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Gurpreet Singh

Articles by Gurpreet Singh

Dam Safety Act attack on Punjab’s rights, must be annulled: Resolution

The row over water sharing erupted after AAP-ruled Punjab refused to release more water to BJP-ruled Haryana, claiming the latter has “already used 103% of its allocated share of water by March”.

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann addressing the House during the one-day special session on Monday. (Ravi Kumar/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on May 06, 2025 09:14 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab resolves not to give a drop of water from its share to Haryana

Amid a stand-off over water-sharing between Punjab and Haryana, the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab moved a resolution in the state assembly on Monday, vowing not to share any additional water with Haryana

Chandigarh

Published on May 06, 2025 08:54 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Ravinder Vasudeva

{Water-sharing row} House to pass resolution to safeguard Punjab’s interests at special session

Officials aware of the matter said the resolution is also expected to demand appointment of officials/engineers from Punjab on the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in the proportion decided in the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966.

The Punjab government on Saturday boycotted the BBMB meeting on the water-sharing row (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on May 04, 2025 10:47 PM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab, Haryana dig in as water row intensifies

Even as Punjab officials boycotted the BBMB meeting, state police continued to control the Bhakra headworks at Nangal, prompting the board to demand their removal and restoration of dam control

The Saturday meeting, chaired by BBMB chairman Manoj Tripathi, was attended by representatives from Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh to discuss modalities for releasing extra water to Haryana (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on May 04, 2025 12:03 PM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Hitender Rao, Chandigarh

Punjab, Haryana dig in as water row intensifies

Even as Punjab officials boycotted the BBMB meeting, state police continued to control the Bhakra headworks at Nangal.

The water-sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana intensified as Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann refused to release additional water to the neighbouring state.(HT_PRINT)

India News

Updated on May 04, 2025 04:52 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Hitender Rao

Punjab officer divested of key charge: BBMB sees unprecedented ‘parochial’ division

Punjab officer Akashdeep said he acted according to the BBMB’s manual of operation and maintenance of the Nangal Dam and Nangal channel.

Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) oversees water distribution from the Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar dams

Chandigarh

Published on May 03, 2025 09:08 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

HT Explainer: Why Punjab & Haryana are sparring over water-sharing again

Since Punjab and Haryana are preparing for kharif sowing, they approached the BBMB with a demand for increased allocation.

Punjab irrigation officials maintain that Haryana has exhausted its water share, utilising 104% water, for the current accounting season (September 22, 2024, to May 20, 2025). (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on May 02, 2025 06:00 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

BBMB directs Punjab to release 8,500 cusecs water to Hry despite objections

Officials from Rajasthan, Centre support Haryana’s demand; Punjab officials walk out of meeting by giving dissent note

The BBMB, which regulates water distribution from the Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar Dams, insisted that the supply to Haryana was “unavoidable”, triggering sharp resistance from Punjab’s irrigation department. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on May 01, 2025 05:44 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Record 22 Punjabis elected to House of Commons in Canada

Prominent Liberal Party winners include Anita Anand from Oakville East, Bardish Chagger from Waterloo and Ruby Sahota from Brampton North, while Amarjeet Gill of the Conservative Party defeated sitting minister Kamal Khera from Brampton West

Amarjeet Gill of the Conservative Party won from Brampton West

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 30, 2025 08:52 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab, Haryana lock horns yet again over Bhakra waters

Punjab caps allocation of Bhakra water to Haryana at 4,000 cusecs as against 8,500 cusecs decided by BBMB technical committee

The reduced water supply would affect Hisar, Sirsa and Fatehabad districts of Haryana. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 30, 2025 07:14 AM IST

ByHitender Rao /Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Release market fee accrual, RDF: Punjab to Centre

The state has been seeking a market fee at 3% and according to data, an amount of ₹1,100 crore is pending market with the Centre. The pendency is since 2021.

Labourers work at a grain market during wheat crop procurement season, in Patiala. (PTI File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 29, 2025 09:10 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab: 102 lakh tonne reaches mandis, nearly 60% awaits lifting

A sudden spurt in arrivals due to later harvesting has left authorities struggling to evacuate nearly 60 lakh tonnes of produce; the state government has arranged to store about 30 lakh tonnes of freshly procured grain on the premises of rice mills

Workers unload wheat sacks from a truck at the Ludhiana grain market on Monday. (Gurpreet Singh/ HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 28, 2025 08:12 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab: Unavailability of gravel a roadblock to rural roads’ project, say contractors

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann orders review of road specifications after contractors say that these don’t meet current traffic needs

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and cabinet ministers Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Harbhajan Singh ETO were present at the forum where road contractors were invited to air their grievances. (ANI)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 24, 2025 07:28 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab revenue officials given back property registration work

Punjab government also reshuffled entire revenue staff across the state and now the state government is pondering over rationalising their posting. After the withdrawal of the said work, they were left with law and order duties and general work such as issuance of certificates and registration of marriages.

The revenue department, Punjab, has handed over the work of registries and mutation of properties back to tehsildars and naib-tehsildars. The powers were withdrawn after mass protests by the revenue officials in March. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/ Representational image)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 22, 2025 06:22 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab: Jump in PUSA-44 acreage can lead to spike in farm fires, warn experts

The variety needs more irrigation cycles, leading to a consumption of 20% more groundwater; it produces 20-25% more residue and if burnt after the harvest in the October-November months, it will produce a higher quantity of smoke

Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution in the National Capital Region in October and November. (SPicture only for representational purpose)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 17, 2025 09:14 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab’s early paddy sowing decision a step towards ecological disaster: Experts

Say it undermines years of effort to conserve groundwater; will increase water consumption during peak summer months, exacerbating state’s already dire water crisis

According to former PAU vice-chancellor BS Dhillon, the government decision will push Punjab back into the path of ecological disaster which the state has been trying to avert for the past many years.

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 11, 2025 07:36 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab: Akali Dal delegate session on April 12 to elect new president

The turmoil within SAD, which was already battling diminishing electoral returns post the 2015 sacrilege incidents, deepened when Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had been declared ‘tankhaya’ (guilty of religious misconduct), resigned from the president post on November 16.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema addressing mediapersons.

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 09, 2025 09:42 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Early sowing may push water-guzzling PUSA-44’s acreage, warn experts

Despite being discontinued, the farmers are opting for the long-duration higher yield variety with the state advancing the transplantation date to June 1

To start the transplantation of paddy saplings the farmers would start making setting nurseries from May 1. In the state, paddy is sown over nearly 30 lakh hectares (75 lakh acres). (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 08, 2025 08:52 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

‘Groundwater distress’: Experts not in favour of paddy sowing from June 1 in Punjab

Though an official notification has not been issued so far, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s recent announcements at public forums give credence to the early sowing

Aam Aadmi Party started the practice of staggering paddy transplantation, which used to start on June 13, keeping in view the needs, seasons impacting Doaba, Majha and Malwa regions (AFP File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 07, 2025 08:32 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Akali Dal kicks off its organisational polls

In the first phase, to be completed by April 7, 117 assembly constituency-level delegates will be elected

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 03, 2025 09:38 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Procurement starts, Punjab set to procure 124 LMT wheat

Experts predict Punjab's wheat production to reach 190 lakh tonnes, with procurement starting April 1. Ideal conditions led to strong crop growth.

Farmers harvest wheat crop with a combine in a village near Bathinda (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 01, 2025 07:08 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

SAD slams Ayali, Bains for raising jathedar issue in assembly

Education minister Harjot Singh Bains, during Zero Hour on the last day of the assembly, demanded a discussion over the issue.

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 29, 2025 09:50 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab Budget: Agri & allied sectors see 5% growth in allocation, get ₹14,524 cr; boost to maize

Announcing the allocation, Cheema said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will fulfil all genuine demands of the farmers. “Our government has always upheld a farmer-first approach, standing firmly with our farmers in support of their just demands,” he told the House.

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 27, 2025 06:36 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Opposition terms Punjab governor’s address as ‘bundle of lies’

The debate on the governor’s address was concluded by finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema in the absence of chief minister Bhagwant Mann

Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema concluded the debate on the governor’s address in the absence of chief minister Bhagwant Mann. (HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 25, 2025 09:16 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab: Centre, farmers’ talks remain inconclusive, next meeting on May 4

Both sides agreed to take forward the discussions on various demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price on all crops in the next round of talks

Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with Union ministers Pralhad Joshi and Piyush Goyal, addressing mediapersons in Chandigarh on Wednesday. (Keshav Singh/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 20, 2025 07:36 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab farm leaders hold talks with central team in Chandigarh

Union ministers Shivraj Chouhan, Piyush Goyal and Prahlad Joshi meet representatives of Samyukt Kisan Union (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.

Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, food and public distribution minister Prahlad Joshi and industries and commerce minister Piyush Goyal with representatives of the Samyukt Kisan Union (Non-Political) in Chandigarh on Wednesday. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Mar 19, 2025 12:50 PM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber

No pink bollworm-resistant seeds may derail Punjab’s big cotton push plans

Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has asked the department to make efforts for increasing area under the crop and has asked farmers to purchase PAU-certified seeds.

The Punjab government may have been motivating Malwa farmers to expand the area under cotton as the sowing will begin from the first week of April, in the absence of genetically modified Bollgard-III stage of BT seeds resistant to pink bollworm pest, the efforts may yield the desired results. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 19, 2025 05:12 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Akal Takht-appointed panel to start membership drive today

Two members of the committee, including SGPC president and former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar, have since resigned from the committee, and now, five members, including Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Iqbal Singh Jhoondan, Santa Singh Umaidpur and Bibi Satwant Kaur will start the membership drive

Akali leader Gurpartap Singh Wadala (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 18, 2025 09:24 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

SGPC rejects Dhami’s resignation, appeals him to reconsider decision

The executive body of the SGPC held meeting in Chandigarh led by senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk. So far, Dhami has not accepted the appeal, as he would take any decision reportedly after talking to the party high command.

The executive body of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) held on Monday rejected the resignation tendered by committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami on February 17. The committee appealed to Dhami to resume charge and met him at his residence in Hoshiarpur. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 18, 2025 09:14 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Harpreet Kaur, Chandigarh/ Hoshiarpur

In Hola Mohalla address, Giani Gargaj urges Sikhs to unite, announces Panthic Lehar

Three-day Hola Mohalla celebrations at Takht Kesgarh Sahib conclude peacefully with nihangs taking out traditional procession.

Newly installed Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj (centre), who was also recently appointed acting jathedar of Akal Takht, on Saturday reiterated his appeal for the Sikh community to unite. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Mar 15, 2025 03:03 PM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber

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Gurpreet Singh

The row over water sharing erupted after AAP-ruled Punjab refused to release more water to BJP-ruled Haryana, claiming the latter has “already used 103% of its allocated share of water by March”.

Amid a stand-off over water-sharing between Punjab and Haryana, the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab moved a resolution in the state assembly on Monday, vowing not to share any additional water with Haryana

Officials aware of the matter said the resolution is also expected to demand appointment of officials/engineers from Punjab on the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in the proportion decided in the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966.

Even as Punjab officials boycotted the BBMB meeting, state police continued to control the Bhakra headworks at Nangal, prompting the board to demand their removal and restoration of dam control

Even as Punjab officials boycotted the BBMB meeting, state police continued to control the Bhakra headworks at Nangal.

Punjab officer Akashdeep said he acted according to the BBMB’s manual of operation and maintenance of the Nangal Dam and Nangal channel.

Since Punjab and Haryana are preparing for kharif sowing, they approached the BBMB with a demand for increased allocation.

Officials from Rajasthan, Centre support Haryana’s demand; Punjab officials walk out of meeting by giving dissent note

Prominent Liberal Party winners include Anita Anand from Oakville East, Bardish Chagger from Waterloo and Ruby Sahota from Brampton North, while Amarjeet Gill of the Conservative Party defeated sitting minister Kamal Khera from Brampton West

Punjab caps allocation of Bhakra water to Haryana at 4,000 cusecs as against 8,500 cusecs decided by BBMB technical committee

The state has been seeking a market fee at 3% and according to data, an amount of ₹1,100 crore is pending market with the Centre. The pendency is since 2021.

A sudden spurt in arrivals due to later harvesting has left authorities struggling to evacuate nearly 60 lakh tonnes of produce; the state government has arranged to store about 30 lakh tonnes of freshly procured grain on the premises of rice mills

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann orders review of road specifications after contractors say that these don’t meet current traffic needs

The variety needs more irrigation cycles, leading to a consumption of 20% more groundwater; it produces 20-25% more residue and if burnt after the harvest in the October-November months, it will produce a higher quantity of smoke

Say it undermines years of effort to conserve groundwater; will increase water consumption during peak summer months, exacerbating state’s already dire water crisis

The turmoil within SAD, which was already battling diminishing electoral returns post the 2015 sacrilege incidents, deepened when Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had been declared ‘tankhaya’ (guilty of religious misconduct), resigned from the president post on November 16.

Despite being discontinued, the farmers are opting for the long-duration higher yield variety with the state advancing the transplantation date to June 1

Though an official notification has not been issued so far, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s recent announcements at public forums give credence to the early sowing

In the first phase, to be completed by April 7, 117 assembly constituency-level delegates will be elected

Experts predict Punjab's wheat production to reach 190 lakh tonnes, with procurement starting April 1. Ideal conditions led to strong crop growth.

Education minister Harjot Singh Bains, during Zero Hour on the last day of the assembly, demanded a discussion over the issue.

Announcing the allocation, Cheema said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will fulfil all genuine demands of the farmers. “Our government has always upheld a farmer-first approach, standing firmly with our farmers in support of their just demands,” he told the House.

The debate on the governor’s address was concluded by finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema in the absence of chief minister Bhagwant Mann

Both sides agreed to take forward the discussions on various demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price on all crops in the next round of talks

Union ministers Shivraj Chouhan, Piyush Goyal and Prahlad Joshi meet representatives of Samyukt Kisan Union (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.

Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has asked the department to make efforts for increasing area under the crop and has asked farmers to purchase PAU-certified seeds.

The executive body of the SGPC held meeting in Chandigarh led by senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk. So far, Dhami has not accepted the appeal, as he would take any decision reportedly after talking to the party high command.

Three-day Hola Mohalla celebrations at Takht Kesgarh Sahib conclude peacefully with nihangs taking out traditional procession.

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