Category Archives: Chandigarh

ECI interacts with AAP delegation to share their suggestions and concerns: Sibin C

Chandigarh, May 15:

          Punjab Chief Election Commisioner Sibin C informed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu & Dr. Vivek Joshi had an interaction with the Aam Aadmi Party led by its National Convener, Arvind Kejriwal at Nirvachan Sadan today. The meeting is in continuation of the interactions being held by ECI with the Presidents of various National and State Political Parties.

He said that these interactions provide for a long-felt need of constructive discussions which enable National and State Party Presidents to share their suggestions and concerns directly with the Commission. This initiative aligns with the Commission’s broader vision of further strengthening the electoral process in accordance with the existing legal framework with all stakeholders.

          The Commission had earlier met with the delegations of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), led by the Party President Mayawati, on May 06, 2025, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by the Party President Jagat Prakash Nadda, on May 08, 2025, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), M.A. Baby on May 10, 2025 and the Party President of the National People’s Party, Conrad Sangma on May 13, 2025.

          Earlier, a total of 4,719 all-party meetings have been conducted including 40 meetings by CEOs, 800 by DEOs, and 3879 by EROs engaging over 28,000 representatives of various political parties.

PUNJAB POLICE CONDUCTS SEARCH OPERATION AT BUS STANDS ACROSS STATE

CHANDIGARH, May 15:

          With the ongoing war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 75th day, Punjab Police on Thursday conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) at Bus Stands across the state.

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

          Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who was personally monitoring this state-level operation, said that all the CPs/SSPs were asked to ensure heavy deployment of police force under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officers to make this operation successful.

          He said that suspicious persons were checked during the operation conducted at around all the bus stands in the state.

          Apart from this, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs and conducted raids at 486 locations on Thursday leading to the arrest of 124 drug smugglers after registration of 83 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 11,208 within 75 days.

          The Special DGP said that the raids have resulted in recovery of 4.02 kg heroin, 2.5 kg opium and Rs 27090 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          He informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1200 police personnel, under the supervision of 87 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 481 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

          As part of the drive against drugs, in Gurdaspur, a bulldozer was used to raze the houses of two drug smugglers, identified as Baljinder and Lakhwinder, constructed illegally on the land of Water Resource Department at their village Dida Sansia. On this occasion, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurdaspur Aaditya said that both the accused, whose house were demolished, has a criminal background with accused Baljinder facing 10 FIRs under NDPS act and Excise Act, and accused Lakhwinder facing 12 FIRs under the NDPS Act and Excise Act.

          The Special DGP said that Punjab Police has devised a comprehensive strategy and such operations will be continued till the scourge of drugs eradicated from the state.

          He 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 116 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.

          Meanwhile, Punjab Police has also carried out search operation at different jails in six districts— Commissionerate Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Jalandhar Rural, Kapurthala and Rupnagar— to check any illegal activities in the jail. “Our Police teams have thoroughly searched every nook and corner including barracks, kitchen and toilets in the jail complex,” said Special DGP Arpit Shukla.

HOLDING OF ELECTIONS OF SARPANCH/PANCH IN THE GRAM PANCHAYATS OR WARDS WHERE ELECTIONS COULD NOT BE HELD ON 15.10.2024 DURING THE GENERAL ELECTIONS, OR WHERE VACANCIES HAVE ARISEN SINCE

Chandigarh, 15 May 2025:

The Department of Rural Development & Panchayats has issued a fresh communication vide their letter dated 14.5.2025 alongwith a Notification for holding the elections or bye-election as the case may be of the members of the Gram Panchayats. Currently, there are about 60 vacancies of Sarpanch and 1600 vacancies of Panches.

            Accordingly, the State Election Commission has issued instructions to the Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Election Officers in the State to carry out an updation of the electoral rolls which were used during the last general elections held on 15.10.2024.  The qualifying date for registration of new eligible voters has been fixed as 31.5.2025.  The revision of electoral rolls has been directed to be held in those wards or gram panchayats where elections are due to be held on account of vacancy.

            For this purpose, a Special Campaign for addition/deletion of votes, or amendment, has been chalked out as follows:

i.                    19.5.2025 (Monday);

ii.                  20.5.2025 (Tuesday);

iii.                21.5.2025 (Wednesday.

The following forms may be used:

i.                    Form I (Claim application for inclusion of name)

ii.                  Form II (Objection to inclusion of name)

iii.                Form III (Objection to particulars in an entry).

These forms are available with the concerned SDMs,  a copy of the same may also be downloaded from the Commission’s website (sec.punjab.gov.in).

State Election Commission appeals to all eligible voters who wish to get their name enrolled in the voter list of these wards/gram panchayats where elections are due, to utilize this opportunity to get themselves enrolled.  At the same time, in case of objections or amendments, the concerned may submit the Form to the concerned Electoral Registration Officer, i.e. the SDM, for needful action, on any of these 3 days of Special Campaign.

Lal Chand Kataruchak directs Forest Department officers to prepare urban Forestry project

Chandigarh, May 15:

Undertaking a novel initiative, the Forests and Wildlife Preservation Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak today directed the department officers to prepare an Urban Forestry project under which tall plants would be planted in the urban areas. These plants would be protected by the tree guards on which the name of the department would be written.

In a meeting here today, the Minister emphasized that the project should focus on planting shady as well as the fruit bearing trees.

In another unique step, Mr. Kataruchak asked the officers to formulate a proposal for getting the Neem, Banyan and Pipal declared as the protected trees which would go a long way in ensuring their conservation.

While reviewing the works being done by the department in Shivalik Hills and North Circle, the Minister strongly advocated undertaking a major plantation drive aimed at increasing the area under green cover in the State. Batting for transparency in the development projects such as Nanak Bagichis and Pavittar Van, the Minister made it clear that laxity in execution of works would not be tolerated.

Among others present on the occasion included the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) Dharminder Sharma, APCCF cum CEO PUNCAMPA Saurav Gupta, CCF (Hills) Nidhi Srivastava, CF North Sanjeev Tiwari, CF Shivalik Circle Mr. Kannan, DFO Hoshiarpur Avneet Singh, DFO Pathankot Dharamveer Dheru, DFO Rupnagar Harjinder Singh and Daljit Kumar from Dasuya Division.

Punjab Slams Haryana’s ‘Technically Impossible’ Water Demand of 10,300 Cusecs

Chandigarh, May 15:

Punjab Water Resources and Soil and Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal today said that Haryana has further complicated water-sharing negotiations by increasing its already unfeasible water demand from 9,525 cusecs to 10,300 cusecs during today’s Technical Committee meeting of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

Following the meeting of officials of state of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana, the Cabinet Minister informed that Haryana’s escalating demand clearly shows its unwillingness to reach a reasonable resolution to our shared water challenges. Haryana tactics appear designed to create an impossible situation rather than work toward practical solutions.

He said that in the Technical Committee meeting, chaired by the BBMB Chairman, Water Resources Secretary Krishan Kumar and Chief Engineer Sher Singh represented the Punjab, alongside Chief Engineers from Haryana and Rajasthan, with Central Government representatives participating virtually.

The Cabinet Minister said that “Haryana had initially demanded 8,500 cusecs, which our technical team clearly explained was impossible to provide. On humanitarian grounds, Punjab has already been supplying 4,000 cusecs since April 4 specifically for drinking water purposes,” said Barinder Kumar Goyal.

He informed that as we already explained our limitations, Haryana has demanded 10,300 cusecs of water to be delivered from May 21 onward, despite their previous written correspondence requesting 9,525 cusecs, which is significant and unexplained increase.

Barinder Kumar Goyal, while stressing the physical impossibility of meeting Haryana’s demands, said that the Bhakra Main Line (BML) has a maximum capacity of 11,700 cusecs. Punjab requires a minimum of 3,000 cusecs for our own critical needs. Now, Haryana’s demand of 10,300 cusecs would effectively leave Punjab with almost no water and exceeds what the infrastructure can safely handle, especially while repairs of BML are ongoing.

He said that Punjab officials presented documentation of Haryana’s previous written request for 9,525 cusecs during the meeting, highlighting the contradiction with their new demand. The BBMB Chairman acknowledged the discrepancy and committed to examining the matter further, he added.

“By making these technically impossible demands, Haryana is deliberately creating complications in the water-sharing arrangement,” said the Cabinet Minister, adding that Punjab has consistently adhered to all BBMB rules and regulations, while Haryana continues to shift its position.

The Minister also clarified Punjab’s position regarding the ongoing water supply, saying that the 4,000 cusecs we have been providing to Haryana since April 4 is drawn from Punjab’s allocation. We have formally stated that the total accumulated volume will need to be returned to Punjab when required.

The Cabinet Minister said that when the meeting began, the Rajasthan government expressed appreciation to Punjab for reliably supplying water when needed. In contrast, Haryana reverted to making excessive demands.

Blood Donation camp at Metro Town Society Panchkula

Panchkula, May 15: Paras Health Panchkula conducted a blood donation camp at Metro Town Society on May 15, drawing enthusiastic participation from local residents and volunteers. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and support the region’s ongoing demand for safe blood.

The hospital’s medical team ensured smooth execution, overseeing registration, health screening, collection, and post-donation care with strict adherence to hygiene protocols. Many first-time donors expressed their willingness to donate again.

“Donating blood is a simple act that can save lives,” said Dr Puneet Sachdeva, Consultant, Transfusion Medicine. “Community participation in such initiatives makes a real difference.”

Dr Pankaj Mittal, Facility Director, highlighted the constant need for blood in surgeries, emergencies, and chronic illnesses. “Camps like these help ensure timely availability of blood when it’s most needed,” he said. The drive was part of a broader awareness effort, with Paras Health reaffirming its commitment to promoting voluntary blood donation through community engagement.

Chandigarh’s Poonam Pratibha Sharma Brings Pride to City Beautiful with Prestigious Pageant Win

Chandigarh: Poonam Pratibha Sharma, a resident of Chandigarh, has brought immense pride to City Beautifulby winning the esteemed title at the Ms. Senior Fashion Pageant India 2025, held recently in Mumbai. With her grace, talent, and unwavering dedication, Poonam captured the hearts of the judges and emerged victorious in this prestigious national competition.

Upon her return to Chandigarh, the queen Poonam received a warm and heartfelt welcome. Reflecting on her achievement, she shared, “This crown is not just an ornament to me; it represents the fulfillment of my hard work and dreams.”

She promotes healthy food, eating millets   and Yoga .Her accomplishment has inspired countless women to pursue their aspirations with confidence and determination and live life to the fullest with passion, compassion,  humour and style !

Health services will be strengthened with appointment of specialist doctors: Arti Singh Rao

Chandigarh, May 14 – The Haryana Government is committed to make the health services of the state more robust and accessible. In this direction, priority is being given to the appointment of specialist doctors in various medical institutions of the state. Giving information, Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao said interviews were conducted from May 8 to 10, 2025 for the appointment of Senior Residents for Maharishi Chyawan Medical College, Koriawas, Narnaul at Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College, Nalhar, Nuh district.

The Health Minister said this process is an effective step towards equipping the medical college with specialist doctors, strengthening medical education and providing quality treatment to the common citizens.

These specialist doctors have been appointed in the branches of General Surgery, General Medicine, Orthopedics, Anesthesia, Skin and Sexual Diseases, Pathology, Anatomy, etc.

The Health Minister clarified that this selection is provisional at present and the final selection of the candidates will be valid only after verification of the original documents. She said the aim of the Haryana Government is to provide quality health facilities to every citizen of the state, and ensuring the availability of doctors in all districts is the priority of the government. This appointment process is a strong and meaningful effort in this direction, which will strengthen the backbone of health services in Haryana.

Nayab Sarkar takes Landmark Step- Reservation for DSC and OSC in Group D Recruitment

Chandigarh, May 14- Embodying Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi’s guiding mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ and under the able leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the Haryana Government is rapidly advancing toward fulfilling its promise of providing employment opportunities to the youth of the state.

Continuing the same, the Haryana Government has announced the initiation of the recruitment process for 7,596 Group-D posts through the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC).  This initiative will not only boost employment but also ensure social inclusion and fairness. Candidates will be selected based on their Common Eligibility Test (CET) scores. This ensures a transparent and merit-based selection process.

For the first time in Haryana’s history, 605 posts have been reserved for Deprived Scheduled Castes (DSC) and 604 posts for Other Scheduled Castes (OSC) in Group-D recruitment. In addition, reservations have also been provided for categories like BCA, BCB, EWS, PH, ESP, and ESM. This is a historic move to bridge intra-category disparities and ensure equitable distribution of reservation benefits.

The shared goal of the Central and Haryana governments is Antyodaya, uplifting the most deprived sections of society. This recruitment drive is a significant step toward securing the rights of all communities, particularly Scheduled Castes and other backward classes.

Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini stated that the present state government is committed to empowering the youth and bringing every section of society into the mainstream of development. This recruitment process will not only provide employment opportunities but also reinforce social justice.

The Haryana Government is committed to ensuring complete transparency and fairness in this recruitment process. The use of technology will simplify and streamline the application and selection process, making it more efficient. This initiative will not only open new avenues of employment for the youth but also further strengthen the government’s commitment to social inclusion and equality.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister,  Sh. Narendra Modi, the Haryana Government continues to work tirelessly for the development and empowerment of every section of society. This recruitment initiative is yet another example of the visionary leadership of the Haryana Government and the Centre, dedicated to delivering the benefits of development to the last person in the queue.

Haryana to Revamp ITI Curriculum to Meet Industry Needs – Dr. Sumita Misra

German delegation meets Haryana CM to discuss progress of new Manufacturing Plant in Jhajjar

Delegation evinced keen interest in expanding their investment footprint in Haryana

Harness the potential of Haryana’s youth through employment opportunities – Chief Minister

Chandigarh, May 14 – A German delegation led by Mr. Markus Kerkhoff, Group CEO of Poppe + Potthoff GmbH, Germany, called on Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini here to apprise him of the progress of their automobile component manufacturing plant in Jhajjar district. The delegation also included Mr. Thorsten Ellersieck, Head of Sales, Poppe + Potthoff, along with representatives from Lalbaba Engineering Limited, the Indian partner in this strategic joint venture.

During the meeting, the delegation expressed keen interest in expanding their investment footprint in Haryana, citing the state’s industry-friendly policies and proactive support from the government. Poppe + Potthoff, which has its presence in 70–80 countries, is also exploring the establishment of a new R&D facility in Haryana and plans to create a structured system for employing skilled manpower from the state to meet both global and domestic requirements.

Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, while interacting with the delegation, said that Haryana Government empowering its youth through world-class skill development initiatives. He said that the state has been proactively aligning its training programmes with global industry standards to ensure that the workforce is equipped with the latest technical knowledge and practical expertise. The Chief Minister also urged the Poppe + Potthoff delegation to recognize and harness the immense potential of Haryana’s talented youth by offering them meaningful employment opportunities. He said that the state government is fully supporting efforts to build strong partnerships between industries and educational institutions especailly technical, and help create a system that trains youth to meet both local and global job needs.

It was also informed in the meeting that Poppe + Potthoff GmbH, Germany and Lalbaba collaboration represents a landmark step in strengthening India’s manufacturing capabilities, promoting import substitution, and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat under the Prime Minister’s Make in India initiative.

The new joint venture facility in Jhajjar embodies a shared commitment to sustainable, future-ready manufacturing. Conceptualized as a zero-discharge plant, the facility will derive 40% of its energy needs from solar power, aligning with India’s environmental goals. The plant will focus on producing high-precision components such as fuel injection and airbag tubes – products that are currently fully imported. Localizing the production of these critical components will not only strengthen our national supply chain but also generate skilled employment and significantly reduce dependency on imports.

Advisor to the Chief Minister in the Department of Foreign Cooperation, Sh. Pawan Kumar Chaudhary, along with other senior officials was also present at the meeting.

No.IPRDH/ 2025

Chief Minister Interacts with class 12 Toppers of BSEH

CM Congratulates Toppers of Arts, Commerce, and Science Streams

Chandigarh, May 14 – Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday spoke to the Class 12 examination toppers of the Board of School Education Haryana over the phone, congratulated them, and wished them a bright future.

The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pride that these meritorious students have emerged as role models who inspire the younger generation.

The Chief Minister personally spoke with Arpandeep Singh from Kaithal, who secured the first position in the Commerce stream, Saroj from Jind, the Arts topper, and Naman from Bhiwani, the Science stream topper. He appreciated their hard work, dedication, and discipline, stating that their success is the result of self-confidence, family support, and guidance from their teachers.

The Chief Minister said that students from Haryana are showcasing their talent across the country, which is a matter of pride. He affirmed that the government is providing every possible support to help talented students excel and will continue to do so. The students who are performing excellently today will play a vital role in building society and the nation tomorrow, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

The Chief Minister also congratulated the parents and teachers of the students, acknowledging that their dedication and encouragement were equally important in the student’s success. He urged all students to continue working hard and contribute to the development of the nation.

No.IPRDH/ 2025

Election Commission takes new initiatives to ensure free and fair elections

Chandigarh, May 14 – Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Sh. Pankaj Agarwal, said that the Election Commission of India is continuously taking new initiatives to make the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies election process more transparent and fair.

He said that Chief Election Commissioner, Sh. Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi had an interaction with the National People’s Party led by its Party President, Sh. Conrad Sangma at Nirvachan Sadan. The meeting is in continuation of the interactions being held by ECI with the Presidents of various National and State Political Parties.

The Commission had earlier met with the delegations of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), led by the Party President Km. Mayawati, on May 06, 2025, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by the Party President Sh. Jagat Prakash Nadda, on May 08, 2025 and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Sh. M.A. Baby on May 10, 2025.

He further said that to ensure an error-free voter list, a total of 4,719 meetings have been organised with the representatives of national and state recognized political parties and other stakeholders. Out of these, 40 meetings were conducted by the CEOs, 800 by DEOs, and 3,879 by EROs. More than 28,000 representatives from different political parties participated in these meetings.

He said that this initiative aligns with the commission’s vision of further strengthening the electoral process in accordance with the existing legal framework with all stakeholders.

No.IPRDH/2025

*Haryana to Revamp ITI Curriculum to Meet Industry Needs – Dr. Sumita Misra*

Chandigarh, May 14 – To maximize job placement for trained youth in Haryana, as envisioned by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the Haryana Government is updating the ITI curriculum. Dr. Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, said that the new syllabus will include foundational training in AI, soft skills, and industry-focused modules to better prepare youth for modern jobs.

She was presiding over a high-level committee meeting to assess progress on key action points from the 4th National Conference of Chief Secretaries held in December 2024. Dr. Misra stressed that improving the quality of skill training institutions is essential to achieve the ambitious goal of maximum placements.

Dr. Misra directed officers to compile and analyze past placement records of ITI graduates to identify gaps between training and actual employment trends. This will help in crafting a more targeted and efficient placement strategy. She directed to develop a dedicated portal to provide real-time access to industry-specific skilled workforce data, facilitating efficient talent matching, streamlining industrial hiring, and boosting employment opportunities for Haryana’s skilled youth.

With the objective of modernizing teaching practices, she disclosed that a state-level training conference for ITI faculty will soon be organized. The conference will acquaint instructors with the latest industrial innovations, tools, and technologies, ensuring that students are mentored in line with current industry demands.

Dr. Misra also directed that the Haryana Single Window Portal should be linked to the Haryana SARAL Portal. This will streamline single-point contact for all government incentive schemes for new entrepreneurs, and this feature should be prominently highlighted.

She further said that the State Government is working to establish IT hubs and service clusters, which will be supported by robust social infrastructure. Dr. Misra added that the State Government will soon notify the State Logistics, Warehousing, and Retail Policy, which will outline a comprehensive logistics action plan. This policy aims to enhance efficiency and drive economic growth across the sector.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, Sh. D. Suresh; Principal Secretary, Labour Department, Sh. Rajeev Ranjan; Director General, Industries & Commerce Department, Sh. Yash Garg besides other senior officers.