IEP Chandigarh, January 10

In a bid to find a sustainable solution to the problem of stubble burning and supplement the income of farmers of the state, Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has planned to utilize around 1.8 Million Ton (MT) paddy straw in the under implementation 43 Compressed Biogas (CBG) Projects per annum.This was disclosed by Mr Aman Arora, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources, while chairing a CBG Developers’ Meet at PEDA Complex here on Tuesday.Addressing the CBG Developers, the Cabinet Minister informed that the state is in process of forming Core Group of all stakeholders like PEDA, GAIL, CGD Companies, CBG producers and PBIP, to coordinate for off-take of CBG through gas pipelines.He said that Asia’s largest CBG plant of total capacity 33.23 Ton Per Day (TPD) has already been commissioned in Sangrur and another CBG project of 12 TPD capacity has been commissioned at Khanna and is under trial run. Presently, about 3 Ton CBG is produced in the plant daily. As many as 41 additional CBG projects, which have been allotted by Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), are under implementation at various stages of execution and expected to be commissioned in next 2 years, he added.On completion, all these projects will produce 515.58 TPD CBG per annum by consuming around 2 million ton Agriculture residue annually, said Mr. Aman Arora, while adding that the state has a potential to set up 200 more CBG projects of 10 TPD capacity each in addition to the above projects as around 20 millon ton of paddy straw is produced per annum in the state.Assuring every possible support to CBG developers from the state government side, Mr. Aman Arora said that Punjab Government has been providing many incentives such as exemption from land registration charges & stamp duty, electricity charges, exemption from CLU & EDC charges, besides ensuring all facilities at Single Stop Clearances through Invest Punjab.Mr. Aman Arora said that Punjab Government has already constituted a Task Force for off-take of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) produced by CBG projects based on agriculture residue in the State. He said that Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana has already been directed to conduct feasibility study on FOM for its utilization in Agriculture and Horticulture and submit detailed report.With the concerted efforts of the State Government, he further informed, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GoI, vide its notification dated 02.11.2022, has revived the provision of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) on CBG projects which is Rs. 4.00 Crore per 4.8 TPD capacity CBG project. Maximum CFA is Rs. 10 Crore per project.VC Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal apprised that PAU is conducting a feasibility study on FOM utilization and will issue an advisory in this regard in this April.Welcoming the CBG Developers in the meet, Chairman PEDA Sh. H.S. Hanspal said that CBG projects are the answer to agriculture residue, carbon emissions and pollution. Your efforts will be considered the service to country. It will create additional revenue source for farmers, besides giving boost to entrepreneurship and rural economy.Chief Executive PEDA Mr. Sumeet Jarangal said that Punjab has emerged as the one of the most favourable states for the entrepreneurs due to Ease of Doing Business policy of the Mann Government. He said that Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) is also establishing a Bio-Ethanol project in Bathinda district, which will produce 100 Kilolitre 2G Ethanol by consuming two Lac Ton paddy straw. This project is expected to be commissioned in February 2024.The function was attended by around 100 prominent CBG Developers and senior officials of the state government.

IEP Chandigarh, January 10

Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said on Tuesday that the total credit potential for priority sector for 2023-24 is projected at Rs 2.73 lakh crore which represents an overall growth of 5 percent over the projections for 2022-23.

Revealing this while addressing the NABARD ‘State Credit Seminar 2023-24’, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that out of the aggregate credit plan, the share of Crop Loan is pegged at Rs 1.03 lakh crore (38%), Agriculture Term Loan at Rs 0.52 lakh crore (19%) and MSME at Rs 0.71 lakh crore (26%) and Other Priority Sector (OPS) at Rs 0.47 lakh crore (17%).

Releasing the State Focus Paper (SFP) 2023-24 and Unit Cost Booklet on this occasion, the Finance Minister said that that NABARD has undertaken the exercise of assessing the potential for credit under priority sector for each district in consultation and coordination with banks, Line departments of the State Government, farmers, NGOs and other stakeholders. “These plans have been aggregated at the state level and SFP has been prepared which reflects the aggregate potential available under various subsectors of Priority Sector of the State’s economy. This is quite an elaborate exercise which will provide inputs and pointers to various stake holders”, he added.

The Finance Minister further added that it is a matter of satisfaction that the SFP emphasises on development of the cooperative sector, crop diversification, promotion of organic farming, development of the Farmers’ Producers’ Organization (FPOs), promotion of digital technological innovations in agriculture and “Fintech”, which will provide necessary fillip to inclusive growth and sustainable development in the State. He said that it is the need of the hour that these producer organizations are supported further within the agri-value chain system.

Emphasising on the continuous need for widening and deepening of the credit outreach especially to small and marginal farmers, share croppers and tenant farmers, Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said that although the priority sector lending has shown a healthy growth of 8% with Ground Level Credit (GLC) of Rs 1.71 lakh crore during FY 2022, the grass root institutions such as Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) have to play an important role to bring about the required change. He advised the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Cooperative Banks and PACS, which are closely linked to grass level clients, to play big role in promotion of SHGs and JLGs while utilising available support from NABARD.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema bestowed the awards to best performing FPOs and SHGs.

Prominent amongst others, Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary Finance, Ms. Garima Singh, Secretary Finance Cum Director Institutional Finance and Banking, Mr. M.K. Mall, Regional Director RBI, and Mr. Raghunath B., CGM NABARD Punjab Regional Office were also present on the occasion.

IEP Chandigarh, January 10

The main objective of the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is to provide quality education along with good health to the people of the state. Under the same chain basic infrastructure is being provided in government schools across the state and along with this Aam Aadmi Clinics are also being opened with the aim of providing good health services to the people.These words were expressed by the Minister for Local Government Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar today after laying the foundation stone of new blocks at Shaheed Gurmeet Singh Senior Secondary School Sultanwind girls. On this occasion, the annual prize distribution ceremony was also organized by the school. After the inauguration of the event, Dr. Nijjar also honored the children by giving awards for being winners in academic and various non-academic competitions at the district and state level.Addressing the students, Dr. Nijjar said that apart from book knowledge, improving their personality to advance in life will also lead them to success and children should make their behavior so good that their character be high. He told the students that along with studies, sports are also very important because sports develop the mental development of children. He invited the students to join sports and asked them to prioritize sports along with studies. Dr. Nijjar specially congratulated the principal of the school Mr. Amarjit Singh and all the staff for their various achievements.On this occasion, District Education Officer Secondary Mr. Jugraj Singh shared his thoughts and inspired the children to work harder and to succeed in life exams by working hard. After the function, Dr. Nijjar was also honored by the school staff. On this occasion, besides coordinator Madam Narinder Kaur, Mr. Devinder Singh, Mr. Gurikbal Singh, Madam Sukhraj Kaur, Madam Manpreet Kaur, Madam Bharti, Mr. Sharanjit Singh, a large number of parents of children were also present.

IEP Chandigarh, January 9

The Punjab Government overnment has extended the holidays in Anganwadi Centers of the state till January 14, 2023 due to severe cold and fog in the state.  This was disclosed here today by the Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister of Punjab Dr.  Baljit Kaur.          Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the holidays have been extended till January 14 in all the Anganwadi Centers of the state to protect the children from winter.  Anganwadi workers will give take home ration to all the beneficiaries as per the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.  During vacations, Anganwadi workers/helpers will perform their duties in Anganwadi Centers as before.          It may be mentioned that the increase in holidays in Anganwadi centers has been done due to bad weather.

IEP Chandigarh January 9

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state has arrested three private persons accused for blackmailing a government official with the motive to extort money amounting to Rs 1, 50,000.          Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state VB said the accused namely a property agent Umardeen, Saleem and a reporter of private channel Rupinder Kumar @ Dimple, all residents of Nabha, Patiala district have been arrested from Nabha on the complaint of registry clerk, Nabha tehsil, Rupinder Singh, a resident of Patiala.          Giving details he informed that the above said complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the accused Umardeen and his accomplices have been blackmailing him and demanding money Rs 5,00,000 from him in lieu of not complaining to the VB and making the video viral for accepting a bribe of Rs 500. The complainant clarified that he had not received any graft during the registry in which Umardeen was witness but was taking back Rs 500 in lieu of exchange of notes handed over to a person. Meanwhile, the accused shoot a video with his mobile with the intent to extort money from him. The complainant further alleged that the above said accused Umardeen has already taken Rs 50,000 from him as a first installment and the deal was struck at Rs. 2, 50,000.          After probing the complaint, a VB team from the flying squad Punjab laid a trap and accused Umardeen was arrested red handed while accepting extortion money Rs 1, 50,000 from the complainant as a second installment in the presence of two official witnesses. The VB team has also recovered Rs 40,000 from him out of Rs 50,000 which he had taken earlier from the complainant as a first instalment. Subsequently other co-accused in this case namely Saleem and Rupinder Kumar @ Dimple have also been arrested from Nabha.He further informed that a case FIR No. 02 dated 08-01-2023 under sections 419, 420, 384, 120-B of IPC and section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at VB police station, flying squad-1, Punjab at SAS Nagar. Further investigation in this case was under progress.

IEP Chandigarh, January 7

The Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Banwari Lal Purohit today administered the oath of office and secrecy to Dr. Balbir Singh as Cabinet Minister of the state in a brief but impressive ceremony here at Punjab Raj Bhawan in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that with this the total strength of the Cabinet had increased to 15 including the Chief Minister.

Earlier, the Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venuprasad conducted the proceedings of the ceremony with the permission of the Governor. After being sworn in Dr. Balbir signed the oath, which was counter signed by the Governor.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister congratulated Dr Balbir for the new assignment and said that the new Minister has already been serving the masses with missionary zeal. He expressed hope that that the new minister will continue to serve the people with same passion and fervour. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is already according top priority to the Health department adding that a hardcore professional like Dr Balbir will further take the department to zenith.

IEP New Delhi, January 4

Strongly presenting the case of Punjab before the Government of India on the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today categorically said that the state does not have even a single drop of water to share with Haryana.

“More than 78% of our 150 blocks are in extreme dark zone due to depletion of ground water table, so Punjab can’t afford to share its water with any other state”, said the Chief Minister after a meeting with his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khatar in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

The Chief Minister said that at time when this anti-Punjab agreement for the canal was inked, the state was getting 18.56 MAF of water which has now been reduced to 12.63 MAF. He said that now we don’t have any surplus water to share with any state. Bhagwant Mann said that Haryana is currently getting 14.10 MAF of water from Satluj, Yamuna and other rivulets whereas Punjab is getting only 12.63 MAF.

Batting for changing the nomenclature and proposal of the project, the Chief Minister said that instead of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the project should be now conceived as Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL). He said that Satluj river has already dried up and there is no question of sharing even a single drop of water from it. Rather, Bhagwant Mann said that water from Ganga and Yamuna should be supplied to Punjab through Satluj river.

The Chief Minister said that this is the only viable alternative which can be considered in wake of the alarming situation of water scarcity in the state. He said that despite being smaller in area, Haryana is getting more water than Punjab and ironically it is demanding more water at the cost of Punjab. In wake of this fact, Bhagwant Mann said that how can we give water to Haryana if our own fields are starving for it.

The Chief Minister said that the state has a centuries old canal system due to which the district even at the centre of the state falls on the tail end of canal water. He bemoaned that the Union government has not issued even a single penny for the rejuvenation of the canal system due to which farmers are suffering. Bhagwant Mann said that there are 14 lakh tube wells in the state which are pumping water regularly to fulfill the irrigation needs of the state and make the country self-sufficient in food production. 

The Chief Minister said that it is ironic that due to availability of surplus water, Haryana is today encouraging the sowing of paddy in its districts. However, he said that on the other hand Punjab, which is battling for saving water, is appealing to the farmers to adopt less water guzzling crops.  Bhagwant Mann said that though farmers of the state have made the country self-reliant by producing record paddy but they have over exploited the only available natural resource of state in terms of water.

The Chief Minister bemoaned that in all the water agreements across the globe a clause is mentioned that the agreement will be reviewed after 25 years in wake of climate changes. However, he said that SYL agreement is the only exception in which no such clause has been mentioned. Bhagwant Mann said that this is the gross injustice which had taken place with Punjab adding that the then government at the centre and leadership of Punjab was responsible for this sin.

Training his guns against the Congress and Akalis, the Chief Minister said that both these parties were partners in crime against Punjab. He said that these parties have connived with each other to hatch conspiracy against Punjab and Punjabis. Bhagwant Mann said that as Chief Minister Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal had allowed survey of the canal to appease his friend and Haryana leader Devi Lal.

Similarly, the Chief Minister said that scion of Patiala royal family and former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who was Member of Parliament at that time, had welcomed the then Prime Minister for ground breaking of this sinister move. He said that since the survey till now, every step of these leaders speaks volumes of their treachery against Punjab and its people. Bhagwant Mann said that it is ironic that those people who had hailed this decision are now offering unsolicited advice to him. 

The Chief Minister said that these leaders have sown thorns before the Punjab and its younger generations by indulging in this unpardonable crime. He said that for the sake of their vested interests these selfish political leaders have prepared distress for the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the hands of these leaders are drenched with this crime against state and history will never forgive them for backstabbing Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will defend the interests of the state well before the Apex court too. He said that no stone will be left unturned for safeguarding the rights of the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the Haryana was the younger brother of state but Punjab has no excess water to share with it.

IEP Chandigarh, January 4

Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann committed to clean the water bodies across the state, Local government Minister Dr.Inderbir Singh Nijjar kick started the work to clean the Sidhwan canal from Bhai Randhir Singh (BRS) Nagar canal bridge today.Cabinet Minister Dr.Nijjar also kick started the project to install chain linked iron fencing (2 meter height) along the 13 kms long stretch of canal within the city limits. Aiming to stop the residents from dumping waste into the canal, the project is being taken up at a cost of Rs 6.64 crore. The work to install the fencing will be completed in next six months time.He was also accompanied by MLAs including Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, Madan Lal Bagga, Ashok Prashar Pappi, Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, Officiating MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, Chairman of Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) Tarsem Singh Bhinder, senior AAP leader Ahbaab Singh Grewal, amongst several others.The civic body officials stated that the canal falls under the jurisdiction of the irrigation department. Amid rising concern over garbage and filth dumped in the water body, which moves through the city, MC has stepped up to clean the canal in coordination with the irrigation department. Temporary ramps have been established at different points of the canal and the water body is being cleaned with the help of JCB machines and tippers.The officials stated that the irrigation department has prepared a schedule to stop the flow of water in the canal for 21 days. The process to clean the stretch of canal from Lohara bridge to Barewal canal bridge will be taken up during this period. If required, the irrigation department will also be asked to stop the flow of water in the canal for a few more days.Cabinet Minister Dr.Nijjar stated that the initiatives taken by the civic body to clean the canal and install iron linked around the same is appreciable, but the public should also support the authorities in keeping the canal clean and stop dumping waste in the water bodies. Further the Minister stated that the civic body will also be forced to take strict action against the violators if the concerned residents did not restrict themselves from dumping waste in the water bodies. Minister appeal residents to support authorities in keeping environment safePaying obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib at Sukhmani Sahib path organised by Municipal Employees Sangharsh Committee to mark New year celebrations at MC Zone D office in Sarabha Nagar, Minister Dr Nijjar appealed the residents to step forward to save the environment and groundwater. Minister also assured to fulfill the genuine demand of the employees raised by Chairman of employees union Ashwani Sahota and President Jasdev Sekhon.The minister also honoured different NGOs/social activists which have been working in association with the civic body. These include Shahi Imaam Punjab Maulana Muhammad Usmaan Rehmani Ludhianvi, Gursahib Singh and Davinder Nagi from Team 1699, Maneet Dewan from City Needs and members of other NGOs including Lets Clean Ludhiana Foundation, Neki Di Rasoi, Ashke group etc.Women empowerment sculptures unveiledMinister Dr Nijjar also unveiled women empowerment sculptures installed at the road islands outside MC Zone D office. The sculptures have been installed by FICCI FLO group, which has been working in association with the MC. Appreciating the effort by the group members led by head of National Governing body Monika Choudhary and Ludhiana Chairperson Neha Gupta, the minister urged NGOs to work in association with the civic body to spread greenery across the city

IEP Chandigarh, January 4

          Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa will participate in national conference on “Water Vision@ 2047” on January 5 and 6 at Bhopal. This is a first of its kind conference in which ministers of many states will participate and discuss the efficient use of water and various other aspects connected with it.      

          Divulging the details, a spokesperson said that the theme of two-day conference of 1st All India Annual State Ministers Conference is “Water Vision@ 2047”.  This important conference has been organized by the National Water Mission of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. During two days, various topics related to water mainly “Water Vision@ 2047”, water security in water deficit,  water surplus and hilly regions, water use efficiency including reuse of waste water/grey water, water governance and climate change resilient water infrastructure, would be discussed.

          A sub-portal called ‘JalItisha’ will also be inaugrated on this occasion. The spokesperson said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab Government will showcase its achievement pertaining to the efficient use of water and supply of water to every rural household at the National level. Apart from this, the ideas presented by the experts in conference will play an important role in taking decisions regarding the use of water in future.