Apart from meeting the domestic requirement of various materials and components needed for the indigenous nuclear programme India offers expertise as well as some nuclear related material available in the country to other countries for peaceful uses. Thorium oxide ceramic buttons (500 pieces)valued at US dollar 15,0000 were exported through an India representative company to General Electric, USA in July 1997. Attempts are made to offer competitive prices in response to international enquiries to obtain export orders, when such opportunities arise and the domestikc demand-supply position so allows. This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Smt. Vasundhara Raje in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
 
 

    Export of software and electronic goods has been given high priority in the strategy for the Ninth Plan. An export target of Rs. 48,930 crores, at a compound annual growth rate of 52% has been set for terminal year of the 9th Plan i.e. 2001-02, for the electronics sector. The programme include manpower development, provision of infrastructure, stimulation of R&D efforts; quality assurance, liberalisation of EXIM Policy (1997- 2002); and simplification of procedures under various export promotion schemes for electronics sector. During 1997-98 the achievement in the Computer Software Production crossed the target and was to the tume of Rs. 9,970 crores against the target of Rs. 9,750 crores. In 1996-97 the achievement in this field was Rs. 6,300 crores against a target of Rs, 2,600 crores. The previou year's achievement was also more than double the set target. This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Shri R. Janarthanam in a written reply in Lok-Sabha today.
 
 

    The expenditure on development of supercomputer is estimated at Rs. 100 crores. High end components are imported with an average cost of 35% of total cost. Supercomputers are currently being used in Centre for Developmnent of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL). This information was given by the Minister of Personnel, Public Grienvances and Pensions Shri R. Janarthanam in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
 
 

    The Union Budget 1998-99 proposes to relax the minimum period for amortisation of cost incurred on production/ acquisition of distribution rights of feature films. Under the present provisions, if a film is released on commercial basis at least 180 days before the end of the previous year, these costs are allowed to be amortised fully in the year of the release. It is now proposed to reduce this period to 90 days. Considering that nowadays film producers and distributors release a large number of prints simultaneously to counter the threat of video-pirates and cable television, resulting in shorter life span for exploitation of films. The relaxed provision will enable the film industry to quickly recoup the cost of film production and distribution. This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 1999 and will accordingly apply in relation to the assessment year 1999-2000 and subsequent years.

    According to the budget, film producers who were earlier required to furnish information in respect of all payments over Rs 5000/- would now have to do so only for payments of Rs 25,000/- and above, to the Income Tax Department. It is felt that this measure would inspire the film industry to make better and healthier films. These amendments will come into effect from 1st April, 1999 and will accordingly apply in relation to the assessment year 1999-2000 and subsequent years.
 
 

    The Railways have beefed up security in the vulnerable areas throughout the country following a bomb blast by miscreants on a railway bridge on Assam yesterday. It has taken several steps for improving the passenger safety as well as the security of consignments. Accordingly, the Railway Protection Force has begun holding regular coordination meetings with its counterparts of Government Railway Police and State Police. Besides, the two setups have also started sharing all special intelligence and crime intelligence at all levels.

    They have chalked out joint strategies for dealng with anti-social elements operating on Railways. In addition, Railway Protection Force sniffer dogs are being deployed on railway platforms and yards to sniff out explosive devices. As for safeguarding Railways own assets and consignments, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has begun escorting all trains carrying valuable consignments in vulnerable areas. It has also intensified beat patrolling in yards and other affected sections. The Railways have also started deploying RPF armed pickets in vulnerable sections. Based on criminal intelligence, raids and searches into the dens of criminals and receivers of stolen property in order to bring them to book. Dog squads are detailed for patrolling vulnerable yards and sections.
 
 

    The Rashtriya Barh Ayog (RBA) which was constituted by the Government of India in 1976 to evolve a comprehensive approach to the flood problems of the entire country, had made 207 long term and short term recommendations in its report in 1980. These have been sent to all the States of the country for implementation. Shri Sompal in the Lok Sabha today in a written reply to a question by Shri Ashok Pradhan.

    The Minister added that for the severe flood prone basins of Ganga and Brahamputra, two Central Organisations viz. the Ganga Flood Control Commission and the Brahamputra Board have prepared comprehensive plans for flood management. These have also been sent to the state Governments for formulating detailed schemes and their implementation, he said. Besides, during 1987, two committees were further constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Water Commission for studying the flood problems of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa and North-Eastern States. The recommendations of these committees were further examined by an Empowered Committee set by the Ministry of Water Resources and the conclusions of the Empowered committee were sent to the concerned State Governments and organisations in 1991 for follow up action, Shri Sompal said. The Minister also informed the Lok Sabha that the Central Government is operating 157 flood forecasting stations on inter-state rivers for providing timely flood forecasting services to the State Governments for mitigating flood damages.

    It is also providing financial assistance to carry out important flood management works in the State of Assam and border States of Northern as well as North-Eastern India. The total achieviement comprises of creation of 16200 kilometre length of embankments, 32003 kilometres lenght of drainage channels, Town/Village protection works at 906 places with total number of 4721 villages raised/protected. An overall area of 14.3740 milllion hectare area has benefitted with these programmes.
 
 

    The ultimate irrigation potential of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states has been assessed as 25700 thousand hectares and 12400 thousand hectares respectively. The corresponding assessed irrigation water requirement for the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is of the order of 167 billion cubic metres and 80.6 billion cubic metres. This was stated by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Sompal in the Lok Sabha today in a written reply to a question by Shri Rajveer Singh. Shri Sompal further informed that under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) launched by the Government of India during 1996-97, Central Loan Assistance has been provided to the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for selected major and medium irrigation projects.

    It was Rs. 43.50 crores and 13.50 crores during 1996-97 and Rs. 78.00 crores and Rs. 14.04 crores for 1997-98 respectively. As per assessment made by the Central Water Commission the annual water flow available is rivers in around 1869 billion cubic metres. Owing to the topographic, hydrological and other constraints, the utilisable surface water has been assessed at 690 billion cubic metres in addition to the annual replenishable ground water resources which is about 432 billion cubic metres. As per 1994 data about 606 billion cubic metres of surface and ground water is being utilised leaving 516 billion cubic metres of utilisable water as unutilised.

    This was stated by the Minister of State for Agricultur, Shri Sompal in a written reply to a question by Shri Ranjib Biswal and Shri Nripen Goswami in the Lok Sabha today. Shri Sompal further said that a National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development plan has been set up by the Government of India on September 13, 1996. Its terms of reference are : 1. To prepare an Integrated Water Plan for development of water resources for drinking, irrigation, industrial, flood control and other uses; 2. To suggest modalities for transfer of surplus water to water deficit basin by inter linking of rivers for achieving the above objectives; 3. To identify important ongoing projects as well as new projects which should be completed on priority basis together with phasing; 4. Identify a technological and inter disciplinary research plan for the water sector with a view to maximise the benefits; 5. To suggest physical and financial resources generation strategies for the water sector; and 6. Any other related issue.
 
 

    India and Nepal entered into an agreement in April, 1954 for construction of a barrage on Kosi river. This was revised in December, 1966. Another agreement in December, 1959 was entered into for construction of a barrage on Gandak river. This was revised in April, 1964. Both the barrages lie in the territory of Nepal near the Indo-Nepal border and had been in operation for the last three decades.

    These barrages serve the purpose of irrigation and hydro power generation benefitting both the countries. During February 1996, India and Nepal signed a Treaty on Integrated Development of Mahakali River for which the centrepiece is the Pancheswal Multipurpose Project proposed to be located on Mahakali river at a stretch which forms the boundary between the two countries.

    Irrigation and hydropower benefits are envisaged from this project for both the countries and for which a detailed project report is under preparation jointly by India and Nepal. This was stated by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Sompal in a written reply to a question by Shri Harikewal in the Lok Sabha today.