*GAMADA AUCTION RECEIVES OVERWHELMING RESPONSE; 27 PROPERTIES FETCH NEARLY RS. 5,400 CRORE: HARDEEP SINGH MUNDIAN*

*REVENUE TO BE UTILIZED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NEW URBAN ESTATES: HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT MINISTER*

*Chandigarh, August 22:*The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has recorded its best-ever performance in property auctions, successfully auctioning 27 properties and generating total revenue of Rs. 5,391 crore.

Sharing further details, Housing and Urban Development Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian said that the auction, which was scheduled to conclude on August 20, 2026, was extended until the early morning of August 21 due to intense competition among bidders for the properties. He said that a total of 36 properties had been put up for bidding in the auction which commenced on July 20.

S. Hardeep Singh Mundian said the auctions conducted by GMADA from time to time under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann have received an overwhelming response from investors. With major investors setting up their projects in Mohali in the near future, the city would gain a distinctive identity at the national level besides giving a major boost to the state's economy and creating new avenues of employment, he added.

S. Hardeep Singh Mundian said that the reserve price of the properties put up for auction was fixed at Rs. 3,872 crore while the Authority earned total revenue of Rs. 5,391 crore through their successful auction. He said that this revenue would be utilized for the development of new urban estates within the jurisdiction of GMADA.

Notably, the properties auctioned include mixed land-use, hotel, hospital and commercial sites located in various sectors and projects of Mohali.

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*Punjab Government Releases ₹383.52 Crore to 75,199 Beneficiaries under Ashirwad Scheme: Dr. Baljit Kaur*

*Eligible Families Receive ₹51,000 Financial Assistance for Daughters' Marriages; Two Daughters from a Family Eligible under the Scheme*

*No Eligible Beneficiary Will Be Deprived of the Scheme's Benefits; Officials Directed to Ensure Timely Disposal of Applications*

Chandigarh, August 22:Reaffirming the Punjab Government's commitment to supporting daughters from economically weaker and underprivileged families in beginning a new chapter of life with dignity, the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has released financial assistance amounting to ₹383.52 crore to 75,199 beneficiaries under the Ashirwad Scheme during the financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27 so far. This was disclosed by Punjab Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Dr. Baljit Kaur.

Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Ashirwad Scheme reflects the Punjab Government's commitment to extending financial assistance to eligible families at the time of theirdaughters' marriages, thereby ensuring dignity, confidence and financial security for deserving beneficiaries.

Sharing further details, the Cabinet Minister said that during the financial year 2025-26, the Punjab Government released ₹215.24 crore to 42,203 beneficiaries belonging to the Scheduled Castes category for their daughters' marriages. In addition, 20,212 beneficiaries belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Backward Classes received financial assistance amounting to ₹103.08 crore.

She further informed that during the financial year 2026-27, financial assistance of ₹44.75 crore has so far been released to 8,774 beneficiaries belonging to the Scheduled Castes category, while 4,010 beneficiaries from the Economically Weaker Sections and Backward Classes have been provided ₹20.45 crore.

Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that under the Ashirwad Scheme, every eligible beneficiary is provided ₹51,000 as financial assistance for the marriage of a daughter. She added that two daughters from the same family are eligible to avail the benefits of the scheme, enabling a larger number of deserving families to receive timely support.

The Cabinet Minister further said that to avail the benefits of the scheme, the beneficiary must be a permanent resident of Punjab, belong to a family living below the poverty line, and the family's annual income from all sources should not exceed ₹32,790.

Highlighting the Government's commitment to transparency and efficient service delivery, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the financial assistance is transferred directly into the beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, ensuring timely and transparent disbursement of funds.

Reiterating the Punjab Government's people-centric commitment, Dr. Baljit Kaur directed all district and departmental officials to ensure that no eligible beneficiary is deprived of the benefits of the Ashirwad Scheme. She instructed officials to dispose of all eligible applications promptly so that every deserving family receives financial assistance well before their daughters' marriages without any delay or inconvenience.

Dr. Baljit Kaur further said that the Punjab Government is continuously working to bring poor, economically weaker and backward sections into the mainstream of society. She added that the Government's welfare initiatives are aimed at ensuring inclusive development for every section of society, paving the way for a prosperous and inclusive "Rangla Punjab" founded on equality, dignity and equal opportunities.

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Legal Metrology Wing collected Rs. 53.26 Lakh as Compounding Fees from January to July 2026

· Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak appreciates good work done by Department

Chandigarh, August 22:The Legal Metrology Wing of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Punjab, has been on upward trajectory on the multiple parameters such as compounding fees collected, and the inspections carried out this year from January to July 2026.

In terms of the Compounding Fees, the Legal Metrology Wing collected Rs. 53.26 Lakh from January to July 2026. The wing carried out as many as 14412 inspections in the same period. In the matter of challans done, the number stands at 1062.

The Food, Civil Supplies and the Consumer Affairs Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak has appreciated the hard work put in by the officers of the department and has exhorted them to work with even more zeal and dedication.

Notably, the wing has department owned standard laboratories at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala while the new ones are slated to come up at Sirhind and Khanna.

The main objectives of the Legal Metrology Wing is to safeguard the interest of the consumers by ensuring that goods sold and bought are correct in quantity and volume as claimed.