Namibia Minister for Mines & Energy calls on Minister of Steel & Mines

Namibia Minister for Mines & Energy Mr. Obeth Kandjoze called on Minister of Steel & Mines Shri Narendra Singh Tomar at Udyog Bhawan last evening. He was accompanied by representatives of industry and other government officials. The Minister is in India to attend the “India Africa Forum Summit-2015”.

Minister of Steel & Mines Shri Narendra Singh Tomar highlighted the need for mutual cooperation in mineral resource development. India and Namibia had signed an MOU in 2009 for cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources. A Joint Working Group was also constituted to take things forward. Both the Ministers were in agreement that the MOU implementation needs to be expedited and the next meeting of Joint Working Group has to be held at the earliest. Shri Tomar remarked that there are several Indian companies that want to invest in Namibia in the area of minerals. However, two issues are hindering the process, namely difficulties in obtaining work permits and requirement of South African transit visa. The Minister also urged them to complete the ratification formalities to operationalised the agreement on Cooperation in peaceful purposes of nuclear energy. The Minister stated that under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, India’s relations with foreign countries have been strengthened significantly, and a new era has been ushered in the Mining sector by new policies and decisions.

Mr. Kandjoze said that the issues raised by Shri Tomar are indeed bottlenecks to increasing investment in Namibia and their government is taking all possible steps to remove these hurdles. He explained how Namibia intends to encourage sustainable mining and sought cooperation from India in R&D and technology development.

************

ACC Appointments

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the following appointments:-

(i) Ms. Aruna Sundararajan, IAS (KL:1982), Administrator, Universal Service Obligation Fund under D/o Telecommunications, M/o Communications and Information Technology as Secretary, M/o Steel vice Shri Rakesh Singh, IAS (PB:1978) on his superannuation on 30.09.2015.

(ii) Shri Navin Verma, IAS (BH:1982). Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat (SR) as Secretary, M/o Development of North Eastern Region vice Shri R. Vijaykumar, IAS (TN:1978) on his superannuation on 30.09.2015.

(iii) Ms Naini Jayaseelan, IAS (UT:1980), presently posted in her cadre as Secretary, Inter State Council Secretariat under M/o Home Affairs vice Shri Pravir Kumar, IAS (UP:1982) on his repatriation to his cadre.

(iv) Shri Ramesh Abhishek, IAS (BH:1982) as Secretary, Performance Management, Cabinet Secretariat.

(v) Shri Vijay Shankar Pandey, IAS (UP:1979), presently posted in his cadre as Secretary, D/o Chemicals and Petrochemicals, M/o Chemicals and Fertilizers vice Shri Surjit Kumar Chaudhary, IAS (TN:1980) consequent on his superannuation on 31.12.2015.

2. The ACC has approved assignment of additional charge of the post of Secretary, M/o Minority Affairs to Shri Amarendra Sinha, IAS (UK:1981), Secretary, National Commission for Minorities vice Shri Arvind Mayaram, IAS (RJ:1978) consequent on his superannuation on 31.10.2015.

3. The ACC has also approved continuation of additional charge of CMD, SAIL with Secretary, M/o Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise, for the purpose of continuity, till a regular incumbent joins.

**********

Namibia Minister for Mines & Energy calls on Minister of Steel & Mines

************

Clarification regarding allocation of bungalow No.10, Rajaji Marg to Union Minister Dr. Mahesh Sharma

Regarding allocation of General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) at No.10, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi to Minister of Culture & Tourism, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, it is clarified that :

(i) Government of India vide decision F.No.28011/2011-W.2(Vol.II Part) of 18th October 2014 imposed a total ban on conversion of Government bungalows into memorials of the departed leaders.

(ii) Earlier, Supreme Court vide their judgement of 5th July 2013 in the matter of S.D. Bandi vs. Divisional Traffic Officer, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and Others held the view that no Government bungalow be converted into memorial.

(iii) Executive Assistant of former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has informed the Ministry of Urban Development that the said bungalow would be vacated by October 31, 2015;

(iv) Government has already decided to build a memorial for Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, his birthplace ;

(v) The said bungalow at No.10, Rajaji Marg has been allotted to Dr. Mahesh Sharma under Rule 3 of the Minister’s Residence Rules, 1962, which says “Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State shall be allotted Type VIII accommodation subject to availability and in that order”

(vi) All other Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State have been allotted Government accommodation and only Dr.Mahesh Sharma was waiting for official accommodation and accordingly, the said bungalow was allotted to him on vacation basis.