In a significant move aimed at providing relief to various sectors, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced the implementation of a Voluntary Disclosure Scheme (VDS) for enhancing the loads of tubewells, residential, and commercial power connections. The initiative involved a substantial reduction in load enhancement rates for agricultural, residential, and commercial consumers.   Mann maintained that the states power utility — Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) — has been directed to initiate the VDS for consumers with agriculture, residential, and commercial power connections.   For consumers seeking to enhance the load of tubewell connections in agriculture, the service charges have been reduced to Rs 2,500 per horsepower, a significant reduction from the previous Rs 4750 per horsepower set by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Additionally, the security deposit has been halved to Rs 200 per horsepower from the earlier Rs 400 per horsepower.   The VDS for residential connections also offers reduced rates for load enhancements. For load enhancements up to two kilowatts, the rates have been reduced to Rs 225 per kilowatt from the existing Rs 450. Similarly, for load enhancements between two and seven kilowatts, the rate is now Rs 500 per kilowatt, down from Rs 1,000. The rates for enhancements between seven and 50 kilowatts have been slashed to Rs 750 to Rs 1500 per kilowatt, and for 50 to 100 KVA, the new rate is Rs 875, down from the existing Rs 1750.   The Chief Minister highlighted the benefits extended to commercial consumers under the VDS, where the rate for load enhancements up to seven kilowatts has been reduced to Rs 500 from Rs 1000 per kilowatt. For enhancements between seven and 20 kilowatts, the rate has decreased to Rs 800 from Rs 1600, and for 20 kilowatts to 50 KVA, the new rate is Rs 800, down from the existing Rs 1600 per kilowatt.   Expressing his expectations, the Chief Minister encouraged agricultural, residential, and commercial consumers to make the most of the scheme by applying for load enhancements with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited authorities. The reduced rates aim to provide economic relief to various sectors and foster a conducive environment for development in the state.   25 companies of central forces arrive in Punjab SLUG: 2024 GENERAL ELECTION   PNS/Chandigarh   To ensure the conduct of free, fair and peaceful upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the state of Punjab has already received 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for area domination and confidence-building measures.   The 25 companies include five coys of Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), 15 coys of Border Security Force (BSF), and five coys of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).   Sharing details, the state Special Director General of Police (Spl DGP), Law and Order, Arpit Shukla on Friday said that the forces will be deployed in vulnerable districts of the state to instill confidence among the general public as well as to dominate sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas in the state.   He said that mapping of vulnerable areas is also being carried out so that extra force could be deployed to avoid any untoward situation ahead of the General Elections.   The Spl DGP said that all the Commissioners of Police and the Senior Superintendents of Police have already been asked to keep vigil around the anti-social elements and carry out flag marches in their jurisdictions to build confidence among the general public.   Punjab Police under the leadership of DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav is committed to ensuring free, fair and peaceful conduct of elections in the state, he added.   PNS / Chandigarh    Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday launched the electric city bus service for Panchkula and Karnal, and announced that the bus service will be free for the first seven days. Currently, five buses each have been incorporated into the electric city bus service in Panchkula and Karnal, with plans for additional buses to join the fleet soon. The fare for these 45-seater e-buses has been set at Rs 10 for the first five kilometers, followed by an increase of Rs 5 for every three km thereafter. The route of the city bus service will be tailored to accommodate the demands and needs of the citys residents. Besides, the city bus service will be gradually expanded to neighbouring towns in a phased manner. Speaking on the occasion, Khattar said that the facility of city bus service had already been introduced in Panipat and Yamunanagar. Following the launch of the e-bus service in Panchkula and Karnal, similar services will soon commence in five other cities -- Ambala, Sonipat, Rewari, Rohtak, and Hisar, he added. A government statement said the newly launched electric bus service is projected to save approximately 4,20,000 litres of diesel over a span of 10 years. These buses are powered by fast-charging lithium-ion batteries and come equipped with a real-time passenger information system (PIS), panic buttons for emergencies, vehicle location and tracking systems, CCTV cameras, public address systems, stop request buttons, fire detection systems, and alarms, among other modern features. On this occasion, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gian Chand Gupta and Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal from Panchkula, as well as MP Sanjay Bhatia and MLA Ram Kumar Kashyap from Karnal, also participated through a virtual medium. BJP starts campaign for LS Polls in Punjab Monika Malik/Chandigarh   In a significant stride marking the onset of the saffron partys Lok Sabha poll campaign in Punjab, the state BJP unit on Friday launched its electoral initiative with a fleet of 26 vans ceremoniously flagged off, destined to traverse all 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. This  campaign, titled Sankalp Patra Sujhav Abhiyaan, aims to solicit inputs from Punjabs electorate, ultimately shaping the partys election manifesto.   At the same time, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, flagging off the vans during an event in Chandigarh, gave enough indications regarding the impending strategic alliance between the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), citing popular sentiment in favour of collaboration.   The campaign, officially dubbed Sankalp Patra Sujhav Abhiyaan: Viksit Bharat – Modi ki Guarantee, embodied the partys commitment to craft a manifesto rooted in the realistic expectations and aspirations of the people.   In his address to the media, Jakhar emphatically declared, You can call it the aagaaz (beginning) of the Lok Sabha polls campaign…Our slogan is Hum waade nahi, haqiqat bunte hain (We weave realities, not promises) — underscoring BJPs stance on delivering tangible results over making grandiose promises, drawing a pointed contrast with rival parties, particularly the states ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).   Jakhar did not let go the opportunity to critique the AAPs track record, highlighting their inability to fulfill promises made during 2022 state assembly elections. He contended that funds allocated for developmental works in Punjab ended up in the hands of AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal instead.   In contrast, the BJP, he asserted, offered an authentic guarantee, coined as Modi ki Guarantee, which aligns with the partys commitment to fulfill promises made to the electorate.   As part of the ambitious campaign, suggestions and feedback garnered from the people during the statewide tour will be meticulously compiled and subsequently forwarded to the partys central election committee in New Delhi after a span of 10 days — an approach aimed at democratizing the process of manifesto creation, ensuring that it resonates with the diverse needs of Punjabs populace.   Alliance with SAD Can Be Mutually Beneficial   Responding to queries about the potential alliance with SAD, Jakhar expressed the BJPs readiness to independently contest all 13 seats. However, at the same time, he acknowledged the prevailing public sentiment, indicating a favorable inclination toward a coalition. Log chaahte hain… said Jakhar. He also emphasized the significance of regional parties like the SAD in articulating the demands of the local populace, suggesting a strategic alliance could be mutually beneficial. In a broader political context, Jakhar criticized the Congress for engaging in what he termed a friendly match with the AAP in Punjab. He raised concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in the State, specifically targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns approach in the assembly.   Patiala MP Preneet to soon join BJP Regarding Congress under suspension Patiala MP Parneet Kaur, Jakhar hinted that she would soon join the saffron brigade in Delhi. Preneet, a former Union Minister and currently Patiala MP, is the wife of former Chief Minister Capt Amaridner Singh, who — along with his daughter jai Inder Kaur and son Raninder Singh — had already joined the BJP.  

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