land acquisition - pros & con

Why there is always a clash between farmers and industries? Which is the priority ? Industry , which plans to creates many jobs or food security to wipe out hunger?

This article discusses the array of issues.

Amendments to the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act 1952

 The Union Cabinet today approved amendments to the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act 1952 by introducing the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2010 in the Parliament.

Background

The FC(R) Act provides for the regulation of commodity futures markets in India and the establishment of the Forward Markets Commission (FMC). While the markets have been liberalized with effect from April, 2003 and modern institutional structures are in the process of being evolved, yet the market regulator, FMC is largely functioning in its traditional format. 

 
After the Bill is passed and enacted by the Parliament, Forward Markets Commission (FMC) as a regulator will get autonomy and power to regulate the market effectively. New Products like ‘options’ will be allowed in the commodity market. This will benefit various stakeholders including the farmers to take benefit of ‘price discovery’ and ‘price risk management’.

The amendments proposed in the Forward Contract (Regulation) Act 1952 (FC(R) Act} are:

(a) up-dation of existing definitions and insertion of some new definitions; (b) changes in provisions relating to composition and functioning of FMC; (c) enhancement of the powers of FMC; 

(d) corporatisation and demutualisation of the existing Commodities Exchanges and setting up of a separate Clearing Corporation; 

(e) registration of Intermediaries; 

(f) enhancement of penal provisions in the FC(R) Act; 

(g) permitting trading in options in goods or options in commodity derivatives; and 

(h) making provision for designating the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) as the Appellate Tribunal for purposes of FC(R ) Act also including that of levying fee. 

The Bill also provides for some other provisions such as exempting FMC form payment of tax on wealth; income and profits or gains; conferring powers upon the Central Government; issue of directions to FMC on matters of policy and power to supersede FMC.

Rajasthan to Get 4 New Highways Projects

The projects are: four laning of Beawar – Pali - Pindwara stretch on NH-14, Reengus – Sikar stretch on NH-11, and 6-laning of Kishangarh – Udaipur – Ahmadabad stretch of NH-79, NH-79A, and NH-76 & NH-8. Paved shoulders work with 2-lane will be taken up in Darra – Jhalawar – Teen – Dhar stretch of NH-12.

SICOM Project

The Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh said the major national initiative to protect our coastal ecosystems will start from states of Orissa, Gujarat and West Bengal. Inaugurating the office of the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) here today , the Minister said this is for the first time that a professional body with experts in various aspects of coastal science and management.

The Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project consists of four components. 

Under the first component, mapping, delineation and demarcation of hazard lines will be taken up by the Survey of India. Besides this, mapping, delineation and demarcation of environmentally sensitive areas, capacity building of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the State Coastal Zone Management Authorities, and a nation-wide training programme will be taken up. A National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) will also be opened in Anna University, Chennai.

Under the second component, pilot studies will be undertaken on the ICZM approach for the coastline of Gulf of Kuchchh. Further, transplantation of corals in the Gulf of Kuchchh and sewage treatment facilities for Jamnagar district would be undertaken. Under the project, a Green Action for National Dandi Heritage Initiative (G.A.N.D.H.I.) will also be developed. The Rs 25 Crore project will focus on overall development and conservation of the environment of Dandi and the surrounding villages based on Gandhian Principles. Among other things, 100 ha of mangroves and 50 ha of bio-shield will be planted along the 8 km coastline of Dandi. The budget for Gujarat is Rs 298.34 crores.

The third component which includes Orissa has budget of Rs 300 crores. This will include capacity building of the state level agencies and institutions, preparation of an ICZM plan for the coastal sediment cells in the stretches of Paradip-Dhamra and Gopalpur-Chilika; regional coastal process study, and priority investments. It will also support capacity building in the area of coastal management and wetland research.

The fourth component will mainly address the coastal zone management issues in three sectors in West Bengal, namely, Sunderbans, Haldia and Digha-Shankarpur.The budget for West Bengal is Rs 300 crores.

Classification of Earthquakes

Factsheet

Based on magnitude, earthquakes may be classified as microearthquakes, slight-, moderate-, great- and very great as detailed below:

                                                                                      Magnitude

Microearthquake                                             -less than 3.0

Slight                                                               - 3.2-4.9

Moderate                                                         -5.0-6.9

Great                                                               -7.0-8.0

Very great                                                       - Greater than 8.0

Depending upon the epicentral distance of the earthquake, they may also be classified as local shock, near shock, distant shock and teleseismic shock as detailed below:

                                                                                    Epicentral Distance in degress

Local shock                                                     Less than 4.0

Near shock                                                      Between 4.0 and 10.0

Distant shock                                                  Between 10.0 and 20.0

Teleseismic shock                                            Greater than 20.0.

For the Earth as a whole, the frequency of occurrence of earthquakes in different magnitude is given below:

Magnitude (Ms)                                 Average number of earthquakes/year

            8.0                                                                   2

            7.0                                                                   20       

            6.0                                                                   100

            5.0                                                                   3,000              

            4.0                                                                   15,000

            3.0                                                                   >100,000

A list of damaging earthquakes in India during the last about ten years:

·         Uttarkashi earthquake of October 20,1991 (M:6.6).

·         Latur earthquake of September 30,1993 (M:6.3).

·         Jabalpur earthquake of may 22,1997 (M:6.0).

·         Chamoli earthquake of March 29,1999 (M:6.8).

·         Bhuj earthquake of January 26,2001 (M:6.9).

IBSAMAR Progresses off Durban, South Africa

The Indian Ocean region off Durban is abuzz with activity as 11 ships of the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa engage in nautical exercises as part of the ongoing IBSAMAR, India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime (Exercise). This, the second edition of IBSAMAR scheduled from 13 – 27 Sep 2010, is slated to be a multi-dimensional exercise where in various naval scenarios are being exercised. The exercises are structured with the aim of sharing best practices in various facets of naval operations.

National Bamboo Mission

Realizing the immense socio-economic potential of bamboo, the Government of India has launched the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) and the National Mission on Bamboo Application (NMBA) for its holistic development, cultivation and for developing the technologies and applications for bamboo based products.

The state of Nagaland has been a pioneer and had adopted a Bamboo Policy in 2004. The Policy articulates the development of Bamboo in Nagaland along two approaches:

1. Development of Bamboo as a Resource, and
2.. Development of Bamboo as an Enterprise

Developing bamboo as a resource is focused on optimal cultivation and management of bamboo resources, through development of natural bamboo forests and bamboo plantation development. 

Development of bamboo as an enterprise is focused on developing bamboo-based industries, service sectors and ancillary activities including tourism. The Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency has a mission to generate new employment opportunities based on bamboo.

In order to realize the full potential of bamboo, various technical, financial and entrepreneurial interventions are needed in the fields of forestry, land use, propagation technology for its cultivation and sustainable use, and in the areas of industry and finance.

Apart from its utility as food and medicine, in minor tools, implements and daily utilities, bamboo is extensively used for handicrafts, furniture and even art. Its application has expanded to boards, ply and shuttering materials for use in buildings and construction.

It has also been developed as an energy source in the form of charcoal, activated carbon and even to generate electricity through gasification. It is eco friendly, being not only biodegradable but also having enormous capacity to sequester carbon. Furthermore, as the fastest growing plant on earth, it is a renewable resource with short gestation.

G-20 Governments Need to Work together : Fin Min

some excerpts from Finance Minister's speech on post crisis.

The Brettonwood system emerged after the Great Depression. The current crisis has heralded the rise of G20 as the premier forum for international cooperation. 

In a post crisis scenario, G20 Governments will have to work together to support well functioning international economy. They will need to coordinate policy actions in a manner that can ensure strong, sustainable and balanced growth.

The immediate spheres of such coordination are

(a) macroeconomic policies and exit strategies 

(b) pace of regulatory reforms to ensure financial stability, without affecting prospects of growth

(c) reform in the governance of International Financial Institutions to reflect current economic realities

(d) keeping international trade open and avoiding protectionism and

(e) coordination on climate change and energy issues.

Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS) approved

Keeping in view the various risks involved in agriculture production, the Ministry of Agriculture has been implementing the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) as a Central Sector Scheme since Rabi season 1999-2000 to insure the farming community against these risks. It was reviewed based on the experience gained from its implementation, in which many deficiencies in the scheme were identified.

The approved scheme has the following features:

(i) Actuarial premiums will be paid for insuring the crops, hence the claims liability would be on the insurer;

(ii) The unit area of insurance for major crops is village panchayat;

(iii) Indemnity amount shall be payable for prevented sowing/planting risk and for post harvest losses due to cyclone;

(iv) On account payment up to 25% of likely claims would be released as advance for providing immediate relief to farmers;

(v) Uniform seasonality discipline for loanee and non-loanee farmers;

(vi) More proficient basis for calculation of threshold yield and minimum indemnity level of 70% instead of 60%;

(vii) Modified NAIS with improved features will have two components i.e. compulsory and voluntary. Loanee farmers will be insured under ‘compulsory category’ while non-loanee farmers will be insured under ‘voluntary category’;

(viii) Private sector insurers with adequate infrastructure and experience would also be allowed in the implementation of MNAIS.

BEL Gets “India Pride Award”

 Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has won the Gold prize in the Heavy Industries category of the DNA-Dainik Bhaskar India Pride Awards 2010 for “Excellence in PSUs”.

BEL, India’s foremost defence electronics company, is a Rs. 5,000-crore multi-product, multi-technology, multi-Unit conglomerate with over 350 products in the areas of Military Communication, Radars, Naval Systems, Telecom & Broadcast, Electronic Warfare, Tank Electronics, Electro Optics, Professional Electronic Components and Solar Photovoltaic Systems. 

While defence continues to contribute to nearly 80 to 85% of its revenue, BEL has expanded its horizons beyond defence electronics and touched a chord with the common man through civilian products like solar traffic signals and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). BEL’s customers include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Paramilitary, Coast Guard, Police, Doordarshan, All India Radio, Department of Telecommunications and consumers of professional electronic components. BEL offers customised network-centric solutions to the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Company is also working on prestigious weapon system programmes such as the Akash Missile System.  

AFNET

Shri AK Antony today inaugurated the IAF’s gigabyte digital information grid – the AFNET (Air Force Network), dedicating it to the people of the nation, for their direct or indirect participation in the communication revolution.

It ensures modernization of defence communications with the state-of-the-art communication infrastructure, the network will have the potential to support net-centric operations.
 

Further, various other functionalities comprises of facilitating video from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), pictures from an AWACS aircraft to the decision-makers on ground sitting hundreds of kilometers away, providing intelligence inputs from far-flung areas at central locations seamlessly. This was possible mainly with the robust networking platform provided by AFNET.

Sushil Kumar Wins Gold in World Championship

Sushil Kumar Becomes the First Indian to Win Gold in World Championship. Sushil Kumar defeated Russian Gogaev to win the 66 kg freestyle title yesterday, in Moscow, to become the first Indian to win a World Wrestling Championship Gold Medal.

Earlier, Shri Bishambar Singh and Ramesh Kumar who had won a silver and a bronze in the earlier World Wrestling Championships in 1967 and in 2009 respectively. 

India and Argentina Sign MoU on Cooperation in Agriculture

India and Argentina have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Agriculture and Allied Sectors.The MOU provides a framework for exchange of information on best practices and technologies, cooperation in research and development and promotion of trade, investment and joint ventures. 

Argentina is the largest source of import of soya oil by India.There are 14 Indian companies which have invested about one billion dollars in IT, agrochemicals, steel, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in Argentina.Agricultural machinery is emerging as a new area of trade and collaboration.