Page 8 - Punjab Government

Punjab govt didn't use Rs 218 cr aid by Centre for flood relief: Jakhar

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar Sunday hit out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the flood situation in the state, accusing him of not utilising Rs 218 crore fund released by the Centre for relief measures. Jakhar was in Patiala to visit flood-hit areas in Sanour in the district. He was accompanied by Jai Inder Kaur, the daughter of former chief minister Amarinder Singh. Addressing the media here, Jakhar said the Central government released Rs 218 crore for Punjab without even considering the previous year's utilisation certificate of the funds meant for the disaster relief from the state government. Jakhar said people had to suffer loss of life and property because of the "gross negligence" and "inefficiency" on the part of the AAP dispensation. The state government failed to handle the flood situation and ruling party MLAs were busy in photo-ops, he charged. He alleged the state government failed to take necessary measures including cleaning of drains and the strengthening of .

Punjab govt to introduce specialised force to check road accidents

The Punjab government will raise a specialised force to streamline traffic movement and check road accidents, which claim 12-14 lives in the state on an average every day, an official said. To be raised as a part of the Punjab Police, the Sadak Surakhya Force (Road Safety Force) personnel will be deployed at national and state highways where nearly 75 per cent of road accidents occur every year. With a strength of around 1,300 personnel, the force will be equipped with modern gadgets such as body cameras and breathalysers, they said. The force will also be given interceptors to check the speed of vehicles. "Our effort is that the force will start functioning before August 15," said Additional Director General of Police AS Rai, the force's nodal officer. The state government has earmarked nearly Rs 40 crore for the Sadak Surakhya Force, he said. Its personnel will also get a special uniform, he said. "The uniform is being designed. As it will be a specialised force, its uniform wil

BSF, Punjab Police recover another Pak drone near international border

A joint team of Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, on Sunday morning recovered another Pakistani drone near India-Pakistan International Border in Amritsar district.The drone was recovered from the outskirts of Kakkar village in Amritsar following a search operation launched by the BSF and Punjab Police on specific information.During the search, the BSF said, its troops along with police personnel recovered a drone from the farming field adjacent to Kakkar village."The recovered drone is an assembled Quadcopter," said the BSF, adding "yet another Pakistani drone was recovered by the joint efforts of BSF and Punjab Police."Earlier on Saturday, the BSF recovered a drone near India-Pakistan Border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district.The drone was intercepted at around 9.05 pm on Friday near Pallopati village in Tarn Taran district and the BSF troops immediately reacted to intercept the drone as per the laid down drill.The drone was also a Quadcopter of the model - DJI Matrice 350

Haryana khaps running awareness campaign against drugs, sensitising youth

Several khap panchayats in Haryana are running an awareness campaign against the ill-effects of drugs and also sensitising people in the rural areas on the importance of environmental protection. A prominent khap leader said many khap panchayats (caste councils) are involved in the campaign against drugs as they are apprehensive that the menace can spread in Haryana just like it has in neighbouring Punjab. "Our khap and many other khaps in Rohtak, Sonipat, Jind, Hisar and elsewhere are running the campaign against the menace of drugs. We make people, especially youngsters, aware of the ill-effects of drugs and prevent addiction," Tek Ram Kandela, the head of the Sarv Jatiya Kandela Khap, said. He also said they sensitise people on issues related to the environment when they hold panchayats in villages. "We also promote organic farming," Kandela said. On the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking last month, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had .

Chhattisgarh CM Baghel hints a big 'LPG' surprise in Cong poll manifesto

Rajasthan has given LPG at Rs 500. Something needs to be kept for the announcement and if everything will be done now then what would be for the announcement (referring to the poll promise)

1.6 mn Indians renounced citizenship in last 10 yrs, 70K gave up passports

90% of passports were surrendered in just eight states, with Goa topping the list

Will never travel in state govt helicopter again: Punjab Guv slams CM

Here's what caused trouble in between Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab to amend Sikh Gurdwara Act for free Gurbani telecast; faces backlash

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the state government will amend the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, to make telecast of Gurbani from the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar free for all

Punjab govt made 7 teams for sale of quality seeds, pesticides: Minister

Punjab Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department has set up seven teams to ensure supply of quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to farmers. State's Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Sunday said that these teams will also visit shops, manufacturing units of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides besides carrying out regular checks and sampling for quality as well as rates at which the goods are sold to the farmers. He further said that the flying squad teams, headed by Joint Directors and Chief Agriculture Officers of the department, will closely monitor the sale of seeds, pesticides and fertilisers, besides keeping a watch over the demand and supply of goods to farmers. The one team of the flying squad has been set aside for three to four districts, he said, according to an official statement. He urged the farmers to demand a 'bill' for each purchase from the vendor and ensure they only pay the amount mentioned on the bills. The Agriculture Minister said that If th

Procure maize at MSP to prevent distress sales by farmers: Sukhbir Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday demanded that the Punjab government procure maize at the minimum support price of Rs 2,090 per quintal to ensure that farmers do not resort to distress sales. In a statement issued here, Badal accused the government of running away from its responsibility. Due to this, the farmers are being forced to sell their produce at Rs 500 to Rs 600 per quintal to private traders, he claimed. Demanding immediate procurement of the entire maize crop at MSP, the SAD president said, "Failing to do so will deal a severe blow to the (crop) diversification attempts of the Punjab government". Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had announced with much fanfare that maize, sunflower and pulses would be procured at MSP due to which farmers had increased the acreage under these crops, Badal said. "Now, when the time has come to procure the produce, the AAP government has run away from its responsibility," he charged. Besides procuring maize at

Punjab CM urges Union Minister Puri to include Mohali in Smart City project

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday urged Union Housing and Development Minister Hardeep Puri to include Mohali in the Smart City project for its inclusive development. Mann, who met Puri at his office here, said Mohali assumes immense significance because it is part of the tri-city which also includes Chandigarh and Panchkula. Most of the departments of the Punjab government have their head offices in Mohali and as such it is imperative to give further fillip to its growth, the chief minister said. He said Mohali and its adjoining municipal committees like Zirakpur, Kharar, Derabassi and Kurali have witnessed immense growth because of the presence of the international airport, educational institutes, industries and townships. The area needs special funding to support planned growth and infrastructure development, the Punjab chief minister said, adding that including Mohali in the Smart City project for its holistic and planned growth was the need of the hour. Flagging

AAP govt acting against Constitution, says Guv; Punjab CM Mann hits back

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday accused the AAP government of acting against Constitution for not responding to his letters, asserting that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is bound to reply to the Raj Bhavan. Hours after Purohit's remarks, Mann posted a video of the governor's address on his Twitter handle to stress that Purohit has stopped referring to the AAP-led state government as "my government" at the instance of the opposition party in the House on March 3. Mann asked the governor to explain why he had "failed" to discharge his constitutional duty by not using the word "my government" during his address. The chief minister said it is unfortunate that "in the present Central regime, selected ones are unnecessarily peeping into the affairs of the elected ones". Undue hiccups are being raised to derail the smooth functioning of the state government, alleged Mann in a statement. The "gubernatorial" Raj Bhavans are now acting as the state headquarters of the BJP which

Punjab Cabinet led by Mann approves special Assembly session on Jun 19-20

The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday approved the summoning of a special session of the state Assembly on June 19 and 20. A decision in this regard was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here. Mann said the state government will introduce several important legislations in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha session. The business for the assembly session will be decided by the Business advisory committee, he added. It is a special session of the Vidhan Sabha, said Mann, and the Monsoon session will follow in due course of time. In the business advisory committee, any other issue that comes up will be approved and if any resolution is needed to bring in that will also be decided, said Mann. Asked if the special session has been called over the issue of pending funds under the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and the national health mission, Mann said the Centre has withheld the release of funds. During the session, the AAP government may raise the issue of pending RDF

Punjab expresses gratitude to Canada for postponing student deportation

Keeping in view that most of the students are from Punjab, Dhaliwal had earlier announced free legal assistance to the students while talking to students virtually

Punjab Cabinet led by Mann approves job regularisation of 14,239 teachers

In a major pro-people decision aimed at strengthening the education sector, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday approved to regularise the services of 14,239 teachers

Punjab govt to provide 277,000 private job to youth in state: CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that after giving more than 29,000 government jobs to youths in the last one year, the state government will now ensure 2.77 lakh jobs to them in the private sector. Mann said it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that the AAP government has so far provided more than 29,000 jobs to the youths in various departments of the state government. He claimed that it is a record as none of the previous governments have given so many jobs to youths, especially in the first year of their tenure. According to an official statement, Mann said that merit and transparency have been the twin pillars on the basis of which job opportunities have been given to the youths across the state. With this, the state government is making strenuous efforts to generate new jobs in the private sector also, he said. "So far, due to the massive efforts made by the state government, an investment worth around Rs 48,000 crore has been roped in for Punjab,

Punjab's excise dept recovers 17,000 kg 'lahan', 320 litres illicit liquor

Punjab government recovered 17,000 kg of 'lahan', used in making illicit liquor, during searches carried out in the last two days in Dasuya area of Hoshiarpur district, an official statement said here on Friday. The excise department also seized 320 litres of illicit liquor and equipment used in the distillation of moonshine, it said. The statement, quoting an official spokesperson of the department, said the teams of excise enforcement, excise officers, and police personnel were deputed to conduct the checking of illicit distillation in Dasuya along the bank of Beas river. A police dog squad, specially trained to detect 'lahan' was also put into service, he said. He said the teams covered an area of about 7 km on foot as well as boats in a well-coordinated operation and Terkiana, Kethana, Badaiyan, Dhanoa, Saidpur, and Bhikhowal villages in Dasuya were extensively mapped and searched. During the searches, it was discovered that the bootleggers had designed a camouflaged modus ...

Kejriwal wanted Navjot Singh Sidhu to lead Punjab, claims Sidhu's wife

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur on Friday said her husband gifted the chief minister's chair to Bhagwant Mann, claiming that Arvind Kejriwal once wanted the former cricketer to lead Punjab but he chose not to betray his party. Her claims came in the backdrop of a war of words between Mann and Navjot Sidhu. In a series of tweets, Kaur said, "CM, Bhagwant Mann; let me today open out a hidden secret from your treasure hunt. You should know that the very honourable chair you are occupying has been gifted to you by your big brother, Mr Navjot Sidhu. Your very own senior most leader had desired Navjot to lead Punjab". She claimed that AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal had approached Sidhu through various channels to lead the state. Punjab went to polls in February 2022 and after the AAP's landslide win Bhagwant Mann became the chief minister. "Mr Kejriwal through various channels approached him to lead Punjab knowing about his passion for our

Punjab CM denies affiliation of Haryana colleges with Panjab University

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said he has rejected a proposal of affiliation of Haryana colleges with Panjab University, saying the Chandigarh-based university has always been connected with Punjab's legacy and heritage. He was speaking after holding a meeting with his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar over the matter. The meeting was also attended by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit. Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh has always been connected with Punjab's legacy, heritage, emotions, culture and literature, Mann said while addressing media after the meeting. We have told them that it is a no from our side, he said. The chief minister recalled that the PU was shifted from Lahore, the then capital of Punjab, to Hoshiarpur and then to Chandigarh, the present capital of Punjab. He said at present, 175 colleges of Punjab and 30 colleges of Union Territory Chandigarh are affiliated with the PU. The first meeting in this regard was held on June 1 in which Punjab

Security tightened ahead of Operation Bluestar anniversary in Punjab

Security was beefed up across Punjab on Thursday with the state police carrying out flag marches and deploying adequate number of security personnel at crucial places ahead of Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6. The army had carried out Operation Blue Star in June 1984 to flush out hiding militants from Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Punjab Police on Thursday carried out flag marches in sensitive and vulnerable areas as a measure to instill confidence among the general public. As many as 110 flag marches were conducted covering 192 vulnerable areas across the state, an official statement said. The exercise was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. Special DGP (law and order) Arpit Shukla said commissioners of police and senior superintendents of police were directed to conduct flag marches in their respective districts. Police also apprehended 368 suspicious people during these flag marches. He said the exercise was aimed to boost the