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SEPTEMBER, 2008

 

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.

 

Daily Punjab press release