PEDA RECEIVES NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION AWARD

Chandigarh, December 17, 2008

Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has been conferred the National Energy Conservation Award 2008. Mr..Balour Singh, Director, PEDA on behalf of Minister for Science, Technology, Environment and Non-Conventional Energy, Sh.Bikram Singh Majithia received this prestigious award from Union Minister for Power, Sh.Sushil Kumar Shinde on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day function held at New Delhi yesterday evening.

Disclosing this here today Mr.Bikram Singh Majithia Minister for Science, Technology, Environment and Non-Conventional Energy, said that this award was in recognition of pioneering work being done by Punjab in the field of energy conservation. He appreciated the efforts of Chief Executive, Officers and Staff Members of PEDA for implementation of energy conservation measures and energy efficiency programme in the State.

He informed that Demonstration Projects for Energy Efficiency Improvements in Government Buildings, Municipal Street Lighting / small & medium industries and Water Pumping have been taken up and are being implemented by the concerned Department/Industry through Energy Service Companies. In this novel financial model evolved by PEDA, the Energy Service Companies will invest their own funds and provide efficient technology for the lighting, air conditioning, water pumping etc and recover their investment from the savings that will accrue in the electricity bills. The pay back period of such projects would be about 3 to 5 years depending upon the level of energy consumption and technology selected.

Sh.T P S Sidhu, Chief Executive, PEDA informed that workshop-cum-interactive meetings have been held with the senior officers of PWD (B&R) and Municipal Corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana , Patiala and Bathinda who are implementing the demonstration energy efficiency projects in this sector. Technical experts from USAID and Econoler, Canada had participated in these workshops and presented case studies of successful projects implemented through ESCO at the International level, notably, Mr.Jalel from Econoler, Canada and Dr.Archana Walia, Dr.Satish Kumar from USAID. Sh.Sidhu also mentioned that State Level Energy Conservation Day will be celebrated at Amritsar in the last week of December.

Three Dairy Training Centres soon –Ranike

Chandigarh: December 17

The Punjab Government would start three modern rural dairy training institutions in the State shortly to usher a second white revolution.

S.Gulzar Singh Ranike, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Punjab said that the Dairy Training Centre at Chatamali has launched a unique one-year dairy technology diploma course in collaboration with IGNOU besides six-month and short term courses. The Government has already allotted Rs.40 lakh to build a hostel for trainees.

The Minister further said that the new Centres are also planned at Abul Khurana village in Mukatsar, Gill Village in Moga and Verka in Amritsar and would train over 800 entrepreneurs a year.

Punjab Government impose ban on book written by Bhaniaranwala

Chandigarh December 17, 2008

Punjab Government today issued an notification to impose complete ban on book "Bhav Sagar Samunder Amar Bani Granth" authored by S. Piara Singh Bhaniaranwala, resident of Village Dhamana of District Roop Nagar.

Ban was imposed due to objectionable material written in the book which hurts the religious sentiments of different religions. Objectionable matter also defamed the Hindu/Sikh religions. The Ban has also been imposed on printing, sale, to translate in other language its reprinting and keeping in possession.

Punjab farmers and landowners met Union Minister

Chandigarh December 17, 2008

:Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Cooperation Minister Punjab, along with Mr. Naresh Gujral, M.P, and Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD Minister Punjab along with representatives of farmers and landowners of the Dera Bassi and Zirakpur area yesterday night met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Thiru.T.R.Ballu and demanded that National Highways Authority of India (N.H.A.I) should immediately pay enhanced compensation as per the award by Arbitrator. NHAI has acquired land along NH 22 from Jharmari to Zirakpur in Dera Bassi Sub-Division, for four laning of the road.

Capt.Singh stressed that the compensation should be based on Market Value of the land and plus 30% seletion allowance as per the Government of Punjab Land Acquisition Act enforce at the time of acquisition of the land and not Collector Rates. The NHAI should adopt Punjab Governments farmer friendly policy for land acquisition, the delegation demanded.

Capt. Singh said that NHAI had taken possession of the land and started Toll Collection activity, while the NHAI has not made the payment of the due compensation to the farmers and shop keepers. He said that NHAI was legally bound to pay enhanced compensation. He asked the Union Minister to intervene and to direct NHAI for withdrawal of the court case and for payment of enhanced compensation immediately.

The Union Minister Road Transport and Highways & Shipping ordered for formation of a joint committee of SDM Dera Bassi and Project Director of NHAI to jointly work out the compensation for the acquired land and the shops as per the Punjab Land Acquisition Act and submit report within one week.

Capt.Kanwaljit Singh demanded that Toll Collection for the usage of road should be collected at one place only instead of two i.e. Dera Bassi and Dappar. Free pass facility be provided to the residents of the Sub Division Dera Bassi since they are required to visit Dera Bassi regularly being Sub Divisional Head Quarters. He demanded that a fly over should be made at Dera Bassi to avoid traffic congestion. He informed that fly overs at Lalru,Dappar and Zirakpur have been constructed but the Sub Division Head Quarter of Dera Bassi which is major town on the National Highway ,no flyover has been provided which will create more traffic congestion on the site. The Union Minister ordered that a survey be conducted immediately by NHAI and the feasibility report be submitted to him.

Capt.Singh asked for a stop gap arrangement till the construction of a fly over by making provision of over head passages at two important points like one opposite Sukhmani Institute at Dera Bassi, and another at Bhankhar Pur The Union Minister ordered that two steel pedestrian bridges be provided at Dera Bassi for the convenience of local residents.

The Union Minister assured that he personally would intervene and get implemented these demands.

The Punjab delegation demanded immediate infusion of money in the milk cooperative sector

Chandigarh December 17, 2008

Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Cooperation Minister Punjab, along with Mr. Naresh Gujral, MP, yesterday night called upon the Deputy Chairman of the Planning commission, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, to apprise him of the need to augment the milk procurement system in the state. The Punjab delegation demanded immediate infusion of money in the milk cooperative sector to improve it further.

Capt Singh told him about the dire need to diversify away from the traditional wheat-paddy cycle of cropping and provide alternative like milk production to the farmers in order to improve the economic condition of the farmers by providing alternative production patterns like milk production to the farmers which gives larger retunes to them. It would also generate more employment opportunities. By strengthening the procurement and distribution of milk, the state would be able to ensure hygienic, un-adulterated and nutritious milk for the consumers in the entire region.

Capt Singh told the Deputy Chairman of the planning commission that the Punjab State has taken the major initiatives for diversification through the Punjab Cooperative Department. Milkfed has already achieved 30 per cent increase in milk procurement during the last one year, thereby displaying the keen evolvement of the Punjab farmers in the diversification programmes and the popularity of the cooperative movement in Punjab. To improve the system further, the minister demanded a sum of Rs 25 crore for Milkfed, a Punjab Government cooperative Institute of milk producers. This is aimed at further augmenting the milk procurement and distribution in the state that is one of the largest producers of milk in the country.

During the course of the meeting, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia asked the state to send in its proposal for the same and he assured that he would provide the required funds.

Highlighting a very crucial fact, the two leaders told Dr. Ahluwalia to have a proper system for storing food grain in the country. At present the food grain stocks are stocked in the open and covered with tarpaulins. This is prone to attack from rodents. This was leading to wastage of crores of rupees of food grain. They also demanded to formulate a national policy to save the food grains and also provide a suitable budgetary provision in the annual plans.