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
As farm fires erupt, Punjab struggles to distribute stubble mgmt machines
Crossing the deadline by almost a month, the Punjab government is still distributing the subsidised machines for in-situ and ex-situ management of paddy stubble. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), in February, had asked the government to complete the distribution by August
Updated on Sep 25, 2024 07:40 AM IST
Punjab: AAP eyes image boost with course correction
The latest reshuffle, fourth in 30 months, in the Punjab cabinet is seen as Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party’s strategic effort to give party an image makeover and inject fresh blood into governance that has come under increasing Opposition scrutiny.
Updated on Sep 24, 2024 06:08 AM IST
Punjab: Arhtiyas, labourers to strike work from October 1 over fee hike
The Anaj Mandi Mazdoor Union has about 9 to 10 lakh labourers who work in 1,836 mandis of the state. The union has said that the charges for unloading, weighing and cleaning given to labourers have been too less for the past many years and demanded a one-time increase of 25%.
Updated on Sep 23, 2024 06:00 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Farm fires start early this year
Most cases of the setting ablaze of crop residue have been reported from farms where basmati paddy was planted, officials said
Published on Sep 21, 2024 10:08 AM IST
Farm bodies sceptical of agriculture policy’s viability
Punjab farmers are skeptical about the new agriculture policy's implementation, seeking clarity on support prices and funding amid a debt crisis.
Updated on Sep 18, 2024 07:51 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
HSGMC support crucial for parties on at least 30 seats
The Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee is set to discuss shortly on supporting a party in the upcoming assembly polls.
Updated on Sep 17, 2024 06:56 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
No survey since 2016, govt clueless about number of unauthorised colonies in Punjab
As per the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Bill, passed in the vidhan sabha last week, the government has done away with the practice of seeking no objection certificate (NOC) for the registration of plots up to 500 square yards in the unauthorised colonies in the state.
Published on Sep 14, 2024 10:11 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab: Banks reluctant to extend Mandi Board loan for its rural roads repair project
Punjab's agricultural board opts for a loan from NABARD at 8.3% interest to repair rural roads, facing a fiscal crisis and pending funds of ₹5,850 crore.
Updated on Sep 11, 2024 10:57 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab: Basmati growers’ body calls for minimum export price waiver as int’l sales plummet
Indian exporters have been struggling to sell their produce in the international market due to the high MEP of $950 a tonne, the association said.
Updated on Sep 09, 2024 06:42 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Nod to prosecute Ram Rahim in Bargari sacrilege case soon: Punjab CM
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s statement, during the third and concluding day of the Vidhan Sabha session, comes amid mounting pressure from the Opposition which has targeted the chief minister, who holds the charge of the home department, for “delaying prosecution nod for almost two years”.
Updated on Sep 05, 2024 09:18 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab passes Bill to register dwellings sans NOC in unauthorised colonies
As per the Bill, the owners will no longer need a no objection certificate (NOC) for the registration of up to 500 square yards of plots.
Updated on Sep 04, 2024 05:32 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Bajwa, Pargat seek govt sanction to prosecute Gurmeet Ram Rahim
Partap Singh Bajwa accuses the Punjab government of delaying prosecution in the sacrilege case against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He calls for longer assembly sessions to address key issues, including law and order, drug addiction, and farmers' concerns.
Updated on Sep 03, 2024 06:38 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
No role in controversial decisions, SAD ex-ministers-turned-rebels to inform Takht
After turning rebellious subsequent to the party’s poor show in the parliament elections, a section of Akali leaders had approached the Akal Takht on July 1 and they had in writing distanced themselves from party’s decisions.
Updated on Sep 02, 2024 05:38 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Cash-strapped Punjab Mandi Board looks to raise ₹2k cr for repairing rural roads
Mandi Board is responsible for the upkeep of rural roads totalling 65,000km in length and 1,872 mandis.
Updated on Aug 30, 2024 09:22 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Sukhbir names Balwinder Singh Bhundar as Shiromani Akali Dal working president
Sukhbir Singh Badal appoints Balwinder Singh Bhundar as Shiromani Akali Dal's working president amid speculation of his own resignation, ahead of key Sikh clergy meeting.
Updated on Aug 30, 2024 07:58 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Under pressure to check farm fires, Punjab sets action plan in motion
Punjab's agriculture department is delivering 21,000 subsidized CRM machines, worth ₹500 crore, to farmers for stubble management ahead of the kharif season.
Updated on Aug 28, 2024 05:40 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Pearls Group chief Bhangoo passes away
Bhangoo was arrested in 2016 after a case was made up by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Punjab Agro Company Limited (PACL), a subsidiary of the Pearls Group, and its chief (Bhangoo) in connection with a Ponzi scam involving over ₹49,100 crore, collected from 5.5 crore investors.
Updated on Aug 26, 2024 10:43 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Akali rebels constitute 51-member advisory panel to steer ‘sudhar lehar’
The committee will comprise of panthic leaders who have a grip over Sikh ethos, ideology, have leadership among the masses and possess clout among the people of Punjab, said ‘sudhar lehar’ convener Gurpartap Singh Wadala
Published on Aug 26, 2024 10:15 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Grains brim Punjab godowns, agencies battle space crunch
With 192 lakh tonnes foodgrains already stored in state, there is no space to keep around 185 lakh tonnes of paddy which will start arriving in mandis from Oct 1
Updated on Aug 24, 2024 07:02 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Fall in basmati prices has farmers worried
Market trends show that the rates of freshly harvested 1509 basmati variety, which has arrived in some mandis of Punjab’s Majha belt, is fetching ₹2,400 to ₹2,500 per quintal, which was around ₹4,500 per quintal in the last season.
Updated on Aug 21, 2024 08:52 AM IST
SAD, radicals to hold political conferences on Rakhar Punya
The supporters of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will hold political conferences at Baba Bakala in Amritsar on August 19 to mark ‘Rakhar Punya’ a socio-religious event celebrated in the fervour in Majha belt of Punjab.
Updated on Aug 17, 2024 06:38 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
2-term Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Sukhwinder Sukhi joins AAP
With this Akali Dal is left with two MLAs in the 117-member Punjab assembly—Manpreet Singh Ayali and Ganieve Kaur Majithia
Updated on Aug 15, 2024 05:36 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab seeks nod to BG-3 GM cotton seeds to check pest attacks
Officials of the Punjab agriculture department fear that in case timely corrective steps were not taken, growers might completely stop growing cotton and shift to water-guzzler paddy, which is an environmental hazard as it leads to fall in subsoil water level.
Updated on Aug 15, 2024 05:16 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab: Two-time SAD MLA Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi joins AAP in Chandigarh
Known to be a loyalist of Sukhbir Singh Badal, his exit comes at a time when the SAD president is battling rebellion in the party.
Updated on Aug 14, 2024 04:51 PM IST
Ease norms or won’t sign contracts: Punjab rice millers to Pungrain
Millers fear losses and say the new paddy varieties give only 62% of rice which is less than the govt norms
Updated on Aug 13, 2024 09:48 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Akali Dal starts process to induct 110 delegates
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will shortly induct 110 fresh faces to its list of delegates, a move seen as strengthening the party set up in the face of rebellion by a section of senior leaders.
Updated on Aug 09, 2024 06:36 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Sukhbir reconstitutes core panel, inducts 23 members
SAD appoints Harsimrat and chiefs of youth, women, legal wings as ex-officio members of top decision-making body of party
Updated on Aug 05, 2024 08:12 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Area under maize, direct seeded rice up in Punjab
The area under maize sees 30% rise and that under the direct seeded rice marks an increase by 44% across the state.
Updated on Aug 05, 2024 06:16 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Akali Dal rebel group rejects expulsion of eight leaders
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) rebel group on Wednesday rejected the expulsion of eight leaders who have launched a tirade against party president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Updated on Aug 01, 2024 05:50 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Sukhbir Badal cracks whip, expels 8 rebel Akali Dal leaders
The action came a day after the rebel leaders announced a 13-member praesidium to strengthen the ‘Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar (Shiromani Akali Dal reform movement)’.
Updated on Jul 31, 2024 07:24 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh