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November 24, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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No to LNG supply through Pak Audit report indicts Paroda Govt for reforms in pension sector Cong to oppose cut in banks’ equity 4 killed in UP clashes Infant ‘delivers’ malformed foetus
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No to LNG supply through Pak NEW DELHI, Nov 23— India and Iran today ruled out the option of supply of natural gas through land route via Pakistan and have instead decided to study the option of deep sea route. Briefing newspersons about the second meeting of the Indo-Iran joint working committee (JWC) on transfer of Iranian gas to India, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs said the two sides agreed to invite a consultant for undertaking a detailed feasibility study for laying the underwater pipeline, cost of which would be shared by the two countries on equal basis. The Indian delegation was led by the Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr K.V. Rajan, and Iran was represented by its Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr S.M.H. Adeli. The study report is expected to be ready in nine to 12 months, the spokesman said. While Teheran was keen on laying the pipeline through Pakistan and had also obtained written assurance from the military regime, New Delhi was not prepared to go in for this option for it could have meant a grave threat to energy security of the country in both short-term as well as in long-term perspective. It now appears certain that the two countries have decided in principle to seriously study the deep sea -route option. Meanwhile, the two sides have also agreed that the cooperation in the liquified natural gas (LNG) sector could be maximised for mutual interest. The companies concerned were asked to expedite their work in jointly recommending ways in which the LNG cooperation could be maximised in mutual interest. Both sides see this option as complementary to their requirement of a pipeline, the spokesman said adding that the next meeting of the JWC would be held early next year in Tehran The two sides had set up the JWC on the basic premise that it was going to be a purely bilateral endeavour, the spokesman stressed saying that the project was complimentary as Iran had abundant resource of natural gas and India’s requirement of gas and the LNG was going to increase in years to come as its
economy continues to expand. On whether the land route option has been closed, the spokesman avoided giving a direct reply and said the JWC had been asked to study all aspects of supply of natural gas to India.
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Audit report indicts Paroda NEW DELHI, Nov 23 — The sudden removal of Dr R.S.Paroda from the top research and administrative post of agricultural research has taken a new turn with an internal audit report of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research naming its sacked Director General in alleged irregular purchase deals. According to sources, the inquiry report has named three others senior officials in ‘‘irregularities and lapses’’ involving purchases of around Rs 20 crore. The audit report alleged that there was lack of cooperation on the part of the ICAR officials concerned during preliminary inquiry into computer procurement besides tampering with document. The Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, too had earlier said that Dr Paroda, who was the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, was kept on compulsory wait as some irregularities in a computer deal were being probed. The removal of Dr Paroda was to ensure a fair probe, he had claimed. The sources said one of the irregularities discovered was that the bidding document for a purchase deal had been altered at the level of the Deputy Director-General, Engineering, and another official last year. The audit has also pointed out irregularities in hiring of consultants, construction of a bungalow for the ICAR chief, amendment of technical services rules, violation of rules and procedures to benefit some staff and other lapses.
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Govt for reforms in pension sector NEW DELHI, Nov 23 — The Minister of State for Finance, Mr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, today said the government was reviewing the existing pension schemes in order to bring about reforms in the pension sector. He said the Capital markets and External Commercial Borrowings division of the Department of Economic Affairs had been asked to coordinate the reforms in the sector. He said internationally, the trend was towards a unified system where the government employees were integrated into the same pension system that was applicable to the rest of the population. The minister said the practice of the government guaranteeing returns on pension products was being gradually abandoned since this was inconsistent with reforms, which were market determined. He noted that some countries had moved towards providing funded pension schemes managed by the private sector. |
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Cong to
oppose cut in banks’ equity NEW DELHI, Nov 23 — The Congress today demanded white paper from the government on its policy of disinvestment and asserted that it would oppose amendments to the Banking Company’s Act to dilute government equity up to 33 per cent in public sector banks. Talking to mediapersons, party spokesperson Margaret Alva condemned the killing of truck drivers in Jammu and Kashmir after announcement of unilateral ceasefire by the Prime Minister and asked the government to state its policy on Kashmir. She said that the party would oppose “tooth and nail” denationalisation of banks. Reminding that under Mrs Indira Gandhi, the party had nationalised 14 major banks, she said that the party had even seen a split on the issue. |
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4 killed in UP clashes JAUNPUR (UP), Nov 23 (PTI) — Four persons, including a block pramukh, were killed in incidents of violence in Ataria village of the district today, the police said. Miscreants hurled a bomb at Ramnagar block pramukh Kailash Nath Singh, who was on his way to the block office, killing him on the spot, the police said. In retaliation, an irate mob killed three persons of a particular community after dragging them out from their car, which was coming from the neighbouring Bhadoi district. Bodies of the victims, dumped in a nearby river, were later recovered and identified, the police said. Though tension prevailed in the village following the incident, the situation was under control, the police claimed, adding that a manhunt has been launched. |
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Infant ‘delivers’ malformed foetus CALCUTTA, Nov 23 (PTI) — In a rare case in medical history, a malformed foetus was removed from the stomach of a 40-day-old infant boy in adjoining Howarh district. Shiva, born on October 9 to Dharma and Rezia Rao of Ganjam district of Orissa at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, had a lump in his abdomen since birth. Doctors had initially diagnosed the lump as a tumour but the operation conducted by Dr Biswajit Bhaduri and his team on Wednesday ‘delivered’ a 230 gram underdeveloped foetus complete with hair follices and external projections, which would have later developed into limbs, ears and forehead. |
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