"We require eight million cubic metres for overall expansion which is almost half the gas available at Panna-Mukta-Tapi. At present, for the 655 mw, we are using three million cubic metres a day," said Rajiv Mishra, managing director of CLP Power India, which is a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based CLP Group. The company had received the required environment clearance from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board in 2007.
A senior RIL executive confirmed this development, but refused to divulge further details. "There has been some research on producing ethanol from jethropa. However, the tests have not been confirmed," said a scientist who has been working with the Gujarat state government for studying crops in Kutch. Another view by the industry experts is that the sugar industry in South Gujarat is not finding enough takers for the ethanol produced.
Shell India is the second private sector petroleum company to review its expansion plans in India. The company has decided not to open any more petroleum outlets. The company has also asked some of its employees to start looking for another job. Shell has 50 petrol pumps across the country and has a licence to open 2,000 pumps.
Gujarat is on the road to market 'Brand Gujarat'. The state has aimed at an accelerated industrial growth of about 15 per cent for the next five years. According to the new policy, the state will create room for three new economic corridors to house four special investment regions (SIR), 10 logistic parks for Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and a slew of industrial parks. For trained manpower, the state government will create a synergy between industry and education.
"The tie-up with the ASE could either be an equity partnership or a technology tie-up, or both. The regulatory bodies have to clear the proposal and we also need approval from our members first," a top ASE official said on conditions of anonymity.
ASE Capital Markets, a subsidiary of The Ahmedabad Stock Exchange, the second oldest bourse in India, is selling a part of its holding in the Bombay Stock Exchange -- the second time in less than 12 months.
It may be recalled that the Gujarat government had introduced Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act, Gujarat in 1991 after the communal riots to prevent distress property deals between members of different communities and ghettoisation. The Act had around 20 police stations under its jurisdiction in Ahmedabad.