MUMBAI KILLING:
PUNJAB PROTESTS PASS OFF PEACEFULLY
Chandigarh June 25, 2008
The protests in several parts of Punjab against the killing of
an innocent Sikh youth in Mumbai by Dera Sirsa chief's private
gunman passed off peacefully today.
A statement issued by Mr. Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to
Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal said that although road
and rail traffic was affected at about 19 places, no untoward
incident was reported from anywhere in the state. "Government
agencies had made elaborate arrangements to maintain peace and
communal harmony in the state. Keeping in view the highly emotive
nature of the issue, they used a combination of restraint, tact
and firmness to ensure that the situation remained peaceful and
totally under control. The state remained normal and free from
any kind of tension.," said Mr. Bains in his statement.
The Media Advisor who is also the Punjab government's principal
spokesperson, said that the Indian Railways plies more than 225
daily routes in the state. Reports reaching Chandigarh said that
of these, eleven had been either partially affected or rescheduled.
At some places, rail traffic was held up for about two hours by
peaceful agitators. The railways authorities cancelled two goods
trains and five others while rescheduling seven other trains in
the state. At several places the administration and local volunteers
served water, cold drinks and snacks to commuters who had been
held up in the protests. Some agitators in Fatehgarh Sahib district,
who were still staging a dharna on the railways line were likely
to end their protest in the evening.
Similarly, agitators blocked road traffic at 11 places in the
state during the day. However, no untoward incident was reported
from any of these places.
MEETING TO ENSURE
BASIC SERVICES TO URBAN POOR
CHANDIGARH, JUNE 25, 2008
Narinder Singh
Department of Local Government, Punjab under the aegis of Ministry
of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA), Government of
India was going to organizing a Regional Review meeting to be
taken by the Dr. H.S.Anand, Secretary, (HUPA) on 26th June, 2008
at Chandigarh with respect to review the progress on implementation
of Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) and Integrated Housing
and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) under Jawaharlal Nehru
National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for the States of Punjab,
Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and J & K.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Samir Kumar Director Local Government
Punjab said that Sh. D.S. Bains, Principal Secretary, Department
of Local Government would welcome the Chief Guest, Dr. H.S.Anand,
Secretary, HUPA and also gave presentation regarding the achievement
of Punjab under BSUP & IHSDP schemes.
Giving more details Mr. Samir Kumar said that Ms. Naseema Lankar,
Secretary, J & K, Housing and Urban Development; Dr. Manjit
Singh, Secretary, Government of Rajasthan, Local Self Government;
Sh. S.K.Sharma, Secretary Government of Himachal Pradesh and Sh.
Mohanjit Singh, Chairman, Chandigarh Housing Board alongwith Commissioners
and other officers from the above State would also participate
in the review meeting.
He further said that the State of Punjab had made tremendous
achievements under the BSUP & IHSDP scheme. The Detailed Project
Report amounting to Rs.114.83 crore of construction of flats for
slum dwellers in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana has already
been approved and 1st installment of Rs.22.00 crore has been released
by Government of India under these schemes.
