117 blocks face severe groundwater crisis: Punjab Minister

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Chandigarh, Feb 20 (IANS) Saying 117 blocks in Punjab face a severe groundwater crisis, state Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Friday unveiled NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development)’s State Focus Paper for 2026-27 at the State Credit Seminar organised by the NABARD in Mohali, near here.

He outlined a credit roadmap for the state’s growth across agriculture, MSMEs, infrastructure, renewable energy, and social sectors.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Cheema said, “NABARD has played a significant role in strengthening Punjab’s economy and accelerating development across key sectors. Through various lending and credit schemes, it has supported growth in agriculture, education, and social sectors in the state.”

The Finance Minister said that the State Focus Paper projects a total priority sector credit potential of Rs 3,08,66,614 lakh for Punjab.

“The projections cover farm credit, agriculture infrastructure, allied and ancillary activities, micro, small and medium enterprises, export credit, education, housing, social infrastructure, renewable energy, and other sectors. This comprehensive roadmap will help align institutional credit with the state’s developmental priorities,” he said.

Highlighting the state’s historic contribution to national food security, Minister Cheema said, “Punjab has played a pivotal role in making the country self-reliant in food production. However, this contribution has come at a cost, particularly in the form of depletion of groundwater resources. Today, 117 out of 151 blocks in Punjab have been declared dark zones due to over-extraction of groundwater.”

Referring to initiatives of the Bhagwant Mann government, minister Cheema said, “Our government is actively promoting canal irrigation and constructing small water channels, known as ‘khalas’, to farmers’ fields to restore groundwater levels. Crop diversification is essential for conserving water resources, and we urge NABARD to extend greater support towards such initiatives.”

Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to ensuring a trader- and investor-friendly environment, Minister Cheema said, “A meeting of top police officials, including district heads, was recently held with the Punjab State Traders’ Commission to send a strong message to anti-social elements and to ensure a secure and stable business climate in the state.”

–IANS

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He also said that Assam has positioned itself as one of the five fastest growing states in the country.

Sarma said, “We are consistently clocking growth rates of 14-15 per cent, which is much more than the national growth of 9-10 per cent. Assam is one of the 5 fastest growing States of the country and the resounding success of Advantage Assam 2.0 speaks volumes about our growth journey.”

Earlier, CM Sarma said that Assam has registered a significant growth in mutual funds in the last five years.

According to him, at least 159 per cent rise in mutual funds in Assam was noticed during the last five years where the investment rose from Rs 11,298 crore to Rs 29,268 crore.

Sarma also claimed that the state has significantly contributed to the growth story of India.

The Chief Minister said, “A mammoth 159 per cent growth of Mutual Funds in Assam in the last 5 years, from Rs 11,298 cr to Rs. 29,268 cr, speaks volumes about the India Growth Story; the trust people of Assam have in our markets and the rise in the incomes of our people.”

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He claimed that the northeast’s newfound emotional ties to the rest of the nation, forged under Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led administration, have inspired residents to make even more contributions to the development of the country.

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–IANS

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K’taka police station attack case: Maulvi, who delivered hate speech, held

Bengaluru, Feb 20 (IANS) An Islamic religious teacher, who delivered hate speech provoking the mob to attack a police station in Mysuru city over an objectionable social media post on the Aam Aadmi Party’s debacle in the Delhi Assembly elections, was arrested on Thursday.

The maulvi has been identified as Mufti Mustaq Maqbooli.

Maqbooli was arrested by the special wing City Central Crime Branch (CCB), 11 days after the incident.

The police have got Maqbooli’s video clip, which has gone viral and is seen making highly provoking statements.

The accused Satish aka Panduranga, a resident of Kalyannagar in Mysuru, had put up a post ridiculing Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, former Chief Ministers Akhilesh Yadav and Arvind Kejriwal. The accused further made provocative communal statements against a particular religious group. The post went viral on social media.

A group belonging to the minority community gathered in front of the Udayagiri Police Station demanding action against the accused person.

Although the police tried to pacify the crowd and even roped in religious leaders who requested them to calm down, the situation turned violent and the crowd started pelting stones on the police station. The mob also attacked the official vehicle of the DCP.

They raised slogans and when the situation went out of control, the police resorted to lathi-charge.

Additional police forces were summoned and the senior police officers along with local political leaders appealed to the crowd and assured them that action would be taken against the accused person. They somehow managed to convince the mob to withdraw the protest.

Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi had strongly condemned the attack on police officers in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s hometown Mysuru, calling it a shocking and unfortunate incident.

“The law and order situation in Karnataka is deteriorating day by day, and the recent incident in Mysuru is clear proof of this. Mysuru is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka and is also the Chief Minister’s hometown. If miscreants are creating chaos even in such a place, it clearly indicates how much the law and order situation has collapsed in the state,” he had said.

He had condemned the violent attack on the Udayagiri police station in Mysuru, where miscreants not only attacked the station but also assaulted police officers. “It is ironic that such riots are happening in the Chief Minister’s town,” he remarked.

–IANS

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Centre rolls out 4 per cent quota in govt housing for persons with disabilities

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“In alignment with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Directorate of Estates has issued an Office Memorandum to ensure fair access to central government residential accommodations for persons with disabilities,” according to an official statement.

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This initiative reflects the government’s dedication to the empowerment of every citizen and also strengthens the foundation of an inclusive and accessible India, the statement added.

The government also runs various schemes, though the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) is a governmental body in India dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities.

Established under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, DEPwD plays a pivotal role in formulating policies, programmes, and initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity, accessibility, and empowerment for persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the nation.

The DEPwD’s mandate encompasses various aspects of disability empowerment, including education, employment, social security, accessibility, and rehabilitation. Through its initiatives, DEPwD strives to enhance opportunities for PWDs to participate actively in societal, economic, and cultural spheres, thereby ensuring their full integration and contribution to national development.

Key initiatives undertaken by DEPwD include the Accessible India Campaign, which aims to create barrier-free environments and promote accessibility in public infrastructure and transportation systems. Additionally, DEPwD oversees the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), which provides a comprehensive legal framework for safeguarding the rights and entitlements of PWDs.

By advocating for inclusive policies, facilitating capacity-building programs, and collaborating with stakeholders at various levels, DEPwD plays a crucial role with the aim of fostering a more equitable and inclusive society by helping persons with disabilities realize their full potential and lead dignified lives.

–IANS

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