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Coal blocks’ auction in 3 months: Govt
Scare led them to Guwahati
Exodus declines after CBMs
No economic progress in UPA’s 8-yr rule: BJP
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Army reels under ton of suicides
Hyderabad Metro runs into ‘heritage hurdle’
India renews interest in Iran pipeline
Probe ordered into Bengal farmer’s arrest
‘Tibetan movement will succeed’
War Memorial to be built near India Gate
ASI to study ‘carrying capacity’ of Ajanta Caves
Coalgate Fresh instructions on family pension of deceased armed forces personnel Implement Assam Accord and fight cross-border insurgency, says AASU Captive returns home after
14 months
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Coal blocks’ auction in 3 months: Govt
New Delhi, August 19 Auction of captive coal blocks will start in around three months, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said today. He, however, still argued against the CAG report which blames the government for allocating precious natural resources (captive coal blocks) for mining to private players in a non-transparent way. Defending the UPA government, Jaiswal had said on Friday that captive coal block allocation policy aimed at spurring economic growth through enhanced power generation. “Had it not been for this policy (read the allocation of blocks through a government committee), we would not have achieved 8 per cent growth when the US saw a dip to minus zero,” he said. It is true that private participation in coal mining surged post-2003 after UPA announced “power to all by 2012” and vowed to raise additional one lakh MW power in India by 2012. In the 10th Plan, number of applications for coal block allocation rose while the block availability was low. That’s what necessitated a transparent policy for allocation to private and state-run players. Accordingly, the CAG reviewed the government’s process and found that despite auction being found to be profitable as far back as in 2004, it has still not been introduced. Another problem was that the government’s professed objective of enhanced coal production was hardly met by allottees of coal blocks. Between 1993 to date, 194 blocks with geological reserves of 44, 440 million tonne were allotted to government, private parties and ultra mega power projects. Coal production from these blocks was expected to help India reduce its coal imports which rose from 48.80 MT in 2008 to 68.92 MT in 2011. But targets were not met and non-performers not punished except that 24 coal blocks were de-allocated. Out of 86 blocks with 73 MT coal production target in the 11th plan (up to 2010-2011), only 28 blocks (15 private) had commenced production as of March 2011. This caused a shortfall of 38.36 MT (52. 55 pc) of coal production from captive coal blocks. The Coal Minister said: “Only 30 blocks out of allocated ones are operational. An inter-ministerial group is evaluating reasons for delays. Environmental clearance, land acquisition delays operations.” The CAG, however, shows how the government failed to do its homework and allocated several blocks without exploring them for operations “To ensure zero hurdles in operations, allocated blocks should be explored. The Coal Ministry decided in 2003 that no captive block would be allocated without exploration and Mining Plan. But rules were not followed,” the CAG says. Of the 194 allocated blocks, only 142 were explored; 52 required further exploration for preparation of Mining Plans. And though the Coal Ministry had in 2005 introduced a system of bank guarantees to ensure timely production from coal blocks and its monitoring committee was to start recommending their deductions from non performers, nothing much has been done.
Targets not met * In the 10th Plan, number of applications for coal block allocation rose while the block availability was low. *
That's what necessitated a transparent policy for allocation to private and state-run players. *
Accordingly, the CAG reviewed the government's process and found that despite auction being found to be profitable as far back as in 2004, it has still not been introduced *
Another problem was that the government's professed objective of enhanced coal production was hardly met by allottees of coal blocks
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trouble in north-east Bijay Sankar Bora/TNS
Guwahati, August 19
A spokesman for the Northeast Frontier Railway, Nripendra Nath Bhattacharyya informed that two more such special trains would reach Guwahati within the next 48 hours as the inbound flow of panic-stricken people continuing despite assurance given by the state government concerned that there would be no attack on people from Northeast. Most of those who have rushed back home said that they did not receive any threat personally from any quarter, but decided to flee their work place as they “heard about” the threat sounded by some unknown quarters.
Sonia concerned
Concerned over the treatment meted out to people from the North-East, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has stressed that such acts should be severely condemned by all. The Centre and states should deal firmly with those disturbing harmony in the country, she said.
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Exodus declines after CBMs
Mumbai, August 19 According to information available from the Railways, the rush to book tickets on board trains leaving Maharashtra for places like Howrah in West Bengal has come down. The Railways, which had mulled deploying special trains or adding extra coaches to existing trains, have decided against the move after the rush subsided, sources said. A large number of students and professionals from the Northeast living in Pune and the sudden exodus resulted in several IT firms and hotels facing a manpower crisis. "We have organised meetings between representatives of the persons from the Northeast and the local community here," Pune Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol told reporters earlier today. Peace committees comprising leaders of the Muslim community and representatives of the Northeasterners have held meetings to restore confidence among the people, Pol said. The Pune police has arrested several youth for circulating MMS video clips and charged them for spreading religious hatred. Residents of
Pune, many of who rent out their homes to outstation students, have come out to protect the visitors.
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BJP Chief Ministers’ conclave Girja Shankar Kaura/TNS
New Delhi, Aug 19
Senior party leader Yashwant Sinha, who served as finance minister from 1998 to 2002 in the NDA regime, while briefing media here on issues that were discussed at the BJP Chief Ministers’ conclave, said while the Indian economy suffered, the states where his party was in power made all round economic progress despite “obstacles” and discriminatory attitude of the central government. Lashing out at the economic policies of the Manmohan Singh government, Sinha said the economic potential that India had gained was being lost due to the policy paralysis of the Government. "The last eight years under the UPA have seen complete mismanagement of the Indian economy. As a result, the Indian economy, which in 2004 had attained the potential of breaking out into a structurally higher growth trajectory, is now losing the opportunity of pulling millions of Indians out of poverty and misery," he said. Sinha added, "The last eight years have witnessed no progress to make the Indian economy more efficient, flexible and resilient to global developments. In every sector, there has been drift, policy paralysis and outright mismanagement". He said it was only due to the performance of the BJP-ruled states that the economic situation was not as bad. The situation would have "far worse" if not for "the spectacular agricultural growth that some of the BJP-governed states have achieved. "Both Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have achieved over 10 per cent agriculture growth," he noted.
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Army reels under ton of suicides
New Delhi, August 19 The Sixth Pay Commission was announced in October 2008 and was implemented in 2009. Some financial gains were made by the jawans and that could be a possible reason for the marginal dip in suicides that year. This year, 62 soldiers killed themselves till July 31, Defence Minister AK Antony said in the Rajya Sabha. “The major causes of suicide are domestic problems, marital discord, stress and financial problems,” he added. The following have been the suicides each year: 2003 (96), 2004 (100), 2005 (77), 2006 (129), 2007 (118), 2008 (123), 2009 (96), 2010 (115), 2011 (102), Antony said. The Ministry of Defence and the Army are worried over the tendency of its troops to kill themselves. Not only is a human life lost, it affects the morale of the unit -- comprising mostly of men drawn from the same ethnic group. The latest suicide was last Wednesday when a jawan of 16th Cavalry Regiment, Arun V, hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, killed himself with his service weapon in Samba (Jammu and Kashmir). His angered mates raised slogans against the officers and surrounded their residences in protest. The Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry. Arun V had reportedly been refused leave to go home. The Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) has been conducting studies which have led to changes in the past. In 2010, it was tasked to provide parameters that would enable officers on the ground to identify and spot "at risk" soldiers. One of the studies was a psychological autopsy of suicides. Senior officials admit that the number of suicides is worrisome especially after several steps have been initiated in the past few years to improve the quality of life of the personnel. Antony had introduced schemes to allow card facility to jawans and their families to withdraw salaries. The married accommodation project is being implemented to build houses in urban areas to allow families of soldiers to enjoy better quality of life and also access to better education for their children. Special rations have also been authorised for additional troops serving in high-altitude areas -- specially above 12,000 feet. A pilot project has been launched at 20 locations across the country for rail e-ticketing. This facility will replace the system of railway warrants. Armed forces personnel will be able to book and print e-tickets through IRCTC websites at unit locations. This project will be gradually extended to more than 5,000 Army, Air Force and Navy units across the country.
Deadly Numbers * 2003 (96), 2004 (100), 2005 (77), 2006 (129), 2007 (118), 2008 (123), 2009 (96), 2010 (115), 2011 (102) *
The Ministry of Defence and the Army are worried over the tendency of its troops to kill themselves *
Not only is a human life lost, it affects the morale of the unit -- comprising mostly of men drawn from the same ethnic group *
Senior officials admit that the number of suicides is worrisome, especially since several steps have been initiated over time to improve the quality of life of the personnel
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Hyderabad Metro runs into ‘heritage hurdle’
Hyderabad, August 19 Seeking the court’s intervention to protect heritage buildings and monuments, a city-based NGO “Forum for Better Hyderabad” pitched for changing the alignment of the Rs 16,300-crore Metro Rail that covers three traffic corridors stretching over 71 km. Several heritage buildings of the 420-year-old city, including the Charminar, Legislative Assembly, Begumpet Public School, Bella Vista Palace and Erramanzil Palace, would lose their charm and majesty if the authorities went ahead with the present alignment of the elevated metro rail corridor, the petitioners argued. The work on the prestigious project, involving construction of 66 stations with modern facilities, including escalators and elevators, is on. It is expected to be completed by 2017. The project is being executed by L&T under the public-private partnership model. All three corridors of the project will be above the ground on elevated flyovers passing right above the medians of the roads at a height of 12 m to 18 m. There are 145 heritage structures in the city. Forum representatives said the metro project, in the present form, would pass by at least 15 heritage structures, including several buildings in the old city However, officials of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) claimed the project would not affect heritage structures in any way. “The project will not harm any heritage structure. Some vested interests are running a campaign to stop the work,” HMR managing director NVS Reddy said. Secretary of the Forum for Better Hyderabad and retired IAS officer OM Debara, who filed the petition, said they had sought an interim direction from the court to change the alignment of the rail corridor to protect heritage structures or opt for an underground route as was done in case of Delhi and Bangalore metro projects. “Since the work has not yet commenced near heritage structures, it is high time the authorities changed the alignment,” said Debara who is also a member of the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). “No environment impact assessment has been done nor was there any public hearing for such a massive project. Nobody knows how many buildings will have to be demolished and where. It will lead to a chaotic situation,” said P Anuradha Reddy, INTACH convener. The rail lines will pass through the city on elevated flyovers and massive station complexes would come up at every 2 km. This would block the city skyline and create more chaos, they maintain.
the OPPOSITION * Rs 16,300-crore project will have three traffic corridors stretching over 71 km *
It will involve construction of 66 stations with modern facilities * The project route will pass by several heritage buildings, including the Charminar *
Environmentalists want the route to be changed so that it does not affect monuments
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India renews interest in Iran pipeline
New Delhi, August 19 “We have still not given up...it is still very much on the table,’’ official sources said in an obvious reference to reports that India has abandoned the idea of pursuing the project in the wake of American pressure. The ambitious Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, which was conceived in mid nineties, could not take off due to pricing, delivery point of gas and security issues. As India showed reluctance, Iran and Pakistan signed a series of agreements in June 2010 for kick-starting the project, which envisages Iran supplying natural gas to Pakistan from 2014 onwards. With New Delhi showing renewed interest in the pipeline project, the issue might figure during bilateral talks between Manmohan Singh and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the fringes of the NAM Summit in Iran towards the end of the month. The project assumes significance against the backdrop of the recent report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas which asked the government to speed up issues related to the much-delayed Iran pipeline project as it would bring a significant amount of gas to the country. The government informed the Parliamentary panel that the last concrete dialogue on the IPI project was held in November 2009. As far as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline is concerned, the sources noted that the gas sale purchase agreement has already been signed between the four countries and the next stage was to identify the consortium leader for the project. The four countries concerned would soon start organising road shows to finalise the consortium leader and arrange finances for the $ 7.6 billion project. “We are an energy deficient country...to sustain our high growth and ensure energy security, we need energy from every possible source,’’ the sources said. “If there is progress on the TAPI project, there will be progress on the IPI pipeline also,’’ they added. Referring to the security of the TAPI pipeline since it would pass through the restive regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the sources said all the three countries have given guarantees to India about the safety of the pipeline.
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Probe ordered into Bengal farmer’s arrest
Kolkata, August 19 Commission’s ADG KP Rao was asked to probe into Chowdhury’s arrest and submit a report in six weeks. The inquiry was ordered yesterday following a petition by the state unit of the BJP. Chowdhury, a marginal farmer, was arrested on August 11 and booked for "disrupting a public rally, entering into a high security zone and assaulting police personnel". The WBHRC has already become a target of Mamata’s attack for recommending an inquiry into the role of two policemen at Jadavpore thana in connection with the arrest of Mahapatra and Sengupta in Mamata’s cartoon row.
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‘Tibetan movement will succeed’
Patna, August 19 Stressing that their movement was based on the Indian ethos, he said, "The Tibetan freedom movement is a 'Made in India' concept as the exiled people of Tibet have adopted the Indian culture and democratic values, with a thrust on non-violence in their pursuit of independence." The Tibetan people have adopted the tenets of Indian constitution drafted by the legendary freedom fighter Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar to elect their government in-exile through elections and as such believed in democratic right of equality in their path for freedom, Sangay said at a seminar on the topic 'Role of Tibet in Future Geo-Politics'. He said his faith in attainment of freedom of their country has been buoyed. — PTI
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War Memorial to be built near India Gate
New Delhi, August 19 In the next meeting of the group of ministers (GoM) scheduled to be held on August 21, further decisions would be taken and after the remaining formalities are completed, it would be sent to the Union Cabinet for final approval. Since its independence, India has gone through five wars; and soldiers have died in counter-insurgency operations too. Each time the Service Chiefs pay their customary homage at the India Gate, they actually honour men who fought for the British Army. The National War Memorial, which was first proposed in the 1960s, has now been cleared by a GoM handled to manage the project. It will be constructed next to the India Gate in New Delhi, a location preferred by the armed forces. It will be tri-service memorial. Defence Minister AK Antony, who heads the GoM on the proposed war memorial, told reporters today, “Most hurdles for the construction of the War Memorial have been cleared.” While the armed forces wanted the memorial to be built near the India Gate in the centre of the Capital, the Urban Development Ministry and other bodies like the New Delhi Municipal Corporation had objected, saying that the construction would mar the landscape that includes the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the North and South Blocks and the Parliament, all built by the British. The forces proposed a ‘sunken’ structure that would be made by digging out a wide path around the India Gate. The walls of the path should have names and illustrations of the martyrs inscribed on them. Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy was among the GoM appointed in 2009 to resolve the differences of opinion. It has been agreed that the layout of the memorial will be organic to the India Gate vista; will surround the main canopy at the India Gate; and will list the names of thousands of soldiers who died in the line of duty. The ‘sunken’ structure will mean it will not hinder the façade of central Delhi for visitors paying homage at the India Gate.
Honouring Martyrs * The National War Memorial, which was first proposed in the 1960s, has now been cleared by a group of minister handled to manage the project *
The armed forces propose a ‘sunken’ structure that would be made by digging out a wide path around India Gate and walls of the path will have names and illustrations of martyrs *
The existing India Gate, an imposing edifice in Lutyen’s Zone, Delhi, was built by the British to honour the soldiers who died in the World War I (1914-1918)
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ASI to study ‘carrying capacity’ of Ajanta Caves Mumbai, August 19 The decision to undertake such a study has been taken following concern by conservationists that the caves dating back to 700 BC were under threat from the high amounts of carbon dioxide being released by people thronging the site. “Such a study has not been done in the past and needs to be undertaken. Once we receive the findings of such a study, we can decide on restricting the entry of people inside,” says BR Mani, Additional Director-General, ASI. So far studies undertaken on the impact of tourists on the caves indicate that the amount of carbon dioxide in the caves increase by 20 to 30 per cent when large number of visitors enter the caves. One of the studies undertaken by M Singh, who heads the ASI’s regional office in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district where the caves are located, noted that white pigments on the paintings inside Cave No. 2 of Ajanta were peeling off following chemical reaction caused by higher amounts of carbon dioxide and humidity. However, these studies on the caves are yet to be accepted officially by the ASI and the ASI has decided to conduct further investigations before arriving at a conclusion, Mani said. The Ajanta Caves comprise of 29 caves which have been carved on the mountains above the Waghora river. Over the years, conservationists from abroad have been called into help restore the intricate paintings on the walls of the caves. However, some of these efforts have proved to be counter-productive and have caused damage to the caves, according to M Singh whose paper was published last year. Meanwhile, conservation efforts at the Ajanta Caves are continuing. Already, the ASI has imposed crowd control measures under which only 40 people are allowed inside a cave at one time. In addition only ultraviolet-free lighting is allowed inside. Conservation measures also include restrictions on noise pollution by visitors. According to Mani, the ASI has rejected demands by some conservationists that a total ban on entry of visitors be imposed. “In the absence of further studies, we cannot decide on this,” Mani said. The Tribune in its edition dated August 8 had reported about the move to ban entry of tourists from next year. However, the Maharashtra Government has already begun working on the assumption that the entry of visitors into the caves may be banned. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is constructing a replica of the Ajanta Caves, which will be thrown open for tourists next year.
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Coalgate
New Delhi, August 19 The decision was taken at a meeting of NGO India Against Corruption (IAC) attended by Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and others. "We have raised it on May 25. All our allegations have come true now. All parties are involved in it since screening committees have representatives of states also. "We demand cancellation of allotments of coal blocks. Lodge FIR, constitute an SIT, failing which we will file PIL in court and carry out referundum on the issue to expose the government," Kejriwal told reporters after the meeting. The remarks of the IAC member came two days after CAG report which said the exchequer lost around Rs 1.86 lakh crore due to coal bloc allocation without competitive bidding. Today's meeting came a week ahead of the first round of deliberations of the preparatory committee, whose constitution is yet to be revealed, to form a political party by erstwhile Team Anna. Though there were discussions about the future course of action, the members did not confirm whether they have finalised the names of those who will be present in the committee. — PTI
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Fresh instructions on family pension of deceased armed forces personnel Chandigarh, August 19 A circular received here by the establishments concerned a few days ago from the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) at Allahabad adds that if a deceased individual is survived by a spouse of a child and the position changes subsequently because of death or remarriage of the spouse or death or ineligibility of the child, the dependent parents become eligible for pension. The circular also clarifies that a childless widow subject to dependency criteria is entitled to family pension even after remarriage and in such a case the parents become entitled to family pension only after the childless widow dies or when her independent income from all sources exceeds the prescribed limit under rules. Family pension is the pension that is paid to eligible surviving next of kin of a deceased government employee. The rates of family pension are lower than those applicable to the employee. Another long-pending issue related to family pension is under consideration of the committee of secretaries ordered by the Prime Minister to look into pay and pension anomalies of Armed Forces personnel. At present, widows of pensioners who were drawing two service pensions for two separate spells of service, are authorised one family pension only after the death of the employee/pensioner. It is now proposed to remove the bar on sanction of the second family pension. Also, handicapped kin of government employees are authorised family pension for life but such pension was being refused to married handicapped children. This was held bad in law by the Chandigarh as well as Chennai benches of the Armed Forces Tribunal in separate cases. This issue is also expected to be resolved.
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Implement Assam Accord and fight cross-border insurgency, says AASU Guwahati, August 19 AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said, “The present situation in Assam as well as in the rest of the country has arisen out of the negligence of successive governments in Assam and New Delhi to implement the main clauses of Assam Accord that was signed in 1985 when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister. The accord promises for detection and deportation of illegal migrants from Bangladesh who came to Assam after March 1971 and sealing of the porous India-Bangladesh border in Assam.” The AASU leader further said, “It is an irony that the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has failed to implement the main clauses of Assam Accord that was signed at the instance of her husband Late Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister.” “We have been raising the alarm that anti-India fundamentalist elements having links to Pakistan are taking advantage of porous and largely unguarded India-Bangladesh border to enter Assam and then to move to other parts of the country, but government of India hasn’t been listening,” the AASU leader said, demanding immediate effective steps against all fundamentalist elements active in Assam and N-E and stop illegal migration from Bangladesh. Assam Public Works (APW), an NGO, today staged a protest demonstration against Pakistan near Guwahati Railway station, denouncing its role in creating trouble in Assam and the rest of the country. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said a probe will be instituted to find out facts regarding alleged involvement of foreign hands in the recent Assam violence. “I have been stating that some foreign hands are involved in the violence and are behind the mass exodus of N-E people from southern parts of the country. It is not merely a clash between Bodos and minorities. The Union Home Ministry report that Pakistani elements were involved has vindicated our stand,” said
Gogoi.
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Captive returns home after 14 months Kozhikode, August 19 "I thank God. But for his mercy I would not have got back to my home and my people," 36-year-old Kollara Veettil Biju said on his arrival at Kozhikode International airport by an Air India flight from Mumbai. Biju was abducted by terrorist group Abu Sayaff in June last year while on a visit to the Philippines, from where his wife Elena came. After remaining in captivity of the gun-wielding ultras, he managed to escape earlier this month. His passage to India, along with his wife and two children, was facilitated by the Indian Government with the help of Philippines authorities. — PTI
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Jantar Mantar
Who pulls TMC’s strings?
Once bitten, no more shy
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