Six names cleared for elevation to HC Bench

Chandigarh, December 12
Six judicial officers are to be elevated as Punjab and Haryana High Court Judges. It is believed that the file containing the names of the Judges has reached the Chief Minister’s office for approval. Once through, it will be sent to the Governor before being placed before the Supreme Court collegium for consideration.

Reeling under the burden of pendency due to a severe shortage of judges, the Punjab and Haryana High Court collegium cleared their names for elevation. Four District and Sessions Judges are from Punjab and the remaining from Haryana.

Available information suggests the names cleared by the High Court collegium are SP Bangar (Ludhiana), RP Nagrath (High Court Registrar-General), Rehka Mittal (Punjab Legal Remembrancer) and Inderjit Singh Walia (Jalandhar).

The Haryana Judges, whose names have been cleared, are Bharat Bhushan Parsoon and RC Godara.

The Judges, who could not make it to the top, are Varinder Kumar and KK Garg, both from Punjab. Indications are that Kumar’s name was dropped from the list on medical grounds.

The development is significant as the High Court, as of now, has just 45 Judges, against the sanctioned strength of 68. The number is expected to fall further with the impending transfer of Justice Mohinder Pal. The possibility of more transfers from the High Court are, as of now, not being ruled out.

The names of three more advocates were cleared for elevation by the High Court collegium earlier this year, but these failed to find favour with the apex court.

The result of shortage of Judges is there for all to see. Currently, the High Court has approximately two lakh pending cases.

100 yrs of history, glory of capital Delhi

New Delhi, December 12
The political and cultural capital of several empires, Delhi today celebrated 100 years of its re-emergence as the capital of modern India.
Even though Delhi is wrapped in centuries of history, it was the British Empire that gave the city -- also called Lutyens’ Delhi -- its modern-day capital and seat of power, New Delhi. It was proclaimed as the capital of British Raj on December 12, 1911, shifting from Kolkata, by then Emperor of India George V, thereby returning to the historic city its lost glory.
And with a view to introduce people to New Delhi’s rich heritage, the Delhi Government and cultural agencies have hosted an array of events, exhibitions, cultural performances and other festivals that give a generous peep into its exquisite history.
“The foundation of the British Capital was first laid in December 1911 by two leading 20th century British architects, Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. However, it was not just Lutyens’ work but that of many other unsung architects that made New Delhi what it is today,” said AGK Menon, convener of the Delhi chapter of the Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
Lutyens laid out the central administrative area. At the heart of the city, he built the Rashtrapati Bhavan, four bungalows inside the President's Estate, India Gate and the Hyderabad and Baroda palaces at India Gate. Sir Robert Tor Russell built Connaught Place, the Eastern and Western Courts, Teen Murti House, Safdarjung Airport, National Stadium and over 4,000 government houses.
The Secretariat building which houses various ministries of the Government of India, including the Prime Minister Office was designed by Herbert Baker. He also designed the impressive North Block and South Block.
E. Montague Thomas designed and built the first Secretariat building of New Delhi, which set the style for the bungalows that followed. The other bungalows of New Delhi are the work of architects like WH Nicholls, CG and FB Blomfield, Walter Sykes George, Arthur Gordon Shoosmith and Henry Medd.

It was due to Lord Hardinge that Lutyens’ Delhi got its landmark roundabouts in the central region. Lutyens had initially designed the streets at right angles. WR Mustoe, director of horticulture, was responsible for the roadside planting work on New Delhi'savenues. In fact, Mustoe and Walter Sykes George landscaped and planted Lutyens' Mughal Garden.

Though there was no official ceremony to mark the occasion today, a book on the history of seven cities of Delhi ‘Red Fort to Raisina’, edited by JP Losty, Union Minister Salman Khursheed, conservation architect Ratish Nanda and ‘Seminar’ publisher Malvika Singh was released by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

‘Dastann-e-Dilli', an exhibition on the city, will be inaugurated by Dikshit and Lt-Governor Tejinder Khanna on Wednesday. Organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the exhibition will showcase the culture of Delhi through photographs and lithographs from the ancient to modern times. The inauguration of the exhibition will be followed by ‘Mehfil-e-Dilli’ with performances by renowned Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan and a Thumri recital by Kumud Jha Diwan.

The ‘Dilli Ke Pakwan Festival' is already running at Baba Kharag Singh Marg. The national capital will also host year-long celebrations beginning January to showcase its rich cultural heritage.

Banur is sub-tehsil now.

Covers 32 villages, is under Mohali subdivision

Banur, December 12
A long-pending demand of Banur residents for a sub-tehsil covering 32 villages was met today. Prithpal Singh, who was naib tehsildar at Mohali, was given charge as naib tehsildar at Banur.

The 32 villages, that earlier formed a part of the Rajpura subdivision in Patiala district, had been transferred to Mohali district past year on the demand of residents of the area, who faced problems in commuting to the district and subdivisional headquarters.

Of these 32 villages, 18 were under the Dera Bassi subdivision and 14 under the Mohali subdivision, but now, all these were brought under the Mohali subdivision, that would control the sub-tehsil.

Local MLA Raj Khurana conducted the formal inauguration at the market committee office here. Mohali SDM Amit Talwar was also present on the occasion.

CONSUMER COURTS

ICICI Bank fined Rs 50,000

Chandigarh, December 12
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on ICICI Bank for illegally raising foreclosure charges, prepayment charges of Rs 5,00,825 from a resident of Sector 11, who foreclosed the loan in view of the higher rate of interest.

The district forum-I comprising president PD Goel and members, Rajinder Singh Gill and Madanjit Kaur Sahota, also directed the respondents to pay Rs 25,000 as costs of litigation to complainants.

The complainants, Yash Paul Singla and others, submitted that in August 2007, they availed a loan of Rs 1.70 crore from the opposite party against a shop-cum-office in Sector 26, Chandigarh, at an interest of 13.5 per cent per annum and paid Rs 95,506 as processing fee. A total of Rs 75 lakh were disbursed in September 2007, while the balance was disbursed in June 2008 due to which the installment was increased from Rs 1,38,487 to Rs 3,22,078 per month.

They alleged that the opposite party without their consent enhanced the rate of interest from 13.5 per cent to 14.5 per cent per annum on July 8, 2008, which was again increased to 15 per cent. It has been averred that on their persistent requests, the opposite parties decreased the rate of interest by 0.5 per cent in January 2009 and 0.25 per cent in August, 2009. They said the opposite parties were now charging 14.25 per cent per annum, whereas other financial institutions are charging 12 to 13 per cent interest. Ultimately, they decided to foreclose the loan and the opposite party charged prepayment penalty of Rs 5,00,825 on the principal outstanding amount, which is illegal and arbitrary and the same was not refunded to them despite their repeated requests and visits.

Ajit Singh’s RLD joins UPA

New Delhi, December 12
A beleaguered ruling Congress received two consolation prizes today with Ajit Singh, leading the 5-member Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), giving his letter of support to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) Rajya Sabha MP Rasheed Masood, a Muslim leader of consequence in western UP, joining the ruling party.

Ajit Singh met PM Manmohan Singh, soon after his meeting with the UPA chairperson, giving rise to speculation that his induction into the Union Cabinet, possibly as the country’s Civil Aviation Minister, could take place any day now.

With this, the ruling UPA numbers have gone up from 272 to 277 MPs. In a House of 544, the Government requires a minimum of 272 MPs for a simple majority.

Confirming the meeting, AICC general secretary in charge of UP Digvijaya Singh said, “Ajit Singh gave a letter to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi stating that the RLD would like to join the alliance and the latter has agreed to this."

He, however, sidestepped the issue of Ajit Singh’s induction as Civil Aviation Minister saying, "You are addressing this question to the wrong person."

He simultaneously introduced former Union Minister Rasheed Masood to the media who declared that, “I have taken this decision in view of the way communal forces are trying to gain strength by using the issue of corruption," Masood said.

He said that his decision was also prompted by SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's “controversial” statement to the effect that giving reservation to Muslims within the OBC quota would affect the share of the other OBCs.

Masood’s induction is expected to help the Congress party swing the Muslim vote a little more in its favour in western UP districts of Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar where he has some standing.

Under the agreement, the RLD will contest 45 seats in the UP Assembly elections expected sometime early next year leaving the rest of the 403 for the Congress.

TACKLING DRUNKEN DRIVING

Mumbaikars may be allowed New Year bash on terraces

Mumbai, December 12
Mumbaikars may be allowed to party on their building terraces and in their compounds till 5 am on New Year day as part of the city police’s efforts to curb drunken driving. The police also wants fewer people on the streets on the New Year’s Eve as part of the security measures.

“Cases of drunken driving go up sharply on the night of December 31 every year,” says a senior police official. Last year, he says, more than 1,000 drunk drivers were arrested in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. “Fewer people may venture out if they are allowed to hold parties on their building premises,” the officer said. A final decision on this will be taken a few days before New Year’s Eve.

On most days, music systems in Mumbai are to be switched off by 10 pm as part of the Supreme Court’s directives to control noise pollution. Stand-alone restaurants and bars have to take last orders by 1 am and down their shutters half an hour later on normal days. The hotel industry has appealed to the police for permission to stay open till 3.30 am on Christmas and New Year’s Day which fall on Sunday this year.

“We have appealed to the police for permission to stay open till early morning on Christmas and New Year Day just like in the case of five-star hotels,” says Sudhakar Shetty of the Association of Hotel and Restaurant Owners (AHAR).

Last year, the Mumbai police was asked not to crackdown on private parties for violation of prohibition rules. In Maharashtra, those drinking liquor are expected to hold permits issued by the state government. In addition, organisers of private parties where liquor is to be served are expected to obtain extra licences.

Western premiers meet in Edmonton to stoke ‘economic powerhouse’

EDMONTON - Premier Alison Redford will host premiers from Saskatchewan and B.C. on Tuesday to discuss the direction of the New West Partnership.

The partnership, established in April 2010, is an attempt to create “an economic powerhouse of nine million people with a combined GDP of more than $550 billion.”

Redford, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and B.C. Premier Christy Clark are expected to discuss immigration and labour needs, infrastructure work and the Canadian Energy Strategy.

The partnership created Canada’s largest interprovincial barrier-free trade and investment market.

In May 2010, former premier Ed Stelmach, former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell and Wall travelled to China and Japan on a joint mission to encourage trade.

The trip marked the opening of the Western Canada Trade and Investment Office in Shanghai. The purpose of the office is to promote Western Canada’s natural resources, agriculture and green technology.

In December 2010, energy ministers from each of the three provinces signed a memorandum of understanding on energy, designed to encourage streamlining of regulations, promotion of western energy and “acceleration of the development and use of green energy sources.”

Redford, Wall and Clark are expected to meet at Government House on Tuesday afternoon, and are scheduled to speak to reporters at 4:30 p.m.

Edmonton to study possible electronic voting in 2013 election

EDMONTON - The city is looking at the possibility of electronic voting in the next Edmonton civic election.

E-voting, which can mean casting ballots through the Internet or over the telephone, has been tried over the last decade in other parts of Canada and several European countries.

Staff expect to come up with proposals by next fall on potential options, including electronic ballots and touch screens, to properly prepare for any e-voting in the 2013 election.

While they will discuss what can be achieved, costs and how the system could work, a report to be discussed by city council Wednesday says developing and testing Internet voting would take too long to be ready for the next campaign.

But Coun. Tony Caterina would like to further explore the potential for e-voting.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said Sunday. “I think the generation that e-voting would appeal to is that younger demographic, and traditionally they’re the lowest voter turnout.”

More legally binding municipal elections have taken place in Canada using e-voting options than anywhere else in the world, the report says.

They’ve been held successfully in more than 30 Ontario municipalities and four Nova Scotia municipalities.

The report touts increased voter turnout as one potential benefit of Internet voting, pointing to places such as Estonia, where the practice began with municipal elections in 2005 and expanded to parliamentary elections two years later.

Voter turnout rose after it was introduced, although an Elections Canada workshop was told last year it’s not clear whether e-voting increases overall turnout or youth participation in particular.

“The more we can encourage people to vote, the better,” Coun. Kim Krushell said. “I don’t have a problem with electronic voting, if that’s what it demonstrates.”

She’s generally positive about the idea, but concerned about the expense. Estimates based on figures in the report indicate e-voting could more than quadruple Edmonton’s election cost to $7.9 million.

There have been problems in other countries. The U.K. introduced test programs in 2002 involving voting via telephone, the Internet, text message and even digital television, but pulled the plug in 2007 amid security concerns and little change in voter turnout.

The Netherlands planned to allow Internet voting in parliamentary elections in 2006, but aborted the scheme after a group hacked the system on live television. The Dutch Council of Ministers banned electronic voting in 2008.

Brad Haines, a self-identified Edmonton hacker who makes his living through digital security consulting, worries about the risks of online voting.

“You’re basically hoping that you get it right the first time and the democratic process isn’t completely upended.” Computer glitches and malicious hacking are equal threats, Haines said.

“You can think about a scenario where you introduce just enough doubt into an election that should it not go your way, you can complain to get the election result thrown out and get an effective do-over. That’s not the way the democratic process is supposed to be. You can’t keep doing mulligans.”

Caterina also wants to be sure any security issues are addressed.

“We have to make sure that it cannot be manipulated in the technology part of it,” he said. “That would be my only concern. If the technology is infallible, that would be terrific.”

Coun. Ben Henderson is enthusiastic about the concept of online voting, but insists it must maintain faith in the election process.

“For a voting system to work, it has to be one that everybody will trust and believe,” he said. “But anything that can make it easier or more attractive for people to vote, I think, is to be encouraged.”

Turnout in Edmonton’s 2010 election was 33 per cent, up from 27 per cent in 2007 but still below the 41-per-cent mark set in 2004.

“The major advantage of online voting is the convenience,” Henderson said. “Somehow or other, we need to be able to achieve the convenience without undermining the validity of the voting system.”

Municipal politics could serve as a comparatively low-stakes trial for online voting before it expands to provincial and federal elections, he said.

“You just don’t hear about the kind of shenanigans that you sometimes hear about in other places.”

The city councillors said online voting in one form or another probably lies in Edmonton’s future.

“I think this is something that will definitely be inevitable,” Caterina said. “The timing, nobody knows for sure at this point, but I think that all three levels of government are probably looking at this.”

First phase of Expansion 2012 opens at EIA Read it on Global News: Global Edmonton | First phase of Expansion 2012 opens at EIA

EDMONTON - Just in time for the holiday travel season officials at the Edmonton International Airport have taken the wraps off the first phase of a massive renovation project, expanding traveler's shopping and dining options.

"This opening marks the beginning of an expansion of a lifetime, ushering in a higher level service, comfort and convenience at EIA," said EIA President at CEO Reg Milley.

The new 'Central Hall,' located just beyond EIA's central security screening area, was designed to mimic Old Strathcona-style storefronts and features a dozen retail and dining options.

"With this opening and the new terminal opening next year, EIA is becoming more than an airport, it's a becoming a destination," said Myron Keehn, EIA Vice-President of Commercial Development. 

When completed, the Expansion 2012 project will add 480,000 square feet of new space, and a total of 34 new shopping and dining outlets.

Food prices likely to 'marginally' rise in 2012 in Canada

TORONTO - Canadians are expected to get "a welcome break" at the supermarket cash register next year as the rise in food prices slows, the University of Guelph said Monday in its annual forecast.

"It is good news for the short term," said Sylvain Charlebois, the university's associated dean of research and development and a co-author of the study.

"Certainly for Canadians with less means, it will allow them to recalibrate their budget and focus on other things than food."

In their 2012 Food Price Index, Charlebois and economics professor Francis Tapon predict that general food prices will increase about two per cent from Dec. 1 this year through the end of November 2012.

A year ago, the university predicted food price inflation of between five and seven per cent — just slightly above the actually overall rate of 4.9 per cent in the 12-month period.

Next year, meat products are expect to see a price increase of about three per cent, compared to a rise of about five per cent in 2011, while the price of fresh vegetables will go up one to three per cent in 2012, versus a jump of 10 per cent this year.

Also, baked goods prices are expected to rise three per cent, much slower than the seven per cent increase this past year.

"I think 2012 will provide Canadian consumers with a welcome break," Charlebois said in a telephone interview.

Food prices have been on the upswing in recent years as input costs have surged, including for fuel used to transport goods and for commodities generally.

"We saw significant increases in retail prices (in 2011), primarily because input prices went up significantly," Tapon said in the report.

However, in the coming year, the country's major food distributors — Loblaw (TSX:L), Metro (TSX:MRU.A) and Sobeys (TSX:EMP.A) — are expected to have a much tougher time putting through price increases in the face of a slowing global economy and relentlessly increasing competition.

Producers continue to benefit from strong prices as commodity prices have stabilized over the last six months "so we're not too concerned about farmers, per se," Charlebois said.

"I'm mostly concerned about distributors. So in the middle of the supply chain... these players will be under a lot of pressure moving forward because of the changing landscape in the food industry."

Although input cost remain relatively high aggregate demand will soften because of the overall economy, he said.

"The unemployment rate is relatively high and wages aren't going up so they'll feel hard pressed to increase prices at retail," he said.

"As well, Wal-Mart has certainly sent signals in 2011 that it intends to become more competitive in Canada, opening new supercentres and also in 2013 Target is planning to enter the Canadian market."

"And, unlike in the United States, Target intends to grab a significant market share in Canada in food, which is interesting," Charlebois said.

Market penetration for Target is expected to be quite high, aided among other things by the strategic alliance the American discount giant signed with Sobeys in September.

For Sobey's, whom Charlebois described as No. 2 in Canada behind Loblaw, "this is really about becoming No. 1 so its going to be interesting to watch as things unfold in 2012 and 2013."

Among the variable that can greatly affect food price predictions, the most important is weather.

"Climate (floods, drought and the like) can actually destroy our entire forecast exercise," Charlebois said.

But one variable that is expected help keep the lid on prices this year is oil, which remains well under US$100 a barrel amid an uncertain world economic outlook.

"Because of the sluggish global economy we expect oil demand to be somewhat subdued, which likely will have an impact on the food-to-fuel ratio," he said.

"So we don't expect farmers to grow for fuel because oil remains affordable, basically. When we saw a barrel of oil at US$146 — at a record high — that's when we really saw a significant increase of the major commodities be traded in Chicago and Kansas City."

SC: House allotment price can’t be hiked after 7 yrs

New Delhi, December 12
The Haryana Housing Board cannot ask the beneficiaries to pay any additional cost seven years after allotting the houses, even if the Board has to shell out higher compensation to the landowners at a later stage for acquiring the land, the Supreme Court ruled today.

The rationale for the seven-year deadline “was that once the allottee pays the total price, he may not be subjected to the burden of additional cost after a number of years,” a Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya held in a verdict.

The apex court gave the ruling while allowing the appeals filed by some of those who had been allotted houses at Sonepat in 1978 under the schemes meant for economically weaker sections (EWS), lower income group (LIG) and middle income group (MIG).

The allottees had challenged the Board’s additional demand raised against them 10 years after the allotments. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had rejected their pleas at the level of the single judge as well as the Division Bench, prompting them to approach the Supreme Court.

The Bench accepted the contentions of the Board and the Haryana Government that the allotment letters as well as the Hire Purchase Tenancy Agreement (HPTA) had made it clear that the price of the tenement specified at the time of allotment was subject to revision in the light of the final bills representing the cost of construction or the land.

However, it was the Board which had “consciously incorporated” in the Hire Purchase Tenancy Agreement a prohibition against change in the price after seven years from the date of allotment of tenements, the Bench pointed out.

After including the seven-year deadline, “there is no reason why it should not be asked to honour the commitment made to the allottees that they will not live under the fear of being asked to pay additional price after an indefinite period,” the Bench reasoned.

Unfortunately, the high court did not give due weightage to the prohibition clause, the apex court noted. The wordings of the price regulations made it clear that the “Board had kept in view all the eventualities which could lead to an increase in the cost of land made available for construction of the tenements and yet it thought proper to put an embargo against the revision of price after seven years”.

“In the result, the appeals are allowed ...and the demand notices issued by Estate Manager, Sonepat, quashed,” the SC ruled.

MINORITIES IN PAK

RS members express concern

New Delhi, December 12
Rajya Sabha (Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India.)members today expressed concern over fear and insecurity under which minorities, particularly Hindus and Sikhs, lived in Pakistan. Cutting across party lines, they asked the government to take up the issue with Islamabad with some even wanting India to take up the issue at an international forum like the UN.

Worry over atrocities on minorities in Pakistan and killings of some Hindus recently, raised during Zero Hour by Avinash Rai Khanna (BJP), not just found unequivocal support from his party colleagues, but also MS Gill of the Congress. Gill urged the government to take up the issue seriously. Khanna was in fact supported by members from all political parties, associating themselves with the issue.

Khanna said Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission in its recent report had pointed out such atrocities on minorities, including Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, whose property and life were not secure in that country.

The BJP member said many Hindu families from Pakistan had been camping in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Rajpura and Khanna for quite some time, refusing to return home despite expiry of their visas. They are seeking Indian citizenship.

Around 28 families had also settled in Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tilla area, seeking Indian citizenship, Khanna said. Lamenting that the Indian government was not doing anything in support of minorities in Pakistan he added that “the government has not spoken a word in their support”.

SS Ahluwalia (BJP) joined his colleague and asked the government to take up the matter with the United Nations.

‘Provide night shelters to those without roof’

SC directs northern states to act immediately

New Delhi, December 12
Making it clear that not a single person should be allowed to die for lack of protection against the winter this season, the Supreme Court today directed Punjab, Haryana and other northern states to immediately provide night shelters with adequate amenities to all those living without a roof over them.
A Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Dipak Misra passed a series of separate orders in respect of each state, asking the Chief Secretaries to file affidavits by January 3 confirming compliance with its rulings. Even if the states were not in a position to provide permanent night shelters immediately, they should make arrangements for temporary shelters which should have water, sanitation, electricity and other basic amenities, the Bench clarified.
The Bench explained the urgency, citing the onset of the winter season and the need for protecting the lives of people as guaranteed under the Constitution.
Haryana said it had 51 night shelters, of which only two were permanent. “Why are you not constructing permanent night shelters,” the Bench asked. The state counsel said four were under construction and assured the court that he would consult the government and come back.
Senior counsel Colin Gonsalves, arguing for the PIL petitioner (People’s Union for Civil Liberties), complained that Punjab had filed a very vague affidavit, without specifying how many night shelters were in place. The state merely had given the number of “identified, earmarked and sanctioned” cases of night shelters, he explained. At this, the Bench passed a separate order asking the Chief Secretary to file by January 3 a detailed status report.
Jammu and Kashmir claimed that the state did not have a single person without any shelter. The Bench asked the PIL petitioner to verify and give its response.
Asking the state governments to ensure that no one was made to sleep on pavements, parks or other open public places, the apex court also passed similar orders in respect of several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.
The Bench would review the status again on January 9.

Punjab report ‘vague’

Punjab merely had given the number of “identified, earmarked and sanctioned” cases of night shelters. The Bench has asked the Chief Secretary to file a detailed status report by January 3.

Make permanent ones: haryana told

Haryana said it had 51 night shelters, of which only two were permanent. Another four are under construction. “Why are you not constructing permanent night shelters,” the Bench asked.

Big claim by Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir claimed that the state did not have a single person without any shelter. The Bench asked the PIL petitioner to verify and give his response.

China to open military base in Indian Ocean

Beijing, December 12
In a move that may cause unease in India, China today announced that it will set up its first military base abroad in the Indian Ocean island of Seychelles to “seek supplies and recuperate” facilities for its navy.

The naval fleet may seek supplies or recuperate at appropriate harbours in Seychelles or other countries as needed during escort missions, the Chinese Defence Ministry announced here today.

China has already cemented its foothold in the Indian Ocean by signing contract with the UN backed International Seabed Authority to gain rights to explore polymetallic sulphide ore deposit in Indian Ocean over the next 15 years.

The contract awarded this year to a Chinese association exclusive rights to explore a 10,000-sq-km of international seabed in the southwest Indian Ocean.

The base in Seychelles is regarded significant by analysts as China is about to launch its first aircraft carrier. It is currently undergoing final trials.

Playing down its significance, Chinese Defence Ministry statement today said it is international practice for naval fleets to re-supply at the closest port of a nearby state during long-distance missions.

Apparently commenting on a recent report that China will establish a military base in Seychelles, it said Chinese naval fleets have re-supply facilities at harbours in Djibouti, Oman and Yemen since China sent its first convoy to the Gulf of Aden in 2008.

The decision to establish its first naval base abroad was taken during Chinese Defence Minister Gen Liang Guanglie’s goodwill visit to Seychelles earlier this month.

During the visit, Seychelles Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam said his country has invited China to set up a military base on the archipelago to beef up the fight against piracy.

“We have invited the Chinese government to set up a military presence on Mahe to fight the pirate attacks that the Seychelles face on a regular basis,” Adam was quoted as saying in the media reports.

“For the time being China is studying this possibility because she has economic interests in the region and Beijing is also involved in the fight against piracy,” he said.

During Liang’s visit, the two sides exchanged views on their countries’ and armies’ cooperation, as well as on the global and regional situation, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Seychelles appreciates China’s efforts to maintain safe navigation on the Indian Ocean, as well as the support it has granted to Seychelles, the ministry said.