On the availability of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), Vajpayee said it was available in the open market and 55,000 tonnes imported from Jordan was being lifted today which would be supplied to farmers immediately on arrival.

Centre seeks changes in royalty rates for oil exploration: The government on Wednesday sought changes in royalty provisions for attracting foreign direct investment in oil exploration and production to cut down the import bill.

Moving the Oilfield (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 1998, in the Lok Sabha for executive powers to fix royalty ratesand empower the centre to grant partial or full exemption, petroleum minister VK Ramamurthy said there was an urgent need to intensify exploration activities.

Stating that India would always be import dependent for its ever increasing petroleum and petro-product requirements, he said the government had to bring an ordinance for changing the royalty provisions in September as the bill introduced in July could not be passed by parliament.

He said this was an enabling amendment bill to the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) under which the government proposed to invite bids for over 40 oil blocks, both onshore and offshore. Advani clarifies on corrections in Jain Commission ATR: Home minister LK Advani on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that the government had made public minor corrections in the action taken report of the Jain Commission's final report much before tabling it in parliament as it had political significance.

Romesh Sharma case handed over to CBI: The inquiry into the nexus of RomeshSharma, who was arrested on October 21 on a complaint filed by H Suresh Rao, with the underworld and others has been entrusted to the CBI, Advani informed the Rajya Sabha today.

Adulterated mustard oil: Nineteen persons have been arrested in Delhi in connection with the recent incidents of sale of adulterated mustard oil, Advani said on Wednesday. The investigation into one of the cases has revealed that some manufacturers entered into a criminal conspiracy with the object of adulterating mustard oil by mixing argemone oil, ricebran, etc, he said.

RS adjourned for 15 minutes over Ports Bill introduction: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for 15 minutes on Wednesday following clashes between the opposition, including Congress, and the treasury benches over introduction of a bill on major ports for modifying guidelines to permit joint ventures between board of trustees and owners of foreign ports.