*PUNJAB GOVT RELEASES RS.146 CRORE IN ADVANCE TO STRENGTHEN FLOOD PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER RESPONSE*

*BHAGWANT MANN GOVT COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING LIVES AND PROPERTY OF PEOPLE ACROSS PUNJAB: HARDEEP SINGH MUNDIAN*

*Rs.100-CR RELEASED TO ALL DISTRICTS FOR TACKLING NATURAL DISASTERS DURING FY 2026-27; ADDITIONAL Rs.46-CR ALLOCATED FOR FLOOD PREVENTION MEASURES*

*Chandigarh, May 31:*Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian today informed that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government has released a total of Rs.146 crore in advance to strengthen flood preparedness and ensure prompt response to any natural calamity across the state.

The Cabinet Minister said that anticipating the forthcoming monsoon season and potential flood-related challenges, the state government has taken proactive measures to equip all districts with adequate financial resources for disaster management and mitigation activities.

Giving details, S. Hardeep Singh Mundian informed that funds amounting to Rs.100 crore have already been released to all districts of Punjab for the financial year 2026-27 to enable district administrations to effectively deal with situations arising from any probable natural disasters without any delay.

He further said that an additional Rs.46 crore has been sanctioned for flood prevention and preparedness measures. Under this allocation, each district has been provided Rs.2 crore to meet requirements related to boats, flood-fighting equipment, rescue materials and other essential resources needed to tackle any flood situation efficiently.

The Disaster Management Minister said that the Punjab Government is continuously monitoring the preparedness of all districts and has directed the concerned authorities to ensure that all necessary arrangements are put in place well before the onset of the monsoon season. He added that timely release of funds would significantly enhance the capacity of district administrations to undertake preventive measures and respond swiftly during emergencies.

S. Hardeep Singh Mundian reiterated that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state government accords the highest priority to disaster preparedness, public safety and protection of infrastructure, ensuring that no effort is spared in safeguarding the interests of the people of Punjab.

===========================================

*On World No Tobacco Day, Punjab Shines as National Leader with Lowest Tobacco Prevalence Across India*

*— Dr. Balbir Singh Dedicates Punjab’s Historic Low Tobacco Rates to Global 'No Tobacco' Vision*

*— Punjab Leads India’s Fight Against Nicotine with Landmark NFHS-6 Success*

Chandigarh, May 31:Coinciding with the global observance of World No Tobacco Day, Punjab has scripted a landmark achievement in public health by recording the lowest prevalence of tobacco use across the entire country, according to the newly released National Family Health Survey 2023-24 (NFHS-6) conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Divulging details, the Health and Family Welfare Minister Punjab Dr Balbir Singh said that this comprehensive nationwide survey establishes Punjab decisively at the top among all Indian States, offering a stellar blueprint for this year's global anti-tobacco campaign by showcasing a historic low where tobacco use among men aged 15 years and above stands at just 13.9%, which is less than half of the national average of 36.3%. The distinction is even more pronounced among the female population, with tobacco use among women aged 15 and above in Punjab recorded at a mere 0.5%, drastically outperforming the national female average of 8.4%.

This monumental health milestone highlights Punjab’s exemplary performance relative to other major regions in India, reinforcing its national leadership in health governance and lending immense momentum to global smoke-free objectives.

Lauding this historic achievement on this significant global occasion, Dr Balbir Singh stated that this extraordinary milestone is the direct result of sustained, multi-pronged tobacco control frameworks, rigorous legal enforcement, and active community-driven models executed meticulously across the state to protect youth and children from the menace of addiction. Dr Balbir Singh emphasized that the Government of Punjab, under its unwavering commitment to building a healthy and addiction-free state in alignment with World Health Organization (WHO) protocols, has adopted a strict zero-tolerance approach toward tobacco violations, a resolve reflected in the penalization of violators through the aggressive issuance of 22,054 challans under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, during the fiscal year 2025-26 alone.

The Minister further explained that the state's clinical support framework has been deeply institutionalized to echo global health mandates, with specialized Tobacco Cessation Centres fully operationalized and staffed across all districts of Punjab, offering easily accessible clinical treatment, counseling, and psychological support mechanisms to individuals actively seeking to quit tobacco.

Underscoring the localized IEC (Information education and communication) strategies driving this public health victory, Dr Balbir Singh highlighted that grass-roots community participation has transformed the anti-tobacco campaign into a massive social movement, with more than 800 villages across Punjab officially declaring themselves completely 'Tobacco-Free' and acting as vigilant stakeholders in safeguarding their environments.

To secure future generations from early exposure to nicotine and tobacco addiction—a core priority of the World No Tobacco Day mission—the state has achieved near-total coverage in its academic infrastructure, successfully declaring an impressive 98.6% of schools across Punjab as 'Tobacco-Free' in strict accordance with the national Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToEFI) guidelines. The Minister remarked that these robust structural interventions were thoroughly validated during the rigorous NFHS-6 fieldwork for Punjab, which spanned from March 1, 2024, to October 1, 2024, and comprised an extensive sample size of 19,616 households, 20,135 women, and 3,160 men.

Reaffirming the state's vision on this global stage, Dr. Balbir Singh declared that the Government of Punjab will continue to vigorously expand its public awareness campaigns, tighten legislative enforcement, and strengthen community networks to sustain this national distinction and foster an entirely healthy, vibrant, and tobacco-free society.

=============================================

*Rural connectivity gets major boost as Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema dedicates, launches road projects worth over ₹18.76 crore in Dirba, Lehragaga, and Baghrol Regions*

*CM Bhagwant Singh Mann giving Punjab’s villages roads they were denied for decades: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Bhagwant Mann Govt transforming rural Punjab, work underway to strengthen 40,000 km of roads: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*AAP Govt delivers major infrastructure boost in Lehragaga region including all-weather connectivity: Harpal Singh Cheema*

CHANDIGARH / DIRBA / LEHRAGAGA, 31st May 2026:Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday dedicated and laid foundation stones for a series of road infrastructure and development projects worth more than ₹18.76 crore in the Lehragaga region, giving a major boost to rural connectivity and strengthening the local economy. The projects are aimed at eliminating safety hazards, improving rural infrastructure and ensuring all-weather connectivity for thousands of villagers.

Highlighting the vision of the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the government is transforming rural Punjab by actively strengthening nearly 40,000 kilometres of roads across the state, thereby delivering better connectivity and basic amenities to villages that had remained neglected for decades.

Addressing a public gathering in village Daska, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema dedicated a 10.5-kilometre road connecting Bachhuana to Bareta via Daska and Bahadurpur, which has been widened from 12 feet to 18 feet at a cost of ₹7.15 crore. The widening of the road is expected to resolve long-standing traffic bottlenecks and safety concerns caused by the previously narrow and dilapidated route.

The Finance Minister also dedicated a newly constructed 4-kilometre metalled road connecting Daska and Khatri Wala at a cost of ₹1.27 crore, converting a long-standing dirt track into an all-weather road. In addition, a 1-kilometre link road leading to Dera Baba Dhaula Pir on the Daska-Bahadurpur stretch was completed at a cost of ₹34.50 lakh, facilitating smoother travel for devotees and local residents.

Expanding the development footprint to Baghrol and nearby villages, Harpal Singh Cheema dedicated development works and laid foundation stones for projects worth nearly ₹10 crore. In the presence of village Sarpanches, Panchayat members and local residents, he announced the construction of a 3-kilometre road from Baghrol to Bujrak at a cost of ₹1.10 crore and a 2.35-kilometre road connecting Baghrol with Burj Tilla and Kheri Nagaiyan at a cost of more than ₹1 crore.

He further highlighted that ₹1.16 crore has been spent on the construction of a 2.75-kilometre road linking Baghrol and Ballamgarh. Among the major initiatives undertaken in the area is the paving of nearly 12 kilometres of earthen roads that had remained neglected for nearly 70 to 80 years. These roads are being transformed into paved road networks at a cost of ₹5.25 crore, significantly improving connectivity and accessibility in the region.

The Finance Minister also dedicated a newly constructed bridge that has strengthened transportation links between two prominent villages, further enhancing connectivity in the area.

Highlighting ongoing infrastructure works, Harpal Singh Cheema said, “A nearly 4-kilometre road from Baghrol to Kheri Dagaiyan, including the village phirni, is currently under construction at a cost of ₹1.83 crore. Simultaneously, widening works are underway on the roads connecting Baghrol with Kangrodi and Kamalpur at an estimated cost of ₹4.50 crore.”

Collectively, the ongoing construction and expansion works cover nearly 19 kilometres of roads around the Baghrol area and are expected to address transportation challenges that have affected agricultural activity and economic mobility for generations.

Reiterating the commitment of the Bhagwant Mann Government towards balanced development, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The Bhagwant Mann Government is prioritising rural development to bridge the gap between urban and rural infrastructure. While rural road networks had suffered from neglect for decades, the government considers the provision of quality basic infrastructure to every village an essential priority.”

Large numbers of local residents, administrative officials, community leaders and Panchayat representatives attended the inauguration and foundation stone-laying ceremonies and welcomed the projects, which are expected to ease daily commuting, strengthen transportation networks and provide a significant boost to the rural economy.

---------------