NWDA Receives 36 Proposals of Intra-State River Links from 7 States

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Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Water Resources

NWDA Receives 36 Proposals of Intra-State River Links from 7 States

New Delhi: September 8, 2010.

 

National Water Development Agency (NWDA) under Ministry of Water Resources has received 36 proposals of intra-state links from 7 States viz. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu so far.  Out of above, Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of 12 intra-state links have been completed by NWDA.  Details of intra-state link proposals received from the State Governments along with the names of respective rivers to be interlinked and status of studies is given below :- 

  

S. No.	Name of  intra-state link	Present status / Target of Completion of PFR
	Maharashtra
1.	Wainganga (Goshikurd) – Nalganga (Purna Tapi)   [Wainganga – Western Vidarbha & Pranhita – Wardha links merged and extended through Kanhan – Wardha link]	Completed
2.	Wainganga – Manjra Valley	Completed
3.	Upper Krishna – Bhima (system of Six links)	2010 – 11
4.	Upper Ghat – Godavari Valley	2010 – 11
5.	Upper Vaitarna – Godavari Valley	2010 – 11
6.	North Konkan – Godavari Valley	2010 – 11
7.	Koyna – Mumbai city	2010 – 11
8.	Sriram Sagar Project (Godavari) – Purna – Manjira	*
9.	Wainganga  (Goshikurd) – Godavari (SRSP)	*
10.	Middle Konkan – Bhima Valley	*
11.	Koyna – Nira	*
12.	Mulsi – Bhima	*
13.	Savithri – Bhima	*
14.	Kolhapur – Sangli – Sangola	*
15.	Riverlinking projects of Tapi basin and Jalgaon District	*
16.	Nar – Par - Girna valley	*
17.	Narmada – Tapi	*
18.	Khariagutta – Navatha Satpura foot hills	*
19.	Kharia Ghuti Ghat – Tapi	*
20.	Jigaon – Tapi – Godavari Valley	*
	Gujarat
21.	Damanganga – Sabarmati – Chorwad	2011 – 12
	Orissa
22.	Mahanadi – Brahmani	Completed
23.	Mahanadi – Rushikulya (Barmul Project)	2011 – 12
24.	Vamsadhara – Rushikulya (Nandini Nalla project)	2011 – 12
	Jharkhand
25.	South Koel – Subernarekha	Completed
26.	Sankh – South Koel	Completed
27.	Barkar – Damodar – Subernarekha	Completed
	Bihar
28.	Kosi – Mechi [entirely lie in India]	Completed
29.	Barh – Nawada	Completed
30.	Kohra – Chandravat (now Kohra-Lalbegi)	Completed
31.	Burhi Gandak – None – Baya - Ganga	Completed
32.	Burhi Gandak – Bagmati [Belwadhar]	Completed
33.	Kosi – Ganga	Completed
	Rajasthan
34.	Mahi – Luni link	*
35.	Wakal – Sabarmati – Sei – West Banas – Kameri link	*
	Tamil Nadu
36.	Pennaiyar – Palar link	*

*      Targets being fixed in consultations with concerned states.

 

sk/rs/dk/kol/16:50 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Coal

Coal Ministry to Issue Show-Cause Notices to De-Allocate 97 Coal and Lignite Blocks

New Delhi: September 8, 2010.

 

The Coal Ministry has decided to issue show-cause notices to various coal companies to de-allocate 93 coal and 4 lignite blocks for not making sincere efforts for the development of these blocks for the past several years. These coal companies were issued several reminders also in the past. So far, the Government has allocated 207 coal blocks for the development of coal resources.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting recently held in the Ministry. Out of these 93 coal blocks, 45 belongs to Government sector companies while 48 belongs to the private sector companies. All the 4 lignite blocks belongs to the private sector companies.

In addition, twenty-three Government and private sector companies have been issued Advisories to complete the process for the development of the blocks allotted to them at the earliest to avoid de-allocation of their blocks.

In view of the increasing demand for coal, the Government is making all efforts to enhance production through fast-track development of coal blocks. The de-allocation drive is part of this process.

 

ncj/sr/dk/kol/16:50 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Commerce & Industry

India-Peru mutual Cooperation can boost bilateral Trade: Scindia Inaugurates the Forum and Business Roundtable

New Delhi: September 8, 2010.

 

Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, while inaugurating the India- Peru Seminar and Business Meet in Peru on September 06 2010, has stated that, "India and the Latin American countries have steadily gravitated towards each other since the turn of the century, evidenced by the rising bilateral trade and investment flows." He is presently leading a business delegation to Peru to participate in a series of India-Latin America Conclave and Business meets.

During the visit, Shri Scindia met the Peruvian Minister for Commerce and Tourism; Mr. Martin Perez and discussed issues of mutual interest including measures to be adopted to increase bilateral trade and investment. The Minister highlighted the success of the Indian economy, the opportunities present in India for Peruvian investment and the interest of Indian companies to work in Peru and with Peruvian companies in various fields including hydrocarbons, minerals, pharmaceuticals, food processing, textiles, fertilizers & chemicals and information technology etc.

The visit of the business delegation aims at successfully holding the Forum and Business Roundtable on Opportunities for investment in India and trade opportunities between India and Peru. The Forum and Business Roundtable was jointly inaugurated by Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia and Mr. Martin Perez, Minister for Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Peru. Together they called for enhancement of India-Peru economic engagement through a higher level of investment, capacity building and trade. The Minister observed that India can benefit from exporting manufactured goods to Peru and that India was also keen to invest in Peru as well as develop joint ventures for common projects. Given the synergies flowing out of complementarities in the growing economies of Peru and India, there is considerable scope for improving upon trade and investment between the countries with entrepreneurial communities like the CII of India and the Lima Chamber of Commerce of Peru taking a lead role. The delegation that accompanied Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia covered a variety of sectors including food, automobiles and transportation, irrigation pumps, law firms, infrastructure development, power and electricity, etc.

 

rj/dk/kol/16:51 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Harmonization of the Provisions of the Companies Bill, 2009 with the International Financial Reporting Standards Recommended

New Delhi: September 8, 2010.

 

The Standing Committee of Parliament, which thoroughly examined The Companies Bill, 2009, has observed that there are several matters included in the Bill, which need modification with a view to harmonizing them with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Committee has, therefore, desired that all such matters requiring harmonization with IFRS should be considered and appropriate amendments may be made in the relevant proposals contained in the Bill. The Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) presented  its Twenty-First Report, which pertains to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, to the Parliament recently.

The Committee's examination of the subject and the replies of the Ministry received thereon reveal that the following provisions/clauses of the Bill require modification for achieving convergence with IFRS:

2(1) (b)   (Definition of the term 'accounting standard)

46(2):     Utilisation of securities premium account

49(1):         -do-

59(3):     Reduction of share capital

110(2):   Prescription o depreciation rates

117 (1) and 117 (4):  Financial statements to comply with accounting standards

201        Schemes of Mergers and amalgamations.

 

kkp/ska/dk/kol/16:51 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Culture

India and Poland Sign Cooperation Programme in the Field of Culture

New Delhi: September 8, 2010.

 

India and Poland have signed a cooperation programme in the field of culture for the years 2010-2013. The signing ceremony was held in New Delhi yesterday after the delegation level talks between the two countries led by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister of Poland Shri Donald Tusk. The programme envisages among other things cooperation in the domain of disseminating information concerning cultural heritage of both countries. Both the countries shall support cooperation in the field of protection and conservation of monuments between institutions and organizations. Each of the parties shall organize a two-week internship stay one expert from the other party's country. According to the programme both the countries shall encourage cooperation in the scope of conservation of Stefan Norblin's works remaining on the territory of the Republic of India.

Both the countries shall cooperate in order to prevent the illicit import, export and transport of ownership of cultural property constituting their cultural heritage, pursuant to legal regulations in force and to relevant international conventions signed by both countries.

Both the countries shall encourage direct cooperation between International Cultural Centre in Krakow and INTACH in New Delhi.

Both the countries shall support direct cooperation between museums on terms and conditions determined by relevant museums.

Both the countries shall support development of cooperation between National Archives of India and Poland, pursuant to direct agreements between them, in particular in the scope of organizing visits of archivists, implementation of common projects, exchange of information, publications and copies of archive documents constituting objects of interest to each of the Parties.

Both the countries shall support cooperation between National Libraries, in particular in the area of exchange of information and publications.

In the field of cinematography, both the countries shall support direct cooperation between institutions, organizations and other entities in the domain of film production, providing film services, exchange of films on commercial and non-commercial terms, organization of film presentation and participation in international festivals organized in the other party's country. Both the countries shall support cooperation between association of filmmakers and National Film Archive of India and Poland.

Both the countries shall support mutual cooperation in the field of visual and fine arts, including direct contacts between relevant institutions, in order to exchange exhibitions and organize visits of artists and curators.

Both the countries shall organize a two-week internship stay for one expert from the other party's country in the domain of fashion design.

Both the countries shall support cooperation in the field of dance, theatre, music, folklore with a view to present the most valuable elements in cultural heritage of India and Poland.

Both the countries shall support presentation of musical pieces of composers origination from the other party's country.

Both the countries shall support translation of literary works of their authors into a language or languages of the other party.

Both the countries shall support direct cooperation between art schools from both countries, in particular fine arts and theatre schools. All details pertaining to the cooperation shall be agreed upon by relevant schools and universities.

 

ad/db/dk/kol/16:51 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

NACO and Global Fund Sign a 3 Year Grant Agreement to Scale up HIV/AIDS Related Services in India

New Delhi: September 8, 2010.

 

The Government of India and Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) today signed a three year grant agreement for US $ 128.4 million (Rupees 609.9 crore) to support the continuation of flagship programmes of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), M/o Health & Family Welfare. The agreement was signed during a meeting between Shri K. Chandramouli, Secretary & Director General, NACO and Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director, GFATM. The programmes covered under the grant agreement include Integrated Counseling and Testing services, Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) services aimed at preventing new born infants from contracting HIV from their mothers and HIV-TB collaborative services.

The overall goal of the grant will be to reach and diagnose an estimated 65 percent of the HIV infected people in India and link them to care, support and treatment services. In order to achieve this, NACO through this grant aims to counsel and test 1.82 crore clients annually in as many as 10,700 Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers (ICTCs) by the end of the project (2012). Special focus will be given to antenatal women, high risk groups such as female sex workers, men who have sex with men, intravenous drug users as well as people with sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis.

NACO also intends to work in collaboration with the National Rural Health Mission and increase the number of facility integrated ICTCs in Primary Health Centers from 1000 currently to 4755. The number of facility integrated ICTCs under the Public Private Partnership scheme in private sector will also be increased from 266 to 1600 by the end of the three year period.

Of the estimated 65,000 HIV positive pregnant women in the country, NACO will reach and identify 60 percent of them to administer prophylactic treatment to prevent mother to child transmission under the PPTCT programme. In order to achieve this target, 83 lakh pregnant women will be annually counseled and tested in ICTCs.

In the three year period an estimated 70 percent of HIV infected TB patients will be detected through an intensified package of HIV-TB collaboration services.

In addition, capacity of the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) and 20 State Institutes of Health and Family Welfare and 5 National Institutes under TB programme will also be built through the establishment of an HIV unit, with requisite infrastructure and human resource strengthening. Also, cold storage units will be set up in 110 warehouses across the country to store thermolabile products like rapid HIV diagnostic kits etc. Further to improve supply chain management, a nation wide logistics management and information system will be installed.

NACO has recently applied for the Round 10 funding of the Global Fund. The proposal is to reduce vulnerability among most at risk migrant population, so that the HIV epidemic can be contained. India's revised migrant strategy envisages identifying high out migration locations at source and transit (besides destination), providing the migrant population information about HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and safe migration. Linking this population to public health services for STI, ICTCs, Anti retroviral therapy, Rashtriya Swasthiya Bima Yojana (National Health Insurance Scheme), Village Health Nutrition Day etc are the key areas that is expected to be addressed by the village level workers and Volunteer Peer Leaders in the revised migrant strategy.

 

ds/gk/dk/kol/16:52 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Rural Development

Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Program get a shot in arm Government's nod to 21,000 strong workforce

Block Resource Centres to be set up all over the country

New Delhi: September 8, 2010.

 

Rural drinking water and sanitation flagship programs of NRDWP and Total Sanitation Campaign got a shot in arm today with the Government 's go ahead to hire the services of about 21,000 young men and women to work for community mobilization, awareness generation campaigns, training and handholding, sanitation and hygiene, water quality surveillance, etc. among Gram Panchayats, Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) and Gram Sabhas to enable them to manage their drinking water schemes and achieve total sanitation in their villages. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Rural Development would provide support for hiring the services of about 21,000 young men and women to work for this purpose. The decision is aimed at strengthening the decentralization process and to enable the rural communities, Gram Panchayats and Village and Water Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) to manage their local drinking water supply and sanitation.

Already as a part of Bharat Nirman, Government of India has decided to provide 100% grant to all States/ UTs as institutional support to set up functional State Water and Sanitation Support Organizations, District Water & Sanitation Mission (DWSMs) and Block Resource Centres (BRCS) for the flagship programs of National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP) and Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC). Under the provisions of 73rd Amendment of the Constitution, if GPs, VWSCs and local communities are to manage their village water supply, local water sources, sanitation, etc., they have to be assisted with adequate human resources for mobilization of village communities; awareness generation on various aspects of safe drinking water, hygiene, sanitation; training and hand holding. At present this institutional support is not available in many parts of the country.

In this backdrop, Government of India has earmarked 5% of the NRDWP funds as 100% grant to States to take up various support activities in which the major initiative is to set up a fully functional State Water & Sanitation Support Organization (WSSO) and District Water & Sanitation Missions (DWSMs) at the State and district levels respectively. Provision has been made for procuring the services of well qualified manpower as sector specialists for these missions in different fields, viz. information, education & communication; training and capacity building; awareness generation; community mobilization; equity; monitoring and evaluation; hydrogeology; sanitation and hygiene etc. Detailed guidelines have been sent to all States to fill up the posts of these specialists, totaling about 3200, at the State and district levels by 31st December, 2010.

In addition, as a support structure and to take up awareness generation, mobilization, training and continuous handholding of Gram Panchayats, VWSCs and the Gram Sabhas, it has been decided to set up Block Resource Centre in all the 6442 Blocks/ Talukas/ Mandals of the country with 1-4 staff in each BRC. They will provide support to 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats and 6 lakh Village Water & Sanitation Committees. Provision has also been made to involve reputed NGOs in running and managing these Block Resource Centres (BRCs). Detailed guidelines have been issued for setting up of BRCs with staff by 31st March, 2011.

It is expected that the decision will strengthen the operationalization of rural drinking water and sanitation flagship programs of NRDWP and Total Sanitation Campaign, adding on to the decentralization process and create an enabling environment for the rural communities, GPs and VWSCs to manage their local drinking water supply and sanitation.

 

akt/st/bs/dk/kol/16:52 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Urban Development

Benchmarks for the Urban Water Supply

New Delhi: September 8, 2010.

 

The Ministry of Urban Development has formulated Service Level Benchmarks for the urban water supply sector with the intention of emphasizing service delivery outcomes, enforcing accountability and facilitating performance monitoring.

The benchmarks indicators in respect of the water supply sector include coverage of water supply connections; per capita supply of water; continuity of water supply, quality of water supplied, efficiency in redressal of customer complaints etc. Benchmark values have been specified for each of the indicators.

 

ncj/sr/dk/kol/16:53 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Planning Commission

Constitution of an Advisory Committee on Implementation of Drought Mitigation Strategies in Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

New Delhi: September 8, 2010.

 

The Planning Commission has constituted an Advisory Committee on implementation of the Drought Mitigation Strategies in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The Advisory Committee to be chaired by Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission will have, among others, Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Bundelkhand as its members. In addition to the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission the Committee will comprise of the following Members:

 

i)             Shri V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs,

ii)            Shri Pradeep Kumar Jain 'Aditya', Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development,

iii)           Shri B. K. Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission,

iv)           Dr. Mihir Shah, Member, Planning Commission

v)            Prof. Abhijit Sen, Member, Planning Commission

vi)           Smt. Sudha Pillai, Member- Secretary, Planning Commission

vii)          Shri R. K. Singh Patel, Member of Parliament, Banda, Uttar Pradesh,

viii)         Shri Vijay Bahadur Singh, Member of Parliament, Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh,

ix)           Shri Ghanshyam Anuragi, Member of Parliament, Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh

x)            Dr. Virendra Kumar, Member of Parliament, Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh

xi)           Shri Ashok Argal, Member of Parliament,  Bhind, Madhya Pradesh,

xii)          Shri Jeetendra Singh Bundela, Member of Parliament, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh,

xiii)         Shri Shivraj Singh Lodhi, Member of Parliament, Damoh, Madhya Pradesh,

xiv)         Dr. J. S. Samra, Chief Executive Officer, National Rainfed Area Authority who will be the Member- Secretary of the Advisory Committee

 

The Specific Terms of Reference assigned to the Advisory Committee are:

 

i)             Advising on requirements of Bundelkhand region;

ii)            Suggesting future strategy for development of Bundelkhand region;

iii)           Giving suggestions on Bundelkhand Package; and

iv)           Advising on need for new schemes for development of Bundelkhand region.

 

It may be recalled that the Cabinet has approved a Special Package at a cost of Rs.7,266 crore for implementation of a drought mitigation strategy over a period of three years commencing from 2009-10 for integrated development of Bundelkhand regions in the States of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The region comprises of seven districts of Uttar Pradesh (Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur and Mahoba) and six districts of Madhya Pradesh (Chhatarpur, Damoh, Datia, Panna, Sagar and Tikamgarh).

The prime mover of the package is optimization of water resources through rainwater harvesting and through proper utilization of the river systems. Intensive and diversified agriculture is to be promoted for productivity gains in the crops along with promoting higher sown area in the Kharif season. Animal husbandry and dairy activities will be expanded as an ancillary activity to enhance farmers' incomes to cope with the drought conditions.

 

nnk/rk/dk/kol/16:53 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Planning Commission

Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to Play Active Role in the Implementation of UID (Aadhaar Programme)

New Delhi: September 8, 2010.

 

Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Unique Identification Authority of India have agreed that the Panchayati Raj Institutions as the units of local self governments will be active partners in the UID Programme.

Inability to prove identity is one of the major barriers that prevents the poor from accessing the benefits and subsidies available under various developmental and welfare programmes. Better delivery of services through better access and inclusion of the poor, marginalised and the underprivileged is a major objective of the UID programme.

Panchayats have a role in both planning and implementing some of the major programmes. There are a total of 28,18,290 elected representatives of Panchayats at all three levels in 23 States and 6 Union Territories of which 10,39,058 are women. This large number of natural grass roots leaders is best placed to generate awareness about the UID Programme and ensure that the process of enrolment is inclusive. They can act as influencers, be introducers for people without documents and enrollers too, if they so choose. Gram Sabhas provide the forum for awareness generation as well as platform for ensuring inclusion.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Unique Identification Authority of India have agreed to work together in ensuring organic linkages of PRIs in the UID Mission on a continuing basis not only for enrolments at the initial stage but also for authentication and subsequent applications in providing better and accountable local governance.

 

ds/gk/dk/kol/16:54 hrs.

 

--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
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