Daljeet

The Nagpur-Amritsar and Nagpur-Pune AC trains, whose 12 coaches have arrived at Ajni yard, have been held up for four coaches. However, Nagpur division of Central Railway is optimistic that the trains will start in October for the pre-Diwali rush, said Central Railway divisional railway manager (DRM) OP Singh.

Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia today said that it was amusing for him that Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Niranjan Singh yesterday blamed him for his transfer. “It is amusing to me. The officer did not even think that the matter is sub judice,” said Bikram Majithia on the submission of ED Assistant Director’s counsel in the high…[Read more]

Nursing education in Punjab is now under the scanner. Not only are the admissions to 66 nursing colleges for the general nursing and midwifery course for 2013-14 suspect, but the authorities have also woken up to the acute deficiencies in the working of some nursing colleges in the state, especially those run by “politically well-connected” people.

Agriculture Minister Tota Singh today asked Financial Commissioner (Development) G. Vajralingham to inquire into the cases where private sugar mills have taken loans on behalf of cane farmers. “It is a serious matter and strict action should be taken in case anybody is found indulging in such practices,” he said. He urged the private sugar mil…[Read more]

The SGPC move to appoint Harcharan Singh as its chief secretary has drawn strong criticism from several quarters, including some SGPC executive members from the opposition, besides Sikh organisations and intellectuals. Mangal Singh, SGPC executive member, questioned the decision, saying, “The SGPC already has an army of secretaries. There are t…[Read more]

Poor fiscal health of the state government seems to be the reason behind the partial release of dearness allowance to the government employees for the past year-and-a-half. It now seems to be a norm to release only a portion of the DA while keeping the arrears pending. The government today cleared the proposal to grant 6 per cent DA to its…[Read more]

Another close aide of state BJP chief Kamal Sharma, Arvinder Singh Chinna alias Pothi was today named as an accused in the FIR 158 dated August 5, lodged at the City police station. The FIR pertains to the bribery case against some local BJP leaders and their aides. Poth is reportedly an OSD (officer on special duty) to Sharma. Sources said Pothi…[Read more]

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union today launched a five-day agitation in district headquarters of the Malwa belt in Punjab to protest against the alleged anti-farmer policies of the Centre and the state government. They staged protests at Moga, Barnala, Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Faridkot, Fazilka, Ferozepur, and…[Read more]

Rejecting the assertion that NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) nutrient ratio of 4:2:1 is an ideal combination for an agrarian state such as Punjab, an expert from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today said the ideal combination and ratio was dependent on the quality of the soil of a particular area or region. “There cannot be a f…[Read more]

The failure on part of the Patiala Municipal Corporation to implement the solid waste management project in the city, despite being open defecation-free city, pushed Patiala to 304 on the list of 467 cities in the country and eight among 16 cities in the survey conducted by the Union Urban Development Ministry. The solid waste management plant…[Read more]

The state’s SAD-BJP government is banking on BiPaSa (Bijli, Paani and Sadak) to help it stake a third chance at forming the government. For this, the state government has earmarked Rs 6,000 crore, only for regeneration of its cities. However, even as the Punjab Government was giving a final shape to its urban regeneration proposals, the ranking o…[Read more]

Aam Aadmi Party’s state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur’s warning to Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi to abstain from criticising the party least he too may be expelled has led a fresh war of words between the two leaders. Both leaders have been at loggerheads since long and are often seen challenging each others’ credentials. Chhotepur’s stateme…[Read more]

A number of candidates for the posts of Senior Assistant in the General Administration have sought a high-level probe into the tests held in January and June this year. Alleging irregularities, the candidates have sought cancellation of the recruitment process and sought action against the guilty. Independent MLAs from Ludhiana, Simarjit Bains and…[Read more]

The state today offered a plug and play industrial park adjoining the international airport, Mohali, exclusively to prospective South Korean investors for setting up their ventures in the state. Announcing this here today during a high-level interaction with a South Korean delegation which was presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh…[Read more]

The Punjab Government has issued orders to all departments in the state not to use photographs of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister or any other minister in public advertisements, on stationery, cards, vehicles or in any other form. Balwant Singh, Joint Secretary, Department of General Administration (DGA), Punjab, issued directions (vide…[Read more]

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has allotted contract to a French company to install air pollution monitoring system at the Golden Temple. However, the ambitious Union government project is running behind the schedule. While accepting some delay in the project, Dr Charanjit Singh, deputy director, Public Relations, PPCB, said, “The air p…[Read more]

Ruling out any possibility of formation of a separate party by him, the Congress’ Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Capt Amarinder Singh, today accepted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was very active at the ground level, but the Congress would be able to strike a chord with the youth of the state. Amarinder also rejected a suggestion extended by f…[Read more]

Punjab, which has drawn flak as a drugs infested state, is relegated to the second spot in the country in terms of number of cases registered under the NDPS Act. Mahrashtra registered the highest number of cases under the Act in 2014. The state, however, tops the country in the number of policemen convicted for helping prisoners escape. Twelve…[Read more]

A three-member committee, constituted by the state government, to look into the alleged irregularities while allowing admission to over 700 students in 46 nursing colleges, has prima facie found that rules and regulations were overlooked during admissions. The committee, comprising Secretary, Personnel; Secretary, Vigilance; and Secretary, General…[Read more]

The restoration work in the Golden Temple has slowed down as the SGPC is finding it tough to handle the rush of devotees in the shrine. Sources said the restoration of artwork and gold work on the walls and the ceilings of the first floor was almost complete. Now, it is being covered with glass to prevent it from getting damaged in the future.…[Read more]