*HAR SHUKARVAR DENGUE TE VAAR 2026: PUNJAB INTENSIFIES GROUND-LEVEL ACTION TO ENSURE DISEASE-FREE MONSOON SEASON*

*— PUNJAB MOBILIZES MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL FRONT AGAINST VECTOR & WATER BORNE DISEASES*

*— HEALTH MINISTER DR BALBIR SINGH AND FINANCE MINISTER HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA JOINTLY CHAIRED STATE TASK FORCE MEETING*

*— DR BALBIR SINGH CALLS FOR "ONE HEALTH" APPROACH TO COMBAT DENGUE AND ZOONOTIC THREATS*

*— STAGGERING DECLINE IN DENGUE CASES: 23,389 CONFIRMED CASES IN 2021 TO JUST 4,981 IN 2025,WHILE DEATHS DROPPED FROM 55 TO JUST 8 IN THE SAME PERIOD*

Chandigarh, April 3: In a decisive move to safeguard public health ahead of the high-transmission season, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh and Finance and Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema jointly chaired a high-level State Task Force meeting, to prepare a unified response against vector-borne, water-borne, and zoonotic diseases across the state.

Addressing a diverse assembly of stakeholder departments, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh emphasized that the battle against diseases like Dengue, Malaria, Chikanguniya, Rabies and Leptospirosis requires a "One Health" approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health strategies. He highlighted that the state has significantly bolstered its diagnostic infrastructure, now offering free ELISA testing for Dengue and Chikungunya at 47 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals and extending Malaria RDT and Dengue testing to all Aam Aadmi Clinics.

While reviewing the departmental contributions, Dr Balbir Singh lauded the Health Department for its consistent efforts in reducing the Dengue burden from 23,389 confirmed cases in 2021 to just 4,981 in 2025, while related deaths dropped from 55 to just 8 in the same period. The Minister stated that the significant drop in mortality and morbidity is a testament to the department's proactive house-to-house surveillance and the strategic deployment of 15 million visits during the last transmission season.

The Health Minister issued a stern directive to all departments to ensure that the "Har Shukarvaar Dengue Te Vaar" campaign—running every Friday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM—becomes a mass movement involving students and teachers in identifying and eliminating breeding sites like stagnant water in coolers, flower pots, and overhead tanks. He noted with concern that while Dengue was once primarily an urban threat, nearly 42% of cases in 2025 were reported from rural areas, necessitating a shift in focus toward fogging, larvicidal spraying in village ponds and the release of Gambusia fish for mosquito control.

Furthering the agenda on zoonotic threats, the Health Minister discussed the National Rabies Control Programme, noting that while anti-rabies vaccines are now available across 746 government health facilities across the state, departments must expedite the creation of district-wise Animal Birth Control facilities to achieve 70% herd immunity in the dog population. He stressed that the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme is now utilizing the IHIP portal for real-time reporting of outbreaks, and he called upon the Indian Medical Association to ensure private practitioners immediately report all notifiable diseases to help the state take timely remedial actions.

During the meeting Dr Balbir Singh also voiced concerns over water-borne diseases, directing the Local Government and Water Supply departments to ensure 100% chlorination of drinking water and regular sampling, especially in identified hotspots, to prevent outbreaks of Hepatitis A, E, diaohrria and Cholera.

Raising conerns over the recent outbreak of Leptospirosis at the Hazara Singh Wala village in district Ferozepur, Dr Balbir Singh stated that he along with the Deputy Commissioner will visit the village to rectify the causes of the outbreak and will form model SOPs in such cases to counter any such disease outbreak in Punjab.

Finance and Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema assured that the Finance Department would provide all necessary support to maintain this downward trend and emphasized that the all Punjab Roadways and PRTC workshops have been directed to ensure the timely disposal of discarded tyres and broken vehicle parts, which are notorious breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito. He concluded by urging all stakeholders to maintain this momentum to ensure a disease-free Punjab in 2026.

Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Kumar Rahul, Member Punjab Development Commission Anurag Kundu, MD PHSC Amit Talwar, Secretary Local Government Manjit Singh Brar, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Hitinder Kaur, Director Health Services (Family Welfare) Dr Aditi Salaria, Director (ESI) Dr Anil Kumar Goyal, Deputy Director Dr Manju Bansal , Assistant Director Dr Manmeet Kaur, State Program Officer NVBDCP Dr Arshdeep Kaur, Dr Prabhleen Kaur and other Officials from the stakeholder departments were present during the meeting.

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*Punjab Accelerates Urban Transformation with Record Revenues, ₹1,300 Cr Road Works, and Major Civic Reforms*

Chandigarh, 3 April 2026:Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion and Power, Sanjeev Arora, today announced a series of major initiatives and reforms aimed at strengthening urban infrastructure, improving service delivery, and enhancing ease of living for citizens across Punjab.

Highlighting public relief measures, the Minister informed that the One Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme for Improvement Trusts has been reintroduced till April 30, 2026, offering a rebate of around 50% on Non-Construction Fee (NCF), providing significant financial relief to property owners.

In a major achievement, house tax collection for FY 2025–26 has reached ₹600 crore, up from ₹500 crore in FY 2024–25, reflecting improved efficiency, transparency, and better compliance in urban local bodies.

Giving a boost to urban infrastructure, the Minister stated that 2,120 kilometres of roads are being taken up across Municipal Corporations and Councils at a cost of ₹1,300 crore, with completion targeted by end of May 2026. Special emphasis is being laid on ensuring pothole-free roads before the monsoon, using the latest technology for durable repairs.

In a major ease-of-doing-business reform, the building plan approval process has been simplified. Files will now be submitted to the Commissioner only once instead of twice, significantly reducing processing time. Further, STP approvals will now be required only for plots of half an acre and above, instead of the earlier limit of 500 square yards.

To further expedite approvals, a single-window committee system has been introduced at the district and head office level, ensuring that all concerned officers grant approvals in one go, thereby eliminating delays.

Strengthening emergency response systems, the Government is undertaking modernisation of fire services with an investment of ₹131 crore, including procurement of advanced fire tenders and establishment of 13 new fire stations across the state.

The Minister also informed that desilting of the entire sewerage network is being undertaken on priority and will be completed before the onset of the monsoon. Wherever feasible, super suction machines are being deployed, with 9 specialised vendors engaged for the task.

Further, sewerage projects worth ₹450 crore have already been allotted across the state for FY 2025–26 and will be completed within the current financial year. Additionally, projects worth ₹700 crore will be allotted in the current quarter.

On water management, works worth ₹700 crore were allotted in FY 2025–26 for surface water projects, aimed at conserving groundwater and ensuring the supply of clean drinking water. Moreover, 30 Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) worth approximately ₹800 crore will be allotted in the current quarter.

Emphasising the Government’s commitment, Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora said,

“Punjab is witnessing a new phase of urban transformation. From large-scale infrastructure development to simplifying approvals and improving civic services, every initiative is focused on delivering better facilities, faster services, and a higher quality of life for our citizens.”