CRUDE RISE IMPACT - PUNJAB PWD TO ALLOW IMPORT OF BITUMEN TO EXPEDITE ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Chandigarh, October 8, 2008

Chandigarh October 8: Worried over repeated hike in the price of domestic bitumen affecting the progress of ongoing road construction projects, the Punjab Public Works Department is contemplating to allow road contractors to import bitumen, without compromising the quality of road construction.

Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD (B&R) Minister today constituted a high level committee of Chief Engineers to study the whole issue and draw terms and quality control measures for the import of bitumen by the contractors. It was felt in the meeting that with the rising price of crude in the International Market, bitumen price being raised every fortnight disturbing the cost estimate of road construction projects under execution. It was informed in the meeting that due to rising price of bitumen cost of construction of one kilometer road was rising at the rate of Rs. 4.00 lac every fortnight, making most of the project unviable. The Minister pointed out that repeated enhancement of project cost was delaying most of the road projects.

It was informed in the meeting that most of the BOT Companies were using imported bitumen as its cost was Rs. 3000- 4000 per tonne less than domestic bitumen. The Minister asked the Chief Engineers to draw strict quality control measures so that quality of the road project was not compromised.

Mr. Kulbir Singh, Secretary PWD (B&R) and all Chief Engineers of PWD (B&R) department participated in the meeting.

IN THE EXPECTATION OF LIKELY ANNOUNCEMENT OF BONUS, PUNJAB COMPUTERIZES PADDY SALE RECORD

Chandigarh, October 8, 2008

Expecting an early announcement of bonus on paddy the Punjab Food Supply department has issued detailed instructions to the field staff to keep complete computerized record regarding the sale of paddy by the farmers in order to ensure that the rightful benefit reaches farmers on announcement of Bonus.

According to an official spokesman Food & Supplies Minister, Punjab Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon was personally pursuing the matter with the Union Government and had even met Mr. Sharad Pawar, the Union Minister of Food & Agriculture, New Delhi in this regard. He said that on the persistent request of the Punjab Government, the Union Government was likely to announce bonus, over and above the Minimum Support Price for the ongoing paddy procurement season and the announcement of bonus was expected any time.

Meanwhile, the Food Supplies Department has issued a number of relaxations in the milling policy on the persistent demand of rice millers. The spokesman said that the norms of free paddy storage i.e. without bank guarantee / cash security for the rice mills of 1 MT and 2 MT milling capacity have been revised.

The spokesman said that free paddy storage of 0.5MT rice mills has been enhanced from 900 MT to 1250 MT whereas for 0.75 MT free paddy storage has been enhanced from 1350 MT to 1875 MT. In the case of 1 MT Rice mills free paddy storage has been enhanced from 1800 MT to 2500 MT where as the case of 1.25 MT free paddy storage has been enhanced from 2250 to 2750 MT. In the case of 1.5 MT Rice mills free paddy storage has been enhanced from 2700 MT to 3000 MT where as the case of 1.75 MT free paddy storage has been enhanced from 3150 to 3250 MT. In the case of 2 MT Rice mills free paddy storage has been enhanced from 3600 MT to 4000 MT.

The spokesman said that Cash security to be deposited by a miller for availing additional paddy under cash security would now be charged @ 5% instead of 10% conveyed earlier. He said that it has been decided that Paddy from capacity deficit centers can be shifted to other center/ districts to the interested millers. In such a case, the State agencies would bear the transportation charges only upto the nearest milling centre and the expenses beyond this point would be borne by the concerned miller.

21.39 LAC TONNES OF PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, October 8, 2008

Paddy procurement picked up momentum in Punjab as 21.39 lac tones of paddy was procured in the State by Tuesday.

According to an official spokesman by Tuesday PUNGRAIN procured 4,84,359 tonnes of paddy (25.9%) whereas MARKFED procured 4,43,069 tonnes of paddy (23.7%). PUNSUP procured 4,27,970 tonnes of paddy (22.9%) whereas Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 2,59,071 tonnes of paddy (13.8%) besides 2,29,949 tonnes of paddy (12.3%) procured by Punjab Agro. The Central Government Agency FCI procured only 26,487 tonnes of paddy (1.4%). The Millers procured 2,68,369 tonnes of paddy (12.5 %) by Tuesday.

The mandis in Amritsar Division recorded 8,10,493 tonnes of paddy with Tarn Taran recording maximum paddy by Tuesday to the tune of 2,11,909 tonnes. The mandis of Ferozepur division recorded 11,70,219 tonnes of paddy with maximum of 4,67,733 tonnes of paddy being recorded by Ferozepur district.

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

The spokesman said that farmers of the state have been assured payment of paddy procured by the government agencies within 48 hours of lifting of paddy from the procurement centres.

BOOK AMAR SINGH FOR AIDING AND ABETTING TERRORISM –TIKSHAN SUD

Chandigarh, October 7, 2008

Senior BJP Leader and Punjab's Medical Education Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud today demanded that Samajvadi Party leader Mr. Amar Singh be booked for aiding and abetting terrorism, as by questioning the genuineness of unparalleled martyrdom of Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, he was playing the game of terrorists to demoralise police force.

In a statement issued here today Mr. Sud said that it was unfortunate that Samajvadi Party was becoming tool to the conspiracy to deflate sustained campaign launched by Police forces of many states by discouraging them and raising a fear of prosecution amongst them. The BJP leader said that it was matter of great regret that UPA government was not coming forward to defend the family of martyr Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma as they had been left to fend for themselves.

Mr. Sud said that on one hand police arrests terrorists after risking their lives and UPA's HRD Minister Arjun Singh supports Jamia Milia Vice Chancellor for providing legal aid to the terrorists, putting a question mark on anti terrorist policy of UPA government.

Questioning the sincerity of anti terrorist campaign launched by Union Government, the BJP minister said that confused signals given by the top leadership was already creating doubts in the mind of security forces. He said that UPA government was already dillydallying the re-imposition of POTA where as hundreds of innocents were getting killed in Bomb blast every third day. The delayed execution of Afzal Guru was already encouraging terrorists to strike country as they know that soft state like India under the Congress leadership would never be tough against terrorism.

Demanding the resignation of UPA government Mr. Sud said that this government has no right to govern the Country as it was getting support from terrorist conspirator party.

Mr H S Grewal takes over as Chairman, Punjab Infotech

Chandigarh, October 7, 2008

Mr Harjit Singh Grewal today took over as the Chairman of the Punjab Information and Communication Technology Corporation Limited (Punjab Infotech). Mr Grewal is the Co-Incharge, Haryana State BJP. Several senior BJP ministers and leaders, including Mr Avinash Rai Khanna,MP, Chaudhary Swarna Ram, Technical Education Minister, Master Mohan Lal, Transport Minister, Mr Sukhpal Nano, Parliamentary Secretary , Mr Parkash Manchanda, Mr Raj Khurana, Mr Satpal Saini along with a large number of supporters were present on the occasion.

Punjab Infotech is the nodal agency of the Punjab Government for promotion of IT & ITES in the State. Mohali has already developed as an important destination for IT Industry. There are more than 5000 persons working in IT Industry in different units in Mohali like Dell Computers, IDS Infotech, Sebiz Infotech, Smart Data Enterprises, Quark Media, Competent etc. Mohali has a notified Special Economic Zone promoted by Quarkcity India Private Limited. A number of other developers are setting up IT Parks and Special Economic Zones in Mohali. Promotion of IT Industry at new locations like Kapurthala and Ropar is also in the offing. Punjab Infotech shall be developing IT Park on 50 acres of land in Kapurthala.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Grewal said that it will be his endeavor to spearhead all the initiatives taken by the Corporation, lending his full support and ensuring support of the Government for the promotion of Information Technology in the State. He said that the IT must benefit the common man, only then the State and the Country will benefit. Mr Grewal extended his full support to S. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Punjab and Sh. Manoranjan Kalia, Industries & Commerce Minister, Punjab.

MOTIVE PEOPLE TO GROW MORE TREES AS A PART OF MASS MOVEMENT – BADAL

SAS NAGAR (MOHALI) OCTOBER 7, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today exhorted the people of Punjab and the Forests Department to chalk out a joint strategy to make tree plantation 'a mass movement' to save our environment from the onslaught of wide spread air pollution and make the state 'clean & green'.

Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of Rs.38 crore Forest Complex over 2 acres of land here in Sector 68, Mr. Badal emphasized the need to bring awareness amongst the masses about the importance of trees in our daily life and we must strive hard to conserve our forests because a forestation at a large scale had resulted a imbalance in the eco-system. He asked the Forests Department to motive the people to plant trees in or in front of their houses both in urban and rural areas to cleanse the polluted environment due to heavy emission of deadly industrial gases. He also announced special prizes of Rs.2 lac and Rs. 5 lac for the best green towns and villages to be selected through a statewide competition organized by the forests department to encourage the people to grow trees on one hand to inculcate the aesthetic sense to nurture them with utmost care on the other.

The Chief Minister lamented that most of State's area under forests cover had gone to Himachal Pradesh after reorganization of Punjab way back in 1966. He said now it was the high time to go for tree plantation on a large scale which was too the need of the hour to strike a perfect balance in ecology besides to protect the environment from global warming.

Speaking on the occasion Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh appreciated the efforts of the State Forests Department to create a landmark in the history of forests with the setting up of this eco-friendly Complex. He pointed out that the new forest complex would be instrumental to encourage the masses to adopt the green building technology in order to popularize the concept of clean and green environment.

In his address Forests & Medical Minister Mr. Tikshan Sood also underlined the significance of forests in the present scenario and hoped that the new forest complex to be constructed on the principles of green philosophy would prove to be a milestone in propagating the concept of 'Green Building Design' for the preservation and protection of environment.

Earlier in his welcome address Financial Commissioner Forests Mr. R.C. Nayyar said that the unique concept and design of complex based on the green philosophy would be one of the ten buildings so far constructed in the country and probably second in the region.

Prominent among others who present on the occasion included MLA Morinda Ujjagar Singh Badali, Chairman, Punjab State Cooperative Bank Jasjit Singh Banni, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Mr. B.C.Bala, Chairman Punjab State Forests Development Corporation Mr. Satpal Saini besides Amrik Singh Mohali, Rajbir Singh Padiala both SAD leaders and other party leaders and workers of SAD-BJP.

GIDDERBAHA STUDENTS GET EXPOSURE TO WORKING OF PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA- COURTESY MANPREET BADAL

Chandigarh October 6, 2008

Over 200 talented, academically brilliant students of Gidderbaha constituency today got a rare opportunity to practically understand the working of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, courtesy Punjab Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal .

Manpreet Badal is known for introducing novel solutions to long standing problems in his constituency. He introduced RO system to benefit population suffering from ill effects of saline water. He took personal interest to green his constituency by planting 50,000 saplings in Gidderbaha and now he was in the making of Gidderbaha fully literate constituency.

This three day educational tour of the students of government schools Gidderbaha to Chandigarh and its surrounding areas of tourist importance starting from October 5 was sponsored by the Finance Minister primarily to encourage the students of government schools to give them wide exposure. Mr. Badal had promised to the students to sponsor their three day tour if they score distinction in studies. The students were accompanied by more than 15 teachers whose results were 100 percent.

During interaction with the students in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha , Mr. Badal addressed them as the "future India" and said that the Punjab government would enhance the budget for education from 10 percent to 50 percent in the coming years. He has explained minute details of the working of Punjab Vidhan Sabha since its inception and also about the assembly sessions. He regretted that due to lack of basic facilities, infrastructure and latest trends in education, the students especially in rural areas lag behind academically. They were not capable of competing with other students as per the international standards in the era of globalization and IT. Because they did not have ample opportunities in life and the stagnation in them often lead them astray, said the Minister. According to Mr. Badal the transformation in the school education system was among the top most priorities of the Punjab government. He has asked the students to give him best of results and in return he would give them opportunities to go in for higher studies. The minister further said that besides regular studies the Punjab government would also provide the students to have a technical education in various skills or the fields of their own interests.

Earlier the students visited the DELL Mohali, IT Park Chandigarh, Punjab Tractors Limited, Punjab University . Tomorrow they would visit the office of local newspapers and a few more places in and around Chandigarh .

SAD LEADERS FLAY CONGRESS FOR DIVIDING PUNJAB ON REGIONAL LINES

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 6, 2008

Two SAD Ministers and one Member Parliament today lambasted Congress for trying to divide Punjab on regional lines by propagating that one region in Punjab was getting more share than other in development projects.

Taking serious view of the irresponsible accusation of Congress leaders in a section of the press saying that Malwa was getting more development projects than Majha and Doaba, SAD leaders Rattan Singh Ajnala, Bikram Singh Majithia and Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike today described these news reports as a divisive policy being perpetuated by Congress leadership to divide Punjab on regional lines. They termed the accusation totally baseless, politically motivated, factually incorrect and highly misleading.

Ridiculing the Congress leaders for their myopic and whimsical approach restricted to petty politics for their personal gains, the SAD leaders accused them for their dubious role to scuttle the efforts of the SAD-BJP Government to ensure overall and balanced growth of the State. The SAD leaders said that Congress leadership was getting ruffled due to sustained development drive by Mr. Parkash Singh Badal whereas their own leader Capt. Amarinder Singh remained busy in pursuing the policy of leisure and pleasure. They blamed the previous Congress regime for grossly ignoring the interests of the state due to their political and vested motives. "Except making tall claims and false promises, the Congress Government failed on every front be it agriculture, industry, infrastructure, social security and education", the SAD leaders asserted. "What to talk of initiating new projects, Amarinder Singh tried to scuttle Bathinda refinery to protect the interests of one private refinery group", the SAD leaders commented.

Taking a dig at the Congress for not even adding a single unit of power, the leaders said that our government had accorded the top most priority to the power sector to make Punjab self-sufficient in power generation during the next three years. "Sincere and concerted efforts on the part of SAD during its earlier stints has fructified into the setting up of Thein Dam, two units of Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabat besides the prestigious Rs.16000 crore Bathinda Refinery that too was stalled by the Congress government due to the reasons best known to them, said these leaders. The government had already embarked upon an ambitious programme to generate additional power of 12000 MW in the state within next three years. The construction work on Talwandi Sabo Thermal plant with an installed capacity of 1980 MW had already been commissioned and the foundation stone of another 540 MW thermal plant at Goindwal Sahib would be laid on October 18.

The SAD leaders also mentioned that the State Government had earmarked Rs. 5500 crore to provide basic civic amenities of water supply, sewerage, street lighting and storm water in all the towns and cities of the state towards a major thrust to improve the quality of life in the urban sector. They said that the SAD-BJP government was committed to provide excellent infrastructure in the state because any state or nation could not prosper and grow for the want of requisite infrastructure.

Referring to the massive infrastructure growth, these leaders pointed out that the Mohali International Airport besides upgradation of Amritsar and Sahnewal Airports and setting up of new civilian terminal at Bathinda and Flying Academies at Faridkot and Sultanpur Lodhi were the major projects in the field of civil aviation. The road infra structure in the state was all set to undergo a major transformation with Eight Lane Expressways connecting Mohali and Chandigarh with Phagwara, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda and Ferozepur and four-lane access to all the other major destinations in the state. The SAD-BJP government had released Rs.165 crore for the development of the holy city of Amritsar besides the government had expedited the work on various infrastructure projects under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission from Amritsar city. The government had set up special Development Authorities for both Amritsar and Jalandhar for their planned and integrated urban development. A super expressway linking Pathankot with Ajmer would be built at a cost of Rs. 8600 crore. The rural road network was also being strengthened with 7200 KMs of link roads being repaired and 2200 new link roads being laid. "In the transport sector, Punjab will become the first state in the country to introduce air-conditioned bus service at nearly normal fares. We are on the threshold of a quantum leap on almost every sphere of development," said these leaders.

The leaders also categorically said that the SAD-BJP government during its last tenure executed the prestigious projects of Rajasansi International Airport and Pushpa Gujral Science City at Kapurthala.

Asking the Congress leadership to tender a public apology, the SAD leaders said that their government was committed to make Punjab No.1 state in terms of development index and was committed to ensure planned and equitable development of all sections and regions of Punjab. They further urged the Congress leaders to play the role of "constructive opposition" rather than restricting to making such irresponsible and divisive statements.

PADDY PROCUREMENT TOUCH 14 LAC TONNES MARK

Chandigarh October , 2008

procurement by six official agencies and millers touched 14 lac tonnes mark with agencies procuring 87.3%paddy in the state.

According to an official spokesman out of total 13, 60,413 tonnes of paddy procured by Saturday PUNGRAIN procured 299852 tonnes of paddy (25.3%) whereas MARKFED procured 288700 tonnes of paddy (24.3%) PUNSUP procured 273960 tonnes of paddy (23.1%) whereas Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 165108 tonnes of paddy (13.9%) besides 142282 tonnes of paddy (12%) procured by Punjab Agro. The Central Government Agency FCI procured only 17540 tonnes of paddy (1.5%). The Millers procured 172971 tonnes of paddy (12.7%) by Saturday.

The mandis in Amritsar division recorded 553090 tonnes of paddy with Tarn Taran recording maximum paddyby Saturday to the tune of 172529 tonnes. The mandis of Ferozepur division recorded 736422 tonnes of paddy with maximum of 1294720 tonnes of paddy being recorded by Ferozepur district.

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

The spokesman said that farmers of the state have been assured payment of paddy procured by the government agencies within 48 hours of lifting of paddy from the procurement centres.

Launching the first International Punjabi Newspaper "Desh Videsh Times"

Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal has called upon the Media to accord priority for the safe guard of National and social interests of the country, while covering the controversial issues in the print as well as electronic media.

Mr. Badal was addressing a largely attended gathering on the occasion of launching the first International Punjabi Newspaper "Desh Videsh Times" at Guru Nanak Bhawan, here today. The newspaper had already been publishing from Canada for the last 8 years.

The Chief Minister said that the media should continue to focus on constructive criticism of the working of the Governments, as it prove to be most beneficial to the government to redress its short comings and mistakes. He said that during his long political carrier he had always welcomed the healthy criticism and tried his best to implement the suggestions and guidance given by the media coverage, as media reports commands a strong acceptably among the people. The Chief Minister said that the media plays a crucial role in the formulation of policies and programme of the governments as it highlights the major problems of the people and areas for immediate attention. He said that the media should also raise burning social issues like female foeticide, dowry, corruption, spread of drugs and intoxicants among the youth etc. along with coverage of the political and other current issues relating to the society.

Mr. Badal also urged the media to educate the people about the importance of peace and communal harmony in the country through their writings and coverage and should refrain from giving importance to the disruptive and communal elements who were again trying to raise their heads time to time. Mr. Badal suggested that the ruling and opposition parties must come on a common platform and sit together to chalk out consensus programs to tackle the major national issues like poverty, terrorism, illiteracy and unemployment etc. and said that there should be no politics concerning the national interests. He hoped that if his suggestion gets acceptance from the various parties, it can give excellent results for the uplift of poor people and prosperity of the state and the country.

Congratulating the management of the News paper, Mr. Badal advised them to strongly stick to the impartiality and fearless and true reporting in their paper to properly serve the society. Appreciating the impartial line adopted by the newspaper in Canada , the Chief Minister hoped that the paper would give justified coverage to all the political parties and sections of society. He noted that this international paper will play a vital role in highlighting the problems of NRIs and their families.

He also advised them to accord top propriety to safeguard the interests of Punjab and Punjabiat in the future, which he opined was their foremost duty being a Punjabi Newspaper.

Mr. Mohinder Singh Kaypee President PPCC while congratulating the management urged them to adopt a clear impartial line and give due coverage to all parties. He asked the media to give more importance to the social issues and problems of the people along with political and other burning issues.

Mr. Avtar Singh President SGPS speakng on the occasion suggested that the media should also focus attention on educating the people

Regarding the social problems and preservation of our traditional moral values.

Extending facilitation to the management on behalf of S. Sukhbir Singh Badal President SAD and S. Bikram Singh Majithia Information and Public Relations Minister, Mr. Harcharn Singh Bains Media Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab said that the people had great expectations from the newspaper as it was an international paper of Punjabi Language and advised them to always put the factual position in the news. He said that the media was rendering a great service to the society while highlighting the crime against depressed poor people and their problems.

S. Harjinder Singh Sidhu Chairman Desh Videsh Times Trust while welcoming assured that the newspaper would give factual and impartial coverage to all parties and sections and would give special attention to raise the problems of the people.

Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan Ex -Minister, S. Darshan Singh Makkar on behalf of Daily Ajit and Mr. Shingara Singh Bhullar Editor Desh Videsh Time also addressed the function.

Prominent among other who present included Mr Hira Singh Gabria, Minister for Jails, S. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon MP, Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda, S. Sital Singh (both Chief Parliamentary Secretary), S. Ajmair Singh Lakhowal Chairman Mandi Boad, S. Paramjit Singh Sidhwan Political Secretary to S. Sukhbir Sigh Badal, S. Gurdeep Singh MD, S. Inderjit Singh Mullanpur Chier Editor, S. Gurcharn Singh Ransian Kalan MD, S. Pawitter Singh MD, Jath. Tota Singh, S. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal Ex- Minister, Sh. Sumer Singh Gurjar D C, Sh. R.K.Jaiswal SSP, Sh. G.S. Ghuman Commissioner, S. Amarjit Singh Bhatia, Mr. Madan Lal Bagga Vice Chairman, S. Hakam Singh Gyspura Mayor, Molana Habib-ur-Rehman Shahi Immam, S. Harmohinder Singh Pardhan MLA, Mr. KK Bawa, S. Jagdev Singh Jassowal. S. Gurmail Singh Sangowal. S. Balwinder Singh Bains and S. Inder Mohan Singh Kaddian.

BADAL UNVEILS MASSIVE TRANSFORMATION PLAN OF RS.5500 CRORE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT

HOSHIARPUR OCTOBER 5, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today unveiled a massive plan of Rs.5500 crore to provide basic civic amenities of water supply, sewerage, street lighting and storm water in all the towns and cities of the state towards a major thrust to improve the quality of life in the urban sector.

Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of ultra modern Bus Stand here, Mr. Badal said that the SAD-BJP government was committed to provide excellent infrastructure in the state because any state or nation could not prosper and grow for the want of requisite infrastructure. He lashed at Congress which ruled in Centre and States for more than five decades and remained completely insensitive towards the development in rural and urban areas despite the fact that more than 60 years had elapsed India being a free and sovereign nation. He asked "let us introspect ourselves, who is at the fault? Had Congress bit serious and concerned for the development of nation as whole the things would not have gone bad to worst as on today".

Taking cognizance of Congress' apathetic attitude towards common man, Mr. Badal pointed out that our government had vowed to transform the entire Punjab so that none of any part of the state remained under developed and the masses need not to approach the government for their genuine demands rather it was the bounden duty of the government to redress their grievances which was an integral part of the good governance and clean administration. He said: "If any political party adopt this pro-people attitude then it need not to go in the court of people to justify their actions and achievements during its tenure at the time of elections, rather people will come forward to support and vote them voluntarily for the sake of development".

Speaking on the occasion, State Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal said that with the completion of this ultra-modern air conditioned bus stand at a cost of Rs.7 crore over an area so 4.5 acres of land, the long pending demand of the local residents had been fulfilled. He said that the Punjab Roadways would bear the entire expenditure for this project. He said that the construction work of Rajpura, Bathinda, Rampura Phul and Anandpur Sahib bus stands was under execution. He thanked Mr. Badal for formulating a pro-passenger transport policy aimed at providing best public transport services at the affordable rates. He said that the state government would launch the air-conditioned bus service from 1st November to enable even the common man to travel in AC buses at a nominal fare which was 10% more than the ordinary bus fare. He said that 50 such buses each from Punjab Roadways and PRTC would be pressed into service from November 1. He also announced that 350 and 159 new ordinary buses would be added to the existing fleet of Punjab Roadways and PRTC respectively.. He also stated that the Pepsu Roadways had made a net profit of 9.82 crore during current year after wiping out its earlier losses of Rs.3 crore, likewise Punjab Roadways had also brought down its net loss to Rs.58 crore from Rs.162. He hoped Punjab Roadways would also soon become a profitable organization. He also announced that for the first time in the history of Transport department the scheme of insurance of passengers would be launched from November 1, under this insurance policy the next of the kin of the passenger killed in bus accident would be entitled for a claim of Rs.2 lakh.

In his address Forest & Medical & Education Minister Mr. Tikshan Sood highlighted the problems of the kandi area and demanded a special package in terms of industry for this backward district.

Earlier, Mr. Badal laid the foundation stone of community centre in Gutam Nagar at a cost of Rs.1 crore over 7 acres of land and announced that a grant of Rs.10 lakh for this project from his discretionary quota. Conceding the demand of the local Bar Association, he also announced a grant of Rs.5 lakh for the purchase of books for the bar library.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Technical Education Minister Ch.Swarana Ram, Mrs. Mohinder Kaur Josh & Mr.Des Raj Dhuga (both Chief Parliamentary Secretaries), Principal Secretary Transport DS Jaspal and Director Mandeep Singh, MLA Mahilpur Sohan Singh Thandal, Member Parliament Rajya Sabha Varinder Singh Bajwa, District Presidents of SAD & BJP units of Hoshirpur Surinder Singh and Jagtar Singh, besides the party leaders and workers of SAD-BJP and members of SGPC.

Earlier talking to the media persons, Mr. Badal said that the state government had approached the TATA group for setting up its Nano Car project in Punjab, he said that the state government was ever ready to welcome any entrepreneur or investor and would extend all out support and cooperation to bring industry in the state. He clarified that the state government had a well defined policy for the land acquisition and TATAs if interested would be given all incentives and facilities within the ambit of industrial policy on mega-projects.

CM TO TAKE UP ISSUE OF SEEKING EXEMPTION OF PLPA IN KANDI AREAS WITH GOI

SARAI PATTAN (ROPAR) OCTOBER 4, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that he would soon take up the matter with Centre to immediately exempt the Kandi area from the ambit of Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900 that had badly hit the overall development of this sub-mountainous region.

Addressing a mammoth gathering after laying the foundation stone of 675.04 meter long high level bridge over river Satluj at a cost of Rs.56.70 crore, Mr. Badal said that even the basic civic amenities of drinking water, sewerage, electricity, irrigation, road network could not be provided to the residents in the wake of PLPA.

Mr. Badal said that he had already constituted core groups comprising the MLAs from the Kandi and Bet areas along with the Administrative Secretaries of the respective departments to take stock of the problems of these areas and suggest remedial measures to overcome these hardships. On the basis of the consolidated report of these core groups, Mr. Badal pointed that it would be finally posed to Centre for seeking additional funds to tackle the problems in a result oriented manner on the pattern of exclusive grants meant for the Border Area Development Programme. The Chief Minister also stated that the GoI had agreed in principle to grant approval for the construction of rural roads in the kandi area under Pardhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana at par with hilly areas.

Mr. Badal further said that the long pending demand of the people of the area over 50 years had been today fulfilled with the laying of foundation stone of this prestigious project. The completion of this bridge would not only ensure overall growth and development in the area but also shorten the distance by at least 20 KMs thereby providing direct access to the residents of about 60 to 65 villages of the kandi areas with Malwa, Doaba and Himachal Pradesh.

Responding to the demand raised by the MLAs and MPs representing kandi and bet areas towards the wide spread devastation caused by the wild animals like blue bull & wild bore in the area, Mr. Badal said that he would asked the department of Forest and Wild Life to take necessary measures and declare these vermin besides allowing the inhabitants of the Kandi area to kill them with in the prescribed norms of the wild life protection Act in order to save their crops and life.

The Chief Minister also asked the district administration to convene a special meeting with regard to the peculiar problems and demands of the Kandi areas so that a special thrust for development in the backward area could be given on the top priority which had been blatantly ignored by the Congress government. He also blamed the previous government for deliberately putting off the construction work of bridge over Sarai Ka Pattan despite after laying its foundation stone by the former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for narrow political and vested interests. Mr. Badal said that he had announced this bridge at a state level function at Holla Mohalla in Sri Anandpur Sahib immediately after assuming the office as Chief Minister but laying its foundation stone today after one and half year only after getting this project thoroughly cleared and finally completing the tendering process. Sufficient funds had been earmarked for the project and the executing agency had been asked to complete this project with in 18 months. He mentioned that the Congress Government wanted to execute this project on BOT basis while our government would bear the entire cost of the project to the tune of Rs.56.70 crore, realizing the fact that the people of the region were not in a position to bear the brunt on account of toll.

Mr. Badal assured the people of the region that he would soon hold a series of Sangat Darshan programme to listen the grievances of the people of the kandi area and ensure its on the spot redressal.

Earlier, local MLA Sant Baba Ajit Singh also highlighted the problems of poor conditions of link roads, power supply and irrigation facilities and solicited government's top priority to address these issues without any further delay.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included PWD (B&R) Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Member Parliament from Hoshiarpur Avinash Rai Khanna, Jathedar Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib Giani Tarlochan Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ch. Nand Lal, MLA Morinda Ujjagar Singh Badali and District President of SAD and BJP unit Ropar Tara Singh Ladal and Bhupinder Diwan, besides the party workers and senior leaders of SAD-BJP.

Farmers to get adequate DAP supplies through Cooperative Societies – Capt. Kanwaljit Singh

Chandigarh October 4, 2008

The total demand of DAP in the State is 5,50,000 MTs for sowing of Rabi, out of which 3,10,000 MT would be supplied by Cooperative Societies in Punjab. This was disclosed by Coop. Minister, Punjab, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh while reviewing the arrangement of DAP fertilizer at a high level meeting. The Minister told that out of 3,10,000 MT the major quantity i.e. 2,60,000 MT will be supplied by Markfed and balance 50,000 MT will be supplied by IFFCO directly to the Nodal Point Societies. The Minister further said that Markfed has already received 1,33,000 MT of DAP up to3rd Oct., 2008 and another 75,000 MT is reaching from IPL very shortly for which all the tie-ups & arrangements have been made by Markfed.. Out of 50,000 MT to be supplied to IFFCO already 26877 MT has been received and the balance 23000 MT is likely to be received by 31.10.2008. Inspite of the extreme rise in International prices of DAP fertilizers, there would be no shortage of DAP because the State Govt. has taken up the issue at all the required levels with Govt. of India pro-actively and the stocks of DAP are being supplied at their door steps of the farmers by incurring heavy transportation costs which is being borne by the State Govt. The position regarding supplies of DAP at the level of districts and blocks is being monitored on daily basis at the highest level to ensure timely availability of the same. Minister appealed the farmers not to indulge in panic buying as required quantities will reach before sowing of wheat crop.

UPINDERJIT KAUR APPEALS TO HARYANA TO GIVE DUE STATUS AND RECOGNITION TO PUNJABI

Chandigarh, October, 3: Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Education and Languages Minister Punjab today hailed the decision of Mr. Ashwani Kumar Minna, Chief Editor Punjab Kesari New Delhi for promoting the cause of Punjabi Language in Haryana and to enforce the Congress led State Government to give due status and recognition to mother tongue in the neighbouring state.

In a statement issued here today Dr. Upinderjit Kaur said that the Haryana Government had ever ignored the Punjabi Language being spoken by more than half of its population at the behest of central congress leadership for the reason best known to all the Punjabis. The neighbouring state, carved out of Punjab, by not fulfilling the aspirations of lacs of Punjabis, had instead honoured the Tamil language as a second language which is being spoken by not more than hundred people in the state, she said.

The Language Minister added that the Punjab Govt had already enacted legislation for compulsory use of Punjabi language in all the government offices and subordinate courts and in all the schools as a medium of Punjabi from class 1st to Class 10th. She said that though the Haryana state had also passed a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha for making Punjabi as second language but the implementation was only on the papers and have not shown a will power to give due status to the Punjabi language in the state. There is a need of the hour to enforce and implement the use of Punjabi as an official language by launching a massive drive with the full cooperation of all the people and the media has to play its due role in awaking the public as well as the Government to honour the mother tongue, she said.

Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, appreciating the efforts of all newspapers of Punjab and Mr. Ashwani Minna, hoped that the Punjab press would continue to use its best efforts for the cause of Punjabi language in Union Territory Chandigarh and neighbouring states also.

First Biotechnology Incubator of the Northern Region becomes operational in Mohali

To provide World Class State-of-the-Art Quality Testing and Certification Facilities to Agro processing sector

Chandigarh October 3: First Biotechnology Incubator of the Northern Region to provide World Class State-of-the-Art Quality Testing and Certification Facilities to Agro processing sector today became operational at Mohali, ushering in an new era in the field of Research and Technology.

Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Minister for Science, Technology & Environment, today inaugurated Punjab Biotechnology Incubator (PBTI) setup by the Punjab Govt. jointly with Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India (GOI) at the cost of Rs. 10 crores.

Speaking after inaugurating the facility, Mr. Majithia said that it was first of its own kind comprehensive Quality Testing & Certification setup under one roof that would benefit agro based sectors. He said that the sectors that would benefit from incubator include Dairy, Fresh/processed fruits & vegetables, Bakery & Confectionary, Cereal Grains, Honey, Fertilizers, Animal Feeds & Feeding Stuffs, Soil, Water & Waste Water and other allied sectors. He said that not only entrepreneurs and farmers from Northern India in general and Punjab in particular would now be able to draw benefits from PBTI's facilities.

Listing out the benefits of PBTI facilities, Mr. Majithia said that Agro processing units including export Oriented Units that had to rush to New Delhi for every minor certification demanded by the Foreign buyers would now get these facilities at Mohali itself. He said that this facility besides giving impetus to the export would also benefit the pharmaceutical firms of the northern India in developing stains of new drugs being developed by them

Mr.Majithia said that India is the largest producer of milk and third largest producer of food grains in the world and Punjab's contribution in it is very large & significant. He said that PBTI's facilities would be instrumental in post harvest processing of the agri-produce for the value addition and capturing the global market. He said that by using the facilities of PBTI ,p we would be able to ensure the quality of product so as to meet with the stringent quality requirements of the international market.

On this occasion Dr. S.S. Marwaha, Chief Executive Officer of PBTI informed that the laboratories were fully equipped with latest hi-end equipment for the analysis of Pesticide Residues, Heavy Metals, Mycotoxins, Minerals, Vitamins, Fatty Acid Profile, Food Additives, Adulterants, Microbial Pathogens, Rheological parameters, Texture Analysis, Immunological assays, etc. he said that PBTI was ready to take up the work of detection of viruses in the germ plasm especially, the potato seed and citrus plant nursery.

It may be added that. Govt. of Punjab (GOP) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India (GOI) had approved the "Setting up of Biotechnology Incubator in Punjab Biotechnology Park" at total cost of Rs. 1097 lacs with two service facilities i.e. Facilities for Quality Testing and Certification and Common Facilities for Extraction of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants. The Incubator facilities were sanctioned to carry out the Quality Testing and Certification, Value addition to products and processes of agri and related sectors especially, the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Training and Dissemination of information on Quality and Food Safety aspects to producers, processors, consumers and industry & Domain Specific Research & Development and to meet the requirements Agri and Biotech Sectors.

Prominent amongst those who attended the function included S. Jasjit Singh Banni, Chairman Punjab Cooperative Bank, Dr. N.S. Tiwana, Executive Director, Punjab State Council for Science, Technology, Dr. Naresh Kumar, Head (R&D), CSIR, Govt. of India, Dr. N. Satyamurthi, Director, IISER, Dr. Girish Sahni, Director, IMTECH from the State / Central Govt. Organizations.

The participants from the corporate sector included Sh. Naininder Singh Dhillon, Vice President, Mahindra Shubhlabh, Dr. Sanjay Trehan, Sr. Vice President, Panacea Biotech, Sh. Gurpreet Singh, Shivalik Nurseries, Mr. Sartaj Brar, Director, Pagro Food Ltd. Dr. L.K. Jain, DGM (R&D), Wockhardt Limited and Dr. Renu Dhar, General Manager (R&D) Milkfed.

These participants appreciated the setting up of PBTI's Quality Testing and Certification Facilities at SAS Nagar (Mohali) as this would save their time and money for getting the samples tested from the laboratories operational at New Delhi. Mr. Naininder Singh, Vice President, Mahindra Shubhlabh, brought out that they are satisfied with the level and accuracy of the reports generated by PBTI's Laboratories.

BADAL PAYS TRIBUTES TO S. GURLABH SINGH MAJITHIA

Chandigarh October 2:-

Glowing tributes were paid to Late. S. Gurlabh Singh Majithia, paternal uncle of Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, by Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and his cabinet collogues at Bhog Ceremony performed at Gurudwara Sri Satsar Sahib here today.

Mr. Badal recounted the life and contributions of S. Gurlabh Singh Majithia towards the society and said that vaccum created by his death cannot be filled.

Senior political leaders, cutting across party line, including Members of Parliament, MLAs, Ex-ministers, District Presidents, participated in the Antim Ardas.

Besides Mr. Harcharn Bains, Chief Minister's Media Advisor, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema Advisor to Chief Minister, Senior Civil and Police Officers from the State, Vice Chancellors of various Universities and members of media also participated.

Siropas were presented to S. Gurmail Singh Majithia, elder brother of the deceased, Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal and S. Bikram Singh Majithia (nephew of the deceased) by Nanak Sar Samprda, a famous Sikh sect.

VIGILANCE NABBED 3 GOs & 18 NGOs-10 CONVICTED IN GRAFT CASES

Chandigarh October 2: State Vigilance Bureau, in a drive against corruption in public life, arrested 3 Gazzetted Officers (GOs) and 18 Non-Gazzetted Officers (NGOs) in 16 different cases last month and was able to secure the conviction of 10 accused in 11 different vigilance cases.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Harcharn Singh Bhullar, SSP-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. In this direction, the Vigilance officers have registered trap cases, disproportionate assets cases and criminal cases and ensured that suspect did not escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State.

Mr.Bhullar added that during the last month of September the Vigilance had nabbed nine revenue officials which includes two Tehsildars and seven Patwaries. Similarly four Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) officials and three Rural Development and Panchayats department officials were also caught red handed accepting bribes in different cases.

During this period VB had registered three vigilance enquiries and two criminal cases against the suspect officials to probe into the allegations. Besides a disproportionate assets case has also been registered during the month of September 2008.

Giving details he added that the special courts have sentenced 5 NGOs and 5 private persons in 11 different vigilance cases. Those convicted by special courts included Mohinder Singh ASI (No.1526/Sangrur) for one year imprisonment and fine of Rs. 5000/- by the court of Sh S.K Gupta, Special Judge Fathegarh Sahib, two Constables namely Harjit Singh (No.908/Majitha) and Tarlochan Singh (No.315/Intelligence) for one and two years with fine of Rs. 2000/- respectively in two different cases by the court of Sh N.K Gaur, Special Judge Amritsar.

Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee

Chandigarh, October 2: The trials to select players for the Khalsa Sports Event being organized under patronage of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee at Hazoor Sahib Nanded (Maharashtra) on 31st October & 1st November 2008, will be held at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana and Gurur Nanak College, Moga on 5th & 16th October, respectively.

SGPC Secretary Dalmegh Singh, who is also the organizing secretary of this Sports Event, informed, in a press release here today, that this Sports Event will be held as a part of the programs to be organized at Hazoor Sahib to mark the third centenary of Gurta Gadi Divas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. He said that Punjabi games like Kabbadi (National Style & Punjab Style), Wrestling, Horse Riding, Gatka and Nezabaji, will be held in this Sports Event.

He told that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will preside over the inaugural function and SGPC President S. Avtar Singh Makkar will be the Chief Guest on the occasion. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil will come to grace the occasion on the second day, in the morning, of the sports event. Union Sports Minister S. Manohar Singh Gill will be the Chief Guest on the concluding function of the Sports and Union Agriculture Minister Sh. Sharad Pawar will give away the prizes to the winner teams and players. Besides the teams from Punjab and other states of the country, Kabbadi and Wrestler teams from Pakistan will also participate in the Sports Event. Gatka teams of various sect of Nihang Singhs will perform the martial arts and Malkhamb, a local game of Maharashtra State, will also be held on occasion. The players of the Vanzara community will also present their traditional games.

Dalmegh Singh told that on 5th October players for the Kabbadi Punjab style (boys) would be selected at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana and at Guru Nanak College, Moga plsyers for the Kabbadi National style (girls) will be selected on 16th October at 10 AM. He said that players with intact hairs would be preferred.