Illegal hoardings to be made criminal offence: Sukhbir

by Punjabnewswire4u

LUDHIANA,  NOV 25

 The Punjab Government would soon enact a law to make illegal hoardings a criminal offence to check the increasing practice defacing the cities besides impacting the revenue of municipalities.

          This was disclosed by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal while interacting with media after inspecting the work on road along Sirhind canal. Mr. Badal said that the cabinet has already given nod to the new advertisement policy under which electronic bill boards would dot the cities. He said the cabinet would also soon approve a law for criminal provisions for putting up illegal hoardings. He said that the Punjab Government has decided to widen all the roads along the canals in the state with a view to upgrade this archaic road network besides providing better commuting facilities especially to the rural commuters .He said that he has asked to identify such important routes. He said that after completion of identification process, the construction of new roads would be started soon.

           He said that he issued directions for expediting work on Ropar-Neelon-Doraha canal-side and to conclude the project within stipulated time period besides maintaining the quality of work. 

          Mr. Badal said that the focus of SAD-BJP government in its second term was to make road infrastructure in the state best in the country as the four lane roads network to make the state epicentre of investment. He was happy that Punjab would be the only state in the country that would have its 90% National Highways four lane by next year. He said that with the completion of all ongoing projects 1600 Kilometers out of total 1703 Kilometers of National Highway would be four laned by December 2013.

          He informed that he has already given nod  to four  laning of 10 important roads at the cost of Rs 1357 crore, and asked the department to put four laning of Ropar-Chamkaur Sahib-Neelon-Doraha Road along Sirhind Canal, Kotkapura-Muktsar Road, Batala-Mehta-Beas Road, Kapurthala-Nakodar-Phillaur Road, Maanpur Head to Jagraon-Raikot Road along Abohar Branch, Maanpur Head to Barnala-Raikot Road along Bathinda Branch, Nidampur-Lehra Road along Ghaggar Branch, Rayya to Khara along Sabhraon Branch and Tanda-Shri Hargobindpur-Amritsar Road on fast-track and directed for its completion within next two years.

          He said that ambitious four laning of Zirakpur-Patiala (Rs 501 Crore), Patiala-Bathinda (Rs 2007 crore) has got nod of Cabinet Committee of Infrastructure Projects, whereas for Amritsar-Sri Ganganagar, Jalandahr-Jind Road, alignments have been already approved. He said that six laning of Shambhu-Jalandhar Road would be completed by June next year.

          Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon PWD Minister also accompanied the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister.

Badal relaunches Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme

by Punjabnewswire4u
CHANDIGARH, NOV 24   
In a bid to provide the cashless health care facilities and treatment to the members of the Cooperative societies and their family members across the state, Bhai Ghanhya Trust under the Chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal had re-launched the Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme for a period of another year w.e.f. November 20, 2012.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the scheme would remain operative up to November 19, 2013. ICICI Lombard G.I.C. had been appointed as Insurer after inviting tenders for the Scheme which had appointed MD India Healthcare Services Ltd. as Third Party Administrator (TPA) to implement the Scheme.
Each beneficiary under the scheme was issued a photo I-card having unique number to be presented by him while getting treatment in the net-work hospitals approved under the scheme. Every beneficiary was entitled to cashless treatment up to Rs. 1.5 lakh on family floater basis in any approved hospital and on re-imbursement basis in any government hospital in Punjab and Chandigarh for which he was required to submit the claim within 45 days from the date of discharge from the hospital. Each member and employee of any cooperative society in the State was eligible for enrolment under the scheme.
          The spokesperson said that all In-door treatments requiring hospitalization exceeding 24 hours including the pre-existing diseases were covered under the scheme subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme. Some OPD procedures like dialysis, chemotherapy, tonsillectomy, cataract, radiotherapy, lithotripsy etc. were also covered under the scheme. Each female beneficiary giving birth to a girl child in an approved or government hospital was entitled to an incentive of Rs. 2100/- under the scheme. Newly born child was covered under the scheme up to six months without payment of any additional premium subject to a maximum of Rs. 25000 including maternity expenses of the mother.
          While inaugurating the workshop of network hospitals here, Financial Commissioner Cooperation and Vice- Chairman of the Trust Mr. Viswajeet Khanna informed that nearly 85,000 beneficiaries have availed treatment worth Rs. 109 crore during the previous four policy plan periods. He, further informed that in order to improve the system relating to grant of authorization for treatment the system of e-authorization had been designed for the current scheme according to which the net-work hospitals instead of sending the request through fax will be sending the online request for treatment to  www. mdindiaonline.com of the TPA.
Mr. Khanna called upon the hospitals to provide hassle free cashless treatment to the beneficiaries. While assuring the hospitals of quick disposal  of their issues if any, he informed that serious view would be taken in case any hospital violated the terms and conditions of the scheme. Eight hospitals were de-panelled under the previous scheme resulting in their ineligibility for empanelment under the current scheme. Later on the TPA made a presentation before the representatives of the hospitals and answered their queries relating to the scheme.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Trust Mr. K.S. Palne also informed that the premium for main member for the current scheme was Rs. 1190/- as compared to 1480/- for the previous scheme. As many as 1.30 lac families having 3.06 lac beneficiaries had been enrolled under the scheme. Likewise, 193 private hospitals which included super-specialty hospitals like Shri Guru Ram Dass Hospital, Vallah, Hero Heart Hospital (for heart aliments only), Max hospital Bhatinda have been empanelled under the scheme for providing cashless treatment to the beneficiaries.

Punjab constitutes publicity committee for NRI Sammelan

by Punjabnewswire4u
CHANDIGARH, NOV 23
The Punjab Government has constituted a Publicity Committee for the NRI Sammelan under the  chairmanship of Mr Bikram Singh Majithia, NRIs Affairs Minister, Punjab. Three day NRI Sammelan  is being organized by Punjab Government from January  3 to 5 ,2013 at Chandigarh and Jalandhar.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab Government today said that besides the President, the committee has 6 members including Media Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Principal Secretary of the NRI Affairs Department, Principal Secretary Information and Public Relations Department, Commissioner NRI Affairs with Director Information and Public Relations Department and Special Principal Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab as Conveners.
BADAL EXHORTS PEOPLE TO FOLLOW LEGACY OF SRI GURU TEG BAHADUR JI
 The Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today exhorted the people to follow the high ideals of secularism, humanism and spirit of self sacrifice as preached and practiced by ‘Hind Di Chaadar’ - the Ninth Guru Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.
In his message on the Martyrdom day of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, the Chief Minister said that Guru Ji laid down his life to protect the right of freedom to worship and preserve human and secular values.  He said: “Guru ji’s supreme sacrifice is unique and un-paralleled in the history of mankind and symbolized the crusade against tyranny and oppression”.   The Bani of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji in Sri Guru Granth Sahib preaches oneness of mankind, universal brotherhood, valour, righteousness and compassion. “Our real homage to the great Guru would be to follow his teachings in true spirit and re-dedicate ourselves to serve society especially the poor and downtrodden with dedication and missionary zeal rising above the petty considerations of caste, colour, creed and religion”, said Mr Badal.
The Chief Minister appealed to the people to observe this sacred occasion by displaying the spirit of harmony and social cohesion to strengthen the unity and integrity of our country.
JASSI ENTHRALLS AUDIENCE ON PUNJAB DAY AT IIT FAIR
 The festivity of  ‘PUNJAB DAY’ was the centre of attraction at the Punjab Pavilion in 32nd, India International Trade Fair, 2012 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
          Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government said that a Cultural evening on the occasion was organized by the Punjab Small Industries & Export Corporation Limited, Chandigarh, where Jasbir Jassi, a renowned singer from Punjab enthralled the large number of audience with his popular songs and Mrs. Rajbir Kaur of Laughter Challenge, Kept the audience spell Bound with her witty humour. The Audience swayed with the pulsating rythem of the folklore.
The chief guests present on the occasion were Mr. Anil Joshi, Industries & Commerce Minister, Punjab, Mr. N.K Sharma, Chief parliamentary Secretary department of Industries & Commerce, Punjab was the guest of Honour. The other eminent guests present were Mr. Vikas Pratap, IAS Secretary and Director of Industries, Punjab, and Mr. M.P. Arora, IAS, Managing Director, PSIEC Ltd., Chandigarh. The above dignitaries also took a round of Punjab Pavilion before the cultural evening.



 

Sukhbir Badal to woo NRIs to invest in Punjab

by Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, NOV 23

The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, would use the platform of three day NRI Sammellan being organized by Punjab Government from 3^rd to 5^th January, 2013  to project the record development works initiated by SAD-BJP government during last six years besides sharing vision and plans for next 20 years with Punjabi Diaspora settled in various countries. The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, who is also Investment Promotion Minister of the state, would also impress upon foreign entrepreneurs to invest in the state that is all set to become most favoured investment of next decade.

            In a combined meeting of Empowered  and Organising Committee for NRI Sammellan that met under Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, NRIs Affairs Minister today explained the preparations being done by various departments for three day sammellan being organized first time in the state. Mr. Badal said that purpose of organizing sammellan for three day was to have an interactive session with the Punjabi Elected Representatives of various countries so that they could explain to us problems being faced by NRIs on the first day of the sammellan and Government accordingly could announce steps taken to redress those problems on the final day of sammellan.

 He said that the second day has been devoted to NRI Media to understand their problems and to work out the plan that how the Punjab Government can take its message in NRI Media. He said that the first two days of Sammellan would be held at Chandigarh and the concluding day sammellan would be held at Jalandhar.

            Mr. Badal asked IG NRI Affairs Mrs. Gurpreet Deo to finalise a scheme for protection of properties of NRIs, under which NRIs while going abroad would notify the area SHO, who would protect the property from encroachment, illegal alienation and would be responsible for any failure. Mr. Badal asked Home Affair and other concerned department to put up the bills regarding Human Trafficking Act, Compulsory Registration of Marriages of NRIs and amendment in the Revenue Act for getting the property of NRIs vacated from tenancy in the December session of Vidhan Sabha, so that these acts could be notified for well before the NRI Sammellan. It was decided in the meeting that PUDA would allot a site in Mohali for NRI Bhawan and foundation stone of the bhawan would be laid during the NRI Sammellan.

             The dignitaries during the sammellan would also be shown Virasat-E-Khalsa and Banda Bahadur Memorial.

             Prominent amongst those present in the occasion were included Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Member Parliament, Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, NRIs Affairs Minister, Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Education Minister, Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Tourism Minister, Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar, Transport Minister, Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, Rural Development and Panchayats Minister, Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, PWD Minister, Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, Mrs. Mahinder Kaur Josh, Mr. Mantar Singh Brar (all CPS), Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mr. Kamal Sharma (both advisors to CM), Mr. Tota Singh, Former Minister and MLA,  Mr. Pargat Singh, Mr. Gurpartap Singh Wadala and Mr. Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan, Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik (all MLAs), Mr. S.K. Sandhu, Principal Secretary to CM, Mr. P.S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy CM, Mr. N.S. Kang, Financial Commissioner Revenue, Mr. S.S. Channi, Principal Secretary NRI Affairs, Mr. A.R. Talwar, Principal Secretaries Industries, Mr. R. K. Ghanta, Commissioner NRI Affairs, Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Mr. Ajay Mahajan (both Special Principal Secretaries to Dy CM), Mr. Priyank Bharti, DC Jalandhar, Mrs. Alak Nanda Dyal, DC Kapurthala and Mr. D.S. Mangat, Director Public Relations.  

Memorial for Bhai Mati Dass, Bhai Sati Dass and Bhaii Dyal Dass

 by Punjabnewswire4u

SRI ANANDPUR SAHIB, NOV 23

        The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, today announced that the State Government would soon erect a monument in the memory of great martyrs Bhai Mati Dass, Bhai Sati Dass and Bhai Dyal Dass, who were martyred along with the Ninth Guru of the Sikhs Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji by the Mughals at Chandni Chowk in Delhi. The concept and design of the monument would be finalized in consultation with eminent Sikh scholars, intellectuals and religious personalities.

          Addressing a religious congregation here at Gurdwara Sri Bhora Sahib where nearly 5000 Brahmins from across the state had converged in the form of huge delegation led by the President Shri Brahmin Sabha Punjab Mr. Devi Dyal Prashar during a ‘Rin Utaar Yatan Yatra’ (a journey aimed at an endeavour to repay the debt of Guru ji), Mr. Badal said that it was historic day when the Brahmin community has come to the holy place of Sri Anandpur Sahib from where Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib launched his journey to save the Hindu community from the tyranny and oppression unleashed by the then Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1675.

          It may be recalled that Pandit Kirpa Ram Dutt called on Guru Teg Bahadur ji along with a delegation of 500 Brahmins from Kashmir urging him to protect them and their religion from the oppression of Mughals way back in 1675. 

The Chief Minister said that the unparalleled and unique sacrifice of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji would ever remain a source of inspiration for generations to come. Mr. Badal said Guru ji popularly known as ‘Hind di Chadar’ was the saviour of Dharma and crusader of religious freedom adding that it was immensely important for everyone to respect all the religions thereby fostering the bonds of communal harmony, peace, national integration and unity. He said the Sikh Philosophy was a perfect blend of socialism and secularism because the concept of Langar (community kitchen) propagated a sense of equality amongst the masses irrespective of caste, creed and colour where as secularism has been aptly demonstrated and exemplified by Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji’s martyrdom, who laid down his life at the altar of righteousness (Dharma) to save the Hindu religion from the tyranny of Mughals. He said our great Gurus; Sri Guru Arjun Dev ji, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji made supreme sacrifices for the welfare of humanity while fighting against injustice, cruelty and oppression. He said where all of us seek inspiration from Guru Teg Bahadur ji’s supreme sacrifice, at the same time we also pay rich tributes to his three accomplices Bhai Mati Dass, Bhai Sati Dass and Bhai Dyal Dass who were also martyred along with Guru ji.

          Appreciating the goodwill gesture of Brahmin Sabha to launch this journey for expressing gratitude to Sri Teg Bahadur ji for his unprecedented and unique sacrifice in the world history to ensure religious freedom to Hindu community, Mr. Badal said this journey should be made an annual feature to ensure participation of more people from barely thousands to millions from coming years. He said this journey should not merely viewed as an ordinary event but it was a great endeavour by the Brahmins Sabha to disseminate the message for strengthening the bonds of  communal harmony, secularism and brotherhood down the line. He said the alliance of SAD-BJP in Punjab was committed to ensure due respect to all religions in the state.

          Earlier in his address, the president of Brahmin Sabha thanked the SAD-BJP government especially the Chief Minister for giving due respect and recognition to the Brahmin community having population of nearly 40 lacs in the state. He said this was a humble effort to express gratitude to Guru Sahib for his great sacrifice to protect Hindus from the repression of Mughals. He said had Guru ji not protected the Hindus by laying down his life, then our community would have been no more as on today.

          In his message, the Jathedar Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Tarlochan Singh said that the holy place of Sri Anandpur Sahib was a city of bliss that affords an opportunity to entire mankind to respect the ethos of human values as preached by Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji  and Guru Gobind Singh ji.

                   Speaking on occasion, the Health & Family Welfare Minister Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal said that the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur ji for the sake of mankind would ever act as a beacon to imbibe the spirit of secularism and communal harmony amongst the youngsters.

          In his address, MLA Ropar Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema lauded the initiative of Brahmin Sabha to acknowledge the gratitude to Guru Teg Bahadur ji for protecting their community through his glorious sacrifice from the tyranny of the then Mughal Emperor, when they had left all hopes. He also welcomed Mr. Prashar’s another goodwill gesture to launch this journey every year to sensitize the people of his community about this great sacrifice.

          On the occasion, the Chief Minister honoured five members of Brahmin Sabha including its president with the portrait of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji and Siropa (rob of honor).

          Later in the presence of Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, the ‘Rin Utaar Yatan Yatra’ left off Delhi where the members would pay obeisance at Sri Gurdwara Seesh Ganj Sahib tomorrow on Guru ji’s martyrdom.

          Earlier, the Jathedar Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Tarlochan Singh performed Ardas ceremony for the success of the Yatra which started from Temple Maisrkhana in Bathinda district on Friday and reached Sri Anandpur Sahib in the evening on the same day.

          The function was attended by CPS Chaudary Nand Lal besides people from different walks of life, senior leaders and party workers of SAD-BJP, Members of SGPC and religious and spiritual personalities.

Punjab approves financial district plan at city centre Mohali

by Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, NOV 22

The Punjab Government has approved to acquire 5250 acres of land in Mulanpur area under land pooling scheme to ensure its development in an integrated manner. 

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the CMO said that a decision to this effect was taken during 14th meeting of Greater Mohali Area Development Authority under the Chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at CMO this afternoon. It was informed in the meeting that at present the private land promoters were developing nearly 1275 acres of land in a haphazard manner contrary to the approved Mulanpur Master plan of the GAMADA thereby flouting the requisite norms to ensure grid roads and city level infrastructure.

The authority also approved to acquire 162 acres of land under land pooling scheme in addition to 326 acres of already acquired land for the extension of Medicity phase II and Eco-city Phase II as per the Mulanpur Master Plan.

In another significant decision the Chief Minister also approved to setup a ‘Financial District complex’ over an area of 34.27 acres in the City Centre, Sector 62, Mohali to facilitate all financial institutions like Banks, Stock Market and Insurance Companies to establish their offices.

The authority further approved to soon finalise the policy for the auction of various commercial and residential vacant sites in the urban area of Mohali.  It was also decided in the meeting to allot 2.06 acres of land to the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), New Delhi for the establishment of their Regional Centre in Sector 79, Mohali free of cost under CDS scheme. 

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary Local Government Mr. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Housing & Urban Development Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar Secretary Expenditure Mr. Jaspal Singh, Director Local Govt. Mr. AK Sinha and ACA GMADA Mr. Manjit Singh.

Sukhbir Badal gives final touches to Ludhiana Project report

 by Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, NOV 22

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab today gave final touches to the Project Report of Rs. 9840 crore ambitious project of Ludhiana Metro, so that it could be submitted to Union Government for final approval.

          Accompanied by Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Local Bodies Minister and Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister, Mr. Badal held a high level meeting in which Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary Local Bodies Mr. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. Satish Chandra, Chairman Punjab Governance Reforms Commission Dr. Pramod Kumar and Chairman Right To Service Act Commission Mr. S.C. Aggarwal participated. Mr. Badal also approved the financial model for the Ludhiana Metro so that there should be least financial burden on people of Punjab.

Mr. Badal also approved the Metro Alignment from Aayali Chowk to BBMB Power Chowk that would have 15.70 KM out of which 12.152 would be elevated and 3.617 would be underground. It would have 11 elevated and 3 underground stations. Similarly, the alignment for Corridor-2 from Gill Village to Rahon Road was also finalized that would have 13.626 KM long with 4.886 elevated track and 8.740 would be underground track. Mr. Badal directed that there should be minimum possible displacement of people due to the metro project and Metro Authority can go for underground lines instead of displacing the people, it may raise the price of project. 

It was decided in the meeting that 11.70 acre of land would be required for alignment, station and receiving substation in Corridor-1 and 19.05 acre for Corridor-2. The land requirement for depots would be 65 acres for Baddowal Depot and 52 acres for Gill Village Depot. Mr. Badal was also finalized the relief and resettlement policy for the project.

Mr. Badal issued directions for time bound completion of this project asked the Local Government Department for Metro tracks in other corporation cities of the Punjab so that immediately after completion of Ludhiana Metro, the work other metro project could be initiated. It was decided that Ludhiana Metro be covered under Delhi Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance Act, 2002 and other legal framework controlling Delhi Metro).

Prominent amongst those present in the meeting Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Mr. Ajay Kumar Mahajan, Special Secretary to Deputy CM, Mr. Ashok Kumar Gupta, Secretary Local Bodies and other senior officers of various departments.