Punjab News

Chandigarh/Mansa, March 31: Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal, on Monday, inaugurated four newly constructed minors and a bridge in Sardulgarh constituency of Mansa district. These projects, completed at a cost of approximately Rs.15 crore, will further enhance irrigation facilities in this region. Speaking to journalists after dedicating these projects to the public, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that while four minors - Rorki Minor, Khaira Minor, Jhanda Minor and Minor No-11 Boha Distributary - have been completed at a cost of Rs.12.82-CR, a bridge of historical significance has been constructed at a cost of Rs.2.10-CR. He said that Rorki Minor has a total length of 45,125 feet and will provide drinking and irrigation water to villages including Ahlupur, K...

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 30: In a significant initiative to address the critical challenge of subsoil water depletion, a team from California State University, Fresno, brainstormed with Punjab’s agricultural experts to devise sustainable solutions. The high-profile delegation, headed by Dr. Sharon Elizabeth Benes and Dr. Gurreet Singh Brar along with six undergraduate and Masters’ students engaged in strategic discussions with the Punjab State Farmers’ and Farm Workers’ Commission (PSFC), stressing the urgent need for collaborative action.  With Punjab and California both have been struggling with water scarcity, which is posing serious challenges to farming and livestock economy- the meeting served as a crucial platform for knowledge exchange. Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Chairman of PSFC, e...

Chandigarh, March 30: The Punjab Government's Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) concluded on a high note, with over 20.13 lakh parents actively participated in it across the state, said Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, while hailing the initiative as a major step toward fostering stronger ties between schools and families to enhance student learning. "The massive success of the Mega PTM is a testament to the Punjab Government's commitment to creating a collaborative and supportive learning environment for all students," said Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains. He highlighted the significant participation in the Mega PTM, noting that over 100 schools were visited by Cabinet Ministers/ MLAs, while, education department officials visited 5,849 schools. Over 1.23 l...

Chandigarh, March 30:  The Punjab Government is launching  the ‘Aarambh’ program, an innovative initiative aimed at encouraging parents to actively participate in their child's learning journey through simple, play-based activities. Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur shared this information, stating that this program is a significant step towards strengthening foundational education for children. Dr. Baljit Kaur further said that in the first phase, the ‘Aarambh’ program will be implemented in eight districts: Ludhiana, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Tarn Taran, Ropar, and Amritsar. This initiative is expected to commence soon and will serve as a model for future expansion across the state. Elaborating on the program, ...

Chandigarh/Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, March 29: Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains while reviewing the last Mega PTM (Parent Teacher Meet) of this academic session at School of Eminence, Phase 11, Mohali today, said that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann is committed to give wings to the dreams of the students studying in the government schools to achieve their goals. The minister Sai that their government is ensuring better facilities in government schools without any hefty fees like private schools. While interacting with the students, their parents and teachers during the Mega PTM, he interacted with the students and parents as well. He said that there was a time when parent-teacher meetings were organised only in private schools, but no...

Chandigarh, March 29: "Punjab government will provide all necessary assistance to support the ongoing and future research endeavours of international experts working on soil and water conservation," asserted Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian during a high-level meeting hosted by the Punjab State Food Commission. Addressing the meeting as Chief Guest, S. Khudian said that Punjab, as predominantly an agrarian state, is eager to foster collaborations that advance agricultural sciences and practices, particularly those aimed at improving soil and water conservation in the region. This crucial meeting, presided over by Chairman Mr. Bal Mukand Sharma, welcomed a distinguished delegation from California State University for Agriculture Science and Technolo...

Chandigarh/Gurdaspur, March 29: Punjab Water Resources Minister Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal, on Saturday, while giving the gift to the folks of the Gurdaspur, laid the foundation stone of Rs.7.18 crore lining project of the Nabipur Drain that passes through Gurdaspur city. The Cabinet Minister was accompanied by Punjab Health Systems Corporation Chairman Mr. Raman Behl, Aam Aadmi Party State Working President and Batala MLA Mr. Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi, Dera Baba Nanak MLA S. Gurdeep Singh Randhawa and AAP District Urban President Mr. Shamsher Singh Dinanagar. Speaking to reporters after laying the foundation stone, Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal informed that the 3.50 kilometer section of this drain, which was constructed in 1960, falls within Gurdaspur city. Being an earthen drain, it ha...

Chandigarh, March 28 The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission chaired by Chairperson Sh. Viswajeet Khanna, IAS (Retd) and Member Paramjeet Singh, District and Sessions Judge (Retd.) have issued the Tariff Orders containing tariff/charges for FY 2025-26 vide Orders dated 28.03.2025. In the Orders, the Commission has determined the true-up of FY 2023-24, ARR for FY 2025-26 and Determination of Tariff/charges applicable for FY 2025-26 in respect of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL). The Commission has decided to make the new tariff/charges applicable from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026. PSPCL had submitted in its ARR petition that it has a revenue deficit of Rs. 5090.89 Crore up to FY 2025-26 and request...

Chandigarh, March 28: Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment & Minorities Minister, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government has released an amount of ₹9.55 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme for 1,872 beneficiaries belonging to Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections during the current financial year 2024-25. Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that under the Ashirwad Scheme, applications of 1,872 beneficiaries from districts Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Sri Muktsar Sahib, SBS Nagar, and Tarn Taran were received on the Ashirwad Portal during this year. To cover these beneficiaries, a total amount of ₹9.55 crore has been released. The Cabinet Minister added that through this amount, finan...

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...