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Gurpreet Singh Nibber

Gurpreet Singh Nibber is an Assistant Editor with the Punjab bureau. He covers politics, agriculture, power sector, environment, Sikh religious affairs and the Punjabi diaspora.

Articles by Gurpreet Singh Nibber

Under pressure to check farm fires, Punjab sets action plan in motion

Punjab's agriculture department is delivering 21,000 subsidized CRM machines, worth ₹500 crore, to farmers for stubble management ahead of the kharif season.

Punjab government is facilitating industrial houses and entrepreneurs to import big bailers to collect paddy stubble on a large scale and use it as fuel in boilers to give a big push to the ex-situ management (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 28, 2024 05:40 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Pearls Group chief Bhangoo passes away

Bhangoo was arrested in 2016 after a case was made up by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Punjab Agro Company Limited (PACL), a subsidiary of the Pearls Group, and its chief (Bhangoo) in connection with a Ponzi scam involving over ₹49,100 crore, collected from 5.5 crore investors.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 26, 2024 10:43 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Akali rebels constitute 51-member advisory panel to steer ‘sudhar lehar’

The committee will comprise of panthic leaders who have a grip over Sikh ethos, ideology, have leadership among the masses and possess clout among the people of Punjab, said ‘sudhar lehar’ convener Gurpartap Singh Wadala

Chandigarh

Published on Aug 26, 2024 10:15 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Grains brim Punjab godowns, agencies battle space crunch

With 192 lakh tonnes foodgrains already stored in state, there is no space to keep around 185 lakh tonnes of paddy which will start arriving in mandis from Oct 1

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 24, 2024 07:02 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Fall in basmati prices has farmers worried

Market trends show that the rates of freshly harvested 1509 basmati variety, which has arrived in some mandis of Punjab’s Majha belt, is fetching ₹2,400 to ₹2,500 per quintal, which was around ₹4,500 per quintal in the last season.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 21, 2024 08:52 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber

SAD, radicals to hold political conferences on Rakhar Punya

The supporters of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will hold political conferences at Baba Bakala in Amritsar on August 19 to mark ‘Rakhar Punya’ a socio-religious event celebrated in the fervour in Majha belt of Punjab.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 17, 2024 06:38 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

2-term Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Sukhwinder Sukhi joins AAP

With this Akali Dal is left with two MLAs in the 117-member Punjab assembly—Manpreet Singh Ayali and Ganieve Kaur Majithia

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 15, 2024 05:36 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab seeks nod to BG-3 GM cotton seeds to check pest attacks

Officials of the Punjab agriculture department fear that in case timely corrective steps were not taken, growers might completely stop growing cotton and shift to water-guzzler paddy, which is an environmental hazard as it leads to fall in subsoil water level.

Owing to a drastic fall in the area under cotton in Punjab, growers and the state government have sought the next generation BG-3 (stage-III of genetically modified) cotton seeds to fight pink bollworm and whitefly, which are causing heavy losses to the crop over the past few years. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 15, 2024 05:16 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Punjab: Two-time SAD MLA Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi joins AAP in Chandigarh

Known to be a loyalist of Sukhbir Singh Badal, his exit comes at a time when the SAD president is battling rebellion in the party.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 14, 2024 04:51 PM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber

Ease norms or won’t sign contracts: Punjab rice millers to Pungrain

Millers fear losses and say the new paddy varieties give only 62% of rice which is less than the govt norms

As per the data available, the state also has no space of its own to store rice and will depend on the storage space available with the rice mills. The government prefers to keep paddy stored with the millers and allows them to shell paddy when space in government godowns falls vacant.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 13, 2024 09:48 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Akali Dal starts process to induct 110 delegates

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will shortly induct 110 fresh faces to its list of delegates, a move seen as strengthening the party set up in the face of rebellion by a section of senior leaders.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 09, 2024 06:36 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Sukhbir reconstitutes core panel, inducts 23 members

SAD appoints Harsimrat and chiefs of youth, women, legal wings as ex-officio members of top decision-making body of party

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 05, 2024 08:12 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Area under maize, direct seeded rice up in Punjab

The area under maize sees 30% rise and that under the direct seeded rice marks an increase by 44% across the state.

The acreage sown using the water-conserving DSR technique has risen to over 2.48 lakh acres, up from 1.72 lakh acres during the kharif season of 2023.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 05, 2024 06:16 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Akali Dal rebel group rejects expulsion of eight leaders

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) rebel group on Wednesday rejected the expulsion of eight leaders who have launched a tirade against party president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 01, 2024 05:50 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Sukhbir Badal cracks whip, expels 8 rebel Akali Dal leaders

The action came a day after the rebel leaders announced a 13-member praesidium to strengthen the ‘Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar (Shiromani Akali Dal reform movement)’.

Former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra is among the prominent eight Akali Dal leaders who have been shown the door by the party.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 31, 2024 07:24 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

At 1.17 lakh hectares, area under maize sees 24% rise

2 lakh hectares await sowing and the agriculture department is focusing on this area to bring more portion under the maize crop.

A sum of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>289 crore has been sanctioned for the crop diversification plan for which the state will contribute 40% and the Centre 60%.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 30, 2024 08:46 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

SAD rebels announce 13-member presidium to steer reform campaign

Rebel Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders on Monday announced a 13-member presidium to work with the convener of ‘Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar’ (reforms movement) Gurpartap Singh Wadala

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 30, 2024 08:34 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber

Loan repayment, no RDF a double whammy for cash-strapped Punjab mandi board

The board, which oversees the expenditure of RDF, hasn’t received funds from Centre since 2021 and is also repaying loans raised by previous Congress govt

The Centre stopped the release of funds in 2021 asking the state to amend seeking specific provisions regarding the use of accruals

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 26, 2024 08:36 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Ravinder Vasudeva, Chandigarh

Facing rebellion, Sukhbir dissolves SAD core panel

Shiromani Akali Dal’s senior vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema says the core committee will be recast shortly, hinting at the ouster of rebels who have asked Sukhbir to step down as the party chief and announced to launch the “Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar lehar” to “resuscitate” the outfit.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 24, 2024 05:20 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber

Raw deal for agri sector: Stakeholders

According to stakeholders, outlay for agriculture is too meagre and there is no mention of legal guarantee for MSP.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal), has termed it a “weak budget by a weak government”.

Chandigarh

Published on Jul 23, 2024 10:57 PM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

SAD rebels to name 11-member panel to steer reform campaign

The rebel leaders are demanding the resignation of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal after a poor show in the Lok Sabha polls

The rebel voices in SAD grew stronger post the Parliamentary polls in which the party won one seat in Bathinda and lost deposits on 10 seats

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 23, 2024 09:28 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Crop diversification: Punjab to target 3 lakh hectares for

The farmers opting for alternate crops like maize this kharif season will be given an incentive of ₹17,500 per hectare

Farmers plant paddy saplings in a field. (PTI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 22, 2024 08:08 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Takht summons to Sukhbir: Party leaders preparing ‘justifiable’ reply

Sukhbir was the deputy CM and also held the charge as the state’s home minister and has been asked by the Akal Takht to appear before it and submit a reply within 15 days.

Sukhbir Singh Badal was the deputy CM and also held the charge as the state’s home minister and has been asked by the Akal Takht to appear before it and submit a reply within 15 days. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 21, 2024 06:54 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

{Takht summons to Sukhbir} Party leaders preparing ‘justifiable’ reply

The highest temporal seat of the Sikhs – Akal Takht — summoned party president Sukhbir Singh Badal asking him to submit a written reply to the alleged “mistakes” committed during two terms of the SAD-BJP government (2007-17).

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 20, 2024 05:20 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

‘No BJP connect, vying for regaining foothold’

Gurpartap Singh Wadala, who has been formally announced to lead the rebel group of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as convener of the ‘Akali Dal bachao lehar’, has said efforts will be made to inspire youth to bring them into the party fold. In an interview with HT, he clarifies that the group has no connection with the BJP.

Gurpartap singh WadalaShiromani Akali Dal (Rebel) along with other leaders during the Press conference at People convention center in sector 36 Chandigarh on Monday. (Ravi Kumar/Hindustan Times)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 16, 2024 07:28 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

SAD rebels up ante against Sukhbir, launch ‘Akali Dal Bachao Lehar’

Rebel SAD leaders appoint Gurpartap Singh Wadala to lead 'Akali Dal Bachao Lehar', launch mass contact program amidst existential crisis.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 16, 2024 07:14 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Paddy under DSR system far from target this time too

The paddy sowing process is almost over whereas only 2.25 lakh acres are under the DSR technique against the target of 7 lakh acres.

The reason behind the dismal results is the easy availability of labourers and canal water, says Punjab Agricultural University vice-chancellor SS Gosal.

Chandigarh

Published on Jul 14, 2024 10:40 PM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

To curb farm fires, govt to provide imported balers on subsidy

65% subsidy will be provided to industrial units for purchase of European baler while up to 80% subsidy will be for farmer groups, cooperative societies and individuals for small baler

Out of Central government-funded <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>500 crore scheme for management of stubble, Punjab’s contribution will be <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>200 crore.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 13, 2024 08:30 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

Wadala to be convener as SAD rebels firm up plans to revive party

SAD rebel group forms panel led by Gurpartap Singh Wadala to revitalize party. Plans include outreach to Sikh masses, rallies, and honoring past leaders.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 09, 2024 08:08 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

10 Sikh MPs make it to UK Parliament

With a total of 26 Indian-origin members, apart from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority lawmakers, this is Britain’s most ethnically diverse Parliament so far, according to an analysis by British Future, a think tank.

Prominent among the Sikhs elected to the House of Commons is Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, 46, who has roots in Jalandhar, Punjab. He has been elected from Slough constituency for the third time in a row. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 06, 2024 08:02 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

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Gurpreet Singh Nibber

Gurpreet Singh Nibber is an Assistant Editor with the Punjab bureau. He covers politics, agriculture, power sector, environment, Sikh religious affairs and the Punjabi diaspora.

Punjab's agriculture department is delivering 21,000 subsidized CRM machines, worth ₹500 crore, to farmers for stubble management ahead of the kharif season.

The committee will comprise of panthic leaders who have a grip over Sikh ethos, ideology, have leadership among the masses and possess clout among the people of Punjab, said ‘sudhar lehar’ convener Gurpartap Singh Wadala

With 192 lakh tonnes foodgrains already stored in state, there is no space to keep around 185 lakh tonnes of paddy which will start arriving in mandis from Oct 1

Market trends show that the rates of freshly harvested 1509 basmati variety, which has arrived in some mandis of Punjab’s Majha belt, is fetching ₹2,400 to ₹2,500 per quintal, which was around ₹4,500 per quintal in the last season.

The supporters of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will hold political conferences at Baba Bakala in Amritsar on August 19 to mark ‘Rakhar Punya’ a socio-religious event celebrated in the fervour in Majha belt of Punjab.

With this Akali Dal is left with two MLAs in the 117-member Punjab assembly—Manpreet Singh Ayali and Ganieve Kaur Majithia

Officials of the Punjab agriculture department fear that in case timely corrective steps were not taken, growers might completely stop growing cotton and shift to water-guzzler paddy, which is an environmental hazard as it leads to fall in subsoil water level.

Known to be a loyalist of Sukhbir Singh Badal, his exit comes at a time when the SAD president is battling rebellion in the party.

Millers fear losses and say the new paddy varieties give only 62% of rice which is less than the govt norms

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will shortly induct 110 fresh faces to its list of delegates, a move seen as strengthening the party set up in the face of rebellion by a section of senior leaders.

SAD appoints Harsimrat and chiefs of youth, women, legal wings as ex-officio members of top decision-making body of party

The area under maize sees 30% rise and that under the direct seeded rice marks an increase by 44% across the state.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) rebel group on Wednesday rejected the expulsion of eight leaders who have launched a tirade against party president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The action came a day after the rebel leaders announced a 13-member praesidium to strengthen the ‘Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar (Shiromani Akali Dal reform movement)’.

2 lakh hectares await sowing and the agriculture department is focusing on this area to bring more portion under the maize crop.

Rebel Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders on Monday announced a 13-member presidium to work with the convener of ‘Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar’ (reforms movement) Gurpartap Singh Wadala

The board, which oversees the expenditure of RDF, hasn’t received funds from Centre since 2021 and is also repaying loans raised by previous Congress govt

According to stakeholders, outlay for agriculture is too meagre and there is no mention of legal guarantee for MSP.

The rebel leaders are demanding the resignation of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal after a poor show in the Lok Sabha polls

The farmers opting for alternate crops like maize this kharif season will be given an incentive of ₹17,500 per hectare

Sukhbir was the deputy CM and also held the charge as the state’s home minister and has been asked by the Akal Takht to appear before it and submit a reply within 15 days.

The highest temporal seat of the Sikhs – Akal Takht — summoned party president Sukhbir Singh Badal asking him to submit a written reply to the alleged “mistakes” committed during two terms of the SAD-BJP government (2007-17).

Rebel SAD leaders appoint Gurpartap Singh Wadala to lead 'Akali Dal Bachao Lehar', launch mass contact program amidst existential crisis.

The paddy sowing process is almost over whereas only 2.25 lakh acres are under the DSR technique against the target of 7 lakh acres.

65% subsidy will be provided to industrial units for purchase of European baler while up to 80% subsidy will be for farmer groups, cooperative societies and individuals for small baler

SAD rebel group forms panel led by Gurpartap Singh Wadala to revitalize party. Plans include outreach to Sikh masses, rallies, and honoring past leaders.

With a total of 26 Indian-origin members, apart from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority lawmakers, this is Britain’s most ethnically diverse Parliament so far, according to an analysis by British Future, a think tank.

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