Badals mourn death of Nawan Zamana correspondent

CHANDIGARH, SEPT 29
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad and untimely demise of Chandigarh-based correspondent of Nawan Zamana Baljeet Singh (52), who passed away after a massive heart attack in Kharar.
Recalling the outstanding journalistic services rendered by Mr. Baljeet Singh during his professional career, the Chief Minister described him as a fearless and upright journalist who discharged his duties with utmost dedication, sincerity and professional commitment. He said that in the death of Mr. Baljeet Singh a void has been created in the journalistic fraternity which was difficult to be filled in near future.
Sharing his heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family members, friends and relatives, the Chief Minister prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to them for bearing this irreparable loss in this hour of grief.
Meanwhile Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia also mourned the passing away of Mr. Baljeet Singh and shared their heartfelt condolences with the family.
Expressing deep shock over the death of Baljeet Singh the Governing Council on behalf of the members of the Chandigarh Press Club prayed to the Almighty to provide eternal rest to his soul and bestow his entire family with the strength to bear the loss.
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World Bank pats Punjab for PWWSS project Phase I

CHANDIGARH, SEPT 19
          The 16th World Bank mission today rated the achievements under Rs. 1280 crore Punjab Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (PRWSS) project Phase-I as the best in the country as the project has not only exceeded the implementation targets under water supply component by 127%, but was also providing water connections to each household in the village and running about 50 schemes on 24x7 basis.
These observations were made by the World Bank team led by its Task Team Leader Mr. S. Poddipireddy during a wrap up meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to apprise him about the progress and achievements made under the ongoing World Bank Aided PRWSS Project here at CMR on Thursday evening.  
Mr. Poddipireddy informed the Chief Minister that Water meters have been installed in 196 villages where water tariff was being charged on volumetric basis. More than 961 villages implemented under the project have already achieved 100% connectivity and each household in these villages was drawing high quality water from its own tap in the house. Gram Panchayat Water and Sanitation Committees (GPWSCs) of more than 50% (2083) villages implemented under the project were operating and maintaining their schemes on sustainable basis without any financial assistance from the Government and have even generated sufficient funds in their Operation & Maintenance (O&M) accounts varying from Rs. one lac to 10 lac, which was the unique achievement of the project. He envisioned Punjab to be a role model state for others to replicate this project in the country.
The team task leader also apprised Mr. Badal that World Bank has already accorded in principle approval to Rs. 2200 crore Phase-II of PRWSS project on the recommendations of Union Ministries of Finance and Water Supply & Sanitation for providing the facility of sewerage system and potable drinking water besides setting up of Capacity Building Project Management and Training Institute in the state. 
While highly appreciating the performance of Phase-I of the project, Financial Expert from the World Bank Mr. Tanuj Mathur remarked that initially it was apprehended that since the project was to be implemented by adopting decentralized mode, the GPWSCs may not be able to manage the funds properly for the implementation of water supply schemes, but the regular auditing of financial accounts of GPWSC by independent auditors have not revealed any discrepancy. This was mainly due to excellent management of the accounts by GPWSCs with the assistance of department. Mrs. Vandana Mehra, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Specialist from World Bank conveyed that woman folk in the villages also expressed extreme happiness and satisfaction about the assured availability of water as a result of this project.
Mr. Poddipireddy said that the World Bank mission was fully satisfied with the performance of project and the enormous support and cooperation rendered by the officers of the state government to ensure its implementation within stipulated time schedule. He also thanked the Chief Minister for his overall supervision, guidance and regular monitoring of the project activities without which the outcome achieved under the project would have not been possible. He said that it was purely an imitative CM to motivate the village panchaytas and the local residents of the village during his visits to the different parts of the rural areas across the state for making mandatory contribution for the scheme besides sensitizing them about the significance of good quality water to stay healthy and fit.  He also told Chief Minister that at present the work on 44 water supply, 57 sewerage schemes and 43 water supply augmentation schemes was in full swing and would be completed by December, 2014. 
Prominent amongst who were present in the meeting Water Supply & Sanitation Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, FCD-cum-Principal Secretary Water Supply & Sanitation Mr. Suresh Kumar, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar,  Mr. A.K. Soni CE-cum-Program Director and Mr. S.R. Aggarwal Chief Technical Coordinator.
The World Bank team was led by Mr. S. Poddipireddy, Task Team Leader besides other members including Co-Team Leader Ms. Partibha Mistry, Mr. Tanuj Mathur, Financial Specialist from World Bank and Mr. Manish Kumar, Ms. Vandana Mehra and Ms. Laura Inha from WSP.
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Written test fpr 110 posts of female sub-inspectors on Oct 12

CHANDIGARH, SEPT 14
Written test for recruitment for 110 posts of Sub-Inspectors (Female) in Punjab Police has been scheduled for October 12. The successful candidates of ongoing physical trials would be only eligible for written test.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesman said that written test would be conducted at Jalandhar on October 12, 2014. He said that the further details regarding written test centers would be uploaded on the websites of C-DAC, Mohali ( www.recruitmet.cdacmohali.in ) and Punjab Police ( www.punjabpolice.gov.in ). He has asked the concerned candidates to ensure their participation at the concerned centre.

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KCE students shine in varsity exams

 AMRITSAR, SEPT 10

 Khalsa Colleeg of Education (KCE) students bagged all the top positions in the M.Ed. Examination of Guru Nanak Dev University. The first position was bagged by college student Parul Aggarwal, second by Najish Randhawa and fourth by Romika Sharma, said Principal Dr.Jaswinder Singh Dhillon in the press reelase here today.

He said out of total 34 students appeared  in the exam, 28 students passed out with distinction. He congratulated students and their teachers for the success and added that university’s other top positions were bagged by their students including sixth position held by college student Amandeep Kaur, seventh by Kawaljeet, eighth by Shaizla and nionth by Kawaljit Kaur.

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Badal confident of Centre bailing out Punjab from financial crisis

CHHAPAAR (LUDHIANA), SEPT 9
          Silencing the controversy erupted over the issue regarding the denial of financial package to Punjab by the Union Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that he was confident that the Centre would certainly bail out the state from the financial stringency in the near future.
                Talking to the media persons on the sidelines on the Chhapaar Mela, the Chief Minister categorically said that Mr. Arun Jaitley was a true statesman and a seasoned politician of high stature, who never nursed any personal grudge against any individual or party. Mr. Badal reiterated that the SAD-BJP has a pious and long lasting alliance, where such petty considerations have even no place in the minds of national leaders like Mr. Jaitley, who was ever vying to ensure overall development and prosperity of the states to make our nation strong without any bias or prejudice. 
          Replying to another question about making the Mr. Arun Jaitley’s letter public as demanded by PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa, the Chief Minister said that the said letter has been widely published in the media and now there was hardly any need to make it public.
          Showing deep anguish and concern over the attacks on the Sikhs in Pakistan, the Chief Minister said that he would certainly take up this matter with the Union Government to seek their intervention to urge the Pakistan National Government to ensure the security and safety of the Sikhs living over there. 
          Expressing solidarity with the millions of J&K people tormented by the recent worst ever flash floods in the valley, the Chief Minister said that he would soon talk to his J&K counterpart Mr. Omar Abdullah to extend all possible assistance in this hour of crisis as per their requirements. Mr. Badal said that he had even asked the SGPC and other voluntary and religious organizations to come forward for organizing free community kitchens (langars) in the valley to provide food and succor to the distressed families. He also offered all sort of help to the J&K government for carrying out evacuation of marooned families stranded in deep waters and their subsequent rehabilitation.
          Chiding the Congress for their partisan role to weaken the Sikh institutions, the Chief Minister said that the sacred Institutions like SGPC were the strong hold of Sikh community and such deliberate attempts to destabilize them would never be tolerated by the Sikhs. He said that it was very unfortunate and highly deplorable on the part of Congress to meddle in the religious affairs of the Sikhs, which had ever remained inimical to the Sikh community. Mr. Badal said that the Congress ruled states like Haryana and Maharashtra have vindicated our stand that Congress was an anti-Sikh party as it was solely responsible for creating separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee on one hand and diluting the membership of SGPC from four to one in the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Management Board, Nanded Sahib besides even denying the lone membership to the Chief Khalsa Diwan.
          Earlier addressing the public gathering on the historic Chhapaar Mela, the Chief Minister highly appreciated the political acumen and leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, who had already won the hearts of billions of people across the world especially through his visits to Bhutan, Nepal and Japan to strengthen the bi-lateral ties with these countries. He said that SAD had special love and affection for Mr. Modi which was evident from the fact that the SAD was the first party which came forth to declare him as a future Prime Minister of the country even much before nearly three months from elections. He said Mr. Modi’s special bond for Punjab and Punjabis would ensure rich dividends to the state in the coming days adding Mr. Badal said that the period of three months in saddle was hardly any time to concentrate on all issues. Mr. Badal said that Punjab would be richly compensated for its enormous contribution in the National development especially in the field of agriculture, as this frontrunner state had been blatantly  ignored by the previous Congress led UPA government.
          Highlighting the major achievements of SAD-BJP alliance government in the field of education, health care and power, Mr. Badal said that the day was not very far of when Punjab would soon become No. 1 state in the country.  He said that the state government was laying special emphasis on the core sector of health and education besides skill development to ensure gainful employability of the youth.
          Making frontal attack on the AAP, the Chief Minister said that its sudden popularity has been completely vanished like a sand dune perished by the whirlwind. He said people have duly realized its real existence due to which its candidates could not even save their security deposits in the recently concluded by-poll to Patiala and Talwandi Sabo Assembly segments. He said it has no political future and could not befool innocent people of Punjab any longer. 
          Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Mr. Sharanjeet Singh Dhillon, Advisor to CM Mr. Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Mr. Manpreet Singh Ayali, Mr. SR Kaler, Mr. Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Mr. Ranjit Singh Dhillon (All MLAs), PSSSB Chairman Mr. Santa Singh Umaidpuri, Former Union Minister Mr. Balwant Singh Ramuwalia besides senior leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP.
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Badal seeks advice from Jaitley for helping J&K

CHANDIGARH, SEPT 9
          Punjab Chief Minister  Parkash Singh Badal today called up the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to advise the state government to extend all sort of assistance in the best possible manner to the hapless victims of recent flash flood in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office said that the Chief Minister sought advise from centre in this regard as he was unable to establish any contact with his J&K counterpart Mr. Omar Abdullah due to snapped telecommunications line as the entire valley has been cut off from the rest of world. Mr. Badal urged the Union Minister to update the state government about the requirement of relief and rescue material for the rehabilitation of the flood victims after establishing a contact with state government through Defence Telecom services.
Reiterating that the floods in Jammu and Kashmir were a national tragedy, the Chief Minister assured the Government of India (GoI) that the state would extend fulsome support and cooperation to the hill state in this hour of crisis. Expressing deep concern over the havoc and devastation caused by floods which left behind a trail of unprecedented death and destruction in the valley, Mr. Badal said that the Punjabis were firm believers of the ethos of universal brotherhood, communal harmony, tolerance and peace as propagated by the Sikh Gurus, saints and seers, therefore the state government would make all out efforts to help the Centre and Jammu-Kashmir governments in rescue operations.
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CM rejects any possibility of reviewing power subsidy

Nawanshehar (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar), Sept 9
Out rightly rejecting any possibility of reviewing the ongoing power subsidy to the farmers in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that the providing subsidies to compensate the farming community for ensuring food security was a ‘global phenomenon’.
Interacting with the media persons after dedicating the newly constructed ultra modern Civil Hospital to the nation here today, the Chief Minister categorically said that there was no need for reviewing or rationalizing the ongoing power subsidies to the farmers as it was the bounden duty of the state government to share the whopping burden, meted out by them while serving the entire country. He said that the hard working and resilient farmers of the state had played a vanguard role in making the country self reliant in food production and the power subsidy was a meager way to compensate them for this gigantic task. Mr. Badal said that the countries across the globe were assisting their food growers by extending them such subsidies adding that Punjab was no exception to it.
   Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the SAD-BJP alliance would contest the coming civic body polls in the state together. He said that the necessary strategy for contesting these polls would be chalked out soon by the top brass of both the alliance partners.
Terming the floods in Jammu and Kashmir as a national tragedy, the Chief Minister said that the state would extend fulsome support and cooperation to the hill state in this hour of crisis. Expressing deep concern over the havoc and devastation caused by floods which left behind a trail of unprecedented death and destruction in the valley, Mr. Badal said that the Punjabis were firm believers of the ethos of universal brotherhood, communal harmony, tolerance and peace as propagated by the Sikh Gurus, saints and seers, therefore the state government would make all out efforts to help the Jammu-Kashmir government in rescue operations.
When asked to comment on INLD MP Mr. Dushyant Chautala’s statement that Mr. Badal would be the star campaigner of their party in Haryana, the Chief Minister said that SAD has always stood by the side of their allies and therefore he w  ould be certainly campaign for INLD in the ensuing assembly polls. Mr. Badal said that the SAD and INLD had contested the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls together and there was hardly anything objectionable in it. “Late Chaudhary Devi Lal and his family have close ties with us, so both of us will contest these polls together” he added.
Later on while addressing a mammoth gathering the Chief Minister listed the initiatives taken by the state government to emerge Punjab as a major hub of Super Specialty treatment across the globe. He said that the setting up of the Homi Bhabha Cancer Treatment and Research Center at Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) was a right step towards this direction. Mr. Badal said that the state government has already made elaborate arrangements to provide state of the art treatment to the patients afflicted with the cancer in the Government Medical Colleges at Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot besides the upcoming ultra modern Cancer treatment centers in Bathinda and Sangrur. He further said that the state government had also initiated a cashless treatment scheme for the cancer patients besides making efforts to provide subsidized medicines to them.
Likewise, the Chief Minister said that the state government had already declared a war on drugs and crores of Rupees were being spent on the establishment of Drug de-addiction centers and Rehabilitation centers for drug addicts across the state. Highlighting the significance of Skill training, Mr. Badal said that the state government was fully seized with the problem of growing unemployment and the only solution to tackle this menace, especially amongst the college/ school drop outs, was to impart Skill training in different fields to enable them to earn their livelihood. He said that the state government has set a target of training nearly one lakh youth annually under various skill development programs in order to cater the needs of the local industry.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Ministers Mr. Surjit Kumar Jiyani and Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema, Lok Sabha MP Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Chaudhary Nand Lal, Chairman District Planning Committee Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Chaudhary Mohan Lal Banga, senior Akali leaders Mrs. Satinder Kaur Kariha and Mr. Jagteshwar Singh Majithia, Principal Secretary Health Mrs. Vinnie Mahajan, his Special Principal Secretary Dr. S Karunaraju, Managing Director Punjab Health Systems Corporation Mr. Hussan Lal and Deputy Commissioner Mrs. Anandita Mitra.
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Joint US, Japanese educational delegation visits KCPS

AMRITSAR, SEPT 6

A unique joint delegation, comprising educationists from United States and Japan today visited Khalsa College Public School (KCPS) and witnessed amalgamation of cultural dances and music programs. They also had a firsthand experience of imparting of educational instructions in classrooms.

 The delegates were from renowned university including Universities of Stanford, Oregon, Rhode Island of USA and Universities of Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan. KCPS students presented cultural extravaganza including traditional Punjabi dances Gidda, Bhangra, Jagoo and Japanese dance of `Saiyo Nara’ to welcome the delegates who were overwhelmed to see the talent.

 The visit was part of the inter-cultural exchange programs between various countries, said Principal Dr. Sarvjit Brar. She said they were exploring the avenues for more educational exchange programs in future too.

Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina honoured the guests and stated that it is a rare opportunity and motivational experience for students to interact with the faculty and scholars of the world renowned universities. 

 Sonia Dhillon Marty coordinator of the delegation said the visit was part of their program for studying cultures around the world and educational instruction methods. The delegation also visited historic Khalsa College and along with the Principal Dr.Mehal Singh they took a round of the college corridors and praised its architectural designs and art.

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CM gives nod to establish new mandi township at Samana

  CHANDIGARH, SEPT 6

In a bid to ensure excellent infrastructure and better marketing facilities to both the farmers and traders, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal gave approval for transferring 28 acres, 05 kanals and13 marlas  land  to the Nagar Council, Samana in district Patiala for setting up new mandi township  .

 Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said Mr. Badal also cleared the file for issuance of notification in this regard under section 3 of the Punjab New Mandi Townships (Development and Regulation) Act.

It may be recalled that the Punjab Cabinet has already given its nod to the state Agriculture Department to transfer 33 mandis including Samana mandi established by the erstwhile Pepsu government to the local government in November, 2012.

Punjab all set to mechanize harvesting of green peas

CHANDIGARH, SEPT 6
Punjab is all set to undertake entire peas farming operations through hi- tech mechanization and the clearance to procure 'Green Peas Harvesting Machine' by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal was a right step in the direction to bring 'Green Peas' Harvesting technology with a thrust to promote food processing industry on one hand and diversification of agriculture in the state on the other.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that, the Chief Minister gave nod to purchase this ultra modern machine from Holland based firm Ploeger at a cost of Rs 3.50 crore for the mechanized plucking of peas, which would not only curtail the labour cost but also enhance the value addition as the peas plucked through this machine would be 100% utilized for processing. The state government through Punjab Agri Export Corporation Limited has identified Green Peas Harvestor of Hollond and was being imported as a prototype. The main purpose for introducing this harvester in the Punjab was to mechanize green peas harvesting technologies. This effort of the state government would help the farmers/processors to enhance area under peas and also result in diversification in agriculture. It has also decided to develop indigenous harvester and successful working of above Holland make machine. The indigenous machines would be developed at much lower cost once a prototype was available. It may be recalled that against 40 lakh Metric Ton of Peas produced in India only 10% were processed resulting in 1.25 lakh metric ton of frozen peas. On the contrary developed countries like UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Netherlands and USA indulged in 100% processing of peas because these countries had processing plants with mechanized harvesting operations of huge capacity.
The spokesperson further said that Punjab was the only state of the country which was endowed with excellent agro ecological conditions such as climate, soil, water, sunshine, etc., which were highly conducive for growing of several varieties of various crops. Predominantly, cereal crop productivity in the state has reached a plateau and cost of cultivation was increasing at a much faster pace than that of the final selling price. Therefore, the state government was laying thrust on cultivation of Fruits and Vegetables, as an alternative crop to ensure better remunerative prices to the farmers. However, absence of requisite harvesting machinery and cool chain Infrastructure has adversely hampered distribution, processing and exports of horticultural produce.
As the farmers of Punjab were gradually taking up cultivation of horticulture crops viz. fruits& vegetables, thus it has been felt that comprehensive Infrastructure Development like harvesting machinery, setting up of nurseries, proper collection, handling, transportation, sorting, controlled atmosphere cold storage, processing facilities and a marketing network were the need of the hour. Thus, in order to enhance area under vegetables and give a boost to diversification in agriculture besides encouraging food processing industry in the state, the Punjab Government has decided to introduce mechanized harvesting of green peas and other vegetables in the state, which would not only bring down the cost of harvesting but would also help the farmers to take up another additional crop as its harvesting period would be reduced by over one month.
It may be recalled that at the national level 40 Lacs MT of Green Peas was produced mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan out of which, only 10% was processed, with annual production of around 1.25 lac MT of Frozen Green Peas. Likewise, Pea was the most popular crop of Punjab and in the year 2012-13 Green Peas were grown on 20,326 hectares across the state with production of 2,08,171 MT. Out of this only 10-15% was processed by Frozen Vegetables Processing Plants located in the state. Due to the manual picking of Green Peas farmers faced huge problems in organizing semi-skilled women labour, which not only increases the cost of Green Peas but also restricts adequate quantity supplies to the processing industry. Owing to this more than 50-60% demand of Green Peas Processing Industry was met through procurement from the adjoining States like Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand.
Presently, the farmers of Punjab were gradually taking up cultivation of horticulture crops viz. fruits & vegetables. During 1996-97, the production of vegetables was 16.99 lac MT which has gone up to 41.02 lac MT during 2013-14. Pea is the most popular crop of Punjab and Patiala,Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Sangrur, Faridkot are major fruits & vegetables growing districts in the state of Punjab.