Chandigarh, November 13
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today said that the Technical University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Y S Rajan, had informed him last night that Mr Bill Gates was willing to invest in information technology in the state.
But first he would finance ''mobile clinics'' to fight AIDS. Likewise, negotiations were at an advance stage for installing a super computer at the Thapar Institute, Patiala, which would facilitate work in bio-technology, genomic and astronomy.
Dr Rajan, who had met Mr Bill Gates in New Delhi on Tuesday, is leading a three-member delegation, including Mr B R Bajaj and Mr N S Kalsi, to the USA for the Comdex conference in Las Vegas beginning November 18.
Capt Amarinder Singh was sharing his views on a wide range of issues in an interview with TNS at his residence.
On appearing before Akal Takht, he said: ''Let the Jathedar act first. We will see when that happens. All I did was my duty to maintain law and order and hold a fair and free election''.
On politico-administrative issues, he said he had heard ''rumours'' of in-house corruption. Reports said at least five of his ministers were involved. Except in the case of one, sons of others were allegedly taking money for postings and transfers. ''There are com- plaints, I will enquire''.
On specific instances of corruption in the bureaucracy, he said: ''The entire system has been vitiated by the previous government. It will take time to repair it''.
He denied there were ''centres of power'' around him or his name was being ''used'' by them to intimidate others. But he was not totally unaware of the impression about over-riding powers enjoyed by the police that had demoralised the administration.
Though he claimed being ''accessible'', complaints abound that he and his office (CMO) is open only to a select few administrative secretaries and not heads of departments." Now an officer, has been appointed in the CMO to deal with complaints. Henceforth, there would be an action taken report on every Monday on such complaints."
The government is also to look for a successor to Mr Y S Ratra, Chief Secretary, who retires in two months. The choice is likely to be from among Mr Rajesh Chabbra, Mr Jai Singh Gill and Mr S K Tuteja.
Capt Amarinder Singh is making efforts to tackle an extremely difficult economic crisis and develop an effective recovery programme for Punjab. He is trying hard to convince the people that it is too early to pass a judgment on his
performance, as he is negotiating his way out of the choppy waters.
The Chief Minister knows that announcing strong policy measures or economic/fiscal reforms is one thing and implementation these quite another. These reforms are often politically costly and require political tactics to negotiate inbuilt vagaries. He is finding out why the government image has blurred so soon in the eyes of the people. He is still in the act of balancing political limitations with governance.
The Captain recounted the initiatives taken to transform economy by first trying to put the financial house in order and also his action plan on proposed reforms and reports of his advisory committees on agriculture, industry and disinvestment. ''We have built investors' confidence and hope to put Punjab back on the fast track of growth''.
His major concern today is generation of power. Negotiations for 500 mw phase-11 Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat in Bathinda are on and so are for the Shahpur kandi project. The government has investment offers from Reliance and Tata.
Coping with the youth is his another major concern. There is no policy for nearly 240,000-odd youth, 16 years in age, unemployed, semi-educated and high on drugs. The answer lies in meaningful education, mass industrialisation and removal of agricultural drawbacks.
An area of 28,000 acres is under trial of new crops/varieties of barley, winter maize and mustard (sarson). Likewise, arrangements have been made with Tropicana for importing 1,100 plants of malta from the USA.
Punjab is saddled with a stock of sugar worth Rs 430 crore. It is hard- pressed to dispose of this and also make pending payments to sugarcane growers. Only part payment of Rs 30 crore has been made against Rs 80 crore or so.
On dairying, Punjab is negotiating with MNCs on embryo-transfer technology and milk processing equipment.
