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CM AND MIPR MOURNS SAD DEMISE OF RAMESH AHUJA Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mr. Ramesh Ahuja, the father of Bureau Chief, Business Standard Ms. Komal Amit Gera, who passed away early this morning due to a heart stroke at Panchkula. He was 65 and is survived by wife, a son, and a daughter. Mr. Badal expressed his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to give strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to the departed soul. Meanwhile, Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Information & Public Relations Mr. DS Guru and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister & Director Public Relations Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar also shared their condolences with the members of the bereaved family. It may be recalled that Mr.Ahuja served in Haryana Government as Joint Director (PR) at Chandigarh and retired in 2002. CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 04: Public Offices will remain closed for Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday (January 5); Basant Panchmi and Satguru Ram Singh’s birthday (January 20); Republic Day (January 26); Sri Guru Ravidas’s birthday (January 30); Maha Shivaratri (February 12); Holi (February 28); Shahidi Divas of Bhagat Singh (March 23); Ram Navami (March 24); Mahavir Jayanti (March 28); Good Friday (April 02); Baisakhi and Dr. B.R.Ambedkar’s Birthday (April 14) ;May Day (May 1); Parshuram Jayanti (May 16); Guru Arjun Dev’s Martyrdom day (June 16); Kabir Jayanti (June 26); Shahid Udham Singh’s martyrdom day (July 31); Independence Day (August 15); Janamashtami (Sptember 2); Id-ul-Fitr (September 11); Baba Sri Chand’s birthday (September 16); Birthday of S. Bhagat Singh Ji (September 28); Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday (October 2); Agarsain Jayanti ( October 8); Birthday of Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji (October 9);Dussehra (October 17); Maharish Valmiki’s birthday (October 22); Diwali (November 5); Vishwakarma day (November 6); Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) (November 17); Guru Nanak Dev’s birthday (November 21); Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom day (November 24); and Christmas (December 25). New Year Day (January 1); Lohri (January 13); Nirwan Diwas of Bhagwan Adinath Ji (January 14); Id-e-Milad (February 27); Hola Mohalla (March 1); International Women Day (March 8); Buddh Purnima (May 27); Nirjala Ekadashi (June 22); Death Anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji (June 29); Birthday of Baba Jiwan Singh Ji (September 5); Anant Chaturdashi (September 22); Birthday of Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadur (October 16); Karva Chauth (October 26); Birthday of Sant Nam Dev Ji (October 26); New Punjab Day (November 1); Goverdhan Pooja (November 6) Muharram (December 17) and Jor Mela Fatehgarh Sahib (December 24,25 and 26) are restricted holidays in the Calendary, 2010. CHANDIGARH DECEMBER 3: The Council of Ministers today approved the summoning of the 8th Session of 13th Vidhan Sabha from 7th December to 11th December, 2009. A decision to this effect was taken here at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal this evening. Giving the details, Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains said that the session would commence on December 7 in the afternoon with obituary references. Legislative Business would be undertaken on December 8 and 9 and non-official business on December 10, 2009. On December 11 the house would adjourn sine-die after the proposed legislative business. The Council of Ministers also gave green signal to enhance the pay package of Rural Medical Officers employed under Zila Parishads on contractual basis from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 37,250 per month. The Council of Ministers also approved the draft bill for the legislation of the revision of court fee rates in the forthcoming session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha.The Council of Ministers also gave approval to increase the rate of tax from 8.8% to 12.5% on premium diesel under Punjab VAT Act 2005. This decision would comply the directions of Empowered Committee at National Level and also earn additional revenue amounting to Rs.39.92 crore per annum approximately. The enhanced rates would be applicable from the date of the publication of the notification. The Council of Ministers also approved to grant freedom fighters samman pension of Rs.3500/- per month as a special case to Mr. Tafique Kitchlew son of great Martyr Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew. The Council of Ministers also gave nod for the enhancement of salary, allowances and other facilities to the members of Punjab Vidhan Sabha and also approved to enhance the pension of ex-members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly.The Council of Ministers also approved to amend the clause 78 (a) of the Articles of Association of Punjab Water Resources Management & Development Corporation earlier known as the Punjab State Tubewell Corporation. The proposed provision would restore status-quo ante and empower the state government to appoint Chairman and Directors of corporation which shall not be less than three or more than fifteen. The Director including the chairman/vice Chairman and the managing director shall be appointed by the government and shall be paid such salary or allowances as the government may from time to time determine. Subject to the provision of section 314 of the Act, such reasonable additional remuneration as may be fixed by the government may be paid to anyone or more of the directors for extra or special services rendered by him or them or otherwise. The Council of Ministers also approved the amendment of the Punjab Agriculture Produce Markets Act-1961 to reconstitute the dissolved market committees in state till December 31, 2009 and to revalidate the works done by the administrators during the period of dissolution of the market committees till the said date. The Council of Ministers also gave approval for a change of land use of the land of the Abohar Cooperative Spinning Mills Ltd. from industrial to residential since the mill was under liquidation. Consequently, the Council of Ministers also approved the waiver of Rs. 65.40 lakh on account of change of land use demanded by the Chief Town Planner Punjab in view of its inability to deposit these charges. The Council of Ministers also approved the nominal lease rate of Rs. 6/- per square yard per annum regarding half an acre of land allotted to Punjab Olympic Association for the construction of Olympic Bhawan at Sports Complex Sector 63, Mohali. The Council of Ministers also gave ex-post facto approval for the extension in the One Time settlement (OTS) scheme up to August 31, 2009 and December 31, 2009 under OTS Policy-2009 notified by the state government on March 2, 2009 to provide relief to the loanees of PSID, PAIC and PFC. … Chandigarh DECEMBER 3:The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Union Power Minister Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde to advice the Nuclear Corporation of India to bear with the state government for the delay in the site selection process.In a letter to the Union Power Minister, Mr. Badal informed him that he had already directed the Chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board to coordinate with the Chairman and Managing Director of the Corporation to pursue the matter further. Mr. Badal pointed out that Punjab was a densely populated State and most of the area was under intensive cultivation, due to which the whole exercise was taking some time. He however, reiterated that the state was very serious in finding a suitable site for setting up of a nuclear power plant in Punjab. The Chief Minister further said that the Ministry of Power, Government of India was vigoursly pursuing proposal to set up nuclear power stations in the country. “Even we are very keen to have a nuclear power station in Punjab and in pursuance of a letter received from Nuclear Power Corporation of India we had already initiated the process of selection of a suitable site in the State”, wrote Mr. Badal.… -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHANDIGARH DECEMBER 3: CHANDIGARH DECEMBER 3: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal said that the country may face serious economic, social and political crisis if successive governments at the Centre continued to thrust arbitrary policies on the poor farmers thereby grossly neglecting the ground realities affecting the agriculture economy of Punjab.Addressing the inaugural Session of Eima-Agrimach India 2009 at Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, Mr. Badal said that there would be huge dichotomy between the rise of the input cost incurred by the farmers and relatively meager raise in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of their products.Deviating from his prepared speech, Mr. Badal demanded that inputs of farmer’s product should be raised with the consumer price index. The Chief Minister also called for a “liberal one-time package for Punjab farmers to save them from crippling debt problem. He said; “Even farmers in Punjab are burdened with a huge agricultural debts. This reality leading to serious situation for which the opportunistic elements were out to exploit in order to cause social and political unrest in the country”. This could pose a serious danger if the situation in the country worsened in the times to come. He said that policy makers in the Govt. of India need to be more conversant with the ground reality regarding poverty of the Punjab farmers, observed Mr. Badal.Lauding the farmers’ community for its stellar performance in boosting the nation’s economy, Mr. Badal said that the Punjab farmers had proved the agri-experts wrong by achieving a record breaking mark of 142 lakh MT of paddy production. This is because the Punjab farmers nurtured his crops like his own children. He even sold their household jewelry to invest on saving his crops. In this process, he (Punjabi farmer) saved the country from starvation.Describing the farmers of Punjab as the best in the world, Mr. Badal recalled that during his visit to the USA he was taken to the some of the best farms under that country, “I was pleasantly surprised to find that all the farms were owned by Punjabis, said Mr. Badal. The Chief Minister complemented the Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, GoI, for supporting this International Exhibition on Agricultural Machinery. He also appreciated the Indian Council for Agriculture Research, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries and UNACOMA Service, the Italian Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers, for organizing the first edition of EIMA Agrimach India 2009. He also complemented Mr. Roberto Toscano, the Ambassador of Italy for taking the initiative for holding this event showcasing the strength of farm machinery manufacturers of Italy. Mr. Badal said that the mechanization was bound to play a vital role in improving the productivity of agriculture in future. In addition to the existing machinery, there seems to be great opportunity for developing machines for performing jobs which were still largely performed by human labour such as transplantation of paddy, picking of cotton, fruits and vegetables, inter-culture of closely planted crops, harvesting of sugarcane etc. With the increase in the cost of seeds particularly hybrid seeds, the demand and use of precision planters was likely to increase. The Chief Minister said that agricultural research, development and its dissemination have played a key role in improving agricultural productivity, food security, reducing poverty during Green Revolution, especially in the areas with assured irrigation facilities. Mechanization along with biological and chemical innovations have brought about a tremendous change in the techniques and practices of agriculture particularly in Punjab. He said that agriculture in Punjab today was known for its mechanization in the area of land preparation, irrigation, threshing and produce transport. About 85% of area under wheat and paddy was harvested by self powered or tractor driven harvester combines. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Roberto Toscano, the Ambassador of Italy in India said that Italy was known for high quality agricultural implements and Italian manufacturers are producing equipments worth more than 8 billion Euro per year. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains and Special Principal Secretary Mr.KJS Cheema. Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Govt. of India, Prof. K.V. Thomas; Secretary Agriculture, Govt. of India Sh. T. Nanda Kumar; President FICCI, Sh. Harshpati Singhani. ---------------------------------------------------- Chandigarh, DECEMBER 3 : Mr. Sukbir Singh Badal, Deputy CM Punjab today announced that border villages would be given priority in deploying teachers and doctors being recruited SAD-BJP Government. Interacting Media flanked by MPs including Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Mr. Rajmohinder Singh Majitha and Cabinet Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike after laying foundation stones of 66 KV substations at Bhittewad Wadala, Basrke Gillan and inaugurating another 66 KV sub station at Hosiarnagar near Amritsar, Mr. Badal said that civic infrastructure, health network and school education of border villages had crumbled due to the lopsided policies of previous Congress Government. He said that by not recruiting a single employee during their 5 years tenure, the school education especially in border villages suffered most with government inheriting 25000 vacancies of teachers. He said that we have recruited 15000 teachers and were in the process of recruiting 10000 more who would be deputed in border villages. He said Health Department was in process of recruiting 256 more doctors who would be made to serve rural population, especially the most neglected border villages. Reiterating the commitment of SAD-BJP Government to make Punjab power surplus by 2011, he said that besides completion of three thermal plants at Goindwal , Talwandai Sabo and Rajpura, the Punjab Government was exploring all non renewable sectors to tap every single unit of power. He said that these beggase based plants besides providing additional income of Rs. 3000 per acre from agricultural residue to the farmers, would also generate precious power for the state. He said that two plants have already been commissioned in Malwa region and remaining 26 would start generating power by the end of next year. Expressing happiness of finalizing the bid of L&T for Rajpura Thermal Plant, Mr. Badal said that he was happy to see his dream of making in Punjab Power Surplus fructifying. Mr. Badal said that besides focusing on power generation the Punjab Government has set aside Rs. 1350 crore to strengthen power transmission network in the State to help 20 lac power consumers of Punjab. He said that by strengthening the network, the PSEB would save 15% power transmission and distribution losses by next year. Seeking special central package for strengthening infrastructure in border areas Mr. Badal said that Chief Minister Punjab had already approached Union Home Minister to sanction the continuance of Rs. 3000 per acre per year compensation to the farmers of border areas, having their cultivable land beyond border fencing that was started by NDA government led by Mr. Vajpayee. He said that border areas of Punjab had economically suffered due to repeated Indo-Pak wars and decade long era of disturbance and now it was imperative for Union Government to upgrade these areas by sanctioning special package for Punjab. Pleading to make NREGA and other central funded schemes State specific, with giving discretion to respective State Government’s to mold these schemes according to the local requirements, Mr. Badal said that ‘drawing room plans’ made by Congress led UPA, can not be made applicable universally without looking at ground realities in each state. Unfolding his vision to develop Amritsar as international tourist hub, Mr. Badal informed that besides Rs. 350 crore Asian Development Bank plan for the city, and integrated master plan by the foreign consultants for Amritsar was in offing. The ambitious plan would involve construction of heritage village, preservation and beatification of Ram Bagh Gardens, preservation of historic Town Hall building, setting up of Food Street, development of pedestrian plaza opposite Golden Temple, restoration and preservation of Historic Gates and massive restoration of Gobindgarh Fort besides strengthening the infrastructure of Amritsar City to make it tourist friendly city. He said that Punjab Government would soon launch International and National Media campaign to attract more tourists. He commented “It is his emotional commitment to develop this holy city and it is my moral responsibility to fulfill this vision for the city”. When asked about SGPC elections Mr. Badal said that Shiromani Akali Dal fully prepared to meet this challenge and to expose the anti panthic agenda of congress agents. He said that they were awaiting formal elections announcement by the Sikh Gurudwara Election Commission. Later, addressing the mammoth rally in the village Baserke Gillan, Mr. Badal gave a call to the people to expose the nefarious designs of Congress Party that was planning to sabotage the territorial claim of Punjab on its capital Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas by trying to wean away charge of Administrator U.T. from Punjab Governor. He said that SAD-BJP Government would appose this move of Union Government tooth and nail. ---- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclosing this here today Mr. Rajinder Singh, 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 ensured that suspect did not escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State. Giving further details Joint Director added that during the last month the special courts have sentenced thirteen accused including three GOs and nine NGOs and a private person after finding them guilty for one year to three years imprisonment with fines in twelve different vigilance cases which included three GOs namely Surinder Singh Sidhu PCS, DTO Moga, Subhash Chander Garg Block Panchayat Officer Distt Mansa, Balwinder Singh SDE, Marketing Board Bathinda and two Sarpanchs and two PSEB officials.
Addressing the industrialists on the second day of Punjab International Trade Expo 2009, Mr. Badal said that in the post license Raj regime, Industry can be lured only by ensuring proper infrastructure, road and air connectivity besides surplus and cheap power. He said that his vision in this direction was near completion and it would have multiplier effect on industrial growth. Mr. Badal said that following the approval of a Rs. 900 Crore project for the four laning of 146 Km. long Patiala-Bathinda National Highway-64, work would soon start to complete this road by February 2012. Reiterating the determination of SAD-BJP government to upgrade the road network in the state, Mr. Badal said that other roads being upgraded include four laning of Chandigarh-Ludhiana-Ferozepur Road (NH-95) including 68 Km of Kharar-Ludhiana section to be completed at Rs. 410 crores and 92 Km long Ludhiana-Talwandi section to be completed at the cost of Rs. 560 crores. Congratulating the people of Amritsar, the Deputy Chief Minister also informed that the work of a 20 Km stretch between Jalandhar and Dhilwan would also be allotted to the present contractor of Dhilwan-Amritsar section for ensuring its speedy completion. Mr. Badal said that long pending four laning of 102 Km. long stretch of Amritsar-Pathankot Road (NH 15) has also been approved and this project would be completed by NHAI at the cost of Rs. 800 crores.Mr. Badal said that Punjab is all set to emerge as the most air connected state of the country with the commencement of international flights from Mohali Airport and domestic flights from Sahnewal airport from December this year. Describing airport connectivity as engine of growth, Mr. Badal said that starting of international flights from Mohali besides helping the Punjabi Diaspora would also give an impetus to international trade. He said that the economic prosperity and development of any place depended on “ports and airports.” Since Punjab is a land locked state with no access to sea, it desperately needed to open up its skies for increased air connectivity since that was the only way for it to have access to global economies, Mr. Badal added. Mr. Badal announced that Punjab government would soon setup International level convention centre at Amritsar to facilitate business exhibitions in the holy city. He also agreed to make Punjab Expo an annual feature. Earlier Mr. Rajiv Bali Chairman PHD Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Deputy Chief Minister. Mr Badal went around the various pavilions and evinced great interest in Pakistani craft. The Tractor ride on new model of Tractors enthused the young Deputy Chief Minister. Mr. Badal also released an Amritsar City Guide and exhibitor’s catalogue on this occasion. Mr. Rehan of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce honored Deputy Chief Minister with special memento.
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