PUNJAB TO HAVE WELFARE FUND FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS-TIKSHAN SUD

Chandigarh, December 15, 2008

The Punjab government has enacted series of acts to regulate the employment and conditions of service of building and other construction workers and to provide for their safety, health and welfare measures.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Tikhan Sud, Labour Minister said that in order to provide and monitor the social security schemes and welfare measures for the benefit of building and other construction workers, the Punjab Government has constituted the Punjab Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board and to augment the resources for the Board has decided to formulate a Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Fund.

The Minister said that after raising the minimum wages by 21% of scheduled employments, this was second major labour welfare step taken by the government. The Minister said that it has been decided to levy 1% cess on cost of construction of any building constructed in the state. Building or other construction would include construction, alteration, repairs, maintenance or demolition , of or in relation to, building, streets, roads, railways, tramways, airfields, irrigation, drainage, embarkment and navigation works, flood control works (including storm water drainage works), generation, transmission and distribution of power, water works (including channels for distribution of water) oil and gas installations, electric lines, wireless, radio, television , telephone, telegraph and overseas communications, dams., Canals, reservoirs watercourses, tunnels, bridges , viaducts, aquaducts, pipelines, towers, cooling towers, transmission towers and such other work as may be specified in this behalf by the appropriate government, by notification but does not include any building or other construction work to which the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948), or the Mines Act , 1952 ), apply .

The Minister said that cess would be collected from every employer either by deduction of cess at source in relation to building and other construction work of government or PSU, or by advanced collection by cess through a local authority where approval of building or construction was granted or employer may pay in advance an amount of cess calculated on the basis of estimated cost of construction along with the notice of commencement of work.

He said that for implementation of act Assistant Labour Commissioners has been designated as Registering Officers and Labour Inspectors as Inspectors. All government department PSUs, Boards and Corporations, Cooperative, Local Authorities would remit cess @ of 1% cost of construction through Area Cess Collectors by cheque. In case of work being implemented through contactors they would be required to deduct the cess of source @1% of the amount of cost approved as per tender and remit the amount to the Board by 10th of succeeding month.

The Minister clarified that with regard to Private construction all local authorities e.g. PUDA, GMADA, GLADA, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Committees, Zila Parishads, Nagar Panchayats etc. would collect 1% cess at the time of approval of building plan. However, in the case of individuals in relations to own residence, the cess would be collected if cost of construction was 10 lac or more. In Groups Housing Societies, Managing Committees were liable to pay cess. If employer fails to pay cess within specified time he would be liable to pay interest @ 2% per month on assed amount.

RBI TO EDUCATE STUDENTS REGARDING CURRENCY NOTES

Chandigarh, December 15, 2008

Reserve Bank of India, Chandigarh has launched a scheme educate the students regarding bank notes and clean note policy.

According to an official spokesman as a part of this campaign RBI Chandigarh as invited to all schools in state of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory Chandigarh to sponsor their students to participate in Essay competition with to create awareness on "Know your banknotes" and "Clean Note policy". The students have been invited into three categories Class VI-VIII (Junior), Class IX-X (middle) and Class XI-XII (Senior). Length of Essay or Junior, Middle and Senior level has been fixed 1000, 1500 and 2000 words respectively and students have option to submit essay in English, Hindi or Punjabi. The spokesman added that management and Principal of the school forward the essays to DGM, RBI by 15th January, 2009. The topics junior category is 'How to keep Indian Currency Notes clean and Crisp-Your Suggestions, for Middle category "Quality of Indian Currency Notes-Experience and Expectation and for Senior category "The Menace of forged notes-challenges before Reserve Bank and Government.

The spokesman said that for all categories first, second, third and consolation prize would be Rs. 5000, Rs. 3000, Rs. 2000 and Rs. 500 respectively.

PUNJAB GOVERNMENT ISSUES PUNJAB STATE DEVELOPMENT LOAN

CHANDIGARH, December 15, 2008

The outstanding balance of 12.47 percent Punjab State Development Loan 2009 issued in terms of the State government vide notification no.7/2/88-2FBII/121 dated 07.12.1999 would be repaid on 14.1.2009 with interest due upto including 13.1.2009.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that in the event of a holiday being declared on the aforesaid date by State Government under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, the loan would be repaid by the paying offices on the previous working day. No interest would accrue on the loan from and after 14.1.2009, he added.

He also said that to facilitate repayment on the due date, holders of 12.47 percent Punjab State Development Loan, 2009 should tender their securities at the Public Debt Office 20 days in advance.

It should be particularly noted, said the spokesman, that at places where the treasury work was done by a branch of the State Bank of India or any of its associate banks, the securities, if they were in the form of Stock Certificates, should be tendered at the branch of the bank concerned and not at the Treasury or Sub-Treasury.

15 Chairmen & 9 Vice Chairmen Nominated in 15 Market Committees

CHANDIGARH DECEMBER 15, 2008

The Punjab Government today nominated 15 Chairmen and 9 Vice Chairmen in 15 Market Committees of Kapurthala, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali and Rupnagar district.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government said that these Chairmen and Vice Chairmen had been nominated under Sub Section (1) of Section 16 of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961. The respective notifications relating to these nominations had been issued by the State Agriculture department.

According to these Notifications, Mr. Baldev Singh and Mr. Gurcharan Singh have been nominated as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Market Committee Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district; Mr. Sarwan Singh Kullar as Chairman of Market Committee Phagwara in Kapurthala district, Mr. Narinder Singh as Chairman of Market Committee Kapurthala, Mr. Lakhwinder Singh and Mr. Natha Singh as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Market Committee Dhillwan in Kapurthala district; Mr. Swaran Singh Josh and Mr. Ravi Charan Ghai as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Market Committee Bholath in Kapurthala district; Mr. Gurjeet Singh as Chairman of Market Committee Rama in Bathinda district; Mr. Jagwinder Singh and Mr. Gurtej Singh Malkana as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Market Committee Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district; Mr. Parveen Kansal as Chairman of Market Committee Rampura Phul in Bathinda district; Mr. Gurmit Singh and Mr. Nirmal Singh as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Market Committee Bhagtan Bhai Ka in Bathinda district; Mr. Swaran Singh and Mr. Sarbjit Singh as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Market Committee Chanarthal in Fatehgarh Sahib; Mr. Jasbir Singh and Mr. Pal Singh as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Market Committee of Kharar in Mohali district; Mr. Surinder Pal Singh and Mr. Mam Chand as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Market Committee Dera Bassi in Mohali district Mr. Hakam Singh and Mr.Nand Lal as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Market Committee Lalru in Mohali district; Mr. Jaidev Singh as Chairman of Market Committee Kurali in Mohali district and Mr. Rajinder Singh as Chairman of Market Committee Morinda in Rupnagar district.

SANGHA, PANDHI TO HEAD COMMISSIONS ON WOMEN AND SC WELFARE

Chandigarh, December 14, 2008

The Punjab Government today appointed Mrs. Gurdev Kaur Sangha as chairperson of the Punjab State Women Commission.

The State Government has also appointed former Minister Mr. Dalip Singh Pandhi as the Chairman of Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission.

Giving the details of government's decision, Mr. Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to Chief Minister said that Mrs. Kiranjit Kaur and Mrs. Ranjit Kaur Bhatti has been appointed as the members of the Punjab State Women Commission from General category and Mrs. Pushpinder Kaur Mazboor from SC category. Mr. Bains further said that former MLA Mr. Parkash Singh Gardhiwala had also been appointed as the Member of the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission.

Both these commissions had been recast to ensure efficient and result oriented functioning for the empowerment of the women and amelioration of the lot of disadvantaged sections of the society, added Mr. Bains.

"DEVELOPMENT SAD'S SOLE POLL PLANK" SUKHBIR CALLS FOR CONSTRUCTIVE POLITICS SHIROMANI AKALI DAL

Chandigarh, December 14, 2008

The Shiromani Akali Dal President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today gave a call for constructive politics in the state and said that the SAD-BJP alliance would go to the people in the Lok Sabha elections on the twin plank of development and clean politics. "We will contest this election on issues, policies, programmes and principles," he said.

Asserting that some parties and leaders in the state were running away from a direct comparison between the performance of the present government and that of the previous regime by raising the bogey of vendetta, Mr. Badal said, "All this talk of alleged vendetta is a mere slogan to evade accountability for the non-performance of the previous regime. At the same time, it is an attempt to divert the government's attention from its real tasks and to mislead the people of the state. We know how to deal with such elements but we would not allow our focus on governance, development and people's prosperity to be diluted by these antics," said the Akali leader in a statement here this evening.

The SAD chief said that leaders who had delivered nothing in five years of their regime were now un-nerved by the hectic pace at which this government has taken up development tasks and gone about removing the problems and long-standing grievances of the people of the state. "Everyone in Punjab knows that, unlike some others in the state who took to politics as a tool for promoting their personal leisure and pleasure, Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has no time away from the service of the people to even think of rest and comfort.

The SAD president reminded his detractors that people elect their representatives for the latter to tend to their problems and not to engage in a theatre of personal score settling or one-upmanship. People's problems and the issues of development are too important to lose focus on because of the atmosphere of confrontation and cheap sensationalism in politics. "Unfortunately, some leaders have a street fighter's mentality and believe that high-sounding slogans and building an atmosphere of bitterness and confrontation are substitutes for responsive and responsible leadership," said Mr. Badal, asserting that during the past 20 months, the state had seen unprecedented development activity with projects like Thermal plants and international airport being put firmly on course. "We do not believe in making false promises or fake claims. We promised cheap 'Atta-Daal' and enhancement in 'Shagun' scheme amount. We delivered it within first few weeks of taking over. Similarly, our promises on disbursement of Rs. 100 crore subsidy to industry and drastic reduction in the turn-over-tax (TOT) were fulfilled within a month of our coming to power. We promised Rs.4000 crore for urban development and we have already projects worth Rs. 6000 crore at various stages of implementation in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Bathinda, said Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Mr. Badal said that although the SAD-BJP would not allow anyone to vitiate the political atmosphere in the state through cheap publicity gimmicks, it would however appeal to all right thinking representatives of the people to join hands on a common plank of development, progress and prosperity of the state.

IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR RABI SEASON ANNOUNCED

CHANDIGARH, December 13, 2008

The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational irrigation Programme for the Rabi Season through Canal water from 15 December to 22 December 2008. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on priority basis from Bhatinda Branch, Bist Doab Canal, Sidhwan Branch, Abohar Branch Patiala feeder and respectively.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Irrigation department said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line, in Group 'A' being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance water supplies would be utilised in Ghaggar link and its off taking channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' respectively.

The spokesman further said that the Punjab channels off taking from Harika and Ferozepur Head Works & Branches i.e. all the direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in-group "A" being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance water supplies would be utilised in Abohar Branch off taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/minors in-group "B".

The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper Bari Doab Canal i.e. Main Branch Lower with its distributaries being in first Preference would run to their indent. Balance Surplus water available would be utilised in, Lahore Branch, Sabraon Branch, Kasur Branch Lower and with its distributaries.

QUATERLY LOK ADALATS DISPOSE OFF 16119 CASES

Chandigarh December 13, 2008

In order to provide speedy justice and to bring down pendency of the cases in the Punjab,26871 cases taken up in quarterly Lok Adalats for the financial year 2007-08 for the State of Punjab, out of which 16119 cases were disposed off.

Stating this here today an official spokesman of Punjab Government said that out of total cases taken up ,5420 were Civil cases,31 Land Acquisition,476 HMA,150 MACT,356 Bank Loan cases and 4235 were other cases. He said that total amount awarded in other cases was Rs 114.88 crores.

To reduce the pendency of court cases in the state, the Punjab Government has taken effective steps to educate and persuade the parties to redress their disputes by the medium of lok Adalats,because the decisions of Lok Adalats was binding and final on both the parties. There was no appeal against the decision of Lok Adalats. Parties should bring their disputes in Mega Lok Adalats going to be organized on 20th & 21st December 2008, at State , district ,Sub-Division level and at headquarters of state of Punjab.