|
|
|
|
|
Kosi flood threat fuels panic, thousands flee
Centre promises all help to Bihar
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Katju objects to Justice Dave’s statement on Gita
Punjab faces 59% rain deficit, Haryana 55%
Varanasi widows prepare ‘rakhis’ for ‘brother’ Modi
Modi reunites Nepalese youth with family after 16 yrs
Govt retreats on insurance Bill
Govt trying to resolve UPSC row: Prasad
Shortage of ASVs at forward IAF bases
Dissolve Delhi Assembly within week: AAP
No change in N-liability law, India tells US
Top civic body Appointments in Gujarat
Natwar’s book left unpleasant taste, says Salman Khurshid
BrahMos may be exported
separate gurdwara committee for haryana
HSGMC members to meet Hooda today
Charge Hooda with sedition: Jagir Kaur
Akash threatens to ‘shoot down’ Indo-French missile
IAF grounds 40 Dhruv copters
Woman gangraped, thrown out of auto
Rlys slaps Rs 1 lakh fine on IRCTC for cockroach in food
Railways needs Rs 5 lakh cr for ongoing projects
|
|
Kosi flood threat fuels panic, thousands flee
Patna, August 3 With the danger of flood looming large in the Kosi belt along the Bihar-Nepal border, the Bihar Government today ordered forcible evacuation of people living in the space between the river and its embankments in nine districts of the state. The move follows the discharge of 1.25 lakh cusecs of water into the river after the Nepalese army conducted two low-intensity blasts to partially remove the landslide debris blocking the Bhote Kosi, one of the tributaries of the Kosi. The release of water has raised the water level in the river in Bihar. “We have invoked the provisions of the Disaster Management Act to initiate forcible evacuation of population living in the danger zone of Kosi. So far we have evacuated 16,800 people, but over 60,000 are still present between the river and its embankments,” Disaster Management Department (DMD) special secretary Anirudh Kumar told reporters. “Our latest estimates show 4.25 lakh persons living around the Kosi in the state could be affected if the river swells drastically. We are trying to move all of them,” said Kumar. The landslide and the ensuing damming of Bhote Kosi have occurred at Jure in Sindhupalchok district of Nepal. The place is located north of Kathmandu and around 260 km from the Bihar-Nepal border. The DMD special secretary said 15 companies of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), four columns of the Army and four companies of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed in Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Khagaria, Araria, Madhubani, Bhagalpur, Purnia and Darbhanga have been asked to lend help in evacuating people. Supaul has been made the headquarters of the evacuation, relief and rescue operations. The state government has opened 120 relief camps for human and 17 camps for cattle. The displaced persons are also being provided shelter in schools and colleges located on high ground. All camps and shelters have food, sanitation and medical facilities. “The situation is under control so far and there is no need to panic. We are prepared to face any eventuality. Four Air Force helicopters have been kept ready at the Bihta airbase to launch evacuation operations,” Kumar said. “Another 17 helicopters belonging to various armed and paramilitary forces are on standby in the neighbouring states,” he said. The Bhote Kosi was blocked on Friday after a massive landslide cut loose huge portions of mountains which fell on the river. Around 25 lakh cusecs of water has accumulated there as a result and the Nepal government is trying to blast it since then. The Bihar Government had issued a high alert yesterday and ordered evacuation of people living in the low-lying areas close to Kosi, saying a 10-metre high wall of water could sweep down the river after the accumulated water becomes free. — Agencies
Relief operation on, NDRF deployed
|
|
Centre promises all help to Bihar
New Delhi, August 3 The Centre today rushed in essential supplies, relief teams and other assistance to the state and put on standby several aircraft to deal with any emergency. Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth chaired three emergency meetings of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review the situation while an assessment team comprising experts from various fields is in Nepal to oversee the situation as an artificial dam created there on a Kosi tributary following a massive landslide has sparked fears of floods in Bihar. Assuring the Bihar Government of all Central assistance, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed the media that eight National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams had already been deployed and seven would soon be sent. The water level in the Kosi is rising, Prasad said. Though it is not at an alarming rate, the situation is unpredictable, he said. A provision for food grains has been made for the needy. Nearly 44,000 people had been evacuated by the Bihar Government. A total of 107 relief camps had been set up. One composite column (100 personnel) of the Army and the Air Force had reached Supaul and one Saharsa in the state and three more columns mobilised from Sukna have gone to Katihar, the statement said, giving details of the operation mounted by the Centre. “One AN-32 Aircraft has reached Delhi from Agra to carry persons and communication equipment to Purnia. One more is on standby at Agra. Two Mi-17 helicopters each are on standby at Gorakhpur, Bagdogra and Barrackpore. Two Chetak and four MI-17 choppers have been moved to Bihta near Patna,” it said. An aircraft carrying a medical team comprising 25 persons, including medical officers and specialists, and 20 civilian doctors of various specialities has left from Delhi , it said.
|
||
|
Katju objects to Justice Dave’s statement on Gita
New Delhi, August 3 Supreme Court judge Justice AR Dave had yesterday said Indians should revert to their ancient traditions and texts such as Mahabharat and Bhagavad Gita and they should be introduced to children at an early age. “Somebody who is very secular... so called secular will not agree... Had I been the dictator of India, I would have introduced Gita and Mahabharata in Class one. That is the way you learn how to live life. I am sorry if somebody says I am secular or I am not secular. But if there is something good, we have to get it from anywhere,” he had said in Ahmedabad. Katju, a former Supreme Court judge, said, “I totally disagree with Justice Dave’s statement that Gita and Mahabharat should be made compulsory in schools. “In a country of such diversity as ours, nothing of this kind should be compelled or imposed, as that is against our nation’s secular feature and Constitution,” he said in a statement. He said Muslims and Christians may not want their children to be taught these books and questioned if their children yet be forced to read them. “Some people say that Gita only teaches morality and has nothing to do with religion. But Muslims may say that only the Quran teaches morality, Christians may say that only the Bible teaches morality, Sikhs may say that only the Guru Granth Saheb teaches morality, etc,” he said. — PTI
What Dave said
Had I been the dictator of India, I would have introduced Gita and Mahabharata in Class one. That is the way you learn how to live life. I am sorry if somebody says I am secular or I am not secular. But if there is something good, we have to get it from anywhere
Katju's take
I totally disagree with Justice Dave's statement that Gita and Mahabharat should be made compulsory in schools. In a country of such diversity as ours, nothing of this kind should be compelled or imposed, as that is against our nation's secular feature and the Constitution
|
||
|
Punjab faces 59% rain deficit, Haryana 55%
Chandigarh, August 3 Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, has also received poor rains this season with a deficit of 52%, a MeT Department official said. According to the data available from June 1-August 2 this year, Punjab had received a rainfall of 100.8 mm against a normal of 246.3 mm for the period, resulting in a deficit of 59%, he said. In neighbouring Haryana, the situation was no better with the state receiving a rainfall of 100.9 mm during the period, as against a normal 221.9 mm of rain, leaving a deficit of 55%. Chandigarh had received 203.7 mm of rains during the June 1-August 2 period as against normal of 426.5 mm, resulting in a deficit of 52%. The MeT official said many places in Punjab, including Barnala (a deficit of 85% against normal), Sangrur (80%), Fatehgarh Sahib (78%), Patiala (78%) and Amritsar (72% deficit), received scanty rains while the situation was better in comparison at Moga and Faridkot, where the deficit was by 25% and 10%, respectively. Rohtak (deficit of 86%), Sonepat (75%), Panipat (80%), Fatehabad (72%) and Panchkula (69%), were among other places in Haryana to receive poor rains, he said. Yamunanagar (deficit of 31%), Rewari (31%) and Faridabad (24%) had received more rains in comparison, though they were still far off from the normal mark for the June 1-August 2 period. Punjab has already sought financial assistance of Rs 2,000 crore from the Centre to deal with any drought-like situation in the state. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had earlier this week said the help had been sought on account of deficit rainfall in the state during the monsoon. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that the state government will do its best to help the farmers and won’t allow their crops to wither in the wake of poor rains in the state. — PTI
|
||
|
Varanasi widows prepare ‘rakhis’ for ‘brother’ Modi
Varanasi, August 3 The event is part of efforts to bring these women, who have been socially ostracised for ages and kept away from festivals and other celebrations, into the social mainstream. A group of these women, mostly in their 80s, are engaged in making colourful ‘rakhis’ (decorated sacred threads) at Birla and Durgakund widow ashrams here for the festival, which celebrates the relationship between a brother and a sister. “We have planned a target of sending around 1,000 rakhis to our ‘brother’, our Prime Minister,” said one of them at Birla ashram. Social worker Bindeshwar Pathak feels that such an initiative will not just bring cheer in the lives of these women, but will help bring a change in social outlook. “Widows even today face humiliation and insult from their family members. They are even restricted from attending any auspicious function in their families. They are even not allowed to wear colourful saris, ornaments and have to wear only white clothes,” he said. “So, my idea is how to change the thoughts, behaviour and attitude of the people of this country towards widows, who are their mothers and sisters,” said Pathak, who is founder of NGO Sulabh International which is helping improve the life of around 1,500 such women in Varanasi, Vrindavan and Kedarnath Valley. Apart from around 900 widows, 200 children from various schools of Delhi and Mathura-Vrindavan will take part in Rakhi celebration, which will be organised at the Meera Sahabhagini ashram on August 9. The widows will also tie rakhis to local saints and priests. “We will organise such programmes for them in future as well,” Pathak said. Breaking shackles of social stigma, these women had taken part in Holi, Diwali and Durga Puja celebrations following efforts of the NGO. — PTI
|
||
|
Modi reunites Nepalese youth with family after 16 yrs
Kathmandu, August 3 It was an emotional reunion of 26-year-old Jeet Bahadur, a Nepalese youth, with his family after about 16 years of separation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has had a key role in this reunion. Bahadur had got lost in India and Modi found him in Ahmedabad. Since then he played the role of a guardian to him, looking after him and ensuring his education and well-being. He also made the special effort of ensuring that Bahadur’s family is located in Nepal and he is reunited with them. Soon after arriving here for a two-day visit, Modi handed over Bahadur to his mother Khagisara and brother Dasharath Sarumagar and younger sister. Dasharath’s wife and children were also present at the emotional reunion. “How happy are you now? You should be happy after seeing your lost son after so many years,” Modi told Bahadur’s mother during the reunion. The grateful mother expressed thanks to Modi for looking after her son and educating him like his “dharma putra”. The poor family, which lives in a slum colony of Nawaalparas district of Nepal, had concluded that Jeet Bahadur had got lost for ever after Dasharath failed to locate him about 16 years ago. PTI
|
||
|
Govt retreats on insurance Bill
Aware that the numbers are stacked up against it in the Rajya Sabha, the NDA government sought to reach out to the Opposition, especially the Congress, and appealed for cooperation for the passage of the insurance Bill it plans to move tomorrow. In a late evening development, the government decided against forcing the pace and brings up the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008, that among other things seeks to raise the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap to 49 per cent from current 26 per cent. Sources in the government said the Bill could not be slated for Tuesday. The Congress-led Opposition is keen on referring the proposed legislation to the Select Committee as there are amendments to the one pending in the House. The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008 introduced by the previous government permitting the foreign direct investment cap to 49 per cent from existing 26 per cent, was scrutinised by the Standing Committee and gave its recommendations in 2011 December. Nine parties, including the Congress, plan to move a motion seeking the Bill to be sent to the Select Committee for further examination, while the government wants the amendments suggested by the Standing Committee to be incorporated in the legislation. "I fervently appeal to the Congress and the other opposition parties to enable passing the proposed legislation... in this Budget session of Parliament in the larger national interest. Spirit of constructive cooperation on issues of economic development need to be the basis of parliamentary democracy," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said today adding that both he and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will discuss the Bill with leaders of the Congress and the Opposition so as to understand their concerns and address the same. Besides the Congress, the NCP, JD(U), DMK, TMC, CPI, CPM, BSP and SP have joined hands and together these parties have a strength of 138 in a 242-member House where 122 is required for a simple majority. At present, the only words of solace for the government came from the Biju Janata Dal, which is not exactly an ally of the BJP-led NDA. Party leader Bharatruhari Mahatab said the party had decided to support the Bill with amendments. By referring it to the Select Committee, the Opposition could have its way and the government cannot dictate the pace as also when the panel will report it back to the House.
|
||
|
Govt trying to resolve UPSC row: Prasad
New Delhi, August 3 Talking to reporters here, he said the government had full sympathies with students who have been agitating over the language issue in the UPSC exam. His comments came amid efforts by the government to resolve the issue at the earliest. Senior BJP leaders are understood to have discussed the issue with Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh. Sources said the government would take a final call only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his two-day visit to Nepal. The party and government were working in tandem to find a solution to the issue, sources added. Jitendra Singh said, "Since Parliament is in session, I cannot comment on it outside the House. Once the decision is taken we will let you know. We're working on it."
|
||
|
Shortage of ASVs at forward IAF bases
Chandigarh, August 3 The IAF has an inventory of 18 types of ASVs and the actual holding of all types of ASVs was far less than their authorisation. Shortfalls in eight types of ASVs range between 47.83% to 100% and between 25% and 36.92% in another seven types. The shortfall in the remaining three types is below 25%. ASVs are specialist equipment that are used for aircraft operations and play a direct and vital role in operational preparedness. During Operation Parakaram, ASVs at operational locations were found to be grossly inadequate and did not match the requirement of the detachments. Keeping this in view and bottlenecks in transportation of the ASVs from the parent bases, the IAF felt that it would be essential to make permanent positioning of specialist vehicles at operational locations. Accordingly, in May 2004, the Ministry of Defence agreed for procurement of additional ASVs for pre-positioning at operational locations. After working out its requirements, Air Headquarters accorded “in principle” approval for procuring 408 ASVs for Rs 132 crore. However, the case for procurement did not proceed further. Consequently, to tide over the deficiency, Western Air Command (WAC) made temporary arrangements for pre-positioning of ASVs at operational locations in two phases. The first phase was for WAC forces and the second phase for “out of command” forces through of temporary allotment of ASVs on loan from the units within the command. The objective was to support quick mobilisation of forces at designated locations and reduce dependability on airlifts or civil hired trucks and overcome bottlenecks in transportation. In Phase-I, 67 ASVs comprising nine types were to be positioned immediately at forward locations for WAC forces but it was later observed that, 46 ASVs, about 69 per cent of Phase-I requirement and the entire quantity under Phase-II were yet to be placed at the operational locations of WAC.
What are ASVs?
|
||
|
Dissolve Delhi Assembly within week: AAP
New Delhi, August 3 The AAP, at its first public rally after the General Election at Jantar Mantar, threatened to launch a door-to-door campaign, if the Delhi Assembly was not dissolved within a week. Taking a dig at the BJP for its Modi-centric campaign and slogan "achhe din aane wale hain", the AAP accused the BJP of "fooling" people before the elections. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed the BJP and the Congress over inflation and corruption to regain the lost ground in the Capital. AAP Haryana in charge Yogendra Yadav said, “The BJP is shying away. Before the Lok Sabha elections, people were not ready to accept criticism but now within the party they too have realised it. The AAP had made a record debut during the December polls and we are going to recreate the magic.” Kejriwal, who turned up one hour late at the venue, said, "The BJP is afraid and it knows it will lose....Even the Congress doesn't want repolls as it may not even secure any seat. But the people of Delhi want fresh polls." Top party leaders, including AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhusahan, Sangrur MP Bhawant Mann, Gopal Rai, Sanjay Singh and Ashutosh among others expressed confidence of victory in the
repolls.
|
||
|
No change in N-liability law, India tells US
New Delhi, August 3 There was no question of diluting the law as it was the property of Parliament. Any amendments in the law could only be made after their approval by Parliament. However, the Indian law was not in any way hindrance to any investment in the nuclear energy sector, the Indian side is believed to have told the American side at the 5th India-US strategic dialogue held last week. The US and other nuclear partners of India like Russia and France have objected to section 17(b) of the Act, saying it runs contrary to the International Convention on Supplementary Convention for Nuclear Damage (CSC). The CSC requires domestic liability laws to conform to a model text but the Indian Act is tougher as it allows legal action against suppliers if an accident is caused by faulty or defective equipment. The US has been quite candid in stating that the Indian law violates the CSC. The full implementation of the nuclear deal that was signed between India and the US in October 2008 is likely to figure prominently during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama during their Summit in late September in Washington. Sources here denied the perception that the nuclear deal has not made much headway because of Washington’s reservations over the Indian Act. Sources recalled that a pre-early works agreement had been signed between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the American Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) in September last year for the construction of two nuclear power reactors at Mithi Virdi in Gujarat. A revised and restated confidentiality agreement between the NPCIL and the WEC has also been finalised to clarify information sharing mechanisms. Commercial negotiations between the NPCIL and the WEC regarding the setting up of two reactors were also taking place. The two American reactors are expected to generate about 10000 MW of power. The joint statement issued by the two sides at the end of the strategic dialogue also stated that the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the nuclear deal. Both sides urged the NPCIL and US companies WEC and General Electric-Hitachi to expedite the necessary work to conclude pricing and contractual details, they looked forward to advancing the government-to-government dialogue and facilitating the establishment of US-built nuclear power plants in India.
The CSC tangle
|
||
|
Top civic body Appointments in Gujarat
AHMEDABAD, August 3 The rise of Shah in the national politics after his mentor Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, has made it imperative for Chief Minister Anandiben Patel to call a truce with her party’s national president. The relations between Shah and Patel had never been very cordial as both compete with each other to be seen as the closest aide to Modi. Both Patel and Shah owe their political career to Modi. Patel joined the politics after retiring as principal of a girls’ college in Ahmedabad, while Modi had seen potential in Shah when he was only an office-bearer of the state ABVP unit in early eighties and has now helped him to take a quantum jump to take over as the national president of the BJP without ever running the state unit of the party. Prime Minister Modi was forced to buy time in announcing his successor even after he had zeroed in on Patel and was given the go ahead by the party high command. It was because Shah had taken strong objections to Patel’s name and Modi reportedly had to defer the announcement to convince his former Minister of State for Home. In the bargain, Patel was named the Chief Minister and Shah, who for the best part of the last three years was spending time in Delhi after his banishment from Gujarat under orders from the Supreme Court in connection with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, was appointed the national president of the ruling part. Well aware that the appointments of chairmen and directors of various boards and corporations could cause political upheavals in the state, Modi had reportedly advised his successor to give due share to Shah’s supporters. The BJP had suffered a vertical split in the state in 1995 over the appointments of chairmen and directors of boards and corporations because the then Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel had totally ignored the claims of the supporters of his rival Shankarsinh Vaghela. Incidentally, Modi was then political adviser of Keshubhai Patel. Party sources said Shah, currently on a three-day visit to his home town, held a detailed discussion with Patel over the choice of his supporters in appointments in Gandhinagar last night. More than 175 posts of director in various boards and corporations and the office of chairman in over 15 boards and corporations are lying vacant and expected to be filled in the next fortnight or so. To maintain BJP’s supremacy in the state, Patel will have to face many electoral battles in the coming days. She will need the support of the national party president, besides the Prime Minister to get her nominees through for the party tickets.
|
||
|
Natwar’s book left unpleasant taste, says Salman Khurshid
Panaji, August 3 Saying that he was saddened at the position taken by Singh against the Congress president, Khurshid also criticised his former colleague for forgetting that a person accepted as a leader in good times needs to remain so in bad times too. The book ‘One Life is Not Enough’ by Singh, who is also known as a mentor of Khurshid and both of them have served in External Affairs Ministry during Congress-led governments, has created a political debate, especially on issues related to Sonia Gandhi not taking up the Prime Ministerial post after the 2004 election. An estranged Gandhi family friend, Singh had to resign from the UPA-I Government in 2005 in the wake of the Iraqi oil-for-food scam. Later, he also quit the Congress. “We have benefited enormously from his (Natwar Singh’s) guidance in the past. I am saddened that somebody who gave us good counsel and guidance should himself have forgotten that,” Khurshid said. “It saddens me greatly and on this occasion I say that all of us have, I think, enormous gratitude to the Congress leadership, Congress president Sonia Gandhi. When you accept someone as your leader, it can’t be only for good times, it has to be for good times and bad times,” he said. To a query on Singh who said that Sonia Gandhi declined prime ministership on the advice of Rahul Gandhi, Khurshid said he was not privy to all the discussions. “We can only go by what we have heard from Sonia Gandhi, what she said publicly. That is something we have repeated many times and we have respected her for it. Within confines of a family discussion, there can be many factors that could be discussed, but ultimately you can only accept what your leader says,” he said — PTI
|
||
|
BrahMos may be exported
New Delhi, August 3 “Several South-East Asian and Latin American countries want the BrahMos, expressed interest in it, particularly for the naval and coastal defence versions. A definite list of such countries already exists. We are progressing with our marketing strategy for exporting BrahMos to certain nations, subject to clearance from both Indian and Russian governments,” BrahMos Aerospace CEO Sudhir Kumar Mishra said. “We expect several export contracts to be signed with nations friendly to both India and Russia in the near future,” he said. Mishra declined to name the countries that have shown interest in the missile system but Defence Ministry sources say Vietnam and Indonesia in South-East Asia and Venezuela in Latin America have expressed willingness to procure the missile. —PTI
|
||
|
separate gurdwara committee for haryana
Talking to mediapersons after attending a function to mark the death anniversary of Maan Singh Manhera here, the Chief Minister said Haryana Sikhs had played into the hands of the Congress government by constituting the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC). Defending his party's support to the SGPC, he said the sole motive of the Shiromani Akal Dal (SAD) was to uphold the sovereignty of the SGPC. He called upon the intellectuals to advise the Haryana Government against supporting the HSGMC as it was creating a law and order problem. Badal said the Congress was dreaming to recapture power in Haryana by pursuing its divide and rule policy, but Sikh voters of the state would definitely teach it a lesson. "The Sikhs in Haryana had already rejected the issue of a separate committee by giving a humiliating defeat to its protagonists in the last SGPC elections and they will definitely repeat their mandate in the coming Assembly elections also," he added. On the ongoing agitation of ETT teachers, the Chief Minister said the doors of the state government were open for all employees and an amicable solution to their demands could be found through deliberations, he added.
|
||
|
HSGMC members to meet Hooda today
Kaithal, August 3 "The Punjab Government and SAD leaders are openly helping the SGPC to retain the control of Haryana gurdwaras. The SAD is not the sole champion of Sikhs' interests. If the party can help the SGPC, the HSGMC can also get the help of the Congress government of Haryana," said an HSGMC senior functionary. “SAD leaders and SGPC members are camping in our gurdwaras, misusing our donations and still propagating against us. No Haryana Sikh is against the HSGMC, but only SGPC members and SAD leaders are spreading misinformation against it to misuse our 'golak' money," said HSGMC general sectary Joga singh. "We will not tolerate the illegal occupation of the Sikh shrines,” he said.
|
||
|
Charge Hooda with sedition: Jagir Kaur
Kurukshetra August 3 Talking to mediapersons after visiting Gurudwara Chathi Patshahi here, she said: “The SGPC is a democratic body, Election Commission of India bears its elections expenses and it is working as per the Constitution of India."
|
||
|
Akash threatens to ‘shoot down’ Indo-French missile
New Delhi, August 3 The proposed joint venture is planned between the DRDO and French missile manufacturer MBDA under which they plan to produce short-range surface-to-air missile (SR-SAM) systems for the Indian Air Force as part of the Maitri programme. The Akash air defence missile system has already been developed by the DRDO indigenously and its development trials were completed successfully by the agency in Odisha recently. The SR-SAM is also planned to be a project in the same class, sources say. The IAF feels when the indigenous system meets the requirements of the force then there is no need to import or co-develop a similar system, they say. Under the proposed SR-SAM project, the IAF has to induct 49 missile firing units (MFUs) of the co-developed missiles. The IAF has already placed orders for eight squadrons of the Akash surface-to-air missile and will need another 25 squadrons of the weapon systems to meet its requirement of air defence missiles of this range, the sources say. The induction will also save a lot of foreign exchange and help expand the indigenous missile production industry in view of the large orders to be placed, they say. The negotiations for the SR-SAM project began in 2007-08 and it was discussed in detail in parleys between the Indian and French governments during visits by senior dignitaries to each other’s country. During talks between French President Francois Hollande and the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in January 2013, the two sides had stated that negotiations for finalisation of the joint development programme had been concluded. The indigenously developed Akash missile, with a 27-km range and an effective ceiling of 15 km, was recently test-fired from Integrated Test Range in Balasore, Odisha. The Akash weapon system has been designed, developed and led to production by the DRDO for defending and protecting important assets of the country from penetrating aerial attacks. The missile is planned to be inducted into the Army and the Air Force. It was developed by the DRDO as part of the integrated missile development programme under which Agni, Prithvi, Trishul and Nag missiles were to be developed. — PTI
|
||
|
IAF grounds 40 Dhruv copters
New Delhi, August 3 The ALH Dhruv helicopters in the IAF fleet will not fly till thorough checks are carried out on them, IAF sources said today. The Army, which uses the Advanced Light Helicopters for its high-altitude operations is also learnt to have taken similar precautions before allowing its pilots to fly them. Meanwhile, the black box of the helicopter, which had taken off from Bareilly and crashed after losing radio and radar contact with ground stations while it was on its way to Allahabad, has been sent to Bangalore for detailed examination. — PTI
|
||
|
Woman gangraped, thrown out of auto
Maheshtala (WB), August 3 Additional Superintendent of Police Rabindranath Abharu said four persons had been arrested. However, prime accused Shafiq, who was in relationship with the woman, is absconding. Abharu said the woman, who had been deserted by her husband and lived with her mother at Akra, had been called by Shafiq on July 31 evening. He picked her up in an autorickshaw. Four of his friends were also in the vehicle. The woman was then offered a drink and she lost consciousness after consuming it. The five then allegedly gangraped her and threw her out of the vehicle around 11 pm at Akra, he said. — PTI
|
||
|
Rlys slaps Rs 1 lakh fine on IRCTC for cockroach in food
New Delhi, Aug 3 “We had launched a special drive in the last month to detect quality of food being served in different trains. We found bad quality food in some trains and action was taken against caterers accordingly,” a senior Railway Ministry official said. Besides Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), RK Associates, Sunshine Caterers, Satyam Caterers, Brandavan Food Products were among those fined, the official said. “IRCTC was fined Rs one lakh as a cockroach was found in the food in Kolkata Rajdhani on July 23,” the official said adding, “bad food was found in 13 trains”. Besides Kolkata Rajdhani, other trains covered during the special drive include Paschim Express, Pushpak Express, Motihari Express, Shiv Ganga Express, Golden Temple Mail, Netravati Express, Punjab Mail, Howrah-Amritsar Mail and Chandigarh Shatabdi. While in some trains food was found to be kept in unhygienic conditions, in others it was either found to be stale or substandard, the official said, adding, fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh have been imposed. “A caterer would lose licence, if found at fault five times,” the official said. Plagued by a number of complaints regarding the quality of food, Railways have made a concerted attempt to improve quality of food being served in trains. Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda had announced in the Rail Budget that a course correction will be made in catering service to address the problem. According to the plan, top caterers like ITC, MTR and Haldiram have been roped in to serve pre-cooked food in trains on a trial basis. Six trains, including three premier trains Rajdhani, Duronto, Shatabdi, have been selected for introduction of pre-cooked food by ITC, MTR and Haldiram. Items like ‘Chicken Chettinad’, ‘Hyderabadi Biryani’, ‘Sambar Rice’ and ‘Rajma Chawal’ are among the mouth-watering dishes to be offered on these trains. The pre-cooked food will be packaged food which are just required to put into microwave before being served hot. — PTI
|
||
|
Railways needs Rs 5 lakh cr for ongoing projects
New Delhi, August 3 Informing the Lok Sabha earlier last week about the expected cost of the ongoing projects, Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said keeping in mind the various pending projects announced by previous governments, he had refrained from announcing any new projects in the Railway Budget this year. At present, there are 362 major ongoing railway projects across the country. He said 113 out of the 362 new lines, gauge conversion and doubling projects had been included in the Railway Budgets during 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. The Railway Minister said the public sector undertaking had a huge throw forward of ongoing projects and a limited overall availability of funds. “As such, it is not possible to allocate adequate funds to the projects on a regular basis, which is a prerequisite to fix timelines and schedules,” he said.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Kathmandu, August 3
New Delhi, August 3
AHMEDABAD, August 3
New Delhi, August 3
Chandigarh, August 3