Pb Govt urges media to take all precautions
Chandigarh: To ensure safety and well-being of frontline journalists during COVID-19 pandemic, Punjab Government on Thursday urged the media fraternity to strictly follow all health protocols and guidelines issued by health authorities from time-to-time in the state’s larger interest. Journalsitic duties, especially on-field reportage, in these unprecedented times is most challenging entailing great personal health risk and thus requires stringent adherence to social distancing norms and other health precautions like wearing mask, ensuring distant recording and distant seating during interviews, said spokesperson of State Control Room constituted for COVID-19.
Khaira urges Modi to release GST arrears
Chandigarh: Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Thursday urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately release Punjab’s rightful arrears share of Rs 6,800 crore GST pending with the Central Government. “Since Punjab, like the rest of India, is grappling with serious crisis of hunger, medical aid and want of essential commodities in wake of coronavirus challenge, we need the money to reach out to the poor, needy, daily wagers and other self employed people, who have been locked down due to curfew for the last 18 days,” he said.
Jakhar urges Centre to help states
Chandigarh: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunil Jakhar on Thursday said that the State Government is working hard to tackle the coronavirus crisis and all necessary steps were being taken to ensure that people get the least hassle during this critical period. Saying that that lockdown had adversely affected states’ economy, Centre should immediately come forward to assist them. Besides releasing GST dues, other financial help should also be provided without any delay so that benefit could be transferred to the needy.
PU library not to impose fine for overdue
Chandigarh: In view of prevailing lockdown situation in the country due to COVID-19 pandemic, Panjab University has decided that the Library users of AC Joshi Library as well as departmental libraries should not be charged fine for overdue books for the duration starting from March 20, 2020, to till one week from the opening of university, said University Librarian Dr Jivesh Bansal. At the same time, he has also requested all the chairpersons of the Departments for not imposing any fine on the students for late return of books due to lockdown.
AAP MLA offers to deduct 30% of his salary
Chandigarh: AAP MLA from Sunam Aman Arora has written to Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh offering a cut of 30 percent in his salary as MLA for the current financial year 2020-21 to fight COVID-19. Arora had given his March month’s salary to CM’s Relief Fund and has placed the services of his Dental College and General Hospital in Sunam at the services of the State Government to be used as quarantine centre. Arora also urged everyone to come forward to fight this battle by donating generously.
SEWA appeals to support domestic workers
Chandigarh: Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) has appealed to employers of domestic workers to extend all the help they can to their domestic helpers in the time of this global crisis. The extended 21-day lockdown and other uncertainties at this time of crisis come as a big blow to all domestic workers, the majority of whom have been asked to stay at home. SEWA coordinator Harsharan Kaur said that these maids have no other social security or rights. “For a month there has been no source of income, hence we appeal to all employers to give salaries to the staff,” she said.
HPSEBL to issue bills on average reading
Shimla: HPSEBL Management, to avoid burden of huge outstanding amount on consumers besides not deputing the meter reading staff for conducting door-to-door meter readings, has decided to issue bills for domestic, commercial category and all other categories covered under Single Part Tariff (having CD up to 20KVA) in April 2020 without taking actual meter reading. The bills shall be prepared by considering average consumption available in billing system and shall be available on HPSEBL website https://www.hpseb.in for viewing, downloading and making online payment. Billing of Industrial, NDNC, IDWPS category consumers and all other category consumers covered under Two Part Tariff (having CD above 20KVA) shall be done as per existing practice of taking actual meter reading through Common Meter Reading Instrument (CMRI) and shall generate the bills accordingly. Bills will not be delivered door to door, and consumer has to make payments through online mode only.
