September 15th,2020

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday spoke about the series of steps being taken by the government to improve the standard of sanitation in Abohar.

Abohar has recently been declared the third most polluted city in the Swachh Survekshan.

Efforts to improve the situation, 10 new community toilet blocks and seven new solid waste management sites called material recovery facilities would be set up.

A project called ‘Chokho Abohar’ for sanitation and hygiene had been sanctioned by the state government. The word “chokho” is used by the Bagri populace which means beautiful.

(Source:- Tribune(PB))

Punjab tops country in over-exploitation of groundwater.
In Punjab, 79 per cent of the assessment units showed the annual groundwater extraction to be more than the assessed annual extractable groundwater resources.

In Punjab, 79 per cent of the assessment units showed the annual groundwater extraction to be more than the assessed annual extractable groundwater resources, according to information placed by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in the ongoing session of the Rajya Sabha. This figure was 76 per cent last year.

Irrigation accounts for over 96 per cent of groundwater use in Punjab.
A major reason for over-exploitation of groundwater is the largescale cultivation of paddy in Punjab, which is water-intensive and the dependence on groundwater over the canal or river water in many parts of the state.
Monsoon is an important factor in the recharge of groundwater. The rains in Punjab this season have been 10 per cent below the long period average so far.
From June 1 to September 14, the state received 391.3 mm against the normal of 437.2 mm, according to the India Meteorological Department.
According to a Central Ground Water Board(CGWB official), the wheat and paddy cropping pattern in Punjab has led to a manifold increase in demand for water.
About 90 per cent of the state’s area is underlain by quaternary alluvial deposits that are important sources of abundant and dependable groundwater supplies which are being exploited.

(Source:- Tribune(PB))

To provide easy and speedy justice in the rural areas, in compliance with the directives of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Punjab Chief Minister has ordered the establishment of seven more ‘Gram Nyayalayas’ (village courts) in the state.

The new nyayalayas would be set up at Patran in Patiala district, Tapa in Barnala, Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib, Dera Baba Nanak and Dhar Kalan in Gurdaspur, Raikot in Ludhiana and Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar.
These nyayalayas will cover only the gram panchayats of the sub-divisions and not towns, as per the proposal cleared by the Department of Home Affairs and Justice.

With this, the number of such courts in the state will go up to nine, as two village courts at Kot Isse Khan in Moga district and Nangal in Rupnagar are already functional.

The Constitution of India under Article 39-A mandates for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of society.
The Law Commission of India in its 114th report recommended the establishment of Gram Nyayalayas for providing speedy, substantial and inexpensive justice to the common man.

(Source:- Tribune(PB))