Latest news with #NarinderSingh
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Time of India
CM Rakshak Padak for 4 cops, saved 11 from canal
Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday honoured four police officers for their heroic efforts in rescuing 11 people — including five children — after a car plunged into the Sirhind Canal in Bathinda earlier this week. He announced CM Rakshak Padak for them, to be awarded at the state-level Independence Day function. At a ceremony at his official residence, Mann felicitated members of the Police Control Room (PCR) team: Assistant sub-inspectors Rajinder Singh and Narinder Singh, along with constables Jaswant Singh and Harpal Kaur. The CM praised their swift and courageous response during the July 23 incident as "inspiring example of public service". ASI Narinder Singh was the first to jump into the canal to save the passengers. Constable Jaswant Singh, who cannot swim, nonetheless followed him into the water to assist in the rescue. Mann also commended members of the public and other PCR staff who had helped evacuate the victims safely. He congratulated Bathinda senior superintendent of police Avneet Kaundal and her team for their coordination and commitment. He expressed hope that their actions would serve as a model for cops across Punjab. MSID:: 122906497 413 |
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Time of India
Punjab chief minister's Rakshak Padak for 4 cops who saved 11 from Sirhind canal
Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday honoured four police officers for their heroic efforts in rescuing 11 people — including five children — after a car plunged into the Sirhind Canal in Bathinda earlier this week. He announced CM Rakshak Padak for them, to be awarded at the state-level Independence Day function. At a ceremony at his official residence, Mann felicitated members of the Police Control Room (PCR) team: Assistant sub-inspectors Rajinder Singh and Narinder Singh, along with constables Jaswant Singh and Harpal Kaur. The CM praised their swift and courageous response during the July 23 incident as "inspiring example of public service". ASI Narinder Singh was the first to jump into the canal to save the passengers. Constable Jaswant Singh, who cannot swim, nonetheless followed him into the water to assist in the rescue. Mann also commended members of the public and other PCR staff who had helped evacuate the victims safely. He congratulated Bathinda senior superintendent of police Avneet Kaundal and her team for their coordination and commitment. He expressed hope that their actions would serve as a model for cops across Punjab. MSID:: 122906497 413 |
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
We have our roots here: Sector 53 wood masters stare at broken future
Chandigarh: The outward bustle at the Furniture Market in Sector 53 has a heavy undertone. Customers walked amid the stacks of furniture as usual on Friday but the shopkeepers displaying their wares seemed preoccupied, their practised smiles looking more like a grimace. The market has been around for decades now and most of the furniture traders are second and even third generation businessmen. Their fathers and grandfathers set up base here when Chandigarh was still being developed. The location turned out to be fortuitous and the small-time labourers who came here for a fresh start received customers from all over Punjab. Those who man these shops now are solely dependent on the businesses set up by their fathers. Most are well into their 40s and 50s, with no idea what they would do if not this. Some, like Narinder Singh, are old-timers. Originally from Hisar, the sprightly and soft-spoken 66-year-old came to Chandigarh from Hisar in search of a better life. He learned carpentry and in 1993-94, decided to set up shop in the furniture market, which, according to the administration, was opened on encroached land. It's a charge he is quick to refute. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo "We did not encroach on any land. This market was already here when the land was acquired," he asserted, his hand trembling slightly as he poured himself a cup of tea from a steaming kettle. According to Narinder, those who opened shops here paid rent to the original landowners of Badheri village and were "lessees". "A lifetime has passed. If they evict us now, I don't know what we will do," he said, solemnly sipping his tea. "Its not just the shopkeepers," said Bhupinder Singh, an elderly man sitting with Narinder. The resident of Sector 118, Mohali, supplies raw material for furniture making. His clientele is mostly from the Sector 53 market. "There are 116 shops here and on an average, 10 workers to each shop. Besides there are people like me, whose businesses are allied to theirs. What will become of us?" he wondered aloud. The question drew a troubled sigh from Lovedeep Singh, 34, who owns the neighbouring shop which was opened by his grandfather in 1985. "I joined the business at 19. This is my whole life," he said. "It's not that the administration did not propose an alternative but we were told that an open auction would be held for slots at the bulk market. We don't want an open auction as it would leave the field open to bidders with more money and more resources than us. Where would that leave us?" he asked. He also pointed out that the shopkeepers here had GST numbers and paid taxes. Market association president Saneev Bhandari said that the Chandigarh administration issued a notice about acquisition of the land for development of phase 3 of sectors 53, 54 and 55. The traders moved Punjab and Haryana high court and secured a stay on demolition in 1992. In 2024, the UT decided to offer them shops on leasehold basis in the bulk market. The shops were to be auctioned. "We are willing to leave but we want the administration to keep its promise of rehabilitation and we want the entire market to be moved. No one should be left behind. We want to survive together," he said, adding that they had been repeatedly meeting politicians and the UT administrator, seeking redress. "What will we do if we are thrown out on the road? We took loans when we were assured of being rehabilitated. How will we repay the loans? At this stage, how will we survive," he said. The forlorn expression was quickly replaced by one of quiet confidence. He gestured towards a picture of Goddess Durga on the shelf and said, "Mata rani dekh rahi hain, yehi karengi. Humne kuch galat nai kiya hai." The market's troubled past --In 1985, a few furniture shops began operating informally on the land --Over the next 30 years, the area evolved into a thriving furniture market but lacked legal authorisation --The land was officially acquired by the Chandigarh administration in 2002 and original landowners were compensated --Present shopkeepers at the market maintain that they had been paying rent to the original landowners and were already there when the administration acquired the land Legal action --In September 2023, the Punjab and Haryana high court dismissed all petitions by shopkeepers, affirming UT's right to reclaim the land What shopkeepers want --Shopkeepers at the market say that they are willing to leave but want to be relocated to the new bulk market --They say that they have been earning a livelihood here for a long time, with many shops being run by second and third generation descendants of the original settlers --They maintain that they pay substantial GST and other taxes
Time of India
03-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
85 of 730 protected forest areas cleared of illegal buildings in Faridabad Aravalis
Gurgaon: Of the 730 forest areas in Faridabad Aravalis, which are protected under Section 4 (special orders) of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), around 85 have been cleared of encroachments. "Demolition drives, which started on June 11, were carried out at 85 locations that were identified during the survey," said a senior forest official. PLPA bars activities such as construction, encroachment and tree felling in forest areas. "We are now focusing on bigger structures like farmhouses. We faced resistance at some locations, and two FIRs were lodged against people for damaging earthmovers and injuring people," he said. The SC, in July 2022, had ruled that all Aravali land protected under PLPA (special orders) should be treated as forest, with provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, and any illegal buildings or structures should be demolished. More than 5,000 notices warning of demolition have been served to property owners across Faridabad as part of the intensified crackdown on illegal structures in protected forest areas and Aravali land. 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 The action is being carried out jointly by the forest department and the district administration with six earthmovers and bulldozers currently in operation. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Despite clear directives, Haryana had not completed the task and razed some 30 structures in four villages of Faridabad since the 2022 ruling. A ground-truthing exercise conducted by Haryana govt in Dec 2023 found 6,793 unauthorised structures built on protected land in the four villages. The exercise found 5,948 unauthorised structures in Anangpur village alone, while 339 such structures were found in Ankhir, 313 in Lakkarpur, and 193 in Mewla Maharajpur. Most of these structures are farmhouses and banquet halls. The SC judgment — in the Narinder Singh vs Divesh Bhutani case — was based on appeals filed by property owners against a 2013 order of National Green Tribunal (NGT), which restrained any non-forest activities on PLPA-notified land in Anangpur village. Another appeal that was clubbed in the case was a petition against a notice to remove illegal farmhouses and banquet halls on forest lands in Anangpur, Ankhir, and Mewla Maharajpur. PLPA, enacted in 1990 to preserve forest land, is currently applicable in 10 districts of Haryana — Panchkula, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Nuh, Gurgaon, Palwal, Faridabad, Mahendergarh, Rewari and Bhiwani.
Indian Express
29-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
From Dubai's highways to Punjab's orchards: ‘Farming not just a livelihood, it's a fulfilling life'
After spending 14 years as a heavy truck driver in Dubai, Narinder Singh, 51, returned to his roots in Punjab in 2010 — not due to financial hardship, but because his aging parents and family wanted him back home. In 2011, he began farming on his family's six-acre ancestral land in his native village Jharh Sahib of Punjab's Ludhiana district. He later expanded operations to eight acres by leasing two more. What began as a traditional farming and dairy venture has now evolved into a diversified agricultural model integrating fruit orchards, agroforestry, intercropping, drip irrigation, polyhouse cultivation, and zero stubble burning. He didn't stop here but also set up his own bio-fertiliser manufacturing unit, which has the potential to generate cooking gas. Narinder, who has studied up to Class 12, takes pride in not relying on a tractor for cultivation on almost his entire six-acre base. His self-sufficient fertiliser unit means he remains unaffected by the common shortage of urea and DAP that trouble most farmers in the state. 'Along with tradtional farming, I started dairy farming in 2011. At one point, we had 35 to 40 cattle head, including buffaloes,' Narinder recalls. 'Now I keep only six–seven of them, as my focus has shifted more towards farming and horticulture.' His current setup includes 1.5 acres of guava orchards with Hisar Safeda and Taiwan Pink varieties, and 0.5 acres of Anna variety apples, which he is growing on a trial basis. On these two acres, he practises intercropping by growing turmeric and ginger between the rows of fruit trees. 'My guava and apple orchards are planted on raised beds — 21 or 22 of them — with a spacing of 12×12 ft between rows. For guava, we maintain 6×6 ft spacing between plants, while for apples it's 12×12 ft,' he explains. 'We prune the trees twice a year to maintain a height of four–five feet, which improves fruiting and makes intercropping easier.' 'We harvest guava twice a year — once from mid-July to August and again in November–December, when prices are higher,' he says. 'After the first year, which requires the highest investment of around Rs 70,000 to 80,000 per acre due to the cost of plants and labour, the recurring costs are low. Guava trees yield around 10 kg per plant in the first year and up to 20–25 kg in subsequent years. With around 600 plants per acre, the returns multiply quickly.' 'I have planted around 900 guava plants in 1.5 acres, and each plant yields about 20 to 25 kg of fruit. I could get more, but that would compromise the quality. Even at the minimum wholesale rate of ₹25–30 per kg — and going up to ₹50–60 per kg — a single tree earns about ₹500 on average with minimum average price while maximum could go up to Rs 800 to 900. From 900 trees, one can easily earn around ₹4.5 lakh per season. Since the orchard bears fruit twice a year, I earn approximately ₹6 lakh per acre annually from guava, after covering all expenses. Intercropping turmeric adds another ₹50,000 to my income from the same land. I also intercrop ginger, but currently use it as seed to expand its area,' says Singh, adding that guava trees would require replacement after around 25 years. He has dedicated three acres to poplar plantations, intercropped with maize and wheat during the first two years. 'In one acre, around 370 poplar trees are planted. By the fourth year, each tree weighs between 2.25 and 2.5 quintals. At the current market rate of ₹1,200 per quintal, each tree sells for ₹2,300–3,000. So, 370 trees can fetch between ₹8.5 and 11 lakh, which translates to an annual income of ₹2 to 2.75 lakh per acre over four years. Intercropping maize (June–October) and wheat (November to April) in the first two years adds another ₹35,000 to ₹40,000 per acre after covering input costs.' He has also allocated 0.5 acre for fodder cultivation for his cattle. A single one-kanal polyhouse (1/8th of an acre) gives him an annual net return of ₹50,000–60,000 from summer and winter vegetables — three crops a year. 'This is more than what one earns from wheat and paddy on a full acre,' he added. His 5.6 acres of orchards, agroforestry, and the polyhouse are equipped with drip irrigation and sprinklers, significantly saving water. 'I have never used a tractor on this land — everything is done manually,' he says, adding that he had even grown banana orchard in Punjab successfully. On the remaining two acres, he practises crop rotation: Basmati rice (June–October), potatoes (October–February), and spring maize (February–June). One of Narinder's proudest innovations is his 30×10 ft bio-fertiliser unit — an aerobic system that produces liquid manure and even has the potential to generate cooking gas. 'I collect cow dung, cattle urine, green manure like moringa and pruned guava leaves, weeds of field, leftover buttermilk (lassi), and jaggery. This is stored in a 5,000-litre bag. The first fermentation cycle takes two months, after which we get 100 litres of bio-fertiliser every second day.' This liquid can be applied via drip irrigation or foliar spray, depending on crop age. 'It's like IV fluid for crops,' he says, comparing its effect to intravenous therapy in humans. The cost of the unit? Just ₹30,000 initially, with a lifespan of 7 to 10 years. Narinder learned to build and operate it through YouTube and company guidance. 'Now I hardly use any urea or DAP,' he adds. For his sustainable farming practices, Narinder has received multiple recognitions, including the District-Level Award on Republic Day — twice — for managing crop residue without burning, instead incorporating it into the soil or using it to make bio-fertiliser at his unit. He was also honoured with the Rattan-E-Baghbani Award by the Punjab government in 2021. 'When I left Dubai, I never imagined I'd find such purpose in the soil of my village,' he says with quiet pride. 'But today, I'm convinced that farming — if done right — is not just a livelihood, it's a fulfilling life.'
