*PUNJAB GOVT SANCTIONS RS 1.61 CR FOR CRUCIAL WATER STUDY IN COLLABORATION WITH IIT ROPAR: HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA*

*MICRO-LEVEL STUDY TO ADDRESS WATER SCARCITY AND SEEPAGE ISSUES IN PUNJAB*

Chandigarh, December 15-In a significant step towards addressing Punjab's water woes, Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced the in-principle approval for a Rs 1.61 crore micro-level study on water resources and seepage patterns. The study, to be conducted by the Punjab State Farmers' & Farm Workers' Commission (PSFFWC) in collaboration with IIT Ropar, will help develop effective solutions to manage the state's subsoil water levels.

Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that as an agrarian state, Punjab faces serious challenges concerning water availability and its sustainable usage. He emphasised that this project represents a crucial step towards the revival of the state's agrarian era. “The initial macro-level study, conducted by the PSFFWC in collaboration with the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, was formally acknowledged by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Committee on Agriculture Reforms. Subsequently, the Committee decided a more detailed micro-level study”, he added.

Elaborating on the scientific depth of the investigation, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the micro-level study will employ advanced techniques, including Carbon Dating and isotope analysis of sub-soil and repository water, as well as a comprehensive examination of seepage patterns across the state. The study's objectives encompass a range of critical aspects, including profiling all types of available water resources, characterising aquifers to inform policy decisions, conducting heliborne surveys, exploring alternative water resources, and conducting micro-level studies to determine seepage rates

Providing details on the financial allocation for the study, Finance Minister Cheema said that the project will be funded with a total outlay of Rs 221.65 lakh. Of this amount, IIT Ropar will contribute Rs 60.00 lakh from its own resources, leaving a requirement of Rs 161.00 lakh for the Punjab State Farmers' & Farm Workers' Commission. In exchange for the funding, IIT Ropar will provide comprehensive technical support, including design and execution expertise, field investigations, sample collection, deployment of portable instruments, infrastructure and laboratory facilities, and technical training and capacity-building initiatives.

The study comprises five detailed phases, scheduled for completion within 12 months of receiving the required funds. Phase 1 will conduct a field survey to determine sampling sites, Phase 2 will develop a hydrogeological framework of the state's aquifer systems, Phase 3 will involve hydro-chemical characterisation and isotopic analysis to assess contamination levels and identify source areas, Phase 4 will identify areas for canal network expansion, and Phase 5 will provide recommendations for management measures

The Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the collaboration with IIT Ropar is a testament to the state government's commitment to science-driven policy-making. He said that the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is focused on finding sustainable, long-term solutions to benefit the state's farmers.

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*Vigilance Bureau nabs 11 persons red handed in 8 bribery cases during November*

Chandigarh, 15 December 2025:The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing crusade against corruption in the state, has been able to apprehend 9 government officials and 2 private persons red handed while accepting bribes in 8 different trap cases during the month of November.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the VB has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere during the period.

He informed that the Bureau had submitted challans pertaining to 12 vigilance cases in various competent courts in the last month. Apart from this, 7 vigilance enquiries have also been registered to thoroughly probe the corruption cases. He added that 8 criminal cases were also registered against 17 accused which include 11 government employees.

Giving more details, he added that different competent courts had decided three bribery cases filed and contested by the Bureau during the last month, in which five persons were convicted and sentenced ranging from three years to five years imprisonment and fine from Rs. 10,000/- to 67,000/-.

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*Meet Hayer Raises Issue of Increasing Meagre Honorarium Given to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers in Parliament*

*Hayer Also Demands Additional ₹20,000 Crore Flood Relief Package for Punjab*

*AAP MP Demands Immediate Issuance of New Ration Cards Under Public Distribution System*

*Sports Grants Should Be Allocated to States Based on Their Sporting Performance: Meet Hayer*

New Delhi/Chandigarh, December 15-Aam Aadmi Party Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, raised several pressing issues and demands for grants while speaking on the Supplementary Demands in Parliament.

Meet Hayer demanded that Anganwadi workers and helpers be regularised and that the meagre honorarium paid to them be increased. He also demanded that, in addition to the announced ₹1,600 crore flood relief package for Punjab, an additional ₹20,000 crore be given to compensate for the actual losses suffered by the state due to floods. Citing population growth, in the absence of a census, he also demanded the immediate issuance of new ration cards under the Public Distribution System. He further stated that grants in sports should be allocated to states based on their sporting performance.

Taking a dig at the “Viksit Bharat” model, Meet Hayer said that India ranks 102nd out of 123 countries on the Global Hunger Index. He said Anganwadi workers play a crucial role in child development, yet they are subjected to exploitation. The Centre provides only ₹4,500 to workers and ₹2,250 to helpers. He demanded that the government increase their honorarium, fix a permanent salary, and regularise their services.

Referring to the devastating floods in Punjab, the AAP MP said the state suffered financial losses amounting to ₹20,000 crore and that the basic infrastructure was badly damaged. He said the Prime Minister had announced a flood relief package of ₹1,600 crore for Punjab, but nothing has been received so far. He demanded that the Centre immediately release ₹20,000 crore along with the announced flood package.

Raising the issue of the shortage of ration cards under the Public Distribution System, Meet Hayer said that due to COVID, the census was not conducted in 2021 and there appears to be no possibility of it being conducted in the near future either. He said that according to the 2011 census, 1,41,45,000 ration cards were issued in Punjab, whereas due to population growth, the number of families below the poverty line has also increased, necessitating an increase in the number of ration cards in the state.

Highlighting discrimination against Punjab in sports grants, Meet Hayer said Punjab was sidelined in the Khelo India grants, while Gujarat was given crores of rupees in 2024. He said that Gujarat did not win a single medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, whereas eight players from Punjab won medals in hockey. He added that Punjab has villages like Sansarpur that have produced multiple medal-winning athletes from a single village. He demanded that sports grants be allocated to states based on their sporting performance. He further said that India is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, but the Central Government has not made any demand for sports in the supplementary grants this time.

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*Three accused arrested for trafficking in wildlife parts*

*Sambar antlers, Hathajodi and parts of a wild cat recovered*

Chandigarh, December 15:To protect wildlife in Punjab and to curb crimes related to it, under the directions issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden Punjab Shri Basanta Raj Kumar, IFS, Shri Satinder Kumar Sagar, IFS (Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife); and Shri Vishal Chauhan, IFS (Conservator of Forests, Parks and Protected Circle), and following the zero-tolerance policy against wildlife crime, the Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife Division Phillaur, Shri Vikram Singh Kundra, IFS, constituted a team on the basis of secret information regarding trafficking of wildlife parts.

The team was formed under the leadership of Shri Jaswant Singh, Range Officer, Jalandhar, and included Nirmaljit Singh (Block Officer), Malkiat Singh (Forest Guard), Navtej Singh Bath from Jalandhar Range, and Ranjit Singh (Block Officer), Bobinder Singh and Ranbir Singh Uppal from Kapurthala Range.

The team laid a trap in Nakodar, where one of the team members acted as a customer and struck a deal with the trafficker. At the spot, Bony Arora, son of Bharat Bhushan, resident of Nakodar, arrived to deliver the material and was immediately arrested by the team. From his possession, two cut pieces of sambar antlers, six pieces of “hathajodi,” and the parts of a wild cat were recovered.

During interrogation, Bony Arora disclosed that this material had been sent to him by Shivam Gupta, son of Gulshan Rai, resident of Nakodar, who runs a shop named “Durga Dass Pansari.” The team immediately conducted a raid at Shivam Gupta’s shop and questioned him. He admitted that he was involved in the business of wildlife parts and that he himself had sent the material to Bony Arora for delivery. He further disclosed that he purchased this material from Deepak alias Kala, son of Vijay Kumar Gupta, resident of Nakodar, District Jalandhar, who runs a shop named “Valaiti Ram Pansari and Grocery Store” in Nakodar.

The team immediately raided the shop of Deepak alias Kala and recovered two cut pieces of sambar antlers and one “hathajodi” from his possession. During interrogation, Deepak alias Kala admitted that he had supplied this material to Shivam Gupta.

The team arrested all three accused along with the recovered items and produced them at Police Station Nakodar, where an FIR was registered against them under the relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Amended 2003).

On this occasion, Range Officer Shri Jaswant Singh stated that trading in wildlife parts is a punishable offence, and no person involved in such illegal activities will be spared. Strict legal action will be taken against them, and further investigation is ongoing to identify other accused connected with this case.