Punjab Launches ‘Nasha Mukti Yatra’ to Reach Every Village and Ward in May–June 2025
CM Bhagwant Mann directs to mobilise Village and Ward Defence Committees for state-wide anti-drug awareness and action campaign
Chandigarh, April 29:Gearing up for final and decisive assault on the menace of drugs in the state, the Punjab government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has decided to embark anti-drug awareness and action campaign- “Nasha Mukti Yatra”, which will be touching every village and wards of state in the months of May and June 2025.
Divulging the details a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the drive will be organized by closely involving the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) to organize district-wise meetings across the state from May 2-4. These meetings will serve as the official launch platform for the “Nasha Mukti Yatra" campaign. Besides all members of the VDCs, this meeting shall also be attended by the Village Sarpanches, Civil and Police Administration along with others.
The Chief Minister has asked the Deputy Commissioners along with the SSP to form VDCs in those villages where these Committees do not exist and invite them to these meetings. Similarly, Ward Defence Committees (WDCs) will also be formed in each ward in municipal areas and they will be invited to these meetings. Each district-level meeting will be chaired by a Cabinet Minister with a motive of sensitizing about the Nasha Mukti Yatra campaign, mobilization of village-level leadership for community vigilance, strengthening coordination between VDCs/WDCs and the District Administration and reinforcing a collective stand against drugs at the village level.
Subsequent to these meetings, the second phase Nasha Mukti Yatra will be launched on the ground from May 7 onwards and in this yatra, a meeting of all the people in each village/ward will be held. This meeting will be attended by the VDC/WDC, Sarpanch and other officers. Each village/ward in Punjab shall be covered as per the schedule prepared by the state government.
The Chief Minister envisioned that this campaign will transform war against drugs into a mass movement, He solicited fulsome support and cooperation of everyone in the Society to ensure that no drug is sold in their area and to take all drug victims out of drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that VDCs/WDCs and Sarpanches are expected to play a very active role in this effort.
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Transforming Punjab: Pro-Industry Reforms Yield Rs. 1 Lakh Crore in Proposals, Empowering 4 Lakh Jobs : Taranpreet Singh Sond
Chandigarh, April 29:Thanks to the industry-friendly policies of the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state has attracted investment proposals worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore in the past three years.
Punjab’s Minister for Industries and Investment Promotion, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, stated that the government’s commitment to industrial growth and its investor-friendly approach has yielded impressive results. From March 2022 till now, Punjab has received investment proposals amounting to Rs. 1,00,346 crore. These investments are expected to generate employment opportunities for over 4 lakh people.
Sond extended an invitation to more industrialists to invest in Punjab and emphasized the state government's ongoing efforts to create a more business-conducive environment. He held a meeting with several prominent industrialists at the Udyog Bhawan yesterday to gather their feedback and to further refine state policies for industrial development.
The Minister also informed the introduction of the One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, aimed at providing significant relief to industrialists by resolving long-pending cases. The deadline for this scheme is December 31, 2025, giving defaulters ample time to clear their outstanding dues.
Highlighting the success of Punjab's industrial policies, Sond mentioned that many major business groups have shown keen interest in establishing units in the state.
Some of the key projects received during the Current Government Regime are Tata Steel Limited (Rs. 2600 Cr.), Sanathan Polycot Pvt. Ltd. (Rs. 1600 Cr.), Ambuja Cements Limited (Rs. 1400 Cr.), Ruchira Papers Ltd (Rs. 1137 Cr.), Toppan Specialty Films Ltd. (Rs. 787 Cr.), Nestle India Ltd. (Rs. 583 Cr.), Happy Forgings Limited (Rs. 438 Cr.), Freudenberg Group (Rs. 339 Cr.), OaykayMetcorp Limited (Rs. 309 Cr.) Cargill India Private Limited (Rs. 160 Cr).
Industry Minister Sond reiterated that Punjab offers a stable, peaceful, and favorable investment environment. He affirmed that the state government is working with full dedication to support industrial development and encouraged more entrepreneurs to invest in Punjab.
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Zero on the Streets, Zero in Tolerance: DGP Gaurav yadav delivers clear message on war on drugs
DGP Gaurav yadav sets the deadline to eradicate drugs for SSPs/CPs in a review meeting at Police headquarter
Chandigarh, April 29:To realise the commitment of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government to make the state a ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab’, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday issued stern ultimatum to the district police chiefs to bring the drugs availability on the street to zero by May 31st, or accountibility of all the officers down to Station House Officer (SHO) level will be fixed.
The DGP accompanied by Special DGP Internal Security RN Dhoke, ADGP Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Nilabh Kishore and ADGP Law and Order Naresh Arora was chairing a high-level meeting of all the Range Inspector Generals of Police/Deputy Inspector Generals (IGPs/DIGs) and Commissioners of Police/Senior Superintendents of Police (CPs/SSPs) to make the ongoing action plan to wipe out drugs from the state foolproof in toto.
“We have taken several important decisions during the meeting including fixing the accountability of the officers. Every officer including CPs/SSPs, DSPs and SHOs will be held responsible and accountable in their own respective areas for failing to wipe out drugs from streets,” he said.
Post May 31, performance of all the officers will be assessed with the help of professional parameters, intelligence and feedback from public, he said, while adding, "After the survey, officers who did good work will be rewarded, while, punishments will be given to the officers found deficient.”
The DGP, however, clarified that the focus of the police is not a figure based targets, but to completely break the supply chains to make drugs unavailable across the state. CPs/SSPs have already been directed to trace forward and backward linkages of the cases being registered under the NDPS act and take the cases to logical conclusion by exposing complete networks, he added.
Pertinently, the 3-hours long meeting took place in two parts— with the review of district wise performance including number of FIRs registered, achievements and gaps were discussed with the respective Range IGPs/DIGs and CPs/SSPs in first part, while, in second part, field officers were asked to present their plan to eradicate drugs from their respective districts by May 31.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that, during the meeting, officers have also discussed various mechanisms and techniques to go after big fish and how to track them by leveraging use of technology as a force multiplier. “With criminals have been using cut-out techniques and virtual numbers to evade arrest, we have devised a foolproof strategy to catch such criminals using technical and human intelligence,” he added.
He said that Punjab Police has been giving special focus on the 755 identified drug hotspots with repeated targeted and effective CASO operations to ensure denial of excess to drugs in these vulnerable areas.
The DGP said that all the departments especially Health and Education of the Punjab Government have joined hands to wipe-out the scourge of drugs from the state. Punjab Government has been focusing on increasing the de-addiction capacity in the state to bring all the victims in mainstream, he added.
Stressing on the need for maximum citizen participation, DGP Gaurav Yadav urged people of the state to make maximum use of Safe Punjab Anti-Drug Helpline ‘9779100200’ to report drug traffickers anonymously, citing that every tip received on the Helpline is being monitored on daily basis and the Chief Minister has been personally reviewing the progress.
Meanwhile, with the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ has completed 60 days, police teams have arrested 7889 drug smugglers after registering 4930 FIRs under the NDPS act since March 1, 2025, and recovered 325 kgs heroin, 100 quintals poppy husk, 157 kg opium, 95 kg ganja, 21.89 lakh tablets/capsules/pills and Rs 8.09 crores drug money from their possession.
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Punjab Powers Ahead: Over 2,400 MW of Solar Deals Inked, Backed by Historic Low Tariffs : Harbhajan Singh ETO
Chandigarh, April 29-Punjab has taken significant steps toward a greener and more sustainable future through a series of successful solar energy procurement initiatives.
Disclosing this here today in a press communique, Power Minister of Punjab, Harbhajan Singh ETO informed that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has inked major tender for solar power procurement, issuing a Letter of Intent to M/s SAEL Industries Ltd. on April 15, 2025.
BBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBB He said that under this agreement, 400 MW of solar power will be procured at a competitive tariff of Rs. 2.97 per unit for a period of 25 years. The solar projects will be set up within Punjab, supporting local infrastructure and employment.
Mr. Harbhajan Singh ETO further said that in a related development, PSPCL has also granted in-principle consent to M/s Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) under various ISTS schemes for the procurement of 1,950 MW of solar power. The tariff for this power ranges between Rs. 2.48 and Rs. 2.60 per unit (landed tariff of Rs. 2.95–3.07 per unit approx.), also for a 25-year duration.
The Minister said that two solar power projects have recently become operational and have started supplying electricity to PSPCL. A 107.14 MW solar power project, commissioned by NHPC under the CPSU Scheme of MNRE, began commercial operations on April 14, 2025. This project is part of a larger 300 MW plant located in Bikaner, Rajasthan, with electricity being supplied to PSPCL at a tariff of Rs. 2.45 per unit (landed tariff of Rs. 2.55 per unit approx.). Another 100 MW project, developed under SECI’s ISTS Tranche IX Scheme, was synchronized with the grid on April 15, 2025. This project forms part of a 300 MW development situated in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and supplies power at a tariff of Rs. 2.36 per unit (landed tariff of Rs. 2.72 per unit approx).
Further strengthening the state’s renewable energy infrastructure, the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has allocated 500 MWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity to Punjab. The project, to be implemented by PSPCL, is supported by a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of ₹18 lakh per MWh and is scheduled for commissioning by May 2027. The BESS will store solar energy generated during the day for use during peak evening hours, enhancing grid reliability and energy efficiency.
The Power Minister said that these developments mark a critical leap toward Punjab’s clean energy transition and demonstrate the state’s commitment to sustainable growth.
“All these significant strides in solar energy procurement and renewable infrastructure have been made possible under the visionary and able leadership of our Chief Minister, Bhagwant Singh Mann. His unwavering commitment to a greener Punjab is driving our state toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future,” said Harbhajan Singh ETO.
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Compassion in Action: Minister Pledges Salary for Fire-Hit Farmers’ Fodder Loss
State Stands by Its Farmers; Punjab to Fully Fund Burn Victims’ Treatment : HM Balbir Singh
Chandigarh/Patiala, April 29:Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said that the state government will bear the full cost of medical treatment for those injured in recent wheat residue fire incidents. This includes Dayal Singh, a laborer from Ajnauda Khurd village, and two farmers from Mor Mandi and Faridkot, all of whom are currently receiving treatment at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Dr. Balbir Singh visited Kaidupur village, where a fire broke out on April 26, damaging approximately 16 acres of wheat residue. SDM Nabha, Dr. Ismat Vijay Singh, also accompanied him during the inspection.
Expressing deep concern over the losses suffered by farmers, Dr. Balbir Singh committed to personally compensating the affected farmers of Kaidupur for their fodder loss from his own salary. He assured them that the district administration would extend full support to all impacted farmers and agricultural laborers.
Highlighting the swift response of emergency services, Dr. Balbir Singh noted that the prompt arrival of fire brigade teams and the efforts of local residents helped avert a greater tragedy. Despite these efforts, Dayal Singh sustained burn injuries while attempting to extinguish the fire. The Minister met with Dayal Singh and his family at PGIMER and conveyed the government’s commitment to providing all possible assistance.
Dr. Balbir Singh informed that three individuals from Punjab are currently undergoing treatment for burn injuries at PGIMER, and their medical expenses will be fully covered by the state government. He also emphasized that fire incidents are more common during the dry wheat harvesting season and suggested that planting green crops like mustard along field boundaries could help reduce the risk of fire spread.
In an interaction with media personnel, the Minister shared that upon learning about the fire in Kaidupur, although he was on a visit to a border area, he immediately requested Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond to visit the site. Mr. Sond promptly reached the village and assessed the situation firsthand.
Also present on the occasion were the Health Minister’s PA Jai Shankar, Balwinder Saini, Suresh Rai, Jaspal Singh, Jagdeep Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Pappu Singh (sarpanch of Kaidupur), Bhim Singh, Amandeep Singh, Gurcharan Singh, and other officials.
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Punjab-Kerala Pact in Sight as Minister Khudian Pushes for Agri-Fisheries Innovation Exchange
Punjab Eyes Drone Seeding and Aquaculture from Kerala for Next-Gen Farming Reforms
Chandigarh/ Kottayam, April 29:Punjab Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian visited ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kumarakom in Kottayam district of Kerala to explore collaboration opportunities in the field of agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry as part of an inter-state exchange program.
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with the Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry Mr. Rahul Bhandari and other senior officials, engaged in discussions with the KVK officials, exploring the rich potential of Kumarakom in agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry. The region's successful integration of fish farming, particularly cage culture and inland aquaculture, with agriculture impressed the visitors.
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian applauded the innovative practices being used in integrated farming, organic cultivation, and eco-friendly tourism, which supports rural livelihoods. The Punjab delegation was particularly impressed with the use of drones for paddy seed broadcasting, a flagship initiative in Kumarakom. The delegation also commanded KVK Kottayam's women empowerment programs, which have fostered strong community-based enterprises focused on value addition. They observed the KVK's support in promoting value addition for fish, vegetables, fruits, and spices, as well as the establishment of organic manure, nutrient mixture, and bio-pesticide production units, which have strengthened the local agri-based economy. These initiatives not only improved farm incomes but also supported sustainable farming practices, the Agriculture Minister noted.
The high-level delegation also explored potential collaborations between Punjab and Kerala in fields including technology exchange, training programs, and joint research. The Kerala officials expressed keen interest in learning from Punjab's advancements in mechanisation, high-yield crop varieties, and large-scale agricultural marketing.
Director Animal Husbandry Dr. Gursharan Singh Bedi said the visit marked a significant step towards building a collaborative framework between Punjab and Kerala for promoting sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and animal husbandry development.
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Celebrating Bhakti and Shakti: Punjab’s State-Level Tribute to Bhagwan Parshuram Inspires Youth
Lord Parashuram is a symbol of religion, justice and renunciation : Aman Arora
Jalandhar Chowk to Be Named After Bhagwan Parshuram: Aman Arora
Chandigarh/ Jalandhar, April 29:Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State President and Punjab Cabinet Minister Mr Aman Arora today called upon the youth to follow the path of justice, equality, and righteousness as shown by Bhagwan Parshuram Ji, to help build an ideal and harmonious society.
The Minister was addressing a gathering at KMV College, Jalandhar during a state-level event organized by the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab to mark Bhagwan Shri Parshuram Jayanti. Congratulating the people on this auspicious occasion, the Minister expressed pride that for the first time, a state-level celebration of Bhagwan Parshuram Jayanti was being organized by the Government. He further hailed the Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department for organizing this state level event in Jalandhar.
Describing Bhagwan Shri Parshuram Ji as a divine embodiment of Bhakti and Shakti, Mr Arora said his message of standing against injustice is more relevant than ever. He also announced the naming of a new Chowk in Jalandhar city after Bhagwan Shri Parshuram Ji.
The Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to organizing such events in the future, especially to connect the youth with India’s vast cultural and religious heritage. He highlighted that such events play a pivotal role in perpetuating the wide Cultural and Religious history of the country.
Advisor to the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department Mr. Deepak Bali welcomed the dignitaries and lauded Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government for taking this historic initiative.
The ceremony began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, Advisor Deepak Bali, MLA Raman Arora, Jalandhar Improvement Trust Chairperson Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal.
Meanwhile, keynote expert speakers highlighted the life and teachings of Bhagwan Parshuram, inspiring the youth to adopt his ideals. Earlier, several prominent members of the Brahmin community, including Surdarshan Sharma, Dr. V.K. Vasudev, Rajinder Sharma, Vinod Kumar Dutta, and Bharat Bhushan Sharma, were honoured for their contributions to the society, especially health and education sectors. The event concluded with a devotional Aarti of Bhagwan Parshuram Ji.
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Bulldozers Against the Drug Mafia: Punjab’s War on Narcotics Enters a Relentless New Phase
State cracks down on drug smugglers with property demolitions in Amritsar and Patiala ; signaling zero tolerance under CM Bhagwant Mann’s anti-drug campaign
CHANDIGARH/PATIALA/AMRITSAR, April 29:
Continuing its action against drug mafia amidst the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police with the help of local administration on Tuesday, has demolished properties of two drug smugglers in Amritsar and Patiala districts.
In Amritsar, a bulldozer was used to raze the house of a drug smuggler identified as Ranjit Singh in village Mode in Amritsar. On this occasion, Superintendent of Police (SP Investigation) Amritsar Aditya Warrier said that accused Ranjit Singh, whose house was demolished, has a criminal background with as many as 12 criminal cases including six cases under under the NDPS act have been registered against him in different districts including Amritsar and Ludhiana.
SP Warrier warned that anyone who amasses wealth through drug trafficking will either have their property seized or demolished. He reiterated that the state government is committed to eradicating the drug menace and will not spare anyone involved in this illegal trade.
Similarly, in Patiala, the District Police, in collaboration with Municipal Corporation Patiala, has demolished four commercial shops illegally constructed on residential plots without the approval from the Municipal Corporation, by the family member of drug smuggler Gurtej Singh alias Bunty family. The shops were located in Street No. 4 of Baba Deep Singh Nagar under the jurisdiction of Urban Estate Police Station.
SP City Palwinder Singh Cheema, who supervised the operation, said that accused Gurtej Singh has been facing two criminal cases under the NDPS act. The demolition was carried out following a final Demolition Notice (No. 214/BLD, dated April 11, 2025) issued by the Municipal Commissioner, he said.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Assistant Town Planners Karanjit Singh and Bikramjit Singh, with police deployed to maintain law and order. Naib Tehsildar Arman Joshan served as the Duty Magistrate.
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Bulldozers Against the Drug Mafia: Punjab’s War on Narcotics Enters a Relentless New Phase
State cracks down on drug smugglers with property demolitions in Amritsar and Patiala ; signaling zero tolerance under CM Bhagwant Mann’s anti-drug campaign
CHANDIGARH/PATIALA/AMRITSAR, April 29:Continuing its action against drug mafia amidst the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police with the help of local administration on Tuesday, has demolished properties of two drug smugglers in Amritsar and Patiala districts.
In Amritsar, a bulldozer was used to raze the house of a drug smuggler identified as Ranjit Singh in village Mode in Amritsar. On this occasion, Superintendent of Police (SP Investigation) Amritsar Aditya Warrier said that accused Ranjit Singh, whose house was demolished, has a criminal background with as many as 12 criminal cases including six cases under under the NDPS act have been registered against him in different districts including Amritsar and Ludhiana.
SP Warrier warned that anyone who amasses wealth through drug trafficking will either have their property seized or demolished. He reiterated that the state government is committed to eradicating the drug menace and will not spare anyone involved in this illegal trade.
Similarly, in Patiala, the District Police, in collaboration with Municipal Corporation Patiala, has demolished four commercial shops illegally constructed on residential plots without the approval from the Municipal Corporation, by the family member of drug smuggler Gurtej Singh alias Bunty family. The shops were located in Street No. 4 of Baba Deep Singh Nagar under the jurisdiction of Urban Estate Police Station.
SP City Palwinder Singh Cheema, who supervised the operation, said that accused Gurtej Singh has been facing two criminal cases under the NDPS act. The demolition was carried out following a final Demolition Notice (No. 214/BLD, dated April 11, 2025) issued by the Municipal Commissioner, he said.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Assistant Town Planners Karanjit Singh and Bikramjit Singh, with police deployed to maintain law and order. Naib Tehsildar Arman Joshan served as the Duty Magistrate.
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DR. SUKHCHAIN GOGI ASSUMES CHARGE AS CHAIRPERSON OF PEDA
* Aman Arora congratulates new Chairperson and says, optimal utilisation of renewable energy is topmost priority of Punjab Government
Chandigarh, April 29-Dr. Sukhchain Gogi on Tuesday assumed charge as the Chairperson of Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) in the presence of Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Mr. Aman Arora at PEDA Complex, Sector-33D here. Smt. Harpal Kaur, mother of the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, Water Resources Minister Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal also congratulated Dr. Sukhchain Gogi.
Dr. Sukhchain Gogi, wife of Late Sh. Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, former MLA from Ludhiana West, reached the PEDA Complex along with her son Savraj Gogi and other relatives. Expressing gratitude to the National Convenor of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Sh. Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann for posing faith in her, Dr. Sukhchain Gogi vowed to live up to the responsibility assigned to her.
Congratulating and welcoming the New Chairperson, Mr Aman Arora said that the renewable energy is the future and ramping up the renewable infrastructure to ensure the optimal utilisation of natural energy is the topmost priority of the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government.
“With the appointment of Dr. Sukhchain Gogi as Chairperson of PEDA our team has been completed and now we will push more vigorously for promotion and development of renewable sector,” said New & Renewable Energy Sources Minister, while adding that over 4000 solar pumps for agriculture purposes are being installed in the state, while, 36MW Solar Rooftop plants have already been installed on Govt Buildings.
Prominent among others who were present at the occasion included MLAs Ashok Prashar (Pappi), Gurdit Singh Sekhon and others leaders of party.