IEP Chandigarh, December 31

On the directives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a campaign was successfully launched by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats during the year 2022 to get rid of illegal possessions and demarcation of Panchayat Lands in the villages and illegal possession have been razed from more than 9389 acres of Panchayat Land during this campaign.          Speaking in detail about this initiative, Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that all the old records related to Shamlat Lands were being examined thoroughly due to the strenuous efforts of the Shamlat Cell and examining the records of Shamlat lands of 153 blocks has been accomplished so far. He said that the department has identified such type of 1,39,818 acres of land, which will be used for the welfare of the people in future.          Mr. Dhaliwal said that by December 2022, a total of 6206 acres of land under Patiala division has been freed from illegal possessions and handed over to concerned Panchayats for adequate usage. He said that illegal possessions from 1100 acres land of Patiala, 808 acres of Ludhiana, 464 acres of Fatehgarh Sahib, 194 acres of Sangrur, 3469 acres of SAS Nagar, 154 acres of Rupnagar, 8 acres of Barnala and 9 acres of land of Malerkotla have been razed with the help of law enforcement agencies. He said that a total of 507 acres of land under Ferozepur division has been freed from illegal occupation. He further informed that illegal possession razed from 128 acres land of district Ferozepur, 187 acres of Fazilka, 27 acres of Sri Muktsar Sahib, 13 acres of Mansa, 49 acres of Bathinda, 26 acres of Moga and 77 acres of Faridkot. Similarly, illegal possession has been removed from a total of 2676 acres of land falls under Jalandhar division. He said that 609 acres of Gurdaspur, 602 acres of Kapurthala, 264 acres of Amritsar, 239 acres of Jalandhar, 308 acres of Hoshiarpur, 126 acres of Tarn Taran, 228 acres of SBS Nagar and 300 acres land of Pathankot have been freed from illegal occupants.          The Minister asserted that Rs. 1017 crore have been disbursed under the MGNREGA scheme during the current year 2022, whereas 248 lakh wage days have been created and 7.72 lakh families got employment under the scheme. He said that 1530 playgrounds will be constructed under the MGNREGA Scheme and work has started on 524 sites after demarcation of 1488 sites. He said that 1725 ponds have been identified as model ponds under the Sanjha Talab Project. Work has started on 1026 sites and work on 504 sites concluded.          Mr. Dhaliwal informed that under the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, the Provincial Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Sanstha conducted general meetings of 12,887 Gram Sabhas in June for Rabi season and in December for Kharif season. Similarly, training programs were organized at state, district and block level with the aim of achieving sustainable development goals in view of holistic development at the village level and 6000 Panchayat Representatives have been trained so far under this initiative. Likewise, training programs have also been started for Sarpanches, Panchas and employees of various departments working at the block level and a target has been settling down to train approximately 1 lakh panchayat representatives by 31st March 2023 under this mission. 

IEP Chandigarh, December 31

Higher Education and Languages Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer released the logo of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Languages Department which is celebrating its 75th anniversary on January 1, 2023. On this day special functions will be organized at the Head Office Bhasha Bhavan Patiala and in all the District Language Offices across the state.

Meet Hayer said that this department was established on January 1, 1948 as the Punjabi Section, in the year 1949 its name was changed to the Department of Punjabi and then from the year 1956 onwards as the Language Department, Punjab. The department has published 1632 books so far which include Lexicography and Punjabi World Dictionary which is the first work in Punjabi language. For the convenience of students and researchers, it has done a unique work by printing about 35 dictionaries in Punjabi language. Rare Punjabi works like Mahan Kosh, Folk Tales of Punjab, Gulsitan Bostan, Shaheedan-e-Wafa have also been published.

Languages Minister further said that the State Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to the development of languages and giving due respect to the Punjabi mother tongue. It was announced to give preference to Punjabi language while any language other than Punjabi can be written on the boards thus respecting other languages as well. The language department has also done significant work for the development of Punjabi, Hindi, Sanskrit and Urdu languages. The language department publishes 4 magazines in different languages.

Meet Hayer invited all the Punjabis to celebrate the foundation day of the Department of Language in a collective manner and also assured the Punjabis that this institution of the State Government will continue to progress further. For this, government is making all kinds of efforts.

IEP Chandigarh, December 31

The Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Forest Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak has extended warm greetings to the people of Punjab on the occasion of New Year.

In his message, the Minister prayed to the Almighty for health and happiness of all and wished everyone a happy and prosperous year ahead. He further said that the State has progressed tremendously during the first nine months of the present Government and the success journey would continue in future too.

IEP Chandigarh, December 31

While greeting the Punjabis on the occasion of New Year, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mr. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, wished them a happy New Year 2023.

In a message, Mr. Sandhwan said that under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann, the state is now developing rapidly. He has urged the Punjabis to play a more active role in the development of the state so that living standard can be better.

The Vidhan Sabha Speaker also prayed happiness and delight for the people of the state in the New Year.

IEP Chandigarh, December 31

In a bid to ensure optimum utilisation of natural resources to save the environment of the state, the Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has left no stone unturned to revolutionize the clean and green energy sector in the year of 2022.

          Beginning the state’s master plan for a CBG-based rural economy, Asia’s largest Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plant was inaugurated in October, 2022 by Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri and Punjab Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann at Bhuttal Kalan village in Sangrur.

          The plant has been commissioned with a foreign direct investment of approximately Rs. 220 crores by Germany’s leading bio-energy company Verbio AG. With a total capacity of 33.23 ton CBG per day, the plant is spread across an area of 20 acres, and will consume 100,000 tonnes of paddy straw. There shall be daily production of around 600-650 Tons of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM), which can be used for organic farming. The State Government has also constituted a task force to discuss and create an enabling mechanism for off-taking of FOM generated from Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects based on agro-residue in the State.                                                                                                                                          

Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has also allocated 42 additional CBG projects of total capacity 492.58 tons per day (TPD) based on paddy straw and other agro-residue to develop a lasting and sustainable solution to prevent stubble burning while also strengthening the rural economy. These projects are expected to fetch private investment of around Rs. 1200 crore, besides generating employment opportunities for over 8000 skilled/unskilled persons.                                                                                           

ONE LAKH EXISTING ELECTRIC AGRICULTURE TUBE-WELLS TO BE SOLARISED

Punjab government has also decided to solarise one lakh existing electric agriculture tube-wells. This ambitious project will save around Rs.200 crore per annum on account of power subsidy, besides going a long way to save the natural resources.

          PEDA has already invited e-bids for selection of Solar Power Generators (SPGs) for feeder level solarisation of 25000 grid connected agriculture pumps. Notably, Government of Punjab provides free power to 13.88 lakh farmers of the State for their grid connected tube-wells for irrigation and bears the expenditure of approx. Rs.7000 crores as subsidy being paid to PSPCL.

FIRST IN NORTH INDIA, SUPER ECBC COMPLIANT BUILDING TO COME UP IN SAS NAGAR

In a bid to promote energy conservation and showcase the energy efficiency in the buildings, Punjab Government has decided to construct a super Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) compliant building in SAS Nagar (Mohali). The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department has allocated a dedicated land of 1500 sq.m. to PEDA for construction of the building at Sector-65, SAS Nagar to showcase the energy efficiency in the buildings. This building will be constructed within the next 2 years for operation and it will contain all state-of-the-art technologies and this building will serve as Model Building for all the stakeholders, students & general public for awareness in the State.

300 MW CANAL TOP & FLOATING SOLAR POWER PROJECTS TO BE SET UP IN PUNJAB

          With an aim at further ramping up renewable energy while utilising natural sources optimally, Punjab government has decided to install Solar Power Photovoltaic (PV) projects with a total capacity of 300 MW in Punjab. These projects include 200 MW Canal Top Solar PV Power Projects and 100 MW Floating Solar PV Power Project on the Reservoirs and Lakes.

          The proposed 200 MW Canal Top Solar Project would be installed in a phased manner, under which 50 MW would be installed in the first phase, while projects of remaining capacity would be installed in subsequent phases. These projects will be executed in Build, Operate and Own (BOO) mode by PEDA.

          The cost of the Canal Top Solar PV Projects is expected to be around Rs 5 crore per MW after taking in consideration of 20 per cent VGF. The 200 MW Canal Top Solar PV Projects will save at least 1000 acres of precious agricultural land, besides, generating local employment and preventing water evaporation from canals. The cost of Floating Solar PV Projects would be around Rs 4.80 crore per MW after considering 20 per cent VGF.

PLAN TO SOLARISE ALL GOVT BUILDINGS

In order to further strengthen the clean energy infrastructure in the state, the New and Renewable Energy Sources department is mulling to equip all the state government buildings with solar power.

          Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Mr. Aman Arora has written a letter to Heads of all the departments to seek their consent for installing Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the rooftops of the office buildings under Renewable Energy Services Company (RESCO) Mode. All the Heads have also been directed to appoint a senior officer of their departments as a Nodal Officer to coordinate with Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) to smoothen the process of solarising the building of the departments concerned.

          PEDA has already installed solar PV of a total capacity of 88MW on the rooftops of various government buildings and these have been successfully generating clean and green energy.

IEP Chandigarh, December 31

Ms Anmol Gagan Maan, Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Labour, Investment Promotion, and Grievance Redressal extended greetings to people on the special occasion of New Year 2023 and expressed hope that the New Year will bring an abundance of joy and good health to everyone’s life.

In her New Year greeting message, the Minister expressed the hope that this year will be herald of peace, development and progress for the State and the country.

She said, let’s welcome the New Year 2023 with the spirit to scale new heights of progress and prosperity, and work even harder to fulfill the dreams of our great freedom fighters.

IEP Chandigarh, December 31

The  Manohar Lal-led Haryana government has decided to give a new look to Lohgarh, so that the stories of valour and sacrifice of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’, reach across the globe during the ongoing celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. 

As desired by the Chief Minister the State Government is making dedicated efforts to revive this historical heritage so that the coming generations can get inspiration from the supreme sacrifice made by their great martyrs. 

In this series, Chief Minister will lay the foundation stone of various development works at Lohgarh, the historical place of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on January 1, 2023. He will also lay the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art museum. 

In the first phase of the project, the work of the fort, main gate, and boundary wall will be completed. This memorial site located in Lohgarh will be expanded to an area of 20 acres. The visitors will get a glimpse of the great fort architecture of Punjab in the memorial complex. Installation of a Nanakshahi coin made by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in Lohgarh will enhance the beauty of the entrance.

In the museum, the essence of the entire life of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur from his birth till his last days will be shown. 

This museum would be a blend of the life history of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur with the latest technologies, which will give visitors a feel of a new world. 

The museum will have a multimedia show to showcase the life of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Gallery-1 of the museum will depict the life story of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, starting from his youth time spend in Jammu to his last days spent in Nanded, where he earned the title of ‘Banda’ of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

While Gallery 2 will depict the reign of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, a multi-layered screen will show how Baba Banda Singh Bahadur inspired the Guru’s followers to join hands and take up arms against the wrongdoings of the Mughals.

The story then takes the visitor through the impressive campaign of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in the Punjab and his final victory at Sidaura. The story ends with the establishment of the Sikh Raj with the glorious Lohgarh as its capital. The last events of the life of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur have been included in gallery 3.

Meanwhile, Phase II of the project will have a global design competition for the installation of a giant statue of him, which will be a center of attraction. In the second phase, a martial arts school will also be set up in Lohgarh.