Round The States

New Delhi, 18 July 2007

New Dimension Of Militancy

TERROR THREATENS Oil Hunt

By Insaf

Terrorism and Naxalism, which has gripped 13 States in its vicious tentacles, has begun to cast its long shadow on oil and gas exploration activities in some States. Leading high prospective areas in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand to be excluded from the forthcoming bidding for exploration blocks. The Home Ministry has sounded a warning bell and conveyed serious security concerns to the Petroleum Ministry before it offers certain blocks under the seventh round of new Exploration Licencing Policy. It has sought exclusion of Kutch in Gujarat due to its proximity to the Indo-Pak border. The movement of fishermen may prove to be a security hazard for exploration activities in the Jakhua and Sir Creek areas. Ditto is the case with blocks in Diu.

The areas proposed for exploration in Punjab and Rajasthan are too close to the western border for comfort and could well become soft targets for the militants and for firing from across the border. Also, while areas in the Hindu heartland like Madhya Pradesh are vulnerable to the dacoit menace, the Naxalite menace in Jharkhand and cross-border infiltration in the eastern part of the country is proving to be a major deterrent to the much-needed oil hunt. Assam has already gained notoriety for kidnappings (and killings) of employees of oil and gas companies and penetration by Pakistan’s diabolical ISI. Clearly, the States need to keep strict vigil against this new economic dimension of terror. Given that oil drives the engine of growth and prosperity.

*                                 *                                               *                                       *

More Power To The States

The States have emerged winners in the ongoing Centre-States tussle over the Hydro electric policy. According to the new policy, the States will now have a free hand in awarding projects. Plainly, the States can now legitimize the practice currently adopted to award hydro projects---up-front payment, share of equity to the States or higher quantum of free power. Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and some North-Eastern States have already adopted this policy. The Central plan also provides a level-playing field to the private developers who till now were the underdogs in the competitive bids vis-à-vis the PSU’s  like the NHPC, NTPC etc. In return for more power, the States have to adhere to only one condition: transparency in awarding the contract.

*                                  *                                               *                                       *

Farooq Closer To Congress

Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference, headed presently by son Omar, is slowly  moving closer to the Congress, raising eyebrows in Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s PDP. On Monday, its Working Committee decided in Jammu to support UPA nominee Pratibha Patil in the Presidential poll. Farooq Abdullah had earlier told Insaf that he would be voting for NDA-supported Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who had proved himself to be secular and a nationalist as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. “He never favoured the BJP even once.”  The Congress is also responding to his friendly signals.” Farooq flew in the PM’s special plane alongwith Governor Lt. Gen. S.K. Sinha and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during Dr. Manmohan’s one-day visit to Jammu last Sunday. Moreover, the PM referred to Farooq more than once in his public speeches.

*                                   *                                               *                                       *

nagaland Tops Agriculture Input

Nagaland, synonymous with insurgency, has broken new ground in agriculture. Its farm output in eight districts has grown at double digit rates putting to shame India’s vast fertile land. According to a recent district-wise data complied by Indicus Analytics, farm output in the State recorded a high of 17.7 per cent compared to the national average of 2.6 per cent. On an average, every district in the State showed an output worth Rs.75,385 per hectare in each crop season. This was primarily due to a shift in crop patterns with cultivation shifting from paddy to ginger, tapioca, passion fruit, pineapple, banana and other horticultural crops. Clearly, tiny Nagaland’s new agricultural song is a lesson to vast swathes of fertile India’s economic lament.

*                                   *                                               *                                       *

Goa To Ban Rave Parties

Goa, the hot spot of tourists, may loose its position as the favourite destination. The State Home Minister Ravi Naik in his bid to create a crime-free society has accorded top priority to rid the State of crime including drug trade and other criminal activities. He also intends to put an end to the rave parties of the famous and the rich which had led to Goa gaining notoriety and bringing a bad name to the State. That he meant business was evident from the fact that he was not averse to invoking the National Security Act to maintain law and order and deal firmly with foreigners engaged in criminal activities and the drug trade. The State police has been asked to identify the drug traffickers and anti-social elements and check their activities.

*                                  *                                               *                                       *

New Identity To The Kolkata Street Children

This is a tale of a new lease of life for Kolkata’s street children. In a first of its kind function in the country, over 50,000 poor children from the streets and slums got a new identity when they were handed over their birth registration certificates. These children have had to struggle for years to get “their right to identity” document because they did not have the wherewithal to pay for it. With this new birth certificates the children can now get admissions into schools, which till yesterday was a distant dream. Interestingly, UNICEF which had organized the function got famed magician P.C. Sarkar to make magic for the slum children.

*                                  *                                               *                                       *

Noida Revs Up For Car Racing

Greater Noida in UP is all set to hit the fast track with its spanking new Formula One car racing track. The land has been identified for a five kilometer track in a sprawling complex of 700 acres which is along the proposed Taj Expressway about 8 km from Greater Noida. However, the Indian Olympic Association is keeping its cards close to its chest. Given the fact that it has shortlisted possible sites in near Manesar, Gurgaon and another at the Tughlakabad Shooting range. Either which way India will most likely host the FI race in 2009. Racing fans have reasons to keep their finger crossed.

*                                   *                                               *                                       *

Mayawati Invades  Himachal

Mayawati continues to play her cards shrewdly.  She has struck unexpected success in Himachal Pradesh, due to go to the polls for the Assembly early next year, apart from giving a jolt to Sonia Gandhi and her Congress. Former Himachal Pradesh Tourism Minister, Vijay Singh Mankotia, has announced that he alongwith two other former Congress Ministers will be formally joining the Bahujan Samaj Party at a rally in Kangra on July 26. The other two leaders are four-time MLA Vijay Kumar Joshi and former Transport Minister Kewal Singh. Surprisingly, Mayawati stayed away from the gala dinner hosted by Sonia at New Delhi on Tuesday last to underscore UPA’s solidarity in the Presidential poll despite a week-long notice. The BSP supremo has surely something up her sleeve, which time alone will reveal.

*                                  *                                               *                                       *

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)