Cabinet nod to amend rail Act

The Railways owns 4.23 lakh hectares of land of which about 0.20 lakh is lying vacant and another 0.02 lakh is under encroachment. It earned Rs 116.53 crore from the use of Railway land in 2003-2004 compared to Rs 91.49 crore in 2002-2003 and Rs 223.53 crore in 2001-2002.

The Cabinet also gave its post-facto approval for opening a consulate at Birgunj in Nepal to safeguard and promote the country’s long-term security, political, trade and economic interests.

The Consulate General of India, opened in the border town in 2003-04, would have within its jurisdiction 18 districts covering the Central Terai region between Nepalganj in the west and Biratnagar in the east. ‘‘India is also seriously concerned at the spread of Maoist activities in the Terai and the implications for our bordering states, particularly in view of the strong links between Nepalese Maoists and Left-wing extremist groups like MCC and PWG,’’ said the statement.

Ex-post facto approval was also given for a pact with Myanmar for strengthening security cooperation between the two nations in combating terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking and money laundering.

The MoU for cooperation in non-traditional security issues was signed on October 25, said the statement.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs could not meet as some members had to return to Lok Sabha to partake in a debate on supplementary demands for grants for Railways.