Over 76 lakh mandays of employment was generated under Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) in April this year. The annual target for employment generation under JRY during 1998-99 is 3960.97 lakh mandays. The achievement was thus 1.92% of the annual target. The States/Union Territories which achieved a higher percentage than this are Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan and Lakshadweep.

    In the total employment generated, the share of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was 33.41% and 24.09% respectively. The share of landless in the total was 25.94% and for women it was 40.50%.

    JRY and Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) are two major employment generation programmes being implemented by the Department of Rural Areas & Poverty Alleviation. The Million Wells Scheme (MWS) is also under implementation for the same objective. Allocations under all these programmes are shared between the Centre and the States in the ratio of 80:20. The Central share of allocation during 1998-99 is Rs.2075.00 crore for JRY, Rs.448.97 crore for MWS and Rs.1990.00 crore for EAS.
 
 

    The Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment has fixed the rate for levy on additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) at Rs.1550/- per square metre. This rate will be charged for additonal FAR including the basement. This follows a notification issued by the Government on July 23, 1998 amending the Master Plan for Delhi-2001, which allowed three and a-half storey building in the National Capital Territory of Delhi as against the existing two and a-half storey building. This also included increased FAR of the basement as well. The fixed rate has been made applicable with immediate effect.

    The Ministry in a circular letter to Chief Secretary, National Capital Territory of Delhi, Vice-Chairman, Delhi Development Authority, Chairperson, New Delhi Municipal Council and Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, has directed them to ensure that the requisite levy is collected before any sanction based on the revised notification is given.

    The levy amount will be utilised for increasing the civic amenities like provision of water, power, street lighting, circular area, and environmental cleanliness. It is envisaged that the increased FAR will also increase further pressure on civic facilities.
 
 

    The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has stressed the need to coordinate private and public sector investment in tourism to develop tourism infrastructure to cope with an increased flow of tourists - both domestic and foreign. Speaking at the Conference of State Tourism Ministers here today, the Prime Minister underlined the need to double the number of foreign tourists in the next four years and to promote domestic tourism for national integration. The Prime Minister said that a new National Tourism Policy along with an Action Plan was being reformulated to ensure sustainable development of tourism. He called for concerted efforts both in the public sector as well as the private sector so that tourism would emerge as a major economic activity of the 21st century.

    The following is the text of the Prime Minister's speech read on this occasion :

    "I am happy to address all of you who have gathered here to discuss how to promote tourism in India. I understand that the ministers and secretaries in charge of tourism in the State Governments along with businessmen in this industry are both present - making it a truly collaborative effort.

    Tourism today is one of the largest industries in India and in the world. It is the main source of income for many small entrepreneurs like artisans, artists, handicraft workers, food-stall owners, souvenir shop owners, transport providers, not to think of hoteliers.

    We need to first promote domestic tourism. Most tourists are, in fact, pilgrims and budget travelers. I understand today that 150 million Indians travel within the country. This is a very happy sign and I hope the number and frequency of our countrymen who visit different parts of India increases. Domestic tourism also promotes national integration.

    Today, we also receive 2.3 million foreign tourists a year who contribute about Rs.11,000 crore in foreign exchange, making tourism India's second largest net foreign exchange earner. However, this number is very small. Smaller countries, with fewer places to see, attract millions of more people. I request all of you to suggest specific steps to double this number in the next four years.

    The promotion of domestic and foreign tourism requires well-connected transport networks, decent and affordable accommodation, good wayside amenities, the proper maintenance of existing tourist sites and the creation of new ones that show our vast cultural and natural heritage.

    At the Central level, we understand the importance of this sector and we have increased the budget of the department of tourism from Rs.100 crore to Rs.160 crore. But this money can only supplement the efforts of the States. I would, therefore, request the State Governments to develop tourism infrastructure in their states.

    It has been suggested that the Tourism Development Plan should be integrated with the District Development Plans. This is a very constructive suggestion that needs to be carefully examined and thoughtfully implemented by the States.

    The private sector is the biggest creator of tourism infrastructure. Their representatives gathered here today are to be encouraged to double and triple their investment plans. However, the creation of support infrastructure like road and rail links, medical and communication facilities, is the job of Government, both at the Centre and in the States. This conference should discuss how to create a means to better coordinate such private and public investment in tourism so that the returns to both increase.

    Tourists come to places that they find beautiful or enriching. They will certainly not come to any place that is crowded, dirty, or polluted. That is why, the upkeep of the thousands of heritage sites under the Archaeological Survey of India and an equally large number under the State Governments is important. However, it requires more money than we can ever have. We need to create a public will to look after our natural and cultural sites.

    Awareness is not only about the importance of tourism but also about the big responsibility that the present generation has for the future generations. We have to leave for our children what we have inherited. In fact, we should leave them enriched. We have, therefore, to take a lot of care to ensure sustainable development of tourism.

    We have also to be aware of the fact that tourism, unless imaginatively planned, may harm the environment and the local culture. The Eco-Tourism Policy, jointly evolved after consultation, has been circulated to all of you. I sincerely hope that the travel trade and industry will adopt these recommendations so that any adverse impact on ecology could be minimized.

    My Government is aware of the problems that beset the tourism industry. Under the guidance of the Minister for Tourism, Shri Madan Lal Khurana and his colleague, Shri Omak Apang, we have taken a number of steps to translate our commitment to tourism into action. We have set up a Group of Ministers so that policy issues regarding areas like Civil Aviation, Surface Transport, Railways, culture etc. that affect tourism are dealt with quickly.

    A new National Tourism Policy along with an Action Plan is being reformulated and you are requested to give us your ideas and suggestions in this regard to make it a document which we can look to for inspiration and guidance at all levels. I would like the State Governments to also arrange for inter-departmental coordination at their level so that our joint efforts produce the greatest results.

    I would like to commend the initiative taken by the Ministry of Tourism and request your cooperation for the "Visit India Year" and the "Millennium Programmes" which have been circulated along with the agenda notes. The "Buddha Mahotsav" proposed to be organized in October and November should prove a good occasion for us to welcome visitors from our neighbouring countries.

    This Ministry has set up a "Bharat Paryatan Bhavan" to provide first-rate information and facilitation to both domestic and foreign tourists. I urge State Government to create similar one-stop information and facilitation centers.

    Tourism, being a global industry, must remain at the forefront of application of modern science and technology. As you know, my Government has also set up a Task Force on Information Technology. The Ministry of Tourism, State Governments as well as travel and hospitality industries need to apply Information Technology in a way that facilitates the smoother flow of tourists. The potential of the Internet, for example, has not been fully exploited by our State Governments. The private sector must especially try and promote the use of I-T among the small entrepreneurs who support the industry.

    The issues that concern tourism are wide and varied. Our agenda for the next millennium is quite crowded. I have only touched upon a few important issues. I am glad that many other vital issues are being discussed in this conference. With concerted efforts of the government and the private sector, tourism must emerge as a major economic activity of the 21st Century in our country, for the benefit of all.

    Your efforts are in the right direction. I wish you all success.

    Thank you."
 
 

    The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has called for a collective endeavour for evolving solutions to long-standing river water disputes. In his opening remarks on the occasion of the meeting of the Chief Ministers of the Cauvery Basin States, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu here, today, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to evolve an appropriate national policy, within the frame work of which river water disputes can be amicably resolved in the shortest possible time and hoped to bring the draft National Water Policy for discussion and adoption.

    The following is the text of the speech of the Prime Minister on the occasion:-

    "At the outset, I warmly welcome you all, specially the Hon'ble Chief Ministers to this conference and sincerely thank you for sparing your valuable time for joining our collective endeavours towards evolving solutions to one of our long-standing river water disputes.

    Water, as all of us know, is one of the most important resources for the survival of mankind. For our pre-dominantly agrarian economy, water is indeed a source of sustenance. With the growth in population our requirement for food has increased. Demand for water, mainly for irrigation, is also increasing day-by-day while the supply remains almost limited. Therefore, the importance of water, its judicious use and conservation assumes special significance. With the rising demand for water in every part of the country, it is hardly surprising that the claims for the available river waters are multiplying. Unfortunately, this has led to a number of inter-state water disputes. As a consequence, developmental activities have been adversely affected and our people in different parts of the country have been put to avoidable hardship. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that we evolve an appropriate national policy within the frame work of which river water disputes can be amicably resolved in the shortest possible time.

    All of you are aware that the Central Govt has always been trying to evolve policy guidelines for sharing inter state river waters. A couple of years ago, the Ministry of Water Resources had prepared the draft of such guidelines in addition to other draft policies on various related aspects like conjunctive use of ground and surface water. Shri P.V. Narasimha Raoji had convened a meeting of the Water Resources Council in February, 1996 to discuss these policy guidelines. After a great deal of deliberations in different fora, these policy guidelines are now taking a final shape. Our National Agenda for Governance has categorically stated that we would adopt a national water policy which provides for effective and prompt settlement of disputes and their time-bound implementation. Sometime in the near future I hope to place the draft of the policy guidelines before the National Water Resources Council for discussion and adoption.

    Against this background, let us focus on the immediate issue that has brought us together today. As we know, the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal was set up in June, 1990 and it gave an interim order on 25.6.1991 on a petition for interim relief. For all of us, it is a matter of concern that the Tribunal has yet to announce its final award. I have no doubt that all of us present here would like the Tribunal to give its final award as early as possible.

    Without going into the details of the legal issues and the ongoing proceedings before the Hon'ble Tribunal and the Hon'ble Supreme Court, I may draw your attention to the directions of the Supreme Court regarding the framing of a scheme for the implementation of the interim order of the Tribunal. The draft scheme was framed and the States concerned sent their comments on it. The Minister of State for Water Resources discussed the draft scheme with the Ministers of the States with a view to bringing about a consensus. However, as divergent views were expressed by the States, no consensus could be reached. Meanwhile, before the Hon'ble Supreme Court the case came up for hearing periodically. At the last hearing, we were given time till 12th of this month to try and resolve issues relating to the framing of the scheme for implementation of the interim order of the Tribunal.

    As you know, I had asked the Cabinet Secretary to meet with your Chief Secretaries to try to narrow down the differences amongst the States in order to evolve a mutually acceptable scheme. You are well aware of the deliberations that took place. Against this background, we are meeting today to continue our endeavours for resolving the differences that persist.

    Ours is a vibrantly democratic federal polity and we are collectively committed to consensus building in governance. Dialogue and discussions for resolving the issues based on willingness to understand different perceptions and points of view in a spirit of give and take in the national interest is the essence and strength of our democratic system. Our concerns, I believe, are common and in the interest of our people. Hence I am hopeful that together we could, through deliberations, evolve appropriate mechanisms and institutional arrangements to resolve the differences and amicably settle the ongoing dispute. Let me now request you to share your views on how we proceed together in our endeavours."