JALANDHAR, Apr 18: A teenager was today miraculously pulled out alive from the rubble, two days after a factory building collapsed here, as rescuers raced against time to extricate those trapped while three more bodies were recovered, taking the death toll to nine.
“Sixty-one people have been rescued, including one today and nine bodies have been retrieved from the debris,” District Magistrate Priyank Bharti said, adding still more people are feared trapped.
Sanjeev Kumar, 18, a resident of Sidhwalia in Bihar who was recruited in the factory on January 10 this year, was rescued today from the debris.
Kumar said at the time of mishap, he and two other colleagues were working near a machine. “As the building collapsed, I was trapped beneath the machine, which perhaps saved my life,” he told PTI.
“I had lost all hope as all my cries for help went unnoticed in the first 48 hours,” he said.
In the wee hours today, he spotted a small hole and shouted for help. “I was fortunate that the rescue team heard my voice and came to my help,” Kumar said.
Through the small hole, the rescuers passed biscuits and water to Kumar but he soon fainted. “By the time I regained consciousness, they had pulled me out of the rubble.”
Kumar has suffered minor injuries in the mishap, in-charge of the trauma centre Dr M B Bali said.
Yesterday, six bodies had been recovered and today three more were retrieved, the DM said. “Out of the nine deceased, six people have been identified—four belong to Bihar and two are from West Bengal,” he said.
Of the sixty-one rescued, some have already been discharged after medical aid and remaining are still admitted at Sadar Hospital.
“Our priority is to rescue people who are still alive and the required efforts in the regard are being made,” he said.
The three-storey building collapsed at around midnight on Sunday in Focal Point area here.
“We have to remain extremely cautious while removing the debris because a slight mistake can prove fatal for people trapped beneath,” Assistant Commandant of National Disaster Response Force Musafir said.
It may take two more days to clear the rubble, he said.
A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered against the factory owner, who was arrested on Monday.
The state government has announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to the kin of the deceased. It also announced a compensation of Rs 65,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 45,000 each to injured persons. (PTI)
Building collapse: Teenager rescued, Death toll rises to 9
Portal being launched to facilitate setting up new businesses
NEW DELHI, Apr 18: The Government is in the process of launching a portal that will provide entrepreneurs the opportunity to apply for all clearances to start a business at the click of a mouse.
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said in all, around 57 approvals from authorities ranging from municipalities, state Government agencies and the Centre are required to commence a business.
“…The number offices and number of doors he (a new entrepreneur) has to bang to be able to get his business process approved.
“So we are setting up a single vertical (E-Biz portal) where any entrepreneur can login for all the approvals he requires and within a time oriented process,” Scindia said here at a CII function.
The e-biz portal would also deal with export and import related registrations, he said.
“We are putting in place many KPIs (key performance indicators) and if government official do not abide by those KPIs, that approval have been deemed to be given,” Scindia said.
India has climbed up seven notches in the IFC-World Bank’s “Doing Business Index” indicating market improvement in the business environment, though its ranking remained well below those of the neighbours like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
India has been placed at 132nd position, up from 139th in previous year, in the Index prepared by the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank in 2011.
The report takes into account regulatory changes in 183 countries for starting and doing business by local firms.
The minister said the National Manufacturing Policy (NMP) would also help businesses to get fast and timely approvals.
On performance of India’s exporters, he said new markets like Latin America and Africa are now contributing more in boosting the shipments. “The new markets have delivered and they will continue to do that,” he added.
Braving slowdown in the US and Europe, India’s exports has crossed USD 300 billion in 2011-12.
However, rising import bill pushed by high crude oil prices and the country’s obsession with bullion sent the trade deficit soaring to USD 185 billion during the period.
Scindia also presented CII Woman Exemplary Awards on the occasion.
Loukrakpam Indrani Devi (micro enterprises), Babai Sathe (health and sanitation) and Laxmi Dey (outstanding service as a volunteer on child protection and education) received the awards. (PTI)
Akhilesh revives Janata Darshan
LUCKNOW, Apr 18: Making a difference in style of governance, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today reived the practice of meeting people to listen to their grievances at his official residence here, a step that was ended by his predecessor Mayawati.
Long queues of people were seen at 5, Kalidas Kalidas Marg, an area that was out of bounds for the common man during Mayawati’s days.
The practice of Janata Darshan, which was very popular in the earlier regime of Mulayam Singh Yadav, was done away with by Mayawati.
In fact, all the roads leading to the Chief Minister’s residence were closed for commoners with barricading done on both the sides when the BSP supremo was in power. The entry was open for media only during press conferences and that too for those who are invited.
Though immediately after assuming power in the state, Akhilesh started meeting people at his official residence, the formal Janata Darshan was revived today.
People from all over the state gathered at the first Janata Darshan of the youngest CM and police and security personnel had a tough time controlling them. There were directives not to use power to regulate the crowd.
Ram Swarup from Gonda, who came here to get a road laid in his village, was happy with his meeting. He is hopeful that his request would be addressed.
“We were left with no option in earlier regime. Local officials did not listen to them and there was no one to take hear our grievances”, he said.
Another man, Harish from Ambedkar Nagar, who is running from pillar to post for job after his father’s death, also hailed the chief minister’s decision to meet commoners.
“I think, applications taken here will be taken seriously and officers will dispose them off,” he said.
“Leave aside Janata darshan, Mayawati even did not met her party leaders and legislators. Her Government was run by bureaucrats and she did whatever they feeded her.
“Now people are witnessing a change with SP at the helm of affair and Janata Darshan is the way by which CM can know the real problems being faced by his people”, SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said.
The complaints that poured in on the first day of Janata Darshan included that of land dispute, atrocities on poor, employment and promotions besides requests for electricity, roads and water facilities in their areas, sources said.
During the programme, Yadav received petitions from the people and assured them that he will look into them. (PTI)
Industrialists show interest to investment in MP
BHOPAL, Apr 18: Ahead of the investors summit at Indore scheduled in October this year, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held consultations with select industrialists, who held out assurances to invest in industrial sector in Madhya Pradesh.
Representatives of industrial groups such as Ambuja Cement, Future group, MBG and Plastic Association met Mr Chouhan in Mumbai yesterday.
The industrialists were impressed with the investment-friendly atmosphere and liberal packages like land, electricity, water and tax holiday provided by the state government, official sources said.
Mr Chouhan gave detailed information about state’s new industrial policy and fast-growing industrial infrastructure, availability of trained manpower, besides the prevailing atmosphere conducive for investment. Special attention will also be paid to industries’ social responsibilities.
Future Group held discussions over a project pertaining to taking fruits, vegetables and garlic from the farmers and exporting the same, agricultural reforms and increase in productivity.
Ambuja Group, setting up a cement plant in Mandsaur district, plans another plant in Satna district, while MBG has proposed to set up a cement plant in Katni district. The Plastic Association evinced keen interest in establishing Plastic Parks in Raisen and Indore districts.
Prominent industrialists who met the Chief Minister included All-India Plastic Association Vice President Anurag Ojha, Vivek Dhoome of Future Group, Rishi Agrawal of MBG Cement and Ambuja Group managing director Onevendar Vij.
(UNI)
Sun Pharma surges on ruling by US Supreme Court
MUMBAI, Apr 18: Shares of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries surged over 2 per cent after the US Supreme Court ruling on a patent litigation by its subsidiary Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories.
In a regulatory filing, Sun Pharma said the US Supreme court has ruled in favour of Caraco in its patent litigation against Novo-Nordisk, over Caraco’s generic version of Prandin, Repaglinide tablets.
The company said that it is a landmark judgement for generic companies.
Reacting to the development shares of the company witnessed a record high of Rs 599 on the BSE, posting a jump of 2.53 per cent over its last closing price of Rs 584.20.
The scrip was later trading at Rs 596.90, up 2.17 per cent on the BSE at 1145 hours.
Similar movement was witnessed on the National Stock Exchange as well, where the stock opened at Rs 588.05, then jumped 2.61 per cent to see a high of Rs 600.
The scrip was later trading at Rs 597.15, up 2.13 per cent on the NSE at 1146 hours.
Marketmen said the positive news helped the stock gain momentum. Besides, the broader market was also trading on the positive territory.
(PTI)
Emirates airline may look at investing in India carrier
DUBAI, Apr 18: Dubai-based Emirates airline has indicated that it may look at investing in an Indian carrier, as India’s government is mulling to allow foreign airlines to buy stakes in domestic carriers.
“The airline is open to looking at anything that helps its business and is at the right price,” said Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline Shaikh Ahmad bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
He said, however, nothing is happening for the moment.
On whether the airline would consider investing in an Indian carrier such as Kingfisher Airlines, the Gulf News quoted him as saying, “Talking about the business, there are many other companies like that around the world which we could look at, but don’t expect us to buy everything.”
The airline has been trying to gain additional flying rights in India.
The Commerce and Industry Ministry, meanwhile, has moved a Cabinet note to allow foreign carriers pick up equity in Indian airlines.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to consult senior ministers to build a consensus on the issue of allowing FDI in airlines by foreign carriers.
The aviation industry, including Kingfisher, is facing financial difficulties. (PTI)
Tata Comm secures funding for C&W bid-Basis Point
HONG KONG, Apr 18: Mumbai-based Tata Communications Ltd has secured bank financing a day before a bidding deadline expires for London-listed Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Thomson Reuters publication Basis Point reported on Wednesday.
Tata Communications, which has a market value of about $1.3 billion and is part of the salt-to-software Tata Group conglomerate, is vying with British telephone giant Vodafone plc to buy Cable & Wireless.
Securing bank funding is crucial for Tata Comm’s ambitious bid as its market value is smaller than its target. It also has a poor financial record, having posted losses in the past two fiscal years to March 2011.
The size of the loan has changed from the originally intended $2 billion, but it is not clear if it has increased or decreased, the report said, citing sources familiar with the situation.
Both Tata Communications and Vodafone have until to Thursday to decide whether to seek an extension for their bids, although analysts do not expect C&W shareholders will allow the process to drag out..
A successful bid will give Tata Communications access to C&W’s global network of fixed telephone lines that can be used to relieve pressure on mobile networks, and provide voice, data and other services. C&W Worldwide has a cable network linking more than 150 countries.
Shares in Tata Communications, which is 26 percent owned by the Indian government, were up 2.3 percent, outpacing a 0.6 percent gain in the broader market.
Tata Communications has received underwritten commitments from five banks: Standard Chartered Bank, ANZ, DBS Bank, ING Bank and State Bank of India, the report added.
StanChart and Morgan Stanley are M&A advisers to Tata Communications, but Morgan Stanley is not providing funding, the report added.
Basis Point previously reported the loan at $2 billion with a life of 30-36 months. Pricing on the loan is expected to be more than 375 basis points. (AGENCIES)
Major shake up
Education Department has stirred major shake up in school education by shifting 142 principals and promoting 10 lecturers as in-charge Principals. These shifting have taken place in all three regions of the State. The fact is that promotions in education department had been pending for a long time and stagnation had caused disappointment to deserving, honest and efficient teachers. This was bound to have adverse impact on the quality of education imparted besides efficient functioning of the schools. Teachers affected by stagnation had been making frantic plea but their voice was not heard. A big change in school education has taken place ever since the Chief Minister took the charge of the department.
Education is fast spreading in our state. Primary to Higher Secondary Schools and Colleges are opened in far off and remote areas. The State is set to completely change the literacy map and day is not far off when we will have hundred per cent literacy in the State. Along with this phenomenal expansion, there is need that administration of school education should be compatible with the growth. It has been observed that administrative branches and cells of the department are sill mired in old mindset and refuse to keep step with the changing scenario. We hope that the chief Minister will infuse dynamism in administrative branch of school education and teachers will be restored their dignity and respect by placing right value on the services they render to society. These large scale promotions will go a long way in revitalizing the teaching staff so as to make them fully responsive to the expectations of society.
Elections for ULBs
More than 15 lakh people eligible to voting to Urban Local Bodies of the State will elect members to civic bodies in next two months. Deck has been cleared for next exercise in the democratic process of devolution of power to grassroots level. In fulfillment of his promise to complete the entire exercise of democratization, the Chief Minister has asked the Election Department to begin revision of electoral rolls on 20 April and finish their job within a month. Revision of electoral rolls is a mandatory provision. Since previous revision was done in 2005, and many big changes have occurred in the intervening seven years, it is expected that there will be considerable increase in the number of voters eligible for casting their vote in civil elections. Youth who were just 11 years old in 2005 have attained adulthood and now at 18 they are eligible to vote. In addition, many more Municipal Committees and Councils have been created and these will also have a large number of voters. There has to be a gap of 21 days between the date of issuance of the revised electoral rolls and actual polling thus enabling the voters to ensure that they have been enrolled. The Government expects that polling will be completed in June throughout the state. The next step in the process after elections to ULBs is completed would be to initiate elections for Block and District Councils and thus multi-tier democratic structure will be complete.
It has to be remembered that the municipal bodies had ceased to be with effect from 2010 and it is almost two years that these bodies have been dysfunctional. In normal course of things, such a long delay should not have happened. Nevertheless, it goes to the credit of the Government led by Omar Abdullah that the process is inching towards completion. The ultimate purpose of municipal elections is to encourage and facilitate civic chapters to run the administration, development and maintenance of their respective cities and towns with more objectivity and better delivery. Participation of elected representatives of the civil society reduces the burden and responsibility of the Government to some extent and enables it to attend to other priorities. In a sense this is distribution of work and who else than the elected representatives are better qualified to identify the requirements of the towns and suggest ways and means of fulfilling these.
An interesting aspect of our civic bodies’ election is that the Central Government provides funds for the improvement of cities and towns and for providing better facilities to the civilian population. This is a national programme and our State is also its beneficiary. But these grants carry with them some conditions which respective governments need to fulfill. In the case of our State, since we have not been able to hold election to civic bodies soon after the term of the out gone bodies expired, viz. 2010, the amount of financial assistance from the centre remains blocked. It can be released only when elections of ULBs are completed. The conditions imposed by the Union Government are not J&K specific; these are applicable on national level. Some of the conditions are not palatable to sections of people and bureaucracy in the state and as such, they would prefer deferring elections to ULBs. For example, acceptance of financial assistance would mean imposition of house tax and bringing in some vital reforms in the civic administration and laws. It will be reminded that a hefty amount of 364 crore rupees, the share of the state in centre’s financial support for civic bodies remains blocked. Fortunately it is not lapsable and as such can be retrieved after the ULBs election process is completed. Thus once elections are completed in June, the state can claim the release of financial assistance. In a progressive state like ours, while providing more facilities to the civilian population is a fundamental objective, it has to be understood that raising funds is closely connected to that phenomenon. People throughout the towns and cities in the country are paying house tax and are also benefiting from the assistance they receive from the centre. There is no reason why J&K should remain outside the national mainstream. Our cities and towns are badly in need of improved sanitation and hygiene, healthcare facilities, transportation and civic amenities. We are lagging behind in so many things and before our towns and cities get choked, we need to do good planning. We badly need to check migration of rural population to urban localities as it becomes a drain on civic bodies. Election process to LUBs should become an uninterrupted phenomenon.
HCL Tech Q3 net profit up 28.7 pc at Rs 602.5 cr
NEW DELHI, Apr 18: IT services firm HCL Technologies today posted a 28.7 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 602.5 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.
The company had posted a net profit of Rs 468.2 crore in the January-March quarter of the last fiscal (2010-11), HCL Technologies said in a statement.
The company’s revenues for the reported quarter were up 26 per cent at Rs 5,215.6 crore from Rs 4,138.2 crore in Q3 of FY11.
“A key strategic shift in the global IT industry has been the levelling of the playing field between the Indian origin service providers and the global MNCs. It is encouraging to note that HCL has continued its growth trajectory even in this environment,” HCL Technologies Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer Shiv Nadar said.
The company has announced an interim dividend of Rs 2 per equity share of the face value of Rs 2 each.
During the quarter, HCL Technologies added 1,394 people (gross), taking the total headcount to 82,464 on March 31, 2012. (PTI)