Bio-diesel: Kanuga to be cultivated on large scale
Gearing itself to take up large-scale cultivation of Pongamia, popularly known as Kanuga whose oil is extracted and used as bio diesel, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department in raising three crore Pongamia seedlings in its 2,000-odd nurseries in the state. They will be distribute among the Vana Samrakshana Samithis for …
Developing villages in UP
The Uttar Pradesh Mandi Parishad has adopted 200 backward villages of the state and earrmarked Rs 25 crore for their development under the
CII study identifies economic challenges
A comprehensive study recently conducted by the research wing of the confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has identified four key 'challenges' that can play a big role in enhancing the economy of the country for the next 10 years.
CMP does provide room for reform: Montek
The Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, said that there was enough elbowroom within the framework of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government to carry out hard decisions and push for economic reforms to realise the seven to eight per cent economic …
Hydel will submerge forest: Antony
The Pathrakkadavu hydel project will submerge 4.10 hectares of forests, Kerala CM A K Antony told the Assembly. The project is opposed by environmentalists as it is near the Silent Valley National Park.
Economists give hot problems cold scrutiny
Ambitious Danish statistician and environmental maverick Bjorn Lomborg recently put the question to eight of the world's sharpest minds in economics, including three Nobel Prize winners. Based on a list of global challenges identified by the UN, Lomborg instructed them to name the world's top 10 worst problems, then rank …
UPA govt to recast development schemes
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government wants to recast the country's development schemes and put its own distinct stamp on them. And to do so, it plans a review of all ongoing schemes, particularly those introduced by the NDA government. The exercise, however, will take some time to take off. …
Water fuelled car around the corner?
The world's first mass produced water-fuelled car could be just round the corner, parked in your driveway or careening down the fast lane, so long as its inventors remain anonymous and beyond the long arm of the powerful oil mafia for another 18 months. The startling claim by an environmental …
A unique interface with Tonk villagers
In a unique attempt to reach out to the masses, the district administration in Tonk in southern Rajasthan has launched a "Vikas Samvad" programme to disseminate information relating to all the Government schemes to the rural populace in the local dialect and help them solve their day to day problems.
ADB to double rural spread
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will double its sanctions for the development of the rural sector for 2005-07 at Rs 11,500 crore. A large chunk of the total sum will be directed towards completion of various projects, under the government's Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP). The spread coincides with the …
More funds likely for rural development board
Bowing to demands from MLAs of the Outer Delhi parliamentary constituency, the Delhi Government is contemplating making financial budgetary provisions for the Rural Development Board on the lines of the Trans-Yamuna Development Board. The effort is being seen as an attempt to give a thrust to developmental activities in the …
Rajasthan united on water sharing
Cutting across party lines, the state Assembly today unanimouslly passed a resolution countering the resolution countering the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly blocking the release of Rajasthan's share of water from the Ravi-Beas and the Sutlej rivers. Tabling the resolution in the House, Ms Raje said even after spending …
British aid for providing livelihood opportunities
The British Deputy High Commissioner in Southern India, Stuart Innes, today handed over a cheque for Rs. 8.23 lakhs to Kuthambakkam panchayat president, Elango. The fund will be used to start a panchayat academy for sustainable livelihood. "The aim of this project is to establish a rural network which will …
GDP surges 8.2 pc on all-round growth
According to the 'revised estimates' of national income for 2003-04, released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 8.2 per cent in real terms, compared to 4 per cent during 2002-03. Only on three occasions earlier has the GDP growth surpassed the 8 …
Helping rural India
The Chinese model of rural business hubs that Dr Manmohan Singh recommended for adoption to the Chief Ministers on Tuesday can be followed in states like Punjab and Haryana provided an environment for the growth of agriculture-industry linkages is created. Agriculture productivity is declining in the absence of industrial support …
Dharam Singh seeks more funds for rural development
The Chief Minister, Dharam Singh, has urged the Union Rural Development Ministry and the Planning Commission to work out a fresh formula for sharing the Central funds earmarked for rural development. At a conference of Chief Ministers on Poverty Alleviation and Rural Prosperity through Panchayati Raj, convened by the Prime …
On paper, job guarantee; on ground, dole down a hole
The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has already issued a warning: the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) that the Centre wants to push through could cost as much as Rs 32,224 crore. Now, to see if this will be money well spent, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram would do well …
DJB to penalise if you run booster
The Delhi Jal Board's endless pleas to ask residents to stop using online booster pumps have actually yielded results in Vasant Vihar. In a tie-up with the Board, the Vasant Vihar Residents Welfare Association on May 22 agreed to remove online boosters on one street. Vasant Vihar RWA president Gautam …
