IEP Chandigarh, 18 July       

   The Minister for Local Government, Balkar Singh, today chaired a meeting at Municipal Bhawan Sector 35 Chandigarh with Chairmen of Improvement Trust to address various issues and demands pertaining to the functioning of the Trusts. The meeting aimed to foster collaboration and strategize effective measures for the development of Punjab.          During the meeting, a wide range of issues concerning the chairmen of Improvement trusts were discussed. Balkar Singh provided valuable guidance and insights to the chairmen, enabling them to overcome challenges faced in their respective areas. He said that Improvement Trusts play an important role in improving the appearance of the cities of the state and providing proper civic services to the city dwellers.          The Minister stressed the importance of expediting ongoing projects in diverse sectors, enhancing transparency and accountability, and ensuring optimal utilization of resources. The chairmen of the Improvement Trusts also presented their agendas and proposals for upcoming initiatives focused on fostering the overall development of Punjab.          Balkar Singh highlighted that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, aspires to transform Punjab into a vibrant and prosperous state. Accordingly, the minister advised the chairmen of  Improvement Trusts to work in coordination with each other to achieve this vision.          Balkar Singh underlined the significance of community involvement and public participation in the decision-making process. He emphasized the need to create sustainable and inclusive urban spaces that cater to the diverse needs of all residents.          The Miniser for Local Government remains committed to driving the development agenda in Punjab and will continue to collaborate with the chairmen of Improvement trusts to ensure progress and prosperity in the state.          On this Occasion, Mr Ajoy Sharma, Secretary Local Government and Mr Uma Shankar Gupta, Director Local Government were present. 

IEP Chandigarh, July 18      

    A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday arrested Chartered Accountant (CA) Jaswinder Singh Dang resident of Ludhiana for verifying the fake documents in connection with Pearls Agrotech Corporation Limited (PACL) scam.          Divulging the details here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that the arrest has been made after the investigation in FIR No. 01 Dated 21.02.2023 under section 406, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 384, 120-B of IPC registered at Police Station Punjab State Crime, SAS Nagar.          He further informed that an Extra Ordinary General Meeting (EOGM) of PACL was shown to be held at Ms PACL Limited’s registered office in Jaipur (Rajasthan), which had closed since 7-8 years, and also appointed three new Directors of PACL using forged documents. Jaswinder Singh Dang, Chartered Accountant in conspiracy with co-accused, verified the fake documents as genuine and uploaded the same on Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ website regarding appointment of three new directors namely Hirdeypal Singh Dhillon, Sandeep Singh Mahal and Dharmendra Singh Sandhu despite the fact that he had knowledge that the meeting actually didn’t take place.          The spokesperson said that he was also aware that around 5 crore poor and gullible investors have invested around Rs 50,000 crores in PACL and a Committee under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd) R.M. Lodha has been constituted by SEBI pursuant to the order of Supreme Court of India to sell the properties of PACL Ltd and using the sale proceeds to refund the investors who have invested their money in PACL Ltd. 

IEP Chandigarh, July 18    

      Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday got two days police remand of IAS officer Sanjay Popli, accused in disproportionate assets case registered under sections 13 (1) (B) R/w 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act at Police Station VB Flying Squad-1, Punjab.          Disclosing the details here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that Sanjay Popli was produced today before the Court of CJM Mohali, after obtaining production warrant in FIR No.11 Dated 06.08.2022 registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau Flying Squad-1, Punjab at Mohali. The Court has granted a two day police remand of the accused IAS officer.          The spokesperson said that the accused was confined in Central Jail Patiala under judicial remand in the another case registered U/s 7, 7-A of Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B IPC at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Flying Squad-1, Punjab at Mohali.          During the investigation of this case and on the basis of his disclosure statement, various articles were recovered from the house of the accused Sanjay Popli, which include 9 Bricks of Gold (1 Kg each), 49 gold biscuits of different weights (3160 gms), 12 gold coins of gold different weighing (356 gms), 3 bricks of silver (1 Kg each), 18 silver coins (180gms), four Apple I-Phones, one Samsung Fold Phone, two Samsung smart watches and 700 Indian currency notes of 500/500 denomination (total Rs.3,50,000).          The investigation revealed that the value of the recovered Gold and Silver was found to be over Rs.6.62 crores. The record regarding his properties, salaries, bank accounts and his other assets were taken, and these are being scrutinized.

IEP Chandigarh, July 13

Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said that the Finance Department has decided to double the limit for the post facto approval and verification of medical bills through civil surgeon to ensure quick settlement of medical bills of the employees of the Punjab Government. He said that this decision would empower all civil surgeons of the state to verify and give post facto approval to the medical bills up to Rs 1 lakh raised by the Punjab Government employees regarding their treatment at the private hospitals of Punjab and Chandigarh.Disclosing this in a statement issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Finance Department has given approval to the proposal sent by the Health and Family Welfare Department in this regard keeping in view the problems being faced by the officials and employees of the state government during the settlement of their medical bills. He said that this would decision would further strengthen the decentralization by shortening the process of medical bills settlement, reimbursement and settlement of medical claims.Divulging further, Harpal Singh Cheema said the Finance Department had authorized civil surgeons for approval and verification of medical bills of private hospitals up to Rs. 25000 in the year 2010, but since then no one bother to safeguard the employees interest by increasing this limit to meet the increase in the cost of the treatment. He said that after the formation of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government this limit was doubled to Rs. 50000 in May 2022 after a gap of 12 years, and the processing of medical bills above this limit was being done by the Director, Health and Family Welfare.The Finance Minister said that despite doubling the extent of post facto approval and verification of medical bills through the Civil Surgeon last year, the state government employees were facing difficulties due to delay in settlement of medical bills of more than Rs. 50000 amid increasing pendency at the office of the Director, Health and Family Welfare.  He said that now by doubling this limit from Rs. 50000 rupees to Rs. 1 lakh rupees, the entire process will be accelerated.Reiterating the commitment of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government to ensuring the welfare of its employees, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the state government is making every possible effort to raise the standard of living of its employees besides providing every necessary facility at their work place. He appealed to the employees of the state to render their services with honesty, diligence and kindness and contribute their due in making this state a ‘Rangla Punjab’ again.

IEP Chandigarh, July 13

Dr. Baljit Kaur, the Minister of Social Security, Women, and Child Development, has instructed the Social Security Department to implement measures aimed at assisting elderly and disabled individuals in light of the flood situation in Punjab.The Cabinet Minister emphasized that the Department of Social Security, Women, and Child Development is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of senior citizens. She further stressed the importance of providing assistance to elderly and disabled individuals affected by the current flooding in Punjab.She stated that to facilitate support, helpline numbers and control rooms have been established by the Punjab Government at the district level, with the appointment of nodal officers within the district administration. She said that according to the instructions of the Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann All kinds of assistance are being provided to the people.  District Social Security Officers, in coordination with the Nodal Officers of the District Administration, are actively working to provide aid to the elderly and disabled affected by the floods.The Minister urged elderly and disabled individuals facing difficulties due to the floods to report their complaints to the helpline number 14567. This will ensure prompt action by the department to provide relief. She also instructed all departmental officers to prioritize the safety of elderly and disabled persons in future planning, considering the critical flood situation. 

IEP Chandigarh, SAS Nagar, July 13

 The Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stands fully committed to extend help in every possible to the people who have been ravaged by natural calamity in the form of floods in the State. As part of this, the Government is in the process of disbursing food packets to the tune of 40,000 out of which 23600 have already been distributed.  Disclosing this at Verka Milk Plant on the occasion of flagging off 3 vehicles of food packets for flood victims, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said that the packaging and preparation of the food packets is being undertaken at the milk plants located at Mohali, Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar. Divulging more, he said that the Punjab Government is helping the beleaguered people in different ways. Some Department is undertaking the rescue efforts while the other is lending helping hand in some other manner. Similarly, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has been assigned the duty of preparing the food packets as part of providing immediate relief. Every packet contains Bread, Kaju Pinni, Biscuit Packets, Milk Packs, Water Bottles, Candles, Matchbox, Disposable Cups and Spoon. The Chief Minister has given clear directions to each Cabinet Minister, Chairmen of the Government Undertakings and Party MLAs to go in the field and assist the affected people in whatever way they can and everybody is discharging the duty in a dedicated manner, said the Minister adding that two things viz. Rescue and Relief are of paramount importance in the time of natural disaster. He further added that the entire Government machinery has gone all out to help the people. The loss of every penny suffered by the populace would be made good by the Government in the form of compensation, said the Minister adding that the State Government would stand by the people in this hour of need. Among others present on the occasion included the Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Ghanshyam Thori, GM Verka Milk Plant Raj Kumar.

IEP Chandigarh, July 13

In view of the situation caused by rains and floods in the state, the Punjab government has decided to extend holidays in all government, aided, recognized and private schools in the state till July 16, 2023.Giving information in this regard, Punjab School Education Minister Mr. Harjot Singh Bains said that on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Mann, the School Education Department has decided to extend holiday till July 16 to avoid any untoward situation due to rain and flood like situation in the state.He said that all the schools will be reopened on July 17, 2023 as per earlier schedule.

IEP Chandigarh, July 13 

Due to heavy rains in Punjab, the rivers are overflowing and there are incidents of breaching at some places. Seeing the accidents that happened when the local people plugged the breaches at their level, Water Resources Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer has appealed to the people living on the banks of the overflowing rivers to coordinate with the local district civil and police administration, Army, NDRF and Water Resources department officials to carry out rescue operations. Meet Hayer said that saving human lives is the top priority. While appreciating the courage of the people working at their level, he said that self-defence is the most important thing while plugging the breaches. He said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the entire government machinery is engaged in the service of the people day and night. The water resources department has arranged sandbags and empty bags. Army and NDRF jawans are also actively helping the local administration. The Water Resources minister said that due to heavy rains in the hills and the state, such a situation has arisen after many years and all the rivers are running beyond their capacity also overflowed in many places. Similarly, there have been incidents of breaching in some places. In such a situation, people are requested to take technical help by coordinating with the local administration instead of plugging the breaches themselves so that no one’s life is lost. It is very important to rescue the people from water logged areas. In this difficult time, the government is standing with the people and saving the human life at all costs as every life is precious. 

IEP Chandigarh, July 13

To speed up the relief operations in the state and as per the directions of CM Bhagwant Mann, the number of relief camps has been increased from 127 to 183 in flood affected areas.  Along with this, the process of delivering dry food packets and necessary medicines to the flood affected people has also been expedited. A spokesperson informed that 1159 villages in 14 districts have been affected by the flood till 8 am on July 13. Similarly, some towns have also been hit by floods. A total of 183 relief camps have been established in the state, out of which 25 camps are running in Patiala, 16 in Rupnagar and 7 in Moga. Similarly,  3 relief camps in Ludhiana, 22 in Mohali, 2 in SBS Nagar, 3 in Sangrur, 36 in Ferozepur, 3 in Hoshiarpur, 7 in Tarn Taran, 51 in Jalandhar and 8 camps have been established in Kapurthala.He said that 18802 persons have been evacuated and taken to safe places, out of this number,  13518 in Patiala, 2200 in Rupnagar, 155 in Moga, 300 in Ludhiana, 1400 in Mohali, 200 in SBS Nagar, 500 in Fatehgarh Sahib, 19 in Tarn Taran and 510 persons have been evacuated from flood-affected areas in Jalandhar district. Currently,  14 districts are affected by floods including Patiala, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Mohali and Sangrur.According to the information received from the animal husbandry department, a total of 630 animals have been treated in the state and 2896 animals have been vaccinated in the flood affected areas. Apart from this, most of the districts have completed their H.S vaccination drive. Rescue teams are working round the clock to provide treatment, feed supply and fodder to the needy animals.On the other hand, the teams of the health department are working in the flood-affected areas with full attention. According to the spokesperson, 315 Rapid Response Teams (RRT) have been working at flood affected areas. The health department has set up 186 medical camps in the affected areas and the total number of OPDs is 6235 so far. He further informed that the Food and Civil Supplies Department has also speeded up the work to deliver the food packets in flood-affected areas. Total dry food packets being prepared is 40,000, while 23,600 packets of dry food have been distributed. 

IEP Sangrur, July 13

Breaking the jinx of CM inspecting the water logged fields through aerial surveys, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today inspected the relief operations by himself testing the waters.Clad in white Kurta Pyjama, the Chief Minister, accompanied by senior officers of the state government and district administration, rushed into the water logged fields to oversee the relief measures during his visit to flood affected areas of Ghaggar river. Bhagwant Mann remained inside the water logged fields and monitored the operations through movement of the JCB. He asked the officers to remain in the field and ensure that people don’t face any problem.The Chief Minister said that even advanced countries like USA, Spain and others are facing problem of floods adding that nature has played havoc with the state. He said that incessant rains in the hill states and Punjab has brought this situation in the state. However, Bhagwant Mann said that his government is committed to bail out the people in this hour of grave crisis and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause. The Chief Minister said that human life is most important due to which every effort is being made to safeguard it. He asked the people residing in low lying and flood prone areas to move to safe places so that their safety can be ensured. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is duty bound to ensure that people do not face any sort of inconvenience. The Chief Minister said that it is not the time for politicising this issue rather all Punjabis should join hand for combatting this natural disaster. Bhagwant Mann said that unlike his predecessors he is not making rounds on helicopter for cosmetic assessment of the situation but he is in the field to take stock of the real condition at the ground level. He said that the situation is alarming but still the state government is making every effort to minimise the loss of people. The Chief Minister also said that a special girdawari will be conducted to ascertain the loss of crops, houses and others due to heavy rainfall in the state. He said that detailed instructions have been issued to the Deputy Commissioners to immediately carry out girdawari in the areas lashed by rains to ascertain damage caused to crops, houses, animals and others on priority. Bhagwant Mann assured the people that the government is committed to safeguarding their interests against nature’s fury.Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that people should not get panic as the state government is there to serve them by keeping a regular tab on the situation arising in the aftermath of the incessant rains across the state. He said that it is a natural calamity and will be combated well with the fulsome support and cooperation of one and all adding that the state government is with the people of Punjab in this hour of crisis and no stone will be left unturned for bailing out the people from this situation. Bhagwant Mann appealed to the people to not worry about anything as the state government is already making concerted efforts to normalise the situation.The Chief Minister said that he is personally reviewing the situation every minute and from every corner of the state. He said that heavy downpour of water is beyond the control of any individual but every effort is being made to ensure that people do not face any sort of inconvenience. Bhagwant Mann said that already all the Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and the officers are in their respective areas and reaching out to the needy people in this hour of grave crisis