DR. RAVI BHAGAT ASSUMES CHARGE AS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE CHIEF MINISTER
SAYS BENEFITS OF THE CITIZEN CENTRIC SERVICES WILL BE FURTHER ENSURED TO THE PEOPLE IN A TIME BOUND MANNER
Chandigarh, March 24:Decorated IAS officer Dr. Ravi Bhagat on Monday assumed the charge of Principal Secretary to the Punjab Chief Minister here at his office in the presence of senior officers of the state government.
Pertinently, Dr. Ravi Bhagat, a senior officer of the Indian Administrative service, had served the state government in various capacities. A 2006 batch IAS officer, Dr. Ravi Bhagat has a penchant for out of the box ideas to improve the delivery of citizen centric services to people. He is known for his proactive and responsive approach towards public service.
A doctorate in Geopolitics of MSP, Dr. Ravi Bhagat had started his coveted service as Sub Divisional Magistrate Malout 2008-2009 followed by which he served as Deputy Commissioner in Faridkot, Amritsar and Ludhiana. Apart from serving as Chief Administrator Punjab Urban Development Authority and GMADA, Secretary Mandi Board, CEO e-Governance, Director Public Relations, Secretary New and Renewable energy Resource, Dr. Ravi Bhagat has been smoothly and effectively rendering his services Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister from 2021 till now. The officer has been credited for introducing several new innovations in Health, Education, social security and mobile governance sectors.
The path breaking initiatives taken by Dr. Ravi Bhagat for facilitating people by streamlining the services during the Covid 19 pandemic was lauded by one and all. The young officer also has several prestigious national and international awards and honors in his kitty. Likewise, under his guidance Guinness book of world record was created in 2015 when 10,000 students participated in anti-drug addiction campaign and another Guinness book of world record was created in 2018 when 82 nationalities sung a song for peace.
Meanwhile, chairing a meeting after taking charge of office, the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister said that percolation of pro-people and development oriented policies of the state government led by the Chief Minister Mr Bhagwant Singh Mann will be his top priority. Dr. Ravi Bhagat said that as per the commitment of the state government, thrust will also be laid on key sectors like education, health, employment and others. He said that the benefits of the citizen centric services will be further ensured to the people in a stipulated and time bound manner.
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Project reports of two agencies for providing irrigation water to Nurpur Bedi's mountainous region under review of SEs Committee: Barindar Kumar Goyal
Says, necessary action to be taken as per technical feasibility and fund availability before sending the project report to CWC for approval
Chandigarh, March 24:Punjab Water Resources Minister Mr. Barindar Kumar Goyal, on Monday, informed the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that efforts are being made on a war footing to provide canal water for irrigation to 75 villages in Nurpur Bedi block of Ropar district and action will soon be taken in this regard.
In response to a question raised by MLA from Ropar Mr. Dinesh Kumar Chadha, about the status of the feasibility study for providing canal water for irrigation to 75 villages in Ropar district, the Cabinet Minister said that Expressions of Interest (EOI) proposals have been submitted by two agencies, which are under review by a committee of senior officials for final decision. Necessary action will be taken according to technical feasibility and availability of funds after which it will be sent to the Central Water Commission for further approval, he informed.
Sh. Barindar Kumar Goyal said that expression of interest notices were floated twice to examine the feasibility of the project. Two agencies participated in this earlier process. However, when the agencies were asked to provide detailed information about the project, they failed to give an appropriate response. The EOI had to be cancelled and subsequently reissued, to which again two agencies applied.
The Cabinet Minister said that this area is mountainous and surrounded by natural streams. Due to its elevated position, it is not possible to provide irrigation water through the canal system. Therefore, an EOI was floated to determine the project's overall impact and how water could be delivered to this area. He said that there are three potential sources through which water can be reached to this region. The first is to take water from Nangal Dam through a pipe network or by lifting water from the dam. The second method is to draw water from the Swan River and store it, but the difficulty is that the Swan River flows only during the monsoon and there is no water after three to four months. The third approach is to collect water from Sri Anandpur Sahib Hydel Channel through silos or overhead service reservoirs and deliver it to the area through lifting. He said that the EOI tender was floated to select the best method from these options.
The Water Resources Minister informed that the project reports from the agencies are under review by a committee of Superintending Engineers (SEs) for final decision. The SEs will conduct a complete study and after checking its feasibility, it will be sent to the Central Water Commission for further action, he added.
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Punjab Government Releases ₹12.99 Crore for Beneficiaries from Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections: Dr. Baljit Kaur
2,549 Beneficiaries Across 18 Districts to Receive Assistance Under the Ashirwad Scheme
State Government Provides ₹51,000 to Eligible Families for Daughters' Marriages
Chandigarh, March 24:Punjab’s Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur, announced that the Punjab Government has released ₹12.99 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme for the financial year 2024-25. This amount will benefit 2,549 individuals from backward classes and economically weaker sections.
Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that applications for financial assistance under the Ashirwad Scheme were received through the Ashirwad Portal from beneficiaries belonging to backward classes and economically weaker sections in 18 districts, including Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Patiala, Pathankot, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Tarn Taran. To cover these 2,549 beneficiaries, ₹12.99 crore has been allocated.
The Minister further elaborated that financial assistance has been provided to beneficiaries across the following districts: 38 in Barnala, 33 in Bathinda, 62 in Faridkot, 8 in Ferozepur, 28 in Fatehgarh Sahib, 67 in Fazilka, 195 in Hoshiarpur, 85 in Jalandhar, and 27 in Kapurthala. Additionally, 175 beneficiaries in Mansa, 89 in Sri Muktsar Sahib, 406 in Patiala, 224 in Pathankot, 384 in Rupnagar, 230 in SAS Nagar, 280 in Sangrur, 99 in Malerkotla, and 119 in Tarn Taran have received financial assistance.
Dr. Baljit Kaur reiterated that under the Ashirwad Scheme, the state government provides financial assistance of ₹51,000 to girls from low-income families for their marriages.
She emphasized that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the welfare of all sections of society, including Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and economically weaker sections.
The Minister further highlighted that to avail of the benefits of the Ashirwad Scheme, applicants must be permanent residents of Punjab, belong to families below the poverty line (BPL), and be from Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, or other economically weaker sections. The total annual family income should be less than ₹32,790. Additionally, up to two daughters from an eligible family can benefit from this scheme.
Dr. Baljit Kaur added that the financial assistance is directly transferred to beneficiaries' bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). She affirmed that the Punjab Government is making rapid strides in improving the standard of living for all citizens and strengthening them economically.
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PUNJAB GOVERNMENT RELEASES 450 MORE FARMERS FROM POLICE DETENTION
— CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN LED PUNJAB GOVT DECIDES TO RELEASE FARMERS INCLUDING WOMEN, DIFFERENTLY-ABLED INDIVIDUALS, FARMERS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS, AND THOSE ABOVE THE AGE OF 60
— 800 FARMERS WERE ALREADY RELEASED AND 450 MORE TO BE RELEASED TODAY: IGP SUKHCHAIN SINGH GILL
— PATIALA POLICE APPOINTS SP JASBIR SINGH AS NODAL OFFICER TO ADDRESS CONCERNS REGARDING FARMERS’ BELONGINGS; FARMERS CAN DIAL 90713-00002 TO REACH HIM
CHANDIGARH, March 24:Adopting a considerate approach towards farmers, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has decided to immediately release 450 more farmers from the police detention.
Sharing details, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, on Monday, informed that Punjab Government has already released approximately 800 farmers from the police custody.
He further emphasised that the Punjab Chief Minister has directed the immediate release of farmers including women, differently-abled individuals, farmers with medical conditions, and those above the age of 60. "In line with the directives of the Punjab Government, we are prioritising the release of such farmers and about 450 farmers are being released today," he said.
Addressing about another grievance of the farmers related to their belongings, the IGP said that Punjab Government has issued strict directions in this regard and nobody will be permitted to misappropriate the belongings of farmers.
“To address the concern about belonging of farmers, the Patiala district police has also appointed SP-rank officer Jasbir Singh, as the Nodal Officer, and farmers facing issues related to their possessions can directly contact SP Jasbir Singh at the mobile number 90713-00002 for immediate assistance,” informed Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, while adding that Patiala Police has already registered three first information reports (FIRs) in this regard.
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Punjab Government Approves Jalalabad Bypass to Solve Traffic Woes: Harbhajan Singh ETO
* Assures to Build Under Bridge at Tanda Railway Level Crossing
* Reconstruction of Causeway on Mubarakpur to Dhakoli Road Under Consideration
Chandigarh, March 24-The Punjab government has approved the construction of a bypass in Jalalabad city on the Ferozepur-Fazilka road to ease traffic congestion.
Responding to a query in the Legislative Assembly, Punjab PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO informed that administrative approval for constructing the bypass from Ferozepur-Fazilka Road (Bagho ke Uttar) to FF Road (Amir Khas) (Shaheed Udham Singh Marg) has been issued by the Secretary, Punjab Mandi Board. The 8.75 km long and 5.5 meter wide road will be constructed along the canal and serve as a bypass for Jalalabad city, helping streamline traffic flow.
Regarding the reconstruction of the causeway on Mubarakpur to Dhakoli Road, the Cabinet Minister said the existing 330-meter-long (including approach roads) and 8-meter-wide causeway was damaged in the July 2023 floods. While temporary repairs were made as per SDRF norms, the structure now requires permanent repairs due to heavy vehicle movement. Girders installed to restrict heavy vehicles have been damaged. The estimated repair cost is ₹44.87 lakh, with work to commence after budget approval.
The Minister added that a project to construct a new 150-meter-long causeway is under consideration at an estimated cost of ₹18 crore, with completion expected in 18-24 months.
On the construction of a railway under bridge at Tanda Phatak Level Crossing on the Sahnewal-Jalandhar-Amritsar line in Jalandhar district, Mr. ETO stated the proposal is under consideration. Administrative approval for the ₹13.06 crore project has been received. The Public Works Department will construct approach roads while work within railway boundaries will be handled by the Railway Department.
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Approach road to Thermal Plant Ghanauli will get facelift soon: Harbhajan Singh ETO
Assures the house to conduct high-level meeting of all stakeholders
Chandigarh, March 24-Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the approach road to Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant, Ghanauli will get a facelift soon and a high-level meeting of all stakeholders will be conducted shortly.
Responding to a call attention notice in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Harbhajan Singh ETO said that Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant, Ghanauli (Ropar) is currently accessed by two roads. He said that the thermal plant has already constructed its approach road from village Malikpur near BML bridge of NH-205 to Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant along the canal, and the maintenance of this road is also being done by them. The length of this road is about three kilometres. This road is used by the thermal plant for the movement of heavy vehicles.
The Cabinet Minister said that apart from this, the thermal plant is also accessible from NH-205 (from Chandpur to Lohgarh) up to the Thermal Plant via Gujarat Ambuja Cement Factory in village Nuhon. This is a link road of the Public Works Department which is 5.90 km long and 22 feet wide.
Due to the movement of heavy vehicles belonging to Gujarat Ambuja Cement Factory and the Super Thermal Plant on this road, the people of the adjoining villages face significant difficulties, and accidents often occur on this stretch. The residents of the adjoining villages had stopped the movement of tippers carrying pond ash from the thermal plant due to dust pollution. He said that meetings are underway with the local administration, Public Works Department and local residents regarding the plan for a major route for commercial vehicles of the thermal plant.
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FINANCE MINISTER HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA DIRECTS TAXATION DEPARTMENT TO MAXIMIZE TAXPAYER PARTICIPATION IN GST AMNESTY SCHEME
MOVE AIMS TO ENABLE TAXPAYERS TO AVAIL BENEFITS OF GST AMNESTY SCHEME, AND RECOVERY OF REVENUE CURRENTLY LOCKED IN ARREARS
FINANCE MINISTER ALSO REVIEWS GST COLLECTION, LUDHIANA AND AMRITSAR DIVISIONS IDENTIFIED AS KEY CONTRIBUTORS
DIRECTING OFFICERS TO ENSURE CURRENT ARREARS ARE PROMPTLY RECOVERED
Chandigarh, March 24-Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister, Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, has issued a directive to maximize taxpayer participation in the GST amnesty scheme introduced for non-fraud cases. The Minister emphasized the importance of proactive engagement through comprehensive public awareness campaigns, utilizing traditional advertising and social media platforms to inform eligible taxpayers about the scheme's benefits.
Chairing a crucial meeting with senior officers of the Taxation Department at Punjab Bhawan, the Finance Minister stressed the need for sensitizing field staff to personally engage with taxpayers and facilitate the application process. This move aims to enable taxpayers to avail the benefits of the GST amnesty scheme and facilitate the recovery of revenue currently locked in arrears, thereby bolstering the financial health of the state.
The GST Amnesty Scheme, introduced under Section 128A of CGST Act, aims to ease the compliance burden on taxpayers by waiving interest and penalties on tax demands raised under Section 73. The GST Amnesty Scheme allows taxpayers to clear their outstanding dues pertaining to the financial year 2017-18 to 2019-20 by March 31, 2025. Additionally, the corresponding forms must be submitted by June 30, 2025.
The Finance Minister also issued a stern directive to all officers, mandating the attainment of established revenue targets without exception. During the meeting, the Finance Minister was briefed on the overall revenue growth, with a focus on Value Added Tax (VAT) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections.
Notably, VAT collection demonstrated a 5.74% increase, while GST revenue witnessed a more substantial growth of 13.39% up to February 2025. The divisions of Ludhiana and Amritsar were identified as key contributors to this success, exhibiting above-average performance in GST revenue collection.
The Finance Minister also reviewed outstanding Goods and Services Tax (GST) arrears, directing officers to ensure current arrears are promptly recovered and prevented from becoming part of the accumulated backlog. He emphasized the need for strict enforcement measures to avoid further delays and secure timely revenue collection.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary (Taxation) Jaspreet Talwar, Taxation Commissioner Varun Roojam, Additional Commissioners, Joint Commissioners, and Deputy Commissioners of State Tax of the Divisions.
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FINANCE MINISTER HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO PUNJAB GOVERNOR FOR HIS INSIGHTFUL SPEECH
HIGHLIGHTS HIS GOVERNMENT’S ACHIEVEMENTS DRAWING SHARP CONTRAST WITH CONGRESS AND SAD-BJP LED PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS
FREE ELECTRICITY FOR THE PEOPLE: A PROMISE FULFILLED
HISTORIC DECISION: ACQUISITION OF PRIVATE THERMAL PLANT AT GOINDWAL SAHIB
HEALTH REVOLUTION IN PUNJAB: AAM AADMI CLINICS TRANSFORM LIVES
EDUCATION SECTOR SEES 57% BUDGET INCREASE
OVER RS 90,000 CRORE INVESTED IN THE STATE
YUUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH: PUNJAB GOVERNMENT'S UNRELENTING EFFORTS
EMPOWERING YOUTH AND PROMOTING SPORTS
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OF RS 1 CRORE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES OF SOLDIERS
Chandigarh, March 24-Highlighting the remarkable achievements of the Punjab government under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, while drawing a sharp contrast with the previous administrations led by Congress and Akali-BJP, Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday expressed gratitude to Punjab Governor Mr. Gulab Chand Kataria for his insightful speech in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema began his speech by recalling the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) promise during the 2022 elections to provide free electricity to the people of Punjab. He proudly announced that this promise was fulfilled within three months of the government’s formation, with 90 percent of domestic electricity consumers now receiving zero electricity bills. He also higlighted the government’s historic decision to acquire the private thermal plant at Goindwal Sahib, a project worth Rs 6000 crore, for just Rs 1080 crore, ensuring it be a public asset, a first in Punjab’s history.
Taking a dig at the previous governments led by Congress, Finance Minister Cheema criticized Congress party’s walk-out during the session, attributing it to their inability to confront the current government’s success in clearing the Rs 9000 crore subsidy arrears left by the Congress led state government.
Referring to the Aam Aadmi Party's promise to bring a health revolution in the state, the Finance Minister highlighted the transformative impact of Aam Aadmi Clinics, which have provided free treatment, tests, and medicines to countless citizens, contrasting this with the Congress-led government’s failure to recruit adequately for healthcare positions. He said that during the Congress-led government, an advertisement for 547 posts was issued, out of which only 43 people were recruited. He said that current government not only recruited specialist doctors but the government hospitals are also being transformed.
In the education sector, Finance Minister Cheema higlighted a 57 percent increase in budget by the AAP led Punjab Government. He lauded initiatives such as the School of Eminence and international teacher training programs, while condemning the Congress government’s plans to close 1207 schools, a decision thwarted by the Aam Aadmi Party. He said that most of the leaders of the opposition parties got education in heavily charged private schools, therefore were unaware of the condition of government schools in the state.
Finance Minister Cheema also underscored the government’s success in attracting over Rs 90,000 crore in investments, attributing this to the state’s improved law and order under Chief Minister Mann’s leadership. He credited the Anti-Gangster Task Force for dismantling gangster culture, which he said had flourished under the Congress regime. “Congress party gave birth to gangster culture in the state; gangsters from other states were brought and kept in Punjab jails”, said Cheema.
On the issue of drug eradication, Finance Minister Cheema detailed the government’s “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, which has led to 2200 FIRs, 3800 arrests, and the demolition of 43 illegally constructed properties of drug dealers, so far. He said that for the first time during the Akali-BJP government, the people of the state heard the name of ‘Chitta’. “After this, Captain Amarinder Singh took an oath to end drugs by holding Gutka Sahib exactly 35 km from Talwandi Sabo, but later during the Congress regime, this drug business flourished further”, he added.
Finance Minister Cheema highlighted the government’s efforts to provide employment to over 50,000 youth and promote sports through initiatives like ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ and the plan to establish 1000 sports nurseries. He also highlighted the appointment of accomplished sports persons to high-ranking positions to inspire the younger generation.
Stressing on the need to save groundwater to save agriculture, Finance Minister Cheema said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led government’s took initiatives to savr groundwater by ensuring canal water supply to the tail end after decades besides ensuring hours of uninterrupted electricity for agriculture . He also mentioned the continuation of electricity subsidies for tubewells.
Finance Minister Cheema also reaffirmed the government’s dedication to honoring the sacrifices of soldiers by providing financial assistance of Rs 1 crore to their families. He also highlighted the government’s efforts to manage the state’s debt, pay off interest, and regularize teacher services, contrasting these achievements with the failures of previous SAD-BJP and Congress led governments.
"The previous Akali-BJP and Congress governments have left Punjab with a staggering debt burden of approximately Rs 3 lakh crore. The interest on this debt alone is a whopping Rs 20,000 crore annually, which is a significant drain on the state's finances. While efforts are being made to repay the principal amount, a substantial portion of the budget is still being allocated towards paying off the interest, putting a strain on the state's resources", said the Finance Minister.
Talking about employees issues, the Finance Minister highlighted AAP led state government's efforts to pay the dues of about Rs 14,500 crore, owed to employees when the Congress government issued the 6th Pay Commission. He stated that the services of the maximum number of teachers have been regularized in Punjab, and non-permanent teachers are now receiving a salary of Rs 25000, up from Rs 6000 during the Congress party government.
Concluding his speech, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Aam Aadmi Party has made remarkable strides in Punjab, despite being only 8 years old in the state's legislative assembly. He said that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government has been consistently driving progress and development in the state.
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HARJOT BAINS DEDICATES NEW BUS FOR ROPAR SCHOOL TO EMPOWER EDUCATION JOURNEY
• Over 12K students taking advantage of 230 buses of School Education dept
• EM Bains reaffirms CM Mann led Punjab Govt’s unwavering commitment to ensure all students’ access to quality education
CHANDIGARH, March 24:Further empowering the education journey for the students of Government Schools in the state, Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains dedicated a brand new bus, having 31 seating capacity, for Government Senior Secondary Smart School, Sukhsal in Ropar district.
SML Isuzu's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Rakesh Bhalla, presented the new bus to the school education department as part of the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
S. Harjot Singh Bains said that this generous initiative will greatly improve the school's transportation capabilities, ensuring safe and comfortable travel for all students.
Reaffirming the commitment of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government to elevate the standards of school education to world-class levels, S. Harjot Singh Bains stated that the school education department already possessed 230 buses and over 12,000 government school students have been availing the transportation facility. It reflects the government's unwavering commitment to supporting education, besides ensuring that all students have access to quality learning opportunities.
He said that the bus will play a vital role in facilitating student access to school, extracurricular activities, and educational excursions. This new transportation resource will ensure that students can readily participate in the enriching experiences, fostering a more inclusive and vibrant learning environment, he added.
Expressing happiness over receiving the new bus for school, Mr. Gurdeep Kumar Sharma, Principal of Government Senior Secondary Smart School, Sukhsal, expressed gratitude towards the Education Minister for his relentless efforts to ensure the quality education in government schools. He also highlighted the importance of the new bus and its positive impact on the students.
Chairman Punjab School Education Board Dr. Amarpal Singh, senior officials of school education department, SML Isuzu’s Secretary Mr. Parvesh Madan and Chief Manager Vivek Chanana were also present on the occasion.
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Deputy Speaker Rouri Tables Estimates Committee Report in Punjab Vidhan Sabha
Chandigarh, March 24, 2025-During the ongoing session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Singh Rouri, serving as the Chairman of the Estimates Committee, presented the committee’s report on the budget estimates of the Department of Forest and Wildlife Protection and the Department of Revenue and Rehabilitation.
While presenting the report, Deputy Speaker Rouri stated that the committee had conducted a thorough review of the budgetary provisions, held detailed discussions with departmental officials and submitted comprehensive recommendations to the House.
The report on the Revenue and Rehabilitation Department includes key recommendations such as ensuring timely attendance of revenue officials in offices, strict monitoring of patwaris and conducting surprise inspections to address delays in property transfers, and streamlining the land registration process by enhancing online services for public convenience.
Streamlining the land registration process by enhancing online services for public convenience.
Similarly, the report on the Department of Forest and Wildlife Protection emphasizes optimal utilization of budget allocations to enhance efficiency, regularization of daily wage and contractual employees to improve workforce stability, and fair and transparent transfers of officials and employees. The committee has also recommended massive afforestation efforts by planting native trees such as Kikar, Tahli, Jang Karir, Jamun, Mango, Dek, Neem, Bohar, and Pipal on vacant government lands, riverbanks, canals, drains, and roadsides.
Deputy Speaker Rouri highlighted that 29 state government departments were selected for examination this year. The Committee scrutinized records, conducted oral examinations of officials, and thoroughly reviewed financial estimates.
Emphasizing the importance of judicious use of public funds, Rouri stated, "The budget allocated by the House represents the hard-earned money of the people. Departments must ensure that these funds are utilized efficiently and transparently for the maximum welfare of citizens."
He concluded by expressing gratitude to all esteemed Committee Members and the supporting team of the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat for their efforts in preparing the report.
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Punjab to Develop Bathinda Lakes as a Tourism Hub After Receiving Proposal: Tarunpreet Singh Sond
Chandigarh, March 24:Punjab is actively undertaking conservation and restoration work on various historical monuments and tourist sites across the state.
Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, while responding to a question in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, stated that the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs is focused on preserving and restoring historically significant monuments and tourist destinations in different districts. He further added that if the Bathinda district authorities submit a proposal to develop Bathinda lakes into a food hub or a tourism site, the Punjab government will give it priority.
In response to MLA Jagroop Singh Gill’s query, Tarunpreet Singh Sond emphasized that if the Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda submits a detailed proposal for the beautification and development of Bathinda lakes as a tourist destination and food hub, the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department will take prompt action.
Adding his insights, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan remarked that Punjab is one of the most beautiful places in the world, boasting mountains, rivers, lakes, and diverse weather conditions. He also highlighted Punjab’s historical forts and religious sites, underscoring the state's rich cultural, religious and natural heritage. The Speaker suggested that a comprehensive plan should be devised to boost tourism in Punjab.
In response, Tarunpreet Singh Sond affirmed that Punjab is unique in terms of tourism and that the government is already working on numerous projects. He assured that future initiatives would further elevate Punjab’s tourism sector to new heights.
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PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS PAK-BACKED NARCO-TERRORISM HAWALA NETWORK; 11 HELD, ₹5-Cr IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES RECOVERED
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A DRUG-FREE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN
— POLICE TEAMS ALSO RECOVER 372 GRAMS GOLD, IMPOUND FOUR LUXURY VEHICLES
— ARRESTED ACCUSED HARBHAJ ALIAS BHEJA EMERGES AS MASTERMIND, WAS IN CONTACT WITH PAKISTANI-DRUG SMUGGLER SHEHBAZ FROM INSIDE THE JAIL, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV
— ANTF TEAMS ALSO IDENTIFIED PROPERTIES WORTH HUNDRED OF CRORES, PROCESS INITIATED TO FREEZE THEM: DGP PUNJAB
— PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS 3868 DRUG SMUGGLERS AFTER REGISTRATION OF 2177 FIRs IN 24 DAYS; RECOVERS 135KG HEROIN, 82KG OPIUM AND ₹5.42-CR DRUG MONEY
CHANDIGARH, March 24:Striking a major blow to the narco-terrorism hawala networks amidst the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police with the support of Central Agencies has arrested 11 persons— including five drug smugglers, three drug hawala money couriers and three hawala traders— and recovered drug money in different foreign currencies amounting to Rs 5.09 crores, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.
The arrested drug smugglers have been identified as Harjinder Singh alias Ajay (26) of Ram Talai in Amritsar, Harmanjit Singh alias Harry (27) of Guru Nanak Colony in Amritsar, Sagar (28) of Naraingarh in Chheharta of Amritsar, Lavdeep Singh (30) alias Lala of Husanpura Kalan in Batala and Harbhaj Singh (30) alias Bheja of Kakkar in Amritsar, while, drug hawala money couriers have been identified as Saurav alias Saurav Mahajan (24) of Joda Phatak in Amritsar, Tanush (28) of Ghah Mandi Chowk of Amritsar and Harminder Singh (28) alias Harry of Damganj in Amritsar.
The arrested Hawala traders have been identified as Ashok Kumar Sharma (60), an owner of Phagwara-based Sharma Forex Money Changer, and his accomplices Rajesh Kumar (50) of Mutiarpur Mohalla in Phagwara and Amit Bansal alias Sunil (47) of Sukhchain Nagar in Phagwara.
The development came following two months of meticulous investigations and sustained follow-up of backward and forward linkages in the arrest of two individuals Harjinder Singh alias Ajay and Harmanjit Singh alias Harry after recovering 263 grams heroin and Rs 5.60 lakh drug money from their possession on January 21, 2025.
DGP Gaurav Yadav, while addressing a press conference, said during the investigations in this case police teams from ANTF arrested three hawala money couriers Saurav Mahajan, Tanush and Harminder alias Harry on the very next day, and recovered Rs 47.50 lakhs drug money, besides impounding their Mahindra XUV 300 vehicle. Following the trail of investigations, on January 24, police teams have successfully arrested two more drug smugglers identified as Sagar and Lavdeep Singh alias Lala, and Rs 5 lakh drug money along with an Activa scooter and 160 grams heroin were recovered from them, he added.
The further investigations into this case has led the police teams to expose the role of an inmate lodged in Central Jail Amritsar identified as Harbhaj Singh alias Bheja, who emerged as the mastermind of this racket and was found to be in contact with Pakistani drug smuggler Shahbaz from inside the jail, he said, while adding that on January 26, the accused was brought on production warrant from Central Jail Amritsar and formally arrested in this case.
Pertinently, Pakistani smuggler Shehbaz, a resident of village Burewal in district Narowal had illegally entered India, and FIR under relevant sections was registered against him in February 2021, following which, he had remained lodged in Central Jail, Amritsar before his deportation to Pakistan.
The DGP said that preliminary investigations have revealed that accused Harbhaj Singh and Harmanjit alias Harry were introduced to Pak-based smuggler Shehbaz, when they together were lodged in the Central Jail Amritsar. After his release from the jail, the latter established a link with these individuals via mobile phones to run the drug smuggling business and also involved Harminder alias Harry in this business, he added.
During interrogation, arrested accused Harmanjit and Harminder revealed that they were using services of Sharma Forex Money Exchanger and Forex Advisor in Phagwara to deposit drug money as per the instructions of Pakistani smuggler Shehbaz, he said, while adding that, police teams have nominated the owner Ashok Sharma and his accomplice Sunil in the case and arrested both of them on March 17 and March 18 respectively.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that based on technical information, police teams have also arrested Ashok Sharma’s another associate identified as Rajesh alias Bobby from his house and Rs 50.50 lakh was recovered his possession.
He said that during the further course of investigations police teams have recovered an additional Rs 36.59 lakhs (taking total recovery of Indian currency to Rs 1.45 crores), 2,63,630 Euros, 7000 US Dollars, 10,020 Canadian Dollars, 27,500 Pounds and 285 Dirhams, besides, recovering 372 grams gold from different locations. Apart from Mahindra XUV 300, Police teams have also impounded their three more vehicles including BMW, Mahindra Thar Automatic and Hyundai i10.
The DGP said that the ANTF has also identified illegal properties of this network worth of Rs 100s of crores and the process has been initiated to freeze them under section 68F of the NDPS act. Probe has also revealed that the network unearthed till now spans from Amritsar to Tarn Taran to Phagwara to Panchkula, he said.
“Police teams have nominated seven more persons in this case and manhunt is on to nab them,” he added.
Meanwhile, sharing outcomes of the 24 days of ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, the DGP said that Punjab Police arrested of 3868 drug smugglers after registering of 2177 first information reports (FIRs) across the state since March 1, 2025. During this drive, Police teams have recovered 135.5 kg heroin, 82.9 kg opium, 1419 kg poppy husk, 34.24 kg Ganja, 7.58 lakh intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, 1 kg ICE and Rs 5.42 crores drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, he said.
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Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh responds to call attention notice in assembly regarding inclusion of 12 Gram Panchayats of Amritsar (North) into Municipal Corporation
Chandigarh, March 24:Responding to a question raised through an call attention notice by MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Punjab Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh said that necessary procedures and processes must be followed regarding the inclusion of 12 gram panchayats of Amritsar (North) constituency into the Amritsar Municipal Corporation.
The Cabinet Minister said that Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh had raised this matter during a meeting of the Panchayati Raj Institutions Committee of Punjab Legislative Assembly on January 24, 2024. Subsequently, some of the 12 gram panchayats passed resolutions in February 2024 requesting the inclusion of their areas into the Amritsar Municipal Corporation.
The Local Government Minister said that new panchayats have been constituted following the gram panchayat elections held last October. In this regard, it would be appropriate for the newly formed gram panchayat institutions to pass fresh resolutions regarding their inclusion in the Municipal Corporation.
He further said that after the urban local body elections held in December 2024, a new house of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation was constituted on January 28, 2025. When the Municipal Corporation house would pass the resolution regarding the inclusion of these gram panchayats, further action will be initiated under Section 3(6) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976.
The department is in continuous contact with the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of Amritsar Municipal Corporation regarding this matter, he added.
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Vigilance Bureau and Food Safety dept conducts surprise checks on dairies and shops; Seizes samples for testing
Chandigarh, March 24, 2025 –In a decisive move to combat food adulteration in the state, teams from the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) and the Food Safety department conducted surprise inspections at several dairies in Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar on Monday.
Disclosing this, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the joint operation resulted in the collection of multiple samples of milk, curd, and paneer for laboratory testing, signaling the government's intensified crackdown on adulterated food products.
The spokesperson added that the raids, led by Food Safety Officer Satwinder Singh and VB Inspector Shakunt Choudhary, inspected Imaan Dairy, located near Jyoti Saroop Chowk, Fatehgarh Sahib where samples of milk, curd, and paneer were collected. Additionally, milk samples were seized from Cheema Dairy, situated opposite Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib for further analysis.
The VB issued a stern warning, stating, "The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards food adulteration. A sustained campaign to root out this menace would continue in the coming days. He emphasized that legal action would be swift and severe if any adulteration is confirmed through laboratory testing”.
Checking conducted in Rupnagar as well
In a parallel operation, the Vigilance Bureau, under the supervision of SSP/VB Rupnagar range Arun Saini, DSP/VB Unit Rupnagar Gurcharan Singh and Assistant Commissioner Manjinder Singh from the Health and Food Safety Department, Rupnagar, conducted surprise inspections at various locations in Rupnagar.
The teams, including Food Safety Officer Simranjit Singh (Rupnagar-1) and Dinesh Jot Singh, collected samples of soya chaap, spring rolls, momos, bakery items, bread and ghee from unlicensed vendors. The spokesperson added that samples were sent to laboratories to check for quality and purity. Besides, notices were issued to owners operating without licenses or maintaining poor hygiene standards, and fines were imposed in several cases.
He further added that during the inspections, dairy owners, sweet shops and food joint owners were formally cautioned about the consequences of adulteration and briefed on the state's ongoing campaign to ensure food safety. The VB teams, in collaboration with the Health and Food Safety Administration, have been conducting statewide operations, with particular attention to areas where adulteration is believed to be more prevalent. “Citizens were also encouraged to report suspected cases of food adulteration through the VB’s dedicated helpline, with assurances of confidentiality and prompt action,” he said.
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Appeal to Urban citizens to participate actively in Swachhta Survekshan
People’s participation in Swachhta Survekshan holds key to a clean future: Dr. Ravjot Singh
All ULBs to make Swachhta Survekshan a people’s campaign
Chandigarh, March 24:The Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh has appealed to the residents of all ULBs of the state to participate actively in Swachhta Survekshan-2025.
Dr. Ravjot Singh said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the department has taken the initiative to make all the cities of the state green and clean because only then the dream of a colourful Punjab can be fulfilled. He said that the participation of citizens in the Swachhta Survekshan is the key to a clean future. Along with this, he has directed all the ULBs to make this cleanliness survey a people's campaign.
The Local Government Minister exhorted all the urban residents to actively participate in the Swachh Survekshan 2025 by giving their valuable feedback on the cleanliness and sanitation services in their area. This is important to improve the ranking of their respective cities in this nationwide cleanliness survey and help create a clean, healthy environment for all.
The Minister further said that Swachh Survekshan is an annual survey conducted under the Swachh Bharat Mission, which assesses the cleanliness and sanitation standards across cities and towns in India.
Encouraging residents to share their feedback, the Municipal Commissioner or Executive Officer said, “The feedback from residents plays a vital role in evaluating municipal services, including waste management, public hygiene, and waste segregation. This feedback also helps in ensuring improvements to our urban infrastructure and sanitation services, making sure that our cities continue to grow in cleanliness and sustainability.”
By participating in Swachh Survekshan, citizens are directly contributing to better sanitation services in their neighbourhoods. Citizen feedback will help improve waste collection, waste segregation, cleanliness in public spaces, and other essential facilities. The Municipal Commissioner or Executive Officer further added, “Not only will this feedback ensure that the services provided meet your needs, but it will also help our city earn a better ranking, showcasing our collective commitment to cleanliness at both the state and national levels.”
Participating in this survey is simple and accessible for everyone. Citizens can sign up with their mobile number through the official Swachhta Survey portal or by scanning the given QR code with their smartphone and answering the survey-related questions in Punjabi, Hindi or English language as per their convenience. It takes only two to three minutes to complete the survey. The Municipal Corporation/Municipal Council/Nagar Panchayat is committed to engaging all citizens in this essential process, and your feedback will help us in making real time improvements in the quality of sanitation services in our area. Your participation matters, and by contributing, you ensure that your voice is heard in shaping the cleanliness and development of our city.
For any queries or assistance, please contact the concerned ULB.
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