Day: March 15, 2012

New Delhi, Mar 15 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said that the Railway Budget for 2012-13 was now the property of the House, and vociferously told the opposition not to behave like “petulant children” in the matter concerning the reported resignation of Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi.
Mukherjee also assured the Lok Sabha that the Railway Budget proposals presented by Trivedi has not been junked.
“The Railway Budget is definitely owned by the government and approved by the Finance Ministry. Railway Budget is the property of the House. All members have the right to decide and what would be the shape of the Railway Budget. Don’t behave like petulant children, behave like political leaders,” Mukherjee said.
On Trivedi’s reported resignation, Mukherjee said: “As for the resignation of the Railways Minister, the Prime Minister has not received any resignation letter from the minister. The Railway Minister has not resigned. We have received a communication from the leader of the Trinamool Congress. It’s not unusual that we receive communication from alliance partners,” Mukherjee said.
“The Prime Minister has received a communication from the Trinamool Congress chairperson and it is under active consideration of the Prime Minister. When a decision is taken, the House will be communicated,” he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/pranab-asks-opposition-not-to-behave-like-petulant-children/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Mar 15 : The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar has said that out of the total 1385 projects, sanctioned at cost of Rs. 11389.26 crore under the NLCPR scheme and special BTC package, 663 projects at a total cost of Rs. 3726.44 crore have been completed.
In a written reply in Rajya Sabha today he said, out of the remaining ongoing projects, in 425 projects completion has not been achieved on the target date These projects are at various stages of implementation. For the timely completion of these projects their progress is reviewed with the State Governments from time to time. To encourage the State Government for their expeditious completion, an incentive in terms of additional retention of Rs. 20.00 crore projects as per State choice, for the best performing State in terms of completion of projects have been introduced.
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar has said that no charter demands highlighting the priority areas for development of north-eastern region during 1998-2004 was received from Chief Ministers of North East States by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
In a written reply in Rajya Sabha today he said, in order to mobilize financial resources for speedy implementation of the Shukla Commission recommendations relating to Basic Minimum Services (BMS) and infrastructure development of North east, a policy decision was taken to earmark at least 10% of the Plan Budget(s) of the Central Ministries/Departments for development of the North Eastern States. Government of India also created a Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) consisting of unspent balance of mandatory 10% of the budgetary allocation for NER. The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region is the nodal Ministry for administration and management of NLCPR and also for matters relating to the planning, execution and monitoring of development schemes and projects of NER.
He said, as a result of the above policy initiatives, large amount of funds have been invested for the development of infrastructure in the NER (road, rail, power, power etc.), health, education & culture, employment generation, women & child development, backward area development etc. by the respective ministries.
Ghatowar said, the North Eastern Council (NEC) has been instrumental in setting in motion a new economic endeavour aimed at removing the basic handicaps that stood in the way of development of the region. The NEC Act was amended in 2002. The amended NEC Act provides that NEC will function as the Regional Planning Body for the North East and will formulate specific projects and schemes, which will benefit two or more States.
NEC was instrumental in the preparation of North Eastern Region Vision 2020, which provides the road-map, outlines the goals, identifies the challenges and suggests implementation strategies for various sectors for peace, prosperity and development of the North Eastern Region. It helps in formulation of an integrated plan for the development of the North Eastern Region.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/funds-for-development-of-north-eastern-region/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Mar 15 : The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case on 14.03.2012 U/s 302 IPC relating to alleged killing of Shri Narender Kumar, IPS, SDPO, Banmore District Morena (MP) on the request of Madhya Pradesh Government, and further Notification from Govt. of India.
Narender Kumar, IPS was allegedly killed on 08.03.2012 while he was trying to intercept a tractor-trolley carrying the stones from illegal mining.
CBI took up the investigation of FIR No.49/2012 dated 08.03.2012 registered earlier at P.S. Banmore, District Morena (MP) and sent a team including CFSL officials, to the place of occurrence.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against an Assistant Garrison Engineer
(A Major Rank officer), MES, Umroi Cantonment (Assam) U/s 7 of P.C.Act, 1988 for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.25,000/- from the complainant.
It was alleged in the complaint that the accused had demanded Rs.50,000/- as bribe for clearing of pending bills of the complainant and also for issuing fresh work order for maintenance works..
A trap was laid by the Guwahati Branch of CBI. The accused was caught red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe Rs.25,000/- as part payment of the demanded amount from the complainant.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cbi-takes-up-investigation-in-connection-with-ips-officers-death/

New Delhi , Mar 15 (ANI): With the Trinamool Congress (TMC) mounting pressure on the UPA-II Government to remove Dinesh Trivedi as Railway Minister, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajnath Singh on Thursday asked Prime Minister Dr. Manohan Singh to come forward and give an explanation over the ongoing crisis.
“The government has been continuously facing trouble, but the issue was raised by our Leader of Opposition, Sushma Swaraj, because a constitutional crisis has developed and the Prime Minister should come forward and give an explanation on whether he has received a letter from the chief of TMC or not,” said Singh.”And if yes, then what has been done and what decision has been taken by the Prime Minister in regard to Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi,” he added.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav asked the government to resolve the issue soon.
“An unprecedented situation has been created in Indian politics. The budget is of the government; the rise and decrease of fares is a separate issue, which we have criticized. This is a shocking situation,” said Yadav.
“If a person gives a letter, that means he has resigned, this is a first of its kind incident in Indian history. The government will have to settle the matter fast,” he added.
Alvi, however, cleared the government stand, and said the rail budget has been moved in Parliament and the House will decide upon it.
“This is the government’s budget and has been presented in the Parliament, and now, Parliament will decide whether the budget is approved or disapproved or amendments are moved in,” said Alvi.”This is a baseless question. Trivediji is presently the railway minister and raising any kind of speculations at this time is wrong,” he added, when asked whether Trivedi will retain his position.
When asked to comment on West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee’s letter to the Prime Minister, Alvi said this is an internal matter of the government, which should not be discussed outside.
“This is a coalition government and the Trinamool Congress is our partner in the government and this is an internal matter of the UPA. So, it cannot be discussed outside,” he said.
The demand for the sacking of Dinesh Trivedi was in response to his decision to hike passenger fares without consulting Mamata Banerjee or the TMC leadership. The latter felt that the measure was an anti-poor step.Trivedi has, however, said that no one had asked him to resign.
Trivedi had in his maiden Railway Budget proposed a hike of one paise per km for suburban and ordinary second-class travel. He also called for a fare increase for mail express and second class trains at three paisa per km; for sleeper class five paisa per km; for AC chair car.
, AC 3 tier and First Class by 10 paise per km; AC 2 Tier 15 paise per km; and AC I 30 paise per km.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/bjp-seeks-explanation-from-pm-on-trivedi-resignation-issue/