- India, Myanmar discuss security issues.
- India to participate in 20 games at the Asian Games
- Dubai's Technology 'Free Zone' home to one of world's largest commercial IP Telephony systems.
Lebanese Merchant Vessel captured by Somali Militia reaches Ratnagiri.
New Delhi --keralamonitor.com July 10, 2002.The claim by the owner of the Lebanese Merchant Vessel "Al Murtada" that the vessel was captured by Somali militia from January to June this year appears to be false as a Canadian Warship had boarded the vessel on March 06 this year and no sign of militia was observed on board.
It has also come to light that the vessel was sighted adrift by US Navy on June 16 this year about 700 miles West off Ratnagiri and crew was rescued. The rescued crew was put on board of another merchant Ship Stolt Spray and this ship reached Kandla on 18th of last month. As per available information, the sixteen member crew of Al Murtada consisted of two Lebanese (including captain), four Syrians, six Somalis and four Indians.
Al Murtada was sighted by a Merchant Vessel 155 km west off Ratnagiri in the Western Coast on third of this month and the matter was reported to Coast Guard. The Ship was brought to Devgarh on July 05, 2002 and two AK 47 Rifles were recovered from the Ship. Today on further search three AK 47 Rifle Magazines with 74 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from it. The matter is being looked into by different Investigation Agencies.
Rs.6653 crore flood control project in various States.
-keralamonitor.com July 10, 2002
The Working Group on Flood Control Programme has recommended Rs. 6653.93 crore for taking up flood control , drainage and anti-erosion schemes in the state sector during the Tenth Plan period. It is proposed to cover an area of 2.78 million hectares under these schemes, said today the Minister for Water Resources, Arjun Sethi while addressing the members of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry. Sethi said during the 9th Plan the States have spent nearly Rs. 760 crore in these schemes benefiting approximately 16 million hectares. The major works taken up under the programme include embankment, drainage, channel and towns/villages protection works.
The Minister said the Working Group has recommended Rs. 23.80crore for harang scheme and Rs. 150 crore central assistance for flood control works including drainage in Brahmaputra and Barak Basin during the 10th Plan. It has proposed an outlay of Rs. 50 crore for a new scheme titled "Improvement of drainage in the country including Mokmah Tal area". These schemes would operate under central sector.
The Minister said that the Governement proposes to increase the central assistance limit from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 7,500 per hectare for execution of surface/bio drainage and Rs. 20,000 per hectare in case of sub surface drainage during the Tenth Plan in the water logged areas under the Command Area Development agencies. Under this programme, so far, 441 schemes of 9 States have been approved with an estimated cost of about Rs. 44 crore. Total area proposed to be reclaimed from these schemes is about 57,000 hectare out of which about 25,000 hectare has already been reclaimed up to March this year.
Sethi said that water logging is an important form of land degradation in India and caused by unscientific management of soil, water and crops in irrigated lands. Obstruction of natural drainage system by various development activities and water logging in irrigated areas are also matters of concern. Sethi alerted all concerned to identify the magnitude of the problem and take necessary steps on time for prevention, reclamation and management.
Replying to the queries of the members, the Minister said that the drainage problem due to Farakka barrage would be taken up on the State Government’s request. The members requested to take immediate steps to check the siltation of river beds. As the drainage and flood control measures require huge investment, they proposed Central interventions to raise funds. They also appealed to the Minister to tackle the problem of development of unknown diseases in the water logged areas. The following members of Parliament were present. S/ A. Hasnat Khan, A. Krishnaswami and Ms. Sushree Devi.
President approves Patents Amendment Bill
-keralamonitor.com July 10, 2002
The President has given his assent to the Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2002. With this, the Bill as passed by the Parliament in its Budget Session ending May 17, 2002, has been notified in the Gazette of India as Act No. 38 of the year 2002. The various provisions of the Act will be implemented on different dates to be appointed and notified by the Ministry of Commerce.
The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002, seeks to amend the Patents Act, 1970, to be referred to as the principal Act. The comprehensive amendment of the principal Act is intended to prepare and ready India to meet the challenges of globalization under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime and the Intellectual Property Rights Agreements on Trade Related Aspects of the WTO. Under the Act, there will be a Controller to issue licence for patents, cancellations of licence for patents and regulation of patent regime in the country in keeping with the global standards to maintain quality of products, services and other related matters.
The Appellate Board established under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 shall be the authority for appeal against the orders of Controller. The Appellate Board will replace High Courts and any other court for adjudication of cases relating to the patents under this Act, and appeal, if any, against orders of the Appellate Board shall lie to the Supreme Court of India. The Act provides for procedure of the Appellate Board, the performance of Controller, their authorities and powers in line with the best of the global standards besides mechanism and procedure for granting compulsory licences, its terms and conditions, power of Controller to revoke licence and procedure for dealing with applications for patents.
With this Act in position, the country is now poised to meet all the challenges relating to patents of Indian heritages, products and services including protection of its defence and national sovereignty.
India, Myanmar discuss security issues.
The Eighth National Level Meeting between India and Myanmar to discuss security, border trade and other issues of mutual concern was held in New Delhi on 10th July, 2002. The Myanmar delegation was led by Brig. Gen., Thura Myint Maung, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs, Union of Myanmar. Union Home Secretary, Kamal Pande led the Indian Delegation. Representatives from other Central Departments and State Governments of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh were present.
Apart from security related matters, other issues discussed were drug trafficking free movement regime, joint inspection of boundary pillars, border trade and banking arrangements, maintenance of Klaytamu Road, Kaladin project, Tamanthi Hydro-Electric Project, construction of tourist Centre at Rhi lake and release of prisoners.
The outcome of deliberations will further enhance the existing friendship and cooperation between the two countries.The high level Myanmar Delegation will also call on the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, L.K. Advani tomorrow, apart from Signing an Agreement on the outcome of the Discussions.
India to participate in 20 games at the Asian Games.
India will participate in 10 disciplines in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and in about 19-20 disciplines in Asian Games. The Commonwealth Games are being held from 25th July to 4th August 2002 at Manchester, England and Asian Games will be held from 29th September to 14th October 2002 at Pusan, Korea. The disciplines for Commonwealth Games include Athletics, Boxing, Judo, Table Tennis and Wrestling and for Asian Games, these include Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Billiards and Snooker, Kabbadi and Rowing.
Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting yesterday the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Su Uma Bharti informed the Members that the proposals are under consideration for bidding for the Commonwealth Games 2010 and the Olympic Games 2012 . An expert group has been formed to look into the details.
She also informed that the Indian Olympic Association has given fresh dates for holding the first Afro-Asian Games in New Delhi from 24th October to November 1, 2003. These dates have been sent to the Cabinet for approval. The Afro-Asian Games were scheduled last year in November but were postponed due to security situation after September 11 terrorist attack in the United States of America.
For Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, the Ministry in consultation with the Indian Olympic Association has fixed the criteria of 4th place performance of last Commonwealth Games held in 1998 and Commonwealth Championships held in 2001 and 2002 whichever is higher. In non-measurable disciplines like boxing, etc. the performance in international competitions during 2001 and 2002 will be taken into account.
Su Uma Bharti said the National Teams identified for these games are undergoing preparation since last year. The coaching camps are being held in National Institute of Sports, Patiala and Centres of Sports Authority of India at Bangalore, Kolkata and Gandhinagar and at different stadias in Delhi.
To monitor the preparation of sports persons/teams, a National Monitoring Committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports has been formed. Discipline-wise Monitoring Committees have also been constituted under the Chairmanship of Director General, Sports Authority of India.
She said Brig. K.P. Singh Deo, President Rowing Federation of India and Member of Parliament has been nominated Chairman of "Preparations Committee for Commonwealth Games and Asian Games 2002".
The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports said that 42 foreign coaches have been deployed this time for the training of sports persons as against 18 in 1998 Commonwealth and Asian Games. They have also been given sufficient foreign exposure to develop their confidence in an atmosphere of international competition. She said sophisticated sports equipment have been imported for their proper training for preparation of Commonwealth and Asian Games. She said the National Sports Federations have also been given financial assistance for procurement of equipment both indigenous and imported.
Expressing her satisfaction over the training, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports said that the Indian Olympic Association and the National Sports Federations after review of the preparation, have said that the medal tally in the forthcoming games would be better than the last Commonwealth and Asian Games held in 1998. In the 1998 Commonwealth Games India participated in 6 disciplines and won 7 Gold, 10 Silver and 8 Bronze medals. In the last Asian Games held in Bangkok in 1998, India participated in 23 disciplines and won 35 medals consisting of 7 Gold, 11 Silver and 17 Bronze medals.
A detailed presentation was made by Director General, Sports Authority of India on the preparation of the Indian teams for Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games 2002. The presentation included categories of events in which India is participating, coaches/experts including foreign deployed for training, coach camps held during the last one year and international competition exposure given to the sports persons. The presentation was appreciated by the Members.
The Minister emphasised the need to go for self-financing in organising sports activities and games with the participation of private sector. She said a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in April this year to promote sports and achieve excellence at the international level. Efforts are underway to workout a similar agreement with Federation of Indian Industry she added.
