Date:23/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/23/stories/2008052355511200.htm

National

Move to speed up execution of nuclear projects

Special Correspondent

CCEA authorises NPC to initiate the process of land acquisition for projects

NEW DELHI: In a bid to quicken the implementation of nuclear power projects, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday decided to authorise the Board of Nuclear Power Corporation to initiate the process of land acquisition for its future projects even while getting the financial sanction for them.

Union Minister and Cabinet spokesperson P. Chidambaram said the authorisation would considerably shorten the duration of project implementation as the process of land acquisition and the process of getting financial sanction would proceed alongside. At present, the Board can begin the process of land acquisition only after getting the financial sanction and both the processes involved lengthy procedures.

The CCEA also gave its approval for the implementation of the revised macro-management of agriculture scheme during the 11th Plan period. A tentative outlay of Rs. 5,500 crore has been earmarked for the scheme during the Plan period. The scheme has been recently revised in a comprehensive manner. This includes rationalisation of the cost and subsidy norms vis-À-vis other schemes to bring about uniformity and avoid confusions at the field level. It will also dovetail with other major initiatives such as the National Food Security Mission and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

The Union Cabinet met on Thursday and approved the upgradation of 118 posts in the armed forces medical service — 100 in the army medical corps, 16 in the army dental corps, and two in the army medical corps (non-technical) at the levels of Lieutenant- General, Major-General, Brigadier and Colonel. It also revised the ratio of permanent and short service commission officers from 77:23 to 60:40.