New Delhi, Feb. 7 (PTI): The world’s largest steel maker ArcelorMittal, which was unable to get regulatory approvals for its proposed $30-billion investments, has for the time being put on hold its India business plans. “It is very difficult to say any thing... When will we start the construction, when we will really make progress. We are not even counting them in our business plans for the next few years,” ArcelorMittal chief L.N. Mittal said while announcing the results for 2011 in a conference call.

New Delhi The 2012-13 Budget may not have to provide as big a jump in the food subsidy bill as expected earlier. This is because of a series of measures initiated by the government to cut wastage and improve efficiency, food minister KV Thomas has said.

The measures that would bring down the need for funds include the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and the setting up of modern grain storage facilities, which have helped increase supply chain efficiencies.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday urged states and Union territories to hasten reforms in the public distribution system (PDS) for the effective implementation of the Food Security Bill.

Inaugurating a two-day conference of chief secretaries of states and Union territories, the prime minister said, “I would urge you to pay urgent attention to end-to-end computerisation of the PDS. We should be in a position to effectively implement the Food Security Bill by the time it becomes an Act of Parliament.”

State-owned oil companies today snapped supplies of jet fuel to Air India for failing to honour payments even after 90-day credit period, but the ailing national carrier said it has paid Rs 180 crore andwould pay another Rs 40 crore by tomorrow. "I have spoken to the Petroleum Secretary not to disrupt (aviation turbine fuel) supplies and he has assured," Civil Aviation Secretary Nasim Zaidi said.

Health facilities, adequate compensation must be provided

Taking a serious note of the increasing silicosis-related deaths in the country, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended that silicosis be made a notifiable disease. Once notified, all government and private health facilities will have to report confirmed as well as suspected silicosis cases to the government.

Wary of the National Food Security Bill meeting the fate of the Lokpal Bill, the Centre appears to have set a target of August 15 to unveil the law, with the hope that a political way out would be found to bring the Trinamul Congress and other opponents on board for which moves are afoot.