Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Following recent rains and hailstorms in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has ordered a special crop damage assessment to evaluate the losses suffered by farmers. He assured that the government will compensate farmers for the damage to their crops and said that authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
New Law on Sacrilege to Be Enforced Immediately
The Chief Minister also announced that the proposed law on sacrilege will come into effect the same day it is passed. He stated that a special session has been convened for this purpose and emphasized that it is a state law, which does not require approval from the President. He added that any suggestions from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) would be welcomed.
Coal Mine Revival Saves ₹1,462 Crore
Mann highlighted that the Punjab government revived a previously non-operational coal mine, which had earlier forced the state to rely on private companies for coal purchases. The government took over the mine in October 2022 and has since saved around ₹1,462 crore. He said the target is to extract 7 million metric tonnes of coal.
He added that if previous governments led by Amarinder Singh and Sukhbir Singh Badal had continued buying coal the same way, the state would have incurred significantly higher costs. According to Mann, these savings helped prevent losses in the power sector and enabled the government to provide free electricity.
Punjab Has Adequate Coal Stock
Dismissing concerns about coal shortages, the Chief Minister said the situation is under control. He stated that Ropar currently has coal reserves for 41 days, Lehra Mohabbat for 37 days, and Goindwal for 32 days, which he described as sufficient.