Haryana Chief Secretary hosts financial dialogue with Tanzanian delegation
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting with the Joint Finance Commission (JFC) of the Republic of Tanzania. In an engaging session, Rastogi outlined India’s fiscal framework, detailing the division of tax collection responsibilities between the central and state governments, revenue sources, debt financing mechanisms, loans, and grants. He highlighted Haryana’s commitment to fiscal discipline, emphasizing that the state avoids off-budget borrowing. Rastogi explained the principles of fiscal federalism in India, noting that states receive a share of central tax revenue based on Finance Commission recommendations. The 16th Finance Commission, currently active, is expected to submit its report by October 31, 2025. He also discussed the roles of key institutions, such as NABARD, which supports agricultural and rural development projects, and the NCR Planning Board, which provides financial assistance to states in the National Capital Region. Additionally, he noted that the Reserve Bank of India facilitates State Development Loans (SDLs) or State Government Securities. Loans from foreign institutions and international banks, typically project-specific, are managed by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Ahmed Saadat, Chairman of the Secretariat of the Joint Finance Commission, expressed gratitude to the Haryana Government for the insightful session and appreciated the opportunity to learn from India’s fiscal practices.
Haryana Govt sanctions Rs 19.72 crore prize money for 13 players and medallists of Para Asian Games
Chandigarh: Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao on Friday said that the State Government has sanctioned a prize money of Rs 19.72 crore for cash awards to 13 players from Haryana who participated in the 4th Para Asian Games 2022. Among the recipients, Haney, an Athletics player, will receive Rs. 3 crore for winning a Gold medal. Nitesh Kumar (Para Badminton), will receive Rs. 3 crore for winning a Gold medal and Rs 1.5 crore for winning a Silver medal. Sarita Adhana (Para Archery) will receive Rs 1.5 crore for winning the Silver medal. Pooja, Dharambir, Rinku, Parmod, Yogesh Kathuniya, Rampal, and Monu Ghanghas, all Athletics players, will each receive Rs. 1.50 crore for winning the Silver medal. Anju Bala, a Para Lawn Ball player, Jasbeer, an Athletics player, and Jaideep, a Canoeing player, will each receive Rs. 7.50 lakh for their participation in the games. In addition, players Pranav Soorma, Raman Sharma, Sumit and Tarun Dhillon, all Athletics players, will also receive Rs. 3 crore each for winning gold medals. Their prize money will be sanctioned in the coming days, she added.
MC Chandigarh intensifies fogging drive ahead of monsoon
Chandigarh: To ensure public health and safety ahead of the monsoon season, the Municipal Corporation on Friday launched an intensified fogging campaign to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases such as Dengue and Malaria. Following the directions of Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar, fogging teams were mobilized across various areas of the city. The campaign, aimed at eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, covered a wide range of locations, including residential colonies, urban neighborhoods, and peripheral villages. The teams used specialized fogging equipment and insecticides to target areas prone to stagnant water accumulation—a known breeding site for mosquitoes. Commissioner Kumar emphasized the importance of proactive measures and urged citizens to cooperate with the teams by keeping their surroundings clean and avoiding water stagnation. “Public health is our top priority. We are committed to taking all necessary actions to prevent any potential outbreak during the monsoon,” he stated.
Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrests police Sub Inspector taking Rs. 8,000 bribe
Chandigarh: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Friday said it has arrested Sub Inspector (SI) Ravipal, posted at police station Amir Khas, district Fazilka for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 8,000.
An official spokesperson of the state VB said the arrest has been made following a complaint lodged by a resident of Guruhar Sahai in Ferozepur district. The complaint approached the VB alleging that the accused SI had demanded a bribe Rs. 10,000 for drafting and submitting a reply to a writ petition in the high court and submitting a chargesheet in the district court pertaining to a police case registered against the complainant. After verification of this complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused police official was apprehended while he was receiving a bribe of Rs 8000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused.
Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties to be Himachal's first to perform robotic surgery
Shimla: The Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities at Chamiyana in Shimla is set to become the first medical institute in Himachal Pradesh to perform surgeries using the latest robotic technology, officials said on Friday. Only a very small incision is required in robotic procedures, which means less blood loss and minimal need for transfusions. Moreover, the patients experience less pain, recover faster and can be discharged from the hospital sooner, Principal of the Institute Dr Brij Lal said in a statement issued here. A state-of-the-art surgical robot, procured at a cost of Rs 28 crore on the lines of All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has already arrived at Chamiyana and the installation process will be completed by July, following which surgeries using the advanced technology will begin.
The surgeons too will benefit from this technology as robotic systems would provide them better precision and control, the statement said. Surgeons will feel less fatigued during long surgeries allowing them to perform more procedures in less time. The system also offers a clear and magnified three-dimensional view inside narrow and complex areas of the body, reducing the chances of any errors. Following the directions of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the robotic surgery equipment will soon be delivered to Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, as well, the statement added.
Haryana Airport Development Corporation officials asked to expedite developmental work
Chandigarh: Haryana Minister for Civil Aviation, Revenue and Disaster Management, and Urban Local Bodies Department Vipul Goyal, chaired a board meeting of the Haryana Airport Development Corporation (HADC). During the meeting, he reviewed all ongoing projects under HADC, discussed various issues raised by board members, and directed that developmental work be accelerated. The Minister said that the primary objective of the Civil Aviation Department and HADC is to promote air services in Haryana and develop the state as an aviation hub. He informed that along with developing Hisar Airport as an integrated aviation hub through HADC, efforts are underway to expand helipad services from various cities across the state, including Gurugram.
20 lakh saplings ready for plantation in nurseries of Hry Forest Department for this season: Minister
Chandigarh: In view of the upcoming tree plantation campaign, Haryana's Forest and Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Friday visited the nursery of the Forest Department located in Panchkula district and instructed the officials to plant as many trees as possible. During this, he also visited the Nature Camp, and went to Triphala Vatika and saw the arrangements. Singh instructed the officials to plant as many trees as possible by running a campaign on a large scale during the upcoming plantation season so that the environment can be protected for the coming generations. While visiting the nursery of the Forest Department, the Minister also saw the plants planted 2 years ago and said arrangements should be made for the proper care of all the plants so that there can be a substantial increase in the forest area. 20 lakh saplings have been prepared for plantation this year in the nurseries of the Forest Department located in Panchkula district, he added.