Badal, Sukhbir lead SAD-BJP delegation to PM, Agriculture Minister

PUNJAB DEMANDS RELEIF PACKAGE OF RS. 7410 CRORE
SEEKS Rs.1350-1400 AS PADDY MSP MAIZE AND COTTON ALSO NEED RELIEF

Chandigarh AUGUST 26, 2009

Punjab today demanded a special package of Rs. 7410 crore from the Centre to fight the drought like situation in the state. The package included Rs.4400 crore on increase of Rs.400 per quintal in MSP of Paddy, Rs.1100 crore as drought relief for Paddy and Cotton, Rs.1420 crore for Punjab State Electricity Board to compensate it for diversion of 3500 million units of power to agriculture sector from industrial commercial and domestic paying sectors, Rs.440 crore on hike of Rs.400 per quintal in MSP of cotton and Rs.50 crore on increase of Rs.100 per quintal in MSP of Maize. The state also demanded that the MSP for paddy be immediately revised to Rs.1400 per quintal for fine grade and Rs.1350 for common grade.
A delegation of SAD-BJP MPs and MLAs led by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and SAD President and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal called on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Sharad Pawar here today to press for these demands. BJP State President Prof.Rajinder Bhandari, BJP Minister Mr Manoranjan Kalia and SAD Minister Mr.Ranjit Singh Brahmpura also accompanied the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, all the SAD-BJP MPs, MLAs along with senior Akali Leader including Mr.Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra and Member Rajya Sabha Mr.Naresh Gujral were also present.

The SAD-BJP initiative comes in sharp contrast to the response of the previous Congress government in the state when, under similar circumstances, the then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had declared during his trip to the USA that Punjab did not need any central help as the state did not face any drought because "farmers do not depend on rains but on tube-well irrigation for their operations."

In a detailed Memorandum submitted by the delegation, the SAD-BJP leaders also drew the Center's attention to major damage suffered by maize and cotton growers because of alarming shortfall in rain during the sowing season. They demanded a separate relief package for this. A detailed case, spelling out the details of the losses in these crops is being submitted separately.

Later, talking to newspersons, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the Centre had assured them of taking a "positive view" of the hardships being faced by the state and its farmers because of scanty rains in the state during the sowing season. "The Government of India should immediately announce relief package not only to save the beleaguered farmers of Punjab but to safeguard crucial national interest on food security," they said. At the press conference the Chief Minister was accompanied by National BJP General Secretary Mr.Balbir Punj, State BJP President Prof. Rajinder Bhandari, Member Rajya Sabha Mr.Naresh Gujral, Finance Minister Mr.Manpreet Singh Badal, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr.Harcharan Bains and Mr.Prem Singh Chandumajra.

The Punjab Government Memorandum, released by the Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains said that there had been an alarming 70% shortfall in rain in May and June and over 38% thereafter, seriously affecting the sowing operations in paddy, maize and cotton. To fight these extraordinary conditions, the state government, the Punjab State Electricity Board as well as the farmers had to strain every possible material and financial resource to ensure that the production remained somewhere close to the level achieved last year. "With great difficulty and with a massive joint effort of the farmers and the state government, farm operations to achieve the desired objective of ensuring national food security are being kept up. But this had been done by making huge sacrifices both in terms of financial resources as well as serious depletion of the only natural assets of the state --soil fertility and ground water table," said the Memorandum.
"While this puts extra-ordinary strain on the State Government as well as the farmers, this also poses serious challenge to the critical area of national food security, to which Punjab has always been the dominant contributor. Although, the combined efforts of the State Government and the farmers may result in keeping the level of paddy production somewhere near there are the last year, the effort would drain out almost the entire reservoir of fiscal energy of both. Unless the Government of India comes up with a substantial package to help the State, including its Electricity Board (PSEB), there would be a serious question mark over the ability of our farmers to continue to guarantee National Food Security in the years to come," the Memorandum further said.

The delegation told the Prime Minister and the Union Agriculture Minister that the state had to divert 3500 Million Units (MUs) of power from the industrial, commercial and domestic sectors to sustain the farm operations. Since all these are paying sectors, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) had to bear an additional burden of Rs. 1420 crore to help the farmers fight drought conditions and complete the sowing operation on time. In addition, because of this diversion, the critical sectors of industry, commerce and domestic consumers had to pay a heavy price, resulting in serious set back to the state's economy. The PSEB was forced to make heavy purchases from outside the state to combat the challenge.
The farmers on their own had to make almost unbearable investments to save the crop. They spent heavily on diesel, generator sets with engines and tractors, lowering and re-boring of tube-wells and installation of costly submersible pumping sets etc. "An additional 17 crore liters of diesel was used by the farmers to complete the sowing operations. This cost them more than Rs. 604 crore, which works out to Rs. 2500 per acre. "All these efforts and sacrifices would go a long way in ensuring the overall national interest in terms of food security.”

The Memorandum further said that the serious shortfall in rains had also seriously affected the inflows into the Bhakra, Pong and the Ranjit Sagar Dams. The water level at these dams is more than an alarming 60 feet below normal. This had a direct and adverse impart on hydel power generation and canal irrigation. While the PSEB needed to be helped at this hour for its extraordinary efforts, the state also needed assistance to revamp its elaborate canal irrigation infrastructure.
In view of the concerted efforts of the state government and the farmers for making immense contribution towards the National Food Security despite the drought like conditions in the state, the delegation strongly appealed both the Prime Minister and Union Agriculture Minister to immediately announce a special package.

Copy of memorandum submitted by the delegation of SAD-BJP MPs and MLAs jointly led by Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal to the Prime Minister for seeking a special package for the state is annexed herewith for your kind perusal.

Memorandum on Drought Relief
(Submitted to the H’ble Prime Minister of India on 26 -8-09)

Punjab has always been contributing extensively to national Food Security, and has, therefore, been known as the food bowl of the Country. Last year, Punjab produced about 111.0 lakh MT of rice of which 85.31 lakh MT has been contributed to the central pool. Inspite of the severe shortfall of rain during June and July the farmers managed to sow paddy to the targeted level, and this year again we are hopeful of the same level of production. This is the result of the efforts of the State Government to ensure supply of electric power to the farmers even by diverting the same from the “paying sector i.e. domestic and industrial, and the Punjab farmers spending heavily on the use of Diesel to run the tubewells, purchase of generators, reboring of the tubewells, and installation of costly submersible pump sets. This proposal is to request the Government of India to provide drought relief to compensate the farmers as well as Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), which had to buy extra power and also divert large quantities from other sectors.
2. Rice in Punjab is transplanted from 10th June to 4th week of July. Upto 13th July, the rainfall in the State was deficient by about 65%. Even with such a heavy shortfall in rain, the farmers managed to plant about 23 lakh hect. of paddy by this date. Thereafter there was slight improvement in the rainfall and estimated area sown under paddy in the State is about 27 lakh hect. as compared to 27.35 lakh hect. last year.

3. The State has created a large irrigation infrastructure both from surface and ground water sources. Because of scanty rainfall in May and June, the water available to the farmers from the dams for kharif crop was severely affected. The inflows into Bhakhra and Pong reservoirs during the on-going filling period have been lower. Consequently, releases from both reservoirs during the remaining filling period are being planned assuming the dry year pattern of inflows and at the end of the filling-in period, the levels are likely to be about 60 ft below the normal levels. This has implications for the sowing of the wheat crop and hence, an urgent need for revamp of the canal irrigation system in the state.
Resultantly, compared to the normal release of about 30,000 cusecs of water, this year only about 18,000 cusecs were released. This also affected hydel power generation. The effect was that both surface irrigation and power supply were reduced necessitating the purchase of power from outside the State and supplementing the irrigation shortage by use of diesel to run the tubewells.

4. The rainfall during the kharif season as a whole has been scanty i.e. 70% less than normal during May and June, and about 38% less thereafter (table attached).

5. The State has so far diverted 1550 MUS (783 MUS in June and 768 MUS in July) of power from Industrial / commercial / domestic sectors to agriculture sector. Another 2000 MUS are likely to be diverted in August and September 2009 to meet peek agriculture demand. In this way, over 3500 MUS of power are likely to be diverted from Industrial / commercial / domestic to agriculture to save and sustain the Kharif crop mainly paddy of the State. For this diversion of power from non-agriculture to agriculture sector, an additional cost of Rs. 1420 crores has been / is to be incurred by the State. This additional cost has been worked out @ Rs. 4.00 per unit i.e. the rate at which revenue is lost by PSEB and not at average purchase price of Rs. 6.90 per unit for short-term purchase of power by PSEB.

6. The consumption of diesel during June and July has increased by 99141 MT, largely due to the drought conditions. Assuming an estimated increase of 10% over the consumption of last year, the additional consumption of diesel during August and September is 33839 MT. The normal rate of increase in consumption of diesel during 2000-01 to 2008-09 is about 5%. Accounting for the 5% normal growth in the consumption, the additional consumption of diesel because of shortfall in rain during the season alone works out to 126331 MT (17.68 crore litres) and the additional cost @ Rs. 34.19 per litre works out to Rs. 604.7 crores.

7. The spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall has been poor. The dry spell has resulted in lowering of ground water table and thereby the increase in cost of production. Apart from increase in cost due to consumption of additional quantity of diesel, the farmers have also incurred expenditure on installation of alternate tubewells, replacement of pumping sets from centrifugal to submersible, lowering of pump sets, purchase of generators and payment to Punjab State Electricity Board for enhancement of connected load.

8. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary to compensate both the farmers as well as Punjab State Electricity Board in this drought like situation whose efforts are likely to result in achieving the same levels of production of crops as that of last year. The farmers have incurred an additional expenditure of about Rs. 2000 – 2500 per acre in nurturing their paddy crop. The Punjab State Electricity Board has diverted power worth Rs. 1420 crores from the paying customers to agriculture sector. Because of this diversion, the two critical sectors – industry and consumers- had to pay a heavy price, resulting in losses in terms of growth and development, apart from the sacrifices made by the common consumers. All this has been done only in the overall national interest on the food security front. Accordingly, it is requested that;

i) Special Central Assistance of Rs. 1420 crores should be provided to the State for ensuring the power supply to the agriculture sector during kharif 2009; and

ii) A drought relief of Rs. 100 per quintal for paddy may be provided over and above the MSP, which itself needs significant upward revision.

iii) As already requested, the MSP for paddy should be increased to Rs. 1350 per quintal for common grade and Rs. 1400 per quintal for fine grade.

The efforts of the State Government and the farmers will safeguard national food security at this difficult time. The Government of India should immediate announce the above relief package to save the beleaguered farmers of Punjab and to compensate the State for the expenditure it has incurred in ensuring the food security for the country.

NOTE: In addition to the above there has been a significant loss to the cotton crop in the state because of deficient rains. A detailed case regarding that is being submitted separately.
The month-wise details of consumption of diesel in the State are as under:-
Month 2008
(MT) 2009
(MT) Increase
(MT) % Increase
April 229305 249390 20085 8.8
May 261082 228741 -32341 -12.4
June 207116 285525 78409 37.9
July 196541 217373 20832 10.6
August 143193 160000* 16807
Sept. 177968 195000* 17032
*Estimated

The State has made arrangements to supply power to Agriculture Power consumers by purchasing 2007 million units of power at a cost of Rs.1254.00 crores to ensure supply. Further the diversion of power from the paying customers during June and July is 1551 MUS and is likely to be 2600 MUS by the end of September. As a result, the total additional expenditure incurred by the Punjab State Electricity Board in making these arrangements over the last year, has been about 620 crores. The brief details of supply from various sources and cost thereof are as under:-
Sr No Source Kharif 2009 Kharif 2008 Extra Cost (Rs. Cr.)
Quantity (Mus) Cost (Rs. Cr.) Quantity (Mus) Cost (Rs. Cr.)
1. Short term purchase 2007 1254 1516 976 278
2. Power diverted through regulations / cuts 2600 1746 341
3. Total extra cost 619

PUNJAB GOVT. DECLARES AUGUST 28TH, 2009 AS TO MARK THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF BABA SRI CHAND JI

CHANDIGARH, AUGUST 26:

The Punjab Government has decided to declare August 28, 2009 (Friday) as gazetted holiday on the birth anniversary of Baba Sri Chand Ji instead of September 9, 2009 (Wednesday) as announced earlier.
According to a spokesman of the Chief Minister's office the decision to this effect had been taken by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal after considering a representation made by the decedents and the followers of Baba Sri Chand Ji to observe August 28 as birth anniversary of Baba Sri Chand Ji instead of September 09. The spokesman further informed that all the Govt. Offices, Educational Institutions, Corporations and boards throughout the State would remain close on August 28, 2009.

100 VILLAGES OF PUNJAB ALL SET TO HAVE
UNDERGROUND SEWAGE SYSTEM BEGINNING TO MADE FROM BABA BAKALA AND KHADOOR SAHIB

Chandigarh, August 26, 2009

Over 100 villages of Punjab are set to have underground Sewage system, to free the rural population from the menace of open defecation and open overflowing stinking drains. The Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal has instructed to cover all villages of religious importance first under this programme and a humble beginning is being made from Baba Bakala, the 'Tapo Bhumi' of Ninth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib and Holy village Khadoor Sahib, a holy land visited by eight Sikh Gurus.

Reviewing the working of Rs. 1280 Crores Rural Water Supply and Sanitation programme, Mr. Badal emphasized that quality control would be the touch stone and any smugness would not be tolerated at any cost. He said that 11623 habitations including 10152 Main Habitations and 1471 other Habitations were already being provided potable water supply. Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP government was committed to provide potable water to remaining 2488 Non Covered and 3699 partially covered habitations in next 24 months, fulfilling its promise to provide potable water to 100% population of Punjab.

It was informed in the meeting that Rs. 4.9 crore has already been sanctioned for underground Sewage Scheme for Baba Bakala. It was informed in the meeting that land for sewage treatment plant has been provided free of cost by the Gram Panchayat and It will take about 12 months to complete the work of underground sewerage and treatment plant in Baba Bakala, to benefit 10,000 residents of the village having 1278 General Category Household and 350 S.C. household. Over 30,200 metre of sewerage pipe would connect all the houses of the village and a Sewage Treatment Plant of 850 Kld capacity based on low power consuming Stabilization Pond technology to treat the raw sewage would be set up in the village. Separately, Rs. 66 lac has already been sanctioned for water supply augmentation in Baba Bakala and tenders have already been invited for this work.

The Deputy Chief Minister was informed that for Sri Khadoor Sahib, 21,000 meter underground sewage pipe would be laid to connect all houses of the village at the cost of Rs. 3.09 crores. The sewage pipe would be linked to a modern Sewage Treatment Plant of 1200 Kilo liters daily(kld) capacity based on low power consuming Stabilization Pond technology to treat the raw sewage. It was informed that after treatment, the treated tertiary water will be discharged in the nearby drain that could be used for irrigation purposes. He said that the residual solid waste after proper treatment by composting would be used as organic manure by the farmers of the village.

The sewerage system in Sri Khadoor Sahib would serve 11038 population having 1347 general households and 861 Scheduled Caste household. It may be added that village Khadoor Sahib was already getting 70 liter per capita potable water under the Scheme of NABARD.

Chandigarh, August 26

The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) today organised a workshop for bulk power consumers known as Designated Consumers (DCs) to train them about various measure to save energy.

Mr. T.P.S. Sidhu, Chief Executive,PEDA, Mr. Balour Singh, Director,PEDA, and Mr. S.S. Bhullar, Regional Head, National Productivity Council(NPC) had an open session with 35 designated consumers from 18 industries from Cement, Pulp & Paper, Chlor & Alkali, Thermal Power Plant, Fertilizer sector and gave them presentation regarding latest energy saving technologies and the representatives of the industries were given hand on training for e-filing of energy audit returns through internet.

According to Mr. Balour Singh, Director PEDA under the Energy Conservation Act-2001, PEDA had identified 35 Designated Consumers(DCs), which were required to file annual energy reports to Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE), Govt. of India, and PEDA as State Designated Agency for energy conservation. The DCs were those industrial units which consumed annual energy more than 30000 metric ton of oil equivalent and they were also required to appoint Certified Energy Managers to conduct energy audit and implement various measures for enhanced energy efficiency of their units.
It may be added that PEDA, has been conferred with National Energy Conservation Award this year Ministry of Power, Govt. of India, in appreciation of their efforts in Energy Conservation in the State Designated Agencies Sector.

COMMITTEE CONSTITUTEDTO LOOK INTO THE
JALLANDHAR RAGGING INCIDENT REPORT WITHIN A WEEK---TIKSHAN SUD

Chandigarh August 26, 2009

Responding to the news item appeared in various papers regarding ragging in DAV Nursing College Jalandhar particularly when the government was taking stringent measures to control it, Mr. Tikshan Sud, Medical Education & Research Minister Punjab has constituted a committee to thoroughly look into the matter and submit a detailed report within a week after enquiring into this incident of ragging violating the directive of the state government.

The committee comprised of Joint Director Medical Education and Research, Mrs. Rajrani, Prinicipal Nursing College Patiala and representative of Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar. Taking a very serious view of the gross violation on the part of the management of the college, the Minister has also given instructions to Director Medical Education and Research that if there was any case of NOC/Recognition of this institution lying pending with the government, should not be given sanction till further orders.

Mr. Sud said that the Government has already taken various steps to check ragging in the state. The Minister said that the heads of educational institutions should immediately inform the police in case any incident of ragging came in their notice and set the criminal law in motion. Mr. Sud asked the Vice Chancellors Baba Farid University and DRME to make appropriate amendment in the affiliation rules to debar any educational institution that was trying to shield errant students. Calling upon the Principals to remain constantly vigilant against this practice and monitor the situation on day to day basis, he said that principal and staff must watch the attitude of new comers and any sign of depression noticed in new student should be probed deeply. He also called upon new students to fearlessly report any incident of ragging coming to their notice to authorities as their identity would be kept secret

RS. 325 CRORE SPENT FOR THE UPGRADATION OF 250 K.M NATIONAL HIGHWAYS- DHINDSA
Chandigarh August 26:

The state government is committed to implement all the proposals and schemes in letter and spirit. Under this proposals Rs. 325 crore will be spent for the upgradation of 250 K.M National Highway length in the year 2009-2010. This was disclosed by S. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD (B&R) Minister Punjab.

While explaining, he said Rs. 50 crore had already been spent on 50 K.M road projects in this financial year. The Minister further said that the GoI, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways has approved annual plan for the year 2008-09 for Rs. 165.15 crore for upgradation of 200 K.Ms of National Highways in the state, an expenditure of Rs. 154 crores has been incurred during the year for 174 Km on ongoing works.

In addition to this above there is a provision of Rs. 15.68 crores for periodical renewal of 69.62 KM of National Highway and ordinary repair on National highway in Punjab during 2008-09. Against these allocation expenditure of Rs. 19.03 crore on periodical renewal and ordinary repair has been incurred.

Mr. Dhindsa further informed that under Center Road Fund (CRF) scheme Rs. 104 crore have been approved for 104.30 KM long roads. Out of which 74.18 crore had already been spent. He further said that under this proposal Rs. 70 crores would be spent for the upgradation of 100KM roads in the year 2009-10.

Chandigarh, August 25

The Punjab Police has taken a novel initiative to associate eminent citizens of Punjab in management of traffic by designating these citizens as traffic marshal. The pilot project of this new initiative would be initially launched in the 6 major cities namely Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar city, Bathinda and SAS Nagar of the state on August 28.

According to an official spokesman, this was the major initiative taken by Punjab Police in the direction of implementing community policing initiated by DGP Mr. P.S. Gill. The spokesman said that each city was mobilizing 15 to 20 traffic marshals with clean background and having aptitude for voluntary service. While selecting these traffic marshals their age, educational background, profession, and sphere of social service has been taken into consideration. These marshals would be issued badges and name plates of approved design finalized by the Punjab Police.

The spokesman added that traffic marshals would be associated with traffic staff in their respective localities so as to supervise the working of traffic staff and also interact with public on need basis. He said that brief sensitization courses for the newly designated traffic marshals would be organized by each district.

The spokesman hoped that with the launch of this scheme, the community policing initiative would get the new boost.

ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED

Chandigarh, August 25
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the Kharif Season through Canal water from 28-8-2009 to 4-9-2009. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda Branch, Bist Doab, Abohar Branch and Patiala feeder, respectively.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line in group 'A' being in the channels of first preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available will be utilized in Ghaggar Branch and its off taking channels i.e Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' respectively.
The spokesman further said that all the direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in group 'A' being in the First preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available would be utilised in Abohar Branch off-taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/Minors in Group 'B'.

The spokesman also said that the Kasur Branch Lower with its distributaries being in the channels of first Preference would run to their indent and balance water would be supplies water available in Sabraon Branch, Lahore Branch, Main Branch Lower with their distributaries respectively.

Chandigarh, August 25, 2009

Punjab Government is committed to provide basic civic services to urban population by providing potable drinking water, sewerage network, sewage treatment plants, roads, street lights etc. While disclosing this here today Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Local Government Minister, Punjab said that for 100 percent coverage of water supply and sewerage in urban areas, the Punjab Government had prepared a comprehensive plan. The projects worth Rs.2062.71 are under various stage of implementation.

The Minister said that previous government led by congress party did not pay adequate attention to sewage treatment plants. Consequently our rivers, drains and canals were getting polluted and this was adversely affecting the health of the people who depended upon canal based schemes for drinking water. Presently, 14 percent of urban population is deprived off piped water supply and 41 percent of the population is deprived of sewerage system, the minister added.

The Minister further said that SAD-BJP government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister, Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal had undertaken water supply schemes on war footing with an outlay of Rs.113.66 crore in Amritsar, Bathinda, Malout, Majitha, Adampur, Fatehgarh Churrian, Ferozepur, Kapurthala, Sunam, Muktsar, Jalandhar, Mansa, Budhlada, Mour, Baretta, Sardulgarh, Bhikhi, Raman Mandi, Bhucho Mandi, Rampura Phul, Kotfatta and Rajpura towans in the 1st phase.

INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS PUNJAB.
Tourist Center in Sangrur and Faridkot Districts – Gabria

Chandigarh, August 25, 2009

In a Significant decision of Union Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department, Sangrur and Faridkot Districts had been chosen to develop as tourist centers. Giving this information here today S. Hira Singh Gabria, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Punjab said that an amount in crores would be spent to make both these cities as well as its surrounding areas worth seeing and centre of attraction for the tourists. For this purpose 85% amount would be spent by Center Government and remaining 15% would be spent by State Government. The responsibility for the development of these cities has been given to a Delhi based consultant company. All the formalities are in process for this project.

He further explained India has a tremendous untapped tourism potential which could be exploited optimally various artist facts, relics, religious and historical festivals and natural beauty could be preserved and more destination centers should be established to attract the tourist all over the world as Punjab has vast network of roads so the tourism center would be established on highway tourism project. There is need to develop destination places as religious, cultural heritage and rural tourism. State Govt. is committed to complete these projects in a planned way.

Chandigarh, August 25, 2009

In order to over come the shortage of staff Punjab Government would appointed 200 conductors in Punjab Roadways, out of which 100 conductors would be appointed on companionate ground and 100 on contract bases.

Disclosing this here today in a high level meeting of the Transport Department, Master Mohan Lal, Transport Minister Punjab said that SAD BJP Government in two years gave appointment to 300 employees in Punjab Roadways on companionate ground and 1000 persons were appointed on contract bases. He said that roadways has given Rs. 6.5 crore as compensation to those who killed or injured in road bus accidents. The Minister gave strict directions to all the General Managers in a meeting to take all necessary steps to make roadways in profit. He said for this a plan has also been chalked out to run inter-state bus service. Prominent amongst other who were attended the meeting included Sh. D.S.Jaspal, Principal Secretary Transport, Mr. R.Venketratnam, State Transport Commission, Mr. Mandeep Singh, Director State Transport.