Energy is critical for economic growth, social development and human welfare. In India, main source of supply of primary energy is coal, sharing about 60 per cent of the overall present requirement of commercial energy. Sustained development of all facets of the coal industry is, therefore, imperative for the overall economic development of our country. This was stated by Minister of State for Coal Shri Dilip Ray while inaugurating a one day international workshop on "GIS Applications in mining industry’ organised by the GIS at Development and Autodesk.

    The Minister said that the coal production in India is projected to increase from a level of about 300 million tonnes at present to over 600 million tonnes in next 10 years. To realise this impressive growth in coal production optimum utilisation of modern technologies like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in all facets of mineral exploration and exploitation are essential.

    He said that GIS is a sophisticated computer aided facility and can play an important role in mining industry in organising and storing large amount of valuable data available in the form of paper media. This system can be used for selecting new mine boundaries and its associated information, enhancing capacity of mines, selecting new exploration block and would facilitate decision making.

    In Indian coal mining industry, Geological Mapping involving air-photo interpretation and remote sensing techniques have already been in use. The remote sensing technology has been extensively used in mapping the regions affected by underground fires in Jharia and its surrounding areas. This technology, integrated with GIS, has become an effective tool for developing and implementing a rehabilitation plan for the region. The use of latest mapping technologies like GIS and GPS is growing in India Mines. Data based using GIS technology has already been created for 21 major coalfields of CIL showing forest cover in coalfields.

    According to Shri Ray GPS is finding extensive application in bench height control, drill elevations, topographic surveys and geological mapping etc. in Indian Coal Mines. Extensive use of GIS/GPS technologies in areas like vehicle tracking and despatch, material tracking, shovel and loader operations etc. may be explored for improving the productivity of opencast operations.

    The Minister urged to make efforts for increasing use of this technology for locating new mineral resources and improved scientific planning for exploitation of our natural resources and better management systems. Speech of Shri Dilip Ray was ready by Shri Vivek Mehrotra, Joint Secretary in Ministry of Coal.

    CMD, CMPDIL (a subsidiary of CIL) Shri S.K Verma in his key note address informed about the detailed use of GIS and GPS technologies in Indian Coal Mines. Dr. M.P Narayanan, President GIS at Development magazine said that World’s leading mining and exploration geologists use GIS. Jol Astroth, Vice President of GIS Market Group said that the new IT technologies would help the mining industry in a big way as India is the largest coal, iron ore and other mineral mines in the world.

    About hundred national experts on mining, and Information Technology from various parts of the country attended the workshop co-sponsored by National Remote Sensing Agency, Department of Space, National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation, Department of Science and Technology and Institute of Engineers.

    LIL is a Speciality Chemical Company serving the needs of the Petroleum Industry. It develops, manufactures and markets Additive Systems for Automotive and Industrial Lubricants and for treatment of Fuels. LIL has two manufacturing units in Maharashtra. The Company maintained its dominant market share in different segments by registering higher volumes. LIL sales turnover during 1997-98 was Rs. 363 crores and Profit Before Tax of Rs. 46.14 crores, the net Profit After Tax was Rs. 31.82 crores, as against the previous year’s figures of Rs. 33.84 crores. LIL’s net worth as on 31.3.98 stood at Rs. 160.47 crores.

    In order to sustain growth, LIL has been addressing itself to the emerging changes driven by customer performance goals, environment considerations and stringent performance requirements of the new generation engines. Recently, LIL’s main manufacturing plant at Turbhe has received ISO 14001 accreditation from BVQI which reflects Company’s Concern for Quality and Environment.
 

    The Asian Development Bank had commissioned this study on Implementation of Clean Coal Technology through Coal Beneficiation in association with Ministry of Coal and involvement of the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Environment & Forests.

    The draft final report of the consultant group was circulated by Ministry of Coal to the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Environment & Forests, besides the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Coal India Ltd.

    The main recommendations of this study are:

    1.     That thermal power coal should generally be washed upto 32 per cent (plus minus 2 per cent) depending on parameters like washability characteristics of coal, ash percentage in the rejects, economics of performance of power plant etc.

    2.     The rejects should have an ash content which allows safe disposal without the danger of self-combustion. If this is not possible it will be utilised in a fluidised bed combustion (FBC) boiler for power generation at the washery site.

    3.     As the capital requirement for generating power through FBC is higher, approach of a "Clean Coal Fund" with low interest rate is recommended.

    4.     Use of washed coal in power plant would result, besides savings in transport cost, operational savings like reduced generating cost, reduced cost for ash disposal, reduced operation & maintenance requirement and less support fuel.

    5.     Use of washed coal would also result in environmental benefits like reduced Co2 and SO2 emissions, reduced water and land requirement for ash disposal.

    6.     Implementation of economically sound pricing system is a necessary pre-condition for attracting commercial investment in coal washing.

    7.     Three policy initiatives by Government of India are essential,. Government must change the pricing of power station coal from Useful Heat Value (UHV) system to Gross Calorific Value (GCV) system; actively encourage private investors to enter into the business of coal washing; and internalise environmental costs by a properly enforced system of fees and fines reflecting the economic costs of pollution.

    8.     Due to contractual complexities Build Own Operate (BOO) model for setting up of washeries has not been found to be very suitable. Operation through BOOT model will have less complexities.

    9.    To meet the requirements of the Ministry of Environment & Forests regarding use of washed coal of ash not exceeding 30 per cent, 24 coal washeries of 2.5 mt each would have to be set up by 2001-02. For this the estimated fund requirement is Rs. 3546 crs. An amount of US $ 160 million is proposed to be funded by the ADB for procurement of plant and machinery and developmental activities in respect of nine washeries.
Ministry of Power has favoured the recommendations. The policy of using only beneficiated coal in power plants more than one thousand km away from the mining source, as laid down by Ministry of Environment and Forest, is supported by the conclusions of this report.

A seminar on "Implementation of Clean Coal Technology through Coal Beneficiation" is being organised here on Oct 10, 1998 where experts and major consumers will be brought together to deliberate on the recommendations of the report before a final view is communicated to ADB.

    The Minister in a statement here today congratulated M/s. Bharti Telenet Limited for their achievement in expanding the private basic telephone network in the state of Madhya Pradesh. She said that it is yet another important milestone in private sector participation in basic telephone services as envisaged in National Telecom Policy, 1994.

    M/s. Bharti Telenet Limited was the first company to sign the Licence Agreement with the Government on 28.2.1997 for providing the service in Madhya Pradesh Circle. As per the terms of the Licence, the company is to provide 1,50,000 Direct Exchange Lines (DELs) in the first three years of the licence period. The company has also committed to provide 5,500 Village Public Telephones (VPTs) in each of its first three years of operation. The proposed investment in the first three years would be approximately Rs.570 crores.
 
 

    Altogether 21.39 lakh hectares of surplus land has been distributed to 54.60 lakh beneficiaries in the country so far. Of them, 36% belong to the Scheduled Castes and 14% to the Scheduled Tribes. The total area declared surplus under the programme of Distribution of Ceiling Surplus Land is 30.35 lakh hectares.

    Distribution of Government wastelands and Bhoodan lands has been one of the important strategies of land reforms. There is an approximately 12.95 million hectares of wasteland and 19.28 lakh hectares of Bhoodan land in the country. It has been an accepted policy that wastelands at the disposal of the Government and the land donated under the Bhoodan movement should be distributed amongst the eligible poor. So far an area of 58.66 lakh hectares of wasteland and 10.36 lakh hectare of Bhoodan land has been distributed.

    Presently 518 districts in various States across the country have been covered under the programme of computerisation of land records with a Central assistance of Rs.84.62 crore.

    The Director General (Health Services), Dr. S.P. Agrawal informed the meeting that a National Dengue Control Programme is under preparation. The objective of the programme is to reduce the mortality and morbidity due to Dengue and contain the problem through preventive and precautionary measures. It seeks to establish a surveillance mechanism on early reporting and epidemiological surveillance.

    The meeting was told that 109 cases of Dengue have been reported from 4 states of Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala during 1998 and 6 deaths were reported, (5 from Tamil Nadu and one from Karnataka.) Japanese Encephalitis claimed 104 lives in 8 districts of U.P. The U.P.state government has been asked to take all possible steps to contain the spread of this disease on a priority basis. The Centre has promised technical and material assistance to the State government to control the disease.

    The Delhi government informed the meeting that the Residential Colony Welfare Associations in Delhi are being involved in creating awareness among the residents about the preventive steps to contain Dengue. The Karnataka state informed that the building by-laws were adopted in Bangalore city to contain the disease. Delhi and Bombay have already invoked the building by-laws. The nicnet was asked to streamline the system at district level and report any case from districts to the headquarters without loss of time.
 
 

    The participants at the one-day Conference will review the implementation of Minimum Wages Act 1948 and adoption of uniform minimum wages rates for the region. It will also consider the progress of National Child Labour Projects, schemes/projects assisted from various welfare funds in the region. Besides, the Labour Ministers will also discuss the measures for improving the EPF and ESI Schemes and functioning of Industrial Training Institutes. The meeting will also review the implementation of various labour laws.

    The Union Labour Ministry has been organising regional meetings of the State Labour Ministers to focus detailed and specific problems of individual states which they tend to get overlooked in a larger forum. The Regional Conference of State Labour Ministers of the Eastern, North Eastern, Western, and Southern Regions have already been held.
 
 

    Dr. Justice Adarsh Sein Anand, B.Sc., LL.B, Ph.D, Bar-at-Law was born on November 1,1936. He was enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council on November 9, 1964. He practised in Criminal, Constitutional and Election matters in the Punjab & Haryana High Court.

    Dr. Justice Anand was appointed Additional Judge of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court on May 26, 1975 and as a permanent Judge of that High Court on February 4, 1976. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court on May 11, 1985 and transferred to the Madras High Court on November 1, 1989.

    He was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of India on November 18, 1991. Appointed Chief Justice of India with effect from October 10,1998. He is due to retire on October 31, 2001.

    The Minister said that Indian Railways have been managing suburban rail systems in Mumbai efficiently since the second decade of this century. At present 1056 trains on Central Railway and 1953 trains on Western Railway run to carry about six million passengers daily. It is one of the most extensive used system in the world. He said the system requires modernisation and the Railways is trying to make necessary changes.

    Shri Naik appealed to the Indian engineers to develop indigenous technologies keeping in view the requirements of the Indian cities as many developed countries are reluctant to transfer their technologies. He stressed on upgradation of technological skills and their optimum utilisation in the commercial fields. The Railway Minister’s message wishing the Workshop all success was read out in his absence. He said that the Workshop will identify key issues and suggest various innovative solutions for implementation of Mass Rapid Transit System.

    The Railway Board Chairman, Shri V.K. Agarwal, said that the rail based system of public transport Mumbai has been established as it is more energy efficient, environment friendly, faster and the most cost effective. He complimented the foresight of the planners of Mumbai city and suburban railway system and said that one cannot imagine Mumbai to be what it is without electrical suburban trains. Calcutta Metro is also serving the public satisfactorily. He said Delhi and Bangalore are on the threshold of starting such systems and medium city will follow the suite.

    Railway Board Member(Electrical) Shri S.K. Khanna welcomed the guests and in his key note address explained the need of Mass Rapid Transit Systems for handling the traffic in the urban and suburban areas. Nearly 400 delegates from India and abroad are participating in the Workshop. The representatives of the agencies of Transport sector and leading manufacturers of rolling stock, coaches, bogies, brake systems etc are participating in the deliberations.
 
 

    Being held under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, the theme of the seminar is "Nuclear Power in Developing Countries; its Potential Role and Strategies for its Development". It may be recalled that the IAEA governing council in a resolution had made a special mention about strengthening technical cooperation and improving technological capabilities of developing countries in nuclear power, as they have the greatest need for energy growth. The very fact that the IAEA has chosen to hold the seminar in Mumbai is a pointer towards the recognition being given to India as a leader in nuclear technology.

    India holds the view that growth of nuclear power should not be hindered by the arbitrary and politically motivated technology control regimes. With coal reserves dwindling and hydel projects running into rough weather, nuclear energy will alone become an increasingly important option. But the aspects of safety – design and engineering safety, operational safety and regulatory safety, will have to be ensured for a sustained nuclear energy programme.

    Notwithstanding the fact that more than a quarter of the world’s nuclear power reactors are in United States, the availability of sufficient power generation capacity there and in several developed European countries leading to a saturation point, has led to a wide-spread misconception that nuclear power is being phased out as a global phenomenon. The power starved developing countries, however find nuclear energy a viable and inevitable option, particularly in view of the ecological and environmental impact on all other different modes of electricity generation. Little is realised that today as many as 37 nuclear power reactors are in different stages of construction and several more are on the anvil particularly in Asia including Japan, India, China and Korea. In view of this, the seminar assumes greater importance as also its outcome.
 
 
 

    Shri Advani said that the foremost duty of the Government is to provide security to its citizens and maintain social harmony in every sphere. While the army and police forces of the country are doing commendable job in providing security to the citizens, the RAF is playing a pivotal role in maintaining Unity in Diversity in the country.

    Lauding the role of the RAF the Home Minister said that the Rapid response to any incident or emergent challlenge is the speciality of the RAF. The Force has proved its worth during the various communal tensions/caste conflicts. During the natural calamities like cyclone in Gujarat and earth quake in any parts of the country the Force has played vital role in providing quick relief and succour to the affected people.

    Shri Advani inspected and took salute of an impressive parade on the occasion. He decorated 48 CRPF and RAF Officers and personnel with President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service.

    Earlier, the DG, CRPF, Shri M.N. Sabharwal in his welcome address said that during a very short period of its existence, the RAF has proved its credibility and exhibited high professionalism in dealing with various riots and riot like situation in the country. Highlighting the role of RAF he said that whenever deployed the RAF has performed creditably with a non-partial and unbiased manner and prevented various tense situation from developing into communal riots because of its sheer presence. During the past six years the RAF has contributed its lot in maintaining law and order in UP, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, he added. The socially useful activities undertaken by RAF have helped the force to come closer to the general public, he said. IG, RAF, Shri Tashi Dawa expressed the vote of thanks at the end.
 
 

    The Mayors from all over the country called on the Union Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani, here today and presented a Memorandum relating to their problems.

    Shri Advani assured them all help in taking immediate steps concerning the issues relating to the Home Ministry. Shri Advani also called upon the Mayors to play a more positive role in their respective fields. He asked them to constitute a Committee to suggest steps for improving their performance and send their recommendations to the Home and Urban Affairs and Employment Ministries.

    The Home Minister even suggested to constitute an award for the best Mayoral performance in the State.
 
 

    The Government unit Hindustan Vegetable Oils Corporation has been directed to ensure lifting of the entire balance of imported palmolein allotted to Delhi within next three days and ensure their packaging at Delhi and Amritsar. The imported palmolein will be packed in 15 kg. Tins as well as smaller packs of 5 kg. and 1 kg. Sizes to provide a range of choice for convenient retailing.
 
 

    Sudan will continue support India's cause at all international foras including Inida's claim for the permanent membership in secuity council. This was conveyed by Shri SalabAldin Mirga Hasan, Dy. Chairman of Federal Relations Committee of Sudan during a call on to Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Shri Madan Lal Khurana, here today. The visiting leader also convayed the appreciation of Sudanese people for India's stand on various issues related with Sudan and said that Sudan is very keen to maintain age-old relations with India. Welcoming the Sudanese delegation, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Khurana said that relations between the two countries were based on mutual understanding and cooperation and reflect popular will of people of both the countries. He said that India welcomes the successful holding of referendum on new Constitution of Sudan and ongoing peace process. Shri Khurana said that India had consistently voted against the resolution accusing Sudan of Human Rights Violation and appreciate Sudan's support over the Kashmir issue. He also apprised the visiting delegation of Indian Parliamentary system.
 
 
 

    Under the new pool of accommodation, 70 units of accommodation consisting of type VI-B, type VII and type VIII have been earmarked for exclusive allotment to the serving officials posted as Secretaries and Secretary level officers, irrespective of the service they belong to. Of the total number of houses, 10 units will be type VIII, 20 units type VII and 40 units type VI-B.

    At present, 36 houses comprising three type VIII houses, 12 type VII and 21 type VI-B are in occupation of Secretaries and Secretary level officials. These 36 units will form part of earmarked pool of accommodation for Secretaries and Secretary level officials. The shortfall of 34 units of accommodation comprising seven type VIII and 8 type VII and 19 type VI-B would be made up to Secretaries by making callotment to Secretary level officials till the target number of earmarked accommodation is achieved. The units so earmarked will constitute a pool of accommodation for such officials. These will be made available for allotment in future only to such serving officers who are posted as Secretaries and Secretary level officials. In the event of re-employment of Secretary level officials after retirement and retention of the same accommodation held by him or her, any such diversion from Secretary pool would be replenished immediately by placing an equivalent type of accommodation in the pool so that there is no loss of unit in the earmarked pool.

    Creation of a separate pool accommodation for allotment to Secretaries is intended to meet the functional requirements and status of these officials.

    Secretaries and Secretary level officials are eligible for type VIII accommodation, the highest available accommodation. However, due to acute shortages of accommodation, majority of such officials are living in C-II accommodation, which is three types below their entitlement.
 
 

    Central Board of Direct Taxes has issued the Notification making it compulsory to quote permanent account number(PAN) in following transactions from 1^st day of November, 1998. The notification follows the announcement of Finance Minister in this regard in his budget speech.

1. Sale and purchase of a immovable property valued at Rs. 5 lakhs or more.
2. Sale and purchase of a motor vehicle.
3. Time deposits exceeding Rs. 50,000 in a bank or banking institution.
4. Deposit exceeding Rs. 50,000 in post-office saving banks.
5. Contract for sale or purchase of securities exceeding Rs. 10 lakhs.
6. Opening an account in a bank or a banking institution.
7. Application for installation of a telephone connection including cellular telephone connection.
8. Payment to hotels and restaurants exceeding Rs. 25,000 at any time.