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Punjab Govt
March 04, 2008

 

COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED TO STUDY DEBT WAIVER SCHEME

Chandigarh March 4, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal today constituted a committee to study the implications of the Union Budget especially the so called Debt Waiver Scheme for the farmers of Punjab. This was disclosed here by Mr. Harcharan Bains Media Adviser to the Chief Minister Punjab.

According to Mr. Bains, the committee will be headed by the Chief Secretary S. Ramesh Inder Singh and will comprise of Financial Commissioner Development, Financial Commissioner Revenue, Financial Commissioner Cooperation, Principal Secretary Finance and Registrar Cooperative Societies Punjab.

Mr. Bains said that the general feeling in the Government is that the net benefit on the debt default to the Punjab farmers would be even less than the originally estimated 2% of the total amount estimated by the Centre. Therefore the Chief Minister had decided to form this committee.


PUNJAB TO FLOAT RS. 765 CRORE LOAN

Chandigarh, March 4, 2008

The Punjab Government in line with the Reserve Bank of India has proposed to float a State loan of Rs. 765.175 crore to raise part of the barrowings through auction system.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the government said the Loan would be utilized to finance Expenditure of plan Schemes and other development Schemes under execution. He said that the consent of the Central Government has already been obtained to the floatation of this loan required under Article 293 (3) of the constitution of India. The stocks would be of 10 years tenure and the tenure of the stock would commence on March 10, 2008. The loan would be repaid at par on March 10, 2018, he added. The interest however, would be paid every half yearly on September 10 and March 10.


PATIALA MEDICAL COLLEGE TO START DIABETIC RETINOPATHY TREATMENT

Chandigarh, 4 March:, 2008

The Government Medical College Patiala would soon start Diabetic Retinopathy treatment for eye disorders of diabetic patients by sophisticated equipment, benefiting lacs of diabetic patients in Punjab.

Mr. Tikshan Sud, Medical Education Minister today said that Site Savers International Mumbai had supplied equipment to Government Medical College Patiala. He said that two senior doctors of Medical college namely Dr. Hardev Singh and Dr. Sachin Walia Associate Professors have been sent to Post Graduate Institute Medical Education & Research (PGI MER) Chandigarh for training in Laser Surgery and after their training this service would be operational in Medical College soon.


PUNJAB TO CELEBRATE WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS WEEK

Chandigarh, March 4: The Punjab Government would launch a multi -media campaign to educate the consumers regarding their rights and duties during 'World Consumer Rights Day' to be celebrated in Punjab from March 15 to March 21, 2008.

According to an official spokesman educative literature, posters and pamphlets would be distributed to the public. Seminars, Lectures would be organised to educate the public regarding rights of consumers. Important judgements of Consumer Forums would be highlighted through media. Doordarshan and Radio would broadcast skits and plays focused on rights of consumers. School and Colleges would organise Essay and declamation contests and also painting and poster competitions to mark this week.


1 GOs, 5 NGOs ARRESTED RED HANDED BY VIGILANCE -
SPECIAL COURTS SENTENCES 3 ACCUSED

Chandigarh March 4, 2008

State Vigilance Bureau in a drive against corruption in public life arrested one Gazzetted Officer (GO) and 5 Non-Gazzetted Officers (NGOs) including two police officials in 6 different trap cases last month. The Bureau was able to secure the conviction of 3 NGOs in 3 corruption cases in the state.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Harcharn Singh Bhullar, SP-cum-Joint Director (Admn.)Vigilance Bureau Punjab, said that Bureau has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere in the State. In this direction, the Vigilance officers have registered trap cases, disproportionate assets cases and criminal cases in vigilance ranges and ensured that suspect corrupt accused did not escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State.

He further added that during this month of February VB has registered 2 Vigilance Enquiries and 117 fresh complaints were sent to respective administrative departments/ vigilance department. After verification orders have been issued to probe into the allegations in 41 other fresh complaints.

Giving details he added that the special courts have sentenced 3 NGOs in 3 different corruption cases during this month. Mr. Angrej Singh, Branch Manager, Central Co-op Bank Bhikhi distt. Mansa has been awarded two years imprisonment and fine of Rs. 1000/- u/s 13 (2) Prevention of Corruption Act, 1 year imprisonment with fine of Rs. 1000/- u/s 120-B IPC, 2 years imprisonment with fine of Rs. 1000/- u/s 467 IPC, 2 years imprisonment with fine of Rs. 1000/- u/s 468 IPC and 1 year imprisonment with fine of Rs. 1000/- u/s 471 IPC.

Besides this Mr. Pawan Kumar, Accountant, Nagar Council Bhucho distt. Mansa has also been jailed for two years with fine of Rs. 15000/- and Mr. Parshotam Dutt Dua, Chief Engineer Technical Audit & Inspection PSEB Patiala has been imprisoned for 3 years with fine of Rs. 25000/- each u/s 7 and 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act.


BADAL'S GREEN SIGNAL TO RS. 40 CRORE TRAIN TOURISM PROJECT IN JOINT PARTNERSHIP WITH SINGAPORE BASED ORIENT EXPRESS HOTELS

CHANDIGARH MARCH 04, 2008

In a significant move to boost tourism potential in the state, Punjab Chief minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal accorded 'in principle' approval for the implementation of Rs. 40 crore Train Tourism Project in collaboration with Singapore based Orient Express Hotels, first of its kind in the north India.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting between Mr. Badal and Mr. Tom Evers Swindell, Regional Director (Asia) Orient Express group of Hotels Trains and Cruises, Singapur here at Chief minister's resident late last evening.

Mr. Tom called on the Chief Minister and put forth a comprehensive proposal evincing keen interest to participate in the Train Tourism Project and informed that he had visited various tourist spots in Punjab and discovered that there was a tremendous potential of Train Tourism in the state. He also mentioned that at present, Orient Express Hotels Singapore Pte. Ltd. was operating 50 luxury hotels, restaurants, tourist trains and river cruise businesses operations in 25 countries viz England, USA, Russia Australia France, Italy, Argentina and South Africa etc. He pointed out that the company was now ready to share its world wide experience and experience with the state government for this new venture.

Appreciating the gesture of Mr. Tom, Mr. Badal directed the Tourism Department to chalk out an action plan and workout the modalities in this regard. Referring the untapped potential of heritage tourism in the state. Mr. Badal said that the Punjab Government was already contemplating to develop three-four religious tourism circuits to cover Sri Anandpur Sahib to Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo), Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Kapurthala and Amritsar. The underlying idea to develop heritage tourism in the state was to apprise our second and third generations who had settled abroad and had been completely detached from our rich and glorious heritage", asserted Mr. Badal.

It may be recalled here that the proposed train would be on the lines of the prestigious 'Palace on Wheels', equipped with all facilities required for a high-end tourist's comfort and would cover long and small distances during night time. The proposed tourist train would be carry 12 passenger AC coaches luxuriously furnished and each coach would have 3 coupes. Three longe Cars with the facilities of Game room, a beauty saloon, anayurvedic massage parlour, a health clube, alibrary,a computer centre, a curio shop and a business and communication centre would be attached along with two restaurant cars and one kitchen car with the facility of multi-cuisine restaurants and relaxed seating arrangement. The Government of India had already approved the proposal and remaining formalities would also be completed shortly.

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Hira Singh Gabria, Chief Secretary RI Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru, Principal Secretary Tourism and Cultural Affairs Mrs. Geetica Khala, Principal Secretary Finance DS Khala and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister KJS Cheema.


NRI SABHA PUNJAB ASSURES OF FULSOME SUPPORT TO
THE GOVERNMENT FOR WELFARE OF NRIs

CHANDIGARH MARCH 04, 2008

Newly elected President of NRI Sabha Punjab Kamaljit Singh today called on Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal at his residence this morning and assured of fulsome support and cooperation to the state government for the welfare of the NRIs.

During interaction with the Chief Minister, Mr.Kamaljit Singh appreciated Mr.Badal for organizing 2-day Punjabi NRI Sammelan at Chandigarh and Jalandhar on January 5 and 6 that evoked an over whelming response from the Punjabis NRIs settled across the globe. He also commended Mr.Badal for taking landmark decisions for the welfare of the NRIs during the NRI Sammmelan.

Mr.Badal assured the President NRI Sabha Punjab that the SAD-BJP Government had already taken path breaking initiatives for welfare of NRIs comprising setting up of NRI Police Stations in six districts of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Nawanshahar, Moga and Ludhiana for the quick disposal of cases involving NRIs and constituting a high powered committee headed by the director general of Police to review the cases of NRIs who had been declared proclaimed offenders or absconders. An NRI Advisory Board consisting of 11 members would be soon constituted. The State Government had also decided to enhance its share from 50% to 75% thereby now revising it as 75:25 basis instead of the existing 50:50 for the implementation of development schemes in the native villages of NRIs. He pointed out that two Fast Track Courts at Jalandhar and Ludhiana would be set up to settle dispute of civil matters of NRIs. The State government had also set up an NRI Facilitation Centre at Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi for facilitating and coordinating the matters relating to NRIs. An office would be opened near Amritsar airport for NRIs for assistance and an office would also be opened at Jalandhar for NRIs Guidance, added Mr.Badal.

The Chief Minister asked Mr.Kamaljit Singh to gear up the NRIs Sabha Punjab to play a pro-active role to bridge the communication gap between the state government and the Punjabis settled across the globe. He reiterated that our government was committed for maintaining law & order and communal harmony to enable our people in general and Punjabi NRIs in particular who had made immense contribution for the overall development of the state.

The President of NRI Sabha assured Mr. Badal that the Sabha would actively involved the NRIs in the process of overall development and progress in the state besides motivating them to make huge investments in Punjab as it was now fastly emerging as the 'most preferred investment destination' in the world.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Media Advisor Harcharan Bains during the meeting.

 

 

 

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