Page 14 - Punjab Government

Punjab seeks financial assistance from govt for solarisation of agri-pumps

The Punjab government has sought financial assistance from the Centre for the solarisation of agriculture pump sets with up to 15 horsepower on the pattern of northeast and hilly states. In a letter written to RK Singh, Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Punjab Minister Aman Arora said the ministry has made a provision for providing central financial assistance (CFA) to farmers of northeast and hilly states for their pumps up to 15 HP capacity last month. But, this facility is available only for up to 7.5 HP agri-pumps in Punjab, he pointed out. The financial assistance is given under the PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan) scheme. "Punjab was the pioneer state in the green revolution, which is rightly known as the food bowl of India. Thus, farmers of the state also need hand-holding of the Central government and they also deserve to avail benefits of the scheme. "Punjab is predominantly an agrarian state, and around 14 lakh ...

Bhupendra Yadav chairs air pollution meet, expresses concern over Punjab

Bhupender Yadav, conducted a detailed review of measures and actions planned for abatement of air pollution by all stakeholders concerned in NCR and adjoining areas

Punjab stalemate ends: Guv Purohit approves Sep 27 assembly session

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has approved the state government's request to hold a one-day assembly session on September 27, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said Sunday, indicating the stalemate between the AAP dispensation and the government over the issue has ended. The governor's approval came a day after the AAP government informed him about the issues to be taken up during the session. "Hon. Governor, Punjab, has very kindly acceded to our request and summoned the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to meet for its third session on 27.9.2022 at 11.00 AM at Chandigarh," Speaker said in a tweet. The Bhagwant Mann-led government on Saturday informed the governor that the issues like stubble burning, goods and services tax and power supply will be discussed in the session on September 27. This came after the governor on Friday had asked for details of the legislative business to be taken up in the session, sparking a strong reaction from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had said "it's too ..

AAP government in Punjab likely to call state assembly session again

The AAP government in Punjab is likely to call the state assembly session again and the matter will be discussed in the state cabinet here on Thursday. Asked if the state government will call the session again, cabinet minister Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal asserted, Definitely, everything will happen, the session will be held. It is a government of the people. You (reporters) will soon come to know when the session will be held, he told media after participating in the meeting of AAP legislators. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann chaired the meeting of AAP legislators at Vidhan Sabha complex on Thursday to discuss the next strategy. A meeting of the Punjab Cabinet will be held here. Meanwhile, the AAP legislators began a 'peace march' from Vidhan Sabha complex to the Governor's residence. In an embarrassment to the AAP government in Punjab, Governor Banwarilal Purohit had on Wednesday thwarted the Bhagwant Mann-led regime's plan to summon a special assembly session to bring a confidence ...

Stubble burning: Unhappy with Punjab govt plan, farmers want compensation

Farmers have indicated that they will continue with the practice unless the govt compensates them suitably for the expenses they will incur by adopting alternative methods of disposing of crop residue

Punjab govt to form committee to decide commission for cotton crop

The Punjab government has decided to form a nine-member committee to decide on the quantum of commission to be paid to 'arhtiyas' or commission agents for the cotton crop. Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that to resolve various issues of cotton farmers and the commission agents, a joint meeting was called here on Friday to redress the issues. Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture Department Sarvjit Singh and Special Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Ravi Bhagat were among the officials present in the meeting, said an official statement. Dhaliwal said that with the consensus of all, it has been decided to form a 9-member committee to take a decision on the commission to be taken by agents on the cotton crop. The committee will have two representatives each of arhtiyas, cotton farmers, cotton factory owners and three government officials. During the meeting, the farmers also brought to the notice of the Agriculture Minister that there are illegal encroachments i

BJP slams AAP in Punjab over illegal mining along border, demands CBI probe

BJP's Tarun Chugh lambasted the AAP government in Punjab and alleged that the state government is putting national security at stake by allowing illegal mining on the India-Pakistan border

Punjab taps agricultural residues to speed up lean energy transition

Punjab's agriculture holds a huge potential for energy generation from agro-residues, an alternative model of diversification, besides clean energy transition by tapping solar power

AAP provided jobs to 17,313 youth in five months, says Punjab CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said in merely five months of assuming charge, the Aam Aadmi Party government has handed over appointment letters of government jobs to 17,313 youth

Lumpy skin disease: Sukhbir Badal asks Punjab govt Rs 50k per cattle death

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday demanded immediate release of compensation of Rs 50,000 for each cattle that died due to lumpy skin disease. In a statement here, the SAD president expressed shock that even as "thousands of cattle" had fallen prey to lumpy skin disease since July, the AAP government was still "indulging in propaganda and advertisements". "No effort is being made to take concrete steps at the ground level by coming to the aid of dairy farmers by compensating them for their cattle loss as well as preventing the further spread of the disease," Badal said. Lumpy skin disease infects cows and buffaloes mainly through vectors like blood-feeding insects. It leads to the formation of nodes on the animal's skin or hide that look like lumps, fever, runny nose, reduced milk yield and difficulty in eating. Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been hit by the outbreak of the disease. Badal said, "Farmers have los

CBI raids: Skeletons in AAP cupboard in Punjab as well, says SAD's Majithia

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday said skeletons in AAP closets will tumble out, lashing out at the party as Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia faced a CBI raid. Majithia linked the Delhi government's now abandoned excise policy to the one being followed in Punjab, which too has an Aam Aadmi Party government. Skeletons are likely to tumble out of cupboards as the flawed monopolistic Delhi excise policy was implemented in Punjab also, he told reporters at Baba Bakala, without elaborating. Majithia also appealed to the Centre for the release of the Sikh prisoners who are lodged in jails even after the expiry of their term. He claimed the AAP government in Punjab had not fulfilled its election promises. Punjabis were first betrayed by the Congress. Now the AAP government is also following in their footsteps and is refusing to implement its promise to give Rs 1,000 per month to all women and regularize contractual employees, besides providing jobs to t

Punjab orders probe in 11,275 missing crop residue management machines

The Punjab government has said it has initiated a vigilance probe into a Rs 150-crore scam in the distribution of crop residue management machines among farmers during the previous dispensation led by the Congress. Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, in a statement on Wednesday, said during a physical verification, a total of 11,275 machines were not found with the beneficiaries and ordered a thorough probe into it. He said the central sector scheme of promotion of agriculture mechanisation for in-situ management of crop residue was implemented by the previous government from 2018-19 to 2021-22. He said according to initial investigation by the agriculture department, it appears that a sum of Rs 125-150 crore has been misused. Giving details, the minister said under this scheme, a total of 90,422 machines for crop residue management have been provided to the beneficiary farmers, registered farmer groups, cooperative societies, farmer producers' organisations and panchayats

Punjab government notifies pention for former MLAs for only 1 term

The Punjab government has issued a notification giving pension to former MLAs only for one term following an assent by the Punjab governor to a Bill in this regard.

Punjab committed to regularising services of contractual employees: CM Mann

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said his government is committed to regularise temporary and contractual employees

Punjab CM Mann hospitalised with stomach ache complaint, discharged later

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was admitted to a private hospital in Delhi late on Tuesday night after he complained of stomach ache, Aam Aadmi Party sources said here on Thursday. He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday morning, they added. After arriving in Chandigarh, Mann held a meeting with some senior police officials here. He complimented the Punjab Police officials for their operation against two gangsters in Amritsar. He also released a video message, saying the state will be free from gangsters and drug peddlers. Gangsters Jagroop Singh Roopa and Manpreet Singh, alias Mannu Kusa, allegedly involved in the killing of singer Sidhu Moosewala, were gunned down in a nearly five-hour-long encounter with the Punjab Police at a village near Amritsar on Wednesday.

'Mann gave away Punjab's right over Chandigarh by asking land for Assembly'

SAD chief Sukhbir Badal on Sunday stepped up attack on Punjab Chief Minister for his statement seeking land for Vidhan Sabha, saying Mann has surrendered right on Chandigarh by making such demands.

Punjab power subsidy at multi-year high, other sops in focus in new budget

Punjab's new budget promises sops that may delay the state's date with fiscal prudence

Punjab: Nod to 600 units of free power to every household per billing cycle

The Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday accorded approval to giving 600 units of free power to every household per billing cycle in the state with effect from July 1

Punjab CM Mann set to marry this week; Arvind Kejriwal to attend wedding

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann (48) will tie the nuptial knot here on Thursday, party leaders confirmed. "Mann Sahab is getting married in a private ceremony here tomorrow. He will tie the knot with Dr Gurpreet Kaur," Aam Aadmi Party's senior leader and party's chief spokesperson of Punjab unit, Malvinder Singh Kang told PTI over phone. This will be Mann's second marriage after he had separated from his first wife in 2015. He has two children from his first wife.

PNB raises Rs 2,000 crore via AT1 capital bonds at lower rate of 8.75%

Gains from easing bond yields worldwide; better rate comes against indicative yield of 9-9.25%