2ND CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS COMMISSION
(ARC)
MEETS PUNJAB GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Chandigarh April 24, 2008
Shikha Nehra
The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) set up by
Government of India in year 2005 to prepare a detailed blueprint
to revamp the public administration system today met the Chief
Secretary and administrative secretaries of all the important
departments of Punjab Government in a meeting held here at Punjab
Bhawan. The delegation comprising of its member Mr.V.Ramachandran,
Ms.Vineeta Rai, Member Secretary, Mr. A.B.Prasad and Mr.Pradeep
Kharola both Joint Secretaries and Mr.Sanjeev Kumar Director was
here on a two day visit to the state.
Based on discussions, the Commission would recommend suitable
measures to achieve a proactive, responsive, accountable, sustainable
and efficient administration for the country at all levels of
the government. The important matter on which commission has already
submitted its reports to the Government of India covers the right
to information, crisis management, ethics in governance, public
order, local governance and capacity building for conflict resolution.
Presently the commission was working on framing steps to ensure
effective administration at state and district administration,
promotion of e-Governance, strengthening of financial management
and citizen centric administration. Mr. R.K. Verma, Special Secretary,
Information Technology gave a detailed presentation covering suggestions
of important government departments of the state for the consideration
of the commission.
Mr.V.Ramachandran, Member ARC while addressing the senior Bureaucrats
of the state emphasized on having a citizens friendly governance
more efficient and dedicated to the public. He expressed his pleasure
over the successfully handled sectors of health, social welfare
and education by the PRIs in the rural areas of the state.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Secretary Punjab, Mr. Ramesh
Inder Singh said that the state government was already taking
steps to ensure effective administration at the state level. He
also said that the administrative machinery was also being strengthened
to maintain public order conducive to social harmony and economic
development.
PUNJAB TO GET 250 MW POWER FROM NORTHERN
GRID FROM JUNE 2009
ONWARDS-MAJITHIA
Chandigarh, April 24, 2008
Punjab today tied up the loose ends with private Hydel power
plant developers to ensure supply of assured 250 MW power supply
to Punjab grid from northern grid from June 2009 onward.
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Science Technology & Environment
Minister today held a meeting with 21 private developers from
all over the country, who are setting up mini hydel plants in
northern India and had entered into MoU with Punjab to provide
power. Mr. Majithia had an open interaction with the developers
to understand their construction schedule and discuss various
procedural and other problems being faced by them in completing
those projects as per agreed scheduled . The private developers
listed many problems including clearance from Forest Ministry,
Land acquisition and displacement problems. The Minister ensured
that he would take up this problem with the concerned ministries
for their earlier redressal to ensure that these projects get
completed on schedule.
Mr. Majithia said that Power sector was getting the maximum
priority in Punjab and we are committed to provide 1500 MW power
to the Punjab grid from non-conventional sector. He said that
PEDA would conduct onsite inspections of all the 21 projects regularly
to monitor the progress of construction of these projects.
Mr. Majithia also reviewed the various clauses of draft power
purchase agreement (PPA) prepared by PSEB. The Minister said that
as Punjab was the first state entering into MoU with private developers
of Hydel Projects and PPA should be drafted to cover future development
in power sector. The suggestions of power developers were also
sought on draft PPA.
Besides 21 power developers from all over the country, prominent
amongst those who participated the meeting included Mr. A.S.Chatwal,
Secretary Science & Technology and Mr. T.P.S. Sidhu, CEO,PEDA