BADAL BLAMES CENTRE FOR PUSHING COUNTRY
IN ECONOMIC BACKWARDNESS
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS APPROVES DIRECT RAIL LINK
BETWEEN TARN TARAN AND FEROZEPUR
KHADOOR SAHIB ( TARN TARAN) SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today virtually
pushed the party into election mode squarely putting onus on the
directionless policies of Congress led UPA Government at the Centre
for pushing the country in the state of economic backwardness due
to the menace of illiteracy, poverty, high inflation and unemployment.
Addressing a political conference organized by Shiromani Akali
Dal here on the auspicious occasion of "Gurgaddi Diwas"
of Sri Guru Angad Dev ji, Mr.Badal lashed at the Congress for instigating
people for disturbing peace in the state and its indulgence in divisive
politics, Mr.Badal said that the people had already realized that
Congress's policy of 'divide and rule' which it had adopted not
only in Centre but in the states too pursue its political agenda.
Mr. Badal lamented that after 60 years of Independence , Congress
government during its successive terms in Centre and even in Punjab
had not been able to provide the basic civic amenities to the common
man. He said that poor and lower strata of the society had been
completely ignored by the Congress because it was least concerned
about their welfare. He said that our government was committed for
the overall development of the state and its people. He said that
SAD being a party of a common man was sensitized to the problems
of the people at the grass root level and was committed to serve
them in the right earnest.
Taking a strong exception to the callous attitude of the Centre
for adopting discriminatory approach towards Punjab farmers, Mr.
Badal said that instead of appreciating us for bailing out the country
out of the severe food crisis by contributing 70% in the national
food pool they even denied our justified right to give us remunerative
MSP on paddy during the current Kharif marketing season. Mr. Badal
pointed out that it was a cruel joke with the farmers that the Central
government had fixed Rs 850 per quintal as MSP for paddy, which
was even much below Rs.1000/- per quintal recommended by Commission
for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP). He said: "Probably
it is for the first time in the history of agriculture economy that
the Centre had fixed the MSP of paddy below the recommendation of
the CACP".
Likewise, Mr. Badal also blamed the Centre for its much hyped agriculture
loan waiver scheme for the welfare of peasantry across the country
but to our utter surprise it had only benefited 1% of the entire
farming community of Punjab.
Making a strong plea for a change of guard at Centre and to ensure
the acceleration of speedy development and prosperity of the state,
Mr.
Badal underscored the need to install a government of like minded
political parties at Centre by throwing out the UPA government in
the coming Parliamentary elections.
Unfolding the plans of his government for the all round development
and welfare, Mr. Badal asserted that each and every promise made
by SAD-BJP alliance during the assembly elections with the people
would be fulfilled at all costs. He said that SAD-BJP Government
believed in actions rather than hollow slogans and tall claims made
by the former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who was absolutely
insensitive to the problems of the people who frittered away his
entire term as Chief Minister in leisure and pleasure. He said that
there was a wide disparity between the have and have-nots which
had to be bridged up.
He said that education was the most crucial sector which could address
these problems and that's why our government has come up with a
unique scheme for opening Adarsh school in every block where poor
but
intelligent students would be given free education. Likewise the
state government has also embarked upon a programme to strengthen
the basic infrastructure in the primary as well as plus two schools
to
impart quality education to the students. He also mentioned that
skill development centers were also being opened in the state to
provide skill training to the youth in the field of plumbing, carpentry,
electrical, air-conditioning and construction etc.
The Chief Minister announced that the Ministry of Railways had
accorded approval for a railway line from Tarn Taran to Ferozepur
and
the work would soon begin. He also announced that the foundation
stone of Rs.2800 crore thermal plant at Sri Goindwal Sahib with
an installed capacity of 600 MW would be laid on October 18. For
this project a land measuring 1014 acres had been acquired at the
total compensation cost of Rs.. 164.07 crore by the GVK group. He
also announced to construct a tehsil complex and 50 bedded hospital
at Khadoor Sahib.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stones
for the upgradation of 12.62 Km Nagoke Maur to Khalchian road (Rs.
5.47 crore), 18.10 Km Jandiala to Verowal road (Rs. 8 crore), 13.8
Km Nagoke-Khadoor Sahib-Goindwal Sahib road (Rs. 5.20 crore) and
11.56 Km Khadoor Sahib-Vainepuin road (Rs. 4.91 crore) which would
be completed with in next 10 months. Apart from these projects,
he also laid the foundation stone of Sewerage project of Rs.3 crore
for Khadoor Sahib.
Earlier, Mr. Badal along with Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal paid obeisance
at Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib, where the Chief Minister was presented
a picture of Sri Darbar Sahib and a sword by Baba Sewa Singh Kar
Sewa Wale.
In his address President of Shiromani Akali Dal and Member Parliament
Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal briefly outlined the achievements of the
state
government within just one and a half year of its tenure. He said
that major thrust was being given to the Information technology,
Bio-technology, Nano-technology and Business management studies.
He said that first Indian Institution of Technology (IIT) in Ropar
was being set up besides another hi-tech Dhirubhai Ambani Institute
of
Information Technology was also in pipeline near Ropar. He said
that
Indian School of Business was also being set up in the knowledge
park at Mohali and the foundation stone of Sri Guru Granth Sahib
World University had been laid on September 2 at Fatehgarh Sahib
to undertake research/teaching in the areas of world religions,
cultures
and civilizations. He said that one Central University would be
set
up at Bathinda and another World University would be established
at Amritsar to impart quality education in the Malwa and Majha region.
Speaking on the occasion, Information & Public Relations Minister
Mr.Bikram Singh Majithia said that the people of Majha really deserved
special attention for the development of this backward area keeping
in view their enormous contribution in the victory of SAD-BJP alliance.
He said that Mr.Badal's focused agenda was the development of the
state especially of the rural sector which was deprived of basic
amenities due to the negligence of the previous government.
Later addressing the media persons, Mr. Badal stated that according
to a survey conducted by the leading media magazine India Today,
Punjab had been ranked as No.3 state in terms of revenue generation
during our tenure while it was at 24th position during Capt.Amarinder's
regime. He also clarified that there was no paucity of funds as
all the development schemes and projects were being implemented
as per schedule.
Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Rural
Development Minister Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Animal Husbandry
Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, Member Parliament and District
President SAD Amritsar Dr. Rattan Singh Ajnala. On the occasion
who
were present included Virsa Singh Valtoha, Dr.Dalbir Singh and Manjit
Singh Manna (all MLAS) and Ex-MLA Vir Singh Lopoke besides several
senior leaders & party workers of SAD-BJP and members of the
SGPC..
VIRAPPA MOILY SHOULD JOIN PAK CABINET –
TIKSHAN SUD
Chandigarh, September 18, 2008
Senior BJP leader and Punjab's Medical Education Minster today
said that AICC spokesman Virappa Moily seems to eying a post in
Pakistan Cabinet for softening stand on anti national body SIMI
and seeking ban on nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsewak
Sangh (RSS).
In a hard hitting statement the BJP leader said that appeasement
policy of Congress party gets exposed fully with the statement of
Mr. Moily given at the instance of top Congress leadership. He said
that it was unfortunate that a majority community, Hindus were being
discriminated against, in their own country, while anti-national
bodies were getting upper hand in the blind folded vote bank politics
of Congress party.
Mr. Sud said that it was regrettable that organisations claiming
of killing hundreds of innocents in bomb blasts were being given
red carpet treatment whereas Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) was
being targeted for questioning the rationale of UPAs appeasement
policies.
Mr. Sud said that RSS always advocated stringent legislative measures
like POTA to check the anti-national activities of terrorists but
Congress repealed POTA to garner few votes, putting the lives of
innocents at great risk. The re-introduction of tough anti-terror
law being proposed by UPA Government vindicates the stand of RSS.
He said that UPA Chairperson and Prime Minister should apologize
to the nation for committing blunder of repealing POTA.
The BJP leader said that Congress was getting bewildered sensing
a crushing defeat in ensuing Vidhan Sabha polls in 6 states and
Lok Sabha poll and could even stoop so low that it could compromise
the sovereignty and integrity of their own country for short term
vote politics. He said that people of India were itching to teach
Congress a lesson for not being able to safeguard the security of
common citizen in their own country.
PUNJAB NOTIFIES CUSTOM MILLING POLICY FOR
KHARIF SEASON
Chandigarh, September 18, 2008
The Punjab Government today notified Scheme for Custom Milling
of Kharif 2008-09 to ensure smooth operation of custom milling of
Paddy to be procured by all procuring agencies including Pungrain,
Markfed, Punsup, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Punjab Agro
Foodgrains Corporation and the Food Corporation of India.
According to an official spokesman for the purpose of custom milling
of paddy, the State will be taken as a single unit. Paddy procured
by the procuring agencies would be got milled from the rice millers
of the State as per Punjab Rice Procurement (Levy) Order 1983. The
spokesman said that each rice mill that was not registered previously
with the Food & Supplies Department or where there was a change
of partners / lesees wold have to be registered provisionally with
the concerned District Food and Supplies Controller by the 25.09.2008
to be eligible for custom milling of agencies' paddy.
The spokesman said that the purchase centres /mandis shall be
linked with the nearest milling centre/storage centre keeping in
view the availability of milling capacity at the milling/storage
center(s) at which paddy is proposed to be stored/got milled.
The policy has laid down very strict norms for shifting the paddy
in the state or outside the state to check malpractices and pilferage.
He said that the surplus paddy, if any, at a milling centre would
be shifted for its storage to the nearest milling centre keeping
in view the availability of milling capacity at that centre. He
clarified that in case the nearest milling centre did not have adequate
or surplus milling capacity, the surplus paddy would be shifted
to the next nearest milling centre and so on.
The spokesman said that for shifting Surplus paddy, if any, available
with any procuring agency in a district would be allowed only as
per the plan approved by the Director Food & Supplies, Punjab
and against the submission of Cash Security / Bank Guarantee / Corporate
Bank Guarantee by the millers, where the paddy was proposed to be
shifted. He clarified that Transportation charges of this paddy
would be borne by the concerned miller. The spokesman said that
it would be ensured that paddy was shifted directly from the purchase
centre/mandi to the mill premises and no cris-cross movement of
paddy stocks takes place.
Clarifying the policy for shifting stored paddy the spokesman
said that in case of second shifting of paddy i.e. the paddy already
shifted and stored at any particular place, the procuring agency
would shift paddy to the rice mills already allotted to them.
He said that the Policy has envisaged a rationalized policy for
storage of paddy. Paddy procured by the agencies would be by and
large, stored in the premises of the allotted mills in joint custody.
He said that bare minimum paddy should be stored in own custody
and that too under exceptional circumstances only with the prior
approval of the head of the procuring agency concerned. He clarified
that the paddy to be stored in own custody will be stored within
8 kilo-metres of the rice mills allotted to the procuring agencies.
Such paddy stocks are to be got milled from the mills allotted to
the agencies at the earliest possible so that agencies do not incur
avoidable financial expenditure.
The spokesman said that the responsibility for quality and quantity
for the paddy stored in own custody would be of the staff of concerned
agency. The paddy stored in the premises of rice mills will be under
joint custody of the rice millers and the staff of the concerned
agency for which responsibility for quantity and quality will be
of the concerned rice millers and the staff of the agencies. He
said that the miller would ensure the storage of the paddy stocks
of the agencies separately from that of his own purchased paddy
stocks by erecting a physical barrier such as a boundary wall or
a proper and durable fencing.
Clarifying the mechanism of monitoring the stock, the spokesman
said that the agencies' staff would conduct physical verifications
of the paddy stocks on a fortnightly basis. The district level officers
of the procuring agencies would also be equally responsible in respect
of quantity and quality of paddy stocks stored with the miller.
In case a rice mill was allotted to two or more agencies, the officers/officials
of the concerned agencies would conduct joint physical verification
of such mills.
Elaborating the allotment policy of rice mills the spokesman said
that Allotment of rice mills would be made by a district level committee
comprising all district heads of the procuring agencies headed by
the Deputy Director (Field) of the division concerned.
He said that the rice mills that have completed entire milling
of paddy stocks during Kharif 2007-08 and have delivered the resultant
rice, would be considered as eligible for allotment of paddy during
Kharif marketing season 2008-09. All the allotments of rice mills
would be completed before 26.9.2008.
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