Union petroleum and natural gas minister Ram Naik, who handed over a cheque of Rs 39.5 crore to the Prime Minister for his national relief fund on Monday, also assured him of adequate supplies of kerosene oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for the cyclone-hit people. The contribution to the Prime Minister's relief fund has come from public sector undertakings (PSUs) under the administrative control of the ministry. The largest contribution of Rs 8 crore, has come from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

Indian Oil Corporation has contributed Rs 7 crore to the fund. The Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) have chipped in Rs 5 crore each. Oil India Limited (OIL), Cochin Refineries, Madras Refineries and Engineers India Limited (EIL) have sent in Rs 2 crore each, while IBP Company, Lubrizol India and Bongaigaon Refineries have each contributed Rs 50 lakhs to the fund.

Bharti assures travel industry
The minister of state for tourism Uma Bharti here on Monday assured the travel trade that urgent action would be taken on the demands of the sector which include visa on arrival for tourists, benefits under 80 HHC to tour operators at par with exporters and removal of service tax. The minister was speaking to a delegation from the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) which called on her to a present a cheque of Rs. 6.13 lakh as contribution to the Kargil relief fund.

According to a press release issued by the association, Bharti had given assurance that action would be taken on the suggestions made by the body to enhance tourism in the country. On the occasion, IATO president Subhash Goyal offered to adopt a village in Orissa to provide help to the cyclone-affected people. A voluntary team from assocaition will be assisting in the relief operations in the state.

ADB to aid state pollution boards
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has proposed to aid a programme to improve technical skills of state pollution control boards, a staff senior ADB official has said. "The bank is negotiating with India for about $2-2.5 million (about Rs 10 crore) assistance for capacity building in state pollution regulatory agencies and impart training to professionals working with them," the bank's chief for social and environment office, Kazi Jalal told PTI. Keen to ensure environmental sustainability in the bank's programmes, ADB was providing assistance and help to state level agencies to monitor environment including pollution levels, Jalal said.