Tag Archives: MINISTER

Dehradun

Uttarakhand CM Dhami meets Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia

Leave a comment

IEP CHANDIGARH DEHRADUN AUGUST 24, 2022

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today met the Union Civil Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and discussed various issues in detail related to air connectivity in Uttarakhand. Dhami said that fixed wing aircraft connectivity is needed in Pithoragarh. At present, selection of airlines for three routes- Pithoragarh-Pantnagar, Pithoragarh-Hindon and Pithoragarh-Dehradun is in progress under the regional connectivity scheme. Responding to the CM’s request, the Union minister directed the officials of his ministry that work orders to airlines should be issued at the ministry level by September 30 this year so that further action can be taken to establish air connectivity to Pithoragarh. Dhami further said that the State government had submitted a proposal that considering the strategic importance of Naini-Saini airport it should be handed over to the Airport Authority of India so that it can be upgraded from 2B to 3C and be brought under independent management.

In this matter, it was decided that the AAI and Uttarakhand government will prepare the service conditions for the memorandum of understanding without delay so that a decision can be taken soon in this regard.

The CM also requested the Union minister to direct Pawan Hans to operate helicopter service under the regional connectivity scheme in Pithoragarh and to connect Almora with helicopter service. Responding to this, Scindia directed the officials of the ministry to undertake necessary action at the ministry level to facilitate daily service of Pawan Hans from August 26. The CM also recalled that a greenfield airport is proposed in Pantnagar to improve the air connectivity in the Kumaon region. He requested that the OLS survey of the new alignment proposed by the State government for expansion of the Pantnagar airport be facilitated. Scindia informed that directions have been issued to the ministry to conduct the OLS survey by November 30 this year.

He also directed officials to prepare the detailed project reports for two small airports of Gauchar and Chinyalisaud. Dhami expressed hope that along with Dehradun, even Pantnagar airport will be developed to international level.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana: Withheld funds released after Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal raises issue before Union Panchayati Raj Minister

Leave a comment

IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 24, 2022

Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Kapil Moreshwar Patil visited Punjab on Monday to attend the inaugural function of two-day national workshop on Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) in Panchayats being organized by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats at Crystal Resort near Chandigarh. On this occasion, Rural Development Minister Punjab, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, informed the Union State Minister that the funds of many central sponsored schemes related to rural development have been withheld by the union Panchayati Raj Department. He especially brought to the knowledge of the Union State Minister that funds under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) were pending for a long time with the union Panchayati Raj Ministry.

On the request made by the State Panchayat Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal regarding the release of funds the Union Minister Kapil Moreshwar Patil immediately ordered to release Rs. 35.28 crore for building 10,654 new houses and to complete 7,293 under-construction houses besides State Government’s share of Rs 25.52 crore will also added to this.

Rural Development and Panchayat Minister, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal wholeheartedly thanked the Union Minister for this initiative and said that now with the release of this amount 17,947 houses for poor people will be completed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) in the state.

He also hoped that the union government would soon release pending funds under MAGNREGA and other schemes so that the overall development of the villages could be accelerated.

Along with this, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal hoped that the central government would provide funds for the development of the villages of Punjab so that the standard of living of the people can be improved by improving the basic infrastructure including health, education, and drinking water in the villages of the state.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab government to provide quality wheat seed, fertilizers and medicines to farmers at reasonable prices: Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal

Leave a comment

IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 24, 2022

The state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will provide quality wheat seed, fertilizers and medicines to the farmers at reasonable prices. Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal after a high-level meeting with PUNSEED, Punjab Agro and Agriculture Department officials here today sharing this information said that even a single grain of duplicate wheat seed will not be allowed to be sold in the market.

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the base of our agriculture is seeds, so the Punjab government has taken a big initiative to provide quality seeds to the farmers at a reasonable price to save our farmers from the loot in the hands of private duplicate seed sellers.  The Agriculture Minister said that the Punjab government is making a concrete fool proof policy to make seeds available to the farmers through the government agencies PUNSEED, National Seed Corporation etc. These seeds will be made available to the farmers only through recognized dealers. Seeds will be provided to farmers without delay and the system for subsidy on seeds will be further simplified.

The Minister asked the officials to liaise with the National Seed Corporation to meet the shortage of seeds if need arises. Along with this, he issued strict directions to the officials to timely provide quality seed fertilizers and medicines to the farmers. ‘A solid plan should be prepared and presented by next week so that the farmers do not face any kind of hardship’, Dhaliwal directed the officials.

Prominent present in the meeting included Secretary Agriculture Department Arshdeep Singh Thind, MD PUNSEED Manjit Singh Sidhu, Director Agriculture Department Gurvinder Singh, besides officials of PUNSEED and Punjab Agro were also present.

Chandigarh, Punjab

PSPCL successfully meets all time highest ever peak power demand of 14295 MW: Harbhajan Singh

Leave a comment

IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 24, 2022

Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has successfully met its all-time highest ever power peak demand of 14,295 MW on August-22, 2022 thereby surpassing its previous  demand achievement of 14,207 MW recorded on June-29, 2022.

Overall increase in energy supplied is also up by 12.87 % from April till date as against 2021. –  33,242 MUs viz-a-viz 29,452 MUs.

          Disclosing these details, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, said that peak demand of PSPCL is observed during the end of June month or start of July month due to high temperatures and initial high irrigation demand of paddy plantation. But this year due to prevalence of comparatively dry weather conditions, the peak demand in the state has continued till end August.

He further said that in August till 22.8.2022, PSPCL has successfully met a rise of 6.57% in power demand viz-a-viz last year i.e 6,316 MUs against 5,927 MUs during the same period.

          PSPCL has also made additional arrangements of power through more banking from other states and allocation of 1300 MW additional power from Central sector. During the month of June & July, PSPCL has arranged 2,836 MUs through banking from other states which is 130 % more in comparison to last year i.e 1,234 MUs. He said that this year with the optimum utilization of the available resources and close monitoring of the energy generated from the generating stations, Hydro Generation of PSPCL has been increased by 3% from last i.e 1715 MUs viz-a-viz 1664 MUs. Notably, Ranjit Sagar Hydro Power Project has achieved its all-time maximum generation of 149.55 LUs in a single day on 22-08-2022 which surpasses its previous maximum generation of 149.02 LUs on 28-08-2019 since the date of its commissioning.

He said that PSPCL is supplying regular 8 hour supply to Agriculture Tubewells without imposing any power cut on any other category of consumers.

Chandigarh, Punjab

PATIALA’S MANJAL KHURD ALSO DECLARED AS ASF CONTAINMENT ZONE

Leave a comment

IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 24, 2022

Punjab Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Tuesday, informed that ‘Manjal Khurd’, the third area in district Patiala, has been notified as a containment zone for the prevention of ‘African Swine Fever’ (ASF).

He said that the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) -National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal has confirmed ASF in swine samples from this area. He directed the officials of the department to comply with the provisions of “The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009” for effectively preventing, controlling, eradicating the scheduled disease-ASF. The Cabinet Minister further said that up to a kilometre, from the village declared the epicenter, is considered as “infected zones” while up to 10 KM area is classified “surveillance zone.”

He said that no live/dead pig (including feral or wild pigs), unprocessed pig meat, feed or any material/goods from the piggery farms or backyard piggery shall be taken out of or brought into the infected zone and no person shall bring or attempt to bring into the market any pig or pig products which is known to be infected with the scheduled disease.

Notably, the whole state of Punjab has already been declared as “Controlled Area” after ASF found in two areas namely ‘Bilaspur’ and ‘Sanauri Adda’ of district Patiala and the inter-state movement of any pig or its belongings has been strictly banned.

Chandigarh, Punjab

SCHEME TO SAVE RS 170 CRORE OF 1.54 CRORE PEOPLE; WILL GET RELIEF FROM WAITING IN LINE FOR HOURS: MINISTER KATARUCHAK

Leave a comment

IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

The ambitious scheme ‘Ghar Ghar Ration’ of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will start from October 2 and about 1.54 crore people will benefit from this scheme, said the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak.

Disclosing this, the minister Lal Chand Kataruchak gave detailed information about this scheme.

The scheme will save about Rs 170 crore to the public

The Minister informed that there are about 1.54 crore beneficiaries in Punjab under this scheme. About Rs 170 crore is being spent by people on milling the flour, therefore, the scheme will save money of common man.

Flour will not be older than 7 days, whereas flour is available in the market for about one to two months old

The minister said that it is our endeavor that within seven days of grinding the flour in the mill, it should be delivered to all the houses, so that people can get fresh flour, which will also have a good effect on their health. He said that even in the market the flour is about one or two months old.

Why is the government giving flour instead of wheat? Minister replied

Earlier people had to stand in the scorching heat or inclement weather for hours to get food grains under the food security scheme. Then people have to spend money on its gridding for flour. Now people’s time, money, hard work and energy will be saved by delivering flour directly at home.

How will the plan work and how will the delivery happen?

The government will pick up the wheat from the FCI godowns and give it to the flour mill. Then, the delivery partners will be responsible for delivering the flour to every household. Many big delivery companies of the country have participated in the tendering process. The contract for delivery will be allocated to a firm soon.

Camera to monitors, the delivery van will have GPS system and there will also be options for digital payment for payment

The minister said that the delivery of floor bags will be done under the supervision of the camera so that there is no scope for any disturbance in the delivery, so that people do not get any chance to complain. The delivery van has been equipped with GPS system for timely delivery. Nowadays is the era of online. People do not always have cash money. Therefore, the option of digital payment has also been kept for payment.

Old ration depot holders have also been taken care of

The government has signed an MoU with the old ration depot holders, under which the old ration depot holders will be able to work related to various online services of the central government such as BSNL landline and phone bills and other online facilities of the central government to ensure that they get employment.

The minister also responded to the allegations of the opposition

Minister Kataruchak said that during the previous governments regime, there was huge corruption in the food distribution scheme. The politicians used to scam crores and billions of rupees from officers to middlemen. Our government is eliminating corruption and implementing it in a transparent manner. Now there is no scope for corruption in this. We are providing facilities at home to the people with the same money by eliminating corruption.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Vigilance arrests former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu in food grains transportation tenders scam

Leave a comment

IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 22, 2022

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau in its drive against corruption on Monday arrested former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu in the food grains transportation tenders scam and further investigation in this case is under progress.

            Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the State Vigilance Bureau (VB) said that the Bureau, after verification of a complaint made by complainant Gurprit Singh, has already registered FIR No. 11 Dated 16-08-2022 u/s 420, 409, 467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC and 7, 8, 12, 13(2) Preventions of Corruption Act at VB police station Ludhiana in which contractors namely Telu Ram, Jagroop Singh and Sandeep Bhatia besides owner/partners of Gurdas Ram & Company has been booked.

            Revealing more he informed that accused Telu Ram has already been arrested in this and he is on police remand. During investigation by the VB, accused Telu Ram has submitted that he met Bharat Bhushan Ashu through his PA Meenu Malhotra for getting tenders for the season 2020-21 who further told him to meet Rakesh Kumar Singla, Deputy Director Food & Civil Supplies. Singla was incharge of all Punjab being chairman of departmental chief vigilance committee for tenders and was acting on the directions of former minister.

            The accused Telu Ram has informed the VB that when he met RK Singla, he has demanded Rs 30 Lakh on behalf of former minster and on different days he has given the bribes to RK Singla Rs 20 lakh, PA Menu Malhotra Rs 6 lakh and money to officers.

            The spokesperson added that on the basis of revelations as well as the material evidence above mentioned persons and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu have been nominated as an accused in this case. During Investigation it has come on record that Telu Ram has purchased about 20 acres land and accused Meenu Malhotra, who is at large, has also made number of properties and record is being collected in this regard. He informed that the record with regard to posting of accused Rakesh Kumar Singla is also being collected besides properties made by him would be probed.

            Revealing modus operandi of this scam, the spokesperson informed that the tenders were invited cluster wise in which ‘A’ group of mandis and work of all procurement agencies was allotted for the cluster and name of leading mandis in particular area was used as cluster name. In Ludhiana district, Telu Ram was having 4 clusters namely Jodhan, Mullanpur, Raikot and Payal which contains 34 grain markets. Apart from this, Telu Ram was also having cluster in district Ferozpur at Talwandi Bhai and district Ropar local.

            During investigations it has come to light that main accused Telu Ram had received approximately amount of Rs 25 crore for the said work. In order to get tenders the lists of vehicles submitted by accused were containing registration numbers of Cars, Scooters, Motor Cycles etc but the same transportation vehicles were required to be verified. After verification technical bid was required to be rejected by district tender committee however they in connivance with each other allotted the tenders.

            He added that even in the gate passes numbers of Scooters, Cars etc were mentioned but the above mentioned officers made payments to the accused contractors in respect of material quoted in these gate passes thereby matter regarding misappropriation also comes to light. He informed that further investigation in this regard is under progress and involvement of others would also be probed in this scam.

Dehradun

U’khand to be made cataract-free, says Minister Dhan Singh Rawat

Leave a comment

IEP Dehradun August 21, 2022

Uttarakhand Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat has said that a campaign in phased manner would be undertaken to make Uttarakhand free from cataract. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call for ‘Cataract free India’ campaign so that the country is made free from cataract in the next three years. The minister said that the free operation of cataract patients is being done in the State and free eyeglasses are being provided to such patients.

Elaborating further he said that in the year 2017-18, free cataract surgery was performed on 37,901 patients while 34,538 surgeries were done in the year 2018-19. In the year 2019-20 a total of 33,292 cataract surgeries were performed while 23,160 and 34,627 surgeries were formed in the year 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively.  The minister added that the State government is committed to making the State free from cataract.

He said that 37th national eye donation fortnight would be organised in the State from August 25 to September 8. The fortnight is being organised under the aegis of the National programme for control of blindness and visual impairment. The Minister has given necessary instruction to the officers of the health department for successful organisation of the campaign. In the fortnight the people would be encouraged to take a pledge to donate eyes after their death.

Rawat said that camps to test the eyes of the people would be organised at the block levels in all the 13 districts of the state during the campaign.  Apart from checking the eyes the ANMs and Asha workers would distribute vitamin A tablets in these camps. Rawat said that many schemes are being operated in the State for the patients with visual impairment and other diseases.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Meet Hayer calls sports department and associations to work together to make Punjab a leading state in sports

Leave a comment

IEP CHANDIGARH AUGUST 20, 2022

Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Saturday called the sports department and sports associations to work together to make Punjab again a leading state in sports. 

He said this during a meeting with office bearers of Punjab Olympic Association at Punjab Olympic Bhawan, Mohali today. 

The Sports Minister said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also a keen interest in the sports and he is leaving no stone unturned to make Punjab the number one state again.

Best wishing the sports contingent of Punjab in the 36th National Games to be held in Gujarat next month, Sports Minister handed over a check of Rs 50 lakh for National Games and assured to take up the matter with CM Mann for further assistance. 

The Sports Minister said that the state government is formulating a new sports policy in which emphasis will be given on giving cash prizes to sportsmen, providing jobs, encouraging young sportsmen. Under the commitment, ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ is being organized by the Sports Department, which will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister at Jalandhar on August 29. About 5 lakh players will participate in these sports competitions, after which the pool of winning players of the state level tournament will be formed who will go on to compete at the national and international level. 

He also extended an invitation letter to the Punjab Olympic Association and all sports associations.

Meet Hayer said that Punjab was number one in national sports in 2001 but then the state continued to lag behind. The state government will now formulate a new sports policies and 220 coaches are being recruited and more posts of coaches will be created and posted at the village, block and sub division level to booster sports department. 

He further said that there is no shortage of talent in Punjab, only skills need to be polished. Sports budget is being increased by the state government. Priority will be given to providing sports equipment. 

A review is being done to see the sports structure at the ground level. He said that the solution to the drug problem will be only by creating a sports environment. The sports  department is paying special attention to channelize the energy of the youth towards sports. The players who win medals at the national and international level will be given permanent employment. The diet is being increased. If necessary, the sports department will take the services of foreign coaches.

Earlier, the president of Punjab Olympic Association Brahm Mahindra announced that Sports Minister Meet Hayer will be made the pattern of the association, after which the sports minister was honored by the association. The executive of the association passed an unanimous resolution on this.

The Senior Vice President of the Association, Rajdeep Singh Gill, praised the Sports Minister, Meet Hayer, for personally encouraging the players and showing interest in sports and spoke of taking efforts together with the Sports Department and the Association to take Punjab forward in sports.

Punjab Olympic Association Secretary General Raja KS Sidhu welcomed the Sports Minister by thanking him on his arrival at the Olympic Bhawan.

On this occasion, Vice President of Punjab Olympic Association Sikandar Singh Maluka, Treasurer Karamveer Singh Sidhu, Executive Member Teja Singh Dhaliwal, Arjuna Awardee Surinder Singh Sodhi, Kushaldeep Singh Kikki Dhillon, K.P.S. Brar, Santosh Dutta, Prabhjot Singh, Maninder Kaur Virak, Ashok Rouni, RK Bali, Arjuna Awardee Jagjit Singh, Principal Secretary, Sports Department Raj Kamal Chaudhary, Director Rajesh Dhiman and District Sports Officer Gurdeep Kaur were also present.

Dehradun

Govt to set up one cooperative village in every district of Uttarakhand, says Dhan Singh Rawat

Leave a comment

IEP DEHRADUN AUGUST 18, 2022

The Uttarakhand government would set up one cooperative village in every district of the state. A declaration in this regard was made by the Cooperatives minister Dhan Singh Rawat during the cooperative conclave of Dehradun district held at Doon University auditorium here.

He said that the economy of the cooperative village would be compensated entirely by the Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS). Addressing the conclave, the minister said that the process of computerisation of 108 Multipurpose Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (MPACS) in the State has been completed recently and the 80 per cent work in the remaining MPACS is complete.

He directed the officials of Dehradun district to ensure the computerisation of all MPACS in the district gets completed by September 5. Exhorting the employees and members to accept the computerisation to their soul, the minister curtly told that the committees would not be able to disburse loans if the computerisation process is not complete by September 5. He said that five lakh new accounts should be opened by the cooperatives and a campaign to increase the number of members in the cooperative societies should be undertaken. He directed that every committee and every branch of the district cooperative bank should prepare a business development plan of three years.

Rawat informed that the cooperative department of Uttarakhand has come on a digital platform and this is the biggest achievement of the last five and half years of the State government. He said that similar conclaves would be organised in all districts of the state and the process of loan distribution in all 670 Nyay Panchayats would get completed before December this year. Senior officers of the cooperative department, managers of the cooperative banks, chairman and secretaries of the cooperative committee and the experts took part in the conclave.