PUNJAB CM LAYS THE FOUNDATION OF RS. 123.30 CRORES
MAJOR CANAL REVAMPING PROJECT

Dhuri (Sangrur) October 12, 2008

The Punjab government has enhanced the local area development fund for the various assembly constituencies in the state from Rs. 2 crores to Rs. 4 crores.

An announcement to this effect was made by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here today while laying the foundation stone of Rs. 123.30 crore first Patiala feeder and Kotla branch canal revamping project.

Addressing a large gathering on this occasion at Desh Bhagat College Bardwal Mr. Badal said that one crore out of this development fund would be spent on the infrastructure of Government schools. He also directed all the deputy commissioners to send the detailed project reports for the utilization of funds on schools within ten days.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab Government had prepared a comprehensive plan to strengthen the 14,500 KM century old canal system in the state and Rs. 3468 crore would be spent for this. He 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. On completion of this project 265485 hectares of present area would get better facilities of Irrigation and drinking water. The project would cover 500 villages of Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Barnala and Patiala districts of the state, added Mr. Badal.

Regarding the bonus on paddy he said that he was going to new Delhi today where he would talk up this matter with the agricultural Minister in this regard. He laminated that even though agricultural price commission had recommended Rs. 1000 for paddy centre had announced only Rs. 800 per quintal for Maximum support price for Paddy. He said that he would apprise the ground realities to the agricultural Minister.

Speaking on the occasion Irrigation Minister Punjab Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon appreciated the historic step taking Punjab Chief Minister mr. Parkash Singh Badal. He said with this development four lakh farmers would be benefited through better Irrigation facilities. 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.

Prominent amongst other who were present on the occasion included Member Parliament S. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, former Minister Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhundar besides senior leaders and party workers of SAD and BJP.

FARMERS PAID RS.1607CRORES FOR PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, October 12: Six government agencies have paid over Rs. 1606.80 crores for paddy procured by agencies during first 12 days of current Kharif Marketing Season.

An official 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.

He said that by Saturday, Paddy procurement by six government agencies and traders crossed 33 lac tonnes in Punjab. He said that PUNGRAIN procured 7, 73,994 tonnes of paddy (26.2%) whereas MARKFED procured 6, 83,118 tonnes of paddy (23.2%). PUNSUP procured 6, 81,831 tonnes of paddy (23.1%) whereas Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 3, 96,667 tonnes of paddy (13.4%) besides 3,72,472 tonnes of paddy (12.6%) procured by Punjab Agro. The Central Government Agency FCI procured only 41,972 tonnes of paddy (1.4%). The Millers procured 3, 80,066 tonnes of paddy (11.4 %) by Saturday.

The mandis in Amritsar Division recorded 11, 92,033 tonnes of paddy with Kaprthala recording maximum paddy by Saturday to the tune of 2, 81,017 tonnes. The mandis of Ferozepur division recorded 17, 69,495 tonnes of paddy with maximum of 7, 01,216 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.

CM Pays tributes to Maharaja Agarsen Ji

S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) October 12, 2008

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here today called upon the people to come forward and join the state government's move to eradicate social evils like drug addiction, female foeticide and dowry etc. from the society. He was presiding over a state level function to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maharaja Agarsen Ji , an icon of non-violence compassion prosperity and democratic values.

Paying glorious tributes to Maharaja Agarsen Ji, the Chief Minister said that by following the teachings of Maharaja Agarsen a healthy society with values like human love, compassion, equality, humanity and secularism could be formed. Appreciating the efforts of Punjab Aggarwal Sabha to establish its 146 sub-units in the various towns, mandi and village level, Mr. Badal said that there was still a dire need to generate awareness amongst the masses to make social structure in order. He said that still there was a huge gap between rich & poor and government was committed to provide better health and education facilities to the people of the state.

Mr. Badal said that to maintain the communal harmony and unity in the state, SAD-BJP government, for the first time had decided to celebrate all the religious functions at state level.

Taking serious concern over the cancellation of land for Agarsen Bhawan by the previous government, Mr. Badal said that he would personally look in to the matter and allotment would be soon restored for the construction of Agarsen Bhawan.

In his welcome address, Mr. Chiranji Lal Garg, President Agarsen Sabha Punjab thanked the Chief Minister for showing magnanimity for the welfare of the Aggarwal community. Earlier Mr. Badal paid floral tributes to the portrait of Maharaja Agarsen Ji.

Prominent amongst those who spoke on the occasion included Lala Rameshwar Dass Patron, Mr. Prem Chand Singla Vice-President of Aggarwal Sabha Punjab, Mr. Satpal Jain former Member Parliament, Mr. Manoj Kumar President Yuva Aggarwal Sabha Punjab and Chairman Punjab Co-operative Bank Mr. Jasjit Singh Bunny was also present on the occasion.

BADAL ASKS C S TO ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS TO HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE FREE TREATMENT TO DENGUE PATIENTS IN THE STATE

Chandigarh October 11, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today directed the State Chief Secretary Mr. Ramesh Inder Singh to immediately gear up health and medical services to meet any unforeseen eventuality caused due to outbreak of dengue in the state. Mr. Badal also asked the Chief Secretary to issue instructions in all the government hospitals and dispensaries to provide free treatment to the patients inflicted with dengue.

The Chief Minister conveyed these instructions telephonically to the Chief Secretary Mr. Ramesh Inder Singh this evening from Ludhiana, where he was holding a series of Sangat Darshan Programme in the city for past two days. Mr. Badal asked the Chief Secretary to instruct Principal Secretary Medical Education & Research and the both Secretary and Director Health and family welfare to constitute special teams in the state medical colleges and hospitals to effectively treat the cases of dengue. The Chief Minister also asked the Health and Family Welfare department to create awareness amongst the people about the causes, symptoms and treatment of the disease through issuing advertisements in the print as well as electronic media.

Meanwhile Health and Family Welfare Minister Mrs. Laxmi Kanta Chawla also held an emergency meeting here with the officers of the local government department to take remedial measures to prevent further spread of this disease.

SUKHBIR BADAL URGES PM TO IMMEDIATELY SLASH DIESEL, PETROL AND FERTILIZER PRICES IN WAKE OF REDUCTION IN CRUDE OIL PRICES IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET

Chandigarh October 11, 2008

Member of Parliament and Shiromani Akali Dal president Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today called on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to announce immediate cut in diesel, petrol and fertilizer prices in view of the sharp reduction in the prices of crude oil in international market.

The Akali Chief also demanded that the Minimum Support Price of paddy be fixed at Rs 1000 per quintal as recommended by the Agricultural Costs and Prices Commission and an additional bonus of at least Rs.300 per quintal.

"The prices of crude have registered a nearly 44 percent, falling from the peak of 150 to the present 82 dollars a barrel. Since the government of India had hiked diesel prices in the domestic market ostensibly because of the rise in the price of crude in the world markets, there is no reason why it should not announce a corresponding reduction in the background of new market realities," said Mr. Badal in a letter to the Prime Minister.

The SAD Chief pointed out that the costs of agricultural inputs have shown a major increase as a direct fall out of the inflationary pressures on the international oil market in recent months. He said that the government of India always used the slightest increase in crude prices as a pretext to hike the prices of agricultural inputs such as diesel, urea and some other petroleum based products. The farmers always had to bear the brunt of market trends in oil prices. As a result, agriculture has become increasingly un-remunerative, putting a massive burden on the peasantry and a severe strain on farm economy in general. Mr. Badal said that the reduction in diesel and fertilizer prices is the logical economic follow up to the fall in international prices because the prices had initially been hiked consequent upon the upward trends in these prices since July.
Mr. Badal said that the farmers of Punjab had made the most remarkable sacrifices for ensuring food security for the country at a time when the international food situation had given rise to very serious apprehensions of an impending food crisis in the country. The government of India had given a challenger to the Punjab farmers to provide 80 lakh Metric Tonnes of wheat to the national food kitty last season. The Punjab farmer responded to the challenge by turning in a record 100 lakh metric tones. This, said Mr. Badal, had resulted in a net saving of over Rs10,000 crore in foreign exchange for our country.

"The Union government owed a debt of gratitude to the Punjab farmers for this remarkable service to the nation. Instead of any encourage or rewards, the farmers had been made a target of centre's discriminatory policies. Punjab got just one per cent of the Rs 25,000 crore Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna. This was shocking considering that Punjab had contributed more than 60 % to the national food stock.

A similar discriminatory attitude was also visible in the action of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh gave a royal ignore to the Punjab farmers while announcing a massive relief to the farmers of Vidharbha and some southern states in the wake of farmers suicides, said Mr. Badal, adding that the continued indifference and neglect of the Punjab farmers can have very serious consequences for the future of national food security.

The Akali chief further said that a bonus of at least Rs. 300 should be announced by the centre immediately to compensate for the sudden and adverse market trends. "With the prices of every essential commodity registering a steep hike in the wake of inflationary pressures, the farmers purchase power and his net income has suffered major blows. The centre must come in with timely and well deserved relief measures to save the beleaguered peasantry," said Mr.
Sukhbir Singh Badal in his letter.

First Punjab 'Media Telephone Directory' released

Mohali, Oct. 11, 2008

- Punjab Minister for cooperation Captain Kanwaljit Singh on Saturday released the first Punjab Media Telephone Directory at Mohali Press Club here.

The telephone media Directory published by Punjab Newsline Network contained more than 1500 entries, giving telephone numbers, e-mails and addresses of journalists of different newspapers placed at district and sub division level.

Captain Kanwaljit Singh appreciated the efforts of Satinder Bains, editor of online newspaper www.punjabnewsline.com for publishing the state level media telephone directory of journalists. He said that it would be easy for the people to approach the media persons and telephone directory would help journalists to coordinate with themselves.

Satinder Bains thanked Captain Kanwaljit Singh for his support in bringing out the telephone directory which was a major project. He said that it took three months to collect the individual details of journalists. He also expressed gratitude to district Public Relation Officers for their cooperation. He said that a revised edition of the media telephone directory along with compact disc would be published in January 2009 and it will also be available on website punjabnewsline.com.

Mr.Jasjit Singh Bunny Chairman of Punjab State Cooperative Bank and Mr.Sukhdev Singh Patwari President of Mohali Press Club were also present on the occasion.

BADAL COMMITTED TO DEVELOP LUDHIANA AS ULTRA MODERN CITY
Grants Rs. 40 crore for execution of development works

Ludhiana October 11, 2008

On the second leg of his Sangat Darshan programme in Ludhiana city, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today declared that Ludhiana-an industrial hub of Punjab would be soon developed as one of the best cities with ultra modern facilities and excellent infrastructure not only in the north region but in the country.
Addressing a massive gathering of the residents from wards of Ludhiana west constituency here at Lions club, he handed over a draft of Rs. 40 crore to the local Mayor Mr. Hakam Singh Giaspura for the execution of various development works in the city. The Chief Minister said that the master plan of the Ludhiana city had already been finalized to ensure integrated and planned growth of the city and its suburbs. He said the state government had already prepared a blue print of Rs. 5500 crore to provide basics civic amenities of water supply, sewerage, street lighting and storm water management in all the cities and towns of the state within next three and a half years.
He said a sum of Rs. 240 crore had been earmarked to execute sewerage network in the entire city. Mr. Badal asked the councilors to be vigilant in order to ensure the quality of development works at one hand and the proper utilization of funds in their respective wards on the other.
The Chief Minister today listened to the grievances of the residents both at various Sangat Darshan programmes held in ward no. 54-55 (including few parts of ward no. 28 and29), 47, 48, 52, 51, 56,
53,45,46,49 and 50 and redresses them on the spot. He assured the residents that paucity of funds would not be allowed to hamper the progress of development works in the city. He also directed the Deputy Commissioner and the Mayor of the corporation to jointly evolve a time bound mechanism for disposal of their complaints both individual as well as collective on the top priority.
The Chief Minister also sanctioned a grant of Rs. 2.48 crore for the construction of 7 roads, 18 lac for the pavement of streets and Rs. 33 lac for laying sewer and for ward no. 47. Like wise he also approved the grant of Rs. 4.54 crore for construction of 12 roads, Rs. 33 lac for sewerage in ward no. 48.
In ward no. 54, the Kichlu Nagar Welfare Association demanded to construction of library over a 200 sq. yard vacant plant near gate no.
-6 of PAU. The residents of the Udham Singh Nagar urged the Chief Minister to direct the authorities of PSEB to replace the old transmission lines with new one.
Later talking to the media persons about the procurement of paddy, the chief Minister said that the paddy procurement were in full swing and he had deputed Administrative Secretaries in each district to directly oversee these operation. He said that SAD-BJP Government was committed to ensure smooth prompt and hassle free procurement and timely payment to the farmers.
Prominent among other who were present on the occasion included Tourism and Cultural Affairs minister Hira Singh Gabaria, Member Parliament Sharnjit Singh Dhillon, President SGPC Jathedar Avtar Singh, Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura, Vice Chairman Punjab Trade Board Madan Lal Bagga, DIG Ludhiana Range Ishvar Singh, Deputy Commissioner Sumer Singh Gurjar and SSP Ludhiana R.K. Jaiswal, besides the senior leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP and members of SGPC.¥