PUNJAB GOVERNMENT CONSTITUTES VICE-CHANCELLORS CONSULTATIVE GROUP TO STREAMLINE EDUCATION SYSTEM

Chandigarh, August 24, 2009

The Punjab Government has decided to constitute Vice-Chancellors’ Consultative Group under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to streamline the education system at School, College and University level.
Giving details of the decision, Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains said that the consultative group would meet once in three months for brain storming sessions to seek realistic and relevant solutions for contemporary problems which were of concern to various functionaries including Ministers, Planners, Administrators and Educationists. The basic objective to form this consultative group was to raise the standard of higher, technical and professional education to enable our students to compete globally since the Vice-Chancellors of various Universities in the state represented a blend of wisdom, rich academic track record and sound administrative experience, who could give valuable inputs in this regard.
Mr. Bains further said that the Vice Chancellors’ Consultative Group would consist of Vice Chancellor Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Vice Chancellor Panjabi University, Patiala, Vice Chancellor Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Vice Chancellor Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Vice Chancellor Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, Vice Chancellor Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Vice Chancellor Central University, Bathinda and Vice Chancellor Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala.

Dr. A.S. Brar Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University would be the Convener of the consultative group and its first meeting would focus on issues for promoting science education in schools and colleges of rural areas, curriculums reorientation with emphasis on skill development and employment generation besides University-Industry bonding to enhance employability of graduates and post-graduates.

The Chief Minister also incorporated the Education Minister, Technical Education Minister, Medical Education & Research Minister, Animal Husbandry & Welfare Minister, Vice Chairman of Punjab State Planning Board and Chief Secretary as the Members of the Consultative Group other than the nine Vice Chancellors. Concerned Administrative Secretaries and Principal Secretary Finance would also attend the meeting of the Consultative Group as ‘Invitee Member’ as per the agenda of the meeting, added the Media Advisor.

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal would jointly lead a high powered delegation of SAD-BJP MPs and MLAs to Delhi on August 26 to call on Union Agricultural Minister Mr. Sharad Pawar for seeking a special package and higher MSP of Paddy in view of severe drought conditions in the state.
It may be recalled that the Punjab government has already dismissed the hike in MSP of Paddy announced by the Centre as “a show of shocking insensitivity to the plight of the farmers”. The government has demanded a hike of Rs.300 per quintal.

Disclosing this here today Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains said that the delegation would demand a special package for Punjab to save the beleaguered farmers of the state. Experts have estimated that farmers in Punjab had to bear extra burden to the tune of Rs.375 crore on account of diesel for irrigation alone.
The decision follows a unanimous resolution of the Core committee of the SAD at its meeting held in Chandigarh on August 21.

PUNJAB'S NEW SPORTS POLICY ON ANVIL-TO FOCUS ON SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO PLAYERS –SUKHBIR

Chandigarh, August 24

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab has instructed Director, Sports to put up the draft of new broad based sports policy, with an aim of hunting and nurturing genuine sports talent in the State, particularly in rural areas.
Giving the broad outline for the policy, Mr. Badal said that the new policy must focus on filtering quality players from the quantity players and further providing specialized training to Medal prospects so that they can win Medals for the country, doing the State proud. The Deputy Chief Minister also instructed the sports department to come out with a new innovative cash award scheme, for the players right from the Block Level Tournament to Olympic Level Tournament, with a graded award scheme, to motivate the players to excel.

Reviewing the working of Sports department, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the proposed policy must concentrate developing sports infrastructure in the villages, maintaining the existing infrastructure and improving district level infrastructure to international level. He regretted that sports infrastructure in Punjab has not kept pace with the new development in sports arena and players due to outdated training could not give their best at International as well as National level meets.

Reiterating the commitment of SAD-BJP government to provide world-class facilities to the Medal prospects, Mr. Badal said that, if required, the services of foreign coaches would also be availed in the interest of players. He said that new sports policy must work out a programme to revamp the sports wings programme, so that players being produced by these wings should become a proud asset of the country.

Mr. Badal also instructed Sports Secretary to issue directions to every department to fill the backlog of 3 % quota in jobs for sportsmen, at the earliest and send compliance report to the sports departments.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that sports policy must review the existing 33 games being focused by the department. The department has been asked to finalize the draft of the policy within 15 days.

REHABILITATION WORK OF KOTLA CANAL IN PROGRESS – SEKHON

Chandigarh Aug 24, 2009
P.Kaur

The Punjab Government has started rehabilitation of first Patiala Feeder Kotla Branch with a cost of Rs. 123.30 crore which would cover 500 village of Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Barnala and Patiala districts of the State.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister Punjab said with the rehabilitation of first Patiala Feeder and Kotla Branch, capacity of canal would be increased which would discharge 30 percent more water. After rehabilitation four lakh families would get benefit to irrigate their field from this canal.

Sidelining of 24 Km of first Patiala Feeder and 130 Kms Length of Kotla Branch Canal would be done under this scheme. Sidelining of first patiala feeder of 24 Km and Kotla branch of 37 Km has already been completed. Capacity of first Patiala feeder canal of carry water was reduced to 3600 cusecs from 4010 cusecs and after rehabilitation capacity has been increased to 4914 cusecs.

Giving more information regarding kotla branch, Mr. Sekhon said at present kotla branch could discharge only 2550 cusecs of water, earlier which was 3018 cusecs after rehabilitation. The capacity would increase to 3304 cusecs, which means farmers would get 754 cusecs more water. On completion of this project 265485 hectares of present area would get better facilities of irrigation and drinking water.

CHANDIGARH, AUGUST 24, 2009
Darshan Sharma

The World Bank has approved Punjab State Road Sector Project (PSRSP) for an estimated cost of Rs.1500 crore. This is largest ever road sector project undertaken in the State, in which about 1100 KMs of Roads would be improved.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD Minister said that this project had been divided into two phases. The total expenditure on the project for the year 2008-09 is Rs.288.80 crore and the project is scheduled to be completed by June, 2012. On the resettlements & rehabilitation side, more than 95% of the land (46.82 acres out of the total 49.60 acres) for the ,project has been acquired through private negotiations.

The Minister further said that Phase one comprising of civil works on 700 Kms of plan roads length was underway. The physical works comprised of about 150 kms of upgradation, 200 kms of rehabilitation and 350 kms of periodic maintenance. Out of these works under periodic maintenance had been successfully completed. Rehabilitation and upgradation works would be completed by the end of year 2009 except Ludhiana- Malerkotla-Sangrur road which is targeted to be completed by the year 2010. This would also involve a four laning length of about 50 kms on upgradation roads. Phase two comrpised of 3 networks Bathinda–Mansa-Sangrur, Amritsar-Gurdaspur and Anandapur Sahib-Garshankar netwtork of about 850 kms of roads to be taken under Output & Performance Based Road Contracting, added the minister.

PUNJAB PROPOSES A SOCIETY TO SET UP MULTI DISCIPLINARY ACADEMIES AT SULTANPUR LODHI AND RAJPURA

Chandigarh August 24, 2009
P.Kaur

The Punjab Government has proposed to establish a society for setting up of Multi disciplinary Technical Education Academies at Sultanpur Lodhi and Rajpura under NABARD Project.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Swarna Ram, Technical Education Minister Punjab said that the society would be registered under the societies registration Act 1860 with a view to provide administrative and financial autonomy to these academies.
The Minister further clarified that the society would be established for setting up of only these two academies not to run the whole department.

RS.80 CRORE FOR FOUNDRY AND MACHINE TOOL CLUSTER AT BATALA-KALIA

CHANDIGARH, AUGUST 24, 2009
Surjit Singh

Punjab Government has got approved Foundry and Machine Tool Cluster at Batala with project cost of Rs.80 crore from Government of India. While disclosing this here today Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Industry, Commerce and Local Government Minister, Punjab said that proposal for development Hand Tool Cluster for Jalandhar had also been sent to Government of India.

Industry Minister said that proposal for development of 22 clusters for Micro, Small and Medium Industry had been submitted to Government of India for approval, out of which 13 had already been approved.
The Minister further said that Punjab was facilitating the development of Industrial Parks in the State. Four Textile Park Projects have already been approved. These include two Textile Parks at Ludhiana. Punjab Government also requested the Government of India to sanction more Textile Parks for Punjab in view of availability of Cotton in the State, the Minister added.

The Minister said that infrastructure in Industrial Focal Points was being upgraded and Rs.25 crore would be spent the industrial focal points during the financial year.

KALIA ORDERS DEMOLITION OF UNATHORISED RAMP

CHANDIGARH AUGUST 24, 2009

Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Local Government and Industries Minister Punjab had issued order to demolish unauthorized ramp at Anandpur Sahib.

Mr. Prabodh Kumar resident of Anandpur Sahib met the Minister here today and complained that the Municipal Council Anandpur Sahib had allegedly built a ramp on his ancestral property. Narrating the tale, he said that Municipal Council had built a drain about 15 years back adjoining to his plot and now built a ramp on his land under local pressure. on the complaint of Mr. Kumar, issue was inquired by the Vigilance Cell of the Local Government, Punjab and found that the site in concern falls within Lal Lakeer. During the course of inquiry, Municipal Council Officers had not produced any documents claiming that the land to be public property. Nearby residents however reiterated that the site was with the person who is in possession of it.

After listening Mr. Kumar and carefully watching the case the Minister has order the demolition of unauthorized ramp on the land of Mr. Kumar and restoration of the site to its original status.

JOURNALIST MADANDEEP BEREAVED

Chandigarh August 24, 2009

Smt. Sheela Devi (70), Mother of Mr. Madandeep Singh, Chandigarh based Hind Samachar Group Journalist passed away today i.e. August 24, 2009 after brief illness at Chandigarh. Members of Journalists fraternity, Officers and Officials of the Punjab Government has deeply condoled the death of Smt. Sheela Devi and express their heartfelt sympathies with