PUNJAB TO HAVE ITS FIRST INTEGRATED STATE WATER PLAN TO PRESERVE AND REPLENISH WATER RESOURCES
CM GIVES NOD TO THIS AMBITIOUS PLAN WITH 14 POINT ACTION PLAN
THE PLAN FOCUSES ON EFFICIENT IRRIGATION PLAN, EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF SURFACE WATER, DEEP GROUND WATER STUDY, FLOOD MANAGEMENT PLAN, WATER CONSERVATION, ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE OF GROUND WATER, CROP DIVERSIFICATION AND OTHERS
Chandigarh, June 20:For the first time in the history of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday gave nod to a 14 point action plan as a part of Integrated State Water Plan to preserve and replenish groundwater in the state.
Chairing a meeting of the Water Resources department pertaining to Integrated State Water Plan, the Chief Minister said that the plan has been meticulously prepared by the Water Resources department of the state in consultation with all the eminent departments. He said that the situation in the state is already alarming as 115 blocks of the state out of total 153 are over exploited in terms of groundwater extraction. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the plan focuses on saving the groundwater and enhancing the usage of canal water for various motives.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the annual Average of the lowering of water level by 0.7 meter due to extraction of 5.2 Billion Cubic Metre water. He said that it can be done by reducing the Ground Water Demand, Decreasing Agricultural Water Demand, Improving the Techniques of Irrigation, Replenishing the Groundwater and artificially augmenting the groundwater. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that along with it efforts must be made for finding other sustainable Sources, Deep Aquifer Exploration and Promoting Use of Surface water.
The Chief Minister further added that the government has already worked extensively on restoring and expanding the existing surface water infrastructure. He reiterated that the government is duty bound to give water to every tail end user and working on this principle the government has already restored 17,000 water courses with an approximate length of about 6,300 KM abandoned for 30 to 40 years, 79 canals, covering 545 km, have been restored after 30 to 40 years of abandonment. Bhagwant Singh Mann also gave nod for a 14 point action plan as a part of Integrated State Water Plan which includes Effective Irrigation plan for Optimum use of water in the field.
The Chief Minister said that the plan should aim to bring around 15,79,379 hectares area under various water efficient techniques such as drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and others instead of conventional irrigation methods to reduce the net water demand and wastage of water by increasing the efficiency. Similarly Bhagwant Singh Mann said that first preference should be given where a working head is available and a pipeline may be proposed instead of open water course. He also said that the plan will focus on restoration of canal water courses thereby ensuring judicious, equitable and sustainable utilisation of surface water.
Further batting for effective utilisation of surface water, the Chief Minister said that as per plan excess available water will be distributed from canal and its distributaries directly to ponds adjacent to canal and distributaries. Bhagwant Singh Mann also said that the water from the pond will be taken to fields through a lift irrigation system, thereby increasing area under surface irrigation adding that construction of check dams and new ponds will be done. He batted for participatory irrigation management by constituting Water User Associations for developing a self-sustainable water ecosystem.
The Chief Minister said that these associations will monitor the water management and issues of farmers relating to water distribution by direct involvement of user’s i.e. farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that this will benefit in terms of Canal cleaning, avoid wastage of water, maintenance of canal and water courses. He also said that canal water will be supplied to industries also for which potential users will be identified as it will reduce pressure on ground water.
In order to understand Punjab’s deep groundwater system, the Chief Minister also laid stress on Deep ground water study. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the actual situation of ground water in Punjab is not known as there is gap between recharge and consumption adding that study of this gap will help in determining the sustainability and future policy decisions. He said that plan will duly focus on basin management plan as Punjab has different land areas containing varied land characteristics.
The Chief Minister said that while Southwest Punjab has a water logging problem, Kandi area has its own problem as groundwater is very deep due to which a single plan cannot be made for the entire state and has to be formulated in parts which are called basins. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as per plan Punjab will be divided in different catchment areas thereby regulating water flow, soil erosion and retaining essential nutrients. He said that focus will also be identifying Aquifer Characteristics and Topography adding that Rainfall and runoff data will be identified in low lying areas under catchment.
The Chief Minister further said that the plan will also give a push to effectively address the critical areas for minimizing flood damages. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that under the plan Research and studies for Flood Modeling and Mapping, Flood Plain Zoning and Public Participation will be made adding that works like Bamboo Plantation, Vetiver Grass, Source Control, Check Dam and Bundh Construction have also been proposed in plan. He also said that the plan also aims to store flood water of Ghaggar and use it for agriculture use by Constructing check dams by identifying choke points/ Drain points in Ghaggar, where it receives major flow into it.
Likewise, the Chief Minister said that Water from check dams will be diverted into the already existing ponds in blocks through which the Waste water will be treated through treatment plants and nano bubble technology. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the treated water will thereafter be taken to the agricultural fields through a lift irrigation system using solar powered pumps and underground pipeline system. He further said that the plan envisages Private sector participation in water management under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of companies Act 2013 to reduce the financial burden of the government.
The Chief Minister said that CSR activities will be promoted for setting up of sewerage treatment plant, Water conservation structure and Promoting micro irrigation system. Bhagwant Singh Mann also said that plan also aims to make community aware under water conservation by different education and awareness programs about the importance of water resources through Primary Education and Youth Involvement, Community Engagement, Involving farmers, NGOs and Industries, Training Programs, Media, Internet/ Social Media and other eminent people. He further said that the plan also stipulates optimum utilization of canal water in low demand periods by constructing ground water recharging structures at the tail ends of canals especially Distributory/ Minor/Sub-Minor.
The Chief Minister said that diversification of area from Paddy (Parmal) to maize, cotton, Basmati and other potential crops and water guzzling varieties of paddy is also a part of plan. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the plan focuses on Reduction in ground water demand for agriculture use. He said that every single drop of the water is precious for the state and the Punjab government will make every effort to preserve it.
On the occasion Cabinet Ministers Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Hardeep Singh Mundian, Tarunpreet Singh Sondh and others were also present.
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Head office of Jail Department to be built in SAS Nagar; Laljit Singh Bhullar lays foundation stone
Building to be completed in 2 years at a cost of Rs. 35 crore
Construction of ‘Jail Bhawan’ will prove to be a major milestone in efforts to enhance infrastructure and facilities of the Jail Department: Jail Minister
Chandigarh, June 20:The Punjab Government will build the head office of the Jail Department to be named ‘Jail Bhawan’ at SAS Nagar, after obtaining all the approvals in this regard. The Jail Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar today laid the foundation stone of the project.
The Jail Minister said on this occasion that major reforms are being initiated in the Jail Department under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said that while the Punjab Government is equipping all the jails of the state with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, a separate head office of the jail department is being constructed. He said that this initiative would go a long way in bolstering the administrative efficiency.
Shedding light on the future plans of the department, he said that the newly constructed jail building will be helpful in making centralized policies for the department, adopting latest technology and modern working style.
S. Bhullar said that the head office building will be completed in 2 years at a cost of Rs. 35 crore. Although the completion date of this project has been fixed as April 2027, the contractor has been asked to complete the entire work by December 2026.
The Minister further said that the construction of the head office will be a major milestone in the efforts to enhance the infrastructure and facilities of the jail department. He said that the construction of this office will not only increase the working convenience of the employees and officers of the department, but will also save a huge amount of rent (7 lakhs per month, 84 lakhs annually).
The Minister stated that ASC Builder has been awarded the contract for the construction of the jail headquarters building in Sector 68, SAS Nagar. A total budget of Rs. 35 crore has been allocated for this project and the plot area of the building is 43,700 sq ft (1 acre), while the covered area will be 83,947.71 sq ft. The parking capacity of this building will be 115 cars.
He also said that in addition to a basement and five floors, this building will have facilities like escalators, fire fighting, fire alarming, lifts, local area network system etc.
Giving information about the features of this building, the Minister said that S.T.P. System, Central Air Conditioned System, Solar Power Generation, Fire Extinguishing and Fire Alarming System, among other ultra-modern systems will be installed.
The Minister said that this ultra-modern facility building will serve as the headquarters for the Jail Department and will provide a modern and efficient workplace for the employees and officers. He said that this project reflects the commitment of the government to enhance the infrastructure and facilities for the law enforcement agencies.
Principal Secretary Jails Smt. Bhawna Garg, Additional Director General of Punjab Police Jails Mr. Arun Pal Singh, Chief Engineer Punjab Police Housing Corporation Mr. Ranjodh Singh besides senior officers of the department were present on the occasion.
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Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh lays foundation stone of Amrut 2.0 project to supply treated canal water to households in Mudki
Through a project of Rs.14.27 crore in Mudki, canal water will reach 2400 households- Dr. Ravjot Singh
Clean drinking canal water will reach every home in Mudki– MLA Dahiya
Chandigarh /Ferozepur, June 20:To provide clean drinking canal water to every household within the jurisdiction of Nagar Panchayat Mudki, located in the rural constituency of Ferozepur, today the Cabinet Minister for Local Government and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Ravjot Singh, laid the foundation stone of a project worth ₹14.27 crore. On this occasion, MLA of Ferozepur Rural constituency, Advocate Mr. Rajneesh Kumar Dahiya, and MLA of Zira constituency, Mr. Naresh Kataria, were also present as special guests.
Dr. Ravjot Singh stated that under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann, this mega project will provide the clean canal water to the residents of Mudki. He added that this project will be completed within 15 months and will provide safe drinking water to 2400 households in Mudki.
Dr. Ravjot Singh further shared that under this project, about 33.69 kilometers of new drinking water pipelines will be laid, water connections will be provided to homes, and an overhead water tank will be constructed. He said that under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, comprehensive development is being carried out across Punjab. The Cabinet Minister assured that other development works will also be carried out in Mudki and there will be no shortage of funds for the town’s progress.
MLA of Ferozepur Rural, Advocate Mr. Rajnish Kumar Dahiya, stated that he has always remained committed to the development of his constituency and the service of its people. He said this mega project will provide the residents of Mudki with a major gift in the form of clean canal water rich in natural elements, helping them lead a healthier life.
He further shared that even before this, a multi-crore sewage project has been underway in Mudki. Once completed, this project will free residents from issues related to drains and wastewater. He assured that there will be no shortage of funds for developmental works in Mudki.
He emphasized that such projects are possible only with the collective support of everyone and appealed to all residents of Mudki to maintain harmony and unity in order to continue moving the town forward on the path of development. He also expressed his gratitude to Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh for laying the foundation stone of this important project.
On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma welcomed all attendees and thanked Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh for initiating the project.
Present at the event were SSP Mr. Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, SDM Gurmeet Singh, XEN Water Supply and Sewage Board Supinder Singh, President of Mudki Municipal Council Mrs. Gurjeet Kaur, Chairman of Market Committee of ferozepur cantonment Mr. Beant Singh Hakumatwala, various ward councillors, leaders and workers of the Aam Aadmi Party, and local residents of Mudki.
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OLX RENTAL FRAUD BUSTED; ONE HELD FOR DUPING 23 VICTIMS OF ₹5L
ARRESTED ACCUSED USED TO POST FRAUDULENT PROPERTY ADS ON OLX TO DUPE VICTIMS: ADGP CYBER CRIME V NEERAJA
— ACCUSED WOULD STOP RESPONDING TO THE CUSTOMERS AFTER RECEIVING ADVANCE PAYMENT
CHANDIGARH, June 20:In a significant crackdown on cybercrime amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police’s State Cyber Crime police station has arrested a fraudster involved in multiple cases of OLX rental fraud.
The accused, identified as Paramjit Singh, a resident of Kharar in Mohali, was arrested by Inspector Daljeet Singh following an analysis of cyber fraud data reported on the Pratibimb portal of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested accused had cheated at least 23 victims belonging to the states from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, duping them of approximately ₹5 lakh through fake rental advertisements on OLX.
Sharing the modus operandi adopted by the accused person, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Cyber Crime V Neeraja said that the accused Paramjit Singh used to post fraudulent property ads on OLX, luring victims with attractive deals.
“To gain their trust, he (accused) would share forged property documents and images. Once the victims agree to rent the property, he convinced them to transfer money as an advance rent, security deposits, or registration fees via UPI or bank transfers,” she said, while adding that once the payment was made, the accused would stop responding to the customers.
The ADGP said that probe has revealed that the accused used to transfer money from the customers to his different bank accounts— Axis Bank, Central Bank of India, Yes Bank and HDFC Bank— through UPI and other online modes of payment. Further investigations are underway to uncover more details, she said.
A case FIR No. 07 dated 10.06.2025 has been registered under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of BNS and Section 66D of the IT Act at the State Cyber Crime Police Station, Punjab.
Meanwhile, ADGP Cyber Crime V Neeraja has advised public to be cautious of the advertisements available on OLX platform and refrain from making any advance payment. It is important to verify the advertisement before proceeding with any deal. In case of fraud, the victim should immediately call Helpline 1930 to report Cyber Fraud or can lodge the complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. For further information related to Cyber Frauds, ‘CYBER MITTAR’ Chatbot on cybercrime.punjabpolice.gov.in can be accessed.
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PSFFWC COMMISSIONED STUDY ON WATER RESOURCES AVAILABILITY AND RELATED ISSUES IN STATE
Chandigarh, June 20:The Punjab State Farmers' and Farm Workers' Commission (PSFFWC) has commissioned a comprehensive study on water resources availability and other water-related issues in Punjab from the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee. The findings of this report have been submitted to the Legislative Committee of 6 MLAs under the Chairmanship of Sh. Gurjit Singh Rana. This committee was constituted by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
The Committee has highly acknowledged this report and directed the Commission to further undertake an expanded study at the micro level using Carbon Dating and Isotope technologies along with measuring seepage patterns.
The Punjab State Farmers' and Farm Workers' Commission (PSFFWC) convened a high-level meeting today with 15 agenda points, bringing together leading water experts and scientists. Chaired by Prof. Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Chairman of PSFFWC, the meeting included Dr. Pushpendra Pal Singh, Dean (CAPS), IIT Ropar, Dr. Sarbjot Kaur, Leading Scientist on Radioactive Tools, IIT Ropar, Dr. Harshad Kulkarni, Assistant Professor, IIT Mandi
Dr. Ranjeet K. Jha, IIT Mandi, Dr. Gopal Krishan, Scientist-E, National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee. The meeting was organized by Dr. Ranjodh S. Bains, Administrative Officer-cum-Secretary of the Commission. Dr. Gurkanwal Singh, former Director of the Department of Horticulture, also shared his expert opinion on the challenges being faced by the state.
During the meeting, the experts emphasized the need for urgent interventions, including Advanced isotopic studies and carbon dating to map Punjab's depleting groundwater resources, Heliborne surveys to identify ancient paleo-channels for enhancing recharge, A focused strategy to address South-West Punjab's severe waterlogging and salinity issues, Feasibility studies for a reservoir on the Ujh River (with an estimated capacity of 5 BCM) to augment water supply in Central Punjab, Scientific characterization of aquifers to determine sustainable extraction limits, Exploration of innovative solutions such as heavy metal-absorbing plant species and salt-tolerant bamboo plantations, Revival of traditional water bodies and abandoned wells for groundwater recharge, Strategies to make Punjab's agriculture more resilient to floods and extreme weather events. The experts acknowledged the pivotal role being played by the Punjab State Farmers' and Farm Workers' Commission in addressing critical challenges facing the agricultural sector.
Dr. R.S. Bains stated that the recommendations from the day's deliberations would serve as the foundation for a state-wide water conservation mission to be implemented in collaboration with leading research institutions. Dr. Sukhpal Singh stressed for the need for groundbreaking research to address the state's water crisis and expressed confidence that the distinguished scientists present would make significant contributions in collaboration with the PSFC.
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Provision of ₹6175 Crore Made for Social Security Pensions for the Elderly During Current Financial Year: Dr. Baljit Kaur
₹1539 Crore Disbursed to 34.40 Lakh Beneficiaries Under Old Age Pension Scheme Till May 2025
Minister Directs Officials to Expedite Completion of ‘Saade Buzurg Saada Maan’ Survey
Chandigarh, June 20:Under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government continues to take concrete measures for the welfare of senior citizens, women, and children across the state. In line with these efforts, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that a provision of ₹6175 crore has been made for social security schemes during the current financial year. Out of this, ₹1539 crore has already been disbursed as regular pensions to 34.40 lakh beneficiaries up to May 2025.
Strict Instructions to Complete 'Saade Buzurg Saada Maan' Survey Promptly
While chairing a high-level meeting with senior and field officials of the department at Kisan Bhawan today, Dr. Baljit Kaur reviewed the implementation of various social security schemes. She issued clear directions to ensure that the benefits of government-run schemes are promptly extended to all eligible beneficiaries without any delay.
The Minister further instructed officials to expedite the ongoing ‘Saade Buzurg Saada Maan’ survey and to ensure that every eligible elderly citizen receives their entitled pension. She also emphasized that during the survey, necessary action should be taken to recover any funds lying in the bank accounts of deceased beneficiaries, so that these resources can be utilized for supporting other deserving applicants.
Approval of 43,644 New Pension Applications for 2025–26
Dr. Baljit Kaur also shared that 43,644 new pension applications have been approved for the financial year 2025–26. She directed officials to complete this vital work with full transparency, responsibility, and within the stipulated timeframe. Any delay in processing pension applications will not be tolerated, she added.
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ETO directs officials to Plan International Tour to study road infrastructure Sustainable Road Development in Punjab
Chandigarh: June 20-Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO has directed the officials to draft a proposal for an international study tour for department officers to enhance their expertise. The directive was given during a high-level meeting of the Punjab State Road and Bridges Development Board (PRBDB) held here today.
S. Harbhajan Singh ETO asked officials to draft a proposal for an international study tour, specifically to countries renowned for road construction and safety. The tour would enable officers to gain insights into best practices in sustainable road development and maintenance.
The PWD Minister instructed PRBDB officers to provide a comprehensive report on pending government fees related to service roads for petrol pumps and commercial establishments linked to state highways by June 30, 2025,
He also directed officials to expedite rectification work on identified black spots on state roads and to coordinate with the Punjab State Road Safety Council to address related challenges.
He said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is continuously striving to establish the best road network in the state.