Speculation on Space Tourism is connected with possible space visits ofthe people for pleasure, exploration or conducting experiments. Various aerospace news bulletins and articles in journals have referred to future possibilities on Space Tourism i.e. taking people to the orbit.

    ISRO has been studying opportunities for conducting scientific and technological experiements in the International Space Station through the participating nations.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for External Affairs Smt. Vasundhara Raje in a written reply in Rajya Sabha yesterday.

    Replying a question on space transportation she said that there are two kinds of Space Transportation today. They are Expendable Launch Vehicles and Partially Reusable Space Shuttle. They are essentially used for orbiting satellites and manned missions.
 
 

    With research and development (R&D) work carried out at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Thorium has been successfully converted into Uranium (233). The reprocessing of Uranium (233) from the irradiated Thorium rods also has been carried out both at the BARC and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam.

    The R&D work of the Department of Atomic Energy in the field of nuclear power generation is oriented towards a long-term strategy involving three stages, namely, the current generation of pressurised heavy water reactors as the first stage, plutonium-fuelled fast breeeder reactors as the second stage and reactors operating on the Uranium (233)-Thorium fuel cycle as the third stage.

    The advanced heavy water reactor, designed to produce most of its energy from Thorium, is under engineering development at present. Setting up of power plants based on such reactors will be decided at a later stage.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for External Affairs Smt. Vasundhara Raje in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on May 28, 1998.
 
 

    Over 11.10 lakh wells have been constructed in the country under the Million Wells Scheme (MWS) since 1988-89. So far the expenditure involved was Rs. 4010.06 crore.

    The Centre allocated Rs. 448 crore for the scheme during 1997-98. MWS came into being as an independent scheme on 1.1.1996 It aims at providing open irrigation wells free of cost to small and marginal farmers below the poverty line. Preference is given to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and freed bonded labourers in areas where open irrigation wells are not feasible because of geological factors. Construction of irrigation works like irrigation tanks, water harvesting structures and development of lands of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and freed bonded labourers are also taken up in this scheme.

    The expenditure on MWS is shared in the ratio of 80:20 between the Centre and the States.
 
 

    The joint venture fertilizer project in Oman has been conceived on the basis of mutual advantage. This was stated by Dr. A.K. Patel, Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

    Prior to the registration of a joint venture company (JVC) in February 1998, all the decisions relating to the Joint Venture project were taken by a Joint Management Committee (JMC), which had three members each from the Indian and the Omani sides.

    Since then, all the decisions relating to the Joint Venture are being taken by the board of the JVC, which also has three members each from the Indian and the Omani sides.

    Approval for investment of US$ 69 million each by RCF and KRIBHCO in the equity of the JVC was accorded by the Government jin December 1997 after considering all the aspects relevant to the decision taken by the project sponsors in regard to the arrangements for the execution of the project.

    The Joint Venture Company has taken effective steps towards mobilisation of international finance for the implementation of the project.

    An MOU was signed in July, 1994 between Government of India, M/o Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers limited (RCF) and Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd. ((KRIBHCO) on the Indian side and Sultanate of Oman and Oman Oil Company on the Omani side to set up an Ammonia Urea Complex in Oman as a Joint Venture between Oman Oil Company and RCF/KRIBHCO. Apart from the MOU, no agreement has been signed between Government of India and Oman Oil Company.
 
 

    On consideration of the representations of the fertilizer industry regarding the impact on the cost of production of the increase in the price of hydrocarbons and the wide variations in the turn around programmes of urea units, the modifications were introduced in the restriction on the off-take of urea in October, 1997.

    As per the modification, the off-take restriction was made applicable to units having a retention price of Rs. 7300 per tonne or above instead of Rs. 7000 per tonne as initially decided. The methodology for computation of the proportionate annual installed capacity was revised to take into account the actual number of stream days of operation and the effective daily rated capacity.

    The modified as well as the original criterion was applicable to all urea units whose retention price was above the relevant cut off point. Above information was given by Dr. A.K. Patel in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
 
 

   A suitable policy frame for promoting the installation of viable new urea capacities is under consideration. During the year 1997-98, the overall capacity utilisation of the indigenous urea units recorded a significant improvement over 1996-97 from 94.2% to 105.1%. This was stated by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr. A.K. Patel in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

    The year-wise production jand demand of urea during the last three years have been as under:-

                            Year             Sector             Production             Consumption (Lakh tonnes)
                        1995-96          Public                52.09
                                               Coop.                36.20
                                               Pvt.                    69.91
                                               TOTAL             158.20                         179.09

                       1996-97          Public                 47.30
                                              Coop.                 34.62
                                               Pvt.                    74.28
                                              TOTAL              156.20                         190.25

                       1997098         Public                  60.07
                                              Coop.                  46.24
                                              Pvt.                     79.65
                                              TOTAL              185.96                        200.08(estimated)

    The gap between the demand and indigenous supply is met by imports.
 
 

    Recently prices of formulations based on bulk drugs Ranitidine, Pentoxyphylline, Ibuprofen and Rifampicin etc. have been reduced on Sun-moto basis in the interest of poor consumers. This was stated by the Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Dr. A.K. Patel in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

    Whenever the prices of scheduled bulk drugs are reduced, the prices of the formulations based thereon, are also reduced on suo-moto basis, if the manufacturers do not submit applications within the prescribed time period. In the case of non-scheduled drugs a close watch is kept by monitoring their prices and Government has the powers to fix their prices also, if considered necessary.

    Under DPCO'95 a retailer is entitled for a minimum of 16% margin for scheduled medicines. If a manufacturer/wholesaler gives much more margin than 16% it is at his own cost and nothing to do with the retail price of medicines.

    In reply to another query the Minister said that no complaints have been received by the Government that the common people in the country are finding it difficult to purchase and use the medicines.
 
 

    The Government has granted a Central bouns of Rs.55/- per quintal in addition to the Minimum Support Price of Rs. 455/- per quintal for the wheat being offered for sale to the procuring agencies for the Central Pool during the period from 1st April to June 10, 1998.

    Going by the present trend, it is expected that procurement of wheat during the current Rabi Marketing Season 1998-99 may be around 120.00 lakh tonnes. This was stated by Shri Satya Pal Singh Yadav, Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
 
 

    Jyaistha 08, 1920 .SP2 Due to untimely rains during the sowing season, the Ministry of Agriculture had initially estimated that the production of wheat during current Rabi Season was likely to be 64.51 million tonnes as against the production of 69.27 million tonnes last year. Government had decided to import upto 20 lakh tonnes of wheat during 1998-99, of which the STC has finalised contracts for import of 15 lakh tonnes of wheat from Australia @ US $ 142.50 FOB.

    A quantity of 10.50 lakh tonnes of imported wheat is expected to arrive by June, 1998. Out of this, 3.91 lakh tonnes has already arrived at Indian ports as on May 25, 1998. The remaining quantity is likely to be received by the end of October, 1998.

    A Task Force constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary (F&CS) coordinates all operational matters relating to import of wheat including assessment of port capacities from time to time. Chief Controller of Chartering, Ministry of Surface Transport, is also a member of the Task Force.

    This was stated by Shri Satya Pal Singh Yadav, Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. In reply to another question in Rajya Sabha today the Minister said that the ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs was involved in the decision to import wheat from the very beginning.
 
 

    The Government has issued orders on 27th May, 1998 to the effect that the second and final instalment of arrears of pension/family pension/commutation of pension and dearness relief, if any, may be paid in cash to pensioners/family pensioners alongwith the pension/family pension for the month of June, 1998 by the pension disbursing authorities. In cases where the first instalment of arrears of pension/family pension/dearness relief has not been drawn and disbursed for various reasons, the entire amount of arrears due and admissible can be released in lump sum in a single instalment after following the prescribed procedure. The above order is in pursuance of orders issued on 13th November, 1997 for payment of arrears of pension/family pension/commutation of pension and dearness relief to the pensioners/family pensioners admissible from 1.1.1996.