Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Hands Over appointment letters to 8 newly recruited officials of Excise and Taxation
Chandigarh, January 3-To strengthen the workforce of the Excise and Taxation department, Punjab Finance, Planning, Program Implementation, and Excise and Taxation Minister, Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, handed over appointment letters to 8 newly recruited officials under the Ghar-Ghar Rojgar Yojana today. The newly appointed officials include 5 Excise and Tax Inspectors and 3 Clerks.
Congratulating the newly appointed officials on their new roles, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasized the crucial role the Excise and Tax Department plays in generating revenue for the state government.
Finance Minister exhorted the newly appointed officials to uphold the highest standards of integrity and diligence in their work, focusing on increasing revenue collection to fuel the state's development.
The Finance Minister said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government's efforts to strengthen its workforce and providing maximum job opportunities to the youth will have a positive impact on Punjab's overall development, paving the way for a brighter future for its citizens.
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Punjab Government Increases Prize Money for Lohri Bumper to 10 Crore Rupees: Harpal Singh Cheema
Bumper Offers Thrilling Opportunity to Win Big Prize while Contributing to State's Development
Chandigarh, January 3,Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced today a significant increase in the prize money for the Punjab State Lohri Makar Sankranti Bumper Lottery 2025, now set at a whopping 10 Crore Rupees. He said that this strategic move has been designed to give tough competition to the lotteries from other states, besides offering a thrilling opportunity to win big Prize while contributing to the state's development.
Revealing this in a press communiqué issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader vision to boost state revenue and ensure that Punjab's lottery market remains competitive and attractive. "Participating in the Punjab State Lohri Makar Sankranti Bumper Lottery 2025 is truly a win-win opportunity for the people of the state. Not only do they stand a chance to win substantial prizes, but the revenue generated from these government lotteries is directly funneled into developmental projects that benefit the entire state," said the Finance Minister.
The Finance Minister said that the increased prize money is expected to catapult the Lohri Bumper to the forefront, posing a formidable challenge to lotteries from other states, thereby significantly boosting the revenue collected from the lottery. “These funds will be used for various developmental initiatives across Punjab, including infrastructure improvements, educational programs, and healthcare services”, he added.
Giving details of prizes, the Finance Minister said that the Rs. 500 lottery ticket offers an enticing prize structure, with the first prize winner receiving a staggering Rs. 10 crore, followed by Rs. 1 crore for the second prize, Rs. 50 lakh for the third, and progressively lower amounts for subsequent ranks. The lottery offers a total of 68,819 prizes with a total prize amount of Rs. 23,47,90,000.
The Finance Minister emphasized that the Punjab Government has been proactively implementing innovative strategies to bolster the state's own revenue receipts. He said that this approach has been aimed to propel Punjab onto a higher growth trajectory, fostering an era of unprecedented prosperity.
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Union government's river interlinking initiative needs reconsideration; Sandhwan warns of environmental impact
Chandigarh, January 3:The river interlinking initiative proposed by the union government warrants comprehensive review and needs to be thoroughly examined, said Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, while characterizing this initiative as an unprecedented intervention in natural systems. He cautioned that such projects could adversely impact agricultural productivity and disrupt monsoon patterns.
In an official statement released here today, S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Ken-Betwa River Interlinking Project in Madhya Pradesh. Although the union government stated the objective of redistributing water resources to drought-prone regions, the Speaker said, scientific research indicates such interventions could significantly alter natural hydrological systems.
The Speaker expressed concerns that large-scale hydrological modifications could disrupt established monsoon patterns, potentially endangering agricultural sustainability and affecting multiple sectors nationwide. He advocated for prioritizing water conservation and recycling initiatives, asserting the critical need for implementing advanced water treatment and purification programs.
Notably, the Ken-Betwa Link Project is the inaugural project of 30 planned initiatives under the National Perspective Plan, orchestrated by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for water resource development and river connectivity. This project is supposed to channelize surplus water from Madhya Pradesh's Ken river to Uttar Pradesh's Betwa river, intended to enhance irrigation capabilities in the drought-susceptible Bundelkhand region
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NOW, EXPERT ANIMAL CARE ADVICE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS AS PUNJAB ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPT LAUNCHES OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL
• Gurmeet Singh Khudian launches YouTube channel and Facebook page of Animal Husbandry dept
• Experts will also hold live sessions every Monday to guide livestock farmers on proper management & care of animals
Chandigarh, January 3:Taking a leap forward in Livestock care with digital initiative, the Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, on Friday, launched the department's official YouTube channel and Facebook page under the name of “Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab”. This initiative aims to increase the flow of accurate and authentic information, guiding state livestock farmers on proper management and care of animals.
The Animal Husbandry Minister said that experts will also be holding a live session every Monday dedicated to livestock farming. During these sessions, all livestock farmers will be encouraged to participate and ask questions. The direct communication between experts and farmers will enhance the overall productivity and welfare of livestock in the region.
The primary objective of this digital initiative is to assist livestock owners and stakeholders in achieving more economical and ethical livestock farming practices in Punjab, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said while adding that it will facilitate easier access and improved communication for farmers regarding daily activities, vaccination, biosecurity measures, prevention of livestock diseases and better feeding practices for animals.
He further said that the platforms will also cover essential information on clinical signs of significant livestock diseases, prevention and control measures, and prevention of common zoonotic diseases in animals. Additionally, livestock farmers will be informed about common laboratory tests available for different species of animals at District Polyclinics and Animal Health Institute in Jalandhar.
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the livestock farmers will be sensitised about the common laboratory tests available for different species of animals at the District Polyclinics and Animal Health Institute in Jalandhar. They will also receive timely suggestions from experts on pressing issues including summer stress, the calving season, regular deworming of animals, common parasitic diseases, mastitis, brucellosis, repeat breeding and other economically significant infectious and management problems affecting animals.
Principal Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department, Mr. Rahul Bhandari, apprised the Cabinet Minister that 4 to 5 videos will be posted on these platforms every week to keep livestock owners updated and online sessions with experts will also be organised for the livestock farmers.
Director Animal Husbandry Dr. GS Bedi, Deputy Director Dr. Bikramjit Singh, Assistant Directors Dr. Parampal Singh and Dr. Lakhwinder Singh and other senior officials of the department were also present on the occasion.
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Punjab Government launches first-of-its-kind initiative to resolve complaints of NRIs: Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal
During the second online meeting, NRI Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal resolved more than 100 complaints
Instructions given to the concerned civil and police officers on the spot for immediate resolution of complaints
Chandigarh, January 3:The Punjab Government has launched first-of-its-kind initiative ‘Online NRI Meeting’ across the country to resolve complaints of NRIs. Under this service, the state government is resolving various complaints received by NRIs quickly and appropriately and efforts will be continuously continued for immediate resolution of complaints.
Disclosing this, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister S. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that today he listened more than 100 complaints of NRIs and gave instructions to the concerned civil and police officers to resolve them on the spot. He said that the complaints received today were related to Punjabis living in America, Canada, England, Australia, Germany, Austria, Italy and Africa, which were related to property, illegal possession and marriage matters.
On the occasion of the second online NRI meeting held at 11:00 am today, S. Dhaliwal said that through this unique service, the Punjab government will continuously resolve the complaints of NRIs. He said that an online meeting will be held in the first week of every month to hear the complaints of NRIs.
S. Dhaliwal said that the DCs and SSPs of all districts have been asked to resolve the complaints of NRIs on priority basis. He said that orders have been issued to all the Deputy Commissioners to coordinate with various departments at the district level to resolve the issues of migrants.
On this occasion, ADGP NRI Wing Punjab Mr. Praveen Kumar Sinha, AIG Mr. Ajinder Singh and senior officers of the NRI department were present.
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Barinder Kumar Goyal kick starts development projects worth Rs.70-CR in Shutrana constituency to ensure water supply for drinking and irrigation up to tail-ends
Says, Punjab government preserved groundwater by ensuring water supply to tail-end
Water Resources Minister laid foundation stones for concrete lining of multiple canal systems
"Assures that all works to be completed within two months, providing canal water to over 75,000 acres during paddy season"
Chandigarh/Shutrana, January 3:Punjab Water Resources and Water & Soil Conservation Minister Sh. Barinder Goyal, on Friday, inaugurated various development projects costing over Rs.70 crore to ensure water supply for drinking and irrigation up to tail-ends in the Shilutrana constituency.
Sh. Goyal also laid the foundation stones at Shutrana, Sadharanpur and Kalwanu for concrete lining of Rasouli Minor, Karmgarh Link-2 Canal System, Choa Link-2 Canal System, Minor No. 3 and 5, Bishangrah and Atalan Minors. While congratulating local folks on receiving 1.5 times more canal water than before, the Cabinet Minister announced that all works would be completed within two months, benefiting over 75,000 acres during the paddy season. He said that this would help conserve electricity and groundwater by reducing tubewell usage.
Water Resources Minister said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government has successfully preserved depleting groundwater by ensuring water supply to tail-end areas.
"Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann's promise of providing canal water to every field in Punjab is being fulfilled", said the Cabinet Minister, criticizing previous dispensations for neglecting the Ghaggar issue. He said that Mann government is making serious efforts in this direction to solve the problem.
The Water Resources Minister urged the public to fulfill their duty towards water conservation as the Punjab government is implementing numerous schemes in light of predictions that groundwater will be further depleted by 2037. He also appealed to all farmers to come forward to save groundwater by taking advantage of government schemes and subsidies for underground pipelines. He also urged people to vacate occupied government land.
Barinder Goyal stated that the union government is not providing any cooperation to Punjab, causing delays in initiating canal water projects, while the Punjab government has launched drinking water supply projects in 85 cities of the state.
While responding to a query about the union government's lack of response to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hunger strike, the Cabinet Minister condemned the Center for betraying farmers and the state of Punjab. The union government is determined to destroy farming and Punjab, he categorically added.
Praising local MLA Kulwant Singh Bazigar, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal noted his effective representation of constituency issues in the assembly.
MLA Kulwant Singh Bazigar thanked Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, saying that the Punjab government has removed the stigma of backwardness from the Shutrana constituency. He lamented that previous governments had ignored the constituency's decades-old demands, but now all work is being done on a priority.
Prominent amongst others who were present during the function included ADC (G) Isha Singal, SDM Ashok Kumar, Malkeet Singh Parta, Mahinga Singh Brar, Suresh Sharma, Block President Buta Singh Virk, Ranjit Singh President Truck Union, Madan Lal Goyal, Canal Department (BML) Superintending Engineer Ankit Dheer, Executive Engineer Gundeep Singh Dhaliwal, SDO Swaran Singh, Tehsildar Harsimaranjit Singh along with other prominent figures of the the area.
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PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS CROSS-BORDER DRUG AND WEAPON SMUGGLING CARTEL; KINGPIN AMONG 12 HELD
— POLICE TEAMS RECOVER 2.19-KG HEROIN, THREE SOPHISTICATED PISTOLS, ₹2.60L DRUG MONEY AND FORTUNER CAR
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE
— KINGPIN MANJEET ALIAS BHOLA WAS IN DIRECT TOUCH PAK-BASED SMUGGLERS AND RECEIVING CONSIGNMENTS VIA DRONES, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV
— ACCUSED MANJEET USED TO STORE DRUG AND WEAPON CONSIGNMENTS AT ARRESTED ANGANWARI WORKER’S HOUSE: CP ASR GURPREET BHULLAR
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, January 3:In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted a cross-border drug and weapon smuggling cartel with the arrest of 12 persons, including kingpin identified as Manjeet Singh alias Bhola of village Jhanjoti in Ajnala, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
Other 11 arrested persons have been identified as Aniket Verma of Cheharta, Jobanpreet Singh alias Joban of Cheharta, Babli of Naraingarh in Cheharta, Harpreet Singh alias Happy of Guru Ki Wadali, Amritpal Singh Alias Ansh of Naraingarh in Cheharta, Reshma of Kartar Nagar in Cheharta, Harshpreet Singh alias Harman alias Hamma of village Thanda in Amritsar, Mandeep Singh alias Kaushal alias Joshi of village Fatehpur of Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi of village Fatehpur, Lovepreet Singh alias Jashan of village Fatehpur and Akashdeep Singh alias Arsh of Cheharta.
Police teams have recovered 2.19 Kg Heroin, three sophisticated pistols including two automatic and Rs 2.60 lakh drug money from their possession, besides, impounding their Toyota Fortuner car.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that accused Manjeet alias Bhola, who is a key player, was in direct contact with Pakistan-based smugglers/handlers and was receiving consignments of drugs and weapons from across the border. Probe revealed that consignments were being dropped at Ramdas and Ajnala border sectors with the help of drones, he added.
The DGP said that further investigations are on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case
Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, while addressing a press conference, said that following a reliable input that accused Aniket has been into the drug smuggling business, police teams have successfully apprehended him. The arrest of Aniket has unearthed the entire network and led to the arrest of kingpin Manjeet alias Bhola and his all the accomplices from different locations, he said, while adding that five of the accused persons have been arrested from Jammu and Kashmir with the help of J&K Police.
The CP said that investigations have also revealed that accused Manjeet alias Bhola was using the house of arrested woman accused Babli, who is an Anganwari worker, to store the consignments and was using his accomplices to distribute further. Further investigations are ongoing to uncover the entire network and more arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days.
In this regard, a case FIR no. 226 dated 24.12.2024 has been registered under sections 21(B), (C)/27-A and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Chheharta in Amritsar.
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PUNJAB AIMS TO BOOST LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY WITH ALFALFA CULTIVATION
•Gurmeet Singh Khudian emphasises the importance of innovative solutions to tackle fodder scarcity and enhance livestock productivity
•Punjab Agro hosts stakeholders conference on sustainable forage solutions
Chandigarh, January 3:To improve livestock productivity and promote agricultural sustainability, the Punjab Government will encourage collaborative initiatives to incorporate alfalfa into the state's forage system, addressing the challenges related to fodder production, said S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Food Processing, Punjab.
He was addressing the Stakeholder Conference on Sustainable Forage Solutions: Alfalfa– Mechanisation, Production & Marketing organised by Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited (PAIC) in collaboration with Namostute Innovators LLP (NSI) and Team Athena here at the CII Northern Region Headquarters.
While emphasising the importance of innovative solutions to tackle fodder scarcity and enhance livestock productivity, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian mentioned that Punjab Agro has cultivated alfalfa forage across 60 acres in Ladhowal (Ludhiana). By promoting its cultivation, the state aims to offer farmers a sustainable and cost-effective feed source, which can result in healthier animals and increased milk production.
Punjab Agro has partnered with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University to help farmers get right nutrition information. Alfalfa forage cultivation offers numerous benefits, including high nutritional value and improved livestock health. Additionally, it enhances soil health by fixing nitrogen and features a deep root system that allows it to access moisture from deeper soil layers. This resilience makes alfalfa more adaptable to drought conditions, ensuring a reliable forage supply even during dry periods, he added.
While reiterating the state’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and feed solutions, Additional Managing Director of PAIC, Mr. Jagnoor Singh Grewal, emphasised alfalfa farming as a high-nutrition forage crop that complements silage to ensure year-round fodder availability for livestock. Alfalfa is recognised for its high nutritional value, making it an ideal forage crop for livestock such as horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. As a three-year crop that can be cut six to eight times a year, alfalfa can improve the overall health of the farming system. It helps break pest and disease cycles and enhances the yields of subsequent crops.
Dr. Daniel H. Putnam, Alfalfa & Forage Extension Specialist from the University of California, Davis, delivered a keynote address on global best practices in alfalfa cultivation. The event also witnessed active participation from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including representatives from dairy farms, stud farms, goat farms, piggery units, and poultry farms. Leading players in the dairy and agri-food industries, such as Nestlé, Amul, Milkfed, ITC, Unilever, and Bani Milk, also attended the conference. Academicians, Scientist and Senior researchers from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University played a pivotal role in the discussions from crop agronomy and animal nutrition perspective.
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PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS CROSS-BORDER DRUG AND WEAPON SMUGGLING CARTEL; KINGPIN AMONG 12 HELD
— POLICE TEAMS RECOVER 2.19-KG HEROIN, THREE SOPHISTICATED PISTOLS, ₹2.60L DRUG MONEY AND FORTUNER CAR
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE
— KINGPIN MANJEET ALIAS BHOLA WAS IN DIRECT TOUCH PAK-BASED SMUGGLERS AND RECEIVING CONSIGNMENTS VIA DRONES, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV
— ACCUSED MANJEET USED TO STORE DRUG AND WEAPON CONSIGNMENTS AT ARRESTED ANGANWARI WORKER’S HOUSE: CP ASR GURPREET BHULLAR
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, January 3: In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted a cross-border drug and weapon smuggling cartel with the arrest of 12 persons, including kingpin identified as Manjeet Singh alias Bhola of village Jhanjoti in Ajnala, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
Other 11 arrested persons have been identified as Aniket Verma of Cheharta, Jobanpreet Singh alias Joban of Cheharta, Babli of Naraingarh in Cheharta, Harpreet Singh alias Happy of Guru Ki Wadali, Amritpal Singh Alias Ansh of Naraingarh in Cheharta, Reshma of Kartar Nagar in Cheharta, Harshpreet Singh alias Harman alias Hamma of village Thanda in Amritsar, Mandeep Singh alias Kaushal alias Joshi of village Fatehpur of Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi of village Fatehpur, Lovepreet Singh alias Jashan of village Fatehpur and Akashdeep Singh alias Arsh of Cheharta.
Police teams have recovered 2.19 Kg Heroin, three sophisticated pistols including two automatic and Rs 2.60 lakh drug money from their possession, besides, impounding their Toyota Fortuner car.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that accused Manjeet alias Bhola, who is a key player, was in direct contact with Pakistan-based smugglers/handlers and was receiving consignments of drugs and weapons from across the border. Probe revealed that consignments were being dropped at Ramdas and Ajnala border sectors with the help of drones, he added.
The DGP said that further investigations are on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case.
Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, while addressing a press conference, said that following a reliable input that accused Aniket has been into the drug smuggling business, police teams have successfully apprehended him. The arrest of Aniket has unearthed the entire network and led to the arrest of kingpin Manjeet alias Bhola and his all the accomplices from different locations, he said, while adding that five of the accused persons have been arrested from Jammu and Kashmir with the help of J&K Police.
The CP said that investigations have also revealed that accused Manjeet alias Bhola was using the house of arrested woman accused Babli, who is an Anganwari worker, to store the consignments and was using his accomplices to distribute further. Further investigations are ongoing to uncover the entire network and more arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days.
In this regard, a case FIR no. 226 dated 24.12.2024 has been registered under sections 21(B), (C)/27-A and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Chheharta in Amritsar.
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