IEP Chandigarh, December 25  

 Punjab government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has approved Rs. 60.50 crore to install Solar Power Energy System for rural piped water supply schemes in different districts of Punjab.  Under this project, Solar Power Energy Plants (based on Net metering) would be installed at 970 Rural Water Supply Schemes of the state covering 1508 villages with a cumulative capacity of 8.698 MW.          Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa said that the government led by CM Bhagwant Mann is working tirelessly to provide basic facilities to the people of Punjab from day one. It is also the aim of the government that the people should not face any kind of hardship for the facilities and get all the facilities at their doorstep without any hassle.          Divulging the details about the solar project he said that this project aims to ensure the financial sustainability of water supply schemes and successful operation & management of rural water supply schemes by Gram Panchayat Water Supply Committees (GPWSC) by reducing the burden of electricity charges. Additionally, this will also lead to increase in the usage of clean energy and environment sustainability.          Jimpa informed that this project has many benefits which the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation (DWSS) will be able to achieve with installation of solar roof top panels.; I.E. reduction in bill, as the bill is issued by PSPCL after adjustment of export and import of power, generation of environment friendly and clean energy and DWSS/GPWSC will become generator for his own electricity requirements.          Principal Secretary WSS DK Tiwari further said that the electricity duty/octroi etc. shall be levied only on the billed amount after adjustment of import and export of power. Surplus power is supplied to the grid of PSPCL, thus, helps in eliminating power shortage.WSS HoD Mohammad Ishfaq informed that there will be saving of Rs. 8-9 crores per year after the installation of Solar Power Energy project.

IEP Chandigarh/Amritsar, December 25

          Striking a major blow to the trans-border narcotic smuggling networks amidst the ongoing war against drugs launched on the directions of Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police have busted an elaborated drug smuggling cartel with the arrest of its two kingpins after recovering 10Kg heroin and one sophisticated drone from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.

            The arrested smugglers identified as Dalbir and Jagdish, both residents of Gharinda in Amritsar, were engaged in drug trafficking for the last three years and have no criminal case registered against them.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the Amritsar Rural Police led by SSP Swapan Sharma in an intelligence-based operation has successfully busted this drug smuggling cartel, which had been smuggling contraband to states including Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh after importing them from cross-border using drones.

          He said that the USA made sophisticated drone recovered from the duo smugglers, is a DJI series drone, worth Rs 20 lakhs, having hi-tech features including long-lasting battery back up and infrared-based night vision camera. This is the fifth such drone recovered in less than a month, he added.

          Divulging more details, SSP Swapan Sharma said that both the smugglers have been evading arrest by using altered modus operandi to carry out smuggling of contraband.

          These big fish had a well oiled distribution network in the neighbouring states, which has been identified, he said, adding that the Police teams have been conducting raids at 12 locations in Haryana and Delhi, and more contraband seizures will follow.

An FIR No. 224 dated 25/12/2022 has been registered under sections 21 and 23 of the NDPS Act Police Station Gharinda.

          Pertinently, Amritsar Rural Police have successfully seized 39Kg heroin in the last five months. Tight vigil along the second line of defence and close coordination with the BSF authorities has resulted in these huge seizures.

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Five drones recovered in a month

1–On November 29: A hexacopter drone carrying six packets of heroin, weighing 6.68 kg, was recovered in the jurisdiction of Border Outpost (BOP) Harbhajan in Khemkaran, Tarn Taran.

2–November 30: A broken quadcopter drone was recovered from the area of village Van Tara Singh in Khalra, Tarn Taran

3–December 2: A hexacopter drone carrying five packets of heroin, weighing 5.60 kg, was recovered from the Khemkaran area in Tarn Taran

4–December 4: A quadcopter drone loaded with three packets of heroin, weighing 3.06Kg, was recovered from area of Border Outpost (BOP) Kalia in Tarn Taran

5–December 25: A DJI series USA made Hi-tech drone, worth Rs 20 lakhs, recovered along with 10Kg heroin by the Amritsar Rural Police

IEP Patiala, December 24

Buoyed over participation of more than 15 lakh parents in mega PTM organised across 20,000 government schools in state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday envisioned that the state of the art government schools of state will produce the leaders in every sphere that take the country to zenith.          Addressing the gathering here during the mega PTM organised by the state government, the Chief Minister said that the state government schools of the state are imparting quality education to the students thereby enabling them to excel in every field. He said that the students getting education from here will be the builders of the country in the coming times. Bhagwant Mann said that the day is not far when these students will bring laurels for the state and country by their hard work and success.          The Chief mInister further said that these students are blessed with enormous capabilities and capacities. He said that the state government is making concerted efforts to channelise their unbounded energy and make them partners in social-economic growth of the country. Bhagwant Mann said that the day is not far when these youngsters will script a new success story for the country.          The Chief Minister said that these government schools speak a lot about the success stories of Punjab. He said that the students studying in these schools have a dream to excel in the form of bureaucrats, technocrats, Doctors, Engineers and others. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is committed to provide wings to their dreams for which no stone will be left unturned.          The Chief Minister said that these youngsters possess inherent qualities to excel in every field. He said that these students are planes and the state government will provide them Launchpad to go ahead in life. Bhagwant Mann unequivocally said that he won’t rest until the students of Punjab don’t achieve their desired goals.          The Chief Minister said that his government is already roping in a number of industrial tycoons to set up their units in Punjab. He said that these industries will bring number of employment opportunities for the youth. Bhagwant Mann said that the day is not far when these students will run the big industrial units to be set up in the state.          The Chief Minister quipped that earlier the industries used to sign MoUs with families in power but ever since he has assumed charge of government the agreements are signed for the state. He said that earlier the Maharajas or Badals used to get benefit of these agreements but now Punjabis will enjoy its fruits. Bhagwant Mann said that this is because his government is working untiringly for the well being of every strata of society.          Training his guns against the opposition, the Chief Minister said that due to his pro- Punjab stance opposition leaders don’t miss any chance to target him. He said that this criticism is totally irrational and based on their whims and fancies. Bhagwant Mann categorically said that this won’t deter him from performing his duty well.          Earlier, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Education Minister Punjab Harjit Singh Bains had detailed interaction with the students in the PTM. He asked the students about their goals in life and extended best wishes to them for their future. Bhagwant Mann said that this exercise of organising the mega PTM will immensely benefit the students.          Meanwhile, giving an affirmative response to the exercise organised by the state government, parents of the students lauded the Chief Minister for this initiative. They said that this initiative will help the students to groom well for the coming times. They said that it has also enabled them to know a lot about the interests of their child.They also hailed the quality of study being imparted in the Government school. They said that the study imparted in these schools is much better than that of the private schools. Rather they said that the study imparted here has enabled their kids to compete with their convent educated peers. 

IEP Chandigarh, December 24

Punjab Revenue and Water Supply & Sanitation Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa on Saturday exuded confidence that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit to Chennai and Hyderabad will further accelerate industrial development in the state.          He said that the CM Mann’s back to back meetings with big industrialists during the two-day tour will surely benefit Punjab immensely in the nearby future. He said that due to a transparent and honest government in Punjab, the state is emerging as the first and best choice of investors across the country.          As the CM Mann-led Punjab government has been working painstakingly to develop the state as an industrial hub, the Cabinet Minister said that Punjab would get major investment during the investment summit being to be held at SAS, Nagar, Mohali on February 23-24 next year.          Jimpa said that all possible efforts were being made by the Punjab Government to take the state to the highest level of industrial development. He said that Punjab is a land of immense opportunities and is the most conducive state for investment and expansion of business.          Jimpa said the Chief Minister’s visit to major industrial sites in the country would not only boost the industrial development of the state but also open up new opportunities of employment for the youth of Punjab.          Notably, the Chief Minister has assured to provide a conducive environment to the new industries and investors setting up their businesses in Punjab. Jimpa expressed the confidence that the Punjab CM’s visit would prove to be a milestone in giving a major boost to the industrial development of the state.

IEP Chandigarh, December 24

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan honoured the eminent body builder Mandeep Singh with a appreciation letter and a memento.

According to a spokesperson of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mandeep Singh had recently won a gold medal in the FIF International Bodybuilding Competition. Recoganizeing the excellent services of head constable Mandeep Singh in the field of sports, the Punjab Police gave him the local rank of ASI. S. S Sandhwan honored the athlete in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for encouraging him. It may be mentioned, that India won 12 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze medals in the FIF International Bodybuilding Competition earlier this month.

Wishing Mandeep Singh a bright future, S. Sandhavan expressed hope that he will continue to excel in sports and make the country proud. On this occasion Secretary of Speaker Mr. Ram Lok Khatana, Private Secretary Surinder Singh Moti and  Manpreet Singh were also present.

IEP Chandigarh, December 21

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the School Education Department will hold Parents-Teachers meeting named Inspire 2.0 at government schools across Punjab on 24th December The department had expected to involve more than 10 lakh parents in this meet.Divulging this, Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Bains said that during this program, which will organised from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, teachers, students and their parents, school management committees and other renowned persons will sit together and discuss ways to improve the education system. He said that exhibitions showcasing the works done in schools, library Langars and academic achievements to be the center of attraction of this program.Mr. Bains urged the people to ensure their participation in this historic event. He asked the officials to reserve the entire day of December 24 to encourage teachers and students so that the dream of making Punjab’s school education system world-class could be realized.

IEP CHANDIGARH, December 23

Punjab Congress today launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aamdi Party government in the state over appointing two rank outsiders to two important positions in the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, Punjab. 

“While Aam Aadmi Party is acting like East India Company, its supremo Arvind Kejriwal is treating Punjab as an occupied colony and rehabilitating his favourite non-Punjabis in the state”, Warring said in a statement, while reacting to appointments of Satya Gopal and Rakesh Goel in RERA.

He wondered why the AAP was not able to find any Punjabi worth and competent to hold important positions in the government. He pointed out, earlier the AAP nominated mostly non-Punjabis and non-politicians to the Rajya Sabha and now it had started the process to “infiltrate” outsiders into the state administration.  

“Didn’t you find any Punjabi worth the chairmanship or membership of RERA that you had to bring in people from outside?” Warring asked Kejriwal while feeling sorry for prominent and competent people in AAP Punjab who have not only been ignored but humiliated. 

“This is a harsh judgement on the credibility and competence of all those Punjabis who worked hard to install AAP government in Punjab but are being scornfully ignored when time had come to reward and compensate them for hardwork”, he remarked, while expressing full sympathies with and telling them it is still not too late to correct the mistake they committed by supporting the AAP.

IEP Chandigarh, December 23

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan has paid tribute to the Sahabzadas and Mata Gujri ji.

 Sahibzadas of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Ajit Singh (18 years) and Jujhar Singh (14 years) were martyred in Chamkaur Sahib on the morning of December 22 while fighting a unique war with a large number of Mughal forces while Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (seven years and eleven months) ) and Sahibzada Fateh Singh (five years and ten months) were martyred at Sirhind. S. Sandhwan said that the martyrdom of Sahabzadas is an expression of determination towards their beliefs. He appealed to the people to remain firm in their belief and asked them to take guidance from the great sacrifice of the Sahabzadas.   

IEP Chandigarh, December 23

The Lokpal Punjab, Justice (Retd) Vinod Kumar Sharma has appealed to the artists to adopt highest standards of art so that the intellectual level of the people can be raised further.

Addressing a musical function organized by Sargam Society of Indian Music and Art (Reg.) and Aryan Group of Colleges to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birthday last evening at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Justice Sharma said that literature and art played an important role in the intellectual growth of human being. Due to this, the responsibility of the writers and artists to make available the best art to the people increases even more. While paying tribute to Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Justice Sharma said that he was a great orator who is also remembered for his poetry. Lokpal Punjab also appreciated the efforts of Sargam Society in organizing this musical evening.

While paying tribute Additional Solicitor General, Govt. Of India, Satya Pal Jain said that Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee devoted his life towards making India stronger and developed.

On this occasion  Mrs. Shashi Prabha, IPS, ADGP, Punjab & Sh. S. K Panigrahi, Field General Manager, Punjab National Bank. Dr. Anshu Kataria, President, Sargam Society & Chairman, Aryans Group of Colleges, Rajpura were also present.