CAG report points the finger at Manmohan for discrepancies

Reeling under the impact of several scams, including 2G spectrum allocation, UPA-II was buffeted on Friday by another serious allegation that it had caused a Rs. 1.86- lakh crore loss to the exchequer by not ensuring transparency in coal blocks allocation during 2004-09. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also came under scrutiny of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, whose report pointed to serious discrepancies during 2006-09, when he was holding charge of the Coal Ministry.

To avert a total breakdown of the grid system and prevent a major blackout in future, the northern grid States have formulated a 12-point plan including installation of automatic demand management schemes.

At a recent meeting held at the Power Ministry, the plan was agreed upon by a dozen States including major offenders Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Delhi were also part of the agreement.

Petroleum Ministry seeks setting up of an inter-ministerial group to draw up an action plan for pollution issues

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has sought setting up of an inter-ministerial Committee (IMC) with representatives from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Urban Development and Public Enterprises and the Ministry of Environment and Forests to draw up a roadmap for reduction of pollution.

States in denial; data shows massive overdrawing was overlooked

The “blackout” on Monday and the “torturous Tuesday” have clearly brought out the deficiencies in the management of t