Marching from stability to development
If, for Capt Amarinder Singh 2002 was the "year of stabilisation', the next year 2003 has been designated as the "year of development'. Having inherited from the Akalis a "dismal state with empty coffers and a huge debt of Rs 32,486 crore and contigent liabilities due to issue of guarantees …
Amarinder, Mufti discuss bilateral issues
A delegation led by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, called on the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to discuss certain bilateral issues involving the two states, especially pertaining to Ranjit Sagar Dam and the Shahpur Kandi project. Capt Amarinder Singh told his counterpart from J …
Cong to spell out Jal Yudh strategy on March 2
Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, has declared that the strategy of the Jal Yudh (crusade for canal water) would be spelt out at the state-level "Adhikar Rally' at Jhajjar on March 2. He was talking at a press conference along with Congress legislator from …
Infrastructure sectors grew 4.1 % in January
Despite a slowdown in the growth of infrastructure industries in January 2003, the index for six core sectors grew 5.2 per cent during April-January 2002-03, as against 3.1 per cent in the corresponding period last fiscal. According to data released by the government, the six infrastructure sectors posted a growth …
Probe panel to submit report soon
The government said the high-level inquiry panel probing the alleged presence of deadly pesticides in branded packaged water will soon submit its findings. "I am yet to receive the report of the four member inquiry committee but I am scheduled to make a statement in Parliament on the issue relating …
Cabinet okays draft amendment bill
The Haryana Cabinet has approved the draft of the Haryana Municipal Corporation Bill, 2003, with a view to making provisions for consultation with the state government by the State Election Commission before deciding the date of election to the municipal corporations. The draft of the Haryana Municipal Bill, 2003, was …
MP Budget presented
State Finance Minister Col Ajay Narayan Mushran presented the Budget for the year 2003-04, in the Assembly here on Monday. It is the 10th annual budget in a row with a deficit of Rs 559.91 crore. A significant aspect of the budget is that Madhya Pradesh along with 27 other …
Cement: BIS norms made mandatory
The Centre has issued a quality control order that makes it mandatory for the de-controlled cement industry and manufacturers in particular to adhere to the Indian standard specification of cement prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). State Governments have been empowered to take adequate action on erring companies …
Development fund to get Rs 1,450 crore in 2003-04
The Development Reserve Facility, which was launched with much fanfare in the last Budget, has not only failed to take off, but its allocation is also likely to be cut this time. The scheme, to be renamed the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana, has been allocated only Rs 1,450 crore during …
2,000 cr for development
Carrying forward the momentum of infrastructure development, the Centre is likely to create a development fund with an initial corpus of Rs 2,000 crore in the forthcoming Budget. The Infrastructure Development Fund would seek to serve as a fallback system for infrastructure project, and to help projects that fail or …
Groundwater in deep trouble, sinks in South
Delhi got more rain this winter than average but the Central Ground Water Board isn't celebrating. The groundwater is now 2-10 m lower than what is usual for this time of the year. Groundwater is critical in south and southwest Delhi, districts where tubewells were banned two years ago. Groundwater …
AP Plan outlay up 16.6% IT, farm sectors get high allocations
The Andhra Pradesh Government has presented an Rs 33.77-crore surplus Budget for the financial year 2003-04. The Budget envisages a programmed expenditure of Rs 30,304 crore under the non-Plan component and Rs 13,175 crore under the Plan outlay. This reflects an increase of about 16.6 per cent over the last …
Rs. 2131 crore deficit budget for Andhra Pradesh
The Finance Minister Y. Ramakrishnudu presented a Rs 43,480 crore budget for 2003-04 with a special thrust on irrigation, agriculture and poverty alliviation, which is reflected in thhe 16.60 per cent increase in the annual plan outlay.
CNG stations face hurdle to facilitate increased demand
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in the in Dhaka city are facing troubles as they can hardly cope with the pressure of providing fuel to the existing CNG-run vehicles and newly added users everyday. It is estimated that there are nearly 10 thousand vehicles using CNG.
Government asked to clarify position on bottled water
Elders demanded the exact position of the Government on packaged mineral and bottled water in view of the conflicting statements emerging from the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Intervening during question hour, the Deputy Chairperson, Najma Heptullah, asked the Minister of State …
Gross budgetary support for plan panel poised for a hike
Finance Minister Jaswant Singh is understood to have enhanced gross budgetary support for the Planning Commission in Budget 2003-04. The increased GBS of Rs 3,450 crore would be in addition to the earlier decided outlay of Rs 1,17,500 crore, apparently at the instance of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Sources …
Finland tops rankings in WEF infotech report
The Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced the official launch of "The Global Information Technology Report (GITR) 2002-03'. The report surveying the 'Readiness for the Networked World' is the most comprehensive, cross-country assessment of the state of information technology, covering 82 economies around the world.
World Bank clears $150-m loan
The World Bank has announced a $150-million credit through its soft loan window, the International Development Asssociation, for the Andhra Rural Poverty Reduction Report. Expected to benefit over two million households, the project aims to enable the poorest of the poor to participate in decision that affect their lives and …
State budget pro-development: CM
Chief Minister S M Krishna today asserted that the State budget for 2003-04 would be a 'pro-development budget' keeping in view the interests of common man. In a chat with newsmen here, he said that budget preparation was in full swing. "There was a big gap between the people's expectations …
Madhya Pradesh up on development index
Madhya Pradesh has effected a significant reduction in its development deficit, with improvements in areas such as health, education and income. The third human development report of the state has said that increased spending on social services has accelerated human development. The report has also said that during the nineties, …
