The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, April 15, 2004

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
A `great year' for Customs wing
THE Chennai Custom House (CCH) - sea - reported net revenue of Rs 5,059 crore for the year ended March 31, 2004, compared to Rs 4,566 crore the previous fiscal year, a 11 per cent increase in net revenue. The CCH (sea) also recorded a 4 per ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS
Pharma cos in a spot as Web sites hawk drugs
Drugs from a host of Indian companies, such as Ranbaxy, Dr Reddy's, Cipla, Cadila and Lupin Laboratories, are available to consumers with just the click of a mouse. More

TAXATION
AP taxmen log on to VAT network for ecompact-2020
EVEN as consensus eludes the implementation of value-added tax (VAT) across the country, the Commercial Taxes Department of Andhra Pradesh has decided to cash in on the sophisticated electronic network put in place for VAT. All offices of the ... More

WATER
Krishna water for twin cities
For the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, it's almost a dream come true. At last, water from the mighty River Krishna will flow in their homes. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), which completed stage ... More

`Man-made aquifers good enough to store rainwater'
MANMADE aquifers are as effective as natural ones for purposes of storage and retrieval of rainwater, according to Mr K.R. Gopinath, Chairman of Chennai-based KRG Rainwater Harvesting Foundation. Speaking to Business Line, he said ... More

COAL
Northern Coalfields production up 4 pc
THE Singrauli-based Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL) has recorded a growth of 4.28 per cent in production during 2003-04, according to a company press release. NCL coal production went up to 47.033 million tonnes against 45.101 million tonnes (mt) ... More

RADIO/TV
TRAI paper on FM radio seeks views on contentious issues
THE broadcast watchdog has reopened the debate on switching from the existing license fee regime to a revenue sharing arrangement for private FM radio companies. It is also seeking views on permitting private FM radio companies to air news and ... More

HCV/LCV/TRACTORS
Tractor makers seek Govt help to ease spiralling input costs
FACED with the spiralling prices of pig iron and alloy steel, the Tractor Manufacturers Association has urged the Government to take steps to ease the burden on tractor makers. It has also requested pig iron and alloy steel manufacturers to ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

CII sets up voters' helpline

READYMADE GARMENTS
Slowdown in apparel exports to US `worrying'
APPAREL exports to the US and Canada have slowed down drastically in the last few months — a worrying trend, according to Mr Amit Goyal, President, Confederation of Indian Exporters (CIAe). Recent figures reveal that apparel exports to ... More

EVENTS
Arabal 2004 meet to focus on growth plan
THE 11th International Arab Aluminium Conference known as Arabal 2004, under the patronage of Bahrain's Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, is being held at Bahrain during April 19-21. Over 600 delegates world over are ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Delhi exporters plea to restore 80HHC benefits
THE Delhi Exporters' Association (DEA) have demanded the restoration of full tax exemption on export profits under Section 80HHC of the Income Tax Act to tide over the current difficulties, which includes high transaction cost and the recent ... More

VENTURE CAPITAL
SEBI amends norms on venture capital funds
THE Securities and Exchange Board of India has made a slew of changes to its existing regulations on venture capital funds and foreign venture capital investors, including alterations to the minimum investment limit norms and allowing such funds ... More

PIRACY
Music industry battles hard to combat piracy problem
LAST week two leading political parties launched cassettes and CDs of their campaign songs in Mumbai. The tunes of most of the songs were based on popular Indipop and Hindi film songs. Predictably, both the parties have used the tune of Aika ... More