Iqbal Singh sworn-in as Puducherry Lieutenant Governor
Pondy will be a role model: Lt Governor

CHNDIGARH, July 27, 2009
Baljit Singh Brar

Iqbal Singh was sworn-in as the new Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Puducherry today. Madras High Court Chief Justice H.L. Gokhle administered the oath of office to Singh. The Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs, Narayanswami, Chief Minister Vaithyalingam, Assembly Speaker Radhakrishnan, State Ministers, MLAs and other political leaders presented at a ceremony.Later, Singh accepted the Guard of Honour, presented by the Puducherry Police.

Iqbal Singh was today sworn in as the 20th Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Puducherry in a simple function at the Rajnivas today.

Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, H L Gokhale administered the oath of office to Iqbal Singh. Earlier, Puducherry Chief Secretary Chandramohan read out the warrant of appointment issued by President of India Pratibha Patil to appoint Iqbal Singh.

Iqbal succeeds Govind Singh Gurjar, who died on 6 April, following a cardiac arrest. Following this, Tamilnadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala has been holding additional charge of Puducherry.

Hailing from Jalandhar, Singh (64) served as Rajya Sabha member between 1992 and 1998. He was also an AICC observer in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkand, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, besides being AICC secretary for 12 years.

In a message to the people, Singh said that Puducherry, with its peaceful and exotic location, is emerging as a favourite destination for domestic and international tourists.

‘Tourism infrastructure should be further improved to make Puducherry a most sought after destination,’ he said.
Asserting that Puducherry is on the forefront in education, healthcare and welfare sectors, the new Lieutenant Governor said that the Union Territory had attained ‘a high level of human development indices with peaceful civic life’.

He said the uniform floor rate of tax was posing a challenge to trading sector. Singh said his priority would be to cooperate with the elected representatives and accelerate economic growth with equitable opportunities to women and weaker sections.

‘It will be my endeavour to make the Union Territory of Puducherry a model of inclusive growth,’ he said in his message.
Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs and Culture V Narayanasamy, Puducherry Chief Minister V Vaithilingam, his Cabinet colleagues, legislators, leaders of different political parties, Territorial Speaker R Radhakrishnan, senior officials of the Territorial administration and Consul General of France in Puducherry Jollie Rayat, were among others, who attended the swearing- in ceremony. Singh later inspected a guard of honour by the Puducherry police and hosted a tea for all the invitees.

PUNJAB GOVT. NOMINATES SODHI AS MEMBER OF DISTT. PLANNING COMMITTEE OF BATHINDA

CHANDIGARH JULY 28, 2009

The Punjab Government today nominated Mr. Dayal Das Sodhi as the member of the District Level Planning Committee Bathinda.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s office said that besides Mr. Dayal Das Sodhi, the government had already nominated Mr.Sikandar Singh Malooka as the Chairman and Mr.Amarjit Singh Sidhu, Mr. Rajan Garg and Mr.Rajinder Guddu as the members of the District Level Planning Committee Bathinda.

BADAL WRITES TO PM TO CONTINUE WITH FERTILIZER SUBSIDY REGIME OF FIXED MRP

CHANDIGARH JULY 28, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to continue with the present fertilizer subsidy regime of fixed Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Badal impressed upon the Centre that the states should be consulted to obtain their consent before affecting any change.

Mr. Badal further mentioned that the Union Finance Minister Mr. Parnab Mukherjee in his budget speech had indicated a shift in the fertilizer subsidy policy, towards nutrient-based subsidy and its direct payment to the farmers to bring efficiency in the domestic industry and encourage balanced use of nutrients. The Chief Minister pointed out that however, it was felt the proposed policy in the name of nutrient based subsidy would ultimately lead to a regime of decontrolled market prices of fertilizers and the prices were likely to increase. This would not only affect their affordability but also might affect its use.
The Chief Minister said that since Punjab was located away from both manufacturing units and ports, the MRP of such fertilizers was likely to be higher in the State than in other parts of the country. The increase in market prices would affect the consumption of fertilizers in the agriculturally-developed States like Punjab and might consequently lead to reduced use and thereby reduced productivity. Mr. Badal further said that in a regime of uniform Minimum Support Price for crops all over the country, the higher fertilizers prices in Punjab would put the farmers of the State to a further disadvantage.

MAHAJAN TO BE NEW DC OF FATEHGARH SAHIB

CHANDIGARH JULY 28, 2009

The Punjab Government today appointed Secretary Punjab State Board of Technical Education & Industrial Training Mr. Yashvir Mahajan, PCS as the Deputy Commissioner of Fatehgarh Sahib in place of Mr.Surjit Singh,IAS who retires on July31 on superanuation.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister's Office said that the Chief Minister has cleared the file and formal orders to this effect would be issued shortly.

PEDA TO ORGANIZE WORKSHOP TO EDUCATE ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS REGARDING CONCEPT OF GREEN BUILDING


Chandigarh, July 28: Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) is organizing one day Workshop on Sustainable Building Design on 30th July, 2009 at C.I.I. Building, Chandigarh.

According to an official spokesman the objective and aim of this workshop was to create awareness among the architects, engineers and builders about the concept of 'green buildings' using energy efficient materials and other design standards as laid down by Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Government of India, in the energy conservation building code launched in 2007.

The spokesman said that Mr. Viswajeet Khanna, Secretary Science, Technology, Environment would be the Chief Guest in this workshop.

The spokesman said that the building sector consumes about 33% of electricity in India with commercial sector and residential sector accounting for 8% and 25% respectively. BEE has launched Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) in the year 2007. He said that the purpose of Code was to provide minimum requirements for energy efficient design and construction of buildings and their systems. He said that the code was applicable to buildings / building complexes that had a connected load of 500kW or greater or a contract demand of 600kVA or greater. Buildings or complexes having conditioned area of 1000 m2 or more would fall under this category. The purpose of this workshop was to educate Architects, Engineers, Builders and other stakeholders regarding this code.

The other organizers besides PEDA were BEE, Ministry of Power, Government of India, the Indian Institute of Architects (Punjab and Chandigarh Chapter), Bio-Diversity Conservation India Ltd., Bangalore (BCIL) Foundation and MNRE, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

CHANDIGARH, JULY 28, 2009
Surjit Singh

Punjab government has strongly demanded exemption of taxes and special facilities from the Centre Government for the establishment of agro-based industry in the state, as the neighboring states were already availing these facilities from the centre.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Industry and Commerce Minister, Punjab said that state economy depends up on agriculture. There was stagnation in the agriculture sector, due to hike in prices of agricultural inputs, so farmers of Punjab were suffering from economic crisis.

Mr. Kalia further said that need of the hour was to establish agro-based industry to improve the economic standard of the farmers. He said that present government under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal was doing all possible efforts for the welfare of the farmers.

He further said that State government had already given approval for 336 mega projects at the tune of Rs.97.163 crore to increase the private investments in Punjab. With the establishments of these projects more than 12 lakh people would be able to get employment. Due to the lack of exemption in taxes, Punjab had been totally out in the competition of production sector. Punjab government had spent Rs.20 crore to maintain the focal points last year and Rs.25 crore would be spent during this financial year.

Chandigarh July 28, 2009

Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Hira Singh Gabbria said that the state government would build a new museum in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahar) at a cost of Rs. 16 crore, The Portraits, Relics and Biographies of State & National great Martyrs would be preserved in the museum where new generation could read the biographies of these Martyrs and get the feeling of enthusiasm and patriotism of the country.

Minister further said that the state government is doing its best efforts to develop Punjab as tourism and cultural spot. A luxury train would be started very soon to attract the tourists to visit historical and religious places. For this purpose the state government has issued Rs. 13 crore as its share, as the Center Govt. has sponsored this project at the cost of Rs. 30 crore, out of which Center would give a grant of Rs. 17 crore as is share. With the completion of this project expectation of tourists and economy of the state would boost to large extent.

He further stated that historical and Arco logical culture of Punjab is very rich. For the development of Punjabi culture a special fairs and other cultural activities would be organized in the state as well as other states of the country, to reduce the western impact on the new generation.

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR STATE LEVEL TALENT SEARCH EXAMINATION

Chandigarh July 28: State Institute of Science Education (SCERT) Punjab, would conduct the State Level Talent Search Examination for the Year 2009-10 on Sunday 08-11-09 to select 81 students from class 8th in the state.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Education Department Punjab said that after the SCERT examination, the National level examination would be conducted by NCERT New Delhi in May 2010. Students studying in 8th Class in State Government, Kendriya Vidyalyas, Navodaya Vidalyas or any other type of recognized, affiliated schools situated in Punjab, securing minimum 70% marks for general category and 55 % marks for SC/ST/Physically challenged students in 7th class annual examination, would be eligible. The medium of examination would be Punjabi/English and no admission fee would be charged for this examination. added.

He further added that there would be two question papers of Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Subjects Eligibility Test (SET) for 90 marks each and have be solved during 90 minutes for each paper. Under SET there are seven subjects namely Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths, History, Geography and Civics. All these seven subjects are compulsory, he said.

He further added that admission forms could be down loaded from the website www.punjabeducation.gov.in. The admission forms duly filled in and complete in all respects should reach the Principal of the school (center) as given in the admission form by 31.8.09 where examination center in the concerned district is situated. No forms/ request would be entertained at the State Institute of Science Education, Punjab, and Chandigarh, he clarified.

He further said that it is necessary for the candidate belonging to scheduled caste/scheduled tribe to attach the attested copy of the certificate regarding reserved caste issued by SDM/Tehsildar with the admission form. There would be 3% reservation for Physically challenged candidates i.e 1% for each namely hearing, physically, impaired and visually challenged irrespective of caste category (General, SC, ST). Candidates belonging to physically challenged category must attach one attested copy of certificate issued by the competent authority stating that the child suffers from 40% or more disability as per the PWD Act, 1995, he said

PUBLIC HOLIDAY AT KAHNUWAN, BANUR AND JALALABAD ASSEMBLY
CONSISTENCIES ON AUGUST 3RD, 2009

Chandigarh July 28, 2009

The Punjab Government has declared a public holiday in three assembly constituencies of Kahnuwan, Banur and Jalalabad on 3rd August, 2009 to enable the voters to exercise their franchise in bye-election to these constituencies. All the offices of Punjab Government, Boards, Corporation and Educational Institutions would remain closed on 3rd August, 2009.
The spokesman of the state government said that this holiday would be under section 25 of the Negotiable Instrument Act.

Rs.80 lakh for Self-Employment Training to Poor Urban Youths And Women of BPL Families of the State-Kalia

CHANDIGARH, July 27, 2009

Punjab Government under Sawarn Jayanati Shehari Rojgar Yozna Scheme would spend Rs.5 crore in the 11th five year plan for providing opportunities in self-employment to poor urban youths and women of 179205 below poverty line (BPL) families of the state.

While disclosing this here today, Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Local Government, Industry and Commerce Minister, Punjab said that under this scheme Rs.64.30 lakh had been spent during 2007-08 and Rs.14 lakh had been spent during 2008-09. For this purpose Rs.80 lakh allocated for this financial year.

Mr. Kalia further said that for up gradation of their skill to enable them for self employment in maintaining their livelihood. Under this scheme subsidy and loans were being given to urban youths to set up self-employment ventures. Imparting training is also being started to urban youths in various skills. Special stress has been laid on employment of BPL families women of the state.

Rs.468 Crore Grant for State Bridges-Dhinda


CHANDIGARH, july 27, 2009

Keeping in view the road safety in the State Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) would spent Rs.468.72 crore to construct Railway Over Bridges (ROBs), Railway Under Bridges (RUB) and High Level Bridges (HLBs). Disclosing this here today Mr. Parminder Singh Dhinda, PWD (B & R) Minister, Punjab said that out of 28 ROBs, eight bridges had already been completed in Mansa, Lehragaga, Sangrur, Dhuri, Phagwara and Dasuya. Rs.103.34 crore were spent on these bridges.

Giving more details about the bridges, he said that three HLBs at Sara Ka Pattan at Ropar, Bhagi Choe at Hoshiarpur and Mukhu at Gidderpindi were in progress. The total expenditure incurred on these projects was Rs.301.50 crore so far. With completion of bridge project traffic congestion would be solved to much extent. He further disclosed that state government is committed to provide the basic infrastructure to the people of Punjab.

CHANDIGARH, July 27, 2009
Parvinder Kaur

As many as 21498 Anganwadi centers were playing active role to check sex ratio in the State.
Disclosing this here today Ch. Swarna Ram, Social Security and Development of Women and Child Development Minister Punjab said that Aanganwadi workers launched door to door campaign to identity pregnant women and educated them not to get abort their female unborn child.

Minister said that due to awareness campaign launched by Social Security Department sex ratio gap had reduced. Survey has shown the improvement in the sex ratio. He said awareness was the only weapon to check the sex ratio.

Minister said that female ratio at the age group of 0-6 years was 793 per thousand in 2001. According to the survey of GoI the female ratio at the age group of 0-6 years in Punjab 874 per thousand. He further said that social security department had taken up the challenge of improving the sex ratio in the State. During 2008-09 a provision of Rs. 4 crore was made to create awareness against female feticide amongst people of the State. Besides state government has earmarked Rs.10 crore for girl child under "Nanhi Chhan" project. Various other schemes have also been launched child and women health care, he added.

To bring white revolution in Punjab with breed improvement by Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT) Animal Husbandry Department has succeeded at village level, when a female cow born at village Areshan in district Luhdiana. This is the first experiment which was conducted at the resident of farmer besides the laboratory. The successful experiment will be boon to create a livestock at the rural level.

Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Animal Husbandry Minister said that the Punjab Government has sectioned a grant of Rs. 25 crore for Embryo Transfer Technology. Mr. Ranike further said that 12 Veterinary Doctors have been trained during the last year in this technology.

Mr. Ranike further said that the Punjab would be the first state to introduce ETT at the village level. With this latest technology, we can increase the numbers of good qualities of cow and buffalos so that the milk production increased in the state and more than female cow can be breed out within a year.

A high level delegation headed by Mr. Prabh Das Chief Executive Officer

A high level delegation headed by Mr. Prabh Das Chief Executive Officer, HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited today handover the detailed project report of on going works of the Guru Gobind Singh Oil Refinery which was being setup at Bathinda by HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd. (HMEL) to Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Industries and Commerce Minister Punjab here today.
Mr.Das said that an amount of Rs. 3546 crores had been spent so far, orders for all long lead items had been completed. Cumulative commitments for Rs. 14930 crores have already been made. The refinery is progressing well and is ahead of schedule, having achieved physical progress of 29.7%.

He said that about 5000 workers are working for the construction/implementation of the refinery project and this oil refinery will also have a captive power plant of about 152 MW. Mr. Das further said that 1012KM long crude oil pipeline from Mundra(Gujrat) to Bathinda (Punjab) with Single point Mooring (SPM) and crude oil terminal at Mundra in Gujrat. The project cost approved as built is Rs. 18,919 crores and completed by May 2011.

He said that this refinery would produce high value petroleum products scuh as LPG, Naphtha, Petrol, Diesal, Aviation Fuel, Polyprophule, Food-grade Hexane, Pet Coke, while the liquid products would be marketed through HPCL, the solid products like sulphur, per-coke & polypropylene would be sold directly by HMEL. The refinery would produce about 400 TMT of polypropylene which would be a source of supply for developing several medium and small scale businesses and units. It is envisage that consumption of about 50% of the total produce would be the state of Punjab. This would attract investment of about Rs. 1200 crores in Punjab.

This project is also engaged in initatives for skill development for the youth of Punjab. GGSRP with National Academy of Construction, Hyderabad (NAC) is providing training in construction skills including masonry, var-vending and welding to candidates from adjoining villages.

Prominent among others who were present in the meeting included Mr. S.S. Rajput MD PSIDC, Mr. V.K. Janjua Director Industries and Mr. Harbhajan Singh.

SEEING WRITING ON THE WALL

AS CONGRESS LEADERSHIP GOES IN HIDING, TITUS AND BITTUS RUN THE CAMPAIGN

Chandigarh, July 27
Harmeet Singh Dhillon

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal and SAD-BJP nominee for Jalalabad Assembly by-election today said that Punjab Congress leadership accepting the total washout in by-elections have already gone into hiding, to escape blame of the defeat and helpless candidates have to fend with so called Titus and Bittus of Congress to maintain the façade of their campaign.

In a statement issued here, Mr. Badal said that these so called Congress leaders instead of leading the campaign from front, have already fled the scene seeing the writing on the wall. He said that so called ‘Campaign Manager’ of Congress was missing from the scene or was finding it too humid to campaign in the dusty trails of Punjab. He said that it was surprising that so called self proclaimed 'man of masses' was indicating 'three hour upper limit' to campaign in a constituency.
Mr. Badal pointed out to the people that these leaders who can not find time to campaign before elections, how can we expect these leaders to solve their problems after elections. Mr. Badal reminded that the voters of Congress MP’s constituency were ruing the day they elected them as MP as they never bothered to visit the constituency after getting elected. He said that Congress MPs were busier in Delhi to lobby for themselves rather than to raise the problems being faced by Punjab farmers due to draught like situation in the state. He said that it was SAD-BJP MPs who were making presentations in agriculture, power and other ministries to apprise the Union Government of the gravity of the situation at ground level in Punjab. Describing Congress leaders as 'seasonal leaders', Mr. Badal said that such air-conditioned loving leaders only visit the constituency after getting weather forecast from the metrology department. He said that it was Badal family who always remains with the masses through thick and thin and constantly works for their welfare.

The SAD President said that so called Campaign Manager, Working President, so called President and probable presidential candidates of Congress party instead of campaigning for their candidates were more worried about their share in the pie and were camping in Delhi to seek loaves and party posts for themselves. Mr. Badal said that Congress has already accepted the defeat and hapless candidates were running the empty show just to justify their spending of election funds.

Promising an era of development, Mr. Badal said that Jalalabad is all set to witness unprecedented wave of development and he would persuade the multinational companies to set up their plants in this region to generate employment for local youth.

SUKHBIR SEEKS SPECIAL PACKAGE UNDER BORDER AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Chandigarh, July 26

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal today sought special package from Union Home Ministry for launching a concerted development program in the areas in the vicinity of Indo-Pak international border in Punjab.
In a statement issued here, Mr. Badal said that even after 62 years of independence border areas of Punjab remained underdeveloped due to repeated wars with neighboring countries and farmers of border region of Punjab have bore the maximum burnt. He said that even now most of the farmers whose land falls beyond fencing can not go to their fields in the evening. He said that repeated exercises of BSF, moment of heavy machinery in the border region damage the fragile link roads in the border villages and also the crops of the farmers. He said that despite repeated demands of Punjab government, Union government was not enhancing funds for the development of border region under Border Area Development Program.

Describing Punjab as sword arm of the nation, Mr. Badal said that Punjab that suffered maximum damage during the Indo-Pak wars deserved the special industrial as well as development package especially for development of border region of Punjab. He said that Union government must sanction big public sector manufacturing units in border area of Punjab which besides providing employment to skilled youth of border region, would also restore confidence of entrepreneurs to setup industrial units in the border area of Punjab.

Demanding Industrial package at par with neighboring hill states, Mr. Badal said that Punjab’s industry that suffered maximum damage due to repeated wars and decade long militancy needed a helping hand to compete in domestic as well as export market. He hoped that Congress MPs rising above party line would raise collective voice with SAD-BJP MPs seeking special industrial as well as development package for border areas of Punjab.

Mr. Badal said that Congress has always betrayed the people of border region and it was SAD-BJP government that gave proprietary rights to the tillers during last tenure and remaining farmers would get ownership rights very soon. He said that our government has already started the massive task of computerizing revenue record and soon farmers would be able to get copy of their ‘Fard’ from nearest cyber café at the push of a button.

SCHEME OF PRE-MATRIC SCHOLOR SHIP TO STUDENTS BELONGING TO THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES

Chandigarh, 26 July:
With a view to enable the meritorious students belonging to economically weaker section of minority communities to pursing higher education from Class I to Class X. The department of welfare of Schedule Caste and Backward Class, Punjab has invited applications for pre-metric scholarship under the Government of India (GoI) Scheme.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of Punjab Government said that the scholarship under this scheme would be provided to those students who have not less than 50% marks in the previous final examination and the annual income of their parents should not exceeded Rs. 1 lac. 30% scholarships have been earmarked for girl students and it will not be given to more than two students in a family. The scholarship would be awarded for studies in India only.

The spokesman further said that eligible applicants may send their application on prescribed format for grant of scholarship to the District Welfare Officer through the head of school/collage/institute of the student or last attended by the student with the recommendation of concerned Block Primary Education Officer (E.E) and District Education Officer (s). The last date for receipt of application is 15-08-2009.

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