The Hindu Business Line : Friday, August 22, 2008

INDUSTRY & ECONOMY

SSI: PSU banks keen to step up SME sector lending
See opportunity to gain higher yield, benefit from ancillary biz. Mumbai/Kolkata Aug. 21 Faced with falling margins due to rising interest rates, banks are focusing on the small and medium enterprises sector. Although lending to SMEs is ...

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS: 200 aircraft import transactions under Customs dept scanner
Evasion of duty, misuse of exemptions alleged. New Delhi, Aug 21 In what seems to be a prized catch of customs duty evasion on aircraft imports, the customs department has brought under its scanner over 200 aircraft import transactions of ...

ELECTRONICS: Maharashtra Cabinet approves land allotment to Videocon
Way cleared for semiconductor project. Mumbai Aug. 21 The Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday formally approved allotment of 100 acres near Navi Mumbai to the Videocon-CIDCO joint venture for setting up the country’s first semiconductor ...

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION: Golden Gate plans ‘affordable’ residential project in Bangalore
Low-cost townships planned in other Southern cities. A 995-sq-ft apartment in Bangalore for Rs 19 lakh! This is the price at which Golden Gate Properties is offering two-bedroom apartments at ‘The Commune’, its affordable ...

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY: 10% ethanol blending unlikely by October
New Delhi, Aug. 21 Government’s plans to make 10 per cent blending of ethanol in petrol from October onwards is unlikely to take off amid several issues, including availability and pricing. ...

INFRASTRUCTURE: Raheja setting up engg SEZ in Gurgaon
New Delhi, Aug 21 Real estate company firm Raheja Developers has announced its new engineering SEZ in Gurgaon (adjoining Manesar), spread over 255 acres. “This is the first-ever engineering SEZ to get notification in northern India. It ...

EXPORTS & IMPORTS: Textile industry seeks continuation of interest sops
To take on competitors Pakistan, China and Bangladesh. New Delhi, Aug. 21 The reported missive of the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, for continuation of the 4 per cent interest ...

HUMAN RESOURCES: National Skill Development Policy to be placed before Cabinet soon
Policy aims to enhance skill development, promote inclusive growth. New Delhi, Aug. 21 The Government is in the final stages of shaping a national skill development policy which would be soon placed before the Cabinet for its approval. ...

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION: PBEL unveils Hyderabad project
PBEL, an Indo-Israeli joint venture real-estate company, has announced the launch of the first phase of the Rs 1,200-crore PBEL City, a residential-cum-commercial venture, on the outskirts of the ...

INFRASTRUCTURE: ‘Pvt players vital for developing urban infrastructure’
Hyderabad, Aug. 21 Mr S. Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Urban Development, has called for a “reliable, robust framework” for public-private partnerships (PPPs) to insulate the private investors from the fluctuations in the ...

SSI: Foreign, pvt banks shy away
Hyderabad, Aug. 21 Even as many public sector banks are focusing on lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the foreign and private banks are shying away from it due to some concerns in the due diligence ...

RURAL DEVELOPMENT: Equitas Micro raises Rs 50 cr
Chennai, Aug. 21 The Chennai-based Equitas Micro Finance Ltd has raised Rs 50 crore in the second round of capital infusion. MVA Ventures has invested Rs 25 crore, and Bellweather Microfinance Fund along with India Financial Inclusion Fund ...

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION: CLA launches twin projects in Mysore
Bangalore, Aug. 21 Capital Land Assets (CLA), a group company of the Rs 5,000-crore Alliance Group, announced the launch of twin residential projects in Mysore on Thursday. The projects, Palm Springs and Palm County, would be high-end villa ...

PSU: Cabinet nod for report on KSEB recast
The State Cabinet has approved the report on the restructuring of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) prepared by a committee constituted for the purpose and headed by the Secretary for ...

HUMAN RESOURCES: Cabinet nod for social security for unorganised workers
New Delhi, Aug. 21 Amendments to the Unorganised Sector Workers’ Social Security Bill 2007 were approved by the Cabinet on Thursday to extend social security cover to all workers deprived of the benefits of provident fund and health ...

PETROLEUM: Oil cos assure TN of diesel supply at bunks
Chennai, Aug. 21 Oil marketing companies have assured the Tamil Nadu Government of continuous availability of diesel at the retail outlets, according to the Chief Secretary, Mr L.K. ...

REGULATORY BODIES & RULINGS: Reporting standards: IRDA panel to look at compliance needs
Hyderabad, Aug. 21 The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has constituted a committee to examine the requirements for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) compliance by the insurance industry. ...

ECONOMY: CBDT pegs cost inflation index for 2008-09 at 582
New Delhi, Aug 21 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has pegged the cost inflation index for the financial year 2008-09 at ‘582’. ...

NRIS: Karnataka Bank launches inward remittance facility
Mangalore, Aug. 21 Karnataka Bank Ltd has launched ‘Quikremit’, a Web-based inward remittance facility for NRIs residing in Canada, the UK and the US. ...

WATER: Integrated ground water scheme cleared
New Delhi, Aug. 21 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday gave its approval for continuing the ongoing schemes of Ground Water Survey, Exploration and Investigation, Central Ground Water Authority, and Study of Recharge to ...