Anti piracy cell constituted under IG
to wage a war against piracy-Sukhbir Singh Badal
Chandigarh, February 26
The Punjab Police today formally constituted a state level anti
piracy cell headed by IGP/Crime here at Punjab Police Headquarters
for ensuring proper coordination and the multi-pronged action
against Audio/Video Piracy fulfilling the commitment made to entertainment
industry last fortnight.
Disclosing this here today Deputy Chief Minister
Sukhbir Singh Badal who is also having the charge of Home Department
said that the menace of piracy was killing the entertainment industry
besides encouraging unauthorized activities. He said that Punjab
Police had been receiving a large number of complaints from genuine
manufacturers and producers of Audio/ Video cassettes, CDs and
other such goods regarding large scale unauthorized copying and
sale of this material by certain unscrupulous and anti-social
elements. Mr. Badal said that such unlawful activities also affected
the social and cultural fiber of the State apart from harming
the economic and intellectual rights of the manufacturers, producers
and artists.
Explaining the legal position of piracy the Deputy
Chief Minister said that piracy constituted cognizable and non
bailable offences under the provisions of India Copyright Act
1957 and the Indian Penal Code. He said that police has been given
directions to launch statewide raids including searches &
seizures and initiate watertight legal action against these unscrupulous
elements engaged in large scale illegal copying and selling of
such materials.
Giving the details of this cell Mr. Badal said
that IG Crime would be assisted by DIG Crime and would be authorized
to take assistance from one or more Gazetted Officers of the Crime
Wing as well as field units. He said that It would also have a
law officer to provide legal assistance and representatives of
the Audio/Video industry would also be associated with the Cell
as non-official members.
Mr. Badal said that according to the action plan
drawn for the cell it has been asked to collect actionable information
about activities of piracies and pirates in the State in liaison
with the field units for taking firm legal action against the
offenders. He said that the cell would also compile of data on
anti-piracy work in the State in coordination with other agencies/
organizations dealing with the subject.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that Congress government
lacked political will to deal with menace of piracy as most of
their coterie members were direct or indirect beneficiaries of
this illegal trade. He said that due to lack of implementation
of piracy laws has assumed the proposition of multi-thousand Crores
illegal industry causing a death knell for legal entertainment
industry. He said that cell has been asked to ensure systematic
and effective action against such criminals and draw up a strategy.
Giving the details of the proposed strategy the
Deputy Chief Minister said that it involves sensitizing the Gazetted
Officers, Investigating Officers and the general public about
the seriousness of the problem by holding of seminars/ workshop
etc. He said that cell would also form training modules for ensuring
flawless investigations. Mr. Badal said that he was asking cell
to actively associate the Complainants/representatives of the
industry with the investigation proceedings like search and seizure
process.
Stressing upon the need of strict punitive actions
against offenders Mr. Badal said that since the offences under
chapter XIII of the Copyright Act- 1957 were cognizable and non
bailable, the police should ensure to take the accused on sufficient
police remand for finding out the modus operandi and the nexus.
He has directed the police that after the completion of the investigation,
the challan be presented in the court within the stipulated limit
so as to ensure that the accused is not released on bail for the
reasons of delay in putting up the challan in court
Sukhbir’s booster dose for hospitality
and realty sectors-Slashes luxury tax to 4% from 8% and 10%, EDC
payment deferred by one year
Announces regularization of unauthorized colonies
Chandigarh, February 26
Economic meltdown and recession hit hospitality
and realty sectors today got a breather with Deputy Chief Minister
S. Sukhbir Singh Badal announcing a stimulus package for hospitality
and realty sectors of the state by slashing luxury tax to 4% from
10 and 8% in marriage palace and hotels respectively and deferring
EDC payment by one year for realty sector. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal
today also gave a sigh of relief to thousand of residents of unauthorized
colonies by announcing their regularization by including them
in town development scheme with certain conditions.
Addressing the two different meetings of Punjab
Hotel, Restaurant, Marriage palace and Resort Association and
another meeting of Colonizers and Property Dealers Association
here today, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal announced that regularization
of unauthorized colonies by including them in town development
scheme subject to fulfillment of some conditions. Allotees/Assosiations
would have to ensure 30 feet wide road in the colonies with 5
percent green belt and they would have to pay Rs. 400 per square
yard development charges.
Small colonizers and property dealers got a gift from Deputy Chief
Minister as S. Sukhbir Singh Badal announced reduction from 75
Acre limit to 25 Acre for development of a colony. For development
of group housing societies 10 Acre limit has been reduced to 5
Acres. Recession hit realty sector was joyous as S. Sukhbir Singh
Badal announced deferment of external development charges by one
year and also reducing surcharge for late payment from 19 percent
to 2-3 percent.
Mr. Badal said that only way to overcome session
was to increase government investment in infrastructure sector.
He said that SAD-BJP government was following the same principal
by focusing on infrastructure sector.
Describing hospitality sector was the engine of growth of an economy;
Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP government was committed to stimulate
this industry by announcing cut in luxury tax. He said that reduction
of luxury tax to 4 percent from 10 and 8 percent would provide
much needed boost to this industry. He promised that if NDA was
voted to power he would get hotel sector declared as infrastructure
sector that would enable hotel industry much better tax and bank
interest concessions. He said that we should learn from tourism
industry of Bangkok and regretted that a city state of Bangkok
was getting 8 million tourists per year compared to 2 million
received by a vast country like India. He said that Punjab was
determined to encourage religious and historic tourism in the
state.
Prominent among those who spoke in these two occasions
were Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon MP, Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda Chief
Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Harish Bedi MLA, SAD-BJP nominee
from Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat Mr. Gurcharan Singh Galib, Chaudhary
Madan Lal Bagga, Vice Chairman Punjab Trade Board, Mr. Maheshinder
Singh Garewal and Mr. Jagdish Singh Garcha both former ministers
and Mr. Hakam Singh Giaspura, Mayor Ludhiana.
Chandigarh; February 26
Clarifying on reports that appeared in some section
of the Media, Sh. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to Government
Punjab Department of Irrigation & Power stated that he did
not say that power cuts in Punjab would continue.
Instead, he stated that government is conscious
of the shortage of power and has directed Punjab State Electricity
Board to make all possible arrangements to ensure its maximum
availability of power in the coming summer would be finalized
by PSEB in next two weeks and fresh schedule of supplies for industries
and other consumers would be issued by PSEB in March 2009.
Assured enough power during March, April
and May
Chandigarh February 26:
Sh Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Power and Irrigation,
Punjab assured that the industry shall be provided with enough
power during March, April and May while addressing the industrialists
at PHD Chamber during the interactive session regarding issues
related to power and industry on Wednesday.
While reiterating the commitment of Punjab Government to improve
power situation in Punjab, he informed that during the months
of December, January, February and March, Punjab supplies power
to Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Orissa
etc. under barter/banking system under which same amount is supplied
back to Punjab during the paddy season which helps reducing the
gap between the generation and demand of power in the state.
As long term measures, Sh Kumar said that with the commissioning
of Goindwal, Talwandi Sabo, Gidderbaha, and Rajpura thermal plant,
power shortage would be done away with by 2012. Also that the
coal-pit-head and hydel power generation initiatives of the government
shall help relieve the reeling industry. PHD Chamber believes
that the government should keep in mind that the demand is also
increasing by 15%.
Sh Suresh Kumar had a very positive approach resolving the operational
issues raised by industrialists. “While we will do the summer
scheduling for the paddy season, we shall inform the masses about
the power cut plan through advertisements and public notices on
Saturdays in English and Punjabi newspapers”, said Sh Suresh
Kumar. By withholding the CE (SO&C) circular 3/09 dated 23.01.2009
Sh Kumar acceded to the major demand of PHD Chamber regarding
grant of continuous process status to industry.
While relieving the industries situated in rural industrial
zones, he agreed that there should be no need of NOC from PUDA.
Sh Kumar agreed to the issue of more than one connection for two
or more units within a single plot. He also agreed to the demand
of adequate power supply on weekly off days so that necessary
routine office work can be done. He acceded to the industrialists’
demand of withdrawal of special cut of two hours from 7 am to
9 am assuring that the power will be provided on continuity basis.
On the issue of file processing taking long time due to handling
by two offices, technical and commercial, Sh Kumar echoed industry’s
concern to Sh Brar, Chairman, PSEB and agreed that only one official
should handle the files. Sh Kumar also directed the officials
present to sort out the administrative and operational issues
at the earliest. Sh Kumar agreed to capacity enhancement at Mubarakpur
sub station and Saidpura sub station in industrial belt of Derrabassi.
PHD Chamber voiced its concern over the Octroi charge on electricity
bill reiterating that it should be withdrawn with immediate effect
since no where in India is such redundant charge levied.
The industrialists demanded that the PSEB should work on commercial
lines so that the end users woes are redressed without fail. Because
of global meltdown, industry in India too has not been left untouched.
The industries in Punjab are reeling under poor power situation
which needs to be redressed immediately. Besides, revenue and
employment generating industry should be treated at par and the
government should rethink about cross-subsidisation.
PUNJAB STATE DECLARED AS THE WINNER OF RENEWTECH INDIA-2009 STATE
AWARD FOR BIOMASS ENERGY PRORAMME IN THE COUNTRY
Chandigarh February 26
The State of Punjab has been declared as the winner of Renewtech
India- 2009 State Award based on the case study competitions on
Renewable Energy among various states and union Territories organized
by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India,
in partnership with Indiatech Foundation and Indo-German Chamber
of Commerce and Industry. Sh. T.P.S. Sidhu, PCS, Chief Executive,
PEDA informed that they had taken part in the Newtech India competition
in the Renewable Energy Sector on behalf of Punjab Government
and we are happy to inform that this prestigious award in the
Bio-Energy Sector will be given to PEDA on March 5,2009 in Pune
during the International Conference. He said that Biomass is the
key resource of Renewable Energy in Punjab and as per the various
assessment studies conducted by PEDA with the Central Government
funding, the estimated power generation potential from Biomass
is around 1000MW. The power projects of 38MW in the IPP Mode and
135MW in the Cogeneration sector are in operation and new projects
of 320MW capacity have been initiated. Sh. Balour Singh, Director
informed that out of the new projects initiated during the last
year, 7 projects of 75MW at village Manuke Gill, Tehsil Nihal
Singhwala and Bagha Purana, District Moga, village Bir Pind, Tehsil
Nakodar, District Jalandhar, village Deepsingwala, Tehsil Faridkot,
village Ramiana Tehsil Jaito, District Faridkot, Village Binjon,
Tehsil Garhshankar, District Hoshiarpur and village Talwandi Rai,
Tehsil Raikot, Distt. Ludhiana will be commissioned by March 2010
for which land has already been procured and other environment
clearances obtained.
Bhandari Nominated as Chairman of Market Committee Gurdaspur
CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 26:
The Punjab Government today nominated Mr. Yogesh Bhandari as the
Chairman of Market Committee, Gurdaspur.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government
said that Mr. Yogesh Bhandari Chairman had been nominated under
Sub Section (1) of Section 16 of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets
Act, 1961. The respective notification relating to the nomination
had been issued by the State Agriculture department.
