Speaker Sandhwan inspires school and college girls visiting Punjab Vidhan Sabha to succeed in life & become good citizens

Radhika of class 5 fulfills her wish of becoming Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha

Chandigarh, November 28:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan met around 30 girl students from schools and colleges of Chandigarh and Mohali who had come to visit Punjab Vidhan Sabha and inspired them to set their goals higher and succeed in life thus serving the country by becoming good citizens.

A group of these girl students associated with a voluntary organization working for the welfare of the people visited Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Speaker S. Sandhwan, interacting with these students, also motivated them to become politicians, businessmen, IAS, PCS, doctors and scientists.

Speaker S. Sandhwan said that today's students are tomorrow's leaders. He said that it is a good sign that students are interested in entering politics. Encouraging the students to remain aware, he said that it is very important for those interested in politics to keep a close eye on the legal, political and other events happening in the state and the country. Addressing the students, he said that it is very important to examine and develop a point of view on various events.

He said that every phenomenon happening in the country is related to politics, so if the students are interested in politics, they should go ahead and try to know what is happening in the country. The Speaker said that if the youth enter politics, there will be a big difference in way politics functions.

During the conversation with the Speaker, when Radhika, a class 5 student of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh, expressed her desire to enter politics and become the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, S. Sandhwan asked her to sit on the Speaker’s chair. She was taken through the VIP route and seated on the Speaker’s chair and all the students present were also given information about the legislative work, the opposition and the ruling party, etc.

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Sandhwan chaired a Meeting on 450th foundation day celebration of Amritsar

Chandigarh/Amritsar, November 28:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan chaired a meeting with various organizations to discuss the 450th foundation day celebrations of Amritsar, set to take place in 2027. The meeting aimed to gather suggestions from religious, social, and other organizations to make the event a grand success.

During the meeting, representatives from various organizations emphasized the need for timely preparations, highlighting the limited time frame of two years. They also brought attention to pressing issues such as cleanliness, hanging electricity wires, and traffic arrangements.

Mr. Sandhwan assured that the government will take all necessary steps to celebrate the 450th anniversary in a befitting manner. He announced that meetings will be held every two months to discuss and review progress and ideas. The Speaker also appealed to all organizations to prepare their suggestions and plans, ensuring a well-coordinated celebration.

He said that the government is committed to celebrating this event as historical event. Mr. Sandhwan urged all religious and social organizations to come forward and support the government in this endeavour.

Prominent attendees included MLA Dr. Ajay Gupta, MLA Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sahni, Commissioner of Police Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, and other distinguished guests.

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PVS Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan expresses deep grief over demise of MLA Gurdev Singh Dev Mann’s Father Lal Singh

Chandigarh, November 28-Punjab Legislative Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has expressed deep grief over the demise of S. Lal Singh, father of MLA from Nabha assembly constituency S. Gurdev Singh Dev Mann.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, Speaker S. Sandhwan said that S. Lal Singh was a compassionate man, who worked all his life for welfare of labour. He imbibed this feeling into his family and imparted best education to his children.

S. Sandhwan prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and grant strength to the family to bear the loss.

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Launch of ₹6 Crore Sewage Project to Improve Sewage System in Malout: Dr. Baljit Kaur

Malout/Chandigarh, November 28-The Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, has announced the launch of a ₹6 crore sewage project aimed at improving the sewage system in Malout city.

Providing further details, Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to providing better civic amenities for the residents of the state. In this regard, several development projects are being implemented across Punjab by the state government.

Dr. Baljit Kaur further explained that continuous efforts are being made to address the long-standing sewage issues in Malout city and to provide better and comprehensive sewage services to the city's residents. Necessary funds are being arranged through constant coordination with the relevant department. She mentioned that residents of Malout have been suffering from these issues for many years, which will now be resolved through this project.

Cabinet Minister stated that this project is an important step towards eliminating Malout city's old problems and improving the quality of life for its residents. In this context, work has commenced on laying large pipes for sewage on Main Colony Road in Malout at a cost of ₹6 crore. This project will completely relieve residents of Pink City and Dashmesh Nagar from sewage backflow issues.

The Minister noted that a 3100-meter-long rising main pipe is also being replaced for sewage disposal from Dhana Mandi Disposal to Bhagwanpura in Malout. This will resolve the water drainage problems for Puda Colony, Star City Colony and 40% of the city's area. This project will not only ensure better health and sanitation for Malout's residents but will also contribute to social development and economic growth.

Dr. Baljit Kaur mentioned that the design of the new pipeline has been prepared using modern techniques to ensure stability and durability over time. Appropriate monitoring and thorough testing will also be conducted under this project to ensure quality workmanship. This project will present a new model of development not just for Malout but for all of Punjab. She added that besides sewage services, the Punjab Government is also focusing on clean water supply, road renovation and park development plans.

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Laljit Singh Bhullar launches aggressive campaign to reduce road accident fatalities in the state

Unveils comprehensive strategy with monthly reviews of departmental ATRs, CCTV surveillance, online challan systems and strict accountability measures to enhance road safety

Asks for third-party audits of all rectified black spots

Chandigarh, November 28:In a significant stride towards reducing road accident fatalities, Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Thursday, outlined an aggressive and multi-pronged strategy to enhance road safety across the state and stressed for zero-tolerance approach to traffic violations and introduced several critical interventions.

Presiding over the 15th meeting of the Punjab State Road Safety Council (PSRSC) here at Punjab Bhawan, S. Laljit Singh Bhullar announced mandatory monthly review meetings to assess departmental performance. He warned that departments failing to meet prescribed targets would face strict administrative action.

The Cabinet Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the action taken reports (ATR) of various departments, saying that "if any deficiency is found in the action taken report of any department during the monthly meeting and the department does not meet the set target then strict action will be taken against the concerned officials."

The Health Department has been specifically directed to address staff shortages in trauma centers and ensure comprehensive medical equipment availability to maximize survival rates of road accident victims.

As a pioneering initiative, the Transport Department has decided to launch a pilot CCTV surveillance project in five high-risk (red zone) districts namely Patiala, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib. This project is set to be progressively expanded across Punjab, said the Cabinet Minister, adding that an online challan system similar to Chandigarh should also be considered to efficiently penalize traffic rule violations.

In a landmark decision, the Transport Minister has approved the release of Rs.55 crores for establishing the Sadak Surakhiya Force (SSF), which has been equipped with 144 Highway Patrol Vehicles. He said that preliminary assessments indicate a remarkable 45.5% reduction in road accident mortality rates since the SSF's inception. An additional Rs.7 crores has been sanctioned for procuring electronic equipment to support this force.

On the suggestion of the Cabinet Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, the desicion pertaining to independent third-party audit of all rectified black spots in the state has also been taken in the meeting. He said that an independent agency dealing with Road Safety matters such the Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Centre (TRIP Centre) of IIT Delhi (which is a Centre of Excellence for Road safety under WHO), PEC, Chandigarh, Road Safety Auditors empanelled with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India (Government of India) will be engaged to conduct an independent third-party audit of all rectified black spots in the state to measure the outcomes and effectiveness of the rectification exercise.

He said that third-party audit of rectified black spots and also evaluation of the identification methods and process are required to measure the outcomes and whether the rectification exercise has brought the desired result or not.

During the meeting, major policy decisions have been taken including Training of officers of Road-owning Departments (SDO & above) in Road Safety Audit from reputed institutions such as IIT Delhi, IIT Madras and CRRI, Pune, etc.; conducting the National Level Seminar on Safer Roads for Everyone (SAFE) Scheme in Punjab in upcoming month; mapping of Police Station Jurisdictions under e-DAR and restructuring of Posts in the Lead Agency on Road Safety, Punjab by Finance Department.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Mr. D.K Tiwari, Additional Chief Secretary Transport; Mr. R. Venkat Ratnam, Director General, Lead Agency; ADGP (Traffic) Mr. A.S Rai; STC Mr. Jaspreet Singh; Mrs. Babita, CEO, State Health Agency; Mr. Sudhir Naithan, Manager (Tech), NHAI; Mr. NP Sharma, CE, PWD; Mr. Rajinder Rai, CE, Local Government Department; Additional STC Mr. Sukhwinder Kumar and Automobile Engineer Mr. Ranpreet Singh Bheora.

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Efforts of Harjot Singh Bains Bear Fruit as Decades-Old Demand of Changar Area Fulfilled

Canal water will reach fields of Changar area with an investment of ₹86.21 crore.

Cabinet Minister to Lay Foundation Stone

Chandigarh, November 28-With concerted efforts of Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains, the canal water will reach soon the fields of Changar area.

Bains will lay the foundation stone of the largest lift irrigation scheme in the district. It will immensely benefitted to Farmers.

This project will bring canal water to 2762 acres of agricultural land in Changar area, which currently relies on rainwater.

The scheme will proved benefit for villages including Lakher, Samlah, Paharpur, Dhanera, Midhwan, Mahindali Khurd, Raipur Sahni, Kotla, Badhal and Baloli.

The lift irrigation scheme, designed by IIT Rupnagar experts, will address the long-standing water scarcity issue in the semi-mountainous Changar area, bordering Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

Mr. Harjot Singh Bains will lay the foundation stone of the lift irrigation scheme to be prepared at a cost of Rs. 86.21 crore at village Samlah on November 29, 2024.

It is to be mentioned here that layout of this lift irrigation scheme has been prepared by the technical experts of IIT Rupnagar with coordination of Irrigation Department keeping in mind the future needs and geographical situation.

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Punjab Pavilion awarded with two special appreciation medals for excellence in display at IITF 2024

Chandigarh/ New Delhi, 28 November-The Punjab Pavilion which received overwhelming response from the visitors during the India International Trade Fair 2024, held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, has received special appreciation medals for excellence in display in two categories which are thematic presentation and states and union territories pavilion. The medals were awarded by the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), which were received by Punjab Small Industries & Export Corporation (PSIEC) Officers during the ceremony held late evening on the concluding day of the fair. The fair was organised by ITPO from November 14 to November 27and this year’s theme was ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’.

The pavilion's administrator, Davinderpal Singh and deputy administrator, Gurpreet Singh, said that receiving two medals in different categories is a matter of great pride for the state. They added that during the fair, people from not only Punjab but also from other states showed great interest in the stalls set up by various departments within the pavilion.

Under the able guidance of Punjab Minister for Industry and Commerce, Tarunpreet Singh Sond and under the directions of PSIEC chairman Dalvir Singh, the department officials led by Tejveer Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries & Commerce, DPS Kharbanda CEO Invest Punjab, Varinder Kumar Sharma, MD and Harjeet Singh Sandhu, AMD and executive director Bhai Sukhdip Singh Sidhu made dedicated efforts to depict Punjab’s rich culture and diverse strengths in industry, agriculture, handicrafts, fashion, and education, thereby contributing towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

The stalls from key departments such as Markfed, Milkfed, GMADA/PUDA, PEDA, Punjab Infotech, Punjab Agro, PSIEC, Invest Punjab, Punjab Tourism, Punjab Agricultural University, NIIFT, Punjab Mandi Board, PPCB and others had been setup in the pavilion to apprise the visitors about their products and services.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests a private person accepting Rs Rs. 10,000 bribe for ASI

Accused police personnel on the run to escape his arrest

Chandigarh November 28, 2024 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, on Thursday has arrested a private person, Madan Lal Sharma, a resident of village Baghoura, district Patiala red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the aforementioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Dilbagh Singh, a resident of village Balheri in Patiala district.

He further added that the complaint has approached the VB and informed that he had a verbal quarrel with the villager Gurnaib Singh, a Granthi at Gurudwara Sahib and the Granthi had lodged a complaint against him at Ghanour police station. The complainant alleged that ASI Swaran Singh, posted at the above said police station was pressurising to give him a bribe of Rs. 10,000 to favour him otherwise a police case would be registered against him. As per the complaint the accused ASI had asked the complainant to hand over the bribe money to his accomplice, Madan Lal, the aforementioned accused.

The spokesperson added that after preliminary verification of this complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the said accused Madan Lal was arrested red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant on behalf of ASI Swaran Singh in the presence of two official witnesses. The accused ASI Swaran Singh is on the run.

In this regard a case has been registered against both the accused under prevention of corruption act at VB police station Patiala range and further investigation is under progress, he said.

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Border residents, farmers and troops to get relief as Army assures 72-KM long Ajnala Road widening

Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal's efforts yield positive results for this long-awaited issue

Chandigarh/Jalandhar, November 28: In a significant development for border residents in Ajnala area, NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal announced today that Senior Army Officials have assured the widening of Ajnala Road from its current width of 5.5 meters to 7 meters. Speaking at the 11 Corps Headquarters in Jalandhar Cantt, the Minister highlighted that this long-pending demand of the border communities will now be fulfilled, addressing a major traffic issue in the area.

The 72-kilometer stretch of road, which falls under Army jurisdiction, has been a bottleneck, especially during cane harvesting season, with trolleys loaded with crops causing frequent traffic jams. The Minister shared that he had raised the matter with the Ministry of Defence, resulting in a meeting with Lieutenant General Ajay Chandpuria and his team today. The officials conducted an on-the-spot review and assured the road widening, expected to be initiated in 2025.

The Minister also urged the Army officisls to consider extending the road width to 10 meters at specific stretches (cane belts) to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow. "This project will not only improve connectivity but also bring much-needed relief to farmers, residents, and even troops in this border belt," Mr. Dhaliwal stated.

This approval marks a milestone in resolving a critical infrastructure challenge for Punjab's border communities, showcasing the Punjab Government’s commitment to their welfare. He also highlighted that the senior army officials have expressed possibilities of construction of Ajnala Byepass which will also strengthen connectivity here. The Minister also thanked Army officials for considering this issue positively and giving affirmative response. Notably, this 72-Km lond road covers several towns including Ajnala, Lopoke, Sohal, Talwandi Raidadu, Punga, Bhindi Saida, besides others. This would also ease traffic movement for farmers during procurement seasons.