Chandigarh, May 15:

Punjab Water Resources and Soil and Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal today said that Haryana has further complicated water-sharing negotiations by increasing its already unfeasible water demand from 9,525 cusecs to 10,300 cusecs during today’s Technical Committee meeting of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

Following the meeting of officials of state of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana, the Cabinet Minister informed that Haryana’s escalating demand clearly shows its unwillingness to reach a reasonable resolution to our shared water challenges. Haryana tactics appear designed to create an impossible situation rather than work toward practical solutions.

He said that in the Technical Committee meeting, chaired by the BBMB Chairman, Water Resources Secretary Krishan Kumar and Chief Engineer Sher Singh represented the Punjab, alongside Chief Engineers from Haryana and Rajasthan, with Central Government representatives participating virtually.

The Cabinet Minister said that “Haryana had initially demanded 8,500 cusecs, which our technical team clearly explained was impossible to provide. On humanitarian grounds, Punjab has already been supplying 4,000 cusecs since April 4 specifically for drinking water purposes,” said Barinder Kumar Goyal.

He informed that as we already explained our limitations, Haryana has demanded 10,300 cusecs of water to be delivered from May 21 onward, despite their previous written correspondence requesting 9,525 cusecs, which is significant and unexplained increase.

Barinder Kumar Goyal, while stressing the physical impossibility of meeting Haryana’s demands, said that the Bhakra Main Line (BML) has a maximum capacity of 11,700 cusecs. Punjab requires a minimum of 3,000 cusecs for our own critical needs. Now, Haryana’s demand of 10,300 cusecs would effectively leave Punjab with almost no water and exceeds what the infrastructure can safely handle, especially while repairs of BML are ongoing.

He said that Punjab officials presented documentation of Haryana’s previous written request for 9,525 cusecs during the meeting, highlighting the contradiction with their new demand. The BBMB Chairman acknowledged the discrepancy and committed to examining the matter further, he added.

“By making these technically impossible demands, Haryana is deliberately creating complications in the water-sharing arrangement,” said the Cabinet Minister, adding that Punjab has consistently adhered to all BBMB rules and regulations, while Haryana continues to shift its position.

The Minister also clarified Punjab’s position regarding the ongoing water supply, saying that the 4,000 cusecs we have been providing to Haryana since April 4 is drawn from Punjab’s allocation. We have formally stated that the total accumulated volume will need to be returned to Punjab when required.

The Cabinet Minister said that when the meeting began, the Rajasthan government expressed appreciation to Punjab for reliably supplying water when needed. In contrast, Haryana reverted to making excessive demands.

CHANDIGARH/SANGRUR, May 15:

In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Sangrur Police has uncovered a well-organised smuggling racket operating from within the Jail premises, leading to the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Security Gurpreet Singh posted at Sangrur Jail, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.

“Acting on credible intelligence, a raid inside the Sangrur Jail had led to the recovery of 12 mobile phones, 4 smartwatches, 50 grams of opium, 12 grams heroin and other contraband items. The preliminary investigation has also pointed to the involvement of a Class-IV employee identified as Parshant, whose role in facilitating the smuggling activities came to light,” said the DGP, while confirming the arrest of the Jail employee.

He said that pursuing backward and forward linkages, the investigation further led to the arrest of Amritsar-based drug smuggler identified as Manpreet Singh, who is an associate of inmate Gurvinder Singh – currently lodged in Sangrur Jail. Police teams have recovered 4 Kg Heroin, ₹5.5 lakh in drug money and one 9MM Glock pistol along with two live cartridges from accused Manpreet’s possession, he added.

The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests and disclosures are expected, said DGP Gaurav Yadav, while reaffirming that no individual, regardless of their rank or position, will be spared if found involved in illegal activities.

Sharing more details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sangrur Sartaj Singh Chahal said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused DSP Gurpreet Singh was actively involved in the smuggling of drugs and mobile phones into the jail premises.

He said that probe has also revealed that the accused DSP had received Rs 40000 cash from inmate Gurchet’s relative and Rs 26000 in his wife’s account via UPI, to facilitate 25 grams heroin and two mobile phones into the jail premises. Of the total 25 grams heroin, 12 grams heroin has been recovered from another inmate identified as Ravi, who was further selling the drugs to inmates on the directions of Gurchet.

The SSP said that a total of 19 accused persons including DSP Gurpreet Singh, employee Parshant, drug smuggler Manpreet Singh, inmate Gurchet’s mother identified as Banto alias Banso and 15 inmates identified as Gurvinder Singh, Lovejeet Singh, Sikander Singh, Pargat Singh, Sultan Singh, Aman Kumar, Ajay, Harpreet Singh of Ludhiana, Rishipal, Harpreet Singh of Dhuri, Munna, Gur Raj Singh, Raghvir Singh, Gurchet Singh and Rajiv Kaushal alias Gaggu have been arrested so far

He said that further investigations are on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case to unearth the entire network. More arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days, he added.

A case FIR no 75 dated 27/4/2025 under sections 18, 21, 29 and 27A of the NDPS Act, section 52-A of the Prisons Act and section 25 of the Arms Act had already been registered at Police Station City-1 Sangrur, while, section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been added later.

Chandigarh, May 15:

          Punjab Chief Election Commisioner Sibin C informed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu & Dr. Vivek Joshi had an interaction with the Aam Aadmi Party led by its National Convener, Arvind Kejriwal at Nirvachan Sadan today. The meeting is in continuation of the interactions being held by ECI with the Presidents of various National and State Political Parties.

He said that these interactions provide for a long-felt need of constructive discussions which enable National and State Party Presidents to share their suggestions and concerns directly with the Commission. This initiative aligns with the Commission’s broader vision of further strengthening the electoral process in accordance with the existing legal framework with all stakeholders.

          The Commission had earlier met with the delegations of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), led by the Party President Mayawati, on May 06, 2025, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by the Party President Jagat Prakash Nadda, on May 08, 2025, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), M.A. Baby on May 10, 2025 and the Party President of the National People’s Party, Conrad Sangma on May 13, 2025.

          Earlier, a total of 4,719 all-party meetings have been conducted including 40 meetings by CEOs, 800 by DEOs, and 3879 by EROs engaging over 28,000 representatives of various political parties.

CHANDIGARH, May 15:

          With the ongoing war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 75th day, Punjab Police on Thursday conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) at Bus Stands across the state.

          The operation was carried out in all the 28 Police districts on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.

          Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who was personally monitoring this state-level operation, said that all the CPs/SSPs were asked to ensure heavy deployment of police force under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officers to make this operation successful.

          He said that suspicious persons were checked during the operation conducted at around all the bus stands in the state.

          Apart from this, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs and conducted raids at 486 locations on Thursday leading to the arrest of 124 drug smugglers after registration of 83 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 11,208 within 75 days.

          The Special DGP said that the raids have resulted in recovery of 4.02 kg heroin, 2.5 kg opium and Rs 27090 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          He informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1200 police personnel, under the supervision of 87 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 481 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

          As part of the drive against drugs, in Gurdaspur, a bulldozer was used to raze the houses of two drug smugglers, identified as Baljinder and Lakhwinder, constructed illegally on the land of Water Resource Department at their village Dida Sansia. On this occasion, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurdaspur Aaditya said that both the accused, whose house were demolished, has a criminal background with accused Baljinder facing 10 FIRs under NDPS act and Excise Act, and accused Lakhwinder facing 12 FIRs under the NDPS Act and Excise Act.

          The Special DGP said that Punjab Police has devised a comprehensive strategy and such operations will be continued till the scourge of drugs eradicated from the state.

          He said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 116 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.

          Meanwhile, Punjab Police has also carried out search operation at different jails in six districts— Commissionerate Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Jalandhar Rural, Kapurthala and Rupnagar— to check any illegal activities in the jail. “Our Police teams have thoroughly searched every nook and corner including barracks, kitchen and toilets in the jail complex,” said Special DGP Arpit Shukla.

Chandigarh, May 13:

Punjab Horticulture Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat today reviewed the ongoing projects and various schemes of the Horticulture Department during a review meeting held at Kheti Bhawan, Mohali.

The Minister said that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is continuously working to strengthen the horticulture sector, ensuring better opportunities for farmers. He emphasized that promoting horticulture is a key step towards increasing farmers’ income and achieving agricultural diversification in the state.

Mr. Bhagat stressed the need for transparent and timely disbursal of subsidies to farmers so that they can avail themselves of the maximum benefits of government schemes without delay. He also directed officials to ensure the swift completion of all horticulture-related initiatives and to engage proactively with farmers at the grassroots level.

During the meeting, Secretary Horticulture Mr. Mohammad Tayyab and Director Horticulture Mrs. Shailender Kaur apprised the Minister of the progress made under various schemes and projects of the department. They also highlighted key achievements and shared updates on field-level implementation.

On the occasion, Deputy Director Horticulture Mr. Dalbir Singh, Mr. Harmail Singh, Dr. Harpreet Singh, and other officials were also present.

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, May 13:

          Taking swift action after a tragic loss of lives due to spurious liquor in Majitha in Amritsar, Punjab Police has arrested 10 persons including the kingpin of the racket along with several local distributors in connection with the illicit liquor trade and main suppliers of Methanol— a fatal chemical used in industrial products, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

          The arrested kingpin of the racket has been identified as Sahib Singh, while, main suppliers of methanol have been identified as Pankaj Kumar alias Sahil and Arvind Kumar, owners of Sahil Chemicals at Sukh Enclave in Ludhiana. Police have also arrested local distributors— identified as Prabhjit Singh and Kulbir Singh; and local sellers— identified as Ninder Kaur, Sahib Singh, Gurjant Singh, Arun alias Kala and Sikander Singh alias Pappu.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the Methanol chemical, after being procured online by Kingpin Sahib Singh, was being used for manufacturing spurious liquor. Investigation is underway to uncover the entire modus operandi and to bring all involved to justice, he said.

          The DGP informed that DSP Subdivision Majitha Amolak Singh and SHO Police Station Majitha SI Avtar Singh have been suspended for gross negligence in discharging their official duties, which resulted in the fatal incident. Departmental inquiries have been initiated against the delinquents, he added.

          “We all stand united in grief and in our resolve to ensure justice is served and such tragedies are prevented in the future,” reaffirmed DGP Gaurav Yadav.

          Sharing details of modus operandi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amritsar Rural Maninder Singh said that the investigations have revealed that the local distributor Prabhjeet Singh had received methanol chemical filled in 50 litre jerry can from kingpin Sahib Singh. During questioning, the latter revealed he has ordered the methanol from a Ludhiana based chemical firm, Sahil Chemicals, via online platform, he said.

          The SSP said that the probe has also revealed that another consignment of methanol, ordered by kingpin Sahib Singh, from the Delhi-based firm is also in transition. Excise and Police teams have been dispatched to retrieve and seize the consignment as soon as it arrives, he said, while adding that all the culprits involved in this racket will be arrested.

          Two separate cases FIR no. 42/25 at Police Station Majitha and FIR no. 16/25 at Police Station Kathunangal in Amristar Rural have been registered under sections 105 and 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), section 61A of the Excise Act and section 3 of the SC/ST Act.

CHANDIGARH, May 13:

          In a significant step towards strengthening healthcare at the grassroots level, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Tuesday, inaugurated the reconstituted Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) across the state and exhorted these committees to work in tandem with the Government to save people from vector and water borne diseases and help in making Punjab a drug-free state.

          Notably, a remarkable turnout of over 1 lakh members from 12,977 VHSNCs participated in the inauguration program via a YouTube link, demonstrating their commitment to community health.

          During the virtual interaction, Dr Balbir Singh also directly engaged with over 100 members from selected VHSNCs from six districts including Mansa, Patiala, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, and Bathinda.

          Emphasising the crucial role of VHSNCs in tackling prevalent health issues, Dr Balbir Singh said that key areas of focus included the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases like Dengue, Malaria, and Chikungunya, as well as addressing waterborne diseases like diarrhea. He informed that all the ASHA workers have been trained to identify mosquito larvae as part of the “Har Shukarvar Dengue Te Var” campaign, aimed at eliminating stagnant water – a breeding ground for mosquitoes— from in and around the houses. Health Department has also been providing Gambusia fish— as a biological control measure, to be released at village ponds, he said.

          He highlighted that Dengue testing is now free at all Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) and in case of diagnosis of dengue disease people can avail free treatment from any government facility.

          Beyond vector-borne diseases, the Health Minister also addressed the importance of ensuring safe drinking water and creating “Nasha Mukt” (drug-free) villages with the help of Village Defence Committees, and the need for community vigilance against drug peddlers.

          Dr Balbir Singh said that he will be regularly interacting with the VHSNC members in the coming days and the next interaction will focus on Maternal and Child Health.

          With the ongoing heatwave, Dr Balbir Singh provided essential guidelines, urging people to drink adequate water, avoid working in the sun, wear loose cotton clothes, and seek immediate shade for anyone showing signs of heatstroke. He also stressed the importance of planting more trees for environmental protection.

          Recognising the valuable contributions of VHSNCs, the Health Minister announced that well-performing committees will be rewarded with grants and commendation certificates.

          In a subsequent meeting with Civil Surgeons of all districts, Dr Balbir Singh emphasised a paradigm shift in the approach towards public healthcare facilities. He directed the Civil Surgeons to be proactive and to “own the hospitals just like their own,” urging them to move away from a mere “government ownership” mentality. He stressed that these qualities should “percolate to the patient level,” advocating for treating patients with empathy, care, and good behaviour, highlighting the positive “placebo effect” such an approach can create.

          Meanwhile, the Health Minister also took stock of the primary and secondary health services of each district.

          On the occasion, Vice Chairman PHSC Maninderjit Singh Vicky, Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul, Member Punjab Development Commission Anurag Kundu,  Secretary Health Basant Garg, Special Secretary Health-cum-MD NHM Ghanshyam Thori, MD PHSC Amit Talwar, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Hitinder Kaur, Director Family Welfare Dr Jasminder, Director ESI Dr Jaspreet Kaur, Director PHSC Dr Anil Goyal

BOX: DISTRICTS WITH OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN VARIOUS HEALTH PROGRAMS HONOURED:

 — Lowest Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in 2024-25: Ropar (25)

 — Best Performing District in AACs: Sangrur

 — Best Performing District in Vector Borne Diseases Control: Ludhiana

 — Best Performing District in Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) (30+ screening): Pathankot

 — Maximum Screening of Vulnerable Groups in 100-day TB Campaign: Fatehgarh Sahib

 — Best Performing District in Immunization: Hoshiarpur

 — Best Performing District in NPCB Free Distribution of Spectacles in Schools: Malerkotla

 — 100% Achievement in Tubectomy and PPIUCD (Family Planning): Barnala

 — Highest Sex Ratio of 964 under PC & PNDT program in Civil Registration System of 2023-24 and 2024-25: Kapurthala (964)

Chandigarh/Tepla (Shambhu, Rajpura, Patiala), May 13:

In a significant breakthrough in Punjab’s ongoing war against spurious and illicit liquor, a joint team of Patiala District Police and the Excise Department today seized a large consignment of 600 litres of methanol, a chemical commonly used in the manufacture of illicit liquor. The seizure is suspected to have direct links to the recent Majitha spurious liquor tragedy in Amritsar.

Addressing a press conference near the site of the seizure at Tepla police post on the Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Shambhu-Banur road, SSP Patiala Varun Sharma stated that this action was carried out under the directions of DGP Gaurav Yadav, as part of the Punjab Government’s aggressive campaign against drugs and illegal liquor, being spearheaded by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.

SSP Vrun Sharma informed that following the tragic incident in Majitha earlier today, DIG Border Range shared intelligence about a suspected consignment of methanol en route from Transport Nagar, Delhi, to Punjab. Acting swiftly on this input and under the direct orders of the DGP, Patiala Police, in collaboration with the Excise Department, intercepted the vehicle near Tepla and recovered three drums containing 600 litres of methanol, concealed among other goods in truck number PB 10 H 1577.

The truck driver has been arrested, and a detailed investigation is underway.

SSP Varun Sharma further added that initial investigations suggest that the consignment was intended for use in the production of spurious liquor. “Had this consignment reached its destination, it could have led to the loss of hundreds of innocent lives,” he said.

The successful operation was carried out by a team under the supervision of SP(D) Gurbans Singh Bains, DSP Harmanjit Singh Cheema, and Assistant Commissioner, Excise Department Rajesh Aerry, and included Excise ETO Rupinderjit Singh, SHO Shambhu Inspector Harpreet Singh, Excise Inspectors Harjinder Singh, Gopal Sharma, Rajnish Kumar, and Tepla Chowki In-charge Jajwinder Singh, along with personnel from the Excise Police and Patiala Police.

SSP said that this action marks a major success in the State’s fight against the manufacture and distribution of poisonous liquor and highlights the commitment of Punjab Police and the Excise Department to safeguarding public health and safety.

Chandigarh / Phagwara, May 13:

Punjab’s Minister for Local Government, Dr. Ravjot Singh on Tuesday announced a comprehensive plan to enhance Phagwara’s civic infrastructure, focusing on cleanliness, waste management, sewerage systems, and street lighting.

During an early-morning whirlwind tour of the city, the Minister interacted directly with residents to identify their concerns and develop effective solutions, underscoring his commitment to transforming Phagwara into a cleaner and more liveable urban center.

Dr. Singh emphasized that achieving 100% sewerage coverage, ensuring proper waste disposal, and maintaining high standards of cleanliness are top priorities. He assured residents that a permanent solution for waste collection and disposal will be implemented soon.

To this end, he directed officials from the Municipal Corporation, Sewerage Board, and Water Supply Department to work urgently to address these challenges. During his visit to key areas such as the Bus Stand, J.J. School, Guru Nanak Nagar, Urban Estate, and Basant Nagar, the Minister reviewed existing cleanliness arrangements and issued clear instructions to improve sanitation services.

The Minister specifically instructed municipal officials to initiate door-to-door waste collection to ensure waste is disposed of only at designated sites, thereby streamlining waste management processes. He also visited a dump site near J.J. School and ordered officials to identify an alternative location to relocate it, minimizing its impact on the school environment.

Additionally, Dr. Singh addressed the issue of stagnant water in Guru Nanak Nagar caused by inadequate sewerage infrastructure, directing Municipal Commissioner Dr. Akshita Gupta to collaborate with Sewerage Board officials and submit a detailed resolution plan within a week.

On the issue of non-functional streetlights, Dr. Singh announced that 4000 new LED streetlights will be installed across Phagwara to improve night-time visibility, with the tendering process already completed.

He stressed that municipal officials’ responsibilities for maintaining sanitation and civic services will be clearly defined to ensure accountability and efficiency. The Minister’s proactive approach and direct engagement with the public reflect his commitment to addressing Phagwara’s infrastructure challenges comprehensively.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal, District Planning Board Chairman Lalit Saklani, Mayor Rampal Uppal, Aam Aadmi Party Spokesperson Harnoor Singh Harji Mann, Improvement Trust Chairman Jarnail Nangal, SDM Jashanjeet Singh, and other dignitaries were also present.

Majitha (Amritsar), May 13:

          Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday said that the state government will not spare anyone, however affluent he may be, involved in the heinous crime of sale of spurious liquor which led to hooch tragedy in Amritsar district.   

Interacting with the media persons after sharing condolences with the families of hooch tragedy, the Chief Minister said that these deaths are not merely accidents but they are murders, which have been caused due to greed of certain individuals, who are involved in this crime. He said that this is a clear murder and the state government will not allow the culprits to escape the severest of severe punishment. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 17 precious lives have been lost due to the spurious liquor and the people responsible for it deserve no mercy as they did this crime deliberately.

The Chief Minister categorically said that this crime cannot be carried out without political patronage by the powerful politicians adding that this angle is being probed by the Police. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 10 persons including the kingpin have been arrested adding that the Police has also identified the forward and backward linkages of the nexus involved in this barbaric crime. “Let me tell one thing very clearly, my government is firmly committed to ensure justice to the hapless families by ensuring exemplary punishment to the accused”, added Bhagwant Singh Mann.

The Chief Minister said that the connections of this nexus have been traced upto Delhi and every person involved in this crime will be put behind the bars by the state government. He said that it has come into light that 600 litres of online methanol was ordered by the perpetrators of this grave tragedy which was probably used for making spurious liquor. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Police is looking into all the aspects of this tragedy to nail down the culprits and ensure exemplary punishment to them.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has already suspended four officers including one DSP, Station House Officer and two officers of Excise department for their complacency in checking the sale and supply of spurious liquor. He said that though this deep rooted nexus is very strong and has flexed its muscles due to open patronization by the previous regimes, this liquor mafia will be eliminated from the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that no one, whether a politician or a government servant, will be spared if they are found complicit in the hooch deaths.

The Chief Minister said that he has already directed the Punjab Police to crack down on this mafia as a part of the ongoing Yudh Nasheyan Virudh. He said that these mischievous forces took advantage of the Police focus on maintaining law and order amidst tension at India-Pakistan borders to satiate their greed at the cost of the lives of Punjabis. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these people will have to pay the price for their sins and they will be taught a befitting lesson by the state government.

The Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that the hooch tragedy has snatched the lone bread winners of the hapless families and around 17 persons have lost their lives. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the pattern of deaths was the same as was in the hooch tragedy that took place in the year 2020 at Tarn Taran. He said that the state government stands firmly with the families of the deceased in their hour of grief and it will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice for them.

The Chief Minister announced compensation worth Rs 10 lakh for the family of every deceased and said that the state government will bear the entire expense of education of the children of the victim. Likewise, he said that every possible help in terms of jobs and others will also be extended to these families in this hour of grief. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is fully committed for the security and well being of these families adding that no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause.