PUNJAB CM EXTENDS ALL HELP TO THE BEREAVED
FAMILY OF ISHMEET SINGH
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES STATE FUNERAL FOR ISHMEET SINGH
CHANDIGARH JULY 30, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed
profound grief and sorrow over the tragic demise of ' Star Voice
of India-2007' Ishmeet Singh who was snatched from all of us in
the prime of his youth.
During an interaction with the media persons here in his office,
Mr. Badal said that in the death of Ishmeet Singh the nation has
lost a gem and a void had been created in the circle of singing
fraternity which was difficult to be filled.
Mr. Badal said that special arrangements had been made by the
state government at its expanse to air lift the body of Ishmeet
Singh from Delhi to Ludhiana.
According to Chief Minister's Media Advisor, Mr. Harcharan Bains,
the Punjab Government decided that full State honours would be
given to late Ishmeet Singh at the time of his funeral.
Mr. Badal also expressed his heart felt sympathies with the members
of the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty to give strength
and courage to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to the
departed soul.
DELEGATION OF PR OFFICERS CALLS ON SECRETARY
PUBLIC RELATIONS
CHANDIGARH JULY 30, 2008
A delegation comprising of more than 10 assistant public relations
officers under the Presidentship of Mrs.Shikha Nehra from all
over the state of Punjab and Chandigarh today called on Mr.D.S.Jaspal
Principal Secretary Information and Public Relations Punjab and
apprised him of their long pending demand pertaining to promotions
in the department. They have also submitted a demand charter to
the Secretary.
While briefing Mr. Jaspal, the officers said that there were
more than 30 posts of information and public relations officers
lying vacant and which were to be filled within the department
through the departmental promotion committee. They expressed their
fear that the officers who were working day and night for the
government for the last more than 18 years may not be ignored
in the wake of making new appointments of information and public
relations officers in the department.
Assuring the officers Mr.Jaspal said that their departmental
interests would be taken care always and as regards to the departmental
promotions he said that he has already directed the officers to
speed up the process of filling of posts of Information and public
relations officers on priority and the same would be filled at
the earliest. On the other hand the newly elected association
of the assistant public relations hailed the on the spot gesture
of the Mr. Jaspal for safeguarding the interests of the officers
of the department. Mrs. Nehra along with the members of the delegation
assured the Principal secretary of putting up of more hard work
and labour in discharging their duties with a true feeling of
devotion and dedication while highlighting the achievements of
the government at the grassroots level.
Mr. Satnam Singh Shina, Mr Harpal singh Pal, Mr. daljit singh,
Mr. Jaikishan , Mrs. Darshna Sharma, Mr.Ashok K.Handa, Rajwinder
Singh, Shawinder Singh, Satnam singh (all from districts) and
Sarabjit Singh, Mrs. Parminder Kaur and Mr.Harjit Dhillon (from
Chandigarh) were a part of the delegation.
PUNJAB POISED FOR MAJOR UPGRADATION OF
STATE ROAD NETWORK
CHANDIGARH JULY 30, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal would unveil the
first phase of a massive Rs.3000 crore road infrastructure development
programme in Punjab by laying the foundation stone of 72 KM Ludhiana
-Malerkotla-Sangrur road at Malerkotla tomorrow (Tuesday).
Disclosing this here today Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr.
Harcharan Bains said that the state government had embarked upon
a major initiative of upgradation of the State's road network
in its endeavour to bring transport infrastructure upto global
standards.
The Govt. has planned a host of new greenfield expressways at
an estimated cost of over Rs. 3000 Crore. On the other hand, it
was strengthening and upgradation of State Highways and District
Roads which was being given a major impetus as part of the State's
Rs. 1500 crore Road Sector Project This project was the largest
ever road sector project ever undertaken in the state.
The underlying aim of the project is to ensure better connectivity
and provide quality transport services over 1100 kms necessary
for improving investment and business climate required for economic
growth and diversification in Punjab. The State Government's initiative
entails a paradigm shift from mere improvement of roads to using
contemporary technologies in road construction along with built-in
maintenance contracts.
Another major network in this project is the widening (including
9 km four-laning) of 40 km Kharar-Banur-Tepla road. The work would
entail the widening of this important artery which effectively
serves as a by-pass to Chandigarh and Mohali towns and provides
direct linkage between Ambala and Ropar. This Rs. 109 crore project
is likely to be completed next year.
Mr.Bains said that the Road Sector Project would also entails
civil works on 700 kms of district plan roads. Physical works
comprising about 150 km of upgradation (3 Works), 200 km of rehabilitation
(6 Works) and 350 km of periodic maintenance (10 Works) were presently
underway. Of these, works under Periodic Maintenance have been
successfully completed and the Rehabilitation and Upgradation
works were currently in the execution stage. Other important road
corridors included Kapurthala-Tarn Taran-Attari-Chabal Road (88
kms); Phillaur-Nagar-Aur-Rahon Road (33); Ferozepur-Zira-Dharamkot
Road (60 kms) and Chandigarh-Sirhind-Patiala Road (65 kms).
Under the Phase II of this ambitious project, network management
of about 600 km of roads will be taken under Output & Performance
Based Road Contracting (OPRC).
This marks the introduction of a new form of contracting in
which payments to the contractor shall be made based upon the
performance of the road instead of the quantity of work executed.
The roads from southern part of Punjab comprising Sangrur, Bathinda,
Mansa and Barnala districts would come under this pilot project.
The consultancy agreement for OPRC has been signed and the works
under this phase are likely to start by mid 2009, Mr. Bains said.
The Project came in for special appreciation by the visiting
World Bank team as well as Planning Commission officials with
100% of periodic maintenance (354 kms) having been completed on
schedule by the State Government. 37% progress had been achieved
under Rehabilitation Works (249 kms) and 11% under Upgradation
Works (152 kms). The Project would also aim to finance Institutional-strengthening
measures for the Public Works Department, added Mr.Bains.
MANPREET BADAL CONDOLES SAD DEMISE OF
ISHMEET SINGH
Chandigarh July 30, 2008
SHIKHA
The Punjab Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal today expressed
profound grief and sorrow over the tragic demise of Ishmeet Singh
who won the title of 'Voice of India-2007' for his superb and
scintillating performance in the singing competition at the all
India level.
In a condolence message, Mr. Badal said that it was too tragic
to learn that the promising singer's life had been cut short in
such a tragic way. He said, he was not just the pride of Punjab,
but of the whole nation. Passing away of Ishmeet at this prime
age is a great loss to the music fraternity. I have no words to
express my feelings and the trauma his parents must be passing
through. May god give us and particularly his parents the courage
to bear this tragedy. Mr. Badal expressed his heart felt sympathies
with the members of the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty
to give strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss and
grant peace to the departed soul.
Meanwhile Mr.Badal has also sent a condolence letter to the father
of Ishmeet Singh and prayed to Almighty to give strength and courage
at this tragic moment.
PUNJAB CM EXTENDS ALL HELP TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY OF
ISHMEET SINGH
CHANDIGARH JULY 30, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed
profound grief and sorrow over the tragic demise of ' Star Voice
of India-2007' Ishmeet Singh who was snatched from all of us in
the prime of his youth.
During an interaction with the media persons here in his office,
Mr. Badal said that in the death of Ishmeet Singh the nation has
lost a gem and a void had been created in the circle of singing
fraternity which was difficult to be filled.
Mr. Badal said that special arrangements had been made by the
state government at its expanse to air lift the body of Ishmeet
Singh from Delhi to Ludhiana. He also expressed his heart felt
sympathies with the members of the bereaved family and prayed
to Almighty to give strength and courage to bear this irreparable
loss and grant peace to the departed soul.
ISHMEET WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR EVER-KALIA
Chandigarh, July 30
Naginder Singh
Expressing profound grief and sorrow over the sad and untimely
demise of Mr. Ishmeet Singh king of melodious voice. Mr. Manoranjan
Kalia, Local Government and Industries Minister Punjab said that
Mr. Ishmeet Singh would be remembered for ever.
Conveying his heart felt sympathies with the breaved family
members Kalia prayed to Almighty to grant peace to the departed
soul and give strength to the family members to bear this blow.
DOCTORS TOLD NOT TO MEET MEDICAL REPRESENTATIVES DURING
PUBLIC HOURS
Chandigarh, July 30, 2008
Mr. Tikshan Sud, Medical Education and Research Minister has
taken serious notice of the fact that Medical Representatives
of various pharmaceutical/surgical firms keep the doctors of Medical,
Homeopathy, Ayurvedic, Dental, Nursing Colleges and Hospital engaged
during public hours while patients keep on waiting for their turn
for hours.
The Minister has issued strict instructions that no doctor of
any Medical Institutes, Government or Private, would meet any
Medical Representatives of any pharmaceutical firm during public
hours and they would only meet them after 2.00 P.M., that too,
after attending all patients waiting for their turn. The Minister
asked Mr. Jagjit Puri, Secretary Medical Education to issue instructions
to all Heads of Departments of Medical Institutes to ensure that
no Medical Representatives be allowed to enter the Hospital /Institutes
before 2.00 P.M.
Mr. Sud said that it was the primary duty of every doctor to
pay full attention to the patients and meeting the representatives
of pharmaceutical/surgical firms should not get priority over
patient care.
UPINDERJIT KAUR CONDOLES THE SAD DEMISE
OF ISHMEET SINGH
Chandigarh July 30, 2008
Dr. Upinderjit Kaur Education Minister Punjab today expressed
shock and sorrow over the untimely loss of Ishmeet Singh who won
the title of 'Voice of India-2007'.
In a condolence message Education Minister said that a void had
been created in the circle of singing fraternity at the tragic
death of Ishmeet Singh. She said that Ishmeet Singh, a proud of
Punjab, would be ever remembered by one and all being a son of
the Punjabi soil. She said, Ishmeet had won the hearts of millions
of people quite at a young age.
Expressing her heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family, Dr.
Upinderjit Kaur prayed for the peace of the departed soul and
to give strength and courage to the bereaved family to bear this
irreparable loss. She added that in his loss, it is not only his
family, but the entire country which has been feeling the grief.
PUNJAB CM, SUKHBIR BADAL AND MAJITHIA
CONDOLE THE SAD DEMISE OF VOICE OF INDIA-2007 ISHMEET
SINGH
Chandigarh July 29, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed
profound grief and sorrow over the tragic demise of Ishmeet Singh
whowon the title of 'Voice of India-2007' for his superb and scintillating
performance in the singing competition at the all India level.
In a condolence message Mr. Badal said that in the death of
Ishmeet Singh the Nation has lost a gem and a void had been created
in the circle of singing fraternity which was difficult to be
filled. He said the outstanding performance of Ishmeet Singh would
be ever remembered by one and all as he did proud not only to
India alone but to the entire Punjab being a son of the Punjabi
Soul.
Mr. Badal expressed his heart felt sympathies with the members
of the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty to give strength
and courage to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to the
departed soul.
Meanwhile Member Parliament and President SAD Mr. Sukhbir Singh
Badal also mourned the death of Voice of India Ishmeet Singh who
termed him as a icon of the singing world and said that his unique
performance at the National level music concert would ever remain
as a heart throb of millions of his fans.
Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh
Majithia also expressed his condolences on the passing away of
Mr Ishmeet Singh who brought laurels to Punjab through his rare
of the rarest performance by winning the title of 'Voice of India-2007'.
National Youth Festival
in Amritsar in Jan- Ranike
Chandigarh, July 29:, 2008
Punjab would host the five day long 14th National Youth Festival
in Amritsar from January 12th to 16th, January 2009.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Sports and
Youth Services Minister Punjab said that regarding this high level
meeting was held between Punjab Chief Minister, S. Parkash Singh
Badal and Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs
Mr. M.S Gill.
Mr. Ranike further said that the festival would be organized
jointly by the Centre and State Government. Each Government would
spend Rs. 2 Cror for the festival, which would show case the diversity
of Indian Culture at its best.
Giving more Information Mr. Ranike said that the Centre has
also agreed in principal to undertake a sports promotion programme
in Punjab.
MAJITHIA HANDS OVER RS. 5 LAC BANK DRAFT
TO KASHMIR SINGH
Chandigarh, July 29, 2008
Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Information & Public Relations
Minister, Punjab today handed over three bank drafts totalling
to Rs. 5.00 lac to Mr. Kashmir Singh, who was released from Pakistan
Jail in March this year after languishing 35 years in different
jails of Pakistan.
In a simple function organised here today Mr. Majithia handed
over Rs. 5.00 lac collected for the family of Kashmir Singh by
various NRI's at his initiative. Speaking on the occasion Mr.
Majithia said that the release of Kashmir Singh by Pakistan Government
was symbolic of beginning of new era of better ties between two
neighbouring countries. He said that his release has depicted
that both countries are now realising the value of human life
and they are looking towards cordial future, putting the bitter
memories of past behind.
He said that the freedom of Kashmir Singh from Pak jail came
after untiring efforts of S. Parkash Singh Badal and S. Sukhbir
Singh Badal and lot of well wishers of Kashmir Singh and our friends
in Pakistan including Mr. Ansar Burney. Mr. Majithia said that
the task that seemed impossible in the beginning got a kickstart
when people of Pakistan also supported the release of Kashmir
Singh and other innocent prisoners languishing in the various
jails of Pakistan.
The Minister said that since SAD-BJP government took over the
reins of power in Punjab S.Parkash Singh Badal has took various
step to promote trade activity and people-to-people contact with
Pakistani people. He said that with the opening of trade route
with Pakistan through road via Attari Border, Pakistan Government
was importing vegetables from Punjab to control the rates of vegetables
in Pakistan. Similarly India imported Cement from Pakistan through
road route ,stabilizing the Cement prises in India.
Mr. Majithia said that by strengthening the trade ties India
and Pakistan can emerge as trading hub of South East Asia having
its dominance in market in west as well as in Gulf Countries.
Mr. Majithia informed that Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh
Badal has already issued a grant of Rs. 10.00 lac to Mr. Kashmir
Singh immediately after his release. He has also been granted
lifelong pension of Rs. 10,000/- per month besides job for his
handicapped son. Mr. Majithia said that Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan
Bains had also given one residential plot to Kashmir Singh.
Mr. Kashmir Singh informed the Minister that he was facing problem
in getting Passport to visit his daughter in Italy who was 2½
year old when he was arrested by Pakistan Authorities. He said
that R.P.O Jalandhar has informed him his inability to issue him
passport as he has not completed one year stay in India. Mr. Kashmir
Singh regretted that on one hand Punjab government was offering
him all help where as the attitude of Union Government was not
helpful. Mr. Majithia promised that Chief Minister would take
up this issue with Union External Affairs Minister to waive this
condition for Kashmir Singh.
IPS PROBATIONERS VISITS PUNJAB POLICE
HEADQUARTERS
Chandigarh, July 29, 2008
A 23 - member team of IPS probationers of 66 RR batch, today
called on Punjab DGP Sh.N.P.S. Aulakh at Punjab Police Headquarters.
While welcoming the young officers for preferring a more challenging
career in Indian Police Service, the DGP assured them of great
job satisfaction in police as it was the only service which can
provide an instant justice to the people in distress. Apprising
the young officers of the challenges lying ahead in the service
and numerous opportunities to serve the society in an effective
manner, the DGP also informed them about various challenges witnessed
and overcome by the state police since independence.
The probationers evinced keen interest in the functioning of
the various wings of the state police and put forth some questions
which were duly answered by the officers of the concerned wings.
Later on, a detailed presentation on the functioning of the state
police was also made to the visiting probationers.
75 AGRI INDUSTRIALISTS WILL MANUFACTURE
LATEST TOOLS & MACHINERY FOR FARMERS
Chandigarh, 29 July, 2008
Mr. Sucha Singh Langah, Agriculture Minister Punjab today hold
meeting with 75 prominent Industrialists who manufactures Agriculture
machinery and tools and discussed at length to provide latest
and modern Agriculture equipment to farmers, so that farmers should
get more produce with less cost and labour.
Mr. Langah stressed upon manufacturing, Paddy, Transplanter,
Balers for paddy straw, cotter picker, harvesting and peeling
machine for sugarcane, sprayers and pruners for orchards, to avoid
inconvenience faced by the farmers. He said that government would
extend all possible help to industrialists if they want to get
latest technical knowhow from developed countries. Mr. Langah
assured the industrialists that he would take up, their problems
with Punjab Chief Minister and with Government of India.
Mr. R.S. Sandhu, Financial Commissioner Development appreciated
the Agri-Industrialists for providing high quality Rotavator,
Zero till Drill, laser land leveret, straw reaper to farmers during
the previous year.
Mr. B.S. Sidhu, Director Agriculture, gave detailed information
regarding subsidy being provided by the agriculture department
for agriculture machinery and tools.
Mr. D.R Kataria, Joint Director Agriculture said that the agriculture
department would organise Training Campus throughout the state
to educate the farming community regarding latest technical knowhow.
SEMINAR ON 'HEALTH OF NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY'
IN THE STATE OF PUNJAB
Chandigarh July 29, 2008
The Punjab Labour Department would organize a seminar on 'Health
of Newspaper Industry' in the state of Punjab on Ist August, 2008
at 11.00 A.M. at Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar. The
Labour Minister Sh. Tikshan Sood, would preside over the function.
According to an official spokesman besides the senior functionaries
of the Labour Department, other expected participants in this
Seminar are Sh. K.M. Sahni, Member Secretary, National Wage Boards
for revising and fixing the wages of journalists and other news
paper employees working in the Country and other members of the
Board. The Government of India has formed a National Wage Board
for revising and fixing the wages of such employees in the Country
under the Chairmanship of Dr. Justice (Retd.) K Narayana Kurup
and are known as "Kurup Wage Boards".
The spokesman said that the basic objective of these wage Boards
is to assess the status of implementation of the recommendations
of previous "Manisana Wage Boards", including the reasons
and constraints for their non-implementation or partial implementation,
so that the input gathered during such Seminars, interactions
could be obtained to form the basis to formulate the guidelines
for the recommendations of the "Kurup Wage Board" and
to ensure its implementation in future.
He said that various representatives of the Journalists and
other newspaper employees and of newspaper establishment employers'
organizations are expected to express their views in this Seminar.
It is an earnest effort as per the advice of Sh. K.M. Sahni, Member
Secretary of these Wage Boards to assess the ground reality regarding
the status of implementation of the previous "Manisana Wage
Boards" recommendations vis-à-vis the real financial
health of newspaper industry with the objective to know the capacity
of this industry to implement various recommendations/guidelines
of the present "Kurup Wage Board" in future.
BADAL CONSTITUTE CORE GROUPS TO EXPLORE
POSSIBILITIES OF OVERALL DEVELOPMENT IN KANDI AREAS
CHANDIGARH JULY 29, 2008
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today constituted
four core groups to be headed by the Ministers of Water Supply
& Sanitation, Forests & Wild Life, PWD (B&R), Irrigation
and Power to study the ways and means to combat the peculiar problems
related to scarcity of drinking water, scanty irrigation facilities,
uninterrupted power supply and menace of wild animals that had
resulted in substantial damage to the standing crops besides loss
of human life and property in the Kandi and Bet areas.
Presiding over a meeting of Sub-Mountain & Kandi Area Advisory
Council, Mr. Badal said that these core groups would also comprise
the MLAs from the Kandi and Bet areas along with the Administrative
Secretaries of the respective departments to take stock of the
situation and suggest remedial measures to overcome these hardships.
On the basis of the consolidated report of these core groups to
be submitted within a month, Mr. Badal mentioned that it would
be finally posed to Centre for seeking additional funds to tackle
the problems in a result oriented manner on the pattern of exclusive
grants meant for the Border Area Development Programme.
The MLAs from Kandi area vehemently demanded to immediately
repeal Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900 that had hampered
the growth of these areas because even the basic civic amenities
of drinking water, sewerage, electricity, irrigation, road network
could not be provided to the residents.
These MLAs also drew attention of the Chief Minister towards
the wide spread devastation caused by the wild animals like blue
bull & wild bore and demanded to declare these vermin besides
allowing the inhabitants of the Kandi area to kill them with in
the prescribed norms of the wild life protection Act in order
to save their crops and life.
It was also observed in the meeting that a comprehensive proposal
could be prepared on the development of the Kandi area as a separate
chapter by the Joint Development Commissioner to be included in
the memorandum to be submitted by the state government to the
13th Finance Commission for seeking special funds for the overall
growth and progress of the Kandi area.
The MLAs also highlighted the problems of poor conditions of
link roads, power supply and irrigation facilities and solicited
government's top priority to address these issues without any
further delay. The members also urged the Chief Minister to seek
the expert advise of the irrigation department to assess the feasibility
of the canal based water drinking schemes in the Kandi area where
deep drilling tubewells were not only a difficult preposition
but almost a distant reality.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included
Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister Manpreet
Singh Badal, Forests Minister Tikshan Sood, Transport Minister
Master Mohan Lal, Member Parliament from Hoshiarpur Avinash Rai
Khanna, Mrs.Mohinder Kaur Josh, Ch.Nand Lal, Mr.Des Raj Dhugaa,
Mr.Arunesh Shakir (all Chief Parliamentary Secretaries) MLA Anandpur
Sahib Sant Baba Ajit Singh, MLA Chamkaur Sahib Charanjit Singh
Channi, MLA Morinda Ujjagar Singh Badali and MLA Kharar Balbir
Singh Sidhu. Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains,
Chief Secretary RI Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister
DS Guru, Principal Secretary Finance DS Kalha and Secretary Planning
Satish Chandra, Secretary PWD (B&R) Kulbir Singh and Secretary
Water Supply & Sanitation PS Aujla and Director Information
& Public Relations Tejveer Singh also attended the meeting.
IPS PROBATIONERS VISITS PUNJAB POLICE
HEADQUARTERS
Chandigarh, July 29, 2008
A 23 - member team of IPS probationers of 66 RR batch, today
called on Punjab DGP Sh.N.P.S. Aulakh at Punjab Police Headquarters.
Punjab DGP Sh.N.P.S. Aulakh
While welcoming the young officers for preferring a more challenging
career in Indian Police Service, the DGP assured them of great
job satisfaction in police as it was the only service which can
provide an instant justice to the people in distress. Apprising
the young officers of the challenges lying ahead in the service
and numerous opportunities to serve the society in an effective
manner, the DGP also informed them about various challenges witnessed
and overcome by the state police since independence.
The probationers evinced keen interest in the functioning of
the various wings of the state police and put forth some questions
which were duly answered by the officers of the concerned wings.
Later on, a detailed presentation on the functioning of the state
police was also made to the visiting probationers.
