Tea has been cultivated in the district of Darjeeling, India, since 1835 and due to the unique and complex combination of agro-climatic conditions, such teas have a distinctive and naturally occurring quality and flavour. Darjeeling tea has since long acquired an international reputation and is a clearly identifiable geographical indication. Complaints were coming from time to time from all over the world that teas sold as "Darjeeling" did not always originate from the Darjeeling plantation district of India and hence, the consumers were being deprived of the special quality and flavour which they expect from Darjeeling tea. This necessitated developing a system for the protection of Darjeeling tea as a produce of a geographical indication. The Tea Board accordingly developed a scheme under Trade Mark laws which is within the parameters of the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.

    The revised sitting fees for Directors will be effective from April 1, 2000.

    The amending Notification has been issued in exercise of powers conferred on the Central Government (Department of Company Affairs) by sub-section (1) of Section 642 of the Companies Act, 1956.

    Inaugurating the 4-day (11-14 February) Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF), Shri Abdullah said that the world market for handicrafts is very big but India’s share is quiet small despite the country having one of the largest number of crafts persons in the world. The Minister promised that the government was ready to provide any type of support, such as infrastructural facilities for setting up of crafts development centres, for boosting export of handicrafts and gifts from the country. IHGF has been organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

    Shri Omar Abdullah complimented the handicraft exporters, artisans and EPCH for doing exceedingly well during the current year and hoped that the export target of Rs.6050 crores set for handicraft exports is likely to be surpassed this year.

    Mrs. Tinoo Joshi, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Shri Alok Varma, Addl. Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) and Shri Ravi Passi, Chairman, EPCH were also present on the occasion.

    Dr. Singh advised the Indian researchers to keep pace with the first changing global technology and called for a quantum jump in this front to keep Indian steel industry ahead. The Director, Finance, VSP Shri P. Doki said that technological progress is essential to become self-sustaining. The Executive Director Shri B.K. Panda outlined an over view of steel industry and said that steel melting shop at VSP has consolidated its experience and created a national record of a continuous sequence of 103 heats. He pointed out that VSP collective were able to produce special grade steel required for long production. The General Manager, Research and Development Centre for Iron and Steel (RDCIS), Ranchi Shri S. Chakravarty stressed on more research on technology front, for quality production of Steel in India.

    The two-day meeting was attended by 30 delegates from various steel plants at Visakhapatnam Durgapur, Bhilai, Bokaro, Rourkela and Centre for Engineering and Technology of SAIL and RDCIS.

INDO-AUSTRALIAN COOPERATION IN FOODGRAIN STORAGE

    Government of India will explore the possibility of entering into bilateral agreements with Australia for providing technological assistance for developing better foodgrains storage technology suited to Indian conditions. This was indicated by Shri Shanta Kumar, Minister of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution while talking to an Australian delegation headed by Mr. Hendy Cowan, Deputy Prime Minister of Western Australia who called on him here today. The delegation comprised representatives from Department of Commerce and Trade; cooperative Bulk Handling Limited and Western Australia Trade Office.

    During discussions the Australian team suggested that a project could be prepared on Bulk Handling of Foodgrains for reducing post-harvest storage loss and presented to financial agencies including World Bank for investment in grain storage projects in India. Shri Shanta Kumar welcomed the offer of technological assistance from Australia subject to its adaptability in Indian conditions.

    The Department of Public Distribution is currently engaged in evolving a National Storage Policy to harness efforts and resources of public and private sectors, both domestic and foreign to build and operate infrastructure for Bulk Grain Handling, Storage and Transportation of foodgrains.

    A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Government of Australia and the Government of India in December 1997 on Development Cooperation through the India- Australia Training and Capacity Building Project (IATCBP). The project is aimed at enhancing the institutional capacity to help tackle higher priority issues. Taking advantage of this, our Department prepared a sub-project proposal for development of capacity building in the area of "Integrated Bulk Grain Management System" to be funded by Australian Government through AUS AID. This sub-component provides for a programme of study in technology for grain handling to be implemented in five components between the two countries. The total cost of the sub project is estimated at Australian $.4,15.000 (Approx Rs. 1.04 crores) by Government of Australia and Rs. 4,90,000 (Approx. A$20,000) to be spent by the Indian Government.

    An amount of 36 crore rupees to Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. (HUDCO) has been sanctioned towards investment by the Government of India in the share capital of HUDCO during the year 1999-2000. This will be in 3,60,000 equity shares of Rs. 1000/- each. This will raise the paid capital of HUDCO to 848 crore rupees.

'38'

    Dr. C.P. Thakur, Union Minister of Water Resources, has convened a meeting of Ganga Flood Control Board at Patna in April, 2000.

    This meeting will deliberate on the modalities for restructuring the mandate and executive powers of the Ganga Flood Control Board on the lines of Brahmaputra Board. The restructured Ganga Flood Control Board is likely to be mandated with powers to execute the projects/schemes meant for solving the widespread problems of flood/erosion in coordination with the State Governments, wherever necessary, in the Ganga basin areas. Efforts will also be made by the Ministry of Water Resources to have its regional set-up at Patna strengthened with the cooperation of Bihar Government.

    The Ganga Flood Control Commission, a subordinate office of the Ministry of Water Resources, was established in April 1972 with its headquarters at Patna. It serves as the executive limb of the Ganga Flood Control Board, which is headed by the Union Minister of Water Resources and acts as the Secretariat of the Board. The Commission has been mainly assigned the task of preparing comprehensive plans of flood management of various river systems in the Ganga sub-basin and drawing out a phased programme of implementation of various schemes from techno-economic angle, monitoring of important flood management schemes, assessment of the adequacy of waterways existing under the road and rail bridges and providing other technical guidance to the basin States.

    This meet follows the meeting of MPs from the three Eastern States of UP, West Bengal and Bihar convened by the Ministry of Water Resources at New Delhi on 21.12.1999, when the MPs from the three States expressed their serious concern about the recurrent problems of flood and extensive erosion on the adjoining areas of the river Ganga, Ghaghra, Gandak, Adhwara, Kosi, Teesta and their tributaries. The deliberations of the proposed meeting are likely to produce far-reaching decisions to save the loss of lives and crops due to the havoc of floods and erosion in these areas.

PRESS NOTE

Subject: Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production and Use-based Index (Base 1993-94=100) for the month of December, 1999.

    The Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 1993-94 for the month of December, 1999 have been released by the Central Statistical Organisation. The General Index stands at 159.5 which is higher by 5.2% compared to the month of December, 1998.

    The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for the month of December, 1999 stand at 127.7, 164.6, and 152.6 respectively, with the corresponding growths of –0.2%, 5.9% and 5.2% compared to the month of December, 1998. The cumulative growths during April-December, 1999 over the corresponding period of 1998 in the three sectors have been 0.0%, 6.7% and 7.7% respectively, with the overall growth in the General Index being 6.2%.

    Twelve out of seventeen two-digit industry groups have shown positive growth during the month of December, 1999 as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. Non-Metallic Mineral products have shown the highest growth of 25.4% followed by 15.2% for Beverages, Tobacco and related Products and 15.0% in Machinery and Equipment other than Transport equipment. On the other hand, Other Manufacturing Industries have shown a growth of –15.4% followed by a growth of –7.9% in Rubber, Plastic, Petroleum and Coal Products and –7.1% in Wood and Wood Products, Furniture and Fixtures.

    As per Use-based classification, the growth in December, 1999 as compared to December, 1998 is 9.6% in Intermediate goods and 4.1% in Basic goods and -4.4% in Capital goods. The Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables have recorded growth of 12.0% and 3.9% respectively, with the overall growth in Consumer goods being 5.5%.

    Statements giving Quick Estimates of the Index of Industrial Production at the 2-digit level of National Industrial Classification and by Use-based classification for the month of December, 1999 alongwith the growth rates over the corresponding month of previous year including the cumulative indices and growth rates are enclosed.

    The Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Arun Jaitley has said that ‘public service broadcasting’ is going to be the main thrust of broadcasting in India in coming years. He said, even the private TV channels are likely to diversify and pay more attention to educational aspect of broadcasting apart from the entertainment and information on which they are concentrating at the moment.

    Shri Jaitley was addressing the members of Harvard Club on ‘ Media in the new millennium’, here, last evening.

    Shri Jaitley said that the role of the Government would be limited to an enabling one for making legislation, regulation and creating a proper environment for investment. He said that the traditional concept of media is going to change as the fast changing technology has obliterated the difference between telecommunication, broadcasting and information technology.

    Shri Jaitely disagreed with a questioner over the suggested disinvestment of Doordarshan in order to reduce the load on public exchequer. He said, what is required is professional administration of Doordarshan by proper packaging and marketing. He cited the recent example of acquisition of cricket coverage rights in Indian by Doordarshan, netting substantial revenue for Doordarshan.

    The Minister saw resurgence of radio through the FM system of broadcasting. He said Radio has got a great potential in educating the masses in the far-flung and rural areas. It can disseminate information on floods, cyclone and other calamities instantly. The importance of radio is also highlighted by the fact that the reach of electronic and print media is limited due to the lesser availability of TV sets and illiteracy, he said.

    Referring of the print media in the context of fast developing of electronic media, Shri Jaitley foresaw a gradual shift and diversification towards more of news features, in-depth analysis and behind the reports situations. He also visualized a greater role of regional newspapers in different languages in the country.

    The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Ram Naik said that the demand for Petroleum Products in the country is said to reach 155 million tonnes by the year 2006-7. This is almost three times of the level of 55 million tonnes in 1991 and 89 million tonnes in last fiscal year. Speaking at the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry , Shri Naik, informed that as against indigenous crude oil production of about 33 million tonnes in a year, country dependent upon imports to the extent of 70 per cent of our requirements. The Government has recently approved award of 25 exploration blocks under NELP to accelerate the process of domestic crude production.

    The Minister informed that the prices of crude oil and petroleum products have risen very steeply during the past one year. It has reached Rs. 7540 per tonne at present against Rs. 3210 per tonne in February, 1999, an increase of 134 per cent. As a result the oil import bill during the current year is expected to be around Rs.55000 crores. Similarly the quantum of subsidy on kerosene (PDS) and domestic LPG has increased substantially. At today's international prices, subsidy on kerosene is Rs.7.85 per letre and Rs.144 per cylinder on LPG.

    Drawing attention of the Members to the menace of adulteration and other mal-practices in the sale of petrol/ diesel etc., Shri Naik stated that strict action would be taken against any erring person. Referring to the special drive against adulteration launched in November-December, he said the cooperation of State Governments was necessary to take action under the Essential Commodity Act. At a meeting of State Civil Supplies Minister a broad consensus emerged at reduction in the difference between the prices of the diesel and kerosene which is presently Rs.11.45 per litre in Delhi. This price difference is one of the principal reason for the adulteration of petroleum products. Even in neighbouring countries the difference between the prices of diesel and kerosene is very minimal as only 39 paise per letre in Pakistan, 5 paise in Bangladesh and Rs.1.6 in Sri Lanka.

    The Minister said in view of the pricing policy initiated in 1997 the prices of diesel will have to further go up to match the principle of import parity as international prices have been showing increasing trends. This can be prevented only if the duties and sales taxes on diesel are reduced by the Central and the State Governments. Shri Naik also informed the Members several initiatives taken by the Government production and supply of oil products in all parts of the country. He said entire waiting list for LPG connection as on 1^st December, 1999 will be cleared by the end of December, 2000 releasing connections in excess of 1 crore in a single year. Quality of fuel has been improved with supply of only lead free petrol and diesel with only 0.25% sulphur content.

    The Members expressed serious concern on the adulteration of oil products and called for severe punishment and penalties against the involved dealers/officials. They said other mal-practices like short supply, seal tempering etc. should be urgently checked. The members also urged Minister to reconstitute the dissolved Dealer Selection Boards (DSB) at an early date so that more retail outlets and LPG agencies are set up facilitating availability of the crucial oil products with a wider marketing network. Members at large urged the Minister to reduce subsidy on kerosene as the poor men's fuel was being black marketed resulting in misuse of the subsidy besides giving incentive for being used as adulterant.

    Replying to the members queries the Minister said that action is being taken so that the new DSBs are set up by 31^st March, 2000. Earlier DSBs were dissolved after a review of their functioning revealed that the majority of them did not function satisfactorily. He saught their cooperation in finding suitable persons with unimpeachable integrity to head the DSBs. Shri Naik assured that no efforts will be spared to rectify the situation as regards the mal-practices in marketing on oil products.

    Shri Santosh Gangwar and Shri E. Ponnuswamy both Ministers of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas were present at the meeting. Following members of Parliament attended the meeting of the Committee: S/Shri Jaswant Singh Bishnoi, Dr. Laxminarayan Pandey, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) B.C. Khanduri, N.H. Diwathe, Kishan Singh Sangwan, Nagmani, Kunwar Sarvaraj Singh, Prakash Paranjpe, Ram Jeevan Singh , M.H. Gavit, Harpal Singh Sathi, Prof. Ram Bakhsh Singh Verma, A. Vijaya Raghavan, N.R. Dasari ,Satish Pradhan and Oscar Fernandes.