Rituparna Bhuyan &Amp; Makarand Gadgil In New Delhi

Stories by Rituparna Bhuyan &Amp; Makarand Gadgil In New Delhi

R-Infra project hits green hurdles

R-Infra project hits green hurdles

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2008

Reliance Infrastructure's 4,000-MW power project at Shahpur in Raigad district is facing legal hurdles on environmental ground

EGoM resolves Essar, Mundra SEZ tax issues

EGoM resolves Essar, Mundra SEZ tax issues

Rediff.com   25 Oct 2008

This decision will come as a relief to Essar's multi-product port-based SEZ project in Hazira as well as of Adani Group's zone in Mundra, which the revenue department felt was not built on vacant land when it was notified, and hence it had violated the law. Both the zones are in Gujarat.

Mumbai to have new taxis soon

Mumbai to have new taxis soon

Rediff.com   15 Oct 2008

The Maharashtra government's decision to phase out the old ubiquitous black and yellow premier padmini taxis that are more than 25 year old in the country's financial capital has given automobile companies, which are facing declining sales due to the economic slowdown, a reason to smile.

Japan trade deal unlikely this year

Japan trade deal unlikely this year

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2008

According to sources, last week's talks between the two countries had hit a roadblock as Japanese trade envoys were unwilling to grant market access to Indian pharmaceuticals and allow professionals, including nurses, to work in the island nation. The talks were held in Tokyo.

'Singur is an isolated case'

'Singur is an isolated case'

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2008

Commerce Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai speaks to Business Standard on the impact the Tata Motors decision to pull out of Singur will have on the investment climate in the state.

Govt mulls 100% FDI in single-brand retail

Govt mulls 100% FDI in single-brand retail

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2008

In effect, the government proposes to relax the norms with regard to foreign participation in multi-brand retail by opening up these specialised sectors, while keeping grocery and consumer goods retail out of bounds. The move comes months after the Left parties, which were opposed to any relaxation of FDI norms for the retail sector, pulled out of the United Progressive Alliance government.

New guidelines to define overseas investments soon

New guidelines to define overseas investments soon

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2008

Move to make investing in sectors with FDI cap easier.

Few takers for more Indo-Pak trains proposal

Few takers for more Indo-Pak trains proposal

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2008

The decision by India and Pakistan to scale up the number of freight trains between the two countries to five a day has not yet materialised due to lack of sufficient freight traffic between the two countries. At present, two freight trains each from Pakistan and India cross the border post at Attari and Wagah every day.

Govt may take FIIs out of FDI sector limits

Govt may take FIIs out of FDI sector limits

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2008

The relaxation will apply to those sectors that have composite caps (foreign direct investment or FDI plus FII). "The move will not impact sectors like banking and insurance which are governed by Acts of Parliament. However, sectors with composite caps which see administrative control like telecommunication services, broadcast services like direct-to-home and FM radio will benefit," a Delhi based FDI policy expert told Business Standard.

Irrigation dept report shadow on Mumbai SEZ

Irrigation dept report shadow on Mumbai SEZ

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2008

The pro-SEZ lobby is claiming that the benefits of dam are going to be minimal for these villages as the irrigation department has already committed water for various other purposes. However, the anti-SEZ activists are claiming that enough water is still available in the dam to irrigate the land in 22 villages.

Data flow for new WPI less than desired

Data flow for new WPI less than desired

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2008

The industry department had planned to get 10,000 price quotations from producers in order to have a new-look WPI, which incorporates a better snapshot of the economy. Out of this, 8,000 products are manufactured items. However, it now emerges that the DIPP may get price quotations from only 6,400 industrial units and factories.

SEZs may have own local governance bodies

SEZs may have own local governance bodies

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2008

The commerce and industry ministry is in talks with state governments to prepare guidelines for setting up local governance bodies inside these tax-free industrial enclaves. Sources said these bodies may either be modelled on the lines of townships developed by state industrial development authorities like the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (Noida) in Uttar Pradesh, or follow a Jamshedpur-like model, where a corporate house takes care of civic infrastructure.

After Asean, trade pacts with Japan, Korea soon

After Asean, trade pacts with Japan, Korea soon

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2008

The CEPAs with South Korea and Japan are likely to be concluded in September and October, respectively. While the pact with South Korea is likely to have only a moderate impact on the economic relationship between the two countries, the one with Japan will immensely help the Indian industry in gaining market access in the world's second largest economy. Currently, bilateral trade between India and Japan, which is currently close to $4 billion.

Rupee effect: Exporters keep their fingers crossed

Rupee effect: Exporters keep their fingers crossed

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2008

Indian exporters are not opening the bubbly yet despite a rapid depreciation of the rupee, which fell to a 17-month low of Rs 44.17 against the US dollar on Tuesday before rising to close at Rs 43.85.

WTO: India firm over sectoral tariffs

WTO: India firm over sectoral tariffs

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2008

India's trade envoys to the World Trade Organization are comfortable with the proposed norms on concentration of tariff cuts, but are firm that the sectoral proposals at the Doha Round will have an adverse impact on the country's economy.

Doha: higher cuts by developing world

Doha: higher cuts by developing world

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2008

Even as World Trade Organization director general Pascal Lamy has claimed that a successful Doha Round will lead to rich nations undertaking steeper tariff cuts than developing and poor nations, an analysis of the proposals shows the opposite may be true.

Mumbai Metro to offer higher FSI

Mumbai Metro to offer higher FSI

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2008

A senior official from the urban development ministry said that allowing four floor space index within a 500 metre from the station will help the developer to bring down the viability gap funding because he will be able to make profits from the excess FSI. This will also allow the state government and the BMC to generate funds for infrastructure projects.

Dhoot to pay Rs 950 cr for Cidco plot

Dhoot to pay Rs 950 cr for Cidco plot

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2008

Videocon Group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot on Thursday clarified that the group would be paying Rs 950 crore (Rs 9.5 billion) to the Maharashtra government's town and industrial infrastructure subsidiary CIDCO for a 100-hectare plot in Navi Mumbai and not Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) as claimed by some people.

6th Pay Commission awards may be deferred

6th Pay Commission awards may be deferred

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2008

The government may defer the implementation of the sixth Pay Commission award by a year or even two to reduce the fiscal burden of the recommendations that proposed a 28 per cent across-the-board salary increase for an estimated 4.5 million central government employees. The report of the commission headed by Justice BN Srikrishna was submitted to the government on March 24 this year, nearly a fortnight before its 18-month tenure was to end.

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.