The projects involve equipment for storage,collection and transportation, development of sanitary landfills, compost plant, comprehensive project including collection, transportation and disposal components, sewer maintenance equipment and incinerators for hospital waste.
HUDCO has prepared solid waste management project
reports for the pilgrim towns of Thrissur and Guruvayur in Kerala. Besides,
HUDCO has completed recently a major consultancy for waste management around
nine selected defence airfields. Unhygienic and insanitary surroundings
all around the airfields due to inadequate waste management services is
one of the major reasons for attraction of birds and hazard to aircraft.
The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during August, 1998 has decreased to Rs.2863 crores from Rs.2972 crores in July, 1998. he contribution of coal is the highest at Rs.1252 crores (44%). Next in the order of importrance follows:- petroleum (crude) Rs. 873 crores, natural gas (utilised) Rs.335 crores, iron ore Rs.116 crores, lignite Rs.80 crores and limestone Rs.68 crores.
Production levels of important minerals in August, 1998 are: coal 212 lakh tonnes, petroleum (crude) 28 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilised) 17390 lakh cu.m., iron ore 47 lakh tonnes, lignite 1905 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 114 thousand tonnes, chromite 112 thousand tonnes, bauxite 459 thousand tonnes, copper ore 402 thousand tonnes, gold 175kg., lead (conc.) 5321 tonnes, zinc (conc.) 31680 tonnes, limestone 81 lakh tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 119 thousand tonnes, dolomite 210 thousand tonnes and magnesite 34 thousand tonnes.
During August, 1998 production of magnesite increased by 9 per cent in comparison to the previous month. The output of zinc (conc.) decreased by 10%, gold, manganese ore and limestone by 9% each, lead (conc.) by 6%, coal 5%, petroleum (crude) 4%, iron ore 3%, lignite 2%, bauxite, copper ore and apatite & phosphorite by 1% each. The production of natural gas (utilised), chromite and dolomite has remained at the same level as in July, 1998.
The index number of mineral production (Base 1993-94=100)
in August, 1998 works out to 115 as compared to 119 in July, 1998 showing
that the mineral production as a whole in August, 1998 decreased by 3%
compared to July, 1998.
The passengers in the running train enjoy refreshments and natural beauties through the glass windows. At Alwar, airconditioned buses will take the passengers to the Hotel Sariska Palace where they will witness Rajasthan Cultural programme and visit the wildlife sanctuary.
50 tickets are available on each of the 9 trips. The tickets costing Rs.8000/- each include all meals, transport from Alwar to Sariska and back. It also includes visit to tiger sanctuary by bus and stay in Hotel Sariska Palace. Tickets can be purchased from Director, National Rail Museum, Chanakyapuri, Manager, Information and Tourist Bureau, New Delhi Railway station and Executive Director, Tourism Directorate, Ministry of Railways, Rail Bhavan, New Delhi.
India, along with Malaysia, Thailand and Pakistan had filed a complaint in the WTO dispute settlement mechanism against the US measure prohibiting the imports of certain shrimp and shrimp products which are harvested without using turtle excluder devices. The Panel had given its findings in May 1998 to the effect that the US measure is not consistent with Article XI:1 of GATT 1994 (relating to elimination of quantitative restrictions) and cannot be justified under Article XX of GATT (General exceptions). The Panel found that the US measure is not within the scope of measures permitted under the Chapeau of Article XX.
USA had taken the matter to the Appellate Body of
the WTO. the Appellate Body report has just been released. The findings
and conclusions of the Appellate Body confirm that the US measure fails
to meet the requirements of the Chapeau of Article XX, and, therefore,
is not justified. The Appellate Body has recommended that the Dispute Settlement
Body request USA to bring its measure into conformity with the obligations
of USA under Article XI of GATT 1994
Elaborating on the issue, Shri Hegde said that while the European companies felt the need for skilled manpower from India, hardly any attention had been paid to the need for ensuring free flow and immigration of professionals from India. The expertise of Indian software professionals, for instance, was in great demand, including by European companies. Unfortunately, insistence on wage payment corresponding to wage levels prevailing in EU countries and several visa/work permit restrictions often came in the way of Indian software service professionals providing services to there European clients. Thus, "the comparative advantage of our professionals is not allowed to be exploited in full measure, while at the same time, there is pressure on us to open markets to goods and services in which the developed world as a decisive advantage", Shri Hegde pointed out and called for a review of such procedures by the concerned European governments including the EU in mutual interest.
Highlighting that the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) for achieving higher level of economic development in tandem with domestic investment have been given great importancce by the Indian government, Shri Hegde stressed that India today offered immense opportunities for foreign direct investment and joint ventures as never before, with new policies having substantially relaxed rules and procedures relating to foreign investment, industrial licensing, foreign exchange controls etc. Restrictions on imports had also been eased substantially. Economic reforms in India have come out of conviction and consensus, he said, adding that no reform process would, however, be successful unless it brought corresponding benefits and opportunities.
Referring to the Euro, Shri Hegde said that "with
the emergence of Euro, I expect a number of opportunities and challenges
to emerge in Euro-Indian Trade and Investment pattern. Presently, with
reference to Indo-EU trade, invoicing in EU currencies accounts for only
7.2% of the overall bilateral trade. With the emergence of a strong Euro,
this percentage is bound to increase which can help in forging stronger
Indo-European relationship -- to our mutual benefit and advantage".
At a meeting organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), and attended by the major industrialists of Pune, Secretary (Culture), Dr. R.V.V. Ayyar, clarified that the Shaniwarwada Project was the project for which the National Culture Fund would act as a Catalyst and expected the community and the industrialists of Pune to participate in the implementation of this project which will involve improving the environs of Shaniwarwada, sound and light show, provision for facilities of Tourists etc. He clarified that the NCF would facilitate the projects and the major role of guiding the implementation of this project would lie with the community so that the aim of community participation, which NCF is attempting to foster, is fulfilled. A meeting was earlier held with the eminent citizens of Pune in the morning and was chaired by the Mayor of Pune and the corporators of Pune attended.
In response to these presentations the Times Bank presented a cheque of Rs.50,000/- to Secretary (Culture) and Shri Vijay Shirke, Spinoex India Ltd., gave a cheque of Rs. 2 lakhs for the Shaniwarwada project on the spot. Shri Venkateshwar Hatcheries have also indicated that they would be able to make a contribution of Rs.10 lakhs for this project.
It was decided during the meeting that the money, which would be collected for the Shaniwarwada project would be collected and kept by designated branches of the State Bank of India at Pune itself and the accounts would be operated jointly by the Municipal Commissioner, Pune and the Superintending Archaeologist, Pune. The SBI would issue receipts, across the counter, to the donors, specifying also that the donations are 100% tax exempt. Thus the money the donors would give for this specific project would not only be kept in Pune but be spent under the supervision and guidance of Pune citizens.
To ensure community guidance, committees would be
set up under the Chairmanship of the Municipal Commissioner, Pune, with
corporators and eminent citizens of Pune as Members to over-see the proper
implementation of the project.
The Haryana Food Minister during his meeting with
Shri Barnala also informed that the state has a total foodgrains stock
of about 35 lakh metric tonnes at present.
Secretary, Department of Post, Shri R.U.S.Prasad presented the Meghdoot Awards for the year 1997 and 1998 to 14 postal employees for their excellence in service to the public here today. The award consists of a cash prize of Rs.51,000/- and a scroll.
Congratulating the awardees on the occasion, Shri Prasad said that human resource in the Postal Department is a key factor that needs to be harnessed properly for not only bringing about salutary improvement in the quality of service but also in generating additional resources. Stressing the need for bringing about better customer interface,he called upon the postal employees to put in their best to render friendly and efficient service to the customers.
Meghdoot awards which represent the highest category of awards given to the postal employees were introduced in the Department of Post in the year 1984. These are given every year as part of the National Postal Week celebrations which is being observed this year from 9th to 15th October 1998. These awards are given to boost the morale and efficiency of the outstanding postal personnel and other employees of the Department.
National Postal Week is celebrated every year with the objective of making the public aware of the vision and mission of the Post office and developments and to make India Post receptive to public demands in the commercial, industrial and social environment of the country. During the week long celebrations, the focus will be on continuous interface with the customers so as to create understanding between the Post office and the customers.
Nominations for Meghdoot awards are called from all the postal circles in India under 11 categories of which the last category has been introduced this year for officials who have done outstanding team work to promote activities sponsored by the Department.
The awards given in the categories include - I) All Extra Departmental Branch Post Masters and Extra Departmental Sub Post Masters; II) All Extra Departmental Agents and Group 'D' including Jamadars in the Postal side; III) Postman including mail overseers, cash overseers, Head Postman and Sorting Postman; IV) Postal Assistants doing operative work and Sub Post Masters incharge of single handed Post Offices; V) The General line supervisors cadre in the Postal Wing up to and including Higher Selection Grade-I; VI) Sorting Assistant doing operative work; VII) All categories of Railway Mail Service and Mail Motor Service excluding Sorting Assistants/Inspectors/Assistant Superintendents and officers of Group 'B' and Group 'A'; VIII) Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents of Postal and Railway Mail Service Wing; IX) All Group 'B' and Group 'A' officers of Group 'B' and Group 'A' in Foreign Posts, Postal Stock Depot, Central Stock Depot and Printing Press. In Group 'A', officers up to and including Sr. Time Scale only will be eligible for being considered; X) Officials and officers up to and including Group 'A', Sr. Time Scale working under the control of Department of Posts and who do not fall under any of the 9 categories above and XI) Officials who have done outstanding team work in furtherance of an activity sponsored by the Department.
Meghdoot Awardees for the years 1997 and 1998 are:
The Conference and the Congress is being hosted by the Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC), a premier research unit of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
This time the Conference is being held both in Jaipur and Delhi. The Jaipur conference is already on from 11th to 14th of this month.