Page 11 - Punjab

Punjab govt to spruce up healthcare infrastructure, says Bhagwant Mann

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said infrastructure at government-run healthcare centres across Punjab would be developed to provide state-of-the-art medical treatment and diagnostic services. "During the Assembly elections, we had promised quality healthcare to the people and no stone is being left unturned for this," Mann said while addressing a gathering after inaugurating a new mother and child care hospital here. Mann said strenuous efforts were being made to equip government hospitals with ultra-modern facilities, according to an official release. A massive recruitment drive has also been started to fill vacant posts in the health department to ensure that people get the best healthcare facilities, he said. Mann said the government was focussing on opening new hospitals apart from upgrading the existing ones with latest facilities. Punjab will soon emerge as a hub of healthcare and medical education, said Mann, adding that 16 new medical colleges would be constructed

Stubble burning cases in Haryana not even 10% of Punjab's: CM Khattar

CM Manohar Lal Khattar has claimed that the cases of stubble burning in Haryana are not even 10% of that in Punjab

No deficiency in ensuring delivery of justice in Moosewala case: Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Monday asserted there was no deficiency on his government's part in ensuring the delivery of justice in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case, a day after the slain singer's father threatened to withdraw the FIR. Mann was responding to a question on a statement by Moosewala's father, who on Sunday said he would withdraw the FIR in his son's murder case if the slain singer was linked with gangsters. "From our side, there is no such deficiency that we are making any delay in delivery of justice. Every day, someone or the other is being arrested. From wherever we get any clue, we make arrests (in the case)," the chief minister said in Pathankot. Moosewala's father Balkaur Singh has also threatened to leave the country and given an ultimatum to the state machinery till November 25 to hear him out. Mann, who was in Pathankot on Monday to take stock of paddy procurement arrangements, dubbed the Moosewala murder incident as a very serious matter. He said the

Punjab CM decides to personally review efforts to check stubble burning

Amid farm fire incidents continuing in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said he has decided to personally undertake review of the efforts in all the districts to check paddy straw burning. He also said that the state government had chalked out a plan to combat the stubble burning menace and directed the officers concerned to implement it in a result oriented manner. As part of the plan, the state government has recently distributed 30,000 machines for in-situ management of paddy straw thereby taking the total number of such machines to 1.20 lakh, said Mann in an official release here. He also urged people to play a pivotal role in checking environmental pollution in the state. "Now the time has come when every citizen should support the state government in making the state clean, green and pollution free, he said, adding that the state government would leave no stone unturned for this noble cause. The chief minister said the campaign has been initiated across the sta

Punjab govt suspends four agriculture officers for dereliction of duty

The Punjab government on Sunday suspended four officials of the Agriculture Department in the wake of stubble burning incidents in their areas, according to an official release. The development came as the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution rose to 26 per cent, the highest this year, with forecasters saying that slow wind speed and an increase in stubble burning, especially in Punjab, may make it worse. Following directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal placed four agriculture officers under suspension with immediate effect for dereliction of duty, the release stated. The suspended officials are Chief Agriculture Officer (Sangrur) Harbans Singh, Agriculture Officer (Samana in Patiala) Satish Kumar, Agriculture Officer (Chohla Sahib in Tarn Taran) Harpal Singh and Agriculture Officer (Patti in Tarn Taran) Bhupinder Singh, it said. Sangrur, Patiala and Tarn Taran, among various other districts, have been witnessing farm

Punjab sees nearly 1,900 farm fires on Saturday despite awareness programme

Despite the Punjab government carrying out a massive awareness programme to dissuade farmers from setting crop residue on fire, the state recorded 1,898 stubble burning incidents on Saturday. With this, the cumulative number of farm fire incidents between September 15 and October 29 now stands at 12,112, according to Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data. During the corresponding in 2020 and 2021, the state had reported 23,187 and 8,856 stubble burning incidents respectively. Out of total 1,898 farm fire incidents on Saturday, Sangrur recorded the highest number of 286 cases, followed by 268 in Patiala, 192 in Tarn Taran, 109 in Barnala, 108 in Bathinda, 105 in Ludhiana and 104 in Ferozepur, as per the data. The state had reported 1,541 and 1,353 active fire incidents on October 29 in 2020 and 2021 respectively, according to the data. After Diwali, the state has seen a jump in the number of stubble burning incidents. The state's total number of farm fires has more than

Over 10 million MT paddy procured in Punjab, 5.2 mn MT from Haryana

More than 105 lakh metric tonnes (MT) paddy arrived in marketing yards in Punjab, out of which 104 lakh MT paddy was procured till Saturday

150 farmers honoured for not burning crop residue in Punjab, says speaker

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Saturday exhorted farmers not to burn stubble so as to keep the environment clean and pollution free. He was addressing a gathering here in an event in which 150 progressive farmers from across the state were honoured for not setting the crop residue on fire for the last five years, according to an official release here. Sandhwan said crop residue burning causes damage to other microorganisms present in the upper layer of the soil as well as its organic quality. Speaking on this occasion, Environment Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said it is a matter of happiness that farmers are giving up stubble burning practice. Due to pollution, not only the lungs are damaged, many other type of health diseases affect the human being, he stated. Hayer appealed to progressive farmers to spread the message of not burning crop residue in villages. The minister also expressed happiness that the young generation is now participating in planta

Pak drone spotted close to border in Punjab, returns after BSF opens fire

A drone from Pakistan was spotted close to the international border here, said officials on Saturday. The unmanned aerial vehicle flew back to Pakistan after the Border Security Force troops fired at it, they said. The BSF personnel fired at least 18 rounds towards the drone, they said. A search operation is underway, they said. On the night of October 27, the BSF had recovered a huge cache of firearms and ammunition in the Ferozepur sector. The BSF troops had recovered a bag along the Indo-Pakistan border and had found six AK-47 assault rifles, three pistols and 200 live rounds from it.

BSF seizes cache of arms, ammunition in Punjab in search near zero line

The Border Security Force (BSF) troops recovered a bag containing arms and ammunition during a search near the zero line, informed the officials

Punjab: 90,248 deceased beneficiaries of pension schemes identified

A survey of beneficiaries of various pension schemes in Punjab found 90,248 of such beneficiaries as deceased, said an official statement here. The Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development conducted the survey of a total of 30.46 lakh beneficiaries in Punjab, out of which 90,248 deceased beneficiaries were identified. By identifying the deceased beneficiaries, the government will save Rs 13.53 crore per month or Rs 162.36 crore annually, said Baljit Kaur, minister for social security, women and child development, in the statement. The minister said with the identification of 90,248 deceased beneficiaries, financial loss of the government has stopped and the amount will be spent to help other needy people. The minister further said the electronic benefit transfer (EBT) scheme will be implemented to pay pension to the beneficiaries.

Punjab reports 9% rise in stubble burning incidents from last year: CAQM

Punjab reported 1,111 stubble burning incidents on Thursday

Over 8,100,000 MT paddy procured so far in Punjab during Kharif season

More than 81 lakh metric tonne of paddy has been procured so far in the ongoing Kharif marketing season in Punjab, a senior official said on Thursday. Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Aggarwal said paddy procurement operations were being carried out seamlessly in all grain markets across the state. So far, 84.48 lakh MT paddy has arrived in the mandis, and 81.80 lakh MT has been procured by the various procurement agencies, he said. A payment of more than Rs 11,531 crore has been made to the farmers. Aggarwal was in the Khanna grain market, about 45 km from here, to take stock of the procurement operations. The ACS said the Punjab government was committed to ensure a hassle-free and smooth procurement season and every grain of crops would be procured without causing any inconvenience to the peasantry. He said the farmers were receiving their payments timely besides ensuring foremost priority to prompt purchase. Later, Aggarwal went to the village Libran where progressive farmers

9% YoY rise in Punjab farm fires during Sept 15-Oct 26 period: CAQM

There has been a "significant" nine per cent rise in stubble burning incidents in Punjab between September 15 and October 26 this year in comparison to the corresponding period in 2021 which is a "matter of concern", the Commission for Air Quality Management said on Thursday. It said the total number of farm fires in Haryana has, however, reduced by 26 per cent as compared to last year in the same period. In view of the spike in stubble incidents, the commission has taken up the matter with the Punjab government for effective implementation of action plan, including strategies for stubble management, the CAQM said. "As per the standard protocol developed by ISRO for CAQM, between September 15 to October 26, total paddy residue burning events reported in Punjab are 7,036 compared to 6,463 for the same period during the last year, which is a significant increase of about nine per cent,' the commission said in a statement. It said about 70 per cent of farm fires during the current pad

Years after Bt cotton, GEAC clears environmental release of GM mustard

First crop to get such recommendation since Bt cotton in years, say experts

Thousands from Punjab seek asylum in Canada over period of last 10 years

Thousands of people mainly from Punjab have sought asylum in Canada citing political persecution in India because they support Khalistan

Air quality improves in Punjab after Diwali, average AQI reduction of 16.4%

Punjab has observed the Average Air Quality Index (AQI) reduction of 16.4 per cent from last year and 31.7 per cent from 2020, state Environment Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said on Tuesday

Previous govts plundered Punjab of its resources, trying to undo damage: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday claimed that previous government "mercilessly plundered" the state's resources and his regime is trying to undo the damage. "The Aam Aadmi Party government will overhaul the entire system in the state to ensure its progress and prosperity of people," said Mann addressing a gathering at a state-level function to mark Vishwakarma Day here. Earlier, governments had "mercilessly plundered" the wealth of the state, causing it an irreparable damage, he said. Now, with the blessings of Lord Vishwakarma, he is trying to repair the damage done to the state by ensuring its complete revamp, claimed Mann. Exhorting workers and craftsmen to make concerted efforts for strengthening the infrastructure of the state and the nation, the CM said it will be a real and befitting tribute to Lord Vishwakarma. The CM said his government strives to make the youth of Punjab job providers instead of job seekers, stressing that Punjabis are blessed with qualities

Parts of Punjab, Haryana face 'poor' to 'very poor' air quality post-Diwali

After Diwali, several parts of Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday morning recorded air quality in the 'poor' and 'very poor' categories. Gurugram in Haryana and Ludhiana in Punjab reported their respective air quality index (AQI) at 313 and 269 at 10:10 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) data. Among other districts, Faridabad, Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani, Ambala, Bahadurgarh, Sonipat, Jind, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, and Panipat reported their AQI at 311, 301, 291, 241, 279, 214, 296, 211, 276 and 192 respectively. In Punjab, Amritsar, Mandi Gobindgarh, Patiala, Jalandhar and Khanna the AQI was recorded at 249, 208, 225, 260 and 212 respectively -- all in the 'poor' category. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. The AQI in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the joint capital of the two states, was recorded at 178. The Punjab governm

Punjab, Haryana lit with Diwali spirit; Mann visits Gurudwara with wife

Diwali, the festival of lights, was celebrated across Punjab and Haryana on Monday with great fervour and enthusiasm. Devotees queued up at temples and gurudwaras across Punjab and Haryana including Chandigarh to worship their gurus and deities. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with his wife Gurpreet Kaur offered prayers at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali. He also bought some diyas from a roadside vendor. Cities across the two states were lit with candles, diyas (earthen lamps), and electric lights, as people did rounds of each others' houses and exchanged sweets and gifts. Everywhere, people thronged the market places for last-minute shopping as shopkeepers selling Diwali items and sweets made a brisk business. To ward off any bad incident, security was tightened across the two states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, especially in and around vital locations, markets, and places of worship, officials said. In Amritsar, the Golden Temple, the holy Sikh shrine, gleamed