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New
Airport in Jailsalmer in 2 years
Jodhpur, December 29, 2007: The
Airport Authorities of India (AAI) will begin construction of a new
airport terminal at Jaisalmer town along the international border
with Pakistan. It would cost about Rs. 60 crore and be ready in the
next 2 years. The new airport would come up at Khudi village,
around 20 km from the city on Jaisalmer-Barmer road, where the
srtate government alloted 60 acres land to the AAI some times
ago. |
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Gujjar
Mahapanchayat from Janury 21, 2008
Jaipur, December 20,
2007: The Gujjars will hold a mahapanchayat here from January 21,
seeking to put pressure on the Rajasthan government to recommend ST
status for the community to the centre. Former BJP MLA and convenor
of Sanyukat Gujjar Aarkshan Samiti Prahlad ujjal said nearly five
lakh Gujjars will attend the ahapanchyat beginning January 21.
Rajasthan
governmentt rejects Gujjars' demand
Jaipur, December 18, 2007: The Chopra committee has reportedly rejected the Gujjar demand for scheduled tribe status saying they do not meet the criteria. However, the panel has recommended a special package for them. The Rajasthan government is silent on the potentially explosive report and has apparently left the decision to the Centre. The state government decided to send the Chopra report to the Centre
without any recommendations.
The report suggests that under the criteria for ST status in the
constitution, prescribed 60 years ago, hardly any group will qualify
today. The state cabinet is now debating how to resolve the issue without angering the Gujjars or the
Meenas, who enjoy ST status but have opposed it for Gujjars.
The Chopra panel was set up by the government six months ago when the Gujjar agitation for ST status spiralled into caste violence in Rajasthan and its neighbouring areas. At least 26 people were killed in that violence. Gujjar leaders unhappy with today's development have called a mass gathering as a show of protest in January 2008.
See the details Rajasthan
is hit by roits over cast system |
Six months ago when the Gujjar agitation for ST status spiralled into caste violence in Rajasthan and its neighbouring areas. At least 26 people were killed in that violence.
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Parsvnath's Rajasthan SEZ to attract Rs 1400 cr investments
Mumbai December 4, 2007 : Realty firm Parsvnath Developers on Tuesday said it will develop a 112-acre Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in
Rajasthan, which is likely to attract an investment of Rs 1400
crore. "The SEZ envisages an investment of Rs 1400 crore and will focus on giving a further boost to gems and jewellery industry,"
Parsvnath Developers said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Parsvnath SEZ Ltd, a subsidiary of Parsvnath Developers has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rajasthan Government in this regard.
"This is a very significant MoU for us as this will help us in hastening the process of our commercial activity in Rajasthan. We have already identified location for the SEZ, which will be on the outskirts of Jaipur," Parsvnath SEZ Ltd Director S N Sharma said. The project is scheduled for completion within three years from the commencement of construction. "Once complete, the project is expected to generate employment for
more than 60,000 persons in the State of Rajasthan," Sharma added. As per the MoU, Rajasthan government would provide necessary support for infrastructure facilities in the SEZ and would ensure smooth implementation towards the development of the
SEZ. The agreement would also help Parsvnath SEZ Ltd to avail incentives and facilities under various schemes announced by the state or the Central Government.
Source: PTI |
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Moser Baer Photo Voltaic to set up solar power project in Rajasthan
MUMBAI, November 30, 2007 : Moser Baer Photo Voltaic, a subsidiary of Moser Baer India, has signed an agreement with the government of Rajasthan for setting up of a large solar power project in the state, with an estimated generation capacity of 1-5 MW. The project will be the largest
grid- connected solar farm in India and entail an investment of around $25 million at $4.5 million per MW.
Moser Baer is also evaluating various options for setting up large sized solar farms across the SAARC region with strategic tie-ups with some of the leading global solar PV companies and clean energy
funds. Moser Baer Photo Voltaic plans to implement a capacity of 500 MW by 2009-10 through a mix of technologies in the crystalline silicon, concentrator and thin film domain.
The company's photovoltaic equipment manufacturing capacities for crystalline silicon, concentrator and thin film technologies are coming up in an SEZ in Greater
Noida.
Source: Economic Times |
Moser Baer India, has
signed an agreement with the government of Rajasthan for setting up of a large solar power project in the state, with an estimated generation capacity of 1-5 MW.
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SIX WIND POWER PROJECTS IN RAJASTHAN
Rajya Sabha, November 26, 2007: There is potential for setting up wind power projects at six locations in Rajasthan. This indication came after wind resource assessment studies were carried out at 38 locations in Rajasthan .They have wind power density of 200 watts per square meter or more. Based on this, a gross wind power potential of 5400 MW has been estimated in the state assuming land
availability @ 1% of potential areas and wind farm land requirement @ 12 Hectares per MW.
A wind power installed capacity of 494 MW has been set up in the State of Rajasthan upto
September, 2007. The Government of India promotes setting up of commercial wind power projects in
the country, including in the State of Rajasthan, by providing fiscal incentives such as concessional import duty on certain components of wind electricity generator, excise duty
exemption, ten years tax holiday on income generated from wind power projects, benefit of accelerated depreciation and loan
from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA). Technical support including detailed wind resource assessment
to identify further potential sites is provided by the Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET). This apart, preferential tariff is being provided for wind power in most of the
potential States, including Rajasthan.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of New and Renewable Sources, Sh.Vilas Muttemwar in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
Farmers of
Ganganagar are gearing up for a confrontation with the
Gov.
JAIPUR, November 16, 2007: Farmers of Gharsana, at Ganganagar,
are gearing up for a confrontation with the government for the release of water from Pong Dam to the Phase I areas of Indira Gandhi
Canal in the Gharsana-Raola agriculture belt. At a juncture when India is importing wheat from other countries, the state government is dissuading farmers in the region from cultivating wheat during the rabi season. The farmers have been told to sow barley or mustard, rather than wheat, which is a
water-intensive crop.
The movement has gained momentum with the Kisan Mazdoor Vyapari Sangharsh Samiti, the committee of farmers, labourers and agro-traders of the region deciding to go ahead with sowing wheat.
They will hold a mass protest to bring the region to a standstill on 3 December. This was decided at a rally held at Gharsana yesterday with an indefinite sit-in protest by farmers and their kin. The strife over water has seen the peasants and the state administration clash often in the past three years. Seven farmers were killed and many were injured when police fired at protesters in 2004.
Rajasthan to withdraw cases against Gujjars
Jaipur, Nov 11, 2007: The Rajasthan government has decided to withdraw all cases filed against Gujjars during their agitation in May-June demanding tribal status.
Nearly 42 different cases were pending against 260 people in various parts of the state. Most of them were registered in Dausa, Karauli and Sawai Madhopur districts where the agitation had turned violent.
According to official sources, the government has also agreed to provide employment to one of the family members of those killed during the agitation and to provide suitable compensation to those injured.
Rajasthan Launches A Rs.100 Crore Fund for Innovative Projects
New Delhi, November 03, 2007: Rajasthan Asset Management Company today announced the launch
of a Rs.100 crore fund for innovative projects in SME sector in India with focus on National Capital
Region and Rajasthan. Inaugurating the Fourth National Conference on Venture Capital Finance at Jaipur, and launching the fund, Shri Narpat Singh
Rajvi, Minister-Industries, Government of Rajasthan assured all possible help from State Government to the new fund.
On the occasion, Mr. Kuldeep Ranka, MD RIICO and Chairman, Rajasthan Asset Management Co. Pvt. Ltd. (RAMC) said, “The fund has already received commitment of Rs.30 crores from the principal sponsors RIICO and SIDBI. Balance funds shall be pooled by identified institutional investors. With the launch of this fund, the innovative and other knowledge driven start-up companies will get lot of boost in National Capital Region.”
Mr. Girish Gupta, CEO of the fund said, “We look forward towards young entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas and a desire to translate them into large commercial ventures.”
Shri Rakesh Riwari, Dy. Managing Director, SIDBI delivered the keynote during the conference. Maharaj Jai Singh, President State Council of FICCI delivered the welcome address. The conference which was jointly organized by RAMC and FICCI was attended by over 250 delegates from various parts of the country.
Source: Government of Rajasthan
Land under wheat cultivation shrinks in Rajasthan
JAIPUR, October 31, 2007: Even as the central government has hiked the minimum support price (MSP) on wheat, the Rajasthan government has reduced the land under wheat cultivation by 65,000 hectares.
According to an agriculture department official, the land for wheat cultivation in ensuing rabi season would be 25 lakh hectares as against 25.65 lakh hectare last year.
“There is an overall reduction of 77,000 hectares in the total cultivation area in this rabi season. While it was 78.67 lakh hectares last year, 77.90 hectares have been earmarked for this season. The state government has also reduced the land under mustard cultivation to 27 lakh hectares from last year’s 31 lakh hectares. Last year, the production of mustard was 37.67 lakh
tonnes. This year the target is 37.80 lakh, but looks too ambitious due to the poor rainfall in mustard growing areas of
Bharatpur, Alwar, Karauli and Dausa.
Four
new Universities are granted in Rajasthan
Jaipur, October
29, 2007: Four new Universities are granted in Rajasthan as
Singhania University, Pancheri Bari (Jhunhnu)
-LLB, LLM, MBA, BTech, BBA, BASC, Human
Resource, Hotel Management,
Bio Information & Bio Technology,
Humities Courses
Jaipur National University, Jagatpura
- Engg, Hotel Management, Pharmacy, Bio
Tech, Management courses
Amity University Jaipur
- Forensic Science, Guest & Hotel
Management, Insurance, Languages, Law,
Management & Business, Nino
Technology, Nursing, etc.
Sir Padampat Singhania University, Udaipur
- Chemistry, Bio Technology, Computer
Science, Electronics & Communication, IT
Rajasthan CM for timely completion of Indira Gandhi Canal
JAIPUR, October 16, 2007: The Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Tuesday directed the state officials for timely completion of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project
(IGNP). "It is important to maintain the quality of the project while meeting the deadline," Raje said at a review meeting of IGNP
work here. She further asked the officials to ensure proper arrangements are being made for the farmers who get water from the canal for irrigation.
"Work on Rs 300 crore revamping plan has already started, which will ensure that water is made
available to the farmers residing on the last end of the canal," Irrigation Minister Sanwarmal Jat said.
Principal Irrigation Secretary S N Thanvi, Chairman of Indira Gandhi Canal Board Dr Ram
Pratap, Principal Secretary Integrated Irrigated Area B B Mohanti and Secretary of Canal Board O P Saini and other senior officials were also present in the meeting.
Source: Economic Times
Rajasthan
government announces relief for Ajmer blast victims
NEW DELHI, October 11, 2007 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Thursday announced a compensation of Rs five lakh for the next of kin of those killed in the terror attack at the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in
Ajmer. The seriously injured will get a relief of Rs one lakh each.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who is in Delhi at present, has also directed the state DGP to rush to Ajmer to monitor the situation and oversee the investigation into the bomb blast. Condemning the terror attack, she
expressed grief at the loss of life in the incident. "It is a condemnable action. The shrine is known world-over as a symbol of peace and harmony," she said. The Chief Minister said she was saddened to know about the loss of life in the bomb blast at the famous shrine in
Ajmer. "I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their dear ones in the attack," Raje said.
A crude bomb went off at the shrine, where thousands of devout had gathered to break the day-long Ramdan fast. The crude bomb, planted near a tree at Aasthan-e-Noor, went off a minute after the fasting period ended at 1816 hours.
Gujjars call off agitation
Jaipur, October 10, 2007: (PTI) Gujjars in Rajasthan demanding Schedule Tribe status on Wednesday called off their agitation following negotiations with the state government emissaries at Ajmer Central jail.
"There would be no agitation by the community and all those who are in jail will be released," K S Bainsla, a top convener of the Gujjar
Mahasabha, said. Leading the talks on behalf of the government, BJP functionary Rampal Jad told PTI over phone from Ajmer that the Gujjar Mahasabha and the government will hold round table meetings on a six point charter of demand.
No
power tariff hike in state
Jodhpur, October, 7,
2007: Rajasthan state government has decided not to increase power
tariff. Moreover, it will not raise power tariff for farmers for
three years.
Gujjars court arrest in Rajasthan
JAIPUR, October 3, 2007: Demanding Scheduled Tribe status to avail reservation benefits in
government jobs and educational institutions, Gujjars relaunched agitation on the Gandhi Jayanti day
on Tuesday with thousands of community members courting arrest across
Rajasthan. According to sources, about 60,000 people courted arrest in the desert state. On Monday, Gujjar leaders had
claimed that about five lakh people would court arrest.
The protests were peaceful this time, with the Gujjar leaders asking community members to show restrain during demonstration.
The state government had set up 259 temporary jails in schools and colleges to lodge the agitators. Gunjal said if the Vasundhara Raje's BJP-led government didn't listen to their demand for sending a recommendation to the Centre to grant them ST status by October 11, two lakh women from the community would court arrest. |
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Rajasthan International Folk Festival
New Delhi, September 28, 2007: Mehrangarh Fort,
Jodhpur will be opening its doors for four nights beginning October 25 as part of the Rajasthan International Folk Festival.
The upcoming festival will feature over 150 folk artistes from across Rajasthan who will give music
connoisseurs a rare opportunity to hear some of the most talented musicians from the region alongside the world’s finest classical, folk and fusion artistes.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, scion of the former ruling family of Jodhpur Gaj Singh, whose vision to conserve and promote the folk traditions of Rajasthan has been one of the key driving forces behind the unique festival, said he was personally very excited that the festival will be hosted at the Mehrangarh Fort.
He said 1,40,000 foreign tourists and half a million tourists from our country
will visit this festival. The festival has been endorsed by UNICEF as a
“People’s Platform for Creativity and Sustainable Development”.
Profits generated from the festival will be used for projects benefiting art communities of
Rajasthan. |
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur |
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Cartoons to enliven school texts in Rajasthan
Jaipur, September 24, 2007,
Mickey Mouse and other cartoon characters will enliven the text books of Class I
children in Rajasthan from the next academic session to help get the children
more interested in studies. The Rajya Pustak Mandal has decided to print cartoons on the cover pages and
make the books more colourful.
"Mickey Mouse would be on the cover page and if our plan is successful then we
would incorporate similar changes in books for Classes 2 and 3," Vasudev
Devnani, state minister for education, told IANS. "Kids love cartoons the most. We want them to learn and enjoy at the same time,"
he said. Despite its efforts, Rajasthan still has a high drop out rate, which as per
estimates stands at over 34 per cent. The state government has taken various
initiatives to improve educational standards in the state, including appointing
around 41,000 teachers, while the appointment of another 31,000 teachers is
being finalised.
The government has improved the student-teacher ratio in primary classes and
secondary classes. Under the Shiskha Sambal Mahaabhiyaan, 1.65 million children in the age group
6-14 years were enrolled while 9.6 million children were given free text books.
Source: Hindustan Times
Chappell to be RCA advisor
NEW DELHI, September 18, 2007: Greg
Chappell the former Indian Cricket coach will be appointed an
advisor to the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) to help the
association in Jaipur. The Rajasthan Cricket Association’s
Centre of Excellence, the newly formed academy will be operational
this October, according to a press release by the RCA on Monday.
Chappell will be assisted by Ian Fraser. Announcing this, the RCA
president Lalit Modi said, “The joining of Greg and Ian will take
the Rajasthan Cricket Academy to the forefront of development of
cricket not just in Rajasthan, but across India and the entire
cricket-playing world.”
Chappell was delighted with the assignment. “To be involved
with identifying and training the talent of the future in Rajasthan
is a wonderful opportunity,” he said. The academy, said the
release, will have
five indoor pitches, a full video analysis system and 24 outdoor
practice wickets. It will accommodate 70 students and will have a
state-of-the-art gymnasium. “In the first phase, we will be
recruiting 110 students in five batches of 22 from Rajasthan,”
Modi said. “The programme we have designed with Greg and Ian is
quite different from all existing programmes, and we hope that the
method we deploy will change the way we train our future
cricketers,” he added.
Cairn gets govt nod for Rajasthan pipeline
Press Trust of India / New Delhi September
13, 2007: Oil exploration firm Cairn India today said it
has got government approval to build a pipeline to transport crude oil from its fields in Rajasthan to refiners. Cairn received permission to use land (Right of Use) for laying a 582-km pipeline from Barmer
district of Rajasthan to Salaya in Gujarat, Cairn India CEO Rahul Dhir told PTI here. "We have started the RoU process," he said.
He said the company was committed to delivering oil from the Rajasthan fields in 2009. "We will begin production from Mangala (the largest of the 18 discoveries in the
Rajasthan block) in 2009.
However, Cairn is still awaiting a government approval to allow the cost of the $780-million pipeline to be recoverable from field revenues, as other project costs are. "We are confident about approval of
inclusion of the pipeline in the Field Development Plan (FDP)," Dhir said. "By end of 2009, output from Rajasthan fields would be 100,000 barrels per day," he said.
The pipeline, which was necessitated after Mangalore Refinery - the official offtaker of Rajasthan crude - said it could take only 1.2 million tonne of crude, will take minimum 18 months to complete. The rest of the crude will be shipped from a Gujarat port to refiners on east and west coasts.
Rajasthan minister gets six-month jail term
Jaipur, September 13,
2007: A lower court in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, about 350 km from
Jaipur, ordered six-month jail term to a junior minister in the Vasundhara Raje government. Though the sentence was read out on Tuesday, it was made public only on Thursday. The minister said he would
appeal against the verdict to the higher court. The court of a magistrate on Tuesday on an application
filed in 2003 by the Mine & Safety Department found the minister, Surendra Singh Rathore, guilty under sections 66, 70 and 72(A) of the Mines Act, 1952.
He was also asked to pay a penalty of Rs 2,000, failing which his jail term would be extended.
Rathore, who is a state minister for irrigation in Raje's cabinet, was reprimanded by the department for
not following safety standards in one of his mines in Amet in Rajsamand district. It later filed a case against him in a court here. The magistrate has given him a month's time to file an appeal to a higher court. The minister said he would file an appeal.
Source: Sify
Surveys
on for Railway tracks
Kota, September 10, 2007: A survey is
being conducted for laying a railway track on Kota, Ajmer, Gwaliar
and Ujjain and Ramganjmandi streches. The electrification of Kota-Beena
railway line would be complited by 2009, said Union Minister R. Velu
in a reply in the House to MP Raguveer Singh Kaushal. |
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Chak de India entertainment tax free in Rajasthan
Jaipur, September, 6,
2007 (PTI): The Rajasthan government today decided to exempt entertainment tax from tickets for Shahruk
Khan-starrer movie
"Chak De India". The film would be tax-free in the state from Friday
onwards for one year. In Rajasthan, entertainment tax is 30 percent of the ticket cost.
An elated state distributor of the film Raj Bansal, who has released the film in 13 theatres, welcomed the government's decision and said the film is running to packed halls in all shows. The film has already been given entertainment tax waiver in Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh, Delhi, Maharastra and Harayana. |
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Rajasthan to be power surplus by 2012
KOLKATA,
September 5, 2007: The Rajasthan government is currently working on a plan to become a power surplus state by the year 2012, minister of industries of the state Narpat Singh Rajvi said.
Rajvi, while speaking at a road show organised by Ficci here today, said that the state would add 4500 MW of power for which the government would invite private investors.
He said that an amount of Rs 5000 crore would also be invested to reduce transmission and
distribution losses by less than five per cent in urban and 25 per cent in the rural areas. Rajvi also said that the government was finalising a policy on private-public-partnership (PPP) initiative in the social
sector. Other areas where the state government was
focusing were textiles, tourism, and information technology.
Source: Economic Times
NHRC issues notices to Gujarat, Rajasthan over child-trafficking
NEW DELHI,
September 03,2007: Taking suo moto cognizance of reports of tribal children being
trafficked to Gujarat from Rajasthan to work in cotton farms, the National Human Rights Commission on Monday issued notices to both the state governments. The NHRC issued notices to the Chief
Secretaries of Gujarat and Rajasthan following a report which said that tribal children, aged between 10-15 years, from Banswara, Dungarpur and Udaipur in Rajasthan were being trafficked to cotton farms
in Gujarat's Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts.
Noting that the incident was a "serious issue of violation of human rights", the commission said it has asked the senior officials to submit their replies within four weeks. It said the children were paid Rs 40 for 10 hours of work when the minimum wage in the state was Rs 50 and even this
meager amount was not given to them.
The NHRC said the amount was paid to the contractors who brought these children to the farms. Besides, these children, including girls, were made to live in makeshift shelters in the middle of cotton fields, making them vulnerable to abuse, the report said.
Source: The Times of India
Rajasthan government has introduced
urban development tax
JAIPUR, August 30,
2007: Rajasthan government has introduced Nagariya Vikas Kar (urban development tax) on house and flat owners, through a notification issued last night, a official spokesperson said today. The tax would be levied on unutilised land, houses, and underground constructed area in all municipal corporations, municipal council and municipalities with immediate effect, the spokesman added. The order was issued under the Rajasthan Municipality Act 1959,
Section 104.
Cairn gets
government nod for Rajasthan pipeline
NEW DELHI, August 23, 2007: Government has approved Cairn India's proposal to
lay a pipeline from Barmer district of Rajasthan to Gujarat coast for transporting crude oil it had discovered in the desert
state. Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Wednesday signed the papers
permitting Cairn to acquire land rights for laying the 582-km pipeline from Barmer to
Salaya, official sources said. Deora's approval for Right of Use of the pipeline paves way for the project at an expenditure of 700 million dollars, to be
included as part of Rajasthan field development cost, which Cairn is entitled to recover before sharing profits with the government.
Almost simultaneously to the pipeline's inclusion in the field development plan would
come the approval for selling the crude oil to multiple refiners instead of previously
approved scheme, in which entire 1,50,000 barrels per day (7.5 million tons) output was to be supplied to Mangalore Refinery.
"Deora's role in the Rajasthan project ceases to exit once the RoU application was approved. Now, it is for Petroleum Ministry officials to issue notifications and give the remaining approvals at the earliest so that plans for
starting production from Rajasthan fields by first half of 2009 are not impacted," a source said.
The pipeline, which was necessitated after Mangalore Refinery - the official
off taker of Rajasthan crude - said it could take only 1.2 million tons of crude, will take minimum 18 months to complete. The rest of the crude will be shipped from a Gujarat port to refiners on east and west coasts. Cairn, sources said, faced a tight implementation schedule as the pipeline approval came after considerable delay.
Source: Economic Times |
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Ten
Brahmins hurt in clash during reservation rally
Jaipur, August 19, 2007 (PTI):
At least ten persons were injured today when a large number of people clashed with police while trying to go to the Rajasthan Chief Minister's residence here after a rally demanding quota for Brahmins.
The people, who were on motorcycles, clashed with the police who tried to stop their movement at the Civil Lines. Three policemen were among those injured, Superintendent of Police (East) V K Singh told
PTI. The authorities have given permission to Sarva Brahmins Maha Sabha to hold the 'Chetna Rally' on a specific place between the Collectorate and Ajmeri Gate. But, suddenly they broke the route and prohibitory orders and tried to go towards Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's residence which resulted in clash, Singh said. About a dozen activists and leaders of the
Brahmin Maha Sabha were detained by the police for defying the prohibitory order. The activists wanted to submit a memorandum to Raje demanding inclusion of
Brahmins in the OBC list. Meanwhile, a faction of Rajasthan Brahmin Mahasabah-led by Congress MLA B L Sharma is organising a function here to felicitate BSP general secretary and Uttar Pradesh Minister Satish Mishra and erected scores of welcome gates in the city. |
Sarva Brahmins
Maha Sabha were lathi charge by police. |
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Rajasthan to get Narmada: Raje
JODHPUR, Agust
15, 2007: : Rajasthan has plans to bring in the Narmada in order to overcome a
severe water crisis plaguing the state, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced on Wednesday. "Plans are afoot to bring the Narmada water to parts of the state soon," the chief minister said at her Independence Day speech in Jodhpur. "By 2008 we plan to provide sweet water in
Barmer." She admitted that there was a serious shortage of drinking water in
Rajasthan. Raje said the government had identified land to set up a hospital matching the All India Institute of Medical Sciences
(AIIMS) of New Delhi in Jodhpur. She said her government was also taking steps to improve medical, health and energy
situation in the state. "We are heading towards providing 24 hour electricity in all the villages." Before addressing the public at the Old Stadium here, Raje unfurled the national flag.
Source: Indiatimes
DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN RAJASTHAN
RAJYA SABHA , August, 14, 2007: The Minister for Tourism and Culture Smt. Ambika Soni has
informed the Rajya Sabha today that a project ‘Floodlighting of monuments in Rajasthan’ has been
sanctioned for Rs. 800.00 lakh in the current financial year. This project covers 28 monuments spread across different districts such as Jaipur,
Karauli, Udaipur, Ajmer, Dausa, Churu, Dholpur, Madhopur, Jaisalmer, Bharatpur, Jhalawar, Bikaner and Kota.
In a written reply she said implementation of projects is the responsibility of the State Government.
Ministry of Tourism monitors the progress of the projects from time to time. She said development of
tourist places in the country is undertaken primarily by the State Governments/ UT Administrations. The Ministry of Tourism extends financial assistance to the State Governments/ UT Administrations for
tourism related projects under the schemes for Product/ Infrastructure Development of Destinations/
Circuits and Assistance to Large Revenue Generating Projects.In reply to another question she said, details of CFA released for development of tourism heritage places in Rajasthan year-wise during the last three years is given below:
Year
Amount (Rs. in Lakh)
2006- 07 953.84
2005-06 2099.69
2004-05 2519.06
Source: PIB Press Release
Rajasthan govt. fixes minimum wage for domestic servants
Jaipur, August 1, 2007 (PTI): Rajasthan government has proposed a minimum wages of Rs 2106 for a domestic servant working for eight hours daily in the state, a top labour department official said on Tuesday. A notification, in this regard seeking objection and reasons from public within next two months, was issued on July 28, Principal Secretary
(labour) Lalit L Panwar said here.
According to the proposed notification, a domestic help would get a minimum wage of Rs 264 per hour.
The state government, which got the power to make amendments in the Minimum Wages Act 1948, has decided to make amendments in the existing wages of any working person in organised and
unorganised sectors, Panwar said. The increment in wages were hence proposed for the poor domestic
servants for their upliftment, he said.
Oil production delay concerns Rajasthan
JAIPUR, July 30, 2007: Rajasthan has expressed concern over the delay in starting oil production from fields in Barmer district, leading to huge loses. The desert state, which had expected to begin oil production from the end of 2006, would now have to wait till 2009.
"Rajasthan would have to bear huge losses of millions of rupees because of this delay," L.N. Dave, the state minister for mines, said here Saturday.
Dave has written a letter to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora in this regard,
seeking a go-ahead on a proposed agreement between state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp
(ONGC) and private energy major Cairn India for setting up a pipeline to take oil from the state to the coast.
The minister said that according to the plans prepared by
ONGC, the oil production could start by the first quarter of 2009.
In his letter he has said that the state government is ready to hold talks with ONGC for setting up a refinery in the state, but the proposal given by ONGC involves a condition of rebates of around Rs.260 billion on an investment of Rs.100 billion to establish a refinery.
Source: Economic Times
Malaria cases on the rise in Rajasthan
JAIPUR, July 15, 2007:
Rajasthan has witnessed an alarming rise in cases of malaria in recent weeks even as the state government is putting in place a plan to combat diseases that spread during monsoon.
Between July 1 and July 7, over 1,110 cases of malaria were recorded across the state, compared to 667 cases during the same week last year. A majority of the cases have been reported from the western parts of the state. Concerned over the malaria outbreak, the government has chalked out a strategy to fight the mosquito menace.
Cairn-ONGC gas pipeline
NEW DELHI,
July 12, 2007: Government is likely to clear by next week a proposal to lay a pipeline for transportation of Cairn India's Rajasthan Crude oil. Cairn and ONGC will lay the 580 km pipeline from Barmer district of Rajasthan to a port in Gujarat for sale of the crude to local refiners, petroleum ministry sources said.
The file pertaining to the building of the pipeline is with Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and is likely to be cleared next week. Cairn and ONGC share the 700 million dollar pipeline cost in 70:30 ratio and the pipeline would be included in the field development plan meaning the cost would be recovered from sale
of crude. Cairn plans to begin production from Rajasthan by first half of 2009.
Source: Economic Times Indiatimes
Rajasthan objects to new mineral policy
JAIPUR: July 12, 2007: Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje has requested prime minister Manmohan Singh to reconsider the draft of the new national mineral policy and to seek consensus of state governments before it was considered by the union cabinet. The draft has been prepared on the basis of recommendations of the high level committee under the chairmanship of Anwarul
Hoda, member of the Planning Commission. It proposes amendments to the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Law 1957.
The Hoda committee had recommended that in case a state government delayed its response to a prospecting or mining application, the power to respond should be transferred to the
centre. Raje said: "The state governments do not consider this in the interests of the states." Raje also disagreed with the recommendation that the area under prospecting licences should be increased to 100 sq. km from 25 sq. km. She did not approve of increasing the area under mining lease either. The state governments feel increasing the area under a single licence would lead to a situation where large mineral bearing areas would be kept idle on purpose.
The committee had recommended that public and private sector companies be treated at par while granting mineral concessions. Raje held that "this would lead to excessive exploitation of minerals and develop commercial competition, which would prove harmful for the future".
Source: Economic Times Indiatimes
Flood situation improves in Rajasthan
Jaipur,
July 11, 2007 : Life was limping back to normalcy in the flood hit
Jodhpur, Pali and Banswara, as the water from the ruptured Jaswant Sagar dam
almost receded and the adjoining rivers were flowing below danger level,
officials said in Jaipur on Tuesday. The irrigation department has initiated the repair work of the
118-year-old Jaswant Sagar dam, on a war footing and a two feet high ring dam is
being mended at the two places where it had ruptured discharging the rainy
water
Food, medicines airdropped in flood-hit Rajasthan districts
Jaipur, July 10, 2007 : Relief and rescue work moved into top gear in the flood-hit districts of
Rajasthan on Monday as rain stopped and receding waters allowed authorities to
airdrop food, medicines and other essentials in areas that had remained cut off
for days due to inundation. At least three Indian Air Force helicopters were used to airdrop essential
supplies in seven flood-affected villages including Bala and Holapurkhund in
Jodhpur district that had been completely cut off from the rest of the state
since Friday. Barmer and Pali were among the other worst-affected districts where relief
operations were intensified.
Fear of large scale flooding following breaches in the Jaswant Sagar also
receded with the stoppage of rain. More than 22 have people died in rain-related incidents across Rajasthan many
parts of which, including Pali, Sirohi and Jodhpur districts, received 357 mm of
rain, the highest in 24 years.
Source: HT
More
monsoon rains in Banswara, Jodhpur region
Jaipur, July 09,2007: More
monsoon rains hit several villages of Banswara, Udaipur,
Dungarpur, Chittorgarh, Jodhpur and Ajmer districts. In Banswara
many bridges were collapsed and several acres land got submerged. In
Udaipur all the rivers and tanks are overflowing with water.
Dungarpur received rainfall of 14 inches in Sagwara. Jodhpur
recorded 47 mm rainfall and in Ajmer 2 inches rain was recorded in
Vijaynagar.
Heavy monsoon rains hit Rajasthan
New Delhi, July. 5 (PTI): Monsoon downpour marooned hundreds of people in a village in Rajasthan's Pali district, forcing their rescue by IAF helicopters.
Jodhpur and several areas in the desert state received heavy showers, hitting normal life and disrupting train and road links.
A rail section between Pali and Bomadada railway stations also got submerged and passengers of a Jodhpur-Bangalore train were stuck at Pali station since early this morning, Pali's Additional District Magistrate Kalpana Agarwal said over telephone.
Incessant rains affect normal life in Rajasthan
Jaipur, July 04, 2007 (PTI): Incessant rains affected normal life and disrupted road traffic in Sirohi and Udaipur districts in
Rajasthan. Mount Abu recorded 35.3 cm rainfall till 0800 hours, Met office said here.
Pindwara, Kotada, Sirohi and Reodar received rainfall of 27.9 cm, 25.4 cm, 24.2cm and 12.7 cm respectively as the South-West monsoon was active over the state, weather office said. Barring Bikaner district, light to moderate rains occurred at all places in the state till this morning. Dismissing media reports about evacuation of villagers in Barmer district following fears of heavy rains, the Superintendent of Police Nitin Deep told PTI that no one was asked to leave the Kawas and Malwa villages, which
witnessed the worst ever floods last year.
Deep said the district had received less rains and there was no panic among residents. Jaipur and Jodhpur also experienced intermittent light showers since yesterday, though the pink city's sub-urban towns Jamwaramgarh and Chomu received heavy rains in last two days. Ajmer and Udaipur districts also received moderate to heavy rains which was measured up to 5 to 8 cm. The trend would continue for the next 24 hours too, a forecast said. |
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Honda plans 2 small cars for India
TAPUKARA (RAJASTHAN): July 02,
2007: Japanese auto major Honda is gearing up to take on the Indian small car market with two cars. Although Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) had initially planned to roll out the Jazz, the company now plans to launch a brand new small car based on a new
platform and a small car based on the Jazz platform.
The new plant will come up on a 600-acre site and the initial phase will see an investment of Rs. 1,000 crore to churn out 60,000 cars
annually. While Honda's new small car would take on the Maruti 800, the second Jazz-based car will take on
competition in the B and B+ segment like Hyundai Santro and Chevrolet. |
Satoshi Aoki, chairman
Honda Motors Co.Ltd. Japan with Rajasthan chief secretary D.C.Swant. |
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These cars are expected to roll out from the company's
350- acre new manufacturing facility in Tapukara, Rajasthan - 70 km from Delhi - by 2009. The facility will also house a 100-acre R&D unit and a 150-acre components manufacturing hub. Small cars constitute over 50% of the passenger car market in India. In 2006-07, compact cars constituted 7.5 lakh units of the overall sales of 12
lakh.
Rajasthan Muslim Front demands implementation of Sachar report
Jaipur, June 29:
A Jaipur based Muslim organization Rajasthan Muslim Front has demanded the Central Government to immediately implement Sachar Committee report. Mohammad Siddiqui Ramjani, the president of the front said that despite the fact that the report was made public several months ago the Central Government has not shown any inclination for its implementation.
Siddiqui said, “though the Sachar committee report was submitted several months ago the Congress led Central Government has not taken any initiative for its implementation”. He said that the attitude of the Congress in implementation of the report is contrary to its promise in its manifesto to work for the reservation of the community. He said that reservation for the Muslim community was needed now given the fact that it was also recently endorsed by the Mishra Commission. Qutubuddin Khan front’s general secretary said that Muslims urgently need reservation. He went on to say that the Central Government should bring a bill in the monsoon session of the Parliament to avoid any legal hurdles for its expeditious implementation.
He went on to say that the front has no objection if the creamy layer of their community was
excluded from the reservation category if the same was done with ST and
OBC. Khan said that reservation was the only means to end the backwardness of the Muslim community in the country.
Cement cos cut costs, earn carbon credits with fly ash
JUNE 27, 2007:
Shree Cement, which has two plants in Rajasthan with a combined capacity of 6 million tonne per annum, has been issued 3,50,000 carbon credits for a period up to December 2006. At current market prices, the company hopes to make around Rs 25 crore. Shree Cement expects
to earn 90,000 credits per year till 2012 for its three other projects in the pipeline.
“There is a huge opportunity in this field. Big money can be made if one approaches it in an innovative way,” says Prashant Bangur, a senior executive at Shree Cement, who has been the steering carbon initiative at the company.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, businesses in EU and Japan are bound to reduce their greenhouse gas emission levels by at least 5% from their 1990 level. In the event of not being able to do so, they are allowed to buy carbon credits from developing countries, where the cost of reducing emission is much less compared to developed world. A carbon credit is equivalent of a tonne of carbon dioxide emission reduction.
A cement maker can use one tonne of clinker to produce 1.05 tonne of ordinary cement or 1.35 tonne of cement blended with fly ash or 1.8 tonne of slag-blended cement. Slag, a waste generated at steel plant, and fly ash are considered environmentally hazardous. Of late, there has been an increasing trend towards blended cement to keep the cost low and raise overall production level so as to meet growing domestic demand. At present, over 70% of cement produced in India is blended.
If a company, which uses 25% of fly ash in the cement, decides to raise it to 35%, it can save up to 8-9% on fuel and 5% on power. Fuel is mainly consumed in turning limestone deposits into clinker. Less fuel consumption means less carbon dioxide emission per tonne of cement produced. The
company can claim carbon credits for the amount of reduction in emission. Carbon credits may mean easy money. But Mr Bangur also has a word of caution for those involved in the project. “One must not exceed the established blending ratio to ensure that cement quality remains unaffected. Some manufacturers are also exploring the option of using alternate fuels. But one must seriously examine the impact of the fuel on the quality of cement.”
Source: TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Rajasthan panel invites views on Gujjar demand
JAIPUR, June 27, 2007: A committee formed by the Rajasthan Government to look into the Gujjars' demand for tribal status on Wednesday, invited representations from the community as well as others by July 16.
The committee, headed by retired judge of the Rajasthan High Court Justice Jasraj
Chopra, is to submit its report in three months.
In a mahapanchayat, or mass meet, held in Pushkar on Sunday, Gujjar community leaders had
announced that they would soon make a strong presentation of their case before the committee. The committee was formed after protesting Gujjars and the state government reached an agreement on June 4.
The Gujjars, currently classified as Other Backward Class (OBC), had held violent protests in
Rajasthan and some neighbouring states during May 29-June 4,
demanding tribal status with an eye on better job and educational opportunities. At least 26 people were killed and hundreds injured in the violence.
Rajasthan's Brahmins now seek job quotas
JAIPUR: June 26, 2007: Now the Brahmins of Rajasthan are demanding job
quotas for the poor within the community. The Rajasthan Brahmin Mahasabha, which has been spearheading a campaign for reservations in jobs, has sought an appointment with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to apprise her of its views.
Around seven million Brahmins in the state constitute 12.5 per cent of Rajasthan's population. They plan to launch a peaceful agitation to press their demand,
Mahasabha president Bhanwarlal Sharma said. "We want the
government to provide reservation to the economically backward of our
community," he said.
"If we do not get a favourable response, we will launch a state-wide agitation. We will follow Gandhian principles to get our demands fulfilled," he said. He said that Mahasabha members would reach out to Brahmins in every village to involve more people in the campaign. Sharma said Brahmins were becoming socially and economically backward. "Brahmins in Rajasthan have nothing - no jobs, no land and no means of survival. We are not doing well economically."
"The country does not need caste-based reservations. Instead, there should be reservation on the basis of economic and social conditions regardless of caste or tribe."
The state has been witnessing competition between various social groups to get the benefit of government job quotas. The
Gujjars, classified as other backward class (OBC), want tribal status. Their protests turned violent in May, leaving 26 people dead.
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