Page 37 - Punjab

Rain havoc: Relief measures going on war footing in Punjab and Haryana

Relief measures are going on a war footing in Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday as several parts of the states remained flooded following incessant rains in the past three days. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will visit the worst-hit Ambala district on Wednesday to take stock of the situation, officials said. In Punjab, nearly 10,000 people have so far been evacuated in Patiala, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Mohali, SBS Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts, they said. The weather remained clear at most places for the second day in the region on Wednesday after three days of incessant rains. According to government data, the death toll due to rain-related incidents in the two states is 15 which include seven deaths in Haryana. The heavy rainfall has left behind a trail of destruction with properties worth crores obliterated and farmlands flooded. Relief measures are going on a war footing in the affected areas of the two states, officials said. Haryana's Deputy Chief Ministe

Weather clears in Punjab, Haryana, authorities step up relief efforts

The rain ebbed on Tuesday after three days of incessant downpour, which left behind a trail of destruction in several parts of Punjab and Haryana where properties worth crores were damaged and nine lives lost. The governments in both states have stepped up efforts to provide relief to affected people even as they scramble to conduct rescue operations. On Tuesday morning, the weather was clear at most places in the region which brought relief to the people, after the incessant downpour inundated homes and caused extensive damage to crops and vegetables in many districts. Officials said relief shelters have been set up in the affected districts in the two states, including Rupnagar, Patiala, Mohali, Ambala and Panchkula. Chief ministers of the two states are closely monitoring the situation, they said. In the worst-hit Rupnagar district of Punjab, several people joined hands with the administration to extend a helping hand to those in need. "It is the indomitable spirit of Punjabis

Situation grim in Patiala, floodwaters enter Rajpura thermal power plant

Punjab's Patiala district was reeling under a flood-like situation following heavy monsoon rainfall, with authorities seeking the Army's assistance to combat the escalating crisis, officials said on Monday. Floodwaters entered the premises of the Rajpura Thermal Power Plant here, leading to the shutdown of one of its 700 MW units, they said. Authorities have also deployed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams for relief and rescue work as the district grapples with rising water levels. The Army's assistance was sought by the Patiala district administration after water overflowed from the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in Rajpura town following a breach, the officials said. Patiala Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said floodwaters breached the premises of a private hospital in Rajpura on Sunday, necessitating the rescue and relocation of patients to other hospitals. Also, as many as 800 students from a private university in

Punjabi University Patiala postpones July 10 exams due to heavy rains

Punjabi University Patiala postponed all the examinations scheduled to take place on July 10 due to a red alert in the state. The administration will upload the revised date sheet soon

Rains continue to lash Punjab, Haryana; Army assistance sought in Patiala

Rains battered parts of Punjab and Haryana for the third consecutive day on Monday with authorities working round the clock to reach out to people in the worst-hit places in hours of crisis. According to the meteorological department, it has been raining in many parts of Punjab and Haryana since morning. In view of the prevailing situation caused due to incessant rains, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar cancelled all his pre-scheduled programmes for the day and summoned an emergency meeting of senior officials of various departments, including Home, Disaster Management and Urban Local Bodies, officials said. Khattar will also be holding a meeting with deputy commissioners later in the day through video-conferencing, they said. Authorities have already ordered the closure of schools in some affected areas in Punjab and Haryana. As torrential rains battered several parts of Punjab, Army assistance was sought by the Patiala district administration after water overflowed from

Destruction due to rains: Shah assures assistance to Punjab, Himachal CMs

Incessant overnight rain turned many low-lying areas in Punjab into a horror story, with severe waterlogging and traffic snarls

AAP launches Bijli Andolan in Haryana; Kejriwal target BJP over power cuts

The AAP on Sunday launched "Bijli Andolan" in Haryana from Panchkula, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal targeting the ruling BJP over power cuts in the state and saying that free and uninterrupted electricity supply is possible "if the intent is clean". At the event, Kejriwal was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. During the "Bijli Andolan" (electricity campaign), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and leaders will visit villages and towns and apprise people about "costly power" and regular outages and tell them that free and round-the-clock electricity is possible in Haryana too if the party is voted to power. "We are launching a Bijli Andolan... As you know, I have my roots in Haryana. Many people from the state have met me and told me about power problems. Some of them said that they have to face power cuts for six hours daily," Kejriwal said, addressing a gathering in Panchkula. Referring to a woman, who said she is a widow, among the audience, Kejriwal said

6 killed, 10 injured as gas explosion causes building collapse in Pakistan

At least six people were killed and 10 others injured on Sunday when a three-storey building collapsed due to a gas cylinder explosion in Pakistan's Punjab province, officials said. The three-storey hotel building located on the Grand Trunk Road in Punjab's Jhelum collapsed after the cylinder exploded in the kitchen, they said. Six people were confirmed dead while 10 injured were recovered so far and admitted to hospitals for treatment, Geo News reported, citing Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Samiullah Farooq. "(Rescue) efforts are underway and our teams are present here. There are reports that four to five people could be underneath the rubble, he said. He added that the rescue operation would continue till the whole site was cleared. Earlier, Dawn reported that the explosion took place at around 9:45 am Sunday, following which the rescue teams immediately responded and initiated rescue efforts. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Hassan Tariq said that all senior doctors and s

Stay alert, reach out to needy: CM Mann asks ministers as rain plays havoc

In the wake of flood-like situation due to incessant rains in several parts of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Sunday directed all the cabinet ministers, MLAs and officials to stay alert and reach out to people in need. According to an official statement issued here, Mann asked ministers, MLAs and officers to ensure that an elaborate flood protection mechanism is put in place to safeguard the life and property of people. He also advised them to visit their respective areas and ensure relief to the affected people at the earliest. Mann directed Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSPs) to expedite the relief work in their respective districts to provide succour to the masses. The chief minister said alerts have been issued in low-lying areas, especially those around riverbanks, advising people not to venture out of their homes unless necessary. He said the state government is keeping a tab on the areas where a flood-like situation has emerg

BJP appoints new party presidents for Andhra, Telangana, Punjab, Jharkhand

The party made the announcement ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections where the BJP-led NDA government is aiming to retain power for the third consecutive term

Press right button: Punjab CM Mann kickstarts AAP's Chhattisgarh campaign

The Punjab CM, along with party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was addressing a mega rally at Science College Ground in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur

Punjab delegation visits Kerala to learn tech to plug revenue leakage

A Punjab government delegation led by Finance and Excise Minister Harpal Singh Cheema visited Kerala to learn about technological interventions in plugging revenue leakage and raising excise revenue. The delegation also comprised Financial Commissioner, Taxation, Vikas Partap, and Excise Commissioner Varun Roojam. Their visit to Kerala also included learning about the supply chain management ERP software and point of sale system being used by the Kerala Excise department, said an official release. "The purpose of the visit was to learn about the technological interventions which are important from the point of view of plugging revenue leakages and enhancing the excise revenue," Cheema said. He said the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software will provide the Punjab Excise Department an integrated and real-time view of its core processes. These would be easily accessible through one centralised system, the minister said. Cheema said this software will help in enhancing transpar

CM Mann asks Bajwa to clarify stand on HP govt's 'claim' over Chandigarh

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday asked Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa to clarify his party's stand on the Himachal Pradesh government's "claim" over Chandigarh. Mann's remarks came after some media reports suggested that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh is seeking a share in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. In a statement, the Punjab chief minister said the "stoic silence" of Bajwa over the issue is surprising. "Bajwa must clear the stand of his party over the false claim made by the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh," said Mann said. He said that it is shameful that these leaders change their stance on the interests of the state for their political benefits in other states. "Chandigarh is, Chandigarh was and Chandigarh will always be an integral part of the state," the Punjab chief minister said, adding that the state government is firmly committed to safeguard the interests of the state and its people. In a statement, AAP leader Malvinder Si

Punjab govt to buy private thermal power plant, says CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the state government will buy a private thermal power plant in the state. The details will be shared soon, Mann added. The chief minister shared the information about the purchase of a coal-fired thermal power plant on his Twitter handle. "Sharing good news with PunjabisPunjab government is buying a private thermal plant in Punjab...details soon," Mann said in a roughly translated tweet in Punjabi. Though the chief minister did not share information about the thermal plant, the state-owned power utility Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) was one of the 12 bidders for taking over the 540 MW Goindwal thermal power plant in Tarn Taran after corporate insolvency proceedings were initiated against its owner GVK Power. Last month, Mann said the state government would bid for purchasing a private power plant for the first time. He had also said that the state has enough coal stock to run the plant. A three-member sub-commi

IAS officer Anurag Verma assumes charge as Punjab chief secretary

Senior IAS officer Anurag Verma Saturday took charge as chief secretary of Punjab here. Verma, a 1993-batch IAS officer, succeeded Vijay Kumar Janjua of the 1989 batch, who retired on June 30. Janjua and other IAS officers, including Malwinder Singh Jaggi, Kumar Rahul and Sonali Giri, were present at Punjab Civil Secretariat when Verma took charge. Verma previously held the charge of additional chief secretary, home affairs and justice, along with some other additional charges. The IAS officer, who belongs to Patiala in Punjab, had earlier served as deputy commissioner of Bathinda, Ludhiana and Jalandhar districts.

Internet shutdowns cost $1.9 bn to Indian economy in Jan-Jun 2023: Report

Internet shutdowns by law enforcement agencies like the one in Manipur and Punjab cost USD 1.9 billion to the Indian economy in the first half of 2023, a report said on Thursday. The shutdowns also led to a loss of nearly USD 118 million in foreign investment and triggered over 21,000 job losses, the global non-profit Internet Society said in its report 'Netloss'. The non-profit arrived at the financial impact of the shutdown going beyond the loss of output and included factors like change in the unemployment rate, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) lost, risks of future shutdowns, population in the working age etc. Governments often mistakenly believe that internet shutdowns will quell unrest, stop the spread of misinformation, or reduce harm from cybersecurity threats. But shutdowns are extremely disruptive to economic activity, the report said. India's regular use of shutdowns as a tool to maintain public order gives India a shutdown risk of 16 per cent so far this year, one of the

1,000 new anganwadi centres to come up in Punjab: Minister Baljit Kaur

Punjab Social Security and Women and Child Development Minister Baljit Kaur Wednesday said the state government will open 1,000 new Anganwadi centres in the state. The process of recruiting 6,000 anganwadi workers and helpers will also be completed soon, she said. The minister said besides opening new anganwadi centres, renovation of existing buildings is also being carried out extensively. She said the recruitment of the anganwadi workers and helpers was being conducted fairly and transparently. The honorarium of Rs 8.2 crore for anganwadi workers and helpers would also be released within a few days, Kaur said. She was speaking at a function after the visit to an old-age home in Doraha, 20 kilometers from here. The minister reiterated that the state government was ensuring the safety of children, women and old-age persons in the state. The government was continuously making efforts for the welfare of women, especially pregnant and lactating women and strengthening the anganwadi

Buses missing as contractual employees of Punjab Roadways go on strike

Contractual employees of the Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation went on strike on Tuesday to press for their demands, including an increase in salaries. The strike left many passengers stranded at bus stands, including in Sangrur, Ludhiana and Patiala. Gurvinder Singh, secretary of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus, PRTC Contract Workers' Union, said they are staging demonstrations at all 27 bus stands in the state. The contractual employees are seeking from the state government, among others, a five per cent hike in their annual salaries. Singh said the hike was promised by the state government but not implemented. Waving black flags, the protesting employees raised slogans against the government and threatened to intensify their protest if their demands are not met. The strike inconvenienced many passengers, several of whom were unaware of the strike call. A passenger at the Sangrur stand said he waited for a state-owned bus for 25 minutes but "not even a s

Withdraw Sikh Gurdwaras Bill or face stir: SGPC chief tells Punjab govt

The SGPC special general house session on Monday completely rejected the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023 while calling it a direct attack on the independence of the apex gurdwara body. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami also warned that an agitation will be launched against the AAP-led Punjab government if the Bill was not withdrawn. The special general house session of the SGPC was convened here against the state government's move of bringing the Bill. The Punjab Assembly on June 20 passed the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which is aimed to ensure free telecast of 'Gurbani' from the Golden Temple. The session was also attended by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib Giani Sultan Singh and SGPC members. In the house, the SGPC members jointly condemned the Punjab government's interference in the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, and the management of SGPC and announced that it will not be tolerated.

Thakur inaugurates hockey astro turf ground at BSF headquarters

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday inaugurated a state-of-the-art astro turf for hockey at the BSF headquarters here. On the occasion, Thakur highlighted the government's commitment to promoting sports in India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An official release quoting Thakur said, "Sports are a catalyst for holistic development, and the government of India is fully committed to providing the necessary infrastructure and opportunities for our talented athletes. "This astro turf inauguration symbolises our dedication to promoting sports and nurturing the immense potential of our sporting community." Thakur said that the newly constructed stadium received all necessary approvals from the Hockey India, ensuring compliance with international standards. He also mentioned about the rich legacy of Punjab, which produced exceptional athletes and contributed significantly to India's sporting heritage. Further, he acknowledged the contributions of the Bord