 |
Saturday,
August 9, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
|
Fixed-line operators get limited mobility
GSM cell operators to challenge ruling
India can save power worth Rs 40,000 cr, says expert
Himachal to promote traditional handicrafts
Land to outsiders within 45 days |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Panel to supervise crop insurance scheme
Govt calls financial bids for NFL
US firm to prepare BPCL accounts
Oil India not to be disinvested: Shourie
JCB to expand operations in India
|
|
Fixed-line operators get limited mobility New Delhi, August 8 The 2:1 majority judgement passed by the TDSAT upheld the decision of the government taken in January, 2001, allowing fixed line operators to provide WLL services and turned down a petition by the Cellular Operators Association of India challenging the legality of limited mobility
services. TDSAT Chairman Justice D.P. Wadhwa, however, wrote a dissenting note, saying that the WLL services were not legal. Justice R.U.S. Prasad and Justice C.R. Dasgupta asked TRAI and the government to create a level-playing field between WLL (M) and cellular operators and called for the imposition of additional license fee for the WLL (M) services. They said the decision by TRAI and the government should be taken within four months and at the same time ensure that WLL (M) remain within the specified short-distance calling area. TDSAT also asked the government to provide additional spectrum availability for WLL (M) service providers considering the large scale of its operations. In his note of dissent, TDSAT Chairman Wadhwa questioned the legality of the government decision to allow fixed-line operators to provide WLL (M) services and held the Department of Telecom responsible for not furnishing relevant records to the empowered Group of Ministers. “Even TRAI failed in its legal obligations and gave faulty recommendations,” he added. Meanwhile, Reliance Infocomm, the largest WLL mobile service provider in the country said today TDSAT’s verdict of upholding government’s WLL policy would end the uncertainties among consumers. “The consumers were not forthcoming... it was psychological. The verdict will end the uncertainties,” Mr Manoj Modi, Executive Director of Reliance Infocomm told PTI from Mumbai. |
|
GSM cell operators to challenge ruling New Delhi, August 8 “All members have to take a decision on this. But is likely that we may approach the Supreme Court,” counsel for the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said. “WLL service will undergo a change as the TDSAT judgement has restricted handing over of call from one short-distance calling area (SDCA) to another and Delhi is divided into four SDCAs,” the counsel told newspersons said. The Association of Basic Telecom Operators (ABTO) on the other hand contested the claim of the COAI. The COAI has said there are four SDCAs in Delhi. “There is no telecom authority regulation or notification dividing Delhi into four SDCAs. The claim of COAI is incorrect and misleading,” ABTO counsel said. The ABTO said fixed line operators were already restricted from handing over of a call from one SDCA to another. “But saying Delhi is divided into four SDCAs is incorrect,” an ABTO member said. |
|
India can save power worth Rs 40,000 cr, Chandigarh, August 8 Talking to the TNS here today, he said: ‘‘The increasing gap between the demand and supply of power may adversely affect the potential GDP growth of the Indian economy. With the restructuring of power, the cost of power to the industrial and commercial sector would substantially increase and would affect their competitiveness in the international market.’’ He disclosed that the installed capacity of Indian power sector was about 1.07 lakh MW, out of which a large portion was wasted due to inefficient technologies and poor maintenance of electric appliances. He said the Energy Conservation Act 2001, that has been implemented with effect from March 2002, would aim to check the growing menace of energy wastage. He said the Ministry of Power has planned, in collaboration with the industrial associations to promote energy-efficient technologies especially in the ‘‘energy intensive units.’’ These units are using approximately 70 per cent of the power consumed in commercial sector. Any industrial unit, he said, which has a power load of 5000 KW or more and commercial building like hotels, with 500KW or more load would be covered under the first phase. These units are mostly concentrated in aluminum, chemical, paper, steel, fertiliser, alkalis and petro-chemical sector. Mr Chakraborty disclosed that a notification would be soon issued by the Ministry that would make it mandatory for the large scale units to appoint energy managers who would be responsible for energy auditing and conservation measures. The units would have to conduct energy audit once in a three years from the certified energy auditors. He said a Steering Committee would be set up by soon the Centre comprising of energy experts, consumer rights protection groups and manufacturers, that would promote the energy efficient electric appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners and even electric pump-sets for the agricultural sector. |
|
Himachal to promote traditional handicrafts Shimla, August 8 Mr Virbhadra Singh said the state was rich in traditional handicrafts. It was to promote this that the corporation had been set up. He said traditional handicrafts had adequate market amongst arts lovers throughout the country and even abroad. If it fully exploited, it could help in reviving the arts, some of which were on the verge of extinction. Mr Virbhadra Singh said the authenticity of art objects had to be adhered to while expanding the working area by including agricultural produce, traditional silver jewellery, wooden artefacts and gift items which were in great demand. He said trained artisans of various handicrafts should be associated and quality of products maintained. He said master craftsman should be identified to train new generation artisans. He said possibilities should be explored to match the arts of tribal areas with the demand in market. The Chief Minister said comprehensive proposals the regarding promotion of art should be sent to the Central Government to avail finances from different ministers. He said the state government would
provide all possible assistance to help the corporation expand its activities and attain self-reliance. Mr Virbhadra Singh directed the state Financial Corporation authorities to lay emphasise upon the recovery of loans granted to various entrepreneurs for establishing their industrial units. |
|
Land to outsiders within 45 days Kulu, August 8 The minister said the government has framed a rehabilitation plan to revive the sick units in the state. He advised the General Managers to execute such plans with the consultation of experts and the owners of the sick units. He said the truck unions in Himachal Pradesh are also hampering the industrial growth of the state. |
|
Panel to supervise crop insurance scheme
Chandigarh, August 8 The release said that in a meeting here today, which was attended by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, a presentation on the crop insurance scheme was also made by Mr K S Bhoria, Principal Secretary, Agriculture. All the food crops including cereals, millets, pulses and oil seeds as well as other commercial and horticultural cropds were likely to be covered under the scheme. —
TNS |
|
Govt calls financial bids for NFL Ropar, August 8 The Iffco also an inter state cooperative that had also given expression of interest for the company had later withdrawn for the bid. The workers of the company had also submitted an expression of interest for company as per the provision provided by new Act passed by the Parliament. However, the Ministry of Disinvestments allegedly did not respond to the bid of the workers. The coordination committee of the recognised worker unions of the NFL has served legal notice to the government in the matter. Resentment also prevailed in the NFL workers regarding the government decision to wave off the condition that any private bidder for a period of five years cannot change the service conditions of the employees or sale the properties of the company. The sources told that financial bids for the NFL are likely to open in the first week of September. The NFL with its four plants located at Nangal, Bathinda, Panipat and Vijaypur in Madhya Pradesh was the second largest producer of the nitrogenous fertilizers in the country. Any of the above said fertilizer companies after the take over of the NFL would become leader in fertilisers market of the country. |
|
US firm to prepare BPCL accounts New Delhi, August 8 The IMG, which met yesterday to review the progress of the government stake sale in oil refiners BPCL and HPCL, also decided to open the HPCL data room for suitors in the third week of July, official sources said. Little & Co of the USA has been proposed to be appointed as the accountant to prepare BPCL’s accounts in compliance with the US GAAP (General Accepted Accounting Practicies) in the next three months. “Technical due diligence of HPCL by official valuer is expected to be completed by mid-July after which due diligence by the shortlisted bidders will begin,” they said. The IMG is also believed to have deliberated on comments received from some bidders on a government proposal to retain veto power with a nominal stake in HPCL where 34.01 per cent stake equity is being sold to a strategic partner. In the draft shareholders’ agreement circulated to prospective bidders, the government has sought veto powers on 28 matters or businesses that can come up before the board for approval. The government has also sought two board positions, so long as it holds 5 per cent share in the company’s equity, and one board position as long as it has one share in the company. —
PTI |
|
Oil India not to be disinvested: Shourie New Delhi, August 8 “Oil India Ltd is also not to be disinvested,” Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie said in a written reply when asked if there was any change in the disinvestment policy specially with respect to profit-making PSUs. While denying there was any change in policy, Shourie said all non-strategic central PSUs, whether profit making or loss making, are to be disinvested. “However, the government has decided that in the case of IOC, ONGC and GAIL, government shareholding would not be reduced below 51 per cent,” he added. On whether Jessop Company Ltd disinvestment has been cleared by the Calcutta High Court, he replied in the affirmative. “Jessop & Co Ltd Staff Association has filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court. No stay has been granted by the Supreme Court,” the Minister added. —
PTI |
bb
Maruti Alto Corpn Bank Timex watches Centurion Bank Indo Rama Investors’ guide Sanjiv Garg |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 123 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
