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SUN RISES IN PUNJAB
FAROOQ INAUGURATES INDIA’S FIRST EVER SOLAR POWER PLANT IN DISTRICT AMRITSAR
SUKHBIR SEEKS CENTRAL SUBSIDY FOR SOLAR TUBEWELLS

Chandigarh, December 15

The Sun rose in the border belt of Amritsar, ushering in new era of hope, prosperity and ‘powerful’ future as Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy today inaugurated India’s first ever commercial 2 MW Solar Power Plant proposed to be expanded to 5 MW in the District Amritsar. The plant set up by American Company Azure Power in IPP Mode in the sleepy village Awan 45 KM away from here, was formally inaugurated by Dr. Farooq Abdullah by switching on the button in the presence of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and local MP Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdullah said that this was first very important step taken by Punjab Government in fulfilling the Union Government target of producing 20,000 MW Solar Power by the year 2020 under it’s Solar Mission. Speaking about seriousness of rising pollution and worldwide outcry on cutting emissions, as being proposed in Copenhagen Summit, Mr. Abdullah said that this plant shows the seriousness of Indian Government to produce clean and emission free power, to save the planet from the ill effects of global warming. Drawing lessons from Ancient Indian history when five natural elements including Sun, Wind, Fire, Earth and Water were known as life elements of the planet earth, Mr. Abdullah said that his Ministry has now launched a campaign to draw clean energy from all these five elements in a unique way.
Speaking about future plans in the new energy sector, Mr. Abdullah said that the task of the Independent Power Producers was being facilitated by single window service in the Ministry. He said that his Ministry was targeting too produce 1300 MW power from new energy sector within next three years. Mr. Abdullah assured positive response to the demand of Deputy Chief Minister to enhance subsidy of Solar Tube wells for Punjab.

Welcoming Dr. Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Badal assured him that this experiment of Awan would be soon replicated in total border belt of Punjab with three Solar Power Plants of 10 MW each in each border district. He informed that Punjab has already achieved 282 MW in Renewable Power Sector and was aiming to increase it to 700 MW by the year 2011. He said that State has an ambitious programme to produce 300 MW power from 20 million tonnes rice husk, through 28 biomass plants being set up in Punjab.

Demanding restoration of enhanced subsidy on Solar Tubewells to the previous rate of Rs. 1.80 lac instead of present rate of Rs. 50 thousand, Mr. Badal said that farmers of Punjab, despite 50s percent deficient rains in Punjab have produced record 150 lac tonnes paddy for the national pool, spending over additional Rs. 3000 crores on diesel. Mr. Badal said that as Punjab farmers were performing the national duty, the New Energy Ministry should immediately sanction enhanced subsidy of Rs.1.80 lac for new 10,000 tubewell connections in Punjab.

Congratulating Dr. Abdullah and Mr. Badal, local MP, Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu said that a vision of Deputy Chief Minister to make Punjab power surplus by generating 5000 MW power in next two and half year was getting fructified.
Earlier, Mr. Vishavjit Khanna, Secretary, Science Technology and Enviroment informed that PEDA was performing pioneering role in attracting entrepreneurs in clean power sector. He said that PEDA has come out with zero cost models to provide efficient street lights in all urban areas of Punjab.

Mr. T.P.S. Sidhu, Chief Executive Officer, PEDA informed that Punjab under the NRSE Policy-2006 has achieved a total installed generation capacity of 282 MW and it is proposed to increase this capacity to a total of 700 MW by the end of the 2011.

Expressing his commitment to expand this 2 MW Plant to 10 MW, Mr. Inderpreet Wadhwa, CEO, Azure Power said that his company has already received sanction for 5 MW plant and has applied for expanding into 10 MW.
Earlier, Mr. Baliore Singh, Director, PEDA welcomed the Minister and spoke about the activities of PEDA.
Earlier, the Union Minister inaugurated the Solar Power Plant by unveiling the plaque and lighting the traditional lamp. Mr. A.S Bonney MLA was also present on this occassion

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PUNJAB SUBORDINATE SERVICES SELECTION BOARD RECONSTITUTED


CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 15:

Punjab Government has reconstituted Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) by appointing its Chairman and Members. A notification in this regard issued here today.

Stating this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Government said that as per the notification Mr. Santa Singh Umedpur of district Ludhiana would be Chairman of the Board whereas Smt. Seelam Singh Sohi, Mr. Gurmeet Singh Daduwal, Mr. Dial Singh Kolianwali of District Muktsar, Mr. Jiwan Dhawan of District Ludhiana and Mr. Darshan Lal Jethumajra of District Jalandhar would be its members.
The spokesman further said that appointments of the Chairman and Members would be effective from the date they assume the charge of their offices. The terms and conditions of service of the members would be settled in consultation with the Department of Finance and Legal Remembrances and would be notified later on.
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DR. SANDHA ASSUMED AS DIRECTOR ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPTT. PUNJAB

Chandigarh, December 15

Dr. Harjinderjit Singh Sandha took over as Director Animal Husbandry, Punjab today. He was earlier heading Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Jalandhar, which is providing disease diagnostic services to the livestock of Northern State including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Chandigarh.
Dr. Sandha, a Post Graduate in Veterinary Medicine joined the Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab in the year 1981 and has attended various National and International Workshops and Conferences. He has published more than 10 scientific papers in National and International Journals and he was also awarded by the C.M., Punjab recently for outstanding contribution in the field preparedness for control of Bird Flu in the State.
No.PR-09-955

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