Govt sets up disaster response force

The Cabinet Committee on Security has approved a contingency plan for handling aircraft hijack situations, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. A committee under the chairmanship of the commissioner of security (civil aviation) has been asked to prepare aviation security manual on handling aircraft hijack situations, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said in Lok Sabha. The committee was expected to submit its report by January 31, 2006.

600 men to secure Delhi Metro

With intelligence inputs that the Delhi Metro was facing threat from militants, the government on Tuesday said nearly 600 securitymen had been deployed for its protection. Union Minister of State for Home S Reghupathy told the Lok Sabha that many other steps had been taken to ensure safety of the Metro, including installation of metal detectors at metro stations and deploying securitymen inside the trains.

Punjab Sales Tax Bill gets LS nod

A Bill to repeal the Punjab General Sales Tax Act to pave way for imposition of Value Added Tax in Chandigarh was passed by the LS on Tuesday. Taking part in a discussion on Punjab General Sales Tax (as in force in the Union Territory of Chandigarh) Repeal Bill, 2005, members wanted an end to harassment of traders at the hands of tax inspectors. Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Home S Regupathy said following the implementation of VAT in Punjab from April this year, the revenue had gone up by 38 per cent.

Panel to draft new Police Act

The government has set up a committee to draft a new police Act which will replace the 1861 Act, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal told Lok Sabha. He said the committee had been asked to submit its report in six months and added that further action would follow once the draft act was received by the government.

Relief package for TN demanded

Tamil Nadu MPs asked the Centre to announce a relief package, including deferred payments on loans taken by small and marginal farmers and businessmen living in affected areas. Raising the issue,P Mohan CPI(M) said relief from the TN government was inadequate.