PUNJAB SIGNS MoU WITH HCL FOR "STATE WIDE AREA NETWORK"
FOR E-GOVERNANCE APPLICATIONS
CHANDIGARH, January 30: The Punjab Government today signed an
agreement with HCL Infosystems to establish Punjab State Wide
Area Network (PAWAN). Director Information Technology Department
Mr. Rakesh Verma signed the agreement with Mr. S.K. Sharma, Associate
Vice President, HCL Infosystems in the presence of Mr. Adesh Partap
Singh Kairon, Information Technology Minister, Mr. Ajai Chaudhry
Chairman HCL Infosystem & Mr. Narinderjeet Singh, Secretary
Information Technology.
The Project PAWAN to be implemented at a total cost of Rs. 41.45
crores will connect 200 sites i.e., 20 districts, 179 Sub-Divisions
& Blocks across in Punjab putting the state on the fast track
towards IT proficiency and would be implemented in 26 weeks time.
The Network for Punjab Government will be an Integrated, fully
manageable network enabling Citizen Services and effective e-governance
that is key for any State's development
Departments of Treasury & Accounts, Excise and Taxation,
Land Records, Transport, Police, Municipal Corporations and DC
Offices shall use this network immediately. This network shall
provide seamless end-to-end connectivity for all Government offices
across the state. Boards and Corporations will also use the connectivity
and it will also allow horizontal connectivity to various offices
across the state from each POP of PAWAN.
Project PAWAN will cater to the information communication requirements
of the entire state government and its departments. It will help
provide connectivity within the state administration thereby making
the Government more adept by enabling electronic transactions
and provide efficient service management by linking up operations
at not just the State and District level but seeping deep into
the Block level
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Kairon said "The Punjab State
Wide Area Network shall act as "Information Super Highway"
for data transfer between offices at State, District, Sub-Divisions
and Block levels. This project shall establish the backbone network
for data, voice and video communications throughout the state.
The Network would be set up on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer
model for five years, PAWAN would follow a 3 Tier structure through
Point of Presence across the various levels."
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Ajai Chowdhry, Chairman & CEO,
HCL Infosystems said, "With a strong focus on System integration
as one of our core business areas, Project PAWAN is a strategic
contract for HCL in the e-governance vertical. Our focus, as a
pioneer in the industry is to make technology simpler and convenient
by providing effective solutions and this project will help us
doing just that by taking IT to the remotest corner of the State.
We are glad to partner with Punjab Government for this initiative
and are sure that this project will take the benefit of technology
own to the grass root level."
It may be added that Punjab State Wide Area Network has been identified
as one of the Mission Mode Projects under National e-Governance
Plan (NeGP) by Ministry of IT, Government of India with the main
objective to make all Government services accessible to the common
man in his locality, through common service delivery outlets and
ensure efficiency, transparency & reliability of such services
at affordable costs to realize the basic needs of the common man.
The project shall be an element of core infrastructure for supporting
the e-Governance initiatives. The Central Government is funding
the establishment of vertical backbone of the project up to block
level.
This Wide Area Network (WAN), envisaged as the core network for
data, voice and video communications throughout the State, will
act as a catalyst for IT development in the state and supporting
IT solutions for effective e-governance.
HCL as the pioneer in IT hardware technology and Systems Integration
will provide solutions to enable seamless end to end connectivity
for all government offices across Punjab and facilitate Converged
Network Services (Data/Voice/video) and Security Services to the
state government for effective e-governance.
The Network would be set up on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer
(BOOT) model for five years, PAWAN would follow a 3 Tier structure
through Point of Presence (POP) across the various levels. The
minimum bandwidth for PAWAN at each tier shall be of 2Mbps. 50
horizontal offices shall be connected to State Head Quarter (Tier
I), 20 Horizontal offices shall be connected to District Head
Quarter (Tier II) and 10 Horizontal offices shall be connected
to Sub Divisional Head Quarters and block Head Quarters (Tier
III).
Network Operating Center (NOC) of this PAWAN shall be connected
to the State Data Centre (SDC) to provide dedicated access to
applications hosted at State and Central Departments. Internet
access will also be provided to PAWAN users through Internet Gateway
at State Network Center. Point to Point and point to multipoint
video conferencing through High Quality video equipments &
Multimedia PC is also provisioned in the network. The SWAN shall
be connected to the Common Service Centers (CSCs) for providing
access to major e-governance services/applications at the village
level
MAJITHIA THANKS VILAS MUTTEMWAR FOR ANNOUNCING
TO SUBSIDY TO SOLAR POWER UNITS
Chandigarh, January 30: Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Science Technology
& Environment & Non Conventional Energy Minister today
thanked Mr. Vilas Muttemwar Union Minister for New & Renewable
Energy for announcing formulation of generation based incentive
scheme for the solar photovoltaic and solar thermal power as financial
assistance to the project developers, acceding to the request
of Punjab Government.
In a letter written to the Union Minister, Mr. Majithia said
that the viability gap incentive scheme is likely to give a big
boost to the accelerated setting up of the solar power projects
in the state as well as in the country.
A spokesman of the Government today stated that Mr. Majithia
had earlier requested to Union Minister to revive the policy of
67% Capital Subsidy to solar power projects. He had requested
that the state government was a receiving number of proposals
from Pvt. Companies/developers for setting up of solar power plant.
However a tariff of Rs. 7 per unit with annual escalation of 5%
per annum were keeping these projects still unviable especially
in view of higher capital cost on these projects. Mr. Majithia
had requested that a Union Ministry should continue to provide
67% Capital Grant as was being provided earlier.
Mr. Majithia said that the new decision of the Union Ministry
would give a strong boost to generation eco friendly solar power
in the country.
MAJITHIA MONITORED THE PROGRESS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
Chandigarh, 30 January:
Sh. Bikram Singh Majithia, Science, Technology, Environment and
Information and Public Relations Minister Punjab, today chaired
the meeting of senior officers of PEDA to monitor the progress
of various on going renewable energy projects in the State.
He asked the officer incharge of various programmes
to prepare bar chart for close monitoring of implementation schedule
of their respective projects to ensure timely completion. He emphasized
the need for better coordination with other departments of the
State for speedy clearances such as Power Purchase Agreement,
Land lease Agreement and Environmental Clearances so that project
implementation could be taken at fast pace.
The Minister also desired that awareness and publicity campaign
must be launched in a big way for adoption of renewable energy
devices and energy conservation to reduce the gap between demand
and supply. Sh. A.S. Chhatwal, Secretary, Science, Technology,
Environment and Non Conventional Energy Sources informed that
they were holding meetings with Local Government Department and
PWD to replace inefficient fixture with CFL and efficient tube
lights to achieve energy efficiency in government offices and
street lighting. He also informed that energy data of 47 government
buildings have been collected which were being analyzed and some
of the buildings would be taken up as demo projects in the current
year energy conservation action plan.
Sh. T.P. Sidhu, Chief Executive, PEDA, was also present in the
meeting.
PUNJAB CM ASKS DCs TO IDENTIFY SHAMLAT LAND FOR HOUSES
TO VIMUKAT JATIS
CHANDIGARH JANUARY 30:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal directed all the
Deputy Commissioners of the state to identify the Shamlat (Panchayati)
land in the villages within their jurisdiction for the allotment
of dwelling units to the members of the 'Vimukat Jatis'.
An assurance to this effect was given by Mr. Badal to the confederation
of Punjab Pradesh Vimukat Jatis led by its President Dr.Tarsem
Singh Mahla during a meeting held at Chief Minister's residence
late last evening. Mr.Badal also asked the Deputy Commissioners
to find out the ways and means to allot land to the eligible beneficiaries
belonging to the Vimukat Jatis who had already constructed houses
on the Panchayati land over a past many years. He also asked the
Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Patiala to submit the final
report with in a month relating to the case sent by the department
of Welfare of SC/BC for reviewing the Vimukat Jatis so that the
state government could further take up the matter with the GoI
for inclusion of Vimukat Jatis in the list of scheduled tribes.
Mr.Badal also asked the SC/BC welfare department to thoroughly
examine the proposal to grant 5% reservation exclusively for 8
vimukat jatis viz. Sansi, Bazigar, Bauria, Bengali, Nat, Gadhila
and Barar put forth by the confederation.
Responding to another demand for the constitution of a separate
commission for Vimukat Jatis on the pattern of commissions for
scheduled castes and backward classes, Mr.Badal asked the Chief
Secretary to work out modalities for a separate board for the
welfare of Vimukat jatis by giving due representations to their
members. He also agreed to the demand of the confederation to
increase the income limit of Rs.5000 to Rs.1 lakh per annum for
the scholarship to the eligible beneficiaries of Vimukat Jatis
on the pattern of SC families.
Mr.Badal also assured the representatives of the Vimukat Jatis
that the state government would provide adequate funds for the
construction of dharmshals and cremation grounds for their community
provided they procure land on their own. He also asked the Principal
Secretary Social Welfare to issue detailed instructions to all
the deputy commissioners to include the word 'Vimukat Jati' while
issuing a Caste Certificate and tie up with the Punjab SC Land
Development & Finance Corporation to sanction loans to the
members of the Vimukat Jatis at low interest on the terms and
conditions for the scheduled castes. He also directed the Principal
Secretary Rural Development & Panchayats to extend the benefit
of the construction of flush latrines to the vimukat jatis on
the pattern of scheduled castes and a provision of special grant
for this purpose should also be earmarked.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included
Advisor to Chief Minister Dr.DS Cheema, Chief Secretary RI Singh,
Financial Commissioner Rural Development GS Sandhu, Principal
Secretary Finance DS Kalha, Secretary SC/BC Narinderjit Singh,
Executive Director Punjab SC Land Development & Finance Corporation
Hussan Lal.
GADVASU TO ESTIMATE FARM GATE MILK PRICE
CHANDIGARH JANUARY 30:
The Punjab government today decided to constitute a permanent
committee to review the farm gate milk price periodically with
reference to the cost of production which will be estimated on
the basis of breed, region and season by the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary
& Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).
A decision to this effect was taken here by Punjab Chief Minister
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal while chairing a joint meeting of progressive
dairy, poultry and fish farmers. It was also decided in the meeting
to vest powers for the prevention of adulteration in liquid milk
to the dairy development department concurrently with the state
health department.
The Chief Minister assured the dairy, poultry and fish farmers
that he would soon take up their case of the exemption of income
tax with the Ministry of Finance, GoI on the pattern of agriculture
as the income accrued from allied farming should also be exempted
from the income tax.
Mr.Badal agreed to the proposal of the progressive dairy farmers
for the upgradation/construction of two cattle mandis every year
with the financial assistance from cattle fair fund. He also desired
that a uniform design/pattern should be adopted for the said purpose
and suggested to utilize the services of a dairy consultant or
an expert architect in the field to create infrastructure for
dairy development in a meaningful manner. He also asked the board
to regularly organize animal fairs and milk competitions to encourage
dairy farming amongst the farmers of the state. Mr.Badal also
asked the Chief Engineer Commercial, PSEB to ensure interrupted
24-hour power supply to the dairy units consisting of atleast
50 animals.
The Chief Minister also conceded to the demand of the dairy farmers
to allow them to import semen of superior quality bulls directly
from the reputed companies across the globe and said that he would
soon take up the matter with the Ministry of Agriculture, department
of Animal Husbandry, GoI to give permission to the dairy farmers
in this regard. He also directed the Animal Husbandry department
to tie up with internationally acclaimed firms for import of sufficient
quantity of the best quality semen for the production of superior
milk cattle to enhance the milk production both qualitatively
and quantitatively.
The Chief Minister also directed the Principal Secretary Animal
Husbandry for initiating a procedure to give due representation
to the progressive dairy farmers on the Punjab Dairy Development
Board to enable them to contribute immensely towards the development
of dairy by way of their rich experience. He also directed to
constitute a joint committee of milk producers and processors
to discuss the modalities for levying cess on the milk production
and processing.
Mr.Badal also directed the department of Fisheries to devise
a self sustainable mechanism to fix minimum support price for
fish. He also underscored the need for modernization of fish farms
on the scientific lines to enhance the production of high quality
fish seed. He also asked the State Pollution Control Board to
ensure that the industrial and toxic effluents should only be
allowed to release in the rivers after proper sewerage treatment.
He also stressed the need for value addition of fish to supplement
of the income of fish farmers. Mr. Badal also suggested the farmers
of the water logged areas in Muktsar, Moga, Faridkot and Ferozepur
districts to adopt fish farming in a big way and a pilot project
for saline water is being commissioned soon after signing a memorandum
of understanding between the Punjab and Australian governments.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included
Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development & Fisheries Minister Gulzar
Singh Ranike, Financial Commissioner Revenue Romilla Dubey, Principal
Secretary Animal Husbandry DS Bains, Managing Director Milkfed
VK Singh, Secretary Animal Husbandry Usha R.Sharma, Director Health
& Family Welfare Sukhdev Singh, Director Animal Husbandry
BS Sidhu, Director Dairy Development Anil Kaura and Director Fisheries
DS Syal.
CABINET APPROVES SUMMONING OF 4TH SESSION
OF 13TH PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA FROM FEBRUARY 25
CHANDIGARH JANUARY 30:
The Punjab Cabinet under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved the summoning of 4th session
of 13th Punjab Vidhan Sabha from February 25 to March 19, 2008.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government
said that the session would begin with Governor's Address on February
25 and the budget for the year 2008-09 would be presented on March
11.
The Cabinet also approved to grant exemption from levy of VAT
on raw materials and consumables produced by or sold to Sri Durgiana
Committee, Amritsar.
The Cabinet also gave approval to the state government to sign
a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of India and
NABARD and to effect possible amendments in the provisions of
Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 to become eligible for
the relief package. This move was aimed to revive the short term
credit structure.
The Cabinet also gave a green signal to revise the rate of tax
on weekly lotteries from Rs.50,000 to Rs.75,000 per draw in order
to raise additional resources for the development of the state.
Likewise, it was also decided to raise tax on 2-digit weekly lottery
from Rs.25,000 to Rs.50,000 per draw. It may be recalled that
the existing rate of tax of Rs.25,000 per draw was very low as
compared to other states like Karnataka, Kerala and Maharastra.
The revision of rates would fetch additional revenue of Rs.86.80
crore.
In pursuance of the representations from trade and industry across
the state, the Cabinet also decided to grant ex-post facto approval
to reduce the rate of VAT on furnace oil from 12.5% to 4%.
In another significant decision the cabinet also approved to
amend the Punjab Value Added Tax Act, 2005 regarding deemed assessment
to enable the registered dealers to deposit a sum by way of composition
money, @ Rs.300 per lac of the gross turnover with a minimum of
Rs.1000 subject to fulfillment of eligibility criteria as laid
down in rule 33 (B) of the repealed Punjab general sales tax rules,
1949 as per the procedure laid down in the repealed Act/Rules.
The Cabinet also granted approval to amend sub-section 5 of section
19 of the Punjab Value Added Tax, 2005 relating to Input Tax Credit
on schedule 'H' goods.
The Cabinet also decided to grant ex-post facto approval for
allowing subsidy to all categories of consumers for neutralizing
the impact due to increase in electricity tariff for the year
2007-08.
The Cabinet also approved to amend section 10 and other relevant
sections of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act 1994 to provide for
indirect election to the office of Sarpanches of Gram Panchayats.
The Cabinet also gave a go ahead for transferring the State Institute
of Nursing & Paramedical Sciences (SINPS) at Village Badal
in Muktsar district to Baba Farid University of Health Sciences,
Faridkot.
The Cabinet also approved the annual administrative report for
the departments of Health & Family Welfare for the year 2003-04,
Local Audit for the year 2004-05 and Town & Country Planning
for the year 2005-06.
