'6A'

S.B. MOHAPATRA TO HOLD ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF CMD, ITPO

    The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved that Shri S.B. Mohapatra, IAS (OR: 67), Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry would hold the additional charge of the post of CMD, ITPO till further orders.

'13'

DIAL '1717' FOR WEATHER

    The India Meteorological Department has launched a new telephone weather service for the National Capital Region. By dialing a special four digit telephone number '1717', weather information can be obtained through an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) either in Hindi or English at the cost of a local telephone call.

    The IVRS has been designed to work as a user friendly system with a simple interactive dialogue. It is available round the clock. The caller is first offered a choice of languages ( dialing '1' for Hindi or '2' for English). Then he is offered an option of obtaining the information for Delhi (by dialing '1') or for other important cities of the country (by dialing respective STD codes). The entering of STD code is only for the purpose of identifying the city and does not amount to making an STD call. Thus the caller pays only for one local call.

    The IVRS will provide local weather information, i.e. maximum temperature, minimum temperature and rainfall for 32 cities. For Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta & Chennai, the weather forecasts are also available.

    Presently the telephone weather service is available in the NCR/Delhi area only. IMD plans to introduce similar services in other important cities soon.

    IMD already has a web site http://www.imd.ernet.in, which provides detailed weather information, monsoon progress reports, satellite cloud pictures, and special weather warnings.

    The 81/82 Neemuch-Kota-Agra Fort Passenger has been renamed as Hadighati Passsenger. The Ministry of Railways has approved the proposal of the Western Railway in this regard.

    The 5105/5106 Baidyanathdham-Manduadih Express to be named as Baidyanathdham Kashi Express. Instructions to this effect have been communicated to the concerned Zonal Railways.

    Shri Sharat Chandra Gupta, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Central Circle, Mumbai conducted Statutory Inquiry under section 114 of the Railway Act-1989 into the Unusual Occurrences with Up Suburban Local EMUs in old Parsik (Mumbra) Tunnel No.2 at Kms. 38/16-39/1 between Mumbra and Kalva Stations on 1500 Volt DC Electrified Double Local Lines on Kalyan – CSTM Section of Mumbai Division on Central Railway at about 09.00 hours of June 19, 2000. As a result of this incidence, 2 passengers were killed, 4 passengers suffered grievous injuries and 3 passengers simple injuries.

    According to the Provisional Findings of the Commissioner, appended to his Preliminary Report, this accident occurred due to ‘Failure of Railway Staff’.

    He prima facie held an officer and two Inspectors of Construction Organisation in Central Railway at Mumbai for their omissions, commissions and negligent working resulting into this ‘Unusual Occurrences’.

    The Commissioner has also made a few Immediate Recommendations to enhance element of Safety while working in close proximity of running railway lines.

    These Provisional findings and Immediate Recommendations are under the consideration of the Government of India.

    A Seminar to discuss the prospects and potentials of food processing industries in Bihar is being organised on July 15, 2000 at Rabindra Bhawan, Patna. The Seminar is being sponsored by the Department of Food Processing Industries and is being organised by Bihar Jan Sewa Munch.

    Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Rita Verma has underlined the need to share experiences and exchange information among the countries with large population such as India, China, Brazil and South Africa on various strategies adopted to deal with the epidemic of HIV/ AIDS.

    In her speech at the meeting of developing countries with large population on AIDS programme management at Durban, South Africa on 11^th July 2000, Dr. Rita Verma said that the prevalence of HIV/ AIDS will not remain static if the member countries of UNAIDS and others including India fail to utilise the time available now to limit its spread. There are many factors such as a large population of a billion people with half the people in the sexually active reproductive age group, multiplicity of languages and dialects, low levels of literacy and gender disparity and annual migration of 10 crore people from rural to urban areas in search of work, which make India vulnerable to the HIV/ AIDS. Dr. Rita Verma said that the second phase of National Aids Control Programme launched in 1999 for a period of five years till 2004 with the total outlay of 320 million US Dollars has the advantage of strong political advocacy at the Centre, State and local levels.

    The challenge of the second phase of the programme is to reach out to the large adult population within a relatively short period of time. India has experimented with innovative strategies such as Family Health Awareness Campaign, in creating awareness and encouraging health seeking behaviour.

    Representatives from member countries of UNAIDS, India, China, Brazil, Bangladesh, Russia, Nigeria, the host country South Africa are attending this World Conference on AIDS.

    Union Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Shri Jagmohan has said that there is need to make constructive effort to give concrete shape to plans for proper development of National Capital Region. He was giving the inaugural address at the 25^th Meeting of the National Capital Region Planning Board, here today. Shri Jagmohan expressed concern at the slow pace of reforms in the NCR region and said that several projects have languished. Expressing concern the Minister said that one disconcerting aspect is the imbalanced development that is cropping up in the NCR region. He said in several areas residential and industrial plots are lying vacant. The Minister emphasised that we have to take an integrated approach towards development of the NCR region.

    Shri Jagmohan said that a strong group needs to be constituted for professional advice and prepare a concrete plan to develop NCR in the next 20 years. He also suggested that it is better to concentrate in some areas rather than spread. Shri Jagmohan said that for other areas there can be separate regional plans. The Minister pointed out that it is the implementation aspect, which is worrying. He said that proper attention has to been given to implementation, as there is no dearth of plans for development of the NCR region.

    The NCR planning board today discussed several issues raised by the State Governments of the NCR regions.

    The National Capital Region Planning Board constituted under the National Capital Region Planning Board Act 1985 passed by the Parliament in February, 1985, has under the Chairmanship of the union Minister of Urban Development, 21 members besides 6 co-opted members. The main objectives of the Regional Plan are :

1. Evolving harmonised policies for control of land use and development of infrastructure in the NCR so as to avoid any haphazard development of the Region, and
2. Achieving a manageable Delhi by 2001 AD.

    The Regional Plan-2001 is an inter-related policy framework for the achievement of these objectives.

    Government of India have announced an auction of 12-Year Stock for Rs. 2,500 crore. The auction will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India at Mumbai on July 17, 2000 (Monday). 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 17, 2000 (Monday) 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 17, 2000 and payment by successful bidders will be during banking hours on July 18, 2000 (Tuesday).

    The Medical Council of India has selected 17 eminent doctors in recognition of their meritorious service for the prestigious B.C. National Award for the year 1998.

PRESS NOTE

    Subject: Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production and Use-based Index (Base 1993-94=100) for the month of May, 2000.

    The Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 1993-94 for the month of May, 2000 have been released by the Central Statistical Organisation. The General Index stands at 158.4 which is higher by 5.5% compared to the month of May, 1999.

    The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for the month of May, 2000 stand at 122.0, 163.8, and 154.1 respectively, with the corresponding growths of 2.3%, 5.8% and 5.4% compared to the month of May, 1999. The cumulative growths during April-May, 2000-2001 over the corresponding period of 1999-2000 in the three sectors have been 3.6%, 5.9% and 4.5% respectively, with the overall growth in the General Index being 5.6%.

    Thirteen out of seventeen two-digit industry groups have shown positive growth during the month of May, 2000 as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. Metal Products and Parts, except Machinery and Equipment have shown the highest growth of 17.1% followed by 13.2% for Machinery and Equipment other than Transport equipment and 8.7% in Basic Metal and Alloy Industries. On the other hand, Paper & Paper Products and Printing, Publishing & Allied Industries have shown a growth of –9.4% followed by a growth of –2.9% in Non-Metallic Mineral Products and –2.5% in Transport Equipment and Parts.

    As per Use-based classification, the growth in May, 2000 as compared to May, 1999 is 5.9% in Basic goods, 3.7% in Intermediate goods and -2.1% in Capital goods. The Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables have recorded growth of 28.8% and 4.6% respectively, with the overall growth in Consumer goods being 10.0%.

    Due to revision of base of WPI series from 1981-82 to 1993-94 by the O/o Economic Adviser, Ministry of Industry, the WPI item basket has undergone change and some of the items of the old series have been dropped. Therefore, in place of WPI in respect of the items of the old series dropped from the new series, the most appropriate WPIs available in the new series have been used for deflating the production figures of items reported in value terms. With a view to ensure stability in the monthly series of IIP and remove the effect of change of deflators from the growth rates, the whole series of 2-digit level as well as use-based indices from April 1994 onwards has been revised and the same has been incorporated in the Quick Estimates of IIP for May 2000. On account of the above one time revision, the growth rates under certain industry groups/use-based categories have undergone some changes. As most of the new deflators have been used in Industry Group 38, i.e. Other Manufacturing Industries the effect of one time revision in the indices in this Industry Group is more prominent.

    Statements giving Quick Estimates of the Index of Industrial Production at the 2-digit level of National Industrial Classification (NIC-1987) and by Use-based classification for the month of May, 2000 alongwith the growth rates over the corresponding month of previous year including the cumulative indices and growth rates are enclosed. This Press release information is also available at the website of the Department - http://www.nic.in/stat .

    Total collection of all taxes, including both direct and indirect taxes, during the month of June, 2000 have amounted to Rs. 16392.67 crore as compared to Rs.12949.79 crore during June, 1999, thus recording a growth of 26.59 per cent.

    On a cumulative basis, upto June, 2000, total tax collection have amounted to Rs. 37496.06 crore, as compared to the total collection of Rs. 30285.94 crore upto June, 1999, registering an increase of 23.81 per cent.

    Total collection of direct taxes during June, 2000 is Rs.6630.73 crore, as against Rs.4421.48 crore during the corresponding month of last year, showing a growth of 49.97 per cent. Total collection of direct taxes upto June, 2000 is Rs. 10712.05 crore, as against Rs. 6424.81 crore upto June, 1999, showing an increase of 66.73 per cent.

    The collection of income tax during June, 2000 is Rs.1981.53 crore as compared to Rs.1338.65 crore collected in June, 1999, thus registering a growth of 48.02 per cent. Corporation tax collected during June, 2000 is Rs. 4610.69 crore, as compared to Rs. 3112.14 crore during the month of June, 1999, i.e. an increase of 48.15 per cent. The collection of income tax upto the end of June, 2000 is Rs. 5950.77 crore as compared to Rs. 4011.86 crore upto the end of June, 1999, i.e. an increase of 48.33 per cent. Collection of corporation tax upto June, 2000 is Rs. 4686.39 crore as compared to collection of Rs. 2670.64 crore during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 75.48 per cent.

    The total collection of indirect taxes during June, 2000 is Rs.9761.94 crore as compared to Rs.8528.31 crore recorded during the same month last year, representing an increase of 14.47 per cent. Total collection of indirect taxes upto June, 2000 is Rs. 26784.01 crore as compared to Rs. 23861.13 crore upto June, 1999, registering an increase of 12.25 per cent.

    The collection of excise duties during the month of June, 2000 is Rs.5378.51 crore, as compared to Rs.4625.51 crore collected during June, 1999, registering an increase of 16.28 per cent. Collection of customs revenue during June, 2000 is Rs.4148.23 crore, as compared to Rs.3727.98 crore during the same month last year, thereby registering a growth of 11.27 per cent. The collection of excise duties upto the end of June, 2000 is Rs. 14350.43 crore, as compared to Rs. 12663.13 crore collected upto June, 1999, thereby registering an increase of 13.32 per cent. Collection of customs revenue upto June, 2000 is Rs. 11659.35 crore, as compared to Rs. 10488.69 crore during the corresponding period last year, thereby showing a growth of 11.16 per cent.

    The Union Finance Minister, Shri Yashwant Sinha today said that the cooperative banks should be ready to face challenges before them and function effectively in the process of rural development. Shri Sinha was speaking at the award presentation ceremony of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for best performance to the cooperative banks, here.