Central Government has informed the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that the Metro Act does not allow it to put on hold the proposed hike in Delhi Metro fares. In a letter to Mr. Kejriwal, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, setting up a fresh Fare Fixation Committee could be considered if the Delhi Government agrees to provide more than three thousand crore rupees every year to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. <br/><br/>Mr. Puri response came in the wake of letter written by Delhi Chief Minister seeking to put on hold the proposed second fare hike in Delhi Metro from 10th of this month.<br/>The Ministry in a release said, Mr. Puri responded to Mr Kejriwal after detailed examination of the issues raised by him regarding the fare hike in consultations with the DMRC. It said, the DMRC has asserted that the Committee's recommendations are binding on the metro rail administrations as per provisions of Metro Act. <br/><br/>The Delhi metro has said, neither the Central Government nor the State government or even the Board of the Company has legal power to change the recommendations made by the FFC. Mr Puri also expressed concern over a 15 month delay in completion of Phase-3 of Delhi Metro and the Phase-4 running behind the schedule by two and a half years on account of actions and decisions to have been taken by the Delhi Government.

The government has removed gems and jewellery dealers from the purview of the reporting requirement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). An official order said that the government rolled back August 23 notification that notified dealers in precious metals, precious stones and other high-value goods as persons carrying on designated business and professions under the PMLA.<br/><br/>Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said in New Delhi yesterday that after considering various aspects of the issue, the Government has decided to withdraw the notification.<br/><br/>Under the PMLA, every reporting entity is required to maintain a record of all transactions of value exceeding 10 lakh rupees, all cross-border wire transfers of more than 5 lakh rupees and all purchase and sale of immovable property of 50 lakh rupees or more.<br/><br/>With this, Aadhar will cease to be mandatory for jewellery transactions exceeding 50,000 rupees. The requirement of other identity proof has also been waived off.