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J&K Plans Rs 400 Cr Oil pipeline extension Project Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Sept 3: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has set up 565 new sales outlets ....more Rs. 9 crores distributed as Ex-gratia relief to the victims of subversion Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Sept 3: Under the revolutionary Agrarian Reforms Act, over 3.32 lakh ...more NEW DELHI, Sept 3: The annual rate of inflation fell below the six per cent level to ....more Iran plans to attract DUBAI, Sept 3: Iran plans to attract foreign investments to.......more Chawla: Thorough study PHAGWARA, Sept 3: Punjab Health Minister Baldev Chawla today urged the Union.......more |
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Budgam surges ahead in information technology Excelsior Correspondent MONU (Budgam), Sept. 3: The Budgam district in Central Kashmir is taking a lead in the State by compterization .....more
Bullion witnesses NEW DELHI, Sept 3: Bullion witnessed minor fluctuations, sugar and grains looked upwards while...more NBFCs collected PATNA, Sept 3: The Judicial Commission on Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) headed by Justice Nagendra Rai of Patna High Court has detected collection of Rs 12,762 crore by 1500 to 2000 NBFCs in ....more |
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Rs. 9 crores distributed as Ex-gratia relief to the victims of subversion Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Sept 3: Under the revolutionary Agrarian Reforms Act, over 3.32 lakh kanals of land has been expropriated from over 1,08,870 ex-owners in Anantnag district. About 1.24 lakh tenants have been declared as prospective owners in thedistrict. This was revealed by the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Abdul Qayoom at a meeting of the district officers held at Anantnag last evening to review the working of the Revenue Department. Mr Qayoom said that under Section-8 of the Act absolute ownership rights to over 1,51, 935 kanals of land have been conferred on 67,457 beneficiaries. He said Agrarian Reforms work has been completed in respect of 344 villages and the land owners of these villages have also been provided pass books. During the last two months alone, a levy amount of Rs. 11.46 lakh has been paid to the migrant ex-owners. The Minister said that Rs. 1.58 crore has been disbursed to next of kin of the persons killed in the district due to militancy related activities, while another amount of Rs. 16.57 lakh has been disbursed as relief to those injured in the militant acts. He said Rs. 7.28 crores has been sanctioned as ex-gratia relief in favour of the migrants of Anantnag district whose immovable property got damaged due to subversion, of which Rs. 39.22 lakh was sanctioned during the current year itself. Mr Qayoom stressed the need to preserve and protect the land holdings which we have inherited from our ancestors due to their efforts and it is our bounded duty to preserve it in better form for the posterity. He asked the Revenue Officers to speed up the process of recovery of land revenue, besides removing the encroachments on the State land. He stressed upon the officers to work with added zeal and dedication for the betterment of the common people and to help to solve their problems. Any dereliction of duty will be viewed seriously, he added. He urged upon the authorities that the Patwaris should be made to sit in Patwarkhanas for whom these have been constructed to redress the grievances of the public and compliance report thereof should be submitted within one month. He also stressed the need for ensuring punctuality at all levels in the administration and directed the Tehsildars to make frequent checks of the offices in their respective areas. The Minister announced release of Rs. 10 lakh for each district for meeting the emergent expenses on natural calamities. Earlier, the meeting was informed by the District Development Commissioner, Anantnag that 41 Patwar Khanas have been constructed in the district. Settlement operations through Chain System in 59 villages in Anantnag and 293villages in Kulgam are under operation, of which, work has been completed in 8 and 120 villages respectively. Similarly, the settlement work through Electronic Total Stations (ETS) has been completed in 36 villages of these 2 tehsils so far. It was also disclosed in the meeting that 45 patwaris have been trained for operating computers and another 50 patwaris are being deputed for receiving the said training. It was further informed that encroachment on 181 kanals of Kahcharai and State land has been removed and 90 illegal structures on National Highway and 26 structures at bus stand , Pahalgam were also removed. It was stated that so far an amount of Rs. 2.80 lakh has been recovered during current financial year on account of land revenue. Besides, 329 Jamabandies have been completed while remaining 15 are under preparation. It was brought to the notice of the Minister that about 40 villages in Anantnag district have witnessed Paddy Blast (Pyricularia Oryzea) after 15 years to Paddy crops due to high relative humidity, night temperature, high dose of nitrogen and close spacing. The Minister was told that remedial measures have been taken and on the spot instructions have been given to the farmers for saving the paddy crops from this disease Among others, present on the occasion were Financial Commissioner Revenue, Mr Vijay Bakaya, Commissioner/Secretary, Revenue Mr A. R. Parray, Dy. Commissioner, Anantnag, Mr G. A. Peer, Commissioner Settlement, Mr S. A. Masoodi, Asstt. Commissioner, Revenue, Mr N. A. Parray, Director, Land Records, Mr M. A. Bhat and other Revenue Officers. |
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NEW DELHI, Sept 3: The annual rate of inflation fell below the six per cent level to stand at 5.73 per cent during the week ended August 19 despite a 0.2 per cent rise in the Wholesale Price Index of all commodities. The point to point rate of inflation fell to 5.73 per cent during the week from the level of 6.03 per cent in the previous week mainly due to a decline in the prices of non-food articles. The rate of inflation during the corresponding week last year was 2.99 per cent. The index for all commodities (base 1993-94) stood at 153.2(p) during the week ended August 19 as against 152.9 in the previous week. During this week the index for the "primary articles" and "fuel, power, light and lubricants" remained unchanged while that of "manufactured products" rose by 0.3 per cent to 140.3 from 139.9 in the previous week. Meanwhile, the final rate of inflation during the week ended June 24 stood at 6.62 per cent as compared to the provisional figure of 6.20 per cent. The final figure for the index for the all commodities index was 153.0 as compared to the provisional figure of 152.4. The inflation rate based on the Consumer Price Index for industrial workers (CPI-IW) fell to 4.95 per cent in the month of July from the level of 5.24 per cent in June this year. The corresponding figure for July 1999 was 3.16 per cent. During the week under consideration the index for the main group primary articles remained unchanged at the previous weeks level of 163.6, while that of its subgroups "food articles" and "non-food articles" moved in opposite directions. The index for subgroup "food articles" rose by 0.2 per cent to 171.1 from 170.8 in the previous week due to higher prices of barley (3 per cent), maize and ragi (2 per cent each), and urad, fruits and vegetables and fish inland( 1 per cent each). However, the prices of bajra (3 per cent), jowar (2 per cent) and moong and eggs (1 per cent each) declined. A fall in the prices of mesta(5 per cent), fodder (3 per cent), groundnut seed (2 per cent) and raw jute, raw silk and raw rubber (1 per cent each) pulled the index for "non food articles" down by 0.3 per cent to 148.7 from 149.2 in the previous week. The prices of cotton seed and copra from this category, however, rose by one per cent each. The index for the major group fuel, power, light and lubricants which mostly consists of items whose prices are administered by the Government stood unchanged at the previous week’s level of 194.6. In the past one year the indices of primary articles, manufactured products and fuel, power, light and lubricants rose by 1.55 per cent, 2.33 per cent and 25.71 per cent respectively. (PTI) |
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Iran plans to attract foreign investments DUBAI, Sept 3: Iran plans to attract foreign investments to grapple with unemployment and boost economic activity in the country. The Iranian Parliament or Majlis recently ratified the outlines of a key bill to promote much-needed foreign investments. While many lawmakers spoke in favour of attracting foreign investments, two conservative members based their opposition to the bill, saying "it lacks legal constraints and mechanisms to protect national interests, jeopardises employment and imposes foreign domination". Advocates of the legislation, strongly backed by President Mohammed Khatami’s administration, focussed their argument on the premise that foreign investments would help pave the way for "transparency, job opportunities, sustainable economic growth, low inflation and enhanced productivity". The bill will become a law once it is endorsed in the next sittings of the 290-member reformist-dominated house, regional news agencies said. The new house has already declared its full backing to president Khatami’s economic liberalisation plans and pledged to pass investment-friendly legislations. One of the significant clauses of the bill stipulates that "accepting foreign investments in the Islamic republic of Iran must not allow the Government to grant concessions and exclusive rights to foreign investors". Meanwhile, a prominent Iranian lawmaker was quoted as saying that foreign investments was a must to create jobs for the hundreds of thousands of graduates and youths coming out of universities and centres of higher education in the Islamic republic. "If we fail to attract foreign investments, within the next five years,the number of unemployed will reach eight million", Mr Askar Islam-Doust, the Parliament member, said. On an average, 4,50,000 Iranians join the labour market each year, he said, adding that successive Iranian Governments had only been able to create 30,000 new jobs and this had led to 14 per cent unemployment in the country. (UNI) |
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Chawla: Thorough study to
determine iodin PHAGWARA, Sept 3: Punjab Health Minister Baldev Chawla today urged the Union Government to constitute a committee of experts in the field of medical sciences, agriculture and geology for undertaking a thorough study in the country to determine iodin contents in the soil. Dr. Chawala talking to UNI here, said that either the Union Government should modify its notification regarding iodised salt or withdraw it, leaving each state to decide about universal iodisation of salt. The Health Minister said that the Union Government should make available iodised salt through public distribution system at rupee one per kilo. He said that a survy conducted in Punjab under the national goitre programme revealed that only Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Ropar out of 17 districts were goitre-endemic. (UNI) |
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Budgam surges ahead in information technology Excelsior Correspondent MONU (Budgam), Sept. 3: The Budgam district in Central Kashmir is taking a lead in the State by compterization of its educational institutions and offices with all higher secondary schools and district offices being provided computers and networking facilities. Briefing a group of journalists who visited the district to have a feel of the development works being undertaken there, the District Development Commissioner (DDC). Mr Roohit Kansal said that out of the total 15 higher secondary schools in the district, 5 have already been provided with computers and computer teachers. He said funds for this purpose were made available from the MP and MLA constituency development schemes and remaining 10 schools are being computer equipped in a phase manner. The Education Department has been approached for seeking funds in case of these schools. The department he said had assured posting of trained computer teachers in the schools for the benefit of the students. The DDC said that a pilot project has been prepared for computerization of all district offices, which will be connected to the main office of the District Development Commissioner. He said this would make information available on-line and dissemination and transfer of information and data easy and quick. The Information Technology Unit of the Chief Minister's Office has been approached for help, he said and added in the first place, complete information about relief works is being computerized so that the whole process is more efficient and sicentific. Replying a question on the development of Charar-i-Sharief town and rehabilitation of the affected people, Mr Kansal said that the rehabilitation programme was completed expect for some claims pending due to their sub-judice nature. Spelling out the priorities in the development process for the district, the DDC said that the infrastructure upgradation was his development strategy. He said the main components of this strategy were roads, potable water and buildings. He said 24 schemes have been taken up during the current year with the assistance from NABARD under which all the main roads in the district would be blacktopped. Besides a Rural Roads Connectivity project has been taken in hand to develop rural roads. He said the entire length of the Pakharpora-Yusmarg road would be blacktopped to have a dependable communication facility to the famous health resort. A project has been sent for approval to the State Government, he said and hoped that work on the road would be taken up during the current working season. He said that security forces have vacated the tourist huts at Yusmarg which would now be furnished for tourists. Mr Kansal said that the Union Government has sanctioned a pilot project for Budgam district for augumentation of rural water supply. Under this novel scheme, the local population is roped into identify the source of the scheme as also for its successful operation through effective watch and ward. In the health care sector, the DDC said that medical institutions were being provided with sophisticated equipment. He said that in the border area of Khag two X-Ray machines and ultrasound machine was given to hospitals last year. He said the expansion in the District Hospital Budgam was in progress at a total cost of Rs 2.8 crores. Besides the ANMT School was near completion. He said the gutted school building were being reconstructed and closed schools made functional by appointing local teachers under the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme. Mr Kansal siad that as a result of expert guidance on agriculture available in the district, the farmers were taking up cultivation of vegetables on a large scale which was economically more viable than traditional crops like rice. He said this has created a great economic activity among the farmer community. He said the vegetable production in the district has touched a new height making it 85 per cent of the total vegetable production in the Valley. He said 55,000 quintal of Urea and 15,690 quintals of DAP were supplied to farmers in drought hit areas. Besides, 935 quintals of paddy and 820 quintals of maize seeds were also distributed among them on subsidy the total cost of which was Rs 2.1 crores. |
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Bullion witnesses minor fluctuations NEW DELHI, Sept 3: Bullion witnessed minor fluctuations, sugar and grains looked upwards while oils traded mixed at the local commodity markets during the week ended September two. Keeping pace with the narrow movement in international markets, gold prices, for standard, ornaments and bittur, recovered by Rs 20 per 10 gms at Rs 4,540, Rs 4,390 and Rs 4,530 respectively as compared to last week’s closing price range despite moving southwards at the weekend. Sovereign, however, remained steady at Rs 3,800/3,825 per eight gms. Silver .999 ready closed the week with a gain of Rs 90 at 7,875 per kg and silver weekly delivery looked up by Rs 80 at 7,885 per kg. Silver coins prices did not lag behind and moved up in sympathy with the white metal by Rs 100 per 100 pieces at Rs 10,800 for buyers and Rs 10,900 for sellers during the week under review. Prices at the local sugar market continued to move northwards and rallied forward riding on steady demand from stockists because of tight supplies. Sugar mill delivery prices looked up by Rs 25 at the higher level and Rs 15 at the lower level to settle at Rs 1500/1580 per quintal during the week. As a result spot sugar prices for M-30 moved up by Rs ten at the lower level and Rs five at the higher level to Rs 1650/1675 and S-30 variety gained Rs five only at the lower level to settle at Rs 1635/1650 per quintal as against the last week’s price level. Gur lost Rs 25 at the higher level to sell at Rs 1200/1225 per quintal while khandsari bold, dust and desi varieties remained out of stock during the week under review. Wheat dara reversed the trend and improved by Rs five at the lower level and Rs four at the higher level to settle at rs 585/587 per quintal on short arrivals while wheat desi remained static at Rs 675/975 per quintal. Industrial and edible oils traded mixed while vanaspati slipped and oilseeds improved during the week. In non-edible oils, rice bran went down by Rs 60 to Rs 80 per quintal at Rs 1300/1350 and neem by Rs 50 at Rs 1700 per quintal on increased offerings coupled with slack demand while palm fatty managed to look up by Rs 100 at the higher level at Rs 1650/1850 per quintal on support from bulk buyers. Castor, linseed, mahuwa and acid oil remained unchanged. In edible oils, sesame was the highest gainer with Rs 130 per quintal at Rs 2550, palmolein was up by Rs 70 at Rs 2430 and mustard expeller improved by Rs ten at Rs 2530 per quintal on tight arrivals while cottonseed and sunflower shed Rs 50 each at Rs 260. (AGENCIES) |
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NBFCs collected Rs 12,762 cr in Bihar PATNA, Sept 3: The Judicial Commission on Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) headed by Justice Nagendra Rai of Patna High Court has detected collection of Rs 12,762 crore by 1500 to 2000 NBFCs in Bihar from the poor and gullible by offering extraordinary high rate of interest on their deposits during 1995-98. Justice Rai in his final inquiry report submitted to Chief Minister Rabri Devi yesterday, pointed out that around 1500 to 2000 NBFCs, residuary, non-banking financial companies, housing finance companies, NIDHIS and plantation companies offered allurement of extraordinarily high rate of interest on the deposit collected. The report said as part of attempt to get complete information of various NBFCs, regulatory bodies like RBI, registrar of chit funds, registrar of firms, Department of Company Affairs, Government of India, SEBI were contacted. From the information gathered, the number and estimated money extracted from unsuspecting public was arrived at Rs 4,827 crore and Rs 3,653 crore being raised in 1996 and 1997 alone. In order to stop financial exploitation by such companies in future, the commission had suggested a number of measures, including passing a state legislation envisaging punishment, to promoters as well as attachment and sale of their property, setting up of one or more designated courts to expeditiously try the offences, setting up a directorate of financial establishments, and insurance cover on NBFCs. (PTI) |
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