The Project has been cleared at a completed cost of Rs. 797 crore including Transmission component of Rs. 25.7 crore and IDC of Rs. 131.16 crore. The three units each of 42 MW are planned to be commercially operative in November 2002, Janauary 2003 and March 2003. The tentative financial package includes the debt equity ration of 70:30 and the entire equity of Rs. 239 crore is being provided by HPSEB. Power Finance Corporation would provide a debt of Rs. 398 crore, which equal 50 per cent of the project, outlay and balance 20 per cent would be raised from commercial banks.

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    CEA has given techno-economic clearance to Maneri Bhali Stage-II Hydro-Electric power Project of 304 MW in Uttar Pradesh promoted by the newly formed Uttar Pradesh Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. The project would utilise the water of the river Bhagirathi down stream of stage I project of same name at Uttarkashi in Garhwal Himalayas. The project envisages construction of barrage across the river Bhagirathi to divert water into a 16 km. long tunnel and make it fall 280 metres to generate 304 MW of power.

    The power generated would meet the peaking requirements of the Northern Grid. The environmental and rehabilitation problems are not expected with the execution of this project. The project will cost Rs. 1250 crore to build.

    The Investors Protection Cell in the Department of Company Affairs settled 182 complaints of depositors during February, 2000.

    Besides, the Regional Benches of the Company Law Board passed orders regarding repayment of deposits in 2312 applications under Section 58A of the Companies Act, 1956 and Section 45QA (2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Under other sections of the Companies Act, 190 applications of depositors were disposed of by the Company Law Board.

    The Investors Protection Cell in the Department of Company Affairs was set up in 1998-99 to accelerate the disposal of cases of public depositors and instill confidence in the investors.

    Secretary, Department of Mines, Shri Dipak Chatterjee signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Ministry of Mines & Minerals with Hindustan Zinc Ltd.(HZL), Hindustan Copper Ltd. (HCL) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. (MECL) in New Delhi. The CMDs of the three Public Sector Undertakings signed the MoU on behalf of their respective companies. With the signing of these three MoUs, all the PSUs under the Department of Mines will be getting excellent rating under the performance indicator of timely signing of MoUs i.e. before the 31^st of March this year.

    This year’s MoU with HZL is targetting quantum improvement in various operational and financial parameters in the year 2000-2001. The Chanderiya Lead Zinc Smelter, which is the latest addition to the smelting capacities with new technology, is poised to touch 100% capacity utilisation. Besides, the Company has also committed through this Mou; to complete the Debari and Vizag smelters’ expansion during the last quarter of 2000-2001; to put more emphasis on Gold and Kayar Lead-Zinc exploration; and to expedite the Nickel technology by completing the test campaigns with a view to firm up the new process.

    According to the terms of the MoU, HCL has fixed a higher production target of Copper Cathode which represents an increase of about 10% over the expected production during 1999-2000. In terms of Capital Restructuring of the Company approved by the Government, HCL will continue to rationalise/separate its manpower by about 2250 employees including officers. This will result in higher productivity and cost reduction.

    The Mission of MECL seeks to establish the exploitable mineral reserves of India within the earliest feasible time frame at economic costs and render geo-scientific and allied services for mine planning, mining and related activities in India and abroad. The progress of the MoU will be reviewed by the Company every month by a Committee of functional Directors/Board of Directors.

    Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), Metal Scrap Trading Corporation Ltd. (MSTC) and its subsidiary the Ferro Scrap Nigam Ltd (FSNL), the public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Steel, today signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Government regarding their performance during 2000-01 financial year. The MOU was signed by Shri Ashok Basu, Secretary, Steel on behalf of the Government and Shri B.N. Singh, CMD, RINL, Shri M. Sengupta, CMD, MSTC and Shri K.B. Singh, MD, FSNL on behalf of the PSUs.

    The MOU signed by RINL envisages its missions and objectives and commitment for 2000-01. It commits to produce 2.217 million tonnes of Saleable steel, 5.3 lakh tonens of pig iron and 75,100 tonnes of coal chemicals and generate captive power of 200 MW during 2000-01. It has planned to achieve a sales turnover of 3124 crore during the year.

    Under the MOU, MSTC has undertaken to achieve a 8.14 per cent post-tax return (13.2 per cent pre-tax) on capital employed. With a paid-up capital of Rs.2.2 crore it has continuously been making profit since its inception in 1964. It has been paying dividend between 20 per cent to 40 per cent for the past ten years. Its general reserves now stand at Rs.50 crore approximately. During 1999-2000 MSTC is expected to record about 80 per cent growth in its profit over 1998-99.

    FSNL has always earned a profit since its inception in 1979 and is engaged in recovering and processing scrap from slag in the Integrated Steel Plants of SAIL and RINL. FSNL with a paid-up capital of Rs.2.00 crore has over the years built up its general reserve and is worth about Rs.90 crore as on March 31, 1999. Under the MOU FSNL has undertaken to further improve its performance both in physical and financial terms. Owing to the difficulties faced by the Steel Industry, FSNL has brought down its service charges rates considerably in 1999-2000.

‘5’

APPLICATIONS FOR THE INDIAN ECONOMIC SERVICE/INDIAN STATISTICAL SERVICE EXAMINATION, 2000 INVITED

    The Union Public Service Commission have invited applications from candidates for the Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Examination to be held from 3^rd September, 2000.

    The last date for receipt of applications is 24^th April, 2000. In the case of applications received by post/speed post from the candidates residing in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Lahaul & Spiti District and Pangi Sub-Division of Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands or Lakshadweep and for candidates residing abroad, the last date for receipt of applications is 1^st May, 2000.

    Candidates should not apply to the Union Public Service Commission for application form etc. of this examination. In order to streamline processing of applications, UPSC have designed and made available for sale an electronically scannable application form common for all their examinations which can be processed in computerised machines. This application form, alongwith an information brochure containing general instructions for filling up the form, an acknowledgement card and an envelope for sending application can be purchased from any one of the designated head post offices/post offices and selected field post offices throughout the country on cash payment of Rs. 20/- (Rupees Twenty only). Candidates interested in applying for this examination must use this form only.

    For filling up the application form, the candidates should refer to the detailed instructions given in the Commission’s advertisement published in Newspapers and employment news dated 25^th March, 2000.

    Candidates can obtain information about Receipt and Registration of their application, venue of examination’s results, interview programme etc. on the website at the address: http://www.upsc.gov.in

‘5’

    Central Government has issued a notification to appoint a one-man Inquiry Commission yesterday. The Commission will be headed by Hon’ble Mr. Justice N.C. Kochhar, Retired Judge of the Rajasthan High Court. The Commission of Inquiry will probe into the circumstances leading to the use of force by the police that is lathi-charge and use of tear-gas on the lawyers’ demonstration held at parliament Street, New Delhi on the 24^th February, 2000.

    The terms of reference of the Commission shall be as follows:

    The Commission shall submit its report to the Central Government as soon as may be but not later than three months from the date of its first sitting.

    The Commission may, if it deems fit, make interim reports to the Central Government before the expiry of the said period on any of the matters specified in the notification.

    The Commission shall have all the powers under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 and shall follow its own procedure subject to the provisions of the said Act and the rules made thereunder relating to the procedure of the Commission.

    The headquarters of the Commission shall be at New Delhi.

'28'

    The scope of consultancy services will encompass carrying out Residual Life Assessment and Life Extension Studies, reverse engineering of old Power Plant equipment of foreign origin, Design, Supply, Execution, Commissioning and arranging finances through Government and Financial institutions.

    This was stated by Shri K.G. Ramachandran, CMD, BHEL and Maj. Gen. R.R. Oberoi and Chairman, BBMB during a meeting held on March 28, 2000.

    Of our country's present total installed capacity of around 96,266 MW, Hydro capacity is about 23,627 MW of which generating equipement of approx. 10,000 MW is more than 20 years old. Thus around 10,000 MW capacity of Power Plants requires Renovation, Modernisation and uprating to improve the efficiency and the availability.

    The fresh capacity addition on date, demands a capacity investment of Rs. 4 to 5 crore MW apart from the problems of rehabilitation, long gestation periods and sharing of river waters, whereas the Renovation and Modernisation can restore the lost MW capacity at a fractional cost in a short gestation period, as also providing Life extension of 25 to 30 years to the existing old projects.

    BBMB have already successfully undertaken the Renovation, Modernisation and Uprating (R, M&U) of some of its Power Plants in close cooperation with BHEL.

    Keeping in view the resource constraint situation, it has become imperative to tap the existing resources and infrastructure and BHEL-BBMB combined effort is a positive step towards improving the Power scenario in the country, cost effectively through R, M&U schemes.

    'Ghazalnama' a 7 volume set of compilation of Gazals of 600 poets from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh was presented to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence on Tuesday. Justice H R Khanna, Senior civil servant and former Governor of West Bengal Shri Dharamvira and Editor of the compilation Dr Raj Nigam were present on the occasion.

    Perhaps the biggest enterprise of its type the collection presents a galaxy of Urdu poets in an unprecedented comprehensiveness. The 3500 page collection features 2500 Gazals from present and past Urdu masters in Devanagari script.

    The compilation aims to acquaint large number of people with evolution and sweep of Urdu poetry. More information is available on Internet on www.ghazalnama.com.

    The Centre has allotted Rs.57.42 crore for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes during 2000-2001. This is Rs.6.67 crore more than the amount allotted during 1999-2000.

    The Government has planned to set up a global centre for corporate excellence. This was stated by Secretary, Department of Company Affairs, Dr. P.L. Sanjeev Reddy in a meeting with a delegation led by corporate tyccon Shri Kumarmanglam Birla here today. Dr. Reddy sought the cooperation of Shri Birla in setting up of the corporate excellence centre. He informed him that Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka evinced keen interest in providing necessary infrastructural facilities including land for setting up such an institution in their respective State Capitals. Dr. Reddy informed Shri Birla that the proposed institution would showcase India on the pattern of the Western countries showcasing, their economic might through Davos in Germany.

    Dr. Reddy also sought the cooperation of Shri Kumarmanglam Birla in assisting the Government to work out a provision for adequate representation of women on the Board of Directors of Companies as a measure to remove gender bias and better corporate governance. While showing his interest Shri Birla expressed his reservation on the ground that to find a pool of women professionals in corporate governance was very difficult at the present juncture. He, however, extended his support to the Government plan on the premise that new millennium will for the allround rising women power in India. The new millennium is India’s millennium, that is what Shri Birla averred. Dr. Sanjeev Reddy assured Shri Birla that Security and Exchange Board of India and the Department of Company Affairs have decided to work in close harmony for better corporate governance.

    The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution of India, headed by Shri Justic M.N. Venkatchallaiah, reiterated today that it would not rewrite the Constitution but review it with a view to ensuring rapid social and economic development of the people at large and the weaker-sections such as Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Minorities in particular. The Member and designated spokesman of the Commission Shri Justice B.P. Jeeven Reddy, talking to media here today, listed 10 areas of the Commissions’ special concern and said that in respect of each area there would be a special committee headed by an expert of repute which would be co-chaired by one Member of the Commission.

    The areas listed by the Commission as announced by Shri Justice Reddy are : 1) Strengthening of the Institution of Parliamentary Democracy and Accountability, exploring the possibility of stability within discipline of Parliamentary Democracy, (2) Electoral Reforms, (3) Pace of Socio-Economic Changes, (4) Development and Removal of Poverty, (5) Centre -State Relations, (6) Decentralisation, Development, Empowerment and Strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions, (7) Fundamental Rights and their enlargement to improve rights and privileges of weakersections and minorities, (8) Fundamental Duties and their effectuation, (9) Enforcement of Directive Principles of State Policies for achievement of Preamblar Directions of the Constitution and , (10) Legal Control of Fiscal and Monetary policies. The Expert Committees having professional institutional and wider expertise would be finalising questionnaire at the earliest and before the next meeting of the Commission to be held on April 22, 2000 for its approval. Justice Reddy stated that the Commission intended to work as a service organisation hoping that it would be able to earn trust and confidence of the people of India.

    Justice Reddy said that the Commission might expand the areas of its study by identifying some more areas over and above 10 areas already identified. He further said that the Commission intended to fulfil the primary goal of the Constitution to procure equality and social justice for all citizens of India. He also said that the Commission’s working would be open and transparent.

'13'

    All grass root inventions are to be documented and a National Register prepared. This is one of the major decisions taken by the recently constituted National Innovation Foundation at its first Governing Body meeting held here. The other decisions relate to promotion of intellectual property of such innovations, setting up of incubators for converting innovations into a viable business opportunity and dissemination of information concerning these innovations across the country.

    The Foundation with an initial corpus of Rs.20 crore has a 14 member Governing Body. Located at Ahmedabad, it will function in an autonomous fashion, as it has the freedom and flexibility needed to scout and support grass root innovators in the country.

    The Government has revised the Central Issue Prices of wheat and rice distributed under the Public Distribution System w.e.f. April 1, 2000.

    Wheat will now cost Rs. 450/- and Rs. 900 per quintal for below poverty line and above poverty line consumers respectively. Rice will cost Rs. 590/- and Rs. 1180/- per quintal for below poverty line and above poverty line respectively.

    The Food Corporation of India has been asked to issue orders to the State Governments/agencies/nominees at these rates w.e.f. April 1, 2000. For release orders issued between March 25 and 31, 2000. The Food Corporation of India shall realise the new rates from the State Governments at the time of lifting of stocks. In case the stocks have already been lifted, the State Governments/agencies shall reimburse the difference within two months to FCI.

    The State Governments shall fix the new issue prices at the fair price shop level w.e.f. April 1, 2000.

'24'

    The Minister of Communications, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan has asked officials in the postal department to work with dedication and devotion for extending better facilities to the customers. Inaugurating the Greater Kailash Post Office Building here today, the Minister said that in this era of competition it should be the endeavour to introduce newer technologies to provide better and faster customer services. In this respect, the Minister stated that Post Offices occupy an important position in the maintenance of the country's social values, integrity and economy. Therefore, it is essential that the Government agencies provide the Post Offices with plots and buildings at concessional rates so that the Department is able to provide better services to the people. Our country has around 26,000 departmental buildings, out of which only 3,600 are functioning in departmental buildings. Therefore, greater efforts in this respect are required, he added.

'24'

    New parameters have been added for evaluation of the performance of the Company like Customers' satisfaction for timely completion of the contracts, quality of networks and limit on payment of liquidated damages. Keeping in view the number of Joint Ventures being added by the company, the ratio of investment to turn over and number of JVs giving dividend, have also been added as new parameters for evaluation of its performance.

    TCIL has executed projects in all the fields of telecommunications in 44 countries. Presently, it has operations in 22 countries which includes Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Indonesia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Ghana, Republic of Yemen, Oman, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, Ethiopia, Comoros, Mozambique, Netherlands, Palestine, Syria, Nigeria, Tanzania, Eritrea and Kyrgyzstan.

    For the year 1998-99, Company paid a dividend of 210% on its Paid-up Capital. The Company has been signing MoU with the DoT since 1991-92 and continuously adjudged Excellent. For its performance during 1998-99, Company has been selected as one of the best ten public sector companies who are being presented the award by the Department of Public Enterprises.

    For the year 1999-2000, as per provisional results, the Company has achieved all its major targets under MoU evaluation.