Karma Colas
The cola wars have once again been joined with a vengeance, but this time around with a significant difference. For instead of battling each other, the cola czars have collectively taken on the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a public service NGO which has produced a survey showing …
Malaysia firm inpact for Punjba townships
The real estate sector in Punjab is on the upswing, with the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Auhtority (PUDA) inking an agreement with IJM Corporation of Malaysia for the coutnry's largest foreign direct investment-led integrated township project.
Rural roadblock
The state's hyped employment scheme is in doldrums. But no one thinks it's time for serious revamp.
A thumps up from London
Outlook sent bottles of Coke and Pepsi to Britain's largest laboratory to test for pesticides. The result: a clean chit for the colas. Out of 35 pesticides tested for, 31 were below EU norms individually for both Pepsi and Coke.
World Bank pats government on poverty reduction
The World Bank has called upon India to aggressively push for reforms. Michael Carter, World Bank Country Director for India, said: The Bank will continue to back India in its fight against poverty. But if growth is not to decline, India must move ahead assertively with its reform agenda.." He …
Government wants to speed up development works: Chautala
The Haryana Government has decided to accelerate the development works in the rural areas for converting the villages at par with the urban areas in the state. This was announced by the Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, while addressing a district level convention of the sarpanches and members of the …
World Bank warns India on deficit, slow reforms
World Bank has warned India that its growth prospects are weakened by high fiscal deficits and slow reforms, and the country needs to accelerate poverty reduction efforts, especially in UP, Bihar and MP, to meet the millennium development goals. "India's growth prospects are weakened by excessive high fiscal deficits, resulting …
Naidu for meet on linking rivers
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu urged the Centre to convene an all party meeting to discuss and arrive at a consensus on the ambitious project to link the Ganga and Cauvery.
Special package for Sikkim
Once a haven of tax concessions for luxury goods like cigarettes and tobacco products, Sikkim is to a clear no-no to these and other polluting products under a special package for industrial development approved Thursday evening by the Union Cabinet.
Punjab to bring out booklet on development
The Punjab government has decided to bring out a booklet on the development done by it. The decision was taken at a meeting of the party's manifesto implementation committee held. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh apprised the committee.
Lost tribe
Cholera killed 19 Korba tribals in Chhattisgarh. The reason: no access to medical aid, safe drinking water and roads. Despite government promises, they have no access to safe drinking water, roads, health care and education. Yet, government records in Jashpur district alone show that Rs 7.31 crores have been spent …
Food for thought
After the Pepsi-Coke pesticide controversy there is a renewed demand for setting standards for a common food law. The problem is that the ministries of health, consumer affairs and food processing would all like to be regulatory authority for the proposed law. The health ministry's case is that the Prevention …
A village far from model
Padhri Kalan, a village about 45 km from Amritsar, adopted as a Model village in July 1998 by then government, looks like any other village. All the development schemes have come to a virtual standstill as the new government has not released funds for these. The district administration in a …
Rs 163 cr given under Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana
The Madhya Pradesh state government has disbursed Rs 163 crore in last eight months under the Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana.Besides, 2 lakh tons of food-grain worth, Rs 115 crore was given to the labours in lieu of food for work.Employment of 254.28 lakh man-hours was given during this period.The government …
4.35 lakh BPL families in Punjab
Punjab has identified 4.35 lakh families living below the poverty line (BPL), the minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mr. U.V. Krishnam Raju, said the Rajya Sabha in a written reply. The number of such households was 7.68 lakh in Haryana, 2.98 lakh in Himachal Pradesh …
On the path to development
Once the fastest growing state in the country, Punjab today ranks among the laggards in development. In the last decade the state's annual growth rate at 4.7 per cent was slower than the national average of 6.9 per cent. This has naturally hurt the Punjabi pride and led some concerned …
State headed for severe drinking water crisis
Andhra Pradesh is heading for a severe drinking water crisis in many districts in the coming months. District Collectors painted a grim picture of imminent drinking water scarcity during a video conference held by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu who called for a contingency plan to be put in place …
HC order on cola sale
The Bombay HC set aside a Maharashtra government order banning Coca-Cola beverages from selling or distributing seized stock of cold drinks, which allegedly contained pesticides residues beyond permisslbe limits. A bench headed by CJ CK Thakker accepted the report of analyst AD Ghevari on August 25.
GDP to grow at 6-6.5%: Govt
Top government officials including industry, finance, power, and information & technology (IT) secretaries have met visiting Asean delegates to dispel their doubts on investing in India and project the strength of its economy. Stating that fundamentals of the Indian economy are strong, finance secretary D.C. Gupta said: "The economy is …
