POWER
Power Grid gets ISO
HYDERABAD: The Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., Southern Region (Secunderabad) has been certified against international quality systems standards, ISO:9001:2000 by the National Quality Association, UK, becoming the first region in the ... More

Bengal units' plea against removing power tariff sops
THE recent decision by the West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) to withdraw all concessions in power tariff applicable to industries has created a piquant situation. Many bulk power-consuming industries fear that they may be forced to ... More

AP: PLF assessment of biomass plants to be done monthly
IT will be back to old times for biomass power plants in Andhra Pradesh as far as the assessment of their plant load factor (PLF) is concerned. Henceforth, they will be assessed on the basis of the power generated and exported monthly, and not ... More

Task force to evolve energy policy plan
THE Union Government would set up a task force to evolve an energy policy package. "This will cover all sources of energy and will address the aspects like energy security, access, availability, affordability and efficiency," according to Mr ... More

TAXATION
Task force to recover indirect tax arrears
THE Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has decided to constitute a dedicated task force for recovery of the indirect tax arrears that are due to the exchequer. The decision to set up a dedicated task force follows the recent diktat of ... More

Tax on aircraft acquisition worries aviation industry
THE top brass of the domestic civil aviation industry met with the Secretary Civil Aviation, Mr Ajay Prasad, to again voice its concerns on the impact of the Budget proposals on the sector. The domestic aviation industry has been troubled with ... More

CBDT may have 3 new members
THE Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) may soon have three new members. Some of the existing members are likely to move to the Settlement Commission for Direct Taxes. Sources said that Mr A.S. Narang, Mr Sikander Talwar and Mr Jagdish Jha, ... More

Govt to clear air on service tax ambit
THE ambiguity about the goods and services being brought under the new service tax proposals in the Union Budget for 2004-05 would be cleared once the Finance Ministry finalises the modalities and rules within a week. The details of the rules ... More

TEXTILES
Indian textile cos feel the pinch of high power costs
PROHIBITIVE power costs are clearly eating into the global competitiveness of the Indian textile industry. Domestic fabric producers end up paying more on power as a proportion of their fabric production cost, in comparison to their counterparts ... More

SSI
APSFC awareness campaign shows results
THE Andhra Pradesh State Financial Corporation (APSFC), now on a drive to promote awareness about its schemes among entrepreneurs and give on-the-spot sanctions, has received proposals worth Rs 47 crore from Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and ... More

WATER
Govt to form task force on water management
FACED with severe floods in some parts of the country and acute water shortage in others, the Government has decided to constitute a task force to look into the problems of the floods and suggest a permanent solution. Though floods in eastern ... More

Pampa Plan fails to make headway
IN the absence of an independent body like Pampa River Basin Development Authority, the Pampa Action Plan (PAP) approved by the Union Government under the National River Conservation Programme (NRCP) about two years back, moves at a snail's pace. ... More

EDUCATION

AUTOMOBILE COMPONENTS
`With increasing outsourcing, auto part makers are at high risk' — Few takers for product liability cover
"Indian auto component makers do not realise the need for such a cover and hence don't factor it as the cost of doing business in the US and Europe. " More

HCV/LCV/TRACTORS
Tractor makers turn sceptical on monsoon unpredictability
WITH the dry spell in several major States adding to the farmer's cup of woes, industries such as tractors and two-wheelers have revised their outlook for the year. The fortunes of both the industries, particularly tractors, are heavily dependant ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
`Mumbai 15th most expensive in office space'
MUMBAI has been ranked as the world's 15th most expensive place in terms of office rentals. According to a global survey by real estate consulting firm CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), Mumbai ranks as the 15th most expensive city in the world for ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Cochin Chamber's appeal to Kerala Govt on agitations
THE Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed concern over the "unfortunate events" taking place in the State over the past few weeks and urged the State Government to initiate immediate measures to resolve the situation. The ... More

India should tap Chinese machine tools industry: CII
IN the backdrop of increasing exports of Indian machinery to China, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has said that there is a tremendous potential for exports as well as technological collaboration between India and China. According ... More

TOBACCO
SC verdict on gutkha, pan masala — Manufacturers hail ruling
PAN masala and gutkha manufacturers welcomed today's Supreme Court ruling lifting the ban imposed by some States on the sale of the two products. Mr Deepak Kothari, Managing Director of Kothari Products — makers of Pan Parag — ... More

WTO
Breakthrough in WTO talks — a boost for global economy
THE breakthrough in the world trade negotiations under the auspices of World Trade Organization (WTO), after intense and emotive sessions of bargaining between rich and poor or developed and developing countries, has been greeted with cautious ... More

CII lauds WTO's Geneva deal
THE Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has welcomed the `July Framework Agreement' of the World Trade Organisation signed in Geneva, terming it as a victory for the country's negotiating team led by the Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal ... More

LABOUR REFORMS
Maharashtra, CII to set up task force soon
THE State Government's Labour Ministry is all set to announce a task force with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to jointly chart out a detailed guideline within which the State's large industry community will evolve a comprehensive ... More

EVENTS
National meet on medicinal plants in Hyderabad
THE Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) will organise a two-day national interactive meet (NIM-2004) from October 29 in Hyderabad to discuss the scope and opportunities in research and business of medicinal and aromatic ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
HSBC to expand exim trade financing
HSBC is looking at new ways of financing export-import trade in India in keeping with the requirements of its customers. The bank is among the better-known players in the foreign trade financing market. Mr Rajeev Bhargava, Head - Trade ... More

JNPT to suspend import handling of metal scrap
FACED with an unprecedented growth in import of metal scrap destined for Concor's inland container depot (ICD) in Ludhiana, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has decided to suspend handling of import rail containers carrying iron/steel scrap ... More