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Chandigarh, Punjab

DGP PUNJAB GAURAV YADAV LEADS FROM FRONT AS PUNJAB POLICE CONDUCTS CORDON & SEARCH OPERATIONS ACROSS STATE

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 09, 2022

In order to infuse fear among the anti-social elements and instil a sense of safety and security among the common people, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Saturday leads the entire Punjab Police Force to conduct Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in all the 28 Police districts of Punjab.

The operation was conducted from 11am to 3pm simultaneously across the state and ADGP/IGP rank officers from Punjab Police Headquarters were deputed in each Police district to personally supervise the operation. The CPs/SSPs had identified notorious/infamous mohallas/villages where drugs are prevalent or certain areas which have become  shelter/safe haven for criminals and anti-social elements, to carry out this operation amid massive deployment of the police force. 

DGP Gaurav Yadav, who had joined ADGP Law and Order Ishwar Singh in Mohali to conduct operation in different societies here, said that with the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has adopted zero tolerance policy against Drugs and Gangsters, such operations would continue till the menace of drugs and Gangsters rooted out from Punjab. DIG Ropar Range Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and SSP SAS Nagar Vivek Sheel Soni also accompanied the DGP on the spot.

 “Since, we have tightened the noose around drug smugglers and gangsters, I would warn such anti-social elements to voluntarily leave the state otherwise the Punjab Police will deal them with a heavy hand,” the DGP said.

Interacting with the media on the sidelines of the operation, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the topmost priority of the Punjab Government is to further strengthen the fight against drugs to make Punjab a drug-free state besides eliminating gangster culture, maintaining law and order, and detection of crime. He said that basic policing which includes keeping vigil in vulnerable spots and advance preparation to tackle any untoward situation would be revived and Police Stations will be upgraded.

Answering a query on harassment of residents with this operation, he said that the operation is being conducted for residents’ safety and security and Residents Welfare Societies were also taken into confidence before conducting this operation. “We have strictly instructed all the Police Personnel to deal with every resident in a friendly and polite manner while conducting door-to-door checking during the course of this operation,” said DGP Gaurav Yadav, while adding that Residents have appreciated this effort of the Punjab Police.

Meanwhile, such operations will also help in activating and mobilising the Police force by making direct contact with the public.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh

Mayor  & Commissioner visits Sector 13, Manimajra to take stock of basic amenities; listens to the problems of area residents

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 09, 2022

Sarbjit Kaur, Mayor, Chandigarh and Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh today visited Manimajra area to take stock of basic amenities and ongoing development works alongwith to see the problems of area residents.

The on foot visit of Commissioner was started at 7.00 am in the morning. The Mayor and Commissioner were accompanied by chief engineer, all Superintending Engineers and concerned Executive Engineers, SDEs, Junior Engineers of MCC, office bearers of Resident Welfare Associations and local residents.

During the visit the Commissioner asked the SE B&R and architect for proper planning of slip road near Sheetla Mata Mandir and culvert (near housing board light point), Manimajra. She asked the SE B&R to recarpet the road from housing board light point to fauji dhaba after scrapping.

The Commissioner asked the concerned engineers to install Sector 13 board at entry point of Shivalik Enclave and asked them to send a proposal to Chief Architect, UT for naming Shivalik Enclave as sector 13-A. The house indicators boards in Shivalik Enclave to be re-painted and numbering to be done at the earliest.

She asked to check the flow of water around the Nullah during rainy season and if possible for surfacing of small bridge with concrete/bituminous material besides refilling around the nullah with bio-soil and to develop the area as Green belt. The Commissioner asked the engineers to conduct digital survey of the vacant land near Chandigarh & Haryana boundary and the same to be submitted for further planning.

The Commissioner asked the engineers to install cat eye on speed breaker on road near Nullah in Shivalik Enclave. She asked the officers to write to SSP traffic to deploy traffic staff near entry point to Shivalik Enclave from Chandigarh Kalka Highway.

She further asked for cleaning of channel infront of house No. 53 at Shivalik Enclave and channel linked fencing to be done on area infront of house No. 275 after proper demarcation besides preparing expression of interest for design of Multi level parking on PPP basis for vacant land near Gobindpura, Manimajra.

The Commissioner asked the SE, Public Health, MCC to repair the leakage on road infront of house No. 110 and infront of house No. 80 in Shivalik Enclave. She asked the SE, Horticulture and Electricity to conduct survey of all the trees to identify the dangerous trees in the area. She said that UT electricity department to be written to repair/replace the inclined dangerous electricity pole infront of House No. 83, Shivalik Enclave.

She said that open air gyms be installed in all parks of Shivalik Enclave with paver blocks platforms besides providing high mast lights in all the parks. She asked the Medical Officer of Health to provide dustbins at various locations and maintain proper roaster system for sweeping of streets and malba lifting at shivalik enclave. The Commissioner also asked the concerned officers to remove temporary encroachments near Sheetla Mata Mandir, Manimajra.

In addition to that the Mayor and Commissioner planted saplings of various medicinal trees in park of NAC, Shivalik enclave, Manimajra, Sector 13 besides planting saplings in a park at sector 22, where area councilor Sh. Damanpreet Singh and other area residents also planted various medicinal plants.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Home Minister should play a pivotal role in resolving the issue of the Sutlej-Yamuna link canal: Khattar

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INDIA E POST CHANDIGARH JULY 09, 2022

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal while attending the 30th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council, chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Sh. Amit Shah at Jaipur, strongly raised several important issues of the State including the Sutlej-Yamuna link canal, appointment of members in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), restoration of Haryana’s share in Panjab University, and a new additional building for the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.  

 The Chief Minister said that the 30th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council would be helpful in promoting cooperative federalism as well as in resolving various issues of inter-state and between the Center and the states in a time-bound manner.  

 Sh. Manohar Lal said that though Haryana is a small state in the country in terms of area and population, but it has a significant contribution to the country’s economy. The per capita income of the state is Rs 2,74,635, which is the highest among the big states of the country. Also, on the parameters of economic growth rate, Haryana is also among the leading states in the country. The State is ranked second in the country and first in North India in providing logistics facilities to industries, added Sh. Manohar Lal.

 Punjab not taking any further action on SYL issue: Manohar Lal

 The Chief Minister said that the completion of the construction work of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal is a long pending and serious issue between the states of Haryana and Punjab. Due to the non-completion of the SYL Canal, surplus, un-channeled water of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas goes to Pakistan.  

 He further shared that Haryana has also been allotted a 3.50 million acre-feet share in the surplus water of Ravi-Beas as per the order of the Government of India dated March 24, 1976. 

 As per the decision taken in the meeting of the Union Jal Shakti Minister on August 18, 2020, with the Chief Ministers of both the states on the direction of the Supreme Court to resolve the issue, Punjab is not taking further action, added the Chief Minister. 

 Meeting of the Chief Ministers of both the states should be held soon regarding SYL issues

 The Chief Minister said that through a demi-official letter dated May 6, 2022, he had requested the Union Minister of Jal Shakti to convene the second-round meeting of the Chief Ministers of both the states at the earliest to discuss this issue. Besides this, he had written a demi-official letter to Home Minister, Sh. Amit Shah, requesting to organize a meeting of the Chief Ministers of both the states. 

Sh. Manohar Lal said that earlier he had also written three demi-official letters to the Punjab Chief Minister for this meeting, but no response was received from his side. Now that the new government has come in Punjab, therefore, the Home Minister is again requested to hold this meeting at the earliest and the Supreme Court should also be informed about its findings, said the Chief Minister. 

 Sh. Manohar Lal stressed that this water is very important for Haryana. On one hand, we are not getting this water, while on the other, Delhi is demanding more water from us, asserted the Chief Minister. 

 Haryana is getting less water from Bhakra main line canal

 In the meeting, Sh. Manohar Lal also raised the issue of getting 700-1000 cusecs of less water even from the Bhakra main line canal. He said that on this issue, a committee consisting of Chief Engineers and officers of BBMB from the participating States has also found that Haryana has been given less distribution of water at the BML contact point Rd. 390000. This committee has now suggested the appointment of a third agency with the latest discharge measurement techniques to lay the gauge/discharge curve for the entire distribution system from the head to all the contact points in the participating states. In addition, SCADA systems can be installed at various contact points so that the actual data from the gauges can be viewed by all the participating states. Therefore, RTDAS should be installed in place of the old manual gauge. BBMB has requested the Central Water Commission to take up this work. The Commission should be directed to complete it in a time-bound manner within the next two months.

 Member (Irrigation) in Bhakra Beas Management Board should be from Haryana

            Highlighting the issue of appointment of members in Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the Chief Minister said that the previous tradition of nominating Member (Irrigation) from Haryana should be continued on similar lines of the nomination of member (power) in BBMB from Punjab. If there is interference in the processes which is going on for the last about 56 years, it will affect the interests of Haryana, especially in the context of Sutlej- Beas river water sharing. If the permanent members of the BBMB are from outside the participating states, they will not be able to understand local issues and problems. Therefore, in addition to appointing Member (Irrigation) from Haryana and Member (Electricity) from Punjab, a third member (Personnel) can also be appointed to the Board. This third member may be appointed alternately from Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh said Sh. Manohar Lal. 

 Demand for amendment in rules to restore Haryana’s share in Panjab University

            The Chief Minister said in the meeting of the Northern Zonal Council that the share of Haryana in Panjab University should be restored and the colleges of Haryana adjoining Chandigarh should also be affiliated with this University. Haryana’s share in Panjab University was granted under the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966. It was abolished by the Union Home Ministry by issuing a notification on November 1, 1973. Earlier the colleges of the erstwhile Ambala district of Haryana were affiliated to this University. Therefore, the Home Minister is requested to amend the rules to restore the share of Haryana State in Panjab University, said Sh. Manohar Lal. 

 Haryana should be given complete share in the existing Vidhan Sabha Building

 Referring to the new additional building for Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that a new delimitation is proposed in the year 2026, on the basis of which Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections will be held in the year 2029. It is estimated that according to the population of Haryana in the new delimitation, the number of assembly constituencies will be 126 and the number of Lok Sabha constituencies will be 14.  

 At present, there are 90 MLAs in the Haryana Legislative Assembly. There is not enough space available in the existing building to even accommodate these 90 MLAs. Not only this, but it is also not possible to expand this building, because it is a heritage building. It is, therefore, requested that sufficient space may be given in Chandigarh for the construction of a new additional building for the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, said Sh. Manohar Lal. 

 Apart from this, it is also requested that the entire share of Haryana should be provided in the existing building also. Even after 56 years have passed, we have not got our complete rights. The 24,630 square feet area in the Vidhan Sabha building was given to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat. But the 20 rooms that came to our share are still in the possession of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. There is not enough space for our employees as well as for meetings of legislators, ministers and committees. Therefore, we have demanded land from the Chandigarh Administration to construct an additional building for the smooth functioning of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. The land has also been identified for this. The Home Minister is requested to intervene in this matter and get us land for the additional building of Haryana Vidhan Sabha, said the Chief Minister.

 Haryana is committed to speedy construction of National Highway-105

         Sh. Manohar Lal said that the present State Government is committed to the speedy construction of National Highway-105 connecting Haryana with Himachal Pradesh. The length of this project is 31.71 km, out of which 13.30 km falls in Haryana. We are fully cooperating with the National Highways Authority of India in completing this project. 

For this project, 18.6399 hectares of private land has been acquired by the District Revenue Officer, Panchkula. The work has started after taking possession of the land. The announcement of awards for the felling of trees and structures is under process. The first phase clearance has been obtained from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the second phase clearance is also likely to be received soon, said Sh. Manohar Lal.

 The Chief Minister said that 1731 km long roads have been constructed in Haryana in three phases under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana and construction work is going on for 175 km long roads. In the third phase of this scheme, approval has recently been received for the construction of 590 km long additional roads. The work for which is being allocated.

 The concern expressed by Chandigarh regarding the eco-sensitive zone is not correct in the context of Haryana

         The Chief Minister said that around 72 percent of the area to be included in the Eco-Sensitive Zone around Sukhna Sanctuary in Haryana is already notified forest area under the Indian Forest Act, 1927. About 9 percent is in the defense sector, so it is related to national security. About 19 percent is in the private area, notified under section 4 of the Punjab Land Conservation Act. The restrictions in the notified forest area under the Indian Forest Act are more stringent than those imposed under eco-sensitive zones. The defense sector is also protected from the dangers of any unplanned development. There exists regulation of felling of trees in the private sector and no tree can be felled without explicit approval from the Forest Department. Thus, restrictions exist even in the private sector that prevents unplanned activities. In view of the above, the concern expressed by the Union Territory of Chandigarh in respect of Haryana is not correct. As far as the notification of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) on the Haryana side is concerned, a proposal for the same is being prepared and sent to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India soon, said the Chief Minister.

 The government ensured good governance through system change

 The Chief Minister said we have ensured good governance through system change. The State Government has started ‘Mukhyamantri Antyodaya Parivar Utthan Yojana’ to raise the standard of living of the poorest people. Under this campaign, the poorest families will be identified and efforts will be made to increase their annual income upto at least Rs 1.80 lakh. 

 The government has facilitated the purchase of crops through the ‘Meri Fasal-Mera Byora’ e-Kharid portal. On this portal, farmers will be able to sell their crops as well as get financial assistance for fertilizers, seeds, loans and agricultural equipment sitting at home. The purchase of crops of farmers who have registered on this portal is done on a priority basis. A total of 9.25 lakh farmers are registered on this. Apart from this, ‘Auto Appeal Software’ (AAS) has been started to fix the accountability of the administration towards the public and ensure timely service delivery. With this, 292 services of 29 Departments, Corporations and Boards have been connected.

 If the applicants do not get the service within the stipulated time, their appeal automatically goes to the higher authority. If there is no service on time, then the appeal to the Right to Service Commission also goes automatically. This has fixed the accountability of the employees and officers.

 73 percent reduction in crop residue burning cases in Haryana

 Manohar Lal said that burning crop residues is not only harmful to the environment but also to the fertility of the soil. Therefore, along with taking action in such cases, we have also made the farmers aware. Our efforts in this regard have also been appreciated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. According to their report, there has been a 73 percent reduction in the burning of crop residues since the year 2016. To control stubble burning, we have provided free decomposer capsules to the farmers. Till now 3,19,350 acres have been covered with decomposer technology. The target is to cover 5 lakh acres of land with decomposers during Kharif-2022.

The State Government has made a provision of incentive amount of Rs 1000 per acre for not burning stubble and making stubble bales for its proper management. For the management of crop residue, 50 percent subsidy is given on equipment and 80 percent for custom hiring centres so that farmers do not have to burn these residues. 

 In the last four years, about 73 thousand machines have been given to farmers with a subsidy of Rs 584 crore. In the villages located in the Red Zone area, a cash prize of up to Rs 10 lakh is given to the Panchayat as an incentive for not burning the stubble. Apart from this, stubble is also being used in biomass plants. 5 lakh tonnes of paddy husks are being used in 9 biomass power projects in the state. Two more such plants will be commissioned this year.

 The meeting was attended by Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sh. Jai Ram Thakur, Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and Kashmir, Sh. Manoj Sinha, UT Administrator, Sh. Banwarilal Purohit, Lieutenant Governor, Ladakh, Sh. R.K. Mathur, Lieutenant Governor, Delhi, Sh. Vinay Kumar Saxena and Rajasthan Chief Minister, Sh. Ashok Gehlot.

 Haryana to get land in Chandigarh for the additional Vidhan Sabha building, announces Home Minister

While accepting the request made by, Sh. Manohar Lal, Union Home Minister Sh. Amit Shah announced that Haryana would be given land in Chandigarh for the construction of additional Vidhan Sabha building.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Haryana Women Development Corporation will impart driving and self defense training to women

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INDIA E POST CHANDIGARH JULY 09, 2022

Haryana Government has launched various important programmes to empower women and girls of BPL families under the vision of Antyodaya. Taking this initiative forward, Haryana Women Development Corporation will impart driving and self defence training to Women and Girls of BPL families.

          Giving information in this regard, an official spokesperson said that in the first phase, Haryana Women Development Corporation has invited applications of interested eligible candidates of Jhajjar, Kaithal, Rohtak, Jind and Panipat districts.

          The spokesperson said that women and girls willing to take driving and self-defense training can apply online till July 10. Application proforma can be obtained from the office of the Corporation. Attested copies of the required certificates along with the application should be sent through email at 1982whdc@gmail.com. Applications received after the due date will not be accepted. It will be mandatory for the interested eligible applicant to enclose his/her telephone number, email address and attested copies of certificates issued by the competent authority. The applications will not be accepted if the said requirements will not be fulfilled.

The spokesperson informed that 21 days driving and self defense training programme will be organised at Bahadurgarh and Kaithal. He said that the female candidates applying should be  native of Haryana state and age should be between 18 to 45 years. Minimum essential qualification is 12 standard for the applicants. Applicants should have a valid Learner’s License, he added.

          For more information in this regard, the concerned District Manager, Women Development Corporation can be contacted.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Haryana Govt constantly making efforts to provide maximum employment opportunities to people: Dushyant

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INDIA E POST CHANDIGARH JULY 09, 2022

Haryana Government is constantly making efforts to provide maximum employment opportunities to the people of the state. For new recruitment, people can apply online through Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam Limited which was earlier applied through outsourcing. 

While interacting with the media persons in Jind on Saturday, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that all the recruitments in the state are being made online by the state government. In addition to this, the practice of contract recruitment through outsourcing has ended.

He said that this would not only prevent exploitation of employees working on contract basis but would also ensure opportunities for the deserving candidates to avail adequate employment in a transparent manner. He said that Kaushal Rozgar Yojana is a wonderful scheme which has ended recruitment on DC rate through outsourcing. He said that some minor problems were faced in the beginning but job vacancies have been streamlined in the last eight months.

He said that with this development, job opportunities have been given to poor families on priority basis. Under the Kaushal Rozgar Yojana, the state government has worked to reappoint the already engaged employees instead of sacking them. The state government has implemented this scheme for jobs in every sector of all Departments. Apart from this, exemption has also been given to BPL families. So far, efforts have also been made for the recruitment of technical posts having salary of up to Rs 30,000, which will be filled in the coming time.

Responding to another question regarding  threats to public representatives, the Deputy Chief Minister said that it is being monitored continuously because some criminals sitting abroad also commit such incidents. For this our police and the cyber Department is constantly engaged.

Responding to a question regarding the death of a farmer in Barwala, Hisar, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that besides the senior IPS officer, a committee of DC and SP of the district has been constituted which will investigate the matter.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Land will be given in Chandigarh for additional  Building of Haryana Vidhan Sabha,  Home Minister

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 09, 2022

While accepting the request made by Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal,  Central Government has announced a big gift for the State.  

The Union Home Minister, Sh. Amit Shah while presiding over the 30th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council meeting announced that land would be given in Chandigarh for the additional Vidhan Sabha building of Haryana.  

After the announcement,  Sh. Manohar Lal on behalf of all the people of Haryana has expressed gratitude to the Home Minister.  

The Chief Minister said that land has been identified for new additional building for Haryana Vidhan Sabha.  Now after the announcement of the Home Minister, the work on the same will start soon.

A new delimitation is proposed in the year 2026, based on which Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections will be held in the year 2029. It is estimated that as per the population size of Haryana in the new delimitation, the number of Assembly Constituencies will be 126 and the number of Lok Sabha constituencies will be 14. 

The Chief Minister said that presently,  there are 90 MLAs in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.  There is not enough space available in the existing building to even accommodate these 90 MLAs.  Not only this, but it is also not possible to expand this building, because it is a heritage building, added Sh. Manohar Lal.

 The Chief Minister said that even after a lapse of almost 56 years, Haryana has not got the full right in the existing building.  

He informed that the  24,630 square feet area in the Vidhan Sabha building was given to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat.  But the 20 rooms that came under Haryana’s share are still in the possession of the Punjab Legislative Assembly.  In such a situation, there is a lack of adequate space for the meeting of MLAs, Ministers and Committees along with the employees, he added 

Chandigarh, Chandigarh

Sampark centres will open on Sunday for Aadhar services in Chandigarh

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 09, 2022

“To facilitate the citizens of the city Department  of Information Technology Chandigarh  Administration  will  kick start all Aadhar related services for citizens on Sunday as well.

Citizens can visit Sampark Centre Manimajra, Industrial Area phase1. Sector 27, Sector 21 and Sector 40 on Sunday between 9 am to 5pm to avail Aadhar Services. This initiative will help in providing hassle free Aadhar services to the citizen” The Director IT said

Chandigarh, Punjab

Governing Body of Regional Spinal Injuries Centre meets after 3 years

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 08, 2022

Meeting of the Governing Body of Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Mohali was held under the chairpersonship of Dr. Baljit Kaur, Cabinet Minister, Department of Social Security, Women & Child Development, Punjab. Due to COVID-19, the meeting was held after the span of 3 years.

A spokesperson informed that under the Project, the budget amounting Rs. 2 crores were being allotted from the last many years. But during the current Financial Year 2022-23, this amount has been enhanced from Rs. 2 crores to Rs. 10.73 crores. Governing Body has approved funds of Rs.10.73 Crores under the capital head and Rs.2.00 Crores as Grant-in-Aid for day to day expenditures.

The Cabinet Minister also enhanced the salaries of working outsourced employees, as was proposed by the Project Director-cum-Member Secretary. It was also decided that the PWD B& R department Punjab should hand over the ICU, High Dependency Unit and 11 Private Rooms, which would be inaugurated immediately after handing over the newly constructed part of the Building to RSIC. The construction plan of top floor has also been approved.

The Project Director detailed the progress of Regional Spinal Injuries Centre regarding the care it is providing to indoor and outdoor patients, which by now are about 5 Lakhs and more than 6000 major Spinal surgeries have been successfully conducted.

 The Meeting was attended by the Director Social Security Punjab, Addl. Finance Secretary, Director Health Services Punjab, Dr. Vipin Kaushal Medical superintendant representing Director PGI, Col Gurkirat Singh Director Paraplegia Centre for armed forces, Mohali and Project Director Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Mohali along with Addl. Director Social Security and Deputy Director, RSIC, Mohali. Dr. Raj Bahadur, Member Secretary, RSIC who is also Vice Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot expressed his gratitude as well thankfulness to the members and Chairperson for sparing their valuable time.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Taxation Commissioner bats for zero tolerance approach against Tax Evasion

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 08, 2022

Taxation Commissioner Punjab Mr Kamal Kishor Yadav on Friday asked the officers of the department to adopt zero tolerance policy for checking the pilferage of taxes to enhance revenue generation in the state.

Chairing a meeting of the department with officials of Amritsar Taxation Division to review the Tax collection, the Taxation Commissioner unequivocally said that any sort of laxity in checking tax evasion will not be tolerated. He said that every officer is duty bound to ensure that pilferages of taxes, if any, is checked with a heavy hand. Mr Yadav said that pilferage of taxes causes huge losses to state exchequer which is not at all tolerable adding that department will now further tighten noose against all tax evaders.

Reiterating commitment of Zero tolerance against corruption, the Taxation Commissioner said that severest of severe action will be taken against anyone found indulging in this menace. He said that the services to the people must be provided in a time bound manner without any inordinate delay. Mr Yadav also said that department should set a new benchmark in tax collection and service delivery.

The Taxation Commissioner also batted for early recovery of the pending arrears of taxes. He said that all the officers must embark a major recovery drive for getting the arrears from the wilful defaulters. Mr Yadav said that this is need of hour for enhancing the tax collection in the state.

Welcoming new ideas for Tax reforms from the officers, the Taxation Commissioner said that new out of the box initiatives should be given for tax enhancement. He said that department will replicate such new and dynamic ideas by the officers at the state level too. Mr Yadav also said that department is working tirelessly to further improve tax collection in state.

The Taxation Commissioner further announced that the department has already initiated the necessary action to weed out bogus firms in the state. He said that any such bogus firm which tries to evade tax through illegal means will be dealt with sternly. Mr Yadav said that every officer will be made accountable for operation of any bogus firm in the area under their jurisdiction.

Dwelling on another issue, the Taxation Commissioner said that every officer will ensure that Assessment cases are completed at the earliest. He said that officers should not wait for the end of fiscal year and should rather complete it well before deadline by studying them meticulously.

The Taxation Commissioner further directed the officers enhance their field visits. He said that this helps department in acquainting itself with ground realities on one hand and streamlining the affairs pertaining to taxation on the other. Mr Yadav said that inspections are must for every officer and orders of department in this regard should be adhered to.

The District Tax Bar of Amritsar and GST Practitioners Association also called on Taxation Commissioner on his visit to Amritsar and presented their demands. They also discussed various points including bringing OTS for VAT cases and construction of GST Bhawan at Amritsar. They assured him of all cooperation from their side and appreciated local officials for their accessibility.

He was accompanied by Director, GST Ms Brahmneet Kaur, Additional Commissioners Mr. Ravneet Khurana and Mr. Viraj Shyamkaran Tidke.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Urban area residents to get corruption free and time bound services: Aman Arora

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 08, 2022

The Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is fully committed to provide all the citizen centric services to the people living in urban areas of the State with emphasis on the transparency and accountability factors. The services would accrue to the people in a corruption free and time bound manner. These views were expressed at the PUDA Bhawan today by the Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora while chairing the first meeting of the department.

Taking stock of the ongoing projects as well those in the pipeline, Mr. Arora directed the officers to work diligently with a view to ensure futuristic and planned development.

Divulging more, the Minister said that clean, devoid of corrupt practices and an accountable administration would be the hallmark of the Punjab Government. Directing the officers to formulate pro people policy framework, the Minister also emphasized that the current projects and the schemes must be completed on time with people getting the services in a time bound manner.

Assuring that the harassment of the urban area residents in the Government offices would be a thing of the past, the Minister cautioned that those indulging in corrupt ways and means would not be spared at all. “The action plan of the department must be chalked out keeping in view the strengths and weak areas of the department”, said the Minister.

The Minister further added that he would soon meet the people inhabiting the urban areas besides the resident welfare associations and listen to their problems. This would pave the way for the formulation of such policies as would lead towards implementation of the suggestions received at these meetings.

Earlier, the Principal Secretary A.K. Sinha welcomed the Minister and apprised him of the steps being taken to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of the department.

Among others present on the occasion included Chief Administrator PUDA and Director Town & Country Planning Arshdeep Singh Thind and Chief Administrator GMADA Amandeep Bansal.