Six stamps on gems and jewellery soon
Keeping the country's proud tradition of jewellery in mind, the postal department will bring out a set of six special postage stamps on "Gems and Jewellery" on December 7. West Bengal Governor Viren Shah will release the commemorative stamps at the Asian International Stamp Exhibition, in Calcutta's Town Hall, a Dak Bhavan release said. The release of the stamps would mark the postal department's tribute to 50 years of the country's republic and the new millennium, it said. India's history of jewellery dates back to hundreds of years.Coal Act to be amended for pvt sector
The government proposes to allow private sector participation in the mining and distribution of coal. Accordingly it has been decided to amend the Coal Mines (nationalisation) Act, 1973, Coal Minister NT Shanmugam said. Mr Shanmugam said the need to allow private sector entry, was due to the growing demand and supply gap, which is expected to touch 260 million tonne by the end of the eleventh five year plan.
Proposal for coastal aqua authority
The parliamentary standing committee on agriculture has proposed setting up of the coastal aquaculture authority, through an act of Parliament. The committee said the authority will have jurisdiction over aquaculture under controlled conditions in ponds, enclosures or otherwise located in coastal areas - of shrimp, prawn, fish or any other aquatic life in saline water. It does not include fresh water aquaculture. A large number of companies, including some big houses, are presently engaged in aquaculture in coastal states, including Andhra Pradesh,Orissa,Karnataka, Maharashtra,Gujarat and West Bengal. As per the bill already in parliament for the purpose, the aquaculture authority will regulate shrimp farming activities.
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