Chandigarh/SBS NAGAR, JANUARY 26

          Punjab Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, and Horticulture Minister Shri Mohinder Bhagat unfurled the national flag at the district-level Celebration at ITI Ground in SBS Nagar on the occasion of the 76th Republic Day. The Cabinet Minister, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman, SSP Dr. Mehtab Singh, and Parade Commander DSP Shahbaz Singh, inspected the parade and took the salute during the grand march past. On this occasion, the Minister honored freedom fighters, the families of martyred soldiers, and individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society.

          Additionally, he distributed tricycles and sewing machines to those in need. A remarkable cultural program, celebrating patriotism, was presented by school children, featuring vibrant performances of Giddha and Bhangra. The tableaux, showcasing the achievements of various departments, were a key highlight of the event. The event was also attended by MLA Banga and Chairman of the Punjab State Container and Warehouse Corporation, Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, MLA Balachaur Santosh Kataria, and MLA Nawanshahr Nachhatar Pal.

          Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat, while extending his Republic Day greetings to the residents of the district, paid solemn tribute to the thousands of patriotic heroes who laid down their lives in the protracted struggle for the nation’s independence. He also honored the invaluable contributions of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. Minister Bhagat emphasized that the Punjab government remains steadfast in its commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of these great martyrs. He further highlighted that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had taken the oath at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh. In addition, the Punjab government, in a momentous decision, has installed portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar in government offices. Following its pivotal role in naming the Mohali International Airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh, the Punjab government has now erected a statue of Shaheed-e-Azam at the Airport.

          Minister Bhagat said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has announced that the state government will construct an 850-meter-long heritage street in the ancestral village of Shaheed-e-Azam, Khatkar Kalan, which will showcase the glorious contribution of Punjab and Punjabis in the national freedom struggle. He also emphasized that the state government is firmly committed to the welfare of military personnel, martyrs’ families, and ex-servicemen. The government has increased the ex-gratia amount for the families of martyrs from Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 1 crore, and this financial assistance scheme now also includes Agniveers. Additionally, arrangements have been made to provide Rs. 1 crore in financial assistance to the families of police personnel who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s security. Minister Bhagat further stated that the state government has increased the financial assistance provided to religious soldiers from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,000 per month. He added that freedom fighters are our pride, and the government has increased the pension provided to the freedom fighters or their heirs from Rs. 9,400 to Rs. 11,000 per month. He also mentioned that the Punjab government has made provisions for the direct recruitment of descendants of freedom fighters. The government is also paying special attention to agricultural diversification, and the area under horticulture has increased from 4,39,210 hectares to 4,81,743 hectares.

          He stated that employment, health, education, free electricity, and other administrative reforms are key priorities of the Punjab government, and revolutionary work has been done in these areas. He mentioned that the Punjab government has also taken significant steps to promote sports and tourism, conserve groundwater, encourage allied agricultural industries, manage stubble burning, support sugarcane farmers, establish libraries in villages, ensure comprehensive development of villages and cities, strengthen road infrastructure, advance the industrial sector, and create a conducive environment for investment. He added that in addition to initiatives like the Road Safety Force, Farishte Scheme, and Anti-Corruption Action Line, the Punjab government has made important strides in addressing NRI Punjabian’s issues online and establishing a facilitation center at the New Delhi Airport. He emphasized that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government is committed to transforming the state into a vibrant, prosperous, and joyful Punjab, and continuous efforts are being made in this direction.

          During the event, the district administration honored the chief guest with a magnificent memento. The chief guest announced a donation of Rs. 5 lakh from his discretionary fund for the ITI Ground. Additionally, he declared a holiday for all schools in the district on January 27.

          On this occasion, the following dignitaries were present: ADGP (Provisioning) Nageshwar Rao, District and Sessions Judge Priya Sood, Vice Chairman of the Punjab State Technical Education Board Lalit Mohan Pathak (Ballu), Vice Chairman of the Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation Kuljeet Singh Sarhal, Chairman of the District Planning Committee Satnam Singh Jalalpur, Chairman of the Improvement Trust Nawanshahr Satnam Singh Jalwaha, Chairman of the Market Committee Nawanshahr Gagan Agnihotri, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Rajeev Verma, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Avneet Kaur, SDM Nawanshahr Dr. Akshita Gupta, along with judicial, civil, and police officers, and a large number of other distinguished guests were present.

Chandigarh, January 25:

Punjab Mining Minister Mr. Barinder Goyal participated in the 3rd National Mining Ministers’ Conference held at Konark, Odisha. The conference was attended by the Union Mining Minister, representatives from 11 states, and senior officials.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Goyal highlighted Punjab’s unique approach to mining, stating that unlike other states where mining occurs deep underground, Punjab’s mining activities are conducted above the surface.

The Minister emphasized that Punjab is optimally utilising its natural resources and just like the state has, over the years, responsibly expanded its agricultural activities  to feed the entire nation, the state is responsibly mining its natural resources to add to the economy.

The Minister underscored Punjab’s efforts to bring transparency to mining by establishing public mining sites, enabling access to affordable sand for common citizens while generating employment for local labor and youth.

During the conference, Mr. Goyal raised concerns about recent directives from the Ministry of Defence requiring prior clearance for mining activities within 20 km of the border. He termed the decision discriminatory. He said that the State of Punjab has three rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, where mining can happen, and out of these two of the rivers are impacted by this decision, which should be immediately reviewed.

Mr. Goyal also addressed delays in obtaining environmental clearances for mining sites.

He strongly advocated the need for empowering the government with overriding powers of taking over the Environmental Clearance issued to any contractor in case he defaults or declines to carry on with any mining activity. This, he said, will eliminate unnecessary delays in obtaining fresh environmental clearances

Additionally, the minister urged the union mining minister to assist the state in expanding its mining activities into major minerals by exploiting the huge reserves of Potash detected in parts of Punjab bordering Rajasthan. This, he said, will save the nation a large amount of foreign exchange which it otherwise pays for importing potash every year in huge quantities.

Mr. Goyal reiterated Punjab’s commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices and called for greater collaboration with the Union Government to enhance the state’s mining sector.

Ludhiana/Chandigarh, January 25:

Local Bodies Minister Dr Ravjot Singh inspected the temporary pumping station established under ‘Kar Sewa’ led by Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal near Gaushala point of ‘Buddha Dariya’ on Saturday.

Applauding the efforts put in by MP Seechewal to stop the flow of sewer waste into the ‘Buddha Dariya’, Cabinet minister Dr Ravjot Singh reiterated the commitment of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann to rejuvenate ‘Buddha Dariya’.

Mayor Principal Inderjit Kaur, MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, SDM  (East) Jasleen Kaur Bhullar, Additional Commissioner Paramdeep Singh, EO GLADA Aman Gupta, PPCB Chief Engineer RK Ratra, Chief Engineer Ravinder Garg among other officials accompanied the cabinet minister.

MP Seechewal appreciated Cabinet minister Dr Ravjot Singh for his concern over the project to clean ‘Buddha Dariya’ stating that the cabinet minister has visited the temporary pumping station site for the fourth time in a period of around a month.

Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh said that the state government is not against the industry or any other sector, but no one can be allowed to pollute ‘Buddha Dariya’.

After inspecting the temporary pumping station, Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh also conducted a meeting with the officials and directed them to take strict action against those dumping untreated waste in the Buddha Dariya.

Dr Ravjot Singh said that they would also be holding meetings with the dairy owners of Tajpur road dairy complex and Haibowal dairy complex on January 27. The dairy owners would again be appealed to stop dumping cow dung in the Dariya to avoid action.

Meanwhile, Dr Ravjot Singh directed the officials to expedite the projects to establish bio-gas plants in Hiabowal and Tajpur road dairy complexes. Till that time arrangements should be made to lift the cow dung from dairy units and dump the same at designated sites. Civic body officials stated that temporary arrangements have already been made to lift the cow dung and tenders have also been floated to rope in a contractor for lifting cow dung from dairy units.

Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh said that the state government is regularly monitoring the situation and all efforts are being made to rejuvenate ‘Buddha Dariya’.

Chandigarh, January 25 

          Today lead Agency on Road Safety, Punjab state road safety council and National Highway Authority of India organized a one-day workshop on the topic “Improvement of Black Spots and Their Impact on Road Accidents and Fatalities” to reduce road accidents and fatalities. 

          The workshop was held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector 26, Chandigarh, in connection with the National Road Safety Month 2025. The focus was on improving accident-prone black spots and assessing their impact on road accidents and fatalities. The workshop was conducted under the leadership of the Lead Agency, Punjab State Road Safety Council, in collaboration with the Transport Department, Punjab, and other stakeholders, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), PWD (B&R), Local Government Department, Punjab Mandi Board, and Punjab Traffic Police. 

          Additional Chief Secretary of Transport, Mr. D.K. Tiwari, stated that under the able leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the guidance of Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, special efforts will be made regarding road safety. He emphasized that the primary objective of the workshop is to discuss and address critical issues related to road safety. These deliberations will play a crucial role in shaping future strategies to enhance road safety standards and reduce road hazards. He also commended the role of the Road Safety Force and encouraged officials from various departments to adopt well-coordinated measures to minimize road accidents, especially during foggy weather conditions, and to discourage underage driving. 

          Director General of the Lead Agency for Road Safety, Mr. R. Venkata Ratnam, pointed out that the number of fatalities due to road accidents in the state is alarmingly high, with 14 deaths occurring daily. He urged road-related agencies, including NHAI, PWD, Punjab Mandi Board, and the Local Government Department, to put in more efforts to rectify black spots on roads and properly evaluate their impact to reduce fatalities. He also directed police and transport department officials to strictly enforce traffic rules to prevent accidents and save lives. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of accurately documenting road accident data to facilitate better planning and ensure optimal utilization of government funds allocated for accident prevention. 

          Additional Director General of Police (Traffic), Mr. A.S. Rai, highlighted the performance of the Road Safety Force and stated that due to the effective operations of the force over the past 11 months, there has been a significant decline in road accidents and fatalities in Punjab, which is a testament to the efforts of the current Punjab government. 

          State Transport Commissioner Mr. Jaspreet Singh provided insights into various initiatives for road safety, such as special awareness campaigns for school and college students, the importance of wearing seat belts, scrapping of old vehicles, electronic surveillance-based challans in major cities, third-party insurance and pollution certificate checks, educating students on traffic rules through traffic parks, and simplifying the online learning license process. 

          Mr. Vipnesh Sharma, Regional Officer of NHAI, provided insights into road safety initiatives and shared details about efforts undertaken by the department to rectify black spots to reduce road accidents and save lives. 

          The workshop witnessed participation from senior officials of the Punjab Government and various associated agencies, along with key stakeholders. Experts elaborated on various safety measures and future action plans to reduce road accidents, improve road infrastructure, and raise public awareness.

Chandigarh, January 25 :

          The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is continuously striving to provide employment opportunities to the youth of the state. In line with this effort, Barinder Kumar Goyal, the Minister for Land and Water Conservation, today handed over appointment letters to 21 newly appointed candidates. Among these candidates, 19 were appointed as Agricultural Sub-Inspectors, 1 as Junior Draftsman, and 1 as Peon.

          While handing over the appointment letters to the newly appointed candidates at Punjab Bhawan today, Barinder Kumar Goyal congratulated them and encouraged them to work with full dedication and sincerity. He also mentioned that the appointments made by the state Government were done with full transparency, ensuring that all jobs were awarded to deserving candidates based on merit. The Cabinet Minister further stated that the vision of the Government is to provide employment opportunities to the youth in Punjab so that their skills contribute to the state’s development.

          The Cabinet Minister emphasized that the government has transformed the mindset of the people. He mentioned that the previous governments had eroded people’s trust, as Government jobs were only available through recommendations. However, under the leadership of S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the present Government has changed this narrative. People now know that only qualified and deserving candidates are appointed based on merit, which has enabled young people from ordinary families in the state to get jobs. He further pointed out that previously, due to lack of employment opportunities in Punjab, the youth had to go abroad, but now, with the jobs provided by the Punjab Government, they are returning to the state.

          He also mentioned that among the newly appointed candidates, two individuals had worked in Canada and had returned to Punjab to receive their appointment letters for the Agricultural Sub-Inspector position.

          Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal further stated that the present Government is the first in the country to provide employment to over 50,000 youth from ordinary families in Punjab during its tenure.

          He urged the newly appointed candidates to understand that positions like Agricultural Sub-Inspector and Draftsman are the backbone of this department. He encouraged them to work diligently to implement Government schemes related to land and water conservation and to create awareness among farmers about these schemes. He also directed officials to organize awareness camps across the state to educate farmers about these schemes.

          Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture), Shri Anurag Verma, also congratulated the newly appointed employees and stressed the importance of water resource management. He urged the newly recruited employees to contribute their full potential in the mission of water conservation throughout the state.

          The Chief Land Officer, Mahinder Pal Saini, welcomed the new recruits to the department and urged them to carry out their duties with full responsibility and dedication.

Chandigarh, January 25 

          Today lead Agency on Road Safety, Punjab state road safety council and National Highway Authority of India organized a one-day workshop on the topic “Improvement of Black Spots and Their Impact on Road Accidents and Fatalities” to reduce road accidents and fatalities. 

          The workshop was held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector 26, Chandigarh, in connection with the National Road Safety Month 2025. The focus was on improving accident-prone black spots and assessing their impact on road accidents and fatalities. The workshop was conducted under the leadership of the Lead Agency, Punjab State Road Safety Council, in collaboration with the Transport Department, Punjab, and other stakeholders, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), PWD (B&R), Local Government Department, Punjab Mandi Board, and Punjab Traffic Police. 

          Additional Chief Secretary of Transport, Mr. D.K. Tiwari, stated that under the able leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the guidance of Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, special efforts will be made regarding road safety. He emphasized that the primary objective of the workshop is to discuss and address critical issues related to road safety. These deliberations will play a crucial role in shaping future strategies to enhance road safety standards and reduce road hazards. He also commended the role of the Road Safety Force and encouraged officials from various departments to adopt well-coordinated measures to minimize road accidents, especially during foggy weather conditions, and to discourage underage driving. 

          Director General of the Lead Agency for Road Safety, Mr. R. Venkata Ratnam, pointed out that the number of fatalities due to road accidents in the state is alarmingly high, with 14 deaths occurring daily. He urged road-related agencies, including NHAI, PWD, Punjab Mandi Board, and the Local Government Department, to put in more efforts to rectify black spots on roads and properly evaluate their impact to reduce fatalities. He also directed police and transport department officials to strictly enforce traffic rules to prevent accidents and save lives. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of accurately documenting road accident data to facilitate better planning and ensure optimal utilization of government funds allocated for accident prevention. 

          Additional Director General of Police (Traffic), Mr. A.S. Rai, highlighted the performance of the Road Safety Force and stated that due to the effective operations of the force over the past 11 months, there has been a significant decline in road accidents and fatalities in Punjab, which is a testament to the efforts of the current Punjab government. 

          State Transport Commissioner Mr. Jaspreet Singh provided insights into various initiatives for road safety, such as special awareness campaigns for school and college students, the importance of wearing seat belts, scrapping of old vehicles, electronic surveillance-based challans in major cities, third-party insurance and pollution certificate checks, educating students on traffic rules through traffic parks, and simplifying the online learning license process. 

          Mr. Vipnesh Sharma, Regional Officer of NHAI, provided insights into road safety initiatives and shared details about efforts undertaken by the department to rectify black spots to reduce road accidents and save lives. 

          The workshop witnessed participation from senior officials of the Punjab Government and various associated agencies, along with key stakeholders. Experts elaborated on various safety measures and future action plans to reduce road accidents, improve road infrastructure, and raise public awareness.

CHANDIGARH, January 25:

          In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive against organised crime launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Anti-Gangster Task Force Punjab (AGTF) Punjab in a joint operation with SAS Nagar Police has apprehended an associate of Lawrance Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gang in connection with the firing incident at IELTS/Immigration Centre in Dera Bassi, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

          The arrested accused has been identified as Mehfuj alias Vishal Khan, a resident of Dera Bassi. Police teams have also recovered one .32 calibre pistol along with five cartridges from his possession.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the arrested accused, along with another member of Lawrance Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gang identified as Manjeet alias Guri— currently lodged in Tihar Jail, were the masterminds behind the firing incident at an IELTS/Immigration Centre in Dera Bassi. As per the information, on September 19, 2024, two motorcycle borne youth, in a broad day light, had opened fire outside the IELTS/Immigration Centre in Dera Bassi to demand extortion from the owner.

          The DGP said that the all the other accused persons involved in the incident including Jagdeep Jagga, Mohit Kumar alias Banti, Anmol, Gurkirat Singh Bedi, Nishant Kumar alias Nikku Rana have been arrested, whereas, Mehfuj alias Vishal Khan had been absconding.

          Sharing operational details, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) AGTF Promod Ban said that an information based on human intelligence was received about possible hideouts and locations of accused Vishal Khan.

          Acting swiftly, special teams of AGTF under the supervision of AIG Gurmeet Chauhan in coordination with SSP SAS Nagar Deepak Pareek were formed, said the ADGP, while adding that the teams zeroed in on the possible hideouts/locations and successfully arrested him from Punjab-Haryana border near Barwala and also recovered a pistol from his possession.

          AIG AGTF Gurmeet Chauhan said that the arrested accused has a previous criminal history and, ever since 2023, he has been working on the directions of foreign-based terrorist Goldy Brar. Arrested accused has also collected a weapons consignment from the notorious gangster Joginder alias Joga of Haryana, who had provided weapons and logistical assistance to accused involved in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case and later, was also arrested, he added.

          The AIG said that Manjeet Guri was earlier got injured in police action in November 2023, when he was directed by Goldy Brar to execute murder of some businessmen in Zirakpur.

          SSP Deepak Pareek further said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested accused was planning to commit a crime in the tricity. Further investigation is ongoing to establish forward and backward linkages in this case, he added.

           A case FIR No 292 dated 19.09.2024 had already been registered under sections 111, 109, 308(5), 32(b), 333, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act at Police Station Dera Bassi in SAS Nagar.

Chandigarh, January 24 

          Taking serious note of the rising incidents of stray dog attacks on children, Kanwardeep Singh, Chairman of the Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, has directed the Local Government and Rural Development Departments to conduct a census of stray dogs in all cities. He has also urged immediate sterilization to prevent further incidents.

          The Chairman has stated that reports of stray dog attacks on children have been brought to the commission’s attention through media sources. Expressing deep concern over these incidents, the commission has taken suo-motu notice of the matter. 

          The Chairman highlighted that media reports have revealed alarming incidents, including the tragic deaths of two children within a week in Hasanpur village near Ludhiana due to stray dog attacks. Similar incidents have been reported from various parts of Punjab, including Mohali, Zirakpur, Amritsar, Machhiwara Sahib, and Nabha, raising serious public concern.

          The Chairman further informed that he has written to the Administrative Secretaries of the Punjab Local Government Department and the Rural Development & Panchayat Department, urging them to implement the provisions of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, as notified by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, on March 10, 2023. He emphasized that timely implementation of these rules will help control the stray dog population and prevent further attacks on children.

Chandigarh, January 24:

          Following the directions of Cabinet Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, the Punjab School Education Department, on Friday, suspended a School Principal and a Campus Manager of a Government Senior Secondary School of Ludhiana. This strict action was taken against them over corporal punishment to students for arriving late to school.

          S. Harjot Singh Bains said that Principal of Government Senior Secondary School Jawahar Nagar, School of Eminence (Boys), Ludhiana has been suspended and the Campus Manager of the same school has been dismissed for making the students to shift sand & gravel for coming late to the school.

          “This incident has come to my notice today, and strict action has been initiated immediately,” he stated. S. Harjot Singh Bains categorically asserted that such behaviour from any teacher will not be tolerated, emphasising the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment for students in the Government Schools. The education system must prioritise the well-being and dignity of all students, and any actions that undermine this principle will be met with appropriate consequences.

Chandigarh, January 24:

          The Chief Secretary of Punjab, Sh. K.A.P Sinha, today chaired a meeting of the Unique Identification Implementation Committee (UIDIC) cum Workshop on Aadhaar Usage at the Punjab Secretariat. The session, attended by heads and directors of various departments, underscored the importance of achieving 100% Aadhaar penetration for children in the 0-5 age group across Punjab.

          Sh. Sinha directed all departments, including banks and the Department of Post, to activate Aadhaar enrolment kits without delay and maximize the use of available resources to achieve this target.

          Smt. Bhawna Garg, DDG UIDAI RO Chandigarh, highlighted the need for special efforts to improve Aadhaar enrolment for children aged 0-5. She suggested deploying Aadhaar kits at immunization centers and facilitating collaboration between the Health Department and the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) for better coverage.

          Additionally, Smt. Garg urged the School Education Department to create a detailed action plan to identify children who require Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) at the age of 5 and 15. This will ensure smooth access to government schemes, scholarships, and educational benefits.

          The workshop also presented case studies of how Aadhaar-based face authentication can be leveraged to improve service delivery. Smt. Garg encouraged departments to integrate face authentication into their schemes for greater efficiency.

          The Chief Secretary instructed that Aadhaar service camps be organized in all government and private schools to provide easier access for students. He also emphasized the need to promote the m-Aadhaar application and My-Aadhaar Portal to ensure citizens can easily avail themselves of Aadhaar services.

          Furthermore, the Chief Secretary called for a comprehensive awareness campaign by the School Education Department to encourage parents and guardians to ensure the Mandatory Biometric Update for their children. He also directed all departments to ensure Aadhaar-based authentication of beneficiaries at e-Sampark Centers and other government offices, and to implement Aadhaar-based face authentication across all government departments.