Vice President inaugurates International Conference on Terrorism

Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** Vice President inaugurates International Conference on Terrorism REMAIN WATCHFUL OF TERRORISTS USING RELIGION – GHULAM NABI AZAD  New Delhi : October 27, 2009   The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that it is important to remember that those advocating extremist, fundamentalist and terrorist causes constitute a tiny minority. They neither have the religious nor political mandate for their abhorrent actions and ideologies. Delivering inaugural address at the "Second International Conference "Terrorism – National and International" organized by Jama Masjid United Forum here today, he said that a majority of humanity is too poor and is focused on trying to survive. Their vulnerability lies in their poverty; it is this that provides an opportunity to peddlers of extremism. This opportunity gets fructified only because those tasked with political governance and religious and moral leadership have failed.   Speaking on the occasion the Union Health Minister, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad who presided over the Conference emphasized that terrorism undermines democracy, liberalism, civil freedom and is a threat to entire civilization. India has faced terrorism for long time, both in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir instigation and support for the terrorist violence came from beyond the borders, said Shri Azad. The Minister also drew attention to a distinct pattern and sinister design by the terrorist which is manifested in terrorist strike on prominent pillars of Indian economy.   Talking about the terrorism in Kashmir Shri Azad said that in all the militancy affected area the common man is the real sufferer. 'A Kashmiri stands hapless today – witnessing his own destruction mutely', said Shri Azad. He also pointed out that terrorism does not recognize anybody and even those who promote terrorism can not escape from its consequences.   The Health Minister said that strategy of taking shelter under religious principles for terrorism need to be effectively countered. This is essential that narrow and false interpretation of religion do not find any public sympathy or support and is exposed by learned men of religion. Exhorting to be watchful against creation of a religious overtone of terrorist activities Shri Azad cited that over two decades of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir terrorism has killed more number of Muslims than people of other communities. 'The acts of terrorist across the globe underscores that terrorism is a global threat which transcends borders and religions and is not linked to any specific sect or religion or creed', the Health Minister concluded.   DS/GK  /spandey       Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** Wreath Laying at Amar Jawan Jyoti on Infantry Day   New Delhi : October 27, 2009   Infantry the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army popularly known as "QUEEN OF THE BATTLE" celebrates its 62nd Infantry Day today. As part of the celebrations, 'Wreath Laying' ceremony is held at 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' at India Gate to honour those members of the Infantry fraternity who have made the supreme sacrifice for the honour and safety of the country. This year, Lieutenant General Arvind Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC (Retired) laid wreath on behalf of all infantry veterans. Vice Army Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General PC Bhardwaj, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, SC, VSM laid the wreath as the senior most serving Infantryman in the station. All the Colonels of the Regiments assisted by smartly attired soldiers representing their regiments also laid wreath to honour all the fallen gallant soldiers. The ceremony was conducted in a very somber and dignified manner, so characteristic of the Infantry. Lieutenant General Jasbsir Singh, AVSM, VSM Director General Infantry and head of the Infantry fraternity hosted the ceremony and laid wreath to commemorate the event. On the occasion, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General PC Bhardwaj PVSM, AVSM, VrC, SC, VSM also released the 'Infantry Plus' magazine published by Infantry Directorate.   This day has a unique significance for Infantry, as it was on this day in 1947, that Infantrymen first air landed at Srinagar and reversed the tide of a fierce battle in Kashmir that saved the State of Jammu and Kashmir from falling into the hands of Pakistani mercenaries, thereby creating a legacy for independent India. Infantrymen find a special mention not only the history of Armed Forces but also of India, in form of its gallant contribution in preserving the sovereignty and integrity of our Mother Land and further providing conducive environment for its peace, prosperity and growth. To commemorate their heroic deeds, gallant actions and supreme sacrifice, Infantry Day is celebrated on 27 October every year.   S Om Singh/Rajendra  /spandey             Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** DPP-2009 to boost technology transfer to Indian Industry BROAD CONTOURS OF 15-YEAR ARMED FORCES ACQUISITION PLAN TO BE MADE PUBLIC RFI FOR ALL ACQUISITIONS TO BE PUT ON MOD WEBSITE ROLE OF INDEPENDENT MONITORS TO BE INCREASED TO ENSURE PROBITY IN DEFENCE DEALS   New Delhi : October 27, 2009   In a move that has the potential to revolutionize the Indian Defence Industry, the Ministry of Defence is adding a new provision in its procurement procedure which will allow issue of Request For Proposal (RFP) to Indian industries having requisite financial and technical capabilities to absorb technology and undertake indigenous manufacture under a new category 'Buy and Make (Indian)'. Under the current procedure in 'Buy and Make' cases RFP is issued only to foreign vendors, who are required to transfer technology to Indian Defence Industry, called Production Agency. This does not promote setting up of Joint Ventures or Co-production arrangements in India by big foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).   The new procedure, to be effective from November 01, 2009 will be akin to the existing 'Make Procedure' with a vital difference that the production and development by Indian industry will be through transfer of technology and not through Research and Development. Announcing this at a National Seminar on Defence Acquisition, organized by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, here today, the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony said the move is primarily aimed at encouraging pro-active participation by the Indian industry who could establish JV/Production arrangements with any foreign manufacturer. The needs of the Services will be shared with capable Indian firms who in turn would submit a roadmap for development and production of a particular item over its life-cycle.   Shri Antony said the twin objectives of DPP-2009 aim at promoting and facilitating wide participation of Defence Industry, while enabling transparency and integrity in all acquisitions.   The Defence Minister said to ensure transparency and enhanced awareness in the Indian industry, the Government will prepare a public version of the fifteen years Long Term Acquisition Plan of the Armed Forces. This will be placed on the MoD website and shared with industry associations to create requisite awareness amongst them.   "This would help Indian Industry to work out the technological requirements and build in-house capabilities in order to meet the future defence requirements. I am sure that the industry will respond positively to this proposal", he said.   Another important feature of DPP-2009 would be mandatory issue of Request for Information (RFI) on the MoD website in all acquisition cases. To enable participation of industry in Defence Acquisition Planning, the Ministry will henceforth invite their representatives for consultations and presentations in high-level procurement meetings before a decision is taken on the source and methodology for procurement of Defence weapons and equipment.   Further, to enhance probity in Defence procurement deals, DPP-2009 proposes to enhance the role of Independent Monitors, to scrutinize complaints with regard to violations of Integrity Pact which prohibits corruption in Defence deals.   In order to facilitate discharge of Offset obligations, an enabling clause has also been incorporated to permit change of offset partners in exceptional cases. The Offset provisions for the option clause has been amplified to state that the Offsets will not be applicable in cases where the same was not included in the original contract. Shri Antony expressed the hope that these changes will bring in greater degree of probity in the procedure and also encourage domestic defence industry to develop.   Shri Antony asked Defence personnel to ensure that the Qualitative Requirements (QRs) formulation is done in a manner that fulfils the end user's basic requirements while at the same time it should encourage the widest possible competition. "It is only through competition that we can ensure the maximum value for our money. It is important to have broad-based and realistic QRs that would lead to multivendor competition", he said. Noting that the occasional changes in QRs by the Services also led to delays in Defence Acquisitions, Shri Antony said that acquisitions once approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), changes to RFP and QRs should be avoided and exercised only exceptionally.   Referring to the technical and commercial aspects of evaluation, Shri Antony said we need to ensure these vital stages are completed not only in a fair, objective and transparent manner, but within the stipulated time frame.   Sitanshu Kar / PK / RAJ  /spandey               Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** Hand Washing Day observed –Children & Teachers take pledge for promotion of sanitation and hygiene   New Delhi : October 27, 2009   Hand Washing Day was observed today with the message to spread the awareness among the people about its importance in maintaining good health and hygiene. The Minister of State for Rural Development, Ms. Agatha Sangma took the lead as she administered pledge to the children and teachers at a function at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Samalkha here to work for the promotion of sanitation and hygiene by spreading the message of washing the hands properly using soap before and after meals and after defecation. Presiding over the function ,the Minister stressed the need to ensure the availability of soap, enough water and hand washing facility on regular basis in all the schools and a well maintained water and sanitation facility along with the emphasis on hygiene education in schools. She also called upon the village community to support in promoting sanitation and hygiene with the emphasis on hand washing around the year so that health and well being of all school going children is ensured.   Several activities including skits on the importance of hand washing by school children and teachers, mid-day meals were organized on this occasion. Another important attraction was the screening of a film on the importance of hand washing with a message from legendary Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.   The focus Of Hand Washing Day this year is on teachers who have been oriented for this purpose to ensure that all children wash their hands with soap or with other cleaning material before they eat their mid-day meal .   Among those who addressed the schoolchildren and the teachers include Mr. J.S. Mathur, Joint Secretary in the Deptt. of Drinking Water Supply under the Union Ministry Of Rural Development ,Ms. Lizene Burgers, Chief Water & Environmental Sanitation, UNICEF India, Mr. Kevin St. Louis, Deputy Representative UNICEF, and Senior Officials from Deptt. of Education, GNCT. The programme organised In the National Capital was in collaboration with the Deptt. of Drinking Water Supply, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day Meal Programme, GNeT Delhi and UNICEF.   AKT/ST/SAK  /spandey       Press Information Bureau Government of India ****** ICAR issues advisories for horticultural crops in flood affected states     New Delhi : October 27, 2009   The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has issued advisories for horticultural farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to tackle diseases, pests and physical damage to crops caused by heavy rains and flood. Farmers have been advised to drain out excess water from the field / basins and provide required support to young plants suffering from the problem of bending. The canopy touching to ground should also be removed.   One spray of Dithane M45 (2 g/l) is suggested in all fruit crops, in view of possibility of spread of diseases particularly leaf spot. For effective management of Sigatoka leaf spot in banana, calixin (1 ml/l) alongwith sticker should be sprayed.   To control late blight and buck eye rot in tomato, phytophthora rot in onion and bacterial wilt/phytophthora fruit rot in brinjal, spray of Equation-pro (1 ml/l) or Acrobat (2 g/l) has been advised. For purple blotch disease of onion, Dithane M-45 or Kavach (2 g/l) should be sprayed.   Anthracnose in chilli may be controlled by the spray of Topsin M (1 g/l). In black pepper and cardamom, the plant basins need to be drenched with copper oxychloride (0.2%) and spray bordeaux mixture (1%) while in ginger and turmeric, the beds should be drenched with Mancozeb (0.31%) or Metalaxyl-mancozeb (0.05%).   MP:SB:CP:advisory crop(27.10.2009) /spandey     Production of Crude Oil and Natural Gas in September 2009 15:54 IST I.           A. CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION (MMT) – PERFORMANCE   Month / Period Planned Target   Actual Production %age achieve-ment Surplus(+) Shortfall(-) Vis-à-vis target Surplus(+) Shortfall(-) Over last year September, 2009* 3.010 2.770 92.0 -8.0% -0.5% April-September, 2009* 17.526 16.600 94.7 -5.3% -1.2% April-September, 2008   16.802       MMT: Million Metric Tonnes.                                                                                 *: Provisional.   B. COMPANY-WISE ACHIEVEMENT   Company / State Planned Target (MMT) Actual Production (MMT) %age achieve- ment Surplus(+) Shortfall(-) ONGC 2.068 2.049 99.1 -0.9%   Gujarat 0.475 0.476 100.2     Assam 0.113 0.101 89.4     Andhra Pradesh 0.020 0.025 125.0     Tamil Nadu 0.019 0.020 105.3     Mumbai Region (incl Mumbai High) 1.441 1.427 99.0   OIL 0.291 0.296 101.7 +1.7%   Assam 0.289 0.293 101.4     Arunachal Pradesh 0.002 0.003 150.0   PRIVATE/JVC 0.651 0.425 65.3 -34.7% TOTAL 3.010 2.770 92.0 -8.0%   C. REASONS FOR SHORTFALL   Company / State Reasons for shortfall ONGC(Mumbai High) ·         Less input in terms of sidetrack wells & less oil gain than planned from completed sidetrack wells. ·         Less production from wells after initial activation.   A statement showing Crude Oil Production during September, 2009 and cumulatively for the period April-September, 2009 vis-à-vis planned production is at Annexure-I. II.            A. REFINERY PRODUCTION (MMT)              (IN TERMS OF CRUDE THROUGHPUT)   Month / Period Planned Target Actual Production %age achieve-ment Surplus(+) Shortfall(-) Vis-a-vis target Surplus(+) Shortfall(-) Over last year September, 2009* 12.938 13.545 104.7 +4.7% +3.4% April- September, 2009* 75.708 77.992 103.0 +3.0% -3.6% April- September, 2008   80.871       *: Provisional.            The crude throughput of IOC(Guwahati, Koyali, Haldia, Digboi, Panipat and Bongaigaon), BPCL(Kochi), HPCL(Mumbai and Visakh), CPCL(Manali), MRPL(Mangalore) and  RPL(Jamnagar) refineries have exceeded their planned target during the month under review. In case of CPCL(Narimanam) and ONGC(Tatipaka), crude throughput was close to the target.            The crude throughput in IOC (Barauni and Mathura), BPCL(Mumbai), NRL(Numaligarh) and EOL(Vadinar) refineries was less than the target for reasons indicated below:   B. REASONS FOR SHORTFALL : REFINERY-SPECIFIC   Refinery Reasons for shortfall IOC(Barauni) Lower crude receipt on account of leak in HBCPL crude supply pipeline. IOC(Mathura) Delay in OHCU startup and emergency shutdown of AVU from 16th to 20th Sep'09 on account of instrument problem. NRL(Numaligarh) Total power and utility failure on 15.9.2009.            A statement showing refinery-wise production during the month of September, 2009 and cumulatively for the period April-September, 2009 vis-à-vis planned target is at Annexure-II.     III.          REFINERY CAPACITY UTILISATION [excluding RPL(SEZ)]   Month Utilisation (%) Period Utilisation (%) September, 2009 110.7 April- September, 2009 104.4 September, 2008 107.0 April- September, 2008 108.3            The refinery-wise details of the capacity utilisation during September, 2009 and cumulatively for the period April-September, 2009 vis-a-vis 2008 are given in Annexure-III.     IV.          A.  NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION (MCM)         Month / Period Planned Target Actual Production %age achieve-ment Surplus(+) Shortfall(-) Vis-a-vis target Surplus(+) Shortfall(-) Over last year September, 2009* 4485 3746 83.5 -16.5% +37.4% April- September, 2009* 24737 21307 86.1 -13.9% +28.2% April-September, 2008   16615                MCM: Million Cubic Metres.                                               *: Provisional.   B.      COMPANY-WISE ACHIEVEMENT   Company / State Planned Target (MCM) Actual Production (MCM) %age achievement Surplus(+) Shortfall(-) ONGC 1811 1898 104.8 +4.8%   Gujarat 146 165 113.0     Rajasthan 1.3 1.0 76.9     Assam 45 39 86.7     Tripura 40 46 115.0     Andhra Pradesh 116 123 106.0     Tamil Nadu 98.7 96 97.3     Mumbai High Offshore 1364 1428 104.7   OIL 210 197 93.8 -6.2%   Assam 187 178 95.2     Arunachal Pradesh 1.8 1.8 100.0     Rajasthan 21.2 17.5 82.5   PRIVATE/JVC 2464 1651 67.0 -33.0%   Onshore $ 48 54 112.5     Offshore 2416 1597 66.1   TOTAL 4485 3746 83.5 -16.5%          $: Including Coal Bed Methane production.   C.      REASONS FOR SHORTFALL   Company / State Reasons for shortfall ONGC(Rajasthan) ·         Less offtake by M/s GAIL-RRVUNL as only 1 out of 2 gas turbines is in operation. OIL(Assam) ·         Shutdown of Phase-II of BVFCL and low offtake by NEEPCO and NTPS. OIL(Rajasthan) ·         Low upliftment by RRVUNL.            A statement showing natural gas production during September, 2009 and cumulatively for the period April-September, 2009 vis-à-vis 2008 is at Annexure-IV.             PIB Kolkata