Current Affairs: Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for July, 2009

Shri P. Chidambaram presented the Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for July, 2009 today. Following is the text of the Minister’s
statement :
“July 2009 saw the Budget provide Rs.46,392.53 crore to the Ministry of Home Affairs under ten Demands for Grants. This represents an
increase of Rs.10,770.51 crore over the Revised Estimate of 2008-09 (Rs.35,622.02 crore). The bulk of the provision is for Demand No.53 – Police.
MHA is confident that with the increased allocation it would be in a position to fulfil most of the objectives set out in Action Plan II as well as Action
Plan III that will be drawn up for the period 1.10.2009 to 31.3.2010.
2. The Demands for Grants of MHA were discussed in the Lok Sabha on 22nd July, 2009.
3. I responded to a Calling Attention Motion on ‘honour killings’.
Internal Security
4. Internal Security continues to receive the highest attention. The MAC – SMAC network will be deepened to connect the special branches at the
district level. Work has begun on a pilot project to connect 40 districts in the North Eastern States to the MAC – SMAC network.
5. CCEA approved the proposal for establishing a Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS). Following the approval, the
implementation guidelines and the system documents were released to the States and the States were requested to begin work towards establishing the
system. Rs.89 crore has been allocated to the States and UTs.
6. A Special Tactics Wing has been established in the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad. The Academy will now offer a
course on tactical operations in militancy affected areas.
7. Although it is about seven weeks since the CPMFs were deployed in Lalgarh at the request of the Government of West Bengal, the situation has
not still stablised. The CPI (Maoist) still continues to have pockets of influence and is suspected to be behind some recent acts of violence. We have
made it clear to all States that while CPMFs will be available for deployment, such deployment cannot be for an indefinite period, and that State Police
Forces would have to take over the responsibility of maintaining law and order as soon as possible.
8. I am happy that the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) heeded the advice of the Central Government and Government of West Bengal and
withdrew their agitation and, in particular, the attempt to block National Highway 31A which is the lifeline to Sikkim. We have invited the GJM for
tripartite talks on August 11, 2009 and I hope that the talks will be held with an open mind and explore all avenues towards a resolution of the issues
raised.
9. I am happy that the issue of providing reservations for the Gurjar community in Rajasthan was resolved in the space of a few days.
10. I was pained by the developments in Jammu and Kashmir following certain allegations made in the J&K State Legislature. MHA put out the
facts in the public domain and, I believe, that helped bring the controversy to an end. What Jammu and Kashmir needs is good and effective governance
and I hope that all political parties will work with the State Government to provide good and effective governance in that State.
 CPMFs
11. During July 2009, Rs.59 crore was sanctioned for various infrastructure works in the CPMFs.
12. Procurement for the CPMFs continues at an accelerated pace. Among the sanctions issued in July 2009 were:
(i) A contract for procurement of 10 nos. of 12-tonne interceptor boats for Andaman & Nicobar islands was signed on 31st July 2009.
(ii) Sanction was accorded to BSF to procure 1490 nos. of high frequency digital radio sets at a cost of Rs.78 crore.
(ii) Sanction was accorded to CRPF for procurement of 288 nos. of Boat Assault Universal Type (BAUT) at a cost of Rs.10 crore.
13. Nursing allowance to nursing personnel of CPMFs will now be at the same rate as applicable to nursing personnel of Central Government
hospitals.
14. The first batch of women constables recruited in the BSF was inducted at a passing out parade at Kharkan, Punjab on 25th July, 2009.
15. Infosys Technologies Limited has become the first private sector establishment to be provided CISF cover.
States and UTs
16. MHA continues to provide help to the State Governments in tackling insurgency and left wing extremism. Some important measures were:
(i) Orders were issued for engagement of 6666 SPOs in the states of Andhra Pradesh (1630), Uttar Pradesh (203), Orissa (1480) and Bihar (3353).
(ii) Security Related Expenditure (SRE) work plans were approved for the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
17. New Governors were appointed for Haryana (Shri Jagannath Pahadia) and Uttarakhand (Smt. Margaret Alva). Shri Iqbal Singh was appointed as
Lt. Governor of Puducherry.
18. President’s rule was extended in Jharkhand for a further period of six months. Shri K Sankaranarayanan was appointed as Governor of
Jharkhand.
19. The Committee on Non-Plan Expenditure has approved the infusion of additional equity of Rs.74.36 crore over 3 years into REPCO Bank (Rs.48
crore this year).
20. Advance Releases made of Rs.81.40 crore to Assam, Rs.62.79 crore to Bihar, Rs.2.34 crore to Manipur and Rs.124.77 crore to UP (Total
Rs.271.3 crore) as Centre's contribution to the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) during 2009-10.
Border and Coastal Security
21. Border fencing and road works continue to make progress. In July 2009, 12.30 kms. of fencing and 9.15 kms of road work were completed on
the Indo-Bangladesh border. Besides, 17 kms of fencing was replaced. On the Indo-China border, 35.63 kms. of formation works and 2.82 kms. of
surfacing works were completed.
22. Coastal security has been strengthened. In July 2009, 7 interceptor boats were delivered by two shipyards.
23. Immigration Control System (ICS) software was installed at Nagpur airport and Port Blair seaport. Three ICPs at Nagpur airport, Gaya airport
and Port Blair seaport were connected with the network of Central Foreigners Bureau (CFB). Computer systems were upgraded in two ICPs at Nagpur
airport and Port Blair seaport.
24. The Cabinet has approved the draft of the Land Ports Authority of India Bill, 2009. Subject to the orders of the Speaker, I intend to introduce the
Bill in the current session of Parliament.
Response to Pakistan’s Questions
25. Yesterday, MHA finalised the response to the latest set of questions sent by the Government of Pakistan in connection with the investigations in
Pakistan on the terror
26. attack in Mumbai on 26th November, 2008. A 7-page response with annexures has been handed over to the Ministry of External Affairs for
transmission to the Government of Pakistan.
Census 2011 and National Population Register (NPR)
26. The preparatory work for collecting data for the National Population Register (NPR) of all usual residents in the coastal villages has been
completed. Work orders have been issued to 3 Central PSEs, namely, BEL, ECIL and ITIL. The data collection will commence in the first week of
August 2009.
27. The pre-test for Census 2011 commenced on 28th June 2009 in all the 35 States and Union Territories. The field work for the pre-test was
completed on 31st July 2009. Orders for necessary hardware and software required for data processing were placed with NICSI at a cost of Rs.18.75
crore. Besides, approval was granted to procure ICR software for image processing at a cost of USD 400,000.
Section 377 IPC
28. The 3-Minister Group took note of the judgement of the High Court in the case of Naz Foundation and Others. Vs. UOI and Others and finalised
its recommendation to the Cabinet”.
Current Affairs: Yashwant Bhave takes over as Chairperson, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA)
Shri Yashwant S. Bhave today took over as the first Chairperson of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA). With the joining of Shri Bhave,
AERA is likely to commence its regulatory functions within the next few months.
Government has recently constituted the AERA for economic regulation of the airport infrastructure sector. In terms of the Airports Economic
Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008, the AERA has been assigned the functions of determining the tariffs for aeronautical services rendered at all
major airports, including for air navigation services, the fixation of Development Fees and Passenger Service Fees. AERA will also monitor the set
performance standards relating to quality, continuity and reliability of services at these airports.
AERA is expected play a crucial role in economic well being of the vital airport infrastructure sector in the country. The present downturn in the
aviation sector is likely to pose an immediate challenge to AERA as it will have to ensure that the airport charges are calibrated so as not to unnecessarily
burden the airlines and passengers and at the same time are remunerative enough for airport operators who are investing heavily in upgradation and
modernization.
Shri Bhave is a retired officer of Indian Administrative Service (1972 Batch). He is a Master of Science with Electronics as a specialization and
Master of Public Administration from Harvard University. During his career spanning 37 years with the Government, he has held different positions in
the Government of Maharashtra like CEO of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, MD of Small Scale Industries Development Corporation,
MD of State Financial Corporation, Chairman of State Electricity Board, Development Commissioner (Industries) and Principal Secretary of Department
of Industries. In the Government of India, he has served in the Department of Information Technology, Department of Administrative Reforms, Pensions
and Public Grievances as well as Special Secretary, Telecom and Secretary, Telecom Commission. His last posting was as Secretary, Department of
Consumer Affairs.
Current Affairs: H1N1 update for 30th July, 2009
World Health Organization has reported 94,512 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection from 135 countries as on 6th July 2009. There
have been 429 deaths. There is no further update.
Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 22 International airports. 43,609 passengers have been screened
on 29.7.2009 of which 32,347 passengers were from affected countries. 224 doctors and 112 paramedics are manning 81 counters at these airports. A
cumulative total of 40, 51463 passengers have been screened. Eleven positive cases are reported today: Delhi (4), Pune (3), Calicut (2), Cochin (1), and
Hyderabad (1)
In Delhi out of the four cases, three cases, [12/F, 12/M, 7/F,] are contacts of previously reported positive cases. The fourth case [12/M] travelled
from Muscat, Oman by Oman Air Flight no WY0813 reaching Delhi on 28 July [Link] was found to be symptomatic at the airport and was admitted to
the identified health facility. In Pune, all the three cases [11/F, 11/F, and 11/M] are contacts of previously reported positive cases. Out of the two cases in
Calicut, the first case is a 31 year old male who travelled from Georgia, US by Air India Flight AI 636 transiting Dubai and further travelled by Indian
Airlines Flight IC 161 from Mumbai reaching Calicut on 24 July 2009. He self reported with symptoms and remains admitted to the identified health
facility. The second case is a 31 year old male who travelled from Singapore by Silk Air Flight MI 468 reaching Calicut on 28 July 2009. He was found
to be symptomatic at the airport and was admitted to the identified health facility.
The lone case [20/M] in Cochin travelled from Singapore by Silk Air Flight MI 468 reaching Cochin on 22 July [Link] developed symptoms on
27 July 2009 and was admitted to the identified health facility. In Hyderabad the single case [5/M] is a contact of a previously reported positive case.
2326 persons have been tested so far out of which 509 are positive for Influenza A H1N1 [Swine]. 518 out of the 2326 persons have been identified
through entry screening, 470 through contact tracing and the rest were self reported. Of the 509 positive cases, 365 have been discharged. Rest of them
remains admitted to the identified health facility. The situation is being monitored.
12,000 km. of National Highways in 2009-10
The government has worked out a plan to undertake the works of about 12,000 km of National Highways amounting to Rs.98,173 crores during
the current financial year .The projects are largely proposed to be implemented on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) Toll mode. Projects not viable on
BOT (Toll) may be taken up on BOT (Annuity) / Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) mode based on the traffic volume, inter-se-priority and
availability of funds. For BOT (Toll) mode Government can give grants up to 40 % for four laning and 10 % for six laning. The balance investment is to
be arranged by the Concessionaire. In BOT (Annuity) mode, entire investment is made by the Concessionaire, which is paid back by the Government, in
fixed instalments called Annuity during the concession period. In EPC mode the Government bears the entire cost of construction. This information was
given by Shri R.P.N. Singh, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Rajya Sabha today.