Chandigarh, January 8 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini today held a meeting with a delegation led by Managing Director and India Head of Mizuho Bank of Japan, Sh. Ryo Murao, at the Civil Secretariat here. The meeting focused on strengthening economic cooperation and exploring new avenues for strategic investments in Haryana.

During the discussions, the delegation expressed keen interest in entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Foreign Cooperation Department of Haryana. Key areas identified for collaboration included automobile manufacturing, education, financial services and, notably, the semiconductor sector, which is emerging as a critical area of global and national importance.

The delegation informed the Chief Minister that, impressed by Haryana’s progressive policies and robust Ease of Doing Business ecosystem, Mizuho Bank has shifted its office from Delhi to Gurugram. They sought continued cooperation and support from the State Government to further expand their operations and investment footprint in Haryana.

The Chief Minister assured the delegation of the State Government’s full support and said Haryana is committed to providing a stable, investor-friendly environment backed by transparent governance, modern infrastructure and skilled manpower. He emphasized that Haryana’s strategic location, policy reforms and proactive administrative approach make it a preferred destination for global investors, especially in high-technology and knowledge-driven sectors.

On the occasion, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini also presented a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to Sh. Ryo Murao and discussed its timeless philosophy and universal message of duty, ethics and balanced decision-making.

Notably, the Department of Foreign Cooperation is a dedicated department of the Haryana Government, responsible for the state’s diplomacy, bilateral and multilateral relations at the international level, and assistance to the Haryanvi Diaspora. It propagates the state government’s vision of transforming Haryana through a ‘Go Global Approach’.

Advisor CM for Foreign Cooperation Department, Sh. Pawan Kumar Choudhary and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, January 8 – Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Minister, Smt. Shruti Choudhry said that the State Government has taken an important decision to provide essential water services to Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani. The government has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for providing the required land to set up a pumping station at RD 33300-L of the Nigana Feeder.

She said that through this pumping station, the supply of drinking water and other water requirements in the university campus will be ensured, which will provide better facilities to students, faculty members, and staff. This decision reflects the State Government’s commitment to strengthening basic infrastructure in higher educational institutions.

The Irrigation and Water Resources Minister said that the work will be carried out under the supervision and monitoring of the Irrigation and Water Resources Department to ensure the safety of the canal passing nearby and full compliance with all technical standards related to water management. The department will also ensure that the construction of the pumping station does not cause any damage or obstruction.

She said that the State Government is continuously working towards the proper utilisation and conservation of water resources across the state, and providing necessary water facilities to institutions related to education, health, and public welfare remains a top priority. She expressed her gratitude to the Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini for this important initiative, stating that the work became possible due to his visionary leadership, positive approach, and timely decision-making.

She further said that the State Government is advancing public welfare works on a priority basis, and the Chief Minister himself is regularly reviewing various schemes. Notably, due to the Minister’s efforts, inter-departmental coordination, and administrative efficiency, the benefits of this initiative will soon be realized on the ground.

Chandigarh, January 8 – Haryana Health Minister, Ms. Arti Singh Rao today chaired a high-level review meeting with senior officers of the Health Department. The objective of the meeting was to further strengthen health services in the state, ensure uninterrupted availability of medical resources, and expedite the implementation of key health projects.

The meeting was attended by Managing Director, Haryana Medical Services Corporation Limited, Dr. Manoj Kumar, Director General, Health Services, Dr. Manish Bansal, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Dr. Virender Yadav, along with other senior departmental officers.

During the meeting, the Health Minister held detailed discussions on important issues related to tuberculosis (TB) testing and directed officers to accelerate TB screening in the state in accordance with the guidelines of the Government of India. The Health Minister was informed that Haryana has the capacity to screen approximately four lakh individuals annually for TB diagnosis. A proposal was presented to install PathoDetect machines in district hospitals for TB testing through the purchase/reagent rental model. Proposals will be invited from the concerned vendors and placed for consideration in the upcoming meeting of the State High Power Purchase Committee (SHPPC). It was also decided to procure TruNat machines for TB testing at the Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) levels. The agenda in this regard will also be placed before the next SHPPC meeting.

The meeting also discussed the operation of CT scan and MRI facilities under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Officers informed that these services are already operational in several districts of the state. The Health Minister directed that CT scan and MRI services should be started in all district hospitals at the earliest.

Besides this, the proposal to conduct various pathology tests in all district hospitals through a single agency was also deliberated. It was informed that this model has been successfully implemented in several states, including Uttar Pradesh. Emphasis was also laid on further strengthening trauma-related services in health institutions to ensure better and faster treatment for patients in emergency situations.

The Health Minister also reviewed the ongoing procurement processes of medical equipment and directed officers to expedite purchases in line with hospital requirements. Special emphasis was laid on ensuring continuous availability of medicines and consumables in all health institutions.

The meeting also discussed simplifying, enhancing transparency, and improving the effectiveness of the process for issuing Non-Availability Certificates (NAC) for medicines. The Health Minister directed that the system be made more responsive and aligned with ground-level requirements. The Health Minister called upon all officers to continue working in coordination to further strengthen public health services in the state.

Chandigarh, January 8 – Taking a significant step towards providing economic security to beekeepers, the Haryana Government has fixed a protected price for honey under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana.

Sharing information in this regard, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana said that this decision reflects the state government’s farmer-friendly approach and its commitment to promoting allied agricultural activities.

He said that under the scheme, the protected price of honey has been fixed at Rs. 120 per kilogram. This will provide relief to beekeepers from market price fluctuations and ensure a fair price for their produce.

The Agriculture Minister said that beekeeping has emerged as an important additional source of income for farmers. It not only increases farmers’ income but also plays a vital role in increasing crop productivity through pollination. The Haryana Government is continuously working to promote agricultural diversification, and fixing a protected price for honey is a historic step in the interest of beekeepers, he added.

Sh. Shyam Singh Rana further said that under the scheme, the registration and verification process will be carried out through the Madhukranti Portal (madhukranti.in) and the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (Honey) portal at hortharyana.gov.in. The registration period has been fixed from January 1 to June 30, 2026. Verification within the geographical limits of Haryana will be mandatory to avail the benefits of the scheme.

He said that beneficiaries will be verified on the basis of their Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) and bank account details. This process will be conducted by authorized officers with complete transparency to ensure that the benefits reach genuine beekeepers.

The Agriculture Minister said that this initiative is in line with the government’s goal of doubling farmers’ income and will encourage youth and farmers to adopt beekeeping. He appealed to all beekeepers in the state to complete their registration within the stipulated time period and avail the full benefits of the scheme. For more information, please contact the helpline number 1800-180-2021.

Chandigarh, January 8

Under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann and the sustained efforts of Horticulture Minister Mr Mohinder Bhagat, Punjab has earned national recognition for its robust performance in strengthening agricultural infrastructure. The state has received two prestigious awards for outstanding implementation and effective monitoring of projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme.

Giving more information, Horticulture Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat said that the state has been conferred the awards for Best Performing State and Best State Project Monitoring Unit at the AIF Regional Conference, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, in Chandigarh.

Mr. Bhagat further informed that as on December 31, 2025, a total of 31,076 projects have been approved in Punjab under the AIF Scheme, with a cumulative investment of ₹11,270 crore, while loans amounting to ₹7,221 crore have been sanctioned by various lending institutions.

Explaining the benefits of the scheme, the Minister said that the AIF provides 3 percent interest subvention on loans of up to ₹2 crore for a maximum period of 7 years, with the effective lending rate capped at 9 percent.

The awards were presented by Joint Secretary Sh. Anbalagan P (IAS) and Deputy Secretary (AIF) Smt. Rachna Kumar (IAS) of the Government of India. Director Horticulture, Punjab, and State Nodal Officer for the AIF scheme, Smt. Shailender Kaur (IFS), received the award on behalf of the Punjab Government, while Team Leader Ms. Ravdeep Kaur and Consultant Mr. Yuvraj Aulakh received the award on behalf of the State Project Monitoring Unit.

The Minister further said that to facilitate stakeholders, the state Horticulture Department has set up a WhatsApp helpline number 9056092906, through which interested farmers and entrepreneurs can obtain scheme details.

Chandigarh:

In a landmark decision, the Standing Committee of the Punjab State Board for Wildlife today gave nod to the naming of Jhajjar-Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary in Rupnagar District after the Ninth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. The sanctuary would henceforth be known as Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Wildife Sanctuary.

Presiding over the meeting, the Forests and Wildlife Preservation Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said that the 350th Martyrdom Day of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji was observed on November 25th last year at Sri Anandpur Sahib with religious fervour and piety. The Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains had sent a recommendation regarding the renaming of the Jhajjar-Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary after Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

It is worth mentioning that the wildlife sanctuary is spread over 289 Acres of area and across three villages namely Jhajjar, Bachauli and Lamlehri. Of these, 218 acres are in Jhajjar, 55 acres in Bachauli and the rest in Lamlehri. Further, in order to ensure protection of the wildlife, the entire 289 acres of area was declared Jhajjar-Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary as per Section 18 (1) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Among others present on the occasion included the Secretary Forests and Wildlife Preservation Department Priyank Bharti, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) Dharminder Sharma, Chief Wildlife Warden Basanta Raj Kumar, and CCF (Wildlife) Satinder Sagar.