CM REITERATES ZERO TOLERANCE AGAINST CORRUPTION
SAYS NO PICK AND CHOOSE IN TIRADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
ASSERTS THAT THIS FIGHT IS AGAINST THE CORRUPT SYSTEM AND NOT ANY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL
SOLICITS SUPPORT OF COMMON MAN IN THIS WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION
Chandigarh, May 23:Reiterating the zero tolerance policy of his government against corruption, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that no officer or politician, however affluent he may be, involved in this heinous crime against humanity will be spared.
In a message to the people, the Chief Minister said that today’s action is once again a clear message that there is no pick and choose in this tirade against corruption. He said that mere affiliation to the ruling party or the opposition does not give license of corruption to the officer or leader adding that the government will take exemplary action against such people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that any sort of involvement in corruption cannot be tolerated and no mercy will be adopted against a person indulged in this sin.
The Chief Minister said that they assumed the charge of office in 2022 and since then a crusade against corruption has been launched. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they had given guarantee to people that corruption in the echelons of the government will not be tolerated and severest of severe action will be taken against those involved in it. He categorically said that over the termite of corruption has made the system hollow as those involved in this crime had mercilessly plundered taxpayer’s money.
The Chief Minister said that this fight is against the corrupt system and not any single individual adding that it will continue till it is not eliminated completely. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government cannot be a mute spectator of open loot of traders and shopkeepers by those misusing their power and blackmailing of innocents along with extortion of money from them by powerful politicians in connivance with the officers is intolerable.
Exhorting the people to be an integral part of the anti-corruption drive, the Chief Minister said that the government will take action on the complaints lodged by them against corrupt elements. He said that if anyone harasses or creates inordinate delay or obstacles in their work for corrupt motives, the common man should come forward and complain against them adding that the state government will take decisive action against them. “For us corrupt is corrupt, whether ours or others, and I promise you anyone whose hands are drenched in corruption will not be spared by my government”, added Bhagwant Singh Mann.
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LED BY CM PUNJAB CABINET APPROVES SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENT IN PUNJAB MANAGEMENT AND TRANSFER OF MUNICIPAL PROPERTIES RULES, 2021
TIME PERIOD FOR DEPOSITING THE SALE PRICE BY ALLOTTEES, FOR PROPERTIES SOLD BY THE URBAN LOCAL BODIES REDUCED TO SIX MONTHS
Chandigarh, May 23:In a major decision aimed at streamlining and expediting the payment process for properties sold by Urban Local Bodies, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has approved a significant amendment to the Punjab Management and Transfer of Municipal Properties Rules, 2021.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Ministers in a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister at his official residence.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that as per the amendment, the Cabinet has decided to reduce the time period to six months, for depositing the sale price by allottees, for properties sold by the Urban Local Bodies. So, the allottees will now be required to deposit the full sale price within 180 days from the date of allotment, replacing the earlier provision of six half-yearly installments. The decision aims at faster realization of Revenue by urban local bodies, strengthening of Municipal finances and facilitation of the common man by reduction in legal disputes related to delayed payments.
RS 5 CRORE APPROVED FOR PUNJAB INNOVATION MISSION TO DEVELOP PUNJAB AS INDUSTRIAL HUB
With the objective to further tap Punjab’s growth potential by developing a vibrant environment for entrepreneurship, the Cabinet also gave nod to allot Rs 5 crore to Punjab Innovation Mission to help meet its objectives. The decision has been taken in view of the immense contribution of the mission to unleash Punjab’s growth potential and create a thriving economy by generating jobs and inviting investment. The Mission is also important for the state as it acts as a catalyst to further give impetus to develop Punjab as an industrial hub in the country.
NOD TO FRAME SERVICE RULES FOR THE OFFICERS/EMPLOYEES SERVING IN 207 SPECIALLY PROMOTED CADRE IN PUNJAB POLICE
In order to streamline the promotions in the Punjab Police especially amongst those promoted from Sports quota, the Punjab Cabinet gave nod to frame service rules for the officers/employees serving in 207 Specially Promoted Cadre. This decision will regulate the future promotions of these Police personnel and further streamline their other service matters.
GIVES CONSENT TO PUNJAB APPROPRIATION ACTS (REPEAL) BILL, 2025
Likewise, based on recommendations of the Group of Secretaries committee to review Redundant Laws/ Regularization and Decriminalization, the Cabinet also approved the Punjab Appropriation Acts (Repeal) bill, 2025. As per the recommendations of the committee Department of Finance has considered the proposal and identified its appropriations acts for repealing, which authorized the departments to incur expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of the State. Repeal of Appropriation Acts whose terms have ended will in no way have any adverse effect on actions that were validly taken or to be taken in relation thereto pursuant to these Acts.
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BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL OUTRIGHTLY REFUTES HARYANA'S MISLEADING CLAIMS ON BML CANAL WATER ALLOCATION
SAYS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM AND JUDICIOUS RESOURCE SHARING, BUT WON'T TOLERATE ATTEMPTS TO DISTORT FACTS OR UNDERMINE LEGITIMATE WATER RIGHTS
Chandigarh, May 23:Punjab Water Resources and Soil & Water Conservation Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today strongly condemned Haryana's misleading propaganda regarding water allocation from the Bhakra Main Line (BML) Canal, terming it a deliberate attempt to misinform the public and deflect from ground realities.
Responding to circulated reports claiming that Haryana is receiving its complete allocated share of 10,300 cusecs from the BML canal, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal categorically said, "These claims are not only factually incorrect but represent a concerning pattern of misinformation designed to deceive the people of Haryana. The truth stands in stark contrast to these fabricated assertions."
While presenting irrefutable facts to counter Haryana's narrative, the Water Resources Minister said, "As recorded at 12:00 Noon today, the BML canal has not even reached its total operational capacity of 11,700 cusecs in Punjab. Water levels are being gradually increased as per standard protocol."
The Cabinet Minister further elaborated on the actual water distribution scenario, saying that at the BML canal's origination point in Punjab, we are currently receiving 9,690 cusecs. Punjab is utilizing 2,025 cusecs of this water for its legitimate requirements. After accounting for the rightful shares of Delhi and Rajasthan, Haryana is receiving 6,720 cusecs, significantly less than their claimed allocation.
Reaffirming Punjab's commitment to judicious water sharing while protecting state interests, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal declared that Punjab will exercise its constitutional right to utilize its full allocated share of 3,000 cusecs. Haryana will receive the remaining water strictly as per the operational capacity of the BML Canal system.
He strongly criticized Haryana's approach, stating, "Instead of resorting to such deplorable publicity stunts and propaganda campaigns, Haryana should engage in honest dialogue and present factual information to its citizens. The people deserve transparency, not manufactured narratives.
Sh. Goyal stressed that Punjab remains committed to cooperative federalism and judicious resource sharing, but will not tolerate attempts to distort facts or undermine legitimate water rights.
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GUNJIT RUCHI BAWA ASSUMES OFFICE AS VICE CHAIRPERSON OF CHILD RIGHTS PROTECTION COMMISSION
Chandigarh, May 23:Mrs. Gunjit Ruchi Bawa, who was recently appointed as the Vice Chairperson of the Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights by the Punjab Government, today officially assumed office in the presence of S. Kanwardeep Singh, Chairperson of the Punjab State Commission for child right protection commission, Senior police and administration officers, Mr. Harinder Singh Bawa, Amandeep Singh Mohi Chairman Markfed, Sharanpal Singh District Secretary Aam admi party Ludhiana and Mr. Rajwinder Singh Gill, Joint Director.
After assuming office, Mrs. Bawa expressed gratitude towards the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, stating that she will work with utmost sincerity and dedication to safeguard the rights of children in the state.
Notably, Mrs. Gunjit Ruchi Bawa has been actively working for the welfare of children and women for a long time.
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Harbhajan Singh ETO Hails West Zone's Power Sector Transformation Under PSPCL
Chandigarh, May 23 : Punjab’s Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO has commended the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for its remarkable progress in strengthening the state’s power infrastructure, particularly in the West Zone. Under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the West Zone—comprising the districts of Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, Moga, Ferozepur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Fazilka—has witnessed unprecedented growth in electricity distribution, transmission, and reliability during the year 2024–25.
Sharing details of the developments, Minister highlighted the extensive upgrades across the zone, which now includes 3 substations of 400KV, 25 of 220KV, 18 of 132KV, and 256 substations of 66KV, offering a combined capacity of 6490 MVA. These upgrades are supported by 336 lines of 66KV extending over 3548.75 circuit kilometers, ensuring strong connectivity and consistent power supply across the region.
He said to serve a growing base of 23.85 lakh consumers, PSPCL has reinforced its distribution through 3545 feeders of 11KV. In a significant move to improve efficiency and reduce load-related disruptions, 475 feeders were de-loaded during the year. Additionally, the High Tension (HT) line network expanded by 875.65 km to reach 100,312 km, while Low Tension (LT) lines were extended to 41,623.53 km, enhancing coverage in remote and rural areas.
Adding, Minister said one of the most notable achievements has been in the area of transformer capacity enhancement. The zone now operates 4,49,567 distribution transformers, with a total installed capacity of 11,782.38 MVA—an increase of 8,386 transformers and 396.35 MVA over the previous year. Several major upgrades were also undertaken in power transformers, including the upgradation of four units from 6.3/8.0 MVA to 12.5 MVA, seven units from 10/12.5 MVA to 20 MVA, and four units from 20 MVA to 31.5 MVA. Additionally, two new 20 MVA transformers were installed, further improving the resilience and reliability of substations.
The Power Minister also highlighted the strategic investments being made under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), under which ₹381.85 crore has been allocated for the West Zone. Planned works include 234 bi-connections of 11KV feeders, 184 underground cabling projects, 157 high-capacity conductor upgrades, 708 new transformers, six new substations, and 23 additional distribution lines. These initiatives are expected to significantly reduce power outages, voltage fluctuations, and transformer failures, while preparing the zone for future energy demands.
Speaking on the significance of these developments, Power Minister stated that the transformation in the West Zone reflects the Punjab government’s commitment to delivering reliable and quality power to every household, industry, and agricultural user. “With the strong backing of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, we are committed to making Punjab a leader in power reliability and infrastructure. PSPCL’s West Zone is a shining example of what proactive governance and dedicated public service can achieve,” he said.
Harbhajan Singh ETO added that these improvements are not just numerical—they represent a meaningful step toward empowering people, industries, and institutions with uninterrupted power supply. As Punjab continues its journey toward growth and modernization, PSPCL’s West Zone stands out as a beacon of progress, fully electrified, empowered, and ready to meet the challenges of the future.
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DAY 83 OF ‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’: 161 DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD WITH 6.2KG HEROIN, ₹76K DRUG MONEY
— AS PART OF ‘DE-ADDICTION’, PUNJAB POLICE CONVINCE 80 PERSONS TO UNDERGO DE-ADDICTION TREATMENT
CHANDIGARH, May 23:With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 83rd day, Punjab Police on Friday arrested 161 drug smugglers and recovered 6.2 kg heroin and Rs 76270 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 12,958 in just 83 days.
The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.
Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.
Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1500 police personnel, under the supervision of 90 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 473 locations across the state leading to the registration of 118 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 526 suspicious persons during the day long operation, he added.
The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 80 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.
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ECI to provide Mobile Deposit Facility for voters at polling stations
Rationalises norms for Canvassing
Chandigarh, May 23:In line with various initiatives aimed at enhancing voter convenience and streamlining poll day arrangements, the Election Commission has issued two more comprehensive instructions for providing mobile deposit facility for voters just outside the polling stations and rationalising norms for canvassing. The instructions are in line with the relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
Recognising the increasing coverage and usage of mobile phones in both urban and rural areas and the challenges faced not only by the voters at large but also by senior citizens, women, and PwD electors in managing mobile phones on the poll day, the Commission has decided to allow a mobile deposit facility just outside the polling stations. Only mobile phones shall be allowed within 100 meters of the polling station and that too in switched-off mode.
Very simple pigeonhole boxes or jute bags shall be provided near the entrance door of the polling station where the voters would be required to deposit their mobile phones. Mobile phones shall not be allowed to be carried inside the polling station by the voter. However, certain Polling Stations can be exempted from this provision based on adverse local circumstances by the Returning Officer.
Rule 49M of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which ensures secrecy of voting within the polling station, will continue to be strictly enforced.
Further, in a move aimed at improving election day facilitation, the Commission has rationalised the permissible norms for canvassing in line with the electoral laws to 100 meters from the entrance of the polling station. However, electioneering shall not be allowed within a 100-meter radius around the Polling Station on the day of poll. Therefore, the booths set up by the candidates on poll day for issuing unofficial identity slips to electors, in case the electors are not carrying their official Voter Information Slips (VIS) issued by the Commission, can now be set up just beyond 100 meters of any polling station.
The Election Commission of India, under the Chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, remains committed to conducting elections strictly in accordance with the legal framework, while continuously innovating to improve the facilities for the voters.
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HARJOT BAINS' EFFORTS PAY OFF: CENTRE NOTIFIES LAND ACQUISITION FOR FOUR-LANING OF KIRATPUR SAHIB-NANGAL HIGHWAY
• Much awaited project to boost connectivity, economic growth of region, says Bains
Chandigarh, May 23:Following the persistent efforts by Punjab Education Minister and MLA from Sri Anandpur Sahib S. Harjot Singh Bains, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India (GoI) has notified land acquisition for the four-laning project of the Sri Kiratpur Sahib-Nangal highway.
Welcoming the development, S. Harjot Singh Bains congratulated the local people and commuters as the road serves as a vital link between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, especially it connects the revered sites like Sri Anandpur Sahib and Mata Naina Devi.
S. Harjot Singh Bains revealed that land acquisition for the four-laning of the Sri Kiratpur Sahib-Nangal highway will span 21 villages in Nangal and 34 villages in Sri Anandpur Sahib, with the respective SDMs empowered to execute the process.
S. Harjot Singh Bains expressed gratitude towards Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry for expediting the four-laning project, which will not only enhance road safety but will also spur economic development of the region by improving connectivity and facilitating smoother transportation.
S. Harjot Singh Bains has been closely monitoring the four-laning project, conducting weekly reviews to expedite its execution. His hands-on approach reflects his commitment to ensuring timely completion and transforming the region's infrastructure.
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Drive against corruption: Vigilance Bureau arrests MLA Jalandhar (Central) for indulging in organized corruption in connivance with local municipal officials
Chandigarh, May 23, 2025 :In line with the unwavering resolve of the Punjab Government regarding zero tolerance against corruption in public service under the leadership of Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) achieved an important break-through today when the Jalandhar Range office of the Bureau, arrested Raman Arora, sitting MLA, Jalandhar (Central) for indulging in corruption in connivance with a certain official of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the VB stated that on 14 May 2025, a joint complaint signed by three office bearers of the Engineers and Building Designer Association, Jalandhar, was received by the Bureau, where it was alleged that one Sukhdev Vashisht, Assistant Town Planner (ATP), Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, often demands illegal gratification from them, and further that whenever he goes out in his area of jurisdiction, he threatens people that their buildings would be sealed and demolished. It was further alleged that he has many files pending with him, even though same have been cleared by other wings of the Municipal Corporation (MC).
The spokesperson further added that after examination of this complaint, the VB Jalandhar Range has registered a FIR no. 23, dated 14/05/2025 under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the said Sukhdev Vashisht, ATP, MC Jalandhar on the complaint of Er. Sunil Katyal, President, Engineers and Building Designer Association, Jalandhar, Punjab. The VB had arrested above mentioned accused Sukhdev Vashisth on 14/05/2025 itself and proceeded with its investigation. It was revealed during investigation that accused Sukhdev Vashisth was posted in Pathankot in the substantive rank of Senior Draftsman, but held the additional charge of ATP Jalandhar MC also. The accused had continuously been posted in Jalandhar, with small breaks in-between, from April 2022 till now.
During the search of the office premises and the residence of the arrested ATP Sukhdev Vashisth, among other incriminating documents and material evidence, hundreds of official notices for unauthorised construction and related matters were recovered from his personal possession and office records. Some of these notices were not found to be even entered in the dispatch register. Other documents, pending without action for very long periods of time without reason, were also recovered.
The spokesperson added that further investigation revealed that a unique modus operandi was being followed by the arrested official in connivance with a local politician for extorting money from people of the city and indulging in corruption. The arrested ATP, at the behest and in consultation with MLA Raman Arora, would identify constructed or under-construction buildings, both commercial as well as residential, and serve them notices for alleged violations. When the building owners, or their representatives, would approach the concerned official, he would direct them to the said MLA. The said MLA would then settle the matter by taking illegal gratification. Upon receiving an affirmative message from the said MLA, the files would be consigned by the accused ATP and no action initiated. Close to 75-80 such notices related to the said nexus have been recovered. The same modus operandi would be followed in clearing other files too.
Detailed physical and documentary verification of each notice and other documents are underway through technical teams of the Bureau and the Local Bodies Department, and many shortcomings have come to light, he said.