IEP CHANDIGARH, March 13      

    With G-20 Summit is around the corner, Punjab Police have not been leaving any stone unturned on security point of view to make this event a grand success, as part of which a special operation ‘OPS Seal-II’ was conducted wherein all the vehicles entering the border state of Punjab were thoroughly checked.          The operation was conducted at all the Inter-State Boundaries of the state on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav with an aim to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the Vision of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann.          As many as 112 well-coordinated strong nakas involving over 1500 Police Personnel, were set-up under the supervision of Inspectors/DSPs at all the entry/exit points of 10 districts, which share boundaries with Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Haryana. The 10 inter-state border districts include Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur, and Bathinda.          The operation was conducted in a synchronised manner from 8am to 2pm and all the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSPs) were asked to mobilise a maximum number of officers and manpower for this operation to lay strong ‘nakas’ at sealing points under the supervision of Gazetted officers/SHOs.          Divulging details, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla as many as 5669 vehicles entering the state were checked, of which 300 were challaned and 39 were impounded.          He said that the Police have also registered 21 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested one proclaimed offender. Apart from this, the Police teams have recovered 3kg poppy husk, 3.8Kg opium, 140grams heroin and two illicit weapons, he added.          Meanwhile, the operation was aimed at preventing the influx of illegal arms & ammunition, drugs and illicit liquor in the state, besides, keeping vigil on the movement of gangsters and anti-social elements. 

IEP Chandigarh, March 12     

     Central Civil Services Cultural and Board are organizing the All India Services Volleyball (Men & Women) tournament from 22nd to 26th March 2023 at Central Stadium Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) and Athletics (Men & Women) tournament from 26th to 28th March 2023 at Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune (Maharashtra).          Trials for the selection of Volleyball and Athletics teams will be held at Polo ground Patiala on 14th March at 10 am.          The spokesman of the sports department further informed that in these trials security services personnel/para-security organizations/central police organizations/police/RPF/CISF/BSF/ITBP and NSG etc., autonomous parties/undertakings/public sector Banks including central ministry run banks, excluding casual/daily workers, temporary office workers, newly recruited employees who have been in regular services for less than 6 months, Government employees (regular), government officials (regular) of different departments can participate only after receiving NoC from their departments. The cost of travel, accommodation and food in this tournament will be paid by the player personally. 

IEP Chandigarh February 24

Gurugram Metro has shown very impressive progress in the last 10 months vis-à-vis last year. It has earned the total revenue of Rs.34.24 crores in 2022-23 upto January against 6.78 crores of the same period of last year 2021-2022 showing improvement by 405 percent.

While stating this during the 51th meeting Of Board of directors of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation Limited (HMRTC), the Chief Secretary, Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal, who is also the  Chairperson of HMRTC said that the revenue has been increased due to increase in ridership as well as other commercial and marketing activities. Daily ridership has also gone upto 42000 passengers per day in this financial year from 8500 passengers per day last year.

The Chairman appreciated the revenue performance of last ten months of HMRTC and asked to constitute a Committee to find out new ways and means to increase the ridership by providing last mile connectivity to the daily users and to garner more non-fare revenue by developing parking lots, auctioning/tendering of advertisements, rentals etc.

Sh. Kaushal said that the Board has also given the nod to the project of Metro connectivity from Rajiv Chowk to Panchgaon by HMRTC. Total length of MRTS alignment will be approximately 35 KM with 20 stations. It was apprised in the meeting that the Metro project of 28.5 KM long between HUDA City Centre to Cyber City, Gurugram project has also been included in PM Gati Shakti Projects. This project is already approved by PIB and is now with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for final approval.Sh. Kaushal said that metro connectivity between Faridabad and Gurugram will also be considered on double decker via-duct in arrangement with National Highways Authority of India.

He said that the Government of NCT Delhi will be requested to give clearance of DPR  from Sarai Kale Khan (SKK)-Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror (SNB) and Sarai Kale Khan (SKK)-Panipat RRTS corridors. The NCT Government will also be urged to provide their financial commitments for these projects. The projects will provide the efficient and environment friendly transport system to the daily commuters as well as the general public. It will also give impetus to the commercial development in Gurugram and its nearby area.

He informed that Governor of Punjab-cum-Administrator, UT, Chandigarh will be apprised about the proposal of Passenger Rapid Transport (PRT) Pod cars to connect new International from old Domestic terminal, Chandigarh Airport.

During the meeting CEO, GMDA, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Finance, Sh. Anurag Rastogi, ACS, Town and Country Planning, Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, and CA, HSVP-cum-MD, HMRTC, Sh. Ajit Balaji Joshi, Director (OP & BD), HMRTC, Sh. Karan Singh and other board members were present.

IEP Chandigarh, February 23

With an increase of 19 percent, agriculture and allied sectors found prominence in Manohar Sarkar Budget 2023-24. For this financial year, an amount of Rs. 8316 crore has been announced for agriculture, allied and cooperation sectors.

“Agriculture and allied activities contribute 18.5 percent to the economy of the State. The contribution of Haryana’s farmers to the economic development of India is well recognized,” said Sh. Manohar Lal who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister while presenting the State Budget for the year 2023-24 during the ongoing session of the State Vidhan Sabha here today.

He said that Haryana is the only State that provides assurance on the Minimum Support Price for 14 crops.  Over 9 lakh farmers register regularly on Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB), shared Sh. Manohar Lal.

The Finance Minister further shared that the widespread adoption of MFMB has made it easier for the State to undertake several unique initiatives such as Mera Pani Meri Virasat, financial support for Direct Seeded Rice, promotion of oilseeds and pulses and providing Bhawantar Bharpayee support where the market price falls below MSP.

The Finance Minister further informed that the Government has been able to ensure the direct transfer of benefits to farmers besides streamlining procurement processes and payments to farmers within 48 hours of approval of the purchase.

In the last two years, over Rs. 45,000 crore transferred directly into the accounts of the farmers

The Finance Minister further shared that in the last two years, the Government has transferred over Rs. 45,000 crore directly into the accounts of the farmers on procurement of their crops besides Rs. 428 crore for implementation of different schemes in agriculture.

“I am proud to share that our efforts in increasing incomes in agriculture, Haryana was conferred with the Best State Agribusiness Award-2022 by the Indian Agriculture and Food Council,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.

A project worth Rs. 27 crore prepared to promote the cultivation of millets

The Finance Minister informed the House that since the year, 2023 will be celebrated as the Millet Year; a project of Rs. 27 crore is being prepared to promote the cultivation of millets through cluster demonstration, distribution of hybrid seeds, certified seed production, integrated nutrient and pest management.

He said that the Government of India is actively promoting the cultivation and consumption of millets in Haryana. In order to improve the productivity of bajra cultivation, a Nutri-Cereals Research Station was established by Chaudhary Charan Singh

“Haryana Agriculture University (CCS HAU) at Gokalpura in Bhiwani district will become functional in 2023,” further informed the Finance Minister.

Sh. Manohar Lal further informed that the Government will popularize the consumption of bajra through bringing out recipe book for various items based on bajra.

“I hope that Haryana will lead the way in improving the productivity of bajra cultivation, its branding and marketing through various products,” he added.

Government sets a target of 20,000 acres for the adoption of Natural Farming

The Finance Minister said that in 2023-24, the government has set a target of 20,000 acres for the adoption of Natural Farming of which demonstrations will be laid out over 6,000 acres.

“Two training centres have been established at Gurukul in Kurukshetra and Gharaunda in Karnal. Three more training centres are proposed to be established in 2023-24 located in the CCS HAU Hisar, HAMETI Jind and Mangiana in Sirsa,” shared the Finance Minister.

In 2022-23, 2238 farmers identified and provided support for the adoption of Natural Farming over 5906 acres against the target

The Finance Minister said that it was last year only when, he had announced a new programme on Natural Farming, and now he is happy to state that, with the guidance of experts in the area, the implementation of the scheme has commenced.

“In 2022-23, 2238 farmers have been identified and provided support for the adoption of Natural Farming over 5906 acres against the target of 2500 acres set in the Budget Address last year,” shared Sh. Manohar Lal.

Focusing on Precision Agriculture, the project will be initiated in the Sirsa district

The Finance Minister said that the State Government proposes to focus on Precision Agriculture which enables climate-smart agriculture through judicious use of fertilizers and pesticides, optimizing water usage through micro-irrigation techniques, crop health monitoring through drone imagery, soil health monitoring, local area disease and pest surveillance and increasing adoption of solar pumps.

“The project will be initiated in Sirsa district and based on the learnings, it will be expanded to other districts in phases. Taking forward the initiative of the Central Government for the adoption of Kisan Drones in agricultural activities, the Government plans to impart training to 500 young farmers in drone operations,” shared the Finance Minister.

The scheme introduced for facilitating farmers to adopt green manuring

The Finance Minister said that Green manuring or Dhaincha cultivation increases soil organic matter and improves soil health, realizing this, the State Government has introduced a scheme where the farmer will be facilitated to adopt green manuring through dhaincha cultivation where the Government will bear 80 percent of the cost of Rs. 720 per acre and the farmer has to contribute only 20 percent of the cost.

IEP Chandigarh, February 15

In a bid to ensure planned development equipped with state-of-the-art amenities in urban areas of the state, Punjab Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Mr Aman Arora directed the officials concerned to identify land in smaller towns to develop new urban estates. He also asked them to send teams in the field to assess the ground situation for ensuring amenities in approved colonies.

Presiding over a meeting to review the progress of ongoing development projects and other important works being executed by Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), Patiala Development Authority (PDA) and Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) at PUDA Bhawan, Mr. Aman Arora said that illegal colonies and unauthorised constructions will not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against the violators. Planned residential, industrial and commercial development in urban areas is the top priority of the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann, he added.

He further asked the officials to hold meetings with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to conduct development works so that the residents don’t face any hardship.

Reviewing the ongoing projects of GLADA alongwith Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Chief Administrator PUDA Ms. Apneet Riyait, the H&UD Minister asked the Chief Administrator GLADA Ms. Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu to accomplish all the ongoing projects in the stipulated time period besides directing her to ensure completion of 200 ft. wide road near Dugri Urban Estate, which provides major connectivity to Ludhiana city.

The CA apprised the cabinet minister that the Authority has already floated tender for construction of 200 ft wide road near Dugri Urban Estate and is also getting prepared the design for RoB on Dhuri line to decongest the city traffic on this route. She informed that GLADA will complete the construction of Community Club in Sector-32 and Health Centre in Sector-32 A by the end of this June.

Chief Administrator PDA and BDA Mr. Gautam Jain explained the financial position of the Development Authorities and shared details of measures being adopted to enhance revenue and also apprised about the upcoming auctions. He also informed about the status of cases applied for regularisation and planning of both the Development Authorities about new projects.

IEP Chandigarh, January 25

Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Wedesday, informed that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led government has airlifted 25 lakh doses of Goat Pox vaccine to carry out free mega vaccination campaign for early prevention of cattle from lumpy skin disease (LSD).

          He said, keeping in mind last year situation when state faced loss of livestock due to this disease spread in Punjab from neighbouring states, hence the state government has made foolproof strategy to ensure that this disease could not affect farming community, livestock and agri-subsidiary occupations in the state.

          “Complying to the decision of the Group of Ministers constituted for the prevention of LSD and to make future strategy, the state level mega vaccination campaign will be started from February 15, 2023, said the Animal Husbandry Minister, adding that all arrangements have been made to carry out mega vaccination drive, which will last for about 45 days and free vaccination will be administered to all the cattle in the state till March 31, 2023.

          S. Bhullar said that 25 lakh vaccine doses have been procured from government institution i.e. “Telangana State Veterinary Biological and Research Institute, Hyderabad”. These doses have been stored at Punjab Veterinary Vaccine Institute, Ludhiana for dispatching to all districts of the state easily. He said that special care has been ensured to maintain the cold chain for the quality of the vaccine while transporting the vaccine from Telangana.