Ban Sale of Narcotics in Other States

Facing heat over drug menace in Punjab, the ruling ShiromaniAkali Dal today asked Centre to ban the "cultivation of narcotics" in other states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in order to eliminate the problem.

Punjab government has appealed to the Centre to ban cultivation of narcotics like opium, poppy, ganja etc in other states so that drug abuse is put to an end, said the SAD President and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today, during his visit to the notified area committee Nathana in Bathinda.

Country should know that Punjab is a victim of drug abuse. We are a rice and wheat producing state, unlike states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh that draw huge economic gains of Rs. 150 crore to Rs. 200 crore by cultivating narcotics. How can a country have two laws that allow cultivation of drugs in one state and foodgrain in another. Mr Badal blamed people with vested interests for defaming Punjab on the issue of drug abuse in the state.

He claimed that the drugs were coming from Pakistan and Afghanistan through international border and it was the responsibility of the Centre and Border Security Forces (BSF) to seal these borders to check its inflow into the state. However, he said, Punjab Police had done a commendable job confiscating huge hauls of drugs and arresting many kingpins.

We request the BSF to strengthen themselves for impenetrable borders. Center government should install ultra-modern technology and gadgets like CCTV cameras and sensors along with border that do not allow drugs to seep in. Shiromani Akali Dal was holding huge dharnas at all the three Punjab state borders including Fazilka, Ferozepur and Attari in Amritsar. To a query, he said the SAD was strongly against religious conversions.

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PSPCL launches online quick bill payments for 46 towns

With a view to facilitate the consumers for easy payments of electricity bills the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has launched online quick bill payment system in the state. In addition to this 433 easy bill outlets have also been setup in Punjab for making online payments without paying any charges.

Disclosing this here spokesman of the state government said that in pursuance of governance reforms initiated in the state by the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who also holds power portfolio, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited(PSPL)has also implemented various citizen centric services online to help the consumers. In addition to online deposit of bills, the corporation has launched 24x7 centralised helpline, online registration of complaints and state-of-the-art customer care centres.

Image Courtesy-chaseajob.com

Giving details he said under this online payment gateway project, consumers in 46 major towns have been provided this facility in first phase and rest areas of the state would be covered in next 6 months. He informed that 46 towns covered under first phase included Patiala, Gurdaspur, SAS Nagar, Gidderbaha, Jaito, Nangal, Patti, Nakodar, Sirhind, Nawanshahr, Malout, Rupnagar, Rajpura, Samana, Tarntaran, Faridkot, Dhuri, Kotkapura, Muktsar, Khanna, Malerkotla, Kharar, Sunam, Zira, Nabha, Ferozpur Cantt., Jalalabad, Mandi Gobindgarh, Batala, Abohar, Sangrur, Phagwara, Ferozpur City, Mansa, Barnala, Rampura Phul, Jagraon, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Pathankot, Bathinda, Jalandhar Cantt., Jalandhar, Amritsar, Moga and Ludhiana where consumers could view their electricity bills, download receipts after payments and lodge complaints online on the portal at www.pspcl.in.

The spokesman said only current bills or due payments could be deposited online and bill statement would be available online within 3-4 days after consumer gets its hard copy. "Consumers could download receipt after payment by entering consumer account number and there will be no transaction charges for bill payments through net banking", he added.

He also made it clear that in case consumer account was debited but receipt was not generated, the same would be reflected in consumer account within next 2 working days. He informed that consumers could file their complaints related to payment deduction without generation of receipt on bill desk at 011-46869004, 011-46869005, 011-46869010, 08800184336 

Sukhbir's Initiative To Get Kabaddi Included In Cw And Olympic Games

Mr.  Sukbir Singh Badal initiative of the Punjab Government to organize World Kabbadi Cup had provided international exposure to this mother game of Punjab. He said after successful organization of World Kabbadi Leagues at national and international level this game was not confined to geographical boundaries of India any longer. In fact kabbadi leagues are attracting more spectators than other sports leagues organized in the country

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the State Government was working in league with other kabbadi playing nations to devise modalities to get this discipline included in the Commonwealth and Olympics Games.

The Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds sports portfolio, said that he was in dialogue with kabbadi associations of various nations to explore the strategies for its promotion at international arena and Punjab government would seek support from the Union Sports Ministry for this purpose.

He informed that opening ceremony would be held at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium Jalandhar on December 6 and the concluding event with men’s final would be held at Badal village stadium in Sri Muktsar Sahib on December 20. Women’s final including contests for third and fourth positions in both sections would be played at sports stadium Barnala on December 19. The semifinals of both men and women would be hosted at Kabaddi Stadium, Dirba in Sangrur district. 

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