AUG 22: The Government is considering creation of an autonomous Statutory Economic Regulatory Authority to oversee the financial practices of airports, air navigation service providers and air transport operators, the Rajya Sabha was informed. The Authority would be within the overall framework of the draft Civil Aviation Policy, Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav said. He said safety and security would continue to be overseen by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security respectively.No plan to declare prostitution as industry: M M JoshiGovernment does not have any plan to declare prostitution as an industry and prostitutes as sex-workers, the Lok Sabha was informed. Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said this, amid a furore, when a member waved a report on AIDS with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's message and an article seeking industry status for sex-workers. ``Does this mean that the Government approves industry-status to prostitution?'' the member asked.No citizenship to refugees: MinisterThe Government has ruled out granting citizenship to refugees from various countries camping in India. Minister of State for Home Vidyasagar Rao said the Centre would write to State Governments asking them to ensure that refugees did not get registered as voters in this country. He said there are 201,706 refugees settled in various parts of the country.Pak trying to unite ultra groupsPakistan has been trying to bring various militant groups under one umbrella-organisation, to be known as the `Kashmir Liberation Army', Lok Sabha was informed. However, activities of this organisation have not come to notice so far, Minister of State for Home N Vidyasagar Rao said.Bill helping SCST employees in Govt promotions introducedA Constitution Amendment Bill seeking to restore relaxation in qualifying marks for promotions in Government jobs to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was introduced in the Lok Sabha. The 88th Constitutional Amendment Bill seeks to restore the relaxations which were withdrawn following a Supreme Court judgement of July 22, 1997. Minister of State for Personnel Vasundhara Raje said the relaxation was being restored in view of the adverse effect of the apex court's order on the interests of the SCs trying to shift river Ravi's course towards IndiaSatellite pictures have suggested construction of embankments and flood-protection works on river Ravi by Pakistan in a bid to force the river to shift its course towards the Indian side, Rajya Sabha was today told. This would endanger border outposts, Minister of State for Water Resources Bijoya Chakravarty said in a written reply adding that work to counter the adverse effects were being taken up by India.Use of siren banned even for VIPs in DelhiNo VIP is allowed to use siren on their vehicles in the national capital, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Surface Transport Minister Hukumdeo Narayan Singh said only Cabinet Ministers, Lt Governor of Delhi and Chief Ministers of the State are permitted to use blue fixed-light on top and middle of the vehicle while plying on official duty. Besides them, he said General officer Commanding of Delhi, three services Chief, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court are allowed to install a red light on top of their vehicles.
