PIB Press Releases


		5th May, 2003


		Ministry of Railways Modernization of New Delhi, Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin Stations The Railways have taken up modernization of passenger amenities works at New Delhi, Delhi Main and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Stations at a cost of Rs. 24.85 crores during the current financial year 2003-2004. .......................... Ministry of Railways Latest position on concession in train fares for certain categories of patients Of the six categories of patients, four categories of patients, such as, cancer patients, thalassemia patients, TB or Lupas Valgaris patients .......................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Major coalition building initiative underway to achieve development objectives in WTO negotiations A major coalition building initiative is underway amongst the developing countries in order to ensure achievement of development objectives in the ongoing WTO negotiations, .......................... Ministry of Agriculture Workshop on Operationalising Agricultural Extension Reform in South Asia A Three-day Workshop on Operationalising Agricultural Extension Reform in South Asia begins in New Delhi tomorrow. ........................... Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers Government of India is implementing the National Scheme of Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers and their Dependents (NSLRS) since 1992. ........................... Ministry of Steel Buy India Steel Act There was a proposal to enact "Buy India Steel Act" to protect the Indian Steel Industry which was passing through severe crisis. ........................... Ministry of Steel KISCO pig iron project Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL), a public sector unit of the Steel Ministry in collaboration with M/s MECON & MSTC has floated a joint venture company ........................... Ministry of Steel NMDC Romelt Steel Plant National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (NMDC) proposes to set up a Pig Iron Plant based on Romelt Process to produce 0.3 million tonnes per annum liquid hot metal (premium grade Pig Iron) for steel making. ........................... Ministry of Steel Steel Industry shows growth The performance of the public sector steel plants and some of the private sector steel plants was affected during 2001-02 due to a variety of factors such as low demand, ........................... Ministry of Law & Justice Conference on Alternate Resolution Highlights need for Mediation and Case Management The International Conference on 'Alternative Dispute Resolution, Conciliation, mediation and Case Management' organised by the Law Commission of India concluded yesterday after a two-day deliberation. ........................... Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Scheme for payment of pension to the aged The National Social Assistance Programme consisting of the National Old Age Pension Schemes (NOAPS) and the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) were transferred to the State Plan from the last financial year. ........................... Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Shri Prasad mourns S.P. Sinha's death The Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has mourned the death of noted journalist Suresh Prasad Sinha, who passed away in Patna yesterday. ........................... Ministry of Agriculture National Policy on cooperatives The Government has formulated a National Policy aimed at all round development of co-operatives. ........................... Ministry of Agriculture Use of cultivable land The net area sown under agriculture has remained almost constant at around 142 million hectares during the last few years. ........................... Ministry of Science & Technology India fully equipped for checking imported GM foods/crops India is fully equipped for checking and testing imported genetically modified food or crops. A number of scientific institutions have developed expertise in this regard. ........................... Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Plan for economic empowerment of the least privileged The National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSCFDC) has prepared a strategic plan (2003-2012) for economic empowerment of the least privileged. ........................... Ministry of Information & Broadcasting DD earns Rs. 553.81 crore revenue Doordarshan has earned a revenue of Rs. 553.81 crores by way of advertisements during the year 2002-2003. ........................... Ministry of Civil Aviation Ground handling agencies at the airports Airports Authority of India (AAI), Air India Limited (AIL), Indian Airlines Limited (IAL) and Cambata Aviation Private Limited are authorised to do the ground handling at airports ........................... Ministry of Power Seminar on Energy, Environment and Climate Smt. Jayawanti Mehta, Minister of State for Power, has said that the Government is serious about tackling the problem of climate change. ........................... Ministry of Water Resources Submergence of areas due to linking of rivers The pre-feasibility studies of National Water Development Agency (NWDA) suggested that over 1000 villages are likely to be submerged and about 4.80 lakh people are likely to be displaced on completion of inter water transfer link projects. ........................... Ministry of Water Resources Irrigation potential during Ninth Five Plan period The average annual growth in irrigation potential during the Ninth Five Year Plan period has been about 1.8 million hectare per year (provisional). ........................... Ministry of Water Resources Drawing of water from rivers by private companies Utilization of water from rivers for irrigation is done through minor, medium and major irrigation/multipurpose projects. ........................... Ministry of Tribal Affairs Harassment of tribal women in Wayanad, Kerala Reports received from the Government of Kerala no specific case of harassment of tribal women by policemen who went to the forest of Muthanga, Wayanad district of Kerala, has been reported. ........................... Ministry of Tribal Affairs Nomadic tribes The population data is available only in respect of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). ........................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Growth in exports - A priority Promotion of exports is one of the five priorities envisaged in the union budget 2003-04. Several measures covering merchandise goods and services exports have been taken in the Union Budget 2003-04. ........................... Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Disbursement of wage arrears In the case of PSUs which are under disinvestment process, the existing guidelines issued by the Government from time to time on wage arrears/VRS/Terminal benefits will continue to apply to them till disinvestment process is completed. ........................... Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises International Centre for Promotion of Public Enterprises International Centre for Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE), an inter-governmental organisation, promotes and supports enterprise development in developing countries and countries in transition. ........................... Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Steps to deal with drinking water problem in Delhi The Delhi Jal Board has formulated a special scheme to deal with the likely shortage of potable water in the coming summer season. ........................... Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Asian Development Bank provides US $ 895 million assistance for Urban Infrastructure Development Projects Asian Development Bank has provided credit for the following Urban & Environmental Infrastructure projects in the country: - ...........................