General elections to Gram
Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads postponed
Chandigarh May 2, 2008
Earlier General elections to Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis
and Zila Parishads scheduled to be held on 07.04.2008, were postponed
pursuant to unanimous resolution of Punjab Vidhan Sabha. General
elections to Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishad are being now
held with date of poll as 12.05.2008.
Department of Rural Development and Panchayats has also conveyed
that the general elections to Gram Panchayats be held by 31st
May 2008. Accordingly, it is announced that the poll for general
elections to Gram Panchayats shall be held on 26.05.2008. Detailed
schedule for this purpose shall be issued separately. Since the
Model Code of Conduct is already in force on account of Panchayat
Samiti and Zila Parishad general elections, the same shall continue
to remain in force till the completion of Gram Panchayat elections.
PUNJAB TO SET UP INSTITUTE OF AUTOMOTIVE
AND DRIVING SKILLS
Chandigarh, May 2, 2008
The Punjab government would establish a state-of-the-art State
Institute of Automotive and Driving Skills (SIADS) in the state
as a joint venture between TATA Motors and the Transport Department
Punjab.
A spokesman of Punjab Government today said that this institute
would be set up at village Mahuana District Mukatsar at a cost
of Rs. 13 crore approximately. The institute would come up on
an area of nearly 14 acres which would be provided by the Punjab
Government. It would be run by a registered society which would
have equal representatives from TATA Motors and the State Government.
He added that a high level team of TATA Motors today held discussions
with senior officers of the Punjab Transport Department to give
final touches for operationalising the institute. The TATA Motors
team, which was headed by Mr. A.S. Puri, Sr. Gen. Manager, gave
a detailed presentation for the set up of the Institute, its by
laws and also the proposed syllabus and funding pattern. Besides
this discussions were also held on business plan of the institute,
course contents for various courses and constitution of the society.
The Transport department was headed by Sh. D.S.Jaspal, Principal
Secretary Transport-cum-Chairman PEPSU Road Transport Corporation,
Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu, MD, PRTC, Patiala, Mr. R.S. Bal, GM,
PRTC and other officers of the department.
8 NGOs ARRESTED RED HANDED BY VIGILANCE
SPECIAL COURTS SENTENCES 23 ACCUSED
Chandigarh May 2, 2008
State Vigilance Bureau in a drive against corruption in public
life arrested 8 Non-Gazzetted Officers (NGOs) in 7 different trap
cases last month. The Bureau was able to secure the conviction
of two Gazzetted Officers (GOs) and 21 NGOs in 8 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.
He added that the special courts have sentenced 2 GOs and 21
NGOs in 8 different corruption cases during this month. The VB
had also registered 8 Vigilance Enquiries and four criminal cases.
Two more cases under disproportionate assets have also been registered
by the VB during this month, he added.
28 OBSERVERS APPOINTED TO CONDUCT FREE
AND FAIR ZILA PRISHADAND PANCHAYAT SAMITI POLLS
Chandigarh May 2, 2008
State Election Commission Punjab has appointed 21 IAS and 7
PCS officers as observers to conduct free and fair general elections
of Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samities going to be held on 12.5.2008,
for which appointment letters have been issued on 30.4.2008. Appointed
observers would immediately took charge of their duty as observer
in their respective districts.
Giving details an official spokesman of State Election Commission
said that for district Amritsar Mr.P.S. Aujla IAS and Sh. Deepinder
Singh PCS for Bathinda, Sh. S.K. Sandhu IAS for District Barnala,
Sh. Ashok Kumar Gupta IAS for Ferozepur, Sh. D.K. Tiwari IAS and
Dr. Arvinder Singh IAS, for Faridkot, Sh. Arun Goel IAS for Fatehgarh
Sahib, Sh. I.S. Sandhu IAS for Gurdaspur, Sh. Jagjit Puri IAS
and Sh. AS Bains PCS for for Hoshiarpur, Sh. Mandeep Singh IAS
and Sh. K.S. Sra PCS for Jalandhar, Sh. Bhagwant Singh IAS and
Sh. Bhupinder Singh PCS for Kapurthala, Sh. K.B. S, Sidhu IAS
and Sh. T.P.S Sidhu PCS for Ludhiana, Dr. A.S. Chattwal IAS and
Sh. A.S. Miglani PCS for Mansa, Sh. G Vajralingam IAS for Mukatsar,
Sh. R. Venkatratanam for Moga, Sh. Kulbir Singh IAS for Mohali,
Sh. Jaspal Singh IAS for Nawanshahar, Sh. Narinderjit Singh IAS
for Patiala, Sh. N.S. Kang IAS and Sh. V.K. Janjua IAS for Ropar,
Sh. G.S. Grewal IAS for Sangrur, Sh. T.R. Sarangal IAS and Sh.
S.S. Bains PCS for Tarn Taran, Sh. S S Dhillon IAS were appointed
as observers in the state. Instructions have been issued to district
administrations to publish residence address, telephone nos and
mobile nos of appointed observers in news papers and also broadcast
on radio and TV Media for the information of general public.
PUNJAB EXCEEDS CENTRAL POOL TARGET AS
PROCUREMENT TOUCHES 87 LAC TONNES
Chandigarh, May 2, 2008
The Punjab today took a giant step to bring Country out of food
crises as its contribution to central pool of Wheat Stock exceeded
far more than the target of 80 Lac tonnes fixed by the Union Government.
The granary of the Country with less than 1.3 % geographical area
has contributed 82.94 Lac tonnes to the Central Pool on 1st May
as against 55.06 Lac tonnes contributed on this date last year.
A spokesman of Punjab Government today said that with the pace
of procurement being witnessed in the Mandis of Punjab, the State
hopes to contribute 90 lac plus tonnes to the Central pool this
Rabi Season.
The spokesman said that six government agencies and private millers
have procured more than 86.59 lac tonnes of wheat in Punjab out
of which 82.94 lac tonne (95.80%) has been procured for the central
pool and 1,52,793 tonnes (1.8%) has been procured for the State
pool.
According to an official spokesman Government agencies and private
millers procured more than 86.59lac tonnes of wheat till Thursday
evening. Out of total procurement of 86,59,700 tonnes of wheat
in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies
procured 84, 46,830 tonnes of wheat (97.5%) till date whereas
millers have lifted 2,12,870 tonnes (2.5%) of wheat. Till May
1, PUNGRAIN had procured 15, 30,140 tonnes (18.4%) whereas MARKFED
procured 19, 64,270 tonnes (23.7%). PUNSUP procured 18, 86, 783
tonnes (22.7%), PSWC procured 10, 62,814 tonnes (12.8%) whereas
PAIC was able to procure9, 58,648 tonnes (11.5 %) of wheat for
the central pool. The Central Government agency FCI had been able
to procure 8, 93,482 tonnes (10.8%) for the central pool.
The spokesman said that in addition MARKFED procured 55294 tonnes
(36.2%), PUNSUP procured 68,249 tonnes (44.7%) and PAIC procured
27925 tonnes(0.3%) for the State pool.
He added that Ferozepur District with 10,09,435 tonnes of procurement
was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur District
with 9,09,796 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and Ludhiana
district with 7,82,971 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The Punjab Government has made a payment of more than Rs. 7954
crores to the farmers of the State for wheat procured upto April
30, 2008 ensuring payment to the farmers within 48 hours of lifting
of their wheat.
The spokesman said that Punjab Government has already set aside
Rs. 11176 crores for total procurement season to ensure hassle
free payment to the farmers. He said that Rs. 1462.50 crore has
been allocated to PUNGRAIN where as MARKFED has been allocated
Rs. 1580.60 crores for wheat procurement. Similarly PUNSUP has
been allocated Rs. 1977.70 crores and an amount of Rs.840.66 crores
has been placed at the disposal of PSWC. Similarly PAFC and FCI
have been allocated Rs. 900.26 crores and Rs. 843.22 crore respectively.
The State Government has set up over 1615 procurement centres
and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement
of wheat, the spokesman added.
IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED
CHANDIGARH, May 2:
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational
irrigation Programme for the Kharif Season through Canal water
from 5th May to 12th May, 2008. The channels of Sirhind Canal
System would run on priority basis from Sidhwan Branch, Bhatinda
Branch, Bist Doab Canal, Abohar Branch and Patiala feeder 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
and Kasur Branch Lower with its distributaries.
