Synthetic Rutile plant in Kerala

Rajya Sabha

National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NMDC), Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (KSIDC) have entered into an agreement to consider the possibility of setting up a Synthetic Rutile Plant at Chavara based on ilmenite produced by IREL. Accordingly a market survey and technological appraisal is currently being conducted. Details of the project along with the expected investment and time schedule would be drawn up after the evaluation of the results of the market survey and technology appraisal.

This information was given by the Minister for Steel Shri Braja Kishore Tripathy in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today. 

Rs. 9,00,000 crore for "Power For All By 2012"

The Minister of Power, Shri Anant G. Geete, has said that the estimated amount of funds required for additional generation capacity of one lakh MW to achieve the goal of "Power for All by 2012" would be of the order of Rs. 9,00,000 Crore. The funding plan for the power sector during the 10^th and 11^th Plan period has already been developed by the Committee constituted by the Government under the Chairmanship of Dr. Uddesh Kohli. The Committee has also recommended that the reform process should be rigourously pursued by all States earnestly, he added.

Shri Geete was addressing the members of the Consultative Committee of the Members of Parliament attached to his Ministry last evening.

Speaking on the activities of the Power Finance Corporation (PFC), which was the agenda set for the meeting, Shri Geete said that till the end of 2002-03, the Corporation had sanctioned financial assistance amounting to Rs. 50,521 crore and disbursed Rs. 31,709 crore. He informed the Members that PFC’s borrowers were State Power Utilities including State Electricity Boards, State Generation, Transmission and Distribution corporations, State Electricity Departments. The lending portfolio has been broadened to include the Central Sector, Joint Sector, private sector and the cooperative sector power utilities, he added.

PFC, set up in July 1986, provides technical and financial assistance to the State Governments and State Power Utilities for structural reforms in the State power sector. PFC has recently introduced a policy covering complete financial package, funding a major portion of the investment plan for the balance period of the 10-th Plan linked to achievement of milestones as covered under the power reforms under the Operational and Financial Action Plan. The Minister informed the Members that PFC had discussion with most of the States and 18 States had agreed to reform their power sector with technical and financial assistance of PFC.

Commending PFC, Shri Geete said that the Corporation being a lean organisation with just 272 employees, the productivity per employee was the highest among the financial institutions in terms of disbursement per employee and net profit per employee. He also informed the Members that over the last five years, PFC was able to maintain the recovery rate (collection of dues) to almost of the level of 99 per cent, the rate during 2002-03 being 99.2 per cent. Consistent with its profits, PFC has been regularly increased its contribution to the national exchequer by way of Corporate Tax and Dividend. The Corporate Tax paid during 2002-03 had been Rs. 245.17 crore and the proposed Dividend for the period is Rs. 235 crore. PFC, with the active support of the Government, would be the nodal agency through which all credits to the power sector from bilateral and multi-lateral sources would be channelled. PFC was endeavouring to achieve a share of 20 per cent of the country’s power sector outlay for the period 2002-12, he added.

The Minister told the Members that PFC had already created a separate "Consultance Services" unit for power and financial sectors. The range and scope of consultancy services include restructuring and reform activities; financial management of resources; project planning and implementation; human resource development and management information systems.

Prasad calls for documentaries on cultural heritage

The Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has called upon the documentary makers to produce documentaries on cultural heritage of India in order to inculcate a sense of history among people. The rich diversity of India offers a great opportunity to documentary makers to deal with a large number of themes. He said the creativity should be the aim of the documentary makers instead of the commercial consideration and creativity should not be crushed by competition. He urged the documentary makers to convey social messages in a creative manner.

Shri Prasad was inaugurating ‘Open Frame’ 03’ , an international festival of reality films and forum on ‘Broadcasting Diversity’ organized by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust and UNESCO in partnership with Prasar Bharati, here last evening. Those who attended the inaugural function included Shri Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shri Mrinal Sen, Smt. Sharmila Tagore, Ms. Roza M. Gonzalez of UNESCO, Shri Kiran Karnik and Shri K.S.Sarma, CEO, Prasar Bharati.

Referring to complaints of open obscenity of liquor and tobacco ads on private TV channels, the Minister regretted that all his pleas for self-regulation have fallen flat. He said, he is totally opposed to any strict action by the Government. Perhaps the independent regulator for the broadcasting sector without any interference from the Government would be the proper way to meet the situation. But more dialogue is required with all concerned for a reasonable and rational response, he said.

Carrier scheme being revised oriented education

Lok Sabha

The existing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Vocationalisation of Secondary Education at +2 level is being revised.

Under the revised scheme the industry and user organizations will be involved at all stages of implementation of the scheme from identification of courses, preparation and design of curriculum to actual on-site training. The courses shall be competency based, modular in nature and demand driven based on the need-based surveys to make them more employment oriented. Opportunity for acquisition of multiple skills shall be available to students to improve their employability. The inputs received from various State Governments have been kept in mind while preparing the revised scheme.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. Vallabhbhai Kathiria in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

AICTE to register engineers

Lok Sabha

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has issued a public notice in the first week of March, 2003 announcing that it has decided to undertake the responsibility of registration of engineers in the country. AICTE has undertaken the task of evolving a mechanism for registration and licensing of Engineers. To evolve suitable mechanism, AICTE has constituted a Committee of Experts consisting of senior academicians, distinguished engineers and professionals. As part of consultation process, the Committee considers suggestions from various individuals/associations/representatives of the engineering community.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. Vallabhbhai Kathiria in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Highly explosive bomb found in a KSRTC bus

Kozhikkode: In a KSRTC town-to-town bus highly explosive gelatin bombs were found at around 1.a.m on Friday. The bomb was found during the cleaning of the bus. Police and bomb squad arrived at the spot immediately and the bombs were diffused. 

Noted writer of wit Veloor Krishnankutty passed away

Kottayam: Veloor Krishnankutty, noted for his humorous pieces of writings, passed away here on Friday. He was undergoing treatment at a private nursing home here following kidney problem. Veloor, 64 and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. He wrote in many popular malayalam magazines and is noted for his famous short stories which were filled with humour and wit. The funeral will be held here tomorrow, family sources said.

BJP forced to shelve attempts to introduce cow slaughter bill

The BJP today shelved its attempt to introduce a Bill in the Lok Sabha, seeking a country-wide ban on cow slaughter due to strong opposition from several quarters including its own allies but reiterated that it would press ahead on the issue. As soon as the ''Prevention of Cruelty to Cows Bill, 2003'', was being about to be introduced, the House plunged into turmoil, witnessing a clear division in the ruling National Democratic Alliance over the Bill. 

Members of the Telegu Desam Party, the Trinamool Congress, the PMK and the DMK protested vociferously against the move. They were joined in by members of the Left parties, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and other parties. However, the Congress members were quiet and did not show any opposition to the Bill. Some of the members were seen tearing copies of the Bill. At this point, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced that the government would call an all-party meeting to find a consensus and until such time, the Bill would be kept in abeyance.

Tehelka to launch "Tehelka-the People's paper"

New Delhi: After much sensational activities in exposing corruption in defense deals, Tehelka is all set to launch a weekly newspaper on Saturday. Investigative journalism would be the mainstay of the newspaper named Tehelka - the People's Paper, Tehelka CEO Tarun Tejpal told a press conference here today. The paper would be published byAgni Media Company and it would engage in "crusading and constructive journalism" while keeping ethics in mind, said Tejpal who had to close down his portal Tehelka.com when almost all its employees quit in the wake of an "onslaught" from the government following the expose. He said the company would have no funding from any business house or a political party and the money was being raised through contributions by creating a collegium of founder subscribers besides advance subscription offers. 

Plastic bags banned in Tripura

Agartala: The Tripura Government has banned the use of plastic carry bags with 20 micron thickness and 20 x 30 cm size, and warned that stern action would be taken against those using these bags. The ban would be enforced from September 16 onwards. The Minister said those violating the government order would be punished with maximum of three-month jail term and a monetary fine.

Powerful earthquake in New Zealand

Queenstown: A powerful earthquake  rocked southern New Zealand early on Friday at 12:12 am (12:12 GMT Thursday). There were hundreds of aftershocks, it said, one with a magnitude of 6.2. The quake shook parts of Sydney, Australia, some 2,140 kilometers away. Guests on the upper floors of Sydney airport's Hilton Hotel said they felt the tremors. Twelve hours after the quake, which lasted up to three minutes, emergency services reported a large rockslide had blocked a road, but no other major damage or injury has been caused.

Two bogies of Chennai-Alleppey Express derailed

Coimbatore: Engine and two bogies of Chennai-Alleppey Express train derailed, while entering Erode Junction early on Friday, official sources said. No injuries were caused. The engine and the bogies came out of the track due to some mistake in setting the track, and the remaining portion of the train was brought to Erode station by another engine, the  sources  said. The train was moving at a speed of 15 kmph, around 3 AM while the incident took place.

Indonesia awarded Australia-based Santos Ltd an oil and gas exploration block

Indonesia awarded Santos Ltd, an Australia-based company an oil and gas exploration block offshore Bali island, part of efforts to boost the Southeast Asian country's reserves and output, a senior mines and energy official said on Friday. Indonesia had opened for tender 11 areas for exploration -- five off the coast of East Java province, one off north Central Java, two in north Bali, two in Jambi province on Sumatra island and one in East Kalimantan on Borneo island.

           Among the winners were Indonesia's oil and gas firm PT Medco Energi Internasional, which was awarded an onshore block in Jambi. A consortium of Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC) and Petrovietnam won North East Madura I offshore block in East Java province, while the offshore North East Madura II block was awarded to a consortium of KNOC, Petrovietnam and SK Corp Other winning bidders were local companies. 

New Computer virus creates panic

London/San Francisco: A new computer virus, feared to be the most potent ever, expanded its reach around the globe on Thursday, sending e-mail networks crashing and frazzling technicians already overstretched by a plague of computer bugs.In the United States, Internet and e-mail service providers were blocking the worm in record numbers, while others were getting through to an untold number of unprotected computer users. Those people were complaining of hundreds, and even thousands, of e-mails with the worm in their inboxes. Internet service America Online said it blocked 23.2 million copies of the worm from reaching its customers.

The SoBig.F virus, which first appeared on computing systems Monday, spreads when unsuspecting computer users open file attachments in e-mails that contain such familiar headings as ''Thank you,'' ''Re: Details'' or ''Re: approved.'' Once the file is opened, SoBig.F resends itself to scores of e-mail addresses from the infected computer and signs the e-mail using a random name and address from the infected computer's address book, which makes tracing it back to the source extremely difficult.

SoBig.F also leaves a back-door program on the computer, which experts said may be used later to turn infected PCs into spam relay machines, as previous versions of Sob did. The worm was bogging down e-mail systems, bouncing automatic replies back to people listed as the sender but who likely were not.

45,000 liquor bottles seized in Gujarat

Palanpur (Gujarat): The police have seized over 45,000 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) after chasing and intercepting a vehicle last night near Danta taluka, around 68 kms from here, said reports.

  Police sighted a liquor bottle-laden toyota Qualis and gave chase as the occupants of the vehicle refused to heed the call to halt. The police were forced to open fire even as the occupants began throwing out the bottles on the road. Police Sub-Inspector D H Sodha of special squad opened two rounds of fire from his service revolver which hit Iqbal Khan Murad Khan Sindhi, an occupant of the car, on the left leg.

             The driver, Safar Khan Pathan, and the injured Iqbal have been arrested, police said, adding the injured has been admitted to the Palanpur Civil Hospital. The police had seized liquor worth around Rs 13 lakh from two trucks in Palanpur during the past three days. The worth of the present haul is yet to assessed. 

Euro-III emission norms for Delhi vehicles

Government plans to introduce Euro-III emission norms, stipulating maximum of 0.035 per cent of sulphur content, for vehicles in the national capital from April one, 2005. At present, diesel conforming to Bharat Stage-II (Euro-II) emission norms having a maximum of 0.05 per cent sulphur content was being supplied in Delhi.

Report on Ayodhya Excavation submitted 

The Archaeological Survey of India which had carried out excavation at the disputed site in Ayodya to ascertain the existence of temple beneath the demolished Babri mosque submitted its final report to the Allahabad High Court today. ASI team leader Hari Majhi submitted the report in the office of the officer on special duty, Narendra Prasad. The report, sealed in a cover and contained in two boxes will be opened before the 3 member Special Bench hearing the cases on August 25.

  The ASI team leader Hari Majhi, accompanied by lawyers of contesting parties arrived at OSD Narendra Prasad’s office and submitted its report.The ASI had taken up the excavation of the disputed site, on March 12th following Allahabad Court’s directive to ascertain the existence of temple beneath the Babri Masjid that lay demolished.             During the 160-days long digging ASI had unearthed around 1360 artefacts. keralamonitor.com