CM WRITES TO PAWAR SEEKING REVISION OF AMENDED SUGARCANE CONTROL ORDER

CHANDIGARH NOVEMBER 09, 2009

The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Mr. Sharad Pawar to leave the issue of fixation of sugarcane price to the mills and states in the larger interest of sugar production and economic viability of sugar mills.

In a letter to Mr. Pawar, the Chief Minister had asked the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to immediately revise its amended order of Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 issued on October 22, 2009 to the effect that instead of minimum price of sugarcane, a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) shall be fixed by the Central Government.
It may be recalled that the amended order has further provided that if any authority or state government fixes any price above the FRP fixed by the Central Government, such authority or state government shall pay the amount which it fixes above the FRP fixed by the Central Government to the growers of Sugarcane or to the sugarcane growers cooperative society as the case may be.

Clarifying the position, the Chief Minister informed Mr. Pawar that the State had been fixing the State Agreed Price (SAP) for purchase of sugarcane under Punjab Sugarcane (Regulation of purchase and supply Act, 1953 and rules made there under which provide that “An occupier or agent or purchasing agent or any person employed by him shall not purchase cane for a factory, at a price below the Minimum Price fixed by the Sugarcane Control Board and called as State Agreed Price”. The SAP in Punjab has normally been higher than the Minimum Price fixed by the Central Government but the Sugar Mills in the State have been paying it as these were adequately represented in the Sugar Cane Control Board.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need to maintain a price parity to ensure similar returns to the farmers growing sugarcane and those following Rice-Wheat Cropping System (RWCS). In view of the high productivity of RWCS and thereby better gross returns, a higher SAP had to be fixed to ensure no shift of area to RWCS and availability of sugarcane to the mills.

The Chief Minister also apprised Mr. Pawar that the present amendment would seriously affect the area under sugarcane and thereby the economic viability of sugar mills as the State would not be able to pay the difference between SAP and FRP.

BANGLADESH HIGH COMMISSIONER CALLS ON PUNJAB CM
Seeks Better Economic Ties with Punjab

CHANDIGARH NOVEMBER 9:
Bangladesh High Commissioner Mr. Tariq A. Karim today called on Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to forge better economic ties with the state of Punjab in the globalized international market.

Taking part in the deliberations, Mr. Badal urged the Bangladesh High Commissioner for direct export of kinnows from Punjab to Bangladesh, as now the latter was importing major chunk of Kinnow through the Kolcutta market. Mr. Badal asked the MD Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation Mr. SK Sandhu to finalize the modalities for direct export from Punjab to Bangladesh which would be mutually benefited to both the economies with the elimination of middlemen.

The Chief Minister also took up the issue to export the rice and basmati from Punjab to the Bangladesh with Mr. Karim, as Bangladesh had a lot of scope for its marketing there because it was a major rice consuming country.

Appreciating Mr. Badal’s gesture for bilateral trade between the Bangladesh and Punjab, Mr. Karim said that he would interact with the representatives of PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry to thrash out the issues to increase the level of exports and imports between the economies of Punjab and Bangladesh. He also evinced keen interest for setting up of joint ventures in agro and food processing and hoped that economy of Bangladesh could be immensely benefited through Punjab’s rich experience and expertise in the field of agro-processing and hi-tech farming.

The Chief Minister looked forward for forging an alliance with the Bangladesh in agro-industrial units to add value addition to our agriculture produce to ensure better returns to the farmers.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains, Principal Secretary Mr. DS Guru and Additional Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar.

128.60 LAKH TONNES PADDY PROCURED IN PUNJAB

Chandigarh, November 09:

Government agencies and private millers procured more than 128.60 lakh tonnes of Paddy till last evening as compared to 127.03 lakh tones upto November 8,2008.

Out of total procurement of 12860606 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 12609649 tonnes of paddy (98.0%) till date whereas private traders procured 250957 tonnes (2.0%) of paddy. Till November 08, PUNGRAIN had procured 3732949 tonnes (29.6%) whereas MARKFED procured 2598378 tonnes (20.6%). PUNSUP procured 2912038 tonnes (23.1%), PSWC procured 1537136 tonnes (12.2%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 1207302 tonnes (9.6 %) of paddy whereas the Central Government agency FCI had procured 621846 tonnes (4.9%).

The spokesman added that District Ludhiana with 1477106 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas district Sangrur with 1445952 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and District Patiala 1285110 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.

The State Government has set up 1600 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.

INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPTT. PUNJAB

SH SHASHI KANT, IPS PROMOTED

CHANDIGARH, NOVEMBER 9:

Punjab has promoted Sh. Shashi Kant, IPS of (1977 batch), ADGP as Director General of Police in the scale of Rs.75500-80,000 with immediate effect. His posting orders will be issued in due course. In this regard, a notification has been issued here today.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES ASKED TO COMPLY WITH FIRE SAFETY NORMS STRICTLY-UPINDERJIT KAUR
FIRE DEPARTMENT DIRECTED TO CARRY OUT CRASH INSPECTIONS

Chandigarh, November 9: In a bid to ensure foolproof fire security arrangements to avert fire incidents, the Punjab Government has issued detailed instructions to all the educational institutes in the State for strict implementation of existing fire safety norms in the premises as prescribed by the National Building Code and duly approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Disclosing this here today Dr Upinderjit Kaur Education Minister Punjab said that all the educational institutes had been asked to comply with these instructions in letter and sprit.

The Minister also directed the state fire services of Local Government department to carry out crash inspection of these educational institutes within three months to bring out improvements in accordance with existing instructions for ensuring the safety of school premises and sought a compliance report to monitor the situation.

Dr Upinderjit Kaur categorically said that orders have been issued making it mandatory for all educational institutes including managements, to obtain a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the fire service department so that it could verify and check the fire-fighting arrangements and have gaps and deficiencies attended to.
She further added that the Education Department already observing adequate precautions in the use of cooking facilities for mid-day meals being provided in the upper primary and primary schools in the State. Fire extinguishers have been provided to such schools, she added.

The Education Minister said that children studying in educational institutes cannot take decisions for themselves in emergencies, and look up to the teachers and other elders for help and guidance. This places a far greater responsibility on those running these institutions, she added.

Dr Upinderjit Kaur further said that unfortunately, commercialisation and intense competition have led to schools being housed in ill-suited, and congested localities in ill-designed buildings with inadequate floor-space, cramped seating arrangements, poor ventilation and lighting, and narrow passages. Such schools even have no necessary emergency escape routs, she said.

She added, according to fire safety norms, one-storied school buildings are required to install fire extinguishers in every two classrooms and ensure proper exits for children. High-rise buildings (up to five-storied) should have overhead tanks, pumps and big fire extinguishing equipment.

The Education Minister emphasised that schools and colleges having science streams should be extra vigilant as science students perform experiments with various inflammable chemicals especially in chemistry laboratories that contained several inflammable chemicals. Without mincing any words, she said, “no leniency would be tolerated at any cost in ensuring fire fighting arrangements in the educational institutions”.

Memorial to Commemorate 1984 carnage to come up in New Delhi

Badal describes 1984 massacre as “Third Ghallughara”

CARNAGE MORE PAINFUL THAN BABAR’S INVASION

New Delhi, November 8 :

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that a World Class Heritage Memorial would be built in New Delhi as a tribute to the victims of 1984 anti Sikh massacre. The Chief Minister described the ‘8th Carnage as ‘ Third Ghallughara “ in sikh history.

The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee and Shiromani Akali Dal had jointly given a call for observing Ardas Divas in the memory of the victims of anti sikh 1984 carnage. The Ardas Divas observed worldwide marks the 25th Anniversary of 1984 tragedy.

Mr. Badal had specially flew into the Capital last night to join the Sikh sangat in prayers as it was in New Delhi that the major part of the tragedy had taken place.

Later talking to the newsmen, Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains said that the Punjab Government was also likely to consider building a memorial in the State.

Joining Ardas here at Gurdwara Sahib Singh Sabha Greater Kailash – II, Mr. Badal said that , “ 84 massacre was even more painful and traumatic than Babar’s invasion since it happened at the hands of our own government.
The Chief Minister later also prayed at Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib.

The Badal also strongly urged the National Human Rights Commission to intervene since we have no faith in the Congress Government”. He asked the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, as to “why he was silent on non filing of charge sheet against the guilty”.

The Chief Minister also sought personal intervention of President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to set up special courts to provide speedier justice to the victims of 1984 genocide of the Sikhs, and termed it “as a slur on the fair name of World’s largest democracy and mockery of the human rights as the victims of the carnage had been denied justice even after 25 years.’’

Mr. Badal said that the perpetrators of the worst ever pre-meditated crime against the Sikhs encouraged and abetted by the then ruling Congress, were still moving scot free which had not only demoralized the entire Sikh community in general and the affected victims of 1984 massacre in particular who had been running from pillar to post over past 25 years to seek justice but of no avail. Mr Badal said, “ Justice delayed was justice denied.”

The CM said that the SAD-BJP Govt. in Punjab has done and will continue to do “everything possible” for the victims of the painful tragedy. He said that his party was following the issue up with the National Human Rights Commission and will use “ every peaceful and democratic weapon” to secure punishment to the guilty and justice for the victims.

PRABHASH JOSHI AN ICON FIGURE: BADAL
CM Mourns sad demise of Prabhash Joshi

Chandigarh, November 8
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today paid rich tribute to eminent journalist Prabhash Joshi who passed away the other day. Mr. Badal also offered his condolences to the bereaved family of the veteran journalist, who was the founder editor and chief editorial advisor of Jansatta.
In a condolence message the Chief Minister described Mr. Joshi as, a crusader for media ethics and freedom of press who played a pro-active role for the nationwide campaign launched for the Right to Information Act. He was a prolific sportswriter, political analyst and a statesman with authority on diverse issues ranging from politics, economics, media and sports, especially cricket. In his death the journalist fraternity has lost an iconic figure as Mr. Joshi was an inspirational journalist, a fine human being with rare intellect, courage and professional integrity, said Mr. Badal

VIGILANCE NABS THIRTEEN EMPLOYEES
FIFTEEN CONVICTED IN GRAFT CASES
Chandigarh November 8: State Vigilance Bureau, in a drive against corruption in public life, arrested two Gazzetted Officers (GOs) and eleven Non-Gazzetted Officers (NGOs) in thirteen different cases in last month and was able to secure the conviction of fifteen accused in thirteen different vigilance cases.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Rajinder Singh, SP-cum-Joint Director (Admn.) Vigilance Bureau Punjab, said that Bureau has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere in the State. In this direction, the Vigilance officers have ensured that suspect did not escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State.
He added that during the last month of October, the Vigilance had nabbed thirteen corrupt public servants red handedly accepting bribes in thirteen different cases which include 4 Revenue officials and two Gazzetted Officers namely Inderpal Singh Registrar Beant Engineering and Technology College Gurdaspur and Prem Chand Gupta DEO Nawan Shahar.
Giving further details Joint Director added that the special courts have sentenced fifteen accused including one GO and twelve NGOs and two private persons after finding them guilty for one year to two years imprisonment with fines in thirteen different vigilance cases which included Gurpal Singh Kang Superintendent Punjab Nursing Council, two police officials and three revenue officials.