CM condemns incident of violence and hatred in Canada
Seeks intervention of GOI to take up matter with Canadian national government for exemplary action against perpetrators
Bathinda, November 5:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday condemned the incidents of violence in Canada and urged the Government of India to take up this matter with Canadian national government.
The Chief Minister said that Canada is second home of millions of Punjabis who have settled there and carved a niche for themselves. He said that the ties with Canada must remain cordial as Punjabis have gone there and were breadwinners of their families. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is unfortunate that politics of divisiveness and hatred has fastly spread its stinky tentacles in Canada.
The Chief Minister said that it is unbelievable that politics of religion and hatred is being pursued on lands like Canada. He said that this action kg hatred and violence is highly condemnable and the Government of India must take up this matter with the Canadian national government for appropriate action. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjabis pray for welfare of all and are votary of peace due to which they are loved across the globe.
The Chief Minister said that with their rare qualities of hard work and resilience Punjabis have carved a niche for themselves in entire world. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that such actions bring a bad name to Punjab and Punjabis due to which it should be avoided. He said that the Canadian national government must ensure an exemplary action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime so that it acts as a deterrent for others in future.
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Paddy Procurement in Punjab crosses 100 LMT mark
Bhagwant Mann government sets new benchmark of smooth and hassle free purchase of grains
Payment worth Rs 22047 crores cleared by state government
Chandigarh, November 5:With the procurement of paddy crossing 100 Lakh Metric Ton (LMT), the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has set a new benchmark on smooth and hassle free procurement of the grains.
It is worth mentioning that during the current procurement season, the Punjab government is expected to procure 185 LMT paddy to be brought into mandis by farmers. Around 32 Lakh hectares of area was currently under paddy cultivation in the state, which is one of the major contributor of paddy in the national food pool. During the season Cash Credit Limit ( CCL) to the tune of Rs. 41,378 Crores for KMS 2024-25 has already been released by the RBI.
The Chief Minister, who had been constantly monitoring the entire procurement and lifting operations in the state, has personally ensured that every single grain of the farmers is procured and lifted in a smooth and hassle free manner. The data reveals that by Tuesday(November 5), 110.89 LMT of paddy had arrived in the Mandis across the state out of which 105.09 LMT of grains have been procured so far and payment worth Rs 22047 crore have been cleared by the state government. Patiala district has taken the lead by procuring 9.42 LMT of grains followed by Ferozepur (8.14 LMT), Tarn Taran (7.26 LMT), Jalandhar (7.16 LMT) and Sangrur (7.10 LMT).
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister reiterated firm commitment of the state government to protect the interests of the farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed for smooth and hassle free procurement of paddy in Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that state government has made elaborate arrangements for procurement of paddy for which 2651 Mandis have been set up across the state.
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PETROL BOMB ATTACKS ON SHIV SENA LEADERS: PUNJAB POLICE NABS FOUR PERSONS AS BKI-BACKED FOREIGN-BASED INDIVIDUALS EMERGED AS MASTERMINDS
— POLICE TEAMS ALSO RECOVER TWO MOBILE PHONES AND RED COLOUR MOTORCYCLE USED IN BOTH THE CRIMES
— FOREIGN-BASED HANDLER HARJIT ALIAS LADDI ALSO WANTED IN VIKAS PRABHAKAR MURDER CASE, CARRIES A BOUNTY OF ₹10L: DGP GAURAV YADAV
— ONE MORE ACCUSED IDENTIFIED, POLICE TEAMS ARE ON MANHUNT TO NAB HIM: CP KULDEEP CHAHAL
CHANDIGARH/LUDHIANA, November 5:In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state, Punjab Counter Intelligence and Ludhiana Commissionerate Police in a joint operation have solved the petrol bomb incidents targetting Shiv Sena leaders with the arrest of four members of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module being operated by foreign-based individuals Harjit Singh alias Laddi and Sabi, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.
Those arrested have been identified as Jaswinder Singh alias Binder, a resident of Boothgarh in Ludhiana; Ravinder Pal Singh alias Ravi (38), Manish Sahid alias Sanju (30) and Anil Kumar alias Honey (27), trio residents of Rahon in Nawanshahr. Police teams have also recovered two mobile phones and impounded the red coloured TVS Raider motorcycle (PB 32 AC 3770) used to commit the crimes.
“This operation has successfully solved the petrol bomb incidents targeting Shiv Sena leaders, including the October 16, 2024, attack on Yogesh Bakshi’s residence and the recent November 2, 2024, incident at Harkirat Singh Khurana’s home in Model Town Extension, Ludhiana,” informed DGP Gaurav Yadav in a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter).
As per the information, three unknown persons hurled a petrol bomb on the house of Shiv Sena leader Yogesh Bakshi located at New Chander Nagar in Haibowal, Ludhiana at around 9.40pm on October 16. A little over a fortnight after a similar petrol bomb attack took place on the house Shiv Sena Leader Harkirat Singh located in Model Town Extention on the intervening night of Saturday.
The DGP said that foreign-based handler Harjit Singh alias Laddi is also an accused wanted in the murder of Vikas Prabhakar in Nangal, Punjab, and carries a bounty of Rs 10 Lakhs as announced by National Investigation Agency (NIA). Further investigations are ongoing to establish backward and forward linkages in this case and more arrests are expected in coming days, he added.
Sharing operation details during an interaction with media, Commissioner of Police (CP) Ludhiana Kuldeep Singh Chahal said that acting promptly to trace both the cases, various teams of Ludhiana Commissionerate Police and Counter Intelligence (CI) were formed under the supervision of DCP Investigation Shubham Aggarwal. The CI team was led by AIG Simratpal Singh Dhindsa, while, ADCP Investigation Ludhiana Amandeep Singh Brar, ADCP Zone-3 Ludhiana Ramandeep Singh Bhullar, ACP Civil Lines Ludhiana Akarshi Jain and ACP West Ludhiana Gurdev Singh were leading different teams, he added.
He said that the meticulous investigations including following the trail of CCTV footages and gathering of technical evidences led the the arrest of four members of BKI module involved in executing both the crimes.
The CP said that the police teams have recovered the red coloured motorcycle used by accused persons in both the crimes. Accused persons Anil alias Honey and Ravinder alias Ravi were found present in both the incidents, while, arrested accused Jaswinder alias Binder had accompanied them in Haibowal area, he said. “We have also identified the third person involved in hurling petrol bomb at a house located in Model Town Extension and police teams are on manhunt to nab him,” said the CP.
In this regard, two separate cases including FIR no 147 dated 21-10-2024 u/s 125, 285, 324 BNS, later 113(2) BNS added, at Police Station Haibowal, Ludhiana and FIR No 14 dated 02-11-2024 u/s 125, 285, 324, 3(5) BNS, later 113(2) BNS added, at PS Model Town, Ludhiana were already registered.
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Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Assures Life Insurance Coverage for AIDS Control Society Employees
Meets Employee Organizations, Assures Supportive Consideration of Legitimate Demands
Chandigarh, November 5-Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday assured the representatives of the Punjab AIDS Control Employees Welfare Association that adequate life insurance coverage will be provided to the employees of the society after consultations with various banks. This assurance was given during meetings with the Punjab State Karamchari Dal, Computer Teachers Unions, and Punjab AIDS Control Employees Welfare Association at his office.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema expressed his appreciation for the services rendered by the AIDS Control Society and assured the representatives that their other demands would be considered sympathetically. The association's representatives thanked the Finance Minister and affirmed their commitment to diligently controlling the spread of HIV in the state. They also pledged to complete any programs offered by the state government with dedicated spirit.
Earlier in the meeting with the leaders of the Punjab State Karamchari Dal, the memorandum presented by them was discussed in detail. Finance Minister Cheema instructed the finance department officials to assess the financial implications of certain demands related to employees and pensioners. He emphasized that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the welfare of the state's employees. Despite many financial challenges, the government has recently decided to grant a 4 percent dearness allowance to the employees, he mentioned.
The computer teachers' unions raised issues that have been pending for several years. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema assured the union that the current Punjab government is focused on ensuring the welfare of the employees by avoiding decisions that led to court cases, as happened during the regime of past state governments. After seriously considering all the demands of the union, he assured them that their legitimate demands would be considered sympathetically.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that Punjab Cabinet Sub-Committees engagements with the employee organizations underscores the state government's dedication to addressing the concerns of its employees and ensuring their well-being. He said that the government's proactive approach aimed to foster a supportive and fair working environment for all state employees.
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PUNJAB OFFERS FREE SOIL TESTING TO FARMERS TO ENHANCE CROP YIELD; OVER 1 LAKH SOIL SAMPLES TESTED
* Target to collect and test at least 2.50 lakh soil samples this FY, says Gurmeet Singh Khudian
* Agriculture Minister urges farmers to get the soil tested for higher yields with judicious use of fertilisers
Chandigarh, November 5:With an aim to curb over-fertilisation by promoting a soil test-based approach and balanced fertiliser use for higher yields at lower cost, the Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has collected over one lakh soil samples and reports were given to concerned farmers at free-of-cost to assist them in improving their crop yields through sustainable farming practices.
Sharing this information today, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian mentioned that the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, has set a target to collect and test at least 2.50 lakh soil samples during this financial year. The department has successfully collected and tested 1,16,117 samples so far. Notably, there are 58 soil testing labs across the state.
Urging state farmers to get the soil tested before sowing the next crops, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian emphasised that soil testing is essential for determining the nutrients present in the soil, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients. This knowledge enables farmers to apply fertilisers more judiciously and effectively, ensuring optimal crop growth. Regular testing can also help monitor soil health over time, identifying issues such as salinity, contamination, or degradation, and understanding whether the soil is acidic, neutral, or alkaline, which can influence crop selection. By knowing the exact nutrient requirements, farmers can avoid over-fertilisation, saving costs and reducing environmental impacts, he added.
Meanwhile, Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Mr. Jaswant Singh mentioned that farmers can utilise alternative sources of DAP, which are equally beneficial and effective for wheat crop, as suggested by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. He further informed that farmers can use 75 kg of NPK (12:32:16) per acre, or 150 kg of Single Super Phosphate (SSP) plus 20 kg of Urea per acre, or 50 kg of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) plus 20 kg of Urea per acre, or 90 kg of NPK (10:26:26) per acre, instead of using a bag of DAP. He also urged the farmers to use organic manures for improving soil physical properties.
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Khanna to be first garbage free city of Punjab: says Sond
- Launches Punjab’s Garbage-Free Pilot Project
- Separate collection of wet and dry waste from every household in the city
- Complaint cell to be established, action on complaints related to waste within 60 minutes
Chandigarh, November 5:Industry Minister Punjab Mr Tarunpreet Singh Sond today announced the pilot project to make Punjab garbage-free and started the drive from Khanna city.
The Minister said that, the Punjab government has allocated a budget of Rs. 4 crore 8 lakh 12 thousand 850 for this noble cause. He said that this project will be Started on December 1, 2024, and results will be visible within year. The Minister said that after the success of this project it will be implemented in other regions of Punjab.
Providing more details, Industry Minister Mr Tarunpreet Singh Sond shared that the government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to making the state garbage-free, and this pilot project is launched in Khanna as the first step toward this goal.
He explained that wet and dry waste will be collected separately from every household in each ward of the city. Sond stated that this project will ensure that garbage is not dumped at any other points in the city, leading to a cleaner and more beautiful environment. Under this project, a unique user number will be issued to all residents, business owners, and street vendors in Khanna, connecting them with an app. A minimal waste collection fee will be sent to each user via SMS on their mobile phones.
Residents will be able to pay the user charges both online and offline. Sond also shared that a complaint cell will be established, ensuring action on any waste-related complaint within 60 minutes. He appealed to the residents of Khanna to make this project successful, so it can be expanded to other regions of Punjab, ultimately making Punjab garbage-free and transforming it into a ‘Rangla Punjab.’
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Forest Department to coordinate with Japanese agency for increasing forest cover in State: Lal Chand Kataruchak
· Project proposed for promoting Agro forestry and Biodiversity conservation with active assistance of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Chandigarh, November 5:The Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has given priority to ensure a clean environment and increasing the forest cover. Hence, the State Government has set a target to increase this cover to 7.5% by 2030. To achieve this goal, the state government is actively working with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to bring an important project to Punjab.
As part of this initiative, Forest Minister Shri Lal chand Kataruchak, along with officials from the Forest Department and JICA, conducted a review meeting to discuss and strategize the implementation of the project.
Increasing the area under trees through agro forestry in the state and conserving and enhancing biodiversity is a major challenge. To solve these challenges, the Forest Department has approached the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). With the help of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) a project for promoting Agro forestry and Biodiversity conservation in the State is proposed.
The total cost of this project will be Rs. 792.88 crore. Some of the important benefits of the project would be to increase the area under tree cover through agro forestry in the State, Conserve groundwater, increase income of farmers and prevent air pollution caused by straw burning, Integrated Watershed Management in Shiwalik Region.
For this purpose, agriculture and animal husbandry will be developed for the income of the people along with the improvement in the conservation of the environment and forests. Besides this, the focus would also be on Promoting Ecotourism- So that the local economy can be boosted along with Biodiversity Conservation and Wetland Improvement in the State.
After the approval of State Government, the Government of India, MoEF&CC, JICA and Forest Department, Punjab will jointly prepare the DPR and finalize the project. The project will be implemented for a period of five years from FY 2025-26.
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