Harsh decisions needed to set things right: PM

By Our Special Correspondent

BHUBANESWAR, MAY 24. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, dedicated the INSAT-3B satellite to the nation at a in the Raj Bhavan here this afternoon. Later, while laying the foundation stone for the Rs. 8,000-crore refinery of the Indian Oil Corporation at Paradip, Mr. Vajapayee stressed on the need for harsh decisions and attacked the Opposition for criticising his Government's economic policies.

Launched on March 22, the INSAT-3B went into operation after the Prime Minister inaugurated the Vidya Vahini Yojana and the Gramsat Pilot Project of Orissa and tribal women in Kashipur area of undivided Koraput district talked to Mr. Vajpayee from their village. The satellite will provide communication services for the next 10 years.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said science and technology was no longer confined to cities but had reached even remote villages. ``When the entire world is running faster and faster, why should we lag behind while having the resources and manpower?''

Mr. Vajpayee thanked Mr. K. Kasturirangan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation and other scientists behind the successful launch of the INSAT-3B in which transponders have been allocated for the Vidya Vahini Yojana.

The INSAT-3B, intended for business communication, developmental communication and mobile communication, carries 12 extended C- band transponders, 3 Ku-band channels and mobile satellite service transponders. It will carry important networks for banking and stock exchanges and also support the Gramsat Pilot Projects in different States.

In his address, Dr. Kasturirangan thanked Mr. Vajpayee for taking a keen interest in all programmes of the ISRO.The Orissa Chief Minister, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, said the Vidya Vahini Yojana would provide development communication to about 800 villages in the KBK region.

Among those who attended the function were the Orissa Governor, Mr. M. M. Rajendran and the Union Rural Development Minister, Mr. Sunderlal Patwa.

Appeal to parties

At the stone-laying ceremony for the IOC's nine million tonne Paradip refinery, Mr. Vajpayee appealed to all political parties to sink their differences and ensure that the development process was speeded up.

Speaking in Oriya amid loud applause, the Prime Minister said his Government was trying to rectify the mistakes committed by previous Governments by taking some harsh decisions which were required for the development of the nation.

The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr. Ram Naik, said the initial capacity of the refinery would be nine million tonne and is scheduled to be completed by August, 2003. It would be the country's first zero-residue refinery, he added.

Asked by the crowd to rename Paradeep port after the late Biju Patnaik, the Prime Minister said he would seriously consider the suggestion.

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