Punjab signs MoU with IHS to establish MRO Hub, first of its kind in the country

Chandigarh 1 October, 2009

Punjab has become the first state in the country to setup Maintenance; Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub with the concerted efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was inked here today between Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) and Interrelated Helicopter Services Pvt. Ltd. (HIS Pvt. Ltd) through a joint venture between JSC Russian Helicopter of Russia and Vectra Group of India. The MoU was signed by Managing Director PSIDC Mr. S.S. Rajput and Chief Executive Officer of IHS, Air Commodore (retd.) S.B. Prashar in the presence of State Industry and Commerce Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia.

The MRO would be developed over an area of 50 acre near Sri Anandpur Sahib at a cost of Rs. 30 crore. The company is also actively considering a proposal to undertake the construction of Air Strip and a Flying Training Institute at a cost of Rs. 100 crore.
It may be recalled that this prestigious project was an outcome of persistent efforts of the Chief Minister with the Ministry of Civil Aviation Government of India. Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Praful Patel gave nod for establishing MRO hub to extend facilities for all Russian Origin Helicopters operated by various civil operators and services to defence sector as well, since Air Force is operating a big inventory of Russian Origin Helicopters. The upcoming MRO hub would be "OEM approved maintenance centre. These MRO facilities by IHS would include complete range of spares and consumables for various operators both in civil and defense sector besides, facilitating to organize sale of Russian Origin Helicopters in India and neighboring countries.

The MRO hub would be instrumental to generate tremendous employment both direct and indirect in the field of civil aviation besides promoting heli-tourism in Punjab in a big way.
This hub would also act as a catalyst to give fillip in raising the standards of flying at flying academies in Patiala and Amritsar which had been provided with each SESNA-172 trainer plane.
Prominent among others who were present on the occasion included Secretary Civil Aviation Mr. Vishwajit Khanna, Principal Secretary Industry S.S. Channy, Director Civil Aviation Gaggandip Singh Brar, AMD PSIDC Mr. Anil Mansharmani, Director Board of Directors Mr. Sergey Oleynikov, Chief operating Officer both of IHS Pvt. Ltd.

Ajaypal Singh Mirankot appointed Chairman PUNSUP

Chandigarh 1 October, 2009

Punjab Government has appointed Mr. Ajaypal Singh Mirankot, Ex-MLA as a Director on the Board of Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. (PUNSUP) with effect from the date he assumes charge as Director and further appointed him as the Chairman of PUNSUP with effect from the date he assumes charge as Chairman till further order.
The terms and condition of appointment of Mr. Ajaypal Singh Mirankot as Chairman of the Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. shallbe determined by the Government separately.

PUSA Basmati 1121 has no heavy metals-APEDA

Chandigarh 1 October, 2009

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has confirmed that there was no presence of heavy metals in the PUSA Basmati 1121 variety of rice in India.

A spokesman of APEDA said here today that APEDA had got samples of Basmati Rice from different areas and tested these from one of the International Accredited Laboratory. As per its reports presence of arsenic were reported in traces where as no heavy metals was detected. According to the laboratory, the arsenic concentration analyzed in the samples were well below the maximum permissible limit of 1 mg/kg, for food stuffs, as per internationally accepted standards. The presence of pesticide residue is also below the permissible limits.

The spokesman further said that in India, trials of GM crops was permitted with the approval of Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) which was an inter-ministerial committee constituted by the Government of India for the purpose. As per GEAC, no GM crops in rice exist in commercial production in India. As such, there is no export of GM rice from India.

The APEDA assured the Iranian Authorities and consumers of Indian Basmati Rice that this rice is of internationally acceptable quality and there should be no cause of un-due concern. Most of the Indian exporters have adopted the international standards in their production and processing units, including ISO and HACCP certifications. The exporters have in-house laboratories to assure the quality of the product exported by them. APEDA has also approved laboratories for quality certification. APEDA continues to work for the development of Basmati Rice supply chain integrity so that all markets of Basmati Rice in the world, including Iran, are assured of the best quality of this premium product, the spokesman added.

CM DEPUTES SENIOR OFFICERS TO OVERSEE PADDY PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS
Guru Monitors Procurement Arrangements and Position
of DAP Supply

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 1, 2009

On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal his Principal Secretary Mr. DS Guru today convened a meeting of the senior administrative secretaries and heads of the procurement agencies to review the arrangements of paddy procurement and its prompt lifting to facilitate the farmers for getting timely payment of their produce on one hand and save them from undue harassment on the other.

Mr. Guru informed that total procurement of paddy this year was likely to exceed 140 lac MT. He said that total 6.92 lac bales of gunny bags were required, of which 6.33 lac bales have been procured. Mr. Guru asked the government procurement agencies viz. Pungrain, Markfed, Punsup, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Punjab Agro and especially the FCI to ensure quick procurement and lifting of paddy as per their allotted share.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister deputed senior officers to oversee the procurement operations in all the districts and directed them to regularly visit their assigned districts till the entire exercise was completed to ensure smooth and hassle free lifting of paddy.

Commissioner Patiala Division Mr. Jasbir Singh Bir had been entrusted with the task to supervise the mandis in districts of Patiala, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Barnala. Special Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister Mr.Viswajit Khanna would visit the mandis of Ropar, Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib. Commissioner Jalandhar Division Mr. SR Ladhar had been deputed to oversee procurement operations in Amritsar, Tarn Taran Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts. Likewise, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu would visit the mandis in Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. Commissioner Ferozepur Division Mr. BS Sudan would visit the mandis of Ferozepur, Faridkot and Moga districts and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema would undertake supervision of mandis in Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar districts. All these officers had also been directed to supervise the procurement of cotton in their allotted districts too. To ensure smooth lifting of the paddy, Mr. Guru asked these officers to involve local Sub-Divisional Magistrates and District Transport Officers in the entire procurement exercise.

Mr. Guru also reviewed the availability of DAP both in cooperative and private sector and asked the agriculture department to ensure its fair distribution to the farmers for the sowing of Wheat during current Rabi season. It was informed in the meeting that total stock of 1,70,000 MT of DAP was available with the Markfed, Punjab Agro and IFFCO so far, whereas 1 lakh MT of DAP had already been made available to the farmers. The total requirement of DAP for the month of October, November and December was estimated at 3.5 lakh MT, 1.0 lakh MT and 30,000 MT, besides this additional 1.68 lakh MT of DAP from Kandla was expected to be delivered by this month. The entire requirement of DAP for the ensuing Rabi season would be meted out with these arrangements, added Mr. Guru.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Financial Commissioner Development Mr. NS Kang, Registrar Cooperatives Dr. G.Vajralingam, Special Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema and Mr.SS Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister mr. Viswajit Khanna, Secretary Food & Civil Supplies Mr. SP Singh, MD Punjab Agro Mr.SK Sandhu, MD Markfed Mr.Sarabjit Singh, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr.Gaggandip Singh Brar, Director Food & Civil Supplies Mr. DS Grewal and Director Agriculture Mr.BS Sidhu, besides the heads of other procurement agencies.

PUNJAB CM FELICITATES PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF GANDHI JAYANTI

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 01, 2009

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today greeted the people of Punjab on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti – the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi ji.

In a message, Mr. Badal said that "Gandhi Jayanti is an occasion for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi on peace and non-violence. The life and work of Gandhi ji is an inspiration for all of us about tolerance, respect and dignity of labour.

Let us all join to pay homage to the Father of the Nation by working hard sincerely to make our country far more stronger and to ensure an egalitarian society rising above the parochial consideration of caste, colour, creed and religion.

GANDHI’S MESSAGE OF NON-VIOLENCE STILL RELEVANT-SUKHBIR

Chandigarh, October 1: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab has said that the message of non-violence and truth propagated by Mahatma Gandhi was still relevant.

Congratulating all the Punjabis living in the country and abroad on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti– the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi ji, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Gandhi ji, through his non-violent approach, had sent a new message to the world.

Calling upon people to follow the message of Gandhi ji, Mr. Badal the 'Father of the Nation' was the torchbearer of peace and harmony and we should continue to emulate his ideals.

Chandigarh, October 1: Government agencies and private millers procured more than 43365 tonnes of Paddy till last evening

Out of total procurement of 43365 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 35216 tonnes of paddy (81.2%) till date whereas private traders procured 8149 tonnes (18.8%) of paddy. Till September 30, PUNGRAIN had procured 12747 tonnes (36.2%) whereas MARKFED procured 8686 tonnes (24.7%). PUNSUP procured 6025 tonnes (17.1%) , PSWC procured 3813 tonnes (10.8%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 3194 tonnes (9.1 %) of paddy.

The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 751tonnes (2.1%).
The spokesman added that District Muktsar with 16132 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Faridkot with 12475 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Amritsar a 2935 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.

ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED
Chandigarh, October 1, 2009

The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the Khariff Season through Canal water from 6-10-2009. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Bathinda Branch, Bist Doab, Sidhwan Branch, 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 utilized 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.

POSTING AND TRANSFERS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPTT.

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 1, 2009

Smt. Ruchi Allahabadi, S. Surjit Singh and Smt. Darshan Sharma, Public Relation Officers have been transferred and posted at Amritsar, S.A.S Nagar and Sangrur as District Public Relation Officers respectively whereas Sh. Rajbinder Singh, DPRO Amrtisar and Kumari Uma Sharma DPRO S.A.S.Nagar have been posted at Office of DIPR Punjab, Chandigarh as Information & Public Relations Officer.

WILD LIFE WEEK TO BE OBSERVED FROM OCTOBER 3
ZOO TO REMAIN CLOSED ON OCTOBER 2

Chandigarh October 1

The Punjab government would observe a Wild Life Week from October 3 to October 8, 2009 at Chattbeer, Deer Park, Beer Moti Bagh, Patiala and Deer Park, Beer Talab, Bathinda.
Disclosing this here today, a Spokesman of the department of Forests and Wild life Punjab said that the entry during this week would be free for the visitors and all the government zoo including Chattbeer, Deer Park, Moti Bagh Patiala and Deer Park, Beer Talab Bathinda would remain closed on October 2 on account of a National Holiday.