Page 17 - Punjab

African Swine Fever: Punjab govt to give compensation for culling of pigs

Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar on Saturday said the state government will provide due compensation for the culling of pigs following the detection of African swine fever in the animals. The compensation will be given according to the policy of the Centre. African swine fever was detected in samples which were sent from Patiala district for testing. The fever is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease affecting domestic pigs. "African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed at two places in Patiala and as per the guidelines of the Government of India, it is necessary to cull pigs within the radius of one kilometre from the epicenter of the disease, otherwise, this disease can be fatal, said Bhullar. The mortality rate of this disease can be as high as 100 per cent and once a pig is affected, it dies within a few days, he said. The minister said the compensation will be given only for the culling done by the department. He urged pig farmers to cooperate wi

Punjab food dept official dismissed for negligence in discharge of duty

Amid alleged irregularities in the tendering process of labour, cartage and transportation for lifting foodgrain, Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Saturday said his department has dismissed a deputy director rank officer for gross negligence in the discharge of duty. This came days after the registration of a case by the Vigilance Bureau in connection with alleged irregularities in Ludhiana district in the previous Congress government. The role of Deputy Director Rakesh Kumar Singla is being investigated with regard to the irregularities in the tendering process, sources said. Singla is said to be close to former food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu whose role is also under the scanner, they said. Addressing the media here, minister Kataruchak said Singla has been dismissed for wilfully concealing facts and gross negligence in discharge of official duty. Kataruchak said Singla violated the Punjab Civil Services Rules, 1970 by hiding t

Punjab, Haryana to name Chandigarh int'l airport after Bhagat Singh

Punjab and its neighbouring Haryana on Saturday agreed to name the Chandigarh International Airport after Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh.

DMU train hits truck at railway crossing in Hoshiarpur; driver escapes

A truck driver had a narrow escape when a DMU train bound for Jalandhar from Hoshiarpur hit the vehicle at a railway crossing in village Mandiala, about 16 kilometers from here, police said on Saturday. The incident took place on Friday night when the truck carrying LPG gas cylinders was going from Jalandhar to the bottling plant near Mandiala village, they said. When it reached the railway crossing gate, the diesel multiple unit (DMU) train coming from Hoshiarpur side hit the rear side of the truck and also dragged it for some distance, police said. Station Superintendent, Nasrala Railway Station, Mohan Singh said the DMU train remained stranded for around three hours at the accident site. However, no loss of life was reported. The railway staff brought a crane to the accident site and the truck was towed to the side. Thereafter, the rail traffic resumed. A case under relevant sections of the Railways Act has been registered against the gateman on duty in this regard.

Post matric scam: No need to hand over probe to central agency, says Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said the state's investigating agencies were fully capable of investigating the alleged irregularities in the post matric scholarship scheme and there was no need to hand the over the probe to a central agency. He also told leaders of the Valmiki community that services of 'safai sewaks' were being regularised and they soon will be taken off the contractual system. On the alleged "multi-crore" post matric scholarship scam, Mann reiterated his government's commitment to ensure stern action against the culprits. The alleged scam had surfaced during the Congress rule in 2020, following a report by the then additional chief secretary, who had flagged misappropriation of Rs 55.71 crore. The report had also questioned the role of the then social justice minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in shielding those involved in the scam. The then chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh had directed a panel led by the state chief secretary to conduct a thorough

Manish Sisodia 'best education minister of Independent India': Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday lauded Manish Sisodia as the "best education minister of Independent India" as he slammed the CBI raid at the Delhi deputy chief minister's residence over the Excise Policy 2021-22. On August 18, The New York Times published a story on the front page of its international edition titled, 'Our children are worth it', highlighting the "broader transformation of Delhi's education system" during the Aam Aadmi Party regime and noting that "the overhaul of the public schools in the capital of India has students clamouring to enrol". "Manish Sisodia is the best education minister of Independent India. Today the largest US newspaper NYT (The New York Times) printed his photo on the front page. And today, (PM Narendra) Modi Ji sent CBI to his house. How will India progress like this?" Mann said in a tweet in Hindi. Other ministers in the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab too attacked the BJP-led Centre following the CBI raid at Sisodia's ...

African Swine Fever samples confirmed in Punjab; govt takes precautions

Samples of unwell pigs from Punjab's Patiala district have tested positive for African Swine Fever, Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said on Friday. Following this, the state government has declared the whole of Punjab as a "controlled area", while Bilaspur and Sanauri Adda villages in Patiala have been notified as "epicentre" of the disease in order to prevent, control and eradicate it, he said in an official statement. The Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development said the government has initiated these measures under 'The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009' and they have come into force with immediate effect. Up to a kilometre from the two villages declared the epicentre are considered as "infected zones" while up to 10 km area are classified "surveillance zones", he added. Bhullar said the highly contagious and fatal viral disease affecting domestic pigs was confirmed by ICAR-National Institute of High Security ..

CBI raids: Skeletons in AAP cupboard in Punjab as well, says SAD's Majithia

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday said skeletons in AAP closets will tumble out, lashing out at the party as Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia faced a CBI raid. Majithia linked the Delhi government's now abandoned excise policy to the one being followed in Punjab, which too has an Aam Aadmi Party government. Skeletons are likely to tumble out of cupboards as the flawed monopolistic Delhi excise policy was implemented in Punjab also, he told reporters at Baba Bakala, without elaborating. Majithia also appealed to the Centre for the release of the Sikh prisoners who are lodged in jails even after the expiry of their term. He claimed the AAP government in Punjab had not fulfilled its election promises. Punjabis were first betrayed by the Congress. Now the AAP government is also following in their footsteps and is refusing to implement its promise to give Rs 1,000 per month to all women and regularize contractual employees, besides providing jobs to t

Drones spotted near Ambala air base over 2 days, police initiates probe

The Indian Air Force has lodged a police complaint at the Ambala Cantonment police station after allegedly spotting two drones flying around Ambala Air Force Station on August 13 and August 15.

Thousands witness iconic Attari-Wagah border ceremony after two years

This time the beating retreat ceremony comprising flag lowering and ceremonial drill held at the Attari-Wagah border with a full-key affair was special as India celebrated 75th Independence Day.

Giving tax money back to people can't be called 'revris': Punjab CM Mann

We are giving people's money back to them. We are not borrowing money, said Mann as he was referring to the decisions of free medical care in Aam Aadmi clinics and free electricity to each household

I-Day celebrations held in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh amid tight security

Independence Day celebrations were held across Punjab, Haryana and common capital Chandigarh amid tight security arrangements

'One MLA, One Pension' scheme notified, will save Rs 100 cr: Punjab CM Mann

"It is a humble initiative by the AAP government to realise the dreams of our freedom fighters and national heroes," he said.

Farmers lift blockade from one side of Jalandhar-Ludhiana stretch in Punjab

Farmers protesting here for the past five days over the non-payment of dues by a sugar mill lifted the blockade from the one side of the Jalandhar-Ludhiana stretch of the National Highway-1

To achieve self-sufficiency in oilseeds, pulses govts must assure purchase

Though there has been an increase in acreage and production of these items, there hasn't been a big reduction in paddy and wheat acreage

NITI Aayog meeting: Punjab wants MSP for farmers; Baghel GST compensation

From farmers' plight to GST revenue, chief Ministers of States raised several issues in the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

In power in both Punjab and Delhi, can AAP stub farm fires this winter?

Farmers are unconvinced about financial incentives; measures announced in previous years have had little impact

Zero tolerance towards malpractices in working of department: Punjab Min

Punjab Food Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said a zero-tolerance policy is being adopted and those indulging in corrupt practices would be sternly dealt with in accordance with the law

Farmers call off proposed protest after Punjab CM accepts most demands

Farmers had earlier announced to block national highways at three places in Majha, Malwa and Doaba regions on August 3 in the state in case the state government failed to address their issues

Stubble burning: States to ensure supply of paddy straw for ex-situ use

CAQM has asked Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to formulate a policy to ensure continuous supply of paddy straw for ex-situ utilisation and co-firing in thermal power plants.