Additional steps to mop up resources for Gujarat
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today indicated that there would be additional measures to mobilise resources for meeting the expenditure on rehabilitation in Gujarat, but ruled out heavy taxes in the Budget.

Sinha silent
The Union Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, today parried questions on fresh tax measures to mobilise resources for reconstruction work in Gujarat.

Musharraf calls up PM
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistani Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, established their first direct contact by speaking to each other over telephone today.

Task force to assess damage
The Gujarat Government today announced the setting up of task force to assess the damage caused by the earthquake and prepare a rehabilitation scheme for the affected.

STF opens fire but Veerappan escapes
The Special Task Force (STF) this afternoon spotted and fired at the forest brigand, Veerappan, and his gang at Chemmanthymala in the Walayar forests of this district but they fled. The personnel have since cordoned off the forest area and sealed off all escape routes.

U.S. lifts ban on spares for Sea King
The Bush administration has lifted the ban on spares for Indian Sea King helicopters. The British manufacturers of the helicopters were prevented from exporting spare parts of American origin as part of the sanctions imposed in the aftermath of India's 1998 nuclear tests. India and Britain had been pressuring Washington to ease the Arms Export Control Act to allow spare parts exports.

No change in Govt. stand
The Government today indicated that it would stick to the time-table for dismantling the Administered Price Mechanism for petroleum products which is April 1, 2002. Petroleum product prices, except kerosene and cooking gas, would be market-determined.

Trapped
Thirty-eight miners were trapped inside the Bagdih colliery as water gushed in from an adjacent mine, official sources said.