PUNJAB ANNOUNCES 10% DA FOR ITS EMPLOYEES, PENSIONERS/FAMILY PENSIONERS

Chandigarh April 28 : The Punjab Government today announced to enhance the rate of dearness allowance (DA) for its employees , pensioners , and Family Pensioners from existing rate of 54% to 64 % w.e.f. 1.1.2009 on the Central Govt. pattern.
An official spokesman of the Punjab Government said that amount of DA for its employees from 1.1.2009 to 30-4-2009 would be credited to the General Provident Fund Accounts of the employees and for the period from 1.5.2009 enhanced DA would be paid in cash.
In the case of Pensioners DA shall be paid in cash w.e.f from 1.1.2009, the spokesman added.

ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR RABI SEASON ANNOUNCED
Chandigarh, April 28:
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the Khariff Season through Canal water from 30-4-2009 to 07-05-2009. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Patiala feeder, Abohar Branch, Bathinda Branch, Bist Doab Canal and Sidhwan Branch, respectively.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department said that Ghaggar link and its off taking channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' being in the first preference will run to their indent. Balance water supplies available will be utilized in direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line in group 'A' respectively.
The spokesman further said that Abohar Branch off-taking from Sirhind Feeder and distributries in Group "B" being in the First preference will run to their indent. Balance water supplies available would be utilised in direct distributaries of Group 'A'.
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper Bari Doab Canal i.e. Main Branch Lower with its distributaries being in the first Preference would run to their indent .Balance water supplies water available would be utilised in Lahore Branch, Sabraon Branch, Kasur Branch Lower, with their distributaries respectively.

98.23 LAC TONNES WHEAT PROCURED IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh, April 28: Government agencies and private millers procured more than 9823580 tonnes of wheat till last evening
Out of total procurement of 9823580 tonnes of wheat in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 9632318 tonnes of wheat (98.1%) till date whereas private traders procured 15183 tonnes (0.2%) of wheat. Till April 27, PUNGRAIN had procured 1483205 tonnes (15.4%) whereas MARKFED procured 2226632 tonnes (23.1%). PUNSUP procured 2095875 tonnes (21.8%), PSWC procured 1235464 tonnes (12.8%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 1061468 tonnes (11 %) of wheat.
The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 1529674 tonnes (15.9%).
The spokesman added that District Ferozepur with 1151640 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Sangrur with 984270 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Patiala with 827403 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.
The State Government has set up 1547 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of wheat, the spokesman added.

Sukhbir condoles the death of 5 persons in a crude blast

Chandigarh, April 27

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today expressed deep shock and grief at the tragic death of 5 persons, including one lady and one child, who died at Patiala in a blast, while extracting metal from scrap.

Mr. Badal asked the District Authorities to provide proper medical care to the injured and logistic support to the bereaved families.

The Deputy Chief Minister expressed heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed to God to give peace to the departed souls and strength to them to bear this irreparable loss.

Congress owes an explanation to nation for reluctance of Australian Tennis team to play in India-Sukhbir

• Poor security scenario in country drove away IPL also

Chandigarh, April 27

President SAD and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister, Mr.P.Chidambran getting India bracketed with rogue nation like Pakistan, due to poor internal and external security environment with international tennis and cricket teams were refusing to visit this country fearing threat to their lives. This decision was being clubbed in International fora with the cancellation of Cricket World Cup in Pakistan by ICC.
In a statement issued here today, Mr. Badal said that first the Indian Premier League organizers were forced to look for safer alternative due to threat perceived by International cricket players and now Australia has refused to send its tennis team to India.
Mr. Badal said that due to lax implementation of law, the morale of anti-national forces to strike at their will, has got a boost. He said that during UPA rule there were 52 bomb blasts, resulting in loss of hundreds of lives. The attack of Pakistani terrorists at Mumbai on 26-11 kept the country virtually hostage to them for more than 3 days. He said that even after Mumbai attacks, India under UPA failed to respond as a sovereign nation, sending the signals to international community that India was a soft state where terrorists can strike at will.
Commenting on the poor handling of Kasab’s trial and sending of wrong DNA reports to Pakistan, Mr. Badal blamed UPA for deliberately weakening the case, with an eye over vote bank, He said that it was matter of great shame that during last parliamentary elections a proclaimed offender of Napal government got Congress eye ticket and entered into India’s supreme legislative body, Parliament. He said that despite Supreme Court’s adverse ruling on this case, Congress party refused to cancel his seat due to quid pro quo with Gandhi family. He said that it was surprising that Gandhi family has got blinded with the money power and was mortgaging the security and integrity of the country to moneyed Gundas.
Promising to provide strong, decisive and able leadership under Mr. Lal Krishan Advani, Mr. Badal said that ensuring security of life and property of its citizens was on NDA’s prime agenda. He said that people fed up with Congress’s led UPA were eagerly waiting for new era of NDA government.

UPA MOVE TO FREEZE WHEAT MSP FRAUGHT WITH DANGER: SUKHBIR

Chandigarh, April 26 - The Shiromani Akali Dal president and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said here today that the move of the Congress-led UPA government at the centre to freeze the MSP of wheat for next two years would plunge the country into serious food shortages and break the back of the already beleaguered peasnatry. He asked the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to intervene " personally, immediately and effectively" to stop his government's disasterous anti-farmer move

In a statement here, Mr. Badal dismissed as "flimsy and economically unsound" the centre's argument that the MSP was being freezed in view of the increased food subsidy bill.


He declared that the NDA government to be formed after the forthcoming elections to the Lok Sabha would strike down this this anti- farmer decision of the UPA government.He said that the SAD was committed to implementing the recommendations of the Dr. Swaminthan Committee under which the farmers should get either price-index linked MSP or 50% gain over and obove the cost of production.Mr. Badal said that the NDA government would also keep a check on ever rising prices of agricultural inputs including fertilizers, insecticides and diesel. He said that the NDA was committed to reducing the price of diesel by Rs. 10 per litre.

The Deputy Chief Minister also said that no government had the right to freeze the MSP of agricultural produce without a simultaneous freeze in the prices of agricultural inputs, like diesel, fertilisers etc. He said that it was amazing that on one hand the Union government prodded Punjab farmers to increase the acreage and production of wheat to ensure food security of the Country, while on the other hand it was creating conditions to force the farmers into distress sale at prices to the multinational companies below the MSP. He said that due to deliberate absence of FCI in Uttar Pardesh this year, the UP farmers had been forced to sell wheat at Rs 930-935 per quintal, much below the MSP of Rs 1080. He said that similar distress sale conditions were deliberately being created in other states to shower undue favours on multinational companies by encouraging them to purchase wheat from UP instead of Punjab mandis at lower rates.
He said that the SAD-BJP government in Punjab was committed to procuring every grain of wheat being brought to the Mandis by the farmers within 24 hours of its arrival.
Assertng that the UPA government's real anti farmer face had been fully exposed by the latest policy, Mr. Badal said that the Congress led central government was set to be dumped into oblivion in 21 days Congress by the electorate and NDA was set to form the next government.

UPA MOVE TO FREEZE WHEAT MSP FRAUGHT WITH DANGER: SUKHBIR

Chandigarh, April 25 - The Shiromani Akali Dal president and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said here today that the move of the Congress-led UPA government at the centre to freeze the MSP of wheat for next two years would plunge the country into serious food shortages and break the back of the already beleaguered peasnatry. He asked the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to intervene " personally, immediately and effectively" to stop his government's disasterous anti-farmer move

In a statement here, Mr. Badal dismissed as "flimsy and economically unsound" the centre's argument that the MSP was being freezed in view of the increased food subsidy bill.


He declared that the NDA government to be formed after the forthcoming elections to the Lok Sabha would strike down this this anti- farmer decision of the UPA government.He said that the SAD was committed to implementing the recommendations of the Dr. Swaminthan Committee under which the farmers should get either price-index linked MSP or 50% gain over and obove the cost of production.Mr. Badal said that the NDA government would also keep a check on ever rising prices of agricultural inputs including fertilizers, insecticides and diesel. He said that the NDA was committed to reducing the price of diesel by Rs. 10 per litre.

RECORD 94.28 LAC MT WHEAT PROCURED IN PUNJAB
CHANDIGARH APRIL 26:
Wheat procurement in Punjab touched a record figure of 94.28 lac Metric Tonnes by the evening of Saturday. This is 54% more than the corresponding figure of 57.76 lac Metric Tonnes achieved during the corresponding last year. Over 77% of the procured stock had already been lifted in one of the biggest procurement operations in Asia involving over 100 Metric Tonnes of purchase in a span of just 25 days.
Giving these details, the Punjab Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains said here today that payment to the farmers had also been prompt and the waiting period had been reduced from 72 hours to just 24 hours. Already, payment to the tune of Rs.9323 crore had been made to the farmers, which accounted for 95% of the total payment due till last evening. Mr. Bains said that constant monitoring at the highest level and round the clock vigilance by the officials had resulted in the smooth and hassle free procurement of 94.14 lac MT by the Government agencies and 14, 000 Tonnes by the Private Traders.
The Media Advisor said that the unprecedented success of the procurement operation has been due to the personal, day-to-day monitoring by the Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. "The entire procurement operation is nearing a smooth completion despite inclement weather conditions during the harvesting season in the state," observed Mr. Bains, adding that the State Government had set up 1547 procurement centers and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of wheat.
Referring to the position of Wheat procurement in Bathinda district during the current Rabi Season 2009-10, Mr. Bains revealed that out of total of 5.88 lac Metric Tonnes of Wheat procured in the Bathinda district so far 5.85 lac MT had been procured by the State agencies and 2800 MT by the private traders, as compared to out of 2,98,219 MT of Wheat purchased last year as on date, 2,98,019 MT was procured by the State agencies and only 200 MT by the private traders, which depicted both the arrival and purchase was almost double during the current season over the corresponding period of Rabi Season 2008-09. Out of total arrival of 6.42 lakh M.T. during the last year, only 40% of Wheat had arrived/purchased as on 25th April, 2008, whereas, during the current season nearly 90% had been purchased out of expected arrival of 6.50 lakh M.T.

SUKHBIR GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF
BHAGWAN PARSHURAM JAYANTI

Chandigarh, April 26: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today extended his heartiest greetings to the people of Punjab on the eve of Bhagwan Parshuram Jayanti.
In a message on the eve of Bhagwan Parshuram Jayanti the Deputy Chief Minister said that Bhagwan Parshuram ji was 6th Avtar of Vishnu, who took birth on this earth to fight the wrongs of high and mighty. Mr. Badal said that Bhagwan Parshuram amalgamated Bhakti and Shakti to protect oppressed and under privileged on this earth.
Calling upon people to follow the teaching of Bhagwan Parshuram, Mr. Badal said that this day gives us an opportunity to move on the righteous path to achieve our goals in life.

SUCCESS OF ATTA DAL SCHEME COMPELS CONGRESS TO COPY THIS SCHEME IN THEIR MANIFESTO – SUKHBIR

CHANDIGARH, April 25

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today said that the successful implementation of Atta Dal scheme envisioned by Shiromani Akali Dal since last 20 months benefiting 12.95 lac families besides silencing the skeptic like Congress and other UPA past allies, has forced them to copy this scheme in their manifestos.

In a statement issued here today Mr. Badal said that the announcement of providing 35kg wheat at Rs.4 per kg and 4kg dal at Rs.20 per kg per month to identified poor families of the state was declared ‘unviable, populist, and unrealistic’’ by the Congress and its allies but its successful implementation sans any complaint has completely silenced them and so called ‘Aam Adami Ki Sarkar’ forgetting the sermons given to Punjab Government on its economic viability has shamelessly copied this scheme in their manifesto.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has emerged as ‘Massiha’ of poor by ensuring regular supply of 35kg wheat and 4 kg protein rich cereals per month to those poor families finding it hard to get two square meals due to availability of wheat @ Rs.20 per kg and dal @ Rs.60 per kg. He said that the man of masses Mr. Badal knew the pulse of people and marshaled the resources of administration to make this pro-poor programme a success.

The SAD President said that SAD-BJP government widened the scope of this scheme by including not only BPL families but also all those poor families who were not technically declared BPL. A fresh door to door survey of poor families was conducted in 12600 villages and identified families were issued Blue Cards.

Mr. Badal said that despite financial constrains the SAD-BJP government made it sure that every poor family should get its quota of ration by 7th of each month positively and Rs.379 crores were set aside for this scheme. A network of 13,989 ration depots spread all over Punjab were issued strict directions ensure quality supply of wheat and dal to the beneficiary families. He said that Flying squads all over the State are conducting surprise check in every village to ensure that every beneficiary was getting right quality as well as quantity of atta and dal.

Seeking apology from Congress leadership for creating hurdles in the smooth implementation of this pro-poor innovative scheme, the SAD President said that earlier criticism and belated attempt to salvage their image, has already exposed their so called pro poor manifesto and vigilant voter has already understood that the Party who was opposing this scheme would not implement it.