PIB Press Releases


		11th December, 2003


		Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Press Note - Murder of Shri S.K. Dubey, Dy. General Manager, NHAI, Gaya; Response from the Ministry Shri S.K. Dubey, Dy. General Manager (Technical), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), posted at Gaya, was murdered in the early hours of 27 November, 2003.............................. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas Laying of pipelines Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, informed the Lok Sabha today in a written reply that the proposed petroleum product pipeline of HPCL from Mundra in Gujarat to Delhi has a length of 1008 kms.............................. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas Ram Naik urges scientists to draw up action plan to harness hydrogen energy by 2010 Shri Ram Naik, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas has called upon the Scientist community representing research institutes, industries, academies to formulate action plan so that energy source from hydrogen is used in the country by the year 2010.............................. Ministry of Communications & Information Technology Global and concentrated approach required to address urgent needs of people : Shri Shourie The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and Disinvestment, Shri Arun Shourie has urged the countries to concentrate and sharpen the focus on those projects which will spell immediate benefits to people at large and lift them into the 'New Information Society'.............................. Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Manufacturing of Cars The passenger Car Industry in India has grown steadily during the last few years except during the year 2000-01 when there was negative growth due to global economic recession.............................. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment 75 crore Rupees allocated for Deendayal Rs. 75 crore have been allocated for the Scheme to Promote Voluntary Action for Persons with Disabilities for 2003-04.............................. Ministry of Agriculture Brisk sowing of oilseeds and pulses Reports of accelerated sowing of Rabi oilseeds and rabi pulses, particularly rapeseed & mustard in northern India continue to come in.............................. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Prices of wheat The Government has not made any upward revision in the Central Issue Prices (CIPs) of wheat supplied from the Central pool.............................. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Facilities for inspection of foodgrains before lifting Ample opportunities are provided to the officials of the State Governemnts/UT Administrations to inspect the stocks prior to lifting from the FCI godowns.............................. Ministry of Agriculture Training for Agriculture Graduates 20,450 applications have been received from agriculture graduates from across the country so far under the scheme for the Establishment of Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres by agriculture graduates.............................. Ministry of Agriculture Locust situation bulletin The country remained free from gregarious locust activity during the second fortnight of last month.............................. Ministry of Human Resource Development Regional Centre for authentication of educational certificates to be opened in Kerala A regional centre for authentication of educational certificates is being opened in Kerala soon.............................. Ministry of Power Proposal for setting up of power projects During the year 2000, work in respect of 7 projects commenced, out of which 5 have already been completed.............................. Ministry of Power Problem in Power Sector State Electricity Boards (SEBs)/Power Utilities, have been suffering from serious problems due to loss incurred in their operation because of gap in cost of supply and revenue collection.............................. Ministry of Power Licence to Power Links Transmission Limited Power Links Transmission Ltd; a joint venture company of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. and Tata Power Ltd; has been granted licence by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission on 13.11.2003.............................. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan places National Auto Fuel Policy in the Lok Sabha Smt Sumitra Mahajan, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, laid the National Auto Fuel Policy on the Table of the Lok Sabha today.............................. Ministry of Rural Development Watershed development funds for Rajashtan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat Ministry of Rural Development has released funds to the State Governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat for watershed development.............................. Ministry of Rural Development Constitution Amendment Bill for ushering in second generation reforms for financial and administrative empowerment of PRIs - Kashiram Rana Ministry of Rural Development is processing the case for bringing about for the constitution amendments for speedy and effective devolution of financial and administrative powers of Panchayati Raj Institutions(PRIs).............................. Ministry of Mines 18.92% shares of Hindustan Zinc sold to Sterlite 18.92% shares of Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL) held by Government of India have been sold to M/s. Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures Ltd. (SOVL) recently, for an amount of Rs. 323,88,01,115/-.............................. Ministry of Defence Defence Cooperation Agreement in Singapore The Government of the Republic of India and the government of the Republic of Singapore have signed an Agreement concerning cooperation in the field of defence on Oct 13, 2003.............................. Ministry of Defence Development of Airborne Early Warning and Control System Indian Air Force and Defence Research and Development Organisation have jointly carried out a study and evolved the system level requirements for an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system.............................. Ministry of Defence Manufacturing of submarines A long-term perspective plan envisaging acquisition of indigenous capability in submarines design, development and construction of submarines and their core systems and also indigenous construction of submarines to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy, has been approved by the Government.............................. Ministry of Defence Development of remotely controlled improvised explosive device An electronic devise based on Electronic Counter Measures has been developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation which can temporarily mute the remotely controlled improvised explosive device for protection of convoy of vehicles.............................. Ministry of Defence Procurement of jets for VIP's The Union Government has decided to acquire five executive jets for VIPs from Brazil's M/s Embraer.............................. Ministry of Defence Deployment of submarines and troops by Pakistan The Government is aware of the deployment of submarines and troops by Pakistan near west coast of Gujarat.............................. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment NMDFC starts job-oriented education loan scheme for minorities An Educational Loan Scheme to facilitate job-oriented education amongst the weaker sections of the notified minorities has been started by the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) from the current financial year.............................. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Backward Classes Commission to submit report on Creamy Layer among OBCs within three months The Government has decided to review the income criteria for identification of "Creamy Layer" amongst OBCs.............................. Ministry of Environment & Forests India calls for removal of barriers for transfer of climate friendly technology at COP-9 Meeting at Milan India has called for removal of obstacles- financial and IPRs, for the successful adaptation of emerging technology options in energy efficiency, fuel switching, and renewable energy.............................. Ministry of External Affairs Recruitment of Nepalese by ISI The Government is concerned about ISI misusing the Nepalese territory and the open India-Nepal border for activities inimical to India's interest and is seized of the matter.............................. Ministry of Railways Rail Tariff Regulatory Authority The government has approved setting up of a Rail Tariff Regulatory Authority by the Ministry of Railways for rationalization of Rail Tariff.............................. Ministry of Railways Hajipur-Vaishali-Sugauli rail line The construction of Hajirpur-Vaishali-Sugauli new railway line project has been included in Supplementary Demand for Grants 2003-2004.............................. Ministry of Railways Pending rail projects in West Bengal Survey for eleven projects in West Bengal were completed during the Ninth Plan, but work could not be taken up for execution.............................. Ministry of Railways Internet service in moving trains RailTel Corporation of India Ltd., a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Railways, is planning to provide Internet service on one of the trains, as a pilot project, during 2003-04.............................. Ministry of Railways VRS in Railways Details of the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for loco pilots (drivers) and gangmen have not so far been finalized.............................. Ministry of Railways No taking over Burnpur Unit by Indian Railways The Ministry of Heavy Industries has sought for comments of the Ministry of Railways on the representation from the Burn Standard Officers' Association addressed to the Committee on Petitions of the Lok Sabha.............................. Ministry of Railways Design, development and commissioning of engines of Sky Bus Technology for 3 phase AC asynchronous motors and interfacing with Konkan Railway's Anti Collision Device (ACD) for driving the Sky Bus will be jointly developed..............................