---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 3:32 PM
Subject: Releases.........pt2
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Environment and Forests Backgrounder
Biosafety Regulatory Framework in India
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has notified the Rules
for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous
Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989 (known
as 'Rules, 1989') under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These
rules and regulations cover the areas of research as well as large
scale applications of Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) and
products made there from throughout India. The rules also cover the
application of hazardous microorganisms which may not be genetically
modified. Hazardous microorganisms include those which are pathogenic
to animals as well as plants.
These rules also define the competent authorities and composition of
such authorities for handling of various aspects of the rules.
Presently there are five competent authorities that is ,
Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSC), Review Committee of Genetic
Manipulation (RCGM), Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC),
State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC) and the District
Level Committee (DLC). The RCGM established under the Department of
Biotechnology (DBT) supervises research activities including small
scale field trials, whereas approvals for large scale releases and
commercialization of GMOs are given by the GEAC, established under the
MoEF. The SBCCs and DLCs have a major role in monitoring. The Rules
also mandate that every institution engaged in GMO research establish
an IBSC to oversee such research and to interface with the RCGM in
regulating it. The IBSC has a nominee of DBT on its Committee.
The Rules, 1989 are supported by the following bio-safety guidelines:
- Recombinant DNA Safety Guidelines, 1990 & 1994
- Revised Guidelines for Research in Transgenic Plants and Guidelines
for Toxicity and Allergenicity Evaluation, 1998
- Guidelines and SOPs for the conduct of Confined Field Trials of
Transgenic Plant, 2008
- Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of GM Foods, 2008
- Protocol for Safety Assessment of Genetically Engineered Plants / crops, 2008.
These guidelines and protocols are being regularly updated through a
consultative approach and following the international norms prescribed
by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),
CODEX Alimentarius Commission and International Plant Protection
Convention (IPPC).
kp/dk/kol/15:15 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
RD Ministry Releases Rs.102 crore for Rural Roads in Madhya Pradesh
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid worth Rs.
102, 00,00,000/- (Rupees one hundred and two crore only) for
construction of rural roads in Madhya Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri
Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The sum is from the special window created
in NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture& Rural Development) under
RIDF as grants in aid to the Madhya Pradesh Rural Roads Development
Authority (MPRRDA). MPRRDA is the agency executing the works taken up
under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the state.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme
to provide road connectivity in the rural areas of the country. PMGSY
envisages connectivity to all habitations with a population of 500
persons and above in the rural areas and about 250 persons and above
in respect of the hilly states, tribal areas and desert areas through
good and all weather roads.
akt/sak(p-17024/14/2008-rc, 17/3/2010)/dk/kol/15:16 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Rural Road Connectivity in Haryana
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid worth Rs.
25, 00,00,000/- (Rupees twenty five crore only) for construction of
rural roads in Haryana under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
The sum is from the special window created in NABARD (National Bank
for Agriculture& Rural Development) under RIDF as grants in aid to the
Haryana Rural Roads & Infrastructure Development Agency (HRR&IDA).
HRR&IDA is the agency executing the works taken up under Pradhan
Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the state.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme
to provide road connectivity in the rural areas of the country. PMGSY
envisages connectivity to all habitations with a population of 500
persons and above in the rural areas and about 250 persons and above
in respect of the hilly states, tribal areas and desert areas through
good and all weather roads.
akt/sak(p-17024/8/2009-rc, 15/3/2010)/dk/kol/15:17 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Connecting Rural Roads in Bihar
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid worth Rs.
120, 00,00,000/- (Rupees one hundred and twenty crore only) for
construction of rural roads in Bihar under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana (PMGSY). The sum is from the special window created in NABARD
(National Bank for Agriculture& Rural Development) under RIDF as
grants in aid to the Bihar Rural Road Development Agency (BRRDA).
BRRDA is the agency executing the works taken up under Pradhan Mantri
Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the state.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme
to provide road connectivity in the rural areas of the country. PMGSY
envisages connectivity to all habitations with a population of 500
persons and above in the rural areas and about 250 persons and above
in respect of the hilly states, tribal areas and desert areas through
good and all weather roads.
akt/sak (p-17024/4/2008-rc, 17/3/2010)/dk/kol/15:17 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
Modifications in Centrally sponsored schemes "Support to State
Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms"
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the following
modifications in the existing scheme "Support to State Extension
Programs for Extension Reform" for implementation in all rural
districts of the country during the remaining period of XI Five Year
Plan:
(i) Provision of specialist and functionary support at State,
District, Block & Village levels;
(ii) Revision in Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA)
Cafeteria to include some additional activities and to enhance unit
costs in some cases. These include Third Party Monitoring &
Evaluation, Support for Inter Departmental Working Group/State Nodal
Officer, organisation of Farmer Development Workshops & Exhibitions
and improved connectivity/mobility at different levels;
(iii) Support to State Agricultural Management & Extension Training
Institutes (SAMETIs) for creating essential infrastructure; and
(iv) Delegation of powers to State Level Sanctioning Committee
(SLSCs), set up under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, to approve the
State Extension Work Plan (SEWP) prepared under the Extension Reforms
Scheme.
The total outlay of the modified scheme will be Rs.2866.02 crore, with
Government of India share of Rs.2382.20 crore and State share of
Rs.483.82 crore.
The modified scheme shall be implemented in all the rural districts of
the country except 12 districts in Assam which are presently covered
under the World Bank assistance. These districts will also be covered
after withdrawal of the external support.
Background:
In order to overcome systemic constraints being faced by the Extension
system in the country with regard to the reduced capacity of public
extension services and lack of decentralized and demand-driven focus,
a Centrally Sponsored Scheme "Support to State Extension Programmes
for Extension Reforms" was launched in the year 2005-06. The Scheme
envisages providing better policy directions and funding support to
States to help them revitalize their extension systems for empowering
the farming community and to achieve the desired rate of growth in
agriculture sector.
Under the scheme, sustained efforts are being made to provide fillip
to major extension reforms such as bottom-up planning, broad-based
extension delivery, involvement of multi-agency extension service
providers, farmer-centric extension services and main-streaming gender
concerns in agriculture by introducing innovative and progressive
arrangements at different levels viz. State, District and Block.
However, these arrangements were found lacking in four vital areas
viz. (i) absence of formal mechanism to support extension delivery
below the block i.e. at village level; (ii) lack of qualified manpower
support at all levels; (iii) inadequate infrastructure support at
State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institutes
(SAMETIs); and (iv) lack of convergence with other schemes of Centre
and State. The modifications in the scheme will address all these
concerns.
akt/sh/vk/dk/kol/15:18 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
Approval for Revised Time Schedule and Revised Cost Estimates-II
(RCE-II) of the Namrup Revamp Project of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer
Corporation Ltd. (BVFCL) at Namrup, Assam
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the final
revamp cost of Rs.635.53 crore of Namrup Revamp Project of Brahmaputra
Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. (BVFCL). The revamp has already
been completed and Namrup units are currently under production.
This will enable the company to continue the production of urea and
will ensure adequate and timely availability of urea in the North
Eastern states of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal
Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya. Further, the sustenance of Brahmaputra
Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. (BVFCL) will add to economic
development of Assam.
akt/sh/vk/dk/kol/15:18 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
Award of Exploration Block under eighth bid round of New Exploration
Licensing Policy (NELP-VIII) and cancellation of three Exploration
Blocks awarded under seventh round of New Exploration Licensing Policy
(NELP-VII)
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the following :
(i) To endorse the assumptions made by Directorate General of
Hydrocarbons (DGH) during the process of evaluation of bids for
NELP-VIII.
(ii) Award of 33 blocks under NELP-VIII to the first ranked/sole
bidder as recommended by ECS.
(iii) Not to award two blocks VN-ONN/2009/1/ & 2 under NELP-VIII,
keeping in view very low percentage share of profit petroleum offered
to Government which may be detrimental to Government's interest in
future.
(iv) To reduce the Initial Exploration Period from 4 years to 3 years
in respect of blocks KG-DWN-2009/1 and MB-OSN-2009/3 and modification
in Article 5.7 of MPSC after due legal vetting by Department of Legal
Affairs.
(v) To amend Article 14.5.4 of MPSC for all 33 blocks to be awarded
under NELP-VIII after concurrence of MOEF and vetting by Department of
Legal Affairs.
(vi) Ex-post facto approval for cancellation of award of three
Exploration Blocks viz., two Block VN-ONN-2005/1 & VN-ONN-2005/2 to
GeoGlobal Resources (Barbados) Inc. And one Block CB-ONN-2005/1 to
Interlink Petroleum Limited, Moonstone Energy Pte. Limited & EnSearch
Petroleum Private Limited consortium under seventh bid round of New
Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP-VII).
The decision will accelerate exploration and production activities in
the country and is expected to result in hydro-carbon reserve
accretion, thereby, increasing the energy security of the country. The
cancellation of award of three Blocks under NELP-VII after affording
an opportunity to sign the PSC, would be a deterrent for non-serious
bidders.
Background:
The Government of India launched the eighth bid round of NELP-VIII on
9th April, 2009 which offered 70 blocks covering a sedimentary area of
about 1.64 lakh sq. kms. The offered blocks included -24 deepwater
blocks, 28 shallow water blocks and 18 on-land blocks ( including 10
Type –S blocks) The bids were opened by DGH in presence of authorised
representatives of companies on 12.10.2009. A total of 76 bids were
received from National Oil Companies (NOCs) and private/foreign
companies for 36 exploration blocks (8 deepwater blocks; 13 shallow
water blocks and 15 onland blocks).No bid was received for 34
exploration blocks comprising 16 deepwater (4 in Kerala –Konkan basin,
and 12 in Andaman basis), 15 shallow water ( 7 in Kerala-Konkan basin,
4 in Mumbai basin, 3 in West Bengal basin and 1 in Cauvery basin) and
3 onland blocks ( 2 in West Bengal basin and 1 in Himalayan Foreland
basin). The 76 bids received for 36 blocks were evaluated by DGH as
per the Notice Inviting Offers (NIO)/BEC.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in its meeting held in
November 2008 had approved the proposal of Ministry of Petroleum &
Natural Gas for award of 44 blocks to sole/1st rank bidders under
NELP-VII. Accordingly, Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) were signed
on 22.12.2008 for 41 exploration blocks. However, PSCs could not be
signed with GeoGlobal Resources (Barbados) Inc. (GGR) for two blocks
viz VN-ONN-2005/1 & VN-ONN-2005/2 and with Interlink Petroleum Limited
(IPL), Moonstone Energy Pte. Limited (MEPL) & EnSearch Petroleum
Private Limited (EPPL) consortium for one block CB-ONN-2005/1 as they
did not appear on 22.12.2008 for signing of the PSCs. Even after
obtaining extension of time for signing the PSCs for these three
blocks upto 15.02.2009 they did not sign the PSCs.
akt/sh/vk/dk/kol/15:19 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
World Bank assisted project on 'Capacity Building for Industrial
Pollution Management
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved a proposal of
the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the World Bank assisted
Project on "Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management".
The objective of the project is to develop a national programme for
the remediation and rehabilitation of polluted sites by undertaking
four identified polluted sites in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal on a
pilot basis. The project will support the development of an
institutional and methodological framework for rehabilitation of
highly polluted abandoned sites and build human and technical capacity
in State agencies for taking projects for reducing the risk of
contamination for nearby population. It will also support measures for
public awareness and community education.
The estimated cost of the project, to be implemented for a period of
five years, is USD 75.39 million. It is expected that on completion,
the project will result in environmental benefits like improvement in
water and air quality, improved hygienic conditions, health benefits
such as reduction in water borne, vector borne diseases and economic
benefits like employment generation during rehabilitation and
remediation of contaminated sites. It would also facilitate developing
a National Plan for Rehabilitation of Pollution Sites (NPRPS),
sustaining the process beyond the project period.
akt/sh/vk/dk/kol/15:19 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
India Statistical Strengthening Project
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved a World Bank
assisted Centrally Sponsored Scheme viz. 'India Statistical
Strengthening Project (ISSP)' with a view to improve the State
Statistical Systems, as an important means to strengthen and improve
the National Statistical System in all its dimensions in line with the
recommendations of the National Statistical Commission (NSC).
The project has been cleared for a total budget of Rs.650.43 crore,
out of which, 80% would be funded through a World Bank loan, and the
remaining 20% would be borne by the Government of India. The
States/UTs would need to provide if, when and wherever required the
necessary land and / or buildings, manpower and also meet all the
associated recurring expenditure for implementation of the Project.
The project is designated to help build the capacities at the
States/UTs level with the following objectives;
• To collect, compile and disseminate relevant and reliable official statistics.
• To serve the twin objectives of planning and policy making at the
state and local levels and
• To provide the data that would be required at the national level.
Besides, it will also help develop structures to assist the line
departments and other data agencies to improve the quality and
coverage of the data they collect and to promote their usage at the
State/District and Block levels.
The project has designed to support appropriate State/UT-specific
interventions in the following areas:
a) Improving the Coordination and Management of Statistical Activities
in the States/UTs;
b) Human Resource Development;
c) Developing Statistical Infrastructure;
d) Investing in physical Infrastructure, including Information Technology, and
e) Improving Statistical Operations, especially those supporting the
cause of improvement in the quality and dissemination of statistical
data.
All the States/UTs are eligible to participate in the project.
However, in view of the existing wide disparities and heterogeneities
across the States/UTs in terms of their state statistical systems, the
States/UTs have been allowed to participate in the project as and when
they take a decision to do so. So far, 22 States/UTs have communicated
their decision to the Government of India for participating in the
project.
The following are among they key/critically important yields which are
expected to accrue to the National Statistical System, in general and
the State Statistical Systems, in particular by virtue of
implementation of this project.
• Compilation of District Level Estimates of the Statistical
Indicators which is not being done at present.
• The states would meet the national standards on key statistical activities
• The statistical manpower of the State Statistical Systems will
become much better endowed/equipped.
• Dissemination of national and state level data on key statistical
activities in a credible, timely and reliable manner.
• Information on improvement of the statistical systems in all the
participating states will be published on the ISSP web pages. Each
State will have a dedicated web-site for dissemination of State data &
it will have a national network for linkages with the national
web-site. This will improve the accessibility to data and interface
with users.
• Additional un-met demands of Statistics at State/National level will
be taken up.
• Better accessibility to data and interface with the users.
akt/sh/vk/dk/kol/15:19 hrs.
From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 3:32 PM
Subject: Releases.........pt2
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Environment and Forests Backgrounder
Biosafety Regulatory Framework in India
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has notified the Rules
for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous
Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989 (known
as 'Rules, 1989') under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These
rules and regulations cover the areas of research as well as large
scale applications of Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) and
products made there from throughout India. The rules also cover the
application of hazardous microorganisms which may not be genetically
modified. Hazardous microorganisms include those which are pathogenic
to animals as well as plants.
These rules also define the competent authorities and composition of
such authorities for handling of various aspects of the rules.
Presently there are five competent authorities that is ,
Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSC), Review Committee of Genetic
Manipulation (RCGM), Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC),
State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC) and the District
Level Committee (DLC). The RCGM established under the Department of
Biotechnology (DBT) supervises research activities including small
scale field trials, whereas approvals for large scale releases and
commercialization of GMOs are given by the GEAC, established under the
MoEF. The SBCCs and DLCs have a major role in monitoring. The Rules
also mandate that every institution engaged in GMO research establish
an IBSC to oversee such research and to interface with the RCGM in
regulating it. The IBSC has a nominee of DBT on its Committee.
The Rules, 1989 are supported by the following bio-safety guidelines:
- Recombinant DNA Safety Guidelines, 1990 & 1994
- Revised Guidelines for Research in Transgenic Plants and Guidelines
for Toxicity and Allergenicity Evaluation, 1998
- Guidelines and SOPs for the conduct of Confined Field Trials of
Transgenic Plant, 2008
- Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of GM Foods, 2008
- Protocol for Safety Assessment of Genetically Engineered Plants / crops, 2008.
These guidelines and protocols are being regularly updated through a
consultative approach and following the international norms prescribed
by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),
CODEX Alimentarius Commission and International Plant Protection
Convention (IPPC).
kp/dk/kol/15:15 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
RD Ministry Releases Rs.102 crore for Rural Roads in Madhya Pradesh
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid worth Rs.
102, 00,00,000/- (Rupees one hundred and two crore only) for
construction of rural roads in Madhya Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri
Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The sum is from the special window created
in NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture& Rural Development) under
RIDF as grants in aid to the Madhya Pradesh Rural Roads Development
Authority (MPRRDA). MPRRDA is the agency executing the works taken up
under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the state.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme
to provide road connectivity in the rural areas of the country. PMGSY
envisages connectivity to all habitations with a population of 500
persons and above in the rural areas and about 250 persons and above
in respect of the hilly states, tribal areas and desert areas through
good and all weather roads.
akt/sak(p-17024/14/2008-rc, 17/3/2010)/dk/kol/15:16 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Rural Road Connectivity in Haryana
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid worth Rs.
25, 00,00,000/- (Rupees twenty five crore only) for construction of
rural roads in Haryana under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
The sum is from the special window created in NABARD (National Bank
for Agriculture& Rural Development) under RIDF as grants in aid to the
Haryana Rural Roads & Infrastructure Development Agency (HRR&IDA).
HRR&IDA is the agency executing the works taken up under Pradhan
Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the state.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme
to provide road connectivity in the rural areas of the country. PMGSY
envisages connectivity to all habitations with a population of 500
persons and above in the rural areas and about 250 persons and above
in respect of the hilly states, tribal areas and desert areas through
good and all weather roads.
akt/sak(p-17024/8/2009-rc, 15/3/2010)/dk/kol/15:17 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Connecting Rural Roads in Bihar
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid worth Rs.
120, 00,00,000/- (Rupees one hundred and twenty crore only) for
construction of rural roads in Bihar under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana (PMGSY). The sum is from the special window created in NABARD
(National Bank for Agriculture& Rural Development) under RIDF as
grants in aid to the Bihar Rural Road Development Agency (BRRDA).
BRRDA is the agency executing the works taken up under Pradhan Mantri
Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the state.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme
to provide road connectivity in the rural areas of the country. PMGSY
envisages connectivity to all habitations with a population of 500
persons and above in the rural areas and about 250 persons and above
in respect of the hilly states, tribal areas and desert areas through
good and all weather roads.
akt/sak (p-17024/4/2008-rc, 17/3/2010)/dk/kol/15:17 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
Modifications in Centrally sponsored schemes "Support to State
Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms"
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the following
modifications in the existing scheme "Support to State Extension
Programs for Extension Reform" for implementation in all rural
districts of the country during the remaining period of XI Five Year
Plan:
(i) Provision of specialist and functionary support at State,
District, Block & Village levels;
(ii) Revision in Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA)
Cafeteria to include some additional activities and to enhance unit
costs in some cases. These include Third Party Monitoring &
Evaluation, Support for Inter Departmental Working Group/State Nodal
Officer, organisation of Farmer Development Workshops & Exhibitions
and improved connectivity/mobility at different levels;
(iii) Support to State Agricultural Management & Extension Training
Institutes (SAMETIs) for creating essential infrastructure; and
(iv) Delegation of powers to State Level Sanctioning Committee
(SLSCs), set up under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, to approve the
State Extension Work Plan (SEWP) prepared under the Extension Reforms
Scheme.
The total outlay of the modified scheme will be Rs.2866.02 crore, with
Government of India share of Rs.2382.20 crore and State share of
Rs.483.82 crore.
The modified scheme shall be implemented in all the rural districts of
the country except 12 districts in Assam which are presently covered
under the World Bank assistance. These districts will also be covered
after withdrawal of the external support.
Background:
In order to overcome systemic constraints being faced by the Extension
system in the country with regard to the reduced capacity of public
extension services and lack of decentralized and demand-driven focus,
a Centrally Sponsored Scheme "Support to State Extension Programmes
for Extension Reforms" was launched in the year 2005-06. The Scheme
envisages providing better policy directions and funding support to
States to help them revitalize their extension systems for empowering
the farming community and to achieve the desired rate of growth in
agriculture sector.
Under the scheme, sustained efforts are being made to provide fillip
to major extension reforms such as bottom-up planning, broad-based
extension delivery, involvement of multi-agency extension service
providers, farmer-centric extension services and main-streaming gender
concerns in agriculture by introducing innovative and progressive
arrangements at different levels viz. State, District and Block.
However, these arrangements were found lacking in four vital areas
viz. (i) absence of formal mechanism to support extension delivery
below the block i.e. at village level; (ii) lack of qualified manpower
support at all levels; (iii) inadequate infrastructure support at
State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institutes
(SAMETIs); and (iv) lack of convergence with other schemes of Centre
and State. The modifications in the scheme will address all these
concerns.
akt/sh/vk/dk/kol/15:18 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
Approval for Revised Time Schedule and Revised Cost Estimates-II
(RCE-II) of the Namrup Revamp Project of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer
Corporation Ltd. (BVFCL) at Namrup, Assam
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the final
revamp cost of Rs.635.53 crore of Namrup Revamp Project of Brahmaputra
Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. (BVFCL). The revamp has already
been completed and Namrup units are currently under production.
This will enable the company to continue the production of urea and
will ensure adequate and timely availability of urea in the North
Eastern states of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal
Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya. Further, the sustenance of Brahmaputra
Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. (BVFCL) will add to economic
development of Assam.
akt/sh/vk/dk/kol/15:18 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
Award of Exploration Block under eighth bid round of New Exploration
Licensing Policy (NELP-VIII) and cancellation of three Exploration
Blocks awarded under seventh round of New Exploration Licensing Policy
(NELP-VII)
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the following :
(i) To endorse the assumptions made by Directorate General of
Hydrocarbons (DGH) during the process of evaluation of bids for
NELP-VIII.
(ii) Award of 33 blocks under NELP-VIII to the first ranked/sole
bidder as recommended by ECS.
(iii) Not to award two blocks VN-ONN/2009/1/ & 2 under NELP-VIII,
keeping in view very low percentage share of profit petroleum offered
to Government which may be detrimental to Government's interest in
future.
(iv) To reduce the Initial Exploration Period from 4 years to 3 years
in respect of blocks KG-DWN-2009/1 and MB-OSN-2009/3 and modification
in Article 5.7 of MPSC after due legal vetting by Department of Legal
Affairs.
(v) To amend Article 14.5.4 of MPSC for all 33 blocks to be awarded
under NELP-VIII after concurrence of MOEF and vetting by Department of
Legal Affairs.
(vi) Ex-post facto approval for cancellation of award of three
Exploration Blocks viz., two Block VN-ONN-2005/1 & VN-ONN-2005/2 to
GeoGlobal Resources (Barbados) Inc. And one Block CB-ONN-2005/1 to
Interlink Petroleum Limited, Moonstone Energy Pte. Limited & EnSearch
Petroleum Private Limited consortium under seventh bid round of New
Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP-VII).
The decision will accelerate exploration and production activities in
the country and is expected to result in hydro-carbon reserve
accretion, thereby, increasing the energy security of the country. The
cancellation of award of three Blocks under NELP-VII after affording
an opportunity to sign the PSC, would be a deterrent for non-serious
bidders.
Background:
The Government of India launched the eighth bid round of NELP-VIII on
9th April, 2009 which offered 70 blocks covering a sedimentary area of
about 1.64 lakh sq. kms. The offered blocks included -24 deepwater
blocks, 28 shallow water blocks and 18 on-land blocks ( including 10
Type –S blocks) The bids were opened by DGH in presence of authorised
representatives of companies on 12.10.2009. A total of 76 bids were
received from National Oil Companies (NOCs) and private/foreign
companies for 36 exploration blocks (8 deepwater blocks; 13 shallow
water blocks and 15 onland blocks).No bid was received for 34
exploration blocks comprising 16 deepwater (4 in Kerala –Konkan basin,
and 12 in Andaman basis), 15 shallow water ( 7 in Kerala-Konkan basin,
4 in Mumbai basin, 3 in West Bengal basin and 1 in Cauvery basin) and
3 onland blocks ( 2 in West Bengal basin and 1 in Himalayan Foreland
basin). The 76 bids received for 36 blocks were evaluated by DGH as
per the Notice Inviting Offers (NIO)/BEC.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in its meeting held in
November 2008 had approved the proposal of Ministry of Petroleum &
Natural Gas for award of 44 blocks to sole/1st rank bidders under
NELP-VII. Accordingly, Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) were signed
on 22.12.2008 for 41 exploration blocks. However, PSCs could not be
signed with GeoGlobal Resources (Barbados) Inc. (GGR) for two blocks
viz VN-ONN-2005/1 & VN-ONN-2005/2 and with Interlink Petroleum Limited
(IPL), Moonstone Energy Pte. Limited (MEPL) & EnSearch Petroleum
Private Limited (EPPL) consortium for one block CB-ONN-2005/1 as they
did not appear on 22.12.2008 for signing of the PSCs. Even after
obtaining extension of time for signing the PSCs for these three
blocks upto 15.02.2009 they did not sign the PSCs.
akt/sh/vk/dk/kol/15:19 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
World Bank assisted project on 'Capacity Building for Industrial
Pollution Management
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved a proposal of
the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the World Bank assisted
Project on "Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management".
The objective of the project is to develop a national programme for
the remediation and rehabilitation of polluted sites by undertaking
four identified polluted sites in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal on a
pilot basis. The project will support the development of an
institutional and methodological framework for rehabilitation of
highly polluted abandoned sites and build human and technical capacity
in State agencies for taking projects for reducing the risk of
contamination for nearby population. It will also support measures for
public awareness and community education.
The estimated cost of the project, to be implemented for a period of
five years, is USD 75.39 million. It is expected that on completion,
the project will result in environmental benefits like improvement in
water and air quality, improved hygienic conditions, health benefits
such as reduction in water borne, vector borne diseases and economic
benefits like employment generation during rehabilitation and
remediation of contaminated sites. It would also facilitate developing
a National Plan for Rehabilitation of Pollution Sites (NPRPS),
sustaining the process beyond the project period.
akt/sh/vk/dk/kol/15:19 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
India Statistical Strengthening Project
New Delhi: March 19, 2010
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved a World Bank
assisted Centrally Sponsored Scheme viz. 'India Statistical
Strengthening Project (ISSP)' with a view to improve the State
Statistical Systems, as an important means to strengthen and improve
the National Statistical System in all its dimensions in line with the
recommendations of the National Statistical Commission (NSC).
The project has been cleared for a total budget of Rs.650.43 crore,
out of which, 80% would be funded through a World Bank loan, and the
remaining 20% would be borne by the Government of India. The
States/UTs would need to provide if, when and wherever required the
necessary land and / or buildings, manpower and also meet all the
associated recurring expenditure for implementation of the Project.
The project is designated to help build the capacities at the
States/UTs level with the following objectives;
• To collect, compile and disseminate relevant and reliable official statistics.
• To serve the twin objectives of planning and policy making at the
state and local levels and
• To provide the data that would be required at the national level.
Besides, it will also help develop structures to assist the line
departments and other data agencies to improve the quality and
coverage of the data they collect and to promote their usage at the
State/District and Block levels.
The project has designed to support appropriate State/UT-specific
interventions in the following areas:
a) Improving the Coordination and Management of Statistical Activities
in the States/UTs;
b) Human Resource Development;
c) Developing Statistical Infrastructure;
d) Investing in physical Infrastructure, including Information Technology, and
e) Improving Statistical Operations, especially those supporting the
cause of improvement in the quality and dissemination of statistical
data.
All the States/UTs are eligible to participate in the project.
However, in view of the existing wide disparities and heterogeneities
across the States/UTs in terms of their state statistical systems, the
States/UTs have been allowed to participate in the project as and when
they take a decision to do so. So far, 22 States/UTs have communicated
their decision to the Government of India for participating in the
project.
The following are among they key/critically important yields which are
expected to accrue to the National Statistical System, in general and
the State Statistical Systems, in particular by virtue of
implementation of this project.
• Compilation of District Level Estimates of the Statistical
Indicators which is not being done at present.
• The states would meet the national standards on key statistical activities
• The statistical manpower of the State Statistical Systems will
become much better endowed/equipped.
• Dissemination of national and state level data on key statistical
activities in a credible, timely and reliable manner.
• Information on improvement of the statistical systems in all the
participating states will be published on the ISSP web pages. Each
State will have a dedicated web-site for dissemination of State data &
it will have a national network for linkages with the national
web-site. This will improve the accessibility to data and interface
with users.
• Additional un-met demands of Statistics at State/National level will
be taken up.
• Better accessibility to data and interface with the users.
akt/sh/vk/dk/kol/15:19 hrs.
--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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