The Hindu Business Line : Saturday, February 17, 2007

Unveil your dream budget
Business Line invites you to tell the Finance Minister your budget expectations. Send in your budget wish list to wishlist2007@thehindu.co.in and explain why you want them included. Attach your digital photograph, which may get published. Do include your brief profile.

INDUSTRY & ECONOMY

CLIMATE & WEATHER
El Nino diminishing; prospects up for La Nina
`Substantially high' temperatures seen during onset of monsoon More

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
Suguna Poultry to seek carbon credit for wind energy project
Suguna Poultry group has planned to secure carbon credit for its wind energy project. The Coimbatore-based company is also planning to include its 2.5-MW biomass-based co-generation project being installed at its Karnataka-based feed mill ... More

How mills stand to gain from cogeneration, alcohol
Every 100 tonnes of sugarcane crushed by mills yields roughly 10 tonnes of sugar, 4.5 tonnes of molasses and 30 tonnes of bagasse. Out of the 30 tonnes of bagasse, mills typically use up 21-22 tonnes to produce steam for captive consumption. ... More

BUDGET
Service tax rate to climb to 14%?
Can we expect the Budget to reduce the excise duty on cars, other than small cars, from 24 per cent to, say, 16 per cent? Unlikely, says Mr S. Madhavan, Leader Indirect Tax Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers. "The differential excise duty regime ... More

Excise duty concessions for pesticides under study
Duty may be reduced to 8% from existing 16% More

Taxes and levies: Cement is the beast of burden
The industry expects the Government to provide a Budget that will enable continuous growth over the next 4-5 years. More

Coffee Board seeks sops to develop domestic market
Aim is to increase domestic consumption to 1.2 lakh tonnes by 2012 from the current 80,000 tonnes. More

Remove growth blocks
The Budget should be growth oriented, and it should improve investment climate both within and from outside the country, encourage savings, should control unproductive Government expenditure, and remove unnecessary hurdles in the growth of ... More

COURTS/LEGAL ISSUES
TN Shops Act applicable to panchayats only by notification: HC
Act applicable to panchayats only by notification, says court More

ECONOMY
`Growth in manufacturing, farm must be on equal footing'
Low investment in R&D is daunting factor: Krishnamurthy More

Correction

FOREIGN TRADE
`India must use Myanmar to enter Asean market'
Both countries told to work towards mutual benefit More

German team satisfied with quality of components
Yet to decide on quantum of purchase from Coimbatore More

HEALTH
Thai award for Kolkata doctor
Thailand's "Prince Mahidol Award 2006", an international award instituted by the Prince Mahidol Foundation of Thailand on January 1, 1992, has been conferred on Dr Dilip Mahalanabis, Honorary Director of the Society for Applied ... More

Need for better servicing of mediclaim policies
To deal with claims and disputes that are rising More

INFRASTRUCTURE
AP to take up phase III work on Genome Valley
Move to create separate dept for biotech More

PETROLEUM
Reliance, Essar fuel retail biz hit by petro price cut
Both companies once again adopt mixed-price mechanism More

IOC's Paradip projects run into rough weather
Crude import facility, pipeline to Haldia delayed More

Oil India IPO likely
The Centre is considering unveiling an initial public offering (IPO) for the Rs 10,000-crore Oil India Ltd. According to sources, the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry is currently preparing a draft proposal in this regard for submission ... More

POWER
NTPC plans to raise Rs 1 lakh cr to expand capacity
Hopes to touch 51,000 MW capacity in 5 years More

Kerala to take up Rs 438-cr rural electrification project
Top priority will be accorded to giving power connections to weaker sections and people belonging to scheduled castes and tribes. More

SSI
Microsoft targets SMEs in export clusters
Starts with textiles, auto component, chemical clusters More

EDUCATION
Computer curriculum for kids
EZ Vidya, a Chennai-based education services company, has launched a computer curriculum that aims to enhance `thinking and vital technology' capabilities in children. Called Chrysalis, the curriculum has several components for ... More

SSN Institutions to invest Rs 1,100 cr in new campuses
Hopes to achieve `Deemed' status More

GEMS & JEWELLERY
`Entrepreneurs must come forward to set up jewellery park'
Minister inaugurates first edition of S.India jewellery show 2007 More

Chennai to host gem, jewellery expo
12,000 business visitors likely to converge More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Mumbai in 5th spot in global office space list
Worli has witnessed a 107% annual rental growth More

IPR
CIFT chief calls for simplification of patent laws
Patenting laws, procedures should be simplified for India to reap the full benefits of its research in various fields, especially fisheries, according to Dr K. Devadasan, Director of the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT). In an ... More

SOCIAL WELFARE
IT centres planned for visually impaired
To support training for using Emacspeak software More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Arun Sarin briefs PM on rural plans
Hopes to sign agreement with Essar soon More

INTERVIEW
Current system of auditing tax returns is very subjective
In respect of grey areas, Indian companies should have the option to get the ruling in advance. Currently, such an option exists only for non-residents. More

EVENTS
Gujarat: Pacts for Rs 2 lakh cr investments
The two-day "Vibrant Gujarat Urban Summit 2007", organised with the objective of attracting investments in urban development sector, concluded here today with the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, announcing that Memorandum of ... More

ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Pune chamber unveils handbook for entrepreneurs
A handbook titled `Food Processing Industry in Pune District - Study-cum directory' has been compiled by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) to give a helping hand for entrepreneurs who would like to begin their ... More