PPP TO OPPOSE DISMANTLING OF BHATINDA THERMAL PLANT

The Punjab People's Party (PPP) will oppose the proposed dismantling of the ash-spewing thermal plant of Bhatinda with tooth and nail as committed by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The party will launch agitation if needed in this regard. Stating this, PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal told reporters that his party would also oppose forcible acquisition of land in Gobindpura village by the state government for setting up a thermal power plant there in the private sector. Activists of his party would stage dharna on August 27 at Gobindpura in favour of owners (farmers) of the said land.

Supporting the ongoing agitation of social activist Anna Hazare, Mr Badal said his party was strongly opposing not only corruption but also deadly against drug abuse, unemployment, illiteracy, poverty and inefficiency whereas agitating Hazare was only fighting against corrupt prevailing system which could not be changed through non-violence agitation. It could only be changed with competition.

Read More:http://www.punjabmailonline.com/Punjab_News_news2.aspx#52528

PPCB CONDUCTS RAIDS ON INDUSTRIAL UNITS

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) tightened its noose around the industries which are located along Lissara drain and raided four industrial units.

Four teams headed by Senior Environmental Engineers raided Nabha Paper Mill, Dhuri, Vishal Paper Mill, Malerkotla, Abhishek Paper Mill Dhonula in Sangrur district and Sukhraj Agro Tapa Mandi in Mansa Distrcit, PPCB Chairman K S Pannu said in release here.

He said that these industries were located along Lissara drain. The effluent samples of these industries had been collected and sent to laboratory for analysis. If any industry was found violating the effluent standards prescribed by the board the action would be initiated against the defaulting industry immediately, he added.

Read More:http://www.punjabmailonline.com/#52530

PUNJAB TO APPOINT CHAIRPERSON FOR CHILD PROTECTION COMMISSION

The Punjab government has invited applications from the persons of eminence who have done outstanding work for promoting the welfare of children, for the appointment of chairperson for the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

The state government has constituted the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights under sub section 1 of section 17 of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 to stop violation of the child rights in the state of Punjab. An official said that the detailed information regarding selection and eligibility of chairperson was given in the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 available at http://ncprc.gov.in. and www.wcd.nic.in.

He said prospective candidates could apply with bio data to the Principal Secretary to the Government of Punjab, Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development in person or by post or by mail to sarangal185@gmail.com within a period of two weeks from posting on the website or latest by September five whichever was earlier.

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RIOT VICTIM FILES PAPERS AGAINST MAKKAR

Miffed with SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar for ‘not doing enough’ for the riot victims, Surinder Singh, prime witness in a case against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, today filed his papers from the Ludhiana West constituency here.

He will fight against Makkar from the constituency. Surinder Singh (60) is backed by the Danga Peerat Welfare Society known for being close to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

‘‘I am not against Badal. He has done a lot for us. But I am against his presidential candidate. Makkar misbehaved with us during a protest against the government in October last year. He directed the management of a gurdwara in Sector 11 in Chandigarh not to give us even water,’’ alleged Surinder Singh, after filing his papers.

Read More...http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110812/punjab.htm

PUNJAB READIES FOR I-DAY PROGRAMME

The Punjab Government has decided to organise State level Independence Day function at Amritsar this year where Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will unfurl the National Flag.

While Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal would be the Chief Guest on the Independence Day function in newly formed district of Fazilka, Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Nirmal Singh Kahlon would unfurl the National Flag at Gurdaspur.

According to a spokesman of the Punjab Government, Local Government Minister Tikshan Sud will unfurl the flag at Pathankot, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura at Tarn Taran, Finance Minister Upinderjit Kaur at Kapurthala, Social Security Minister Prof Lakshmi Kanta Chawla at Jalandhar, Revenue Minister Ajit Singh Kohar at Ludhiana, Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike at SAS Nagar (Mohali) and PWD (BandR) Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa will. 

Read More...http://www.punjabmailonline.com/Punjab%20News_news2.aspx#52300

Govt to give Innovas to SSPs

District police chiefs will travel in style in Punjab, with the Police Department deciding to purchase Toyota Innova vehicles for them. The department will purchase only base model Innovas for the Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs).

The move is aimed at improving efficiency in the movement and functioning of the officers and is a part of the ongoing modernisation drive. The department had earlier purchased 50 Scorpio vehicles for Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) posted at subdivisions. The force needs another 50 vehicles to cover all the subdivisions in the state but the lack of funds is preventing purchase of more vehicles.

The force is however keen to give Scorpio Getaways to all SHOs in the state. Police sources said there is a feedback that equipping SHOs with around 200 vehicles has enhanced the morale of the force. The force is in the process of finalising the purchase of 100 more Getaways to cover all the 315 police stations in the state.

Read More...http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110812/punjab.htm

Government on recruitment spree

With an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections, the state Cabinet has decided to recruit medical and paramedical staff and fill hundreds of vacancies in jails besides raising the age bar (up to five years) for recruitment of pharmacists in zila parishad dispensaries.

Posts will be filled for recuiting staff in the newly constituted units of the NCC in the NCC Academies at Ropar, Malout, Guddha and Bathinda. Nearly 910 vacancies will be filled in the Jail Department. Besides, 141 posts will be filled through the promotion quota.

The Cabinet has approved the filling of 3,669 vacancies in the Health Department- 1,188 medical officers, 1647 paramedical staff and 373 ministerial cadre. These are to be filled through direct recruitment and the remaining 404 posts will be outsourced. The Cabinet gave its approval to the draft Bill for establishing a self-financing private university by the name of Guru Kashi University at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda .

The Cabinet approved the amended draft of the Punjab Private Universities Policy-2010 for establishing self-financed private universities in the state.It gave the green signal to transferring land and buildings of Cooperative Sugar Mills at Buddhlada and Jagraon in the name of the Punjab Government so that these can be disposed of by the Punjab Urban Development Authority under its OUVGL scheme to settle pending liabilities of these sugar mills.

The Cabinet approved the launching of a special campaign to provide ration cards to eligible beneficiaries by September 30. The Cabinet also approved a grant of Rs 1 crore for langar at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, and registration fee and stamp duty exemption on documents for loans (up to Rs 5 lakh) through the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Corporation.

src.http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110720/punjab.htm#2

PUNJAB GOVT GIVES RECORD 80,000 JOBS IN GOVT SECTOR: DHINDSA

The ruling Akali-BJP led Punjab government has set up a record by giving 80,000 jobs in the government sector to the youth of the state.

Stating this here today after presiding over a function organised by Improvement Trust here, Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said that these appointments were made purely made on merit basis and no one can point a finger on the government in these recruitments.

He said that the recruitment process in police and other departments was such that numbers for each academic achievements and physical test were fixed and videography was done for the fair selection all the candidates. Describing this as one of the biggest achievement of the state government, he said that coming elections would be contested on development agenda in the leadership of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and deputy Chief Minister and Party President Sukhbir Singh Badal.

He said ''Punjab is going to become a surplus in power sector as Akali-BJP government in the leadership of Parkash Singh Badal has set up four thermal power plants at Talwandi Sabo, Goindwal Sahib, Rajpura and Gidarbaha''. Mr Dhindsa said that we would not only be self dependent in the power sector but also be able to sell electricity to the other states in the coming years. He said that the state government had spent crores of rupees for the proper supply of irrigation water, building new roads, construction of over bridges.

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Punjab allows principals to issue learner's driving licence

In a first of its kind of decision in the country, the Punjab government Thursday allowed principals of colleges and other educational institutions to issue learner's license to students after conducting mandatory test on traffic rules.

'The Punjab government today (Thursday) took a path-breaking decision authorizing principals of all government colleges, polytechnic colleges, industrial training institutes and medical colleges by empowering them to issue learner license to the students after conducting mandatory test about the knowledge of traffic rules,' an official spokesman said here Thursday.

'An amendment in Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, Rules 4, 10, 11 of Central Motor Vehicle Act has been made in this regard,' he added.

The move follows a recommendation by the Punjab Governance Reforms Commission that suggested that to check the harassment of public in the district transport offices, certain government agencies should be empowered to issue learner licence.

'This amendment would give a major relief to college going youth, who had to run from pillar to post to get a learner licence, to drive two-wheelers or four-wheelers. Fearing harassment, most of the youth opted to drive vehicles without licence, thereby getting caught by traffic police and endangering the lives of others by driving without licence,' the spokesman said.

According to the notification, all principals have been authorised to accept applications on required form along with three passport size photographs, proof of residence as applicable in the rules, proof of age, proof of citizenship and appropriate fee prescribed under the Motor Vehicle Act.

While submitting applications for issuing learner licence, every applicant would present himself before the principals of the government institutions notified for a preliminary test and principals would satisfy themselves regarding the knowledge of the candidate about traffic rules, regulations and traffic symbols, the spokesman said.

'After fulfilling all formalities, the principals would themselves issue learner licence to the students and submit the original records to the DTO office and fee charged to the concerned treasury,' he added.
SRC.http://in.news.yahoo.com/punjab-allows-principals-issue-learners-driving-licence-172306649.html

PUNJAB TO RECRUIT STAFF FOR NEW MODERN JAILS SOON

The Punjab Government would soon initiate the process to recruit wardens and other staff for new jails to streamline the functioning of newly built modern Jails at Kapurthala and Faridkot.

A decision to this effect had been taken at a high level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with the Jails administration to review the work relating to the finishing touches being given in these newly constucted Jails here late last evening.

Mr Badal asked the Senior Jail Officers to immediately start the process of recruitment to appoint head wardens, wardens and other miscellaneous staff, besides completing all the other necessary works for making these Jails operational with in two weeks.

He directed the Punjab Health System Corporation and Health Department to provide necessary equipment and staff for the Hospitals in these jails without any further delay. He approved to utilise the services of security personnel from PAP and PESCO for the Jails at Kapurthala and Faridkot as a stop gap arrangement till the completion of the new recruitment process.

Src.http://www.punjabmailonline.com/Punjab%20News_news2.aspx#51090

PUNJAB TO CONDUCT TEACHER ELIGIBILITY TEST ON JULY 3

The Punjab Education department is fully geared up to conduct the first ever Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) on July three in the state and total 314 examination centers have been set up in all 20 districts.

Stating that this here today, a Punjab Education department spokesman said that this test was being conducted in two parts, firstly for those, who have to teach students from Class one to five and other for those who have to teach students of class six to eight. First test would be from 1000 hours to 1130 hours and second from 1330 hours to 1500 hours.
He said that total 1,13,604 candidates were appearing for first test and 1,39,480 candidates would appear in second test. He informed that the Right to Education Act-2009 (RTE) was being implemented through out the country and the Union Human Resource Development Ministry had issued a notification authorising National Council for Teacher Education Academic Authority for fixing minimum qualification for an eligible teacher.

He also informed that RTE Act had made it mandatory that Teacher Eligibility Test would be compulsory for joining as teacher in any Government, aided, unaided or any other school of any institution. Keeping in view this central act, the state government was bound to conduct this TET, he added.

src.http://www.punjabmailonline.com/Punjab%20News_news2.aspx#51092

PUNJAB TO DEVELOP SRI GOINDWAL SAHIB AS EDUCATIONAL HUB

Punjab government decided to develop Sri Goindwal Sahib as an educational hub to impart quality education to students in all fields.

A decision to this effect has been taken by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while presiding over a series of meeting with officials of Technical Education department and Punjab Technical University Jalandhar.

Taking part in the deliberations, the Chief Minister directed the Vice Chancellors of PTU, Guru Nanak Dev University and Baba Farid University of Medical and Health Sciences to soon visit Sri Goindwal Sahib along with the representatives of Technical Education, PSIEC and school education to explore the possibilities to provide the best education to the students and ensure a congenial academic atmosphere. The Chief Minister approved a proposal for setting up of two PTU centers at Bathinda and Sri Goindwal Sahib.

The Bathinda center of PTU would be the second campus dedicated to higher education with PG and research facilities. Expressing concern over the increasing trend among the students to opt for technical education institutes outside Punjab, Badal asked all universities to give special attention for starting teachers training courses. It would not only open new avenues for employment but also improve .the education standard in the state, he added.

Src.http://www.punjabmailonline.com/Punjab_News_news2.aspx#51046