IEP Chandigarh, July 31

 Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Monday laid the foundation stones for special repair and reconstruction of three important road projects worth Rs 22.56 crore falling in Sahnewal and Payal constituencies of district Ludhiana.The projects including Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway to Gurudwara Degsar Sahib road (2-KM) of Rs 2.37 crore, Bija-Payal-Jagera road (15.70 km) of Rs 13.03 crore and Payal-Issru road (9.60 km) worth Rs 7.16 crore. These works will be completed within next six to nine months.Accompanied by MLAs Hardeep Singh Mundian and Manwinder Singh Giaspura, the Minister said that 2-km stretch from Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway to Gurudwara Degsar Sahib was in bad shape due to which devotees were harried a lot. Similarly, the roads leading to Bija-Payal-Jagera and Payal-Issru were serving as connecting road between NH-44 to Ludhiana-Malerkotla state highway were full of potholes and needed immediate repair. He said that the dilapidated condition of roads had become a nightmare for commuters. He said that the earlier governments had failed to pay heed on the demands of the people to construct these roads.The Minister said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to making Punjab a progressive state as it is evident from the developmental projects being effectively carried out in every field. He said that the road infrastructure would be developed at par with standards in Punjab.ETO also listed the achievements of the AAP government including 600 free units of electricity, one MLA-one pension, Aam Aadmi Clinics, 30000 government jobs were given to the youths, a war against corruption, and several other pro-people decisions were taken for the state.MLAs Manwinder Singh Giaspura, Hardeep Singh Mundian thanked the Minister for starting the projects. 

IEP Sunam (Sangrur), July 31

 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday batted for Bharat Ratna award for the legendary martyrs like Shaheed Udham singh, Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha who had made unparalleled sacrifices for the country. Interacting with the media persons here after paying floral tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh at his memorial on his martyrdom day, the Chief Minister said that bestowing the Bharat Ratna award to these iconic martyrs will enhance the prestige of this award. He said that these great martyrs really deserve this award because they had made supreme sacrifices for emancipating the country from foreign clutches. However, Bhagwant Mann bemoaned that the pseudo nationalist Union government is least bothered about honouring such sons of the soil. Rather, the Chief Minister said that the incumbent Union government is giving a severe blow to the legacy of these martyrs by muzzling the democracy in the country. He said that these nationalists had laid down their lives for the sake of freedom and democracy in the country but unfortunately the Union government is jeopardizing the democratic system through ordinances. Bhagwant Mann said that this is totally in contrast to the country envisioned by the great patriots during the struggle for freedom. The Chief Minister said that the supreme sacrifice made by legendary martyr Shaheed Udham Singh will always inspire the youth for selfless service to the nation adding that the countrymen are enjoying fruits of freedom due to the enormous sacrifices made by such legendary heroes. He said that Shaheed Udham Singh was a true son of soil, who had in a heroic act exhibited exemplary courage by killing Michael O’ Dwyer, the prime perpetrator of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Bhagwant Mann said that the unprecedented sacrifice made by this iconic martyr at the altar of national freedom struggle helped the country to overthrow the yoke of British Imperialism. The Chief Minister further said that Shaheed Udham Singh waited for 21 years to avenge the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh and thus laid the foundation of the freedom of the nation. Bhagwant Mann said that he bows his head in reverence to such great martyrs and patriots of India’s freedom struggle, who displayed heroism and valour thereby making supreme sacrifices to for attaining freedom for the country. He said that the rich legacy of unprecedented sacrifices made by martyrs would act as a lighthouse to guide the destiny of our future generations. The Chief Minister said that his government will make strenuous efforts to bring back the personal belongings of Shaheed Udham Singh from London. He said that the state government will raise these issues at all the relevant platforms so as to bring back these belongings at the earliest. Bhagwant Mann said that even the things associated with Shaheed Bhagat Singh lying in Pakistan will also be brought back.  The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Aman Arora and others. 

IEP Chandigarh, July 31 

Amidst its ongoing drive against corruption launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Monday nabbed an Inspector, Devinder Singh, posted at PRTC Depot, Bathinda for demanding a bribe of Rs 2 Lakh.The accused PRTC Inspector has been arrested on the complaint of Hardev Singh resident of village Ralla in Mansa district.Revealing the details here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that Hardev Singh lodged a complaint on Anti-corruption Action Line that he was posted as a driver at PRTC Depot, Bathinda and his services were dismissed on March 16, 2023 after found him guilty in five litres Diesel theft case. He alleged that the accused Inspector had demanded Rs 2 Lakh to get his services reinstated as a driver. The complainant has also submitted the audio recording of the Inspector demanding bribe.After preliminary investigation of the complaint, the spokesperson informed that an FIR no 14 dated 31-07-2023 has been registered against Inspector Devinder Singh at Police Station VB, Bathinda. Further investigations are in progress to find out role of other officials in the case.

IEP Chandigarh, July 31   

      The museums Virasat-e-Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Dastan-e-Shahadat at Sri Chamkaur Sahib and Golden Temple Plaza at Amritsar, under the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Punjab were closed for visitors from July 24 to July 31 for half-yearly maintenance. These museums will be re-opened for visitors from August 1st.          Giving more information in this regard, the official spokesperson said that museums are kept closed for tourists in the last week of January and July every year so that it’s repair and maintenance works can be done. Now the necessary repair and maintenance works have been completed.  These museums have been re-opened for visitors.

IEP Chandigarh

promoting sports. The prize money will include Rs. 5 lakh, memento, blazer and certificate.

The Sports Minister said that Balbir Singh Senior Scholarship Scheme has been started for the first time to give monthly scholarship to the medal winners at the National level. Under this scheme, a scholarship of Rs. 16,000 will be given to the National Medalist at the senior level and a scholarship of Rs. 12,000 to the National Medalist at the junior level.

Meet Hayer further said that the Chief Minister decided to formulate a new sports policy after seeing the changes in sporting scenario in the past and many shortcomings in the previous sports policies. A committee of experts was formed by the sports department to formulate a new policy. Apart from Hockey Olympian Surinder Singh Sodhi and former DGP Rajdeep Singh Gill, NIS, SAI, Higher and School Education representatives were included in the committee. Suggestions were taken from the Punjab Para Sports Association and general public.

IEP Chandigarh, July 31

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mr. Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Monday held discussions with the concerned departments for proper resolution of the problems being faced by the farmers of the state regarding the use of lift pumps.

Punjab Irrigation Minister Mr. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Special Chief Secretary Agriculture Department Mr. KAP Sinha, Principal Secretary Irrigation Department Mr. Krishna Kumar, CMD PSPCL and Mr. Baldev Singh Saran participated in the discussions held here at Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat.

During the meeting Sandhwan asked the officials of the concerned departments to ensure proper resolution of the problems. He said that the state is committed to resolving the problems of the farmers who were irrigating their fields using lift pumps. He said that it is the priority of the Punjab government to ensure irrigation facilities for every field of the farmer in the state. He said that the Punjab government has already made continuous efforts for the same.

On this occasion, Irrigation Minister Meet Hayer assured the Vidhan Sabha Speaker that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will not allow any farmer to face any problem related to irrigation.

IEP Chandigarh, July 28    

      Aiming to take government’s flagship programme Ayushman Bharat Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana at grassroot level, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Friday flagged off 7 Information Education and Communication (IEC) Vans to sensitise people about this insurance scheme, besides, enrolling uncovered eligible beneficiaries. The scheme provides insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year.          Dr Balbir Singh, while addressing the media before flagging off vans at Punjab Bhawan here, said that this awareness campaign is aimed at enhancing rural outreach so that every eligible person should get benefit of this flagship scheme. He said that 70 per cent of Punjab’s eligible population has already been enrolled in this scheme and with this awareness campaign Punjab aims to cover hundred percent of the eligible population.          Notably, Punjab covers 44 lakh families under the scheme and has empaneled more than 900 public and private hospitals in Punjab, offering 1579 treatment packages under its coverage. Additionally, beneficiaries can avail treatment pan India at the empanelled hospitals.          Dr Balbir Singh said under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Government is mulling to universalise this health insurance scheme in the near future. “Once the scheme is universalised, every individual could benefit from this insurance scheme by paying a minimal amount as premium,” he said.          Presently, people including Smart Ration Card holders, J-Form holder Farmers, Registered Laborers, Small Traders, Accredited Journalists, and families listed in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 are covered in this scheme.          The Minister also informed that out of the total 44 lakh beneficiary families registered, approximately 16.65 lakh families fall under SECC, with the budget being shared between the Central and State Governments in a 60:40 ratio, while the state solely bears the budget for the remaining 27.35 lakh families. “Over the past 15 months, from March 2022, approximately 5.80 lakh treatment packages worth Rs 730 crores were provided. ” he added.          Divulging more details about the awareness vans, the Health Minister said that this statewide mass contact cum awareness programme would cover all the districts across the state in a phased manner. These awareness vans will mobilise the people for enrolment and facility of e-card generation will also be provided on the spot, he added.          The Health Minister underlined Bhagwant Mann government’s focus on providing the best healthcare facilities to the people, reaching out more aggressively to those in rural areas and the remote areas of the state. He asked the Health department to launch more such mass contact programmes in order to sensitise people towards preventive care.          The Minister thanked the Bank of Baroda, who has supported the campaign by providing services for 2 vans to the department.          Among others, Special Secretary Health Dr Adapa Karthik, CEO State Health Agency Babita Kaler, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Adarshpal Kaur, Deputy Director Dr Sharanjeet Kaur, DGM Bank of Baroda Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Pardeep kumar Yadav, Regional Head Bank of Baroda were present on the occasion.

IEP Chandigarh, July 28 

Punjab Local Government Minister Balkar Singh on Friday laid foundation stones of development works worth over Rs 2 crore in villages of Kartarpur besides dedicating CCTV cameras project to people at Phillaur. The Minister also handed over approval letters to the beneficiaries of Awas Yojana in a function held at Bhogpur.The Minister, while laying foundation stone of panchayat Ghar at village Talwandi Bhilan, said that Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann would provide all requisite ultra modern facilities in rural belts. He said this endeavour of State government would give a new facelift to panchayat ghars besides making the working of panchayats further efficient.  He said the panchayat ghars at Talwandi Bhilan and Ambgarh would be established at a cost of Rs 20 lakh each while Rs. 30 lakh would be incurred to get newly panchayat Ghar constructed in village Dugri. He said that sewerage treatment pond would be come up in village Ballan at a cost of Rs 84 lakh. Similarly, village Rahimpur is also getting new panchayat ghar and Health & Wellness Centre at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh. The Minister said this Health & Wellness Centre would cater to the healthcare related needs of people of several adjoining villages.Earlier, the Minister also handed over approvals to 25 beneficiaries of Awas Yojana. He said that beneficiaries would get a sum of Rs 1.75 lakh for getting their houses constructed under this scheme. He said Punjab Government was making all out efforts to ensure quality health and education services across state by developing Aam Aadmi Clinics and School of Eminence.Meanwhile, in evening the Minister also inaugurated CCTV project in Phillaur. As many as 61 significant locations are being covered by these CCTV cameras, said the Minister adding this initiative would further strengthen the security system in the area. He also inaugurated newly constructed park in the premises of Nagar Council, Phillaur which would further provide environment to people for their routine health related activities besides coming for walk.The Minister said that such parks were being developed in the other areas too to facilitate people. Besides, Rs. 76.46 lakh works inaugurated today another works worth Rs 30 lakh are under progress, said the Minister adding that the Nagar Council has recently approved Rs.5.50 crore for development works in all wards. He said under housing for all Rs 3 crore had already been sanctioned to 166 beneficiaries. Prominent amongst those present during today’s events included Punjab State Container & Warehousih Corporation’s Chairperson Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, Aam Aadmi Party leaders Principal Prem Kumar, Jeet Lal Bhatti and officials of concerned departments.