1400 HRS

05.04.2013

THE HEADLINES: 

• Prime Minister says economic development must be environmentally sustainable.
• President gives away Padma awards to eminent personalities from diverse fields.
• Information & Broadcasting Minister says government has no plan to create a content regulator for broadcasting sector; Suggests setting up of a separate broadcasting authority to look into techno-commercial aspects.
• Sensex rules flat in afternoon trade; Rupee gains 7 paise to 54.80 against the dollar.
• Second round of talks between Iran and six major world powers on Iran's nuclear programme begins at Almaty in Kazakhstan.
• Rahi Sernobat wins Gold in 25 metre pistol event at International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Korea.

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The Prime Minister has advocated optimal use of scarce natural resources to achieve sustainable economic development. Addressing the International Workshop on Green Accounting in New Delhi today, he said economic development must be environmentally sustainable as a significant portion of India's population particularly the rural poor are dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods. 

A number of national strategies and policies, which inculcate the principle of sustainability, are already in place. For example, we have set up a National Clean Energy Fund by imposing a cess on coal and have also created a Compensatory Afforestation Fund. 

Quoting from the Brundtland Commission of 1987 that sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their needs, he said that economic growth and development have to be guided by the compulsion of sustainability. 

"The National Environmental Policy, 2006 articulates that only such development is sustainable which respects ecological constraints and the imperatives of social justice

The Prime Minister asserted that for the first time the 12th Plan has mainstreamed sustainability as its primary goal. Dr. Singh stated that India should take a leadership role in clarifying the concept of sustainable development. He said India aims to attain growth and poverty alleviation in a sustainable manner factoring in the needs of people, especially the poor. Dr. Singh also referred to recent initiatives taken by the government to green the Indian economy like national clean energy fund, environmental, agricultural and electricity policies which focus on sustainable economic development.

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President Pranab Mukherjee today conferred Padma Awards on eminent persons for their achievements in various fields. Noted High Energy Physicist Prof. Yashpal, and International renowned sculptor Raghunath Mahopatra were conferred the Padma Vibhushan. Former Indian Cricket captian Rahul Dravid, Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore, DRDO Director General Dr.Vijaya Kumar Saraswat were among the ten Padma Bhushan awardees. Bollywood actress and heroine of Hindi film, English-Vinglish,Sridevi, Veteran Malayalam Actor Madhu, Sanskrit and Hindi Scholar Ramakant Shukla are among the 42 eminent persons who received Padma Shri awards from President Pranab Mukherjee. 

Padma Awards are the country's highest civilian award after Bharat Ratna, given in three categories of Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Padma awards, an honour by the President, symbolises recognition for talent and contribution of the recipients.

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Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari has suggested the setting up of a separate broadcasting authority to look into the techno-commercial aspects of the industry. He also made categorically clear that the government has no intention to put in place a content regulator in the sector. Mr Tewari was speaking at the first meeting of the Expert Committee on Prasar Bharati at a function in New Delhi today. He asked the Expert Committee members to debate whether the country needs a public broadcaster in the context of the fast changing technologies and increasing number of radio and television channels. 

"If India requires a public broadcaster what really should be the characteristics or the character of that Public Broadcaster? Do we really require 33 News Channels? Do we require a Public Broadcaster which does soap operas and comedy and entertainment and stuff like that? Or do we require a Public Broadcaster which can really try and find the golden mean. " 

Chairman of the Expert Committee Sam Pitroda called for drastic restructuring of the Prasar Bharati Board to address the issues in view of changing needs of the time. Stating that this is the proper time for innovative thinking, Mr Pitroda asked the Committee members to work on generational changes and not incremental changes.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Uday Kumar Verma suggested separation of the Direct to Home (DTH) functioning from Prasar Bharati Board by creating a Special Purpose Vehicle. He also suggested that the transmission activities of the public broadcaster should be looked after by a specialised body.

Earlier, Prasar Bharati's Chairperson Mrinal Pande outlined the problems faced by the public service broadcaster in its day-to-day functioning.

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The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court today awarded death penalty to three and life imprisonment to five in 1982 Gonda fake encounter case. A police circle officer and 12 villagers were allegedly shot dead by police men 31 years ago. Last week, court had convicted eight policemen whereas the punishment was pronounced today. The case was investigated by the CBI and chargesheet was filed in 1989.

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Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said he is ready to welcome Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister any time. In reply to questions by media on the sidelines of the Padma award function at Rashtrapathi Bhawan, Dr. Singh also termed Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's speech to the captains of Indian Industry yesterday as excellent. He said, the debate on dual power at the centre is a media creation. Dr.Singh also said it was an unnecessary debate. Replying to a query on a third time as Prime Minister, Dr.Singh said he was not ruling it in or ruling it out.

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The death toll in the under-construction building collapse in Shil Phata area of the Thane district has risen to 33. The deceased included 12 men, including construction workers, ten children and eight women. While 52 people were injured in the incident rescuers fear that some victims may still be trapped under debris. According to Thane Police, the rescuers recovered more bodies from the site this morning. More from our correspondent:- 

"The 7 story building which collapsed at Shilphata near Thane yesterday at 5.30 pm was built illegally on marshy forest land using substandard construction material. The Daighar police in Thane have registered a case against builders Salil and Khalil Jamadar under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Police Officials have informed that all out efforts to nab the two builders are still on. Meanwhile rescue operations are in progress to clear off the debris on site. ABHISHEK KUMAR/ MUMBAI/ AIR NEWS."

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Punjab Police has said that the out-of-competition dope test of Olympian Boxer Vijender Singh conducted by National Anti Doping Agency, NADA, yesterday, has no relevance. More from our correspondent:  

"Vijender has given his blood and urine samples to NADA, after almost a month since his name cropped up in the multi-crore Punjab drug haul case. Fetehgarh Sahib Police Chief, has told AIR that Punjab Police would not accept the outcome of the dope test as it has no legal validity. He said since the Punjab Police is the main investigating agency, it would conduct the hair or any other test from a well-equipped forensic lab of its own choice. NADA Chief, Mukul Chatterjee said that as the tests are highly confidential so he cannot reveal its result as well as the time period when the results would be out. RAJESH BALI/ JALANDHER/AIR NEWS."

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The Nation paid homage to freedom fighter and former Deputy Prime Minister, Babu Jagjivan Ram on his 106th birth anniversary today which is also known as Samta Diwas. Eminent leaders and dignitaries offered floral tributes at his memorial Samta Sthal in the national capital. An all religion prayer meeting was also held at Babu Jagjivan Ram Smriti Sansthan in the city. A Sobha yatra was also taken out from the Red Fort to Babuji's samadhi.

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In Madhya Pradesh, Lokayukta police have filed an application in a special court of Bhopal to seize the property of suspended IAS couple Arvind and Tinu Joshi. In its application, Lokayukta police has sought seizure of property worth more than 22 crore rupees. This property belongs to suspended IAS couple and their 13 relatives and friends. It would probably be the first case in the state that the property of an IAS will be forfeited.

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The second round of talks between Iran and six major world powers US, UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany over Teheran’s nuclear programme resumed in the Kazakh city of Almaty today. Over the next two days, the two sides will try to resolve their differences over Iran’s controversial nuclear programme. More from our correspondent: 

"The focus at the second round of talks in Almaty will be on Iran’s response to restrict its uranium enrichment in exchange for some relief from the sanctions. In exchange of stopping uranium enrichment to 20 percent; the P5+1 group of nations have offered to ease a ban on trade in gold and other precious metals and relax the import ban on Iranian petrochemical products. US and the European Union have said that the onus is on the Iranian side to make further progress in the talks. 

 However Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili told in Almaty that any progress will be possible only when the world recognizes Teheran’s rights to enrich Uranium. Western nations say that Tehran has relinquished that right by hiding its nuclear work from United Nations inspectors in the past and refusing to grant them full access. Atul K Tiwary.AIR News, Dubai."

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In Nepal, the third ministerial level meeting of SAARC on Poverty Alleviation began in Kathmandu today. Our correspondent has filed this report:  

"The meeting which has participants from all the member states with six ministers taking part in the meeting is expected to endorse the decision of coming with a SAARC development report after 2015 every two years and works toward a common platform post 2015 . A symposium has also been planned on best practices on removing poverty . The region which has more than six hundred million people living below the poverty line and SAARC hopes that the development goals set by the regional setting would enhance the millennium development goals 2015 .jane namchu/ air news/kathmandu"

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The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange fell 47 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 18,463 in early trade, today, on sustained selling by funds. Later, after volatile trade, the Sensex stood a more modest 16 points, or 0.1 per cent in the red, at 18,494 in afternoon deals, a short while ago. The Sensex had lost over 530 points in the past two trading sessions.

Stock markets in Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea had lost between 0.2 percent and 2.5 percent, today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.4 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.

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The rupee today gained seven paise to 54.80 against the dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on increased selling of the US currency by exporters. 

The local currency had lost 44 paise to hit a one-month low of 54.87 a dollar yesterday due to heavy capital outflows.

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In the International Shooting Sports Federation World Cup in Korea, Rahi Sarnobat beat Kyeongae Kim 8-6 in 25-metre pistol final today to become the first pistol shooter from India to win a World Cup gold medal. Rahi's achievement is her career's highest medal at the World Cup. She was the youngest Indian shooter at the London Olympics 2012.

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In IPL cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Pune Warriors in Hyderabad at 8 PM today. Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Mumbai Indians by just two runs in a thrilling encounter at Bangalore last night. Put into bat, Chris Gayle, with an unbeaten 92 off just 58 balls, single handedly powered Bangalore to a competitive 156 for five in the allotted 20 overs.