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GURVINDER SINGH @ BABA PANESAR ARRESTED IN VIDEO UPLOADING CASE IN GOBINDGHAT ATTACK MATTER v MOHALI COURT SENDS HIM ON 4 DAYS POLICE REMAND Chandigarh, June 30: The Punjab police Cyber Crime Cell, Mohali has today arrested Gurvinder Singh @ Baba Panesar r/o Ludhiana in video uploading case in attack on Senior IAS Officer Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu at Gobindghat. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Police said that Gurvinder Singh has been produced before a Mohali Court, where the Hon’ble Court has remanded him in four days police custody. Further investigations are in progress. It may mentioned here that on the complaint by Mr. K.S. Pannu, IAS, DGSE, Punjab an FIR had been registered in Punjab Cyber Crime Police Station, Mohali u/s 66-A IT Act, 295-A, 298, 500, 120-B IPC on June 28. --- BADAL PAYS RICH TRIBUTE TO UTTAMJIT KAUR New Delhi, June 30- People from different walks of life- political, social and religious today paid rich tributes to late Mrs Uttamjit Kaur, wife of former Chairman of National Minorities Commission and former MP Mr. Tarlochan Singh, here today on her Bhog and Antim Ardaas. In a function held at Lakhi Shah Vanjaara Hall in Gurudwara Sri Rakabganj Sahib Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, National President of BJP Mr. Rajnath Singh, Leader of BJP Parliamentary Board Mr. Lal Krishan Advani, Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mr. Arun Jaitley, Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Punjab Finance Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Lok Sabha MP Dr. Rattan Singh Ajnala, President Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) Jathedar Avtar Singh, MLAs Mr. Pargat Singh and Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema, President Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Mr. Manjeet Singh GK, Special Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar and Mr. KJS Cheema shared their heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family. On the occasion Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh, Managing Editor of Ajit Group of Newspapers Dr. Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Chief Editor Punjab Kesri (Delhi) Mr. Ashwani Kumar Minna, Rajya Sabha MP and former Editor of the Tribune Mr. HK Dua, veteran Journalist Mr Kuldip Nayyar and former Chief Secretary of Punjab Mr. SL Kapur also paid homage to the departed soul. On the occasion Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Patiala, Dr. Jaspal Singh thanked on behalf of the bereaved family of late Mrs. Uttamjit Kaur to all the dignitaries and people who joined here in her Antim Ardaas thereby sharing sympathies with them, relatives and friends in this hour of grief. ---- PUNJAB CONCLUDES STATE WIDE SURVEY FOR PLANTATION: JAYANI · 9800 HECTARE AREA IN 9145 VILLAGES FOUND SUITABLE FOR PLANTATION · 3021 HC AREA IDENTIFIED IN INSTITUTIONS FOR PLANTATION CHANDIGARH, JUNE 30: The Punjab Forests department has found 9800 hectare area in 9145 villages and 3021 hectare area in institutions which could be utilized for plantation of saplings to achieve states’ goal of 15% forest cover by the year 2020. Disclosing this here today Mr. Surjit Kumar Jayani, Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister, Punjab said that out of total 12278 villages, 9145 villages have been surveyed for indentified of vacant land for plantation by the forest department under Greening Punjab Mission. He said that 9800 hectare area is available for plantation in these villages and 90 lac saplings would be planted in these villages. Besides that 17915 institutions have been surveyed in first ever state wide survey and 3021 hectare area was found available for plantation. The Minister further said that the Punjab government has chalked out a plan worth Rs.1900 crore for the implementation of the “Greening Punjab Mission" with the target to increase the forest area from 7 to 15 % across the state in next 7 years. Under this ambitious mission 40 crore saplings to be planted at various places across the state. He said that Greening Punjab Mission has been launched in 2012 by the Department of forest. He said that the National Forest Policy envisages 33% of the country’s area under Forest/Tree cover for safeguarding the environment and ecology of the Nation. Punjab being a predominantly agricultural State has less than 7% of its area under Forest/Tree cover, resulting in severe environmental and ecological degradation and also leads to rapidly rising pollution levels in the air, water and soil of the State. ---- SULTANPUR LODHI AND CHOHLA SAHIB TO BE LINKED WITH NEW HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE: SHARANJIT DHILLON · PUNJAB APPROVES BRIDGE ON BEAS RIVER WITH A COST OF Rs. 76.83 CRORES · BRIDGE WOULD REDUCE THE DISTANCE OF 40 Kms BETWEEN DOABD-MAJHA REGIONS CHANDIGARH, JUNE 30: The Punjab government has approved a High Level Bridge on River Beas crossing Sultanpur Lodhi-Chohla Sahib Road with the cost of 76.83 crores further strengthing the road network of Doaba and Majha regions. Disclosing this here today Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, PWD Minister, Punjab said that the department had conducted a thorough study of feasibility and requirement of Bridges on various stretches of the roads in the state besides traffic density survey across the state. He said that after identifying the critical bottlenecks hindering smooth flow of traffic, the Government has given its in principal approval to a high level bridge on river Beas between Sultanpur Lodhi of Kapurthala District and Chohla Sahib of Tarn Taran district. He said that the construction on this ambitious project would be started soon as the requisite proceedings were on the advanced stage of completion. Mr. Dhillon said that SAD-BJP government has chalked out a plan to construct bridges, widening and strengthening of roads and construction of flyovers, where needed, in the state since the department was working on this plan at ground level. He said that a special emphasis was paying by the Punjab Government in this regard to further bring improvement in the road network besides connecting all parts of the state with upgraded roads. He further said that in 2012, the SAD-BJP Government had constructed 33 ROBs/RUBs with the cost of 564.95 crores in its previous tenure. ---- ONLINE PORTAL OF SCHOLARSHIP FOR SC & BC STUDENTS LAUNCHED – RANIKE CANDIDATES CAN APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP ONLINE FROM JULY 5 CHANDIGARH 30 JUNE: The Punjab Government has dedicated a web portal to facilitate the students belonging to scheduled casts and backward classes to avail the scholarship on line. The portal named – Ashirwad would enable the students to claim the scholarship by logging in the website www.punjabscholarship.gov.in and to fill the prescribed Performa on line. Disclosing this SC/BC Welfare Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike Minister said that the government is already operating a web portal for the scholarship to the student belonging to the minority community. He said that the link of this website is available on the new web site. He further said that a user ID and a password for operating this website would be generated to all the secondary schools/colleges/institutes by National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the information regarding this would be disseminated to SMS and E-mails. He said that after having received the user ID and password schools/colleges/institutes would have to fill the requisite information in institute administration column like profile, bank statement, the courses offered and fee structure. He said that this information must reach by 2nd July 2013 to the concerned department. The Minister added that the candidates could apply for scholarship online from July 5, 2013. He said that Mrs. Bindu Walia Joint Director, Welfare Department has been deputed as a nodal officer. He said that for query one could send email to jdwelfarepunjab@gmail.com or can dial toll free no. 1800-137-0015. --- BADAL SANCTIONS RS.88 CRORE FOR RENOVATION AND UPGRADATION OF 46 GOVERNMENT COLLEGES WITHIN TWO YEARS · ASKS HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO IMMEDIATELY INITIATE PROCESS TO FILL VACANT POSTS OF TEACHING FACULTY ON REGULAR BASIS · GOVERNMENT COLLEGES TO SEEK GUIDANCE FROM MENTORING AND MONITORING TEAMS FOR EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING AND OVERALL DEVELOPMENT CHANDIGARH, JUNE 28 The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave nod to revamp the infrastructure in all the Government Colleges across the state at a cost of Rs. 88 crore within two years. Presiding over a high level meeting of the vice-chancellors of Universities, principals of government colleges, and the senior officers of the higher education here at Punjab Bhawan this morning, Mr. Badal said that of this sum of Rs. 88 crore, Rs. 46 crore would be spent on the strengthing and upgradation of Infrastructure in these colleges during the current fiscal and the balance Rs. 42 crore had been earmarked for the execution of alteration and additional civil works to be undertaken during the financial year 2014-15. A sum of Rs. 88 crore had been sanctioned, said Mr. Badal keeping in view the fragile infrastructure and dilapidated buildings of Government Colleges over a period of time which needed immediate repair and upgradation to ensure congenial atmosphere for imparting quality education. He asked the Principal Secretary Higher Education to ensure that during the first phase only repairs and renovation works should be undertaken and the construction work of additional rooms, boundary walls should be executed during the second phase. To overcome an acute shortage of teaching staff in the Government Colleges and bring efficiency in their functioning to impart the best education facilities to the students, Mr. Badal directed the Principal Secretary Higher Education to immediately initiate the process for recruitment of college teachers on regular basis against the vacant posts. He categorically asked the Principal Secretary Higher Education to regularly fill these vacant posts of teacher faculty on permanent basis rather resorting to the prevalent practice of engaging college teachers on guest faculty and part time basis. The Chief Minister reiterated that the main objective of the State Government was to develop all the 46 Government Colleges in such a manner to equip them with latest infrastructure for providing quality education in the rural areas on one hand and providing level playing field to compete with their counterparts globally on the other. Participating in a brain storming session, Mr. Badal asked the VCs to allow the Government Colleges to run skill development and professional courses to enable the students to be gainfully employed. He also impressed upon the Principals of Government Colleges to introduce self-financing schemes in the colleges to generate additional revenue for making these educational institutions economically viable and financially sustainable. Appreciating such initiative of the Punjabi University Patiala to introduce BA Professional degree course for the first time at Mohindra College Patiala, Mr. Badal asked other VCs to prepare a road map for the identification of thrust areas for developing Science & Technology Centers enclose coordination of varsities, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) and the State Education Department to imbibe scientific temper amongst the students in these colleges on one hand and give fillip to the science education in Punjab one the other. Emphasizing the need to establish proper coordination amongst Varsities, Higher Education department and the Government Colleges to achieve the desired goal, the Chief Minister asked to evolve a new system of bi-annual inspection and evaluation of the Government Colleges by ‘Mentoring and Monitoring Teams’ comprising VCs, Secretary Higher Education and other senior officers to provide support and guidance in all aspects to the Govt. Colleges for the timely removal of bottlenecks if any in the way of their development besides bringing efficacy in their day to day functioning. He further asked the Vice-Chancellors to appoint two Guardian Professors in each Govt. College to ensure its overall development and progress. To ensure holistic development and seek novel ideas for bringing further improvement in these colleges, Mr. Badal asked all the Principals to visit Maharaja Ranjit Singh Preparatory Military Academy at Mohali for working out a detailed perspective to replicate this model for establishing military training centers especially for the girls over the vacant and unutilized land in the colleges. Prominent among others who participated in the meeting included; Education Minister Mr. Sikandar Singh Maluka, the Vice Chancellors Dr. Jaspal Singh of Punjabi University, Dr. Ajaib Singh Brar of Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar’,Prof. Arun Kumar Grover of Panjab University Chandigarh and Dr. Rajneesh Arora of Punjab Technical University, Principal Secretary Higher Education Mrs. Ravneet Kaur, Secretary School Education Mrs. Anjali Bhawra, Secretary Finance Mr. Dalip Kumar, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Special Secretary Higher Education Mr. Chander Gaind, DPI Colleges Mr. Tarsem Dhaliwal, Dy. Dir. Higher Education Mr. Jagdeep Singh and Principal Khalsa College Public School Amritsar Dr. Sarvjit Kaur Brar. Amongst the Principals who attended the meeting included Mr. Sukhbir Singh Thind of Mohindra College Patiala, Mrs. Paramjit Kaur Govt. arts and sports college Jalandhar, Mrs. Bhupinder Kaur Govt. College Gurdaspur, Mr. Paramjit Singh Govt. College Kala Afgana, Mrs. Simrit Kaur Govt. College Mansa, Mrs. Mohinder Kaur Grewal Lala Lajpat Rai Govt. College Dhudike, Mr. Rajinder Singh Govt. College Ludhiana and Prof. Parwinder Singh Dhillon from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER). - - BADAL FLAYS CENTRE FOR INADEQUATE HIKE IN MSP OF PADDY AND COTTON · DEMANDS FAIR HIKE IN MSP OF COTTON, MAIZE AND BASMATI TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE DIVERSIFICATION ON BIG SCALE · ASKS CENTRE TO PLACE IN ASSURED MARKETING MECHANISM FOR PROCUREMENT MAIZE, COTTON AND BASMATI Chandigarh, June 28 Slamming the Centre for inadequate hike in the MSP of paddy and cotton by just Rs. 60 and Rs. 100 per quintal, fixing it at Rs. 1310 and Rs. 3700 against Rs. 1800 and Rs. 4674 per quintal demanded by the state government, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal described it as “a retrograde step to rob the farmers of genuine margins of profit thereby making the plight of already distressed farmers from bad to worst”. It may be recalled that the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a hike of Rs.60 and Rs. 100 in the MSP of paddy and cotton for the current kharif marketing season on Thursday. In a statement, Mr. Badal said that this move of Congress led UPA government would further demoralize the farmers as the agriculture was no more a profitable venture due to squeezed margins owing to constant hike in the cost of agricultural inputs like diesel, seeds, fertilizers and pesticides etc. thereby further accentuating the woes of the beleaguered farmers. Equating this decision as anti-farmer and cruel joke with the peasantry, Mr. Badal said UPA government had not only rubbed salt into the wounds of the farmers by doing so but also gave a major setback to the hardworking and resilient farming community which could put our national food security in peril. Making a dig at the Centre, Mr. Badal accused the UPA government of double speak because at one instance it was forcing Punjab to go for crop diversification in a big way and on the other it was deliberately denying the farmers of their justified right of remunerative MSP on the alternative crops like cotton, maize and Basmati. The Chief Minister said he had personally taken up the issue of ensuring permanent procurement mechanism for these crops with the Union Agriculture Minister Mr. Sharad Pawar and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh several times to motivate the farmers of the state for the cultivation of cotton, maize and Basmati with the focused approach towards crop diversification as well as to save them from the sheer exploitation of the farmers at the hands of the traders due to lack of assured marketing facility. He also revealed the state government had already demanded MSP of Rs. 1700 and Rs. 3500 per quintal for maize and basmati. The Chief Minister said, “Centre should have atleast repaid a bit of the debt owed towards it due to immense contribution of Punjab farmers in making our country self sufficient in food production by conceding our rightful demand through fixing the MSP of these crops in accordance with the rationale based on the facts compiled by a team of agricultural experts and economists of PAU.” Mr. Badal said that it was the high time for the Centre to awake from deep slumber in order to fix the MSP by providing a margin of 50% over the cost of production to the farmers as suggested by the country’s leading agricultural expert Dr. MS Swaminathan. - - CM AND DEPUTY CM MOURNS THE PASSING AWAY OF BHATTAL’s MOTHER-IN-LAW Chandigarh, June 28 Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Harcharan Kaur (96), the mother-in-law of former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Mrs. Rajinder kaur Bhattal, who breathed her last yesterday at village Chagalliwala in Lehra block of Sangrur district. Sharing their heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family members, friends and relatives, both the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister described it as a personal loss to Mrs. Bhattal and prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give courage to them to bear this huge loss in this hour of grief. - - WATER LEVEL IN BHAKRA DAM 73.51 FEET HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR CHANDIGARH, JUNE 28: The water level in the Bhakra Dam today recorded at a level of 1608.01 feet against 1534.50 feet last year on the same day. Water level is 73.51 feet more than as it was last year on the same day. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the irrigation department said that the water level of pong Dam has been recorded at 1325.72 feet which is 31.45 feet more than it was recorded last year that is 1294.27 feet. Similarly the water level ofRanjit Sagar Dam on 27 June, 2013 touched 513.36 meter mark which is 13.77 meter more than the water level recorded last year on the same day that is 499.59. He further said that the inflow of water in Bhakra is 73732 cusec against 31285 last year and the release from Bhakra Dam is 32710 cusec against 29459 cusec last year. Inflow of water in pong Dam has been recorded as 34093 cusec against 4636 cusec on the same day last year and inflow of water in Ranjit Sagar Dam is 15818 cusec against 9572 cusec and release from Ranjit Sagar Dam is 14071 cusec against 8521 cusec release on the same day last year. ------------------ Chandigarh, June 28: The Revenue officers and officials of the Punjab government today decided to contribute one day salary for Uttrakhand Relief Fund. In a statement issued here today, Mr. Nirmal Singh Bajwa, President Punjab Patwar Union, Mr. Raj Preet Singh, President Punjab Kanugo Union and Mr. Ram Singh, President Punjab Revenue Officers Association today reiterated their commitment to provide all help to rehabilitate the victims of Uttrakhand catastrophe and extend them all possible help. ------------------ ONE DAY SALARY FOR UTTRAKHAND RELIEF FUND Chandigarh, June 28: The Punjab Public Relations Officers Association of the PR Department Punjab and Group B, C & D employees associations today decided to contribute one day salary for Uttrakhand Relief Fund. In a statement issued here today, Deputy Director Harjeet Singh Grewal, President Punjab Public Relations Officers Association, today reiterated their commitment to provide all help to rehabilitate the victims of Uttrakhand catastrophe and extend them all possible help. ---- STATE WIDE CAMPAIGN FOR PUTTING UP SIGNAGE LAUNCHED: SHARANJIT DHILLON CHANDIGARH, JUNE 28: The Punjab government has decided to launch a state wide campaign to put up modern signage along all National and State Highways besides demarcating all roads with white centre and border lines to ensure road safety and guide commuters. Disclosing this here today Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, PWD Minister, said that these road safety initiatives would help in saving much precious lives in road accident on one hand and would indicate the precious location and direction of the villages and other destinations in the night. He said that the work on this project would be commenced soon and completed with stipulated time period. Mr. Dhillon further said that the department has issued instructions to put up ‘site order book’ at every construction site where works costing more than three crore are underway. He said that officers have been instructed to insert complaint in the site order book regarding any fault he found during his visit to the construction site. He said that the senior officers of the department have been instructed to make supervisory visit to the various project under construction to monitor the progress of work & its quality and to ensure the timely completion of the work. He said that the chief engineer has been told to furnish the monthly progress report of the under construction projects. He said that corruption and indiscipline would not be tolerated at any cost, anyone found indulged in mal practices would be brought to the books. -------------------------- PUNJAB HEALTH DEPARTMENT GEAR UP TO PREVENT OUTBREAK OF VECTOR BORNE DISEASES NO LAXITY WOULD BE TOLERATED IN TACKLING VECTOR BORNE DISEASES: MITTAL Chandigarh, June 28: Health department has made all necessary arrangements for the transmission season of Vector Borne Diseases especially Malaria and Dengue. All the civil surgeons are directed to take all necessary steps to prevent breeding of the mosquitoes in and around their vicinity. Disclosing this Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal said that all the state, district & block level health officials are directed to pull up their socks to tackle Vector Borne Diseases and there should not be any laxity in tackling vector borne diseases. Minister said that the officers are directed to launch special awareness drives among public and educate them regarding prevention of breeding of the mosquitoes to prevent any cases of Malaria and Dengue. Department has sufficient quantities of insecticides for prevention of spread of the vector borne diseases. The officials had also been asked to spray insecticides on the pits filled with water and prevent stagnating of water in their surroundings. The Health Department teams had been kept ready at various hospitals and health centres across the district in case of any eventuality, Minister added. Mr. Mittal said that the Civil Surgeons are asked to ensure that all fever cases reported are tested free of cost for Malaria. He added that Malaria should be treated free of cost at all the Government Hospitals of the State. Minister said that Punjab has adequate dengue testing kits for free testing of the suspected cases at Government Hospitals in the State as well as have medicines to provide free supportive treatment to the dengue cases. Principal Secretary, Health & FW and Medical Education & Research Mrs. Vini Mahajan briefing about the preparedness said that the all Civil Surgeons of the state have already been instructed to take all necessary measures to prevent Vector Borne diseases. Mrs. Mahajan said that besides keeping its staff on an alert, the health authorities are also asked to be in regular touch with the officials of the Municipal Corporation (MC), water supply and sewerage board and some others regarding the prevention of the outbreak of diseases. ------------------ RESCUE AND RELIEF EFFORTS BY PUNJAB POLICE MOUNTAINEERING SQUAD IN UTTARAKHAND Chandigarh, June 28: As part of the ongoing efforts of the Punjab Government in rescue and relief efforts in Uttarakhand, a 13-member mountaineering squad of the Punjab Police had been deputed to the affected area of Uttarakhand on June 23, 2013, to assist the pilgrims, who had gone ahead of Gobind Ghat, and were attempting to walk back from the devastation of Alakhnanda river. According to an official spokesman, a road-section of about 14 kms had been washed away between Gobind Ghat and Hanumanchatti, including the only bridge and the barrage of the 400 megawatt Jaypee Lamagarh Power Project. The pilgrims didn’t have any option but to walk along the Alakhnanda river to cross this stretch, which involved a risky mountainous trek at some places. He further said that alongwith the Indian Army, the Punjab Police Squad put up fixed ropes at these stretches with the help of Tyrolean Traverse, to ensure a safe passage to the pilgrims and prevent them from falling into the gushing waters of the raging Alakhnanda river. These ropes were the only way down from Badrinath. About 800 people were assisted through these crossing over the ropes over a period of 2-3 days, and the Punjab Police squad worked non-stop while operating these ropes. The Indian Army had two ropes, and the Punjab Police operated as a post multiplier by setting up 2 more pulley-cable systems. While moving onto other areas for relief operations, the Punjab Police squad loaned their technical equipment and the ropes to the Army on their request so that the Army could continue with their rescue operations. *Tyrolean Traverse is a method of crossing through free space between two points on a rope. It is used for the emergency evacuation. Setting up a practical and safe Tyrolean Traverse is a highly technical operation needing considerable training and skills. ----- VIGILANCE NABS JUNIOR ENGINEER IN A BRIBERY CASE Chandigarh June 28: State Vigilance Bureau during its ongoing drive against rampant corruption nabbed Junior EngineerPOWERCOM red handed accepting bribe of Rs. 10,000 in a corruption case. Disclosing this here today, Mr. Sursh Arora, Chief Director-cum-DGP Vigilance Bureau Punjab said the Bureau has caught Randhir Singh, Junior Engineer POWERCOM posted at Sub-Division Pohir district Ludhiana, demanding and accepting bribe from the complainant Iqbal Singh of village Lohgarh, district Ludhiana. He added that the complainant approached the Bureau and alleged that JE was demanding a bribe of Rs. 10,000 to install power connection at his workshop at village Dhurkot (Ludhiana). After finding the veracity of facts a vigilance team led by Sandip Goyal SP EOW Vigilance Bureau Ludhiana laid a trap and the accused was nabbed red handed in the presence of two government officials as witnesses. The tainted money was recovered from him. In this regard a vigilance case u/s 7, 13 (1) read with 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 at Vigilance Bureau Police Station Ludhiana and further investigation was under progress. - - - · Major recommendation of pay commission implemented CHANDIGARH, JUNE 28 In continuation of implementation of the recommendation of the 5th Punjab Pay commission regarding pension and other retirement benefits, the Punjab Government has issued instructions regarding payment of ex-gratia for death of a government employee under different circumstances. Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of finance department said that where death occurs in harness or the employee is permanently disabled and rendered unfit for further service, the ex-gratia payment shall be made at the rate of Rs. one lac only on a uniform basis. He said that in case where death occurs in harness due to causes attributable to service i.e. for reasons which are directly or substantially connected with the performance of official duties and directly is clearly relatable to performance of such duties, the payment of ex-gratia shall be equal to 24 times the revised basic pay of the employee on the date of his/her death, with a minimum of Rs. two lac and maximum of Rs. four lacs. Similarly if death occurs in performance of duty such as dealing with riots, terrorist attack or enemy action, ex-gratia shall be paid Rs. ten lacs on a uniform basis, he added. The Spokesperson further said that these instructions are issued in the light of implementation of the recommendations of the fifth punjab pay commission regarding pension and other retirement benefits and shall be deemed to have come into with effect from 1-1-2006. -- 8000 PILGRIMS FROM UTTARAKHAND REACH PUNJAB · PUNJAB AIMING TO EVACUATE PILGRIMS FROM BADRINATH BY FRIDAY EVENING · PUNJAB TEAMS LED BY DR. ADAPA KARTHIK JOIN RESCUE OPERATIONS AT BADRINATH · A TOTAL MORE THAN 2500 DEVOTEES STRANDED AT BADRINATH FROM ALL STATES · BAD WEATHER AND HEAVY RAINS AFFECT RESCUE OPERATIONS · AIMING TO EVACUATE ALL PILGRIMS BY FRIDAY EVENING · 200 PUNJAB POLICE RESCUERS WORKING DAY AND NIGHT AT JOSHI MATTH · 12 BUSES CARRYING PILGRIMS SENT TO VARIOUS DISTRICTS OF PUNJAB BADRINATH/RISHIKESH/CHANDIGARH, JUNE 27: With the arrival of 500 more pilgrims from Rishikesh to Punjab tonight, the total number of pilgrims so far evacuated from different parts of Uttarakhand would touch 8000; those have already been left for Punjab in the buses of Punjab Police, Punjab Roadways and other hired vehicles. Meanwhile, the Punjab government today intensified its rescue operations to evacuate over 2500 pilgrims including over 350 Punjabis stranded at Badrinath by Friday evening as heavy rains lashing the route halted the operation for few hours. Concerned about the prediction of rains, the Punjab government today dispatched a Special Rescue and Relief operation team led by Dr. Adapa Karthik, to Badrinath that joined rescue operations in association with other rescue agencies. According to latest information provided by the team of Punjab at Badrinath, there were more than 2500 devotees from several states of the country still stranded out of which more than 350 were from Punjab. Giving more details about the ongoing evacuation operations, Dr. Adapa Karthik said that they have joined the operations in the morning and met the stranded devotees at Badrinath. He said that about 350 pilgrims from Punjab were at Badrinath and sick pilgrims were being evacuated on priority. He said that, the weather permitting they were planning to complete the evacuation operation by Friday or Saturday evening. He said that heavy rains and bad weather in afternoon halted the rescue operations. Expressing satisfaction over the evacuation process, Mr. Karthik said that the teams from Punjab had been safely rescued thousands of Pilgrims from Sri Hemkunt Sahib, Gobind Dham, Gobind Ghat, Nagrasu and other hilly areas. He said the remaining pilgrims, at Badrinath weather permitting, will be air lifted out to Joshi Matth by Friday afternoon. He said that all the necessary and requisite arrangements of transportation have been made at Joshi Matth for the devotees, where more than 200 rescuers of Punjab Police were working day and night for the safe landing of pilgrims at base camp of Punjab Government at Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust, Rishikesh. Mr. Kartik said that Jawans of Punjab Police had been attached with the other rescue agencies to rescue the people from other states too. He said that more than 20 buses of Punjab Government including Punjab Roadways, Punjab Police and PRTC were still parked at Rishikesh to ferry the pilgrims to their respective destinations in Punjab. Meanwhile, Mr. Mandeep Singh, Secretary Forest, Punjab also informed that the pilgrims brought by Punjab Police Jawans from Joshi Matth has been dispatched to various districts of Punjab in the buses of Punjab Police and Punjab Roadways on Thursday Morning. He said that sufficient arrangements including refreshment, food, medical, and transportation and relief material have been made at Rishikesh for the facilitation of pilgrims being evacuated from Joshi Matth and Nagrasu. ----- BADAL ATTENDS CREMATION OF UTTAMJIT KAUR · CM LAYS WREATHS ON BEHALF OF PUJAB GOVERNMENT AND DEPUTY CM New Delhi/Chandigarh, June 27 Mortal remains of Mrs. Uttamjit Kaur, the wife of former Chairman National Commission for Minorities and Ex-Member Parliament Mr. Tarlochan Singh, were consigned to flames at Lodhi Road crematorium in New Delhi, amidst thousands of mourners and sympathizers who reached here to pay homage to the departed soul. Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal attended the cremation of Uttamjit Kaur, who passed away yesterday after a brief illness. Meanwhile, Mr. Badal laid wreaths on the behalf of Punjab Government and the SAD President and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal during her last rites and also shared heartfelt sympathies and condolences with Mr. Tarlochan Singh. On the occasion, the SGPC President S. Avtar Singh, DSGMC President S. Manjit Singh GK, Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya and Mr. Naresh Gujral (all MPs), VC Punjabi University Patiala Dr. Jaspal Singh, Senior SAD leaders of Delhi unit Mr. Avtar Singh Hitt and Mr. Kuldip Singh Bhogal and Vice President DSGMC Mr. Tanwant Singh also attended the cremation. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar. According to the spokesperson, Mr. Badal would also attend the Bhog and Antim Ardas ceremony of Mrs. Uttamjit Kaur to be held at Gurdwara Sri Rakab Ganj Sahib, New Delhi on June 30 (Sunday) from 2.30 PM to 3.30 PM. ************* PUJAB GOVERNMENT ISSUES INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING GRANT OF DEARNESS RELIEF CHANDIGARH, JUNE 27 Punjab Government issued instructions and clarifications regarding grant of dearness relief to the re-employed pensioners/family pensioners and special family pensioners. A spokesperson of finance department said here today that dearness relief is not to be granted to a widow who was given appointment on compassionate grounds and who has retired, because she is already entitled to dearness allowance on her pension. He said that on the other hand, a family pensioner who passes on benefit of compassionate appointment to a member of his/her family and such member leaves the service without earning any pension/family pension or dies without leaving him a person who is entitled to family pension on his behalf shall be paid dearness relief on family pension from the date such event occurs. ---- ANIL JOSHI HANDS OVER REGULAR JOB LETTERS TO 372 CONTRACT/DAILY WAGE EMPLOYEES Chandigarh, June, 27: Mr. Anil Joshi, Industry and Commerce Minister, Punjab today handed over the appointment letters to the 372 daily wage and work charge employees, whose services have been regularized by the Punjab Small Industries & Export Corporation Limited (PSIEC). The appointment letters were handed over today in a simple but impressive function at Udyog Bhawan, sector 17, Chandigarh. Mr. Joshi while congratulating these employees exhorted them to work with full dedication and sincerity. He said that 317 daily wage and 54 work charge employees have been regularized w.e.f.1.7. 13. The minister assured that we are committed to implement the policy framed by the Punjab Government for regularization of services of the employees working on daily wage and work charge basis. He said that large number of employees of the states has been benefited by virtue of this policy. He said that the Government of Punjab issued instructions for the regularization of services of daily wage and work charge employees working in Boards/Corporations/Co-operative Institutions and other societies vide Notification dated 17.11.2011. Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Mr. Kamal Sharma, President, BJP, Punjab Unit & Mr .N.K.Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Industries & Commerce), Mr. Karan Avtar Singh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Punjab and Mr. Yashvir Mahajan, IAS, Managing Director, PSIEC. ---- IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FROM JUNE 28 TO JULY 5 CHANDIGARH, JUNE 27: The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the kharif Season through Canal water from 28-06-2013 to 5-07-2013. The channels and branches off-taking from Ropar Head Works, the channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Abohar Branch, Patiala Feeder, Bist Doab canal, Sidhwan Branch and Bathinda Branch respectively. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Irrigation Department said that the distributaries and branches of BML, Ghaggar Link and its off-taking channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor, in Group ‘B’, being in the first preference, would run to their indent. Balance water supplies available, would be utilized in Direct Distributaries of Group ‘A’. The spokesman further said that Punjab channels and branchs off-taking from Harike and Ferozpur Head Works, Abohar Branch off-taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries, in Group ‘B’ being in first preference, would run to their indent. Balance water supplies available, would be utilized in Direct Distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in Group ‘A’. The spokesman also said that the in the Upper Bari Doab Canal system, Kasur Branch Lower with its distributaries, being in the 1st preference, would run to their indent. Balance water supplies available, would be utilized in Sabhroan Branch, Lahore Branch & Main Branch Lower and with their distributaries, respectively. ------ Schedule for RIMC Entrance Test announced Chandigarh, June 27:
The entrance examination for admission to the Rashtriya Indian Military College ( RIMC ), Dehradun for July, 2014 term would be conducted here at Lala Lajpat Rai Bhawan (Sector-15) on 1st(Sunday)& 2nd (Monday) December, 2013. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Directorate Sainik Welfare, Punjab informed that only boys were eligible to apply for the admission. Candidates appearing for the test should not be born earlier than 2nd July, 2001 and not later than 1st January, 2003 . They should either be studying in Class VII or passed Class VII from any recognized school at the time of admission to the RIMC. Selected candidates will be given admission in Class-VIII. The written part of the examination would consist of three papers namely, English, Mathematics & General Knowledge and the viva-voce test would be held for only those candidates who qualify in the written exam and the date for the viva voce test has been fixed as on April 4, 2014 (Friday). He informed that the copies of application forms, prospectus and set of old question papers could be obtained from the Commandant, RIMC, Dehradun on payment of Rs.400/- for registered post or Rs.450/- for speed post for General candidates and Rs.355/- for registered post or Rs.405/- for speed post for SC/ST candidates through demand draft in favour of Commandant, RIMC, Dehradun payable at SBI Tel Bhavan (Code No.01576) Dehradun alongwith three passport size photographs of the candidate. Besides this, the candidate should furnish a certificate of age in duplicate from municipal birth register. He further said that the applications in duplicate duly completed must reach here at Directorate Sainik Welfare, Punjab before October 10, 2013. Application received after October 10, 2013 will not be entertained.
HALTED RESCUE AND RELIEF OPERATIONS RESUMED
RISHIKESH (UTTRAKHAND)/CHANDIGARH, JUNE 25: The halted rescue and relief operations has resumed late evening on the upper hills of Rishikesh, where thousands of Pilgrims were stranded due to a massive flash floods. Stating this here Mr. A. Venu Prasad, Secretary Housing, Punjab, who was stationed here to oversee and monitor the whole ongoing operations, said that with the resumption of rescue and relief operations, the teams of Punjab Government started transferring of Pilgrims in private hired vehicles from Nadrasu Gurdwara. He said that by 7 pm more than 200 Pilgrims has been received at the base relief camp setup in Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Management Trust, Rishikesh. He said that out of them more than 100 has been left for their respective homes in Punjab at Ludhiana, Moga, Chandigarh, Mahilpur, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Tanda etc. Giving more details regarding arrival of Pilgrims at Rishikesh, Mr. Venu Prasad said that with the recommencement of rescue operations, it was expected that hundreds of pilgrims could be reached Rishikesh by late night. He said that by Wednesday afternoon all the Pilgrims stranded at Nadrasu Gurdwara will be brought to Rishkesh in public transport, from where they would be further dispatched to their respective destinations in Punjab. ----- BADAL DEPLORES ATTACK ON PANNU: ASKS UT'KHAND GOVT FOR MORE SECURITY TO RELEIF STAFF Chandigarh June 25-The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today described as” deplorable in the extreme" the assault on the senior Punjab Government officer Mr.Kahn Singh Pannu in Uttrakh and yesterday, and said that the incident was a great disservice to the
The Chief Minster further said that he had been deeply pained by the incident .”It is extremely painful that while the officer was engaged in an untiring and continual day and night operations to mitigate the sufferings of the victims and ensure relief and safety to those trapped in the calamity, some people chose to criminally assaulted a prominent member of the relief and rescue teams.” Mr. Badal said that while the government’s first sacred task of course was to carry out the onerous responsibility of providing succor to the families of the victims and safeguard thousands of those still beleaguered and in and still battling the odds in one of natural disasters, making the relief and rehabilitation workers themselves the target of such inhuman assault is totally unacceptable.” Mr. Badal also expressed surprise that security arrangements for those helping others in fighting against this natural calamity wee so “ pathetically inadequate.” He called upon the Chief Minister of Uttrakhand to deploy adequate security staff for the rescuers and relief and rehabilitation parties. ------ BADAL FOR OPTIMUM UTILIZATION OF 93.15 LAC MT OF GSB LYING UNUSED AT VARIOUS GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTION SITES FOR PUBLIC WORKS
Chandigarh, June 25 To overcome the scarcity of construction material in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Punjab Mandi Board, PWD (B&R) and Irrigation Department to make optimum utilization of 93.15 lac MT of GSB (Gravel Sand Boulder) lying unused at various government construction sites for public works. A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister in a meeting with the senior officers of the departments of Industries & Commerce, Punjab Mandi Board, PWD (B&R), Power and Irrigation here at the Chief Minister’s Residence this morning. Mr. Badal was apprised during the meeting that 88 lac MT of GSB was stacked at the construction site of Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD), 4 lac MT of GSB at village Handwal in Hoshiarpur district and 1.15 lac MT of GSB at Balachaur in Nawanshahar district. He directed the Mandi Board and PWD (B&R) to utilize the available supply of GSB for the construction and upgradation of link roads in the entire state. It may be recalled that the work on the link and PMGSY roads was executed by Mandi Board and PWD (B&R) respectively. Mr. Badal also asked the Chief Engineer, Shahpur Kandi Dam (SKD) to utilize 30 lac MT of GSB for the ongoing construction of the dam, out of 88 lac MT of GSB available at dam site. The Chief Minister also directed the Industries & Commerce department to work out the modalities for making construction material readily available to the public at the affordable rates. Mr. Badal also asked specifically to the Mandi Board, PWD along with the Industries Department to study the procurement, scope and futuristic use of the current available construction material. The Industries department had been given the mandate to formalize the technical and economic viability of the mining material from the entire state so that the overshooting prices of construction material get regulated and supply was made to all strata on the reasonable rates. Meanwhile, the Industry & Commerce Minister Mr. Anil Joshi assured the Chief Minister that the department would submit a concrete proposal with respect to all modalities of mining sector and its procurement to him within a week. Referring to other issues related to RSD project, the Chief Minister asked the Principal Secretary Irrigation to work out a detailed action program for the redeployment of surplus staff of the dam besides giving an option of Voluntary Retirement Scheme to them. He also gave nod to the proposal put forth by the Chief Engineer RSD to hire buses for school and college going children of employees of RSD and SKD. He also permitted the RSD authorities to dispose of the old machinery lying stacked at the Dam site worth Rs. 100 crore after following a proper procedure and seeking necessary advice from the Finance department. Likewise, he also agreed to the proposal of the RSD for cutting the Eucalyptus trees at the Dam site through a committee comprising representatives from the local district administration, Forest department and RSD project in a transparent manner. The Chief Minister also sanctioned Rs. 5 crore and asked the state government to immediately release it to the SKD to ensure smooth progress of ongoing civil works over there. He also directed the Principal Secretary Irrigation to immediately move an agenda in the next Cabinet meeting for seeking approval for filling the vacant posts of SDOs in the department to overcome shortage of engineers at the various ongoing projects of Irrigation and Drainage. He also directed the Principal Secretary Irrigation to work out a detailed restructuring plan of the department so that the entire staff of its canal and drainage wings could be potentially utilized to ensure its smooth functioning and asked to submit the comprehensive plan in this regard on July 5 to be thoroughly discussed in the meeting. The Chief Minister also asked the Secretary Housing & Urban Development to personally visit the dam site to assess the feasibility of utilizing 400 acres of vacant land in the vicinity of Shahpur Kandi Dam and its colonies so that the major chunk of this unutilized land could be put to use in a meaningful manner. Prominent among who were present in the meeting included Industries & Commerce Minister Mr. Anil Joshi, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Irrigation Mr. KBS Sidhu, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar and Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Secretary Power Mr. Anirudh Tiwari, Director Mining Mr. Manashvi Kumar besides the Chief Engineer RSD Mr. Subash Kumar Nabh and Chief Engineer SKD Mr. Harvinder Singh. ----- PUNJAB GOVERNMENT RELEASES RS. 95.60 CRORE TO COOPERATIVE SUGAR MILLS FOR PROMPT CLEARANCE OF ARREARS OF CANE GROWERS GOVT. COMMITTED TO PROMOTE SOWING OF SUGARCANE UNDER CROP DIVERSIFICATION PROGRAM Chandigarh, June 25 On the personal initiative of the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, the state government has released Rs. 95.60 crore to the State Cooperative Sugar Mills for further disbursement to the Cane Growers. Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the State Cooperative Sugar Mills crushed 149.52 lac It may be recalled that against the total due cane payment of Rs.369.07 Crore, Cooperative Sugar Mills could pay 273.47 Crore from To boost the cultivation of the sugarcane across the state as a part of State’s ambitious program of crop diversification, the Punjab government had been constantly fixing higher sugarcane price as compared to the Fair Remunerative Price (F.R.P.) declared by the Central Government to encourage the farmers for opting sugarcane as an alternative crop to paddy. During 2012-13, State Government fixed the sugarcane price @ Rs.250/- per quintal against the F.R.P. of Rs.170/- of Central Government and for the coming crushing season 2013-14 the cane price has been fixed @ Rs.290/- per quintal against F.R.P. of Rs.210/- of Central Government. The State Government was committed to provide higher cane price to the ---- CM APPROVES WATER SUPPLY POLICY FOR LEFT OUT DERAS & DHANIS APPROVES 40 ACRES OF LAND FOR THE PUNJAB INFOTECH TO ESTABLISH EMD PARK CHANDIGARH, JUNE 25 The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved the policy to ensure adequate supply of drinking water for the inhabitants of all the far-flung Deras & Dhanis, which were not yet covered under the Rural Water Supply Scheme. According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office, under this new policy Mini Water Works would be installed in the Deras & Dhanis with the population above 250 and Micro Water Works for Dhanis with population ranging between100 to 250. Likewise, Dhanis with population less than 100 would have Indian Mark-II Deep well hand pumps where ground water is fit for human consumption. Referring to another significant decision related to the setting up of Ecosystem Management Decision Support(EMDS) Park at the Knowledge City Mohali, the Chief Minister has also approved the allotment of 40 acres of land to Punjab InfoTech for the establishment of Ecosystem Management Decision Support(EMDS) park for which the facilities like water supply, trunk sewerage, electricity supply lines would be provided by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority(GMADA) and the work for the internal development of the land would be entrusted to the Punjab InfoTech. ---- MORE THAN 3000 PILGRIMS ARRIVED SAFELY AT NADRASU GURDWARA
RISHIKESH/CHANDIGARH, JUNE 25: The Rescue and Relief Operations initiated by Punjab Government for saving thousands of lives stranded at Sri Hemkunt Sahib, Badrinath and Kedarnath due to massive flash floods in Uttrakhand is on the edge of completion as the stranded pilgrims have been safely evacuated from Joshi Matth too, who had been earlier evacuated from Sri Hemkunt Sahib and Badrinath. According to the latest updates, more than 3000 Pilgrims evacuated from Joshi Math today morning were presently stranded at Nadrasu Gurdwara and it was hoped that they would be brought to the base relief camp of Punjab Government at Gurdwara in Rishikesh by Wednesday evening. These stranded pilgrims were expected to reach at Rishikesh today afternoon by due to major landslides between Srinagar and Chamoli Highways, the ongoing rescue operations were hampered. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal was in regular touch with both the teams deputed at Rishikesh and Joshi Matth and he has been updated that 6300 pilgrims had arrived Punjab in State transport buses so far. He assured of all support and assistance to the Uttarakhand government till the entire rescue and rehabilitation operations were over. Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal was also keeping close tab on the situation and was in constant touch with concerned officers overseeing the rescue operations in Uttarakhand. Briefing the about the rescue and relief operations, Mr. A. Venu Prasad, Secretary Housing, Punjab, who was here to oversee the entire operations, said that all the Pilgrims were well at Gurdwara Nadrasu, where all needful material including eatables, medical aids, clothes, langar etc. were being provided to them and they were in high morale. He said that it was expected that all evacuated Pilgrims would reach at Rishikesh by tomorrow evening. He said that Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was working to make the plying of vehicle feasible, which is expected to be completed by Wednesday morning. He said that by tomorrow evening all Pilgrims would be dispatched to their respective destination in Punjab in the buses of Punjab Roadways, PRTC, Punjab Police and the other private buses hired by Punjab Government. He said that more than 50 buses were on the way to Rishikesh, which were awaiting green signal from the concerned authorities from Nadrasu Gurdwara. Giving details about the Pilgrims stranded at Badrinath, Mr. Venu Prasad said that the choppers were in service to evacuate the pilgrims struck there. He said that now Badrinath is the focus of Punjab Government’s rescue teams and the chopper of Punjab Government today brought more than 113 Pilgrims to Joshi Matth under the command of Army authorities. He said that Punjab Government has also dispatched a special and dedicated team of trekkers to Badrinath for the facilitation of rescue teams. He said that the team was comprised of a Senior Civil Officer, a DSP and 8 other personnel of Punjab Government having a fleet of vehicle and an ambulance. He said that the team would stay there till the completion of rescue operations. Mr. Venu Prasad said that more than 700kg of eatable goods including dry fruits, biscuits, milk bags, packed foods etc have been sent in a chopper for the pilgrims stranded at Badrinath. He said that Pilgrims were facing the severe problems in walking due to bad weathers so the Punjab Government has also sent 100kg ‘Manila Rope’ for trekking, which would be tied between the mountains. Expressing satisfaction on the ongoing rescue and relief operations, Mr. Prasad said that Punjab Government was doing its best to provide the needful facilities to the stranded pilgrims. He said that some of the Pilgrims evacuated from Joshi Matth was facing serious medical problems; out of them some were referred to various neighbouring hospitals while a lady and one other patient have been dispatched to their residences in Punjab in Ambulances of Punjab Government. Meanwhile a Medical Team comprising of a Senior Surgeon, a medicine specialist and other staff was landed at Rishikesh from Joshi Math. They said that more than 1500 Pilgrims facing various minor medical problems were checked up while more than 15 successful operations were conducted in emergency cases. ------------------ PUNJAB'S 50% POPULATION WOULD BE "TOBACCO SMOKE FREE" BY AUGUST 15 THIS YEAR: MITTAL · CONCERNED DEPARTMENTS SHOULD STRICTLY IMPLEMENT COPTA · 11 DISTRICTS WOULD BE DECLARED AS "TOBACCO SMOKE FREE" BY 15TH AUGUST · 7 DISTRICTS ALREADY DECLARED "TOBACCO SMOKE FREE"ON THE BASIS OF COMPLIANCE STUDY REPORT OF PGIMER Chandigarh, June 25: To declare entire state of Punjab as 'Tobacco Smoke Free' in a phased manner 50% of the total population in the state would be "Tobacco smoke free" by August 15 this year. In the state 11 districts would be declared as "Tobacco Smoke Free" by 15th August out of which 7 districts Ajitgarh (SAS Nagar), Mansa, Amritsar, Rupnagar, Gurdaspur, Fatehgarh Sahib and SBS Nagar have already been declared as "tobacco smoke free" on the basis of compliance study reports by PGIMER Chandigarh. Disclosing this here today Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal Minister for Health & Family Welfare said that more than 30% of total population of Punjab has been declared as 'Tobacco Smoke Free' as per study by PGIMER and this would go to 50 % in the coming two months.Minister said that by mid August four more districts Muktsar, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala would be declared as "tobacco smoke free". Mr. Mittal while reviewing progress of recently held meeting of the State level Tobacco Control Committee, Punjab said that departments of Health and Family Welfare, Home, Education, Finance, Labour, Transport, Railways, Panchayati Raj & Civil Society organizations should strictly follow the guidelines to implement COTPA to make Punjab as "tobacco smoke free". Minister said that concerned departments should also send progress reports and hold review meetings on monthly basis. Minister said that though Punjab is presently not under National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) of Government of India and no funds have been made available till date by GoI for this purpose, still implementation of COTPA is much better in Punjab than the States receiving funds under NTCP. Dr. Rakesh Gupta State Programme Officer State Tobacco Control Cell briefed that from Jan 2013 to May 2013 about 10361 violators have been challaned under COTPA 2003 & a total fine/compounding fee of Rs 5, 93,795/- has been realized. He said that book regarding guidelines for implementation of "Smoke Free Rules" and Health Workers Guide was also released recently. ------ DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNANCE REFORMS CONDUCTS 3 DAYS SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR e-GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME CHANDIGARH, JUNE 25: Directorate of Governance Reforms, Punjab has conducted 3 Days Specialized Training for e-Governance Programme (STeP) on ‘Detailed Project Report (S2-DPR). The training was conducted from 19 to 21 June, 2013 at MGSIPAP, Sector 26, Chandigarh. This workshop was organized for Directors, Joint Directors, Head of Departments, Collectors , Registrars , Head of Departments , Collectors , Registrars , Heads of District Level units (Deputy Commissioners, Field Functionaries , Project Managers and Nodal Officers of State Government to equip them with skills and knowledge on Detailed Project Report ’ (S2-DPR) for e-Governance projects being implemented under National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) and also other State level e-Governance initiatives. This training was organized in coordination with National Institute of SMART Government (NISG), Hyderabad and was attended by senior officers from various State Departments and District Offices. During 3 Days program Sh. BG Gupta laid focus on importance of Detailed Project Report in various e-Governance projects for the benefits of the Citizens and how with effective Detailed Project Report, Benefits the Projects .How benefits for the citizens can be Planned and can be provided in a hassle free, transparent and time-bound manner with Detailed Project Report. During the 3 days program, participants were provided knowledge on what is e-Governance lifecycle, Need for a DPR, Structure of a typical DPR, Vision & Objectives, Stakeholder analysis and problem statement, Service quality; service levels and Service Level Management Procurement Options and essentials of RFP and more area related to the subject. The specialized Training Programme on DPR was conducted by Sh. BG Gupta and Sh. Satyajit Rao Vagvala from NISG. The Participants also performed in various group activities on Detailed Project Report. This 3 days event was concluded by Sh. Gupta during his concluding address, Sh. Gupta, shared his perspective on the significance of effective Detailed Project Report for ensuring success of all e-Governance Projects/ activities. -------------------------- WATER LEVEL IN BHAKRA DAM 68.04 FEET HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR CHANDIGARH, JUNE 25: The water level in the Bhakra Dam today recorded at a level of 1599.92 feet against 1531.88 feet last year on the same day. Water level is 68.04 feet more than as it was last year on the same day. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the irrigation department said that the water level of pong Dam has been recorded at 1320.25 feet which is 23.94 feet more than it was recorded last year that is 1296.31 feet. Similarly the water level of Ranjit Sagar Dam on 25 June, 2013 touched 512.90 meter mark which is 13.45 meter more than the water level recorded last year on the same day. He further said that the inflow of water in Bhakra is 52128 cusec against 42501 last year and the release from Bhakra Dam is 32783 cusec against 29500 cusec last year. Inflow of water in pong Dam has been recorded as 17401 cusec against 12005 cusec on the same day last year and inflow of water in Ranjit Sagar Dam is 12468 cusec against 11293 cusec and release from Ranjit Sagar Dam is 15977 cusec against 6001 cusec release on the same day last year. He further said that the rain fall in major cities of the state during last 24 hours has been recorded as Amritsar 27 mm, Bathinda 34 mm, Kapurthala 40 mm, Fatehgarh sahib 43 mm, Ferozpur 48 mm, Pathankot 57 mm, Jalandhar 59 mm, Ludhiana 64 mm, Moga 81 mm, SAS Nagar 86, Mukatsar 88 mm, SBS Nagar 93 mm, Patiala 95 mm and Ropar 101 mm. ---- --------------------- ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, FISHERIES AND DAIRY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS TO DONATE ONE DAY SALARY FOR FLOOD VICTIMS OF UTTRAKHAND Chandigarh, June 25: As a benevolent gesture, the officers of the Punjab Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development department has decided to contribute their one day salary for the victims of recent cloud burst and floods in Uttrakhand that resulted in huge loss of human lives and property. Expressing solidarity with the members of the bereaved families the officers prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal pace to the departed souls and give courage to bear this huge loss. --- PUNJAB GOVERNMENT MULLS NEW POLICY TO PROVIDE HOUSES IN MAGA PROJECTS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES Chandigarh, June 25: The Punjab government has decided to frame a policy for the mega projects to provide houses to the public at affordable rates. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the Department of Town and country planning Punjab said that the government of Punjab after thoroughly studying the pattern of Mega Projects and keeping view the hardships faced by the Real Estate Developers has decided to frame the new policy. He said that the sole aim of this new policy is to provide houses to the public at affordable prices. He said that the policy would incorporate the provisions like; the maximum permissible area for group housing in a project where group housing is proposed as a part of plotted development would not exceed 20% of the total area of the project. However this condition would not be applicable for the area of the project which falls in the mixed land use zone of the master plan i.e. if more than 20% area of the project falls within mixed land use zone the promoter could use the entire area under mixed land use zone as group hosing. In case promoter proposes more than 20% area of the project under group housing the entire additional area would be counted as saleable area of the total project. The next provision of the proposed policy would be, the area under group housing would be considered as a part of the total area of the project for fulfillment of the area norms for the project. However at the planning stage this area would be planned and developed separately as pre group housing norms and the saleable area for the rest of the project under plotted development would be calculated after excluding the area under flatted development. FAR in addition to 2.00 as permitted in the rules would be permissible. The promoter would have to fulfill the norms for plotted and group housing separately. For the provision of the public amenities the population of the entire project (including area under group housing), would be taken into account. The area under group housing in mixed development project may be allowed in more than one pocket however, the area of each pocket shall not be less than 5 acre. ------------- IAS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, PUNJAB IAS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE BRUTAL ATTACK ON MR. K S PANNU Chandigarh June 25: The Punjab IAS officers Association strongly condemns the brutal attack on Mr K S Pannu, IAS, Director General, School Education, while brilliantly performing rescue and relief duties in Uttarakhand. To add insult to injury, one amongst that group video-graphed the thrashing of the IAS officer and uploaded it on social media. Mr Pannu has categorically informed that the attack was unprovoked and pre-meditated, and perhaps the outcome of some conspiracy. He has denied having provided any provocation whatsoever. In fact, according to him, the group verified the identity of Mr K S Pannu, and when they were sure that he was Mr K S Pannu, they pounced upon him. According to him, much has been made out of his so called apology, which was
Meanwhile, the PCS Officers Association has also strongly condemned the dastardly incident and has expressed its solidarity and support to the IAS Officers Association in general and Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu in particular. ----- CABINET ADOPTS RESOLUTION TO EXTEND ALL SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO THE PEOPLE OF UTTARAKHAND · PUNJAB GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES GRANT OF RS. 3 CRORE EACH FOR REBUILDING TEMPLES AT SRI KEDARNATH, SRI BADRINATH TEMPLE AND GURDWARA SRI HEMKUNT SAHIB BESIDES ONE CRORE FOR DAMAGED INFRASTRUCTURE · OBSERVES TWO MINUTES SILENCE IN THE MEMORY OF DEPARTED SOULS · REVIEWS ARRANGEMENTS FOR RELIEF AND REHABILITATION MEASURES Chandigarh, June 24 The Punjab Government today assured the flood victims and people of Uttarakhand of all help, support and assistance in their hour of grief in the wake of unprecedented natural calamity. In an emergency meeting here today, the Punjab Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal expressed sincerest condolences, sympathies and solidarity with the thousands of affected families and said that the government and the people of state would stand by them, shoulder to shoulder and no stone will be left unturned to ensure their safety, relief and rehabilitation. The Cabinet in a unanimously adopted resolution expressed profound grief and sorrow over this tragedy which claimed several precious human lives. The Cabinet also prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed souls and give enormous courage to the members of the bereaved families to bear this huge loss. The meeting also appreciated the pro-active role of Army, ITBP, NDRF and other security forces besides the local residents of Uttarakhand for showing exemplary courage and valour with missionary zeal to save the lives of people. The Punjab government launched all out efforts to tackle this most devastating natural calamity by deputing special teams of Police and Civil officers to carry out relief operations. Rising above their limited duties, each and every member of these teams displayed humanitarian spirit to extend relief and rehabilitation measures to the calamity stricken people all the day and night. The meeting also lauded the contribution of Govt. of Punjab and People of Punjab to help the people of Uttarakhand to rebuild their lives in any way. The meeting also appreciated all officers and employees for discharging their duties in this hour of crisis with the sense of utmost dedication, sincerity and devotion. The meeting also highly appreciated the role of different departments of Transport, Punjab Police, and Health & Family Welfare besides the members of the team deputed at Rishikesh comprising Mr. A. Venu Parsad, Mr. Sumer Singh Gurjar, Mr. Khubi Ram and Mr. Kulwinder Singh. Apart from this, another team undertaking relief operations from Joshimath camp including Mr. KS Pannu, Mr. Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, Mr. Rajdeep Singh and Mr. Kulbhushan,who executed the entire relief operations with tremendous commitment and devotion. The Cabinet in this meeting also appreciated the unprecedented role of Punjabis, countrymen for extending all possible help and assistance to the victims and the affected families in these difficult times. The meeting also lauded the enormous contribution of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC), Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee (DGMC) besides several religious and social voluntary organizations who played a vanguard role throughout day and night in the right earnest. The Punjab Cabinet feels proud on their rare contribution and expresses gratitude to them for their unparalleled services for the welfare of mankind. The meeting also fervently appeals to the all Punjabis and countrymen to come forward for making liberal donations for these relief and rehabilitation operations. The meeting also prays to the Almighty for the security and safety of life and property of the people afflicted with this tragedy and the state government assures of all help and cooperation to them. Meanwhile, the Cabinet also appreciated the concerted efforts of the Chief Minister, who cut short his foreign visit and straight way reached Chandigarh to oversee the entire relief and rehabilitation operations and ensure the safe evacuation of pilgrims from Uttarakhand to Punjab. It may be recalled that all the SAD-BJP MPs and MLAs had already decided to contribute one month salary toward the Calamity Fund. The Punjab government also decided to grant Rs. 3 crore each to rebuild Sri Kedarnath temple, Sri Badrinath temple and Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib besides a sum of Re. one crore for the revamping of other infrastructure/installations at Uttarakhand which had been damaged due to these flash floods. On the occasion, the Cabinet also observed the two minutes silence in the memory of departed souls and prayed to God to grant eternal peace to them and give strength to their families to bear this irreparable loss. The Cabinet was also briefed about the state government’s relentless efforts to carry out relief operations in Uttarakhand. It was informed that a helicopter was placed at the disposal of Uttarakhand government/Army authorities since June 19, 2013 which had evacuated 575 pilgrims. As many as 280 buses/Mini buses/trucks/jeeps were dispatched to Rishikesh and Joshimath. 119 bus trips were made from Rishikesh to Chandigarh and other places in the state. Approximately 5500 pilgrims brought till date from Rishikesh through these buses. 2050 pilgrims were evacuated from Joshimath to Rishikesh in 61 Punjab Police Mini busues and 25 seater vehicles of the Transport Department. The Chief Minister visited Sector 43 ISBT twice to meet the pilgrims brought from Rishikesh in Govt. Buses. All stranded pilgrims at Gobind Ghat, Joshimath and Rishikesh were evacuated to safer places till today morning. 12 Ambulances sent to Uttarakhand, 5 were stations at Rishikesh and 7 between Rishikesh and Joshimath. Arrangements were made for supply of diesel to all these vehicles at Rishikesh by Food and Civil Supplies Department. 24-hour control romm was set up at Headquarter to provide information to the relatives of pilgrims and coordinate rescue operations.More than 1000 personnel of Punjab Police were also deployed in this operation at Rishikesh and Joshimath and a special police contingent of 160 jawans has been sent to evacuate pilgrims from the higher reaches beyond Joshimath. -------- PUNJAB GOVERNMENT’S CHOPPER EVACUATES MORE THAN 80 PILGRIMS FROM BADRINATH · RESCUE OPERATIONS HAMPER DUE TO BREACH IN SRINAGAR-JOSHIMATH NATIONAL HIGHWAY · OPERATIONS WOULD START FROM 6AM TOMORROW · 15 PILGRIMS OF LUDHIANA AND NAKODAR REACHED RISHIKESH LATE EVENING RISHIKESH (UTTRAKHAND)/CHANDIGARH, JUNE 24: The Chopper of Punjab Government today safely evacuated more than 80 pilgrims from Badrinath, who were stranded at Badrinath for last few days. According to Mr. A. Venuprasad, Secretary Housing, the rescue operations were going on war footing by the Punjab Government and the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister was constantly monitoring the ongoing rescue operations after massive natural disaster in Uttrakhand. Mr. Prasad said that after evacuating all the pilgrims stranded at Sri Hemkunt Sahib the chopper of Punjab Government today started to rescue the pilgrims from Badrinath and it evacuated more than 80 pilgrims, who were brought to the various relief camps at Joshimatth. He said that due to unfair weather conditions and heavy rains the rescue operations hampered due a breach on Srinagar-Joshimatth National Highway. He said that teams of Border Roads Organisation were working day and night to bridge the breach, which would be completed before early morning. Giving details about Pilgrims evacuated from Sri Hemkunt Sahib and Badrinath, who were at Gurdwara Nandramu, Mr. Prasad said that the rescue operations would restart from Tuesday morning after 6am and more than 2000 pilgrims at Nandramu would be brought to Rishikesh from where they would further leave for their respective destinations in Punjab through the transport arrangements made by Punjab Government. Meanwhile, the teams of rescue operations of Punjab brought a two group of 15 people to the relief camp late evening at Rishikesh out of which 8 were from Ludhiana including Gagandeep Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Gurjot Singh, Harkirat Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Jaspal Singh and Neetu Singh while the rest ones from Nakodar including Dilawar Singh, Udham Singh, Jagir Singh, Amrik Singh, Manminder Kaur, Devinder Singh and Gurjant Singh. They have been sent to their native places in the buses of Punjab Roadways. -------- Kisan Sangarsh Committee calls on CM BADAL ASKS PS HOME TO ENSURE COMPLETION OF JUDICIAL ENQUIRY INTO JEOBALA INCIDENT WITHIN THREE MONTHS · ASKS FCD TO PUT IN MECHANISM FOR ABOLITION OF MONEY LENDING · PSPCL TO RELEASE 25000 TUBE WELL CONNECTIONS DURING THIS FISCAL Chandigarh, June 24 Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today directed the Principal Secretary Home to ensure the completion of judicial enquiry ordered into the Jeobala incident in Tarn Tarn district within stipulated time period of three months in order to ascertain the facts that led to the death of ASI Kulbir Singh during farmer’s agitation. An assurance to this effect was given Mr. Badal to the delegation of Kisan Sangrash Committee Punjab led by its State President Mr. Satnam Singh Pannu in the meeting held here today at Punjab Bhawan this morning. The Chief Minister also asked the state DGP to examine all the cases in which several representative of union participated in the state wide rail and road blockades in support of their agitation sympathetically, in which there was no third party or any individual was involved as complainant. He also directed the Chief Secretary to review all those decisions, which were in- principally agreed in the meeting held with representative of the union on December 18, 2011 under his Chairmanship and these must be implemented in the right earnest. Mr. Badal also asked his Principal Secretary to ensure release of Rs. Five lac as compensation payment each to the next of the kin of the two left out farmers immediately who died in such agitations. On the issue of giving compensation to the left out families of farmers/laborers who committed suicides, the Chief Minister assured the union that the state government would also extend the same quantum of relief @ of Rs. two lac to the next of the kin of the deceased on the basis of verification report of the committee comprising the Deputy Commissioner, SSP and Chief Agriculture Officer of the concerned district. The Chief Minister also directed the Financial Commissioner Development to work out all the modalities to bring a legislation to abolish money lending in the state to safeguard the interests of the farming community in the larger public interest. Responding to another demand regarding the Voluntary Disclosure Scheme (VDS) to slash the rate from Rs 4500 to Rs 1000 per BHP for enhancing the load capacity of the motors in view of depleting water table, the Chief Minister informed the union that the Powercom had already taken up the issue with the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission to reduce this amount from 4500 BHP to 3000 per BHP which would cost Rs. 150 crore to the state government. Subsequently, the regulatory Commission has sought views/comments of Powercom regarding the deposit of subsidy. Referring to another demand raised by the union regarding the allotment of tube well connections to the applicants whose applications were pending since long, Mr. Badal apprised them that the state government had already framed a new tube well policy for the year 2013-14 to release 25000 Tube well connections in a fair and transparent manner. He said that our government since 2007 had released 2,10,000 Tube well connections to the farmers till date. The policy further stipulated that 9000 AP connections would be allotted to the applicants comprising small farmers having land holding upto 2.5 acre and without any tube well connection as on January 1, 1998, 3000 connections for marginal farmers having land holding of more than 2.5 acre and upto 5 acre as on January 1, 1995 whereas the remaining 3000 connections for big farmers having land holding more than 5 acre as on January 1, 1993. Besides, 7500 Tube well connection would be released priority quota (Kandi, Border, International Fence, Gurdwaras, Panchayats, SC, Gallantry, Drip Irrigation) during the current fiscal. Likewise, the Chief Minister also gave directions to the PSPCL for the release of connections amongst the pending applicants under the Accelerated Release of Tube well connections (ARTC) Scheme since 1992. On the plea of the union to waive off the condition of installation of four star rated company motors under the guidelines of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) which were too expensive, the Chief Minister asked the PSPCL authorities to make these motors readily available to the farmers on affordable rates in the market and it was informed there were 14 suppliers in the market to meet the demand. On the issue of restoring the facility of OYT connection to the farmers for shifting the tube well connection from one site to another, the Chief Minister asked the PSPCL to only charge the actual cost of the material and supervisory thereby doing away with the labour charges as incurred earlier by Powercom. The Chief Minister also assured the union that all the Deras/Dhanis having three or more households under urban pattern power supply for 24 hours would be covered in difficult areas of Border/Kandi at the cost of Rs. 75 crore and the requisite funds have been tide up. The Chief Minister also informed the union that the state irrigation department had chalked out an ambitious program to de-silt the Upper-Bari Doab Canal system at the cost of Rs. 211 crore during the year 2013-14 thereby enhancing the water carrying capacity of canal and its distributaries and tail end. Likewise, the state government had already embarked upon a massive program to clean 10200 KM of feeders, distributors and minors at the cost of Rs. 22 crore. Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh, DGP Mr. Sumedh Singh Saini, PSCM Mr. S.K. Sandhu, FCR Mr. NS Kang, Financial Commissioner Rural Development & Panchayats Mr. Mandeep Singh Sandhu, Principal Secretary Heath & Family Welfare Vinni Mahajan, Secretary Local Government Mr. Ashok Gupta, MD Punjab Health Systems Corporation Mr. Husan Lal and Secretary Power Mr. Anirudh Tiwari. ----- ALL PILGRIMS FROM HEMKUNT SAHIB EVACUATED · 5000 PILGRIMS ARRIVES SAFELY TO PUNJAB · ANOTHER BATCH OF 1200 PILGRIMS DEPARTS FOR PUNJAB TODAY · FLEET OF 36 MINI BUSES MOVES TO JOSHI MATH FROM RISHIKESH · CM AND DEPUTY CM BEING REGULARLY UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS OF RESCUE OPERATION
Rishikesh/Chandigarh, June 24 Rescue operations to evacuate the pilgrims from the flood ravaged area of Uttarakhand have been further expedited and all the pilgrims stranded over there have been safely evacuated from Sri Hemkunt Sahib. According to the Housing & Urban Development Secretary Mr. A. Venu Parsad, who was stationed at Rishikesh to oversee the entire relief and rehabilitation operations of the pilgrims from Punjab till last night five thousand pilgrims have been safely dispatched to Punjab. Majority of the pilgrims from Punjab went to pay obeisance at Sri Hemkunt Sahib and every single pilgrim from that area has been evacuated. Divulging the details of rescue operations, DIG Punjab Police Mr. Khubi Ram said that a fleet of 36 Mini Buses has been moved for Joshi Math from Rishikesh. He said that the Punjab Government has set up a base camp at Gurdwara Sahib in Rishikesh and the pilgrims from the flood hit areas were being transporting on mini buses/trax vehicles to the base camp. The distance from Rishikesh to Joshi Math is 248 km which is totally hilly terrain. He further said that the Punjab Police was setting up its own wireless system at Joshi Math to ease out the communication network. The Punjab Government has also set up another base camp at railway station Rishikesh, where the rescued pilgrims have been extended much needed medical treatment and other relief material. From this base camp the pilgrims were being dispatched to the various parts of the Punjab through the state roadways buses. Relief operations at this base camp were in full swing and manned by the Punjab Police personal. A helicopter has been pressed into service for bringing the pilgrims, who had been trapped in these areas to Joshi Math. Needy Pilgrims were being provided with every kind of basic and necessary facility at the base camps set up at Rishikesh and Joshi Math. Mr. A.Venu Parshad has been supervising the rescue operations. He said that the Punjab Government has stationed 10 ambulances at Joshi Math and Rishikesh to provide immediate first aid to the critical injured and other serious pilgrims and to ferry them to the nearby hospitals. Besides the relief camp of Punjab Government, several social & voluntary organizations and people from Punjab villages have been organizing Langars along the way from Rishikesh to Joshi Math. Mr. Parshad has been closely monitoring the rescue operations and regularly convene meeting of senior officers at 10:30 am, every day. Both the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal were being updated by the senior officers deputed in Rishikesh and Joshimath about the ongoing rescue operations in Uttarakhand. The Chief Minister has directed his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandeep Singh Brar to be in constant touch with these officers stationed in Uttarakhand to ensure the smooth rescue operations besides providing the required logistics. ********* VIGILANCE BUREAU PUNJAB VIGILANCE NABS POWERCOM CLERK IN BRIBERY CASE Chandigarh June 24 : State Vigilance Bureau today nabbed POWERCOM clerk red handed accepting bribe of Rs. 10,000. Disclosing this here today, Mr. Sursh Arora, Chief Director-cum-DGP Vigilance Bureau Punjab said that Bureau caught Harmanpreet Singh Upper Division Clerk POWERCOM posted at village Lalton Kalan Tehsil Dehlon in district Ludhiana demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 10,000 from complainant Mukhraj Singh of village Kalakh (Ludhiana) for his domestic electric connection. He added that the complainant approached the Bureau and alleged that POWERCOM clerk was demanding bribe from him for his domestic electric connection. After finding the veracity of facts a vigilance team led by Mr Sandip Goyal, SP EOW, Vigilance Bureau Ludhiana laid a trap and the accused was nabbed red handed in the presence of two government officials as witnesses. The tainted money was recovered from him. In this regard a vigilance case under u/s 7, 13 (1) read with 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 at Vigilance Bureau Police Station Ludhiana and further investigation was under progress
CM: UTTARAKHAND DISASTER A NATIONAL TRAGEDY CM VISITS BUS STAND TO RECEIVE UTTRAKHAND' FLOOD VICTIMS
Chandigarh, June 21 The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today received the pilgrims from Kedarnath, Badrinath and Sri Hemkunt Sahib who were rescued from Uttrakhand and brought back at ISBT, Sector-43 here in the Punjab State buses. Mr. Badal described the scourge of floods in Uttarakhand as a National tragedy and assured full and immediate help from the state government to all those affected by nature’s fury regardless of their respective states or their destination of pilgrimage. He called upon the Centre to extend immediate and liberal assistance to affected states in the task of rehabilitation. The official sources of Uttrakhand Government has informed the Chief Minister that bridge on the route between Gobindghat and Joshimath has been opened to bring back people to Joshimath from where they would further be brought to Rishikesh. The State Government has pressed in 100 Mini Buses for the smooth plying of pilgrims from Joshimath to Rishikesh and 150 Big Buses have been deputed at Rishikesh for bringing these people back to Punjab. While interacting with a large batch of pilgrims arrived at Chandigarh, Mr. Badal expressed concern over the hardships they faced in these days. The Chief Minister inquired about their well-being and also consoled them. He assured them that State government was in constant touch with the Uttarakhand government and providing all sort of assistance for rescue operations. He said that full and fearsome range and magnitude of the tragedy would be known only after relief operations are over. But relief is needed at an unprecedented scale for rescue and rehabilitation of thousands and thousands of beleaguered people said, Mr. Badal. Mr. Badal was talking to media persons after personally overseeing relief and travel arrangements today at ISBT, Sector 43 here, when he immediately rush there just after landing at Chandigarh Airport. He hoped that all the pilgrims would soon be brought back to their homes safe and sound. He prayed the Almighty for the safety of all the people who were still stranded in Uttarakhand. However, he mentioned that the main objective of the Punjab government at this critical hour was to expedite the rescue operation so that all the pilgrims stuck at Gobind Dham and other nearby places must be airlifted to safe places and further be brought back to their homes safely. It was also informed that another team of officers including two IAS officers had been sent to Rishikesh to coordinate travel arrangements of pilgrims from Rishikesh to various destinations in the State. A team has been deputed at ISBT, Sector-43 for all necessary arrangement to ensure each pilgrim's safe return to their native places through Taxis at Government expense. ---------------- PCS (EB) officers contribute one day salary for Uttrakhand relief fund Chandigarh, June 21 PCS (EB) officers have decided to contribute one day salary for Uttrakhand relief fund. PCS (EB) officers association today met under the Chairmanship of its President Mr. H. S. Kandola and passed a resolution condoling the massive loss of lives in various places in Uttrakhand. They have decided to contribute one day salary for the relief work. --------- PCS (EB) officers contribute one day salary for Uttrakhand relief fund Chandigarh, June 21 PCS (EB) officers have decided to contribute one day salary for Uttrakhand relief fund. PCS (EB) officers association today met under the Chairmanship of its President Mr. H. S. Kandola and passed a resolution condoling the massive loss of lives in various places in Uttrakhand. They have decided to contribute one day salary for the relief work. --------- IPS OFFICERS OF PUNJAB CADRE TO DONATE ONE DAY SALARY FOR FLOOD VICTIMS OF UTTRAKHAND Chandigarh, June 21: The Punjab IPS Officers Association has decided to contribute their one day salary for the victims of recent cloud burst and floods in Uttarakhand resulting in huge loss of lives and property there. ----------- Punjab Government seeks SC backlog report from all departments Chandigarh June 21: The Punjab Government has sought report of the backlog of SC posts vacant in different departments. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the Welfare Department said that written instruction in this regard has been issued to all the departments of the Punjab Government. He said the detailed report of the vacant posts reserved for SC employees has been sought. Departments have been asked to send data upto January 2013 and furnish the information positively by June 30 to the Welfare Department. --------- BHAKRA WATER LEVEL 69.21 FEET HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR CHANDIGARH, JUNE 21: The water level in the Bhakra Dam today was 69.21 feet higher than last year as it touched the level of 1596.75 feet against 1527.54 feet last year on the same day. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the irrigation department said that the water level of Pong Dam has been recorded at 1320.37 feet which is 21.74 feet more than last year recorded on the same day. Similarly the water level of Ranjit Sagar Dam touched 513.63 meter mark which is 14.01 meter more than the water level recorded last year on the same day. He further said that the inflow of water in Bhakra is 31104 cusec against 29499 last year and the release from Bhakra Dam is 26112 cusec against 30083 cusec last year. Inflow of water in Pong Dam has been recorded as 7068 cusec against 4364 cusec on the same day last year and inflow of water in Ranjit Sagar Dam is 11487 cusec against 9072 cusec and release from Ranjit Sagar Dam is 14502 cusec against 10356 cusec release on the same day last year. He further said that the rain fall in major cities of the state during last 24 hours has been recorded as Amritsar 27 mm, Bathinda 34 mm, Kapurthala 40 mm, Fatehgarh sahib 43 mm, Ferozpur 48 mm, Pathankot 57mm, Jalandhar 59 mm, Ludhiana 64 mm, Moga 81 mm, SAS Nagar 86, Mukatsar 88 mm, SBS Nagar 93 mm, Patiala 95 mm and Ropar 101 mm. ----- SEC APPOINTS ELECTION OBSERVERS FOR GRAM PANCHAYATS' ELECTION CHANDIGARH, JUNE 21: State Election Commission (SEC) appointed 26 election observers for smooth and fare conduction of forthcoming Gram Panchayats' election. It was disclosed by an official spokesman of SEC. He said that Mr H.S.Pabla, IAS has been appointed observer for SBS Nagar, Mr RK Kaushik, IAS and Mr SS Khara, PCS for Patiala, Ms Anupam Kaler, PCS for Kapurthala, Mr Baldev Singh, PCS and Ms Babita, PCS for Jalandhar, Mr Dharampal, IAS and Mr. Sumir Kumar, IAS for Ludhiana, Mr Avtar Chand Sharma, PCS for Tarn Taran, Mr Sumeet Jarangal, IAS for Rupnagar, Dr Adapa Karthik, IAS for Barnala, Ms. Kiran Rosy, PCS for Gurdaspur, Mr Daljit Singh, PCS for Sangrur, Mr Rakesh Kumar Popli, PCS for Sri Muktsar Sahib, Mr H.S.Kandhola, PCS for Moga, Mr Navjotpal Singh Randhawa, PCS for Sangrur, Mr Amit Talwar, PCS for Pathankot, Mr Parminderpal Singh, PCS for Hoshiarpur, Mrs Hargunjit Kaur, PCS for Ajitgarh, Mr V K Meena, IAS for Fatehgarh Sahib, Mr Mr Harbhupinder Singh, IAS for Ferozpur, Mr Rajat Oberoi, PCS for Fazilka, Mr Dharam Dutt Tarnach, IAS for Amritsar, Mr Jaskaran Singh, PCS for Faridkot, Mr Balraj Singh Sekhon, PCS for Bathinda and Mr Davinder Singh, PCS for Mansa. ----- RECORD PLACEMENT OF 2620 ITIs TRAINEES IN AUTO MAJORS WITHIN THREE MONTHS: JOSHI CHANDIGARH, JUNE, 21: The ITIs in the state got a thums-up from the auto majors as record 2620 ITI trainees of 6 ITIs in Gurdaspur. Jalandhar, Roopnagar, Bathinda, Ludhiana got their placement in Maruti Suzuki, Honda city, Tata Motors and Cheema Biolers within three Months. Disclosing this here today, Mr. Anil Joshi, Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister, Punjab said that ITIs in Punjab were focusing on employability of the trainees by providing them training according to the requirement of the industry. He said that department had organized an employment fair at Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Roopnagar, Bathinda and Ludhiana. During this job fair more than 4000 trainees/students have participated, out of which 2620 job seekers were selected by the auto majors. He said that the state government has committed to provide jobs to the trainees and professions being trained in various Polytechnics, Information Technology Institutions and Industrial Trainings Institutions (ITIs) in the state. The academic and training institutions have been asked to shape their courses and training per the need and skill based requirements of different trades. Mr. Joshi said that the aim of the Technical Education Department was to secure maximum placements for the students and to achieve the target and department was continuously organizing employment fairs. He said that it was the result of endless efforts of technical education department that the number of placements has been increasing up year after year. He said that technical institutes were focusing on weeding out obsolete trades to assure placement to youth getting training there. He said that there were 111 government and 294 private ITIs in the state providing training to over 64,000 youth every year. The Minister said that it was the call of the hour to adopt professional studies to counter the menace of unemployment. He said that to inspire the students towards professional courses, the technical education department would organize more employment fairs besides inviting more companies during placement drives in engineering and polytechnic colleges.
------ DEPARTMENTS TOLD TO LIST OUT CORRUPT AND TAINTED OFFICERS · ASKED TO SPEED UP THE DRIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION Chandigarh, June 21: The Punjab government today reiterated its instructions to all Chief Vigilance Officers of all the departments of the state to expedite their drive against corrupt and tainted officials in their respective departments and ensure prompt and effective action against such officials. A spokesman of the Punjab Government today said that Vigilance department has issued instructions to all Chief Vigilance Officers posted in different departments to keep an eye on such elements and reduce their scope of corruption. They have been told to corrupt officers in their respective departments, also ensuring effective supervision on them and to so regulate their posting that they do not have scope to indulge in corruption. He said that the main aim behind the designation of CVOs. CVOs who have also been authorized to pass on the information to the secretary Vigilance regarding the corrupt officials, was to keep an eye over them, besides ensuring prompt and effective departmental action/prosecution in court of corrupt officers when evidence were available, he added. The spokesman said that to remove the corrupt officers from services, Punjab Government has also made arrangements in law for the compulsory retirement of them and to implement this law all CVOs has been asked to scrutinize the cases in this regard. He said that it was the duty of CVO to scrutinize such cases and compulsory retire corrupt officers at the age of 55 years. The CVOs have been told to scrutinize the property returns of government servants in their departments to detect corruption or unreasonable accumulation of property by any employee. They have been also told to scrutinize the repots which appear to involve element of corruption. Expressing concern over slow progress of action in corruption cases, they have been told to monitor progress with regard to grant of prosecution sanction in the cases referred to the department under advise to Secretary Vigilance. The CVOs have also been told to assist Vigilance department in complicated cases or regarding departmental rules and procedures. They have been told to check and review procedures adopted in the department, if necessary with the assistance of Vigilance department to plug loop holes wherever existing, which facilitate corruption. He added that to speed up the investigation in corruption cases, CVOs were to act as a liaison officer between their own department and Vigilance Department including Vigilance Bureau besides ensuring that any information, date, advice record asked by Vigilance should be made available without any lose of time. The Spokesman also said that Punjab Government has asked the all CVOs to perform their duties with utmost sincerity, otherwise they would invite strict action.
CM AND DEPUTY CM MONITOR EVACUATION OF PILGRIMS FROM UTTRAKHAND
CHANDIGARH, JUNE 20: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal are constantly monitoring the evacuation of Pilgrims stranded at various places of Uttrakhand and other relief measures and are fully seized of the gravity of situation arising out of massive natural disaster. Till the last reports came in today, a total of 357 pilgrims including 355 belonging to Punjab were airlifted from Uttrakhand. While evacuating the stranded Pilgrims from Uttrakhand Old people, Children and Women were being air lifted on priority and they are being brought at Rishikesh. The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has thanked the Army Authorities and Uttrakhand Administration for extending their support for the rescue and relief operations. The Chief Minister has already extended the leave of all those employees who have been struck in various places in Uttrakhand in this massive catastrophe and also exempted all such employees from election duty. The Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal is also minutely monitoring the air-lifting and other relief operations and has already spoken to Chief Minister Uttrakhand Mr. Vijay Bahuguna and offered total support of the Punjab Government in this massive evacuation and relief operation. The Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today pressed a fleet of buses from Punjab to Rishikesh to bring back Pilgrims to their native towns in Punjab at State cost. Meanwhile the Punjab Government has setup a 24X7 Control Room to address any query of the Public regarding pilgrims or other updates about the rescue operations. The general public can contact incharge Control Room at phone number 0172-2740397 for their queries and updates. The Punjab Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have prayed for the safe return of all persons stranded at various places in Uttrakhand. They have also offered all assistance to Uttrakhand authorities in this massive relief operations. ---- ADMISSION IN DIPLOMA IN PHARMACY COURSE TILL JUNE 24 CHANDIGAH, JUNE, 20: The Punjab State Board of Technical Education & Industrial Training has fixed 24th June 2013 as the last date for submission of Admission Form for two year diploma in pharmacy course in the affiliated institution of the board. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab government said that details regarding eligibility, intake capacity and location of affiliated institutions, reservation of seats etc. and the application form are available in the prospectus. Prospectus-cum-application forms are available on the board's website. He said that as per PCI guidelines candidates having qualification of 10+2 from National/State open schools are not eligible for admission. He further said that the application forms complete in all respects may be submitted through registered post to the board's office at plot No 1-A, Sector-36 A, Chandigarh or handed over in person at the institutes by 24th june, 2013 along with a demand draft of Rs. 1250/ (Rs. 1000/ for SC/ST) in favour of 'Secretary Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training payable at Chandigarh. The online counseling would be started from 29th June, 2013 as the schedule outlined in the prospectus. He said that No separate intimation letter would be sent to the candidate in this regard. ----- PUNJAB APPOINTS DISTRICTS INSPECTORS IN HEALTH DEPARTMENT CHANDIGARH, JUNE 20: In order to streamline the working of the health department the Punjab government has appointed all those persons who are holding the post of district Ayurvedic and Unani officers or exercising the administrative and DDO powers of district Ayurvedic and Unani officers to be inspectors for the areas specified under the act. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the Punjab government said that notification in this regard has been issued. he said that district Ayurvedic and Unani officer Barnala has been appointed for district Barnala, similarly district Ayurvedic and Unani officer, moga for Moga, district Ayurvedic and Unani officer, Mukatsar for district Mukatsar. district Ayurvedic and Unani officer, Saheed Bhagat Singh Nagar for distgrict Sheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, district Ayurvedic and Unani officer, Mohali for district Mohali and district Ayurvedic and Unani officer, Tarn Taran has been appointed as inspectors for district Tarn Taran. ----- SEC ISSUES INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT · DCs AUTHORIZED TO PROSECUTE CASE OF CODE VIOLATION CHANDIGARH, JUNE 20: The State Election Commission (SEC) keeping in view the Gram Panchayat elections has issued strict instructions for the proper implementation of model code of conduct. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the SEC said that any one can lodge compliant of code violation against any candidate or political party before the election observers. He said that District Electoral Officer or Deputy Commissioners and the police have been authorized to initiate prosecution against violation of model code of conduct before the competent criminal courts under intimation to the State Election Commissioner. He further said that the this code would be known as code of conduct for the local bodies election and this would be applied to political parties, contesting candidates, ministers, employees of the state government and local bodies and other public servant connected with local bodies elections. He said that no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic. SEC said that during the election process Ministers shall not ombine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not make use of official machinery and personnel or other Government resources including government vehicle for furtherance of interests of any candidate. Official telephones including mobiles, fax etc. shall not be used for electioneering purposes. The Ministers and other authorities shall not sanction grants/payment out of their discretionary funds from the time elections are announced by the Commission. Further they shall not announce any financial grant in any form or promises thereof or make any promise of constructions of road, provision of drinking water facility etc. or make any adhoc appointment in government public undertaking etc. which may have the effect of influencing the voters in favour of the party in power. They shall not sanction any new scheme or make any announcement of any new scheme. Laying of foundation stone etc. of a project or a scheme of any kind shall not be done during the period of election. An Official Spokesman further said that use of rest houses, circuit houses and other government accommodation should be permitted to all the candidates and the political parties on the same terms and conditions on which it is permissible for the party in power. However, no candidate or party shall be allowed to use such accommodations (including premises apartments thereto) as a campaign office or for holding any public meeting for the purpose of election propaganda. An Official Spokesman further said that a public servant shall not participate or accompany a Minister in any programme, organized at an individual’s house for which the Minister has accepted the invitation during his election tour. The loud speakers shall be used only between 07.00 A.M. to 10.00 P.M. No party or candidate shall hold public meeting or processions without obtaining necessary permission from the competent Local Authority(s). Places of worship such as temples, mosques, churches etc. shall not be used as forum for election propaganda. ----- CHANDIGARH, JUNE 20: Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Mr. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul today administered the oath of office to Mrs. Justice Anita Chaudhary, Mr. Justice Mahavir Singh Chauhan, Mr. Justice Fateh Deep Singh, Mr. Justice Jaspal Singh and Mr. Justice Surinder Gupta as additional judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh. The swearing-in-ceremony took place in Court Room No.1 of the Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court. Now, the strength of the Judges in Punjab & Haryana High Court has risen to 47. Oath ceremony was attended by Hon’ble Sitting and Retired Judges, Sr. Advocates, Family Members of the Judges and other distinguished guests. ----- 81 CHILD LABOURERS GOT RELEASED DURING ONGOING CHILD LABOUR ERADICATION WEEK CHANDIGARH, 20 JUNE Over 81 children engaged in child labour were got released by the teams of labour department during ongoing child Eradication Week observed in the state from 17 to 23 June 2013. Disclosing this here today Mr. Harkesh Singh Sidhu, Labour Commissioner, Punjab said that during the course of week long campaign special teams were constituted under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner concerned, these teams conducted surprise raids in 1349 different centers. He said that during such raids 81 cases of child labour were detected and 71 offenders were challaned for the offence. He said that among all these 81 cases 39 children were found to be working in dangerous occupations. Mr. Sidhu said that challans would be submitted to the respective courts seeking punishment for the culprits. He said that such offence could attract punishment ranging form Rs 10000 fine to 6 month imprisonment. He said that the state government was committed to abolish the child labour from the state. He said that during the observance of this week the teams besides conducting raids have also been organizing special seminars for sensitizing general population so that the children belonging to the poor family could not be deprived off their childhood. --- PUNJAB CONSTITUTES 10-MEMBERS CONCEPT COMMITTEE REGARDING BABA JEWAN SINGH MEMORIAL CHANDIGARH: June 20, Punjab Government has constituted a 10-members concept committee for preparing concept papers of Baba Jewan Singh (Bhai Jaita JI) Memorial at Sri Anandpur Sahib. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that the committee comprised Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha S. Charanjit singh Atwal, S. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Minister, Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Punjab, S. Guljar Singh Ranike, S. Avtar Singh Makkar, President SGPC, S. Jaspal Singh Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Patiala, Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar, Prof Prithipal Singh Kapoor,Dr. Kirpal Singh, Dr. J.S.Grewal, Prof Indu Banga Punjabi University as members whereas Principal Secretary and Director Cultural Affairs were convener and co-convener of the committee respectively. He said that the committee has also been authorized to take the services of any subject specialist in this regard. ----- AADHAR NUMBER FIELD SESSION 2013-14 COMPULSARY CHANDIGARH, JUNE 20: In a significant decision, Punjab Government has transferred two schemes related to Scholarship Management System of minority students (Shikh, Muslim, Chrishtian, Bodhi and Parsi) from manual to online. Disclosing this here today Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare Minister S. Gulzar Singh Ranike said that scholarship amount of 2013-14 session under Post Matric Scholarship Scheme and Marriage-cum-Means basis scholarship scheme would be transferred only to account numbers which are attached to Aadhar Card Numbers. The Minister appealed to all eligible students that they shoul make their Aadhar Card on preference and write their Aadhar Number with their account numbers. He also appealed to the Head of the Educational institutions and Schools to extend every possible help to the students. --- RESULT OF TEACHER ELIGIBILITY TEST DECLARED · CHANDIGARH, JUNE 19: The result of Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) has been declared which could be seen on the websitewww.tetpunjab.com. It was disclosed today by an Official Spokesperson of the state government. He said that PSTET-1 was taken for ETT candidates whereas PSTET-2 was conducted for B.Ed. candidates. Both tests were taken on June 9 in 391 centers across the state. He said that in total 60,382 candidates appeared for PSTET-1, out of which 4251 candidates (7.04 %) cleared the test. He further said that 1, 68,396 candidates were appeared for PSTET-2 and 5141 candidates (3.05%) managed to pass the test. ---- CHIEF SECRETARY DIRECTS DCs TO GEAR UP FOR FLOOD PROTECTION · REVIEWS FLOOD PREPAREDNESS OF ALL DISTRICTS · DIRECTS TO INCREASE SURVEILLANCE AT VULNERABLE POINTS 24X7 · 115 NEW MINING SITES BE AUCTIONED ON 1 TO 3 JULY, 2013 CHANDIGARH, JUNE 19: The Chief Secretary, Punjab today reviewed the flood protection measures in the state and has directed the district administration to make all the necessary arrangements well in-advance besides updating all the equipment and other technical support to tackle any kind of emergency during the coming monsoon season. These instructions were issued by Mr. Rakesh Singh, Chief Secretary today in a high level meeting with the top-bras of the state administration and the Deputy Commissioners of districts here today. Chief Secretary said that the government has sanctioned Rs. 10 lakh grant for each district for flood relief activities. Directing all the DCs the CS asked them to keep a close tab on the critical points in their respective jurisdictions to pre-empt any sort of eventuality arising on account of heavy rain during the current Monsoon besides, establishing a proper co-ordination with the Irrigation department, Police, Revenue and Rehabilitation & Health Departments and all other concerned sectors. Chief Secretary asked the DCs to increase the surveillance at all the vulnerable and crucial points. He directed the DCs to get the survey conduct on the low lying areas prone to water logging falling in all the Major cities. He said that district administration must ensure that they are in full control to tackle any kind of eventuality arising out of water logging like availability of pumps to drain out the water, adequate stock of medicine and identification of locations for camping sites. He directed DCs to fix the responsibility of the concerned XEN of irrigation and drainage department to monitor the vulnerable sites 24X7. In the meeting the Chief Secretary also reviewed the availability of mining material in various districts. It was told that in total 46 querries below 5 hectare and 23 queries above 5 hectare are operational. The Chief Secretary said that the Punjab Government is all set to auction 115 new querry below 5 hectare of area on 1 to 3 July, 2013. Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. PS Aujala, Financial Commissioner Revenue Mr. NS Kang, Principal Secretary Industries Mr. Karan A Singh, Principal Secretary Health Mrs. Vinni Mahajan, Principal Secretary Coordination and Water Supply Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Secretary Finance Mr. Jaspal Singh, Director Industries Mr. Vikas Partap and IG Bathinda Mr. Nirmal Singh Dhillon besides all the Deputy Commissioners. ---- · EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR PROPER MAINTENANCE OF BUSES ALONG WITH ALL FACILITIES TO THE COMMUTERS Chandigarh, June 19 Punjab Transport Minister Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar today directed the General Mangers of Punjab Roadways and Punjab Road Transport Corporation to ensure the plying of buses as per as the kilometers allotted to each depot so that both undertakings shouldn’t suffer any financial loss on one side and there would not be any harassment to the commuters. He also emphasized the need for proper maintenance of buses along with all facilities to the commuters. Presiding over a meeting of General Mangers of Punjab Roadways and PRTC at Punjab Bhawan Mr. Kohar said that every depot should take up the challenge complete its fixed quota of kms by increasing its working capacity. He said for this purpose the general managers should work with sincerity and dedication. He categorically said that each bus should be in running condition and no bus should be parked at workshop or bus stand without any reason. He also underlined the need to rationalize the work allocation to the staff in a result oriented manner. The Transport Minister directed to the General mangers to ensure the maintenance of buses so quality transport facilities should be provided to the commuters of the state with special focus on punctuality in the timings of the buses. He also asked them to ensure the good conduct of drivers and conductors of the buses and cautioned that in case of any complaint of misbehave strict disciplinary action would taken against erring official. He also directed to ensure that no driver should answer any call on mobile while driving. Principle Secretary Transport Mr. Jagpal Singh, State Transport Commissioner Mr. Harjit Singh, Director Transport Mr. Sumedh Singh Gurjar besides all the general managers of Punjab Roadways and PRTC were present in the meeting. --- STATE ELECTION COMMISSION NOTIFICATION ISSUED FOR GRAM PANCHAYATS · NOMINATIONS STARTS, JUNE 22 LAST DATE TO FILE NOMINATIONS · VOTING AND COUNTING ON JULY 3 CHANDIGARH, JUNE 19: The State Election Commission today issued notification for the election of Gram Panchayats in the state. With the issuance of notification Model Code of Conduct came into force which would remain in force till July 4. It was disclosed by an official spokesperson of the State Election Commission. The election of Gram Panchayats is being conducted through wardbandi for the first time. Election of sarpanch would be held in 13080 Gram panchayats and for Panch in 81412 wards of villages. The Sarpanch would be elected through direct election. He said that the process of filing of nomination has started from today i.e. from June 19 and would last till June 22. Scrutiny of the papers would be done on June 24 and papers could be withdrawn up to June 25. Voting would be conducted on July 3. He further said that voting would start at 8 a.m. and continue till 4 p.m. and the counting of votes would be started on the same day after the polling completes. Election process would be completed on July 4. ----- STATE ELECTION COMMISSION SEC DIRECTS TO IMPLEMENT MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT STRICTLY · MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT WOULD BE OPERATIONAL WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE GRAM PANCHAYATS CHANDIGARH, JUNE 19: The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued strict directions for the compliance of model code of conduct which has come into force today with the issuance of notification for the election of Gram Panchayats. An Official spokesman of the State Election Commissionclarified that Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately within the jurisdiction of the Gram Panchayats and be operative till the completion of election. SEC said that during the election process Ministers shall not ombine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not make use of official machinery and personnel or other Government resources including government vehicle for furtherance of interests of any candidate. Official telephones including mobiles, fax etc. shall not be used for electioneering purposes. The Ministers and other authorities shall not sanction grants/payment out of their discretionary funds from the time elections are announced by the Commission. Further they shall not announce any financial grant in any form or promises thereof or make any promise of constructions of road, provision of drinking water facility etc. or make any adhoc appointment in government public undertaking etc. which may have the effect of influencing the voters in favour of the party in power. They shall not sanction any new scheme or make any announcement of any new scheme. Laying of foundation stone etc. of a project or a scheme of any kind shall not be done during the period of election. An Official Spokesman further said that use of rest houses, circuit houses and other government accommodation should be permitted to all the candidates and the political parties on the same terms and conditions on which it is permissible for the party in power. However, no candidate or party shall be allowed to use such accommodations (including premises apartments thereto) as a campaign office or for holding any public meeting for the purpose of election propaganda. An Official Spokesman further said that a public servant shall not participate or accompany a Minister in any programme, organized at an individual’s house for which the Minister has accepted the invitation during his election tour. The loud speakers shall be used only between 07.00 A.M. to 10.00 P.M. No party or candidate shall hold public meeting or processions without obtaining necessary permission from the competent Local Authority(s). Places of worship such as temples, mosques, churches etc. shall not be used as forum for election propaganda. ------ PUNJAB PREPARES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO PROMOTE TOURISM SIX HERITAGE CITIES TO BE LINKED UNDER MEGA DARBAR CIRCUIT TENDERS FLOATED FOR THE CONSULTANCY SERVICES Chandigarh, June 19: Punjab government has prepared a comprehensive tourism development plan to encourage tourism in the state. Disclosing this here today official spokesperson of the Punjab government said that under the Mega Darbar Circuit project six historical cities Amritsar, Sangrur, Kapurthala, Nabha, fardikot & Malerkotla would be linked. Spokesperson said that Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board aims to develop the Circuit by preparing a Comprehensive Conservation and Tourist infrastructure and Reuse Plan of cultural assets and also create tourist facilities at various sites for tourists. He further said that Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) have invited tenders for comprehensive development of mega darbar circuit in Punjab from consultants. Detailed RFP and Terms and Conditions can be obtained from the office of PHTPB. He added that information regarding this is also available at website www.punjabtourism.gov.in. The Consultants are required to submit a Technical and Financial Proposal to Additional Chief Executive Officer, Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board, Plot No. 3, Sector 38-A, Chandigarh before 3 pm on 8th July, 2013 . ------------ 15-MEMBER CONCEPT COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED CHANDIGARH: June 19, Punjab Government has constituted a 15-member concept committee for preparing concept papers of Baba Moti Ram Mehra Memorial in Fathegarh Sahib. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that S. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Minister, Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Punjab, S. Prem Singh Chandumajra, S. Hira Singh Gabria, S. Sewa Singh Sekhwan, S. Jaspal Singh Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Patiala, Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar, Dr. Kirpal Singh, Dr. J.S.Grewal, Prof Indu Banga Punjabi University, Prof Prithipal Singh Kapoor, Mr. Manmohan Singh Bhagowalia, Mr. Nirmal Singh and president Moti Ram Mehra Trust would be members of the committee whereas Principal Secretary and Director Cultural Affairs would be convener and co-convener of the committee respectively. ------ 2 PPS OFFICERS TRANSFERRED Chandigarh, June 19: The Punjab Government has issued posting and transfer order of two PPS officer with immediate effect. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that Mr. Mohan Lal SP has been posted as SP Crime-II, Chandigarh and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Hundal, SP posted as SP (H) Batala. PUNJAB PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY TO PLOT HOLDERS TO REGULARIZE TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS CHANDIGARH, JUNE 19: The Punjab government has provided a golden opportunity to the allottees of industrial plots, sheds and commercial/institutional sites falling in different focal points developed by PSIEC in the state to regularize telecommunication towers. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government said that it has been found that a sizeable number of plot holders of different focal points have installed telecommunication tower, allied equipment and exchange, without obtaining prior permission from PSIEC. Now the department of industries and commerce has approved the policy guidelines and fee with regard to installation of telecommunication tower, allied equipment and exchange in the industrial plots, sheds, and commercial/institution sites allotted by PSIEC in different focal points in the state. He said that roof tower/high rise telecommunication tower, allied equipment and exchange should be got regularized by corporation upon charging lump sum fee of Rs. 1 lac per tower from the plot holders. The permission should be initially granted for a period of one year and renewable thereafter by charging fee of Rs. 50,000 per year, He said that in case telecommunication tower is shared by any other company/companies, additional annual fee of Rs. 50,000/ per Telecom Company shall also be charged. He further said that in those cases where roof tower/high rise telecommunication tower, allied equipment and exchange have already been installed on the plots, the recovery of arrears of dues should be made by corporation in lump sum as per fee structure given above, chargeable from the date of installation of tower, as per the case may be. After allowing permission in such cases, the application fee should be charged from the plots holders on yearly bases. The spokesman further said that in those cases where PSIEC have already allowed permission for installation of telecommunication tower to the plot holders, the fee should be charged from these plot holders as per the fee structure given above, after the expiry of currency of the existing permissible period. In those cases, where plot holders do not take steps for getting regularization of telecommunication towers in accordance with the fee structure, corporation should resort to cancellation of such allotment of plots after serving show cause notice to the defaulters as the case may be. ---------- EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DISPOSES OF 44 CASES OUT OF 110 IN PUBLIC HEARING CHANDIGARH, June 19: The Legal Cell of Education Department, Punjab disposed off 44 cases out of 110 in public hearing here today. The Spokesman of the Education Department said that the Legal Cell of the Education Department has conducted a ‘Public Hearing’ on 17-06-2013 chaired by Mrs. Anjali Bhawra IAS, Principal Secretary School Education, in which Mr. Harbans Singh, Special Executive Officer (Litigation), Mr. Gurdip Singh Special Secretary (School Education) and all District Education Officers (secondary and elementary) were also present. The spokesman said that total 110 cases were considered in public hearing program out of which 44 has been disposed off on the spot and orders have been issued to officers to dispose of pending cases. He said that 15 employees of the department has also submitted their grievances/representations regarding their service issues in Public Hearing and the panel has directed concerned officers to sort out these cases on priority basis. He said that details regarding the cases/issues, which would be considered in the next public hearings on June 28, 2013. ----- PUNJAB GOVERNMENT HIRES A PRIVATE HELICOPTER TO EVACUATE SRI HEMKUND SAHIB PILGRIMS 4-MEMBER OFFICIAL TEAM REACHES UTTRAKHAND TO MONITOR AND COORDINATE PILGRIMS’ RESCUE OPS CHANDIGARH JUNE 19 The Punjab Government has hired a private Helicopter to airlift the pilgrims stuck at Sri Hemkund Sahib and its surrounding areas. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office said that on the directions of the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal the Punjab Government had also constituted a 4-member team of senior officers that has already left for Dehradun to monitor the entire ongoing rescue operation to ensure the safe return of the Sikh pilgrims who had been trapped at Sri Hemkund Sahib due to inclement weather followed by flash floods causing road blockades at several places. This team would further visit Joshimath and Sri Hemkund Sahib to minutely observe and coordinate the rescue operations. Punjab Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh along with his officers is keeping constant liaison with the Uttrakhand administration to provid all types of help and support for this massive rescue operation at war footing. ----- PUNJAB ALLOWS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING COURSE IN JALANDHAR CHANDIGARH, JUNE, 19: The Punjab government has allowed CT Institute of Engineering Management and Technology, Shahpur-Udopur, Jalandhar to start a new course of Mechanical engineering (M.Tech.). Disclosing this here today an official spokesman of the department of Technical Education said that notification has been issued in this regard. Now the institute would be able to intake 18 M. Tech students from this session. He said that the seats have been allotted to this institute as it fulfilled conditions imposed by AICTE and the state government. ----- PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO MAKE ALL SERVICES ONLINE AIM IS TO REDUCE PAPER WORK, BRING MORE TRANSPARENCY, PREVENT DELAY PSPCL LAUNCHES ONLINE PROCESS OF GETTING NEW POWER CONNECTIONS APPLICANT WILL BE GIVEN A UNIQUE NUMBER TO CHECK THE STATUS Chandigarh, June 19: The Punjab government is all set to make the process of making all departments working online easy and hassle free. This would not only save time and efforts in getting clearances but the service will benefit applicants as they will no longer be required to submit applications and track the progress manually. Disclosing this official spokesperson of the government said that implementing government’s new initiative PSPCL has launched online process of getting new power connections. With the launch of new system the applications will ensure that Applicants can submit applications online sitting at their homes or offices which will save their valuable time and efforts. Spokesperson said that the service will immensely benefit applicants as the extra efforts to submit applications at various levels and their follow up will not be necessary. On online submission of application, each applicant will be given a unique number which can be used for checking the status of their application anytime. He said that recently under their chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, a meeting was held with the PSPCL officials to make their system consumer friendly and time saving. He said that State Power Corporation Limited has started a consumer friendly service of accepting online applications for No Objection Certificate and approval of electrical schemes of residential colonies, building complexes, shopping malls, commercial complexes under single window system and their disposal in time bound manner. Spokesperson said that government’s aim is to reduce paper work, bring more transparency, prevent delay caused due to shifting of files from one office to other and prompt issue of NOC and approval to the electrical schemes. The applications can be submitted on PSPCL website www.pspcl.in along with requisite documents which will be checked by the officials concerned. A final approval will be given by the chief engineer. The entire process will be online. The software developed for the purpose would also send automated SMS/e-mail to the consumers on the status of their applications. ------- PUNJAB GOVERNMENT ISSUES WARNING TO UN-REGISTERED DOCTORS STRICT ACTION AGAINST UNREGISTERED DOCTORS: MITTAL Chandigarh, June 19: Punjab Government has issued a warning to the unregistered doctors practicing in the state. Presiding over a high level meeting with the Health department officials Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal Minster for Health & Family Welfare took a serious note of such malpractices by the private doctors. He warned such unregistered doctors and said that such practices won’t be tolerated and no one would be allowed to play with the health of the people. Minister said that it’s mandatory for private practitioners to get registered with the government and anyone not doing so should be ready to face strict action. Minister instructed the officials should regularly keep a check on such doctors at district and block level. He added that if the concerned official does not report cases of unregistered doctors knowingly then action would be taken against such officials. Minister said that innocent people have to face consequences of non professional doctors and sometimes people have to even lose their lives due to such malpractices. Health Minster appealed to the people to cooperate with government to take action against such doctors. He said that people should avail medical facilities from government hospitals as government provides Health facilities to the people on very low affordable prices for common man. ---- KOHAR DIRECTS TO THE DTOS TO COLLECT THE TAXES WITH SINCERELY · 24% INCREASE IN THE COLLECTION OF TAXES IN FIRST TWO MONTHS COMPARED TO THE LAST YEAR · ENSURE THE CHECKING OF SCHOOL BUSES- KOHAR ASKS DTOS Chandigarh, June 18- While showing the satisfaction about the collection of taxes compared to the last financial year 2012, the Punjab Transport Minister Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar has directed to the district transport officers to work with utmost sincerity and dedication for the collection of taxes so that fixed target should be achieved. Presiding over the meeting of district transport officers at Punjab Bhawan here today Mr. Kohar asked the DTOs to activate the entire machinery to ensure the collection of all the taxes including tax fee, fines, Challans ect. It was informed in the meeting that in the first two months of current financial year tax collection reached to 19135.83 lacs. compare to 15491.68 lacs of same period of last financial year 2012. While showing satisfaction over the increase of 24% in the tax collection Mr. Kohar asked the officers to improve their performance so that all the taxes should be collected accordingly. Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar has asked the DTOs to insure the checking of all the school buses and to implement road safety rules strictly for ensuring the safety of school children. Mr. Kohar also suggested school managements should carefully select the bus drivers after thorough verification of their driving experience besides vital documents like bus permit and Registration. He said that anyone flouting these norms would be liable to face severe departmental action. He directed to the officers to implement these rules strictly. He also asked the DTOs to initiate strictest possible action against the trucks/ trolleys over loaded with chaff and sugarcane. He directed the transport department to curb the illegal practice of transporting passengers in trucks and other commercial vehicles. Mr. Kohar also instructed the transport department to take harsh action against the drivers of trolleys loaded with sand within the cities from 9 am to 7 pm. Prominent amongst other who were present in the meeting including Principal Secretary Transport Mr. Jagpal Singh, State Transport Commissioner Mr. Harjeet Singh, Director Transport Mr. Sumedh Singh Gurjar, additional transport commissioner Mr. Harmel Singh and all the DTOs. ----- PUNJAB CONSTITUTES CONCEPT COMMITTEE TO ENVISAGE THE MEMORIAL OF BABA JEEVAN SINGH · 6 MEMBER HISTORIAN COMMITTEE TO CONCEPTUALIZE PRESTIGIOUS MEMORIAL WITHIN MONTH CHANDIGARH, JUNE 18: The Concept committee of historian has been set up to envisage the memorial of Baba Jeevan Singh (Bhai Jaita Ji) at Sri Anandpur Sahib to show case the holy services of Baba Ji. It was disclosed by Jathedar Avtar Singh, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) while presiding over the meeting of the Sikh historians here. He was accompanied by Dr. Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Legislative Assembly and Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Cabinet Ministe, Punjab. He said that Dr. Jaspal Singh, VC, Punjabi University, Patiala has been appointed as the Chairman while Prof. Kirpal Singh Badunger, Former President, SGPC appointed as the Coordinator of the committee. He further said Dr. J.S. Grewal, Prof. Kirpal Singh, Prof. Indu Baga and Prof. Pirthipal Singh Kapoor, all historians, incorporated as members of the committee. Jathedar Avtar Singh said that this committee would visit several historic places to seek vital inputs to conceptualize prestigious memorial within month to show case the life, sacrifice, holy services and martyrdom of Baba Jeevan Singh Ji. Dr. Jaspal Singh, VC, Punjabi University, Patiala, Prof. Indu Baga and Prof. Pirthipal Singh Kapoor (both historians) were present in the meeting.
PUNJAB PROVIDES MAJOR RELIEF TO INDUSTRIAL PLOT HOLDERS ALLOW TO UTILIZE PREMISES UP TO 10 PERCENT OF THEIR PLOTS CHANDIGARH, JUNE 18: The Punjab government gives a major relief to industrial plot holders of Focal Point/growth centers with allowing them to utilize their premises up to 10% of their plots area. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government said that allottees of industrial plots of different focal point/ growth centers have been allowed to utilize their premises up to 10% of their plot area to display their own products/items. He said that they have also been allowed to open factory sale outlet provided construction of building is made in accordance with the applicable zoning and buildings bye laws/rules. PSIEC should allow this permission to its allottees without payment of CLU charges. He further said that industrial plot holders have also been allowed to open entry gates in their premises equivalent to the additional number of units permitted by department of industries in the particular plot as per their rules by making payment of Rs. 10,000 as per fee for each additional gate. The spokesman further said that the Punjab government has already announced special package of incentives allowed to the industrial plot holders of focal points Jalandhar (extension) by giving them interim relief in making payment of enhanced land cost. ---- PUNJAB INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROVIDERS CHANDIGARH, JUNE 18: The Punjab government has invited applications for the registration of vocational training providers (VTPS) to train the students under the skill development initiative scheme. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government said that interested VTPS could send their complete documents in a prescribed Performa to directorate of technical education, Punjab till June 28. He said that selected VTPS would be responsible for counseling, vocational guidance, quality training and assist the trainees to get employment to the trainees. He further said that interested VTPS could download the registration form, registration process, bank guarantee, Qualification and other information from the website www.dtepunjab.gov.in link SDI/PSSDS/MESS. ----- PUNJAB GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTS MeDLEaPR SOFTWARE FOR DOCTORS MANDATORY TO USE THE MeDLEaPR SOFTWARE FOR DOCTORS: MITTAL Chandigarh, June 18: Punjab government has implemented Medico-Legal Reports software for all the Doctors working in Government or Private Hospitals to prepare Medico-legal Report (Assault, Road Side Accidents, etc.). Disclosing this here today Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal Minster for Health & Family Welfare, Punjab said that it has been made mandatory for private and government doctors to use the MedLEaPR software. He said that all the doctors who conduct MLRs may get the password issued for access to the software from the appropriate authority. Giving information about the software Mrs. Vinni Mahajan Principal Secretary, Health & Family welfaresaid that all private institutions are supposed to share the site of MedLEaPR generated. She said that to implement this software one state nodal officers Dr. Surinder Ghanga and additional state nodal officer Dr. Parminder Singh Bhatti has been appointed. Any doctor facing any difficulty in using this software could contact these nodal officers. She said that Punjab Medlar Society is constituted for training, compliance & monitoring of implementation of this software. To obtain username and Password the concerned doctor has to fill the complete Biodata on the prescribed proforma and send the same through the Head of the Institute where he is working to the Director Health Services, Punjab, Parivar Kalyan Bhavan, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh (dhspunjab@gmail.com). The concerned doctor can also contact the respective IMA, President of the district. ------- Punjab to launch an investment campaign to woo global investors in October · Punjab appoints committee to supervise the selection of knowledge partner CHANDIGARH, JUNE 18: The Punjab government has decided to launch an intensive investment campaign to woo global investors in pursuance of approval of fiscal incentives for industrial promotion 2013. According to an official spokesman a global investment conference is being organized in the month of October. The Punjab government today constituted a high level committee to chalk out the programme for global investors conference and to engage knowledge partner for investment campaign. He informed that to supervise the process of selection of the knowledge partner a selection committee has been appointed. MD Punjab Infrastructure Development Board has been appointed as the Chairman of this committee. MD/Punjab Energy Development Authority, MD/Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation, Chief Administrator Greater Mohali Area Development Authority and MD/Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Ltd have been appointed as members of the said committee. MD/Punjab Infotech Corporation Ltd has been appointed as member secretary. He said that the committee shall finalize the Terms & Conditions of the knowledge partner. It will oversee the bid process including the pre-bid conference and pre-qualification of bidders. The committee shall recommend the selected bidder to the Government. ----- PUNJAB ISSUES DISABILITY CERTIFICATES TO 12458 STUDENTS OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS v 56 STUDENTS SUFFERING FROM THALESEMIA GET FREE OF COST TREATMENT Chandigarh, June 18: The Punjab Education department has played a significant role in getting disability certificates issued to 12458 students of various government schools throughout the State in collaboration with state Health department. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of State education department said the the office of Director General School Education had initiated a campaign with special emphasis on identifying the students with special needs for further providing them quality and free of cost medical treatment besides ensuring the benefits of other social welfare schemes. He said that under this initiative special medical checkup camps were organized at school level where doctors after thorough examination identified the students with special needs besides those suffering from chronic illnesses. He added that 12458 students were got issued disability certificates by the health department. Giving the district wise details of the students, the spokesman revealed that maximum number of such certificates was issued in district Mohali (1970). Similarly, the number of beneficiaries of other districts as follows; Patiala (1587), Ferozepur (968), Fazilka (996), Amritsar (412), Bathinda (122), Faridkot (209), Fatehgarh Sahib (235), Gurdaspur (351), Hoshiarpur (602), Jalandhar (139), Kapurthala (1120), Ludhiana (181), Moga (748), Mukatsar (98), Pathankot (177), Ropar (788), Sangrur (966) and Tarn Taran ( 789). The spokesman further informed that 56 students suffering from Thalesemia received free treatment during last one year and there was no pendency of thalesemia patients awaiting treatment in any of the government school. ----- · BRIDGE WITH THE COST OF 11.44 CRORE ON SIRHIND CANAL AT ROOPNAGAR BYPASS COMPLETED CHANDIGARH, JUNE 18: Punjab would soon witness the four state of the art ultra modern high level brides. The Construction work is in full swing and it would be completed by February, 2014 by all means. The total expenditure on these bridges would be Rs 266.14 crore. These bridges would be opened for the Public in February, said Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon Public Welfare Minister, Punjab here today. Reviewing the progress of this project Mr. Dhillon said that the bridge at Ludhiana-Rahon raod near village matewara on Satluj River is being constructed with the cost of 62.58 crore, bridge near Abadgarh-Meerthal- Patran on Chaki River with the cost of 61.45 crore, bridge at Jhanda-Lubana-Dhonoa-Mukerian road on Beas river near Dhanoa Patan with the cost of 56.50 crore and bridge at Roopnagar bypass on Satluj river with the cost of 79.61 crore. He said that the 60% construction work on these Bridges has been completed whereas the remaining work would be completed by February, 2014. Mr. Dhillon said that bridge on Srihind Canal with the cost of 11.44 crore at Roopnagar bypass has been completed which would soon be opened for public. The Minister said that the Punjab Government has decieded to upgrade the road infrastructure to de-escalate the traffic problems in the state. He said that with thius motive in mind the high level brigdes are being built. He said that Punjab government has constructed 6 high level bridges with the cost of 153.01 crore during the last five years. ---- BADAL DEPUTES CHIEF SECRETARY TO MONITOR RESCUE OPERATION OF SRI HEMKUND SAHIB PILGRIMS CHANDIGARH JUNE 17 Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today directed the Punjab Chief Secretary to extend all help and support to the Uttrakhand Government in launching a massive operation to rescue the victims who had been stuck on the way to Sri Hemkund Sahib due to heavy rain causing road blockades at several places Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office said that the chief Minister also directed the state government to take immediate necessary measures to ensuring the safe home coming of the Sikh pilgrims. Thousands of pilgrims had been trapped as Sri Hemkund Sahib had been cut off from rest of the state due to bad weather followed by floods. The spokesperson informed that the Chief Secretary Punjab Mr. Rakesh Singh and MLA Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema were in continues touch with Uttrakhand government. The Punjab government was providing all type of assistance to the Uttrakhand where rescue operation was going on at war footing, added the spokesperson. ----- E-AUCTION OF MINES IN THE STATE FROM JULY1 CHANDIGARH, JUNE 17: Punjab Government has decided e-Auction of mineral & stone mines of less than 5 hectare area from first July. An Official spokesperson said that this decision has been taken to bring transparency in auction of sand & stone mines. He said that this process would facilitate the bidders as now they could take part in the bids through e-bidding from their homes. This auction process would take place in 19 districts of the state under Punjab Mineral rules-2013. This E- auction would be held from first July to third July for total 115 mines. According to official spokesman e-auction in Faridkot for 11 mines, Moga for 3 mines, Barnala for 2 mines, Sangrur for 4 mines, Ferozpur for 18 mines and Mansa for 2 mines would be held on first July. On second July auction for 3 mines in SBS Nagar, 7 in Jalandhar, 3 in Bathinda, 8 in Roopnagar, 2 in Hoshiarpur, 6 in Fazilka, 2 in Ajitgarh and 7 in Amritsar would be held. Official spokesperson said that auction in Tarn Taran for 2 mines, Gurdaspur for 14, Ludhiana for 12 mines, Pathankot for 7 mines and Kapurthala for 2 mines would be held on third July. The spokesman said that detailed information regarding E-auction could be downloaded from official website www.pbindustries.gov.in and anyone could avail this information from concerned General Manager cum Mining Official at district Industrial Centre. He said that interested bidders could register at Punjab government's official website www.etender.punjabgovt.gov.in. -------- RS. 333.90 CRORE SCHEMES FOR THE UTILIZATION OF THE TREATED EFFLUENT FOR IRRIGATION: CHAIRMAN POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD · CLEANING OF MAJOR RIVERS SUTLEJ, BEAS & GHAGGAR PROJECT PUT ON FAST TRACK · SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS WORK IN 37 TOWNS OF RIVER SATLUJ AND BEAS IN PROGRESS · 19 SEWAGE TREATMENTS PLANTS IN VARIOUS CITIES INSTALLED Chandigarh, June 17- The Punjab Government has put on fast track the ambitious project of cleaning of rivers of Punjab 3 major rivers Sutlej, Beas & Ghaggar. Disclosing this Mr. Ravinder Singh, Chairman Punjab Pollution Control Board said that the Chief Minister Punjab was weekly monitoring the progress of this project and Punjab Pollution Control Board was taking all steps to complete this project within timeline. He said that to control domestic pollution, 45 towns located on /near the banks of these rivers have been selected for the installation of Sewage Treatments Plants to stop the discharge of untreated effluent into these Rivers. He said that the work in 37 the towns of river Satluj and Beas has already been started and some of the Sewage Treatments Plants have already been commissioned and are in operation. He added that 19 Sewage Treatments Plants in various cities have already been installed, in the State. The Chairman said that in order to stop the discharge of treated domestic sewage from these STPs into Rivers, the Department of Soil Conservation and Irrigation have prepared irrigation schemes at the cost of Rs. 333.90 crores to utilize the treated effluent for irrigation in the command area available. He said that in some of the cities, like Anandpur Sahib, this project has already been implemented and whole of the treated effluent from the city is being utilized for irrigation purposes in nearby fields. Thus, no effluent from this city is being discharged into river Sutlej now Mr. Ravinder Singh said that for the control of industrial pollution in these rivers all the industries located on the catchments area of River Sutlej have been persuaded successfully to install their individual treatment plants. He added that Punjab Pollution Control Board was receiving major complaints against two major industries of Naya Nangal i.e. M/s NFL & PACL who were discharging effluents directly in the river Sutlej that was adversely affecting the fish population. He said that they had been persuaded to change over to ZLD technology, resulting in no discharge of trade effluent from these industries into river Sutlej after that no incident of fish killing due to discharge of industrial effluents in river Sutlej is reported in last two years. Mr. Singh said that Treatment plants have been provided for industrial and domestic effluent of GGSTP (Thermal Plant Ropar) and authorities are successfully persuaded to re-utilize treated effluents within plant and for plantation purposes. ------ NEGLIGENCE IN DUTY-TWO EXECUTIVE ENGINEERS, SUB DIVISIONAL ENGINEER AND JUNIOR ENGINEER OF PWD SUSPENDED · NO LAXITY WOULD BE TOLERATED-PWD MINISTER CHANDIGARH, JUNE 17: The Punjab Government today placed the services of two Executive Engineers, one Sub Divisional Engineer and a Junior Engineer of Public Works Department (PWD), under suspension on the charge of dereliction in duty. Disclosing this here today, Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, PWD Minister informed that Manjeet Singh, Adesh Gupta, both Executive Engineers, Kimat Lal, Sub Divisional Engineer and Nishu Bansal, Junior Engineer have been suspended. He said that these officers have been suspended since a panel of a RUB inaugurated at Bathinda in September last year, which was constructed under the supervision of these official has collapsed due to heavy rain. Mr. Dhillon said that falling of the panel shows dereliction in performance of their duty, which would not be tolerated at any cost. He said that during suspension period the suspended officers will remain attach with the office of Chief Engineer (HQ) at Patiala. ------------------- 5 IAS AND 2 PCS OFFICERS TRANSFERRED Chandigarh, June 17: The Punjab Government has issued posting and transfer order of Five IAS and Two PCS officer with immediate effect. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that Mr. Sanjay Kumar, IAS has been posted as Principal Secretary, Coordination and in addition Principal Secretary, Printing and Stationary, Mr. Manashvi Kumar, IAS, posted as Chief Executive Officer, PEDA and in addition Special Secretary, Science Technology and Environment, Special Secretary, Non- Conventional Energy, Special Secretary, Power and in addition Director, Mining, Mr. Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, IAS posted as Deputy Commissioner Tarn Taran, Mr. Gurlovleen Singh Sidhu, IAS posted as Special Secretary, School Education, Mr. Supreet Singh Gulati, IAS posted as Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Patiala. The spokesman further said that in PCS officers Mr. Shivdular Singh Dhillon has been posted as Director, sports and Youth Services in addition Special Secretary Local Government and Mr. Vinay Bublani posted as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, Chief Executive Officer, Jung-E-Azadi Memorial Foundation, Jalandhar and in addition Chief Administrator, Jalandhar Development Authority, Jalandhar and in addition Chairman Improvement Trust, Jalandhar ---- FRESH POLARIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES AFTER LOK SABHA POLLS TO CONSTITUTE NDA GOVERNMENT AT CENTRE- BADAL TERMS ELEVATION OF MODI AS INTERNAL MATTER OF BJP NITISH WAS AT LIBERTY TO EXPRESS HIS VIEWS PAYS TRIBUTE TO LORD PARSHURAM JI SUITABLE MEMORIAL OF BHAI SATI DASS, BHAI MATI DASS AND BHAI DYALA TO BE ONSTRUCTED AT SRI ANANDPUR SAHIB Khatti (Phagwara), June 16- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that new polarization of the political parties would take place after the results of ensuing general elections for constituting the NDA government at the centre. Talking to the media persons at the residence of Chairman of MARKFED Mr. Jarnail Singh Wahid here today, the Chief Minister said that an anti-Congress wave was prevailing across the country as the people were fed from its anti-people policies. He said that none of the countrymen would ever vote for the Congress party which has made the life of every section of the society miserable by rampant corruption and exorbitant Price rise. Therefore Mr. Badal said that every vote against the Congress party would pave way for the formation of the NDA government, as it was the only viable alternative before the people. Terming the recent appointment of Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi as the Head of the campaign committee of the BJP, an internal matter of the party, the Chief Minister categorically said that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was committed to support the BJP in every situation. He said that neither the BJP nor the SAD has ever interfered in each other’s internal matter, which has further cemented the alliance between the both the parties. When asked to comment on the ongoing rift between Janta Dal (U) and BJP besides its implications on the prospects of NDA, Mr. Badal said that Bihar Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar was a very wise politician and was at liberty to express his opinion freely. Replying to another query regarding the coming Panchayat Elections in the state, the Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to ensure free and fair Panchayats polls in the state for strengthening the democracy at the grass root level. He said that as the Congress has been time and again rejected by the wise voters of the state, so they were making a hoarse cry regarding the use of the official machinery by the state government whereas it was on record that every election held during the SAD-BJP regime were not only fair but had also remained largely peaceful. Later on addressing the mammoth gathering during a function organized by the Shri Brahmin Sabha Punjab to mark the birth anniversary of the Bhagwan Parshuram Ji, the Chief Minister exhorted the people to imbibe the ideals propagated by Bhagwan Parshuram ji, so that justice and equality could be ensured in the society. Paying rich tributes to Lord Parshuram Ji, he said that Bhagwan Parshuram ji stood for protecting the basic tenets of religion, truth, universal love, compassion and righteousness adding that the life and philosophy of Bhagwan Parshuram ji teaches us that irrespective of our caste, religion and profession, we should fight injustice with all our might. Recalling the age old ties between the Hindus and Sikhs, he said that both the communities have made great sacrifices to protect each other on one hand and to preserve the unity and integrity of the country on the other. Mr. Badal also said that in order to pay befitting tribute to Bhai Mati Dass, Bhai Sati Dass and Bhai Dyala a memorial would be soon constructed a Sri Anandpur Sahib. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Som Parkash, State BJP Chief Mr. Kamal Sharma, MLA Mr. Daljeet Singh Cheema, former Cabinet Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud, Deputy Commissioner Mr. DS Mangat, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Phagwara Mr. Kuldeep Singh and President of Brahmin Sabha Punjab Mr. Devi Dayal Prashar. --- BADAL FOR UNIFORMITY IN ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES OF ALL UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE CM ASKS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO PREPARE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO IMPART HIGHER EDUCATION ENTIRELY FREE FOR THE BRILLIANT RURAL POOR STUDENTS APPROVES TO SETUP FOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS PILOT PROJECT PUNJAB TO BEEF UP HUMAN RESOURCE BANK CHANDIGARH 16 JUNE, 2013 In a bid to strengthen and streamline the college education in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal directed all the three Universities of Punjab to work in coordination with the state government’s higher education development programme to bring uniformity in their academic activities across the state. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office said that Mr. Badal was presiding over a high level meeting with the Vice-Chancellors (VCs) of the three Universities and the senior officers of the Education department at Chief Minister’s residence late last evening. The Education Minister Mr. Sikandar Singh Malooka besides the Vice Chancellors Dr. Jaspal Singh of Punjabi University, Dr. Ajaib Singh Brar of Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar’ and Prof. Arun Kumar Grover of Punjab University Chandigarh were present in the meeting. On the occasion, Mr. Badal asked the Universities to adopt a uniform pattern of Semester System, Curriculum and Choice based credit system along with similar admission procedures in all the varsities that would facilitate the students in case they migrate from one University to another. He also asked the VCs for completely adopting on-line admission and fee deposit system to avoid undue harassment to the students seeking admission in particular college or university. With a view to bring a revolution in the higher education, Mr. Badal directed the Principal Secretary Higher Education to chalk out a comprehensive plan in coordination with all the Universities for imparting free higher education including hostel and other facilities for the intelligent but poor students of the state with rural background. Expressing concern over the acute shortage of Human Resource Bank, Mr. Badal said that to ensure overall development, growth and prosperity in Punjab, their government had made concerted efforts to strengthen educational infrastructure but it would be redundant until we improve our human resource development through imparting quality education to our youth at school, college and university levels especially to the students of the poor section of the society. Mr. Badal asked the VCs to prepare a list of all the interested retired professors in various subjects and circulate it to all the Colleges so that they could utilize their expertise optimally as gust faculty. To boost the skill development activities in the state, Mr. Badal said, “Skill development through vocational training is the only solution that would enrich our ‘Human Resource Bank’ on one hand and tackle the issue of unemployment on the other”. He further directed all the Vice Chancellors to identify the key areas to enabled our youth for getting successful employment after the completion of their vocational training. On the occasion, the Chief Minister approved to setup ‘Community Colleges’ in the state to impart skill-oriented education of Diploma level with multiple futuristic opportunities for preserving and upgrading traditional skills. He also approved the proposal to setup four such Colleges on Pilot bases under this unique program at Govt. Mohindra College Patiala, SDC Govt. College Ludhiana, Mehar Chand Polytechnic Jalandhar and Govt. Polytechnic College Bathinda from this new session to be started in July. All the Vice Chancellors assured Mr. Badal that they would soon chalk out all the modalities in accordance with the Higher Education Department to make Community College System flexible so that the interested students could be further adjusted in regular degree courses as per their abilities after the completion of diploma training courses. Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting included Education Minister Mr. Sikandar Singh Malooka, Advisor to the CM on National Affairs & Media Mr. Harcharn Bains, Principal Secretary to CM Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Education Mrs. Ravneet Kaur, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Special Secretary Higher Education Mr. Chander Gaind, DPI Colleges Mr. Tarsem Dhaliwal and Dy. Dir. Higher Education Mr. Jagdeep Singh.
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