Page 31 - Punjab

Delhi L-G slams city, Punjab govts over air pollution; AAP hits back

Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena came down heavily on the AAP governments in Punjab and Delhi on Thursday, alleging that the former is playing "truant" on the issue of stubble burning and the latter involved in "over-hyped events" like the odd-even road-rationing scheme, while the national capital is gasping for breath due to alarming levels of air pollution. Setting the stage for a fresh confrontation between the LG's office and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dispensation in Delhi, Saxena asserted that blaming others for the pollution problem will not help and the solution lies within the city itself. In a statement, the AAP said the Delhi government has taken a slew of measures over the past several years, which has led to a significant improvement in the air quality, as was appreciated in the Economic Survey 2022-23 tabled in Parliament. The party said it has taken several measures even in Punjab and if the Centre provides a subsidy, many more things can be done to curb farm fires. As t

Punjab Guv gives approval to table 3rd money Bill; prorogues Budget session

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit Thursday gave his approval to a money Bill, one of the three proposed legislations withholding consent to which created a row, to table it in the assembly, and also prorogued the Budget session that was convened in March. The governor's approval is mandatory to table a money bill in the Vidhan Sabha. Official sources said on Thursday the governor has approved the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Earlier, he had approved two other money Bills: the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2023. The governor, meanwhile, also prorogued the Budget session, a day after the Punjab Assembly secretariat wrote to Purohit for it. "The fourth (Budget) session of Sixteenth Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which was adjourned sine-die at the conclusion of its sitting held on the 20th October, 2023 has been prorogued by an order of the Governor of Punjab, dated 15th November

Punjab reports over 1,200 farm fires despite red alert; Delhi AQI 'severe'

Punjab reported more than 1,200 stubble burning incidents on Thursday, while air quality indices turned 'severe' and 'very poor' in neighbouring Haryana. The fresh crop residue burning cases indicated that there was no let up in such cases despite the Punjab Police sounding a red alert in all the districts, warning of legal action against those found burning stubble. Moreover, flying squads have also been keeping a vigil on stubble burning in the state. Amid a spike in pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court on November 7 directed Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to ensure crop residue burning was stopped "forthwith", saying it cannot let "people die" due to pollution. Punjab on Thursday reported 1,271 farm fires, taking the total number of such cases to 31,932. Of the farm fires reported on Thursday, Moga recorded maximum such cases at 237, followed by 170 in Bathinda, 145 in Barnala, 129 in Sangrur, 113 in Faridkot and 110 in Ludhiana, according to the Punja

Farm fires: Punjab sounds red alert, violators to face legal action

A red alert has been sounded in all the districts of Punjab and legal action will be initiated if anyone found burning stubble, said a senior police official on Wednesday. The move is aimed at ensuring compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court to put a full stop to crop residue burning. Amid a spike in pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, the apex court on November 7 directed Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to ensure crop residue burning was stopped "forthwith", saying it cannot let "people die" due to pollution. Thereafter, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav had appointed special DGP (law and order) Arpit Shukla as the nodal officer to monitor action against stubble burning. Shukla on Wednesday said commissioners of police and senior superintendents of police have been directed to sensitise farmers, citizens and various stakeholders about the ill-effects of the stubble burning, which is also a violation of law and action could be initiated against ...

Total farm fires cross the 30,000-mark in Punjab since September 15

Stubble burning incidents crossed the 30,000 mark in two months in Punjab which reported 2,544 fresh farm fires on Wednesday, while air quality turned "severe" again in Delhi and was in 'very poor' category in neighbouring Haryana. Punjab had reported 67,020 and 45,464 stubble burning incidents in the corresponding period (September 15 to November 15) of 2021 and 2022 respectively. The crop residue burning incidents are on the upswing for the past few days. Punjab had reported 639 such cases on November 9, six on November 10, 104 on November 11, 987 on November 12, 1,624 on November 13 and 1,776 on November 14. Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is considered one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November. Punjab on Wednesday reported 2,544 farm fires, taking the total number of such cases to 30,661 this season. Of these 2,544 farm fires, Bathinda witnessed maximum such cases at 356, followed by 318 in Mo

BSF recovers China made Quadcopter Drones used in drug smuggling in Punjab

The CAPF intercepted the movement of a suspected drone near the Village Mianwali District of Tarn Taran, following which the BSF troops immediately reached the spot to intercept the drone.

BSF intercepts another drone coming from Pakistan in Punjab's Ferozepur

"As per the laid-down drill, BSF troops immediately reacted to stop the misadventure by smugglers," said BSF

NIA files charge-sheet in cross-border arms smuggling case in Punjab

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge-sheet against a man in a case linked to cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition by drones in the border areas of Punjab's Gurdaspur district, an official said on Sunday. The charge-sheet against Malkit Singh alias "Pistol" was filed in the NIA special court in Mohali in Punjab, a spokesperson of the federal agency said. The case was initially registered at the Dera Baba Nanak police station in Batala on March 24 following the seizure of firearms and ammunition, including five Austria-made pistols, 10 magazines and 91 live cartridges, by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel from a cremation ground at Bhagtana-Boharwala village. On August 8, the NIA re-registered the case under various sections of the Arms Act, the Aircraft Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the spokesperson said. The official said investigations revealed connections between members of the proscribed terrorist organisation Khalistan ...

Punjab records over 100 farm fires; Haryana's air quality 'moderate'

Punjab on Saturday reported 104 farm fires, taking the total number of stubble-burning incidents to 23,730 while air quality indices in Haryana and the border state were in 'satisfactory' and 'moderate' categories. The fresh figure of farm fires in Punjab was much lower than what the state was witnessing a few days ago. Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is considered one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in Delhi in October and November. Only six cases of stubble burning were reported in Punjab on Friday as rains lashed many parts of the state. Out of 105 stubble-burning incidents reported on Saturday, crop residue burning was seen in only 10 districts in Punjab. Sangrur district topped with 43 cases, followed by 22 in Mansa, 13 in Fazilka, eight in Fatehgarh Sahib, four each in Ludhiana and Muktsar, three each in Malerkotla, Patiala and Bathinda and one in Ferozepur, according to Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data. On the same

Guv can't doubt Assembly session validity, sit indefinitely over bills: SC

"You are playing with fire," the Supreme Court told the Punjab governor on Friday, as it held that being the titular head of the state he cannot cast doubt on the validity of an assembly session or withhold his decision indefinitely on bills passed by the House. It said under Article 200 of the Constitution, when a bill is presented to the governor, he shall declare either that he assents to the bill or that he withholds assent therefrom or that he reserves the bill for the consideration of the President. The top court, which pulled up the Punjab governor for "indefinitely sitting over" bills passed by the assembly saying "You are playing with fire", also questioned the state government for repeatedly adjourning the Budget session sine die instead of proroguing it. It, however, upheld the Speaker's supremacy in conducting the business of the House or adjourning its sessions. "Our country has been running on established traditions and conventions and they need to be followed," a benc

Sikhs in their infinite variety

"The Assamese Sikhs have often been belittled because they cannot speak or read Punjabi and are hence also referred to as spurious Sikhs or kachche Sikh," says Singh

Pakistan's Punjab provincial govt launches online portal for Sikh tourists

For the first time, Pakistan's Punjab government has launched an online hotel bookings and security services portal for Sikhs intending to travel to the province from India and other parts of the world for pilgrimage. Launched on Thursday, the 'Sikh Yatra Booking Portal', was termed as a "groundbreaking religious tourism programme" by Punjab's caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi. "For the first time, we have launched 'Sikh Yatra Booking Portal' -- a groundbreaking religious tourism programme designed to facilitate Sikhs eager to visit their holy places in the country," Naqvi told reporters here on Friday. He asserted that the initiative represents the first of its kind in Pakistan. "As part of this programme, Sikh pilgrims from across the globe can now conveniently make online hotel bookings through the Sikh Yatra Booking Portal," Naqvi said. "Besides, the visiting Sikhs will have the option to hire security services and arrange transportation as well with the added privilege of

'God may have heard prayers, no thanks to govt': SC on Delhi air pollution

The Supreme Court asked the government why speed on curbing air pollution comes only after the court intervenes every year

Delhi pollution: Farm fires in Punjab, other states have to be stopped - SC

The Supreme Court on Friday said that crop residue burning in Punjab and some other states adjacent to Delhi have to be stopped and solution has to found to reduce the pollution level in the national capital region (NCR). While hearing a matter relating to the debilitating air pollution in the Delhi-NCR, a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul observed there were several reports and committees on the pollution issue, but nothing was happening at the ground level. The bench, also comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, said the apex court wanted to see the results. The Supreme Court was informed that every endeavour was being made to bring farm fires under control. The top court is seized of a plea filed in 1985 by environmentalist M C Mehta on air pollution and the issue of crop residue burning had arisen during the hearing of the matter.

Punjab's Bathinda grapples with 'very poor' AQI due to stubble burning

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Bathinda on November 9 was 372, which is very poor.

Delhi air pollution: How stubble burning affects humans and soil

In the verdant fields of North India, a pressing environmental issue rises with the smoke of stubble burning, as the Supreme Court recently reprimanded the Punjab government. Watch the video to know.

JSW, Vedanta's Rs 10K cr investment in cement plants stuck in red tape

Mega investments of JSW Group and Vedanta in setting up cement plants in Punjab are awaiting approval from the state government, sources aware of the matter said. The Vedanta Group company, Talwandi Sabo Power Plant (TSPL) plans to set up cement manufacturing plants in Punjab, with an overall investment of around Rs 10,000 crore. TSPL has plans to set up multiple cement plants adjacent to its existing power plant in the Mansa district of Punjab, and one of these plants will be set up by the JSW Group. The Fly ash from the TSPL's power plant will be used to manufacture cement. However, the cement project, which has the potential to generate over 2,000 jobs for the Punjab, is awaiting approvals from various state government departments, they said. According to the sources, TSPL's proposal has been awaiting approval from the Punjab Government's office of the Chief Town Planner and Director of Factories for the last 18 months. This is despite assurance at the highest level at the Inve

'Don't know how, but it must stop': SC pulls up Punjab over stubble burning

The Supreme Court directed Rajasthan and other states to follow its earlier order on the issue relating to firecrackers during the festive season

From the hub: Shades of distress colour Punjab's weaves and drapes

The second of a three-part series on export slowdown looks at the textile hub in Ludhiana, often referred to as India's Manchester, to understand the setbacks and challenges there

Stubble burning in Haryana causes spike in Delhi's air pollution: Gopal Rai

The minister said that as per the Centre's data, cases of stubble burning in Punjab have been reduced