Punjab ready with Strategy & Action Plan for promoting IT/ITeS investments

Chandigarh October 10, 2008:

Punjab Infotech, the nodal agency for IT/ITeS sector promotion, today presented the strategy and action plan, prepared by global consultants E&Y, for attracting IT/ITeS investments in the State, before the Industries Minister, Mr. Manoranjan Kalia. The meeting was held at the Udyog Bhavan premises this afternoon. Also present for the meeting were several senior officials from the Industries Department.

The proposed strategy has immediate focus on developing Mohali and Kapurthala as key IT/ITeS clusters by providing dedicated uninterrupted power-supply. To discuss the same, the Punjab Infotech will be taking up the issue with the PSEB during a one-to-one meeting scheduled for October 20th.

Further, as part of the strategy implementation, the Government will be launching a 90-day action plan to include amongst others - formalising the industry led Vision Group, setting up an IT Action Group and Task Forces, mapping out land- parcels under the OUVGL scheme across key districts and undertaking a round of follow-up meetings with NASSCOM to progress on proposed HR development initiatives

RS. 5500 CRORE MULTIFACETED DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR PUNJAB

LUDHIANA OCTOBER 10, 2008

The Punjab Government has prepared a comprehensive plan of Rs.5500 crore for the multifaceted development that includes up-gradation of sewerage, roads, water supply and lighting net works of all the towns in the state.

An announcement to this effect was made by Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal during the first round of 'Sangat Darshan' Program being organized first time in Ludhiana. The Chief Minister today covered 11 wards of Dakha Constituency. On this occasion, Mr. Badal made it clear that he had no political motive behind Sangat Darshan Program except redressing the problems and complaints of general public on the spot in the greater interest of the people. "Sangat Darshan is providing a unique platform for the elected representatives of the public, Officers and the public itself to carry out state's various development programms in true spirits," said Mr. Badal.

Mr. Badal also announced that Rs. 240 crore would be spent to revamp the entire sewerage system in Ludhiana city and a 220 KV Grid- Station at a cost of Rs. 20 crore would also be setup by the end of year 2008 to ensure better power supply in the city. He also announced that to facilitate the people regarding the property registration, two new offices would be soon setup.

A large number of local residents representing all section of society came to highlight their problems. The Chief Minister today covered as many as 11 wards (ward No. 27, 28, 31,57,58,62,63,64,66 and 71) in the city and listened to the grievances of the residents both individually and collectively on the spot, as most of the grievances and demands raised by them related to drinking water, sewerage, electricity and street lighting. The Chief Minister asked the district administration and Municipal Corporation to jointly prepare an action plan to address to these problems at the top priority within a stipulated time frame. He also directed the senior officers of different departments to sort out each and every complaint brought into his notice at once. He assured the residents that the scarcity of funds would not to be allowed to come in way of the overall development of the city.

Later, talking to media persons Mr. Badal said that all the work estimates would be thoroughly checked by a team of experts headed by Technical Advisor to Punjab Government Lt. Gen. (Retd.) B.S. Dhaliwal and Chief Engineers (Quality Control ) from PWD (B & R) and Mandi Board so that the entire schemes and projects could be implemented efficiently with in a stipulated time schedule.

Mr. Badal was accompanied by Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Hira Singh Gabria, Member Parliament Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda, Mayor Municipal Corporation, Mr. Hakam Singh, MLA Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sumear Singh Gurjar, DIG Ludhiana Range Mr. Ishwar Singh and SSP Ludhiana Mr. R.K. Jaiswal besides party leaders and workers of SAD & BJP.

Rs.123 CRORE TO BE SPENT TO REHABLITATE KOTLA CANAL-SEKHON

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER :10

The Punjab Government was going to rehabilitate first Patiala Feeder Kotla branch with a cost of Rs. 123.30 crore which would cover 500 villages of Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Barnala and Patiala districts of the state.

Disclosing this here today Mr.Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister Punjab said that Punjab Chief Minister S.Parkash Singh Badal would lay foundation stone of this historic project which was taken up after 60 years on 12th October, 2008.

Mr.Sekhon said that with the rehabilitation of first Patiala feeder and Kotla Branch, capacity of canals would be increased which discharge 30 percent more would water. Four lakh farmers would get benefit to Irrigates their fields from this historic step taken by S.Parkash Singh Badal. Sidelining of 24 Km of first Patiala Feeder and 130 Kms length of Kotla Branch Canal would be done under this scheme. Sidelining of first Patiala Feeder of 24 Km has already been completed. Capacity of this canal to carry water was reduced to 3600 cusecs from 4010 cusecs and after rehabilitation capacity would be increased to 4914 cusecs, said Mr.Sekhon.

Giving more information regarding Kotla Branch, Mr.Sekhon said at present Kotla Branch could discharge only 2550 cusecs of water, earlier which was 3018 cusecs after rehabilitation the capacity would increase to 3304 cusecs, which means farmers would get 754 cusecs more water.

On completion of this project 265485 hectares of present area would get better facilities of Irrigation and drinking water.

THREE MINISTERS COUNTER CONGRESS CLAIM ON NEGLECT OF MAJHA & DOABA

Chandigarh October 10:- Three Punjab Ministers today charged the successive Congress governments at the Center and in the State for systematic and sustained neglect of the Majha and the Doaba regions

In a hard hitting statement, the three ministers said that if it was not for exemplary and unparalleled growth-incentives and investments made by the SAD-BJP Governments, there would neither have been an International Airport at Amritsar nor three universities (including a World Class varsity) nor a Ranjit Sagar Dam and nor an All India Medical Institute at Amritsar nor two regional passport offices in these regions , not to speak of the world class infrastructure network of four -lane and six lane expressways now launched in these areas.

"We challenge Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Mohinder Singh Kaypee and Capt. Amarinder Singh to a direct and live television debate on the criminal neglect of the Doaba and the Majha areas by the Congress Governments. In the past 18 months alone, the SAD-BJP Government has started projects worth over Rs. 55,000 crores in these two areas which are at different stages of completion. This is more than the total investment made by the Congress governments in over 50 years of their misrule", said Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, and Mr. Sucha Singh Langah, Local Government, Rural Development and Agriculture Ministers respectively.

These ministers further said that the entire border belt remained in a state of utter neglect during the Congress Governments and it was left to Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to not only give ownership rights and border area compensation to the farmers along the border especially those engaged in farming across the fence on international border.

The Ministers said that whereas the Congress neglected these regions, the SAD-BJP Government this year alone has completed infrastructure projects in Majha and Doaba areas to the tune of Rs. 3372 crore where as ambitious projects to the tune of Rs.28661 crore are on anvil, to change the face these two regions.

Listing out the projects the Ministers said that 27 road projects with an estimated cost of Rs. 450 crores have already been completed whereas 7 high level bridges with an estimated cost of Rs. 125 crores were at the advanced stage of completion. They said that in the Majha and Doaba area 8 ROBs at the cost of Rs. 110 crore and 5 other infrastructure project costing Rs. 80 crores were completed by the government.

The Ministers said that work on 22 ROBs/RUBs, high level bridges and other projects costing Rs. 505 crores were in full swing.

Determined to change the face of Punjab, the Ministers said that the government has initiated 23 more ROBs costing Rs. 400 crores. Similarly 3 roads from Chandigarh to Anandpur Sahib, Chandigarh Mullapur Roads and Southern Bye Pass Ludhiana were being constructed at the cost of Rs. 700 crores. Similarly construction on 12 other projects costing Rs. 1082 crore was on anvil.

Unfolding the vision of SAD-BJP Government the Ministers said that besides these projects our government has initiated 89 projects at an estimated cost of Rs. 28661 crore to put Punjab on fast track of development and growth. They said that Punjab has planned Mohali-Phagwara, Mohali-Banur-Baddiand Pathankot-Ajmer Expressway at the cost of Rs. 14600 crores. Two ring roads for Amritsar and Ludhiana has been planned at the cost of Rs. 4300 crore. The Minister said that two metro rail projects for Ludhiana and Amritsar to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 6600 crore on anvil.

Calling upon Congress leaders to tender public apology for misguiding the people, the ministers said that results of ensuing Lok Sabha poll would put a stamp of approval on the development agenda of SAD-BJP Government, calling a bluff of Congress propaganda

SENIOR OFFICERS TO SUPERVISE PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS

Chandigarh October 10: On the directions of the Chief Minister S Parkash Singh Badal , Mr. RI Singh the Chief Secretary Punjab has deputed seniors from the state headquarters to supervise the ongoing procurement operations in Punjab .

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that districts have been assigned to individual officers for this purpose. Mr. P. Ram has been given Amritsar and Tarn Taran, Mr. Vijay Kain- Ropar and Mohali, Mr. S.C. Aggarwal- Jallandhar and Kapurthala, Mr. D.S.Jaspal- Faridkot and Muktsar, Mr. B.K. Srivastava- Hoshiarpur and Nawan Shahr, Mr. G.S Sandhu- Barnala and Sangrur,Ms. Kusumjit Sidhu- Patiala, Mr. D.S..Bains- Bathinda and Mansa, Mr. R.C. Nayyar-Ferozepur, Dr. Swaran Singh-Moga, Mr. N.S.Kang- Fatehgarh Sahib, Mr. D.P.Reddy –Gurdaspur and Mr. Arun Goel- Ludhiana.

The officers have been requested to undertake extensive tours of the mandis. All issues relating to procurement of paddy would be supervised by them within the assigned districts, added the spokesman.

FIRST EVER MEGA LOK ADALAT TO BE HELD IN DECEMBER: R I SINGH

Chandigarh October 10:

In order to ensure the early disposal of long pending cases in the courts, the Punjab Government together with Punjab State Legal Services Authority (PSLSA) has decided to organize a two-day first ever Mega Lok Adalat on 20th and 21st of December 2008 as a special campaign to settle pending civil and compoundable cases in the state.

This was stated here today by the Chief Secretary Punjab Mr. RI Singh while addressing a meeting of the officers concerned of various departments. The Chief Secretary has asked the officers to identify the cases which were to be taken up and provide speedy and inexpensive justice to the people and accelerate the process of monitoring legal aid cases during this mega lok adalat. He also said that during the mega lok adalat some of the cases under Punjab tenancy Act, Land Revenue Act, Punjab Village Common Land Acts, Public Premises Ejectment Act, Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, Revenue cases particularly lambardari, partition and mutation proceedings, Land Acquisition Act and compensation disputes, Cooperative Societies Act and recovery proceedings , Election petitions or matters pending before the Executive Authorities under various relevant laws relating to urban and rural local bodies ,Excise and Taxation cases, cases under electricity Act and Motor vehicles Accident claims would be taken up for on the spot settlement.

The Chief Secretary urged the litigants and their counsels for full participation and cooperation so that their cases could be settled on the spot and justice could be delivered at the earliest.

IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED

CHANDIGARH, October 10, 2008

The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational irrigation Programme for the Kharif Season through Canal water from 10 October to 19 October, 2008. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on priority basis from, Bist Doab Canal, Sidhwan Branch, Bhatinda Branch, 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 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. in Main Branch Lower with its distributaries being in first Preference would run to their indent. Balance Surplus water available would be utilised Lahore Branch, Sabraon Branch, Kasur Branch Lower with its distributaries.

PADDY PROCUREMENT CROSSES 24 LAC TONNES IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, October 9:

Paddy procurement by six government agencies and traders crossed 24 lac tonnes in Punjab on Wednesday.

According to an official spokesman by Wednesday PUNGRAIN procured 5, 49,096 tonnes of paddy (26%) whereas MARKFED procured 4, 91,046 tonnes of paddy (23.3%). PUNSUP procured 4, 83,088 tonnes of paddy (22.9%) whereas Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 2, 92,477 tonnes of paddy (13.9%) besides 2,63,438 tonnes of paddy (12.5%) procured by Punjab Agro. The Central Government Agency FCI procured only 31,483 tonnes of paddy (1.5%). The Millers procured 2, 97,268 tonnes of paddy (12.3 %) by Wednesday.

The mandis in Amritsar Division recorded 9, 07,669 tonnes of paddy with Tarn Taran recording maximum paddy by Wednesday to the tune of 2,26,407 tonnes. The mandis of Ferozepur division recorded 13, 02,760 tonnes of paddy with maximum of 5, 24,548tonnes 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