Page 35 - Punjab

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 .

Punjab schools closed till August 26 amid rains and flood-like situation

According to the state education minister, CM Bhagwant Mann has instructed to shut down the schools amid the flood-like situation in the state after intense downpour

AAI to set up civil enclave in Ambala for RCS flight operations: Anil Vij

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said the Airports Authority of India will set up a civil enclave in Ambala for operations of flights under the Regional Connectivity Scheme. The Haryana aviation department will transfer more than Rs 133 crore to the Ministry of Defence for the purpose, to which the state government has given its approval, Vij said, according to an official statement. Vij said the Civil Enclave will be established on about 20 acres, alongside the Air Force station of Ambala, and work on it will start soon. He said a Rs 16-crore tender has been floated for the operation of the civil enclave. A civil enclave is an area of military airbase allotted for civil aviation use. Vij said that the civil enclave was sanctioned under the UDAN scheme. According to the statement, Vij made tireless efforts to set up the enclave and it has now been approved and flight operations will also start soon. Vij said the airplanes will be parked in the enclave while the airstr

Punjab to hold tourism summit, travel mart in Mohali from Sept 11-13

The Punjab government on Wednesday said it will hold a tourism summit and travel mart in Mohali from September 11 to 13 to promote the state as the "most preferred" tourism destination. Five cities - Amritsar, Roopnagar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Fatehgarh Sahib -- have emerged as top draws for foreign tourists and the Department of Tourism is working to ensure that the state becomes a leading international tourist destination by 2030, said an official statement. The tourism department inaugurated its first roadshow in Jaipur to showcase the initiatives taken by the state government to promote tourism. The next roadshow will be held in Mumbai (August 24), Hyderabad (August 25), and Delhi (August 26), said the release. "The Punjab government is working relentlessly to promote tourism in the state that will increase footfall from both international and domestic sectors. This in turn will provide maximum employment opportunities for women and youth," Anmol Gagan Mann, Minister of Tourism

Punjab govt releases Rs 186 cr as compensation for crops damaged in floods

The Punjab government on Tuesday said it has released over Rs 186.12 crore as compensation for crops damaged in the state's flood-hit areas. Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa said the money has been released from the relief fund to deputy commissioners of 16 districts. Crops were damaged due to flooding in many areas of the state in July and August, the minister said in a statement. A special 'girdawari (survey to assess losses)' was conducted in all the affected areas, he added. The state government is committed to provide compensation to the victims and it has no dearth of funds for the purpose, the minister said. Providing a district-wise breakdown, he said Rs 59.50 crore was released to Patiala, Rs 26.52 crore to Tarn Taran, Rs 26.08 crore to Sangrur, Rs 22.44 crore to Ferozepur and Rs 12.92 crore to Mansa. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already announced that loss of every crop, cattle or house was covered in the 'girdawari' to ful

Police raids Punjab factory making ayurvedic alcoholic syrup for Gujarat

In the last one year, the factory had manufactured around two lakh bottles of the syrup for Gujarat

Punjab farmers' protest: Security tightened at inter-state borders

Security has been stepped up at the inter-state borders of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Tuesday in the wake of a call by 16 farmer bodies to hold a protest here to seek compensation for losses caused by floods, officials said. In Chandigarh, security personnel have been deployed at all entry and exit points to prevent farmers from entering. A heavy deployment of force has also been made at Shambhu in Ambala located on the Haryana-Punjab border, they said. In Punjab's Rajpura, barricades have been put up while anti-riot vehicles and a CCTV vehicle have also been deployed. Sixteen farm bodies, including the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Bharti Kisan Union (Karanti kari), BKU (Ekta Azaad), Aazaad Kisan Committee, Doaba, BKU (Behramke) and the Bhoomi Bachao Mohim, had given the call for staging a demonstration here to seek compensation for losses caused by floods. Farmers are demanding a package of Rs 50,000 crore from the Centre for damages caused by floods in the northern