65% POLLING IN GENERAL ELECTIONS
OF ZILA PARISHADS AND PANCHAYAT SAMITIS

REPOLLING ORDERED AT 17 POLLING STATIONS

Chandigarh May 12, 2008

The general elections of PRIs i.e Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis held today were conducted in free, fair and smooth manner despite some minor incidents like ballot paper snatchings/tearing at few polling booths and repolling has been ordered at 17 polling stations to may 26th 2008. About 65% voters have exercised their franchise in the elections.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the State Election Commission said that re-polls have been ordered on the following polling stations.

District Patiala (4)

1. Polling Station No. 148-Bouran Khurd,

Panchayat Samiti Zone 24- Kakrala.

2. Polling Sgtation No. 142- Malkon

Panchayat Samiti Zone 4-Binaheri

3. Booth No. 130- Village Sultanpur.

4. Polling Station No. 143.Village Chhaju Bhatt,

Panchayat Samiti Zone 24-Kakrala.

District Faridkot (1)

1. Polling Station No. 32-A, Dulhkot.

District Gurdaspur (1)

1. Booth No. 85 Keeri Afgana,

Panchayat Samiti, Kahnuwan

District Sangrur (7)

1. Polling Station 57 and 57-A Janal

P.S. Zone Rogala, Sunam.

2. Polling Station 134 and 134-A- Samura

P.S. Zone Rogala, Sunam.

3. Booth No.3, Bahmaniwala

P.S. Zone 3-Maha Singh Wala

And Zila Parishad Zone 1- Andana.

4. Booth No.30 Maha Singh Wala

P.S. Zone 3-Maha Singh Wala

Zila Parishad Zone-I, Andana.

5. Booth No.48 Bhulan

P.S. Zone 4-Bhulan

Zila Parishad Zone-I, Andana

District S.A.S.Nagar (Mohali) (1)

1. Zone 17 of Lalru (Panchayat Samiti – Dera Bassi)

District Ferozepur (3)

1. Booth No. 133, Rukna Bodla,

P.S.Zone No.13, Gurharsahai

2. Booth No. 25 & 26, BastiSarup Singh Wala,

Block Samiti Zone No.21,Guruharshai.

He said that total 17714 polling booths were set up for more than 150 lac voters for the general elections of 320 seats from 20 Zila Parishads and 2728 seats from 141 Panchayat Samitis. The State Election Commission, on the orders of H'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court, had already postponed the elections in four zones of three Zila Parishads and one each in fifteen Panchayat Samitis to 26th May. To ensure smooth, free and fair voting more than one lac employees were deputed on the polling booths as presiding officers, polling officers, supervisors etc. Besides this the Commission had deputed 29 Observers in the state.

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Punjab's contributes 35 percent more wheat in central pool: Kairon

Chandigarh, May 11, 2008

The Punjab has contributed 35 lakh tonnes more to the central pool till date this year.This was stated here Sunday by Mr.Adesh Partap Singh Kairon minister for Food and Civil Supplies. Punjab has contributed 95,35,273 tonnes of wheat against 60,96,462 tonnes contributed to the central pool in last Rabi season till May 10.
Mr.Kairon added that though their was a minor increase in area under wheat from 34.67 lac hectares to 34.80 lac hectares this year but wheat procurement in 1623 procurement centers has already touched the mark of 100,98,803 tonnes till May 10 against 73,61,133 tonnes procured last year.

He said that out of 100,98,803 tonnes procured till date 95,35,273 tonnes (94.4%) has been procured for the central pool and 2,80,038 tonnes (2.8%) for the State pool whereas traders lifted 283492 tonnes of wheat.

The minister said that till May 10, PUNGRAIN had procured 17,80,238 tonnes (18.7%) whereas MARKFED procured 22,85,863 tonnes (24%). PUNSUP procured 21, 93, 424 tonnes (23%), PSWC procured 11, 69,233 tonnes (12.3%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 10, 79,398 tonnes (11.3%) of wheat for the central pool. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 10, 26,617tonnes (10.8%) for the central pool.

He added that Ferozepur District with 11,74,915 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur District with 9,43,036 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and Ludhiana district with 8,39,262 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.

The Punjab Government allocated more than Rs. 11,116 crores to the agencies for making payment to the farmers for wheat procured up to May10, 2008 ensuring payment to the farmers within 48 hours of lifting of their wheat.

The State Government has set up over 1623 procurement centers and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of wheat.

Issued by Office of Minister for food and Civil Spplies, Punjab. Chandigarh