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Anti piracy cell constituted under IG to wage a war against piracy-Sukhbir Singh Badal


Chandigarh, February 26

The Punjab Police today formally constituted a state level anti piracy cell headed by IGP/Crime here at Punjab Police Headquarters for ensuring proper coordination and the multi-pronged action against Audio/Video Piracy fulfilling the commitment made to entertainment industry last fortnight.

Disclosing this here today Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal who is also having the charge of Home Department said that the menace of piracy was killing the entertainment industry besides encouraging unauthorized activities. He said that Punjab Police had been receiving a large number of complaints from genuine manufacturers and producers of Audio/ Video cassettes, CDs and other such goods regarding large scale unauthorized copying and sale of this material by certain unscrupulous and anti-social elements. Mr. Badal said that such unlawful activities also affected the social and cultural fiber of the State apart from harming the economic and intellectual rights of the manufacturers, producers and artists.

Explaining the legal position of piracy the Deputy Chief Minister said that piracy constituted cognizable and non bailable offences under the provisions of India Copyright Act 1957 and the Indian Penal Code. He said that police has been given directions to launch statewide raids including searches & seizures and initiate watertight legal action against these unscrupulous elements engaged in large scale illegal copying and selling of such materials.

Giving the details of this cell Mr. Badal said that IG Crime would be assisted by DIG Crime and would be authorized to take assistance from one or more Gazetted Officers of the Crime Wing as well as field units. He said that It would also have a law officer to provide legal assistance and representatives of the Audio/Video industry would also be associated with the Cell as non-official members.

Mr. Badal said that according to the action plan drawn for the cell it has been asked to collect actionable information about activities of piracies and pirates in the State in liaison with the field units for taking firm legal action against the offenders. He said that the cell would also compile of data on anti-piracy work in the State in coordination with other agencies/ organizations dealing with the subject.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that Congress government lacked political will to deal with menace of piracy as most of their coterie members were direct or indirect beneficiaries of this illegal trade. He said that due to lack of implementation of piracy laws has assumed the proposition of multi-thousand Crores illegal industry causing a death knell for legal entertainment industry. He said that cell has been asked to ensure systematic and effective action against such criminals and draw up a strategy.

Giving the details of the proposed strategy the Deputy Chief Minister said that it involves sensitizing the Gazetted Officers, Investigating Officers and the general public about the seriousness of the problem by holding of seminars/ workshop etc. He said that cell would also form training modules for ensuring flawless investigations. Mr. Badal said that he was asking cell to actively associate the Complainants/representatives of the industry with the investigation proceedings like search and seizure process.

Stressing upon the need of strict punitive actions against offenders Mr. Badal said that since the offences under chapter XIII of the Copyright Act- 1957 were cognizable and non bailable, the police should ensure to take the accused on sufficient police remand for finding out the modus operandi and the nexus. He has directed the police that after the completion of the investigation, the challan be presented in the court within the stipulated limit so as to ensure that the accused is not released on bail for the reasons of delay in putting up the challan in court



Sukhbir’s booster dose for hospitality and realty sectors-Slashes luxury tax to 4% from 8% and 10%, EDC payment deferred by one year
Announces regularization of unauthorized colonies

Chandigarh, February 26

Economic meltdown and recession hit hospitality and realty sectors today got a breather with Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal announcing a stimulus package for hospitality and realty sectors of the state by slashing luxury tax to 4% from 10 and 8% in marriage palace and hotels respectively and deferring EDC payment by one year for realty sector. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today also gave a sigh of relief to thousand of residents of unauthorized colonies by announcing their regularization by including them in town development scheme with certain conditions.

Addressing the two different meetings of Punjab Hotel, Restaurant, Marriage palace and Resort Association and another meeting of Colonizers and Property Dealers Association here today, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal announced that regularization of unauthorized colonies by including them in town development scheme subject to fulfillment of some conditions. Allotees/Assosiations would have to ensure 30 feet wide road in the colonies with 5 percent green belt and they would have to pay Rs. 400 per square yard development charges.
Small colonizers and property dealers got a gift from Deputy Chief Minister as S. Sukhbir Singh Badal announced reduction from 75 Acre limit to 25 Acre for development of a colony. For development of group housing societies 10 Acre limit has been reduced to 5 Acres. Recession hit realty sector was joyous as S. Sukhbir Singh Badal announced deferment of external development charges by one year and also reducing surcharge for late payment from 19 percent to 2-3 percent.

Mr. Badal said that only way to overcome session was to increase government investment in infrastructure sector. He said that SAD-BJP government was following the same principal by focusing on infrastructure sector.
Describing hospitality sector was the engine of growth of an economy; Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP government was committed to stimulate this industry by announcing cut in luxury tax. He said that reduction of luxury tax to 4 percent from 10 and 8 percent would provide much needed boost to this industry. He promised that if NDA was voted to power he would get hotel sector declared as infrastructure sector that would enable hotel industry much better tax and bank interest concessions. He said that we should learn from tourism industry of Bangkok and regretted that a city state of Bangkok was getting 8 million tourists per year compared to 2 million received by a vast country like India. He said that Punjab was determined to encourage religious and historic tourism in the state.

Prominent among those who spoke in these two occasions were Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon MP, Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Harish Bedi MLA, SAD-BJP nominee from Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat Mr. Gurcharan Singh Galib, Chaudhary Madan Lal Bagga, Vice Chairman Punjab Trade Board, Mr. Maheshinder Singh Garewal and Mr. Jagdish Singh Garcha both former ministers and Mr. Hakam Singh Giaspura, Mayor Ludhiana.



Chandigarh; February 26

Clarifying on reports that appeared in some section of the Media, Sh. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to Government Punjab Department of Irrigation & Power stated that he did not say that power cuts in Punjab would continue.

Instead, he stated that government is conscious of the shortage of power and has directed Punjab State Electricity Board to make all possible arrangements to ensure its maximum availability of power in the coming summer would be finalized by PSEB in next two weeks and fresh schedule of supplies for industries and other consumers would be issued by PSEB in March 2009.


Assured enough power during March, April and May

Chandigarh February 26:

Sh Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Power and Irrigation, Punjab assured that the industry shall be provided with enough power during March, April and May while addressing the industrialists at PHD Chamber during the interactive session regarding issues related to power and industry on Wednesday.

While reiterating the commitment of Punjab Government to improve power situation in Punjab, he informed that during the months of December, January, February and March, Punjab supplies power to Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Orissa etc. under barter/banking system under which same amount is supplied back to Punjab during the paddy season which helps reducing the gap between the generation and demand of power in the state.

As long term measures, Sh Kumar said that with the commissioning of Goindwal, Talwandi Sabo, Gidderbaha, and Rajpura thermal plant, power shortage would be done away with by 2012. Also that the coal-pit-head and hydel power generation initiatives of the government shall help relieve the reeling industry. PHD Chamber believes that the government should keep in mind that the demand is also increasing by 15%.

Sh Suresh Kumar had a very positive approach resolving the operational issues raised by industrialists. “While we will do the summer scheduling for the paddy season, we shall inform the masses about the power cut plan through advertisements and public notices on Saturdays in English and Punjabi newspapers”, said Sh Suresh Kumar. By withholding the CE (SO&C) circular 3/09 dated 23.01.2009 Sh Kumar acceded to the major demand of PHD Chamber regarding grant of continuous process status to industry.

While relieving the industries situated in rural industrial zones, he agreed that there should be no need of NOC from PUDA. Sh Kumar agreed to the issue of more than one connection for two or more units within a single plot. He also agreed to the demand of adequate power supply on weekly off days so that necessary routine office work can be done. He acceded to the industrialists’ demand of withdrawal of special cut of two hours from 7 am to 9 am assuring that the power will be provided on continuity basis.

On the issue of file processing taking long time due to handling by two offices, technical and commercial, Sh Kumar echoed industry’s concern to Sh Brar, Chairman, PSEB and agreed that only one official should handle the files. Sh Kumar also directed the officials present to sort out the administrative and operational issues at the earliest. Sh Kumar agreed to capacity enhancement at Mubarakpur sub station and Saidpura sub station in industrial belt of Derrabassi.

PHD Chamber voiced its concern over the Octroi charge on electricity bill reiterating that it should be withdrawn with immediate effect since no where in India is such redundant charge levied.
The industrialists demanded that the PSEB should work on commercial lines so that the end users woes are redressed without fail. Because of global meltdown, industry in India too has not been left untouched. The industries in Punjab are reeling under poor power situation which needs to be redressed immediately. Besides, revenue and employment generating industry should be treated at par and the government should rethink about cross-subsidisation.



PUNJAB STATE DECLARED AS THE WINNER OF RENEWTECH INDIA-2009 STATE AWARD FOR BIOMASS ENERGY PRORAMME IN THE COUNTRY

Chandigarh February 26

The State of Punjab has been declared as the winner of Renewtech India- 2009 State Award based on the case study competitions on Renewable Energy among various states and union Territories organized by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, in partnership with Indiatech Foundation and Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Sh. T.P.S. Sidhu, PCS, Chief Executive, PEDA informed that they had taken part in the Newtech India competition in the Renewable Energy Sector on behalf of Punjab Government and we are happy to inform that this prestigious award in the Bio-Energy Sector will be given to PEDA on March 5,2009 in Pune during the International Conference. He said that Biomass is the key resource of Renewable Energy in Punjab and as per the various assessment studies conducted by PEDA with the Central Government funding, the estimated power generation potential from Biomass is around 1000MW. The power projects of 38MW in the IPP Mode and 135MW in the Cogeneration sector are in operation and new projects of 320MW capacity have been initiated. Sh. Balour Singh, Director informed that out of the new projects initiated during the last year, 7 projects of 75MW at village Manuke Gill, Tehsil Nihal Singhwala and Bagha Purana, District Moga, village Bir Pind, Tehsil Nakodar, District Jalandhar, village Deepsingwala, Tehsil Faridkot, village Ramiana Tehsil Jaito, District Faridkot, Village Binjon, Tehsil Garhshankar, District Hoshiarpur and village Talwandi Rai, Tehsil Raikot, Distt. Ludhiana will be commissioned by March 2010 for which land has already been procured and other environment clearances obtained.





Bhandari Nominated as Chairman of Market Committee Gurdaspur

CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 26:
The Punjab Government today nominated Mr. Yogesh Bhandari as the Chairman of Market Committee, Gurdaspur.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government said that Mr. Yogesh Bhandari Chairman had been nominated under Sub Section (1) of Section 16 of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961. The respective notification relating to the nomination had been issued by the State Agriculture department.