COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED TO STUDY DEBT WAIVER
SCHEME
Chandigarh March 4, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal today constituted
a committee to study the implications of the Union Budget especially
the so called Debt Waiver Scheme for the farmers of Punjab. This
was disclosed here by Mr. Harcharan Bains Media Adviser to the
Chief Minister Punjab.
According to Mr. Bains, the committee will be headed by the Chief
Secretary S. Ramesh Inder Singh and will comprise of Financial
Commissioner Development, Financial Commissioner Revenue, Financial
Commissioner Cooperation, Principal Secretary Finance and Registrar
Cooperative Societies Punjab.
Mr. Bains said that the general feeling in the Government is
that the net benefit on the debt default to the Punjab farmers
would be even less than the originally estimated 2% of the total
amount estimated by the Centre. Therefore the Chief Minister had
decided to form this committee.
PUNJAB TO FLOAT RS. 765 CRORE LOAN
Chandigarh, March 4, 2008
The Punjab Government in line with the Reserve Bank of India
has proposed to float a State loan of Rs. 765.175 crore to raise
part of the barrowings through auction system.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the government said
the Loan would be utilized to finance Expenditure of plan Schemes
and other development Schemes under execution. He said that the
consent of the Central Government has already been obtained to
the floatation of this loan required under Article 293 (3) of
the constitution of India. The stocks would be of 10 years tenure
and the tenure of the stock would commence on March 10, 2008.
The loan would be repaid at par on March 10, 2018, he added. The
interest however, would be paid every half yearly on September
10 and March 10.
PATIALA MEDICAL COLLEGE TO START DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
TREATMENT
Chandigarh, 4 March:, 2008
The Government Medical College Patiala would soon start Diabetic
Retinopathy treatment for eye disorders of diabetic patients by
sophisticated equipment, benefiting lacs of diabetic patients
in Punjab.
Mr. Tikshan Sud, Medical Education Minister today said that
Site Savers International Mumbai had supplied equipment to Government
Medical College Patiala. He said that two senior doctors of Medical
college namely Dr. Hardev Singh and Dr. Sachin Walia Associate
Professors have been sent to Post Graduate Institute Medical Education
& Research (PGI MER) Chandigarh for training in Laser Surgery
and after their training this service would be operational in
Medical College soon.
PUNJAB TO CELEBRATE WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS WEEK
Chandigarh, March 4: The Punjab Government would launch a multi
-media campaign to educate the consumers regarding their rights
and duties during 'World Consumer Rights Day' to be celebrated
in Punjab from March 15 to March 21, 2008.
According to an official spokesman educative literature, posters
and pamphlets would be distributed to the public. Seminars, Lectures
would be organised to educate the public regarding rights of consumers.
Important judgements of Consumer Forums would be highlighted through
media. Doordarshan and Radio would broadcast skits and plays focused
on rights of consumers. School and Colleges would organise Essay
and declamation contests and also painting and poster competitions
to mark this week.
1 GOs, 5 NGOs ARRESTED RED HANDED BY VIGILANCE
-
SPECIAL COURTS SENTENCES 3 ACCUSED
Chandigarh March 4, 2008
State Vigilance Bureau in a drive against corruption in public
life arrested one Gazzetted Officer (GO) and 5 Non-Gazzetted Officers
(NGOs) including two police officials in 6 different trap cases
last month. The Bureau was able to secure the conviction of 3
NGOs in 3 corruption cases in the state.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Harcharn Singh Bhullar, SP-cum-Joint
Director (Admn.)Vigilance Bureau Punjab, said that Bureau has
put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public
servants and others in every sphere in the State. In this direction,
the Vigilance officers have registered trap cases, disproportionate
assets cases and criminal cases in vigilance ranges and ensured
that suspect corrupt accused did not escape judicial punishment
in the various courts in the State.
He further added that during this month of February VB has registered
2 Vigilance Enquiries and 117 fresh complaints were sent to respective
administrative departments/ vigilance department. After verification
orders have been issued to probe into the allegations in 41 other
fresh complaints.
Giving details he added that the special courts have sentenced
3 NGOs in 3 different corruption cases during this month. Mr.
Angrej Singh, Branch Manager, Central Co-op Bank Bhikhi distt.
Mansa has been awarded two years imprisonment and fine of Rs.
1000/- u/s 13 (2) Prevention of Corruption Act, 1 year imprisonment
with fine of Rs. 1000/- u/s 120-B IPC, 2 years imprisonment with
fine of Rs. 1000/- u/s 467 IPC, 2 years imprisonment with fine
of Rs. 1000/- u/s 468 IPC and 1 year imprisonment with fine of
Rs. 1000/- u/s 471 IPC.
Besides this Mr. Pawan Kumar, Accountant, Nagar Council Bhucho
distt. Mansa has also been jailed for two years with fine of Rs.
15000/- and Mr. Parshotam Dutt Dua, Chief Engineer Technical Audit
& Inspection PSEB Patiala has been imprisoned for 3 years
with fine of Rs. 25000/- each u/s 7 and 13(2) of Prevention of
Corruption Act.
BADAL'S GREEN SIGNAL TO RS. 40 CRORE TRAIN TOURISM
PROJECT IN JOINT PARTNERSHIP WITH SINGAPORE BASED ORIENT EXPRESS
HOTELS
CHANDIGARH MARCH 04, 2008
In a significant move to boost tourism potential in the state,
Punjab Chief minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal accorded 'in principle'
approval for the implementation of Rs. 40 crore Train Tourism
Project in collaboration with Singapore based Orient Express Hotels,
first of its kind in the north India.
A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting between
Mr. Badal and Mr. Tom Evers Swindell, Regional Director (Asia)
Orient Express group of Hotels Trains and Cruises, Singapur here
at Chief minister's resident late last evening.
Mr. Tom called on the Chief Minister and put forth a comprehensive
proposal evincing keen interest to participate in the Train Tourism
Project and informed that he had visited various tourist spots
in Punjab and discovered that there was a tremendous potential
of Train Tourism in the state. He also mentioned that at present,
Orient Express Hotels Singapore Pte. Ltd. was operating 50 luxury
hotels, restaurants, tourist trains and river cruise businesses
operations in 25 countries viz England, USA, Russia Australia
France, Italy, Argentina and South Africa etc. He pointed out
that the company was now ready to share its world wide experience
and experience with the state government for this new venture.
Appreciating the gesture of Mr. Tom, Mr. Badal directed the
Tourism Department to chalk out an action plan and workout the
modalities in this regard. Referring the untapped potential of
heritage tourism in the state. Mr. Badal said that the Punjab
Government was already contemplating to develop three-four religious
tourism circuits to cover Sri Anandpur Sahib to Sri Damdama Sahib
(Talwandi Sabo), Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Kapurthala and Amritsar.
The underlying idea to develop heritage tourism in the state was
to apprise our second and third generations who had settled abroad
and had been completely detached from our rich and glorious heritage",
asserted Mr. Badal.
It may be recalled here that the proposed train would be on
the lines of the prestigious 'Palace on Wheels', equipped with
all facilities required for a high-end tourist's comfort and would
cover long and small distances during night time. The proposed
tourist train would be carry 12 passenger AC coaches luxuriously
furnished and each coach would have 3 coupes. Three longe Cars
with the facilities of Game room, a beauty saloon, anayurvedic
massage parlour, a health clube, alibrary,a computer centre, a
curio shop and a business and communication centre would be attached
along with two restaurant cars and one kitchen car with the facility
of multi-cuisine restaurants and relaxed seating arrangement.
The Government of India had already approved the proposal and
remaining formalities would also be completed shortly.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included
Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Hira Singh Gabria, Chief
Secretary RI Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru,
Principal Secretary Tourism and Cultural Affairs Mrs. Geetica
Khala, Principal Secretary Finance DS Khala and Special Principal
Secretary to Chief Minister KJS Cheema.
NRI SABHA PUNJAB ASSURES OF FULSOME SUPPORT TO
THE GOVERNMENT FOR WELFARE OF NRIs
CHANDIGARH MARCH 04, 2008
Newly elected President of NRI Sabha Punjab Kamaljit Singh today
called on Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal at his
residence this morning and assured of fulsome support and cooperation
to the state government for the welfare of the NRIs.
During interaction with the Chief Minister, Mr.Kamaljit Singh
appreciated Mr.Badal for organizing 2-day Punjabi NRI Sammelan
at Chandigarh and Jalandhar on January 5 and 6 that evoked an
over whelming response from the Punjabis NRIs settled across the
globe. He also commended Mr.Badal for taking landmark decisions
for the welfare of the NRIs during the NRI Sammmelan.
Mr.Badal assured the President NRI Sabha Punjab that the SAD-BJP
Government had already taken path breaking initiatives for welfare
of NRIs comprising setting up of NRI Police Stations in six districts
of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Nawanshahar, Moga and Ludhiana
for the quick disposal of cases involving NRIs and constituting
a high powered committee headed by the director general of Police
to review the cases of NRIs who had been declared proclaimed offenders
or absconders. An NRI Advisory Board consisting of 11 members
would be soon constituted. The State Government had also decided
to enhance its share from 50% to 75% thereby now revising it as
75:25 basis instead of the existing 50:50 for the implementation
of development schemes in the native villages of NRIs. He pointed
out that two Fast Track Courts at Jalandhar and Ludhiana would
be set up to settle dispute of civil matters of NRIs. The State
government had also set up an NRI Facilitation Centre at Punjab
Bhawan, New Delhi for facilitating and coordinating the matters
relating to NRIs. An office would be opened near Amritsar airport
for NRIs for assistance and an office would also be opened at
Jalandhar for NRIs Guidance, added Mr.Badal.
The Chief Minister asked Mr.Kamaljit Singh to gear up the NRIs
Sabha Punjab to play a pro-active role to bridge the communication
gap between the state government and the Punjabis settled across
the globe. He reiterated that our government was committed for
maintaining law & order and communal harmony to enable our
people in general and Punjabi NRIs in particular who had made
immense contribution for the overall development of the state.
The President of NRI Sabha assured Mr. Badal that the Sabha would
actively involved the NRIs in the process of overall development
and progress in the state besides motivating them to make huge
investments in Punjab as it was now fastly emerging as the 'most
preferred investment destination' in the world.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Media Advisor Harcharan
Bains during the meeting.
…