Central ministers from Bihar drop pre-poll projects
The offices of the Union ministers of state for water resources, information technology and rural development, which were humming with activity prior to the Assembly polls in Bihar, now wear a deserted look. The reason
G-20 sets deadline for developed nations
The Group of 20 developing countries ministerial meeting today set a five-year time frame for doing away with trade distorting export subsidies by rich countries even as it sought to reach common ground with other developing country alliances. Remaining united on key issues, the group issued a joint statement about …
EPA protects public from mercury but not lead
A rule that will significantly reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants throughout the US has been announced this week by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). Taken together with the recent Clean Air Interstate Rule, the new Clean Air Mercury Rule will reduce electric utility mercury emissions by nearly 70% …
e-Governance: Gulbarga RTO sets trend
Gulbarga became the first district in north Karnataka and the fourth in the State to embrace e-Governance in the transport department when it launched the issue of computerised multi coloured Poly Venyl Chloride Driving Licence Card (PVC-DLC) system. The new state-of-the-art system replaces the issue of plastic driving licence card. …
NEGP: State projects may get major share of World Bank aid
The State-level e-governance projects spanning land records, property registration, agriculture and municipalities are expected to get a massive thrust, with a whopping 50-75 per cent of the World Bank's proposed $500-million assistance for the National e-Governance Plan (NEGP) likely to flow into these initiatives. According to senior officials in the …
Disaster s relics on sale
Parts of Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power station, the site of the world's severest civil nuclear catastrophe that occurred in 1986, will be sold as scrap in March 2005. The money raised will pay for constructing a 20,000-tonne steel case over the present sarcophagus of the plant's reactor (the dome shaped …
Seminar on challenges in post-reform period
A two-day national seminar on "Emerging Challenges in the Post-Reform Period' concluded at the Haryana Institute of Rural Development Nilokheri today.Dr L.N. Dahiya, former Pro-Vice Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in his address highlighted the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) agreement and its impact on India's rural …
$500 mn for e-governance Plan
The World Bank has offered $500 mn assistance for the first phase of the national e-governance plan. "In 2005 the World Bank approved the India government's e-governance project concept and gave the green light to proceed which could in-principle lead to a contemplated $500 mn financing over the next four …
World Bank offers $500 million for national e-governance project
The World Bank has agreed in principle to provide $ 500 million for India's National e-Governance Plan (NEGP) over the next four years. The Bank has approved the project concept and has given the green signal to support NEGP projects, a senior economist at the bank, Mark Dutz, said. The …
Central aid for Dal Lake conservation: Mir
Centre has approved Rs. 237.70 crore project for conservation of Dal lake in Jammu and Kashmir. An amount of Rs. 6.50 crore has been released upto ending January 2005 to Lakes and Waterways Development Authority for carrying Dal conservation measures. This information was given by the Minister for Tourism and …
Concern over slow progress of HP projects
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has expressed concern about poor and slow pace of implementation of Catchment Area Treatment Plans (CAT Plans)of various hydro-electric projects in this hill state due to the non-release of funds by the Himachal Government. Interestingly, various project authorities have deposited an approximate amount of …
Good monsoons help state register 7.8 per cent growth
The Economic Survey for 2004-05 has painted a rosy picture of the state of economy projecting a growth rate of 7.8 per cent Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). The projection is higher than the anticipated national growth rate of 6.9 per cent. The growth rate during 2002-03 and 2003-04 were …
Kerala showing way in decentralisation
Kerala's decentralised planning experiment launched in mid-90s, coupled with the creation of legal framework for devolution of powers and resources, can be a model for other states, according to MA Oommen of the Institute of Social Sciences. In his study on
MIDC enters debt market to fund irrigation
The Maharashtra Irrigation Development Corporation (MIDC), a special purpose vehicle launched by the state government has floated a bond issue of Rs 350 crore with a greenshoe option of Rs 750 crore. It bears the coupon rates ranging between 8% and 8.25%. The corporation proposes to use proceeds for funding …
Crisil sees 7 pc growth in economy
The Indian economy can achieve 7 per cent growth in the next financial year due to conditions such as foreign investment, initiatives in the direct taxes and money committed to infrastructure, said Mr Subir Gokarn, Executive Director and Chief Economist of Crisil. He was speaking at the seminar on 'India …
Rs 9,308-crore allocated for NE
An allocation of Rs 9,308 crore has been made for the north-eastern region for the fiscal 2005-06. Finance Minister P Chidambaram allocated Rs 450 crore in the Budget proposals 2005-06, as a special package for highway development in this region.
Rs 1,100-cr WB aid to civic bodies
Municipal Administration Minister Koneru Ranga Rao informed the House that the World Bank has been extending financial assistance of Rs 1,100 crore for municipalities in the State for improvement of infrastructure facilities.In a written reply to a question posed by Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and N Amaranatha Reddy, he said out …
Hike in rural projects for Bharat Nirman
The budget allocation for rural development has been hiked by almost 33 per cent this year,in keeping with what President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had outlined in his address, spelling out his vision for
Stimulus for economy, hopes for the poor
The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, has delivered on the expectations of almost all sections of the society. His Budget for 2005-06, presented to Parliament on Monday, has a welcome income-tax package for the middle class, a response to corporate sector's long-standing demand for lowering the tax rate, a renewed …
