Efforts on to identify land for exhibition centre: Arora
Addressing mediapersons after being accorded the guard of honour at Circuit House, he said that developing the industrial sector would enhance tax revenue.
In the city for the first time after taking charge as cabinet minister, Arora expressed gratitude to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for entrusting the responsibility of a cabinet berth to him. He assured that he would focus on industrial development and try to attract maximum investment across Punjab.
Responding to questions, he said that several industrial issues had been resolved over the past three years and pending matters would be addressed promptly. On the status of Halwara Airport, the minister said that it was ready. "Whenever approval is given by the PMO, Halwara Airport will be operational. The project is nearly complete, and its inauguration is expected soon," he said.
Regarding NRI affairs, he informed that a departmental meeting was scheduled for Tuesday.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy
IC Markets
Tìm hiểu thêm
Undo
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring timely and hassle-free services for NRIs.
Arora received a warm welcome from people, including AAP leaders and workers, who had gathered to welcome him. Police commissioner Swapan Sharma and additional deputy commissioner (rural development) Amarjit Bains were among those present on the occasion.
MSID:: 122253053 413 |
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
22 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab to launch India's first anti-drug curriculum for schools from August 1
Punjab is set to take a new step in its fight against drugs by launching India's first evidence-based anti-drug curriculum for school students. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will inaugurate the programme.(X/@AamAadmiParty File Photo) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will inaugurate the programme on August 1 in Arniwala, Fazilka, as part of the third phase of the state's "Yudh Nashian De Virudh" campaign. School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the curriculum will cover around 8 lakh students from Classes 9 to 12 in 3,658 schools. More than 6,500 trained teachers will deliver the programme. The curriculum has been developed in collaboration with Nobel Laureate Prof. Abhijit Banerjee's J-PAL South Asia and leading behavioural scientists. It aims to equip students with the skills to avoid drug use and make informed decisions. The 27-week programme consists of 35-minute interactive sessions held every two weeks. It uses documentaries, quizzes, posters, and group activities to bust myths, address peer pressure, and promote better decision-making strategies. Randomised trials conducted in 78 government schools in Amritsar and Tarn Taran with 9,600 students showed a strong impact. Ninety per cent of students understood that even trying drugs like "chitta" once could lead to addiction, compared to 69 per cent in the control group. The belief that addiction can be overcome with willpower alone dropped from 50 per cent to 20 per cent. Bains said this marked a shift in approach, stating, "The fight against drugs must begin in classrooms, not just in police stations." He added that more than 23,000 drug smugglers have been arrested so far, over 1,000 kg of heroin has been seized, and properties of offenders have been confiscated, highlighting the government's commitment to protect Punjab's youth from drug abuse. Punjab has become the first Indian state to roll out an anti-drug curriculum at this scale, starting from August 1. The programme focuses on prevention through interactive classroom learning and behavioural change.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh's street lights to go smart, monitored centrally for faster repairs
In a move aimed at improving public safety and energy efficiency, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is set to overhaul the city's street lighting system by linking over 55,000 lights to the city's Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Sector 17. The new agency will install ultra energy-efficient lights with individual control and dimming features, and provide ward-wise illumination reports to councillors. (HT File) The centralised system will enable real-time monitoring of streetlights, ensuring faster repairs, timely maintenance and better illumination across neighbourhoods. The revamp comes amid growing complaints over non-functional streetlights and rising crime in poorly lit areas. Notably, the civic body has been maintaining the street lights on its own since its 2017 contract with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a public sector undertaking (PSU), ended in 2024. The non-functional street lights were flagged during the MC House meeting on Tuesday by Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi. 'For the past six months, more than 30% of the city's streetlights have been lying non-operational. After the earlier contractor withdrew, MC took over the maintenance, but there has been no visible improvement,' he said. In response, MC chief engineer Sanjay Arora informed the House that the civic body was in the process of bringing in a new agency under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode, with a Request for Proposal (RFP) expected to be tabled at the next House meeting. The new agency will install ultra energy-efficient lights with individual control and dimming features, and provide ward-wise illumination reports to councillors. These smart lights will offer higher luminance despite lower wattage, promising brighter streets with reduced energy consumption. 'Earlier, lights delivered 103 lumens per watt. The new lights will offer higher brightness even at 100 lumens per watt. Each light will be individually controlled and councillors will get reports,' Arora said. Of the total street lights in the city, about 55,000 fall under MC's purview, including 40,000 lights on internal and dividing roads and another 15,000 in parks, green belts, open areas and parking lots. In contrast, the Chandigarh administration's engineering department manages around 5,000 street lights. Through MC's previous ₹48-crore contract with EESL, over 48,000 conventional bulbs were replaced with LED lights, saving the civic body about ₹6 crore annually in electricity bills. However, the contract was scrapped in 2024 due to poor maintenance and EESL's failure to implement a central monitoring system. According to Arora, the new system could take around five to six months to be fully operational. In the interim, the civic body is working to repair the existing lights.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Land pooling policy: SAD accuses Ayali of colluding with AAP
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday alleged that Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali colluded with the AAP government to get his land excluded from the land pooling policy, even as adjoining land, belonging to farmers, had been notified for acquisition. Refuting the allegations, Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali said: 'As much as 150 acres of land owned by my family and the company has come under the land pooling scheme in three villages, Dakha, Birmi and Kailpur. The 58-acre project, Ananta, was given permission during the Congress party regime.' (HT File) Addressing a press conference, SAD leader Parambans Singh Romana alleged that Ayali had gone silent on the AAP government's 'land grabbing' scheme after his land was excluded. 'Ayali should disclose what settlement he has done with the AAP leadership to secure this reprieve,' Romana said. Romana also showed documents and maps, which he claimed showed how one chunk of land, including a 28-acre plot of Avanta Enclave, owned by the Ayali family and another 7.5 acres had been left out of the ambit of the land pooling scheme. Refuting the allegations, Ayali said: 'As much as 150 acres of land owned by my family and the company has come under the land pooling scheme in three villages, Dakha, Birmi and Kailpur. The 58-acre project, Ananta, was given permission during the Congress party regime.' He further said he will not give even an inch of land to the government under the pooling policy.
