Connecting
over 25 millions NRIs worldwide |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||
 |
NARAYANA MURTHY TO DEPUTE TOP LEVEL TEAM TO EVALUATE ESTABLISHING INFOSYS CAMPUS AT MOHALI FOLLOWING PROPOSAL MADE BY DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL (Murthy moots establishing 100 acre campus at Mohali) (Sukhbir Badal offers Infosys to take up Ludhiana and Amritsar for complete transformation) Bangalore, September 30 – Infosys Chairman Dr N R Narayana Murthy today said Infosys would send a top level team to Punjab to evaluate establishment of a campus at the Knowledge Park in Mohali following a proposal made by Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Following a proposal made by the Deputy chief minister during an interaction at the Infosys headquarters here, Mr Naryana Murthy said the company could establish a 100 acre campus at Mohali. He requested company senior vice president and head of administration, facilities and infrastructure – U Ramadas Kamath to visit Mohali in October and take a quick decision on establishment of the campus. “We have a dynamic administration there (in Punjab) and we must respond to their request”, he added. The Deputy Chief minister on his part assured the Infosys chief that the Punjab government had ready land available in the Knowledge Park at Mohali and that it would give all necessary clearances required by the company within fifteen days. “You will see that my government works even faster than you”, he said adding he was keen that Infosys create its campus in Mohali. Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh while briefing Mr Narayana Murthy on the issue said the State government was keen that Infosys agree to become the anchor unit for the Knowledge Park. He said if the company agreed to the same the government was ready to offer land to it at a special price. Mr Murthy on his part said in case the company created a campus in Mohali, it would work towards having a capacity of 25,000 employees. He said for this the company needed at least 2.5 million square feet of built up space. The Infosys head said while around 70 acres were needed for this purpose, a 100 acre plot would be ideal as it would allow for a further expansion to 40,000 employees at a later stage. He assured the Deputy chief minister that once the company established a new facility it would start off with 5,000 employees immediately and increase the capacity in stages with full capacity being reached between five to eight years. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal also held separate talks with Infosys Executive vice chairman S Gopalakrishnan and Board Member V Balakrishnan besides Head India Business C N Raghupati. During these discussions Mr Sukhbir Badal offered Infosys to take up Ludhiana and Amritsar cities for complete transformation by integrating all utilities and services. He offered the company that the government was ready to offer them this proposal on the Swiss Challenge pattern whereby the project could be bid and they would have to match the lowest bid. The Deputy CM also proposed that Infosys could help in modernizing the functioning of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). “Please give us a proposal as to how you can make our power utility more efficient”, he said. The Deputy CM was accompanied by Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary Industries Karan Avtar Singh, Principal Secretary to Deputy CM Mr. P S Aujla, Media Adviser to Deputy CM Jangveer Singh and Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Industries) N K Sharma. The visit was coordinated by the CII. EOM ------- SUKHBIR BADAL OFFERS BIOCON JOINT VENTURES IN CANCER AND DIABETES TREATMENT AFTER INTEREST SHOWN BY KIRAN MAZUMDAR SHAW (Shaw also evinces interest in investing in a manufacturing facility in Mohali) Bangalore, September 30 – Punjab Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today offered to enter into joint ventures with Biocon Limited for cancer and diabetes treatment following an interest shown by Biocon Limited head Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw in partnering with Punjab to introduce effective interventions at the grass root level in the State. The Deputy chief minister made this offer after Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw highlighted the need to tackle cancer and diabetes through a three pronged approach of educating the people about the disease, making patients aware of their exact condition and effective intervention during a thirty minute presentation at the Biocon headquarter here. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal also invited the Biocon chief to invest in the Medicity at Mullanpur to which she agreed. Ms Shaw on her part said her company would also look into investing in manufacturing in Punjab. Industries Secretary Karan Avtar Singh briefed Ms Shaw on the occasion that the Punjab government was ready to allot land to reputed companies for a single SEZ in Mohali. Other points of discussion included Biocon help in establishing bio toilets in Punjab. The Biocon chief disclosed that her company had perfected low cost bio toilets technology. The Deputy CM said Punjab was open to adopting the technology as it had a mandate to construct more than one lakh toilets in rural areas. Earlier during her presentation Ms Shaw emphasized that Biocon had developed Insugen which was its entry point as far as diabetes treatment was concerned. She said the price of this drug had come down by four times after Biocon entered this market. She said the company was also the world’s biggest site for production of immunosuppressants. Mr Sukhbir Badal in his remarks noted that cancer treatment was at the top of the agenda of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and that the State government was ready to partner with Biocon for treatment in this regard. He asked Biocon to come up with a working model for cancer treatment as well as diabetes care. Ms Shaw on her part said the company had a model for diabetes care under which space could be given to entrepreneurs in primary health care centres where they could screen patients and then suggest interventions. In a freewheeling discussion, the Biocon chief said the company had various problems in different States because of lack of power and difficulty in getting clearances. Once she was briefed about the steps being taken in Punjab including single window clearance for all applications which could be submitted online, she said “this is the kind of progressive thinking which is needed in India”. Later the Deputy Chief Minister also invited Ms Shaw to the Investor Summit being held in Chandigarh on December 9 and 10 to which she gave her assent. EOM - CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 30:- On the pursuance of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal NABARD has sanctioned RIDF loan of Rs. 286 crore for the up- gradation of 380 Rural Roads in 20 districts of the state. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's office said that the Chief General Manager, NABARD Punjab Region Mr. Naresh Gupta today informed that these funds have been sanctioned to ensure better and smooth connectivity of the villages to different Mandis (Purchase Centres), up- gradation of rural infrastructure by strengthening roads & bridges under this project. He further said that it would benefit nearly 29 lac people of 1259 villages in 20 districts through providing connectivity to 148 urban and 498 rural marketing centres. A total length of 1567.18 km of roads would be strengthened by raising the existing road thickness to enhance the load carrying capacity of these roads, he added. With the sanction of this project, cumulative sanction to Punjab under RIDF during 2013-14 has touched Rs.474 crore for various infrastructure projects in rural sector. --------- BADAL SEES HARDLY ANY CHANCE OF POSITIVE OUTCOME OF MANMOHAN-SHARIF TALKS · BATS FOR PROMOTION OF BI-LATERAL TRADE WITH PAKISTAN · EXPRESSES SHOCK AT RAHUL’S BEHAVIOR TO DENIGRATE PM · SONIA’s COLD SHOULDER TO BAJWA REFLECTS THAT NOBODY CARES FOR HIM · TERMS MANPREET AS A REJECTED LEADER OF THE PUBLIC · BEGINS SANGAT DARSHAN PROGRAM AT FATEHGARH CHURIAN Batala (Gurdaspur), September 30- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that there was hardly any hope of positive outcome from Manmohan-Sharif talks in view of the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan. He perceived bleak chances of any resolution to this vexed bi-lateral issue in the near future. Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of the Sangat Darshan of the Fatehgarh Churian assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that both the India and Pakistan has not been able to achieve any headway in such dialogue processes, held in the past, because of the mounting tension between both the countries. He said that this was the basic reason for the failure of several parleys between both the countries adding that due to the ongoing stress at border, the light at the end of tunnel was nowhere in sight. Mr. Badal said that the dialogue process was meaningless until the ongoing tension was not diffused. However, the Chief Minister said that the restoration of peace between India and Pakistan along with the opening of more trade was the need of the hour as it would help in ushering a new era of unprecedented development of the state. He said that Punjab being a landlocked state would be immensely benefitted from the opening of trade as it would open new vistas of business for the Punjabis. Every Punjabi wants that the trade between both the countries should increase as it would give a huge economic benefit to the state besides enhancing people to people contact in the region, added Mr. Badal. Terming the recent statement of Congress Vice President Mr. Rahul Gandhi regarding the Ordinance brought by UPA government as unfortunate, the Chief Minister said that the Nehru-Gandhi scion should have refrained from using such language which has denigrated the Prime Minister of the country. He said that Mr. Gandhi should have kept the dignity of the revered office of the Prime Minister by refraining from using such derogatory language against him. Mr. Badal said that if the Congress leader had any grouse against the ordinance than he must have discussed the matter at party platform rather than raising it publically. Taking a dig at Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa, the Chief Minister said that the fact that their national President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has not met a farmer’s delegation led by the state Congress President in New Delhi reflects that ‘nobody bothers about him’. He said that neither Congress high command nor the state Congress leadership cares about Mr. Bajwa or the issues raised by him. Mr. Badal said that even the local MLAs in the state were raising a banner of revolt against the self-style functioning of the state Congress President. The Chief Minister further said that rather than promoting the development of the state, the Punjab Congress leadership was acting as ‘stumbling block’ in the way of central grants. He said that instead of issuing irrational and illogical statements, the state Congress leadership must work hard for bringing projects for the state from their government. However, Mr. Badal said that it was not possible in the regime of UPA government as the Congress has a notorious past of meting out step motherly treatment with the state. The Chief Minister further said due to the discriminatory policies of the Congress led UPA government, the industry and agriculture of the state has been ruined. He said that despite of the enormous contribution of Punjab in making the country self reliant in food production and in the defense of the country, the state was at receiving edge due to the apathetic attitude of the Union government. Mr. Badal also said that before making any statement against the state government, the Congress leaders must introspect about the hostile attitude of their party towards the state. Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the PPP leader Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal must remember the wise voters of Punjab have time and again rejected him and his party. He said that Mr. Manpreet should not worry about the fiscal health of state as they were having more experience than PPP leader to manage the affairs of state efficaciously. Earlier addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister reiterated that being an elected representative of the people of Punjab he had every right to hold the Sangat Darshan in the state. He said that this was the noble way of addressing the problems of the people on the spot by virtually taking the government at their doorsteps. “From the day one of assuming office as Chief Minister I have been undertaking this exercise for the convenience of public and nobody can stop me from pursuing this pro-people agenda” added Mr. Badal. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister redressed the grievances of 85 villages during the first day of his Sangat Darshan. The Chief Minister was accompanied by former Ministers Mr. Nirmal Singh Kahlon and Captain Balbir Singh Baath, former Chairman Punjab Tube Well Corporation Mr. Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Abhinav Trikha. ------------ EX-servicemen Cell established at Army HQs ARMY CHIEF URGES YOUNGER GENERATION TO JOIN THE INDIAN ARMY CHADIGARH: SEPTEMBER 30 An EX-servicemen Cell has been established at Army HQs to address the problems of Ex-servicemen exclusively. It was announced by Army Chief General Bikram Singh at an Ex-servicemen Rally held at Jalandhar yesterday where 13000 Ex-servicemen, Veer Naris and their dependents were present. Army Chief lauded the contribution of Punjabis towards the Armed Forces and urged younger generation to join the Indian Army. While disclosing here Brig. Manjit Singh ,Director Defence Services Welfare said the Army Chief also re-iterated Army's commitment and concern for the well being of the widows and handed over Activa Scooters to 25 Physically challenged veterans, 400 widows and Veer Naris and 150 Ex-servicemen and were also honoured on the occasion. 23 Ex-Servicemen were given marriage, last rites and penury grants as well. Chief also mentioned about the He assured them that the shortcomings in prevalent ECHS system will be addressed in right earnest. Highlighting the schemes run by Kendriya Sainik Board and Directorate of Defence Services Welfare, Punjab, Brig Manjit Singh, reassured the Ex-servicemen community that the Directorate will reach out to all the Ex-servicemen and continue to take steps to review and further improve the support and facilities being extended to them. He enlightened them of the scheme launched by Punjab Govt whereby the disabled Veterans can be given specialized equipments. On this occasion senior serving and retired officers were also present. - PUNJAB TO GLORIFY ITS RICH HISTORICAL HERITAGE AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL: PHILLAUR · PUNJAB ORGANIZES INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INTERPRETATION OF BUILT HERITAGE · 85 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS PARTICIPATED IN THE CONFERENCE CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 30: “It is our moral responsibility to keep our traditions alive and keep the future generations informed of our rich past. This can only be done by properly preserving our heritage and its proper presentation to the visitors. This will enhance the sustainability of the tourism sector. “it was said by Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur while inaugurating the international conference on Interpretation of built heritage here at Chandigarh. The conference is being organized by Punjab Government at Hotel J W Marriott, Chandigarh. Deputy Commissioners of various districts, number of officials of Punjab Government and 85 national and international delegates were attending the conference. In his keynote address Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur said that Under the Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism (IDIPT), which is being jointly funded by Government of Punjab and the Asian Development Bank, the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB), is implementing various tourism-development projects. These projects would be implemented in different parts of the State in two phases. In the on-going first phase, projects in the Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts are being taken up. In the second phase, projects will be implemented in other districts, namely, Rupnagar, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ferozepur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran and Patiala. He said that under IDIPT, a workshop based on the theme of Heritage Conservation and Management was organized by PHTPB on 27 September 2012 at Amritsar. As its sequel, the theme of this conference was centered upon the interpretation of such monuments, with a view to inform and educate visitors about Punjab’s rich heritage. The theme of this international conference is: “Interpretation of Built Heritage”, Experts associated with international agencies like UNESCO, UNWTO (United Nations’ World Tourism Organization), ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), ECCOFORT (European Cooperation Centre for Fortified Heritage), National Association for Interpretation (United States) attended the conference. Indian experts associated with the Archaeological Survey of India, the National Monuments Authority, INTACH and reputed academic institutions will also be a part of the conference. Mrs. Geetika Kalha, Principal Secretary (Tourism) informed that this kind of initiative is being undertaken in India for the first time. Generally, the emphasis of Indian authorities has been on conservation and restoration of historical monuments. Their interpretation to the visitors is limited to the printed books and brochures, guides, and on-site boards. In these, the monument is merely a backdrop for the historic actors. She emphasized that it was for the first time that effort was being initiated to make the monument the ‘hero’, to see why and how it was built and the skills used. In recent times, more technological methods have become popular in the form of audio-guides, CDs/DVDs, sound & light shows, etc. However, an emphasis on analyses of monuments is lacking which can be offered to the visitors for a comprehensive experience. In his presentation Mr. Alonzo Addison, Director - Centre for Design Visualization, University of California at Berkeley and Advisor-UNESCO World Heritage Centre emphasized that it was highly essential to protect out cultural heritage in the current times of globalization. Tracing the digital growth of interpretation of built heritage, his presentation explored the potential benefits, from basic conservation, to socio-economic development, of emerging technology for interpretation today. The theme of Session 1 was ‘Analysis and Interpretation of Heritage Monuments’. Dr. Hans-Rudolf Neumann, Scientific Coordinator, ECCOFORT-Europe gave an introduction about the on-going European funding project “FORTE CULTURA”. Through a pictorial presentation, he showed the historic development of fortifications in Europe and its typology in modern age. He also mentioned about the linkages among fort styles in India and Europe. He informed about his planned international fortress study tour in February 2015 to Punjab. The second session of the day was chaired by Mr. S.S.Channy, Principle Secretary Culture Affairs. Dr. Giles Tillotson, who has written many books on Indian architecture, art and history, spoke about the analysis and interpretation in Indian context, citing examples of the Taj Mahal, Chittorgarh and the capitol complex at Chandigarh. Mr. Tom Addyman presented details of the methods of analyses adoted at Gobindgarh Fort, Amritsar under IDIPT project. He presented interesting facts about the historic layers found in different parts and structures of the fort. The theme of Session 2 was ‘Technology, Media & Strategy - New Frontiers in interpretation of Built Heritage’. Mr. Alonzo Addison made a presentation on Interpretive Methods and their Value - Emerging Technologies, covering an expert perspective on interpretation, best examples of interpretation centres, application of modern technology in interpretation and strategic options under different circumstances. Dr. Russell Staiff, an expert from UNWTO, described use of modern tools / gadgets in interpretation. He elaborated about the advantages of each type of gadget. He concluded that digital connectivity and convergence will increase, intensify and encompass more and more of the planet’s population, and the future of cultural heritage is a digital future. Mrs. Meera I Dass, Member, National Monuments Authority asserted that the conference added an innovative dimension to the conservation practices in India. She identified a number of guidelines that may be adopted in developing interpretation materials in India. Earlier in the day Mrs. Raji Srivastawa, Secretary Tourism formally welcomed the delegates. -------------- PANCHAYATS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH THE ULTRA MODERN TECHNOLOGY: RAKHRA · Union minister assures to accept the genuine demands of Punjab SAS NAGAR/CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 30: Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra today made a strong case for the up-gradation, strengthening and computerized of Panchayats besides equipping Panchayat Headquarters with ultra modern techniques. Urging Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj Mr. V. Kishore Chandra Deo to put functioning of Panchayats online, Mr. Rakhra said that there should be hi-tech ‘Resource Centers’ at district level for the facilitation of rural population. Mr. Deo was here to preside over a workshop organized by Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Department at Vikas Bhawan in which elected panchayati representatives from Punjab and Haryana participated. Mr. Rakhra informed the Minister that Punjab Government was taking revolutionary steps for the holistic development of more than 12000 villages in the state at par with the urban development. He said that in coming years Punjab villages would witness the same facilities, which were being provided in the urban areas including 100 percent potable water, sewerage and street lights and road network. He said that Punjab has also initiated the implementation of project to bring all panchayats under the ambit of e-panchayats. He said that 20 percent villages in Punjab had state-of-the-art Panchayat Headquarters while Tarn Taran district have its well-maintained Resource Center whereas the work for such centers have been started at Mansa and Fazilka district. He informed the minister there was a need to built 19 more resource centers in the state. Mr. Rakhra demanded that Union Government should launch a policy for further strengthening of Panchayats. After hearing the requisite demands of Mr. Rakhra, the Union Minister assured that Union Government would soon initiate steps in this regard, which would be a boon for Panchayats. Congratulating Punjab Government for holding this workshop, Mr. Deo said that Panchayats would be made more empowered in coming time. He also gave a call to Panchayats for launching sustained drive against the social menace female foeticide at the ground level by making rural population aware in this regard. He said it should be ensured that there would be minimum four meetings of gram sabha with Mahila Sabhas in villages to educate the people against social evils. Mr. Mantar Singh Brar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayats welcomed the Union Minister. He said that this workshop gave an opportunity to elected representatives of Panchayats to rake up their issues before the Union Minister. Representatives of Panchayats also demanded the 50:50 ratio under the MGNREGS and making the rules for BPL survey according to the present circumstances of the state. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion including Mr. Harooshikesh Pandey, Additional Secretary Union Panchayats Ministry, Mr. Avtar Singh Sahota, Senior Economic Advisor of Ministry, Mr. G Vajralingam, Financial Commissioner Revenue (Rural Development), Mr. S. Karuna Raju, Director Rural Development and Panchayats, Mr. Nitin Yadav, Director, Rural Development and Panchayats, Haryana and Mr. R.K. Mehta, Deputy Director, from Haryana. - CM TERMS PUNJAB ONE OF THE MOST PEACEFUL STATE OF THE COUNTRY MAINTENANCE OF THE COMMUNAL HARMONY AND PEACE HAS BEEN THE TOP MOST PRIORITY OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT PEACE AND AMITY HAS HELPED IN ALL-ROUND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE ASSAILS UNION GOVERNMENT FOR WRONG POLICIES EXHORTS YOUTH TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN SMOOTH FUNCTIONING OF PRI’s Malout, September 29- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that despite of being a border state, Punjab, was today one of the most peaceful state in the country. Addressing a religious congregation to mark the 90th birth anniversary of Jain Saint Sri Hem Kunwar Ji Maharaj here today, the Chief Minister said that the topmost priority of their government from the day one of assuming office had been to maintain communal harmony, peace and amity in the state at every cost. He said that the state government has remained successful in this endeavor with the active support of the people, as no single incident of communal violence has been registered during the regime of SAD-BJP government despite of the fact that most of the other states of the country were facing this problem. Mr. Badal, while reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to maintain peace and amity in Punjab, said that no one would be ever allowed to disturb the hard earned peace in the state. Terming the promotion of communal harmony, peace, amity and brotherhood as the biggest achievement of the state government, the Chief Minister said that it has further helped in ushering in a new era of unprecedented development in the state. He said that due to all these factors, Punjab has today figured amongst the top three most preferred investment destinations of the country as per the report of the Reserve Bank of India. Likewise Mr. Badal said that the state was today leading the country in the fields of Health and Education adding that the SAD-BJP government would continue to make its concerted efforts to ensure the holistic development of Punjab. Lashing out at the Union government, the Chief Minister said that the Congress led UPA government has ruined the country which was once known as the ‘Golden Sparrow’ in the world. He said that due to wrong policies of the Union government the country was confronting a large number of social maladies like corruption, unemployment, illiteracy and starvation. Mr Badal said that due to the ill conceived economic policies of the Centre the country’s prestige across the globe has suffered adversely. Recalling the services rendered by Sri Hem Kunwar Ji Maharaj in the field of education, the Chief Minister said that this great spiritual ambassador played a vanguard role in imparting the education in this backward region by setting a number of educational institutions. Likewise Mr. Badal also lauded his role in the service of the mankind. Later on addressing the gathering at the residence of MLA Malout Mr. Harpreet Singh, the Chief Minister impressed upon the youth to play a pivotal role in the smooth functioning of the Panchayti Raj Institutions. Expressing happiness over the fact that a large number of youth have been elected as the Sarpanchs, members of Block samiti and Zila Parishad, he hoped that they would work hard with utmost dedication and commitment for ensuring the comprehensive development of the villages. Mr. Badal said that the state government was making stupendous efforts to provide world class civic amenities to the villages at par with the urban areas so that people of the rural areas could be benefitted from it. The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLAs Mr. Harpreet Singh Kot Bhai and Mr. Gurtej Singh, Lok Sabha MP Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, Chairperson Zila Parishad Sri Muktsar Sahib Mrs. Abneet Kaur, SGPC members Jathedar Dayal Singh Kolianwali, Jathedar Navtej Singh Qauni, Jathedar Bikar Singh and Jathedar Gurpal Singh Gora. - STARTING TOMORROW IN BANGALORE TO ELICIT INVESTMENT IN PUNJAB (TO UNFOLD ONLINE FORM SUBMISSION AND CENTRALIZED TRACKING SYSTEMS FOR INVESTORS) Bangalore/Chandigarh, September 29 – In a pioneering initiative, Punjab Deputy chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is set to meet top business promoters and chief executive officers (CEOs) to showcase the investment opportunities available in Punjab in the information technology, bio technology, light engineering, infrastructure, agro and food processing and medical sectors during a two day visit starting tomorrow. The Deputy Chief Minister, who arrived in the city today evening, will start off his campaign to elicit investment in Punjab by visiting the Biocon Park at the Electronic City here tomorrow. He will be holding a one to one meeting with Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw. While at the Electronic City, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal will also visit the Infosys campus during the course of which he is expected to call upon its chief Narayana Murthy besides interacting with the senior management. Later during the day the Deputy Chief Minister will also visit the Whitefield area and meet the top management of Technicolor Limited. In the evening he will hold a one to one meeting with Mr BVN Rao of infrastructure giant GMR besides hospital giants Abhay Jain of Manipal and Mohan Pai of Pai hospitals. He will also host a dinner for top business honchos including those of Bosch and Accenture companies later in the evening. On October1 besides meeting business heads on a one to one basis, the Deputy CM will also participate in an Investor Meet in which he will showcase the investment opportunities available in Punjab and also the incentives being given by the State government to attract new investment. Explaining the concept behind the investment exercise being undertaken by the State, the Deputy CM said he had made it the mandate of his government that Punjab would be the easiest State to do business in for new investors. He said besides this Punjab had its inherent advantages including the fact that it had the highest road density in the country, five operational and upcoming airports, sufficient power, thirteen container freight systems, 105 engineering and 150 polytechnic college and a 21 per cent higher income per capita than the Indian average. Mr Badal said the State government had also come out with an attractive package of incentives under which investors under various heads could retain VAT (Value Added Tax) and CST (Central Sales Tax), electricity duty exemption, stamp duty exemption and exemptions from payment of property tax. Asserting that ease of doing business in Punjab was his first concern, Mr. Badal said Punjab was set to introduce online form submission with a centralized application besides online tracking by both applicant and the relevant department. He said the State would also introduce a single window clearance system for all applications besides instituting an investment facilitation cell and relationship managers for mega projects. The Deputy CM said all applications would be treated as deemed approvals in case they were not approved within two weeks adding applications could now also be self certified. EOM ----------------- SCHOOL TIMINGS TO BE 9.00 AM TO 3:20PM FROM OCTOBER 16, 2013-MALUKA Chandigarh, September 29: Keeping in view the winter season, the Punjab Government has decided to change the timings of all the Government and Aided Senior Secondary and Primary Schools from October 16, 2013. Disclosing this here today Education Minister Punjab S. Sikandar Singh Maluka said that the time of the schools from October 16, 2013 would be 9:00AM to 3:20 PM. - CINEMA HALLS TO PROMOTE CINEMA TOURISM- SUKHBIR BADAL · Annual film awards to the tune of Rs. one crore to be instituted · World class Film Training Institute to come up in Mohali · New film policy to come up within two months New Delhi September 28: The Punjab government has decided to set up cinema halls in villages to provide entertainment facilities in rural areas. It has also decided to institute annual film awards to the tune of Rs. one crore in various categories. This was announced by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal here today during deliberations on Film Policy for Punjab drafted by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) with its Chairman Mr. Ramesh Sippy. The meeting was attended by Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Punjab Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Principal Secretary Tourism Mrs Geetika Kalha. Discussing the draft film policy Mr Badal declared the new policy would come up within two months and enshrine the concept of rural cinema halls, first of its kind in the country, having one or two screens with capacity of 100 seats or more. "It will help in entertainment of rural masses at low costs and provide impetus to production of more Punjabi and other languages films in the state” he asserted. To showcase the unique Punjab diversity and historic religio-cultural heritage through films, the Deputy Chief Minister also announced that from the year 2014 the Punjab Government would award quality films, producers, actors and others with awards ranging from Rs. 25 lakh, 15 lakh and 10 lakh respectively for first, second and third category awards amounting to Rs. one crore. Inviting film producers to shoot films in Punjab Mr. Badal offered to initiate various incentives, strategic support and facilitating single window clearance for the entire shooting process besides post productions facilities also. Emphasising the need for developing proper human resource backup for film industry in the state, Mr. Badal also gave nod to set up world class Film Training Institute in Mohali with the help of NFDC that would provide specialisation indifferent trades related with film industry. Describing mass media and film making as sunrise industry of future, Deputy Chief Minister said that new film policy would certainly promote cinematic tourism in the State. “This comprehensive policy will attract the film producers and directors to come to the State and establish a film city and film institute also” he opined. Mr. Badal said that films not only help generate revenue, they also have the potential to boost local tourism and trade. Adding further he emphasized that tourism was an economic activity and should be taken at all available platforms so as to tap its huge potential to generate employment and to reap its financial and social benefits to the state. Highlighting the importance of inbound tourism he asked the cultural and tourism department to develop essential infrastructure and other attractions to enable prospective producers and directors of films and TV serials to make use of these as possible locales. Among others present in the meeting included Managing Director NFDC Mrs. Nina Lath Gupta, Secretary Tourism Mrs Raji. P. Srivastava, Director Tourism Mr. Navjotpal Singh Randhawa and Executive Director Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board Mr. V.B. Kumar. -------------- MORE THAN 11,000 PEOPLE VISITED CANCER SCREENING AND TREATMENT CAMPS TWO DAY MASS CANCER SCREENING AND TREATMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN TODAY HEALTH MINISTER JAYANI INAUGURATED THE CAMP AT CIVIL HOSPITAL FAZILKA Chandigarh, September 28: The two day Mass Cancer Screening and Treatment Campaign began today as camps were organized in all the District Hospitals of Punjab and the Medical Colleges of Patiala, Faridkot and Amritsar. Cancer Screening and Treatment Campaign launched by the Health Department Punjab in collaboration with Max Healthcare, other Private Health Institutions and various NGOs received a warm response as more than 11,000 people visited these camps on the first day. Health & Family Welfare Minister, Sh Surjit Kumar Jayani inaugurated the camp at Civil Hospital Fazilka and supervised the arrangements and interacted with public and medical specialists from Punjab and other states. Health Minister interacting with the Media persons said that that duty roster for each district had been prepared including medical, paramedical and support staff. This includes Medical Officers (MBBS), Medical Specialist (Oncology, Surgery& Gynecology), 2 Pathologists, 20-25 Staff Nurses, 30 Nursing Students, Supporting Staff including 4-6 Data Entry Operator, 10 Ward attendant/Class IV & 5 sweepers for each camp. He said that patients in these camps are being examined by a team of Specialists and Super Specialists of cancer from India & abroad and expert consultation is being made available to the needful. Available tests during the camps are being done free of cost. Ms Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health & Medical Education and Research visited the Camp at Jalandhar. Mrs. Vinni Mahajan said that the persons who were found to have any symptom of cancer during 1st Phase of State Wide Cancer Awareness & Symptom Based Early Detection Door to Door Campaign were encouraged to visit the camps for further investigations/treatment and get expert opinion at district levels, which is not routinely available. Known cases of cancer or patients with such symptoms have been motivated to avail this facility in the camps. Other senior officials of the Health Department, Punjab Mr. Hussan Lal, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Punjab visited Mohali camp, Dr A. Kartik, Additional Secretary Health went to Ropar, Dr Ashok Nayyar, Director Health Services, Punjab visited Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Mansa and Moga, Dr Karanjit Singh, Director Family Welfare visited Amritsar & Tarn Taran districts, Dr V.K. Gagneja visited Hoshiarpur districts to oversee the smooth functioning of the camps. All Deputy Director level officers were also deputed to various districts for supervision of the camps. ------------------------- 7 IAS 15 PCS OFFICERS TRANSFERRED Chandigarh September 28; The Punjab government today transferred the 7 IAS and 15 PCS officers in the state with immediate effect. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that Mr. Kumar Rahul IAS has been transferred and posted as Director General School Education to relieve Smt. Anjali Bhawra from this additional charge, Indu Malhotra posted as Deputy Commissioner Sangrur, Gurlovleen Singh Sidhu posted as Deputy Commissioner Barnala, Mohammad Tayyab posted as Deputy Commissioner Faridkot, Joram Beda posted as ADC Mansa and Sonali Giri has been posted as ADC (D) Bathinda. The Spokesman further said that the services of Vipul Ujwal IAS placed at the disposal of department of local government posting as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Bathinda. The spokesman said that Mr. Baldev Singh PCS has been posted as ADC(D) Ludhiana,Rajeev Prashar posted as ADC Bathinda and in addition Secratery RTA Bathinda and Ferozepur, Gurpreet Singh Khaira posted as ADC Kapurthala and in adition Secratery RTA Jalandhar, GPS Sahota Posted as SDM Patran, The Services of Tej Kumar Goyal placed at the disposal of department of local Govt Posting as D.D.U.L.B , Jalandhar, Poonamdeep Kaur posted as SDM Sangrur, Gurpreet Singh Thind posted as DTO Patiala, The Services of Mr Dalwinderjit Singh placed at the disposal of department of Housing and urban development posting as ACA, Bathinda Development Authority Bathinda. The Spokesman further said that Daljit Kaur PCS Posted as A.C(Grievances) Ludhiana, The Services of Navjot Kaur placed at the disposal of department of Housing and urban development posting as ACA GMADA, Mohali, Damanjit Singh Mann posted as SDM Bathinda in addition DTO Bathinda in addition SDM Mour, Sikha Bhagat posted as AC(General) Jalandhar, Amarjit posted as AC(General), Ajitgarh, The Services of Maj.(Dr.) Amit PCS placed at the disposal of department of Housing and urban development posting as Estate Officer, Bathinda Devolpment Authority Bathinda and The Services of Sanjeev Kumar PCS placed at the disposal of department of Housing and urban development posting as Estate Officer,GMADA-1 Mohali. The Spokesman further said that Mr Supreet Singh Gulati IAS, ACA,GLADA will also look after the work of L.A.C, GLADA, Ludhiana in addition to his present assignment till further order. In partial modification in earlier orders of Smt Kanwal Preet Brar PCS Special secretary cooperation will relive Mr inderjit Singh Sandhu IAS, while Mr Inderjit Singh Sandhu will hold the charge of additional R.C.S.substantively. The posting order of Mr Pritam Singh Johal PCS (Retd.) will be issued later.
CM AND DEPUTY CM INAUGURATES WORLD CLASS HOCKEY STADIUM AT MOHALI BADAL ENVISIONS TO DEVELOP PUNJAB AS LEADING STATE IN SPORTS PATS SUKHBIR FOR HERALDING SPORTS REVOLUTION IN PUNJAB REITERATES COMMITMENT TO REVIVE LOST GLORY OF HOCKEY AND KABADDI AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL DEPUTY CM ANNOUNCES TO CONSTRUCT SPORT SCHOOLS IN EVERY DISTRICT OF THE STATE PUNJAB HOCKEY LEAGUE TO BE ORGANIZED ON THE PATTERN OF IPL PUNJAB ELEVEN BEATS REST OF INDIA IN A NAIL BITING FINISH CM GIVES RS FIVE LAKH CASH AWARD TO BOTH THE TEAMS SAS Nagar (Mohali), September 27,2013 Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today envisioned to develop Punjab as a front runner state in the field of Sports across the country thereby reviving its pristine lost glory in Hockey at the international level. Addressing the gathering after inaugurating world class International Standard Hockey Stadium opposite PCA in Sector-63 here, the Chief Minister said that our government was committed to give its due representation to our mother sports Kabaddi and Hockey which had lost its sheen with the passage of time. He said concerted efforts have been made by our government to popularize Kabbadi at the world level by organizing World Kabaddi Cups and the entire credit goes to the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal who also holds the portfolio of Sports and Youth Affairs. Mr. Badal said that now we would exclusively focus our energy towards the promotion of Hockey in a big way so that Punjab could once again shine in this traditional sport, which once dominated the international Hockey scenario. Recalling the superb contribution of ace Hockey players like Olympian Balbir Singh Senior and others, the Chief Minister said that they had brought laurels for the country in general and made Punjab proud several times in particular. He said that the newly built stadium would provide opportunities to excel the young Hockey Players and the portraits of the Hockey Stalwarts of Punjab displayed in the stadium, would give inspiration to the future generations. Mr. Badal further said that the Punjab was the only state in the country to have announced its sports policy adding that the state government had given jobs to a number of sportspersons who have excelled in the various national and international events. The Chief Minister further revealed that all out efforts were being made by the state government to uplift the sports infra structure in the state for which Rs 200 crore was being spent by them. He said that six world class Hockey stadiumz along with 10 Multi-purpose stadiums were under construction which would give a major fillip to the sports in the state. Mr. Badal that the entire focus on the upgradation of infra structure was in line with the fact that top class sports persons could only excel in their different disciplines of sports provided we ensure them the best sports facilities in terms of high class infra structure and world class stadiums. Terming the newly inaugurated Hockley stadium as one of the best stadiums in the world, the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal in his address said that the stadium was one of its kind across the globe. He said that besides organizing six nation tournament in this stadium, the state government would also hold the matches of Punjab Hockey League on the pattern of Indian Premier League (IPL) in which the district level teams would compete with each other. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal also said that Punjab Institute of Sports at a cost of Rs. 100 crore would be constructed at Mohali adding that centers of excellence in selective sports disciplines would be constructed for promoting sports in the coming times. The Deputy Chief Minster further said that the Sports department would soon chalk out a massive program for establishing one sports school each in every district on the pattern of already set up such school at Ghudda (Bathinda), to fulfill the cherished aspiration of Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. He said that with the inauguration of this international Hockey Stadium the SAS Nagar would now be known for Hockey stadium whereas earlier it was only associated with the Cricket stadium. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the services of world class coaches would be roped in to train our budding players in all sports discipline especially Hockey. Meanwhile, the Punjab eleven defeated the Rest of India by 3-2, in an exciting match which offered a gala event to the Hockey lovers. On the occasion the Chief Minister announced a cash reward of Rupees Five lakh each to both the teams. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. NK Sharma and former Union Minister Mr. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia. - CM TERMS SIDHU’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF FAST UNTO DEATH AS ‘UNFORTUNATE AND UNWARRANTED’ NOTHING ILLEGAL IN DIVERSION OF FUNDS FROM CIVIC BODIES; PRACTICE IN VOGUE SINCE 1981 LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF COMMON FACILITY CENTER FOR SANITARY AND BATH FITTINGS AT MOHALI SAS Nagar (Mohali), September 27- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today described the announcement of Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu to undertake fast unto death as ‘unfortunate and unwarranted’. Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of the foundation laying function of Common Facility Center for the Sanitary and Bath Fittings Manufacturers here at Industrial Phase 8, the Chief Minister said that Mr. Sidhu should not have taken this step on these issues which could have been amicably resolved across the table. Mr. Badal said that he always held the Lok Sabha MP in high esteem as he was a respectable leader of BJP adding the Chief Minister said that it was intrinsically in his nature that he always treated not only the leaders and even the workers of his party but even of opposition with full regard and respect. He reiterated his firm commitment to develop the Holy City of Amritsar as one of the most modern cities across the world being the ethnic and religious tourist destination. Replying to a query regarding the issues raised by the Lok Sabha MP regarding the diversion of Amritsar Improvement Trust funds to other local government Municipalities, the Chief Minister said that he had written a letter to the Local Government Minister to furnish entire details in question with the copy of the letter endorsed to the Lok Sabha MP for his information. Mr. Badal further mentioned that the practice of diverting funds was in vogue since 1981 as an internal arrangement of the Local Government department to give funds to those civic bodies which were facing financial crunch through following a proper procedure of adopting a resolution by the concerned Municipality and finally it got to be cleared by the Local Government Minister. Therefore he said that there was hardly anything wrong or illegal in it. Earlier addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the Common Facility Center coming up at a cost of Rs 14 crore under the Mohali Hi-Tech Metal Cluster as a Special Purpose Vehicle would further propel the practices of quality manufacturing of elegant bath and sanitary fittings which would further give enormous opportunities to the cluster members to expand their business in a big way. He said that it would give a big boost to total sales which was likely to increase from the existing Rs 200 to 400 crore and likewise exports would get a fillip from Rs 5 crore to Rs 50 crore as apprised by the cluster members. The Chief Minister said that our government was committed to boost the industrialization in the state with the recently announced Industrial Incentives to the entrepreneurs. He said that it was a matter of pride that Punjab has figured amongst the top three investment destinations in the country as per the report of the Reserve Bank of India. Batting for a true federal structure in the country Mr. Badal said the current approach of Centre by depriving the states from their legitimate demands were a pointer towards the Unitary form of government, which were encroaching upon the rights of the state in one way or the other. Corroborating his claim, the Chief Minister said the classic example of discrimination with Punjab was the industrial incentives given to our neighboring hilly states which have resulted in the mass exodus of local industry from here thereby giving a fatal blow to our economy. Had the Congress led UPA government been sincere to the core in its approach, it would have atleast extended a similar package for the border state of Punjab. Mr. Badal pointed out that it was the need of the hour to promote industry in a big way because our agrarian economy had already reached a state of plateau adding the Chief Minister said that he had little hope from centre to provide our industry a level playing field but at the same time whatever little bit resources we have with us the state government was committed to revive the glory of industry in Punjab and it was reflective from the recently announced Industrial Policy of the state. On the occasion the Chief Minister also announced a grant-in-aid of Rs one crore for the upcoming centre. The Chief Minister was accompanied by former Union Minister Mr. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and his Additional Principal Secretary Mr. Sandeep Hans. ---------------------- NO DELAY AT PUNJAB GOVT. OR LOCAL BODIES LEVELS IN AMRITSAR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: CM NO ANOMALIES IN FUNDS LOANED TO OTHER BODIES-GOVERNMENT Chandigarh September 27 : The Punjab Government today categorically stated that " development projects in Amritsar have always been undertaken and pursued with expeditiousness, urgency and speed befitting the immense religious and historical status of the city. There has never been any delay at the level of the state government or the local bodies in Amritsar. Theonly delays have been forreasons beyond the govt control such as court interventions or govt of India clearances. ” “ Wherever there has been a delay, it has only and only been due to litigation in judiciary or lack of clearances by the concerned departments of the government of India, such as the railways in case of Bhandari bridge, archaeological Survey of India ( ASI) in case of the project of chowk near the “protected site” of Ram Bagh, failure to supply CNG by the Gas Authority of India” etc. Even for these, the state government has found alternatives and work is now being pursued with utmost promptness.” Regarding the alleged “anomalies” by Amritsar Improvement Trust in lending money as loan on interest to other local bodies, “There has been no there was no “anomaly, illegality or irregularity” involved in this. Funds of local bodies are subject to audit and not a single penny can be misused or misappropriated with impunity,” Nor has there been any political “bias” in lending money to these Committees as money is also lent to the local Municipal Corporation, and Municipal Committees of Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Rayya, among others. The Amritsar Improvement Trust does not “shell out” this money as doles or favours but earns interest on the amount loaned. All loans have followed the strictest government procedures and have been advanced to meet administrative contingencies and only on the receipt of formal requests t this effect and by following the riht procedures. “All this is out there for anyone to see.” Out of the money given as loan, Rs 25 crore have been given for projects in Amritsar itself. And of the remaining 26 crore given as loan, as sum of as much as Rs 12 crore have already been received with interest. Only 14 crore remain are in balance. Meanwhile, .a spokesman of the Punjab government disclosed that the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had already replied a letter which Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu had written to him. Mr. Sidhu had sought information on the status and background of various development projects in Amritsar, notably Solid Waste Management, City Bus Service, Expansion of Bhandari Bridge, Four Fly-overs, installation of CCTV cameras and the City Sports Complex. Giving details of the status of all these projects, the Chief Minister has assured the MP that there has been nor will there be any delay at the level of the state govt. or local bodies in the commencement or completion of any development project in the state. “Amritsar being one of the greatest global religious destinations, will always be given special attention in these matters. No stone will be left unturned in the development of he city as a global center with state of he art facilities and attractions. ,” the CM said, sharing detailed point-wise information with Mr. Sidhu. “Please come forward with any new idea on the development of the city” said the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister said the process on Solid Waste Management Project had already been started, government clearance sought and tenders issued on May 5, 2009. But the matter got delayed because of legal hindrance following litigation in the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court. But now the matter has been decided by the Court , according to which M C, Amritsar will award the contract on Solid Waste Management Plant within “six months from July 23, 2013.” Tenders will now be floated October 7. In the meantime, MC will ensure waste disposal with through its own efforts. Similarly, the City Bus Service was on schedule. Ashok Leyland, Isuzu and TATA have been chosen to supply 150 buses, which would now start arriving in two months. The work would have begun much earlier but was delayed in view of directions of the High Court to ply on CNG buses. However, since Gas Authority of India could not ensure CNG pipeline, order had to be reviewed in favour of Diesel buses. Now, buses will start plying in November 2013. Regarding Sports Complex, it has been informed that the world class Sports Complex is coming up at a cost of Rs 75 crore, as per a revised design for a state of the art facility. It will have and Open Athletic Track with a capacity of 20,000 spectators, an indoor Stadium (capacity 7500) and indoor swimming complex with a capacity of 2500. Estimates are nearly ready and Tenders will be issued in November. CCTV Rs, Five crore have been sanctioned for the purpose. Work on the project will start in January 2014 and will take about nine months to complete. Similarly, Kitchlew Fly-Over, work on which was started in 2011, will be ready for public by December-end. But work on 4-S chowk got held up because the Archaeology Survey of India with-held permission as it fell within 100 meters of the “Protected Site of Ram Bagh Garden” RITES India had done the initial study bt that will have to be undertaken again now. Tenders will be floated as soon as an NOC is received from the ASI, the process for securing which has been underway since July 2013. Regarding Bahndari Bridge, it may be recalled that the work got stuck as the Railway Authorities had rejected the proposal for widening of the bridge. Now, Rs. 100 crore have been earmarked in the new Comprehensive Mobility Plan of the city. Another Rs 41 crore have been earmarked for an elevated road loop for decongestion. DPR has been sent to the Govt. of India and their clearance is awaited. Similarly, work on the RBO and Fly over UBDC canal and Taran Railway crossing is going ahead smoothly. (Details attached) -- PUNJAB GOVT. TO DEVELOP FISH PONDS OVER 200 ACRES OF WATER LOGGED AND PUNJAB TO CONSTITUTE STATE FISHERYBOARD SOON CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 27: The Punjab Government has embarked upon an ambitious program to develop Fish farms over the farmer's land in water logged areas of over 200 acres at its own cost in order to substantiate their income on one hand and boost state's crop diversification on the other. An announcement to this effect has been made by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here today during a meeting with a group of progressive Fish Farmers and the senior officers of the Animal Husbandry, Dairy development & Fisheries departments and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Science University Ludhana (GADVASU). Mr. Badal said that the state government would incur the entire expenditure on these ponds for the first year to benefit the farmers. The Chief Minister said that Punjab Government would soon establish Punjab State Fishery Board to give due representation to the Fish Farmers and asked the department to complete the formalities in this regard expeditiously. He further said that District level Co-ordination Committees would also be constituted. Mr. Badal also asked the Vice Chancellor GADVASU to extend all possible technical support to the fish farmers to enable them to run these ventures in a profitable manner. The Chief Minister also approved to constitute a committee headed by Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry, Dairy development & Fisheries to chalk out the modalities for purchase of Feed Pelletize Machines to provide cooked feed at affordable and cheaper rates, for which the government would provide 50% subsidy. Presently the government was providing 20% subsidy in the normal areas and 40% in the water logged areas for the digging the fish ponds. He also approved to provide subside of Rs. 50,000 for the cleaning of 2.5 acre fish pond after five years. In order to fulfill State Government's commitment to provide modern marketing infrastructure for fish trade, Mr. Badal reviewed the lay out plan of upcoming Fish Market Ludhiana and directed the concerned departments to expedite the process to set up this market in a time bound manner. Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Advisor to Animal Husbandry Dairy development & Fisheries Punjab Dr. Prem Kumar Uppal, Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry Dairy development & Fisheries Mr. G Vajralingam, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sharma, Addl. Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Sandeep Hans, Vice Chancellor GADVASU Dr. Vijay Kumar Taneja and Director Fisheries Mr. BK Sood, besides the progressive fish farmers Mr. Manjit Singh Sandhu, Gurjatinder Singh Virk, Mr. Karam Inder Singh and Environmentalist Capt. Amarjit Kumar. ------------ ZIRAKPUR WOULD BE DEVELOPED AS NEXT IT HUB OF COUNTRY-SUKHBIR BADAL · ALSO TO CREATE ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER · PUNJAB TO HOLD ROAD SHOWS IN COUNTRY TO ATTRACT INVESTORS ZIRAKPUR, SEPTEMBER 27: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today announced that Zirakpur would be developed as next IT Hub of the country and a separate Electronic Industrial Cluster would also be created here. After inaugurating Sewerage Treatment Plant and 66 KV sub-station at Singhpura and Seikhpur Kalan in Dera Bassi worth Rs. 52 crore, Mr. Badal said that Mohali would be developed as one of the model district in the state, where IT and Electronics hubs would be set up. He said a total 600 acres land has been identified, where IT Hub would be established. He said that these initiatives of Punjab Government would fetch new investments in future besides securing employability for youth. Mr. Badal said that with the setting up of IT Hub at Zirakpur more than 1.5 lakh job opportunities would be there.
Addressing the gathering Mr. Badal said that Punjab has fixed a target of Rs. 10 lakh crore investments in coming years. He said that under this target, a delegation of state government led by him would visit different industrial capitals of country to educate and make aware the industrial giants about the attractive industrial policy launched by state government. He said that the delegation would leave for Bengaluru to organize a road show, where hundreds of industrial giants would participate. Criticising congress led UPA Government at center, Mr. Badal said that time has come to wipe out worlds’ most corrupt Congress led UPA Government, which was leading by a ‘weak’ Prime Minister. He said that UPA has badly failed on all fronts, which should be thrown out of power in the interests of country. He asked the electorates to elect Mr. Narendra Modi to save the country from corruption, scams etc. Earlier Mr. Badal also laid the foundation stone of construction of 1620 Purab Premium Apartments in SAS Nagar to be constructed at the cost of Rs. 725 crore besides inaugurating the Sports Stadium in Sector 63 and 78 of SAS Nagar with the total cost of Rs. 28 crore. Mr. Badal also inaugurated Rs. 42 crore, Hockey Stadium at SAS Nagar. Prominent amongst those were present included Mr. N.K. Sharma, Senior Akali leader Mr. Deepinder Singh Dhillon and other senior leadership of SAD-BJP. SUKHBIR BADAL FIXES DEADLINES FOR ALL AMRITSAR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (REVIEWS THEIR STATUS ALONGWITH BJP LEADERS AND AMRITSAR MAYOR) (PROJECTS WORTH RS 2039 CRORE TO BE TAKEN UP)
CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 27: Punjab Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today fixed deadlines for completion of all ongoing as well as new development projects in Amritsar and also reviewed their status at a high level meeting here today. The meeting, which was attended by State BJP President Kamal Sharma and Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi besides Amritsar Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora and senior government functionaries reviewed the status of ongoing projects worth Rs 730 crores as well as new projects worth Rs 1309 crore envisaged for the holy city. A total of Rs 2039 crore has been set aside for the holistic development of Amritsar. Among major decisions taken today, it was decided that the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) would be implemented byFebruary 15, 2014 at a cost of Rs 469.54 crore. Work on the project, which will put 150 specialized buses into service in the city, will start by May 16 next year. As regards the municipal solid waste project for the city, the Deputy chief minister was briefed that the project would be taken up for execution by December 30 this year and that it would be executed within one year that is December 29, 2014. This project involves a cost of Rs 72.49 crore out of which a provision of Rs 20 crore has been made in 2013-14. The Indoor Stadium, which will come up as part of the Sports Complex at Ranjit Avenue will cost Rs 40 crore and work on the same will start in November this year and be completed by May 29 2015. Similarly work on improvement and beautification of the road from Hall Gate to the Golden Temple Plaza Complex which will be taken up at a cost of Rs 25.30 crore will be started by November 30 this year and completed by November 2014. Work on construction of plaza at the Harmandir Sahib is in full swing and work till the first floor will be completed by Diwali this year. The total cost of this project is Rs 78 crore. The Deputy chief minister was briefed at the meeting that work would start on the new exhibition centre at Amritsar byNovember 30 this year and that the project would be completed by November 29, 2015. As much as Rs 70 crore would be spent on this project out of which Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for the same in 2013-14. Another major project about which Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal was briefed at the meeting included the new Central Jail which will come up in Amritsar at a cost of Rs 179 crore. As much as Rs 60 crore has been earmarked for this project during 2013-14. The project will be initiated by November 15 this year and completed by March 29, 2015. The Deputy CM was briefed that the ongoing construction of Heritage Village under Punjab Heritage Tourism Promotion Board would also be completed by November 2013. He also reviewed the ongoing construction of Gobindgarh Fort and expressed satisfaction over the work. He said conservation work of Ram Bagh Garden Phase-II and Surface Parking was at on advanced stage of completion. The Deputy CM also disclosed that the state Government would hand over the keys of 130 dwelling units by December this year to slum dwellers. Giving information of ongoing road projects, Mr. Badal said that Amritsar-Ajnala Road from Kitchlu Chowk to Mirankot, four laning of Amritsar-Sohian-Fatehgarh Churian Road, 4 laning of Amritsar-Majitha-Fatehgarh Churian Road, Amritsar-Pathankot-Kandla-Batala Road would be started soon with a completion in June 2014. Mr. Badal said that beautification and improvement of chowk Shaheedan on Amritsar-Tarn Taran-Sarhali-Harike Road was on the advance stage of completion and which would be dedicated to the people in December this year. Mr. Badal also informed that the work of widening and strengthening of GT Road from Bhandari Bridge to Guru Nanak Dev University, beautification and 4 laning of Amritsar-Tarn Taran-Sarhali-Harike Road would start next month. He said that all clearances for ROB at Amritsar-Tarn Taran-Sarhali-Harike road have been issued, where the work would also begin soon. Briefing about the upgradation and modernization of Guru Nanak Auditorium, the Deputy CM said that this world class auditorium would be dedicated to Amritsar residents by October next year. The Deputy CM also informed that Amritsar would also be the first safe “Safe City” in the country with CCTV Cameras set to be installed at 466 locations in the city. EOM - Dy. CM REVIEWS FUNCTIONING OF ‘181’ Chandigarh September 27: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today categorically said that commissioners of Police and SSPs would be held responsible for any laxity in implementing the services of 181 police helpline. The performance of every SSP would be under scan, said the Deputy Chief Minister. Reviewing the functioning of 181, Mr. Badal pointed out that districts Tarn Tarn, Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ludhiana city were lagging behind in this regard which would not be accepted. Mr. Badal asked Mr. Dinkar Gupta ADGP Law and Order to personally look into the matter and take appropriate action. Mr. Badal also took serious note of the1127 complaints against policemen and directed the ADGP for fair and unbiased investigation so that justice could be delivered to the aggrieved. He has asked all the SSPs in the state to strengthen the newly launched 181 Punjab Police helpline in their respective districts with a view to ensuring complete security cover to the citizens and at the same time maintaining the secrecy of the caller. Giving details regarding complaints on 181 helpline, Mr. Dinkar Gupta informed Deputy CM that till date as many as 8000 calls have been received out of which 2323 calls were registered. Out of the registered cases as many as 1127 cases related to the Police on which the Deputy Chief Minister has asked the officers concerned to investigate the complaints thoroughly and initiate necessary action. Women have started trusting 181, as the number to call when in distress, said the ADGP. Mr. Gupta informed the Deputy Chief Minister that 80% complainants were satisfied with the prompt action taken by the police in handling complaints on 181 helpline. Laying more stress on educating the people about the 181 police helpline, Mr. Badal said that public should be made aware of this through properly managed advertisement campaign in the state so as to ensure the delivery of service up to ground level. Large number of compromises reached between opposing parties on police intervention. As many as 30 cases of Counseling were received where mainly women were counseled, he said. Mentioning a few cases, the ADGP said that on the 21st of September 2013 a caller named Balbir Singh (9915715120) a resident of Village- Gatta Mandikhau Tehsil- Shahkot district Jalandhar Rural called 181 at 12.14 am and informed that a person named Hukam Singh, his step son attacked him. He said he needed immediate help. After taking all the necessary details from the caller we escalated the case to the concerned Officer of Jalandhar Rural. The police officials acted promptly in the case and reached the Victim’s place and provided the victim with help and support. Subsequently the Son realized his mistake and sought forgiveness from his father and both the Parties decided to compromise. Later when a feedback call was given to the Caller, he was completely satisfied with the help and support he got from the Police officials and was thankful to the 181 Punjab Police Helpline. - MAJITHIA SLAMS UPA FOR MORTGAGING THE NATIONAL INTERESTS BY BRINGING CHANGES IN THE NUCLEAR LIABILITY LAW · UPA is an “Expired drug-dangerous for the country” Jalandhar, Sept. 27: Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia Revenue and Public Relations Minister Punjab has slammed Congress led UPA government for mortgaging the interests of the country by bringing changes in the nuclear liability law to favour few US companies at the cost of the country. Talking to the media persons late last night after paying obeisance at Dera Kahna Dhesian, Mr. Majithia said that by changing the nuclear liability law the UPA government is trying to protect US nuclear companies from paying any compensation in the case of any nuclear mishap. He said that it was strange that after accidents like Fukushima, Chernobyl or the Bhopal gas leak when all countries were strengthening their safety regulations and tightening their liability laws to make the erring companies accountable to mishap, India under a weak Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has bartered its interests to please US and it would not be accepted. He said that the UPA has no moral or constitutional right to change nuclear liability law at the fag end of their tenure and President of India should intervene to stop this mischief. Describing Congress led UPA government as an ‘expired drug’ that is dangerous for the health of the India economy. He said that what kind of economist Prime Minister we have when rupee against dollar has nosedived to a record low with prices of all commodities registering 357% increase during last nine years of UPA rule. He said that minority UPA government was already on crutches of its allies and was enacting these ordinances which have failed in Parliament. He said that President of India should not give ascent to ordinance reversing the ruling of apex court on tainted MPs and MLAs as it would amount to breach of privilege of parliament. Predicting decimation of congress led UPA government in ensuing Lok Sabha polls Mr. Majithia said that UPA was already in ICU and oxygen cylinders of such ordinances cannot save this government. -- ACT IN PUBLIC WELFARE OR FACE ACTION: ANIL JOSHI · ANIL JOSHI ASSUMES CHARGE AS LOCAL BODIES MINISTER · PRONOUNCE AGENDA AS ‘ZERO TOLERANCE’ AGAINST CORRUPTION CHANDIGARH, 27 SEPTEMBER: Punjab Local Bodies and Medical Education & Research Minister Mr. Anil Joshi today assumed the charge of his office in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and BJP State President Mr. Kamal Sharma here at Punjab Civil Secretariat. Prominent among other who were present at the occasion included Punjab Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Mr. Dinesh Kumar Babbu, Mr. Som Parkash and Mr. Inderbir Singh Bolaria (both Chief Parliamentary Secretaries), Assistant Media Advisor Mr. Vineet Joshi, BJP State General Secretary Mr. Tarun Chug, Chairman of Punjab Child Right Security Commission Mr. Swaran Salaria, Mayor of Amritsar Mr. Bakshi Ram Arora and Former MP Mrs. Gurcharan Singh. While congratulating Mr. Anil Joshi for taking charge of his new assignment as Local Bodies Minister, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed hope that he would work selflessly and tirelessly in the direction of providing a new look to the cities of the state. He said that Anil Joshi has done remarkable job during his tenure as Industry Minister. After assuming charge Mr. Joshi in a press communiqué said that he would not only take forward the developmental projects started by his predecessor Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat but also ensure timely completion. He said due to rapid urbanization, people are moving towards cities so we are duty bound provide the basic amenities to this population. He asked officers to be vigilant and pro active in ensuring the public welfare respond to the problems. He said there will be zero tolerance towards corruption. Mr. Joshi also directed the officers to provide basic services covered under RTS to the public in time bound manner. The Punjab Government has resolved to provide basic amenities like potable water, sewerage, street lights and roads to the 100% population residing in the cities. - SOCIAL SECURITIES DEPARTMENT INVITES APPLICATIONS FROM DEAF & DUMB, HANDICAPPED AND BLIND STUDENTS FOR SCHOLARSHIP Chandigarh, September 27: Punjab Social Securities and Child Development Department has invited applications from deaf & dumb, handicapped and blind students for scholarship. Disclosing this here today official spokesperson of the Department said that interested should send filled forms to the head office of the Social Securities Department by 17 December, 2013. Spokesperson said that Government provides scholarship Rs 200 per month to the handicapped students from 1st to 8th class and Rs 300 per month to the students of 9th class and upper classes. Spokesperson said that this scholarship is being provided only to those students whose Mother-Father and heir’s annual income is not more that 60 thousands. Punjab Government has reserved Rs 20.20 lakh in the 2013-14 budget for this scheme. He further said that interested students should collect forms from district Social Security Officer’s office and send filled forms after recommendation from the school, college/training institute to the head office of the social securities department i.e SCO 102-103, Sector 34A Chandigarh. Applicants should also provide account numbers and details of IFC code number alongwith the application form. - NDA WILL BOOST INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES IN PUNJAB-SUKHBIR BADAL · MODI CHARISMA TO PREVAIL IN ENSUING GENERAL ELECTIONS · TUBEWELL CONNECTIONS TO FARMERS WITH 5 ACRES LAND IN TWO MONTHS · PUNJAB WITNESSES SUCCESS IN RIGHT TO SERVICE ACT KAPURTHALA, SEPTEMBER 26: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today strongly criticized the Congress led UPA government for imposing ban on setting up of new industrial units at Ludhiana, industrial capital of Punjab and said that NDA Government would lift all such bans on industrial activities besides boosting the economic, industrial and agriculture growth in the state. Mr. Badal was addressing a public rally at village Wadala after laying the foundation stone of Railway Over Bridge. The Deputy CM condemned the move of congress government against Punjab to deprive the state from industrial expansion. Mr. Badal said that it was unfortunate that Congress led UPA government was giving a step motherly treatment to Punjab despite the fact that Union Minister of State Mr. Manish Tiwari was also from Ludhiana. He accused the UPA government for ignoring the border state of Punjab for industrial packages but providing industrial incentives to the neighboring hilly states, which showed the discriminatory attitude of center with Punjab. He said that NDA would give a big push to industry in Punjab after forming the next government at center. He said that the charisma of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Mr. Narendra Modi would wipe out this government of flawed programs and policies. Announcing tube well connections for farmers having less than 5 acres of land, Mr. Badal said that directions have been issued in this regard and the tube well connections to farmers with 5 acres of land would be released within next two months. Meanwhile, talking to media persons after addressing a public rally, Mr. Badal on the issue of corruption said that Punjab Government has finalized a unique plan to provide all the facilities to the masses through online systems. He said that Punjab has put more than 100 public services under Right to Service Act, which has curtailed the red-tapism. He said that till date more than 1 crore people have availed the services under RTS Act and Punjab witnessed 97 percent success rate of this Act. Mr Badal also laid a foundation stone of Railway over bridge near village Wadala at a cost of Rs. 34 crore, a link road from Hamira to Lakhan Khurad at a cost of Rs. 403.09 lac and inaugurated a road from Razapur to Kular at a cost of Rs. 862.44 lac in district Kapurthala. Prominent among others Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala MP, Mr Som Parkash Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Sarabjit Singh Makkar former MLA, Mr Jarnail Singh Wahad district SAD President and Mr Parmjit Singh President Nagar Council kapurthala were also present. - Rs. 100 CRORE TO BE SPENT IN EACH ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCY-SUKHBIR BADAL JALANDHAR, SEPTEMBER 26: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today reiterated that SAD-BJP Government was fully committed to develop Punjab as No. 1 state in the country and has decided to spend Rs. 100 crore in each assembly constituency in next three years. Addressing public rallies at village Bammianwal and Basti Danishmandan, Mr. Badal said that the focus of Punjab government was to make Punjab the most advanced state in the country in all areas including industry, education, health and agriculture and within next three years this goal would be achieved and government would spend Rs. 100 crore in each assembly constituency. Exhorting the people to root out Congress led UPA government from the Center; Mr. Badal said that the time has come to wipe out this anti-people government. He said that formation of NDA Government was the dire need for the sake of the country since the UPA government was in severe economic and political crisis. He said that NDA would be the right option for India and Indians, which were facing scams, corruption, inflation, price rise and total collapse of governance in Congress led UPA regime. Mr. Badal said that not only common man but traders, industrialists, businessmen etc, were reeling under record price rise and ill-managed policies of UPA Government and now they were eagerly waiting for general elections to teach UPA a lesson. Laying foundation stones of various development projects worth Rs. 32 crore including sewerage treatment plant at village Bammianwal, water supply project with a cost of Rs. 22 crore, Mr. Badal promised that Jalandhar city would witness record development in next two years. He said that Rs. 1492 crore would be spend on development works in Jalandhar including basic infrastructure, 100 percent sewerage and water supply, roads, concrete streets etc as per the master plan prepared for this city. Meanwhile, addressing the rally Bhagat Chuni Lal, Forest and Labour Minister, Punjab thanked Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal for giving further pace to development works in Jalandhar city and asked the electorates to elect Mr. Narendra Modi in the larger interest of the country. Prominent among others Mr Pawan Kumar Tinu and Mr K.D Bhandari both Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, Mr Sunil Jyoti Mayor and Mr Parmjit Singh Raipur Member SGPC were also present on the occasion. - · Hands over a cheque of Rs. 5 lacs · Assures to look into the other demands of family sympathetically · Majithia also hands over a cheque of Rs. 2 lacs Jalandhar, Sept.26: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal Deputy Chief Minister today went to the residence of H.T. Correspondent Mr. Jasdeep Singh Malhotra to shares his grief with the family on his untimely demise. Accompanied by Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia Information and Public Relations Minister and Mr. Jangveer Singh Media Advisor to Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Badal met Mrs. Kulwinder Kaur wife of Jasdeep and handed over a cheque of Rs. 5 lacs on behalf of Punjab Government under Accident Insurance Scheme of Public Relations Department. Mr. Badal said that the news of untimely death of vivacious personality like Jasdeep came as a shock to him and he could not believe the news. The Deputy Chief Minister also met Harnoor(8), Jassica(6) son and daughter of Jasdeep besides his brother and other relatives present at the home. Assuring to look into the other demands of family including near posting of wife of Jasdeep on a suitable job and other issues, Mr. Badal assured that Punjab Government would do its maximum within the ambit of rules to help the family in this difficult hour and said that he has deputed Mr. Jangveer Singh his Media Advisor to work out solution for other demands of the family. He also appreciated the Public Relations Department and United India Insurance Company for expeditious completion of all formalities regarding insurance claim and release of Rs. 5 lac cheque of claim within 24 hours. Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia also handed over a cheque of Rs. 2 lacs on behalf of Youth Akali Dal. Later in the day Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains also visited the residence of Mr. Jasdeep Singh Malhotra to convey the condolences of Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. GLOWING TRIBUTES PAID TO H T CORRESPONDENT · Majithia for institutionalized social security system of media persons · Announces 5 lacs insurance cover for yellow card journalists also · Ambit of yellow card journalist to enhanced · Calls for socially responsible journalism Jalandhar, Sept. 26: The total media fraternity and Punjab Government today paid glowing tributes to Hindustan Times Principle Correspondent Mr. Jasdeep Singh Malhotra (41) in a condolence meeting held at Punjab Press Club Jalandhar and vowed to carry forward the unfinished task of Mr. Malhotra with renewed vigour. It may be added that Mr. Malhotra died on Sunday in a fatal accident on Jalandhar-Pathankot Road in a small stretch of road in Himachal Pradesh. Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia Information and Public Relations Minister specially came from Chandigarh to participate in the condolence meeting and recalled his unusual associations with Jasdeep who passionately pursued the stories of Public Interest till its logical conclusion. Mr. Majithia said that he was the saddest person on the earth on the irreparable loss of his friend Jasdeep and he would continue to miss his pointed and aggressive questions in media interactions. He said that it was matter of great emotional loss for him as Jasdeep continued to pursue him till he was able to extract version from him and promise sometime to carry forward the task of environment education at school level. Mr. Majithia said that when he became Public Relations Minister, he asked the Department to work out an institutionalized system of social security for media fraternity as they always have to remain mobile that may result in an accident. He said that the earlier practice of approaching Chief Minister every time there was any tragedy with any member of media fraternity had its inherent flaws as Chief Minister is also bound by rules and regulations while announcing grants for private persons. He said that he introduced Rs. 5 lacs accident insurance cover for all accredited journalist and it is just because of that accident insurance cover that we have been able to get a claim of Rs. 5 lacs from United India Insurance Company within 24 hours and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today handed over that cheque to the family of Mr. Jasdeep. He said that now he has expended the scope of this insurance scheme by including all yellow card journalists in this scheme. He also announced that a committee has been constituted by the department to review the conditions for yellow card journalist so that more deserving journalists could be given yellow cards. Recalling the unique personality of Mr. Jasdeep Singh Malhotra Mr. Majithia said that he was different from crowd and known for his special aggressive and passionate questioning. He said that Jasdeep always loved to grill political personalities with complex data. He called upon younger journalists to carry forward the socially relevant journalism of Jasdeep. Expressing concern over undue sensationalism done by a section of media in the case of unfortunate accident of Jasdeep Mr. Majithia said that members of fourth pillar of democracy should always act responsibly. He said that accident occurred in Congress ruled Himachal Pradesh and Punjab government was in regular touch with Himachal Pradesh Police investigating the case and said that Punjab government would continued to apprise Punjab Press Club regarding the updates of investigation. He decried the lowly attempt of Congress party to politicize the unfortunate accident without understanding the fact that the accident occurred in Congress ruled state. Mr. Majithia said that as a President of Youth Akali Dal, he has handed over a cheque of Rs. 2 lacs to family of Mr. Jasdeep Singh Malhotra besides Rs. 5 lacs cheque given by Punjab Govt. he said that Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal had himself gone to the residence of to hand over this cheque and he has deputed Mr. Jangveer Singh Media Advisor to Deputy Chief Minister to pursue other demands of the family. Mr. Majithia also handed over a cheque of Rs. 5 lacs to Mr. Major Singh President Punjab Press Club for revamping the Press Club. Earlier Mr. Pawan Kumar Tinu Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Gurcharan Singh Channi, District President SAD, Major Singh President Punjab Press Club, Mr. Satnam Singh Manak on behalf of SAFMA, Mr. Jatinder Pannu, Mr. Majoj Tripathi, Mr. Rajiv Bhaskar, Mr. Surinder Kumar, Mr. I.P.Singh and Mr. Dinesh Dhall also paid glowing tributes to Mr. Jasdeep Singh Malhotra. - EDUCATION PROVIDERS TO GET ENHANCED HONORARIUM FROM SEPTEMBER 1 · CASE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THEIR ARREARS SENT TO FD · ENHANCED HONORARIUM TO ENTAIL ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF 4.88 CRORE CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 26: On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal the state government has enhanced the honorarium of the Education Providers by Rs 1000 per month with effect from September 1, 2013. Disclosing this here today Education Minister Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka said that this decision has been implemented in the light of a meeting between the Chief Minister and Education Providers held on June 14, 2012 in which, Mr. Badal had assured a hike of Rs 1000 per month in their honorarium. Consequently the School Education Department vide its orders issued on September 9, 2013 has decided to grant them higher honorarium, which would entail an additional burden of Rs 4.88 crore on the state exchequer. Mr. Maluka further said that the case related to the payment of their outstanding arrears since April 1, 2012 was being sent to the Finance department for seeking their concurrence. The Minister revealed that the Education Providers were paid honorarium as per their educational qualifications in the ratio of 65:35 by the Government of India and Government of Punjab from the salary of Block Resource Person (BRP) issued under the Sarv Sikhya Abhyaan. He said that against one BRP three service providers were working. Therefore, Mr. Maluka said that as many as 6985 Education providers having different qualifications were working in the state against the approved 2351 BRPs during the current fiscal. ----------- Chandigarh, September 26: All Political parties should cooperate for enrolling every person of the age of 18 and above as voter in the state. Political Parties should also launch an awareness campaign to motivate people for registering as voter. Mr. Raminder Sing Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab while presiding over a meeting with the representatives of all the Political parties here today said that Election Commission has launched a campaign to enrol every eligible person as voter who is 18 years of age on 1 January, 2014 or above. He said that their main focus would be to enrol all youth of the age of 18-19 years of age as voter as it has come to notice that youth of this age is very less registered as voter. He said that people of slum areas, beggars and Kinnars are also being encouraged to get registered as voter. He said that Election Commission of India has launched a campaign ‘Be responsible- Become Voter’ to motivate people to get enrolled as voters. He said that under this campaign new voters are being registered and voter cards are being issued. He said that work of revising voter list is going on from 6th September to 4th October, 2013. He said that Booth Level Officers would be available at concerned polling booths on 29th September, 2013 to collect forms. Mr. Raminder Singh said that he also held a meeting with all the government departments who are involved in public dealing to encourage people to become voters. He said that Education, Social Securities, Health and women & child development etc.have assured the Commission that they would fully cooperate in this campaign. On this occassion, Mr. B. Purushartha Additional CEO also shared his views. - UPA SHEILDING ITS CONVICTED LEADERS-SUKHBIR BADAL · NDA's TIDAL WAVE WILL ROOT OUT SCAM RIDDEN UPA · CONGRESS FAILED TO PROTECT SIKHS ABROAD · BAJWA SHOULD ACCEPT THE FACT, NO CONGRESS IN PUNJAB FOR NEXT 5 DECADES RAM DIWALI (AMRITSAR), SEPTEMBER 25: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab and President Shiromani Akali Dal today alleged that Congress led UPA Government was trying to bail out its convicted politicians by making amendments in the Representation of People's Act despite clear directions of the Supreme Court that elected representatives facing convictions cannot contest elections. Mr. Badal, accompanied by Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister Punjab was interacting with the media after laying the foundation stone of a road projects at village Ram Diwali. He said the Congress led UPA government's decision to pass an ordinance reversing the orders of the apex court was a clear indication that the scam ridden government was eager to save its tainted leaders and allies. When asked about the impact of these changes for politicians facing convictions, Mr. Badal asserted the people were already seething with anger and that it would have to face the wrath of countrymen in coming general elections. Quoting the examples of states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Gujarat, Mr. Badal said there was no future for the Congress in Punjab too. He said that these states were the living examples that once the congress remained out of power for consecutive two terms it was never able to make a comeback. "In Punjab the Congress will not come back to power for next five decades and PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa should not dream of coming to power," he added. Answering a query regarding racial attack on a US Sikh under a mistaken identity, Mr. Badal said the repeated attacks on Sikhs in foreign countries reflected sheer failure of UPA government in protecting the Sikh culture and heritage in these countries having a Sikh Prime Minister and Sikh women Union Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Badal assured that NDA under the leadership of Mr. Narendra Modi would safeguard the rights of Indians abroad. The Deputy CM on another query regarding announcement of SAD-BJP candidates for ensuing Lok Sabha elections, said it was too early to announce the names but the ruling combine would take lead in fielding the candidates for this election. On the occasion two congress leaders Mr Jagdev Singh Bagga former Vice President Block Samiti Tarsikka and Satnam Singh Sarpanch Kazi Kot joined the SAD. Refuting the allegations of Mr. Bajwa on law and order situation in the state, Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia said that Bajwa should first match his facts with Union Government led by his own party as Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh released a report in the recently held conference of National Integration Council at New Delhi that Punjab was one in the list of top 5 states maintaining peace, law and order and communal harmony. Mr. Majithia ridiculed Bajwa's allegations and said that if PPCC president was actually serious about Punjabis, he should raise voice before Congress led UPA government to get justice for the victims of 1984 riots. Earlier Mr. Badal, addressing massive Public Rally at Ram Diwali announced that two world class sports stadium would be constructed in Majitha and Mattewal besides installing a new 66KV sub station at Mattewal. Mr. Badal said that Congress Party was working day and night to mislead the electorate of Punjab by spreading false facts and data about the fiscal position of state but there was no fiscal crisis and funds was being released for all types of development projects. Mr. Badal also laid the foundation stone of Ram Diwali Muslmana to Jhamke Road, Majitha to Sham Nagar, Majitha to Dadupur besides Abu Sahib to Chamiari, Nanuke to Sudhar, Kuralia to Thoba, Dariya Musa to Thoba, Bhalot to Lopoke and Motla to Jai Ram Kot with the cost of Rs. 2377.75 lakh. He also laid the foundation stone of New Central Jail at Amritsar costing Rs. 153.25 lakh. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion Dr. Ratan Singh Ajnala, Member Parliament, Mr. Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Mr. Amarpal Singh Bonny, both CPS, Mr. Baljit Singh Jalal Usma, MLA, Mr. Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha, former MP, Mr. Rajinder Mohan Singh Chinna and Mr. Tarun Chugh, BJP leaders. - DC’s TO BE DISTRICT REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGES CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 25: The Punjab Government has appointed all the Deputy Commissioners in the state to be the District Registrars of Marriages. Disclosing this here today, a Spokesperson said that this appointment is done under Punjab Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2012. He said that All the District Revenue Officers, Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars have appointed Additional District Registrars of Marriages, who shall register marriages, within the area of their respective jurisdiction. - ELECTION COMMISSION LAUNCHES ‘BE RESPONSIBLE -BECOME A VOTER’ CAMPAIGN TO REGISTER VOTERS
Chandigarh, September, 25: Election Commission of India has launched a campaign under the name of ‘Be Responsible -Become a Voter’ to make votes of all persons of 18 year or above on 01.01.2014. Divulging this here today Spokesperson of Chief Electoral Officer Punjab said that Summary Revision in the Electoral Rolls will take place between 6th September & 4th October 2013 in the state. He said that for new vote application should fill Form 6, overseas voters may file application in Form 6 A and If anybody want a vote deleted, can file an objection in Form 7. He added that for any correction in voter list or voter card should fill application Form 8 and If anybody wants to change address within the constituency, should submit application in Form 8A. Spokesperson said that form can be submitted to District Election Office, Electoral Registration Officer or Booth Level Officer from 06.09.2013 to 04.10.2013. He said that Booth Level Officer will be present to receive the form on 15.09.2013, 22.09.2013 & 29.09.2013 at respective polling station. Spokesperson further issuing a caution said that Registration as a voter in two places is an Offence under R.P. Act 1950. He said that Election Commission has also launched a scheme SMS scheme to check particulars & polling station details through SMS by using the following SMS format. SMSPJB <SPACE> IDCARDNO and send the SMS to 09216164605. Election Commission has also launched a toll free number 1950 for any queries regarding registration of votes - Chandigarh September 25: The Punjab Government today issued the transfer and posting orders of 11 PPS officers in the state. Disclosing this here today an official spokesman said that Mr. Ravinder Lumba has been posted as Assistant Commandant 5th commando Batlalian Bahadurgarh Patiala, Savinderjit Singh posted as SP Crime, Chandigarh, Gurmej Singh posted as SP (O) Gurdaspur, Jaipal Singh posted as SP Crime Zonal Patiala, Hatinder Ghai posted as SP Crime-1 Punjab Chandigarh, Jagjit Singh Saroa posted as SP (D) Gurdaspur, Ram Parkash posted as SP Crime Zonal Bathinda, Sareen Kumar posted as SP Crime Zonal Jalandhar, Bhupinder Singh attached with SSP Bathinda, Parmjit Singh posted as SP Crime-II Chandigarh, Sami posted as Assistant commandant 3rd Commando Batalian Mohali. - SUKHBIR BADAL FINALISES PUNJAB’S PLAN FOR INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION DEPUTY CM TO LEAD A DELEGATION TO MEET INDUSTRIAL GIANTS IN BENGALURU, TAIWAN, DELHI AND MUMBAI CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 24: Punjab is all set to realize industrial revolution in the State with Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today finalizing a plan under “Progressive Punjab-Investors Meet” which he would lead a delegation to Bengaluru, Taiwan, Delhi and Mumbai to woo industrial giants for setting up of their units in the State. In a high level meeting here today Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said Punjab had fixed a target of Rs. 10 lakh crore investment in coming two years. Meanwhile at the meeting, Mr Badal gave his nod to hold an industrial meet in Bengaluru on October 1st, Taiwan from October 6 to 10, Delhi on October 17 and Mumbai on October 23. Mr. Badal said that he would personally meet and apprise the CEOs and MDs of top Indian and Taiwanese industry about the incentives being offered to the industry by Punjab. He said as Punjab’s industrial policy had received a massive response from the industry sector, now the State would launch a sustained campaign campaign to showcase the facilities being provided to industries to usher a new era of development. He said that the Punjab Government would provide all clearances online from November this. Describing Punjab an easiest investment destination in the country, Mr. Badal said the State was on the verge of realizing its dream of Industrial Revolution while 90 percent of its Power Surplus dream had been achieved as three units of under construction thermal plants would be operational by December this year. He said that after December, the power tariff would automatically decrease in the state. Prominent amongst those present in the meeting Mr. Karan Avtar Singh, Principal Secretary Industries, Mr. P.S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy CM, Mr. Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary Power, Mr. A. Venu Prasad, Secretary Housing, Mr. Vikas Partap Singh, Secretary Industries and Commerce, Mr. Ajay Mahajan, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy CM. - CHIEF JUSTICE RELEASES “CITIZEN’S CHARTER” CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 24: In its endeavor to improve Justice Delivery System and to help avail various facilities available in the premises of the High Court for the litigants and general public, today the Chief Justice Mr. Sanjay Kishan Kaul released “Citizen’s Charter” of Punjab and Haryana High Court. It was also uploaded on the website and can be visited at www.highcourtchd.gov.in. Mr. Justice Rajive Bhalla described the various facets of “Citizen Charter”. He said that “Citizen Charter” is an information brochure describing the location of the High Court, working hours of the Courts, Judicial Branches and Administrative Offices, procedure of filing of the appeals etc. It mentions the various facilities and services available for the litigants and the procedure to inspect the judicial records and to obtain certified copies of judgments, orders and documents. It also informs about the procedure to obtain free Legal Aid and about various other alternate dispute resolution mechanisms available in the High Court. It also contains layout of the High Court for general directional guidance of the general public. Recently the High Court has refreshed its Website which has added many features like information regarding the Museum, Location Map of the High Court etc. It also provides links to the Supreme Court website as well as National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) which can be visited to access case status and judgments of any case pending in any of the District or Taluka Courts under the jurisdiction of this Court. The most prominent feature of newly launched website is a Module regarding “Latest Important Judgments” which informs about the latest pronouncements of public importance. Recently e-Committee of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has got developed a mobile application for online display-board, which has been customized for our High Court. Hon’ble the Chief Justice Mr. Sanjay Kishan Kaul launched the “Mobile App” as well which is free to download for android/Java based mobile phones. By using this “Mobile App”, one can watch the live display to know the status of the cases being taken up on in the various Courts. Another application called “Case Management Module” has also been launched which would help Advocates to maintain an “e-Dairy” of their cases which would provide complete status of a case by linking it to the “Case Status Module”. In other words, it would be a Cause List of particular Advocate giving complete details of the cases including complete judgments of his decided cases. Advocates desirous to avail this facility would have to apply to the High Court, procedure regarding which has been put on the website. This facility would be extended to the A.G. Offices, State Government Departments and others in due course. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Hemant Gupta, Chairman, Computer Committee also apprised the gathering about the various other features added in the website as well as the “step by step” procedure to obtain login id for Case Management Module also called e-Dairy. - KOREAN DELEGATION CALLS ON SUKHBIR BADAL-EXPRESSES INTEREST IN INVESTMENT IN PUNJAB DEPUTY CM INVITES DELEGATION MEMBERS TO SET UP KOREAN CLUSTER IN STATE CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 24: A high-level delegation of Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) today called on Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal to explore avenues of investment in the state. The five member delegation led by Kotra’s Director General Mr. Dongseok Choi, Mr. Jinyong Shin, Mr. Wooseong Seo, Mr. Mohinderjit Singh, Mr. Sang Hwan Kim, all Directors, apprised the Deputy CM that the Korean Companies were in favour of investment in Punjab as it has been declared 3rdbest investment destination in the country. Mr. Choi said Korean companies had vast and globally recognized experience in electronic industry and they could explore the possibilities to set up electronic industrial units in Punjab. Mr. Choi also invited the Deputy CM along with a delegation of officers from Punjab to an interactive session with the CEOs and MDs of Korean companies. Inviting KOTRA for investment in Punjab, Mr. Badal informed the delegation that Punjab had been recognised as one of the top investment destinations in the country on the basis of world class infrastructure and air connectivity. He said Mohali was emerging as the industrial Hub of Punjab and invited Korean companies to create their own cluster of townships. Giving details of the State's new industrial policy, Mr. Badal informed the delegation that Punjab had the country’s most attractive industrial policy. He also informed the delegation that Integrated Check Post at Attari On the border with Pakistan would be a boon for Korean industry in the long run as the border with Pakistan was likely to be opened in the near future. "Then you will have access to all Central Asian countries easily", he added. Prominent among other Principal Secretary Industry Mr. Karan Avtar Singh Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister Mr.P.S. Aujla were present in the meeting.- CONGRESS MPs FROM PUNJAB LIMITED TO PRESS STATEMENTS , DID NOTHING FOR STATE-MAJITHIA v ACCUSES CONGRESS OF NOT ENSURING JUSTICE TO THE ’84 MASSACRE VICTIMS EVEN AFTER 30 YEARS v PUNJAB TO OPPOSE EXTENSION OF INDUSTRIAL CONCESSION PACKAGE FOR NEIGHBOURING STATES v BLAMES CONGRESS LED UPA FOR TAKING COUNTRY TO THE BRINK OF ECONOMIC DISASTER v APPEALS PATIALVIS TO SAY GOOD BYE TO NON-PERFORMING MP Patiala, September 24: The Punjab Revenue and Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia today accused Congress MPs from Punjab of adopting negative stance to deliberately stalling the rightful due of state in central taxes and projects thereby not only causing an irreparable financial loss to the state but also betraying the trust of the people of state who had got elected them in last Lok Sabha elections. Addressing an impressive gathering at Prem Bagh Palace in a felicitation function organized by Senior Akali leader Mr. Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu for the newly elected representatives of Zila Parishad and Block Samities, Mr. Majithia Mr. Majithia asked all 8 congress MPs, including three Minister from Punjab, that were they sleeping when their colleagues from Bihar and UP got special packages for their states. He said that their destructive politics costing state dearly and the people were not getting the desired overall development. He dared them to show guts and concern for their own state now, when UPA was all set to extend industrial concessions to neighbouring states. He said that the Punjab government would oppose this move and SAD-BJP MPs would not allow this nefarious design to succeed. He said that the Punjab congress MPs were limited to issue press statements that too in Punjab rather raising any issue of constant injustices being meted out to the state in Parliament. He said that the intelligent electorate of Punjab would ensure the pack up of these non performing “liabilities” in coming general elections. Firing a political salvo on local Congress MP, who is a Minister of State also in Union government, by pointing out her non performance, Mr. Majithia asked that what she had done for the city or constituency since 1998? He said that it was high time for Patialvis to hand over the responsibility to SAD-BJP MP to ensure rapid development and sanctioning of central projects for the region. Mr. Majithia pointed out that Punjab has a 553 km long international border with a hostile neighbour. He said that the atmosphere of peace and communal harmony had not come the State’s way at its own. He informed that that only 10 days back the Punjab Police had unearthed a cross border plot to target prominent Hindu leaders of the state by neutralizing a terrorist module. Highlighting the aspect that Punjab has the proud to be one of the few states, where no communal or caste riots have taken place after the post partition trauma of 1947, Mr. Majithia said that in the last two years hundreds of people have been killed in communal clashes and thousands injured in almost 20 States, no incident of communal violence had been recorded in Punjab as the sincerity, sensitivity and impartiality of our political leaders led by Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh badal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal went a long way in building public morale and confidence. He said Punjab was a blessed State in having leaders, who were committed take Punjab forward by taking all sections of society along. Mr. Majithia lamented that on the other hand Congress was a major bottleneck in ensuring the victims of ’84 Sikh massacre, taken place in the streets of national capital, as it was not only shielding the main culprits but also giving them high posts. He said that yesterday in Delhi taking part in National Integration Council (NIC) meeting, he pointed out that such issues needed to be addressed with utmost seriousness to bring about the emotional integration of our people by assuaging their hurt sentiments. Mr. Majithia said that all economic policies of UPA government were tailor made to benefit the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s coterie of relatives and colleagues and resulted in an embarrassing growth rate of just 4 percent in comparison of 8 percent during NDA regime. He said that roof piercing inflation coupled with careless attitude of this the present ‘economists’ surplus UPA government has put the country in a hopeless situation. He said that after unleashing unprecedented inflation now it has ruined the overall economy of the country with rapid fall of rupee and its most experienced doctor, a world renowned economist, was failed to cure the ailing rupee. Exhorting the people of state to lead nation in getting rid of most corrupt and in-efficient Congress led UPA government by using their ballot power, Mr. Majithia said that it had taken the country to the brink of economic disaster. He said that time has come to install NDA government in Centre to ensure balanced development of the country. Earlier, Mr. Majithia exhorted the newly elected rural representative to play a proactive role to accomplish the development works of their respective areas and serve the rural population with commitment. He said that the youth have a definite role to play an important role for the overall development with special focus on education, sports and social service in their respective villages leaving behind their local differences to make Punjab a No.1 State in the country. Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, Rural Development & Panchayats Minister, Mrs. Harpreet Kaur Mukhmailpur and Mrs. Vaninder Kaur Loomba, both MLAs, Mr. Tejinderpal Singh Sandhu, Mrs. Anoopinder Kaur Sandhu, Mr. Deepinder Singh Dhillon, Chairman, District Planning Committee and Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar, former President SGPC also spoke on the occasion. - MAJOR RESHUFFLE IN PUNJAB CABINET
JOSHI BECOMES NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER, BHAGAT BECOMES FOREST MINISTER JIYANI TO LOOK AFTER HEALTH, MITTAL SHIFTED TO INDUSTRIES Chandigarh, September 24- The Punjab Governor Mr. Shivraj V. Patil today approved the reshuffle of the Council of Ministers on the advice of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that Local Government and Medical Education & Research Minister Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat now becomes the new Forest, Wild Life and Labour Minister. Likewise Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal who was looking after the portfolios of Health and Family Welfare, Social Security and Development of Women and Children along with Parliamentary Affairs had been now entrusted with the new portfolios of Industries and Commerce, Technical Education and Industrial Training & Parliamentary Affairs. Forest and Wildlife Preservation and Labour Minister Mr. Surjit Kumar Jiyani had been given the portfolios of Health and Family Welfare and Social Security & Development of Women and Children. Meanwhile Mr. Anil Joshi has been shifted from Industries and Commerce, Technical Education & Industrial Training to Local Government and Medical Education and Research Department. - HIGH POWERED DELEGATION OF PUNJABI FARMERS FROM GUJARAT CALLS ON BADAL CM ASSURES THEM TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE OF EXTENDING JAMMU TAWI- AHMEDABAD EXPRESS TRAIN TO KUTCH IN GUJARAT MOVE TO ENABLE PUNJABI FARMERS OF GUJARAT TO VISIT THE STATE COMFORTABLY FARMERS THANKS CM PROFUSELY FOR RAISING THEIR ISSUE VIGOROUSLY WITH GUJARAT GOVERNMENT CM TO TAKE UP THE MATTER WITH SGPC FOR OPENING SCHOOL IN KUTCH Chandigarh, September 24- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today assured the Punjabi farmers settled in Gujarat that he would soon take up the issue with the Ministry of Railways, Government of India (GoI) for extending the existing Jammu Tawi- Ahmedabad Express Train to Kutch in Gujarat to enable them to frequently visit Punjab, in a hassle free manner. Interacting with a high powered 50 member delegation from Kutch region of Gujarat led by its President Mr. Jugraj Singh that specially called on Mr. Badal for expressing their gratitude for recently taking up their case of displacement vigorously with his Gujarat counterpart Mr. Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister reiterated that the state government was duty bound to safeguard their interests. He further assured the delegation that SAD-BJP government would be ever ready to take up any issue related to the welfare of Punjabi farmers settled in Gujarat at the highest forum in view of their enormous contribution in the overall development of Gujarat thereby converting the barren land into lush green fields through their sweat and toil. Responding to another issue raised by the delegation related to the waiving off the condition of freezing the land records, the Chief Minister said that he had already taken up this matter with Mr. Modi, who in turn has assured him that this would also be amicably resolved to the satisfaction of Punjabi farmers. It may be recalled that out of 784 farmers whose land records have been freezed due to pending appeal in the Apex Court, 153 belong to Punjab. Mr. Badal aptly realized their genuine hardships in wake of the freeze of land records which was a major impediment in way of seeking co-operative loans, water connections besides bank loans for other purposes. The delegation also invited the Chief Minister to visit the holy Sikh shrine Gurdwara Sri Nanak Durbar at Kot Lakhpat in Kutch district, the historical place associated with Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji who stayed here while going and coming back from Mecca (Saudi Arabia) during his Udaasi. The delegation apprised Mr. Badal that a religious congregation was held here on December 25th every year and requested him to participate in it, which was celebrated by the local Sikhs besides several devotees from various part of the country and abroad. The delegation informed that the holy shrine has also been duly recognized by the UNESCO and thus demanded that keeping in view its historical importance efforts should be intensified to acquaint the people about its centuries old heritage and religious sanctity. Replying to this issue, the Chief Minister told the delegation that he would soon take up this matter with the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) to initiate requisite steps in this regard. The Chief Minister also assured the delegation that he would soon urge the SGPC to open a school there in Kutch region to enable the children of Punjabi farmers to learn Punjabi- their mother tongue. The delegation highly appreciated Mr. Badal's gesture and promised to donate a suitable site for the school at a central place so that it could cater to the needs of Punjabi families living nearby. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu and Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar. The prominent members of delegation included Mr. Jugraj Singh, Mr. Udham Singh, Mr. Ranjit Singh, Mr. Kewal Singh and Mr. Dharam Singh. -------- BADAL LAUNCHES A MASSIVE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR EARLY DETECTION & DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER ACE CRICKTER YUVRAJ SINGH TO BE BRAND AMBASSADOR OF CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN CANCER SCREENING CAMP ACROSS PUNJAB TO BE ORGANIZED ON 28TH & 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2013 BADAL FOR CANCER TREATMENT MEDICINES TO BE SUPPLIED AT SUBSIDIZED RATES CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 24: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today launched a massive awareness campaign by announcing Ace Cricketer Mr. Yuvraj Singh as brand ambassador for the early detection and timely treatment of cancer at all district level hospitals with an active participation noted Oncologists from leading Cancer hospitals besides NGOs committed to eliminate Cancer from the state. Addressing on the launch of Cancer Screening Campaign held here at Punjab Bhawan this morning, Mr. Badal said that the Punjab Government had chalked out a comprehensive action plan and initiated a war against dreaded Cancer vigorously. Three state-of-the-art Cancer treatment hospitals at Baba Farid Medical University of Health Sciences Faridkot, Medical College Amritsar and Medical College Patiala, had been established and equipped with latest cancer detection and treatment equipment, said Mr. Badal. The Chief Minister further said that the state government was also establishing a new 400-bedded Cancer Hospital at Mulanpur in collaboration with Bhaba Atomic Research Centre Mumbai (BARC), besides a 100-bedded cancer treatment hospital at Bathinda. Mr. Badal said that the Union Cabinet was expected to clear this project in its next meeting. Taking a leap forward the state government had also established a dedicated fund of Rs. 200 crore for the Cancer treatment in the state, as on date the government was providing Rs. 1.5 lac to each cancer patient for the treatment, said Mr. Badal. The Chief Minister said earlier under the Cancer awareness program, the government had conducted a widespread door-to-door survey, covering about 27 million people across the state to register cancer cases and now a Massive Cancer Screening Camp in all the 22 districts of Punjab would be organized on 28th & 29th September, 2013. Referring to the general trend amongst the people of ignoring the health related problems, which leads them to a miserable condition, Mr. Badal said that it was the need of the hour to make people aware by launching an awareness drive through the mass media for educating people about various symptoms of dreaded diseases especially the cancer, to save precious lives by ensuring timely health care facilities to the persons inflected with Cancer in the initial stage, said, Mr. Badal. The Chief Minister also appreciated that the young Cricketer Mr. Yuvraj Singh who himself had also gone through this agony and recovered bravely was actively participating in this campaign to sensitize the people about the ill effects of Cancer and its cure. Mr. Badal said that he had also undergone the trauma of Cancer in his own family as he had lost his father and wife due to it. He also called upon the private health institutions like Max healthcare and non-government organizations (NGOs) like Roko Cancer and Rani Breast Cancer (RBC) to work in unison with the government’s mission to eradicate the cancer from the state. The Chief Minister also asked the Health department to chalk out the modalities to provide the medicines for the treatment of Cancer at subsidized rates. On this occasion, Mr. Yuvraj Singh also called upon the people to visit these camps being organized at all the district head quarters for their health checkup in order to rule out the possibilities of Cancer. If detected earlier Cancer could be cured 100%, adding Yuvraj said he had faced the problem of cancer courageously although he was too shaken, when detected. Prominent amongst those were present included Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Mrs. Vini Mahajan, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Secretary Health Mr. Hussan Lal and Director Health Mr. Ashok Nayyar, besides Managing Director and CEO, Max Healthcare Dr. Ajay Bakshi and other Oncologists. ----- PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO FOCUS ON THE ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN MORE VIGOROUSLY Chandigarh, September 24 To check the road accidents in the state for saving the precious life of people, the Punjab Government was laying stress on the road safety campaign across the state in an effective manner. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of Punjab Government said that rate of road accidents taking place in the state despite of excellent road infrastructure in the state, was very high as every year almost four thousand persons were killed in these accident, beside huge loss of property. So it was imperative to control these accidents. The Spokesman further said that high speed vehicles, non compliance of rules, overloading and ignorance toward the road safety are the main cause of accidents. It is the high time to change the mindset of the drivers so that they could have total control on their vehicles by limiting the speed according to the rules. He said that although the Drivers were well aware of these rules but they are ignoring them while driving. So in order to educate the drivers, students and other road users it was appropriate time to boost the road safety campaign with big way. The seminars and other mode of educating the people are going on in the state but the Punjab Government taking the road accidents issue very seriously and it directed to the concerned departments to drive the road safety campaign with effective and result oriented manner. DPRO JALANDHAR BEREAVED BADAL MOURNS DEATH OF HIS FATHER ANANT SINGH DEPUTY CM AND MAJITHIA ALSO CONDOLES DEATH Chandigarh, September 24- District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) Jalandhar Mr. Gurmeet Singh Dhugga was bereaved today as he lost his father Mr. Anant Singh (96), who passed away at his native village Dhugga Kalaan in Hoshiarpur district, late last night after a prolonged illness. He is survived by six daughters and one son. Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mr. Anant Singh. Sharing his heart felt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family, friends and relatives, Mr. Badal prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of grief. Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia also mourned the passing away of Mr. Anant Singh and shared their heartfelt condolences with the family. Advisor to Chief Minister on Media and National Affairs Mr. Harcharan Bains, also condoled the death of Mr. Anant Singh. PUNJAB TO ESTABLISH FOUR WORLD CLASS SPORTS CENTRES—SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL MUKTSAR SEPTEMBER 23: In order to promote sports in the state, four world class Centres for Excellence in Sports would be established in Amritsar, Bathinda, Mohali and Jallandhar. This was stated here today by Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab while addressing the gathering at Barjindera College at the concluding day of the 22nd All India Baba Farid Gold Hockey Club organized to mark the birth anniversary of Baba Sheikh Farid. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government has taken adequate steps to promote sports in the state. The budget for the sports in Punjab has been enhanced from Rs. 12 Crore to Rs. 142 Crore during 2013-14, he added. To ensure world class facilities in the coming up centers of excellence including the hi-tech training to the sportspersons and professional coaches would be made available, said Mr. Badal. The government would focus on the maximum participation of the players in the Olympics, he said. To further promote Kabbadi in Punjab, he said that 4th World Kabbadi Cup would be organized in the state from November 9 to 23. Mr. Badal said that the basic amenities like sewerage and drinking water facilities would be ensured in Faridkot. He also announced to launch a project worth Rs. 10,000 Crore for the overall development of Punjab in the coming two years. Mr. Badal Congratulated the winner team of Punjab and Sindh Bank and honored the players on the occasion. Mrs. Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Member Parliament, Mr. Mantar Singh Brar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Deep Malhotra, MLA Faridkot were present amongst others. ------ CONGRESS PARTY BIGGEST ENEMEY OF PUNJAB-SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL · RO PLANTS TO BE INSTALLED IN ALL PUNJAB VILLAGES Chandigarh September 23: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today lashed out at the Punjab congress party for having launched a misinformation campaign in the state on Punjab’s fiscal health. Terming the congress leaders as the “biggest enemy” of the state, Mr. Badal said that the Congress led UPA has been badly exposed in Punjab as well as in India and instead of accepting the defeat with grace it has bent on ruining the country. Addressing a mammoth gathering at Nathana in Bathinda, Mr. Badal said that the leaders of the congress party knew that they were on the verge of being kicked out by the people of India and their days in power are numbered. The deputy chief minister said that the Congress led UPA has been branded as “anti-people” and has virtually lost every right to serve the nation. Speaking to the media after laying the foundation stone of 219.56 crore development projects in Bathinda, which mainly included the construction of Sudhar Ghar with the cost of Rs 196 crore, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the to strengthen the agriculture base of Punjab, water for purposes of irrigation would be provided to farmers at the tails. New irrigation line at Dhelwan Minor at Nathana was also inaugurated by Mr Badal, which was commissioned with Rs 18.80 crore. A cycle track and jogging path was also inaugurated by the deputy chief minister. Reacting to the recent statement of Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister Haryana expressing claims over Chandigarh, Mr. Badal reiterated that Chandigarh was an integral part of Punjab and would always remain so. On the central government’s directive to remove Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal’s pictures from the 108-Ambulances running in the state, the deputy Chief Minister dismissed the controversy saying that it only showed the hollowness of the Congress led UPA government. “It was unfortunate that the government has even threatened to stop the grants meant for Punjab people under National Rural Health Mission if we “do not toe their line of action”, said Mr. Badal. In order to provide safe drinking water to the people of Punjab especially in Malwa belt, Mr. Badal said that RO plants would be installed in all the villages in the coming months. As many as 3000 ROs have already been installed while 2000 ROs would be installed till December, he said. --------------- 16th NIC Meeting MAJITHIA DEMANDS CLOSURE OF SUFFERINGS OF VICTIMS OF 84’ SIKH MASSACRE BY PUNISHING THE GUILTY v URGES POLITICAL LEADERSHIP TO RISE ABOVE NARROW VOTE BANK POLITICS v Lists the initiatives of Punjab for the safety & security of women and SCs New Delhi, September 23: Punjab today urged the National Integration Council (NIC) to address the failure of the system to punish those guilty of the 1984 massacre of innocent Sikhs, asserting the greatest confidence building measure is to ensure justice in the aftermath of communal violence. Representing Punjab in 16th NIC meeting held here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Punjab Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia today pointed out that the failure to punish those guilty of the 1984 massacre of Sikhs in the national capital and rewarding killers with high offices was not the best way to promote peace, harmony and national integration. He said that the failure of the system to deliver justice even after 30 long years has caused deep resentment and led to a dangerous alienation. He said that such issues needed to be addressed with utmost seriousness by the National Integration Council which by its very definition was the perfect forum to bring about the emotional integration of our people by assuaging their hurt sentiments. Underlining the need to create an atmosphere in which people have faith in the sincerity, sensitivity and impartiality of the political leaders, Mr. Majithia emphasised the need of sagacious leadership and an effective police force. Besides this, the political leadership also has to rise above narrow vote bank politics and to be representative of all communities and guard against alignment with sectarian forces, he added. Mr. Majithia also highlighted the aspect that Punjab has the proud to be one of the few states, where no communal or caste riots have taken place after the post partition trauma of 1947. He said that in the last two years hundreds of people have been killed in communal clashes and thousands injured in almost 20 States, no incident of communal violence had been recorded in Punjab. Stressing that this atmosphere of peace and communal harmony had not come the State’s way by sheer chance, the senior Minister who was representing Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal on the occasion, said that only 10 days back the Punjab Police had unearthed a cross border plot to target prominent Hindu leaders of the state. “This speaks for the constant vigil being kept by us to ensure communal harmony is maintained at all costs.” The Minister said that sincerity, sensitivity and impartiality of political leaders went a long way in building public morale and confidence. He said Punjab was a blessed State in having in Chief Minister Sardar Parkash Singh Badal, who was committed that if Punjab was to go forward all sections of society has to be taken along. “Badal Sahab’s Sangat Darshan programmes themselves are his way of staying connected with the hearts and minds of Punjabis”. Presenting the NCRB statistics, Mr. Majithia said that Punjab accounts for only 1.33 per cent of the total incidents of crime against women reported in the country. Reiterating the SAD-BJP government’s top priority of safety and security of women, Mr. Majithia informed that 181 police help line with dedicated desks for Women operated 24 x 7 by skilled and sympathetic women counsellors, formation of Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART) in each district, increased representation of women in the Punjab Police with ongoing recruitment process for 500 women Sub Inspectors , recruitment of 3224 women constables recruited in the last four years, setting up of 20 fast track courts have been set up in the State to ensure quick trial of crimes against women, were the initiatives of our government. He also pointed out that Punjab has the highest percentage (32 % ) of scheduled caste population the government guided by the principle of a welfare State and the firm resolve of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal provides a number of social welfare measures including “Atta Daal”, old age pensions and “shagun” to the under privileged sections of society. Besides this, the establishment of 17 special courts to hold trials registered under the SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989 and establishment of a SC and Weaker Section Cell in the office of the ADGP Crime were other initiatives of Punjab government. He also informed that in case of the incidents and rate of crime committed against SCs during 2012 as National Crimes Record Bureau, Punjab accounts for only 0.21 per cent reported incidents in the country. The Public Relations Minister also said that the social media has a tremendous capacity to play a positive role , the government must encourage the citizens, specially the youth to use the social media for promoting national integration and tackling hate propaganda. Recalling the unparalleled sacrifice of Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh and number of other great freedom fighter from Punjab, Mr. Majithia said that why do we find no Indians in India? We only find Hindus or Muslims, Sikhs or Christians, Brahmins or Dalits, upper castes or lower castes? Mr. Majithia said that he was quite hopeful that just like the rape and murder of a young woman in Delhi enthused the nation to rise, change the law and ensure better security for women, the Muzzafarnagar incident would become a catalyst for communal harmony, peace and all round development of the country in future. - TECHNICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO SIGN MOU WITH ORACLE Chandigarh, September, 23: To impart technical education in the state the Punjab government has given its nod to Technical Education Department to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American data base company Oracle. It would be fruit full for teaching faculty as well as students of the state. Disclosing this here today Mr. Anil Joshi. Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister, Punjab said that this contract would be instrumental in professional enhancement in all the technical institutions of the state. The teaching faculty in technical institutions would be updated through the programmes of Oracle life data based design SQL programming, java programming, java fundamental and others online courses, he added. He further said that under this MOU guest lectures and seminars for the students and workshops for the faculty members would also be conducted by the Oracle, similarly advanced computer programmes would be started in the engineering colleges and basic modules would be taught in Polytechnic colleges. - ‘CITIZEN’s CHARTER’ TO BE RELEASED BY CHIEF JUSTICE ON 24TH SEPTEMBER CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 23: A spokesperson of Punjab and Haryana High Court said that an information brochure in the shape of ‘ Citizen’s Charter’ of Punjab and Haryana High Court is going to be released by Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court on 24th september, 2013 in the conference hall at 4.15 pm. He said that two other computer applications for displaying ‘Digital Display Board’ on mobile sets as well as ‘Case Managemaent System’ (electronic diary) would also be released. - PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE INTERACTIVE AND INFORMATIVE MATERIAL TO THE COLLEGE STUDENTS – AVINASH CHANDER CHANDIGARH September.23: The Punjab Government has set up EDUSAT linked to all the government colleges in the state in order to provide interactive and informative material to the College students. Besides this career counseling entrepreneurships and employment generation would also be ensured. Disclosing this here today Mr. Avinash Chander Chief Parliamentary Secretary higher education Punjab said that employability lectures were also being imparted through this technology. EDUSAT a high profile Education Satellite which was launched by Indian Space Satellite Organisation (ISRO) was the first Indian Satellite built exclusively for serving the educational sector. EDUSAT was specially configures for audio-visual medium employing digital interactive classrooms and multimedia multi-centric system. The live as well as recorded lectures were beamed to the education institutions by a linking network. This visual class work teaching with two way communication links offers new technologies for supporting effective teaching in colleges. He said that the basic aim of education through this satellite was to identify hard topics in all subjects, choose subject experts to deliver live lectures on those topic, to supplement and diversify the knowledge of the students and to make a data base of quality lectures which will be provided to all the government colleges. He further said that around 350 lectures have been delivered on thirteen subject of science, arts and commerce. Employability programme was also telecast on preparation of competitive exams, self-employment options available to the students and lectures on various employment avenues. All government colleges have been provided generators to solve the problems of frequent power failure. He also said EDUSAT was proving to be a very powerful medium for the dissemination of latest and quality education to the students. -- IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED ROTATIONAL PROGRAMME FROM 24 SEPTEMBER TO 1 OCTOBER
CHANDIGARH,SEPTEMBER, 23: The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the kharif Season through Canal water from 24-09-2013 to 01-10-2013. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda Branch, Bist Doab, Patiala feederand Abohar Branch respectively. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line in group 'A' being in the channels of first preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available will be utilized in Ghaggar Branch and its off taking channels i.e Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' respectively. The spokesman further said that all the direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in group 'A' being in the First preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available would be utilised in Abohar Branch off-taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/Minors in Group 'B'. The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper Bari Doab Canal system Lahore Branch with its distributaries being in the channels of first preference would run to their indent and balance water supplies available would be utilized in Main Branch Lower, Kasur Branch Lower, sabhron branch with their distributaries respectively. CM MOURNS DEATH OF HT SCRIBE JASDEEP SINGH MALHOTRA DEPUTY CM AND MAJITHIA ALSO CONDOLES THE TRAGIC AND UNTIMELY DEATH Chandigarh, September 22, 2013 Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad, tragic and untimely demise of Jalandhar based Principal Correspondent of the Hindustan Times Mr. Jasdeep Singh Malhotra, who passed away in a fatal road accident near Mukerian on Sunday. Recalling the outstanding journalistic services rendered by Mr. Malhotra during his professional career spanning over nearly two decades, the Chief Minister described him as a fearless and upright journalist who discharged his duties with utmost dedication, sincerity and professional commitment to pursue the ultimate goal of freedom of press in true spirit. He said that in the death of Mr. Malhotra a void has been created in the journalistic fraternity which was difficult to be filled in near future. Sharing his heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family members, friends and relatives, the Chief Minister prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to them for bearing this irreparable loss in this hour of grief. Meanwhile Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia also mourned the passing --- BADAL CLEARS CONCEPT PAPER FOR BHAI JAITA JI’S MEMORIAL AT SRI ANANDPUR SAHIB · MEMORIAL TO SYMBOLIZE BHAI JAITA JI’S SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE, SERVICE, EQUALITY, DEVOTION AND COMMITMENT FOR THE WELL-BEING OF SIKH PANTH · BADAL SEEKS INPUTS FOR DOCUMENTARY FILM AND LIGHT & SOUND SHOW ON BHAI JAITA JI’S LIFE FROM SIKH SCHOLARS AND HISTORIANS Chandigarh, September 22 The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved the concept paper prepared by the concept committee for the construction of the historic memorial of Bhai Jaita ji (Jeevan Singh Ji) who symbolized an indomitable spirit of sacrifice, service, equality, harmony, devotion and commitment for the well-being of Sikh Panth. Presiding over the meeting of eminent Sikh scholars and historians to finalize the broad contours of the upcoming monument in the memory of supreme sacrifice of Bhai Jaita ji at Sri Anandpur Sahib over an area of five acres, Mr. Badal said this prestigious memorial would be an harbinger of Bhai Jaita’s spirit of service and dedication towards Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji and his son Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji. Mr. Badal recalled the unprecedented act of selfless service by Bhai Jaita ji for bringing the head (sis) of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji from Delhi to Sri Anandpur Sahib, without caring for his life, for handing over to Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji with utmost respect and reverence. Guru Gobind Singh ji fondly embraced his devout Sikh for his rare act of valour and dedication. Mr. Badal asked the Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs to engage the services of a reputed world class architect for finalizing the site plan and design of the monument and said since it was coming up in the vicinity of Virasat-e-Khalsa, the monument should be complementary and contiguous to the Sikh Heritage Complex. He said the light and sound show, laser show, documentary film besides the galleries highlighting the life and philosophy of Bhai Jaita ji must be planned there to make our future generations acquaint with our rich legacy and glorious cultural heritage. He asked the historians and scholars to give their vital inputs for the construction of memorial aesthetically besides script for the documentary film and light & sound show to eulogize the supreme sacrifice of Bhai Jaita ji. Mr. Badal categorically said that Bhai Jaita ji was the devout Sikh who was highly revered by everyone as he personified the concept of service of Sikh Panth with devotion and humility. This memorial was a befitting tribute to Bhai Jaita ji’s unique sacrifice to perpetuate his great legacy of rich values and bravery, added Mr. Badal. Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Speaker Punjab Vidhan Speaker Mr. Charnjeet Singh Atwal, Cabinet Ministers Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs Mr. SS Channi, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. KJS Cheema and Director Cultural Affairs Mr. Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa besides eminent Sikh historians and Scholars Prof. Kirpal Singh, Prithipal Singh Kapur, Dr. Indu Banga. -
DOCTORS TO UNDERGO SPECIALIZED CANCER TREATMENT TRAINING ABROAD REITERATES FIRM COMMITMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO COMBAT CANCER IN PUNJAB EXHORTS PEOPLE TO FORM NDA GOVERNMENT AT CENTRE PAYS RICH TRIBUTES TO BABA FARID JI Faridkot, September 22- The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state government would soon set up two ultra modern Cancer diagnostic and Treatment centers at Amritsar and Patiala, for combating the menace of Cancer in an effective manner. Addressing a mammoth gathering after inaugurating the North India’s first Single Emission Computed Tomography center here today at the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, the Chief Minister said that the state government was firmly committed for tackling the problem of this fatal disease in the state. He said that these centers would be equipped with the latest technology so as to impart the quality cancer treatment to the residents of the state. Mr. Badal further said that the state government had already transferred its prime land in Mullanpur near Chandigarh for the setting up of a world class cancer hospital on the lines of Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital adding that he had pleaded the Prime Minister to expedite the process of establishing this hospital in the state. The Chief Minister further said that all out efforts were being made by the state government to provide quality cancer treatment to the patients suffering from this deadly disease. He also said that the state government was also mulling to send the Doctors of the state to foreign countries for getting specialized training of the cancer treatment, which would play a vanguard role in the state government’s crusade against the cancer in Punjab. Mr. Badal also said that realizing well that the treatment of this disease was very costly the state government has also constituted a ‘corpus fund’ to help the poor and needy patients. Exhorting the Baba Farid Medical Sciences University to play an effective role in providing Medical facilities to the people through Research and Development (R&D), the Chief Minister said that it was the need of the hour in the larger interest of the public. He said that the University must start a pilot project by adopting five villages of the district to make these villages disease free. Mr. Badal said that this project must be replicated to other districts for making a ‘Healthy and Hygienic Punjab’. Terming the true federal structure as the panacea of all the ills faced by the country, the Chief Minister said that the successive Congress governments at the center have turned the political structure of country into unitary form by usurping the powers of the states. He said that the net result of this was that the states have been reduced to the position of mere beggars who were at the mercy of the centre to seek funds for the development. Mr. Badal said that this has resulted in lop sided development of the country due to which regional disparities had taken place in the country. The Chief Minister said that it was unfortunate that the framers of the policies in the country were not aware about the ground realities owing to which the pangs of the common man had increased manifolds. Underscoring the need for the enacting the uniform need based policies for the balanced growth of the nation, Mr. Badal said that it would go a long way in the holistic development of the country. However the Chief Minister said that it was not possible under the regime of the Congress led UPA government. He said that due to the wrong misrule of the successive Congress governments at the centre, the country was confronting a large number of social maladies like unemployment, illiteracy, poverty and starvation. Mr. Badal said that the only solution to get rid of these problems was the formation of the NDA government at the centre after the coming Lok Sabha polls. “The countrymen are fed up from the wrong policies of the UPA and I am sure that they would show a door to the Congress thereby paving way for the formation of NDA government at centre” he added. Earlier paying floral tributes Baba Sheikh Farid on his Aagman purab here today, the Chief Minister described him as one of the greatest spiritual ambassadors, poet prophet and founder of ‘Sufi’ tradition in India. Mr. Badal said that Baba Farid ji was the father of Punjabi poetry and his philosophy of humanism and spirituality based on the principles of love, compassion, equality, humility, brotherhood and freedom reigned supreme and was all pervasive. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Lok Sabha MP Mrs. Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Mantar Singh Brar, MLA Mr. Deep Malhotra, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema and Vice Chancellor of Baba Farid Medical Sciences University Dr. SS Gill. Punjab Government gives extension of one more year in serviceChandigarh, September 21: Punjab Government has extended one more year I e. November 1, 213 in the service of Punjab Government employees. Disclosing this here today the spokesman of the Punjab Government said that Punjab Government has issued the order in this regard. Besides the government has also extended one year in maximum age for eligibility to government service as per the notification with effect from November 1, 2013 the government has extended one year service in respect of Class-I, Class-II, Class-III and Class IV employees. Spokesman further said that this extension would be effective in the case of those employees who would be eligible for service one more year as on October 31, 2013. He further said for this purpose the government has called the options from the concerned employee in the prescribed performa and option once given would be considered final. He also clarified that instruction would be effective from November 1, 2013. - CM FOR SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION OF 100% SCHEMES OF WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION· ASKS DEPARTMENT TO PREPARE A MASTER PLAN AND UNDERTAKE RATIONALIZATION· NON-PERFORMING OFFICERS TO BE GIVEN MARCHING ORDERS CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 21 Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Water Supply and Sanitation department to prepare a comprehensive ‘Master Plan’ to ensure smooth implementation of state’s cent percent water supply schemes across the state. Mr. Badal was presiding over a high level meeting of the senior officers here at his residence late last evening to review the functioning and progress of the department. Pointing towards the bottlenecks in departmental functioning, the Chief Minister approved the rationalization plan of the department and asked the Principal Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation to draft a transfer policy to be implemented at the earliest for smooth functioning of the department. Expressing concern over the indiscipline and lethargic attitude of employees, Mr. Badal warned that non-performing officers would be compulsorily retired. He categorically asked the Principal Secretary to regularly monitor the performance of senior officers and in turn they should also review the performance of their subordinates. Any officer or official found to be delinquent or showing laxity would not be allowed to continue in service and would be given marching orders. He said the people’s service should be our sole motive and we should make all concerted efforts to deliver the goods effectively for their betterment. The Chief Minister directed all the Superintendent Engineers (SEs), Executive Engineers (XENs) of the department to prepare their tour schedules and ensure regular interactions with the village Panchayats besides inspecting the ongoing water works schemes and projects in tandem with the respective Panchayats. Referring to the issue of staff shortage in the department, Principal Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation apprised the Chief Minister that as many as newly recruited 120 Junior Engineers, 30 Draftsmen and 30 SDOs would soon join the department as the process of their selection had already been completed. The Chief Minister also directed the SEs to prepare the constituency wise lists of the villages in their respective circles, where the people were not coming forth to contribute their due share for the maintenance the Water Supply Scheme. He said that after complete survey, a strategy to motivate and mobilize the people would be chalked out with an active involvement of political leaders of particular areas. In order to lessen the stress of litigation work on the departmental officers, Mr. Badal asked the Principal Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation to evolve a mechanism to appoint OSDs (Legal) having fair knowledge of department’s functioning on contract basis for quick disposal of cases in the courts besides giving legal opinion on the day to day matters, thereby saving lot of time and energy of the officers. Realizing the routine hardships faced by the people, the Chief Minister advised the officers that the sites for the RO units must be selected at some central place of the villages to facilitate them to fetch water from the possible nearest distance. The Principal Secretary Mr. Suresh Kumar informed in the meeting that out of 15000 villages, 14000 had been covered under water supply schemes, 5000 villages were getting 70 liter water daily per family and in others availability of water was 40 liter per family. About 905 villages were being covered under new water schemes. He further said that 244 schemes were not functional since long. A recent survey revealed that water supply schemes in 140 villages were completely non functional in Gurdaspur district and it required Rs. 11.44 crore to revamp them. The Chief Minister reiterated that since the potable water supply was on the top agenda of the government and it would ensure release of adequate funds for the maintenance and augmentation of the schemes. He asked the finance department to immediately release Rs.11.44 crore to make the rural water supply schemes functional in the Gurdaspur district. Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting included Principal Secretary Mr. Suresh Kumar, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Chief Technical Coordinator Mr. SR Aggarwal, Mr. RL Kauldhar, Mr. AK Soni and Mr. DS Cheema (all Chief Engineers), Mr. SK Saini, Mr. BS Kang, Mr. Kulbir Singh, Mr.Sohan Lal, Mr. NS Pandori, Mr. Kamal Vohra, , Mr. Mukhtiar Singh, Mr. GK Gupta and Mr. RK Talwar ( all SEs). -------- PUNJAB TO BE POWER SURPLUS STATE BY END OF THIS YEAR- CM SLAMS UPA FOR ANTI-FARMER’S STANCE TERMS MEAGER COMPENSATION TO FLOOD VICTIMS AS A CRUEL JOKE WITH THEM RATHER THAN WORRYING ABOUT FISCAL CONDITION OF CONGRESS LEADERS MUST LOOK DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF COUNTRY UNDER UPA ASSAILS UPA FOR NAMING EVERY CENTRAL SCHEME AFTER CONGRESS LEADERS Bassi Pathaana (Fatehgarh Sahib), September 21, 2013 Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that due to the concerted efforts of the state government, Punjab would become a Power Surplus state by the end of this year. Addressing a mammoth gathering after inaugurating the newly upgraded 220 KW Power Grid here today, the Chief Minister that when the state government had assumed power in the year 2007, Punjab was Power deficit by 30% as their predecessors had never bothered to augment the Power supply. However he said that realizing well that Power was the engine of growth in any economy the SAD-BJP government has taken unprecedented steps to enhance power generation in the state for which three thermal Power plants with a capacity of 3920 MW were under construction. Mr. Badal said that these power plants would be commissioned soon after which Punjab would become the power surplus state of the country by the December this year. The Chief Minister further said that the day was not far away when instead of incurring heavy expenditure on purchasing the power, the state government would be in a capacity to sell the power to other states. However he said that the need of the hour was to check the transmission losses for which unprecedented steps have been taken by the state government. Mr. Badal also lauded the role of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in making the state Power Surplus. Lashing out at the Union Government, the Chief Minister said that the anti-farmer’s stance of the Centre has ruined the farmer of the state, who had played a vanguard role in making the country self reliant in food production by exhausting its only available natural resources in the form of soil and water. He said that due to the wrong policies of the Centre the farmers of the state were reeling under a whopping debt of Rs 30000 crore. Mr. Badal said that if the state government had not extended a helping hand to the farmers of state by giving them free power worth Rs 5700 crore then they would have been completely vanished. Terming the meager compensation given to the flood victims of the state as a cruel joke with them, the Chief Minister said that he had raised the matter of hiking this relief with the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister but of no avail. He categorically said that none of the Union minister had ever bothered to visit the state to give any grant or project to it. Rather he said that the Union government was depriving the state of its legitimate right by blocking the grants on pretext of photographs pasted on Ambulances. The Chief Minister said that the ceasing of grants by the UPA government reflected the myopic outlook of the Congress leaders adding that the state Congress leadership has always acted as stumbling block in the progress of the state. However Mr. Badal said that the Congress leaders owe an explanation to the countrymen as to why every central scheme was named after their leaders. He said that these schemes on the name of Congress leaders were arbitrarily imposed on the states, who were left with no other choice then implementing it. Later on interacting with the media persons, the Chief Minister said that rather than worrying about the fiscal condition of the state, the Punjab Congress leaders must introspect and look into the deplorable economic condition of the country under the UPA regime. Mr. Badal said that the dwindling position of our Rupee against the Dollar reflected the poor state of economy in the country. He said that even the Union Ministers have admitted about the poor financial condition of the country but the state Congress leaders were misleading the people by unleashing a malicious propaganda regarding the economic condition of state, which was very sound. The Chief Minister said that due to the stupendous efforts of the state government Punjab was today leading the country in the field of education, as per the report of the Government of India (GoI). Likewise he said that despite of adverse circumstances Punjab has emerged as the third most preferred investment destination of the country according to a recent report of the Reserve Bank Of India (RBI). Acceding to the demand made by the local MLA Justice (Retd.) Nirmal Singh, the Chief Minister said that the town would soon have Administrative and Judicial complexes. He also announced a grant of Rs 15 lakh for the construction of a community hall in the town. Mr. Badal also asked the officers to explore the possibility of installing an Astro Turf in the town. The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLA Justice (Retd.) Nirmal Singh, former MP Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, former MLA Mr. Didar Singh Bhatti, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Arun Sekhri. ---------- MODI’S ELEVATION AS PM WOULD GIVE FILLIP TO OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF STATE- CM URGES PEOPLE TO ROUT THE CONGRESS LED UPA GOVERNMENT FROM CENTRE CONTINOUS DISCRIMINATION BY UPA HAS ADEVRSLY AFFECTED THE STATE PAYS RICH TRIBUTE TO BHAI LALO JI ITI DHURI TO BE NAMED AFTER BIBI RAJJI, DAUGHTER OF BHAI LALO JI Dhuri (Sangrur), September 21- Exhorting the people to form the NDA government at the centre, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that if BJP leader Mr. Narendra Modi was elected as the Prime Minister of the country then it would further help in giving impetus to the overall development of the state. Addressing the mammoth gathering at a state level function organized to mark the birth anniversary of Bhai Lalo Ji here today, the Chief Minister said that the entire BJP leaders especially Mr. Modi were having a pro-Punjab stance, which would help the state in ushering in an era of unprecedented development in the state. He said that if Mr. Modi was elected as the Prime Minister of the country then the state government would be able to get more funds and projects from the centre which would give boost to the overall growth of the state. So Mr. Badal impressed upon the people to ensure the victory of the SAD-BJP alliance on all the 13 Lok Sabha seats of the state in the ensuing general elections. The Chief Minister bemoaned that the continuous discrimination meted out to state by the Congress led UPA government has adversely affected the prospects of the state in a number of ways. Therefore he said that the need of the hour was to show a door to the UPA government at the centre by constituting the NDA government in the ensuing Lok Sabha Polls. Mr. Badal said that this would go a long way in putting the state on high growth trajectory besides ensuring the well being of the people in a holistic manner. Lashing out at the Congress led UPA government in the Centre, the Chief Minister said that due to the long misrule of the Congress the country was confronting a large number of social maladies like unemployment, illiteracy and poverty. He said that the sky rocketing prices of the essential commodities coupled with the regressive policies of the Union government has further accentuated the woes of the countrymen. Likewise Mr. Badal said that due to the wrong policies of the Union government the industry and agriculture of the state has been ruined adding that due to the anti-farmers stance of the Centre the hard working and resilient farmers of the state were on the verge of economic disaster. Taking a dig at the state Congress leadership, the Chief Minister said that in the dearth of any issue against the state government, the Congress leaders have unleashed a malicious campaign regarding the financial position of the state. He said that the state government would soon double the beneficiaries under the Atta-Dal scheme besides providing scholarship to the meritorious students under Dr. Hargobind Khurana scholarship scheme, which was a testimony to the fact that the state government’s fiscal health was very good. Mr. Badal said that the Congress leaders were trying to mislead the people of state by their propaganda but the wise people of the state were well aware of their dubious character so they would not get swayed away by these political gimmickries of the Congress leadership. Reiterating that the fiscal condition of the state was sound enough to meet the day to day expenditure of Punjab, the Chief Minister said that the state was on the path of resurgence as the state government was leaving no stone unturned to ensure the overall development of Punjab. Earlier paying rich tributes to Bhai Lalo Ji, the Chief Minister announced that in order to perpetuate the rich legacy of this great legend, the state government would organize a state level function in his memory every year, so as to acquaint the coming generations about his ideals of hard work and community kitchen. Mr. Badal said that these functions would be held across the state every year so that people must get inspiration from life and ideals of this great spiritual leader. He said that prior to the SAD-BJP government nobody has ever bothered to construct the monuments of great spiritual and religious leaders but from the very first day of their regime they have been focusing on erecting the memorial to pay befitting tributes to our great Gurus, saints and seers. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced to name the ITI Dhuri on the name of Bibi Rajji, the daughter of Bhai Lalo Ji. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Cabinet Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Babu Parkash Chand Garg and Bibi Farzaana Aalam, MLA Mr. Iqbal Singh Jhunda and Chairman of District Planning Committee Ludhiana Jathedar Hira Singh Gabria. -x CONGRESS IN FAVOUR OF TAINTED MINISTERS-HARSIMRAT BADAL · PUNJAB CONGRESS BUSY DAY AND NIGHT TO SCUTTLE CENTRALLY SPONSORED GRANTS FOR PUNJAB · DISTRIBUTES GRANTS FOR DEVELOPMENT WORKS IN SANGAT DARSHAN PROGRAM MANSA, SEPTEMBER 20: Bathinda mp Harsimrat Kaur Badal today asserted the Congress led UPA was a government of scams and that it would go to any length to shied its tainted ministers. Reacting to the clean chit guven by the CBI to Union Home Minister Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde in the Aadarsh Housing Society scam, Mrs. Badal said it was the old tradition of Congress Party to get clean chits for its tainted ministers. She said the CBIs clean chit proved that the Congress party was shielding its leaders despite the fact that they had lost all credibility in the eyes of the people. She said that not only Mr. Shinde, the Congress Party was also trying to defend Mr. Pawan Bansal, named in Railgate, and other ministers and leaders, who had looted the state exchequer and nation’s assets in various scams including commonwealth, coalgate and choppergate. Addressing public rallies after holding sangat darshan in Sardulgarh area, Mrs. Badal said the discriminatory attitude of the Congress led UPA Government had again come to the fore when the Union Ministry of Environment has imposed ban on setting up new industrial units in the State's industrial capital Ludhiana. She said the Punjab Congress was trying to stop the funds released under 108 Ambulance services, which had proved to be a boon for expectant mothers. She advised Pradesh Congress President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa to stop accusing the state government over trivialities and impress upon the Congress led UPA Government to release funds to the state.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Badal presided over sangat darshan programs in villages Ahlupur, Lohgarh, Bhagwanpur Heengna, Meerpur Kalan, Meerpur Khurd, Kahnewala, Bhunder and Tibbi Hari Singh Wala and handed over cheques of Rs. 80 lakh for development purposes. Prominent amongst those were present included Mr. Dilraj Singh Bhunder, Mr. Sukhdev Singh Chainewala, Mr. Harmesh Singh Rorki and Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bananwali.
O/o DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER, PUNJAB UPA GOVERNMENT UNDER SEVERE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CRISIS-SUKHBIR BADAL ·NO THIRD TERM FOR UPA” FOR THE SAKE OF COUNTRY · CONGRESS PARTY MOST COMMUNAL IN THE WORLD · PUNJAB TO DEDICATE THERMAL PLANT UNITS ON 24 NOVEMBER, 8 AND 20 DECEMBER PATIALA/RAJPURA/PATRAN, SEPTEMBER 20: Deputy Chief Minister Punjab Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today gave a clarion call for "no third term for UPA"asserting this was the only way to take the country out of the severe economic mess it had slipped into due to flawed polices and programmes of the central government. Describing the Congress led UPA government as "indecisive", Mr. Badal said India was in a‘pitiable’ condition due to the total collapse in governance and that the people were now ready to throw it out of power in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Listing the failures of the UPA, the Deputy CM said the Indian currency had touched its lowest ebb under UPA rule. He said similarly inflation was at its highest ever. He said even as the common man was reeling agaisnt this double whammer the UPA leaders were busy looting the assets of the country. He said the trust deficit against the UPA was not limited to the common man only. He said traders and industrialists were fed up by the UPA and wanted to teach it a lesson it would never forget. Meanwhile talking to media persons after dedicating the Rs. 25 crore newly constructed state office complex of Water Supply and Sanitation and Senior Architect here, the Deputy CM alleged the Punjab Pradesh Congress was working under a conspiracy to tarnish the well-built image of Punjab by falsifying facts. He said that this plan PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa was misleading the people by dishing out wrong and misleading information. Advising the PCC chief to desist from spreading false propoganda on the financial front, he said Mr Bajwa should instead mount pressure on the center to release Punjab’s share in central sales tax of Rs 700 crore immediately. On being asked about the stand of SAD in favour of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Mr. Narendra Modi, Mr. Badal said that Mr. Modi had already shown his charisma in Gujarat and that it had the ability to take the country out from the present severe financial crisis. When asked about the allegations of communalism being levelled against Mr. Modi, the Deputy Chief Minister rubbishing the charges of Congress party and asked how a party which was itself engulfed in communalism, raise such allegations. “The Congress is the most communal party in the world and it was responsible for the 1984 Sikh carnage. Congress leaders like Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar are still being shielded", he said. Announcing a lifelong gift for the people of Punjab, Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP Government was all set to dedicate three three units of thermal plants which were under construction to the State. He said the first unit would would be inaugurated on November 24 while the second on December 8 and third on December 20. He declared that with the inauguration of these plants, Punjab would become a power surplus state and the usage rates of power would automatically become cheaper in the state. Mr. Badal also announced to enhance the political ambit of Shiromani Akali Dal in other states and said that the party would field its candidates in ensuing Delhi and Haryana assembly polls. He said in Delhi the SAD would contest the elections with its ally BJP. When asked about the delay in disbursement of Dearness Allowance to Punjab employees, Mr. Badal announced that state government would disburse the DA in December this year. Earlier Mr. Badal also laid foundation stone of Sewerage Treatment Plant at Rajpura with a total cost of Rs. 40 crore. Besides this Mr. Badal also dedicated newly constructed Bus Stand at Patran with total cost of Rs. 3.5 crore, laid foundation stone of Sewerage Treatment Plant worth Rs. 9 crore and inaugurated newly constructed Tehsil complex at Patran with a cost of Rs. 3.70 crore. Meanwhile Mr. Rakhra said that SAD-BJP Government has given special attention towards the development of royal city Patiala and announced several projects for the city. He described Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal as ‘Vision of Punjab’ and said that Mr. Badal would take Punjab to the zenith of development. Mr. Amrinder Singh Bajaj, Mayor, Patiala extended welcome to Deputy CM. Former SGPC Chief Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar along with SGPC Members of Patiala honoured Deputy CM by offering siropa. -- NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS NOMINATED FOR THE MAIZE DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND BEE KEEPING DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION BOARD Chandigarh, September 20- To further intensify the efforts of state government for the promotion of Maize as alternate crop in a big way besides encouraging the Bee Keeping under the state's ambitious Agriculture diversification program, the Punjab Government has nominated the non official members of the Maize Development Board and Bee Keeping Development and Promotion Board. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has given nod to appoint these non-official members of the boards constituted under his Chairmanship with Agriculture Minister as Vice Chairman. As many as ten progressive farmers and three representatives of the Maize processing industry have been nominated as the non-official members of the Maize Development Board. The ten progressive farmers nominated as the Members of this prestigious board includes Mr. Surjit Singh Chagar (Hoshiarpur), Mr. Lakhwinder Singh (Patiala), Mr. Jaswinder Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib), Mr. Amarjit Singh (Jalandhar), Mr. Paramjit Singh (SBS Nagar), Mr. Daljit Singh (Phagwara), Mr. Kuldeep Singh (SAS Nagar), Mr. Jagtar Singh (Gurdaspur), Mr. Joginder Singh Seh (Ludhiana) and Mr. Mohinder Singh Bal (Amritsar). Likewise the representatives of the Maize processing Industry nominated as members of the Board included: Mr. Bhavdeep Singh Sidhaana (Phagwara), Mr. Satnam Singh Tiwaana (Fatehgarh Sahib) and Mr. KK Sahi (Ludhiana). Likewise the state government has also nominated the ten progressive Bee keepers as the members of the newly constituted Bee Keeping Development and Promotion Board. The state government has prepared a list of 21 progressive Bee Keepers out of which ten would be appointed as members of the Board in rotation for a term of one year so as to given due representation to every district. These 21 progressive Bee Keepers included: Mr. Sadhu Singh (Amritsar), Mr. Ranjit Singh (Tarn Taran), Mr. Karnail Singh (Hoshiarpur), Mr. Gurdial Singh (Gurdaspur), Mr. Swaran Singh Chandi (Kapurthala), Mr. Pritam Singh (Jalandhar), Mr. Ashwani Kumar (Rupnagar), Mr. Mahinder Singh (SBS Nagar), Mr. Barinder Pal Singh (Ludhiana), Mr. Gurbax Singh (Moga), Mr. Bhupinder Singh (Patiala), Mr. Harjinder Singh (SAS Nagar), Mr. Purshottam Dass (Fatehgarh Sahib), Mr. Suchet Singh (Sangrur), Mr. Dharminder Singh (Barnala), Mr. Gurcharan Singh (Bathinda), Mr. Gurdeep Singh (Mansa), Mr. Pardeep Singh (Sri Muktsar Sahib, Mr. Simarjeet Singh (Faridkot), Mr. Baljeet Singh (Fazilka) and Mr. Joga Singh (Ferozepur). Meanwhile, Mr. Gobinder Singh (Ludhiana), Mr. Jagjit Singh m/s Kashmir Aperies, Doraha (Ludhiana) and Shakti Impex Limited village Bhogiwal (Sangrur) have been nominated as representatives of Honey Processors and Exporters in the Board. --
APPROVES CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AS A NODAL AND PWD AS EXECUTING AGENCIES OF THE PROJECT CHANDIGARH, September 20: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved to constitute a five-member Committee to organize the foundation stone laying function of new Temple Complex at Sri Valmiki Ashram (Ram Tirath), at a cost of Rs 115 crore on the auspicious occasion of Bhagwan Valmiki Jayanti on October 18 in a befitting manner. A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister in a high level review meeting here today at his residence. The Committee would comprise Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Mr. Charanjit Singh Atwal, Cabinet Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs Mr. SS Channi, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. KJS Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Amritsar. This Committee would also monitor the entire project. On the occasion Mr. Badal Said that in order to perpetuate the rich legacyand pay obeisance to of Bhagwan Vailmiki Maharaj Ji, the state government had decided to construct an aesthetically designed engineering marvel with rare architecture. The Chief Minister also approved the Punjab Cultural affairs department as a nodal agency of the project, besides PWD as Executing agency. It was informed in the meeting that Architecture department of the Guru Nanak Dev University had prepared the structural designs of this worldclass temple and would handover it to the PWD. The Chief Minister said that the state government would invite all the religious leaders and eminent personalities on this historic occasion to be a part of this great moment and the place where the 'Maharishi' had propagated the concept of egalitarian society by composing the legendary epic ‘Ramyana'. Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Mr. Charanjit Singh Atwal, Cabinet Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs Mr. SS Channi, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. KJS Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Amritsar. ------------
CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 20: Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab today appointed Divisional Commissioners as Role Observers for the districts falling in their respective divisions. Presiding over a high level meeting Chief Election Commissioner received the revision of voter lists in different assembly constituencies. He also briefed the Commissioners of various directions issued by the Election Commission of India. It was informed in the meeting the concerned commissioner would at least make three visits to all the districts falling in their divisions during division of voter lists and personally inspect the working. It was also informed that the commissioner had to sent three Reports to Election Commission of India. The first report immediately after October 4, second report would be sent after disposed of claims and objections and 3rd report would be sent after the final publication of voter lists. ---------- VIGILANCE BUREAU PUNJAB VIGILANCE NABS DM MARKFED IN BRIBERY CASE Chandigarh September 20: State Vigilance Bureau today nabbed Markfed District Manager Ludhiana K.T.S Dhaliwal red handed accepting bribe of Rs. 1,00,000. Disclosing this here today, Mr. Sursh Arora, Chief Director-cum-DGP Vigilance Bureau Punjab said that Bureau has caught K.T.S Dhaliwal Markfed DM posted at Ludhiana demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 1,00,000 from complainant Jaswant Singh Markfed Branch Manager Jagroan for allowing to return 1.50 lac gunny bags to the traders. He added that the complainant approached the Bureau and alleged that Markfed DM was demanding Rs. three lakhs as a bribe from him for the above said purpose. 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 accepting first instalment of Rs. one lakh 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.
POLICY LEADERSHIP AWARD- 2013’ IN AGRICULTURE CONFERRED ON BADAL SAVE AGRICULTURE FROM FREE MARKET SHARKS: BADAL CITATION HAILS BADAL AS A GREAT VISIONARY AND ARCHITECT OF MODERN AGRICULTIURE IN PUNJAB New Delhi September 19 – The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the Government of India (GoI) to treat agriculture at par with national defense and not to throw the farmer at the mercies of the sharks in the free market economy. Speaking at the Agriculture Policy Leadership Summit- 2013, after receiving ‘Policy leadership award’ in agriculture from Governor of Uttar Pradesh Mr. BL Joshi, Union Ministers Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Mr. Tariq Anwar and eminent agriculture economist Prof. MS Swaminathan, instituted by the leading national magazine ‘Agriculture Today’ in recognition of Punjab’s enormous contribution in national agriculture and food security, at an impressive ceremony held here in Hotel Taj this evening, Mr. Badal said, “With 70% of our people and 53% of our economy still dependent on agriculture, it does not require an economist to know that food security is as important as national security from external threats. A hungry nation cannot defend itself. Therefore, agriculture must be given strong public sector support in the interest of long term Warning the country against an alarming agriculture situation, Mr. Badal cautioned against what he called “the advocates of the tyranny of free market economy” and said that the economic planners must beware fake dreams sold by free market sharks. These sharks are already flourishing at the expense of the blood and sweat of the farmers and farm labourers. Big companies are spending millions of dollars on a misinformation campaign to brainwash the planners and the people at large in order in favour of policies aimed not only at the exploitation of the farmers but at the virtual ruin of our domestic economy. There is a conspiracy against India’s farmers and against our self dependence in agriculture.” Mr. Badal said not heeding the advice of farm-economists like Dr M The Chief Minister said that despite all the talk about diversification, nothing was being done to help the farmer to diversify. “It is not the planner’s research papers but farmers and assured market that can bring about diversification. How much is the government of India prepared to invest on diversification?” he asked. The Chief Minster said that apart from remunerative prices for agricultural produce and assured markets, the center must undertake a major initiative to promote agricultural-based industry, especially food, vegetable and fruit processing in Green Revolution States. For this, he called for an “economic package” from the Government of Earlier, the citation read on the occasion hailed the Chief Minister as the architect of the modern agriculture in Punjab under whose visionary leadership and direction the State Government has formulated and implemented a number of policies and programs in agriculture, horticulture and livestock sector. His understanding of agriculture and rural economy and his political acumen has further helped the state in launching a series of initiatives to better management of farm resources and revival of farm economy by taking a slew of policy interventions, marketing support programs, diversification and marketing linkages of farm produce and enhanced budgetary allocations. As a result the state has achieved sustainably enhanced growth in diversified agriculture production, which have enhanced returns from farming and impacted the rural economy of the state positively. Under his visionary leadership, the state government has prepared a comprehensive strategy to address the issues of the sustainability, water resource management, introduction of new technologies, promotion of conservation agriculture and Comprehensive Agricultural Diversification Plan. With emphasis being laid on increasing the area under agro-forestry and horticulture crops, Contract Farming Act, 2013 has been enacted to provide front end marketing linkages to the famers growing alternate crops. To build capacity of the small and marginal farmers, the state demonstrated the cultivation of vegetables under low cost net houses, motivated farmers to adopt commercial dairy farming by providing subsidy on insurance premium, assisted cooperatives and private entrepreneurs in setting up Agricultural Machinery Service Centers, promoted banana cultivation and fish farming, improved milk yield of buffaloes by setting up 200 Integrated Buffalo Development Centres in 1398 villages to increase income of small and landless. Mr. Badal through policy interventions raised the bar of the state in agriculture matters and improved the living conditions of the farmers in the State. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Agriculture Commissioner Dr. BS Sidhu and Director Agriculture Mr. Mangal Singh Dhillon.
CONGRESS LED UPA GOVT. CROSSED ALL LIMITS OF CORRUPTION BETRAYS THE COUNTRYMEN- BADAL PUNJAB TO EXTEND ATTA-DAL SCHEME TO 30 LAC FAMILIES BRING NDA TO POWER AT CENTRE TO INITIATE A NEW ERA OF COUNTRY’S DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY-SUKHBIR BADAL POLICE OFFICER/OFFICIAL FOUND HELPING DRUG PADDLERS WILL BE TERMINATED DIRECTLY- SUKHBIR BADAL WARNS - CHHAPAR (LUDHIANA) SEPTEMBER 19:- The Punjab Government would soon extend the Atta-Dal Scheme to 30 lac families. An announcement to this effect was made by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today at a largely attended political conference of SAD at historic Chhapar Mela here. He said that presently only 15 lac families were getting the benefit of this scheme. Mr. Badal said that he had directed all the Deputy Commissioners to complete all the requisite formalities in this regard swiftly to ensure the issuing of cards under the scheme to the new beneficiaries in next two months. Lambasting at the Congress led UPA government at the Centre Mr. Badal said that it had surpassed all the limits of corruption and completely betrayed the people of the country. He said that UPA government had completely lost the confidence of the people and its days were numbered due to indulgence in sheer exploitation of the common man. Large number of scams and scandals being exposed everyday and now the time has come when people will show them the door, said Mr. Badal. Referring the recent UNO Committee Report in which India is rated even below Pakistan and Bangladesh at 113th position, Mr. Badal said that maladies like unemployment, illiteracy, poverty and above all inflation had enormously affected the life of a common man only because of wrong policies and programmes of the UPA government. Whereas, SAD-BJP state government was performing its duty toward the people in a complete transparent and accountable manner but the State Congress leaders were envious of the day-by-day increasing popularity of SAD and BJP, added the Chief Minister. Mr. Badal Categorically said that he was confident that SAD-BJP alliance would keep on ruling the state for ever instead of 25 years as people say because of its pro-people polices and programmes. Training guns at Congress leadership in the state, the Chief Minister said that the Congress has always meted out step motherly treatment with Punjab despite of enormous contribution of state during the freedom movement and consequently in making the country self sufficient in food production. These state Congress leaders had never raised their voice against this unfair treatment and now they were criticizing SAD-BJP unnecessarily. He said that the successive Congress governments at the Centre had always ignored the interests of state. Mr Badal pointed out that recently the Union government had extended the Industrial benefits to the neighboring states ignoring Punjab’s legitimate rights. Punjab has been worst sufferer of the apathetic attitude of the Centre because of its deliberate formulations of stringent parameters to exclude the state from the ambit of these schemes. In his address President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that SAD-BJP government was sensitized to the problems of people at the grass root levels whereas the Congress never bothered about their genuine problems for the reasons best known to them. He said SAD-BJP alliance had drawn a roadmap to ensure overall development and prosperity in the state. He pointed out several path breaking initiatives have been taken in the field of agriculture, power, infrastructure, education, health and Industry. Soon Punjab would emerge as a power surplus state in the country, added Mr. Sukhbir. He said that the SAD-BJP government was the only state government in the country spending Rs.6000 crore annually to provide free electricity to the Punjab's farmers that provides benefit of about Rs. 90,000 annually to each. Mr. Sukhbir Singh also said that the government had launched a crusade against the Drug menace in the state and arrested 1200 persons including some police personals in one month involved in drug trafficking. The Deputy Chief Minister also issued a strictly warning to the Police and other officers that any one found helping any drug peddler would be directly terminated in future. The Deputy Chief Minister called upon the people to give fulsome support to bring NDA in power at the Centre in forth coming Lok Sabha elections to initiate a new era of country’s development and prosperity in the right earnest. He also said that the coming years would completely transform the entire picture of the state and it’s functioning as major initiatives were being taken by the state government to ensure the welfare of the people and development of the state. Prominent amongst those were present on the occasion included Secretary General SAD & Member Rajya Sabha Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Information and Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, PWD Minister Mr. Sharanji Singh Dhillon, former Union Minister Mr. Baldev Singh Ramoowalia, Mr. Manpreet Singh Ayali, Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik, Mr. S R Kaler, Mr. Iqbal Singh Chunda and Mr. Ranjit Singh Dhillon ( all MLAs), Senior SAD leader Jathedar Santa Singh Umedpuri, Mr. Ranjit Singh Talwandi, Mr. Bikram Jit Singh Khalsa, Mr. Bhag Singh Mallah, Mr. Harjit Singh Grewal, Mr. Jagjit Singh Talwandi, Mr. Simranjit Singh Dhillon, Mr. Kamaljit Singh Mallah and Mr. Yadwinder Singh besides many other SAD and SGPC leaders --------- SUKHBIR BADAL GIVES NOD TO BRTS FOR AMRITSAR AND LUDHIANA · AMRITSAR TO HAVE 78 AC BUSES AT COST OF Rs. 500 CRORE · MODEL TO BE REPLICATED AT JALANDHAR AND MOHALI IN NEXT PHASE
CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 19: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today gave his in principle nod for establishment of the Bus Rapid Transit System at Amritsar and Ludhiana at a cost of Rs 500 crore. Reviewing the status of the BRTS project at a high level meeting here, Mr. Badal asked the PWD department, which will be executing agency for the project, to start work on the project and complete the same within twelve months. According to the proposal 78 air conditioned buses would be operational in Amritsar and would cover 31 kilometer route. He said in Ludhiana a 48 kilometer route had been identified for BRTS and the finalization of technical plans for the system were in an advanced stage of completion. Informing that the Bus Rapid Transit System was being launching in Amritsar and Ludhiana as a pilot project, Mr. Badal said the same would be replicated in Jalandhar and Mohali after execution of the project in Amritsar and Ludhiana. Mr. Badal said the BRTS project planned for Amritsar and Ludhiana was the world’s most preferred transport system and that a delegation of the Punjab Government had recently conducted an in-depth analysis of this system in Istanbul. He said BRTS project was successfully transporting more than 7.5 lakh people every day in Istanbul. Prominent amongst those were present in the meeting Mr. P.S. Aujla, Secretary PWD, Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, Secretary PIDB, Mr. Priyank Bharti, Director Local Bodies, Mr. Ajay Mahajan, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy CM and Mr. DPS Kharbanda, Commissioner Amritsar Corporation. - PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO CHIEF MINISTER SK SANDHU BEREAVED BADAL CONDOLES DEATH OF HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW DEPUTY CM AND MAJITHIA ALSO MOURNS PASSING AWAY OF HARBHAJAN KAUR Chandigarh, September 19- Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu was bereaved today as he lost his mother-in-law Mrs. Harbhajan Kaur (75), who passed away at a private hospital in Jalandhar, late last night after a brief illness. She is survived by her husband, three daughters and two sons. Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mrs. Harbhajan Kaur. Sharing his heart felt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family, friends and relatives, Mr. Badal prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of grief. Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia also mourned the passing away of Mrs. Harbhajan Kaur and shared their heartfelt condolences with the family. Advisor to Chief Minister on Media and National Affairs Mr. Harcharan Bains, also condoled the death of Mrs. Harbhajan Kaur. - NEW CHAIRPERSONS APPOINTED FOR DISTRICT PLANNING COMMITTEES OF GURDASPUR, HOSHIARPUR, FEROZEPUR, PATHANKOT AND RUPNAGAR Chandigarh, September 19- Punjab Government today appointed Mrs. Neelam Mahant, Mr. Jawahar Lal Khurana, Mr. Daulat Ram Kamboj, Mr. Satish Mahajan and Dr. Parminder Sharma as the Chairperson of District Planning Committees Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Pathankot and Rupnagar respectively. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's office said that the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave his nod to appoint these leaders as Chairpersons of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Pathankot and Rupnagar respectively under the Clause 3 Sub-clause (3) of Punjab District Planning Committee Act, 2005. The Spokesman further informed that the formal orders regarding these appointments would be issued shortly. - MASSES BE SENSITIZED TO GET THEIR ILLEGAL COLONIES REGULARIZED: CHUNNI LAL BHAGAT CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 19: Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Minister for Local Bodies, Punjab today advocated the need for generating awareness among the masses about the need and urgency to get their illegal colonies, buildings and plots regularized in the stipulated time frame to avoid any legal action. In a press communiqué Mr. Bhagat issued advisory to the officers of all the Local Bodies to conduct special drive to aware the public in this regard. The Minister said the applicants must be treated harmoniously during the regularization process and every help must be extended to them so that they could get their illegal structures regularized up to October 7. Mr. Bhagat said that the Punjab government while acceding to the demand of the public has extended the cutoff date up to October 7, to get the illegal structure regularized. He urged the public to make full use of this initiative and get their illegal colonies/buildings/plots regular by depositing nominal amount with the application. He said that this policy is applicable only on the structures constructed before April 2013. Explaining the virtues of this policy Mr. Bhagat further said that the all such colonies which get themselves regular certificate would be extended basic amenities and infrastructure by the Punjab Government. He said that the facility of potable water, sewerage, street lights and roads would be provided to these colonies by Punjab Government. ---------- PUNJAB EXTENDS THE AMBIT OF SPORTS GRADATION POLICY · SPORTSPERSONOF PUNJAB UNIVERSITY REPRESENTING PUNJAB, WOULD BE COVERED CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 19: In a decision of far reaching impact in sports arena, the Punjab Government has extended the ambit of sports policy by including those sportsperson of Panjab University who have represented the Punjab State in the national level competitions. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the sports department said that all those sportsperson of the Punjab University Campus and its affiliated colleges, who have won medals in the inter-university and inter-college games would be entitled for the sports quota with a condition of having represented the Punjab State in the National Championship and National Games. He clarified that those sportsperson who have represented Chandigarh and other states in these compactions would not be eligible for the sports quota. The spokesperson further said sports gradation certificates issued to these sportsperson by the Chandigarh administration would be counter signed .He said that other terms and condition in this regard would be the same as were issued in the sports gradation policy dated December 10, 1997. He said that these sportsperson would be eligible for the government jobs under sports quota in the various department of the Punjab government. --------- IN PUNJAB, DISPOSAL OF ALL GRIEVANCES TO BE UPLOADED ON PB-PGRAM SYSTEM CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 19: In a bid to galvanize grievance re-dressal network and to bring about efficiency & transparency into the government machinery, the Punjab Government has decided to upload all the disposals of all grievances on the web portal. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the administrative reforms commission said that now on wards the reply on the grievances would only be uploaded on the web portal and the practice of sending reply through file or copy would be discouraged. He said that this initiative would save the paper and bring transparency and efficiency in the government working. He said that instructions to all the departmental heads and Deputy Commissioners to up load the disposal and re-dressal of all grievances on the PG-PGRAM system. The spokesman further said that Grievance Re-dressal Department has issued a new advisory to all the department asking them to desist from the practice of sending quarterly and monthly reports instead all the disposed off cases be uploaded on PG-PGRAM system. ------------ 3 DAYS SPECIALIZED TRAINING ON e-GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 19: Directorate of Governance Reforms, Punjab has conducted 3 Day Specialized Training programm on e Governance for officers of the state. The training was conducted in the hotel Shivalik View, Chandigarh. Disclosing this a spokesman of governance reforms department, Punjab said that this workshop was organized for Additional Deputy Commissioners, Directors , Joint Directors , Additional Directors , Deputy Directors ,Govt. representatives in State , Project e-Governance Mission Teams ,Project Management Units (PMUs) , Project Managers Nodal officers for e-Governance of State Government to equip them with skills and knowledge on Change Management & Capacity Building’ This training was organized in coordination with National Institute of SMART Government (NISG), Hyderabad and was attended by senior officers/ Officials from various State Departments and District Offices. Mr. Rajnish Malhotra Head SeMT Welcomed distinguished officers for Three days e-Governance program on behalf of Department ofGovernance Reforms, Government of Punjab.Mr. Malhotra laid focus on importance of Change Management & Capacity Building in various e-Governance projects. During the 3 days program on Change Management & Capacity Building, participants were provided knowledge on Introduction to e-Governance and Change, Significance of ‘People’ and ‘Organizational’ Change, Managing People Change, Change Management Plan, Identifying enablers & disablers to change, Developing a Communication Strategy , Skill Assessment and Development. This 3 days event was concluded by Dr. Kalpana Mathur, from NISG. During her concluding address, she shared her perspective on the significance of Change Management & Capacity Building for ensuring success of all e-Governance Projects. - No official residential telephone facility for government officials Chandigarh, September 19: Punjab Government has directed all the departments not provide any official residential telephone facility to government officials. Disclosing this here today Spokesperson of the General Administration Department said that the officials who are entitled for this facility could get telephone connections at their personal capacity and submit telephone bills for reimbursement at their own level. Spokesperson further said that reimbursement would be as per combined limit of bill of Landline, Mobile and Internet service. He further said that officials/employees would submit only one certificate for claim of telephone or internet placed at their residence or their Mobile and that these services are being used for official purposes and reimbursement would done as per this certificate. ------ JINDAL COMMISSION ASKS PEOPLE TO ASSIST IN BOOK SCAM INVESTIGATION Chandigarh, 19 September: The Commission constituted by the Punjab Government under the Justice A.N.Jindal (retd.) to probe the alleged book scam in Punjab, today sought information from people, if any in this regard. A spokesman of the Commission said that despite the public notice issued from time to time, the response from the public in providing the relevant information to the commission was very poor. He said that it would be the pleasure of the commission to entertain any valuable information by any member of the public which may help in making a through probe and appropriate recommendations could be made to the Government.
CONGRESS LED UPA GOVERNMENT RUINS THE NATION 'ECONOMICALLY AND FINANCIALLY'-SUKHBIR BADAL · UPA SHOULD ISSUE WHITE PAPER ON 'FISCAL HEALTH' · ANNOUNCES TO HOLD SANGAT DARSHAN FROM NEXT MONTH FAZILKA/JALALABAD, SEPTEMBER 18: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today said that Congress led UPA Government has financially ruined the country and it should issue a white paper on its 'fiscal status'. Answering media persons after dedicating state-of-the-art building of Suwidha Kendra for Fazilka residents in District Administration Complex, Mr. Badal said, "Punjab's fiscal health is fine whereas the Congress led UPA government has suffering a lot on fiscal front and has ruined the country economically and financially. Dr. Manmohan Singh led Government should immediately issue a white paper in this regard." Expressing immense satisfaction on Sangat Darshan programs of Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, the Deputy CM also announced that he would too preside over Sangat Darshan programs from next month to listen public grievances. He said that this brainchild program of Punjab CM Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has proved a boon for the rural population of Punjab and he would further accelerated this move by personally holding Sangat Darshan programs to resolve the on the spot greivances of common masses. On being asked about the develoment of villages, Mr. Badal said that all villages of Punjab would witness an unprecedented development in coming three years as the SAD-BJP Government has finalised the development blue print for villages by expending Rs. 10000 crore. Interacting with elected rural representatives including Sarpanches and Panches at village Ladhuwala Uttar here, Mr. Badal asked the representatives that they should play a vital role in the development programs of Punjab Government. He said that under the new master plan for rural areas, 100 percent potable water, sewerage system and other basic amenities would also be ensured. He further added that a separate grant of Rs. 1700 crore would be spent to strengthen, widen and construction of new roads in the villages. He said that in his two day whirlwind tour to areas of Ferozepur and Fazilka districts he has laid foundation stones of development works of Rs. 24 crore and Rs. 25 crore respectively in Fazilka and Ferozepur. Meanwhile Mr. Badal also distributed cheques amounting to Rs. 2.5 crore for development purposes to 36 panchayats at Jalalabad. He also announced granਟਸ of Rs. 19 crore for 12 villages of Jalalabad, which have chosen to develop as 'Aadarsh Villages'. Prominent amongst present on the occassion included Mr. Surjit Kumar Jiyani, Forest Minister, Punjab, Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, Member Parliament, Mr. Satinderjit Singh Manta, Senior Akali leader, Mr. V.K. Sharma, Commissioner Ferozepur Division, Dr. Basant Garg, Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Surjit Singh Grewal, SSP and Mr. Lakhvinder Singh Rohiwala, Chairman PADB Jalalabad. - UPA LEADERS WOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY SINGLE PENNY LOOTED FROM PEOPLE- BADAL CM FOR FORMATION OF NDA GOVERNMENT AT CENTRE SLAMS UPA FOR ITS FAILURE ON ALL FRONTS TERMS CENTRAL GRANTS AS A FRAUD WITH STATES DEPRIVING THE FLOOD VICTIMS OF RELIEF UNDER NATIONAL CALAMITY FUND AN INJUSTICE WITH STATE SIDHU’S OUTBURST WOULD NOT AFFECT THE PROSPECTS OF ALLIANCE IN STATE Khadoor Sahib (Tarn Taran), September 18- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that after the formation of NDA government at the centre, the UPA leaders would be made accountable for every single penny plundered by them from the public exchequer. Addressing a mammoth gathering on the conference to mark Gurgaddi Diwas of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji here today, the Chief Minister, while terming the UPA government as the most corrupt government in the annals of Indian history, said that the NDA government would not spare these corrupt leaders for their misdeeds. Mr. Badal said that the Congress leaders have mercilessly looted the public money during their tenure and the multi crore scams like CWG, Coalgate, Adarsh and other speaks volume of the rampant corruption in UPA regime. He said that the UPA leaders have stashed their black money, earned from such scams, in foreign banks which was equal to the Annual budget of state. Coming down heavily on the UPA government, the Chief Minister said that this spineless government has miserably failed on all the fronts and due to its weaknesses; the internal and external sovereignty of the nation was in deep peril. He said that on the one hand the countries like China and Pakistan were posing grave threat to external security of the country and on the other the communal riots in many parts of country were making the life of people miserable but the UPA government was a mute spectator to all these things. Likewise Mr. Badal bemoaned that the performance of UPA on economic front was also dismissal as the Rupee has touched the lowest ebb as compared with Dollar. Terming the Central grants as a huge fraud with the people, the Chief Minister categorically said in the absence of fair criteria for its devolution these central grants were a mere sham. He said that the riders imposed by the Union government while issuing these grants were resulting in the lopsided development of the country. Mr. Badal further said that if these grants were disbursed in an impartial manner then unprecedented development could have been witnessed in the state. Taking the Congress party to the cudgels, the Chief Minister categorically said that due to the long rule of this party our country once known as ‘Golden Sparrow’ was now confronting a large number of social maladies like poverty, unemployment, corruption and illiteracy. He said that it was a fact that though the Congress swears by the name of common man to seek their votes but its each and every step was aimed at helping the rich, directly or indirectly. Mr. Badal also held the Congress responsible for breaking the backbone of the Agriculture adding that due to the wrong policies of the centre the hard working and resilient farmer of the state was reeling under a whopping debt of Rs 30000 crore. The Chief Minister said that the centre was not aware of the ground realities faced by the common man and a glaring example of which was the meager and inadequate compensation given the flood victims. He said that the Union government has imposed such riders on the state government due to which they could not give more compensation to the people even if they desire so, to bail out the distressed people in this hour of crisis. Mr. Badal said that the fact that the flood victims of state have been deprived of financial assistance under ‘National Calamity Fund’ despite of the fact that he had met Prime Minister and Union Home Minister over the issue, reflected the discriminatory attitude of centre towards Punjab. Slamming the state Congress leadership, the Chief Minister said that instead of doing anything constructive for the state these Congress leaders including state President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa were busy in spitting venom against the state government. He said that the state Congress leaders have never raised any issue pertaining to the issues related to state with the Centre but were misleading the people with their irrational statements. Giving a clarion call to ‘capture Delhi’ in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, the Chief Minister exhorted the people to form the NDA government for getting the long pending issues of state resolved. Mr. Badal the formation of NDA would go a long way in further putting the state on the high growth trajectory besides ensuring the overall development of Punjab. Later on talking to media persons, the Chief Minister said that he was very much peeved by the recent outburst by the Lok Sabha MP Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu, who used to shower all praise on them after his election as MP. Mr. Badal said that the outburst by MP was a wrong decision and even his parent party, the BJP, has failed to understand that what has happened to Mr. Sidhu, all of the sudden. However he said that it would not at all affect the prospects of SAD-BJP alliance in ensuing Lok Sabha polls as the people were fed up from misrule of UPA. When asked to comment on the stopping of grants by the Union government on the pretext of his photos on ambulances, the Chief Minister said that it reflected the narrow mindset of the Congress leaders. Earlier the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of the new Tehsil complex in the town. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included former Ministers Jathedar Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Jathedar Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, Lok Sabha MP Dr. Rattan Singh Ajnala, Chairman District Planning Committee Tarn Taran Mr. Ravinder Singh Brahampura and senior Akali leader Mr. Ramandeep Singh Bharowal. - · ENTRUSTS MONITORING OF SPECIAL GIRDAWARI TO ACCESS TOTAL DAMAGE DUE TO FLOODS TO PCS OFFICERS · PCS OFFICERS WOULD BE HELD SOLELY ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY LAXITY · ASKS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY IRRIGATION TO FORMULATE TIME BOUND ACTION PLAN TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEM OF WATER LOGGING ON PERMANENT BASIS · STRESSES ON JOINT STRATEGY FOR THE REPAIR OF RURAL LINK ROADS ON THE PRIORITY Chandigarh, September 18 Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked the State Relief, Rehabilitation & Disaster Management department to ensure speedy disbursement of relief to the flood victims in a fool proof and transparent manner, who sustained extensive damage to their standing crops, houses besides the loss of cattle across the state. Mr. Badal was presiding over a high level meeting to review the disbursement of the relief to the flood affected families especially in the water logged areas here at Chief Minister’s residence this morning. The Chief Minister asked the Financial Commissioner Revenue to entrust the monitoring of the work related to special girdawari (revenue survey) for accessing the actual crop damage to the PCS officers for ensuring that compensation was actually paid to the concerned flood victims well before the onset of Kharif season. He emphasized the need to prioritize the work of disbursement of relief in such a manner that compensation in case of loss of human life, 100% damage to crops and houses should be given first preference over the rest of the cases where the damage was minimal. He categorically said that the PCS officers would be held solely accountable for any laxity or dereliction right from the stage of survey till the completion of disbursement of relief to the victims, in case of any lapse. Mr. Badal also directed the Principal Secretary Irrigation to prepare a time bound action plan to mitigate the problem of water logging on permanent basis, which had been a major cause for the recent floods in the malwa belt. He also asked the PWD, Mandi Board and Rural Development & Panchayats to chalk out a joint strategy for the repair of rural link roads on the top priority, which had been badly damaged due to the recent floods. Likewise, he also asked the Principal Secretary Water Supply & Sanitation to immediately get the water works repaired to ensure restoration of domestic water supply at the earliest. Meanwhile, the FCR informed the Chief Minister that as per the reports till now 41 human lives have been lost, standing crops over an area of nearly 4.10 lac acres have been damaged, 13,000 houses have been vanished besides about 414 cattle have been perished. He told Mr. Badal the total amount of relief worked out so far was to the tune of Rs. 233 crore. Apart from this, he also mentioned that infrastructure of PWD and Drainage department have been badly damaged and needed immediate repair. According to him, crops in 1.60 lac acres have been damaged in Sri Muktsar Sahib district followed by 56,000 acres in Fazilka, 50,000 acres in Ferozepur and 45,000 acres in Faridkot, 39,000 acres in Kapurthala and 33,000 acres in Tarn Taran due to floods. The Chief Secretary told Mr. Badal that he would convene a meeting of the officers related with the disbursement of relief on October 3 to review the progress and ensure that the flood victims who suffered the major loss due to floods were duly compensated. Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh, Financial Commissioner Revenue Mr. NS Kang, Principal Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation Mr. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary Irrigation Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. DP Reddy, Mr. KJS Cheema and Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar (both Special Principal Secretaries to the Chief Minister), Secretary Revenue Mr. Sarvjit Singh, Secretary PWD (B&R) Mr. PS Aujla and Secretary Mandi Board Mr. Deepinder Singh. - PUNJAB SIGNS MoU WITH UNODC ON DRUG CONTROL MATTERS · BADAL TO MEET PM TO CHECK CROSS BORDER SMUGGLING OF POPPY HUSK FROM RAJASTHAN CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 18:- In a bid to launch a crusade against the Drug menace in the state, the Punjab Government has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's office said that the MoU was signed by the Regional Representative of UNODC Ms. Cristina Albertin and Principal Secretary Home Affairs & Justice Mr. DS Bains for initiating joint drug control efforts in the presence of the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. Expressing deep concern over the issue Mr. Badal categorically said, "The State Government is fully committed to launch a big war against drugs and seeks serious involvement of UNODC in weeding out the drug menace from the state." He further said that he would shortly call on the Prime Minister and take up the issue of cross border smuggling of Poppy Husk from Rajasthan to Punjab for seeking his personal intervention to immediate check this unlawful activity, where it was openly sold in the market like other essential commodities. The Chief Minister asked the representatives of UNODC to adopt a comprehensive approach focusing on all aspects related to drug abuse in sync with the state government to evolve a result oriented action plan. Unveiling the purpose and objective of the MoU Ms Cristina Albertin apprised the chief minister that it was primarily aimed at facilitating and establishing a framework for between the state government and UNODC in common and mutually agreed areas of activity in drug control. Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Adviser (Media & National Affairs) to the Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains, Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. K.J.S. Cheema, Principal Secretary Social Welfare Mr. Jagpal Singh, Secretary Health Mr. Hussan Lal, Secretary Education Mrs. Anjali Bhawra, ADGP Vigilance Mr. Hardeep Dhillon, Director Health Mr. Ashok Nayyar and other senior officers of the State government, besides Regional Programme Coordinator of UNODC Mr. Rajiv Walia - BADAL TO BE CONFERRED WITH ‘POLICY LEADERSHIP AWARD-2013’ IN AGRICULTURE · TO BE HONORED AT NEW DELHITOMORROW IN AGRICULTURE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Chandigarh, September 18 The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal would be honored with the prestigious ‘Policy Leadership Award’ in agriculture during the Agriculture Leadership Summit-2013 organized by the leading national agriculture magazine ‘Agriculture Today’ at New Delhi tomorrow. Disclosing this here today, the spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the 6thAgriculture Leadership Award Committee -2013 headed by eminent agriculture scientist and Parliamentarian Prof. MS Swaminathan had selected Mr. Badal for ‘Policy Leadership Award’ for the year 2013. The committee has recommended this award in recognition of Punjab’s leading role in national agriculture and food security besides promoting the concept of comprehensive agriculture diversification plan under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Badal.
HT PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENT HARJINDER SIDHU APPOINTED AS ASSISTANT MEDIA ADVISOR TO DEPUTY CM Chandigarh, September 18 The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today appointed the noted journalist Mr. Harjinder Sidhu as Assistant Media Advisor to the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal. Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that Mr. Badal cleared the file to this effect this morning. It may be recalled that Mr. Sidhu has been working with Hindustan Times as Principal Correspondent at Bathinda since September, 2000. He initiated his journalistic career as sub-editor with Punjab daily ‘Nawan Zamana’ in 1997. Besides, he also served as a correspondent with The Tribune at Muktsar and Bathinda from 1998 to 2000. - PUNJAB CONSTITUTES 22 DISTRICT AND 78 SUB-DIVISIONAL LEVEL VIGILANCE COMMITTEES CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 18:- The Punjab Government has reconstituted 22 district level and 78 sub divisional level Vigilance Committees under Section 13 of Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976. Disclosing this here today a spokes person of the Chief Minister's office said that the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had cleared the file in this regard this afternoon. District level Vigilance Committees chaired by Deputy Commissioners had been reconstituted in Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Sri Mukatsar Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, SBS Nagar, Tran Taran and Roop Nagar. Likewise, the Sub-divisional Vigilance Committees would be headed by the Sub-divisional Magistrates in their respective sub divisions comprising Hoshiarpur, Philaur, Amritsar-I, Amritsar-II, Ajnala, Baba Bakala, Barnala, Tappa, Bathinda, Talwandi Saboo, Rampura Phul, Fatehgarh Sahib, Amloh, Bassi Pathana, Khamano, Faridkot, Jaiton, Ferozpur, Zeera, Jalalabad, Abohar, Gurdaspur, Derababa Nanak, Batala, Pathankot, Dharam Kalan, Dasuya, Garhshankar, Mukerian, Jalandhar-I, Jalandhar-II, Nakodar, Shahkot, Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, Bhullath, Phagwara, Ludhiana East, Ludhiana West, Jagraon, Khanna, Raikot, Samrala, Payal, Sardulgarh, Budhlada, Nihal Singhwala, Bhaghapurana, Mohali, Kharar, Derabassi, Mukatsar, Giddarbaha, Malaut, Patiala, Nabha, Rajpura, Samana, Patran, Roopnagar, Chamkaur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Nangal, Sangrur, Dhuri, Moonak, Sunam, Lehra, Malerkotla, Nawansehar, Balachaur, Tarantaran, Khadoor Sahib, Patti, Fazlika, Moga and Dharamkot. - NDA TO BRING BACK ‘BLACK MONEY’ ON PRIORITY-SUKHBIR BADAL · BLOWS VIGIL FOR ENSUING LOK SABHA ELECTIONS · EXHORTS ELECTORATES TO BID AIDEU ‘MOST CORRUPT’ UPA GOVERNMENT · HOLDS CONGRESS LED UPA GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR ECONOMIC CRISIS · SAYS MODI, A MATCHLESS POLITICAL FIGURE, DIFFERENTIATE BEFORE CASTING VOTES GURUHARSAHAI (FEROZEPUR), SEPTEMBER 18: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today said bringing back 'black money’ stashed in Swiss Banks would be the priority of National Democratic Alliance, immediate after coming back power in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Blowing the bugle for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Badal gave a clarion call to the electorate to oust the world’s ‘most corrupt’ Congress led UPA government asserting he was certain the UPA would face a massive defeat in 2014. Talking to media persons after addressing SAD-BJP workers at Guruharsahai, Mr. Badal also ridiculed the information given by the Union Finance Minister that the investigations regarding ‘Black Money’ were still being conducted. He said this assertion was surprising adding once the NDA government came into being black money stashed abroad would be brought back into the country immediately. Holding the Congress led UPA government responsible for the economic slowdown in the country, the Deputy Chief Minister said despite Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, a world renowned economist, the Congress led UPA government’s economic policies had fallen flat and the country had to suffer economic crisis and inflation. Adding further he said inflation ratio had reached 18.18 percent, which also proved that this ‘so called’ Government of ‘Aam Aadmi’ was actually anti-people and a pro-MNC government. Describing BJP’s Prime Ministerial Mr. Narendra Modi as a matchless political figure, Mr. Badal thanked the electorate for reposing their faith in development oriented state governments by giving them repeat terms in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat respectively. He also exhorted the voters of the country that they must differentiate between development oriented governments and the parties looting the assets of the country before casting their votes in ensuing Lok Sabha elections. “Once the NDA comes to power at Center there would be floods of grants for the development works in country as well as states,” he added. Announcing that Punjab CM Mr. Parkash Singh Badal is coming out with a plethora of welfare schemes in the next few months, Mr. Sukhbir Badal said within a period of a month beneficiaries of Atta-Daal scheme would be brought under the health insurance cover and they would get treatment up to Rs. 30000 free of cost in private hospitals too. He said the Deputy Commissioners had also been directed to complete the fresh survey for inclusion of more eligible beneficiaries to Atta-Daal scheme. He said the scholarship of Rs. 30000 per annum would be given to those meritorious students, who would secure more than 80 percent marks in matriculation. Earlier Mr. Badal also inaugurated road from Guruharsahai to Muktsar-Jalalabad via Boor Wala Kuti Road, Mamdot to State Highway Ferozepur-Fazilka Road, Chak Mobain Hardo Dhandi to Tahliwala Road besides laying the foundation stone of new bus stand at Guruharsahai with a total costs of all projects Rs. 30 crores. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, Member Parliament, Mr. Vardev Singh Maan, Senior Akali leader, Commissioner Ferozepur Division Mr. V.K. Sharma, DIG Mr. Mohnish Chawla, Mr. Manjit Singh Narang, Deputy Commissioner, Mrs. Sonali Giri, ADC, Ferozepur and Rohit Vohra Montu. - SUKHBIR ADDRESSES MASSIVE GATHERING AT JAITON RAHUL IS UNREALISTIC IN HIS APPROACH----SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL BLAMES BAJWA OF MISLEADING THE STATE PUNJAB TO BE POWER SURPLUS Muktsar/Jaiton September 18: The Deputy Chief Minister Punjab Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today came down heavily on the Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for having suddenly becoming the “well-wisher” of the poor people of India. “It seems the family is awakened after 64 years of deep sleep”, said Mr. Badal while addressing a massive gathering here today. Commenting on the congress leader’s remarks that “Poverty was a state of mind”, Mr. Badal said that it was not only unfortunate but sheer mockery with the poor people. Such statements proved that how much the Gandhi scion was cut off from the ground reality. "He comes from a billionaire family and many generations in the Gandhi Nehru family have not seen poverty even from a distance. So they cannot be blamed for their poor knowledge," he said. Referring to the ruthlessness of the Congress led UPA government at the centre shielding Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler, the main accused in 1984 Delhi Riots; Mr. Badal blamed the Congress for the murder of thousands of innocent Sikhs in 1984. "It is regrettable that today one of the Sikhs is the prime minister but he is unable to ensure justice to the Sikh community. Not a single guilty person has been punished," he said. Replying to another query, the Deputy Chief Minister lambasted PPCC President Partap Singh Bajwa’s approach of meddling in others concern, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Congress has always been known for its conspiracies of dragging the leaders of its opponents into cobweb to meet its political interests He suggested Bajwa that he should stop thinking about others as it was he, who was all set to meet the fate of Captain Amarinder Singh after 2014 parliamentary elections. On problems of water logging in the Malwa belt of Punjab, Mr. Badal said that the Prime Minister of India has been apprised of the losses incurred due to floods in the state but there was hardly any hope for them to come to the rescue of the flood affected. The state government was committed to help the people in this hour of crisis and every possible effort would be made to ensure relief and rehabilitation to the victims," he also said that Punjab would be made power surplus by end of this year. Prominent among others who addressed the rally included Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhundar, General Secretary Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr. Kamal Sharma President BJP, S. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia Senior Vice President, Bibi Paramjit Kaur Gulshan MP, S. Mantar Singh Brar, Chief Parliamnetary Secretary and Mr. Deep Malhotra MLA Faridkot. Dr Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi in Chandigarh to launch of his new book on Punjab's history Chandigarh September 16: Dr Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and former President of Initiatives of Change will be in the city tomorrow for the launch of his new book on Punjab's history.The event is jointly organised by the publishers, Aleph of New Delhi, and Aitihasiki, Panjab University's History Department Alumni Association. Titled "Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten " the work is researched in India, Pakistan and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The book narrates a 240-year story of what old-timers know as undivided Punjab, beginning with the 1707 death of Emperor Aurangzeb and ending with the 1947 division into West Punjab and East Punjab. Post-1707 instability, invasions by Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali, Afghan-Sikh clashes, half a century of Sikh rule, a century of British rule, the movements for independence and majority rule, the carnage of 1947, and the humanity that countered the carnage -- all this and more is covered and interpreted. The book will be launched on 18 September 2013 at the Chandigarh Judicial Academy in Sector 43 at 11.30 AM by his excellency Sh Shivraj Patil, the Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator. - CM ANNOUNCES TO CONSTITUTE STATE LEVEL INDUSTRIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO GIVE FURTHER IMPETUS TO INDUSTRIAL GROWTH OF THE STATE LAYS STRESS ON OPENING OF MORE SKILL CENTRES AND EDUCATION INSTITUTES BY INDUSTRY PUNJAB TO BE POWER SURPLUS STATE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR CITES SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF DISCRIMINATION OF CENTRE WITH PUNJAB HONORS KEY BUSINESS ACHIEVERS AT LMA FUNCTION Ludhiana, September 17- Exhorting the industrialists to play a proactive role in the industrial development of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that the state government would soon constitute a state level Advisory Committee of the Industrialists to solicit their whole hearted support and contribution in ushering an era of industrial revolution in state. Addressing the gathering at the 35th Annual Award function of the Ludhiana Management Association (LMA) here today, the Chief Minister said that this Advisory committee would solely consist of representatives of the industry, who would guide and help the government in creating a congenial atmosphere for the industrial growth of the state. Laying thrust on the need for more exchange of ideas between the industry and the government, Mr. Badal said that it would go a long way in regaining the lost sheen of industry in the state. Assuring fulsome support and co-operation to the industrialists, he said that the state government would leave no stone unturned to make Punjab the number one state on the industrial map of the country. Underlining the need for more efforts by Industry to open skill Training centers in the state, the Chief Minister said that it would help in catering to the need of the industry for getting the skilled labour in the state besides opening new avenues of employment for the unemployed youth. He also said that the industry must realize its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by taking all initiatives the in development of education sector. Mr. Badal assured the industry that the state government would provide matching grants to them besides all possible assistance for opening new schools and skill centers in the state. The Chief Minister said that the state government was well aware of the fact that the Power was the catalyst of industrial growth in any state due to which concerted efforts have been made the Punjab government to augment the power generation in the state. Mr. Badal said that owing to stupendous efforts of the state government Punjab would become a Power Surplus state by the end of this year. He also said that the world class infra structure, industrial peace, communal harmony and amity besides the pragmatic policies of the state government provides a conducive atmosphere for the industrial development in the state. The Chief Minister said that due to the step motherly treatment of Centre with the state, Punjab’s industry has got a major setback due to which massive flight of industry has taken place. Mr. Badal said that the freebees given by the Union government certain hill states have given fatal blow to the industry of the state. However he said notwithstanding the continued apathetic attitude of centre towards state’s industrial growth, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has in its recent report rated the state as one of the most preferred investment destinations of the country. Citing several instances of discriminatory attitude of the Union government against the state, the Chief Minister said that he had himself taken up the matter of hiking the relief to the flood victims of state with the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister but none of them had paid any heed to provide immediate relief to the needy and distressed people of the state. Likewise he said that the issue pertaining to the construction of scientific silos in the state to preserve the food grains has also been hanging in fire since long despite of the fact that he had himself taken up this issue with the top brass of the Union government. Slamming the Congress led UPA government for making the life of the countrymen miserable, the Chief Minister said that the faulty policies of the centre has accentuated the woes of common man. He said that the arrogant successive Congress governments at the centre have diluted the federal structure of the country by usurping the powers of the state due to which the state governments have been reduced to dignified Municipalities. Mr. Badal further said that the ever increasing costs of the farming inputs coupled with the non remunerative MSP has ruined the agriculture due to which the farmers were on cross roads. On the occasion while felicitating six key industrialists for the rare achievements, the Chief Minister said that they were the lighthouses who would ever act as a source of inspiration for the coming generations to excel in the field of business. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Rajat Aggarwal. On the occasion LMA President Mr. JR Singal, founder of Hero Cycles Mr. OP Munjhal, Chairman of Trident Group Mr. Rajinder Gupta, Joint Managing Director of Hero Motocorp Mr. SK Munjhal, General Secretary of LMA Mr. Kamal Wadhera and several other key industrialists were also present. - GEN. BIKRAM SINGH CALLS ON CM CM FOR EXPEDITING THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP OF SERVICE SELECTION CENTRE (NORTH) AT ROPAR SEEKS INTERVENTION FOR THE CLEARANCE OF CIVILIAN PASSAGE JOINING TWO ARMY POINTS OF ISLAMABAD IN AMRITSAR CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 17: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Chief of the Army staff Gen. Bikram Singh to help in expediting the setting up of the Service Selection Centre (North) at Ropar. Gen. Bikram Singh called on the Chief Minister at his residence this morning. Mr. Badal said that the state government had already handed over the 200 acres of prime land to the army for SSC, further action may be taken at the earliest. He said Punjab-the Sword Arm of India was keen to see large number of its sons to joining Armed Forces through SSC in conformity with its martial spirit as an age old tradition. Mr. Badal also sought his intervention for the clearance of civilian passage joining two army points of Islamabad in Amritsar. Mr. Badal requested the army Chief to shortlist and recommend meritorious serving and retired army officers to help the state government for further intensifying its efforts to strengthen and revamp the education as well as infrastructural sectors in Punjab through their vast experience and expertise. He further said that some of the retired officers of the army were already rendering their valuable services to the state government in the education as well as the Infrastructure development sectors. Mr. Badal also asked him to provide valuable inputs for the world class War Memorial- Cum-Museum being setup at Amritsar at a cost of Rs. 100 crore. Mr. Badal told the General Singh about the concerted efforts of the state government for make youth of the state more disciplined and physically fit to join armed forces through establishing Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institution Mohali, two NCC academies at Ropar and Malout, besides reviving the Sri Dasmesh Academy at Anandpur Sahib. On the occasion, General Singh assured Mr. Badal of speeding up the process of the Service Selection Centre (North) at Ropar besides timely and expeditious repair of the roads in the border areas of the state. He also expressed his keenness to visit Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institution Mohali. Advisor (Media and National Affairs) to the Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains and Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema were also present in the meeting. PUNJAB TO BE THE MOST PREFERRED STATE FOR INVESTMENT ----SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL
· DCM INAUGURATES SEWERAGE TREATMENT PLANT WORTH 27 CRORES AT MOGA AND TEHSIL ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLEX WORTH 4.45 CRORE AT BAGHAPURANA · ANNOUNCES SAMALSAR TO BE SUB-TEHSIL · EXTENSIVE PLAN FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT · ENSURES BASIC AMENITIES TO PEOPLE
Moga/ Baghapurana September 17: As a part of the extensive development plan formulated by the Punjab government to ensure overall improvement in the state especially in urban areas, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today inaugurated Sewerage Treatment Plant worth Rs. 27 crore at Moga and Tehsil Administrative Complex worth 4.45 crore at Baghapurana. Addressing a huge gathering at Baghapurana, Mr. Badal said that Punjab would be the most preferred destination for investors in the coming two years. Referring to the recent World Bank study declaring Punjab third most favored state for investment, Mr. Badal appreciated the matchless efforts of the Punjab government in assuring favourable investment atmosphere.. Adding further he said that various development projects worth Rs.1400 crore would be launched in the state in the coming four months. To strengthen the road connectivity in Punjab all the major cities and towns in the state would be made 4/6 lane expressways in the coming three years at a cost of Rs. 12000 crore. To ensure over all development in the rural areas of the state, Mr. Badal said that an amount of 10,000 Crore would be spent on various projects within next two years. The government has widened the ambit of Atta-Dal scheme by doubling the number of beneficiaries of this scheme from current 15 lakh to 30 lakh people. Reiterating the Punjab government’s resolve to provide quality education to the students especially in rural areas, Mr. Badal said that the government has also launched Dr. Hargobind Khurana scholarship scheme under which scholarship amounting Rs 30,000 per annum would be disbursed to the students for two year — for Class XI and XII —through e-transfer in their accounts.“Each student would receive a monthly scholarship of Rs 2500. There would be no income limit under this scheme. All students who secured 80 per cent or more would be entitled to this scholarship up to senior secondary level,” said Mr. Badal. In a historical decision in keeping with the demands of the local residents, Mr. Badal announced Samalsar as a sub-tehsil while he announced a grant of Rs. 15 crore to Nagar Council Baghapurana for upgrading the sewerage systems besides announcing Rs. 75 Lakh for the the development of large villages of the area. Later Mr. Badal addressing a gathering after inaugurating a Sewerage Treatment Plant worth Rs. 27 Crore at Moga, said that the Punjab government has formulated an extensive plan to reinforce the overall development of the urban areas. Under this plan besides ensuring the basic infrastructure, rural water supply and sanitation, sewerage treatment plants, street lights road connectivity and other basic amenities would be ensured. Talking to media, Mr. Badal said that the Punjab government has intensified its efforts to curb drug addiction amongst youth and would act tough with the persons involved in smuggling drugs howsoever influential he may be. He said that law and order would be maintained at every cost. Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Member Parliament Bibi Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Mr. Joginder Pal Jain,MLA , Jathedar Tota Singh, , Mr. Maheshinder Singh Grewal,(former ministers) and various leaders of SAD-BJP senior officers of district administration . - PUNJAB POLICE UNEARTHS RACKET OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS IN A JOINT OPERATION WITH MAHARASHTRA POLICE Fatehgarh Sahib, September 17: The Punjab Police, in a joint operation with the Maharashtra Police has unearthed a racket of illegal weapons being supplied to terrorists and criminals. The joint operation started after the busting of a terrorist module by the Punjab Police in district Fatehgarh Sahib in which 14 persons have been arrested so far , along with recovery of 10 weapons, including 1 AK-47 rifle and 9 small weapons. Disclosing this here today, Mr. Gurmit Singh Chauhan, SSP said that in pursuance of leads developed during the investigation of the terrorist module and the questioning of Satnam Singh, the ringleader of the module arrested from Sangli in Maharashtra, a police party comprising 5 officials headed by an Sub Inspector was dispatched to Maharashtra for effecting the arrest of Gurwinder Singh, who had figured as a suspect in the investigations. He said that arrest warrants of Gurwinder Singh were obtained and he was nabbed in a joint operation with the Maharashtra Police. The questioning of Gurwinder Singh uncovered a vast racket of illegal arms being operated in Maharashtra and names of several suspects in possession of illegal arms figured. Joint operations were conducted with the Maharashtra Police and a case FIR No. 174 dated 15-9-2013 u/s 25 Arms Act, PS Wazirabad, district Nanded Sahib was registered, he added. He revealed that district police of Nanded Sahib in joint operations with the Punjab Police had arrested four persons namely Bhag Inder Singh @ Lucky s/o Gursagar Singh r/o near Dashmesh hospital, opposite gurudwara gate no. 2, Nanded Sahib , Manpreet Singh s/o Gobind Singh r/o village Kanjiwal, district Nanded Sahib, Rajwinder Singh- arrested by Maharashtra police and Parminder Singh s/o Babu Singh – employee of Management Committee of gurudwara sahib, Nanded Sahib. He further said that the questioning of Gurwinder Singh and the four persons arrested by Maharashtra Police has revealed ramifications of a vast racket of illegal arms and vital clues about the kingpins of this racket have been found. He expected that there would be more arrests and recoveries of weapons after unearthing of this illegal racket. He said that Gurwinder Singh has been produced before the Judicial Magistrate in Nanded Sahib from where his transit remand up to September 19, 2013 has been obtained and he was being brought back to Fatehgarh Sahib for his further questioning. The four persons arrested by the Maharashtra Police are in police custody upto September 19, 2013 for their further questioning. Further investigations are in progress. He said that the two officials of district Fatehgarh Sahib, who played a significant role in the investigation, have been promoted to the higher local rank by the Punjab DGP Mr. Sumedh Singh for their encouragement. - NO THREAT OF TERRORISM REVIVAL IN PUNJAB-SUKHBIR APPRECIATES VIGILANT APPROACH OF PUNJAB POLICE VAT REFUNDS UNDER NEW POLICY TO START SOON FEROZEPUR, SEPTEMBER 17: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today categorically said that there was no threat of revival of terroism in Punjab and the state would not allow any terrorist module to lift its ugly face again in the peaceful atmosphere. Mr. Badal was addressing media persons here after laying foundation stone of various development projects worth Rs. 111 crores with laying foundation stone of Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Plant at Ferozepur City, inaugurating Ferozepur City to Pharymal Bhalla, Ferozepur Mallanwala Road to Ferozepur City, laying foundation stone of water supply scheme at Mallanwala, inaugurating ceremony of Mallanwala to Sabhraon Road, inaugurating Sewerage Treatment Plant ar Zira besides laying foundation stone of Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Plant at Talwandi Bhai. The Deputy CM also rubbisshed the reveation of numbers of terrorists in Punjab and said that there was no revealtion of number of terrorists in the state and the state would not allow anyone to operate such activities. Appreciating the vigilant efforts of Punjab Police, the Deputy Chief Minister, who is also holding the Home portfolio, said that the Punjab police has recently foiled several Pakistan trained militant modules and arrested the main kingpins from different parts of the state .He added that Punjab Police was delivering its duty more vigilantly than central agencies, which has remained failed to foil nefarious designs of militants. On being asked about the VAT refunds, Mr. Badal clarified that the assesments were on the verge of completion and it would be completed within a short span of time. He said that under the new VAT Refund policy of Punjab Government the disbursement of VAT refunds would be started soon as per the categories A, B and C earmarked under this policy. Answering a query regarding Dearness Allowance to Punjab employee, Mr. Badal assured that the DA would be given soon and said that Punjab was the single state, which disbursed Rs. 7000 crore to its employees as per the recommendations of Pay Commission. He said that there was no issue of DA; it was just due to hollow hue and cry created by PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa. He said that Punjab Congress was not aware of economics of the state and despite that they were playing the role of ‘State’s Enemy’ by criticizing state on each front on the basis of misleading and wrong data. Earlier Mr. Badal also announced that Deputy Commissioners of all districts have been directed to complete the survey for inclusion of fresh beneficiaries to Atta-Daal Scheme. He said that within next two month the survey would be completed and more than 30 lakh families would be able to get the benefit of this ambitious welfare program of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion Mr. Kamal Sharma, State President BJP, Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister, Punjab, Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, Member Parliament, Mr. - PENSION FUND CREATED TO PAY PENSION AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS, COUNCILS AND IMPROVEMENT TRUSTS ACROSS THE STATE 7% OF THE INCOME OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS & MUNICIPAL COMMITTEES, 3% OF IMPROVEMENT TRUSTS TO BE CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS PENSION FUND PENSION FUND TO BRING AN END TO UNDUE LITIGATION AND ENSURE TIMELY PAYMENT OF THEIR DUES CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER17- To ensure timely payment of pensionary and retiral benefits to the employees of the Municipal corporations, municipal councils and improvement trusts across the state, the Punjab Government has created a pension fund by amending the Punjab Municipal Corporation Employees Pension and General Provident Fund Rules,1994 and Punjab Improvement Trust Employees Pension and General Provident Rules,1994. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has already cleared the proposal mooted by the local Government Minister Mr. Chuni Lal Bhagat for the creation of the new pension fund for the employees of Local Government. The Pension Fund, thus created was comprised 7% of the total annual income of the municipal corporations and municipal committees, besides 3%of Improvement Trusts. With this mechanism, all the employees were now getting their pension and retirement benefits regularly. It may be recalled that several municipal committees were facing financial crunch due to limited resources over past many years and hence unable to pay pension and other retiral benefits to its employees. Consequently, many of them were compelled to take legal recourse by preferring writ petitions in the Punjab &Haryana High Court to get their pension dues released. Meanwhile, the Secretary Local Government Mr. Ashok Gupta revealed that now, with the new pension fund in place all the employees were getting pension and other retirement benefits regularly without any delay. Earlier, there were as many as nearly 300 civil writ petitions in this regard. Resultantly, the litigation has virtually has come to an end, since 95% of civil writ petitions have been disposed of, added Mr. Gupta. - DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER EXPRESSES GRIEF OVER TWO ROAD ACCIDENTS IN PUNJAB · MOURNS DEMISE OF 6 PILGRIMS NEAR MUKERIAN AND 3 NEAR KHARAR Chandigarh September 17: The Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today expressed deep shock and anguish over the tragic road accidents near Village Jandwal Mukerian where a tourist bus from Uklana in Haryana heading towards Vaishnodevi met with an accident today morning. As many as six pilgrims died on the spot and 25 badl;y injured. In yet another head on collision between truck and bus near Doaba College Kharar as many as three persons died while 35 seriously injured. Expressing profound grief and sorrow over this disastrous accident, the Deputy Chief Minister shared his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved families and prayed to the Almighty to give them courage to bear this irreparable loss in the hour of crisis and grant peace to the departed souls. Meanwhile he has asked the district administration of both Hoshiarpur and Mohali to ensure adequate medical assistance to the injured. - CM DEMANDS REMOVAL OF ILLOGICAL CONDITIONS ON CENTRAL RELIEF: The Chief Minsiter asked the PPCC leaders, especially Mr.Partap Singh Bajwa and Mr. Sunil Jakhar to join the nation-wide efforts of states to get the center’s dictatorial conditions removed so that the states had greater freedom in implementing people friendly measures and schemes rather than being obsessed with petty street level quarrels about getting the names and pictures of duly elected leaders in States removed from schemes started by them. The Chief Minster also asked the Congress rulers at the center if they would stop using the names and pictures of their present and former leaders with central schemes which were funded by revenues collected from states all over the country. “If the center wants the state governments not to use the names or pictures of leaders duly elected by the people with schemes for which center also contributes something, then by the same logic, would they remove the names names of Congress leaders from central schemes as the money that goes into them is collected only from states.” Mr. Badal, however, dismissed the entire controversy as “ petty and unworthy of dignified people holding important positions in the country.” He said he had never objected to the use of names or pictures of any Congress leaders with any schemes started with public money collected from states. He said that rather being obsessed with the removal of names and pictures of duly elected leaders in state governments from development schemes, the center should concentrate “Rather than expending all their energies on the removal of names and pictures of duly elected leaders in the state governments from government schemes, the Congress leaders should join us for the removal of these anti-people and anti-states conditions that hampered growth, development and even relief operations. Interacting with the victims of waterlogging menace during relief operations in various villages in Mukatsar, the Chief Minister slammed the UPA government for inordinate delay in the relief and rehabilitation work for flood victims. Mr. Badal said that the complete insensitivity of the union government towards this matter reflects that these people sitting at Delhi were hardly concerned about the plight of the victims of natural tragedy. He said that the Congress top brass at the center were unaware of the ground realities of the country adding that none of them have ever bothered to visit the flood affected areas to acquaint themselves about the agonies of Answering media queries on the drug issue and the points raised by former DGP Mr. Shashi Kant, the Chief Minister categorically asked why the former DGP had not acted against the drug peddlers when he was himself at the helms of affairs in prisons. He said that the former DGP could have conveyed the matter to him if the Police officer was reluctant to act against the drug peddlers. Mr. Badal asked the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Sunil Jakhar to rise above political divide to join in the common fight for justice for the people of the state. “I request him and the Earlier in her address the Lok Sabha MP from Bathinda Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that there was hardly any ray of hope from the UPA government for ensuring the well being of people adding that in the larger interest of the country the NDA government must be formed at the Centre. Castigating the Union government for being neck deep in corruption, she said that through Scams like CWG, Adarsh Society, Coalgate and others the leaders of UPA have plundered amass Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Lok Sabha MP Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya, MLA Mr. Harpreet Singh Kotbhai, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Sandeep Hans and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Paramjeet Singh. ---------- DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER GOES TOUGH WITH FRAUDULENT TRAVEL AGENTS ASKS DCS TO REGISTER TRAVEL AGENTS UNDER PREVENTION OF HUMAN SMUGGLING ACT LATEST BY OCTOBER Chandigarh September 16: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab has directed all the deputy commissioners of the state toregister each and every Travel Agent under Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act and issue licenses on a campaign basis latest by October, 2013. In a communiqué issued here today, Mr. Badal said that these directions have been issued to keep a tab on the illegal activities of many unscrupulous Travel Agents working unregistered, exploiting many innocent people of the state. To prevent these ongoing mal-practices, the Government has passed the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act with a view to checking and curbing their illegal/fraudulent activities and malpractices. Under the Act,. Travel Agents or Emigration Consultants or Ticketing Agents have got to be registered. Mr. D.S.Bains, Principal Secretary Home said that the Act and Rules framed have been uploaded on the website www.punjabgovt.gov.in. He also asked the DCS to ensure that each license would have to bear a unique number to be quoted by the licensees. He also said that advertisements in this regard were also being issued separately. ------------ FOREST DEPARTMENT SETS TARGET TO PLANT 1.5 CRORE SAPLINGS UNDER AGRO FORESTRY: JAYANI Chandigarh, September. 16: The Punjab government would plant 1.5 crore saplings in the state so as to encourage Agro forestry among the peasantry to desist them from the cultivation of wheat and paddy. Disclosing this here today Mr. Surjit Kumar Jayani, Forest and Wild Life Preservation Minister, Punjab said that the state government has chalked out a plan to decrease the area under paddy cultivation there by encouraging the farmers for the cultivation of others cash crops. He said that under this plan agro forestry would be promoted over an area of 3 lac hectare in the state. He further said that the department would provide the saplings of Eculiptis and Popular to the farmers as these plants grow at faster pace without any extra efforts and expenditure and provide substantial earnings for the farmers. He said that state of the art wood markets would be set up in Hoshiarpur. Balachaur and Ludhiana to help the farmers to fetch justifiable rates for the wood. He added that in a major boost to timber trade in the state, the Punjab Government has decided to abolish the Rural Development Fee (RDF) being levied on the purchase of wood from the Wood Market (Lakkar Mandi) Yard in the state. He further said that the seminars would also be organized at village level to educate the farmers to adopt for Argo Forestry. ---------- MGSIPA TO ORGANISE TWO DAY BOOK EXHIBITION CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 16: A two-day book exhibition to be organised on 17th -18th September, 2013 at the Mahatma Gandhi State institute of Public Administration to provide the opportunity to its faculty, trainers and trainees, members of the library and officers of the State government to buy the latest books on management and governance. A spokesman of MGSIPA said that some of the reputed publishes from New Delhi and the local booksellers would display their latest publications in a variety of subjects during this two day book exhibition. - 3 IPS AND 1 PPS OFFICERS TRANSFERRED CHANDIGARH, September 16: The Punjab Government today transferred Three IPS and one PPS officers in the state with immediate effect. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that Mr. Iqbalpreet Singh Sahota, IPS has been transferred and posted as ADGP/provisioning, Mr. R P Mittal, IPS attached to the O/o ADGP/PAP, Mr. S Bhupathi, IPS posted as AIG, Law & order whearas Mr. Upinderjit Singh Ghuman, PPS, has been posted as SSP/Barnala. He further said that posting/transfer order of Mr. Kartar Singh IPS, IGP/PAP/Trg has been cancelled. --------------- MEDICAL COLLEGE AMRITSAR TO CONTROL RURAL HEALTH TRAINING CENTRE THRIEWAL CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 16: The Punjab Government has transferred the administrative control of Rural Health Training Centre Thriewal to Government Medical College Amritsar with immediate effect. A spokesman of the Punjab Government today said this decision has been taken under the MCI norms. WATERLOGGING: PM INVITES BADAL TO DELHI TO FIND SOLUTIONSCM WARNS OF STRICT ACTION AGAINST OFFICERS FOR DERELICTION OF DUTY IN FIGHTING THE MENACE
Sappanwali/Mahatam Nagar September 15- The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that water-logging had assumed the proportions of a deep human tragedy, requiring out-of-the-box long term measures for a permanent solution. “The problem is no longer limited merely to saving crop; the entire affected area had been doomed to a massive socio-economic devastation and unless matchingcomprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction initiative wasundertaken, the crisis could have a spill over into social stability, economic frustration and law and order for decades to come. Mr. Badal was appreciative of the sympathetic hearing and assurances given by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the demands put forth by him during the PM’s Chandigarh visit, and said that he was hopeful of Dr. Singh’s personal intervention to help the state in this hour of crisis. The CM disclosed that the Prime Minister had invited him to New Delhi with a comprehensive report to find some solution for this menace. The Chief Minister said that it was unfortunate that the center had taken so long to wake up to the gravity of the situation and was still forcing the much-needed central relief and rehabilitation measures to get bogged down in technicalities and superfluous norms. The Chief Minister, who has been camping in the affected areas eversince the calamity hit the Malwa hinterland, especially Mukatsar district, warned that the government would brook no laxity on the part of any officer or official in what he described as “noble though critical cause”. “Dereliction of duty in ameliorating the sufferings of the poor and affected people would be met with exemplary punishment. “ Mr. Badal has not moved out of the area since calamity hit the people except to meet the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and attend aGlobal Agriculture Summit at Gandhinagar. He also successfullypersuaded all members of the Finance Commission to visit the affected villages on September 8. Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to provide relief and rehabilitation to the flood victims, the Chief Reiterating that the people from weaker and downtrodden sections who were having limited sources of income were the worst affected due to fury of floods, the Chief Minister said that he had already directed the officers to make sure that all the outstanding dues pertaining to the pensions and Shagun scheme beside any other financial assistance were made available to these beneficiaries within a week. He further said that it was the moral duty of state government to help these sections of society in this hour of crisis. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Mr. Surjit Kumar Jiyani and Lok Sabha MP Mr. Sher Singh Ghubaya. - Chandigarh, September 15- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has issued appreciation letters to 338 officers and officials of the state government for their hard work and exemplary courage exhibited by them in carrying out the relief and rescue operations during the recent floods in Uttarakhand. In the appreciation letters to these officers from the Education, Health, Police, Information and Public Relations Department, the Chief Minister has patted them by asserting that, “You were deputed by the Government of Punjab for an extraordinary task to carry out relief and rescue operations during recent floods in Uttarakhand. The task was indeed challenging. The Punjab Government's Rescue Teams were able to save many lives. A large number of stranded pilgrims/tourists were evacuated and safely brought back to their homes. This has been possible due to your hard work and exemplary courage”. ----------------- CM & Dy.CM MOURNS DEATH OF NINE PILGRIMS IN ROAD ACCIDENT ANNOUNCES EX-GRATIA GRANT OF RS. 1 LAC FOR EACH OF THE NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED Chandigarh, September 15- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed deep shock and anguish over the tragic accident in which nine people were killed and six were injured after a Mini Tempo carrying devotees from Kotakpura to Kali Mata Shrine in Patiala, collided with a truck at village Pakho Kenchian in Barnala district. Expressing profound grief and sorrow over this disastrous accident, the Chief Minister shared his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved families and prayed to the Almighty to give them courage to bear this irreparable loss in the hour of crisis and grant peace to the departed souls. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also announced an Ex Gratia grant of Rs. 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and directed the district administration to provide free treatment to all the injured. Expressing profound grief and sorrow over this disastrous accident, the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal shared his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved families and prayed to the Almighty to give them courage to bear this irreparable loss in the hour of crisis and grant peace to the departed souls. - HOME DEPARTMENT ISSUES CLARIFICATION ON THE POSTING OF IGP RP MITTAL
Chandigarh September 15:- Apropos the press note issued by Chief Minister's Office regarding the posting and transfer of Mr. R.P. Mittal, IPS, Inspector General of Police, a spokesman of the State Home Department today clarified that Mr. Mittal has been attached with the office of ADGP/PAP till October 31, 2013. Meanwhile, the transfer orders of Mr. Kartar Singh, IPS Inspector General of Police /Training PAP, Punjab have been cancelled, as Mr. Kartar Singh is retiring on October 31, 2013 and was inadvertently transferred.
|
|
|
NRI PUNJAB NEWS |
|