Chandigarh, April 27

Punjab Freedom Fighters Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat informed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has written to the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi urging the Government of India to issue commemorative coins in honour of the brave sons of Punjab who made supreme sacrifices during India’s freedom struggle.

The Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat said that the Chief Minister’s letter highlights the immense contribution of Punjab to the country’s independence movement with legendary names such as Shaheed-E-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Sukhdev, Shaheed Rajguru, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, Shaheed Lala Lajpat Rai and Shaheed Udham Singh etched forever in the annals of Indian history.

Mr. Bhagat said that Punjab’s soil is soaked with the blood of martyrs and issuing commemorative coins in their memory will not only honour their sacrifices but also serve as a lasting educational legacy for the younger generations.

The Minister underlined that such coins would be a significant addition to India’s numismatic heritage and could be launched on national occasions like Independence Day or Republic Day, symbolizing the nation’s deep respect and gratitude.

Mr. Bhagat expressed hope that the Government of India will respond positively to this appeal, honouring the memory of Punjab’s freedom fighters with this symbolic gesture of national recognition.

Chandigarh, April 27:

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, today highlighted the remarkable role being played by Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) across the state in promoting electoral awareness among young voters. With over 3,000 ELCs actively functioning in schools, colleges, and universities, Punjab is witnessing a strong movement towards building an informed and participative electorate.

Set up with the objective of “learning while doing,” ELCs are engaging students in a wide range of innovative activities including debates, mock elections, poster competitions, pledge ceremonies, and voter awareness campaigns. These efforts are helping to inculcate the values of democratic participation and responsible citizenship among the youth.

Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Sibin C, said, “Through Electoral Literacy Clubs, we are investing in the future of democracy. Empowering students with electoral knowledge at an early stage ensures that they grow into active, aware, and responsible citizens.”

In a bid to document and promote the best initiatives, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer had earlier launched ELC Patrika, an online newsletter featuring outstanding activities and success stories from ELCs across Punjab. ELC Patrika serves as a motivating platform, showcasing creativity, innovation, and dedication in electoral literacy efforts.

Taking a step further, the IT team at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office is developing a dedicated ELC Portal to streamline the functioning and monitoring of all ELCs in the state. The portal will enable easy uploading of photographs, videos, and reports of activities by the clubs, allowing for real-time tracking and evaluation at the head office level. This digital initiative is expected to further strengthen coordination and provide greater visibility to the vibrant activities of ELCs across Punjab.

Chandigarh/Jalandhar, April 27:

In a major action under the Punjab Government’s aggressive ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, Commissionerate Police Jalandhar demolished illegal constructions made by drug smugglers in village Lakhanpal, a locality long notorious as a major drug hotspot.

Leading the operation, Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur said that village Lakhanpal, traditionally infamous for rampant drug sale and supply, had been under close surveillance. Acting swiftly, a joint team of the Panchayat Department and Jalandhar Commissionerate Police razed unauthorized structures built on government land by known drug peddlers. The action, focused on cutting the roots of the drug network, marks a significant step in reclaiming the area from the clutches of narcotics.

Police investigations revealed that the primary accused who encroached the Government land, Hardeep Singh alias Deepa— a history-sheeter — had 9 cases registered against him, including 7 under the NDPS Act. His father Sarbjit Singh and brother Sandeep alias Sonu also faced two criminal cases each.

Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur said the demolished encroachment was being misused by drug peddlers to cross over rooftops and escape during police raids. “By removing these illegal structures, we have curtailed their escape routes. We intend to intensify our raids further and clean the village of its bad name once and for all,” she asserted.

Earlier, during the crackdown in this drug hotspot, nine drug peddlers were arrested, while several others fled, leaving their homes locked. In addition to the arrests, the police have identified two properties for freezing under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act to further tighten the noose around drug traffickers.

Highlighting the collective resolve against drugs, the village panchayat of Lakhanpal also passed a formal resolution banning the sale and consumption of drugs within the village, extending full support to the government’s anti-drug campaign.

The CP reiterated the commitment of the Commissionerate Police to eradicate drugs from the roots and appealed to citizens to come forward with information. She urged people to share any drug-related tips on the Punjab Government’s dedicated WhatsApp number 9779-100-200, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential.

The residents of Lakhanpal welcomed the bulldozer action against the drug mafia, expressing hope for a safer and drug-free future for the village.

New Delhi/Chandigarh 25 April:

A two-day international seminar was organised at Dr Ambedkar International Centre in the national capital, New Delhi, on the impact of climate change on food security. Mr. Bal Mukund Sharma, Chairman of Punjab State Food Commission, participated in this seminar.

Addressing the seminar, Mr. Sharma said that climate change is emerging as a very big challenge for the whole world. He said that it is causing water crisis as the earth’s temperature is increasing rapidly and glaciers are melting.

He said that the Punjab Government has taking several steps to save water resources and climate under which priority was being given to sustainable farming, diversification and sowing of crops that consume less water. He said that Punjab had suffered a lot by over-explolating its natural resources to feed the entire country, especially paddy cultivation which had caused huge damage to ground water level, soil health besides environmental damage through excessive production of green gases and carbon.

Mr Sharma said that continuous efforts were being made by the Punjab government to avoid the effects of climate change, for which, apart from growing forests, special financial assistance is being provided for direct sowing of paddy, 33 percent subsidy on BT cotton seeds and Rs 500 crore is being spent on the purchase of stubble management machines.

He also emphasized that along with food security, we should all work together for nutrition security and a campaign should be prepared in this direction, through which “nutrition gardens” based on vegetables, fruits and herbal plants should be prepared in schools and Anganwadis. He added that children would be make aware of the importance of nutrition at an early age, while these beneficial vegetables and herbal plants like curry leaves, mint, drumstick etc. can also become a part of the mid-day meal given to them.

Chandigarh, April 25

          Punjab’s hydropower sector has achieved a significant milestone during the financial year 2024-25, setting new benchmarks in electricity generation. Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO announced today that three major hydel projects under the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) have not only surpassed their annual generation targets but also recorded their highest output in the past three years.

          The Shanan Power House, located in Joginder Nagar, emerged as a standout performer by generating 512.656 million units (MU) of electricity, exceeding its annual target of 480 MU by 6.80%. This exceptional performance is attributed to efficient plant operation, favourable hydrological conditions and timely maintenance practices. Following closely, the Anandpur Sahib Hydel Project (ASHP) generated 486.14 MU, outperforming its target of 470 MU by 3.43 percent.

          Meanwhile, the Mukerian Hydel Project, the largest among the three in terms of capacity, registered a staggering 1326.81 MU of electricity generation, surpassing its annual target of 1110 MU by an impressive 19.53%. This marks the highest generation recorded at the project in the past three years and underscores the efficiency and robustness of Punjab’s hydropower infrastructure.

          “The remarkable performance of our hydel projects during 2024-25 reflects our commitment to sustainable and efficient energy generation. These figures not only surpass our internal benchmarks but also exceed the targets set by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), New Delhi,” said Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO. He added that this achievement is a testament to the relentless efforts of our engineers, technical staff, and management teams who have worked tirelessly to enhance output and optimise resources.

          Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO further emphasised the importance of hydropower as a clean and renewable energy source that supports Punjab’s broader goals of reducing carbon emissions and improving energy self-sufficiency.

          He also acknowledged the support of the state government and expressed confidence in maintaining the upward trajectory in the years to come. “With strategic investments, modern technology, and the dedication of our workforce, Punjab’s hydropower sector is poised for even greater success,” he added.

          The exceptional performance of the Shanan, Anandpur Sahib, and Mukerian hydel projects not only reinforces the efficiency of Punjab’s power generation capabilities but also contributes positively to the state’s economy and environment by reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Chandigarh, April 25

Punjab PWD Minister S. Harbhajan Singh E. T. O. on Friday held a meeting with the officers of various departments at Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh to give further impetus to the development works being carried out in Jandiala Guru constituency.

Reviewing the status of development works, Cabinet Minister S. Harbhajan Singh E. T. O. held detailed discussions and directed the officials concerned to further accelerate the pace. He also took stock of ongoing construction of a 30-bed hospital at a cost of Rs. 8.63 crore in  Jandiala Guru, a new government polytechnic college being constructed at a cost of Rs. 14.97 crore and a sub-tehsil including Patwarkhana to be completed at a cost of Rs. 3.58 crore.

The meeting was attended by Director Technical Education Mr. Munish Kumar, Director Health Services Mrs. Hatinder Kaur, Chief Engineer of PWD Mr. Vipin Bansal and other senior officers.

The Cabinet Minister directed the officials to ensure regular review of status so that these significant works could be accomplished in the right earnest to facilitate general public. The Minister said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is committed to fully develop the Jandiala Guru constituency with carrying out various development works.

Chandigarh, April 25:

Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister, Dr. Baljit Kaur, announced that the State Government will soon provide smartphones to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers to enable them to perform their daily duties in a more organized and modern manner. She said that the Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is making sincere efforts to address the legitimate demands of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers with utmost sensitivity.

During a meeting held at Punjab Bhawan with representatives of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, Dr. Baljit Kaur attentively listened to their issues and assured them that demands which can be resolved at the departmental level will be addressed promptly. She further mentioned that demands requiring decisions at the State Government level will be thoroughly reviewed and formal recommendations will be submitted to the Chief Minister for further necessary action.

The Minister informed that fulfilling the demand for smartphones is being prioritized to enhance the efficiency and field performance of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers. These smartphones will help connect them with modern technological resources and assist in ensuring effective implementation of government welfare schemes at the grassroots level.

Dr. Baljit Kaur also highlighted that the State Government is equally concerned about the health and well-being of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers. In this regard, a campaign had already been launched by the department to complete the eKYC process for all Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, which will be a significant step towards providing them with better health security benefits.

In conclusion, Dr. Baljit Kaur reiterated that the Punjab Government is fully committed to safeguarding the rights of its workforce and will continue to take welfare-oriented decisions in the future as well. She emphasized that the government will always remain responsive to the demands and suggestions of workers and will keep introducing new initiatives for public welfare in the coming days.

CHANDIGARH, April 22:

          With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 53rd day, Punjab Police on Tuesday arrested 76 drug smugglers and recovered 3.5 kg heroin, 1 kg opium and Rs 1.09 lakh drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 7036 in just 53 days.

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

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 150 Police teams, comprising over 1000 police personnel, under the supervision of 75 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 345 locations across the state leading to the registration of 49 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 374 suspicious persons during the day long operation, he added.

          The Special DGP 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 two 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 Rupanagar— 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.