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Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Punjab Cabinet decisions: Chief secretary to be chairperson of town planning & development board
The Punjab Cabinet Saturday gave powers of chairman of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Board (PRTPD) to chief secretary of Punjab. With the development, the chief secretary will give approval nod to all development projects initiated by various development authorities in the districts of the state. The chief secretary will now be the chairperson of the Board regulating the GMADA, GLADA, PDA (Patiala development Authority), BDA (Bathinda), JDA (Jalandhar), ADA (Amritsar), Anandpur Sahib Urban development Authority, Dera Baba Nanak Urban development Authority. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Cabinet gave its nod to amend Section 29 (3) of the PRTPD Act, on the pattern of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA), Meerut, Kanpur, Lucknow and others. Earlier, the Chief Minister was chairman of the authority. Cheema said that the Chief Minister has been busy with other engagements and the work of authorities was adversely affected. Hence, the Chief Secretary has been given the powers. He added, 'Nevertheless, all the projects, cleared by the Chief Secretary as chairman will be passed by the Chief Minister in the Cabinet.' Meanwhile it was also decided to include departments of Revenue, industry, Water Supply & Sanitation and others in the development authorities. Later in the evening, the government issued a statement saying that 'in a landmark decision reflecting visionary leadership, the Chief Minister has proactively decided to delegate the Chairmanship of all Urban Development Authorities to the chief secretary. This bold reform is aimed at strengthening decentralised governance, speeding up decision-making, and empowering the administrative setup to act swiftly on ground-level issues.' The statement added that previously, these authorities had inconsistent structures. Now, the Cabinet has approved a uniform framework across all 8 authorities, with Deputy Commissioners and Municipal Commissioners included as members—ensuring that local matters are resolved efficiently at the authority level itself. The decision is based on a comprehensive review of national models, where such bodies are headed by IAS officers or Ministers—not Chief Ministers—as seen in Ahmedabad, NOIDA, Kanpur, Bangalore, and others. By delegating routine matters, the CM has ensured that strategic oversight remains focused on larger state priorities, while operational decisions are handled promptly, the statement added. 500 posts to be filled in jails The Cabinet gave its concurrence to fill 500 vacant posts of Assistant Superintendents, Warder and Matron under direct recruitment quota in the Jails Department, Punjab. This recruitment will include 29 Assistant Superintendents, 451 Warder and 20 Matron, which will be done by Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board, thereby helping to beef up the security in the jails. This move will act as a catalyst in further streamlining the functioning of the jails besides helping in making them safe and secure. Ex-post facto approval The Cabinet also gave Ex-post facto approval for the constitution of the High-Powered Cabinet Sub Committee to intensify the 'War on Drugs' program of the State of Punjab. This move will further help in day to day scrutiny of the ongoing war against drugs thereby making Punjab free from the menace of drugs and wean away the youth of state from this scourge. Punjab fire and emergency services The Cabinet also gave nod for Framing of Punjab Fire and Emergency Services (Validity of Fire Safety Certificate) Rules, 2025. This will enable the state Government to prescribe the per…
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Punjab to lead India's industrial transformation'
1 2 3 Ludhiana: The Bharat Manufacturing and Export Summit 2025 concluded successfully Saturday, cementing the city's role as a cornerstone of India's industrial landscape. Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema was the chief guest of the event, organised by MSME Sampark. The summit called upon govt officials, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to drive discussions on enhancing India's manufacturing and export capabilities, with a focus on the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) ecosystem. Cheema underscored Punjab's commitment to fostering a robust industrial environment through initiatives like the fast-track single window system and the Invest Punjab Portal, designed to streamline processes and boost MSME growth. He emphasised the state's proactive measures to enhance ease of doing business, including financial incentives, infrastructure upgrades, and policies to support sustainable industrial practices. "Punjab is poised to lead India's industrial transformation by empowering MSMEs with innovative policies and seamless access to resources," Cheema said, reinforcing the state's dedication to economic progress. TNN
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
{Yudh Nashian Virudh} Punjab to recruit docs, rope in pvt facilities for rehab: Cheema
Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday said the cabinet sub-committee, formed to monitor Yudh Nashian Virudh drive, has decided to establish robust arrangements for the treatment of drug addicts. This step comes as the ongoing anti-drug campaign successfully disrupted drug supply lines, leading to a notable increase in individuals seeking treatment at government de-addiction centres and hospitals, Cheema said. The decisions included immediate recruitment of 200 psychologists on a temporary basis for six months, with the health department tasked to secure permanent recruitment in the interim. Additionally, psychiatrists will be empanelled across various districts as required, receiving ₹3,000 for two hours daily to provide essential assistance to individuals striving to overcome addiction, Cheema said. The sub-committee has also directed the health department to submit a comprehensive proposal within a week for the recruitment of all necessary health staff. Cheema further said the number of beds in government hospitals and drug de-addiction centres has been increased by 1,000. Furthermore, if the capacity of government centres is fully utilised, the services of private nursing institutes and de-addiction centres will be utilised for an additional 1,000 beds, with the government bearing the associated costs. The ongoing anti-drug drive has transcended into a people's movement, with citizens providing information against drug traffickers, the minister said. 'This collective cooperation, under the leadership of chief minister Bhagwant Mann, will ensure that Punjab becomes completely a drug-free state,' Cheema said. Sharing details of the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign which began on March 1, Cheema said so far, 9,580 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act and 16,348 drug smugglers and peddlers have been arrested. Strict action has been taken against drug traffickers, leading to the demolition of properties belonging to 118 individuals involved in the drug trade, he said. During this period, significant quantities of illicit substances have been recovered, including 622 kg of heroin, 14,976 kg of poppy husk, 252 kg of opium, 264 kg of ganja, and 26,49,847 narcotic pills, said the minister.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Violence against doctors: Punjab finally moves to secure govt hospitals
1 2 Chandigarh: After prolonged inaction and mounting pressure from the medical fraternity, Punjab govt has finally begun implementing long-promised security measures to protect healthcare workers. The decision comes in the wake of a disturbing surge in violence against doctors and medical staff at govt hospitals — a crisis that eroded morale and endangered lives on the frontlines of public healthcare. Despite repeated assurances over the past year, frontline medical professionals continued to face physical assaults and verbal abuse, particularly during night shifts, in govt-run hospitals. The combination of insufficient security, staffing shortages, and rising patient aggression left doctors and paramedics operating in a climate of fear. According to data compiled by the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), over 50 cases of violence against doctors were reported from govt hospitals across Punjab in the past year. Amritsar emerged as the worst-hit district with six such incidents, followed by Hoshiarpur and Pathankot (five each), Moga (four), and Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, Muktsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala (three each). Several other districts, including Mohali, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Barnala, also reported multiple cases. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pessoas com dores no joelho devem fazer isto à noite Saude News Saiba Mais Undo PCMSA, which persistently advocated for urgent intervention, pushed the govt to act. Following its sustained campaign, including a strike last year, the govt committed to deploying round-the-clock security personnel at all hospitals handling medicolegal cases by Sept 9, 2024. However, the deadline lapsed without implementation. Under renewed pressure, the health department has now directed all civil surgeons to furnish detailed reports by Jun 9 on incidents of violence from the past two years, as well as corresponding police actions taken. The move is part of groundwork to operationalise the Punjab Protection of Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008, which provides a legal framework to safeguard healthcare workers against assaults and vandalism. A govt proposal to deploy CCTV cameras and trained security personnel at public health facilities is currently under active consideration. PCMSA had earlier suggested a cost-effective model, recommending outsourced guards at DC wage rates (around Rs 13,500 per month), scaled according to hospital size — 20 guards for district hospitals, six for sub-divisional hospitals, and four for community health centres offering 24x7 medicolegal services. Despite several meetings with govt officials, including a cabinet sub-committee headed by finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, implementation was repeatedly delayed. It was only during a follow-up meeting on April 14, 2025 — involving health minister Dr Balbir Singh, principal health secretary Kumar Rahul, and Cheema — that the finance department reportedly agreed to deploy guards through PESCO, an organisation comprising ex-servicemen. Dr Akhil Sarin, president of PCMSA, welcomed the step, but cautioned that urgency is paramount. "A disturbing pattern of violence emerged against doctors and medical staff at govt facilities. We can no longer afford delays. The state must ensure immediate implementation of security arrangements," he said. He said the spotlight is now on the govt to translate its promises into concrete protection measures — before another incident adds to the growing list of victims. Recent Incidents of Violence A series of disturbing incidents of violence were reported at civil hospitals in Gurdaspur, Derabassi, and Hoshiarpur during April, raising serious concerns about the safety of healthcare staff and patients. On April 12, an altercation erupted at Gurdaspur civil hospital when two groups brought their fight into the emergency ward. The clash led to significant property damage and forced both doctors and patients to flee for safety. Just a day before, Derabassi civil hospital witnessed a similar incident. A clash between two groups led to chaos, with reports of vandalism and hospital staff locking themselves inside rooms to avoid harm. Eleven individuals were said to have been injured in the incident. MSID:: 121693014 413 |
Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Punjab registers record 25.3% growth in GST collections for May
Punjab has registered a record 25.31% growth in net GST collection for the month of May. Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the net GST revenue rose to ₹2,006.31 crore in May 2025, up from ₹1,601.14 crore in May 2024, an increase of ₹405.17 crore. In May 2024, the state had seen a growth of ₹121 crore (8.17%) over ₹1,480 crore collected in May 2023. Cheema attributed the growth to strong tax administration, enhanced compliance, and a resilient economic environment under the AAP government, adding that this points to an accelerating growth trend in Punjab's fiscal health. He further stated that this surge not only represents the highest year-on-year monthly growth in recent years but also outpaces the national average GST growth. 'We have curbed tax evasion, improved field-level enforcement, and enabled a seamless taxation framework that supports businesses while safeguarding state revenues,' he added. The minister said key actions included the physical verification of 195 bogus firms, leading to the blocking of ₹75.79 crore in fraudulent input tax credit (ITC); detection of major tax evasion in the coal sector, involving off-book transactions exceeding ₹225 crore and ₹11.65 crore in evaded tax; and the uncovering of ₹900 crore in bogus gold bullion transactions in Ludhiana, with ₹21 crore of ineligible ITC blocked. Cheema said the milestone is particularly commendable given that it has come during a period when Punjab, as a border state, faced heightened tensions during the armed conflict between India and Pakistan.
