State Government secured Rs. 27000 crore Cash Credit Limit for October
Rs. 15000 Crore CCL already secured with regard to September
Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak kickstarts paddy procurement in Bhogpur*
Mandi Board operationalized 1822 Purchase Centers throughout State
-Punjab Government committed to lift every Single grain, timely payments to farmers
Chandigarh/Bhogpur (Jalandhar), September 17:The Food, Civil Supplies Minister & Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak today formally commenced the paddy procurement season at Bhogpur Dana Mandi in Jalandhar district, reaffirming the Punjab Government’s commitment to lift every Single grain farmers' produce.
Reviewing the procurement arrangements, the Minister said the State Government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is determined to ensure smooth and hassle free procurement season for all the stakeholders.
Despite the challenges posed by recent floods, robust arrangements had been made across Punjab to ensure that farmers face no implications in selling their crops, added Mr. Kataruchak.
Addressing the media, Mr. Kataruchak noted that farmers’ welfare has always remained the top priority of the state during procurement seasons.
He informed that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy has been fixed at ₹2,389 per quintal, and the government has already secured Cash Credit Limits (CCL) worth ₹15,000 crore for September and ₹27,000 crore for October. He further said that adequate arrangements of bardana (gunny bags) have been made to avoid inconvenience to farmers.
This year, the target of 172 lakh MT paddy procurement was given to Punjab but arrangements have been made to procure nearly 190 lakh MT paddy.
The Minister assured that lifting and payment will go hand in hand, with prompt transfer of payments directly into farmers’ accounts. He directed officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Punjab Mandi Board, and District Administration to personally monitor operations in mandis to ensure transparency and efficiency.
The Punjab Mandi Board has operationalized 1822 Mandis/Purchase Centers to ensure smooth procurement besides ensuring the adequate arrangements with regard to electricity, clean drinking water and other amenities in the mandis.
During his visit, he also interacted with farmers Gurkirat Singh, Jaspal Singh, and Sukhraj Singh, who appreciated the swift procurement process in Bhogpur Dana Mandi. The Minister assured them that their payments would be made at the earliest. He also appealed to farmers to bring only fully dried paddy to the mandis, as higher moisture levels could hinder procurement.
Senior AAP leader Pawan Kumar Tinu, SDM Randeep Singh Heer, DFSC Harveen Kaur, and officials from various departments were also present on the occasion.
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Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh National Marathon Postponed – Jai Krishan Singh Rouri
Chandigarh/ Gharshankar, Dist. Hoshiarpur Sept 17-In view of the serious situation created due to floods in Punjab, Deputy Speaker , Punjab Vidhan Sabha, S. Jai Krishan Singh Rouri, has announced the postponement of the Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh National Marathon which was scheduled to be held on 27th September 2025 at Mahilpur (District Hoshiarpur).
Rouri said that this marathon was an important part of the campaign initiated by the Punjab Government to keep the youth away from drugs, connect them with sports, and strengthen the spirit of patriotism among them. Under the vision of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, this effort was aimed at guiding the youth towards becoming healthy, fit, and prosperous through sports.
However, due to the current floods, several districts of Punjab have suffered heavy loss of lives and property. In such circumstances, it is necessary to share the grief of the people and stand shoulder to shoulder with them.
S. Rouri clarified that the marathon has only been postponed, not cancelled. As soon as the situation improves, a new date for the marathon will be announced soon. He added that the Punjab Government stands firmly with the people of Punjab in every situation and is fully committed to supporting the families affected by the floods.
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CLEANLINESS DRIVE IN URBAN AREAS PICKS PACE AS ROADS, DRAINS, STREETLIGHTS AND WATER SUPPLY NETWORKS GET RAPID REPAIRS: DR. RAVJOT SINGH
* SAYS, DAMAGED INFRA BEING RESTORED, GARBAGE VULNERABLE POINTS CLEARED AND DAILY WASTE PROCESSING MONITORED
Chandigarh, September 17:Urban Local Bodies across Punjab have stepped up action under the ongoing 10-day cleanliness campaign with focused work on road repair, clearance of silt from drains, restoration of damaged streetlights and water supply lines and removal of garbage from vulnerable points. Dedicated teams supported with JCBs, tractor trolleys, compactors and fogging machines are working round the clock to restore normalcy in flood-affected towns and cities.
Divulging further, Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh said that ward-wise rosters have been prepared and circulated, ensuring daily focus areas are assigned to teams for systematic execution. Nodal officers including Zonal Commissioners in larger corporations like Ludhiana are directly monitoring the operations by supervising two to three wards daily, in addition to regular sanitation drives.
The Cabinet Minister informed that awareness activities are being carried out every day to educate citizens about cleanliness and encourage their participation. He highlighted that staff and local residents are being actively engaged through personal involvement of officers to motivate communities in maintaining hygiene.
Dr. Ravjot Singh further stated that compactors and waste processing plants are being monitored daily, while damaged infrastructure including roads, water supply networks and streetlights is being repaired proactively. Special teams have been mobilised to clear garbage vulnerable points and reduce waste accumulation.
He said that the entire campaign is being documented through before-and-after photographs. PESCO ex-servicemen have been deputed in all urban areas to support reporting, verification and monitoring of works to ensure accountability. A grievance redressal mechanism has also been activated to address the concerns of flood-affected residents.
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“Project JIWANJYOT 2.0: Punjab Government’s Mission to Eradicate Child Begging:- Dr Baljit Kaur”
“Special Teams Deployed for Child Protection During Kapurthala Jor Mela”
“311 Children Rescued and Rehabilitated – Education, Nutrition and Counselling Provided”
Chandigarh, September 17:Project JIWANJYOT 2.0, a visionary initiative of the Punjab Government, is transforming lives by rescuing children from the streets and ensuring them a safe, dignified, and hopeful future.
Sharing details, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that during a recent operation near a Gurdwara Sahib in Amritsar district, 15 children were rescued from begging, immediately shifted to safe shelter homes, and provided with rehabilitation measures. She added that public participation has been very encouraging, with more and more citizens reporting incidents of child begging near religious places, markets, bus stands, and traffic signals.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is committed to providing every child in the state with a safe childhood, quality education, and the right to live with dignity. She emphasized, “Children belong in schools, not on the streets. Project JIWANJYOT 2.0 is a major step towards our vision of a Punjab where no child is forced to beg.”
Considering the upcoming annual Jor Mela in Kapurthala, a special rescue team has been deployed to remain on duty throughout the event to ensure that no child is compelled to beg and that rescued children receive proper care and rehabilitation.
Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, Dr. Baljit Kaur said, “Child begging is a grave social concern. The Punjab Government is preparing a comprehensive plan that includes awareness campaigns, rescue operations, and rehabilitation programs during the festive season.”
So far, 311 children have been rescued and are being reintegrated into mainstream society with the help of education, nutrition, counselling, and rehabilitation support.
Dr. Baljit Kaur appealed to the people of Punjab to report such cases by calling the Child Helpline 1098, instead of giving alms to children, so that they can be provided a safe and secure future. She reiterated that the project is not limited to rescue operations but is a mission to build a better future for children through strong community participation and public awareness.
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4658 KM ROADS AND 68 BRIDGES DAMAGED IN PUNJAB DUE TO DEVASTATING FLOODS: HARBHAJAN SINGH ETO
RS.1969.50 CRORE REQUIRED FOR RESTORATION OF ROADS AND BRIDGES
Chandigarh, September 17:Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO today informed that the recent devastating floods have caused extensive damage to 4658 kilometers of roads and 68 bridges across the state.
Presiding over the review meeting with departmental officials regarding the assessment of losses, the Cabinet Minister disclosed that under Plan Roads, 19 bridges and 1592.76 kilometers of roads have been damaged along with R-walls and B-walls measuring 4014.11 meters and 92 culverts. Similarly, under National Highways, 4 bridges and 49.69 kilometers of roads have been damaged in addition to 2559.5 meters of R-walls and B-walls and 14 culverts. Under Link Roads, 45 bridges and 2357.84 kilometers of roads have suffered damages along with 3282 meters of R-walls and B-walls and 376 culverts. Apart from this, 657.54 kilometers of roads built under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana have also been affected.
He said that an estimated expenditure of Rs.1969.50 crore will be required for the repair and restoration of damaged bridges, roads, R-walls, B-walls and culverts.
During the meeting, Harbhajan Singh ETO directed officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to immediately improve the condition of different roads in Punjab. He also instructed them to expedite projects that have not yet taken off.
The Cabinet Minister further expressed concern over recurring accidents caused by delays in repairing service roads alongside the under-construction flyovers at Mallian, Tangra and Daburji on the Amritsar-Jandiala section. He directed officials to complete this work without any further delay.
He also directed NHAI officers to address the traffic congestion persisting under the Kharar Flyover.
The Cabinet Minister informed that during the meeting, discussions were also held on the app-based survey being conducted by the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to assess flood-related damages in nearly 2800 villages.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Special Secretary PWD (B\&R) Mrs. Hargun Jeet Kaur, Chief Engineer Gagandeep Singh, Chief Engineer Vijay Kumar Chopra, Chief Engineer Ramtesh Bains, Chief Engineer Anil Gupta, NHAI Regional Officer Rakesh Kumar and Project Director Mr. Aseem Bansal.
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769 MORE INMATES LEAVE RELIEF CAMPS AND RETURN THEIR HOMES: HARDEEP SINGH MUNDIAN
SAYS, 23340 PERSONS EVACUATED SO FAR, ACTIVE RELIEF CAMPS DOWN TO 38
Chandigarh, September 17:Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian today informed that the number of active relief camps has dropped from 41 to 38 within 24 hours, while the inmates declined sharply from 1945 to 1176. He described this fall of 769 inmates as a positive sign that rehabilitation is progressing smoothly and families are steadily their returning home.
The Cabinet Minister informed that a total of 23,340 persons have been evacuated till date as the state continues to move back towards normalcy. He added that the number of affected villages has marginally increased from 2483 to 2484, while the population affected now stands at 3,89,279.
He pointed out that the crop area affected has risen from 1,98,525 hectares to 1,99,678 hectares, mainly due to fresh reporting from Fazilka district where over 1,153 more hectares of farmland have been impacted.
S. Mundian further informed that one more death was reported in Barnala district, taking the overall death toll in the state to 57.