Fazilka, December 28
The barren waste land owners are likely to get a boost as the Punjab Government (Punjab Agro Industries Corporation), Kirloskar Group and a local private firm (NASA Agro) have entered into an historic agreement to install a Rs 500 crore integrated agriculture business model for wasteland development in the Malwa region of Punjab.
In the project, being installed as Sampuran Agri Venture in village Penchanwali in the Fazilka sub-division, bio-fertilizer shall be produced which would change the barren land into a fertile one. The company shall install a water treatment plant which would make brackish seepage water fit for agriculture purposes.
The Agri Venture shall also install a one MW power generation plant and would make the use of power for running the project. The project would be set up in about 90 acres of land.
"About 3 lakh acres of land has been adversely affected by the brackish water of the seepage drains which terminate at a point between the villages of Chananawala and Sivana of Fazilka sub-division. The most affected villages are Sivana, Kerian, Ramkot and Chananwala and others where the fertile land is turning into barren," claimed Sanjeev Nagpal, Managing Director of NASA Agro. Nagpal said the salt content in the brackish water is alarmingly high and has been ruining the land.
The tripartite agreement was inked in presence of Chief Secretary of Punjab SC Aggarwal, Managing Director Punjab Agro Sanjay Kumar, CMD Kirloskar Group Atul Kirloskar, Chairman Punjab Farmers Commission GS Kalkat, Chairperson CII Punjab Council Kamna Raj Aggarwal, Directors of NASA Agro Sanjeev Nagpal and Sameer Nagpal on December 23 this year.
The project is a major success to revive the Malwa belt which is reeling under innumerable socio-economic problems with its depleted resources, vanishing cultivable land, alkaline soil and un-potable brackish water that is endangering the lives and health of the residents.
"Kirloskar Group under the leadership of Atul Kirloskar, Chairman cum Managing Director, has developed paddy-straw based biogas plant specifically for this region with forward integration to use brackish water for biogas digesters," informed Nagpal.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
क्रिकेट प्रेमियों के आकर्षण का केंद्र बना फाजिल्का
जागरण संवाददाता, फाजिल्का
इडियन टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन की ओर से पंजाब स्टेट टी-20 क्रिकेट एसोसिएशन तथा फाजिल्का टी-20 एसोसिएशन के सहयोग से शुरू सरदार वल्लभ भाई पटेल सीनियर टी-20 क्रिकेट चैंपियनशिप शहर के साथ आसपास के इलाके के क्रिकेट प्रेमियों के आकर्षण का केंद्र बन गई है। सोमवार को दूसरे दिन सरकारी मुंशी राम कालेज में पहला मैच पेप्सू व आईपीसीएल फाइटर के बीच खेला गया। इस मैच में तहसीलदार आत्मा सिंह बतौर मुख्यातिथि थे।
वहीं दूसरे मैच की शुरुआत हरभजन इस्टीट्यूट के मैनेजिंग डायरेक्टर हरभजन सिंह ने की। दोनों मैचों के मुख्यातिथि तहसीलदार आत्मा सिंह व हरभजन सिंह ने कहा कि हालांकि ये मुकाबले राष्ट्र स्तरीय हैं। लेकिन फिर भी इन मुकाबलों में पंजाब से संबंधित तीन टीमें भाग्य आजमा रही हैं। इन टीमों में पंजाब भर के खिलाड़ियों को प्रतिभा दिखाने का मंच मिला है। ऐसे आयोजन समय-समय पर होते रहने चाहिएं। इस मौके पर गुरु राम दास कालेज ऑफ इजीनियरिंग एंड टेक्नीकल के वाइस चेयरमैन छिन्दरपाल, बंटी बजाज, प्रदीप बाजवा बाबू, गौरव झाब, लक्की प्रणामी, सन्नी बजाज, आईटीसीएफ इंडिया के फाउंडर महासचिव पीयूष राणा, आईपीसीएल के कमिश्रन्र पंकज धमीजा, रवि खुराना, स्टेट अवार्डी पम्मी सिंह, नरेश गोगी, डीसी डीएवी पब्लिक स्कूल के प्रिंसिपल वीके मित्तल, राकेश सेठी, गीता सॉफटेक कम्प्यूटर्स के संचालक विनोद कुमार, संदीप अबरोल, गगन सिंह और कालेज के प्रिंसिपल त्रिभवन राम आदि मौजूद थे।
इडियन टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन की ओर से पंजाब स्टेट टी-20 क्रिकेट एसोसिएशन तथा फाजिल्का टी-20 एसोसिएशन के सहयोग से शुरू सरदार वल्लभ भाई पटेल सीनियर टी-20 क्रिकेट चैंपियनशिप शहर के साथ आसपास के इलाके के क्रिकेट प्रेमियों के आकर्षण का केंद्र बन गई है। सोमवार को दूसरे दिन सरकारी मुंशी राम कालेज में पहला मैच पेप्सू व आईपीसीएल फाइटर के बीच खेला गया। इस मैच में तहसीलदार आत्मा सिंह बतौर मुख्यातिथि थे।
वहीं दूसरे मैच की शुरुआत हरभजन इस्टीट्यूट के मैनेजिंग डायरेक्टर हरभजन सिंह ने की। दोनों मैचों के मुख्यातिथि तहसीलदार आत्मा सिंह व हरभजन सिंह ने कहा कि हालांकि ये मुकाबले राष्ट्र स्तरीय हैं। लेकिन फिर भी इन मुकाबलों में पंजाब से संबंधित तीन टीमें भाग्य आजमा रही हैं। इन टीमों में पंजाब भर के खिलाड़ियों को प्रतिभा दिखाने का मंच मिला है। ऐसे आयोजन समय-समय पर होते रहने चाहिएं। इस मौके पर गुरु राम दास कालेज ऑफ इजीनियरिंग एंड टेक्नीकल के वाइस चेयरमैन छिन्दरपाल, बंटी बजाज, प्रदीप बाजवा बाबू, गौरव झाब, लक्की प्रणामी, सन्नी बजाज, आईटीसीएफ इंडिया के फाउंडर महासचिव पीयूष राणा, आईपीसीएल के कमिश्रन्र पंकज धमीजा, रवि खुराना, स्टेट अवार्डी पम्मी सिंह, नरेश गोगी, डीसी डीएवी पब्लिक स्कूल के प्रिंसिपल वीके मित्तल, राकेश सेठी, गीता सॉफटेक कम्प्यूटर्स के संचालक विनोद कुमार, संदीप अबरोल, गगन सिंह और कालेज के प्रिंसिपल त्रिभवन राम आदि मौजूद थे।
युकां ब्लाक अध्यक्ष रिणवा ने किए विजेता सम्मानित
जागरण संवाददाता, फाजिल्का
इरादे मजबूत हों तो कोई काम मुश्किल नहीं होता। इंडियन टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन (आईटीसीएफ) के लायजन आफिसर और इंडियन प्रीमियर कार्पोरेट लीग अहमदाबाद के कमिश्नर एवं मूल रूप से फाजिल्का निवासी पंकज धमीजा ने इसे साबित किया है। यह शब्द ब्लाक यूथ कांग्रेस के नवनिर्वाचित अध्यक्ष सिद्धार्थ रिणवा ने फाजिल्का में जारी सरदार पटेल टी-20 नैशनल क्रिकेट चैंपियनशिप के क्वार्टर फाइनल में बतौर मुख्यातिथि शिरकत करते हुए कहे। इसके अलावा उन्होंने विजेताओं को सम्मानित भी किया।
रिणवा के अलावा दूसरे क्वार्टर फाइनल मैच के मुख्यातिथि दीपक मुदगिल व चंडीगढ़ से पधारे सरकारी वकील मनु कुक्कड़, रोहित रिणवा, जिला महासचिव सत्यजीत झींझा, प्रेस सचिव कुणाल मक्कड़, योगेश शर्मा ने भी आयोजन की सराहना की। उन्होंने कहा कि टांग में फ्रैक्चर होने के बावजूद धमीजा ने अपनी टीम के साथ इतना बड़ा आयोजन करवा शहर का मान बढ़ाया है। मेहमानों ने सरकारी एमआर कालेज स्टेडियम में आयोजित दोनों मैचों की शुरूआत करवाई व खुद भी मैचों का लुत्फ लिया। समापन पर फेडरेशन की तरफ से मेहमानों को स्मृति चिह्न भेंटकर सम्मानित किया गया। इस मौके पर आईटीसीएफ के लायजन आफिसर पंकज धमीजा, मैनेजर रवि खुराना, पीआरओ संदीप अबरोल, अंपायर बंटी शर्मा, मनोज वाणी, सिद्धार्थ, दीपक कुमार मौजूद थे।
इरादे मजबूत हों तो कोई काम मुश्किल नहीं होता। इंडियन टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन (आईटीसीएफ) के लायजन आफिसर और इंडियन प्रीमियर कार्पोरेट लीग अहमदाबाद के कमिश्नर एवं मूल रूप से फाजिल्का निवासी पंकज धमीजा ने इसे साबित किया है। यह शब्द ब्लाक यूथ कांग्रेस के नवनिर्वाचित अध्यक्ष सिद्धार्थ रिणवा ने फाजिल्का में जारी सरदार पटेल टी-20 नैशनल क्रिकेट चैंपियनशिप के क्वार्टर फाइनल में बतौर मुख्यातिथि शिरकत करते हुए कहे। इसके अलावा उन्होंने विजेताओं को सम्मानित भी किया।
रिणवा के अलावा दूसरे क्वार्टर फाइनल मैच के मुख्यातिथि दीपक मुदगिल व चंडीगढ़ से पधारे सरकारी वकील मनु कुक्कड़, रोहित रिणवा, जिला महासचिव सत्यजीत झींझा, प्रेस सचिव कुणाल मक्कड़, योगेश शर्मा ने भी आयोजन की सराहना की। उन्होंने कहा कि टांग में फ्रैक्चर होने के बावजूद धमीजा ने अपनी टीम के साथ इतना बड़ा आयोजन करवा शहर का मान बढ़ाया है। मेहमानों ने सरकारी एमआर कालेज स्टेडियम में आयोजित दोनों मैचों की शुरूआत करवाई व खुद भी मैचों का लुत्फ लिया। समापन पर फेडरेशन की तरफ से मेहमानों को स्मृति चिह्न भेंटकर सम्मानित किया गया। इस मौके पर आईटीसीएफ के लायजन आफिसर पंकज धमीजा, मैनेजर रवि खुराना, पीआरओ संदीप अबरोल, अंपायर बंटी शर्मा, मनोज वाणी, सिद्धार्थ, दीपक कुमार मौजूद थे।
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
500 करोड़ रुपए की लागत से बनेगा एग्रो पार्क
पंजाब एग्रो इंडस्ट्रीज कार्पोरेशन और संपूर्ण एग्री वेंचर्स के बीच हुए करार के तहत फाजिल्का में 500 करोड़ रुपए के निवेश से मालवा क्षेत्र में वेस्ट लैंड को एकीकृत कृषि कारोबार के लिए विकसित करने का मार्ग प्रशस्त हुआ है।
प्रोजेक्ट के तहत 90 एकड़ क्षेत्र में नासा एग्रो द्वारा पार्क स्थापित किया जाएगा और वहीं बायोगैस प्लांट को संपूर्ण एग्री वेंचर्स द्वारा किर्लोस्कर के तकनीकी सहयोग से स्थापित किया जाएगा। यह जानकारी देते हुए संपूर्ण एग्रो के निदेशक संजीव नागपाल व डायरेक्टर सुमीर नागपाल ने बताया कि मालवा क्षेत्र सीमित संसाधनों, कृषि योग्य क्षेत्र के लगातार कम होने, जैविक तत्वों की कमी से जूझती जमीन और अधिक उपयोग न हो सकने वाले खारे पानी जैसी मुश्किलों के चलते गंभीर सामाजिक और आर्थिक समस्याओं से जूझ रहा है। उन्होंने बताया कि पहले चरण में 1 मेगावॉट बायोगैस पॉवर प्लांट को फाजिल्का में स्थापित किया जाएगा जो कि एक साल के अंदर चालू कर दिया जाएगा। इस क्षेत्र के लिए विशेषतौर पर धान के छिलके पर आधारित एक बायोगैस प्लांट को भी विकसित किया है, जो कि बायोगैस डाइजेस्टर्स के लिए खारे पानी के उपयोग के लिए इंटीग्रेट किया गया है और प्रोसेसिंग धान भूसा के अवशिष्ट को सिलिका, सेल्यूलोज और लिगनिन सामग्री के साथ बॉयो-फर्टीलाइजर में बदल देगा। जो कि बेकार पानी को भी प्रभावी ढंग से उपयोग में लाने और धान के छिलका को अन्य सहायक गतिविधियों में उपयोग के लिए प्रोत्साहित करेगा, जिससे क्षेत्र के आर्थिक विकास को सहारा मिलेगा
प्रोजेक्ट के तहत 90 एकड़ क्षेत्र में नासा एग्रो द्वारा पार्क स्थापित किया जाएगा और वहीं बायोगैस प्लांट को संपूर्ण एग्री वेंचर्स द्वारा किर्लोस्कर के तकनीकी सहयोग से स्थापित किया जाएगा। यह जानकारी देते हुए संपूर्ण एग्रो के निदेशक संजीव नागपाल व डायरेक्टर सुमीर नागपाल ने बताया कि मालवा क्षेत्र सीमित संसाधनों, कृषि योग्य क्षेत्र के लगातार कम होने, जैविक तत्वों की कमी से जूझती जमीन और अधिक उपयोग न हो सकने वाले खारे पानी जैसी मुश्किलों के चलते गंभीर सामाजिक और आर्थिक समस्याओं से जूझ रहा है। उन्होंने बताया कि पहले चरण में 1 मेगावॉट बायोगैस पॉवर प्लांट को फाजिल्का में स्थापित किया जाएगा जो कि एक साल के अंदर चालू कर दिया जाएगा। इस क्षेत्र के लिए विशेषतौर पर धान के छिलके पर आधारित एक बायोगैस प्लांट को भी विकसित किया है, जो कि बायोगैस डाइजेस्टर्स के लिए खारे पानी के उपयोग के लिए इंटीग्रेट किया गया है और प्रोसेसिंग धान भूसा के अवशिष्ट को सिलिका, सेल्यूलोज और लिगनिन सामग्री के साथ बॉयो-फर्टीलाइजर में बदल देगा। जो कि बेकार पानी को भी प्रभावी ढंग से उपयोग में लाने और धान के छिलका को अन्य सहायक गतिविधियों में उपयोग के लिए प्रोत्साहित करेगा, जिससे क्षेत्र के आर्थिक विकास को सहारा मिलेगा
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sampurn Agri-Ventures to set up Rs.500 crore Agro Park in Fazilka
Panjab Agro Industries Corporation and Sampurn AgriVentures have signed a historic agreement on 23rd December, for a Rs.500 crore integrated agri-business model for wasteland development in Malwa region.
Mr. S.C. Agrawal, Chief Secretary, Panjab, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Managing Director, Panjab Agro, Mr. Atul Kirloskar, CMD, Kirloskar Group, Mr. G.S. Kalkat, Chairman, Punjab Farmers Commission, Mrs. Kamna Raj Aggarwalla, Chairperson CII Panjab Council,
Mr. Sanjeev Nagpal and Mr. Sameer Nagpal, Directors of Sampurn AgriVentures, presented the highlights of this integrated agri-business model for wasteland development in Fazilka here at CII today.
This project is a major success to revive the Malwa belt which is reeling under innumerable socio-economic problems with its depleted resources, vanishing cultivable land, alkaline soil, and unpotable brackish water that is endangering the lives and health of the residents.
The Rs.500 crore projects involves setting up 90-acre agro park by NASA Agro at a cost of Rs.400 crores and a biogas plant based by Sampurn Agri-Ventures in technical collaboration with Kirloskar.
In the first phase, a 1MW biogas power plant is being set up in Fazilka which would be commissioned within a year's time, Sanjeev Nagpal informed.
Kirloskar Group under the leadership of Mr. Atul Kirloskar, Chairman cum Managing Director, has developed paddy-straw based biogas plant specifically for this region with forward integration to use brackish water for biogas digesters, and processing paddy straw residue into bio-fertilizers with silica, cellulose and lignin content ideal to revive the alkaline soils and promote other allied activities for the economic development of the region.
Tracing the history of Fazilka's glorious past and as a cotton belt, and subsequent deterioration of the area through brackish water from upper Punjab jeopardizing the fertility of the land in Fazilka turning it into a desert, Sanjeev Nagpal said that it deeply impacted the lives of the farmers as well as the industry.
It was in consultation with Punjab Agriculture University under the guidance of Dr. G.S. Kalkat, currently chairman of Punjab Farmers Commission, that the agri-business model was envisaged to convert the wasteland for sustainable development.
A dedicated team of PAU scientists led by Dr. A.K. Dhawan, head of entomology, Dr. Asha Dhawan, head of fisheries, and Dr. Meena, an expert in acquaculture, worked relentlessly to develop this integrated model since 2005.
The Agro Park to be developed by Nasa Agro shall empower the farmers to start dairy, poultry/duck and fish farming, cultivation of high quality fruits, vegetables and mushroom. The entire agri-business needs to be a successful value chain that is ergonomically sustainable, environmentally sensitive, socially responsible and economically viable both nationally and globally, that delivers tangible benefits to all stake holders.
Fazilka girl wins international contest
Praful Chander Nagpal
Fazilka, December 26
Anjali Garg (12), a student of class VII of the local Sacred Heart Convent School, has won the fourth rank in the International Competition of Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS) held at the Multimedia University (MMU) in Kuala Lumpur recently.
She successfully answered 190 out of a total of 200 questions in a short span of eight minutes in "Intermediate A" category of the UCMAS competition in which 400 students of 42 countries from across the world participated.
Overall, 3500 students from different categories appeared in the UCMAS competition.Pankaj Garg and Shashi Garg, proud parents of Anjali, said that she bagged the first prize in state-level UCMAS competition and 8th prize in the national competition.
"I got inspiration from my teacher and my mother who herself is a mathematics teacher," said Anjali.
"Anjali has the talent and the skill to solve mathematical questions rapidly," said Gaurav Doda, director of a local computer centre where Anjali received her coaching.
Fazilka, December 26
Anjali Garg (12), a student of class VII of the local Sacred Heart Convent School, has won the fourth rank in the International Competition of Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS) held at the Multimedia University (MMU) in Kuala Lumpur recently.
She successfully answered 190 out of a total of 200 questions in a short span of eight minutes in "Intermediate A" category of the UCMAS competition in which 400 students of 42 countries from across the world participated.
Overall, 3500 students from different categories appeared in the UCMAS competition.Pankaj Garg and Shashi Garg, proud parents of Anjali, said that she bagged the first prize in state-level UCMAS competition and 8th prize in the national competition.
"I got inspiration from my teacher and my mother who herself is a mathematics teacher," said Anjali.
"Anjali has the talent and the skill to solve mathematical questions rapidly," said Gaurav Doda, director of a local computer centre where Anjali received her coaching.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Punjab-based firm plans to set up agriculture park
Vijay C Roy / New Delhi/ Chandigarh December 27, 2011, 0:32 IST
Punjab-based Sampurn Agri-ventures, a subsidiary of state-based NASA Agro has plans to set up integrated agri-business model for wasteland development in Punjab's Malwa region with a project cost of Rs 500 crore. The Rs 500 crore project involves setting up 90 acres agro park by NASA Agro at a cost of Rs 400 crore and a biogas plant including two digesters by Sampurn Agri-Ventures in technical collaboration with Kirloskar Integrated Technologies.Speaking to Business Standard, Sampurn Agri-Ventures, Director, Sanjeev Nagpal said, " Initially, we are putting up 2 digesters and 1 MW biogas power plant in Fazilka with an investment of Rs. 32 crore which would be commissioned within a year's time. In the project, the Kirloskar Integrated Technologies will have 10 per cent stake, Punjab agro 11 per cent while rest would be of NASA Agro and promoters equity. The digesters would produce 120,000 cubic metres of gas which will act as raw material for power plant, 150 tonnes fertilizers per day, fodder etc. "
He added, " We have technical collaboration with Kirloskar Integrated Technologies for bio-gas plant." It is worth mentioning that Kirloskar Group has developed paddy-straw based biogas plant specifically for this region with forward integration to use brackish water for biogas digesters, and processing paddy straw residue into bio-fertilizers with silica, cellulose and lignin content ideal to revive the alkaline soils and promote other allied activities for the economic development of the region. He added that Kirloskar group would not only provide the patented biogas power plant, but also would have equity participation of 10 per cent in the project.
He added, " Further, NASA agro would be setting up an integrated agro park spread over 90 acres having all the requisite infrastructure with a project cost of Rs. 400 crore in two phases The first phase is likley to be completed in a years time. In the first phase, the agro park to be developed by Nasa Agro shall empower the farmers to start dairy, poultry/duck and fish farming, cultivation of high quality fruits, vegetables and mushroom. The entire agri-business needs to be a successful value chain that is agronomically sustainable, environmentally sensitive, socially responsible and economically viable both nationally and globally, that delivers tangible benefits to all stake holders."
"In the second phase we have plans to set up storage facilities including cold chain, packing and packaging facilities etc," he said. As far as funding is concerned, Nagpal added that it would be funded through promoters equity, private equity and term loan from banks.
It is pertinent to mention here that this project is a major success to revive the Malwa belt which is reeling under innumerable socio-economic problems with its depleted resources, vanishing cultivable land, alkaline soil, and unpotable brackish water that is endangering the lives and health of the residents.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Kids’ marathon marks Vijay Diwas celebrations
Praful Chander Nagpal
Fazilka, December 19
A students marathon of 431 school-children, including 125 girls, marked the celebration of Vijay Diwas at the historic Indo-Pak War Memorial at village Asafwala here on Sunday.The programme was jointly organised by the Shaheedon Ki Samadhi Committee and the Army formations at Fazilka.Brigadier Arul Dennis flagged off a nine kilometer marathon for boys while social activist Sudesh Kumari Nagpal flagged off a two kilometer race for girls.
Later on, wreaths at the sanctum sanctorum in the memorial complex were placed by chief guest, Punjab Cabinet Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, Brigadier Arul Dennis, additional deputy commissioner Charandev Singh Maan, Commanding Officer, 12 Dogra, Colonel Pankaj Dhayani (Kirti Chakra), Commanding Officer, 10 Jakrif, Colonel Anil Yadav, Commanding Officer, 18 Garhwal Rifle, Colonel Rajesh Sah (Vir Chakra), Shaheedon Ki Samadhi Committee president Sandeep Gilhotra and other senior officials and dignitaries of the Fazilka area.
"The war memorial of Asafwala is a most serene, pious place of obeisance and a great source of patriotic inspiration," described Surjit Kumar Jyani described while addressing the gathering.
He lauded the efforts of the Shaheedon Ki Samadhi Committee for maintaining the memorial and Armymen for their co-operation in organising a grand Vijay Diwas programme. He presented a cheque of Rs 5 lakhs for facelift of the memorial.
Brigadier Arul Dennis, while paying glowing tributes to the martyrs of the Indian army, called upon the youth to make a disciplined effort for the progress and development of the country.
"The civilians too should follow the pattern of the army and be disciplined in discharging their duties while working for the building for the nation," said ADC Charandev Singh Maan.
A colourful patriotic cultural programme was presented by the students of the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, the Jyoti B.Ed College, the DAV B.Ed. College, the Shri Guru Hari Krishan ITI College.
A play on martyrs Bhagat Singh Rajguru and Sukhdev, a mime on terrorism and individual song by Suchita Trikha left the audience spell-bound and emotional.The dignitaries distributed cycles to winners of first and second positions of the marathon while 16 other students, eight each from boys and girls, were given consolation prizes.
The war memorial is a site to commemorate the supreme sacrifices of 225 army jawans of 4 Jat, 15 Rajput and 3 Assam Regiments, who had laid down their lives while defending the country in the 1971 Indo-Pak war in Fazilka sector.
The collective cremation of 82 jawans of 4 Jat Regiment was performed at the site of the memorial after the cease- fire on December 16, 1971. The indebted residents of Fazilka town with their own efforts had raised a memorial for "The Saviours of Fazilka" on a small piece of land.
The memorial has been in due course of time developed in an area of about 5.5 acres comprising a unique war memorial museum, a community centre, a children's park, a high school and a dispensary.
Uma Sharma, Public Relations Officer, Chandigarh, retired SDM BL Sikka and senior vice-president of the Samadhi Committee Amar Chand Bhateja, traced a brief history of the war and subsequent raising up of the memorial.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111220/bathinda.htm#3
Fazilka, December 19
A students marathon of 431 school-children, including 125 girls, marked the celebration of Vijay Diwas at the historic Indo-Pak War Memorial at village Asafwala here on Sunday.The programme was jointly organised by the Shaheedon Ki Samadhi Committee and the Army formations at Fazilka.Brigadier Arul Dennis flagged off a nine kilometer marathon for boys while social activist Sudesh Kumari Nagpal flagged off a two kilometer race for girls.
Later on, wreaths at the sanctum sanctorum in the memorial complex were placed by chief guest, Punjab Cabinet Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, Brigadier Arul Dennis, additional deputy commissioner Charandev Singh Maan, Commanding Officer, 12 Dogra, Colonel Pankaj Dhayani (Kirti Chakra), Commanding Officer, 10 Jakrif, Colonel Anil Yadav, Commanding Officer, 18 Garhwal Rifle, Colonel Rajesh Sah (Vir Chakra), Shaheedon Ki Samadhi Committee president Sandeep Gilhotra and other senior officials and dignitaries of the Fazilka area.
"The war memorial of Asafwala is a most serene, pious place of obeisance and a great source of patriotic inspiration," described Surjit Kumar Jyani described while addressing the gathering.
He lauded the efforts of the Shaheedon Ki Samadhi Committee for maintaining the memorial and Armymen for their co-operation in organising a grand Vijay Diwas programme. He presented a cheque of Rs 5 lakhs for facelift of the memorial.
Brigadier Arul Dennis, while paying glowing tributes to the martyrs of the Indian army, called upon the youth to make a disciplined effort for the progress and development of the country.
"The civilians too should follow the pattern of the army and be disciplined in discharging their duties while working for the building for the nation," said ADC Charandev Singh Maan.
A colourful patriotic cultural programme was presented by the students of the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, the Jyoti B.Ed College, the DAV B.Ed. College, the Shri Guru Hari Krishan ITI College.
A play on martyrs Bhagat Singh Rajguru and Sukhdev, a mime on terrorism and individual song by Suchita Trikha left the audience spell-bound and emotional.The dignitaries distributed cycles to winners of first and second positions of the marathon while 16 other students, eight each from boys and girls, were given consolation prizes.
The war memorial is a site to commemorate the supreme sacrifices of 225 army jawans of 4 Jat, 15 Rajput and 3 Assam Regiments, who had laid down their lives while defending the country in the 1971 Indo-Pak war in Fazilka sector.
The collective cremation of 82 jawans of 4 Jat Regiment was performed at the site of the memorial after the cease- fire on December 16, 1971. The indebted residents of Fazilka town with their own efforts had raised a memorial for "The Saviours of Fazilka" on a small piece of land.
The memorial has been in due course of time developed in an area of about 5.5 acres comprising a unique war memorial museum, a community centre, a children's park, a high school and a dispensary.
Uma Sharma, Public Relations Officer, Chandigarh, retired SDM BL Sikka and senior vice-president of the Samadhi Committee Amar Chand Bhateja, traced a brief history of the war and subsequent raising up of the memorial.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111220/bathinda.htm#3
Monday, December 19, 2011
Eco-friendly rickshaws for better environment- All India Radio
Cycle Rickshaw came to India about 100 years ago. For short distances, it is a economical means of transport. In the present scenario, when safe guarding the ecosystem from pollution is the top most priority, rickshaws are pollution free mode of transport.
This source of earning for poor has undergone a tremendous change. From normal, heavy rickshaw, its design has now been changed into a lighter version. These are called eco-friendly rickshaws.
Graduates Welfare Association of Fazilka (GWAF), a border town in Punjab, had conceptualised the idea of such rickshaws couple of years ago and is now working in the interest of the environment as well as the public in cooperation with some other NGOs and the state govt. These rickshaws have been christened as eco-cabs. These are lighter in weight, more efficient and sturdy.
Now, besides being eco friendly mode of transport, such cabs can be called on phone, like a taxi, at couple of places in Punjab, More than 1,000 eco-cabs are presently plying in Fazilka, Patiala, Amritsar and a few other districts in the state. Out of these districts, call-a rickshaw facilitiy is available in Fazilka and Patiala. Sangrur would also provide this facilitiy soon.
The General Secretary of GWAF, Navdeep Asija told AIR that besides conceptualizing this idea, the health of eco-cab drivers or rickshaw pullers has also been taken care of. The association has tied up with ten private doctors in Fazilka for providing free medical treatment to them.
Some medical stores have also been tied-up for providing discounted medicines at Fazilka and Patiala also. What's more, in Amritsar and Patiala, these people will double up as tourist guides.
A programme to train them in etiquette, behavioural skills and expertise required to be a tourist guide is said to be on the anvil. To avoid exploitation of rickshaw pullers in financing their rickshaw, some state banks are providing finances on less interest rates as compared to private financers.
The uniqueness of the concept has lured the UT administration of Chandigarh in exploring possibilities of starting the project in the city beautiful also.
Taking a suo-motto notice, Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the Haryana Government also to launch the light-weight, eco-friendly rickshaws in its cities.
After all the hard work in making this idea click, the Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF) has been awarded with the National Urban Mobility Award-2011 by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India for promoting the cycle rickshaw as a para-transit means of transporat.
The award was presented by the Union Minister of the Urban Development Kamal Nath on December 6th at the concluding day ceremony of the fourth Urban Mobility India Conference-2011 in New Delhi.
This source of earning for poor has undergone a tremendous change. From normal, heavy rickshaw, its design has now been changed into a lighter version. These are called eco-friendly rickshaws.
Graduates Welfare Association of Fazilka (GWAF), a border town in Punjab, had conceptualised the idea of such rickshaws couple of years ago and is now working in the interest of the environment as well as the public in cooperation with some other NGOs and the state govt. These rickshaws have been christened as eco-cabs. These are lighter in weight, more efficient and sturdy.
Now, besides being eco friendly mode of transport, such cabs can be called on phone, like a taxi, at couple of places in Punjab, More than 1,000 eco-cabs are presently plying in Fazilka, Patiala, Amritsar and a few other districts in the state. Out of these districts, call-a rickshaw facilitiy is available in Fazilka and Patiala. Sangrur would also provide this facilitiy soon.
The General Secretary of GWAF, Navdeep Asija told AIR that besides conceptualizing this idea, the health of eco-cab drivers or rickshaw pullers has also been taken care of. The association has tied up with ten private doctors in Fazilka for providing free medical treatment to them.
Some medical stores have also been tied-up for providing discounted medicines at Fazilka and Patiala also. What's more, in Amritsar and Patiala, these people will double up as tourist guides.
A programme to train them in etiquette, behavioural skills and expertise required to be a tourist guide is said to be on the anvil. To avoid exploitation of rickshaw pullers in financing their rickshaw, some state banks are providing finances on less interest rates as compared to private financers.
The uniqueness of the concept has lured the UT administration of Chandigarh in exploring possibilities of starting the project in the city beautiful also.
Taking a suo-motto notice, Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the Haryana Government also to launch the light-weight, eco-friendly rickshaws in its cities.
After all the hard work in making this idea click, the Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF) has been awarded with the National Urban Mobility Award-2011 by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India for promoting the cycle rickshaw as a para-transit means of transporat.
The award was presented by the Union Minister of the Urban Development Kamal Nath on December 6th at the concluding day ceremony of the fourth Urban Mobility India Conference-2011 in New Delhi.
How many rivers & lakes in India? Nobody knows
Vibha Sharma/TNS
New Delhi, December 18
In yet another scathing indictment tabled in Parliament, the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) has reported that successive governments have made no effort to compile a list of water bodies in the country.
Neither the states nor the Union Environment Ministry, the report states, has a comprehensive list of major rivers, lakes and other water bodies. "The Environment Ministry has not yet prepared a nation-wide inventory of rivers and lakes," Parliament was informed.
The CAG's water audit has been prepared on the basis of wide ranging consultations with experts from India and abroad, stakeholders and public consultations. As many as 140 out of 1,079 pollution control projects on 24 rivers and 22 projects for conservation of lakes were scrutinised along with a study of administrative structures and activities related to water pollution in 25 states by the auditors.
Noting that neither the Centre nor the states had introduced any programme to prevent pollution of groundwater, the report observes: "They have also not addressed the concerns of pollution from agricultural sources."
Funds available for control of water pollution and restoration of wholesomeness of water are inadequate for the country as a whole and there are also instances of poor financial management, diversion of funds, non-disclosure of accrued interest, funds not utilised for implementation, funds parked in bank accounts and unspent balances not refunded, found the auditors.
The most polluting source for rivers is city sewage and industrial waste discharge. Such water, which ultimately ends up in households, is often highly contaminated and carries disease-causing microbes. Agricultural run-off is another major water pollutant as it contains fertilisers and pesticides.
With the exception of the Ganga in certain stretches, all other rivers test-checked by the auditors — including Sutlej, Yamuna, Gomti, Cauvery, Mandovi and Krishna — were found to have unacceptably high levels of organic pollution, low level of oxygen availability for aquatic organisms and bacteria, protozoa and viruses that have faecal-origin and cause illnesses.
90% WASTE WATER FLOWS INTO RIVERS
Barely 10% of the country's waste water is treated. Millions of litres of sewage and industrial, agricultural waste flows into water bodies untreated Affected: 14 major rivers, 55 minor ones, several hundred smaller water bodies Extent of pollution and damage cannot be assessed without a detailed list of water bodies 'Water quality goals' and corresponding parameters could not, consequently, be developed
New Delhi, December 18
In yet another scathing indictment tabled in Parliament, the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) has reported that successive governments have made no effort to compile a list of water bodies in the country.
Neither the states nor the Union Environment Ministry, the report states, has a comprehensive list of major rivers, lakes and other water bodies. "The Environment Ministry has not yet prepared a nation-wide inventory of rivers and lakes," Parliament was informed.
The CAG's water audit has been prepared on the basis of wide ranging consultations with experts from India and abroad, stakeholders and public consultations. As many as 140 out of 1,079 pollution control projects on 24 rivers and 22 projects for conservation of lakes were scrutinised along with a study of administrative structures and activities related to water pollution in 25 states by the auditors.
Noting that neither the Centre nor the states had introduced any programme to prevent pollution of groundwater, the report observes: "They have also not addressed the concerns of pollution from agricultural sources."
Funds available for control of water pollution and restoration of wholesomeness of water are inadequate for the country as a whole and there are also instances of poor financial management, diversion of funds, non-disclosure of accrued interest, funds not utilised for implementation, funds parked in bank accounts and unspent balances not refunded, found the auditors.
The most polluting source for rivers is city sewage and industrial waste discharge. Such water, which ultimately ends up in households, is often highly contaminated and carries disease-causing microbes. Agricultural run-off is another major water pollutant as it contains fertilisers and pesticides.
With the exception of the Ganga in certain stretches, all other rivers test-checked by the auditors — including Sutlej, Yamuna, Gomti, Cauvery, Mandovi and Krishna — were found to have unacceptably high levels of organic pollution, low level of oxygen availability for aquatic organisms and bacteria, protozoa and viruses that have faecal-origin and cause illnesses.
90% WASTE WATER FLOWS INTO RIVERS
Barely 10% of the country's waste water is treated. Millions of litres of sewage and industrial, agricultural waste flows into water bodies untreated Affected: 14 major rivers, 55 minor ones, several hundred smaller water bodies Extent of pollution and damage cannot be assessed without a detailed list of water bodies 'Water quality goals' and corresponding parameters could not, consequently, be developed
पटेल टी-20 किक्रेट टूर्नामेंट 25 से
जागरण संवाददाता, फाजिल्का
इंडियन टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन की तरफ से पंजाब टी-20 क्रिकेट की मांग पर फाजिल्का में क्रिकेट का तीसरा महायुद्ध 25 दिसंबर से शुरू किया जा रहा है। पत्रकारों को जानकारी देते हुए पंजाब स्टेट टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन के तालमेल अफसर पंकज धमीजा ने बताया कि 25 दिसंबर से फाजिल्का में सरदार वल्लभ भाई पटेल नेशनल क्रिकेट टूर्नामेंट करवाया जा रहा है। इस टूर्नामेंट को करवाने में पंजाब स्टेट टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन फाजिल्का टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन पूर्ण सहयोग कर रहा है। उन्होंने बताया कि यह टूर्नामेंट 25 दिसंबर से शूरू होकर पांच जनवरी तक स्थानीय एमआर कालेज स्टेडियम व सरकारी माडल सेकेंडरी स्कूल में होगा। इस टूर्नामेंट में देश के 28 राज्य व चार महानगरों की टीमें भाग लेंगी। उन्होंने कहा कि आईटीसीएफ का शुरू से प्रयास रहा है कि देश के ग्रामीण क्षेत्र से खेल भावना रखने वाले खिलाड़ियों को आगे लाया जाए। इस क्षेत्र में इआईटीसीएफ पिछले सात सालों से काम कर रही है। उन्होंने साथ ही बताया कि आईटीसीएफ की तरफ से करवाए जा रहे इस टूर्नामेंट में विजेता टीम को एक लाख रुपये व उप विजेता को 51 हजार रुपये की नगर राशि पुरस्कार के रूप में दी जाएगी। उन्होंने कहा कि आईटीसीएफ के फाउंडर सचिव पीयूष राणा के नेतृत्व में आईटीसीएफ पहले भी फाजिल्का में इंटरनेशनल क्रिकेट टूर्नामेंट करवा चुकी है।
उन्होंने कहा कि जल्द ही अफगानिस्तान में होने वाली इंटरनेशनल क्रिकेट टूर्नामेंट में अफगानिस्तान, बंगलादेश, पाकिस्तान व भारत की टीमें खेलेंगी। अफगानिस्तान टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन की तरफ से न्यौता दिया गया है। इस मौके उनके साथ इंडियन प्रीमियर कारपोरेट लीग के चीफ अंपायर राजेश शर्मा बंटी, मैनेजर रवि खुराना, नेशनल कोच नरेश गोगी व मीडिया सलाहकार संदीप अबरोल के अलावा जस्सी चावला, विवेक अनेजा, उपस्थित थे|
इंडियन टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन की तरफ से पंजाब टी-20 क्रिकेट की मांग पर फाजिल्का में क्रिकेट का तीसरा महायुद्ध 25 दिसंबर से शुरू किया जा रहा है। पत्रकारों को जानकारी देते हुए पंजाब स्टेट टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन के तालमेल अफसर पंकज धमीजा ने बताया कि 25 दिसंबर से फाजिल्का में सरदार वल्लभ भाई पटेल नेशनल क्रिकेट टूर्नामेंट करवाया जा रहा है। इस टूर्नामेंट को करवाने में पंजाब स्टेट टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन फाजिल्का टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन पूर्ण सहयोग कर रहा है। उन्होंने बताया कि यह टूर्नामेंट 25 दिसंबर से शूरू होकर पांच जनवरी तक स्थानीय एमआर कालेज स्टेडियम व सरकारी माडल सेकेंडरी स्कूल में होगा। इस टूर्नामेंट में देश के 28 राज्य व चार महानगरों की टीमें भाग लेंगी। उन्होंने कहा कि आईटीसीएफ का शुरू से प्रयास रहा है कि देश के ग्रामीण क्षेत्र से खेल भावना रखने वाले खिलाड़ियों को आगे लाया जाए। इस क्षेत्र में इआईटीसीएफ पिछले सात सालों से काम कर रही है। उन्होंने साथ ही बताया कि आईटीसीएफ की तरफ से करवाए जा रहे इस टूर्नामेंट में विजेता टीम को एक लाख रुपये व उप विजेता को 51 हजार रुपये की नगर राशि पुरस्कार के रूप में दी जाएगी। उन्होंने कहा कि आईटीसीएफ के फाउंडर सचिव पीयूष राणा के नेतृत्व में आईटीसीएफ पहले भी फाजिल्का में इंटरनेशनल क्रिकेट टूर्नामेंट करवा चुकी है।
उन्होंने कहा कि जल्द ही अफगानिस्तान में होने वाली इंटरनेशनल क्रिकेट टूर्नामेंट में अफगानिस्तान, बंगलादेश, पाकिस्तान व भारत की टीमें खेलेंगी। अफगानिस्तान टी-20 क्रिकेट फेडरेशन की तरफ से न्यौता दिया गया है। इस मौके उनके साथ इंडियन प्रीमियर कारपोरेट लीग के चीफ अंपायर राजेश शर्मा बंटी, मैनेजर रवि खुराना, नेशनल कोच नरेश गोगी व मीडिया सलाहकार संदीप अबरोल के अलावा जस्सी चावला, विवेक अनेजा, उपस्थित थे|
शहादत देने वालों की हो पहचान
भारत-पाक के 1965 और 1971 के युद्धों में शहीद हुए 206 जवानों के फौलादी जज्बे को सलाम करने के लिए रविवार को एक विशाल समारोह का आयोजन किया जा
रहा है। यह आयोजन आसफवाला स्थित शहीदों की सम-ाधि पर होगा, लेकिन हैरानी की बात है कि इन शहीदों की समाधियां गांव पैंचांवाली के निकट श्मशानभूमि में बनाई गई हैं। वहां न तो कभी प्रशासन के किसी अधिकारी ने श्रद्धांजलि दी और न ही किसी नेता ने उसकी सुध ली। हालात यह हुए अब वह भी जर्जर हालत में हैं।
बाकी रही 5 समाधियां श्मशानघाट में अब 5 समाधियां ही बची हैं। इनमें 15 राजपूत बटालियन के जवान शामिल हैं। यह शहीद जवान राजस्थान, जम्मू कश्मीर और उत्तर प्रदेश के हैं। इन्होंने 8 दिसंबर से 14 दिसंबर तक शहादत का जाम पिया था। सिपाही सुमेर सिंह ने 8 दिसंबर, लास नायक मुहम्मद सदीक वासी गाजीपुर यूपी, 13 दिसंबर को सिपाही मिट्ठू खान वासी राजस्थान और 14 दिसंबर को सिपाही हिज्र मुहम्मद कश्मीरी वासी कश्मीर ने पाक रेंजरों से लोहा लेते हुए शहादत का जाम पिया था।
कैप्टन बेदी दिलाएंगे पहचान
समाजसेवक कैप्टन महिंदरजीत सिंह बेदी को जब शनिवार इन गुमनाम समाधियों को जानकारी मिली तो उन्होंने मौके पर जाकर शहीदों को नमन किया। कैप्टन बेदी ने कहा कि वह जर्जर हो चुकी इन समाधियों के बारे में एकूडेंट जनरल ब्रांच (एजी), रेजीमेंटल सेंटर, बटालियन के यूनिट और 15 राजपूत बटालियन को लिखेंगे। इसके अलावा रविवार को शहीदों की समाधि आसफवाला में होने वाले समारोह में सेना अधिकारियों को इसकी जानकारी देंगे।
रहा है। यह आयोजन आसफवाला स्थित शहीदों की सम-ाधि पर होगा, लेकिन हैरानी की बात है कि इन शहीदों की समाधियां गांव पैंचांवाली के निकट श्मशानभूमि में बनाई गई हैं। वहां न तो कभी प्रशासन के किसी अधिकारी ने श्रद्धांजलि दी और न ही किसी नेता ने उसकी सुध ली। हालात यह हुए अब वह भी जर्जर हालत में हैं।
बाकी रही 5 समाधियां श्मशानघाट में अब 5 समाधियां ही बची हैं। इनमें 15 राजपूत बटालियन के जवान शामिल हैं। यह शहीद जवान राजस्थान, जम्मू कश्मीर और उत्तर प्रदेश के हैं। इन्होंने 8 दिसंबर से 14 दिसंबर तक शहादत का जाम पिया था। सिपाही सुमेर सिंह ने 8 दिसंबर, लास नायक मुहम्मद सदीक वासी गाजीपुर यूपी, 13 दिसंबर को सिपाही मिट्ठू खान वासी राजस्थान और 14 दिसंबर को सिपाही हिज्र मुहम्मद कश्मीरी वासी कश्मीर ने पाक रेंजरों से लोहा लेते हुए शहादत का जाम पिया था।
कैप्टन बेदी दिलाएंगे पहचान
समाजसेवक कैप्टन महिंदरजीत सिंह बेदी को जब शनिवार इन गुमनाम समाधियों को जानकारी मिली तो उन्होंने मौके पर जाकर शहीदों को नमन किया। कैप्टन बेदी ने कहा कि वह जर्जर हो चुकी इन समाधियों के बारे में एकूडेंट जनरल ब्रांच (एजी), रेजीमेंटल सेंटर, बटालियन के यूनिट और 15 राजपूत बटालियन को लिखेंगे। इसके अलावा रविवार को शहीदों की समाधि आसफवाला में होने वाले समारोह में सेना अधिकारियों को इसकी जानकारी देंगे।
शहीदों की समाधि बनेगी पर्यटन स्थल
भारत पाक युद्ध में शहीद हुए जवानों की आसफवाला स्थित समाधि पर रविवार को विजय दिवस के उपलक्ष्य में समारोह का आयोजन किया गया। जिसमें परिवहन मंत्री सुरजीत कुमार ज्याणी बतौर मुख्यअतिथि पहुंचे। इस अवसर पर सेना, सीमा सुरक्षा बल और सियासी नेताओं की ओर से शहीदों को श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित की गई। इस मौके पर बीएसएफ हेडक्वार्टर के कमांडेंट राम सेवक, कर्नल पंकज ध्यानी, कर्नल अनिल यादव, कर्नल राजेश साहा, कर्नल विक्रम, कैप्टन अशोक चौहान, पीआरओ चंडीगढ़ डॉ. उमा शर्मा, जिला शिक्षा अधिकारी संदीप धूडिय़ा, पूर्व एसडीएम बीएल सिक्का, आसफवाला शहीदों की समाधि कमेटी अध्यक्ष संदीप गिल्होत्रा, नगर कौंसिल अध्यक्ष अनिल कुमार सेठी, कैप्टन एमएस बेदी, इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा, प्रफुल्ल नागपाल, पंजाब होमगार्ड के स्टाफ सदस्य हंस राज, लीलाधर शर्मा, एडवोकेट उमेश कुक्कड़, मार्केट कमेटी चेयरमैन अशोक जैरथ, अमर चंद भठेजा, मोहन लाल परूथी, शशि कांत, राजा राम नागपाल, इंजी. विनोद गुप्ता, एडवोकेट बलदेव धूडिय़ा, दिनेश ठकराल, रवि नागपाल, विजय छाबड़ा, डॉ. अंशु चावला तथा रंजना गिल्होत्रा व स्त्री आर्य समाज की संरक्षक सुदेश नागपाल ने श्रद्धासुमन अर्पित किए।
इस अवसर पर एडीसी चरनदेव सिंह मान ने बताया शहीदों की स्मारक को टूरिस्ट स्मारक के तौर पर विकसित करने के लिए जिला प्रशासन की ओर से योजना बनाई जा रही है। इस अवसर पर विभिन्न कालेजों के विद्यार्थियों की ओर से देश भक्ति पर आधारित कविताएं, कोरियोग्राफी और पंजाबी सभ्याचार की झलक पेश की गई।
कार्यक्रम में स्थानीय च्ज्योति बी.एड. कालेज, डीएवी बीएड कॉलेज, श्री गुरु हरिकृष्ण आईटीआई तथा लड़कियों के सरकारी सीनियर सेकेंडरी स्कूल के छात्र-छात्राओं ने हिस्सा लिया।
इस मौके पर सुरजीत ज्याणी ने स्मारक को 5 लाख रुपए देने की घोषणा की। इस अवसर पर ब्रिगेडियर अरुल डेनिस ने शहीदों को श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हुए कहा कि युद्ध में भले ही 206 जवानों ने शहीदी प्राप्त कर ली, लेकिन उन्होंने दुश्मनों को इस पवित्र धरती पर कदम नहीं रखने दिया।
इस अवसर पर एडीसी चरनदेव सिंह मान ने बताया शहीदों की स्मारक को टूरिस्ट स्मारक के तौर पर विकसित करने के लिए जिला प्रशासन की ओर से योजना बनाई जा रही है। इस अवसर पर विभिन्न कालेजों के विद्यार्थियों की ओर से देश भक्ति पर आधारित कविताएं, कोरियोग्राफी और पंजाबी सभ्याचार की झलक पेश की गई।
कार्यक्रम में स्थानीय च्ज्योति बी.एड. कालेज, डीएवी बीएड कॉलेज, श्री गुरु हरिकृष्ण आईटीआई तथा लड़कियों के सरकारी सीनियर सेकेंडरी स्कूल के छात्र-छात्राओं ने हिस्सा लिया।
इस मौके पर सुरजीत ज्याणी ने स्मारक को 5 लाख रुपए देने की घोषणा की। इस अवसर पर ब्रिगेडियर अरुल डेनिस ने शहीदों को श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हुए कहा कि युद्ध में भले ही 206 जवानों ने शहीदी प्राप्त कर ली, लेकिन उन्होंने दुश्मनों को इस पवित्र धरती पर कदम नहीं रखने दिया।
मैराथन दौड़ में लिया 429 ने हिस्सा :
इससे पहले लड़कों और लड़कियों की मैराथन दौड़ का आयोजन किया गया। जिसमें 429 लड़के और लड़कियों ने हिस्सा लिया। दौड़ को स्त्री आर्य समाज की संरक्षक समाज सेविका सुदेश नागपाल ने झंडी देकर रवाना किया। पहले 10 स्थान हासिल करने वाले लड़के लड़कियों को सर्टिफिकेट व स्मृति चिन्ह देकर सम्मानित किया गया। (लछमण दोस्त)
गवफ को किया सम्मानित ग्रेजुएट वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन फाजिल्का के संरक्षक भुपिंद्र सिंह, अध्यक्ष उमेश चंद्र कुक्कड़, महासचिव इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा तथा परिषद अध्यक्ष अनिल सेठी को सम्मानित किया गया। कार्यक्रम के समापन पर लंगर वितरण किया गया।
इससे पहले लड़कों और लड़कियों की मैराथन दौड़ का आयोजन किया गया। जिसमें 429 लड़के और लड़कियों ने हिस्सा लिया। दौड़ को स्त्री आर्य समाज की संरक्षक समाज सेविका सुदेश नागपाल ने झंडी देकर रवाना किया। पहले 10 स्थान हासिल करने वाले लड़के लड़कियों को सर्टिफिकेट व स्मृति चिन्ह देकर सम्मानित किया गया। (लछमण दोस्त)
गवफ को किया सम्मानित ग्रेजुएट वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन फाजिल्का के संरक्षक भुपिंद्र सिंह, अध्यक्ष उमेश चंद्र कुक्कड़, महासचिव इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा तथा परिषद अध्यक्ष अनिल सेठी को सम्मानित किया गया। कार्यक्रम के समापन पर लंगर वितरण किया गया।
जिन्ने झल्ले मेरे पल्ले ने किया लोटपोट
जागरण संवाददाता, फाजिल्का
जन कल्याण परिषद की ओर से संजीव सिनेमा में शनिवार रात को नाट्य संस्था स्पर्श के सहयोग से हास्य नाटक जिन्ने झल्ले मेरे पल्ले का मंचन किय गया। नाटक में स्पर्श के कलाकारों ने जहां उपस्थित सैकड़ों दर्शकों को हंसा- हंसाकर लोटपोट किया वहीं सामाजिक बुराइयों के खिलाफ आवाज बुलंद कर भावुक संदेश भी दिया।
कार्यक्रम की अध्यक्षता नासा एग्रो के एमडी इंजीनियर संजीव नागपाल ने की। नाटक में पागलखाने में भर्ती पागलों की गतिविधियों के जरिये समाज में व्याप्त नस्लवादी रवैये, सरकारी कार्यालयों के साथ न्यायपालिका में व्याप्त भ्रष्टाचार, ठेकेदारी प्रथा के जरिये बेरोजगारों का मजाक उड़ाती सरकार, गरीबी के मजाक वाले रवैये पर कड़ा कटाक्ष किया गया। पागलखाने के दौरे पर गए स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जब वहां भर्ती सभी झल्लों (पागलों) की हरकतों के बाद उनके दुख भरे पहलू को महसूस करता है तो बरबस ही उसके मुंह से निकल पड़ता है जिन्ने झल्ले मेरे पल्ले, इसी के साथ ही नाटक समाज में व्याप्त भेदभाव व कुरीतियों के खिलाफ जंग के आह्वान के साथ समाप्त हुआ। इस नाटक का निर्देशन प्रो. गौरव विज ने किया। नाटक के
समापन पर मेहमानों को जमींदारा फार्मसाल्यूशंस के विक्रम आहूजा व परिषद पदाधिकारियों ने स्मृति चिह्न भेंट कर सम्मानित किया । साथ ही दोना नानका के सरकारी प्राइमरी स्कूल के प्रांत स्तरीय पहाड़ा मुकाबले में अव्वल विद्यार्थियों को सम्मानित किया गया।
इस मौके पर नाटक में नगर परिषद अध्यक्ष अनिल सेठी, समाजसेवी कैप्टन एमएस बेदी, सर्जन डा. रमेश गुप्ता, नैशनल कालेज फार गर्ल्स के चेयरमैन दविंदर सिंह धालीवाल, पीएडीबी चेयरमैन राजिंदर सिंह जमालके, वाइस चेयरमैन परमजीत सिंह वैरड़, गाडविन स्कूल घल्लू के एमडी जगजीत सिंह बराड़ व यूथ अकाली दल के उपाध्यक्ष सुखविंदर सिंह शिंदा ने बतौर विशिष्ट अतिथि शिरकत की। जिला ट्रांसपोर्ट अधिकारी गुरचरण सिंह संधू व अकाली नेता लखविंदर सिंह रोहीवाला ने विशेष रूप से शिरकत की। मंच पर सोनू बब्बर, अंशुमन गांधी, रुबी शर्मा, साहिल वधवा, सोनी टीवी के केस हिस्ट्री सीरियल क्राइम पेट्रोल के अदाकार अंजुम बत्तरा, शालू दावड़ा, सुमित चगती, नीरज सचदेवा, अजय, विक्रम ने अदाकारी की। मंच के पीछे कलाकारों में आशीष मक्कड़, तुषार नारंग, नवी, कपिल कुमार व मेकअप मैन बौबी संधा ने सहयोग किया। परिषद की ओर से महासचिव अमृत सचदेवा, प्रोजेक्ट इंचार्ज हरमीत सिंह, नवदीप असीजा, विनोद कुमार, निशांत अग्रवाल ने सेवाएं दीं।
जन कल्याण परिषद की ओर से संजीव सिनेमा में शनिवार रात को नाट्य संस्था स्पर्श के सहयोग से हास्य नाटक जिन्ने झल्ले मेरे पल्ले का मंचन किय गया। नाटक में स्पर्श के कलाकारों ने जहां उपस्थित सैकड़ों दर्शकों को हंसा- हंसाकर लोटपोट किया वहीं सामाजिक बुराइयों के खिलाफ आवाज बुलंद कर भावुक संदेश भी दिया।
कार्यक्रम की अध्यक्षता नासा एग्रो के एमडी इंजीनियर संजीव नागपाल ने की। नाटक में पागलखाने में भर्ती पागलों की गतिविधियों के जरिये समाज में व्याप्त नस्लवादी रवैये, सरकारी कार्यालयों के साथ न्यायपालिका में व्याप्त भ्रष्टाचार, ठेकेदारी प्रथा के जरिये बेरोजगारों का मजाक उड़ाती सरकार, गरीबी के मजाक वाले रवैये पर कड़ा कटाक्ष किया गया। पागलखाने के दौरे पर गए स्वास्थ्य मंत्री जब वहां भर्ती सभी झल्लों (पागलों) की हरकतों के बाद उनके दुख भरे पहलू को महसूस करता है तो बरबस ही उसके मुंह से निकल पड़ता है जिन्ने झल्ले मेरे पल्ले, इसी के साथ ही नाटक समाज में व्याप्त भेदभाव व कुरीतियों के खिलाफ जंग के आह्वान के साथ समाप्त हुआ। इस नाटक का निर्देशन प्रो. गौरव विज ने किया। नाटक के
समापन पर मेहमानों को जमींदारा फार्मसाल्यूशंस के विक्रम आहूजा व परिषद पदाधिकारियों ने स्मृति चिह्न भेंट कर सम्मानित किया । साथ ही दोना नानका के सरकारी प्राइमरी स्कूल के प्रांत स्तरीय पहाड़ा मुकाबले में अव्वल विद्यार्थियों को सम्मानित किया गया।
इस मौके पर नाटक में नगर परिषद अध्यक्ष अनिल सेठी, समाजसेवी कैप्टन एमएस बेदी, सर्जन डा. रमेश गुप्ता, नैशनल कालेज फार गर्ल्स के चेयरमैन दविंदर सिंह धालीवाल, पीएडीबी चेयरमैन राजिंदर सिंह जमालके, वाइस चेयरमैन परमजीत सिंह वैरड़, गाडविन स्कूल घल्लू के एमडी जगजीत सिंह बराड़ व यूथ अकाली दल के उपाध्यक्ष सुखविंदर सिंह शिंदा ने बतौर विशिष्ट अतिथि शिरकत की। जिला ट्रांसपोर्ट अधिकारी गुरचरण सिंह संधू व अकाली नेता लखविंदर सिंह रोहीवाला ने विशेष रूप से शिरकत की। मंच पर सोनू बब्बर, अंशुमन गांधी, रुबी शर्मा, साहिल वधवा, सोनी टीवी के केस हिस्ट्री सीरियल क्राइम पेट्रोल के अदाकार अंजुम बत्तरा, शालू दावड़ा, सुमित चगती, नीरज सचदेवा, अजय, विक्रम ने अदाकारी की। मंच के पीछे कलाकारों में आशीष मक्कड़, तुषार नारंग, नवी, कपिल कुमार व मेकअप मैन बौबी संधा ने सहयोग किया। परिषद की ओर से महासचिव अमृत सचदेवा, प्रोजेक्ट इंचार्ज हरमीत सिंह, नवदीप असीजा, विनोद कुमार, निशांत अग्रवाल ने सेवाएं दीं।
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Fazilka girl dons olive cap
Praful Chander Nagpal
Fazilka, December 17
"My love for uniform and patriotism inspired me to join the Indian Army," said the newly-commissioned officer Sandhya Kataria (23) of Fazilka. A commissioned officer, who joined as a lieutenant and was promoted as captain three weeks after joining her first assignment, Sandhya has brought laurels to this border town.
A student of the local Army school, Sandhya got attracted to the olive green uniform. She later graduated as a Bachelor of Technology from the Rajiv Gandhi Technical University, Indore.
"In the university, during the final year, Army officers came to inspire the students to join the Army. This was a turning point in my life as I got the right opportunity at an appropriate time to fulfill my desire," said Sandhya. "Besides, my maternal aunt Navneet, a teacher at Central School, Bathinda, also inspired me to sit in the qualifying test," she added.
Sandhya was selected after clearing the test conducted by the Services Selection Board, Bhopal, on July 3 last year. She completed her one-year training at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai.
She was commissioned as an officer on September 17 this year after the passing out parade. She was posted as a Lieutenant in Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at Jodhpur and got the promotion as captain on account of her technical qualifications.
The daughter of Rajinder Kumar Kataria, a pharmacist and Ankur, a teacher, Sandhya loves studying the lives of great people. Kishore Chand Punchhi, her grand-father, said, "My attempt to join the Indian army in 1964 failed but I have realized my dream with my grand-daughter joining the Army."
Fazilka, December 17
"My love for uniform and patriotism inspired me to join the Indian Army," said the newly-commissioned officer Sandhya Kataria (23) of Fazilka. A commissioned officer, who joined as a lieutenant and was promoted as captain three weeks after joining her first assignment, Sandhya has brought laurels to this border town.
A student of the local Army school, Sandhya got attracted to the olive green uniform. She later graduated as a Bachelor of Technology from the Rajiv Gandhi Technical University, Indore.
"In the university, during the final year, Army officers came to inspire the students to join the Army. This was a turning point in my life as I got the right opportunity at an appropriate time to fulfill my desire," said Sandhya. "Besides, my maternal aunt Navneet, a teacher at Central School, Bathinda, also inspired me to sit in the qualifying test," she added.
Sandhya was selected after clearing the test conducted by the Services Selection Board, Bhopal, on July 3 last year. She completed her one-year training at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai.
She was commissioned as an officer on September 17 this year after the passing out parade. She was posted as a Lieutenant in Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at Jodhpur and got the promotion as captain on account of her technical qualifications.
The daughter of Rajinder Kumar Kataria, a pharmacist and Ankur, a teacher, Sandhya loves studying the lives of great people. Kishore Chand Punchhi, her grand-father, said, "My attempt to join the Indian army in 1964 failed but I have realized my dream with my grand-daughter joining the Army."
Thursday, December 15, 2011
PNB appointed lead bank for Pathankot and Fazilka
Mumbai, Dec 15 (PTI) The Reserve Bank today assigned to state sector lender Punjab National Bank the responsibility of being the lead bank in newly created districts of Pathankot and Fazilka in Punjab. "It has been decided to assign the lead bank responsibility of the two new districts viz Pathankot and Fazilka to Punjab National Bank," the Reserve Bank of India said in a statement. The two new districts were created by the Punjab government in July this year. While Pathankot was carved out of the Gurdaspur district, Fazilka has been carved out from the Ferozepur district. "The lead bank responsibility of existing Gurdaspur district and Ferozepur district will continue to be with Punjab National Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce, respectively," the RBI added.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Fazilka-Abohar rail link likely to be operational
Praful Chander Nagpal
Fazilka, December 8
The Fazilka-Abohar rail link is likely to be operational as running of train on the newly laid track shall soon become a reality. Senior Divisional Operation Manager, in a letter issued to the in-charge of seven railway stations enroute 42 kilometer rail track, said that the competent authority has accorded the administrative approval for opening of Abohar-Fazilka new railway section.
In this letter the Manager has mentioned the codes of the stations, distance between the stations, alpha codes and fare tariff.
Northern Railway Passengers Samiti, president Amar Lal Baghla, quoting the Northern Railway Baroda House New Delhi sources point out that Chief Engineer from Baroda House New Delhi shall visit for inspection of the track on December 12. There after in a week or so Commissioner Railway Safety Lucknow shall also conduct the final inspection and grant formal approval.
The Railway safety commissioner is likely to give the final green signal after which the train shall run on the track.
Fazilka, December 8
The Fazilka-Abohar rail link is likely to be operational as running of train on the newly laid track shall soon become a reality. Senior Divisional Operation Manager, in a letter issued to the in-charge of seven railway stations enroute 42 kilometer rail track, said that the competent authority has accorded the administrative approval for opening of Abohar-Fazilka new railway section.
In this letter the Manager has mentioned the codes of the stations, distance between the stations, alpha codes and fare tariff.
Northern Railway Passengers Samiti, president Amar Lal Baghla, quoting the Northern Railway Baroda House New Delhi sources point out that Chief Engineer from Baroda House New Delhi shall visit for inspection of the track on December 12. There after in a week or so Commissioner Railway Safety Lucknow shall also conduct the final inspection and grant formal approval.
The Railway safety commissioner is likely to give the final green signal after which the train shall run on the track.
Friday, December 9, 2011
National Award of Excellence in the area of best Non Motor Transport practice in India
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Fazilka Ecocabs bags National Award
Ecocabs is a service offering dial-a-cycle-rickshaw on the lines of dial-a-cab. The project was initiated in 2008. The idea was to strengthen the existing unorganized network of cycle rickshaws. The vehicle is also promoted as modern and clean for short-distance within the city travel.
"The credit goes to people of Fazilka, who made the project possible. This recognition of our small city community effort will surely set a trend in mitigating the problems in urban transport and environment protection," said Navdeep Asija, founder Ecocabs and secretary (admin) GWAF.
The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) has also implemented Ecocabs in tourist cities like Amritsar and Patiala. In both the cities Ecocab pilots are also trained as tourism guide.
"Our city has set new trend in local governance-community participation. This award will firm up our commitment to launch more such projects.Fazilka Ecocabs is an ideal example of Mahatma Gandhi's idea of with less for more, for many," said Anil Sethi, president, Municipal Council Fazilka.
"Our drivers (traction men) are the real green warriors. I congratulate our team of youngsters like Navdeep, Nitin, Gautam, Ashok Felix on this success and we are also thankful to Mr Anil Sethi, President Municipal Council Fazilka, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Hi-bird Cycles Ludhiana , Sandeep Enterprises and our all donors who helped us to make it big and grand," said Dr Bhupinder, patron, founding member, GWAF.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Sh Kamal Nath Launches the National Common Mobility Card
| Sh Kamal Nath Launches the National Common Mobility Card |
| The Union Minister for Urban Development Shri Kamal Nath today launched the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), by the name 'More', on the concluding day of the four day Urban Mobility India 2011 Conference-Cum-Exhibition. The brand name has been chosen "More" signifying the national bird "Peacock" as also literally in English meaning 'more' to convey that you get more and more by using this card. The idea of NCMC is to promote the user to perceive it as a single transport system and provide the commuter with a seamless, efficient and hassle free travel experience across the length and breadth of the country. Seamless connectivity across multiple modes of transportation will increase the popularity and acceptability of public transport nationally and make public transport more appealing to the end user. The Ministry of Urban Development, under the National Urban Transport Policy, envisages a single ticketing system over not only all modes of public transport in India but also for parking and toll. For this purpose, it is spearheading a national program of inter-operable Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) systems. This means that a single CMC card can be used across cities and different modes of transport. The implementation of 'More' will be partly funded by Central Government under the JnNURM scheme covering the buses sanctioned under the scheme. It is hoped that NCMC would benefit the Public Transport Organisations by significantly increasing overall efficiency; provide control and better management of tariff structure; reduce cash handling and hence lesser pilferage & fraud; better planning based on passenger statistics. To roll-out the card on all India basis, to ensure the standardization of the CMC Project, UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITSL) has been appointed as the technology aggregator to implement the CMC project. UTIITSL is a Government of India, Ministry of Finance Company. So far Agreement has been signed with JCTSL, Jaipur and by the end of this financial year, roll-out in Jaipur is anticipated. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Bangalore and Bhopal Municipal Corporation are also at advance stage of entering into the agreement. A Task Force has been set up under the Chairmanship of Secretary (UD) for taking it in Mission Mode. Addressing the gathering, Sh Kamal Nath said that challenges of resource crunch and service delivery have to be met, to provide better transportation methods for the growing urban population. He said development has to precede growth. The Minister emphasised that out of the box thinking is required to solve mobility issues. Innovative financing mechanisms under PPP mode, land monetization to raise extra budgetary resources is the need of the hour, he stated. The Minister also honoured exemplary work shown by State organizations and gave away Awards for Excellence in Urban Transport, on the occasion, In the category of Best PPP Initiative in urban transport, Bhopal Municipal Corporation won the award. Graduates Welfare Association, Fazilka won the award for their project of Fazilka Ecocabs dial-a-rickshaw. Award for Best Clean Development Mechanism Project for modal shift was won by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Pune Commissionerate of Police were awarded in the category of Best Intelligent Transport System Project (runners up). For New Initiative in Traffic Engineering and Management, the Joint winners were also Pune Commissionerate of Police and Karnataka Commissionerate of Bangalore. The Mumbai Air Traffic Control System were awarded in the Commendable Emerging Initiatives Category. For Inclusive development KSRTC were awarded for Introduction of Modern City Bus Service in Tumkur SBS (Release ID :78167) |
Friday, December 2, 2011
Punjab govt clears 19 projects just ahead of polls
CHANDIGARH: The Empowered Committee on mega projects in Punjab has approved 19 mega projects worth Rs 4457.77 crore in the state just ahead of assembly elections due in February, apparently to create an impression that the Akali-BJP dispensations is business friendly at the fag end of their term.
A decision to this effect was taken by the empowered committee chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan.The empowered committee approved 7 new manufacturing industrial mega projects worth Rs. 2492.04 crore besides 12 agro based industrial units with an outlay of Rs.1965.73 crore.
The mega projects approved under manufacturing category included the units of M/s Nector Lifescience Limited at village Nabha (SAS Nagar) worth Rs. 200 crore, M/s Shasmanji Yarns Pvt. Ltd. at village Lakhowal (Ludhiana) worth Rs. 144.82 crore, M/s Vardhman Special Steels Ltd. at village Jamalpur Awana (Ludhiana) worth Rs. 134.97 crore, M/s SEL Textile Ltd. at village Punjaba-Lambi (Muktsar) worth Rs.1485 crore, M/s Sportking Ltd. at village Jeeda (Bathinda) worth Rs. 303 crore, M/s Supreme Texmart Ltd. at village Kanganwal (Ludhiana) worth Rs. 103.25 crore and M/s Satlut Spintex Limited at village Gehle (Mansa) worth Rs. 121 crore.
The mega projects approved under agro based Industry included that of M/s Pepsico India Holdings Pvt. Limited which proposes to set up a beverage manufacturing facility at village Zahura (Hoshiarpur) at a cost of Rs 205.84 crore, M/s Soma Punjab Warehousing Pvt. Limited to set up 12 agri godowns at different locations in the state with an investment of Rs. 579.30 crore, M/s Nasa Agro Industries Ltd. to set up Agro Industrial Park worth Rs. 353.15 crore at Fazilka, M/s Soma Punjab Agro-Power Infra Private Limited to set up 5 Rice Mills with Power Co-Generation facilities at different locations in Punjab with an investment of Rs. 162.90 crore, extension unit of M/s Sunstar Overseas Ltd of paddy processing at village Tangra (Amritsar) worth Rs 129.33 crore, extension unit of M/s Pepsico India Holdings Private limited to set up potato chips manufacturing facility at village Channo (Sangrur) worth Rs. 125.79 crore, M/s Dunar Foods Ltd. to set up expansion unit at its existing mega project at village Pandori Ran Singh(Tarn Taran), M/s Saastha Warehousing Ltd. to set up warehousing project at village Rail Majra (Nawansahar) at a cost of Rs. 110.44 crore, M/s Indian Sucrose Ltd. to set up paper manufacturing unit worth Rs. 101 crore at village Chack Alla Baksh, Mukerian (Hoshiarpur), M/s Sampuran Agri ventures Pvt. Ltd. to set up a bio-fertilizer, power generation& cattle feed units and other dairy farm activities at village Painchanwali (Fazilka) worth Rs. 33.56 crore and M/s Bajaj Basmati Pvt. Limited to set up paddy parboiling and shelling unit at Jalalabad (Ferozepur) with an investment of Rs. 30.56 crore.
A decision to this effect was taken by the empowered committee chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan.The empowered committee approved 7 new manufacturing industrial mega projects worth Rs. 2492.04 crore besides 12 agro based industrial units with an outlay of Rs.1965.73 crore.
The mega projects approved under manufacturing category included the units of M/s Nector Lifescience Limited at village Nabha (SAS Nagar) worth Rs. 200 crore, M/s Shasmanji Yarns Pvt. Ltd. at village Lakhowal (Ludhiana) worth Rs. 144.82 crore, M/s Vardhman Special Steels Ltd. at village Jamalpur Awana (Ludhiana) worth Rs. 134.97 crore, M/s SEL Textile Ltd. at village Punjaba-Lambi (Muktsar) worth Rs.1485 crore, M/s Sportking Ltd. at village Jeeda (Bathinda) worth Rs. 303 crore, M/s Supreme Texmart Ltd. at village Kanganwal (Ludhiana) worth Rs. 103.25 crore and M/s Satlut Spintex Limited at village Gehle (Mansa) worth Rs. 121 crore.
The mega projects approved under agro based Industry included that of M/s Pepsico India Holdings Pvt. Limited which proposes to set up a beverage manufacturing facility at village Zahura (Hoshiarpur) at a cost of Rs 205.84 crore, M/s Soma Punjab Warehousing Pvt. Limited to set up 12 agri godowns at different locations in the state with an investment of Rs. 579.30 crore, M/s Nasa Agro Industries Ltd. to set up Agro Industrial Park worth Rs. 353.15 crore at Fazilka, M/s Soma Punjab Agro-Power Infra Private Limited to set up 5 Rice Mills with Power Co-Generation facilities at different locations in Punjab with an investment of Rs. 162.90 crore, extension unit of M/s Sunstar Overseas Ltd of paddy processing at village Tangra (Amritsar) worth Rs 129.33 crore, extension unit of M/s Pepsico India Holdings Private limited to set up potato chips manufacturing facility at village Channo (Sangrur) worth Rs. 125.79 crore, M/s Dunar Foods Ltd. to set up expansion unit at its existing mega project at village Pandori Ran Singh(Tarn Taran), M/s Saastha Warehousing Ltd. to set up warehousing project at village Rail Majra (Nawansahar) at a cost of Rs. 110.44 crore, M/s Indian Sucrose Ltd. to set up paper manufacturing unit worth Rs. 101 crore at village Chack Alla Baksh, Mukerian (Hoshiarpur), M/s Sampuran Agri ventures Pvt. Ltd. to set up a bio-fertilizer, power generation& cattle feed units and other dairy farm activities at village Painchanwali (Fazilka) worth Rs. 33.56 crore and M/s Bajaj Basmati Pvt. Limited to set up paddy parboiling and shelling unit at Jalalabad (Ferozepur) with an investment of Rs. 30.56 crore.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Punjab okays 19 projects worth Rs 4,458 crore
CHANDIGARH, DEC. 1:
Punjab has approved 19 projects, including those of PepsiCo India and Nectar Lifescience, which will bring investment worth Rs 4,457.77 crore in the State.
The Empowered Committee chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, approved seven new manufacturing industrial mega projects worth Rs 2,492.04 crore in the State, which would generate direct and indirect employment for about 62,691 persons, besides 12 agro-based industrial units with an outlay of Rs 1,965.73 crore, a spokesperson said here today.
Nectar Lifescience will invest Rs 200 crore in Nabha village (SAS Nagar), Vardhman Special Steels will invest Rs 134.97 crore at Jamalpur village in Ludhiana, SEL Textile will come with an investment of Rs 1,485 crore in Muktsar and Sportking will invest Rs 303 crore in Bathinda, he added.
Among agro-based projects, PepsiCo India Holdings has proposed to set up a beverage manufacturing facility at Zahura village in Hoshiarpur at an investment of Rs 205.84 crore. An extension unit of PepsiCo would also set up potato chips manufacturing facility at Channo village (Sangrur) entailing an investment of Rs 125.79 crore.
Besides, Soma Punjab Warehousing would set up 12 agri-godowns at different locations in the State at an investment of Rs 579.30 crore, while Nasa Agro Industries would set up Agro Industrial Park worth Rs 353.15 crore at Fazilka.
Indian Sucrose would set up paper manufacturing unit worth Rs 101 crore at village Chack Alla Baksh, Mukerian in Hoshiarpur, while Sampuran Agri ventures would set up bio-fertiliser, power generation, cattle feed units and other dairy farm activities at village Painchanwali in Fazilka with a sum of Rs 33.56 crore, the spokesperson said.
Punjab has approved 19 projects, including those of PepsiCo India and Nectar Lifescience, which will bring investment worth Rs 4,457.77 crore in the State.
The Empowered Committee chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, approved seven new manufacturing industrial mega projects worth Rs 2,492.04 crore in the State, which would generate direct and indirect employment for about 62,691 persons, besides 12 agro-based industrial units with an outlay of Rs 1,965.73 crore, a spokesperson said here today.
Nectar Lifescience will invest Rs 200 crore in Nabha village (SAS Nagar), Vardhman Special Steels will invest Rs 134.97 crore at Jamalpur village in Ludhiana, SEL Textile will come with an investment of Rs 1,485 crore in Muktsar and Sportking will invest Rs 303 crore in Bathinda, he added.
Among agro-based projects, PepsiCo India Holdings has proposed to set up a beverage manufacturing facility at Zahura village in Hoshiarpur at an investment of Rs 205.84 crore. An extension unit of PepsiCo would also set up potato chips manufacturing facility at Channo village (Sangrur) entailing an investment of Rs 125.79 crore.
Besides, Soma Punjab Warehousing would set up 12 agri-godowns at different locations in the State at an investment of Rs 579.30 crore, while Nasa Agro Industries would set up Agro Industrial Park worth Rs 353.15 crore at Fazilka.
Indian Sucrose would set up paper manufacturing unit worth Rs 101 crore at village Chack Alla Baksh, Mukerian in Hoshiarpur, while Sampuran Agri ventures would set up bio-fertiliser, power generation, cattle feed units and other dairy farm activities at village Painchanwali in Fazilka with a sum of Rs 33.56 crore, the spokesperson said.
Fazilka eco-cab clinches National Urban Mobility Award-2011
Fazilka, November 30
The eco-cabs of Fazilka have become a national benchmark for the best transportation project for the country in the area of non-motorised transportation (NMT). A leading NGO of the border town, the Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF), has been declared as winner of the country's most prestigious National Urban Mobility Award-2011 by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, today evening.
The award was selected amongst the best and unique practices being followed across the country. The award would be given by the Union Minister of the Urban Development Kamal Nath on December 6 at the concluding day ceremony of the fourth Urban Mobility India Conference-2011 in New Delhi.
Notably, the best non-motor transport practice award is given annually to a city that uses non-motor transport innovations to increase mobility for all residents while reducing transportation greenhouse and air pollution emissions by increasing accessibility, safety and comfort.
The award would jointly be received by the GWAF general secretary Navdeep Asija, patron Dr Bhupinder Singh on behalf of the GWAF, Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg and Anil Sethi, president, Municipal Council, Fazilka.
"The first credit goes to traction men at Fazilka, who made it possible and this recognition of our small city community effort would surely set trends of many other cities in the area of urban transport and environment protection," said Navdeep Asija, founder, ecocabs and secretary (admin) GWAF.
Eco-cabs are basically dial-a-cycle-rickshaw similar to dial-a-cab started in the year 2008 at Fazilka with an idea to strengthen existing unorganised network of cycle rickshaw and its promotion as a post-modern technology for a short distance travelling. The concept was launched for the first time in the World at Fazilka, an Indian border town and district headquarters of Punjab near the India-Pakistan Border by the GWAF. Later, in the year 2010, principal secretary (Tourism) Geetika Kalha decided to launch the same scheme in the holy city of Amritsar around the Golden Temple area.
At present, the scheme is successfully initiated in 22 cities of Punjab. Now, at Fazilka, city is being served via nine eco-cab call centers from where the user can dial for rickshaw at doorstep. Each traction man carries mobile phone for direct calling facility and Its android application is also available in the market.
The eco-cab dial-a-rickshaw project is with light weight rickshaw equipped with luggage space, FM radio and drinking water facility.
Fazilka eco-cabs got a big boost when on April 28, last year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court took suo-moto in one of the news item and ordered the Government of Punjab, Haryana states and UT Chandigarh to implement it in various cities of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh.
Notably, the prizes are given under nine different categories and Fazilka eco-cabs have been adjourned as the best innovative practice using cycle rickshaw under non-motor transport category, this year.
Municipal Council (Fazilka) has constructed new eco-cabs stands for the rickshaw pullers."Our traction men are real green warrior and project eco-cab is nothing but a support to these eco-warriors, who pedal everyday for the sustainability of the planet," said Dr Bhupinder, Patron, founding member (GWAF) and retired professor from the IIT Roorkee.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
बागवानी में पंजाब अव्वल, अच्छा किन्नू देगा फायदा
गांव खिप्पांवाली में लक्ष्मीनारायण पेड़ीवाल एग्रो व फ्रूट फार्म में किन्नू प्रजाति के फल पर सेमिनार का आयोजन किया गया। इसमें पंजाब कृषि यूनिवर्सिटी लुधियाना के डायरेक्टर डॉक्टर एमएस गिल, डॉक्टर जेएस जोसन, डॉक्टर मोनिका गुप्ता डीईएम फिरोजपुर, डॉक्टर एचएच गिल डिप्टी डायरेक्टर फिरोजपुर, डॉक्टर राकेश शारदा भू सर्वेक्षण विशेषज्ञ, बागवानी विशेषज्ञ सुशील पेड़ीवाल, सिद्धार्थ पेड़ीवाल, प्रेम बब्बर, संजीव नागपाल, सुरेन्द्र आहूजा आदि उपस्थित थे।
इस मौके पर किसानों ने बागवानी में आ रही समस्याओं से अवगत करवाया। पीएयू के डायरेक्टर ने किसानों की समस्याओं व सुझावों पर अमल करने का भरोसा दिलाया कि बागवानी में पंजाब सबसे आगे है। इस इलाके के किन्नू की बढिय़ा क्वालिटी के कारण किसानों को आर्थिक फायदा भी मिलेगा। इससे पहले सभी ने किन्नुओं की विभिन्न प्रजातियों, मधुमक्खियों के शहद व अन्य प्रदर्शनी भी देखी। बागों में लगे किन्नू के उन पौध का भी सर्वेक्षण किया जो लगभग 30 वर्ष से गुणवत्ता के आधार पर फल दे रहे हैं।
बिजली सप्लाई सही हो, दें वित्तीय सहायता
इस अवसर पर बागबानी विशेषज्ञ सुशील पेड़ीवाल ने बताया कि पंजाब में 69000 हेक्टेयर भूमि पर बागवानी होती है। इसमें होशियारपुर, फाजिल्का, अबोहर, बठिंडा, मुक्तसर, फरीदकोट इलाके में 41 हजार हेक्टेयर भूमि में किन्नू की पैदावार होती है, जो देश-विदेशों में भेजा जा रहा है। उन्होंने किसानों को बागवान के लिए आ रही समस्याओं बारे भी डायरेक्टर को बताया। उन्होंने कहा कि ड्रिप सिचाई के लिए बिजली की सप्लाई ठीक ढंग से नहीं दी जाती।
इस कारण किसानों को परेशान होना पड़ता है। उन्होंने मांग की है कि नहरी पानी इकट्ठा करने के लिए बनाई जाने वाली डिग्गी के लिए किसानों को वित्तीय सहायता दी जाए।
विभाग के डिप्टी डायरेक्टर जनार्दन सिंह बराड़ ने प्रगतिशील किसानों को सरकार द्वारा दी जाने वाली सब सिडी व एनएचएम के द्वारा नए बाग लगाने के लिए वित्तीय सहायता की जानकारी दी। (लछमण)
इस मौके पर किसानों ने बागवानी में आ रही समस्याओं से अवगत करवाया। पीएयू के डायरेक्टर ने किसानों की समस्याओं व सुझावों पर अमल करने का भरोसा दिलाया कि बागवानी में पंजाब सबसे आगे है। इस इलाके के किन्नू की बढिय़ा क्वालिटी के कारण किसानों को आर्थिक फायदा भी मिलेगा। इससे पहले सभी ने किन्नुओं की विभिन्न प्रजातियों, मधुमक्खियों के शहद व अन्य प्रदर्शनी भी देखी। बागों में लगे किन्नू के उन पौध का भी सर्वेक्षण किया जो लगभग 30 वर्ष से गुणवत्ता के आधार पर फल दे रहे हैं।
बिजली सप्लाई सही हो, दें वित्तीय सहायता
इस अवसर पर बागबानी विशेषज्ञ सुशील पेड़ीवाल ने बताया कि पंजाब में 69000 हेक्टेयर भूमि पर बागवानी होती है। इसमें होशियारपुर, फाजिल्का, अबोहर, बठिंडा, मुक्तसर, फरीदकोट इलाके में 41 हजार हेक्टेयर भूमि में किन्नू की पैदावार होती है, जो देश-विदेशों में भेजा जा रहा है। उन्होंने किसानों को बागवान के लिए आ रही समस्याओं बारे भी डायरेक्टर को बताया। उन्होंने कहा कि ड्रिप सिचाई के लिए बिजली की सप्लाई ठीक ढंग से नहीं दी जाती।
इस कारण किसानों को परेशान होना पड़ता है। उन्होंने मांग की है कि नहरी पानी इकट्ठा करने के लिए बनाई जाने वाली डिग्गी के लिए किसानों को वित्तीय सहायता दी जाए।
विभाग के डिप्टी डायरेक्टर जनार्दन सिंह बराड़ ने प्रगतिशील किसानों को सरकार द्वारा दी जाने वाली सब सिडी व एनएचएम के द्वारा नए बाग लगाने के लिए वित्तीय सहायता की जानकारी दी। (लछमण)
Friday, November 18, 2011
Nasa Agro to invest `407 crores for industrial park at Fazilka
Daily Post, 18 November 2011, DAILY BUSINESS, Page 3
Agro industrial project would be set up in approximately 548.34 acres of land in seven revenue estates including Painchanwali, Rana, Jatanwali, Lashkardin, Salemshah and Badha of district Fazilka.
Out of the total land area, the promoters own 358.34 acres of land and consent agreements in respect of another 82.85 acres of land have been obtained, and another 11.66 acres ownership of the land is through acquisition and contiguity. The remaining 95 acres in village near Khuli- Khera, near Abohar, is proposed to be acquired through the government.
The main objective of agro park is to address the problems of salinity of water, water logging, unemployment and poverty of the Malwa region. The entire project is expected to provide direct employment to 5000 people and indirect employment to 8000 people. The park would provide common facilities and linkages for smooth running of the upcoming units in the park.
"NAIL has also proposed to set up a centre of excellence in the park to train farmers, entrepreneurs in the field of allied activities and agro processing. The focus area of development is expected to be grain processing, fish processing, mushroom cultivation and processing, milk processing and handling along with fruits and vegetable processing and handling. "For regular supply of quality raw material, developers would undertake procurement planning, input distribution centre, demonstration farm and other activities. The company would also set up 100 food marts as signature shops and further expansion through franchise arrangement to cover more than 100 outlets in the region has to be done. "The project would be developed in two phases. In Phase-I, Nasa Agro Industries proposes to invest Rs 250 crore from 2011- 16 and the remaining Rs 150 crore in Phase-II in 2016-2021," added Kumar. So far, more than 40 agro based mega projects have been cleared by the government and they are at different stages of implementation as well as completion. These units are likely to invest more than Rs 4,000 crore in the state of Punjab.
Monday, November 14, 2011
गुदड़ी के लाल साबित हुए दोना नानका के नौनिहाल
अमृत सचदेवा, फाजिल्का
कौन कहता है, आसमां में छेद नहीं होता, एक पत्थर तो तबियत से उछालो यारो, यह कहावत आज बाल दिवस पर देहाती इलाके खासकर भारत-पाक सीमा जैसे दुर्गम इलाके में बसे गांव दोना नानका के सरकारी प्राइमरी स्कूल के उन सभी बच्चों पर बिल्कुल सच साबित होती है। स्कूल के इन बच्चों का पहाड़े सुनाने के मामले में इलाके, जिले, पंजाब यहां तक कि पूरे देश में कोई सानी नहीं है।
बता दें कि गांव के इस प्राइमरी स्कूल के बच्चे न केवल पहाड़े सुनाने के मुकाबले में बल्कि शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में भी कई उपलब्धियां हासिल कर चुके हैं। स्कूल की दो छात्राओं संतो बाई ने दो साल पहले पूरे पंजाब में पहले व दूसरे स्थान पर कब्जा जमाया था। प्रांतीय स्तर पर हुए पहाड़ा मुकाबले पहली कक्षा के रोशन, दूसरी कक्षा की सिमरजीत, तीसरी कक्षा की गुरमीत व चौथी कक्षा की पिंकी प्रथम रही थीं। दूसरी कक्षा के राज, तीसरी कक्षा की सुखप्रीत व पांचवीं कक्षा की सीमा रानी ने दूसरा स्थान हासिल किया था। दूसरी कक्षा की जसमी कौर व पांचवीं कक्षा की निशा ने तीसरा स्थान हासिल किया है।
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सरकारी स्कूलों के लिए नजीर
फाजिल्का: स्पेशल बच्चों की पौध से सजा यह स्कूल पूरे राज्य के सभी सरकारी स्कूलों के लिए नजीर भी है। इस स्कूल में भी अन्य सरकारी स्कूलों जितना ही स्टाफ है। लेकिन स्टाफ द्वारा बच्चों पर की जा रही मेहनत इस स्कूल व इसके बच्चों को दूसरे सभी सरकारी स्कूलों से जुदा करती है। पांच कक्षाओं के लिए नियुक्त तीन स्थायी अध्यापकों इंचार्ज लवजीत सिंह, सुरेंद्र पाल कौर व सुखपाल रानी ने अपने खर्च पर तीन अस्थायी अध्यापिकाएं रखी हैं।
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अभिभावकों को अपने सपूतों पर गर्व
फाजिल्का: अपने बच्चों की उपलब्धियों पर स्कूल स्टाफ के साथ अभिभावक भी गर्व से फूले नहीं समाते। गांव के करनैल सिंह, जगदीश सिंह, रेशम सिंह, जीत सिंह, गुलजार सिंह, चिमन सिंह, सरदार सिंह ने कहा कि गांव में शहर के अनेक माडर्न व सुविधा संपन्न निजी स्कूलों की वैन बच्चों को लेने आती हैं। लेकिन वह अपने गांव के सरकारी स्कूल में करवाई जाने वाली पढ़ाई से बेहद खुश हैं।
कौन कहता है, आसमां में छेद नहीं होता, एक पत्थर तो तबियत से उछालो यारो, यह कहावत आज बाल दिवस पर देहाती इलाके खासकर भारत-पाक सीमा जैसे दुर्गम इलाके में बसे गांव दोना नानका के सरकारी प्राइमरी स्कूल के उन सभी बच्चों पर बिल्कुल सच साबित होती है। स्कूल के इन बच्चों का पहाड़े सुनाने के मामले में इलाके, जिले, पंजाब यहां तक कि पूरे देश में कोई सानी नहीं है।
बता दें कि गांव के इस प्राइमरी स्कूल के बच्चे न केवल पहाड़े सुनाने के मुकाबले में बल्कि शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में भी कई उपलब्धियां हासिल कर चुके हैं। स्कूल की दो छात्राओं संतो बाई ने दो साल पहले पूरे पंजाब में पहले व दूसरे स्थान पर कब्जा जमाया था। प्रांतीय स्तर पर हुए पहाड़ा मुकाबले पहली कक्षा के रोशन, दूसरी कक्षा की सिमरजीत, तीसरी कक्षा की गुरमीत व चौथी कक्षा की पिंकी प्रथम रही थीं। दूसरी कक्षा के राज, तीसरी कक्षा की सुखप्रीत व पांचवीं कक्षा की सीमा रानी ने दूसरा स्थान हासिल किया था। दूसरी कक्षा की जसमी कौर व पांचवीं कक्षा की निशा ने तीसरा स्थान हासिल किया है।
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सरकारी स्कूलों के लिए नजीर
फाजिल्का: स्पेशल बच्चों की पौध से सजा यह स्कूल पूरे राज्य के सभी सरकारी स्कूलों के लिए नजीर भी है। इस स्कूल में भी अन्य सरकारी स्कूलों जितना ही स्टाफ है। लेकिन स्टाफ द्वारा बच्चों पर की जा रही मेहनत इस स्कूल व इसके बच्चों को दूसरे सभी सरकारी स्कूलों से जुदा करती है। पांच कक्षाओं के लिए नियुक्त तीन स्थायी अध्यापकों इंचार्ज लवजीत सिंह, सुरेंद्र पाल कौर व सुखपाल रानी ने अपने खर्च पर तीन अस्थायी अध्यापिकाएं रखी हैं।
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अभिभावकों को अपने सपूतों पर गर्व
फाजिल्का: अपने बच्चों की उपलब्धियों पर स्कूल स्टाफ के साथ अभिभावक भी गर्व से फूले नहीं समाते। गांव के करनैल सिंह, जगदीश सिंह, रेशम सिंह, जीत सिंह, गुलजार सिंह, चिमन सिंह, सरदार सिंह ने कहा कि गांव में शहर के अनेक माडर्न व सुविधा संपन्न निजी स्कूलों की वैन बच्चों को लेने आती हैं। लेकिन वह अपने गांव के सरकारी स्कूल में करवाई जाने वाली पढ़ाई से बेहद खुश हैं।
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Pedalling their way to new identity-Deccan Herald
Gautam Dheer in Chandigarh, 13th November 2011
Not very faraway in the Fazilka district of Punjab, Major Singh burns the midnight, oil aspiring to crack the civil services examination one day. Both Singh and Rangeela have one thing in common-their occupation. Both are rickshaw pullers, albeit in a separate league. They are part of a network in Punjab where, just like the dial-a-cab facility in top metros of the country, residents dial-a-rickshaw--to be correct an eco-cab as they prefer it.
This facility in various Punjab towns is redefining the entire spectrum of this age-old occupation, slowly transforming lives of those earning a living out of it. It has defined a structure to this unorganised set-up to the advantage of both the user and the rickshaw puller. Besides, it promises to take care of a whole lot of critical issues like traffic congestion, air pollution, parking, and road safety.
Here's how it works. About 4,000 eco-cabs in Fazilka, Patiala, Amritsar and a few other districts in Punjab are just a call away. The facility is available 9 to 5 all days of the week. A standard Rs 5 per km is charged from those using the service. A feedback mechanism, too, is in place where customers can lodge their protest in case of overcharging or misbehaviour. Like in motor cabs, an initial Rs 10 "start-up cost" is added to the bill for reaching your doorstep.
In the heart of border town Fazilka, where the concept was set rolling by a team of young and spirited IIT graduates, a tea vendor sits under the shade of a tree and acts as a "customer care executive" handling close to 50 calls a day on phone from customers seeking rickshaws. The facility is now available online as well.
Talking to Deccan Herald, Navdeep Asija, who heads the Graduates Welfare Association-Fazilka, a local NGO, explained as to how the concept has empowered those pushing hard on the pedal. The most scary part of the life of a rickshawala is the thought of his illness or that of his family. "His entire earnings are drained out in one go in case of a medical emergency.
For those who are a part of the eco-cab concept, we have arranged for free treatment for the entire family," he said.
Asija said the association has tied up with nine private doctors in the small town of Fazilka where these people can walk in, take treatment and walk out healthy, free of charge, he added. A tie-up for heavily discounted medicine at chemist shops has also been made to lessen the cost of treatment. Two laboratories provide almost free diagnostic facilities to registered rickshaw pullers. The association is also looking at workable options for sustained education of children of these people. "The idea is to address everyday issues of these people, only then will begin a pattern of savings with whatever little to begin with," Asija added. Veeru and Surinder, the two who manage calls from customers in Fazilka, say their business has provided them with an identity to live with.
In Patiala, the concept has found, perhaps, a more structured approach. Here, 3,000-odd green vehicles have been rolled out under the dial-a-rickshaw project. Rickshawalas don a green uniform. The rickshaws are lighter in weight, more efficient, sturdy and above all financed by State Bank of Patiala. This finance facility at 4 per cent interest will ensure less exploitation and eventually ownership of the rickshaw to these people. What's more, in Amritsar and Patiala, these people will double up as tourist guides. A programme to train them in etiquette, behavioural skills and expertise that are required to be a tourist guide is on the anvil.
The existing Punjab Cycle Rickshaw Act of 1976 is a dampener to the change-in-the-offing, Asija said. An amendment to the Act is being demanded since it lays a cap on the pedallers age at 45 years.
Asija said the act is likely to be amended to change these clauses. Lured by the uniqueness of the concept, the UT administration of Chandigarh is also exploring possibilities of starting this concept in the city. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States is studying the eco cab project. With an aim at helping civic bodies offset the traditional car-centric development patterns. The project has been titled "Future of Urban Mobility."
Moving ahead in this direction, a research team from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT has also visited Fazilka to study the concept.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/204377/pedalling-their-way-identity.html
He may not have hogged the limelight given his limited resources, yet Ludhiana-based Rangeela has three Punjabi folk albums to his credit and is dreaming big.
Not very faraway in the Fazilka district of Punjab, Major Singh burns the midnight, oil aspiring to crack the civil services examination one day. Both Singh and Rangeela have one thing in common-their occupation. Both are rickshaw pullers, albeit in a separate league. They are part of a network in Punjab where, just like the dial-a-cab facility in top metros of the country, residents dial-a-rickshaw--to be correct an eco-cab as they prefer it.
This facility in various Punjab towns is redefining the entire spectrum of this age-old occupation, slowly transforming lives of those earning a living out of it. It has defined a structure to this unorganised set-up to the advantage of both the user and the rickshaw puller. Besides, it promises to take care of a whole lot of critical issues like traffic congestion, air pollution, parking, and road safety.
Here's how it works. About 4,000 eco-cabs in Fazilka, Patiala, Amritsar and a few other districts in Punjab are just a call away. The facility is available 9 to 5 all days of the week. A standard Rs 5 per km is charged from those using the service. A feedback mechanism, too, is in place where customers can lodge their protest in case of overcharging or misbehaviour. Like in motor cabs, an initial Rs 10 "start-up cost" is added to the bill for reaching your doorstep.
In the heart of border town Fazilka, where the concept was set rolling by a team of young and spirited IIT graduates, a tea vendor sits under the shade of a tree and acts as a "customer care executive" handling close to 50 calls a day on phone from customers seeking rickshaws. The facility is now available online as well.
Talking to Deccan Herald, Navdeep Asija, who heads the Graduates Welfare Association-Fazilka, a local NGO, explained as to how the concept has empowered those pushing hard on the pedal. The most scary part of the life of a rickshawala is the thought of his illness or that of his family. "His entire earnings are drained out in one go in case of a medical emergency.
For those who are a part of the eco-cab concept, we have arranged for free treatment for the entire family," he said.
Asija said the association has tied up with nine private doctors in the small town of Fazilka where these people can walk in, take treatment and walk out healthy, free of charge, he added. A tie-up for heavily discounted medicine at chemist shops has also been made to lessen the cost of treatment. Two laboratories provide almost free diagnostic facilities to registered rickshaw pullers. The association is also looking at workable options for sustained education of children of these people. "The idea is to address everyday issues of these people, only then will begin a pattern of savings with whatever little to begin with," Asija added. Veeru and Surinder, the two who manage calls from customers in Fazilka, say their business has provided them with an identity to live with.
In Patiala, the concept has found, perhaps, a more structured approach. Here, 3,000-odd green vehicles have been rolled out under the dial-a-rickshaw project. Rickshawalas don a green uniform. The rickshaws are lighter in weight, more efficient, sturdy and above all financed by State Bank of Patiala. This finance facility at 4 per cent interest will ensure less exploitation and eventually ownership of the rickshaw to these people. What's more, in Amritsar and Patiala, these people will double up as tourist guides. A programme to train them in etiquette, behavioural skills and expertise that are required to be a tourist guide is on the anvil.
The existing Punjab Cycle Rickshaw Act of 1976 is a dampener to the change-in-the-offing, Asija said. An amendment to the Act is being demanded since it lays a cap on the pedallers age at 45 years.
Asija said the act is likely to be amended to change these clauses. Lured by the uniqueness of the concept, the UT administration of Chandigarh is also exploring possibilities of starting this concept in the city. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States is studying the eco cab project. With an aim at helping civic bodies offset the traditional car-centric development patterns. The project has been titled "Future of Urban Mobility."
Moving ahead in this direction, a research team from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT has also visited Fazilka to study the concept.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/204377/pedalling-their-way-identity.html
Friday, November 11, 2011
Agri-business projects worth Rs 1,653 cr to come up in Punjab
PTI | 06:11 PM,Nov 11,2011
Chandigarh, Nov 11 (PTI) Punjab has received investment proposals worth Rs 1,653 crore in agro-business vertical, with large chunk of money being invested into setting up of food grain warehouses and rice mills. The Screening Committee of the Punjab Government approved six projects under 'Agri Mega' Projects Scheme involving capital investment of Rs 1,653 crore, an official said here. Among major projects, Soma Punjab Warehousing has proposed to invest a sum of Rs 615 crore in construction of warehouses for storing food grain at 12 different locations with capacity of 12.98 lakh tonne. Soma Punjab Agro-Power Infra has proposed to set up eight rice mills with a capacity of 20TPH and a bio-mass power plant of 3 MW with proposed investment of Rs 472 crore, he said. Another company, Indian Sucross Limited has proposed to invest around Rs 140 crore which will be spent on reviving closed unit of Mukerian Paper Limited with capacity expansion programme. In addition to it, soda recovery plant and power cogeneration plant would also be set up. An integrated agro industrial park is proposed to set up in Fazilka by Nasa Agro Industries Limited with injection of Rs 400 crore. A project for producing bio-fertilizer would come up in Ferozepur with investment of Rs 33.56 crore by Sampuran Agri Ventrues and would use saline water, which is at present creating a lot of waste land in water logged areas. It would also provide facilities for mushroom growing & packaging, egg hatchery, dairy farming as well as power co-generation. Bajaj Basmati would set up a 8 TPH rice mill in Jalalabad with an investment of Rs 30.56 crore. So far more than 40 Agro based mega projects has been cleared by the state government which are likely to invest more than Rs 4,000 crore in the state, he said.
Chandigarh, Nov 11 (PTI) Punjab has received investment proposals worth Rs 1,653 crore in agro-business vertical, with large chunk of money being invested into setting up of food grain warehouses and rice mills. The Screening Committee of the Punjab Government approved six projects under 'Agri Mega' Projects Scheme involving capital investment of Rs 1,653 crore, an official said here. Among major projects, Soma Punjab Warehousing has proposed to invest a sum of Rs 615 crore in construction of warehouses for storing food grain at 12 different locations with capacity of 12.98 lakh tonne. Soma Punjab Agro-Power Infra has proposed to set up eight rice mills with a capacity of 20TPH and a bio-mass power plant of 3 MW with proposed investment of Rs 472 crore, he said. Another company, Indian Sucross Limited has proposed to invest around Rs 140 crore which will be spent on reviving closed unit of Mukerian Paper Limited with capacity expansion programme. In addition to it, soda recovery plant and power cogeneration plant would also be set up. An integrated agro industrial park is proposed to set up in Fazilka by Nasa Agro Industries Limited with injection of Rs 400 crore. A project for producing bio-fertilizer would come up in Ferozepur with investment of Rs 33.56 crore by Sampuran Agri Ventrues and would use saline water, which is at present creating a lot of waste land in water logged areas. It would also provide facilities for mushroom growing & packaging, egg hatchery, dairy farming as well as power co-generation. Bajaj Basmati would set up a 8 TPH rice mill in Jalalabad with an investment of Rs 30.56 crore. So far more than 40 Agro based mega projects has been cleared by the state government which are likely to invest more than Rs 4,000 crore in the state, he said.
Saviours of Fazilka - 67th Infantry Brigade of Indian Army
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Happy Gurpurab !! - Letter to Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Dear Baba Ji,
Happy Gurpurab!!!
On this auspicious occasion of Gurpurab, I am taking this privilege and hereby submitting you the status report of your teachings and their interpolation in KALYUG-2 as follows;
1. "Pawan Guru Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat" has been reinvented by the majority of mankind like "Paisa Mata, Paisa Pita" and to achieve this that they made Mother earth completely Drug addict via pollution and pesticides. "Guru Ka Bagh" concept only exists in papers and history books; instead of planting we are cutting many trees to make concrete jungle. There is no new Gurudwars in Kalyug -2 to be named it as Tahli Sahib, Ber Sahib or Reetha Sahib.
2. "Kirat Karo Naam Japo, Vand Chako", because of NAREGA, people living in rural areas have already stopped working i.e. "Kirat Karo" and very few are left with the possibility to follow concept "Vand Chako", as the cost of living for aam admi is very high, practically not possible to follow "Share and Consume together". As far as the question of "Naam Japo" is concern, it is only being used to fulfill everyone's own greed. Bhai Lalo is almost on the verge of extinction; All Malik Bhago in power are too busy in wealth accumulation at the cost of livelihood of Many Bhai Lalo.
3. "Ek Pita, Ekus Ke Hum Barik" is very much outdated in this KALYUG-2 and the concept has been outsourced. Many home made baba's are taking care of it; again your teachings have become the source of earning for many. Babbu Mann already informed you via his song last year.
4. "So Kayon Manda Aakhiye, Jis Jamme Rajan", is being labled as "Chammak Chalo" these days. Recently bollywood made 137 crore in one month out of it. Jalebi Bai, Munni and Sheela are the other common names are used in KALYUG -2 to honour women; perhaps they also love it. Punjab, your own homeland state has emerged as biggest killer of Females, with lowest sex ratio. Money acquired without values can result in any direction.
5. "Walking"- Baba ji, you walked almost 28000 kilometer in all the direction on this earth to spread the message of love and humanity, but in today our policy makers left almost no place for pedestrians to walk. Last year 40% people who die on our roads were pedestrian.
6. "Langar Pratha" has got complete new corporate look and it is being served as a part of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) of Gurudwars; else most of the caretakers are least interested in this non profitable venture.
Being a student of your college, I took this liberty to inform you in my own way and my apologies if I hurted the sentiments of any anyone. May the teaching of the yours reflect goodness and compassion in every human being and bring into their life, the glow of happiness & prosperity.
"Satgur Nanak Pargateya, Mitee Dhund Jag Chanan Hoya"
Yours Obediently,
Navdeep,
"Nanak Nich kahe vichaar, Waria na jaava ek waar,
Jo tud bhave sai bhali kaar, Tu sada salamat nirankaar"
With yield static for 4 yrs, experts moot new variety of seeds
Raakhi Jagga, Indian Express
"Wheat production was 164 lakh tonne last year but this year we are targeting only 154 lakh tonne. A few new varieties of seeds can help increase the production. This year farmers got PBW 621 variety and HD 2967 certified by PAU but they were limited in quantity. The yield wil be know in April only," Nirankar Singh Saran, joint director in agriculture department, said.
Saran also asked the farmers not to do stubble burning so as to maintain fertility of the soil.
Yuvraj Pandha, assistant professor—plant protection cell of Krishi Vigyan Kendra—said most of the farmers do not do seed treatment.
"Majority of the farmers hardly do seed treatment for diseases like loose smut and later they suffer from poor yield. This is also resulting in the static growth for past many years," he said.
The agriculture department has been promoting only Happy Seeder, which can do direct sowing of wheat seeds without burning the straw. The cost of this machine is Rs 1.15 lakh and farmers' commission also gives subsidy worth Rs 60,000 but still farmers are not interested in buying it.
"The whole state is having only a few such machines. Farmers do not want to spend time and money, they just want to burn the land and make it ready for the next crop," Saran said.
Ferozepur and Fazilka Additional Development Officer M S Bhullar said they were spreading awareness and a few are following it. "Till the time an Act is not framed, people will not stop stubble burning," he said.
In the training camp, apart from display of new machines, the main focus was on spreading awareness on stubble burning.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Seven Gujarati tourists killed in Jalalabad road mishap
JALALABAD: Seven pilgrims from Gujarat, including women and children, were killed and more than 30 injured, some of them seriously, when their private tourist bus skidded off the road and rolled down into a drain on way to Amritsar, near Jalalabad town in Fazilka district of Punjab, early morning on Sunday.
According to information, the passengers were on a pilgrimage tour to Amritsar and Vaishno Devi shrine from Ahmedabad in Gujarat when it plunged into the drain as the driver apparently dozed off while at the wheel.
Four tourists, who died on the spot, could not be identified while three others, who breathed their last on way to the local civil hospital, have been identified as Raj Kumar, Rasilaben and Prabhu Lal. As the news of the accident spread, local NGOs, police and medical staff reached the spot and started rescue work.
The injured were taken to the local civil hospital and those in critical condition were referred to medical college in Faridkot.
The injured pilgrims, who have been admitted in the local civil hospital, are Kamalbhai, Mogjibhai, Chawla Bhogilal, Karsanbhai, Kantaben, Saraswatiben, Jayaben, Rishu, Bamilaben, Himmatbhai, Pamilaben, Premhi Bhai, Niraliben and Moneyben. The bodies of the victims have been sent to the civil hospital in Fazilka for post mortem examination.
Charandev Singh Mann, ADC, Fazilka, said that the district administration has made arrangements for the return journey of the remaining passengers.
According to information, the passengers were on a pilgrimage tour to Amritsar and Vaishno Devi shrine from Ahmedabad in Gujarat when it plunged into the drain as the driver apparently dozed off while at the wheel.
Four tourists, who died on the spot, could not be identified while three others, who breathed their last on way to the local civil hospital, have been identified as Raj Kumar, Rasilaben and Prabhu Lal. As the news of the accident spread, local NGOs, police and medical staff reached the spot and started rescue work.
The injured were taken to the local civil hospital and those in critical condition were referred to medical college in Faridkot.
The injured pilgrims, who have been admitted in the local civil hospital, are Kamalbhai, Mogjibhai, Chawla Bhogilal, Karsanbhai, Kantaben, Saraswatiben, Jayaben, Rishu, Bamilaben, Himmatbhai, Pamilaben, Premhi Bhai, Niraliben and Moneyben. The bodies of the victims have been sent to the civil hospital in Fazilka for post mortem examination.
Charandev Singh Mann, ADC, Fazilka, said that the district administration has made arrangements for the return journey of the remaining passengers.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Farmers sore as Basmati fails to fetch good price
With private shellers refusing to give them good prices, Basmati crop has added to the worries of farmers. This year, the best variety of Basmati was sold at Rs 1,600 per quintal, while last year, farmers had got more than Rs 2,400 per quintal. The famous mandis of Jalalabad and Fazilka — known as the hub of basmati crop — have also seen minimum procurement.
Jasbir Singh, a farmer from Ferozepur village, said: "Three years ago, the price of basmati crop was Rs 4,000 per quintal. Every year, private shellers are paying less and less and this year, prices have fallen to Rs 1,600 per quintal even for the finest quality. The average quality is getting as low as Rs 1,400 per quintal."
According to sources in the mandis, exporters still have the previous year's stock left with them and therefore, do not want to buy more. They have also reduced the advance payments to the rice shellers.
The shellers, on the other hand, are giving payment at one month credit to the ahrtiyas — the rate was one week only last year. Due to the delayed payment, ahrtiyas were not ready to make swift payments to farmers, which in turn, was leading farmers to sell their stock at throwaway prices.
When contacted, Director (Agriculture) B S Sidhu, said: "Area under basmati cultivation has increased from 5.5 lakh hectare to 6 lakh hectare this year. Looking at the dismal pricing of the crop, we appeal to the Centre to appoint an agency on the lines of the Cotton Corporation of India for basmati crop. MSP for this crop should also be fixed. The agency should step in when the prices in mandis fall below the MSP. These steps are a must because basmati helps in improving the water table as well, as it absorbs less water."
Rajiv Ahuja, a commission agent, said: "I sold my product in Jalalabad mandi after waiting for more than 15 days. There is hardly any activity in Fazilka and Jalalabad mandis. International pricing of Basmati has fallen and even exporters have piled up stocks and therefore, this crisis. Farmers will have to bear the brunt if the government fixes no MSP for the crop."
Jasbir Singh, a farmer from Ferozepur village, said: "Three years ago, the price of basmati crop was Rs 4,000 per quintal. Every year, private shellers are paying less and less and this year, prices have fallen to Rs 1,600 per quintal even for the finest quality. The average quality is getting as low as Rs 1,400 per quintal."
According to sources in the mandis, exporters still have the previous year's stock left with them and therefore, do not want to buy more. They have also reduced the advance payments to the rice shellers.
The shellers, on the other hand, are giving payment at one month credit to the ahrtiyas — the rate was one week only last year. Due to the delayed payment, ahrtiyas were not ready to make swift payments to farmers, which in turn, was leading farmers to sell their stock at throwaway prices.
When contacted, Director (Agriculture) B S Sidhu, said: "Area under basmati cultivation has increased from 5.5 lakh hectare to 6 lakh hectare this year. Looking at the dismal pricing of the crop, we appeal to the Centre to appoint an agency on the lines of the Cotton Corporation of India for basmati crop. MSP for this crop should also be fixed. The agency should step in when the prices in mandis fall below the MSP. These steps are a must because basmati helps in improving the water table as well, as it absorbs less water."
Rajiv Ahuja, a commission agent, said: "I sold my product in Jalalabad mandi after waiting for more than 15 days. There is hardly any activity in Fazilka and Jalalabad mandis. International pricing of Basmati has fallen and even exporters have piled up stocks and therefore, this crisis. Farmers will have to bear the brunt if the government fixes no MSP for the crop."
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Trans-Afghan gas pipeline, the dream that won’t die
KABUL: On paper, it's one of the sweetest gas deals there is. At one end, the world's second largest gas field; at the other, 1.2 billion people demanding clean energy, and in the middle, countries in desperate need of revenues and jobs.
In reality — and especially when that reality passes through Afghanistan and Pakistan en route to India — things are a lot tougher.
Only last week, Pakistan's Petroleum Ministry said it had agreed purchase terms with putative gas supplier Turkmenistan, and would sign a contract in mid-November. An official in the ministry said Turkmenistan would supply 1.3 billion cubic feet of gas per day for 25 years.
For a pipeline that doesn't exist outside of the imagination, it was a bold step.
The idea of a 1,700-km pipeline from Turkmenistan to India, known as TAPI, isn't new. In the mid-1990s, Afghanistan's then-rulers, the Taliban, talked to an American energy firm about building it.
Almost 15 years and no gas later, the Taliban have been kicked out of power, thousands have been killed in Afghanistan during the US-led war, and the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is one of the most dangerous areas in the world — but the pipeline dream won't die.
"Without peace and stability in Afghanistan, the pipeline may become only a pipedream," said Debidatta Aurobinda Mahapatra, a researcher with the Centre for Central Eurasian Studies at the University of Mumbai.
Violence is at its worst since 2001, according to the United Nations. Foreign forces have already started a security handover in parts of the country, ahead of a full withdrawal of combat troops by the end of 2014. Some fear that when they go, full-scale civil war could break out.
"People are talking about pipelines, roads and railways, and these are all very vulnerable," said Thomas Ruttig, a co-director with Afghanistan Analysts Network in Kabul.
Afghan officials have pledged security forces, and talk about burying part of the pipeline underground, but even then it would still snake through the Taliban heartlands of Helmand and Kandahar in the south of Afghanistan.
"The pipeline is very long and very difficult to defend — you can't put a soldier every 20 metres," Ruttig said.
The Asian Development Bank earlier this year approved around half a million dollars to pay for consultancy and meetings on the project, but when asked at the end of October, it was no longer talking about TAPI.
According to the Afghan Ministry of Mines, the pipeline would pump 33 billion cubic metres a year from the South Iolotan field in Turkmenistan to Fazilka in India, crossing 735 kilometres of Afghan territory, then 800 kilometres in Pakistan.
Between problematic and impossible
Getting Pakistan and India to agree on anything is tough.
Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who have fought three wars against each other since their independence from Britain in 1947, are prickly enough to scuttle the project without any help from the Taliban.
"Two of the major stakeholders in TAPI, India and Pakistan, have major differences including security and transit fee, and more importantly, trust," Mahapatra said.
But for Afghans, who continue to endure high energy bills and frequent power cuts even in big cities, the potential benefits are so great that the possibility of the pipeline is worth clinging onto.
"Everyone is waiting for the pipeline project because they believe it will be the cheapest energy they will have to run their business," said Ahmad Khalid Yarmand, head of the Afghan business association in western city of Herat, through which the pipeline would pass.
For the other countries in the plan, it could also be a winning deal. India and Pakistan would diversify their gas supply, while Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic, wants to triple annual gas exports to 180 bcm by 2030, looking beyond its traditional partner Russia to wider export markets.
Energy experts aren't holding their breath.
"It works economically and is even quite attractive. Needless to say, from the political side, it is somewhere between highly problematic and impossible," said Jonathan Stern, director of gas research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies in Britain.
"It depends what route you take across Afghanistan but nothing looks attractive," he said, adding that, in addition to the security problems, the Indians might in any case refuse to take any gas which crosses Pakistan.
"In summary: it's all very difficult."
Sunday, October 30, 2011
ऑनलाइन डिटेल देखें और ईको कैब मंगवाएं
अगर आप फाजिल्का में हैं और आपको रिक्शा की जरूरत है तो आपकी सेवा के लिए स्थापित ईको कैब से संबंधित सारी जानकारी आप घर बैठे ही जान सकते हैं। फाजिल्का ईको कैब (डायल-ए-रिक्शा) के नाम से ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन शुरू की गई यह सेवा देशभर में अनूठी पहचान बना चुकी है और अब यह दुनिया की पहली एंड्रॉइड ऑपरेटिंग सिस्टम सॉफ्टवेयर पर चलने वाली स्मार्ट फोन मोबाइल एप्लीकेशन बन गई है।
इसका आगाज शनिवार को नगर कौंसिल अध्यक्ष अनिल कुमार सेठी ने मोबाइल पर कॉल करके किया। इसके अलावा ईको कैब के 9 नए कॉल सेंटर स्थापित किए गए हैं और इसकी वेबसाइट भी लांच कर दी गई है। वेबसाइट बनाने में कंप्यूटर्स इंजीनियर छात्र गौतम चौधरी ने मदद की है। नगर कौंसिल के प्रांगण में इसकी शुरुआत करते समय ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन संरक्षक डॉ. भूपिंदर सिंह, प्रधान एडवोकेट उमेश कुक्कड़, सचिव इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा, नितिन सेतिया, परमजीत सिंह पम्मा वैरड़, विशाल कामरा के अलावा ईको कैब के सदस्य मौजूद थे।
ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन के सचिव नवदीप असीजा ने बताया कि एंड्रॉइड एप्लीकेशन हैदराबाद के इलेक्ट्रॉनिक इंजीनियर अशोक फेलिक्स की ओर से विकसित किया गया है। एंड्रॉइड एप्लीकेशन को फाजिल्का ईको कैब की वेबसाइट के भी जोड़ा गया है। (लछमण)
ईको कैब ऐसे पहुंचेगी आपके पास वेबसाइट के जरिए फोन करके रिक्शा बुलाने वाले को रिक्शा चालक का आई कार्ड नंबर, फोटो, पता और वह किस क्षेत्र में है और कितनी देर में आप तक पहुंचेगा सहित सारी जानकारी मिल जाएगी। वेबसाइट ww.ecocabs.org पर लॉगऑन करने पर ईको कैब नंबर (100 से फिलहाल 200 तक) लिखकर सर्च करना होगा। इससे ईको कैब सदस्य की पूरी डिटेल होगी। उसके मुताबिक उसे बुलाया जा सकेगा। मिसाल के तौर पर 101 नंबर सर्च करने पर फाजिल्का रिक्शा यूनियन के उपप्रधान मनजिंद्र सिंह की डिटेल होगी और उनका मोबाइल नंबर 95309-98101 होगा। बस कॉल करें और बुलाएं
http://www.bhaskar.com/article/PUN-OTH-1599914-2529893.html
इसका आगाज शनिवार को नगर कौंसिल अध्यक्ष अनिल कुमार सेठी ने मोबाइल पर कॉल करके किया। इसके अलावा ईको कैब के 9 नए कॉल सेंटर स्थापित किए गए हैं और इसकी वेबसाइट भी लांच कर दी गई है। वेबसाइट बनाने में कंप्यूटर्स इंजीनियर छात्र गौतम चौधरी ने मदद की है। नगर कौंसिल के प्रांगण में इसकी शुरुआत करते समय ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन संरक्षक डॉ. भूपिंदर सिंह, प्रधान एडवोकेट उमेश कुक्कड़, सचिव इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा, नितिन सेतिया, परमजीत सिंह पम्मा वैरड़, विशाल कामरा के अलावा ईको कैब के सदस्य मौजूद थे।
ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन के सचिव नवदीप असीजा ने बताया कि एंड्रॉइड एप्लीकेशन हैदराबाद के इलेक्ट्रॉनिक इंजीनियर अशोक फेलिक्स की ओर से विकसित किया गया है। एंड्रॉइड एप्लीकेशन को फाजिल्का ईको कैब की वेबसाइट के भी जोड़ा गया है। (लछमण)
ईको कैब ऐसे पहुंचेगी आपके पास वेबसाइट के जरिए फोन करके रिक्शा बुलाने वाले को रिक्शा चालक का आई कार्ड नंबर, फोटो, पता और वह किस क्षेत्र में है और कितनी देर में आप तक पहुंचेगा सहित सारी जानकारी मिल जाएगी। वेबसाइट ww.ecocabs.org पर लॉगऑन करने पर ईको कैब नंबर (100 से फिलहाल 200 तक) लिखकर सर्च करना होगा। इससे ईको कैब सदस्य की पूरी डिटेल होगी। उसके मुताबिक उसे बुलाया जा सकेगा। मिसाल के तौर पर 101 नंबर सर्च करने पर फाजिल्का रिक्शा यूनियन के उपप्रधान मनजिंद्र सिंह की डिटेल होगी और उनका मोबाइल नंबर 95309-98101 होगा। बस कॉल करें और बुलाएं
http://www.bhaskar.com/article/PUN-OTH-1599914-2529893.html
फाजिल्का ने दुनिया भर में मारी बाजी
अमृत सचदेवा, फाजिल्का
फाजिल्का ने मारी दुनिया भर में मारी बाजी.. चौंकिए नहीं, यह सौ फीसदी सच है। दरअसल, पेरिस में चलने वाली मेट्रो गाड़ी की जानकारी लेने के लिए मोबाइल के जरिये प्रयोग की जाने वाली एंड्रायड एप्लीकेशन अब फाजिल्का की ईको कैब (रिक्शा) के लिए भी प्रयोग होगी। मोबाइल से रिक्शा बुलाने के लिए प्रयोग की जाने वाली यह तकनीक शुरू होने से फाजिल्का दुनिया का पहला शहर बन गया है, जिसने इस उच्च तकनीक का इस्तेमाल यातायात के सबसे निचले साधन में किया है।
उल्लेखनीय है कि ग्रेजुएट वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन फाजिल्का के प्रयासों से 20 जून 2008 को डायल-ए-रिक्शा शुरू कर फोन के जरिये रिक्शा बुलाने की शुरुआत की गई थी। तब यह शुरुआत करने वाला फाजिल्का देश का पहला शहर था। 28 अप्रैल 2010 में हाईकोर्ट द्वारा डायल-ए-रिक्शा के फीचर से प्रभावित होकर सुओ मोटो एक्शन लेते हुए पंजाब व हरियाणा के सभी छोटे बड़े शहरों व कस्बों में यह सर्विस शुरू करने के आदेश देना भी फाजिल्का के लिए गर्व का विषय रहा।
उसी आदेश का नतीजा है कि फाजिल्का के फार्मूले पर पंजाब के 22 शहरों में ईको कैब (फाजिल्का में बनाई गई नए फीचर वाली रिक्शा) चल रही हैं। डायल-ए-रिक्शा शुरू करने वाली एसोसिएशन के सचिव इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा ने बताया कि शनिवार को डायल-ए-रिक्शा के संक्षिप्त इतिहास में नया सुनहरी अध्याय शुरू हुआ है। आज से लैंडलाइन से मंगवाई जाने वाली रिक्शा जीएसएम मोबाइल से बुलाई जाएगी। इसके लिए बीएसएनएल ने एक हजार प्री-पेड नंबरों की विशेष श्रृंखला फाजिल्का के रिक्शा चालकों के लिए प्रदान की है। साथ ही कंप्यूटर व मोबाइल इंटरनेट का प्रयोग करने वालों को ईको कैब की एंड्रायड एप्लीकेशन का तोहफा दिया गया है। इस के प्रयोग से रिक्शा बुलाने वाले लोग मोबाइल पर अपने यहां आने वाले रिक्शा चालक की फोटो, उसका रजिस्ट्रेशन नंबर सहित पूरा प्रोफाइल देख सकेंगे।
यह एडवांस तकनीक पूरी दुनिया में यातायात के किसी साधन में सिर्फ पेरिस में चलने वाली मेट्रो गाड़ियों में प्रयोग हो रही है। उसके बाद रिक्शा जैसी यातायात की सबसे छोटी इकाई पर इसे प्रयोग करने वाला फाजिल्का दुनिया का पहला शहर बन गया है। इस तकनीक से रिक्शा बुलाने के लिए फाजिल्का को नौ जोन में बांटा गया है और संबंधित जोन में चलने वाले रिक्शा के नंबर भी एसोसिएशन द्वारा प्रचारित किए जाएंगे।
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क्या है एंड्रायड एप्लीकेशन
कंप्यूटर व मोबाइल पर प्रयोग की जाने वाली इस एप्लीकेशन में उपभोक्ता अपने नजदीकी रिक्शा स्टैंड और वहां उपलब्ध रिक्शा की जानकारी अपने कंप्यूटर या मोबाइल स्क्रीन पर हासिल कर सकता है। मोबाइल पर इसके प्रयोग का फायदा ये है कि एप्लीकेशन के भीतर ही उपलब्ध रिक्शा चालक का नंबर डायल होने की सुविधा दी गई है।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_8417927.html
Fazilka’s dial-a-rickshaw service goes online, gets an Android app
The Ecocabs dial-a-rickshaw project in Fazilka has launched its online web portal (www.ecocabs.org) and an application for Android mobile phones.
In a function organised in the premises of Municipal Council of Fazilka, its President Anil Sethi formally inaugurated and dedicated the website and mobile application by making the first call.
Anil Sethi and Paramjit Warar took a joint ride after calling Ecocabs at Municipal Council Fazilka.
It allows users to search for Ecocabs call centres nearby, based on the user's location. Available in the Android market for free, the application replicates all features of the website and lets the user look at the complete details of Ecocabs operations, contact details of pilots, directions, passenger information system.
The application can be of great use to smart phone users. Talking about the importance of Information technology tools, Dr Bhupinder, founder of graduate welfare association Fazilka (GWAF) said that such a portal and complied information will help other cities follow the Fazilka protocol of Ecocabs.
Fazilka Ecocabs dial-a-rickshaw service was launched in the month of June 2008 and later it was introduced in various cities of Punjab and Haryana.
"Initially the city was divided into five zones and now based upon the latest demand, the city has been divided into nine sectors with almost 1,500 household in each sector. One dedicated call centre has been established. Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited is the official telecom partner for this project," said Navdeep Asija, founder Ecocabs and Secretary (admin) of GWAF. Ashok Felix, a Hyderabad-based Java Web and Portal Technologies programmer and a consulting Android developer volunteered help to make android application for Ecocabs operations at Fazilka, added Asija. The web portal integrated with the Android application is being designed by a city-based 20-year-old computer engineering student Gautam Chaudhary.
Earlier, Sethi said that soon the rickshaw union will get its office and other new sheds in various zones of Fazilka.
In a function organised in the premises of Municipal Council of Fazilka, its President Anil Sethi formally inaugurated and dedicated the website and mobile application by making the first call.
Anil Sethi and Paramjit Warar took a joint ride after calling Ecocabs at Municipal Council Fazilka.
It allows users to search for Ecocabs call centres nearby, based on the user's location. Available in the Android market for free, the application replicates all features of the website and lets the user look at the complete details of Ecocabs operations, contact details of pilots, directions, passenger information system.
The application can be of great use to smart phone users. Talking about the importance of Information technology tools, Dr Bhupinder, founder of graduate welfare association Fazilka (GWAF) said that such a portal and complied information will help other cities follow the Fazilka protocol of Ecocabs.
Fazilka Ecocabs dial-a-rickshaw service was launched in the month of June 2008 and later it was introduced in various cities of Punjab and Haryana.
"Initially the city was divided into five zones and now based upon the latest demand, the city has been divided into nine sectors with almost 1,500 household in each sector. One dedicated call centre has been established. Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited is the official telecom partner for this project," said Navdeep Asija, founder Ecocabs and Secretary (admin) of GWAF. Ashok Felix, a Hyderabad-based Java Web and Portal Technologies programmer and a consulting Android developer volunteered help to make android application for Ecocabs operations at Fazilka, added Asija. The web portal integrated with the Android application is being designed by a city-based 20-year-old computer engineering student Gautam Chaudhary.
Earlier, Sethi said that soon the rickshaw union will get its office and other new sheds in various zones of Fazilka.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Interesting but Little known/unknown facts about Fazilka
Interesting Facts about Fazilka
1. "Sanjay Gandhi role in State Politics began when Chief Minister Zail Singh of Punjab invited him to Fazilka. Chief Minister Bansi Lal of Haryana, in his bid to outdo Zail Singh, arranged a bigger reception for Sanjay and Chandigarh. So began Sanjay Journey from Fazilka to Chandigarh to Vishakhapatnam in the south until he had been to the country all over" - V. Vasudeva, Two Faces of Indira Gandhi (New Delhi 1977)
2. Gazal Maestro Mehndi Hassan started to perform at a young age and the first concert of dhrupad and kheyal with his elder brother is reported to have been held in Fazilka Bungla, near present D.C. House/Badha Lake (1935) district Fazilka of Undivided Punjab.
3. From July 23, 1934 to July 23, 1949 generation and supplying of electricity in Fazilka was with Fazilites private company "Fazilka Electric Supply Company Limited" jointly owned by Harbhagwan Nanda and Harcharan Dass. Later Harbhagwan Nanda's Son Rajan Nanda married to Ritu Kapoor Nanda, a daughter of famous bollywood actor Raj Kapoor. Presently Rajan Nanda is a Chairman of Escort Group. Rajan and Ritu Nanda's Son Mr Nikhil Nanda is a presently a Joint Managing Director of Escorts Group and a Husband of Shweta Nanda, son in law of Amitabh Bacchan.
4. Five Fazilite have been awarded with Padma Award, highest civilian honour of the country. Late Kanwar Surinder Singh Bedi awarded twice, Padamshri in 1966 and Padam Bhushan in 1972 for playing an important role as deputy commissioner Amritsar during Two wars with Pakistan. Famous veteran singer and actor Fazilite Pushpa Hans in the year 2007 was awarded with Padamshri. World Famous Neurosurgeon Fazilite Dr Jagjit Singh Chopra was awarded with Padam Bhushan in the year 2008 for their valuable contribution in the field of Medicine and in the year 2009 Bhai Nirmal Singh Ragi awarded with PadamShri.
5. Guru Nanak Dev Ji paid his visit to Fazilka during (1517-1521). His final longest journey (Udassi) lasted over four years towards west mainly Baghdad, Mecca and Medina. Bedi clan at Fazilka is the successor of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Captain M.S. Bedi is 17th direct decedent of Guru Nanak Dev Ji family.
6. Haryana Urdu Academy constituted scholarship to the name of the veteran Urdu poet, Fazilite late Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi 'Sahar', for his outstanding contribution in the field of Urdu literature. He also remained Vice-Chancellor of Taraqqui-e-Urdu Board. In the year 2002, Late Gazal Singer Padam bhushan Jagjit Singh launched a music album title "Forget me not", a tribute to the veteran poet, the late Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi 'Sahar', whose creations constitute eight ghazals in the album. Super Cassettes Industries also announced award in the memory of Kunwar Sahib "Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi Award" for the talented, up- coming poet.
7. Two most famous and glamour bollywood actress Mandira Bedi and Malaika Arora Khan have their ancestral route in Fazilka. Mandira is a granddaughter of famous Fazilite Urdu Poet Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi "Sahar". Actress Malaika Arora father Mr Anil Arora born and brought up in Fazilka before joining Merchant Navy.
8. The famous Punjabi dance style "Jhummar" was invented in Fazilka by Baba Pokhar Singh (1916-2002) of Fazilka.
9. Lance Nayak Drugpal Singh of Rajput Regiment was awarded with Mahavir Chakra during 1971 Indo-Pak War in Fazilka Sector.
10. After Saunders murder on 17th December 1928 at Lahore, Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh escaped and reached to Village Danewala of Fazilka Tehsil, where he hides himself.
11. "We walked night and day. There were men and women of all ages and all conditions. Many could not stand the strain. They-mostly women and children-were left on the road. I reached a place called Fazilka, in Indian Territory, and discovered that another refugee column in which my father and other relatives had set out had fared much worse. They had been attacked by Muslim mobs on their way: Only 40 or 50 had survived out of 400 or 500 and even these were in hospitals. My aunt had been killed, more than a hundred girls were abducted, and my father rescued from a heap of the dead. ...While in Fazilka, we saw other refugee columns coming in; one of them he says was 'forty miles long', and in another marched " five hundred women who had been stripped naked.......I saw women with their breasts, noses, ears and cheeks cut........one of them told me how her child was roasted and she was asked to partake of the same.....another was ravished in the presence of her husband who was kept tied to a tree. — Stated under oath by Madanlal Pahwa during the Mahatama Gandhi Murder Trial, part of a seven member gang who wanted to kill the Mahatma Gandhi.
12. Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo served thrice as Speaker of Pakistan-Punjab Assembly during 1985-88, 1988-90 and 1990-93 and functioned thrice as Chief Minister, Punjab during 1993, 1993-95 and 1996; and is presently serving as Federal Minister for Industries and Production is a Grandson of Mian Fazil Watto; Fazilka named after him. Fazilka City Established in Year 1844 By Britisher Mr. Oliver After Purchasing Land from Mian Fazil Watoo (Lambardar) at the payment of Rs. 144/- and Anna Eight, and our city Name is Placed after His Name
13. After partition of India and Pakistan, lovers of Fazilka in Pakistan; to mark their love and affection for the motherland founded "Fazilka Islamia High School" at Pakpattan.
14. Ex. Prime Minister of India Late Smt. Late Indira Gandhi, Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Visited our City in Year 1971, 1977 & 1984 respectively.
15. Fazilka Tilla Jutii is registered as a Geographical Indicator to the Name of Fazilka under Patent Act of India. Fazilka Tilla Jutti was the First Choice of Ex. President of India Late Giani Jail Singh, Ex. Chief Minister of Punjab Late Shiri Partap Singh Kairo, Late Shiri Beant Singh Ji and Late Shiri Darbara Singh. Presently Fazilka Tilla Jutti is the the first choice of Badal Family, and Shiri Sukbir Badal, M.P. Faridkot visit every year Fazilka to buy Jutti. Many Bollywood stars and singers mainly Gurdass Mann, Juhi Chawla likes Fazilka Jutti.
16. Veteran sportsperson from Fazilka Sardar Gurbachan Singh Brar from Fazilka was the Former Indian Hockey Team Captain in the Year 1950.
17. Before Partition Fazilka Was the Biggest Wool Market in the Asia and it was established by British as one of the main trading Town. British named 10 steamer ships to the name of their favorite trading town and they named First Single Cylinder Steam Ship of the World "FAZILKA" in the year 1890 (South Africa).
18. Fazilite Meeran Chadha Borwankar, IPS is the first female Police Commissioner in India at present posted as Commissioner Pune Police. Another daughter of this small town Ms Nitu Bhattacharya (Thatai), Commandant 88 CRPF, Women Battalion, Head of Only Women Battalion in the Country
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