Chandigarh: Political cacophony over state grants apart, the Rs 21,000-crore Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Bathinda is sure to boost industrial growth in Punjab. Not only would the project lead to the setting up of a petrochemical hub in Punjab, accruing investment worth thousands of crores, the refinery and downstream industry that is expected to be set up would also generate employment and give a fillip to the transport business.

Still not included under a national programme for prevention of the disease. The alarming rise in cancer-related deaths in Malwa saw Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, during his recent visit to the state, including Bathinda, Hoshiarpur and Mansa districts under a national programme for prevention and control of the disease. But, Muktsar district, where around 1,100 deaths have been reported in the last 10 years, continues to be neglected in terms of steps to detect or prevent the disease.

Cong questions 15-year tax holiday to refinery; villagers who gave land still waiting for job. Even as steel tycoon Lakshmi N Mittal has hinted that he may go for an initial public offering (IPO) of the just commissioned Guru Gobind Singh Oil Refinery at Bathinda, for expansion to raise capacity, the Punjab government may not get any direct benefit from the Rs 21,500 crore unit to which it has given a tax holiday of 15 years.

The Rs 21,500-crore Guru Gobind Singh Refinery near Bathinda — the largest investment Punjab has seen since Independence — will formally be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 28. While Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be present on the ocassion along with his cabinet colleagues, state Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh is not likely to attend the function. Amarinder is expected to go to Delhi for a couple of days on Friday for pre-scheduled meetings, said sources. Other Congress leaders are expected to attend the function.

Move comes after NHRC intervention

Following directions of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Punjab Government has banned the manufacture, import and use of carcinogenic pesticides, which according to reports, caused cancer among the small farmers in the Malwa region that consists of Southern districts — Bathinda, Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Sangrur and Mansa.

Following directions from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in respect of growing cancer incidence on account of indiscriminate use of pesticides in Punjab, the state government has banned the manufacture, import and use of pesticides injurious to health. Responding to the NHRC orders, the Punjab Government has informed the commission that it has “banned the manufacture, import and use of pesticides which are very injurious to health, withdrawn registration of some such pesticides and restricted the use of other hazardous pesticides.”

The Rs.21,500 crore Guru Gobind Singh Refinery near Bathinda town - the largest investment in Punjab since independence - will be formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh April 28, Punjab officials said here Thursday. The refienry is located near Bathinda town in southwest Punjab, 250 km from here. A joint venture of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Mittal Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal's company, the project had become fully operational recently and is awaiting formal inauguration.

In a move to invite industry to the cash-strapped Punjab, the state government is ready to amend and even bring in a new industrial policy, Industries & Commerce Minister Anil Joshi said Wednesday. “We will review the industrial policy and if need be, make amendments or create a new one to provide a good environment to the industry in the state,” Joshi said.

Bathinda: The cotton price here witnessed a forward leap of about Rs 230 per quintal today as the Centre yesterday lifted the ban on its export. Its arrival in the markets of the Malwa region, including Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana, picked up as farmers came out with their held back produce. The cotton that was trading for about Rs 4,200 per quintal till yesterday fetched Rs 4,430 per quintal today, thereby bringing smile on the face of farmers. The seven market committees of the Bathinda district registered arrival of 15,990 quintals of cotton during the day.