The 82nd meeting of the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) was held under the chairmanship of the Governor and Board Chairman, Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya here today. Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini who is also the Vice Chairman of KDB also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the Governor said that the government is continuously working to give global recognition to the cultural and spiritual heritage of the holy land of Kurukshetra. He said that to establish a wider identity for Kurukshetra across the country, everyone must work together. Kurukshetra holds immense religious significance and should be envisioned as a grand spiritual city, he emphasized. Renowned scholars and prominent personalities from across the country should be associated with the Board, he said.
Meanwhile, to foster deeper community engagement and participation in promoting Kurukshetra’s heritage, Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya suggested that at least 48 Utsav (festivals) should be celebrated annually in villages within the 48 Kos area, involving local representatives and the participation of the villages housing these pilgrimage sites.
The Chief Minister said that the government’s objective is to transform Kurukshetra into a world-class destination for spiritual and cultural tourism. He stressed that visitors should be able to sense the historic aura of Mahabharata’s land from the moment they arrive in Kurukshetra. Arrangements should reflect both religious and tourism perspectives, said Nayab Singh Saini.
During the meeting, various aspects of Kurukshetra’s development were discussed in the presence of board members and senior officers. The discussions focused on improving sanitation, the upkeep and renovation of Sarovars, transportation arrangements, and infrastructure upgrades within the Mela area. Ongoing development projects across different locations were also reviewed, with clear directives issued to expedite progress.
City to Showcase Mahabharata Theme
A key highlight of the meeting was the focus on promoting Kurukshetra’s identity as a city of spiritual and historical significance. The Chief Minister directed the officers concerned to identify major intersections and entry gates in the city, which will be designed around a Mahabharata-inspired theme. The Sudarshan Chakra on the road leading from Jyotisar will be redesigned with advanced lighting and an installation of a statue of Lord Shri Krishna. Besides this, the naming of entry gates to Brahma Sarovar was also deliberated upon. Further, departments were directed to enhance greenery in the surroundings of Jyotisar Tirtha. Discussions were also held regarding city-wide mural art and inscriptions of Sanskrit shlokas on structures near the railway bridge.
Electric Buses to Connect Pilgrimage Circuit, Pass System Introduced
In the meeting, it was decided that electric buses will soon be introduced in Kurukshetra, connecting important pilgrimage sites along the 48 Kos Parikrama circuit. Route maps will be displayed inside the buses, and a daily pass system will be implemented. These passes will not only facilitate bus travel but will also serve as entry passes to various attractions across Kurukshetra.
The officers concerned shared that, apart from the 164 pilgrimage sites already mapped within the 48 Kos Kurukshetra area, surveys of 18 additional sites have now been completed. A presentation was shown detailing the architectural design for these sites, which will feature uniform styling, color schemes, entrance gates, landscaped parks, and multipurpose halls to maintain visual and thematic consistency.
Four Information Centers to be Established
To further enhance the experience for pilgrims and tourists, four information centers are to be set up by October 15 at Pipli Bus Stand, Kurukshetra Railway Station, Jyotisar Railway Station, and the Kurukshetra Development Board headquarters. These centers will provide comprehensive information about the city, supported by brochures, posters, and booklets detailing accommodation options, tourist landmarks, and other key highlights. He also directed that plaques be installed at historical landmarks and near statues across the city, explaining their cultural and historical significance.
During the meeting, Gita Manishi Swami Shri Gyananand ji Maharaj said that a collective effort is underway to give Kurukshetra a grand and spiritually resonant identity. Citing Indore’s example, he suggested that similar efforts should be made to improve the city’s cleanliness and help it secure a high national ranking for sanitation. He also recommended engaging Japan as a global partner for the Gita Mahotsav, and proposed that a Global Gita Summit be organized in Haryana, attracting scholars from across the world.
Cabinet Minister Sh. Vipul Goel also attended the meeting. Kurukshetra MP, Sh. Naveen Jindal participated in the meeting via video conference and shared his valuable suggestions. MLA, Sh. Ashok Arora, Chief Secretary, Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Arun Gupta, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Saket Kumar, Member Secretary, Kurukshetra Development Board, Sh. Vikas Gupta, OSD to Chief Minister, Sh. Bharat Bhushan Bharti, and CEO KDB, Sh. Pankaj Setia also remained present in the meeting.
Voter ID card with photo will be delivered to homes within 15 days through postal department: CEO Pankaj Agarwal
Haryana Chief Election Officer (CEO) Sh. Pankaj Agarwal said the Election Commission of India has issued a new standard operating procedure to deliver photo identity cards to voters within 15 days. He said this service will be available after making corrections in new registration of voters, any change in the status of existing voters, etc. For this, voter ID cards will be delivered to voters through the postal department.
He said under this new system, there will be correct time tracking at every stage and the voter will be informed at every stage through SMS on his mobile phone. This will improve service delivery and data security will also be maintained. He said this is a big initiative by the Election Commission of India towards providing better services to voters.
It is noteworthy that in the last four months, Chief Election Commissioner of India Sh. Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi have taken many new initiatives for the benefit of voters and other stakeholders.
RTS Commission imposes penalty on officials for not providing timely service to power consumer
The Haryana Right to Service Commission has taken note of a complaint of a consumer and fixed accountability of three officers for negligence. Giving information about this matter, a spokesperson of the Commission said the Commission found in investigation that the application given by electricity consumer Kaithal resident Sh. Sohan Lal for refund of security amount on March 15, 2022 was clearly marked to the concerned Assistant (CA), but despite this, no action was taken on it.
The Commission has imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on Duty Officer-cum-CA Sh. Pritam of Division Gulha Cheeka under Section 17(1)(h) of Haryana Right to Service Act, 2014 and ordered to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation to the consumer. This amount will be deducted from the salary of June, 2025 and paid in July, 2025. An amount of Rs 5,000 will be deposited in the state treasury and an amount of Rs 5,000 will be transferred to the bank account of consumer Sh. Sohan Lal.
Apart from this, the Commission has also recommended disciplinary action against FGRA-cum-SDO (OP) Sh. Ashish Gautam. Despite knowing the matter on January 3, 2025, he only cancelled the bill and closed the case on 31st January, 2025, while no concrete action was taken on the consumer’s appeal and refund of security amount. However, accepting the lapse for the first time, the Commission has accepted his oral and written apology by warning him.
The Commission has also found the role of Superintending Engineer Sh. Gaurav Lochab of Division Gulha Cheeka unsatisfactory. Despite passing the final order on 3rd April, 2025, he did not take any concrete initiative to cancel the wrong bill or refund the security amount along with interest. If the security amount and due interest are not paid to the consumer in the next 15 days, disciplinary action will be recommended against him.
The Commission has directed the Superintending Engineer to pay the security amount of Rs 8,000 and the interest due to the consumer Sh. Sohan Lal and send the compliance report to the Commission by July 10, 2025.
CM’s historic step for a “Yoga Yukt, Nasha Mukt Haryana
Over 20 lakh people to participate for mass yoga practice on 11th International Yoga day
Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini has taken a historic step towards building a “Yoga Yukt, Nasha Mukt Haryana” by embracing Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi’s message of “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” on the occasion of the 11th International Yoga Day. As a result of this initiative, more than 20 lakh people across the state will participate in yoga sessions on June 21.
Sharing information in this regard an official spokesperson said that yoga programmes will be organised in all 22 districts and 121 blocks of the state on June 21. More than 20 lakh citizens will come together to practice yoga. So far, over 12.10 lakh people have registered themselves through the portal to participate. As part of the “Harit Yoga” campaign to promote environmental awareness, more than 70,000 saplings have already been planted. The state-level main event will be held at the Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra, where Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and other dignitaries will participate in yoga exercises along with thousands of practitioners, in the presence of yoga guru Swami Ramdev.
Notably, in 2014, Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi introduced yoga on the global stage at the United Nations General Assembly. With support from 177 countries, June 21 was declared as International Yoga Day, through which India offered the world a path of peace, health, and harmony. This year’s Yoga Day theme highlights yoga’s role in promoting physical, mental, and environmental well-being. It aligns with the global call for unity and sustainability, the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson further said that to promote yoga at the grassroots level, the Haryana Government has set a target of building 1,000 Vyayamshalas (gymnasiums) in rural areas. So far, 714 have been completed and 877 AYUSH yoga assistants have been appointed. Special yoga programmes will also be held in these Vyayamshalas on June 21, 2025.
Health Minister holds detailed discussions on implementation of health services and schemes in Haryana
Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister Arti Singh Rao today held a review meeting at her Chandigarh residence with the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of Jhajjar, Gurugram, and Sonipat.
The meeting focused on detailed assessment of the implementation of health services and schemes, as well as the availability of resources across the three districts. The Minister discussed the current challenges being faced on the ground and reviewed ongoing efforts to improve healthcare delivery.
Arti Singh Rao emphasized the importance of sensitivity and accountability in service delivery. She directed all officers to ensure that healthcare services are accessible, responsive, and patient-centric, especially for the underprivileged and remote populations.
“The quality of health services reflects our commitment to the well-being of every citizen. We must ensure that each facility functions efficiently and each scheme reaches its intended beneficiary,” the Minister stated.
The Minister assured the officers of full support from the state government in terms of budgetary provisions, manpower requirements, and infrastructure upgrades. She said the state government was fully committed to building a stronger, more inclusive and resilient public health system in Haryana.
DGHS Dr. Manish Bansal, DGHS (P) Dr. Kuldeep Singh and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
