CHIEF SECRETARY RELEASES BOOK TITLED
OFFICE OF SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE ROOPNAGAR”

Chandigarh June 11

Chief Secretary Punjab Mr. S.C. Aggarwal to day released a book titled “Office of Sub Divisional Magistrate Roopnagar” written by Mrs. Anandita Mittra, IAS, SDM Roopnagar here today.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Aggarwal said that this book would certainly help the people in general and officers in particular, providing the information regarding the duties assigned to the SDM, the decision making processes involved, budget, beneficiaries and land acquisition projects etc. After reading this book the public could access the information and help from the offices of SDMs in the state.

Mrs. Anandita Mittra said that the information in this book has been compiled to help the common people as per the Right to Information Act. “The duties and work assigned to the office of SDM has been put together in the book. The information is available, both in English and Punjabi and it would be placed on the official website of District Rupnagar”, she added.

Mrs. Mittra further said the the aim of compiling this information wss to make the functioning of the SDM’s office more transparent and to implement the Right to information Act, in letter and spirit. On the occasion Mr. A.S. Miglani Deputy Commissioner Roopnagar and Dr. S. Karuna Raju, Joint Development Commissioner Rural Development and Panchayats were also present.

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CM DECLARES SULTANPUR LODHI AS A HOLY TOWN

CHANDIGARH JUNE 11:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave in principle approval to declare Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district as a holy town in view of its enormous religious and historical significance.

A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal in a meeting of the Sultanpur Lodhi Development Board and directed the Revenue department to finalize the modalities to declare Sultanpur Lodhi as a holy town at the earliest. He also asked the Chairman of Punjab Powercom to provide 24 hour uninterrupted power supply in the town.

While reviewing the progress of various ongoing development projects in and around Sultanpur Lodhi, the Chief Minister asked the Secretary PWD (B&R) to undertake the construction of existing roads in the town on the top priority. He also asked the PIDB to release Rs.2 crore for the execution of sewerage and drinking water schemes in the town. The Chief Minister was assured by the MD Water Supply and Sewerage Board that the entire work of sewerage and drinking water except the sewerage treatment plant would be completed positively by 31st March, 2011. Mr. Badal entrusted the Principal Secretary Local Government with the entire task of executing water and sewerage supply in the town.

Responding to the other demands of sanctioning fire tender and release of Rs.5.83 crore towards flood protection works raised by Education Minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, the Chief Minister asked the Financial Commissioner Revenue to release the requisite funds before the onset of flood season and also sanctioned Rs.25 lakh for the fire tender. The Chief Minister also directed the Revenue department to immediately sanction Rs.50 lakh for the renovation and construction of the dilapidated Tehsil complex.

It was also decided in the meeting that the Mandi Board would construct the roads, platforms and parking area in the new grain market before the procurement of paddy during the current kharif season.Likewise, the Chief Minister also assured Dr. Upinderjit Kaur that the bus stand would be soon modernized to provide better facilities to the commuters. He also asked the Principal Conservator of Forests to plant trees along the main roads around the town with in a radius of five KMs during this rainy season. The Chief Minister also asked the Secretary PWD (B&R) to bring a separate proposal for the widening of Babe Nanki Marg linking Kapurthala and Sultanpur Lodhi from 18 ft to 33 ft.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting including Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. DS Guru, OSD to Chief Minister Mr. NS Sangha, Secretary PWD (B&R) Mr. Kulbir Singh, MD Water Supply & Sewerage Board Mr. Satpal Angrula, Additional Secretary Local Government Ms. Kavita Chauhan and Secretary Mandi Board Dr. Karamjit Singh Sra.

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PUNJAB CM CONDOLES THE SAD DEMISE OF KABAL SINGH

CHANDIGARH JUNE 11:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of the former President SGPC and presently member SGPC from Garhshankar Jathedar Kabal Singh who passed away in a private hospital at Jalandhar after a brief illness this afternoon.

In a condolence message, Mr. Badal described Jathedar Kabal Singh as a disciplined soldier of the SGPC who worked relentlessly throughout his life for the welfare of the Sikh Panth. The immense contribution of jathedar Kabal Singh in strengthening the Shiromani Akali Dal besides SGPC would be ever remembered by the party leaders, workers and members of the SGPC.

Mr. Badal expressed his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed soul and give strength and courage to them to bear this irreparable loss.

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HARSIMRAT CALLS FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY EXCHANGE PROGRAMME BETWEEN YALE AND PUNJAB UNIVERSITIES

Chandigarh, June 11

Member Parliament from Bathinda Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal today called on Yale President Richard C. Levin and urged him to start students as well as faculty exchange programme between Yale University and Universities of Punjab.

Mrs. Badal was attending an annual Yale University Parliamentary Leadership Programme for Indian Parliamentarians as a part of multi party delegation at Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut. She impressed upon the Yale President that as our students were very good in basic sciences, they could get immensely benefitted from the research and development programmes of Yale. Similarly, both the faculties could brush up their knowledge and expertise by sharing their experiences. Evincing keen interest in Mrs. Badal’s idea, the Yale President assured her to explore the possibility of such tie up and underscored Yale’s longstanding commitment to educating students for service and leadership.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Badal has described the ongoing classes at the prestigious Yale University a great learning experience for her and underlined the need that more MPs be exposed to such quality educational tours, which could help them think "out of the box".

She informed that after undergoing a seven-day leadership programme, the visiting MPs would visit New York and Washington for various meetings, discussions and interactions with US politicians, policy analysts and senior government officials on bilateral as well as on issues of concern for International community.

Mrs. Badal said that she was fully convinced that the ongoing programme would contribute a lot in greater understanding of public leadership, accountability, transparency and parliamentary oversight amongst the parliamentarians.

Besides, two Union Ministers of State Mr. Ajay Maken and Ms. Agatha Sangma, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Anto Antony, Gaddam Vivekanand, Pradeep Majhi, Jyoti Dhurve and Janardhana Swamy, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Asaduddin Owaisi and Neeraj Shekhar were among the other 12 Members of Parliament who were selected by FiCCI to attend this prestigious Yale University Programme for India’s Parliamentarians launched by the University in 2007 in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and India-US Forum of Parliamentarians.

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Request to Government of India- 15% of the toll collected should be given

to Punjab for spending on road safety efforts

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 11:

Mr. Kamalzit Soi, Member, Punjab State Road Safety council and Vice Chairman Punjab Police State Apex Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Management Punjab has urged the Government of India that at least 15% of the toll collected should be given to Punjab for spending on road safety efforts. Mr. Soi made these observations while a meeting with Mr. A.V.Sinha Director General Road Development and Special Secretary Govt. of India in Delhi.

Expressing concern over the rise in fatal road accident in Punjab especially on highway, Mr. Soi said that such accidents occur due to poor safety measures. The agenda of meeting was to discuss the sudden rise in accidents in the state of Punjab. Punjab being the second most fatal state as far as Road accidental deaths are concerned ,( as per latest NCRB figures ) in the country with 90% fatality rate just after Nagaland.

Sudden rise in number of accidents on six laning of National Highway Projects from Panipat to Jalandhar shown non existent safety measures on the stretch by the concessioner SOMA Isolex. Proof of non existinace of required Road safety gadgets was shown to DG-roads , he agreed that various conditions of the concessioners agreement signed with soma isolex are flouted by the concessioner. DG promised of immediate & stern action as well as rectification. It was also pointed that the company given contract for construction of road as well as its maintenance for 15 years should start coordinating with state agencies like Punjab State Road safety council as it is state’s responsibility to ensure safety of its citizens .

Mr. Soi further said that bad toll management which is leading to Traffic jams, accidents, & non uniformity in the toll farewas also brought to the notice , No highway patrolling , non functional recovery vans & ambulances. No trauma centers was also discussed . DG promised to look into this & will direct the authorities to implement the Concessioner agreement in toto.

Issue of no adequate compensation being given to 152 displaced families at Sialai on Pathankot highway  was also discussed . it was also pointed out that no rehabilitation program for 70 yrs residents at that location is worked out. DG-RD promised Kamaljeet Soi ,to take this up with NHAI chairman & promised to ensure justice to the aggrieved families as per law.

Support required for Implementation of No Fatality Zones concept on Trial basis at few high fatal areas was sought & it was decided that in the next meeting after a detailed proposal in this regard is submitted it will be provided.

DG promised that Government of India is committed to bring down the fatality rate of Punjab & will take this very seriously & take necessary steps so that the precious human lives can be saved & common men gets relief from this deadly menace of Road Accidents.

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