The Ministry of Environment and Forests has recently notified draft rules entitled "Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000, to control the hazards associated with backyard smelting and unauthorised reprocessing of lead acid batteries. The Rules will ensure proper collection and re-cycling of used lead acid batteries and its parts in the country. The lead acid batteries are widely used in automobiles such as cars, trucks, buses, two-wheelers and inverters etc.

    The provisions of the draft rules stipulate that battery manufacturers, importers, assemblers and re-conditioners have to collect old batteries on a one to one basis against sale of new batteries. The batteries so collected have to be sent to re-cyclers, registered with MoEF, for recycling them in an eco-friendly manner unless battery manufacturers themselves have such recycling facilities. Registration is accorded by the MoEF to only those units, which have in place appropriate manufacturing technology, pollution prevention systems and suitable arrangements for waste disposal.

    In order to make the draft rules comprehensive, importers of new batteries, dealers as well as organisations auctioning used batteries have also been brought under the purview of these rules. Only those re-processors registered with the MoEF would be able to participate in sale by auction or contract. As a result, middlemen and backyard smelters would be debarred from participation in auction within the country. In the case of bulk sale of batteries by manufacturers to bulk consumers, it would be necessary to incorporate suitable provision for buyback.

    The draft rules seeks to promote up-gradation of technology and environment friendly practices in large, medium or small scale units handling or recycling lead. The battery manufacturers, importers, assemblers and re-conditioners will also have to file returns periodically to the designated regulatory bodies.

    Lead metal in lead-acid batteries has been a cause of concern worldwide. Unscientific reprocessing of lead acid batteries is a source of lead pollution. Children have a great potential for exposure to lead pollution and are uniquely susceptible to its toxic effects. It may result in irreversible neurological and neuropsychological damages in children. The developing nervous system in children can be adversely affected. Since lead crosses the placental barrier, the developing foetuses are also at a high risk of lead poisoning from mother’s blood. Some of the ill affects of lead poisoning are tiredness, lassitude, slight abdominal discomfort, irritability, increase in blood pressure, anaemia and in children, behavioural changes.

    Hence, several countries have enacted suitable legislation for encouraging collection of scrap batteries and recycling in an environment friendly manner. The present draft rules are in line with the trends in other countries. Recycling of non-ferrous metals such as lead and zinc helps save energy vis-à-vis primary metal production and is also environment friendly if re-processing is done with suitable arrangements for pollution control and waste disposal. They also help in conserving precious metal resources. The new notification by MoEF is a step in this direction and would help mitigate environmental damage being caused by improper handling of lead acid batteries.

    Comments and suggestions from the general public, industry etc. on the draft rules have been called for and could be sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) by 25^th July 2000.

    The Government has committed itself to bring necessary reforms in Electoral Laws relating to elections to Parliament and Legislatures of the States. The President, in his Address to the Parliament, at the commencement of the first Session following constitution of the 13^th Lok Sabha, has also stressed the necessity of bringing comprehensive reforms in the Electoral Laws as priority subject for the Government.

    The National Agenda for Governance of the previous Government has also mandated introduction of necessary electoral reforms on the basis of the recommendations of the Dinesh Gowsami Committee report. Accordingly, that Government took on priority basis consideration of unimplemented recommendations of the Dinesh Goswami Committee.

    The various recommendations of the Committee are being examined by the Government in consultation with the Election Commission and State Governments and would also be discussed along with other pending proposals on electoral reforms with political parties

    Further, with a view to finding ways of expediting disposal of election petitions pending in the courts, the 15^th Law Commission made a number of important recommendations on reforms of Electoral Laws in its 170^th report. The recommendations of the Law Commission are also being examined by the Government. This would also be discussed with political parties.

    The amendment in Electoral Laws is a serious and contentious subject and Government does not want to rush through with the subject and, therefore, considerable time and attention are being given to it.

    Meanwhile, the Standing Committee of Parliament on the Home Affairs in its latest 61^st report has recommended that electoral reforms are overdue and need utmost attention of the Government since it has a far-reaching impact on the political system of the country. It has called upon the Government to consider the matter as early as possible.

    Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee's speech at the inaugural session of the 4^th Meeting of National Water Resources Council here today:

    "I have great pleasure in participating in the 4^th meeting of the National Water Resources Council.

    We have gathered here to discuss various aspects of development and management of water resources. Together, they constitute a vital input for the social and economic progress of our country.

    We have no doubt achieved a lot in our efforts to improve the harnessing and managing of our water resources. But a lot more remains to be done.

    Indeed, one of the major challenges of the future will be to meet the demands of an expanding economy and increasing population for water. With reducing per capita availability, we have to devise ways and means for the optimum development of our water resources to meet these demands and thus overcome this challenge.

    The success of our collective initiative to overcome this challenge will depend on putting into place the following:

• A comprehensive water resources information system that takes into account availability and demand;
• An institutional mechanism for the integrated development and management of resources in each river basin; and,
• Agreements on sharing of waters of inter-State rivers by co-basin States.

    We also need to seriously consider how to tackle the problems of deteriorating quality of water, over exploitation of ground water, adverse impact on environment and adequate rehabilitation of those affected by development schemes.

    These and other issues broadly form the agenda of this meeting and are encapsulated in the revised draft National Water Policy, which is before you. I also look forward to the meeting deliberating the proposed over draft guidelines for water allocation among co-basin States so that consensus on this also can be eventually arrived at.

    The draft Policy has been framed as a basis of discussion to arrive at national consensus to enable the optimum use of our water resources to contribute towards sustainable development on a long-term basis.

    I have been informed that the draft of the Policy and the Guidelines have been formulated after discussions in the National Water Policy Board of which all the Chief Secretaries of the state government are members.

    I am aware that while there is consensus among most of the States on these documents, some of you have expressed apprehensions on three major issues:

• Putting into place a comprehensive information system;
• Setting up of river basin organisations; and,
• Allocating water among co-basin States.

    A well-developed and transparent information system is a pre-requisite for development activities at both macro and micro levels. Development of water resources is no exception. An information system that provides data to co-basin States does not impinge on their rights; on the contrary, it facilitates better utilisation of their legitimate share of water.

    One of the negative fallouts of the model of development of water resources has been the emergence of regional imbalances resulting from the absence of a holistic view. These imbalances can be corrected if there is an overall framework for the development and management of water. In order to achieve this goal, setting up of river basin organisations with adequate powers to act as facilitators has been proposed. There is apprehension that establishment of such organisations may impinge upon the inherent authority of State Governments or their rights to maintain irrigation structures.

    The Central Government is however, very clear that unless there is total unanimity among the participating State Governments, such authorities will not be created.

    The issue of sharing of water by co-basin States is also a contentious issue. Absence of national Guidelines on allocation of water among co-basin States has primarily contributed to this situation.

    The draft Policy includes a provision on the allocation of water among States. The National Water Board has proposed draft Guidelines to facilitate this allocation. These guidelines have been suggested with a view to ensuring fruitful discussions that will lead to adoption of procedures that safeguard the interests of the States while enabling equitable economic progress of inhabitants of any river basin.

    I hope that apprehensions about these issues can be dispelled and differences ironed out through discussions.

    I am, however, conscious of the agenda of today’s meeting being heavy. There are two important items on the agenda, the draft National Water Policy and the draft Guidelines.

    I would like to suggest for the consideration of the members of the Council that we focus our attention on the more important item of the draft National Water Policy today. The draft Guidelines can be entrusted to a working group headed by Union Minister of Water Resources for harmonising views of all the State Governments and bringing a consensual draft for the consideration of the Council at its next meeting.

    I would also like to touch upon another aspect of the development and management of our water resources before I conclude. My Government is committed to providing drinking water to every citizen, especially people living in villages and inaccessible areas. I call upon the State Governments to help us achieve this goal.

    Apart from allocation of financial resources, we have to also collectively ensure that drinking water is given top priority while deciding the use of our water resources.

    There is no gainsaying that we need to ensure adequate water supply to industry. But we must remember at all times that man comes before machine.

    I look forward to this meeting having fruitful discussions on the drafts of Policy and the guidelines for Allocation of Water among the States.

    We have to ensure better management and optimum development of water resources if the water security needs of India are to be met.

    The time to achieve this begins now.

Thank you".

    The Department of Family Welfare in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is organising a ‘Population Race’ here in collaboration with Sports Authority of India on 11^th July, 2000 marking the occasion of "World Population Day".

    The Race will be held at the National Stadium at 7.45 a.m. on 11^th July (Tuesday). Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C.P.Thakur will flag off the Race.

    Ms. Manisha Koirala, UNFPA goodwill Ambassador has also agreed to participate. Nearly 5000 school children will take part in the race. All the participants will be provided with T- shirts with the Family Welfare message.

'16'

    The facility for electronic filing of applications by the exporters, introduced on April 01 this year, has got off to a good start with nearly 3750 exporters filing their applications through the electronic mode since its introduction. With the computerisation work in 29 of the 32 DGFT offices already completed, with the exception of offices at Panipat, Pondicherry and Chandigarh, the scheme is expected to gain further momentum in the coming months. Of the 3748 applications filed in the first 3 months, 1728 applications have been filed at the New Delhi office of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) where the scheme was started on pilot basis for issuing of advance licences for exporters. Later, DGFT Offices in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Calcutta and Ludhiana also started accepting applications electronically. It may be recalled that Shri Murasoli Maran, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry had, while delivering his speech at the announcement of Exim Policy for 2000-2001, on 31/3/2000, underlined the need for shifting to electronic mode of filing applications saying that "at the dawn of the 21^st century, we cannot continue with the communication modes of the 19^th and 20^th centuries". Shri Maran had also announced that during the course of this year, electronic filing of applications would become the norm and that he had directed that applications filed in electronically should in the normal course be delivered in 24 hours and definitely within 48 hours.

    The electronic filing facility aims at bringing about transparency and reducing physical interface between the exporter and the DGFT, thus ensuring time-bound sanction of licences. Starting with the operationalisation of Pune office in a fortnight's time, the facility would gradually commence in other DGFT offices like Cochin, Cuttack, Kanpur, Baroda, Surat, Bhopal, Rajkot, Guwahati, Patna, Shillong, Varanasi, Moradabad, Amritsar, Jammu, Coimbatore, Madurai and Visakhapatnam where the work has already been started for installing V-SATs.

'6A'

    The Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare has issued strict instructions to all Ministries and Departments to sanction gratuity well in time. Where delays occur on the part of administration in sanctioning gratuity, the Ministries/Departments have been told that in addition to the responsibility for delay, which has to be fixed under the rules, penal interest should also be paid on the delayed amount through recoveries made from the concerned officials who are found guilty for the delay.

    Inaugurating the 16^th Meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies for Pensioners here today, the Minister of State for Personnel and Pensions, Smt. Vasundhara Raje said that a web-based system is being created in the Ministry for redressing pensioners’ grievances. With this system, it is possible for the pensioner to lodge his grievance or ascertain the status of his complaint by using Internet, thus obviating the necessity of physically approaching the concerned Government Department. In order to strengthen this system, a Pension Grievance Redressal Cell has been created, under the supervision of an officer of the rank of Deputy Secretary to the Government of India.

    The Minister informed that to extend the medical benefits to the retired Central Government Employees, medical dispensaries have already been functioning in eighteen States and a new dispensary is likely to be opened in Chandigarh by December 2000. Regarding medical benefits to ex-servicemen, the Minister requested the Defence Ministry officials, who are present on the occasion, to look into the matter seriously.

    Major H P S Ahluwalia has taken over as Chairman, Rehabilitation Council of India. He replaces Dr. Thakur V Hari Prasad who demitted office on completion of his tenure.

    A renowned mountaineer Major Ahluwalia has received a number of National and International Awards for his contributions in the field of Environment and Disability. He has won Arjuna Award and Padam Shri and also he is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He has also won National Award for the best work done in the field of disability.

    Major Ahluwalia conquered the Mount Everest in May 1965 and later confined to a wheelchair as a result of Indo-Pak war in 1965. Thereafter, he served in the Ministry of Defence in various capacities.

    He is the Founder Member of the Indian Spinal Injury Centre and Indo-Italian Co-operation Programme set up to render super speciality services for spinal injury management.

'42'

    The Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Suresh Prabhu has said that there is a need for a relook at the fertilizer feedstock policy because of the dwindling supply of natural gas and increase in price of liquid petroleum products since the dismantling of the administered pricing mechanism in the petroleum sector. Shri Prabhu was speaking in Nagpur today while inaugurating the one-day seminar on the "Use of Coal as Feedstock in the Fertilizer Sector’. The Minister said if the country is to achieve the target of 400 million tonnes of foodgrain, a proper self-sufficient feedstock policy was necessary.

    The Minister said that the Government has constituted a Task Force headed by the Fertilizer Secretary to explore the possibility of coal based technology for the fertilizer sector. The Task Force has already held two meetings. The terms of reference of the Task Force include formulation of a policy for development of coal based capacity addition in fertilizers as is being done in China in large measure. The Task Force will also give recommendations on the incentives required for research and development, the possibility of creating funds for financing R&D activities and preparation of an action plan for utilization of coal reserves.

    Shri Prabhu noted that currently about 60 per cent of the installed capacity of nitrogenous fertilizers in India is based on natural gas. However, availability of natural gas in the country is limited and is likely to decline in the future. Importing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is a highly capital intensive venture requiring long-term supply arrangements and dependence on foreign countries. In this context, coal has assumed importance as feedstock as it is the only indigenously available feedstock, Shri Prabhu said. Coal reserves are expected to last for more than a 100 years based on current consumption patterns. Against an annual demand of about 412.2 million tonnes, coal reserves are estimated to be about 206.24 billion tonnes. The Minister urged participants to look at coal based fertilizer plants in operation in Japan, China and South Africa.

    The seminar was also addressed by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Ramesh Bais. The Minister of State said the seminar was directly linked with the well-being of the farmers. The main objective of the seminar was to find a self-sufficient source of feedstock, Shri Bais said. He also referred to the vast reserves of coal available in Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Assam and Andhra Pradesh. Senior officials of the Department of Fertilizers and the Ministries of Coal, Power and Heavy Industry, Industry leaders, experts and representatives from scientific institutions of All-India stature and foreign process suppliers such as Lurgi Snamprogetti and Technomont also participated.

    The seminar discussed issues like:- available technologies for use of coal as feedstock for the production of urea and future prospects, experiences of operating coal based fertilizer plants, experiences in coal gasification and research and development perspective in coal as a fertilizer resource.

’21’

    The Labour Ministry has set up a Task Force to study the working and living conditions of women workers in fish processing industry in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The Labour Minister Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya while launching a campaign for securing the labour rights of these workers here today stated this. He said that similar investigations are in progress in Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra and the findings would enable the Labour Ministry to evolve a concrete action plan for their welfare. The Labour Minister said that this has been done in pursuance of the Prime Minister’s assurance to the Rajya Sabha on 9^th December last year that the government would look into the working conditions of women workers in fish processing industry. Shri. Atal Behari Vajpayee had told the House that he was personally aware of the difficulties faced by migrant women workers regarding their working conditions, security and other related issues. The Task Force is headed by the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Labour Smt. Chitra Chopra and Director General, Labour Welfare Shri S.K. Das is one of the members.

    Lauding the contribution of fish processing industry women workers’ to national economy, Dr. Jatiya said despite their number in the fish processing industry being only about one lakh, they have helped the country in earning foreign exchange worth more than Rs. 5000 crore during 1999-2000. He said yet these workers are extremely vulnerable. Majority of them is migrant workers and has to work in very unsatisfactory and unhygienic conditions.

    Dr. Jatiya said the Labour Ministry is concerned about the plight of all workers and called for supporting the campaign to secure their labour rights and basic dignity of work. The campaign has been organised by the National Campaign of Labour Rights, a network of a group of Trade Unions, NGOs and concerned citizens monitoring developments in the sea-food processing industry. It calls for better wages and living and working conditions for workers in this industry through strict implementation of provisions of the Inter-State Migrant Workers Act, Minimum Wages Act and the Factories Act.

'18'

    The Diamond Mining Project, Panna, of the National Minerals Development Corporation (NMDC) earned nearly Rs. 1.50 crore from the special diamond auction held at Panna Project during last February and March. Many diamond merchants participated in the auction.

    The NMDC has established a new record of diamond production by producing 40,075 carats of diamond by its Panna Diamond Mining Project during 1999-2000. Diamond production during the year exceeded the target by 29%. The company has set a target for producing 56,000 carats of diamonds during the year 2000-01.

‘34’

    The Union Public Service Commission have declared the result of the written part of the Combined Medical Services Examination, 2000 held on 26^th March, 2000.

    The successful candidates have qualified for interview for personality test on the basis of the written examination for recruitment to Medical posts under the Central Government and in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The results are provisional.

    In accordance with the Commission’s Notice for the Examination, all these candidates have to fill up detailed application form, which will be supplied to them by the Commission before being called for Interview for Personality Test. In case any of these candidates does not receive a communication in this regard from the Commission within four weeks of publication of the results, he/she should immediately contact the Commission in the matter, giving particulars (i.e. full name, Roll Number and date of birth).

    UPSC have a Facilitation Centre near ‘C’ gate of its campus. Candidates may obtain any information/clarification regarding their examination/recruitment on working days between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in person or over telephone Nos. 3385271 and 3381125 from this Centre.

    The result will also be available on commission’s "Website (address www.upsc.gov.in" on the internet.

‘43’

    The Minister for Rural Development, Shri Sundarlal Patwa has said that a consensus is required while formulating the National Water Policy for proper usage, distribution and conservation of water. He said water is a national resource, which knows no geographical boundaries. Shri Patwa was speaking here today at the fourth meeting of the National Water Resources Council.

    The day-long meeting was earlier inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Shri Patwa thanked the Prime Minister for giving due weightage to the drinking water availability issue. He reminded all the State Chief Ministers, present on the occasion, that in order to fulfill the Government’s agenda of providing safe drinking water supply to all villages in five years, apart from allocation of financial resources, a collective will would also be required to decide the proper use of our water resources and to ensure top priority to drinking water supply. Shri Patwa also pointed out the need to tackle problems of deteriorating water quality and scientific utilization to avoid exploitation of the available water resources.

SUGAR STOCK LIMITS LIFTED

    Government has decided to lift the stock holding limit on recognised dealers of sugar. However the turn over period limit of 30 days will remain. This decision has been taken keeping in view the extremely comfortable position of availability of sugar in the country. Sugar production in the current sugar season 1999-2000 is provisionally estimated at a record level of 180 lakh tonnes as against the consumption requirement of about 151 lakh tonnes. The turn over limit, which was hitherto applicable to only indigenous sugar, will now be applicable to imported sugar also. It is another measure of the Government to further liberalise the sugar industry/trade and bring the producers of sugar and importers of sugar at par with each other.

    Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C.P.Thakur has announced here today that five States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala adopted their own population policy so far. Addressing the media persons Dr. Thakur has said that in many States the Population Commission or an equivalent body is in the process of being constituted. The National Population Policy promotes adoption of state specific policies.

    The Government has placed population stabilisation at the top of its agenda and the goal of population stabilisation is achieved in close collaboration with other Ministries, State Governments, NGOs and other stakeholders. The meeting of National Population Commission headed by the Prime Minister is slated for July 22^nd. As a run up to this meeting, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has had a series of consultations with different groups of stakeholders. During the last month his Ministry had consultations with the State Health and Family Welfare officials, National Medical Associations & experts, NGOs & women groups and Editors & Media Experts. This issue was also discussed with M.Ps in the meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry. Another consultation is planned with the corporate sector on July 11 with Confederation of Indian Industry. These recommendations received through consultations will help the Government in preparing a concrete action plan for the Commission’s consideration.

    Focussed attention on health promotion and family welfare will be given to the six States of Assam, Bihar, Orissa, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in the context of National Population Policy. Higher budgetary allocation for his Ministry to implement the programmes from the present six per cent to ten per cent of the Central Budget will be essential, Dr. Thakur felt.

    Secretaries of three Departments of Health, Family Welfare and Indian System of Medicine & Homoeopathy, Director General of Health Services and Principal Information Officer, Government of India were also present.

    Government of India have announced an auction of 5-Year Stock for Rs. 3,000 crore. The auction will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India at Mumbai on July 11, 2000 (Tuesday). Bids in the prescribed form obtainable from the Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India, Public Debt Office, Fort, Mumbai- 400 001should be submitted to him on July 11, 2000 (Tuesday) during banking hours. On the basis of bids received, the Reserve Bank of India will determine the maximum cut-off rate at which offers will be accepted. The results of the auction will be announced on July 11, 2000 and payment by successful bidders will be during banking hours on July 12, 2000 (Wednesday).

    The Railways are planning to introduce Yoga as part of the railwaymen’s training at all levels. This was disclosed by the Chairman Railway Board, Shri V.K.Agarwal while inaugurating the Indian Railway’s Chief Personnel Officers Conference here today.

    The Chairman said that Yoga classes have already been initiated at the Training Centres at Jamalpur,Chandausi and Tughlakabad. It is proposed that gradually over a period of years, these will be extended to almost all the 186 training centres of the Railways .This is keeping in view the efficacy of yoga in strengthening the physical as well as the mental faculties of an individual and his overall personality development, he said.

    The two-day Conference is being attended by the Chief Personnel Officers of all the Zonal Railways, Public Sector Undertakings and Production Units of the Indian Railways.

‘11’

    Some reports have appeared in a section of the Press giving the impression as if Government has decided to close down several media units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. These reports are speculative and are factually incorrect.

    Government has set a 5-member Expenditure Reforms Commission (ERC) under the former Finance Secretary, Shri K.P. Geethakrishnan. The Commission is examining various alternatives for reducing the role and the administrative structure of various Departments, in order to curtail non-developmental expenditure. The Members of the panel are having detailed discussions with various Ministries and Departments to determine their role, to identify any overlaps in the functions of the Ministries, Departments and the attached organisations with a view to identifying measures which would bring about improvement and enable reducing budgetary support for non-essential activities. After the Expenditure Commission finalises its recommendations it will submit its recommendations to the Government for consideration. The ERC is required to submit its final report within a period of one year. It has not yet submitted its report. Therefore, there is no question of Government considering any move for closing any media units of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

    Central Government has declared the industry engaged in the manufacture or production of Mineral oil (crude oil, Motor and Aviation Spirit, Diesel oil, Kerosene oil, Fuel oil, Diverse Hydrogen and their blends including Synthetic Fuels, Lubricating Oils and the like as a public utility service under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 for six months with immediate effect.

    In a notification issued here today, the Labour Ministry said that the government is satisfied that the said industry covered by item 26 of the First Schedule to the Industrial Disputes Act should be declared a public utility till December 27, 2000.

    India will send a technical delegation to Libya to explore possibilities of mutual cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector. This was decided in a meeting between the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Ram Naik and Secretary of Libya's General Peoples Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation, Mr. Abdull Rahman Mohd. Shalgam, here today. Speaking at the meeting, Shri Ram Naik said that the Indian delegation will discuss investment and cooperation opportunities identified by the Libyan National Oil Company. He said that India would be interested in taking up hydrocarbon exploration in Libya and companies are endowed with requisite technical expertise in the area. The visiting dignitary is on a two-day visit to India

    Shri Naik expressed happiness that with the lifting of sanctions imposed on Libya, an opportunity has been created to forge greater economic cooperation between India and Libya in the light of the long standing friendly relationship between the two countries.

    India is one of the largest consumer and importer of crude oil. Though it ranks as one of the top 25 oil producing countries, the domestic production is not sufficient to meet the growing demand. The country is, therefore, looking for equity oil supplies from friendly countries. Libya is rich in oil and natural gas resources and has available surplus for exports. It has reserves of the order of approximately 29.5 billion barrels which accounts for 2.8 per cent of total world reserves and ranks 10^th in the world. The relationship between the countries has been friendly and therefore there is a strategic fit for the two countries to cooperate in the oil sector.

    Central Government has declared the industry engaged in the manufacture or production of Mineral oil (crude oil), Motor and Aviation Spirit, Diesel oil, Kerosene, Fuel oil, Diverse Hydrogen and their blends including Synthetic Fuels, Lubricating Oils and the like as a public utility service under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 for six months with immediate effect.

    In a notification issued here today, the Labour Ministry said that the government is satisfied that the said industry covered by item 26 of the First Schedule to the Industrial Disputes Act should be declared a public utility till December 27, 2000.