Chandigarh, 8 January 2025

          The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, has arrested Panchayat Secretary, Prithvi Singh,posted at BDPO Office, block Moonak in Sangrur district red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs. 20000. In this case another co-accused Davinder Bansal, Audit Inspector, posted in the office of Regional Deputy Director, Local Fund Audit, Patiala has also been nominated.

          Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of state VB said the aforementioned accused has been arrested following a complaint lodged by Gurwinder Singh, a resident of village Maha Singh Wala in Moonak who is husband of former Sarpanch.

          He further added that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the said Panchayat Secretary has demanded bribe of Rs 20000 for auditing of the development works carried out by the village panchayat of Maha Singh Wala during the previous tenure and told that the bribe money has to be shared with aforementioned Davinder Bansal, Audit Inspector.

          The spokesperson informed that after a preliminary enquiry of this complaint the VB team laid a trap during which the accused Panchayat Secretary was arrested while he was accepting the bribe money from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. In this regard a case has been registered against  said Prithvi Singh, Panchyat Secretary and Davinder Bansal, Audit Inspector, at VB police station Patiala range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and future investigations into this case was under progress, he said.

Chandigarh, January 8:

          Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has strongly condemned the decision to redesignate the UT Adviser’s post to Chief Secretary, terming it as trampling of Punjab’s right over Chandigarh.

          The Speaker said that this move is seen as a blatant disregard for the sensitive issue of Chandigarh’s status, which has been a long-standing point of contention between Punjab and the Union government.

        Sandhwan emphasized that the redesignation is not only an administrative anomaly but also an attempt to undermine Punjab’s legitimate claims over Chandigarh.

          “We urge the central government to reconsider this decision and respect the rights of the people of Punjab,” Sandhwan added.

          This development has sparked widespread concern among Punjab’s leaders and citizens, who see it as a deliberate attempt to erode the state’s authority. The Punjab government has consistently maintained that Chandigarh is an integral part of the state and any decision regarding its administration should be taken in consultation with the state government.

Chandigarh, January 6

A Research Chair in the name of the 10th Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, will be established at Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra. Jamuna Auto Industry Limited today presented a cheque of Rs. 25 lakh to Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, to fund this initiative.

The Research Chair, aimed at promoting academic research and cultural studies related to the life and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, will be funded by Jamuna Auto Industry Limited under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.

Tourism Minister Sh. Arvind Sharma and OSD Dr. Prabhleen Singh were also present on this occasion.

The establishment of Research Chair will not only honour the legacy of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji but will also further enrich the educational and research opportunities at Kurukshetra University.

Chandigarh, January 4

          Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said today that in recognition of PSPCL’s significant contributions, the Government of India has awarded the Corporation a financial reward of Rs. 11.39 crores for its successful addition of 60.51 MW of Rooftop Solar energy during FY 2022-23. This added capacity is expected to generate approximately 2.4 lakh units of green energy daily, marking a substantial step towards clean and sustainable energy adoption in Punjab.

          Highlighting the significant progress made in Rooftop Solar capacity installation, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that an impressive 86 MW added in FY 2023-24. He said that this brings the total installed capacity of Rooftop Solar in Punjab to 430 MW to date, demonstrating the state’s commitment to renewable energy.

          Underscoring the multiple benefits of this achievement, the Power Minister said that the solar power generated from this capacity addition will significantly reduce electricity bills for PSPCL consumers while delivering immense environmental benefits. He appealed to domestic consumers of the state to install Rooftop Solar systems and avail of the subsidy benefit of Rs. 30,000 per KW for the first 2 KWs and Rs. 18,000 per KW from 2 KW to 3 KW, making a total subsidy of Rs. 78,000 for 3 KW.

          Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO further added that the PSPCL has launched a dedicated Nodal Office to facilitate and promote Rooftop Solar adoption. This initiative aims to provide a single-point contact for individuals and organizations interested in harnessing solar energy. The Nodal Office can be reached at 9646129246 or via email at rts.ipc@gmail.com.

          “To further promote Rooftop Solar energy and create widespread public awareness, PSPCL has launched various advertising campaigns in leading newspapers and on its official website”, said the Power Minister while adding that these initiatives aim to educate and motivate the public to adopt solar energy solutions for their energy needs.

          Reiterating the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to increasing the share of clean, green, and cost-effective renewable energy in the state’s power mix, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the PSPCL is not only empowering its consumers but also making a meaningful contribution to combating climate change by promoting Rooftop Solar energy, He said that the Punjab Government is committed to further enhancing its renewable energy capacity to ensure a sustainable future for the state

Chandigarh, January 4, 2025:

          A delegation of industrialists and residents of Phase 8B, Mohali, met Cabinet Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat on Friday to discuss various issues, including the removal of the garbage dumping ground and other civic grievances affecting both industrial and residential areas. The Minister assured the delegation of swift action to resolve the problems they are facing.

          During the meeting, the industrialists and residents presented their concerns, emphasizing the urgent need to accelerate the project for the removal of the garbage dumping ground. They stressed the importance of maintaining cleanliness and ensuring a conducive environment for industries in Phase 8B, Mohali.

          In meeting, Mohali Municipal Corporation Commissioner T. Benith and Xen Rajinder Kumar explained the progress of the project and assured the Minister to complete the work soon.

          Mr. Bhagat also instructed the officials to visit the site immediately and expedite the process of removing the dumping ground. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering industrial growth by addressing infrastructure challenges and creating a business-friendly environment.

          Prominent figures, including industrialists Tajinder Kumar Bansal, Navin Singla, Chairman of the All Residents Welfare Association Mr.Baldev Singh Naga, and other officials, were present at the meeting.

Chandigarh, January 4, 2025 – The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption, has arrested Constable Sukhpreet Singh, a gunman attached to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Bathinda for collecting monthly bribes amounting to Rs 20-25 lakhs from transporters with the help of their accomplices. The Mohali court has sent him on four days police remand to the VB for further questioning.

Disclosing this an official spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said this arrest was made based on an online complaint submitted by Dharam Singh, a transporter from village Lehra Dhurkot, near Rampura in Bathinda district, on the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line.

The spokesperson stated that the complainant had alleged that his trucks and tippers were being challaned by the Assistant Transport Officer (ATO) and Constable Sukhpreet Singh and Jaggi Singh, a private individual from Maur in Bathinda, were demanding Rs 1,800 per truck as monthly “protection money” on behalf of Ankit Kumar, Assistant Transport Officer (ATO) Bathinda, and others, to ensure that their commercial trucks and tippers were not penalized. The said ATO had challaned his stationary vehicles and under pressure he already had paid Rs 15000 through Google pay on the mobile phone number provided by Guranjit Singh, gunman of said ATO. The complainant had recorded conversations with the accused, which were submitted to the VB as an evidence.

During the enquiry of this complaint, the allegations were verified as the accused were found to be soliciting bribes in exchange for allowing the complainant’s transport vehicles to operate without interference. Based on the complainant’s statement and the audio evidence, an FIR has been registered against Constable Sukhpreet Singh and Jaggi Singh at the VB Police Station, Flying Squad-1, Punjab, in Mohali.

Upon confrontation by the VB Flying Squad team, Constable Sukhpreet Singh admitted to demanding and accepting bribes from transporters. He further revealed that approximately Rs 20-25 lakhs were being collected monthly from transporters, facilitated by private individuals and accomplices.

During interrogation, Constable Sukhpreet Singh disclosed that private individuals, including Jaggi Singh and some smaller transporters, were being used to collect the bribes. He also revealed that Constable Guranjit Singh, another gunman attached to ATO Ankit Kumar, was collecting Rs 8-10 lakhs monthly from transporters, while he himself was collecting Rs 7-8 lakhs from the remaining transporters.

The spokesperson added that the role of ATO Bathinda, his gunman Guranjit Singh and other individuals was now under investigation and have been summoned to join the probe so that they could be confronted with the evidence, including the confessions made by Sukhpreet Singh. The spokesperson further hinted that additional revelations are expected as the investigation progresses.

Chandigarh, January 4:

          Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Saturday urged Sh. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Agriculture Minister, to break the impasse and revive the dialogue between the Union Government and the agitating farmer unions at the earliest.

          Sh. Chouhan was holding the discussions on reforms in Agriculture sector with Agriculture and Horticulture Ministers of the states & UTs through video conference.

          Expressing a deep sense of urgency and concern, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian appealed the Union Cabinet Minister that S. Jagjeet Singh Dallewal’s fast-unto-death has taken a critical turn. For 40 days, the latter has been sacrificing his health and well-being, and it is imperative that the Centre should take immediate action to address the grievances and save his life.

          The Punjab Agriculture Minister reiterated that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government supports the farmers’ legitimate demands and enthusiastic for working together with the Union Government to achieve a goal of prosperous agriculture.

          Raising another issue of great concern, he sought Rs.15,000 per acre for the farmers as gap funding for providing returns over the variable cost of alternative crops to wean away them from the water-guzzling paddy crop. S. Khudian emphasised that since, the fast depleting underground water and climate change in the region are major cause of concerns and there is an emergent need to shift maximum area from paddy to another alternative crops viz. maize, cotton, kharif pulses and oilseed crops etc under crop diversification scheme so that farmers can get profit equal to paddy.

          S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian also suggested that the Centre Government should come forward to hold the arm of the state farmers by offering financial assistance of Rs. 2500 per acre (Rs. 2000/acre by GOI & Rs. 500/acre by GoP) to the farmers for managing paddy straw scientifically as incorporation of paddy straw into soil entails an additional expenditure of about Rs. 3000-4000 per acre. Although, the CRM machines have been provided to the farmers at subsidised rates, the additional cost associated with use of these machines is averting farmers to adopt such technologies. In addition to the subsidy on Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines for managing paddy straw, permission should also be granted to the state government to utilise the subsidy amount for various purposes such as CBG plant, Biofuel plant, palletisation units etc., he proposed.

          S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian also sought go ahead for the cultivation of BG 3 hybrid seeds, which are pink bollworm and whitefly resistant, in the state as over a few years, pest attacks have made havoc amongst the farmers. Apart from this, subsidy should be given under centrally sponsored schemes on improved cotton hybrid seeds to revive cotton production in the state.

          The high-level meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Mr. Anurag. Verma, Director Agriculture Mr. Jaswant Singh and other senior officials of the department.

Chandigarh, January 3

To strengthen the workforce of the Excise and Taxation department, Punjab Finance, Planning, Program Implementation, and Excise and Taxation Minister, Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, handed over appointment letters to 8 newly recruited officials under the Ghar-Ghar Rojgar Yojana today. The newly appointed officials include 5 Excise and Tax Inspectors and 3 Clerks.

 Congratulating the newly appointed officials on their new roles, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasized the crucial role the Excise and Tax Department plays in generating revenue for the state government.

Finance Minister exhorted the newly appointed officials to uphold the highest standards of integrity and diligence in their work, focusing on increasing revenue collection to fuel the state’s development.

The Finance Minister said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab  Government’s efforts to strengthen its workforce and providing maximum job opportunities to the youth will have a positive impact on Punjab’s overall development, paving the way for a brighter future for its citizens.

Chandigarh, January 3

The river interlinking initiative proposed by the union government warrants comprehensive review and needs to be thoroughly examined, said Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, while characterizing this initiative as an unprecedented intervention in natural systems. He cautioned that such projects could adversely impact agricultural productivity and disrupt monsoon patterns.

In an official statement released here today, S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Ken-Betwa River Interlinking Project in Madhya Pradesh. Although the union government stated the objective of redistributing water resources to drought-prone regions, the Speaker said, scientific research indicates such interventions could significantly alter natural hydrological systems.

The Speaker expressed concerns that large-scale hydrological modifications could disrupt established monsoon patterns, potentially endangering agricultural sustainability and affecting multiple sectors nationwide. He advocated for prioritizing water conservation and recycling initiatives, asserting the critical need for implementing advanced water treatment and purification programs.

Notably, the Ken-Betwa Link Project is the inaugural project of 30 planned initiatives under the National Perspective Plan, orchestrated by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for water resource development and river connectivity. This project is supposed to channelize surplus water from Madhya Pradesh’s Ken river to Uttar Pradesh’s Betwa river, intended to enhance irrigation capabilities in the drought-susceptible Bundelkhand region.

Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi Union government for anti-farmers stance, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday unequivocally said that the state government will vehemently oppose any move of centre to once again pass anti-farmers draconian law through back door.

Interacting with the media here at his official residence, the Chief Minister said that from the last few  months farmers agitation is going at Shambhu and Khanori borders. He said that during last January and February farmers groups had detailed parleys with the centre government in which the state government acted as a bridge. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the demands of the farmers are primarily concerned with the Union government and Punjab has no role to play in it.

However, the Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that after forming the government at centre, the Modi led government has not bothered to show any concern about the farmers. He said that now the union government is trying to bring back the black laws through the back door. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that all the demands of the farmers are related to the Union government but unfortunately the Modi government is apathetic towards it.

The Chief Minister said that the fast by farmers leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is going on but the union government is giving cold shoulder to it whereas the state government has deployed more than 50 Doctors to take care of the health of farmers leader. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he had himself called Dallewal and urged him to end his fast but the Union government has not made any effort to assuage the sentiments of food growers. He said that the Union government wants Dallewal and farmers should be lifted from the protest site irrespective of the fact that they are not creating any law and order problem.

The Chief Minister said that he was surprised that the Union government is shying away from talking with the farmers and trying to put the onus on the state government. He said that instead of making any effort to redress the grievances of the farmers, the Union government is trying to fix the responsibility of the farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that ironically rather than solving problems of farmers the Union government is again ready to implement the draconian laws.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will not support this move which is against the interests of Punjab and its farmers. He said that the state government is already implementing the orders of the Supreme Court to save precious lives of the farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a paradoxical situation that the issues of farmers are concerned with the centre, Haryana is using force on farmers and Punjab is being made accountable for that.

The Chief Minister urged the farmers leader Dallewal to end his fast as his life was too important for the country and food growers. He said that the Union government is not making any efforts to even initiate dialogue with the farmers despite the enormous contribution of farmers of Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the centre should shun his haughty and apathetic approach and open talks with all the stakeholders.

The Chief Minister said that the centre has failed to provide DAP fertilizers to the farmers and rice from the state have not yet been lifted. However, he said that instead of solving these problems, the union government is creating a rift in the state, especially between farmers and the government which is intolerable. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his government is giving highest SAP to sugarcane cultivators, efforts are being made to lift the water level in the state and others adding that more efforts are being made to make agriculture a profitable venture.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab neither needs air ambulance nor extra force to tackle farmers agitation but centre should open dialogue with all the stakeholders especially with farmers. He said that hard earned peace of the state should be maintained by all means adding that the centre should not stoop too low just to take advantage in Delhi assembly polls. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the union government is running away from solving this issue by holding parleys with the farmers.

The Chief Minister said that he is daily flagging off this issue with the union government but they are not heeding to any demand of the farmers. He said that agriculture is a state subject but the union government is trying to thrust its decision on the state which is unjustified. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a fact that the Modi government is habitual of using force to get its decision implemented adding that Modi has time to act as global leader but he doesn’t want to solve problems faced by the countrymen.