PUT ALL RELEVANT DATA OF ATTA-DAAL, SHAGUN AND OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME ON INTERNET - BADAL
CALLS FOR LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THEFT OF ELECTRICITY & CANAL WATER

CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today directed department of Food & Civil Supplies and Social Security to put all the relevant data relating to the beneficiaries of Atta Daal, Shagun and Old age pension scheme on the internet to bring in transparency in the system.

Showing concern over the fraudulent cases of fake beneficiaries under Atta Daal, shagun and old age pension scheme, Mr. Badal asked the deputy commissioners to verify such fraudulent cases so that their names could be deleted from the list of the eligible beneficiaries and genuine persons who had otherwise been left out could be incorporated.

Mr. Badal was presiding over a high-level meeting of all the Deputy Commissioners here at Punjab Bhawan this evening. The deputy commissioner Jalandhar informed in the meeting that 3500 cases of old age pensions had been detected where the beneficiaries who had died but the pension in their names were still being withdrawn. Mr. Badal asked them to ensure that strict action should be taken against all those involved in such fraudulent cases.

The Chief Minister also called for a legal action against those who indulged in malpractices of theft of electricity and canal water. He directed the Principal Secretary Power & Irrigation to launch a massive drive to check the illegal practice of stealing power and canal water in the state. Mr. Badal assured the Deputy Commissioners of free hand to them without any political interference to effectively check the menace of power and water theft which had been causing a substantial loss to the state exchequer.

Mr. Badal also reviewed the arrangements of the paddy procurement in the State during the Kharif Marketing Season - 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. He asked the Secretary Food & Civil Supplies that the entire procurement process should be hassle free and the detailed instructions must be issued to all the concerned in the Mandis to ensure timely payment to the farmers with in 48 hours.

The Chief Minister asked the Secretary Food & Civil Supplies to personally hold meetings 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 the department has made elaborate arrangements to procure approximately 6.80 lakh gunny bags, of which 3.50 lakh had been procured so far. He also informed the Chief Minister that the department had already tied up to ensure sufficient labour and transport to ensure smooth movement of paddy procurement.

To make optimum utilization of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), the Chief Minister asked the Deputy Commissioners to chalk out a detailed action plan to implement the scheme as per the prescribed guidelines under the NREGA. He emphasized the need to synergize their efforts with all the in line departments of irrigation, water supply & sanitation, PWD (B&R) and Rural Development & Panchayats. He directed the Chief Secretary to monitor the progress of NREGA every month and allot higher targets to the districts which perform better in its implementation. He also asked the Principal Secretary Irrigation and Principal Secretary Rural Development & Panchayats to get the jobs of de-silting & embankments of water courses, distributaries & channels and manual cleaning of ponds done through job card holders under the scheme as all these operations involved intensive labour which was covered under the scheme.

While interacting with the deputy commissioners, Rural Development & Panchayats Minister Mr.Ranjit Singh Brahmpura asked the Deputy Commissioners to identify all the schemes to be executed through NREGA within a month and also asked them to immediately launch a vigorous campaign to register rural households under NREGA by issuing them job cards to enable them to earn guaranteed livelihood under the scheme.

Meanwhile, the Director NREGA, GoI Mr. Krishan Kumar who was present in the meeting as a special invitee, appreciated the performance of Punjab in the implementation of NREGS during the last fiscal. He asked the deputy commissioners to submit the utilization certificates in time to enable the Centre to release more funds promptly for new schemes without any delay.

The Chief Minister also directed the deputy commissioners to launch a vigorous campaign to get the panchayati land freed from the illegal possession of the land grabbers. He assured them of fulsome support and cooperation in this regard and asked them not to succumb to any sort of political pressure. He commended their job in removing encroachment of the land along on link roads in the villages for strengthening of berms.

Referring to the availability of deputy commissioners to the public at district headquarters for atleast three days in a week, Mr. Badal asked them to be available in their offices to listen to the grievances of people on every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. He also asked them to be courteous and polite with the people who often visit them with their day-to-day problems. He directed the Chief Secretary not to hold any meeting during these days at state headquarters to enable them to strictly adhere to this schedule of public meeting.

Outlining the need to have Integrated District Health Plans under the National Rural Health Mission, the Chief Minister asked the deputy commissioners who were the chairman of district health societies to accomplish this task with in two months as these plans were mandatory for the upgradation of all the community health centers and primary health centers in terms of proper staff, equipment and infrastructure.

In order to effectively combat the nuisance caused by the stray cattle which often caused serious accidents claiming the precious human lives, the Chief Minister asked the deputy commissioners to incorporate provision of Gaushalas in their respective district plans.

Forest & Medical Research Minister Mr. Tikshan Sood asked the deputy commissioners to play a pro-active role for the construction and running of Gaushalas in their concerned districts. He also raised the issue of maximum scope of NREGS in Forest department as there was cent percent utilization of labour especially in the plantation activities.

In another significant decision, the Chief Minister asked the deputy commissioners to get the mutation done simultaneously along with the registration of property. He said that the detailed instructions would be soon issued by the Revenue department in this regard.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains, Chief Secretary Mr. SC Agrawal, Principal Secretary Rural Development & Panchayats Mr. Jagpal Singh, Principal Secretary Irrigation & Power Suresh Kumar, Financial Commissioner Development Mr.NS Kang, Principal Secretary Forest & Wild Life Mr.RC Nayyar, Secretary PWD (B&R) Kulbir Singh and Secretary Water Supply & Sanitation PS Aujla and Secretary Food & Civil Supplies Mr.S.P Singh.

CM FOR STRICT QUALITY CONTROL NORMS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
QUALITY CONTROL LABORATORIES TO BE SET UP IN ALL DISTRICTS

Chandigarh September 8, 2009

To ensure quality monitoring of works projects in the state, the Punjab government would soon set up quality control laboratories at all the district headquarters in the state.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting to review quality monitoring and efficiency of development projects chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at CMO this morning.

Emphasizing the need to plug the loopholes in the existing quality control practices and to check the factors affecting efficiency and transparency in the development works, Mr. Badal said that these laboratories would be set up at seven districts viz. Amritsar, Jalandhar, Mohali, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Ferozepur and Patiala in the first phase. Subsequently all the remaining 13 districts would be covered in the second phase. He asked the Secretary PWD (B&R) Mr. Kulbir Singh to ensure that the progress of entire development works including roads, bridges and even the link roads should be closely monitored especially from the angle of construction material used in these projects.

The Chief Minister also directed the Technical Adviser to the Punjab government Lt.Gen. (Retd) BS Dhaliwal to lay out guidelines for the quality control of these projects being executed by Punjab Infrastructure Development Board, Mandi Board, PWD (B&R), Water Supply & Sanitation, Rural Development & Panchayats and Water Supply & Sewerage Board to bring in an element of efficiency and transparency on one hand and quality on the other.

Showing concern over the reports of poor quality of material used in the construction of various projects, the Chief Minister categorically said that strict action would be taken against such erring officials/officers found guilty of violating the prescribed norms of quality control. “Exemplary punishment should be given to guilty so that it could serve as an eye-opener for others”, said the Chief Minister. He also underscored the need to evolve a mechanism for proper evaluation of work estimates and scrutiny of the quality material to be used in the construction activity because most of the estimates were inaccurate and over assessed for the want of such corrective system. He said that the existing quality control cells in all the departments involved in the execution of development works should be strengthened to ensure quality construction of these development projects.

The Chief Minister also asked the PWD (B&R) department and other execution agencies to ensure that the payment to the contractors to whom the tenders for work had been allotted should be made only in case they had adhered to the norms of quality control. He also said in case of any lapse or deficiency on the part of contractor, he should be held liable.

Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Media Adviser to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. DS Guru, Principal Secretary Local Government Mr.DS Bains, Finance Commissioner Rural Development & Panchayats Mr.Jagpal Singh, CA GAMADA Mr.VP Singh, Additional Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr.KJS Cheema, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr.Gaggandip Singh Brar besides the Chief Engineers of PWD (B&R) and Water Supply & Sanitation.

CHAIRMAN & 10 MEMBERS OF MARKET COMMITTEE TARN TARAN NOMINATED

CHANDIGARH SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

The Punjab Government today nominated Mr. Amrik Singh as the Chairman of the Market Committee Tarn Taran under Sub Section (1) of Section 16 of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, besides 10 members of the Market Committee, Tarn Taran under Section 12 of Punjab Agriculture Produce Markets Act, 1961 (Punjab Act No.23 of 1961).
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Punjab government the respective notifications relating to these nominations had already been issued by the State Agriculture department.

SUKHBIR's EFFORTS BORE FRUIT FOUR LANING OF SIX NATIONAL HIGHWAYS TO BE DONE AT THE COST OF RS. 3066 CRORES IN NEXT TWO YEARS

Chandigarh, September 8: The persistent and personal efforts of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal have paid dividend as the Union Ministry of Shipping; Road Transport & Highways today sanctioned the four laning of 475 KMs of 6 different National Highways, in the state at the combined cost of Rs. 3066 Crores to be completed in next two years.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister thanked Union Ministry of Shipping; Road Transport & Highways Mr. Kamal Nath, for taking expeditious action after his recent meeting at New Delhi.

Giving the details of various projects Mr. Badal said that following the approval of a Rs. 900 Crore project for the four laning of 146 Km. long Patiala-Bathinda National Highway-64, tenders for Consultancy have already been floated and project was expected to be completed in February 2012. He said that final feasibility report of 46 Km. long Zirakpur-Patiala National Highway, to be completed at the cost of Rs. 276 Crores has also been approved and this would also be completed in March 2012.

Reiterating the determination of SAD-BJP government to upgrade the road network in the state, Mr. Badal said that other four projects approved by the Ministry included four laning of Chandigarh-Ludhiana-Ferozepur Road (NH-95) including 68 Km of Kharar-Ludhiana section to be completed at Rs. 410 crores and 92 Km long Ludhiana-Talwandi section to be completed at the cost of Rs. 560 crores.

The Deputy Chief Minister also informed that the work of a 20 Km stretch between Jalandhar and Dhilwan would also be allotted to the present contractor of Dhilwan-Amritsar section for ensuring its speedy completion. Mr. Badal said that long pending four laning of 102 Km. long stretch of Amritsar-Pathankot Road (NH 15) has also been approved and this project would be completed by NHAI at the cost of Rs. 800 crores. Mr. Badal said that Ministry has also approved the strengthening of 53 Km long stretch of five different National Highways. He said that NH 64 from Talwandi -Bathinda and in Zirakpur Town would be strengthened at the cost of Rs. 12 crores. Similarly 17 Km stretch of NH 15 near Gurdaspur bypass, 12 Km stretch of NH -10 and 7 Km stretch of NH-95 would be completed at the cost of Rs. 20 crores.
Meanwhile, Member Parliament Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal has also thanked the Mr. Kamal Nath for sanctioning strengthening of National Highways in Bathinda Parliamentary constituency.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today issued instructions to the Water Supply Department to construct tanks with minimum capacity of 15 days usage by that village so that all villages in Punjab were supplied uninterrupted potable water supply.

Reviewing the implementation of Rural Water Supply Schemes here today Mr. Badal emphasized that this additional storage capacity was necessary especially for the villages being supplied potable water through canal based schemes. He said that due to rotational closure of canals for repair or any other reason, every village should have storage capacity equivalent to 15 days usage of the villages. The water supply department was asked to quickly the survey the villages and upgrade the capacity of the tank where ever required.

Taking a serious note of illegal water connections and tullu pumps installed on the water line, Mr. Badal instructed immediate removal of tullu pumps.

Emphasizing the need of providing quality potable water to every citizen of Punjab, Mr. Badal said that besides installation of RO in every difficult village in Malwa and a belt of Majha being supplied water through canal based water supply schemes, we must ensure installation double ultra filtration technology in all villages being supplied water supply through tubewells.

It was informed in the meeting that RO System was already working successfully in 327 villages of 8 districts that has been installed at the cost of Rs. 34.82 Crores. 98 villages in district Bathinda, 78 villages in Mansa, 129 villages in district Mukatsar, 11 villages in Sangrur and 11 villages in Tarn Taran were already covered by RO system to the complete satisfaction of rural population.

Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting included Mr. Viswajeet Khanna, Secretary, Science & Technology; Mr. P.S. Aujla, Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation and Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Additional Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister.

PUNJAB FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT SUSPENDS 295 RATION DEPOTS HOLDERS LICENSE -GREWAL

CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 8

In view of more transparency in the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the State, the Food and Civil Supplies Department Punjab has suspended licenses of 295 Ration Depots/ Societies due to negligence in the PDS. Disclosing this here today, Mr. D.S.Grewal, Director, Food and Civil Supplies Deptt. Punjab said that 14348 Ration Depots/Societies were in the rural as well as urban areas in the state. Mr. Grewal further said that out of which 8646 depots and 1097 societies of rural area and 4546 depots and 59 societies of urban areas were providing essential commodities to the poor and needy people. To ensure the supply of essential commodities to the beneficiaries, the department has already been launched surprise checking of ration depots/societies in the Punjab.

Mr. Grewal said that department had suspended 36 licences in Amritsar district, Barnala 7, Bathinda 13, Ferozepur 28, Faridkot 15, Fatehgarh Sahib 7, Gurdaspur 30, Hoshiarpur 10, Jalandhar 9, Kapurthala 6, Ludhiana 14, Mansa 6, Moga 10, Muktsar 24, Mohali 12, Nawan Shahr 2, Patiala 19, Ropra 3, Sangrur 29 and Tarn Taran District 15 licences of Ration Depots/Societies. Smt. Simarjot Kaur, Deputy Director (Distribution), Food and Civil Supplies Department, Punjab said that on the directions of the State Government, the department had deputed the officers/officials for the surprise checking in the field.

Chandigarh September 8, 2009

A project of Rs. 186.14 crore was sanctioned by NABARD under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund Scheme (RIDF). The project includes 46 roads, having length of 496.36 kilometer and six bridges. Rs. 116.91 crore has been spent on ongoing works of 38 roads of 402.92 kilometer length and one bridge. Under this project Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana and Mansa districts would be covered .

Disclosing this here today Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD and B&R Minister Punjab said that in Jalandhar district, a budget provision of Rs. 2312.9 Lac have been made for nine roads of 85.26 kilometer length. Out of which 1323.74 lac have been spent on eight roads of 63.61 km length. Similarly 2972.64 lac have been approved for three bridges and eleven roads of 90.05 kms length in Kapurthala district. Out of which Rs. 1428.23 lac have been spent on eight roads of 71.35 kms length. In addition to these Rs. 9983.33 lac have been sanctioned for two bridges and 22 roads having length of 264.67 kms in Ludhiana district. Out of which one bridge and 20 roads of 245.38 kms length have been completed with an expenditure of 7908 .14 lac. There is likely a budget provision of Rs. 3346.34 lac have been made for one bridge and four roads of 56.58 km length in Mansa district. Rs. 1031.16 lac has been spent to complete two roads of 22.58 Km length.
With the completion of these projects Punjab would be a front-runner state on the national map Our plans and programmes have achieved a desired success of overall development and progress in the State, he added.

PUNJAB ELEVEN BUSES TO BE FLAGED OFF ON WEDNESDAY

Chandigarh 8 September:

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal will flag off 11 buses of State Transport (Punjab Roadways) on September 09, 2009 from Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh at 2:30PM.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesman of State Transport said that the state transport would introduce a fleet of 150 ordinary and 10 A.C. buses in a phased manner. In the first phase 11 buses would be flagged of out of which eight were ordinary buses and 3 Air Conditioned. This scheme has been launched to provide better travel facilities to the passengers of the State.

Master Mohan Lal Transport Minister Punjab will preside over the function.

ITALIAN AMBASSADOR CALLS ON MANPREET BADAL

Chandigarh September 8

Italian Ambassador HE Mr. Roberto Toscano called on Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal, Finance Minister, Punjab here today. He was accompanied by Mr. Gabriele Annis, First Secretary of the Embassy of Italy and Mr. Nocolo' Tassoni Estense di Castelvecchio, Counselor and Head of Economic and Commercial Office. Italian Ambassador discussed with the FM the commercial possibilities in Punjab as also the prevalent Taxation system.

The FM expressed his concern over the Punjabi nationals stranded in Italy. The Ambassador also shared his concern over the tendency of illegal immigration by the Punjabi nationals. The Ambassador assured the FM all possible help for Indians and said that the matter had been sought out by their Government.

The possibilities of investments in the state of Punjab by the Italian groups were also discussed.