Category Archives: Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Punjab

CHEEMA LAUNCHES STATE INTELLIGENCE AND PREVENTIVE UNIT AND GST PRIME

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IEP Chandigarh, April 13

Punjab Finance, Planning, Programme Implementation, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday launched the State Intelligence and Preventive Unit (SIPU), and GST Prime, an analytical tool for state GST officers to analyse and monitor the tax collection and compliance in their jurisdiction.Addressing the launch event held here at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the existing 7 mobile wings of the Taxation department at Amritsar, Bathinda, Fazilka, Shambu in Patiala, Ludhiana and Jalandhar have been now converted to State Intelligence and Preventive Units (SIPUs) besides creating 3 new SIPUs. “The three new SIPUs will be at Madhopur in Pathankot, Mohali and Central Unit at Head Office, Patiala. The Central Unit and SIPUs will work directly in coordination with Tax Intelligence Unit, Patiala”, he added.Highlighting the key features of GST Prime, the Finance Minister said that this portal wouldl result in better tax monitoring by tax officials and enhanced compliance by the taxpayers. He said the  system caters to the requirements of the field level offices and enforcement & intelligence offices to identify the defaulters and tax evaders. The system acts as an interface between GST Common Portal and E-way Bill Systems and tax administrators, he added.The Finance Minister said that these initiatives of the Taxation department  have been aimed at effective Tax compliance, identification of Top defaulters, keeping tax payer details at finger tips and identification of tax payers for audit and Inspection to detect frauds.Prominent amongst others, Vikas Partap, Financial Commissioner Taxation, Kamal Kishore Yadav, Taxation Commissioner, Viraj S. Tidke, Additional Commissioner -1, Ravneet Khurana, Additional Commissioner Audit were also present on this occasion. 

Chandigarh, Punjab

PEOPLE OF KHARAR WILL SOON GET SURFACE WATER SUPPLY FROM KAJAULI WATER WORKS PROJECT: ANMOL GAGAN MANN

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IEP Chandigarh, April 13

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, special steps are being taken by the Punjab government to make the best use of water available through natural resources. The project designed by the state government to supply surface water from Kajauli Water Works to overcome the shortage of drinking water due to the continuous fall in the ground water level in Kharar is being done very fast.Giving information in this regard, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Labour, Investment Promotion and Hospitality Minister Anmol Gagan Mann said that the people of Kharar have been struggling with water problems for a long time. She said that to solve the problem of drinking water to the people, the surface water project is being prepared by the state government at a cost of Rs.7.29 crore from Kajauli water works. The minister said that in phase-1 of this project, 5 MGD of water will be supplied to the area adjacent to Jandpur, Halalpur and Jhungian Road from the existing water treatment plant being constructed by GMADA near Jandpur village of Kharar. She added that with this project, people will get a big relief from the shortage of clean water.Apart from this, the minister added that the water treatment plant project being prepared to supply clean drinking water to the people will cost Rs.7.29 crore. She told that the necessary funds related to this project will be provided by the Municipal Council, Kharar.  The Minister further said that the project will involve laying of 600/400 mm transmission line along PR-7 road up to Jhungian Road and connection to the existing distribution network.The Minister explained that this initiative of the state government is an important step towards sustainable water management in Punjab as it aims to prevent the groundwater level in Kharar city from going down further by using surface water resources. She said that Punjab Government is dedicated to effective conservation and management of water resources to ensure sustainable future of the state.Cabinet Minister appealed to the public to ensure that they support and participate in such initiatives to protect precious natural resources and promote sustainable development. 

Chandigarh, Punjab

EXCISE DEPARTMENT FIXES MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM RATES OF BEER: CHEEMA

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IEP Chandigarh, April 13

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said that the Excise department has fixed the minimum and maximum rate of beer in order to keep the rates of beer within reasonable limits. He said that the minimum and maximum retail sale price of pints and cans of the beer would be proportionately fixed in relation to the minimum and maximum retail sale price of their quarts.Chairing the monthly review meeting of Excise department here at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that in the Excise Policy, 2023-24, clause 28 has been inserted, whereby, in order to keep the rates of beer within reasonable limits, the power to decide the minimum and maximum retail price of beer to be sold at L-2/L-14A retail vends and stand alone vends, has been given to the Government. He said that the minimum retail sale price of beer brands has been calculated according to the prescribed formula in Annexure 3 of the policy and maximum retail sale price has been fixed keeping in mind the interests of the consumers so that they are able to get affordable products.He said that this step has been taken to check the exorbitant prices of the beer besides discouraging its smuggling from the neighboring states. He said that such steps would also discourage the production and consumption of illicit liquor.Issuing directions in compliance of Orders of Apex court in case of SLP (Civil) No 3764 of 2021, the Finance Minister asked the department officials to further boost the enforcement activates to completely root out illicit liquor trade from the state besides running awareness campaigns against this trade. He said that full coordination should be extended to the police. As per orders of Apex court now the local police shall be held responsible if any illegal Bhatthi (Working Still) is found in their area.Vikas Pratap, Finance Commissioner Taxation apprised the finance minister that he had already issued instructions to the Excise Commissioner, Punjab for ensuring that all Deputy Commissioner (Excise), Zones should personally meet respective Deputy Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of Police / SSPs for ensuring compliance of the court orders.Meanwhile, Varun Roojam, Excise Commissioner, said that the department has been keeping a strict vigil on the movement of Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) from manufacturer to its final destination. He said that the GPS equipped vehicles carrying ENA are not allowed to stop within the first 100 km of its journey and excise teams are conducting surprise checking regularly to rule out any mischief. He said that the Excise department will be regularly conducting enforcement activities to root out the menace of smuggling and production of illicit liquor.In his concluding remarks, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema congratulated the entire staff of the Excise department for their immense contribution in increase the excise revenue during FY 2022-23 besides breaking the back of the liquor mafia. He expressed confidence that the department would cross the five figure mark of revenue generation in the FY 2023-24.

Chandigarh, Punjab

BRAM SHANKER JIMPA GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF BAISAKHI

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IEP CHANDIGARH, APRIL 13    

      Punjab Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa today greeted the people of Punjab on the eve of Baisakhi.          In a message Jimpa said that this festival has a great significance for the farmers of Punjab as this day traditionally marks the beginning of harvest of Rabi crops. This harvest festival is indeed an occasion for them to rejoice over their fruits of toil and for all of us to acknowledge Punjabi farmers’ contribution in making India self-sufficient on food security front.          Jimpa said that this festival has a great religious significance for Sikhs since on this day in the year 1699 at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh ji established Khalsa Panth,  a body of people dedicated to the principles of truth, justice, and equality; the cardinal principles of Sikh faith.          The Minister said that the massacre of hundreds of innocent Punjabis by the British at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar on this day in the year 1919 proved as the last nail in the coffin of British rule in India.          He called upon people to celebrate this festival collectively and utilize this day to pay our gratitude to all those known and unknown freedom fighters, who laid their lives so that we all can breathe in freedom. Let us also acknowledge the contribution of humble farmers who are working day and night to feed the nation, Jimpa added. 

Chandigarh

FIRST TIME IN HISTORY ‘CROP IN FIELDS, MONEY IN ACCOUNTS OF FARMERS

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IEP ABOHAR, APRIL 13

Giving a healing touch to the farmers who had suffered huge loss due to heavy rains across the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday started the process to disburse compensation to the farmers with the state government distributing Rs 40 crore on its maiden day. 

Addressing the gathering after kicking off the campaign to disburse the compensation for crop loss and damage to houses due incessant rains, the Chief Minister said that he had himself distributed Rs 6 crore out of the total Rs 12.94 crore as compensation for 362 villages of Fazilka. Bhagwant Mann said that this is not a day of happiness because he is here to compensate the farmers for the loss inflicted due to nature’s fury. However, he said this reflects the firm commitment of his government to bail out the people especially the food growers in this hour of crisis.

The Chief Minister said that after the incessant rains he had extensively toured the affected areas to take stock of the situation at the ground level. Bhagwant Mann said that he was peeved to note the colossal loss suffered by the farmers due to the inclement weather condition. He said that immediately after that the state government has ordered a comprehensive special Girdawari to ascertain the loss suffered by the people.   

The Chief Minister said that this special Girdawari was a paradigm shift as compared to the previous government as earlier only lip service was made and no compensation was given to the people. He said that during those regimes Girdawaris were done only on the basis of political affiliation and no genuine beneficiary was helped. Bhagwant Mann said that instead of fields such Girdawaris were done only in the houses of the affluent people.

However, the Chief Minister said that this time a complete transparent mechanism has been adopted for conducting the Girdawari in an efficient manner. Bhagwant Mann said that he had promised that before Baisakhi the process to start compensation would start adding that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that this campaign has started today. He said that the sole aim is to benefit the food growers of the country who have played a vanguard role in making the country self-reliant in food production.

The Chief Minister said that his government has made 25% upward revision in the compensation for the crop loss to the farmers adding that in case the loss is more than 75% then the state government is compensating the farmers with Rs 15,000 per acre. Likewise, he said that if the loss is between 33% to 75% then the farmers are getting compensation worth Rs 6800 per acre. Similarly, Bhagwant Mann said that the farm labourers are also being duly compensated for the loss so that they do not face any problem in life adding that compensation to full house damage minor damage to houses is also being given.

The Chief Minister said that for the first time in the history of the state the drive to disburse compensation has been started within 20 days of loss as none of the earlier governments had ever bothered about it. He quipped that during the previous regimes the compensation was so much delayed that most of the Ministers and MLAs used to forget which cheques of compensation they were disbursing. Bhagwant Mann said that however in the present government the ‘crops are still standing in fields but the compensation is in the bank accounts’.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is fully with the beleaguered peasantry in this hour of deep crisis. He further said that in a major pro-farmer initiative, the state government has decided to freeze repayment of loans taken by the farmers from Primary Agricultural cooperative Societies. Bhagwant Mann said that the government will fully compensate the hapless farmers of the state for the losses suffered by them.

The Chief Minister said that instead of requesting the centre for compensating the farmers for crop loss due to rains, the state government will bear the entire expense of the burden being faced by the farmers due to the cut being imposed by Government of India (GOI) on damaged wheat grain. He said that the farmers have suffered huge loss due to incessant rains but the indifferent centre government has not done anything to bail them out. Rather, Bhagwant said that to rub salt into wounds of farmers the centre has imposed a cut on the damaged grains.

The Chief Minister categorically said that filling the national Food pool is not possible without Punjabi farmers adding that Food Corporation of India (FCI) cannot survive without the hard working and resilient food growers of the state. He vowed that every single penny of cut imposed on farmers will be extracted from the centre with interest when the centre will seek supply of grains in terms of wheat and paddy for the national food pool. Bhagwant Mann said that the centre is completely indifferent towards Punjab and its farmers which cannot be tolerated at any cost.

Chandigarh, Punjab

CABINET MINISTER ANMOL GAGAN MANN GREETS PEOPLE OF PUNJAB ON EVE OF VAISHAKHI

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IEP Chandigarh, April 13

Cabinet Minister Anmol Gagan Mann extended warm wishes to the people of Punjab on the occasion of Vaishakhi. The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs highlighted that Vaishakhi is a special festival for Punjabis all over the world where we celebrate the bounty of nature, express our gratitude for a good harvest and renew our commitment to the values of hard work, community and unity.The Minister extended her warmest wishes to all Punjabis worldwide and urged everyone to appreciate the richness of Punjabi culture, the resilience of its people and the diversity of the state. She further added that everyone should celebrate this festival with joy and peace while working towards building a brighter and more prosperous future for the state.The Minister emphasized that Vaishakhi is a significant festival for the Sikh community as well, as it marks the day when Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth in 1699.The Minister concluded by wishing every household in Punjab joy, prosperity, and peace. She urged everyone to continue working together towards the progress and development of the state.

Chandigarh, Punjab

BRAM SHANKER JIMPA GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF BAISAKHI

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IEP CHANDIGARH, APRIL 13    

      Punjab Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa today greeted the people of Punjab on the eve of Baisakhi.          In a message Jimpa said that this festival has a great significance for the farmers of Punjab as this day traditionally marks the beginning of harvest of Rabi crops. This harvest festival is indeed an occasion for them to rejoice over their fruits of toil and for all of us to acknowledge Punjabi farmers’ contribution in making India self-sufficient on food security front.          Jimpa said that this festival has a great religious significance for Sikhs since on this day in the year 1699 at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh ji established Khalsa Panth,  a body of people dedicated to the principles of truth, justice, and equality; the cardinal principles of Sikh faith.          The Minister said that the massacre of hundreds of innocent Punjabis by the British at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar on this day in the year 1919 proved as the last nail in the coffin of British rule in India.          He called upon people to celebrate this festival collectively and utilize this day to pay our gratitude to all those known and unknown freedom fighters, who laid their lives so that we all can breathe in freedom. Let us also acknowledge the contribution of humble farmers who are working day and night to feed the nation, Jimpa added.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Libraries will be built in 5 villages of Palwal district, announces Hry CM

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IEP Chandigarh, April 12

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar  Lal made several  pivotal announcements during  Jan Samvad programme held at village Mandkola in Palwal district today.        “Libraries would be set up in five villages including Bahin, Hathin, Mandkola. Besides  this, a purchase centre would also be constructed in the village at a cost of Rs. 1.25 crore. Further an  amount of Rs 3.6 crore has been sanctioned for Mandkola village for this financial year,” announced Sh. Manohar Lal.        Interacting with the villagers during the Jan Samvad programme, the Chief Minister  said that the  construction  of a road with a cumulative length of 6 km from Mandkola village has also been approved. Also, an amount of Rs 3.2 crore has been sanctioned for construction  of a 3.5 kilometre road between Dhatir-Mandkola village.         Sh. Manohar Lal further said that the sewerage system  would be further  strengthened, along with this  rejuvenation of ponds would be done  in 10 Mahagrams of the surrounding area.        He said that the work of upgrading the CHC centre  of the village and construction of a PWD building is going on.        The Chief Minister said that Jan Samvad programme has been started to hold one to one interaction  with the people and to listen to their grievances.        He said that the Jan Samvad programme in district Palwal will run from April 12 to April 14, covering 15 villages.        MLA, Sh. Parveen Dagar and other dignitaries also remained present on this occasion.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Administrative Secretaries should monitor public grievances on CM window every month: Sanjeev Kaushal

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IEP Chandigarh, April 12

Haryana Chief Secretary, Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal directed the Administrative Secretaries to monitor and review the public grievances received on CM Window every month. He further asked them to ensure the redressal of pending grievances within the next three months.        While presiding over a review meeting regarding CM Window with the nodal officers of various departments here today, he said that the officers should focus on the areas of major public issues.Mr. Kaushal said that the CM Window portal is directly linked with the Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal and he himself is monitoring it. If any officer is found negligent, strict action will be initiated against him. He directed that the registrar of the Cooperation Department must issue directions regarding redressal of public grievances at the level of inspectors on a daily basis and submit the action taken report.        Mr. Kaushal asked the nodal officers to redress the public grievances with a positive mind set.        The Chief Secretary said that a special drive should be launched to redress the pending grievances for the last three years. For these, 30 days time should be fixed according to the year. He directed them to ensure the redressal of all the pending grievances of 2023 in the next three months. Mr. Kaushal said that so far over 10.91 lakh grievances have been registered on CM Window, out of which over 9.52 lakh have been resolved. He also reviewed the grievances pertaining to the Public Health Engineering, Energy, Food and Supplies, Agriculture, Social Justice and Empowerment, Cooperation, Revenue and Disaster Management, School Education, Forest and Wildlife, Urban Local Bodies, Land and Mining, Citizen Information and Resources departments and gave necessary instructions to the officers.        ACS, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare,  Smt. Sumita Misra, Advisor (Irrigation) to Chief Minister, Mr. Devendra Singh, Director General, Town and Country Planning, Mr. T L Satyaprakash, Director Food and Civil Supplies, Mr. Mukul Kumar and OSD to Chief Minister, Mr.  Bhupeshwar Dayal were also present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Chief Minister holds Jan Samvad programme in Palwal’s Bagpur village

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IEP Chandigarh, April 12

Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal today visited Palwal as part of his Jan Samvad programme in rural areas, where people warmly welcomed him. The Chief Minister sat among the people and discussed various works done in the village. During the Jan Samvad programme organized in Bagpur village, the Chief Minister announced to upgrade the girl’s primary school in the village; besides sanctioning Rs 4.15 crore for Solra road and Rs 2.10 crore for Bagpur road.He said that the government has now entrusted the task of building and maintaining the bus queue shelters to the Zila Parishad and they will construct the same in the village. Also, two new buses would be added to ply from Palwal to Ballabgarh via Bagpur; beside a separate bus will be arranged for girls. Along with this, the village phirni will also be paved and village Chaupal will be renovated, he added.         On the demand of employment for the women of the village, the Chief Minister ordered the formation of two self-help groups. He said that through self-help groups, the government is providing interest-free loans to women for employment. The Chief Minister also directed the Deputy Commissioner to inquire about the low number of Ayushman cards made in the village in view of the population and to get the cards made of the remaining people.        Sh. Manohar Lal said that the state government has done the work of curbing corruption in the departments by making an online transfer policy. “By bringing transparency in jobs, the government has given an opportunity to the educated youth to move forward,” he added.He said that in the previous governments, recommendation or ‘parchi-kharchi’ were required for jobs, which has been completely curbed by the present government.           The Chief Minister said that the benefits of the schemes are being given to the common man through the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP). In the state, the poor families whose annual income is less than Rs 1.80 lakh are being given the benefits of all kinds of schemes through PPP. “The state government would give grants for development works on the basis of population in each village; that is why every person in the village must get his PPP made,” he added.        Sh. Manohar Lal said that new ration cards have been made for 1,328 people in Bagpur village and 1,772 Ayushman cards have been made in this village under Ayushman Bharat Yojana. He said that six families of the village have been provided employment by giving loans under the Mukhyamantri Antyodaya Parivar Utthan Yojana. In Bagpur village, 1,657 farmer families are given Rs 6,000 per year under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.        He said that Haryana is the first state in the country, where 50 percent representation is being given to women in Panchayati Raj institutions. On the occasion, Palwal MLA Sh. Deepak Mangla along with officials of various departments were present.