IEP Chandigarh, May 2 

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that ‘dawn of new era’ has taken place in the state with the unprecedented pro-people initiative of changing office hours which will save 350 Megawatts (MW) of power daily and around Rs 40-45 crore from May 2-to July 15. “Apart from facilitating the people, the landmark move will also help in enhancing the efficiency of the government employees, asserted the Chief Minister while interacting with the media persons here at the committee room in the Punjab Civil Secretariat I. The Chief Minister, who set the example by arriving in his office at 7:28 am, said that this decision has been taken after taking the consent of the majority of the stakeholders in a series of deliberations. He said that this decision will act as a catalyst in saving the people from scorching heat that is expected to be witnessed in the coming months. Bhagwant Mann said that though the tradition of setting watches in accordance with change of weather has been a routine feature in many western nations but in India this historic initiative has been taken for the first time. Dwelling more details, the Chief Minister said that it will enable a common man to do his work early in the morning without  taking leave from his work. Likewise, he said that this will also facilitate the employees as they will be able to attend the social functions after the office hours. Similarly, Bhagwant Mann said that the employees will also be able to spend more time with their children who will also come home at the same time. The Chief Minister said that this decision is likely to save 350 MW of power daily in government offices thereby curtailing the power expenditure of the government offices considerably. He said that as per statistics of the POWERCOM 1:30 pm to 4 pm is the peak hour of the power usage but as now the offices will be closed at 2 pm so it will help in cutting power usage. Bhagwant Mann said that on an average Rs 16- Rs 17 crore will be saved every month adding that from May 2- July 15, the state government is expected to save Rs 40- Rs 42 crore. The Chief Minister said that the new time table will also ensure that maximum sunlight is utilized in the government offices. He said that after July 15 the decision will be reviewed after taking feedback from all the stakeholders, especially the common man. Bhagwant Mann assured the people that the state government will take more such citizen centric decisions in the coming days too for which advance planning has already been done. The Chief Minister said that not only power but it will also help in managing the traffic movement efficiently. He said that many other states have been enquiring about this step and it is likely to be replicated in other states too. Bhagwant Mann envisioned that in big cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and others such steps can help in streamlining the traffic chaos thereby giving much needed respite to common man.  The Chief Minister categorically said that there is no dearth of power in the state as abundance of electricity is being generated to cater to needs of all the sectors whether it is agriculture, domestic or industry. Citing an example, he said that the Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant at Ropar has coal for 35 days instead of earlier when the threat of darkness loomed large due to acute shortage of coal in the state. Quipping on statement of Haryana Power Minister for his baseless and irrational statement regarding power in state, Bhagwant Mann advised him to refrain from putting his nose in affairs of Punjab and focus on his own state. On the occasion Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venuprasad, Special Principal Secretary to CM Ravi Bhagat and others were also present. 

IEP Chandigarh, April 25

The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has provided 28,873 government jobs to the eligible youth of the state during the first year of its tenure, as a result of which the youth of the state are giving up the way to go abroad.Rupinderjit Bains, who got a job as a clerk in the Public Works Department, born in village Bhaini, district Rupnagar and married in village Nain Kalan, Patiala, told that the Punjab government was securing the future of thousands of youths of the state by giving them employment. She said that the youngsters who got jobs will spend their lives in Punjab instead of going abroad and will serve the people of the state and contribute to making the state ‘Rangla Punjab’.Ms. Bains said that I have fulfilled my parents’ dream by getting a government job. She said that my father is a retired head teacher and it was his sincere wish that I get best education and stand on my own feet. She said that the Punjab government has empowered me by giving me a government job. She says that I am able to support my family financially with this.

IEP Chandigarh, April 25

    In order to facilitate the residents of the state to track their revenue record a helpline number 8184900002 was launched by the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a few days back, which was inadvertently mentioned as 8194900002.          Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab government said that the inconvenience caused in this regard is regretted adding that people can take benefit of the Revenue helpline by dialing 8184900002. 

IEP Chandigarh, April 25

The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has provided government jobs to more than Twenty eight thousands youth on the basis of merit within a year.In the same context Miss Kirandeep Kaur, Village Jangpura District Mohali said that she has been appointed as Clerk (Accounts) in Local Government Department.  She said that by joining the government job, she created an example for other youths that if they study hard and diligently, children from ordinary families can also join the government job in the “Aam Aadmi Party” government.Miss Kirandeep Kaur said that many historic decisions have been taken by the Punjab government for the welfare of the people of the state due to the pro-people thinking of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In which providing employment to the youth of the state on the basis of merit is the main objective of the Punjab government. In this direction, the Punjab government has completed the selection process of recruitment in a transparent manner, as a result of which children from ordinary families have got government jobs.Miss Kirandeep Kaur also said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also proved his point that his PEN will work for the welfare of the people. She said that I am confident that she will also use her PEN for the welfare of the common people due to the inspiration received from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

IEP CHANDIGARH, April 25

          On the occasion of World Malaria Day, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Tuesday urged people of Punjab to strictly adhere to advisories issued by the Health Department to protect themselves from vector borne diseases including Malaria.

          “With the onset of summer season, the breeding of mosquitoes increases as the environment becomes suitable for mosquito breeding,” he said, adding that these mosquitoes are called vectors because they are carriers of various diseases, which spread among humans. 

          Dr Balbir Singh said that keeping the goal of eliminating malaria from the country by the year 2030, all the officials of the health department have been instructed to intensify the anti-malaria activities, besides, increasing the active surveillance of the disease.

          He said that the department has already made adequate arrangements for the prevention of malaria disease and various teams of the health department are constantly sensitising people on how to protect themselves from this deadly disease. “Testing and treatment of Malaria is absolutely free in all the government health institutions,” he added.

          Terming that industries, local government, schools and colleges, Anganwadi etc could play a pivotal role in the fight against malaria, the Health Minister directed all the civil surgeons to hold an inter-departmental meetings with these institutions under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners to jointly fight and eliminate malaria from the state.

          Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Adarshpal Kaur said that malaria is a life-threatening disease that spreads among human beings via bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. “This mosquito breeds in clean water and bites only in late evening or early morning,” she said.

          She explained that early symptoms may be mild, similar to febrile illness, which could be difficult to recognise as malaria. The mild symptoms of malaria include fever, chills and headache, while severe symptoms could lead to fatigue, nausea and breathing difficulties.

          She advised people to use mosquito repellent creams or other means to prevent themselves from malaria. Mosquito breeding can also be averted by spraying black oil in ponds, she added.

          Meanwhile, Director Dr Adarshpal Kaur accompanied by Director Health Services (FW) Dr Ravinderpal Kaur has also released a poster to sensitise people about symptoms and precautions to protect themselves from vector-borne diseases.

IEP Sri Anandpur Sahib, April 25

Aiming to provide sand and gravel at affordable rates to people, Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Mann is making persistent efforts and also opened several public mines at different locations in Punjab to crackdown against sand mafia, said cabinet minister Harjot Singh Bains here today.During a joint meeting with the mining and police administration of Anandpur Sahib here today, Harjot Singh Bains said that illegal mining would not be tolerated under any circumstances by the Mann government. He said that if anyone indulges in illegal mining, action will be initiated against them at once as per rules.He said that if there was laxity on the part of any officer is detected, the stern action will also be taken against the concerned erring officer for dereliction of duty.He informed that 18 FIRs have been registered in Sri Anandpur Sahib from January to March 2023 in connection with illegal mining. Cases have been registered and challans have been submitted to the court in 13 of these cases. The court has imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh in these cases, he said.Mr. Bains said that 29 RSMs notices have been issued under Sri Anandpur Sahib area. Apart from this, 37,484 metric tonnes of sand has also been seized. Similarly, the state government has earned a tax income of Rs 7.76 crore from minerals being brought from other states in three months, the cabinet minister said.Giving details of Ropar area, Harjot Singh Bains said that six cases have been registered in ropar in the last three months in connection with illegal mining, in which the court has imposed a fine of Rs 9.5 lakh. Apart from this, five RSMs notices were also issued and an income of Rs 1.99 crore has been received from sand and gravel being brought from other states.Reiterating his government’s firm commitment towards sand mafia, the Cabinet Minister said that illegal mining in the state would not be tolerated at all by the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. He said the government machinery has been assigned to curb illegal mining.

IEP Chandigarh, April 25 

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday unveiled a book showcasing the pro-people initiatives of the various departments of the state government. Releasing the book compiled by the efforts of Deputy Commissioner Barnala Punamdeep Kaur, the Chief Minister lauded the book as an excellent initiative by the district administration. He said that the book ‘Pahunch’ will help the people a lot by making them aware of the pro-people initiatives of the state government. Bhagwant Mann said that the book highlights 285 schemes of the 44 departments of the state government which are benefitting the common man. Likewise, the Chief Minister also said that the book also throw light on 400 schemes that are facilitating the common man through the Sewa Kendras. He said that the books will be distributed free of cost to generate maximum awareness amongst the masses. Bhagwant Mann lauded this out of box initiative taken by the district administration under the able leadership of the Deputy Commissioner. The Chief Minister further appealed all the Deputy Commissioners to take such steps in their respective districts also. He said that this step can act as a pivotal in dissemination of the information pertaining to citizen centric and development oriented policies of the state government amongst the people. Bhagwant Mann said that such initiatives are need of hour for making people an active partners in the functioning of government. On the occasion Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venuprasad and Deputy Commissioner Punamdeep Kaur were also present.

IEP Chandigarh, April 25 

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction for all that the Punjab Police was fully capable of dealing with any type of untoward situation arising in the state. The Chief Minister, while chairing a review meeting with the officers of the Punjab  Police, said that Punjab Police is a professional force fully competent to handle any law and order situation within the State. He said that Punjab Police has dealt with terrorism effectively in the past, which speaks volumes of its professional capability adding that in future also the force will carry forward this legacy. Bhagwant Mann expressed hope that the Punjab Police will uphold its glorious tradition to perform their duty with utmost zeal and professional integrity. The Chief Minister further asserted that Punjab Police has always played a vanguard role in the security of the country besides deftly maintaining the law and order situation in its every nook and corner. Likewise, he said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that the Police personnel have always upheld the tradition of making unparalleled and supreme sacrifices while performing their duty to maintain the national integrity besides strengthening the bonds of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood. Bhagwant Mann said that the great heroes of Punjab Police have rendered exemplary services to uphold the rich legacy and ethics of the state Police force. Dwelling on another agenda, the Chief Minister underscored the need for modernization of Police on scientific lines. He said that apart from discharging its core duty of maintaining law and order, the Punjab Police has always safeguarded the interests of the country and its people. Bhagwant Mann said that in the changing scenario the challenges for the force have increased manifold due to which modernization is the need of hour to combat them effectively.   On the occasion Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venuprasad, Principal Secretary Home Anurag Verma, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and others were also present.

IEP CHANDIGARH, April 25      

    In order to ensure security at all the religious places and keeping strict vigil on mischievous elements, Punjab Police on Tuesday conducted a special checking at all such institutions including Gurdwaras, Temples and Churches to review the security arrangements and make sure that closed-circuit Television (CCTv) cameras are installed and working. The checking was conducted in all the 28 Police districts of the state on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.          Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that CPs/SSPs were directed to depute one team under additional Station House Officer (SHO) of each police station to visit all the religious places in their jurisdiction and hold security review meetings with the members of management committees.          At least 549 Police teams, involving 2800 Police personnel, carried out checking at as many as 7612 Gurdwaras, 2236 Temples and 795 Churches across the state, he added.          Special DGP Arpit Shukla also urged management committees of all the Gurdwaras, Temples and Churches to always remain alert and vigilant to prevent any untoward incident at their respective religious institutions. He asked them to ensure weekly checking of CCTv cameras to make sure that they are in working condition.          He also advised the management committees to depute security guards at the entry gate of their respective religious places.          Meanwhile, CPs/SSPs are also directed to increase Police Patrolling around all the religious places to intensify surveillance on anti-social elements.