 |
| Thursday, September 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Cabinet clears package for BSNL staff New guarantee
plan for power projects soon Train to Pakistan carries sugar & hopes RiceTec drops patent claim on Basmati No immediate hike
in air fares: govt Nabard bonds
issue opens today |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
D-Link embarks on
major expansion
|
|
Cabinet clears package for BSNL staff NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — The Union Cabinet today approved a financial package for the employees joining Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, the corporatised version of the Department of Telecom Services and the Department of Telecom Operations, from October 1. The package meets most of the demands put forward by the employees unions to end their agitation against the corporatisation of the telecom departments. Their main demand that all employees should be entitled to government’s scheme of pension and family pension even after their absorption has been met. The Cabinet also decided to introduce two new laws, one on cooperatives and the other on cine workers, approved new pay scales for DANICS and DANIPS officers, and changed the eligibility conditions for payment of ad-hoc bonus to Central Government employees. On BSNL, the Cabinet decided to protect the interests of the 3.63 lakh employees by extending them all the facilities that they enjoyed as government servants. This includes pay scales of PSUs for C and D categories of employees, pension and retirement and job security benefits, facility of general pool housing accommodation and CGHS medical facilities. The government will transfer assets and liabilities on October 1, 2000 on a provisional value of Rs 63,000 crore subject to finalisation of transfer value in consultation with the Ministry of Finance. Another significant decision taken by the Cabinet included a proposal to introduce a legislation on multi-state cooperatives. The Multi State Cooperatives Bill, 2000 will replace the Multi State Cooperatives Act, 1984. The purpose of the legislation is to minimise government control and interference in cooperative
societies. It would also help the cooperatives to compete in a deregulated environment. The Cabinet also decided to amend the definition of Cine Workers in the Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1984, whereby the maximum ceiling of Rs 1600 per month as payment for the workers would be revised. New scales for DANICS The Cabinet also decided to change the eligibility conditions for grant of ad-hoc bonus to casual labourers from the present requirement of having worked 240 days in each year in the last three years to 206 days in each year in the last three years. The period of 240 days had been worked out keeping in mind a six day week. However, the government offices function only five days a week now and the change has been made in accordance. Also, the Cabinet revised the ceiling of bonus of Rs 750 for casual workers to Rs 1200. In case of employees not covered by productivity linked bonus an ad-hoc bonus of 30 days will continue to be granted. This ad-hoc bonus would now be called non-productivity linked bonus. At present the number of days in a month is assumed to be 31 days for calculating bonus for one day. This would now be changed to 30.4 days. The financial implication would be an additional Rs 5.36 crore per annum. Padma awards The government decided to inform the BIFR that it does not consider it feasible to revive Hindustan Vegetable Oils Corporation Limited. The government has also decided to offer a Voluntary Separation Scheme to all employees of the company and to sanction a non-Plan loan of Rs 75 crore for this purpose. The Cabinet approved the execution of an agreement with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Poland. This agreement will provide for economic, scientific and technical cooperation in the field of agriculture.
|
|
New guarantee
plan for power projects soon NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — The Union Power Ministry is working on a draft new guarantee scheme for a large transmission and power purchase system in consultation with the Planning Commission and will be put to the Cabinet for approval shortly, said the Union Minister of State for Power, Ms Jayawantiben Mehta, here yesterday. She said her ministry has already obtained approval of the Group of Ministers on the Electricity Bill 2000 and was proposing to introduce it in the winter session of Parliament with a view to replacing the earlier electricity Acts coming in the way of private sector participation in the power industry. The fast track projects are still crawling due to certain ambiguities in the policies such as developing a model framework for PPAs’ providing guarantee for the off-take of payment of power, inadequate transmission capacity, evacuate power, delay in finalisation of fuel supply and transportation agreement, the Union Minister said while inaugurating the 3rd India Power Forum, organised by Assocham here. She said the government was committed to create conducive environment for adding the new generation of 100,000 MW power to the existing system by 2012. Ms Mehta said the government has finalised a programme for providing single window scheme to install 41000 new meters by March 2001 and ensure 100 per cent power supply through meters by 2002. It is proposed to
identify the areas where the electricity theft/losses were taking place and a time bound action plan shall be launched. Mr Sanjay Bhatnagar, President of the American Chamber of Commerce, said the Electricity Bill 2000 must incorporate third party access (independent operations and transmission), regulation to compete generation, transmission and distribution, customer’s choice, total deregulation of the price of the commodity and independent regulator. |
|
Train to Pakistan carries sugar & hopes ISLAMABAD, Sept 27 (IPS) — It was a big moment for those seeking open trade between the South Asian foes, when the goods train rolled into Lahore late September. It was carrying not Just 1,500 tonnes of sugar from India, but hopes that the two nuclear weapon-armed rivals would not let politics stand in the way of economic common sense. The sugar was bought by the government’s Trading Corporation of Pakistan, which earlier accepted an Indian offer in response to an advertisement in the international media. More train loads of Indian sugar would arrive in the coming days to meet an acute shortage of the sweetener in this country. But this was a rare instance of Pakistan buying an essential commodity from the neighbouring country. What made it even more surprising was that this was done even as the leaders of the two nations accused each other of bad faith in resolving political disputes. Pakistan still imports wheat from the far away USA, which it can also buy from India. It buys costly medicines and farm fertilisers from third nations, though these can be bought much cheaper from India. Media commentators noted that Pakistan was ‘’bound to buy Indian sugar if New Delhi chooses to respond to international tenders, floated by our Food and Agriculture Ministry.” “We believe that trade and business should be given a chance to flourish in the subcontinent. This would also help create an environment for talks for peace and amity,” said the ‘Frontier Post’ daily published from Peshawar. Last year Pakistan sold sugar to India even as the two countries were in the midst of an undeclared war in Kashmir in which hundreds of soldiers from both sides died. However, independent business analysts cautioned this did not mean that good sense was at last prevailing. They pointed out how the military government did not allow the sale of surplus Pakistani electricity badly sought by India. In early September, the military rulers rejected a proposal from IPPS (independent private power producers) to sell 1,000 MW of surplus electricity to energy-deficient India. The IPPS offered to share half the sales profit with the government. However, the government claimed that Pakistan did not have surplus power. Those supporting freer trade with India, speak of the gains from lower freight costs. The two countries are linked by road, rail, sea and air. The two main ports — India’s Mumbai and Pakistan’s Karachi — are within two days sailing time away from each other. However, some express fears that the smaller Pakistani economy would be ‘swamped’ by that of the bigger neighbour. But, a government official, who did not want to be identified, told IPS that this ‘fear’ is more political than real. Thus no one worries about greater trade relations with China, which has a far bigger economy than India, but is Pakistan’s friend, he said. According to Commerce Minister Abdur Razzak Dawood, every year, about 600 items worth $ 35 million are traded between Pakistan and India. Independent studies, however, put the annual volume of bilateral trade as between one and two billion dollars. Most of this involves smuggling, either across the India-Pakistan border or through a third country, mainly the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Smuggled video tapes of Indian films, artificial jewellery and cosmetics are popular in Pakistan. Video tapes of Pakistani television plays and dry fruit are smuggled into India. It is estimated that smugglers are causing an annual revenue loss of around $ 500 million to Pakistan in custom duties.
|
|
|
RiceTec
drops patent claim on Basmati NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — India has succeeded in forcing RiceTec Inc, a Texas-based US company, which had obtained a patent for basmati rice lines and grains to withdraw certain claims in the US Patent. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA) had filed a re-examination application contesting some of the claims of the patent. The claims, which could have adversely affected the commercial interests of Basmati rice exporters, have now been withdrawn by RiceTec Inc.
RiceTec had claimed that the rice grains produced by it had unique
characteristics. APEDA’s request for a re-examination to the US Patent Office included evidence that Basmati rice grains were being produced in India since long prior to the date of the patent, and had the characteristics which were now being claimed as unique by RiceTec Inc. An official release said the action initiated by APEDA demonstrates the government’s resolve to protect India’s Basmati interests against any attempts to misappropriate it and thereby is a signal to the world that India’s prized geographical indications and intellectual property rights would be fully defended and are not up for grabs. |
|
No immediate hike
in air fares: govt NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — The government today ruled out any immediate hike in the aviation sector despite an impending increase in the fuel prices. “In spite of the fuel price hike, we may not see a rise in air fares primarily due to enhanced competition,” Civil Aviation Secretary A.H. Jung told the India Aviation Meet organised by the CII. Stating that bilateral air traffic rights were being liberalised on “need-driven basis”, he said during last one year 15 countries have signed tie-ups providing for a total of 13,129 seats per week for each side. This would
enhance competition thereby making freight hike a difficult proposition. The government has decided to provide aviation turbine fuel (ATF) at international prices for turbo-prop aircraft operations in difficult areas and the matter “is under process”, he said. Rejecting suggestions for “outright privatisation” of airports, Mr Jung said it was not quite feasible as the country also needed to ensure effecitvity to far-flung and difficult areas to meet the twin aspects of security and national integration.
|
|
Nabard bonds
issue opens today CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — NABARD’s three year capital gain bonds issue will open on September 28. Pursuant to the Union Budget for 2000-1, investments of long term of capital gains on assets transferred on or after April 1, 2000 in these bonds will qualify for exemption from capital gains tax under Section 54 EC of the Income Tax Act,1961. According to officials, the minimum amount which has to be invested is Rs. 10,000 and further in multiples of 10,000 and the interest rate of 9.75 per cent will be offered. “Full and firm allotment to all applicants will be ensured”, said Mr A. Ramanathan GM of the regional office here. He said that bonds which will be non-transferable and non-negotiable. Indian residents, including Hindu undivided families, companies, body corporate and societies, partnership firms, statutory corporations and all banks and financial institutions, are eligible to apply.
|
|
|
D-Link embarks on
major expansion NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — D-Link (India) Ltd., a leading Indian LAN & WAN products and solutions company with expertise in networking, internetworking and structured cabling, has embarked on a major project which involves expansion of its software development division, expansion of the facilities at the company plant at Goa and setting up of
fiber optic products manufacturing facilities. D-Link, which was formulated as a joint venture between D-Link Corporation, Taiwan, and Indian promoters in 1995, has grown to a brand with maximum visibility and penetration in India in its market segment. The company is in fact a one-stop shop for all communication, LAN, WAN, GAN, MAN, VPN, Voice Over IP, Intranet, Extranet, and today’s information communication entertainment needs. In February this year, D-Link started the software development activity at Goa and is in the process of setting up centres at Bangalore and Mhape, New Mumbai. According to Mr K.R. Naik, Managing Director of the company, the software engineers were being trained at D-Link Corporation, Taiwan, in specialised software for networking field. The company plans to penetrate the specialised software segment which is a major segment in the networking and communication fields. The company has offices and services centres to meet the needs of customers almost all over India, including Chandigarh, Lucknow, Indore, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Pune, Secunderabad, Ahmedabad and Goa. According to Mr Naik, D-Link holds the top position in the range of NICs, hubs and modems and is among the leaders in a range of other networking products like switches, routers, besides being a pioneer in the digital home concept. Last year, the company entered into structured cabling products and bagged the third position in less than a year in cabling products. The company plans to target the high growth segments of switches and broad brand access products. The ISO-9002 certified plant has a capacity of 50,000 NIC, 10,000 hubs and switches of various types besides a mix of more than 20,000 information outlets, patch cords, patch panels and
fiber products. |
|
|
5 awards for Punjab mills NEW DELHI, Sept 27 (PTI) — Punjab sugar cooperative mills bagged five efficiency awards for 1999-2000 from the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) today. The mills, affiliated with Sugarfed, have bagged five of the 14 awards for excelling in technical efficiency, financial management and cane development during the current sugar year (Oct-Sept), NFCSF said in a statement here. This is the first time that Punjab Sugarfed has bagged so many awards in a single year, the release said and added other cooperatives to be awarded the efficiency awards were Fazilka, Nawanshahr, Bhogpur and Budhewal. |
rc
Indian Internet exhibition opens NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — The Karnataka Government has invited telecom players to lay optical fibre network in the state to overcome the problem of shortage of bandwidth and has allowed free right of way for using the state’s network. “There are tremendous opportunities in the IT sector but availability of bandwidth is a major concern and a major handicap in the development of this sector,” Mr S M Krishna, Karnataka’s Chief Minister said here today. Inaugurating the third Indian Internet World exhibition, Mr Krishna said some of the companies, including Enron, BPL, Reliance and Zee, had shown keen interest in investing in the state to enhance the bandwidth. According to sources, Enron India is likely to finalise the agreement with state electricity board for laying optical fibre using its transmission network. The three-day event, which the largest in Asia and fifth biggest in the world, will reflect the changes in the Internet industry. Meanwhile, US-based venture capitalist Sculley Brothers is planning to invest in India’s IT sector, especially in the areas of wireless communication, broad-band infrastructure technology and B2B areas. Addressing the exhibition, Chief Executive of Sculley Brothers John Sculley said he was looking at first-tier investment partner in India and the company would market skill and not technology. Former CEO of Apple Computers Sculley was talking to Microland for the proposed investment plans in India but no final decision had been taken yet. India, Russia sign pact on software NEW DELHI, Sept 27 — India and Russia have signed agreement in the areas of software, communication and network technologies, including Internet, software, high technologies and electronic materials, cooperation in high performance computing systems and their application, cooperation in application of information technologies and bilateral trade in IT. This was announced by Mr A P Manoshkin, head of the Department of Informatization, Ministry of Communication of Russia and leader of the delegation at the India-Russia round table on IT organised by FICCI here today. Under the agreement both countries agreed to cooperate in accordance with the present certification systems, established and functioning based on the methods and principles stated in international certification rules. Members of the Russian delegation said their country was interested in developing high-tech technology and not only in buying software parts. Moscow was working on a formula to enable the leading brands to establish their manufacturing bases in Russia which would be cost effective. Mr A V Makeshin, Deputy head of the Department of Informatization, said a lot of Russians and Indians in small business sector do not have adequate knowledge about the possibilities of business cooperation on both sides. NetWorld Solutions ties
up with Canadian firm CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — Chandigarh-based NetWorld Solutions has tied up with a Canadian company, Domainpeople Inc., to offer secure domain registration through the website, NetWorlddomains.com which will have access to a password based control panel. Mr A.S. Sandhu, Business Manager of NetWorld Solution, said the recent domain-hijacking incidents have exposed weakness in the domain management process. An anti-capitalism group hijacked the Nike domain for three days in protest against WTO policies. NetWorld provides customised solutions to clients in India, Canada and the USA. NetWorld franchisee centres in Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jalandhar provide web education. Recently NetWorld completed an e-commerce project worth over Rs 34 lakh within four months for a Canadian client. Grasim unit for Bathinda CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 —Grasim Industries Limited, the flagship company of the Aditya Birla group, has laid the foundation stone to set up a 1 million tonnes cement grinding capacity adjacent to Guru Teg Bahadur thermal plant in Bathinda. The project outlay is estimated at Rs 80 crore and is scheduled to be operational by September 2001. This marks a new era for the cement business of Grasim in Punjab. Grasim is gearing up to achieve yet another milestone. The company’s entire requirement of flyash will be met from this thermal plant. |
ty
Deepa Narayan in limelight WASHINGTON: Deepa Narayan, who put together the landmark World Bank volumes highlighting the grievances of the poor told in their own words, has hogged the limelight in the American media. “Deepa Narayan, an Indian woman with a steely gaze who spends much of her time in the poorest villages on earth, speaks of power, voice and equality as the keys to ending poverty. Keeping men from beating women does far more to raise living standards than any dam project ever did,” New York Times noted on Wednesday. “She would make a fine spokeswoman for the protesters who plan to blockade the World Bank and the IMF in their hotels here today, when they hope to send a message that global lending agencies hurt the poor,” it added. “But Narayan, 48, works for the world bank and seems to like it there.” “The fact that Narayan and people like her are working for the bank is taken as an indication that World Bank President James Wolfensohn and new IMF Managing Director Hoest Kohler have cast themselves as allies of governments and charity groups in poor countries sometimes taking stands against the rich nations that provide most of their financing,” the times said. — PTI One-stop site
on beer NEW
DELHI: Want to know about the benefits of beer or how brewing takes place or anything related with beer? Log on to www. mountshivalik. com with link to www. Go4strohs. com, a website launched yesterday by Mount Shivalik Industries. Information available on the site range from the history of beer down to the brewing process to beer cocktails, quotes from famous beer drinkers, setting up a home bar, online games, beer fun, food and beer, downloads, screen savers, bar finders, beer toons and do’s and don’ts of beer.
— PTI E-flirting &
slash fiction The term refers to the use of a stroke or ``slash’’ to signify a homoerotic relationship between two characters from a cult TV show or film. It could be any two personalities such as the hugely popular Star Trek pairing Kirk/Spock or Mulder/Krycek from The X-Files. The only restriction is that the characters should not have a sexual relationship in the ``real’’ series. On the face of it, this looks like just another geeky outpouring from the Net’s lunatic fringe. Certainly there is no obvious connection between this level of fan writing and women’s erotic empowerment. Yet surf through a few typical sites and something unexpected emerges: almost all the stories are written by heterosexual women.
— The Guardian Costliest bike
in October NEW DELHI: Royal Enfield Motors will roll out a new 350cc bike “Lightning” in India by October-end, sporting a price tag of Rs 65,000 (on road Delhi), and follow it up with a 624cc model in the next fiscal. The 624cc model, to be branded “Lightning 624” in the local markets, will be first launched in the export markets in the first quarter of the 2001 calendar year, Managing Director P.K. Purang told UNI.
— UNI
|
bb
Rural banks
DP Khandelia Benadryl GAIL plan |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
