GOINDWAL PLANT COMMISSIONING IN TWO YEARS

SUKHBIR REVIEWS PROGRESS OF THERMAL PROJECTS,

ORDERS MONTHLY REVIEW MEETINGS OF ALL PROJECTS


New Delhi, August 18

The 540 Mega Watts Goindwal Thermal Plant would be commissioned within the next two years, well ahead of schedule. This was stated by Mr. G.V.K. Reddy, Chairman of the GVK Group, the company handling the project.
Mr. Reddy’s categorical assurance came in an interaction with the media persons after a review meeting of the project held by the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal at Punjab Bhawan here today. Mr. Reddy said that the timely completion of the project was a sacred commitment of his company to the people of Punjab and in no case would the commitment be diluted. He said that the company was well on course for commissioning the plant inside the stipulated period.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister also reviewed progress of the Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant with senior representatives of the Vedanta Group, including their Advisor Mr. Kuldip Kaura and CEO B.K. Sharma. Mr. Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to Chief Minister, assisted Mr. Badal in the two meetings.

These meetings were the first in a series of monthly reviews ordered by the Deputy Chief Minister. The monthly review meetings, to be chaired by Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, would be attended by senior power and irrigation officials, Chairman PSEB and the senior representatives of the companies contracted to execute these projects. Mr. Badal has also ordered a three monthly regular site visits by government officials and company representatives to all the four thermal plants coming up in Punjab. He would lead these site visits. The Deputy CM would personally monitor progress on these projects. He has directed the concerned officers to keep him updated on a weekly basis on the status of the projects. Mr. Badal made it clear at today’s meetings that no slippage or delay in the execution of these projects would be allowed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Reddy said that substantial progress had been made on the initial phase of the Goindwal Thermal Plant project. Land measuring 1068 had been acquired for the purpose. The GVK group had already advanced Rs. 102 crore to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) who had been tasked with the execution of the project. Similar, M/S Punj Lloyd who had been given the balance of the completion contract had also been given the initial advance by the GVK. The firm has already signed coal transportation agreement with Indian Railways.Civil work regarding roads and boundary walls would be completed by next month.

Mr. B.K.Sharma, CEO M/s Sterlite Energy Ltd. informed the Deputy CM that 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Project that was awarded to the company 1-9-2008 would be commissioned by the beginning of 2012. He said that financial closure of this plant was expected by month end and civil work has already started at the site of the project.
Principal Resident Commissioner Mr. Sudhir Mittal, Principal Secretary Power and Irrigation, Mr. Suresh Kumar, PSEB Administrative Member Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, PSEB Chairman Mr. H.S.Brar were also present at today’s meetings.

PUNJAB TAKES STEPS TO CORRECT ADVERSE SEX RATIO

Chandigarh August 18, 2009
Shikha Nehra

:The Punjab State Commission For Women today held a meeting with officers of the Health and Family Welfare Department led by Mr. Satish Chandra, IAS, Secretary to Govt. of Punjab, regarding details of district-wise adverse sex ratio in Punjab and the financial and physical achievements regarding National Rural Health Mission during the last two years. The Commission also got the information about various Central and State Government Schemes to improve adverse sex ratio.

The Commission was represented by the Chairperson Bibi Gurdev Kaur Sangha; Member Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal; Members Ms. Kiranjot Kaur, Ms. Pushpinder Kaur Majboor and Ms. Ranjit Kaur Bhatti. The Director General of Police was represented by Assistant Inspector General Mr. R. S. Khatra.

The Commission took an adverse note of the fact that during the year 2007-08, the Health and Family Welfare Department utilized only 12.7% of the funds provided under the National Rural Health Mission for measures relating to correcting adverse sex ratio. Similarly, the Commission expressed its concern about the fact that only 33.9% NHRM funds have been utilized during the year 2008-09, which has resulted in great loss to the general public. The Commission appealed to the Department of Health and Family Welfare to fully utilize the budget allotted for the year 2009-10 within the stipulated time, so that female feticide, which is the main cause of adverse sex ratio, could be controlled in Punjab .

The Commission appealed to the Health and Family Welfare Department that there is a need to work forcefully in all the districts of Punjab for implementation of the PNDT Act. In the NRHM budget, there is a provision of giving prizes to obtain information by sending decoy patients or through sting operation or for informers, which has not been resorted to so far. The Commission advised to the Department to utilize these sources in a more forceful manner.

The Commission has also taken it seriously that as per the information received from the Department, during 1st January, 2009 to 31st July, 2009, neither any case under PNDT Act been referred to Courts nor any license suspended in as many as 13 districts of Punjab, viz. Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Mansa, Moga, Patiala and Tarn Taran. In the first seven months of this year only 4 cases have been sent to Courts and 13 licenses suspended under PNDT Act in the entire State. Keeping the above in view, the Commission advised strengthening of the administrative set up to effectively implement the provisions of PNDT Act.

The Punjab State Commission for Women also received a report from Mr. Krishan Kumar, IAS and Mr.R.L. Mehta, IAS, both Special Secretaries of School Education Department regarding female literacy and drop out rate of female students in the schools. The Commission expressed its concern that only 63.5% females are literate all over the State, whereas the number reduces to 57% in rural Punjab . The Commission felt that while the School Education Department is working to strengthen School Education, there is also a need to focus its attention under the Literacy Mission to extend literacy coverage to those females who for any reason have been deprived of school education and have remained illiterate adults. For that purpose, the Commission recommended that Literacy Mission and Adult Education Programmes need to be strengthened at the State, District, Tehsil and Block levels, besides encouraging the NGOs to participate in the process. The Commission observed that in some areas where NGOs do not exist, prominent social workers of the area need to be motivated to form NGOs and encourage helping the local authorities as well as the School Education Department to spread female literacy in Punjab .

ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED
Chandigarh, August 18, 2009

The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the current Kharif Season through Canal water from 20--8-2009 to 27-08-2009. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Abohar Branch, Patiala feeder, Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda Branch and Bist Doab Canal 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 distributaries in Group "B" being in the First preference will run to their indent. Balance water supplies available would be utilized in direct distributaries of Group 'A'.

The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper Bari Doab Canal i.e. Lahore Branch with its distributaries being in the first Preference would run to their indent .Balance water supplies water available would be utilized in Main Branch Lower, Kasur Branch Lower, Sabraon Branch with their distributaries respectively.

MORE EMPLOYMENT IN INDUSTRIAL UNITS FOR UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS-KALIA

Chandigarh, August 18, 2009

To give employment to the unemployed youths in the Industrial units, the Punjab Government has implemented the policies for the development of medium and small scale industries. Disclosing this here today Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Industry, Commerce and Local Government Minister, Punjab said that 375 large and medium units with a fixed investment of Rs.25685 crore had been generated employment to 2.09 lac persons with a turn over of 46000 crore during the year 2008-09 in the state against the year 2007-08, 358 units with a fix investment of Rs.24518 crore, which provided employment to 2.04 lakh persons with a turn over Rs.43000 crore.

The Punjab Government has already constituted two different Boards with a objective to formulate and implement policies for the industrial development. The other board had been also constituted under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Chief Minister Punjab to formulate and implement policies for the development of large industries of facilitating mega investment projects in manufacturing and other related sector.

The Minister further said that the promotion of small scale industries has been regarded as an important element of the development strategy for enhancing the competitiveness of the small and medium enterprises. The State Government has adopted the cluster development approach. Under this scheme two cluster proposals, one for machine tools at Batala and another for hand tools at Jalandhar with project cost 83 and 90 crore respectively have been submitted to Government of India. Besides 12 more projects proposal in fields have been sent to Government of India for approval. He said there were 159140 small scale unites with investment of Rs.6400 crore which provide employment to 9.60 lakh persons with a production value of Rs.38000 crore, he added.

Rs.146 CRORE FOR JUDICIAL COURT COMPLEX BUILDINGS-DHINDA

Chandigarh, August 18, 2009

Punjab Government would spent Rs.146 crore on 22 new judicial court complex buildings. Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD ( B & R) Minister Punjab said that most of the court complex buildings were old and unsafe due to this, judicial officers, advocates along with litigants have to face many problems.

He further told that court complex buildings construction work of Nabha, Rajpura, Dhuri, Budlada, Dasooha, Flaur, Session House and Shed at Mansa , Moonak and Malerkotla had been completed. Rs.46.76 crore has been spent on these buildings and Rs.26.66 crore is being spent on the new court complex buildings in this financial year. He further told that new constructing building are being provided with all modern facilities such as especially library, conference room, waiting room, toilets, drinking water, canteens etc.

He further explained that Jagraon, Bathinda, Rampuraphul, Talwandi Sabo, Samrala, Abohar, Jalalabad, Muktsar court complexes construction is under process. The construction work of shed for the litigants at jalandhar is also in progressive stage and will be completed by March, 2010. The Minister further said that the construction work of Judicial Court Complexes at Ferozepur, Nakodar and Mansa would be started soon.

MANORANJAN KALIA AND ADESH PARTAP SINGH
CONDOLES THE SAD DEMISE OF DEEPAK SWAROOP

CHANDIGARH AUGUST 18, 2009

Punjab Local Government Minister Sh. Manoranjan Kalia and S. Adesh Partap Singh, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Punjab today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mr. Deepak Swaroop, the elder brother of Jyoti Kamal, Chief Bureau, CNN IBN, who died here today due to heart attack.

The Ministers also expressed their heart felt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family and pray to the Almighty to give strength to bear this irreparable lose and grant peace to the departed soul.

PUNJAB GOVERNMENT ISSUES PUNJAB STATE DEVELOPMENT LOAN

CHANDIGARH, August 18, 2009

The outstanding balance of 11.85 percent Punjab State Development Loan 2009 issued in terms of the State government vide notification no.1/7/99-2FBII/12943 dated 03.09.1999 would be repaid on 08.09.2009 with interest due upto including 07.09.2009.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that in the event of a holiday being declared on the aforesaid date by State Government under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, the loan would be repaid by the paying offices on the previous working day. No interest would accrue on the loan from and after 08.09.2009, he added.
He also said that to facilitate repayment on the due date, holders of 11.85 percent Punjab State Development Loan, 2009 should tender their securities at the Public Debt Office 20 days in advance.

It should be particularly noted, said the spokesman, that at places where the treasury work was done by a branch of the State Bank of India or any of its associate banks, the securities, if they were in the form of Stock Certificates, should be tendered at the branch of the bank concerned and not at the Treasury or Sub-Treasury.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE CARE TO PATIENTS DOWN WITH H1N1 VIRUS--CHAWLA

Chandigarh, 18th August, 2009

: The state Health Department has made all appropriate arrangements with regard to providing preventive and curative care of H1N1 (Swine Flu) cases. This was revealed here today by Prof. Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab . She informed that arrangements have been made to screen 500-800 passengers in all the International Flights arriving at the airport daily as well as screening of those arriving, by land, at Attari Railway Station and Wagah borders.

Elaborating further about the arrangements made by the Health department, the Minister said that isolation wards had been set up in all the 20 district hospitals and 3 medical colleges and a total of 363 beds were available exclusively for swine flu cases. Nodal Officers had been identified and control rooms set up at State H.Q and in each of the 20 districts of the state.. Rapid Response Teams consisting of District Health Officer, Epidemiologist, Physician/ Paediatrician and Pathologist had been constituted in all the districts. She informed that adequate quantity of medicines including Tami flu Capsules, Syrup Tami flu, P.P.E. Kits, VTM Bottles, Masks (Triple Layer), Masks N-95 as well as 73 Ventilators were available in the hospitals for the treatment of virus affected patients. Awareness is being disseminated amongst the masses, particularly the college/school going students through leading news papers regarding H1N1 (Swine Flu). Testing facilities were available in all the districts in the state where samples could be collected. She informed that a laboratory for testing H1N1 cases had been established in PGI Chandigarh for cases being reported from Punjab, J&K and Chandigarh which is expected to be made functional during this week. She further added that a proposal for establishing State Laboratory at Amritsar & Patiala is being pursued with Govt of India along with the list of requirement of equipments for these proposed labs. Now onwards the testing of the affected patients would only be done for category C patients who develop severe symptoms.

The Health Minister further disclosed that so far 25 positive cases of Swine Flu had been reported through out the State till 17th August, whereas 95 cases were suspected and were under investigation. As many as 762 contact persons had also been identified and provided chemoprophylaxis by the department. The monitoring regarding status of preparedness, isolation wards, availability of ventilators as well as requirement of medicines etc. was being constantly reviewed by Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, on regular basis, with all the Civil Surgeons.

As a process of monitoring the Chief Minister Punjab himself took stock of the situation with the Deptt. Officials on 7th August, 2009 followed by detailed review by Dr. J.S Bajaj, Vice chairman, Punjab State Planning board on 11th august, 2009. The teams nominated by GOI also visited the State on 12th and 13th August, 2009 and had a meeting with Chief Secretary Punjab and expressed satisfaction on all the preparations made by Punjab State. They appreciated that the State had been able to contain the disease from spreading in the community by effective control measures taken by it.
The Punjab Health Minister appealed to the public not to create panic as the state health department had made necessary preparedness to combat the disease. She also appealed that the school management should take appropriate steps to monitor daily if there was any suspected swine flu affected child in the school. They should be taught to follow the general hygienic practices to save from virus infection.

670 COMPLAINTS REDRESS BY WOMEN COMMISSION

Chandigarh August 18, 2009

Punjab State women commission was committed to protect the rights of women in the state and also to check atrocities on women.

Expressing this views Mrs. Gurdev Kaur Sangha Chairperson Punjab State Women Commission said the women commission has redressed 670 cases of atrocities on women. She appealed to women communities to come forward and send their complaints to Punjab State Women Commission where they would get speedy justice. The Commission also organize awareness workshops at grass root level to educate women regarding their rights, so that they should get maximum benefit from the commission.

She said previous year Punjab State Women Commission has received 1048 complaints and till date this year commission received 670 complaints, out of which 210 has been disposed off and remaining under process.

Chandigarh, August 18:

Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Industry Commerce and Local Government Minister Punjab hosted a dinner to leader of the opposition party Mr. L.K.Advani here late last evening. Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal all Cabinet Ministers and MLA's all be presented on this occasion.

Chief Minister Punjab Mr. Parkash Singh Badal presented "Shawl and Sward of honor to Mr. Advani. Mr. Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sahba and Deputy Speaker were also present at dinner party.