*CM chairs HPPC and HPWPC meeting, contracts and purchases more than Rs. 2050 crore approved*

*Several Water Supply and Sewerage Management Projects worth Rs. 729 crores approved*

*11 projects worth Rs. 249.77 crore of GMDA, 6 major road projects spanning 174 kilometers worth Rs. 170 crore approved*

*EPC contractor approved for constructing Baba Sarsai Nath Government Medical College, Sirsa*

Chandigarh, November 5 – Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday presided over the High-Powered Purchase Committee (HPPC), Departmental High-Powered Purchase Committee (DHPPC) and High-Powered Works Purchase Committee (HPWPC) meeting. Notably various contracts and items over Rs. 2050 crore were approved. During the meeting, various water supply and sewerage management projects worth Rs. 729 crore were also approved. Negotiations with various bidders led to a cost savings of approximately Rs. 36 crore.

Cabinet ministers, Sh. Mahipal Dhanda, Sh. Vipul Goel, Dr. Arvind Kumar Sharma, Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, and Smt. Shruti Choudhary also remained present in the meeting. A total of 49 agenda items were tabled in the meeting of the Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Water Resources, GMDA, Public Works (Buildings and Roads), SUGARFED, School Education, and Police Departments, of which 45 were approved.

The list of the projects approved in the meeting included constructing a 60 MLD water treatment plant in Jind city at Rs. 90 crore, a canal-based water supply scheme in seven villages of Rewari district at Rs. 15 crore, and construction of four Ranney wells in Chandhat and Janacholi villages for augmented water supply in Palwal and Nuh at Rs. 96.95 crore. Other projects included the augmentation of water supply scheme in Behal, sewage facilities in Malab village, Nuh under the Mahagram scheme, tubewell drilling and construction of an STP in Bhattu Kalan, and an effluent treatment plant in Jagadhri and Yamunanagar with a capacity of 19.50 MLD.

The EPC contractor for constructing Baba Sarsai Nath Government Medical College in Sirsa was approved, with an estimated cost of Rs. 832 crore. The construction is expected to be completed in 24 months.

*11 Projects worth Rs. 249.77 crore of GMDA approved*

Eleven projects under the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) were also approved, including a contract worth Rs.16.40 crore for establishing a centralized integrated water management system (CIWMS). Additionally, approvals were granted for the reconstruction, strengthening, and repair of six road projects covering 174 kilometers at an estimated cost of Rs. 170 crore. Key road projects include the reconstruction of the road from Dwarka Expressway to IMT Manesar and from Mehrauli Road, Delhi-Haryana border to IFFCO Chowk, as well as the construction of service roads between Sector 58 and Sector 67.

Similarly other projects including the development of a bus depot for e-buses in Sector 48 of Gurugram at a cost of Rs. 17.34 crore, construction of bus queue shelters along Dwarka Expressway, sector 99-115 at a cost of Rs. 17.35 crore, and development of Bus Queue Shelters in GMDA area from Southern Peripheral Road to Northern Peripheral Road, Sector 68-95, Gurugram at a cost of Rs. 19.73 crore were approved. Besides this, construction of Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) in GMDA area, Gurugram was also approved.

Approval given for selection of Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) for Exploration and development of Kalyanpur-Badalpara Coal Block, Dumka District, Jharkhand

Approval was also given for selecting a Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) for Exploration and development of Kalyanpur-Badalpara Coal Block, Dumka District, Jharkhand. The MDO will assess the coal volume and quality in the initial phase and submit a report to the government.

In the meeting, rates for the printing and supply of textbooks/workbooks for the 2025-26 academic year, for Classes I, II, VII, and VIII (Group-1) and Classes III, IV, V, and VI (Group-2) were also finalized. The Chief Minister emphasized ensuring high paper quality and timely delivery of the textbooks/workbooks.

Meanwhile, the setting up of 66 workstations with 128 GB RAM and 44 workstations with 256 GB RAM for Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC), CCSHAU Campus, Hisar were approved. Furthermore, an agency was finalized for maintaining IT infrastructure and core IT equipment in various government institutions. The procurement of PP bags and jute bags for the 2024-25 crushing season was also approved.

Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Sh. Anurag Rastogi and Administrative Secretaries of the concerned departments also remained present in the meeting.

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

Kurukshetra to be Developed from a Tourism Perspective: Dr. Arvind Kumar Sharma

Tourism Minister Attends Second Mahabharata Circuit Conference as Chief Guest

Chandigarh, November 5 – Haryana Heritage and Tourism Minister, Dr. Arvind Kumar Sharma said that historical pilgrimage sites of Mahabharata period in Kurukshetra and the surrounding districts will be developed as key tourism destinations. In this regard, officials from the Union Ministry of Tourism and the Haryana Tourism Department are working together in a well-coordinated manner.

Dr. Sharma informed this after attending the Second Mahabharata Circuit Conference, held in Karnal.

To promote tourism, the Union Ministry of Tourism (Northern Region) organized the conference late on Monday evening to discuss the development of historical and ancient pilgrimage sites related to the Mahabharata in the mythological and religious region of Kurukshetra and its neighboring districts. The conference was held at the Karna Lake Banquet Hall in Karnal, where a familiarization tour was also conducted.

Dr. Arvind Sharma attended the event as the chief guest. During the programme, he engaged in detailed discussions with officials from the Union Ministry of Tourism, the Haryana Tourism Department, and various tourism stakeholders and service providers. Dr. Sharma also released a book detailing the proceedings of the Second Mahabharata Circuit Conference, which highlights the significance of Kurukshetra.

Dr. Sharma said that just as Vrindavan attracts thousands of devotees and tourists, similar facilities would be developed at Dharmakshetra Kurukshetra to accommodate a larger number of visitors. He also proposed that, alongside Kurukshetra, the towns of Karnal and Kala Amb in Panipat should be included in the Mahabharata Circuit, as these areas also receive a significant influx of tourists.

He further stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Nayab Singh Saini, the state government is actively working on the development of major tourist destinations across the state. These efforts are aimed at enhancing infrastructure and providing better amenities to visitors in the coming years.

Regional Director (North) of the Union Ministry of Tourism, Dr. R. K Suman, remarked that the Ministry is committed to bringing Kurukshetra to the global stage and has already made significant strides in this mission.

The event was also attended by several prominent officials, including the Managing Director of Haryana Tourism Corporation Ltd, Dr. Sunil Kumar, PP Khanna, Colonel Manbir Chaudhary; the GM of Haryana Tourism Corporation Ltd, Dr. Inderjit Singh and other senior officers.

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

No local or Govt organisation or body permitted to use the name ‘Press Council’ for registration

Chandigarh, November 5- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has clarified that no local or governmental organisation or body may use the name "Press Council" or its Hindi equivalent, "Bhartiya Press Parishad," for the purpose of registration.

The Ministry has issued a semi-official letter in this regard, to the Chief Secretaries of all states and administrators of Union Territories. The letter states that the Press Council of India is a statutory body established under the ‘Press Council Act, 1978’, with the twin objective of preserving the freedom of press and of maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers, and the news agencies in India.

The council’s secretariat is located at Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. The Press Council has neither branches in any state nor authorised any entity to operate on its behalf.

The letter further mentions that there have been several instances that have been brought to the council’s attention where the name "Press Council" is being used by other press organisations. This not only disregards the institutional values of the Press Council of India but also infringes upon its unique domain.

The Department of Legal Affairs has opined that any other organisation using the term "Press Council" without the permission of the Central Government violates Section 3 read with entry 7(ii) of the Emblem and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.

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

*Decline in Stubble Burning incidents in Haryana - Shyam Singh Rana*

*Converting Stubble into Manure Boosts Yields and Profits*

*Supreme Court lauds Haryana Government’s efforts to combat stubble burning*

Chandigarh, Nov 5 - Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana said that the State Government is promoting the use of straw as manure by encouraging farmers to incorporate it into their fields. This practice not only enhances soil fertility but also provides economic benefits to farmers.

Sh Rana said that incorporating crop residue into the soil boosts the levels of carbon and other nutrients, leading to higher yields in subsequent crops. He stated, "Scientific research has demonstrated that mixing straw into the soil strengthens the nutrient cycle and increases soil carbon levels, which in turn improves the yield of future crops."

He shared that many progressive farmers are now using crop residues as fertilizer by incorporating them into the soil. This approach not only boosts crop yields by 3 to 5 quintals per acre annually but also reduces costs by lowering urea consumption. Citing the example of farmer Rajesh Saini from Bakana village in Yamuna Nagar district, the Agriculture Minister said that instead of burning stubble, Saini has been mixing it into his fields for the past three years. As a result, his crop yield has increased by about six quintals per acre, leading to an annual income boost of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per acre.

Haryana cultivates paddy on approximately 28 lakh acres, and the government's awareness campaign has significantly reduced stubble burning cases this season. The state has also provided subsidized machines for in-situ and ex-situ stubble management, and farmers who refrain from burning stubble receive a financial incentive of Rs 1,000 per acre.

Sh Shyam Singh Rana also mentioned that the Haryana government's efforts have been praised by the Supreme Court, highlighting that Haryana is actively providing valuable support to farmers. He said that attributing the rising pollution in Delhi solely to stubble burning is misguided. He advised the Delhi government to implement concrete measures similar to those in Haryana.

This initiative by the Haryana government not only promotes environmental preservation but also offers farmers financial benefits, marking a positive shift toward sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture. He said that this year, the state has recorded a noticeable reduction in stubble burning cases.

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

The Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) has announced that document verification for all 2,702 newly selected Patwaris, based on the recently declared results for various posts, will be conducted from November 11 to November 21, 2024.

Chandigarh, November 5- – The Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) has announced that document verification for all 2,702 newly selected Patwaris, based on the recently declared results for various posts, will be conducted from November 11 to November 21, 2024.

Candidates are required to appear for document verification at the Directorate of Land Records, Haryana, Bay Nos. 25-26, Sector-4, Panchkula.

Candidates with serial numbers 1 to 350 will have to appear for document verification on November 11 at 9:00AM, those with serial numbers 351 to 700 on November 12, those with serial numbers 701 to 1055 on November 13, those with serial numbers 1056 to 1400 on November 14, those with serial numbers 1401 to 1750 on November 18, those with serial numbers 1751 to 2100 on November 19, those with serial numbers 2101 to 2450 on November 20 and those with serial numbers 2451 to 2702 on November 21.

For more details, candidates may refer to the Revenue Department’s website at (https://revenueharyana.gov.in).

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

*Now widowed/divorced daughters also to get the benefit of State Samman Pension*

Chandigarh, September 5 – The Haryana government has decided to extend the benefit of State Samman Pension to the unemployed widowed or divorced daughters after the death of Freedom Fighters, or their spouse, provided they do not have any other source of income.

The government has now amended the previous guidelines issued on June 12, 2009. Following the death of freedom fighters or their spouse, unemployed unmarried/widowed/divorced daughters (provided they do not have any other source of income) and disabled unmarried unemployed sons with a disability of 75 percent will also be eligible for the State Samman Pension. If there is more than one eligible child, they will receive a proportionate share in the pension.

The General Administration Department of the Chief Secretary's Office has issued a circular to all Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Sub Divisional Officers (Civil) in this regard.

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

*Over Rs 11522 crore paid to farmers for the purchase of paddy and millet*

*Out of 49,79,172 MT paddy arrived in mandis, 48,57,405 MT has been procured*

Chandigarh, November 5: The procurement process of paddy and millet crops is going on smoothly in mandis across Haryana and timely payment is being ensured to the farmers. So far, an amount of more than Rs 11,522 crore has been disbursed directly into the bank accounts of paddy and millet farmers. This includes an amount of Rs 10510.79 crore for paddy and Rs 1011.31 crore for millet.

Giving more information in this regard, a spokesperson of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department said that during the ongoing procurement season, the purchase of paddy and millet is going on smoothly in the mandis. He said that 49,79,172 MT paddy has so far arrived in mandis of the State out of which 48,57,405 MT has been procured.

He said that the facility of online gate pass has been provided to the farmers ensuring they can sell their crops without any hassle and avoid unnecessary delays when entering the mandis. The government is giving a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,300 per quintal for normal paddy and Rs 2,320 per quintal for grade-A paddy. All senior officials are closely monitoring the entire procurement process, he added.

*Kurukshetra has the highest arrival of paddy in the state*

The spokesperson of the department said that the highest arrival of 9,90,294 metric tonnes of paddy in Haryana has been made in mandis of district Kurukshetra. Similarly, 8,25,493 metric tonnes of paddy arrived in the mandis of district Karnal, 8,07,084 metric tonnes in the mandis of district Kaithal, 6,09,789 metric tonnes in district Fatehabad, 5,69,831 metric tonnes in the mandis of district Ambala and 5,59,176 metric tonnes in the mandis of district Yamunanagar. Likewise, 1,93,859 metric tonnes of paddy arrived in mandis of district Jind , 2,15,995 metric tonnes in mandis of district Sirsa and 90,753 metric tonnes in district Panchkula.

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