Cotton procurement in Hry to begin from Oct 1

Chandigarh:  Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department) Raja Sekhar Vundru on Friday said that the cotton procurement for the Kharif Marketing Season 2024-25 in the State will begin on October 1. As per the rules of the Government of India, the procurement will be done at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) through the Cotton Corporation of India, Vundru added.  Presiding over a review meeting on the preparations for cotton procurement, Vundru directed that every possible assistance should be provided to the Cotton Corporation of India during the procurement process. He assured that both the Cotton Corporation of India and the Haryana Government is fully prepared, ensuring that farmers face no difficulties in selling their crops.  A total of 20 procurement centres have been set up across the state for cotton procurement. These centres are located in Siwani, Dhigawa, and Bhiwani (Bhiwani District); Charkhi Dadri (Charkhi Dadri District); Bhattu, Bhuna, and Fatehabad (Fatehabad District); Adampur, Barwala, Hansi, Hisar, and Uklana (Hisar District); Uchana (Jind District); Kalayat (Kaithal District); Narnaul (Mahendragarh District); Meham (Rohtak District); and Ellenabad, Kalanwali, and Sirsa.

MSTC to e-Auction mines of Himachal: Industries Minister

Shimla: Himachal Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan on Friday said that the State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited (MSTC), a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Steel, to facilitate e-Auction services for mining leases and composite licenses in Himachal Pradesh. The MoU was signed by Director of Industries Rakesh Kumar Prajapati on behalf of the State Government and Regional Manager Nitin Anand representing MSTC. He said that the state government was going to auction two big blocks of limestone in Arki tehsil of Solan district and Sunni tehsil of Shimla district. The limestone from these blocks is of fine quality making it highly valuable for use in cement, steel, glass and fertilizer industries. He emphasized that the MoU was signed to ensure a transparent auction process. Chauhan said the auction of these mineral mines would not only boost the State’s revenue but also create employment opportunities for the local population.

Waste management and sewage treatment be given a top priority: Rana Gurjeet

Kapurthala:   Reacting to the imposition of a penalty of Rs. 1000 crore on the Punjab government by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for failing to comply with environmental laws, Kapurthala MLA  Rana Gurjeet Singh on Friday said that the commissioners and the executive officers of the local civic bodies in the state’s municipal corporations and councils need to put special efforts for municipal waste management and sewage treatment.  The MLA suggested building a protocol for solid waste management and treatment of sewage in the cities and towns of the state, suggesting for mechanized system of waste treatment. “To begin with, the department of local should start mohalla level cleaning of sewage lines in the cities so that the neighborhoods are clean and there is no overflowing,” he said.  “The waste originating from the cities and towns has become a big problem and is taking the shape of an epidemic and this needs to be dealt with as a top priority,” suggested the MLA.  Citing an example from his constituency, he said that despite his repeated requests the system of waste management remains improper. According to the MLA, “it is sad that the Punjab government has been asked to pay huge penalties for failing to comply with the environmental laws. This is the second time in three years that Punjab has come under the scanner of the NGT. Instead of paying heavy penalties, the government should focus on capital investment for sewage treatment and waste management”, the Kapurthala MLA added.


Sukhbir Urges NGT to Penalize AAP, Hold CM Accountable for Environmental Failures

Chandigarh:  A day after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a Rs 1,026 crore fine on the Punjab Government for failing to manage legacy waste and untreated sewage, the SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday called for further action. Sukhbir has appealed to the NGT to direct the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to cover the full Rs 3,108 crore penalty levied for environmental non-compliance. Criticizing AAP Government for its continued disregard for environmental regulations, Sukhbir argued that the people of Punjab should not bear the financial burden due to the Government's persistent failures. “The AAP Government has ignored repeated warnings and failed to address waste management issues even after being fined Rs 2,080 crore in 2022, leading to this latest Rs 1,026 crore penalty. It is only fair that AAP, not the citizens, should be held accountable,” he argued. Sukhbir also urged the NGT to hold Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann personally responsible for the environmental breaches, suggesting that the AAP leader should face prosecution under Section 26 of the NGT Act, 2010. “Instead of targeting officers, the Chief Minister should be held accountable for obstructing necessary remedial actions,” he emphasized.
 
Chd MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra's 3-yr tenure ends

Chandigarh: Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Anindita Mitra’s three-year tenure ended on Thursday with the UT Administration granting her 22 days' leave on completion of her inter-cadre deputation period. The order was released on Friday. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh has been given additional charge of MC Commissioner.

All political parties must adhere to MCC during Assembly Elections: Hry CEO

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal on Friday said that all political parties must adhere to the Model Code of Conduct during the Haryana Assembly elections, as per the guidelines of Election Commission of India. He said that any individual can file a complaint regarding any violation of the Model Code of Conduct on the C-Vigil app and legal action will be taken against those found violating these rules. The political parties must place their hoardings and banners only at locations designated by the District Election Office. Applications for permission can be submitted online. Agarwal also called on all political parties to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India for candidates and political parties. He stated that all political parties and candidates should be cautious while using social media and to avoid spreading rumours. Any suspicious information should be verified with the respective Returning Officer (RO) before sharing it further. Strict action will be taken against those spreading false and misleading information during the Assembly elections, he warned. He further said that the voters must confirm their names in voter list.

Hry Head Constable arrested for accepting bribe of Rs 20,000

Chandigarh: The Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday arrested Head Constable Sandeep, posted at Sector-32 Police Station in Karnal, for accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000. The bribe was demanded in exchange for removing the complainant's name from an FIR registered at the same police station. According to a government spokesperson, the ACB team received a complaint that Head Constable Sandeep had been demanding a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant to remove their name from an FIR. Upon receiving the complaint, the ACB team from Karnal initiated an investigation and devised a plan to catch the accused in the act. Subsequently, Sandeep was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe. A case has been registered against him at the ACB police station in Karnal, and legal proceedings are underway.