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PEDA signs pumping set deal with BHEL Enthused by the response of the farmers to the highly efficient solar-powered tubewells, the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has chalked out another major plan to provide cheap and sustainable source of energy to the farmers.
PSEB- PTC power pact
Please do vote, CII to urge via cellphones
RayBan prices to remain a shade higher
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Closure of transit stations piques traders Solan, April 21 The new policy of the railways to close transit stations has adversely affected the small traders who used the facility to transport their produce to various destinations across the country. The railways, which earlier booked parcels for destinations all over the country, have now been directed to restrict it only to those stations where direct trains were available from the booking stations.
Microsoft banks on e-governance in India
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PEDA signs pumping set deal with BHEL Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 21
According to available information, PEDA, a nodal agency for promotion and development of non-conventional energy sources, has signed one of its biggest-ever contract with engineering major, Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) for supplying 700 solar-powered water pumping sets at a cost of Rs 18.76 crore by July 2004. The company would also be responsible for the installation, commissioning and after-sales service of these pumping systems. Nearly 1,700 such pumps have already been installed during the past three years. The state government has plans to set up 1 lakh such pumps in the state over the next 10 years. To begin with, it is targeting farmers with small land holdings and small pumping sets. But it is hopeful that progressive farmers will also in due course of time go in for these to replace their diesel -operated or small capacity electric pumps for irrigation purposes. These environment-friendly pumps will be used for the purpose of pumping water in view of the growing demand for power as well as to reduce the usage of conventional diesel fuel in the agriculture sector. The figures available reveal that 1 lakh farmers in the state have only diesel engine pumping sets. Of the total 10 lakh farmers using pumping sets for irrigation, approx 9.5 lakh use those driven by electric power. However, most of them do have a stand-by diesel engine pumping set, which comes in handy when the supply of power is erratic. Giving details, director of PEDA, Mr S.S Sekhon said the easy to operate pumps which do not require electricity and run on the power generated by converting sunlight into electricity are indeed a boon for the farmers. They operate on a photovoltaic array of 1,800 watts capacity that runs two HP direct current mono-block pump set converting solar energy directly into electricity. Each silicon cell in the panel can produce 37 watts. the solar energy generated by these cells is stored and can be directly converted into DC electricity required for the pumping system . These pumps lift water up to 12 meters and are very effective in those blocks and districts where water table is below 10 metres. The cost of a 2 HP
solar pump, suitable for drawing water from open wells, borewells and
ponds etc is Rs 2.76 lakh, including charges for ``trouble-free’’
operation lasting five years. PEDA, by giving the entire contract to one
manufacturer, has ensured that a farmer does not pay more than Rs 65,000
for the installation of the pump on a leasehold basis. In contrast, the
cos of installing a diesel engine operated pumping set is Rs 68,700.
This is despite the reduction in subsidy being offered by the central
government through the Ministry of non-conventional energy sources) ,
IREDA ( Indian renewable energy development agency) and the state. |
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PSEB- PTC power pact
Patiala, April 21
This was stated in an official release issued here today.
The release further said that MoUs were signed between the Chairman PSEB
Y.S Ratra and Director, Business Development, Power Trading Corporation,
Mr Mohinder Kumar . Mr Ratra said that the requirement of Punjab is
maximum during the months of May to October that are high-energy demands
months for agriculture requirements. He further said that power would
cost Rs 2.80 per unit from Baglihar Hydro Project and Rs 2.25 per unit
from Bhilangana power projects including transmission charges. These
projects are likely to be commissioned by March 2006. |
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Pro-outsourcing lobby gets active
New Delhi, April 21 Over 80 Bills have so
far been introduced in about 30 states in the USA to punish companies
who outsource to India and other countries, but the chamber has
successfully lobbied against them, with the result that virtually all of
them have fallen in the legislature, said Mr Thomas J. Donobue,
president and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce here today. Speaking at
a meeting on ‘Piracy and Brand Protection: India-US Collaboration,’ he
said, “backlash against business process outsourcing is not based not on
facts but emotions, and in some cases on politics.” Declaring that
“business should stop apologising” for providing Americans with 130
million jobs, retirement benefits for 90 million and health care for 177
million, Mr Donohue and the Chamber are rallying companies of all sizes
around the major challenges including outsourcing and labour issues that
will shape America’s future. He asserted that the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States was leading the fight for its companies “the
freedom and flexibility to source and trade around the world. We are
doing so because it is good for the American economy and American
jobs.” In fact, after an extensive investigation, he said, the Chamber
had discovered that no one was certain how many service jobs had been
moved to India and other countries. Rather, insourcing, along with
America’s openness to the world economy had created large number of
jobs, much higher than loss of jobs. The US Chamber was working hard,
he said, to create awareness among politicians and people on the issue
of outsourcing. It was making success to a great extent. Referring the
benefits of outsourcing to the US economy, Mr Donohue said,” the
outsourcing has helped many US companies turn their attention to invest
in new products and create new and better jobs at home. It has
strengthened their bottom lines, boosting their earnings.” |
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Please do vote, CII to urge via cellphones
New
Delhi, April 21 But this would be with a difference. A message of social
responsibility for the corporate sector. The CII has joined hands with
the Election Commission (EC) in bringing awareness about the needs to
exercise one’s franchise. In this direction the CII has approached
Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) to request all cellular
operators to send SMS to their 35 million consumers, on respective
polling days, urging them to exercise their right to vote. The first
SMS in the morning would be “please exercise your right to vote” and the
second SMS in the afternoon would read “have your exercised your right
to vote.” The apex chamber also announced the setting up of
round-the-clock voter helplines and setting up touch screens at
strategic spots to educate voters about their right to franchise. |
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FCI plans ISO certification
Chandigarh, April 21 The FCI is now thinking in terms of cutting down
losses, increasing operational efficiency and planning long-term
strategies for the country’s food security. The corporation is in the
process of acquiring an ISO 9001: 2000 certification to ensure
qualitative improvement in all its systems while ensuring more
transparency and credibility in the market place. According to the
Union Food Secretary, Mr S. K. Tuteja, with the weatherman predicting a
nearly normal monsoon and with hopes of reaping a rich winter harvest,
the role of FCI and other state agencies acquires a new dimension. While
meeting the short-term targets of fulfilling the requirement of PDS etc,
the FCI can embark upon long term strategic planning to beef up the
buffer and use the same for ensuring sustainable food security in the
country. A number of new initiatives are also on the anvil by the FCI to
bring about greater efficiency in its operations to remain globally
competitive. The new thrust areas include various strategic moves by
the FCI to mobilise resources by accessing the capital market, better
debt servicing and securitisation of its borrowings. The new
initiatives include positioning of a state-of-the-art management
information system to access real time online information for effective
decision support. Insurance of food grains in storage and transit to
further curb losses is at advanced stage. Alternative system of
transport, supplementary to the Railways through Container Corporation
of India and the river route through the Central Inland Water Transport
Corporation of India (CIWTC). |
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RayBan prices to remain a shade higher
New Delhi, April 21 “We want to position
our products in the premium category and won’t be going in for price
cuts as it dents our high-brand value,” RayBan Sun Optics India Managing
Director Harsh Chopra said after the company unveiled its new collection
for the year 2004. Prices of RayBan sunglasses had been brought down
below Rs 1,000 just before the company was taken over by the Luxottica
Group of Italy in October 2000. However, Mr Chopra said that the price
cut had not helped the brand and, in fact, made a dent into the
company’s image. “We believe that price cuts will not help the company
much and thus would like to maintain the middle to high level prices we
have,” Mr Chopra said. The company, which offers a variety of brands
along with the flagship RayBan, sold close to 1.8 lakh units last year
and plans to make further inroads in to the Indian market to get in
higher numbers. “Our long-term plan for the Indian market includes
strengthening the marketing and distribution network and augmenting the
product portfolio,” the company’s National Sales Manager Fabio Lupi
said. Mr Lupi said the sunglass market was witnessing healthy growth,
though established branded companies like RayBan still faced erosion in
sales due to counterfeit products. The company today unveiled over 140
new models across five brands: RayBan, Vogue, Killer Loop, Luxottica and
Sferoflex. — UNI |
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Closure of transit stations piques traders
Solan, April 21 Small entrepreneurs, who often sent products like medicines,
fresh vegetables and fruits produced locally have to now depend on
alternative modes of transportation. With the railways having slashed
its parcel tariff some time back, it was a cheap mode of transporting
goods, felt the traders. With no direct trains for Amritsar, Pathankot,
Ludhiana, Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, Bangalore, etc., where most of the
goods were transported, the railways have stopped booking parcels for
these stations. Officials of the railways, while observing the new
directions reduced losses incurred on account of lost parcels and low
tariff, said availability of ample trucks and buses had reduced the
economic prospects of this facility. Earlier, parcels were booked for
destinations all over the country and the railways ensured that the
parcels were distributed further on to another train after completion of
its route. Earlier, a parcel would often pass through 2-3 trains to
reach its destination. A section of the small traders, however, rued the
facility had been withdrawn to benefit the truckers who would now
generate more business and they would have to shell out more for
transporting piece-meal items.
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Microsoft banks on e-governance in India
New Delhi, April 21
“Localised interfaces for Office will be made available
in 14 regional languages including Gurmukhi and about four of these
should be available by the end of this year”, Program Manager,
Localisation of Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt Limited., Mr Raveesh
Gupta, told The Tribune. He said that the company is in talks with
various state governments and “the initial reaction has been
overwhelming”, Mr Gupta said. “We are in talks with the state
governments of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Haryana and
Rajasthan for Office Hindi”, he said. In fact, Microsoft has already
provided local language e-governance solutions and initiatives including
the NAI Disha portal and an Online Treasuries Information Solution for
the Haryana Government. Mr Gupta said that one of the primary target
audiences of the localised products would be the state government and
public sector undertakings (PSUs). “These are mandatory users of the
local language who need such functionality to perform optimally”, he
said. The localisation initiative of Microsoft India was initiated
about six years ago, while the conceptualisation of Office Hindi took
place four years back. |
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Patni plans knowledge park
Mumbai, April 21 Phase I of the project would be completed in early
2005 with an investment of about Rs 230 crore, to accommodate 5,000
professionals. The knowledge plaza would be one of the largest software
parks in the city. Mr Deepak Sogani, chief financial officer, Patni
Computers told reporters here today that Patni Computers has been
allotted 50-acres of land in MIDC technology park in Airoli. The
completion of the second phase will be able to accommodate 17,000
professionals, he said. Mr Sogani said that 30 new clients have been
added in 2003. He said that there is a mixed revenue stream from banking
and finance, insurance, manufacturing, energy and utilities and retail
clients. Referring to Patni’s network in India, Mr Sogani said that
2,100 professionals are working in Mumbai focusing on SAP practice,
ebusiness solutions, 2,400 professionals are working in Navi Mumbai
focussing on insurance-related services, 1,300 professionals are
positioned in Pune to focus on insurance sector. Similarly, 350
professionals are working in Noida to deal with BPO, insurance, banking
and financial services. Besides this, 130 professionals are working in
Gandhinagar and 550 professionals in Chennai. Meanwhile, in a separate
development iGate Global Solutions, a 100 per cent subsidiary of the
United States-based iGate Corporation, today inaugurated its new
development centre in Hyderabad and said it will hire 300 more people at
the facility. The company currently employs over 200 people in
Hyderabad. The 65,000 sq ft centre in Hyderabad, with the capacity to
seat 500 persons, takes the combined size of iGATE Global’s offshore
infrastructure across Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Noida. — UNI |
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