announced a grant of Rs. 21 lakh to the Kamdhenu Gaushala Seva Sadan. 

The Chief Minister appealed to the people of Haryana to make the state green, prosperous and clean.

He said that earlier, Haryana had only 215 Gaushalas with around 1,074 cattle. Since the BJP government took charge, the number of registered Gaushalas has increased to 650, in which about 4 lakh cows and Nandi are being taken care of. The State government has also significantly increased the budget from Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 595 crore. 

The Chief Minister said that thousands of cows are safe in the gau abhyarans (cow sanctuaries) in Panipat, Hisar, and Panchkula. The government has allocated Rs. 270 crore as a grant for cattle fodder, and in the last financial year, Rs. 166 crore was given to 608 Gaushalas for the same.

*State government is working on various plans to support cow welfare*

He also stated that the government is working on various plans to support cow welfare. The land designated for grazing will be provided to Gaushalas to grow fodder for cattle. The Prime Minister is serious about cows and the government of India has also implemented

*Gobar-Dhan Yojana to support such initiatives*

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the government has set a target of practicing natural farming on 1 lakh acres of land in this financial year and encouraged farmers to adopt natural farming methods.  State government is taking strict measures to protect cattle, including imposing a 10-year prison sentence for cow slaughter and a 7-year sentence for cattle smuggling, Chief Minister added.

He appreciated the efforts of Kamdhenu Gaushala Seva Sadan for  making organic pesticides and other products from cow dung and urine, benefiting agriculture.

*Gaushalas in the state should become self-reliant*

He also said the need for all Gaushalas to become self-reliant by producing items like paint, pots, phenyl, hand washers, bio-coal, soap, and other products. 

Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji expressed happiness over the Chief Minister’s visit to the Gaushala during the Navratri festival and praised the government’s commitment to cow protection.

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, said that the government has implemented several schemes for Gaushala. There are 650 registered gaushala in the state, all of which are being provided adequate supported under the state government’s schemes. 

The Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana also announced a grant of Rs.11 lakh for the Kamdhenu Gaushala Seva Sadan.

MLA, Kalka, Smt. Shakti Rani Sharma, Mayor, Panchkula, Sh. Kulbhushan Goyal, Chairman, Haryana Gau Seva Aayog, Sh. Sarvan Garg and other dignitaries also remained present.