'42'
The Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Suresh Prabhu in a major initiative to ensure transparency in administration and enable free access to the rules and procedures relating to import of urea, has asked officials to place these rules in a consolidated form on web site of the Department of Fertilizers. The address of the web site of the Department of Fertilizers is www.fert.nic.in.
Presently urea is the only fertilizer under the statutory price and movement control of the Government of India. Urea is being imported to bridge the gap between its demand and indigenous availability in the country.
The web site provides information on the broad guidelines laid down by the Government for import of urea through designated canalizing agencies, tendering procedures, choice of suppliers, inspection of cargo, mode of payments to suppliers through canalizing agencies etc. It also lists the supporting documents required for processing of payments to the canalizing agencies and ocean freight payments to vessels.
Information relating to handling of imported urea at ports, inland transportation and miscellaneous expenses reimbursable to handling agencies in accordance with the Handling & Distribution Contract is also available. The procedure for pre-qualification of handling agencies has also been included.
The lump-sum rates allowed for handling and distribution of imported urea for the period 1996-97 upto 2000-2001 are also being placed on the web site.
‘7’
AMENDMENTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE
The Centre has decided to move necessary official amendments to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 1994. The Amendment Bill is pending in the Rajya Sabha and was introduced on May 9, 1994.
The Bill seeks to amend certain provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 on the basis of recommendations made by the Law Commission and the National Police Commission. It seeks to provide for speedy trial of the cases, thus bringing relief to the litigating public.
The Bill was examined by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, which has since submitted its report. Report was examined in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government okayed recommendations of the Standing Committee.
Meanwhile, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 has been amended in 1999 to provide inexpensive, speedy and proper justice to the common people on the basis of recommendations made by Justice Malimath Committee, the Law Commission’s reports and the report of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation (11th Lok Sabha). Sections 7, 8 and 27 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1997 relate to providing inexpensive and speedy trial.
The amended provisions have not yet been enforced following a very resolute opposition by a majority of the lawyers all over the country.
The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee today inaugurated via teleconferencing a State-of-the-art training complex-cum conference centre of Tata Energy Research Institute from his residence. The Institution ‘RETREAT’ (Resource Efficient TERI Retreat for Environmental Awareness and Training is located in Gurgaon.
The following is the text of the PM’s speech on the occasion:
"It has been a pleasure to watch and hear about the state-of-the-art new facility set up by Tata Energy Research Institute at Gaul Pahari, Gurgaon.
Retreat, as this facility is known, is an example of sustainable habitats that alone can help us face the problem of increasing demand on resources. TERI has offered a solution through remarkable fusion of renewable natural resources and human intelligence.
Sustainable development will be the key to survival, success and prosperity, especially for developing countries, in the 21st century. Bearing this in mind, our Government is committed to making sustainable development the cornerstone of its development strategy.
Providing adequate quantities and diverse forms of energy is one of the challenges that we have to overcome in achieving sustainable development. There is tremendous demand for energy – not only by our factories and farms, but also by our people to meet their cooking and lighting needs.
Some of the lasting images of the underdeveloped world are of women and children spending hours collecting firewood; of families living in darkness after the sun goes down; of factories coming to a grinding halt; and crops withering away in parched fields.
These images need to be wiped out forever from our country if we are to emerge as a developed nation. Sustainable development strategies that ensure long-term benefits for the masses can help us wipe out these images.
These strategies should not only protect our environment, but, apart from other necessities, also fetch clean and efficient energy to the homes of all sections of our society. To achieve the goal, we must act now.
Clearly we need an integrated energy policy that aims at high levels of efficiency in the entire energy cycle, ensure equitable distribution and use, and protects our natural resources and the environment.
In this journey towards securing a sustainable energy future, technological innovation and change are the twin requirements. We have to harness renewable forms of energy on a large scale, so that we ensure secure and satisfactory supply for the present generation, as well as the generations to come.
More importantly, we have to reduce the burden on Mother Earth.
But harnessing energy, even if it is renewable, by itself is not enough. This has to be coupled with finding ways and means of using energy efficiently. Because, a unit of energy saved is more valuable than a unit produced.
Science and technology have to show the way to greater and more efficient use of energy, including renewable energy. Theories and concepts have to go beyond the lab and result in practical applications that can be easily adopted and disseminated.
It is against this background that TERI deserves to be congratulated for constructing a model of sustainable habitats.
I call upon architects, builders, town planners and others involved in housing and habitat to draw upon TERI’s innovative skills, and thus incorporate environmental protection and sustainable energy policy that will cover all forms of supply and all means of consumption.
With these words, I inaugurate the Retreat complex.
Jai Hind ! "
'25' NEW MEMBER ON DCI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In keeping with Government’s endeavour to appoint experts on the Board of Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) so that the Corporation has the advantage of their experience to increase its productivity, Government have appointed Dr.Ramesh Gupta, Prof. Of Finance, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad as a Non-official Part-time Director on the Board of Dredging Corporation of India Limited. The appointment of Dr.Gupta is for a period of three years from the date he takes over the charge of the post.
There are two more vacancies of Non-official Part-time Directors on the Board of DCI . The Public Enterprises Selection Board has been requested to make available a panel of capable persons from different streams.
DCI was incorporated in March 1976 with an authorised capital of Rs.30 crore and paid up capital of Rs.28 crore. The capacity available presently with DCI is around 41.5 million cu.m. and the Corporation is procuring two more dredgers of 7400 cu.m. capacity each and with the addition of these two dredgers, DCI’s installed capacity (Insitu) is expected to go up to about 56 million cu.m. per annum.
The DCI’s performance has been rated excellent during the last 5 years. The profit after tax and dividend paid by DCI during the last 3 years are as under:
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000
(actuals) (actuals) (subject to CAG audit)
Profit after tax (Rs. In lakhs) 4327.37 4158.91 6724.18
Dividend (percent) 33 33 40 (proposed) *
*Including interim dividend of 25%
In view of the excellent performance of DCI, it has been accorded Mini Ratna status by the Ministry of Surface Transport last year.
‘7’
MRTP COMMISSION INSTITUTES INQUIRY AGAINST BRITISH AIRWAYS
The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) has instituted an inquiry against the British Airways and granted a limited restraint order directing the Airways not to deprive the travellers holding confirmed first class tickets from travelling in first class. The Commission has viewed it as a case of manipulation of conditions of delivery of service by the British Airways following a complaint from Vijaypat Singhania against British Airways. He complained that British Airways issued to him tickets of first class for travel from London to Mumbai with confirmed status on various occasions. Despite holding confirmed first class tickets on several occasions when the complainant reported to Heathrow Airport to board the flight with the confirmed ticket, he was informed that there was no seat for him in the first class and instead of first class he was asked and compelled to travel by Club World Cabin.
'21'
URANIUM AND IRON ORE MINING INDUSTRIES DECLARED PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS
The Uranium Industry has been declared a public utility service under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 for another six months from July 19, 2000. The industry was in public interest declared a public utility service for six months from January 19, 2000.
The Labour Ministry in a separate notification has also declared under the same Act the Services in the Iron Ore Mining Industry as a public utility for another six months from July 1, 2000. The industry was earlier declared as a public utility service for six months from January 1, 2000.
'24' SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN INAUGURATES THE FIRST HINDI LANGUAGE PORTAL
The Minister of Communications, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan inaugurated the first Hindi language portal called "the Webdunia" here today. Senior officials of the Department were present on the occasion. While addressing the gathering, Shri Paswan underlined the need for prompt and quicker redressal of public complaints and stated that a Public Grievances Cell is already functioning in his office for quicker and prompt disposal of grievances. In this regard the Minister mentioned that linesmen were being provided with pagers so that public complaints could be promptly attended to. Webdunia is the first Hindi portal offering news services in Hindi besides other regional Indian Languages.
'24' CLARIFICATION ON THIRD FREE PHONE FACILITY TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
A section of the Press has carried reports that the Communications Ministry has issued a circular providing third free phone to Members of Parliament with the facility for 50,000 free calls for using Internet. The news report is factually incorrect. The actual facts are as follows :-
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs requested on 25.6.1999 for the comments of Ministry of Communications to the proposal to provide third telephone to the Members of Parliament with additional increase of 50,000 free calls per annum. The Department of Telecommunications informed the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on 4.8.1999 that it has no objection to the proposal provided all the calls on this third telephone are paid by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The matter was accordingly taken to the Cabinet by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs who accorded approval to this proposal on 8.2.2000. Based on Cabinet approval, a gazette notification was issued on 13.5.2000 by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Thereafter Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariat wrote to Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to provide this third telephone to the Members of Parliament at once. The Ministry of Communications accordingly issued a circular on 30.5.2000. In this circular, it was clarified that the expenditure involved on this telephone alongwith first 50,000 calls shall be borne by Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
Accordingly, it is clarified that the Ministry of Communications will not be incurring any expenditure on these telephones and the regular prescribed bills will be issued to and realized from the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
'15'
INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT TO SET UP RAPID ACTION CELLS
FIRST RAC TO START FUNCTIONING AT NEW DELHI FROM AUGUST 1ST
Central Board of Direct Taxes is setting up special commissionerates called 'Rapid Action Cells '(RAC) to look into the specific grievances of different categories of tax payers in a speedy manner. These commissionerates headed by Commissioners of IT will act as a single point interactive forum for redressal of grievances by transmitting the grievances to the appropriate officer and quicker resolution of the same. The first such cell will start functioning at New Delhi from 1st August 2000.
These RACs will deal with four categories of tax payers namely;
Similar cells would be established at Mumbai, Calcutta, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Hyderabad in the next few months. These are in addition to the existing mechanism of grievance redressal in the department.
The setting up of RAC is in line with the department's policy to make its functioning more tax friendly and promote better tax compliance.
‘13’
DR. JOSHI INAUGURATES RUSSIAN-INDIAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED COMPUTING RESEARCH AT MOSCOW
The Minister for Human Resource Development and Science and Technology Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi inaugurated in Moscow today the Russian-Indian Centre for Advanced Computing Research. Describing the establishment of the Centre as another mile-stone in Indo-Russian Scientific ties, Dr. Joshi said it will provide all the facilities for collaborative work in software development for specific applications. It will serve as a platform for Indian software specialists and Russian Experts in Advanced Computing. Not only Scientists and Technologists of the two countries will gain from this centre but it will also be instrumental in aiding the economies of both nations. India will provide grants to the centre matching with the support provided by Russian Academy of Sciences for an initial period, he said.
Lauding Indo-Russian scientific relations Dr. Joshi said the integrated long term programme of cooperation in Science and Technology established on this day 13 years ago has become a symbol of strength between the two countries, which has already facilitated the visits of over 2,500 scientists and completion of 156 projects so far. The two sides have since agreed to extend this unique programme beyond 2000 for another decade, he said.
Reciprocating Dr. Joshi’s views the Russian minister for Science and Technology Mr. Kripechenkov said the ongoing collaboration between the two nations in the Scientific fields would soon be reaching further heights, in the interest of developing higher synergy between Scientific institutions of the two sides. The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy emphasised the importance of advanced computing drawing the attention to developments taking place internationally at breath-taking pace in the field. The executive director of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Shri R.K. Arora will be the coordinator of the centre in Moscow from the Indian side.
The C-DAC has already supplied PARAM 10000 super computer to the Institute for Computer Aided Design (ICAD) Moscow, where the centre for advanced computing research is housed. The C-DAC and ICAD have already prepared a joint work document identifying applications and areas of requirements to be met in Russia and India, besides third world countries. The C-DAC proposes to augment PARAM 10000 configuration to a higher capacity.
'5'
RESULT OF THE COMBINED DEFENCE SERVICES EXAMINATION DECLARED
The Union Public Service Commission have declared the result of the Combined Defence Services Examination , here today, held in September, 1999. The successful candidates have qualified on the basis of the result of the CDS examination held by UPSC and the Interview held by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence. The candidates will be admitted to the 109th course of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and Air Force Station, Begumpet, Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course, i.e., No. 168th F(P) Course.The number of vacancies, as intimated by the Government is 450 for Indian Military Academy(including 90 vacancies reserved for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Army Wing) holders, and 44 for Air force Academy. The result of the medical examination have not been taken into account in preparing these lists.
The candidature of all the candidates is provisional. Candidates are requested to forward their original age/educational certificates, alongwith photostat attested copies there of to Army/Air HQrs., as per their first choice.
UPSC have a Facilitation Centre near ‘C’ gate of its campus. Candidates may obtain any information/clarification regarding their examination/recruitments on working days between 10AM to 5 PM in person or over telephone No. 3385271 and 3381125 from this centre. Candidates can also obtain information regarding results etc., on Commission’s Website at the address WWW.UPSC.GOV.IN.
'5'
INDIA-NEPAL HOME SECRETARY LEVEL TALKS
The Union Home Secretary, Shri Kamal Pande, will be visiting Kathmandu from 4th –7th July, 2000 for Home Secretary level talks between India and Nepal. Shri Pande will be accompanied by senior officers from the Home Ministry and other concerned Ministries and Departments. Apart from the meetings with his Nepalese counterpart Shri P. P. Pokharel, Shri Kamal Pande will be calling on the Home Minister of Nepal and other dignitaries.The Home Secretary level talks between India and Nepal have been institutionalised with a view to strengthening bilateral cooperation in matters concerning security of both the countries. Besides, reviewing the progress of decisions taken in the last meeting held in New Delhi in June 1998, the two sides will also deliberate on practical measures for checking the activities of elements inimical to the security of both the countries, infiltration of militants and smuggling of ammunition, explosives, narcotics substances and fake currency.
The present visit of the Home Secretary to Nepal is part of a series of high-level exchanges between the two neighbours for strengthening traditional friendly relations.