Page 34 - Punjab

Floodwater submerges several BSF posts along border in Punjab's Ferozepur

Several BSF outposts and the barbed wire fencing along the India-Pakistan border have been inundated in Punjab's Ferozepur district due to a rise in the Sutlej's water level, an official said on Sunday. Border Security Force (BSF) troops are keeping a close watch on the situation, the official said. Many villages near the International Border in Ferozepur bore the brunt of the swollen Sutlej, forcing residents of flood-hit areas to move to safer locations. According to the official, "Despite all the challenges and adversity, our jawans are maintaining 24-hour vigil. They are manning the area without caring about their personal safety." "Surveillance has been heightened with the help of motorboats to prevent potential adversaries from exploiting the situation. Though the BSF posts have been submerged, personnel are performing their duty without any breaks," the official added. BSF posts along the border have been submerged under five to six feet of water, he said. More than 150 ..

AAP Rajya Sabha MP announces plan to open 10 more skill centres in Punjab

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney on Saturday said he will set up 10 additional skill centres of excellence in Punjab that will create at least 10,000 jobs. More than 2,000 jobs have already been created after skilling youngsters at the skill development centre, he said. Sahney was speaking to reporters here on the completion of one year as a member of the Rajya Sabha. The first skill centre of excellence was set up in Amritsar. Now, another one will be opened shortly in Ludhiana where modern machines will be installed for the skilling of youngsters to make them employable in the industry, he said. Sahney said his major focus has been on skilling and creating jobs for Punjab's youngsters. "During this year, we provided 2,000 jobs after skilling the youngsters at our skill development centres. I am also setting up 10 more world-class skill centres of excellence to create 10,000 jobs," he said. The new centres will come up in Bathinda, Patiala, Mohali, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur

Water recedes in flood-hit areas of Punjab, rescue operation still on

Water receded at many flood-hit areas in Punjab even as rescue and relief operations by teams of National Disaster Response Force, Army and Border Security Force continued on Saturday, officials. Around 150 villages in districts including Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Rupnagar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, were impacted following the release of excess water from the Pong and the Bhakra dams. After the release of surplus water from the two reservoirs on August 14, the water level in Beas and Sutlej rivers had risen, flooding the low lying areas and also which are located near the banks. In Ferozepur, several villages situated near the Sutlej river continued to remain inundated. The district administration with the help of NDRF, Army and BSF rescued more than 2,500 villagers belonging to Kamale Wala, Ali ke, Gatti Raji ke, New Gatti Rajo ke, Chandi Wala, Jhugge Hajara Singh Wala, Jallo ke, Bhane Wala, Bhakhra, Tendi Wala, Metab Singh, Sheene Wala, Churi Wala, Khunder Gatti, N

Cong suspends Punjab legislator Sandeep Jakhar for 'anti-party' activities

Punjab Congress Saturday suspended Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar from the party for allegedly indulging in "anti-party activities." The action against Jakhar came following a complaint filed by Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. Jakhar is the nephew of Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar who had last year left the Congress. Punjab Congress posted a communication on X and said, "Sandeep Jakhar is suspended from the party with immediate effect." According to the party's communication to Jakhar, Congress general secretary Tariq Anwar said "You have not been participating in any of the party programmes including Bharat Jodo Yatra" and also "The house in which you stay is a common accommodation on which a BJP flag flies atop." The communication also alleged open rebellion against party's on Jakhar's part. "You have been speaking against the party and the PCC president and also you are openly defending your uncle Sunil Jakhar," it read. "After careful consideration, the DAC ...

Is the fairy tale of India's sugar sector facing multiple challenges?

The uneven monsoon in 2023 means that industry is already beginning to factor in a drop in production in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat

Punjab's area under Basmati cultivation rises 16% this Kharif season

Punjab has witnessed at least a 16 per cent increase in the area under the Basmati cultivation this Kharif season, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said here on Friday. He said the Amritsar district tops with 1.35 lakh hectares area sown under this long-grain rice. The campaign to promote crop diversification in the state -- launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government -- has got a major push after Punjab witnessed at least a 16 per cent increase in area under Basmati cultivation, he added. During this Kharif Season, Basmati has been sown in 5.74 lakh hectares till August 14, out of the total paddy area of 31.88 lakh hectares. "During the Kharif Season 2022-23, the total area sown under paddy was 31.68 lakh hectares, out of which area under Basmati was 4.95 lakh hectares," he said. Khudian said Amritsar, followed by Muktsar, Fazilka and Tarn Taran registered maximum cultivation of Basmati.

AP Dhillon Web Series: Cast, OTT streaming, release date, where to watch

The documentary of Indo-Canadian singer, "AP Dhillon: First Of A Kind" released today, August 18, on Amazon Prime Video. The series reveals who is AP Dhillon

SJVN inks two agreements to supply 1,200 MW solar power to Punjab

State-owned SJVN Ltd has inked two pacts with Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) to supply 1,200 MW of solar power from its projects, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said here on Thursday. Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam signed two power purchase agreements (PPAs) for 1,200 MW solar power recently. PSPCL had floated tenders for procurement of power from solar projects located in Punjab and other parts of the country. SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), SJVN's arm, proposed the rate of Rs 2.53 per unit for the supply of 1,000 MW and Rs 2.75 per unit for another 200 MW. "Earlier bidding was of Rs 2.59 per unit but it was negotiated and brought at Rs 2.53," he said. For 200 MW the bid had proposed the rate of Rs 2.79 per unit but it was finally agreed at Rs 2.75 per unit, Mann said, adding that the state government will save Rs 431 crore through this negotiation. The rates have been fixed for 25 years and PSPCL will not pay any transmission charges and for transmission losses. La

960 rescued, over 10K taken to safer locations in HP, U'khand, Punjab: NDRF

More than 960 people have been rescued while over 10,000 have been shifted to safer places in regions of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab battered by heavy rains and flash floods, the NDRF said on Wednesday. A total of 29 teams of the federal contingency force have been earmarked for undertaking relief and rescue operations in these states out of which 14 are actively deployed while the rest are on standby. Due to excessive rainfall in the last few days, flash floods hit Kangra, Shimla and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh and Rupnagar district of Punjab, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said in a statement. Several houses have been damaged and a number of people are stranded at various places, it said. So far, NDRF has rescued more than 960 victims and shifted 10,363 personnel to safer places in these states, it said in an update issued at 7 pm. The central force apart from state disaster response units, army, air force, police and local authorities are ...

Govt keeping close watch on flood situation, rescue ops underway: Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said his government was keeping a close watch on the flood situation, and added that rescue and relief operations are underway in the flood-hit areas. Many areas in Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar and Gurdaspur districts were inundated following the release of excess water from the Bhakra and Pong dams, officials said. The water level in Beas and Sutlej rivers rose following the release of water from the reservoirs. The Bhakra Dam on Sutlej river and the Pong Dam on Beas river -- both in Himachal Pradesh -- are brimming after heavy rain in their respective catchment areas. Punjab has seen flooding of many areas for the second time in just over a month. Several parts of Punjab were affected by the rains that happened between July 9 and July 11, flooding vast expanses of agricultural fields and other areas, besides paralysing normal life. Mann said the flood situation in the state was fully in control and that the government was monitoring the ..

Selection for int'l events responsibility of sports federations: IOA to HC

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the selection of sportspersons for participation in major international events is the responsibility of national sports federations. The IOA was responding to a petition filed by three boxers over they not being selected for the upcoming Asian Games in China's Hangzhou. Pugilists Amit Panghal, a World Boxing Championship silver medallist, Rohit Mor and Sagar Ahlawat had moved the high court last month against the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and others after they were left out of the Indian squad for the Asian Games to be held from September 23 to October 8. They had petitioned against the BFI's evaluation process for the selection of the Asian Games squad. The petitioners had alleged that the BFI had changed the selection criteria for national coaching camps, world championships and Asian Games in violation of the National Sports Development Code of India (NSCI)-2011. The petitioners

NDRF teams start rescue operations in flood-hit areas of Punjab's Gurdaspur

Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Wednesday began rescue operations to evacuate people in several areas here which were inundated following the release of excess water from the Pong dam, officials said on Wednesday. The Pong dam, on the Beas river, is brimming after heavy rain in its catchment areas. The water level in the Beas river rose following the release of water from the Pong dam on Tuesday, said Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal. He added that a breach in the embankment along the Beas river has flooded many villages, including Chechia Chorian, Pakhowal, Kherha, Dalelpur, Padana, Chhina Bet, Nadala, Jagatpur Kalan, Kohlian and Khariaan. The district administration has asked people living in the low-lying areas and near the banks of the Beas river to move to safer places. Many villagers, carrying essentials on their shoulders, could be seen wading through the flood-hit areas to move to safer places. Some villagers even engaged thei

Punjab govt to eradicate all issues inherited from previous govts: CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann Tuesday said his government will eradicate all issues inherited by it from the previous state governments to realise the dreams of martyrs and freedom fighters of the country. Addressing a gathering here during a function to commemorate Karnail Singh Issru, a martyr of Goa's fight for liberation from Portuguese rule, Mann said problems like corruption and drugs flourished in the state due to alleged patronisation by the then-governments. However, Mann said his government has adopted a zero tolerance policy towards these issues that have ruined the state. The state government has already initiated a crackdown on corruption, which has been weeded out of the state, an official statement quoted Mann as saying. He said the state government has formulated a new policy to break the backbone of drugs in the state. The state government is vehemently making efforts to check the supply line of drugs, and direct the youth's energy towards a positive .

SJVN Green Energy inks two pacts to supply 1,200 MW solar power to Punjab

State-owned SJVN Ltd on Monday said its arm SJVN Green Energy Ltd (SGEL) has inked two pacts with Punjab State Power Corporation to supply 1,200 MW of solar power from its projects. "SJVN signed two Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) for 1,200 MW solar power in the august presence of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann and Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director, SJVN at Sangrur, Punjab, today (Monday)," a company statement said. According to the statement SJVN through its wholly-owned subsidiary SGEL has signed two PPAs (power purchase agreements) with Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) for 200 MW Solar Project(s) to be developed anywhere in Punjab and another for 1,000 MW Solar Project(s) to be developed anywhere in the country. "These projects shall be developed within 18 months on Build Own and Operate basis and will involve an investment of around Rs 7,000 crores," it stated. The letter of intent for these 1,200 MW projects was received from PSPCL on July 21, 2023. The projects

Punjab to provide 22,000 straw management machines for 2023 Kharif season

The Punjab government plans to provide more than 22,000 crop residue management machines on subsidy under a Rs 350-crore action plan for the 2023 Kharif season to check stubble burning incidents in the state, said a senior official. Under the paddy straw management plan, the state agriculture department is also targeting zero-stubble burning incidents in seven districts Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Mohali, SBS Nagar and Malerkotla and 50 per cent reduction in stubble fire cases in Patiala, Sangrur, Faridkot and Muktsar districts, said the official. In the 2022 Kharif season, Punjab had seen a 30 per cent drop in stubble-burning incidents to 49,907 from 71,304 in 2021. "We have an action plan of Rs 350 crore for the paddy straw management," said Punjab Agriculture Director Gurwinder Singh. Under this action for paddy straw management, around 21,000 machines for in-situ management (mixing crop residue in fields) and 1,800 balers for ex-situ (using stubble as fuel) will

Punjab CM Mann to inaugurate 76 'Aam Aadmi Clinics' in Sangrur on Aug 14

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will inaugurate 76 'Aam Aadmi Clinics' in Sangrur district on August 14, Health Minister Balbir Singh said here on Saturday. At present, 583 'Aam Aadmi Clinics', including 403 in villages and 180 in cities, are operational in the state, he said. More than 44 lakh people have availed the free services of these clinics and over 20 lakh medical tests have been conducted so far. The AAP government had rolled out these clinics last year. Singh further said the state government will also upgrade 40 government medical facilities -- 19 district hospitals, six subdivision hospitals and 15 community health centres -- in the state.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to inaugurate 76 Aam Aadmi Clinics on August 14

According to the information available, till now more than 3.5 million people have benefited from the Aam Aadmi Clinics

Drugmaker asked to stop production after non-standard quality samples: Govt

A Punjab-based drugmaker was asked to stop all manufacturing activities after samples collected from its premises, following an alert by the WHO, were found to be "not of standard quality", the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar, in a written reply in the Lower House of Parliament, said the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a medical product alert for a batch of India-made Guaifenesin syrup in the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. Subsequent to the reports, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in coordination with State Drugs Authority, Punjab, conducted a joint investigation at M/s QP Pharmachem Ltd in Punjab. "Drug samples drawn from the manufacturing premises under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 for test and analysis were declared as 'not of standard quality'," the minister said. "Further, the State Licensing Authority has directed the firm to stop all manufacturing .

Two Pakistani drones recovered near IB in Punjab's Amritsar, Tarn Taran

Two Pakistani drones were recovered near the India-Pakistan International Border in two separate incidents in Punjab's Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts, a BSF official said on Monday. At around 10 pm on Sunday near Rattan Khurd village in Amritsar, Border Security Force (BSF) troops heard the buzzing sound of an unmanned aerial vehicle entering from the Pakistan, the official said. "As per the laid down drill, troops endeavoured to intercept the drone, the official said. In a joint search operation, the BSF and the Punjab Police on Monday recovered the drone (hexacopter) with a battery from a field in Rattan Khurd, the official said. In another incident, BSF personnel heard the sound of a drone coming from Pakistan near Rajoke village in Tarn Taran district at around 3:30 am, following which they tried to intercept it. Later during a joint search, the BSF and the police recovered the drone (quadcopter) from a field in Rajoke, the official said.

Haryana receives 59% excess rainfall in July, Punjab 44%, says IMD

Haryana and Punjab, which were recently hit by floods in several parts, logged over 40 per cent excess rains in July, the Meteorological Department here said. While Haryana recorded 59 per cent excess rainfall, Punjab logged an excess of 44 per cent, it added. Union Territory Chandigarh, the common capital of both states, received 170 per cent excess rainfall in July, a MeT official told PTI. As against the normal of 273.2 mm for the period, Chandigarh received 738.7 mm of rainfall. In July, the city even recorded an all-time high of 302.2 mm in a span of 24 hours, the official said. According to the MeT official, Haryana witnessed 237.1 mm of rainfall in July, compared to its average of 149.1 mm -- an excess of 59 per cent. Over the same period, Punjab recorded 231.8 mm of rainfall, against the normal of 161.4 mm -- 44 per cent excess. None of the districts in Haryana saw deficit rain in July, while Panchkula and Yamunanagar were the wettest districts, the MeT data showed. Panc