Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday said that the Bureau has conducted 104 traps in the year 2024 and recovered Rs 88.28 lakh on the spot and 86 government servants, including 6 gazetted officer, 80 non-gazetted officials and 31 private individuals, were caught red-handed while taking bribes. The Bureau spokesperson said that in its proactive drive against corruption in government departments, the Bureau in line with the zero-tolerance policy of the State Government has registered 155 cases in 2024. Out of the 155 cases, 104 were trap cases and 51 cases were registered on complaints/enquiries. Almost seven public servants were arrested on corruption charges every month, he added.

Highlighting the arrests in some big cases involving high ranking officers, he informed that a Kanungo was caught red-handed while taking Rs 5,00,000 as bribe. A Medical officer was caught red-handed while taking Rs 3,00,000 as bribe. One co-accused HCS officer and one Excise and Taxation Officer were also arrested and two fourth Class Employee was caught red-handed taking Rs 6,20,000 as bribe. Eight private persons were caught red-handed while taking Rs 30,40,000 as bribe and their co-accused were also arrested. A Home Guards employee was caught red-handed while taking Rs 2,50,000 as bribe.

He further revealed that out of 104 raids conducted in year 2024, 34 were of police department, 11 of Power Utilities, 9 of Urban Local Bodies, 8 of Excise and Taxation, 7 of the Revenue Department, 6 of Health, 3 of Social Welfare, 3 of Home Guards & Defence, 2 of Public Health Engineering, 2 of Fisheries, 2 of Forest, 2 of Agriculture, 2 of Civil Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs and 13 of other departments like HSVP, Transport, Panchayati Raj, Pollution Control Board, Mining and Geology, Horticulture, HSIIDC, Haryana Women Commission, Employees Fund Organisation, in which officials were nabbed red-handed while taking bribes upto Rs 12.50 lakh in separate cases.

During its ongoing crusade against corruption in 2024, the Bureau has registered 49 enquiries against 11 gazetted officers, 24 non-gazetted officials and 8 private persons on the direction of the state government. During the year, 90 enquiries were finalised.

Out of 90 enquiries completed during 2024, the Bureau has recommended registration of criminal case against 47 gazetted officers, 57 non-gazetted officials and 29 private persons in 8 enquiries. Additionally, in 24 enquires, departmental action against 31 gazetted officers and 52 non-gazetted officials has been recommended and in yet another 29 enquiries, registration of criminal cases along with departmental action against 33 gazetted officers, 43 non-gazetted officials & 3 private persons, the spokesperson added.

Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Vipul Goel on Monday directed revenue officers to expedite the completion of the Gredawari (village land record) and assess the crop damage caused by the recent hail storms that affected various districts of the state. Emphasizing that no laxity would be tolerated in this regard, Goel also called for the urgent upgrading and enhancement of the fire and emergency services system in the state.

While reviewing the work of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Goel focused on the timely and accurate assessment of the damage caused to crops by recent hailstorms. He directed that the Gredawari process be completed swiftly and that the revenue officers immediately begin evaluating the extent of crop losses across the affected districts.

Goel said that there would be no tolerance for delays or negligence in these critical tasks. He stressed the importance of ensuring that farmers who have suffered losses due to the hailstorms receive timely compensation and support from the state government.

In the meeting, Goel emphasized the pressing need for the state’s fire and emergency services system to be upgraded to meet modern standards. Highlighting the critical importance of having an efficient and well-equipped emergency response system, the Minister underscored the need for these services to be equipped with the latest technology, advanced training, and adequate resources.

He pointed out that modernizing the fire and emergency services would lead to significant improvements in their efficiency, safety, and timely response during emergency. This would ultimately help save lives, minimize property damage, and enhance the overall safety of the public.

Goel further directed the officers to conduct a thorough assessment of the current infrastructure of the fire and emergency services and devise a comprehensive plan to address existing gaps in the system. He also emphasized the importance of improving coordination among various departments involved in disaster management and emergency response to ensure a more integrated and streamlined approach to handling crises.

          The Minister reiterated that the Haryana Government remains committed to provide the best possible services to the public and that necessary steps would be taken to strengthen the state’s disaster management and emergency services infrastructure.

Chandigarh, December 30

  Haryana Public Works (Building and Roads) and Pulic Health Engineering Minister, Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, said that both the Central and State Governments have launched various schemes aimed at benefiting the most marginalized sections of society.

          Sh. Gangwa made these remarks while addressing public grievances in Barwala, Hisar district, today. He personally heard the concerns of the residents and instructed the concerned officials to take immediate action to resolve the issues.

          He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, both the country and the state are making rapid progress. He emphasized that Sh. Modi’s vision and leadership have significantly enhanced India’s credibility on the global stage. He also highlighted that the Samadhan Camps, organized by the District Administration on the instructions of the State Government, are playing a crucial role in addressing the issues of the common people. These camps have been well-received by the public, as they provide a valuable platform where officials from various departments come together under one roof to resolve people’s problems efficiently.

          The Cabinet Minister stated that the state government is ensuring equal development for all sections of society, leading to comprehensive growth across the state. As a result, there is widespread happiness among all segments due to the public welfare policies of the state government. He further mentioned that the current government launched a campaign to deliver the benefits of government services and schemes to last person standing in the queue. 

Chandigarh, December 30: Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Sh. Vipul Goel, directed revenue officers today to expedite the completion of the Gredawari (village land record) and assess the crop damage caused by the recent hailstorms that affected various districts of the state. Emphasizing that no laxity would be tolerated in this regard, Sh. Goel also called for the urgent upgrading and enhancement of the fire and emergency services system in the state.

*Expedited Action on Crop Damage Assessment*

          While reviewing the work of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Sh. Goel focused on the timely and accurate assessment of the damage caused to crops by recent hailstorms. He directed that the Gredawari process be completed swiftly and that the revenue officers immediately begin evaluating the extent of crop losses across the affected districts.

          Sh. Goel said that there would be no tolerance for delays or negligence in these critical tasks. He stressed the importance of ensuring that farmers who have suffered losses due to the hailstorms receive timely compensation and support from the state government.

*Urgent Need for Upgrading Fire and Emergency Services*

          In the meeting, Sh. Goel emphasized the pressing need for the state’s fire and emergency services system to be upgraded to meet modern standards. Highlighting the critical importance of having an efficient and well-equipped emergency response system, the Minister underscored the need for these services to be equipped with the latest technology, advanced training, and adequate resources.

          He pointed out that modernizing the fire and emergency services would lead to significant improvements in their efficiency, safety, and timely response during emergency. This would ultimately help save lives, minimize property damage, and enhance the overall safety of the public.

*Comprehensive Plan for System Improvement*

          Sh. Goel further directed the officers to conduct a thorough assessment of the current infrastructure of the fire and emergency services and devise a comprehensive plan to address existing gaps in the system. He also emphasized the importance of improving coordination among various departments involved in disaster management and emergency response to ensure a more integrated and streamlined approach to handling crises.

          The Minister reiterated that the Haryana Government remains committed to provide the best possible services to the public, and that necessary steps would be taken to strengthen the state’s disaster management and emergency services infrastructure.

          Additional Chief Secretary cum Financial Commissioner Revenue and Disaster Management, Mr. Anurag Rastogi and other senior officers of the Department were also present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, December 30

Haryana Police, in a step towards capacity building, is providing soft skills training to communication officers working in Haryana 112 ERSS to improve the efficiency of responding to complaints received on Haryana-112 and enhance their skills. This training is being given in different sessions. So far, 172 communication officers of Haryana Police have been trained through these training sessions.

Providing information about this, Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur said that the training program has been designed in such a way that the communication officers can effectively understand and respond to the calls received on Haryana 112. Apart from this, the communication officers are trained to focus on the clarity of the message between the communication officer and the caller during the call. He said that during this time, they are told how to quickly and accurately collect information from the person calling and what and how to ask questions so that the person can be helped immediately. If the person is very upset or nervous, they are told how to reassure the victim in such a situation. Along with this, they are also taught to practice reducing the stress of the person during the call. Various activities are conducted in the training program emphasizing the importance of quick response time.

Additional Director General of Police (ERSS) Hardeep Doon said that the training emphasizes the importance of clear language and pronunciation to ensure effective communication. The training emphasizes the ability to listen effectively and communicate clearly with callers. He said that the training program develops skills to provide emotional support and reassurance to callers. During this time, techniques for handling stressful situations calmly and efficiently are also taught. They were trained to ask only relevant questions to quickly gather the necessary information from the callers. He said that these training sessions will significantly increase the performance and effectiveness of Haryana-112 communication officers.

Chandigarh, December 29

The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is actively working to expand the horticulture sector in the state and strengthen farmers economically. Under the guidance of Horticulture Minister Shri Mohinder Bhagat, the horticulture department remained committed to providing comprehensive support to farmers in adopting crop diversification and took various initiatives in 2024.

The Minister Bhagat highlighted significant achievements, underscoring the government’s dedication to rural empowerment and agricultural innovation. He informed that Punjab has achieved the top position in the country under the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with 19,408 projects and ₹4,478 crore in term loans sanctioned, showcasing its dedication to agricultural development.

Mr.Bhagat shared that, with a strong emphasis on crop diversification, Punjab has expanded its horticulture area from 4,39,210 to 4,81,616 hectares.

Another key achievement added by the Minister was Punjab’s recognition at the Skoch National Awards 2024, where the state won the Silver Award for its sericulture project, Women Empowerment and Socio-Economic Growth through Sericulture.

He informed that Punjab has achieved a significant milestone by exporting litchi from the sub-mountainous districts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur to England (UK). This remarkable achievement, facilitated by the Horticulture Department in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), underscores the state’s efforts to promote its horticultural produce on the global stage. With litchi cultivation spanning 3,250 hectares and producing approximately 13,000 metric tons annually, this step is set to boost farmers’ incomes and open new avenues for future exports.

Mr. Bhagat added that three new horticultural estates have been established in Punjab to help farmers and improve agriculture. These new estates include a pear estate in Amritsar, a guava estate in Patiala, and a litchi estate in Pathankot.

The Minister stated that under the National Horticulture Mission, farmers are being provided financial assistance for various activities, including planting new orchards, cultivating vegetables and flowers, mushroom farming, beekeeping, adopting safe farming practices, and implementing post-harvest management

He also informed that several Centres of Excellence have been established to promote vegetable and fruit farming across various districts. These include the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Kartarpur, Jalandhar, the Hi-Tech Vegetable Seed Centre in Bir Charik, Moga, the Centre of Excellence for Fruits (Nimbu) in Khanaura, Hoshiarpur, the Centre of Excellence for Potato in Dhogri, Jalandhar and the Centre of Excellence for Onion at Kheri village in Sangrur district have been established.

The Minister shared remarkable progress in sericulture, revealing that the price of cocoons has risen from ₹550 to ₹1,250 per kilogram. This increase ensures better earnings for farmers, especially women, who constitute over 60% of the workforce in this sector.

Regarding infrastructure development, Minister Bhagat stated that annual cocoon production has reached 29,000 kilograms. He added that government has reactivated the Silk Seed Production Centre in Dalhousie to provide high-quality silk seeds at nominal prices to farmers, fostering self-reliance and growth.

Mr.Bhagat also highlighted the inaugural Silk Mark Expo 2024 in Chandigarh, which showcased exceptional silk craftsmanship and bolstered the silk trade. “Events like these not only promote regional artisans and traders but also underscore Punjab’s pivotal role in uplifting rural communities through sericulture and horticulture,” he remarked.

Looking to the future, Minister Bhagat outlined plans to establish an exclusive Punjab Silk brand and set up silk reeling units to enhance value addition and increase farmer incomes. “Our government remains steadfast in its mission to expand silk farming,empower rural communities, and elevate Punjab’s horticulture and sericulture sectors to new heights,” he concluded.

CHANDIGARH/BATALA, December 29:

          In a major breakthrough, Punjab Police has busted yet another Pakistan-ISI backed terror-module being operated by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) being operated by foreign-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia and Shamsher alias Honey with the arrest of its five members including mastermind Abhijot Singh involved in lobbing hand-grenade at two police establishments in Batala and Gurdaspur, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.

          “By successfully busting this module, Punjab Police has solved all the incidents of attacks on Police Establishments in the state,” said the DGP.

          Other arrested four persons have been identified as Kuljit Singh, Rohit alias Ghessi, Shubham and Gurjinder Singh alias Raja, all residents of Qila Lal Singh in Batala. Police teams have also recovered two pistols including one sophisticated 9MM glock pistol and one .32 bore pistol from their possession.

          The development came days after some persons hurled hand grenade at Ghaniae Ke Bangar Police Station in Batala on December 12 at around 10.20pm, followed by attack on the Wadala Bangar Police Post in Gurdaspur on December 20 at around 9.30pm. Following the incidents, terrorist organisation BKI had used social media platform to claim the responsibility for these terror acts using separate social media posts.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the accused persons Abhijot Singh and Kuljit Singh have sustained bullet injuries, when both were taken for the recovery and they attacked police team to evade custody, in response the police acted in self-defense. Both the accused persons have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in Batala, where they are reported to be in stable condition, he added.

          The DGP said that investigations are in progress to establish forward and backward linkages in this case and unveil the entire terror module.

          Sharing more details, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Border Range Satinder Singh said that following the attack at police establishments, Batala Police has launched a special operation to trace the perpetrators.

          Following the technical and human-based intels, Police teams under the supervision of SSP Batala Suhail Qasim Mir managed to track down all the accused persons and apprehend them, he added.

          SSP Suhail Qasim Mir said that further investigation is on and more arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days.

Ludhiana/Chandigarh, December 29

Reiterating the commitment of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann led state government to clean ‘Buddha Dariya’, Local bodies minister Dr Ravjot Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal visited ‘Buddha Dariya’ site and 225 mld Jamalpur sewerage treatment plant (STP) on Tajpur road on Sunday.

Ludhiana East MLA Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, Ludhiana North MLA Madan Lal Bagga, Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, Ludhiana Central MLA Ashok Prashar Pappi;

Additional Chief Secretary, Local bodies department, Tejveer Singh; Director, Local bodies department Gurpreet Singh Khaira; MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, Chief Engineer Ravinder Garg, Ludhiana Chief Engineer of PPCB RK Rattra, Engineer in Chief of Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) Mukesh Garg among other officials were present during the visit.

For dealing with the problem of cow dung being dumped in ‘Buddha Dariya’, Local bodies minister Dr Ravjot Singh and MP Seechewal directed the PEDA officials to speed up the projects for establishing biogas plants in Haibowal and Tajpur road dairy complexes for proper disposal of cow dung. One biogas plant is already operational in Haibowal dairy plant and one additional plant has to be established in Haibowal dairy complex wherein cow dung would be used for generating biogas.

Further the civic body officials have been directed to hire private players for lifting cow dung from dairy complexes and dump the same at designated points until biogas plants are made functional by PEDA. Civic body officials stated that machinery and man power has already been deployed for lifting cow dung from dairy units and dumping the same at two designated points. Tenders would now be floated for hiring contractors for the same.

Further cabinet minister Dr Ravjot Singh and MP Seechewal directed the Punjab Pollution Control (PPCB) officials to keep a regular check on working  of dyeing industry CETPs and STPs. The PPCB officials have also been directed to take steps and ensure that the waste of electroplating industry is not dumped in sewer lines.

Further the sewerage board officials and contractor working on ‘Buddha Dariya’ project have been directed to make temporary arrangements for pumping sewerage waste from Gaushala point to STP Jamalpur until Intermediate pumping station (IPS) is established at the Gaushala site. The project to establish Gaushala IPS is pending due to an ongoing court case. The contractor has also been directed to properly tap the connections of dairy units in both dairy complexes to ensure that dairy waste does not get into the ‘Buddha Dariya’.

Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh and MP Sant Seechewal said that they are not against the industry or any other sector, but no one can be allowed to pollute ‘Buddha Dariya’. The state government is monitoring the project to clean the ‘Buddha Dariya’ on a regular basis. People should also support the government and stop dumping waste in the ‘Buddha Dariya’.

MP Seechewal said that they have already initiated the second phase of ‘Kar Sewa’ for rejuvenating ‘Buddha Dariya’ and illegal sewer connections of a few dairy units have also been snapped in the recent past.

MP Seechewal has pitched a tent at ‘Buddha Dariya’ site for the ‘Kar Sewa’. MP Seechewal appealed the public to step forward and become a part of this movement which has been initiated for cleaning Buddha Dariya, which also has historic and religious importance.