Punjab News, NRI News

On the occasion of the 20th Balidaan Divas of Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi Jee, former Prime Minister of India, a Blood Donation Camp was organized by the Punjab Youth Congress, today, at Punjab Congress Bhawan, Sector-15, Chandigarh.

Youth, in large numbers, paid homage and rich tributes to the late leader and came forward to donate their blood. In all 406 units were collected, on the occasion.

Speaking to the gathering, Member Parliament and Punjab Youth Congress President Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu, said, Late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Jee have sacrificed his life for maintaining the Unity, Integrity and Sovereignty of the Nation.

Ravneet further said, the contribution of Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi Jee, can not be forgotten for he worked hard to accelerate the pace of economic growth of the Nation.

Bittu, said, it is the time to fulfill the dreams of Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi Jee and follow his ideals. He also, exhorted the youth to submit themselves in the service of the people.

In the end, Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu, thanked the youth for making the camp, a grand success also thanked the mediamen, the staff of PGI and General Hospital, Sector 16, for their support.

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Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today said that hardcore traditional Akalis and dedicated young faces would get due representation in the organizational setup of various frontal organizations and wings to be announced by party by July 15.

Presiding over the meeting of the District Presidents and heads of different wings here, Mr. Badal directed District Presidents to complete their organizational set up at circle level by June 30 and present their written report to the party head office. He also directed District Observers to ensure monthly meetings of district and circle bodies.

According to a statement issued here by party Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Mr. Badal reiterated the commitment to strength the party at grass root level and asked party cadre to closely monitor the implementation of various development plans initiated by the SAD-BJP government to ensure that benefit of the schemes should reach target population. Mr. Badal said that Punjab government was spending thousands of crores by various welfare schemes including Atta-Dal schemes, Shagun Schemes etc and it becomes our prime duty that benefit should reach the poor population. He said that party cadres must give unbiased feedback to the government regarding the problems being faced by the people at the grassroot level. They should also suggest the remedial measures to address these problems.

Mr. Cheema said that the feedback of members was deliberated threadbare during meeting and strategy was worked out to strengthen the party at grass root level. He said that party President also asked the party representatives to boot up for the coming SGPC elections.

Prominent amongst others meeting was attended by S. Gurdev Singh Badal, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Bibi Parmjit Kaur Gulshan, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Jathedar Ajit Singh Kohar, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sucha Singh Langah, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Bikram Singh Majithia, Surinder Singh Pehlwan, Jathedar Ujagar Singh Badali, Manjit Singh Barkandi, Surinder Singh Thekedar, Mohinder Singh Hussainpur, Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas, Santa Singh Umaidpuri, Tirath Singh Mahla, Giani Raghbir Singh Jakhepal, Master Tara Singh Ladal, Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, Jagdeep Singh Cheema, Gurpreet Singh Rajukhanna, Gurcharan Singh Channi, Indermohan Singh Bajaj, Col Pratap Inder Singh Phoolka, Harish Sarin, Mantar Singh Brar, Labh Singh Devinagar, Jathedar Joginder Singh Ahrawan Haryana, Manjit Singh GK Delhi, Surinder Singh Kang Rajasthan, Satish Kumar Dhanda, Madan Lal Bagga and Daljit Singh Bhinder Himachal Pradesh.

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Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today slammed the Centre for the recent hike in the prices of DAP and Urea by Rs.30 and Rs.24 per bag i.e. Rs. 600 and Rs.480 per tonne respectively and described this move as ‘a stab in back of the farmers’.

In a statement, Mr. Badal said that this hike spoke volumes of Congress led UPA government’s complete insensitivity and its apathetic attitude towards the plight of the beleaguered farmers who were already in distress due to low returns on their produce despite exorbitant cost of agricultural inputs incurred by them on diesel, fertilizers, pesticides etc. Mr. Badal said that the Centre should have appreciated the ground realities in a holistic manner to provide a level playing field to the farmers, rather adding to their woes with this unreasonable hike in the prices of DAP and Urea at a point of time when the MSP was not commensurate with the costs of agricultural inputs.

The Chief Minister further said that Centre should had realized the immense contribution of Punjab farmers to make our country self sufficient in food production to ensure national food security. He said instead of rewarding them with remunerative MSP, the Centre had actually demoralized them by increasing the prices of DAP and Urea making the agriculture a non-viable profession due to its irrational and arbitrary policies.

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A two-member team of the Fonterra - New Zealand’s largest Dairy Cooperative comprising Mr. David Broad, General Manager International Operation and Mr. Hamish Govans, Sales Manager visited Punjab on invitation from Milkfed.

Disclosing this here a spokesman of the Punjab Cooperation Department said that the Fonterra Officers visited Dairy Farms and Milk Procurement Societies of Milk Union, Ludhiana and Mohali on Thursday. The Fonterra Officers were also shown various Milk Processing facilities at Milk Plant, Ludhiana and were explained the working of Cooperative Dairy Sector by Mr. H.S. Grewal, General Manager, Milk Union, Ludhiana. The Officers of Fonterra also visited Cattle Feed Plant at Khanna and Modern Semen Station at Khanna. They were also shown the latest Bye Pass Protein Plant established at Khanna. The Officers evinced keen interest in the Dairy Cooperative System of Punjab and working of the Milkfed. They were highly impressed by seeing the Dairy Farming pattern in the State.

Subsequently, the interactive session of officers of Fonterra was held with senior officers of state cooperation department and Milkfed to explore possibilities for setting up joint ventures in the dairy farming with Fonterra. The officers of Fonterra were apprised about the progress made by Milkfed during last 3-4 years and the ever increasing trends in the turnover of Milkfed Punjab from 22-25% and the successful experiment of larger scale Dairy Farming in the Punjab.

Later, Mr. David Broad made a presentation highlighting the functioning of Fonterra and compared the working of Dairy Cooperatives in India and Newzealand. He shared New Zealand experiences of Development of Dairy Farms in the countries like China and Sri Lanka for benefit of officers of Punjab, so that any of the activity needed for boosting Dairy Development in Punjab could be replicated by Milkfed. Some possibilities of establishing big Dairy Farms in Punjab with the advice/participation of Fonterra were also discussed.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Coop) Mr. Jagdeep Singh Nakai, Chairman Milkfed Mr. G.S. Babehali, Financial Commissioner (Coop) Dr. B.C. Gupta, Registrar, Cooperative Societies Dr. G.Vajralingam, and Managing Director Milkfed Mr. V.K. Singh, besides the senior functionaries and Directors of the Milkfed also participated in the interactive session.

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Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mr. Mahinder Singh Nambardar father of Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Chairman Punjab Agro Industries Corporation and former Member Parliament who died in a private hospital at Ludhiana after a brief illness. He was 84 and is survived by five sons and three daughters.

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

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and President Shiromani Akali Dal Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal also mourned the death of Mr. Mahinder Singh Nambardar.

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The Punjab government today gave a nod to an integrated comprehensive urban development plan to change the face of urban areas of this state with in time bound frame.

A high level meeting presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and attended by Local Government and Industries Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia approved the accelerated and integrated urban development programme to rejuvenate all components of Urban Development including Road Infrastructure, Sewerage and Water supply network, Strengthening Power Transmission Network, Solid Waste collection, Processing beautification and landscaping of gardens, Road berms on both sides of roads, replacing the street lights with LED lights and Traffic management.

Emphasizing on coordinated campaign by all Urban Development Agencies including Municipal Corporation, Sewerage Board, Water Supply Department, Improvement Trust, Urban Development Authorities, PWD and PIDB, Mr. Badal suggested nominating a Nodal Officer for every city to coordinate the development process of all agencies to check overlapping, to maintain the flow of funds to all projects as per their monthly requirement besides to remove inter-departmental impediments coming in the way of smooth execution of projects. Mr. Badal said that Nodal Officer would also coordinate with various national and international agencies including Union Urban Development Ministry, World Bank and other international agencies for timely completion of their projects.

Calling for massive up gradation of road infrastructure including construction of over bridges, ROBs , expansion of roads and landscaping of area around roads in view of increased flow of motorized traffic, Mr. Badal said that the authorities must conduct traffic survey, identify problem points for scientific up gradation of road infrastructure. Expressing concern over delay in execution of project by construction agencies Mr. Badal said that all over bridges/ROBs should be got completed within 8 months of start of work as being done in New Delhi. He said that any time overrun by execution agency be penalized heavily.

Asking Municipal Corporations to launch a campaign to remove illegal bill boards dotting the cities Mr. Badal said that all MCs must introduce electronic bill boards at strategic points which could be leased to the advertising agencies on time sharing and revenue sharing basis.

Emphasizing need improving public transport system in the cities Mr. Badal said that Punjab would soon purchase 150 low floor buses and 50 Volvo buses worth 66 crore for intrastate traffic.

Instructions were issued to decongest and beautify entry points to the cities Mr. Badal said that all such points should be properly beautified and landscaped to leave a lasting impression on the people entering the city.

Stressing the need for providing basic services to the urban poor living in slums Mr. Badal said that all cities must expedite the construction of dwelling units for economically weaker section people to ensure the dream of slum free cities by the year 2012. It was informed in the meeting 320 dwelling units were ready for occupation in Amritsar alone.

Concerned over the increasing problems of solid waste management in the urban city, it was decided to set up an integrated solid waste management plant at Amritsar at the cost of Rs.72.49 crore. The plant would process the solid waste of Amritsar and adjoining cities like Tarntaran, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Phillaur, Majitha, Patti, Valtoha, Goindwal Sahib, Jandiala Guru, Mansa, Rampura Phul etc. It was informed in the meeting land for the plant has already been acquired and plant would be operational within 8 months.

Reiterating the commitment of Punjab Government to provide potable water to every citizen of the state by the year 2012, Mr. Badal said that besides Municipal water supply each city must have 30 RO plants. Municipal Corporation would run these plants on BOT basis and RO treated water would be available to the citizens at the rate of 10 paisa per liter.

Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Member Parliament Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu, former Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Mayor, Municipal Corporation Amritsar Mr. Shavet Malik; Secretary Urban Development Mr. S.S.Sandhu; Secretary Local government Mr. C. Raul and other senior officers of various concerned departments.

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Shiromani Akali Dal today made a strong attack on Congress led UPA government at the Centre for deliberately delaying the elections to General House of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee by intentionally creating hurdles. The Working Committee of the Party today unanimously demanded immediate conduct of SGPC elections, without any delay. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal today said that a delegation of Senior Party Leaders would meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh shortly seeking immediate SGPC elections.

Disclosing this here today party Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that the resolution passed in the meeting of Political Affairs Committee and Working Committee of the Party under the leadership of Party President and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, squarely blamed Congress Party for delaying elections to SGPC, under a deep rooted conspiracy and said that Party would raise its voice against the Union Government on this issue. The party described it as Congress led Union Government’s interference in the internal affairs of Sikhs. The resolution noted that Congress has always tried to divide Sikhs and its latest attempt has exposed the notoriety and anti Sikh bias of Congress party.

The resolution mentioned that central government at the instance of certain state Congress leaders and self proclaimed Panthic leaders was deliberately avoiding elections to General House of SGPC to weaken the Khalsa Panth and to create doubts in the minds of Sikhs.

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1. The following programme has been fixed by the Election Commission of India for biennial elections to be held to fill two vacancies of Smt. Ambika, and Shri Rajmohinder Singh arising from the State of Punjab on 4th July, 2010:-

1.	Date of issue of notification	:	31.05.2010
2.	Last date for making nominations	:	07.06.2010
3.	Date of scrutiny of nominations	:	08.06.2010
4.	Last date for withdrawal of candidatures	:	10.06.2010
5.	Date of poll	:	17.06.2010
6.	Date before which the election process shall be completed	:	19.06.2010

3. Nomination papers are to be filed with the Secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh who is the Returning Officer for the said election, between the hours of 11 O’clock in the forenoon and 3 O’clock in the afternoon on any day other than a public holiday from 31.05.2010 to 07.06.2010

4. The nomination papers are to be filed in form 2C. Blank forms are available with the Returning Officer. Typed nomination papers will also be accepted provided they are in the prescribed format.

5. A certificate is also required to make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in the prescribed form before the concerned Returning Officer or any other person so authorized by the Election Commission of India. The oath/affirmation should taken/made by a candidate after his nomination paper has been filed and before the date fixed for the scrutiny of nominations.

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With the Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike assuring NPA (NonPracticing Allowance) to vets of state soon, Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association has suspended the agitation of their cadre which was on due to the inordinate delay in notifying NPA to them. This was decided in a state level executive meeting of PSVOA held here under the chairmanship of President Dr. Ashok Sharma.

Dr. Sharma said that as part of protest, the cadre had boycotted grass root level camps, disease surveillance, cattle insurance and male buffalo calf purchase schemes which had seriously affected the functioning of many important departmental schemes . Reacting to the apathetic attitude of the Government towards their demands, PSVOA had decided to hold district Level dharnas from 25th May in a move to intensify the ongoing agitation.

Dr. Sharma said that the Minister and Financial Commissioner Sh. G. S. Sandhu had held emergency meeting with the PSVOA’s state executive in which they earnestly assured that the notification of NPA would be done soon and appealed the state executive to suspend the agitation for a month. Press secretary Dr. Gurinder Singh Walia said that PSVOA has decided to postpone the distt. level dharnas for a month till 24th June and has also resumed the operation of schemes of male buffalo calf purchase, cattle insurance, grass root level camps and disease surveillance etc.

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