SAP OF SUGARCANE FIXED AT RS.200 PER QUINTAL FOR 2010-11

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 19, 2009

The Punjab Government today fixed the State Assured Price (SAP) of advanced, medium and late variety of Sugarcane at Rs.200, Rs.195 and Rs.190 per quintal for the crushing season of 2010-11

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s Office said that a decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the Sugarcane Control Board chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal this morning.
It may be recalled that the state government had already fixed the SAP of advanced, medium and late variety of Sugarcane at Rs.180, Rs.175 and Rs.170 per quintal for the crushing season of 2009-10.

In another significant decision to check the sale of spurious quality of Gur especially prepared by the road side vendors, the Chief Minister asked the Cane Commissioner to register all the Gur manufactures in the state and also directed the health department to undertake frequent and regular sample checking to ensure quality production of Gur. He however said that no registration fee would be charged from these Gur manufacturers.

In order to ensure availability of sufficient stock of sugarcane seed for current sowing season, it was decided in the meeting to start the crushing operations of sugarcane w.e.f. November 25 for all the sugar mills and private Gur manufacturers.
The Chief Minister hoped that with an increase of SAP by Rs.20 per quintal, both the cane growers and the sugar industry in private as well as cooperative sector would be benefited. He emphasized the need to adopt the trench technology, single bud and tissue cultivation to enhance the quality production of sugarcane and urged the farmers to bring more area under quality sugarcane cultivation so that our mills could produce high quality sugar.

Prominent amongst who were present in the meeting included Agriculture Minister-cum-Chairman of the Sugar Control Board Mr. Sucha Singh Langha, Financial Commissioner Cooperation Dr. BC Gupta, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. DS Guru, Financial Commissioner Development Mr. NS Kang, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. Karan Avtar Singh, Registrar Cooperatives Mr. G.Vajralingam, M.D. Sugarfed Mr. Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Cane Commissioner Dr. Mangal Singh Sonar besides MD Wahid & Sangar Sugar Mills, Phagwara Mr. Jarnail Singh Wahid, MD Indian Sucrose Limited Mukerian Mr. Deepak Yadav and MD Rana Sugar Mills Baba Bakala Mr. Rana Inder Partap Singh all members of the Board.

National Commission for Minorities team to visit Punjab, Chandigarh

Chandigarh, October 19, 2009

A Team of National Commission for Minorities comprising of its members including Mr. H.S. Hanspal and Mrs. Splazes Angmo, Members, would visit Punjab and Chandigarh from October 20th to 22nd, 2009 to review implementation of schemes for the welfare of minorities.

According to an official spokesman, the team would meet Chief Secretary and Senior State Government officials to discuss pending cases in commission, and would also monitor educational scholarship schemes of the Students belonging to minority communities. The team would also review the implementation of 15 point programme for welfare of minorities.
The spokesman added that the team would also meet representatives of Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian and Parsi communities of the state. The team would also call on Governor, Punjab and the Chief Minister of Punjab.

PADDY PROCUREMENT IN FULL SWING

Chandigarh, October 19: Government agencies and private millers procured more than 44.72 lakh tonnes of Paddy till last evening

Out of total procurement of 4472129 tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 4342098 tonnes of paddy (97.1%) till date whereas private traders procured130031 tonnes (2.9%) of paddy. Till October 18, PUNGRAIN had procured 1172104 tonnes (27.0%) whereas MARKFED procured 884615 tonnes (20.4%). PUNSUP procured 1034297 tonnes (23.8%) , PSWC procured 573922 tonnes (13.2%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 429491 tonnes (9.9 %) of paddy.

The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 247669 tonnes (5.7%).
The spokesman added that District Ferozepur with 652834 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas district Muktsar a 418494 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and District Faridkot with 365376 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.

INDIA-PUNJAB LUXURY TRAIN SOON – GABRIA

Chandigarh 19 October:

Mr. Hira Singh Gabria, Culture and Tourism Minister Punjab disclosed here today that the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India has sanctioned a Luxury Train namely "Incredible India – Punjab Luxury Train" to promote the tourism in the State. Total estimated cost of this project would be 29 crores. Out of which Ministry of Tourism, Government of India would contribute Rs. 7.25 crore, while Indian Railways Catering Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Government of Punjab would equally contribute Rs. 1087.50 Lac each.

The Minister said that MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) of this project had been signed on Ist October, 2008 between Indian Railways and Government of Punjab. Entire State share liability had already been released to start the project immediately. The tentative route of the train would be Delhi – Amritsar – Anandpur Sahib – Dharamshala – Patiala – Kurukshetra – Jaipur – Agra and Delhi. Interior furnishing would be got done by the Punjab Heritage and Tourism promotion Board, he added.

EVENING COURTS TO START SOON IN PUNJAB - CHIEF JUSTICE

Chandigarh, October 19, 2009

Keeping in view to dispose off about 7 lac pending cases in various Courts, it has been decided to start evening courts in the state and in the first phase evening courts would start functioning in important cities of the state.

This was announced today at Mukatsar by Hon'ble Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court Mr. Justice Tirath Singh Thakur after inaugurating newly constructed Judicial Complex with cost of Rs. 21 crore at Mukatsar.

Mr. Justice Thakur said that District and Sessions Court Mukatsar would start functioning from 14th January 2010 on the occasion of Maghi Mela. Mr. Justice Thakur said that it has also been planned to start village courts to solve petty cases and such courts would be setup at block level. He said in first phase these courts would be start functioning as pilot project in four blocks; to give speedy justice and to dispose off pending cases.