IRC SESSION BEGINS IN CALCUTTA ON SATURDAY

    The session will discuss important issues relating to road development in the country. Shri M.V. Patil, Secretary(PWD), Government of Maharashtra and current President of the Indian Roads Congress, will deliver the key note address. The session will also discuss technical papers on roads, bridges and transportation. Reports of the work done in the Road Research Laboratories in the country during 1999-2000 will also be discussed. There will also be a panel discussion on "asset management". During the period of the Session, there will be meetings of the Council, the General Body, the Highway Research Board and various technical committees of the Indian Roads Congress.

    Chief Engineers of all State PWDs, Central PWD and other organisations including those of the Army and the Ministry of Surface Transport will meet on November 7 to discuss issues relating to Road Development in the country. The meeting will be chaired by Director General(Road Development) and Addl. Secy., Ministry of Surface Transport, Shri Prafulla Kumar.

    A technical exhibition on various aspects of the road sector will also be on display.

    Set up in 1934, the Indian Roads Congress is the premier body of Highway Engineers in India. The Council of the Indian Roads Congress will discuss important policy and technical matters relating to roads and road transport development in the country. The Council examines draft standards and design codes on various aspects of Roads for being issued as finalised standards for use by Highway Engineers in the country.

    Emphasising the need for achieving universal access to telephone facilities Shri Paswan said that public institutions like schools, hospitals, government institutions should be provided with access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He said that the countries of the Asia Pacific region must collaborate in developing application of ICT and IT enabled services for creating greater employment and growth. "We have to build up human resources to enhance IT capability and develop centres of excellence with interconnectivity among the countries in the region" he added. In this context, he pointed out that the introduction of IT and allied education in schools in a big way will help build up human resources and skills.

    Referring to the convergence of technology, the Minister said that the promotion of broad band and multi media network should be encouraged in the member countries of APT for promoting distance education, distance medicine, e-commerce and e-governance. He said that several states in India have already taken measures to introduce e-governance and facilities for delivery of services like tele-medicine and tele-education etc. Besides, a large number of call centres are coming up all over the country, providing variety of services.

    Stating that it is difficult to control content on the net, Shri Paswan said that steps must be taken to discourage harmful content. In this connection he urged the countries of the region to arrive at some consensus on the issue. It can be done through the cyber laws as well as self-regulation, he added.

    Stating that the New Telecom Policy-1999 (NTP-99) is the most important policy formulation in India’s development of communications, Shri Paswan said that through a series of rapid measures, the commitments under NTP-99 have been met, some even ahead of schedule. These include opening up of all the telecom services, except international voice telephony for private sector participation, corporatisation of Department of Telecom Services (DTS), ahead of schedule, transparent and efficient spectrum management through the publication of National Frequency Allocation Plan-2000, measures to increase the availability of quality bandwidth, permission to set up Submarine Cable Landing Stations for International Internet Gateways by the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and strengthening of the Regulator. He also referred to the opening up of International Voice Telephony from 1^st April 2002, two years ahead of schedule and the amendment of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 which is being done to take care of the issues relating to convergence and both carriage and content.

    Shri Paswan said that the Government has passed the Information Technology Act 2000, a major step towards the information based society which provides for legal recognition of electronic records and rights and obligations through electronic media and measures to deal with cyber crimes. The Minister placed on record India’s support for the measures being taken for ITU reforms to gear up to meet the challenges of information society.

    Outlining the measures for speeding up telecom growth in the villages of India in which 70% of the population lives, Shri Paswan said out of more than 6 lakh villages public telephones have been provided to about 3.78 lakh villages. He said that there has been a rapid spread of STD/ISD PCOs in the country with 4 lakh of such centres. Shri Paswan said that Government has chalked out an ambitious scheme to spread a network of ‘Sanchar Dhabas’ (Communication Centres) in all the rural areas and small towns to provide integrated communication facilities.

    The 3-day summit which began on 31^st October is also being attended by top level administrators, national economists, opinion leaders of the countries of the region besides heads of international organisations, leaders of academia, media and industry and commerce representatives. There are 31 member countries of the APT which includes India, Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

    During the Summit, Shri Paswan has been interacting with his counterparts from other countries to exchange India’s experience and explore matters of mutual interest and cooperation in the telecom sector. Japan and China among others have evinced keen interest in the Indian telecom scenario. The Chinese Information Industry Minister, Mr. Wu Jichuan has invited Shri Paswan to visit China, Shri Paswan has also extended a formal invitation to the Japanese Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, Mr. Kozo Hirabayashi to visit India.

ADDENDUM

    The Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Yoshiro Mori met the Minister of Communications, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan after the conclusion of the Asia Pacific Summit on Information Society at Tokyo today and enquired about the health of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Japanese Prime Minister has wished Shri Vajpayee good health and happiness.

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NRDC TO COMMERCIALISE DRUG FORMULATIONS DEVELOPED BY DELHI UNIVERSITY

    The other formulations are for ocular delivery using nanoparticle technology. Various ophthalmic preparations are used to overcome major problems such as rapid and extensive precorneal losses caused due to drainage and high tear fluid turnover during the delivery of ophthalmic drugs. To solve this problem, the University has developed long acting ophthalmic preparations using ‘Smart’ Hydrogel Nanoparticles as carriers.

    An agreement on this has been signed between the NRDC and the University. The NRDC is a Government enterprise under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

'16'

NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR AGREEMENT TO BOOST BILATERAL TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND RUSSIA: ABDULLAH

    While urging the exporters to go for the India-Iran-Caspian Sea-Russia corridor, he Minister said that the transit route through Iran was feasible both from the commercial and the logistics point of view as Iran had a well developed transport infrastructure in the form of roads, railways and ports. Roads link the Persian Gulf Ports, viz, Bandar Imam Khomeni and Bandar Abbas not only with the rest of the country and the Iranian ports on the Caspian Sea but also the neighbouring states. The port of Bandar Abbas was better located to serve as a transit port, he said. Presently, Shri Abdullah said, in case of shipments between India and the Russian Federation the cargo is being shipped through Baltic ports of St. Petersburg and Kotka, European port of Rotterdam and through the Ukrainian Black Sea ports of Illychevsk and Odessa. Also, the Minister said, the Russian Black Sea port of Novorrossik was at present more of a bulk port than a container handling port. Hence, there was an urgent need to seek better alternative means of transportation, which are cost-effective and faster, the Minister stressed. The Corridor, he said, would provide the best alternative transportation for trade not only between India and Russia but also for trade of all the countries constituting the corridor. With the development of this corridor, the Minister said, the prospects of goods traffic were very bright and so was the prospect of Indian goods becoming more competitive in the Russian market as a result of savings in time and overall costs.

    While welcoming the participants, Shri Navratan Samdria, President FIEO, said that the readiness of the Islamic Republic of Iran to support container traffic from India to Russia through its territory was appreciable. Shri Samdria also said that he was happy to learn that a number of transporting companies from India, Iran and Russia had already worked out all the technical, organisational and economic details of the traffic of containers which would move along the new North-South corridor.

    Mr. Alexander Kadakin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation and Mr M Moosavi, Ambassador of Islamic Republic also addressed the inaugural session.

    India’s trade with Russia for the year 1999-2000 was to the tune of Rs. 6798.50 crore with exports from India comprising Rs. 4122.80 crore and imports Rs 2675.70 crore. India’s exports to Russia for the period April-June 2000-2001 were Rs. 1058.82 crore while imports in the same period were Rs. 625.03 crore.

'38'

WATER AND POWER CONSULTANCY INDIA ACHIEVES ALL TIME HIGH TURNOVER

    WAPCOS (India) a mini-Ratna PSU under the Water Resources Ministry has been accredited with ISO 9001:1994 for its excellent performance.

    During this first special round held in September, average percentage coverage of children of the four States of Delhi, UP, Bihar and West Bengal is estimated at 103.53 per cent.

    Delhi tops the list with 115.66 per cent, followed by Bihar with 107.74 per cent. Uttar Pradesh came third with 103.13 per cent. West Bengal's coverage is only 91.76 per cent, being the lowest of all the four States.

    The nation-wide rounds of polio immunisation programme will be held covering the entire country on December 10, next month and 21^st January 2001. Over 14 crore children will be administered oral polio vaccine in each of these two nation-wide rounds.

    Backed up by sound surveillance system, total number of reported polio cases in the country have now been reduced to 160 of which 140 are isolated in two States of the country i.e. U.P. and Bihar. Polio can only be eradicated if all the children receive the Oral Polio Vaccine doses simultaneously.

    The Prime Minister was also informed that the Conference adopted a Convention and a Recommendation on Maternity Protection revising the existing ILO Convention No. 103 and Recommendation No. 95 on the same subject. The Conference also held its first discussion on safety and health in agriculture with a view to adopting a Convention and Recommendation next year. Shri Vajpayee was also told that India actively participated in the general discussion on Human Resource Training and Development which was the subject of the Conference.

    The Minister of State for Labour Shri Muni Lall, who was the Deputy Leader of Indian Delegation, urged the ILO to help the member states in employment-friendly economic growth so that employment generation is sustained at higher levels. The Delegation included Labour Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Orrisa and seven representatives each from the Trade Unions and Employers’ Organisations.

    On November 4, 2000 the Sammelan will feature vocal recital by Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Tabla recital by Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and vocal recital by Nedunuri Krishna Murthy from 6.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

'34'

RESULTS OF COMBINED MEDICAL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2000 ANNOUNCED

    The total number of candidates who have qualified the examination is 327 including 102 belonging to Other Backward Classes, 28 belonging to Scheduled Castes and 14 belonging to Scheduled Tribes.

    Appointments to the various posts will be made according to the number of vacancies available.

        Addressing the International Seminar on Convergence of Technology organized by FICCI, here today Smt. Swaraj said that we have to keep in mind that better communication facility, access to television and media coverage have resulted in heightened awareness levels coupled with very high aspiration levels of our people. The people, therefore, want the prosperity fast.

        Referring to the opening of DTH and the proposed Bill on convergence, Smt. Swaraj said that the Government’s role is enabling one and it is creating proper atmosphere for infrastructure for absorption of new technologies. The Government is open to all constructive suggestions to improve the regulatory framework to improve the era of convergence. She said, convergence of various media has further led to convergence at the supply and demand end of these services. In a convergent environment, a service provider should normally be free to provide a whole range of services, which are technologically flexible and a consumer should be able to receive all services at any time and place of his choice.

        Referring to the extension of infrastructure to match the statutory framework, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said Doordarshan is now setting up four digital terrestrial transmitters in four metros on an experimental basis. Adoption of digital technology can enable us to use the vast infrastructure of 1060 transmitters for providing broad band and Internet services in rural areas. It will also help in carrying more channels and give larger number of services to the consumers.

        The Minister said that more attention also needs to be given for Intellectual Property Right protection for the content providers. Political and social implications of convergence and information technology are also far-reaching. The rapid growth and spread of Information Technology facilitated by emerging convergence of technologies will help us in realizing our dream of electronic democracy and governance. It will empower citizens and enable them to participate in the decision making process of the nation and shaping its future, she concluded.

    The Finance Minister however said that the Government will be strictly monitoring this and if there is any misuse of the incentive, strong action will be taken. Shri Sinha said that Information Technology (IT) industry of India has change the perception of our country in the eyes of the outside world and this could not have been achieved even through spending billions of rupees through professional public relation companies. He hoped that the growth of the knowledge-based industry would also help enhancing productivity in the agricultural and rural sectors.

    The Finance Minister said that the credit for giving a boost to the IT sector goes to the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee who constituted a task force on IT and a Group of Ministers to quickly process the recommendations of the task force and the first move was made in the Budget for 1998 to encourage IT industry. In the context of globalisation, Shri Sinha said that the benefits of economic reform should reach the masses in order to become successful. He said that IT should not be only for a few but for the masses.

    The salient features of the new textile policy are as under:

• Implement vigorously, in a time bound manner, the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) covering all manufacturing segments of the industry.
• Launch the Technology Mission on Jute to increase productivity and diversify the use of this environment-friendly fibre.
• Assist the private sector to set up specialised financial arrangements to fund the diverse needs of the textile industry.
• Set up a Venture Capital Fund for tapping knowledge based entrepreneurs of the industry.
• Encourage the private sector to set up world class, environment-friendly, integrated textile complexes and textile processing units in different parts of the country.
• De-reserve the garment industry from the Small-Scale Industry sector.
• Strengthen and encourage the handloom industry to produce value-added items and assist it to forge joint ventures to secure global markets.
• Re-design and revamp, the 10^th Five Year Plan, the Schemes and Programmes initiated in the handloom, sericulture, handicrafts and jute sector to ensure better returns for those belonging to the disadvantaged categories, and the North East and other backward regions of the country.
• Facilitate the growth and strengthen HRD Institutions, particularly NIFT on innovative lines.
• Review and revitalise the working of the TRAs (Textile Research Associations) to focus research on industry needs
• Transform and professionalise all field organisations under the Ministry of Textiles to enable them to play the role of facilitators of change and growth.

    As far as the handloom industry is concerned Shri Kashiram Rana said that training modules will be developed for weavers engaged in the production of low value added items, who may not be able to survive the competition consequent on globalisation, with the objective of upgrading their skills to enable them to find alternate employment in the textile or other allied sector. The implementation of the hank yarn obligation order and the reservation orders issued under the Handloom (Reservation of articles for production) Act, 1985 will be reviewed keeping in mind the needs of the handloom weavers, the Minister further added.

    MSTC has developed strong Domestic Marketing set up which disposes scrap arisings of Government of India and PSUs through selling agency system. The company’s volume of business in this area has gone upto Rs.565 crore during 1999-2000 from Rs.140 crore in 1990-91. In the International Marketing division the company had successfully achieved to diversify its product range and mode of sale strategy by which the volume of imports has increased to Rs.285 crore from Rs.80 crore in the year 1998-99. In the current financial year, during April-October the company has registered a 30 per cent growth in its profit compared to the same period last year.

    MSTC Ltd. is a public sector enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of Steel with a paid up capital of Rs.2.20 crore after issue of Bonus Shares. About 90 per cent shares of the company is held by Government of India and the balance are held by Private Investors. The company has regularly been paying dividend and last year it had paid a dividend of 25 per cent. Thus in last 2 years shareholders have got a return of 116 per cent of its original investment. MSTC, a former canalizing agency for import of scrap is making profits despite recession in the steel industry and having no canalized items for import or export.

    Addressing the International Seminar on Convergence of Technology organized by FICCI, here today Smt. Swaraj said that we have to keep in mind that better communication facility, access to television and media coverage have resulted in heightened awareness levels coupled with very high aspiration levels of our people. The people, therefore, want the prosperity fast.

    Referring to the opening of DTH and the proposed Bill on convergence, Smt. Swaraj said that the Government’s role is enabling one and it is creating proper atmosphere for infrastructure for absorption of new technologies. The Government is open to all constructive suggestions to improve the regulatory framework to improve the era of convergence. She said, convergence of various media has further led to convergence at the supply and demand end of these services. In a convergent environment, a service provider should normally be free to provide a whole range of services, which are technologically flexible and a consumer should be able to receive all services at any time and place of his choice.

    Referring to the extension of infrastructure to match the statutory framework, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said Doordarshan is now setting up four digital terrestrial transmitters in four metros on an experimental basis. Adoption of digital technology can enable us to use the vast infrastructure of 1060 transmitters for providing broad band and Internet services in rural areas. It will also help in carrying more channels and give larger number of services to the consumers.

    The Minister said that more attention also needs to be given for Intellectual Property Right protection for the content providers. Political and social implications of convergence and information technology are also far-reaching. The rapid growth and spread of Information Technology facilitated by emerging convergence of technologies will help us in realizing our dream of electronic democracy and governance. It will empower citizens and enable them to participate in the decision making process of the nation and shaping its future, she concluded.

    On November 4, 2000 the Sammelan will feature vocal recital by Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Tabla recital by Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and vocal recital by Nedunuri Krishna Murthy from 6.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

'20'

    Based on the differential in the quality premia of 1% benzene petrol over 3% benzene petrol in the international market, Petroleum Ministry has fixed the ex-storage point price of 1% benzene petrol at Rs. 19.30 per litre as against Rs. 19.08 per litre of 3% benzene petrol. Consequently, the retail price of petrol in Delhi would be Rs. 28.75 per litre, an increase of 31 paise over the earlier retail price of Rs. 28.44 per litre. The new rates will be effective from 03.11.2000

    The retail prices of petrol in National Capital Region outside the NCT where sales of 3% benzene will continue up to 31^st March, 2001, would remain at the present level of Rs. 29.10 in Haryana (Gurugaon) and Rs. 29.38 in U.P. (Ghaziabad).

    The requirement of low benzene petrol for NCT and NCR are being sourced from Mathura, Panipat and Gujarat Refineries. Mumbai refinery would make 1% benzene petrol available for greater Mumbai. Present requirement of petrol in NCT and NCR is about 45,000 metric tonnes and 60,000 metric tonnes per month respectively.

    It may be recalled that in view of the high growth rate of vehicles in the NCT/NCR, it was considered necessary to reduce benzene content in petrol ahead of normal schedules so as to bring down the benzene level in the ambient air. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Ram Naik has expressed satisfaction on the implementation of contingency plans to supply 1% benzene petrol in the NCT to meet the time limits set by the Supreme Court, in this regard.

'20'

PERFORMANCE OF PETROLEUM MINISTRY COMES IN FOR ALL ROUND PRAISE AT THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

    In his opening address, Shri Ram Naik said that LPG connections are now available across the counter through out the country following the release of record number of 1.27 crore new LPG connections during the last one year from October 1999 to September 2000. He said that for spreading the use of LPG in rural areas special attention is being paid and as many as 540 LPG distributorships are planned to be opened exclusively for the rural areas. Oil industry has also been advised to complete the survey of development blocks for determining the viability of setting up of LPG distributorship in a time bound manner. Besides, the area of operation of existing LPG distributors has been increased for setting up extension counters from 15 to 30 kms in the plains and 50 to 70 kms in hill areas. He also assured the members that a prompt action would be taken in case of any difficulty/complaint regarding release of LPG connections in rural areas.

    The Minister informed that the use of environmental fuels was being encouraged in all sectors and the requisite infrastructure is being put in place at a fast pace. The world's largest pipeline project for evacuation of LPG surplus state in the west to the northern parts of India is expected to be commissioned in December 2000 against the original schedule of February 2001. This 1230 km pipeline from Jamnagar (Gujarat) to Loni (near Delhi), at a cost of about Rs. 1240 crore, will have initial capacity of 1.7 million tonnes per annum (MMTPA) which will go up to 2.5 MMTPA by 2011-2012.

    The Minister told the meeting that GAIL is entering Gas Cooperation Agreements with various State Governments in order to assess the demand, examine the options of gas supply source and to plan for the pipeline infrastructure in the coming years. Agreements have been signed with Karnataka Industrial Investment & Development Corporation (KSIIDC) an undertaking of Karnataka Government in July 2000 and with Maharashtra State Industrial Development Corporation (MSIDC) and Maharashtra Petrochemicals Development Corporation (MPDC) the undertakings of Maharashtra Government in October 2000. Similar Gas Cooperation Agreements are being finalised by GAIL with the Governments of Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan has also expressed interest for such an agreement.

    As regards the LNG policy, the Minister categorically said that there was no restriction on the import of LNG and even 100% Foreign Direct Investment was permitted. He felt the need to have a clear cut LNG policy so as to avoid confusion and discourage unhealthy competition. Shri Naik added that in order to address the issues relating to LNG business, the Government has constituted a group of officers consisting of the Secretaries of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Power, Fertilizer, Shipping and Finance for arriving at an integrated LNG policy for the country. The recommendations of this Group are presently under consideration of the Government.

    The Members raised various issues including according priority to remove difficulties faced by people in rural areas in getting the LPG connection, enhancing domestic oil and gas production and improving the reserves in place, removing malpractices in the marketing of petroleum products, focus on use of alternative sources of fuel, supply of natural gas in the eastern India, opening of LPG agencies at every block headquarters, etc. The members also praised the efforts of the government to check the malpractices of adulteration of petroleum products with naphtha, solvents and other adulterants, etc. which they said have started bearing fruits.

    The Ministers of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Shri E. Ponnuswamy, Petroleum Secretary, Dr. S. Narayan, other senior officials of Ministry and the CMDs of Oil PSUs were present at the meeting. The following Members of the Committee attended and spoke at the meeting: S/Shri Lal Bihari Tiwari, Manibhai R. Chaudhari, Kishan Singh Sangwan, Shrichand Kriplani, Ram Shakal, Jai Prakash, Dr. Sushil Kumar Indora, Zora Singh Mann, Col. D.R. Shandil, Dr. Laxminarayan Pandey, Annasaheb M.K. Patil, N.H. Diwathe, Prof. Rasa Singh Rawat, Maj. Gen. B.C. Khanduri, Ram Singh Kaswan, K.K. Kaliappan, Lakshman Seth, Ram Sajiwan, Prakash V. Paranjpe, Ram Jeevan Singh, M.H. Gavit, Dr. Girija Vyas, Smt. Preneet Kaur, Prof. Ram Bakhsh Singh Varma, Shri Gopalsinh G. Solanki Prof. Ram Deo Bhandari, A. Vijaya Raghavan, N.R. Dasari, Satish Pradhan, and Oscar Fernandes