Cabinet panel to study telecom corporate setup

By P. Sunderarajan

NEW DELHI, JUNE 24. The Union Cabinet today formally constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to facilitate corporatisation of the Department of Telecom Services by October 1. The GoM would be headed by the Communications Minister, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan. Announcing this, the Government spokesperson said the panel would study all issues, including employees' pensionary benefits and payscales and submit its report by August 15.

The other members of the GoM would be: the Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, the Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran, the HRD Minister, Mr. Murli Manohar Joshi, the Labour Minister, Mr. Satyanarain Jatiya, and the Minister of State for Personnel, Ms. Vasundhara Raje.

The Cabinet approved the introduction of a regulation for fishing in the lagoons and the sea around Lakshadweep to protect the interests of small fishermen from encroachments by operators of large vessels. The new regulations would be in the form of a promulgation by the President.

It cleared a proposal to accede to the 1998 protocol relating to the international convention for loadlines. This would harmonise the system of surveys and certification of Indian ships and facilitate operation of India's commercial fleet engaged in international trade.

Cooperation with Russian Federation

The Cabinet gave its ex- post facto approval to the joint document on development of trade, economic, industrial, financial, scientific and technological cooperation with the Russian Federation and approved the signing of an air service agreement with Lithuania.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a scheme for upgradation of computing facilities in the five IITs at a cost of Rs. 89.85 crores, and a proposal to enhance the financial assistance for both regular and special camping activities of the National Service Scheme.

For the plain areas, the programme fund per volunteer would be increased to Rs. 160 for regular activities and Rs. 300 for special camping activities. For the hill areas, the new rates would be Rs. 200 for regular activities and Rs. 400 for special campaign activities.

The CCEA approved the on-going Centrally-sponsored scheme on development of freshwater aquaculture with a total outlay of Rs. 300 crores for the Ninth Plan period.

Concession to fertilizer companies revised

The CCEA further revised the base rates of concessions for making on account payments to the fertilizer companies. While the rate has been decreased by Rs. 1,100 per tonne for indigenous Di- Amonnium Phosphate (DAP), and Rs. 100 for Single Super Phosphate (SSP), it has been increased by Rs. 105 per tonne for Mureate of Potash (MOP).

The new rates would consequently be: Rs. 2,800 per tonne for indigenous DAP, Rs. 700 per tonne for SSP and Rs. 2,800 per tonne for MOP. The rate for imported DAP would remain at Rs. 950 per tonne. The rate for complexes, in turn, would range from Rs. 1,577 to Rs. 2,800 per tonnes.

This is the second revision of the rates of concessions in four months. The new rates would be implemented immediately and would have retrospective effect from April 1.

The Cabinet panel decided to authorise the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) to further revise the rates of concession for MOP if the cost of imports go beyond $ U.S. 122 per tonnes and that of imported DAP in case of large variations in the international price, so that there was no shortage of the two fertilizers.It decided not to make any further changes in the MRP of the fertilizers.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Next     : PM to meet Pope, asks States to uphold law