Saturday, June 27, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A call centre for farmers in Punjab
(Punjab), May 20 (ANI): In a first of its kind initiative in the country, a call centre named Zamidara Farmsolutions has started functioning in Punjab. Located in the border district of Fazilka in Ferozepur district, the call centre offers latest updates to the farmers on agricultural techniques and developments.
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Vikram Ahuja, owner, who himself is a farmer said that he was aware of the problems faced by the farmers and tried to ease their problems by making the expensive machine available to them on 'Pay for use' basis. We have tried to make the expensive machinery available to the farmers on 'Pay for use' basis rather than 'pay for ownership'. In this the farmer has to pay for what he uses and nor for what he owns, said Ahuja.
Elaborating on the use of the call center, Khushal Chand a farmer from Begawali village who recently hired a machine for water leveling said it made more sense in hiring these machines rather than buying them. Main reasons for taking this machine on hire was that it is very expensive. It costs 6,285 dollars and it becomes very impractical for small farmers like us to shell out this kind of money for single use and after that this machine becomes a liability, said Chand. Nearly two-thirds of India's billion-plus population depends on agriculture for a living and efforts such as these will really benefit the small farmers. By Avtar Singh Gill (ANI)
http://news.smashits.com/386439/A-call-centre-for-farmers-in-Punjab.htm
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Fazilka emerging energy hub
Praful Chander Nagpal
Fazilka, October 23
The border town of Fazilka, which shot to limelight after it was elected by Czech Republic magazine "Carbuster" as the first Asian town for adopting energy saving practices to fight global warming, is all set to emerge as the energy hub of the state.
According to the facts compiled by Graduate Welfare Association (GWAF) here, the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), in collaboration with a German company, the Moser Baer Photovoltaic Limited, would install 5-MW solar energy plant in Fazilka. The energy so produced would be environment friendly. The project, likely to be completed within two years, would meet the power requirements of about one lakh residents of this town and that too at cheaper rates.
The PEDA has also taken up an initiative of generating power from residue of sugar mills. Meanwhile, it has floated tenders for generating power from waste of Fazilka Cooperative Sugar Mills.
The construction of the US $ 3.5 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) is likely to start in near future. Fazilka is expected to be established as a distribution point of the TAPI project, which would give further impetus to make it the energy hub.
The town has also emerged on the world map by adopting a unique system of making available cycle-rickshaws (ECOCABS) on call. Four telephone centres have been set up for the purpose. The system is running successfully. Moreover, for security reasons, the Indian defence forces stationed at Fazilka have recently planted more than 10,000 saplings, including 3,000 Sheesham saplings given by the progressive farmers of Fazilka.
While emerging on the energy front, the farmers of this area are also availing services of the Agricultural Equipment Bank set up by Vikram Ahuja, a young entrepreneur of this town.
The Malwa Water Management System developed by Ahuja is also likely to save 7.5 billion litres of water annually in Fazilka and its surrounding areas.
The farmers are also being apprised of the latest techniques to conserve water. Besides, drip irrigation system is also being promoted in the region.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Prospecting the Fazilka-Abohar area for an Invest in GAIL Pipeline
Regards,
Atul Nagpal
Raj Mahal,
Gaushalla road,
Fazilka-152123
Saturday, May 16, 2009
छह घंटे के बाद मिला फार्म 17-ए इस्तेमाल का अधिकार
May 07, 11:25 pm
फाजिल्का-सांप नाथ, नाग नाथ सरीखी पार्टियों व उनके उम्मीदवारों को वोट देने की बजाए किसी को न चुन, नापसंदगी का इजहार करने का अधिकार बेशक चुनाव आयोग ने वोटर को 17-ए फार्म के जरिये दे दिया है। चुनाव प्रक्रिया में लिप्त किए गए रिटर्निग व प्रिजाइडिंग अधिकारी ही चुनाव आयोग के द्वारा प्रदत्त इस अधिकार प्राप्ति में सबसे बड़ा रोड़ा बन रहे है। इसकी पुष्टि करता एक वाकया फाजिल्का के बूथ नंबर 38 पर हुआ, जिसने नापसंदगी जताने की राह में दुश्वारियों की पोल खोलकर रख दी है, क्योंकि एक मतदाता को 17-ए फार्म के इस्तेमाल के लिए सुबह आठ से दोपहर एक बजे तक पोलिंग स्टेशन के कई चक्कर काटने पड़े, पोलिंग अधिकारियों के अड़ियल रवैये व धमकियां सुननी पड़ीं, लेकिन उसने भी हार नहीं मानीं और कई बार अपने फोन से चुनाव आयोग के अधिकारियों से शिकायत कर आखिरकार फार्म 17-ए फार्म का इस्तेमाल कर ही माना।
हुआ यूं कि स्थानीय जंडी वाली गली निवासी मतदाता सुभाष पांचाल ने किसी भी दल के प्रत्याशी को अपने वोट योग्य न पाए जाने पर एसडी एलीमेंट्री स्कूल में बने पोलिंग स्टेशन पर जाकर 17-ए फार्म की मांग की। पोलिंग स्टाफ ने ऐसे किसी फार्म से अनभिज्ञता जताते हुए उसे वोट डालने के लिए प्रेरित किया। यहां तक कि उसकी उंगली पर इंक का निशान भी लगा दिया। इस दौरान कुछ दलों के पोलिंग एजेंट नियुक्त हुए कार्यकर्ताओं ने भी उसे वोट डालने के लिए प्रेरित करना शुरू कर दिया, लेकिन पांचाल नहीं माना। इस पर एक चुनाव अधिकारी ने घुरकी दिखाते कहा कि तुम चुनाव प्रक्रिया में बाधा डाल रहे हो, तुम्हे पुलिस के हवाले कर देंगे, लेकिन पांचाल फार्म 17-ए के अधिकार बाबत पूरी तरह जागरूक था। पांचाल ने कहा कि उसने अपने फोन से रिटर्निग अधिकारी से बात की और पेश आ रही समस्या के बारे में बताया। रिटर्निग अधिकारी ने एक घंटे बाद आने के लिए कहा। पांचाल ने आरोप लगाया कि एक घंटे बाद भी उसकी कोई सुनवाई नहीं हुई। आखिरकार उसने चुनाव आयोग अधिकारियों को फोन किए। जिले के चुनाव अधिकारी ने डीसी को मामले का संज्ञान लेने के लिए कहा। डीसी फिरोजपुर ने संबंधित पोलिंग बूथ पर संपर्क कर चुनाव अधिकारियों को 17-ए फार्म के बारे में बताया और तब जाकर लगभग आधा दर्जन चक्करों और छह घंटे समय की बर्बादी के बाद सुभाष पांचाल को फार्म 17-ए के इस्तेमाल का मौका मिल सका। ऐसे में आम आदमी भ्रष्ट हो चुकी राजनीतिक व्यवस्था के खिलाफ विरोध जताने का हौसला करे तो कैसे करे।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_5451039_1.html
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Govt to reactivate TAPI gas pipeline project
* Official says ADB willing to finance 25% of project cost
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\05\14\story_14-5-2009_pg7_16
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to reactivate the multi-billion-dollar Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, and is considering taking 25 percent of the total amount from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for this purpose.
According to a senior official of the Ministry of Petroleum, a tripartite agreement was signed by Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan in December 2002 for laying hundreds of kilometres of gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan.
The ADB was acting as the lead developer and coordinator for the project. It sponsored a feasibility study in 2003 – completed by a British consulting firm, Penspen, in 2004 – for laying a pipeline to carry 3.2 million cubic metres of gas per day from Turkmenistan through Herat and Kandahar in Afghanistan and terminating in Multan in Pakistan.
Financing: In order to be processed further, transaction advisory services by an international consultant are being considered wherein the ADB has indicated that it will be willing to finance 25 percent of the cost of such services, provided the remaining cost is shared equally among the participating countries, the official said.
The 1,680km pipeline was suppose to run from the Dovetabat gas deposit in Turkmenistan to Fazilka, a town in Indian near the border with Pakistan, he said. The official said India also expressed its willingness to join the project later, and the Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement (IGFA) signed in December 2002 was amended in April 2008 to facilitate Indian participation. All four governments initiated the revised IGFA, but a formal signing of the agreement is still pending, awaiting completion of some 'enabling actions' required to be completed by Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. "These principally includes the signing of the agreement as well as certification of reserves held by Turkmenistan," he said.
The original estimate of the pipeline project in 2004 was $3.3 billion, which was revised to $7.6 billion in 2008. Responding to latest position of the ADB about the project, he said, "The bank has indicated that it would consider further investment only if the parties agree to move ahead with indication of tangible progress in the future." app
--
Navdeep Asija
http://navdeepasija.blogspot.com
Fazilka - 152123
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\05\14\story_14-5-2009_pg7_16
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to reactivate the multi-billion-dollar Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, and is considering taking 25 percent of the total amount from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for this purpose.
According to a senior official of the Ministry of Petroleum, a tripartite agreement was signed by Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan in December 2002 for laying hundreds of kilometres of gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan.
The ADB was acting as the lead developer and coordinator for the project. It sponsored a feasibility study in 2003 – completed by a British consulting firm, Penspen, in 2004 – for laying a pipeline to carry 3.2 million cubic metres of gas per day from Turkmenistan through Herat and Kandahar in Afghanistan and terminating in Multan in Pakistan.
Financing: In order to be processed further, transaction advisory services by an international consultant are being considered wherein the ADB has indicated that it will be willing to finance 25 percent of the cost of such services, provided the remaining cost is shared equally among the participating countries, the official said.
The 1,680km pipeline was suppose to run from the Dovetabat gas deposit in Turkmenistan to Fazilka, a town in Indian near the border with Pakistan, he said. The official said India also expressed its willingness to join the project later, and the Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement (IGFA) signed in December 2002 was amended in April 2008 to facilitate Indian participation. All four governments initiated the revised IGFA, but a formal signing of the agreement is still pending, awaiting completion of some 'enabling actions' required to be completed by Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. "These principally includes the signing of the agreement as well as certification of reserves held by Turkmenistan," he said.
The original estimate of the pipeline project in 2004 was $3.3 billion, which was revised to $7.6 billion in 2008. Responding to latest position of the ADB about the project, he said, "The bank has indicated that it would consider further investment only if the parties agree to move ahead with indication of tangible progress in the future." app
--
Navdeep Asija
http://navdeepasija.blogspot.com
Fazilka - 152123
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