Business Line Twenty Years Ago Today

Insat-2D abandoned after four months in orbit

INSAT-2D, India's home-built and most advanced communications satellite, was abandoned early on Sunday morning. The Rs. 362-crore spacecraft, already crippled by a short circuit and power shortage since October 1, lost earth lock again late Saturday night. The hectic four-hour-long manoeuvres till late in the night failed and the Department of Space here on Sunday declared it was inoperable any more. A day after 2D first lost its earth lock, scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation's Master Control Facility at Hassan had revived three of the seven operating transponders and had kept it under observation for about a week.

Three IPPs ready for coal supply pact

Even as uncertainty persists over the signing of a coal supply and transportation agreement (CSTA) in the case of Hinduja National Power Corporation Ltd (HNPCL), at least three independent power producers (IPPs) are ready to finalise coal supply agreement (CSA) on the basis of some "modified" terms and conditions offered by Coal India Ltd (CIL). The three IPPs are: RPG Enterprise, the Aditya Birla group and L & T and SAIL combine.

NSE trading to resume

The National Stock Exchange will resume trading in the equity segment from Thursday (October 9) instead of Monday as earlier planned. NSE's plans have been thrown out of gear in the wake of Insat-2D being abandoned and declared inoperational. Addressing a news conference here today, Dr. R.H. Patil, Managing Director, NSE, said that due to the collapse of Insat-2D, the operations of the exchange would be shifted back to Insat-2A and trading would resume from October 9.