Category Archives: Punjab

Chandigarh, Punjab

GoM DIRECTS TO PROCURE 3.33 LAKH MORE DOSES OF GOAT POX VACCINE TO PREVENT LUMPY SKIN DISEASE

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 12, 2022

The Group of Ministers (GoM) formed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for effective monitoring for the prevention of lumpy skin disease in the state, has directed to procure 3.33 lakh more doses of Goat Pox vaccine for the prevention of lumpy skin.

During a meeting here at Punjab Bhawan today, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar directed that 3.33 lakh more doses should immediately be ordered from approved veterinary research institutes and distributed to all the districts so as to ensure no hindrance in vaccination drive.

“The Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is personally monitoring the situation and daily taking report of the ongoing relief operations in the state” they apprised.

While reviewing the vaccination drive, the Ministers directed that vaccination should be intensified and the target should be doubled to 50,000 per day besides ensuring that vaccination is being done free of cost. They said that so far more than 1.30 lakh cattle have been vaccinated in the state.

GoM Committee Members Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry Vikas Pratap, Finance Commissioner Rural Development K. Siva Prasad and Director Animal Husbandry Dr.  Sanjeev Goel was present in the meeting, while Dr. SPS Ghuman, Dean of Veterinary Science College and Dr. SS  Randhawa, Director Clinics, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana attended meeting through video conferencing.

The Cabinet Ministers directed the senior officials of the concerned departments to issue instructions to the district officials for providing calcium, vitamins and other necessary medicines for the animals of the state.  And, ensure that the guidelines regarding prohibition of entry of livestock from other states into Punjab and holding of animal fair should be followed in letter and spirit, till the disease is contained. The Ministers also reviewed the activities related to spraying of mosquito repellent in the state.

The Cabinet Ministers said that to shun the practice of throwing carcasses of dead animals in the open, the government has issued funds to the BDPOs besides directing them to arrange JCB to ensure burial of dead cattle and remain in touch with sarpanchs of villages. The ministers also urged farmers not to throw the dead animals in the open.

Rejecting the rumors about not consuming the milk of the affected animals, the Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said that this disease does not affect the human body if the milk is well boiled.

He said that the Punjab government stands shoulder to shoulder with farmers in this crisis and committed to provide all possible help to prevent this disease.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Water Resources Minister urges people not to dispose of carcasses in any waterbody

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 12, 2022

Punjab Water Resources Minister  Harjot Singh Bains today urged livestock farmers and general public of the state not to dispose of carcasses of dead animals in any waterbody.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Bains said that it has come to his notice that some people are disposing of carcasses of cattles killed by lumpy skin disease in Waterbodies and 5 dead cattles has been found floating in Kotbhai tributary near Mahima Bhagwana village in Bathinda.

 Urging the people to bury the animals killed by Lumpy Skin Disease by digging a deep pit, the minister said that carcasses should be disposed of as per the instructions issued by the Animal Husbandry Department. 

This trend should be stopped immediately as it can aggravate the situation further, said Mr Bains .

On the instructions of the Minister of Water Resources, the Principal Secretary of the Department has issued a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, asking that necessary steps should be taken to prevent animals killed by Lumpy Skin Disease from being disposing of into the waterbodies if found anyone doing so a necessary action should be taken.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab CM orders stern action against educational institutes withholding degree of SC students

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 11, 2022

Underlining that the funds under Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme is an issue between the Government and the institutes but not the students, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday directed that severest of severe action must be taken against educational institutes withholding the degree of Scheduled Caste (SC) students on the pretext of the scholarship scheme.

Mann, in a major relief to the students belonging to the Schedule Caste (SC) category, directed, “Take severest of severe action against educational institutions indulging in such tantrums to ruin the future of SC students and ensure that degree of not even a single student is withheld by any educational institute.”

The Chief Minister, chairing a meeting of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department, unequivocally said that the payment of funds under the scheme is a matter between the State Government and the educational institutions. “The students from the underprivileged and weaker sections of society have nothing to do with this and they should not suffer at any cost…The educational institutes have no right to withhold the degrees of the students and ruin their career,” he said.

Mann categorically said that it is a cynical move on the part of educational institutions to act in such a shameful manner. “It also reflects the myopic mindset of some educational institutions which are trying to create barriers in the way of SC students,” he said, adding that stern action should be taken against erring educational institutes resorting to such tactics.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab CM accepts resignation of Baba Farid medical varsity VC

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 11, 2022

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has accepted the resignation of Dr Raj Bahadur, the vice-chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences who was allegedly forced to lie on a dirty mattress at a hospital by the state’s health minister during an inspection.

The state government has given the charge of the university VC to the director, medical education. The CM after accepting the resignation forwarded it to the Punjab governor. Dr Raj Bahadur had tendered his resignation after he felt ”humiliated” at the hands of Health Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra.

It happened last month when Jouramajra was on an inspection to Faridkot’s Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, which comes under the university.

A video clip of the incident that circulated on social media had shown Jouramajra placing a hand on the veteran surgeon’s shoulder as he pointed towards the ”damaged and dirty condition” of a mattress at the hospital. The minister was then seen allegedly forcing Dr Bahadur to lie down on the same mattress.

After the incident, Dr Bahadur had conveyed to the Punjab chief minister the ”humiliation” and requested that he be relieved from service as the work environment was not conducive. The incident had triggered an outrage and various doctors’ bodies, including the Indian Medical Association, flayed the health minister over his behaviour and demanded his dismissal from the state Cabinet.

Chandigarh, Punjab

1.67 LAKH MORE DOSES OF GOAT POX VACCINE TO REACH PUNJAB BY TOMORROW MORNING: LALJIT SINGH BHULLAR

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 8, 2022

Punjab Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Monday, affirmed that second consignment of 1.67 lakh more doses of Goat Pox vaccine will reach Punjab tomorrow morning i.e. August 9, 2022.

“Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led government was making all-out efforts to save cattle from lumpy skin disease, said the cabinet Minister, adding that this vaccine, certified by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izat Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), is being air-lifted from Ahmedabad, which will reach Chandigarh by the morning of August 9. He said that senior officials of the department have already been instructed to deliver it well before the same day evening to all the districts and disease-affected areas of the state so that healthy cattle can be protected in advance from the infection.

Pertinently, the government has distributed more than 66k doses of Goat Pox vaccine in all the districts, which is being administered to healthy animals free of cost.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Chief Secretary directs all departments to ensure necessary arrangements to address water and air pollution issues

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 8, 2022

Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua today directed all departments concerned with controlling water & air pollution to work on a war footing in order to make Punjab and its rivers and streams pure and clean.

Reiterating the commitment of chief minister Bhagwant Mann to make a pollution free environment in the state, the Chief Secretary reviewed the discharge of sewage and effluents and disposal of solid and plastic waste in the state.  

While reviewing the water pollution of rivers due to discharge of sewage and effluents, the Local Government Department apprised that out of 111 STPs of about 785 MLD capacity proposed to be set up in the State, the work in 53 STPs (617.5 MLD) is already in progress. All the 111 STPs are likely to be made functional by December 31, 2023 and the State would be able to achieve the desired quality in the rivers. As far as pollution of river Sutlej is concerned, the 2 STPs at Jamalpur (225 MLD) & Balloke (60 MLD) are likely to be completed by March 31, 2023. Further, the Common Effluent Treatment Plants of 40 MLD & 50 MLD capacity for the treatment of Textile Dying Effluents at Ludhiana have already been commissioned.

Regarding the treatment of Dairy Effluents in Ludhiana, the work for setting up of the Compressed Bio Gas Plant to treat 300 Tons/day of Cow dung has been awarded. Further, there is a plan to set up one more Bio Gas Plant at Haibowal Dairy Complex which will handle around 200 Tons/day of Cow dung.Further, regarding the treatment of Liquid Waste being generated from Tajpur & Haibowal Dairy Complexes, the work on setting up of 2 ETPs is under progress and is likely to be completed by March 31, 2023.

In the meeting Rural Development & Panchayats Department informed the Committee that the work of rejuvenation of ponds has been completed in 860 villages and is under progress in 515 villages. 

The Chief Secretary was appraised by PPCB  that the State is strictly enforcing the ban on Single use plastic items as per the directions of Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India. A State Level function had also been organized under the guidance of Chief Minister and Science Technology & Environment Minister on August 5, 2022 for creating awareness among public. 

The Chief Secretary was also apprised that Solid Waste Management, door to door collection and segregation of waste at source has been started. Further, around 8250 compost pits have been constructed for the management of wet waste and 266 material recovery facilities have been set up for the management of dry waste.

Regarding the Bio-remediation of old dump sites, it was informed that the work in 114 ULBs is to be completed by December 31, 2022, 32 ULBs by March 31, 2023 & 2 ULBs by March 31, 2024. The Local Government department has also set up micro units in 139 ULBs for the processing of construction and demolition waste. A 60 TPD Plant has also been commissioned at MC, Jalandhar.

Prominent among others who were present in the meeting included Financial Commissioner Rural Development K. Siva Prasad, Principal Secretary Housing & Urban Development Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary Local Government Vivek Pratap Singh, Secretary Environment Rahul Tiwari, Chairman Punjab Pollution Control Board Dr. Adarsh Pal Vig, CEO Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board Varinder Kumar Sharma, CEO PMIDC Isha Kalia, CEO PEDA Sumeet Jarangal, Director Environment Manish Kumar.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Pending VAT cases to be resolved within four months: Harpal Singh Cheema

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 8, 2022

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday directed the officials of the tax department to resolve all the pending VAT cases within 4 months to ensure an increase in revenue collection, that will be used for the development of the state.

During an informal interaction with media after a review meeting of the Tax Department here at Punjab Bhawan, Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said that the department has been asked to resolve the pending cases related to VAT within 4 months. Those cases in which 25 per cent of the assessed amount has not been deposited by the appellant, they, should be resolved within one month, he directed.

He said that apart from this, the officials of the department have been directed to follow-up all the cases  under hearing in the VAT Tribunal and the High Court to put the department’s view clearly in front of these forums.

Replying to a query regarding the Electricity Amendment Bill 2022, the Finance Minister said that when Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was a member of Parliament, he had strongly opposed the move when this bill was brought earlier by the BJP led Centre government in 2020 along with three black farm laws, At that time, then Union Minister and SAD Leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal had supported the Bill. He further added that while withdrawing this bill at that time, the central government had promised that the state governments, farmers and other stakeholders would be consulted before bringing this bill again.

But breaking its promise the BJP’ led government has once again brought the bill without consulting stakeholders.  “The BJP led Centre government is trying to appease its corporate cronies”, said Cheema while adding that the Aam Aadmi Party will oppose any such move by holding protests from villages to parliament to safeguard the rights of farmers and common people.

Earlier, during a high-level meeting of the tax department, the finance minister was apprised of the achievements of various divisions of the department regarding tax collection under GST, VAT and CST through a PowerPoint presentation. Meanwhile, a brainstorming discussion held on the issue of putting a full stop on tax evasion. The Finance Minister expressed satisfaction over the performance of the officials of the tax department and assured to provide necessary technical and human resources while welcoming the suggestions given by the officials to prevent tax evasion. He also made it clear that corruption will not be tolerated at any level.

          Ajoy Sharma, Financial Commissioner Taxation, K. K. Yadav, Tax Commissioner, Ravneet S Khurana, Additional Commissioner Audit and Viraj S. Tidke, Additional Commissioner Enforcement were also present in this meeting.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Minority students can apply till September 30 to get stipend under centrally sponsored schemes : Dr. Baljit Kaur

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 8, 2022

To avail Centrally Sponsored Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit Cum Means Based Scholarship Schemes disbursed by the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, students from the minority sections can apply till 30th September 2022. 

Stating this here today, Minister of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities  Dr. Baljit Kaur said  the department is continuously working for the welfare of the needy and economically weak people of the state. It is under this mission that pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarship for the minority class are being given. 

Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that during the academic year 2021-22, 5,03,179 students have been benefited by scholarship under the pre-matric scholarship scheme, 55,430 students under the post-matric scholarship scheme and 1716 students under the merit cum means scholarship scheme. The Ministry of Minorities, Government of India has opened the National Scholarship Portal for all the States on 20th July 2022 to provide the benefit of these schemes to the students during the current year 2022-23. 

Students can apply online till 30 September 2022 for pre-matric scholarship scheme and online till 31 October 2022 for post matric scholarship scheme, merit-cum-means based scholarship. To avail this scheme, the student should belong to minority community (Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist, Parsi, Jain and Christian), income limit for pre-matric scholarship is Rs.1.00 lakh per annum, income limit is Rs.2.00 lakh for post-matric scholarship and merit-com – Income limit for all means is Rs 2.50 lakh. Under this scheme one can apply on the National Scholarship portal www.scholarships.gov.in and for more information visit the site link www.minorityaffairs.gov.in or mobile app-National Scholarship (NSP). Apart from this information can be obtained on helpline number 1800-11-2001 (toll free).

Chandigarh, Punjab

Vigilance Bureau nabs RTA Bathinda employee for taking bribe Rs. 7500

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 8, 2022

Keeping in view the zero tolerance policy against corruption adopted by the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led state government, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau during its ongoing campaign on Monday nabbed Bhalwan Singh, working as data entry operator at RTA office Bathinda, red handed accepting bribe of Rs. 7500.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) said the accused Bhalwan Singh has been arrested on the complaint of Raghbir Singh from Mansa, owner of private mini buses.

Giving details he informed that the complainant has lodged a complaint in the VB and alleged that the above mentioned data entry operator was demanding bribe for issuing a copy of bus permit for his passenger bus.

The spokesperson added that after verification of the facts made in the complaint, a VB team caught accused Bhalwan Singh red handed while accepting bribe of Rs. 7500 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard a case FIR  No. 6 dated 08.08.2022 u/s 7, Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at VB police station Bathinda and further investigation is under progress.

Chandigarh, Punjab

CM SECURES RS 2800 CRORE WORTH BENEFITS FOR PUNJAB FROM CENTRE INCLUDES RS 1760 CRORES PENDING RDF PAYMENTS

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IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 8, 2022

Union minister for Food and PUblic Distribution Piyush Goyal has accepted a major demand of PUnjab to release Rs 1760 crore outstanding Rural Development Fund (RDF) after chief minister BHagwant Mann took up the matter with him today.

Sharing these details on the sidelines of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, where he met the Union Minister, the Chief Minister said that the minister asked the officials present to expeditiously process the case for release of the pending RDF payments for the previous Kharif and Rabi procurement seasons. This would financially benefit the State of Punjab by more than Rs. 1700 crores, he said.

Mann called on the Union Minister today and  discussed various issues of urgent importance with him. During the course of discussion, the Union Minister assured the Chief Minister of prompt action on the other demands raised by the State Government, which would result in a financial benefit of more than Rs. 2800 crore for the State Government annually.

In addition to the Rs 1760 crores RDF payment the chief minister informed that the Union Minister had also accepted his request  to revisit the decision to peg the reimbursement of interest payments to Punjab at the interest rates available to FCI. He said that the Union Minister appreciated the stand of the State Government that it would never be able to get loans at interest rates available to FCI, which is backed by the sovereign guarantee of the Union. The minister asked his officials to  assist the State of Punjab in getting cheaper Cash Credit Limits for the annual procurement of Foodgrains. This decision is likely to save the Punjab Government an unnecessary financial burden of Rs. 1000 crore annually, said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister also took up the matter of inadequate reimbursement of expenditure incurred by the Punjab Government for procurement of wheat a couple of months back. The Union Minister positively responded to the request of the Chief Minister to reconsider the rates allowed for Labour and Gunny / PP bags and asked the officials of the central Department of Food and Public Distribution to reconcile these figures with the officials of the State Government at the earliest. This decision, once implemented, shall benefit the state by more than Rs. 100 crore, explained the Chief Minister.

Following this the Chief Minister  assured Goyal that his government  will soon show him positive results in crop diversification which is essential to break the wheat-paddy cycle, which has severely impacted the water table in Punjab.