The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, June 23, 2005

NIS Academy launches training programme
NIS Academy, a division of NIS Sparta Ltd, has launched a `School of Employability' initiative to provide domestic companies with trained students ready to work in any industry, says a company release. The programme is meant to bridge the gap ... More

CLIMATE & WEATHER

A wet blanket ...
Fears of the monsoon failing have companies focusing on the urban market to make up for the likely shortfall in sales from rural areas. More

Season's first `low' over Bay by early next week
CONDITIONS aiding the formation of the long-awaited low-pressure system are building up over northwest Bay of Bengal with cool easterlies registering their presence in the head Bay on Wednesday. Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Director, National Centre for ... More

Correction

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY

Wind energy sector seeks efficiency-based incentive
The association expects 1,500- MW capacity addition this fiscal. More

ANTI-DUMPING

Capexil flays move to levy anti-dumping duty on EPDM rubber
CAPEXIL (formerly Chemicals and Allied Products Export Promotion Council), the designated nodal export agency for rubber manufactured products, has criticised the on-going efforts to seek anti-dumping duty on imports of EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene) ... More

ECONOMY

Rangarajan moots Loan Council to keep tabs on States' borrowings
THE Twelfth Finance Commission has suggested incorporation of an independent Loan Council to supervise the overall limits of annual borrowings of State Governments from all sources. This was stated by the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory ... More

World Bank lauds pace of reforms in AP, vows more aid
WORLD Bank is bullish on the economic reforms underway in Andhra Pradesh. The global lending agency will also extend its financial assistance to the State, Country Director (India), Mr Michael F. Carter, said. According to him, AP has received ... More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS

Speedy customs link through EDI sought
MR P.K. Mohanty, Joint Secretary (Drawback), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, has sought speedy customs connectivity on the EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) platform with all stakeholders, in line with global practices, to bring down ... More

INFRASTRUCTURE

PHDCCI lauds Delhi master plan's stress on group housing
THE Master Plan for Delhi 2021 (MPD)-2021 will focus on improving the quality of life of the people of Delhi. The strategies for this were discussed at a round-table seminar organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI). "It ... More

PETROLEUM

YSR against fuel price hike
HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, wants the Centre to explore possibilities to roll back the hike in prices of petrol and diesel, and reduce the burden on the common man, especially in the drought-hit State. The ... More

Truckers to stay off roads on June 28
IN protest against the hike in diesel prices by Rs 2 a litre, the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has called for a token strike on June 28, to coincide with the bandh called by the Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M). The ... More

POWER

Dabhol lenders reach accord with GE, Bechtel
THE long-drawn battle over the Dabhol power plant in Maharashtra is over, with the lenders to the project reaching a settlement with 85 per cent equity holders GE and Bechtel. A joint venture special purpose vehicle - formed by NTPC, GAIL, ... More

GVK group bags 2 Uttaranchal hydel projects
THE GVK group has been awarded the mandate for development of the 200-MW Mapang Bogudier and the 170-MW Bogudier Sirkiri Bhyol hydel projects by the Uttaranchal Government in the face of competition from international bidders. These projects ... More

Power tariff policy draft to be placed before Cabinet
THE Power Ministry is planning to take the long-pending tariff policy for Cabinet approval over the next few weeks. "We have concluded the wide-ranging deliberations regarding the provisions of the Policy with all stakeholders and a final ... More

BHEL gets two AP power projects
BHARAT Heavy Electricals Ltd will execute two 500 mw thermal projects at Bhoopalapally and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. The Bhoopalapally project in Warangal district has received most of the statutory clearances, and coal and water linkages ... More

Damodar Valley Corp again seekseco clearance for Durgapur plant
DAMODAR Valley Corporation (DVC) has once again approached the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for environmental clearance regarding its proposed 1,000 MW thermal power plant at Durgapur. This is the third attempt on the part ... More

STEEL

Orissa sets terms for iron ore export
IN its efforts to set at rest the controversy over allowing the Korean steel-maker Pohang Steel Company to export iron ore, the Orissa Government today clarified that the company will be provided 600 million tonnes of iron ore for captive use in ... More

`Steel prices may revert to $600'
After the recent dip to $500 per tonne, steel prices are set to revert to the $600-per-tonne level in the coming months, Mr B. Muthuraman, Managing Director, Tata Steel, said. "The drop in prices will get corrected in the next two months or so ... More

TAXATION

Tax arrear scheme extended by Karnataka Govt
MANGALORE: The Karnataka Government has extended the `Kara Samadhana' scheme from May 30 to June 30, says a press release by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry here. Quoting a Government order, the release said that the scheme ... More

TEXTILES

Grey fabric units in TN mull production stoppage
PRODUCERS of unprocessed fabric in the State are toying with the idea of calling for a trade-level production stoppage to get rid of excess stock. "We are planning to call a meeting of our members to discuss ways to counter the current demand ... More

RADIO/TV

More media, where's the return?
With a virtual explosion of TV channels, the advertiser is confronted with high media fragmentation. While it makes it difficult for mass product marketers, the smaller advertiser has an option to target specific audiences at lower rates. More

Star open to offering channels to Chandra's DTH platform
CONSUMERS subscribing to the Subhash Chandra-promoted direct-to-home (DTH) service may soon be able to watch the rival Star group's bouquet of channels. With DTH broadcasting set to take off in a big way after the Government having cleared the ... More

ZILS plans to expand Kidzee network
EYEING the Rs 5,000-crore pre-school education market in the country, Zee Interactive Learning Systems Ltd (ZILS), an Essel group company, is planning to increase the number of Kidzee centres to 500 from 250 by the end of the fiscal. Some of ... More

EDUCATION

Social awareness programme in MBA course
THE Indian Institute of Foreign Trade has introduced a social awareness programme to sensitise management students on social issues. The Social Awareness Programme is a compulsory course that will be part of the MBA curriculum. The ... More

AUTOMOBILE COMPONENTS

More vehicle makers foray into components biz
THE boom in the domestic auto components industry is encouraging more vehicle manufacturers — both domestic and multinational — to enter the market. Even as multinational firms such as Hyundai (through its car parts arm Hyundai ... More

MINING & QUARRYING

Russian majors keen on beach sand mining in AP
TWO Russian majors have evinced interest in setting up beach sand mining projects involving investments to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore in the State for extraction of titanium. According to the State Industries Minister, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, ... More

DISINVESTMENT

Karnataka divestment policy from Aug
THE Dharam Singh Government plans to put its new policy on disinvestment in State-owned enterprises into force from August this year. The draft of the new policy is to be brought before the State Cabinet on June 29, the Industries & ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

Orissa inks MoU with POSCO — Biggest-ever FDI investment at Rs 51,000 cr
THE much talked about memorandum of understanding between Korean steel-maker Pohang Steel Company (POSCO) and the Orissa Government for a 12-million tonne per annum steel plant in the State was signed at the Secretariat here this afternoon. The ... More

Qatar keen to invest in Indian services sector
QATAR has expressed keen desire to invest in India, especially in the services sectors such as health, IT and telecommunication. Besides, Qatar is also looking to increase its stake in the Indian equity market. This was indicated by Dr Hussain ... More

No do deal
Activists of CPI(M), CPI, OGP and JD(S) protesting against the signing of MoU between the Orissa Government and POSCO in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

SOCIAL WELFARE

AP to distribute more land
HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Government would take up the second leg of land allotment on July 30, in which one lakh acres of Government land will be given away to eligible and needy families. The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara ... More

LABOUR REFORMS

Need to amend labour laws, says ILO member
THERE is a need to amend our labour laws, especially considering the boom in the outsourcing sector, said Mr N.M. Adyanthaya, member of the governing body of International Labour Organisation (ILO). Addressing newspersons here on Wednesday, he ... More

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

German consulate in Chennai unveils online visa appointment service
THE German consulate in Chennai has introduced an online appointment service for visa applications effective from June 27. According to a release, all first-time travellers who are obliged to file their visa application in person as well as ... More

INCOME TAX

FBT clause could add to transport PSUs' woes
According to tax experts, since PSU transport outfits do not carry passengers in cars but in vehicles, an urgent word substitution is needed. More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS

Shrimp exporters open offices in US to be `importers on record'
IN a bid to revive the declining shrimp exports, several Indian companies have begun acting as `importers on record' in the US, Mr G. Mohan Kumar, Chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), said. The move comes in the wake ... More

Taxation of profits from DEPB licence sale — PM's council favours going easy on `small exporters'
THE Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council has concurred with the contention of the revenue department in the controversial issue of taxation of profits from sale of duty entitlement passbook (DEPB) licences. It has, however, sought to ... More

TOURISM

Konni eco-tourism project to focus on elephants
IN the next few weeks, the State tourism department will begin work on a new eco-tourism project at Konni in Pathanamthitta district. Inspired by Konni's association with elephants and elephant-related folklore, the project will focus on ... More

3 canals to be beautified in Vijayawada
THE three canals in Vijayawada - Bandar, Rvyes and Eluru - will soon turn into places of tourist interest, with the Government giving the go-ahead for a Rs 30-crore beautification project. At a review meeting here on Wednesday, the Andhra ... More

Outlook guide to Kerala, Lakshadweep
THE New Delhi-based Outlook group has launched a travel guide to Kerala and Lakshadweep as part of its Outlook Traveller Getaways series of guides. Speaking at the book's launch here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, ... More