BADAL ASKS THE STATE MACHINERY TO GEAR
UP TO CONTROL FLOOD SITUATION
CHANDIGARH AUGUST 14, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had directed
the entire state machinery to keep a close tab on the flood situation
to fight out any sort of eventuality arising on account of heavy
rains in the State in the last 72 hours.
Mr. Badal asked the state Chief Secretary to regularly monitor
the situation and should direct the deputy commissioner to accord
top priority to it and added not a single life should be lost
and damage to the property, if any should be effectively controlled.
The Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners have been told to personally
visit the vulnerable spots within their jurisdiction to control
the flood situation.
The Chief Minister said that where ever the Army needed should
be requested to aid the civil administration in fighting this
menace.
It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had already directed
the Deputy Commissioners to undertake a Special Girdawari in order
to assess the damage caused to crops in the State on this account.
The Revenue Department had also released a sum of Rs. 10.71 crore
from the Calamity Relief Fund to all Deputy Commissioners.
BADAL SPEAKS TO VOHRA, FARUKH ABDULLAH
AND OTHER J&K LEADERS
CHANDIGARH AUGUST 14, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked
the Jammu & Kashmir Governor Mr. NN Vohra urging effective
and immediate administrative measures to protect the life and
property of the members of the minority Sikh community in J&K.
Mr. Badal also spoke to the former J&K Chief Minister Mr.
Farukh Abdullah in this regard and asked to lead political and
community efforts to instill a sense of security in the minds
of the Sikhs who had been living peacefully in that state for
centuries and have not only contributed immensely to the development
there but had also played a very meaningful role in creating atmosphere
of peace and communal harmony amongst the people of J&K.
The Punjab Chief Minister is also in touch with community leaders
from various segment to help create better understanding amongst
people belonging to various religious affiliations. The Chief
Minister said that Kashmir was traditionally an oasis of peace,
communal brotherhood and human understanding and it was unfortunate
that a situation had been allowed to be created which has disturbed
age-old bonds amongst Kashmiris professing different beliefs.
Meanwhile, Member Parliament and Shiromani Akali Dal President
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal has appealed for peace and communal harmony
in the valley and Jammu.
In a statement here Mr. Sukhbir Singh said that the youth volunteer
of his party have been instructed to play a pro-active role in
removing misunderstanding and help in bringing the traditionally
tranquil state back to its idyllic position.
BADAL ASKS TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND COMMUNAL
HARMONY
CHANDIGARH AUGUST 14, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has said that
the peace and communal harmony in the state will be maintained
at all costs.
Mr. Badal was reacting to a reported incident of violence between
followers of Sirsa Dera and the locals near Bhadaur in Barnala
district this afternoon.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said that no one would be
allowed to disturb the hard earned atmosphere of peace and communal
harmony in the state. Mr. Badal has directed the local civil and
police authorities to maintain strict vigil and not allow any
mischievous element to hurt the sentiments of any community.
PUNJAB APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR STATE LEVEL SCHOLARSHIP
EXAMINATION
Chandigarh August 14, 2008
State Institute of Science Education (SCERT) Punjab, would conduct
the State Level Merit Scholarship Examination for the Year 2008
on 16-11-08 to select 2210 students from class 8th in the state.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Education Department
Punjab said that in this Scholarship Examination, students studying
in 8th Class in the State Govt schools, Govt aided and Local Bodies
Schools situated in Punjab would be eligible, who have secured
minimum 55 % marks for general category and 50 % marks for SC/ST/Physically
challenged students in 7th class annual examination. The medium
of examination would be Punjabi/English.
He added that the successful students would got scholarship
of Rs. 6000/- per month from class 9th to class 12th, but only
those students, whose parents annual income does not exceed Rs.
1, 50.000/-, would be eligible to sit in the examination.
He added that there would be two question papers namely Mental
Ability Test (MAT) and Subjects Eligibility Test for total 90
marks having one number marks each. Under the subject eligibility
test, seven subjects namely Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths,
History, Geography, Civics would be compulsory.
He further added that admission forms could be down loaded from
the website www.punjabeducation.gov.in. The Admission forms duly
filled in and complete in all respects should reach the Principal
of the school (Examination center) as given in the admission form
by 10.9.08 where examination center in the concerned District
is situated. No forms/ requests would be entertained at the State
Institute of Science Education, Punjab, at Chandigarh.
It is necessary for the candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled
tribes Category to attach the attested copy of the certificate
regarding reserved caste issued by SDM/Tehsildar with the admission
form. There would be 25 % reservation for Scheduled Castes, 5%
for Scheduled tribes and 3% reservation for physically challenged
candidates i.e 1% for each namely hearing impaired, physically
and visually challenged irrespective of caste category (General,
SC, ST). Candidates belonging to physically challenged category
must attach one attested copy of certificate issued by the competent
authority stating that the child suffers from 40% or more disability
as per the PWD Act, 1995 and the disability is of permanent/temporary
nature.
PUNJAB CHHATBIR ZOO TO BE CLOSED ON INDEPENDENCE
DAY
Chandigarh August 14, 2008
The M.C Zoological Park Chhatbir Zoo would be closed on 15th
August 2008 on Independence Day.
Disclosing this here today a Spokesman of the Conservator of Forests
(Wildlife) Punjab said that the Chhatbir Zoo would remain closed
due to National holiday on the Independence Day.
CHIEF SECRETARY REVIEWS FLOOD PREPAREDNESS
MEASURES
Chandigarh August 14, 2008
Shikha Nehra
Mr. Ramesh Inder Singh Chief Secretary Punjab has directed senior
officers of all the departments of the state to take adequate
flood preparedness measures during current monsoon season so that
the loss incurred by heavy rains could be minimized due to the
timely preventive steps taken on the part of the administration.
While presiding over a high level meeting with the senior officers
of the departments of Revenue, Health and Family Welfare, Home,
Animal Husbandry, Irrigation and Power, Water Supply and Sewerage,
Local Bodies and Information and Public Relations to review the
status of flood protection measures being taken all over the state
here today, Mr. Singh asked the officers to take effective necessary
preparedness measures to mitigate the impact of natural calamities.
The Chief Secretary has especially asked the deputy commissioners
of the concerned districts to issue necessary alerts in the flood
prone areas and evacuate the people living in hamlets along the
Dhusi bands to avoid any mishap due to predicted heavy rains at
least till 22nd of this month. Advising the people of Punjab,
Mr. Singh said that presently the government was focused to protect
human lives, infrastructure and the crops during the monsoons
and the situation was well under control. Directing the deputy
commissioners of major flood prone cities, Mr. Singh said that
municipal corporations of these cities must be guided to take
special measures on war footing to clean the sewerage system and
ensure overall cleanliness including the safe drinking water in
the areas for the next 72 hours.
Speaking on the occasion, he identified the list of priority flood
protection works like erection of bands, studs, spurs and strengthening
of banks of river beds, canals and desilting of river beds / drains,
maintaining the reservoirs etc. He said that the state government
has already provided necessary funds as per the requirements of
the district administration and the delay in executing the works
undertaken as a part of the flood protection in the state would
not be allowed at any cost. He has asked the deputy commissioners
to immediately identify flood prone districts and villages and
take stock of the expected emergent situations during heavy rainfall
forecast. There should not be any shortage of rescue and evacuation
equipment, said Mr. Singh. District control rooms have been activated
and equipped properly to disseminate timely warning and to supply
necessary information to the high-ups, he added.