Covid cases cross 1 lakh mark in Himachal
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh on Saturday recorded 2,751 fresh COVID-19 cases which took the infection tally to 102,038, while the death toll rose to 1,512 with 28 more people succumbing to the disease, a senior health official said. There were 19,928 active COVID-19 cases in the state, till 7 pm. As many as 1,220 coronavirus patients have recuperated from the infection in a day, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 80,534.
PUNJAB EARNS GST tax OF Rs 1481.83 CRORES IN APRIL
Chandigarh: Punjab has earned the revenue of Rs. 1481.83 crores from GST during the month of April 2021 which is the highest ever revenue from GST for any particular month since the introduction of GST in the country during July, 2017. An official spokesperson of the Taxation Commissioner’s office said that the earlier highest monthly revenue from GST was Rs. 1216 crores which was earned during July, 2019 while the revenue from GST during April, 2020 was meagre Rs. 156 crores. The spokesperson pointed out that this exceptionally low collection was due to relief provided to the taxpayers in the furnishing of returns for the months of February, March and April, 2020 on account of COVID-19 and the country undergoing lockdown since 23rd March, 2020. However, it is noteworthy that the revenue earned from GST during April, 2019, which was a normal year, stood at Rs.1087.55 crores, said the spokesperson adding against April, 2019 Punjab has recorded a growth of 36% with sectors like Telecom, Iron and Steel, Electronic goods, Cement, Petroleum products (which are within GST) making important contribution to the revenue earned for the particular month.
Punjabi singer held for flouting COVID curbs
Chandigarh: Punjabi singer and actor Gippy Grewal and some of his crew members were arrested for allegedly flouting COVID-19 restrictions by shooting for a film at Banur in Punjab's Patiala district, police said on Saturday. They were later released on bail. A police official said over 100 people had gathered at the shooting site in a village in Banur, even as a weekend lockdown was in force in Punjab. Police arrested Grewal and some crew members from the spot, the official said. A case under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC, relevant sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Disaster Management Act has been registered at Banur police station. A few days ago, actor Jimmy Shergill and some crew members were booked for allegedly defying COVID-19 restrictions while shooting for a web series in Ludhiana.
ILLEGAL MINING CONDUCTED at RAVI RIVER IN PB
Chandigarh: Amritsar (Rural) Police has launched a major crackdown on illegal sand mining in the district. RN Dhoke, Enforcement Director, Mining, Punjab, issued the directive that illegal mining be stopped forthwith. He had also sent a letter to Amritsar (Rural) Police regarding the authorized mining sites in the district and conditions set down for mining operations, including the requirement of physical demarcation of mining sites. Specific information was received by Amritsar (Rural) Police of large scale illegal mining being conducted along the banks of Ravi river in the area of vill. Kassowal, PS Ramdas, Amritsar (Rural), on 30 April, 2021. Acting immediately on the inputs, teams of Amritsar (Rural) Police launched large scale raids of the target site. The raids unearthed a systematic, large scale illegal mining operation being conducted on the banks of the Ravi river. The raid resulted in the recovery of 9 trucks, 4 tractor trolleys and 1 JCB from the site. Two accused were also arrested from the spot.
Capt CONDOLES DEMISE OF PR OFFICIAL LALIT JINDAL
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday condoled the sad demise of Senior Assistant Lalit Jindal (45) who passed away at Rajindra Government Medical College & Hospital, Patiala this morning after battling Covid for over two weeks. He is survived by his parents, wife, a daughter and a son. In a condolence message, the Chief Minister said, “I am saddened to learn about the untimely death of Lalit Jindal, who was a sincere and diligent employee serving in the Information and Public Relations Department.” Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Raveen Thukral also mourned the death of Lalit Jindal.
Meanwhile, Secretary, Information and Public Relations Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Director Anindita Mitra also expressed their heartfelt condolences on the passing away of the official.