The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, December 30, 2004

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
High-end models drive durables growth
THE penetration levels of consumer durables and electronics remain low in the country, but surprisingly, it is not the low-end, entry-level products which are driving growth across different segments. Easy availability of consumer finance, rising ... More

ECONOMY
Govt must walk the talk on reforms: NCAER
The tendency towards price control has resurfaced, as is clear from the pronouncements of the Minister for Steel. More

INFRASTRUCTURE
Rs 20-cr instalment boosts Pimpri auto cluster project
THE first instalment totalling Rs 20 crore has given a major boost for the upcoming auto cluster project in the Pimpri-Chinchwad industrial area. Of this, Rs 15 crore has come in from the Union Government and the remaining has been contributed ... More

PSU
Bengal merging industrial promotion agencies
THE West Bengal Government has initiated the process of merging the two main State-controlled nodal agencies currently operating as facilitators for industrial promotion in the State. These are the West Bengal Industrial Development ... More

PETROLEUM
GAIL to pick up 33% stake in IOC's LNG terminal
GAIL (India) Ltd will take a 33-per cent stake in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal proposed to be set up by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and its subsidiary Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) at Ennore port in Tamil Nadu. ... More

POWER
CCEA okays Rs 692-cr expansion plan for NLC
THE Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved investment of Rs 691.83 crore, including an Interest During Construction component of Rs 41.35 crore, for the expansion project of transmission system associated with ... More

STEEL
Steel: Eventful and action-packed year
THE steel industry's story in 2004 was within the parameters set for its short to medium-term evolution. Almost two years ago those ground rules were laid as economic growth in Asia, led by China, stretched commodity supply lines worldwide. The ... More

`Misuse' of iron ore export policy: DGFT issues show-cause to 3 firms
THE Government is "actively considering" to restrict export of iron ore (above 62 per cent Fe) either through canalisation or other means in view of the "gross misuse" of the existing export policy by certain firms. Currently, iron ore with ... More

EDUCATION
CATching them right
THIS time "CAT is all about taking the right set of decisions," says Mr Shreyan M.L., a Bangalore-based software engineer and an MBA aspirant, who has got call letters from a couple of IIMs. It may be recalled that the Common Admission Test this ... More

`Equip students with professional skills'
WHAT should students of humanities and social sciences do as job opportunities are fast dwindling for those who hold degrees in these streams? Ms Aiyesha, winner of President's Gold Medal at the ninth convocation of University of Hyderabad, ... More

GMC alumni body education programme begins in Hyderabad
THE Gandhi Medical College (GMC) Alumni Association is set to host a three-day international continuing medical education (CME) programme beginning Thursday as a part of its golden jubilee celebrations. To be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, ... More

METALS
Govt adds two more ports for unshredded metallic scrap imports
UNSHREDDED metallic scrap can now be imported through 17 ports. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has added Inland Container Depot (ICD) Ludhiana and ICD Dadri, Greater Noida to the list of 15 eligible ports through which metallic ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Assocham moots tax on farm income
THE Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) has called for imposing tax on agricultural income. "Not to tax a rich farmer is just not fair," Mr Mahendra K. Sanghi, President, Assocham, told a press conference here today. ... More

EVENTS
Kochi to host World Mayors' meet next month
THE All India Institute of Local Self Government, Cochin Corporation and Kerala Institute of Local Administration are jointly organising the World Mayors' Conference 2005 in Kochi between January 21 and 23. The Government of India, Government ... More

Two-day meet on local economic development in Kochi
THE Institute of Small Enterprises and Development (ISED) will be organising a two-day international conference on Local Economic Development and Small and Medium Enterprises on January 18 and 19. "An appropriate backdrop has come in the form ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
APEDA, Horticulture Dept to set up export zone for chillies in Guntur
THE Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Andhra Pradesh Department of Horticulture have signed a memorandum of understanding for establishing an Agri Export Zone (AEZ) for chillies in Guntur ... More

NATURAL CALAMITIES
Corporation Bank to donate Rs 1 crore
CORPORATION Bank has decided to donate Rs 1 crore to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. A bank release said here on Wednesday that this decision has been taken considering the large-scale devastation caused by tsunami in the coastal ... More

Tsunami alert system: DST calls for brainstorming in Jan
THE Department of Science and Technology (DST) has called for a national brainstorming session in early January to firm up plans for a warning system for tsunami in the country.The Director of National Geophysical Research Institute here, Dr V.P. ... More

BSNL directed to give top priority to tsunami-hit areas
IN a bid to restore communications facilities in tsunami-hit areas, the Minister for Communications and IT, Mr Dayanidhi Maran, has directed BSNL officials to install INMARSAT on top priority basis in Andaman and Nicobar. "It was decided to ... More

Nagapattinam may suffer high economic loss too
THE tsunami, which ravaged Nagapattinam and nearby areas, has left a trail of destruction, not only in terms of human lives lost but also in terms of economic havoc in the region. While the number of people dead has shot up to around 4,000 in ... More

CII tsunami collection camp
COIMBATORE: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Coimbatore zone, is organising a collection camp for the tsunami victims at Sarvajana Higher Secondary School on December 30 and 31. The federation has invited the members of the ... More

TNSTC staff gesture
COIMBATORE: Employees of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd, (Coimbatore), will be donating a day's salary amounting to Rs 41 lakh as their contribution to the relief fund for providing assistance to the victims of tsunami's ... More

Kalam plea to develop tsunami warning system
THE President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has asked the academic and scientific community to evolve an integrated technological solution that could alert on tsunamis. Addressing the ninth convocation of the University of Hyderabad through ... More

Tsunami warning system to be installed by 2007
THE Government will install the equipment required for predicting tsunamis within the next two-and-a-half years. The project is expected to cost about Rs 100 crore - Rs 125 crore. The indigenous warning system includes putting in place a ... More

Tsunami keeps tourists at bay at Mahabalipuram
THE shore temple at Mahabalipuram, which has weathered many a storm, is deserted. On any other day, it would have been milling with tourists, domestic and foreign, gypsies hawking beads and beggars. The gates to the majestic protected monument ... More

KCCI to collect donations
MANGALORE: A team of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) will visit its members' premises on December 30 to collect donations for tsunami victims. A KCCI press release said here on Wednesday that a team, led by KCCI ... More

Bharti centres in tsunami-hit places
NEW DELHI: Bharti Tele-Ventures on Wednesday announced measures for the relief and rehabilitation programme for victims of the tsunami disaster. Bharti will be rolling out Airtel mobile and VSAT network services in Andaman and Nicobar ... More

Andhra Bank donates Rs 2 cr
HYDERABAD: Andhra Bank has on Wednesday announced donation of Rs 2 crore to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund in view of the magnitude of tsunami tragedy. All the employees of the Bank have decided to contribute a day's salary, according to ... More

Lanco donates Rs 10 lakh
HYDERABAD: Lanco Group Chairman, Mr L. Madhusudhan Rao has presented a cheque for Rs 10 lakh to the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, as support to the victims of the affected in the coastal districts. ... More

SBH donates Rs 30 lakh
HYDERABAD: The State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH) has announced a donation of Rs 30 lakh to the Chief Minister's Fund to mitigate sufferings of the coastal belt people. Its Managing Director, Mr Amitabha Guha, presented a cheque to the CM. ... More

Contributions to The Hindu Relief Fund

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES
Sri Lankan Ministry in pact with Herbz India for herbal farming
THE Sri Lankan Ministry of Indigenous Medicines has entered into a tie-up with the Kozhikode-based Herbz India Ltd for promoting herbal farming. The Sri Lankan Minister for Indigenous Medicine, Mr Tissa Karalliyada, who was in Kerala with a ... More

TOURISM
All tourists in Kerala safe
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All tourists visiting Kerala are safe and no damage has been reported from any of the State's tourist destinations, says an official press release quoting the Kerala Tourism Minister, Mr K.C. Venugopal. A 24-hour ... More