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News:
3718 petrol pumps and gas agencies to be cancelled
Petrol pump issue: Parliament remains paralysed
Nuclear Forces Command to be in place soon: Fernandes
HC notices to Federal Government on petrol pumps cancellation
Kalam to visit Gujarat, review
India-Bangladesh trade treaty gets fourth extension
India offers five mn dlrs worth of humanitarian aid to Tajiks
FDI inflows post impressive 87 pc growth in May
Rupee declines against US dollar early Friday
Federal Govt to evolve financial package for states by Sept
To assuage Pak, ACB dangles tri-nation tournament with India
Domestic calendar to be finalised at Bangalore on Aug 21
Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai to host Tests against West Indies
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3718 petrol pumps and gas agencies to be cancelled
New Delhi,Friday, August 09, 2002: A total of 3718 petrol pumps, gas agencies and kerosene dealerships, and not 3158 allotments as announced earlier, will be cancelled as the fallout of the August 5 Government order, for which oil companies are likely to issue termination notices from early next week.
"The previous announcements cancelling 3158 petrol pump and gas agency allotments following allegations of favouritism had taken into account only the allotments done by Dealer Selection Boards (DSBs) constituted by Petroleum Minister Ram Naik in June 2000. But since the Prime Minister's order explicitly said cancellations from January 2000, the total number has now gone up to over 3700," Government sources said.
After three rounds of Secretary level consultations between Federal Petroleum and Law Ministries, a legally acceptable methodology of terminating the dealerships, which minimises scope for arbitration, has been firmed up.
"State-owned oil companies will start issuing termination notices to all allottees and holders of Letter of Intents (LoIs) for petrol pumps, gas agencies and kerosene dealerships (issued since January 2000) from next week. The process would take upto 20 days to complete," they said.
Based on the consultations between the ministries of law and petroleum, a draft is being provided to the oil companies, who have till now filed 2598 caveats in the Supreme Court and various High Courts to prevent local courts from granting ex-parte stay on the cancellation of dealerships.
Emphasising that no dealership has been cancelled as of now, sources said the termination notice would give a month's notice to the allottees before formally evicting them.
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Petrol pump issue: Parliament remains paralysed
New Delhi,Friday, August 09, 2002: Parliament remained paralysed for the fifth day on Friday on the petrol pump allotment issue with a united Opposition adamant on its demand for resignation of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee amidst uproarious scenes.
While the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) was adjourned shortly after it assembled Friday morning, Lok Sabha passed the supplementary demands for grants for Railways without any discussion as Opposition members stood in the well chanting anti-Government slogans.
Federal Railway Minister Nitish Kumar also moved the relevant appropriation bills which were adopted by a voice vote. It was in a matter of about ten minutes that the supplementary demands amounting to over Rs 4 billion were passed.
"Gali Gali mein shor hai, BJP chor hai, Petrol Chor, Gaddi chodh and Pradhan Mantri Isteefa Do (there are shouts in every lane that BJP is corrupt, petrol thief should quit and Prime Minister must resign)," shouted members from Congress, Left parties, Samajwadi Party and RJD when the House reassembled at noon after the first adjournment.
With the Opposition in no no mood to relent, Speaker Manohar Joshi called it day immediately after the supplementary demands were passed.
Similar tumoil was witnessed in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) on the petrol pump issue with Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla telling the Opposition "if you don't want to work then I may adjourn the House for the day."
When the Opposition members refused to relent and continued with their demand for Naik's resignation, Heptulla adjourned the House for the day.
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Nuclear Forces Command to be in place soon: Fernandes
New Delhi,Friday, August 09, 2002: Hinting that India would soon have a Nuclear Forces command in place, Defence Minister George Fernandes on Friday said a command and control chain for the country's nuclear arsenal was nearing completion.
Fernandes also said that along with setting up of Strategic Forces Command, the process of integration of the three services as recommended by Group of Ministers was in full swing and the exercise will be completed shortly.
The Defence Minister was speaking after releasing a book 'Mission to Pakistan' by Former Director Intelligence Bureau Maloy Krishna Dhar.
On whether India's had come up with a Nuclear doctrine, Fernandes said its Nuclear doctrine was very clear. "It is no first use of nuclear weapons, non-use of nuclear weapons against any non-nuclear country and use of nuclear weapons only as a deterrent", he said.
Asked about his frequent visit to world's highest battlefield Siachen, Fernandes said" it is a place where we should not even wish our enemies to land where elements including avalanches, gaping crevasses play havoc with human lives". He was in Siachen recently for the 25th time.
He said nothwithstanding these, Indian soldiers where battling these elements with a kind of morale no other army in the world could boast off.
"My trips are aimed to share some moments with these gallant men and officers and I make it a point to visit the area every three months when the turnaround of troops takes place", he said.
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HC notices to Federal Government on petrol pumps cancellation
New Delhi,Friday, August 09, 2002: Rajasthan and Gauhati High Courts on Friday issued notices to the Federal Government on its order to cancel allotment of petrol pumps and gas agencies even as oil companies completed filing over 3700 caveats in Supreme Court and various High Courts to prevent ex-parte decisions.
"While Madras High Court issued a notice on Thursday on a petition of a gas agency allottee, notices were on Friday received from Rajasthan and Gauhati High Courts challenging the cancellation," top Petroleum Ministry officials told PTI.
However, not a single notice of termination of any of the 3718 petrol pumps, gas agencies and kerosene dealerships has been issued, officials said adding allottees are likely to be served the notice only after August 15 by when a suitable draft that minimises scope for litigations is firmed up in consultation with the Law Ministry and oil companies.
Contracts for allotments of petrol bunks and gas agencies are between allottees and oil companies and Government is not a party to it.
"As per the contract, a contract can be cancelled only when irregularities are committed by the dealer while in other cases a 90-day notice in case of petrol pump and 30 days notice in case of gas agency has to be issued," sources said.
"State-owned oil companies will start issuing termination notices to all allottees and holders of Letters of Intent (LoIs) for petrol pumps, gas agencies and kerosene dealerships (issued since January 2000) from next week. The process would take upto 20 days to complete," they said.
Based on the consultations between the ministries of law and petroleum, a draft is being provided to the oil companies, who have filed over 3700 caveats in Supreme Court and various High Courts to prevent local courts from granting ex-parte stay on the cancellation of dealerships.
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Kalam to visit Gujarat, review
In a pro-active move that may give the BJP-led
Central government some sleepless nights, A P J Abdul Kalam
has chosen Gujarat for his first visit since becoming President.
The visit is aimed at "drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi",
but very much on the agenda is a review of rehabilitation
measures undertaken by the state government after the riots in
the state.
Kalam will leave for Gujarat on Monday afternoon and will spend
a day in Ahmedabad and Bhuj, beginning with a visit to the
Sabarmati Ashram. A press note said Kalam had planned his
visit before Independence Day since the Father of the Nation had
been an inspiration for him since his days in school.
The President, it said, would also "use the opportunity to learn
personally of the rehabilitation measures undertaken by the
government of Gujarat and NGOs there in the wake of recent
disturbances". He also plans to visit Bhuj to learn about
programmes on earthquake-related disaster relief work.
The high-profile visit comes even as Gujarat prepares to go to
polls. An Election Commission team is in the state now. A
nine-member poll panel team has already been to the state last
week. In the meantime, Modi has indicated he would resurrect
his Gaurav yatra, which was called off by the Centre to avoid
further communal tension.
Gujarat has been close to Kalam's heart. He spent considerable
time there last year after the earthquake, and has worked with
NGOs on relief activity. On his visit this time, the President will
also set aside time to do what he enjoys most: Interact with
school children.
He will also meet "intellectuals, political leaders, technologists
and industrialists among others", and visit the house of his guru,
scientist Vikram Sarabhai.
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India-Bangladesh trade treaty gets fourth extension
New Delhi,Friday, August 09, 2002: The India-Bangladesh trade agreement has been given a two-month extension for a fourth time from August 4 to October 3 with both sides being unable to hold a meeting to discuss proposed amendments to the existing treaty.
Official sources told PTI here that New Delhi had written to Dhaka in May suggesting extension of the treaty by four months. The treaty was, however, extended for two months until August 4 at the behest of Bangladesh. The fourth extension comes as no date has been finalised for holding official level talks on the issue. Sources said Dhaka was still to respond to India's request to hold a joint secretary level talks on amending the treaty.
Though Secretary level trade talks were held at Dhaka in April this year, they were limited to bilateral trade issues. The text of the trade agreement did not come up for discussion.
Following the trade talks in April, India had agreed to provide duty free access to 40 tariff lines at six digit level Harmonised System level, corresponding to 16 categories of Bangladesh products.
These concessions have not been notified so far as India has made notification of these tariff lines subject to the lifting of the ban on exports of cotton yarn through the land ruote by Bangladesh. India had in October last year suggested extending the trade treaty for three years. However, Dhaka said it wanted to renew the treaty only after a review following which the treaty was extended for six months until April 4, 2002.
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India offers five mn dlrs worth of humanitarian aid to Tajiks
Moscow,Friday, August 09, 2002: India has offered five million dollars worth of humanitarian food aid to the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan.
The announcement was made in Dushanbe by Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry Rajendra Abhayankar on Friday after his meeting with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmonov in which issues of regional security and combating international terrorism topped the agenda.
Rahmonov said his country sees relations with India as a "key factor" in the region's peace and stability, the Tajik Presidential Press Service reported.
Expressing satisfaction at the acceptance of his invitation by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to visit Tajikistan, Rahmonov said Vajpayee's official visit to Tajikistan would be a "timely step" to give a fillip to bilateral relations.
In Dushanbe, Abhayankar also had detailed discussions on regional security in the perspective of ongoing anti-terror operation in Afghanistan with Tajik Deputy Prime Minister Saidamir Zukhurov, Defence Minister Sherali Khairullayev and Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov.
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FDI inflows post impressive 87 pc growth in May
New Delhi,Friday, August 09, 2002: India's Foreign Direct Investment inflows registered an impressive growth of 87 per cent at 501 million dollars (net of ADRs/GDRs) in May against 268 million dollars in the same period last year.
As per latest data compiled by the Industry Ministry, FDI inflows continue to post impressive growth in the current calender year with cumulative FDI inflows during January-May registering a growth of 60 per cent at 1.89 billion dollars as compared to 1.18 billion dollars in the corresponding period a year earlier.
The impressive growth in FDI has been achieved at a time when there has been a steep decline in the global FDI flows.
Government in May 2002, approved 254 foreign collaboration proposals amounting to 471.2 million dollars which in rupee terms amounted to Rs 22.61 billion.
A sector-wise break-up reveals that telecommunications attracted the highest FDI approvals in the month of May at 195.6 million dollars cornering 41.51 per cent share of the total FDI approval in the month.
Service sector including both financial and non-financial services attracted 114.1 million dollars accounting for a share of 24.22 per cent while fuels attracted the third highest FDI approvals with 47.8 million dollars accounting for a share of 10.14 per cent.
Himachal Pradesh with 168.8 million dollars accounting for a share of 35.83 per cent received the highest number of FDI approvals during May. Delhi, Maharahstra, Gujarat and Goa were the other states in the top five.
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Rupee declines against US dollar early Friday
Mumbai,Friday, August 09, 2002: The rupee declined against the US currency early Friday on renewed heavy dollar demand from banks in moderately active but slightly nervous trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market.
Opening on a soft note at Rs 48.66/67 per dollar, the rupee later dipped to Rs 48.6850/6925 in late morning deals, sharply lower from Thursday's finish of Rs 48.6575/6625.
Fresh dollar demand from banks for their corporate clients exerted renewed pressure on the rupee but the market sentiment still remained upbeat due to regular strong dollar supplies from exporters and foreign fund inflows, dealers said.
In cross currency trades, the Euro was quoted at Rs 47.13/15, Pound Sterling at Rs 74.53/56 and Japanese Yen (100) at Rs 40.21/24.
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Federal Govt to evolve financial package for states by Sept
New Delhi,Friday, August 09, 2002: The Empowered Committee on State Finances, headed by Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, on Friday decided to resolve the pressing issues of reducing debt burden, improving tax collections and the state fiscal deficit by September this year.
The committee in its first meeting discussed the impact of Fifth Pay Commission recommendations on the state finances and the measures that should be taken to improve the fiscal health that had deteriorated over the years.
West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta, briefing on behalf of Singh, said "we want to resolve the issue by September."
"We discussed three things - one, the widespread effect of Central Pay Commission recommendation on state finances and what states can do about it; two, the debt burden and how we can lessen the problem; and three, how to improve tax collections," he said.
Dasgupta said the empowered committee comprising of Singh and finance ministers of Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, had progressed 50 per cent on how to improve state finances.
Singh will meet all the state finance ministers towards the end of the month to be followed by a meeting of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with state chief ministers next month.
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To assuage Pak, ACB dangles tri-nation tournament with India
Islamabad,Friday, August 09, 2002: Keen to assuage the hurt feelings of Pakistan after cancelling its scheduled tour in October, the Australian Cricket Board has dangled the offer of playing in a triangular one-day tournament here next year with India as the third team.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia on Friday said ACB had proposed a tri-nation tournament after next year's World Cup to compensate Pakistan for its revenue losses due to the cancellation. Though he was not sure, Zia said ACB must have held discussions with Indian Cricket Board before coming up with the proposal. "They must have spoken to (Indian Board President Jagmohan) Dalmiya. Otherwise they would not have made the proposal," Zia told PTI at the ceremony for handing over the charge of Asian Cricket Council to Bangladesh. "He (ACB chief Bob Merriman) did mention that he spoke to Dalmiya. It is entirely up to India now," he said. Australia called off its scheduled tour of Pakistan on Friday due to security threats. The decision coincided with an attack on a Christian Missionary Hospital here by suspected Islamic militants which killed five people. Expressing disappointment over the cancellation, Zia said it was up to President Gen Parvez Musharraf to decide Pakistan's next course of action since the move to call off the tour had come from the Australian government.
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Domestic calendar to be finalised at Bangalore on Aug 21
Mumbai,Friday, August 09, 2002: The Cricket Board will finalise its domestic calendar including the two-tier Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, at its Working Committee meeting to be held at Bangalore on August 21.
A BCCI official, who attended the Tour programme and Fixture Committee meeting here on Friday, said the groupings in the upper tier and lower tier were chalked out at the meeting but the dates and venues of the matches would be finalised only on August 21. The venues for the West Indies tour of India from October 1 to November 28 also were finalised but the match dates would be known only after the Working Committee meeting. The venues for the three test matches are Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai and for the seven one-day internationals are Baroda, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jaipur or Jodhpur, Jamshedpur, Visakhapatnam and Nagpur (all on rotation basis), the official added. Meanwhile, Mumbai and Delhi Ranji teams are in Group-A of the upper tier along with Railways, Hyderabad, Andhra, Himachal Pradesh, Bengal and Rajasthan while the seven teams in Group-B are Baroda, Punjab, Gujarat, Assam, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, the official said. In the lower tier, the teams are divided into two groups of six teams each. Group-A consists of Goa, Services, Saurashtra, Kerala, Vidarbha and Tripura while Group-B has Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar, the official added.
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Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai to host Tests against West Indies
Mumbai,Friday, August 09, 2002: Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai will host India's three Test matches during the home series against West Indies in October this year.
The Tour Programme and Fixtures Committee, which met here today, also decided on the venues of the seven one-day internationals of the October 1-November 28 series but did not give out the dates which will be finalised at the Working Committee meeting in Bangalore on August 21.
The one-day internationals would be played at Baroda, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jaipur/Jodhpur, Jamshedpur, Visakhapatnam and Nagpur, a BCCI official, who attended today's meeting, said.
Meanwhile, the groupings of the two-tier Ranji Trophy championship under the new format was chalked out at today's meetings but the dates and venues of the matches would be finalised by the Working Committee on August 21.
Mumbai and Delhi have been placed in Group-A of the upper tier along with Railways, Hyderabad, Andhra, Himachal Pradesh, Bengal and Rajasthan while the seven teams in Group-B are Baroda, Punjab, Gujarat, Assam, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, the official said.
In the lower tier, the teams have been divided into two groups of six each. Group-A consists of Goa, Services, Saurashtra, Kerala, Vidarbha and Tripura while Group-B has Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar, the official added.
The Working Committee meeting at Bangalore will also decide on the fixtures of the Duleep Trophy.
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