Chandigarh, April 2:

Punjab State Information Commissioner Mr. Harpreet  Sandhu today Presented his Art Work to Chief secretary U T Chandigarh Sh. Rajeev  Verma at UT Secretariat.

This Pictorial art paid remarkable tribute to India’s rich cultural heritage and natural splendor,  symbolizing the “Pride of Peacock – Glory of India” this artistic masterpiece prepared by Sh. Harpreet Sandhu, serves as a creative endeavor to emphasize the significance of the National Bird of India and foster an intrinsic bond between humanity and nature.

The initiative aims to promote cultural exchange among different States- Union Territories of the Nation, underscoring the collective responsibility to preserve the natural heritage that binds the diverse tapestry of India.

On this occasion, Sh. Rajeev Verma acknowledged the artistic contribution of Harpreet Sandhu and stated the work as a visual representation of India’s ecological and cultural ethos. He further emphasized the relevance of such initiatives in instilling a sense of environmental consciousness and appreciation for national symbols.

On this occasion State Information Commissioners of Punjab Mr Sandeep S Dhaliwal & Mrs Pooja Gupta were also present.

Chandigarh/New Delhi, April 2

Aam Aadmi Party Lok Sabha member from Sangrur Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer today strongly opposed the Waqf Bill in Parliament. With his strong and logical arguments, he termed it as the bill that paves the way for the BJP government to loot and interfere in Affairs of minority religions. This bill has been brought to grab Waqf properties, said Meet Hayer.

He also said that with this bill, the gateway has been opened to loot minority religions. Today, there is an attack on Waqf, in future, there may be tinkering with matters of other minority religions like Sikhs, Buddhists etc. With this bill, Article 14 has been directly violated.

According to the law, how will we find out whether a person is worshipping in his private life?

Meet Hayer said that the BJP’s politics of dividing the country is clearly visible in this bill. He said that the attitude of the central government towards Muslims has been visible in the last 11 years from actions and rhetorical speeches. The Home Minister calls the government serious towards Muslims, but not a single BJP Lok Sabha member is a Muslim and neither is there a Muslim MLA in Uttar Pradesh from BJP. 

The MP said that the government has talked about implementing the recommendations of the Sachar Committee, but the Sachar Committee report also says that 70 percent of the Waqf Board properties in the country have been occupied and 355 are in the possession of the government. What has the government done about this? He said that many historical buildings, mosques, and educational institutions in the country are hundreds of years old, from where will they get the necessary papers?

Meet Hayer, giving an example of Malerkotla’s, which is part of his parliamentary constituency, mutual brotherhood and unity of all religions from the time of Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan’s slogan of “Haa the Naara” also cautioned the central government against creating divisions on the basis of religion. He said that he would do his best to fulfil the promise made to the residents of Malerkotla and oppose this bill.

The AAP Lok Sabha member said that the Constitution of the country has been attacked by this bill. Under Article 26, they can form and run their own organization and today this very right has been attacked.

Chandigarh, April 2

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Wednesday, arrested Jasveer Singh, a Lineman with Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), posted at PSPCL’s North division in Patiala and residing in Jhill village of the district, red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the VB said the PSPCL official has been arrested based on a complainant lodged by a resident of Patiala.
He further added that the complainant had approached the VB after the said accused Jasveer Singh had demanded bribe to install a new domestic electricity meter at his home.

The spokesperson informed that after preliminary verification of his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the aforementioned accused was apprehended red handed while he was accepting the bribe of Rs 10000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. The VB personnel recovered the bribe money from his possession. In this regard an ase has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act at VB police station Patiala Range. Further investigations are ongoing to ascertain if more persons were involved in the case, he said.

Chandigarh, April 2

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday handed over appointment letters to two Excise and Taxation Inspectors and two Clerks in the Excise and Taxation Department, reinforcing the department’s crucial role in revenue collection

Congratulating the newly appointed officials, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema underscored the importance of integrity, dedication, and commitment in public service. He expressed confidence in their ability to contribute meaningfully to the Excise and Taxation Department, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the government’s revenue stream remains robust and transparent.

“The Excise and Taxation Department stands as a cornerstone of the Punjab Government’s fiscal framework. These appointments reflect our commitment to strengthening our workforce with capable and diligent individuals who will help in effective revenue collection and management,” said Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.

Reiterating Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s unwavering commitment to employment generation and efficient revenue management, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that this recruitment drive not only reinforces the Excise and Taxation department but also aligns with the Punjab Government’s broader vision of providing employment opportunities to the youth. With a strong emphasis on job creation, economic growth, and empowerment, the government is actively implementing policies that foster career opportunities and sustainable development across the state, he added.

Chandigarh, April 1:

In a major advancement toward ensuring uninterrupted and cost-effective coal supply for Its thermal power plants, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has reached a significant milestone by achieving the peak rated capacity of 70 lakh tonnes at its Pachhwara Central Coal Mine in Financial Year 2024-25, informed Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO in a press communique issued here today.

The Cabinet Minister S. Harbhajan  Singh ETO said that the Pachhwara Mine, which had remained non-operational since March 31, 2015, was successfully revived in December 2022 under the proactive leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. Since its revival, the mine has supplied 115 lakh tonnes of coal to PSPCL’s thermal power stations, generating estimated savings of Rs.950 crore compared to Cost of coal procured from Coal India Limited (CIL), significantly reducing power generation costs.

The Cabinet Minister said, achieving peak rated capacity at Pachhwara Mine showcased that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government is committed to energy security, operational efficiency and financial prudence, adding that this milestone will enhance self-reliance in coal procurement, diminishes dependence on external sources and stabilizes power supply for Punjab.

Commenting on the achievement, Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO said, “This remarkable success at Pachhwara Mine showing department’s dedication toward enhancing Punjab’s energy security. By ensuring a steady and economical supply of coal, we are committed to providing reliable and affordable electricity to consumers.” This achievement is expected to further strengthen the state’s power infrastructure and help maintain stable electricity tariffs, he added.

The Cabinet Minister further said that with the operationalization of the mine, PSPCL has transferred its Coal India linkage to independent power producers (IPPs) at Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura under the flexi policy, eliminating the need for imported or alternative coal, which also had contributed to conserving to valuable foreign Exchange for our country. The availability of high-quality coal has significantly improved the Plant Load Factor (PLF) of PSPCL’s own thermal power plants.

Chandigarh/Barnala, April 1:

Under the “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh” campaign initiated by the Punjab Government to make the state drug-free, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion, Labour, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, held a high level meeting with Barnal district civil, police, and departmental officials at the District Administrative Complex, Barnala.

Addressing the meeting, Minister Sond emphasized that Punjab has no place for those who exploit the youth through drug trafficking. He directed all officials to continue this extensive campaign to eradicate the drug menace and to raise awareness among the youth about the harmful effects of drug abuse. Various departments also shared updates on their respective initiatives in this regard.

Deputy Commissioner T. Banith informed that 175 panchayats in the district have pledged to fight against drugs, and the district administration is actively bringing reformed addicts to the forefront to inspire others. Additionally, a Light and Sound Show against drug abuse was organized at the district level, attended by around 4,000 people, with plans to conduct street plays in villages for greater outreach.

Minister Sond instructed the administration to conduct street plays in every village and town and to install awareness boards in public places. He reiterated the government’s commitment to rehabilitating individuals trapped in drug addiction and reintegrating them into mainstream society.

On this occasion, District Police Chief Muhammad Sarfaraz Alam provided insights into police search operations and the seizure of narcotics.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tarunpreet Singh Sond stated that previous governments did nothing to combat drug abuse, whereas under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has been taking stringent action against drugs and traffickers for the past three years. Ministers have been assigned responsibilities across districts to ensure the success of this campaign.

The district administration reported that the Health Department of Barnala, as part of this campaign, inspected 391 pharmacies, took action against 36 for violations, sealed three, and revoked the licenses of two. Additionally, drug-related cash worth one crore rupees was seized, and show-cause notices were issued to 11 pharmacies.

Significantly, Barnala Police, under this initiative, have arrested 277 accused individuals, seized 18 kilograms of poppy husk and approximately 7,500 drug capsules, and even demolished a property involved in drug trafficking.

The “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh” campaign, spearheaded by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is yielding positive results. Notably, 175 panchayats in Barnala district have passed resolutions against drugs, expressing their commitment to support the police. Minister Sond affirmed that with continued public support, this battle will be won soon.

Earlier, Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond was accorded a guard of honor by the police.

Prominent attendees at the meeting included MLA Labh Singh Ugoke, Chairman of Nagar Sudhar Trust Ram Tirath Manna, Harinder Singh Dhaliwal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Anuprita Johal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Satwant Singh, SDM Gurbir Singh Kohli, SDM Harkamaljit Singh, SDM Rishabh Bansal, and officials from various departments.

Chandigarh, March 26:

Punjab Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion, and Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, has described the Punjab Budget 2025 as an all-round development budget for ‘Badalda Punjab.’ He stated that while this budget makes special efforts for the development of all villages in Punjab, it also prioritizes the prosperity of industries. Additionally, it focuses on preserving and showcasing Punjab’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

Sond emphasized that Punjab’s development is incomplete without transforming its villages. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has presented a detailed package to uplift infrastructure in all 12,581 villages of the state over the next two years. Under the slogan “Badalde Pind, Badalda Punjab,” the budget focuses on:Cleaning and rejuvenation of village ponds, Setting up sewage treatment systems as per the Seechewal-Thapar model and other cost-effective models,Restoring Nehri Khaals to provide canal water,Construction of village playgrounds, Installation of streetlights under the Mukh Mantri Street Light Yojana.A total of ₹3,500 crore has been allocated for these initiatives.

Sond also expressed gratitude to the Finance Minister for allocating ₹2,873 crore for the construction and upgradation of 18,944 km of rural link roads, which will be undertaken by the Punjab Mandi Board in the financial year 2025-26.

Furthermore, he praised the Finance Minister for steps taken to boost industries and for announcing a new industrial policy. He highlighted that these efforts will foster the growth of both small and large businesses, creating more quality jobs for the youth. Notably, the budget allocates ₹250 crore for financial incentives to industries—the highest in Punjab’s history. In contrast, the previous government spent only ₹53 crore over five years, while the one before that spent nothing at all.

To further promote national integration and showcase Punjab’s industrial and cultural diversity, the state government has proposed the construction of a Unity Mall in Amritsar. This mall will feature stalls representing all states/UTs and Punjab’s 23 districts, providing a platform for artisans and entrepreneurs to display and market their products. The government has allocated ₹80 crore for this project in the FY 2025-26 budget.

The budget also includes special provisions for MSMEs. To drive innovation and competitiveness, Punjab is facilitating the establishment of Technology Extension Centers (TEC) in key industrial hubs, including Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Moga, Patiala, and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali). Sond welcomed the dedicated allocation of ₹10 crore for the upgradation of the Research and Development (R&D) Centre and the Institute of Auto Parts and Hand Tools Technology (IAHT) in Ludhiana.

The budget also places a strong emphasis on tourism and cultural promotion. To honor the 350th martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, a series of state-level commemorative events will be held in FY 2025-26. Additionally, infrastructure development at sites associated with Guru Sahib’s visits will be undertaken, with a special focus on the holistic development of Sri Anandpur Sahib, the city founded by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

A dedicated ₹10 crore budget has been earmarked to develop Nangal into a tourism hub by enhancing its infrastructure and promoting it as a key tourist destination.

In FY 2025-26, the government also proposes to construct a Heritage Street and an auditorium in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar at a cost of ₹54 crore. Additionally, 32 cultural programs, festivals, and plays on historical personalities will be organized across the state, reaffirming Punjab’s commitment to preserving its glorious history and cultural traditions.

Tarunpreet Singh Sond expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema for allocating ₹204 crore in the FY 2025-26 budget for these cultural and tourism initiatives.

Chandigarh, March 26:

Punjab Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh on Wednesday described the Punjab Budget-2025 a visionary document, which would further bolster the state’s overall development, growth and welfare of people as Rs. 5983 crore has been set aside for complete facelift of cities.

Terming the budget pro-people, Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh pointed out that during the ensuing financial year the urban area would get massive infrastructure improvement in terms of roads, footpaths, electricity system, traffic and street lights, water supply and bus stands to ensure seamless and environment friendly movement. With the visionary approach of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is witnessing unprecedented transformation to facilitate people with the requisite facilities, said Dr. Ravjot Singh adding that the budget presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema would bring record development in the state.

Dr. Ravjot Singh mentioned that in first phase, four big cities namely Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and SAS Nagar (Mohali) would also get immense and holistic development. The Cabinet Minister also mentioned that the road infrastructure in the said cities would be made of world class as provisions of Rs. 140 crore had been made in the budget. The services of country’s renowned architects will be hired to make the plan of these roads as per the international standards, which are to be constructed and maintained by the contractors for the next 10 years. He said as per the plan footpaths would be constructed beautifully without any hinder in all cities. 

The Local Government Minister said a blueprint would be made for roads in the cities in complete uniformity, similar width in all cities besides doing away traffic hurdles. It will also be ensured that the lane marking of roads should be as per stipulated standards and lanes will be repainted after every three months, he added.

Dr. Ravjot Singh also informed that the Budget had also provisions of Rs. 225 crore Punjab Municipal Development Fund and Rs. 300 crore funds under PMSIP, which would further improve the facilities in 166 towns across the state having 40 percent urban population with sanitisation arrangements, water supply & sewerage system, roads and street lights. He said that Punjab Government would also procure 347 e-buses to provide facility of efficient, environment friendly public transport system to the people as well as curtaining the dependency on individual vehicles.

Chandigarh, March 26

Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardip Singh Mundian stated on Wednesday that the budget presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema will transform the cities of the state and ensure world-class facilities to urban residents, with an allocation of ₹5,983 crores for 2025-26. 

Mundian noted that 40 percent of Punjab’s population lives in urban areas, which is why these regions received significant boosts in the budget. He expressed gratitude to the government for key announcements made for the major cities of Punjab, especially Ludhiana.  He stated that approximately 50 kilometres of world-class roads will be developed in four cities including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and SAS Nagar over the next year. ₹225 crores has been allocated under the Punjab Municipal Development Fund for the upgrade of road infrastructure and to ensure the uniform provision of five essential municipal services across all 166 towns and cities in Punjab: cleanliness, water supply, sewage, roads, and street lights. 

Furthermore, an allocation of ₹300 crores for the Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project (PMSIP) will enhance urban governance, financial management, and the delivery of sustainable water services to the citizens of Ludhiana. A total of 367 E-buses will be procured for Ludhiana, ensuring sustainable and accessible urban mobility across cities in Punjab, along with the development of Civil Bus Depot infrastructure in Ludhiana.

Under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance Scheme, the state is implementing projects worth ₹120 crores to improve market access, financial assistance, and technology adoption for small enterprises. This also includes the establishment of a Technology Extension Centre in key industrial hubs and ₹10 crores for the upgrade of the R&S Centre and the Institute of Auto Parts and Hand Tools Technology (IAHT) in Ludhiana.

Chandigarh, 26 March:

Punjab PWD Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO on Wednesday informed the House that the proposal to install cat’s eye reflectors on roads is under consideration of the department so as to prevent road mishaps especially during the foggy weather in winter.

Referring to concern raised by the Patiala MLA Ajitpal Singh Kohli, the PWD Minister stated that the department was already contemplating to put such reflectors on roads for the public safety. He said that upgradation of 390 KM of national highwyas and 1287 km of state roads (State Highway MDR ODR) had been upgraded along with the white strip work by the contractors, which would be maintained for the three years by the concerned contractors. Responding to a supplementary question by the MLA, the Minister informed that the Punjab government is considering the installation of cat’s eye on roads, which will prove helpful in preventing accidents.