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.
