Articles by Gurpreet Singh Nibber
At the mercy of weather, say farmers as fresh rain wreaks havoc to wheat crop
The fresh rainfall which started on Thursday night has added to the woes of Punjab farmers who have already suffered damages to the near-harvest wheat crop during the previous spell of rain, high-velocity winds and hailstorm last week.

Updated on Apr 01, 2023 01:15 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Inclement weather fall-out: Punjab to seek relaxation in wheat grain quality
The food and civil supplies department Punjab has decided to move a case before the Centre seeking relaxation in quality of wheat arriving in the state mandis for procurement.

Published on Mar 27, 2023 10:27 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Rain, hailstorm flatten 40% wheat crop in Punjab
Untimely heavy rainfall in many parts of Punjab may have severely impacted the standing wheat crop on over 15 lakh hectares, which is more than 40% of the net sown area of the winter staple, officials said on Sunday

Published on Mar 27, 2023 09:35 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Rains cause damage to wheat crop ahead of harvesting in Punjab
Intermittent rainfall during the last few days across Punjab has led to lodging of the wheat crop, which is at maturing stage

Published on Mar 25, 2023 12:35 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
One million addicts in Punjab drug de-addiction centres: Minister
The health and family planning minister Dr Balbir Singh on Wednesday informed the state legislative assembly that there are almost one million drug addicts in state-operated and privately-run de-addiction centers in Punjab, adding that the figures (in public domain) are under reported.

Published on Mar 22, 2023 10:05 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
More rains, winds can lead to crop loss in Punjab: Experts
While the light spell of rainfall across Punjab on Friday and Saturday followed by sunshine on Sunday have so far proved to be a boon for the wheat crop, experts have sounded a word of caution that more precipitation and gusty winds may lead to crop loss in the state

Updated on Mar 19, 2023 11:04 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
UBDC water wastage: Punjab agri dept seeks more carrying capacity of water channels for irrigation
The agriculture department has taken up with the irrigation department to increase capacity of water channels for irrigation purposes in the Majha belt as one-third of the water flowing from the Upper Bahri Doab Canal for watering of fields was getting waste.

Published on Mar 13, 2023 10:04 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab budget: Economic survey predicts 3.7% growth in agricultural and allied sector
According to the Economic Survey, the agriculture and allied sector employs 26% workforce of the population in the state against the significantly higher figure of 47% at the national level

Published on Mar 11, 2023 01:43 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab budget: 20% hike in Agriculture sector allocation, focus on crop diversification
Out of the total allocation, 67% or ₹9,331 crore goes into giving free power to 14 lakh-plus agriculture tube wells.

Published on Mar 11, 2023 01:40 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab budget: Govt allocates ₹7,780 cr for power subsidy to domestic consumers
Chandigarh : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab on Friday allocated ₹7,780 crore for power subsidy to domestic consumers

Published on Mar 11, 2023 01:36 AM IST
Punjab assembly: House sees unruly scenes over Sidhu Moosewala’s security cut
The Punjab Assembly on Thursday witnessed unruly scenes after AAP and Congress legislators sparred over the issue of the withdrawal of the security cover of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, who was murdered last year.

Published on Mar 09, 2023 11:20 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab assembly: Congress MLAs walk out against minister Dhaliwal’s remark
Leader of the opposition Partap Singh Bajwa demanded action against those who shared details of VIPs whose security had been withdrawn on social media last year, including that of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, leading to his murder

Published on Mar 09, 2023 02:32 PM IST
Punjab assembly budget session, Day 2 : CM Mann, leader of Oppn Bajwa spar in House over VB functioning
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann and leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa were involved in a heated exchange of words in the Punjab assembly on Monday after the Congress leader raised questions on the functioning of the state vigilance bureau.

Updated on Mar 06, 2023 11:42 PM IST
Punjab assembly: CM Mann, leader of Oppn Bajwa spar over VB functioning
Congress MLAs, led by Partap Singh Bajwa, stay away from House after heated argument, demand apology from chief minister Bhagwant Mann for accusing opposition members of corruption

Published on Mar 06, 2023 05:49 PM IST
Punjab’s new mining policy: Regulatory violations to cost mining contractors environmental clearance
Punjab government has decided to take environmental clearances for all the mines to be auctioned for digging sand and gravel in its name and transfer it to the contractors operating these mines to keep the monopoly of the mines’ operators under a check.

Updated on Mar 06, 2023 01:33 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Punjab to rollout crop insurance scheme this kharif sowing season
The Punjab government has decided to set an early deadline for the implementation Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for the upcoming kharif sowing season. Earlier, the government was planning to rollout the scheme from the 2024 kharif sowing season.

Published on Mar 02, 2023 10:18 PM IST
Stopping stubble burning: IARI begins field trials of short-duration paddy varieties
To deal with the menace of paddy stubble burning, Indian Agricultural Research Institute has started trials of high yielding short duration variety PR-2090, as an alternative to PUSA-44, which has now been put in the category of being hazardous to the environment for high quantity of crop residue and a water guzzler.

Published on Feb 26, 2023 09:46 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit: State to hold 4 sector-specific investor summits every year: Bhagwant Mann
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that the state government would organise sector-wise investors’ summits every quarter of the year in the cities and town of Punjab to woo the industry for investing in the state.

Published on Feb 24, 2023 09:01 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
5th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2023: Become partners in state’s socio-economic growth, says CM
Mann sells Punjab as most favourable investment destination in country, promises investors hassle-free experience

Published on Feb 24, 2023 02:19 AM IST
Punjab invites investment in textile, food processing and IT sectors
Two-day 5th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2023 gets underway in Mohali with Bhagwant Mann-led AAP govt promising hassle-free investment

Updated on Feb 23, 2023 03:39 PM IST
Workshop on paddy straw management: Lodging FIR not solution for stubble burning, says Bhagwant Mann
The chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said lodging FIRs against the farmers is not the solution to tackle stubble burning as it involves social stigma

Published on Feb 21, 2023 01:45 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab agri dept seeks ₹400 crore to launch crop insurance scheme
The Punjab agriculture department has sought ₹400 crore from the state finance department to kickstart the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, which aims to provide insurance cover to farmers against crop loss

Updated on Feb 19, 2023 11:27 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Crash in potato prices hit farmers in Punjab
Table varieties of potato, which were priced between ₹1,400 to ₹1,500 last season are fetching around ₹350 a quintal this time while the premium varieties, which fetched ₹1,800 a quintal last season are being sold for only around ₹550 a quintal.

Published on Feb 18, 2023 11:56 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Key issues on hold as farm bodies in Punjab see split in ranks
Farm bodies, who were part of the unified protest and forced the Centre to repeal the three farm laws in 2021, are a divided house now.

Published on Feb 16, 2023 08:56 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Gloves off as Punjab governor, CM Bhagwant Mann slug it out again
The cold war between Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit and chief minister Bhagwant Mann escalated on Monday with the former dropping another letter bomb questioning AAP government’s recent decisions. The move drew a sharp response from Mann who said his government is only answerable to Punjabis and not a Centre-appointed governor.

Updated on Feb 14, 2023 02:25 AM IST
Punjab governor, CM spar over principals’ selection for foreign trip
Chandigarh: The ongoing tussle between Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit and chief minister Bhagwant Mann escalated on Monday, with the former questioning a state government appointment and the selection of school principals for a training trip to Singapore

Published on Feb 14, 2023 01:20 AM IST
Raise money from public to reduce debt, Economists to Punjab
A report by three professors of economy says that the government should also seek seven years moratorium on debt repayment to get time for resuscitation, besides other measures

Published on Feb 13, 2023 01:15 AM IST
Facing split in ranks, BKU Ekta-Ugrahan cosies up to radical bodies
With turmoil roiling its ranks, Punjab largest farmer organisation, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ughrahan), has now found a common cause with the radical bodies who are protesting for release of Sikh detainees.

Published on Feb 10, 2023 11:31 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh:
Punjab plans to buy wheat worth ₹ 210-cr through FCI’s scheme
Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Punjab has decided to buy wheat from the open market sale scheme started by Food Corporation of India.

Published on Feb 08, 2023 09:08 PM IST
National Food Security Act: 16 lakh beneficiaries in Punjab ineligible to get subsidised wheat
As against the norms of the Center, Punjab has 16 lakh more beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) scheme.

Published on Feb 06, 2023 10:36 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh