G.S TITBITS

The train services in operation between India and Pakistan are i) Samjhauta Express (from Attari-India to Lahore-Pakistan via Wagah). This route is also opened for the movement of freight trains and ii) Thar Express (from Munabao-India to Zero Point Railway Station near Khokrapar –Pakistan).

Cruise tourism has the potential to attract both domestic as well as foreign tourists in the country.
Initially, five ports namely Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Mangalore and Kochi have been identified for cruise tourism including development of cruise terminal.The Government of India has approved the Cruise Shipping Policy in June 2008. Some salient features of this policy include conducive fiscal regime, development of facilities at Ports and connectivity through rail, road transport, air and metro, quick completion of immigration formalities, hassle free custom clearance and proper waste disposal system ensuring cleaner ocean. An Inter Ministerial Steering Committee with Secretary (Shipping) as Chairman was constituted in June, 2010 to address issues relating to development of cruise shipping. Other steps taken for development of cruise tourism include production of a CD and participation in cruise shipping conventions.

The present installed capacity for generation of power from biomass including paddy husk and bagasse based cogeneration in sugar mills is 1045 MW and 1742 MW respectively. As per the National Biomass Resource Atlas prepared by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore under a project sponsored by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, the estimated power generation capacity from biomass including paddy husk is about 17,536 MW. Besides, a surplus power generation capacity of about 5000 MW through bagasse based cogeneration in sugar mills has been estimated in the country.the installed capacity of a biomass power project varies between 6 MW to 10 MW depending upon the availability of biomass, whereas the installed surplus capacity of a bagasse cogeneration project in a sugar mill varies from 6 MW to 25 MW depending upon their daily cane crushing capacity.the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has been implementing various schemes during the 11th Five Year Plan, to encourage setting up of projects for generation of power from various biomass residues including bagasse and paddy husk for power generation based on combustion/ cogeneration and gasification technologies. Against a target of 1700 MW, a capacity addition of 1645 MW has been achieved which is 96% of the planned target.

The Atomoic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has established the presence of 1,71,672 tonnes of Uranium (U3O8) as on last month of June. This is a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy Commission. The indigenous Uranium resources are adequate to fuel reactors of the capacity of about 10,000MWe.At present AMD is exploring uranium deposits at Tumallapalle-Rachkuntapalle,Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh, Rohil, Sikar district in Rajasthan, Wahkut and Umthungkut in Meghalaya, Gogi, Gulburga district in Karnataka, , Sinridungari –Banadungri and Bangurdih, Singhbhum district in Jharkhand.Out of these deposits,63,269 tonnes of uranium (U3O8) have been established during the XI Plan Period. In Rohil, the Exploratory Drilling done till date has established 5,100 tonnes of uranium (U3O8).In About 19,738 tonnes .4,682 tonnes and 50,987 tonnes of of uranium(U3O8) has been established in Meghalaya , Gogi and Jharkhand respectively. There are number of smaller deposits in Chhattisgarh, UP and Katnataka.