IEP Chandigarh, February 4

The Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) has notified the “Punjab Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023” which have come into effect from the 1st of February, 2023.

Disclosing this, a spokesperson of the authority said that the new directions apart from regulating groundwater also encourage users to conserve water through water conservation schemes. The authority will also fund public water conservation projects to be implemented by State Government Departments.

PWRDA is the first Water Authority in India to implement the concept of water conservation credits. The Users may opt to implement a water conservation scheme with the approval of the Authority, either within the Unit or outside. The User will be entitled for water conservation credits for the water conserved by it. For every cubic meter (1,000 liters) of water conserved, the user will earn a rebate equal to Rs. 2.50. The maximum rebate available to a Unit will depend on the zone in which the Unit is located and the volume of groundwater being extracted by it.

The Groundwater Extraction Charges will also be utilized by the Authority for funding the Public Water Conservation Schemes of various State Departments, such as a project for improvement of irrigation water conveyance efficiency so as to bring more area under canal water apart from improving the recharge of groundwater.

PWRDA shall facilitate rapid deployment and scaling up of water saving technologies in Agriculture. For this purpose, a pilot project for water conservation in coordination with the State Government has been initiated in the district of Sangrur to save upon groundwater in the State.

The project covers an area of 1720 acres spread over 29 villages in the district. Similar water saving projects are being planned to motivate farmers towards judicious use of water in agriculture.

The users are encouraged to implement water conservation schemes with approval of PWRDA both in their premises (e.g. rainwater harvesting) and also outside their units (e.g. collaborating with farmers to save irrigation water) to earn water conservation credits.

For Groundwater Assessment zones see the map of Punjab on website: https://pwrda.org.

IEP Chandigarh

With an aim of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to bring the latest horticultural techniques to farmers’ fields and to make horticultural crops competitive at the international level, the Minister of Welfare of Freedom fighters, defense services welfare and Food Processing, Punjab inaugurated the Biofertilizer Laboratory under Horticulture Department at Citrus Estate, Hoshiarpur today.

 Jaudamajra said that this laboratory has been built at a cost of 2.50 crore rupees under Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Yojana to reduce the cost of chemical fertilizers of the landlords in the state and to protect the soil from contamination from chemical fertilizers.

  The minister said that in this laboratory, 10 types of organic fertilizers such as (Azotobacter Carrier based, PSB Carrier Based, Azotobacter liquid formulation, PSB liquid formulation, Potassium solubilizing bacteria) have been produced in this laboratory through an MoU with ICAR-IARI.  KSB) liquid formulation, Zinc solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) liquid formulation, NPK providing liquid formulation, AM fungi, IARI Compost inoculant, Trichoderma virdi) will be prepared, which will be made available to the farming community at district level at reasonable rates as per demand.  Apart from this, the horticulture department will also provide necessary technical information to the landlords regarding the use of these organic fertilizers by organizing awareness camps.

Jaudamajra said that according to the information received from the Indian government agency ICAR-IARI, the use of chemical fertilizers can be reduced by 15-20% with the use of organic fertilizers prepared from this state-of-the-art laboratory, which directly increases the income of the landlord.

 The minister made it clear that the state of Punjab has become the first such state in India, which has established this state-of-the-art biofertilizer laboratory to protect the soil, water and air of the state from contamination and to increase the income of the landlords.

Jaudamajra appealed to the entire farming community to use the organic fertilizers prepared at this laboratory in their fields so that the environment can be protected from contamination.

On this occasion Brahm Shankar Jimpa, Minister of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Punjab appreciated this initiative of Horticulture Department and described it as a beneficial step for the farmers.

At the time of inauguration  Jai Kishan Singh Rodi, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Brahm Shankar Jimpa, Minister of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Punjab, Mr.  Karamveer Singh Ghuman, MLA, Dasuha, S.  Ravjot Singh, MLA, Sam Churasi, s.  Jasvir Singh Raja Gill, MLA, Urmur, Ms. Komal Mittal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, Mr. Jaswinder Singh, Ms. Shalindar Kaur, IFS, Director Horticulture, Deputy Director Horticulture  , Hoshiarpur, Dr.  Balwinder Singh, Assistant Director Horticulture-cum-Chief Executive Officer, Citrus Estate, Hoshiarpur, Shri Jaspal Singh, Assistant Director Horticulture-cum-Chief Executive Officer, Citrus Estate, Bhunga, Shri Vikram Verma, Horticulture Development Officer-cum-Laboratory Incharge,  Citrus Estate, Hoshiarpur etc. Other dignitaries were involved.

 IEP CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 3   

        With a thrust on creating an enabling environment for the Industries & Business for balance economic growth, job creation and overall Development of the State, the Punjab Cabinet led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday approved the New industrial and Business Development Policy, 2022 (IBDP-2022) which shall be effective from October 17, 2022.          A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the Cabinet held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here at his office in Punjab Civil Secretariat.          Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the new policy will be applicable for 5 years from October 17, 2022 and will spur the Industrial Development in the State leading to more employment opportunities to the youth of the State. The new policy is structured ground key strategic focus areas namely infrastructure, Power, MSMEs, large enterprises, Innovation, Startup and Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Ease of Doing Business, Fiscal and Non Fiscal Incentive, export promotion logistic, stakeholder engagement and grievance redressal. As per the policy, the state will develop 15 Industrial Parks covering general and sector specific requirements of various Industrial Sector and 20 rural clusters across the state.          As per the policy, the state will also allow setting up of dedicated country specific integrated Industrial Township to attract investment by allowing the infrastructure and other norms of the country. The policy also envisages that Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) will be strengthened and an online system for all the Estate Management services in a time bound manner shall be developed. The issuance of notification by the Department of Power for the incentive of electricity duty exemption shall be made online and time bound through Invest Punjab Business First Portal (IPBFP).          In order to give a boost to the MSME sector, the state under the new policy will set up a MSME Punjab, as a dedicated wing of the Department of Industries & Commerce with a focus on setting up a common facility and technology centre. For MSMEs, the state will also implement the World Bank assisted GoI scheme namely Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP). Likewise, the state will also strengthen start-up Punjab to promote innovation and startups in the state through Punjab Innovation Mission with a special focus on Women/SC/Other Entrepreneurship.          Under the policy, gender/differently abled entrepreneurship/Rural Impact Startup/Women led startup and startups shall be given relaxation in public procurement with respect to experience and turn over. Punjab Skill Development Mission will work out specific skill development centres for various activities and will work with large employers in various industry sectors to create skill training facilities in partnership with such employers. As per the new policy, the Invest Punjab Business First Portal shall be integrated with National Single Window Portal and services of NHAI, PWD, RDA, Irrigation Department and Forest will also be included in it.           The policy also stipulates fiscal incentives for new units and also to existing units for expansion with or without modernization/diversification. Policy envisages that variable power tariff shall be freezed for five years @ Rs.5.50 Per KVAH and shall be applicable for manufacturing units/IT/ITeS Unit in the approved Industrial Park/Amusement park/ Adventure Parks developed on minimum area of 50 acres. The policy also provides attractive fiscal incentives for ultra-mega/mega projects, anchor unit, large units, MSMEs and incentives for rehabilitation of Sick Large units /MSMEs, Special Incentives for Units in border zone, Startup/incubators and first two units in border zone in each sector of manufacturing and service.          As per the policy, the manufacturing of Auto/Auto components including Electric Vehicle, Sports Goods including fitness equipment, Hand tools including Power Tools and Machine Tools, Agricultural Machinery and Equipment, Paper Based Packaging Units, circular Economy activity including shredding units, based management units and one district one product have been included in the category of thrust sector for the purpose of higher fiscal incentives. The fiscal incentives include 100% exemption from stamp duty, 100% exemption from CLU/EDC to the units in thrust sector and anchor units and 100% exemption from electricity duty from 7 years to 15 years.          Policy also envisages Investment subsidy by way of reimbursement of net SGST upto 200% of FCI over a period of 7 to 15 years. MSMEs are also being provided fiscal incentive in the area of technology, finance, marketing, environmental compliance, e-commerce and freight subsidy for exporting units and exemption from ground water charges. The new Micro and Small enterprises, exporting units and service enterprises engaged in providing research and development activities will also be provided 50% Capital Subsidy on the fixed capital investment up to Rs 50 lakh.  As per the policy, the Anchor Unit have been provided incentive of employment generation subsidy upto Rs.36000/- per employees per year for a period of 5 years and @ of Rs.48000/- for woman SC/BC/OBC employees.          The policy provides sector specific special incentives like 100% exemption of market fees/RDF upto 100% of FCI over a period of 10 years to the food processing industry, Capital Subsidy to IT/ITeS @, 50% of the FCI upto Rs.2.5 Crore per unit, 5% interest subsidy @ 10 lacs per years for five years to the apparels and made up and technical textile as a additional support to such units covered under A-TUB Scheme of GOI. Similarly, 50% top up subsidy to the first 10 ESDM units supported under SPECS Scheme of MEITY limited to Rs. 10 crore per unit. The replacement of existing boilers with paddy straw based boilers have been provided incentive of SGST upto 75% cost of boiler and exemption of stamp duty for purchase of storage of paddy adding that this incentive shall be available to the first 50 units.          Under the Policy, Development of private industrial parks shall be encouraged and 100% exemption of CLU/EDC shall be provided on the Industrial and EWS residential component to an Industrial Park set up within a minimum area of 25 acres (10 acre for IT). The private industrial park set up by SPV shall be provided additional incentive of Capital Subsidy @ 25% maximum 25 Crore. The building bye-laws shall be relaxed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), logistic park shall be developed in sector 102. Mohali and 50% of the external development charges shall be spent on the improvement of Industrial infrastructure in the Industrial Zone.          The fiscal incentive shall be processed through invest Punjab Business First Portal and the cases involving fixed capital investment upto Rs 25 crore shall be sanctioned at the district level and cases above Rs 25 Crore shall be processed at state Level and the incentive shall be disbursed by maintaining an online State Level Seniority. There will be representation of industry in the District Level and State Level Committee constituted for approval of fiscal incentive cases.          As per the policy, the units which have been filed Common Application Form (CAF) under IBDP-2017 upto 10.9.2022 may avail the incentive under GDP-2017 provided they attain commercial production within five years from filing of CAF. The units who have filed CAF between 10.9.2022 to 16.10.2022 may opt IBDP-2017 provided they fulfill certain conditions. The others who have filed CAF under IBDP-2017 and are not in production till 16.10.2022 may opt (BDP-2022 by submitting an online option within 90 days from the notification of this policy. 

IEP Chandigarh February 3

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested a coloniser Ashu Goyal, an accomplice of suspended Executive Officer (EO), Zirakpur, Girish Verma, for in conniving with the later to amass huge wealth than his known sources of income.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state VB said after an enquiry a case under sections 13(1)(b) of prevention of corruption act and 120-B of IPC was registered against accused Girish Verma, his wife Sangeeta Verma and son Vikas Verma at VB police station flying squad-1, Punjab at SAS Nagar. In this case the Bureau has nominated two accomplices of above said accused Vikas Verma, namely  Ashu Goyal and Gourav Gupta, both from Kurali, SAS Nagar district, for helping the accused EO to invest his ill gotten money in the properties.Giving details he further informed that the above said accused Ashu Goyal,   Gourav Gupta and Vikas Verma had established two infrastructure firms namely M/s Bala Ji Infra Buildtech, Kharar and M/s Bala Ji Developers Kurali. They have developed colonies under both the firms and EO Girish Verma used to invest ill gotten money through his son in these developer firms.The Mohali court has ordered police remand of the above accused Ashu Goyal for three days. Further investigation in this case was under progress and role of other persons would also be probed in this case, he said.

IEP Chandigarh, February 3

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday held a meeting with the Vice Chancellors of the state’s government universities to seek their budgetary requirements. He assured them that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is committed to strengthening the government universities and colleges of the state.

During the meeting held at Vit te Yojna Bhawan here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that required arrangements would be made in the budget this year to ensure that these universities would not need to approach the government time and again. He also asked the Vice-Chancellors of these universities to finalise their budgetary requirements while keeping in mind that justice should be done to every single penny of the people of Punjab.

The Finance Minister said that although the universities are autonomous institutions, some of the government universities are facing financial crises due to the irregularities in the past, therefore, universities should take decisions regarding budgetary implications cautiously while keeping in mind the future challenges of ensuring affordable and quality education for the youth of the state. He asked the universities to shun the practice of unnecessary expenditure besides focusing on innovative ways of earning income from their own resources without putting extra burden on the students.

Welcoming the suggestions offered by the university representatives to improve the government’s higher education system, the Finance Minister said that the state government would definitely review their suggestions to take necessary actions in a prompt manner. Meanwhile, he discussed in detail the budgetary requirements of each and every Government University of the State and assured that the Punjab government would fulfil their legitimate demands.

IEP Chandigarh, February 3

The Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA) has notified the “Punjab Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023” which have come into effect from the 1st of February, 2023.

Disclosing this, a spokesperson of the authority said that the new directions apart from regulating groundwater also encourage users to conserve water through water conservation schemes. The authority will also fund public water conservation projects to be implemented by State Government Departments.

PWRDA is the first Water Authority in India to implement the concept of water conservation credits. The Users may opt to implement a water conservation scheme with the approval of the Authority, either within the Unit or outside. The User will be entitled for water conservation credits for the water conserved by it. For every cubic meter (1,000 liters) of water conserved, the user will earn a rebate equal to Rs. 2.50. The maximum rebate available to a Unit will depend on the zone in which the Unit is located and the volume of groundwater being extracted by it.

The Groundwater Extraction Charges will also be utilized by the Authority for funding the Public Water Conservation Schemes of various State Departments, such as a project for improvement of irrigation water conveyance efficiency so as to bring more area under canal water apart from improving the recharge of groundwater.

PWRDA shall facilitate rapid deployment and scaling up of water saving technologies in Agriculture. For this purpose, a pilot project for water conservation in coordination with the State Government has been initiated in the district of Sangrur to save upon groundwater in the State.

The project covers an area of 1720 acres spread over 29 villages in the district. Similar water saving projects are being planned to motivate farmers towards judicious use of water in agriculture.

The users are encouraged to implement water conservation schemes with approval of PWRDA both in their premises (e.g. rainwater harvesting) and also outside their units (e.g. collaborating with farmers to save irrigation water) to earn water conservation credits.

For Groundwater Assessment zones see the map of Punjab on website: https://pwrda.org.

IEP Chandigarh, February 3

Taking step forward towards reducing pollution in the state and saving the farm topsoil, Punjab Power Minister Mr. Harbhajan Singh ETO, on Friday, directed the officials of PSPCL to immediately provide fly ash of thermal plants for ongoing road projects in the state.

While presiding over the meeting of PSPCL and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials, the Cabinet Minister said that about 400 lakh tonnes of fly ash lying in the thermal plants of the state and its timely disposal will get relief from pollution, besides shunning the trend of digging topsoil from the nearby fields for road projects.

Mr. Harbhajan Singh ETO said, NHAI requires 950 lakh cubic tonnes of fly ash, which can be easily supplied, adding that at present about 200 lakh tonnes of fly ash is available at Guru Nanak Thermal Plant Bathinda, 90 lakh tonnes at Ropar Thermal Plant, 70 lakh tonnes at Lehra Mohabbat Thermal Plant, 33 lakh tonnes at Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant and 20 lakhs tonnes of fly ash is available at Rajpura Thermal Plant.

He directed the PSPCL officials to immediately accord approvals to NHAI in this regard so that disposal of fly ash and completion of road projects could be ensured.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led government was committed to complete the road projects at the earliest and the work of road projects will not allow to disrupt due to non supply of fly ash, he added.

Mr. Vipnesh Sharma Regional Officer NHAI, Mr. Paramjit Singh Director (Generation) PSPCL, Mr. Naveen Bansal Chief Engineer Lehra Mohabbat Thermal Plant, Mr. Manjit Singh Chief Engineer Ropar Thermal Plant and Deputy Chief Engineer Mr. Vipan Malhotra and Mr. Narendra Mehta Deputy Chief Engineer Chandigarh and other officials were present in the meeting.

IEP CHANDIGARH, February 3   

       In yet another massive crackdown against gangster-terrorist nexus amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a crime-free state as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police on Friday launched a special cordon and search operation (CASO) at suspected hideouts of persons linked with Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Canada-based terrorist Goldy Brar.          The simultaneous raids were conducted at the residential and other premises linked to both the criminals in all the districts across the state. The operation was aimed at disrupting the nexus between terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers based in India and abroad.          Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said that over 1490 suspected hideouts of anti-social elements linked with Bishnoi and Goldy Brar were raided during a day-long operation carried out by at least 200 parties of Punjab Police involving about 2000 police personnel across the state.          He said that the CASO was planned after the questioning of several persons in the recently busted modules backed by Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, besides, infusing fear among the anti-social elements and instilling a sense of safety and security among the common people.          Giving more details about the Cordon and Search Operation, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that several persons have been detained for further verification and incriminating material has been seized from their possession, which is being further examined. During the operation, the Police teams conducted thorough searches at the houses and other premises linked with these criminals and also collected the data from Electronic devices, which will be sent for forensic examination, he added.          He said that the Police teams have also checked arms licenses and questioned people about the sourcing of ammunition, besides, gathering travel details of foreign-based family members, bank transactions from abroad, and western union and property details for further examination.Pertinently, Punjab Police has busted 25 terror modules with the arrest of 160 terrorists/radicals after recovering 30 sophisticated Rifles, 200 Revolvers/Pistols, and 24 Drones since March 2022. As far as gangsters are concerned, Punjab police have succeeded in busting 140 gangster/criminal modules with the arrest of 555 gangsters/criminals and neutralizing two, and recovering 510 weapons and 129 vehicles used in criminal activities from their possession in the same period.