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Chandigarh, Punjab

Over 210 persons arrested for corruption since AAP forms government in Punjab

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s war against corruption has met with unprecedented success in only five months since the Aam Admi Party (AAP) government came to power in Punjab.

The Vigilance Bureau has arrested as many as 135 government officials including 25 gazetted officers for accepting illegal gratification, said an official spokesperson.

Some of those who are arrested include top ministers of the AAP and the previous Congress government. A top IAS officer, a IFS officer and over 50 police officials.

From sacking and subsequent arrest of AAP’s health minister Vijay Singla on charges of corruption, the Mann government has also cracked the  whip on big sharks including arresting former Congress minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in a corruption case, 2008-batch IAS officer Sanjay Popli, who was posted as director pensions and Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Vishal Chauhan and many others. In addition, services of two government officials were terminated by their administrative departments.

As the pace of work in the Anti-Corruption campaign picked up, in the month of July alone, eight government employees were arrested for accepting bribes in five different cases. The accused included two employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and three employees of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust. The Bureau had registered 14 criminal cases in which 20 accused were involved in corruption. In these criminal cases, among others four police personnel, two revenue officials and six employees of Improvement Trust Ludhiana including its former chairman Raman Bala Subramanyam was booked by the VB for further investigations. Subramanyam has been identified as a powerful official under whose supervision the scam took place.

The Vigilance bureau has also nabbed around 80 private individuals. Data revealed that in seven cases, convictions were handed down by various courts in which eight government officials and a private person were involved.

A fresh case has been registered against former Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Friday in the scam of allotting transportation tenders on fake registration numbers of vehicles. An enquiry is underway and more officials of the Food and Supplies department are under the scanner.

The  chief minister’s anti-graft helpline is leading the way in exposing corruption and corrupt officials as people are coming forward to use this tool effectively to expose those who are blocking good clean governance in the state. Complaints in the helpline alone led to the arrest of 61 persons  and registration of 40 FIRs, since its inception on March 23 this year. The government received 4135 complaints with audio / video recordings on the given  number and after verifying genuine complaints.

Reiterating the AAP government’s avowed policy of “zero tolerance for corruption” CM Bhagwant Mann said that after assuming charge of his office, he had promised to deliver a corruption-free, transparent and clean administration to the people for which a number of initiatives have already been taken, including launching an anti-corruption helpline number in bid to annihilate corruption from Punjab.

CM said that departmental inquiries are going on and many more scams would be unearthed soon without any bias. All perpetrators who have looted the public money whether they are senior officers or politicians will be taken to task.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Major reforms initiated in higher education to make youth employable : Meet Hayer

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 21, 2022

Major reforms have been initiated in the higher education sector in order to make the youth of Punjab employable within the country.  Stating this here today, Higher Education Minister, Punjab, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer today said that under the leadership of  Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, school,  medical and technical education sectors are being focused upon to ensure a robust educational structure.

The minister was speaking during a state-level seminar on Higher Education in Punjab and New State Government: Hopes, Aspirations, Visions, and the Road Ahead at Rayat Bahra University, Mohali organised by Association of Unaided College Teachers (AUCT), Punjab and Chandigarh. The seminar was attended by around 400 unaided teachers from colleges across the state and the UT.

Meet Hayer said that with the reforms initiated by the State Government, not only will the exploitation of teachers end, but higher education will be made affordable, and skill-based thus making the teachers employable in the country with provision of jobs. Career oriented higher education is the great need of the present time, said the Minister adding that a committee will be formed to identify and resolve the issues of higher education institutions of Punjab.

The minister called upon the students of colleges and universities to actively participate in the ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Deya’ a two day sporting extravaganza being organized by the state government from August 29th. .

Renowned educationist Dr. Piyara Lal Garg delivered the key-note address while  Former Advocate General Anmol Rattan Singh Sidhu, Senior Journalist Jatinder Pannu and Vice Chancellor Rayat Bahra University Dr. Parvinder Singh also participated in the deliberations. The vote of thanks was presented by spokesperson of the AUCT Prof. Tarun Ghai.

The objective of the seminar was to bring the academia, intelligentsia and the government on a common platform to discuss and deliberate upon the burning issues concerning higher education in Punjab and devise a roadmap for its upliftment.

Dehradun

DGP Ashok Kumar and MLA Pritam Singh Panwar inspect disaster affected areas

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar along with Dhanaulti MLA Pritam Singh Panwar and other officials conducted on-site inspections of disaster affected areas of Kumalda, Sarkhet, Maldevta and the nearby areas.

During the inspection, the DGP instructed the officials concerned to continue the rescue operation and provide relief works through police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). He also directed the SDRF to form alternate connectivity routes for the villagers at the earliest while keeping the consistent search on for missing persons. Kumar said that the local Manoj Payal had first informed about the disaster to the authorities by calling at 112 due to which local police and SDRF arrived at the affected spot. He cooperated along with the local people in the police and SDRF’s rescue work. The DGP thanked Payal for his efforts and said he will be honoured for his alertness, courage and cooperation in such a sensitive situation. The Tehri district magistrate, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Dehradun and DIG Garhwal Zone were also present during the inspection.

Meanwhile, SDRF also recovered a dead body from the disaster-hit Raipur area on Sunday morning. The body was found by the deep diving team of SDRF near a bridge from the Soda Saroli area of Raipur. According to the SDRF officials, the body could not be identified but it has been handed over to the district police to carry out the further process.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Haryana CM lays foundation stone of Regional Research Centre, Kharkhari, Bhiwani

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

After laying the foundation stone of the Regional Research Centre, Kharkhari and Animal Science Centre, Bahal in Bhiwani, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said that the Regional Research Centre Kharkhari will conduct research work on all subjects related to horticulture production, which will also include the collection of varieties of fruits, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices etc. available at all places in the country and abroad.

He further said that further work will also be done to develop advanced and hybrid varieties of fruits, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices etc. which are resistant to pests and diseases.

Addressing the gathering in Bhiwani, the Chief Minister said that being an agrarian state, today is a special day for the agriculture sector of the state. “Today we have set two milestones by replacing the traditional food grains cultivation with new technology as per the needs of the new era. We are sure that these two regional centres of both Universities will make their mark on the strength of research in our agriculture sector,” said Khattar.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 16 projects worth Rs 224.56 crore in Bhiwani. The Chief Minister also approved several local demands raised before him. An amount of Rs 26 crores was approved by him for the construction of 14 PWD roads. Also, an amount of Rs. 20 crores was approved for the construction of the new 32 roads of the Marketing Board and for the road repairs. On the demand made by the local residents for the construction of Gym, Community hall, PHC and CHC, Khattar assured that as soon as the feasibility report regarding all these projects is made, required steps will be taken. The Chief Minister assured to fulfill the demands related to the Irrigation Department. During this, he also announced that if the land is available, a Shaheedi Smarak will also be built in the Singhani village. On this occasion, Khattar thanked Gram Panchayat Kharkhari which has provided 120 acres of land for this Regional Research Centre to be built at a cost of around Rs.39 crore.

The Chief Minister further informed that high-quality plants and seeds will be made available to the farmers in this Centre. Besides this, research will be done on the development of new technologies, processing of fruits, vegetables, seeds, spices etc and further research will be done on already developed technologies of value addition.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Haryana Animal Science Centre, Bahal of Lala Lajpat Rai Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. The Centre will be built on an area of 9 acres of 4 kanal and an amount of about Rs. 9 crore will be spent on its construction. The Centre will be made completely ready in two years.

He informed that this Centre will prove to be very useful for the livestock owners. The main objective behind setting up this Centre is to provide timely diagnosis and treatment to the animals suffering from various health ailments.

 With the setting up of this Centre, the local livestock owners will not have to travel to Hisar or Mahendragarh for getting the treatment of their animals. Through this Center, livestock owners will be made aware of the prevention of diseases in animals. The Centre will also have facilities like surgery, obstetrics, diagnostic labs and x-rays. This Centre will also work to increase fisheries in the Bhiwani district, informed Khattar.

Khattar said that the State Government is committed to bringing Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal and Lala Lajpat Rai Veterinary and Animal Sciences University at par with Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University on the world map. And to achieve this target, regional Centres of these Universities are being opened across the State.

He said that like COVID-19, the lumpy skin disease is quickly spreading in animals and we have to take timely action to stop this viral illness. The State Government is ensuring the vaccination of 20 lakh animals. At present, 3 lakh doses of vaccination are available in the state and an order for more than 17 lakh vaccines has been placed, informed the Chief Minister.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

UT Police arrest six from Rajasthan, Haryana for running sextortion racket

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

The Operations Cell of the UT Chandigarh Police arrested six members of a sextortion gang from Rajasthan and Haryana. The accused have been identified as Ali Sher (24), native of Bharatpur Rajasthan; Altaf (19), native of Palwal, Haryana; Shazid (19), native of Kathumar, Rajasthan; Talah (20), native of Bharatpur, Rajasthan; Sahib (19), native of Bharatpur, Rajasthan and Satish (24), native of Bhaaratpur, Rajasthan.

Police officer said that these accused were nabbed from Rajasthan by a team led by Inspector Amanjot Singh, in-charge of the Operations Cell. Police recovered three laptops, 13 Mobile Phones, one          Pay tm Card, one Swipe Machine, one Finger Print impression on plastic device, 19 Pass Books, seven PAN Cards, two Cheque Books, 22 Adhaar Card, 13 SIMs, two ATM Cards and cash Rs 66000 from their possession.

Earlier, the victim, a resident of Sector 19, had complained that he received a WhatsApp message from a suspect, who claimed to be government school teacher. The suspect had candid conversation with the victim. He later received a video call in which there was a girl on the other side who lured the victim and asked him to remove his clothes. The victim then received threats in which the suspect asked him to deposit Rs 25,000 or else his objections videos will be uploaded on social networking sites.

Later, the victim received a call from another number and the suspect introduced himself as some SHO calling from the DC office, Chandigarh. The suspect told the victim that a complaint had been received against him at the DC office and they were going to take action against him. The suspect then asked the victim to pay him money to reach a compromise.

The suspect gave him a mobile number of some Anmol Sharma and asked him to make payment on Google Pay, following which he transferred Rs 3,120. However, the suspect kept on demanding more money, following which the police were informed.

During the course of investigation, the raiding party of the Operations Cell, Sector 26, Chandigarh, went to Kaithwara, Bharatpur district, Rajasthan and Palwal and nabbed six suspects. During interrogation, accused revealed that they were running a sextortion gang and had targeted people in Chandigarh and other states by recording their objectionable videos.

In course of investigation, it was revealed that there are around 25-30 members in the gang who have used over 2,000 SIM cards in the past one year to cheat and extort money from people. Bank details of the three accused revealed that they were extorting around Rs 50 lakh per month through sextortion racket and a majority of their money was invested in real estate.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh, Punjab

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, visited PGIMER Satellite Centre, Sangrur

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INDIAEPOST CHANDIGARH AUGUST 21, 2022

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, visited PGIMER Satellite Centre, Sangrur and reviewed its progress today.  

Expressing satisfaction at the pace of the execution of the Project, the Hon’ble Minister stated, “With the pace at which the work is being executed, including procurement of medical devices and equipment, the Satellite Centre will be fully functional by January, 2023 and will provide a huge relief not only for the local population but for those far and wide.”   Updating about the success of the ‘free precaution vaccination drive’ launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 15th July for 75 days to mark Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Hon’ble Union Health Minister shared, “Already over 13 crore people have leveraged this facility by getting vaccinated under this initiative in one month and three days till date.”

The Minister urged the people of Punjab and country in general, especially the vulnerable population, to get vaccinated in the balance of 75 days and equip themselves to face the COVID crisis.” Lauding healthcare workers for their commendable role in containing the COVID crisis, the Hon’ble Minister stated, “Our country has been appreciated across the globe for two things; for COVID management by adhering to the guidelines and vaccination drive by crossing the mark of over 200 crore doses.”  

Endorsing the need for ‘affordable health for all’, the Hon’ble Minister shared about the initiatives by the Govt. to promote generic medicines which include over 8500 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country which are visited over 20 lakh people daily in the country, awareness campaign by engaging with National Medical Council and launch of an app ‘Jan Aushadhi Sugam’ to make people aware about the salt in the medicine to enable them make considered choice between generic and branded medicine. The Hon’ble Minister also shared that ‘a Jan Aushadhi Kendra will also be opened in the Satellite Centre , Sangrur.’   Earlier, the Minister was accorded a warm welcome by Director PGIMER Prof. Vivek Lal, Deputy Director(Admin), Kumar Gaurav Dhawan, IRS, Sh.Jitendra Jorwal, IAS, DC Sangrur, Medicsl Superintendent, Prof. Vipin Koushal amongst others. The Hon’ble Minister chaired a meeting which was attended by Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER, senior faculty members and senior administrative officers including Sh. Dhawan (IRS), DDA, Prof. Vipin Koushal, MS, Sh.Kumar Abhay, FA, Prof. Ashok Kumar, Addl.

Medical Superintendent, PGIMER & Nodal Officer, Satellite Centre, Sangrur.A detailed presentation was made before the Hon’ble Minister wherein the dignitary was apprised that the Satellite Centre, comprising a 300 bed hospital, was envisaged with an intent to reduce the overcrowding in PGIMER, Chandigarh and reduce travel time of patients.Prof. Vivek Lal informed “Spread over a land of 25 acres, the project cost of this Satellite Centre is Rs. 449.00 crores. The phase 1 has already been executed with the construction of Temporary OPD, Guest House and Boundary Wall and Phase 2 of the execution is being  fast tracked.

The Satellite Centre is expected to be fully functional early next year.”Detailing the Minister about the patient care at Satellite Centre, Prof. Vivek Lal further shared that with a temporary OPD being functional since October 2016in the Satellite Centre, 2,78,416 patients have already been examined in these OPD facilities till date.” Later the Hon’ble Minister visited the Temporary OPD  where he interacted with doctors, paramedics and patients and enquired about the facilities being provided to patients there.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

Chandigarh International Airport will be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh: Chautala

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 21, 2022

There has been a mutual agreement between the Government of Haryana and Government of Punjab to name the Chandigarh International Airport after the name of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala met Punjab Chief Minister, Sh. Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh on Saturday and agreed to name it ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport’. After the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that Shaheed Bhagat Singh is one such martyr of the country’s freedom struggle, who has inspired the youth of every generation. He said that the name of the Chandigarh International Airport will now be named after the great martyr Bhagat Singh and both the Punjab and Haryana Government have made mutual consensus on it.

Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that the collective contribution of Haryana Government, Punjab Government and Chandigarh Administration is involved in the construction and modernization of Chandigarh Airport and after expansion this airport is boosting the development and industrialization of this area. He said that since Haryana also had an equal share in its construction, the name of the city ‘Panchkula’ should also be added to its name. The Deputy Chief Minister said that he has sent a recommendation on behalf of Haryana Government to the Punjab Government. He added the same request will also be sent to the Central Government in this regard.

Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that in future, Chandigarh Airport will be a major airport of North India and it will witness progress along with fulfilling the needs of the, hence all the differences related to its naming should end soon.

Chandigarh, Haryana

HSLSA Executive Chairman inaugurated ADR Center in Rewari

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 21, 2021

Justice Augustine George Masih, Judge, Punjab  and  Haryana High Court and the Executive Chairman, Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HSLSA) today inaugurated the new building of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HSLSA) at Rewari District Headquarters. ADR Centre to provide cheap, simple, quick and accessible justice.

During the inauguration, Sh. Justice Augustine George and Sh. Justice Manoj Bajaj also launched the special campaign ‘Aging with Dignity’ of HSLSA and released the poster on the Rights of Senior Citizens.

Mr. Subhas Mehla, Member Secretary, Haryana Legal Services Authority Secretary and District and Sessions Judge and Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Varsha Jain gave information about these programmes.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Sh. Justice Augustine George Masih said that with the opening of this ADR Centre people can get cheap, simple, quick and accessible justice to settle their cases. This is the building of the Fourteenth ADR Centre at the district level in Haryana. Haryana is the leading state in the country in terms of  setting up a separate ADR Centre, added Sh. Justice Augustine George Masih.

Appealing for cooperation from the advocates, Sh. Justice Augustine George Masih said that together we have to ensure cheap, simple, quick and accessible justice to the needy.

Appreciating the Aging with Dignity campaign launched by the HSLSA, he said that it is a commendable initiative to honour senior citizens. He said that many schemes are being run by the government for senior citizens and they should take complete advantage of these schemes.

It is the responsibility of all of us that we give full respect to senior citizens and ensure the complete reach of the various welfare schemes being run by the state government to these elderly, said Sh. Justice Augustine George Masih.

Sh. Justice Manoj Bajaj said that the services provided through the ADR Centre will provide accessible, cheap and speedy justice to the complainants, which will save both money and time.

He said that due to the promotion of legal services, now people’s inclination towards Lok Adalats and ADR Center is increasing continuously, through which lakhs of pending cases of the state are being settled every year.

Sh. Vimal Kumar, District and Sessions Judge, while expressing gratitude to the Chief Guest, Sh. Justice Augustine George Masih and Administrative Judge Manoj Bajaj said that the ADR building has been gifted in Rewari, and 92.7 percent of cases have been settled through Lok Adalats in the district, and now disputes can be settled through ADR Centre as well.

The office bearers of the District Bar Association also presented mementos to Sh. Justice Augustine George Masih and Sh. Justice Manoj Bajaj.

After the program, the message of environmental protection was also given by planting saplings on the premises of the  ADR Centre.

Dehradun

CM Dhami prays in Tapkeshwar after shrine flooded by raging river

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IEP Dehradun August 21, 2022

The heavy rainfall experienced in Dehradun from Friday night onward caused flooding in various parts of the city and its suburbs. The famous Tapkewhar Mahadev temple was also flooded during the wee hours due the level of water in the Tamasa river rising considerably due to consistent and heavy rainfall in the surrounding foothills.

After inspecting the suburban areas affected the heavy rainfall and resulting damage, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple area. He directed officials to focus on plans to mitigate damage from disasters in the future. The CM also offered prayers in the shrine and wished for the welfare of all citizens.

Earlier, Dhami visited the affected areas of Thano, Kumalda and nearby areas. He directed the Garhwal commissioner and Tehri district magistrate to shift residents of affected areas to safer locations. The CM directed officials to facilitate alternative routes to citizens in places where the main roads are blocked. Officials were told to restore electricity and water supply in the areas where these were disrupted.

Inspecting the collapsed bridge in Thano, he directed officials to arrange for an alternative route soon. The CM also talked to the MLAs concerned to keep a tab on the situation in their respective areas.

Dehradun

U’khand to be made cataract-free, says Minister Dhan Singh Rawat

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IEP Dehradun August 21, 2022

Uttarakhand Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat has said that a campaign in phased manner would be undertaken to make Uttarakhand free from cataract. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call for ‘Cataract free India’ campaign so that the country is made free from cataract in the next three years. The minister said that the free operation of cataract patients is being done in the State and free eyeglasses are being provided to such patients.

Elaborating further he said that in the year 2017-18, free cataract surgery was performed on 37,901 patients while 34,538 surgeries were done in the year 2018-19. In the year 2019-20 a total of 33,292 cataract surgeries were performed while 23,160 and 34,627 surgeries were formed in the year 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively.  The minister added that the State government is committed to making the State free from cataract.

He said that 37th national eye donation fortnight would be organised in the State from August 25 to September 8. The fortnight is being organised under the aegis of the National programme for control of blindness and visual impairment. The Minister has given necessary instruction to the officers of the health department for successful organisation of the campaign. In the fortnight the people would be encouraged to take a pledge to donate eyes after their death.

Rawat said that camps to test the eyes of the people would be organised at the block levels in all the 13 districts of the state during the campaign.  Apart from checking the eyes the ANMs and Asha workers would distribute vitamin A tablets in these camps. Rawat said that many schemes are being operated in the State for the patients with visual impairment and other diseases.