The Railways transported 66.30 million tonnes of revenue earning freight during the first two months of the current financial year ending May 1998 as compared to 68.71 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. This represented a shortfall of 2.41 million tonnes over the last year and 4.50 million tonnes less than the target of 70.80 million tonnes for the period. The shortfall from the target is on account of less offer of traffic from the core sector of economy.

    Of the total freight traffic, coal accounted for 32.18 million tonnes, raw material to steel plants 6.10 million tonnes, finished iron and steel from steel plants 1.72 million tonnes, iron ore for export 1.98 million tonnes, cement 5.69 million tonnes, foodgrains 4.02 million tonnes, fertilisers 3.50 million tonnes, Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) 4.97 million tonnes and other goods 6.14 million tonnes. The other goods also included 1.03 million tonnes of containerised freight traffic.

    The revenue earning freight traffic in terms of Net Tonne Kilometres (NTKMs) in millions was 43824 million NTKMs as compared to 46338 million NTKMs during the corresponding period of the previous year. This represented a shortfall of 2514 million NTKMs over the last year and 4663 million NTKMs below the target of 48487 million NTKMs for the period.
 
 

    India and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for co-operation in specific areas of bio-technology. Initially the collaboration would be in the areas of bioinformatics related to genome research; silkworm genome; human X chromosome; pharmacogenetics; and mapping of genes for idiopathic generalised epilepsy. The MOU was signed during the just concluded visit to France of Secretary, Department of Bio-Technology, with the Centre National de la Recherch Scientifique (CNRS). As the collaboration proceeds, other areas of research would be further considered. The co-operation would be in the form of joint research projects, training and exchange of scientific and technical experts and exchange of information and scientific data, as per national policies and regulatory machanisms of each country. The MOU is expected to go a long way in improving the research capabilities of the scientists in the two countries and help in the establishment of joint research structures in the areas of genomic research, strutural biology and functional genomics.

    It was in January this year a Letter of Intent was signed between the Minister of State for Science and Technology and the visiting French Minister for research, education and technology. The MOU is a follow-up of the Letter of Intent.
 
 

    Shri Kamal Pande, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation underlined the need for using modern information technology for efficient management of natural disasters. Upgradation of technology relating to forecasting, detecting early warning signals, making effective preparations and being in complete readiness when calamities strike are important dimensions of the discipline of natural disaster management; Shri Pande said while inaugurating the annual conference of relief commissioners of states and union territories here this morning.

    The Secretary urged the relief commissioners to create a hard core and effective data system for successful disaster management. The country should be able to prevent heavy losses to lives and property by natural disasters through a meticulous system of weather forecasting. A contingency crop plan together with a shelf of projects for emergency operations should be kept ready to face any eventuality during the monsoon season. Occurrence of any natural calamity, on the basis of whatever .  information is available at the State-headquarters, should be promptly brought to the notice of the Ministry of Agriculture, Shri Pande said.

    In his welcome address Shri Bhagat Singh, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture reminded the relief commissioners of their role as watchdogs in disaster management. Specific development programmes are to be woven into disaster mitigation programmes of the states besides creating new technologies to counter diasters, he said. Shri Bhagat also stressed the need for creating a data base, and public awareness for countering natural diaster mangement.
 
 

    Krishak Bharati Cooperation (KRIBHCO) has donated rupees one crore and one only to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for the victims of cyclone which hit the Gujarat Coast recently. Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Food, Shri S.S. Barnala was presented a cheque of this amount by the KRIBHCO Chairman, Shri K.S. Gowda, here today.

    KRIBHCO had earlier contributed Rs. 75 lakh to the Gujarat Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the cyclone victims.
 
 

    The recommendations of the Mahajan Committee Report were discussed in a meeting of State Food Ministers convened here today by Shri S.S. Barnala, Union Minister of Food and Consumer Affairs, Fertilizers and Chemicals. There was consensus among the State Food Ministers for continuance of sugar supply under the public distribution system. Further, the state governments were for distributing more sugar under PDS during festival seasons.

    The states generally did not support the recommendation of the committee for total decontrol of sugar industry as they felt, it might result in sugar prices being pushed up. However, the recommendation for setting up sugarcane pricing Board for early clearance of sugarcane prices was welcomed by most of the states. Later talking to news persons, Shri Barnala said that the recommendations of High Powered Committee on sugar industry headed by Mr. B.B. Mahajan will be examined by the ministry in consultation with other related ministries before taking a final decision on their acceptance.

    Addressing the meeting of the state food ministers Shri Satya Pal Singh Yadav, Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs said that sugar industry should be allowed to function in a healthy financial environment so that fresh production capacity could be installed commensurate with the growing needs of the country.