PIB Press Releases


		21st April, 2003


		Ministry of Railways Computerisation of coaching refunds A Pilot Project of computerization of coaching (ticket) refunds started on South Central Railways in 2002-2003 has proved to be immensely popular with the rail users ........................... Ministry of Railways ADB loan for National Rail Vikas Yojana The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of US dollar 313.6 million for funding of rail projects identified under the initiative of strengthening of the Golden Quadrilateral and its diagonals........................... Ministry of Tourism & Culture Religious places protected by Archaeological Survey of India There are 949 religious places protected by Archaeological Survey of India where prayer/puja/namaj is held............................ Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Uttaranchal's recommendation necessary to include Kolta community in the list of Scheduled Castes The recommendation of the government of Uttaranchal is required for the Centre to consider inclusion of "Kolta" community in the list of Scheduled Castes............................ Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Government to re-introduce Acting Course at Pune Film Institute The Government has decided to re-introduce the Acting Course at the Film & Television Institute of India, Pune, in addition to the existing courses in Direction, Cinematography, Editing and Audiography besides running short-term courses and providing in-service training for Doordarshan personnel............................ Ministry of Agro & Rural Industries KVIC urges Government to exempt its products from VAT The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), under the Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries, has requested the Chief Ministers of all States/Union Territories for exempting Khadi and Village Industries (KVI) products from State Taxes/VAT............................ Ministry of Tourism & Culture 3616 ancient monuments under ASI protection Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), protects 3616 ancient monuments and archaeological sites situated in different parts of the country............................ Ministry of Tourism & Culture Not much impact of Gulf War on Tourism Foreign tourist arrivals in the month of march, 2003 when the gulf war was on is estimated to be around 2.20 lakhs which shows a growth of 1.6% as compared to the tourist arrivals in the month of March 2002............................ Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment About 7,745 policies sold under the Jeevan Aadhar Plan for maintenance of disabled dependents About 7,745 policies have been sold under the Jeevan Aadhar Plan specially designed to make provision for the maintenance of disabled dependents............................ Ministry of Steel Modernisation of SAIL The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a public sector undertaking of the Steel Ministry has incurred expenditure of Rs. 4326 crore and Rs. 3978 crore in the modernisation of Durgapur Steel Plant and Rourkela Steel Plant respectively till March, 2003............................ Ministry of Steel RINL meets 25 per cent of country's long steel requirement The rated capacity of the Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) is 3.0 million tonnes of liquid steel and 2.656 million tonnes of saleable steel............................ Ministry of Steel SAIL reduces borrowings The total saleable steel production by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) during 2002-03 was 10.35 million tonnes............................ Ministry of Civial Aviation Ground handling at the airports On account of security considerations and in order to streamline the policy on ground handling services so as to achieve world class standards and to minimize the number of agencies performing ground handling operations at airports............................ Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Round the clock Kashir channel from 15th August The Kashir Channel of Doordarshan would become a 24-hour channel from 15th August, this year............................ Ministry of Science & Technology CISO develops DNA-based encryption with software The Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh, has developed a DNA based encryption with software............................ Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Poverty ratio decreases in urban and rural areas Planning Commission in their latest estimates of the year 1999-2000 have indicated a decrease in the poverty ratio in urban as well as rural areas as compared to that of 1993-94............................ Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Steps to check industrial pollution in Delhi The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has reported that it has taken/propose to take adequate steps to check industrial pollution in Delhi so that health of the citizens is not adversely affected............................ Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Construction of CGHS Dispensaries in NCR and Delhi CPWD has been asked by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to prepare the estimates for construction of CGHS buildings at various places in National Capital Region and Delhi............................ Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation FDI in urban infrastructure and real estate development An amount of Rs. 580.64 crore has been invested by NRIs/PIO in the housing and real estate development sector as on 29.10.2002............................ Ministry of Food Processing industries Permission for food products and beverages Food Processing industries are both in the organised and unorganised sector............................ Ministry of Food Processing industries Scope of processing units for Carrot juice and Isabgol The Ministry of Food Processing Industries have requested State Governments to conduct detailed studies, which could assist them in formulating action oriented policies for the development of processed food sector as also for devising action plan & strategies for the development of the sector based on strengths of the region............................ Ministry of Information & Broadcasting French Animation Film Festival from April 24 The Directorate of Film Festivals is organizing the French Animation Film Festival from April 24th to May 2nd in New Delhi............................ Ministry of Power CEA clears 11566 MW Generation Schemes Central Electricity Authority has apprised and cleared a record generating capacity of 11,566 MW with a financial investment of more than Rs.47,700 crore during the financial year 2002-03........................... Ministry of Water Resources Irrigation Projects under AIBP in Orissa Six major/medium irrigation projects namely, Upper Indravati, Upper Kolab, Titlagarh, Lower Indra, Lower Suktel and Potteru and 39 Surface Minor irrigation schemes of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput (KBK) districts of Orissa were included under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) during Ninth Plan........................... Ministry of Water Resources Erosion due to Brahmaputra A scheme prepared by State Government of Assam entitled 'Protection Rohmaria area from the erosion of Brahmaputra at upstream of Dibrugarh town' with an estimated cost of Rs. 404.72 crore was sent to Central Water Commission (CWC) for examination.......................... Ministry of Water Resources River erosion The responsibility of planning, funding, executing and operating the schemes for flood control including erosion caused by rivers primarily rests with the concerned State Government........................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry 45 Agricultural Export Zones being set up 45 Agri Export Zones (AEZs) for different products are being set up in 19 different states........................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Declaration of exports as a national priority Exports can act as the motive power of growth for a rapidly developing Indian economy and in making India a significant player in the world market...........................