SANCTION 300 MWs OF FREE POWER TO PUNJAB TO FIGHT DROUGHT
SUKHBIR DEMANDS Rs 300 HIKE IN PADDY MSP


New Delhi August 17, 2009

The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked the Union Government to sanction a supply of 300 MWs of free power and subsidize diesel for the farmers of Punjab to help them fight the calamitous conditions created by drought.

Presenting the case of the Punjab farmers during the course of the Chief Ministers Meet on Drought Situation in the country at Vigyan Bhawan here, Mr. Badal told the Prime Minister, “This will not be the first time that the government would be making an intervention like this to save a precious national asset. There are several precedents of such governmental support as in the case of aviation sector or some other sick industry. Agriculture deserves such a support most of all as it is the driving engine of the entire economy.”
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Mr. Badal also demanded a hike of Rs. 300 per quintal in the Minimum Support Price of paddy in the light of abnormally high cost of cultivation under drought conditions. He said that the Union Government need not pass the burden of increased MSP on to the consumer but could bear the extra burden as a subsidy.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the farmers of Punjab had to draw heavily on tube-well irrigation in these conditions “but as no additional power is available with the state, they are forced to turn to diesel which is economically unviable. Under these circumstances, the paddy production can be very adversely affected. But if we get 300 MWs of free power and diesel as a one time subsidy from the centre, we can not only tide over the crisis but even ensure that there is no adverse impact of the drought on the country’s food security,” Giving details of the drought situation, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the delayed monsoon had played havoc with paddy sowing throughout the state. But the southern districts were the worst affected.

About the extra burden on the farmers following drought, Mr. Badal said that according to conservative estimates, there had been additional demand of diesel worth Rs. 375 crore and of power to the tune of roughly 400 crore this season. “Obviously, this has direct link with the extra pressure on the farm sector due to the erratic behaviour of the monsoon. The farmers of Punjab are brave enough to fight the crisis but the center must help them do so. This would be in the larger interest of the nation,” concluded the Deputy Chief Minister.

SUKHBIR DEMANDS LOAN WAIVER FOR PUNJAB FARMERS
Advocates pro-active, high tech approach to security

New Delhi August 17, 2009

The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today demanded a complete waiver of agricultural loans of poor farmers in the state to ensure that opportunistic left wing extreme elements did not exploit their economic misery.
He also demanded central compensation of Rs. 5000 per acre to farmers whose lands fell across the border fence.
Mr. Badal’s demands came as a part of his forceful plea for “removing the social and economic factors that become a ploy in the hands of those who are out to pose a threat to internal security of the country”. He was addressing the Chief Ministers Meet on Internal Security at Vigyan Bhawan here today.

Calling for a comprehensive response, covering strong administrative, economic and political components, to fight challenges to nation’s security, Mr. Badal said that only a holistic response can effectively neutralize the challenge on a long term basis. “Piece-meal approach and knee jerk responses, so characteristic of our approach so far, can only compound the problem,” said Mr. Badal.

Mr. Badal called for a pro-active, high tech and comprehensive approach to defeat the challenges to the country’s Internal Security. He regretted that the center’s response to a highly sophisticated threat so far had been outdated and inadequate, and said that the Union Government should spend liberally to help the states to modernize, upgrade and strengthen the police. But he praised the country’s police, para-military and security forces for effectively keeping the threat to internal security under check. He demanded an annual grant of Rs.100 crore for modernization of the state police.
Stressing that security, both internal and external, must become the single most important item on the nation’s agenda, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said, “Development, prosperity and growth rates can have no relevance when governments can not ensure safety and security of life and limb to their citizens.” He described the national budget of just Rs. 1200 crore annually for modernization of police force as "a pittance considering the enormity of the problem" and said that this must be raised manifold and immediately.

Talking about Punjab’s experience with challenges to security, he said that the state had faced and defeated all three forms of threat to internal security, namely external terrorism, internal subversion and drug-related Narco-terrorism. “The people of Punjab won against all three despite its being a border state. But the fight against drugs is still on.”
In a significant political component in his address, the Deputy C.M. said ,“ Peace does not mean just controlling violence. Enduring peace actually means removing the causes that prepare the ground for violence. We have to remove the disease, not just the symptoms,” said Mr. Badal.

The Deputy CM regretted that the Punjab farmers had been discriminated against during the Prime Ministers’ package. “It is amazing that a state which contributes 60% to the nation’s food kitty is given just one per cent of the total relief for farmers. Things like these lead to alienation and that is exploited by left wing extremists,” said Mr. Badal.
He also wanted the center to help states in time to pre-empt the extremist challenge. “As a preventive step, states like Punjab should also be covered by the package meant for Naxal affected areas. We need to pre-empt the problem before it actually hits us in the face,” said the deputy C.M.

Mr. Badal was accompanied by the Chief Minister’s Media Advisor, Mr Harcharan Bains, Chief Secretary Mr. S.C. Aggarwal and the state DGP, Mr. P. S. Gill.

CM APPROVES POSTING AND TRANSFERS OF 4 IAS AND 8 PCS OFFICERS

CHANDIGARH AUGUST 17, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved the postings and transfers of four IAS and eight PCS officers.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister's office said Ms. Anandita Mittra, IAS has been posted as SDM Ropar, Mr. Mohamad Taib IAS as SDM Mukarian and Mr. Parveen Thind, IAS as SDM Malout (all were available for posting). Mr. Ravi Bhagat IAS , SDM Malout has been transferred and posted as Commissioner, Muincipal Corporation Bathinda.

The spokesman further said that amongst eight PCS officers who were transferred and posted included Capt. Manish Kumar, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Bathinda transferred as DTO Bathinda, Mr. Kuljit Pal Singh Mahi, SDM Sardulgarh as SDM Bathinda, Mr. Devinderjit Singh , SDM Bathinda as SDM Muktsar, Mr. Ashwani Kumar SDM Fazilka as SDM Khanna, Mr. Amrit Gill, Joint Director Forest as ACA PUDA Patiala, Ms. Indu Mishra, Executive Director BACKFINCO as Director Social Security, Woman & Child Development Department with additional charge of Executive Director, Punjab Scheduled Castes, Land Development and Financial Corporation (as Mrs. Rakhi Bhandari has proceeded on leave). Mr. Jagdish Chander Bhatia, SDM Jaiton has been transferred and posted as Deputy Director Local Urban Bodies Patiala and Mr. Bakhtawar Singh Joint Director Local Government as SDM Tarantaran.

The spokesman further said that Mr. Nachhattar Singh PCS, SDM Mansa would also look after the charge of SDM Sardoolgarh as additional charge. Formal orders for these transfers and postings would be issued soon separately.

PSEB TO IMPLEMENT ALL THE FOUR THERMAL PLANTS WITHIN THE STIPULATED TIME FRAME – CHAIRMAN PSEB

CHANDIGARH AUGUST 17, 2009

Taking a strong exception to the media reports regarding the status of four upcoming thermal power plants in the state, the Punjab State Electricity Board Chairman Mr.HS Brar described these as ‘figment of imagination, totally baseless, factually incorrect and highly misleading’.

Removing the misgivings about the present position of these thermal plants, Mr. Brar said that PSEB was all set to make Punjab a power surplus State in coming years by generating additional power capacity of 6400 MW with these four coal based thermal plants at Goindwal Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura and Gidderbaha being developed on BOO (Built Own Operate) basis in the state.

Outlining the progress of Thermal Plants awarded to private builders, the Chairman informed that work of constructing 2 x 270 (540MW) Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power Project had been awarded to M/s GVK group of Hyderabad. The company had undertaken up the construction work at site with more than 300 Engineers, Supervisors & workers along with heavy machinery & has assigned the contract for BTG (Boiler-Turbine-Generator) to M/s BHEL and for Balance of Plant to M/s Punj Lloyd Limited. The firm has awarded Non-EPC work to M/s Vertex and the site grading, compound wall and other works have already started. Besides M/s. Tata Consulting Engineers had been appointed as its consultant and for consultancy of Railway siding M/s Barsyl has been selected. The design and drawing work of Buildings was already under process. The financial closure of plant which was earlier planned in May 2010 had been advanced to September 2009 & the plant was expected to be commissioned before September 2012. Power Purchase Agreement with the firm had been signed by PSEB on May 26, 2009.

The Chairman of the Board further stated that the work of 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Power Project has been awarded to M/s Sterlite Energy Limited, Mumbai. Power Purchase Agreement with the company has been signed on September 1, 2008 for next 25 years. As per PPA the first unit of 660MW would be commissioned in August 2012. Likewise, the Second and third units of 660 MW would be commissioned within interval of four months each. M/s Sterlite Energy Limited informed PSEB that their financial closure for the plant was expected to be done by end of August 2009 and the first unit was expected to be commissioned in March 2012.

Referring to the progress of 1320MW Rajpura Thermal Plant, Mr. Brar said that the 1078 acres of land had already been acquired and all requisite clearances had also been obtained. Due to global recession only one company M/s Lanco Infratech participated in the bidding process but as per guidelines of Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), Letter of Intent (LoI) could not be issued to the firm. In compliance of the order of PSERC , rebidding had been done and Request for Qualification (RFQ) & Request for Proposal ( RFP) documents were floated on June 10, 2009 with due date of submission on August 31, 2009. PSEB had evoked an overwhelming response as eight firms have purchase the RFQ & RFP documents till date including M/S Reliance Power Ltd., M/S L & T Power Development M/S Welspun Urja India Limited, M/S Essar Power limited, M/S Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd., M/S NTPC Limited, M/S GMR Energy Limited and M/S Adani Power Limited. LOI

The LoI of Rajpura Thermal plant was expected to be issued by September 2009 and first unit of 660 MW was expected by September 2013 and second unit in January 2014.

Regarding the status of 4x660MW (2640MW) Gidderbaha Thermal Power Project, the Chairman informed that all site studies had been completed. Water Linkage and Rail Linkage for the plant had already been obtained. Request for Qualification was made way back on October 31, 2008 which was then extended to September 16, 2009 due to non receipt of Coal Linkage from Ministry of Coal, Government of India. He pointed out full efforts were also being made by Punjab Government for early clearance of Coal Linkage from Ministry of Coal, GoI since last year. The Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had also personally taken up the issue to immediately allot coal block/ long term linkage for upcoming 2640 MW Gidderbaha Thermal Power Plant both with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as Union Minister of Coal Mr.Sriprakash Jaiswal so that the project was not unduly delayed. As soon as the coal linkage was received from Government of India, the bidding process would be restarted forthwith. The first unit of 660MW of the plant was expected to be commissioned in June 2014, added Mr.Brar.

Mr. Brar categorically said that all these Thermal Plants were taken in hand with due approval from Ministry of Power & Central Electricity Authority and the Board was vigorously pursuing the implementation of these projects to make Punjab self reliant in power.

Rs. 234 crore for the development of Plan and Link Roads – Dhindsa
Chandigarh, August 17, 2009

Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD, B&R Minister Punjab explained that there is a provision of Rs. 234.71 Cr. In the budget of year 2009-10 to repair plan roads. Rs. 65.69 Crore has been sanctioned for the development works of religious places of Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo. The work has been started on these projects and would be completed in next year.

Mr. Dhindsa, said the Punjab Government has spend Rs. 108.06 crore on the completion of 344 Km length road work besides this, patch work was also done on 904 Km long road during last financial year.
He said, the plan roads are an important link between the National Highways and Rural Roads. The funds are made available by Ministry of Roadways Transport, Government of India. For rural roads, Punjab Mandi Board are being provided under PMGSY to keep entire road network traffic worthy.

He further informed that Rs.515 Crore has been approved to repair 5910 Km length rural link roads last year. Out of which 2602 Km length roads has been completed with the cost of Rs 200 Cr. and remaining roads would be completed in the 2009-10. Besides this Rs. 160 Cr. has been sanctioned for the construction of 962 km length roads. Construction work of 460 Km long roads has been completed with the cost of Rs 63 Crore and remaining roads would be repaired during this financial year. There is a proposal of Rs. 317 crores to spend for special repair of 3200 Km length link loads in the year of 2009-10, if the Central Govt. implements the plan of the previous year, than the Government would spent Rs. 155 Cr. on 1000

Hospitality Education in various institutions of State – Gabria

Chandigarh, August 17, 2009
Darshan Sharma

The Government of India has granted Rs. 2 crore per institution for education on hospitality in schools, colleges and various other technical/non-technical institutions to generate job opportunities. On the completion of courses talented and trained workers would fulfill the needs in hotel industry this by disclosed here today by Mr. Hira Singh Gabria, Tourism Minister Punjab.

Under this scheme Patiala, Pathankot, Kharar, Ludhiana, Jallandhar, Bathinda, Nawa Shahar, Amritsar, Mohali, Phagwara and Sunam industrial institutions are proposed where hospitality education would be implemented and a proposal for the same has been sent to the centre for approval. Among these Rs. 2 Crore each has been approved for institutions of Nawanshahar and Kharar. Similarly 22 Lakh and 1.5 Crore has been approved for Sr. Sec. School Anandpur Sahib and Govt. college for Girls, Mohali respectively. The admission for these classes will start from the next academic session and work for the same has been already started.

He further told that due to the improvement in tourism in the state the hospitality industry has been flourishing during the last 10 years and there is more growth yet to come. Due to the increase in demand of manpower in these hospitality industries, these courses are being taken in most major institutes. This industry has till now been getting manpower from private and food craft institutes. It is an apprehension that there will be more need if professional manpower in this sector well framed on international standards if would class training facilities are not available.

ADVANI RELEASES BOOK ON BALRAMJI DASS TANDON

CHANDIGARH AUGUST 17, 2009

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mr. L.K. Advani today released a biography of former Punjab Minister and Senior BJP leader Mr. Balramji Dass Tandon "Ek Prerak Charitra" authored by his son Mr. Sanjay Tandon, General Secretary of BJP unit of Chandigarh during an impressive function here today at Tagore Theatre. After releasing book Mr. L.K. Advani said that Mr. Badal and Mr. Tondon both played a whittle role in shaping the destiny of Punjab.

Speaking on the occasion Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal said that it was really an occasion of great elation and pride for a father when his son exhibit father’s rare achievements and struggle through his writings.
Appreciating the efforts of Mr. Sanjay Tandon for bringing out a 300 pages biography of his father, the Chief Minister said that this book had covered the entirelife of Mr. Balramji Dass Tandon as a social and political leader who had started his political voyage as a social worker from the refugee campus after country’s partition by establishing Jan Sangh's foundation in Punjab. He had beautifully portrayed Mr. Tandon as a seasoned politician who successfully emerged as a leader of masses through his dynamic approach during different facets of political career. Mr. Badal further said that being close associate of Mr. Tandon he always remained a great admirer of Mr. Tandon. Being a grass root leader of BJP who always worked for the upliftment of oppressed and his pro-people approach had always earned him a reputation of ‘man of the masses’.

Prominent amongst others who were spoke on the occasion included Mr. Ramesh Vinayak Resident Editor Hindustan Times, Mr. Kedarnath Sharma former Governor, Mr. Balbir Punj other prominent personality who were present on the occasion included Mr. Manoranjan Kalia Local Government Minister Punjab, Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Mr.Rajinder Bhandari, Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon Food and Civil Supplies Minister Punjab, Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura Rural Development & Panchayats Minister Punjab, Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar Revenue Minister Punajb, Mr. H.S. Mattewal Advocate General Punjab, Mr. Jasjit Singh Banni MLA Banur. former Minister Jathedar Singh Tota Singh and all cabinet ministers of BJP and other senior officers including Mr. S.S. Channy Principal Secretary Industries and Mr. S.K. Sharma Director Local Government.