PIB Press Releases


		24th April, 2003


		Ministry of Railways Quality of drinking water on Railways Indian Railways have taken steps to ensure good quality of food supplied by them on trains from base kitchens and at railway stations........................... Ministry of Railways Compensation to Howrah Rajdhani Express accident at Rafiganj Two hundred thirty seven claim cases of Howrah Rajdhani train accidents have been admitted in different benches of Railway Claims Tribunals............................ Ministry of Railways Concession to patients travelling in trains Concession in train fares is presently admissible to Cancer, T.B., Thalassemia, Non-infectious Leprosy, Heart and Kidney patients, subject to certain conditions............................ Ministry of Railways Free travel facility to recipients of Paramveer, Mahaveer & Veer Chakra Awards First class/AC 2 tier complimentary card passes issued to Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra gallantry awardees have been made valid for travel in AC 2 tier/AC 3 tier of Rajdhani and Chair Car of Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi Express trains............................ Ministry of Railways ISO Certificate for trains Train number 2155/2156 Bhopal Express has become the first ISO certified train in the country............................ Ministry of Railways Lower berths to senior citizens There is already a provision in the computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) to provide lower berths automatically to male passengers of 60 years and above and female passengers of 45 years and above subject to the availability of accommodation at the time of booking............................ Ministry of Railways Rail link between India and Nepal Finalization of a Rail Service Agreement to introduce freight train services between India and Nepal is under process............................ Ministry of Railways Survey of Talcher-Gopalpur Rail Link The survey conducted in 2001-2002 for Talcher-Gopalpur New Line project has revealed that the cost of construction of this 293-km long line would be aout Rs. 863.21 crore with a non-remunerative rate of return............................ Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports North-East Music Fest 2003 A National Level Music Competition of DD North-East Music Fest 2003 is being held at Ashok Hotel, New Delhi on 25th-26th April, 2003............................ Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Warehousing Corporation of India The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) provides consultancy services and execution of work for construction of warehouses in the country............................ Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution National Plan for Agro-Food Industry The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been interacting with the Industry Associations............................ Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Quality of rice under food for work programme Government supplies only good quality rice under `Food For Work Programme' to State Governments............................ Ministry of Railways Rail Travel Concession to accredited media persons from May 1 The Ministry of Railways has issued a notification granting 30 per cent concession in rail tickets of all classes of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi Express trains to all media persons accredited to Headquarters of the Government of India, State Governments and Union Territories and Districts with prospective effect from May 1, 2003............................ Ministry of Information & Broadcasting No proposal to reconsider FDI limits in DTH service The Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that there is no proposal presently to reconsider the FDI limits in DTH service........................... Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Detective Agencies to check censor violations The Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that there is no proposal presently to reconsider the FDI limits in DTH service........................... Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Economic Reforms a part of political agenda: Shri Prasad The Government has decided to extend the engagement of detective agencies to carry out checks in cinema halls to all regional centres of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in the 10th Plan........................... Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Wind Mill Projects in Bihar The Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that economic reforms in India today form an important component of political agenda........................... Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Saiydna's messge of nationalism needs to be spread all around, says Dr. Jatiya The Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya has said that the head of the Dagwood Bohra Community His Holiness Dr. Saiyedna Mohamed Burhanuddin has inspired his disciples to love and serve thy nation........................... Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Completion of Golden Quadrilateral The target for completion of Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) is December, 2004. Although around 40% of the contracts were awarded after July, 2001........................... Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Taxation system in Auto Industry Industry has been representing in favour of lowering the incidence of tax and introduction of Value Added Tax System for further encouraging the growth of this sector in India........................... Ministry of Power New Power Projects in Arunachal Pradesh Implementation of hydro-electric projects in the Central Sector is generally taken up under a three-stage clearance procedure under which investment approval is accorded in three stages ........................... Ministry of Power Expansion of Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Plant Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board is expanding its Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Plant by adding a new unit of 500 MW ........................... Ministry of Power Rehabilitation of Tehri Dam oustees The rehabilitation of persons to be displaced on account of Tehri Dam is being carried out pari-passu with the construction of Dam and its reservoir filling ........................... Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources Power generation from waste and wind in Karnataka A potential for generation of about 67 MW power from urban wastes and about 6620 MW power from wind is estimated for the State of Karnataka ........................... Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources Grant to Biomass Projects in Andhra Pradesh Central Financial Assistance in the form of interest subsidy amounting to Rs.10.40 crore was released during 2002-03 for biomass power and congeneration projects in Andhra Pradesh ........................... Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources Solar energy Government is promoting all indigenous energy resources, conventional like hydro and thermal as well as non-conventional including solar, depending upon techno-economic feasibility/viability with the aim of making them complementary to each other............................ Ministry of External Affairs Re-negotiation on Indo-Nepal Trade Treaty The India-Nepal Trade Treaty was renewed on March 2, 2002 after incorporating suitable modifications to the Protocol to the Treaty without changing the basic spirit and framework of the Treaty............................ Ministry of External Affairs Disclosure by Indian representative in Munich Security Conference The National Security Adviser and Principal Secretary to PM in his address to the Munich Security Conference said, inter alia: "the novel version of democracy, which Pakistan recently unveiled, has brought in more religious extremist forces into the polity, particularly on the Afghanistan border............................ Ministry of External Affairs Pressure on North Korea to dismantle atomic weapons The North Korean question has been raised by India with its interlocutors at several levels............................ Ministry of External Affairs Job security to gulf returnees There were approximately 3,50,000 Indians in Kuwait at the outbreak of war on 20 March. Kuwait airport has remained open to normal commercial flights throughout the duration of war............................ Ministry of External Affairs Activities of ISI in the country It is a well-known fact that Pakistani agencies have been continuously supporting and sponsoring terrorist groups based in Pakistan to carry out subversive and terrorist activities in India, including in J&K............................ Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Income of ONGC from overseas operations Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has envisaged a revenue of around US$ 1,250 million (Rs. 6,000 crore approx.) from its overseas operations............................ Ministry of Home Affairs Situation in cyclone hit areas of Dhubri in Assam is returning to normal The situation in the cyclonic storm hit areas of Dhubri District of Assam is gradually returning to normal. The State Government and the Centre have taken all possible steps like providing relief and shelter............................ Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Sports minister greets Sachin Tendulkar The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sh. Vikram Verma greeted Sachin Tendulkar on his 30^th birthday............................ Ministry of Information and Broadcasting French animation Film Festival inaugurated The Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the French Animation Film Festival at Siri Fort............................ Ministry of Science & Technology Advanced communication satellite on the cards The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)has embarked on a project of fabricating and launching Advanced Communication Technology Satellites (ACTS)............................