*Two-day orientation program for Haryana Legislative Assembly members to begin today*
*Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the program*
*Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister Manohar Lal and Assembly Speakers of various states to attend*
Chandigarh, February 13 – With the dedicated efforts of Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh Harvinder Kalyan, a two-day orientation program for the members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly will commence on February 14, 2025. The program will be inaugurated by Speaker Lok Sabha Sh Om Birla and will conclude on February 15, 2025, with a session led by Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Sh Harivansh.
This program, organized by the Haryana Legislative Assembly in collaboration with the Institute for Parliamentary Democracy Research and Training (PRIDE) of the Lok Sabha, will also be attended by all Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and MPs from Haryana. Numerous other distinguished guests will also be present to grace the event.
Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, Union Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Minister Sh Manohar Lal, former Chief Minister Sh Bhupendra Singh Hooda, Speaker of Punjab Legislative Assembly Sardar Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Deputy Speaker of Haryana Legislative Assembly Dr. Krishan Lal Middha, Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Sh Satish Mahana, Speaker of Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Sh Kuldeep Singh Pathania and Speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly Sh Shankarbhai Chaudhary will be special participant in the program.
Apart from this, Lok Sabha Member and Chairman of Joint Committee on Wakf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 Sh Jagdambika Pal, Lok Sabha Member and Chairman of Estimates Committee Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, former Member of Lok Sabha Dr. Satyapal Singh, Lok Sabha Secretary General Sh Utpal Kumar Singh, and Principal Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Sh Pradeep Kumar Dubey will also attend the program.
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*Haryana Mines and Geology Department cracks down on illegal Mining: Over 3,900 sites inspected, 324 vehicles seized*
Chandigarh, February 13 – Haryana Mines and Geology Department is stepping up its efforts to combat illegal mining in the state. With the objective of conserving natural resources and stopping unauthorized mining activities, the department has put in place a robust enforcement strategy that includes increased inspections, monitoring, and the use of cutting-edge technology.
As part of these measures, drones and other advanced tools are being deployed to detect illegal mining operations, while vehicles associated with illicit activities are being seized. In addition, FIRs are being registered, and hefty fines are being levied on violators.
From January till now, district-level officials have carried out a special inspection drive under which 3,950 locations have been inspected across the state. This extensive effort led to the seizure of 324 vehicles involved in illegal mining, generating a revenue of approximately Rs 1.37 crore.
Acting swiftly on a complaint of illegal mining in Bhagwapur village of Yamunanagar district, the department conducted an inspection of the area. The investigation revealed that boulders, gravel, sand, and ordinary soil were illegally mined over approximately 2 acres of land. As a result, a fine of Rs 65,37,732 was imposed, and an FIR was registered on February 11, 2025.
As per the guidelines of the Mining Department, regular inspections are ongoing in every district of Haryana. Notably, in Yamunanagar district, 123 vehicles have been seized, and 116 FIRs have been registered for illegal mining activities during the months of January and February (till February 10).
The top officials of the Mines and Geology Department have made it clear that no one involved in illegal mining will be spared, and strict legal action will be taken against any violators. The department remains committed to fully eradicating illegal mining to ensure the responsible exploitation of the state’s natural resources and prevent revenue loss.
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*Now lump sum fee to be charged based on cold storage capacity*
*Haryana Government revises rates after Cold Storage Operators request*
*Cold storages with a capacity of up to 2000 metric tons or less will pay a fee of Rs. 35,000 per storage*
*Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini grants approval for the revision*
Chandigarh, February 13 – In a significant move to support small cold storage operators, the Haryana Government has decided to revise the lump sum fee structure based on the capacity of cold storages operating in the state. Now, a lump sum fee of Rs. 35,000 will be applied to cold storages with a capacity of up to 2,000 metric tons. For cold storages with a capacity ranging from 2,001 to 5,000 metric tons, the fee will be Rs. 55,000. Cold storages with a capacity of 5,001 metric tons or more will be charged a lump sum fee of Rs. 70,000.
Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini accorded approval to this decision today.
Giving further details, the government spokesperson said that under the current notification, cold storages in the state were required to pay a lump sum fee of Rs. 70,000 per cold storage. Recently, cold storage operators met with Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, requesting relief for smaller operators and requesting that the lump sum fee be determined based on the capacity of the cold storage.
In response to their request, the government has decided to revise the fee structure based on the capacity of each cold storage. Currently, 222 cold storages are operating in the state. Among these, 104 have a capacity of up to 2,000 metric tons, 91 have a capacity between 2,001 and 5,000 metric tons, and 27 cold storages have a capacity of 5,001 metric tons or more.
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*Development works will be fast-tracked after municipal elections: Chief Minister*
*Kejriwal's lies fell short against PM Modi’s Guarantee*
Chandigarh, February 13 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that following the municipal elections, various public development projects will be fast-tracked and new projects will also be implemented at an accelerated pace.
The Chief Minister made these remarks during a program organized by party workers in Narnaund today.
He urged the workers to ensure the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates in the civic elections and to push for further development of the region.
In his address, Chief Minister also criticized former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, recalling how, during the Delhi elections, Kejriwal spread various rumors, including the false claim that Haryana had poisoned the Yamuna River. He said that Kejriwal himself was born in Haryana, a place where the people have a long history of resilience, capable of enduring hardships themselves and sharing blessings with others. He added that the people of Haryana are deeply rooted in Sanatan culture.
*Kejriwal's lies fell short against PM Modi’s Guarantee*
Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that Sh. Kejriwal had claimed that no one could defeat him, but his falsehoods were no match for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Guarantee. The people of Delhi proved this by giving a decisive mandate to the Bharatiya Janata Party, turning the Prime Minister's vision into a reality. Chief Minister said that voting in Haryana took place on the 5th, with results announced on the 8th, where the Bharatiya Janata Party secured 48 seats. A similar outcome occurred in Delhi, where 48 BJP candidates also emerged victorious. While Sh Kejriwal had promised to clean the Yamuna over the last decade, he had delivered nothing but false promises, using the issue to boost his own political profile, he added.
Chief Minister encouraged workers to accept any decisions the party makes regarding the civic elections, stressing the importance of unity to ensure the BJP’s victory.
Cabinet Minister Ranbir Gangwa, MLA Ramkumar Gautam, former Finance Minister Capt. Abhimanyu, former Minister Dr. Kamal Gupta, former Rajya Sabha MP DP Vats, and a large number of party workers were also present on this occasion.
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*Haryana's gymnasts win 7 medals in National Games being held in Uttarakhand*
*Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam felicitats medal-winning players of state*
Chandigarh, February 13 - In the 38th National Games being held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Haryana's players performed brilliantly by winning 7 medals in the gymnastics competition, including 2 silver and 5 bronze medals. Haryana's Sports Minister Sh. Gaurav Gautam felicitated the winning players and said they are getting a lot of benefits from Haryana's excellent sports policy.
Our players are bringing laurels to the country and the state by winning medals in Olympics, World Championships, Asian, Commonwealth and National Games. Haryana has become the hub of sports. Other states of the country are also following Haryana's sports policy, he said.
The Sports Minister praised the excellent performance of Haryana's gymnasts in the National Games and said this achievement is not only the result of the hard work of the players, but is also a proof of the encouragement being given to sports by the state government. The Sports Minister said our gymnasts should continue to bring pride to the state in this way and the Haryana Government is committed to provide them the best facilities and training. The Haryana Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, is constantly striving to encourage sports and provide all possible assistance to the players, so that it maintains its leading role on the sports map of the country. The medal winning players of Haryana's team are Yogeshwar Singh, Sagar, Jatinder, Saransh Dev and Sahil Yadav, who won the bronze medal in Artistic Gymnastics (Team Event). Similarly, the team of Life Adlakha, Dhruv Chaudhary, Janhvi, Varsha won the bronze medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics. In the individual competition, Yogeshwar Singh won the silver medal with the title of All-Around Second Best Gymnast. He won silver in floor exercise and bronze in side horse. Similarly, Life Adlakha won bronze medal in hoop event.
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*Horticulture fair in Bhiwani on February 15 and 16*
Chandigarh, February 13 – The Haryana Government is continuously encouraging farmers towards horticulture. In this series, the second horticulture fair is being organized by the Horticulture Department on February 15 and 16, 2025 at the Center of Excellence for Semi Arid Horticulture, Gignow, Loharu in Bhiwani district.
Giving information in this regard, a government spokesperson said farmers willing to visit the fair can register their name by contacting the Horticulture Development Officer of the concerned district. He said mainly horticulture activities, seminars, horticulture mechanization, stalls and honoring progressive farmers etc. will be organized in the program.
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*Observers must monitor election process continuously to ensure fair and transparent municipal polls: State Election Commissioner*
*Haryana State Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh holds meeting of all election observers in Panchkula*
Chandigarh, February 13 - Haryana State Election Commissioner Sh. Dhanpat Singh has said that all observers should continuously monitor the election process to ensure fair and transparent conduct of Urban Local Body elections. It should be ensured that the Model Code of Conduct is followed completely.
Sh. Dhanpat Singh was speaking while holding a meeting of general and police observers at the Election House in Panchkula on Thursday.
He said all observers will coordinate with the District Deputy Commissioner and police officers to conduct the municipal elections in a free, fair, peaceful and transparent manner. He said all observers should visit as many polling stations as possible, especially sensitive and hypersensitive polling stations. Strict vigil should be maintained on distribution of cash or liquor, clothes or any other material by the contesting candidates, their representatives and political parties to influence the voters. The State Election Commission should be informed about the seizure action taken daily till the completion of the election.
The State Election Commissioner said special vigil should be kept on the movement of anti-social elements, history-sheeters, fugitives, proclaimed offenders, people on parole/furlough, former convicts etc. Also, ensure that the district administration takes immediate and effective action on all complaints related to law and order.
He said the observers should fix a time to meet the contesting candidates, representatives of political parties and the public and after listening to their complaints, problems and suggestions, ask the concerned Deputy Commissioner, Police Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Returning Officer to implement them.
During the nomination process, no nomination papers will be filed after 3 pm on February 17. Observers should be present on the spot during scrutiny of nomination papers on February 18 and on the day of allotment of election symbol on February 19.
The observers should get the randomization of polling staff and EVMs done in their presence. During the election process, pay special attention that EVMs are distributed properly. Observers should ensure that the polling party leaves on time. Also, they must visit polling stations to create confidence among voters and general public.
The State Election Commissioner further said that on the day of polling i.e. March 2, it is to be ensured that mock poll is conducted on time in the presence of candidates or their polling agents and after clearing the votes cast during the mock poll from the machine, the EVM is started from zero.
He said on the day of polling and counting, officials must ensure that all reports are sent to the Commission on time. He said during the election process, police observers should ensure that there is adequate police arrangement during polling and counting etc.