Category Archives: Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Punjab

SCHEME TO SAVE RS 170 CRORE OF 1.54 CRORE PEOPLE; WILL GET RELIEF FROM WAITING IN LINE FOR HOURS: MINISTER KATARUCHAK

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

The ambitious scheme ‘Ghar Ghar Ration’ of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will start from October 2 and about 1.54 crore people will benefit from this scheme, said the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak.

Disclosing this, the minister Lal Chand Kataruchak gave detailed information about this scheme.

The scheme will save about Rs 170 crore to the public

The Minister informed that there are about 1.54 crore beneficiaries in Punjab under this scheme. About Rs 170 crore is being spent by people on milling the flour, therefore, the scheme will save money of common man.

Flour will not be older than 7 days, whereas flour is available in the market for about one to two months old

The minister said that it is our endeavor that within seven days of grinding the flour in the mill, it should be delivered to all the houses, so that people can get fresh flour, which will also have a good effect on their health. He said that even in the market the flour is about one or two months old.

Why is the government giving flour instead of wheat? Minister replied

Earlier people had to stand in the scorching heat or inclement weather for hours to get food grains under the food security scheme. Then people have to spend money on its gridding for flour. Now people’s time, money, hard work and energy will be saved by delivering flour directly at home.

How will the plan work and how will the delivery happen?

The government will pick up the wheat from the FCI godowns and give it to the flour mill. Then, the delivery partners will be responsible for delivering the flour to every household. Many big delivery companies of the country have participated in the tendering process. The contract for delivery will be allocated to a firm soon.

Camera to monitors, the delivery van will have GPS system and there will also be options for digital payment for payment

The minister said that the delivery of floor bags will be done under the supervision of the camera so that there is no scope for any disturbance in the delivery, so that people do not get any chance to complain. The delivery van has been equipped with GPS system for timely delivery. Nowadays is the era of online. People do not always have cash money. Therefore, the option of digital payment has also been kept for payment.

Old ration depot holders have also been taken care of

The government has signed an MoU with the old ration depot holders, under which the old ration depot holders will be able to work related to various online services of the central government such as BSNL landline and phone bills and other online facilities of the central government to ensure that they get employment.

The minister also responded to the allegations of the opposition

Minister Kataruchak said that during the previous governments regime, there was huge corruption in the food distribution scheme. The politicians used to scam crores and billions of rupees from officers to middlemen. Our government is eliminating corruption and implementing it in a transparent manner. Now there is no scope for corruption in this. We are providing facilities at home to the people with the same money by eliminating corruption.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Union Panchayati Raj State Minister Kapil Moreshwar Patil and Punjab Rural Development Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal visited Sirsini model village of SAS Nagar

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

Union Panchayati Raj State Minister Kapil Moreshwar Patil and Punjab Rural Development Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal who were here to inaugurate the two-day national workshop being conducted for sustainable development of villages, made a visit the model village Sirsini which falls in Derabassi block of SAS Nagar district.

The Panchayat of this village has developed a lake in the village on 4 acre land, in which rainwater is collected and further used for irrigation purposes. Efforts are being made to raise this as a future income asset and plans are being made to convert it into a tourist destination due to its prime location.

The Panchayat Ghar has been constructed at a cost of Rs 25 lakhs with basic facilities like kitchen, separate washrooms for men and women, and a spacious meeting hall which can seat 100 persons in the village.

A mid-day meal kitchen shed was constructed by the Panchayat at Government Primary Smart School.

A project is being run in the village to collect various wastes from house to house. Each house pays Rs.50/- as remuneration to the waste collector. The wet waste is disposed of in honey comb pits, where it is converted into compost in 45 days. The compost is used to plant plants. The waste collector generates his income by selling the dry waste. .

A Nanak Bagichi has been created in the village and about 15000 saplings have been planted in cremation ground, parks and roadsides besides a Mini Jungle.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Vigilance arrests former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu in food grains transportation tenders scam

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau in its drive against corruption on Monday arrested former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu in the food grains transportation tenders scam and further investigation in this case is under progress.

            Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the State Vigilance Bureau (VB) said that the Bureau, after verification of a complaint made by complainant Gurprit Singh, has already registered FIR No. 11 Dated 16-08-2022 u/s 420, 409, 467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC and 7, 8, 12, 13(2) Preventions of Corruption Act at VB police station Ludhiana in which contractors namely Telu Ram, Jagroop Singh and Sandeep Bhatia besides owner/partners of Gurdas Ram & Company has been booked.

            Revealing more he informed that accused Telu Ram has already been arrested in this and he is on police remand. During investigation by the VB, accused Telu Ram has submitted that he met Bharat Bhushan Ashu through his PA Meenu Malhotra for getting tenders for the season 2020-21 who further told him to meet Rakesh Kumar Singla, Deputy Director Food & Civil Supplies. Singla was incharge of all Punjab being chairman of departmental chief vigilance committee for tenders and was acting on the directions of former minister.

            The accused Telu Ram has informed the VB that when he met RK Singla, he has demanded Rs 30 Lakh on behalf of former minster and on different days he has given the bribes to RK Singla Rs 20 lakh, PA Menu Malhotra Rs 6 lakh and money to officers.

            The spokesperson added that on the basis of revelations as well as the material evidence above mentioned persons and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu have been nominated as an accused in this case. During Investigation it has come on record that Telu Ram has purchased about 20 acres land and accused Meenu Malhotra, who is at large, has also made number of properties and record is being collected in this regard. He informed that the record with regard to posting of accused Rakesh Kumar Singla is also being collected besides properties made by him would be probed.

            Revealing modus operandi of this scam, the spokesperson informed that the tenders were invited cluster wise in which ‘A’ group of mandis and work of all procurement agencies was allotted for the cluster and name of leading mandis in particular area was used as cluster name. In Ludhiana district, Telu Ram was having 4 clusters namely Jodhan, Mullanpur, Raikot and Payal which contains 34 grain markets. Apart from this, Telu Ram was also having cluster in district Ferozpur at Talwandi Bhai and district Ropar local.

            During investigations it has come to light that main accused Telu Ram had received approximately amount of Rs 25 crore for the said work. In order to get tenders the lists of vehicles submitted by accused were containing registration numbers of Cars, Scooters, Motor Cycles etc but the same transportation vehicles were required to be verified. After verification technical bid was required to be rejected by district tender committee however they in connivance with each other allotted the tenders.

            He added that even in the gate passes numbers of Scooters, Cars etc were mentioned but the above mentioned officers made payments to the accused contractors in respect of material quoted in these gate passes thereby matter regarding misappropriation also comes to light. He informed that further investigation in this regard is under progress and involvement of others would also be probed in this scam.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab approves reservation for posts of law officers :  Dr. Baljit Kaur

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

Candidates belonging to SC category can apply for the reserved category posts of Law Officers in Advocate General Branch of the Punjab Government by 13th September 2022. This was stated today by Punjab Minister of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur.

She said that the candidates can apply online by 13 September 2022. They may apply at http://Punjab.gov.in and send their documents at e-mail-ID pblorec@punjab.gov.in.

The cabinet minister said that these posts have been advertised for the first time in Punjab. She said that the state government led by the Bhagwant Mann is committed for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and is constantly striving to give them their rights as per law.

Chandigarh, Punjab

IN YET ANOTHER FIRST, PUNJAB GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES RESERVATION FOR LAW OFFICERS IN STATE

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

In yet another pioneering move,  the  Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has introduced reservation in  posts of law officers recruited by the state government.

The advertisement in this regard was issued by the department of Home Affairs here on Saturday in which applications have been called from eligible Scheduled Caste Advocates/ candidates for engagement as law officers in the office of Advocate General, Punjab at Chandigarh and Legal Cell, New Delhi. . As per details applications have been invited for 12 posts of Additional Advocate General (10 at Chandigarh and two at Delhi), for post five posts of Senior Deputy Advocate General at Chandigarh, for 16 posts of Deputy Advocate General (14 at Chandigarh and two at Delhi), for 23 for posts of Assistant Advocate General (22 at Chandigarh and one at Delhi) and out of two posts of Advocate on Record at Delhi from eligible SC candidates. The eligible candidates can apply for post by September 13, 2022.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that he had always been a votary of giving equal opportunities to the youth of SC community to excel in every field. He asserted that the state government has been implementing the reservation policy in true spirit to ensure that  candidates of weaker and underprivileged sections get equal opportunity for getting jobs. Bhagwant Mann unequivocally said that for the first time in history of the state the Aam Aadmi party government has made this provision to give reservation to SC candidates in recruitment for post of law officers too.

The Chief Minister lamented that despite of enormous capability of SC candidates, they have not got a chance to make it for the posts of law officers due to many  reasons. However, he envisioned that with the state government introducing reservation for these candidates it will enable them to serve judiciously as law officers. Bhagwant Mann asserted that Aam Aadmi government is probably the only government in the country to provide reservation to SC community for these posts.

Reiterating the firm commitment of state government to ensure well being of SC brethren, the Chief Minister said that no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause. He emphasised that the state government is making all out efforts to provide equal opportunities of progress and prosperity for the community. Bhagwant Mann said that unlike the previous governments which had only made lip service for welfare of community, the Aam Aadmi government has taken tangible steps in this regard.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh, Punjab

EXPERIENCE CLAUSE ABOLISHED TO ENCOURAGE NEW ENTERPRENEURS

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

Acting on the directions of the Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann for revamping the various policies/procedures in the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, the Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak today gave approval to the revised Tender specifications for purchase of Tarpaulins used to protect paddy stocks against inclement weather.  

The revised tender Terms and Conditions have now been brought broadly in sync with the Terms and Conditions approved by the FCI for its own purchases across the country. 

In order to encourage new entrepreneurs, the policy has now done away with the experience clause, opening the doors for new industrial units to bid for the tenders. Further, in order to encourage wider participation, suppliers, who are authorised by the Principal Manufacturers, have also been allowed to participate in the tender process.  This is expected to increase the competition since it was felt that manufacturers, who are located far away, often did not participate in the tender process. 

The minimum quantity of tarpaulins to be offered by the bidder has  been reduced in order to encourage smaller industries to participate in the tender process. The tenders shall continue to be called on the e-tendering website of Punjab Government to ensure complete transparency. 

Comprehensive inspection protocols have also been introduced to check the quality of the Tarpaulins being supplied. These include inspections in both factory premises as well as delivery point, making these protocols even more stringent than those adopted by FCI.

Recognising the monetary benefit of the existing specifications for Tarpaulins, which provide for usage of 2 years,, the state specifications have been retained. It may be noted that for the past many years, the Punjab Government has it’s own specifications for Tarpaulins, which offer a significant financial saving to the Government over Tarpaulins purchased with FCI specifications, which having a life span of only one year. 

Herein it may be noted that a few months back, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had, in a meeting to review the working of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, directed the department to comprehensively review and revamp the existing policies and purchase procedures existing within the department to make these more transparent and competitive. He had also directed that the Department should encourage new entrepreneurs, wherever possible, in order to encourage new industry. In compliance with these directions, the Department has already revised the Custom Milling Policy, which has introduced landmark initiatives, and was subsequently approved by the Cabinet. The Department has also revised its Labour Policy and the Transportation Policy, both of which are due to be placed before the Cabinet in its next meeting for approval.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Over 210 persons arrested for corruption since AAP forms government in Punjab

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s war against corruption has met with unprecedented success in only five months since the Aam Admi Party (AAP) government came to power in Punjab.

The Vigilance Bureau has arrested as many as 135 government officials including 25 gazetted officers for accepting illegal gratification, said an official spokesperson.

Some of those who are arrested include top ministers of the AAP and the previous Congress government. A top IAS officer, a IFS officer and over 50 police officials.

From sacking and subsequent arrest of AAP’s health minister Vijay Singla on charges of corruption, the Mann government has also cracked the  whip on big sharks including arresting former Congress minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in a corruption case, 2008-batch IAS officer Sanjay Popli, who was posted as director pensions and Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Vishal Chauhan and many others. In addition, services of two government officials were terminated by their administrative departments.

As the pace of work in the Anti-Corruption campaign picked up, in the month of July alone, eight government employees were arrested for accepting bribes in five different cases. The accused included two employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and three employees of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust. The Bureau had registered 14 criminal cases in which 20 accused were involved in corruption. In these criminal cases, among others four police personnel, two revenue officials and six employees of Improvement Trust Ludhiana including its former chairman Raman Bala Subramanyam was booked by the VB for further investigations. Subramanyam has been identified as a powerful official under whose supervision the scam took place.

The Vigilance bureau has also nabbed around 80 private individuals. Data revealed that in seven cases, convictions were handed down by various courts in which eight government officials and a private person were involved.

A fresh case has been registered against former Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Friday in the scam of allotting transportation tenders on fake registration numbers of vehicles. An enquiry is underway and more officials of the Food and Supplies department are under the scanner.

The  chief minister’s anti-graft helpline is leading the way in exposing corruption and corrupt officials as people are coming forward to use this tool effectively to expose those who are blocking good clean governance in the state. Complaints in the helpline alone led to the arrest of 61 persons  and registration of 40 FIRs, since its inception on March 23 this year. The government received 4135 complaints with audio / video recordings on the given  number and after verifying genuine complaints.

Reiterating the AAP government’s avowed policy of “zero tolerance for corruption” CM Bhagwant Mann said that after assuming charge of his office, he had promised to deliver a corruption-free, transparent and clean administration to the people for which a number of initiatives have already been taken, including launching an anti-corruption helpline number in bid to annihilate corruption from Punjab.

CM said that departmental inquiries are going on and many more scams would be unearthed soon without any bias. All perpetrators who have looted the public money whether they are senior officers or politicians will be taken to task.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Major reforms initiated in higher education to make youth employable : Meet Hayer

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 21, 2022

Major reforms have been initiated in the higher education sector in order to make the youth of Punjab employable within the country.  Stating this here today, Higher Education Minister, Punjab, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer today said that under the leadership of  Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, school,  medical and technical education sectors are being focused upon to ensure a robust educational structure.

The minister was speaking during a state-level seminar on Higher Education in Punjab and New State Government: Hopes, Aspirations, Visions, and the Road Ahead at Rayat Bahra University, Mohali organised by Association of Unaided College Teachers (AUCT), Punjab and Chandigarh. The seminar was attended by around 400 unaided teachers from colleges across the state and the UT.

Meet Hayer said that with the reforms initiated by the State Government, not only will the exploitation of teachers end, but higher education will be made affordable, and skill-based thus making the teachers employable in the country with provision of jobs. Career oriented higher education is the great need of the present time, said the Minister adding that a committee will be formed to identify and resolve the issues of higher education institutions of Punjab.

The minister called upon the students of colleges and universities to actively participate in the ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Deya’ a two day sporting extravaganza being organized by the state government from August 29th. .

Renowned educationist Dr. Piyara Lal Garg delivered the key-note address while  Former Advocate General Anmol Rattan Singh Sidhu, Senior Journalist Jatinder Pannu and Vice Chancellor Rayat Bahra University Dr. Parvinder Singh also participated in the deliberations. The vote of thanks was presented by spokesperson of the AUCT Prof. Tarun Ghai.

The objective of the seminar was to bring the academia, intelligentsia and the government on a common platform to discuss and deliberate upon the burning issues concerning higher education in Punjab and devise a roadmap for its upliftment.

Chandigarh

Lumpy skin disease: Gurugram admn bans transport of cattle

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

In view of the outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in some districts of Haryana, the Gurugram district administration on Sunday issued orders under Section 144, imposing a ban on inter-district and intra-district movement of cattle within the jurisdiction of Gurugram. Earlier, State Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal had directed the Deputy Commissioners to restrict the movement of cows taken by the cowherds from one place to another in the respective districts. There should also be a complete ban on inter-state and inter-district movement, he had instructed.

According to the order from the district administration, an outbreak of LSD among cattle has been reported in several districts of Haryana and neighbouring states of Punjab and Rajasthan. Directions under section 144 CrPC are necessary to prevent, control and contain the spread of disease among the animals. LSD is a contagious disease in which peculiar lumps or nodules appear on the skin of affected cattle.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, loss in milk production, nodules on the skin, nasal and eye discharge etc.

The administration has also banned the inter-state and intra-state movement of animals within the jurisdiction of the district Gurugram, which also includes a ban on organising animal fairs and exhibitions/displays of animals in Gurugram.

“To check the spread of the LSD disease, infected animals are to be isolated from healthy stock. Also, carcasses of animals are not to be disposed of in the open and skinning of carcasses is also prohibited. Animal carcasses are to be disposed of under the supervision of officials of Animal Husbandry department as per protocol,” read the order.

The orders further said the police will check the movement of animals/cattle in Gurugram by the deployment of adequate force at the police checkpoints at inter-state and inter-district borders as well as within the district. The movement of all trucks/tractor trolleys/other vehicles carrying animals/cattle in/out/within the district shall be stopped with immediate effect. The violation of this order is punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, the order said.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Haryana CM lays foundation stone of Regional Research Centre, Kharkhari, Bhiwani

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

After laying the foundation stone of the Regional Research Centre, Kharkhari and Animal Science Centre, Bahal in Bhiwani, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said that the Regional Research Centre Kharkhari will conduct research work on all subjects related to horticulture production, which will also include the collection of varieties of fruits, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices etc. available at all places in the country and abroad.

He further said that further work will also be done to develop advanced and hybrid varieties of fruits, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices etc. which are resistant to pests and diseases.

Addressing the gathering in Bhiwani, the Chief Minister said that being an agrarian state, today is a special day for the agriculture sector of the state. “Today we have set two milestones by replacing the traditional food grains cultivation with new technology as per the needs of the new era. We are sure that these two regional centres of both Universities will make their mark on the strength of research in our agriculture sector,” said Khattar.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 16 projects worth Rs 224.56 crore in Bhiwani. The Chief Minister also approved several local demands raised before him. An amount of Rs 26 crores was approved by him for the construction of 14 PWD roads. Also, an amount of Rs. 20 crores was approved for the construction of the new 32 roads of the Marketing Board and for the road repairs. On the demand made by the local residents for the construction of Gym, Community hall, PHC and CHC, Khattar assured that as soon as the feasibility report regarding all these projects is made, required steps will be taken. The Chief Minister assured to fulfill the demands related to the Irrigation Department. During this, he also announced that if the land is available, a Shaheedi Smarak will also be built in the Singhani village. On this occasion, Khattar thanked Gram Panchayat Kharkhari which has provided 120 acres of land for this Regional Research Centre to be built at a cost of around Rs.39 crore.

The Chief Minister further informed that high-quality plants and seeds will be made available to the farmers in this Centre. Besides this, research will be done on the development of new technologies, processing of fruits, vegetables, seeds, spices etc and further research will be done on already developed technologies of value addition.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Haryana Animal Science Centre, Bahal of Lala Lajpat Rai Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. The Centre will be built on an area of 9 acres of 4 kanal and an amount of about Rs. 9 crore will be spent on its construction. The Centre will be made completely ready in two years.

He informed that this Centre will prove to be very useful for the livestock owners. The main objective behind setting up this Centre is to provide timely diagnosis and treatment to the animals suffering from various health ailments.

 With the setting up of this Centre, the local livestock owners will not have to travel to Hisar or Mahendragarh for getting the treatment of their animals. Through this Center, livestock owners will be made aware of the prevention of diseases in animals. The Centre will also have facilities like surgery, obstetrics, diagnostic labs and x-rays. This Centre will also work to increase fisheries in the Bhiwani district, informed Khattar.

Khattar said that the State Government is committed to bringing Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal and Lala Lajpat Rai Veterinary and Animal Sciences University at par with Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University on the world map. And to achieve this target, regional Centres of these Universities are being opened across the State.

He said that like COVID-19, the lumpy skin disease is quickly spreading in animals and we have to take timely action to stop this viral illness. The State Government is ensuring the vaccination of 20 lakh animals. At present, 3 lakh doses of vaccination are available in the state and an order for more than 17 lakh vaccines has been placed, informed the Chief Minister.