PIB Press Releases


		7th August, 2003


		Ministry of Rural Developement Kashiram Rana urged States to give more powers to Panchayats for strengthening democracy at grassroots level The Ministry of Rural Development would continue to strive towards securing the decentralised governance through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution............................. Ministry of Water Resources Cauvery Monitoring Committee discuss distress water sharing formula Action has been in hand to ensure food security for all and to reform and improve the Public Distribution System for the benefit of the Poorest of the Poor in rural and urban areas............................. President's Secretariat President holds meeting with Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam took a meeting today at Rashtrapati Bhavan of Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities in his capacity as Visitor of these Universities............................. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Hunger Free India Mission Action has been in hand to ensure food security for all and to reform and improve the Public Distribution System for the benefit of the Poorest of the Poor in rural and urban areas............................. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Sugar Mills in Karnatka The sugar factories have, in general, expressed difficulties in payment of cane price dues to the sugarcane farmers............................. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution No starvation deaths in tribal areas No State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration has reported any starvation/malnutrition death............................. Ministry of Defence Demining operations The demining operations are currently in progress and therefore, any reference to post-demining scenario is premature at this stage............................. Ministry of Defence IL-78 Flight Refueling Aircraft Six IL-78 Flight Refueling Aircraft are planned to be inducted into the Indian Air Force............................. Ministry of Defence Reheat Fuel Control Units in Jaguar Aircraft The incorrect Reheat Fuel Control Units in two Aero Engines of Jaguar Aircraft resulted in their damage and Rs 1.88 crore was incurred in their repairs............................. Ministry of Defence Overhauling of MIG aircraft The overhaul facilities for MiG-23, MiG-27 and MiG-29 have been set up in the country, but not for MiG-25............................. Ministry of Defence Fencing in LOC The Army has undertaken selective fencing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) as a measure to check infiltration of terrorists............................. Ministry of Defence Military schools in the country About Rs.6.4 crore is allocated each year to the five Military schools run in the country............................. Ministry of Defence Delay in establishment of torpedo test facilities There has been delay of about six years in establishing the lake test facilities for testing of torpedo in sheltered waters............................. Ministry of Defence Joint venture with Eurocopter for manufacturing of helicopter A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Eurocopter has been entered into on June 17, 2003 during the Paris Air Show............................. Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Agreement between BHEL and NTPC Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and National Thermal Power Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set-up a Joint Venture Company............................. Ministry of Power Present status of power reform Ministry of Power has signed State specific Memorandum of Understanding/Memorandum of Agreement on power sector reforms with twenty seven States............................. Ministry of Power Privatisation of Power grid transmission lines There is no proposal to privatise existing transmission lines of Powergrid............................. Ministry of Power Installation of new power generating projects in Punjab The Tenth Plan capacity addition programme envisaged creation of 1166 MW fresh capacity in the State sector in Punjab............................. Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources Production of bio-mass energy The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources is implementing Programmes on biomass power generation, bagasse co-generation and biomass gasification............................. Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources Utilisation of Hydrogen The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources is implementing a broad based programme on different aspects of Hydrogen............................. Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources National Institute of Renewable Energy A National Institute of Renewable Energy is being established as an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources in District Kapurthala, Punjab............................. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas Consumption of petrol and diesel The position of production and consumption of petrol and diesel in the country during 2001-02 and 2002-03 was as............................. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas Supply of diesel to farmers through tankers In July 2003, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has launched one 9 kilolitre (kl) capacity tanker on experimental basis to supply diesel at the doorsteps of people in the villages in Sirsa District in Haryana............................. Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Shri Nageswara Rao appointed Additional Solicitor General Shri L. Nageswara Rao has been appointed Additional Solicitor General in the Supreme Court of India. He is a Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court of India............................. Ministry of Home Affairs Awareness generation on disaster management India has been traditionally vulnerable to disasters............................. Ministry of Information & Broadcasting DTH Guidelines to be applied strictly Licence for DTH will be issued only when the Applicant company including Space TV has fully complied with the eligibility criteria with respect to foreign equity holding, as laid down in the DTH Guidelines of March 2001............................. Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Expansion of DD & AIR services in Andaman & Nicobar A special package for expansion/improvement of Doordarshan service in NE region and in the Islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep has been approved in principle by the Government............................. Ministry of Railways Safety drive to curb train accidents Train maintenance activity is well established over Indian Railways. Rolling stock (Locos, Coaches and Wagons) are being undertaken for preventive maintenance as per laid down schedules as well as for need based maintenance............................. Ministry of Railways Task force on accident relief A five member high-level Committee was constituted recently to review the Disaster Management system over Indian Railways............................. Ministry of Railways Rationalisation of railway project allocation money From 2002-03 onwards, funds to various projects are being allocated state wise based on a clear and transparent formula announced by the Minister of Railways in Budget speech 2002-2003............................. Ministry of Railways Cost escalation of rail projects The time and cost overrun is feasible to be calculated only in the case where matching availability of resources is assured at the time of taking up the project so that the project progresses smoothly as per the schedule............................. Ministry of Railways Provision of ladies compartment in trains In the passenger carrying trains, one compartment or such number of berths/seats, as required, are mostly earmarked for exclusive use of ladies............................. Ministry of Railways MoU between RailTel and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and RailTel Corporation of India Limited............................. Ministry of Railways Facilities for handicapped persons at Railway Stations Railways have decided to provide various facilities like wheel chairs, standard ramp with railing for barrier free entry............................. Ministry of Railways Better customer services to passengers Indian Railways have planned to improve the level of customer satisfaction in the current year 2003-2004 for which a number of steps covering various areas of on-board and off board facilities............................. Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation Projects under construction There are 265 projects under construction all over the country each costing Rs. 100 crore or above............................. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment No diversion by States of funds released for development of Scheduled Castes The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has taken several steps to ensure proper utilisation of funds earmarked for the welfare of scheduled castes............................. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Government Processing Scheme for Residential Schools for SC Students A scheme to establish Residential Schools for Scheduled Caste Boys and Girls is being processed. A provision of Rs. 10.00 crore has been made for the purpose in the current year's budget............................. Ministry of Textiles Shahnawaz hussain inaugurates exhibition of paintings by inmates of Tihar The Textiles Minister Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain has said that the Government will consider creating a separate stall in the Central Cottage Industries Emporium, New Delhi, for exhibiting the creative works of the inmates of Tihar Jail............................. Ministry of Commerce & Industry Anti dumping measures being used effectively to safeguard domestic industry in post-QR era Shri Arun Jaitley, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Law & Justice, has said that India has taken effective anti-dumping measures to safeguard the interests of domestic industry in the post-QR era............................. Ministry of Science & Technology Seabed survey yields important findings The Systematic seabed survey conducted by the government over the last five years has yielded important findings............................. Ministry of Small Scale Industries & Development of North Eastern Region Growth rate of SSI Sector improves The annual growth rate of Small Scale Industries (SSI) Sector is estimated to have increased to 7.41 per cent in 2002-03............................. Ministry of Mines Aluminium properties & applications Aluminium weighs only 0.34 times as much as iron............................. Ministry of Agriculture Investment in agriculture sector The share of Gross Capital Formation in agriculture in the Gross Domestic Product at 1993-94 prices has been estimated at 1.3 per cent in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 as compared to 1.4 per cent in 1999-2000............................. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Two new schemes on the anvil for promotion of quality education among Scheduled Castes Two new schemes are on the anvil for promotion of quality education among Scheduled Castes. Presiding over a function to give away Dr. Ambedkar National Scholarships to meritorious students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes here today.............................