The pendency of corporate cases in the Supreme Court of India as in May, 2000 was 258. A total of 30,650 corporate cases were pending in the High Courts at the end of 1999.

    While pendency of all types of cases including those relating to litigation between two or more corporates is a cause of concern for both the Government and the judiciary, various steps have been taken by the Government for the speedy disposal of cases. These include amendment in the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Code of Civil Procedure, increase in the number of posts of judges and judicial officers and the adoption of alternative modes of dispute resolution, such as arbitration and conciliation. Lok Adalats have been given a statutory base as supplementary forum for resolution of disputes.

    Measures taken by the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts to expedite disposal of cases include, inter alia, more practical categorisation and grouping of cases, non-accumulation of defective matters, and setting up of specialised benches.

    Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry in its notification dated 12^th June, 2000 published in newspapers, invited response from individuals, groups of persons, associations, institutions and organisations, having knowledge directly or indirectly of facts and circumstances relating to the riots. It has now been clarified that the facts/allegations duly verified and supported by an affidavit can be submitted to the Commission on any working day in its office at Room No.308, Vigyan Bhavan, Annexe, New Delhi within six weeks from the date of the notification.

    The year 2000 marks the 45^th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between India and Mongolia and the Embassy of Mongolia has chalked out a series of programme on the occasion. Seminars and discussions on spiritual ties and cultural links, photo exhibitions, exchanges of mediapersons, setting up of an Mongolian Monastery at Bodh Gaya, a joint school at Ulanbatar, joint economic ventures and trade fairs are hightlights of this programme which also envisages publication of the Book "Spiritual Neighbours: India and Mongolia."

    The Book focuses on various facets of ancient Mongol-India relations and legendary events which have influenced these developments. The challenges confronting this time-tested, age-old relationship in the changed world scenario has been delved into in the book. Prospects of development of bi-lateral relations in areas to be dominated in the new decade, like globalisation, information technology, software, space bio-technology, human resources, agriculture etc. have been analytically looked into alongwith spiritual, religious and cultural ties. Eminent persons in different walks of life who have excelled in their spheres of activity have contributed in the book. The Book will create new inspirations in favour of the students of Indo-Mongol relations and provide useful base material to policy-makers, scholars, researchers, entrepreneurs and general readers at large.

    Government agencies, senior foresters, academicians and representatives of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) attended the two-day workshop, organised by the Indian Institute of Forests Management, Bhopal, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to formulate scientific parameters aimed at improving the management of the forests of the country on sustainable basis.

    The parameters known as Criteria and Indicators (C&I) for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) would help the NGOs, stakeholders and people, besides the government, to assess for themselves the status and `health’ of Indian forests. The whole process can be compared with a thermometer, one of the criteria for measuring human health, with the help of certain indicators such as temperature. Once, the system of C&I are in place, they will provide a rationalised framework for monitoring local and national progress towards sustainable forest management.

    The workshop recommended that State Governments may:

• Report possible gaps in C&I.
• Prepare elaborate measurement and reporting processes.
• Ascertain applicability of these C&I in the context of SFM in the States.
• Develop pilot study areas to implement the C&I at the level of Division, District and circle.

    The workshop proposed that the review and coordination of C&I should remain with the Government of India. It further recommended that the whole process of finding gaps, applicability, developing pilot study areas and reporting processes of C&I by the States should be completed within a period of three months. Indian Institute of Forest Management may be designated as a national nodal agency on C&I, the workshop added.

    The eight criteria identified for monitoring the management of forests are:

1. increase in the extent of forest and tree cover
2. maintenance, conservation enhancement of bio-diversity
3. maintenance and enhancement of ecosystem function and vitality
4. conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources
5. maintenance and enhancement of forest productivity
6. optimisation of forest resources utilisation
7. maintenance and enhancement of social, cultural and spiritual benefits and
8. adequacy of policy, legal and institutional framework.

    Addressing the plenary session of the Workshop, Member, Planning Commission, Shri D.N. Tiwari said that the management of all natural resources such as water, soil and forests should be brought under the control of a single agency or commission. This would help in facing the challenges of ecological degradation in a much better manner. He also emphasised the need for promoting bamboo cultivation for making available alternate timber resources. This would reduce our dependence on imports of wood and wood based products and at the same time this would earn foreign exchange for the country.

    Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C.P.Thakur had made a surprise visit to C.G.H.S. dispensary at Parliament House Annexe today. He was accompanied by Shri Javed Ahmed Chaudhury, Union Health Secretary and Shri S.P.Agarwal, Director General of Health Services of the Ministry.

STATEMENT OF PETROLEUM MINISTER ON THE OUTCOME OF STATE MINISTERS' CONFERENCE TO CHECK ADULTERATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

    "My Ministry had convened a conference of Ministers and Secretaries of Food & Civil Supplies of different States / Union Territories in New Delhi on 4^th July, 2000 in order to review the implementation of the two Control Orders namely Naphtha Control Order and the Solvent, Raffinate and Slop Control Order. In the morning, official level discussions were held by Secretary (Petroleum) with the Secretaries of Food and Civil Supplies and I then Chaired the afternoon session with Ministers of Food & Civil Supplies of different States to obtain their views.

    The Conference was intended to seek State Governments’ views on implementation of the Programme. I am happy to inform you that all States / Union Territories welcomed the two Control Orders and they assured full cooperation in their implementation. As we have already informed them, they promised that the process of licensing will be completed by 15^th August, 2000 as stipulated by the Union Government. The application forms for Licensing have also been communicated to the State Governments.

    The Government in its war against adulteration of motor spirit and diesel by cheaper adulterants available in the market had felt the need of having statutory orders for dealing with major adulterants viz. Naphtha, Solvents, Raffinate and Slop. The price differential between the adulterants and Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel is one of the contributors for adulteration. Success in implementation of these orders is the key to success in our efforts in this war that we are waging against adulteration.

    We have information that the petrol consumption in the country has shown a upward trend since we started action against adulteration in November 1999. The growth of petrol sales from November 1999 to June 2000 has been more than 10% of the corresponding period. This is significant. Thus, our efforts to curb adulteration since October-November 1999 have also contributed to this increase.

    The Ministers appreciated the advantages of this effort. Minister of Food and Civil Supplies of Gujarat State mentioned in his speech that they have launched successful drives against the adulteration in the name of ‘Shuddha Ke liye Yuddha’’ (War for Purity). Under this drive they have been able to apprehend 54 people under the provisions of Prevention of Black Marketing Act, and other legal provisions. The impact of this drive is evident in 19% increase in sales of petrol in Gujarat between April 1999 and April 2000. He also observed that the pollution levels in the cites of Ahmedabad, Vadodra and Surat have come down.

    The adulterated fuels are known to damage the engines of automobiles. I shared the experience of sugarcane growers in Kolhapur in Maharashtra with Ministers and Secretaries of States / Union Territories yesterday. The truck operators are finding that within a year of operation the engines of new trucks require repairs. Similar experience is being reported by autorickshaw operators.

    On the front of release of one crore LPG connections the oil companies have released 54.23 lakh connections in the first five months of the current year. It is expected that we will be able to clear the waiting list as existing on 1.12.1999 even before the target date of 31.12.2000

    The need was being felt by me for increasing the rural reach of LPG distribution network. After discussing this matter with the States I have issued instructions to oil marketing companies to conduct feasibility surveys for setting up LPG distributorships at the level of each block.

    My Ministry had allotted 154 RO dealerships and 127 LPG distributorships (Total 281) to the next of kin of Kargil martyrs. The process in implementation is still quite slow. The major impediment that is being reported is non-availability of land. I have made a personal appeal to all the Ministers who were attending the conference yesterday to take it up at their level on top priority. They have pledged their support and have assured that they will take it up with their District Collectors to allot land on priority basis.

    The States have highlighted the need for more testing facilities to check adulteration. They have asked oil companies to have more mobile labs. The number is presently going to increase from the existing 23 mobile labs to 50. I am also taking it up with the oil marketing companies to review the deployment of mobile labs and to provide for more such facilities wherever necessary.

    Shri Murasoli Maran, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry has said that it is the mandate of WHO ( World Health Organisation) and not that of the WTO( World Trade Organisation) which should be expanded in order to remove the inequities resulting from the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) regime and to address the health care needs of the poor. Inaugurating the Forum on Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy in the 21^st Century organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in cooperation with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry here today, Shri Maran said: " the patent rights born out of Intellectual Property fail the world's poor. Nations are more interested in strengthening the WTO. Instead, WHO must be redesigned and expanded to fill up the gaps and remove the inequities created by the IPR and to take care of the public health and other needs of the poor. Only this kind of attitude can save humanity and the world. We are of the view that international cooperation on IPR issues and the international development agenda must complement each other".

    Shri Maran emphasised the importance of intellectual property in the era of knowledge-based economies and the need to ensure equal opportunity among nations to enjoy the benefits of knowledge-based progress. He stressed that Intellectual Property (IP) should ensure the protection of basic human values and environment and ameliorate major human problems of food and disease.

    Underlining the urgency of preventing bio-piracy and protecting the indigenous knowledge systems, Shri Maran stated that in India this was being done through the bio-diversity legislation, which was presently before the Parliament. The government, he said, had also initiated action for the preparation of a digital database of traditional knowledge relating to medicinal plants. India is one of the 12 megabiodiversity countries with a wealth of more than 7500 species of medicinal plants being used by its ethnic communities. He also referred to the propriety of IP protection encroaching upon the inherent knowledge or compensating them. This has resulted in long drawn and expensive proceedings. He, therefore, urged that the WIPO take the initiative in supporting Member states in this direction. He called for complementarity between National and International agendas and the evolution of equitable minimal standards and referred to India’s commitment to strike the right constructive balance in this field.

    Highlighting the concern that increased IP protection is often perceived as a product of increasing globalisation and technical progress and that this protection is often weighed in favour of protecting the interests of producers rather than the creators, the Minister was of the view that the exploitation of traditional knowledge and bio-resources for commercial advantage without commensurate benefit to owners was a concern that would be shared by most of the countries participating in the Forum.

    Dr.Raman Singh, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry was also present. Mr.Roberto Castelo, Deputy Director General, WIPO, Shri G.P.Goenka, President, FICCI, Shri Ajit Kumar, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotioin and Dr.Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI also spoke on the occasion.

    This 3-day forum is being attended by participants from 25 countries including India. A team of senior WIPO officials led by Mr.Roberto Castelo, Deputy Director General, WIPO, is also participating in the Forum.

    The Forum is being organised to continue the policy level dialogue on intellectual property issues among countries of Asia-Pacific region initiated by organising the Forum in July, 1999. The objectives of the Forum will be to review policy perspectives and strategic considerations in the area of intellectual property in the 21^st century, to discuss new and emerging global intellectual property issues including strategic management and intellectual property for enhancing competitiveness, particularly in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), to review the current status of the implementation of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) Agreement and the Post-TRIPS Scenario, to consider intellectual property policy issues in relation to protection of traditional knowledge and electronic commerce, and to formulate a coordinated response and plan of action by the participating countries.

    Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s speech on the occasion of dedication of Wind Power Project and Test Station at Kayathar in Tamil Nadu :

    "At the outset, I wish to tell you how happy I am at setting foot on the sacred soil of Kayathar. It finds an honored place in the history of Free India because of its association with the immortal memory of Veerapandya Kattabomman. He was one of the first martyrs of India’s freedom struggle who was hanged by the British in the 18^th century. I am sad that the name of Kattabomman and the heroic exploits of him and his brother are not very well known to the people in north India.

    Tamil Nadu is a land of brave and patriotic people. Following in his footsteps, many men and women from this region plunged into the freedom movement, writing inspiring chapters of valor and success. Among them are the hallowed names of Rashtrakavi Subramanya Bharati and V.O. Chidambaram Pillai. It is because of the struggles and supreme sacrifices of tens of thousands of such known and not-so-well-known patriots that we are able to enjoy the fruits of freedom and development today.

    Therefore, at the outset I bow my head in respectful tribute to Kattabomman and other martyrs of India’s freedom movement from Tamil Nadu. They struggled for India’s freedom. Now, we have to struggle for India’s all-round development.

    Remembering Kattabomman today is necessary for yet another reason. Kattabomman and his fellow freedom fighters in this southern part of Tamil Nadu belonged to different castes and communities. But they were all united in a common struggle for the freedom of their Motherland. I urge the people belonging to different castes and communities of Tamil Nadu to similarly forge strong bonds of solidarity and unity to achieve the progress of your State and the country.

    Friends, I am pleased to be here today to dedicate the 15 megawatt wind power project of Mohan Breweries and RRB Vesta India as well as the Test Station of the Centre for Wind Energy Technology.

    I commend the Government and the people of Tamil Nadu for their pioneering and far-sighted approach to the development of wind energy and other forms of renewable energy.

    Seventy percent of the total wind power capacity in the country is in your State. To Tamil Nadu goes the credit for setting up most of the successful wind energy projects in the country. You are also among the largest producers of electricity through bagasse cogeneration in sugar plants.

    I congratulate my friend, Thiru Karunanidhiji, and his colleagues for this proud achievement. I am sure that under his dynamic leadership, Tamil Nadu’s full potential in the renewable energy sector would be quickly developed.

    There is a close linkage between energy and development. Rapid development of agriculture, industry, and services is inconceivable without energy sufficiency. Unfortunately, we in India failed to evolve a proper policy to ensure this, through a well-coordinated approach to generation, transmission, and distribution of power. As a result, most States are facing chronic scarcities of power. This has slowed down their economic and social development.

    For example, even today as many as 77 million households comprising 350 million of our people still do not get electricity. Of course, this does not apply to Tamil Nadu, which has achieved 100 per cent rural electrification.

    Since the beginning of our civilization, we have recognised Agni (fire) and Vayu (wind) as sources of energy. We worshipped them as deities. After Independence, however, we did not pay adequate attention to develop the necessary technologies and enabling policies to harness their latent power.

    India, being a tropical country, enjoys abundant sunshine. The country’s geography provides ample opportunities for using wind energy. Our plentiful water resources can support many small and medium-sized hydel projects. Our large land resources can produce a lot of biomass, which is yet another form of renewable energy.

    Unfortunately, we have not so far adequately tapped these non-traditional sources of energy. For example, India’s potential in wind energy is a staggering 45,000 megawatts. However, our installed capacity so far is only 1,170 megawatts. This shows that we have a long way to go in making full use of this cheap, environment-friendly, and renewable source of power.

    Our Government is determined to develop all our natural energy resources in a sustainable manner. We realize that we need to further smoothen the process to encourage large-scale private sector investment to achieve this goal. We also need to promote intensive efforts in R&D to create renewable energy technologies that are appropriate to Indian conditions.

    In rural areas, our thrust has to be on cooking energy, as this constitutes about 85 percent of our rural household energy demand. It is not, however, enough for Government agencies to assist in the provision of more bio-gas plants and chulhas, which we already have in millions. There should be adequate facilities for their proper maintenance.

    The Government has recently approved a unique 140 megawatt Integrated Solar Combined Cycle power project, which will be the world’s largest such project. This will be set up in a desert village near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. We also have ambitious schemes to spread the use of solar energy. We rank fourth in the world in this regard, with nearly 700,000 solar systems covering thirty different applications already installed. Here again, I urge that greater attention be paid to maintain these installations in efficient working order.

    Our Government has given renewed emphasis to the development of hydel power. In order to facilitate concentrated attention, the work relating to the development of small hydro projects up to 25 megawatts capacity has recently been transferred to the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources. I expect the Ministry to soon come up with a time-bound action plan for the exploitation of these resources, particularly in the remote hilly regions, and in Ladakh, Sikkim, and the North-Eastern States.

    We are implementing the world’s largest bagasse based cogeneration program in our sugar mills — the potential for which is 3,500 megawatts. This will help increase power supply in the rural areas.

    Our Government envisions a major role for renewables in the energy sector in the new century. For this, a comprehensive policy on renewable energy is being formulated. Among the goals envisaged in the Policy Statement for 2012 is to increase the share of renewables in the additional installed power capacity from the present 1.7 percent to 10 percent. That implies a figure of 10,000 megawatts in the next 12 years. I invite business houses, especially big business houses, to make big investments to achieve this goal.

    States have a major role to play in the accelerated development and usage of renewable energy. I urge all other States to emulate the good example of Tamil Nadu and integrate renewable energy in their power development programs. They could even consider prescribing a minimum quantity of electricity to be generated from renewable energy sources. This could apply to all power projects, in the public or the private sector.

    To meet the higher capital requirements of this sector, our Government will increase the budgetary support to this sector in the subsequent Plans. States should allocate matching resources in their State Plans. Most of the capital requirements, however, would have to come through private investments, from overseas and domestic sources, supported by lending from financial institutions. Environmental funding opportunities such as Global Environment Facility and flexibility mechanisms for climate change mitigation, such as the Clean Development Mechanism, could also be tapped, as long as these are in consonance with our national policies.

    Quality is important in developing any new technology. I am happy, therefore, that the Test Station of the Centre for Wind Energy Technology that is being dedicated today will help standardize, test, and certify wind turbines. I hope that this first centre of its kind in the country would help to raise indigenous capabilities in improving the performance levels of wind turbine equipment in our country.

    Friends, we have gathered here for the inauguration of a wind power project. It is appropriate, perhaps, that we reflect on the winds of change blowing across our vast country. The biggest change in recent years has been the rapidly rising level of expectations of our people. Wherever I go, I see a tremendous hunger for development, among our citizens, especially those who live in underdeveloped regions and who belong to underdeveloped sections of our society. People are no longer willing to accept or tolerate these regional and social imbalances, which have remained even after fifty years of Independence.

    Their hunger for development has to be met by all of us collectively. Let us all, therefore, be guided by the mantra of Development, Faster Development, and More Equitable Development.

    I congratulate all the engineers, technicians and other staff working for the promoters and the agencies associated with this wind power project and the Test Station. I now dedicate these installations to the nation.

    Thank you".

    The Ministry of Environment and Forests has directed the Calcutta zoo to rush appropriate drugs to Bhubaneshwar to treat the ailing tigers in Nandan Kanan zoo, as more specific drugs were not available at Bhubaneshwar. The ailing tigers in Bhubaneshwar were administered Berenyl which is one of the suggested drugs to cure the disease.

    Seven white tigers and two tigers have died at Nandan Kanan zoo because of some mysterious disease, as informed by the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Bhubaneshwar. The post mortem conducted at the veterinary college at Bhubaneshwar has revealed that the animals have died because of trypanosomysis, a bacterial disease, which affects the brain of the animal.

    The disease has been reported amongst tigers in the past also. In 1970’s, four tigers died at Hyderabad zoo and three tigers at Bangalore zoo because of this disease. Two years back, few tigers died of the same disease in Patna zoo. The professors of veterinary college are present at the zoo and taking care of other sick tigers.

    Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C.P. Thakur had an elaborate meeting with Shri K.C.Pant, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, here today in connection with finalising the programmes of Action Plan on National Population Policy-2000 which will be announced by the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 22^nd July, 2000. Secretaries Health, Family Welfare and Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had also participated in this meeting. It has been decided that Action Group should meet daily to concretise total plan of action which will come into effect from 23^rd July, 2000.

    The National Population Commission will be meeting here under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister on 22^nd July, 2000. All the Chief Ministers of the country will be attending the maiden meeting of National Population Commission.

    The Textile Minister, Shri Kashiram Rana has said that quality consciousness is the only way of maintaining competitiveness in the changing international textile market and exhorted the textile manufacturers to maintain international standards of quality by utilising the right technology and best business practices. ISO consultancy of the Textiles Committee would go a long way in this regard, he said. Shri Rana was speaking at the 76^th Meeting of the Textile Committee here today.

    The Minister also launched the website of Textile Committee (www.textilescommittee.nic.in). Shri Anil Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles released brochures containing useful information about various activities of the Committee. Both these steps will be useful in reaching out to the target audience and disseminating the information about the Committee to the users – Government and textile trade and industry. The Minister asked the Committee to device ways and means to undertake more need based activities to serve the interests of the Indian textile industry.

    The Textiles Committee is a statutory body under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and its basic mandate is to ensure quality of textiles and textile machinery. The Committee provides various facilitating services to the textile industry such as testing of textiles, particularly for eco-parameters, for implementation of ISO 9000 and 14000 quality/environmental systems. So far, 40 units have obtained certification under the consultancy of the Committee and 25 others are presently under implementation. Services are rendered to around 30,000 exporters in terms of certification with respect to country of origin, loom origin, classification of garments and quality appraisal. Most of the committee activities are funded from a nominal cess collected from the industry.

    Industrial Tripartite Committee on Cotton Textiles has urged the governments of states in which NTC Mills are located, to follow Maharashtra government’s example in allowing sale of surplus land of NTC Mills. The Meeting of the Committee was called by the Ministry of Labour here today to consider the fate of mills not fulfilling BIFR norms of viability and implementation of VRS modelled on Gujarat pattern. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Labour, Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya, Minister of Textiles, Mr. Kashi Ram Rana the representatives of Trade Unions and Employees Organisations and senior officers of Central and State Labour Ministries/Departments.

    Opening the meeting, Dr. Jatiya called up the Tripartite Committee to jointly find a way out on the issue of NTC Mills so that the worker’s suffering does not prolong further. He said that we will have to take a clear decision as we have to communicate our views to BIFR regarding the eight sick subsidiaries of NTC to safeguard the interests of workers.

    The Textile Minister Shri Kashi Ram Rana said that Government wants an early solution as it is paying Rs.460 crore as idle wages. He said the Government is keen to keep 4 subsidiaries of NTC mills operational.

    Representatives of employees among other things suggested constitution of a sub-group to look into specific problems. The employees’ organisations favored rationalization of viable units.

    The State Government representatives said that they were not in principle against the sale of surplus land. They said at present such land is covered by the Urban Land Ceiling Act and there is a need for a separate legislation to facilitate their sale.

    The Union Labour Secretary Dr. L. Mishra called upon the State Labour Departments to act as nodal agencies for this purpose in their respective states. He said that a sub-Committee as in Maharashtra should be constituted by other States as well.

    The Textile Secretary Shri Anil Kumar also sought the co-operation of state governments in resolving the issue. He expressed concern over the decrease in the number of revivable NTC Mills.

    It may be recalled that inspite of best efforts by the Central Government, the Turn About Plans for NTC Mills approved in 1992 and 1995 could not be implemented in the absence of consent by the concerned state government for sale of land.

    At present, out of 119 NTC mills, 25 are fully working and 51 partially while 43 mills are not operating.

    The representation of BMS, HMS, AITUC, CITU, INTUC, CII, CIE, AIMO, Laghu Udhyog Bharti and Senior Labour Department officials of the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat participated in the meeting.