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PUNJAB VICHAR SAMMELAN The Punjab Vichar Sammelan of the Shiromani Akali Dal today demanded
a Special Agricultural Zone (SAZ) status for Punjab, with all the
incentives, facilities fiscal subsidies for the promotion of the
farm sector along the lines of those extended to Special Economic
Zones for industry . “Agriculture is the key to the growth
of Punjab’s and country’s economy and is the sustaining
and driving force behind trade and industry. Punjab is single largest
contributor to national food kitty. As such, centre must immediately
declare it as an SAZ” said a resolution passed on the second
day of the Punjab Vichar Sammelan. The Sammelan also demanded special package for industry in the
state. “The industry in the state has suffered because of
disproportionate incentives provided by the centre to our neighbouring
states. Centre must ensure a level playing field. The Sammelan also gave a call for building a “ prosperous Punjab, rooted in glorious traditions of the past but wedded to high-growth and healthy inclusive development with focus on the rural and urban poor. The SAD is committed to building a Punjab in which the poorest of the poor as well as those more fortunate have a stake in its development, growth and prosperity. Punjab lives in its productive fields in villages and the lanes, by-lanes and establishments in cities. The SAD stands for a harmonious growth of the entire Punjab.” “Punjab has always been an example to the rest of the world
as a blend of the rich wisdom of the past and the courage and enterprise
of its people for healthy and prosperous future. This spirit of
Punjab is the driving force behind the philosophy of the SAD,”
said a resolution passed at the Punjab Vichar Sammelan of the party
here today. The SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is “the brain and the guiding sprit” behind the Punjab Vichar Sammelan and presided over its proceedings, said that the steps taken by the SAD-BJP government during the past two and half years had exceeded the standards achieved in the past sixty two years. “We are willing for an open and fact-based public debate on the issue. Some of the efforts taken by the state government during this brief tenure had already begun to bear fruit while on some steps, aimed at long term development and prosperity of the state, as in power sector, the results will soon start coming in. There is a gestation period over long term measures such as those in the power sector, we are all set to double the power generation in the state,’ he said. The Deputy Chief Minister outlined his government performance
and said that apart from emphasis on infrastructure, health, education,
power and aviation, the government was determined to introduce major
Administrative Reforms to ensure that the commonman did not face
harassment in government offices. “In the coming months, we
will ensure that people do not even have to come to the government
offices for routines matters like driving licenses, registration
of vehicles, issuance of birth, death and other some other certificates
etc. Even on matters of property registration, we will introduce
reforms which will ensure that the people did not remain at the
mercy of the Tehsildars or other government officials for routine
issues.” Mr. Badal said that work on thermal plants was going on as scheduled
and we will deliver on our promise of making Punjab “power
surplus.” He said that raods connecting Chandigarh with Bathinda
via Patiala, with Ludhiana via Morinda and Phagwara via Ropar were
all being four laned. Similarly roads connecting Amritsar with jalandhar
and Amritsar with Pathankot were also being four laned. The Shambhu
barrier-Jalandhar road was being six-laned. All the other major
roads in the state would be fourlaned or widened, as per commuting
requirements, he said. PUNJAB FOREST DEPARTMENT FORMULATES POLICY TO GENERATE REVENUE---TIKSHAN SUD Chandigarh September 12: With a view to ensuring revenue generation resources and plug the leakage of revenue and put a permanent stop to the drainage of public money, the state government has chalked out a strategy to revamp the entire department of Forests and put the state on the broad way of development. Stating this here today, Mr. Tikshan Sud, Forest Minister Punjab said that a massive state level campaign has already been launched to improve, revamp and revitalize Forest Department. Referring to some of the actions taken , the Minister said that modernization of the department i.e. computerization, installation of high-tech mist chambers, restructuring of the cadre and extensive improvement in the Punjab State Forest Development Corporation, which was presently under the dense dark shadow of disinvestment, were among the priorities of the state government. Reiterating the State Government’s revolve to ensure transparency in all its departments, the Minister said that all activities in the department of Forests were totally transparent and fully accountable under the new policy especially formulated to generate more resources. Implementation of new policy was incorporated w.e.f. 1.7.09 the auction / tendering were done by a committee consisting of an Addl. PCCF, Managing Director, PSFDC and a representative of the Financial Commissioner Forests. Revenue of about Rs.7.00 crores has been generated within a short span of two months. As per an analysis the State Govt. it would be benefited by about Rs.3 crores more than the amount which would have been received under old system and even Rs.2 crores more than if the same material would have been sold on the prices fixed in the neighboring state of Haryana. Resources of Forest Corporation would also increase manifold with this system. Increased resources of the State Forest Department would help in funding the restructuring of the department which would in turn help in more greenery and employment in the State, said the Minister. Auction / tendering conducted on 10.9.2009 fetched total revenue of about Rs. two crores. Looking at the open and transparent way of sale of trees, a large number of contractors from Saharanpur (U.P.), Haryana and Punjab participated and purchased lots. This policy had such an effective instrument of management that instant results were noticed bringing prosperity to all concerned quarters for instance the state treasury, the small contractors and the employment to workers in timber trade. Under this policy the working has been made transparent and accountable, practice of sale of standing trees rather than selling cut material, was a grand success with remarkable results. The contractors have all-out appreciation of the process because of increased profits leading to their enormous involvement in the process of sale through tender/open auction. This channel of revenue generation to the state treasury has swollen manifolds as the sale of trees was the main activity of Forest Corporation. Earlier the sale was through cut material obtained by felling the trees departmentally, bringing the cut material to the depots and selling the material through auction. Over a period of time this process invited a lot of criticism. Enormous demands came from many quarters for change in the policy. Mr. Tikshan Sud has ordered a study of the whole process on scientific principles, by a committee constituted under the chairmanship of Mr. M.P.Rai, IFS a senior forest officer in the rank of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. The recommendations of the committee were thoroughly examined and based on these recommendations the present policy came into being and implemented both in letter and spirit. The study results have caught fancy with the state of Haryana, U.P., Forest Research Institute, Dehradun and Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy which was providing training to probationary and in- service IFS officers, said Mr. Sud. SUKHBIR CONDOLES THE DEATH OF RAJ SINGH DUNGARPUR Chandigarh, September 12: Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, today expressed profound grief at the demise of former President of Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI), Mr. Raj Singh Dungarpur, who expired at Mumbai, today following protracted illness. In a condolence message, Mr. Badal, who is also looking after sports portfolio, said that in the death of Mr. Dungarpur sports fraternity has lost an able sports administrator, who was responsible for transforming cricket from a ‘class game’ to a ‘mass game’. He said that role of Mr. Dungarpur, in hunting and nurturing cricket talent for Indian team from small cities and villages, would be remembered by all. Mr. Badal said that with his progressive policies Mr. Dungarpur has put the game of cricket on sound professional base. The Deputy Chief Minister expressed heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed to God to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family to bear this loss.
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the Khariff Season through Canal water from 13-9-09 to 20-9-09. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Bist Doab, Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda Branch, Patiala feeder and Abohar Branch 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 also said that the Sabraon 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 Kasur Branch, Main Branch Lower and Lahore Branch with their distributaries respectively. Date for scholarship schemes to the minority students extended Chandigarh, 12 September The Punjab Government has extended the date for various scholarship schemes to the minority students from Aug 31, 2009 to Sept 30, 2009 to accept applications on prescribed Performa for the grant of scholarship. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of Welfare Department Punjab said that there are three scholarship schemes (Pre-metric scholarship scheme, merit cum means scholarship scheme and post metric scholarship scheme) of students belonging to minority communities in Punjab. The spokesman said that earlier the date to submit application for scholarship under these schemes was Aug 31 but due to many of the students could not apply well in time. The Department of Welfare had made a request to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India to get the scheme extended till Sept.30th. He also said that students could find full details of various schemes on the website minorities' affairs gov.in. LAND ACQUISITION PROCESS FOR BHANUPALI-BILASPUR-BAIRI Rupnagar September 12: The district administration has initiated the land acquisition process from Bhanupali on the Sirhind-Nangal dam section of Ambala division of Northern railway to Bilaspur-Bairi broad gauge railway line link as the Centre has signaled to start ground work on the 20 km stretch covering 24 border villages in Rupnagar and Bilaspur districts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Disclosing this here today Deputy Commissioner Rupnagar Mr. Priyank
Bharti said that the Union Railways Ministry had already sanctioned
Rs 350.33 crore as the first installment towards initiation of ground
work for this broad gauge railway line to Himachal Pradesh. The
total estimated cost of the project to be completed by 2015, would
be about Rs 1,047 crore of which 75 per cent is to be borne by the
centre and the remaining cost by the Himachal, he said. "To cater to the needs of Himachal fruit growers, preliminary survey of Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Bairi rail line was started in 1985 by IRCON. Subsequently, the RITES reassessed the proposal for techno-economic viability of the project. The rail link would sure to boost economic activity in the region and promote tourism, besides reducing vehicular traffic pressure on roads" said Mr. Bharti. SUKHBIR CONDOLES THE DEATH OF TTFI GENERAL SECRETARY MOOL CHAND
CHAUHAN It may be added Mr. Mool Chand Chauhan (83) who was suffering from Cancer breathed his last at S.K. Soni Hospital at Jaipur. He is survived by his three daughters. In a condolence message the Deputy Chief Minister, who is also
looking after sport portfolio, said that in the death of Mr. Chauhan,
the Nation has lost a seasoned sports organizer who served different
sports bodies for over 40 years. NABARD HAS SANCTIONED A PROJECT OF RS.185.79 CRORE UNDER RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND SCHEME CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 11 NABARD has sanctioned a project of Rs.185.79 crore under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund Scheme (RIDF) for strengthening, widening and repairing rural roads. The project includes 51 roads having length of 574.45 kilometers and five bridges. Under this project Rs.93.12 crore have been spent on ongoing works of 30 roads of 279.47 kilometer length and three bridges. Moga, Muktsar, Nawanshahr and Patiala districts would be covered under this project. An official spokesman of PWD (B & R) Department, Punjab disclosed this here today. He further said a budget provision of Rs.3549.56 lac have been
made for nine roads of 152.40 kms. length of Moga district. Out
of which Rs.2834.61 lac have been spent on seven roads of 139.57
kms. length. Rs.8087.82 lac had been approved for twenty roads of
183.41 kms length and one bridge of Muktsar district. Out of which
Rs.1248.53 have been spent on three roads of 26.91 Kms. length.
Similarly, 1573.40 lac have been approved for four roads of 40.60
kms length for Nawanshahr districts. Out of which Rs.652.31 lac
have been spent on three roads of 28.10 kms. length so far. CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 11 A spokesman of the Revenue Department clarified that a news item
has appeared in various newspapers titled "Order Properties
Creates Confusion". He clarified that the department of Revenue
and Rehabilitation has issued instruction of 26.8.2009 in which
for the purpose of charging of stamp duty, the valuation certificate
by a registered architect has been accepted as valid valuation of
the property. This will be helpful for the owner of the immovable
properties to mention the proper valuation and will leave no discretion
with the registering officer for the purpose of valuation. This
provision has been made in large interest of the public.
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