Over 10,600 people in Mohali fined ₹49 lakh for not wearing masks

Over the last six months since the lockdown after the Covid-19 outbreak was imposed, the district police have slapped fines of ₹49.23 lakh on 10,678 persons for not wearing masks.
Those who jumped home quarantine and violated social distancing norms and spat in public places were also fined for not adhering to the guidelines of the state health department.
Besides people who chose not to wear masks, three persons violating home quarantine rules were fined ₹6,000 while 43 found spitting at public places were penalised ₹4,300 collectively.
Seven others ignoring social distancing norms paid up Rs14,000.
On Tuesday, 60 persons were challaned for not wearing masks and ₹30,000 collected from them.
The senior superintendent of police, Mohali, Kuldeep Singh Chahal, said the state government had imposed penalties in case of violation of instructions and guidelines regarding prevention and control of Covid-19 according to regulations framed under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.
For better pandemic management the rules had been made more stringent and fine amount increased.
The fines include ₹500 for not wearing a mask in public places; ₹2,000 for violating home quarantine instructions as well as social distancing norms by owners of shops /commercial places and by vehicle owners. However, fines for buses are Rs3,000, for cars it’s ₹2,000 and for auto rickshaws/two wheeler owners it’s ₹500 All officials not below the post of BDPO, Naib Tehsildar , ASI. and any other official authorised by the deputy commissioner can impose the aforementioned penalties .
Non-payment of fine attracts proceedings under section 188 of IPC as per the regulations framed under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
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No immediate measures have been initiated by the authorities to check the stinking brackish blushing water flowing from the Harike barrage near here into Rajasthan and Ferozepur feeder canals even after over a decade of the polluted water making its way to agricultural fields and homes, resulting in crop losses and health problems among residents of Punjab and adjoining Rajasthan that receive the water supplied by it.
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Truck driver beaten to death; three youths booked for murder
A truck driver was allegedly beaten to death by three youths on Sunday after the victim, Inder Harpal Singh of Patiala's vehicle grazed their car in Faridkot city. SHO Sandeep Singh said that the investigation has found that the victim, Inder Harpal Singh of Patiala, was beaten to death by the accused after a small accident at 9:30 pm on Sunday when he was on his way to Faridkot city from Sangrur to deliver packages.
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Stop befooling farmers on moong procurement: SAD to CM Mann
The Shiromani Akali Dal on Sunday asked Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann not to befool the farmers with announcements that their moong crop would be procured when the Centre has only agreed to buy 4,585 tonnes of the pulse, amounting to only 10-15% of the anticipated production. In a statement here, SAD kisan wing president Sikander Singh Maluka said Punjab was set to produce 4.75 lakh tonnes of moong.
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Ferozepur division manager inspects Ludhiana railway station
Ferozepur Division manager Seema Sharma on Sunday conducted an inspection at the Ludhiana Railway Station. She also met a few railway union leaders and held a meeting with senior officials of the Ludhiana station. Senior divisional mechanical engineer and commercial manager Sudeep Singh also checked the operations at the station. Though senior officials termed it as a surprise visit, the Ludhiana railway staff, including the station director, were already aware of the checking.
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Hold DSR paddy sowing for few days: PAU to farmers
Punjab Agricultural University experts have advised farmers, who are preparing to sow paddy using the DSR method, to put the sowing process on hold for few days to avoid crop damage due to the inclement weather predicted across the state during the period. The PAU issued the advisory following a warning from the meteorological department that strong winds followed by rain were expected across Punjab on May 23 and 24.