On Cabinet agenda, international airports, wildlife safety Act

The cabinet is set to approve a fresh amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act under which consultation with local population would become mandatory before notifying a wildlife area.

The cabinet is set to approve a fresh amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act under which consultation with local population would become mandatory before notifying a wildlife area.

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In its meeting on Thursday, the cabinet is also likely to declare five airports —Lucknow, Varanasi, Tiruchirapalli, Mangalore and Coimbatore — as international airports.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) will discuss a scheme to supply imported pulses for distribution amongst BPL families. It is likely to approve a scheme for distribution of subsidised imported edible oil through state governments and may continue to extend its ban on export of edible oil.

The ambitious plan to bring end-to-end computerisation of targeted PDS operations has been put on the agenda of the CCEA meeting on Thursday. According to sources in the food ministry, this operation would form the backbone of the upcoming food security act and go a long way in preventing pilferage.

While the focus of the meeting would remain on the second round of financial reforms initiatives, the cabinet may also clear two more double taxation avoidance treaties with Poland and Armenia — in its continued bid to curb the movement of black money in and out of India.

The CCEA will also discuss a proposed MoU between India and Australia to streamline the mobility of Indian students to that country.

The number of Indian students in Australia had declined drastically following reports of racial attacks in 2009-2010.