Chandigarh, May 19:

Punjab Horticulture Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat today conducted an in-depth review of various schemes being run by the Horticulture Department for the welfare of farmers. The Minister presided over a high-level meeting with horticulture officers at the Punjab Civil Secretariat.

During the meeting, Mr. Bhagat closely examined the implementation process of farmer welfare schemes and stressed that the benefits of these schemes must reach the beneficiaries without any delay.

He stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab Government is committed to promote crop diversification and modern techniques in agriculture so as to increase farmers’ income and reduce dependence on traditional farming.

Mr. Bhagat further added that the state government is making concerted efforts to ensure the effective implementation of farmer welfare schemes, with a clear focus on boosting farmers’ income in a timely and impactful manner.

Chandigarh, May 16:

Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains extended warm congratulations to students on their outstanding performance in the Class-X board examinations, the results of which were announced today by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).

Applauding the top scorers in Class X board exams, the Education Minister said Akshnoor Kaur of Sant Mohan Das Memorial Senior Secondary School, Kot Sukhia (Faridkot), topped the state with perfect 650/650 marks, followed by Ritinderdeep Kaur of Baba Farid Public Senior Secondary School, Chattiana (Sri Muktsar Sahib) and Arshdeep Kaur of Ram Sarup Memorial Senior Secondary School, Chaunda (Malerkotla), secured second and third spot respectively.

S. Harjot Singh Bains expressed happiness and contentment over the performance of girls, while praising their dedication and commitment to academic excellence and their achievement sets a shining example for their peers to follow. Notably, girl students excelled overall in the 10th results by achieving a remarkable pass percentage of 96.85%, outshining their male counterparts (94.50%).

The Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains mentioned that a total of 2,77,746 students appeared for the Class X examinations and 2,65,548 students have been passed (95.61%). The State Government schools witnessed a 95.47% pass percentage, with 1,76,605 students succeeding.

The Education Minister attributed this remarkable feat to the students’ dedication, hard work, and passion, while appreciating the crucial support provided by their parents and teachers.

Lakhanpal (Jalandhar), May 16:

 Former Delhi Chief Minister and National Convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will make every effort to save our coming generations from falling prey to the menace of drugs.

The former Delhi Chief Minister said that it is elated to learn that the backbone of the drug has been broken for which Punjab Police needs a pat. He said that the manner in which this anti-drug campaign has been launched finds no parallel in contemporary Indian history. Arvind Kejriwal said that the properties constructed from the drug money have been razed to dust by the bulldozers.

The National Convener of AAP said that the previous regimes not only patronized the drug dealers but they themselves carried out the business in their government vehicles. However, he said that the Bhagwant Singh Mann led state government is acting strictly against drug menace and it will not allow its youth to fall prey to this menace. Arvind Kejriwal said that now Nasha Mukti Yatra has been embarked in the state and every village will be covered under the ambitious program.

Soliciting fulsome support of Punjabis in war against drugs, the former Delhi Chief Minister said that if three crore Punjabis rise in unison against the menace of drugs then the problem of drugs will be wiped out in 24 hours. He said that a handful of drug smugglers cannot stand before the might of the Punjabis and they will be buried beneath the ground. Arvind Kejriwal said that not only snapping of drug supply lines but the state government is also focusing on rehabilitation of the drug victims adding that this problem can be resolved only with the active support of common man.

The National Convener of AAP said that the state government will follow a twin policy of checking the drug smuggling on one hand and channelizing the positive energy of youth on the other to tackle this menace. He said that Punjab will be soon out of the clutches of the drug menace and will emerge as the frontrunner state in the country. Arvind Kejriwal said that this is the need of hour to ensure that Punjab continues to shine across the globe and lead the world in every arena.

The former Delhi Chief Minister congratulated Bhagwant Singh Mann led state government for the resounding success of Yudh Nasheyan Virudh. He said that it is heartening to see that the villages that were hotspots of drugs are now turning drug free due to concerted efforts of the state government. Arvind Kejriwal said that contrary to earlier times when drug lords were shielded by the state, now 10,000 drug smugglers have been arrested out of which 8500 are big fishes.

The National Convener of AAP said that the war against drugs will be taken to ground level and interactions will be held in all the around 13000 villages of the state. He said that in order to channelize the unbounded energy of the youth in a positive manner, the state government will construct stadiums in every village of the state adding that 3000 gyms will be constructed in 3000 big villages of the state to promote sports in the state in a big way. Arvind Kejriwal said that the state has already given around 54000 jobs to the youth in the state and now foolproof planning has been made to ensure employment to youth in every village.

Chandigarh, May 16:

Punjab Information and Public Relations Department today promoted eight officers. Two Deputy Directors have been promoted as Joint Directors, while five Information and Public Relations Officers (IPROs) and one Art Executive have been promoted as Deputy Directors.

The appointment orders for the eight promoted officers were issued today following approval from Information and Public Relations Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains.

These promotions were made following departmental promotion committees’ meetings held on May 8. As per the appointment orders issued today, Joint Director Mr. Ishwinder Singh Grewal has been posted at the head office in Chandigarh, while Mr. Manvinder Singh has been appointed as Joint Director Press/Chief Minister with additional charge as Joint Director Border Range Amritsar.

Similarly, among the six promoted Deputy Directors, Ms. Ruchi Kalra has been posted to Bathinda, Mr. Rashim Verma to the head office with additional charge of Sri Anandpur Sahib, Mr. Navdeep Singh Gill to the head office in Chandigarh, Mr. Prabhdeep Singh Kauldhar to the head office with additional charge of Sangrur, Mr. Hakam Thaper to Jalandhar and Mr. Hardeep Singh to the head office.

Later, the newly promoted officers joined the department and reported to Secretary, Information and Public Relations Mr. Ramvir. They expressed their gratitude to the Information and Public Relations Minister and senior officials.

Langroya (SBS Nagar), May 16:

The residents of Langroya village, which was once hotspot of drugs but now has been drug free, on Friday hailed the Punjab government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for taking historic initiative of ‘Yudh Nashiyan Virudh, to wipe out the menace of drugs from state.

During an interactive session with the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and National Convener of AAP Arvind Kejriwal, Jathedar Ranjeet Singh from the village said that this campaign has given a huge relief to the village and can’t be expressed in words. He said that due to strenuous efforts of the CM and state government, the village has been made completely drug free. He said that this is a step towards Rangla Punjab as their village has been made drug free adding he hoped that this will in making the village a progressive one.

Vanshika Soni from the village said that it is a moment of immense pride that the state government is restoring the pristine glory of the state. She said that the village was a hotspot of drugs but due to the concerted efforts of the state government the village has been made drug free. She said that once the village free sale of drugs was taking place it is now being known for the sports adding she thanked the Chief Minister for the bulldozer campaign against the drugs and drug sellers.

Another village resident, Master Mohan Lal said that the village was notorious for drugs for the last six decades but now things have changed as sports have been encouraged here. He said that with the active support of the state government not even an ounce of drug is prevalent in the state. He said that the village is now drug free because the Police has been very vigilant on the directions of the state government to check the menace.  

Mohan Singh, another resident of the village said Langroya was since long facing the curse of drugs but due to efforts of the state government it is today drug free. He said that the village will give fulsome support and cooperation to the state government in this war against drugs. He said that no stone will be left unturned in this noble cause as it has been transformed into a mass movement.

A school going student Yuvraj Singh also thanked the Chief Minister for judiciously using the broom, which is a symbol of AAP, for wiping out the curse of drugs from the state and village. He said that the young generation is fully with the state government in this war against drugs and no stone will be left unturned for it.

Earlier, Sarpanch of village Gurdev Singh welcomed all the dignitaries and said that ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ is a decisive battle against drugs. He said that this initiative of the state government will go a long in eradicating this menace adding that their village was worst affected by drugs and was notorious across the state. However, he said that with the pro-active support of the state government today the village is drug free adding that the campaign is not only lip service but it exhibits seriousness of the state government at ground level.  

On the occasion Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains, Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, Lok Sabha MP Malwinder Singh Kang, MLA Santosh Kataria and others were also present.

Khijrabad (Banur)/Chandigarh, May 15:

          Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, announced that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has embarked on a transformative mission to enhance the aesthetics and vitality of the state’s villages. He emphasized that the Punjab government’s initiatives will leave a lasting impact on rural Punjab.

          Highlighting key developments, Minister Sond stated that 15,000 village ponds are being cleaned and rejuvenated, and 13,000 rural sports grounds are being developed or upgraded as part of a comprehensive strategy to uplift rural life and promote youth engagement. He criticized previous governments for their inaction in maintaining village ponds and providing sports facilities for rural youth.

          Addressing a press conference during a visit to the rural sports ground in Khijrabad (Banur), accompanied by MLA Neena Mittal, Sond remarked, “In every village, two locations define its spirit — the pond and the playground. Our government is committed to revitalizing both, ensuring that they become symbols of prosperity and pride.”

          As part of the Rural Rejuvenation Mission, the government is building or upgrading over 13,000 sports grounds across all 154 development blocks. These efforts are aligned with the government’s broader vision of a “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh,” encouraging youth participation in sports and steering them away from substance abuse.

          The projects are being implemented through a combination of budgetary funds worth Rs. 3,500 crore, MGNREGA, and Finance Commission grants. Furthermore, 3,000 new Model Sports Grounds are being constructed with special focus on locally popular sports, and 4,300 existing playgrounds are undergoing significant upgrades.

          Sond expressed concern that many rural children grow up without access to sports facilities, which hinders their physical development and career prospects. “We are ensuring that every child in every village has access to safe, green, and well-equipped playgrounds to play, compete, and grow,” he stated.

          Later, Sond visited villages including Azizpur, Fareedpur Gujjran, Bhateri, Nalas Khurd, and Manakpur to review the status of playground development and pond cleaning. During an inspection of the Azizpur Stadium, he noted some deficiencies and directed the Patiala ADC to submit a report.

          He revealed that this is the first-of-its-kind mission in Punjab, aimed at cleaning, rejuvenating, and treating water in over 15,000 ponds across all 154 blocks in a phased manner. According to field reports, Dewatering has been completed in 1,587 ponds and ongoing in 4,408 ponds. Similarly, Desilting has been completed in over 515 ponds and underway in 1,901 ponds. The entire dewatering process is expected to be completed by May 30, 2025.

          The Minister announced that in the first phase of FY 2025-26, 5,000 ponds will be developed under the Thapar/Seechewal model. “This is not just a cleanliness initiative. It is a movement to restore dignity and quality of life in our villages,” he said.

          For decades, many village ponds had turned into dumping grounds, filled with waste, plastic, and wild overgrowth, becoming unfit for animals, mosquito breeding grounds, and unsuitable for agriculture. Now, these water bodies are being transformed into clean water sources to be reused for farming and community needs.

          He emphasized that large-scale dewatering and desilting operations are being undertaken for the first time in decades, significantly enhancing water storage capacity and natural flow patterns. This initiative marks a historic step in Punjab’s rural transformation, demonstrating the state government’s unwavering commitment to clean water, youth empowerment, and sustainable village development.

Chandigarh, May 15, 2025 –

 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), in line with the zero tolerance policy against corruption adopted by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government, has apprehended Sukhdev Vashisht, an Assistant Town Planner (ATP), Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar for demanding a bribe of Rs. 30,000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the said accused has been arrested based on several complaints received from the stakeholders.

He further added that the complainants have alleged that the said accused had been deliberately delaying file approvals and extorting money from the applicants. They informed that despite 70 percent of building maps in the area have already been approved by the MC, but the aforementioned ATP Vashisht had refused to clear certain files unless bribes were paid. As per the complaint, the said ATP has demanded Rs. 30,000 to process the case. The complainants also accused him of using threats, including sealing buildings during inspections to intimidate applicants and even told that he is not afraid of his transfer.

He further added that after a preliminary examination of the complaint, the VB Jalandhar range has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the said MC official and arrested him. Further Investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of corruption, he said.

Chandigarh, May 15, 2025:

 Under the able guidance and visionary leadership of  Chief Minister of Punjab, S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) continues to make remarkable strides in strengthening and expanding the electricity infrastructure across the state. The North Zone has seen significant improvements in electricity supply, capacity enhancement, and infrastructure development during the year 2024–25.

Giving this information here on Wednesday, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO added that in the North Zone, electricity is being supplied to four districts Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, and Jalandhar. To serve these districts effectively, the zone is equipped with 2 Sub-stations of 400KV, 15 Sub-stations of 220KV and 19 Sub-stations of 132KV. In addition, there are 128 Sub-stations of 66KV with a cumulative capacity of 3886.5 MVA.

 The zone also maintains 179 lines of 66KV covering 1555.091 circuit kilometres (CKT KM) and 3 lines of 33KV spanning 2.7 CKT KM.

He added that during the year 2024–25, electricity was supplied to a total of 22,42,638 consumers through 2059 feeders of 11KV. Out of these, 57 feeders were De-loaded to enhance reliability and prevent overloading. The length of HT (High Tension) lines under this GEN (General Electrical Network) now stands at 36,196.45 KM, reflecting an increase of 313.83 KM as compared to the previous year (2023–24).

The Power Minister said that to further support the electricity distribution network, 1,58,043 transformers have been installed across the zone with a total capacity of 6427.174 MVA — an increase of 3020 distribution transformers with 177.64MVA capacity over the previous year. The length of L.T (Low Tension) lines is now 29,686.31 KM, ensuring deeper penetration of electricity supply to remote areas.

He said that in terms of upgradation, a total of 2 Nos. power transformers have been augmented from 6.3/8.0 MVA to 12.5 MVA, 4 transformers from 10/12.5 MVA to 20 MVA, and 11 transformers from 20 MVA to 31.5 MVA across various 66KV substations under this zone. Additionally, 1No. new 66KV has been constructed to further strengthen the distribution network.

Further, he said that under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), provision of Rs.844.81 Crore has been made for the North Zone. This allocation covers 109 bi-connections of 11KV feeders, 150 Nos. cabling works, 150 Nos. upgrades to high-capacity conductors, 182 Nos. new transformers to enhance distribution capacity, the construction of 4 Nos. new Sub-stations, and the installation of 21Nos. new distribution lines.

The Power Minister said these initiatives are expected to significantly improve the quality and reliability of electricity supply and reduce incidents of tripping and outages.

SAS Nagar, May 15:
Punjab National Bank (PNB), the lead bank of District Mohali, honored meritorious students from two schools in recognition of their exceptional academic performance in the recently declared results. The initiative, driven by PNB’s top management, aims to motivate other students to excel in their studies.

The PNB Mohali team, led by Deputy Circle Head Sh. Som Dass Shivgotra, LDM Mohali Sh. M K Bhardwaj, and Varinder Singh from the marketing team, participated in the felicitation events.

The first event was held at Govt. Girls Senior Secondary School, Sohana, Mohali (Punjab School Education Board), under the leadership of Principal Ms. Himanshu Latawa and her dedicated team of teachers. PNB recognized four outstanding students for their remarkable performance in the 12th grade: Jasneet Kaur (95.4%), Kamaljeet Kaur (95%), Priya Muskan (94.4%), and Bhavneet Kaur (94.4%).

The second event took place at Sacred Soul School, Gharuan (CBSE Board), where students also achieved excellent results. In the 12th grade, Amarpreet Singh secured 95% and Rishabh Singla scored 91.8%. In the 10th grade, Tanishka achieved 96.6% and Pranav Gupta secured 94%. The event was attended by the school’s director Sh. D P Singh, Principal Mrs. Manbir Brar, and Manager Sh. Inder Pal Singh.

During the events, LDM Mohali Sh. M K Bhardwaj also addressed the students on the growing concern of cybercrimes in the region, advising them to stay vigilant during financial transactions. Additionally, PNB’s new deposit schemes were introduced to the students and school staff.