The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas has issued a directive emphasizing stricter measures to control paddy stubble burning during the 2024
Even as the Union government is struggling to boost the country's agriculture extension system, pesticide and crop chemical manufacturers have joined hands with rural ngos to promote safe and judicious usage of pesticides among the farmers.
AJ. Philip's survey of primary health centres in Punjab (Feb 4, 5 and 6) has brought out the pathetic neglect of the basic healthcare. The Bhor Committee (1943) has laid down the three-tier health setup for the country with the primary health centre as the pivot for providing preventive and curative services at the grassroots level. District hospitals and specialised higher medical institutions were to provide the secondary and tertiary care service. Instead of strengthening the PHCs and district hospitals with adequate staff, equipment and drugs, the government continues to hoodwink the public by announcing new schemes which hardly make any impact. People, especially the poor, continue to be denied the basic healthcare as enshrined in the Constitution. No doubt, Punjab is lagging behind in social service indices, of which health services is an important segment compared with many other states. Having closely observed the working of PHCs in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, I feel that the system is best for the country if appropriate steps are taken to strengthen it and plug the loopholes in its working. Instead of wasting financial and human resources in unproductive activities like realty development, it would be better to improve the existing peripheral health services to provide succour to the suffering rural folks of the state. Brig H. S. SANDHU (retd), Panchkula
The Planning Commission on Tuesday suggested a slew of measures to reform Punjab's power sector, including charging differential peak and non-peak tariffs for commercial users in the state. At a meeting to finalise the state's Annual Plan for 2008-09 on Tuesday, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal discussed at length the issues concerning the power sector with Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
Punjab calling: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal calling on Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Tuesday. NEW DELHI: The Annual Plan of Punjab for 2008-09 was on Tuesday finalised at Rs.6,210 crore at a meeting here between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and State Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal. The Plan outlay includes an additional Central assistance component of Rs. 200 crore for the priority projects of the State.
Leading power companies, including Larsen & Turbo, Reliance Energy, Tata Power, Nagarjuna Construction, GVK Infrastructure and Sterlite Industries have expressed interest in taking up the construction of Rajpura thermal and Talwandi Sabo mega power projects in Punjab. The projects are proposed to be awarded to developers on build, own and operate (BOO) basis, through tariff-based international competitive bidding (ICB). For both the projects, Power Finance Corporation has been appointed as the consultant resulting in such a tremendous response.
eleven peafowl found dead in Punjab were killed by food contaminated with pesticides. Nine peahens and two peacocks died in Ladhowal forest area near Ludhiana on December 26. The state forest
The report: "Independent, Third Party Assessment of Coca-Cola Facilities in India' By: The Energy and Resource Institute, Delhi Tested plants: Kaladera (Rajasthan), Nemam (Tamil Nadu),
The Centre has sanctioned a grant of Rs 75 crore for the development of Zirakpur. The Punjab Government had already released Rs 10 crore for the development plan. Punjab Cooperation Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh handed cheques to the NAC Zirakpur president on Monday. The Minister said that though Punjab's share accounts to about Rs 7.5 lakh, it was contributing higher amount to accelarte the project. He said that the grant would be used for ensuring supply of potable water and sewerage facility to the residents.
It's painful to see old, ailing people languishing for medical attention in a city that never tires of flaunting its healthcare and social justice policies. Come to think of it -- there are close to 60 voluntary organisations in Chandigarh and at least 15 helplines to support people in need of care. But for some reason, none of them has managed to spot the 70-something Amar Singh, who has been living at the Sector 30 bus stop, adjacent to CBI office, for about four months. Alone and incapacitated, he can barely move; so he lies in a corner all day, awaiting help.
The large poultry industry in Punjab appears vulnerable to the bird flu outbreak in a similar way as it began in West Bengal. Talking to reporters here last week, officials of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) said they had investigated the poultry farms in Ludhiana, Amritsar and Chandigarh in the past few months and found gross negligence on the part of poultry farmers towards the birds.
