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| Wednesday, February
28, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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NORTH INDIA IN PARLIAMENT
Advani: talks to check ISI’s gameplan |
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Morocco supports India on J&K BJP backs govt on Balco issue HC asks Centre to notify colonies Decision on GoM report with PM BJD MPs angry
over Rail Budget
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NORTH INDIA IN PARLIAMENT New Delhi, February 27 Replying to a question by Mr B S Ramoowalia, the minister said the reason for the delay in formal government approval and commencement of construction included delay in handing over land for conducting soil test, design and detailed estimation of upgradation work. The Public Investment Board (PIB) directed to conduct fresh detailed survey regarding the potential for growth of passenger and cargo traffic from Punjab and adjoining areas, which was conducted afresh by the Airport Authority of India. The PIB was also directed to explore private participation in the project, the minister said. The project for upgradation at an estimated cost of Rs 79.27 crore with budgetary support by the Centre in debt equity ratio of 1:1 has been approved by the government on November 11, 2000, Mr Sharad Yadav informed the House. In response to another question, the minister said the navigation and landing aids available at Jammu and Srinagar, including sterilisation of approach funnel are sufficient for safe operation of flights. The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) has issued a directive to its members not to operate to Jammu and Srinagar from January 26, 2001, unless they are provided with safe operating environment and the airfields meet the basic criteria for jet operations. Consequently, the Indian Airlines scheduled flights to Jammu and Srinagar airports are being operated by the executive pilots of the airlines. The Minister for Water Resources, Ms Bijoya Chakravarty, informed the Rajya Sabha that Gohana district in Haryana was receiving its share as per the availability of water during their turns. Replying to a question by Santosh Bagrodia on whether the farmers in Gohana subdivision of Haryana were facing an acute shortage of canal water meant for irrigation purposes, the minister said the Haryana Government had informed that since the availability of water in the Bhakra Reservoir and the Yamuna river being less, the rotation programme had been divided in to five groups instead of earlier four groups. All channels falling in the territorial jurisdiction of the Ghona area have been receiving their share as per the availability of water during their turns, he added. The Minister of State for Finance, Mr Bala Saheb Vakhe Patil, informed the Rajya Sabha that the Home Ministry had already assessed the arrears of security-related expenditure in respect of Jammu and Kashmir for the period 1989-1998 and settled the same as per the existing guidelines for reimbursement of security related expenditure. The 11th Finance Commission was required to make an assessment of the debt position of all states as on March 31, 1999 and suggested such corrective measures as were deemed necessary, keeping in view the long term sustainability for both the Centre and the states. The government had since accepted the recommendations of the Finance Commission, the minister said. |
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Punjab assured of Central aid New Delhi, February 27 Mr Naidu said Rs 1063.61 crore has already been released for the construction of rural roads in 19 states and one union territory so far under the Pradhanmantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Of this, Rs 24.66 crore had been released for Punjab. Assuring the Chief Minister of all possible assistance to tackle the shortage of drinking water, Mr Naidu said under the Pradhanmantri Gramodaya Yojana (Rural Drinking Water), an additional amount of Rs 13 crore had been recommended for Punjab. Mr Naidu commended the efforts being made in the state under the Special Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana project which had been launched in Ferozepore, Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Muktsar districts. At a meeting between Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, it was decided that the state would get more Navodya schools. Mr Badal said there was need for setting up Navodaya Vidyalayas in the districts of Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Faridkot and Moga. Dr Joshi said the proposal for a school in Hoshiarpur was being approved while the proposals for the other three districts would be taken up expeditiously. The Chief Minister also met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Law Minister Arun Jaitley, besides some other central leaders. |
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Advani: talks to check ISI’s gameplan Patna, February 27 The Home Minister admitted that the state was affected poorly by the ISI activities and needs concerted efforts both by the Centre and state government to curb it. He said the Union government was seized with the issue of ISI activities in the bordering districts of Nepal. He added that India had initiated talks with Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar for checking the ISI’s anti-India game plan. He assured all help to Bihar to tide over the trouble. Mr Advani conceded that the Centre had collected reports from all possible quarters on the ISI plan to spread its wings in the bordering state of Nepal (Bihar), and it was in full preparedness to clip its wings. He added that the ISI plan to destabilise the nation and acquire control over Kashmir was no secret and it won’t ever succeed in that. It is to be mentioned here that over the issue of law and order in the sensitive bordering districts of Bihar about which the Intelligence had warned of ISI’s growing presence, the state and Central governments had been at loggerheads. The Bihar government had clearly told the Centre that it does not have the money nor the logistics to fight the ISI menace. It sought a package from the Centre and wished that the Union Government would bear 90 per cent of the cost of the joint operation. The Centre had been reluctant and saying that law and order problem being a state matter, the state government should cough up the majority of money for the joint action against the ISI. Mr Advani’s statement on Sunday had failed to cut much ice on that issue. |
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Morocco supports India on J&K New Delhi, February 27 It also hailed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s ceasefire initiative in Jammu and Kashmir and condemned international terrorism in all its forms reiterating its resolve to work in tandem with India to strtengthen international efforts for an early finalisation of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism. This and other issues came up at the 45-minute delegation level talks between the two countries here this afternoon. The talks were led by the Prime Minister and the Moroccan King. The two countries also signed a “Delhi Declaration” encompassing several areas and aimed at upgrading relations between the two countries. While supporting India’s candidature for permanent membership of an extended UN Security Council, Moroccan King Mohammed VI, who held a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh here this afternoon, said India had a role to play in the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP). Briefing reporters about the meeting and the delegation-level talks, India’s Ambassador in Morocco I.C. Rathore said the two countries expressed concern at the deteriorating situation in West Asia and the stalemate in the MEPP. They reiterated their support for a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and on the principle of land for peace. King Mohammed VI said India had a role to play in the MEPP. The two countries reiterated their commitment to the principle and purpose of the UN Charter and the role of the UN in preserving international peace and security. Both sides agreed to continue cooperation within NAM and G-77. The “Delhi Declaration”, which was signed by the External Affairs Minister and his Moroccan counterpart Mohammed Benaissa in the presence of Mr Vajpayee and the Moroccan King, envisages that the two countries would work together towards a multi-polar world based on sovereign equality of all states, territorial integrity and non-interference in their internal matters. It was also agreed that disputes between the two sides must be resolved by peaceful means. The two countries also signed three agreements on cooperation in the field of plant quarantine and plant protection, on veterinary sanitation and on cultural exchange for years 2001-2003. |
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BJP backs govt on Balco issue NEW DELHI, February 27 The Balco issue figured prominently during the parliamentary party meeting of the BJP during which the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, not only gave full details of the deal to party MPs but also asked them not to be defensive on the issue as there was no discrepancy in the matter. The Minister for Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Mr Arun Jaitley and the Minister for Disinvestment, Mr Arun Shourie were specially detailed for replying to each and every query of the MPs. The two categorically told the members that total transparency was
observed in the process of disinvesting Balco. “If there was any substance in the Opposition’s propoganda they should name the beneficiary, Mr Shourie declared. Describing Mr Jogi’s comments on Balco as “unfortunate”, Mr Shourie said it was beyond the jurisdiction of the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister to cancel the lease. Mr Advani, who was presiding in absence of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajayee, who was busy with the visit of the Moroccan King Mohammad VI to India, congratulated partymen for doing well in the recent byelections in which out of 11 seats eight went in favour of the NDA. The BJP
increased its tally from one to four, Mr Advani said. This proved that the government's policies and programmes were supported by people at large who had rejected the Opposition’s charge against the government, he said adding that if at all anyone had to be defensive, it should be the Congress which had done miserably in the elections. Later briefing newspersons about the meeting, the party spokesman, Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra, said the
Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, refuted Opposition charge that the government was importing wheat, sugar and milk on a large- scale thus damaging the Indian farmers’ interests. |
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HC asks Centre to notify colonies New Delhi, February 27 Till the modalities for implementation of guidelines are complete further construction in unauthorised colonies may be prevented, said a Division Bench of Chief Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice D.K. Jain. The court’s directive came as Delhi’s Minister for Urban Development A.K. Walia submitted an affidavit saying that the guidlines which had been framed by the Union Ministry of Urban Development with regard to the regularisation of unauthorised colonies on government land were totally “arbitrary, unworkable, impractical and without any rationale basis.” The Centre even did not take into consideration the views of the elected Government of Delhi which reflected the will of its people, he added. The policy and guidelines for regularisation of unauthorised colonies were without any reasonable basis, he said. Mr Walia appealed that the Centre may fix the cut-off date as March 31, 1998, instead of March 31, 1993. On November 15 last year, the court had asked the Centre to explain how the Union Cabinet’s decision to regularise 1,071 unauthorised colonies here could be implemented against the backdrop of the state government’s objections. In early August, the Delhi Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution in its special session that the Centre’s announcement on regularisation of 1,071 unauthorised colonies with conditions regarding payment of land rate with penalties and additional penalties for violation of building byelaws was highly unjustified. The Delhi Government also called for amending the National Capital Territory of Delhi Act 1991, so that the entire land of Delhi could be brought within the purview of the Delhi Government. The House resolved that the Delhi Government be conferred the powers to regularise unauthorised colonies. In an affidavit filed before the court, the Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Ms Nisha Singh said the Centre had decided to charge land value from a plot holder in colonies on public land inhabited by non-affluent sections as per rates notified by the land and development officer (L and DO) at the time of regularisation. If the L and DO rates did not exist in the area then rates notified by the Delhi Development Authority would be charged. A penalty of 10 per cent of land rates would be charged for encroachment on public lands. At the same time, strong and prompt action would be taken against all constructions which had come up beyond the cut-off date of March 31, 1993, and which may come up in future. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Common Cause, a non-governmental organisation. |
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Decision on GoM report with PM New Delhi, February 27 “Its all in the hands of the Prime Minister. He has to take a decision on its implementation,” Mr Fernandes said. The Defence Minister, when asked what the report had recommended on nuclear command and control, said: “It is a top secret report that has been presented to the Prime Minister. It would not be right for me to comment on it as I was a part of the GoM.” The Defence Minister also refused to give details whether the GoM had recommended the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff. The GoM report, set up in the wake of the Kargil conflict, has given various proposals designed to equip the country for handling existing security threats and emerging challenges. |
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BJD MPs angry over Rail Budget New
Delhi, February 27 A meeting of the BJD Parliamentary Party today resolved to draw the attention of the Chief Minister and party chief Naveen Patnaik to “discrimination” against Orissa in the Railway Budget for the second consecutive year, Parliamentary Party leader and Union Minister Arjun Charan Sethi said. “The
meeting through a resolution decided to seek the advice of the party
president on whether to remain in the NDA and continue in the Vajpayee
government”, he said. PTI |
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SHO shifted, 2 cops suspended New Delhi, February 27 The child, Ram, was reportedly missing from his relative’s house in Sultanpuri from last week. His decomposed body was found from a nullah last evening. |
20 injured Thiruvananthapuram, February 27 The police said the clash was a sequel to a petty quarrel between members of two communities over the use of a bathing ghat at Moonattumukku.
PTI |
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