NEPAL: Thousands rally in Kathmandu to demand end to shutdown
The rally was organised by the business community and other civil society groups
KATHMANDU: About 35,000 people rallied in Kathmandu on Friday to demand an end to a five-day shutdown of the Nepalese capital enforced by Maoists that has crippled business and other city life, police said.
The rally was organised by the business community and other civil society groups to demand that the coalition government and the Maoists find a solution to bring an end to the impasse.
The Maoists, who have the largest number of seats in parliament, are demanding the resignation of the prime minister and the formation of a new national unity government under Maoist administration.
“We have given the political parties and the Maoists a two-day deadline to come to a consensus and end the strike,” Kush Kumar Joshi, organiser of the meeting and president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told AFP.
“The strikes have been crippling the business industry and all sectors have been adversely affected. Nepal is losing 2.25 billion rupees (30 million dollars) every day,” he said.
Although talks between the Maoists and the political parties have been continuing since Sunday, there is no sign yet of breaking the deadlock which has seen all businesses shut and people confined to their homes.
There was no violence at the rally, police said, but at one point officers fired tear gas to avoid a possible confrontation between Maoist supporters and rally participants.
There were also sporadic clashes between anti-Maoist demonstrators and Maoist supporters elsewhere in the capital, but police said the situation was under control.
The United States called Thursday on the Maoists to end the strike, voicing fear that the standoff could spiral into violence.
Robert Blake, the assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, encouraged all sides to try to resolve differences peacefully as hopes fade that Nepal will meet a May 28 deadline to complete a new constitution.
Blake, who visited the Himalayan nation last month, said that the general strike called by the Maoists “is creating serious hardships for the people of Nepal and the risk of dangerous confrontation is growing.”
Maoist guerrillas fought a bloody insurgency against the state for 10 years before a peace deal was signed in 2006. The left-wing former rebels then won elections in 2008 before falling from power last year.
source;AFP also Barun roy
Friday, 7 May 2010
Khap panchayat: signs of desperation?
by Jagmati Sangwan
The Hindu An All castes (Khap) Maha Panchayat in progress in Kurukshetra.
The number of cases in which the totally unconstitutional caste panchayats have openly defied the law of the land by issuing illegal diktats has increased manifold.
In Haryana today, rapid capitalist transformation is accompanied by a regressive feudal consciousness. As education and political awareness spread among Dalits, women and backward sections, alongside there is a massive consolidation of caste (khap) panchayats in defence of the status quo. The number of cases in which the totally unconstitutional caste panchayats have openly defied the law of the land by issuing illegal diktats has increased manifold. Attacks on young couples, Dalits and progressive-minded people have become frequent.
A recent landmark judgment by the Additional Sessions Court at Karnal in the Manoj-Babli “honour” killing case, in which five accused were given the death sentence, sent shock waves among caste panchayat leaders, as it reminded them that they were not above the Constitution. The court took serious note of the fact that the policemen deployed for the security of Manoj and Babli actually facilitated the accused in perpetrating the crime.
Though geographically small, Haryana is socially and culturally heterogeneous. For example, in some areas and among certain castes, marriages within the village and even intra-gotra marriages are not uncommon. At the same time, such marriages are treated as incest in certain other areas, and among other castes. Even the caste or khap panchayat is not a feature prevalent throughout the State, as many believe, but is confined to a particular region. Thus, a section of people of one particular caste proclaims itself as the cultural representative of Haryana, refusing to acknowledge the customs and traditions practised by others in their own neighbourhood.
A look at the demography of the State and its development statistics would help to contextualise the problem. The State that stood second in per capita income in the country has one of the lowest sex ratios (821 in the 0-6 age group). Female foeticide is rampant, and the situation is so bad that wives are being brought from far off States. Not once have these panchayats called a maha-panchayat to pass a resolution against female foeticide or dowry or even in connection with the crisis in agriculture — problems staring the people of Haryana in the face.
After the judgment in the Manoj-Babli case, however, a congregation of caste panchayats representing the Jat neighbourhoods from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan was called at Kurukshetra on April 13. It was decided that panchayats would now fight for legal status to legitimately maintain the “social order.” One of the main agendas of this sarv-khap panchayat was to push for amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 that would ban marriages within the same gotra (clan within which men and women are considered siblings and hence cannot marry). Under this Act, marriages between certain lineages from the paternal and maternal sides are already barred.
Most of the khap panchayat diktats are against couples who are not from the same gotra. In fact, not more than one case of honour killing has been of a couple within the same gotra. By creating the false impression that all marriages of choice between young couples are incestuous, what the khaps are actually opposing is the right to choose a marriage partner. Among the several instances of khaps issuing fatwas in Jaundhi, Asanda, Dharana, Singhwal, Hadaudi, Maham-kheri, Ludana and other villages, not a single one was an intra-gotra marriage, yet the married couples were declared siblings, and families made to suffer boycotts and excommunication from their villages.
A sad example of the gotra row is that of Ved Pal Moan, brutally beaten to death last year when he tried to secure his wife who was confined by her parents at Singhwal village in Jind district. He was escorted by a police party and a warrant officer of the High Court. Ved Pal had married neither within his gotra nor within the same village. In this case, another absurd code was invoked by the khap: that the couple violated the custom of not marrying in the neighbouring village as it forms part of bhaichara (brotherhood). A khap congregation held in March 2009 publicly pronounced the death sentence for Ved Pal, and it succeeded in executing it in June. As couples are selectively targeted, it is clear the real motive is to control women's sexuality to ensure that property remains within the patriarchal caste domain (mainly Jats in Haryana).
The sarv khap panchayat also called for social boycott of individuals who raised their voice against the caste panchayats. A former police chief of Haryana, himself a self-styled caste leader, went on record threatening khap-critics. How can a former DGP publicly threaten law-abiding citizens, and yet continue to enjoy the hefty perks and pension out of the public exchequer?
The caste panchayat leaders have decided to stifle any voice of assertion from the backward sections. On April 21 more than 20 houses of Dalits were burnt down at Mirchpur village, in the presence of a police force, allegedly by thugs belonging to a dominant caste, resulting in the death of an 18-year-old handicapped girl and her ailing father. A panchayat of khaps convened at Mirchpur three days after the carnage not only declared all arrested persons innocent but also issued an ultimatum to the government for their release! This was exactly the pattern adopted by caste panchayats in the Gohana (2005) and Duleena (2002) incidents, where brutal attacks on Dalits took place.
Even elders from socially and economically weaker families are not spared. At Khedi Meham in December 2009, the father of a newly wed groom was forced to hold a shoe in his mouth in front of the whole village by the panchayatis. Ordinary citizens are caught in the contradiction between two sets of values — the blind consumerism of the neo-liberal dispensation, and the outdated feudal values represented by the khaps. The first is no replacement for the second, and indeed, pseudo-modernism only strengthens the forces of revivalism. The alternative to both types of distortions lies in the spread of healthy and progressive values that can be unleashed through only a new social reform movement in the entire Hindi belt.
Limited but crucial role
The judiciary does have a crucial role to play but has its limitations too. On June 23, 2008 Justice K.S. Ahluwalia of the Punjab and Haryana High Court made a revealing observation while simultaneously hearing 10 cases pertaining to marriages between young couples aged 18 - 21: “The High Court is flooded with petitions where … judges of this Court have to answer for the right of life and liberty to married couples. The State is a mute spectator. When shall the State awake from its slumber [and] for how long can Courts provide solace and balm by disposing of such cases?” A legislature with little political will and a pliant executive will have to be made responsive under pressure of a mass movement.
The voices of dissent are also getting consolidated under the umbrella of organisations like the AIDWA and other democratic forces. The younger generation must stand forth as responsible social activists and lead the struggle for change in an otherwise feudal society that lives by the dictum “Jiski lathi uski bhains” (the powerful call the shots). In Haryana each passing day is costing the lives of innocent women and men.
(The author is Director, Women's Study Centre, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, and State President of AIDWA, Haryana.)
by Jagmati Sangwan
The Hindu An All castes (Khap) Maha Panchayat in progress in Kurukshetra.
The number of cases in which the totally unconstitutional caste panchayats have openly defied the law of the land by issuing illegal diktats has increased manifold.
In Haryana today, rapid capitalist transformation is accompanied by a regressive feudal consciousness. As education and political awareness spread among Dalits, women and backward sections, alongside there is a massive consolidation of caste (khap) panchayats in defence of the status quo. The number of cases in which the totally unconstitutional caste panchayats have openly defied the law of the land by issuing illegal diktats has increased manifold. Attacks on young couples, Dalits and progressive-minded people have become frequent.
A recent landmark judgment by the Additional Sessions Court at Karnal in the Manoj-Babli “honour” killing case, in which five accused were given the death sentence, sent shock waves among caste panchayat leaders, as it reminded them that they were not above the Constitution. The court took serious note of the fact that the policemen deployed for the security of Manoj and Babli actually facilitated the accused in perpetrating the crime.
Though geographically small, Haryana is socially and culturally heterogeneous. For example, in some areas and among certain castes, marriages within the village and even intra-gotra marriages are not uncommon. At the same time, such marriages are treated as incest in certain other areas, and among other castes. Even the caste or khap panchayat is not a feature prevalent throughout the State, as many believe, but is confined to a particular region. Thus, a section of people of one particular caste proclaims itself as the cultural representative of Haryana, refusing to acknowledge the customs and traditions practised by others in their own neighbourhood.
A look at the demography of the State and its development statistics would help to contextualise the problem. The State that stood second in per capita income in the country has one of the lowest sex ratios (821 in the 0-6 age group). Female foeticide is rampant, and the situation is so bad that wives are being brought from far off States. Not once have these panchayats called a maha-panchayat to pass a resolution against female foeticide or dowry or even in connection with the crisis in agriculture — problems staring the people of Haryana in the face.
After the judgment in the Manoj-Babli case, however, a congregation of caste panchayats representing the Jat neighbourhoods from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan was called at Kurukshetra on April 13. It was decided that panchayats would now fight for legal status to legitimately maintain the “social order.” One of the main agendas of this sarv-khap panchayat was to push for amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 that would ban marriages within the same gotra (clan within which men and women are considered siblings and hence cannot marry). Under this Act, marriages between certain lineages from the paternal and maternal sides are already barred.
Most of the khap panchayat diktats are against couples who are not from the same gotra. In fact, not more than one case of honour killing has been of a couple within the same gotra. By creating the false impression that all marriages of choice between young couples are incestuous, what the khaps are actually opposing is the right to choose a marriage partner. Among the several instances of khaps issuing fatwas in Jaundhi, Asanda, Dharana, Singhwal, Hadaudi, Maham-kheri, Ludana and other villages, not a single one was an intra-gotra marriage, yet the married couples were declared siblings, and families made to suffer boycotts and excommunication from their villages.
A sad example of the gotra row is that of Ved Pal Moan, brutally beaten to death last year when he tried to secure his wife who was confined by her parents at Singhwal village in Jind district. He was escorted by a police party and a warrant officer of the High Court. Ved Pal had married neither within his gotra nor within the same village. In this case, another absurd code was invoked by the khap: that the couple violated the custom of not marrying in the neighbouring village as it forms part of bhaichara (brotherhood). A khap congregation held in March 2009 publicly pronounced the death sentence for Ved Pal, and it succeeded in executing it in June. As couples are selectively targeted, it is clear the real motive is to control women's sexuality to ensure that property remains within the patriarchal caste domain (mainly Jats in Haryana).
The sarv khap panchayat also called for social boycott of individuals who raised their voice against the caste panchayats. A former police chief of Haryana, himself a self-styled caste leader, went on record threatening khap-critics. How can a former DGP publicly threaten law-abiding citizens, and yet continue to enjoy the hefty perks and pension out of the public exchequer?
The caste panchayat leaders have decided to stifle any voice of assertion from the backward sections. On April 21 more than 20 houses of Dalits were burnt down at Mirchpur village, in the presence of a police force, allegedly by thugs belonging to a dominant caste, resulting in the death of an 18-year-old handicapped girl and her ailing father. A panchayat of khaps convened at Mirchpur three days after the carnage not only declared all arrested persons innocent but also issued an ultimatum to the government for their release! This was exactly the pattern adopted by caste panchayats in the Gohana (2005) and Duleena (2002) incidents, where brutal attacks on Dalits took place.
Even elders from socially and economically weaker families are not spared. At Khedi Meham in December 2009, the father of a newly wed groom was forced to hold a shoe in his mouth in front of the whole village by the panchayatis. Ordinary citizens are caught in the contradiction between two sets of values — the blind consumerism of the neo-liberal dispensation, and the outdated feudal values represented by the khaps. The first is no replacement for the second, and indeed, pseudo-modernism only strengthens the forces of revivalism. The alternative to both types of distortions lies in the spread of healthy and progressive values that can be unleashed through only a new social reform movement in the entire Hindi belt.
Limited but crucial role
The judiciary does have a crucial role to play but has its limitations too. On June 23, 2008 Justice K.S. Ahluwalia of the Punjab and Haryana High Court made a revealing observation while simultaneously hearing 10 cases pertaining to marriages between young couples aged 18 - 21: “The High Court is flooded with petitions where … judges of this Court have to answer for the right of life and liberty to married couples. The State is a mute spectator. When shall the State awake from its slumber [and] for how long can Courts provide solace and balm by disposing of such cases?” A legislature with little political will and a pliant executive will have to be made responsive under pressure of a mass movement.
The voices of dissent are also getting consolidated under the umbrella of organisations like the AIDWA and other democratic forces. The younger generation must stand forth as responsible social activists and lead the struggle for change in an otherwise feudal society that lives by the dictum “Jiski lathi uski bhains” (the powerful call the shots). In Haryana each passing day is costing the lives of innocent women and men.
(The author is Director, Women's Study Centre, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, and State President of AIDWA, Haryana.)
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
oil exploration works in Rajasthan
Rajya Sabha
The Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Jitin Prasada informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today that oil and gas discoveries have been made in two exploration blocks in Rajasthan. While 17 discoveries have been made (13 oil and 4 gas) in the Block RJ-ON-90/1 block (Cairn-ONGC), 2 gas discoveries have been made in the Block RJ-ON/6 (FOCUS-ISIL-NOCL-ONGC). Under the PSC regime, commercial production of crude oil has commenced w.e.f. 29.08.2009 from the Mangala field in the block RJ-ON-90/1(Cairn-ONGC) in Barmer district in Rajasthan. Till 31.12.2009, about 1.62 Million Barrels of oil have been produced from Mangala Field.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation(ONGC) is currently holding one nomination and three New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) blocks covering area of Jaisalmer, Kota, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar and Baran districts of Rajasthan and its exploration activities for oil and gas reserves are restricted to these blocks only and being pursued actively. As far as Pvt/JVs are concerned under the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) regime, so far 18 exploration blocks have been awarded under Pre-NELP and NELP rounds in the State of Rajasthan.
Replying to another query, he said that Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited(ONGC) is in consultation with the Government of Rajasthan(GoR) on the feasibility of setting up a refinery at Barmer. For this purpose GoR has set up a high level Committee on the 19th August, 2009 for the preparation of a report on the status of oil and gas sector in Rajathan in the context of future prospects and benefits for the State. Consequent on de-licensing of refinery sector since June, 1998, a refinery can be set up anywhere in India by a Private or Public Sector Enterprise depending on its commercial viability.
Rajya Sabha
The Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Jitin Prasada informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today that oil and gas discoveries have been made in two exploration blocks in Rajasthan. While 17 discoveries have been made (13 oil and 4 gas) in the Block RJ-ON-90/1 block (Cairn-ONGC), 2 gas discoveries have been made in the Block RJ-ON/6 (FOCUS-ISIL-NOCL-ONGC). Under the PSC regime, commercial production of crude oil has commenced w.e.f. 29.08.2009 from the Mangala field in the block RJ-ON-90/1(Cairn-ONGC) in Barmer district in Rajasthan. Till 31.12.2009, about 1.62 Million Barrels of oil have been produced from Mangala Field.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation(ONGC) is currently holding one nomination and three New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) blocks covering area of Jaisalmer, Kota, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar and Baran districts of Rajasthan and its exploration activities for oil and gas reserves are restricted to these blocks only and being pursued actively. As far as Pvt/JVs are concerned under the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) regime, so far 18 exploration blocks have been awarded under Pre-NELP and NELP rounds in the State of Rajasthan.
Replying to another query, he said that Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited(ONGC) is in consultation with the Government of Rajasthan(GoR) on the feasibility of setting up a refinery at Barmer. For this purpose GoR has set up a high level Committee on the 19th August, 2009 for the preparation of a report on the status of oil and gas sector in Rajathan in the context of future prospects and benefits for the State. Consequent on de-licensing of refinery sector since June, 1998, a refinery can be set up anywhere in India by a Private or Public Sector Enterprise depending on its commercial viability.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Bhadra, Rajasthan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(July 2007)
Bhadra
Location of Bhadra
in Rajasthan and India
Coordinates 29°07′N 75°10′E / 29.12°N 75.17°E / 29.12; 75.17
Country India
State Rajasthan
District(s) Hanumangarh
Population 35,137 (2001[update])
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation
• 192 m (630 ft)
Bhadra is a city and a municipality in Hanumangarh district in the state of Rajasthan, India.
Bhadra in colloquial Marwari (a dialect of Hindi) means "The City of Grace". As per History, this name comes from river "SWARNABHADRA" which, unfortunately, has already disappeared.
The town is well connected through railroad on the Sri Ganganagar-Sadulpur(Rajgarh)-Jaipur line, and through state highways to Hisar, and Sirsa in the neighboring state of Haryana.
[edit] Geography
Bhadra is located at 29°07′N 75°10′E / 29.12°N 75.17°E / 29.12; 75.17.[1] It has an average elevation of 192 metres (629 feet). Main villages of Bhadra are Kirara Bara, Dungarana, Sickrodi, Kalana, Malsisar, Kunji, Jogiwala, Ajitpura, Motsara,Bhangarh, Channi Bari ,Jatan,Hunatpura(also called Dingbas) Ghandhi Bari, Bhirani and Dabri,ghotra patta.
Main circles/street points here are Khubram ji saraf chowk, Ambedkar chowk, Rajiv chowk, Agarsain chowk(gur mandi). ghotra bus stand One beautiful public garden is one old pillar of Bhadra, known as "Gandhi park". Luhariwala dharamsala is famous dharamsala of city and situated in the heart of city. Its used for public ceremoneies like Marriages, Religious purpose like Bhagawat-Path etc.
There are some good old seeing worth buildings like KATH KI HAVELI owned by PATAWARIS etc.
Government Hospital" and "Vivekanand Swasthya Sewa Samiti" are the main pillars of Bhadra. VSSS has achieved many milestone and now the most advanced Hospital within whole district of Hanumangarh.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Bhadra had a population of 35,137. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bhadra has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 60% of the males and 40% of females literate. 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Just like other villages, here also people like to gather in the evening and then starts an endless discussion with tea n snacks....
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(July 2007)
Bhadra
Location of Bhadra
in Rajasthan and India
Coordinates 29°07′N 75°10′E / 29.12°N 75.17°E / 29.12; 75.17
Country India
State Rajasthan
District(s) Hanumangarh
Population 35,137 (2001[update])
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation
• 192 m (630 ft)
Bhadra is a city and a municipality in Hanumangarh district in the state of Rajasthan, India.
Bhadra in colloquial Marwari (a dialect of Hindi) means "The City of Grace". As per History, this name comes from river "SWARNABHADRA" which, unfortunately, has already disappeared.
The town is well connected through railroad on the Sri Ganganagar-Sadulpur(Rajgarh)-Jaipur line, and through state highways to Hisar, and Sirsa in the neighboring state of Haryana.
[edit] Geography
Bhadra is located at 29°07′N 75°10′E / 29.12°N 75.17°E / 29.12; 75.17.[1] It has an average elevation of 192 metres (629 feet). Main villages of Bhadra are Kirara Bara, Dungarana, Sickrodi, Kalana, Malsisar, Kunji, Jogiwala, Ajitpura, Motsara,Bhangarh, Channi Bari ,Jatan,Hunatpura(also called Dingbas) Ghandhi Bari, Bhirani and Dabri,ghotra patta.
Main circles/street points here are Khubram ji saraf chowk, Ambedkar chowk, Rajiv chowk, Agarsain chowk(gur mandi). ghotra bus stand One beautiful public garden is one old pillar of Bhadra, known as "Gandhi park". Luhariwala dharamsala is famous dharamsala of city and situated in the heart of city. Its used for public ceremoneies like Marriages, Religious purpose like Bhagawat-Path etc.
There are some good old seeing worth buildings like KATH KI HAVELI owned by PATAWARIS etc.
Government Hospital" and "Vivekanand Swasthya Sewa Samiti" are the main pillars of Bhadra. VSSS has achieved many milestone and now the most advanced Hospital within whole district of Hanumangarh.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Bhadra had a population of 35,137. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bhadra has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 60% of the males and 40% of females literate. 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Just like other villages, here also people like to gather in the evening and then starts an endless discussion with tea n snacks....
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
The Hindu Editorial: Developing the western corridor
The project to build a Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) got the much-needed push, with the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Japanese and Indian institutions.
The DMIC Development Corporation and the Japanese JETRO are to promote 24 eco-cities or smart communities along the corridor, while the Japan Bank for International Cooperation has offered a $75 million loan facility to help establish a Project Development Fund to kick-start the project.
The DMIC project comprises a host of sub-projects for infrastructure development — for instance industrial estates, power plants, and logistics parks — which are to come up on either side of the proposed 1,483 km Delhi-Mumbai railway freight corridor.
The foundation stone for the rail corridor was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh way back in October 2006. This Rs.22,000 crore project is expected to change the face of the western corridor, with the DMIC developing the entire hinterland. The Gujarat government has embarked on a vigorous drive to attract foreign investment for the project and it can be expected to gain momentum as a result of the recent visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yokio Hatoyama. In addition to harnessing Japanese investments and interests, the States along the western corridor will also be tapping foreign and domestic investments for the overall development of the region.
The western rail freight corridor will link the Jawaharlal Nehru port and other ports in Gujarat to the industrial belts in the western, central, and northern regions extending up to New Delhi. A separate dedicated corridor to the east has also been planned by the Indian Railways, and the work on it was launched in February. The dedicated corridor is meant to focus exclusively on carrying freight, and the project, conceived in 2004-05, envisages 2,700 km of new freight lines and about 5,000 km of feeder lines.
The western corridor will connect Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Palanpur, Jaipur, Rewari, Tughlakabad, and Dadri.
It is now for the Government of India, and all the agencies involved in the massive project — including the Railways, the State governments, and even the Planning Commission — to work in close coordination and ensure that it does not suffer undue delays and the consequent cost over-runs.
Japan wants to showcase the DMIC as a model not just for India, but the whole world.
To begin with, the Indian agencies need to expedite the basic work on the feasibility report, environmental clearances, land acquisition, and preparation of a blueprint for the whole project. The prospective investors will need a definite time frame and a detailed plan to finalise their investment plans.
The project to build a Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) got the much-needed push, with the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Japanese and Indian institutions.
The DMIC Development Corporation and the Japanese JETRO are to promote 24 eco-cities or smart communities along the corridor, while the Japan Bank for International Cooperation has offered a $75 million loan facility to help establish a Project Development Fund to kick-start the project.
The DMIC project comprises a host of sub-projects for infrastructure development — for instance industrial estates, power plants, and logistics parks — which are to come up on either side of the proposed 1,483 km Delhi-Mumbai railway freight corridor.
The foundation stone for the rail corridor was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh way back in October 2006. This Rs.22,000 crore project is expected to change the face of the western corridor, with the DMIC developing the entire hinterland. The Gujarat government has embarked on a vigorous drive to attract foreign investment for the project and it can be expected to gain momentum as a result of the recent visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yokio Hatoyama. In addition to harnessing Japanese investments and interests, the States along the western corridor will also be tapping foreign and domestic investments for the overall development of the region.
The western rail freight corridor will link the Jawaharlal Nehru port and other ports in Gujarat to the industrial belts in the western, central, and northern regions extending up to New Delhi. A separate dedicated corridor to the east has also been planned by the Indian Railways, and the work on it was launched in February. The dedicated corridor is meant to focus exclusively on carrying freight, and the project, conceived in 2004-05, envisages 2,700 km of new freight lines and about 5,000 km of feeder lines.
The western corridor will connect Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Palanpur, Jaipur, Rewari, Tughlakabad, and Dadri.
It is now for the Government of India, and all the agencies involved in the massive project — including the Railways, the State governments, and even the Planning Commission — to work in close coordination and ensure that it does not suffer undue delays and the consequent cost over-runs.
Japan wants to showcase the DMIC as a model not just for India, but the whole world.
To begin with, the Indian agencies need to expedite the basic work on the feasibility report, environmental clearances, land acquisition, and preparation of a blueprint for the whole project. The prospective investors will need a definite time frame and a detailed plan to finalise their investment plans.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Industry & Economy - Non-conventional Energy
Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan to play major role in solar power
Kolkata, Dec. 28
West Bengal, Gujarat and Rajasthan will be the major participants in the National Solar Mission (NSM) as these three States together will produce nearly 30 per cent of the targeted 20,000 MW solar power in the country by 2022, according to Mr SP Gon Chowdhury, Managing Director of the West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation.
Addressing media persons on the sidelines of the 23rd Industrial India Trade Fair here on Monday, Mr Chowdhury said, “West Bengal has set the target of producing 110 MW solar power by 2013 involving investment of Rs 1,500 crore by different companies”.
A total of 15 MW solar power was currently generated in the State and the total investment in this in last three years was Rs 800 crore, he pointed out.
Mr Chowdhuty indicated that Gujarat and Rajasthan were expected to generate 130 MW and 100 MW solar power respectively in three years.
The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Mr Farooq Abdullah, recently declared the target of producing 1,300 MW solar power in the first phase of National Solar Mission by 2013. “We would soon send a proposal to the Centre to block 110 MW solar power and to connect the same to the power grid,” Mr Chowdhury said.
The West Government, he pointed out, had targeted to set up one lakh solar home lighting units in the Sstate in two to three years under the Centre-sponsored Decentralised Distributed Generation Scheme.
The State was also expected to manufacture solar modules capable of producing 500 MW power by 2022, he said. The national target in this regard is 5000 MW.
A number of companies, including Webel, Reliance Industries Ltd, Videocon, Moser Baer and Astonfield have rolled out their investment plans in the renewable energy sector in West Bengal, Mr Chowdhury said.
The State was also expected to produce 5 MW solar power from “rooftop projects”, he added.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal IT Minister, Mr Debesh Das, said that there was need to manufacture solar panels from raw silica in the State.
“Though a lot of companies are interested in generating solar power, we also need to be self reliant in raw materials,” he said.
Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan to play major role in solar power
Kolkata, Dec. 28
West Bengal, Gujarat and Rajasthan will be the major participants in the National Solar Mission (NSM) as these three States together will produce nearly 30 per cent of the targeted 20,000 MW solar power in the country by 2022, according to Mr SP Gon Chowdhury, Managing Director of the West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation.
Addressing media persons on the sidelines of the 23rd Industrial India Trade Fair here on Monday, Mr Chowdhury said, “West Bengal has set the target of producing 110 MW solar power by 2013 involving investment of Rs 1,500 crore by different companies”.
A total of 15 MW solar power was currently generated in the State and the total investment in this in last three years was Rs 800 crore, he pointed out.
Mr Chowdhuty indicated that Gujarat and Rajasthan were expected to generate 130 MW and 100 MW solar power respectively in three years.
The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Mr Farooq Abdullah, recently declared the target of producing 1,300 MW solar power in the first phase of National Solar Mission by 2013. “We would soon send a proposal to the Centre to block 110 MW solar power and to connect the same to the power grid,” Mr Chowdhury said.
The West Government, he pointed out, had targeted to set up one lakh solar home lighting units in the Sstate in two to three years under the Centre-sponsored Decentralised Distributed Generation Scheme.
The State was also expected to manufacture solar modules capable of producing 500 MW power by 2022, he said. The national target in this regard is 5000 MW.
A number of companies, including Webel, Reliance Industries Ltd, Videocon, Moser Baer and Astonfield have rolled out their investment plans in the renewable energy sector in West Bengal, Mr Chowdhury said.
The State was also expected to produce 5 MW solar power from “rooftop projects”, he added.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal IT Minister, Mr Debesh Das, said that there was need to manufacture solar panels from raw silica in the State.
“Though a lot of companies are interested in generating solar power, we also need to be self reliant in raw materials,” he said.
Friday, 18 December 2009
Proposal to make Ajmer World Class Railway Station
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13:13 IST
RAJYA SABHA 17 De2009
Ajmer Railway Station has been identified for development into World Class Station through Public-Private Partnership(PPP) mode. Preliminary activities have been taken up. No target date for completion has been fixed.
It is planned to provide state-of-the-art station building with good architecture and having segregation of arrival/departure of passengers, modern amenities like food plazas, currency exchange counter, tourist info booth, retail outlets, internet café, ATM facilities, Hotels, car rentals, prepaid taxi booths wherever feasible, well illuminated circulating area, etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways, Shri E. Ahamed in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13:13 IST
RAJYA SABHA 17 De2009
Ajmer Railway Station has been identified for development into World Class Station through Public-Private Partnership(PPP) mode. Preliminary activities have been taken up. No target date for completion has been fixed.
It is planned to provide state-of-the-art station building with good architecture and having segregation of arrival/departure of passengers, modern amenities like food plazas, currency exchange counter, tourist info booth, retail outlets, internet café, ATM facilities, Hotels, car rentals, prepaid taxi booths wherever feasible, well illuminated circulating area, etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways, Shri E. Ahamed in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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