Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that ‘dawn of new era’ has taken place in the state with the unprecedented pro-people initiative of changing office hours which will save 350 Megawatts (MW) of power daily and around Rs 40-45 crore from May 2-to July 15.

Apart from facilitating the people, the landmark move will also help in enhancing the efficiency of the government employees, asserted the Chief Minister while interacting with the media persons here at the committee room in the Punjab Civil Secretariat I.

CM, who set the example by arriving in his office at 7:28 am, said that this decision has been taken after taking the consent of the majority of the stakeholders in a series of deliberations. He said that this decision will act as a catalyst in saving the people from scorching heat that is expected to be witnessed in the coming months. Bhagwant Mann said that though the tradition of setting watches in accordance with change of weather has been a routine feature in many western nations but in India this historic initiative has been taken for the first time.

Dwelling more details, the Chief Minister said that it will enable a common man to do his work early in the morning without taking leave from his work. Likewise, he said that this will also facilitate the employees as they will be able to attend the social functions after the office hours. Similarly, Bhagwant Mann said that the employees will also be able to spend more time with their children who will also come home at the same time.

Mann said that this decision is likely to save 350 MW of power daily in government offices thereby curtailing the power expenditure of the government offices considerably. He said that as per statistics of the POWERCOM 1:30 pm to 4 pm is the peak hour of the power usage but as now the offices will be closed at 2 pm so it will help in cutting power usage. Bhagwant Mann said that on an average Rs 16- Rs 17 crore will be saved every month adding that from May 2- July 15, the state government is expected to save Rs 40- Rs 42 crore.

He said that the new time table will also ensure that maximum sunlight is utilized in the government offices. He said that after July 15 the decision will be reviewed after taking feedback from all the stakeholders, especially the common man. Bhagwant Mann assured the people that the state government will take more such citizen centric decisions in the coming days too for which advance planning has already been done.

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Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha today demanded a special package from Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to provide adequate compensation to the farmers of Punjab for the losses suffered due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms.

He pointed out the plight of the farmers of Punjab in the letter. More than 14 lakh hectares out of the total 34.9 lakh hectares under wheat have been damaged due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms, he said.

In a tweet, he wrote, “Deeply moved by the pain of farmers our Punjab, who are left devastated by unseasonal rains. Have written to FM @nsitharaman requesting compassionate and adequate compensation for their losses. We stand firmly with our farmers in their time of need.”

He said that Unseasonal rains & hailstorms have wreaked havoc across Punjab destroying wheat crops. I visited a few farms yesterday and it was heartbreaking to listen to the grief of farmers, who work hard to put food on our plates, but will now find it difficult to feed their families.

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Chandigarh: Four technical teams of the Union Food Ministry on Saturday started taking samples of the wheat crop in Punjab, which has been hit by unseasonal rains and hailstorms. As many as 54 samples have been collected in the first phase from the wheat stocks in five districts of Punjab today and the central teams will continue the work of reviewing the procurement centres for the next two-three days.

Punjab’s farmers are now banking on these central teams to whom farmers have their problems narrated at many places today. The teams today took 10 samples from Patiala district, 15 from Mohali, eight from Ludhiana, 20 from Sangrur and one sample from Ferozepur.

The central teams have started their tour from procurement centres in Derabassi, Banur, Lalru, Rajpura, Moonak, Khanauri, Sunam, Khanna, Machhiwara and Mamdot.

According to the central government, crops have been damaged in 16 districts of Punjab, but the arrival of wheat has been done only in five districts of the state. As soon as the wheat reaches the mandis of other districts, the existing central teams will collect samples of the crop.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak today said that central teams have filled samples from some mandis today and samples will be collected once the crop arrives from the rest of the centres.

The farmers of these states fear that the Government of India may not cut the government price of procurement in the name of parameters, as has been done in Madhya Pradesh. The farmer parties have also started preparations on the issue of procurement, where there is any problem, the farmer parties can sound the bugle of the struggle.

The Punjab government has requested the Centre to relax the quality norms without any cuts. So far, crops have been affected in 13.60 lakh hectares of land in Punjab, out of which one lakh hectares is 100 per cent damaged.

High moisture crop has started arriving in the procurement centers of Punjab, which is being dried in the mandis. The central norms allow procurement of crops with moisture content up to 12 per cent, but the mandis are currently getting a crop with moisture content of up to 20 per cent. At an early stage, there is a beginning in the mandis to sell wheat to the farmers.

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Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that due to strenuous efforts of the Aam Aadmi government the state has been transformed from ‘fiscal deficit’ to ‘fiscal profit’ state by massive generation of revenue.

Interacting with the media persons here at Punjab Bhawan, the Chief Minister said that though the previous governments had always thought of their own vested interests his Government has pulled all plugs to enhance the revenue in state. He said that these efforts have produced desired results as the state has been able to generate maximum revenue. Bhagwant Mann said that the honest government in state has changed the direction of fund flow from private houses of leaders to government exchequer.

The Chief Minister said that though the state government had launched the Excise policy by delay of three months but it has fetched revenue worth Rs 8841 crore in the state. He said that this is Rs 2587 crore more than last year which was roughly an increase of 41.41%. Bhagwant Mann said that the target for next financial year is Rs 9754 crore adding that this will also be achieved.

He said that earlier the state was worst performing in GST collection but now with a hike of 16.6% Punjab is one of the top most performing state in GST collection. Bhagwant Mann said that the collection of last fiscal was Rs 18126 crore as compared to Rs 15542 crore of its previous year.

He said that the state government has taken a new experiment on giving an exemption of 2.25 % on stamp duty for land registration. He said that due to this in month of March revenue collection has enhanced from Rs 339 crore in February to Rs 658.68 crore.

Bhagwant Mann said that for the first time in history of state the government has released all the pending subsidy worth Rs 20,200 crore.

He said that out of this subsidy Rs 9063.79 crore has been given to Agriculture sector, Rs 8285.90 crore has been paid on domestic subsidies and Rs 2911 crore has been provided to industrial sector. He said that the state government has inherited a debt of Rs 9020 crore from previous governments and the state government has is also repaying the inherited loan through instalments worth Rs 1894 crore. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government has so far provided 3538 jobs to the youth in the power sector.

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Chandigarh: Punjab’s Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday reprimanded the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government for announcing too meagre compensation for the farmers, whose wheat crop has got severely damaged by the untimely rainfall and hailstorm.

While seeking expansion in the relief package being provided by the AAP government, Senior Congress Leader, Bajwa said that with such scanty compensation, wheat farmers wouldn’t even be able to recover their input cost.

“The Aam Aadmi Party government has recently given a 25 percent hike for the wheat crop loss. The AAP government will now provide Rs 15,000 per acre for 75 to 100 percent crop loss instead of Rs 12,000. However, the wheat crop’s input cost (from sowing to harvesting) is around Rs 25,000 per acre. What kind of relief is that with which the farmers would not even be able to recover the input cost? The CM must explain how he justifies such an inadequate compensation” Bajwa said.

Bajwa said that the government should also take those wheat farmers into account who has to pay around Rs 35,000 per acre annual land rent (Theka) to the owners. In some parts of Punjab, the annual land rent (Theka) is above Rs 40,000.

The opposition leader said that the prices of diesel, fertilisers, and labour have been skyrocketing. The farmers will have to manage their family exigencies while they would also need money to get prepared to sow the next crop. The government must provide a relief package at least in tune with the input cost so that the hardships of the farming community could be alleviated.

“The CM said that the compensation will reach the affected farmers before Baisakhi. How would this even be possible when evaluation of the crop loss has not been initiated in the majority of Punjab? CM Mann must stop delivering ridiculous statements and ensure proper survey of the crop damage in the entire Punjab”, Bajwa added.

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Chandigarh: Swinging into action to ensure compensation for crop loss to the farmer before the festival of Baisakhi, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has asked the MLAs and officers to enhance their field visits for expediting the process of girdawari and redress problems of farmers.

“The MLAs should meet the farmers and listen to their grievances, likewise the officers should make sure that the special Girdawari is completed soon so that we can disburse the compensation before Baisakhi” said the Chief Minister.

Expressing solidarity with the farmers who have lost their crop due to incessant rain and hailstorm, the Chief Minister said that the government is with the food growers in this hour of crisis. He said that loss worth every single penny will be compensated and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause. Bhagwant Mann said that he was well aware about the agony faced by the farming community due to the whopping loss suffered by them on account of inclement weather conditions.

He said that he is personally monitoring the entire drive on a day to day basis to ensure that the affected farmers are compensated in a most transparent and expeditious manner. Bhagwant Mann said that as he hails from a common family so he is aware of the anguish of the farmers at the deeply personal level and duly compensating them remains the top priority of the state government. He categorically said that there will be a zero tolerance for any laxity or lapse found at any level in the government machinery during the Girdawari.

Mann said that the state government is fully with the beleaguered peasantry in this hour of deep crisis. He said before Girdawari public announcements are being made about the entire process to ensure that all the people are made aware of it. Likewise, Bhagwant Mann said that a 25% hike in compensation per acre has been made to give healing touch to the farmers.

He further said that in a major pro-farmer initiative, the state government has decided to freeze repayment of loans taken by the farmers from Primary Agricultural cooperative Societies. Bhagwant Mann expressed hope that this will give much needed relief to the farmers in this hour of crisis adding that the farmers can pay back this amount later after they recover from the losses. He said that the government will fully compensate the hapless farmers of the state for the losses suffered by them.

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Chandigarh: In a major pro-farmer decision aimed at safeguarding their interests during natural calamities, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave nod for hiking the compensation due to nature’s fury by 25% per acre thereby giving a major respite to the food growers.

A decision to this effect was taken by the council of Ministers in its meeting held here at the Punjab Civil Secretariat- I under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

Divulging more details a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that keeping in view the loss incurred by the farmers recently due to heavy rains, hailstorms and strong winds, the Cabinet has decided to enhance the relief amount from Rs.12,000/- per acre to Rs.15,000/- per acre for 76-100 percent for loss of crops. This measure will give a healing touch to the affected farmers who will be able to get a reasonable financial relief from the government. These relief rates will be applicable from March 1, 2023.

*Nod to extend exemption of 2.25% stamp duty and fees land registration by April 30*

Keeping in view the larger public interest, the Cabinet also gave its consent to extend the exemption of 2.25% stamp duty and fees to those registering their property/land by April 30. Those opting for registration of land will now be exempted from 1% Additional stamp duty, 1 % PIDB fees and 0.25 % special fees.

*GIVES NOD FOR HIRING 2574 KISAN MITRAS AND 108 FIELD SUPERVISORS IN THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT*

The Cabinet also gave approval for hiring 2574 Kisan Mitras and 108 field supervisors in the Agriculture department. These Kisan Mitras and Field Supervisors will encourage the farmers to get out of the rut of wheat/ paddy circle and cultivate less water guzzling crops like Cotton and Basmati. This step will act as a catalyst to save precious groundwater of the state by boosting crop diversification program on one hand and providing employment to the youth of the state on the other.

*NOD TO ENACTMENT OF THE PUNJAB CANAL AND DRAINAGE ACT, 2023*

The Cabinet gave its nod for formation of the Punjab Canal and Drainage Act-2023 to regulate and manage canals and drainage in the state. The main objective of this act is to ensure hindrance free canal waters to farmers and land owners for irrigation purposes, maintenance, repair and timely cleanliness of canals, drainage and natural water courses. Apart from this, the act will also provide a fair and transparent mechanism for redressal of grievances of water users and other regulatory restrictions against unnecessary wastage of water.

At present, the activities relating to irrigation, navigation and drainages in the state are regulated by an Act namely the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act-1873 which was enacted by the Government of India in the British Era. With the passage of time and Re-organization of the state, a number of provisions contained in the said Act have become outlived. The Punjab has not enacted any separate legislation to manage and control the aforesaid activities.

*ACCORDS ITS APPROVAL TO FRAME THE PUNJAB CHILD LABOUR (PROHIBITION AND REGULATION) AMENDMENT RULES, 2023*

In order to further curb the menace of child and adolescent labour, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave its approval to frame The Punjab Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2023 with amendment in The Child Labour (Prohibiton and Regulation) Act, 1986 through The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act 2016.

*NEW SERVICE RULES OF DEFENSE SERVICES WELFARE, EMPLOYMENT GENERATION AND WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT APPROVED*

In another significant decision, the Cabinet also accorded consent to newly framed Group-A Service Rules after restructuring of the Defense Services Welfare Department. These rules will be implemented after issuance of notification in this regard.

Likewise, the Council of Ministers also approved the Departmental rules for Group A, Group B and Group C of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Department.

The Cabinet also gave nod to Service Rules of various posts of Water Resources Department. These rules are related to Engineering, Scientist, Technical, Ministerial as well as Non-Technical Staff belonging to Group A, B and C services posted in the Head Office and Field offices in the Department.

*GREEN SIGNAL TO SEND THE CASES FOR SEEKING PREMATURE RELEASE OF LIFE CONVICTS CONFINED IN THE JAILS OF STATE*

The Cabinet also gave green signal for sending the cases of eight prisoners for seeking Premature Release of life convicts confined in the jails of state. After the nod of Cabinet under Article 163 of the Constitution of India, these special remission/premature release cases will be submitted to the Punjab Governor under Article 161 of the Indian constitution.

The Cabinet also gave approval for sending the case of special remission to convicts confined in Jails of Punjab, in the second phase to commemorate the 75th Independence Day of India being celebrated as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

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Chandigarh: In a major pro-farmer initiative, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced to freeze repayment of loan taken by the farmers from Primary Agricultural cooperative Societies.

He has taken the decision in wake of the losses suffered by the farmers due to recent rain and hailstorm. He expressed hope that this will give much needed relief to the farmers in this hour of crisis. Bhagwant Mann said that the farmers can pay back this amount later after they recover from the losses.

Mann envisioned that this will prove boon to the farmers of state by giving them more time to repay their loans and avoid imposition of penal interest, which will have been levied on farmers who did not repay the loan. He said that the state cooperatives lends crores of rupees per crop to the farmers of Punjab as short term crop loan through the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies.

Bhagwant Mann said that this step by the State Government is an important concession to the farmers. He said that as a result of this extension in time, a large number of farmers will be saved from becoming defaulters and will remain eligible to get loan for the next crop.

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Chandigarh: In a major relief to the farmers of the state Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday announced 25% upward revision in the compensation for the crop loss to the farmers.

The Chief Minister, who conducted a whirlwind tour of villages in Moga, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda and Patiala to assess the damage of crop due to rain, said that in case the loss is more than 75% then the state government will compensate the farmers with Rs 15,000 per acre. Likewise, he said that if the loss was between 33% to 75% then the farmers will get a compensation worth Rs 6750 per acre. Similarly, Bhagwant Mann said that the labourers will get 10% as compensation so that they do not face any problem in life adding that Rs 95100 will be paid as compensation to full house damage whereas Rs 5200 will be given for minor damage to houses.

The Chief Minister further said that in order to safeguard the interests of the farmers from nature’s fury, the state government will soon introduce a crop insurance scheme for the food growers of the country. He said that earlier the crop insurance scheme announced by Union government had remained confined to the papers only but this scheme will give real succor to the farmers. He bemoaned that these days 20 minutes of hailstorm bring distress on farmers’ faces but this scheme will secure the interests of the farmers adding he assured the farmers that the state government is with the farmers in this hour of crisis and no stone will be left unturned for their welfare.

Avowing that the state government will duly compensate the farmers for loss meted out by them due to the inclement weather conditions in the state, the Chief Minister said that Punjab government is, was and shall ever be committed for the welfare of the farmers and farm labourers of the State. He said that the Aam Aadmi Government had always been a votary of the farmers and their rights adding that his government has ever taken appropriate steps to safeguard the interests of the farmers. Bhagwant Mann said that he can very well understand the agony and pain of a large number of farmers who have suffered heavy losses due to sudden and erratic changes in weather.

The Chief Minister said that the incessant rainfall is not good for the standing wheat and other Rabi crops. He said that unfortunately the intensity and frequency of rains coupled with high velocity winds and hailstorms have caused substantial damage to the crops and impaired livelihood of a large number of farmers. Bhagwant Mann said that initial reports indicate that cultivated area over several acres has been affected as at this stage Rabi crops were almost ready for a good harvesting season.

The Chief Minister bemoaned that in cases where farmers would not be able to harvest or their crops yield was reduced, they were likely to lose nearly a full season and resultantly suffer serious damage to their livelihood. He vowed to duly compensate the farmers whose standing crops have been affected due to recent heavy rains coupled with high velocity winds and hailstorms. Bhagwant Mann said that he has already directed the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) to issue detailed instructions to the concerned Deputy Commissioner’s to immediately carry out special girdawari in the areas lashed by rains to ascertain damage caused to crops, orchards and houses on priority.

The Chief Minister further said that from April 1 canal water will be made available for cotton crop cultivation to the farmers. He said that the water supply will be ensured in the cotton belt of the state so as to ensure that cotton cultivators are benefited in a big way. Bhagwant Mann said that it is the need of the hour to ensure that water was made available to the cotton cultivators during the sowing season.

Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to make agriculture a profitable venture, the Chief Minister said that the state government is taking several decisions in this regard. He said that MSP is being offered to the farmers for the alternate crops to bring them out of the rut of wheat/ paddy cycle and to save the precious water of the state. Likewise, Bhagwant Mann said that major thrust is being laid on promotion of agriculture allied activities so that income of farmers is supplemented.

CM said that he had asked the officers to ensure that the report is submitted at the earliest so that adequate compensation as per government’s norms is given to the affected people. He assured the people that the government is committed to safeguarding their interests against nature’s fury. Bhagwant Mann said that every effort will be made to compensate the farmers and labourers for the losses suffered due to the current spell of recent rains in the state.

He said that apart from this the state government is taking various welfare measures for the farming community as we are fully conscious that agriculture is no longer a profitable venture. He categorically said that whenever the farmers had been confronted with any problem or hardship, the Government had wasted no time to come to their rescue which was evident from the bold initiatives taken by the government from day one. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is committed for the well being of the food growers of the country who have made the country self-reliant in food production.

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Chandigarh: After intermittent unseasonal rains in Punjab over the past few days, heavy rains and hailstorms for the past several days at some places have scattered other rabi crops, including wheat.

Around 14 lakh hectares of crops have been affected across the state due to heavy rains, hailstorms and winds gusting up to 40-50 km per hour on Saturday.

According to meteorologists, in view of the western disturbance again on March 29, there may be rain in the northwest region.

Most of the damage was reported from Fazilka, where friday’s hailstorm has damaged a lot of crops. The damaged crops are being girdawari, after which the actual report will come out.

According to the Punjab Agriculture Department, there has been a lot of damage to wheat due to the storm in Fazilka and the border area. At many places in this region, 100 per cent of the crop of the farmers has been damaged, while 40 to 50 per cent of the rabi crop of most of the farmers has been affected.

Apart from this, ferozepur, Faridkot, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Tarn Taran, Moga and border districts have suffered heavy losses due to continuous rains in the state for several consecutive days.

According to the information received, during the 24 hours, Amritsar received 23.4 mm rainfall, Ludhiana 28.8 mm, Pathankot 41.9, Faridkot 46.2, Gurdaspur 30.6, Ferozepur 49, Jalandhar 53.5, Moga 44.5 mm, Ropar 32.5 and Gurdaspur 40 mm.

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