Karam Prakash is a Patiala-based senior correspondent covering several districts of Malwa region of Punjab. He writes on various domains, including health, agriculture, power and education.
Articles by Karam Prakash
Punjab losing ₹2,600 crore annually as power thefts bleed coffers dry
According to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, there has been a 30% rise in losses due to power theft. In the 2023-24 financial year, the power theft loss amounted to ₹2,600 crore, an increase from about ₹2,000 crore loss suffered a year before.
Updated on Oct 04, 2024 08:44 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
SC issues notice to Punjab govt over recruitment of 312 doctors in 2008-09
Significantly, an SIT, formed by HC in its 2014 report had highlighted blatant irregularities during the entire recruitment process.
Updated on Oct 03, 2024 09:22 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Procurement hits roadblock as millers refuse to lift, store paddy
The millers in Punjab have been protesting against the storage of approximately 80,000 metric tonnes of paddy at the mills, which is yet to be milled and accepted by the FCI due to space constraints.
Updated on Oct 03, 2024 07:12 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
On chancellor’s order, Patiala law university forms 2-member panel to break deadlock
RGNUL formed a 2-member external committee to address student protests over the VC's alleged privacy violations during a hostel visit.
Updated on Oct 02, 2024 09:24 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
At 28%, Punjab’s rain deficiency highest in country
As per IMD’s data, Punjab’s this year monsoon has been worst since 2015 when the rainfall deficiency was 32%.
Updated on Oct 01, 2024 09:10 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Patiala law varsity eases curbs, fails to placate protesters
Students at Rajiv Gandhi National Law University protest for the VC's resignation, prompting eased campus exit rules amid ongoing demonstrations.
Updated on Sep 30, 2024 08:32 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Protesting farmer unions not to hold talks with SC-formed panel
Farmer unions protesting on the Punjab-Haryana border for the past over seven months have decided not to engage in talks with the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee.
Updated on Sep 29, 2024 05:02 AM IST
Punjab farmers slam ‘red entry’ move
Around a dozen farmer unions have said the move unfairly penalises farmers and urged the state government to reverse the decision to clamp down on stubble fires, which are a major factor behind Delhi’s annual winter pollution scourge.
Updated on Sep 26, 2024 06:32 AM IST
Patiala law varsity row: Did nothing wrong but ready to apologise, says VC
The VC has clarified that he had not made any comments on the students’ clothing and was accompanied by female hostel staff during the visit.
Updated on Sep 26, 2024 07:50 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Taming stubble fires: Farm unions slam Punjab government for ‘red entries’ in land records
The unions threatened a stir to prevent the state from implementing such measures and expressed hope that the government would reverse these anti-farmer decisions. They have demanded financial assistance of ₹5,000 per acre for stubble management.
Updated on Sep 26, 2024 05:18 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Sukhbir ‘power hungry’: Rebels; SAD hits back
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its splinter faction SAD Sudhar Lehar held separate events to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the longest-serving president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Updated on Sep 25, 2024 09:46 AM IST
Patiala law varsity stir: Students refuse to budge, 3 members of grievances panel quit
The protest by students of the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala, against the vice-chancellor (V-C) entered Day 3 on Tuesday even as three members of a panel formed to resolve students’ grievances resigned
Updated on Sep 25, 2024 07:44 AM IST
Punjab: Patiala law university shut till further orders
The orders to shut down the university is learnt to have come after the protesting students did not show up to attend the meeting called by a nine-member committee constituted to resolve the grievances of the students.
Updated on Sep 24, 2024 08:54 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Shambhu stir: SC-formed panel invites farmers for talks, unions yet to take a call
The farm unions have said a meeting would be held to decide on their response to the committee’s invitation. This decision is expected in a day or two.
Published on Sep 22, 2024 10:58 PM IST
Deficient monsoon: Dams witness sharp dip in water levels
Water levels in the Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar Dams are significantly lower this year compared to the same period last year owing to a deficient monsoon, the Central Water Commission (CWC) report revealed.
Published on Sep 21, 2024 10:21 PM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Paddy harvest nears, farmers still await DSR incentive
Punjab agriculture director Dr Jaswant Singh says the department has been conducting crop survey and payment will be made once the process is complete.
Updated on Sep 20, 2024 10:54 PM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Punjab: Barnala civil surgeon, clerk suspended for ‘corrupt’ activities
Punjab health officials suspended Barnala's civil surgeon and clerk for confirmed corruption after local doctors reported bribery for official services.
Updated on Sep 18, 2024 07:43 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Barnala
Punjab hospitals, health centres grapple with Hepatitis C testing kits shortage
Punjab faces a critical shortage of Hepatitis C testing kits, prompting local purchases as the state health department promises supply within a week.
Updated on Sep 17, 2024 06:16 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Punjab govt doctors call off strike, to resume OPD duties from Monday
Punjab doctors to resume OPD services Monday after meeting with health minister, who promised timely fulfillment of their demands, including career progression.
Updated on Sep 14, 2024 09:39 PM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Punjab govt doctors call off strike, to resume OPD duties from Monday
After state health minister assures protesting doctors of fulfilling their demands in time-bound manner, PCMSA announces OPD timings extended by two hours on Monday and Tuesday to compensate for inconvenience to patients.
Updated on Sep 14, 2024 04:52 PM IST
Amid PCMSA’s strike, experts from medical colleges roped in for OPD services
Punjab's government is deploying medical experts to manage OPD services amid a strike by 2,500 doctors demanding better pay and security.
Updated on Sep 14, 2024 06:44 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Fatehgarh Sahib college gets NMC nod for 50 MBBS seats
With this, the state has 11 private colleges from this session against the four government institutions. Out of the total 1,550 MBBS seats in Punjab, private institutions have 850 seats.
Updated on Sep 11, 2024 09:18 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
No point in holding talks with SC-picked panel: Farm bodies
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) convener Sarwan Singh Pandher said the high-powered committee doesn’t have any power to solve our issue of MSP.
Updated on Sep 09, 2024 07:32 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Doctors’ 3-hr daily strike begins today, to hit OPD services across Punjab
Over 2,500 Punjab doctors will strike for three hours from Sept 9-11, suspending OPD services to demand better security and career progression.
Updated on Sep 09, 2024 05:02 AM IST
Karam Prakash/Navrajdeep Singh, Patiala/jalandhar
Patiala youth stabbed to death, police yet to arrest attackers
The deceased’s mother has demanded a thorough investigation into the murder, including the role of Karan’s friend who escaped from the spot.
Updated on Sep 08, 2024 05:54 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Transfer orders: 25 of 38 labour dept officials back at original postings in 15 days
The department had initiated its first major reshuffle under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on August 14, transferring 28 labour inspectors, but by August 30, 19 of them had been sent back to their previous positions.
Updated on Sep 07, 2024 07:50 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Punjab govt docs to suspend OPD services from Sept 9
Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) has said that they will suspend OPD services across the state indefinitely from September 9.
Published on Sep 05, 2024 10:02 PM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Punjab private hospitals, clinics turn away Ayushman Bharat patients over pending bills
As per information, some hospitals have not received reimbursements for the past six months, forcing them to turn away patients seeking treatment under the scheme.
Updated on Sep 05, 2024 08:56 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Farmers question effectiveness, intent of SC-formed committee
The apex court’s priority is to open the national highway, which is blocked by the Haryana government, not by us. The committee doesn’t have any agenda regarding farmers’ issues. It has been formed to scuttle the ongoing protest, Sarwan Singh, convener of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Pandher, said.
Updated on Sep 03, 2024 06:54 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala
Water level in dams dips, may hit irrigation, power generation
According to the latest WC weekly report, Ranjit Sagar dam in Punjab has recorded a deficiency of 61% from normal storage while Bhakra and Pong reservoirs, located in Himachal Pradesh, recorded a deficiency of 25% from normal storage
Updated on Sep 02, 2024 06:06 AM IST
Karam Prakash, Patiala