Chandigarh: Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, while presenting the state budget on Sunday, proposed an allocation of Rs 11,577 crore for the department of home affairs, justice and jails. He said the outlay reflected the AAP government’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, technological capability and operational readiness.The budget proposes Rs 535 crore for initiatives such as security modernisation, infrastructure strengthening and capacity enhancement. This includes Rs 390 crore to modernise police technologies and upgrade infrastructure, and Rs 145 crore for the construction, renovation and upgradation of jail infrastructure.Cheema said the state had moved forward on the Drug and Socio-economic Census initiative and outlined preparations already completed, including the development of a dedicated software platform and training of field functionaries to ensure accuracy, transparency and data integrity. The census will be rolled out from April 2026 to generate evidence-based data for targeted welfare interventions and to strengthen the fight against drug abuse. He added that Rs 100 crore has been earmarked in FY 2026–27 for its effective implementation.Describing the war on drugs as a sustained campaign, Cheema said that over the past year, 36,686 cases were registered against 52,331 traffickers under the NDPS Act, leading to the seizure of more than 33,000 kg of narcotics through intelligence-led operations. He said financial investigations had been strengthened to attach properties derived from illicit drug proceeds.Highlighting community participation, he said nearly 12,000 village defence committees (VDCs) with over 1.25 lakh members, along with thousands of “Pinda De Pehredar” volunteers, had been mobilised to reinforce enforcement with community vigilance. In the last two months alone, more than 350 FIRs were registered and 510 persons were arrested based on feedback from VDCs.On action against gangsters, Cheema said the Anti-Gangster Task Force had played a key role in restoring public confidence, with 2,762 gangsters and criminals arrested, 34 neutralised, 1,062 modules busted and 2,203 weapons recovered since its formation. He said Operation Prahar had been launched as a coordinated statewide crackdown targeting gangster networks, financiers and logistical chains to dismantle the nexus between organised crime and narcotics.He underlined the need for constant vigil along Punjab’s 553-km international border and said a second line of defence was being established through the installation of 2,367 CCTV cameras across 636 strategic locations in border districts. So far, 1,719 cameras have been installed and control rooms are operational in respective police stations.Cheema said the Sadak Surakhya Force had reduced emergency response time to six to seven minutes on designated highway stretches. He added that 508 four-wheelers were being purchased during the current year to further strengthen Dial 112.He said the war on drugs was also being fought by engaging youth in constructive, disciplined and competitive pursuits such as sports. Cheema proposed a budgetary allocation of Rs 1,791 crore for the sports sector in FY 2026–27, describing it as a record increase and a policy commitment to institutionalising sports development.Groundwork has been laid across districts for more than 3,000 model village playgrounds featuring laser-levelled fields, jogging tracks, football and volleyball courts, children’s play areas, separate toilets for men and women, and high-mast lights. These are being built at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore and are expected to be completed by June 2026. He added that 1,000 rural indoor gyms are also under construction and will be completed by April 2026.Cheema further said the government has decided to build 6,000 additional village playgrounds and 5,000 additional indoor gyms. MSID:: 129267603 413 |
