Category Archives: Punjab

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.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Urban area residents to get corruption free and time bound services: Aman Arora

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 08, 2022

The Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is fully committed to provide all the citizen centric services to the people living in urban areas of the State with emphasis on the transparency and accountability factors. The services would accrue to the people in a corruption free and time bound manner. These views were expressed at the PUDA Bhawan today by the Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora while chairing the first meeting of the department.

Taking stock of the ongoing projects as well those in the pipeline, Mr. Arora directed the officers to work diligently with a view to ensure futuristic and planned development.

Divulging more, the Minister said that clean, devoid of corrupt practices and an accountable administration would be the hallmark of the Punjab Government. Directing the officers to formulate pro people policy framework, the Minister also emphasized that the current projects and the schemes must be completed on time with people getting the services in a time bound manner.

Assuring that the harassment of the urban area residents in the Government offices would be a thing of the past, the Minister cautioned that those indulging in corrupt ways and means would not be spared at all. “The action plan of the department must be chalked out keeping in view the strengths and weak areas of the department”, said the Minister.

The Minister further added that he would soon meet the people inhabiting the urban areas besides the resident welfare associations and listen to their problems. This would pave the way for the formulation of such policies as would lead towards implementation of the suggestions received at these meetings.

Earlier, the Principal Secretary A.K. Sinha welcomed the Minister and apprised him of the steps being taken to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of the department.

Among others present on the occasion included Chief Administrator PUDA and Director Town & Country Planning Arshdeep Singh Thind and Chief Administrator GMADA Amandeep Bansal.

Chandigarh, Punjab

PUNJAB POLICE PROMOTES 101 SUB-INSPECTORS TO RANK OF INSPECTORS

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 08, 2022

In order to boost the morale of the Punjab Police, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Friday promoted as many as 101 Sub-Inspectors, which includes 95 Women Officers, to the rank of Inspector. With this promotion of 101 Police Personnel, all the vacancies of Inspectors rank have been filled in all the districts of the state.

          “Today, we have elevated 101 Sub-inspectors to the rank of Inspectors, which will not only overcome the shortage of staff at supervisory levels in field but will also give the officers their due right of promotion,” said DGP Gaurav Yadav.

          The DGP, while symbolically pinning the stars on the shoulders of some of the promoted officers here, wished all the promotees good luck. “The added star on your shoulders comes with a bigger responsibility,” he said while encouraging them to perform their duty with dedication, sincerity, and honesty.

          Divulging more details, he said that all the 95 promoted Women Officers are of 2015-batch directly recruited Sub-Inspectors and have seven years of field experience. While, the remaining six Sub-Inspectors, who are now promoted to Inspectors were awaiting their promotion.

          Terming timely promotion as the right of every Police official, the DGP assured the entire police force to give them their due promotions very soon. He said that all the vacancies at supervisory levels including Head-Constable, Assistant Sub-Inspector, and Sub-Inspector will be filled at the earliest.

          Meanwhile, this move is another effort of the Punjab Government toward women empowerment as with the promotion of this batch representation of women will increase at supervisory level in the Police Force.

Chandigarh, Punjab

AMAN ARORA GETS ROUSING WELCOME BY PEOPLE IN HOME CONSTITUENCY SUNAM

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 08, 2022

Punjab Information and Public Relations, New & Renewable Energy and Housing & Urban Development Minister Mr. Aman Arora was warmly welcomed by the people in his hometown Sunam on his maiden visit after assuming charge of as a cabinet minister.

Mr. Aman Arora paid obeisance at various religious places and also paid tributes to the great revolutionary Shaheed Udham Singh at his memorial. The district police also gave a formal salute to the Cabinet Minister at the local rest house of PWD. A road show was also organized by Mr. Aman Arora to thank the people for their blessings and regards for his new responsibility as a Cabinet Minister. The people of the constituency also organised functions at several locations of the city to express their gratitude.

The Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, who elected second time from Sunam for the state legislative assembly, thanked the people of the constituency as well as the people of Punjab for posing their trust in him, while adding that he would maintain the trust and confidence of the people at any cost. He will do its utmost for the development of the state and especially the Sunam constituency, he added.

While thanking Aam Aadmi Party’s National Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Mr  Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, Mr. Arora said that he would perform his duty diligently and honestly. On this occasion, he also remembered his late father Sh. Bhagwan Das Arora and said that he has reached this stage only due to the inspiration he got from his father.

Talking to the media persons, Mr. Arora said that information regarding pro-people and social welfare schemes and projects of the government would be disseminated to the people with the help of modern techniques so that their benefits could reach the real needy. He said that he would always be grateful for the love received from the people and would solve every problem of the people of Sunam constituency as his personal problem.  He said that it will not only be limited to Sunam constituency as he will also extend the same spirit to the people of Punjab as well.

 On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Sangrur Mr. Jitendra Jorwal, SSP  Mandeep Singh Sidhu, SDM Jaspreet Singh, Tehsildar Kuldeep Singh, family members Mrs. Parmeshwari Devi (Mother), Mrs. Shabina Arora (Wife), Bhuveer Arora (Son), Mrs. Nina Malhotra (Sister) were also present .

Chandigarh, Punjab

EMPLOYMENT GENERATION DEPARTMENT INKS MoU WITH KOLKATA BASED COMPANY

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 08, 2022

In order to give a boost to the employment scenario in Punjab and to enhance the availability of job opportunities for the youth of Punjab, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development & Training Punjab and Window Technologies Private Limited Kolkata on Friday here at Punjab Skill Development Mission Office.

The MoU was signed by Ms. Deepti Uppal, Director Employment Generation, Skill Development & Training Punjab and Mr. Nitin Minocha, Director Window Technologies Private Limited in the presence of Mr. Kumar Rahul, Secretary Employment Generation, Skill Development & Training, (DEGSDT) Punjab, Rajesh Tripathi, Additional Director DEGSDT and Sh. Ajit Mishra, Project Manager Window Technologies Private Limited.

On the occasion, Secretary Employment Generation Kumar Rahul emphasized that the Department is determined to cater the manpower requirements of the industry by providing them the skilled youth from Punjab.

Director Ms. Deepti Uppal informed that under this MoU, in the next eleven months, the company will recruit 6000 work force from Punjab. The requisite candidates will be mobilized by the Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development & Training Punjab. She further said that the department is leaving no stone unturned for facilitating employment opportunities to the youth of Punjab. She further informed that more MoUs will be signed with other companies in the near future.

Chandigarh, Punjab

One day State mourning on July 9 on demise of Shinzo Abe

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 08, 2022

The Punjab Government has declared one day State mourning on July 9 due to the demise of former PM of Japan Shinzo Abe.

Disclosing this, an official spokesperson said that in the aftermath of the passing away of Mr. Shinzo Abe, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has written to all the States to observe State mourning and keep the National Flag half mast. Consequently, the General Administration Department, Punjab, has written to all departments, Divisional Commissioners and the Deputy Commissioners declaring State mourning across the State on July 9. There would be no official entertainment on this day in the Government offices.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Cabinet Minister Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar takes reign of Local Govt, Parliamentary Affairs, Conservation of Land & Water and Administrative Reforms Departments

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IEP CHANDIGARH JULY 06, 2022

Known for his professional commitment, Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar on Wednesday took reign of Local Government, Parliamentary Affairs, Conservation of Land & Water and Administrative Reforms departments in the presence of the Cabinet Ministers Harmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Laljit Singh Bhullar at Punjab Civil Secretariat.

Dr. Nijjar, while extending words of thanks to the party and Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, assured that he would wholeheartedly fulfill the responsibility entrusted upon him. “It was a matter of pride to have the opportunity to serve the people of the state and I assured the Punjabis to provide them with the ultra-modern civic amenities”, said the Minister, adding that we are common people thus know the difficulties of the common folk. He said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led state government was diligently and untiringly working from the very first day for transforming our state into ‘Rangla Punjab and our Chief Minister definitely will bring the state to the growth trajectory with his hard work, efficiency and far-sighted vision.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included; Dr. Balbir Singh, Lakhbir Singh Rai, Sherry Kalsi, Jagdeep Kamboj and Rajnish Dahiya (all MLAs), family members Dr. Gurlal Singh, Mannat Kaur, Avtar Kaur, Bhalinder Singh, Sukhdyal Singh, Kiran Kaur, Sukhman, Amanat, Rajdyal Singh, Harpreet Singh Chaddha, Sahiljit Singh Sandhu, Mehzabeen Peerzada Sandhu, Dr. Gurbilas Pannu, Namrata Pannu and Sahibnihal Pannu.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh, Punjab

CABINET LED BY CM GIVES MAJOR RELIEF TO PEOPLE BY ACCORDING FINAL APPROVAL TO 600 UNITS OF FREE POWER TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD PER BILLING CYCLE

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INDIA E POST CHANDIGARH, JULY 6, 2022

In a major relief to all the households across the state, Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today gave final approval for the policy governing the decision to provide 600 units of free power to every household per billing cycle in the state with effect from July 1, 2022. 

          A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the Council of Ministers held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister at second floor in the Punjab Civil Secretariat- I on Wednesday.

          Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s Office said that all the domestic consumers in the state will be eligible to get zero bills if their consumption is upto 600 units in every billing cycle. This will give a big reprieve to the domestic consumers who have to hitherto shell out huge money every month in form of power tariff. As per the decision Scheduled caste (SC), Non SC BPL and Backward Class (BC) domestic consumers who are currently eligible for free 400 units (per billing cycle) of power will also get subsidy of 600 units now. 

          Likewise, Freedom fighters of Punjab and their successors (upto grandchildren) domestic consumers who are currently eligible for free 400 units of power will also get subsidy of 600 units per billing cycle. In case, consumption of SC, non-SC BPL, BC and Freedom Fighter categories exceeds units per billing cycle then they will pay only for units consumed in addition to 600 units along with full fixed charges, meter rentals and government levies as applicable. 

          Similarly, the Cabinet also gave green signal for waiving off pending arrears of all the domestic consumers as on December 31, 2021 and unpaid upto June 30, 2022. This move will give relief to around 28.10 lakh domestic consumers with a total benefit of Rs 1298 crore.

Chandigarh, Punjab

DSP FARIDKOT LAKHVIR SINGH HELD FOR ACCEPTING Rs 10 LAKH BRIBE FROM DRUG SUPPLIER

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INDIA E POST CHANDIGARH JULY 6, 2022

Reaffirming the firm commitment of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make Punjab a Corruption-free state, Punjab Police on Wednesday arrested Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Faridkot Lakhvir Singh for accepting Rs 10 lakhs as a bribe from a drug supplier for not nominating him in the FIR registered under NDPS Act in Tarn Taran, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here.

          The development came after the Tarn Taran district police had arrested a drug supplier identified as Pishora Singh from a petrol pump near Patti Morh after recovering 250grams opium and Rs 1 lakh drug money from his possession on Sunday. Accused Pishora, a resident of village Model Boparai in Tarn Taran was wanted in the FIR dated June 30, 2022, in which his aide Surjit Singh of village Mari Megha in Tarn Taran was arrested with 900grams of opium.

          Divulging details, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that during investigations by the Tarn Taran Police, Surjit revealed that he had purchased opium from Pishora, who is the main drug supplier.

          “When Police started conducting raids to arrest him, Pishora tried to bribe Patti CIA Incharge by offering Rs 7-8 lakhs through ASI Rashpal Singh (posted as MHC CIA Patti), in lieu of not arresting and nominating him in this case, but the Incharge refused to accept the bribe,” he said while adding that the Police teams continued their efforts to arrest Pishora.

          Later, Pishora met Rashpal Singh’s brother Hira Singh through his acquaintance Nishan Singh of village Sito in Tarn Taran, and together they approached DSP Lakhvir, who also happened to be the cousin of Hira Singh, where the DSP negotiated the settlement at Rs 10 lakhs to help the drug supplier, said the DGP, adding that the accused DSP instructed Hira to keep the amount with him.

          On the disclosure of Pishora Singh, the Police have also recovered Rs 9.97 lakhs from the house of Hira Singh, he said.

          Reiterating the commitment of the Punjab Government to make Punjab a corruption-free state, DGP Gaurav Yadav unequivocally said that any Police officer/official found indulged in corruption will not be spared. 

          Giving more details, SSP Tarn Taran Ranjit Singh Dhillon said that the Police have also nominated ASI Rashpal Singh, Nishan Singh and Hira Singh in the FIR and raids are being conducted to nab them.

          Meanwhile, sections 7, 7-A, and 8 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, sections 213, 214, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and sections 29 and 59 of the NDPS act have been added in the FIR, which was initially registered under sections 18,61,85 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Bhikiwind in Tarn Taran.