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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Mohali: Action against heavy vehicles on Airport Rd during prohibited hrs
Mohali: After a week-long awareness drive, traffic police are set to enforce the ban on multi-axle vehicles plying on Airport Road during peak hours, from the coming week. Despite the restriction orders issued last month, heavy vehicles have still been spotted on Airport Road during peak hours, particularly those from other states. (HT File) As part of this, those plying heavy vehicles on the Airport Road from 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm will be booked under relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and other applicable laws. Deputy superintendent of police (DSP, traffic) Karnail Singh said boards and signage have been installed far from the city to alert drivers, especially those coming from outside Punjab, of the rule. 'We had recommended this so that truck drivers can avoid entering the prohibited stretch during restricted hours. Those found violating the rule will face strict action, and the action will start in the coming week,' he said. Superintendent of police (SP, traffic) Navneet Mahal stressed that the leniency so far was deliberate. 'We first wanted to create awareness before taking action. Regular meetings are being conducted to ensure smoother traffic, and the outcome will be visible soon,' he said. The 200-ft wide Airport Road, which runs for 18 km from Gopal Sweets near Sunny Enclave, Kharar, to Chhat light points in Zirakpur, is the primary link from Zirakpur to New Chandigarh via Mohali, Aerocity and IT City. It also serves as a major transit point for vehicles from Punjab and Haryana heading towards Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport. Due to its strategic location, the road witnesses heavy truck movement from Delhi, Haryana, Ambala, Baddi and Nalagarh, making it one of the busiest stretches in the region. Despite the restriction orders issued last month, heavy vehicles have still been spotted on Airport Road during peak hours, particularly those from other states.
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
A year on, Malwa canal project still in planning stage
1 2 Bathinda: A year after Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann inspected the site selected for the proposed Malwa Canal at Doda village near Gidderbaha and announced its construction with much fanfare, the project remains in the planning stage. The process for land acquisition is yet to be put into motion. The Punjab government had initiated the process for the proposed canal to be constructed parallel to the Rajasthan and Sirhind Feeder canals to provide irrigation facilities in the districts of Ferozepur, Faridkot, and Muktsar. The 149-km-long canal was to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2,300 crore, designed to carry 2,000 cusecs of water and benefit nearly 2 lakh acres of farmland in the Malwa region. It is to start from the Harike headworks in Ferozepur district. After the by-election at Gidderbaha was over on Nov 20, 2024, residents of Doda village, Karnail Singh and Baldev Singh, expressed their concerns, stating, "We are asking about progress in the construction of the canal, but there is no one to answer our queries." Gidderbaha AAP MLA Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon said, "Only recently, I met Punjab water resources department principal secretary Krishan Kumar, who told me that it is still at the planning stage and the land acquisition process has to be taken ahead, and all this may take more time." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo With the villages situated on the tail ends of the Sirhind Feeder canal, which runs parallel to the Rajasthan feeder, not getting adequate canal water supply, the need for constructing a new canal was necessitated. The carrying capacity of the Sirhind feeder went down due to seepage, drawing of water by lift pumps, and no proper repairs for long. When the new canal comes up, the demand for such tail-end villages could be met, the state government had then stated. The state government was to move towards land acquisition needed for the canal, apart from using Rajasthan government land. Bhagwant Mann, while addressing a public meeting at village Doda, said that it is for the first time after independence that a new canal is being constructed, as no previous government ever thought to provide an adequate quantity of canal water to farmers in the last 77 years. As the groundwater was withdrawn excessively, most of the blocks turned into dark zones for extracting much more water than recharging, and no stress was made to increase canal water. There are over 300 lift pumps of the Sirhind Feeder which irrigate the area on the left side of the Rajasthan feeder, originally irrigated by Sirhind Canal system (Abohar Branch Upper and Bathinda Branch) being fed from Ropar Head Works. However, instead of improving the supply of water at the tail portion of the Sirhind canal system, the government a long time back decided to supply water to the area from Sirhind feeder through lift pumps. Thus, there was a shortage of water from the canal system in Abohar and Fazilka. As a long-term measure to improve irrigation facilities in the area, the government has decided to construct the Malwa Canal.
Indian Express
04-08-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
From fertile fields to hollow craters, farmers in Punjab's Mukerian battle illegal mining, land erosion
In Mukerian subdivision of Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, years of rampant mining in fertile agricultural land has left behind pits and barren fields — and the damage isn't over. Not only has mining carved 40 to 70 feet deep craters in farmlands across villages, but the adjoining fields are now also under threat. With no end to the destruction in sight, the government has instead ordered fresh physical verification at 17 more proposed mining sites. The recent heavy rains have also added to the crisis, as collapsing edges of previously mined fields are steadily eroding nearby cultivable land, forcing farmers to watch helplessly as their fields vanish, inch by inch. Farmers in Pandori, Mehtapur, Mansoor Pur, Bishan Pur and Barota have alleged that illegal and unchecked stone mining — up to depths of 40 to 70 feet — has not only rendered around 400 acres of land barren in their area but is now threatening adjoining fields and even homes. Baljeet Singh from Pandori village said, 'The edge of my field has already eroded by 3 to 4 marla in just a year during this rainy season. My house is just 1.5 killa (acre) away from the mined site, and we are extremely worried.' Farmers are now spending lakhs to build mud bunds and embankments to protect their lands. Karnail Singh of Barota village said, 'I have spent nearly Rs 1.5 lakh just on making a 'nakka' (bandh) and deploying 250 to 300 tractor-trolleys of soil to reinforce the edge of my field. But erosion continues due to stagnant rain water.' Maninder Pal Singh alias Preet Singh Pandori added that stone crushers have now started buying more agricultural land. Government teams from the Agriculture Department, Mining Department, and District Administration have now started visiting our fields. This is a clear sign that they will start mining again,' he said. He added that some crushers have already purchased land adjoining active fields, raising fears that mining will soon start just 22 feet away from prime agricultural plots and 2-acres away from his house. In Mukerian's Pandori village, farmers allege that stone crusher operators who initially paid for shallow soil extraction have progressively deepened mining pits, turning fertile lands into barren craters. Many farmers, after receiving minimal compensation and finding farming unviable, sold more soil or eventually their entire land to survive. The deepening pits not only caused adjoining fields to sink but also destroyed pathways, making it difficult for others to access their farms. Locals also warn of the environmental risk posed by mining near the Hydel Canal of BBMB, saying the elevation of the canal above mined areas could cause flooding in low-lying villages if water levels rise. Farmers who sold land for Rs 7 to 8 lakh per acre to stone crushers now regret their decision. 'The land has turned barren and hollow. What was once a lush green farm is now a crater,' said Baljeet Singh. And those who did not sell their land are now paying the proximity price. One farmer reported that his 11-killa field is now bordered by 4 killa of mined land and getting eroded bit by bit. Farmers allege that despite a Punjab and Haryana High Court stay on mining in the region issued over a year and a half ago, it will be revived soon. As per a letter dated July 23 from the SDM of Mukerian, referring to an earlier communication dated July 15 from the Deputy Commissioner's office in Hoshiarpur, immediate physical verification was sought for newly proposed mining sites—including agricultural land, riverbeds, stone crusher mining areas, and land owned by private individuals. Executive Engineer-cum-District Mining Officer, Hoshiarpur, has issued a list of 17 proposed agricultural mining sites in Talwara and Mukerian subdivisions. Again in a letter dated July 24, sarpanchs of respective villages were directed to submit reports regarding the proposed mining sites on the very same day the letter was issued. However, residents of several villages have raised strong objections to the proposed mining activities on agricultural land — particularly at Site Nos. 12 and 15, which are allegedly linked to a local stone crusher located in Mehatpur village. The protest letter, also sent via email to senior officials—including the Deputy Commissioner of Hoshiarpur, the Executive Engineer of the Department of Mines and Geology, the Punjab Pollution Control Board, the Forest Department, and others—listed several grounds for opposition. The residents argued that the proposed mining not only threatens the environment but also violates legal procedures. 'Punjab and Haryana High Court has already stayed mining activity at several concerned sites. Any attempt to permit mining now would amount to contempt of court. As per the Environment (Protection) Act and EIA Notification, 2006, a public hearing is mandatory before granting environmental clearance. However, no such hearing has been conducted,' said Jagdish Singh Raja, a resident of Mehatpur village and head of the 'Zameen Bachao Committee,' which represents affected villages. He added that, according to Ministry of Mines guidelines, a Draft District Survey Report (DSR) must be published for public scrutiny, but no such report has been made available so far. He opposed converting fertile agricultural land into mining zones, citing risks of topsoil degradation leading to irreversible ecological damage. 'These lands are our only source of livelihood,' the letter stated, further pointing out that the proposed mining lands have not been legally converted from agricultural to non-agricultural use—making any mining activity there illegal. When contacted, Executive Engineer (XEN), Mines and Geology, Hoshiarpur, Raj Kumar, said that physical verification does not imply automatic approval of mining. 'We will act strictly according to legal provisions, but if mining is found to be permissible under law, it will be allowed,' he said, adding that public hearings can be organised as part of the process. Meanwhile, sources in the mining department said that in the past, cases were registered against farmers as well as those who were involved in mining on farm lands. Why Mukerian? Mukerian subdivision, nestled in the Shivalik foothills bordering Himachal Pradesh, was once dotted with seasonal streams, canals, and fertile farmland. In the early 2000s, a few stone crushers were set up to process material from Himachal. But by 2008-09, the sand mafia began eyeing local natural resources—first the streams and canals, and then the easily accessible farmland near crushers. With political backing and weak enforcement, the number of crushers increased. Sarpanchs facilitated mining on panchayat lands and encouraged farmers to lease their fields for attractive returns. As crushers spread from Ropar and Pathankot into Mukerian, farmland became the primary target for raw material. Illegal night-time mining became common, often backed by musclemen. Farmers, lured by quick profits, sometimes earned more from selling soil than from agriculture. Although environmental clearances and excavation limits are legally required, they're rarely enforced. While FIRs have been registered by the Mining Department, most remain unresolved, allowing unchecked mining to continue.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Blood camp at Guru Nanak Dev College to mark Kargil Vijay Diwas
1 2 3 Ludhiana: A blood donation camp was held at Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College here Monday, as part of the Vijay Diwas celebrations. It was organised by 3 Punjab Battalion NCC in association with non-profit organisation, NIFAA. Sixty-two cadets and instructor staff donated blood at the camp. Col Rohit Kalra from the battalion said organising such events emphasises and makes the youth realsise their role in nation building, and also sensitises them to their responsibility towards society. Subjedar Major Karnail Singh, Commanding Officer, 3 Punjab Battalion, NCC also donated blood at the camp. Donors were awarded with medals and certificates by Ajay Jain from NIFAA. Col Khanna took an active part in Operation Vijay while his Battalion 14 Sikhs was deployed in the Batalik sector. For his act of bravery, he was awarded Sena Medal (gallantry) in the same sector. tnn
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Policy reunites Punjab farmers, tractor rally to set the tone
Bathinda: Having lost momentum after Punjab Police forcibly removed their protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders with Haryana, farm groups and individual farmers are joining hands again in Punjab — all thanks to the contentious land pooling policy introduced by the AAP govt. Fearing that the policy means they could lose their land, farmers and even those not associated with unions are turning to farm groups to lead the opposition to the policy that envisions state govt taking possession of land by paying Rs 1 lakh a year and developing it into a residential-commercial zone, and returning booths and residential plots to the landowner. The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) — which had spearheaded the 2020-2021 farm stir on the borders of Delhi — has also okayed the decision of its Punjab chapter to hold tractor marches on July 30 in villages which could be affected by the policy. A call for support to the protest by the national committee of the farm forum Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) has also emboldened the SKM and farmers. Farmers have already started installing flex boards warning Aam Aadmi Party leaders and govt officials from entering their land to promote the policy. Many villages have started coming up with resolutions against the scheme, and it has been learnt that opposition has reached over 100 villages in the state. Though the biggest chunk of land is to be collected in Ludhiana district, small tracts have been identified in Bathinda, Moga, and Ferozepur districts too. In Bathinda, farmers in three villages — Jodhpur Romana, Naruana, and Patti Jhuttika — have already sounded a bugle of protest as 848 acres of land has been identified there under the policy. In Jodhpur Romana, the identified land is nearly 600 acres. Farmers from Jodhpur Romana village attended a meeting convened by farm organisations affiliated with SKM on Saturday and announced their plan to agitate and participate in tractor marches on July 30. Apart from tractor marches by SKM, some other organisations have decided to hold protests at DC offices on July 31. On that day, farm leader Balbir Singh Rajewal is scheduled to address a gathering on land pooling at Lehragaga in Sangrur. "We are determined to oppose the land pooling scheme and do not want to part with our fertile lands. We will go to any length to stop our land from being taken forcibly, and for this, we have approached farmer organisations," said Jodhpur Romana farmers Karnail Singh and Balwant Singh in the presence of farmer organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) secretary Shingara Singh Mann. MSID:: 122934588 413 |
