PEDA RECEIVES NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION
AWARD
Chandigarh, December 17, 2008
Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has been conferred the
National Energy Conservation Award 2008. Mr..Balour Singh, Director,
PEDA on behalf of Minister for Science, Technology, Environment
and Non-Conventional Energy, Sh.Bikram Singh Majithia received this
prestigious award from Union Minister for Power, Sh.Sushil Kumar
Shinde on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day function
held at New Delhi yesterday evening.
Disclosing this here today Mr.Bikram Singh Majithia Minister for
Science, Technology, Environment and Non-Conventional Energy, said
that this award was in recognition of pioneering work being done
by Punjab in the field of energy conservation. He appreciated the
efforts of Chief Executive, Officers and Staff Members of PEDA for
implementation of energy conservation measures and energy efficiency
programme in the State.
He informed that Demonstration Projects for Energy Efficiency
Improvements in Government Buildings, Municipal Street Lighting
/ small & medium industries and Water Pumping have been taken
up and are being implemented by the concerned Department/Industry
through Energy Service Companies. In this novel financial model
evolved by PEDA, the Energy Service Companies will invest their
own funds and provide efficient technology for the lighting, air
conditioning, water pumping etc and recover their investment from
the savings that will accrue in the electricity bills. The pay back
period of such projects would be about 3 to 5 years depending upon
the level of energy consumption and technology selected.
Sh.T P S Sidhu, Chief Executive, PEDA informed that workshop-cum-interactive
meetings have been held with the senior officers of PWD (B&R)
and Municipal Corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana , Patiala
and Bathinda who are implementing the demonstration energy efficiency
projects in this sector. Technical experts from USAID and Econoler,
Canada had participated in these workshops and presented case studies
of successful projects implemented through ESCO at the International
level, notably, Mr.Jalel from Econoler, Canada and Dr.Archana Walia,
Dr.Satish Kumar from USAID. Sh.Sidhu also mentioned that State Level
Energy Conservation Day will be celebrated at Amritsar in the last
week of December.
Three Dairy Training Centres soon –Ranike
Chandigarh: December 17
The Punjab Government would start three modern rural dairy training
institutions in the State shortly to usher a second white revolution.
S.Gulzar Singh Ranike, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development
Minister Punjab said that the Dairy Training Centre at Chatamali
has launched a unique one-year dairy technology diploma course in
collaboration with IGNOU besides six-month and short term courses.
The Government has already allotted Rs.40 lakh to build a hostel
for trainees.
The Minister further said that the new Centres are also planned
at Abul Khurana village in Mukatsar, Gill Village in Moga and Verka
in Amritsar and would train over 800 entrepreneurs a year.
Punjab Government impose ban on book written
by Bhaniaranwala
Chandigarh December 17, 2008
Punjab Government today issued an notification to impose complete
ban on book "Bhav Sagar Samunder Amar Bani Granth" authored
by S. Piara Singh Bhaniaranwala, resident of Village Dhamana of
District Roop Nagar.
Ban was imposed due to objectionable material written in the book
which hurts the religious sentiments of different religions. Objectionable
matter also defamed the Hindu/Sikh religions. The Ban has also been
imposed on printing, sale, to translate in other language its reprinting
and keeping in possession.
Punjab farmers and landowners
met Union Minister
Chandigarh December 17, 2008
:Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Cooperation Minister Punjab, along with
Mr. Naresh Gujral, M.P, and Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD Minister
Punjab along with representatives of farmers and landowners of the
Dera Bassi and Zirakpur area yesterday night met Union Minister
for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Thiru.T.R.Ballu and
demanded that National Highways Authority of India (N.H.A.I) should
immediately pay enhanced compensation as per the award by Arbitrator.
NHAI has acquired land along NH 22 from Jharmari to Zirakpur in
Dera Bassi Sub-Division, for four laning of the road.
Capt.Singh stressed that the compensation should be based on Market
Value of the land and plus 30% seletion allowance as per the Government
of Punjab Land Acquisition Act enforce at the time of acquisition
of the land and not Collector Rates. The NHAI should adopt Punjab
Governments farmer friendly policy for land acquisition, the delegation
demanded.
Capt. Singh said that NHAI had taken possession of the land and
started Toll Collection activity, while the NHAI has not made the
payment of the due compensation to the farmers and shop keepers.
He said that NHAI was legally bound to pay enhanced compensation.
He asked the Union Minister to intervene and to direct NHAI for
withdrawal of the court case and for payment of enhanced compensation
immediately.
The Union Minister Road Transport and Highways & Shipping
ordered for formation of a joint committee of SDM Dera Bassi and
Project Director of NHAI to jointly work out the compensation for
the acquired land and the shops as per the Punjab Land Acquisition
Act and submit report within one week.
Capt.Kanwaljit Singh demanded that Toll Collection for the usage
of road should be collected at one place only instead of two i.e.
Dera Bassi and Dappar. Free pass facility be provided to the residents
of the Sub Division Dera Bassi since they are required to visit
Dera Bassi regularly being Sub Divisional Head Quarters. He demanded
that a fly over should be made at Dera Bassi to avoid traffic congestion.
He informed that fly overs at Lalru,Dappar and Zirakpur have been
constructed but the Sub Division Head Quarter of Dera Bassi which
is major town on the National Highway ,no flyover has been provided
which will create more traffic congestion on the site. The Union
Minister ordered that a survey be conducted immediately by NHAI
and the feasibility report be submitted to him.
Capt.Singh asked for a stop gap arrangement till the construction
of a fly over by making provision of over head passages at two important
points like one opposite Sukhmani Institute at Dera Bassi, and another
at Bhankhar Pur The Union Minister ordered that two steel pedestrian
bridges be provided at Dera Bassi for the convenience of local residents.
The Union Minister assured that he personally would intervene
and get implemented these demands.
The Punjab delegation demanded immediate
infusion of money in the milk cooperative sector
Chandigarh December 17, 2008
Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Cooperation Minister Punjab, along with Mr.
Naresh Gujral, MP, yesterday night called upon the Deputy Chairman
of the Planning commission, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, to apprise
him of the need to augment the milk procurement system in the state.
The Punjab delegation demanded immediate infusion of money in the
milk cooperative sector to improve it further.
Capt Singh told him about the dire need to diversify away from
the traditional wheat-paddy cycle of cropping and provide alternative
like milk production to the farmers in order to improve the economic
condition of the farmers by providing alternative production patterns
like milk production to the farmers which gives larger retunes to
them. It would also generate more employment opportunities. By strengthening
the procurement and distribution of milk, the state would be able
to ensure hygienic, un-adulterated and nutritious milk for the consumers
in the entire region.
Capt Singh told the Deputy Chairman of the planning commission
that the Punjab State has taken the major initiatives for diversification
through the Punjab Cooperative Department. Milkfed has already achieved
30 per cent increase in milk procurement during the last one year,
thereby displaying the keen evolvement of the Punjab farmers in
the diversification programmes and the popularity of the cooperative
movement in Punjab. To improve the system further, the minister
demanded a sum of Rs 25 crore for Milkfed, a Punjab Government cooperative
Institute of milk producers. This is aimed at further augmenting
the milk procurement and distribution in the state that is one of
the largest producers of milk in the country.
During the course of the meeting, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia asked
the state to send in its proposal for the same and he assured that
he would provide the required funds.
Highlighting a very crucial fact, the two leaders told Dr. Ahluwalia
to have a proper system for storing food grain in the country. At
present the food grain stocks are stocked in the open and covered
with tarpaulins. This is prone to attack from rodents. This was
leading to wastage of crores of rupees of food grain. They also
demanded to formulate a national policy to save the food grains
and also provide a suitable budgetary provision in the annual plans.
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