Category Archives: Punjab

Chandigarh, Punjab

Ensure all Government amenities to residents of registered colonies: Aman Arora

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IEP CHANDIGRAH JULY 14, 2022

In continuation of the marathon meetings with the development authorities of the big cities in order to provide better citizen centric services to the urban area residents and ensuring holistic development of the cities, the Housing and Urban Development Minister Mr. Aman Arora today held brainstorming discussions with the officers of PUDA, Amritsar Development Authority and Jalandhar Development Authority.

          Carrying forward the agenda of the Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Mann led State Government to ensure top notch services to the people of Punjab, the Minister directed the officers to make sure that the residents of the registered colonies get all the Government amenities in accordance with the law and nobody who lives in the urban centres should be devoid of such facilities. The Minister further emphasized chalking out a detailed roadmap for effecting big time administrative reforms with prime focus on urban development so as to make the cities of Punjab, model ones worth emulating by the entire country.

Noting that it has come to his notice about the work pertaining to the registries in the registered colonies of Amritsar being held up, Mr. Arora took the quick decision to open up the registry related work. “In future, no unauthorised colony would be tolerated”, said the Minister.

          Directing the officers of PUDA and all the development authorities to strive to ensure that no urban area resident faces any harassment, the Minister disclosed that he would visit the big cities in the coming days and listen to the grievances of the masses besides instructing the concerned authorities to redress those problems the spot.

          Among others present on the occasion included Principal Secretary of the department Mr. A.K. Sinha, Chief Administrator PUDA and Director Town and Country Planning Arshdeep Singh Thind, Additional Chief Administrator Amritsar Development Authority Lovejeet Kalsi and Additional Chief Administrator Jalandhar Development Authority Mr. Jasbir Singh.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh, Punjab

FULLY COMMITTED TO ENSURE CORRUPTION FREE SERVICES AND SETTING UP WORLD CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE IN URBAN AREAS: AMAN ARORA

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 13, 2022

The State Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is fully committed to provide corruption free services to the residents of urban areas besides ensuring a world class infrastructure in the big cities. The various wings of the Urban Development department must leave no stone unturned to meet this objective. This was stated here today by the Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora during his meetings with the development authorities of different cities.

          The Minister also reviewed the functioning of PUDA, GMADA, GLADA, Patiala Development Authority (P.D.A.), Bathinda Development Authority (B.D.A.) and the Town & Country Planning during the course of marathon meetings. In the meeting conducted separately with each development authority, a presentation was made with regard to the concerned authority.

          Mr. Arora further said that the past few years have seen the migration from villages and small towns towards the big cities. The population of the cities has grown exponentially but the amenities have gone from bad to worse. The Minister directed the officers that considering the population aspect in view of the present circumstances, the emphasis should be on ensuring citizen centric services in a hassle free manner. “Under Punjab Urban Planning, focus must be on availability of clean drinking water, sewerage, street lights, maintenance of parks and prompt draining of water during rains”, added the Minister.

          Disclosing more, the Minister said that he would personally visit all the big cities in coming days in order to take stock of the ground situation and listen to the issues being encountered by the people living in the urban areas. He also impressed upon the development of all the cities to make sure that no city resident faces a problem.

          Among others present on the occasion included Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development A.K. Sinha, Chief Administrator and Director, Town and Country Planning Arshdeep Singh Thind, Chief Administrator GLADA Surabhi Malik and Chief Administrator GMADA Amandeep Bansal.

Chandigarh, Punjab, Punjab

CM ORDERS COMPREHENSIVE ENQUIRY INTO IRREGULARITIES IN POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

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IEP CHANDIGARH, JULY 13, 2022

The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced a comprehensive enquiry into the irregularities in the post matric scholarship scheme for nailing the guilty of this heinous crime against students of weaker and underprivileged sections.

“My government is committed for ensuring that oil and truth comes out in this scheme so that embezzlers are punished as per the law”, said the Chief Minister.

          The Chief Minister assured the people of Punjab that this enquiry will be a bear thread analysis to ascertain every lapse and embezzlement of the public money under the post matric scholarship scheme. He said that these discrepancies are an intolerable crime against the weaker and underprivileged strata of society adding that anyone found involved in this will not be spared and severest of severe action will be taken against them. Bhagwant Mann said that the barbaric embezzlement of the funds under the post matric scholarship scheme has ruined the bright future of millions of Schedule Caste (SC) students by depriving them of quality higher education.

The Chief Minister said that these irregularities were a day light robbery over the interests of the weaker sections and his government cannot sit on its hands for allowing the culprits to move freely. He bemoaned that rather than acting against the guilty, the successive Akali and Congress governments have patronised the politicians and bureaucrats who were involved in this sinister move. Bhagwant Mann said that not only this but the Akali, BJP and Congress leadership have also connived with each other to ensure that the perpetrators of this crime evade any action.

However, the Chief Minister said that now the government of common man will expose the misdeeds of these parties as the nexus of politicians and bureaucrats have extended largesse to the educational institutes for their own vested interests thereby harassing the SC students both mentally and physically. He unequivocally said that action will be definitely taken against those who are responsible for these discrepancies. “The guilty of these irregularities will be made answerable for the loot of every single penny from the state exchequer” added Bhagwant Mann.

Chandigarh, Punjab

VIDHAN SABHA MEMBERS CAN CASTE VOTE THROUGH PRESCRIBED FORM AT HEADQUARTERS OF OTHER STATES OR DELHI

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 13, 2022

For the purpose of the Presidential Election, the Election Commission of India has fixed the Committee Room ‘A’ of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Chandigarh, as the place of poll which will take place between  10.00 am to 5.00 pm, on Monday, the 18th July, 2022 for elected Members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly.

          Now, the Commission has relaxed the 10 days norms fixed for applying for permission to any elected Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly to cast his/her vote at the place of polling in Room No.63, Parliament House, New Delhi as well as at any other State Headquarter who are not able to cast his/her vote at his/her own State Headquarter.

          Giving more details, Assistant Returning officer (ARO) for Presidential Election cum Secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha informed that If any elected Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly is interested to cast his/her vote at New Delhi or at any other State Head Quarter, then prescribed Form in this regard can be had from the ARO which can be entertained even after 10 days before the date of poll, if there is sufficient time available for making necessary arrangements in this regard.

          He said that the option once made by any elector will be final and no change of mind will be allowed by the Commission.

Chandigarh, Punjab

AFFORDABLE LUXURY RIDE IN VOLVO TO DELHI PROVES BOON FOR COMMON MAN

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 12, 2022

The newly launched Volvo bus service from Punjab to Delhi airport has proved boon for the common man as around 17,500 passengers have benefitted within less than a month in these buses.

            Divulging the details, Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Tuesday, said that within 25 days of inauguration of bus service by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on June 15, the Volvo bus service plying between the state of Punjab and IGI Airport Delhi has been beneficial for common man.

            He said that 20 Volvo buses of Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and PRTC are daily operating from Amritsar, Pathankot, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Patiala, Nawanshahr, Ropar, Moga and Chandigarh to IGI Airport New Delhi by ending the monopoly of private transporters and introducing cheap, comfortable and luxurious travel facility to IGI airport at a meagre fare, even less than half of private transporters. Besides booking of tickets at the bus counters, passengers desirous to go to airport are also getting benefit of online booking.

            The Transport Minister said, with the onset of these buses, transport mafia is becoming a thing of past day by day as only private transporters had run their buses on this route for decades and looted the people by charging impulsively, adding that vested interests of Akali and congress leaders prohibited them from plying government buses to the airport.

            S. Bhullar said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led state government is taking every initiative to safeguard the interests of Punjabis and eliminate all sort of mafia or monopolisation from the state.

Chandigarh, Punjab

MOHALLA CLINICS TO BE FUNCTIONAL FROM AUGUST 15: CHETAN SINGH JAURAMAJRA

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 12, 2022

 Fulfilling another major poll promise of significant improvement in the healthcare system and to provide best healthcare services free of cost to the people across the state, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led state government will operationalize “Mohalla clinics” on the Independence Day on August 15.

            Health and Family Welfare Minister S. Chetan Singh Jouramajra said that these clinics, which would spread across the state, would enable decentralized delivery as well as strengthening of primary health care to people at their doorsteps, thereby increasing access to an expanded range of services, reduce out of pocket expenditure, improve disease surveillance and strengthen referral linkages especially for the vulnerable and marginalised sections.

            Notably, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, in his statement recently, disclosed that during the first Phase, 75 Mohalla clinics will be made operational across the state by 15th August 2022 to mark the 75th Independence day. By end of this fiscal year, 109 Mohalla clinics will be set up.

            The Minister further said that every Mohalla clinic will be staffed with a Medical officer, Pharmacist, Clinical Assistant & Sweeper cum Helper. The Human resources at Mohalla clinics is to be empanelled on per patient basis. These clinics will provide outpatient care for a range of curative care for common illnesses, first aid for injuries, dressing and management of minor wounds. Referral and subsequent follow up for specialized care will also be done through these clinics. Health education, information and awareness too shall be focused upon, he added.

            “Essential drugs and tests will be made available at Mohalla clinics. The diagnostic facilities at Mohalla clinics will be provided through PPP mode”, said the Minister, adding that this will ensure availability of diagnostic tests at Mohalla clinics in a cost-efficient and consistent manner. An IT system will be developed for the registration of patients and record keeping at Mohalla clinics. Teleconsultation services with the specialist will also be introduced in a phased manner, he added.

            The Minister said that empanelment process has already started for this project.

Chandigarh, Punjab

PUNJAB GOVT WILL NOT SUCCUMB TO PRESSURE TACTICS: BRAM SHANKER JIMPA

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 09, 2022

          The Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government would not succumb to any pressure tactics by Punjab Revenue Officers Association and the government would not hesitate to take strict action against those employees who will try to hinder work just to put the pressure for their own benefits. These were the words of Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Mr. Bram Shanker Jimpa, who reacted on the strike call given by Punjab Revenue Officers Association from July 11, 2022.

          In the press communique released here, the Cabinet Minister said that their strike would be consider as an illegal, anti-development and against public interest as a few individuals under the banner of the Association were misusing their position to mislead the employee community.

          In fact, the majority of the employees do not approve of such kind of pressure tactics and the state government is fully committed to the welfare of all the employees, he said, while urging all the revenue staff to continue hard-work for the welfare of state. The Cabinet Minister also said that he is always available for them in case they face any problem in discharging their duty.

          He said that the Mann Government has within no time eradicated corruption in Tehsils and our campaign in this direction will continue unabated.

          Underlining the pro-people steps taken by the government to bring reforms in the Revenue department to provide hassle-free services in a transparent manner, Mr. Bram Shanker Jimpa said, “we have tightened the noose around illegal/unauthorized colonies and no registration of plots will be allowed in such colonies.”

          An online portal “https://grcs.punjab.gov.in” has also been launched wherein citizens can register the grievances related to the possession of plots. This unique online portal is providing property possession related services in a seamless manner, besides expediting the property possession process, he added.

          Apart from this, the Revenue Minister said that the department has also initiated an e-stamp facility, e-Girdawari, besides linkage of email and mobile number of owners with Farads. He further informed that the state government would soon launch e-Nishandehi facility for the people of Punjab.       

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, 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.