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Apr 08, 2007

CAG pulls up Jharkhand Police

The comptroller and auditor general (CAG) of India has pulled up Jharkhand Police for unlawful deployment of huge number of police forces as personal security guards to non-entitled persons like ex-ministers, ex-MPs, ex-MLAs, political workers and businessmen.

The CAG, in its latest report, has also assailed superintendents of police (SPs) of 11 districts including Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Hazaribag, Deoghar, Lohardaga, Palamu and Koderma, for non-realizing the cost of deployment from these non-entitled persons.

The cost of deployment amounted to a whopping Rs. 4.51 crore. A total of 187 police personnel were deployed as personal security guards in 11 districts in contravention of existing rules.

"The test check of records of office of SSP and SPs of 11 districts revealed that two ASI, seven havildars and 178 constables were deployed as personal security guards to ex-ministers, ex-MPs, ex-MLAs, ex-MLCs, political workers, businessmen and other non-entitled persons in between November 2000 and March 2005 without obtaining sanction of the district level committee constituted for the purpose," the CAG report said.

The report further revealed that the SPs of 11 districts didn't take steps to recover the cost of deployment from these non-entitled persons.

Under the provisions of the Police Act, 1861, police force can be deployed by the superintendent of police (SP) as security guard to individuals on demand and on payment of cost in advance.

By an order issued in May 1995, the unified Bihar Government prescribed the designation of persons such as CM, ministers, MPs, MLAs and judges of High Court to whom guards in prescribed numbers were to be provided.
The order also prohibited deployment of bodyguards from Bihar Military Police (BMP) or Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) under any circumstance.

"But, test check of records of the JAP, Deoghar, revealed that one JAP personnel was deputed as bodyguard to a non-entitled person (ex-MLA) in violation of government order in between November 2000 to March 2005. The cost of single deployment amounted to Rs. 4.50 lakh," the report said.

The CAG has also asked the state government to fix responsibility for violation of its orders and ensure recovery of the deployment costs.

Further in March 2003, the Jharkhand Government prescribed guidelines and scales for providing bodyguards. It says the SP can provide police force as security guards to other than entitled persons for a period not exceeding one month on approval of district level committee and on payment of cost in advance.

"But in most of the cases, security guards were provided to non-entitled persons without approval of the committee and advance payment," the report said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=1deb9f07-730b-4da5-
9119-a5f0f6624d49&MatchID1=4441&TeamID1=1&TeamID2=2&MatchType1=2&S
eriesID1=1104&PrimaryID=4441

Police-Naxals exchange fire in Garwah

GARWAH: Police Saturday claimed to have shot four extremists in a 2-hour encounter in the jungles of Nawadih in Jharkhand's Garwha district.

"The extremists took them away as they retreated from the encounter spot at Ramkanda outpost. There is no injury on the police side who were well positioned" Superintendent of Polic Mohammad Nehal told reporters here.

Police fired about 200 rounds while the ultras used some 250 bullets in the encounter, Nehal said adding the police arrested one Samlim wearing an extremist outfit uniform..

An SLR, which was looted from the police some time ago, and 54 live cartridges were recovered from the the encounter site, he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Police-Naxals_exchange_fire_in_Garwah
/articleshow/1872319.cms

CAG unhappy over elementary education in Jharkhand

Ranchi, April 9 (PTI): The number of 'out of school' children in Jharkhand was 3.66 lakh even after five years of the implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said.

With its present pace of implementation in Jharkhand, the SSA's objective of providing universal elementary education by 2010 was a distant possibility, the report ending March 2006 said.

The dropout rate of children from class one to eight in the state as a whole was 68.39 per cent as of September 2005, the report, which was placed in the just-concluded budget session of the assembly, said.

Pulling up the state government for its inability to utilise funds granted under SSA, the report rued the government could not utilise the grant in 2001-02 session while the utilisation in the next four years (2002/2006) was between 18.88 per cent and 60.16 per cent.

Stating that there was a shortage of 4,996 teachers in primary and upper primary schools, the report found the student-teacher ratio at 51:1 in 2004/05 as against the norms of 40:1.

The CAG also indicted the govenrment for urban bias in posting of teachers and shortfall in the training of untrained teachers, resulting in deployment of under-qualified teachers and untrained teachers affecting the quality of education.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200704090342.htm

Jharkhand to invest 151cr to upgrade sericulture production

To upgrade silk production in Jharkhand, Central Silk Board (CSB) and state industry department initiated a joint venture project of 'perspective plan for sericulture development' with an investment of Rs151 crore.

Jharkhand at the moment produces 100 tons of raw silk and targets to reach 350 tons within next six years.

Regions of West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan and Santhal Pargana serve as breeding grounds for cocoon cultivators. The state produces tasar, mulberry and eri silk.

In this venture, government plans to undertake infrastructure development, plantation activities, training and value addition of raw silk projects in the current fiscal year.

Ranchi-based Central Tasar Research and Training Institute would help in the project by providing services of training, research and development and technology transfer to farmers.

At the moment sericulture is being done in plant species like arjuna, saal, asan and mulberry tree but the Government's focus would be on non-mulberry production of silk.

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=33459

Dark road to temple - Streetlights not important to tourism department

Madhuban (Giridih): Tourism opportunities are aplenty in Jharkhand. But the state tourism department doesn't seem to be serious to cash in on them.

Religious sites and scenic beauty attracts a large number of pilgrims and tourists to the Parasnath hills and Madhuban throughout the year.

Two years ago, India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) installed at least 110 streetlights on the 5-km-long Madhuban Road that leads to Shikharji — a Jain temple located
on the Parasnath hills. The arrangement cost the government about Rs 30 lakh.

To facilitate power supply, the state electricity board installed a 100-KVA transformer at Jharkhand Bhavan.

Even as everything was arranged, the street has plunged into darkness again. Thanks to the lackadaisical attitude of the state tourism department.

"The installation work was completed two years ago but the local officials were not interested in taking up the responsibility," said an ITDC official.

All the state tourism department needs to do is appointing a caretaker to look after the maintenance of lights and pay the power bill on time.

In September 2006, the ITDC handed over the responsibility to the tourism department. But the area remained lit up for only three months. The department didn't bother to clear the dues of the electricity department and the supply was discontinued.

"The department neither appointed a caretaker nor paid the three-month bill of Rs 38,000. On March 1, the supply has been snapped," said the sub-divisional officer (electricity) D.P. Bhagat.

The absence of a maintenance official has resulted in many lights going missing, possibly stolen, and getting damaged as well.

Despite efforts, officials of the state tourism department could not be contacted.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070406/asp/jamshedpur/story_7613305.asp

IITs ask JEE candidates to mention OBC status

MUMBAI: The Supreme Court may have stayed the implementation of OBC quota in Central educational institutions, but HRD ministry is clearly in no mood to put off the decision this year. To pave the way for smooth implementation of OBC quota in this academic session itself, the seven IITs asked candidates at the joint entrance exam on Sunday to mention if they were from the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes or other backward classes.

The attendance sheet passed around before the exam required aspirants to mention if they belonged to the general category or any of the other three.

Usually, IITs ask only SC/ST students to list their caste category on the attendance sheet. The institutes then release separate merit lists for SC, ST and physically challenged students. The decision to mention the OBC category on the attendance sheet was finalised after a review ahead of this year's entrance exam.

After the top court's stay on the implementation of the OBC quota, IITs were unsure on how to proceed for the entrance test. With IIMs receiving last-minute faxes to freeze admissions till further notice on Friday, sources in IIT-Chennai said they didn't want to take any chances with data on OBC candidates.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Students_OBC_status_sought_in_IIT_exam/articles
how/1876323.cms

Maoists kill two RPF personnel in Bihar

In a stepped up extremist activities, CPI (Maoist) gunned down two Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and injured three others between Ghorparan and Narganjo railway stations under Asansol railway division of Eastern railway on Sunday morning. They also looted two carbines, two SLRs and one 9 mm pistol from the policemen. However, no passenger was harmed by the extremists.

This is the second incident of Naxal attack in Bihar within a fortnight. Barely a few days ago, about 300 extremists stormed Righa police station and a bank in Sitamarhi district and killed a Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) jawan and wounded an assistant manager of the bank and a homeguard jawan.

Reports reaching the State police headquarters said that around 100 strong-armed squad of the CPI (Maoist), including women members, boarded Howrah-Mokama passenger (213 Up) in different groups at Simultala and Ghorparan railway stations. When the train left Ghorparan railway station at around 7.30 am, women activists entered a sleeper coach (83209) in which RPF personnel were also travelling. First they befriend them and after some time they threw chilly powder in their eyes.

The RPF jawans, said to be five in number, were caught off guard and started protecting their eyes. Taking advantage of the situation, the Maoists tried to snatch their firearms. When they offered resistance, one of the women activists fired from close range, killing one of the jawans on the spot and causing injuries to four others. Soon other Maoists, travelling in other compartments joined them.

The Maoists alighted from the train after pulling alarm chain before Narganjo Block hut. They also shouted anti-government slogans before they disembarked.

The railway and GRP officials came to know about the incident only when the train reached Jhajha railway station at around 9.03 am. The GRP lodged a case against unidentified extremists on the basis of the statement of an injured constable, Jayant Biswas. Biswas informed the senior officials that over 40 Maoists were travelling in the sleeper coach.

Jamui Superintendent of Police A K Ambedkar, who rushed to the spot with district magistrate, Ram Shobhit Paswan, said that Arijit Bag died on the spot while another RPF constable, Palash Ghosh, succumbed to his injuries on way to Jhajha hospital. "We have launched a massive combing operation in the area to nab the extremists involved in the attack," he said.

DIG, Munger Sunil Kumar did not rule out the possibility of involvement of the same extremist group that had carried out operations on a BMP camp at Khaira village on February 26.

Additional Division Railway Manager (Asansol), Anil Kumar told HT over telephone that an assistant sub inspector, S N P Srivastava, who sustained four bullet wounds in the attack, had been shifted to Kolkata railway hospital and havildar B Sardar and J Biswas were undergoing treatment at Asansol divisional hospital. "The condition of Srivastava is stated to be critical while the two other injured constables are out of danger," he said. Srivastava was leading the escort party.

He lamented that the police failed to make any headway in the Naxalites' attack on Narganjo railway station in April last year. "Had the police taken the matter seriously and launched operation against extremists, the attack between Narganjo and Ghorparan would have been averted," he said, adding that senior security commandant Nurul Hoda and assistant security commandant R K Singh had been camping at the site of occurrence. "The attack has not affected the movement of train on Asansol-Patna main line," he added. The train guard was so terrified that he fainted and was subsequently admitted to Jhajha hospital.

Inspector General (Railway) A S Nimbran said that the borders of Bihar and Jharkhand had been sealed and all the railway stations under the division put on high alert. "Raids are on to arrest the Maoists," he added.

It may be recalled here that about a year ago the underground Maoists had blasted the building of Narganjo railway station.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=f19a3dd9-582d-4256-99f8
-796e847225c6&MatchID1=4441&TeamID1=1&TeamID2=2&MatchType1=2&SeriesID1
=1104&PrimaryID=4441

NGOs in Bihar: Voluntary Sector and its Credibility

This commentary is based on my field visits, and interaction with over four hundred NGO's representatives, staff and functionaries in Bihar. I also got an opportunity to see some of their work in the field and interact with their staff and communities. There is lot to share and I know many of NGOs and readers of this article may not agree with my views and the way I see NGOs and its emergence in Bihar and their work. The observations, comments and examples mentioned in the paper are my own views and perception, and not against any particular organisation or individual.

There are several issues and concerns which questions the credibility of NGOs in Bihar. In last ten years and particularly after nineties, the number of NGOs registered in Bihar has outnumbered the other states. Although we do not have exact numbers, according to estimates, presently there are more than thirty thousands NGOs in Bihar. According to official sources nearly 10,000 NGOs exist only on paper .

There are several reasons for the increase in this number. Registration of trusts and societies have become hotbeds of corruption. It is interesting to note that many people are registering or have registered NGOs as property value which gives good return after three years or even before that. One can buy an NGO in Bihar in ten to fifteen thousand and if the NGO is more than three years old with FCRA one has to pay even more (Fifteen to thirteen thousand). NGOs complain that officials in Bihar charge up to Rs 10,000 for registering a society or trust; clearance under section 80G of the Income Tax Act can cost Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000; acceptance of audited accounts can cost even more .

There are families, who have more than five NGOs within the family and all the family members are part of it. So with time, these NGOs have also emerged as family business. In fact, some of the families with their sister organisations have emerged as very influential in lobbying with donors and bilateral agencies. However, in most of the NGOs in Bihar, it is difficult to find second line of leadership and even if it exists, it is confined within the close family members.

Besides the family, caste has also played a very important role in the emergence of NGOs in Bihar. Although there is no data available, it is believed that before nineties most of these NGOs were headed by upper caste and especially the Bhumihars, Rajputs and Brahmins or caste elites. After the nineties, there was change and it also spread to other caste groups. Primarily there are two reasons for this spread. First, by that time lot of funding agencies were approaching the state and secondly because of change in government which was pro-poor in principle. The other caste groups also became aware of the NGOs (easy money making business with no accountability towards people) with political, bureaucratic connections and patronage.

In the beginning, many NGOs were established in Bihar in late seventies and early eighties by sarvodayis or socialists or youth who had been a part of the J. P. movement. It may be noted that it is not uncommon for activists from emergency days (part of J P movement) to be part of NGOs in bihar. A large section of youth was mobilized during this movement, lot of them had left their studies and jobs, later, a number of these activists, became part of NGOs . Most of these people were political activists and believed in socialist ideology guided by Jay Prakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia. They believed in social change and some of them really did good work and were able to mobilise people for volunteerism and community development. Initially there were no outside funding support and resources were mobilised locally from the community and there was full community support and participation. It was during this period that many of Ashrams were established for social development.

At the same time, many of caste elites also opened voluntary organisations and NGOs in their villages but they were not able to succeed because of the ownership and hierarchy. Later they moved to cities like Patna, Ranchi and other urban centres because it was easy to lobby with government departments and donors. In fact many bureaucrats and politicians also associated themselves with these NGOs. This nexus has in fact further facilitated the spread of corruption. The functioning of a large number of fake non-government organisations (NGOs) in different parts of the state has proved beyond doubt that it has a well-knit group of highly-placed officials for running it smoothly. Investigations have revealed that close relatives of a large number of politicians, bureaucrats and academics are engaged in running such NGOs, each one of them claiming to change the face of the society . In many of these NGOS, most of the chief functionaries are family members, no matter whether they have an understanding of NGO or development or not. There are couples, who have separate NGOs, where husband has a mother NGO for RCH programme and field activities are run by the wife's organisation. In principle there is nothing wrong in it but the dynamics and inter-relationship is important because the work done by both the organisations is in question and they are ultimately accountable to the people for whom they are working.

During the last fifteen years, NGOs in Bihar have increased in number, size, and scope and have established themselves to be perceived in pivotal positions capable of bringing about social, economic, and political change. In this context, it is imperative to understand the dynamics, work and political economy of NGOs and to evaluate their social roles. A study led by Elmer H Lighid, of the International Council on Management of Population Programmes (ICOMP), Malaysia reports that though the number of voluntary organisations working in a district varies, out of every 1,000 such organisations, there are only 20 "real" ones. It stresses that the voluntary organisations in Bihar are fragmented and work in isolation due to caste, religious and ideological factors. It maintains that the voluntary organisations lack the requisite technical skills, qualified staff and exposure .

Credibility Question:

The question is "what is credibility" and what constitutes credibility for an NGO. One can define credibility as quality of being trustworthy which means, whether or not the NGO (the aims and vision with which it is established) is to be believed or trusted. We know that many a times, NGOs are not considered credible because they have a personal, monetary, political or other interest which is often in contradiction with the interest of the community or people whom they claim to serve..

Credibility is one of the most critical factors, which has affected the peoples perception of NGOs in Bihar. Now people and communities have started demanding money for participation in NGOs programme as they believe that NGOs are getting money in their name. The question here is, 'how can an NGO build its credibility?' Before answering this question, however it is important to focus on why NGOs have lost their credibility.

NGOs have lost their credibility in people because they are not consistent, transparent, honest and accountable to their work being done. Despite the recent cancellation of the registration of hundreds of "fake" non-government organisations (NGOs) in Bihar, a large number of people, including those belonging to Naxalite outfits, have made a beeline for getting their new organisations registered. Interestingly, people belonging to various Naxalite outfits and women activists top the list of those who have set up their NGOs in different parts of the state . Transparency and sharing information and knowledge is a best way to build credibility which helps in building the intellectual base of the NGO, and its ability to articulate the views of the people it is speaking for. There is no fix set of guidelines for NGOs, which we have for other sectors like government, corporate and other institutions. Although several activists, networks and Alliances (Like credibility alliance) are raising theses issues and have developed norms and good practices for governance and public disclosure, we have not achieved and provided rights to people working in development sectors (Its not true for all organizations but applies to many voluntary organizations and NGOs).

There is need to debate, raise and discuss the issues which hampers NGOs credibility directly besides other factors.

The author (Dr. Anant Kumar) is a member of Jharkhand Network and faculty in Department of Rural Development at Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Source: Submitted to Jharkhand News Network by Dr. Anant Kumar
(Published at Bihar Times, 05/04/2007)

What Bengal thinks today...

Did Nandigram happen due to the CPI (M)'s overconfidence? Partly. The rest was about the bourgeois attitude that has crept into the leadership.

The Left Front's most recent record in ushering in capitalism in the state of West Bengal is shameful, but there isn't even a muted response to the Pakistan judiciary reeling under the boots of a military dictator.

However, let's stick to India alone. Even though the Left allows the UPA government to survive on its oxygen, it misses no opportunity to bare the Manmohan Singh government's capitalists tendencies. And in its own bastions of West Bengal and Kerala, it's not just rolling out red carpet to woo foreign investment but is shameless in suppressing popular revolt.

The contradictions are clear. Coming from the CPI(M), lofty ideas, talks of power to the people and human rights appear hollow. The emperor has no clothes. Scores of artists and intellectuals across the country have showed their resentment in no uncertain terms.

Also, West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi has hardly ever courted political controversy. He is known to be a man of scholarship, integrity and composure. When he criticises the government, it contains the credulity of honesty.

The state government thought it would get away this time, too. It thought that a nexus of party, police and a highly politicised establishment would again suppress opposition. It forgot, however, that communication technology and a vibrant media not only had gathered more strength in recent times but also spread the reach. Mamata Banerjee just fitted the bill.

The support of Jamiat-e-Ulema against the state government is again reflective of the withering away of its Muslim vote bank. So, did Nandigram happen due to CPI (M)'s overconfidence? Partly. More so, due to the bourgeois attitude that has crept into the leadership.

Nandigram, quite naturally, generated much political heat in both the Houses. The NDA and the ruling almost came to blows. It was only expected. But the sheer ruffian behaviour of the Kolkattan Left forced Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to offer his resignation for the nth time. No, the Communists did not attack any member from the Opposition benches but a Cabinet minister belonging to DMK, a fellow ally in UPA.

Minister for Road Transport and Shipping T R Balu became the target of physical attack. Had the Minister of State for Railways Velu not come to his rescue and formed a human shield, anything was possible. As the Left MPs tried to snatch papers from Balu as he announced shifting of a maritime institute from Kolkata to Chennai, in the scuffle Velu almost lost his dhoti—much for the decency and dignity that they champion.

What many would have thought the minimum, the Left did not even offer an apology. Worse, the statement after the CPI(M) politburo meeting was written in cold blood.

So what does it all hold for the national politics? The Manmohan Singh government will be further weakened. The Left, to deviate attention from its deeds, will try to attack the government and prevent the CBI from bringing the real guilty to book.

But it will surely not sink the UPA boat as this is the best it has in having the best of both worlds. If the BJP comes to power at the Centre, it will only give the Communist government in the state more sleepless nights instead of the present situation where it can threaten to pull down the Congress-led UPA government.

It is only a mass movement that can keep the CPI(M) on tenterhooks. It is time the civil society, instead of being a mute spectator, should emerge not just as conscience keepers but should also keep alive genuine democracy instead of what Communists have been long indoctrinated with. It is also time the state live up to the dictum: what Bengal thinks today, the rest of India thinks tomorrow.

http://www.realpolitik.in/April%2007/L-R%0view%20April%2007.htm

Attendance in govt schools not a major problem, says study

NEW DELHI: The much maligned attendance problem of students and teachers in government schools is not as huge as it is made out to be. Yet, states like UP, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand do lag behind some other states. These facts are revealed in a first of its kind study across all states done by 20 institutions for the HRD ministry.

The study shows that Himachal Pradesh is on top with overall students' attendance of 94.63% in primary classes and 93.18% in upper primary, followed by Maharashtra where attendance in both primary and upper primary classes is 89%. As for teachers' attendance, West Bengal is on top with 96% attendance in primary and 98% in upper primary while Madhya Pradesh is at 67% in both primary and upper primary.

The study also shows that attendance is far better in upper primary classes (class VI-VIII — in some states like West Bengal upper primary starts from V, and in a few others like Maharashtra and Orissa, it ends at class VII).

So far, data from only nine states — Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, UP and West Bengal — have come in. The study was done for 2006-07 academic session and included random surveys on three selected days, both in the first half and second half of school. The head count, as well as the attendance register, was checked. In case of teachers' attendance, survey was once again done on three random days in the first and last period.

Uttar Pradesh is not 'uttam pradesh' in education as Big B claims it to be in the Samajwadi Party election campaign. In primary classes (I-V), the average attendance was found to be abysmally low at 57.37%, while in upper primary it was slightly better at 60.50%. Interestingly, in UP, attendance dips post-break. For instance, in primary classes while attendance was 59.56% in the first half, it dropped to 55.18% in the second half.

Two consecutive terms as CM and the image of a doer has not made much difference to Navin Patnaik's Orissa. It is just above UP with attendance in primary classes pegged at 66.79%. In upper primary, the average attendance was 66.79%.

Then comes Rajasthan with overall attendance in primary classes at 62.67% while in upper primary it is 78.87%. In both classes, the post-break attendance comes down in a big way. Madhya Pradesh is also lagging behind. The overall attendance in primary classes is 72.10% and in upper primary 72.10%.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Attendance_in_govt_schools_not_a
major_problem_says_study/articleshow/1876167.cms

Heat Wave Kills Two In Orissa

Orissa health department Saturday confirmed two people had died in the intense heat wave sweeping the state.

Officials said the two deaths occurred one each in the southwestern district of Kalahandi and the coastal district of Bhadrak.

They said the government had received information of seven deaths from different parts of the state, three of which, reported from Jagatsinghpur district along the coast, were not related to the heat wave. Two reports of death from Nayagarh were being investigated.

Bikash Patnaik, medical officer of the state health control room, said: "After conducting examinations we found that the three deaths reported from Jagatsinghpur were due to some other reasons."

"While the two deaths in Nayagarh are still being examined, we confirm that the two deaths from Kalahandi and Bhadrak are due to sunstroke," Patnaik said.

Heat wave conditions have been prevailing over some parts of the state with Jharsuguda town in western Orissa recording the maximum temperature of 40.6 degrees Celsius Friday. There was no let up in the situation Saturday.

Hirakud and Sambalpur recorded 39.8 and 39.0 degrees, the weather office said.

State capital Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum of 35.6 degrees Saturday.

http://www.playfuls.com/news_10_23097-Heat-Wave-Kills-Two-In-Orissa.html

PSU foursome set for foreign coal venture

The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) plans to set up a joint venture with PSUs Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, National Thermal Power Corporation and Coal India in overseas coal mining, its chairman and managing director B. Ramesh Kumar said here yesterday.

He said the four PSUs have agreed to hunt for coal blocks in South Africa and Australia, and the deal will be signed soon. He said NMDC will invest Rs 9,000 crore on an iron and steel plant at Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh, an integrated iron and power plant at Jagadalpur, Chhattisgarh, and a pellet plant at Donimalai, Karnataka.

"We are in talks with SAIL and RINL for setting up the integrated steel plant in Chattisgarh," Kumar said.

He said NMDC plans to reduce iron ore exports by half to 3.5 million tonnes in 2007-08 from 6.04 million tones in the previous year, following a change in policy of the Centre towards more ore for domestic steel units.

NMDC plans to invest Rs 18,000 crore in the Eleventh plan on its expansion activities. "We plan to spend Rs 3,500 crore for building new infrastructure and open up new mines to increase iron ore production to 50 million tones (mt) from 27 mt tonnes by 2014-15," the NMDC CMD said.

The company is taking up mining projects at Bailadilla, Chhattisgarh, and at Kumaraswamy, Karnataka. Each of these projects envisage an investment of Rs 300 crore.

Kumar said NMDC closed the fiscal with a profit before tax of approximately Rs 3,400 crore against Rs 2,770 crore last year. The turnover was Rs 4,150 crore, against Rs 3,711 crores of the previous year.

NMDC excavated 36.71 mt of ore and raised the supply to domestic industries to 22.50 mt against 18.80 mt in the previous year, which is 76 per cent of the output.

Last month NMDC had petitioned the government against the imposition of duty on iron ore exports, saying the levy would cause a loss of Rs 150 crore, according to PTI.

"The nmdc has written to the various ministries stating that its profit would come down by Rs 150 crore because of the duty in the coming year," sources said. According to estimates, the duty imposed in the Union Budget has already resulted in decline in exports by 40 per cent in March.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070409/asp/business/story_7623647.asp

news@jharkhand.org.uk Jharkhand News Network www.jharkhand.org.uk

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