Connecting over 25 millions NRIs worldwide
Most trusted Name in the NRI media
NRI PEOPLE- OUR NETWORK
Punjab Govt
April 10, 2008

 

PUNJAB ALL SET TO GET 250 MW POWER FROM MINI HYDRO PROJECTS - MAJITHIA

Chandigarh April 10, 2008

The State of Punjab today came a step closer to get 250 MW Power from mini hydro Projects set up by private developers in Himachal Pradesh and Uttranchal as the State signed and MoU with TOSS Mini Hydel Power Project to generate 20 MW Power from Mini hydro Project. The Chief Executive, PEDA, Sh.Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu, today signed MoU for Rs.100 crore Mini Hydro Project with 20 MW capacity being set up by M/s TOSS Mini Hydel Power Project, near Kullu, in Himachal Pradesh in the presence of Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Minister for Science, Technology, Environment. Mr.R.S.Mehta, GM, TOSS Mini Hydel Project signed the MoU on behalf of the company.

Speaking on the occasion the Minister said that PEDA was committed to generate 10% power requirement of the State through non-renewable resources including mini-hydro projects. He said that NCES policy has been framed to attract private developers to participate in these projects. He said that Punjab Government's NRSE Policy provided attractive power tariff for power generation from non-conventional energy projects. He said that attracted by the policy not only in the state of Punjab but also for projects being set up by the private developers in the Northern region states are willing to partner with Punjab.

Mr. Majithia said that with the signing of this MoU the PEDA has signed MoU with 21 private developers setting up mini hydro projects in northern states to supply 250 MW power to Punjab. The Minister said that these projects are scheduled for commissioning during the year 2009-10. The Minister said that PEDA has already signed MoU for 21 projects being set up in Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal including Bhilangana-III SHP Ghansali, Distt: Tehri.Uttaranchal (24MW), Madkini SHP Madkot, Distt Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand (18MW), Gangani SHP Barkot, Distt: Uttarkashi, (Uttarakhand), (12MW), Rishiganga SHP, Vill: Raini, Distt: Chamoli, Uttarakhand, (11MW), Hanumanganga- SHP Hanumanchatti, Distt: Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand (4.95 MW), Badyar SHP Barkot, Distt: Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand.(4.90MW), Siyangad (Uttarakhand) (11.50MW) Kakoragad (Uttarakhand) (12.50MW) Jalandharigad (Uttarakhand) (24MW), Kurmi SHP Village Kurmi, Distt: Shimla (HP) (5 MW), Behna-I SHP Village: Suinj Distt: Mandi,(HP) (3MW), Ani (Behna) SHP Village: Firnu, Distt: Mandi (HP).( 4MW), Makkan SHP Village: Nakrod, Distt: Chamba (HP)(5MW), Joiner SHP Vill: Tissa, Distt: Chamba, (HP),(5 MW), Jirah SHP Village: Tosh, Distt: Kullu (HP)(4 MW), Beas Kund SHP Village: Palchan, Distt: Kullu (HP) (5 MW), Baragaon SHP Village Manglan, Distt: Kullu (HP) (24 MW), Sarbari -II Vill: Near Shalang, Distt: Kullu, (H.P) (4.50MW), Himani Chamunda Thingri SHP Dist: Kinnaur (5 MW), Roura-II SHP Distt: Kinnaur(5 MW), Kut HEP Vill: Kut Distt: Kinnaur (H.P) ( 24MW), Luni-II and Luni-III Dist: Kangra (H.P) (10 MW), Upper Awa Distt: Kangra (5 MW).

He said that PEDA has been given target to increase the renewable energy share in the state minimum upto 10% of the total power generation capacity of the state from all sources. The major renewable energy sources available in the state are biomass and solar, said the Minister

The Minister said that PEDA was committed to generate 1500 MW power from non-conventional energy sources. He said that 17 MW power would be produced through Solar Photovoltaic Power Projects, whereas Biomass Projects with a capacity of 350 MW are under implementation. He said that PEDA is going to generate 400 MW power in next five years and various projects with 104 MW are already in pipeline. He said that PEDA has also tied up with Northern Grid to generate 250 MW power through Mini Hydel projects.

Stressing on the need of energy conservation, the Minister said that besides promoting the usage of CFL, PEDA was working out arrangement with PSEB for their safe disposal after their expiry of life. Prominent among those who were present at the time of signing of MoU included Mr.A.S.Chhatwal, Secretary, Science, Technology & Environment and Members of Board of Directors of TOSS Mini Hydel Power Project.


PUNJAB TO GO FOR NEW LEGISLATION FOR PUNJABI IMPLEMENTATION

Chandigarh April 10, 2008
H.S. Grewal

The Punjab Government has decided to enact a new legislation to implement the use of Punjabi language as compulsory subject upto class 10th in all the schools in the state. Separately the Punjab Languages Act (PLA) would also be amended to make Punjabi as official language at all administrative level including subordinate courts in Punjab.

This was decided in a meeting of Punjab Advisory Committee held here today under the Chairpersonship of Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Education and Languages Minister Punjab. She emphasized that the amendment in the PLA would enforce the use of Punjabi as an official language in all the offices of State Government/Boards/Corporations/ Courts, Schools, Colleges and Universities also.

The Minister added that the amended PLA would empower the Punjab Languages department to take inspections of all offices/institutions and recommend legally punitive actions against the erring employees/officers to the state government. The deterrent punishment for not using the Punjabi would be severe for the repeated offences, she said.

Dr. Upinderjit Kaur further added that in pursuance to a unanimous resolution adopted by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha recently, a conscious policy decision has been taken by the Punjab Government to ensure that Punjabi language must be made as one of the compulsory subjects from the academic session 2008-09. In this regard a new act "The Punjab Learning of Punjabi and other Languages Act" has been drafted to ensure proper and compulsory learning and teaching of Punjabi language in all the schools from standard I to X whether run by any Society, Trust, Board, Management or any central school etc.

The Languages Minister stressed that School Education department officers not below the rank of District Education Officer (DEO) would be the competent authority to carry out inspections and recommend punitive action against the offending institution. Any educational institute willfully disobeying the directive would be punished with fine not less than Rs. one lac for every month of disobedience for every month of disobedience. The default management would be afforded an opportunity of hearing. After consecutive disobedience after three months the penalty may double, triple and many fold after six months and eight months respectively. Affiliation/no-objection certificate (NOC) issued by the state government to the default institution would also been withdrawn. The penalty imposed would be liable to be recovered as arrears of land revenue act, she added.

Prominent among others who were present in the meeting included Mr. Hardev Singh Mattewal, Advocate General Punjab, Mr. Harbans Singh Additional Legal Remembrancer, Mr. K.B. Sidhu, Special Secretary Education, Sh. Jaspal Singh Secretary Higher Languages, Mrs. Anjali Bhawara Secretary Education, Mrs. Balbir Kaur Director Languages Department Punjab, renowned novelist Mr. Jaswant Singh Kanwal, Mr. Gursharn Singh renowned playist, Dr. Dalip Kaur Tiwana renowned writer, Mr. Baljit Balli, journalist Ajit, Mr. Sidhu Damdami Editor Punjabi Tribune, Dr. Satinder Singh, Mr. Gulzar Singh Sandhu and Dr. Jaspal Kaur, Punjab University Chandigarh.


 

DSWOs TO PLAY MORE PROACTIVE ROLE TO REDRESS THE GRIEVANCES OF EX-SERVICEMEN: CAPT. KANWALJIT SINGH

Chandigarh April 10, 2008

Punjab Cooperation and Defence Services Welfare Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh today urged the District Sainik Welfare Officers (DSWOs) to play proactive role to redress the genuine grievances of the ex-servicemen concerning civil administration by regular liaison and following it up with all district offices.

Capt. Singh was addressing a meeting of all the DSWOs of the state held here at Punjab Sainik Welfare department headquarters after inaugurating a Theory cum Presentation Room set up at Sainik Vocational Training Centre. Capt. Singh said that it was noticed that the ex-servicemen were not getting the due respect and honor they deserve from the civil & police administration , so it becomes imperative to make concerted efforts to change the approach of the administration towards the genuine needs and aspirations of the ex-servicemen. He pointed out that the DSWOs could play an important role by becoming nodal agencies for redressing of grievances, coordinating resettlement, generating employment and ensuring the well being of ex-servicemen ,their families and as well as of serving soldiers.

He underlined the need to further up grade the pre-commission training, which was at present being provided at Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda and Patiala, by laying emphasis on spoken and written English as well as on personality development to ensure more induction of Punjabi youth as Commissioned Officers into Army.

Reiterating the state government's firm commitment for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families, the Minister informed that to generate self entrepreneurship a special scheme for ex-servicemen to set up commercial dairies and Dairy Cooperatives had already been launched. Besides this, the reservation of 13% jobs for ex- servicemen in all Punjab Government recruitments was being closely monitored and ensured and the Honour and Gratitude Committee had already considered 44 cases of wards of martyrs for employment. He also assured to fill the vacancies of the department for bringing more efficiency in the functioning of the department.

While reposing his full faith in the efficiency of field officers, Capt. Singh mentioned that keeping in view the largest concentration of ex-servicemen in the state, the field officers must reach out to the ex-servicemen and render selfless services to redress their genuine grievances.

Earlier, Sh AR Talwar ,Principal Secretary , Defence Services Welfare welcomed the minister and informed him of the various initiatives taken by the department and Brig.IS Gakhal ,Director,Sainik Welfare, Punjab introduced all DSWOs to the minister.

 

NRI News