Punjab News- NRI

Chandigarh, February 27

Mr. K. K. Attri IPS, a 1971 batch officer of Punjab cadre, today took over as Director General of Police. He took over the charge from Mr. N. P. S. Aulakh who has been named as Director General of National Security Guard (NSG). Prior to this assignment he was working as DGP cum Commandant General, Punjab Home Guards and Director Civil Defence.

It may be added that earlier in the day in a function at Punjab Bhawan, Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal having the charge of home department, disclosed the decision of government to appoint Mr. K. K. Attri as new Director General Police of Punjab.
Speaking to the media after assuming office Mr. Attri said that he was feeling privileged to head the most professional police force of India. He said that Punjab Police was the only state police that had successfully curbed terrorism from the state. He said that his endeavor would be to give humane face to the Punjab Police by increasing police-public interface.
The new DGP said that in Punjab there was mostly urban policing and citizens of Punjab were well educated about their rights. Therefore, aspirations from Punjab Police were quite high and it would be his priority to fulfill most of their aspirations by adopting purely professional attitude.
Speaking about his priorities he said that his first priority was to ensure peaceful conduct of Lok Sabha elections in total non partisan way. He said that he was looking forward to meet this challenge with the total support of his force.
Appreciating the Punjab Police the new DGP said that the state police was a fully professional force and he would try to focus on police welfare to maintain their high morale.
He said that he would like to review long pending unsolved and blind cases and work out a strategy to crack these cases. Earlier, the outgoing DGP Mr. N. P. S. Aulakh formally handed over the charge to Mr. Attri.
A contingent of Punjab Armed Police gave a ceremonial guard of honor to outgoing and new DGP.
After taking over the charge Mr. Attri had a formal review meeting of top brass of Punjab Police and reviewed law and order situation in the state and also preparedness of the Punjab Police to conduct ensuing Lok Sabha elections peacefully.

Waitakere and Amritsar cities become sister cities-Another MoU with New Zealand on civil aviation

Chandigarh, February 27:

A new chapter began in the bilateral relations of Punjab and New Zealand as both entered into two Memorandums of Understanding, declaring Waitkere and Amritsar cities as Sister cities and to provide training to Punjab pilots in New Zealand.

In a formal ceremony held here today, representatives of Punjab and New Zealand signed two MoUs in the august presence of Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal and New Zealand delegation led by their Internal Affairs Minister Dr. Richard Worth OBE.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Badal said that Punjab and New Zealand, both agricultural driven economies can have synergies in the area of dairy development and civil aviation. He said that lot of Punjabies have migrated to New Zealand and New Zealand is like second home to them. Mr. Badal said that Punjab Government will soon enter into MoU on dairy sector soon to gain from advanced research done by New Zealand in dairy development.
Welcoming the initiatives of Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Dr. Richard Worth internal affair minister said that India and New Zealand had recently signed agreement to explore areas of mutual interests and he was happy that Mr. Badal has identified areas of mutual interests. He said that Punjab and New Zealand have strong aspects of complimentability and they can develop synergies in dairy, agro-tech, semen and G-marking. The New Zealand Minister said that the New Zealand was ideal place for aviation training as rapidly changing weather in New Zealand gives exposure to pilot to tackle change of weather.
In the MoU entered between CEO of Waitkere city council and additional Commissioner Municipal Cooperation Amritsar it was agreed to explore potential for future civic relationship between two sister cities and develop many and varied opportunities that exists for collaboration. It was agreed to identify economic, social and cultural activities and identify pathway for ongoing communication.
In the second MoU entered between Southern Institute of Technology Aviation Limited (SIT AV) of New Zealand and Patiala Aviation Club (PAC) agreed to cooperate the process of advanced pilot training Invercargill to enable pilots/students who have appropriate pilot qualification in India and to further train toward enhancing these skills in multiengine and helicopter training including aeronautical and aircraft maintenance engineering. It was also agreed to explore feasibility of setting up a helicopter training school in Punjab and their further training in New Zealand for fast track and complete their rotary wing training.
The New Zealand delegation led by Dr. Richard Worth Internal Affair Minister included Eric Roy and Kanwaljit Bakshi Both MPs, Mr. Vijaya Vaidyanathan, CEO Waitakere City Council, Mr. Richard Duncan, International Relations Manager (Waitakere), Mr. Bharat Guha, International Mnager Southern Institute of Technology, Mr. Giri Gupta, CEO India Trade Group and Mr. Bhavdeep Dhillon, Secretary India Trade Group.
The Punjab delegation included Civil Aviation Minister Dr. Upinderjeet Kaur, MP Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Chief Parliamentary Secratary Mr. Des Raj Dhugga, MLA Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, FC Rural Development Mr. G. S. Sandhu, FCD Mr. N. S. Kang, Principal Secretary Local Government Mr. D. S. Bains and Secretary Civil Aviation Mr. Vishawjeet Khanna.
Guv calls for genuine federalism; says Punjab has no surplus water for anyone: demands Chandigarh and end to economic discrimination against Punjab

Guv calls for genuine federalism; says Punjab has no surplus water for anyone: demands Chandigarh and end to economic discrimination against Punjab

“ Badal one of the greatest statesmen of all times:
Has replaced confrontation with consensus”: Rodrigues

The Punjab Governor General SF Rodrigues (Retd.) today called for the setting of a true federal system in the country with more financial powers to states as, according to him, “ state governments are best placed to understand , address and tackle local development and economic problems”.
In an address to the Punjab Assembly which was loaded with a strong and unequivocal political message, the Governor also demanded “decentralization of the planning process” and said, ´ This will help India become a strong nation capable of taking its expected position as one of the leading countries in the world. Strong states are the best guarantee for strong India because strong limbs alone account for a strong body”.
The governor also lauded the replacement of politics of confrontation with that of consensus and conciliation, and gave credit for this to the ‘vision and stature’ of the Chief Minister Parkash Sigh Badal, describing him as “one of the greatest statesman of all times. “I have no hesitation in saying that Punjab today is in the hands of one of the greatest statesmen of all times. His commitment to non-confrontationist polity, a fact acknowledged beyond political divisions, is just one of the things that has kept Punjab away from bitterness, political and personal differences notwithstanding.”
The governor opened his speech by complimenting both the people of Punjab and the state government for the preservation of peace and communal harmony in the state, which he said, were the top priority of the present government. He said, “I am glad to share with you the vision of the Chief Minister Sardar Parkash Singh Badal who ranks the maintenance of peace and communal harmony in the state as the biggest achievements of his life. It is thanks to his commitment to this vision that Punjab has remained an oasis of peace, human brother-hood and communal harmony even amidst the sectarian and religious bigotry seen in many parts of the world, including in our country.” During the course of his address, the governor spoke of the CM’s ‘personal vision and drive’ at least four times, including with reference to Mr. Badal’s personal interaction with the masses through Sangat Darshan
The Governor demanded that the injustice done to Punjab in the matter of river waters issue and in the denial of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas “should be immediately removed”. He also said that “transfer of Punjab’s water to any other state is against any established principle and law. (The Riparian Principle) “Punjab has no surplus water” he declared, and said, “Contrary to common myth & perception Punjab does not have any surplus water. The total estimated demand of water in Punjab is 50 MAF. The availability of river water is 14.54 MAF and the ground water is 19.8 MAF.”
Echoing the sentiments of the people of Punjab, the governor also spoke of discrimination against Punjab on the economic front through discriminatory policies of the government of India. He specifically picked on the industrial concessions given to some neighbouring states and said, “These discriminatory concessions have seriously affected Punjab's economy in general and industry in particular, leading to flight of capital from our state. We are not opposed to these concessions given to other states but my government believes and demands that Punjab should be extended the same treatment so that we can work on a level playing field. Being a land-locked state, with a live and generally hostile international border, Punjab fully deserves a special treatment on the economic front,” said the Governor.
Declaring that over the past two years, the Punjab government had taken “unprecedented and positive steps to push the economy of the state into a direction that will see Punjab spear-heading the national efforts at fiscal resurgence,” the governor specifically picked on four sectors. He said that initiatives taken in power, infrastructure development, education and civil aviation sectors were poised to take the state into the global era and ‘will dramatically change the face of Punjab.”
He spoke at length on the problems being faced by the people due to power shortage and said, “Power is the most important input for speedier economic development of the State. Punjab faces acute shortage because no capacity addition was done from 2002 to 2007. My Govt. is pursuing accelerated capacity addition by setting up four new thermal plants involving an investment more than Rs. 36000 crore in the State.
He made a special reference to the government’s emphasis on quality school education for the poor meritorious and gave details of the Adarsh school scheme, “In addition, three schools in each block of the state were being upgraded and equipped with the requirements necessary for imparting knowledge.”
On agriculture front, the governor bemoaned what he described as “unfavourable policies of the Centre” and said that due to these policies, agriculture was now facing a crisis. Prices of both agricultural produce and in-puts are regulated by the Central Government. Because of rising cultivation costs for wheat and rice, the net margins decreased by 60% in wheat and 41% in rice between 2000-01 and 2006-07.
The Governor described the aviation sector as one in which Punjab has made most significant strides. He listed he setting of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport at Mohali, the modernization and expansion of the Amritsar Airport, the two civil commercial flights from Indian Airforce station Bhisiana near Bhatinda and the setting up of flying academies in the state as the high points in this sector.
In a significant announcement, the governor disclosed that the state is likely to have on more Greenfield International Airport near Ludhiana. All the necessary clearances from the government of India have been obtained for the purpose.
He also said that the state had initiated the most radical reforms on the fiscal as well as the administrative side with the objective of "providing efficient and affordable public transport in order to reduce congestion, pollution and road accidents. He specially mentioned the starting of AC bus service at just more than normal fares as a path breaking achievement.”
The governor also had a good new for the media persons when he announced that the government had ordered the setting up a Media Committee headed by the Media Advisor and comprising the Principal Secretary (Home), Director Information and Public Relations, the Director General of Police and representatives of the Media. The Committee would examine all issues relating to complaints against or by media persons. Similar Committees are also being set up at district levels, to be headed by the concerned Deputy Commissioners.

Punjab Government had issued a notification in public interest to maintain law & order more smoothly, the police station Dakha falling in the jurisdiction of police district Ludhiana (city) is hereby transferred to the Jurisdiction of police district Ludhiana (rural) with immediate effect.

In an other notification police station Jandiala Guru and Police station Rajasansi has been transferred from police district Amritsar (City) to police district Amritsar (Rural.)

Local government Minister Punjab Mr. Manoranjan Kalia in pursuit of promoting transparency in the system weeding out corruption has ordered strict action on the reports of Mr. A.K. Prabhakar Chief Vigilance Officer Local Government against the following defaulting officials.

Mr. Hardev Singh Bains, Executive Officer, Nagar Panchayat Sham Chaurasi has been suspended for embezzlement in the tenders invited by the civic body.
Mr. Kuldeep Aggarwal, JE Nagar Panchayat Mahilpur has been charge sheeted for delay in handing over the official record to his successor on transfer.

Mr. R.L. Sharma, Mr. Ajit Singh Pahwa, Mr.Pavittar Singh Gill, Mr. C.L. Pandir, Mr. Ajit Singh Pahwa executive officers, Mr. Gurbaksh Singh, Mr. Harbans Lal Arora, Mr. Bharat Bhushan, Mr. Sukhdev Singh Gill and Mr. K.R. Verma Assistant Trust Engineers and Mr. Chander Mohan Duggal, Mr. Rai Singh, Mr. Mohinder Singh, Mr. Ashwani Kumar and Mr. Avtar Singh of Improvement Trust Phagwara have been charge sheeted in irregularities committed in Krishna building, Bank of Maharashtra at Phagwara.
Mr. Manmohan Sing, Chief Engineer Local Government has been charge sheeted in a case of tenders of Municipal Corporation Ludhiana.

Mr. Manmohan Singh, Executive officer, Mr. Ramesh Bhatia Assistant Municipal Engineer and Mr. Gurvinder Singh and Mr. Ravinder Kalsi Junior Engineers have been warned for irregularity in issue of tenders at Municipal Council Batala.

PUNJAB CM REVIEWS ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEAT PROCUREMENT

CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 27:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal today reviewed the arrangements of the wheat procurement in the State during the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS)- 2009 to ensure smooth, efficient and quick procurement and directed the Deputy Commissioners to personally oversee the procurement operations in close coordination with the functionaries of the Food and Civil Supplies department and the heads of the procurement agencies to undertake the procurement as per their allotted share so that every grain of the farmer was lifted.

Presiding over a high-level meeting to monitor the arrangements for the wheat procurement, Mr.Badal asked the Secretary Food and Civil Supplies to depute senior officers of the department to supervise procurement operations in the state. He also directed the Deputy Commissioners to make adequate arrangements for space of all the government establishments like cooperative sugar mills, industrial focal points and even the focal points of cooperation department in the villages to utilize the vacant space for the safe storage of the wheat. He also asked the food and supplies department that no laxity on their part would be tolerated.

Mr. Badal was also apprised in the meeting that the procurement of wheat was likely to touch 115 lakh MTs during the RMS 2009 as compared to last year procurement target of 105 lac MTs.
The Chief Minister directed his Principal Secretary DS Guru to personally visit and hold meetings at the Divisional level with the concerned Commissioners and the Deputy Commissioners to monitor these arrangements meticulously.

Taking part in the deliberations, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon said that approximately 1600 purchase centers had been set up for the procurement and there was no shortage of procurement articles like crates and gunny bags. He also informed the Chief Minister that the department had already tied up to ensure sufficient labour and transport to ensure smooth movement of wheat procurement. He assured the Chief Minister that the entire procurement process would be hassle free and the detailed instructions had already been issued to all the concerned in the Mandis to ensure timely payment to the farmers.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary RI Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru, Financial Commissioner Development NS Kang, Secretary Food & Civil Supplies SP Singh and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Gagandeep Singh Brar besides all Deputy commissioners of the state.

The Punjab Government had issued a notification appointing Mr. Gurpreet Singh, Raju Khanna as Chairman of Punjab State Youth Development Board and Mr. Ashwani Sharma as Vice President of the Board.
The other non-official members of the board are appointed as Mr. Amit Singh Rathi, Mr. Tarun Chugh, Mr. Sarbjit Singh, Mr. Vivek Moudgil, Mr. Sandeep Rinwa, Mr. Satwinder Singh, Mr. Gurpreet Singh, Mr. Manjinder Singh Dhillon and Mr. Patwinderjit Singh Panjrath.

The Punjab Government today nominated two Chairmen and two members of district Planning Committee of Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur respectively.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government said that Mr.Amarjit Singh Sahi, MLA and Mohinderpal Mann had been nominated as Chairman and Member of the District Planning Committee Hoshiarpur and Mr. Ashwani Sharma and Mr.Jatinder Atwal nominated as Chairman and Member of the District Planning Committee Gurdaspur.

The power situation in Punjab would see major improvement in the coming summer months as the Punjab State Electricity Board has firmed up significant tie ups with outside agencies to make additional power available to the state during the coming months.

Stating this, the Punjab Secretary of Power and Irrigation, Mr. Suresh Kumar said that the state government was fully alive to the needs of the people of the state for enhanced supply of power during the peak period and was determined to make it a a "power-cut free summer". Mr. Kumar was reacting to some reports in a section of the media which had quoted him as saying that power cuts would continue in the forthcoming summer.

He said that, on the contrary, he had spoken of the government's acute sensitivity to the need for providing a "cut-free" summer and was fully geared up to make that possible.
Clarifying on reports that appeared in some section of the Media, Mr. Kumar said 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 in the coming summer. All these arrangements would be finalised by the PSEB in the enxt two weeks, he said.

" We are fully geared to meet the challenge both in the long and the short runs. While the short run recipe lies in securing power from outside agencies, for a long term solution , unprecedented initiatives have already been taken to more than double the generation capacity in the state during the next few years," said Mr. Kumar, adding that the report in a section of the press was perhaps based on a misunderstanding of his emphasis on the current shortages.

He further said that the power sector was one of the most promising success stories of the previous two years, with four new mega thermal plants at various stages of maturity. "We are determined to make Punjab a power surplus state and are well on course for achieving our targets," said that power secretary.

The Punjab Vidhan Sabha Session which was earlier scheduled to be held at 11:00AM on 3rd March, 2009 now will be held at 2:00 PM on 3rd March, 2009 it is for the kind information of all concerned, disclosed a spokesman of Punjab Vidhan Sabha here today.