SUN GROUP TO INVEST RS.550 CRORE IN PUNJAB
CHANDIGARH MAY 20, 2008
The Sun Group of the UK today unveiled an ambitious institutional
investments and infrastructure development plan for the State,
embracing diverse sectors of energy, mining, real estate, technology,
infrastructure, hotel ring and beverages. The outlines of the
multi-billions dollars business vision from Punjab were discussed
at a high level meeting between the representatives of the State
Government and the Sun Group at the official residence of Punjab
Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. The Sun delegation was
lead by the Chairman Mr. Nand Khemka.
Giving details of the meeting, Media Advisor to Chief Minister,
Mr. Harcharan Bains said that as a first concrete gesture, the
Sun Group firmed up an Rs.550 Crore multi facility project in
Mohali. The Sun Group would bring in investment of Rs.200 crore
in Mohali to develop a hotel besides a shopping mall and a plaza.
It may be recalled that the Sun Group had already made investment
of Rs.73.23 crore to revive the unit of M/s Punjab Wireless Systems
Ltd., Mohali (PUNWIRE) for production of Defence Electronics and
Civil Telecom items through subsidiary M/s Elcom Systems Pvt.
Ltd.
The Media Advisor disclosed that Mr.Udhay Kehmka introduced
the Chief Executive Officer of Doha based Barwa International
Group Mr. Ghassan Al Binali to the Chief Minister, who put forth
a proposal of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in real estate in
the region. Mr. Binali informed the Chief Minister that the Barwa
real estate was mostly known for building development that include
commercial buildings, residential areas, retail complexes and
business centres and group had so far made investments worth 2.6
million US dollars worldwide.
"The group is jubilant with the investor friendly and congenial
atmosphere in the state and has future plans to replicate such
investment in other parts of the state viz. Jalandhar, Amritsar,
Ludhiana, Patiala and Bathinda", said Mr.Uday Khemka.
Mr.Uday Khemka pointed out that $ 1.5 billion Sun Group and
Barwa International were considering a joint venture in real estates
in high growth corridors in India with an objective of developing
foreign direct investment policy compliant projects. He also mentioned
that the First Investor (TFI) based in Doha, was an investment
banking firm, licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank (QCB)
providing its client base with a range of financial services.
With its wide distribution network and strategic alliances, TFI's
services included acting as financial advisor, underwriter and
manager of debt and equity transactions.
Industries Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia assured the Sun Group
and Barwa International that the state government was committed
to boost overall growth and development in the state through synergizing
its efforts with the worldwide key-players in the field of industry,
infrastructure and realty.
Chief Secretary Mr.Ramesh Inder Singh hoped that the initiative
taken by these groups would be reciprocated as a welcome gesture
to strengthen the state's economy. On the insistence of Chief
Minister, Mr. RI Singh immediately held a meeting of the representatives
of Sun Group and Barwa International with the concerned senior
officers of the departments for expeditious clearances of these
projects as per proposals mooted by them.
Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Principal
Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru, Principal Secretary Industries
& Commerce SS Channy, Managing Director PIDB and Special Principal
Secretary to Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Special Principal
Secretary to Chief Minister KJS Cheema, Additional Principal Secretary
to Chief Minister Ajay Kumar Mahajan.
The Chief Executive Officer SUN Real Estate London Dennis Lopez,
Director India Operations Prakash Kalothia and Vice President
London Office Ms. Swati Jayadevan represented the Sun Group. Director
Business Development Asia Naeem Ur Rashib and Head of Business
Development India Ms. Medha Ashtekar of Barwa International were
also present besides CEO Mr.Mohammad Al Saad and Head of Investment
Banking Mr. Gary Griffith of the First Investor.
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer,
Punjab
Chandigarh: May 20, 2008
The Election Commission of India has directed that all the electors
in 19-Amritsar South Assembly Constituency, who have been issued
their Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPICs), shall have to produce
these cards to exercise their franchise, when they come to the
polling stations for voting at the current bye-election to the
Legislative Assembly. The Election Commission has also directed
that such residual voters, whose names are there on the electoral
rolls but who have not received their EPICs, may be permitted
to use alternative ID documents. The documents specified by the
Commission are:
(i) Passports,
(ii) Driving Licenses,
(iii) Income Tax Identity (PAN) Cards,
(iv) Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to its employees
by State/Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings or Public
Limited Companies,
(v) Passbooks issued by Public Sector Banks/Post Office and Kisan
Passbooks (Accounts opened on or before 31-3-2008),
(vi) Property Documents such as Pattas, Registered Deeds, etc,
(vii) Ration Cards issued on or before 31-3-2008 with photograph,
(viii) SC/ST/OBC Certificates issued by competent authority on
or before 31-3-2008,
(ix) Pension Documents such as ex-servicemen's Pension Book/Pension
Payment Order, ex-servicemen's Widow/Dependent Certificates, Old
Age Pension Order, Widow Pension Order,
(x) Freedom Fighter Identity Cards,
(xi) Arms Licenses issued on or before 31-3-2008,
(xii) Certificate of Physical Handicap by Competent Authority
issued on or before 31-3-2008,
(xiii) Air Force/Navy/Army personnel identification cards with
photograph.
It is clarified that any document, as enumerated above, which
is available only for the Head of Family, shall be allowed for
the purpose of identification of other members of the family provided
that all the members come together and are identified by the head
of the family.
For those electors who have been issued EPICs, but are not able
to produce it, any of the above mentioned alternative documents
which has photograph of the elector on it, shall be accepted for
their identification.
IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON
ANNOUNCED
CHANDIGARH, May 20, 2008
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational
Irrigation Programme for the Kharif Season through Canal water
from 21 May to 28 May, 2008. The channels of Sirhind Canal System
would run on priority basis from Bist Doab Canal, Sidhwan Branch,
Bhatinda Branch, Patiala feeder and Abohar Branch respectively.
Disclosing this here today, an official 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. Lahore Branch with its distributaries being
in first Preference would run to their indent. Balance Surplus
water available would be utilised in Main Branch Lower, Kasur
Branch Lower and Sabraon Branch with its distributaries.
ELECTION COMMISSION POSTPONES ELECTIONS
TO
19 PANCHAYATS-SIX ELECTION OFFICERS REMOVED
Chandigarh May 20, 2008
The State Election Commission, Punjab today postponed the elections
to nineteen Gram Panchayats in five districts, which were scheduled
to be held on 26th May 2008 in the state and ordered to remove
six election officers.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the State Election
Commission, Punjab said that the polls to Gram Panchayat Talwara
in Ludhiana district is countermanded and fresh date for polls
would be notified separately. Besides the elections to Gram Panchayats
Daulatpura and Sularpur in Jalandhar district were also postponed.
In Tarntarn district 13 Gram Panchayats namely Baikan, Baikan
Khurd, Tatle, Sugga, Bua Patti, Abadi Bhagwanpur, Balher, Blehar
Khurd, Saddra, Kale, Marri Kamboke, Marri Udoke and Darajke, in
district Sangrur Gram Panchayat Mohala and Jhundan and Gram Panchayat
Saidoke in district Moga were also postponed and fresh date for
polls would be notified separately.
The Eelction Commission in the case of Gram Panchayat Talwara
in Ludhiana district has ordered to remove Shri Amarjit Singh
Returning Officer and directed the Additional District Electoral
Officer, Ludhiana to send a panel of three names for the selection
of the Returning Officer. Further, Shri Amarjit Singh has been
suspended for dereliction of election duty and disciplinary action
initiated against him. The Commission has also concluded that
Shri Gurlavleen Singh, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Jagraon has
failed to discharge his duties and shown a careless and negligent
attitude even when the complaint was referred to him by the State
Election Commission.
The Commission on the report of the Election Observer regarding
Gram Panchayat Mohaala in District Sangrur, has removed both the
Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer and the District
Electoral Officer, Sangrur has been directed to lodge a FIR to
fix responsibility in the matter alleged tampering. The disciplinary
action would also be taken against both the Returning Officer
and Assistant Returning Officer.
He added that the Commission has also recommended to postpone
the panchayat elections of Village Jhudan in District Sangrur
and the Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur has been directed to lodge
FIR with the police as per the recommendations of the Observer
to fix responsibility for tampering of the police record and further
the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer has been
immediately removed. The disciplinary action would be taken against
both the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer.
He said that the Commission, in the case of Gram Panchayat Saidoke,
has removed the Returning Officer block Nihal Singh Wala District
Moga who has acted in extremely irresponsible and illegal manner
and directed the District Electoral Officer Moga that disciplinary
action for imposition of major penalty be initiated against him.
Further action in this behalf may be taken under intimation to
the Commission.
