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
Punjab to offer balers on subsidy amid push for ex-situ management of paddy stubble
In-situ management involves incorporating the stubble into the soil using machines, while ex-situ management involves lifting the stubble from the fields and supplying it to stubble-based industries.
Published on Sep 11, 2023 12:41 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab farmers to get balers to clear stubble
The Punjab government will provide 30 balers to farmer groups or custom hiring centres (CHCs) at a subsidy of 65%, officials said
Published on Sep 10, 2023 11:05 PM IST
US institute to help Punjab manage stubble, signs MoU
As per the MoU signed for support on a pro bono basis, with the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST), IGSD, will develop an action plan to assist the state in developing a pilot project in an area of state’s choice, identify business model for attracting private and public capital for the implementation of the strategies and inputs for the state action plan for climate change, short-lived climate pollutants
Updated on Sep 05, 2023 12:34 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab Agricultural University develops new wheat variety to boost immunity
Punjab Agricultural University, a premier plant research institute that played a key role during the Green Revolution to make the country surplus in foodgrains, has shifted its focus from quantity to quality and from food security to nutritional security
Updated on Sep 04, 2023 12:23 AM IST
Dissolution of panchayats: Copy of order with signatures of Punjab CM, Bhullar surfaces online
On August 10, the state government notified the dissolution of panchayats and declared elections to gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishads under the Panchayati Raj Act, triggering an uproar with political parties seeking a rollback of the decision, terming the move as “unconstitutional.”
Updated on Sep 02, 2023 12:38 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab suspends 2 senior IAS officers, tells HC its rolling back panchayat poll notification
The suspension orders, issued by chief secretary Anurag Verma, came hours after the Punjab government informed the high court that it is withdrawing its notification dissolving all gram panchayats in the state, a move that is being seen as a major embarrassment for the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP regime
Updated on Sep 01, 2023 05:27 PM IST
Punjab patwaris’ strike: Revenue officials soften stand after ESMA invoked
Say they will attend work in their own revenue circles but not take on any “additional” responsibilities; and will move the Punjab and Haryana high court against the state government’s decision to invoke
Updated on Sep 01, 2023 12:20 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab chief secretary steps in, tells Markfed to procure 60% DAP stock
Punjab needs 5.25 lakh tonnes of DAP during the rabi season and so far the state cooperative has bought only 20,000 tonnes.
Updated on Aug 28, 2023 03:19 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab: Farm bodies reject ₹6,800 per acre compensation, unrest to swell
The leaders of farm bodies have rejected the amount as “inappropriate”. However, the state’s revenue department said the amount can’t be increased
Updated on Aug 23, 2023 12:14 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Bhakra, Pong reduce outflow, but fresh rain prediction has officials worried
The water level in Bhakra touched 1,680 feet, its maximum filling capacity, while at Pong, the level reached 1,399 feet against the maximum filing capacity of 1,390 feet forcing BBMB to open floodgates.
Updated on Aug 22, 2023 12:59 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Wheat/flour at doorstep: Challenges galore as Punjab works out implementation plan
An official of the food and civil supplies said that the department has no way to ascertain the quantity of wheat flour required and number of beneficiaries who will opt for delivery at doorsteps
Updated on Aug 21, 2023 01:01 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Himachal flood fallout: NDRF rescues 85 villagers in neighbouring Punjab
The Punjab government has sounded a red alert in districts downstream of the Pong and Bhakra dams, including Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran and Ropar, as Beas and Sutlej levels rise due to heavy rain in catchment Himachal Pradesh
Updated on Aug 16, 2023 03:40 PM IST
Bhakra, Pong Dams brimming, Punjab put on high alert
Both Bhakra and Pong Dams are brimming after heavy rain in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh. Both dams are managed by Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
Updated on Aug 15, 2023 01:18 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Rajasthan show interest in buying paddy stubble from Punjab
In October and November during paddy harvest season, Punjab produces 22 million tonnes of paddy stubble, out of which 40% (8.8 million tonnes) is used in the boilers, as industrial fuel and mixed in the soil and rest approximately 13.2 million tonnes in set ablaze leading towards a serious health and environmental hazard, as per official state figures
Updated on Aug 09, 2023 12:50 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Short-duration variety sown on 50% paddy area in Punjab may give some respite from stubble fires
Close to half the paddy cultivation area in Punjab has been sown with a faster-maturing variety that leaves behind less stubble, potentially reducing pollution caused by farm fires in November. Typically, farmers use a variety that takes longer to mature and produces more stubble. Due to floods in July, farmers were forced to re-sow the shorter duration variety. This year, nearly 50% of the paddy area is under the faster-maturing variety. However, rice millers fear less rice yield from the new variety. Farmer unions have called for compensation for the extra effort taken to prevent stubble burning.
Updated on Aug 08, 2023 12:39 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Stubble management funds: Punjab last-ditch efforts fall flat, Centre says no to 100% grant
In a setback to Punjab, the Centre has turned down its request to give 100% grant for in-situ and ex-situ management of paddy straw
Updated on Aug 05, 2023 12:09 AM IST
Punjab to conduct urban local body polls in November
Notifications issued for 39 municipal councils, while the schedule for five corporations namely Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Phagwara to be announced after the delimitation exercise
Updated on Aug 04, 2023 01:16 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
At 625.26 lakh units, Bhakra sets all-time high power generation record
As per the protocols set by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) that deals with the operation and maintenance of the Bhakra and Pong dams, a level of 1,650 needs to be maintained by July 31 and 1,670 by August 15
Updated on Jul 31, 2023 12:31 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
10% paddy yet to be transplanted, Punjab officials anticipate spurt in farm fires post harvest
Owing to extremely heavy rainfall three weeks ago, that led to floods, freshly transplanted rabi crop suffered severe damage in the districts of Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar, so much so that it had to be resown. Even now some areas in these districts are flooded
Updated on Jul 28, 2023 12:41 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab: Water level on the rise, BBMB opens Pong dam floodgates
As the water level of the Pong dam on Beas rose by over two feet on Monday, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) opened the floodgates releasing 13,848 cusecs of water, officials said
Updated on Jul 18, 2023 12:34 AM IST
With dams filing fast, officials wait for Punjab’s nod to release water
Even as the flood scenario in Punjab is easing with water receding in many areas, the authorities are keeping an eye on the rising water levels in three dams over Sutlej, Beas and Ravi
Updated on Jul 16, 2023 10:34 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Six lakh acres paddy submerged in Punjab
Due to heavy rainfall and flooding in Punjab paddy crop over atleast 6 lakh acres have suffered damages out of which crop over 2 lakh acres have been completely swept away and needs to be resown
Updated on Jul 13, 2023 11:03 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
No excess water to be released from Bhakra, Pong dams till situation in Punjab, Haryana normalises: Board
The BBMB on Wednesday released 10,000 cusecs water from Pong Dam into the Beas river to balance the surplus inflow in the reservoir
Updated on Jul 13, 2023 01:10 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Dams filling fast in Punjab, officials on toes
With inflow rising, the Bhakra Beas management Board that controls Bhakra Dam and Pong Dam and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited that manages Ranjit Sagar Dam are planning to release the ‘surplus’ water in a controlled manner
Updated on Jul 12, 2023 01:02 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Brace for more rain in Punjab, warns weatherman
The districts — Ropar, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Ludhiana and Nawanshahr— received heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. In the past 24 hours, the Ropar district received an unprecedented 380 mm of rain, which submerged the paddy crop.
Updated on Jul 11, 2023 01:35 AM IST
Sutlej in spate flood alert sounded in Punjab districts
Authorities are on alert in the wake of the flood-like situation in the districts of Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Ropar and Mohali, which share their boundary with Himachal Pradesh owing to the catchment areas of the Bhakra Dam reservoir -- Sutlej and several khuds (rivulets) flowing from Himachal into Punjab-- receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall
Updated on Jul 10, 2023 01:39 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab: Amid buzz of BJP-SAD reunion, Sukhbir holds closed-door meeting
Top Akali Dal leaders ‘discuss’ tie-up plan at core committee meeting in party chief’s Chandigarh residence
Updated on Jul 06, 2023 01:06 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann government keen on holding civic body polls in September
In the absence of the elected body and its head -- mayor in the corporations and the president in the smaller civic entities-- the state government has appointed administrators to run the operation
Updated on Jun 30, 2023 12:46 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi: Only half of farmers’ account linked so far in Punjab
Only 47% (8.2 lakh) of farmers’ e-KYC out of 17.6 lakh has been done in the state as the Centre has made it mandatory for availing PM Kisan instalment
Updated on Jun 28, 2023 08:18 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
State share for Centre’s residue mgmt scheme: Keep ₹140 cr ready, say Punjab agri officials to finance dept
The agriculture department of Punjab has asked the state government to provide ?140 crore as state share for a ?350 crore crop residue management plan during the upcoming paddy harvest. The Centre has asked for a 40% contribution from the state, the first time in six years. Officials have requested that the Centre provide 100% funds for crop residue management this year and the state government contribute 40% from next year. Subsidies of 50% and 80% per machine will be offered to individual farmers and custom hiring centres, respectively.
Updated on Jun 27, 2023 05:36 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh