Punjab News

Chandigarh/Batala, May 4: In a continued crackdown against drug smugglers under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashiyan Virudh’, Batala Police on Sunday demolished the illegally constructed house of notorious drug smuggler identified as Navsharan Das alias Kaka in Qadian village. The demolition was carried out using a JCB machine amid heavy rainfall, under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Batala Suhail Qasim Mir.  SSP Suhail Qasim Mir informed reporters that the drug smuggler, Navsharan Das, has six criminal cases registered against him in various police stations, including four under the NDPS Act. The cases have been registered at Police Stations including three at Qadian, while one each at Kahnuwan, Dinanagar, and SAS Naga...

Chandigarh/Fazilka, May 4: Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today asserted that Punjab's agricultural fields cannot be allowed to dry up merely to divert water to other states. Speaking to reporters here, the Cabinet Minister affirmed that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government will take all necessary measures to safeguard the state's water resources. He said that Punjab will, under no circumstances, permit the exploitation or unfair diversion of its water. Sh. Goyal said that Punjab's position on the water issue is unequivocal that the state will not relinquish its rightful share. He noted that Haryana is already drawing water exceeding its allocated quota, adding that Punjab will not yield to pressure from the Central government or Harya...

Chandigarh, May 4: In a major initiative, the Election Commission of India is developing a new user-friendly digital interface for the electors and its other stakeholders such as the election officials, political parties and the civil society. The new one-stop platform, ECINET, will integrate and reorient over 40 of ECI's existing mobile and web applications. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer, Sibin C said that ECINET will have an aesthetic User Interface (UI) and a simplified User Experience (UX) by providing a singular platform for all electoral-related activities. This move is also designed to alleviate the burden of the users for downloading and navigating multiple Apps and remembering different logins. The platform was envisaged by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India ...

Chandigarh, May 3: Punjab Water Resources and Soil and Water Conservation Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today said that the Punjab Government will boycott the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) meeting scheduled for May 5. Terming the meeting completely unconstitutional and illegal, Sh. Goyal said that proper protocols had been violated in the scheduling of the 255th Special Meeting. "Under Regulation-3 of the 1976 Regulations, a seven-day notice is mandatory before scheduling a BBMB meeting," said the Cabinet Minister, adding that "We will not participate in the meeting until BBMB follows proper procedures." In a strongly worded letter to the BBMB Chairman, the Punjab Government communicated its position to the BBMB prior to the meeting. The state government conveyed that th...

Chandigarh/Sri Muktsar Sahib, May 3: Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today lambasted that Haryana is spreading misconceptions of the water sharing issue. While addressing the media persons on the sideline of the function, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal disclosed all facts related to this matter, asserting that Punjab has not withheld anyone's rightful share and will neither surrender its own rights nor bow to pressure from the Center or Haryana. He clarified that Punjab's interests come first for the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government and only Punjab has rights over its waters. Elaborating on this issue with detailed facts, the Cabinet Minister informed that the water distribution from dams has been occurring according to stored volume for arou...

Chandigarh, May 2: Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is consistently working towards the welfare and upliftment of every section of society. Giving details in this regard, Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that during the year 2024-25, the State Government has disbursed loans amounting to ₹7 crore to empower the youth belonging to backward classes, minority communities, and economically weaker sections, enabling them to become self-reliant. Providing further information, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that through various schemes of the Punjab Backward Classes Land Development and Finance Corporation (Backfinco), loans have been provided to 248 beneficiaries so far, allowing them to start their own...

Chandigarh, May 2- On the initiative of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann all the political parties of the state on Friday displayed rare show of unity to condemn the draconian move of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to snatch waters of the state and pledged to take every step to save the waters of the state. During a meeting called at Punjab Bhawan here today political leaders including former Speaker Rana KP Singh and former Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa from Congress, Akali stalwart Balwinder Singh Bhunder and former Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema from Shiromani Akali Dal, state BJP Chief Sunil Jakhar and former Minister Manoranjan Kalia from BJP, former MP and state BSP Chief Avtar Singh Karimpuri, Secretary CPM Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon and Secretary CPI Bant Sing...

Chandigarh, May 1:           To bolster Punjab's cattle breeding with cutting-edge reproductive biotechnologies, Punjab Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian visited Kerala Livestock Development Board's (KLDB) pioneering Frozen Semen Technology and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Centre at Mattuppetty in Idukki district of Kerala. The facility, was established in 1965, stands as the birthplace of bovine frozen semen technology in India and remains a leading centre for advanced reproductive biotechnologies. S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry Mr. Rahul Bhandari and other officials, visited on the invitation of Kerala...

Chandigarh, May 1:           Punjab’s Labour Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, extended warm greetings to all workers on the occasion of Labour Day. Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, he highlighted that the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is committed to the welfare of workers and has taken several significant initiatives to enhance their quality of life.           He informed that under the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, over Rs 90 crore was disbursed to more than 41,000 registered workers through various schemes in the last financial year. This includes Rs 45 crore stipend scheme for workers' children, Rs 28 crore as ex-gratia assistanc...

Chandigarh, April 30- Slamming BJP for conspiring to divest Punjab of its waters by misusing its power in Haryana and center, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday categorically said that the state has no single drop of water to share with any other state. In a letter to his Haryana counterpart, the Chief Minister said that he had received the letter of Naib Singh Saini through media only and it is unfortunate that a person of his stature is misleading the people by saying that he has assured water to Haryana. He said that this is nothing more than a bundle of lies as this promise was never made adding that this doesn’t suit a person sitting on a constitutional post. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Chief Minister of Haryana did call him but he never gave any assurance...