Cabinet clears India role in thermo-nuclear project

Granting approval for setting up the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology at Jias in Rae Bareli district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday

Granting approval for setting up the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) at Jias in Rae Bareli district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, the Union Cabinet also gave its nod for a budgetary support of Rs 285 crore to the institute during the Eleventh Five Year Plan. The total cost of the project was pegged at Rs 435 crore.

The Cabinet also okayed the commencement of the basic course from the 2008-09 academic session and creation of various posts comprising academic and supporting staff for the institute. The Government will introduce a Bill on the matter in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The Institute will commence its academic operations by admitting students in basic undergraduate courses from the academic year 2008-09, from a rented campus. It will become fully operational in 2015-16.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved the project proposal on India’s participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). India’s participation in ITER will allow the country to leapfrog in terms of its national technological capability in fusion energy. The Cabinet also approved the setting up of the Pan-African Network in 53 countries of the African Union at a cost of Rs. 542.90 crore.

The Cabinet also accorded ex-post facto approval for the MoU between India and Kuwait on labour, employment and manpower development and also gave its nod for signing additional protocol on the regulation of employment of Indian manpower between Qatar and India. Both agreements are expected to benefit Indian workers, particularly in unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled categories.

The Cabinet also gave its approval for extension of the term of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission by a period of seven months, up to March 31, 2008.

CCEA decisions

The CCEA on Thursday approved the continuation of the Revised National TB Control Project for five years, from April 2007 to March 2012, in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttranchal and for implementation of the Public Private-mix in six states by the Indian Medical Association with grant assistance from the Global Funds for AIDS, TB and Malaria.

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The CCEA also approved Budgetary support worth Rs 77.25 crore to 13 Central Public Sector Enterprises towards liquidating outstanding statutory dues, salary and wages for the period upto March 31, 2007. The CCEA approved the continuation of the National Mission on Bamboo Applications till November 2009 in the Eleventh Plan.