According to sources, DoT has been asked to prepare a matrix of various levels of reserve price and spectrum usage charge at every Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) difference in descending order and the impact that would have on tariffs for end-consumer and the revenue accrued to the government.
Government sources on Thursday confirmed that the EGoM would meet on August 27. The EGoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, is likely to discuss various issues, including the amount of 3G spectrum to be auctioned, annual spectrum charges, the number of operators in each telecom circle and the reserve price for 3G and broadband wireless services, sources said.
New Delhi The government has decided not to sell the Dabhol power plant, which has been struggling thanks to huge debts it owes to the contractors.
After poor response to last month's 2G spectrum sale, a ministerial panel on telecom on Friday decided to lower the base price by 30 per cent for radiowaves in 1800 Mhz band in four circles, which attracted no bidders, for fresh auction this fiscal.
The government will not stop companies from filing fresh applications seeking permission to set up special economic zones. However, it will not process any fresh applications until it clears the backlog of over 360 pending proposals.
In a surprise move, the Ministry had on October 10 moved a note to the Empowered Group of Ministers opposing a hike in price of RIL's KG-D6 gas before April 2014 even though the company itself was not seeking a revision before that date.
Fresh notifications and approvals for setting up Special Economic Zones are being put on hold till an Empowered Group of Ministers looking into the matter takes a final view, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
Multiple disputes to ensue; auction begins today, but will do little to quell uncertainty.
Even as the freeze on all decisions and notifications for fresh special economic zones continues, the government on Friday gave its nod for authorised operations in 30 notified SEZs, while granting co-developer status to five zones.
Incumbent operators can retain 2.5-MHz spectrum in 900-MHz band, rest to be refarmed decision final.
In another instance, a foreign partner of a notified SEZ had already procured equipment abroad for setting up the units but could not send them to India as all proposals were put on hold.
The group also said that the companies will have to pay a market price if they merge or acquire another company, which was allocated spectrum at old price of Rs 1,658 crore.
The meeting of the empowered group of ministers on special economic zones could not reach any firm view on on Monday while the government will take the rehabilitation policy to the Cabinet next month.
Two decisions by an empowered group of ministers on Tuesday demonstrated the government's continuing inability to come to grips with the problems being faced by the aviation sector.
Operators say no option but to challenge it in court, decision on refarming deferred
While it gives clarity on one regulatory issue, the financial burden increases for the sector.
The empowered group of ministers, headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, had imposed a 5000 hectare ceiling on SEZs last year following widespread protests over land acquisition. The meeting of the eGoM, scheduled for February 4 to review the land ceiling was cancelled.
eGOM is likely to reconsider the 5000 hectre SEZ land ceiling limit in the coming month.
Time opportune before state polls as inflation is moderating.
"The letter approving a price of $4.20 per million British thermal unit (mBtu) for first five years of production from KG-D6 was issued by the Petroleum Ministry on Thursday," a source familiar with the development said.
The government has decided to scrap a plan to purchase wheat through a series of small domestic tenders in different parts of the country, fearing that private traders may corner most orders.
The eGoM, headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, is likely to take up issues including demand from developers to revise the 5,000 hectare land ceiling for one SEZ.
Maharashtra government, which is facing the heat over land acquisition for the special economic zones has written to the Centre asking it to clarify the scope of the term compulsory land acquisition.
Reliance-ASA on Monday emerged as the highest financial bidder for the Delhi airport modernisation project, offering 46 per cent of revenue share to government for the work.
The government on Saturday said it is expected to take a decision on privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports at the meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers on January 24.
After violence in Nandigram, the Government has decided not to give further approvals for Special Economic Zones where acquisition of land is being resisted.
The empowered group of ministers will take up tomorrow the modernisation plans of Delhi and Mumbai airports even as the government has cautioned low cost carriers on the present fare structure introduced by some of them.
National Thermal Power Corp, Gas Authority of India Ltd and Indian lenders will contribute Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) each as equity
The government on Tuesday said it was considering various options for restructuring of the 2,184 MW Dabhol power project.
The empowered group of ministers (GoM) looking into ways to resolve crisis in the $3 Dabhol power project on Friday discussed various issues including the future course of action on litigation and restructuring but could not arrive at a decision.
Instead of the original plan of auctioning four 3G licences per circle, bundled with 5 MHzs of spectrum per licence, the schedule will depend on spectrum availability in each circle.
Ending the suspense over the modernisation of airports, the empowered group of ministers took a final decision on Tuesday on the Rs 5,400 crore (Rs 54 billion) projects at Delhi and Mumbai Airports, contracts for which would be awarded by January 31.
The government expects to raise up to Rs 12,000-15,000 crore (Rs 120-150 billion) through Coal India IPO, billed as the country's largest ever.
An empowered group of ministers had effected on April 5 major changes in SEZ rules, also setting the 5,000 hectare cap.
The Indian government is open to making changes in 5,000-hectare land ceiling for Special Economic Zones which was decided at the meeting of Empowered Group of Ministers about two weeks back.
The EGoM has fixed priority for the 25 million standard cubic metes per day of gas Reliance plans to start pumping from September this year and 40 mmscmd from March 2009. It has asked the company to first supply gas from KG-D6 field, the first major field of NELP to go on production, to existing gas-based urea plants, which are now getting fuel below their full requirement.
The vacation of additional 2G and 3G spectrum may generate additional revenue of about Rs 80,000 crore (Rs 800 billion) on the basis of prices according to spectrum auctioned last year, DoT said in a note for the empowered group of ministers.
'Even if we have laws in place, which we must, we need a societal change.' 'Rather than telling our daughters that, "Listen, leave your house at so and so time, come back by so and so time," we must tell the men and boys that "Whatever point of time you encounter a woman in public space or wherever, you treat her with respect, dignity, and as an equal participant in these public spaces".'
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