Psychiatric ailments: 558 defence personel affected in 2006

New Delhi, Apr 26 (UNI) As many as 558 defence personnel, suffering from psychiatric ailments, were discharged from service during 2006, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Of these 508 were from the Army, 35 from the Air Force and 15 from the Navy, Defence Minister A K Antony said in a written reply.

During 2005, the figure was 405 for the Army, 39 for the Air Force and 7 for the Navy, while in 2004, it was 305, 49 and 7, respectively.

X X X CPSEs: Four posts of chief executives and 32 posts of functional directors in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are lying vacant for more than six months, Heavy Industries Minister Santosh Mohan Dev said.

X X X VRS: As many as 13,661 employees opted for VRS and VSS schemes in the public sector undertakings during 2005-06.

The figure was 19,895 in 2004-05, 45,125 in 2003-04, 63,741 in 2002-03 and 54,371 in 2001-02, Mr Dev said said.

X X X IOC: The Indian Oil Corporation has planned to set up 1,600 new retail outlets throughout the country during 2007-08.

About Rs 160 crore is likely to be incurred on setting up of these outlets, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dinsha Patel said.

X X X RAILWAYS: It is proposed to divert Bilaspur-Yesvantpur Express via Sitafalmandi, Malkajgiri, Maula Ali instead of Secunderabad, and Bilaspur-Amritsar Chhattisgarh Express via Nizamuddin, Ghaziabad avoiding New Delhi, Minister of State for Railways R Velu said.

UNI