8 OFFICERS OF MUNICIPAL COUNCILS CHARGE
SHEETED- MANORANJAN KALIA
Chandigarh September 16, 2008
Naginder Singh
Keeping in view to bring transparency in the working of Municipal
Corporation and Councils, Local Government department has launched
a campaign to check violation of building plans/bye laws and sub-standard
development works.
Taking strict action against the erring officers, Mr. Manoranjan
Kalia, Local Government Minister Punjab said that 18 officers of
various Municipal Corporation have been charge sheeted for major
penalty under section-8 of Punjab Civil Services punishment and
appeal rules.
Sh. Surinder kumar Garg, E O and Sh. Parlahad Kumar, JE of Municipal
Council Rama Mandi Bathinda were charge sheeted for sub standard
work in construction of road.
Mrs. Kamaljit Kaur ATP (MTP) Sh. Tejpreet Singh ATP and Sh. Ravi
Sharma, BI, of MC Ludhiana for non-compoundable construction.
Similarly Mr. Jatinder Singh, E O, Sh. Paramjit Singh EO, Sh.
Yadwinder Singh ATE and Sh. Rakesh Kumar JE of Improvement trust
Phagwara were charge sheeted for non-compoundable construction against
sectioned building plan at plot no-781 IT Phagwara.
Mr. Rajpinder Singh JE, Mr. Inder Mohan Singh AME and Mr. Surjit
Singh AME for sub standard execution of development works.
Mr. Rajiv Goel JE Mr. Kuldeep Verma AME (now ME) and Mr. Susheel
Khosla, ME of MC Bhawanigarh for sub standard execution of development
works.
Sh. Devinder Singh, JE Sh. Tarsem Singh EO, of Municipal Council,
Kurali in district Mohali were charge sheeted for misuse of funds
in construction of Road.
Mr. Kalia said that strict action would be initiated against all
those officers to ensure the execution of development works as per
norms in future.
COOPERATIVE SUGAR MILLS WORKERS AGITATION
UNCALLED FOR
Chandigarh September 16, 2008
The Punjab Government was making concerted efforts to make operational
all the six closed down cooperative sugar mills out of the total
15 mills in the State and with a view to run these mills in an efficient
and professional manner a Consultant was being appointed to make
necessary recommendation in this regard. It may be mentioned here
that the last regime had decided to sell of these mills. If that
decision was got implemented, then the farmers and workers of these
mills area would have suffered a lot.
Disclosing here today Punjab Sugarfed MD Sh. V.K.Bhalla said that
the advertisement for appointing a Consultant had already been published
and the last date has been fixed on September 29. He informed that
a Cabinet Sub Committee met on June 4 had already approved the modernization
and setting up of cogeneration plants at nine other cooperative
mills of the State at their own. In this regard advertisement had
already been released and the last date has been fixed on October
16.
He further clarified that the Cooperation Minister Punjab had
also convened number of meetings with the representatives of employees
and in the recent meeting held on July 2 their main demand of promotions
was accepted that too after making amendments in the rules for their
benefit.
Regarding the financial demands of Coop. Sugar Mills, he clarified
that their demands were sent to their respective mill's board of
directors for their comments, and expressed confidence that their
comments would be received by the second week of October. He categorically
said that the agitation mode adopted by some of the Sugar Mills
workers was uncalled for keeping in view the financial position
of cooperative sugar mills in the State and advised them to cooperate,
rather confront, the local management in getting these mills out
of red.
RICE MILLS DEFAULTING IN PAYMENT OF BONUS
TO FARMERS TO BE DEBARRED
Chandigarh September 16
The Punjab Government has issued instructions that all those rice
mills that have not paid the bonus to the farmers in Kharif Marketing
Season (KMS) 2007-08 as announced by the Government of India for
the paddy purchased by them in their own account would not be considered
for allotment in 2008-09 KMS.
According to an official spokesman the state government has taken
a strict notice of failure of some rice mills in payment of bonus
to the farmers and issued instructions in this regard. The spokesman
said that the millers from whom any bonus amount is due, deposits
the same with the respective District Manager, Pungrain could be
considered eligible for allotment
Elaborating the allotment policy and conditions for provisional
registration, the spokesman said that if a rice mill has to deliver
custom milled rice of any agency pertaining to the previous years
including 2007-08 would not be considered for allotment. Similarly
the rice mills that have not delivered 75% levy rice in the KMS
2007-08 would also be debarred from fresh allotment. However, the
Export Oriented Units (EOU) would be exempt. This benefit would
be limited to the millers who have exported the rice directly. No
benefit would be given to the millers who have exported the rice
indirectly or through 'H' form.
He added that if the owner/partner/director of a lessee/owner rice
mill becomes defaulter and is a owner/partner/director of a new/lessee/owner
rice mill, the mill in question will not be considered for allotment.
Similarly if the miller had failed to mill paddy after due notice
and the agency had to shift paddy at the cost of the miller during
the previous years such mills would be treated as defaulters.
He further said that if any agency reports any case of mis-appropriation
of paddy by a miller of the previous years including kharif 2007-08
marketing season the rice mills would be debarred.
The spokesman said that all those mills would be debarred if a
police/court case/arbitration case is pending against the miller
on account of embezzlement relating to custom milling or levy rice
pertaining to any crop year. He said that premises of a defaulter
miller will be treated as defaulter and no such mill even if leased
out to any third party by the defaulter owner/previous lessee will
be eligible for allotment during KMS 2008-09.
Such defaulter rice mills which have been auctioned by a financial
institution/commercial bank would be considered for allotment during
KMS 2008-09 only after they clear the previous dues of the concerned
agency.
He said that the millers with whom FCI has banned its business
dealings on account of delivery of rice "Beyond Rejection Limit"
(BRL) during the previous years would not be considered.
The Spokesman said that each defaulter rice miller shall offer
levy rice to the State Government as per the provisions of the Levy
Control Order 1983. However, the State Government reserves its right
to accept or not to accept levy rice from a defaulter miller. In
such case prior approval of the State Government will be mandatory.
No miller shall mill paddy of the agency other than the one allotted
to him. In case he does so, he will be black listed and the paddy
stocks will be lifted from his premises at his risk and cost.
No paddy would be stored in those rice mills where there is no
operative electricity connection ready by 01-10-2008 even if allotted
on the basis of the demand notice issued by the Punjab State Electricity
Board. A rice mill running on a generator set or diesel engine shall
not be considered for allotment.
DISTRICT PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE, PATIALA
RS. 250 CRORE ULTRA-MODERN NEW BUS TERMINAL TO BE SET UP IN PATIALA-BADAL
Badal advises Capt. not to undermine the democratic values
and moral ethics
PATIALA SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
On the second leg of his Sangat Darshan programme in Patiala city,
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced that
an ultra-modern multi-storied Interstate air conditioned Bus Terminal
at Patiala would be set up in the Public Private Partnership (PPP)
mode at a cost of Rs.250 crore.
Addressing a large gathering in a ward, the Chief Minister said
that under this mode the private player would bear entire cost of
the project and would be allowed to utilise the above 4 floors for
opening shopping Malls, offices and other commercial activates.
He further said that company would also pay Rs. 2 crore annually
to PRTC. Mr. Badal said that about 300 new buses including 50 AC
buses would also be added to the existing fleet of PEPSU Roadways
Transport Corporation to make its functioning more efficient and
economically viable. He reiterated that he had already made a promise
with the residents of Patiala that it would soon become one of the
most progressive cities of Punjab and even a leading town with all
modern and basic amenities in the country.
Reacting sharply the statement of former Chief Minister Capt.
Amarinder Singh issued in a section of press accusing him of bribing
the residents of Patiala through holding a series of Sangat Darshan
programmes here. Mr. Badal categorically said that such statements
were nothing but an outcome of sheer frustration and dejection of
Capt's tall claims of being a messiah of the Patiala city and now
all of sudden he was shifting the onus on us being bribing the residents
of city which amounted to undermining the democratic values and
moral ethics.
He said that such irresponsible utterances must be condemned by
one & all and these theatricals would not help Capt. Amarinder
anymore to emotionally blackmail the innocent residents of Patiala
rather he should respect the democracy and its institutions. He
said that the people of Punjab in general and Patiala in particular
could safely realize that Capt. did nothing tangible for the development
of the city which was evident from their overwhelming participation
in these Sangat Darshans. "Had they satisfied with the development
programmes and other welfare schemes initiated by the previous congress
government then obliviously they would not have collected in such
great numbers", said Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minister pointed out that he had not any political motive
behind these Sangat Darshan programmes as these were organized at
regular intervals as a continuous process both in urban and rural
areas to ensure clean and transparent governance at the door steps
of the people on one hand and to bridge the gap between the people
and the administration on the other.
The Chief Minister today covered as many as 15 wards in the Patiala
city and listened to the grievances of the residents both individually
and collectively on the spot, as most of the grievances and demands
raised by them related to drinking water, sewerage, electricity
and street lighting. The Chief Minister asked the district administration
and Municipal Corporation to jointly prepare an action plan to address
to these problems at the top priority within a stipulated time frame.
He assured the residents that the scarcity of funds would not to
be allowed to come in way of the overall development of the city.
On this occasion Mr. Badal was accompanied by Senior Akali leaders
Chief parliamentary Secretary Mr. Raj Khurana, President NRI wing
SAD Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, SAD General Secretary Prof. Prem Singh
Chandumajara, Vice President SAD Balwinder Singh Saifdipur, former
SGPC President Prof. Kirpal Singh Baduangar, Ex Minister Mr. Surjit
Singh Kohli, President SAD Rural Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, Mayor
Ajit Pal Singh Kohli, Ex Chairman SS Board Tejinderpal Singh Sandhu,
District SAD President (Urban) Indermohan Singh Bajaj, District
President BJP (Urban) Balwant Rai, BJP leaders Mr. Rulda Singh,
Mr. Bhupesh Aggarwal, President SOI Mr. Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna,
Commissioner Municipal Corporation SK Ahaluwalia ,Deputy Commissioner
Mr. Vikas Garg, DIG Patiala Range Mr. PS Gill and SSP Patiala Mr.
S.K Asthana besides party leaders and workers SAD & BJP.
A Service Tax Registration Mela
Chandigarh September 16, 2008
A Service Tax Registration Mela was organized by Central Excise
Commissionerate, Ludhiana on 16.09.2008 at Central Excise Division,
Sangrur. The Mela was inaugurated by Sh. Suvir Mishra (I.R.S.),
Additional Commissioner, Central Excise, Ludhiana. Sh Amarjit Singh
(I.R.S.), Deputy Commissioner (STC), Central Excise Ludhiana and
Sh. M.L.Goyal(I.R.S.), Assistant Commissioner, Central Excise Division,
Sangrur also participated. Free booklets of "Frequently Asked
Questions on Service Tax" were distributed to all those who
visited the said Mela.
Sh. Suvir Mishra, Additional Commissioner, invited all the unregistered
assessees to get themselves registered with the department for their
respective categories of services provided by them. He also emphasized
that all the service providers should exhibit a note in their offices
showing "Service Tax 12.36% Extra". He also advised the
assessees to deposit the Service Tax after collecting the same from
their clients; otherwise they have to bear the burden of tax on
their own later on. During the Mela the facility of Deregistration
was also provided to those who do not need the registration owing
to their falling under enhanced exemption limit. He also stressed
that the assessees can opt for service tax "Dispute Resolution
Scheme, 2008". 18 assessees got themselves registered till
afternoon of the day of the Mela.
IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED
CHANDIGARH, September 16, 2008
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational
irrigation Programme for the Kharif Season through Canal water from
18 September to 25 September, 2008. The channels of Sirhind Canal
System would run on priority basis from Patiala feeder, Abohar Branch,
Sidhwan Branch, Bhatinda Branch and Bist Doab Canal respectively.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department
said that direct distributaries of Ghaggar link and its off taking
channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' being
in the Ist preference will run to their indent. Balance water supplies
available will be utilised in direct distributaries of Bhakra main
line of Group 'A'.
The spokesman further said that the Punjab channels off taking
from Harika and Ferozepur Head Works & Branches i.e. Abohar
Branch off taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries of
group "B" would run on first preference to their indent.
Balance water supplies available would be utilised in direct distributaries
of Sirhind Feeder in Group "A".
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper
Bari Doab Canal i.e. Sabraon Branch with its distributaries being
in first Preference would run to their indent. Balance Surplus water
available would be utilised in Kasur Branch Lower, Main Branch Lower,
Lahore Branch and with its distributaries respectively.
PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO SOON INTRODUCE VIDEO
CONFERENCING BETWEEN JAILS AND JUDICIAL COURTS
CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Decks have been cleared for introduction of video conferencing
between the Jails and Judicial courts in Punjab as the President
of India had given a nod to the Bill.
Disclosing this here today Jails and Justice Minister Mr. Hira
Singh Gabria said that a decision to this effect had been conveyed
to the State Government by the Union Government through a communiqué.
He said that for this purpose, an amendment was required to be made
in Section 167(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code so that the persons
in judicial custody could be produced before the courts either in
'person' or through the medium of 'video linkage'.
It may be recalled that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in its Session
held in December 2007 passed the relevant Bill for the amendment
of the said Section. The Bill was reserved for the assent of the
President of India as required by the Constitution of India and
now since the requisite assent had been received from the Government
of India and consequently the system of video conferencing between
the Jails and the Courts would be made functional in the state.
This significant move would not only result in huge savings for
State Police department but also ensure quick and efficient dispensation
of criminal justice.
PUNJAB IAS OFFICERS TO CONTRIBUTE ONE DAY'S
SALARY FOR FLOOD RELIEF
Chandigarh, September 16, 2008
The Punjab IAS Officers Association has decided to contribute one
day's salary to the Punjab Chief Minister Relief Fund as aid to
flood victims in Bihar.
According to the Association President Mrs. Tejinder Kaur Principal
Secretary, Technical Education, the Association has requested the
Chief Secretary for deducting one-day's salary of all IAS officers
in the State for the purpose.
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal At Chhappar Mela at Village
Chappar
Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal pushing the party
in to the election gear, squarely blamed the directionless policies
of Congress led Union UPA Government responsible for the poverty
illiteracy and poor pace of development in the country.
Addressing a huge political conference of SAD at historic Chhappar
Mela at Village Chappar, 35 kms from here, today, Mr. Badal said
that the congress party particularly had always adopted anti- Punjab
policies, which had caused a sever damage to the economy of the
state. He said that the development and economies of the states
were directly linked to the policies of the Union Government inn
our system, as the states had negligible powers to decide the major
issues. He said that the congress government at the center had given
special concessions for the industries in the neighboring states,
which resulted in the migration of industries and new industrial
investments from the state, because of which no big industrial project
could come to Punjab since a long time. He blamed the previous Congress
Govt for ignoring the Industrial sector ,rather they had stopped
work on the prestigious p Bathinda Oil Refinery of Rs. 19800 crore.
He said that on taking over the rein of power in state his Govt.
had taken the matter seriously with the Union Govt. and resumed
work on the project, which would play a major role to improve the
financial position of the state.
The Chief Minister lambasting the Union Govt. for adopting discriminatory
approach towards Punjab farmers, who had baled out the country out
of the sever food crises by contributing around 60% in the national
food pool. He said that it was a cruel joke with the farmers that
the center government had fixed Rs 850 per quintal as MSP for paddy
in coming season, which was even much below Rs 1000/- per qtl recommended
by Agriculture Price Commission. He said that to ensure the acceleration
of speedy development and prosperity of the state, a like minded
Govt must be installed at center by throwing out the UPA government
in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Unfolding the plans of his government
for the all round development and welfare, Mr. Badal asserted that
each and every promise made during the elections with the people
would be fulfilled. He informed that a crash program have been launched
at a cost of Rs 3540 crore for the repair and strengthening of 5300
kms roads in the state. He said that all the major high ways in
the state were being developed as six or four lanes at a cost of
Rs. 3035 crore under a special program. He said that his government
was committed for the improvement in the education system in the
rural areas and one Adarash Model School was being set up in each
constituency, where the education facilities would be provided at
par with the reputed Punjabi schools. In these schools quality education
would be provided free of cost to the intelligent poor children,
who were unable to get the education.
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal President SAD, addressing the conference
that the Congress party which ruled the country most of the time
during 60 years after independence completely ruined the economy
and development process in the country. Ridiculing the false challenges/threats
of Capt. Amarinder Singh former Chief Minister, Mr. Badal said that
he was a coward, who ran abroad in stead of facing the legal process
in his corruption cases. He asked, how much time he can spend in
the foreign countries to evade the process of law for his misdeed?
He said that one day he will have to face the punishment of large
scale corruption and atrocities committed during his misrule.
Unfolding the development agenda of SAD- BJP government, Mr. Badal
said that the government had identified its priorities including
self sufficiency in Power Generation, excellent connectivity, Road
Network and ROBs, Education and IT sector development.
Reffering to the development plans of SAD Govt., he said that
the power sector was the main priority and asserted that during
the next four years, power projects of 8000 to 9000 MW capacity
were being executed approximately at a cost of Rs 50,000/- crore
in private sector and the state would definitely be a power surplus
state. He elaborated that the work on 1st Thermal Power Project
of 1980 MW capacity costing to Rs 10000 crore at Talwandi Sabo had
been started and work for the execution on three more Power projects
at Gowindwal Sahib of 600 MW capacity, at Rajpura of 1500 MW and
Giderwaha of 2640 MW was being started shortly
Badal said that the government had also accorded priority to create
the world class connectivity, under which, five Airports (International/
Domestic) would be made operational in the state. He said that an
International Airport was being commissioned with fast speed at
Mohali. He said that Shanewal Airport in Ludhiana was being upgraded
for domestic flights. Mr. Badal added that another Airport at Bathinda
from where 2 flights daily would operational was also being set
up. Mr. Badal said that the state of Punjab was going to have State
of the Art, International Level education facilities shortly. He
informed that a new world class University at a cost of approximately
Rs 4000 crore was being set up at Amritsar for this the sanction
from Government of India had already been obtained. He called upon
the people to vote for the installation of NDA Govt at center during
the next Lok Sabha elections, so that the state could get maximum
fron Center for the development and prosperity.
Among others who addressed the conference included Mr. Jagdev
Singh Talwandi Senior Akali Leader, Mr. Charanjit Singh Atwal Deputy
Speaker Lok Sabha, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh Cooperative Minister, Mr.
Hira Singh Gabria Jails Minster, Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda, Mr. Bikramjit
Singh Khalsa ( both CPS), Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder Ex- Minster,
Mr. Jagjiwan Singh Khirnia, Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik, Mr. Iqbal
Singh Jhunda ( all MLAs), Mr. Manpreet Ayali Chairman ZP, Santa
Singh Umedpuri district President SAD Rural, Mr. Jagdish Singh Garcha
Ex- Minister, Mr. Ranjit Talwandi and Mr. Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal.
|