RS. 9521.27 CRORES PAID TO FARMERS FOR PADDY IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, November 10, 2008

Six government agencies have paid over Rs. 9521.27 crores for paddy procured by agencies current Kharif Marketing Season.

According to an official spokesman online monitoring system of the payment on the NET proved quite successful as the farmers of the State are being made payment of paddy procured by the government agencies within 48 hours of lifting of paddy from the procurement centres.

The spokesman said that six government agencies and millers procured over 126,79,115 tonnes of paddy on Sunday.

An official spokesman today said that PUNGRAIN procured 35,04,236 (29.8%) tonnes of paddy whereas MARKFED procured 27,05,168 (23.0%) tonnes of paddy. PUNSUP procured 26,45,897 (22.5%) tonnes of paddy whereas Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 14,59,969 (12.4%) tonnes of paddy besides 12,34,895 (10.5%) tonnes of paddy procured by Punjab Agro. The Central Government Agency FCI procured only 2,03,104 (1.7%)tonnes of paddy. The Millers procured 9,25,846 (7.7%) tonnes of paddy by Sunday.

Ludhiana district maintained its lead by procuring 15,80,475 tonnes the paddy followed by Sangrur (14,37,824 tonnes) and Ferozepur (12,02,167 tonnes).

The spokesman said that lifting of procured paddy from the mandis has started showing positive results with PUNGRAIN (97.8%), MARKFED (96.6%), PUNSUP (97.3%), PSWC (97.3%), PUNJAB AGRO (98.3%) and FCI (99.4%) showing substantial improvement.

The Punjab Food Supply had setup 1622 procurement centres throughout the state to ensure smooth procurement of paddy.

IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR RABI SEASON ANNOUNCED

CHANDIGARH, November 10, 2008

The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational irrigation Programme for the Rabi Season through Canal water from 13 November to 20 November, 2008. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on priority basis from Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda 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 that is 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, Kasur Branch Lower and with its distributaries.

30 MEMBERS YOUTH FESTIVAL COMMITTEE CONSTITUTE

Chandigarh, November 10, 2008

Punjab Government has Constituted 30 Members organising Committee for 14th National Youth Festival 2009 to be held at Amritsar from 12 January to 16th January, 2009.

Giving more details regarding committee Punjab Chief Minister would be the Chief Patron and Youth Services & Sports Minister Punjab would be the Chairman. Whereas Principal Secretary Sports and Youth Services would be the member Secretary. Other members of the Committee were Chief Secretary government of Punjab; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab; Financial Commissioner (Development) Principal Secretary Finance Punjab; Principal Secretary culture Affairs and Archives Punjab, Principal Secretary Local Government; Principal Secretary Health Services and Family Welfare, Principal Secretary Water Supply & Sanitation; Principal Secretary Food & Supply; Principal Secretary Transport; Principal Secretary Tourism; Secretary Energy & Power; Secretary PWD (B&R) Secretary Higher Education; Secretary Secondary Education; Secretary Information & Public Relations; Commissioner Municipal Corporation (Concerned); Deputy Commissioner (Concerned District); Direction General of police; Director Horticulture; Director Sports; Vice Chancellor (concerned University) SSP (Concerned District); S.P. Traffic (Concerned District); State Level representative of Nehru Yuva Kendra Director Youth Services.

DGP LAYS THE FOUNDATION STONE OF Rs. 10 CRORE CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION-CUM-FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY BUILDING

SAS Nagar, October 10, 2008

The Punjab Police today took a bold step to become a Cyber savvy and high-tech police of the country as DGP Sh. N.P.S. Aulakh laid the foundation stone of State of Art Cyber Crime Police Station-cum-Forensic Science Laboratory building here at Phase-IV. The building would house a Cyber Crime Police Station, FSL including Physics Lab, Texilogy Lab, Lie Detection Lab, Biology Lab, Chemistry Lab, Ballistic Lab etc. and it would play a significant role in effective investigation of crimes by the State Police Officers.

Speaking on the occasion, the DGP informed that this four storied building with basement would cost Rs. 8 crore and it would be completed in a stipulated time frame of 2 years. Appreciating the dedication and professionalism displayed by the Punjab Police Housing Corporation (PPHC) management under the leadership of its M.D. Sh. M.K. Tiwari, the police chief revealed that PPHC would soon sign an MoU with Karnatka State Police Housing Corporation for web based project management system which would help in close monitoring of the progress including quality control besides introducing the e-tendering system with in a period of six months. Besides this, another MoU would be signed with BSF to under take the construction of their future projects in the State.

Sh. N.P.S. Aulakh disclosed that the construction work of Rs. 10 crore Punjab Police Training Institute for Private Security Guards at Jahan Khelan was going on full swing and expressed confidence that it would be completed up to June-2009. The institute would provide training to four thousand security guards in a year and with the implementation of the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act. 2005, the training of private security guards to be hired by the private security agencies becomes imperative their by creating employment opportunities for number of unemployed but physically fit youth of the State.

While welcoming the chief guest, the PPHC M.D. Sh. M.K. Tiwari, informed that the corporation had exceeded the monthly target of more than Rs. 4.5 crores in the month of October, 2008, besides the plan to achieve the annual target of Rs. 56.00 crores as compared to the works done of Rs. 24.00 crores last year. He said that the PPHC has embarked upon a path of modernization in a big way with introduction of 50 computers connected with WAN & LAN. Besides, it had done restructuring of the working process.

On this occasion the DGP give away certificates to 18 officers/officials of the PPHC for their excellent performance during the year 2008.

PUNJAB CM CALLS UPON JOURNALIST FRATERNITY TO DISCHARGE DUTIES WITH A SENSE OF PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION, DEVOTION & SINCERITY

LUDHIANA NOVEMBER 9:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal exhorted the media persons to discharge their duties with a sense of professionalism, dedication, devotion and sincerity because they owe a high moral responsibility for strengthening the Democratic system in the country.

Mr. Badal was addressing a large gathering of Journalist Fraternity on the 2nd National Convention of Indian Media Centre (IMC) organized in collaboration with Center for Communication and International Linkage, PAU here today. While appreciating the efforts of IMC for playing an instrumental role in projecting the developmental policies and programmes of the state on one hand and welfare of the society on the other, Mr. Badal said that it was a matter of great pride that Indian Media Centre had functional Chapters in Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Orisa and Andhra Pradesh.

Referring the pro-active role of media in exposing the scams and scandals in the public life, Mr. Badal said that today the significant contribution of media towards the society could not be undermined at any stage, as it had become an effective tool of communication in the recent past. The media of today as a mass communicator had not only become the most important as the fourth estate of the democracy, but had even acquired the power of setting the political, social, economic, educational and cultural agenda of the country, added Mr. Badal. Mr. Badal also called upon media to play an optimistic role in promoting the communal harmony and national integration in the country, which was the need of the hour. He said that Media should highlight the developmental activities in an unbiased manner through objective reporting where as, government would also welcome the constructive criticism for the larger public interest.

Mr. Badal also reiterated his firm resolves that the Punjab Government was committed for the welfare of the media fraternity both print and electronic as it act as a communication-bridge between the masses and the Government. He also informed that government had already constituted state level and district level Advisory Committees to take up the issues related to media persons under the Chairmanship of Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains.

In his inaugural address Mr. L.K.Advani, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha appreciated the role of the Akali Dal under the leaderships of Parkash Singh Badal during the emergency period to restore the democratic system. Mr. Advani said that during that period when the fundamental rights of liberty and life had been suspended by Indira Gandhi's government, not only politicians, but many journalists had also suffered. That was a terrible blow on the face of democratic value system of the country. Expressing the greater need to adopt self regulation by the media today, Mr. Advani said that we should use media to promote good governance and value based politics in the country. The trivialization and sensationalizing the news must be discouraged, as it was a unhealthy and unsocial practice, added Mr. Advani. Appreciating the IT invention of Internet that had created two way communication linkage facility, Mr. Advani said that it was the much needed to extended this facility in the rural sector for making rural public computer savvy.

Mr. Advani said that the main objective of journalism was to serve the people with news, views, comments and information on matters of public interest in a fair, accurate, unbiased, sober and decent manner. He further said that media was now being increasingly viewed as the most effective and sought after tool of communication especially with the spread of education and general awareness coupled with revolutionary changes in information & communication technologies.

Prominent amongst those who spoke on the occasion included Capt. Kanwaljit Singh Cooperative Minister, Mr. Hira Singh Gabria Jails Minister, Master Mohan Lal Transport Minister, Dr.Chandan Mitra, MP Chairman IMC, Mr. Irwin Khanna, Chairman IMC Punjab Chapter, Mr.Sham Khosla, Director IMC, Mr. Ram Kumar Jain and Mr. Harjinder Singh Lal Secretary Punjab Unit IMC.

Prominent amongst those who were present on this occasion included Mr. Manoranjan Kalia Local Bodies Minster, Ch. Swarna Ram Technical Education Minister, Mr. Tiksan Sud Medical Education, Mr. Sat Pal Gosian Dy. Speaker, Mr. H S Bains Advisor to CM, Mr. Balbir Punj, Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Mr. Arvind Khanna ( both MP), Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda, Mr. Raj Kumar Khurana, Mr. Jagdish Sawney ( all CPS), Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal, Mr Baldev Raj Chawla ( Both Ex- Ministers), Mr. Hakam Singh Gyaspura Mayor Municipal Corporation, Mr.Ashok Singhi Organizing Secretary IMC, , Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sumear Singh Gurjar, DIG Ludhiana Range Mr. Ishwar Singh and SSP Ludhiana Mr. R.K. Jaiswal, Mr. Amarjit Singh Bhatia, Mr. Pritiam Singh Bharowal and Mr. Jaswant Singh Chhapa.

Punjab enhances allowance of blind students-Swarna Ram

Chandigarh November 9, 2008

Punjab Government has enhanced the current allowance from Rs. 600/- to Rs. 1200/- per child per month for visually handicapped children of the blind school, Jamalpur situated in district Ludhiana.

Disclosing this here today Ch. Swarna Ram Social Security & Welfare of Women and Child Development Minister Punjab said that Rs. 40 lac Braille press, Library and digital studio has been setup in the institute for the welfare of blind students. In which books in Braille script are published here and distributed free of cost to the blind students up to the age of 18 years. It was also decided to upgrade this institute 10+2 school which was at present a high level.

Re-iterating his commitment to ensure the welfare of blind students the Minister informed that a team of senior officers was being deputed to visit the institute for blind in Dehradun to study their setup so it could be replicated in such institutes in the State.

PUNJAB TO GIVE BIG PUSH TO AGRO-FORESTRY- TO DISTRIBUTE 10 LAC SEEDLINGS

Chandigarh, November 9, 2008

The Punjab Forest Department has decided to give a big push to agro-forestry in the State and would distribute 10 lac seedlings of fast-growing and economically important tree species such as Eucalyptus, Shisham and Drek.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Tikshan Sud, Forest Minister said that Punjab Forest Department in order achieve the target of 15% forest cover in the State by the year 2011 and has decided to adopt a new scientific clonal technology for mass production of seedlings required for the Agro Forestry operations in the state. To produce these seedlings the department has established high -tech mist chambers at Hoshairpur, Gurdaspur, Amrtisar, Ropar Moga, Phillour and Bathinda that would be used to produce quality seed lings to be distributed to the farmers for planting in their fields at subsidized rates besides to be used for departmental plantation to enhance productivity.

The Forest Minister said that the clonal technology had been adopted by the Punjab Forest Department as it increases productivity of seedlings fourfold as compared to traditional method. The productivity of clonal plantations varies from 20 to 44 m­­³/ha/year compared to 6-10m3/ha/year of seed raised seedling plantations. He said that the growing of clonal trees would not only increase the income of the farmers from land under the agro-forestry systems, but would also help to diversify the land use. He said that agro forestry was becoming quite attractive for the farmers who want to switch away from the wheat/paddy cropping pattern as that it was fast becoming unsustainable and unprofitable for them. He said that increased paddy cultivation was also exhausting the nutrients and water table of the state soil.

Mr. Sud said that Punjab Forest Department has evolved a new agro-forestry model that allows a combination of crops along with trees and the State Forest Department was striving to achieve a target of 15% land area under tree cover and forests by the year 2017.

He said that with the increase in productivity through clonal plantations Punjab would have surplus wood to attract mega wood-based industries such as paper, pulp and plywood. The Forest Minister said that there were already 61.2 million trees existing outside the forests and the number is expected to increase to 100 million by 2010. Efforts were also afoot to involve the farmers in the campaign for clonal tree planting and the Department was expected to supply sufficient number of clonal seedlings in coming years from forest nurseries situated in different parts of the State, Mr. Sud added.

Paddy procurement exceeds last year total procurement

Chandigarh November 9, 2008

Paddy procurement in Punjab today recorded 127.03 lac tonnes of procurement in till Saturday exceeding the total procurement of 126.72 lac tonnes recorded last year and was fast leaping towards highest procurement recorded 142 lac tonnes recorded in the year 2004-05.

According to an official spokesman though paddy procurement has slowed down but Punjab was hopeful of creating a new record in paddy procurement keeping in view bumper crop and late arrival of paady in Mandis this year.

The spokesman said that the six government agencies and millers procured over 12703267 tonnes of paddy on Friday.

An official spokesman today said that PUNGRAIN procured 3497531 tonnes of paddy (29.8%) whereas MARKFED procured 2689277 tonnes of paddy (22.9%). PUNSUP procured 2641125 tonnes of paddy (22.5%) whereas Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 1458811 tonnes of paddy (12.4%) besides 1230104 tonnes of paddy (10.5%) procured by Punjab Agro. The Central Government Agency FCI procured only 202539 tonnes of paddy (1.7%) against the target of 10% procurement given to it. The Millers procured 983553 tonnes of paddy (7.7 %) by Saturday.

Ludhiana district was leading in procurement with 1575493 followed by Sangrur district was leading in procurement with 1432121 tonnes, Ferozepur 1201959 tonnes.

The spokesman said that lifting of procured paddy from the mandis has started showing positive results with PUNGRAIN (97.9%), MARKFED (96%), PUNSUP (98.2), PSWC (98%), PUNJAB AGRO (99.2%) and FCI (100.4%) showing substantial improvement.

Six government agencies have paid over Rs 9393.13 crores for paddy procured by agencies current Kharif Marketing Season. The spokesman said that farmers of the State are being made payment of paddy procured by the government agencies within 48 hours of lifting of paddy from the procurement centres.

The Punjab Food Supply had setup 1622 procurement centres throughout the state to ensure smooth procurement of paddy.