PIB Press Releases


		26th February, 2003


		Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas Petroleum Minister orders inquiry into MGL fire Shri Ram Naik, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas has ordered an inquiry into the fire incident that took place in the natural gas pipeline of Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) in Andheri (East), Mumbai on 13th February, 2003. ...................... Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Shri Prasad condoles Ajay Chaudhary's demise The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has condoled the death of Shri Ajay Chaudhary, correspondent of 'Aaj Tak' News Channel, who died in a road accident near Ajmer, yesterday. ...................... Ministry of Mines Foreign capital investment in Mining Sector The Government has liberalised its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy in the mining sector which allows foreign equity holding upto 100%, on the automatic route for all minerals except diamonds and precious stones. ...................... Ministry of Mines 8.63 million tonnes gold ore in A.P. Geological Survey of India (GSI), a subordinate office of the Ministry of Mines has estimated a deposit of 8.63 million tonnes gold ore with 1.62 to 4.65 grams per tonne of gold in Dona Sector in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. ...................... Ministry of Mines Ban on asbestos mining Grant of fresh mining leases and renewal of existing mining leases for asbestos are presently banned in India on health grounds, said the Minister for Mines, Shri Ramesh Bais today ...................... Ministry of Coal Reduction of ash content in Indian Coal The Government of India (vide notification of MoEF) has made it mandatory to use coal of ash content not exceeding 34 per cent in any thermal power plant (TPP) located beyond 1000 kms. ...................... Ministry of Coal Opening of new coal mines Several new coal mines have been identified by Coal India Limited & Singareni Collieries Company Limited which are to be taken up during X Five Year Plan period in various parts of the country. ...................... Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Power through renewable energy sources to J&K The Government has been implementing various schemes for the development of non-conventional energy source based systems, including power generation throughout the country and also in Jammu and Kashmir. ...................... Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Setting up of Wind Power Generation Stations in Rajasthan Potential sites which could be considered suitable for wind power projects have been identified at Devgarh, Harshnath, Jaisalmer, Khodal, Mohangarh and Phalodi in Rajasthan. ...................... Ministry of Power Less production of power than installed capacity Generation from the power plants located in Eastern Region is less than the installed capacity because of less demand in the region. ...................... Ministry of Power Tenth Plan targets of Power Sector A capacity addition target of 41,110 MW has been fixed for 10th Plan. ...................... Ministry of Rural Development Provision of fluoride free drinking water As per Water Quality Survey conducted on April 99, there are 36988 habitations reported to have been affected by the presence of excess fluoride in their drinking water sources. ...................... Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Bijnor-Najibabad-Kotdwar-Pauri Highway The Meerut-Bijnore-Najibabad-Kotdwar-Pauri road is a State Highway.. ...................... Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Repair of damaged roads The Union Government have received requests from States for giving assistance for repairing the roads damaged due to floods and rainfall....................... Ministry of Road Transport & Highways National Highways Development Project Express During the financial year 2002-2003 (upto January 2003), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has raised Rs.5275 crore from market (through issue of capital gains tax exemption bonds under Section 54 EC of Income Tax Act) to part finance the National Highways Development Project (NHDP)...................... Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Highway between Haryana and Delhi A proposal for constructing a Western Peripheral Expressway, a part of which passed through Haryana, was under consideration of National Capital Region Planning Board. .................... Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Legislation for smooth transport system To ensure smooth traffic on National Highways, the ‘Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002’ has been enacted. .................... Ministry of Home Affairs Insurgency in the North-East Reports indicate that a number of Indian insurgent groups from North-East have bases in Bangladesh which are being used for safe havens, sanctuaries, ..................... Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievaces & Pension Involvement of officials in scandal and corruption cases Under the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969, the State Governments are competent to initiate action against a member of the All India Services for any misconduct committed while serving in connection with the affairs of the State..................... Ministry of Home Affairs Task force to face natural calamities The strategy adopted for dealing with national calamities envisages building up of capabilities at National, State, District, Block and Village levels for mitigation and preparedness ..................... Ministry of Shipping Vallarpadam International Terminal development The Government has decided to develop an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam, Cochin. Cochin Port has already invited bids for this project on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis..................... Ministry of Shipping Rehabilitation of slum on salt pan land A group of Ministers headed by Urban Development Minister, Government of India including the then Minister for Shipping as also other Ministers of the State Government recently visited some salt pan lands at Mumbai..................... Ministry of Shipping Missing of imported containers Shri Dilipkumar Mansukhlal Gandhi, Minister of State in the Ministry of Shipping in a written reply to Dr. Charan Das Mahant in Lok Sabha today has stated that as per directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court..................... Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources Electrification of Himachal villages through solar energy The Government is implementing a programme for the electrification of villages in the remote and difficult areas of the country..................... Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Indian democartic system more acceptable The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that it is the collective responsibility of us all, .....................