Page 47 - Punjab

25k EWS houses to be constructed across Punjab in phased manner: Minister

The Punjab government will construct 25,000 houses for people from economically weaker sections (EWS) in a phased manner, Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora said on Saturday. Replying to a question in the state assembly here, the minister said nearly 15,000 dwelling units will be constructed in the first phase under the Punjab EWS Housing Policy. The sites where these units are to be constructed have been identified and the tendering process will be initiated soon, he said. Arora claimed that due to the negligence of previous governments, more than 14,000 unauthorised colonies mushroomed in the state, and EWS housing was ignored. "Now, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government is concerned about providing a roof to the economically weaker sections and notices have been issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department to promoters who have not handed over the possession of the land reserved for EWS housing as per the policy," he said. Sharing the .

BJP not well-wisher of Punjab, wasn't mentioned in Union budget: CM Mann

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Saturday accused the BJP of not being a well-wisher of Punjab, claiming the state did not find a mention in the Union budget and the Centre had imposed the rail-ship-rail route condition for transporting coal to power plant. Punjabis still remembered that the BJP-led Union Government "disrespected" the sacrifices of the brave warriors of Punjab by pulling out the state's tableau from the Republic Day parade, he said. "If the BJP really has some fondness for the state, then why was Punjab not even mentioned in the Union Budget," the chief minister asked. "How can a party that imposed conditions like the rail-ship-rail route to bring coal via Sri Lanka, be a well-wisher of Punjab? Is this the kind of love the BJP has for Punjab?" he asked. Punjab's ruling AAP had earlier slammed the Centre for asking the state government to lift coal using RSR mode, claiming that it would put an additional financial burden on the state power utility. Last month, Chief ..

Punjab Cabinet approves Excise policy 2023-24 with Rs 9,754 cr target

Punjab Cabinet Friday approved an excise policy for the financial year 2023-24 with a target to collect Rs 9,754 crore in revenue, a jump Rs 1,004 crore collected in the last fiscal year. In another decision, the Cabinet also approved 'Punjab State Minor Mineral Policy-2023' to provide sand and gravel at affordable rates to the people of the state. Decisions to this effect was taken by the Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here, said an official release. In order to maintain stability of liquor trade and to continue reforms initiated last year, the retail sale licenses are being offered for renewal to the existing retail licensees, said the release. "The policy aims to collect Rs 9,754 crore during the year 2023-24, giving an increase of Rs 1,004 crore," it said. As per the policy, the value added tax charged on liquor sold by beer bars, hard bars, clubs and microbreweries has been reduced to 13 per cent, in addition to 10 per cent surcharge. On its .

Budget roadmap for new, progressive, prosperous Punjab: Bhagwant Mann

The Chief Minister said, as per the commitment of his government, the budget is the blueprint for restoring the pristine glory of the state

Indian Air Force airfield in Punjab sold off to pvt party in shocking fraud

In a shocking fraud committed in connivance with revenue officials, the Indian Air Force's emergency airfield (Jahaz Ground) in Ferozepur Cantonment has been sold off to private persons

Shriram General Insurance opens two women-only branches in the north

The firm plans to replicate the model nationwide, going forward

Punjab body GMADA fetches Rs 1,935 crore from e-auction of properties

The e-auction of various properties of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has received a thumping response as the authority fetched Rs 1935.88 crore from the process, said an official statement here on Tuesday. It said the auction process, which commenced on February 17, concluded on Monday evening. Properties auctioned include group housing, commercial spaces, nursing home, IT industrial plots, Shop Cum Offices and booths situated in different projects of GMADA, such as IT City, Aerocity and other sectors of Mohali. Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora said this was the highest-ever revenue earned by GMADA in a single e-auction. The minister congratulated all the successful bidders and said GMADA would provide every possible help to them in setting up their establishments. A total of six group housing sites were available for bidding, and all of these found buyers. The highest bid of Rs 325.59 crore was received for the group housing site no

Moosewala's parents sit outside Punjab Vidhan Sabha complex, seek justice

The parents of singer Sidhu Moosewala, who was shot dead last year, sat on a protest outside the Punjab Assembly complex here on Tuesday seeking justice for their son. Speaking to reporters, an emotional Balkaur Singh said the masterminds behind his son's murder were still at large. He said nothing concrete has been done by the investigation agencies and demanded a CBI probe into the incident. Carrying placards, Singh and his wife Charan Kaur sat outside the state assembly. They were accompanied by some senior Punjab Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa. Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29. "I have come here today as we have no other option. For the last 10 months, nothing concrete has been done. Enough time has been given to police and the administration to act. "But the reality is the (murder) case is being suppressed. Crucial witnesses are being eliminated and nothing is goi

No person involved in looting public money will be spared: Punjab CM

Mann assured the House that nothing can deter him from taking stringent action against the corrupt leaders

State scan: Punjab may be seeing a resurgence in extremist Sikh politics

Politicians warn that admiring the problem instead of taking steps to solve it could worsen the situation

CBI should also probe Punjab's excise policy, says BJP's Tarun Chugh

Chugh said the beneficiaries of Punjab's excise policy have alleged connections in Delhi and Punjab has been losing a big chunk of revenue ever since the AAP govt came to power in the state last year

Cotton growers to get water from April, says Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness of the state government to supply canal water to cotton cultivators from April 1. Chairing a meeting of the irrigation department here, the chief minister said from April 1, canal water has to be made available for cotton crop cultivation to farmers, according to an official release. He said the water supply must be ensured in the cotton belt of the state. Mann asked the officers to ensure uninterrupted and adequate canal water supply at the tail ends to ensure sufficient water supply for the cotton crop. Police should be deputed to check stealing of canal water so as to avoid any sort of inconvenience to the farmers, he said. Mann also asked the officers to ensure proper cleaning and desilting of the entire canal system.

BJP demanding guv's rule in state, these leaders have been anti-Punjab: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Monday accused BJP leaders, including former chief minister Amarinder Singh, of demanding "governor's rule" in the state and said that people know that these leaders have always been "anti-Punjab". The Mann-led AAP government has been under fire from the opposition which has been alleging a deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state. The chief minister's also involved in a tussle with Governor Banwarilal Purohit. It worsened last week with the governor indicating that he is in no hurry to summon the Assembly's Budget session, and reminding the chief minister about his "derogatory response" to a letter from the Raj Bhavan. Purohit's letter to Chief Minister Mann had come two days after the Punjab Cabinet decided to call the assembly session from March 3 and requested the governor to summon the House. "Capt Amarinder Singh, Kewal Dhillon, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Fateh Jang Bajwa, Raj Kumar Verka, Gurpreet Kangar, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi... all

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Just a few people funded by Pakistan: CM Bhagwant Mann on Ajnala clashes

The Punjab chief minister said "1,000 people" do not represent Punjab, adding that they were funded by Pakistan in a bid to disturb peace in the state

No one will be allowed to disturb Punjab's hard-earned peace: CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said his government was committed to maintaining law and order in the state and no one would be allowed to disturb the hard-earned peace. Referring to the insurgency period in Punjab, Mann said the state and its people have suffered a lot in the past and they only want peace and progress. Though some fissiparous forces are continuously trying to derail the peace and progress of the state, their nefarious designs will not be allowed to succeed, the chief minister said, adding no one will be allowed to disturb the hard-earned peace in the state. He reiterated that those who carried the Guru Granth Sahib to a police station in Ajnala in Amritsar as a shield cannot be called the 'waris' (heir) of Punjab. His remarks came days after self-styled Sikh preacher and Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into a police station in Ajnala on the outskir

Not afraid of misuse of probe agencies, will continue to serve people: Mann

The AAP is not afraid of the "misuse of probe agencies by the Centre" and it will continue to serve the people without any fear, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Sunday after CBI arrested Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in an excise police scam case. He also slammed the BJP for the arrest of Sisodia, saying the move was an "insult" to the education that lakhs of children are getting in Delhi. Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal visited Sisodia's residence to meet his family members after the arrest. Kejriwal said the AAP will take responsibility for the family of Manish Sisodia, as his wife has been suffering from multiple sclerosis. "Bhagwant Mann and I met the wife of Manish Sisodia, who has been suffering from multiple sclerosis and assured her that we will look after them. We told her not to worry as her husband is innocent and is fighting for the country," Kejriwal said. Mann said, "We are not afraid of the misuse of CBI and ED by the Union government

In Punjab, a political vacuum and remote control bring back the K-word

An armed mob overran a big police station near the border, a suspect was freed, and then the State said 'sorry'. You have to be nuts to think there will be no consequences

Law and order under control: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Ajnala incident

While addressing a press briefing at the Mumbai residence of former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Matoshree, it appeared Mann was dodging the question on Ajnala violence

MoUs obsolete, we are going 'dil se', says Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

On the skilled manpower front, the cabinet minister said that Punjab has 11 major specialised research institutes engaged in the textile sector.