Punjab News

Chandigarh, March 27: In a significant step towards promoting renewable energy and reducing reliance on conventional energy sources in the state, Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Mr. Aman Arora today informed the house in Punjab Vidhan Sabha that a total of 4238 Government School buildings have already been equipped with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with 21.19 MW installed capacity and producing 2.89 crore units clean electricity annually. In a reply to Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, MLA from Sanour constituency in Punjab Vidhan Sabha today on repair of solar plants installed on Govt school buildings, Mr. Aman Arora explained that the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has established a five-year annual maintenance contract (AMC) with installation vendors. As per t...

Chandigarh, March 27: Secretary, Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab and a 2005 cadre IAS officer, Mr. Malwinder Singh Jaggi was given a warm farewell party by the officers and employees of the Public Relations Department on the eve of his retirement. Mr. Jaggi is set to retire on March 31, 2025 after rendering 33 years of distinguished service. Mr. Jaggi started his administrative career in 1992 as a PCS Civil Officer and elevated as a 2005 batch IAS officer. In a simple but effective function organized by the department at Punjab Bhawan, various speakers shared their views and spoke about the personality of Mr. Jaggi and shared their personal experiences and described him as an efficient and dedicated officer. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Malwinder Singh Jagg...

Chandigarh, March 27- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday rapped the Congress leaders especially the Leader of Opposition for making irresponsible and irrelevant statements and indulging in theatrics just to satiate their lust for hogging the media limelight. Addressing the gathering during the Vidhan Sabha session, the Chief Minister quipped that those who are habitual of obstructing the session often stage walk out on trivial issues to get media attention. He said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that the 1975 World Cup Hockey winner team is sitting in the Vidhan Sabha gallery. Training guns against opposition, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is unfortunate that the opposition was questioning the credentials of eminent environmentalist Sant B...

CHANDIGARH, March 26:           In a pathbreaking move to ensure universal access to quality healthcare services, Punjab Health and Medical Education and Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Tuesday, hailed the enhanced budget allocation in the Health and Medical Education sectors as “transformational” for the crucial sector. He particularly lauded the decision of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government to cover every citizen of the state under Mukh Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna and double the insurance cover from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per family annually.           Pertinently, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema presented the historic ‘Badalda Punjab’ Budget for financ...

Chandigarh, March 26: The Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department has been allocated Rs. 281 crore for Financial Year 2025-26 in the budget presented by the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema today in the Vidhan Sabha. Profusely thanking the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Finance Minister, the Forest Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak said that to promote eco-tourism in Punjab, special focus will be placed on developing the Jhajjar Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary in Sri Anandpur Sahib. Underlining the commitment of the State Government to ensure environmental conservation  and wildlife protection, Mr. Kataruchak added that various initiatives to enhance green cover and biodiversity in the State are being undertaken. So far, around 3 crore saplings have been plant...

Chandigarh, March 26 Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardip Singh Mundian stated on Wednesday that the budget presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema will transform the cities of the state and ensure world-class facilities to urban residents, with an allocation of ₹5,983 crores for 2025-26.  Mundian noted that 40 percent of Punjab's population lives in urban areas, which is why these regions received significant boosts in the budget. He expressed gratitude to the government for key announcements made for the major cities of Punjab, especially Ludhiana.  He stated that approximately 50 kilometres of world-class roads will be developed in four cities including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and SAS Nagar over the next year. ₹225 crores has been allocate...

Chandigarh, March 25: In a groundbreaking initiative to make the state leader in green energy production, the Punjab Government is mulling to incentivise farmers for producing surplus solar energy through solar pumps installed for agriculture use, announced Mr. Aman Arora, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources, Punjab. He was replying to a question raised by Mr. Naresh Puri, MLA from Sujanpur Assembly constituency during the question hour in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, on Tuesday. Mr. Aman Arora said that this forward-thinking move would empower the state farmers, besides bolstering the renewable energy sector and contribute to a sustainable future of the state. Under this proposed policy, the farmers would be compensated for excess solar energy generated beyond their own consumpt...

Chandigarh, March 25:           Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is continuously striving to ensure the safety of women and children in the state. Taking a significant step in this direction, the state government has approved the creation of 252 new posts to strengthen and efficiently operate the helpline services dedicated to women and children. This announcement was made by Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur.           Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that the department has set up 181 Women Helpline and 1098 Child Helpline to provide immediate assistance. To enhance the efficiency and effecti...

Chandigarh, March 25:           Punjab's Rural Development and Panchayats Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, while responding to a question in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, stated that an FIR has been registered at Police Station Ferozepur City after an departmental investigation revealed the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs. 1,80,87,591 from grants received under the 15th Finance Commission and allocated to Block Samiti Ferozepur. He further informed that the case has been handed over to the Vigilance Department.           While replying to a question raised by MLA Partap Singh Bajwa, Minister Sond stated that FIR No. 434, dated 13.12.2024, has been registered at Police Station Ferozepur City against Kiran...

Chandigarh, March 24 The Punjab government has approved the construction of a bypass in Jalalabad city on the Ferozepur-Fazilka road to ease traffic congestion. Responding to a query in the Legislative Assembly, Punjab PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO informed that administrative approval for constructing the bypass from Ferozepur-Fazilka Road (Bagho ke Uttar) to FF Road (Amir Khas) (Shaheed Udham Singh Marg) has been issued by the Secretary, Punjab Mandi Board. The 8.75 km long and 5.5 meter wide road will be constructed along the canal and serve as a bypass for Jalalabad city, helping streamline traffic flow. Regarding the reconstruction of the causeway on Mubarakpur to Dhakoli Road, the Cabinet Minister said the existing 330-meter-long (including approach roads) and 8-meter-wid...