Page 34 - Punjab

PRTC, Pepsu contract employees call off strike after govt assurance

After the meeting, Bhullar said that an agreement was made to implement a 5% salary hike, and orders were issued to reinstate the dismissed employees in 15 days

Punjab to give 24,000 crop residue management machines for coming season

The Punjab Agriculture Department will provide 24,000 crop residue management machines in the coming harvesting season to check stubble burning incidents in the state, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said on Wednesday. Khudian said the department has received as many as 1,58,394 applications from farmers to avail subsidy for Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery. He said the department will provide Super SMS, happy seeder, paddy straw chopper, mulcher, smart seeder, zero till drill, surface seeder, super seeder, crop reaper, shrub master for in-situ management (mixing crop residue in fields) and baler and straw rake for ex-situ management (using stubble as fuel) of the paddy residue. During the last year, the state was able to reduce stubble-burning cases by 30 per cent, he said. The department had prepared a Rs 350 crore action plan for providing CRM on subsidy for the 2023 Kharif season. The applications for availing subsidy were invited via an online portal to ensu

Virat unfollows his 'favourite singer' Shubh for sharing controversial post

India's former cricket captain Virat Kohli unfollowed Shubh on Instagram after the singer shared a controversial map of India on Instagram. The boAT also withdrew his tour sponsorship

One dead, 4 injured in explosion at gelatin factory in Kerala's Kochi

At least one person died and four others were injured in an explosion at a gelatin factory in the Kakkanad area of Kerala's Kochi, the police said on Wednesday

Torrent Gas commences supply of piped cooking gas to Patiala households

Torrent Gas Ltd on Monday said it has commenced the supply of piped cooking gas to households in Patiala in Punjab as the company scales up operations in its licensed areas. Torrent Gas has been authorised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to provide compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG) in Patiala, SAS Nagar, Sangrur and Malerkotla. In a statement, the firm said Punjab government minister for new and renewable energy Aman Arora announced the start of supplies to 101 piped gas connections at a function in Patiala on Monday. Piped cooking gas will be available in Patiala for Rs 46 per standard cubic meter (including taxes) and a special introductory offer, including EMI schemes will be available to encourage customers to adopt PNG. Customers can register for piped cooking gas at just Rs 590 (including GST) and get connected. The remaining amount, viz refundable security deposit can be paid in 13 instalments of Rs 500, along with a bi-monthly

Pakistan's Ahmadi minority in Punjab faces attacks on their worship places

In a fresh attack on the Ahmadi community in Pakistan, the minarets of three worship places of the minority group in different districts of Punjab province were demolished by radical Islamists who alleged that the minarets signified that of a Muslim mosque. The incident comes more than a week after arches of a worship place of the Ahmadi community were destroyed in defiance of a high court order banning such actions against the places of worship of the minority community built before 1984. Pakistan's Parliament in 1974 declared the Ahmadi community as non-Muslims. They have even been banned from calling themselves Muslims. "Identifying the minarets of Ahmadi worship places with that of Muslim Mosque, the activists of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) stormed into three Ahmadi worship places in Sheikhupura, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur districts of Punjab and demolished their minarets during the last couple of days," Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan official Amir Mahmood told PTI on ...

Pilot project of residue-free basmati being undertaken: Punjab Minister

The Punjab government has undertaken a pilot project under which residue-free basmati crop has been cultivated in Chogawan block in Amritsar district, state agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said on Sunday. Residue-free practice entails minimal or no usage of chemicals. The initiative is aimed at promoting organic farming in the state as desired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, said the minister. The Chogawan block is popular for growing quality basmati rice. "Basmati rice has a great export potential as most of the grains produced in the region are being exported to the European and Middle-Eastern countries," said Khudian, while adding that presently, basmati rice is exported to more than 60 countries. Amritsar district alone contributed rice exports of around Rs 9,000 crore last year, he added. To increase the export potential of basmati rice from Punjab, Khudian stated that the state agriculture department has also launched an awareness campaign to sensitise far

Punjab CM demands rollback of restrictions on basmati rice exports

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that the restrictions on exports of basmati rice imposed by the Union government is against the interests of the farmers and demanded its immediate rollback. Addressing a gathering during "Kisan Mela" organised here at the Punjab Agricultural University, the chief minister lamented that "this illogical decision will do considerable damage to the economic situation of the farmers as well as the traders". The Union government has fixed Minimum Export Price of basmati at USD 1,200 per tonne "which adversely hit the domestic price of the crop". Mann, according to an official statement, said that the Union government must remove all these restrictions to safeguard the interests of the farmers from the state. The chief minister said that the hard working and resilient farmers of the state are already at a crossroads due to the ever escalating cost of the farm inputs and "low MSP". He said that the state produces maximum basmati rice in

EC team holds meeting on revision of electoral roll, preparedness in Punjab

A team of the Election Commission led by Deputy Election Commissioner Hirdesh Kumar held a meeting here on Wednesday on special summary revision of the electoral roll and preparedness for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Punjab. The meeting was attended by Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C and all 23 Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Election Officers (DEOs). It focused on the revision of the voters' list, the inclusion of names of new voters and the deletion of names of deceased voters, according to an official statement. Reviewing the electoral roll management at the district level, Kumar assessed existing gaps in rolls in terms of elector-population (EP) ratio, gender ratio and age cohorts, it said. The DEOs were asked to make concerted efforts in ensuring a 100 per cent error-free electoral roll. They were also asked to ensure inclusivity and especially focus on marginalised segments, persons with disabilities (PwDs) and transgenders, the statement said. Kumar instructed the

Terror bid foiled in Pakistan's Punjab province, 2 ISIS terrorists arrested

Pakistani law enforcement agencies foiled a major terror plot to target key installations in the Punjab province and arrested two terrorists of the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group during intelligence-based operations, police said on Saturday. According to the spokesperson of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police, the terrorists were arrested from Gujranwala and Rawalpindi cities. "The CTD has foiled a major terror plot in Punjab province and arrested two suspected terrorists of Daesh (ISIS) with weapons, explosives and other prohibited materials. The terrorists had planned sabotage across the province and wanted to target important installations," the spokesperson said. The terrorists have been identified as Zakirulla and Muhammad Eisha. Around 1.5 kgs of explosives, eight detonators, 13 feet of safety fuse wire and banned literature were recovered from them. The spokesperson said the police registered two cases against the terrorists in Gujranwala and Rawalp

Party's word supreme: Sidhu to Punjab Cong leaders opposing AAP alliance

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu Wednesday said the decision of the party high command is supreme, his remark coming in response to state Congress leaders opposing any alliance with the AAP in Punjab. The statement of the cricketer-turned-politician came amid strong reservations by the Punjab Congress leaders over any alliance with the ruling party in the state. "The decision of the party high command is supreme. It is for a greater cause, National interest has been kept paramount to honour the spirit of the constitution and to free the enchained institutions which draw their strength from constitutional values," Sidhu posted on X. "Petty perish pump politics loaded with selfish vested interests should be discarded for safeguarding our DEMOCRACY. Elections are not fought for the next election, they are fought for the next generation. Long live INDIA. Jurrega BHARAT," he posted. Congress leaders in Punjab had on Tuesday asserted they were against any kind of alliance with the AAP

Punjab records 28% jump in GST revenue in April-August this fiscal

Punjab recorded a 28.2 per cent rise year-on-year in goods and services tax revenue during April-August 2023, state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Tuesday. A total of Rs 8,524.17 crore in GST has been mopped up during the first five months of the current fiscal against Rs 6,648.89 crore collected in the year-ago period, Cheema said. An additional revenue of Rs 1,875.28 crore has been collected from GST up to August this fiscal. In an official release, Cheema said the total revenue collected from GST, excise, value-added tax and other sources in 2023-24 registered an increase of 17.49 per cent as compared to the last fiscal year.

KBC 15: Jaskaran Singh from Punjab creates history, wins Rs 1 crore

Kaun Banega Crorepati got its first crorepati of the 15th edition. Jaskaran Singh, who hails from Khalra village, Punjab, created history as he reached the Rs 7 crore question

Punjab sees fivefold rise in study loans; statistics indicate exodus

Experts told Mint that the difficult job market in Punjab has led to young individuals seeking opportunities abroad

Punjab CM Mann announces hiring of new 586 'patwaris' amid agitation

Amid the agitation by 'patwaris' to press for their demands, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Saturday announced to hire 586 new 'patwaris' (revenue officials) on vacant posts, asserting that people will not be allowed to be harassed. In a video message, CM Mann also said 741 undertraining patwaris will be assigned their jobs in circles where posts are vacant. He further said there are 710 such posts where appointment letters are yet to be issued because of pending police verification. He said the home department has been directed to complete the process of police verification so that appointment letters to 710 candidates, who have already passed their exams, be given. With these steps, a total of 2,037 circles where posts of 'patwaris' are lying vacant will be filled, the chief minister said. The 'patwaris' began the agitation on Friday, saying they were boycotting "additional" work they are expected to carry out. A union leader said the officials have stopped work allotted t

CM Mann hands over Rs 1 cr cheque to kin of army jawan killed in Ladakh

The Chief Minister also announced suitable jobs for the kin of the jawans on compassionate grounds according to the policy

5 years later, Punjab govt to give cash awards to over 1,800 sportspersons

The Punjab government will give away cash awards to 1,807 sportspersons who have been waiting for it for more than five years, an official statement said on Sunday. The state's sports department has prepared a list of these medal winners who have been deprived of cash prize money since 2017, it said. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will facilitate 1,807 sportspersons with a total prize money of Rs 5.94 crore at the opening ceremony of the second season of 'Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan' at Bathinda on August 29. Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said it came to the notice of the Punjab government that there were many sportspersons in the state, who despite winning medals, did not receive cash prize money for the last five years. Mann directed the sports department to prepare a list of these sportspersons and give them their due rewards. The sports department prepared the list of players from the year 2017 till now, whose total prize money was Rs 5.94 crore. These players brought

Sanyukt Samaj Morcha blames Punjab govt of delayed action to control floods

"The condition of Punjab is bad due to frequent floods. We think it is man-made, not natural. The government did not control it on time," Balbir Singh Rajewal said

Won't bow down to guv's threat: Punjab CM on 'President rule' threat

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday lashed out at Governor Banwarilal Purohit for "threatening" to impose President's rule in the state and asked why his counterparts were "silent" on the law and order situation in BJP-ruled states. Mann said the "selected" governor does not have any moral authority to "threaten" elected representatives of the people and asserted that he is "not going to bow down". Addressing a press conference, the chief minister alleged that the governors are acting as "puppets" of the Union government to create hindrances in the functioning of non-BJP governments in states like Delhi, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and said such things don't augur well for the country's federal structure. "Punjab is most affected in the past due to (Article) 356. So, don't rub salts on our wounds... Governor Sahab, don't try to test the patience and emotions of the Punjabis," Mann said. The governor has been accusing Mann of not responding to the letters sent to

Ensure 60% DAP allocation to cooperative societies, orders Punjab CS

The Punjab Chief Secretary Thursday issued directions for ensuring the allocation of 60 per cent di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) to cooperative societies in the state. In an order issued on Thursday, the CS stated that it was of utmost necessity that the cooperative societies should have DAP in adequate quantity as the possibility of exploitation of farmers by private traders may increase in the event of a shortage of fertilizer with the societies. Small farmers get soft loans at the rate of 4 per cent from cooperative societies and with this, they can buy fertilizer, said the order, adding that if cooperative societies remain short of fertilizer then it will impact small farmers. It added that the cooperative societies were given very little fertilizer from the first week of July till now. The order further said that it should be ensured that 60 per cent of the total DAP for the state should be made available with the cooperative societies by September 15 for wheat sowing. With the .