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| Symposium on
agriculture LUCKNOW, Dec 16: Eminent agricultural scientist Dr H H Jain has said that one of the challenges before the scientists was.......more Need to involve private sector in production of defence items NEW
DELHI, Dec 16: There
is a need to involve the private sector in the production
of defence items in a greater measure.... more NEW
DELHI Dec 16: Uncertainty
plagued the fertiliser sector during 1998 as delays in
decision-making and frequent shifts.....more |
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Govt gears up to meet shortage of fertilisers NEW DELHI Dec 16: The Government is fully geared up to meet the shortage of fertilisers in parts of Rajashthan, Uttar Pradesh,..more Need to spread art of VADODHRA, Dec 16: World renowned taxidermist Ajit Patil has stressed the need to spread the art of preservation ....more ERMIU has been set up to use information technology NEW
DELHI, Dec 16: In
a major initiative to enable the Textile Industry to use
information technology, the ....more NEW DELHI, Dec 16: In a major initiative to enable the Textile Industry to use information ......more |
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LUCKNOW, Dec 16: Eminent agricultural scientist Dr H H Jain has said that one of the challenges before the scientists was to collect legumes of the world and hybridize them with Indian species to get finer varieties. Speaking at a national symposium on ‘advances in legume research in India’ at the National Botanical Research Institute here yesterday, he called for inter-disciplinary research for developing finer and nutritionally rich varieties of legumes, which include pulses and other edible seeds, pods etc . About 80 scientists from different parts of the country have converged here for the symposium. Speaking earlier director, NBRI Dr Sushil Kumar said that now affluent countries were increasingly consuming of pulses as they have been found it useful in resisting colon cancer and calcium loss in human body. He said that out of 18000 varieties of 1200 species, about seven per cent of legume biodiversity exists in India . Senior most scientist of the NBRI and convenor of the programme Dr R R Aro also spoke at the inaugural session of the seminar. (UNI) |
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Need
to involve private sector in production NEW DELHI, Dec 16: There is a need to involve the private sector in the production of defence items in a greater measure in areas where it has the potential, the Rajya Sabha was informed during question hour today. Defence Minister George Fernandes said in reply to supplementaries that there is a constant increase in the indigenisation of defence needs of the country. The cost of the items locally procured was Rs 1066 crore, while the cost of the imported items was Rs 1652 crore during the 1997-98. Mr Fernandes said that the country was trying to catch up fast with the imports of defence requirements. He said that India has done better in the matter of acquiring technology in manufacturing spare parts for the Russian fighter planes as compared to those acquired from the Western countries. The Defence Minister said that there has been a better technical collaboration with the Russians toward transfer of technology. In a written reply he said that with the aim of achieving the twin goals of self reliance and cutting down costs, efforts are being made to manufacture increasing quantity of spares within the country by the HAL and private agencies. IAF has taken up the major programmes for indigenisation of spares and components required for maintenance of aircraft and helicopters dof the Russian origin. Inhouse indigenisation is being undertaken at base repair depots. Regular workshops, exhibitions and seminars are being organised in collaboration with the industry for cooperation and active involvement/participation in the indigenisation effort. So far, over 27,600 items of fighter aircraft and helicopters of Russian origin have been indigenised, Mr Fernandes said. Indian Army has been giving a defeating reply to the Pakistani firing around Kargil and surrounding villages and the civil administration is providing shelters and bunkers to protect the local population, Mr Ferndnes said. He said to safeguard the Kargil Daras Highway, local by-passes and walls have been planned along those stretches where Pak firing is heavy. (UNI) |
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Uncertainty
chases away fresh investments NEW DELHI Dec 16: Uncertainty plagued the fertiliser sector during 1998 as delays in decision-making and frequent shifts in policies caused severe shortage besides discouraging fresh investments in this capital-intensive industry. A decision on the high-powered fertiliser pricing committee recommendations, supposed to be the central part of the new fertiliser policy, kept hanging fire in the absence of consensus on several clauses of the report. Industry continued to face liquidity problems as about Rs 850 crore remained locked up with the Government in form of arrears for de-controlled phosphatic and potassic fertilisers. Farmers were hit by shortages, especially of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) at the time of he crucial rabi showing season, a factor which may adversely affect overall foodgrain output this year, agro-scientists say. The price disparities among the nitrogenous, phosphatic and potassic fertilisers caused unbalanced nutrient use which further destroyed soil health which seems to have affected productivity to some extent, they said. The only silver lining was the lower quantum of urea imports in the wake of increased domestic production, caused by the successful completion of some expansion plans that enhanced significant capacity. However, several projects relating to capacity expansion ofexising fertiliser plants and setting up grass-root projects were in cold storage awaiting clearance from Public Investment Board. PIB meeting could not be held due to objections raised by Planning Commission on issues such as extent of import dependence, optimum level of domestic fertiliser production and rationale of going for further capacity expansion at a time when international urea price was ruling at a very low level. The Agriculture and Fertiliser Ministries were supposed to sort out this issue in consultation with Planning Commission, but thus far there are no results. Expansion projects of Krishak Bharti Cooperative (KRIBHCO), Rastriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) and National Fertilisers Ltd (NFL) and a gras root project of Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) were delayed for similar reasons. But, the much-hyped 1.2 billion dollar joint venture fertiliser project of India and Oman made marginal progress as IFFCO, the third Indian partner after KRIBHCO and RCF, decided on equity participation, albeit with some tough conditions. The sick fertiliser companies, Hindustan Fertilisers Corporation Ltd (HFCL) and Fertiliser Corporation of India (FCI) continued to pile up losses as Government failed to prepare any rehabilitation package. (PTI) |
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Policies fail to fuel expectations of oil sector NEW DELHI, Dec 16: Despite several policy initiatives from Government to create a competitive environment, the petroleum sector failed to fuel the expectations of public and private sector companies during 1998. The year saw several policies that looked good when announced but did not enthuse market sentiments, due to the slow pace of implementation by the new Government. Promises of creating a conducive atmosphere for private investment and providing a competitive environment did not speed up investments in the petroleum sector. However, initiatives like dismantling of Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM), private sector joint venues, formation of a new company with consortium of public sector utilities and clearance of New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) were announced. Heavily dependent on imports of petroleum products, India brought in about 18.6 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of oil products in 1997-98 compared to 3.8 MMT during 1985-86 due to a rapid increase in consumption, and stagnation in refining capacity. Government estimates projected demand to be about 700 million barrels by 2000 and the total investment required for meeting this demand in the next 10-15 years in estimated to be around 100 to 150 billion dollars. To bridge this widening gap and to meet the growing demand for petroleum products, the Government, on April one, initiated the process of dismantling of the APM to bring the oil companies into a competitive market. Under the programme, tariff structure for crude oil and petroleum products would be rationalised in phases by 2001-02, and the refineries would be free to decide their product prices except for LPG, motor spirit, kerosene oil, aviation fuel and diesel. The prices of these five products till the year 2001-02 would be fixed by the Government on import arty or the existing refineries. This was aimed to gear up the public sector oil companies to face international competition, as their pricing of crude oil and petroleum products would get aligned to international prices. The structural changes in the country’s petroleum sector would pose stiff challenges to the public sector companies which have so far dominated the domestic oil industry. The impact of global market forces will be most direct up in the country’s downstream segments, owing to the drop in demand for petroleum products and the drastically low prices. With margins on refining on the decline globally, and prospects of huge capacity addition in asia promising to worse the regional situation, a mood of uncertainly grapped the many proposed refinery projects in the country. First it was Saudi-Aramco which pulled out of the proposed nine million tonnes per annum refinery of Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) at Bhatinda (Punjab). Then shell pulled out of its commitment with Bharat Petroleum for a seven million tonne refinery at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. (PTI) |
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Govt gears up to meet shortage of fertilisers NEW DELHI Dec 16: The Government is fully geared up to meet the shortage of fertilisers in parts of Rajashthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, Food Minister Surjit Singh Barnala said in the Lok Sabha today. Intervening during zero hour, Mr Barnala said his ministry has recently contracted import of 55,000 tonnes of fertiliser from Jordon and already 25,000 tonnes has landed at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai. The Government has plans to move about three lakh tonnes of fertiliser from both Visakhapatinam and Mumbai Ports to the North Indian states for the rabi crop. The minister attributed the shortage to crippling of rail movement following cyclone at Visakhapatnam and the phenomenal increase in wheat acreage during the current rabi season there was tremendous pressure on fertilisers since the area under wheat cultivation during the current rabi season went upto 4.6 million hectares as against three million hectares during the last rabi season. Mr Barnala, however, mainainted that there was no shortage of fertilisers in other parts of the country during this year’s kharif and rabi seasons. While the demand for urea during the agricultural season was about 110 lakh tonnes, the availability was around 126 lakh tonnes. Domestic production of DAP was 25.57 lakh tonnes till November during the current financial year as against 14.6 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period in the previous year. Earlier, raising the issue, Mr Balram Jakhar (Cong) demanded that the Government intervene and ensure timely supply of fertilisers. (UNI) |
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Need to spread art of skin preservation VADODHRA, Dec 16: World renowned taxidermist Ajit Patil has stressed the need to spread the art of preservation of skin for keeping specimens of rare birds and animals intact for reference of future generations. Talking to here, Mr Patil expressed concern that India with over 800 million population had only three to four reputed taxidermists. Stating that taxidermy was both an art and science, Mr Patil said it was used not only for decorating the palaces and houses of wealthy people with mounted wildlife exhibits but also has academic value. How can a zoology teacher teach without specimens, he asked and said the efforts should be made to preserve this art. He said the art evolved and developed due to the efforts of ancient rulers who were interested in hunting and used to preserve the skin of dead animals for decorating their palaces. Since then the art was transferred from generation to generation, but now India was faced with a shortage of taxidermists, he said. In ancient Egypt rulers used to embalm dead remains of their pets like dogs, cats, birds and small animals by injecting spices and oils. The preserved forms of many such birds and animals have been unearthed from various tombs of ancient rulers of Egypt and were displayed in museums. Mr Patil said though texidermy was considered a form of art, in reality it was ‘stuffing’ process and modern taxidermists produce lifelike mounts of wildlife by modern methods of modelling the anatomy of specimens as they might appear in their natural habitat. He said a taxidermist should have a complete knowledge of birds or animals which he was going to mount. "He should know colour, behaviour, fur, feather, eyes and every activity of that animal or birds only then he can give it a real shape", he added. (UNI) |
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ERMIU has been set up to use information technology NEW DELHI, Dec 16: In a major initiative to enable the Textile Industry to use information technology, the Economic Research and Market Intelligence Unit (ERMIU) has been set up. The unit was today inaugurated by the Union Textile Minister Kashiram Rana here. ERMIU will help the Textile Industry gear up in terms of information to face the challenges of growing international competition in the post-multi-fibre arrangement. This is the first time that a common data bank for textiles which would also provide analysis forecasts trends is being set up for the benefit of both the industry and the Government. The ERMIU (satellite unit) is designed to work as a nodal centre for collection and dissemination of information on production, designs and fashion and other market and trade developments in the area of textiles. The unit will also be analysing a vast treasure of data which will be of immense significance to policy makers and the industry in planning of production etc. With the operationalisation of this unit, to be headquartered in the national capital, the Government, the trade and industry will have a single source of data bank. The data bank can be accessed by anyone having internet facility. A similar unit is planned for the jute sector also. ERMIU has been given the mandate of providing information related with textiles to the Government, industry and trade, organise the data information available at various textile organisations in India and abroad conduct spot studies, surveys and create a data bank of all such information and analyse, interpret and forecast trends. Such a move is significant since textile exports comprise nearly one- third of the total export basket of the country and it is one of the few sectors which are showing positive export growth trends despite the overall sluggish export situation. Since the Centre will be able to provide on-line information of the textile sector in due course of time it will facilitate the access to vital information for foreign as well as domestic entrepreneurs. The unit will also assist that domestic manufactures in better production planning and marketing of their products. In fact, the concept paper notes that with the phase out of quota restriction in the post-MFA regime, "it is going to be a classic case of the survival of the fittest in the global market. To overcome competition, one of the most import weapons is knowledge— knowledge of what is and what will be. To be forewarned is to be forearmed." ERMIU is aimed at collating data/information available with various organisations in India, including the department of customs, connected with the textile manufacture, research, trade and export. Besides, information available from embassies/consulates of India abroad and trade commissions would also be gathered by the unit. ERMIU would conduct spot studies, surveys, census to collect market intelligence and create data bank of all such informations. The unit would also analyse, interpret and forecast trends and submit reports thereof to the Textile Committee set up by the Union Government and make available such information to the trade and industry. (UNI) |
ERMIU has been set up to use information technology NEW DELHI, Dec 16: In a major initiative to enable the Textile Industry to use information technology, the Economic Research and Market Intelligence Unit (ERMIU) has been set up. The unit was today inaugurated by the Union Textile Minister Kashiram Rana here. ERMIU will help the Textile Industry gear up in terms of information to face the challenges of growing international competition in the post-multi-fibre arrangement. This is the first time that a common data bank for textiles which would also provide analysis forecasts trends is being set up for the benefit of both the industry and the Government. The ERMIU (satellite unit) is designed to work as a nodal centre for collection and dissemination of information on production, designs and fashion and other market and trade developments in the area of textiles. The unit will also be analysing a vast treasure of data which will be of immense significance to policy makers and the industry in planning of production etc. With the operationalisation of this unit, to be headquartered in the national capital, the Government, the trade and industry will have a single source of data bank. The data bank can be accessed by anyone having internet facility. A similar unit is planned for the jute sector also. ERMIU has been given the mandate of providing information related with textiles to the Government, industry and trade, organise the data information available at various textile organisations in India and abroad conduct spot studies, surveys and create a data bank of all such information and analyse, interpret and forecast trends. Such a move is significant since textile exports comprise nearly one- third of the total export basket of the country and it is one of the few sectors which are showing positive export growth trends despite the overall sluggish export situation. Since the Centre will be able to provide on-line information of the textile sector in due course of time it will facilitate the access to vital information for foreign as well as domestic entrepreneurs. The unit will also assist that domestic manufactures in better production planning and marketing of their products. In fact, the concept paper notes that with the phase out of quota restriction in the post-MFA regime, "it is going to be a classic case of the survival of the fittest in the global market. To overcome competition, one of the most import weapons is knowledge— knowledge of what is and what will be. To be forewarned is to be forearmed." ERMIU is aimed at collating data/information available with various organisations in India, including the department of customs, connected with the textile manufacture, research, trade and export. Besides, information available from embassies/consulates of India abroad and trade commissions would also be gathered by the unit. ERMIU would conduct spot studies, surveys, census to collect market intelligence and create data bank of all such informations. The unit would also analyse, interpret and forecast trends and submit reports thereof to the Textile Committee set up by the Union Government and make available such information to the trade and industry. (UNI) |
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