News / Author / Vishal Rambani

Vishal Rambani

Vishal Rambani is an assistant editor covering Punjab. A journalist with over a decade of experience, he writes on politics, crime, power sector, environment and socio-economic issues. He has several investigative stories to his credit.

Articles by Vishal Rambani

Foodgrains transportation scam: Vigilance attaches assets of fugitive food, civil supplies ex-deputy director

A Ludhiana court declared RK Singla proclaimed offender and recently allowed the Vigilance Bureau to attach properties under Section 18A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which the probe agency claims were purchased from the ill-gotten money generated via bribes.

The case was registeredon August 16, 2022, against former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, his PA Pankaj Kumar, alias Menu Malhotra, then food and civil supplies deputy director RK Singla, district food and civil supplies controller Rakesh Bhaskar, besides three contractors for committing the fraud and embezzlement to the tune of <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>2,000-crore.

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 19, 2024 05:16 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Punjab Vigilance Bureau awaits nod to prosecute 5 ex-ministers

Sanction to prosecute ex-ministers Dharamsot and Arora is waiting for governor’s nod, while three others are pending with government

The Punjab government has provided the sanction under 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act to investigate these former ministers. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 17, 2024 05:44 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Panel to look into protesters’ concern over biogas plants

“After hearing the farmers and other protesters, the state government has given consent to form a scientific expert group to study the main issues raised by the local residents. The committee will submit a report within 10 days,” says cabinet minister Aman Arora.

Punjab renewable energy minister Aman Arora.

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 11, 2024 10:31 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

₹1,000-crore biogas projects hit roadblock amid farmers’ protest

Cabinet ministers Aman Arora and Harpal Cheema to meet today for a solution. Farmers have been claiming that the chemicals produced during biogas generation can be carcinogenic and contaminate the soil.

Under the Punjab government’s plan, 39 compressed biogas plants are to be established across the state.

Chandigarh

Published on Sep 10, 2024 10:43 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Land acquisition in Punjab’s Mohali village: VB gets centre’s nod to prosecute 2 ex-IAS officers in graft case

The case dates back to 2023, when the ex-IAS officers SS Bains and GK Singh were charged under various sections of corruption.

The next date of hearing in the case is September 11. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 08, 2024 05:34 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Cash-strapped Punjab hikes fuel prices, withdraws power subsidy scheme partially

VAT on petrol and diesel increased by 61 paise and 92 paise per litre, respectively; Channi govt’s subsidy of ₹3 per unit for domestic power consumers with up to 7 KW load rolled back.

Finance minister Harpal Cheema has projected Punjab’s debt to touch <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>3.74 lakh crore by the end of the 2024-25 fiscal, amounting to more than 46% of the state’s total gross domestic product (GDP) of over <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>8 lakh crore. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 05, 2024 02:28 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani

Speaker seeks report on tainted cops from home secretary

The assembly, in an unprecedented move, had on Monday summoned the DGP for Tuesday, asking him to submit a report in a matter in which a cop had allegedly accepted gratification from a gangster apparently with the purpose to hush up a case.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 04, 2024 09:00 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Home secy told to submit tainted cops’ list, suggestion for action

Punjab Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan expanded a report on 'tainted' cops, urging action against corruption amid a suspended ASI's bail denial in a bribery case.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 04, 2024 05:08 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Parteek Singh Mahal, Chandigarh/faridkot

Talwandi Sabo power plant hits back, blames PSPCL for coal shortage

TSPL blames PSPCL for coal shortage after PSPCL issued default notices for insufficient coal stock. TSPL claims PSPCL failed to ensure coal supply per their agreement.

The TSPL is operating a 1,980 MW thermal plant in Punjab under a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed in 2008 with the PSPCL. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Sep 02, 2024 06:20 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Of 14 state-run varsities, 10 without regular V-Cs

Adhocism has hit higher educational institutes in Punjab hard with 10 of the total 14 state universities functioning without a regular vice-chancellor (V-C).

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 22, 2024 05:06 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani

PSPCL serves notice on TSPL for its failure to maintain coal stock

The TSPL is operating a 1,980 MW thermal plant in Punjab under a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed in 2008 with the PSPCL.

The PSPCL has asked the TSPL to take corrective measures else it will revoke clauses of the power purchase agreement and approach the power regulator against it. (AP)

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 21, 2024 09:00 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani

Drug probe: SIT summons cops who cracked Jagdish Bhola case

Apart from Mann, the SIT has summoned Ludhiana DCP Jaskaran Singh Teja, Nabha DSP Devinder Attri, Rajpura DSP Bikram Singh Brar and former SSP Bhupinder Singh Khatra. These officials had handled the Bhola drug racket case.

DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar is heading the special investigation team.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 13, 2024 09:58 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

On VB radar, PSIEC official made executive director

The ‘promotion’ of Bhai Sukhdeep Singh Sidhu, who has been booked by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) in connection with an alleged multi-crore scam, as an executive director in the Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC) has raised questions about the integrity of the administrative process within the department.

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 11, 2024 05:16 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

After CM Mann, Punjab speaker denied nod for US visit

Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan , who was to fly to Louisville city on Saturday to attend the meet of speakers of legislative bodies from August 4 to 7, got a message online saying he could not be granted political clearance

Chandigarh

Updated on Aug 04, 2024 07:14 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani

MHA denies CM Mann Paris travel, cites security concerns

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann was eager to support the national hockey squad during its first quarterfinal match in the ongoing Olympics on August 4.

Chandigarh

Published on Aug 02, 2024 10:53 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

‘No NHAI project shelved in Punjab’:Harbhajan Singh ETO, Punjab PWD minister

Amid reports that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has scrapped some projects in Punjab, state public works department minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said no project has been shelved.

Chandigarh

Published on Jul 17, 2024 10:26 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani

Water levels of dams go down, shows CWC data

The water level in the Bhakra, Ranjit Sagar and Pong dams is crucial for irrigation and power generation in the region.

The Bhakra reservoir relies heavily on snowmelt during summers. (HT file)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 13, 2024 08:10 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Amid surge in power demand, four thermal units trip in Punjab

Four thermal units — one each at Talwandi Sabo thermal power plant and Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant and two units of Ropar thermal have tripped on boiler faults pushing the PSPCL in a tight spot.

Snags in the four units resulted in 1330 MW thermal generation loss within Punjab. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 11, 2024 07:00 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Relief for PSPCL as power demand dips by 5,000 MW

Until recently, the searing heatwave and paddy transplantation had pushed the state’s peak power demand beyond its maximum supply capacity of 16,000 MW. Last month, the demand had touched the highest-ever figure of 16,083 MW.

This year, the state has witnessed 30% higher power demand as compared to the last year.

Chandigarh

Published on Jul 06, 2024 10:31 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

After AAP poor show in LS polls, MC elections in Punjab to be delayed further

AAP MLAs, including those from Amritsar and Ludhiana, have urged chief minister Bhagwant Mann not to hold the civic body elections and give the party time to redraw its strategy in the urban areas.

The terms of the civic bodies of Amritsar and Patiala ended on January 22, Jalandhar on January 24 and Ludhiana on March 26 last year. Besides, elections to 39 municipal councils and nagar panchayats are also due. (Representational photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Jul 05, 2024 12:24 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani

Fatehgarh Sahib DC to probe allegations against PPCB official for overstepping jurisdiction

Chief secretary Anurag Verma marked an inquiry against the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) official on the allegations of overstepping his jurisdiction to act against the industry.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jul 05, 2024 07:44 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Peak demand: PSPCL gets go-ahead to impose power cuts

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has authorised Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to impose rotational power cuts, but with riders, to bridge the gap between demand and supply

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 21, 2024 08:18 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani

Punjab stares at power cuts as demand hits all-time high

Punjab government writes to Centre for 1,000 MW more from the central pool. The Union government is yet to respond to the state.

A PSPCL official says that if it doesn’t rain soon, authorities will have to impose power cuts as peak power demand will cross the maximum capacity of 16,000 megawatts.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 19, 2024 05:44 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani/Karam Parkash

Punjab shocker: State losing ₹1,850 cr annually to power theft

While till September 2022, the state had 407 feeders with power loss above 50%, the number climbed to 414 by the end of 2023. In December 2020, the figured had stood at 230. Worryingly, most of these feeders are located in the constituencies represented by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs.

The Patti sub-division, represented by rural development minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, had the most loss at <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>133 crore, followed by Zira at <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>131 crore annually. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 17, 2024 06:12 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Punjab power rates up by 11 paise/unit for domestic users, 15p/unit for industry

The hike will not affect most domestic users as Punjab govt provides 300 units of free power to each consumer, and neither will it have a bearing on the agri sector that also gets free power.

The move will burden the government as it pays subsidy for both agriculture and domestic consumers that comes to <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>21,909 crore a year. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 15, 2024 07:32 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Punjab power rates up by 11 paise/unit for domestic consumers, 15p/unit for industry

The hike will not affect most domestic consumers as the Punjab Government already provides 300 units of free power to each consumer and neither will it have a bearing on the agricultural sector that also gets free power.

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) on Friday decided to increase the power tariff by 11 paise per unit for domestic consumers and 15 paise per unit for the industrial sector with effect from June 16. (Representational photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Jun 14, 2024 04:22 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani

At 15,379 MW, power demand crosses last year’s top figure

On Monday, a day before the start of the paddy transplantation in six districts of Punjab, the maximum power demand was 12,600 MW.

The maximum power demand of over 16,500 MW can be expected in the last week of June when the load is expected to peak due to paddy transplantation.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 14, 2024 07:06 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Poor show in urban areas in Lok Sabha elections leaves AAP, Cong in a fix

Though the Bharatiya Janata Party failed to win any seat in Punjab in the Lok Sabha elections, it got maximum votes in urban areas of the state.

The elections to the municipal corporations of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and Phagwara are overdue and the government has postponed it several times. Besides, elections to 39 municipal councils and nagar panchayats are also due.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 09, 2024 05:12 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

CM Mann should resign on moral grounds: Bajwa

Partap Singh Bajwa, the leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly, claimed that the AAP-led state government will not complete its full term as voters have not only rejected the party but also discarded the functioning of the chief minister.

As a resurgent Congress bounced back in Punjab by winning seven of the 13 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, Partap Singh Bajwa, the leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly, who led his party’s campaign in the state, asked chief minister Bhagwant Mann to resign on moral grounds after AAP’s poor show in the polls. (PTI File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 06, 2024 06:58 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Gamble on bigwigs pays off for Congress

Congress' winning strategy in Punjab: stiff resistance to tie-up with AAP, fielding heavyweights, exploiting anti-establishment sentiment, and re-establishing base in Malwa belt.

Congress supporters in jubilant mood in Jalandhar on Tuesday. (ANI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jun 06, 2024 05:14 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

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Vishal Rambani

Vishal Rambani is an assistant editor covering Punjab. A journalist with over a decade of experience, he writes on politics, crime, power sector, environment and socio-economic issues. He has several investigative stories to his credit.

A Ludhiana court declared RK Singla proclaimed offender and recently allowed the Vigilance Bureau to attach properties under Section 18A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which the probe agency claims were purchased from the ill-gotten money generated via bribes.

Sanction to prosecute ex-ministers Dharamsot and Arora is waiting for governor’s nod, while three others are pending with government

“After hearing the farmers and other protesters, the state government has given consent to form a scientific expert group to study the main issues raised by the local residents. The committee will submit a report within 10 days,” says cabinet minister Aman Arora.

Cabinet ministers Aman Arora and Harpal Cheema to meet today for a solution. Farmers have been claiming that the chemicals produced during biogas generation can be carcinogenic and contaminate the soil.

The case dates back to 2023, when the ex-IAS officers SS Bains and GK Singh were charged under various sections of corruption.

VAT on petrol and diesel increased by 61 paise and 92 paise per litre, respectively; Channi govt’s subsidy of ₹3 per unit for domestic power consumers with up to 7 KW load rolled back.

The assembly, in an unprecedented move, had on Monday summoned the DGP for Tuesday, asking him to submit a report in a matter in which a cop had allegedly accepted gratification from a gangster apparently with the purpose to hush up a case.

Punjab Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan expanded a report on 'tainted' cops, urging action against corruption amid a suspended ASI's bail denial in a bribery case.

TSPL blames PSPCL for coal shortage after PSPCL issued default notices for insufficient coal stock. TSPL claims PSPCL failed to ensure coal supply per their agreement.

Adhocism has hit higher educational institutes in Punjab hard with 10 of the total 14 state universities functioning without a regular vice-chancellor (V-C).

The TSPL is operating a 1,980 MW thermal plant in Punjab under a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed in 2008 with the PSPCL.

Apart from Mann, the SIT has summoned Ludhiana DCP Jaskaran Singh Teja, Nabha DSP Devinder Attri, Rajpura DSP Bikram Singh Brar and former SSP Bhupinder Singh Khatra. These officials had handled the Bhola drug racket case.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan , who was to fly to Louisville city on Saturday to attend the meet of speakers of legislative bodies from August 4 to 7, got a message online saying he could not be granted political clearance

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann was eager to support the national hockey squad during its first quarterfinal match in the ongoing Olympics on August 4.

Amid reports that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has scrapped some projects in Punjab, state public works department minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said no project has been shelved.

The water level in the Bhakra, Ranjit Sagar and Pong dams is crucial for irrigation and power generation in the region.

Four thermal units — one each at Talwandi Sabo thermal power plant and Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant and two units of Ropar thermal have tripped on boiler faults pushing the PSPCL in a tight spot.

Until recently, the searing heatwave and paddy transplantation had pushed the state’s peak power demand beyond its maximum supply capacity of 16,000 MW. Last month, the demand had touched the highest-ever figure of 16,083 MW.

AAP MLAs, including those from Amritsar and Ludhiana, have urged chief minister Bhagwant Mann not to hold the civic body elections and give the party time to redraw its strategy in the urban areas.

Chief secretary Anurag Verma marked an inquiry against the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) official on the allegations of overstepping his jurisdiction to act against the industry.

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has authorised Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to impose rotational power cuts, but with riders, to bridge the gap between demand and supply

Punjab government writes to Centre for 1,000 MW more from the central pool. The Union government is yet to respond to the state.

While till September 2022, the state had 407 feeders with power loss above 50%, the number climbed to 414 by the end of 2023. In December 2020, the figured had stood at 230. Worryingly, most of these feeders are located in the constituencies represented by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs.

The hike will not affect most domestic users as Punjab govt provides 300 units of free power to each consumer, and neither will it have a bearing on the agri sector that also gets free power.

The hike will not affect most domestic consumers as the Punjab Government already provides 300 units of free power to each consumer and neither will it have a bearing on the agricultural sector that also gets free power.

On Monday, a day before the start of the paddy transplantation in six districts of Punjab, the maximum power demand was 12,600 MW.

Though the Bharatiya Janata Party failed to win any seat in Punjab in the Lok Sabha elections, it got maximum votes in urban areas of the state.

Partap Singh Bajwa, the leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly, claimed that the AAP-led state government will not complete its full term as voters have not only rejected the party but also discarded the functioning of the chief minister.

Congress' winning strategy in Punjab: stiff resistance to tie-up with AAP, fielding heavyweights, exploiting anti-establishment sentiment, and re-establishing base in Malwa belt.

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