Connecting over 25 millions NRIs worldwide
Most trusted Name in the NRI media
NRI PEOPLE- OUR NETWORK
 
Punjab News: 2011

 

 

CM APPROVES DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF RS. 170.98 CRORE FOR AMRITSAR, GURDASPUR, TARN TARAN AND KAPURTHALA DISTRICTS

CHANDIGARH JUNE 24
Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today approved a plan of Rs 170.98 crore for the development of various towns and cities falling in the four districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Kapurthala.
A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal while presiding over a series of meeting at his residence here today. Taking part in the deliberations Mr. Badal asked the concerned departments to undertake all the developmental plans at war footing and complete all formalities within a week to ensure completion of the work in stipulated time frame. It was decided in these meetings that Rs 22.74 crore would be spent on repair and construction of roads, bricklaying of streets, street lights and other related works in Amritsar district. Similarly Rs 23.89 crore would be spent in Tarn Taran district, Rs 82.55 crore for Gurdaspur district and Rs 39.80 crore for Kapurthala district.
Laying thrust to provide the basic civic amenities throughout the state, the Chief Minister said that the state government had initiated a mega development project of Rs. 5100 crore first time in the state to provide facilities like Sewerage, Water Supply, Road Infrastructure and many other to the people of the state. He directed the Local Government Department to keep a strict vigil over all the ongoing developmental projects.
Mr. Badal also approved to construct a high wall around a Garbage Dumping Station at Mandi Bhagatan Wali in Amritsar to separate it from the residential localities. The Chief Minister also informed that state government has already chalked out a plan for the repair of roads falling in border areas in all the four border districts of the state.
It was decided in the meeting that under this developmental plan Rs 2.56 would be allocated to Jandiala Guru, Rs 3.51 crore to Majitha, Rs 2.32 crore to Raiyya, Rs 4.97 crore to Ramdass, Rs 6.77 to Ajnala and Rs 2.81 crore to Rajasansi in district Amritsar. Likewise Rs 8.36 crore would be allocated to Tarn Taran, Rs 13.53 crore to Khemkaran along with Rs 2 crore for Bhikiwind all in Tran Taran district for ensuring developmental works. In the same manner Rs 14 crore would be allocated for Pathankot, Rs 10.58 crore for Gurdaspur, Rs 24.30 crore for Batala, Rs 4 crore for Dinannagar, Rs 6.24 crore for Sujanpur, Rs 3.56 crore for Qadian, Rs 4.12 crore for Fathegarh Churian, Rs 3.56 for Sri Hargobindpur, Rs 6.82 crore for Dera Baba Nanak and Rs 5.34 crore for Dhariwal of Gurdapur district. It may also be mentioned here that developmental work worth Rs 62 crore for laying sewerage and water supply in Pathankot was already on the verge of completion. For Kapurthala district, Rs. 9.34 crore for Phagwara, Rs. 2.97 crore for Dhillwan, Rs. 2.95 crore for Bholath, Rs. 2.90 crore for Sultanpur Lodhi, Rs. 3.03 crore for Begowal and Rs. 18.61 crore for Kapurthala would be spent.
Prominent amongst those present in these meetings included Member Parliament Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Rural Development Minister Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Finance Minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries, Dairy Development Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Agriculture Minister Mr. Sucha Singh Langah, Mr. Raghubir Singh and Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Master Mohan Lal, (all Former Ministers), Mr Inderbeer Singh Bularia, Mr Dinesh Singh and Mr Harmeet Singh Sandhu (all Chief Parliamentary Secretaries), Chairman Milkfed and MLA Gurdaspur Mr. Gurbachan Singh Babehali, MLA & Chairman District Planning Committee Tarn Taran Mr. Virsa Singh Valtoha, Mr Anil Joshi & Mr. Jagdish Raj Sawhney (All MLA's) former MLA Mr. Vir Singh Lopoke, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. DS Guru, Secretary Housing Dr SS Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Secretary Local Government Mr. SS Rajput, Director Local Government Mr. Raminder Singh and Deputy Commissioners of all the four districts.
---

BADAL GIVES GREEN SIGNAL TO RS.12.40 CRORE DEER-SAFARI PROJECT & PARK AT BATHINDA
CHANDIGARH JUNE 24:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal gave a green signal to establish a deer-safari and a park in forest area near Bathinda at a cost of Rs.12.40 crore.
A decision to this effect has been taken during a meeting held under his chairmanship here late last evening. Taking part in the deliberations, Mr. Badal directed the forest department to expedite the process of setting up this prestigious safari project in next three months.
Emphasizing the need to make Punjab pollution free and green through tree plantation, Mr. Badal directed the department to launch a campaign of tree plantation in various newly established educational institutions.
It was also informed in the meeting that out of total area of 161 acres of forest, 131 acres would be used as deer-safari and remaining 30 acres would be developed as a beautiful natural park to promote tourism. The construction of boundary wall and roads within the park would be accomplished by PWD department, whereas remaining works would be completed by the forest department.
Principal Secretary Forest Mr. DS Bains informed that the plan for the deer park had already been approved.
Prominent amongst others who were also present in the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. DS Guru, Secretary Housing & Urban Mr. SS Sandhu, Chief Principal Conservator Forest Mr.VC Bala, Chief Conservator Forests Mr. Kuldip Kumar.


PUNJAB AMENDS REVENUE ACT TO MAKE THEM GENDER SENSITIVE

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 24:


The Punjab government has amended the Punjab Utilization of Surplus Area Scheme, 1973 allowing the allotees to transfer his/her rights of land now after 5 years now, amending the earlier provision of 15 years.
According to an official spokesman in an another historic amendment to empower women the government has amended section 5 (1) of Punjab Land Reforms Act 1972 to make the adult daughters also eligible to share separate permissible area along with adult sons.
The spokesman said that SAD-BJP government has also amended section 8 (B) of Punjab Security of Land Tenure Act 1953 that was discriminatory against the women vis-à-vis their male counterparts and brought the females on equal footing with the male tenants. He said that State Government has taken these steps to facilitate different transactions, works and interaction of people with the government solving the long pending grievances of the people.
He said that these amendments were suggested by Punjab Governance Reforms Commission set up at the initiative of the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal to make the Revenue Acts people friendly and amend archaic Revenue Acts that were keeping land owners entangled in legal disputes for decades. These amendments besides putting the revenue case on fast track have made these acts more transparent.
---------

NRI QUOTA SEATS IN MEDICAL INSTITUTES TO BE FILLED BY GENUINE NRIS ONLY

Chandigarh, 24 June:
Punjab government today issued a notification to restrict the filling of NRI seats in medical institutions in the State by genuine NRIs only.
According to a notification issued by Mrs.Anjali Bhawra, Secretary,Medical Education, NRI quota seats for admission to MBBS/BDS courses in medical and dental institutions and for admission to BAMS/BHMS courses in Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic institutes of the state, NRI quota seats could be filled by genuine NRIs alone. The notification clarified that if no NRI was available, seat in the said quota cannot be filled by charging NRI fee. It further added that filling up of seats has to be in consistent with the rules as may be applicable.
These instructions have been issued in compliance with Punjab and Haryana High Court order.

-----

PUNJAB TO SET UP FOUR MEMBER NRI COMMISSION
Chandigarh; June 24;
The Punjab Government has approved the setting up of a Four-member State Commission for NRIs with a view to protecting and safeguarding the interests of the NRIs in the state.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Government said that the Commission would be headed by a retired Judge of Hon'ble High Court. The other members would be an IAS Officer not below the rank of Principal Secretary/ Financial Commissioner to the state government, an IPS Officer not below the rank of ADGP. Two members would be nominated from amongst persons having knowledge of matters and issues relating to NRIs. The Secretary, ex-cadre from PCS would be Executive Officer of the State Commission. The Chairperson and the members would be appointed by the State Government for a period of three years. A Chairperson or a member would be eligible for reappointment for another term of three years.
While defining the powers and functions of the Commission, he said that the Commission would have all the powers of the civil court trying a suit and in particular in respect of the following matters like summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath, requiring the discovery and production of documents, receiving evidence on affidavits, requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office, issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents and any other matter which may be prescribed. The Commission would be based in Chandigarh but can hold its sittings and meetings at any place within the state, he added.
The members of the Commission including the Chairperson would function in accordance with Rules framed by the government. The states Government consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting the Commission on all major policy matters affecting, said the Spokesman.



55 MORE TUBEWELLS IN AMRITSAR AND JALANDHAR TO RESOLVE THE DRINKING WATER PROBLEMS: TIKSHAN SUD

• WOULD PROVIDE BIG RELIEF TO THE PEOPLE RESIDING IN CONGESTED AREAS


CHANDIGARH, JUNE 24:
The Punjab government today approved 55 more tube wells in Amritsar and Jalandhar with an aim to resolve the problems pertaining to drinking water for people residing in congested areas.
Disclosing this here today, Local Bodies Minister, Mr. Tikshan Sud said that the work on this project was in full swing and by July 10 all 55 tube wells would become operational. He said that 40 shallow tube wells would be started in the congested belts of Amritsar City besides making 5 deep tube wells would be functional in the other areas of the city. He said that 10 deep tube wells would also be made operational in Jalandhar City with a cost of Rs 25 lakh for each tube well.
Mr. Sud said that the residents of congested and crowded areas of both cities were facing problems in getting pure drinking water due to lack of water flow in their respective areas. He said that for providing relief to such residents 7 shallow tube wells have been made functional in Amritsar city while remaining 33 would also become operational by July 10. He said that 75 to 100 families could get the pure drinking water from each shallow tube well and these modern tube wells would also reduce the power consumption.
The minister said that SAD-BJP government is committed to provide drinking water to the people of Punjab. He said that directions have been issued to the concerned authorities for repairing, if needed, of already existing 300 tube wells in Amritsar and 325 tube wells in Jalandhar.
-----


RS. 1913 CRORE TO BE SPENT ON WATER COURSES: SEKHON
Chandigarh June 24:
The Punjab Irrigation Department has initiate a special programme for the lining of 17767 kms water courses in the state at the cost of Rs.1913 crore to provide better irrigation facilities to the farmers and to ensure water at tail-ends.
Announcing this here today Punjab Irrigation Minister S. Janmeja Singh Sekhon said that during current financial year Rs.560 crore would be spent and farmers of twelve districts i.e.Sri Muktsar Sahib, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Bathinda, Moga, Ludhiana, Mansa, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Sangrur and Barnala would be benefited and 120000 hectare area would be covered under irrigation with the lining of 5600 kms.
The Minister said during the last period, government spent Rs.395 crore for the twelve districts in the state and 208891 hectare area was covered with the 4329 kms length lined. Rs.67 crore had already been spent on this project.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Populist measures like free bicycles for girls would breed corruption’
From the political office
Kewal SIngh Dhillon
MLA, Barnala, and vice-president, PPCC

Expressing concern over freebies being promised by the SAD-BJP government in Punjab during the fag end of its tenure, Barnala MLA and PPCC vice-president Kewal Singh Dhillon has criticized the move stating that such measures do no good to the society. Opposing the government's move to provide free bicycles to girls studying in class XI and XII, he said that it would only breed corruption, right from purchase to distribution of cycles.


Reasoning that such schemes should only be for the poor and needy for their socio-economic uplift, Dhillon said providing freebies indiscriminately only dilutes the effectiveness of the welfare measures. "When given to the undeserved, such schemes would not only go waste but also breed corruption. The only purpose behind such a move is to lure gullible voters," he said.

He said that the decision to hand over free bicycles to girls on August 15 appears a one-time measure and the next government would have to bear to financial brunt of justifying the scheme. "Had the government been serious about the issue, it should have introduced the scheme long ago when the neighboring states did it," he said. While the Punjab government took full five years to think of making girls' education free up to class 12, Haryana had long back made education up to graduation free for girls, and Himachal made it free up to post-graduation level.

He said that while in Bihar a similar scheme is being implemented in right earnest through direct cash transfer to the beneficiary to purchase a bicycle, the Punjab government only wanted to complete a formality and therefore launched the scheme without giving much thought on how best to implement it.


Congress leaders file RTI at all the district headquarters in Punjab: Bittu
Chandigarh: 24-06-11
All the senior leaders and activists of the Punjab Pradesh congress filed applications under the right to information act in all the district headquarters of Punjab today. Stating the move as the program given by Sh Rahul Gandhi, Gen sec (AICC), S Ravnit Singh Bittu MP (Sri Anandpur Saahib) said that this is being done on the directions of Sh Rahul Gandhi and the senior leaders of Indian youth congress. The congress party actually wants to tell the people of Punjab that for the last four years what the present Shiromani Akali Dal Badal and BJP led coalition government has done for them. The application filed under the RTI will only ask the concerned authorities to give the detail of exact amount of money which Punjab government claims to be spending on various welfare and development works from 01-01-2007 but actually the money was derived from the schemes initiated by the union government of India. What was the contribution of the state government in different schemes which were given to the people of Punjab by the UPA led government at the centre? How many schemes had to be forfeited due to non availability of the funds by the state government? How much and in which area were the funds diverted to benefit some section of people or constituency which is politically motivated, which were supposed to be spent in these schemes.
After filing the RTI application at the office of deputy commissioner Mohali S Ravnit Singh Bittu said as soon as we receive the reply under the RTI act we will make a compilation of all the replies and then take those facts to the people of Punjab to judge and decide that who has done what for the state in the last four years. Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and S Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab by releasing full page advertisements are just befooling the people of Punjab by eyeing on the coming vidhan sabha elections which are due by February 2012. Both the badal duo want to play the development card by taking the credit of all those central government schemes which are funded by the UPA government at the centre. There are numerous schemes which are started by the union government specially designed to benefit the common man or the aam aadmi like national rural health mission, Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan, Narega, integrated child development scheme, Indira Gandhi avaas yojana, Nehru urban renewable mission, Pradhan mantri gramin sadak yojana, Central Govt Health scheme,National Leprosy elimination programme, Indira gandhi national old age pension, disablement child labour project scheme, panchayat yuva krida aur khel abhiyanand so on. We expect the reply within 30 days of filing the RTI application but in any case if it doesn’t come then we will go for the first appeal which will take another 45 days, so we will fight for the reply and tell the people of Punjab actual face of this SAD(B) and BJP government.

Bittu said that congress party led by Capt Amarinder singh will form the next government in Punjab and these akalis and BJP would be wiped out of the state. All the senior leaders and the former youth congress body will work with the Pradesh congress in the vidhan sabha elections to make the party victorious.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of persons who have filed RTI applications

1. Mohali Mr. Ravnit Singh Bittu
2. Ropar Mr. H.S. Bawa
3. Nawan Shahar Mr Rajwant Singh Kooner
4. Hoshiarpur Mr Amarpreet Singh Lally
5. Kapurthala Mr. Jagjit Singh Bittu
6. Jalandhar Mr. Gaganjit Singh Kaku
7. Amritsar Mr. Raman Bakshi
8. Gurdaspur Mr. Vikram Joshi
9. TarnTaran Mr. Navreet Singh Jallewal
10. Ferozpur Mr. Sandeep Jakhar
11. Faridkot Mr. Dhanjit Singh Dhani
12. Muktsar Mr. Narinder Singh Kauni
13. Bhatinda Mr. Lakhwinder Singh Lakha
14. Patiala Mr. Rajesh Attri
15. Sangrur Mr Sandeep Singla
16. Mansa Mr Bikram Mofar
17. Ludhiana Mr Gurkirat Singh kotli
18. Fatehgarh Sahib Mr. Sandeep Verma
19. Moga Mr. Kanwaljit Brar