PIB Press Releases


		5th March, 2003


		Ministry of Railways Anti collision device on Railways The Ministry of Railways has decided to install Anti Collision Device (ACD) system on selected sections of Indian Railways, to begin with....................... Ministry of Railways Safety standard on Indian Railways improves The number of consequential train accidents has shown a declining trend over the last few years....................... Ministry of Science & Technology India for major R&D Programmes with Germany Having already achieved significant growth in scientific collaboration with Germany, India has suggested that the two countries should now take up major research and development programmes not only for the benefit of the two peoples but the entire humanity...................... Ministry of Science & Technology Smt. Padma Balasubramanian takes over as Secretary, Posts Smt. Padma Balasubramanian has taken over as the Secretary, Department of Posts...................... Ministry of Science & Technology Artisans display their skills at 15-day Exhibtion at Faridabad More than 70 artisans from various parts of the country are participating in a 15-day ‘Interactive Workshop-cum-Exhibition of Handicrafts’ at Vishwakarma Vatika, Green Field, Aravali Hills, Faridabad (Haryana)...................... Ministry of Mines and Minerals FDI in Mining Sector The Government has liberalized its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy in the mining sector which allows foreign equity holding upto 100 per cent, on the automatic route for all non fuel and non atomic minerals except diamonds and precious stones...................... Ministry of Mines and Minerals Deep sea sand mining Granting of mineral concessions for minerals (including sand) in the coastal sea beds is in the domain of the Central Government under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002....................... Ministry of Steel VSP all set for best ever performance during 2002-03 Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), a public sector plant of the Steel Ministry is all set to achieve the best ever yearly performance during 2002-03 with impressive achievements on all major fronts during the first 11 months of the current financial year....................... Ministry of Science & Technology 9 satellites and 6 launch vehicle missions in two years Four launch vehicle and five satellite missions are slated for 2003-04 while two launch vehicle and four satellite missions are scheduled for 2004-05...................... Ministry of Agriculture MSP for Toria increased by Rs.30 per quintal The Union Ministry of Agriculture has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Toria by Rs.30 per quintal...................... Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Dhindsa underlines the need to improve milk yield Shri S.S. Dhindsa, Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers has expressed concern at the low milk yields obtaining in the country...................... Ministry of Coal Ninth plan target achieved The target of 1533.65 million tonnes set for production of coal during the Ninth Five Year Plan was achieved with the actual production at 1542.47 million tonnes during the period...................... Ministry of Coal Closure of loss making mines Fifty three coalmines have been identified by the subsidiary coal companies of Coal India Limited for suspension of operation in a phased manned...................... Ministry of Water Resources Involvement of NGOs, Farmers, Water Users' Associations, and Panchayats The country can usher in a quality revolution in the consumption patterns including water consumption by forming district level population monitoring committees and fixing responsibility and accountability by a mixture of motivations and incentives to these district committees...................... Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Sub-contracting of awarded works For Projects being executed under National Highways Development Project (NHDP), subcontracting upto fifty percent is permissible under Contract Agreement, which is based upon FIDIC Document...................... Ministry of Road Transport and Highways National Highways Development Project The Government proposes to offer a number of sections for execution under the annuity/build operate transfer basis in the second phase of the National Highways Development Project...................... Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Funds provided to North-Eastern States and Sikkim The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways in the country including North Eastern States...................... Ministry of Agriculture Shri Ajit Singh supports NDDB joint ventures The Union Agriculture Minister Shri Ajit Singh today called for joint ventures between the National Dairy Development Board and State Cooperation Milk Federations to effectively counter the growing market competition from foreign companies...................... Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation Complaints regarding MPLAD Funds The maximum number of complaints in respect of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) have been received from Uttar Pradesh. ...................... Ministry of Defence New Coast Guard Stations Ten new Coast Guard Stations are proposed to be set up. Five stations are planned during 2002-2007 (Phase-I) and the balance five in the next Coast Guard Development Plan 2007-2012. ...................... Ministry of Defence Relocation of troops The strategic relocation of troops is being carried out in a gradual manner without impairing the capacity to respond aggressively and decisively to any emergency and without lowering the vigil in Jammu and Kashmir. ...................... Ministry of Defence Supply of defective defence equipment by Russia It is a fact that Russia has supplied, in violation of the contract, some old, defective and unserviceable items of defence equipment. ..................... Ministry of Defence Joint Development of fifth generation aircraft by India and Russia The Joint Development of fifth generation aircraft has been identified as a possible area of co-operation between India and Russia. ..................... Ministry of Defence Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme All the guided missiles being developed under Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) have gone through successful flight trials. ...................... Ministry of Defence Opening of defence production to private sector The Ministry of Defence through Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) has received fourteen applications for grant of industrial license for manufacture of various types of defence equipment till date. ...................... Ministry of Defence Light Combat Aircraft The initial operational clearance of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will be obtained for induction in Indian Air Force by year 2005-2006 and Final operational clearance by 2008....................... Ministry of Environment and Forests 473 Developmental Projects accorded in environmental clearance The Ministry of Environment and Forests has accorded Environmental Clearance for 20 developmental projects during the last month....................... Ministry of Agriculture Shri Ajit Singh supports NDDB joint ventures The Union Agriculture Minister Shri Ajit Singh today called for joint ventures between the National Dairy Development Board and State Cooperation Milk Federations to effectively counter the growing market competition from foreign companies....................... Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Ram Naik inaugurates residue upgradation laboratory of IOC Shri Ram Naik, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, today inaugurated a Laboratory at the R&D Centre of Indian Oil Corporation Limited at Faridabad, near Delhi, to develop new technologies for producing value added products like LPG, Needle Coke, etc., from crude oil residues...................... Ministry of Finance and Company Affairs FM replies to over 200 email queries on Budget To encourage public participation in the budgetary process, Minister of Finance and Company Affairs, Shri Jaswant Singh has decided to make himself available to the public to provide clarification and answers to their queries through email to finmin@finance.nic.in......................