PUNJAB LAUNCHES INTEGRATED FOREST PROTECTION
SCHEME
TO CONTROL FOREST FIRES-TIKSHAN SUD
Chandigarh, May7, 2008
The Punjab Forest Department has launched a Integrated Forest
Protection Scheme for proper prevention/control and management
of forest fires in the State.
Reviewing the activities of the Forest Department regarding
prevention and control of forest fires in a meeting attended by
the Senior Forest Officers Mr. Tikshan Sud, Forest Minister, Punjab
said that Punjab Government was quite concerned about increasing
incidents of forest fires and has constructed 97 fire watch towers
mainly in hilly areas under Punjab Afforestation Project for timely
detection and control of forest fires. He said that under this
scheme 1000 km of fire lines, 4 water storage structures each
of 1 lac liter capacity and 1 fire tender have been provided during
2007-08 for proper prevention/control and management of forest
fires in the State. State
Mr. B.C. Bala, PCCF explained that during the current fire season,
124 fires have already been reported affecting 6537.4 hac. forest
area of the State. Due to these fires, 56 trees and 7150 other
saplings were affected. The estimated loss on account of damage
to trees was about Rs. 56000 and damage to plants Rs. 3,50,000/-
He said that forest fire season generally commences from 1st April
and extends upto 15th June. During the fire season fires occur
due to abundance of dry and highly inflammable biomass such as
grass, leaves, twigs in the forest. The incidences and intensity
of fires are cyclical in nature. Generally, there is a 5 to 6
year cycle of periodicity of high incidences of forest fire. Last
time it was during the year 2002-03. Mr,. Bala further informed
that this year, whole of North India i.e. HP, Haryana, Uttranchal
and Punjab has been ravaged by forest fires. Most of the fires
that occur in the State forests are "ground fires" which
cause relatively less damage than "Crown fires". Fires
occur due to throwing of lighted Cigarette/Biri and the fire lit
by graziers for warming food/making tea etc. without properly
putting off the same, and fires which spread into forest areas
from adjoining fields when farmers burn agricultural residue after
harvesting. High temperatures and fast winds cause the fires over
large areas. Ground fires do not cause much damage to the trees
but young plantations and the under story suffer considerable
damage from such fires.
Forest Minister instructed that that needful instructions be
issued to all the field staff to be well prepared before the start
of fire season. Extensive fire prevention measures should be taken
up to prevent fires and minimize damage in the event of the occurrence
of fire. He said that Fire tending equipment is kept ready for
use at any time and the same is made readily available at the
most vulnerable areas. The Minister sad that Training in fire
protection is imparted to the staff in new fire fighting techniques
and awareness camps be organised for educating people especially
Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs). Mr Sud said that Pamphlets
containing information to prevent and control forest fires should
be widely distributed among the public to create awareness. He
sad Clearance of fire lines, weeding in plantations and control
burning of inflammable material shoud be completed as preventive
measures.
It was informed in the meeting that 779 km fire lines have already
been cleared in forests this year to check the spread of fires.
Weeding and jungle clearance has been undertaken in all the young
plantations and watering is also done where feasible to prevent
fire damage in young plantations. During the fire season, 246
firewatchers are regularly engaged by the department in all the
vulnerable beats round the clock to promptly monitor and detect
forest fires wherever and whenever they occur.
Sh. Sud observed that acute shortage of frontline staff (i.e.
350 Forest Guards, 35 Forest Rangers) was seriously affecting
the prevention and control of forest fires in the State. The Minister
also issued strict directions to all the staff to be totally prepared
to do everything needful for timely prevention and control of
forest fires with the active participation of people as per the
Joint Forest Management Policy of the State Govt. The Minister
also appealed to the public to cooperate with the staff and support
them in all the activities to prevent and control forest fires.
Mr R.C Nayar Principal Secretary Forests and senior officers
of Forest Department also participated in the meeting
PUNJAB PROPOSES TO SETUP NATIONAL INSTITUTE
OF PUNJABI LANGUAGE,
LITERATURE AND CULTURE
Chandigarh May, 7, 2008
The Punjab Government proposes to setup a National Institute
of Punjabi Language, Literature and Culture (NIPLLC) to promote
mother tongue all over the world.
A proposal to this effect was came up at a meeting chaired by
Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Education and Languages Minister, Punjab
held here today.
Disclosing this Mr. Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to Chief Minister
Punjab said that the meeting also considered the possibilities
of starting an Open University for the preservation and promotion
of Punjabi language, literature and culture globally. The meeting
also considered a proposal to start Certificate and Diploma courses
in Punjabi in various professional spheres like Modern Office
Practice, Translation, Dictionary, DTP, Software Development,
Proof Reading, Journalism and Public Relations, News Reading,
Stage Compeering, Radio Jokey, Film Direction, Producing and Script
Writing, Folk and Culture and Diploma in Punjabi Dress Designing
etc.
The institute would require various Departments/wings for its
proper functioning like Computer and Language Laboratory, Translation
and Comparative Studies, Immigrant and Diaspora Unit, Study Material
Production Unit, Printing and Publication Unit and Administrative
Wing. In this meeting a Budget Committee was also been proposed
to be setup to advise the state government on various aspects
of the proposed institute.
The Education Minster Dr. Upinderjit Kaur said that institute
would be responsible for the holistic development of Punjabi language,
literature and culture and would work for the needs and requirements
of modern and post-modern generations. It would be instrumental
to build and strengthen ties for national integration also.
The proposed NIPLLC would also provide dissemination of culture
through state of the art techniques. It would devise innovative
plans and programs for the purpose. The institute would focus
on employment oriented courses and skills especially in view of
the use of the Punjabi being made compulsory in the administration
and educational applications.
Dr. Upinderjit Kaur added that the proposed institute would work
as an autonomous professional cum academic unit. However, it would
function in close coordination with the existing universities
in the state. The institute would have an overall incharge in
the rank of Director General enjoying the status of a Vice-Chancellor.
The meeting was attended among others by Sh. Harcharan Bains,
Media Advisor Chief Minister, Punjab, Sh. Shatish Chandra, Secretary
Planning, Smt. Anjli Bhawra, Secretary Higher Education, S. Jaspal
Singh, Special Secretary, Higher Education, Smt. Balbir Kaur,
Director, Language Department Punjab, Sh. Satnam Manak, Assistant
Editor, Rozana Ajit Jalandhar, Dr. Satinder Singh, former Pro-Vice
Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Dr. Amarjit Singh
Kaang, Head Punjabi Department Kurukshetra University, Dr. Kapil
Kapoor, former Director, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi
and Dr. Janak Raj Gupta, former Director and Head Economics Department,
Punjabi University, Patiala.
STIPEND OF INTERNS IN MEDICAL COLLEGES
RAISED ON HARYANA PATTERN
Chandigarh, May 6: The Punjab Government today issued a notification
enhancing the internship stipend of interns of Government Medical
College Amritsar, Government Medical College Patiala, Government
Dental College Amritsar, Government Dental College Patiala, and
Government Ayurvedic College Patiala Rs. 4500 /- P.M with immediate
effect.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Tikshan Sud, Medical Education
Minister said that enhancement in internship stipend in the case
of Ayurvedic interns would be from Rs. 2000 to 4500/- and in the
case of others enhancement would be from Rs. 2400/- to 4500/-.
The Minister said that it was felt that it was unjustified to
pay a qualified Doctor less than a daily wage labourer. He said
that when he brought this issue to the notice of Chief Minister
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh
Badal, they were quite pained on this and Chief Minister ordered
immediate revision on Haryana pattern.
He said that the revision in internship allowance would put an
extra load of Rs. 1.32 crores per annum on the exchequer of State
government.
