NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, on Friday categorically stated that the issue relating to the Bill on Offices of Profit would be discussed in the monsoon session of Parliament and that the session would be held in the last week of July as per the normal practice.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Union Cabinet and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), he noted that President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had referred the matter to Parliament for discussion and consequently Mr. Kalam's message had been published in the Lok Sabha bulletin and the matter had also been conveyed to all members of Parliament.

He emphasised that the issue would be taken up for discussion during the monsoon session held in the last week of July. "There is no thinking in the Government to advance the monsoon session or to call for a special session to discuss the matter."

The CCEA, at its meeting, approved an investment of Rs. 721 crores to further strengthen the power transmission system in the northern region and to facilitate proper dispersal of power imported into the region from the eastern region.

The project to be completed in three years would include laying of 400 kv DC lines from Bhiwadi and Agra and from Bhiwadi and Moga and extension of the substations at Agra, Moga and Bhiwadi.

The CCEA also cleared a proposal to re-allocate the grant earmarked for the 220 kv Srinagar-Leh transmission line to set up a 44 kw hydroelectric power project on the Suru river in Kargil district and a 45 kw hydroelectric power project on the Indus river in Leh district at a cost of Rs. 621 crores and Rs. 611 crores respectively.

In addition, the CCEA approved a proposal to raise the allocation of plan funds for the scheme for technology upgradation, modernisation and establishment of food processing units from Rs. 98 crores to Rs. 295 crores during the current five-year plan period. The money would come from within the plan allocation for the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

It also cleared a proposal to launch a Jute Technology Mission at a cost of Rs. 355 cores and another to open 28 more Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in different parts of the country.

The Cabinet, at its meeting, approved the creation of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure, which would seek to pool together the existing data assets of various organisation to ensure that they were utilised more effectively for activities such as disaster preparedness, management of natural resources, agricultural planning, infrastructure development and urban and rural development.

It also gave its nod for enhancing the stake of Oil India Limited in Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) to 26 per cent by transferring NRL's 12.34 per cent equity in Oil Industry Development Board and 1.31 per cent equity in BPCL. The OIL will make a total investment of Rs. 252.10 crores on the transaction.

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