Makarand Gadgil In Pen (Raigad)

Stories by Makarand Gadgil In Pen (Raigad)

Dow's tryst with a sacred river

Dow's tryst with a sacred river

Rediff.com   30 Jul 2008

Villagers and the people of the Varkari sect are on one side and state government and Dow Chemicals on the other. The bone of contention is the future of Dow Chemicals' $100-million R&D project, for which 100 acres of land was allotted in the village near the Sudha -- held sacred by the followers of a Bhakti cult called Varkaris.

General Motors to invest Rs 1,200 cr in Pune unit

General Motors to invest Rs 1,200 cr in Pune unit

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2008

Automobile giant General Motors will invest Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 crore (Rs 10-12 billion) to set up a power train (engine and gear box) manufacturing facility at its Talegaon Plant near Pune.

Farmers start stir against RIL SEZ in Raigad

Farmers start stir against RIL SEZ in Raigad

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2008

Vehicles going from Mumbai towards Goa and Konkan were diverted from Panvel via Khopoli and Pali as the stretch near Pen at Vashi naka was blocked by farmers protesting against the Maharashtra government's decision to approve the rehabilitation and resettlement package announced by Mumbai SEZ Pvt Ltd, a Reliance Industries company.

Mukesh Ambani firm back in sea link fray

Mukesh Ambani firm back in sea link fray

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2008

London-based Dar Consultants has said its bid and the one by preferred bidder Anil Dhirubhani Ambani Group's RELINFRA-Hyundai consortium are both 'responsive' or worth considering. Dar Consultants' recommendation puts the responsibility of re-considering the preferred bidder between the warring brothers squarely back with the political executive. The state cabinet's committee on infrastructure will meet Wednesday to decide the fate of the project.

Decision on Mumbai sea link in 2 weeks

Decision on Mumbai sea link in 2 weeks

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2008

The Maharashtra government will take a final decision on the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG)-led consortium's bid for the Rs 6,000 crore (Rs 60 billion), six-lane sea link between Sewri and Nhava Sheva, better known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), within two weeks, said Public Works Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Centre okays Maharashtra SEZ Act

Centre okays Maharashtra SEZ Act

Rediff.com   20 May 2008

In what may be a sign of the changing political environment ahead of general elections, the Centre has turned down the Maharashtra government's proposal to provide labour law flexibility in special economic zones.

BEST-Rel dispute may plunge Mumbai in darkness

BEST-Rel dispute may plunge Mumbai in darkness

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2008

The commercial capital of India, which enjoys 24x7 power unlike any other cities of the country, is likely to suffer power cuts this summer owing to a dispute between the power distribution utilities Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport and Reliance Energy Ltd over who should foot the bill for 300 Mw of power which is required to be bought to keep Mumbai free from power cuts.

Will the loan waiver relieve farmer distress?

Will the loan waiver relieve farmer distress?

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2008

Ultimately, it boils down to whether a loan waiver will help without taking action to improve irrigation facilities and to ensure remunerative prices for farmers.

More delays at Dabhol

More delays at Dabhol

Rediff.com   7 Mar 2008

The Dabhol power plant of the Ratnagiri Power and Gas Company is in trouble once again with problems in the recently commissioned second unit and delays in commissioning the third.

Experts doubt Lalu's Mumbai project deadline

Experts doubt Lalu's Mumbai project deadline

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2008

The MUTP II focuses on segregating the outstation and suburban railway traffic, which will eventually increase the frequency of trains on the suburban railway network. The MUTP II focuses on segregating the outstation and suburban railway traffic, which will eventually increase the frequency of trains on the suburban railway network.

Mumbai may have private cos in civic transport

Mumbai may have private cos in civic transport

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2008

The Maharashtra government is considering the option of allowing private players in the municipal transport sector in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), spread over 4,000 sq km with a population of 16 million living in seven municipal corporations and 15 municipal councils.

Ambani brothers to vie for Mumbai sea link project

Ambani brothers to vie for Mumbai sea link project

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2008

Mukesh or Anil, who will have the upper hand in the battle for major share of Mumbai makeover pie will be known later on Wednesday.

Maharashtra ropes in World Bank arm for dams

Maharashtra ropes in World Bank arm for dams

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2008

The Maharashtra government, which is finding difficult to get investors for irrigation projects in the state, has now decided to rope in the International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank's lending arm for the private sector.

RIL acquires 1,000 hectares for Mumbai SEZ

RIL acquires 1,000 hectares for Mumbai SEZ

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2008

A senior state government official said, "Reliance managed to buy the land through direct negotiations with farmers." The state government would forward the company's application to the Centre as soon as it came with an official proposal, he added.

Bitter harvest drives grape farmers to suicide

Bitter harvest drives grape farmers to suicide

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2008

Their deaths add to a deadly tally of 70-odd suicides by grape growers over the past two years -- a bizarre juxtaposition to the celebratory enthusiasm of the local politicians.

Ambani eyes Dabhol project, govt says 'no'

Ambani eyes Dabhol project, govt says 'no'

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2008

A day after the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group declared it will be interested in buying out the Dabhol project whenever it is up for sale, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora categorically denied the Central government was considering any such proposal.

Maharashtra plans 9,000 kiosks for e-gov

Maharashtra plans 9,000 kiosks for e-gov

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2008

The kiosks will offer government services like land records, various licences, getting cast or domicile certificates, filing of VAT return, payment of motor vehicle tax, and enrolment forms for the state government's pension scheme for the old and destitute. The operators, running these kiosks, will be allowed to collect user charges to recover their investment.

4 global firms in race for Navi Mumbai airport

4 global firms in race for Navi Mumbai airport

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2008

The consultants who have been shortlisted include Scott & Wilson from England, Maun Senn from Singapore, Louis Burger from the US and another US-based company Mott McDonald.

Shiv Sena turns to investor education

Shiv Sena turns to investor education

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2007

The Shiv Sena, the party that champions the cause of Maharashtrians, has turned this year's stock market boom, which saw the Sensex rise some 700 points, into a political opportunity.

Ambani brothers set for a battle again

Ambani brothers set for a battle again

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2007

The Maharashtra government's decision on the successful bidder to build its showcase project of around Rs 4,500 crore (Rs 45 billion), Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) or sea link between Sewri in island city of Mumbai and Nhava Sheva, is going to be watched keenly by the corporate world as Anil Ambani's Reliance Energy (REL)-led consortium is all set to submit its bid by December 15 after a long drawn legal battle.