| Connecting
over 25 millions NRIs worldwide |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||
 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUNJAB CROSSES PROCUREMENT MARK OF 140 LAC MT OF PADDY CHANDIGARH NOVEMBER 26: In a rare feat Punjab has already surpassed the target of procurement mark of 140 lac MT of Paddy during the current Kharif marketing season as the Government agencies and private millers had procured 140.70 lac MT of paddy till last evening. Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Paddy procurement during current Kharif season had been all smooth and hassle free so far due to the concerted efforts of the Food & Civil Supplies department and other state procurement agencies. He said that smooth procurement was evident from the fact that 140.70 lac MT of Paddy had already been procured so far over the 131.27 lac MT procured during the last season despite late arrival of the crop due to adverse weather conditions and late sowing of Paddy. Out of total procurement of 140.70 lac MT of Paddy in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 137.52 lac MT of Paddy (97.7%) till date whereas private traders procured 3.18 lac MT (2.3%) of Paddy. Till November 25, PUNGRAIN had procured 40.97 lac MT (29.8%) whereas MARKFED procured 28.40 lac MT (20.7%). PUNSUP procured 31.52 lac MT (22.9%), Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 16.80 lac MT (12.2%) whereas Punjab Agro Industries Corporation was able to procure 13.11 lac MT (9.5%) of Paddy. The Central Government agency FCI had procured 6.69 lac MT (4.9%). Besides, 99% of due lifting had been done and 95% of due payment to the tune of Rs.13996.70 crore had been made to the farmers. The spokesman added that Sangrur district with 17.10 lac MT of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas district Ludhiana with 16.70 lac MT of procurement was at second slot and district Patiala with 13.38 lac MT of procurement ranked at third position. The State Government had set up nearly 1600 procurement centers and activated its entire machinery to ensure smooth procurement of 140.70 lac MT of Paddy, the spokesman added.… ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chandigarh, November 26: Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Information and Public Relations Minister Punjab today warned Congress led Union Government to desist from taking any step to adversely affect the territorial claim of Punjab on its Capital Chandigarh. Strongly reacting to Union Home Ministry's attempts to wean away the charge of Administrator U.T. Chandigarh from Punjab Governor under the pressure of Congress led government in Haryana, Mr. Sekhwan said that any tinkering with present arrangement would be strongly resisted by all justice loving Punjabis living all over the country. The Public Relations Minister reiterated that Chandigarh was created as Capital of Punjab and in all state reorganizations, the Capital city always remained with the parent state while the newly carved states were asked to set up own capitals. He said that Congress at the time of reorganizations in 1966, played fraud with the sentiments of Punjabis, by denying capital constructed by them with the sweat of their brow. Even at the time of implementation of Rajiv-Longowal accord, the Chandigarh was to be transferred to Punjab on 26th January, 1986, but Congress again fell to the mechanizations of anti-Punjab lobby and back-tracked from Accord, that was written by the blood of Sant Longowal. Recalling the innumerable sacrifices made by Akalis for seeking the merger of Punjabi speaking areas with Punjab and to guard the water rights of Punjab, Mr. Sekhwan said that since independence, the Congress had been using every occasion to rob Punjab and their designs failed due to strong mass movements launched by Akalis from time to time. He said that by raking up this issue of Administrator, designed to weaken the claim of Punjab on Chandigarh, the Congress was at its old games and was putting salt on the old wounds of Punjabis. Giving a call to Punjabis to use every possible forum to expose the real game of congress party in this issue, Mr. Sekhwan urged Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to personally intervene to stop Home Ministry to make Punjab a laboratory of nefarious experiments again.
Chandigarh, November 26: The Punjab Government has decided to purchase incinerators for destruction of narcotic drugs recovered by the police to avoid pollution. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) that was held under the Chairmanship of Additional DGP/Intelligence, Mr.Suresh Arora here today in which the officers from IB, Customs & Excise, Narcotics Control Bureau, BSF, Railway Police and IGs zones participated. It was informed in the meeting that Deputy Chief Minister Mr.Sukhbir Singh Badal has asked the department to stop the old practice of burning the seized drugs openly and assured full financial support for purchase of pollution free incinerators. It was decided in the meeting to give coordinated thrust to the ‘War on Drugs’ already going on in the state and launch special campaign to arrest Proclaimed offenders and absconders wanted in NDPS Act cases. Each department of state and central Law Enforcement Agencies was asked to nominate a nodal officer to coordinate and share information relating to smuggling of drugs and related crime so that narcotic smugglers could be tackled in a united way. Narcotic Control Bureau was also requested to provide sample of narcotic drugs for training purposes. --------------------------------------------------------------- CHANDIGARH NOVEMBER 25: The Punjab Government today nominated Mr. Tarlok Singh as Chairman and Mr. Balraj Singh as Vice Chairman of the Market Committee of Kalanuar and Mr. Aqbal Singh as Chairman and Mr. Dilbagh Singh as Vice Chairman of the Market Committee of Dhariwal in Gurdaspur district under Sub Section (1) of Section 16 of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, besides 14 members of the Market Committee, Kalanuar, 10 members of the Market Committee Dhariwal and 6 other members of the Market Committee Gurdaspur under Section 12 of Punjab Agriculture Produce Markets Act, 1961 (Punjab Act No.23 of 1961).Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the respective notifications relating to these nominations had already been issued by the State Agriculture department.
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has strongly urged the Union Minister of Road & Highways Mr. Kamal Nath to develop the entire length of NH-71 from Jalandhar to Bawal via Moga-Barnala-Sangrur-Jind as four-lane corridor on priority basis. In a letter to Mr. Kamal Nath, the Chief Minister assured the Union Ministry of Roads & Highways of full support and co-operation on behalf of the state government as time has given us an opportunity to re-write the history of development of this region and the country. The Chief Minister also thanked Mr. Kamal Nath for taking up the four-laning of Zirakpur-Patiala-Sangrur-Barnala-Bathinda section of NH-64 in Punjab on Design, Build, Finance, Operation and Transfer (DBFOT) pattern. This endeavor of Government of India would immensely benefit the agriculturally and industrially important districts of Patiala, Sangrur and Bathinda in Punjab. Mr. Badal further mentioned that industrial towns of Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Ambala and Panipat were connected with Delhi and rest of the country by four lane section of NH-1, which was now being widened to six lane under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) program. This section of NH-1, being the only major connectivity corridor for the state of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir with rest of country, had already exceeded its capacity and with the ever increasing demand of traffic, six-laning would not provide any long term solution. As such, Government of India may have to look for the development of alternative routes for the hassle free movement of traffic and keep the overwhelming pace of industrial development/activity being witnessed by the country in general and North Indian states in particular. The letter also mentioned that in such an impending scenario, four-laning of entire section of NH-71 from Jalandhar to Bawal via Nakodar-Dharamkot-Moga-Barnala-Sangrur-Narwana-Rohtak, passing through the heart of both Punjab and Haryana, would be a viable option to usher in the industrial and agricultural development of these under-developed regions of Punjab and Haryana. The Chief Minister apprised Mr. Kamal Nath that Union Ministry of Road & Highways has planned the four-laning of Bawal-Rohtak -Jind section of NH-71, but the balance section from Jind-Sangrur- Barnala- Ramgarh-Moga-Dharamkot-Nakodar-Jalandhar also needed to be four-laned on priority basis as entire four-laned corridor between Jalandhar up to Bawal along NH-71 would provide an alternate route to NH-1 for most of commercial traffic bound for Kandla and Mumbai ports. This would not only ensure free and fast movement of traffic by reducing the traffic burden on NH-1 but also lead to equitable socio-economic and industrial development of all the regions of Punjab and Haryana, thereby creating more employment opportunities for the people. INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT PUNJAB TOLL FREE LINE TO REGISTER WATER SUPPLY COMPLAINTS REGISTER YOUR COMPLAINTS ON 1800-180-2468 handigarh, November 25: Punjab becomes the first state to start 24 hour toll free line to register the complaints regarding supply of potable water to the rural areas of the state. Disclosing this here today an official spokesman said that the under the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, a 24 hour 'Complaint Redressal Centre' has been setup in Mohali, to expeditiously deal with the complaints of poor and erratic water supply besides monitoring the redressal of complaints. The Centre has been linked with toll free line for the convenience of poor public who from any part of the state, can dial on this toll free number from any PCO without paying a single penny. He said that any consumer can register his complaint on toll free phone number 1800-180-2468 regarding any problem being faced by them regarding supply of potable water in rural areas. Complaint can be registered in Punjabi, Hindi or English languages. On registration of complaint every consumer would be given registration number of complaint and concerned water supply division would be immediately directed to rectify the fault in water supply. The spokesman said that this toll free line is a step towards administrative reforms ushered in by Deputy Chief Minister to provide door step service to the consumers besides bringing accountability in the public dealing departments. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While addressing the first ever state level Conference of the officers of the department of Finance here today, Mr. Badal said that all the 21 district treasuries and 69 sub treasuries located in various districts of the state of Punjab including Chandigarh have been computerized adding a lot of efficiency in monitoring of government revenue and expenditure. He also said that financial frauds and embezzlements have also been checked by utilizing computers and least manpower. Responding to the long pending issues of the officers of the Finance Department including the filling up of the vacant posts, the Minister has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary Finance which would submit its report within three weeks and posts would be filled within six months, he said. To sort out all the operational difficulties and in order to streamline the functioning of the department, Mr. Badal along with the district level officers took a pledge to wipe out corruption, poverty communalism and anti-national activities to evolve a healthy nation. Adding further, Mr. Badal said that Internal Audit Wing for conducting audit of major revenue earning departments like Transport, Excise and Taxation, Revenue, Chief Electrical Inspector of government of Punjab would go a long way to plug the loopholes and toning up the quality of assessment and collection of revenue. He also said that internal audit organization has shown a remarkable increase in the revenue and recoveries on account of various audit reports. Mr. Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary Expenditure and Mr. C.S.Talwar, Special Secretary, Finance also addressed the officers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Empowered Committee on Mega Projects today approved 7 new Mega Projects in Punjab with an investment outlay of Rs.1269.49 crore. These projects will generate employment for 3528 persons, according to the Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains. The projects approved in the meeting included one manufacturing project of Vardhman Texgarment Limited at Ludhiana, four Multiplex/Hotel projects to be developed by Silvercity Construction Limited at Zirakpur, C&C Towers Limited (Rs.251.27 crore) at Mohali, Bharti Reality Limited (Rs.311.18 crore) at Ludhiana and Trif Amritsar Projects Private Limited (Rs.550crore) at Amritsar. Besides, two New Agri Mega Projects would be developed, One each by Duli Chand-Narender Kumar Exports Private Limited (Tarn Taran district) and by Shree Hari Spintex Limited at Maur Mandi (Bathinda district) added Mr. Bains. The Media Advisor further said that the Empowered Committee had also given an extension of six months to LT Overseas Ltd. to establish its unit at a new site at village Warpal in Amritsar district. The unit has been mandated to be made functional by September 2010. Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting were Local Government Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Food & Supplies Minister Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Forest Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud, Tourism Minister Mr. Hira Singh Gabria, PWD (B&R) Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains. Besides, Chief Secretary Mr. S.C. Agrawal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. D.S. Guru, Principal Secretary Industries & Commerce Mr. S.S. Channey, Financial Commissioner Development Mr. N.S Kang, Principal Secretary Irrigation & Power Mr. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. Karan A. Singh, Secretary Housing & Urban Development Mr. Arun Goyal, Secretary PWD (B&R) Mr. Kulbir Singh, Managing Director Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Mr. S.K. Sandhu, Secretary-cum-Director Industries Mr. S.S. Rajpoot and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar were also took part in the meeting. Mr. Badal was accompanied by Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains, Chairman District Planning Board Mohali Mr. N.K. Sharma, MLA Morinda Mr. Ujjagar Singh Badali and his Principal Secretary Mr. D.S. Guru besides apart from several Akali and BJP leaders and workers. Answering to the question Mr. Badal said that all the previous governments were responsible for the delay in constructing the befitting memorial of the iconic-nationalist Sikh hero Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Mr. Badal said that he had already finalized a comprehensive plan to build-up such suitable memorials to commemorate the historic incidents of “Chhota and Vadda Ghallughara” (holocaust) at Kahanuwan in district Gurdaspur and Kupraheeran in district Barnala respectively. Mr. Badal further said that the state government had already given in-principle approval to give 20 acres of land for the construction of Minar-e-Fateh and the beautification of the site. He said he had convened a meeting of renowned Sikhs historians and scholars late last evening at his residence to chalk out the modalities for finalization of concept and design of the proposed memorial to commemorate the historic battle fought by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in May 1710. He assured the members of the coordination committee for the memorial of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at the site that the state government would extend full support and cooperation to complete the entire project with-in a time frame in view of its greater significance since the Tercentenary Anniversary of the Battle falls on May, 2010. The Chief Minister further informed that he had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Punjab Agricultural University Dr. Jaspal Singh to prepare a concept paper in the light of historic perspective of Chhapar Chiri battle which would be recreated at the site through light and sound programme. The committee would also finalize the panel of architects and the landscaping experts to whom this project should be entrusted. The other members of the committee would be the eminent Sikh scholars Dr. Harnam Singh Shan, noted historian Dr. Kirpal Singh, Dr. J.S. Grewal and Professor and Head Guru Nanak Dev University Dr. Sukhwant Singh and Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture Ms. Gitika Kalha. Earlier the Sarpanch of the village Subedar Surjit Singh and member of the coordination committee Mr. Jora Singh showed the site to the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, on the demand of the local Village Panchayat Mr. Badal announced a grant of Rs. 3lac for the gymnasium and 5 marla plots for the houseless poor for the construct of low cost dwelling units. Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Deputy Commissioner Mohali Mr. Prabhjot Singh Mand and SSP Mohali Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paying tribute to the Guru Teg Bahadur on the occasion of his martyrdom day, the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal said that the martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur is an occasion to perpetuate the lofty ideals of peace and harmony. Mr. Badal said: “Guru Teg Bahadur’s supreme sacrifice is unique and un-paralleled in the history of mankind and symbolized the crusade against tyranny and oppression”. The Chief Minister appealed to the people to participate in unison for the observance of this auspicious occasion by displaying the spirit of harmony and social cohesion to strengthen the unity and integrity of our country. Cooperative Societies to Set Up Market Hubs, Diesel Pumps and Godowns to Become Self Sustaining Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Cooperation Department to open more agro-service cooperative centers in the state to provide 100% services for agricultural operations to the farmers on cooperative basis thereby slashing the input cost on agricultural implements and also announced to honour such cooperative societies which offered these services to the majority of farmers within their domain. Reviewing the functioning of the cooperation department in a meeting with the field officers here at Punjab Bhawan this morning, the Chief Minister asked both the Joint and Deputy registrars of the cooperative societies to motivate the farmers to utilize the services of these centers for various farm operations to enhance their profitability as the profit margins were already narrowed down due to low returns on their produce far want of remunerative MSP. He said this move would help the farmers to save lot of extravagant expenditure on agricultural implements & tractors and funds saved thus could be optimally spent on other unavoidable agriculture operations. Mr. Badal was informed in the meeting that so far 358 such agro-service centers had been opened which were offering the services of tractors, laser levelers and rotavetors to the farmers besides 492 new centers would be soon set up after getting clearances from Punjab State Farmers’ Commission which gave 33% subsidy for this purpose. The Chief Minister assured the cooperative department that adequate funds would be immediately transferred from Rural Development Fund to the Farmers Commission for the quick disposal of pending cases of agro-centers. Outlining the need to make the existing cooperative societies to make them far more broad based as ‘multipurpose societies’ so that these could become economically viable and financial self sustainable, Mr. Badal directed the cooperation department to undertake multifarious activities besides its traditional role of supplying credit and fertilizers to the farmers. He asked them to set up market hubs through the cooperative societies to provide consumer items to the villagers. These hubs would also patronize the cooperative department’s ‘Mai Bhago Women Empowerment Scheme’ to offer a marketing support and network to sale their handicrafts and artifacts produced under the scheme. He also asked the cooperative societies to carryout the collection of electricity bills in the villages and directed the Chairman PSEB to utilize the services of cooperative societies for the collection of bills as well as distribution of CFLs. Mr. Badal also reviewed the functioning of the cooperative sugar mills and asked the MD Sugarfed to immediately seek report from the consultant who had been entrusted with the task for recommending financial reforms for these closed sugar mills. MD Sugarfed also informed the Chief Minister that co-generation activity in few of the cooperative sugar mills taken over by private players would be commenced soon. Mr. Badal also asked the MD Milkfed to immediately to fix up a meeting of chairman National Dairy Development Board Dr. Amrita Patel with the Punjab government to explore the possibility to improve the planning and functioning of the milk plants being run by Milkfed. Punjab amongst one of the four states selected It may be recalled here that Punjab is one of the four states selected by the Asian Development Bank for such project. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu are the other three states. Rs. 40 Crore would be spent during first year and the entire project would be completed with in five years. Emphasizing the need for world class infrastructure to promote sustainable and inclusive tourism development Mr. Badal said that there was a great tourism potential in the state as Punjab was a mosaic of religious, historic, cultural, colonial historic and natural heritage. The Chief Minister also asked the ADB team to include the historic event of Chota Ghallukara in Khanuwan in Gurdaspur district in the Sikh Heritage Circuit. Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Tourism Minister Mr. Hira Singh Gabhria, Chief Secretary Mr. SC Agrawal, Financial Commissioner Forest Mr. RC Nayyar, Principal Secretary Tourism Mrs.Geetika Kalha, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. DS Guru, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar. ---------------------------------------------------------------------
PUNJABGURU TEG BAHADURJI WAS AN EPITOME OF GREAT COURAGE AND CONVICTION-SUKHBIR
In a message on the eve of martyrdom day of ninth Guru, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Guru Teg Bahadur was an epitome of great courage and conviction. The supreme sacrifice made by the great Guru beckons us to uphold the truth and justice at any cost. His teachings of selfless service and brotherhood will continue to inspire generations to come, the Deputy Chief Minister added. Mr. Badal said that this sacred day of the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur ji gives us an opportunity to resolve to prove ourselves worthy of his legacy. He said that the ideals of secularism and humanism which the Guru stood for would continue to guide our path always.
|
|
|
| NRI
News Media |
|
|