The Hindu Business Line : Friday, July 02, 2004

BUDGET
ICC seeks cut in corporate tax
THE Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has suggested that the corporate tax rate be reduced to 30 per cent and also urged that the surcharge be abolished. In a pre-budget memorandum submitted to the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, ICC ... More

ECONOMY
PERT moots steps to rectify national fiscal situation
A LONG-TERM fiscal outlook coupled with a national fiscal consolidation mission is the country's imperative need, according to a Chennai-based think-tank, Public Expenditure Round Table (PERT). PERT has proposed a time-frame for Central and ... More

ENVIRONMENT
Shangri-la under threat
Silent Valley, the evergreen cliff forest descending from Nilgiri plateau to the plains of Kerala is about 8952 hectares large. Twenty-three mammalian species, including three endangered ones (tiger, lion-tailed macaque and Nilgiri langur), make ... More

Barely surviving
Starved of water, and dwarfed by the high-rises, this tree is one of a dwindling species of what passes for greenery in Mumbai's concrete jungle.

HEALTH
Campaign stepped up as polio resurfaces in AP
FROM eradicate to wipe out to remove and now to bowl out. Even as the coinage of campaign words to rid the country of polio keeps changing, the children's scourge has resurfaced in parts of Andhra Pradesh as well as in some States. For Andhra ... More

PSU
`Profit-making PSUs will not be privatised'
In the case of sick units, the State's declared intention is to try and revive them. More

PHARMACEUTICALS
Govt to pursue uniform sales tax for drugs
Mr Paswan will take up the issue with State Chief Ministers. The move is aimed at ensuring a single rate for drugs throughout the country. More

POWER
Dadri project: Reliance Energy may appoint ICICI Bank as lead manager
"State Bank of India, Industrial Development Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India and institutions such as Power Finance Corporation are all interested in financing this project." More

Training in energy management
CII-Kerala in association with State Bank of India is organising a one-day training programme on Energy Management here on July 7. The objective of the programme is to disseminate the techniques and latest advancements in the field of energy ... More

Power cut may continue for a few more days in AP
POWER cut being imposed in parts of the State may continue for a few more days, as there is a shortage of 400 MW during peak hours and about 300 MW during off-peak hours, necessitating load relief. According to the Transmission Corporation of ... More

Dabhol promoters file arbitration on MSEB
THE Maharashtra State Electricity Board has yet to respond to a Rs 26,000-crore arbitration filed by the Dabhol Power Company in a London Court in May this year. According to sources, DPC promoters GE and Bechtel filed the arbitration on May ... More

PFC to charge 7.25% for Nagarjuna group project
THE Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has fixed the lending rates for the 1015 MW power project promoted by the Nagarjuna group at 7.25 per cent. Sources said that the consortium members project debt financing include the Rural Electrification ... More

TAXATION
States seek more Central aid for VAT switchover
One of the major factors ensuring buoyant State Government revenues is the cascading effect of the current ad valorem method of taxation. More

SSI
SSIs seek sub-PLR lending from SIDBI
THE Kerala State Small Industries Association (KSSIA) has urged SIDBI to lend at sub-PLR to the SSI sector and expand its network of operations by way of direct lending up to any project costing at least Rs 25 lakh. SIDBI should also offer a ... More

RADIO/TV
Cable industry favours broadcast legislation
THE cable industry has urged the Government to enact a Broadcast Bill and set up an independent regulator, in an effort to regulate the broadcasting business. In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, representatives ... More

GEMS & JEWELLERY
Gem export body completes Namibia visit
A DELEGATION from India's Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has returned from a two-day visit to Namibia following talks with senior officials and business leaders on cooperation in the fields of diamonds and other ... More

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS & HOSPITALS
Wockhardt centre to take care of all types of spinal problems
The vision of this centre is to ensure comprehensive quality care to patients of all age groups having back, neck and spine-related problems. The uniqueness of this spine centre is a new, multidisciplinary approach where orthopaedic and ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Construction cos seek thrust on rural housing
THE construction sector has demanded a greater emphasis on rural and low-cost housing through better access to credit and streamlined procedures in the Budget. The industry has also suggested certain revenue-neutral measures to spur demand for ... More

TEXTILE MACHINERY
Rapier Links to market Chinese looms in South India
RAPIER Links, the Kumarapalayam based company in Tamil Nadu, will be selling the low priced automatic rapier weaving machines produced by China in India. Essentially a dealer for the South Indian market, Rapier Links will offer the flexible ... More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Panchayat Academy set up in TN
CHENNAI: Kuthambakkam village in Tiruvallur district plans to teach the art of village self-governance to other village panchayats. It has set up a Panchayat Academy to spread awareness about opportunities for developing village ... More

EVENTS

Management meet

In Hyderabad today

TOURISM
Tourism Ministry signs pact to promote India
THE Ministry of Tourism has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Experience India Society to develop a three-year plan to jointly market India as a tourism destination. In a statement, the Society has said that the marketing plan ... More