New Delhi, October 19
Pakistan today reiterated its proposal to India to have a nuclear restraint regime in South Asia.

India rejected it on the grounds that Indian nukes are essentially a deterrent tool from nuclear powers which are not necessarily located in South Asia alone — an obvious reference to China.

This happened at the day-long Indo-Pak expert-level nuclear CBMs (confidence building measures) talks here today, sources said.

Another important development took place at these fifth round of talks on nuclear and missiles-related CBMs: Pakistan conveyed to India, for the first time, that it will not press India for inclusion of cruise missiles in the pre-notification of missile tests treaty. India and Pakistan had signed this treaty some years ago when India already possessed a cruise missile - Brahmos - but Pakistan did not.

At the time of signing that treaty Pakistan pressed India hard that cruise missiles should also be included in the ambit of the treaty. But now Pakistan also boasts of its cruise missile - Babar. In view of this perceived parity on the cruise missiles front, Pakistan told India today that it will no longer press for a similar treaty with regard to cruise missiles.

The nuclear CBMs talks had several positive notes, as the Pakistani side said these were working very well and beyond their expectations. The Pakistani side told the Indians that they deeply appreciated India's gesture of giving a well advanced notification of its recent Agni tests.

The two sides noted with satisfaction that they were on the same page on the issue of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in international fora. However, Pakistan turned down Indian suggestion for formalising this understanding bilaterally as well. Pakistan’s viewpoint is that when this Indo-Pak synergy is working well in the international arena, there was no need to bilateralise it.

The two countries foreign secretaries’ will meet early next year to prepare the roadmap for the fifth round of the Composite Dialogue process.

New Delhi, October 19
The Supreme Court has directed the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to examine whether electricity users are covered by the definition of “consumer” under the Consumer Protection Act to enable them to claim compensation for deficiency in service.

The apex court, however, held that the definition “service” under Section 2(o) of the Act would include any type of service made available to users in connection with banking, financing, insurance, transport, processing and the supply of electric energy.

But since the question whether the electricity users can be defined as “consumers” for the purpose of awarding compensation claims for deficiency of service has not been decided so far, the apex court asked the commission to come out with its views on the issue.

The apex court passed the direction while disposing of an appeal filed by the Jharkhand government challenging the award of Rs 50,000 compensation to an electric consumer Anwar Ali by the Ranchi Consumer Forum, after he alleged that electricity supply was disconnected to him without prior notice.

The Jharkhand government filed the SLP after the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and the NCDRC, both upheld the award.

In its appeal, the government argued that the assessment of duty for the unauthorised use of electricity, tampering of meters, distribution of meters and calibration of electric supply were matters of technical nature which could not be decided by the consumer forums.

It argued that under the Electricity Act, 2003, jurisdiction of the civil court to entertain suits in respect of matters falling under Section 126 was expressly barred.

Section 2(d) of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) defines “consumer” as any person who hires or avails of any services for a consideration, which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised.

Under Section 2(g) of the Act, the word “deficiency” is defined to mean “any fault, imperfection, shortcoming or inadequacy in the quality, nature and manner of performance, which is required to be maintained by or under any law for the time being in force or under a contract or otherwise in relation to any service”.

But since the NCDRC had not addressed the question as to whether a consumer of electricity was covered by the CPA, the order granting compensation of Rs 50,000 was being set aside,the apex court said, while asking the national forum to examine the question and record a positive finding on the aspect. — PTI 

New Delhi, October 19
The shipment of municipal and hospital waste from the USA in three containers, which had waste paper for recycling in Kerala, has raised a stink with India warning it cannot be a “dumping ground” and that the shocking incident will be taken up at the highest level.

Health minister Anbumani Ramadoss condemned the incident asserting India could not be made a “dumping ground”.

“I am confirming the report of the shipment of the wastes with the (Kerala) health department. If it is true it will be taken up at the highest level,” Ramadoss said.

Three containers with about 65 tonnes of wastes were found by Kerala Pollution Control Board officials containing prohibited municipal wastes from New York, including plastic and biodegradable substances as well as hospital wastes, sanitary pads and surgical gloves. A shocked board has recommended to the customs authorities that the shipments be sent back to the place of origin.

The Kerala state health department is also looking into the matter.

The shipment has once again raised fears of developing countries like India being used as a dumping ground for wastes from industrialised countries. Last year, 12 containers of plastic waste, shipped from the USA, were sent back.

The latest incident came during a random check early this month amid reports that such shipments were taking place frequently with Kochi being the destination. The check showed that the items contained substances other than waste paper, which was being dispatched to a local company for recycling.

Plastic waste, biodegradable food waste, glass pieces and packing material of computer accessories were found mixed in the waste paper consignment, pollution control board chairman G. Rajmohan said. — PTI 

Hyderabad, October 19
Andhra Pradesh has bagged the top position in the country in terms of attracting domestic tourists.

The southern state attracted nearly one-fourth of domestic tourists last year. According to figures released by the tourism ministry, AP accounted for 24.20 per cent of the total 461.16 million domestic travellers.

The temple town of Tirupati, which draws millions of pilgrims from across the country and abroad, continues to play a major role in the state emerging as a leading tourist destination.

Tirupati, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, attracts about 20 million visitors every year and is one of the most popular religious places in the world.

Significantly, AP attracted nearly five times more tourists than Rajasthan, a state which has greater international visibility because of its palaces and exotic locales.

Uttar Pradesh, which attracted 22.9 per cent of total domestic tourists, Tamil Nadu (12.7 per cent), Karnataka (7.8 per cent) and Rajasthan (5.1 per cent) are among the top five states.

Surprisingly, Goa, Kerala and Delhi could not make it to the top 10 list. As far as attracting foreign tourists is concerned, Delhi leads the list, accounting for 17.30 per cent of the total 4.45 million tourists last year. It was followed by Maharashtra (14.5 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (11.6 per cent), Rajasthan (10.7 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (9.1 per cent).

AP had to be content with a share of 5.90 per cent. India had hosted 4.45 million foreign tourists last year, an increase of 13.5 per cent from the previous year.

This was just 0.52 per cent of the total global tourist arrivals. With 79.10 million foreign tourists, France was the most visited country in 2006. There was a three-fold increase in the number of domestic tourists in India, from 6.6 per cent in 2005 to 18.1 per cent in 2006.

In terms of numbers, the people traveling within the country increased from 390.47 million in 2005 to 461.16 million in 2006.

Lucknow, October 19
The Uttar Pradesh government today launched an ambitious common integration police application (CIPA) project through which an FIR could be lodged on the Internet.

The facility has been introduced in 59 police stations of six districts while others would be taken up for the project by the end of next year.

Inaugurating the novel facility at Hazratganj kotwali this morning, UP Director General of Police (DGP) Vikram Singh said to start with the project, it would be implemented in state capital of Lucknow, Sitapur, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur and Barabanki.

‘’Priority has been given to those districts where the power supply is good, he added.

Claiming it would revolutionise the policing in the state, the DGP said the computerised system would not only help in speedy registration of reports but also provide transparency. The system of eletronic FIR under CIPA project is part of Central government’s mission mode project under ‘’e-governance’’.

The Software National Informatic Centre (NIC) has developed this system in English and other regional languages. Apprising about the benefits of the software, the DGP said the district police stations would be provided sufficient power supply and other essential electronic items.

Taking serious note of increasing criminal activities over the years due to advanced technology, he said: “computerisation of all the police stations is the need of the hour.” — UNI

New Delhi, October 19
The blasts in Karachi, which ripped through Benazir Bhutto’s political rally marking her return to the country from a self-imposed exile yesterday is another indication that it would be difficult for stability to return to Pakistan in the coming years too.

A recent study by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) had clearly said Pakistan is likely to remain unstable in the coming years, instead becoming a major hub of terror outsourcing, posing not only a serious threat to the region, including India, but also the entire world.

Based on a year-long study of various factors which have been shaping events in Pakistan, a study points out the present situation will help terrorist groups like al Qaida and the Taliban to gain strength. It would help them find opportunities to join hands with similar other groups across west and south Asia to establish a pan-Asian jihadi network which might pose a direct threat to the United States and India.

Such a development will seriously undermine the gains of the US-led Global War on Terrorism.

The elections, expected to take place in January-February 2008, are likely to witness large scale rigging and electoral management by intelligence agencies to retain and strengthen the army’s political power in Pakistan. The elections would further weaken the political system in the country, rendering opposition parties weak and ineffective before the political and financial muscle of the army, the study concluded.

The religious parties are expected to go through a similar re-arrangement with the chances of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) splitting vertically with one group led by Qazi Hussain Ahmed parting ways with Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Qazi Hussain is opposed to Gen Musharraf (and not the army rule) while the Maulana Fazlur is quite willing to ally with the military in exchange for a political bargain in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where his party has the strongest support.

Internally, Pakistan will face serious security challenges in Balochistan and Waziristan. “Balochistan will continue to pose problems of governance while Waziristan, the study said “will become a global hub of terror outsourcing“. Religious extremism will continue to rise with the presence of a large number of extremist and terrorist groups and the failure of the government to neutralise them.

Sectarianism, the study said, “will witness a sharp rise. The establishment may not exactly encourage such a conflict but will not take strong measures to counter it either. Sectarian outfits will continue to work under different names and will remain active. Sectarian conflicts will give the army leadership a valuable justification for prolonging the military-controlled democracy to the West, and its own citizens. Such a course of action will also, ironically, help keep the fundamentalists pre-occupied“.