COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED TO STUDY -DEBT WAIVER SCHEME
Chandigarh March 5, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal today constituted
a committee to study the implications of the Union Budget especially
the so called Debt Waiver Scheme for the farmers of Punjab. This
was disclosed here by Mr. Harcharan Bains Media Adviser to the
Chief Minister Punjab.
According to Mr. Bains, the committee will be headed by the Chief
Secretary S. Ramesh Inder Singh and will comprise of Financial
Commissioner Development, Financial Commissioner Revenue, Financial
Commissioner Cooperation, Principal Secretary Finance and Registrar
Cooperative Societies Punjab.
Mr. Bains said that the general feeling in the Government is
that the net benefit on the debt default to the Punjab farmers
would be even less than the originally estimated 2% of the total
amount estimated by the Centre. Therefore the Chief Minister had
decided to form this committee
24 CRORES RELEASED FOR IMPROVING DRINKING WATER
QUALITY
IN 7 DISTRICTS OF PUNJAB
Chandigarh, March 5, 2008
The Union Government today released an amount of Rs. 2411.00
lacs to Punjab to improve drinking water quality in seven districts
of Punjab with earnest efforts of Punjab Government . These funds
are part of first installment of 45% of Central share of Rs. 7077.91
lacs under Revised Sub Mission Programme of Accelerated Rural
Water Supply Programme (Quality) during 2007-08. Mr. Bikram Singh
Majithia Water Supply & Sanitation Minister has appreciated
the efforts of Water Supply Department for getting the funds released
with constant perusal within one month of sending proposal to
the Union Government
According to an official spokesman the Punjab Government in
its State Level Scheme Sanctioning committee meeting held in January
this year had approved projects for tackling problem in 779 water
quality affected habitations, through 588 Water Supply Schemes
speared over 7 districts of the Sate, namely, Amritsar, Jalandhar,
Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Hoshairpur, Nawan Shehar & Ferozepur.
Water available at shallow depths in these villages was found
to be contaminated due to presence of excess iron, saline or fluoride
salts. It was proposed to tap water from deeper strata where it
was found to be potable in these villages by installing deep tubewells.
The spokesman said that total population of about 7 lacs would
be benefited from this project. This project would be executed
on sharing basis with a total outlay of Rs. 9673.80 lacs in which
Rs. 2359.30 lacs was the share of State Govt. where as community
contributions would be around Rs. 236.59 lacs. Community would
be contributing their share for lying of pipelines within the
villages. The projects would be completed within two years.
Applauding the efforts of the Department of Water Supply of
Sanitation Punjab in getting sanctioned this prestigious project
from Govt. of India, S. Bikram Singh Majithia, Water Supply &
Sanitation Minister, Punjab said that the State Govt. is committed
to cover all the villages of the State with potable water supply
by 2011-12. For this purpose World Bank financed project amounting
to Rs. 2530.80 Crore was already on under which Pilot Batch of
81 Schemes covering 88 villages was likely to be operationalised
by September, 2008. The State Government was taking appropriate
steps not only for supply of drinking water to all villages but
is also making earnest efforts to ensure high quality of drinking
water. For this purpose surveillance is being done by engaging
laboratories in Private Sector also. The Government also intended
to install water purification plants based on different technologies
depending upon local requirements.
CHAWLA INAUGURATES BLOOD DONATION CAMP ORGANISED
BY CSIF
Chandigarh March 5, 2008
Prof. Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, Health and Family Welfare Minister
Punjab today inaugurated a blood donation camp organized by Commandant
CSIF unit of Punjab and Haryana Secretariat as a part of the week
long Security Week being observed from March 3 to march 10 in
their office premises. Lauding the efforts of the security personnel,
Prof. Chawla said that nothing could be nobler than to be ever
prepared for shedding blood for the country but it was nobler
still to donate blood for saving the lives of those who die for
want of it. More than 200 jawans of the CSIF donated blood voluntarily
on the occasion and later received momentos in recognition for
their appreciable efforts from the Minister. The minister also
announced a grant of RS. 25000 from out of her discretionary fund
for continuing welfare activities by the CSIF.
Speaking on the occasion Comdt.B.K.Sharma said that the CSIF
has enrolled more than 40 girls from Punjab, among other states
of India, as constables.
PUNJAB CM GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF MAHASHIVRATRI
CHANDIGARH MARCH 5:
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today extended
his warm greetings to the people of Punjab on the sacred occasion
of 'Mahashivratri'.
In a message, Mr. Badal said that Lord Shiva is the Lord of
mercy and compassion. Lord Shiva protects devotees from evil forces
such as lust, greed, anger and grants boons, bestows grace and
awakens wisdom in his devotees. Mr. Badal urged the people to
celebrate 'Mahashivratri' festival with traditional fervour and
gaiety as such festivals not only promote communal harmony, compassion
and goodwill but also bring joy and prosperity.
Mr. Badal also appealed the people to celebrate this auspicious
occasion collectively by rising above the petty considerations
of caste, colour, creed and religion.
PGI CHANDIGARH TO HAVE TELEMEDICINE LINK WITH VILLAGE BADAL AND
MACHIWARA
Chandigarh March 5, 2008
The Union Ministry and Science and Technology today approved
Tele-linking of Primary Health Centre Village Badal and Community
Health Centre Machiwara with Post Graduate Institute of Medical
Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh to provide world class
medical and diagnostic facilities in remote rural areas Punjab.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Tikshan Sud Medical Education
and Research Minister said that Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO) would be tele-linking these two rural Health centres with
PGI and patients living in these villages and surrounding areas
would be able to get the benefit of specialized Medical facilities
through telemedicine .
The Minister said that three more centres in Punjab would be
provided telemedicine link with PGI in near future.
