Chandigarh, March 26:

Taking a historic decision to check the illegal mining in state, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday nod for the enactment of the Punjab Regulation of

Crusher Units Act 2025.

A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the Council of Ministers held here under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here at his official residence.

The Cabinet have approved to bring this act in the ongoing session of the state assembly. This will strengthen the Department in regulating the activities of Crusher Units and Screening Plants which are engaged in processing of sand and gravel. This will in turn help in checking illegal mining operations in the state by promoting legal mining in

the state.

Gives consent to amend the Indian Stamp Act, 1899

The Cabinet also gave consent to amend the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, to promote a business-friendly environment in the state. This amendment aims to reduce business costs and boost economic growth in Punjab. It stipulates that if a person has already paid stamp duty on a loan and later transfers it to another bank or financial institution without changing the mortgaged property, no additional stamp duty will be charged—unless the new loan amount exceeds the previous one, in which case duty will be charged only on the excess.

Chandigarh, March 26

Presenting the fourth budget of the State Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced to launch various major schemes for the overall development of the state, while also giving special attention to the Water Supply and Sanitation Department.

Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Hardip Singh Mundian expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister on behalf of the people of the state and his department for the steps taken towards providing clean drinking water and better sanitation facilities to the rural population in the budget for the year 2025-26 and for proposing a budget outlay of Rs. 1614 Crore.

Mr. Mundian further said that the budget of Rs. 1614 Crore will be of great help in expediting the implementation of surface water based schemes, rehabilitation of old infrastructure and strengthening rural sanitation/cleanliness under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). This includes provision for upgrading/providing pipeline water supply in 176 villages of the state and providing clean and pure water.

Chandigarh, March 26:

Punjab’s Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur praised the budget presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, describing it as a crucial initiative for the welfare of the common people, financially struggling families, and marginalized communities.

Dr. Baljit Kaur highlighted that the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation (PSCFC) has announced a complete waiver of loans taken until March 31, 2020, providing significant relief to 4,650 beneficiaries. She emphasized that this decision would help distressed families regain financial stability.

She further stated that the government has allocated ₹9,340 crore to ensure social justice and equality. These funds will be utilized to provide financial assistance to the elderly, widows, destitute women, orphaned children, and persons with disabilities.

Dr. Baljit Kaur also commended the budget’s focus on women’s convenience and economic empowerment. She noted that the free bus travel facility, which has played a vital role in enhancing women’s mobility and economic independence, will continue in the coming year. Over the past year, more than 12 crore women have benefited from this initiative, for which ₹450 crore has been earmarked.

She asserted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is continuously working towards making the state a ‘Rangla Punjab.’ The budget prioritizes the economic upliftment of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, minorities, and marginalized sections by allocating ₹13,987 crore, which accounts for 34% of the state’s total development budget.

Dr. Baljit Kaur expressed hope that this budget would contribute to the progress of all sections of Punjab, promote social justice and equality, and serve as a milestone in making the people of Punjab prosperous and self-reliant.

Chandigarh, March 26

Punjab Transport and Jails Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said that the budget presented by the Punjab government will further accelerate holistic development of the state.

In a statement issued here today, the Cabinet Minister lauded the budget and said that the state has been moving forward on the path of development from last three years and the total budget expenditure for the financial year 2025-2026 has been proposed at Rs. 2,36,080 crore. He said that the Punjab Budget has presented a concept of revitalization of rural Punjab, under which all-round development of villages will be possible. 

The Cabinet Minister said that the budget presented has proposed to purchase 347 e-buses with this step, while an environment-friendly public transport system will be established, the dependence on private vehicles will also be reduced. 

S. Bhullar said that Rs 100 crore has been proposed for construction, renovation and upgradation of jail infrastructure in Punjab. He said that Punjab has implemented key security and rehabilitation measures to further improve jail management and welfare of prisoners. Similarly, AI-powered CCTV surveillance is being installed in central jails to detect and prevent illegal activities and V-cams are being expanded in 12 sensitive jails.

He praised the ‘Rangla Punjab Development Scheme’ and said that a provision of Rs. 585 crore has been made for this scheme, which will be spent on the essential things of the people of every district. He said that this fund will be spent on the basis of recommendations of the citizens and this initiative will ensure all-round development like construction and repair of roads and bridges, street lights, clinics, hospitals, schools, water and sanitation etc. 

S. Bhullar further said that the proposals of Punjab Budget 2025-2026 will take Punjab on the path of progress and further enhance the economic development of the state. He said that this budget will bring positive reforms in Punjab and further strengthen the foundation of a prosperous and self-reliant Punjab.

Chandigarh, March 26:

The Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department has been allocated Rs. 281 crore for Financial Year 2025-26 in the budget presented by the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema today in the Vidhan Sabha.

Profusely thanking the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Finance Minister, the Forest Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak said that to promote eco-tourism in Punjab, special focus will be placed on developing the Jhajjar Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary in Sri Anandpur Sahib.

Underlining the commitment of the State Government to ensure environmental conservation  and wildlife protection, Mr. Kataruchak added that various initiatives to enhance green cover and biodiversity in the State are being undertaken. So far, around 3 crore saplings have been planted, including 29 lakh around tube-wells, while 268 Nanak Bagichies and 46 Pavittar Vans are being developed in the current year to promote ecological balance.

Chandigarh, March 26:

In a significant move to promote heritage, tourism, and wildlife conservation in the state, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has unveiled game-changing plans to develop Nangal as Punjab’s next big tourist hotspot and develop Jhajjar Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary of Sri Anandpur Sahib into a thrilling eco-tourism destination allowing visitors to spot leopards and other wildlife in their natural habitat, said S. Harjot Singh Bains, Education Minister and MLA from Sri Anandpur Sahib.

          Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, while presenting the historic ‘Badalda Punjab’ Budget for financial year 2025-26, mentioned about the overall development and facelift of Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency. The Punjab government has also allocated a special budget for the preparations of the 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.

The Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, while terming the budget as a landmark, said that Nangal will be transformed into a key tourist destination with an initial allocation of Rs 10 crore budget. The initiative aims to enhance facilities, promote local attractions, and create employment opportunities in the hospitality sector, he said.

Apart from this, he said that Jhajjar Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary in Sri Anandpur Sahib will be developed as eco-tourism destination. “Once completed, it will become Punjab’s first wildlife sanctuary where visitors can spot leopards and other wildlife in their natural habitat,” he added.

While thanking the Punjab government for allocating a special budget for the preparations of the 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, the Education Minister emphasised that Sri Anandpur Sahib, a city of immense historical and religious importance, will receive special attention in terms of infrastructure and cultural development to honour the occasion.

Chandigarh, March 26:

Punjab School, Higher & Technical Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, today praised the state budget 2025-26 as a landmark step towards educational transformation, with a massive allocation of Rs.17975 crore (12% of a total expenditure) for the education sector. The budget focuses on strengthening school education through Mission Samrath, which has already benefited 14 lakh students across 19,000 schools, improving learning outcomes by 15-25%. He said that these key initiatives include Rs.1240 crore for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Rs.466 crore for PM Poshan, Rs.75 crore for free books and Rs.35 crore for uniforms. The government is converting 425 primary schools into ‘Schools of Happiness’ and has solar-powered 4098 schools, mentioned Harjot Singh Bains.

In higher education, Rs.199 crore has been allocated under RUSA and Rs.160 crore for infrastructure upgrades, while technical education gets Rs.579 crore, including Rs.33 crore for new ITIs, building on this year’s record 93.04% admission rate in government ITIs, said the Education Minister, while emphasizing Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to global standards, having sent hundreds of educators for training to premier institutions. “This budget showcases our four pillars of educational excellence i.e. quality learning, holistic development, sustainable infrastructure and inclusive growth, to make Punjab a national leader in education field,” he stated.

Chandigarh, March 26:

Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today hailed the state government’s fourth budget as an exceptionally strategic, forward-looking and comprehensive roadmap for sustainable water management and agricultural development.

Listing the budget highlights, Minister Sh. Goyal asserted Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government’s commitment to addressing critical water challenges through innovative and targeted interventions.

He informed that in the Budget 2025-26, the Shahpur Kandi Dam Project emerges as a cornerstone of the government’s visionary infrastructure planning, with a substantial investment of Rs.2604-CR. This landmark project is poised to generate 1042 MU of hydroelectricity and enhance irrigation across 1.55 lakh hectares in the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) system. The project will directly benefit districts including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Pathankot, marking a significant milestone in the state’s water resource management strategy.

He said that recognizing the critical groundwater situation, where extraction rates have reached an alarming 166% with 117 out of 153 blocks being overexploited, the Mann government has developed a comprehensive strategy for the fiscal year 2025-26. The initiatives include the installation of 40 deep tubewells in Rupnagar, SBS Nagar, Hoshiarpur, S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) and Pathankot and 167 shallow tubewells near the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers. Besides this, the plan encompasses irrigation expansion across 7877 hectares at a total cost of Rs.85-crore. In financial year 2025-26, total 63000 hectares will be covered under these projects, including laying underground pipelines with an estimated cost of Rs.315 crore. The state government has identified Rs.8227 crore worth of surface water projects to expand canal irrigation in previously excluded areas.

Sh. Goyal said that the government has proposed a robust budget allocation of Rs.3246 crore for the upcoming fiscal year, which includes Rs.723 crore for new projects and Rs.1343 crore for ongoing project completion, with a comprehensive focus on watercourse construction, reconstruction and underground pipeline laying. The budget also highlights district-specific interventions in next fiscal year, such as the Sangrur District Initiative, which proposes an underground pipeline network covering 38,000 hectares and benefiting 20,000 farmer families with an initial allocation of Rs.100 crore.

Besides this, a new project is proposed for the reclamation of waterlogged land in Fazilka district, while efforts will also be made to develop irrigation infrastructure, provide micro-irrigation subsidies and implement water harvesting projects in the Kandi area, benefiting 30,000 hectares, he added.

“This budget echoing our government’s holistic approach to water resource management,” said Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal, adding that we are not just addressing immediate challenges but laying the groundwork for Punjab’s sustainable and prosperous agricultural future. The strategic interventions demonstrate a forward-thinking approach to addressing the state’s water resource challenges, balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainable development goals, he added.

Chandigarh, March 26:

 Punjab PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Wednesday described the Punjab Budget-2025 presented by Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema as pro-people and pro-state budget. He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Government’s budget would put Punjab on high growth trajectory covering all sections of society.

          PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the Budget was comprised of all sectors with a special focus on health, education, agriculture, industry and employment generation besides making provisions under social welfare schemes to provide in larger public interest. Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has also ensured rapid strides in Power sector especially the functioning of Powercom upgrading its ranking to 7th place among the power companies across the country. He said that the technical and commercial loss had also been reduced from 11.26 to 10.26.

          The concerted efforts of Punjab Government to improve the functioning of Powercom also brought high-quality results in distribution and other sectors besides registering the profit of .25 paise per unit in revenue gap. The Minister also lauded the Punjab Government’s endeavour to set aside Rs. 855 crore for  construction and  up-gradation of 2718 KM roads and link routes, which would further improve the road connectivity, vehicular movement and ease for commuters. Apart from this the decision to earmark Rs. 151 crore and Rs. 190 crore for building new bridges and major infrastructure and upgradation of 200 km are also commendable, he added.