Chandigarh, December 4

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that keeping in view the changing times and shrinking agricultural land, the Agriculture Department should encourage farmers to adopt modern technologies such as vertical farming. He said the department must accelerate its efforts toward future readiness by understanding emerging technological needs, changes and challenges.

The Chief Minster, who was chairing a review meeting of the Department of Future here today, said that the various schemes being implemented by the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments should be assessed to identify the challenges likely to emerge over the next decade. He stressed that the departments must work with a clear vision and well-planned strategies throughout the year, keeping future requirements in focus.

The Chief Minister said that efforts must be made to introduce technology that prevents farmers from burning crop residue. He emphasized that the Agriculture Department and the Department of Future should jointly develop solutions that discourage stubble burning and make the removal of crop residue from fields easier. Similarly, to ensure adherence to prescribed moisture standards in produce, he suggested that consultations be held with relevant industries so that machine/combine-harvested crops adhere to the required moisture levels.

The Chief Minister said that with rapidly improving connectivity across the state, the India International Horticulture Market being developed in Gannaur is likely to witness considerable pressure in the coming years. To address this effectively, he said the department should prepare a long-term plan spanning 10 to 20 years. He added that Haryana’s future readiness should focus on guiding farmers toward crops that will be in global demand and where Haryana has a competitive advantage.

He said that all departments work towards strengthening the use of AI and digital governance as part of their long-term planning.

Earlier in the meeting, Mrs. Amneet P. Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Future presented detailed information on the department’s initial work and progress.

Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Pankaj Agarwal, Commissioner and Secretary of Finance Department, Mohammed Shayin, OSD to the Chief Minister, Raj Nehru, Director Department of Future, Dr. Aditya Dahiya and other senior officials were also present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, December 4

Haryana’s Energy, Transport, and Labour Minister Anil Vij strongly reprimanded the police today based on a married woman’s complaint. The woman alleged that when she went to the Mahesh Nagar police station with a complaint that her husband had left her, instead of helping, a police personnel threatened her and said he would lock her up. Angered by the woman’s grievance, Minister Anil Vij called the SHO of Mahesh Nagar police station and ordered action against the concerned police personnel, along with immediate action on the woman’s complaint.

Sh. Vij was redressing to the grievances of people from the Ambala Cantonment Assembly constituency at his residence in Ambala Cantt today.

Employees working under HKRN in the Health Department complained before Energy Minister Anil Vij that they had not received their salaries for two months and that their names were not appearing on the portal. The Minister assured them that the issue would be resolved soon. Similarly, A youth from Brahman Majra alleged that a travel agency cheated him of Rs. 50,000 under the pretext of providing a Thailand tour package. He said neither was he given the tour package nor was his money returned. In this matter, Minister Anil Vij directed the police to take action.

Meanwhile, a retired Air Force personnel alleged that he had given Rs.50 lakh to a contractor for constructing a house in Defense Colony, but the contractor abandoned the work midway and fled. Neither did he return the money nor complete the construction. Minister Anil Vij directed the Panjokhra police to take action in the matter. Similarly, A youth from Ambala Cantonment informed Minister Anil Vij that his sister, who was married in Hisar, was being harassed after marriage. In this case too, Minister Anil Vij instructed the SP to take action.

Residents of Ekta Vihar complained about the damaged Ekta Vihar culvert connecting Ramnagar. Minister Anil Vij directed the municipal council official present on the spot to take necessary action. Similarly, an elderly resident of Shahpur reported discrepancies in the land record (fard), and women from Panjokhra accused some youths of threatening them. Minister Anil Vij instructed the concerned officials to take appropriate action on these complaints as well.

CHANDIGARH, December 4:

The Punjab Government, represented by the Learned Advocate General Mr. Maninderjit Singh Bedi, has strongly opposed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court concerning the ongoing Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis elections in Patiala district. The petition relies on an alleged audio recording of a conference call, which went viral.

The State has raised fundamental objections regarding the petition’s maintainability in constitutional courts.

Appearing before the Hon’ble High Court, the Learned Advocate General, relying on established Supreme Court precedents, submitted that PILs in election-related matters are not maintainable. He contended that such petitions, often driven by political motivations, should not be entertained by constitutional courts.

The State’s opposition was further reinforced when it was pointed out that the petitioners’ reliance on a purported representation to the Election authorities was undermined by the fact that the said representation was issued on the official letterhead of political parties. This, the State argued, clearly indicates the partisan nature of the petition and further weakens its maintainability as a genuine PIL.

Taking note of the State’s submissions, the Hon’ble High Court has sought a detailed explanation from the petitioners to clarify how the petition is maintainable in light of these legal objections. The matter is now listed for further hearing on Monday.

Chandigarh, December 3 – The Haryana Government has tightened its noose on those illegally selling intoxicants. The Food and Drug Administration Haryana, in collaboration with the police, conducted a raid at a medical store in Sirsa district and seized thousands of illegal intoxicant tablets. In addition, two persons were also caught with illegal narcotic medicines.

State Drug Controller Sh. Lalit Goyal informed that as per the orders of the State Health Minister Arti Singh Rao, swift action is being taken against those involved in the illegal sale of drugs.

He stated that, under the directions of the Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Sh. Manoj Kumar, Drug Control Officer of Sirsa-II, Sh. Sunil Kumar, along with the police officer of Singhpura Police Station in Sirsa district, conducted a raid at “M/s Khushi Medical Store” located in village Dharampura. There were complaints of illegal stocking and selling of medical narcotic drugs against the firm. During checking, 600 Tapentadol tablets and 1200 Pregabalin (IP 300 mg) capsules were recovered from the store. The owner of the medical store, Khushvinder Singh, could not produce any sale/purchase record of the recovered narcotic medicines. Samples of these medicines were taken on Form-17, an inspection report was filed, and the shop was sealed. Further action will be taken under the Drugs and Control Act.

State Drug Controller Dr. Lalit Goyal further informed that Drug Control Officer Sh. Sunil Kumar, in coordination with CIA Sirsa, conducted yet another raid. In this operation, 19,500 “Tapdol” tablets and 100 SR (Tapentadol Hydrochloride) were recovered from Amanpreet Singh and Vikas. Both accused were transporting the drugs illegally near Dabwali for unauthorized supply. These individuals were workers/salespersons of the same firm and were caught during a joint raid in village Odha (Kalanwali) of Sirsa district. Their drugs were sealed through Form-16. Subsequent proceedings have been initiated under the Drugs and Control Act.

Chandigarh, Dec 3 — Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini today released the second installment of the Deen Dayal Lado Laxmi Yojana. With today’s disbursement, approximately Rs 148 crore has been transferred to the accounts of 7,01,965 beneficiary women.

The Chief Minister was addressing a press conference here on Wednesday. Social Justice, Empowerment, Scheduled Caste and Backward Class Welfare, and Antyodaya (SEWA) Minister Sh Krishan Kumar Bedi was also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister stated that the government has decided to release benefits under this scheme at three-month intervals, with the total amount for the quarter transferred in a single installment. He said that the scheme is not merely a means of financial support but a significant initiative aimed at promoting women’s social empowerment and economic self-reliance.

He informed that the Deen Dayal Lado Laxmi app was launched on September 25, on the 109th birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. Subsequently, on November 1, the first installment was transferred to eligible women.

The Chief Minister said that as of November 30, a total of 9,00,592 women had applied through the app. Of these, 7,01,965 women were found eligible. Among them, 5,58,346 have completed their Aadhaar KYC, while verification for 1,43,619 applicants is pending.

He urged women whose final stage of Aadhaar KYC is incomplete to finalize the process at the earliest. Once their verification is complete, they too will begin receiving the benefits of the scheme.

Transparency through Technology

The Chief Minister stated that the scheme is available to all women aged 23 years or above whose family’s annual income is less than Rs 100,000. A unique feature of this initiative is that all eligible women within a family can benefit from it. The application process is fully transparent and entirely online, allowing women to apply easily from anywhere and at any time through the Lado Laxmi Mobile App.

He explained that once an application is submitted, the verification process is completed within 24 to 48 hours, after which eligible women receive an SMS notification. This message urged them to revisit the app during the final stage of verification to capture and upload a live photograph. After the e-KYC is completed through the Aadhaar database, the SEWA Department issues a scheme ID.

The Chief Minister said that the scheme has received an excellent response, with an average of 3,000 to 4,000 women applying each day. This initiative not only strengthens social security but also reflects the Haryana Government’s commitment to “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.”

He further said that the state government is consistently fulfilling its commitments toward public welfare. Under the Har Ghar Har Grihini scheme, gas cylinders are being provided to more than 15 lakh women at a subsidized cost of Rs 500. Kidney patients are receiving free dialysis services, and Haryana has become the first state in the country to procure farmers’ all crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Present on the occasion were Mrs. G. Anupama, Additional Chief Secretary, Social Justice, Empowerment, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department; Mr. K. Makarand Pandurang, Director General, Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department; Mr. Prashant Panwar, Director, SEWA Department; and Mrs. Varsha Khangwal, Additional Director Admn., Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department, along with other senior officials.

Chandigarh, December 3 – The Haryana Government has clarified that no instructions have been issued by the Government or any department to stop development works or to withhold payments to contractors during special investigations conducted by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi has issued a letter in this regard to all Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Managing Directors of Boards and Corporations, and Registrars of Universities.

The letter clearly states that as per the Government’s instructions dated May 12, 2015, the Technical Wing of the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau selects works for special investigation based on the list of ongoing works received from various departments, boards, and corporations, complaints, preliminary reports, or directions from the competent authority.

It has come to the notice of the Government that some officers and engineers of certain departments are stopping works or withholding payments by telling senior officials, district administration, public representatives, and the general public that the matter is under investigation by the Vigilance Department or that a special investigation is being carried out by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. Such statements are completely misleading and against the rules.

The Government has categorically stated that no such instructions have ever been issued. Execution of development works and payment for completed or ongoing works is the responsibility of the concerned department and must continue as per the terms of the contract and prescribed rules. Decisions in such matters will be taken at the level of the concerned Administrative Secretary.

All related departments and officers have been directed to strictly comply with these instructions. The Government has also cautioned that any violation in this regard will be viewed seriously and necessary action will be taken.

Chandigarh, December 3 – Haryana has intensified its ongoing efforts to clean the Yamuna River, with the latest review held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi here today. The review meeting highlighted improvements in wastewater treatment, industrial compliance, and sewerage infrastructure. The Board informed that out of the 1511.55 MLD of wastewater flowing through the 11 major drains that ultimately join the Yamuna, nearly 1000 MLD is already being treated, demonstrating the State’s strong commitment to river rejuvenation. Regular water quality monitoring is being carried out in all drains to ensure that pollution levels continue to decline.

Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi directed to form separate committees for each drain, having members from all the departments concerned with the Divisional Commissioner as its chairman. The committee will hold meeting every 10 days (thrice a month) and submit reports to Chairman, Haryana Pollution Control Board.

The meeting was informed that the State has undertaken a major expansion of sewage treatment capacity in the Yamuna catchment. At present, Haryana has 90 Sewage Treatment Plants with a combined capacity of 1518 MLD, along with four STPs of 107 MLD under construction, expected to be completed by March 2027. Nine additional STPs of 227 MLD capacity are under upgradation, and nine new plants of 510 MLD have been proposed to further strengthen the treatment network. Industrial wastewater management has similarly improved, with 17 Common Effluent Treatment Plants of 184.5 MLD already operational, two CETPs undergoing upgradation, and eight new CETPs of 146 MLD capacity proposed. Almost all major industries in the region are now connected to CETPs or have installed individual Effluent Treatment Plants, ensuring near-complete compliance with environmental norms.

Drain-wise action plans presented during the meeting showed steady progress across all major drains, including Dhanaura Escape, Drain No. 2, Drain No. 6, Mungeshpur Drain, KCB Drain, Drain No. 8, Leg I, Leg II, Leg III, Budhiya Nala and Gaunchi Drain. Large-scale sewer tapping operations have been initiated to prevent untreated effluent from flowing into the river, while several new STPs—such as the 77 MLD plant at Yamuna Nagar, the 60 MLD plant proposed at Rohtak, and the 100 MLD plant planned in Gurugram—are expected to further reduce pollution load in the coming years. Upgradation work on major STPs in Rohtak, Faridabad and Gurugram is also progressing steadily.

The State has also achieved near-completion of its sewerage network in the 34 towns falling within the Yamuna catchment area. Out of a total proposed 1632 kilometres of sewer line, 1626.6 kilometres have already been laid, and the remaining stretch of 5.4 kilometres in Faridabad is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2025. In addition to improving treatment capacity, Haryana is emphasising the reuse of treated wastewater. Three irrigation projects using treated water have already been completed, and six more such projects are currently in progress, which will help reduce dependence on fresh water sources.

Chandigarh, December 3 –  Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, today inaugurated the Home Department Dashboard, a comprehensive digital platform that promises to revolutionize law enforcement, emergency response, and public safety management across the state.

Describing the initiative as an important milestone, the Chief Minister said the new system will enable senior officers to access real-time information from police, fire, ambulance, prison and other critical wings on a single interface. This, he noted, will improve coordination, enhance efficiency and support faster decision-making across the Home Department.

Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini congratulated the Home Secretary & other senior officers and the technical team for this innovative initiative.

The integrated platform brings together key systems such as the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), Dial-112 emergency response, e-Prison, e-Challan, Forensic Science Laboratory and allied platforms. Chief Minster further directed officers to integrate e-Summon and e-Challan with the dashboard.

Chief Minister commended the live monitoring of all 20 prisons of Haryana in real time through dashboard. This will enable officers to plan inmate transfers, expansion requirements, and decongestion measures. The Chief Minister said such real-time visibility will support more informed and timely administrative actions.

During the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Dr. Sumita Misra apprised that between July 1, 2024, and November 30, 2025, the Dashboard recorded 1,78,038 FIRs, of which 1,32,790 cases have been disposed of, reflecting a 74.58% disposal rate. In emergency response, the police now average a response time of 11 minutes 54 seconds, with dispatch occurring within 7 minutes 36 seconds. Ambulance services are reaching citizens in 23 minutes 49 seconds on average, contributing to quicker medical assistance and improved outcomes, she added.

Dr. Sumita Misra, said that the Dashboard will soon be extended to all Heads of Departments under the Home Department and the Administration of Justice. Plans are also underway to integrate the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) to enable seamless data flow between police, prosecution, judiciary, prisons and forensics.

Dr. Misra stated that the platform will facilitate performance-based ranking of police stations, strengthening accountability and encouraging continual improvement. This will also be powered by real-time data from all 24 Police Districts and 413 Police Stations, the Dashboard aims to serve as a comprehensive decision-support system for monitoring crime trends, improving departmental coordination and enhancing public safety across the state.

Chandigarh, December 3 – Haryana Education Minister, Sh. Mahipal Dhanda said that the primary objective of the State Government is to strengthen the infrastructure of government schools and provide students with a better, safe and modern learning environment. In this direction, the government is not only emphasizing smart education in schools but is also rapidly implementing several welfare schemes for the benefit of students.

The Education Minister was presiding over a review meeting with departmental officers at Shiksha Sadan, Panchkula  here today. He said  that in the last five years, around 26,000 smart class boards have been provided in all government schools across the state, enabling students to become technologically empowered. Along with this, scholarship schemes are being made more effective so that students belonging to economically weaker sections can continue their education without any hindrance.

He informed that for the convenience of students, dual desks are being arranged in government schools of the state to ensure that children do not face any discomfort while studying. He directed officers to issue the schedule for online teacher transfers at the earliest.

During the meeting, it was informed that students are served milk, kheer, pinnis and other nutritious items in mid day meals. In addition, to ensure food quality, samples are tested through laboratories approved by the Government of India.

The Minister directed officers to expedite the construction work of government school buildings so that no student faces inconvenience during studies. He emphasized that regular inspection of schools is extremely important. Officers should visit government schools from time to time, identify shortcomings and take immediate action to rectify them.

The Education Minister said that teachers must ensure timely conduct of classes. He further directed that all pending matters related to ACP and medical claims be resolved on priority and at the earliest so that employees do not face unnecessary difficulties.

The Minister said that the State Government is committed to ensuring that Haryana’s government schools are equipped with modern facilities, rich resources and a quality learning environment. The government’s objective is that every child in Haryana moves towards a brighter future with a strong foundation and high-quality education.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, School Education, Sh. Vineet Garg, OSD to Chief Minister, Sh.  Raj Nehru, Director General, Elementary Education, Sh. Vivek Aggarwal and other senior officers.

Chandigarh, December 3 – Two important Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed today by the Quality Assurance Authority (QAA), Haryana in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini. These MoUs were signed with the Quality Council of India (QCI), Delhi, and the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

The MoUs were signed by Sh. Rajiv Arora, Chairperson, Quality Assurance Authority, Haryana, and Sh. Chakravarthy T. Kannan, Secretary General, QCI, Delhi. NABL Chairman Dr. Sandeep Shah was also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said these MoUs will not only enhance technical efficiency and quality management systems in Haryana but will also significantly improve the reliability, safety, and durability of public construction works.

He added that the MoU signed with NABL will make the State’s agriculture and mandi system more scientific and modern. He directed the concerned departments to prioritize the establishment of NABL-accredited labs in mandis using NABL’s technical expertise so that farmers can have immediate access to scientific testing facilities. The Chief Minister said the installation of advanced moisture-measuring machines in mandis will enable farmers to get accurate and quick assessments of crop quality, making the procurement process more transparent and reliable.

The Chief Minister stated that Haryana is witnessing rapid expansion of roads, bridges, buildings, urban infrastructure, and other public construction works. In such a scenario, the government’s top priority is to ensure that every project is completed as per high-quality and scientific standards. He said through these MoUs, engineers, technical experts, and construction agencies will benefit from modern technologies and advanced quality systems, thereby increasing both the speed and precision of project execution.

Under the MoU signed with Indian Quality Assurance, Delhi, comprehensive technical training will be provided to the State’s engineers, site supervisors, and contractors. This training will focus on modern tools and technologies such as BIM, GIS, drone technology, and digital construction management. Expert guidance will also be provided on safety standards, environmentally friendly construction practices, waste management, and pollution control. This will enhance the technical capacity of departments and lead to significant improvements in DPR preparation, design verification, and site supervision.

The MoU signed with NABL aims to make the State’s laboratory testing system more reliable and transparent. NABL-accredited laboratories operate on national and international standards. As a result, test reports for government projects in Haryana will now be more scientifically accurate and trustworthy. This agreement will strengthen departmental monitoring capabilities, reduce errors in testing, and support timely completion of projects. It will also make the State’s laboratory ecosystem more robust, transparent, and accountable.

It is noteworthy that this initiative by the State Government is a major step towards making public construction works and laboratory testing standards more technically advanced and globally aligned in Haryana.

On this occasion, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Saket Kumar, and other senior officials were present.