Outrage over the illconceived BRT corridor rocked Parliament on Tuesday with members cutting across party affiliations protesting against the hardship inflicted on commuters in south Delhi by thoughtless planners.

PM, Montek Sound Stern Action, Cos Deny Cartelization, Blame Input Cost As rising steel prices are fuelling inflation in a major way, PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday warned the domestic steel industry, saying it should not take advantage of global surge in steel prices. He said steel companies should not take advantage of global market manipulations and go for short term windfall gains, which in turn put upward pressure on prices.

A parliamentary panel has pulled up the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals for delay in finalising the National Pharmaceutical Policy, 2006. In its report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers has observed that despite its recommendation for finalising the policy, the department remained static on such a crucial issue. The recommendation was made in the 20th report (2006-07), which is an action-taken report of the 7th Report of the committee in 2005-06.

The responsibility of the maintenance of roads constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), once their five-year contractual period is over, is an issue which has "concerned" a parliamentary committee. The parliamentary standing committee on rural development which has submitted its report on demand for grants(2008-09) during the on going Budget Session in Lok Sabha, has noted that all roads constructed under PMGSY are covered by five-year maintenance contracts.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemical and Fertiliser has slammed the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals over the delay in finalising National Pharmaceutical Policy (NPP) 2006. The policy, aimed at making drugs cheaper, has been delayed due to strong opposition from the industry. While the policy will bring more number of drugs under price control, the industry wants the Government to encourage free market pricing. The policy was referred to a Group of Ministers which is yet to take a decision.

The government on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that as many as 67 underground fires have been raging in the Jharia coalfields in Jharkhand for several decades, affecting 98,000 families. At the time of nationalisation of coal mines in the 1970s, 70 fires were raging in the area that came under Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL). Of these, 10 were put out but seven new fires started, minister of state for coal Santosh Bagrodia said while replying to supplementaries during question Hour.

Special economic zones came in for criticism in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday with CPI MP D Raja saying it was a kind of "land grab' which had created new and "modern zamindars' and it had debased the life of farmers, tribals and agricultural workers who are being deprived of their land.

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Heavy rains in Tamil Nadu resulted in the loss of 24 lives and caused extensive damage to 3.91 lakh hectares of standing crops, government told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. In response to a question, minister of state for home affairs Radhika V Selvi said, "Tamil Nadu has submitted a memorandum seeking central assistance from the National Calamity Contingency Fund for relief operations in the areas affected by heavy rains during March 2008.' TNN

The yawning gap between rhetoric and action was evident on Wednesday during the discussion on inflation. In both Houses, finance minister P Chidambaram had hardly any company on the treasury benches as he took notes and prepared for his reply to the debate.In Lok Sabha, even the few MPs who did turn up quietly sidled out of the House. There was a possibility of a quorum call,but since no one raised the matter, MPs were spared the blushes.