Latest news with #BhagwantMann
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Punjab government unveils 14-point action plan to tackle groundwater crisis; boost canal water use
CHANDIGARH: In a first, the Punjab government on Friday approved a 14-point action plan under its Integrated State Water Plan to preserve and replenish groundwater, as the state faces an annual average water table decline of 0.7 metre. Chairing a meeting of the Water Resources Department regarding the Integrated State Water Plan, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the plan has been meticulously prepared by the department in consultation with all relevant government departments. He said the situation is already alarming, with 115 out of 153 blocks in the state categorised as over-exploited in terms of groundwater extraction. The plan, he said, focuses on conserving groundwater and increasing the use of canal water for various purposes. This will be achieved by reducing groundwater demand, lowering agricultural water usage, improving irrigation techniques, and replenishing and artificially augmenting groundwater. Mann added that efforts will also focus on identifying sustainable water sources, exploring deep aquifers, and promoting the use of surface water. He noted that the government has already restored 17,000 water courses covering approximately 6,300 km, which had been abandoned for 30 to 40 years. Additionally, 79 canals spanning 545 km have also been restored. Mann approved a 14-point action plan that includes an effective irrigation strategy to ensure optimal water use in fields. The plan aims to bring around 15,79,379 hectares under water-efficient techniques such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, moving away from conventional methods to reduce net water demand and increase efficiency.
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
21k participate in ‘CM di Yogshala' event in Jalandhar
As many as 21,000 yoga enthusiasts participated in a state-level 'CM Di Yogshala' event held at the PAP Ground in Jalandhar on Thursday. Chief minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann was expected to be present at the event, but his visit was cancelled at the eleventh hour due to unavoidable circumstances. Health minister Dr Balbir Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. 'The CM has a lot of engagements and unavoidable circumstances, which is why he couldn't be here today,' Dr Balbir said. Addressing the gathering, the health minister gave a clarion call to the people to make yoga an integral part of their daily lives. 'It was heartening to see people from all walks of life participating enthusiastically in this mega event. The 'CM di Yogshala' is serving as a stepping stone towards building a healthier and more vibrant Punjab,' he said. Accompanied by deputy commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, commissioner of police Dhanpreet Kaur, the minister said the initiative was launched two years ago from Jalandhar under the leadership of CM Mann and presently around 3,200 yoga classes are conducted daily across the state, benefiting nearly one lakh people. He added that trained yoga instructors have been appointed to teach yoga, and he appealed to everyone to make yoga an inseparable part of their lives in order to stay healthy and fit, helping Punjab become a truly healthy state. He stressed that maintaining good health and managing stress is the need of the hour, especially as people face multiple challenges in their daily lives. The minister added that the rising stress levels are a major concern and yoga can play a significant role in combating this issue. During the event, the minister announced that the 'CM Di Yogshala' programme would soon be extended to rural areas as well.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
2 officials from Bhagwant Mann's media team resign
Two officials from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's media team have resigned from their posts, with sources claiming they did so due to 'family commitments'. Adil Azmi, the media advisor to Mann, and Ayushi Saraswat, the senior media relations manager, put in their papers on Tuesday. A source close to Azmi said that he had proceeded on a sabbatical. 'He has family reasons to take some time off. He will be away till December. He may get back to work after that,' he said. Another source said that Saraswat also had a family commitment. 'She needed to take time off for pressing family reasons. Hence, she has also proceeded on a sabbatical,' the source explained. In October last year, the Punjab government had removed Onkar Singh, Mann's close aide, from his post as officer on special duty to the chief minister. A few days later, Navneet Wadhwa, Mann's director of communications, was asked to submit his resignation. At the time, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sources had termed the development 'Operation Cleanup' after party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's return from Tihar jail. Later, two of Kejriwal's aides, Baltej Singh Pannu and Manpreet Kaur, both directors of communication, were removed from the chief minister's office.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Punjab LoP Bajwa calls Bhagwant Mann ‘figurehead CM'; alleges Kejriwal runs Punjab via Delhi-based appointees
CHANDIGARH: Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government, claiming that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been reduced to a mere figurehead while AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal acts as the 'super CM,' controlling key decisions and appointments in the state. Bajwa accused the government of filling top positions in the Punjab Development Commission (PDC) with individuals from outside Punjab, many of whom are allegedly close to AAP's Delhi leadership. He said the PDC was formed in September 2023 through a notification under the Punjab Infrastructure (Development and Regulation) Act, without bringing a new Act before the Assembly for debate and approval. He criticised the government for bypassing legislative procedures and acting in a non-transparent manner. In March 2024, the PDC advertised and appointed eight Advisors at Rs 2.65 lakh per month, 15 Joint Advisors at Rs 2.20 lakh per month, and 15 Senior Research Officers at Rs 1.25 lakh per month. Bajwa claimed that most of these officials were non-Punjabis and were hired on a contractual basis without adhering to the mandatory requirement of Punjabi language proficiency. He pointed out that while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is the Chairman of the PDC, the Vice Chairperson is a non-Punjabi, and three other members also belong to states outside Punjab. 'This is a direct insult to the youth and professionals of Punjab who are being ignored in their own state,' Bajwa said.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Inaugurated in March, toilets still under renovation in civil hospital
Nearly two months after chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated the renovated works at the civil hospital here, few toilets are still far from being functional. The male toilet in the emergency and trauma ward, the toilets outside the labour room and the ones towards the rear of the mother and child section are still being renovated. There is a single user toilet near the emergency ward's entrance, but it is mostly used by patients and is also occupied. The male attendants of the patients in the emergency or trauma wards either use the toilets in the OPD, but as it closes after OPD hours, or go to the first-floor male ward to the other side of the building. The renovation had been touted as a very big step towards bringing the hospital on par with corporate hospitals. According to a senior hospital official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, there was no deadline for the completion of renovation work of these toilets. The renovation work was led by Rajya Sabha member Sanjeev Arora, who is also AAP's candidate for the upcoming Ludhiana West bypolls, under the MPLAD scheme. The CM had inaugurated the renovations on March 18 in an elaborate event. Civil hospital's senior medical officer Dr Harpreet Singh said, 'The toilets in the wards are all working now. Just a few are remaining and the work would be completed soon.'
