India and Russia to revive space navigation system-Glonass
Moscow: Russia has decided to join hands with India in order to revive its defunct space navigation system GLONASS and use it for civilian and military purposes.

Under a milestone accord, to be signed during the Russian President, Vladimir Putin's visit to India this week, India will become Russia's equal - and sole - partner in reviving and updating the Global Navigational Satellite System (Glonass), the only alternative to the American Global Positioning System (GPS).

India's participation will help Russia save time and effort in making Glonass operational by increasing its network of satellites from 11 to at least 18 by 2007. At least 18 satellites are needed to make the Glonass system operational.

India will launch Russian satellites for Glonass using its rockets and the two countries will jointly operate the system. The Russian space administration is describing the Glonass agreement as a "breakthrough" for Russia in the Asian market, which offers a vast potential for selling Glonass services. The accord also calls for joint construction of more advanced communication satellites.

According to Russian officials, India could also gain access to military applications of Glonass on the basis of separate accords which would enable Indian missiles and other weapon systems to hit targets with pin-point accuracy, of up to one metre.

Russia has also invited India to join the manned flight programme of the International Space Station (ISS). According to him, the ISRO chief, G. Madhavan Nair, has reacted positively to the proposal, and Russia is now taking the issue with the other partners in the ISS project - the United States, Japan, Canada and the European Union, whose approval is needed under ISS rules.

The officials have also said that Russia is also ready to give India any assistance it may need under its lunar and manned flight programmes.

During Mr. Putin's visit on December 3-5, India and Russia will also sign a broader framework agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of space, to update a 1994 accord.
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New housing policy on anvil
New Delhi: A new housing policy, focusing on expansion of housing for weaker sections in rural areas and to expedite urban reforms process, is expected to be announced shortly.

This was stated by the Minister for Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja, at the concluding session of the two-day State Housing Ministers' Conference.

The Minister said that the Government would try and incorporate the suggestions made by various State Governments while formulating the policy. She also said that a joint conference of State Housing, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Ministers would be held to evolve a common strategy to check migration from rural areas by undertaking developmental activities in such areas.

Efforts would also be made to hasten urban reforms process using Urban Reforms Incentive Fund.
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